tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80596784802280445432024-03-14T00:57:31.514-04:00Not So Average AveryAvery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-88608328429880144032023-10-16T13:33:00.002-04:002023-10-18T13:13:22.854-04:00Growing, Changing, AdaptingHello!<br>
I am now a freshman at The University of Texas at Austin, and settling into my new environment well. <br>
Over these past five years since I began writing this blog, my life has changed dramatically. No longer a pimple-faced 13-year-old girl, I have grown into a young woman taking on new endeavors. <br>
I have moved from Massachusetts to Texas! I now live in Austin, and I love this city. There is so much to do all of the time, and new things popping up constantly. I have been able to explore the city, and meet so many new friends who make this adventure fantastic. <br>
I am studying Government and Plan II Honors. I am planning on also declaring a minor in Arabic. I would like to learn this language for my work in the Air Force and future work, wherever that may take me. I love my classes, my professors are all incredibly educated individuals and my peers are incredibly intellectual. In such a big school, I have found my crowd, and I could not be more grateful for that. <br>
I have joined the Air Force ROTC at my college. I love my wingmen and the opportunity to develop incredible leadership skills. I struggle with the physical fitness component, but I have been working hard every single day to increase my scores. With my own grit and determination, I will have the opportunity to be selected for a POC position, where I will commission into the Air Force as a Second Lieutenant. If I want it, I will get there on my own merit. <br>
I am working for The Daily Texan! It is the oldest student newspaper on campus. I work in the video department, creating short films and clips to promote local journalism. It is a really cool group, and a great way to get experience in local journalism. I am definitely busy, but whatever time I have, I try to help my fellow videomakers on their projects. <br>
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It is evident that with all of these new endeavors, I am definitely learning new ways to enagage in my community and interact with others. Feeling nostalgic, I was reading through some of my old work on this blog, and realize how much I have grown in the last few years. I am still young, so I am no where near done. But already, I notice subtle changes in my opinions and mannerisms which prove that my endeavors are polishing my personality and self-identity. <br>
For one thing, in a junior year essay, I describe living in Massachusetts as "torture." To me at that time, I was so excited to move out of state for college and see new parts of the world, and somehow I attributed my state to limiting me from doing that. Now that I do live out of state, I realize how incredibly priviledged I am to have grown up in such a lovely area, with boundless resources avaliable at my discretion. Posting these negative opinions while younger shows how uneducated we are about the world in our youth. I am sure I will look back at my writing now in a few years and laugh at what I see here. But, I understand that we, as humans, grow as we age. I believe it is incredibly important to understand this aspect of our lives, so we may not cement ourselves to specific opinions and ideas, but develop over time to become as educated as possible.<br>
I graduated from my high school with nothing but gratitude for my teachers, friends, peers, and everyone else who taught me. I learned from my coaches, teammates, teachers, administrators, janitors, and more who would take me forever to name. I made mistakes and was corrected, and even when it was uncomfortable, I learned to understand that my actions affect others more than I know, and I will not grow without being corrected. I tried to put 110% effort into everything I did, and even when I failed, I tried to keep going. I worked for my younger self, who romanticized the idea of being in clubs and playing sports, and for my older self, who now can take away specific lessons and not repeat mistakes. I couldn't be more grateful to my highschool for giving me this perspective, and as I take on new challenges, I will remember those who were there at the foundations of my leadership teachings. <br>
Five years ago, I wrote a blog post in my eighth grade classroom, more than excited to begin a legitimate writing portfolio. Five years later, I sit in a college lecture hall, reflecting on how I have grown to where I am now. I am learning to participate in all sides of the story, to learn perspectives instead of boasting my own. <br>
To everyone who has helped me get to where I am, thank you. To everyone who will guide me in my future, I am so, so excited to meet you. <br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGENwu9jH5kBpWcat_rwOfK0PlVJX8tnCAGPc6dkA4FzUM7M3M5YVDy4jlbEwvyjqxm9IaaVxpMO424N4GMJCEa0_qyC6WcOJaIwiQcFm9z-SREfxbRpQMR_oItpk6WaAbhTgkhjIFejPNg7vXmnN1ywCqDY73CCZJjcH39ZYp092wUjZNQkpbLLK6wOd/s4032/IMG_1273.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGENwu9jH5kBpWcat_rwOfK0PlVJX8tnCAGPc6dkA4FzUM7M3M5YVDy4jlbEwvyjqxm9IaaVxpMO424N4GMJCEa0_qyC6WcOJaIwiQcFm9z-SREfxbRpQMR_oItpk6WaAbhTgkhjIFejPNg7vXmnN1ywCqDY73CCZJjcH39ZYp092wUjZNQkpbLLK6wOd/s320/IMG_1273.jpeg"/></a></div>Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-76738027524313961982023-08-26T17:48:00.003-04:002023-10-18T13:08:32.499-04:00Pancakes to ParisThis is my college essay, which got me accepted into my university, The University of Texas at Austin. <br>
I traveled to Paris out of spite. Not because I had been studying the language for six years, and not because of my desperate wish to eat a croissant by the Tour Eiffel. I went because it was unattainable until I made the decision that it was not. <br>
I have never been one to retreat, and I am tenacious in my beliefs. So when I came across the prospect of traveling abroad, I knew this was how I had to spend my summer vacation. Even after my parents refused to grant permission, I was persistent in my arguments. There were disagreements, conversations, and eventually, a compromise: “Raise the funds, and you can go.” Classes, homestay, spending money: I would need to pay for every expense. I accepted the challenge immediately and devised a plan to make the money. My waitressing job at IHOP began that week. <br>
Goal setting and scheduling are integral to every area of my life. After school, I had tennis practice, and then I would head straight to the restaurant and waitress until midnight. When I was not at school, I was at the restaurant, and when I was not at the restaurant, I was searching for other ways to earn funds. <br>
As cash flow increased, I doubled my shifts. Mornings were spent catering to the early birds, and nights were spent bussing tables for the late crowd. I remember some long nights of tears burning my cheeks as I attempted to manage 15 tables and a grill full of pancakes. I thought about quitting often, but I do not easily succumb to pressure. If IHOP got the better of me, I knew Paris held the best of me—and that idea stoked my fire. <br>
Four months later, I was on a plane bound for France. I spent one month in the City of Lights, attending language classes each day. My French dramatically improved. I lived with a wonderful host family, and I saw many of the great historical and cultural landmarks that make the city such an illustrious destination. When I saw the Tour Eiffel for the first time, the trials I faced to get there had become things of the past. <br>
When I returned home, everyone asked about my travels abroad. “The crêpes were amazing, better than the pancakes I served at IHOP,” usually received a laugh. Although it was true, without those pancakes, I would have never eaten a crêpe in Montmartre in the first place. No matter to whom I spoke to about the trip, my conversations always ended with a narrative of my journey there. <br>
Waitressing tables was one of the most stressful things I have ever done, but it was also the most meaningful. It was the first time I really understood and applied the skills everyone needs to be successful in life. Treating every patron with kindness, especially rude guests, taught me tolerance and courtesy. Creating the daily cleaning plan with my co-workers was a lesson in working with and depending on others. Flipping pancakes taught me patience: if you want the best results, you must wait for the right amount of time.
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Maybe spite is the wrong word. I was spiteful towards nothing but the idea of failing. I traveled to Paris out of tenacity. <br>
A common saying in French is “Vouloir, c’est pouvoir,” translated roughly into English as, “If there’s a will, there’s a way.” It is not enough to just embrace the philosophy; I must embody it. This idea has surrounded my actions for as long as I can remember, but now I am starting to curate experiences to live it: to find a way. If I want that career as a politician, and I do, I am going to need it. Vouloir, c’est pouvoir.
Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-65588664225499011402023-01-21T13:19:00.004-05:002023-01-21T13:19:37.872-05:00Romanticism: The Best IdeologyThe ideas of conservatism, liberalism, romanticism, and nationalism all have certain positive factors and drawbacks which are significant to each person’s opinion. Of all four, the strongest ideology is definitely romanticism. By definition, romanticism is an ideology with emphasis on promoting individualism and emotion. Romanticism can also be characterized by its dedication to appreciation of nature, glorification of the past, and engagement<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPHNPFwt9AauPno1lnrZoTnq4lB2J311jz6uAN6eABLPOJhUP7ketVY8G5rQYB3Fu5rcLK0Ya9FFOmTi4uuLj7Vgu_N74fvKiMdEnHlO_4Hyc_UzHFMNaHK9DKTla7yGxoto0KQkdobN7pJ-kwNE5Y2I_F_eKQlDvWCm5ezxgnQHcBbl1cmkD8cHCFQ/s1024/EB70FC1F-A135-4649-BEEC-51B00405DD27_1_105_c.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghPHNPFwt9AauPno1lnrZoTnq4lB2J311jz6uAN6eABLPOJhUP7ketVY8G5rQYB3Fu5rcLK0Ya9FFOmTi4uuLj7Vgu_N74fvKiMdEnHlO_4Hyc_UzHFMNaHK9DKTla7yGxoto0KQkdobN7pJ-kwNE5Y2I_F_eKQlDvWCm5ezxgnQHcBbl1cmkD8cHCFQ/s320/EB70FC1F-A135-4649-BEEC-51B00405DD27_1_105_c.jpeg"/></a></div> for farthing ideals of social emancipation and progress. This ideology was significant to European history due to the fact it has impacts on political thinking, arts, music, and societal philosophy in general.
Being at its peak in the mid-1800s, romanticism impacted outlook on multiple significant events throughout the 19th century, such as the French Revolution and the Industrial Revolution. These events also alluded to the publishing of multiple famous works depicting their existence, such as the painting Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix and the poem The Chimney Sweeper by William Blake. The artists, writers, and musicians of this time were considered to be “at least at the beginning, literary and academic outsiders. Many were loners, without established professional positions, overwhelmed by what they considered the tragedy of their unrequited search for individual fulfillment because less-gifted people did not comprehend their brilliance” (Merriman 595-596). These traits characterized many of the celebrities of this period, such as Beethoven and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Other significant works of romantic art, literature, and music which emphasize the ideas behind romanticism include the novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, the piece Symphony No. 9 in D minor, op. 125 by Ludwig Beethoven, and the artwork Landscape Near Paliano by Joseph Anton Koch. The period of romanticism produced a multitude of significant works of art, literature, and music, making it one of the most influential periods for the arts since the period of humanism.
Romanticism provides an exceptional outlook on the true, raw emotions of a person- something that its ideology counterparts do not provide. Being able to express the feelings encapsulated by one’s self is integral to the genuine happiness of the individual. While liberalism promotes the further development of social and political ideas, and conservatism attempts to promote the retention of historical ideas, romanticism takes the best of both of the ideologies. The ideology theorized that the best way to conduct societal change is through advocating for change to benefit those suffering poverty or discrimination on the side of liberalism, but also through rejecting the ideas of the enlightenment and 18th century rationalism, and physical materialism of the industrial revolution. In terms of nationalism, the theory emphasizes that loyalty to one’s nation-state is of utmost importance, no matter the situation. This can promote dangerous thinking, as it is not always that a country fights with the best intentions for its people. Romanticism does agree with some ideologies of nationalism, such as how romantic thinker Johann Gottfried von Herder “argued that it was through the passionate identification with the nation that the individual reached his or her highest stage of development” (Merriman 595). Being connected to one’s culture and background helps a person grow in their identity, but extreme loyalty can take away individuality. Thus, romanticism is the most impactful idea out of the three to promote societal standards for people in the early-to-mid 1800s.
Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-38748428468849681972022-12-12T13:50:00.001-05:002022-12-12T13:50:15.674-05:00My Senior VoiceLegacy, what is a legacy?
