A story I frequently tell to others when looking for a conversation topic is a trip to Alaska I took with my father during my freshman year of high school. I often split up the trip into multiple stories, as one cohesive story about the trip would be too long. The story I tell the most is about deep sea fishing off the coast of Alaska. As I sat on the deck of our fishing boat, I felt a certain feeling within myself that I have scarcely felt in my life. This true feeling of tranquility, a near nirvana. Surrounding me is the deep, blue ocean, far more vibrant than even the my home of Hawaii’s ocean. Far in the distance, I saw the Alaskan mountains piercing the skies. It was cold, yet the chill in the air added to the comfort. The boat was surprisingly silent despite the other twelve people there with us. I tell the story of the Alaskan fishing trip mostly to capture a moment in time. I include rich imagery to convey to my listener the strength of the tranquility I felt in that moment. The fishing trip, in the grand scheme of life was a miniscule moment. Yet, the calmness I felt continues to guide my life, as I try to maintain even a fraction of the tranquility I experienced there.
Month: February 2022
What defines a generation? How do generations even form? After all, the formation of different generations is not some sort of cyclical event that occurs throughout a mandated period. The goal of my essay is to explain the formation of Generation Z. I believe the overall zeitgeist of Generation Z is caused by the fractured and divided world we were born into. The divided society we grew up in is a central theme that I will continually discuss in my essay, as well as the effects technological evolution has had on our society. I want to call upon the older generations who seem to, far too often, misunderstood my generation. I want my voice to be heard instead of continually being silenced due to my age.
The Coronavirus pandemic caused the fall of many already struggling businesses. The lockdowns forced many to adapt, or suffer severe financial loses. One of those businesses that fell hard was GameStop, a chain that specializes in selling video games. GameStop offered little minimal contact options, so their business suffered throughout the pandemic. Many businessmen were already planning on “shorting” GameStop, a complicated financial term but what’s important to know is they only make financial gain if the stock falls. That’s where the online forum, Reddit comes in.
I believe everyone should know about Reddit, as the website is a key example of the power of organizing on the internet. Reddit is an online forum centered around “subreddits”, essentially communities that are formed based around a specific subject. One of these subreddits, filled with Zoomers and Millennials who traded stocks, decided to shake the financial world. They banded together with a plan: To buy up as many GameStop stocks as possible and save the company from financial ruin. To the world’s shock, they succeeded. These teenagers and young adults caused immense loses to people who trade stocks for a living, which even caused a congressional hearing on the subject (which is a story for another time.) Clearly Reddit has immense power. The forum has made national and international headlines numerous times but one theme stays common. Through the power of the internet, thousands of individuals are able band together to create a great change. It’s an interesting phenomenon that even breaches international boundaries at time. I believe that, for better or for worse, Reddit has left a permanent mark on our world.