Snaps for Knowledge!

Today I learned about:

• Chinese dissidence in the city of Shifang 
• Labor camps and black jails 
• Tibetan self-immolations
• The "Pussy Trials" in Russia 
• Boko Haram/Abubakar Shekau
• American pageantry 
• Irrational fears in our society 
• African-American hair 

The reason behind Spongebob's lack of intelligence (but not really)

I grew up associating intelligence with one's ability to "absorb material like a sponge". It wasn't until now, however, that I noticed a flaw in this argument. For, even the greatest sponges are wrung dry, losing everything they once possessed. So, if I only focus on consuming knowledge, will I be wrung dry as well?

Don't get me wrong, I love learning... I even subscribed to nytimes.com to motivate myself to stay updated  with current events around the world! But, I feel as if I personally come up short each time I explore a new subject of interest. Even in school, I tend to gloss over the material, memorize it the night before the test, spew out what I remember on testing day, and forget it until it shows up on another exam.

One day an intellectual descended from the hills of Ithaca pointed out this problem to me. He stressed that students today should not only be focused on "learning" for grades, but also learning how to learn. As I sit here, reading up on countless stories for my comparative government/politics class, his words continue to ring inside my head. Sure, I find the articles interesting, but I have yet to actually delve into the different topics, exploring different opinions and perspectives.

When it comes to this, I'd much rather place the blame my procrastination as opposed to any sort of apathy. I hate feeling as if I don't care, because I know that I actually do. I love being informed and aware... and having opinions. In a way, that's the only thing that keeps the human race in class of it's own... we exist between animal and machine due to our abilities to think and feel.

If my argument above suggests that humans act on practicality like machines and instinct like animals,
then why do I lack both?
Endlessly working for the next five days to finish summer assignments that were assigned months ago,
Karen

Itsy Bitsy Spiders

I've been thinking a lot lately ... sometimes even about the process of thinking. And I guess this blog post complicates things even further because as I write this, I am thinking about thinking about thinking. In a way, my mind is a spider creating some convoluted web out of my thoughts. This web intertwines, overlaps, and... never ends.

Sea Monsters and Productivity

I think that planning keeps me sane. Before ever jumping into an assignment, I draw up a mass to-do list including every little ambition that I have for that day. Of course, I only accomplish 1 out of the 29340234234 things on this list, but for some reason that never worries me. I guess I just like knowing that I have a plan for the day and goals to accomplish.

But today, unlike every other day this past summer, I actually accomplished more than one thing on this list... I accomplished two! This feeling of success is enough to last me an entire week! Haha, again I kid... I'm drowning in a sea of unfinished (and un-started) assignments and am doomed to spend the rest of my summer in the library.

Nostalgia

I've been going through old photographs and wishing for a time turner of some sort. Even if just for a day, I would like to go back to childhood bliss and innocence... A time when the only things I wished for on my birthday was my letter to Hogwarts and cake.

I am Chameleon

By nature or choice
I linger behind

Into the setting
Consumed by the crowd

Blending and hiding
Just call me Waldo.

Indie in the Morning

I feel like my hipster senses are tingling whenever I wake up to my favorite songza playlist. It kind of makes me want to:

• Look up non-conformist art
• Contemplate non-conformist art
• Inspire non-conformist art
• Be non-conformist art

Okay, you caught me... I'm totally kidding. Self-proclaimed hipsters that make an effort to be "non-conformist" actually make me cringe. I dig their attempts to stray from social norms but it can get old pretty quickly. I'm all for discovering obscure indie bands but I'm also down to jam out to the Biebz every now and then. 

Pointless post is pointless, 

Karen 

Common App Chronicles

My essay thus far:

Uninspired (and Pathetic)

To whoever has the tolerance to read my writing:

The Bermudan sun has drained me of all of my energy...and creativity for that matter. Feeling tired and uninspired, I've decided to use this text post to chronicle my pathetic existence. Here's a little tidbit from my past vacation:

While on the cruise, I walked up to a member of the staff and asked for him to direct me to the nearest bathroom. He responded with, "Which one? The men's or women's?" I think after that I was a little dumbfounded, almost stunned...maybe even a little concerned that one of the crew members could not tell my own sex. I might be exaggerating but this guy actually did not know which bathroom I use...and that's a little disconcerting to me.

But, since I've adopted this "whatever" attitude, I've been trained to not let something like this phase me. First world problems are already too trivial for my liking.

Karen

The College Application Process That Began Ten Years Ago

When I was an impressionable and naive little second grader, I watched "A Cinderella Story" a.k.a. the movie that ruined my life. Although it claims to chronicle the senior year of some hopeless romantic, the film's really an obscure form of Princeton University propaganda targeted at young Asian hopefuls, myself included. 

When I was an impressionable and naive little ninth grade, my underlying obsession with colleges  and college planning was fueled by a little trip to student personnel services. After walking in with my friend Maryam (you can check out her blog here), we were greeted by a kind women offering us "The ABC's of College Planning" and "The Roadmap to College". I not only absorbed this material like a sponge, but also created a chart of acceptance rates to compliment it. 

When I was an impressionable and naive little twelfth grader, I had to stop being so impressionable and naive. I began the common application yesterday, and the lingering, yet distant thought of college became all too real. It's still something I'm trying to grasp. 

The Day the Universe Changed

Dear Reader,
Assuming that you've read the title of this post, I'll warn you that it's neither deep nor insightful. I don't break down the human condition nor do I analyze the cultural progression of our ever-changing society. Rather, this text serves as an expression of my blatant disinterest in James Burke's The Day The Universe Changed. For a mere $1.50 + shipping, I have managed to buy a roadblock that stands in the way of me and the rest of my summer vacation. I want to visit colleges, hang out with friends, and explore the world...and I intend to do all of these things with the month that I have left. This assignment, however, looms over my plans and into the depths of my conscience. (Dramatic, I know...but what's a high school blog without a little teenage angst?)

For now, I'll continue to just open the book in 5 minute intervals and feel productive.
Let's all laugh at how pathetic I sound,
Karen

Introductions

On this lovely tuesday afternoon, I felt the random urge to document my entire life. Although I should be working on my summer assignments, my impulsive nature has introduced me to the wonderful world of Google blogger. The way I see it, this blog has the potential to house my oppressed and troubled individuality only further debilitated by the conformist institution commonly known as high school. Haha, I'm totally kidding by the way... 

In all seriousness, I'm just your average high school senior living in middle class suburbia. Get to know me through my various stories and musings!

Happy Scrolling, 

Karen