inner 340 monologue

What is my biggest fear?  A topic that, out of nowhere, floods my thoughts from time to time is the idea of death. It has always been an unfathomable idea because when I think about life, it is incomprehensible how someone with experiences, networks, family, ideas, imaginations, hopes, and dreams can just ... vanish. However, when I think about it more, I realize that it is not the idea of death that scares me. It’s the idea of instant lack of existence; oblivion.  At the foundation of my life, especially after this revelation, I have geared (or attempted to) my life towards impact. This does not mean influencing the masses and garnering support from thousands of people. It is my everyday life’s more incremental, subtle, and small consistencies. I realize that through acts of self-improvement, documentation, and actively being present in situations for others can amass to levels of trust and create everlasting bonds with people.  When looking long term, I want to continue...

" America Like Me" Final reflection on book by America Ferrera Throughout this book, I began seeing some stories I enjoyed reading more than others and some I also resonated with more than others. That being said, I started picking random authors that I was familiar with to read their essays and gain this behind-the-scenes insight into their life. Notably, two had stuck out to me, Liza Koshy and Issa Rae, by the nature of how much I had previously interacted with their work.  Firstly, Liza Koshy had a different take on the essay from others as she talked about growing up in a part of Texas that did not discriminate against her or make her feel like an outlier. She described how a "melting pot" was how others would view her community, but she felt that people did not really "melt" into each other. Instead, they added unique flavors and took them individually into the pot, making it more exciting and diverse. I found her essay interesting because, unlike the...

Time is Money - Invest in Habits How to reach your fullest potential by making your bed The one thing that is priceless but is so rare and fleeting is time. There is both too much and never enough of it. As humans, we tend to reach a more pessimistic mindset that time is a depleting resource that we can never get enough of, and we become quick to blame the lack of it on our tendencies to not act or live in the way we desire. Time is what you make of it. A day can be as long and short as you want. If you are on your deathbed, you do not wish to be filled with regret but rather an appreciation for the fact you were able to reach your fullest potential through self-discovery, self-development, and self- realignment, as it is a beautiful journey on its own. One that costs nothing but makes time feel as abundant and as beautiful of a resource as it is. This read will be worth your time because you will invest in understanding what it takes and the benefits of becoming your optimal self. Thi...

 " America Like Me" Initial reflections on book by America Ferrera The reason behind my choosing of this book was primarily because it would be interesting how unconventionally the chapters are structured. Instead of one long book about one story, each chapter provides a new storyline with new real-life characters and new feelings. I was even more intrigued when I proceeded to see how the stories were from notable people such as Liza Koshy, Reshma Saujani, and Padma Lakshmi. I, myself, am a third-world-culture child, living in a different country than where I was born in and where my parents are from. So, it is fascinating to read how others in similar situations are using their unique backgrounds, hardships, and culture to embrace who they are and make a name for themselves. I am navigating the world of America at a PWI, and I am searching for inspiration and solace in knowing that I am a part of shared experiences and, despite any odds, I can make a name for myself and surp...