Catcher In The Rye Reflection

Knowledge can help us grow as individuals, but it can also be a heavy burden, threatening to crush us with its weight. I acquired such burdensome knowledge in a little book by the name of The Catcher in the Rye. So when I gave Mr. Enos, my English teacher, a thank-you card as a token of appreciation just before the winter break of 2016 started, the words of Holden Caulfield, the protagonist in the book, came to mind; “’How would you know you weren't being a phony?’”.
Herein was my problem. The crux of my dilemma hinged on the thought: would asking my teachers for a recommendation letter invalidate every single “good morning” and “thank you” that I said when I walked in and out of the classroom? Was I doing all these things because I truly appreciated …show more content…
Enos for a recommendation letter. It was 3rd period and the classroom was largely empty. Spring has flourished and Mr. Enos had allowed our class to read in the courtyard while he graded essays on his desk. I had opted to stay in the classroom along with a few others. When the bell rang, the classroom quickly emptied out as students rushed to get to their third periods. I purposely put away my things slowly so that I could talk to Mr. Enos alone. Then I walked over to him and asked, “Can you write me a recommendation letter?” cringing internally as I did so. He widened his eyes in surprise for a few seconds, and then wrinkled them as he let out a light hearted chuckle. He told me that he would be glad to do so, even going out of his way to ask what my favorite book was from the year (The Great Gatsby!). As I was talking with him, everything seemed to tumble into place. The conversation wasn’t forced in anyway, nor was it fake, it flowed naturally. I realized then, asking for such a favor did not tinge our relationship to a dynamic reminiscent Gilded Age patronage. Nothing really changed, even as a senior, I still respect Mr. Enos as a teacher and he still respects me as a