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.