5 year Anniversary

On December 22, 2010 I created my blog. Today marks the 5 year anniversary of my blogs creation. When I first started out my blog, I had little to no idea with what I was going to do with it. I thought that it was just going to be a creative outlet in which I could freely express my ideas. I never thought that it was going to garner so much attention over the years. It was not until my sophomore year of college that I realized that my blog could be something more.  I realized that my words could become something more. I could use my words to inspire and motivate others into thinking differently.  Thus I found the meaning of my blog and today I continue upon this path. I would like to thank all of my blog readers and those who have supported me over the years. If it weren't for you, my blog might not have been successful as it has been.

My blog is going to take a slight shift for the next few months, as I will be living in London, England. I am therefore going to be focusing on travel writing. I will be writing an extensive series entitled "When in Europe the UK and Beyond" which I will detail my adventures and experiences.

Here's to another 5 years and may I continue to inspire and motivate others for years to come!

Happiest Moment

This moment is so simple, yet it is filled with brilliance.
It feels so short, yet in comparison time never seems to pass it by.
I want this moment to last forever.
I don't want to let it go.
The day seems so perfect.
I wouldn't ever want to change a thing.
Yet this life of mine seems far too short to absorb this moment.
However, in the time that I do have I can't help but smile....
Because in this moment I am at my happiest.
I smile at the small things in life.
I smile at the person walking across the street.
I smile at the leaf that is resting upon the ground.
This life of mine there is so much do, yet I can't do it all.
But in this moment, everything is perfect.
I wouldn't want to change a thing.
I don't want to let it go.

College Survial Guide: Making it Through Finals in One Piece

Anxiety, stress, lack of sleep is the best ways to describe how most college students are feeling about their upcoming finals.
There is so much work to do, from last minute papers, to going all out to trying to secure that final grade we've been working for all semester.
A bit of advice I have come to realize is that you are going to need to take breaks between studying for your finals.
It is the best way to dim the stress between studying.
During these breaks I suggest that you do something that you are passionate about.
It hobby or it could be something as simple as watching a movie that you love.
Now I know what you are probably thinking.... that finals are more important and that the more time you spend studying the better off you will do.
While it is true that the more you prepare for them the better grade you will receive, by studying you are causing mental wear and tear on your body.
As a result this can cause stress, anxiety and for some people a lack of sleep.
By taking a simple hour out of your day to do something that makes you happy, will not only give your mind some much needed rest, but it'll also allow you to decompress, even if it is only for a brief period of time.

Going Abroad

While there are a multitude of things that happened this year that I am thankful for the biggest has to be getting to go  study abroad in London.
I've been waiting for this opportunity for a while now, I applied back in May of my freshman year.
At that time it seemed like it was like a distant fantasy, but now that it is happening for real it seems all to surreal.
Excitement is the best way to describe it, several weeks from now I will be beginning a life altering experience.
I will studying at the Richmond International American University.
I will live at the Richmond Hill Campus, but a bulk of my classes will be at the satellite campus in Kensington.
I am studying primarily public relations and intercultural communication while over there, however I do have a politics and History of London class that I will be taking.
As for traveling to other places, I know for sure that I will be visiting Rome, Italy and I am currently doing research on a few other places like Berlin, Germany, Amsterdam, Netherlands and Paris, France.
While abroad I plan to be writing a series entitled "When in Europe: The U.K. and Beyond" look to my blog in the coming weeks to stay up to date on what I have been up to.
   

Shoes

Her shoes were worn and ragged yet she seemed not affected by them at all.
Sure her toe would be sticking out a little bit from each shoe, but these shoes were special to her.
These shoes had taken her too many places in life, as she had walked everywhere she wanted to go.
She walked across valleys and plains, climbed mountains and hiked trails.
She walked across the desert and along the roads.
Her shoes became faded over time, but she didn't see these shoes as anything less after they became worn out.
Many people who encountered her on her journey would say that she needed new shoes, some even insisted that they buy her a pair but she would refuse.
She would tell them "Shoes are shoes no matter their condition, they still will help you go to the places you need to."
So on she went for years, walking and walking with the same pair of shoes until one day the shoes became beyond disrepair and she could no longer walk in them.
She took the pair of shoes off and kept walking until the day she died.
When her body was found the pair of worn out shoes were found clenched in her hands.  

Veterans Day

Today is the day that we salute those who have and continue to serve our country.
They have risked their lives to protect an ideal known as freedom.
We salute you for your bravery and courage to take on such a daunting task.
To those whom we have lost we will never forget what you have done for our country.
May you rest in peace and may God Bless your soul.

Oh Starry Night.....

Oh starry night how I gaze upon you with wonder and delight.
I often wonder if you too are looking back at me.
Your constellations tell me stories of heroism and bravery.
They can also reflect objects that may seem simple but you make them extraordinary, for your beauty is a one of kind treasure.
When I am lost all I must do is look to the night sky and your North Star will guide me home.
Oh starry night how I gaze upon you as you fade away into the light day, may you come back some other day...   

The Night Sky

Standing erect upon the balcony of his apartment building, a man gazed upon the cities lights.
Their luminescent glow tickled the night sky as they reached for the stars.
The city below was but an endless stream of moving lights going every which way that the eye could see.
The people on the streets walked with no sense of urgency, yet ignored one another.
In the east the man could see the ocean which was vast and open.
The moon light reflected off the water casting an eerie appearance.
The ocean breeze could be felt from atop his balcony.
The man convinced himself that if he listened closely enough, that he would be able hear the sounds of the waves arriving onshore.

Every night the man would go out onto his balcony and stand there for hours, no matter the weather.
He stood there because no night was like the other.
He found a certain intoxicating beauty and pleasure in watching over the city on his balcony.
Through all the darkness there was a hidden beauty and tranquility.
When he was on his balcony he felt infinite.
His mind would be open and free from worries even if was just for a few brief moments.....

"One Pack, One Family"

Towards the end of last year my friend Jack and I came up with the idea of starting up a running club on campus.
Rather than having the commitment of being a cross country team, we wanted to create a club dedicated to the love of running.
It is not about how fast you get to the destination in which you headed, instead it is about the feeling of making that distance.
It is about the feeling of the ground underneath your feet and how each step carries you further.
It is about seeing and being in places that you have not been.
It is about pushing yourself to go that extra mile that you have not yet been able to achieve.
Community, family and passion for running is what drives this club.
For we are one pack that runs together no matter the distance or the time.

