So occasionally I come across difficulty in selecting a topic for my Sunday evening blog post, often due to my absence of brain power (however much was there from the start remains unknown). As a solution, I ask my girlfriend at times to suggest a few topics for me to cover. The other day I asked her to look at my blog to read one of my posts, and of course she complained about the absence of color and life! To me this is a funny generalization between males and females. We guys generally don’t care what the damn thing looks like, as long as the content is there. But many women will spend excessive (in my eyes) amounts of time and effort to the detail of things, like a blog. A bit unrelated to what I’m going to talk about next, but I just found it somewhat humorous.
Anyway, more importantly, there are eight days left of class. Eight! I cannot believe how quickly this semester has gone by, let alone this year. I feel that I have changed quite a bit since August, and reflecting on that is interesting. When I first came here to UNC, I was all about the “I love college” attitude. I had no real desire to actually work hard to earn my grades. I mean, I was still a good student and did my work, but I definitely procrastinated a lot. I cared about my grades and put effort, but I never gave myself time to put my best effort into things. Plus, it was often painful to sit down in the library on a beautiful day and work. It was almost unnatural for me to look at my weekends as time for studying and preparing for the week ahead. I mean, who honestly had to do that in high school? I know I didn’t. I was accustomed to tests and papers that required minimal analysis and application, with much more regurgitation than anything. So you can only imagine what I thought of my initial tests and papers here at Carolina.
Time management is what really killed me and my study habits were poor. I got caught in a cycle that is not easy to avoid. I would stay up late trying to finish work due the next day, and would be tired during class the following morning. This would leave me restricted on my learning and would cause me to go to my room to nap or relax instead of reviewing or completing work ahead of time. This is a vicious cycle and it is really difficult to get out once you are in it. I would relate it to quicksand.
Also, coming to an environment with an incredibly large student population, most of which are among the brightest in the world, was intimidating at first. Walking by the library on a Friday night and seeing students working away made me feel guilty and questioning of whether I was working as hard as I should be. Confidence is a huge factor in academic performance that I lacked last semester. As a result of my cycle I got a lower-than-expected grade in Chemistry (shocking right?). I let this get to my head and it made me want to avoid the subject altogether. This lack of practice and the mental intimidation produced a bad result, but ultimately taught me a lot.
Following the Fall semester, I realized that while I’m at school I should be doing everything I can for my classes. Lengthy breaks will follow and reward my hard work. Practice makes perfect, and without the proper time to sit down and practice, success will be limited. The number of people who can sit through a class without paying attention or working hard and still receive good grades is rare, extremely rare. Those people always pissed me off.
I’m still learning as the semester winds down, but I feel that I have come a long way from last semester in terms of balance and managing my collegiate lifestyle. Fortunately, as cliché as some may find it, I have really taken to heart the concept that no matter what you do, just be happy and that is the best thing you could ever ask for. With this in mind, I will still strive for my goals, but I’m going to enjoy my ride in life as well.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Your Weed Payed for My Child's Education!
First off, let me make it clear that I do not engage in the consumption or sale of marijuana. I am proud to say that despite peer pressure and other situations, I have never smoked weed. However, its legal status is a national interest to many, and I think it is an interesting topic. I am not an expert on the issue itself, so bear with me. I will just give my opinion on what this country should do concerning marijuana and its legal status.
If I remember correctly, there are a shocking number of people in jail for non-violent marijuana crimes. The figure is something like one out of every six people in jail is there for these non-violent crimes. To me, prison is a place for violent and dangerous people. The people that go to jail for breaking the controlled substance laws with marijuana are generally non-violent, or at least do not have a history of violence. So why are they going to jail, other than because it is simply against the law? Their imprisonment is contributing to the overcrowding of jails, and allowing many violent criminals to stay on the streets.
