10 Influential Books Challenge

So this challenge has been going around on Facebook to list 10 books that have been influential to you as a person. I've decided to make it a blog post instead of a status so that I can really go in to detail about the books I choose. I group some together that I feel had the same influence on the way I think or that are just very closely related books. I wish I could put more on this list. I've read tons and tons of books and they've all shaped who I am today. Most of these are also fiction novels and I could write a whole separate list of non-fiction books that have influenced me...and a whole different one of dystopian novels that have influenced me...and probably one for every genre. But I've tried to narrow it down here. Enjoy!

1. Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling

The Harry Potter series probably has had the greatest impact on my life. I've read the series since a very young age and have loved the whole franchise ever since. Harry Potter taught me about loyalty, friendship, love, morality, ethics, the importance of education, spontaneity and a sense of adventure, hope for a better tomorrow, and to be who I am without concern for how others may perceive me. This series has made me laugh and cry and everything in between. My generation really grew up with these characters and you can see this influence in the attitudes and behaviors of my age group. I've actually had lengthy discussions with peers about the influence of Harry Potter on our generation. I could write a whole blog post just about that, easily.

2. Little Brother, Cory Doctorow (and consequently, its sequel and 1984, George Orwell)

This one probably seems a little obscure. If you'd like to read it, I believe the author has it published for free on his website. I read this when I was 14, in my freshman year of high school. I actually started reading it as a book club sort of thing with my mom after she made a joke that the main character reminded her of one of my friends. I really enjoyed the novel, of course, but it had a deeper impact than that on me. I had recently joined the debate team and was learning to see multiple sides of issues. This book was, to me, the first time I questioned authority and the legitimacy and honesty of our government. Up until this point, I believed what the media told me and assumed that the government always had our best interests at heart. After reading this, I had questions. I did research. I started reading 6 or 7 of the same news story to get different viewpoints. I looked in to conspiracy theories and scandals and highly criticized government actions. For the first time in my life, I was able to ask those above me who gave me orders and rules every day, "Why?".

3. Emma, Jane Austen

Okay, so this one is probably more of a I-really-love-this-novel than a this-changed-my-entire-future sort of book. A problem I often find in novels is their romanticization. Everything just goes perfectly for characters except for a little bump in the road. Emma was the first novel I read that the author took a step back and said, "Hey, things just don't go this perfectly." Yes, everything turns out just dandy in the end; however, the author took her main character and told her, "No. You aren't perfect. Stop pretending you are." I love this aspect of the novel and could really relate it to my every day life. Things usually turn out okay for me, but they don't always. And that's alright.

4. The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne

I read this book junior year of high school for my AP Language class. I'll be honest. My first read-through of it, I absolutely hated this book. The language and grammar are complex, the story seems dry, and the characters aren't at all relatable. After reading this a second time, however, I realized that the book made some excellent points. I learned several lessons from it, including not being hypocritical and considering that someone's situation has more to it than the eye can see. Everyone makes mistakes and everyone has a story to tell. We shouldn't make judgements anyways, but if we insist on doing so, we need to know the whole story first.

5. The Prophet, Khalil Gibran

This is another obscure one. I found this sophomore year of high school by accident. There are times when I just roam the library and grab random books. This was one of those times. I just happened to come across this beautiful work of poetry. It wasn't something that really changed who I am but it was beautiful and I admire it to this day.

6. Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi

This story was one of my first views into the brutal reality of oppressed cultures. It taught me about oppression and the sweet relief of freedom- including its dangers. There is also at least one sequel to it. I read these when I was very young, so it was a pretty hard-learned lesson.

7. The Bible, Various Authors (and other books not included in it)

This is pretty obvious.

8. The Case for Christ, The Case for a Creator (in progress), Lee Strobel

I've often read the happy-go-lucky be-a-happy-Christian-because-God-loves-you books. these books took a different spin. They were written by an atheist journalist who later converted. The really neat thing about them is their look in to the scientific evidence for Christ and for God. It confronts widely accepted scientific theories and refutes them or accepts them based on modern scientific research. I have often wondered what scientific research existed, if any, and why science seemed so determined to go against Christian beliefs. Some aspects still do, even in modern research, but a lot of the big arguments are no longer valid in today's society.

