Gatsby?

       

  
            The Great Gatsby was my favorite piece of literature. First of all, I thank thee God that we read The Great Gatsby in class, as I probably would not have read it on my own. I truly appreciated this literary piece for many reasons. One reason as to why I found the piece enjoyable was that it specified the idea of the American Dream, that if one works hard enough, he/she will succeed. Another reason as to why I liked the piece was because it depicted the harsh reality of the world, that one needs to pay a great price to achieve his/her American Dream. I took great pleasure in reading about Gatsby's smile, one that had a "quality of eternal reassurance" and  that "[we] may [only] come across four or five times in life." I liked the thought of Gatsby's smile "concentrated on [me] with an irresistible prejudice in [my] favor [and that] it understood [me] just as far as [I] wanted to be understood, believed in [me] as [I] would like to believe in [my]self, and assured [me] that it had precisely the impression of [me] that, at [my] best, [I] hoped to convey." This illustration of Gatsby's reassuring smile grasped me and my rather uncontrollable emotions to immediately have a soft spot for Gatsby as it seemed all to unbelievable for one to smile and provide a feeling of reassurance in the world of corruption, misunderstanding, betrayal, and confusion. This novel accurately captured money's power to corrupt, destroy, and allow the rich to escape from their consequences. Fitzgerald's depiction of Tom and Daisy proves how the rich were such cold-hearted and materialistic beings - “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.” The way Fitzgerald depicts the characters of the book and the way he expressed his thoughts so beautifully on paper mesmerizes me, as I do not have the capability of gathering all of my thoughts and organizing them clearly and forming some sort of or some type of necessary conclusion on my own. Another reason as to why I liked The Great Gatsby was because it introduced me to a new era - the 1920s - with the flappers, the cars, the wildest parties, the stock market businesses, etc. An additional reason as to why I loved this literary piece was Gatsby's profound love for Daisy. I liked the idea of Gatsby's motivation and his quest to reclaim Daisy's heart, but what made me fall in love with the book was not the crazy romance, no, what made me fall for the book was the idea of being so attached to the past, so attached to objects and memories and people you once knew were to be so true, but change as they encounter and accept reality. And lastly, I adore this God made literary piece because of its last two lines - "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And then one fine morning— So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past," - as it portrays the struggle of trying to transform dreams into reality and when the individual drains all his/her energy and it feels as if the he/she is close to conquering that struggle, the struggles proves that it is unconquerable as it moves farther away and mockingly awaits the individual's next attempt of failure. I find the last two lines so memorable as like the last sentence of an introductory paragraph - the thesis statement- it is what the reader most likely clasps on to. As of now, I consider Scott Fitzgerald to be my favorite author and during the summer, I plan to read more of his books. 

Into the Waters

                The waters are the most refreshing and exhilarating part of nature to me. Deluged in the magical waters  of the ocean or the river or the lake is such an out of body experience for me. Through swimming, I have the capability to clear my mind and rid myself of the many regrets and doubts that hold me back in everyday life. For me the waters symbolize new beginnings, adventures, and escape from the cruel reality that the world has to offer. Whilst in the waters, I experience feelings of worthiness and rejuvenation and happiness and wonder and amazement and freedom. As a child, I feared the waters because of the amount of uncertainty it illustrated, but today I have a much different perspective. I have fallen in love with the waters because of its infinite characteristics that cannot be engrossed through just one experience. This is the reason as to why my "once in a lifetime" experience would be to adventure the waters.

            My favorite activity to do in the waters is snorkeling and that is why my "once in a lifetime" experience is to snorkel in the waters of the Rockhouse, Dean's Blue Hole, Buck Island's Turtle Beach,  Crystal River, Pigeon Cay, Grand Cayman, Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Bimini Islands, Lover's Cove, Papalaua Wayside Park, Palau and etc. I would rather learn how to scuba dive if given the opportunity, as it will allow me to go deeper inside the water. I am aware of the fact that the waters are also quite dangerous as there are venomous plants and fish, but I am willing to take the risk, because as Chris McCandless once stated, "The very basic core of a man's living spirit is his passion for adventure. The joy of life comes from our encounters with new experiences, and hence there is no greater joy than to have an endlessly changing horizon, for each day to have a new and different sun." I wish to find joy in this "new realm of experience" and find delight in not only the people and materials I surround myself with, but rather in  everything and anything.

