What are you thankful for?

          I realize that SFSU is a huge commuter school, so many students are able to go back home very easily to see their family and friends as much as they would like to. I also realize that I am not too far from home either, about a two and a half hour drive away. But I don't have the luxury of seeing my friends and family whenever I would like to. But isn't that what college is about? Branching off, being on your own, meeting new people, and learning about new things?

       Well, that's what I thought before I started here and don't get me wrong I still do believe that. But what I didn't realize is how much I was going to miss my home life. By the time I was a senior in High school my mind set was already on college and moving away. I was ready to leave that small town and move on to living the city life. I knew it was going to be a big change, but I really underestimated how big the change was.

      I lived in the same town since I was in first grade. I am very close with my family and friends. Some of my friendships are ten years strong. So leaving those connections behind was one of the hardest things I've had to do. But when I do get to go home and see everyone I am very grateful. I know that some people aren't as lucky as I am to have the type of people in their lives as I do.

      Something that I have taken away from this experience of being away from home is to be thankful for the people that you do have in your life. Yes, families fight, they annoy the crap out of you at times, you scream at each other, but at the end of the day they are your family. They will always be there for you. So, as Thanksgiving rolls around the corner, I ask you this: What are you thankful for?

When in doubt laugh it out... Or not?

When having a serious argument with a friend, I began to laugh because of all the dumb things that was coming out his mouth. It was a hard transition to be serious and argumentative, because I had to catch myself and stop laughing. After that incident, I realized I tend to laugh during serious situations (only some). That is because I am so attentive to the conversation, I will see that nose hair coming out...

Laughing at someone who is extremely frustrated or angry at you is a good way to say "I don't give a damn!" Some say it's teenage "superiority laughter" which is laughing at the person because teenagers feel more uppity than their peers. And I definitely felt like I had won the argument because I just laughed at their irrational anger towards me. Although, I wouldn't say I felt superior...

Another theory for laughing is using it as defense mechanism. I'll laugh when my parents are lecturing me.... Cause I didn't do anything bad. Just stayed out real late. So I'll laugh at their viewpoint because my viewpoint is that I didn't do anything wrong and they're tripping about nothing. 

What I did last night:

Went to this thing last night. Definitely not going back to City Nights. Too much there (noisy drunk people and harassment) 

Parents picked us up cause we couldn't catch Bart. I was a little bit laughing when they were lecturing me, but then I got guilt tripped.

Well laughing is a good mechanism because for a while... I can trick myself in thinking I'm okay, but in reality I'm still affected by what my parents are saying.

Marijuana

I know I already did a presentation about whether we should legalize marijuana or not but there’s just so much information that I’ve decided to do my blog post on this topic as well. For my presentation, I listed out the cons of legalizing marijuana, which were, more secondhand smoke, higher chance of younger kids to obtain it, and people could make a case to legalize other illegal drugs as well. There are also a lot of other cons that I wasn’t able to talk about, such as, more people being high if it’s legalized. More people being high could ultimately lead to more deaths because they could do stupid things while they’re under the influence and could either get themselves killed or kill others. However, a counterargument to this could be that even though alcohol is legalized, you rarely see drunk people on the streets. Another con could be that the average GPA for high schools would drop because studies show that marijuana users are more likely to fail or drop out of school. A counterargument could be that people only skip school to smoke because teens think it’s cool since it’s illegal. If marijuana were legal, then nobody would think it’s cool to skip school to smoke a legal substance so that should fix that problem.

I also listed out pros of legalizing marijuana such as, fewer users for other drugs, black markets and drug dealers will lose business and a lot of them will go away, and if weed were to be legalized, the amount of users would stay around the same number. Another pro is the amount of drug arrests would greatly go down. As you can see in the graph below, nearly 50% of all drug arrests are due to possession or sales of pot. That’s over 750,000 arrests a year. 