The Harvey Two-Face of Business Ethics

The interesting thing about business ethics is depending upon who you ask, you will get a different response on what is considered "ethically justifiable" in business.
In reality, in order for businesses to thrive and survive in this ever globalized world a business must be making a profit.
Without profit a business will collapse.
The question then becomes, what is the most ethical way to conduct business?
If you could maximize your profits by cutting a few corners that some may see as unethical, would you do it for the benefit of the company?
Or is it our responsibility to increase profitability of the company, yet at the same time remaining ethical?
There are two sides we can choose both may yield benefits as well as consequences, but is one option better than the other?
To better understand this we can look at the DC Comic's fictional character Harvey Dent a.k.a "Two Face".
Prior to becoming "Two Face", Harvey Dent was a district attorney of Gotham City.
As the district attorney he brought down many of Gotham Cities criminals.
However, after Harvey Dent gets acid thrown in his face he adopts the persona of "Two Face" and changes into a supervillain.
Now you're probably wondering what the heck "Two Face" has to do with business ethics, and that is a totally reasonable question.
Prior to the incident that changed Harvey Dent he was a respectable figure within his community.
However, he changes for the worse and becomes something evil and "unethical".
His face is split in half, one side of his face is not affected by the acid this side represents his old self.
He was a guy that could be admired for his work, but the acid changed him.
No longer was he an admirable figure, rather he became a villain that placed everything up to chance by the simple flip of a coin.
In other words, we can have two faces in the world of business.
One face can be burned from acid a.k.a acting unethically, which can lead to life changing consequences; Or we can put our best face forward and try achieving respect much like Harvey Dent did as the DA.
Ultimately do not leave business ethics up to a mere coin toss, because while you may get lucky once or twice, luck can run out very fast.

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19 Ornaments

Now some of you might be wondering when looking at the title of this post "19 Ornaments", as to why I would writing about Christmas in the middle of September, and it is a totally reasonable question.
Recently in my Study Abroad class we had to write a reflective essay on our ethnic background and or tradition and how that shapes our family.
When addressing this essay I first had trouble thinking of anything that really stood out.
It then occurred to me upon further reflection the importance and significance of Christmas in my family.
It is not until now that I have began to realize just how much of impact Christmas has had on my life.

To my Mom Christmas has always been a very important time of the year.
Every year when I help set up all the Christmas decorations it seems more often than not that there are more decorations than before, however, my Mom will insist other wise.
After we have set up all the decorations, we will proceed to put up the Christmas Tree and begin the process of putting up the ornaments.
Ever since I have been born my Mom has bought a Christmas ornament every single year to represent something significant that happened in my life.
I never really thought much of the ornaments until now.
Each ornament is like a page in a book and like a page in the book every ornament has its own story and or meaning.
Some of the ornaments are more simplistic than others, but none the less the meaning remains the same.
Every year my Mom has placed a lot of  emphasis on hanging these special ornaments first with the most recent ornament being placed first on the tree.
I've come to realize now that she was trying to make me realize how proud she was of me for each accomplishment that I achieved in that year of my life.
Looking back now I am extremely grateful for these ornaments and for all that my mother has done for me over the years.
Our Christmas traditions do not end there however.

We also use to have this tradition in which we played this countdown to Christmas Velcro figurine game.
Every morning leading up to Christmas we would compete against each other to see who could get Velcro the most figurine would get to open up the first present.
I remember some years were I would get up at 2 or 3 am just to put the figurine on the calendar day, and yes I'll admit sometimes I cheated and put the figurine on the night before, but who could blame me?

Also every December we try and watch as many Christmas movies as possible as a family, even if we have seen the movie a million times it'll be just as meaningful if not more.

Everywhere we go in the car during the month of December we will be listening to Christmas music, which kind of drove me crazy after awhile.
However, this past year I went off to college and during the month of December our radio station was always playing Christmas music and for some reason or another listening to it gave me this warm fuzzy feeling deep down inside and I did not know why, which leads me to my final point.

Family traditions no matter how small or big have a significant impact on shaping you into the person you are today.
That is why it is so important to treasure these moments while they last.
It is also important to take these family traditions and pass them down to generation to generation, that way others can benefit.
Do not hesitate however, to start your own family traditions.
Ultimately, at the end of the day these "19 Ornaments" may mean nothing to a passer by,  but to me they are a representation of who I am as a person and I will treasure them in the road to come.

Thank you Mom for all that you have done.

The Ever Growing Addiction of Technology

The truth is although many of us might not admit it; we are all addicted to technology in some shape or forum.
However, who can blame us for such an addiction?
In this ever fast paced changing world technology has become essential for day to day communication.
While technology has its positive benefits, it can also take a negative toll on a person.
Whenever I am in class or in an important meeting I always keep my phone on vibrate.
However, this does not keep me or many other people from checking our phones.
This in turn distracts us from what we should be paying attention to in that present moment.
Even throughout the day we constantly check our phones, even when we know that there is nothing new.
Why is this?
It is the desire and need to stay connected with the world.
This desire is like a parasite that eats away at us, until eventually we give into it.
Is this a good or bad attribute to have in our lives?
I'll leave that up to you to decide.

Social media is just a piece of the puzzle that feeds and drives our desire to stay connected.
I know from a personal standpoint, I've wasted many hours on Facebook staring into the endless abyss of news feeds; I wouldn't be talking to anyone nor doing much of anything.
Meanwhile I could be doing something productive such as writing a paper or studying for an exam.
Time tends to evade a person faster than we ever realize.
Yet being on Facebook fulfilled that desire we all have of staying connected.

I leave you with a simple but revaluating challenge.
Go to a park or any other high pedestrian area and sit down.
Spend at least ten minutes or so disconnected from your own device and just watch the people around you.
Observe and take note of what it is that they are doing.
Take count of how many people are talking with another person as opposed to being "plugged in".
Keep in consideration though, it does not count as talking with someone if the other person or both persons are on their phones.
You might be surprised as to what you see.
You might not be.
Either way it is up to either act and change your own personal habits, or keep them the way that they were.

Any comments or feedback would be much appreciated!

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The Word is the Saber

Why is that the word is such a powerful force?
Whether it is spoken or written the word has the power of influence.
A single word is a collection of characters that we identify to have a meaning.
Yet over time a single word can become construed in an instant.
Yet the word is still constructed with the same characters, but means something entirely different.
Is a good thing for words to change their meaning, or is it a negative?
A collection of words however, has just as much power.
Although, it would appear that society focuses more so on the single word.
For unlike a phrase, a single word can haunt the mind longer and cause those affected to dwell upon its meaning.
What gives a single word more power over a phrase?
The speaker gives the word its power and how they say it will affect how one perceives that word.

Philospher or Hercules?

I use to read to you the words of a page that were meaningful to me.

As these words was my way of taking to you; For I knew of no other way to communicate clearly to you.

I would sit there and wonder if you ever understood what I was trying to say.

I was a philosopher in my mind, but to you I do not know what I was.

Was I nothing more than an annoyance? ; Or was I leaving you in awe?

With time I reflected on this very idea, much like how the sunsets and reflects upon the water. Yet like a stone thrown into the water this image becomes distilled every time I tried to make it out.

Yet time and time again I remain idle, letting only the wind sway me side to side, as I sit upon a stone watching as the days pass me by.

