Perfectly Imperfect

Tell me how this sounds, the perfect life, looks and family.

All of these things sound pretty good, right? Many strive to be perfect and aspire to be presidents and world leaders. It has been taught that practice makes perfect and anything short of perfection was not acceptable. I believe perfection is a goal that is not obtainable.

Growing up I always tried to make my parents proud. When I did something wrong I made it hard on myself to learn from my mistakes and get better. A speeding ticket here, argument there and I knew I was not perfect.

When it came time to take a placement test for college I scored well below the high expectations I set for myself. Because I scored poorly, I needed to take three extra classes before I could start taking my normal classes. The thing that hurt the most was the extra money it cost my parents to pay for the classes and it was all because I couldn’t reach the standards I set for myself.

With tears in my eyes I promised to change and never fall short of my goals. I improved my grades, lowered my high expectations and really put the word perfect in perspective.

Today many people adore celebrities, athletes and musicians. They live a life that many want and  desire to have. These groups of people in the higher anarchy of life are considered perfect to many. Even though they are considered perfect, it still doesn’t mean that they are perfect and I am sure many feel they aren’t.

There are numerous celebrities who are talented, but not perfect. Someone may be a good singer, but they aren’t perfect, which is why they practice every day.

Even getting a 100 on a test and having a 4.0 GPA is wonderful, but it isn’t perfect.

It just means that you put time and dedication into school and you are rewarded for it by getting good grades. Does it mean that you are better than anyone else? It means that you might know more about what you studied, but still nowhere near perfect, it doesn’t make you the perfect student.

It means 4.0 students and  people who dropped out of high school both watch the same sunrise in the morning and the same sunset at night. Both still people in the same world, but one may be stronger in certain aspects in life than another and it doesn’t make them a better of a person.

Perfection will never be achieved. I’m sorry it’s true.

Instead of worrying about being perfect, worry about being happy and being the best person that you can be. Worry about helping others and helping them become happy and become a better person that is something that perfection can never do.

The Mic is in Your Hands

Hello, excuse me, is this thing on?

I was told that I have only one minute to talk and I have a few things to say. My name is Vincent and I’m just your normal 21 year-old kid from New Jersey. I sit back, live life and try to learn new things along the way. I stay out of trouble and always keep family and others above everything else. I’m here because I was promised by the President of the United States that I have one minute to say whatever is on my mind. This is my first time in front of a camera, let alone being on television, so just bare with me, I might come off as a little nervous.

Well let me begin, my first issue is war, why are we still in it and why are our troops overseas? I thought that we have achieved our mission. I know, many agree and many disagree with me, but I’m just looking at it from my point of view. We promised to send troops home, but many are still out on duty. No one should be out in different countries, they need to be home in the United States. If we are out overseas to look for oil then we don’t need soldiers to do so. Nothing good ever comes out of war, send home all of our troops.

Next, television and music. I am tired and fed up of what music is played on the radio and what is shown all over the world. It is just ridiculous and inappropriate that we are spreading these kind of messages to our younger generations. Many are wondering why, why are we in debt, why are there no jobs and why is the economy is down? I think the messages through music and television are part of the reason why.

Kids turn on the radio or turn on the television and reenact what they see. Girls think that it is okay to be sluts and boys think that it is okay to be pimps. Then we sit back and wonder why there are so many teenagers who are pregnant. Instead of going out and trying to pursue an education or better the world, many kids are sitting home sleeping through life, hoping that the world is handed to them.

One man, once voice, one dream

It is not entirely their fault, some of the blame falls on the media and you Mr. President.  It is the media that wants to make money. They know what sells and that is why they put this sexual, degrading products on the radio and on television. For some reason or another, people love to watch and listen to it and the media knows that. They know that views equals money. Do they care about the message that they are sending out? No. They are self-centered people who only care about themselves.

I’m sorry, but  Mr. President, you sit up in your office behind your millions of dollars as the world turns and things get worse. The poor keep getting poorer and the rich keep getting richer. Yet, behind it all you promise change, you promise a different life and a different future for the children of tomorrow. I was naive to realize it, but what you said was mostly a lie. I’m not singling you out Mr. President, I’m talking about you as well as the presidents before you and presidents who are next to follow. All of whom promise the world, but never deliver.

I think that I have surpassed my one minute limit. I am sorry if I have offended any one with this speech, but I’m just speaking from the heart.

Just like Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream, I too have a dream.

I dream that the world can one day wake up and realize some of its flaws instead of glorifying itself. I dream for a bright future and a brighter tomorrow.

Thank you all for your time.

Look Beyond Looks

What does the word beautiful really mean?

Is it what the media tells us is beautiful or is it really that beauty is in the eye of the beholder? I believe beauty is defined by what the media tells us. It shown to us in every magazine, commercial and television show. Just because beauty is shown in that way, doesn’t mean what it is defined as.

Many people take one look in a mirror and they look away. They say to themselves that they are not “beautiful”  and say that they don’t have the perfect eyes, nose or teeth.  Then again what does the word, perfect actually mean? The answer is the word, perfect and the word beautiful is whatever you want it to mean. It is a perception, just because someone thinks that something is beautiful or attractive it doesn’t have to mean that you believe the same exact thing.

