Links

My past two posts have been very text heavy.

Here are some links to keep you entertained.

freerice.com <--This knowledge game site is surprisingly fun. You answer the clues that appear, and for every question that you get right, ten grains of rice go to the hungry. The most famous game involves vocabulary words, but you can also play for

chegg.com <--This site is the treasure at the end of the rainbow for poor college students. For a discounted price, you can rent your textbooks instead of buying them. The products ship really quickly too.

http://www.talkaboutcoffee.com/how_much_is_too_much.html <--Coffee is a popular and delicious stimulant. If I ate a piece of chocolate every time that I heard someone say, "I'm drinking coffee to stay up," "I need coffee," or "I can't live without coffee," I wouldn't be able to manage my extreme massiveness. Read this article to learn how much is too much.

http://www.mitadmissions.org/topics/life/workplay_balance_at_mit/50_things.shtml <--My friend Phyllis posted this on her blog. These are definitely things that people should remember when they part for upper level education.

http://admissions.rutgers.edu/blogs/students/ <--Speaking of Phyllis....She and her dedicated team of RU bloggers detail the freshman experience from their perspectives. Phyllis and David write my favorite blogs. :)

http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Food/Cool-Cappuccino-Foam-Art.html <--This is just adorable!

ifwerantheworld.com <--This site strives to bring about social change. It's still looking for people to help get it started, so if you have any ideas...Visit the site!

madebysurvivors.com <--Looking to purchase something ethically made online? This site discusses human trafficking and what it is doing to combat it. There are blogs and statistics.The site itself exists to sell products made by trafficking survivors. Educate yourself and take a look.

www.hulu.com <--Finding favorite episodes of new TV shows with only a day wait? Need I say more?

childrentochildren.org <--This is truly inspiring. A nine (!!) year old child set up this project to donate duffel bags and stuffed animals to foster children who leave their place of residence with only a trash bag and a few personal possessions. The site shows you her blog, the origins of the project, and what you can do to help her cause.

I'll post more as I find them.

Beauty

My winter break, thus far, has been filled with beauty.

The beauty is obscure and exists in unexpected places.

But then, that is life: filled with random surprises.

I did not expect to be so deeply moved by the following items...

But somehow I was.

1. Potential and desire for improvement

I greatly appreciate improvement more than I can possibly state. Improvement signifies surpassing a comfortable level of achievement and also properly developing something greater. By what else can we efficiently measure a human but by improvement? People start off in different places. How much they better themselves and their skills attest to who they are. Sometimes it is the amount of change rather than the results of change that one must commend. I have realized that potential and desire for improvement, particularly when combined, compose something beautiful. This fusion constitutes the driving force behind any and all improvement. It reveals profound quality of one's character.

2. Honor's Voice by Douglas Wilson

I started reading this book in high school but never finished. It is the autobiography of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln represents a crucial pillar of American history. His conviction, actions, and words during turbulent times are so admirable. Opinion of his actions matters less because his ability and motivation to lead shines more brightly.

Lincoln disapproved of people romanticizing his early life. When pressed to describe that chapter of his being, he said that the "short and simple annals of the poor" entirely describe his childhood. I never knew about this Lincolnism, and I found it so moving that someone from such a meager existence could become such a prominent figurehead for goodness. I mean, anyone who knows about Lincoln thinks of him as "the man who freed the slaves" or "Honest Abe." He made something of his life and greatly improved his circumstances.

Also, the author's careful attempts to credit sources and create an accurate portrayal are also beautiful to me. Because it is difficult to find truth in its purest form, especially when related to elusive history, Wilson's toil is even more beautiful. Because, seriously, how many concepts are more beautiful than striving for the impossible?

3. Taare Zameen Par

This is a Bollywood movie. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Bollywood movies, they are Hindi language films that are laden with melodrama and romance while woven together with songs and silliness. They make you wonder where your time went, since the movies often surpass three hours. (The shortest one that I've seen was two hours and ten minutes long.) I love Bollywood movies but admit that not everyone can appreciate them for what they are.

Yet Taare Zameen Par was completely different.

First of all, it was not a romance. The songs were primarily background music, and the story was actually pretty realistic. It was about a problem child and how he conquers his challenges. In fact, he illustrates perfectly what I believe about improvement: Writing took a great deal of work from him. When he succeeded, he had improved a LOT. So...yes. The amount of improvement meant a great deal.

This movie was so incredibly beautiful. The music was good and generally fit really well with the scenes, thus perfectly portraying their poignance. The colorful pictures and cartoons brought the child's mind to life. In fact, the movie did an amazing job of bringing the protagonist to life. Perhaps that is why I adored it so much: I felt so much compassion for this child and his circumstances, and it made me remember how each child has so much beauty and potential that must always be nurtured...