9. Go Ask Alice,  Beatrice Sparks

I asked my mom if I could read this when I was 13. She said no, so naturally, I took it that night and read the whole thing. I had trouble sleeping for days and days after this, but eventually managed it. Anyways, this is the reason that I never really partied and never had any interest in drugs despite being offered them plenty of times. So thank you Beatrice Sparks for the intense paranoia and phobia that your book gave me. Drugs are bad, guys.

10. Wuthering Heights, Emile Bronte / The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas

Last but not least! I combined these two because they really show the same life lesson. Revenge and hatred are poison. They taught me that love and forgiveness are far better options, not to mention they are just great, quality writing.



So that's it! What are ten influential books in your life? Do we have any in common? Let me know!

Freshman Myths

I'm going in to my junior year in college. I didn't really know many freshmen last year, but know quite a few freshmen or freshmen-like* people this year. So, basically, I've been thinking a lot about things I thought freshman year that I've realized aren't true. Enjoy!

*Freshmen-Like People- Any student who is a freshman, acts like one, or is considered one because it's their first year in a traditional university in which they are forced to live on campus.


Myth 1: Soda Will Give Me the Extra Boost I Need This Week.

I used to think that a Coke or a Mountain Dew would really get me through my busy week at school. I would be "good" and get a diet drink, but let's be honest. Those aren't any healthier than the regular drink. In fact, many of them are shown to be worse for you. Seriously, Google any variation of "diet sodas are unhealthy". Check out some research or something. You're intelligent. Anyhoo, I would enjoy that soda and it would keep me going for....an hour? Maybe two? Which, honestly, I probably could have managed without it. The problem with these sugary sodas is that they're not natural (seriously, I will give you a dime for every natural ingredient you can find in that ingredients list on your soda bottle); furthermore, they are high in sugar. So? Because they are high in sugar, it means you'll be really awake for awhile and then you're going to crash. 

Fact: Other drinks are healthier and will give you more energy.
My favorite alternative is green tea (make it yourself, don't buy it, even though Arizona Green Tea tastes like magic in a can), but check out other alternatives here.

You will get as much caffeine as you would in your normal soda, but with less or no sugar. This means, you'll have that burst of caffeine you want to help you stay awake without the sugar crash after a couple of hours. I haven't had a soda in....easily months...that I can think of. When I do have one, it isn't for the caffeine. It's for the taste for a special treat. Don't believe me? Check out this list of caffeine content in your favorite drinks.  




Myth 2: I Need To Dress Up Or I Won't Make Friends
First off, if you're friends care about what you wear in college, you're wasting your time. Dress to impress or dress like a mess. Be you. If they don't like it, they can find someone else to hate on. It's perfectly acceptable to wear yoga pants or sweatpants once or twice...shoot...three times a week. Whatever. However...

Fact: Dressing to Impress Can Yield Success
It has been shown in several research experiments, like this one, that dressing well or dressing in character helps you to succeed in the classroom. You'll often hear variations of this: if you look good, you'll do good (not to be a grammar freak, but *cough* "well"); dress well, do well; dress for success, etc. I used to just wear yoga pants or sweats all the time. Nowadays, I try to wear skirts and nice-looking shirts. Not only does it show your professors that you care about their class (even though you probably don't), but also it tells your brain to get in to the mindset to learn today.



Myth 3: Failing an Exam is Okay and I Don't Need To Do Anything About It
Some professors drop your lowest exam or quiz grade. A lot of students, especially freshmen, take this to mean, "that means I don't need to study for this since he'll drop it anyways". Oh, wouldn't that be nice. 

Fact: If You Fail an Exam, Something Needs To Change
You didn't study? Study it now. The vast majority of your classes will have cumulative finals. What does that mean? It means that the material you failed to learn is on it. Oh, and your final is probably something like 25% of your grade. LEARN IT. 