It's planting seeds in a garden you never get to see
I wrote some notes at the beginning of a song someone will sing for me
America, you great unfinished symphony, you sent for me
You let me make a difference, a place where even orphan immigrants
Can leave their fingerprints and rise up
I'm running out of time, I'm running, and my time's up
Wise up, eyes up
I have never been a girl who fits in with the crowd. One of the things that have defined me most since I was in middle school was my love of broadway musicals, specifically Hamilton. Thus, it is only fitting that I begin my senior voice with a quote from Hamilton.
Although dramatic, Lin Manuel Miranda makes a point. What is a legacy? How do people remember us after we have gone?
Over my four years at Marianapolis, I have worked meticulously and diligently to craft my own legacy. I came into the school as a freshman without knowing what I wanted to get out of my high school experience. I joined sports teams, like field hockey, swimming, and tennis blindly, and quickly began to develop relationships with my co-players. I attended club meetings, and slowly began to meet more and more teachers. I went on the most amazing, life-changing LEAP week trip to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, and I finally understood what it meant to work to benefit the community. My underclassman years built the strongest foundation I could have asked for.
My junior and senior years, I hit the ground running. I took leadership roles as team captains, I finally achieved the role of class president on my third run, I began a club, a student newspaper, and built a role in community service. I took on leadership roles because I enjoyed making connections with others. I can look back on everything I did and be proud of my efforts, but the feeling that I may not have done enough will always loom.
I was once told that I seem to start things but never finish them. I pondered this thought. I can start a bunch of new clubs and take new positions, but when will I finish? The answer is I won’t. To help a community continue in strength after you have gone, you must plant the seeds. Lin Manuel in his quote doted on the fact that America was and still is an unfinished symphony. The people who came before us planted seeds in a garden they will never get to see. By honoring their legacies, we can nurture these plants as they grow, and plant our own seeds to expand on our garden. We play our instruments to continue the unfinished symphony.
As Hamilton circles closer and closer to his fate, he anxiously says, “I’m running out of time, I’m running, and my time’s up.” I am six months from graduating, and six months from leaving Marianapolis. My time is running out to craft my legacy. I ask myself, have I done enough? Will people remember me after I am gone? Will anything I did in my four years here matter?
The answer is, I don’t know. Those who came before me, I look up to and hope to be a fraction as impactful as them. I hope I honored their ideas and contributed to my school in a way that would make them proud. All we can do as humans is what we believe is right. As I approach the end of my time here, I reflect on my actions and accomplishments. I may never know if I did enough to leave a legacy. But what I do know is that I am satisfied with my actions. I am satisfied with the amount of effort I put into my goals. My legacy is dependent on how those around me perceive my actions, and while I do factor this idea into what I do, I work to improve myself. I want to look back at my high school years and be satisfied with how I impacted those around me.
I leave you with this. Make every action with intention. Leave your legacy not for other people, but for yourself. You have the power to control the actions you make, and the intentions behind them. With that, your impact will be greater than you can imagine. Whether or not you leave a legacy, the choice to build it is yours, and nobody can take that away from you.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHG0ZG7VXLH4SqnHbI-6sgiRUv56owOcjeYFSx6WJbViqaIsC7huVPiccEWWQFBR02rRglTp3B3vtU85mzFvF-nSzn4mDLwlQSyos9LkkuIOzY13Bh1rFNSSnctt_3eeSpJP9k9YqHjDcoulGazAurSFsdyWVN0UfS6rzsvqZZaa9oZCighQhi5P2t4g/s2560/D1050242-3472-4A3B-9F0A-B1A19D12E85C.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHG0ZG7VXLH4SqnHbI-6sgiRUv56owOcjeYFSx6WJbViqaIsC7huVPiccEWWQFBR02rRglTp3B3vtU85mzFvF-nSzn4mDLwlQSyos9LkkuIOzY13Bh1rFNSSnctt_3eeSpJP9k9YqHjDcoulGazAurSFsdyWVN0UfS6rzsvqZZaa9oZCighQhi5P2t4g/s320/D1050242-3472-4A3B-9F0A-B1A19D12E85C.jpeg"/></a></div>Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-75691923886374158852022-10-20T21:26:00.005-04:002022-12-07T22:05:43.457-05:00The Speech That Won Me Senior Class PresidentVideo of the Speech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSKtrc7EQ20
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Z6DnQAjV0Q1GPUXlcvy_AzctIjm8aVgIBlpVaM5HpDmA2tJqd9i9ej0uchYDW2E8bq_c9-mUuSYAKniVdeyOeATmNONUEL3g0aXlEuJwfMVKhQ-rFlz7T44rjEQdnGUkSVKAvchoS741RJpD9pou58WLBWAaOcTg9bBKUReaE9f9LC4U5-erD0ti0g/s604/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-07%20at%2010.02.22%20PM.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="604" data-original-width="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Z6DnQAjV0Q1GPUXlcvy_AzctIjm8aVgIBlpVaM5HpDmA2tJqd9i9ej0uchYDW2E8bq_c9-mUuSYAKniVdeyOeATmNONUEL3g0aXlEuJwfMVKhQ-rFlz7T44rjEQdnGUkSVKAvchoS741RJpD9pou58WLBWAaOcTg9bBKUReaE9f9LC4U5-erD0ti0g/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-12-07%20at%2010.02.22%20PM.png"/></a></div>
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
If we analyze Albert Einstein’s educational credibility, then you can call my actions insane. Every year in my run for student council, I repeat the same actions, expecting a different outcome. And every year, I take the loss.
Candy with puns did the trick Freshman year, but then again I was running unopposed. Sophomore year, I would love to say it was my strong speech and even more candy that allowed me to win, but almost everyone who ran received a spot as representative. And for the last three years, despite the colorful posters and even more candy, I just straight up lost. I would stand up here and repeat the same stuff as everybody, about listening to your voice and what I want to accomplish, but in all honesty, it is not true. Because I want more than that for us.
Whether it is running a class Instagram page, being captain of two sports, being a member of over four clubs, or being at every meeting planning class events, it is prevalent I genuinely am devoted to helping give our class the best possible school year experience. I don’t want to just talk about ideas, I want to make actual, physical progress. I believe in Marianapolis.
You elect the same people each year, based on popularity and social credits. And every year, the same events occur and the same fundraisers happen. I want us to have a plethora of fundraisers for prom, I want us to have new dances and activities for the community.
I want us to break past the monotonous routine we have experienced year after year, and take back the Marianapolis spirit we all knew and loved our freshman year.
Do you know what’s so great about representative democracy? Every single person who is a part of it has power. Every single person has a vote. You can elect your representatives to serve in office, and trust them to achieve what you elected them for. The government is elected by you, as citizens, and the votes are qualitative. Everyone is equal, and has a vote that they can decide what to do with: and nobody can take that away from them.
241 days left of being a Golden Knight. 241 days for dances, events, games, competitions, lunches, activities, clubs, and everything else we are tasked with bringing back, to ensure the future of the culture of Marianapolis. Remember Goat Yoga? Remember Ice Cream Fridays? Remember Mental Health Monday? All of these kids younger than us would have absolutely no idea what I am talking about. They don’t know what true school spirit is.
If we can demonstrate how true Golden Knights behave and work together, we can create a long-lasting legacy, which goes beyond ourselves this year, and lasts into the future.
We grow through what we go through. We have been through so incredibly much. And we have grown so incredibly much. I cannot stand up here and say that I don’t think we have changed since we were fourteen because we most definitely have, for worse and for better. We grow into what personalities, thoughts, and ideas we will hold close to us for the rest of our lives in this stage of beginning young adulthood. And the actions we take right now will shape our futures. I would like for us, more than anything is for all of us to prove we have come out of the pandemic stronger than we went in. With the right decisions, and being genuine about what we think is the right thing to do, every single one of us will achieve that.
We are all called to make the choice to do what is right. For me, that is making the choice to ask you to trust me with planning your senior year.
Thank you.
Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-78778371463283269072022-09-15T21:00:00.001-04:002022-09-15T21:00:06.637-04:00Children of the Media's Influence The media exists in more forms than is widely understood. Sure, information can be spread through television, social media, websites, and newspapers, but the spread of information goes beyond that. From the moment a person wakes up in the morning and checks their phone, text messages and notifications alert the person of what has happened in the world since they have fallen asleep. As you hop into your shower, the music coming from your phone may be delivering advertisements in between songs, and even in the songs, information and opinions are being delivered. When you go into the kitchen and see your parents, they may tell you what they have heard lately in conversation. At school or work, meetings and classes spread information to you, things you have or haven’t heard before. No matter where you turn during the day, the media is inescapable and present everywhere, meaning it affects almost every person.
Growing up in a world with the rise of technology and social media, my generation has faced an incredible shift in world communications and what is defined as globalization. People around the world in different countries are able to connect in ways never seen before. Attending sleep-away camp as a child, I could go home and send emails to those I met in Australia, France, and Morocco. We could communicate about different topics, and answer each other’s questions about our specific cultures. Faster than a letter, easier than a phone call, texts, emails, and social media posts were ways I could see what my friends were up to during the school year we were apart. I stayed close with my friends during the school year, which made the hugs so much tighter in July because we never forgot who we were. Without these fast connections, I would have never been able to explain the lives of my friends from thousands of miles away to those around me who asked.
The Boston Bombing. The Parkland School Shooting. The Ariana Grande Manchester Bombing. The November 2015 Paris Terrorist Attacks. The Sandy Hook School Shooting. Countless terrible attacks occurred throughout my childhood, while my worldview was being formed. Outside of the small town of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, life was not as rosy as I saw on Disney and Nickelodeon. The more a child becomes aware, the more opinions they begin to form. What I thought was a world of friendship and kindness, turned into something to fear when outside of what you know. When the Boston Bombing happened when I was a child, I was at the race that day and watched the runners make their trek into Boston. When I got home, the television was on non-stop for three days, as the search for the terrorists ensued. I asked my parents what was happening, and for the first time in my life, they were not the omniscient people I had always thought them to be. They had no answers, along with the people on T.V. I had never been affected as much in my life as being eight years old, and watching terrorists attack the city so close to me. The media put fear into my eight-year-old self and made me question what I had known about the world around me.
Even with all of the negative events I remember watching on television in my most formative years, I can also remember being a child, sitting at the kitchen table drinking chocolate milk, watching artists be interviewed on Good Morning America- specifically Katy Perry and Taylor Swift. Videos such as “Charlie Bit My Finger” on YouTube, and internet trends like “The Dress” (it was definitely blue and black), were topics my friends and I could giggle about because we all knew about it due to its prevalence in our lives. We were the first generation to grow up with modern technology and trends. While the media negatively impacts so many people today, it also gives so many people hope and connections to others. While talking about the negative effects of something so broad as this topic, mentioning the good is also integral.
When the pre-teen years hit, Instagram was booming bigger than ever. Being eleven years out at the height of the popularity of trends like the “whip and nae nae” and posting pictures of Starbucks on your page defined who I was during those awkward years. All I wanted was to fit in with the other girls, but the difference between my generation and other generations was that we could fake it. No, I did not have all of the cutest clothes, but I could post pictures wearing some at the mall so I fit in. No, I did not like to wear eyeliner, but Snapchat filters fixed that right away. Nobody was a real version of themselves, online, all teenage girls were who they aspired to be. But, drawing the line between what was false and what was real became harder and harder as we based our lives around trends online. Seeing photos of girls wearing bikinis with picture-perfect bodies and no pimples made us doubt ourselves as little girls- but nobody would say it. I hated my flabby thighs, my braces, the way my stomach rolled, and everything else possible about my pubescent body- all because of these models. We never knew how heavily edited they were, all we teen girls knew was that they were what we were meant to look like, and the way we looked was nowhere close to the idea of beauty shown.