I'll Be Your #2

I am long and I can be sharpened.
While I may seem like any ordinary instrument, I wield an enormous amount of power.
A power of choice lays in the beholders hands.
I can be used to write words of love or hatred, happiness or sadness.
I can be used to craft images that provoke an array of emotions.
No matter what I am needed for, I'll be your muse.
 

The Working Honey Bee

In many ways, we should reflect our lives in a similar fashion of a honey bee.
During the day the honey bee will go around and pollinate flowers.
It will then go back to the hive and make honey.
A honey bee's entire life is spent protecting and enhancing the wellbeing of not only the colony itself, but it will also protect the Queen Bee at any cost.
Think of the Queen Bee as a dream and or goal that you have set.
In order to achieve you're goal or dream your going to have to make some sacrifices in your own life.
You will have to work collectively with others to achieve your dream or goal.
Similarly to the honey bee, it takes a part of the flower and brings it back to the hive.
In turn the flower becomes pollinated.
Think of the flowers as a network of people you will meet in your life.
In order for that person to help you out in the future, you first must help them out in order to receive something in return.
Ultimately it's up to you to find something that is worth working towards and accomplishing in your own life.
It is only when you find what you want to work towards that you will be able to start contributing to wellbeing of your hive.

Any feedback or comments would be much appreciated! I would love to hear back from my readers!

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Studying Abroad

Recently, I received a Chinese Fortune that said to never pass up a once-in-a-lifetime offer.
This fortune comes at a time were such an opportunity has presented itself.
It is my intention in the spring of 2016 to study abroad in London.
While in London, it is my hope to be able to study international business and gain a greater understanding for a multi-cultural environment.
As an American, I feel that I am not exposed to enough diversity in my day to day life.
Through the study abroad experience I hope to gain this knowledge and apply it to not only my own life but the lives of others as well.
 

Mr.Nobody

Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you could see the future?
Would you try and change the future, or would you remain idle in the present?
Every action that you make, every word that you say can and will send you down different pathways.
Is there one correct pathway to take over the other?
Or will every pathway that you take ultimately have a similar result?
Mr. Nobody (2012) is a movie that explores this issue.
When Nemo Nobody was born he had the ability to see the future and all the different outcomes.
This was because when he was in heaven as a baby, he says that you already know what your future could be.
Right before you are born an angel taps you on the head and you forget what your future could be.
However, the angel forgot to tap him on the head so he can see all possible futures with their outcomes.
In the year 2092 Nemo Nobody is the last mortal on earth, since he has been alive there has been stem cell research that allowed humans to live forever.
The movie centers around an interview with this journalist, asking about Mr. Nobody's past.
However, he tells the journalist of three different pasts, each one contradicting themselves.
As he tells all these different versions of his supposed past, he keeps changing what happens with the people around him.
It remains unclear to the viewer and the journalist which past is the actual past of Nemo Nobody.
Later on in the movie, Nemo goes on to explain to the viewer that there are three spatial dimensions, forward, left and right.
He explains that going backwards is not possible.
This is because once something has been said or done it cannot be taken back.
He uses the analogy of writing with ballpoint pen.
Once words have been written on a paper in pen they cannot be erased.
Although he does not say this directly, I'd like to think that even if you were to white out the words, they are still there.
No one but yourself will know that you changed them; however, you can not change the fact that you wrote those words in the first place.
All a person can do is live in the present and try and make a better future for themselves.
As the movie comes to a close a reoccurring memory that Nemo describes to the journalist in his stories appears.
This memory was when he was a child and his parents were getting divorced.
I like to think that this moment is what the whole movie is about.
He is with his parents at the train station and he has to make a decision on who he wants to be with.
His mother gets on the train and it begins to pull away.
He has to make a decision then and there.
However, he is struggling to make one because he can see the future with both his mother and his father.
Both futures have different outcomes and different possibilities.
This is where I think the spatial dimension concept, he explained comes into play.
He can go left and stay with his father and live with future he chose.
He can go right and run after the train to be with his mother and live with the future he chose.
Or he can go forward and be an independent individual.
However, he cannot go backward in time and change what happened with his parents.
The only thing he can do is react in the present moment to his changing environment.
He stands there alienated unsure of what path to take.
This is why I believe he is called Mr. Nobody.
No matter what path he takes there will be a different future.
He is convinced that if he remains idle nothing will happen because if you have no direction you won't have much of a future.
By keeping his feet planted the world will change, but he will not have gone anywhere expect where he is standing.
I leave you today with one last question, if you had the ability to see possible futures, where would you go?
Would you go left, right or forward or stay where you are?





 


 

A Raisin for A Grape

When life gives you raisins, give someone else grapes.
In other words, life can sometimes get dried up like a raisin and when this happens we should give another person a grape.
Grapes are richer in taste than raisins.
Therefore by giving another person a grape, what was once dried up in your own life becomes richer and all the more fruitful.  

The Journey to 250 miles

By the end of the summer I have set a goal for myself to run 250 miles.
Thus far I have run 69.24 miles in a little less than a month.
It is hard to believe how far I have come with my running.
Prior to this goal I would never run very far.
The most I would ever run is 3 or 4 miles.
After running 3 to 4 miles I'd be exhausted, but now 3 to 4 miles feels like a warm up for me.
The longest run I've done this summer is 13 miles.
I was amazed that I was able to even run that far.
I remember becoming tired after mile 9, but I pushed myself.
My mind was telling me to take a short cut and finish the run at 11 miles, but I was determined to finish.
Once I got to 13 miles, I was extremely proud of myself.
After the run I felt fine, I was not sore at all as I expected.
Although, I would like to run a few more 13 mile runs before the end of the summer, I'm planning to build up to that distance, because  if I keep pushing myself like I did that one day, I could very well injure myself.

Now,you might be wondering why I chose 250 miles to run.
The reason is because I feel that 250 miles is an attainable, yet still physically challenging goal.
Running these 250 miles is not about running the distance fast, it is about enjoying running for what it is.
This run is about the feeling of step while running.
Every step I take is light and as I continue to run, I go up an invisible stair case with each step becoming harder to climb up.
This run is about the feeling of my lungs.
They feel lighter with every step that I take and the farther I run the better I feel.
180.6 miles here I come!
 

Advice From One Blogger to Another

Throughout the years that I have been writing on this blog, many of my friends, colleagues and family members have suggested that I put advertising on my blog to gain some extra cash.
However to me, writing on this blog was and will never be about the money.
Stephen King once said that: "Writing isn't about making money.....in the end it's about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well."
Tales of My Life was created out of my passion for writing.
At first I was writing on my blog only for myself.
Then I came to realize the power of the word and that when words are put together in the right way, they can inspire others.
Thus I began writing down my observations of lessons learned in my own life and what I observed in others.
I realized that this was the purpose of what Tales of My Life was meant to be and I soon took fulfillment in inspiring others.

