A Different Perspective

Last night I was craving something cold. I had just gotten my wisdom teeth out in the morning and had been in a state of aching pain ever since. Since I was taking drugs that would not allow me to drive my youngest brother and I, Stuart, set out on foot for the nearby gas station for some milkshakes. As we were walking away from our dead-end drive he mentioned the stars and how people in the Southern Hemisphere were looking at different ones. I began to think about different perspectives and how even though he and I were staring at the same open sky, we were going down two totally different tracks of thought.

I tried to imagine how he viewed the stars, and what I saw in them when I was his age. I wonder if he wanted to paint them and all their beauty, or if the fascination had already worn off. With two older siblings Stu has grown up a lot faster than I did.

Since arriving to college I have worried a considerable amount more. I used to see the stars as a portal for inspiration when I was a freshman in high school. They allowed my mind to wander to the places I planned on visiting when I was able. Egypt. Brazil. Germany. I was so naive to think that if I simply worked hard enough all of these things would come to me.

Now, the night sky is only an indication that the time is getting late, and if I want to sleep at all I should start writing faster.

Many things about college is like jumping into a freezing cold lake of reality. Some people are prepared, others have not even dipped in their toes. It wakes you up, invigorates you, and numbs you to your core. Sometimes we find it refreshing and necessary, other times it's an unexpected wake up call.

Initially last night when I looked at the stars I did not see them. I was too busy worrying about my final grades, the aching pain of my wisdom teeth, and getting ready for work tomorrow. Like a typical adult I let my worries cloud my vision. Will that never change? Only if I allow it to.

My COMMENTARY of In the Land of Blood and Honey

I have never been a violent person. When I was little I would only get in trouble for what I considered just "spreading the love" but my teachers called "kissing boys". Thus, I have never been interested in violent movies.

Tonight I was led blindly into The Athena to watch In the Land of Blood and Honey.

Red flag #1: The word "blood" in the title. I don't like things involving blood.

Flag #2: It was written and directed by Angelina Jolie. She's a badass and somewhat scary.

Flag #3: Last time I went to a movie at The Athena that I didn't have a pretense for I ended up watching Drive. Drive = VERY scary.

Reflecting on the past five hours I am kind of ashamed that I dreaded this movie because I absolutely loved it. Not only did it keep me guessing the entire time but it had an earth shattering message. Blood and Honey is one of those movies that you think about in the back of your mind for the next week.

You would think as a future journalist I would have walked out of that movie inspired to report on issues like this. Instead I felt guilty. And shocked... very, very, shocked. The Muslim genocide of Bosnia began in 1992. That was the year I was born. That really put things into perspective.

The reasons why I feel guilty are extensive, but here are the top two:

1) I am a able-bodied 19 year old woman. Not a 35 year old mother and wife with a house and mortgage. I have no responsibilities, heck, I don't even have a boyfriend. Why am I not DOING something about this? Why am I content in my safe little bubble of Athens when there is so much wrong in the world?

2) I waste so much time thinking about stupid stuff - especially my "problems". Finals week stress doesn't hold a candle to the genocide of thousands of people.

Alright, I guess I'll step down from my soapbox now. I recommend this movie to anyone who's a pansy like I am. Real life involves death and gore. Good luck on your finals everyone. It could be worse. You could be in the Congo.

Women to look out for at the 84th Academy Awards

Here is the article I wrote for Her Campus in its original state: before proper italicization and highlighting were taken out. Also, you should be able to read the first paragraph since I have not added a unnecessary picture that was copied and pasted from Google.

This Sunday a total of 40 women have been nominated in 16 of the 24 categories at The Oscars. Of those only 14 are returning nominees.

One thing is for certain: all eyes will be watching Meryl Streep. Not only is she nominated for Best Actress for The Iron Ladybut also on February 22 she was announced as a presenter at The Oscars as well. This year’s nomination will be her 17th, the most for any performer in Oscar history. In 1979 she was awarded Supporting Actress for her role in Kramer vs. Kramerand Best Actress for Sophie’s Choice in 1982.

Joining Streep back include 10 time nominee Sandy Powell for Costume Design (Hugo), nine time nominee Agnieszka Holland for Foreign Language Film (Poland “In Darkness”), and seven time nominee Thelma Schoonmaker for Film Editing (Hugo).

What woman am I most unexpectedly rooting for? Kristin Wiig. She and Annie Mumolo are nominated for Best Original Screenplay for Bridesmaids. She has already proven that witty girls can be wildly successful and desired, and hopefully she will be properly rewarded for her fresh and hilarious film.

In general I like to root for the underdogs therefore bellow I have highlighted all the first time nominees in red. A compiled list of female nominees are as followed:

Best Picture:

Sarah Green The Tree of Life

Best Actress:

Glenn Close Albert Nobbs, Viola Davis The Help, Rooney Mara The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Meryl Streep The Iron Lady, Michele Williams My Week with Marilyn

Actress in a supporting role:

Bénénice Bejo The Artist, Jessica Chastain The Help, Melissa McCarthy Bridesmaids, Janet McTeer Albert Nobbs, Octavia Spencer The Help

Animated Feature Film:

Jennifer Yuh Nelson Kung Fu Panda 2

Art Direction:

Anne Seibel and Héléne Dubreuil Midnight in Paris

Costume Design:

Lisy Christl Anonymous, Sandy Powell Hugo, Arianne Phillips W.E.

