TOTELL YOUTHE TRUTH
"Rightafterschool,Iwould 'live'thislifeofmineand playoutscenesbymyself. Thiswassheer, unadulteratedfantasy.Pure fun.Evenmorefunandreal thanmyactuallife."
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RECAPTURING THE STORY
Inthisessay,theauthorrecountedtheinstancesinherlife wherein she lied as means of masking and freeing herself fromadrearyrealitycharacterizedbyfamilyproblems–an abusivemother,amissingfather,andfinancialissues.Alie that started to make her first confirmation easier has escalated to more. It has developed as a form of coping mechanism to create a new identity that is more fulfilling andinterestingtosavorherchildhood.
HIGHLIGHTS
Christineportrayedherpleasureoflyingineventsincluding; stealingfivepesosfromherfriendDiadema beingatalentedswimmertoherfavoriteteacherMs.A fakingherbirthdaytoherclassandadviser
TURNINGPOINT
However, lying has lost its spark to her as she read her mother’s diary highlighting their lives through her experiences marked by pain and suffering. Gone are the comfort and solace she found in lying. The only thing that remainsislonelinessrootedinthelackofpeople’sinterest andeagernesstoknowandseehertruth.
SEEINGTHROUGH THELENS EPISODIC
Anepisodicnarrativewasutilizedbytheauthor, primarily using flashbacks to highlight significant events throughout her childhood. This captivates a series of separate but interconnected instances including the root of her lying habit, moments she found comfort in it, and awareness of herself. This form of storytelling gave way for readers to gain a better understanding of the author’s experiences and be involved in the story as she processes and shapes her life through realizations. Each piece of memory shared madewholeandunifiedtheoverarchingtheme ofthestory–growthandhealing.
FIRST POV
Moreover, the author narrated her experiences through a firstperson point of view supported by the pronouns “I” and “my.” This perspective made the essay feel more personal as she delves into her life through her lens –exhibiting how she arrived at such thoughts, feelings, and realizations – making it easier for readerstoconnecttoit.
“Igrewuplying.Atsecond-grade,I realizedthatbeinganexpertliar wasnotsomethingIcouldfeel guiltyabout.”
"Asmychildhoodwasfarfromsimple, therewasaneedformetosimplifythings, awayformetoviewmylifethewayIcould understandit.Awaytocreateadifferent lifeeven.Myalter-lifeafterschool,for example,wasanunconsciousescapefrom theheavinessofthesituationathome."
"Ithinkitwasatthispointwhenthelying graduallycametoanend.Iremember sayingtomyself: Ihavetostopthis.Ihave tochange.Iwanttobegood."
"Lying was so easy. All it took was a little imagination to makesomethingup;astrong personal conviction that I was telling the truth and the worldcouldbemine."
"SolongasIwasn’tme,I wassafeandhappy."
"I remember creating a differentsetofpersonality forme,withanameofmy ownchoosing,age,school, family members, even a completelydifferentsetof school notebooks and books."
THE PERSON BEHIND THE STORY
The character of the author was built around her habit of lying. Primitively, her nonsensical actions prompted a rise of displeasure and concern. I found it difficult to understand the need for a young child to create a multitude of lies and the lack of guilt from such actions. However, at the same time, I developed a sense of concern for her astowhatexperienceselicitedhertoresorttolying to her peers. As the story progressed, the truth behind the lies was unveiled. Lying served as her lightandhopetoescapethedarknessanddespair of her reality. New identities rooted in deceit provided her the solace and validation she needed amidst her personal challenges. With this, sympathywasinvokedandmyinitialperceptionof theauthorshifted.Christinewasamerekidhoping for a childhood full of rainbows and sunshine, not absent parents and money problems. Moreso, upon reading her mother’s diary that shed light on her realizations, she gave up lying – even though it means sacrificing her ideal childhood – to give way for her to face and embrace her reality. Ultimately, growth and healing are the words that perfectly encapsulatetheauthor.
REFLECTIONO
Thisessayexemplifiesthecomplexityofthe world. It gives light on the difficulties and sufferings humans face, specifically, children entangled in broken and unhappy families – incapable of giving sufficient love and support children need growing up. In turn,theseexperiencesmanifestintheway theynavigatethroughlife.Unhealthycoping mechanisms are developed to escape their reality and uplift themselves from the burden they carry. In the essay, Christine resortedtolyinginordertocreatealternate realities as means of preserving a bright childhood and receiving recognition from herpeers.
"Itissaidthatlyingdeprives ourselvesofapartofourlives. Butthenagain,lyingfeltlikeit connectedmetowhoItruly was:ayounggirldesperately inneedofrecognition, stability,andsolace."
FTHEWORLD
The societal pressure to live a perfect and happylifehasmadeitdifficultformany,like her, to accept and live with their imperfect realities. Thus, the need to see the world in rose-coloredglassesandputupafacadeto hide one’s struggles. Moreover, this essay also captures the different layers of a person as there is always more to what is seen on the surface level. It highlights how everyone comes with baggage that shapes themintothepersontheyaretoday.Overall, this essay reflects an intricate world characterized by the pain and sufferings people experience and the way they respondtowhatisthrownatthem.
"Thereisatruthbehindeveryliethat belongsonlytotheonewhotellsit. it.Andyes,thereisthatunspoken wishinherthatthosearoundher wouldshakeherupandletthetruth stumbleoutofhermouthinsteadof thelies,lies,endlesslies."
“To Tell You the Truth” is relevant as it delves into the unfiltered realities seen in the world today. This includes abusive and absent parents, financial constraints, ignorance,andtraumaresponse.
ITSRELEVANCE TODAY
The author did not highlight the aforementioned issues as means to normalize and justify them but instead to share her experience –struggles, learnings, and realizations –andhowitpavedthewayforherto uncover and heal from her truth. Christine’s story serves as a representation of other individuals in the present time who also go through the same obstacles every day, especially those who carry on theirlivesbymaskingtheirpain.
Moreover, the sheer ignorance of peopleintheauthor’slifetomakean effort to reveal her truth mirrors the similar ignorance yielded by citizens today with their lack of initiative to partake in solving issues despite beingawareofthem.Allthesecallfor the need for individuals to reflect to find their truth and live them out. Most importantly, to look out for one another to prevent falling into the trap of forming false realities to forgetthetrueones.
PERSONAL THOUGHTS
The first line of the essay immediately piqued my interest and motivated me to continue reading it. I got hookedfromthebeginningtoendthroughtheauthor’s writing and storytelling for she has a way with words that allows her to articulate and bare her true feelings, thoughts,andemotions.Readingtheessayfeltpersonal like going into her mind and heart and directly seeing her journey in overcoming obstacles. She entirely captured the image of vulnerability, awareness, and growththroughherstory.
THESTORY
“Igrewuplying.”
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
Igrewuplyingtoo.
Similar to the author, I had my own experiences in my childhood that prompted me to lie as means of escaping my reality. It reminded me of my own wounds I have and have yet to heal. Lying was a blanket of comfort and solace thatallowedmetotransporttoalternatingrealitiesasIwas alsojustachildhopingandyearningforalifemorethanmy own.IrememberthetimesIwouldpurposelywatchmovies, read stories, and listen to songs as a way to indulge and imaginemyselfinanewworldasadifferentperson.Upuntil today, my own pain and sufferings still find their way to creep up on me. However, just like Christine, I am now able to stand before and face them to pave the way for further healingandgrowth.
WITHINME
“Liesare usually attempts tomake everything simpler thanit reallyis,or oughtto be.”
- Adrienne Rich
