Since this article was rather long and full of meaningful and important information, I am going to focus on one section that was especially interesting to me, which was '#8. You are not who you think you are'. This section of the article discusses the idea that we, as individuals, are not "free" selves, but are rather shaped by society into what we "should" be like. I completely agree that this is truly the case. As much as I would like to think that I-and only I- created my unique personality, morals, and overall way of life, it is just not true. We are all shaped by society in one way or another. It all goes back to norms, which was discussed in the beginning of the article. Society, in general, wants us to act and behave in a certain way. We are to go to school, graduate from college, maintain a decent job, grow a family, follow the laws, and stay out of trouble. Like the author states, we like to think that these are our honest choices, but let's be real: If it wasn't expected of me, I wouldn't necessarily exactly want to go to a job for eight hours a day, Monday through Friday. But that is the norm and that has further shaped me into who I am today.
I found the mention of Sigmund Freud very interesting. He observed that his dreams had motives that came from his unconscious mind; in his unconscious were feelings and thoughts that were too inappropriate in everyday society. I definitely agree with this thought. I have had some dreams that I believe came from deep unconscious feelings that I has just pushed out of my mind because they seemed like unrealistic or unnatural thoughts that I should not have been having.
When reading about instincts, it made me think of the young children I deal with at work. As adults, we have many urges and instincts, but we control these drives in order to be civilized (and possibly to avoid breaking a law or getting in some sort of trouble). I thought about the 2 year olds at work, who do almost everything based on instinct, without any thought. Someone took your toy? You bite them. You don't want to clean up? You scream at the top of your lungs. Simple- they do what they feel like doing. This made me think: what if we all acted upon our instincts, without giving any thought to how we ought to behave in society? It would probably be total chaos, but the idea made me laugh a bit.
Overall, it is interesting to think about how society shapes us. As an individual I like to think that I contribute to society, but looking at it from a different perspective, SOCIETY really contributes more to ME, shaping who I am as a person. I can't help but wonder how different of a person I would have ended up being had I grown up in a completely different society, say a different country. It's a mind-boggling thought, but it really opens up a whole new window of perspectives for me. Am I really OK with society making me the person I am..? Or should I resist that influence and go against society, like some people choose to do? As for now, I think a little soul searching is in order.
Monday, August 27, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Essay Proposal:The Nashville Flood of 2010
The Nashville Floods of 2010
Almost two years ago, on the first and second days of May in 2010, Central Tennessee had an extreme amount of rainfall, causing a great flood throughout the Nashville area. In just these two days, 13 to 19 inches of rainfall were reported in various areas throughout middle Tennessee, affecting numerous rivers, especially the Cumberland River. This major river crested at 51.86 feet, causing detrimental effects to the great city of Nashville. This flood caused major property damage (both in residential and city areas), damage to Interstate 40, and casualties throughout the state.
One would think that with this major of a disaster, more people would know about it. Sadly, there was little to no media on any major news stations throughout the country. Unfortunately, other "bigger" stories were being covered, including the failed car bomb attempts in NYC and the oil spill in the Gulf. How is it that twenty-one people died in a two day period throughout Tennessee, and there is hardly any media coverage?
Almost two years ago, on the first and second days of May in 2010, Central Tennessee had an extreme amount of rainfall, causing a great flood throughout the Nashville area. In just these two days, 13 to 19 inches of rainfall were reported in various areas throughout middle Tennessee, affecting numerous rivers, especially the Cumberland River. This major river crested at 51.86 feet, causing detrimental effects to the great city of Nashville. This flood caused major property damage (both in residential and city areas), damage to Interstate 40, and casualties throughout the state.
One would think that with this major of a disaster, more people would know about it. Sadly, there was little to no media on any major news stations throughout the country. Unfortunately, other "bigger" stories were being covered, including the failed car bomb attempts in NYC and the oil spill in the Gulf. How is it that twenty-one people died in a two day period throughout Tennessee, and there is hardly any media coverage?
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Blog Work part 1: Short essay reflection
It took me a long time to actually decide what I wanted to write about for my short essay. I finally decided to continue with a previous blog post I had worked on. I extended it into about three pages, and the writing actually came really easy to me, probably because I enjoyed spilling my thoughts onto the paper. In class, a classmate read my first draft but did not write any comments for me to follow, so I did not change much from my draft to my final paper; I simply shortened it and took out some unnecessary information.
For the research paper, I would love to talk about some topic under the broader topic of education. I'm an education major so I have a lot of interesting ideas. Topics like public vs private school education, bullying statistics in schools, why states education is better than others, literacy rates in different parts of the country & why, etc.
