Individuality In The Alchemist

“ To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Individuality is a topic not discussed or analyzed often, but is becoming extremely important to understand. In this day in age, individuals are bombarded with advertisements, political platforms and peer influence, which may lead to changed ideals and becoming part of a collective group. These persuasion tactics introduce bias opinions into the minds of the recipient and as a result lose some of their own individuality. If an individual is passionate about their individuality, they may be confronted by various obstacles. The novel, “The Alchemist”, the film “Swing”, and factual stories of the Residential

In the novel “The Alchemist”, written by Paulo Coelho, a young nomadic shepherd named Santiago is travelling the countryside, strengthening the bond with his flock of sheep, and learning life lessons from his storybook. One fateful morning he meets a man who informs him about a great treasure in Africa, and Santiago makes it his life goal to accomplish and travel to that specific spot. Santiago is being an individual as he is not pursuing the general life of a shepherd, but he's following his individual person goal. Almost immediately as he enters Africa, he has his money stolen and starts working for a crystal merchant in a rural market area. During conversations with the merchant, he learns that their two ideologies are opposites. Santiago starts thinking of things in different ways and the shopkeeper even tries to persuade the young shepard away from his ultimate goals and aspirations. Fortunately, Santiago

The First Nations of Canada lived off the land, had colourful and in depth ceremonies and cultures, and lived in harmony with the other tribes, that is until the Europeans came to Canada. Initially, the relationship was positive for both groups, attaining new ressources and information but that relationship slowly corroded. With the Europeans, diseases were brought over which decimated Indigenous people. The English and French rivalry continued in the New Land and both European countries allied with different First Nation Tribes, causing a divide between First Nation groups. After the English won over Canada they constructed buildings called Residential Schools. The objective of this buildings was to convert First Nations into Europeens. In order to do that, young Aboriginal children needed to be taken away from their families and tribes. The Europeens would teach them english, europeen habits, and most of all, take away their culture. The First Nation culture was their entire identity and it was how they were different than the Europeans and even other tribes. The young children's long, culturally symbolic hair was immediately trimmed to a shorter, Europeen look. The Europeans also used methods similar to torture in order “ take the First Nation out of them”, such as physical, verbal, and sexual harassment. The impact of