Remember this day for CLOSURE

Yesterday our generation witnessed what I consider one of the biggest news stories of our entire lives so far.  Osama Bin Laden killed by U.S. operatives.  And being on a college campus the celebrations for this victory range greatly.  I've seen statuses on facebook from my friends and conversations with others claiming that it's wrong to celebrate the death of someone, even someone as evil as Bin Laden.  There have been comments like "he's finally dead" "enjoy your new roommate Satan" etc.  But we aren't celebrating the fact that a man is dead, but rather, the fact that our generation now has some closure to the worst attack on American soil in our lifetime.

A prominent member of the group responsible for the 9/11 attacks can no longer harm people.  Let's face it, Bin Laden was a flat out murderer and needed to be brought to justice.  And even if he was captured and brought in alive, he would have seen his demise shortly after.  No one celebrated to this extent when Saddam was killed, but when he was captured.  That is the same today, we are celebrating the fact that Osama Bin Laden has been captured, it just so happens that he had to die in order for that to be accomplished.  So to those who feel dirty or wrong celebrating because a man died, celebrate.  Because America is celebrating a victory almost 10 years in the making.  Some closure has been brought to the families who lost someone that day.  For the time being, America can again stand together united.

9/11/01 is an unforgettable day, 5/1/11 is a rememberable one.

Our Society Sucks - Don't Suck

I've been away from the blog for a while.  But I really haven't had the inspiration to write lately, and I don't want to force anything because then the post isn't quality.

Anyways, today I saw two news reports that really didn't sit well with me.  The first one is a young girl who got plastic surgery to avoid further bullying.  The second one is a Fox News report that unfairly connected a GWU student's suicide with a visit from President Obama.

Honestly, what is wrong with our society today?  Kids tease other kids.  They don't understand differences.  It's not a justification, I'm not saying it's okay.  I'm just saying, it happens.  But as the mom in the video mentioned, adults were even teasing the young girl.  Adults!  I'm glad the mom cared so much for her daughter that she took drastic action to protect her daughter; and like the Doctor said, develop normally (on a cognitive level).

The fact of the matter is that plastic surgery had to be used in order to stop the bullying and the teasing.  No child should have to endure the physical toll from plastic surgery, and ideally shouldn't have to endure the emotional toll from bullying.  But bullying happens in grade school, and my roommate said to me while watching it, it's only during grade school.  Kids mature as they grow older. (well, most do) So I was taken aback by the action until I learned that adults were partaking in the teasing.  That's just ridiculous, our society just sucks.  Why should plastic surgery to fix a defect even an option?  She doesn't have control over how her ears look!  Honestly girl, there could never be a more beautiful you.

And then there's Fox News.  They're always questionable.  But to have the nerve to title your article "GWU student's suicide tragically coincides with Obama visit" is beyond ridiculous.  First and foremost they are completely disrespecting the student and his family during the hardest time of their life!  Suicide is tragic; I can't imagine a life so bad that the only way out is death.  But it happens, and it's sooooo sad!  Secondly, to say that it coincides with Obama's visit implies causation.  I don't care if they didn't say it directly in the article.  The fact that they grouped the two events together means they want the readers to connect the two events.  Congratulations Fox News, you have officially dropped to a whole new level of low I never knew existed!

Besides complaining about how much our society sucks, I want to urge you who read this to not suck!  We are a society full of ignorance, apathy and selfishness.  To quote my college's slogan "Be the Difference."  Don't be the person who teases someone on a deficiency they have no control over, instead, be the person to stop the idiot who does.  As the saying goes, "don't judge a book by its cover."  There is so much hate in this world.  Let's fill it with love.  As Bon Jovi asks: What do you got if you ain't got love?  My answer- nothing.

Sorry for ranting.

