Milton's Paradise Lost is a grand piece of work. In fact, the epic, along with the mythology surrounding it, is quite likely one of my favorite subjects in literature. This is partly due to the fact that I, unlike most, view the entire mythology - that is, religious and specifically christian texts - to be fictitious. The stories of Dante and the fall of Satan are fantastic and grandiose, as they are deeply ingrained into our primarily christian culture. These pieces are phenomenal, and even for those who do not believe in christian ideology, their immense impact is not significantly diminished.
My enjoyment of these stories might shock some people, who know my thoughts on religion, but they possess a sense of awe and spectacle that simply isn't present in most of the literature that I've read. The reason for this is obvious; the stories were written from the perspective of someone who literally believed the subject matter and intended to perpetuate it. One would hardly expect a story explaining the origin of the universe to be boring. Part of my enjoyment also comes from the analysis of these stories, and previous performance of such analysis (among other things) is why I no longer subscribe to christian faith. The flaws present in God's character are great subjects for philosophic discussion, and they should be discussed thoroughly.
Honestly, though, I don't understand why people believe in these things. I actually believed in them myself, for a time, though I don't know how much I actually believed. When I was younger, I never took the time to think about what it was that I believed in. Through the years, I actually started wondering what I thought about religion, and I stopped believing in god and religion altogether. I then began viewing all religious stories such as these through a different lens, as it were. I no longer bothered to believe in them, but this made be better at analyzing them. It's much easier to see the flaws in a piece of work when one doesn't need to incorporate it into his or her ideology.
I have digressed, but my point remains obvious; Paradise Lost and stories like it are tremendously important for their literary, rather than their religious, content. Though I do not believe in them or even fully understand why others do, I fully recognize their importance.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
Scholarship Essay
My plans for further education were not always as ambitious as they are now. In fact, there were times when I didn't plan to attend a college at all. Since I made the decision that I wanted to earn a bachelor's, masters, and doctorate degree in physics, my work in high school has changed accordingly. I am now very well prepared to excel at university.
Most obviously, my core classes have reflected my intent to pursue a degree in science. I have several credits more than I need in both science and math and I earned some of these credits in supplemental courses. I have taken several AP courses in these areas, including AP Calculus, Physics and Biology. Considering all of these challenges, my course work has prepared me very well for further education.
My preparation for college extends beyond class choice, however. I am a National Merit semifinalist as a result of my performance on the PSAT. At certain universities, I might be eligible for scholarships of hundreds of thousands of dollars. I will also be eligible for other scholarships, such as the millennium scholarship. Any scholarships that I receive in addition to merit based scholarships will only help me to pay for more of my education. If I can earn enough, I might be able to pay for the first four to six years of college without incurring any debt. This would help me enormously when I graduate and begin looking for a research position in physics.
All scholarships that I receive will be extremely helpful. I'm sure that most could say the same, but I'm demonstrably capable of achieving the goals that I set for myself. If I am able to study physics in college, I guarantee that I will secure a research position for myself.
Most obviously, my core classes have reflected my intent to pursue a degree in science. I have several credits more than I need in both science and math and I earned some of these credits in supplemental courses. I have taken several AP courses in these areas, including AP Calculus, Physics and Biology. Considering all of these challenges, my course work has prepared me very well for further education.
My preparation for college extends beyond class choice, however. I am a National Merit semifinalist as a result of my performance on the PSAT. At certain universities, I might be eligible for scholarships of hundreds of thousands of dollars. I will also be eligible for other scholarships, such as the millennium scholarship. Any scholarships that I receive in addition to merit based scholarships will only help me to pay for more of my education. If I can earn enough, I might be able to pay for the first four to six years of college without incurring any debt. This would help me enormously when I graduate and begin looking for a research position in physics.
All scholarships that I receive will be extremely helpful. I'm sure that most could say the same, but I'm demonstrably capable of achieving the goals that I set for myself. If I am able to study physics in college, I guarantee that I will secure a research position for myself.
Monday, November 25, 2013
The Problem With Election
The electoral college is an extremely antiquated process in this country. It was created to ease the election process during the founding of this country. When votes needed to be physically carried and counted and the result delivered to the capitol, the electoral college helped speed the process along. In this digital age, however, it no longer provides any benefit. The placement of votes in the hands of representatives does not equally distribute voting power equally among citizens in the best scenario, but in the United States, voting power is wildly disproportionate. In fact, it is possible to win an election in the electoral college with only 22% of the popular votes by targeting the states where votes mean the most and ignoring the states where votes mean the least. This is extremely unlikely, but it really shouldn't even be possible. Eliminating the electoral college is the first step in improving the election process in the United States.
