Day 3/60 of Insanity Workout

Without a doubt Insanity is probably one of the most rigorous work outs I have ever done. I researched numerous work outs that would give me the results I wanted in the span of time I wanted, and Insanity was the best fit. Shaun T, you are slowly becoming one of my best friends =) 

    Looking back, I regret complaining about my physical fitness and weight in high school. My physical fitness in high school was a lot better than my current status now. I usually had a sport to occupy me year around. But college happened and the freshman 15 was just one of the many things I was introduced to. 

  I would like to get into the same shape I was. Due to my busy schedule, working out has not been on the top of my priority list. For the few times I have been able to go on a run, or play a pick up game of soccer, I have been very disappointed with my ability to do things I did so easily a few years ago. 

  What I love most about Insanity is that it is not only testing my physical fitness levels, but it is testing my motivation and perseverance as well. I am a person that is motivated by deadlines and completing tasks given to me. But when it comes to personal improvement or self-motivation, I lack that little voice inside of me to push myself. My procrastination habit is something I must explain in a completely separate blog - I definitely have a lot to say about my mad awesome procrastination skills. 

  So with that said, I am really excited for this program! I'm going to try to stick to the nutrition diet the best I can; hopefully, my cravings don't get the best of me. And, blogging about it, I hope, will motivate me even more. I can't let down all of my followers (well all 14 of you according to tumblr haha). So wish me luck! 

  My mantra throughout the next 60 days will be "Be the change you want to see". 

Can You Say 'Studious Student' 5-times fast?

I am writing this blog in the library of my university. Of course I should be doing what I set on doing when I first arrived here; actual homework. Undoubtedly, I have found ways to preoccupy myself and wait until the very last minute to do productive work.  When I say last minute, it is the truth. There have been numerous times when I have literally waited a few hours before the due date to actually start on my paper/project/research. The work I produced could have been much better, but I really truly believe I work best under pressure. Maybe it is the thought that all is on the line. A weird thrill I get I guess.

So I sit here listening to my John Mayer radio on Pandora. To be completely honest, I feel guilty being on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr while others around me are actually being productive. So I opened Microsoft word and started typing away. If by chance someone takes a look my way they can say “Oh yes, there is a studious college student right there. Wow, typing single space too!” If only they knew right?

Do not get me wrong, I take my work seriously. I have a lot of papers, campaigns, and projects that I am extremely proud of. It is just sometimes I wish I could just graduate and get to the actual good stuff. I have worked since I was legally allowed to work. With the few jobs I have had, I have learned it is experience, work ethic, and attitude that will help you succeed in whatever you do. And most importantly, it is the people you know in the world that can take you places. While many of us are here in schools studying away to get our degrees, the reality of the situation is that less than half of us are going to get jobs immediately after we graduate.

I see other students around me that look down on people that are in community colleges, worked straight after high school, or people that aren’t doing the typical “college” plan. All I have to say to those snobby college students is “those people” are a lot smarter than me. One thing I may have over them is thousands of dollars of student loans and drunken college pictures on Facebook. Cool.

I find myself having this discussion with a lot of people. Is it not weird that I go to school to get a piece of paper saying I took classes qualifying me for a job? It is definitely an interesting thought. Looking around this library now I look at students that will be running our future. Our society says a college education will get us places. But will it really? As I write this criticizing institutions around the world, I am guilty of following the typical college plan. Yes I will get my degree that will state that I am now ready to enter the work force.  

So what is my point? Truthfully, I do not know. But what I can conclude is that the path to success is different for every individual. What you consider success is all up to you. Happiness is the determining factor of success in my eyes. I hope my path I am working so hard on will lead me there.  So regardless of how you get there, be proud. No one else is living your life, nor are they providing the food that will be put on your plate. So, smile and do what you gotta do! =)      

If Only Twilight Could Be My Reality

Okay I will admit, I am a Twilight fanatic. I like to think that I am more sophisticated than the screaming girls that cry over Edward Cullen or Jacob Black.

But, I do own all the books, posters, soundtracks, and every once in a while I will check the fansite. I will not lie, every time I see the movies I get butterflies in my stomach when I see Jacob Black take his shirt off. When Edward kisses Bella I secretly wish it was me. Don’t quite understand what I’m talking about? Well here’s the quick summary of this vampire phenomena everyone is raving about.

The Twilight movie series originated from the best-selling novels by Stephanie Meyer. The series revolve around a Bella Swan, a high school student new to Forks, Washington. When she moved into this small dreary town, she catches the attention of the mysterious Edward Cullen. What seems to be like a normal romance changes quickly when his vampire identity is revealed. Although they are complete opposites, their love is too strong to break. As different obstacles test their love, nothing seems to break it.