Today, I think about my insecurities and fears, and almost everything I see is rooted in things I grew up with. I do not fear the dark because I have my phone flashlight and I can facetime a friend, but I fear eating out with friends because bigger people do not look good in Instagram posts. I am not insecure about my clothing because I can always text a friend and ask if it looks good, but I am insecure about talking about politics as a woman because no matter how much I have studied the media and I have paid attention, there is always somebody who has paid closer attention to the news and can outlast me in a debate. Every aspect of everyone’s life has something to do with the media’s influence. My generation will never know what it is like to grow up in a world without instantaneous connection to anything we want to know, or to anyone we want to speak to. The way the modern media affects a person depends on how they were raised, in what area they were raised, and how they continue to conduct themselves in the future while paying regard to the positive parts of generations raised without the media. The human race will never live in a media-free world, but the way in which society decides to move forward with the media will dictate how democracy and social constructs appear in the future.
Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-79964906062593884862022-05-04T09:38:00.001-04:002022-05-04T09:38:05.171-04:00River<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0Sr4r7l-4eqw8IUCUKlsUilLZ5evYM8KlRm84XT8m0p9LlREbShr4wsPLQ8dzQ3cHNb_5RnKmrmeF3TMnkhmlQCd7eSxBRUGEoN7VRlmjdJBHH-t7_V6JKKe11MXtTiCOmOqqh1BUbZJJwrpmRpZLGf8pWkYYpWYn8Rh3v_WciobcfQ5cpDW07lSgg/s940/Untitled%20design-14%20copy.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0Sr4r7l-4eqw8IUCUKlsUilLZ5evYM8KlRm84XT8m0p9LlREbShr4wsPLQ8dzQ3cHNb_5RnKmrmeF3TMnkhmlQCd7eSxBRUGEoN7VRlmjdJBHH-t7_V6JKKe11MXtTiCOmOqqh1BUbZJJwrpmRpZLGf8pWkYYpWYn8Rh3v_WciobcfQ5cpDW07lSgg/s320/Untitled%20design-14%20copy.png"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnl0aP78H9u2EZ_RnFz9cA6fPRGsqyRZ7-kQLyFXoYAtIyAi4p2afdZewt3vS00rdhf6Ht5EYkofcU2-rzuTGyGKNmk_-7LD274WuO4z50OUhgGLa8BvtxI7KsnBqp9tsZRWlbPHyXJIW49Ao19VuBk1lU4ksq-uSpFlnysHYBPZBbrDe1rbwTjJfHlQ/s940/Untitled%20design-14%20copy.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnl0aP78H9u2EZ_RnFz9cA6fPRGsqyRZ7-kQLyFXoYAtIyAi4p2afdZewt3vS00rdhf6Ht5EYkofcU2-rzuTGyGKNmk_-7LD274WuO4z50OUhgGLa8BvtxI7KsnBqp9tsZRWlbPHyXJIW49Ao19VuBk1lU4ksq-uSpFlnysHYBPZBbrDe1rbwTjJfHlQ/s320/Untitled%20design-14%20copy.png"/></a></div>
<p>The mountains were named after a Crow Indian woman who lived in them after she went
insane when her family was killed in the westward settlement movement. Before the colonizers, the Crow people called the mountains Awaxaawapìa Pìa and were famous to the Crow people for having metaphysical powers and being unpredictable—a place used for vision quests.</p>
<p>Here I was, 200 years later, donning my bright orange backpack and brown boots, trampling the fallen logs and stones, scattering the trail. We hiked four miles upward, found a spot to lay our tents, and roasted rice over the fire.</p>
<p>The stars above looked down on the successors of the colonizers who murdered the natives. The natives, who for thousands of years prior, had trod the land with undying respect for Turtle Island, which had nourished them. We, the successors of the colonizers, pitched our plastic tents on the dirt that lay below our shoes. Our fire burned bright, but in no comparison to the light of the stars.</p>
<p>Fourteen teenagers. Two 21-year-old women. Not another soul of a human for miles around, only the bears and coyotes who call the trees home.</p>
<p>The stream rapidly rushed by our settlement. Half of us took the liberty of sleeping in through the morning. The other half began our descent down the stream. The cool nature of the water numbed our toes and cooled my clothes as I stripped them off. Not a foreign matter on my body, I lie in the stream and let the cool water right off the mountain rush through my hair, under my arms, over my thighs, and between my feet. I was encapsulated by nature, and lie there for some time, listening to the sounds of the birds above my head.</p>
<p>I saw trout, shimmering in the stream. They touched my fingertips, and although I was a stranger to their waters, they sensed my soul as one of their own.</p>
<p>I want to say I am connected to the earth. I want to say I am a child of nature. I want to say I came from life in the forest. But it would be a disgrace to do so.</p>
<p>My ancestors murdered those who relied on the earth. While the native people ate the fish and drank the water of the stream, my ancestors came in on horses with their muskets and murdered them. The native people wore the skin of deer and lived in the lean-tos made of trees. My ancestors boasted the bounty of their heads and burned the wood tents they called home.</p>
<p>These thoughts rush through my mind as I lie in the river. My soul is tied to the clouds above my head, and the pine trees are my haven. The moss might as well be my deity in the way it comforts my body over the sharp rocks. As much as I crave attesting my life to the essence of nature, the actions of my predecessors cannot be excused, as, without their despicable acts, I would not be here.</p>
<p>The Native Americans should be here, feeling the melted snow as it rushed off the hills. They should be in my spot, tanning under the blinding sun, eating the berries, admiring the wildflowers. But instead, they are bound to the trailer park, selling their beads by the side of the highway, attempting to preserve their language but dying from a lack of nourishment before they can pass their culture to their children.</p>
<p>The unpredictability of the peaks is because of their nature. The snow that melted to fill the river I lie in, and the rocks that build the character of the hill, every aspect of the forest makes the peak unpredictable to the human. The black bear that eats the rabbits sees the peak as consistent, but the hiker sees the cliffs as daunting. The perspective of the soul depends on the form it is in, and my soul in human form sees the wilderness as an area I can visit and love and cherish, but not something I can ever come from. Nothing will ever change my history.</p>
<p>My people took this land from those who named it. We named this land after the effect it had on the people it came from. The natives fully believed that nobody owned the land, but according to my ancestors, the only people worthy of owning the land are not the earth, but themselves. <p>That selfish nature is what caused the homicide of millions, and caused centuries of despair to the natives who lost all they knew and loved when they could not match the musket.</p>
<p>So there I sat. Lying, in a freezing stream, in the woods where we had no way to tell the time, but the sun’s place on the horizon. My friends were down the river, hiking the side of a cliff to touch the ice in mid-July. I sat alone, in the river, with the souls of the animals and plants around me.</p>
<p>Thousands of years of stories held in that stream rushed by me, cleansing me of the industrial land I came from. The deer who drink from the river are connected to the dinosaurs who swam in the river, and the plants that soak up the water were the same ones eaten by the natives who relied on the land for a home.</p>
<p>I want to say I am home in solitude, alone in a river. I want nothing more than to slip away into the rush of the water, and swim with the trout. I want to escape the bounds of where I came from, and fully accept a fate of wilderness.</p>
<p>But it can never be, as I was never supposed to be here. My ancestors call for me to build houses on this land and make money from the timber around me. The native Americans were forced out as a result of this idea, and I will never share a history with them more than empathizing. A girl of colonizer descent who loves the wilderness will never be the same as a girl who loves the wilderness whose ancestors lived off the land.</p>
<p>My companions came back after an expedition to touch the cold. They laughed and told me how bored they were, and wanted their phones and snacks.</p>
<p>I smiled and walked back with them. Maybe they will never understand.</p> <p>At least I can’t relate to that.</p>Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-9037957647456981582022-04-15T15:10:00.009-04:002022-04-16T12:22:52.957-04:00April 15th, 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53I56C0l46msNYFLBLMtXppIf1ZoxDJNXieuh-NxRj18zXUAHETWNBNJjp5UPGO4-SnLOt2ugSuqECN1-ebi1EC3q6JE7ekCYWQ--m8XbSBTvCoTkQqL4QHqFEh1cKtbzwDZlwQ0HesP6nT2ZKAVnsSE0JRlJdXdoEfTwBSl2VnQ7_yYrALawvUXP1g/s1200/2C441BA8-4E25-4D08-B7A7-BA2091AB462D_w1200_r1.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53I56C0l46msNYFLBLMtXppIf1ZoxDJNXieuh-NxRj18zXUAHETWNBNJjp5UPGO4-SnLOt2ugSuqECN1-ebi1EC3q6JE7ekCYWQ--m8XbSBTvCoTkQqL4QHqFEh1cKtbzwDZlwQ0HesP6nT2ZKAVnsSE0JRlJdXdoEfTwBSl2VnQ7_yYrALawvUXP1g/s320/2C441BA8-4E25-4D08-B7A7-BA2091AB462D_w1200_r1.jpg"/></a></div>
<p> I was eight when my godparents </p>
<p>brought me to go </p>
<p>and watch the runners </p>
<p>go to Boston. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> I wore a light jacket, </p>
<p>of the color blue, </p>
<p>because it was sunny, </p>
<p>but just a little chilly. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>We got to Hopkinton early, </p>
<p>we wanted to get </p>
<p>a good spot on the curb. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I drank apple juice </p>
<p>in the lawn chair, </p>
<p>and rolled in the grass. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Families warmed up their grills, </p>
<p>and people drank their coffee. </p>
<p>The runners took off, </p>
<p>barreling down the road. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I yelled the names, </p>
<p>plastered on their shirts. </p>
<p>The day was like a party, </p>
<p>full of laughter and celebration. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The people in wheelchairs </p>
<p>zoomed past. </p>
<p>Team Hoyt was a sight to see, </p>
<p>everyone had a chance to run. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>We arrived home after </p>
<p>the athletes went by, </p>
<p>and I went outside to play </p>
<p>with the neighborhood kids. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>"Were you really there?" </p>
<p>"Did you see it?" </p>
<p>they asked me. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I went inside and asked </p>
<p>if it was true. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I was confused as the pictures </p>
<p>flashed on the TV. </p>
<p>We sat there, watching. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>For days they were missing, </p>
<p>we were on edge and cautious, </p>
<p>as they could be anywhere, </p>
<p>ready to strike again. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I was there and I saw them, </p>
<p>the athletes going in. </p>
<p>A day full of excitement, </p>
<p>soon turned into dread. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>We went back to school, </p>
<p>and donned our "BOSTON STRONG" </p>
<p>merchandise. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Some of us knew better </p>
<p>than others who did not </p>
<p>understand. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>They found him under a boat. </p>
<p>In a yard in Watertown. </p>
<p>The public was safer, </p>
<p>many limbs and lives, </p>
<p>were gone. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I had never understood </p>
<p>why bad people do bad </p>
<p>things. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Until the moment, </p>
<p>when I asked what happened. </p>
<p>And why everyone was so happy </p>
<p>that we had been </p>
<p>at the start line. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I'll never understand </p>
<p>why people cause hurt. </p>
<p>Events meant to celebrate, </p>
<p>do not correlate with bombs. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I was eight when I went </p>
<p>to watch the Boston Marathon. </p>
<p>A yearly tradition, </p>
<p>I so looked forward to. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I will never forget </p>
<p>what it means </p>
<p>to be BOSTON STRONG. </p>Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-59015257497368323272022-04-13T09:34:00.000-04:002022-04-13T09:34:06.950-04:00The Effects of Social Media and Technology In a society of youth growing up surrounded by technology, social media has affected the next generation of children tremendously. Almost every corner of the world is affected by developing technology to some extent, and changes the perspectives of humans, globally. The film The Social Dilemma and the editorial Big Tech, Out-of-Control Capitalism and the End of Civilization explores the damaging effects of technology and social media, and how these forms of communication are detrimental to the integrity of society. Social media and developing technology have affected society to different extents, as they are used for different purposes. While social media has a negative impact on people and society would be better without it, developing technology is good for society and benefits people tremendously.
