The Year Is Coming to An End and Goals Have Developed

     There are so many goals that I have developed throughout the year - graduating high school, passing classes, and signing up for classes at Glendale Community College. Now that the year is coming to an end, I can reflect back on everything that I have accomplished. The goals I currently have are finishing the semester strong, loosing weight, and getting a job that suits my personality and style.

     Firstly, I would love to finish my first semester of college on a high note. In high school, you don't worry about grades to much - unless it's your senior year and you're failing second semester. In college I have been striving to do the best and be the best I know I am able to be. In high school I wasn't the greatest student and I wish, looking back, that I pushed myself to do better. In addition, throughout the semester I have created many great friends, including a boyfriend. Yet another example, as a goal for myself- relating to finishing off the semester, I would like to continue making more friends and grow stronger with my boyfriend. In the article, "Goal Setting Questions," the author states a question saying "Where do I want to get to?" I relate to this question because in order to further my education I needed to think about where I wanted to be.  In addition to the article, in the video Carol Dweck she says "Here are some things we can do. First of all, we can praise wisely, not praising intelligence or talent." No matter the circumstances I would love to accomplish finishing off the semester strong.
     Secondly, I would love to loose a total amount of fifty pounds by the end of year 2016. I always make a goal of loosing weight - I may end up loosing it or not, but it always seems to get worse or I end up gaining it back. There are many things that stand in my way like emotional eating and stress. Although there are many obstacles, I would like to strive for completion of this goal. To even further the goal, I would like to learn ways to continue keeping that weight off.  Deck shares with her audience saying that "Just the words "yet" or "not yet,"were finding, give kids greater confidence, give them a path into the future that creates greater persistence. And we can actually change students mindsets. In addition, the article asks the question "Who can help me?", I need to ask this question constantly to myself because I tend to keep myself and it doesn't help while trying to loose weight.
     Lastly, I would like to get a job that suits my personality and style. To achieve this goal, I want to figure out what I want to do in life. In the article the author says "How shall I get there?" I ask myself this question because if I don't I won't be able to get anywhere with the goals I want to achieve. I know I'm young, but the personality type I have is a planner and I hate not knowing where I'm going when I have control over my future. Another example, is when I get a job I will be able to be more independent. In the video, Dweck states "But praising the process that kids engage in: their effort, their strategies, their focus, their perseverance, their improvement. This process praise creates kids who are hardy and resilient.I need the perseverance because without it I have no motivation. I hate asking my parents for money, as easy as it is to get money that way, I always feel completely guilty and would be much easier to earn my own. In addition, would like to start looking into moving out of the house and I cant do that if I don't have an income coming in.
     Finishing the semester off strong, loosing weight, and getting a job that suits my personality and styles are all the current goals that I have for the rest of the year.

American Beauty: Power of Movies

       There are so many movies that have been created throughout decades and decades. Movies are forms of escapism and entertainment. One movie that stands out to me is the movie American Beauty made in 1999 directed by Sam Mendez. American Beauty has phenomenal artistic points/cinematography, symbolism that shows throughout the movie, and thought- provoking plots.
        Firstly, American Beauty has phenomenal artistic points. For example, it uses specific scenes to create confusion and irony. In the movie, Ricky Fitts father was hiding the fact that he was gay. When he looked through the window to see his son doing what he thought was "sexual" behavior he got angry. At first in this scene you think the father is mad at his son for doing these actions, but you later figure out in the scene where he kisses Jane's father that he is truly gay and he was more upset that his son was becoming more like him. In addition there are other scenes that express the same irony and confusion. For example, Mr. Fitts was a former military man and in the movie you see multiple movie shots where his wife sits still with absolutely nothing to say. Later, you figure out that the reason she is acting this way is because her husband abuses her. In the video, "Collin Stokes: How Movies Teaches Manhood," Stokes explains that there are a couple ways that older movies like The Wizard of Oz differ from more recent movies is that they had very little violence and few movies with female villainous characters. In addition to the video, the article "What Makes a Great Film?" the author states that a great movie must give full in depth details that make the audience focus and pay attention - this is what makes the audience think about what the hidden meanings are behind everything throughout the film. In my opinion, a great film consists of many different artistic points that make you interested the whole way through.
         Secondly, the movie American Beauty has a great deal of symbolism that shows throughout the entire film. For example, the colors and objects were used on purpose but weren't so excruciatingly obvious. An example of this is the crush that Mr. Burnham has on Jane's friend. Throughout the entire film you see actor Angela Hayes acting as Jane's friend, who is naked with only roses covering the parts that are most revealing. These roses symbolize the infatuation and new love that Mr. Burnham is having due to lack of emotion he is having in his marriage. The movie itself  also resembles the American Beauty Rose, thus adding many scenes with the rose throughout the movie. In the video, Stokes further explains by going into to depth by questioning what are people - mainly younger people, taking in from movies that show the theme "all villains must die," "Are they seeing someone who is being courageous or someone who is abusive?" In addition, towards the end of the movie you see Mr. Burnham get shot in the back of the head and his blood is dripping off the end of the table. As this may seem like a normal shot in every movie, in American Beauty this shot was even more beautifully done because everything into the background looked dark and gloomy and here you see this bright red blood - the same color as the roses that were show by Hayes character.  The article "What Makes a Great film?" the point of "attention to details" also goes along with interesting symbolism that takes place throughout the film.  Symbolism in a movie creates depth and allows the audience to get into what those symbols actually mean in a movie.
    Lastly, American Beauty is purely just thought provoking. For example, while watching the entire movie you see two marriages become distant. In the movie, Mr. Burnham is infatuated with Jane's friend, but Mrs. Burnham is the one having an affair. This affairs adds to the plot because you see Mr. Burnhams wife get noticed - something that her husband is lacking making them not see eye to eye. Towards the end of the movie you see Mrs. Burnham devastated that her husband found out about her affair, so she he a radio commercial saying she is not the victim and plans on killing her husband. Even before she gets home, another person ends up shooting her husband leaving her upset that the love of her life was gone. In the video, Stakes made a clear point that movies are showing males that it is okay to abuse women. In fact he says, "one out of five american women are abused my males." American Beauty leaves you thinking even after watching the movie.
           Having phenomenal artistic points, having tons of symbolism, and being thought provoking are all ways that American Beauty is the masterpiece that came to be.

