Salt, Sugar, Fat

            The book “Salt, Sugar, and Fat,” written by Michael Moss shows that we should be really careful of the food we put into our bodies. The increase in the salt, sugar, and fats that were being placed in the foods lead to obesity, diabetes, and also heart diseases. Michael Moss, the author, traveled to different food companies, and did extensive research on each of the categories. This book is designed to show the readers that they should be cautious of the kinds of food that enter their body and how it can affect your health. I thought this book was very informative and included many facts but there were points where I wished it was a little more entertaining to read. After reading this book it makes me rethink the kinds of foods I should be putting into my body, and not eat as much processed foods because eating too much of it can affect my health greatly. This book had a great amount of facts that informed me of what I should and shouldn’t be eating. Something I remember in this book was the amount of cheese, sugar, and salt we consume. It said that an average American thirty-three pounds of cheese which is triple the amount we ate during the 1970’s. In addition, we consumed seventy pounds of sugar. This really stood out to me because I never realized how much of one thing we put into our bodies on a regular basis. And even how the amount of cheese we eat now compared to 40 years ago is crazy. I think after reading this book, it will definitely have an effect on my own eating habits. Now I will be watching what I eat and the amount of process foods I take in because I realized too much of it can cause my body to react in ways that could hurt me.

10 Things I'm Grateful For

1. My family

2. My friends

3. My home

4. My car

5. My health

6. My living conditions

7. My pets

8. My education

9. Music

10. Clothes

Family

            Family holds a different meaning to each person. For me, family is more than just a word. Family describes the people you trust, know you the best, and would do just about anything for you. I consider myself lucky for the family members I have been given. Especially my immediate family.  I don’t know what I would do without my parents and younger sister.  They all still manage to teach me something new about myself that I didn’t know before.

            If it wasn’t for my dad, I wouldn’t have gotten into sports.  Thanks to him, I have found an activity that has always brought joy and happiness to me.  Growing up, my dad was the stay at home parent so my sister and I got to spend a lot of time with him after school.  Like all relationships between children and father though, we had our fair share of arguments.  My dad has got to be the most stubborn guy I know when it comes to just about anything.  He never liked my sister or I going to sleep upset so he would always be first to apologize.  Now he lives up near Fresno so I don’t get to see him as often. 

            I don’t even know what I can say about my mom.  It seems like there’s nothing she can’t handle.  She’s always been busy with work but she still manages to make time where she can hang out with my sister and I.  My mom is the backbone to our family.  When something’s broken, she fixes it.  There is so much I admire her for. She’s the most selfless person there is.  Sometimes I think she’s too selfless.  I can’t think of a time where she put her needs and wants first. 

            Then there’s my younger sister.  We both got our dads stubbornness so when we argue there’s no holding back.  Even at that though, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her and ther’s nothing she wouldn’t do for me.  She has the biggest heart sometimes so she is hard to stay mad at.  My parents have always tried giving her extra attention because she’s the baby in the family. Plus things haven’t come as easy to her as they have to me.  She has to study for hours whereas I look at a few examples and I’m good.  However, I will say she took all the creative and artistic genes in the family.  We all see the joy it brings her so we do our best to support her in it so that she can build confidence. 

            There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for my family.  We may not be perfect but that’s what makes us who we are as a family.  We don’t see eye to eye all the time, but we are there for each other when it counts and I believe that’s what you need in a family. 

Materialism

            Although I agree with the viewpoints brought out by Amel Saleh and Lauren Smith, I tend to agree with Lauren Smith more.  To me, buying gifts for someone is a way to show that you appreciate them in your life.  I don’t mind buying my family or friends presents during the holidays because I value the relationship I have with them.  I know that my life would be different without them so getting them a gift is just a small way for me to say thank you to them.

            When it comes to buying gifts, my family tries not to go overboard.  Yes, we get presents for each other.  But we aren’t going to the mall to spend hundreds of dollars either. The main thing during the holidays for me is to spend that time with my family.  Ever since I can remember my mom has always said that family and being thankful are the main ideas around any holiday.

            For Christmas, my friends and I will try to get together a few days after the holiday.  We have our own version of a secret santa.  The amount we pay can’t be more than $10 and the gift has to be funny and something you wouldn’t expect.  After we exchange the gifts, we’ll find something to do as a group.  We usually end up going to a movie, the bowling alley, or the beach if it’s not freezing cold.  