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat are all incredibly great ways to communicate with others, and make global connections. When used with caution, social media can be beneficial to globalization and gives people an opportunity to talk with each other and share about their lives. Although these opportunities given by social media can be good, when used too much or incorrectly, social media can become a dangerous tool that can harm anyone in its midst. As outlined in the film, spreading inaccurate information about politics and other important topics on social media can do the opposite of what it was intended to: not bring people together, rather, divide them. While social media can be used as a method of exercising free speech, it can harm democracy when it is used to spread false information.
Accurate information known by all is integral to democracy. When incorrect facts are spread about topics that affect everyone, such as politics or government, the ability for a country to function with decisions made by the people is weakened. No matter if the false information is good or not, it will only harm the global community and turn people against each other, and social media is the biggest factor in spreading misinformation. The Scientific American alludes to the fact that when someone talks about a product physically or googles it on their phone, they will often get advertisements pertaining to that product. The extent to which social media companies and technology companies can track activity of their users is not regulated, thus imposing on the privacy and security tech users rely on when using social media and technology.
When considering the benefits of technology, in many instances, advancements in technology can do incredibly beneficial things for mankind. In terms of medical technology, prosthetic limbs and internal cameras can medically give people much better qualities of life. Those who are suffering can be looked at with a high-intensity machine and camera, and the issue can be identified. In terms of entertainment, movies and television shows continuously prove to be entertaining methods of enjoying works created. Better film equipment and forms of watching entertainment can do good for humanity and create new opportunities for humans to live life in a different way. However, some technology developments can be detrimental to society, such as upgraded robots that can manipulate people, and gaming systems that control people and prevent them from taking care of themselves. Both social media and technology can do great things for society, and impact society negatively.
Social media and technology have not broken civilization, but could with their advancement. The more technology and social media that becomes prevalent in society and takes away from the natural enjoyments of life. Humans generally do not understand how easily they can be controlled, and how easily it is for the government to choose what humans do and do not see, and what they can and cannot use. Although it may not be ethical, it is hard to stop due to the fact that humans do not realize it is happening to them. Social media and technology advancements hold the sole responsibility of shaping the opinions of the masses and indoctrination. Near the end of Social Dilemma, an interviewer asks tech-visionary-turned-critic Jaron Lanier to peer into our future. As John Horgan outlined in his article analyzing The Social Dilemma, “If we go down the current status quo,’ Lanier replies, ‘for let’s say another 20 years, we probably destroy our civilization through willful ignorance. We probably fail to meet the challenge of climate change. We probably degrade the world’s democracies, so they fall into some bizarre autocratic dysfunction. We probably ruin the global economy. We probably”—he shrugs—“don’t survive” (Horgan 1). The power to separate oneself from social media and technology adds to a person's moral character and gives a person the strength to refuse mental control by what is being forced.
The responsibility of corporate companies to do what is best for the general public is often not followed, and rather companies are not held accountable for their actions. By spreading false information, propaganda, and allowing humans to be on their sites or using their technology for amounts of time that are detrimental to human health, the responsibility of a corporate organization to do what is best is never followed. Hogan alludes to the corporate idea of benefiting from consumerism by outlining the fact that “The more time we spend on our screens, the more the companies learn about us, the more money they make from advertising—commercial and political—tailored to our fears and desires” (Hogan 1).
Facing challenges presented by the fault of companies not regulating their products is left up to the will of humans, and their own willpower to separate themselves from their devices. The fact that companies care more about receiving profit from their buyers and not about their buyers wellbeing shows the dangerous motives that tech companies are fueled by. Incredible amounts of money at the expense of the health of people gives more of a reason for new tech companies to become prevalent, thus causing the slow downfall of civilization due to technology and social media.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOHJ17ikCr7CmH9ibzYq1gMCrzYBzzl3l657tKb68EYr5LB_Ggm7URbOirxFn0hFnUp6CJZ4MRrPPXPYON4lMjq6W0s5tT_iEpxGvBG9Kd0yjfqiyHz8A36LbUCHmj_QyOLmpZ44xcpjlDaMFv8HUBXLB0d6pedYTpDulbTrEns4atd3sioU1G4Qojw/s1330/Screen%20Shot%202022-04-13%20at%209.33.56%20AM.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="1308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOHJ17ikCr7CmH9ibzYq1gMCrzYBzzl3l657tKb68EYr5LB_Ggm7URbOirxFn0hFnUp6CJZ4MRrPPXPYON4lMjq6W0s5tT_iEpxGvBG9Kd0yjfqiyHz8A36LbUCHmj_QyOLmpZ44xcpjlDaMFv8HUBXLB0d6pedYTpDulbTrEns4atd3sioU1G4Qojw/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-04-13%20at%209.33.56%20AM.png"/></a></div>Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-16434593525418001152022-04-07T08:48:00.000-04:002022-04-07T08:48:32.932-04:00My Personal BrandI am very passionate about connecting with others and making a positive impact on those around me. As an incredibly outgoing individual, I am dedicated to making as many valuable connections as I can, to better myself as a person and make my work more meaningful. Being talented in writing and debate, I am passionate about the humanities, and enjoy developing my skills in communication and collaboration. With experience in social media marketing, teaching, and service, I am an excellent communicator and know how to transfer information in an effective way. I pride myself on my leadership skills, an ability that allows me to work well in group situations, as I am able to work effectively with people to establish a common goal, but also be independently motivated and efficient at achieving personal triumphs. With an aspiration to have a future in politics, I am working to develop a strong personal basis of skills that are beneficial pertaining to the field. Creating and upholding values and morals that complement my strengths help me to learn how I can become the best version of myself, and truly make the best impression I can on everyone around me. Being an avid member of the athletic community, being a team captain has taught me how to lead a team to success to achieve a common goal. Even when we do not reach it, I still can wholeheartedly say I am proud of our accomplishments at the end of the day and can help us work towards bettering ourselves as people. Throughout my life, I have never been a follower in group settings, no matter the circumstances. Contributing to discussions and conversations makes me who I am, and the outgoing nature of my personality defines myself as a person, and is not something I can change without not being myself. With a desired career in government and politics, I hope to keep developing my strengths and evaluating my weaknesses to grow my leadership skills.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahp0A4WMk1vGyG5ojj7D_c1lDt19z0PcCIu2rF00IKZv5BKRYXcZ5t5YAoEiQUyVn-pr0o8VGxwYh6PU2P-SNR4Zy_4BLnCLdQV0MyN7n35o5ugLxFd1MkRX6SGM35kMxUObWq8gURInSieKt0i1Ff6_obNjN6-NWA91r19XnrCZha6qcZvBn6mHakg/s1024/23FEBEE5-6F51-43D0-B7F9-AD5E19CE9C5E_1_105_c.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahp0A4WMk1vGyG5ojj7D_c1lDt19z0PcCIu2rF00IKZv5BKRYXcZ5t5YAoEiQUyVn-pr0o8VGxwYh6PU2P-SNR4Zy_4BLnCLdQV0MyN7n35o5ugLxFd1MkRX6SGM35kMxUObWq8gURInSieKt0i1Ff6_obNjN6-NWA91r19XnrCZha6qcZvBn6mHakg/s320/23FEBEE5-6F51-43D0-B7F9-AD5E19CE9C5E_1_105_c.jpeg"/></a></div>Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-38451777681813686052022-02-02T19:10:00.001-05:002022-02-02T19:10:57.505-05:00The Ethics of the Death Penalty Concerning the Clutter MurdersToday as we congregate to decide the ethics of bestowing the death penalty upon two men, we consider the reasons for why these men deserve to die. The American judicial system uses this penalty to offer justice to those that are affected by devious acts. Hickock and Smith undeniably seem to deserve the death penalty. Each of these felons on death row will not be able to commit any more crimes on this earth. But do they deserve to meet their death at the hands of the court?
Not long ago, in 1959, Richard “Dick” Hikcock and Perry Smith committed a gruesome and unforgivable, sinful horror: murdering four innocent members of a small town family in Kansas. The owners of a crop farm, these people did no wrong to their community, and were humans who upheld the morals of the Methodist community, which is a religion they so devoutly practiced. In order to obtain an amount of money out of a safe the murderers believed was inside of the house, the two men used a shotgun to take down all four members of the Clutter family, and sliced the throat open of the patriarch, Herbert “Herb” Clutter.
After the indescribably horrible incident, we sit here today and decide if the Kansas community will watch the slayers of the beloved Clutter family be hanged and killed, as a result of their actions the night of November 15th, 1959. The question to be raised as we decide how justice will be paid to the Clutter family, is what is the morality behind bestowing death upon those who bestowed death upon others?
Upon a basis of morals, ethics, and logic, my professional opinion on this matter is that the death penalty in the instance of the Clutter murders is not a viable option punish the killers after their acts. In general, the death penalty in the United States is not effective at deterring criminals from committing intolerable acts.
Heaven or hell: a religious concept brought to bring peace upon those pondering the reality of death. While humans can create whatever scenarios in their minds to justify the idea that death awaits, it is inevitably for certain to come. The universe will bestow a wrongdoer a life worthy of their actions, and by us, as a court, deciding to grant these men an escape of death, we are not allowing karma to punish these men. Hebrews 9:27 - “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”
These men have decided under their own lucid consciousness to take life away from the beloved Clutter family. As we meet together to decide on a punishment for their action, why do we repeat what they have done, even though we prohibit it? Why should we try to mimic the power of God, by choosing who lives and who dies?
As a community, we have the power to incarcerate these felons for the rest of their lives, and prohibit them from receiving parole. Your honor, and the jury- I am asking you to not allow these men an escape to an uncertain future through the death penalty, and to give them a certain future of a life of personal torture and confinement.
We are humans. We are mortal. We do not know what lies beyond this life, the only thing we can control is how we spend our mortal life. Granting these men the escape of death from the moral life they have committed a felony in will give them the easy way out. As Herb Clutter suffered in his own basement with a slit throat, these men must suffer the same. The death penalty is not a punishment, more of a premature forgiveness. They deserve to be incarcerated for the rest of their time on this earth.
As far as I am concerned, Perry Smith is still living in a residential home as part of his confinement, and Hickock is in a cell in the prison. These men must be removed from a county jail and be placed in a maximum security prison, where they are placed in solitary cells and forced to live with the notion that their legacy will be known as murderers with a lust for blood, who used their time on this earth to cause suffering.
Why are we wasting time as a court deciding whether or not these men should be killed, allowing these men to be around people, when they should be rotting away in a cold, uncomfortable cell? No matter what religion you practice, or even if you practice a religion at all, it should be apparent to every person in this courtroom that no matter what the outcome of this decision is, these men will never be able to say they did not commit this murder.
Let these men inevitably suffer as a result of their actions. None of us are allowed to rule how their fates will play out except for the universe. Playing with fate could only give them an escape from their punishment. As Genesis 3:19 goes: “By the sweat of your brow, you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are; and to dust you will return.” Judge, you came from dust, and will return to dust. Every person in this courtroom was created from dust, and unto dust we will return. None of us are better than anyone else under the eyes of the universe, and none of us should be able to decide the fate of others. No matter what social class or position you take in this society, your position is equivalent to everyone else on earth.