The electoral college is not the only system that must be changed, however. Out democracy elects candidates with a 'first past the post' (FPTP) or 'winner takes all' (WTA) system. Essentially, the system works by giving one vote to every citizen (in theory) and allowing them to distribute this vote as they wish. There are a myriad of problems with this system, but the most obvious flaw is that it will ultimately result in a two-party system with little to no third party interaction. It also establishes a system where the majority of the population voted against the winning candidate. Even in the best case scenario, where there are numerous candidates from numerous parties campaigning, the majority of the population didn't vote for the winner, compared to those that did (for example, if 7 candidates campaign, a winner might only have 16% of the popular vote).
It's clear that the system needs a drastic change. If, rather than the FPTP, an 'alternative vote' or 'mixed-member representation' system was used, the election system would be much more fair and allow for much more progress in the government. Unfortunately, though, such a drastic change would be unlikely to move through the government. Our government doesn't exactly allow for large changes.
The electoral college is not the only system that must be changed, however. Out democracy elects candidates with a 'first past the post' (FPTP) or 'winner takes all' (WTA) system. Essentially, the system works by giving one vote to every citizen (in theory) and allowing them to distribute this vote as they wish. There are a myriad of problems with this system, but the most obvious flaw is that it will ultimately result in a two-party system with little to no third party interaction. It also establishes a system where the majority of the population voted against the winning candidate. Even in the best case scenario, where there are numerous candidates from numerous parties campaigning, the majority of the population didn't vote for the winner, compared to those that did (for example, if 7 candidates campaign, a winner might only have 16% of the popular vote).
It's clear that the system needs a drastic change. If, rather than the FPTP, an 'alternative vote' or 'mixed-member representation' system was used, the election system would be much more fair and allow for much more progress in the government. Unfortunately, though, such a drastic change would be unlikely to move through the government. Our government doesn't exactly allow for large changes.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
To Be
Of all of Shakespeare’s works, no piece of text is more well known than the soliloquy of Hamlet in act three, scene one. In this monologue, Shakespeare truly put the feeling of depression into words. His profound statements on death have been borrowed time and time again. Hamlet’s thoughts are not only useful when discussing depression, however. This soliloquy represents a more general idea; making a decision is much more difficult when its consequences are not understood.
The central idea of this soliloquy is put forward in the first phrase: “to be, or not to be, that is the question.” Hamlet is attempting to decide whether or not he should commit suicide, and he argues the point just as any might be argued. He expresses his desire to die and immediately counters himself with possible consequences of suicide, and he continues adding sound arguments to both sides.
His treatment of this topic is what allows such broad interpretation of his thoughts. There are several reasons why he feels compelled to commit suicide and several reasons that he feels that he shouldn’t. In the end, he does not have enough reason to act, so he defaults to inaction. This is made obvious when he says, “…enterprises of great pitch and moment / with this regard their currents turn awry / and lose the name of action.” It is very important to understand that he is not actively choosing to remain alive but simply doesn’t have enough reason to act. This theme is focused in his character throughout the play and it is presented through his inability to murder Claudius.
Some might empathize with what Hamlet says about death, but many more could empathize with his situation when applied in a broader context. Hamlet doesn’t have enough reason to act, so he does nothing. He is faced with a choice that he doesn’t fully understand. His situation represents the idea that a choice that is not understood cannot be made.
The central idea of this soliloquy is put forward in the first phrase: “to be, or not to be, that is the question.” Hamlet is attempting to decide whether or not he should commit suicide, and he argues the point just as any might be argued. He expresses his desire to die and immediately counters himself with possible consequences of suicide, and he continues adding sound arguments to both sides.
His treatment of this topic is what allows such broad interpretation of his thoughts. There are several reasons why he feels compelled to commit suicide and several reasons that he feels that he shouldn’t. In the end, he does not have enough reason to act, so he defaults to inaction. This is made obvious when he says, “…enterprises of great pitch and moment / with this regard their currents turn awry / and lose the name of action.” It is very important to understand that he is not actively choosing to remain alive but simply doesn’t have enough reason to act. This theme is focused in his character throughout the play and it is presented through his inability to murder Claudius.