"A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge." - Thomas Carlyle

Hope - Our Eternal Desire

I was on the website "stumbleupon" today while waiting for my future roommate to get done with class so we could go sign our lease papers for our apartment.  For those unfamiliar with stumbleupon, you go to this website, click the "stumble" button and this website will direct you to other websites based on your interests.  It's really neat.  While stumbling, I came across a page with a quote that struck me and made me think: "If you are struck between two options, just flip a coin in the air!  It works.  Not because it solves the problem, but because while the coin is in the air, you will get to know what your heart is really hoping for."  The word that strikes me in this quote is hope.

I don't know why, but I just started thinking about that word.  Hope obviously means to have a strong desire for something; to really want this situation to go my way.  Is it, like the word love, overused to the point where it's lost its true meaning?  For instance, the greeks had EROS or passionate, romantic love, PHILIA or love between friends and spouses.  Then there's AGAPE with is the truest, most pure love.  Love between Christ and mankind.  There are more words the Greeks had for the different types of love.  But we in the English language took all those different words and use one:  Love.  I love my dog, I love my spouse, I love my sibling, I love rock music, I love that book.  The same word describing many different feelings to many different objects.

This is my own philosophical mind wandering (and I don't consider myself a good philosopher) but can the same hold true for hope or ELPIDA?  Through my research of the Greek origin of hope I found only one word.  But the problem I see with it is our usage of it.  I hope I do well on my math test vs. I hope my cancer-stricken family member survives.  Same verb, but vastly different contexts.  I don't think that we mean hope in the math test sense the same as in the cancer one.  Just like we don't mean love in the same way as a book vs our family.

The New Living Translation of 1 Corinthians 13:13 tells us that "three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love."  Hope will last forever.  I agree.  Athiest Friedrich Nietzsche says "Hope is the worst of evils, for it prolongs the torment of man." Hope is bad.  I disagree with Nietzsche, but I understand his view.  For example, a prisoner of war who hopes that he will one day be saved.  But day after day he is tortured to give up information.  He does not want to betray his country, but if he gives the information, he will no longer be tortured - just killed on the spot.  So he hopes that his is soon saved.  Hope is prolonging his torment and torture.  

Another way I can understand Nietzsche's view is in free will.  Do we truly have free will if God has a plan laid out for us?  And if he does have a plan, are we just wasting our time hoping for what we desire,  instead of having faith in our maker?  These are questions that no one has the answer too.  We just speculate and debate based on our views of religion.  

But if your answer to the second question is "yes" then I think you would agree with Nietzsche's quote.  But I disagree with Nietzsche because I think hope is good.  Hope is optimism, it prevents us from giving up.  Hope keeps us hanging on in the toughest of times; the hope for something better keeps pushing us.  While fiction, the Shawshank Redemption is a great example of never giving up hope.  If you haven't seen the movie, I suggest you watch it.  There is a reason that hope exists; there is a reason for everything.  It's our job to just accept that and have faith. I have a friend who's going through a rough patch right now.  This rough patch is another drop in a super long roller coaster he's been riding all year.  

It's not my place to speculate the causes of these feelings.  But I'm there as a friend offering advice, to him and to all:  Don't give up hope, EVER!

"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." - Andy Dufresne (The Shawshank Redemption)

Technology: Depersonalizing Ourselves - Part 3

Google, texting, facebook, and multitasking has led us to this.  The third and final post is this series about my take on the digital age.  Our brains have been affected because we multitask.  But the real question here is do we multitask in order to adapt to the change in our society, or has society changed in order to adapt to our multitasking?  I think it's a little of both, leaning more towards society adapting to us because technology has increased.

We enjoy listening to music, and the invention of the MP3 players and iPods have made that activity much more convenient for us to do.  Smaller devices than a portable CD players (remember those?) and they hold more music than CDs. Yes, they still exist, but for how long?  No one knows.  So we take these iPods, and we're on the go, distracted from the world around us in our own music universe.  Blackberries, Droids, iPhones and other smart phones have allowed for email, facebook, and twitter apps, connecting us to the entire world with one device small enough to carry in our pocket.  Work emails can be answered at home, on the train (if you're my dad) or while your out to dinner.  ANYWHERE!