Now this is not to say that there is anything wrong with putting advertising on your own blog, but keep in mind there are other ways to generate traffic on your blog.
When I first started my blog I was not getting very many views and I became discouraged.
As I mentioned earlier when I first started writing on my blog, I was only writing for myself.
However, as soon as I began writing for myself and for others my viewership began to grow.
By the end of a one year period I had generated 1,000 views to my blog.
It takes time to build a viewership so do not be discouraged.
One thing I wish I would have known when I was first starting out on my blog, was the power of social media.
It was not until recently that I started using social media to my advantage.
Use all platforms of social media that you can.
The more exposure you give to people the more likely they will see your link and click on it.
I've found Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus to be the best platforms to get your work out there.
When using Twitter, try coming up with a hash tag for your blog, this gives your followers an additional resource to use to keep up to date on what you have been posting.
When using Facebook create a specific page for your blog, on this page engage with your followers.
Ask your followers questions about your work to get feedback and encourage them to share the link to your blog with their friends.
Lastly and probably one of the most important sources to share your work is on Google Plus Communities.
There are hundreds of Google Plus Communities with all kinds of varieties of interests and skills.
Once you find these Google Plus Communities establish a relationship with the people in these communities.
The more connections you have on Google Plus the higher exposure your blog will have.
At the end of the day, whatever your blog is about, whether it is photograph, travel, movie reviews and etc..... find your blog's purpose and stick with that purpose.
In time your blog will grow and flourish into something far more greater than you ever thought it would.

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The Sun Flower Man

A man stood still upon the stem of a sun flower.
He surveyed the world around him basking in its glory.
One thing remained evident to him: while he could see the world, it could not see him.
He was a small figure, an insignificant and microscopic person.
So he climbed the stem of the sun flower till he reached the top.
He got to the top of the flower and screamed can anyone see me?!!
There was no reply.
All he could hear was the wind blowing and the birds chirping.
He noticed there was an oak tree near him, he surveyed the tree up and down, then began climbing up the trunk of the tree.
The bark of the tree was like veins underneath the skin, as he slowly navigated his way up the tree.
He got to the top of the tree and found the highest branch he could find.
He called out can anyone see me???!!!!
No reply.
He noticed a bird nearby.
He went over to the bird and hopped on its back.
The bird flew high in the sky as high as it could.
The man yelled can anyone see me?!!!!
This time he heard the echo of his voice but nothing else.
He tried again. Same result. He came to realize he was to high in the sky for anyone to be able see him.
He felt smaller up in the sky upon the bird than he did when he was on the stem of the flower.
The world looked and seemed different.
The bird landed on the ground and he got off.
He was at peace with himself once again.
He realized that he was happier upon the ground than he was in the sky.
While not very many people will be able to see him upon the ground, he stands out more on the ground then he does in the sky.

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College End of the Year Impressions: Freshman Year

Freshman year.... what can I say? It has been a year filled with many unforgettable experiences, from the melding of friendships, to the winter snow storm; it has truly been quite the year. Looking back from the beginning of freshman year, it's amazing to see just how much I have grown as an individual. In the first week, I was extremely anxious as I did not know what to expect from college nor did I know who I would be hanging out with or what I'd being doing a year from then. The biggest transition for me as I noted earlier (See College Week 1 First Impressions, link is below) was the environment. At home I was use to a controlled environment, in which I was much more familiar with. However, in college there are so many other factors that come into play, which include: friends wanting to go out and do various activities, living with other people and having on campus commitments to various clubs and organizations. You will quickly adapt to your environment and eventually learn to work around it and get your studying done when you need to. I've personally found going into the silent study area of the library or into the common room works best for me when it came to studying or doing homework.

One of the first clubs I got involved with this year was SEE( Student Entertainment and Events) and it has been by far one of the best parts of my freshman year. From my Eagle Scout project I learned that I enjoyed event planning and this club gave me the perfect opportunity to enhance my skills. What really resonated with me in particular was when we set up for Girl Code which was when we brought in a MTV actress from the show onto campus. We set up the stage, the lights, the audio and everything in between. I never really knew how much work went into the behind the scenes of making shows like that a success. From this experience I got a whole new level of appreciation for the people who do that every day. I also enjoyed helping run our various other activities on campus, in particular this past spring weekend was a blast. It started out with Mr. Curry, a male beauty pageant which we had spent weeks planning for. I got to work on spotlight and I was glad to see that the show was a success, with very few errors. Then on Saturday I worked at the photo lab, where we took pictures of people in cut outs. I did not realize it would be so popular. Many people walked away smiling and laughing which made me glad to have been a part of the weekend.

Another club I am apart of was Student Ambassadors, we helped out admissions on various Open Houses, Explore Curry Days and Accepted Students Days. I have a passion and a belief in Curry College and I wanted to share my Curry College experience with prospective students. I use to be in their shoes, so I remember what it was like touring colleges, waiting on acceptance to schools and etc...I also really enjoyed hosting individual prospective students and taking them to my classes.

I owe the most credit and gratification to my public relations Professor Kirk Hazlett. Before coming to Curry, I had a pretty good sense that I wanted to pursue public relations, although I was not a hundred percent. A part of me was leaning towards pursing an English degree and becoming a teacher, however, after the first few weeks of school, Professor Hazlett had persuaded me to focus on public relations. His ecstatic personality and love for public relations was contagious.

As for what I want to do in public relations, I am still trying to figure that out. Currently I am interested in the creative side of public relations, like for example blogging or other various forms of social media campaigning. I also wouldn't mind doing a little bit of marketing somewhere down the line. I still have time to figure that out and I am excited to see what the future may hold.   

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http://crooldogg5.blogspot.com/2014/09/college-week-1-first-imperissons.html

The Diver

The diver was my first kiss.
I remember the afternoon like it was yesterday.
It was my thirteenth birthday, upon a Ferris wheel and it was raining softly.
I could hear the pitter patter of the rain echoing off the pavement.
My heart was beating at the speed of lighting.
The palms of my hands were extremely clammy.
The diver leaned in and I hesitantly leaned in closer.
I looked into the diver's eyes and was mystified.
I thought about drawing away but the diver pressed their lips up against mine and I was taken away.
I closed my eyes and embraced the moment.
It was as if fireworks were going off on my mind.
For in this moment everything else in my mind stopped and I could think about was the diver.
Then the diver pulled away and the moment was over.
A chill then went down my spine as I sat their looking at them, dumbfounded by what had just happened.