Some might empathize with what Hamlet says about death, but many more could empathize with his situation when applied in a broader context. Hamlet doesn’t have enough reason to act, so he does nothing. He is faced with a choice that he doesn’t fully understand. His situation represents the idea that a choice that is not understood cannot be made.
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Social Stupidity
Social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are becoming more and more popular all the time, and many people spend several hours each week scrolling through their news feeds. I am no exception to that statement. These sites have their benefits, no doubt. They allow easy communication and transfer of information across huge distances and they accomplish this with unparalleled speed. Unfortunately, these sites have their drawbacks as well, and some are even results of their 'benefits'.
The internet is a remarkably large source of information. Indeed, it is the largest single source of information that humanity has ever known. It should be appalling, then, how few people take advantage of the information directly at their fingertips. It is very common for people to flock to sites like Facebook, wasting huge amounts of time there, while largely ignoring the abundance of educational material sprinkled around the internet. The vast majority of these people have very little idea of how much they could actually accomplish in the time that they waste on social networking sites. As a result, most of these people become naive, lazy, and mindless sheep, happy to scroll down a page and believe whatever they read. Many hoaxes were spread through email in the early internet, but these same hoaxes are now spread like viruses through social networking sites. The vast majority of these hoaxes can be debunked simply by googling them, as many are already documented (and they all lack supporting evidence). I've never seen a user do even this miniscule amount of research, and this is unacceptable. Hoaxes are allowed to spread uncontrollably by those who believe what they read by default and those that are too lazy to do otherwise.
I am truly frightened by how naive the typical social network user is and the speed at which information is transferred through such sites. I have a specific relative that serves as a perfect example of the consequences of this dangerous combination. She spends hours on Facebook throughout each day, posting and sharing dozens of statuses and comments. I have no doubt that she visits several other websites as well, all of them representing her views on politics, health, religion, etc. Unfortunately, she has no idea whether the information that she sees is correct or not because she does no research. Even worse, she doesn't care whether the information is accurate as long as it supports her beliefs. Recently, she shared a picture with the following assertion: "Every single person who has cancer has a pH is that too acidic. Dr. Otto Warburg won the Nobel Prize in 1931 for proving that cancer can't survive in an alkaline, oxygen rich environment but thrives in an acidic, low oxygen environment." [sic] I won't state that this is inaccurate based on the glaring flaw in structure. I will, however, state that it is inaccurate based on everything else.
"Otto Warburg - Biographical". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2013. Web. 31 Oct 2013. <http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1931/warburg-bio.html>
The internet is a remarkably large source of information. Indeed, it is the largest single source of information that humanity has ever known. It should be appalling, then, how few people take advantage of the information directly at their fingertips. It is very common for people to flock to sites like Facebook, wasting huge amounts of time there, while largely ignoring the abundance of educational material sprinkled around the internet. The vast majority of these people have very little idea of how much they could actually accomplish in the time that they waste on social networking sites. As a result, most of these people become naive, lazy, and mindless sheep, happy to scroll down a page and believe whatever they read. Many hoaxes were spread through email in the early internet, but these same hoaxes are now spread like viruses through social networking sites. The vast majority of these hoaxes can be debunked simply by googling them, as many are already documented (and they all lack supporting evidence). I've never seen a user do even this miniscule amount of research, and this is unacceptable. Hoaxes are allowed to spread uncontrollably by those who believe what they read by default and those that are too lazy to do otherwise.
I am truly frightened by how naive the typical social network user is and the speed at which information is transferred through such sites. I have a specific relative that serves as a perfect example of the consequences of this dangerous combination. She spends hours on Facebook throughout each day, posting and sharing dozens of statuses and comments. I have no doubt that she visits several other websites as well, all of them representing her views on politics, health, religion, etc. Unfortunately, she has no idea whether the information that she sees is correct or not because she does no research. Even worse, she doesn't care whether the information is accurate as long as it supports her beliefs. Recently, she shared a picture with the following assertion: "Every single person who has cancer has a pH is that too acidic. Dr. Otto Warburg won the Nobel Prize in 1931 for proving that cancer can't survive in an alkaline, oxygen rich environment but thrives in an acidic, low oxygen environment." [sic] I won't state that this is inaccurate based on the glaring flaw in structure. I will, however, state that it is inaccurate based on everything else.