Myth 4: Skipping a Lecture Isn't a Big Deal
For the first time in your life, attendance (probably) isn't mandatory...or if it is, it only loses you one or two points on your next exam. Whatever. Besides, the syllabus is online, so is the Power Point, and you started this section last class anyways. You sort of know some of the material. You'll be fine. 

Fact: Every Class You Miss Will Affect Your Final Grades
This is a pretty complicated subject, but I'll just post some links from researchers that explain my point in a more technical way. AKA this article. If you Google this topic, it finds about 13 million results, most of which (in the first few pages) all seem to say the same exact thing. If you miss content, you're going to miss the question on the exam. Remember, the Power Point is a summary of what the actual lecture is about. The syllabus just tells you what you covered. The book only tells half of the story. Go to class!


I'm sure I'll add on to this over time, but right now I need to go start making flashcards for Psychology. Bye!

P.S. You can now disregard everything I just said because I'm going to go eat a bunch of sugar. I want a cookie.
  
 

Cooking With Broke College Kids

Hey everyone, I wanted to share a recipe with you all that I made last week.

I'm calling it Homemade Tuna and Sun-Dried Tomatoes Cheesy Raviolis. AKA I-was-out-of-food-and-money-and-got-desperate-so-I-made-stuff-up.Yeah, it's a mouthful (quite literally). So I'm just going to post a picture and the recipe below!

Ingredients:
2 Cups Wheat or Regular Flour
1 Tsp Olive or Vegetable Oil
1 Tbsp Milk
3 Eggs
1 Can Tuna
1 Can Pasta Sauce
1/4 Cup Alfredo Sauce
2 Tbsp Feta Cheese
1 Tbsp Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Italian Seasonings to Taste

1. Pre-heat oven to 350.
2. Put flour on a cooking/pastry board. Make a little dent in the center like you would if you were putting gravy on mashed potatoes.
3. Beat eggs, oil, and milk until well-mixed.
4. Slowly pour egg mixture into the dent in your flour and use fingertips or fork to create a ball of dough.
5. On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough.
6. Flatten out the dough using hands or a rolling pin.
7. Cut in to squares.
8. Drain tuna.
9. In a small bowl, mix alfredo sauce, tuna, feta, and sun-dried tomatoes.
10. Pick up two squares of dough and stretch the sides lightly. Place on a lightly floured surface.
11. Add a very small amount of the tuna mix to the center of one of the squares.
12. Put the other squares on top and lightly press the sides together until sealed.
13. Use a fork to lightly press the lines in to the side. I don't know if there is a scientific reason for this, but it looks good and only takes about two seconds.
14. Set aside.
15. Repeat for remaining squares.
16. Pour pasta sauce into a short cake pan or casserole dish.
17. Place raviolis on top of sauce.
18. Sprinkle spices and extra feta on top.
19. Place in the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes.
20. Serve immediately with oregano sprinkled on top for good show

Makes 12-15 raviolis.

Prep Time- 15 minutes
Bake Time- 10-15 minutes

Things I Have Learned From Skyrim

1. Doors are dangerous.

2. Walls are dangerous.

3. Floors are dangerous.

4. Going to town is dangerous.

5. Going on a hike is dangerous.

6. Shouting at people can make them run away...or want to kill you.

7. Steal anything you want, but never kill a family chicken.

8. Talking to dogs is cool.

9. Always carry 35 apples, 10 apple pies, 17 cabbages, 20 potatoes, 37 cheese wedges, 18 leeks, and 7 salmon. You never know when you'll need them.

10. Not all people die when shot with 39 arrows.

11.  Killing people after giving blood offerings results in admission to special clubs. 

12. They like hanging out with the club of people who steal things.

13. Monsters are real, but even ghosts can be killed by swords and magic balls of destruction that shoot out of your hand.

14. Sometimes desecrated corpses fall from the ceiling and give you nightmares, but it's okay. They usually have a bunch of gold in their pockets to make up for your trauma.

(To be continued...)

