Please watch the following video, and answer the questions below:
If you could make a video as a message to your past self, what would you
say? What would be the main theme of your video, the main message? (such as:
wear sunscreen.) What approach would you take with yourself? Would you tell
yourself the advice in a straight-forward way, or would your past self take some
convincing? What kind of visuals would you use? What would be some minor themes
to support your major theme?
Try to keep your responses to approximately 200 words. Take your time to
think about the answers.
Answer the initial prompt by Wednesday, September 25th, midnight. Respond to
a classmate by Friday, September 27th, midnight.
Response: Ask your classmate a question about his/her post. The question
should continue to be respectful, and should provoke your classmate to think
more deeply about the message s/he is sending to him/herself.
My advice to my younger self would be complex but centered around a main theme: don't sell yourself short. I would be sure to point out the strengths of my younger self, remind myself of little things to work on because that would work towards the bigger issues. Many of my poor choices in life stemmed from not liking myself enough, lack of self-confidence. My younger self needs reminders that there is more to her than meets the eye. She needs to worry less about what others will think and more about what she thinks. She comes from a long line of strong, smart people. She is sweet, with a heart of gold; strong like a redwood in hurricane, and stubborn as a mule. She needs to know which one to use when and not think of any of those as a flaw. She is stubborn and strong-willed, I would have to use humor to catch her attention and examples from her past to drive the point home. My younger self, as well as my current self, has a lot to offer this world, she just needs to realize it sooner.
ReplyDeletevery good examples on reasons to let your younger self see a different road and choices she can take, but maybe give your younger self an example tell her something only you would know something that isn't obvious so she knows its really her future self. Overall very goof approach.
DeleteMy advice to my younger self would be simple and very kind and the theme would be don't be little yourself to make other people happy. I know how stubborn I could be so I would have to do a little convincing. Everything started going down hill after my grandfather died and I started cutting myself, and I could use that at a loop hole to get myself to listen. I would tell myself that i would end up going to my cousin Amanda's pool party the summer after grandpa died, and let myself know that while playing truth or dare. I was dared to kiss a girl named Chasity and after that feelings for the opposite sex took place. It may be confusing and at times you may feel alone, but i learned the hard way that no one is ever truly alone. I would talk myself into talking to my parents about it; asking questions and becoming informed on what a lesbian is or liking girls means. I would tell myself that it would be a hard journey, but the road that I traveled was a lot worse and I should have never put myself through that. Being a self homophobe, not being myself, and hiding the real me was the most miserable experience I have ever been through. Id do anything to take it back. Dating men trying to fix myself was never the option,belittling who you are to get a mans attention is never the answer, and at one point you almost got raped because of it. The younger me would have saved herself a lot if misery, heart ache, and endless nights of crying herself to sleep if she would have just been herself and asked for help when she needed it, instead; of throwing away the best part of her in a closet behind a lock.
ReplyDeleteJazmin, it sounds like you had a long road. I'm glad you came through it. Remember, as you face life's future challenges, how strong you are. Look at what you have already been through. Strong people don't come easy.
DeleteIf I were to create a video for my younger self, then I would use art to complete the message. There are a lot of things that I could say to my younger self to prove that it was in fact an older version, but then the point of the message would be lost because my younger self would only regard it as being some special sign of importance. I think the best way to describe it would be to pantomime portions of his life that have either just occurred or will occur soon so that he can absorb the sense of what is really going on. I don't necessarily want to reach him on a conscious level, just give him a bit of deja vu. I would use black and white film, and depict the people around him not in a real way but as a reflection of his thoughts on them. I would remark people in white as those that are people he should trust, interspersed with words to connote their individual significance, like 'friendship' and 'speaking truth' or 'not sticking around.' Though the message would be vague, our overly analytical mind would regard it well, as if I setup a puzzle for me to solve, only in reverse. I think once he sees a summation of the lives of the people around him, he will come to the same conclusion I did, and hopefully act on it this time.
ReplyDeleteI love your ideas of how you would make your video. However, I am lost on the advice you feel you would need to give your younger self. Is it putting trust in the proper people, who to be aware of?
DeleteBecause of my former allowance of people to trade acceptance for blatant abuse, revealing to my younger self that this is in fact the case as he suspects but cannot prove speeds up the process of leaving those people behind by about two years.
