Living is a process that requires determination to succeed, to be happy, and most importantly to survive. Even though many obstacles play an essential part in determining how a person lives, overcoming these obstacles can enhance a person's determination for survival. Chinua Achebe's "Girls at War" is an excellent exposition of how life's parallel of adventures influences the determining will for survival. This short story defines the most beneficial factors of survival and how to apply those factors to life.

As Reginald Nwankwo sees in his life's travel, he had no control over meeting the same young woman three times. Each time their paths crossed the circumstances were completely different. During his first meeting of the young woman by the name of Gladys, he gives her advice on what steps she may want to take in her life's travel. He gently tells her that she should stay in school and don't think of fighting for the militia because it's not for many women.

The second chance meeting takes you to the point in his life where he actually meets Gladys again at a stationed check- point for the militia. He is s

Reginald wanted to understand but at the time the only thing that seemed to be on his mind was a way to relieve his built up tension with what he saw was a call girl. He lost his respect for her because he figured she gave up on herself, but this wasn't the case. After a night a the club and a meaningless affair in the bed he began to despise who she was and what the war had made her become. It took her to pour out her heart and describe to him what it was like having to change because of the war. She informed him that despite and ungrateful men would promise the world but only give pain. Pain of their accounts of the battle and pain of hitting to relieve their frustration and beaten mind out on someone.

This story shows that it's important not to live in such shallow walls and it also shows not to judge. Instead there should always be room in your mind for understanding and room in your heart to give love and help to anyone. Survival is a basic instinct in life and as the past has proven, we all have that want to do so. Sometimes we don't know what way to turn when we get to the fork in our road, but we do know that we will turn and once we do, we have agreed once again to do what we must to survive.

As the day went on Reginald began to change the way he saw things. He began to understand that he had turned his head away from reality. Reality being that the war was true, and many people believed in giving the time and efforts to fight for their country regardless of the outcome, at least they had tried. He began to understand what Gladys had gone through and that her only position was to change in order to survive.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Reginald Nwankwo, War Living, Girls War, determined survive, girls war, meeting woman, life's travel,
Approximate Word count = 1164
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)