Fun fact of the day: I am fascinated by the sense of smell, or rather the sense of smell's connection to other senses and human capabilities. I find three things fascinating here:
1. The relation between smell and taste. I tend to describe taste and smell in the same way, I will say, "this tastes like the smell of ______". When you think about it, that does not really make sense at all, but it is how I associate things, and I do not think I am alone in this.
2. This brings me to my next point; Smell and association. I feel like even though we don't go around sniffing each other like Basset Hounds, we identify people with smells. Certain people, and even families tend to have a particular smell. You walk in to the house and there is a certain smell, not good or bad, and you associate it with that person or family. Most people don't know their own smell. I noticed this when I came home from college the first time. It had been about two months since being home, and upon entering my house it was the strangest smell to me. Everytime I have returned since, I have actually familiarized that smell with me home.
3. In addition to how we associate things with smells, the connection between smell and memory, especially for me at least, is very strong. Smells bring up many memories for me, if I smell something that I associate with someone I remember so much about them and experiences together. Smells can even bring up emotions that go with that person or memory, almost instantly. One instance, is the smell of the oral surgeon's office. Getting oral surgery was one of my least favorite experiences, an if I smell the same clean smell from that office, I actually feel nervous. It works the other way around too, if I think about the experience, I can imagine the smell.
So this post might seem odd, or peg me as strange for having such a fascination. That is fine. It is jus one of those things that I do not understand but find interesting.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Writing, My Hall of Fame
I realize that many times throughout this blog, I have posted junk entries. Because writing is sort of a therapeutic exercise for me, I tend to go on rants about my opinions and problems. I do not think I need to apologize for these posts, seeing as they are still my sincere thoughts and feelings, but it is not fair to the reader looking for something a bit more interesting.There are a few jewels among the trash though. I decided I would go through and find my best writing moments, and a few wonderfully depicted memories as well and post them in a single list post. (Oh a list, what a (sarcastic) surprise). The following list is in order from newest post to oldest, and is labeled with subjects so you can read about whichever topic you choose. I hope you enjoy the little walk through my 'written hall of fame'. I sure have.
Patriotism
Have a favorite post?
Let Me Know!
Control
Nostalgia
Emotions
Anxiety
Relationships
Change
Time
Anger
Senioritis
Self-Reflection
School Conflict
Musician’s Life
New Years
Excuses
Blessings
Leaving
Drama
Value
Problems
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Have a favorite post?
Let Me Know!
Life Lessons of a College Freshman
I am alright with stating the obvious, College is a new experience full of all sorts of things that you never expect. The people are new and different, the lifestyle is new and different, the procedures are new and different, and most of all the lessons you learn are new and different. There are ways to prepare yourself for all this new and different that will bombard your life, but no one can be completely prepared. Most of the change is very good for us 18-19-year-olds leaving home and entering a completely new world, but it can be extremely hard. Sure, the extra work and responsibility makes things difficult, but I mean hard in the way that facing the truth can be hard, or struggles can be hard. Struggle is a very good adjective for how it can be sometimes, a struggle. I have compiled two of some of the important lessons I have learned over the first 3/4 of my freshman year (I am sure many more will be learned, a lot can occur over 2 months). I also have many more that have crossed my mind, but I have not quite put into words quite yet. Expect a "part 2" post soon.
1. Don't change who you are.
Okay, now this must come with a disclaimer. This does not mean that you are always correct. This does not mean you are flawless. This does not mean to stop improving yourself. I simply mean that you should improve yourself while keeping what truly makes your personality what it is, and only changing things because YOU believe you should. Too often, people adjust themselves to fit in, and yes, there are circumstances, especially in this time of change in which you must adapt, but you are still the you that you have grown to be. The scenario works like this: You come in to college and happen to find some people that you think could be your new friends, so you spend lots of time together. You find something that really connects all of you, and that is what you latch on to. Suddenly something that was just one of your hobbies or focuses becomes your number one priority and that isn't who you really are. Thus, the new "friendships" you have created around this thing are not quite as meaningful, and suddenly you are lost in relationship, and are no longer sure of yourself. It is sad but true of so many people. But a good lesson to learn none-the-less.