In my opinion, marijuana should be a personal choice, like alcohol or cigarettes. Some may argue that it alters the mind and decision-making of the user. However, so does alcohol. I remember reading that people who consume alcohol are more likely to act violent than those under the influence of marijuana. Prohibition and the 18th amendment show that we clearly could not live without alcohol and it is almost inevitable that marijuana will be an aspect of society regardless of legalization or not. So why not legalize it? Why not tax it and use the money for other things? After all, this is a free country, and if these people want to risk their health with marijuana why can’t they?
The laws against marijuana have created an underground society that often does involve violence in terms of smuggling and transporting the drug into the United States. If it were legalized, this trend could be eliminated with production occurring within designated parts of the country, and becoming self-sustaining. This would likely eliminate most of the incoming smuggling, and the violence associated with its transportation. By taxing the substance and incorporating regulations, it could be just as efficient as the alcohol business. The money received from the taxes would stay inside the country, rather than venture to the drug lords of third-world nations. We could enhance infrastructure, education, and healthcare. Although it sounds like a simple and easy process, it is not.
Should marijuana be legalized, it would not be surprising if other drugs such as heroin or cocaine were pushed for legalization by its users. Also, health issues would be inevitable no matter what people say. Putting smoke into your lungs is simply not good for you, whether it is tobacco, tea, or marijuana. Also, with legalization marijuana could potentially become more accessible to children and secondhand smoke would also become a health issue.
Ultimately, I think there is a lot of potential for legalizing marijuana for the good of our people. So much money is spent on it today that often leaves the country when it should be staying. Also, like alcohol, people are going to continue to use this substance regardless of regulation, so we might as well utilize the habit of some to benefit all. It is already making advances in California with medicine, so it is not out of sight for future legal changes to occur.
If I remember correctly, there are a shocking number of people in jail for non-violent marijuana crimes. The figure is something like one out of every six people in jail is there for these non-violent crimes. To me, prison is a place for violent and dangerous people. The people that go to jail for breaking the controlled substance laws with marijuana are generally non-violent, or at least do not have a history of violence. So why are they going to jail, other than because it is simply against the law? Their imprisonment is contributing to the overcrowding of jails, and allowing many violent criminals to stay on the streets.
In my opinion, marijuana should be a personal choice, like alcohol or cigarettes. Some may argue that it alters the mind and decision-making of the user. However, so does alcohol. I remember reading that people who consume alcohol are more likely to act violent than those under the influence of marijuana. Prohibition and the 18th amendment show that we clearly could not live without alcohol and it is almost inevitable that marijuana will be an aspect of society regardless of legalization or not. So why not legalize it? Why not tax it and use the money for other things? After all, this is a free country, and if these people want to risk their health with marijuana why can’t they?
The laws against marijuana have created an underground society that often does involve violence in terms of smuggling and transporting the drug into the United States. If it were legalized, this trend could be eliminated with production occurring within designated parts of the country, and becoming self-sustaining. This would likely eliminate most of the incoming smuggling, and the violence associated with its transportation. By taxing the substance and incorporating regulations, it could be just as efficient as the alcohol business. The money received from the taxes would stay inside the country, rather than venture to the drug lords of third-world nations. We could enhance infrastructure, education, and healthcare. Although it sounds like a simple and easy process, it is not.
Should marijuana be legalized, it would not be surprising if other drugs such as heroin or cocaine were pushed for legalization by its users. Also, health issues would be inevitable no matter what people say. Putting smoke into your lungs is simply not good for you, whether it is tobacco, tea, or marijuana. Also, with legalization marijuana could potentially become more accessible to children and secondhand smoke would also become a health issue.
Ultimately, I think there is a lot of potential for legalizing marijuana for the good of our people. So much money is spent on it today that often leaves the country when it should be staying. Also, like alcohol, people are going to continue to use this substance regardless of regulation, so we might as well utilize the habit of some to benefit all. It is already making advances in California with medicine, so it is not out of sight for future legal changes to occur.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Controvercial Futbol
It is Saturday afternoon and I just finished watching Manchester United clash with Chelsea. If you are unaware of what I am talking about, these are two of the premier clubs in the EPL (English Premier League). This league is hailed as one of, if not the, best leagues in the world. In case you are not aware, I am an avid futbol (soccer) fan, and a proud fan of Manchester United. Unfortunately today, Manchester United fell behind 2-1 to Chelsea, leaving them two points behind the now current leaders, Chelsea. I would normally be upset only because of poor performance or lack of effort from my team. However, I am furious, and for different reasons.