For the research paper, I would love to talk about some topic under the broader topic of education. I'm an education major so I have a lot of interesting ideas. Topics like public vs private school education, bullying statistics in schools, why states education is better than others, literacy rates in different parts of the country & why, etc.
Pre-writing/Write with emphasis
Nashville, Tennessee, the "Music Capital" of the world, is truly a wonderful place to live. Not only is it an exciting city, booming with both music industry and automobile industry, but also a great place to settle down and raise a family. For a young adult trying to make it big in the country music industry, this is the place to be, but Nashville has so much more to offer. This city, which has grown tremendously during the past 20 years, has a rich history, both in music and other aspects. This alone brings many people to the 615 area. Many young people swarm to this area for the growing job availiability, the fun downtown party scene, and the lively college town feel. However, this city is not just full of college kids and hipsters, but also families and older individuals as well. Young couples, especially those looking to start a family, are drawn to the beautiful neighborhoods within, or on the outskirts of, Nashville city limits.
My first tattoo: Descriptive
It was a viciously hot day this past summer when I spontaneously decided to get my first tattoo. I had been yearning for one ever since I turned sixteen and thought I was some sort of rebel; I had always been known as a "safe kid" growing up, and I subconsciously wanted to prove that I could take risks and be impulsive. However, I waited until I really knew what I wanted before I made the big decision. I saw the perfect quote to ink on my body and immediately got in the car to head to the tattoo parlor. Some may say I rushed into it; but hell, when you know, you know. During the ten minute car ride to the tattoo parlor with my best friend, my palms became ridiculously sweaty, I smoked a grotesque amount of cigarettes, and my bottom lip became ragged and chapped from my consistent biting.
When we walk into the grungy building, I am greeted-- nonenthusiastically, I might add-- by two men with more tattoos and peircings than I even want to think about. As if that wasn't scary enough, the sound of a tattoo needle going to work in some back room almost had me running back to my car. I took a deep breathe, and tried to hide the nervousness in my shaky voice to the guy who would be changing my body forever. Of course, he was completely tatted up, and had numerous peircings in his face, including the one through the nose, which always makes me think of a raging bull. I remember thinking to myself, "It's a good thing you're a tattoo artist because you could never get a job anywhere else." He wasn't especially friendly, but he drew up my tattoo just how I wanted it, and place the stencil print onto my shoulder. The letters of this quote that suddenly meant so much to me were perfectly rounded in their cursive form. It looked phenomenal and intricately beautiful, so I took a leap of faith and fully decided to go with it.
When we walk into the grungy building, I am greeted-- nonenthusiastically, I might add-- by two men with more tattoos and peircings than I even want to think about. As if that wasn't scary enough, the sound of a tattoo needle going to work in some back room almost had me running back to my car. I took a deep breathe, and tried to hide the nervousness in my shaky voice to the guy who would be changing my body forever. Of course, he was completely tatted up, and had numerous peircings in his face, including the one through the nose, which always makes me think of a raging bull. I remember thinking to myself, "It's a good thing you're a tattoo artist because you could never get a job anywhere else." He wasn't especially friendly, but he drew up my tattoo just how I wanted it, and place the stencil print onto my shoulder. The letters of this quote that suddenly meant so much to me were perfectly rounded in their cursive form. It looked phenomenal and intricately beautiful, so I took a leap of faith and fully decided to go with it.
Living at home vs. Living on your own
Most teenagers wait for years to move out of their parents' house; throughout high school it seems like the years drag by, when suddenly, it's time to move out and live on your own. This experience can be daunting and overwhelming. Most teens think they're ready to be on their own, "living the dream", but find that the differences from living at home are surprising and difficult to manage at times.
When you're living at home, you have everything set for you. Yes, you're mother makes a list of chores for you, and dad barks out tasks that need to be done around the house, but for the most part, you don't have to worry about much. The burden of paying bills and doing taxes does not fall on your shoulders, you don't have to worry about what color to paint the living room or how much that sofa set costs, and most importantly, you don't have to buy your own toilet paper and Ramen noodles. In my experience, living at home with my parents was amazing. My mom always had food on the table, and always did my laundry without even telling me. My dad was always there to check my car's tire pressure and change my oil whenever it needed to be done. Not to mention, he was always nearby to come to my rescue when I got a flat tire. Another advantage of living at home is the fact that you have to go to school; it's not an option when your parents are around to hear from your school principal if you decide to skip a day. It's also nice to know your mom will make sure you wake up and get out the door on time. When you're living at home, you never have to worry about what you will do for your next meal; your mom or dad take care of all the groceries. The best part about living at home is the added security of knowing your parents are in the next room, and you have nothing to worry about.
