Technology plays a surprisingly large role in my job as a community college writing tutor. For one, all appointments by students are scheduled online. And I rely heavily on an email system to keep in contact with my coworkers and superiors.
I also tutor virtually one day a week, which would be impossible to do without technology and the internet. I use a laptop every single day that I work.
Internet, electronic devices, and technology as a whole are truly a main aspect of my job and it would be very difficult, though not impossible, to do it without those things in this day and age.
What is one thing you would change about yourself?
If there was a way to magically change something about myself, I would make it to where I have more patience. One of the things about myself that tends to frustrate me is my lack of patience.
I think if actually changing any one thing were possible, choosing something physical would not be the wise decision for me personally. Appearances and aesthetics only get you so far, therefore character traits are far more important.
I think for the upcoming new year, I’d like to challenge myself to be more patient and work on correcting that small thing about myself that is in my power to change.
What is your achievable resolution for the upcoming new year?
Although having a pet can be a big, and often messy responsibility, I believe the pros outweigh the cons. Truthfully, I have a hard time thinking of what would be bad about having a pet.
Having a pet, such as a dog or cat, is like having a friend in your home wherever you go. They’re loyal and affectionate and help to cure feelings of loneliness or isolation. They can also be incredibly funny; making weird faces or noises and letting their personality shine through.
Lizards, fish, and other less fuzzy creatures are also great choices for pets that bring joy to their owners. Many of these animals are incredibly intelligent and affectionate to the humans they bond with.
Back to my favorite (dogs) though, they’re great at keeping you warm, which is good if you’re someone like me who is perpetually cold. Specifically having a dog as pet means you have a free security system and guaranteed loyalty.
I believe that pets are one of the greatest joys in life. They’re proof that individuals of different species that don’t speak the same language can still form beneficial relationships and consider each other family.
As a self-proclaimed history nerd, there are many historical events that interest me and send my brain spinning so it’s nearly impossible to narrow it down to one sole event. In general, though, war history is probably the most fascinating to me.
From a sociological and psychological perspective, war itself is fascinating to consider. I often wonder what causes humans to lose their empathy and fight like animals against each other. Is it nature, or nurture? Instinct, or impulse?
I also find the government’s role in wars to be equally as interesting, and how power dynamics effect so much of history; especially during war time or other tensions.
But if I had to choose one specific event in history, the first that comes to mind is the assassination of the Romanov family. The history and story behind such a bloody massacre has fascinated since I first learned that it was a true story and not just made up for 21st Century Fox’s fictitious animated film. And of course, it ties in with war history.
What aspects of your cultural heritage are you most proud of or interested in?
There are many aspects from different cultural influences in my life that I find interesting. My Southern American heritage is something that I experience nearly everyday of my life with the food I eat and the words I say such as, “Y’all.” The importance of family, having fun, and working hard are all things I’ve learned through my southern culture and I find to be important in life.
Farther back in my heritage, my Scottish and Irish ancestors have always been fascinating to me. I’m proud to be descended from a culture of people who fought for what they believed in and never let oppression keep them down. They took pride in their family name and found honor in bravery, which is something I admire.
I truly cannot imagine my life without music, especially since I’m a singer and pianist myself. At best, I think it’d be pretty miserable. Music has gotten me through some of the hardest times in my life. It’s something I feel very connected to and that I love dearly.
It’s hard to imagine not belting out my favorite songs as I do the dishes. Or playing a vintage vinyl record from my collection. Music is very therapeutic, and I believe it’s beneficial to all people.
Life without music would be boring, I think. It’s something that connects people and makes them feel understood. Music is one of the most beautiful parts of life and I would be unbelievably distraught if I had to live without it.
Write about your most epic baking or cooking fail.
Back when I was getting my Associates degree at a local community college, I was taking a French class that had a project where you had to make a French dessert from scratch and bring it to share with the class. Bringing anything homemade was an automatic A grade regardless of what the food looked like, but I really wanted to do my best and create something good.
I decided to make chocolate choux pastries, thinking they would be pretty simple. The filling was easy to make, but the pastry dough was a different story. Instead of getting the classic risen, airy choux dough that I anticipated, I ended up with flat, misshapen pastries with chocolate spilling out of them.
After speaking with my class instructor (who was originally from France), I realized what I’d done wrong with my baking, but that didn’t make the whole experience any less frustrating. It did bring me some comfort, however, to see that some of my fellow classmates also struggled making sweets that they were unfamiliar with.
I can look back at that moment from where I am now and laugh as I remember how awful my poor pastries looked despite how disappointed I was when it happened. I haven’t attempted to make dough from scratch since then, and from that experience I realized that there’s nothing wrong with store bought dough when you need it.
Share a lesson you wish you had learned earlier in life.
One thing I wish I would’ve learned earlier on is life is that an individual’s self worth is not determined by those around them. I, like many of us, spent my teenage years obsessing over how I would be perceived by my peers and people I considered to be cool and/or popular. I placed my worth in their hands and let them be the judges, which is something I didn’t even realize I was doing at the time.
That is why when I was bullied as a teen, it took a big toll on my mental health. I couldn’t stand the thought of people seeing no worth or value in me as a person because at the time, I valued the perception of others much more than how I viewed myself. It was a hard lesson to eventually learn, but I’m certainly glad for it.
As an adult, I am able to love myself and appreciate the things about myself I didn’t used to value. I now know my worth does not lie in the hands of fellow humans, but rather in the Creator of the universe. If I am precious in His sight, then the world’s opinion has no impact on me and my life. It’s a very freeing feeling to finally be happy with yourself and give yourself the love you needed all along.
This evening, my husband and I went out to play disc golf after he got home from work. We drove about twenty-five minutes away to a beautiful course that plays around a small body of water.
Although I’m not athletic whatsoever, I like to walk alongside my husband as he plays which gives me exercise and fresh air. I also love all of the different animals and plants I observe walking through the woods.
Today we saw at least thirty Canadian geese, a pelican, a bunch of tiny frogs, and a few butterflies. I also noticed the leaves beginning to fall from the trees and all sorts of mushrooms and other plants sprouting from the ground. Taking a walk through nature is one of the best ways to clear your mind, at least in my opinion.
Then on our way home, we picked up fast food for the first time this week instead of eating at home, but it felt nice to treat ourselves. All-in-all, an unremarkable yet enjoyable Wednesday evening.
What personality trait in people raises a red flag with you?
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed more traits and characteristics in individuals that I try to avoid being around. While narcissism, dishonesty, and apathy are all major red flags to me, pessimism is the one I dislike most.
Being around a person who is stuck in a negative mindset drains me mentally. In my experience, pessimistic individuals tend to be stuck in their ways and refuse to see thinks from a brighter, positive perspective. No matter how much optimism and insight you try to give them, often times they’ll only react with negativity.
I try to distance myself from pessimists, as their attitude tends to bring down others around them to join them in their negative headspace. I avoid it for the sake of my own mental and emotional well-being.
I feel empathy for these kinds of people, as they’re stuck in a miserable cycle and do not allow themselves to find joy in the little things in life. How I see it, the positives always outweigh the negatives. Changing your view on life has the potentional to change your entire life!
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