The Road Less Traveled

1)           As we enter the last few stages of our high school life, counselors and teachers always seem to ask what we plan on doing after grade twelve. Or they encourage us to attend career spotlights to widen our horizons on job possibilities. This may not seem like an enjoyable task, but those teachers and counselors know how important it is to find a career that you love. Without being truly passionate about your job, it becomes greatly difficult to perform to your best ability. Such circumstances can also bring you a great deal of remorse. A strong example is my father who had to abandon his career of being a pilot in Bombay when he moved to Canada. For many years in India, my dad flew cargo planes and it was not only a job for him but also his passion. He collected miniature airplanes from all of the different airlines, which he still has to this day. Unfortunately, my dad moved to Canada after marrying my mom in hopes of bettering their future and gave up his career of being a pilot. With the education being different in both countries, my dad would have had to go back to school and spend a few more years in training. Due to financial issues, he made the brave and sensible decision of settling for a job as a construction worker after numerous days of deliberating. As i grew older and understood the circumstance more, i could detect that this was only a day to day job for him. Waking up each morning and the labor at work was strenuous but i am extremely proud of my dad for never giving up and making the best of his situation. Although, To this day, he regrets the fact that he gave up his dream job, but knew that what he did was for the better of his family. My dad stresses to me everyday to follow what i genuinely want to do in life and not let the hardships of getting there be an obstacle, because the end result is remarkable. After observing my dads life, i truly believe that finding a career one is genuinely passionate about is the answer to a satisfying future.

2)                Ever since i was five i have wanted to become a doctor and as the years went by i narrowed it down to the enthralling world of an Optometrist. I feel a great deal of satisfaction after helping someone and every aspect of the optometry field seems to fascinate me. To get a closer look at what an optometrist really does, i recently had a session of job shadowing at Waterfront and got to observe what every machine is used for and i got to propose several informative questions. I hope to go back fairly soon to take in anymore information that i can gain. My short term plans are to attend the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and study to receive my Bachelors of Science degree. I am not completely positive on what my major will be yet but i believe after taking my first year courses i will get an even better feel of what subjects interest me the most. I plan to work to my best ability in achieving high grades to get me to my long term goals of attending Waterloo in Ontario for my Optometry degree, or possibly attending university in the States. Many times i have been told that a fair amount of people change their minds about their career more than once so how can i be so sure that i will become an Optometrist? My answer to them is that i am aware my career choice may change but that just means that i will have realized Optometry wasn't my true passion and that my interest is lies somewhere else. But at this moment, being an eye care professional is what i am working towards and i will try my absolute hardest to get there.

Taming of the Shrew Vs. Ten Things I Hate About You

             The movie "Ten Things I Hate About You" is successful in capturing the essence of the Shakespeare play "Taming of the Shrew" to an extent because it has a similar story line and characters but many subtle differences as well. To start things off, love at first sight happens in both the movie and play. Bianca is shown as a very beautiful girl and has many guys chasing after her. Cameron, which is Lucentio in the play, falls in love with Bianca as soon as he sees her, and makes a plan to become her tutor. This leads to the young man becoming something he is not to woo, the cliche, girl of his dreams. Although Lucentio wears a disguise to hide his true appearance, Cameron attempts to disguise the fact that he doesn't exactly know french by preparing a little ahead of time and simply reading phrases out of the textbook. Regardless of their alternate egos, the stunning Bianca begins to show a slight interest in Lucentio and Cameron. Very much like these characters being alike, Katherine and Kat also have similar traits. Katherine is "renowned in Padua for her scolding tongue" (1.2.97) and refuses to conform to marriage just because its what her father wants. She is shown as a girl who could care less about her appearance, and what others think. Similarly, Kat is shown as an introverted, social outcast, "heinous bitch" who refuses to show her real feelings and be a "normal teenager". Kat could be called a duplicate of Katherine in terms of personalities, but the main difference is that Kat shows more modernized traits.
Although these similar aspects are seen throughout the movie and play, some subtle differences are also evident. For example, despite the fact that Patrick is paid to "tame" Kat and Petruchio to tame Katherine, they're ideas of taming were very different. Petruchio is shown rather disrespectful and mean towards Katherine by starving her and depriving her of sleep. While Patrick knows there is a softer side to Kat and persistently tries to be nice to her and even sings her a song to win Kat's heart, which many may agree is necessary to fit with the modern society's way of thinking. In the end, Katherine agrees to the taming mainly since she realizes her getting rid of Petruchio is impossible whereas Kat develops sincere feelings for Patrick as he did for her as well. Other subtle differences are that in the movie, the character of Hortensio, Joey, is shown as a self-centered jerk that is only after Bianca because of the challenge of getting her. But in the play, he is a rather likable fellow who is after her for the same reason as Lucentio, shes "the jewel of [his] life" (1.2.115) and he loves her. All in all, the movie does capture the important themes and character traits of the play, but if one was to look deeper into the plot line, there are several subtle differences which are also there.