- The statement that a person has a pH of any kind simply doesn't make sense. The liver and pancreas are slightly basic while the acids in the stomach are highly acidic. Cancer thrives in all of these areas.
- There is no citation to support the statement that "Every single person who has cancer has a pH is that too acidic."
- There is no citation to support the assertion that cancer thrives in acidic environments and cannot survive in alkaline ones.
- The statement that Otto Warburg proved that "cancer can't survive in an alkaline, oxygen rich environment but thrives in an acidic, low oxygen environment" is erroneous. Otto Warburg won the Nobel Prize for his research on respiratory enzymes, and his research proves only that cancerous cells can grow and develop without oxygen. ("Otto Warburg - Biographical")
"Otto Warburg - Biographical". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2013. Web. 31 Oct 2013. <http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1931/warburg-bio.html>
Monday, October 21, 2013
The Wild
Break is over, and the crunch resumes. Unfortunately, in the nine days that we had off, I have had no reprieve. I have already written about my over-stress, at least to some extent, so it isn't much use to restate that point here. No, there is a new point to be made.
As I sweat over the mounds of unfinished and overdue work on my to-do list, I think back to a classwork schedule that I was given in AP English at the beginning of the semester. If I remember correctly, Jon Krakauer's Into The Wild was marked to be read at some point this year. Considering my present circumstances, I wish that the book was a higher priority. From what I know of Christopher McCandless' travels, I can relate to him quite a bit.
McCandless was a very intelligent man. He graduated from high school and university with high grades, at least enough to be noteworthy in light of his later actions. He had a promising academic future, but he left it behind, along with $25,000 in college funds, his family, and his residence. Inspired by author's such as Henry David Thoreau and Jack London, McCandless began traveling. He kept minimal supplies, even abandoning his car to hitchhike.
I can only speculate, but I assume that McCandless abandoned what he had because he was feeling exactly what I'm feeling: doubt. Tiredness. Occasionally, even total apathy. I can't help but feel that the $25,000 to be put toward college is worth less than $250 for gas and freedom. I can't help but think that I'll enjoy a paycheck more than a scholarship. I find myself wondering what, in the ten years that I've planned for future education, I could do in the wild. I wonder what I would feel on my own. More than anything, I wonder how it would feel to live without the constant fear that I could destroy years of my future with a single mistake.
Now, I wait for an answer to my questions. I can't make a decision about something so monumental. I have tens of thousands - maybe even hundreds of thousands - of dollars at stake. I have the option to pursue a Doctoral degree. Could I honestly throw that away because my motivation has died? Will a decision make a difference? If I can't get my shit together soon, it might not matter. Those mistakes are looming overhead and I sit still with my mind paralyzed by the weight of that fear and guilt. None of my teachers will except excuses for much longer, and neither will I. It's crunch time, and I'm being crunched.
It's very common to fantasize about what one might do should they win the lottery. I always that that I'd like to live in luxury, but I have recently fantasized something different. If I had enough money to do whatever I wanted, I'd buy a small, efficient car. I'd buy a modest house somewhere, just large enough to fit a library, where I could read until natural light failed and sleep prevailed. I would get a job at a coffee house somewhere, where I could smile at the people I meet and wonder about their lives. I would spend my days smiling, reading, and learning without the harsh stress of deadlines and busywork. If I had the freedom to do whatever I wanted, I could make myself happy.
I envy Christopher McCandless' freedom, and his bravery to make the decision that he felt was right. I wouldn't want my journey to end in such an untimely death, but the destination matters less than the journey. I almost wonder if the journey, however short, is worth that cost: what use is a life lived unhappily?
As I sweat over the mounds of unfinished and overdue work on my to-do list, I think back to a classwork schedule that I was given in AP English at the beginning of the semester. If I remember correctly, Jon Krakauer's Into The Wild was marked to be read at some point this year. Considering my present circumstances, I wish that the book was a higher priority. From what I know of Christopher McCandless' travels, I can relate to him quite a bit.
McCandless was a very intelligent man. He graduated from high school and university with high grades, at least enough to be noteworthy in light of his later actions. He had a promising academic future, but he left it behind, along with $25,000 in college funds, his family, and his residence. Inspired by author's such as Henry David Thoreau and Jack London, McCandless began traveling. He kept minimal supplies, even abandoning his car to hitchhike.
