All posts by Hannah

Il Blog Italiano (Entry #3)

Elementary Italian I

1. Cinque Parole

Mi piace le parole “il tacchino,” “la roccia,” e “raramente” perché loro sono divertente dire. Vuolono dire “turkey,” “rock,” e “rarely.” La parola “spesso” è molto carino. Vuol dire “often.” La parola “l’indagine” è bello e divertente dire. Vuol dire “survey.”

2. Una Ricetta

Voglio mangiare la ricetta di pannette alla boscaiola perchè mi molto piace la pasta. Ma io non fare questa ricetta. Mi piace il funghi, il pomodoro e il prezzemolo. La ricette è semplice e presto fare.

3. Un Viaggio

Voglio viaggiere a Verona in Italia. La città è molto bella, rinascimentale e storica. C’è L’Arena di Verona. Ha 1,992 anni. Anche voglio vedere La Casa di Juliette. Mi piace Romeo e Juliette. La casa e molto bella e elegante.

4. Il Diario

Questa settimana ho fatto i compiti e ho studiato. Oggi ho avuto il mio ultimo classe per semestre d’autunno. Sono molto stanca. Non vedo l’ora di riposare. Mi piace giocare ai videogiochi. Non vedo l’ora di giocare ai videogiochi durante le vacanze invernali. Prossimo semestre seguo l’italiano. Mi piace studiare l’italiano. Il corso è molto divertente e interessante.

Weekly Writing #15

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Progress in Writing

The difference between my current writing skills compared to my senior year of high school is substantial. Last year, I would not have been able to write the amount I can now. My ability to effectively word dump and outline has grown so much and helped with all aspects of my writing. It’s thanks to the frequent writing I’ve had to do this semester that’s made me so used to writing. With FYS combined with my other classes, I had been writing multiple times a week. What felt like an impossible task before now feels like second nature. As well, I’m much better at understanding how to properly use evidence to support my claims. What I plan to improve upon, however, is focusing time on including counterarguments in my writing. Additionally, I want to work on starting my writing assignments further in advance. I’ve been able to write somewhat decent products when starting only a few days in advance of each deadline. However, if I allowed myself more room and time I’d be more able to create much better work. I’m really grateful for all that I’ve learned this semester. I’m so excited to apply my improvements to the next coming semesters and learn so much more.

Final Project on Letter Writing

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“Letter to Blueberry” : a Story’s Conclusion

Love, heartbreak, and growth: experiences that come with the package of life. Singer-songwriter Brye Sebring, professionally known simply as Brye, understands this all too well. Her first official album, Dream Girl, was released on June 17, 2022. Songs in general can be observed as letters. Whether they’re directed to a specific person, subject, or even to the songwriter themself, someone or something is being addressed. The contents of Brye’s album are no exception. Her last song is explicitly presented as a letter addressed to a past partner. “Letter to Blueberry” acts as the conclusion to her story of romantic relationships and deteriorating mental health told through her album, Dream Girl. It effectively utilizes the epistolary format in showing emotional growth as well as providing mental closure, both for herself and Blueberry.