The World from a Different Perspective

"How One Mom Is Using Military Uniforms To Solve A Problem For Kids With Autism"

By: Caroline Bologna

Source: The Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/10/vests-for-visionaries-autism_n_7018924.html?utm_hp_ref=health-news&ir=Health+News

            When Crystal Lyon's son was diagnosed with autism she set out to buy him a weighted vest - a therapy implement that can have a relaxing effect on children with conditions such as autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorder, etc. Lyon was displeased when she learned that the weighted vests were out of her price range and that insurance would not cover the cost. With the aid of her drill sergeant husband, Lyon sought out a plan. She used all her husband's uniforms and sewed her son a weighted vest. The weighted vest helps her son, John, manage  situations of anxiety and uncertainty. It helps him to relax and concentrate on his therapy and focus on what he is learning in school. Research about the efficacy of weighted vests differs, but many occupational therapists and parents find them to be quite useful for kids with special needs. Roseann Schaaf, a professor and chair of the department of occupational therapy at Thomas Jefferson University stated that the weighted vest worked for this child, but might not work for others, as every child with autism is different.

            Crystal Lyon saw the impact the weighted vest had on her son, inspiring her to make more vests for other children, thus the beginning of "Vests for Visionaries." To make these vests, Lyon picks apart donated military uniforms, then pieces them together as weighted vests incorporating the child's certain interests and favorite colors. Lyon, of course does not weight the vests as every child requires a different amount of weight. As of right now, Lyons has been able to donate vests to over 130 kids in the United States and Australia.

            This article is significant as it illustrates a mother's love for their child. John's mom has not stopped working to help John and other kids with such special needs. When starting "Vests for Visionaries," she wished to "help children and families be able to have access to a therapy tool they may not be able to afford and to give hope to those families in a situation where they may already be feeling helpless" (Bologna). This article, helps individuals realize to not give up after diagnosis and rather understand that there is help and there are people willing to help.

Watch Out! We've Got A Perfectionist Over Here!

"Do You Bite Your Nails? It Might Mean You're A Perfectionist"

By: Carolyn Gregoire

Source: The Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/13/nail-biting-nervous-habits_n_6854152.html?utm_hp_ref=health-news&ir=Health+News

            New research from the University of Montreal suggests that compulsive behaviors such as twisting hair and biting nails might say more about people's personality. People who are usually peevish and restless are more likely to take part in behaviors such as skin-picking, nail-biting, or eyelash-pulling. A study points to perfectionism, a trait that can be a lot more hurtful than many people realize. Individuals with these repetitive behaviors may be perfectionists - people who refuse to accept any standard short of perfection. Therefore, they are prone to frustration, irritation, restlessness, and discontent when they do not achieve their goals. For the study, researchers worked with forty-eight participants, half of them being those to engage in these types of behaviors and the other half being those to not engage in these types of behaviors, making themselves the control group. These participants were asked questions about the degree to which they experience emotions like weariness, rage, peevishness, and anxiety. Afterwards, each participant was put into a particular situation that was designed to provoke such feelings. The one half of the participants that engaged in body-focused behaviors reported a strong urge to do so when they were feeling stressed and frustrated. Often times it is okay to bite nails because it serves as a temporary solution when individuals are not able to channel their energy more efficiently, but when these habits are difficult to overcome, they can interfere with daily life.

            This article is significant as it raises awareness about bad habits and how they can interfere with people's lives. Currently, there are two ways to treat these behaviors -- "a behavioral treatment that involves replacing the habit with a competing action, and a separate approach that focuses on the underlying factors that create tension" (Gregoire).

Beautiful Little Fools

            Due to society's view on gender, each and every individual unconsciously holds a stereotype of what each sex is supposed to be, to do, or to become of. People of either sex are extremely affected by the continuing issues of gender inequality and are held accountable to face such unfair expectations. Gender roles are extremely ecumenical in today's society. They are society's ideas of how men and women are expected to behave and are usually shaped by cultural norms. Men and women are both victims of gender inequality, but men's issues, however, are sometimes gone unnoticed. As we grow up, we are taught how to behave from those around us. We are introduced to the certain roles that are linked to our biological sex. Gender roles determine how males and females should think, speak, dress, and interact within the context of society. While men are to be seen as strong, brave, careless, tough, aggressive, superior, and dominant; women are to be seen as frail, sensitive, emotional, passive, subordinate, and homely. We are given our roles whilst in the womb. We are taught our roles at the age of birth. Society is quick to dress the boys in blue and the girls in pink. As we grow older parents supply us with the appropriate toys. Boys are given trucks, toy guns, and superhero figurines, whist girls are given dolls and cooking sets. This promotes aggression in boys and nurturing in girls. This continues on later in life as males become more prone to choose professions in law enforcement, politics, and military, whilst women are more prone to choose professions such as child or health care and social work. Our society allows a degree of flexibility when it comes to acting out our gender roles. To a certain degree, men can acquire some feminine roles and women can acquire some masculine roles, however, if they choose to step outside of what society considers acceptable, they will begin to face consequences. Once an individual steps outside of their gender role in an obvious way, he or she will face the aftermath. 