In the sequel, New Moon, the character Jacob Black is introduced. In the beginning of this movie Edward is convinced he is too dangerous for Bella and leaves her. Jacob Black, a very attractive gentleman I might add, sweeps Bella off her feet as she mourns in her break-up. But of course Jacob cannot be just some extremely attractive person; he is a shape-shifter. On his command he can turn into a wolf. Currently in the series now, Edward is back in Bella’s life because he couldn’t bare being away from her. Now Bella is torn between the love of her life vampire, or the muscular fighting shape-shifter. Oh the romance!

This complex story has America on their feet. Girls around the country are fighting over who Bella should be with. Shirts are being made saying “Team Edward” or “Team Jacob”. This vampire phenomenon has taken the world by storm. So much so that many TV series have a similar vampire plots; True Blood, Vampire Diaries, The Gates, Being Human, and many more. The Twilight movies are directed towards pre-teen and teenage girls, and in my case, college students who have grown up reading the novels as well.

When a media text such as Twilight influences many things in our society, it is imperative to critically analyze it. Through the use of narrative criticism, we can best analyze this text. As we learned in our class lecture, narrative criticism allows us to “study texts and how they are structured into a cause-and-effect chain of events with a beginning, middle and end”. Narrative criticism explains how we use stories to depict our own lives. Twilight is an ideal example that shows how a text mirrors the lives we live. Fans around the world wish to be a part of this fantasy world. Of course Twilight doesn’t mirror our lives exactly – we don’t have vampires and wolves running around us. But the story of an outcast girl falling in love is every girls dream. Having two guys fall for us is even better!

But why does Twilight have such a hold on many girls around the country? Let us use Vladimir Propp’s narrative structuralist approach. Propp states that all stories have similar structures. Propp gave all the characters in story a “type” which will enable the viewer to create assumptions of their roles. Propp stated that every story has a princess, a villain, and a hero. Bella is the clear princess, and it is up to the audience to choose who the villain or hero is. The love triangle Bella gets herself into has become a real life drama girls around the country are involved in as well. If you are a Jacob Black fan, Edward would be your villain, and vice versa.

As we fit each of the characters of Twilight into Propp’s character types, we can see how appealing the Twilight movies are. Many of the characters conflict with one another, and their conflict engages the audience as well. Edward and Jacob can both be the hero or villain in the eyes of the viewers. Because of such conflict, we the viewers are so engaged into this film.
So why is it important to critically analyze the Twilight movie series? As I stated earlier in my blog, so many young girls are so entranced by this Twilight world. Girls want to choose who Bella wants to be with, and girls want to be Bella.

Two men fighting over a girl is not a scenario that should be advertised to young girls around the world. Not only is Twilight stating that a girl should have the option between two men, but that she needs a man to fight her battles. As we can see from this clip, Bella is being over powered by all the male figures around her. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd9zKDcuqkY&w=640&h=390]
I am reluctant to admit that the image and story Twilight sends to girls around the world is not all that great. The female sex is portrayed as needy, confused, and helpless without a man. Although I know Twilight shows a fictional reality, I will always be a fan.

References: Vande Berg, L. R., Wenner, L. A., & Gronbeck, B. E. (2003). Critical approaches to television (2nd ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
I wrote this blog for my Media Criticism class. The basis of the assignment was to analyze a text. I wrote about what I know best - Twilight =) Here is a link to my wordpress blog

If You Just Smile...

Living in a world full of ideas, opinions and life styles, I feel everyone is entitled to give a little piece of them self to the world.  Ever since I could remember I always wanted to make a difference in people’s lives.  Some may think it is a naïve thought, but what is the hurt in trying right? So with that mentality I have decided to start a blog. Here I shall spill the messes of thoughts that are in my head, and try to consolidate them into words to the best of my ability.

I don’t know who told me this saying but it was along the lines of, you can change the world with one act of kindness every day. After years of thinking about this little phrase, I have come to realize it is absolutely true. We as humans are interconnected. Everyone is intertwined whether we choose to or not. One does not know that their actions have a series of consequences. I like to believe the little small acts of kindness I do every day is making a difference in our chaotic world.  The smile I greet people with is curing cancer. It sounds a little extreme, but is it really? I smile at the girl walking the opposite direction of me. She has been having a bad morning ever since she remembered her lunch is not with her but still in her refrigerator back at home.  As she thinks her day is off to a bad start, she is greeted with a smile from a stranger. The smile was completely random and unexpected; nevertheless, it put a smile onto her face too.  The one smile continues to spread until it reaches a scientist in Fort Detrick that needed that one little positive push to give him or her the break they needed.  Then the cure for cancer is finally created!

Yes I agree it is completely far -fetched and could never happen, but again, who knows? 

“Smile though your heart is aching 

Smile even though it's breaking 
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by 
If you smile through your fear and sorrow 
Smile and maybe tomorrow 
You'll see the sun come shining through for you 

Light up your face with gladness 
Hide every trace of sadness 
Although a tear may be ever so near 
That's the time you must keep on trying 
Smile, what's the use of crying? 
You'll find that life is still worthwhile 
If you just smile”

-Nat King Cole