Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday in which American families typically take a day off from the madness of everyday life and enjoy themselves. Families all across the United States come together to sit down, have a delicious meal, and reflect on all of the things they are thankful for. However, the traditions do vary from family to family, but just about everyone at the end of Thanksgiving Day simply relaxes and enjoys each other’s company. Although, Thanksgiving Day requires a lot of preparation and can be very stressful to some people.
Personally, my Thanksgiving holiday has been quite eventful and somewhat stressful. My parents did not allow me to bring my car to college my freshmen year, so when fall break finally arrived, I had to find a ride back home. Even though I live three and a half hours away from Virginia Tech, there are plenty of people from my area who also go there. Once I found a ride, we made arrangements to leave Friday afternoon. When we finally left the traffic was very heavy on the interstate, most likely due to all of the college students going home that same day. We were about forty five minutes away from where the driver lives so I called my mother to come and meet us. As we kept driving it was getting dark and the traffic was still heavy. The driver and I had just finished a conversation and even though we were both looking straight ahead we did not notice that the cars in front of us were stopped.
By then it was too late, we were going about seventy miles per hour and the cars had to be less than thirty five yards away from us. I screamed “watch out!” and the driver stomped on his breaks. In desperation to avoid hitting the other cars, he swerved over into the other lane. For a split second, I thought that we had jus avoided a huge accident, but then the driver over corrected—swerving back over into the lane with the stopped cars. We crashed into one of them and the airbags deployed. The car then continued to skid along the highway and eventually spun into a stop. We asked each other if we were okay, climbed out of the car, and then ran over to the car we collided with. The girl in the other car was a little dazed but uninjured.
Thankfully no one was seriously injured in this accident (including my beta fish that was in the front seat with me) but the two cars were tragically both left totaled. Although I had a small burn from the airbag and my neck was sore for a few days, it could have been much worse. Thankfully, we were all wearing our seat belts which probably saved our lives and prevented us from receiving anymore injuries. This accident did have me shaken up for a few days, but it was only the beginning of my eventful holiday break.
The next event I had to look forward to was getting my wisdom teeth pulled. The following Monday after the accident I had my surgery and it changed my entire Thanksgiving break. I am now on three different kinds of medication and my cheeks are swollen, making me look similar to a chipmunk. But the worst part about it is not being allowed to eat the food I want. However, I have been eating a lot of foods I am really not supposed to. The whole process of getting my wisdom teeth pulled has not been that bad. From all the stories people were telling me about getting their wisdom teeth removed, I was petrified, but it turned out to be a lot better than what I was expecting. Although it does hurt a little in the morning, after I take my medication it does not hurt anymore. And even though I am no supposed to be eating most of the food served on Thanksgiving, I had small amounts anyway.
Two days after my surgery, my parents and I traveled eight hours to New York to spend Thanksgiving with my mom’s side of the family. Although I have two older sisters, I was the only one who was forced to go even after getting into a car accident and having surgery. I do enjoy visiting my family in New York, but if I had a choice, I would have stayed home this year to recover from my surgery. It was also only my second time coming home from college, so I would have liked to spend more time with my friends back at home. But now that I am here, I am glad that I came. It was nice being able to see my family and eat Thanksgiving dinner with them.