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The Lost Note

A thousand boys and girls play instruments for all to hear.
It was a cacophony of noise that rang throughout all the years.
They play their song amongst the clouds and louder their song gets as it echoes off mountain tops. But then much like how a river changes direction, so did their song.
It became a beautiful melody of sort.
Yet no one could hear it.
The melody was lost in the world, much like a lost traveler trying to navigate his way home.
The song had lost its sense of direction and as a result it sounded more like a cacophony of noise than a song.
The song became like white noise and no one paid any attention to it.
Yet had people given the song a chance, maybe then they would hear it for the beautiful melody that it is today

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"Je Suis Charlie"

 

               Freedom of speech has been an intangible right that many Western democracies have embraced, including France’s satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo. The events of the January 7, 2015 attack and onward, were a testament to free speeches limits and influences. Charlie Hebdo is a magazine that makes fun of all religions in the forum of a comic strip. This magazine has come under criticism over the years. There have been various attempts on restricting the content, as it has been perceived as extremely offensive to the Muslim community, The New York Times reports. One such example was when Charlie Hebdo reprinted an offensive image of the Prophet Muhamad that drew much criticism when a Danish newspaper originally printed it (Yu). It is evident that Charlie Hebdo has had a positive influential impact on society, however did they go too far? 

On January 7, 2015 12 people were killed at the headquarters of Charlie Hebdo. The following timeline of the Charlie Hebdo attack as reported by John Levs, a CNN reporter is as follows.  According to Levs, on Wednesday mid-day, two gunmen killed the security guard at the office of Charlie Hebdo. An employee who was exiting the building was forced to lead the two gun men to the conference room where a lunchtime editorial meeting was being held, Lev’s states. The two gunmen separated men and women calling out specific names of people they were killing. The gunmen proclaimed that they were avenging the Prophet Muhamad. The two gunmen escaped the building and as they were fleeing the scene, killed a police officer. Later that night thousands of Parisians gathered together to hold a vigil for the slain victims. It was on this night that the phase “Je Suis Charlie” became a slogan for the movement. In English it means I am Charlie, or in other words, I believe in freedom of speech (Levs).  Lizze Deardon of the Telegraph, reported that at the vigil in Paris and around the world, thousands of people held up pens, while journalist held up their press cards, in show of solidarity for the right of freedom of speech (Deardon).

Levs reports that overnight an ongoing manhunt went under way. It was later released that the two gunmen suspects were Cherif Kouachi and Said Kouachi. Friday morning reports came in that the two brothers were held up in a warehouse (Levs). Lin Jenkins, a journalist from the Guardian highlights a time line of the events that took place in the warehouse. The Kouachi brothers entered the printing warehouse with assault rifles. Michelle Catantlo, quickly told his employees to go and hide. The two brothers held Cantantlo and some of the employee’s hostage. Cantantlo offered the brothers a drink of coffee. However, matters got complicated when his supplier showed up around 9 p.m. He told his supplier to leave, and sensing something was wrong in the way Cantantlo spoke the supplier left. Meanwhile one employee, Lilian Lepere a graphic designer, hid in a card board box under a sink in the bathroom. He communicated with police via text and gave them information about the brother’s location and what he could hear them saying (Jenkins).  In report given by ITele a French television station, French parliament said the brothers wanted to die as martyrs (Levs).  

 Later that day in a separated incident, a gun man held up hostages in a kosher grocery store with accordance to the NY Daily Times. During the hold up the gunman Amedy Coulibaly, called BFM-TV a French News station and told them that he and the Kouachi brothers were affiliated with Al Qaeda, and that they were carrying out orders.  Later on the police stormed in and killed the gunman Amedy Coulibaly, as he was partaking in evening prayers. Four hostages were killed and 15 other hostages survived. Four of which were hiding downstairs in a walk in refrigerator, one of which was an infant.  A few police officers were injured during the assault. It was later discovered in the Kouchai’s car that they had flags that represented Al Qaeda. A member of Al Qaeda claimed that they had given the order to attack the Charlie Hebdo headquarters (Power).  Hayatt Boudeminne, Amedy Coulibaly expected accomplice escaped the kosher grocery store and is now on the run ( Levs).  She is now expected to be hiding somewhere in Syria.

The following week, on Jan.9 President François Hollande, addressed the nation. On the Embassy of France in Washington D.C website, they posted the transcript of the President Hollande address to Paris. In his address he admired the work of law enforcement, thanking them for keeping France safe: “I want to pay tribute to the courage, bravery and effectiveness of the gendarmes, the police officers, and all those who took part in these operations. I would like to tell them that we are proud; we are proud of them because when the order was given, they launched the attack simultaneously, and achieved the same result. They did so to save the lives of the hostages. They did so to neutralize the terrorists, those who had committed murders (Embassy of France in Washington D.C).”  He then went on to praise France’s resilience and vigilance to overcome such adversity over the past few days. He concludes by stating that France is a free country, and will not allow a single solidary to hold them back. Instead remain strong even through the worst of times.

On the following Sunday, France invited world leaders to a March in a show of solidarity. Time magazine says, amongst the attendees were Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel, British Prime Minster David Cameron, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. However, America’s presence was lacking as they only sent the French Ambassador Jane Harely. The white house has been under much criticism for not sending a more high ranking official. Time Magazine mentions that Earnest, a speaker for the White House said that had there been more time, they would’ve sent a more high ranking official. But because this all happened within a 36 hour period, and the fact that it’s outdoors, it imposes a high security risk for any high ranking U.S official. (Miller)

After the attack, Charlie Hebdo is slowly coming back together. Amongst some controversy that has risen was their new cover issue, shortly following the attack, USA Today reports. The cover depicts the Prophet Muhammad holding a sign that says “Je Suis Charlie” and above the Prophet it reads “Tout est pardonne”, which translates into all is forgiven. On Jan. 13 the remaining staff at Charlie Hebdo announced their plans to release 3 million copies of this latest issue, which reflects the ongoing growing support of the cause. Before the attack USA Today says that the staff had only planned to release 1 million copies (Welch). Another image that has went viral was the “Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow” which depicts a pencil, a broken pencil and then a broken pencil lined up with a new pencil.  As CNN reports, the image was originally tweeted out by a French artist Bansky. A representative of Bansky later retracted his statement and gave credit to French illustrator Lucille Clerc (Respers).

Ultimately the Kouchai brother’s goal was to restrict freedom of speech. Instead they unified a nation to come out and show resilience. It goes to show the power that freedom of speech has, and how one act of terror will not stop a nation for observing their tangible right.  

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Resources:

"Charlie Hebdo - Statements by President Hollande." France in the United States / Embassy of France in Washington, D.C. Francein the United States, 8 Jan. 2015. Web. 4 Mar. 2015.

Dearden, Liz. "Charlie Hebdo Attack: Thousands Join Vigils in London, Pars, Berlin and around the World." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 7 Jan. 2015. Web. 4 Mar. 2015.

Jenkins, Lin. "France Terror Attacks: Graphic Designer Hid in Cardboard Box." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited, 10 Jan. 2

Levs, Josh, and Ed Payne. "A Timeline of the Charlie Hebdo Terror Attack - CNN.com." CNN. Cable News Network, 9 Jan. 2015. Web. 4 Mar. 2015.015. Web. 4 Mar. 2015.

