Metacognition: QE Essay and Blog Posts

The process I go through when writing essays, and this year even blog posts, is very similar; perhaps the exact same. Both start with me brainstorming ideas while listening to music that makes me think, become inspired, and focus on the task at hand. This is usually effective, but sometimes I just sit and stare at the computer screen, waiting for an idea to be formed. Music with lyrics usually causes this, which is why I tend to draw inspiration from music sans words. 

As the writing gets going and I find an issue to address or whatever the case may be, numerous changes are made. Delete this sentence, add a certain word here, make corrections there, this sentence makes little sense-discard it. I am indecisive by nature, so writing an essay or blog post can take a couple hours or more. However, I tend to save essays and blog posts to the last minute, since I am forced to perform and get the job done quickly. Before the task is done, though, I proof read. I never used to do this, since I once hated reading my own writing. I have realized that proofreading is necessary. You can find mistakes that you never even know you made, or add any final thoughts before hitting 'Print'. 

My thinking is usually very sporadic and all over the place. When I can focus on one thing, I can get it done. It still surprises me that I am capable of accomplishing something when really putting my mind to it. Of course, there are times when I wish i could just drown out the rest of the world and not let the environment influence my thinking negatively. Certain things distract me, which can be for the better. Often though, that is not the case.

Best of Week 9/13-9/17: Creativity

I feel that the idea of the week was creativity. The lessons we have learned from the article 'Sea of Information' can be used for college essays, something everyone will be doing this year. Also, what we have learned can be carried with us throughout our lives. For example, in 'Sea of Information', we learned to follow where the spark of interest leads us and to find our own ways to be creative. We learned as well how to look past the mystery of what it means to be creative. It should not be something to be scared or afraid of.

Different people have different ways of expressing themselves. For Andrea Barrett, she found inspiration through research and in turn, research got her back into writing. What works for one person might not work for you. Perhaps going outside and learning some new can work, or reading a book by your favorite author, or even watching your favorite television show/movie. Creativity is not black and white. There are many different shades and colors.

Connection: Pass the Plate, Mr. Feynman

Alan Alda went on a journey to find Feynman. Who was Feynman and how could Alda think, act, and do, as Feynman did? Would Alda be able to portray the real Feynman in QED or would he be light-years off, only scratching the surface of someone so complex? Actors go through this process of trying to be another person, to take on the life of a character unlike themselves. Doing so requires a complete change in thinking and doing. The actor must become that character. For example, Heath Ledger as The Joker in Batman: The Dark Knight became an entirely different person who, according to Heath himself, "...couldn't stop thinking. My body was exhausted, and my mind was still going," nydailynews.com reported in the article "Jack Nicholson warned Heath Ledger on 'joker' role." With that being said, there are negative and positive aspects to either admiring a person and even wanting to be them. As stated, the negative is that one actually becomes too out of touch and far from their real self that it is impossible to go back. This was ultimately the fate of Heath Ledger. As a result of constantly thinking about the joker and staying up late at night possessed by the thought of this character, Ledger was prescribed numerous pills which could have been a cause of his death. However, there are also positive aspects. Alda, for example, researched Feynman but just couldn't put every single personality of the science genius into one character on stage. This is not a bad thing, even though it may seem that way. Alda knows all the different personalities of Feynman, but just cannot portray Feynman. This is not failure, it is considered to be admiration and honorable.

This subject relates to me, and high school students alike, since we are taught all our lives that we can have a role model but that we should always be ourselves and not lose sight of who we are. Everyone has potential to be a great human being and contribute to the world just by being who they are.

Carry It Forward: IDEO Nightline Creativity Documentary

While watching this documentary/ special about creativity in the workplace, I could only think how I would love to work in such an environment. The employees in the office are able to create their ideal workplace. There is even an airplane wing on the ceiling and bikes hanging from strings. This type of environment enables employees to open their minds and work towards their full creative potential. The best part is, most of the employees are not from art schools, but Harvard, Stanford, and other universities. This made me realize that I could still be creative at a school that is not specifically designed for the arts and still work in a career such as this and do something I would enjoy.

The rules that the boss has in place for employees are to not criticize others' ideas and to work off of one another's creativity. Even though "adults" have to step in to redirect the creative flow from time to time, the discussions continue in a new and more focused direction. This is needed, however, because too much creativity can be a bad thing and the original plan can be taken into many different directions. 

Therefore, if I ever do work in a place like this (which I hope I do), I will not forget what was learned by these employees and the type of atmosphere they create for themselves to foster productivity and creativity. They are just being themselves and doing what they love, which I can only envy at this point in time.