I leave you with this: give justice to the Clutters by not giving escape to these men. The Clutters unwillingly made their way into an afterlife none of us understand at the hands of these men. These men do not deserve the escape of leaving this life they have decided to poison by partaking in this act of murder. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhact3CJ6x1C7DmAt4E48b8Aj1F0iDt5gucYOEcctx3L4B2QISDS_3ejFtxN6aekJqM6y_BIBO3QYiK5SMdP1PXM48EbjB_6biGlTfAwpuBa9wtEqw9LAyxSDFBFE-zojBeOSwIUXFRCstxIKfprVXguyiwxU_Wr7Q_Eb-3XNj_Z-o37n6g8nOs7oTAUA=s700" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhact3CJ6x1C7DmAt4E48b8Aj1F0iDt5gucYOEcctx3L4B2QISDS_3ejFtxN6aekJqM6y_BIBO3QYiK5SMdP1PXM48EbjB_6biGlTfAwpuBa9wtEqw9LAyxSDFBFE-zojBeOSwIUXFRCstxIKfprVXguyiwxU_Wr7Q_Eb-3XNj_Z-o37n6g8nOs7oTAUA=s320"/></a></div>Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-9502425980527160512021-11-14T21:59:00.005-05:002023-10-18T13:20:24.782-04:00The Unethical Practice of Factory Farming<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfpfWcUIxVsUKQtQryWEuc0yq7QKYiHXZ7i0q3VG6V4dEG4v1hW_e7rzmCFJsJS1H0PSrAMkeLU_CbC-COdFP2_I_hVvRY_H59Ro-FrUYZysZjTkXlUy5mJvkNlGzmMmhjeD9BtSKGnGIMFM9gl-NE8baGv_WyaoD7X2h9DXimGhdTGjwaqH1KSMc4Pay/s4032/IMG_7259.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIfpfWcUIxVsUKQtQryWEuc0yq7QKYiHXZ7i0q3VG6V4dEG4v1hW_e7rzmCFJsJS1H0PSrAMkeLU_CbC-COdFP2_I_hVvRY_H59Ro-FrUYZysZjTkXlUy5mJvkNlGzmMmhjeD9BtSKGnGIMFM9gl-NE8baGv_WyaoD7X2h9DXimGhdTGjwaqH1KSMc4Pay/s320/IMG_7259.jpeg"/></a></div>
The term “factory farming” is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “a farm on which large numbers of livestock are raised indoors in conditions intended to maximize production at minimal cost.” This definition, produced by renowned American lexicographer Noah Webster’s dictionary, puts emphasis on the notion that production of meat is optimized for little economic output through this process, which is true to no extent. Raising livestock in factories undoubtedly costs much less than raising livestock on farms, and produces much more volume, but is an incredibly unethical practice that causes severe irreversible harm to the environment. Animal welfare is also compromised in this process, as livestock populations are made subject to a short life of misery. Spending one month in Montana working on livestock farms practicing regenerative agriculture taught me an incredible deal about the importance of understanding where one’s meat comes from, and the effects that commercial livestock farming has on the environment and the general population of omnivore humans and animals. By conducting extensive research about the ethics of livestock farming, and working with livestock first handedly, I can wholeheartedly conclude that small family livestock farming is absolutely more sustainable than commercial livestock farming. While factory farming is an efficient practice that accommodates large populations, it is undeniably an incredibly unethical practice that is detrimental to the environment and the welfare of animals that should be banned.<br>
As reported by the USDA, a federal government agency, 99% of all meat consumed in the United States is produced by factory farms. It is true that this method of raising and slaughtering livestock produces mass amounts of meat which are able to accommodate large amounts of meat-consuming Americans, but the effects of this practice cause detrimental effects to the environment. Factory farms contribute to air pollution by releasing compounds such as hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and methane which are all greenhouse gases, contributing to global warming. The influx of livestock raised in these facilities produce incredible numbers of feces, which all produce methane to the atmosphere. Factory farming supports the release of these gases by over breeding animals to support the demand for meat by buyers. This practice also contributes to deforestation by mass amounts of forests being cleared to support new factory farms being established to keep up with the demand for meat by the global population. Deforestation removes trees from the atmosphere which absorb carbon dioxide, and destroys ecosystems by providing native species with no place to reside. While it is true that overbreeding of livestock allows for mass production of meat, which will satisfy the demands of consumers, the environmental impacts of factory farming are detrimental to the earth and society as a whole, putting the future state of earth’s environment in jeopardy. Banning the practice of factory farming would allow for an increase in consumers purchasing meat from small, local farms. My education by regenerative agriculture farmers allowed for my extensive knowledge of the detrimental effects that factory farming has on the environment as a whole. Regenerative agriculture is a conservation approach to farming systems, which focuses on topsoil regeneration, increasing biodiversity, improving the water cycle, enhancing ecosystem services, increasing resilience to climate change, and strengthening the health of soil. Often practiced on small, family farms, the environmental effects of this practice of farming. Small farms often practice regenerative agriculture, leading to a much less detrimental impact on the environment. While they are not able to produce meat for consumers as quickly and for a low cost, they do have a lower impact on the environment, being much more sustainable by not over breeding livestock for large populations. The banning of factory farming would allow for consumers to purchase from small farms even more, causing the production of meat to be much more local to where it is being sold. When meat is produced at a factory farm, it is often sold all over the world, sometimes thousands of miles away from where it is produced. This transmission of food over large distances causes unnecessary energy to be used by transportation such as planes and boats which negatively impacts the environment by using fossil fuels and unrenewable resources. Consumers of meat purchasing from small, local farms rather than large factory farms producing meat far away closes the gap between the farmer and the buyer, causing a much more sustainable transaction. Banning factory farms would allow for an incredible influx in sustainable practices, and would incredibly support small agricultural farmers. <br>
The welfare of the animals being raised and slaughtered on factory farms is in an enormous contrast to the welfare of the animals being raised and slaughtered on small farms. While livestock such as cattle, chickens, pigs, and sheep are overbred and forced to live their life indoors before being slaughtered, animals being raised on small farms are able to experience life outdoors before being slaughtered. Both animals experience the same end, but one group does not live under fear their entire lives, and is able to eat nutrition that supports the animal, and not just their weight gain. The bodies of unstressed animals convert muscle glycogen into lactic acid after death, which helps keep meat tender and flavorful. Adrenaline released by stress pre-slaughter uses up glycogen, which causes there to not be enough lactic acid produced after death, making the meat taste worse and last for a shorter amount of time. Animals who are raised on small farms and bred to an extent that keeps the animal healthy are more likely to produce better quality meat. For ethical purposes too, the inhumane treatment of animals in factory farms is absolutely heart wrenching. Animals raised in factory farms are subject to terrible conditions such as standing in their own feces for their entire lives, hearing the constant sounds of their own kind being killed, and having to constantly produce young. Banning factory farms would eliminate the mass overbreeding of animals in these facilities, and cause animals who are raised for slaughter to experience life ethically, outside like real animals. Participating in a chicken slaughter myself allowed me to understand the connection between meat on my dinner table and the life the animal lives so I can eat it. Seeing a small farm and a factory farm firsthand and meeting with farmers who run both allowed me to understand the contrast between these facilities. Factory farms are responsible for the mass over production of meat, and subject many animals to short lives full of fear. From an ethical standpoint, factory farms should be banned to prevent the mistreatment and overbreeding of livestock. Although large populations of consumers who purchase meat are able to be fulfilled with factory farms, the majority of people who eat meat do not acknowledge the reality of where their meat is produced from. Factory farms being shut down would allow for the mass support of local farmers, which contributes to less animals being abused before slaughter. <br>
Factory farming may accommodate large populations of meat consumers, but it is undeniably an unethical practice that should be banned due to its detrimental effect on the environment and its contribution to the abuse and overbreeding of livestock. Small farms that practice regenerative agriculture would benefit incredibly from the influx of customers they would receive by the shut down of factory farms. The geographical gap between the place of meat consumption and its production would be shortened entirely if grocery stores were forced to sell meat produced by local farms in its area. Factory farms place an incredible strain on the environment by producing mass amounts of greenhouse gases by over breeding livestock. By the shutdown of the commercial livestock industry which produces meat for cheap prices with no regard to the environment or animal welfare, an incredible increase in sustainability of the meat industry would be seen due to the support of small farms. No regard for animal welfare is given in the commercial farming industry, leaving livestock to live short, fear-filled lives, which is in a large contrast to the lives that livestock live on small farms. The shutdown of factory farms is absolutely necessary to environmental sustainability and protecting animal welfare across the globe. <br>
Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-36211537317972384982021-11-02T10:29:00.002-04:002021-11-02T10:29:47.188-04:00Listen UpListen up.
She tells me to pay attention.
But how can I ever listen to the history lesson,
While the snow flurries outside the window,
Gracing the earth with its delicate touch?
Quiet down.
He tells me I must close my mouth.
But how can I ever sit in silence,
While the ideas flood into my head,
Pushing me to share my internal monologue?
Hush up.
She tells me I have to get along nicely and be kind.
But how can I ever agree with what I do not believe in,
While my opinion is regarded as irrelevant,
Because of my demeanor?
Settle down.
He tells me to be quiet.
But how can I ever calm the fire in my mind,
While everyone around me is stuck on what is given to them,
And all I want is to reach for more?
Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-5389154491677685922021-10-11T12:00:00.001-04:002021-10-11T12:00:00.173-04:00Should Columbus Day Be Changed? <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbTCBOoAyHktCNVsQFldcitv-x8ynFiWSx9hbmatKeiUKCcP36MynPVkCbpqlhmYcAEkq23MhncXPomDWKfrw7DcE8U0rwE4v1l14PO6CcwA80F4xhcqMecsDRGT8e33zcLeiEJ_xLe5Q/s232/Unknown-1.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="232" data-original-width="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbTCBOoAyHktCNVsQFldcitv-x8ynFiWSx9hbmatKeiUKCcP36MynPVkCbpqlhmYcAEkq23MhncXPomDWKfrw7DcE8U0rwE4v1l14PO6CcwA80F4xhcqMecsDRGT8e33zcLeiEJ_xLe5Q/s320/Unknown-1.jpeg"/></a></div>
The federal holiday of Columbus Day has always been a day to celebrate the journeys of Christopher Columbus and his navigation which mistakenly, “discovered”, the Americas. It is a Monday off from work or school that many Americans look forward to. Over the course of the past few years, this holiday has become a controversial subject. The question that many Americans are debating over currently, is, should Christopher Columbus be celebrated? Although the Genoan- sent on his travels by Italian royalty- is thanked today for discovering North and South America, Columbus did participate in the ravaging of supplies and accidental murdering (through disease), of millions of indigenous people. While it is important to remember the basis that anything is founded on, it is also important to remember that even though really great things may come from something, its beginning is sometimes rough and may not be as glorified as it is made out to be. Christopher Columbus was an Italian man from Genoa, who was given ships and supplies by the royalty of Spain to attempt to find a new sailing route to India. Columbus went the opposite route that navigators usually take to get to India, and decided to test a theory that the earth may be a globe. When he touched land for the first time, which was modern-day Bahamas, he immediately assumed he had found India. Christopher and his crews decided to take advantage of the hospitable nature of the native Bahamians and take them as slaves, and convert them to Christianity. What he did not know is that he and his sailing crew, as Europeans, carried many diseases that these people were not exposed to. As a result, after meeting Columbus, millions of native’s died from transported diseases from Europe.