As mentioned, the two main aspects of Brye’s album involve romantic relationships and mental health. Opening the album is “Dream Girl,” which expresses her subtle desire to be the dream girl, someone more dateable and manageable than she actually is. It’s implied that she was either in a relationship or wished to be during the time period this song takes place. She addresses this song to whomever she was romantically involved with asking, “Would you like me more if I lived spontaneously?” (Sebring, 2022). By directing her lyrics to a person, she opens her album using epistolary tactics. “Black and White,” the next song, describes her mental state as always being amazing or awful, never in between, or “gray” (Sebring, 2022). Next is a song that covers her continued attachment to an individual from a past, toxic relationship. It is her obsession with a person who had consistently mistreated her that causes her to feel so much anger and frustration. This experience makes her feel “Everything at Once,” the title of this song. The next, “Rebuilding,” then goes on to tell of Brye’s infatuation with a new individual. She sees this person as someone who can help rebuild her after the previous toxic relationship. A question Brye asks this individual reads, “Would [your lovers] write you a million songs?” which references her first released song, “Million Songs.” Though it is not a part of the album, this was a true love song about the same person mentioned in “Rebuilding.” However, the abundance of questions within “Rebuilding” makes uncertainty apparent. It’s hinted that this person is in no way meant to save her in the way she wishes and that this relationship will not be her ideal one. The next song, “Shapeshifter,” further proves this with darker musical tones and lyrics. This is a continuation of the story described in “Rebuilding,” as its pre-chorus states, “I build you up, you tear me down” (Sebring, 2022). Finally, the album’s sixth song, “I’d Rather Be Alone,” expresses Brye’s desire to end this relationship. The song presents a somewhat carefree tone, one that contrasts with the previous, “Shapeshifter.” Despite its carefree musicality, the lyrics describe a spiraling relationship with constant fighting and miscommunication. This shows that Brye is now beginning to emotionally shut down. She wishes to no longer be in any romantic relationship, or rather, that she’d “rather be alone.” Next is “Apocalypse.” Here, her mental health is at its absolute lowest. She even goes as far as to describe having suicidal thoughts, “I’m able to push through for one night more / But suicide is creeping up on my back door” (Sebring, 2022). Both the burden of her past relationships and the effects of COVID-19 quarantining are contributors to the state, as “the virus” is referenced multiple times throughout the song (Sebring, 2022). 

Now, we are finally brought to “Letter to Blueberry,” Brye’s last song in her album. It was the first song from the album to be released as a single, in October 2020. Overall, the song reflects back on what is implied to be her first true relationship. In the last line she sings, “Thank you for being my first everything” (Sebring, 2020). Since it is at the end of the album, the letter shows that she is now speaking from a grown point of view, one that has gained emotional maturity and is able to properly reflect on her past relationships. In this case, she is specifically reflecting on her mistakes in a relationship with a good partner. Letters and journaling act as an outlet for emotional healing. Brye reveals that she is writing this letter in “the journal [she] wrote when [they’d] date” (Sebring, 2020). By revisiting this record of her past, she is healing through reflection. Physically writing a letter in this journal shows her striving for acceptance of the past. Halfway through the album, she had been attempting to emotionally recover by dating other people, as mentioned earlier with “Rebuilding.” However, the website QueeringPsychology, created by a professional psychotherapist and mental health counselor, explains, “[T]hat would be an example of avoidance. And avoidance almost always makes things worse.” The page continues, “The feelings you try to push away will always come back in some way, usually stronger. Unhandled emotions and psychological unfinished business can come out in your body so you might start to feel achy, sick or drained all the time” (Pierre, 2019). As it was previously covered, Brye had encountered just this especially during “I’d Rather Be Alone,” when she’d become emotionally drained from her experiences. In “Letter to Blueberry,” despite romantic feelings still subtly existing, there is no intention of pursuing a romantic relationship. This symbolizes her wanting to properly communicate her regrets and feelings. A Psychology Today page titled “After the break-up: Embracing the lessons” says to ask yourself these questions in order to healthily reflect upon an ended relationship: “What red flags did you ignore? What drama did you create? What dysfunction did you feed into?” (Davis, 2015). Brye does just this within her song lyrics saying, “I get that I’ve created somе scars / With the words I spoke and with my guitar,” and, “I don’t fully know why we fell out / But I think it had to do with my mouth / I couldn’t keep it shut and shut down / You had every right leave me.” She fully accepts her faults within the relationship. By formatting this piece as a letter, Brye was able to explicitly address Blueberry. As well, she was able to provide more genuine closure. Toward the end of the song, the lyrics read, “I hope this song can bring you some peace / Cause my other ones were not quite so sweet” (Sebring, 2020).

After years of struggle, heartache, and depression, Brye finally found a satisfying conclusion to one part of her story. It did not end with a happy relationship, but with contentment and maturity. Brye accepts that not being in romantic relationships is a time to truly heal and grow. Instead of searching for a savior in others, she will embrace independence, which begins by accepting past experiences. This story ends with her found way of closure in the form of a letter, “Letter to Blueberry.”