2. Tolerance is hard to develop
While you have to adjust your habits and lifestyles to fit this new place and life, you will keep many of the habits you are used to. While where you come from may be diverse, it isn't diverse enough to prepare you for the lifestyle differences of all the new people in college. It may not be obvious, but people of one area tend to be similar or at least share similar lifestyles. When you put people from different areas into one place there can be some conflict. For example, your hometown may be of middle class, full of diverse people, but mostly of the same socioeconomic status. Once at school, especially if it is a wealthier private school in a better-off area, those around you probably weren't all brought up the same way, their standards, living style, and spending habits will probably look different than your own. Developing the right tolerance of differences is where these differences can get dangerous. On one side of things, you can start to adopt their habits that do not fit your lifestyle. If you start to spend like someone who is better-off financially or has mommy and daddy to cover things, you will be in for a rude awakening when your wallet takes that hit. On the other hand, you could remain so set in your ways that the habits and mentalities of others can get on your nerves much quicker. These attitudes that you are not used to, whether good or bad, will get annoying to you because they are new, and you have not learned to tolerate them. This exposure of new and different lifestyles experienced during college is good for building strong but balanced tolerance, to practice both good judgement as well as acceptance.
1. Don't change who you are.
Okay, now this must come with a disclaimer. This does not mean that you are always correct. This does not mean you are flawless. This does not mean to stop improving yourself. I simply mean that you should improve yourself while keeping what truly makes your personality what it is, and only changing things because YOU believe you should. Too often, people adjust themselves to fit in, and yes, there are circumstances, especially in this time of change in which you must adapt, but you are still the you that you have grown to be. The scenario works like this: You come in to college and happen to find some people that you think could be your new friends, so you spend lots of time together. You find something that really connects all of you, and that is what you latch on to. Suddenly something that was just one of your hobbies or focuses becomes your number one priority and that isn't who you really are. Thus, the new "friendships" you have created around this thing are not quite as meaningful, and suddenly you are lost in relationship, and are no longer sure of yourself. It is sad but true of so many people. But a good lesson to learn none-the-less.
2. Tolerance is hard to develop
While you have to adjust your habits and lifestyles to fit this new place and life, you will keep many of the habits you are used to. While where you come from may be diverse, it isn't diverse enough to prepare you for the lifestyle differences of all the new people in college. It may not be obvious, but people of one area tend to be similar or at least share similar lifestyles. When you put people from different areas into one place there can be some conflict. For example, your hometown may be of middle class, full of diverse people, but mostly of the same socioeconomic status. Once at school, especially if it is a wealthier private school in a better-off area, those around you probably weren't all brought up the same way, their standards, living style, and spending habits will probably look different than your own. Developing the right tolerance of differences is where these differences can get dangerous. On one side of things, you can start to adopt their habits that do not fit your lifestyle. If you start to spend like someone who is better-off financially or has mommy and daddy to cover things, you will be in for a rude awakening when your wallet takes that hit. On the other hand, you could remain so set in your ways that the habits and mentalities of others can get on your nerves much quicker. These attitudes that you are not used to, whether good or bad, will get annoying to you because they are new, and you have not learned to tolerate them. This exposure of new and different lifestyles experienced during college is good for building strong but balanced tolerance, to practice both good judgement as well as acceptance.
Monday, March 26, 2012
A Hopeful Return
Oh hello there, long lost friend.
Turns out, college life is much busier and hectic than I had anticipated. While this is not necessarily a negative addition to life, it has, quite obviously, taken a toll on my writing hobby. This post of 'Hopeful Return' doesn't mean that I have become any less busy, by any means, but rather that I have received inspiration to pick up again.
Today while in one of my classes, my professor pulled me aside and asked me if I had ever considered writing. I was quite taken aback by this, seeing as most teachers merely comment on my spelling errors and overuse of commas. He told me how easily he was able to understand my latest paper and that I should really consider writing publicly. I mentioned to him that I blog, but unfortunately had to inform him that I hadn't for awhile. Then, I thought, this is a sign that I should start once more, so I could be able to inform others of my blog without the disclaimer. So, thank you professor, you know who you are. If you are reading).
I cannot make any promises, as I have "returned" to the blogging world many times only to leave when life whisks me up into more and more activities. (I just returned from Musical Pit Orchestra rehearsals which will take over my life here soon. Sorry!).
Turns out, college life is much busier and hectic than I had anticipated. While this is not necessarily a negative addition to life, it has, quite obviously, taken a toll on my writing hobby. This post of 'Hopeful Return' doesn't mean that I have become any less busy, by any means, but rather that I have received inspiration to pick up again.
Today while in one of my classes, my professor pulled me aside and asked me if I had ever considered writing. I was quite taken aback by this, seeing as most teachers merely comment on my spelling errors and overuse of commas. He told me how easily he was able to understand my latest paper and that I should really consider writing publicly. I mentioned to him that I blog, but unfortunately had to inform him that I hadn't for awhile. Then, I thought, this is a sign that I should start once more, so I could be able to inform others of my blog without the disclaimer. So, thank you professor, you know who you are. If you are reading).
I cannot make any promises, as I have "returned" to the blogging world many times only to leave when life whisks me up into more and more activities. (I just returned from Musical Pit Orchestra rehearsals which will take over my life here soon. Sorry!).
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