Along with my passion for playing and watching futbol, I am a referee as well. So while I watch the players, I also watch the referees to learn from them. These leagues feature the best players in the world, along with the best referees in the world. Now, I know that as humans we are not all perfect, but at this level it is safe to say that near perfection is expected. To my awe, Chelsea scored their second goal of the match after clearly being in an offside position. This means that the attacker was past the second to last defender at the precise moment that the ball was played to him. This is the primary concern of the assistant referee. Yet, today the assistant referee got it all wrong and cost the match for Manchester United, who was already the loss of injured Wayne Rooney, arguably their most potent goal scorer. This brings me to pose the question of whether instant replay and review should be implemented in modern day futbol, including the world cup.
With modern technology, instant replay and review can be seen in many of the world’s large-scale sports. Football, basketball, tennis, baseball, hockey, and NASCAR all utilize this technology. It has been of long debate whether this technology should be implemented in the world’s game or not. I personally am against it. Think about it. Futbol is played all over the world, often in venues that do not have access to such potentially expensive equipment. Also, futbol has been revered for its beautiful play and the unexpected variations in results due to weather, location, player’s health, and even officials. Futbol is a game that is characterized by these variables and allows for spectacular results all around. A team may have a tendency to be dominant in a league, but any team could potentially seize an opportunity to upset the other. Also, from the perspective of an official, this type of error correction could lead to loss of credibility and ultimately game control. People may begin to doubt the officials, who are doing their best to call what they see, and this would tarnish the sport as a whole. So, despite my anger and disappointment for a missed offside call that lead to my team’s loss, I am still in favor of keeping futbol free of instant replay and review.
Along with my passion for playing and watching futbol, I am a referee as well. So while I watch the players, I also watch the referees to learn from them. These leagues feature the best players in the world, along with the best referees in the world. Now, I know that as humans we are not all perfect, but at this level it is safe to say that near perfection is expected. To my awe, Chelsea scored their second goal of the match after clearly being in an offside position. This means that the attacker was past the second to last defender at the precise moment that the ball was played to him. This is the primary concern of the assistant referee. Yet, today the assistant referee got it all wrong and cost the match for Manchester United, who was already the loss of injured Wayne Rooney, arguably their most potent goal scorer. This brings me to pose the question of whether instant replay and review should be implemented in modern day futbol, including the world cup.
With modern technology, instant replay and review can be seen in many of the world’s large-scale sports. Football, basketball, tennis, baseball, hockey, and NASCAR all utilize this technology. It has been of long debate whether this technology should be implemented in the world’s game or not. I personally am against it. Think about it. Futbol is played all over the world, often in venues that do not have access to such potentially expensive equipment. Also, futbol has been revered for its beautiful play and the unexpected variations in results due to weather, location, player’s health, and even officials. Futbol is a game that is characterized by these variables and allows for spectacular results all around. A team may have a tendency to be dominant in a league, but any team could potentially seize an opportunity to upset the other. Also, from the perspective of an official, this type of error correction could lead to loss of credibility and ultimately game control. People may begin to doubt the officials, who are doing their best to call what they see, and this would tarnish the sport as a whole. So, despite my anger and disappointment for a missed offside call that lead to my team’s loss, I am still in favor of keeping futbol free of instant replay and review.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
What have we done?