Journal #1 - Room

ROOM "Beep beep. That's door [....] Boom that's door shutting and Old Nick is telling Ma how there wasn't any of something" (Donoghue pg.47).

           This quote was said by the main character, a five year old boy named Jack, when his apparent father came into the room and began talking to his mother. He was forced by his mother to stay in the wardrobe so that Old Nick couldn't see, hear or touch him. The fact that Jack didn't question why they were trapped in the room relates to me because many festivals and rituals that are performed in my East Indian culture i never knew the reason for them growing up. I just went along with what my parents told me and didn't fully realize the importance. Although my non curiosity didn't involve me being in a life threatening situation, like Jack, thinking back on it now, i definitely missed out on a subsequent part of my background as a child. Similarly, Jack didn't know the importance of why they had scream time every day or why his mother made him punch in random numbers into the code machine for the door. He simply understood them as a game and a chance to have fun between eating  and resting.  Despite the so-called games they played, the biggest fact that was unknown to Jack was why they were even put in that dungeon-like space in the first place. Although, to be fair, for a boy who has spent his whole life in this very room, it is obvious that he doesn't know what kind of life other kids have so he is not to blame for his inexperienced childhood. After reading this book and looking back on my life, i begin to wonder how things would have been different if i was more educated on my culture. Would i have been able to enjoy the festivals more knowing the true sentimental meaning behind them? I will never know now but it does encourage me from now on to propose questions when i am unaware of events because more knowledge never hurts.

            While everyone may not be able to understand Jack's lack of curiosity,  my childhood aids me to relate to Jacks situation because like him i was remarkably close to my mother so i would just believe whatever she said. Also like him, at that age i was indifferent, but now as I'm older, i regret not asking those questions and when Jack grows up I'm sure he will ask his Ma this question. Why were we limited to that eleven by eleven foot room?

Public Displays of Disaffection

    

           1) It is always a difficult topic when it comes to figuring out when to draw the line for cell phone use but everyone has their own preferences. In the article "Public Display of Disaffection" by Anne Kingston, there are three main topics that are discussed having to do with "cell-fishness."  Society is moving away from having one on one conversations, cell phones have apparently become a necessity, and relationships are being ruined by this electronic device. Continuing on with the first point, kids as well as adults are manipulating the use of this handy device by not seeing the need in having a face to face conversation.  They would much rather send a 30 second message than take the time to actually speak to the person verbally, which is causing us to lose our “one-on-one people skills”. The next argument is that cell phones have not only become a must have but an “addiction”. Some people think it is ok to be permanently glued to your phone and not respect your surroundings going as far as “texting during sex”. As said in the article, this addiction is leading to some drive through pharmacies and fast food outlets refusing to serve “digital multi-taskers”. The final point is that these electronic devices are beginning to put a damper in the users’ relationships.  The frustration has gotten to the point where most people said that “they’d rather see someone pick their nose than use a mobile device in front of them” in a survey done by Intel Corps. People are fed up because instead of respecting the speaker when they are talking, cell phone users are disrespecting them and giving them the impression they simply don’t care. In conclusion, this article mainly outlines the frustrations society, restaurants, and other places have with the over use of cell phones.

                      2) When it comes to the argument of society not having enough one on one conversations, I would have to partially agree and find myself slightly guilty. All of us cell phone users, including myself, have been in the situation where we texted someone rather than taking the time to speak with them physically. Although I do it too, I don’t feel that it is that big of a problem yet. The second point I agree with one hundred percent. I myself have been put in the situation where I feel every disrespected that my friend is glued to her cell phone and not attentively listening to my exciting story. Personally I would never use my cell phone while engaging in conversation with another, face to face. This brings me to agree with the third point. Even though I don’t believe that cell phones should be banned from all public areas due to the frustrations of people, everyone should understand the right time to pull it out and the right time to leave it hidden.

