Thesis For Touching Spirit Bear

Since the beginning of the year we have been reading a book by Ben Mikaelsen named Touching Spirit Bear. Cole starts out as a devious miscreant who never forgave or forgot. Cole soon gets banished to an island for a year. Throughout his experience he learns to start caring and forgiving after being mauled by a bear. To add to that he makes totem faces for everything he encounters such as sparrows, wolves, mice and bears. Each teaching him how he was and what they represented. This project is about how I can be like Cole and make a totem about my life and each animal face symbolizes every part of my life.

First of all, I think my first symbol would be a duckling. At my toddler age I didn't liked getting dirty, if I got dirty I wanted to be

cleaned on the spot. When people see ducklings they are usually clean and that's because they preen themselves with their beaks taking out all the bacteria with it (Animal Corner). I followed my parents most of the time like a duckling does with its mother. Also, like a duckling I am dependent on my mother. Ducklings quickly learn to follow their mothers and eat and swim(reference). This is why I chose a duckling to symbolize my toddler age.

Secondly, I think my symbol for my elementary school years would be a mouse. Like a mouse I am very quiet(animal). When I went to school I was very quiet and never wanting to be picked for class discussions. Like mice I can thrive without support from others. In addition, I hoarded everything from trash to papers. Right after school I would go straight home not attracting attention like a mouse(Animal). Also, I was fast always winning when playing tag. This is how mice symbolize me in my elementary school year.

Thirdly I think my symbol for my present year symbol would be an elephant. Just like an elephant my memory is great. Rarely elephants forget, it is thought that elephants never forget, I may not be like that but I do know lots about my past(floss). Elephants have poor eyesight just like me. I can also relate to their care free personality. When elephants are born, they are carefree in their herd until about 15 years(save). That's why I think an elephant represents my present years.

Finally, for my last symbol for the future I would think I would be an eagle. Like an eagle I would be full of life and do the work on my own. Eagles are one of the few birds who stay full of life even in adult ages(M). I want to be like an eagle and soar in success and freedom. I can be tenacious just like an eagle and never give up. Watch an eagle when a storm comes. When other birds fly away from the storm with fear, eagles spread their mighty wings and uses the current to soar to greater heights. The eagle takes advantage of the very storm that lesser birds fear and head for cover (M). This is my symbol for my future life. And that concludes my essay for my totem.