This increased technology has its advantages no doubt, but its still unhealthy for us, individually and as a society.  Keep in mind that I do have a blackberry with all previously mentioned apps installed.  But it's unhealthy and sometimes pointless.  Is it necessary to take a picture of your dinner?  Absolutely not, but we do it.  I tweet a lot, and I realize that most of what I tweet is probably pointless.  But I have twitter because it's a great way to connect with people all over the world.  And being a broadcast major, is there a better way to get your work out there for people to notice?  That's my justification.  But we are constantly connected to everyone we want to be!  There is absolutely no way for us to be "unavailable."

And this technology is going to continue to grow, and we're going to continue to adapt to it.  It's inevitable, but I don't think it's for the best.  The convenience of the text message refrains us from picking up the phone to chat or walking to the next room to ask the question.  Technology has yet to be able to show emotion and personality.  When we're texting people are we really "communicating"?  No because a majority of our communication comes in a nonverbal fashion.  Texting cannot pick up on our body language, looks, tone of voice, etc.  By texting, we depersonalize ourselves.  We don't connect; we just share thoughts in 160 characters or less.

As this technology grows, so will our use of it.  I imagine there will come a time when we won't even have to pull out our phone for texting or updating facebook.  That's right, bluetooth texting.  And at that point, is it even worth it?  Because that's just like a conversation.  But that's the parity in our society.  We talk but don't communicate.  We live in an individualist society and increased technology will distance us even more.  And the problem is that humans, by nature, need companionship.  To seek friendship one of our five natural inclinations according to Aquinas.  Luckily technology won't turn us into robots because one thing it cannot take away from us is emotion.

Be conscious of this.  Stay true to yourself.  I realize that this opinion of my is extreme.  But I believe that true friendship is vital in growing as a person.  And true friendship cannot be achieved through texting or facebook, only through face to face encounters.  I'm not saying avoid and boycott this increased technology, because there's really no hiding from it.  But step away from it every once in a while.  Enjoy the company your with and don't worry about the world.  Live in the moment.

"Humanity is acquiring all the right technology for all the wrong reasons." - R. Buckminster Fuller


As promised, here are links to articles and the documentary that helped formulate my opinion on this topic:
Newsweek:  The Dumbest Generation: Don't Be Dumb
The Atlantic: Is Google Making Us Stupid?
The Impact of the Internet on Thinking
PBS Frontline's Digital Nation

Multitasking Changed the Way we Process - Part 2

So yesterday I talked about how we appear dumb because of our inability to recall the information we find on google.  But that's incomplete.  More of the reason why we appear dumb is because we don't retain a lot of the information we learn.  Whether it's in school, on google, etc.  Why?  Because we multitask.  We all do it, especially in college.  Work on a paper, text my friend, check facebook, and listen to my Lady Gaga pandora station (no I don't have a Lady Gaga station.  Mine is movie scores).  We do this all at the same time!  We make a deal to ourselves.  After I finish this paragraph, I'll check facebook, as sort of a reward.

Why?  Why are we unable to focus for long periods of time before our mind wanders elsewhere?  Because our brains have been negatively effected by the constant multitasking we do.  And because we are unable to focus and feel the need to check facebook after each paragraph of our paper, "Digital Nation" says we don't string thoughts together.  Instead we tend to write paragraphs of similar nature, completely independent of each other.  (again, the link to that and several other articles will be posted after tomorrow's post)   The thought process has been interrupted, thus our paper is affected.