Works Cited

Sebring, B. (2022). Dream Girl. Retrieved from https://open.spotify.com/album/1d3os2x0L52pyezqlC0lpj?si=wFaU5z7PTh6k_2zG3yVmjA 

Sebring, B. (2020). Letter to Blueberry. Dream Girl. Retrieved from https://open.spotify.com/track/6zZ7VZFvZS9655byEp4L16?si=c90055f0ec404d0d 

Sebring, B. (2019). Million Songs. Retrieved from https://open.spotify.com/track/1BRNaNLX4ghJSAw0OpC73v?si=c429fcda55e141ab 

Dohse, L. (2022). Brye Sebring. Franklin Lifestyle, 46–47. Retrieved from https://citylifestyle.com/franklin/issues/2022-02 

Pierre. (2019). Reflecting after the end of a romantic relationship. QueeringPsychology. Retrieved from https://queeringpsychology.com/2019/01/27/reflecting-after-the-end-of-a-romantic-relationship/ 

Davis, D. L. (2015, May 26). After the break-up: Embracing the lessons. Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/laugh-cry-live/201505/after-the-break-embracing-the-lessons

Weekly Writing #14

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Pen Pals: a short Review of 84 Charing Cross Road

I was very entertained by the film 84 Charing Cross Road. The story and characters were incredibly charming. The fact that it is based on true events makes it even more captivating. I especially loved the dynamic between the leading characters, Helene and Frank. My one and only complaint, however, is the clarity of their relationship. Rather, I wish the film had done a more committed job of representing a friendship instead of a teased romance. From our in-class discussion, I understand that the real Helene Hanff described their relationship to be solely platonic while still meaningful. It’s typical, yes, for films and fictitious stories to show romances, even if they’re only implied, in order to market themselves better. However, I feel the media should strive to represent truer platonic relationships between men and women. Our heteronormative society has conditioned us to believe men and women can never truly be friends. If the media more frequently portrays these said platonic relationships, then steps toward a less heteronormative, and objectively harmful, societal structure can be better made. 

Weekly Writing #13

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Gratitude

This week and the ability to be home and enjoy my time with loved ones has been wonderful to have. With final assignments piling up, I needed a chance to decompress before needing to grind through everything. Every little thing my family does means so much and helps me in so many ways. I am thankful for the cooking my mother and father do. I’ve missed Korean food so much and it’s made me so happy to come home and finally be able to eat a homemade Korean meal. As well, my dad’s Thanksgiving cooking has made the holiday exactly what it is: a day of family and comfort. Food and gifts in general act as a huge love language for me. I feel so loved and cared for whenever I receive even the littlest of things. 

I know I will feel a lot of stress over the next two weeks after break, which is why I appreciate this week’s purpose of having me focus on family. Though it’ll be rough, I will be able to get this same focussed time after it’s over. Winter break, I know, will feel just as nice, probably even more so. 

Weekly Writing #12

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The Day the Crayons Quit

Things have been starting to really pick up these past few weeks. Final projects, papers, and presentations are all beginning to pile up. Because of that, I very much appreciated this week’s focus on relaxation. I appreciated the chance to simply enjoy epistolary works. I most enjoyed collectively reading the children’s book The Day the Crayons Quit. Anything that has to do with feeding my inner child, I love. It reminded me of why I enjoy my current Elementary Italian I class. Because it’s at the elementary level, we often repeat back simple words our professor teaches just like a kindergarten class. Everyone, including the professor, finds it hilarious yet it’s still very engaging and effective in teaching. The children’s book itself is really special because it gives each crayon its own personality that wasn’t labeled as either a “girl” or “boy” color is also so important. As well, it’s an adorable way to introduce children to colors, imagination, and even examples of expressing your emotions and healthily communicating such emotions with others.

Il Blog Italiano (Entry #2)

Elementary Italian I

Cinque Parole

Mi piace la frase “mia famiglia.” È molto divertente dire. Vuol dire “my family” in inglese. Anche, mi piacciono le parole tranquillo, nascondere, scoprire e nervoso. Sono molto bei e simpatichi dire. Tranquillo vuol dire “calm” in inglese. Nascondere vuol dire “to hide.” Scoprire vuol dire “to discover” e nervoso vuol dire “nervous” in inglese.