Many people today look back into the history of Columbus and his travels, and seriously consider if he was doing a good thing for the good of America. As an article by The Philadelphia Inquirer states, “Columbus Day idealizes a murderer who got lost during his expedition and minimizes the negative effects of colonialism on America’s Indigenous peoples” (Norwood 1). While it is true that Columbus Day celebrates Christopher Columbus who did murder many people, it is also important to remember that this behavior was not shunned in his time. His journey did begin “two greatest crimes in the history of the Americas: the transatlantic slave trade, and the genocide of Indigenous peoples” (Norwood 1), which were responsible for the deaths of millions of innocent people. Columbus had the intention of finding India in the first place, but did end up starting a mass genocide in a new world he “discovered” for the Europeans. Many people argue that Columbus day should be celebrated due to the fact that Columbus found our country and is the reason that we have the U.S.A., but an interesting fact to remember is that “Columbus never stepped foot in what is now the continental United States, so he is not part of any North American heritage” (Norwood 1). It is an argument to use the fact that Columbus discovered North America, but Columbus actually never stepped foot on what is now American soil.
While there are many reasons why Columbus did much harm, there are also a few reasons why it is important to celebrate such a controversial figure. Remarkably, “Columbus possessed admirable qualities, of which all Americans can be proud. Even by his detractors, he is seen as a skilled sea captain of the highest order. He challenged the conventional thought that the Earth was flat, seeking to “reach the east by going west,” an idea to which the scientists of the day were forcibly opposed” (The Denver Post 1). Columbus did successfully traverse a new way of navigation, which no European had ever done before. This is a task that should be celebrated because it can be terrifying to try something new, no matter what it is. Columbus took a big risk, and although he did not reach his goal, he found new land, which is good for the Europeans. Another achievement that is brought up in the discussion of whether Columbus is a good example of Italian-American heritage, is that “Columbus discovered the American continental coast and recorded the voyage in a way that enabled others to repeat the feat” (The Denver Post 1). Columbus did execute a path to a completely new land, and cleared the way for other navigators to dig more into the journey he began. He discovered American lands, and was able to record all of his travels to enable other travellers to take his route. While there are many different opinions and reasons on why or why not Columbus Day should be celebrated, or turned into Indigenous People’s day, it is very important for people to hear both sides of the discussion. Personally, I believe that this holiday should be celebrated as Indigenous People’s Day. The astronomical numbers of Indigenous people who were murdered at the sense of Columbus’s unknowingness is absolutely terrible. The genocide of natives is not something that should be taken lightly. A day to celebrate Indigenous culture and history would be important for people to realize what was taken from native people who were innocent. Both sides of any argument are important to hear and take note of. In this argument though, I stand with the idea of renaming Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s Day, to take power away from the murderer and bring power and justice to what was taken away from people so many years ago, with long lasting effects.
Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-88178261532266564022021-10-05T11:41:00.001-04:002021-10-05T11:41:36.012-04:00Before I Knew of The WorldBefore I Knew of The World
Avery Kurzontkowski
October 5th, 2021
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpq2esqgZGrP2g7A9FHNsSRuc5Pi6uW-685QEYtcTlK5z_0b46fOQ5aAIoAAbSotRBLKSn0PAisUE47rhsWEi_eZxci9d7hW8V0j9uRDKjJo5lp0qGDGj9MCv-_OaWBPN4R5CjTUUZAz9a/s1252/Screen+Shot+2021-10-05+at+11.41.08+AM.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="1252" data-original-width="1030" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpq2esqgZGrP2g7A9FHNsSRuc5Pi6uW-685QEYtcTlK5z_0b46fOQ5aAIoAAbSotRBLKSn0PAisUE47rhsWEi_eZxci9d7hW8V0j9uRDKjJo5lp0qGDGj9MCv-_OaWBPN4R5CjTUUZAz9a/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-10-05+at+11.41.08+AM.png"/></a></div>
I have never been a girl of quiet nature. Since I was a child, I have always been the first one to speak out loud in class, or introduce myself to a new person. Every report card I ever received had the same thing in common in the notes: Needs to learn to be silent in class. I never understood why it was such a big deal that I enjoyed sharing. My voice was my power, I could use it to contribute to the world I saw all around me through my eyes. I was little, and everyone around me was so large. Rather than letting the world dictate me to become who they wanted me to be, I could use my voice to speak my own truths. Nobody could take my voice away from me, my voice was mine. As I have matured into a teenager, soon to be an adult, I still carry the trait of being a loud person. In the photo, I wear a large dress, and hold a guitar, which I received for Christmas. The little girl is sweet, with short blonde hair, and a button nose. But her expression is loud- she is not dressed by her mother, she is not being told how to stand by her father. She is choosing the way to present herself, nobody can take away her self expression.
m
I loved dressing up as a little girl in princess dresses. Whether it be Belle, Cinderella, or Ariel- who was my favorite in particular- you could always find me in a dress. I guess it was my way of expressing myself as a child, an outlet to be a part of the fairytales I read and dreamed of. As a teenager I cannot help but get excited when I must wear a fancy dress for a school dance or social event. The passion I have for expressing myself through fashion continued on through my life, but in a different form. I guess some traits stay similar throughout everyone’s life, but take different forms as they mature.
I have no recollection of why I enjoyed Band Aids so much, but I did. My parents tell me stories of me taking boxes of Band Aids and sticking them all over my body, and the dog’s body so I could play veterinarian. In this photo, a large Band Aid is covering my forehead, making it seem as though I injured myself in some way, but in reality, I was a child with a strange interest. I have no passion for medical studies today, but as a child, I constantly wanted to know how and why things worked the way they did. It was like a sticker, which was fascinating- but I could decide what it meant, the sticker did not tell me what it was meant for. Band Aids were a blank canvas, whatever image I wanted could be imagined on it.
When the photo was taken, I was still an only child. My sister had not come into my life yet, all of the attention was on me by my parents. Everywhere they went, I did. I was known by everyone in my Dad’s insurance office, “David’s little girl.” I worried about running out of ink in my markers when I would color, which seemed big to me, but in contrast to the bills my parents were struggling to pay, my issues were not of concern. I did not know the concept of an issue, all I knew was that the world is mine, and I could shape it to whatever I wanted it to be. A little girl of four looks for unicorns in the woods, she does not know the concept of responsibility. I wish the world could stay in this perspective for everyone, forever. Wouldn't that make life a lot easier?
Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-4102518580422719762021-09-13T11:59:00.005-04:002023-10-18T13:24:47.933-04:00Why I Write <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbYVJtIHjs-9dt2cE9G8IRxYNgw1zqkfe7aE6N81X48ji9O74xUnR8nXU1-dpJYm6klR3CS0dNF1Za5xbMG-dfFLHRv-CHMz92r60k3GwSopChZPTsII0ShHe-QZQV3QnRu3B7lp1p-bf/s1024/961C0E3F-8D46-4A80-BDEA-A2C560F5892D_1_105_c.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbYVJtIHjs-9dt2cE9G8IRxYNgw1zqkfe7aE6N81X48ji9O74xUnR8nXU1-dpJYm6klR3CS0dNF1Za5xbMG-dfFLHRv-CHMz92r60k3GwSopChZPTsII0ShHe-QZQV3QnRu3B7lp1p-bf/s320/961C0E3F-8D46-4A80-BDEA-A2C560F5892D_1_105_c.jpeg"/></a></div>
An 11th grade essay for AP Lang.
They come to me when I close my eyes to go to bed, when I have no outlets to distract me from myself. I want to be away from my brain, escape the constantly turning wheels in my head, take a deep breath, relax. No matter how much I exhale, no matter how many sheep I count, no matter how many times I tell myself writing can wait until tomorrow, the ideas will not allow me to rest. My thoughts give my brain a reason to live for tomorrow. <br>
As I sit in class and I try to pay attention to the numbers etched across the board, stories flash across my eyes that sit at the tip of my fingers waiting to be expelled from my mind. I try to grip my pen harder, I try to take a sip of water, I try to snap myself out of the trance, but my brain always wins against my better judgement, and when I start writing, I cannot stop. Before I know it, class is over, I have no relics from class showing my science or math engagement, but I have a story to show for the lecture in my google docs that has nothing to do with the class, but everything to do with my imagination. <br>
In the second grade, my teacher told me I must put my books down during math and I have to multiply numbers with the rest of the class. I was one step ahead of her, I always kept three copies of my novel inside my desk to back up the one she took away. My teacher, as a punishment, refused to allow me to participate in third grade English with the “gifted” students. My teacher told me I must not talk when coloring to stop me from distracting the other students, even though everyone else could speak. My teacher told me I cannot use two papers instead of one when writing my stories during Language Arts, because I would just be “blabbering”. The structure attempted to make me a less-confident eight year old. I grew up with the will of Galileo proving his scientific findings. I grew up with the will of Hamilton shaping the United States Treasury. I grew up with the will of a thousand ants moving a piece of bread.
I refused to back down in spite of everyone who attempted to stampede on my intellect. <br>
I cannot just accept that others know better than me without sufficient evidence. As a child, I would challenge my parents when the reason I had to go to bed at 7 PM was because “I said so”. As a pre-teen, I would challenge my friends when they said the reason they would not go to Barnes and Noble with me was because “the movies are more fun”. As a teenager, I challenge rules with no reasonable explanation. I cannot take no for an answer if I cannot understand why it is a no. <br>
And that is why I write. <br>
In the eighth grade, my english teacher had us start a blog as a school project. Not one assignment in any of the thousands I have done has impacted me as much as this one has. Four years have gone by, and out of the 500 other kids that were in my grade in public school, I am the only person who still continually updates my blog. My english teacher challenged me to write more in depth, she challenged me to explore the topic I am scribing better. She taught me tactics on how to focus by not using control, but rather taught me personal choice, and how my actions affect others and myself. My blog became an outlet for my thoughts, my feelings, my worldview, my interests, anything and everything that came to my mind and kept me distracted during class or up at night, my blog was my outlet. I’ll never be able to thank her enough for that. <br>
My blog taught me how to code a website and put everything I learned in computer science to use. I learned how to format my work, and add photos to supplement it. I was able to take my words that I could never stop speaking and put them down to be read by others who actually want to hear them. I was able to make some people laugh, and connect with kids in my class who also enjoyed writing who I would have never talked to otherwise. I joined groups online of other bloggers, and I learned how to engage more people. I’ll never be ashamed that I only recieve four viewers a month on my blog because unlike originally, other people reading is not what motivates me. Reading my own work and seeing my improvements motivates me to write more. <br>
I write to escape the mortal world my feet tread. My boredom is never present when I am able to flow my ideas onto my website; I can take the thoughts I possess that I feel as though nobody else has and give it to the world. When will I ever run out of ideas, when will my thoughts finish? I simply cannot imagine my life without words, my life without the flow I have right now as I type out my thoughts onto this virtual paper. My brain is circling the globe and shooting up into space and beyond, leaving behind all of my commitments as my body sits in my high school. My fingers are a jet engine flying my words away from my brain and giving them to this computer. <br>
I’ll never know if I prefer nonfiction or fiction writing, but I know I prefer words. In a non-narcissistic way, I obsess over the thought that I can string whatever words the English language gave me in whatever way I want, and every which way they are put together, my brain will interpret them differently and make me feel differently. I know I hyperfixate, but writing allows me to expel my hyperfixations and be done with my obsessions before I am something to be perceived as annoying. I write to let the talkative side of myself stay with myself, and whoever on earth wants to meet her can, through my blog.