            Even though more presents are being bought now than in the past, I still don’t think that means holidays are materialistic.  Buying a gift for someone isn’t a bad thing.  It’s a way to show that you care about them and that you were thinking of them on that holiday.  Buying a present is still a choice, not an expectation.

School

            School is a topic I have never really cared for.  Being at school has always been boring to me.  I will say being a college student has been better than when I was in elementary, middle, and high school.  I completely despise the idea of having to sit in a chair and listen to lectures 5 days a week for 7 hours each day.  Now that I’m in college I have 1-2 classes a day Monday through Thursday.  Being able to choose the classes I want to take and for how long each day has been the part I have liked the most out of the semester.

            College isn’t perfect though.  I have noticed that the individual work is tougher in college instead of high school.  For example, English class.  I’m not used to writing so many essays consecutively.  In high school, we would write about 4 to 5 essays in an entire school year.  Now we’re on our fourth essay and it’s not even November.  I like the challenge but I can honestly say I didn’t prepare for it.  Another thing that I don’t really like is that I don’t get to see all the friends I made back in high school.  Now that everyone’s on a different path, I only see a handful of my friends because they go to one of the community colleges in Ventura County.

            The thing that motivates me to graduate from college is the future.  I want to be able to say that I made it at the end of all this.  I want to have a good career with a family of my own.  I want to be able to take care of my parents and grandma after everything they’ve done for me.  If I can do all of those things then putting up with school for all these years will be worth it.

Reality TV

            Reality TV. You can’t hide from it.  Any channel you turn to nowadays is filled with reality tv.  Why?  Personally, I see most reality tv as a pretend “reality” the producers show so that they don’t get fired. Of course there are some decent ones that might be helpful.  “Dual Survival” on the Discovery channel is a reality show that shows how you can survive if ever stranded in an area.  The odds of getting lost are very minimal but I find it interesting to watch.  However, with this show come others that aren’t so interesting.  Discovery channel launched another reality show called “Naked and Afraid” where a guy and girl who don’t know each other must survive in the wild naked.  Seriously?  It’s a show I’d expect to come out of MTV or VH1.

            Reality TV has created famous icons that should not be looked at as “role-models”.  “Keeping Up with the Kardashians”. Did anybody know them 8 years ago?  That family is famous because of a video.  The only role-model on that show is the step-father because he was an Olympic track star. Another show is “Teen Mom”. Yes, it’s good they’re getting the word out that teen pregnancy is not the best option at a young age.  Except that show has made these teenagers look like heroes for taking care of their own baby.  Can someone explain to me how that is so admirable?  If you have a child, that child should be the priority where it should be taken care of in a healthy home whether that’s with you or another family who adopts it.

            With all that said, I feel that reality tv is hurting our society.  It brainwashes anybody who watches it.  Reality tv in today’s society has become more of a priority than actual current events.  Also, reality tv has created a cushion for their stars.  Lindsey Lohan should’ve been put in jail numerous times but because she’s famous, all she gets is rehab.  Justin Bieber gets away with all kinds of antics that make him look like a terrible person.  However, since he’s famous all he gets is a slap on the wrist.  I discourage 95% of reality tv because it’s a false reality where people get paid for doing nothing important with their lives.  Is it fair that you’re getting an education to create a career where you’re only going to make a fraction of what Snooki made from being on “The Jersey Shore”?  What a show that was.  This is all just my opinion though.  If you like these shows then good for you.  Everyone’s different.  I just feel reality tv is too fake to watch.

Change of Opinion

            Hard work is something I have definitely had a change of opinion on.  When I was younger, if I saw a person do anything really well then I thought he or she was born with that talent.  It never really occurred to me that it takes hard work and dedication if you want to do something right.

            The best way I can describe this is through professional athletes.  I used to think that David Ortiz had a natural ability to hit homeruns, Kobe Bryant had something in his blood so that he could knock down every jump shot, Lionel Messi had special legs to become arguably the best soccer player in the world today.  I thought you had to be born with a special talent and that’s what made you great.