I usually tell myself that I am going to complete this blog post before Sunday evening, but for some reason, I always end up doing other things instead. This weekend was quite enjoyable for me. I stayed in my residence hall and spent time with friends on Friday evening, after finishing a long week at school which included a midterm on Friday morning. Saturday I woke up at 10 am to meet with my father, who was visiting from Asheville, and travel to Cary for a referee assignment that I had. I refereed the Duke women’s soccer match against Minnesota University. From there I grabbed some Indian cuisine with my father, and returned to campus for some intense racquetball.
While in the car, on the way back to campus, I mentioned to my father that I wondered what it would be like to live in the 60’s and 70’s. I had a Simon and Garfunkel song stuck in my head, and its sweet melody and creative lyrics brought me into a state of deep thought on the meaning of life as we know it today. I know that to many, this is not a profound event, but for me I really questioned a lot.
In modern times, it seems to me that a majority of people are preoccupied within our recent technological craze. People are constantly focused on a screen, whether it is a computer, television, iPod, or any other device. Everyone is always in a hurry to hustle and bustle and fit as many things as possible into one day. I am aware that I partake in these activities, largely because of school and other obligations, but it really overwhelms me at times. Many days I feel have just flown by without any real significance coming out of them. Did I meet anyone new? Did I invest in my personal relationships with family or a loved one? To me, I think it is possible that with modern societal norms, people overlook the simplicity of just living. I mean, imagine what this world was like thirty years ago. Sure people were busy with work and school, but even then the social scene was different and most likely the pace of life.
With all of these “improvements” in our lives, we can find the cheapest gas in town online, we can drive to places we have never been to before with the push of a button, and we can access almost any piece of information known to man with a computer. This almost takes the joy out of living, I feel, by making things so convenient. We lose appreciation for the “hunt” or the search for things. Now trust me, I love the internet and it is extremely helpful, I was just using it as an example. I do think, however, that we have advanced to the point where people have lost the concept of living by trying to enhance everything that we were provided with. I do not think it is necessary for us to rid ourselves of all of our amenities, but I think a balance is necessary.
While in the car, on the way back to campus, I mentioned to my father that I wondered what it would be like to live in the 60’s and 70’s. I had a Simon and Garfunkel song stuck in my head, and its sweet melody and creative lyrics brought me into a state of deep thought on the meaning of life as we know it today. I know that to many, this is not a profound event, but for me I really questioned a lot.
In modern times, it seems to me that a majority of people are preoccupied within our recent technological craze. People are constantly focused on a screen, whether it is a computer, television, iPod, or any other device. Everyone is always in a hurry to hustle and bustle and fit as many things as possible into one day. I am aware that I partake in these activities, largely because of school and other obligations, but it really overwhelms me at times. Many days I feel have just flown by without any real significance coming out of them. Did I meet anyone new? Did I invest in my personal relationships with family or a loved one? To me, I think it is possible that with modern societal norms, people overlook the simplicity of just living. I mean, imagine what this world was like thirty years ago. Sure people were busy with work and school, but even then the social scene was different and most likely the pace of life.
With all of these “improvements” in our lives, we can find the cheapest gas in town online, we can drive to places we have never been to before with the push of a button, and we can access almost any piece of information known to man with a computer. This almost takes the joy out of living, I feel, by making things so convenient. We lose appreciation for the “hunt” or the search for things. Now trust me, I love the internet and it is extremely helpful, I was just using it as an example. I do think, however, that we have advanced to the point where people have lost the concept of living by trying to enhance everything that we were provided with. I do not think it is necessary for us to rid ourselves of all of our amenities, but I think a balance is necessary.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Giving Back to the Less Fortunate: Necessary or Optional?
On both Friday and Saturday, I devoted large portions of my time to volunteer. On Friday, I participated in a Habitat for Humanity build. My work consisted primarily of roofing work. I helped put tar paper down on the roof and also carried 70-80 pound packages of shingles up a ladder. On Saturday, I got together with some graduate students and went to Club Nova. This club is a house where mentally ill people come to be served meals and some are even housed behind the club.