A counterargument could be that if marijuana were legalized and police stopped looking for it, they could turn their attention towards other illegal drugs and have those drug arrest rates go up as well. The last pro that I was able to research for legalizing marijuana is that we would tax the sales of marijuana which would give us billions of dollars extra. Washington state has already legalized marijuana and they’re projected to make an extra $1.9 billion in the next 5 years due to extra revenue from marijuana sales. I can’t really think of a counter argument to this one. I mean, look at how much money we could potentially be making in 2018 if marijuana were legalized.

 So, yeah. Sorry about basically doing another presentation on marijuana. I just felt like I had too much information in my head that I had to get it all out somewhere so I might as well do it on here. 

How to find the perfect show.

          Browsing through Netflix, trying to find the perfect show to finally commit to, isn't as easy as it sounds. The endless choices and intriguing plots for each show i run into just make me even more confused on which one to pick! I knew I needed a plan though... a plan to help me pick the perfect TV series to get lost in and addicted to.

First, i decided i'd make a check list of all of the known factors of my being:
     -I am a girl. (No action. Comedy and love preferred.)
     -I find teen sexual health interesting. (Hence wanting to become a health counselor/OB.)
     -I am in college. (College relationships, friendships, parties, etc.)
     -I am in a relationship. (Live vicariously through TV characters.)

          Then I realized that i had to add something different to my list.. something more fresh, current and new to my eyes. AHA. I am a "friend" of a Sorority. Even just accepting my invitation, i was already so curious, anxious, nervous and even doubtful about it all. SO then i said to myself.. "why not a sorority/ fraternity based show?" Maybe it would help me get over my anxiousness or whatever. Or maybe it'd just be more fun to see how the other perspectives of the "greek" life are, even if it is only on tv hehe.

          Anyway, with that mindset going, i stumbled accross these 5 big and bad letters... GREEK. I didnt know any of the cast or anything about the show in general but all i know is. This. is. Perfect. Continuing on to actually watching it, i was so surprised about how witty and colorful this show was. In fact, it was so witty and colorful that i finished 3 seasons in less than a week!!!! Thats 10-15 episodes a season.. like yea, i know. Im craaazy. But it was damn worth it.

My point is, through this mess of a blog, is not to settle for what everyone else is watching. Commit to something for YOU, not because its the latest trend. Make a list of what you're looking for. Make a list of what you're not looking for. But no matter what, i know damn well that you wouldnt want to waste your time on something that doesnt make you happy, and/or benefit you.

Typhoon Haiyan: Largest Typhoon

As many of you know, there was recently a typhoon that occurred in Tacloban, Philippines. This typhoon is called Haiyan, which affected the lives of the Tacloban people. The Tacloban people are struggling with finding food and shelter, and some searching for loved ones lost in the typhoon. These people don’t have a warm home to live in or new clothes to wear—everything that they cherished was destroyed in this typhoon. And even with the destruction of their most cherished things, Tacloban people are dealing with unwanted burials. I heard on the fox news that the Tacloban people are going to start making mass graves. These mass graves are going to bury thousands of people; as a result, the victim’s family won’t be able to have the proper closure and funeral. These Tacloban people are vicitms of a disaster that they are now grieving for.

However, despite the tragedy that Typhoon Haiyan caused, I was really inspired by national support that resulted after the disaster. Not long after this typhoon struck Tacloban, people all the over world heard about this tragic disaster and started trying to find ways to help these victims. I think it’s heart-warming that people all over the world are taking the time and money to help others in need of help. It’s amazing how people help one another on the most difficult times; it reminds me of the saying “treat people, the way you want to be treated.” People recognize the destruction that this typhoon has caused to the lives of Tacloban people, and try to give them support and necessities.

There are some non-profit organizations like Red Cross, Shelter Box, and Habitat for Humanity, and many more non-profits that are trying to gather necessities and support for victims. Currently, these victims are in need of food and water. There are charities everywhere trying to raise enough money to help victims of the typhoon.

Here’s some advice if you want to donate or contribute to typhoon victims:

• ·       If you want to donate or contribute your support to the typhoon victims make sure you’re donating to a profound charity.
• ·       Some charities take some of the profit for another event/disaster, so if you are donating make sure you specify what cause you want the money to go too.
• ·       There are a lot of charity scams, so the best way to avoid these scams is to donate to a well-known charity or a charity you know is reliable.