Un Viaggio

Voglio viaggere a Venezia. È in Italia, nord ovest. C’è una libreria, Libreria Acqua Alta. I libri di Libreria Acqua Alta tengono nelle vasce. Che forte! Anche, c’è le Gallerie Dell’Accademia. Il museo d’arte ha motli quadri veneziani. Mi piace come puoi fare molto e la città è che bello. Volgio fare fotografie, mangiare ai ristoranti e fare le passeggiate.

Cultura

Mi piace la canzone “O Forse Sei Tu.” Questa canzone molto bella e dinamica. Mi piace le sue parole. Sono molto creative.

Il Diario

Questi giorni scrivo molti giornali per i miei corsi di teatro e scienze della comunicazione. Anche, devo studiare per i quiz di italiano. Il sabato, le mie amiche e mi guardiamo i film e noi beviamo i caffè di Java Joe’s. Mi piace il caffè con molti zuccheri. La mia amica Sayuri non la piace il caffè con lo zucchero. Che noia!

Weekly Writing #11

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Writing Cover Letters

Applying for jobs has, personally, always been very intimidating and confusing. The only experience I have is a job I got through an internship. I didn’t have to actually apply for either since it was with a theatre company I’d done shows with before. They were already familiar with who I was and what my work ethic was like. Thanks to college applications and auditions, resumes aren’t scary for me anymore. However, I frankly didn’t know exactly what a cover letter was until this semester. Someone from the career center briefly explained how my resume and cover letter should look. Still, the thought of writing a cover letter intimidated me. I wouldn’t know the first place to begin. Nor did I entirely understand the point of them. I’d always think, “Why have a cover letter when an employer can just look at your resume?” This week’s discussion, though, not only helped me better understand how to write a cover letter, but also made me realize how important they are in showcasing your personality. A resume alone will never help someone determine whether or not you’re a personality they want to work with. Cover letters sell you, not your credentials. 

Weekly Writing #10

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Presenting Letters of Note

Being someone who gets very nervous doing presentations, I loved experiencing the supportive environment of the class. It felt as though everyone was invested in each individual topic and gave general encouragement toward one another. Additionally, I found all the presentations to be incredibly educating. Many people chose to talk about popular writers I was somewhat familiar with but learned surprising things. Such include learning about Roald Dahl being a British spy through Rowan’s presentation or about John and Abigail Adams’ relationship being more friendship oriented through Sarah’s. 

This course in general has helped slowly rebuild my writing and public speaking skills that I felt I’ve lost throughout high school. I used to be a very good public speaker and surprisingly enjoyed it. Overtime, however, my skills somewhat deteriorated since it wasn’t something my high school teachers had us do very often. I’d love to continue improving my public speaking during the rest of this semester and my future years at Muhlenberg. For starters, I’ve often received the note to avoid saying “um” and “uh” too much. The issue, though, during my presentations, is no matter how calm I feel I still stutter and “um” between my sentences. I wonder if there are any good strategies that could help me from repeating such phrases so often.

Letters of Note Essay

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“Why I am An Atheist” : The Freedom to Atheism

Charles Chilton Moore, a notable American atheist, founded the newspaper Blue Grass Blade in Lexington, Kentucky, 1884. The paper was known to promote forms of atheist activism, including criticisms of religion, mainly Christianity. Naturally, this was not popular subject matter, especially in Southern United States. They were dubbed as a “radical thinking” paper. Blue Grass Blade faced many financial and legality issues because of its unpopular covering of topics such as, of course, atheism, agnosticism, women’s suffrage, and many more controversial topics of the time. Moore, the founder and editor, eventually even spent time in prison for blasphemy. Despite the prejudice and silencing, the newspaper knew the importance in advocating for individuals’ first amendment rights. In 1903, they requested their readers submit personal letters expressing how and why they became atheist. Blue Grass Blade’s title of “Why I am An Atheist” provided the space for both community and freedom of expression to atheists across the nation. 

