Wonder (Homework Assignment #6)

            Wonder is all the possibilities that the purpose of an object can have. I chose a pencil. A pencil is used for writing. But it can be used for so many other things like, I can take two of them and use them as chopsticks. I can use a bunch of them and play a game of pick-up sticks. If I was 6 when I did this assignment, I’m pretty sure I would have much more creative outcomes for the pencil rather than practical.

            As we get older, we take everything much more seriously because unlike when we were young we now know more about life. Since we know more about reality and care more about the here and now, we’re less likely to imagine in it otherwise. When we’re young, it doesn’t really matter the true purpose of an object not because we didn’t care but we didn’t really need to know. It’s just like that, we’re much more ignorant to life when we’re younger.

            “Concepts creates idols, only wonder knows” means that practicality and knowledge makes a person smarter but having curiosity allows us to really know. Like, are we learning in class because we want to satisfy our need for knowledge because we want to get a good grade in the end or because we truly want to know more about the subject. 

Kenyon Commencement Speech (Homework Assignment #5)

I really enjoyed reading Wallace’s speech. Everything he said made total sense. I especially liked the section where he mentions nearly unlikely reasons for people cutting him off on the freeway or an unhappy experience at grocery store but not impossible like he said. It made me really think about all the unhappy experiences I have had at different places and then blamed others for my unhappiness. I know for me, that I want things to happen a certain way because that’s just how I want it and when I don’t get it, I blame others.

Near the beginning of his speech, he spoke about thinking that the world revolved around us. Everything happened in our life because we were involved in some sort of way. “We rarely talk about this sort of natural, basic self-centeredness, because it's so socially repulsive, but it's pretty much the same for all of us, deep down. It is our default-setting, hard-wired into our boards at birth. Think about it: There is no experience you've had that you were not at the absolute center of” (Wallace).  It’s so true that we all think that world revolves around us to some extent. It’s just in my nature; the idea that we are the center of our universe is engrained in our brains. Wallace was so correct when he said that

David Foster Wallace’s idea that life consists of fundamental choices that lie entirely with the human person and allow them to engage is complete credible in my opinion. If you let life control you then that’s exactly what you’re doing. You can be the one who decides what affects you and to what extent. I totally agree with him when he said, “if you're aware enough to give yourself a choice, you can choose to look differently” (Wallace). He’s saying don’t let one point of view be the only one you choose to look through. Consider everything when making a decision.

            I would like to engage in this choice whenever I could. I never really took a look at my thought process like that in depth. Wallace’s commencement speech really opened up my eyes to the idea that there isn’t always a bad connotation on everything. It’s good to give people the benefit of the doubt; which is something that I should definitely do much more often to become a much happier person. I can be more open to other’s opinion and not take everything so personally.

            I think that the audience clapped when David Foster Wallace was pretty much insulting them because they agreed with what he was saying. They didn’t really realize that they were being made fun of at the exact moment but they agreed with him to an extent. People clap during a speech when they strongly agree with whatever the speaker has just said. Sometimes people clap just because other people in the audience are clapping though they didn’t fully understand what was just said but clap anyway.

Caligula Act 1 by Albert Camus (Homework Assignment #4)

Directions: Read Act 1 of Albert Camus' play Caligula. On your blog, answering the following questions as best you can and as thoroughly as you can:

1. We have spoken about the 4 truths of the “I” which make up our innate human experience. In classical terms, this was referred to as the "heart" of man. How does Camus demonstrate Caligula’s heart? What is the implication of this for Caligula?

                Caligula wants the impossible. He says, “I want the moon, or happiness or eternal life—something, in fact, that may sound crazy, but which isn’t of this world” (Camus 8). Caligula is searching for what he doesn’t have and doesn’t have the ability to achieve no matter how hard he tries. He knows it’s impossible but he tried to search for it anyways. His sister dies and he doesn’t know how to handle it so he runs away from the palace in search of answer and while away, he began to think about what his life really meant and what he really wanted. Caligula says that he knows what to do to help his kingdom find meaning to life, “For I know what they need and haven’t got. They’re without understanding and they need a teacher; someone who knows what he’s talking about” (Camus 9). The death of his sister opened the doorway for him to find the truth he has been searching for, the answers to his impossible questions.

2. How do those in power (the patricians, etc.) view Caligula, and his "heart"? Do you agree with their view? Why or why not? (Give examples from the text to support your answers to both questions.)

                The patricians view Caligula is an immature man who doesn’t know how to handle grief. They expect him to just get suck up the pain and get over it because it’s not worth the time. “Is there anyone capable of mourning a loss for more than a year on end?” (Camus 4).  They don’t have any sympathy for him and wish that he will just come back to the palace so they can speak to him. “Oh, he’s a mere boy; we’ll make him see reason” (Camus 6). The First Patrician sees Caligula as malleable and doesn’t think that he will be able to stand up for himself. He thinks he can change whatever Caligula has mind set to when he returns.