Since I was six months old, books kept me consumed for hours on end. I could not walk, I could not talk, I could not control my bowel, I could not do any basic human functions. But I knew I loved words. They fascinated me. My mother tells me stories of finding her baby on the floor surrounded by picture books, staring at pictures and words for hours, flipping pages. The baby had no interest in blocks or dolls, just books. As the baby grew older into the woman I am today, the one thing that stayed consistent was her love of words, and creating strings of words. <br>
I write for consistency. <br>
I write for escape. <br>
I write for reminders of different times in my life. <br>
I write for the beautiful purple Inkjoy pens at Staples. <br>
I write for my older self, who will wonder what her younger self thought about. <br>
I write for my younger self, who was curious where writing could take her. <br>
I write for my biographer, who will wonder when I am long gone what I published as a juvenile. <br>
I write to prove nothing. <br>
I write to give the world everything I can offer. <br>
Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-82792215018284593992021-09-02T18:12:00.002-04:002023-10-23T13:32:32.124-04:00The Airport ConnectionAirports are so incredibly cool to me. <br>
Everyone is arriving from somewhere all over the world, everyone is departing from somewhere all over the world.<br>
I sit in an airport and watch all of the independent humans continue on with their lives. <br>
The parents with three kids in matching mickey shirts, all giggling over the excitement of going to Disney World. Their smiles radiate throughout each other, and glisten off the glitter of their shirts, which illuminates the celing when the sun hits it just right. A week about to begin in the Sunshine state, a week these children will never forget.<br>
The businessman with a brown leather bag taps his black earpiece to end his call. He runs his hand through his grey cut, noticably styled with gell. He adjusts his position in the black leather seat he sits in, in an effort to become more comfortable. His black coat brushes over his DELL laptop as he opens it, in an effort to get some work done before he begins his flight somewhere away from Boston.<br>
The 20-something year old girl subtley smiles into her phone as she scrolls through Instagram. She awaits her flight away from home, moving her into college. The pink streaks running through her jet black hair makes her stand out to the crowd, complimenting her deep brown eyes. She retracts the handle into her like green suitcase, as she glances up at the flight monitor to read any updates about her flight. The excitement ahead of her move causes her to be more ancy then normal.<br>
Everyone around is arriving and departing to everywhere. This group of people will never find themselves together again, this mass of individuals in the same place at the same time is a one time occurence. They will never again be on the same flight with each other, they will travel hundreds or thousands of miles away from each other in their lifetime. But no matter where they may go or what they may do, they will always have this flight in common.<br>
The man arriving from Australia sips his coffee at 11:00 PM in an attempt to recover from his extreme jetlag. The girl sits at the counter of Friendly's, excitedly awaiting her pancakes with whipped cream, before she travels with her Grandma to Italy. These two people are in the same place at the same time, and may never cross paths again. Their lives are so different, and they experience such different areas of the world. Their perception of time at this moment is so different, but they share the memory of being in the airport iHop at the same time. <br>
Everyone will travel far away from each other, nobody knows each other. Everyone percieves time differently, nobody has the same result coming out of their flight. <br>
The world is bigger then humans can percieve, but airports connect us.<br> <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjup2Iql78xvSY0S4PBADehtlB4Djrv-Wwypq0_Rq0NLYEn-FQVvufcYJxl8SrNBYaDhmVhBuL6RQQJv3mq4oHNi2lpHJVSCn8p66i8Km8BrosCJCSfqmKlC0s8RqBzmXXLHYMm-YyzvYLY/s2048/image.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjup2Iql78xvSY0S4PBADehtlB4Djrv-Wwypq0_Rq0NLYEn-FQVvufcYJxl8SrNBYaDhmVhBuL6RQQJv3mq4oHNi2lpHJVSCn8p66i8Km8BrosCJCSfqmKlC0s8RqBzmXXLHYMm-YyzvYLY/s320/image.jpg"/></a></div>Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-38846590988803946092021-08-04T23:24:00.003-04:002021-08-04T23:24:53.452-04:00Things I Learned in Montana <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6En4ZDEvu8Ipxgx2h9IChsQwB0MbrLnqsbAs2G4llv7-4uzn9GVUUJbtwiW7xpjTUSdq1hd2e7flTnRUlrFP6TCoaOZLxpDDsGsIhu2-RiEMDZPF5kngUIJYmW1UjwPFX76gJUvbb_IA8/s1106/Screen+Shot+2021-08-04+at+11.04.36+PM.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="1106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6En4ZDEvu8Ipxgx2h9IChsQwB0MbrLnqsbAs2G4llv7-4uzn9GVUUJbtwiW7xpjTUSdq1hd2e7flTnRUlrFP6TCoaOZLxpDDsGsIhu2-RiEMDZPF5kngUIJYmW1UjwPFX76gJUvbb_IA8/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-08-04+at+11.04.36+PM.png"/></a></div>
I spent the better part of the summer out west in the gorgeous state of Montana. It truly is the "Big Sky" state, the fields seemed to go on forever, the sky was such an opalescent blue that changed throughout the day to adapt to the farm below it. The mountains rolled on for what seems like forever, and although the smoke from the forest fires hazed them, being in the valley was so incredibly beautiful. We saw bison and goats, and worked with pigs and chickens and cattle. I learned so much about sustainable agriculture and permaculture, I hope to write an article this year about food systems and permaculture. I met some of the coolest people ever, and just was so happy to be connected to the earth around me through living outside for so long. Montana is so underrated, I hope to return as soon as I can. I plan to publish a poem about the valley.
While I was there, I learned so much about different people and their experiences, and talked with many local people. Coming home, I can truly say I feel like a better person who has grown. On the plane ride home, as soon as I sat down, I wrote everything I learned about myself and personality while I was there, and I feel inclined to share it.
Here are "Things I Have Learned in Montana: A General Review" by: Yours Truly
<b>1. Listening is Key For Healthy Conversation</b>
You don't need to fill every silent moment! Listen to others, and appreciate what others have to say. Listen and learn, and share what you know to be beneficial to conversation.
<b>2. Be Kind To Those With Different World Views</b>
After talking with so many vegans especially, and people from other parts of the country, you must accept those who differ from you. Whether they be non-binary, vegan, jewish, or anything else that you do not identify with, you must learn from them and appreciate their views, although you may disagree.
<b>3. Step Away From Technology Often, Breathe in Nature</b>
Get off your phone! There's so much incredible beauty in the world around you, whether it be a lake, hill, or mountain. Even trees and plants and animals hold nature, you must connect with the earth. Limit your phone usage to two hours a day if even, it is incredibly easy to get sucked into your phone. Read, draw, listen to music, whatever- just get off your stupid phone! It is not as hard as you think to function without it!
<b>4. Put All Your Effort In To Recieve Great Results</b>
Workings as hard as you can at whatever you do, even if you do not enjoy it, will bring you so incredibly far in life. Whether it be carpentry, the chicken coop, school, whatever, if you put all your effort in, you will be pleased with the results. Never falter away from your end goal, work hard for great results.
<b>5. You Are Stronger Then You Believe</b>
The #1 thing that people wrote on your plus wish cards is that you need to have more confidence in yourself. You are pretty, you aren't annoying always, you are badass, people don't hate you for no reason. Whatever you believe about yourself will be reciprocated.
<b>Do What You Aren't Comfortable With</b>
You weren't comfortable seeing a chicken killed, and you slaughtered seven. You were scared to rock climb, and you reached the goal you wanted to conquer. You were afraid that people would hate you, you made so many amazing friends. Face what you fear and always try something new, you never know what you may find amazing.
<b>Only Consume What You Need </b>
You don't need lots of food at every meal, you don't need lots of new clothing. The world has so much to offer you outside of material things, take advantage of the more simple things in life, like the mountains, and conversation. Don't over consume, take just what you need.
Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-53708801361037645112021-06-10T10:05:00.001-04:002023-10-18T13:27:50.046-04:00A Poem Written April 3rd, 2020Going to the grocery store is now a treat. <br>
The stinging smell of hand sanitizer, <br>
The sight of shopping carts packed with toilet paper,<br>
Everyone rushes to get in and out. <br>
I smile at the deli man before I ask for american cheese,<br>
Before I remember that the cloth on my face covers my mouth and friendly gesture.<br>
The dark circles under his eyes tell the story of how his day is going.<br>
I ask my mom if I can get ice cream,<br>
She nods and tells me to hurry back,<br>
I try to push through crowds of people, <br>
To find the freezer with the only flavor in it of rum raisin. <br>
The TV recites the news and new case totals,<br>
“Social distancing” is printed on posters throughout the store.<br>
I want to hug, I want to shake hands, I want to say hello to my neighbors, I want to go to a school dance, I want to visit my grandma, I want to go to the mall,<br>
But the guidelines laid out for us tell us we must not. <br>
Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-15725173500317604552021-03-22T15:42:00.003-04:002021-03-22T15:46:48.190-04:00bloomHer only expectation is to bloom with might.
Although she is small, although she is quiet,
In the eyes of her gardener she will rise with strength.
All winter she sits dormant in a paper bag,
In the back room of a home depot.
Many identical to her surround her in her space,
As she impatiently awaits her future.
When March comes she is planted,
And by May she will shoot through the earth,
Soaking up the sun and all its sweetness,
Bringing serotonin to the people around her.
She does not stand out,
But she rather lies low.
What will come of her is greater than what she started as,
And all eyes will turn to her when she rises.
This seed is small,
This seed is tiny,
This seed is quiet,
But her potential is not any of this.
Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-91393254736944710132021-03-17T11:51:00.003-04:002021-03-17T11:51:51.894-04:00Quiet Down. quiet down.
her email floods with leadership classes,
her math test comes back with the coveted red A at the top,
her mind swirls with dreams of the oval office while her teacher recites shakespeare,
settle down.
they say to take internships,
they tell how far good grades will get you,
they ask if she has been paying attention,
hush up.
the letters of admittance are recieved,
the congratulations are given,
the questions whether if she deserves it are pondered,
be silent.
the positions sit just above her finger's reach,
US attorney general, supreme court justice, president of the USA,
she jumps higher, trying to grasp the possibilities again and again,
move out of the way.
she takes the praise and acknowledgements,
she speaks at schools and shares her experience,
she is told that for a woman it is impressive where she is,
she begins to believe that her station is impressive,
but did she try hard enough?
is she where she wants to be or is she where the old men want her to be?
has all of the praise convinced her she is where she should be, has being told to settle down whenever she has an opinion began to take effect, is she the example that the old men are not sexist?
quiet down, settle down, hush up, move,
she is told her whole life when she is herself.
she quiets down to fit the image of the perfect woman.
she dumbs her ideas down to respect the men,
she tells little girls, "you can be who you want to be!" at schools,
but is she where she wants to be?
or is she where the old men want her to be?
Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-4573237689740297812021-02-25T20:10:00.002-05:002021-02-25T20:10:23.361-05:00Childhood NostalgiaI was born in 2005, so I grew up with the internet being a prominent thing in society.
Needed some information? Go look it up! Want to learn how to do something? Go watch a YouTube video!
I can't say I will ever know what life was like before the internet. Did time move slower? Were people kinder? Was there more mystery to life?
I grew up with big TV's rolled in on carts when we were going to watch a movie, and projectors in the library to read books. We had awesome shows on Disney channel, and a huge static-y TV. I got my first iPod touch when I was 7. My Mom had a blackberry slide phone, same with my Dad. We played in the neighborhood all day as kids on weekends, except for Saturday mornings when cartoons were on.
As I got older through childhood, big box static TV's turned into flatscreens, flip phones turned into iPhones, books turned into kindles, and manhunt in the neighborhood turned into Minecraft games on iPads. I was young when these changes happened, but they happened gradually over time through elementary school. By the first grade we switched our TV to a flatscreen, but by the fourth grade every child had a first-generation iPad mini and played minecraft. We played games in the neighborhood all night growing up, but as new xboxes and playstations came out and replaced the iconic Wii, nights played tag became father apart, until the older neighborhood kids started the dreaded highschool, and DS gaming devices became iPhone 5's. Homework stacked up, and our enjoyment in playing kickball decreased.
Now I'm a sophomore and high school, and playing in the neighborhood is an activity long forgotten. DS'es have become nostalgic, and the excitement of the iPhone 5 comng out is long gone. I still remember playing games in the circle and building forts in the woods so well, but as the rope swings have snapped and the playhouses have been taken down, it has become so real to me that we will never get those days back.