Now, this is not the first time that I have volunteered. I have experience working at other places including Habitat for Humanity back home in Asheville. But for me, Club Nova was a completely different experience. I was interacting with people that are normally not encountered in everyday life. All were adults with varying levels and cases of some form of mental illness or disturbance. Some resembled characters from the film “Radio” while others were interested in super heroes. Regardless of their illness, I really enjoyed interacting with these people. They were very polite, grateful, and appreciative of our cooking and cleaning up. So after having these experiences, I pose the question: should we as a society take it upon ourselves to care for the less fortunate, to what degree, and how?
I remember at the beginning of this semester some of you guys were talking about the welfare system and how people on welfare were taking advantage of the system. You claimed that they were driving nice cars and owned other things that indicated a more luxurious lifestyle. I personally cannot agree or contest that statement because I do not have enough experience seeing these things. However, I do believe in humanity and taking care of each other, so I do support the concept of welfare and taking care of the less fortunate.
I am sure that some of you are in complete disagreement, which is fine, but let me first explain why I feel this way. First, you must put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Imagine being born with a disability that prevents you from working. Imagine being stuck by disaster that causes you to lose everything you had in life. Not fun huh? Maybe then you would want some help? The purpose of government is to serve its people and I feel that this is a valid way of serving some people. Secondly, there are people out there who do not abuse the system and need government care so that they can get back on their feet. The real issue is regulating this system so that people do not abuse it and actually make progress from it.
People cannot be given everything, or they will not grow from it. Poverty tends to be cyclical and with provided opportunities, many should be able to grow and seek jobs and education to better themselves and their financial situation. So the degree of care should depend on the situation. Certain levels of need should be established by financial analysis and other factors to be determined by the government. Then, to make sure that these people do not abuse it, more accurate applications should become standard so that the government is not fooled by some people’s illusions. I know that Club Nova is for mentally ill patients and it is generally agreed upon that they should be cared for because it is not their choice to be disabled. But I do know that they are as equally deserving of care as people who do not have the ability to support themselves or their families, whatever the situation may be. We are all humans and we are all created equally, so why can’t we all be able to access equal opportunity and aid?
Now, this is not the first time that I have volunteered. I have experience working at other places including Habitat for Humanity back home in Asheville. But for me, Club Nova was a completely different experience. I was interacting with people that are normally not encountered in everyday life. All were adults with varying levels and cases of some form of mental illness or disturbance. Some resembled characters from the film “Radio” while others were interested in super heroes. Regardless of their illness, I really enjoyed interacting with these people. They were very polite, grateful, and appreciative of our cooking and cleaning up. So after having these experiences, I pose the question: should we as a society take it upon ourselves to care for the less fortunate, to what degree, and how?
I remember at the beginning of this semester some of you guys were talking about the welfare system and how people on welfare were taking advantage of the system. You claimed that they were driving nice cars and owned other things that indicated a more luxurious lifestyle. I personally cannot agree or contest that statement because I do not have enough experience seeing these things. However, I do believe in humanity and taking care of each other, so I do support the concept of welfare and taking care of the less fortunate.
I am sure that some of you are in complete disagreement, which is fine, but let me first explain why I feel this way. First, you must put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Imagine being born with a disability that prevents you from working. Imagine being stuck by disaster that causes you to lose everything you had in life. Not fun huh? Maybe then you would want some help? The purpose of government is to serve its people and I feel that this is a valid way of serving some people. Secondly, there are people out there who do not abuse the system and need government care so that they can get back on their feet. The real issue is regulating this system so that people do not abuse it and actually make progress from it.
People cannot be given everything, or they will not grow from it. Poverty tends to be cyclical and with provided opportunities, many should be able to grow and seek jobs and education to better themselves and their financial situation. So the degree of care should depend on the situation. Certain levels of need should be established by financial analysis and other factors to be determined by the government. Then, to make sure that these people do not abuse it, more accurate applications should become standard so that the government is not fooled by some people’s illusions. I know that Club Nova is for mentally ill patients and it is generally agreed upon that they should be cared for because it is not their choice to be disabled. But I do know that they are as equally deserving of care as people who do not have the ability to support themselves or their families, whatever the situation may be. We are all humans and we are all created equally, so why can’t we all be able to access equal opportunity and aid?
