Deciding+Roles

=Deciding Roles= by Gabi R. There are many rites of passage in Jonas' world in //The Giver// written by Lois Lowry. One of these rites of passage is the Ceremony of the Twelves. During this ceremony, all the Elevens, now becoming Twelves, receive their "Assignment", or role in the Community. If I were the Chief Elder I would give one of my friends the Assignment of "Performer". She can do all kinds of things such as play piano, act, and sing. She is also hilarious and could make anyone laugh. She could perform at the Auditorium and put on shows for everyone in the Community. As well as being an amazing entertainer, my friend is also a great athlete and excels in tennis and soccer. Even if we didn't live in the world of //The Giver// I would still love to see her become a performer even if it is not my job to give roles like the Chief Elders. If I were to assign myself an Assignment in Jonas' world I would give myself the role of "Community Chef". This is because I love cooking and I have to say I'm pretty good at it. I love watching chefs such as Emeril Lagasse (my favorite), Paula Deen, and Rachel Ray. I was brought up with many cooking influences such as my grandmother and my parents. My grandmother is a typical southerner who loves cooking and being with family so we used to always bake things together such as her famous cream puffs and lemon cake. My parents also influenced me to want to become Community Chef because they always had a passion for cooking and they own a restaurant. I also love making up new recipes and new flavor combinations for everything. But, if I were to receive one of the Assignments in Jonas' Community, I would be interested in being a Nurturer. I love babies and being around children; however, I don't think I would be able to live knowing what they do to the babies they need to release. These decisions must be very tough for the Chief Elders of Jonas' world. If I were in their position I would have difficulty deciding on children's jobs for the rest of their lives. I'm glad I only have to choose one for myself in the actual world. I'm also glad that I don't have to have a role given to me by people that have only been studying me for the past year. These people may not even know my true passions, talents, and skills. It must be a painstaking and long wait for your Assignment, as Jonas describes very clearly in the story until he gets awarded the job of Receiver of Memories. In the end, I would be very scared to give or receive such an important thing in my or someone else's life.