Miller, Zeke. "White House Says It Should Have Sent a More Senior Official to Paris." Time. Time, 12 Jan. 2015. Web. 13 Mar. 2015

Power, Virgina, Meg Wagner, and Sasha Goldstein. "French Police Kill Brothers Wanted in Charlie Hebdo Massacre." NY Daily News. 9 Jan. 2015. Web. 4 Mar. 2015.

Respers, Lisa. "That Banksy Charlie Hebdo Tribute You're Sharing Isn't His - CNN.com." CNN. Cable News Network, 8 Jan. 2015. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.

Sayare, Scott, and Nicola Clark. "French Magazine Runs Cartoons That Mock Muhammad." The New York Times. The New York Times, 19 Sept. 2012. Web. 4 Mar. 2. 2015.

Welch, William, and Kim Hjelmgaard. "New 'Charlie Hebdo' Cover Released." USA Today. Gannett, 13 Jan. 2015. Web. 13 Mar. 2015

Yu, Roger. "'Charlie Hebdo' Satirical Journalism Drew Fans, Critics." USA Today. Gannett, 7 Jan. 2015. Web. 4 Mar. 2015.

A Day at the Beach

With the sand beneath my toes and the waves tickling my heels, I walked out towards the rocks.
Sea shells are everywhere, scattered across the beach like a jigsaw puzzle.
Every sea shell has its own design, with each design telling its own story.
Seaweed lines the shore, drifting in and out with the tide and each time it brings something new.
For seaweed is like a chain, as it entangles whatever it finds.
Seagulls surround the area flying every which way.
I look to the sea and see them diving aggressively underwater.
In the whistles of the wind I can hear the seagulls call, loud and distinct, much like a child's cry.
In front of me there is a boy, valiantly defending his sandcastle from the waves.
No matter how big the waves were, he was determined to make his castle last as long as it could, I  admired his resilience.
Even when but a pile of wet unusable sand remained, he kept trying to rebuild his castle, until eventually his mother told him it was time to leave.
I could tell from his expression he was extremely disappointed and did not want to leave, but listened to his mother.
I continued on my walk towards the rocks, and each step I took my feet sunk deeper into the sand.
I looked out to the sea and saw the surfers riding the waves, creating their own individual patterns in the waves.
Some patterns were more interknit then others, but none the less, each pattern was a reflection of their own artistic personality.
I looked up the beach and saw the lifeguards surveying the sea, much like how a sailors looks out into the far away distance.
I could see families and friends alike relaxing and taking in sea breeze.
Children were playing with Frisbees and footballs, and parents were busy reading books.
All was calm and peaceful along this sandy shore.
I could see children in the distance fishing for hermit crabs, eagerly waiting until they could catch one and bring it back to shore.
Before I knew it I had reached the rocks I had set out for.
I looked out to the beach and it was empty.
All that remained were impressions in the sand were people use to be, but with time these impressions went away.
The sun was setting and I could feel its warmth casting itself over the horizon for one last moment, until the light of day faded away.

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Finding Home

Oh how I yearn for the day that I get to leave this pet store.
Long are the days of constantly waiting to be noticed by the humans.
I try everything that I can to get their attention, but no one seems to notice me.
It feels like an eternity since I've been at this place.
All I want is a place to call home; a family to love me as much as I will love them.
I want to be a companion to someone and I'll be there for them no matter what.
Yet all around me the other puppy's are leaving.
I've asked myself many times whether or not there was something wrong with me.
But when I've looked in the mirror time and time again, all I see is a normal dog in search of a home.
Then one day my life changed.
A family came into the store and when they saw me, they fell in love with me.
I came to realize that day with patience, optimism and faith in my life, a happy life was soon to come.
That day the family took me home with them, and finally I had found a place to call home.
                                                                                                                                                               

When looking at this puppy's story it's a lot like that of many humans.
In the professional world some of us are in search of recognition for our hard work, or at the very least some sort of advancement.
Yet sometimes we feel as if we are not noticed, as everyone around us is advancing in their career, but we are still in the same place.
We may think that we are doing something wrong, when in reality this might not always be the case.
As there is someone out there that notices what it is that you do for others, and someday as long as you remain optimistic and have faith in what it is that you're doing, your day will come.

The Changing of the English Language

Since the beginning of mankind language has evolved from simple drawings on a wall, to complex syllables that we now identity as words.
With time the language changes, as people who speak it shape it into something new.
A growing concern of our society is my current generation when it comes to writing and communicating.
With the growth of social media, alongside texting messaging, our very language is changing.
The words are becoming shorter and to older generations this is a concerning issue.
Do not get me wrong, as a writer words are a valuable asset.
Words are a powerful tool that require delicate craftsmanship to communicate a clear message. 

However, as with any medium of life we adapt the forum to fit a medium.
After all stories use to be something that were only spoken and handed down from generation to generation.
Then one day someone decided to write the words of the story down to preserve its very essence.

Thus the language evolved. 

We now had a way to look back on what has been said.
Skip ahead to the present day, we now have a new communication medium, social media.
In reality the purpose of social media is to communicate with friends, family and other constituents in a timely manner.
What use to take an hour to be communicated across the globe now takes a matter of minutes.
As a result the way we communicate has become faster and more efficient.
Thus people have taken shortcuts to get their message out in a timelier manner.
Is this right?

Or is this wrong?
If we can get the same message out but in fewer words and characters what's the harm in that?
It's a matter of acceptance and it may not ever be fully accepted in the near future.
As mankind uses words in different forums the meaning changes.
Therefore if my current generation continues to shape the language, it very may well adapt.
Whether this is for the better, or for the worst this is up for the future to decide.

For in this moment.....

I live each day for the whispers of the wind and the sunrises and sunsets.
Above all else I live for this moment.
For it is within this moment that I am free to see the world and take in its beauty.
I live in this moment to flourish like the vibrant leaves of the fall.
I am this moment.
A moment to believe in something more than the eye can see.
It's a  moment to reflect.
It's a  moment to be one with this very earth in which we live on.

In the world that we live in there is a hidden part of life that is often overlooked.
Is it because we don't appreciate the littler things in life?
Or is it something far bigger than we can imagine?
We remember the trees but not the roots.
We see the house but not the walls.
We dwell upon the leaves but not the branches.
We recall the flower but not the stem.
We recollect the years that have passed by but not all the days.
We admire only the object or idea, but not in its entirety.
Ask yourself this, what do these symbols represent and what do they have in common?
Only then will you be able to enjoy life in its entirety.
 