While we think multitasking is effective, I believe it is not.  What's the phrase?  We only use 20% of our brain?  If that's true, divide that up evenly among paper, facebook, texting and music.  5% to each.  Not to mention any other distractions surrounding us like that cute girl (or guy for my female readers) studying at the next table.  Our brain is still working as much as it usually does, there's just so much more activity it's processing that it focuses on usually one thing at a time.  And if it's homework, I doubt that's our top focus.  Have you ever been listening to music while typing or reading and just gotten so engulfed in that activity that you drown the music out for a bit?  It's pretty trippy when your song ends have you have little recollection of listening to it because of your focus on the other activity.

Well that same processing happens while multitasking, but rarely is our main focus on the true activity we are avoiding with said distractions.  And as I've said, it affects our brains.  And those effects stick.  Because of our constant distractions, we need change, we need multiple things to focus on.  We have shorter attention spans.  Scenes are shorter in music videos.  The average clip in a music video lasts around 3 seconds on average.  (Don't quote me on that number, but I'm confident that it's under 5 seconds)  If you ever watch the news and the anchor is reading a series of stories over a 3 minute span, clips of what your watching on screen change every 4-7 seconds.  (again, don't quote me)

And this affected brain is why, I believe, most movies are shorter then before.  Over last summer and this past semester, I watched several older movies such as The Godfather and Casablanca.  It is so interesting to see how scenes in these movies last for so long.  Story's are rather simple and are built through dialogue and character development.  For the first 20 minutes of the Casablanca, we're in the club seeing all the characters and how Humphrey Bogart's character interacts with them all.  The first half hour of the Godfather is spent switching between Don Corleone's meetings with his clients and the wedding outside.  First watching these movies, I found myself complaining, "Come on, we get the picture, let's move on already."  But that's the point!  These are all plot elements that are important to the story.  We learn about the characters and it sets up the plot.  But we are so used to the fast moving, high action movies of Christopher Nolan and Michael Bay with loud noises, short scenes, and a lot to different elements to focus on, rather then one or two.  (Don't get me wrong, I love Christopher Nolan)

We have the inability to focus for a long time.  This is why we find ourselves skimming or reading the first 2 or 3 paragraphs of articles before moving on.  And news organizations know this, so they put all the necessary information in those first couple paragraphs.  This all correlates to how our society and culture nowadays is fast moving and demanding.  (an issue I will expound upon tomorrow)

Tomorrow I will wrap this up, talking about the society and how I think it will move forward.  Please remember that these are my own thoughts and theories, based on articles I've read, documentaries I've watched and observations.

"Change alone is eternal, perpetual, immortal." - Arthur Schopenhauer

How We Appear Dumb - Part 1

In this three-part post series, I will look at life in the world today and analyze how it effects us.  How increased technology has changed the way we think and communicate.  How these effects from technology has completely changed our mindset and the way we need to be entertained and how I think our future will further be affected.


One could classify Google as the greatest invention of our time, or possibly the worst.  As a college student, Google is great.  Research for papers and presentations can essentially be centralized and prioritized on my computer, and I have access to so many journals and articles available online that I don't necessarily have to be in a library to do said research.  And for the procrastinator in all of us, it allows us to put off that project until the night before.  That way, with a computer and a couple red bulls, we can do our entire term paper complete with seven to ten scholarly sources in one night.  Convenient?  Yes.  Effective?  Most likely not.  Hindering?  Absolutely.

Be honest, how much of your History paper about immigrants do you truly remember?  After all, you were hyped up on unhealthy amounts of sugar and caffeine; and you most likely copy and pasted and paraphrased a bunch of what you read in those articles in your paper without retaining much of the information.  That's the beauty of Google.  I don't actually have to learn it, I can just look up the information whenever I need it.  But does that make us dumb?


