Minnow Tank

Check out my post on We Create Here to read about an upcoming event from the SuccessSHE team at Iowa BIG called Minnow Tank. It's all about empowering young girls and giving them a voice in our community.

What's a Student to do? #ialegis

I don’t think 1.25% is enough. If it forces districts to cut staff, and reduce foreign language and arts programs, it’s not enough. If it hinders the resources of innovative off campus opportunities, it’s not enough. If it puts Iowa, one of the most economically sound states in the country, in 35^th place for dollars per student, it’s not enough.

I’ve never really followed the politics and legislation behind my education, despite how much I value it. Earlier this week, however, I read a blog post written by Shawn Cornally, the head master at Iowa BIG (the project based learning school I attend), that really scared me. 

If Iowa’s education budget only increases by 1.25%, BIG won’t be able to continue for much more than a year. BIG is a unique learning experience open to all Cedar Rapids and Prairie high schools that works hard to ensure that students like me have the resources and knowledge to pursue the projects we love. Whether your passion be music, science, or agriculture, BIG has a project-or the opportunity to create a project-that centers on your interests and contributes positively to the community.

That could be gone in less than two years?

Granted, I’ll be graduating next year, and the program will probably be around for as long as I am eligible to participate in it-but that’s not the point. I value the education I’m receiving off campus at BIG, and I value the connections I’ve made to my community there. I value the impact this program has had on me. I value the impact this program will have on others. To think of such a great opportunity being dissolved by insufficient funds and resources, terrifies me.

Thankfully, someone is doing something about it. In the post that I read by Shawn, he outlines his plan to keep BIG alive and thriving: taking a second job and donating that salary to the school district.

He’s crazy. Although, after having him as a teacher all year, that’s something I knew already. I also knew already how dedicated and invested Shawn is in the BIG program. He cares about EVERY student. He believes in the work we’re doing at BIG, and he wants to see us succeed.

He’s not alone. Davenport Schools’ Superintendent Dr. Art Tate is defying state law to provide funds to his schools. His plan: dip into the districts reserve fund to eliminate larger class sizes and cutting staff.

These actions may seem extreme, but it’s nice to know that someone cares. As a student, I’m close to helpless when it comes to legislation and budgets. Honestly, what can I do? What platform is there for students to have any say in the way their education is shaped? Who is really giving students a voice in these matters?

I feel alone and misunderstood in the realm of my own educational experience. People like Shawn and Dr. Tate give me hope though. The crazy, genuine people that care more about the quality of students’ experiences, rather than the cost and logistics, are the ones that have brought me to love my school. It comforts me to know that they are the same people fighting for the quality of learning that students deserve.

Pondering Happiness as a Need

       Why am I so excited about my tiny coloring book? I don't know. And, quite frankly, I don't care to know, because if I just avoid the question I can avoid the fact that it may be a little weird and childish to enjoy a coloring book so flipping much-EVEN THOUGH IT IS DESIGNED AND MARKETED FOR ADULTS.

       I think it's probably because it is small, efficient, and for all intents and purposes, perfect. My pocket sized coloring book provides hours of the same simple task, resulting in a multitude of beautiful results. It's easy, and fun, and cute, and colorful, and I will argue, also, that it helps me listen better in class. However, the real reason I love it, is because it's stress free and it's fun, two emotional experiences not felt nearly as often as they should among humans.

       I find it strange that I could find such immense happiness (no exaggeration) in a 4x6 in coloring book, that cost eight dollars, yet, some people need giant houses, expensive cars, and lavish parties to get at the same feeling. Now, I don't think I'm superior to anyone because I can find happiness in a coloring book (it's really more embarrassing than it is impressive), but it does make me curious. What kind of shift are we seeing in the acquisition of “happiness” among our population today? Is it even a shift at all?

       Would a fancy car make me any happier than my tiny coloring book? And, if I'm perfectly satisfied with an eight dollar coloring book, what is event he purpose of pursing that fancy car purely for the purpose of “happiness”? In life, there are wants and there are needs, and the line between the two is becoming blurred as people find themselves viewing happiness as a need. That need has evolved over the years, and I am both curious and afraid to see how it will evolve further in the years to come.