              3) There are many places where I believe a cell phone is acceptable, for example, when you are alone and need to call if there’s an emergency, or if you are lost somewhere and need help finding your way. Despite this, cell phones are unacceptable in places such as movie theaters and schools because while you aren’t paying attention, someone else around you is being distracted as well. Even though there is a time and place that the use of a cell phone is acceptable I don’t think that they should be banned because an emergency can happen anywhere and at anytime. Also, cell phone use is higher amongst the younger generation so there is a possibility of a protest starting and more problems being created

Mind Power

Imagine a life where you could know what others are thinking before they speak. Predict there reaction before they act or even sense something that’s about to happen. I guess you could call it a sixth sense. By having this super power I could not only excel in sports but also eliminate many unfortunate events. For example, it’s the game point of a volleyball game and the other team has the ball. My job is to successfully stop the ball from making it over the net, yet I’m not aware of where the setter is going to set the ball to. So, by utilizing this power I could predict where the setter plans to pass the ball and I could move in the right direction to earn that game point for my team. This would not only benefit me but also my peers who are watching the game and cheering on their own home team. Although, it would be nice to help my fellow students and locals, I could aid many around the world as well and especially those who have been hurt or killed by unexpected happenings. Hearing stories about minor accidents that could have been avoided if that individual would have moved over 2 steps or known that the area they were in was unsafe breaks everyone’s heart, such as, being hit by a falling tree, being hit by lightening, or going down an abandoned street. With this power, I could be aware of something or someone lurking in the dark alley which could save my life and save me from being injured. Even though this power would mostly help those who could be in danger, it would also bring joy to others and I from just getting the game winning point in a thrilling volleyball game.

Dead Poets Society

           What if you didn't have a say in what you wanted to do in the future? What if your life was planned out for you and your job was just to live it? In the movie "Dead Poets Society," directed by Peter Weir, a newly arrived teacher has the biggest impact on seven young students, and teaches them the value of finding their identity. The enthusiastic English teacher, Mr. Keating, emphasis' the importance of "carpe diem," and tells his students to live each day to the fullest. Some students find the pressure and stress of school hard to keep up with while others struggle with the expectations of their parents. Making the most out of life, having some fun along the way, and the importance of fulfilling our own dreams, are three main themes that are portrayed throughout this movie.

What would you do if you realized you weren’t going to be in this world forever? How would you “seize the day”? Mr. Keating asked his English students this very question while he showed them the alumni wall at Welton Academy. He explained how they used to be shining athletes but now they were nothing but “fertilizing daffodils.” This reoccurring theme of “carpe diem,” became a way of life for the seven boys, who Keating influenced so much. One of the students, Knox used this motto when he tried to get a girl, who to him was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He didn’t care what would happen to him, he just knew that he had to be with her and that was it. Another one of Mr. Keating’s students, Neil, used these important words when he landed the lead role in a play, but got lectured by his father to quit. Despite his parents wants, Neil did what his heart told him to and he gave the best performance of the night.  The words of the new English teacher not only gave his students the feeling of freedom but also gave them a sense of rebellion.

Every one of us has that rebellious bone in our body, which makes us want to break the rules and just live life the way we want to. In this movie the students find it hard to let go of their lives of conformity and begin to make decisions on their own.  Mr. Keating taught his students that rules aren’t always meant to be followed; sometimes you need to break the rules to get the most out of life and be an individual. The first act of rebellion, the new English teacher had them do was rip out the introduction in their books and throw it away. The boys were puzzled and didn’t understand the reason for this, but did as they were told. Through this, the students realized that living life fearlessly was a positive thing and would make you much happier in the end. After finding an old yearbook of Mr. Keating’s, and hearing about a club that their English teacher was a part of, the seven boys decided to start their own ‘Dead Poets Society’ club. The students who were a part of this club had to leave the campus even though Welton had an important rule against it. With the previous wise words of Mr. Keating, the seven boys left campus on their own will to read poetry and get away from the outside world. Rebellion is not always a bad thing but the pressure of society around you makes it hard for people to live life to the fullest.

Why does pressure make it so hard to create our future how we want to? Is it because we’re so caught up in pleasing other people that we forget about our own goals? The pressure of the school and their parents puts the students of Welton in great dilemmas. They are scared to be themselves and tell their families what they really want to do with their lives. Neil, one of the students, had a dream to one day, become an actor. His biggest dilemma was when he joined the play “Mid Summer Nights Dream,” even though he knew his father wouldn’t allow it. In the end the pressure from his parents got inside Neil’s head, which resulted in him committing suicide. For Todd, another student at Welton, the pressure of coming out of his shell was a big issue. He was hesitant in joining the club and being more open in class and with his classmates. With the help of Mr. Keating’s teaching methods, Todd developed more confidence and discovered the poet inside of him. The support of your friends and family makes the biggest difference in your life because it gives you that extra strength to fulfill your dreams.

“No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.” These enlightening words by Mr. Keating encouraged his students to look at life in a different perspective. Sometimes not knowing the end result makes life challenging, but all the more exciting. If you don’t live your life by your own rules, nobody is going to do it for you.