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 18, midnight. Respond to a classmate by Friday, September 20, 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.
If I could make a movie to my past self it would say, stop being lazy. I would send it via VHS and it would have me front and center in the beginning explaining to little me, that playing outside is fun. I would say, “Dara, no matter how much you want to finish that book you need to stop being lazy. If you don’t stop sitting around, it’ll lead to bad things.” Then I’d fade off into the darkness and pictures would show with Barney’s voice as a voiceover. (I would use Barney because he kind of freaked me out as a child, fear work well in getting kids to do what you want). The pictures would show: a report card with C’s, me sitting on the sidelines watching a race, and a sack of books and papers on a dresser.
ReplyDeleteBarney: “You’ll have A’s if you’re more outgoing; you’d be part of the race instead of watching it, and instead of procrastinating, all your homework would be done.”
Stop being lazy is a simple three letter message, but it would forever change my life for the better. I’d procrastinate less; I’d be at my goal of being able to run 5 miles, and without the procrastinating my grades would be considerably better.
I was pretty lazy about getting my homework done when I was a kid. I didn’t get good grades. I’d rather be outside playing. My younger sister has always been the smart one. She always got A’s and she was more outgoing than I was (Mom’s favorite too). Sometimes I wished I was more like her. But now I feel I have done well with my life and I’m happy with the choices I have made. I have a good career, I’ll have a decent retirement and my health is well enough that I can still go out and do stuff. I’m still a bit lazy though.
DeleteIf I could go back and make a video of when I was younger in high school, I would say stop being a procrastinator. I would sent this to different High schools to show there students it’s not a good thing to procrastinate. The message would be on the lines of showing you what you can get from procrastination to not procrastinating. The video would show me in the beginning talking how procrastination is not a good thing. Then there would be pictures of a bad report card and bad projects. Then in the end I would say that you don’t what this you could much better than that and so that if you don’t procrastinate that you can get a better grade on your report card or even your project with some pictures of better grades. I feel like if I was not a procrastinator at a younger age I would have done a lot better than I did. If I did not procrastinate I would have been able to do some more fun stuff in the end. I wish someone could have showed me a video like this when I was younger.
ReplyDeleteCorrect me if I'm wrong, but could the problem of having a bad report card and bad projects be because you didn't understand the assignments or didn't grasp the knowledge from it, therefore, you procrastinated on the assignments till you understood it to get them done? I ask because that's why I would procrastinate at certain points in high school, that, and you never gave a reason exactly as to why you procrastinated. Maybe it could've been more exciting stuff to do than the homework or projects that you were required to get done, but that's only a guess here.
DeleteBerhe Haile September 18, 2013 5:04 PM
ReplyDeleteIf I could make a video movie of myself of the past, I would look back and say why it did took me such a long time to enroll to my studies in Health issues. I have been compassionate about health issues since I was young, by now I could have completed my studies. Now visualizing myself in a movie I could have been analyzing body parts and different diseases in clinics, hospitals or laboratories. I could have been helping patients, taking pictures of body parts in Radiology Laboratory and interacting with health workers. Had I made a sound decision in the past I would not be doing what I am doing now. I would have been at the top of my game. There are many issues what I could have done differently in the past, but what is done is done at my age still I decided to fulfill my dreams and get my degree in medical field. I am looking forward to fulfill my dreams in the near future.
I think it's amazing how you still have motivation to reach your goals of getting a degree in the health care field and how passionate you are about achieving that goal. Do you ever think that maybe because of your age and experiences in life that's the reason why you're more persistent about accomplishing this? I know in my first years of college I wasn't very cautious about how my decision making would effect my future or my career, but now that I'm older and more wise, I am more focused and dedicated than ever to finish my degree in health care as well.
DeleteIf I could make a video message to my past self, I would say focus on your studies and don't concentrate so much on the minor things in life. If I would have been more focused, I would have already had three years in the healthcare field and my BSN instead of starting over at the age of twenty-six. My past-self would need a little persuading, but not a whole lecture. I wouldn't sugar coat it, I love when things are straight and to the point. My minor theme would be I now have three kids to think about and instead of spending most of my down time doing homework, I could be enjoying more time with them. I also could be doing more things that I enjoy, like learning the rest of "Piano Man" by Billy Joel on my piano or running. Finances wouldn't be too much of an issue either because I wouldn't be paying for school or supplies, but be spending it on myself and my kids. A visual to motivate myself is walking across the stage and getting my college degree handed to me, a huge accomplishment and a first in my family. Another visual would be seeing the letters RN next to my name on my badge for work, instead of CNA.
