21: free

Keeping on the topic of change, one major change in my life recently has been food. I am by no means a health freak, but I do enjoy eating healthy, fresh food. This, surprisingly or not, has been so difficult to do while in college. I really wish the dining hall had more healthy options, or at least changed up the salad bar once in a while. Another thing I miss is fresh fruit. I loveee fruit, and yes the dining hall has cantaloupe everyday…my least favorite :/. They also occasionally have strawberries and frozen blueberries. Recently, I have been eating out a lot because I really don’t enjoy the way I feel after I eat in the dining hall. As most, this cannot be something I can continue to do because I am on a budget and eating out everyday is quickly eating away at that. I understand why it must be hard to bring fresh food in because they must get this food in mass amounts, but there must be a way to fix this. Sometimes my friend lets me borrow his car and I always choose to go to whole foods with it. Sadly, when I walk into whole foods I get a rush of happiness and a feeling of being at home. Not that I ever buy thaaaat much while I am there, but every time I walk up and down every aisle just admiring everything. Of course, I always buy fruit while I am there and usually make a nice salad and get some food from the hot food bar for dinner. Another great place that I would recommend to anyone who wants to do a small, healthy marketing is Babo. Although it can be a little bit pricey, I think it is worth it. It is a block down from state street and has great, fresh options!

 
While my time in college I believe looking into more options for dining halls might be something I might look into, so kids in the future do have better options to choose from. I cant wait to go home for thanksgiving and have some home cooked meals!

Change.

Some changes are small and some are big. Some changes have no impact on us at all and others impact us greatly. As senior year came to an end things began to feel monotonous. Same people, same place, same things. I was ready for change, I was ready to meet new people and be in a new place. I was awaiting this transition for many months, but for so long it was so far in the future. It only hit reality about a week before I was going to get on a plane and move my life to Ann Arbor. This was probably the biggest change my life has ever brought me. I’ve been very lucky to grow up with a steady and reliable family and live in the same house and keep the same friends for many years. Of course, I have experience change in many aspects of my life but nothing this large. Moving away from my family has already made me so much more independent and I think I’m only going to continue to grow because of this. I am so happy I chose to move away from home at this age because I still have my parents to count on and support me at all times, so I am lucky enough to have the ability to gradually grow and change on my own. I am able to experience this change before hitting the real world. During my time in college I am not only going to gain independence, but also grow as a student and as a person. So far while at the University of Michigan I think I am a much more engaged and attentive student. In high school, we were barley able to choose the classes we took and I think taking classes that I am truly interested in make me want to do well and impress my teachers. I want to earn my success later in life and I think that needs to start now. I need to earn the respect of my fellow peers and my teachers. I need to put in the work that I want to come out.

18

S t r u c t u r e . . . 

Sometimes I wonder if structure is a good thing or a bad thing? When one has structure does it help them get closer to the finish or does it make it more difficult? I wonder if there even is an answer to this. I think that everyone needs a some sort of structure in their lives, but how much is too much? I think the answer to this question must vary on different types of people. Some people thrive off structure, but others need to be placed in an open field with zero around in order to come up with their best work. Structure can come in many shapes and forms, but what kind of structure is the most useful? Who do we go to for our structure? Who do we listen to? Or do we give ourselves structure? On the other hand how much is too much freedom? If one had all the freedom in the world, no limitations, no person or thing stopping them, would they be successful? Or could this have a negative effect? How much freedom is appropriate? Who can tell us how much freedom we are aloud to have? Is it most important that we listen to ourselves? Do we tell ourselves how much structure and freedom we are aloud to have or do we allow someone else to grant that for us?

A "Great" Movie

There are many components to what can make a movie “great.” 

An unbelievable amount of things go into creating a film, but when a few aspects are on point it makes the movie that much “greater.”

It is crucial for a movie to be engaging to the audience.

A well written script with an interesting plot line 

helps catch the audience.

A great movie has 

quality actors playing the right roles.

The connection the viewer can feel to the movie and the characters 

themselves engages the audience.

A great movie has 

compelling and endearing characters that captivate the audience and makes them not only think,

but also feel.

A great movie has 

great characters that are ones that the audience can empathize with, 

ones that they can laugh with.

A successful film

challenges the audience,

keeps them on their toes,

waiting and wanting to see whats going to happen next.

Growing

Music is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about something that has grown on you. A lot of the times it can be as simple as not even noticing the song, to hearing it over and over again until it begins to catch you. I have noticed that plenty of songs I hear for the first time annoy me, but as I hear them once or twice more the song begins to feel rather catchy than bothersome. Not only can the tune help one grow to like the song, but also the meaning. Food, books, and movies all have the ability to “grow” on a person for various reasons. The object and/or subject never does the growing, but rather the person. I have noticed this with food for me personally. Over the years my palate has grown and continues to grow everyday. When I was little I was SO picky and basically only ate cheese and bread- so much cheese my family called me the “cheese monster.” Everyday for lunch my mom would pack me cheese and mayo sandwiches. ( I know – disgusting) I still do loooove cheese, but I can barley even look at mayo. Although, I used to only eat cheddar cheese and now I love tasting all different kinds and will most likely love every one that comes my way.