Adventures in Journalism and Giving a Damn

       March 6^th, 8:00 AM Friday morning: The day began rather awkwardly. I couldn't find the coffee house where I was supposed to meet my “mentor”. When I found it, I couldn't find a place to park. When I found a place to park, I had to fumble around in my glove compartment to find enough nickels and dimes to pay for said parking, which, was over a block away from said coffee house. Later, once arrived at said coffee house and seated at the table of adults, of whom I was very aware were superior to me, I reached for a cup of coffee that, unfortunately enough for my incredibly nervous self, actually belonged to the woman sitting next to me. Also, I accidentally started talking at the same time as someone else. I thought I was doomed, yet, that Friday, March 6^th, turned out to be one of the coolest days, like, ever.

       That Friday, I had a job shadow of sorts, with an unconventional, conversation hosting, startup enthusiast and journalist named Sarah, who writes for a blog that I'm starting to write for. I asked if I could “shadow” her, simply so I could figure out how the hell to be a “journalist”.

       Up until last week, I thought I would never identify as a journalist, but now, I see that in some way, everyone is a journalist. What really struck me from that day, was that real, quality journalism, is about genuinely caring about the people and stories you are covering. I think everyone has the ability to do that.

       The writing part of it though, is what I thought I wouldn't like. I always saw journalistic writing as rigid and dull. As a creative writer, I saw journalism as a cage. But I'm a bit like a drug addict when it comes to writing: I take it any way I can get it. Writing for this journalistic blog was, initially, a way to get words out in the world in a new and challenging way, but now, I can honestly saw I love it.

       That Friday, I learned that journalism is not about telling facts. It is not about reporting the news. It is not about rigid interviews with the school board. Journalism is about taking an experience, a person, a moment, a conversation, and reassembling it into a clear, concise article, that translates what you saw or heard or felt into and article, so that others can see and hear and feel, and be brought together by that story. That's why genuinely caring about a story is what makes it brilliant.

       So yes, I was a bit awkward. I didn't know how to be a journalist, and I wasn't even sure I could be one, but I learned something valuable: caring equals quality. In everything you do, giving a shit sure makes a difference. Whether it's in your relationships, your school work, or your job, caring about what you're doing impacts the quality of your project, and makes the effort you put in seem more valuable.

The photo and the hilarious story behind it that has almost nothing to do with this post.

The Life of a Disney Princess

This is a piece that I wrote as a freshman, but with the rising popularity of the #20BeautifulWomen campaign, I thought it would be good to post, along with some shots I've taken of real live princesses in the wild.

If it were at all possible for me to drop out of school and become a Disney princess, I would. I don’t mean putting on a pretty dress and three inches of makeup to stand in the hot sun for hours a day taking pictures with sweaty children at some theme park for minimum wage. No. I am talking about a glass slipper, seven dwarfs, talking tea pots, fairy godmother, magic carpet sort of deal. Because, honestly, how is a princess expected to settle for anything less?

       When considering whether or not “Full time Disney Princess” is a suitable occupation for you, it is important to keep in mind the requirements to fill such a position. After spending years of my childhood watching the Disney princesses, I would consider myself some sort of an expert, and have been able to piece together a list of qualities nearly every princess should have.

       The first of these would be the ability to sing. This, is a make or break type of deal. Never have I ever heard of a Disney Princess that couldn’t sing, and if there ever was, I’m pretty sure they confiscated her tiara. To be a princess, not only do you have to be able to sing, but you have to sing pretty much all the time. You sing about your prince coming, you sing about bringing honor to your family, you sing about your life under the sea; quite honestly, you could sing about making some bagels and it wouldn’t matter, as long as you were singing. But it doesn’t stop there. Not only do you have to be able to sing, and sing every waking hour of the day, but you have to be able to harmonize with whatever is closest. At any given moment, you have to be prepared for your toaster to start singing along with you when you’re making your bagels. When you’re a princess, that stuff just happens, and you’ve got to be prepared to role with it. If you’re singing in the park, you’ve got to be down for a duet with a squirrel, because that’s just how Disney operates.