DeleteMy message to me would emphasize considering to be serious about an early education: It would be something you would always have. Something no one could take from you and something that would ensure independence and security. Since my past me would be rolling her eyes about now, I would say look, it can't hurt right? You think you have plenty of time? You do, but at least get started. You think you'll get married and not have to worry about it (because everyone has drilled that into you since you were a little girl)? Ok, well you could provide a good supplemental income to have all the nice things I know you like. But, what if something happens to the marriage, you're set up to take care of yourself and your children. Yes, you have children and struggling financially is stressful. Think about how independent you already are and how good it feels to have your own money and nice things. That's not going away so why not ensure you can always have that for yourself. Just think about what I've said, please.
ReplyDeleteYou make great points that I can totally relate to. I wonder if you could entice your younger self with the options of what she could be? The things that she could learn along the way that could make her a better mother? Maybe emphasize the things she already enjoys doing and how she could turn that into a career (full or part time) if she just took some classes?
DeleteI know how you feel as I have been dancing with the same devil. When you are young you feel you have nothing but time. when kids come along they are the priority. If you were able to go back in-time and show yourself a clip of your daily life including going to school do you think it make your argument stronger?
DeleteKevin, I know you will probably ignore me but I have something to tell you. That hot girl you met in Vegas will make your life interesting to live to say the least. I know she has long legs, deep green eyes and can cook like crazy, and makes you feel good, you need to slow down. I know the prospect of going to Alaska single and alone is not a promising thought, just slow the relationship down. Please think with your brain, not the other part, and you will be fine. You know absolutely nothing about this girl except what she has told you (have pictures of her military life scrolling in the back). Those facts you can verify. What about her family? (have pictures of older couples of varying styles, like hippies, or Mormons flashing by) Her past other than what she has told you? (Have pictures with people with question marks blocking their faces). Does she have kids that she hasn’t told you about? (Pictures of babies with question marks for faces flashes on screen) Is her California attitude and lifestyle going to mix with your Midwestern upbringing? They are not compatible unless you have more than the military as a background. Take the time to get to know her long distance. If it is to be it will be, but don’t rush out and get married in Vegas on the way to Alaska. Take her with you and live together first. That will tell you if it is meant to be. If you don’t, a good portion of the 22 years you will be married to her will result in fights and self-doubt.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your introduction to the post because it made me laugh and smile. I feel like at such a young age we as people are so spontaneous with our actions we just go for it without thinking about the outcome. I would go into more detail about what you meant about self doubt? How did that life changing situation create self doubt within you? Or was it always inside you long before that and you just did not realize it? I was always jealous of people that could take chances in life and just go for it! Good advice and great post.
DeleteI would tell my past self to slow down and be patient. In the video I would ask my younger self, "Why are you in such a hurry?" I would try to approach the subject in a logical way and give myself plenty of details and examples. Asking myself questions to help me understand why being patient isn't such a horrible thing to do. I believe that I would respond better as my younger self to logical explanations. I was definitely stubborn back then but I still responded to reason after I had a chance to think about it and digest it for a while. I would want my younger self to totally understand that I am only in control of my own happiness which included my choices as well. Sometimes it's okay to make decisions that take time to come to fruition. I could remind myself that I don't have to be in a hurry to have everything right this very minute. Discussing how the good things are worth waiting for would also be a good point to make. I could use examples from my past to illustrate my points. I would be able to show myself that it does work to wait and think through my decisions. There are several events that would clearly show the logic. I'm not totally convinced that my younger self would be easily convinced or would listen at all.
ReplyDeleteBrandy, Listen to your mother! She's the wisest person you know. I know it seems like she badgers and belittles you but in reality she loves you. When she presses you to make the grade and to apply yourself in whatever makes you happy, damnit just do it, because she knows already what you are doing because she's lived the life your about to live. Some make it out, and she definitely did. One day you'll be forty and looking back on life and thinking how much fun you had and little you have to show for it. It's not the most important thing to be popular or wild, go to all the parties and indulge in all the deadly sins. Slow down you crazy child you're so ambitious for a juvenile - that's your mom, sweets and could have been you and still can. When you find what you find in Tom's car don't accept it as your life, turn him in. It will save you ten years of hardship and pain and an tremendous amount of struggle. Just listen to your mother about everything because she saw what was your future the day you were born. That's why she took you, and only you.
ReplyDeleteJordan, listen to the people that care about you especially your mother. No matter how much you think she is just trying to yell at you and make your life worse she is always right. She is the only person that really knows what you are going through. If you do not slow down you are going to end up get in trouble with the people you are hanging around. Just be reasonable go to school and wait to start a family once you have a degree it will make your life so much easier. Just remember when things get tough when you think you don't have anyone your mother will always be by your side, so just take a moment to listen to what she has to say.