No, we aren't dumb.  We know a lot of information.  A lot of the video games played today are intellectually demanding.  It takes military strategy to succeed in Call of Duty or Halo.  Some games like Star-craft or other online games take strategy to learn how to successfully build your army and destroy the enemy.  Even games on miniclip or addicting games require some basic strategy and knowledge with physics or economics in order to win.  But the problem is we aren't using this information appropriately.  The kid who plays SimCity religiously knows how to run a good city.  He is aware of the effects that high taxes has on a community.  As time goes by, he will eventually learn the best decisions to make in order for his city to prosper.  But will this kid become an economist or political leader who makes those same decisions in real life?  Most likely not.  But we need a kid with that type of knowledge, the one who knows how to make a city prosper, today.  Our economy is not in good shape.  (Granted politics is another obstacle in this whole ordeal, but that's a different topic).

We know a lot of information, but is that information useful in life?  Is this information something that can help society?  No.  The common belief among older people is "don't trust young people."  That's an extreme statement, and I think the reason why the older generations say that is because the lifestyles are drastically different.  Our parents and grandparents didn't grow up with texting and facebook; it wasn't a social norm for them.  And all this increased technology, texting friends all day, checking facebook during studying, and the constant use of google all hinder our ability to retain information.  Which, by affect, make us, our generation, appear dumb.

So we continue to explore the digital age.  In my next post I'll look more into how I think our brain is affected from this increased technology and the residual effects it has on us.  Also keep in mind that everything you read is my personal opinion based on a few articles I've read and one documentary I've watched all based on this same topic.  Links to which I will post at the end this series.  These are not in any way facts about the digital age or scientific facts; but rather they are my educated guesses.  I ask you to keep an open mind and stick with me as I walk you through a topic I feel rather strongly about.

"Education is a social process. Education is growth. Education is, not a preparation for life; education is life itself." - John Dewey

Pursue your happiness

If you haven't already, please watch the movie The Pursuit of Happyness with Will Smith.  It is one of the most inspiring movies I have ever seen.  And I'm not much of an emotional person watching movies, but this movie nearly made me cry.  The scene where  Will Smith talks with his son at the basketball courts is awesome!  I'm a pretty big movie guy, and this movie, along with Remember the Titans, qualifies as one of the best inspiring movies.  Watch it.

Today I let the videos speak for themselves.  But remember, if you've never failed, you've never lived.

"Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat." - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Coping with Adversity

This challenge of writing a blog a day came at an inconvenient time.  The work load of my week continues to grow with exams, presentations, papers and attempts to end the year of MUTV programming on a strong note.  Oh and there's that nagging desire and worry that comes with summer internships and jobs.  But as a promise to Evan and to myself, I must write; because facing adversity is the best way of conquering it.

Adversity comes to us in many ways: Physically, mentally, emotionally.  It can be personal adversity or adversity within a group or among friends.  It can be small or large, but regardless of the capacity, it exists.  But the problem stemming from it is not the adversity itself, but rather how one copes and handles the situations at hand.

Some coping mechanisms are healthy while others are not.  There are conflict oriented people and people who avoid it at all cost.  I'm not one of those people.  My rational self hates adversity and looks to overcome it as soon as possible, even though I know for a fact that it cannot be solved until a later date.  I don't run away from it because it won't go away on it's own.  There's just that nagging weight of whatever is bugging you.  Comfort cannot be achieved until that weight is off your shoulder.  It sucks man.  But like I said, dealing with that adversity is where true character is revealed.

If the adversity facing me cannot be solved right away, like the current giant question mark on the summer internship box, I find it best to take my mind off of it with comedy.  I don't find yelling or screaming particularly useful when it comes to getting your point across or fixing a problem.  Stress is understandable, but it doesn't do anyone good to take your anger out on a person.  If anything, it makes you more angry.

Studying communication is interesting.  I tend to be more conscientious of communication theories in real life.  And I see myself being more consciences of my personal actions and sayings.  Whether that's conflict resolution or speaking with a friend.  One of my professors challenged us today to "stop complaining."  She's reading a book about complaining and showed us a short video basically explaining how complaining accomplishes nothing.  So I've accepted that challenge and offering one out now:  Think of how you cope with conflict and adversity.  Why does this mechanism work for you?  Is there possibly a better way to handle it?  Think about this and see the accompanying poll.