The Questionable Puzzle

How does one understand, what it is that they can't understand?
For no matter the angle they approach the situation, they can never find a definitive answer.
It's like listening to a foreign language and trying to make sense of it, most people cannot and would zone out.
But what if what was being said was important and of value to you?
What then would you do?
Would you ask for some clarification on what is being said?
Only problem with that is they are speaking in another language, therefore you cannot communicate efficiently.
Therefore it becomes the ultimate puzzle, as no matter how many pieces you have in front of you, unless you can find some way to put them together you are stuck.   

The Day in the Life of a Snowflake

Winter, oh how I envy that season.
It's a time where I am set free into the world, following where the wind takes me.
Each trip I take is a new adventure as I see the world far and wide.
While stand alone as a single snowflake I am nonmalleable, but when I am put together with other snowflakes, I am something more.
I become something that has been used for years to derive days of happiness for children far and wide.
I am a snow man.
I am a snow ball.
I am a snow fort.
I am what you make me into.
 

The Mural

A painted mural slowly began to fade away as the wall began to grow older.
A once beautiful picture washed away, much like a muddy reflection dissipating from the rain.
Vines grew up the building in every which way, slowly consuming the building, much like how a Boa Constrictor wraps itself around its prey.
Years passed by and the mural took a constant beating from the weather, and although faint the mural remained.
The mural was a symbol that no value could be placed; expect the value that each individual places on it.

The Process of Curiosity, Logic and the World Beyond

"Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of a man's desire to understand."
- Neil Armstong

Why is it that life was created the way it was? Does it serve a greater purpose than the naked eye can see? Or is it something simple and over analyzed? It is these kinds of questions that have driven mankind forward. Rather than just accepting everything for what it was, mankind expanded its horizons farther than ever thought possible. When said and done these questions, are all a part of a greater process that forums into what we are looking for. Think of a rain storm and its process. For the process to begin their first must be water on the ground. In other words, a question or problem is taken note by an observer. The observer begins to explore the issue and starts to forum an opinion. As he begins to present his opinion others begin to pitch in. Thus the water begins to bunch up and evaporate into the morning sky. Once an answer or solution is obtained this is when the rain cloud is fully formed. For sometime that answer or solution might be the general consensus.  However, it's only when someone finds a flaw with what is commonly believed that the rain begins to fall, the thunder begins to strike,  and the process begins once again.

The Layers of an Onion

Perception is power under the eyes of the beholder.
It can break you or make you depending upon how you approach it.
But there is a blurred line between perception and reality.
I may perceive myself as an upright person, when in reality others see the exact opposite.
Does this mean I am wrong, and the beholder is right?
We all grow up differently and we go down different paths.
These paths are what shape us into who we perceive ourselves to be.
But some things affected us and we did not  know that it did.
This affects how others perceive us.
Think of anything that has layers around a core, such as an onion.
To get to the center of the onion you must peel away the layers individually.
As you peel away the layers, you have a smaller core that's in the inside, where no one usually looks.
If more people understood the core of which you are, they might be more likely to perceive you the way you perceive yourself, as they understand what made you into who you are today.

 

Lost in between the lines of reality and imagination he wandered.
Blurred was the world where one couldn't distinguish between what was horizontal and what was vertical.
Colors meshed together into one and formed into an unrecognizable object.
The sun and the moon was scattered about the sky, much like pieces of a puzzle waiting to be out together.
He was free floating in a world where no gravity seemed to exists, yet he felt the lightness of his step pushing off the ground.
He was in a world of Zen where it did not matter who you are or what you come from everything balanced out in an equal harmony.
Words began flashing before his eyes, most of which made sense to him but had no logical connection.
The words became phrases and the phrases became sentences.
The sentences became stories that were told, and then written down into what this piece is today.

The New Age of the Music Industry

It seems apparent that in most music now and days that it is filled with profanity or other crude topics.
What concerns me the most is the fact that most people my age completely ignore the lyrics to the songs that they listen to.
People do not listen for the words, rather the beat.
Looking at this critically, the person whom is the listener and or purchased this song is indirectly saying that they support what is being said in the song.
Hence we need to start listening more critically to what is being said in the songs that we listen to.
If we begin to stop listening to these types of songs, they will not be written anymore and we can go back to the way things were, when music was more of a meaningful story.

Specific Communication

My grandfather once told me that in communication we have to be specific, not broad.
In other words, as communicators it's our responsibility to say exactly what we mean, rather than eluding or evading the topic on hand.
However, as communicators we are sometimes faced with an ethical dilemma in which we must make a choice.
If we tell the truth in crisis, it can sometimes make the situation worse.
But should we lie and the truth is unraveled there is more of a back lash.
Therefore, how we communicate to audiences is crucial.
How does someone then create the perfect message in time of a crisis?
There is always going to be naysayers that will oppose what you say and what you do.
Communication is a craft of picking and choosing words that will effectively appeal to whom you are speaking to, it's all about finding that happy medium that is neither too broad nor too specific.     

Life as a Caterpillar

When you think of it, our lives are very similar to that of a caterpillar. In that we are in constant search of the right place to settle down. It's something that takes time and something that builds us into something more than we already are. One day we come up on the spot that seems right and we settle down and secure our lives at that spot in that present moment. And in time we all evolve into a butterfly. We spread our wings out to fly and fly away off into the distance and search of what's next......

Twitter vs. Facebook

When comes to communicating now and days, it's almost impossible to disregard social media as not a primary forum of communication.  Almost everyone uses some forum of social media in their day to day lives. As a whole, social media has allowed small companies, corporations, charities, friends and family to communicate with one another more efficiently than ever before. The two social media giants that you hear about day to day are Twitter and Facebook. While other forums of social media communication have risen such as Snap Chat, Instagram and so on and so forth, Twitter and Facebook are the most mainstream. But what makes these platforms different from one another?

 

When Facebook first started out, its purpose was for college graduates to be able to link up with fellow graduates and stay in touch. Sense then, it has become a massive online chat room that is filled with advertisements, games and fan pages of various causes, people or organizations. Unlike Twitter, on Facebook you're not limited to the amount of content that one can post at a single time. This can be a good or bad thing depending upon how one looks at it. Being able to say as much as you want really depends on the actual content. It seems that the content posted on Facebook has become a bunch of rambling people complaining about various issues. While if you do sit there and read in between the lines, one can figure out what a person is saying, it can sometimes be more difficult to understand. In addition, Facebook has grown to appeal to the more elder generations, which to some have become a turn off. More recently, Facebook has exploded into a gaming platform, so much so that it can often become a fuzzy area. Why did this happen?  The demand for substance increased. In other words, Facebook was ingenuitive for its time but as more and more people came on the demand for entertainment rose. I believe this is the reason why we see so many more advertisements on Facebook, because rather than just sitting there and doing nothing we want to interact with something.