4. The Woman who Lives in the Earth by Swain Wolfe

This book is so profound and spiritual, even though the language is so simple. In fact, I think the simplicity of the language adds to the profound spirituality because it is unpretentious and sincere. The book really emphasizes putting oneself in a different perspective.

Specific exchanges that were really memorable but do not spoil the book lie below:

"Can you tell when evil gets inside you?"

"It is not evil that gets inside of you. Evil is when caring goes away."

"You have to be still to go anywhere at all."

Busy people, mainly those who live in a bubble and live high stress lifestyles, should reflect upon these quotes. Even better...read the book for yourself and enjoy it for what it is.

5. Jodhaa Akbar

This is another Bollywood movie.

I think that I really just played it at the right moment because the good quality stunned me. There was a really dramatic scene between the leads (Emperor Jalal, who was played by the stunningly attractive Hrithik Roshan and Empress Jodhaa, who was played by Miss Universe herself...Aishwarya Rai). The vibrant scenery and costumes took my breath away. The scene was especially noteworthy because the beautiful Hindi melody with the translation of "I belong to you," played. Actually, I should note that each song was beautiful. This movie has many beautiful moments...I can't describe them all because:

A- My commentary may ruin the movie's beauty for you, should you choose to watch it.

B-I haven't finished it yet. <-- For that, I thoroughly blame my computer.

^Part of a beautiful scene+song

Blog #1: Advice

As my first semester as a college student comes to a close, I pause to reflect upon the lessons that I have learned, the challenges that I have overcome, and the improvements that I need to practice to ensure a more productive learning experience.

Though I have yet to walk around Passion Puddle with that special someone, or find that one career that I'll love waking up to every morning, I do consider myself a deeper and more fulfilled person.

The lessons of my introspection and development lie below:

1. Don't generalize. Don't generalize people, don't generalize classes, and don't generalize circumstances. Few things are exactly the same, and if you make the mistake of believing that they are the same....you'll miss out.

2. Read syllabi carefully. You don't want to be like that freshman who assumed that the first assignment was something that was actually due in...November.

3. Take advantage of everything around you. There are so many fliers, emails, and word of mouth announcements that advertise exciting opportunities. You're here for four years, and these opportunities will shape your college experience in a different way than your classes will.

4. Everyone has a talent: whether the talent involves musical inclination, athletic ability, interpersonal skills, linguistic aptitude, or any other talent in the wide realm of possible competences. Develop the talents. The talents are what make you unique in the world; developing them will give you a stronger sense of self.

5. One of the greatest strengths of a college, specifically of this wonderful university, is the diversity offered. We come together, from different races, religions, economic backgrounds, courses of study, to represent the multi-faceted face of Rutgers University. Branch out and acquaint yourself with different faces. An alternative viewpoint can be refreshing.

6. Figure out what's important to you. Your major, your activities, and your planned profession should provide you with fulfillment, so make sure that you analyze and consider them carefully.

7. Don't go to the dining hall when you're starving. It's really easy to overeat, and then the freshman 15 becomes a reality. (Also, to avoid the freshman 15, walk instead of taking the bus when you can.)

8. SLEEP AT NIGHT. Trust me. It's way easier to function when you have received an adequate amount of sleep. Sleeping enough will make your workload and your general demeanor much less taxing.

9. Don't be embarrassed to ask for help when you need it. There are so many services at campus available for you in case you cannot manage certain situations. Tutoring, health, and mental wellness centers exist on campus for you to use. You're in a larger and more demanding atmosphere, and it would be stranger if you didn't need help than if you did!

10. Be proactive. It's way too easy to immerse yourself in the quicksand of bad habits, and when I say quicksand...I mean quicksand: Don't get sucked in because it will be extremely challenging to extricate yourself from then.

11. Learn how to compromise. Do not form rigid and binding standards for people, schedules, or activities. If you do, you'll be miserable because it's very unlikely that you will get your way 100% of the time. Be open to change. Even if you don't have to consistently modify your needs, you'll have a significantly smaller amount of stress if you're not excessively particular.

12. Spend some time every day doing something that you enjoy. It's easy to get burned out with all of the academic, extracurricular, and personal activities in which college students must engage. Make sure that you pass time relaxing at least a little bit.

13. (Lucky thirteen!) This is what I feel most fervently: Those who are not passionate about anything simply do not know enough about the world. There are so many causes to champion and issues to resolve. Did you know that human slavery still exists, even in the United States? Did you know that some people, even in New Jersey, are too poor to afford toothbrushes? Follow the news and make an active effort to get involved in your community and the world at large. There is so much that one person can do, and service acts come in a wide variety. Be aware, find something that you want to support, and actively involve yourself in what makes you passionate.

Happy holidays.

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