Art

Define art...Why is it so necessary? What is it's function? Why do we need it?...Describe life without art...

Art is a form of expression on the part of an individual that provokes thought or emotion of any kind.

Art is necessary for so many reasons. One of my favorite movies is Dead Poet's Society, in which Professor Keating remarks, "We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race and the human race is filled with passion; medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits, and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for." This phrase doesn't just apply to poetry but also to art of all kinds. Art is a mirror of humanity, a social commentary that is widely accepted even when it is controversial. It is a way for an artist to make a statement, to use their voice and a way for people to feed their intellectual soul. A world without art would be a bland one in which the human race is completely quelled. Not only is there no way for anyone to express themselves, but in a world where there is no art, there would be no DESIRE to express oneself, or any desire to find meaning.

Qualities in a Good Friend

1. Honest

2. Supportive

3. Compassionate

4. Not afraid to tell me when I'm acting up

5. Open

6. Enthusiastic

7. Protective

8. Gives good hugs

9. Has similar interests

10. Loves to sing

11. Doesn't care that I'm embarrassing

12. Forgiving

13. Loves theater

I suppose I chose all of these things because I need someone who's going to be able to hold up the mirror for me every now and then. Often, I'm very critical of others but I'm not willing to examine my own behavior. I need a friend that's going to be able to tell me when and why I'm wrong. A love for music and theater is essential, because I live and breathe both of those things. Above all, I need someone who's going to be a strong rock for me to lean on when I'm hurting.

Tell me about a time someone you loved was hurt by someone, and you felt helpless.

One of my good friends, Kasey, got pregnant while she was still in high school. She finished high school early, in fact, and didn't drop out, fortunately. She told another one of my good friends, Zaq, that he was the father of the baby, although there was some discrepancy about whose it was. For nine months, all he could do was wonder about whether or not he or the other guy was the father. When Kasey gave birth, I was there in the hospital with her the whole day. When little Rowan was born, he was the most precious thing that ever graced this world, and when Zaq held him, I could just tell that Zaq had fallen in love with him. Everyone said it looked just like Zaq, even had his arms. I kept asserting this over and over again, because I wanted him to be happy about this. Now I don't really know if I actually believed this or not. But two weeks later when the paternity test came back, it said that Zaq wasn't the father, and he was completely devastated. He texted me and told me, and I had no idea what I was really supposed to say, other than how unbelievably sorry I was. I did feel completely helpless. There was nothing I could do to change that fact, and there was nothing I was going to be able to say to him to make him feel better about it. I didn't even have a basis of feeling to relate to what he was going through or what he was feeling. All I could do was be that friend that pats someone on the back and say, "I know you're upset." That's the most useless feeling in the world. The worst part o fit was that I couldn't

Friends

What has been the most stressful thing that you've had to deal with this week?

Describe the ideal resolution to your stress: i.e. what would a world without this issue feel like to you.

I suppose my greatest problem lately is that Andria (my roommate) and I don't really have a lot of friends. We have each other, and we have our friend Charlie, who has other things to do so most of the time its just us. Sometimes I wish that I had rushed, joined a sorority so that at least I'd have more people who at least knew my name. I suppose that when I went to college, I figured there would be more socializing. I felt like I would be happier than I am now. Next year, I'm going to start off on the right foot I think. I'm going to try and make lots of friends with the girls who live on my floor and I'm going to either join a sorority or join a club and stick with it. One thing that I really miss from high school is my theater troupe. We were close enough to be family, and I really miss that time with them.

Hermione Granger

When I was little, I wanted to be like Hermione. She was a bookworm, like me, and did very well in school, like me. I strived one day to be as brave and as clever as she was. On my eleventh birthday, I cried like a baby when I did not get an owl with my acceptance letter to Hogwarts. Yeah, I knew it was a fictitious story, but there was always a little part of me that secretly hoped it was real. I wanted to go to Hogwarts and be just like Hermione. Not only was she one of the most clever and knowledgable witches Hogwarts had ever seen, she was also very brave. She faced every danger she was every confronted with and never ran away. She loved books, just like me, and loved the idea of studying and getting good grades, all things that I aspired to do. I still aspire to be all those things, and hope that the little witch inside me that wants to be her will help shape me into a great person.

Happy Memories

My friend Michael has always been there when I needed him. After every breakup, after every major catastrophe of my life, he has always been there to console me and make me bounce back. One of my wildest memories was of him and I driving to a Blink 182 concert. I was driving my rickety little Plymouth Neon, which was on it's last legs. The road we were traveling down had been under some construction lately. I don't know if the sign had been blown down or removed or what, but there was a point in the road where the new pavement ended and there was about a five foot drop to where the construction works had stripped the road down to the first layer of pavement from the road's first construction. I was going about sixty miles an hour when my car flew off the edge of that asphalt and was airborne for about two and a half seconds. The car slammed down on the original pavement and Michael let out a huge whoop when we landed.

"We just Dukes of Hazzarded that!" he exclaimed.

After I allowed the car to come to a rolling stop, he had to pry my white-knuckled hands off the steering wheel. I was a little rattled to say the least. But I can safely say that's one of the closest things to an adventure I've ever been on.

Influence

Who is one man and one woman who have influenced your values and what you believe?

Ms. Jenkins taught me to value education. Before her classes, I was just trying to get by in school so I could make the grade and go to Ball State and make something of myself in this life. I'd wanted to be an actress, then my dad told me he wouldn't pay to send me to acting school, so I decided that I wanted to be in telecommunications, because I had a knack for it, and still do. But when I was in her class, I was forever thirsty for knowledge and the betterment of my intellect, and I decided I wanted to be that to children as well. When I realized that if I wanted to be successful in the TCOM field, I'd have to be far away from my friends and family, and that's something I didn't think I could handle. I can barely handle being at school all the time and not being near people who love me. So I decided I wanted to be a teacher. As a teacher I had an opportunity to make a difference to kids in a way that their friends or parents never could. None of that would have been possible if it weren't for Jenkins.

James Stewart had this life mantra:

"I'd like to be remembered as someone who was good at his job and always seemed to mean what he said."

Since hearing that, I've adopted it as my own life mantra. I can't think of a better way to realistically live your life. Sure, give to charities, go to "church," be a friend to all. These are all things you should do, but no one can ever ask more of you in your life than that: be good and your job and mean what you say. Just those two things cover so many bases. James Stewart was that way in every way. He was a terrific actor and he was an honest man until the day he died. I want to be James Stewart.