The Ways in Which I Try to Improve Myself

I think that as human beings, we always strive to be our best selves, to be able to achieve complete and utter contentment with our lives. There is of course no RIGHT way to obtain inner peace because we all have different backgrounds, different flaws, different souls.

The way I personally look at life, my philosophy if you will, is that understanding one's own identity is the most vital component of achieving inner peace and happiness. We have to understand ourselves in order to truly love ourselves. So that is what I try to do. I am constantly on a path to self-discovery and I think that it has led me to some amazing opportunities and even more phenomenal life experiences. 

So here I am going to share what I DO. Now please note, that as I said before, we are complex beings and so what works for me may not work for you! I am eighteen after all....

• Read: Through literature, I have discovered parts of myself that would have otherwise remained unknown. Words awaken the senses and broadens perspective on life. I think reading is one of the most important things one can do, honestly. As someone that aspires to be a writer in my future, it has also helped me develop role models who I can look up to. Reading is just amazing, amazing!
• Do things that terrify me: Yes this parallels to the title of my first blog post ever... that's because when I confront my fears I am able to achieve so much more in my life, have so much more fun! I waited years before I started to blog, and now I was able to start another blog without thinking! It teaches a lot of life lessons, I think.
• Say yes to every opportunity offered... with one catch: it has to revolve around something that I like
• Go on mini adventures solo. I'm not talking about anything extreme, sometimes I just go to museums or shopping or just little things by myself. I think its important to develop an independence because you're more inclined to be less afraid of new things. Why spend all your time with the same circle of people... leave room for growth! And you can grow so much by learning to love spending quality time with yourself.
• Make time for friends even when I really want to be introverted and watching netflix alone
• Watch films: Like literature, it excites the soul.
• Set goals: When you set goals, no matter the outcome, you develop a motivation to keep moving forward and to make your life meaningful.
• If I ever feel like my life is unfulfilling? I get a hobby.

Alright hope you enjoyed!

A little news update: I have recently made another blog that is fashion-related if you want to check it out: http://never-kind.blogspot.com

My look book account is: http://lookbook.nu/never_kind

I actually feel kind of weird about it because although I love fashion and showcasing personal style, I'm can't help but feel kind of embarrassed about it because I don't want to seem vain and superficial. So any support is really appreciated!

BUT ANYWAY, HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS POST! XOXO

Finding a Job is Hard

I'm eighteen and bound for college this fall with one goal that I can't quite fulfill... to make some extra cash!

This summer, instead of piling on the extracurricular activities and internships or study abroad programs like I've done in the past, I chose to leave my whole entire summer completely free and un-booked. 

I'll admit I partially did this because of how exhausted I had become of trying to impress colleges with fancy shmancy summer programs (when it ultimately resulted in major heartbreak from the colleges I most pined for) but I also did this so I could have a decent amount of money in my savings account before college. My job has searched hasn't exactly gone as planned.

I started applying for basic jobs, such as at a retail store, around May and gave up around mid-July. My resume is pretty impressive as far as internships go (by impressive, I mean for a high school student), but while it may have impressed a college admissions panel or two, I don't have any actual work experience. Yes, I've had internships revolved around careers I'm considering pursuing after college, but I've never had those typical jobs like as a sales associate, cashier, or waitress. 

I was frustrated at first that I couldn't manage to get any employer to hire me but alas I have not lost hope. Neither should you if you're on the same boat! Even though a job in retail might seem so minuscule, it really intimidated me at first. I remember pacing frantically in front of an American Apparel with a "We're Hiring!" sign before finally stepping into the store to give my resume and embarrass myself by blabbering about how I am 18 and therefore legally capable of working there. 

Even through my rejections I've learned so much about entering the work force-- all of which is valuable knowledge! Even though I may have failed this summer at getting a job, I feel more prepared on what to expect and have already starting planning where I'll apply next year! 

Thanks for listening!

A Movie Review: Mary and Max (2009)

     Greetings! I discovered this gem of a movie on Netflix a couple of weeks ago and just had to share it with the world. This film may be animated but there is nothing childish about it. It follows to individuals from opposite sides of the world: a young girl plagued by insecurity and troubling upbringing and a middle-aged man with Aspergers and bad eating habits. What do these characters have in common? They both don't have too many friends. There is comedy, romance, tragedy --- this film covers it all! Every character is vibrant and beneficial to the story that enfolds. Gain perspective on the outlooks of two characters whose point of view isn't normally focused on. 

