Eileen Wu Darcey Hall Honors HSE 2: Period 1 April 5, 2024 Memoir Essay.
Both authors, Malala Yousafzai and Stephanie Land, use self-reflection to connect with and engage readers into their life story. Stephanie Land’s memoir, Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Live, portrays the inspiring journey of a single low-income mother who is teetering on poverty, trying to pursue a better life for herself and provide for her daughter despite all the odds. I am Malala, written by Malala Yousfazai, is an influential recount of events highlighting the rise of the Taliban in Pakistan and Malala’s rise to becoming an influential Pakistani activist. Despite the difference in themes, Yousafzai and Land both use self-reflection to forge deeper connections with readers, leaving a longer-lasting impression and potentially…show more content… After Stephanie gets berated by one of her clients, she starts to lose the spark of resilience she had and reflects upon the meaning of life. Stephanie reminisces, “Every single parent teetering on poverty does this. We work, we love, we do. And the stress of it all, the exhaustion, leaves us hollowed.” (Land 197). Stephanie’s voice resonates with unwavering determination, shedding light on the resilience of single mothers who are often overlooked and looked down upon by society. Though Stephanie describes herself feeling ‘exhausted’ and ‘hollowed’, her love for her daughter remains unwavering. It’s clear that Stephanie’s daughter is the sole reason she continues to fight each day. Stephanie tugs at the reader’s heartstrings and in doing so, leaves a mark of inspiration and admiration for her resilience. Through the use of self-reflection, Stephanie not only earns the empathy of readers but also encourages them to confront the challenges faced by single mothers, eliciting a sense of compassion and understanding for her struggles. Stephanie shifts from avoiding others to feeling