On Why Not Having A Car Is Actually A Complete Blessing

I wanted to write about how awesome my experience with alternative transportation has been since I don't have a car. My modes of transportation including riding the bus, riding my bike, walking, and begging friends for rides. Most of this will actually be about the bus. 

1. Meeting New People 

When riding the bus, I have met so many people from different walks of life. I've talked to a mechanic whose car turned on him. His transmission blew out right before he went to work (#irony). I've met a preacher from a very traditional Baptist church. I've met homeless men, nurses, businesswomen, teachers, struggling artists, hipsters, hippies, single moms (along with lots of their children), older men and women reading the newspaper, college kids, refugees, a woman who was pregnant and going into labor, and your average Joe.

Bus rides don't always go as expected, and you share both horrible and fantastic moments with these people. Once, the bus went out of service in the middle of the route. It was raining, I'd just broken my umbrella from the wind, there was nothing to shelter us from the rain, and I had no idea where I was. I shared this moment with the only other person on the bus, a guy who I personally found a little sketchy. Turns out he was a nice guy and we both enjoyed complaining for twenty minutes until the next bus came.

A great lesson is learned from riding the bus. Just because someone doesn't look like you, live like you, or seem similar to you, doesn't mean you're nothing alike. People are people, and people have amazing different outlooks in life. When you ride the bus, you learn about these viewpoints and can share your views with others. You'll be surprised to find similarities, and you might just find yourself feeling more compassion and a little more human.

2. Discovering New Places

On occasion, I get off at the wrong bus stop. Usually I'm just a block or so off, but in doing so I've found some amazing places. I discovered one of my favorite spots in Louisville this way, Fountain Court (Picture 2). This little street can't be driven on. It's just two sidewalks on either side, with a beautiful garden as a median. It runs perpendicular to the beautiful St. James Court, where the St. James Court Art Show is held each year (2, 3, 4, 5). Now, I purposefully get off at this stop just to stop and smell the roses, quite literally.

I've also seen someone with a police telephone box in their yard (clearly this is where the Doctor lives). I wish I knew the exact location, but it was in an unknown area to me. I've also discovered Franfort Avenue, which is lined with cute shops and local restaurants. I can't wait to have a day to go explore the area. You find gems in the city that you'd never normally pass through.

3. Learning Patience

In today's society, we expect instant gratification. Having to wait at bus stops, go at a slow speed and stop nearly every block, and having to walk a couple of blocks to get to where you're going teaches patience and gives you more time to appreciate the world and the people in it. You learn to accept time as something that passes quickly and that should be appreciated and enjoyed. Whether this means spending time with God, listening to music, or just enjoying the outdoors, this extra time is wonderful for reflection!

4. Improving Time Management

Most of the time, I don't travel far from home. This means that the bus I normally take passes through every ten minutes and I don't have to plan ahead of time. But for longer journeys, I have to plan. For example, I sometimes take a special route of my usual bus that arrives at say, 10:47 and I arrive at my destination around 11:30 for an event that starts at noon. I have to plan ahead and schedule around this. If I go to the next bus that takes that special route, I won't make it on time. Riding the bus has helped me prepare a schedule for myself and organize my things ahead of time so I'll be able to get out of the house quickly and efficiently.

5. Becoming More Aware of Your Surroundings

Okay, so it's not all roses and sunshine. There are sketchy people out and about, and you do have to look out for them. I've learned to watch out for others. For example, I biked to the convenience store today to pick up some light bulbs. When I came out, two large men were near the bike rack chatting. I thought about just politely going over and grabbing my bike, but these were big dudes. To get my bike, I would have had to put my back towards these men and put my purse down to get my keys and unlock my bike. I was obviously not comfortable with this, so I did have to stand in the sun for about 10 minutes until they left.

On bus rides, I've learned that overall people are quite friendly. People chat with me all the time, and I very rarely feel uncomfortable or nervous with a situation, even when I'm in a pretty sketchy area. To help ease any nervousness, I also keep some method of self-defense with me. Whether you keep a taser, pepper spray, a pocket knife, or just keys, it's better safe than sorry.