Even though my Thanksgiving holiday was filled with unfortunate events, I still have a lot to be Thankful for. I am very thankful that no one was seriously injured in the car accident we got into on the way home. Having my wisdom teeth removed over Thanksgiving break is very regrettable, but I am thankful that everything went well during the surgery and I hope it remains that way while I recover. Finally I am very thankful for the opportunity to spend time with my family, especially my relatives who I only get the chance to see about once a year. Every Thanksgiving I reflect on all the things I have to be thankful for and it amazes me how fortunate I am. There are several people who are just as blessed as I am, but we often take it for granted how fortunate we really are. We live in a country that gives us so much freedom and many opportunities. Regrettably, we take advantage of these things, and do not appreciate them as much as we should. We should be much more thankful for the little things in life that we own because there are others out there who can only dream about having the things we have.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
The Key to Success
One out of the many difficult decisions young people have to go through in today’s society is choosing what to do after they graduate from high school. Many choose to further their education by attending college while others may choose to go directly into the workforce or military. Whatever it is that youth today choose to do with the rest of their lives, the decision is usually made with intentions to set themselves up to live long, happy, successful lives. However, many young people do not get to choose what to do after graduating from high school because they are forced by their parents to do what their parents want them to do or other unfortunate circumstances. But the underlying question is, are those who go to college setting themselves up to be more successful than those who immediately join the workforce or otherwise? Many people would agree that those who choose to attend college will turn out to be more successful in life.
Those who believe that going to college is the best route for success typically think this because college enables you to get better-paying jobs and it improves your quality of life. Out of these two things, most people would agree that a better income is the greatest factor that enables college graduates to be more successful. According to Postsecondary Education Opportunity Research Letter, “[t]he lifetime income of families headed by individuals with a bachelor’s degree will be about $1.6 million more than the incomes of families headed by those with a high-school diploma” (Hansen). This is a significant amount of money, especially when you take in to consideration all the needs of a family. It could enable a family to buy their children cars, pay off their mortgage, or help pay for anything else a family may need or want. In addition to an increased income, many people say that a college education improves people’s quality of life.
People most likely believe this because of the many benefits people usually attain from receiving a college education. Studies show that in comparison with high school graduates, those with college degrees have “greater economic stability and security, better access to health care, more book purchases, more self-confidence, and less criminal activity and incarceration” (Hansen). All of these things could improve a person’s quality of living by making their lives a little more convenient and possibly more enjoyable. However, attaining some of these things may vary depending on the person and not necessarily the education they have. Personally, I am currently a student a Virginia Tech and agree that a college education can be very beneficial to a person’s life.
However, lately I have been wondering what else I could have done after graduating from high school and if I would have been just as successful if I had chosen to do something else. But in order to figure this out I first had to decide what I think it means to be successful. I believe being successful in life should not be defined by how much money you make, but by how happy you have become with yourself and your accomplishments. By this I mean if you love what you are doing—even if it does not pay well—and you are happy with whom you have become and where you have ended up, then you are successful. Albert Schweitzer, a German-French philosopher, believes in a similar definition:
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to
success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.
(Hubpages)
This means that even if you have accomplished everything that people typically describe as becoming successful (such as graduating from college and getting a well paying job), but you are not happy, then you are not truly successful (Hubpages). Unfortunately, youth today are made to believe the very opposite and that they need to be wealthy and “successful” in order to be happy.
Many teenagers who graduate from high school are pushed by their parents or other mentors to go to college and get a well-paying job. Although this may help youth to become financially stable, it may also be setting them up to do something that they do not want to do, resulting in an unhappy life. Some parents even force their children to pursue the same career path they did, even if it is against the child’s will. This is not the right thing to do because we should be allowing our youth to do whatever it is that will make them happy. We also should not be encouraging our young people to do something just because it is what the majority of people do in order to get paid better. There are several alternatives that our youth can choose to do to become successful instead of going to college.
As an alternative, youth today could chose to join the military, work a special trade, or simply choose to pursue their dreams as an artist or maybe a singer. There are many job opportunities like this that pay very well and do not require a college education. Ultimately, we need to encourage our youth to do whatever it is that will make them happy. However, going to college is something that some youth decide will make them happy and this should not be discouraged. But we should not lead our youth astray, making them believe that in order to be successful in life you need a high-paying job. So the answer to the question is no, those who go to college are not setting themselves up to be more successful than those who choose to do otherwise. They are both equally successful as long as they are doing the things they love; because success is not defined by how much money you make in your lifetime, but by how happy you are with what you have done and who you have become in your lifetime.
