Assignment- Moana

From watching and analyzing the movie Moana, I was able to identify the similarities in leadership between Moana and other characters we have studied in the course. The scene in the movie that stuck out to me the most was when all the townspeople were consulting Moana about the bad coconuts and how there was no fish. Moana suggested to her father that they fish beyond the reef further out in the Ocean. However, Moana’s has a strict rule that no one leaves the island. Even though Moana knows her calling is to leave the island and save her people. This scene reminded me a lot of the book Binit. Binit’s family, like Moana’s, do not leave their homeland. Binit’s family did not want her to go off to university, even though Binit knew it was her calling. In the same way Moana knew the ocean was her calling even Though her father did not want her to leave the island. In Some ways I can relate to both Moana and Binit. In a general sense my parents are very supportive of what I do and the choices I make for myself. When it came to looking for colleges though, I wanted to attend school in England. My parents however did not want me to be that far away from home. I understood where they were coming from but going to school in England has always been my dream. Sometimes I wish I just did what Moana and Binit did and bite the bullet and go. I researched schools in England since my freshman year of high-school. I though my parents would be fine with it considering they are from England. There are many benefits if studying abroad and the main one that caught my eye was the cost. The cost of going to school in England is less than half the tuition in America. Even when I explained the many benefits to my parents they still expressed how worried they would be with me being that far from home.Even though Howard was and is the right school for me, I still feel a calling to one day study in England. I often wonder what my life would have been like if my parents let me go to school there.

Moana’s Grandmother was also a crucial person to Moana’s leadership in the movie. She saw Moana’s potential when no one else did. She knew that Moana was destined to be a hero and leader and could save the people. We saw Moana doubt herself many times though because she wanted to please her father. I think Moana’s grandmother represents the ocean. Moana’s grandmother is very connected with the ocean and I believe she passes this gift on to Moana. This is why Moana’s grandmother knows she needs to travel beyond the reef and find Maui to restore the heart. My own Grandmother remind me of Moana’s. I often talk to my grandma about my life and life purpose and what I want to do. She constantly reminds me that she knows I will be a star in whatever path I take. For longest I have wanted to pursue a career in medicine but I often contemplate if this is the right path for me. I have contemplated using my talents as my career path, but I know I am guaranteed money is medicine. But why would I not want to use my talents for a job that I will love. I often talk to my grandmother about theses things and she always knows the right things to say. Just like Moana’s grandmother my own grandmother is someone influential in my life and I always know I can count on her if I need someone to talk to.

The movie Moana also symbolizes feminine power. Just like the book Binit we study two girls that are seen as leaders and save a large group of people. Often we see a male lead take charge and steal the spotlight. I think Moana as well as Binit represent the power of a woman. They both have to overcome their own doubt and realize who they are in order to serve their greater purpose. This also goes for a lot of women in life. Many women often feel as though they are lost or drown in self doubt. I did this to myself for many years. I constantly wondered who I was and would doubt myself on everything I did. It took me a long to to realize who I am and what I am capable of. Just like Moana and Binit. I would definitely say going away to college helped a lot with that journey. Just like Moana and Binit were able to find themselves when they left home, so did I. Going away to college allowed me to have my own space thus opening my self to experiences that taught me a lot. Moana and Binit went through the same process when the both left their homeland. Often leaving the place we love most allows one to become who they want to be. Today I would say that I know who I am and what I want to do. I am strong like the women characters we have studied. Lysistrata is also another character we have studied that has strong female energy. Often women more than men are told how to live their life what they can and cannot do and essentially who to be. The one thing that all these women characters have in common is creating their own narrative. We see this is Moana when she finally leaves the island, When Binit becomes a master harmonizer, and when Lysistrata seeks to be a powerful leader among the men and women.

Overall the main theme I took away from Moana is self discovery. Moana as well as Maui are they two characters that go on a epic journey and find themselves along the way. Self-discovery is never an easy journey to go on, so for Disney to make the story line about finding one’s self I think is pretty great. Kids can learn from a young age what is means to question yourself and how to overcome your own self identity. Self discovery though does not happen over night. It may take months or even years to truly understand who you are. Even though know I understand many aspects of myself, I still believe I am on my self journey. I don’t think I 100% know exactly who I am or who I want to be but I would say I am pretty close.

Plotting Your Leadership Development

Part One: Fill in the blanks (the lyrics don’t have to rhyme):

“How Far I’ll Go”

I’ve been staring at ___the edge of the water_______________

‘Long as I can remember, never really knowing why

I wish I could be the perfect _____daughter_____

But I come back to __water_____, no matter how hard I try

Every turn I take, every trail I track

Every path I make, every road leads back

To the place I know, where I can not go, where I long to be

See the _______light______? It calls me

And no one knows, how far it goes

If [what happens?____]_

One day I’ll know, if I go there’s just no telling how far I’ll go

I know everybody [where? what is your version of the island?], seems so happy [where?]

Everything is by design

I know everybody [where?] has a role [where?]

So maybe I can roll with mine

I can lead with _____pride__, I can make us strong

I’ll be satisfied if I play along

But the voice inside sings a different song

What is wrong with me?

See the light as it shines on ____the sea___? It’s blinding

But no one knows, how deep it goes

And it seems like it’s calling out to me, so come find me

And let me know, what’s beyond that ___line____, will I cross that ___line____?

The __sea___. It calls me

And no one knows, how far it goes

If __i don’t try_[what happens?]____

One day I’ll know, how far I’ll go

Part Two: Rewrite the lyrics to “I Am Moana” to fit how you see yourself (the lyrics don’t have to rhyme):

Who am I?- I am a women with pride

I am a girl who loves my island- I am a girl who loves my family

I’m the girl who loves the sea- I am a girl who loves me

It calls me- I hear my passion

I am the daughter of the village chief- I am the daughter of immigrants

We are descended from voyagers- They are from England

Who found their way across the world- They found themselves in America

They call me- I know my purpose

I’ve delivered us to where we are- They have done the best for me

I have journeyed farther- I will do the same for them

I am everything I’ve learned and more- I am first generation learning so much

Still it calls me- Life calls me

And the call isn’t out there at all, it’s inside me- The call is inside who I am

It’s like the tide, always falling and rising- Its like a feeling I get

I will carry you here in my heart you’ll remind me- I will always be grateful for them

That come what may- even in hard times

I know the way- I know who I am

I am Moana!- I am Carly !