Living Alone

Living Alone

I hope one day to live on my own out away from people. Long after I've worked, to save enough money to buy property and live far from a city by myself. Miles away from traffic, away from civilization, my own place. An area where I can hear nature and be alone in my thoughts. I love people, don't get me wrong, but I'm super comfortable with myself and being on my own. This will always be on my bucket list

Snow Days

Snow Days

I'm starting to realize getting a 'Snow Day' in Colorado is just about impossible. The 4 years I've lived here it's taken -5 degrees and a foot of snow just to miss one day. I've begun to always expect school, and not be too hopeful. This is Colorado, I guess...

Today's Speakers

Today's Presentations'

Both speakers did an incredible job today. I wasn't able to catch up to either of them and compliment them on a job well done, so why not devote a blog post to both. They clearly had done a lot of research, as well a fantastic job incorporating their audience. It felt like a group discussion rather than someone presenting a project, so to that, hell of a job today!

Horrible Feeling

Horrible Feeling

Have you ever felt clueless in a class, just to see everyone around you working swiftly on the material you're completely lost in? I hate this. Math always gives me this issue, It's hard to avoid feeling stupid when it occurs, I just don't get it. Someone asked me the other day what 'hopeless' feels like, and feeling different in a class completely defines that word. I'm sure there's other people who have gotten this feeling, it's terrible.

Normal Day

Nothing New

 Ever have one of those days where you just repeat your routine? Yeah, that was my Wednesday. All I've done is go to class, do homework, and sleep; not an entertaining day of much importance. In the grand scheme of things, it's better than staying at home all day sleeping, but still, I don't have much to say. 

Different Work Ethics

Different Work Ethics

       I've always found it odd how some people can study for 30 minutes and get an A+ while It takes me 4-5 hours to make that. Friends in high school could do that on AP tests, compared to me, who had to study his butt off in regular classes. Maybe they're just way beyond my intelligence or have a superb memory, in any case, I can't fathom this.

Frosted Window

Frosted Window

Waking up to a car drenched in snow and ice is probably the worst thing ever. Taking 20 minutes for it to completely defrost all while having freezing temperatures inside; I miss having a garage. Not going to lie, that's probably the number one reason I miss living at home; Colorado is the place to have a garage. I'll make the best of it, waking up earlier to allow time to defrost my truck's window; issues I never had living in Dallas.

Debates

Debating

To me, there's a huge difference between arguing with someone and debating. I've found that many people often include the two as the same, and that bothers me. Often, I'll debate with friends over deeper issues or various other things, not trying to alter their viewpoint but in a way, help them see mine. I enjoy hearing there point on the subject as well.

However, I've found some people seem so scared of hurting someone's feelings that they often don't say anything. In hearing their ideas on stuff, it gives me a good perspective, but agreeing with someone just to agree is pointless. Are you really human if you have no opinion on anything? life isn't about staying hidden and not following what you think.

Making the Right Friends

True Friends

As I've gotten older, being true to myself has started to mean something.These days, if some friends wanna do something that I don't, turning it down isn't hard. The best friends are those that don't make you do stuff that requires being uncomfortable, and those are the friends I have kept.

Marriage is a Fiticious Concept

Marriage

You can call me biased, but I don't believe in marriage. My parents divorced when I was 3, Mom's been married 3 times, I've watched relationship after relationship crash in my family.  Everyone is in a rush to start a family right after college: Get married, have kids, buy a house. However, five to ten years down the road they divorce because someone cheats or they "fall out of love." In the process of getting married in your 20's, you aren't financially stable. Add a kid to the mix, they'll surely cut costs right? Today, the divorce rate in America is around 40-50% (American Physcological Assosiation). 

Think about it, about 1 in every two marriages is destined to fail; horrible chances indeed. People settle so easily; society pictures happiness as being married and having kids, then you're all set. Yet, so many guys and girls have a fantasy with marriage, as if that girl will find her "prince-charming" or this guy will have the girl of his dreams. Creating a fake view on what it really is, two people going through life, pushing down barriers and staying together while holding the vows, "till death do us part."

Sorry, but I believe happiness lies in yourself. Is that selfish? no. Helping others and doing the right thing does not require living with a spouse. If I live my life helping others, single, and friends surrounding me there will be satisfaction. Go ahead, have a kid at 23-24, divorce 4-5 years later. You'll have kids with an identical mindset to mine.