6. Great Stories 

Finally, I always have entertaining stories to tell when I come home from a bus or bike adventure. Here are some below:

- Remember those two large guys at the convenient store I mentioned? It turns out that one of them was a homeless man and the other had brought him there to pick him up some groceries. They chatted and the man told him his story and they ended the conversation with a big hug and lots of thanks.

- I was proposed to at a bus stop. I went to a Rite Aid to pick up some straws and an Arizona tea. When I got back to the bus stop, the bus was a little late. I was only a few blocks from home and the weather was lovely, so I decided to just walk. As I walked away from the stop, the man asked me to marry him.

- I was down on Broadway once to transfer to my next bus on my way to an interview. This man walked around me and then turned to me and said "I was just admiring the back and figured I should see the front. Both are gorgeous!" He then asked me if I'd like to spend time with him...I politely declined. A few days later, I went to meet up for a date in the area and I saw the man again. He and I chatted for a few minutes about life and stuff.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To sum all this up, give riding the bus, walking, and riding your bike a try. You learn a lot, appreciate life more, and will save money on gas. I won't go all enviromentalist on you all, but it also decreases all those pollutants destroying the planet and what-not too! Give it a shot, you just might find a new favorite way of travel!

Little Things

Link to a poem:
The Little Things (Poem)

I think we all feel depressed sometimes. Lonely and scared, unstable and confused. When I go through this, I often go out and take a walk. I start to write..often very dark stuff. God has a way of always putting something in front of me that helps me see past my worries and see the light. Today I saw two dogs playing with each other, a lightning bug, a man walking his baby boy around the courtyard until he stopped crying, and tiny but distinct raindrops on the grass from an afternoon shower. We spend so much time today focusing on what is wrong with our lives, our bodies, our jobs, our friends; we stop noticing the little things that were created by something so much greater than how we did on that exam, how we broke our diet today, how money is tight, and how we messed up so badly that so-and-so won't forgive us. But it's the little things that help us put our lives in perspective. Some people see these little things and determine that their lives are meaningless. They go through an existential crisis because of it...but I think these things are meant to remind us that true beauty is found within the soul. It cannot be bought with money or seen by glasses or found by scientists. The little things in life are what makes life worth living.

You Are 16, Going On 17.....

A Letter to My 16 Year Old Self:

Dear Me,

I don't care what they say. You are beautiful. I don't care what names you are called behind whispering mouths hidden by their hands. You are beautiful. But not that kind of beautiful. I mean you are, but that's not what I'm talking about. They will call you a nerd, a b****, "That Quiet Girl", "That Chick with Blue Eyes", a geek, and so many other things. But you're just fine the way you are.

You are going to fail miserably in everything you thought you knew. People are going to put you down every single day, and you're going to start struggling on a daily basis to pay your bills and to buy food.

But you'll be okay. You have grown so much. Four years ago, you were holding on to if some boy liked you, abandonment issues, loneliness problems, and you'd just moved 12 hours away from home to Mayberry, where everyone and everything was so perfect that it was wrong. In 2 years, you'll have met some of the best friends you could ask for from high school, all the boys will be different, and you'll be heading to college. In 4 years, you'll still be struggling, but you will finally be on the right path.

You'll stop being shy, and you're going to make some HUGE mistakes. But I'm not going to warn you. You've got to make them, or else you won't  become me. And  I am happy for once in my life. I've never faced so many struggles and been so unsure of where I'll be this time next year. But you have some amazing experiences ahead of you. You'll meet two more of the best friends you're ever going to meet (so, yeah, you can make friends even though right now you don't think you can or will). You'll get to do most of the things you love still.

If I could tell you one thing it's this: Don't let go of your faith, and keep on being you. Keep on repeating that motto in your head that you have since you were 13...Live and let God. Life is going to suck. You will cry yourself to sleep even though you haven't cried in years. You're going to go make mistakes because you are upset and you are going to rebel like you've never thought you had in you. Stand up for what is right, and keep on going. You've got this, girl!

Much love,
Ali