Dating Now A Days

Dating is a time for new and different experiences. Dating is not a practice for divorce. It is a time to explore different people, personalities, backgrounds, and lives. It is a time for people to discover themselves as well as the type of person they want to marry later on in life. My peers see dating as a stage in adolescence. There will be a time in a person's life where they will most likely date one person, if not more. The hookup culture is always a constant. The hookup aspect is looked at as strictly having fun for one night and nothing more - no emotional attachment. The hookup culture involves drinking alcohol and kissing one or multiple people in one night. College is a time for having fun - maybe they will have regrets - but we learn from our mistakes and regrets and that is what makes us who we are.

Tis the Lenten Season

I have always given up something during Lent. Although the past few years I have not given up anything at all. I always thought that I did not have enough time or I did not put enough thought into my sacrifices. This year, however, will be different. In the past month, my father has gone through a lot - he is beyond stressed. He has 5 times the amount of work he had last year (he has his own business and is the only man in it). My dad also lost his dad, my grandpa, within the last week after battling a long illness of lung cancer. Through this stressful and sad time, I have noticed he has a short temper and is rarely happy. During the Lenten season, as well as for the rest of my time home before I leave for college, I will try to cut him some slack. I will be nice to him, be less dramatic, and try to make him laugh every once in a while. Everyone needs to laugh. Along with helping my dad, I am also going to help my mom during Lent. My mom has been unhappy about her weight for a long time now. She works out all the time and tends to lose some weight but gains it back shortly after. I plan to workout with her every day to help her gain her confidence back and work for the body and weight she wants to be. I feel everyone works better when they have a partner. I plan to be a helpful and useful partner to both my dad and my mom during this Lenten Season.

The Greatest Fan of Your Life

We can all admit that we listen to songs on the radio all the time. Music is a part of our culture and our generation. Much of the songs now a days are about partying or sex. However, there are many that focus on the importance of finding that special someone - a soul mate. I believe that soul mates exist. One can find a soul mate sooner or later in life. There is someone out in the world for everyone; we just need to be willing to search for them. We need to look in the right places to find that person. We should have an idea of a person we want to have as a soul mate, but keep all options open. A person who is caring, loving, funny, amiable and has a great and outgoing personality are all qualities I admire. Below are a list of five songs that correlate to love in our lives today.

Honeybee - Blake Shelton

This song is perfect for the quest of a soul mate. The lyrics state that whatever you may be, I’ll be the opposite and we will balance each other out. Even though they may have differences, they will make it work and find a common ground.

"If you'll be my soft and sweet, I'll be your strong and steady. You'll be my glass of wine, I'll be your shot of whiskey. You'll be my sunny day; I'll be your shade tree. You'll be my honeysuckle; I'll be your honey bee."

We Found Love - Rihanna

Rihanna’s song begins with sad lyrics. She is helpless and has lost her love interest. It then drifts into the chorus and states, “We found love in a hopeless place.” When I listen to the song, I think Rihanna has found a “rebound” from her last boyfriend. She is vulnerable and feeling sad and believes any source of affection is actually love. This is not a good example of a quest for a soul mate. To find a soul mate, one needs to get to know the person first.

Give Your Heart A Break – Demi Lovato

This song is about taking the chances and risks of falling in love. The lyrics state that when Demi first met him, he said he would never fall in love. But they have apparently come a long way and are ready to take the next step. She wants to stay with him. She does not want to break his heart. She wants to give his heart a break. They might make a mistake, but there’s only one life to live. This song is an example of young love and taking chances and being spontaneous. Although this song may not be a good example of finding a soul mate, it is a good example of young, flirty, love.

I’ll Be – Edwin McCain

This whole song by Edwin McCain is complementing whomever he wrote the song to. The song states that the color of the person’s eyes is wonderful. He is captivated and will hang from her lips. In the chorus, it states “I'll be your crying shoulder, I'll be love's suicide. I'll be better when I'm older, I'll be the greatest fan of your life.”  This song is worshipping and adoring the other. McCain is saying he will do anything for the other person.

So Small - Carrie Underwood

This song is a perfect example for finding a soul mate as well as friendship in general. It is basically saying that love is the answer and love will conquer all things. Everything spurs off of love. Our actions, our words, are out of love (when we are in a good mood of course). Everything is minute and small once we realize that love is all that matters.

“When you figure out love is all that matters after all, It sure makes everything else seem so small.”

Media & Sexuality

This advertisement is for Abercrombie and Fitch, a clothing company. In my opinion, there is no product featured because there is hardly any clothing shown in the picture. The girl model is wearing a shirt, in which one cannot see the design very well and the boy model is not wearing a shirt at all. I do not think this ad is appropriate because it is not advertising anything. It is showing a sexual attraction between a girl and boy and not showing the real purpose for the advertisement. There are other ways to portray the product by actually showing the clothing Abercrombie and Fitch wanted to sell. There is no reason to even show a clothing advertisement with sexual attraction because the consumer would just like to see the clothing. I think this advertisement does not have an impact on the consumer. The advertisement is completely unrelated to the company as well as the goal to make it a clothing advertisement.

 This advertisement is for Gucci Guilty Perfume. This image is very sexual because it shows a man and a woman with little or no clothing on. This advertisement is not appropriate because there is little clothing and much skin showing. There are better ways to portray a perfume ad – one does not need to be naked. The image is sexual and gives many people the impression that if a person smells good, they will find a partner. Although I do believe that all people should bathe themselves and have personal hygiene. Many advertisers and companies believe that sexual images in their advertisements will result in more business. However, there are better ways to sell a product. For example, instead of showing intimacy, one could show happiness.

Finding My Identity

When many people think of Maddie Kohler, many think of an athlete. When I think of myself, I think of an athlete along with many different characteristics as well. I have been involved in sports since the day I was born. Whether it be attending my siblings’ games or attending my own, I have been surrounded by athletics. Through sports, I have been able to express myself and impress people, as well as find joy and happiness in teamwork. As I entered high school, I had to choose what sports I wanted to play; I simply could not play them all. As a result, I chose to play tennis and basketball. In my senior year, I am a captain for both sports. I found joy and happiness in leading my team to victory. I find happiness in encouraging people to do their best. I am not the tallest person on the court, but once people see my abilities, they are surprised. I prove people wrong when they believe I will have a hard time playing because I am so short. Sports have helped me become competitive, compassionate, and a leader.

I also found part of my identity when I went on December Unitas Retreat. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I reflected on my life, my family, and my friends. I shared many things with people that others would not know. I became confident. I made best friends with my group including someone in this class, Brook Sabia! We have always been friendly, but on retreat we really connected. We comforted each other and asked each other for advice. Our friendship grew stronger as well as my individuality. I now realize that many girls, especially in this school, are going through the same events I am. I realize I am not alone in this world even when sometimes it feels like I am.

My family has also influenced my life since the day I was born. Although we are related by blood, many of my family members do not have the same views. However, we are still a family. My family has encouraged me to be an individual and do things that others have not done before me. Each one of my sisters is an individual in their own way. My family, most especially my parents, pushes me to my best potential. Even though it may be annoying at the time, everything will pay off in the end. Being the youngest child, I am constantly observing my family as a whole. My sisters are very successful and happy in their lives. With hard work, I believe I will be just as successful as they are. I am a hardworking individual and my family has helped me get to where I am today.