"Pain is inevitable.  Suffering is optional." - M. Kathleen Casey

Cultivation and Distribution

My roommate, Evan, started a blog: quixkid.blogspot.com.  And since he said I was his main influence to start one, he challenged me to write a post everyday; a challenge for both of us.  This, I believe, will be a healthy exercise.  I'll be able to work on expanding my vocabulary, as well as writing styles and thought processes.  Oh and I can't forget you, my readers, will get a daily dose of positivity!

The challenge isn't going to be writing everyday, but rather what to write about.  This will be a great challenge that I'm ready to tackle.  For instance, today I was thinking about this post, considering the different directions this could take.  Evan's a good friend, do I focus on friendship?  Do I just leave the first paragraph be?  Leave it as an announcement to my readers and then jump into the message of the day?  Neither - although I foresee friendship as a topic in the near future.

I'm in a philosophy class, Ethics.  All in all, philosophy and I tend not to get along too well.  But the subjects we've been learning about in class actually apply here.  Along with Ethics, we've been learning and discussing moral duties:  Utilitarianism- act towards achieving the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people, Kantianism- act because it is our moral duty to act, regardless of our feelings, and then Aristotle & Virtue Ethics- act because it is virtuous and will lead to the good life.

But in our lectures of Kant we learned about perfect and imperfect duties.  Our perfect duties are those that should always be done.  Like don't commit suicide, don't lie; it's a universal law.  Our imperfect duties are those you ought to do, Cultivate your talents.  You're athletic and have the ability to play basketball or football, so you ought to be on a team, don't let those talents go to waste.

Cultivate your talents.  Everyone, in one way or another, has talents that are beneficial.  It doesn't matter if those are personal benefits or communal.  We've all been given a gift, so share it.

Until tomorrow...

"A successful man is the one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him." - David Brinkley

Music Inspires

It seems to be an ongoing theme that if I'm spending a Friday or Saturday night in my friend Mike's room with my friend Patrick, aka Patch, then he and I will end up having a very deep discussion about music. Patch is a musician, a singer and a song writer, very talented.  A majority of our conversations are subtle and not so subtle insults of music today.  Sometimes that entailed blatant complaints of how pointless Justin Bieber's music is, or how there's little talent with half the Pop artists being Auto tuned for absolutely no reason.  (Rebecca Black anyone...)  Other times it involved praising older musicians for their impeccable talent and the meaningful lyrics THEY wrote.

As a songwriter, Patch told me that he doesn't care if he's a famous musician in the future.  He loves writing music for the sake of writing music.  His goal, he said, is to have his music touch and inspire people, even if it is just one person.  I don't write poetry, I certainly can't write music but I absolutely love music, it's a place for me to escape.

So as influenced by last night's conversation with Patch, here are a few meaningful/inspirational songs to me.  In order of their personal importance to me:

"Rise Today" by Alter Bridge
To sum up the personnel of Alter Bridge, they are Creed with a different lead singer.  I think their songs are much better then Creed's.  This song here is pretty simple, I want to Rise Today and change this world.  Which is exactly what I want to do.  Maybe not necessarily change the world, but help people and make a difference.

Best line of the song:  "With every life that's taken, so much love is wasted."

"Walk Like a Man" by Bon Jovi
This song was a bonus song on a limited edition of Lost Highway I bought in Target.  The basis of this song is pretty much a father giving his hot-headed, "Dad I'm invincible" son last minute advice before he embarks on this journey of life.  Obviously I'm not a father, yet, so I have no idea what that would feel like, but the song does a really great job of capturing the emotions and documenting how the journey of life changed the son.  "I couldn't believe it when a tear came to my eye.  It isn't easy standing on the other side."  Even though this song doesn't apply to me yet, the advice given in the chorus is awesome, and stuck with me since the first time I heard this song.  One of those rare ones that I've loved since the first listen and haven't grown tired of it since.