I really want to know who is the person that invented mirrors. I believe they can be categorized under the top five worst inventions of all time. The only point of a mirror is for someone at themselves and identify their flaws instead of identifying their something good about them self. Even so-called actors and actresses look in the mirror and even though they are considered “perfect” they can still point out flaws about them self. If these “beautiful” people thought they were fine the way they are, then why do they go out and spend millions of designer clothes and cosmetic surgery? It is so they can try to look their best at all times, or what people consider “looking their best”.

Beyonce was voted the 2012 most beautiful women. What actually makes her more beautiful than anyone else?

Look at any front page of a magazine and tell what do you see. You see the media’s idea of the most attractive person. Why is this the model of what is considered beautiful? Instead of having the most attractive person on the cover of a  magazine, how about you put someone who as actually made in impact on someone’s life. I am talking about someone who doesn’t go around, flaunt their looks and collect their paychecks. Try putting someone in the spotlight who has invented something that made a difference or maybe someone who spent their time helping others. Those are people who deserve to be on magazine covers and have cameras follow them around.

Next time you look into the mirror, just think. I want you to think, is this what I want to be? Do these clothes, shoes, and style fit who I really am.

Make sure you are being the person that you want to be and not the person you want others to think you are. Stay true to yourself and don’t change for anyone, no matter what others think of you.

People can call you unattractive and this and that, but so what? That is their opinion and who cares what they may think. Want to know the real definition of beautiful?  The people who don’t judge a book by a cover are the true definition of beautiful. Someone who can be them self without worrying what others think of them is what the word “beautiful” really means.

The Truth About Fashion

Fashion is something that is always changing. Fitting in and being up to date with “cool” trends is always desired. Let’s face it, no one likes being the person out of the loop and not being included. Whenever there is a new pair of shoes or a new popular brand with a line if new releases, people line up with wallets in hand. They are ready to spend crazy amounts of money to get the popular, new, trendy clothes.

I get it, in the judge a book by its cover world that we live in now, people want to look there best. Tell me though, why do people buy these hundred-dollar branded pieces of apparel? What is the difference between buying a fancy new Coach bag and taking a bag and writing a C on it? To me there is no difference. People judge others on the brands they wear and its pretty sad.  There is a reason why the most missed day of school for younger kids is the first day. The reason is because all of the kids come to school with their new shoes and backpacks trying to show off. Kids judge others who don’t have the nice clothes like they do and the fashion industry deserves a good deal of the blame. I think that people need to stop buying these brand-name products and stop pouring money in these industries to keep them going.

“We all self-conscious, I’m just the first to admit it.”

This is a line in the Kanye West song, All Falls Down. Honestly, he could not be any more correct. Face it, when you go to the store, instead of buying the cheaper shirt or pair of jeans, you go straight for the fancy designer clothes. It’s not a bad thing to admit to it, there are millions of people who do the same the same thing.

Fashion is always changing and I think its time that it changes again. Stop with the over priced Juicy Couture bags, shoes, etc. Make a brand that is cheap and affordable. Lose the models and the attention that you try to achieve with your products. If these companies lowered their prices and made their products accessible and easier to buy, they make more money and would be saving so much discrimination and self-consciousness in the world as well, without even knowing it. I say we all make a change for that.

Celebrity Status

A celebrity is a status that many want to reach. Once this status is reached, the fame is something that many people tend to shy away from, while others embrace. The obsession over this celebrity status has altered some people’s lives and has also changed them as a person. Is the flashing lights and cameras all worth it?

Fans line up and pay their hard-earned money to watch these so-called “celebrities” on television or live at an events. There are all kinds of celebrities ranging from Dick Clark and Donald Trump all the way to Justin Bieber and Mike “The Situation” from the Jersey Shore. When you become a celebrity you take on the responsibility to become a role model. Like it or not, there are young kids and teens who look up to you. They see your name in lights and they want to be in the position that you are in. For some celebrities, they embrace their status and use it as a way to give back, but for others they just live in the moment and don’t care about the impact that they are having on others.

What actually makes Kim Kardashian earn the “celebrity” title?

Some celebrities deserve to have the spot light that they do, but there are so many who don’t. There are actors and sports figures who deserve the spotlight because they actually have this one attribute that makes them earn that status, that one attribute is talent. Talent is something that you are either born with or is something that you develop over time. People who have this actually use this ability and can make a difference. Some can make a difference on the baseball diamond and others can make a difference on the big screen and deliver award-winning performances. Those are the kind of celebrities I have respect for.

Many celebrities are just celebrities because of their name or their appearance on television. There are so many people who become famous because they do something that draws attention on television and people become automatically intrigued by them. Reality television stars, and most main stream musicians fall under this category.

Turn on the radio and all you hear is a catchy beat followed by some lyrics. These lyrics have no meaning behind them, no positive message and best of all probably weren’t even written by the music artist. Yet, they are there because they are spoken by an attractive figure who can bring in the money. Reality television stars are the same way. Can someone please tell me where is their talent? What do they do that is different from anyone else? They live life and have a camera follow them around all day. The funny thing is that they live a scripted live, they don’t actually live the life that is portrayed on television, it is mostly just for show.

A celebrity is someone who the media pushes on us and tells us that they are a celebrity. That is my definition of what a celebrity is in our day and age. Way back in the 1970′s and 1980′s, to get in the spotlight is something that was earned. Something that people fought for everyday and dedicated their life goals for. The next time you hear the word celebrity, just be able to separate the people who actually earned that status and the people who were given that status.