Let the MADNESS begin!

 

          

  For some people, especially sports enthusiasts March is the most exciting time of the year.  This is because the biggest college basketball tournament and championship take place.  While some people feel that all of the hype surrounding the tournament is needless and irrelevant I personally like the way it gets people involved.  I feel closer to any other sporting event or program when I choose them to win my bracket than anything else.  It’s also special because anyone and everyone can choose to fill out a March Madness bracket and share their predictions.  In my family we all choose to pay $5 in a pot and whoever of the 25 of us who usually participate gets to keep the prize if their bracket is correct. 

            I think that March Madness is very important because it allows people to come together and be entertained which was the initial point of sports.  ESPN is now one of the most highly regarded news services because they strive to produce shows and entertainment for everyone.  With March Madness people get so involved and passionate about a sport and teams that it really is something I cherish.  While the girls I know tend to choose teams based on one attractive player they know, color of the jersey, or whether or not they’ve heard of the school; others of us put thought and effort into following the teams throughout the entire season and then predicting and hoping for the best. 

            March Madness is a time to get together with family and friends to compare favorite teams, and hope that an upset doesn’t occur.  In the end it’s just a fun time to appreciate the players and coaches who dedicate so much time and effort to the sport. It’s one of my favorite past times and traditions.  It’s a time for everyone to feel the same feelings of anticipation and hope for a result that no one can really predict. Who do you think will win?

DADDY by 13?

In class we have been exploring the Internet and its uses. Some people argue that it is good while others argue it is bad.  I personally love the Internet and all of the tools and services it supplies me.  While I don’t think that it is necessarily acceptable for people to use it to exploit others I do admire how fast and easily news gets out.  My favorite thing about the Internet is you never know what you’re going to get.  I was extremely shocked to find a story about a British boy who recently fathered a child at the age of 13.  THIRTEEN years old?  How is that even possible?  I’m pretty sure that at the age of thirteen I still thought that the stork was in charge of getting babies to where they’re supposed to go.  I couldn’t imagine my little thirteen year old brother even coming close to putting himself in that position.   I checked and re-check to make sure that I was reading this story off of a reliable source, to my demise I was.  The Sun, a real life news source in Britain reported it (here’s a link to check it out). 

After I got over my initial shock of the story, I began thinking about the privacy of families verses the sensationalism of journalism reporting.  I asked myself whether or not it was fair for this story to be out into the public, whether or not the family or the new father wanted to be labeled a certain way.  I think that we can attribute this die-hard, absolutely have to get the story mentality to the Internet.  Writers obviously want to get paid more and assigned better stories, but if we didn’t have the Internet would people read or know about as farfetched stories as these?  Would gossip and intrusion of people’s private lives be so acceptable?  While I love the Internet and all of its ins and outs; I’m not sure I’d want my personal life to be a click away from anyone.  Would you?

are YOU good enough?

During the whole first semester my friends and I found ourselves being conscious of our actions when we went out because “sorority girls” were watching.  Facebook friends were deleted, pictures and recommendations we’re all sent in to the sororities of our choice. But was it really our choice?  Rush week was easily one of the most hectic and hellish weeks I’ve even been put through.  I had no idea that I would be put in as many awkward situations as I was during that week.  I dreaded going into houses that I didn’t want, and I knew didn’t want me.  Every day when we showed up to rush trying to look better than the girl next to us, I felt uncomfortable.  I asked myself who would invent such a tedious and oftentimes disheartening process?  It doesn’t seem fair or realistic for people to judge us based on rumors or just what they read on paper.  What makes those girls who are already in houses better than me?  It’s a vicious process that is supposed to have everyone end up “where they’re supposed to be”.  I guess I can attest to that, but can’t help but wonder if the process can ever come less vicious and unethical? Or will the cycle continue to go on? I know what I would do in my perfect world…

A Rugged & Real Experience

College has proved to be a whirlwind of decisions, events, and friendships. The party scene has been everything I expected, and more. But, I can’t help but feel that the “college experience” is overrated. After all, my college voyage has only been going for three months and my friends and I have already run out of ideas. The fraternity house parties were fun for a while, but you can only pee in the same bathroom as guys so many times before you lose interest. The bar scene is fun, but it’s impossible to meet people and a showcase for people to make fools of themselves. All of the gossip and hook ups that happen and are talked about on this small campus were proving to get the best of us. That was, until we were invited to go to Hamilton Texas for a weekend get away at a friend of my friend’s ranch.
My friends and I had never been to a ranch before. Vacations for us usually consist of a pool, beach, and sun tanning. But, we were excited for a new experience. We drove for three hours to the Garrett Ranch. As the black rod iron fence opened and showed us the fifteen hundred acre ranch, I couldn’t help but exclaim, “it’s cool we’re being rugged.” The overwhelming feeling of being rugged hunters only lasted for a few minutes as we finally made it to the destination; a ranch house with enough bedrooms for all ten of its guests to sleep alone.
Through out the weekend we participated in activities such as driving around a Polaris, which is used to hunt because it’s smaller and quieter than a truck. We each took turns learning how to safely handle a gun and shoot it. We ate raw pecans from the ground that had fallen off pecan trees a short walk away from the house. And, we took a trip into the barren town. To put things into perspective, Hamilton has a population of 2,977 people. That day there happened to be a championship game in the neighboring town of Glen Rose. Shops and restaurants were closed down just like in old-fashioned movies so that the people who owned them could go to the game. So, instead of meeting people nearby our newest favorite place, we took in the scenery. Everything was old-fashioned and rugged. It felt like we were walking in a scene of an old country western movie.
The trip to Hamilton was one of my favorite things that I’ve done so far in college. It not only made it easy to get my mind off of the stresses of college. It put college into perspective for me. The drama and the parties are fun, but they won’t last forever. I know that I have just begun my partying days and will meet plenty of new people as time goes by here at SMU. But, I think it’s important to be adventurous. When you have a chance to do something outside of your comfort zone, try it because you never know what new hobbies you’ll acquire along the way.

Please Don't Stop the Music.

What is it about music that makes everything ok?  No matter what I’m feeling – I could be overwhelmed, recently find out bad news, or just soul searching- and I can always find the perfect song to make everything in the world seem irrelevant.  I never used to listen to music until I needed some sort of safe haven at college. Sharing a bedroom, bathroom, and bedtime were things that I never experienced at home and were things that I was struggling with. It’s weird to have to ask if I can change the channel on the TV, or worry about eating my roommate’s chips instead of mine.  It’s even weirder to be so far away from my family and friends.  I used to struggle to find places to study that were quiet and comfortable enough that I could still focus.  My roommate always had her headphones in and so one day I decided to try it.  I haven’t looked back.

I’ve found that it’s so much easier to concentrate when you have your books, or computer, and music and that is all.  Over the past few months I have developed different iTunes play lists for my different feelings or types of work I had to get accomplished. When I need to write a paper I usually go for Colbie Callait or Natasha Bedingfield.  When I’m just researching or wandering on the web I tend to listen to more intense music; such as Dashboard Confessional, or Jimmy Eat World.  When I miss home I listen to oldies and classics that remind me of fond memories that I experienced with my family.

Recently, I’ve found myself missing my family and old routine more than ever.  The transition from high school to college was easy for me – how couldn’t it be with all of the distractions and new friendships.  But, these past weeks have been extremely hard for me to get through.  I don’t think that I’d be here and focused if it wasn’t for music.  It’s such an overrated gift that we’re all given.  Not appreciating things to their full potential seems to be a common theme in my life lately.  But, now I can honestly say I’m thankful for the world of music and how it applies and helps my world of academia and life in general.