ReplyDeleteI am surprised both of us are pursuing in the Healthcare field. I think it is a wonderful field worth pursuing, lets take advantage of English 121 which can help us to write about Healthcare issues to accomplish out goals.Do not worry of starting late there is time for every thing. good luck.
DeleteMy video to my past self would say “NO SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE. The theme would be focusing on the awful side effects of pre-mature sex. I would most definitely take the direct approach. Show real events and real consequences of sex physically, mentally, and spiritually. My past would be convinced once I show her the ugly and horrifying outcomes that come to my past self from having sex before marriage. The visuals I would use would be me getting pregnant, me crying and feeling the most regret, resentment, and hurt, me having a baby, me having to drop out of things that would give me a secure future, and how my young adult hood was taken over by being a mother and having to keep a job instead of going to college. The minor themes would be getting and staying involved with sports. Listening to my grandmother and mother when they advised me about boys and going places with peers that are not doing the right things. Focusing on my school works and studying more. Not to follow the wrong peers that are going nowhere in life and making very dangerous decisions.
ReplyDeleteIf I could make a video to my past self, I would say to never take that first drug (narcotic pain killer). I would tell myself that this one mistake will cause a flood of consequences that I would have to deal with for a very long time. I believe I would probably take some convincing but I would also try and be pretty straight forward about the negative side effects of this decision. I believe I would try and show the visuals of a drug addict going through withdrawals to emphasize the pain of coming off such a substance. It would also be helpful to put pictures of people that use to be important to me and then say that these people had to let me go because they could no longer take the pain of watching me hurt myself. Minor themes could be the loss of jobs, girlfriends and self-respect. I would also focus on how much money was lost to this horrible disease of drug addiction. I would end by saying exactly how painful it was to come off this substance and state that this drug literally stole a decade of my life.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand how showing yourself pictures of the people you love leaving would have an effect on your choices. It's not like we didn't know the choices we were making were bad, we just chose not to listen.
DeleteIf I could send a video message to myself in the past I would warn myself of the consequences of making poor decisions in the moment and letting those decisions form your lifestyle. My young self would need persuading to actually believe that I am a future version of myself and not just a video from my parents to scare me into working harder. I would use pictures to show where my life is at right now. I would show myself in a very stern fashion that the decisions I made as a child to be lazy because school was to easy to actually care and put forth the effort to do well is the very reason that at the age of twenty I am just starting college and struggling through life. Fear is the only thing that would have gotten through to me as a child so I would instill the fear of failing myself. I would show how heart breaking it is to look in the mirror and know that inside you is the potential to be anything you can dream of being and you let yourself miss a million opportunities because of laziness. I would incorperate the voices of my loved ones talking about how smart I am and how full of potential I am. The thought of disappointing my mother and not living up to her standards would be enough to scare me into being the perfect student and, model son. All in all If i could contact a past version of myself I would sum my message up to say stop being lazy, and skating by just because you are smarter than everyone else. Use your smarts to help people and make something of yourself instead of using your mental prowess to put others down and treat them like your lessers.
ReplyDeleteIf I could make a video message to my past self I would state that you should know yourself and be yourself. You’re not perfect or smart or beautiful. You won’t get rich or popular or be happily married and live happily ever after. Don’t try to be something you are not, you will only make yourself miserable. There are going to be ups and there are going to be downs. That is life. The experiences you have gone though in your life make you who you are. Be happy with yourself. Just do your best and work hard. I would be straight up and explain things in a matter of fact way. I would show pictures of the places I have been and the people I have met. I would recreate videos of the things I have done. As a I child, I would never have thought I would have done the things I have done and it would be a little scary. With every little event you go through it builds strength and confidence and before you know it you are tackling the bigger things in life. Keep an open mind, learn from others around you and be yourself.
ReplyDeleteIf I could go back in time and make video of when I was in high school, I would say it does not pay to be a comedian. Being a comedian will stop you from being well know in football. My message would focus on being a class comedian can keep you from doing what you enjoy most; playing football. In my video I would show the smile on my face every time I stepped onto the football field. I would show my highlights, victories, and defeats. I would show the classmates I graduated with that played football, playing in college, some even going to the NFL. I would end the video with me joining the military and watching classmates on television on Sundays enjoying the sport we all enjoyed together. After the video I would tell myself to focus on school, make good grades because it would pay-off in the end. I would show good report cards from being a good student, and progress reports from when I was being a class comedian. Lastly I would convince myself that laughter is good, but there is a time and place for it, not school. Being funny is not a bad thing when it doesn’t interrupt success a future plans.