Advice At It's Finest

     As there is an endless amount of advice that a person could give to another there are specific ones that have helped me as a person.  The advice that has helped me through life is just to get through high school. In elementary school we think of how great high school will be - new people, new school, for us girls, new boys.  At that age, I thought of all new possibilities I would have after graduating from eighth grade. While in elementary school I was put into special education (IEP) and there I was taught that I didn't have to do all the work and I could have do-overs. When I graduated and went into high school, I was put in special education again and it ruined my reputation and was way to easy for me. After my first year, I was given the choice to move schools and get taken off the special education plan. Making this decision, made my life so much better in the long run. My parents always used to tell me to get through high school because all the gossip truly stops, it's all about you, and you have the freedom to do what you want.  

     Firstly, in high school everyone was worried about all the gossip going through schools and in college no one really cares. For example, everybody was worried about all the new "hot" couples walking through school. In addition, in high school there were always cliques and you could never feel like you belonged. Along with that, those of us who fit in with all cliques were seen as misfits or outcasts. Now being in college, I have socialized with many different kinds of people and have created the best friend group that I know I will keep forever. In the article, "Advice For New Students" Tom Diehl from University of Pittsburg says "Throughout high school, I had been relentlessly bullied and criticized for who I was and what I believed in. Eager to prevent my problems from following me to college, I kept my hard exterior, overcompensating for my fear of being rejected. It took me an entire semester realize this was the exact opposite of the approach I should have taken. What I hadn't taken into account was that everyone I would be surrounded by would be in the same boat. Shed your inhibitions and prior conceptions of who people can be. College provides an environment that fosters creativity, friendship, and acceptance. Don't aim to prove those that doubted you wrong, but push yourself to prove yourself wrong." I feel this is eye opening advice to any grade, but especially college because the friends you make in college are the friends you will have the longest relationship with.  This advice helped this problem because I learned how to be myself and not care what others think.

   Secondly, in high school its about other people while in college its all about you. For example, in college you can pick all the classes you'd be interested in taking whereas in high school you were forced to take the classes that were picked through the state. In high school I tried getting all my general education out of the way so by the end of my high school education I could take all the fun classes my senior year. This advice helped me because I was given an opportunity to explore my interests and really take into account possible career choices. In the article, Sangepu Ashrith says "College life is similar to what happens when you get high - i.e., you have a vague idea of your surroundings and forget who you are and where you wanted to go. Don't make that mistake. It will cost you years." I feel this advice is very helpful because college gives you the chance to take different kinds of classes but if you don't choose the right major you could get yourself stuck and it will be hard to recover from it.

   Lastly, unlike high school, college allows you have the freedom to be who you are and explore different opportunities. For example, in high school you always had you're parents behind your back telling you what you can and can't do. In college, you can experience things your parents weren't very fond of while in high school. I had this experience because I always felt like I was on a leash and very naive. Since college, I feel like I have been able to make decisions for myself. In addition, college allows me to make decisions on what I want to spend my time on or my money on. In the article, Claudia Siqueiros says "Having a set agenda for four years of your life does not usually go according to plan. If you find you are not having an exciting college experience, change something. Do not let the pressures or judgement of others keep you in a situation that isn't ideal for you. The change might be challenging at first, but it will be worth it." In addition to the article, the video Jk Rowling spoke in says that life will create hardships and you have get out of you're comfort zone in order to succeed. This advice is great because you can't let others guide you and you are the only one who knows what you want. 

  Not worrying about gossip, it only being about you, having the freedom to be who you are,  is related to the best advice i've been given - just getting through high school.