Dreww Pule’
English 1
Gharib-Thedell
Intro-Body Paragraph2

Imagine not being comfortable enough to go about your daily life, in your own body. How uncomfortable and helpless would you feel? The type of hardship I will be discussing and writing about will be about depression, an emotional stress. The articles, texts, and quotes I will be using are going to be from, “ Violinist has The World on Two Strings” by author Steve Lopez. The other article I will be using will be “Straight Outta Compton” by authors Jeff Benedict and Armen Kentyian. Refuge is important to depression victims and anybody who has an emotional stress. Refuge is the number one reason why many people make it through tough times. Not finding refuge and trying to face the over powering emotions by yourself, could lead you to convince yourself to end your life. Depression can make you feel like your worthless, you have no meaning, and that you are nothing. Depression is a type of emotional stress and it can lead you to think that you don’t need anything else but to be left alone. Refuge can prevent all of those feelings from happening. Refuge can come in many types of forms. Nathaniel Ayers will show you his. In the article, “ Violinist has The World On Two Strings” by author Steve Lopez, Lopez writes about a man who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia for many years. Somehow, this homeless musician has found his refuge. When Nathaniel Ayers felt lost, he knew that he could always turn to music as his safe haven. Also, Nathaniel knows he has a problem emotionally and mentally, so he does what he knows he can relax to. “ Beethoven’s statue stood tall in Downtown LA, and Nathaniel would spend hours admiring the statue.” (Lopez) Since Mr. Ayers knows so much about music, he associated a master at that art, and Beethoven just so happens to be that master. As Nathaniel realizes, Beethoven played amazing music, Nathaniel might feel that he is associated with music through Beethoven. Again, depression and emotional stresses are no easy task to deal with. The emotional stress can lead to feel that you are trapped in your own world that nobody knows about. Nathaniel Ayers and Kitam Hamm will show. Imagine living in a world completely unknown to anybody else but you, and only you have to suffer. What if that world was in only your head? Nathaniel Ayers and Kitam Hamm will tell what that is like, to be controlled by something unseen. In this article, “Straight Outta Compton”, by authors Jeff Benedict and Armen Kentyian, they will tell about a young teenager, who has to face the daily struggles that he faces every day. As Nathaniel Ayers is stuck in his world, so is Kitam Hamm. Nathaniel lives in a world full of unknown voices, and Kitam lives in a world full of important choices, only they face those kinds of problems. Kitam and Nathaniel are alone in their own way. “Nathaniel, 54, who told me that he had been diagnosed years ago with schizophrenia.” (Lopez) “ Kitam lives in a neighborhood with at least three rival gangs.” (Benedict) Those are examples of why Kitam and Nathaniel face depression and emotional stress because there is no easy way out. However, there is a way out for both of them. Nathaniel’s refuge is music, and Kitam’s refuge is football. “ Kitam suits up at 5:15 and ends at 7:15. Football is an alternative at night, because that is when all the trouble happens for young men.” (Benedict) The examples show that there is a way out, but none are easy. There will always be a way out. How would it feel if you were all alone in a world, with no one to help you?