Music

Music

Ever find it weird how relevant music becomes when your older? 12-13, I could care less about what I was listening to, as long as it sounded cool. Now, music compliments whatever music your mood is in, becoming much deeper than a 'cool beat.' As well as finding the perfect song, I often wonder what compelled the singer to write it? what was going on in his life that made him get so in depth, that a song came of it? As we get older our minds seem to feel compelled to look at a bigger picture, and that's been a great part of growing up.

Fixing a Tire

Flat Tire

Today, for the first time, I fixed a flat. Of course my Dad helped quite a bit, but learning how to was a solid life lesson. Like in my last blog, not enough useful tips are shared in high school to prepare us for the world. Luckily my Dad wanted to help me, but I know that's not the case for every human being out there.

Relevant High School Curriculum

Real World Information

So much of what we learn in school is wasted. Finding X, doing geometry, and countless other topics. Yes, some engineers will utilize that, but my point is the vast majority of students don't need it. High school should have courses with auto mechanics, financial responsibility, and teach us how to fill out W2 and W4 forums. Students shouldn't go into college not knowing loans, apr rates, and how credit cards work. It's time school utilizes more relevant information, something we will need once adulthood strikes us.

Does Social Media Benefit Society?

Does Social Media Benefit Society?

These gadgets we hold in our hand connect us to the world, but in reality, do they? Degenerates - these individuals hide behind a computer screen and either trash someone they're jealous of, or lash out at someone because they can't handle their own life. Not only that, social media can cause us to be distracted losing focus in school, life, and countless other things. From the beginning, that connected feeling grabs us. Tweeting others, Facebook messaging, interacting without actually speaking to each other in person. Nothing is wrong with it, however, you can overdue it.

With all these new apps, it's important to remember that human interaction wasn't designed to be over phone. You can believe you 'know' someone, but until you go out in the real world and talk to them, you're only halfway there.

Judgement

Judgement

We all judge each other, It's the American way. Strangers make rash decisions on you based off looks, economic status, and millions of other things. We all do it; we avoid those who look 'shady' and welcome anyone who seems friendly. Seeing someone for who they are as a person takes time, you don't know where someone's mind is at just by seeing them once. For example, say your boss screamed at you for being two minutes late. Quickly, you arrive at the conclusion that your boss is a 'jerk' and wouldn't understand the fact that you've been up all night, balancing school and work all week. However, the jerk's wife just cheated on him, after 25 years of marriage; he found all this out the night before. Shocked and devastated, his emotional state couldn't handle work the next day. Thus, he took his anger out on an employee for being two minutes late. Empathy for others requires work and that's a problem for our own fast paced lives. Why should I care about what they're going through? I have enough issues in my life. 

By far, that's the easiest route to take, think about your own issues and little of those who surround you. Still, that's a miserable way to look at the world. Life is empty and quiet for those who only care about themselves. The next time you see someone on the street, don't form assumptions on them based off what he/she is wearing. Talk to them, learn about them; things are not always what they seem.

Life of an Introvert

Introvert Lifestyle

Have you ever thought about what kind of social type you belong to? Once you do, you'll find yourself amazed at the common traits of each. I for one, am positive I'm an introvert. Although I like meeting new people and conversing in casual conversation, time alone to gather my thoughts and decisions are a necessity. Group work- I can't stand it, there's nothing I loathe more. It's not that I'm scared to work with others, ideas just don't flow as easily as they do while alone. As well as writing, it's often said that introverts throw themselves through this. That's me in a heartbeat, I could write about something in much greater context then speaking. While I might not be the best writer ever, I have a passion for it, and a belief that I can improve my abilities towards it. Look around next time you're in public, you can figure out pretty easily whose an extrovert and whose an introvert.

Early Presentation

Early Presentation

When I saw my name under the first day of presentations, I was terrified. This meant that I would have to come up with everything twice as quick, and rush myself to feel ready. However, working with my topic and staying organized on how I will present, it's a gift to go on the first day. Not only am I getting it over with, I won't have that aching feeling in my gut waiting for people to finish theirs for three or four days. Again, I think this comes with a mentality, since I feel prepared I'm confident in my abilities. 

Living With My Brother

Living With My Brother 

Since winter break, my brother and I have started living together. The freedom that comes with being away from your parents is at times great, and sometimes, not so great. On the bright side, nobody is around to pester me about my homework or yell at me to do chores but on the other side, I often forget what I need to do. Learning that self-motivation is the only way I'm going to be successful at life, I have started to develop good habits. It's hard to break the cycle of blowing things off, but once you do it gets easier an easier. When you can personally break habits, and change the way you do things, tasks will start to get done subconsciously.