Freedom

The last time I felt free was about 3 weeks ago. I had just gotten back from a retreat with a program I'm in, Interfaith for Climate Justice. Prior to the retreat, I had just gotten back from vacation with my family. And on top of that, school was starting the same week. In other words, I was on an emotional high, filled with happiness and excitement. Anyway, upon returning home from the retreat I decided to do one of my favorite things- go on a bike ride.

After I finished my usual route, I still wasn't tired and hadn't had just enough, so I decided to go to the neighborhood park. Usually the park is crowded with kids playing basketball and tons of kids running around, but on that particular day it was empty. I headed straight for the swings. I turned my music and started to swing and sing. And in this moment I felt free. Free of all my worries and stress. I was able to forget about the world, and just live in the moment. I stayed there for almost an hour just swinging and singing. It was just marvelous.

I think freedom is being able to just be. It means not being concerned with every little thing and just being able to live in the moment. It's like taking a moment for yourself to enjoy life.

Wonder

For my assignment I chose a gum wrapper and tried to imagine its "hidden life." However, I had a hard time completing this task. To me, it's just a gum wrapper. There is no wonder surrounding it. To me wonder relates with a person's curiosity and fascination ; a person can wonder about or at something, and something can be wondrous. I definitely think a lot of things have lost their wonder as I've gotten older. If I was six, maybe the gum wrapper would be more wondrous. I think I would have also approached this assignment with greater enthusiasm and would have searched near and far for something a bit more wondrous.

I think we are less capable of imagination and wonder as we age because we often start to view everything as hackneyed. We start to take for granted all the small things because we're so used to seeing them. As child, there is so many new things to discover and the possibilities seem endless as a child. I think society also plays a role in the decrease of imagination and wonder as people age. It is often frowned upon when adults use their imagination too much. People might say they are acting childish and need to grow up.

I think that "concepts create idols, only wonder knows" means that concepts can only take a person so far because they are limited. A concept can only answer so many questions, and often leaves a person wondering. On the other hand, wonder knows no bounds. Wonder goes as far as a person's imagination can take them.

  

Kenyon Commencement Speech

            In his Kenyon Commencement Speech, David Foster Wallace presents an interesting viewpoint on life. He discusses how life consists of fundamental choices that affect the way people view and engage in the world. According to Wallace, the main choice people have to make is whether they will continue through life with their default setting or our tendency to be completely self-centered and unaware of others. He then goes on to explain how switching from our positive default setting can be beneficial for people, as it helps with the little irritating happenings from day to day.

            I do find Wallace’s idea to be credible. It’s actually pretty basic when one thinks about it; it’s just easier said than done. I cannot recall how many times someone has told be to try to be more aware and look at the world from a different perspective. Yet, I always seem to fall back into my default setting. That is just the way it is. However, if I were to change my outlook, then of course the way I engage in the world would change as well. The hard part is just switching from default setting.

            I myself have a hard time switching from the default setting. I don’t necessarily go around with a negative energy, but I can be self-centered quite a bit. Whenever someone annoys me, I don’t think, “Oh they might be going through something.” I think about myself, and how I would like them to leave me alone. I’m always looking out for myself, even when helping others. However, I would like to be off the default setting sometimes. I feel like it would help me to be more aware of my surroundings.

            In the audio version of Wallace’s speech, the audience often claps in places where Wallace is actually insulting them. They clap when he discusses the daily irritating things in life. They seem to be agreeing that they feel the same way when the grocery store is crowded or someone cuts them off while driving. It’s ironic because that is the exact type of behavior that Wallace was talking about in his speech. This indicates that they are all on the default setting. Hopefully, they realized this after he finished his speech.

            David Foster Wallace’s Kenyon Commencement speech provides an interesting insight into everyday life. His idea of life being made up of choices that ultimately affect how we view and engage in the world is very interesting and actually proves to be quite accurate. His speech helps those who read or listen to it understand why it is important to switch from the default setting every now and then.  

Caligula Assignment

1. One of the four truth's of the "I" was that we all have unlimited desires. However, these desires are limited by reality making them almost impossible. In the play, Caligula desires the moon, simply because he cannot have it. This illustrates Caligula's "heart" as he longs for something that reality will not allow him to have.
2. The ones in power in the play view Caligula's "heart" as a phase. They say that all young men his age experience similar feelings. The patricians and nobles say that they will simply make him see reason to get Caligula out of his phase. In other words, they will make him see their way. I agree with those in power that we all go through phases in life. However, I do not agree with how they plan to make Caligula see reason. As discussed in class, that is their way of manipulating Caligula. 

