<p>Nowadays nothing is private: our culture has become too confessional and self-expressive. People think that to hide ones thoughts or feelings is to pretend not to have those thoughts or feelings. They assume that honesty requires one to express every inclination and impulse.</p>
<p>Adapted from J. David Velleman, "The Genesis of Shame"</p>
<p>Assignment:</p>
<p>Should people make more of an effort to keep some things private? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observations.</p>
<h2>This is the essay that comes with the official SAT practice test offered by collegeboard. I typed it in the 25 minutes I was given to write this essay</h2>
<p>Different people use different methods for self-expression. For some, openly sharing opinions may not be the solution to their problems and those people would prefer to keep quiet during times of trouble. For others, openly sharing is necessary for them to vent, improve, and accept themselves. </p>
<p>From my surroundings, I have learned several different ways that people use to feel better and express themselves. In my family, no one speaks about their problems if they can be solved alone. When my parents have had a fight or business has been bad, they keep quiet until midnight, when they think everyone is sleeping, and then talk about their problems so that no one else will know. When my sister and I cry, for the most part, we cry alone in our rooms and just quietly think until we can find a solution to the reason we are crying. If something bad happens, sometimes my family deems it unnecessary to share it with the world. My family is full of understanding, and self-expression isn't a problem because we are so close and tightly knit. When it comes to anything about school, life personality, or character, we always share what we know with each other. However, if the people in my family were candid about talking about some of the things we keep private, our relationship would have already fallen apart years ago. Sometimes, there are things that aren't necessary to be shared because if the matter was kept quiet, less people would be hurt. If I am being bullied, I don't tell my parents because of the stress and exhaustion they already suffer from work and fights; if I told them about my troubles, they would be overwhelmed by everything and stress more than they should. Like this matter, because I keep some of my matters private and away from my family, I have learned to solve problems on my own and be more independent so that I am no longer a burden to those around me. Therefore, in the case of trying to save others trouble and become more considerate of those around them, people should make better efforts to keep things private. I am still self-expressive, but at times I suppress how I'm feeling because in the context of the situation, being open about my matters might not be timely.</p>
<p>However, this isn't always the case. Sometimes, being candid about matters is necessary in order to solve a problem. Although there are emotionally strong people who can manage their problems, even the strongest can finally crack under the pressure from being alone. In a manga called Dengeki Daisy, the main character Kurosaki lives with a burden that prevents him from forgiving himself. Although he willingly helps Teru, who needs consolation and expresses herself openly, he cannot help himself. Eventually, the burden that he lives with gives him too much stress that he breaks. Because he is not capable of letting go of his problem, misunderstandings arise and he hurts those who love him by not being able to love himself. Once he begins to talk about what has been hurting him, others are able to comfort him and he slowly starts to live a better life without having to punish himself for the "sin" that he supposedly committed. As a result, he also becomes more self-expressive and is able to live much more happily than he once did.</p>
<p>Other examples in both everyday life, movies, and works of literature exist to show that decisions can work either way. There is no one correct way to be self-expressive that undermines the other way. The freedom writers, Harry Potter, protesters, and some speakers and performers are self-expressive by letting their opinions out in public. By being open about their thoughts, they get a message across and hope to change the world for the better. My family, some of my friends, Lee Da Hae in Miss Ripley and heroes such as Dumbledore are less open about some of the problems that they have to deal with, but still find ways to be expressive about their opinions without hurting others in the process.</p>
<p>Therefore, while some may find it better to keep matters private, others need to be open about how they are feeling in order to get a message across and be consoled.</p>