                I do not agree with their view. Caligula may be still young but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t know about life. Caligula is the emperor and the patricians can’t even trust him. All that Caligula wants is the truth about his sister’s death and the impossible. He wants what he can’t have and that’s just how human minds work. Humans want the impossible just because they need something they can hold on to, something they can believe in. 

The Random Object (Homework Assignment #3)

A candle holder:

This object is used for holding a candle in place. It collects all of the melted wax at the bottom for an easy clean up. It keeps the candle in place while being moved around. It provides a place to keep any of your favorite candles safely lit and away from flammable substances and materials. Since it has high sides enclosing the candle, the ember would not go out easily from a stray draft and kids are not likely to try to touch it. It is very decorative due to its stained glass design and serves another purpose in that manner. Is it really important? Does one really need a decorative candle holder just to burn a candle? The answer is no. The candle holder is a very nice piece and very useful in serving its purpose. It holds a candle in place while it is burning. 

What will make me happy? (Homework Assignment #2)

            Honestly, I’m not happy. Everything in my life recently has taken a turn in the wrong direction. I know I shouldn’t dwell on the past but right now I feel like I can’t do anything but. From betrayal to stress to sadness, that’s what I feel right now. I know I have my family and that’s enough.  If I were to make myself happy right now, I would have the ideal teenager life. I would have friends I can trust, great grades, happy parents who don’t nag me, and just whatever I wanted.

            My family is an extremely important influence on my overall happiness in life. Family will always be there for me when my friends could care less. They know everything about me and how I tick. They love and care for unconditionally. They support me in everything I want to do and are always there for me in times of need. Without them, I don’t know how I could go on in my life.

            A life without stress and worries would make me really happy too. Not having to worry about grades, SAT scores, and getting into college. No pressure and stress from almost everyone about everything I do would be good. I know I need to keep up with school. I don’t need anyone to stress me about it. Yes, some pressure is okay but in excess, I just can’t handle it. For my happiness, I would just love to have a break from all of this chaos and have time for myself with not an ounce of worry to bring me down.

            I would have friends I can trust and count on. They would care for me just as much as I care for them. I wouldn’t have to doubt their decisions or worry that they’re one day going to stab me in the back. I would be happy to finally be able to trust the people I know. I don’t want to live my life alone. I want to have people around me who make me happy. Having this be true is one worry in my life that I wish I didn’t have.

            All of these things would make me happy. A stress-free, worry-free life would make anyone happy I would assume. If I didn’t have to worry about grades or getting accepted into college, a huge burden would be lifted off my shoulders. I wish I did have friends I could trust; I need support from other people besides my family. My family is my number one in my life and without them I don’t know how I could cope. They ground me and keep me steady. This would be an ideal life for me and would provide me with true happiness. 

About Me (Homework Assignment #1)

My name is Nicole. I am seventeen years old. I am currently a senior in high school. I was born in Hawaii and lived there until I was three years old. I then moved to Virginia and ended up in Maryland where I am now. My family is most important to me. I know that they will always be there for me and will never let me down. I can trust them. I can count on my family to be there when I'm in need or in distress.

I am a catholic. I believe that God created the universe, human beings, and everything natural in our world today. I believe that Jesus Christ did walk the earth and did sacrifice his life for us. God gave man the ability to develop our world today. He gave us free will to choose what we want to do with our lives, whether it be peacefully or violently. It's not His fault that some of our ancestors chose war over compromise, He trusted us to make the right decisions. Knowing all of this is very important to me because it gives some stability in my life. I take refuge in knowing that there is some supreme being looking at after me, who will always listen to what I have to say in my prayers, and who does love me.

I am Filipino. I understand the national language which is Tagalog, but I also understand the dialect spoken where my mother's side is from which is Ilocano. I can't speak either fluently, but I know words. My heritage is very important to who I am. I sometimes find it odd to identify with it so deeply because when you think about it, in the end we're all people. But I am proud to be a Filipino. It's who I am and I can't change that. The first thing you notice about anyone is their race.

I hope that I will be successful and achieve all the goals that I have set for my future. I hope to go to the University of Maryland in College Park. I want to go there to complete the prerequisites needed to get into the pre-pharmacy school at UMBC. I want to have the car and the house I want. I don't want to have to settle for something other than what I want because hopefully I will make enough money for what I want. I hope to have friends I can trust. I hope that I will live a healthy life. I hope that all the money that parents' sacrificed for me to go to private school will pay off and that I could even help them pay their bills. I hope to be happy with the life I have and live without stress from anyone or thing.