Dream App Scholarship Essay

Imagine:  You just finished a book.  Not just any book, a life-changing book.  It blew your mind, and you are so in love, you just have to find more like it.  But you don’t even know where to begin!

Now introducing the Book Oracle.  This app will fill all your book-related needs. 

When you open the app, a man will appear.  He will ask you: “What book did you just finish?”  Two blanks will come up, and you will put in the title and author.  Then you press the button.

The Book Oracle is designed to suggest many different books.  It will take Amazon’s recommendations, as well as those from around the web and compile a list.  Simply clicking on the title of one of these recommended books will give you the summary.  The app will tell you how much the book is on Amazon and on iTunes, so you can order it in both hard-copy and e-book format. 

But that isn’t all!  The Book Oracle has other ways to search for new books too.  There’s the author finder, which lets you enter the names of some of your favorite authors to find new ones that are right for you.  These include little-known or authors that were just recently published.  You can also search the Book Oracle by your favorite books, either in a series or as a singular volume.  It keeps up to date on the latest books and authors to be released, so you never feel out of the loop.  Not to mention, it keeps a list of the top books in your state, in your country, and in the world so that you can make sure you know what everyone is talking about.

This app will also store all the titles and authors that you’ve entered, compiling it with other users’ data for even greater results.  It will then suggest you a book a month for as long as you use the app.  If you don’t like the book you suggest, you can touch a tiny thumbs down, and it will refrain from suggesting you similar books.  But if you do like it, you can touch a tiny thumbs up, and it will suggest another book that is similar next time.

Finally, the app will also let you know about local bookstores and libraries, so you can get the latest thriller that you just desperately crave.  

This scholarship is sponsored by ATTSavings.com

Entertainment Blogging Scholarship

One of the best shows to ever grace our television screens was a kid’s show. Avatar: The Last Airbender, and subsequently its sequel, the Legend of Korra, has presented valuable lessons in a way that is both easy for kids to understand, and enjoyable for those of all ages.

Avatar, as it is commonly known, is the story of a young boy named Aang who was trapped in an iceberg for 100 years. Aang is the Avatar, the master of all four elements: air, water, fire, and earth. In his world, many can bend, but only Aang can bend all four elements. He is also the only airbender left, as the fire nation decimated their population.

The lessons Avatar incorporates are important, but often subtle. Kids learn about other cultures, thus becoming more accepting of others. The creators borrowed heavily from Eastern cultures, something that many here in the Western world would not have the occasion to know about. For instance, the airbenders are based on Buddhist monks.

As the Avatar and hero, Aang is the one kids look up to and is a great role model. Aang has a strict sense of morals, which is shown in the finale. In his final face-off with Fire Lord Ozai, Aang is pressured to kill him. However, being true to his culture, Aang finds a nonviolent way to stop Ozai. This serves to show children that violence is not necessary to achieve the desired outcome. This leads to more people talking out their problems, instead of resorting to violence. It also urges kids not to give in to peer pressure, because it is not always right.

Redemption and forgiveness are also major lessons. Zuko is Ozai’s son, who was cast out for speaking out of turn. He would be allowed to return, if he would catch the Avatar. Zuko is single-minded in his quest, but as the series goes on, he begins to see that maybe his father is not right after all. Eventually, Zuko realizes that he cannot continue on this path, and turns away from his family. He joins Aang and his friends, and his story arc is one of hope. It gives the message that it is never too late to do the right thing, or to make amends to those you have wronged. Kids may be quicker to ask for forgiveness, due to these characters.

Avatar also breaks down stereotypes. Katara and Sokka are two main characters in the series, and they are also people of color. This is important, as not many important characters are those of color. It is important for children to see that, no matter what ethnicity, all can be important. And indeed, Aang and Katara end up together. The Legend of Korra breaks stereotypes too, with woman of color as the lead character. She is not traditionally feminine, but rather rash and violent. Kids are taught to be themselves. Avatar emphasizes being who you are, thus making pride rise in the upcoming generations.

This scholarship is sponsored by USDish.com

I'm Sorry

I'm sorry Nicole, I really am. I know I was acting like a douche and... you don't deserve that.

I'm happy for you, if you want to date her.

Little Bee

Recently, I picked up a great book. It's called "Little Bee". And though I'm only on the second chapter, there's a passage that I really liked. Here it is:

"On the girl's brown legs there were many small white scars. I was thinking, Do these scars cover the whole of you, like the stars and the moons on your dress? I thought that would be pretty too, and I ask you right here please to agree with me that a scar is never ugly. That is what the scar makers want us to think. But you and I, we must make an agreement to defy them. We must see all scars as beauty. Okay? This will be our secret. Because take it from me, a scar does not form on the dying. A scar means, I survived."