Those who believe that going to college is the best route for success typically think this because college enables you to get better-paying jobs and it improves your quality of life. Out of these two things, most people would agree that a better income is the greatest factor that enables college graduates to be more successful. According to Postsecondary Education Opportunity Research Letter, “[t]he lifetime income of families headed by individuals with a bachelor’s degree will be about $1.6 million more than the incomes of families headed by those with a high-school diploma” (Hansen). This is a significant amount of money, especially when you take in to consideration all the needs of a family. It could enable a family to buy their children cars, pay off their mortgage, or help pay for anything else a family may need or want. In addition to an increased income, many people say that a college education improves people’s quality of life.
People most likely believe this because of the many benefits people usually attain from receiving a college education. Studies show that in comparison with high school graduates, those with college degrees have “greater economic stability and security, better access to health care, more book purchases, more self-confidence, and less criminal activity and incarceration” (Hansen). All of these things could improve a person’s quality of living by making their lives a little more convenient and possibly more enjoyable. However, attaining some of these things may vary depending on the person and not necessarily the education they have. Personally, I am currently a student a Virginia Tech and agree that a college education can be very beneficial to a person’s life.
However, lately I have been wondering what else I could have done after graduating from high school and if I would have been just as successful if I had chosen to do something else. But in order to figure this out I first had to decide what I think it means to be successful. I believe being successful in life should not be defined by how much money you make, but by how happy you have become with yourself and your accomplishments. By this I mean if you love what you are doing—even if it does not pay well—and you are happy with whom you have become and where you have ended up, then you are successful. Albert Schweitzer, a German-French philosopher, believes in a similar definition:
Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to
success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.
(Hubpages)
This means that even if you have accomplished everything that people typically describe as becoming successful (such as graduating from college and getting a well paying job), but you are not happy, then you are not truly successful (Hubpages). Unfortunately, youth today are made to believe the very opposite and that they need to be wealthy and “successful” in order to be happy.
Many teenagers who graduate from high school are pushed by their parents or other mentors to go to college and get a well-paying job. Although this may help youth to become financially stable, it may also be setting them up to do something that they do not want to do, resulting in an unhappy life. Some parents even force their children to pursue the same career path they did, even if it is against the child’s will. This is not the right thing to do because we should be allowing our youth to do whatever it is that will make them happy. We also should not be encouraging our young people to do something just because it is what the majority of people do in order to get paid better. There are several alternatives that our youth can choose to do to become successful instead of going to college.
As an alternative, youth today could chose to join the military, work a special trade, or simply choose to pursue their dreams as an artist or maybe a singer. There are many job opportunities like this that pay very well and do not require a college education. Ultimately, we need to encourage our youth to do whatever it is that will make them happy. However, going to college is something that some youth decide will make them happy and this should not be discouraged. But we should not lead our youth astray, making them believe that in order to be successful in life you need a high-paying job. So the answer to the question is no, those who go to college are not setting themselves up to be more successful than those who choose to do otherwise. They are both equally successful as long as they are doing the things they love; because success is not defined by how much money you make in your lifetime, but by how happy you are with what you have done and who you have become in your lifetime.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Halloween!
Halloween is one of the greatest and most enjoyable holidays of the year. What makes it so fun is all of the hilarious costumes people dress in, the spooky decorations everyone puts up, Halloween parties, pumpkin carving, and of course all of the candy you can get by going trick-or-treating. Halloween is a holiday that can be enjoyed by people, young and old, because there are so many different, fun activities to do. Although, Halloween is a traditional holiday that has change a great deal by spreading to different countries over many, many years.
Halloween originated over 2,000 years ago in present day Ireland, United Kingdom, and northern France. A group of people known as the Celts, who lived in this area, celebrated the New Year on November 1st in an ancient festival known as Samhain. They celebrated this day as the last day of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark and cold winter; which was a season often associated with death. The Celts believed on the night of the New Year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and dead would be broken, allowing dead spirits to freely roam the earth. They believed that these spirits caused mischief, damaged crops, and made it easier for Celtic priests, known as Druids, to predict the future. The prophecies they made were very important to the Celts because it gave comfort and direction to them during the long and hard winters.
