Week 3:Books

     In my junior year of high school, my English teacher had a list of the top 100 books you should read before going to college that she suggested for any of us who were interested to read but was not mandatory. I made it my goal to complete all of it before the end of high school. Although I was not successful, I did manage to read the majority of it. From that list, I discovered a lot of books that changed my opinions and influenced me a lot and they also became my favorites.
    "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho would be my top number one. This book is basically about a young boy who goes on a journey to find a treasure but in the end, he found something much more valuable than any superficial thing can offer. This book made an strong impact in my life because it subtly conveys the message that people are in control of their own lives and they can determine how everything plays out.

       The second book that I absolutely love would be "A Lesson Before Dying" by Ernest J. Gaines. This book for me was so powerful that I actually teared up towards the end. It is about a young African-American man named Jefferson who was convicted for a murder that he did not commit. At the trial, the lawyer who was trying to "defend" him, concluded that he was nothing but a hog, and was too dumb to do the crime. The words affected Jefferson's self-reflection so much, that his grandmother asked an inspiring school teacher to teach Jefferson how to die like a man and not a hog. In the end, Jefferson and the school teacher both learn a valuable yet heart-breaking lesson.

       The last book would be "The Catcher in the Rye" by JD Salinger. This story would be about a more modern/recent time compared to the other two books. It is about the main character boy Holden, and his self-discovery as he is forced to grow up in painful ways and make the transition from a boy to an adult. The title was what really made an impact for me, because it was really catchy and clever. The "catcher" would be Holden, who wishes that he can metaphorically catch the children who are about to fall into the harsh reality of adulthood, and make the transition less painful than it was for him.

Week 2

In our current society, it is inevitable that we often blame the media and the environment for all the negatives happenning around us. For instance, there was a time when girls used to have an ideal mindset of what boyfriends or guys should be and act like. Many girls often believe what is portrayed by shows and movies about chivalrous guys who automatically put their girls first with unrealistic deep feelings like being able to die for them etc when they just meet. I remember when I was younger around high school, many of my female friends often complain about how their boyfriends do not act a certain way or look a certain way that movies say good guys are supposed to be like. As we grew older, some realized that it was the media's fault for making them believe certain fantasies of how guys should be like.

This article gives the description of how romantic movies are blamed for failed relationships.

Week 1: Media Autobiography

       People are always surprised when I tell them that one of my hobbies includes reading. I never said it just to sound more intellectual, but because I actually love reading books. Ever since I was a child, I loved reading all types of novels, mostly mysteries or romance ones though. However, as I grew older and started high school, I became very interested in more complicated books that invokes critical thinking. My favorite book for a long time was, "The Alchemist." I was pretty devastated when I found out that Borders and Barnes and Nobles in my area closed down. But I figured it is a good thing since books are now online and we can save paper. I haven't found any time for reading for awhile, but I'm glad I have Intro to Fiction this year because we read a lot of novels in the class.


        Even though books no longer popular, I believe it's good in general that there are ebooks etc on the internet etc. For me, the internet is a very convenient and accessible thing, because it allows me to research and look up information anytime I need it. It can also be a very distracting tool, because I spend at least 3 hours a day on it for social networks that are not related to anything school related. I use the internet occasionally to look up current events and news too because I like to stay updated. 

      I rarely read the newspaper because I don't like how the material goes everywhere on my fingers and clothes. I used to read the comics and the news section, but then I turned to the internet for all that. I also just use the internet to look up daily news. 


      I really enjoy reading fashion and advice magazines when I have the time to. It's interesting to see the different types of people and style that are featured in it. I find the articles on healthy lifestyles and relationships to be fun to read but not to be taken too seriously. I think some girls take these too seriously and are too gullible about the information inside them. 

       I rarely have time to read magazines anymore, but I do find the time to go to the movies a couple times a month. My favorite genre would be romantic comedy and suspense action movies. I can't stand horror or bloody/violent movies. For me, movies are a type of escape and allows the audience to imagine all kinds of possibilities and events that are usually rare in reality. I can't stand movies that do not flow well or make sense. A recent movie I watched was "The Source Code", and I thought that even though the overall theme was pretty intriguing, a lot of parts didn't make sense and it didn't flow well. 


       Other than movies, I watch the television occasionally but not as much. Shows that are on nowadays are mainly entertaining, but aren't exactly "powerful" or thought-provoking. I usually find most of the shows on the internet, so I rarely use the television anymore especially since our cable was canceled. 


      One of the most commonly used and needed media sources in my life would be music. I am able to find the positives in all types of music and can connect to them in unique ways.I especially love old songs because I believe that they are the most genuine. A good melody and lyrics are key for me, and once I find songs I like, I put them on repeat endlessly until I tire them out. My 30 minute daily drive to De-Anza would be unbearable if I didn't have any music in the car. Occasionally I would switch on the radio too, but the songs that are popular nowadays are just fun to listen to and sing along with but aren't all that interesting. 


     The media source that connects most to my major would be reading. My major currently is English because I wish to become a writer or teacher. Other than that, I wanted to work in the communications department like public relations.