            That all changed when I started playing high school sports.  It changed my views on what it takes to succeed.  Kobe didn’t become a future hall of famer overnight.  He practiced night and day.  He would be the first one at practice and the last one to leave.  Natural talent is helpful but if you want to strive to become the best, it isn’t something to rely on.  You have to put in the effort if you want to see the results.  To some people, a high school sport is just away to get your P.E. credits.  However, for me it changed my entire perspective on what it takes to be the best.

            Hard work won’t give you results in a few hours.  It’s a long process but if you put in the effort, you will see change.  And yes, you might fall and want to quit along the way.  That’s where you have to ask yourself.  Do you want to give up on something you’ve been working toward? I’m glad my opinion changed on what hard work does because if it didn’t, I wouldn’t be trying to lead myself to a career that could help create a better lifestyle for my family.

Fast Food

            From what I can remember, as a child fast food was always a special treat that my parents would get on occasion. I was probably more excited for the toys that came in a happy meal than the actual food itself.  McDonald’s was always the place I wanted to go.  I remember feeling like I was receiving a present whenever I opened the small, red happy meal McDonald’s box containing my chicken nuggets, fries, and toy.  If I didn’t go to McDonald’s then my parents would take me to Taco Bell.  When I was younger I couldn’t get enough of their tacos.  I always had to use their mild sauce.  I just couldn’t handle the hot or fire sauce they offered.  Getting these kid’s meals also meant I got to get a soda.  Soda always tasted so refreshing coming from McDonald’s or Taco Bell.  I would always struggle between having to choose either Coke or Sprite.  Being able to go to one of these fast food places always made me happy because my parent’s made me feel like I had done a good deed to deserve this treat.

            Now I can say I have a different perspective on fast food.  Yes, I still won’t mind getting some chicken nuggets from McDonald’s or Doritos locos tacos from Taco Bell.  The difference is I don’t see it as a treat anymore.  It’s more of a last minute decision to get food because I don’t feel like making anything for myself.  I will say that I get fast food more often than when I was younger but not by much.  Having the ability to drive is probably the reason that I get more fast food now.  If I couldn’t drive I would have to rely on somebody taking me which wouldn’t happen so I would just make something at home.  The decision between Sprite and Coke is one that I still struggle with.  Something about getting a soda from McDonald’s seems to make the drink taste better to me than when I have the same type of soda at my house.  Even though I said I get fast food more often than when I was younger, I wouldn’t say I rely on it.  Mostly because I know how unhealthy fast food is.  Even a salad from a fast food place is unhealthy.  It’s just hard to pass up getting fast food because it’s affordable and you don’t have to wait for the food, if you want to call what they sell food.

            My views on fast food have changed as I have gotten older.  However, I still like how I thought of fast food as a treat.  They created happy memories in my childhood which is something I wouldn’t want to change.  I just have a better understanding of how fast food can affect your lifestyle depending on how often you get it.

Essay #1

Cooperstown, a place where some of the greatest players of baseball have been and I had the chance to play there when I was twelve years old. The entire experience on and off the field is something I will cherish and never forget as it was possibly the greatest moment of my life. Imagine the place of your dreams where you would do whatever it took to be there. For me, I was there. Cooperstown, New York.

            Of course, nothing happens how you plan it. My story begins on the 101 freeway going to LAX. Our flight leaves at 9:30 AM on a bright and sunny summer day. Since my parents always expect the best but plan for the worst, we were awake and driving out of Camarillo by 6:15 AM. Normally you’d expect to see a clear path early in the morning on a Saturday morning. Most of the people are asleep with the day off from their job. It’s a good thing my parents planned for the worst. We hit traffic right out the gate once we got over the hill into Thousand Oaks. Bumper to bumper seems like an understatement. Turns out someone in a SUV got in a minor accident about 10 miles south of Westlake. Needless to say, what is normally an hour drive became a two and a half hour journey. I remember thinking of it as a way to practice patience since the plane ride was going to be a five hour flight. Finally, against all the odds, we made it to LAX.

