Freshman Year: A Self Reflection

My freshman year as a creative writing major was quite an interesting one. I understood that I’d probably have a bit more work than my peers, but I didn’t realize how much work that’d actually be. Sometimes I’d be reading three books at a time or writing two stories and an essay at once. It was very difficult and daunting at times; all of that work did nothing but make me a more effective and efficient worked. I learned to use my time more wisely and more productively. I’ve also learned that it’s okay to actually work at home. In terms of actual writing and reading, I’ve learned my strong suits. Fiction works best for me, more specifically, realistic fiction. No matter what the story or the subject matter, I’ve always been drawn towards fiction more than any other genre. Fantasy (with goblins and such) has a tendency to bore me, as well as non-fiction. It’s been nice to figure out what I’m appealed to and what creates my best work. Some of the stuff I wrote in the beginning of the year is very cringe-worthy, but there was some good stuff. My more recent work is some of my best.

The Snow Child: Review

The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey is a 2011 novel based on a Russian folktale of an old man and woman creating a snow girl and it coming to life. The story is centered on Mabel and Jack, who are both at their lowest after their move to a homestead in Alaska. Mabel was so unhappy she even tried to kill herself. The couple was childless after having a miscarriage years before. They also refused to get to know anyone on any other homesteads, as they wanted to be alone with each other. When money troubles, they gradually have to suck it up and make friends Esther and George and their family. When Mabel and Jack go outside one snowy night, they build a snow girl, giving her a hat and gloves. The next few months is spent by the couple trying to get this girl, who starts to randomly appear in the forest, to actually sit down with them. When they eventually do, it turns their life in a whole new direction. The novel from then on out shows us the troubles and good times Mabel and Jack have with the little girl, watching her grow up, and it's up to you whether or not to believe to she's real.The Snow Child was an amazing story. The detail and description and the magic (even though it was explicitly expressed) made the novel that much more special. I'd definitely recommend reading it.

Issues in Our Society (Part 3): Identity

For the past few years labeling yourself and putting yourself into a select group has been a priority among young people. People think you have to be gay or straight, weird or normal, etc, when in reality there is a whole spectrum of things you can be. You can pick whatever gender you please (not just male or female) and you can pick your sexuality (gay, straight, pan, bi). You don’t even have to label those if you don’t want to. There’s so much pressure to find a group of people who are just like you, and then you guys mimic each other until you part ways after Senior Year. Individuality is the only thing you’re guaranteed in life, don’t give that up.

Issues in Our Society (Part 2): Racism

Although many say it died when slavery was “abolished” racism is still very alive and well. Internalized racism, racism against Asians, Jews, Latino’s/Latina’s, Hispanics, Islamphobia, and anti-blackness are at their height in 2015. “Time Magazine” did a cover on the Baltimore Riots, crossing out 1968 and covering it with 2015, showing us how little everything has changed. People try to cover it up with “Dr. King wouldn’t have wanted this!” or “It was just a joke!”, when peaceful protesting didn’t work for Dr. King and just because it’s a joke doesn’t mean it isn’t offensive. People who are protesting are justified in their anger and pain. They’re people are being shot down and killed just for simply belonging to one group of people. The older generations have left all their problems for us to fix, which is hard to do considering they’ve also implemented their mindsets on us. The only way things are going to change if everyone has an open mind to change.