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Experiences
So for some reason, I was under the impression that because of Spring Break, blog posts were not due this weekend. But just in case, I checked many other people’s blogs and found that you published posts.
So I don’t really have much on my mind now. It is late Sunday evening, the night before classes resume from Spring Break. I had a good break. I was able to relax, sleep in, and spend time with my family and my girlfriend. Over this break, I realized how drastically people have changedhabi, including myself. Friends from high school do not act the same or necessarily have the same interests as before. Some are too focused on school work (not necessarily a bad thing), while others are too preoccupied with their friends from college. As if they do not spend enough time with them in the first place!
Every break I have from school, I tell myself that I am going to devote some time to working on school work. Unless something is immediately due, this never happens. I wonder why I even bring my backpack to school. I consider myself a good student, but for some reason I view my home as an escape. It is a haven of missing comforts. I never thought it would be this way, but as a second semester freshman, home has what I need, rest, food, family, and my bed. Along with being unable to complete work, I never find enough time to reunite with every friend I want to. My girlfriend is moving to Hawaii this Wednesday with her family because of the Air Force, so I dedicated most of my time to her.
Despite being extremely busy with family and my girlfriend, I did manage to catch up with a few friends. Unfortunately some of my buddies have changed, and not necessarily for the better. One of my pals is dipping now, and he acknowledges that it is a bad habit. He even has a friend who has just been diagnosed with mouth cancer for the third time! Hello! Wake up call! Well, I am not his mother and do not nag him or lose sleep over it, but I did find it somewhat disturbing and dramatically out of character for him. But I feel that I need to evaluate myself as well.
After having almost a year of college under my belt, I feel a lot of things have changed for me to some degree. My relationships with my family have improved, dramatically in some cases like with my high school sophomore younger brother. I think distance makes one treasure what they have, plus not having to be in each other’s space constantly is a nice plus. Also, I think I have gained a more broad sense of what is out there in the world after just a little exposure to Carolina. I feel I was an aware person of my surroundings, but I think I have gained a better sense of what life is like in the real world and how I am going to prepare for it. I hope.
So I don’t really have much on my mind now. It is late Sunday evening, the night before classes resume from Spring Break. I had a good break. I was able to relax, sleep in, and spend time with my family and my girlfriend. Over this break, I realized how drastically people have changedhabi, including myself. Friends from high school do not act the same or necessarily have the same interests as before. Some are too focused on school work (not necessarily a bad thing), while others are too preoccupied with their friends from college. As if they do not spend enough time with them in the first place!
Every break I have from school, I tell myself that I am going to devote some time to working on school work. Unless something is immediately due, this never happens. I wonder why I even bring my backpack to school. I consider myself a good student, but for some reason I view my home as an escape. It is a haven of missing comforts. I never thought it would be this way, but as a second semester freshman, home has what I need, rest, food, family, and my bed. Along with being unable to complete work, I never find enough time to reunite with every friend I want to. My girlfriend is moving to Hawaii this Wednesday with her family because of the Air Force, so I dedicated most of my time to her.
Despite being extremely busy with family and my girlfriend, I did manage to catch up with a few friends. Unfortunately some of my buddies have changed, and not necessarily for the better. One of my pals is dipping now, and he acknowledges that it is a bad habit. He even has a friend who has just been diagnosed with mouth cancer for the third time! Hello! Wake up call! Well, I am not his mother and do not nag him or lose sleep over it, but I did find it somewhat disturbing and dramatically out of character for him. But I feel that I need to evaluate myself as well.