To celebrate the Samhain festival, Druids would build large, sacred bonfires in which the Celtic people would burn crops and animals in as sacrifices to Celtic deities. During the festival, the Celts would wear costumes, typically made of animal heads and skins, and the Druids would attempt to tell peoples’ fortunes. By A.D. 43, Romans conquered most of the Celtic territory, and changed the traditions of the Samhain festival according to their own belief systems. From that time on, the tradition of Samhain evolved as it spread to different countries, eventually coming to America, and has became a far different tradition, known as Halloween. Many of the traditions and superstitions have remained relatively the same; however there are several things such as trick-or-treating that have been picked up by different people and are practiced today.
Halloween in America today for most people is less concentrated on spirits who return to earth and is now mostly about having a good time. One reason I love Halloween so much is because it is one of the only days of the year where it is socially acceptable to dress up in a ridiculous costume. Here at Virginia Tech, students and cadets dress up in a wide variety of costumes. Some are funny, creative, scary, sexy, or just simple. Both girls and guys alike go all out when dressing up in their costumes by wearing makeup, putting their hair in crazy styles, or acquiring all of the necessary accessories that add the finishing touches to their outfits. Although some of these things can get expensive, so others will just make their costumes themselves, which makes it that much funnier.
Dressing up in costumes for Halloween is typically something that younger kids do, unless you’re a college student. On Halloween night, young children usually dress up in their costumes and go trick-or-treating. This is one of my favorite parts of Halloween because you get to walk around town, knock on your neighbors’ doors, and they will just give you free candy! However it is very unfortunate that it is not acceptable for anyone older than eighteen to do this. But in addition to getting lots of free candy, whenever you go trick-or-treating, you get the chance to walk around and see all of the decorations people put up for this wonderful holiday.
On Halloween people decorate their houses with orange lights, jack-o-lanterns, ghost, black cats, or other spooky decorations. Even in my dorm, everyone decorates their doors and writes “Happy Halloween” on their dry erase boards. All the colors associated with decorating for Halloween, like orange and yellow, are perfect with the colors of the leaves that change during this time as well. Even the process of decorating for Halloween can be enjoyable for people of all ages. I personally love making jack-o-lanterns.
Carving pumpkins is something that I really enjoy doing around Halloween. It is a lot of fun to do because you get the chance to get your hands dirty and you can make any kind of pattern you want. Then when the pumpkins are finished, they make great decorations for Halloween because at night when trick-or-treaters come to your house, it glows dimly, giving an eerie sensation to anyone who knocks on your door. But the best part about carving jack-o-lanterns is when Halloween is over and the carved pumpkins start to fall apart, then you get throw them on the road or sidewalk, smashing them in a million pieces. Another thing some people enjoy doing during Halloween is watching scary movies.
Although not everyone enjoys watching scary movies, I mostly enjoy watching the classic ones such as Halloween, Friday the 13th, and A Nightmare On Elm Street. Watching scary movies around Halloween is something a lot of people enjoy doing because of all of the superstitious beliefs about Halloween night. Along with carving pumpkins and watching scary movies, there are several other different traditions families do all across the United States.
Some traditional extracurricular activities for Halloween include pumpkin festivals, Halloween costume parties, corn mazes, and other festive activities. All of these traditions derived from a very different tradition and belief that was practiced thousands of years ago. This ancient tradition has involved into something far more commercial and much more enjoyable. Although, Halloween is practiced differently in different countries and may still be very similar to its origins in other places. But in the United States of America, we have turned this holiday into something that just about everyone can enjoy, while still keeping some of the scary traditions.
