Wednesday, September 23, 2009

I don't want to settle down and other thoughts

My essay will probably open with the Thoreau quote " As long as possible live free and uncommitted...." etc. In the context of Walden, Thoreau's quote is talking about being held down by material possessions. I can talk about my personal relations to that as well how America deals with materialism. BUT I mostly want to talk about the way this quote can be perceived in another way. For me this means being held down not by objects, but by choices. Especially at this point in our lives, I know we can all relate to the pressure of deciding our future. People ask ALL the time, do you know which college you want to go to?, are you taking the SAT soon?, do you know what you want to do with your life? NO! I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WANT TO DO YET!!! and I think that would make Thoreau happy.

With this same idea in mind, I can also talk about how (mostly American teens) are being pushed by society to grow up too fast. This topic can include ideas such as media and advertising and the goals to strive for perfection. Clothing, makeup blah blah blah.

I'll also talk about the "American Dream" and how it relates to Thoreau's ideals. This includes the typical sequence: High school (with good grades), College (ivy league?) , respectable career (doctor, lawyer, office job??), husband, kids (two, three?), suburbia, little house with the white picket fence, retirement blah blah blah. WHAT AN AWFUL LIFE!!! I think my life's goal is to make sure I never, ever, ever get forced into this typical lifestyle, even though at times it may seem like the whole world is urging me to do so.

I'm ranting...

Ummmm what else did I have to say? umm.......OH! well I will put more on my current status as a high school student, about getting good grades, just to get into college, just to get a good job. I can talk about which classes are actually necessary and which are societies interpretation of important. Standardized testing (SATs and ACTs for sure)

The reason I'm drawn to this essay topic is because I am feeling pressure to start making "big, life choices" when I REALLY don't want to settle down. I want to travel the world, meet new people. I want to be able to learn without the use of a textbook.

So, the main thing I will probably need help with is the order of my essay, should I talk about my personal stuff first or societies stuff first? Ok my post needs to end now.
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2 comments:

  1. KelsoSeptember 24, 2009 at 10:16 AM

    I like it. For the order, I think there's a couple of different ways to do it. You could make like one statement about society in general, and then relate it to your own life with a specific example, or you could take like a "zoom" thing and start with the society as a whole, perhaps all around the world then in the US then in Telluride then in your own life. Something like that. but I dig it

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  2. naillilSeptember 25, 2009 at 1:09 PM

    nina wow. i think all of that is such a great idea. but maybe you should narrow it down to a few things and not somany. although all of the ideas were great,i feel like this essay will go on forever. because it is a topic that can go on forever. but other than that i think your idea is soooo great!!!!!

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