Please donate, or find ways to help Typhoon Haiyan victims!

Everyday Life, Should be Lived.

As we look upon our lives, can we say that we are living? What does it even mean to live? Is it just to breathe, to go through the motions of the day?

No. Absolutely not!!!

There is a clear distinction between having a life, and living a life. To have a life is to just be, to eat, sleep, and breath.

Living is completely different, it is going outside one's comfort zone, and experiencing what the world has to offer. There is no point in playing life safe, because, yes there are a lot of things that are dangerous and life-threatening, but when isn't life at risk? Everyday there is a chance of losing life, not to sound negative, but that is why we need to be fearless. So wouldn't it make sense to do things that are full of excitement and pleasure regardless if life is put at risk? People that have grown old and lived a life of comfort and cautiousness, are filled with regret of never doing the things they've found dangerous and exciting. Life should never be looked upon with regret, we are only given one chance to live, which is why I want to stress the importance of actually living life without worry of death. Our fear of death is only a limitation that sets us back, preventing us from doing what we want. If we get rid of this fear of death or getting hurt and just accept that it will come then people would be happier, they will see life in a new light. A weight will be lifted from their minds and they can go about without worry and regret. That is how life should be lived. Whenever I look around or ask my friends how they are doing, I constantly get the same answers, "It's okay". To be honest, I am just tired of hearing that life is just okay, there is so much that could be done in a day, time just needs to be set aside for it. I have so much pity for people who go to work, and then come home, every single day. Their lives are being wasted and they're throwing away the potential for a good day. 

This is a video of people who live life without fear, who truly live. I'm not saying everyone has to be great and do these same exact things, but I'm saying they shouldn't be afraid to just try these things. When it comes down to it, it is this same fear that controls a lot of people and takes hold of their lives. I too, have this same exact fear, but as I reflect everyday on how I live my life I think of ways to make it better, to do different things that I've never done. This video just reminds me that everyone is capable of the same greatness, we are all capable and great!

So go, live life to the fullest!

The Last Possible Minute

I have always struggled and probably will always struggle with a little something called procrastination. This son of a gun has been in and out of my life since I could remember. It has never been able to part from me and I tend to encounter it mostly when I have big and important things to turn in. For example when I have to turn in a midterm paper I work on it the very last day and I am pulling my hair, nails, and teeth just to get it done. On these stressful days I tend to pull what are called all-nighters, which is the refusal to close my eyes until the work is done. I don’t know, in the inside I feel like I just have to do it, but at the same time I beat myself up because I know that I could have done this a week ago. There even comes a moment when I just want to stop and turn in the piece of crap that I have and just be done with it, but a voice inside my head keeps telling me that this can look or sound soo much better if I just spend one more hour on it. And what is one more hour less of “sleep” when you don’t plan on sleeping at all?

Assignments and projects left to last minute is just half of what this monster has been in control of. This beast named procrastination has been able to creep into my study time as well. Please I can’t be the only one. For example  I know I have a HUGE test coming up in two weeks and I know if I study little by little it will benefit me in the long run and I will be able to soak in information in a nice and moderate amount. But do I do this, hell no. I save it all to the night before or even on the morning of the test, if I’m lucky I study the last two days but this only happens on very rare and special occasions. Why do I let this happen to me? Sometimes I feel like I hate myself or something because I am just torturing myself by not completing my tasks that I have long periods of time to accomplish. Then again, I get this massive satisfaction when I am able to have a positive outcome out of the work I turn in. Like if I did all the work, research, drawing, etc. the night before and I get a great or even good grade I feel like I’m on top of the world. The satisfaction that come out of knowing that the work you were able to give under pressure truly feels great and leave a sweet taste in my mouth because I am able to brag about it a little bit.         

            I am in no way saying that procrastination is good and we should all fall into its devious ways, but I must say I have put out some of my best work when procrastinating and working under pressure.

This is pretty much what I mean: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DPunwdtUR8