Living on your own is extremely different than living at home. For one thing, you don't have your parents watching your every move, so your freedom is pretty limitless. This can be fun at times, or it can be a burden considering they won't know if you go to class or if you decide to stay up partying all night. When you move into a place on your own, you have to buy your own furniture to make the place look fairly decent. While your parents' home is full of nice-looking furniture sets, it seems your new place is full of cheap items you found on Craigslist. When you live on your own, you never have a stocked refrigerator like you did at home. If you're lucky, you have bread, milk, and beer. Going to the grocery store for the first time on your own really makes you appreciate and admire your mother; how they do it every week we will never know. Living on your own, there definitely won't be a lovely dinner waiting on the table for you when you get home from work; you have to completely fend for yourself. Not only do you have to buy your own groceries, but you have to buy everyday items that you never think about purchasing, including soap, toothpaste, and toilet paper. After a few days of living on your own you also realize you have to actually clean the place to keep it looking nice. This includes doing dishes, vaccuuming, and taking out the trash everyday, even though the dumpster may be a parking lot away. Contrary to popular belief, you have to actually clean the toilet and the bathtub too--yes, they make cleaning supplies for that. The most daunting factor of living at home is the fact that you have to pay bills every month. After a few weeks of high electricity and water bills, you learn real fast to take quick showers and turn the lights and TV off when you're not using them. When you're on your own, you don't get a weekly allowance, as nice as that would be. You have to go out and get a job so you can support yourself. Making a budget, which is something I'm still struggling with, is the key to living at home. You can't just ask your mom to buy you that new cool pair of shoes, and when you overdraft your bank account, your dad will definitely be livid.
Living on your own sounds fun, and it definitely can be; it is a learning experience to say the least. There are both advantages and disadvantages to both living at home and living on your own. "Living the dream" and doing it all on your own really makes you appreciate, and sometimes miss, your years spent under your parents' roof.
When you're living at home, you have everything set for you. Yes, you're mother makes a list of chores for you, and dad barks out tasks that need to be done around the house, but for the most part, you don't have to worry about much. The burden of paying bills and doing taxes does not fall on your shoulders, you don't have to worry about what color to paint the living room or how much that sofa set costs, and most importantly, you don't have to buy your own toilet paper and Ramen noodles. In my experience, living at home with my parents was amazing. My mom always had food on the table, and always did my laundry without even telling me. My dad was always there to check my car's tire pressure and change my oil whenever it needed to be done. Not to mention, he was always nearby to come to my rescue when I got a flat tire. Another advantage of living at home is the fact that you have to go to school; it's not an option when your parents are around to hear from your school principal if you decide to skip a day. It's also nice to know your mom will make sure you wake up and get out the door on time. When you're living at home, you never have to worry about what you will do for your next meal; your mom or dad take care of all the groceries. The best part about living at home is the added security of knowing your parents are in the next room, and you have nothing to worry about.
Living on your own is extremely different than living at home. For one thing, you don't have your parents watching your every move, so your freedom is pretty limitless. This can be fun at times, or it can be a burden considering they won't know if you go to class or if you decide to stay up partying all night. When you move into a place on your own, you have to buy your own furniture to make the place look fairly decent. While your parents' home is full of nice-looking furniture sets, it seems your new place is full of cheap items you found on Craigslist. When you live on your own, you never have a stocked refrigerator like you did at home. If you're lucky, you have bread, milk, and beer. Going to the grocery store for the first time on your own really makes you appreciate and admire your mother; how they do it every week we will never know. Living on your own, there definitely won't be a lovely dinner waiting on the table for you when you get home from work; you have to completely fend for yourself. Not only do you have to buy your own groceries, but you have to buy everyday items that you never think about purchasing, including soap, toothpaste, and toilet paper. After a few days of living on your own you also realize you have to actually clean the place to keep it looking nice. This includes doing dishes, vaccuuming, and taking out the trash everyday, even though the dumpster may be a parking lot away. Contrary to popular belief, you have to actually clean the toilet and the bathtub too--yes, they make cleaning supplies for that. The most daunting factor of living at home is the fact that you have to pay bills every month. After a few weeks of high electricity and water bills, you learn real fast to take quick showers and turn the lights and TV off when you're not using them. When you're on your own, you don't get a weekly allowance, as nice as that would be. You have to go out and get a job so you can support yourself. Making a budget, which is something I'm still struggling with, is the key to living at home. You can't just ask your mom to buy you that new cool pair of shoes, and when you overdraft your bank account, your dad will definitely be livid.
Living on your own sounds fun, and it definitely can be; it is a learning experience to say the least. There are both advantages and disadvantages to both living at home and living on your own. "Living the dream" and doing it all on your own really makes you appreciate, and sometimes miss, your years spent under your parents' roof.
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