Technology

I recently found out my Spanish major advisor doesn't have a cellphone and doesn't have Facebook. After she saw my astonished face when she shared this news, she explained how weird it is how reachable and public people's lives have become.

I realize this is the case, and it is a little scary. I've been transitioning from having mostly private profiles to  public profiles (like my new Twitter) mostly because I want to put my name out there professionally and have employers be able to find me and see what I'm about. I don't have anything to hide, and I'm proud of what I've accomplished. I don't want to hide that from someone who might hire me! Plus, I like to consider myself a social butterfly, and what better way to make friends than to put myself out there?

Though I'm sure I could live without a cellphone and without Facebook, the convenience is too great to give up, these days. Some people say Facebook is creepy and impersonal, but I disagree. Facebook is an easy way I have been able to keep up with those I care about. When I have free time at 2am, I cannot call my aunts and friends from back home, but I can send them a message or write on their wall. When it comes to phones, I like being available and reachable. I like that I can use my phone to look up a clinic number, call them to make an appointment, and arrive hours later, all in the same day. Some can argue that text messaging is impersonal as well, and I can agree that it's a cop out to actually making a phone call, but it's also incredibly convenient. I'm constantly answering quick questions, that would be a waste of a phone call, via text.  Not to mention, most plans have unlimited text messaging, but not unlimited hours to talk. As a financially struggling college student, yes I'm going to go the cheaper route. One thing I'd like to work on is texting less while in conversation. I want to be able to put my phone away whenever I'm spending time with someone in person, so that they feel more respected, and I'm more engaged in our reunion.

Why have we invented these technologies if we're not going to utilize them? As I mentioned, I completely understand the ideas behind those who are anti-cellphone and anti-Facebook, but I personally will happily utilize what is free and in front of me. I'm excited to be a part of this generation and being able to watch technology develop exponentially. What will they come up with next?

Question: What is your favorite or most utilized piece of technology? Anything goes: iPod, phone, computer, tablet, videogame, TV, et cetera.

A day in the life of a college student.

Overworked and underpaid; hello, I am a student.

I stay up too late and get up too early. I work hard to learn what I wish, and slack off on general education classes. I don't have all my priorities straight, and I'm still trying to figure myself out. Sometimes alcohol is my friend, other times my worst enemy.

At 2:00am I could be at the bars, or in the library. I'm pretty sure the coffee shop calls my name.  Am I sick, or is it just lack of sleep? Oh how I wish I never had to get out of bed.

I miss my family. I'm nostalgic for a past life, and yet I believe the longer I'm here, the better my present and future will be.  What do I want to major in? Where will I be 4 years from now? Do you think I'll meet my future spouse here?

I must go abroad. This place opens my eyes and opens my heart to the world.
I have too many advisers that don't advise. Just get me out of here for a while!

Here's to random road trips across the state to take a break from studying. Here's to taking off our pajama pants to meet a friend at the pubs.  Here's to getting involved and loving every second of it. Here's to meeting the most amazing people of our lives. Here's to meeting our future husband or wife. Here's to music, here's to laughter, here's to love, here's to the future.

Who was I before I came here? I'm not entirely sure.

Body modifications and just why I love them so much.

Sure, it may have started out as a trend to follow:

In high school (2005-2008) I dyed my hair whenever I needed a change but didn't have enough control over my life to do anything more drastic. A few weeks into my first semester of college (2008), 450 miles from home, I pierced my nose just because I was free and felt like I could do whatever I wanted. Right before I left for Chile (2009) for 4 months I finally got the tattoo I wanted: a phrase that carried me through some hard times.

Why did I keep going, though?

I've been thinking about this for years and I came to realize it was the euphoria of finally appreciating and really liking something about myself that kept me wanting more. In high school and middle school, dealing with my pubescent body changes, dramatic friends, and not getting along with my parents were my hardest battles. I felt trapped, I felt like I had no control, there was nothing I could change, and it, as well as other personal experiences, led me to ultimately hate myself. At the same time, I started experiencing disordered eating as a way to take control. All of these are things I'm still recovering from to this day, but also something I have been dealing with, partially with the help of modifying my body to the way I like it. The little things I've done: getting tattoos, dying my hair, getting piercings, losing weight, changing my clothing style; it has all gradually added to my self-confidence and self-love.

I'm not yet to the point that I want to be, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm going to modify my body drastically or very much more from here. It just means I'm going to keep going wherever life is taking me.

"Running is a metaphor for life: there is always someone faster than you, and someone slower, so all you can do is keep going and put your heart into it."

 I like this quote because of everything it can apply to. In this case: sure, sometimes I compare myself to others and think "maybe I shouldn't have changed my body so much, maybe I won't be able to get the job I want, and maybe I should have learned to love myself the way I am" but I just don't think that is right. We're humans, the intelligent species of earth, and we invented body modifications for a reason. Sure they started out as spiritual reasons, but even that was something a person would do to feel PERSONALLY more connected to their god. To me, this is something I have done to myself PERSONALLY to feel more connected and one with myself, my own beliefs and spirituality. Do I see heavily modified people and think that their heavily modified body is my goal? No. To each his own, to the very end, and that is all I'll tell you if you ask me if I'm getting more.

Another thing I would like to address is body modifications in the work place. It boggles my mind how people can think that body modifications diminish a person's intelligence and render them incapable of customer service, so clearly he or she cannot be hired. I hope this doesn't sound too inappropriate, but I think this could one day be considered discrimination. On a similar note, HOW are facial piercings and unnatural hair colors "unprofessional"? You know what else is considered body modifications? Body building, losing or gaining weight, wearing make up, and painting your nails. Are those considered unprofessional? No. But its the same thing, the same category, the same concept.

Though, maybe things with society and body modifications are changing. I currently hold 5 jobs and I'm a full time student, and nobody has a problem with my own modifications (though, they're not THAT out there and obvious.)

If you're still intrigued after reading my semi-rant, do go see the documentary "Modify". Follow the link, it will change your life.

On that note, I bid you all adieu, for now.