Spring

I love spring. It’s a time of new beginnings, when things once dormant begin to show themselves and awaken. I know how horribly cliché that sounds. But it’s true.

In spring, the trees begin to turn green and they look so pretty, so fresh and alive. They give me hope, because if they can go from looking– maybe almost being- dead, why can’t I?

And then there’s my favorite part of all, the spring thunderstorms. I love falling asleep to them most of all. The hard patter of rain on the roof like a mother’s lullaby, the bright flash of lightening to keep the bad things away away, the monstrous clap of thunder a soothing father’s voice.

Yes, I love the spring. Everything about it screams rebirth and hope. And it is in spring that I wish for those things for myself- and relief from my allergies.

Aftershocks

Your heart is in your chest again, not hanging from your sleeve
They've driven out the demons and they've earned you this reprieve
The memories are gone. The aftershocks live on

These are lyrics from the song aftershocks from the musical Next to Normal, a fabulous musical. I've never seen it on Broadway, but I've seen snippets of it from YouTube. It's one of the most original musicals to ever be created however, I'm sure of that. The musical score is more rock then most songs to hit Broadway.

Basic plot: Diana, a suburban mother suddenly goes crazy one night while waiting with her husband Dan and daughter Natalie for her son Gabe to come home. In the ensuing weeks, Diana goes to see her doctor. He gives her some medicine, but once Diana sees Natalie falling in love, she realizes that after being numb from the medicine, she misses feeling the highs and the lows. With Gabe's encouragement, she flushes her meds.

However, Gabe is not actually alive, he died before Natalie was born and is now a ghost which only Diana can see. Diana goes to another doctor, who suggests getting to the root of the problem. Gabe decides to invite her to come live with him, and Diana attempts suicide. Dr. Madden suggests electroconvulsive therapy which Diana does, although unwillingly. She loses her memory and remembers nothing, but still sees Gabe. She gives up treatment after having a fight with Dan, wondering why he stays with her through it all. Diana leaves Dan, knowing he can't always be there to pick her up. Dan goes to see Dr. Madden, hoping for news on Diana and also to talk about his problems. Natalie and Henry, the man she's fallen in love with, are together and Gabe watches over them all.

Anyway, to the point of this post. I love the song Aftershocks from this musical. I have no idea why. Maybe it's because through the words, I can see the hidden meaning underneath the words.

They've managed to get rid of me, returned me to the grave
ECT, electric chair, we shock who we can't save
They've cleared you of my memory and many more as well
You may have wanted some of them but who can ever tell
Your brainwaves are more regular, the chemistry more pure
The headaches and the nausea will pass and you'll endure
You son is gone forever though, of that the doctor's sure
The memories will wane, the aftershocks remain
You wonder which is worse, the symptom or the cure

They've managed to get rid of me. I'm gone without a trace
But sear the soul and leave scar no treatment can erase
They've cut away the cancer but forgot to fill the hole
They moved me from your memory, I'm still there in your soul
Your life goes back to normal now, or so they all believe
Your heart is in your chest again, not hanging from your sleeve
They've driven out the demons and they've earned you this reprieve
The memories are gone. The aftershocks live on
But with nothing to remember, is there nothing left to grieve?

And finally, I'll leave you with the song from the musical: here

Disney Movies

So, I have to tell you, that right now I'm watching Mulan. It's always been my favorite Disney movie, for more reasons then I think are apparent to me right at this moment. I love the fact that she doesn't care that she's a girl, she goes to join the army anyway. It's also based on a true story, but so are a lot of Disney movies. But most of all, it has my favorite Disney song ever (I'll Make a Man Out of You) in it.

As most of the people who read this blog know, I love Disney movies. Love them. Mostly for the songs, but also for the happy endings. I'm all about the happily ever after, the princess ending up with her prince. It gives me hope, I guess. Or maybe I'm just one of those little girls who play house with the reluctant boy next door at heart.

Still, I have major problems with the movie Snow White. Shall I list them for you?

1. Snow White is so dainty, she doesn't look human. She looks like some kind of fairy.

2. The Queen is pretty and is one of the only characters that look real.

3. She turns into an ugly crone to get Snow White and be the fairest in the land. How the hell does that make sense?

4. The Prince barely knows Snow White and he loves her

5. What kind of name is Snow White anyway?

6. The Prince barely speaks

7. The Prince doesn't save Snow White, the dwarves do. The Prince just kisses her, making him a bit of a necrophiliac.

8. They ride off into a sunset where a castle floats out from the clouds.

As you can see, I have some problems with Snow White. xD Still, I have to say that Disney movies make me remember the little child that's still somewhere inside of me. I love that little girl, just as I'm sure everyone has these little child inside of them that wants to be a princess.