After having almost a year of college under my belt, I feel a lot of things have changed for me to some degree. My relationships with my family have improved, dramatically in some cases like with my high school sophomore younger brother. I think distance makes one treasure what they have, plus not having to be in each other’s space constantly is a nice plus. Also, I think I have gained a more broad sense of what is out there in the world after just a little exposure to Carolina. I feel I was an aware person of my surroundings, but I think I have gained a better sense of what life is like in the real world and how I am going to prepare for it. I hope.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Family Values
The elusive vacation known to college students across the nation as “spring break” has finally arrived for UNC school system schools. Most students will be traveling to warmer locations in hopes of beach fun, drunken nights, and spring flings with the opposite sex. Many students, like myself, will be returning to their homes to spend quality time with family and friends, or will they? Something I have noticed is plaguing our nation’s families; the erosion of family values.
Not long ago, I was home for winter break and the holidays. I was surrounded by family and friends. It was a very enjoyable time. As a matter of fact, I was invited to spend some time at a good friend’s house. I spent the afternoon with him and was invited to stay for dinner by his mother. I gladly accepted the invitation, expecting a pleasant family gathering filled with discussions and catching up with one another. Instead, to my surprise, dinner was spread across the kitchen counter like a buffet. I was told to fill my plate, while my friend’s parents ate and watched television in the living room. My host’s sister was watching television in the kitchen area, and my host wanted to go to the basement to eat and watch football. I know this may not be shocking to many of you, or it may be, but I was raised in a family where dinner is considered family time.
This is likely not a new trend in American households either. The more technology advances and the more Americans value the phrase “time is money”, the less quality time is spent with family. Americans spend more time working than any other nation in the world. Some argue that this is a way to maintain American international power, influence, and security. But is it really worth the sacrifice of family time and values? It is just sad for me to see that families do not spend time with each other like they used to. Of course not all families are like this, but from my observations it seems like it is a growing occurrence. It is no wonder that divorce rates are so high in our society and family problems are considered a norm. Is it safe to attribute all of these societal issues to the absence of a nightly family meal? It is possible, but I am sure there are other contributing factors.
Ultimately, we college students live away from home for a majority of time during the year. So it is only logical for me to think that family time should be cherished when the opportunity is presented. I know that I will not spend every evening I can eating with my family, but I do know that when we eat, it will be together with the absence of outside distractions like the television or computer. I find these to be extremely anti-social and distracting. So next time you find yourself wanting to watch television at dinner time, remember that your time with your family is limited and should be enjoyed when possible.
Not long ago, I was home for winter break and the holidays. I was surrounded by family and friends. It was a very enjoyable time. As a matter of fact, I was invited to spend some time at a good friend’s house. I spent the afternoon with him and was invited to stay for dinner by his mother. I gladly accepted the invitation, expecting a pleasant family gathering filled with discussions and catching up with one another. Instead, to my surprise, dinner was spread across the kitchen counter like a buffet. I was told to fill my plate, while my friend’s parents ate and watched television in the living room. My host’s sister was watching television in the kitchen area, and my host wanted to go to the basement to eat and watch football. I know this may not be shocking to many of you, or it may be, but I was raised in a family where dinner is considered family time.
This is likely not a new trend in American households either. The more technology advances and the more Americans value the phrase “time is money”, the less quality time is spent with family. Americans spend more time working than any other nation in the world. Some argue that this is a way to maintain American international power, influence, and security. But is it really worth the sacrifice of family time and values? It is just sad for me to see that families do not spend time with each other like they used to. Of course not all families are like this, but from my observations it seems like it is a growing occurrence. It is no wonder that divorce rates are so high in our society and family problems are considered a norm. Is it safe to attribute all of these societal issues to the absence of a nightly family meal? It is possible, but I am sure there are other contributing factors.
Ultimately, we college students live away from home for a majority of time during the year. So it is only logical for me to think that family time should be cherished when the opportunity is presented. I know that I will not spend every evening I can eating with my family, but I do know that when we eat, it will be together with the absence of outside distractions like the television or computer. I find these to be extremely anti-social and distracting. So next time you find yourself wanting to watch television at dinner time, remember that your time with your family is limited and should be enjoyed when possible.
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