I can only speculate, but I assume that McCandless abandoned what he had because he was feeling exactly what I'm feeling: doubt. Tiredness. Occasionally, even total apathy. I can't help but feel that the $25,000 to be put toward college is worth less than $250 for gas and freedom. I can't help but think that I'll enjoy a paycheck more than a scholarship. I find myself wondering what, in the ten years that I've planned for future education, I could do in the wild. I wonder what I would feel on my own. More than anything, I wonder how it would feel to live without the constant fear that I could destroy years of my future with a single mistake.
Now, I wait for an answer to my questions. I can't make a decision about something so monumental. I have tens of thousands - maybe even hundreds of thousands - of dollars at stake. I have the option to pursue a Doctoral degree. Could I honestly throw that away because my motivation has died? Will a decision make a difference? If I can't get my shit together soon, it might not matter. Those mistakes are looming overhead and I sit still with my mind paralyzed by the weight of that fear and guilt. None of my teachers will except excuses for much longer, and neither will I. It's crunch time, and I'm being crunched.
It's very common to fantasize about what one might do should they win the lottery. I always that that I'd like to live in luxury, but I have recently fantasized something different. If I had enough money to do whatever I wanted, I'd buy a small, efficient car. I'd buy a modest house somewhere, just large enough to fit a library, where I could read until natural light failed and sleep prevailed. I would get a job at a coffee house somewhere, where I could smile at the people I meet and wonder about their lives. I would spend my days smiling, reading, and learning without the harsh stress of deadlines and busywork. If I had the freedom to do whatever I wanted, I could make myself happy.
I envy Christopher McCandless' freedom, and his bravery to make the decision that he felt was right. I wouldn't want my journey to end in such an untimely death, but the destination matters less than the journey. I almost wonder if the journey, however short, is worth that cost: what use is a life lived unhappily?
Friday, October 11, 2013
Over Break
Some lucky individuals have told me how excited they are for the break. I'm certainly GLAD for a break, but it's a shame that I will not be able to relax during it. I had big plans for the break, but due to school-related issues recently, my plans have had to change.
Originally, I had intended to travel through California with my mom to visit colleges. Whether or not I had my driver's licence, I would be able to practice driving a lot during this trip, and on the open road. Many of the colleges in which I am interested are in California, and the trip would give me the opportunity to observe their campuses and make a better decision about college, when the time comes.
Now, though, my trip had been postponed. Due to the large amount of work during the first quarter of my senior year, I have fallen somewhat behind in all of my classes, though this is certainly evident from my levels of stress. I am especially far behind in government, which, due to the flexible nature of the class, always gets pushed back behind my work at AACT.
As most of my teachers are giving me little or no homework, I will have a lot of time to work over the break. The majority of my time will be devoted to finishing my government work. I can easily plow through the reading and written quizzes, and I will save the portfolios until I'm done with that. Once all of my work with solid deadlines is completed, I will work on my capstone and discuss the timeframe for my work with Nathanael. Throughout the break, I will be applying to colleges. I'm very hopeful that this will relieve my stress and allow me a little more time to relax throughout the year.
In this year, my last year of high school, I am finally given a huge amount of recognition for my work, and I think it's about time for my work to mean something.
Originally, I had intended to travel through California with my mom to visit colleges. Whether or not I had my driver's licence, I would be able to practice driving a lot during this trip, and on the open road. Many of the colleges in which I am interested are in California, and the trip would give me the opportunity to observe their campuses and make a better decision about college, when the time comes.
Now, though, my trip had been postponed. Due to the large amount of work during the first quarter of my senior year, I have fallen somewhat behind in all of my classes, though this is certainly evident from my levels of stress. I am especially far behind in government, which, due to the flexible nature of the class, always gets pushed back behind my work at AACT.
As most of my teachers are giving me little or no homework, I will have a lot of time to work over the break. The majority of my time will be devoted to finishing my government work. I can easily plow through the reading and written quizzes, and I will save the portfolios until I'm done with that. Once all of my work with solid deadlines is completed, I will work on my capstone and discuss the timeframe for my work with Nathanael. Throughout the break, I will be applying to colleges. I'm very hopeful that this will relieve my stress and allow me a little more time to relax throughout the year.
In this year, my last year of high school, I am finally given a huge amount of recognition for my work, and I think it's about time for my work to mean something.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)