            “We made it.” My dad said with a sense of relief in his voice.                                      The check-in went smoothly and we were on the plane literally minutes from taking off. It was nearly impossible for me to stay in my seat. I was so excited. Then it went from excitement to sadness. Our flight was delayed due to bad weather in Albany, New York. Two hours went by and it looked like our flight would be cancelled. I couldn’t believe that it could be bright and sunny in California, but cloudy and raining in New York. I was beginning to think that the baseball gods didn’t want me to play in Cooperstown. Minutes after I thought the worst, we were boarding our flight and speeding down the runway. The visibility became good enough for us to fly into Albany. I regret not sleeping on the flight like my sister. Five hours seemed to be five years. To my sister, five hours was five seconds. Her exact words I still remember for some odd reason were, “I blinked and we were here.” The rest of that day was smooth sailing. We got to a hotel in Cooperstown at 8:30 PM eastern time. I tried to sleep but I couldn’t. I knew what was in store for me the next day.

            Tomorrow finally came and I couldn’t have been happier.  Part of this baseball tournament has the players sleep in dorms on a college campus five minutes away from the baseball fields.  My teammate Tyler and I were going to be roommates for the next week.  There were points where hanging out at the college away from our parents was more fun than the actual games we were there to play in.  Our first night was probably the funniest out of all of them.  We both slept on the floor of our dorm because we were too small to climb onto the actual beds.  I wasn’t even 5’0” at the time.  To make things worse we left our window open and three or four moths flew into our room to escape the rain and hail.  We both cowered under our blankets for the rest of the night.

            “If these moths kill me, tell my mom I love her”, Tyler said from underneath his blanket.

            We survived the night drenched in sweat.  Who knew that it could be so hot and humid while it’s hailing at the same time?  It was almost 85 degrees with hail.  My team was scheduled to be the first game to kick off the tournament.  We were supposed to start at 8:30 AM but delay seemed to be a reoccurring topic on this trip.  Since the ball fields were at a higher elevation than the dorms, fog was an issue.  I was barely able to see my hand extended out in front of me.  It was 9:30 and the umpires started the game.  We ended up winning 9-4.  It was such a great feeling. For that slight moment, it seemed like we were all professional baseball players who just won the World Series. In that week we played two games. I can’t remember how every game turned out except we finished with a record of 8-3. Other than the first game, our sixth game was just as memorable. Not for a good reason however. It was a night game. The lights were shining down as if we were the stars. With my team hitting, I was on first base in the middle of the game. The pitcher picks off and bam. The ball hits me in the eye. I remember just rolling in the dirt holding my left eye. I was more shocked that I was hit rather than being in pain. My eye was slightly swollen but I was still able to play. I came up to bat in the last inning and got a double. The next batter scored me and we won the game. My coach gave me the game ball because he thought of me as a fighter that day.

             We didn’t win the tournament but we did finish in seventh out of one hundred and sixteen teams from all over the country. Out of the top ten teams, eight were from California so I felt we represented our home state pretty well. Even though we didn’t get a trophy or medal, I thought that my team was champions after that tournament. My coach’s speech after our last game is something I will never forget.

            “The way you played in this tournament was incredible. You guys represented California with class and respect. We might have finished short of first place, but you are all winners. We got to be a part of something a handful of people can say they did. You guys played on a field that hall of famers began their career on. You’re all like my sons and I couldn’t be more proud. I speak for myself and all of your parents and siblings.”

            I got to live my dream for an entire week. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I met players from Maine to Oregon. On top of that I got to live in a dorm with my team and play in the biggest youth baseball tournament. Do I wish I could go back? Yes and no. yes because it was the greatest time of my life. No, because it wouldn’t seem as special considering what we accomplished. Cooperstown gave me the highlight of my entire baseball career.

Marriage

Although today’s society is changing, I personally feel that marriage still holds strong in America.  Even though more marriages are ending in divorce, there are still partners who are in it for the long haul until they are taken away from each other.  Seeing those couples provides many of us with the hope and idea that we can be just as happy with one partner.  Another reason is that marriages have had more meaning over the years than before.  Women used to be seen as property which meant marriages were for men to have rights over the women. Marriage was also used as a way to expand family boundaries like land and other goods.  Today, people marry because they feel that the love they have for each other is worth a life-long commitment.

            Personally, I don’t care for the idea of a temporary marriage.  It sounds to me like a more creative word for scapegoat.  Marriage is a bond between two people for life.  So saying temporary marriage is like saying a life-long commitment that lasts a few years.  Another term in my opinion for temporary marriage is divorce.  They both hold the same features where two people that thought they were in love decide to not be married anymore.  I side with the author Natalie Rivera.  A temporary marriage is disrespectful to the meaning of marriage.  Plus it’s not fair to other partners that can’t get married.  Homosexual couples are still not allowed to be married in some parts of the United States.  I can’t even imagine what a temporary marriage looks like in their eyes.  They don’t have the option of marriage but others can say “ I want to try this marriage but if I don’t like it then I won’t be a part of it anymore.”