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think being a comedian stopped you from being well known in football? I think by making people laugh, they would get to know you better and then would know you and recognize you more when you were on the field. I think you could have been a comedian/class clown and still have been successful at football. You are correct that there is a time and a place for laughter, but it doesn't mean you have to stop the laughter so you can excel at football. Laughter is good for the soul and I think it breaks up the monotony of the school day and eases the tension in the classroom.
DeleteI would have to agree. why would that take away from you playing football unless you were getting into trouble while you were being a comedian, your just an out going person. yes there is a time and a place and during a lecture is not the appropriate time but being a funny guy shouldn't take you away from football.
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ReplyDeleteThe one that was deleted was the same as this newer one that was posted, just a word I thought I needed to replace when I don't I needed to.
Delete*when I didn't need to
DeleteIf I could make a video to my past self, I would try my best to convince him not to drink during the one time he’s trusted go to a friend’s house without a parent around. This video would actually be a video chat, from my current time to his time in the past. The visual would be my own true self in this present moment, and the only theme would be about his decision in this situation. There would be no gimmicks or anything to frighten him, just an honest, empathetic conversation. My reason for this is so that I can ask him questions about his reasoning and listen to his perspective as to why he would want to do such an activity. Then, throughout the conversation, I would reflect what he has said to show him that I’m listening and understanding him in his shoes, but I would make him look at his thoughts in a different perspective. Then I would help him open up his mind more by asking more questions like, “Do you really believe it’s worth the risk of our parents not trusting you to go to another friend’s house without parental supervision for awhile?” This is so he can brainstorm deeper. Eventually, I’d hope that he would make a choice that would be true to himself in a higher, wiser form than one who chooses to drink.
ReplyDeleteThis was a different approach. I felt that some of your sentences could had been re-worded for a better understanding. I like how you decided to take a direct and simply approach by just using only your present self and trying to socially connect with your past self. What are your minor themes to support your major themes. I think main theme would be knowing how to redirect a potentially problem by just simply taking your knowledge and giving a different insight to get different results. I seen where you empathized with your past self, but it still made me wonder if this would really work being that it is so settle. Overall I think that it was good and differed from other responses.
DeleteIf I could make a video message to my past self, I would tell myself to keep my head up and keep following my dreams. The main message of the video would be to stay focused. No matter what gets in my way and tries to deter me, just step over it, go around it, or push through it, but stay focused on my dreams and don’t give up. My past self may take a little convincing, but the blunt, direct approach would be best for me. Ever since I was in the eighth grade, my dream was to become a pathologist; a doctor that does autopsies. I would use visuals from the things that I saw when I took at tour of the pathology lab at the local hospital. I would use pictures of how an autopsy is performed and the different tools used to perform the procedure. Some minor points would be: don’t let anyone talk you out of your dreams, no matter how big or small, there will always be ‘speed bumps’ that get in the way, and stay positive and block out the negativity.
ReplyDeleteIf your past self had so many obstacles in the way of what they wanted, and it stopped them, then maybe a boost in confidence would go a long way in helping.
DeleteIf I could make a video to my past self, I would tell myself to not get pregnant while still in high school. The main theme for my video would be "freshman pregnancy". knowing myself, I think that the only way to convince myself to not get pregnant is to show myself the consequences of my actions. I think I would need a tough, straight forward intervention to keep me from doing what I was doing. I would use a picture of myself, all by myself, at the hospital right after my son was born, in order to explain that the dad usually doesn't stick around. If I could, I would use some flash backs of me doing homework in the middle of the night, holding a baby, while my friends and baby’s father are out having fun. Some other advice I would give that follows this would be not to skip school, listen to your mom because she’s not your enemy, to do your best in school , and that there is a time and a place for everything.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I can't identify 100%, since I'm not a parent, I can definitely identify with the poor decision making. Do you think explaining that having sex doesn't necessarily mean your in love would have any impact on your younger version?
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ReplyDeleteSteven Walls
ReplyDeleteSunscreen
If I were to give myself a video message of some sort of advice it would probably have to be to think of school in a different way and you wouldn’t struggle has hard as you would have throughout the upper levels of my education. I’m not saying to change my way and everything I would just want to have more of a concentration on my studies. I personally think I would be able to tell myself in a semi normal way that I would need to straighten my act to for better study habits, I wouldn’t need to be tied down and have the information forcefully drilled into my brain, but I wouldn’t be taking notes on the subject either, I would just need to have a mellow conversation and explain the benefits of not struggling academically. I would just highlight the fact you will enjoy the experience of school more not constantly trying to catch up with everything going on in classes, and you would feel more successful around your peers who are trying hard, unlike you. Granted I get distracted easy so I would have the video on repeat every week or so just to keep it fresh in my brain; however I feel like I could get the point across pretty well.