       Another crucial quality every Disney princess must have is natural beauty. To be a princess, you have to look perfect all the time, with no makeup. The other part of the natural beauty princesses possess is the hair. Quite honestly, I’m surprised no one has tried to shear the Disney princesses like sheep, because their hair is thick as heck. Not only is it thick, but it’s soft and shiny and looks good at any given moment of the day. If you can roll out of bed at 4am looking fabulous, there is a 95% chance you are a Disney Princess. So basically, to be a Disney princess, you have to look perfect, literally all the time. I can’t speak for the entire female population, but for me, it’s exhausting enough to merely exist some days, let alone have my looks live up to Disney standards. Maybe that’s why all the princesses are so skinny too! I imagine being that beautiful burns a lot of calories.

       The third, and possibly the most important characteristic that makes up a Disney princess, is the ability to basically turn animals into their own personal slaves. That whole being beautiful thing is quite strenuous, and sometimes a girl needs a few furry friends to help keep things running smoothly. Nearly every princess has some sort of animal companion to help them out in times of trouble. This particular trait may or may not be a result of a princess’ inability to make actual friends, but when you’re a princess, all you really need is some sort of heart beat to keep you company until your prince comes. The standards for companionship are not very high among Disney princesses.

       Now, I can sing in the shower, I brush my hair every day and my pet guinea pig will let me pick him up sometimes, so I’m basically a Disney princess already. But, for one to truly become a Disney princess, they must first know "the struggle".

       For every Disney princess, there in an equal and opposite evil step mother. In any story worth tolerating, there is always some sort of “struggle”. The princess is locked away in a tower, or she must “defeat the huns”, or maybe she pricks her finger and spends the next hundred years unconscious, but every princess is presented with some sort of obstacle she must overcome. This struggle, for most princesses, however, comes with a prince waiting at the finish line.

       These princes usually tend to be handsome, heroic, and perfect in nearly every single way, whereas most boys in high school tend to be…not that. But, honestly, that’s really a lot to expect from a teenage boy, considering nobody sets such unachievable expectations for teenage girls these days. But anyways, princes are defiantly another perk of becoming a princess.

       Between the princes, and the tiaras and the animal servants, “Full time Disney Princess” may be a hard job to turn down. Even factoring in a year or two imprisoned by your evil step mother, it still seems like a pretty sweet gig. So why would anyone turn down such an opportunity?

       Trick question. 

       No girl would turn down the opportunity, because every girl is a princess already. We may not be the Disney type, but every girl has a bit of magic inside them. Maybe we can’t sing, but we surely have talents that make us special. We may not be pretty, but we are always beautiful. We may not have an animal companion, or evil step mother, but we certainly have people that make life wonderful, and people that make life difficult. We may not all be Disney Princess material, but we all do have a bit of princess inside of us. The qualities that make up a Disney princess, and the realities of such a life style, are the same elements that make up life as a teenage girl. So live out every day like a princess, because it most certainly is a full time job.

What Does Music Look Like? Yes.

       Just now, I thought to myself: What does music look like?

So, like any other teenage life form, I googled it. I clicked images. This is what I saw.

       

here, here, and here

    Then, I got to thinking about this scene in the movie, “Ratatouille”, where the rat is describing different tastes, and as he does it, all these different colored swirly things start spinning around on the screen, and how that is much more representative of what a non visible thing looks like. 

       Of course, music isn't supposed to look like anything, but in a lot of ways, it does. It can look like a piece of sheet music. It can look like the pictures above. It can look like explosions of color, like in the video. It can look like picture book telling a story. It can look like what it actually is; an orchestra, a jazz band, a wedding singer. It draw on a memory, and look like the past. It can draw on your inner thoughts and look like a dream. Music can look however you hear it.

       As a musician though, I've come to the conclusion that music just looks like sheet music, or a violin, or a concert hall. To me, it's nothing abstract, because to me, that's not the stuff that matters.

       Music is composed of two things: sound and emotion. When it comes down to it, people care how it sounds, and how it makes them feel. No matter how extravagant your stage design, or how skilled your backup dancers are, or how many fireworks you set off in the back ground, people will still criticize you if it doesn't sound good. And while they may not criticize the emotional component (most people aren't even aware that that is such a large part of music) they will know it's off.

       There is a reason we put music in movies, and commercials, and elevators. It sounds good, and it influences people in a way that they are unaware of. It doesn't matter what it looks like.

       So, to answer the question that I asked myself, yes.

       What does music look like?

       Yes.

       A vague answer to a vague question. A non relevant answer to a non relevant question. So it goes.