            Marriage is still a social fabric in today’s society.  People still view marriage as a huge step in any relationship because it makes them wonder about what the future will hold.  Marriage usually brings up some questions. For me I would wonder if I’m personally ready? Will children be in the picture? Would financial debts play a role in my decision? Most importantly though I would have to think of this question. Do I see myself with the same person 45-50 years from when I get married? Will there still be the same amount of joy and happiness then as there should be now?  Unfortunately this is why more marriages end up in divorce though. Couples lose the spark they had between them.  By losing this, they also lose their happiness, joy, and passion for one another.  Marriage is still strong though for the reason of that one couple.  The couple that stays together and gives every other person the hope they need to keep marriage alive.

My Name

            My full name is Brandon Scott Aoki.  Obviously my name doesn’t mix too well with each other.  My first name was a struggle for my parents.  They couldn’t decide on whether or not they wanted me to have a Japanese name or not.  Eventually, they decided to save the Japanese name for the next child who ended up being a girl.  In the United States, Brandon is number 33 in the ranks of popular names. My name has different meanings.  In Old English the name Brandon is a combination of “brom” which means broom (weeds) and “dun” which means hill.  That means my name represents a dweller who lived on a hill full of weeds.  The Irish meaning of Brandon is someone filled with bravery.  Since I’m part Irish I choose to think of the Irish meaning instead.

            I guess at first I wasn’t going to have a middle name but my parents changed their mind in the end.  My middle name is named after my dad who has played an important role in my life.  My last name is Japanese.  Aoki is translated to “green tree”.  As you would think, it isn’t very popular in America but it is very common in central Japan.  Personally, my last name is my favorite out of my entire full name.  I can honestly say that I have never met anyone else with the same last name who wasn’t related to me.  It’s one feature that helps me be different from other people.  Even though it doesn’t happen quite as much as it used to, in school my teachers would have trouble pronouncing my name. Basically it’s Ay-oh-key.  Some teachers would butcher my name so bad that that’s how they remembered me. I was the kid whose name they couldn’t say which is something I find funny now. I used to be embarrassed when they screwed up on it because the kids would laugh and I thought that they were laughing at my name.  When I look back they were just laughing because my name gave the teacher trouble.

            If someone gave me the chance to change my name, I could easily reply with a simple “No”.  A name is what makes you who you are.  Your parents gave you that name for a reason.  Granted, if your name was Princess Butterfly or something weird like that, I could see why you might want to edit your name.  Other than that though, your name defines you.  It’s how your friends create nicknames for you.  It’s the name your mom uses when you did something wrong.  Whether your name is common or not, the way it is used to describe you is always unique.

Past, Present, and Future

My name is Brandon Aoki.  I was born in Oxnard April 4, 1996 but moved to Camarillo when I was about 4 years old.  I have a younger sister which makes me the oldest sibling.  Just about all of my memories involve some type of sport.  I've played soccer and baseball since I was 8 and basketball since I was 10.  When I was 12, my baseball team traveled to Cooperstown, New York to play in a tournament that is home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.  That was one of the greatest experiences of my life, even though we didn't win the tournament.  I attended Adolfo Camarillo High School where I played soccer freshman and sophomore year and baseball for all 4 years.  I ended up meeting my best friends through these sports and so it was fitting that we graduated together this past year.

I'm a full time student at Oxnard College and it feels awkward calling myself a college student. Right now my major is business administration. I am currently playing for the baseball team at Oxnard College. Since I only go to school Monday through Thursday I have a lot more spare time then when I was in high school.  My time is spent with Netflix, the beach, fishing, or just hanging out with my friends.  I don't have a job at the moment but I will need to get one soon because driving from Camarillo to Oxnard 2 times a day for school and practice adds up.

My plan is to transfer from Oxnard to a four year university where I can get a degree and look for a career.  Eventually, a family will be in the picture with a wife, kids, and a few pets.  I hope to still be living in California, or at least any place that's along the coast because I love the beach.  The future is still unknown to me but I can't wait to see what it has in store.