ReplyDeleteTrue story Jordan, parents can offer some really good advice. Many of my most valuable life lessons, I learned from my dad... through my conversations with him, and by simply observing his life.
DeleteWhat kind of approach would you take when giving this message to your younger self? Is your young self easily persuaded or would you have to give detailed examples of situations you could have avoided?
If I made a video to my younger self, I would show her the importance of being true to herself. I would back up my theme with images of Japanese animation, as it would grab her attention and inspire her. Particularly clips from the late 1990s portraying acts of heroism. I would emphasis the importance of not letting cruel twists of fate ruin a perfectly good life. How there is an escape from the ever sinking pit of blackness that is encroaching everything. I would remind her of the few good things with probably screen-shots of her playing video games with her friends. Finally reminding her that you don't need to put a knife to your heart to get a second chance at things. The dice can be rigged in your favor. All you have to do is take the first step and talk to someone.
ReplyDeleteLife is worth living even if the gods were cruel sociopaths.
I struggled a lot with this earlier in life, and the Anime references are a great idea. Even in my own message to myself I didn't consider that my audience is myself at a time when Anime and video games would be the most prudent way to reach him. I know that no one really wants to be forthcoming on a blog for an English class, but was there any form of imagery that you would use for the second half of the message? Specifically, the dice begin rigged and the knife to the heart?
DeleteThe image of the knife to the heart is already a internal image. It was from a stopped suicide attempt when I was younger, which lead to the second attempt I am trying to convince myself out of. For the rigging of the dice that is not something my younger self would immediately recognize. Maybe showing character creation in a massively multiplayer online game?
DeleteIf I were creating a video message for my younger self (17 to 19-year-old self), I would tell myself not to wait until she knows her life calling to start taking action in life. I would tell her, “You can start living life to the fullest right now!” If you want to travel, volunteer overseas, peruse an education, do it! Do not wait until you have the whole picture to start working towards your vocation. Many people discover their interests, talents and vocations as their experiences unfold over the course of a lifetime.
ReplyDeleteI would tell her to think about her seemingly secure lifestyle: living in her childhood home, working 35 hours a week at Starbucks, going to church and jogging. It would not take much reflecting for her to realize she is not content. Then her insecurities would kick in. This is when I would fast forward a couple years, and show her a clip of herself in Ethiopia, experiencing another culture, meeting new people. I would tell about the risks she took to get there, and how it was completely worth it. I would tell her that if she is not willing to step out, that fear will cripple her from living the life she wants to.
I would remind her about the importance of education, and maybe hint for her to get an earlier start on college, telling her, “I know you just got out of high school, and you want a mental break. It feels great not to have to solve any math problems or use your brain, but trust me, after a few years, that will get old. Believe it or not, learning is one of the greatest joys in life!”
I would also remind my young self about her good qualities. I would tell her a secret which took me years to learn: Do not compare yourself to others, or you will stunt your own personal growth. Envying the skills which others poses, will not get you those skills. Cultivate your own strengths, and allow yourself to blossom in your own unique way.
Sounds like great advice, it can be difficult to push yourself from one great challenge to the next. Thing is especially with teenagers they tend to live in the here and now. While you give examples that of a bright future, what would you tell her that would be important to her the very same day? What small benefits lead to the larger and more inspiring goal?
DeleteIf I had to give myself advice as my younger self I would give the message on fear and how it creeped into my life and wasted my time. The theme of the message to me would be focused around wasted time. I remember this senior when I was a freshman in high school and he was this hard core rocker guy that sat in the back of our math class. He was yelling at some of the other freshmen because they were being loud and causing distraction to everyone in the class. He shouts “Shut up because I do not want to take this class again.” The whole class had some sort of respect for what this guy had to say, however it could have been the fact that he looked like someone off the television show Sons of Anarchy, but the whole class shut their mouths. This specific moment of my youth stuck out to me because I understood what he meant about wasted time. Even back then I was wasting time with frivolous things that only caused me pain later. I think of the movie Back to the Future with Michel J Fox and how his charter was wasting time and fear controlled his every move. I would go back and say to myself many things but waste time seems to be one of the core lessons. I thought as a teenager that my life and my youth would last forever and I would become all I dreamed of by the time I was twenty five. Well I am twenty six and reality kicked in and time never stopped. So young Brittany Torres waste no time on fears of the unknown or fears of success because you only get one life and there is no time machine that can take you back. Deal with yourself for who you are and go for it McFly!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your example of high school, I could picture someone doing that. I would provide more details to make your audience understand what you mean by your fear. Otherwise good job!
ReplyDelete