Tuesday, September 30, 2008

time

On my path towards "adulthood", I find myself at a critical moment in my life. In my last and final year at my alma mater, I find myself reflecting more than usual on the past 4 years of my life. Although I am overly anxious to walk across the stage, and be the first in my family to receive a college diploma, I can't help but think what happened to time? Here's what I came up with:

-Time happened when I was testing my ability (or inability) to hold my liquor at the infamous beer pong house every weekend, desperate to prove that I was not a noob.

-Time happened when I skipped out on a late night study session the night before a test to instead pull an all nighter out with the girls.

-Time happened when I did stay in and study for the big test the next morning...work hard, play harder right?

-Time happened when facebook, youtube, and perezhilton.com consumed my attention, further contributing to my chronic procrastination.

-Time happened when I pledged a co-ed professional business fraternity, and devoted a majority of my time using this to build my professionalism, social network, and taking all leadership opportunities thrown at me (including the title of El Presidente)

-Time happened when I struggled deciding what I wanted to do after I graduate, thoroughly convinced that I picked the wrong major.

-Time happened when I learned what the true meaning of friendship is through many failed ones [Insert Kenny Chesney's 'You Find Out Who Your Friends Are' music here]

-Time happened when I learned that college is not the place where I will find my soulmate; let alone a steady relationship having nothing more serious than a fling in 4 years.

-Time happened during countless football & basketball games, countless beer bongs at the tailgate, countless nail-biting games that sometimes turned in our favor, countless red-painted body moments, and of course countless "go to hell carolina"'s.

-Time happened when a combination of all of the above and so much more allowed me to grow up.

Even though it feels like just yesterday that I was a freshman eating easy mac and ramen on countless occasions, it also feels like I know more than I did back then. I am wiser. Still young and naive, but nevertheless closer to feeling like I have the experience, independence, and knowledge to stand on my own. So thank you, college, for the past 4 years of my life.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Online Status Update Addiction

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have picked up a new pet peeve. It involves something like this:

Facebook Recently Updated Statuses
Person X is "going to starbucks!" 3:32p
Person X is "writing my english paper" 3:58p
Person X is "wanting to go shopping" 4:15p
Person X is "procrastinating" 4:16p

Try this on for size: Person X "needs to get a life that does not consist of incessantly updating his status with myriad hopes that someone actually gives a shit what he's doing".

For those foreign to the world of facebook (or myspace too), people can keep up with what their friends are doing through something called a 'mini-feed'. One can see when someone changes their profile picture, is in a new relationship, has ended their relationship, comments on someone's profile, and basically every time someone blinks. Facebook is basically the big-mouthed friend that everyone secretly wishes comes down with laryngitis.

Through facebook, one can update their status. Facebook asks "What are you doing right now?" and you can tell all. Except in all actuality, no one really cares to get a play-by-play of your life. Unless you're a creepy stalker. Sure, the occasional, witty status update is enjoyable to read. But updating one's status every hour on the hour is pushing it. Hell, its bulldozing it! So why do people do it? Need for Attention? Compulsive Obsession? Pure Boredom?

For what it's worth, here's my theory: people are attempting to advertise and sell themselves by way of technology! People want others to know who they are, their personality. Through these status updates, one can easily "put themselves out there". Their stance on an issue (Person X is "Obama 08!!!"), their favorite hangout (Person X is "going to Rum Runners tonight"), their favorite sport's team (Person X is "GO COWBOYS!"), or any old subject.

No harm in allowing people the pleasure of getting to know you. Just do it the right way which doesn't consist of updating a web-based, big-mouthed friend. There is no need to lay it all out there; if one happens upon a conversation about a subject they're passionate about, then by all means share your opinion.

In a world where everything is turning to technology, human interaction and communication should not take that turn. Whatever happened to face-to-face conversations really getting to know someone? Enough with the status updates. Grab a life.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Firsties

Welcome to my blog! I know why I started this blog and the end result I want to accomplish through this blog. The only thing I don't know yet is the most important part in the journey: the stuff the goes on in between start and finish! I am unsure of the direction I want to take my blog, but it's a work in progress. Some of my thoughts have been:

-a blog that keeps record of dreams that I have
-a blog solely about my take on relationships and sex
-a blog about my first thoughts when I wake up
-a blog about how my life relates to an episode of Sex & the City (my all-time favorite show)
-a regular, personal daily blog

Those are just a few ideas I thought were slightly creative and interesting to read about. Maybe this blog can be a little bit of all of the above! Or maybe I will think of something more brilliant later.

The reason I am starting a blog is because I am an aspiring advertising copywriter. My dream is to live in New York City, and work for a top ad agency doing what I love. Through blogging, I want to tap into my creative writing skills. My hopes in this blog are not only to better my writing, but also to entertain you with the madness, the joy, the trauma, the highlights, and the intense and immense drama that consumes my cluttered mind. In life, I find myself to be the type of person who does not sugar coat anything, or has anything to hide. I want this to translate in my writing; No secrets in this blog. So enjoy the ride, because here we go...Bon Voyage!