Best line:  "Every step up that mountain will be more than worth countin' but when you walk through the valley, may you walk like a man."

"Open Your Eyes" by Alter Bridge
More Alter Bridge on this list.  The two songs on this list are absolutely incredible.  The verses of this song deal with doubt while the chorus explores faith.  Two experiences everyone has:  Doubt and Faith.  The chorus asks the question I like to ask:  "Will they open their eyes and realize we are one?"  I'm not a fan of ignorant people and I tend to see the best in everyone I know.  I don't judge people (a lot) and I'm very tolerable for most opinions and mindsets.  So I relate to this song, and I wonder will mankind in general ever realize that we are one.

Best line:  "Darker days seem to be what will always live in me, but still I run" ... Faith!


"Some People Change" by Kenny Chesney
This song goes along perfectly with my last post about Fr. Boyle and his gang reformation center.  This song centers around two story lines: an ignorant racist man who learns to accept people, and an alcoholic who sobers up.  I'm an optimistic person, and I pray that this song could someday apply to my family.  Without going into details, a couple members of my extended family are struggling right now and change seems to be impossible right now.  But my mom, God bless her, has her heart set on helping and making things right.  She, like me, loves people and has a hard time letting go of the ones she loves, even if that takes a toll on her.  So go Mom!  Like I said, I pray things will change at home and that this song will apply.

Best line:  "Against all odds, against the grain love finds a way."


"In Me" by Casting Crowns
Ironically this is the only true Christian Rock song on this list.  But the thing I love about this song is the use of battle as a metaphor Jesus' strength, power and love.  I'm a believer, Jesus is important in my life, and this song just perfectly explains how the good Lord fits in my life and how he works in our lives.  "I'll never get by living on my own ability.  How refreshing to know you don't need me, how amazing to find that you want me!"  That lyric says it all.  This song is awesome!

Best line:  "I'll stand on your truth and I'll fight with your strength until you bring the victory."

And last but certainly not least:

"Welcome to Wherever You Are" by Bon Jovi
The song that my blog is named after.  The way I interpret the song is that everyone has a purpose on Earth, even if you question what's going on in your life.  Let's face it, we all question that.  "Why did this happen to me?" But in spite of these questions and uncertainties we have a purpose here.  This song is optimistic, maybe even a little cliche.  But it's inspiring and I can't help but feel good after hearing it.  "Everyone's a hero, everyone's a star."  "Everybody's different just take a look around."  "Every new beginning is some beginning's end."  Just a glimpse of some of the lyrics.  Jon Bon Jovi is an incredible song writer.  The lyrics just honestly speak for themselves.

Best line: "Welcome, you gotta believe that right here right now you're exactly where you're supposed to be."

Tattoos on the Heart - Father Greg Boyle

I attended a lecture of a guest speaker at Marquette's Law School this evening as an extra credit opportunity for my Ethics class.  A friend and I got there about 5 minutes before it started and walked into a very full appellate court room that served as the lecture hall.  I had attended a similar lecture my freshmen year for Theology extra credit and found it incredibly boring.  So to be quite honest, I didn't have high hopes for this one.

Well my night started off with a bang as we found two seats, in the second to last row of the court.  (There were auditorium like seats in this section behind rows of tables) And the two seats we found were smack dab in the middle of a row of about 20 seats.  So we kindly begin to make our way there.  "Hi, sorry, excuse me."  Well while were waiting for one individual to make room, the lady I'm standing next to says, "Why don't you take off your backpack?" Keep in mind that my backpack had 1 spiral in it.  That's it!  So I take my backpack off and then she says "And try not to hit me in the process."  Knowing that we're forcibly standing close to one another, I took her remark as a joke, and my friend and I proceeded to laugh.  She wasn't joking.