 

Twitter on the other hand is where I believe the most effective communication occurs. Sense ones limited to what they can say in a single post, one must craft their words more carefully. Unlike Facebook, Twitter allows more open ended conversations about various issues or causes. Twitter created what is known as the hash tag. This is a platform that allows people to join in on a conversation. All one has to do is simply add the hash tag at the end of their tweet to be included in the conversation. The benefit to this is everyone who is following the campaign can see it and can reply or share what the other person said. While on Facebook there are pages designed for campaigns, not everyone can see them. One has to be a part of the group in order to join in the conversation. It's on Twitter that hash tags trend and the more something is trending the more people that are aware. This is partly why when launching a new product or service it's better to use Twitter initially. Arguably it's easier to follow a hash tag, because it's a lot more harder to misunderstand as opposed to a page, which could be phony or not providing enough information. A hash tag is all in one place, where as a page could be anywhere.

 

Ultimately, if you're looking for just a day to day conversation with a friend, Facebook is your best option. However, should you want to accomplish anything, at least initially start on Twitter, get the topic trending then move to Facebook where you can disseminate the information as you wish.

Its a Bird, It's a Bunny, It's a ...... Turtle?!

Fly like a bird, hop like a bunny but walk as if you were a turtle.
In other words before hopping into a new opportunity, survey what surrounds the ground around you, to find the best landing spot.
Realize that once you've found a safe landing spot not to rush into it too quickly.
For their will always be predators that lurk around the corner.
As you take each step explore every angle, whether it is up, down, left, right, forward, or backward.
There very well might be a better path to take, it might be more dangerous but you will have learned to survive longer and have lived a fuller life.

 

The Super Bowl: More Than Just a Game

In American culture, the Super Bowl has become one of America’s most important events. Whether it is for the social experience or for the TV ads we all watch the Super Bowl for various reasons. But what are these reasons? What makes them important? What role do these reasons play in our culture?  Whatever these reasons might be to understand them, first we must look into how the Super Bowl came about, only then will we begin to understand what they mean to not only the game, but also to the American culture.

The Super Bowl was a result of the official formation of the NFL. Before the game there were two divisions of football the AFC and the NFC. (Shmoop.com) When the NFL first had its Super Bowl it was nothing compared to what today, we see as the Super Bowl. It was just a game between two teams. It wasn’t until the 1970’s that the Super Bowl became a cultural phenomenon:

“Perhaps even more significant than the action on the field, the 1970s witnessed the beginnings of the Super Bowl's transformation from a mere sporting event—albeit a wildly popular one—into a true force in American popular culture. The first really memorable Super Bowl ad aired in 1973, when blonde bombshell Farrah Fawcett seductively lathered Noxzema shaving cream all over the smiling face of Joe Namath. While the ad now seems almost hilariously rudimentary in its production values, it proved the Super Bowl's potential to launch memorable branding campaigns. (Shmoop.com) “

Thus the Super Bowl was born and there began a cultural revolution. It was after this commercial that advertises and big business owners really started to capitalize on the commercials. Advertisers came to realize how powerful an ad could be.  David Henley of the NY daily news put it perfectly:

“Is there another event in television history, or human history for that matter, where tens of millions of people were so eager to hear sales pitches? It’s probably true, of course, that most of us aren’t going to jot down our favorite ads and race out to buy the product. (Hinckley)

The Super Bowl soon became something far more than just a game, it became an experience. Advertisers soon became more creative with their commercials. Take for example in 2006, Doritos created a commercial contest where fans could create their own commercial and have the chance for it to air during the game. (crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com) This creates a sense of community and belonging. It also gets generates hype for not only the game but also for the actual commercial. In a recent survey done by the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association, it found that 25.8% of people watch the Super Bowl solely for the commercials. On top of that they also found that 4 million people buy a brand new TV just for the game. (Hinckley) Regardless to say, TV is by far one of the largest drawing factors that will bring us all together as one community.

            On the other hand, some people may argue against the importance of the commercials. One blogger believes that the commercials are solely for entertainment purposes:

“These are some of the most entertaining commercials to watch on television, but do they actually work in selling the product?  Reports show a well-made ad can make a difference in a products sales and awareness. Honestly, I remember the story of the commercial, but not the brand name or product sold. (Kirby)”

First off, if a commercial does not provide an entertainment value, a person will lose interest. After all, some of the most impactful commercials have been played during the Super Bowl. An example includes during 2011 where a young boy dressed as Darth Vader tries using the force on various objects, but has no success. However, his father comes home in his Volkswagen and when the boy tries using the force on the car, the alarm went off. This created a lot of buzz about the commercial and even got the boy various television interviews.  This buzz is extremely important to a product. The more people are talking about the commercial the more likely they are going to see the Volkswagen logo and associate the commercial. In theory, then they might go and take a look at the dealership.  If ads where not effective why would they still be on TV? While it might be true that you might not go out and buy a product, you’ll still notice it if you pass by.

            Another reason why people watch the Super Bowl is for the social experience. Families and friends get together and watch the game. Alongside this food consumption is at a high rate: 

“Super Bowl Sunday has become the country’s second-largest food consumption day, trailing only Thanksgiving.Thexodirectory.com estimates we consume 4,000 tons of guacamole, 14,500 tons of chips and 4,000 tons of popcorn. We’ll eat 1.23 billion chicken wings, making 615 million chickens very unhappy, and drink 325 million gallons of beer. (Hinckley)”

Obviously food is a big deal and a huge money maker. The question that you may then ask is why are the sports teams so important? We understand the significance of why some people watch the game, but what about the people that watch the game for the teams? What makes the teams so important to them and the game? 

            It is my belief that the reason we place so much value on the teams is because of a concept known as “the word is not the thing” which is a concept from a book I read (Communicating Well: A Fundamental Toolkit). This idea suggests that the words in themselves mean nothing we give them associative meaning. In other words, we could call a chair a desk and a desk a chair, as long as we collectively agree that object is represented as that word it doesn’t matter what we call it. Similarly, with the Super Bowl or any sports in general, we identify with that particular team for a reason. Teams build a sense of community and belonging. Without this connection that unifies us under one body sports in general would not quiet be the same.   

 

Resources

Chinn, Brecken, John Barrett Dorria DiManno, Marcy Holbrook ,Robert MacDougall, Vicki Nelson, Sharon Sinnott, Ruth Spillberg. Communicating Well: A Fundemental Toolkit. 1st ed. San Diego: Cognella. Print

David , Hinckley. "The Super Bowl is the biggest show of the year, but football is only part of it." NY Daily News. N.p., 2 Feb. 2014. Web. 26 Oct. 2014. <http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/football-part-super-bowl-article-1.1597013>.

"Doritos Crash The Super Bowl." Doritos Crash The Superbowl. Friotos , n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2014. <http://crashthesuperbowl.doritos.com/>.

Kirby, Tyler. "Are Super Bowl Commercials Really Worth the Investment?" Massey Communications. 31 Jan. 2014. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.

Shmoop Editorial Team. "Culture in NFL History." Shmoop.com. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 26 Oct. 2014. <http://www.shmoop.com/nfl-history/culture.html>.