Halloween originated over 2,000 years ago in present day Ireland, United Kingdom, and northern France. A group of people known as the Celts, who lived in this area, celebrated the New Year on November 1st in an ancient festival known as Samhain. They celebrated this day as the last day of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark and cold winter; which was a season often associated with death. The Celts believed on the night of the New Year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and dead would be broken, allowing dead spirits to freely roam the earth. They believed that these spirits caused mischief, damaged crops, and made it easier for Celtic priests, known as Druids, to predict the future. The prophecies they made were very important to the Celts because it gave comfort and direction to them during the long and hard winters.
To celebrate the Samhain festival, Druids would build large, sacred bonfires in which the Celtic people would burn crops and animals in as sacrifices to Celtic deities. During the festival, the Celts would wear costumes, typically made of animal heads and skins, and the Druids would attempt to tell peoples’ fortunes. By A.D. 43, Romans conquered most of the Celtic territory, and changed the traditions of the Samhain festival according to their own belief systems. From that time on, the tradition of Samhain evolved as it spread to different countries, eventually coming to America, and has became a far different tradition, known as Halloween. Many of the traditions and superstitions have remained relatively the same; however there are several things such as trick-or-treating that have been picked up by different people and are practiced today.
Halloween in America today for most people is less concentrated on spirits who return to earth and is now mostly about having a good time. One reason I love Halloween so much is because it is one of the only days of the year where it is socially acceptable to dress up in a ridiculous costume. Here at Virginia Tech, students and cadets dress up in a wide variety of costumes. Some are funny, creative, scary, sexy, or just simple. Both girls and guys alike go all out when dressing up in their costumes by wearing makeup, putting their hair in crazy styles, or acquiring all of the necessary accessories that add the finishing touches to their outfits. Although some of these things can get expensive, so others will just make their costumes themselves, which makes it that much funnier.
Dressing up in costumes for Halloween is typically something that younger kids do, unless you’re a college student. On Halloween night, young children usually dress up in their costumes and go trick-or-treating. This is one of my favorite parts of Halloween because you get to walk around town, knock on your neighbors’ doors, and they will just give you free candy! However it is very unfortunate that it is not acceptable for anyone older than eighteen to do this. But in addition to getting lots of free candy, whenever you go trick-or-treating, you get the chance to walk around and see all of the decorations people put up for this wonderful holiday.
On Halloween people decorate their houses with orange lights, jack-o-lanterns, ghost, black cats, or other spooky decorations. Even in my dorm, everyone decorates their doors and writes “Happy Halloween” on their dry erase boards. All the colors associated with decorating for Halloween, like orange and yellow, are perfect with the colors of the leaves that change during this time as well. Even the process of decorating for Halloween can be enjoyable for people of all ages. I personally love making jack-o-lanterns.
Carving pumpkins is something that I really enjoy doing around Halloween. It is a lot of fun to do because you get the chance to get your hands dirty and you can make any kind of pattern you want. Then when the pumpkins are finished, they make great decorations for Halloween because at night when trick-or-treaters come to your house, it glows dimly, giving an eerie sensation to anyone who knocks on your door. But the best part about carving jack-o-lanterns is when Halloween is over and the carved pumpkins start to fall apart, then you get throw them on the road or sidewalk, smashing them in a million pieces. Another thing some people enjoy doing during Halloween is watching scary movies.
Although not everyone enjoys watching scary movies, I mostly enjoy watching the classic ones such as Halloween, Friday the 13th, and A Nightmare On Elm Street. Watching scary movies around Halloween is something a lot of people enjoy doing because of all of the superstitious beliefs about Halloween night. Along with carving pumpkins and watching scary movies, there are several other different traditions families do all across the United States.
Some traditional extracurricular activities for Halloween include pumpkin festivals, Halloween costume parties, corn mazes, and other festive activities. All of these traditions derived from a very different tradition and belief that was practiced thousands of years ago. This ancient tradition has involved into something far more commercial and much more enjoyable. Although, Halloween is practiced differently in different countries and may still be very similar to its origins in other places. But in the United States of America, we have turned this holiday into something that just about everyone can enjoy, while still keeping some of the scary traditions.
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