But we moved on, got our seats and commented to one another about her snootiness.  The lecture begins, and like I said, I didn't expect much from this.  I was wrong.  Fr. Boyle started this non for profit organization in southern California called Homeboy Industries.  In a nut shell, it is a gang reformation center in Los Angeles's most populated gang area.  This center gets these gangsters off the streets and into schools, churches and jobs.  The starter jobs for these young boys and girls include Homeboy Bakery, Homeboy Cafe and other various jobs run by this organization.

This most outstanding thing to hear from this organization was that rival gang members were working together and getting along.  Gang members were getting away from the drugs, prison and violence and moving towards holding steady jobs, getting married and raising families.  One gang member in particular told Fr. Boyle that his daughter was going to college.  She would end up being a first generation college student.  Fr. Boyle documents many of these stories in his book Tattoos on the Heart.  His lecture was basically select stories from the book, and they were awesome!  I'll probably end up buying it.

Fr. Boyle's lecture was absolutely inspiring.  I volunteer every summer doing a week-long mission trip with my church.  The work we do at these trips mainly include home renovations for elderly people or for people who are unable to fund the work themselves.   And at the end of the week of these mission trips, the joy seen in the eyes of the residents is an unforgettable sight.  They are overwhelmed with happiness, and you get a sense of satisfaction unlike any other.   Not only did you accomplish a goal you worked hard at, but you did it for the best of causes.  I can only imagine the satisfaction and happiness Fr. Boyle feels after hearing that one of his reformed gangsters are managers or successful family men.  It has to be an incredible feeling.

"The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen." - Frank Lloyd Wright

My First Post- Follow your dreams

So I'm new at this whole blogging thing.  I'm a college sophomore at Marquette University studying broadcast and electronic communication.  My desires with this degree are to someday be a play-by-play announcer.  A few announcers, Al Michaels, Ian Eagle, and Bob Costas (just to name a few) have perfected this art and I wish to be as great as them someday.

However, sometimes being on air with TV annoys me.  I have done several reporting packages for MUTV Sports (a student run television station at Marquette) and I absolutely love it, don't get me wrong.  But at times, the material seems to be really redundant.  And I get that feeling seeing as most of the work I do for reporting are game recaps from Marquette Soccer, Volleyball and Basketball.  Occasionally I get the wonderful opportunity to do a package for our hit show "Marquette Basketball Weekly."  The stories I've done for that included the men's basketball team donating turkeys to families in Milwaukee during Thanksgiving and a spotlight on the life of a Marquette basketball parent.

I found that the reason I get annoyed with doing game recaps and being on air is that I don't really have the "producer's eye" of finding a good, hard hitting story.  And I think a lot of that stems from my lack of creativity.  I don't consider myself much of a creative person, and that bugs me, a lot.  So my goal as I continue through college and life is to improve that creativity, to look for stories.

I was at a college visit at Northern Illinois University and ran into a classmate of mine and his father, who's a sports journalist.  Through the general discussions of "oh what's your intended major" and all the following ice breakers, we talked about broadcasting and he left me with this advice:  "Anyone, and almost everyone, will try to be on air and can be great at it.  But mastering the art behind the camera will be more beneficial in the long run."

That advice holds true, and is the big reason why I wish to be a better producer or director in the world of broadcasting.  By perfecting this art, being able to come up with good stories, I hope to achieve my dreams and see success in the future.  My only hinderance in this is my obtuse eye for creativity.

The word of the day on "Wherever you Are..." is persevere.  Follow your dreams and do not let any personal hinderances or disabilities get in the way.

One step I am doing to sharpen my eye for creativity is writing this blog.  You'll learn more about me and about why my blogs will have an inspirational tone as I post more.  But my goal is to help my readers through the simple, sometimes unnecessary struggles in life by relaying stories in my life.  Hopefully by this, we will all be affected in a positive manner.

"I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." - Henry David Thoreau