Documentary Short:

Robin Fryday and Gail Dolgin The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement, Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson God is the Bigger Elvis, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy Saving Face, Lucy Walker and Kira Carstensen The Tsunami and The Cherry Blossom

Film Editing:

Anne-Sophie Bion The Artist, Thelma Shoonmaker Hugo

Foreign Language Film:

Agnieszka Holland Poland “In Darkness”

Makeup:

Lynn Johnston Albert Nobbs, Amanda Knight and Lisa Tomblin Harry Potter and the Dealthy Hallows Part 2

Music (Original Song):

Siedan Garrett “Real in Rio” from Rio

Short Film (Animated):

Sue Goffe A Morning Stroll, Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby Wild Life

Short Film (Live Action):

Oorland George The Shore, Gigi Causey Time Freak

Sound Mixing:

Deb Adair Moneyball

Writing (Adapted Screenplay):

Bridget O’Connor Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Writing (Original Screenplay):

Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig Bridesmaides

More than Just a Museum

Four journalism girls using a GPS, Mapquest directions, and an atlas. That's all we needed.

Two weekends ago three of my best girlfriends, Emily, April, and Haylee, and I left cozy Athens, Ohio on a quest to the capital. Coincidentally we decided to leave the day of the season's first snow storm. Thankfully I was asleep for the majority of it.

We arrived early afternoon in a quaint, yet interesting suburb of DC called Bethesda. While April and Emily swooned over author John Green, Haylee and I hit the streets to wander for food. Originally what prompted our road trip was this J. Green author that Em and April are mildly, O.K. completely, obsessed about. Needless to say our plans soon exploded into a weekend filled with unexpected shenanigans.

We spent Friday evening in Bethesda, practically all of Saturday in awe of the Newseum, Saturday night at the Hirshorn gallery and cruising the National Mall, and Sunday devoted to the Museum of American History and driving back home.

At first I didn't understand what all the commotion was about over visiting the Museum of American History. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love me some ruby slippers, but in the end are they not just shoes someone wore in a movie? I felt the same way about the collection of first lady inaugural dresses: were they not just cloth? But after I watched Michelle Obama's speech on the day she submitted her dress I felt much differently.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q00JaFcyvM4

That is when it clicked that these were not just dresses. They are a way for people to relate to history in a very real way; to give them a three-dimensional image of something special worn by a powerful person on a significant night.

As I walked through the pop culture floor I recognized how hope has kept this country glued together. Whether that hope was expressed through the Olympics, entertainment, or pop culture, it has connected the U.S. to a culture we can all relate to. I always though they were only there to distract us, instead they unite us.

The point of this post is not about what we did in D.C., it's about why we traveled six hours to get there. We went there for a purpose; to become motivated, educated, and most importantly, influenced.

We went and actually experienced D.C. I am a firm believer that it is much more important to embrace a destination then merely visiting it and going through the tourist-y attractions. We went to random coffee shops and Vietnamese restaurants. Heck, in Bethesda people asked Haylee for directions twice!

What made this trip meaningful was the fact that we chose exactly what we wanted to do. Ahh, I am at a loss for words for how empowering that concept is. And did I mention how April hailed TWO taxis?! She made it look effortless while doing it too.

Traveling is about more than what is merely seen by the eye. It is about what that place represents and the past that is possesses. D.C. exudes an energy of liberty and independence to someone that does not live there, but has enough time to appreciate it. When you stand on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and look across the reflection pool (which is currently drained) you get goose bumps thinking that this is the exact same place Martin Luther King Jr. gave his most influential speech.

The awesome part was that it was "our way." We drove, planned, and organized this trip without the help of anyone other than ourselves. Life lesson #857: independence is very cool.

We were thirsty for adventure, and adventure is exactly what we got.

Let the Inspiration Flow like Lava (but significantly faster)

Inspiration is such a huge part of who we are as people. Without it how are we to be motivated? Where would we be without the freedom of expression? Think about it: why are sites such as YouTube and Facebook so unbelievably successful? Because they allow people to express themselves in a way they feel comfortable.

And to inspire holds such a power to influence unlike any other. We humble humans have this misconception that associates the responsibility to inspire to people such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Oprah Winfrey. We view it as an unobtainable concept due to lack of care or lack of an audience.

I would just like to point out that maybe I'm completely wrong about all of this. It is perfectly plausible that I have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about.

For me inspiration comes from random sources like the artwork in Donkey Coffee or one of hpzz's hilarious tweets. My strongest source of inspiration stems from traveling and how my endeavors have molded me. Inspiration can be anything that you make it. Being inspirational should be part of every person's daily goal. The difficult part is not being content with merely satisfying your own needs, but to be motivated enough to mobilize others.

I want to encourage to open your mind to the idea that every decision you make affects, maybe even inspires people. Some people define themselves by what they do, others by what they say. Instead of defining who you are, maybe all you should care about is how you impact others…or fail to.

“Think globally.

Act locally.” - Social activist Patrick Geddes