Newspaper Factors

I chose the newspaper for my object. The newspaper consists of several folded sheets of paper with thousands of words on it. Some of the papers also include pictures to accompany the articles. Besides it's obvious purpose of presenting information, newspapers can be used for a number of things. It can be used as a book cover or wrapping paper. If you are painting or completing a messy project, you can place the paper down to protect whatever surface you might be painting on. Newspapers can be used as hats, or even confetti. If you happen to get caught in the rain, just place the newspaper over your head, walk a little bit faster, and you'll stay semi dry. Newspapers can also be used for packing stuffing, and making paper mache. In other words, newspaper is a great thing to always have on hand.

There are a number of things that make me happy. I find that the majority of things that make me happy are rather small and simple things. For example, one thing that always brightens my day, no matter what, is when my mother cooks one of my favorite meals for dinner. It never fails. I just get really happy whenever I am eating something tasty. I really love food and try to savor and appreciate each meal I receive. Another thing that makes me happy is riding my bike through my neighborhood while listening to music. I have created the perfect bike playlist and sometimes I even time my ride to sync with the music. It is quite an amazing experience. Even when I am not riding my bike, music still makes me happy. It is the one thing that can lift my spirits, and truly bring me joy. Music is just happiness all on its own. Those are just three examples of a number of simple things that can brighten my day. I think that if a person finds his joy in the smaller things in life, then he will live a more positive, joy-filled life. There are many opportunities to find joy in small, simple, everyday things. Nature is the perfect example. There is so much beauty in nature that could bring a person happiness. Another plus is that nature is everywhere. For example, I love to watch storms because I find the power that Mother Nature possesses so fascinating. Or sometimes I like to sit outside alone. For a second I think that I am alone, and then I realize all the millions of organisms surrounding me in nature. That thought makes me happy. On the other hand, if one finds happiness in the extravagant things, they will have a harder chance of finding happiness. Besides finding joy in the smaller things in life, I also find joy in others. Whenever somebody else is excited or happy, it usually rubs off on me. It makes me happy to know that others are doing well or are content with their lives.

Writing the above makes me realize that my happiness is often dependent on happenings in my life, even if they are small simple things. I do not think this is a necessarily a bad thing though. One could argue that if I didn’t have the things that make me happy, then my life would be terrible because I would never have happiness. However, there is a difference between being happy and being content. It is ok if I am not always happy. In fact, if somebody was always happy, he/she would get tiring after a while. It is comparable to someone being angry all the time; not cool. I think it is more important to be content with your life and situation. It is ok if I am not always 100% percent happy all the time, I would just like to be content.

Who are you?- The age old question that's bothered me since I was a little girl. I've never known quite how to answer it. Yet, everyone from teachers to friends seems to ask it. For only three words, it's such a loaded question. Thankfully, you've provided a number of questions, so I'll start off with those, and hopefully you will get a sense of who exactly I am.

I value a lot in my life, and have been blessed to have things to value. Two of the main things are my family and friends. I love both with all my heart. I spend a lot of time with my family, probably more than the average teenager. But, I do enjoy every minute when I am with them. Most of the time at least. As much as I love my family, I find that we clash on a lot of issues. I also spend a lot of in my room and riding my bike as a means of escape. For everything that I don't go to my family for, my friends are right there. I have one true best friend, who I love like my second sister. Besides her, I have a number of friends and acquaintances who brighten my day. I also value my sleep, food and music.

I grew up in the baptist church. Every Sunday I attend church, and participate in the youth choir, and a number of various activities. When I was six, my daddy became a pastor. Needless to say, this impacted my life quite a bit. I felt as if I always had to be on my best behavior because someone was always watching, and felt like everyone had such high expectations of me. This one thought has completely shaped who I am as a person today. Most, dare I say all, of my values and beliefs stem from my father being a pastor and growing up in the church. I do believe and Jesus and God. I pray for myself and others often. However, I do sometimes question life and everyone's purpose. I wonder if it's really all true. But, that's usually only when it's late at night and I'm tired beyond means.

I am black. My father's from Los Angeles, California, and my mother's from Augusta, Georgia. I must say I have latched on to my southern roots more so than California ones. I really do love the south. Reason one being the food. I love food, and the South has some good food. Simple enough. Reason two being the people. Whenever we travel down south, everybody's so kind and sweet. I really enjoy that. It makes me happy.

In life, I hope to be happy. That's it. Wherever God leads me, I just hope I'm happy.