The atheist activism movement is centered around the support for equality, and freedom of thought and expression. Paul Fidalgo from the Center for Inquiry perfectly explains the movement saying “[it] is about lessening the power of religion, superstition, and credulous thinking because we want to live in a world that maximizes human happiness, morality, freedom of thought and expression, and equality. [Atheism and skepticism] are not, in and of themselves, worthy of a movement. But we pursue these goals because we know they will bring about a society in which we are more free and equal, and in turn we will be more fulfilled and enriched as a result,” (Roth, 2012). Especially in 1903, revealing that you explicitly did not believe in God in a community built upon that faith would be faced with countless amounts of harassment. If it weren’t for this opportunity to write and share their beliefs, they would have continued to sit in silence. One example of the many letters was one written by Minerva Ola “Minnie” Parrish, 23 year old recently divorced mother of four children. She was known to be one of the first female practicing doctors in Northern Texas. Her letter of note, “Why I am An Atheist,” presents common atheistic ideologies of belief in science over faith and liberalism. Parrish explicitly writes, “It is ignorance of the scientific working of their own natures and mind that keep so much ‘mystery’ in the air,” claiming that faith is simply a lack of scientific understanding (Usher, 2017). Most of what religious folk dub as “divine” or “supernatural” are, in reality, naturally occuring in our world and can be explained through scientific fact. Her letter earlier explains, “Everything that so many people think transpires from the supernatural, and many things that would really perplex the average mind, have natural and material foundation in the workings of the human mind,” (Usher, 2017). This belief in supporting claims with scientific explanations rather than ones from scripture very much represents atheistic approaches to daily life. 

Branching off the lack of reliance on religious explanations, Parrish describes her undependability in the Bible’s teachings, “I am an Atheist because I know the Bible will not do to depend upon. I have tried it, and found it wanting,” (Usher, 2017). To her and other atheists, following the Bible isn’t a plausible thing to do. Earlier in the piece, Minnie Parrish explains, “I cannot accept a salvation that is based wholly upon the dreams of an ancient and superstitious people,” emphasis on “ancient,” (Usher, 2017). Seeing the Bible to be made up of old ideologies that go against more current strives for progres, her following of liberalism is presented. She later says, “I found in the scriptures the origin of women’s slayer,” claiming that the oppression of women is embedded in the religion and is a reason for its existence in society today and throughout history. The line, “I am in the ranks of Liberalism because of its elevating principles, it’s broad road to freedom of thought, speech, and investigation,” as well, adds to both her personal ideologies and those at the core of atheism: feminism and freedom of speech and expression. To reiterate an earlier point, the difficulty in 1903 was the common prejudice against the idea of rejecting religion, specifically rejection of the belief in God. Many submitters of Blue Grass Blade’s title “Why I am An Atheist” even wrote under pseudonyms in order to protect themselves against harassment and disapproval from family and colleagues (Lawson, 2011). Through this, they were able to speak their truths, despite being under aliases.

Not only did Blue Grass Blade’s act of asking for reader submitted letters provide the space to freely express their atheistic beliefs, but it created a sense of community and unification amongst American atheists. Living in hyper religious communities and likeliness of judgment, opportunities like this were difficult to come by. One of Blue Grass Blade’s central goals was advocacy for first amendment rights. As stressed before, this opportunity provided a space for freedom of speech, expression, and thought.

References

Usher, S. (2017). More letters of note. Canongate Books. 

Lawson, T. (2011). Letters from an atheist nation: Godless voices of america in 1903. Thomas Lawson. 

Sparks, J. (2009). Kentucky’s most hated man: Charles Chilton Moore and the Blue Grass Blade. Wind Publications.

Lee, A. Why I am an atheist activist. Big Think. (2021, September 30). https://bigthink.com/articles/why-i-am-an-atheist-activist/ 

Activism. American Atheists. (2022, August 12). https://www.atheists.org/activism/ 

Roth, A. from Twitter (2012, August 15). Speaking out against hate directed at women: Paul Fidalgo. Skepchick. https://skepchick.org/2012/08/speaking-out-against-hate-directed-at-women-paul-fidalgo/