I throughly enjoyed my childhood. I believe it was cool for me to have been raised in the switch from flip phones to iPhones.
Often though, I hear from milennials or Gen-X'ers, "You will never kow how great the days were when cell phones didn't exist and we had to read to obtain information!"
And while for a while I wished I would wake up with a time traveling machine and live out the days that have been described to be to be so amazing by older generations, as I have matured I have realized that there is truly no sense in wishing I was born in a different time.
As people tell me how great they grew up, I think it is interesting to hear how it was different, but I will never experience that. And as I have matured, I have realized that it's okay to not know what life is life without the internet! Nobody can control whehn they are born, which makes a point as to why the arguing between generations at who had it the best is quite stupid.
Maybe I will never know what all four high school years are like out of a pandemic. Maybe I will never know what it is like to listen to the radio and read the paper to hear the news. But, I will know what it is like to go to elementary school and the teachers being able to show us anything we want to know about because YouTube is a click away, which older generations did not have. I will know what it is like to play in the neighborhood as a kid, while future generations may not know because kids love their iPads, and mothers are afraid of their children getting kidnapped.
Although I will know the good things, I am also painfully aware of negative things that older generations caused and that now inflict us, such as the fear of a shooter entering my middle school cafeteria, or the frightening possible effects of climate change.
With all of the things to be afraid of, there are plenty of amazing things to be grateful for. Although a pandemic has touched and negatively impacted the rest of my high school years, I am able to spend more time with my family and learn from my parents more. I cannot change the times I live in, but I can change how I look at it and go through it, and for that I am grateful. I am grateful for my time, and I am grateful for the teachers who have educated me and the teachers to come- and I don't mean just actual teachers, I mean all influential teachers, such as my best friends who teach me friendship, and my parents who teach me work ethic and care.
Childhood nostalgia comes in many forms. Today, I was scrolling through Tik Tok, when I heard a song I had not heard in years, which is "Rainbow Connection" from the Muppets. A song I listened to as a child through Muppets re-runs and elementary school music class.
I remember being in the first grade, and the fourth grade sung this song. I loved the tune, so I loudly sang along, until a teacher came over and tapped me on the shoulder, silencing me because we were supposed to be listening. I quickly realized nobody else was singing.
Some things remind you of simpler times, and while it is not okay to dwell on the past, it is okay to look back on moments and memories that you are fond of, and one is listening to Kermit the Frog play his Banjo on the log, singing this song:
[Verse 1]
Why are there so many
Songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions
But only illusions
And rainbows have nothing to hide
So we've been told and some choose to believe it
I know they're wrong wait and see
[Hook]
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
[Verse 2]
Who said that every wish
Would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that
And someone believed it
Look what it's done so far
What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing
And what do we think we might see?
[Hook]
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
[Bridge]
All of us under its spell
We know that it's probably magic
[Verse 3]
Have you been half asleep
And have you heard voices?
I've heard them calling my name
Is this the sweet sound
That calls the young sailors?
The voice might be one and the same
I've heard it too many times to ignore it:
It's something that I'm supposed to be
[Hook]
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
Da-da-da-dee-da-da dum
Da-da-da-da-dee-da-da-doo
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNRJ2nq7Y4xpW998pFId-32k4Et-tn4yMK_CgFkdksdAtx3O9dkYy0JcQzwfCiWPqk0b_PGcUnzEPoYgGoNszgeDyOzHHWfUYOOgQt1iXnA954ONmWzRoLKYONZlmVAJnmo1KI0JAXfNN/s1600/Screen+Shot+2021-02-25+at+7.59.33+PM.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNRJ2nq7Y4xpW998pFId-32k4Et-tn4yMK_CgFkdksdAtx3O9dkYy0JcQzwfCiWPqk0b_PGcUnzEPoYgGoNszgeDyOzHHWfUYOOgQt1iXnA954ONmWzRoLKYONZlmVAJnmo1KI0JAXfNN/s320/Screen+Shot+2021-02-25+at+7.59.33+PM.png"/></a></div>
I spent the day learning the entire song on ukulele. I cannot sing, but I played along to the original video. I did yoga for an hour, I ate some Mcdonald's fries. I miss the past, but I am enjoying the present and excited for the future. Sometimes though, it can be a really great thing to enjoy things that make you happy, like this beautiful song. Reflect on the past and prepare for the future. Enjoy what you enjoy. Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-79656354532136065162021-01-25T08:46:00.001-05:002021-01-25T08:46:44.997-05:00Relax. I love to talk to people, but at the same time, I love being alone. I am so outgoing and conversational, but on a weekend when I have the option to, I honestly prefer to relax by myself and do quiet things, like watch documentaries while sewing, or reading. I have no fear in talking to a large group of people (unless I embarrass myself) but rather, I love to go on walks by myself and spend time with myself. I enjoy picking and choosing when I am with people and interacting because I get socially drained easily. Thoughts will do that to you, if your mind is always racing with thought but your mouth is only choosing the things to say that will cater to the like of other people.
I have been babysitting since I was 12 years old. I thought I was so cool to act so old, as I would put the children to bed, do dishes, play with children, and watch the house until the parents got home late at around 10 PM. After I babysat and I would go to school feeling mature, I would then realize I was still, only 12. I could choose if I wanted to text boys and do makeup, or play with my American Girl Dolls. Adults saw me as a child, but I saw myself as not a child. As I grew older, I have never stopped learning when to pick and choose how I behave. How old I act, what I enjoy, its all up to me. Its all up to me when I am social, its all up to me when I spend time alone, and I am grateful for that luxury.
As much as it is enjoyable to hang out with people, its also very important to allow yourself to "charge". Do a face mask, take a bubble bath, watch your favorite show, go on a walk, whatever can reset your mind. In my experience, it is good to take at least an hour a week to yourself, to charge, to relax, and prepare for another week of decisions.
Relaxation is also important to moderate. Working every day all day is not healthy, but neither is relaxing every day all day, which also ties into the idea of balance. Decisons come aorund every day, but balance will help you be the most mentally strong. Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-40270467474291691192021-01-20T18:47:00.001-05:002023-10-23T13:34:32.068-04:00Public Speaking: Tips and Tricks!Hello b10ggers! <br>
Its been a while since I have done a simple how-to post, and today I would like to give you all an insight to something that I love to do, which is public speaking! I have been public speaking since I was in the first grade, when I had a speaking part at the school assembly. I basically just said the name of three fruits that are healthy for you. After this though, I really grew as a speaker and knew that public speaking was something I wanted to do. I did plays and musicals all throughout elementary and middle school, sometimes getting speaking roles, and sometimes not. I spoke at my first communion in the second grade in front of hundreds, I mc'd my fourth grade assembly by myself, I delievered dozens of presentations to my classes throughout middle school willingly, I spoke at my middle school assemblies, and countless other examples of public speaking. I am so grateful for all of the opportunities I have made for myself and been given. This upcoming Monday I actually have a presentation about Indigenous rights infront of my entire school of 400+! How do I do it? What gives me confidence? Keep reading! <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJWLcESRVj5unNlJ1vdAAYgjFSx0H21EzCKzEIsoBO-gmyAVYHTYcd8Tc8GqIAy1WWKAhQdM97E4LQcfP3aUZcoEpo9CPVq0WCgP1_gJdMG3MG9wqLjBYnBPQ_3eqYpIVxZBfn9RNBj11/s486/Screen+Shot+2020-07-20+at+10.16.25+PM.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="320" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="411" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJWLcESRVj5unNlJ1vdAAYgjFSx0H21EzCKzEIsoBO-gmyAVYHTYcd8Tc8GqIAy1WWKAhQdM97E4LQcfP3aUZcoEpo9CPVq0WCgP1_gJdMG3MG9wqLjBYnBPQ_3eqYpIVxZBfn9RNBj11/s320/Screen+Shot+2020-07-20+at+10.16.25+PM.png"/></a></div>
<i>Me, in Boston, while filming a video for youtube, which is a form of public speaking. </i><br>
1. <b>What is stopping you?</b>
"Fear does not stop death. It stops life. And worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles. It takes away today's peace."<br>
My Dad sent me this quote a few weeks ago and it has really sat with me since then. <br>
Fear. Worry. Embarrassment. Disability. Is that was is stopping you? Where is your source of hesitation coming from? What stops you from going after it? <br>
In my situation, I throughly enjoy public speaking, and you may not which is okay! But, it is a good skill to have when you need it.
The majority of people who name their source of hesitation will probably say fear. You really have to think though, will I still be fearful after? Why is this fear different? What am I afraid of? Everything happens for a reason, so if you mess up, its probably a good thing. Hold on to what is stopping you and turn around the situation. <br>
You can live your life in fear or you can live it with drive. Why are you so scared of the future? Why do you fear the unknown? I mean, if it will benefit you, why not try it? You will find your own answer for what is stopping you by sitting down and asking yourself these questions. Have a discussion with yourself and tell yourself to not be afraid. Only you can fix your own issues. I guarantee you that it really is not that big of a deal. After all, aren't we all just on a floating rock? <br>
2. Time is Relative. <br>
You probably aren't even really worried that much about the speech itself, but rather how long you have to do it for. You can read, right? As long as you can read and can physically speak loud then you have all the components to do it. The time though, you have to remember doesn't even exist. We made time up! Like, in the whole universe, do you think anywhere else has a time system?
Fear nothing. You are the one thing in life you can control. How will you make a difference in your speech? Will you be remembered? You have the power to decide if you want people to remember your speech by deciding how exciting it will be. It can give off whatever vibes you want. What do you want people to get from it? What is the goal? It is up to you. <br>
3. Hype yourself up!<br>
Yes, you are the coolest person in the room. Yes, everyone is looking at you. Yes, you have the power to deliver what informatin you want. What will you do with this power?
Real talk, look in the mirror before hand and tell yourself you will do great. Be positive! Talking yourslef down will only make you feel worse about the event. How can you make it a positive experience? I'm sure you want to enjoy the speech, so change your mindself to help you overcome it. If you are challenged, think about how you can get around that challenge and excel in other areas.
Try positive affirmations. I repeat them to myself in the mirror each morning to start my day off with positivity. <br>
Some examples: <br>
- I am beautiful<br>
- I am strong<br>
- I am able to do what I put my mind to<br>
- I am the one thing in life I can control <br>
- I am original<br>
- I am inamitable<br>
Tell youself what you want to be told! You are your own biggest critic. Hype yourself up you, you got this. <br>
Got more questions? Comment below!<br>Avery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8059678480228044543.post-31634858868847872222021-01-06T09:06:00.005-05:002023-10-18T13:10:39.245-04:00Genesis 3:19“In the sweat of your face you will eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For dust you are and to dust you will return.” - Genesis 3:19<br>
This is a weird verse to be my favorite, but the logical way in which I interpret it gives an insight into my world view.<br>
This verse concludes God's curse on Adam for his sin.<br>
"For dust you are and to dust you will return."<br>
We come from dust and we end as dust. <br>
We are all born on the same earth and we all die on the same earth. We all live the same, breath the same air, and eat the same. We all share hate on this earth, we all share love on this earth. No feelings or thoughts are exclusive. <br>
Natural laws: a body of unchanging moral principles regarded as a basis for all human conduct.<br>
The only reason why other humans are thought of as better than others because of castes and hierarchys that we have made up and created as a society.<br>
Nobody is better than anyone else. Although we think of others as better than us, on a real note, we all share the same life. <br>
We are all born the same and die the same. <br>
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https://ih1.redbubble.net/image.1724246103.7021/pp,840x830-pad,1000x1000,f8f8f8.jpgAvery Marlowehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05364053142967713866noreply@blogger.com0