  

   I did not really know what to expect when watching this film but it left me feeling both sad and happy. You know those movies or books or tv shows that make you sympathize for people you wouldn't normally and feel overjoyed for things that you know aren't supposed to (à la Chuck and Blair's ADORABLE but kind of unhealthy relationship)? This was honestly one of those movies. The storyline of the relationship between two pen pals over time may not seem that interesting or original and to be honest... it isn't. What Mary and Max does is remind you of what it feels like to be truly lonely and how amazing it is when you find a friend who you can share this loneliness with. It's beautifully quirky and a film that emotionally touched me in many ways. I'd give it a 10/10.

Happy netflix-ing everyone!

If my review is unconvincing to you, then here are a few facts that perhaps might convince you:

• Philip Seymour Hoffman voices Max (pay ode to this brilliant actor)
• This is an indie film so it gives you bragging rights
• IT'S ON NETFLIX
• This film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival
• If you liked "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime," this story follows a character with a similar POV except much older

Time Passes; Life Happens

Hello again!

I have not posted anything on this blog for a very very long time. Well, here is what happened:

I applied to college....

I went to some concerts....

I ALMOST failed a class for the first time ever...

I cut my hair....

I won a Shakespeare competition...

I performed in a play....

My hair grew back....

My mom made me get a haircut to even out my hair after cutting it myself...

I turned 18...

I was accepted into college...

I was rejected by MANY colleges...

I cried for a while...

I went to Florida for Spring break...

I made a film inspired by Transcendentalism and Jean-Luc Godard...

I chose a college...

I graduated high school...

...And now it is summer and I'm starting a new phase of my life!

There were many ups and downs to my senior year and I am sorry that I didn't document it as well as I should have through this blog but LUCKILY I have so much life left to live. My goal is to really use this blog for all that it is worth. For my writing, for my passion for blogging and human connection, for my developing political beliefs. Here's to new beginnings! 

Happy New Year!

Krystal

Harlem Had a Renaissance Too

  I officially had my last week at Columbia! It was an amazing experience which I am so grateful for. I've been familiar with the campus all throughout my high school career but now I see I've seen what goes on in the classroom and I am so excited to apply for college. I think I was the only student at 12:00 am on August 1st excitedly waiting for Common App to update so I could see what the writing supplements were. I'm just really passionate and excited about this next chapter of my life that I'm about to embark on... College! Oh, I also went on a walking tour of Harlem that was really cool and those are what the majority of the pics on this post consists of. Have a great summer, all!

I Like Things.

   Have you ever read Sylvia Plath? I have. I really resonate with her desire to be everything and do everything. I also relate to her fear of jeopardizing what she loves because she has to choose what she wants to do with her life.

  This is what I love. This is who I am.

• My best friend
• My family
• The Arctic Monkeys
• Creative Writing
• "The Lovers" by Rene Magritte
• Photography
• Feeling warm and fuzzy inside
• When I've just woken up, and my feet feel so comfy under my duvet
• The color red
• When I've heard an amazing song for the first time
• Sketching
• Going up on planes
• When I am under water
• Touching the floor of a pool
• Chocolate lava cake
• Chocolate
• Laughing
• This blog
• Dancing even though I am a bad dancer
• The sun's rays shining on my back
• My arm hair
• When I am somewhere new
• When I am walking down the street and I really take in where I am and I am so mesmerized with my city--- my home.
• Watching a good film
• Filming with my camera
• When I'm inspired and I have to get my thought out on paper because it is genius
• Release from stress
• Reading a book or play that makes me think
• When I get goose bumps after hearing something profound 
• L'homme Run
• When I look in a mirror and I like what I see
• When I read something I wrote and I like what I see
• Learning new languages
• Speaking new languages
• Music that makes sense
• Music with no lyrics but still makes sense
• Exchanging ideas with others
• Feeling accomplished
• Finding things I thought I lost

   That is all I can think of right now. There are so many components to one person and I think that each person should embrace them all. Feel free to share your own likes, dislikes, etc. or not. That is okay too. গুডবাই এখন জন্য! 

Socrates said What!?

   I have been given an amazing opportunity to work with a college professor at Columbia University this summer. I was able to participate in a socratic seminar, visit an exhibit on activism, and bask in Columbia's gorgeous campus. This program will have lasting effects in both my studies and in my ideals. I have flipped through the pages of various writings by Plato, Thucydides, Aristotle, Hobbes, and Lincoln while juggling what it means to be an activist and a citizen. This has come to be an enlightening summer!

Tchao for now!