Let Me Give You a Hand

"College kids make robotic arms for children without real ones"

By: Daphne Sashin

Source: CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/06/health/ucf-3d-printed-arms-for-kids/index.html   

            Cynthia Falardeau's son, Wyatt was born with his right arm matted in amniotic bands. The doctors were afraid Wyatt's body would become infected leading him towards death, so they amputated Wyatt's dead forearm and hand when he was just a week old. Cynthia mourned her son's missing arm for years, but she later embraced who her son was - a survivor. Wyatt learned to adjust. He tried a couple of prosthetics when he was a kid, but each time he abandoned them. A friend of Falardeau's, with Wyatt in mind, suggested a story from the "Today Show," about a team of University of Central Florida (UCF) students and graduates that created an electronic arm for six-year-old Alex Pring, using a three-dimensional printer on campus. Hearing this, Falardeau became defensive and rejected the suggestion, but her son had a different reaction. He said he wanted one of those robot arms so he could finally do things like ride a bike, do a proper somersault, clap, etc. Understanding this, Falardeau got in touch with the Orlando students through E-Nable, an online organization that was made to help children in need of hands and arms. The UCF team is special because it is the only 3-D volunteer network producing electronic arms. "The UCF project started when Albert Manero, an engineering doctoral student, heard a story on the radio about one of the inventors of the 3-D printed hand. He got involved with E-Nable and met Alex, a local boy teased because of his missing arm, and set about designing a robotic replacement. They gave it to Alex for free" (Sashin, 1). After this story was featured in national news, families in more than twenty-five countries contacted the UCF students to provide aid for their children. Petresky got included with the design of Pring's hand because Manero knew he was great with electronics. Eventually Manero moved to Germany for a Fulbright scholarship, leaving Petresky in charge. Petresky asked every family about their child's interests, so they can make the new limb "not just be a piece of plastic ... but be a part of them" (Sashin, 1). Cynthia was happy to see her child being admired for who he was. Her son told her that he could now wait for her to see what he could achieve with his new arm. He also mentioned that someday, he wants to go to UCF, to help kids that are in a similar situation.

            This article is important as it shows what changing the world for the better looks like. These UCF students and graduates use technology to change the world. They believe that they are supposed to make the world better and by believing that, they do.

"Dress-Up Doll Born To Area Couple"

Source: The Onion

http://www.theonion.com/articles/dressup-doll-born-to-area-couple,1750/?recirc=parenting

            In 2013, Manhattan married couple Ron Garver and Becky Meyers were apprehensive with the thought of becoming parents. They worked lengthy hours and had a well-developed social life and lived in a small and confined apartment in the East Village. Meyers thought that the two were too irresponsible to raise a child, but next thing you know, she was pregnant and she and her husband were out buying all the 'significant' things in preparation for a baby. Now, the married couple has a ten-month-old baby girl. Meyers was so relieved when her child came out in perfect health, because it is quite certainly too difficult to find cute outfits for premature babies. Meyers and Garver have spent about thirty percent of their income on baby clothes. "We don't just buy anything, though. It has to be something that's missing from her wardrobe. Last week, I got Daddy's little girl a little Knicks jersey to wear to the games. Everyone thinks it's adorable. She's already been on the Jumbotron!" (Dress-Up Doll Born To Area Couple). Meyers had to adjust to the full-time job of arranging her child for display. For awhile, Meyers and Garver did not get any sleep, as they would wake up in the middle of the night to get their daughter out of her sleeper and put her in breakfast PJs, and feed her. "Having a child is a lot of work. Coming up with the idea to dress your baby like a farmer, a police officer, or even a little sunflower is difficult enough on its own. But if she's sleepy or fussy, it can take a half an hour to dress her. Still, when you hear the coos of the neighbors who see her in the Baby Jogger, it's all worth it. Every trip outside requires a hundred decisions. Should she wear her bear coat or her cute red-velvet Santa jacket? Is today a bunny-ears kind of a day, or does it feel like more of a plaid-wool-cap morning? Sometimes, if our social calendar requires it, we have to pull together three or four outfits in a single day" (Dress-Up Doll Born To Area Couple). Meyers and Garver believe that nothing is too much for their little baby girl. Even though, she spends a lot of time shopping for her baby girl, Meyers believes that the best possible gift she can give to her daughter is time and attention. Once, she spent hours on trying to figure out how to strap a telephone onto her daughter's hand, to capture a cute and funny picture. To make her daughter look as if she was talking, Meyers gave her little baby food to chew on.

            The significance of this article is to portray how parents view their children nowadays. Most parents treat their children as though they were puppets or dolls. Another way this article can be viewed is, how parents are spoiling their children bringing about the outcome of having materialistic children. An additional way this article can be viewed is how parents spend time artificial time with their children.

            The article uses satirical techniques of exaggeration, incongruity, and irony to humor the issue. It ridicules the idea of parents treating their kids like dolls or raising their children to be materialistic or spending time with their children inadequately.