Reading Notes: Aesop's Fables, Part B

Birds
This section talks about peacocks in a few stories. I love peacocks and there is a temple in Austin, TX that has a lot of peacocks roaming about outside of it. Every time I go there I find it really peaceful and interesting to go out and find peacocks and see if they'll put their feathers up. One of the quotes that I like from the peacock stories is "one cannot be first in everything." I love this theme and would like to possibly write a story with that incorporated in it. Maybe I would write about a college student applying to graduate school and wanting to be involved in all the big organizations on campus as well as be in the top of their class. At the end, they would realize that they cannot be first in everything. There are some things they have to let go of; and even if they are not first in everything, they can still be successful.

Source: A picture from Aesop's Fables; peacock feathers are one of a kind. 

Frogs
I loved the story about the Frogs and the Fish, where the frogs really wanted a king, and when they finally got one, he ate them all up. The moral of the story was "better no rule than cruel rule." I found that quite amusing, and was thinking I could retell this story, but set it in a particular nation. It could be in the 15th-17th century, when many countries were just getting started. I could write about the United States, for example, and write about the communities that existed before British colonies were a thing. The communities could complain about not having a leader and not having laws in place, and when they get colonized by the British, they realize that no leader was better than a bad one. I'm not really sure where I'm going with this, but it was just something that came to mind! I could use any nation, and even make up names of leaders! 

Another idea I have is to write my story in the form of a poem. If I cannot think of enough words for a poem to be 300 words (the minimum story word count), I might just add a short poem at the end of my story, just like it shows after every story in the Aesop's Fables collection.

Bibliography: Aesop's Fables by Joseph Jacobs. 

Reading Notes: Aesop's Fables, Part A

I love that after every story, there is one quote that sums up the moral/theme of the story. The quotes apply to everyday life as well, which is why writing up a story about one of these stories could go many different ways!

Lions

I like that all of the lion stories portrayed the animal in different lights. It is easy to judge an animal or a group of people based on the stereotypes we see daily, but in reality, everybody is different. This is seen when each lion story depicts the animal in a different way; one shows him as cunning and frightening, yet others depiact him as weak or a friendly pet. If I did a story about this, I would try to pick an animal that is misunderstood. I would write two mini stories of the animal, each with a different personality than what everyone knows it by. For example, if everyone thinks snakes are venomous and dangerous, I would write a plot story in which the snake actually helps others get rid of poison, or another one where the snake gives little kids rides around a town. 

Foxes

In one of the stories, The Fox and the Lion, the moral of the story at the end is "familiarity destroys fear." If I were to rewrite this one, I would write about a common fear people have and how to overcome it through familiarizing yourself with it. For example, there have been many experiments done in which a person who is afraid of spiders is put in the same room as a spider in a box. Then, they are asked to move closer to the box with the spider. Slowly, they will ask the person to lift the lid of the box, to where the spider is exposed. Eventually, they will get to the point where the spider is on the person's arm. This example embodies the theme/moral that was at the end of the story. Familiarity with the spider soon destroyed the fear of the spider, once seen how harmless it is. 

Wolves

If I were to rewrite one of these stories, I might only retell the ending. I would change the ending to where the wolf was seen in a positive light. This kind of goes off of what I was saying in the Lions paragraph, about misunderstood animals. Maybe I could combine all my ideas!

Source: I really liked the quote in this picture from the fables about lions; "The story depends on the teller."

Bibliography: Aesop's Fables by Joseph Jacobs.

Feedback Thoughts

Using Harsh Feedback to Fuel Your Career
I really liked the personal story at the beginning of this article, because it is a perfect example of how to use negative feedback to help you succeed and prove everyone wrong! I believe that if someone tells you that you are unqualified for something, you should never give up perfecting that skill. A lot of times, feedback can inhibit moving forward and can prevent someone from trying to do something again. This can be extremely saddening, especially if that is something they have wanted to do for a while and the only reason they aren't anymore is because of harsh feedback. I like what the article said about confusing behavior with identity; many times, people don't mean to be rude while giving feedback, but some of us are built in a way that we feel attacked. It's really important to remember that the other person may not always be commenting on your personality or identity; they are simply offering advice on how to improve a behavior or skill. I also like how the article said to embrace emotions; I agree that it is important to recognize those emotions and let those subside before you work on improving the skill or behavior.

The Psychology of Comparison and How to Stop
I liked this article a lot because I tend to compare myself, my work, my grades, etc. to others'. It's a bad habit and I hate that I can't help it sometimes. However, the article said that instead of stopping at the comparison, we should go a step beyond and begin setting goals for ourselves to see how we can reach the level we want to. I also like the quote in the article that says "Don't compare your beginning with someone else's middle" because many times when we compare ourselves to others, we aren't looking at the whole picture. I agree when it says that everyone moves at different paces and it's okay to be ahead of some and behind from others. This is a great article to read, and I particularly liked it because it basically tells us that even though comparing ourselves to others is normal, we need to start focusing on ourselves and what we can do for ourselves. 

Source: I feel like this quote is very relatable, especially as we are writing blog posts and stories. We will be receiving a lot of suggestions that we can improve on throughout the semester!

Project Topic Brainstorm

Creation Stories
I have always loved creation stories! One of the stories I read last week from the Myth-Folklore Anthology was Origins, which provided two origin stories from different cultures about the creation of the moon. There are many creation stories in every culture, so I was thinking I could do a project with four or five different origin stories, which are all tied together. For example, there are many different kinds of plants, animals, planets, stars, etc., and I could do a project in which I made my own creation stories about different planets or something. An article I found was Hindu Views on Evolution, which gave me an idea about possibly writing about how some parts of the world were created. There are many bodies of water in the world, and I could come up with a few creation stories about how they came to be, while also relating them to the Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Also, I have always been interested in Greek mythology, so this article could help me think of more ideas on how to incorporate Greek Gods and Goddesses into the creation stories as well!

Disney
I have been thinking about a Disney-themed storybook or portfolio for a while, so this could be something I do this semester! Last week I had kind of looked at the Arabian Nights overview for reading assignments, and since I have the book, I could read it and find some interesting things to talk about in my stories! Aladdin is a part of the Arabian Nights as well, which is why I thought of Disney in the first place. Along with Aladdin and Jasmine, I could bring in other Disney princes and princesses to make the project more interesting. The incorporation of all the characters from various fairy tales and Disney movies reminded me of the TV show Once Upon a Time, so I could even get some inspiration from that!

Source: A collection of Disney-Pixar characters, shown across the globe and representing the diversity of Disney.

Food
I really love adventuring with food and trying special dishes made in different cultures! I don't know exactly what foods I would write about, but I like the idea of incorporating the culture aspect in each story. I read a past project, The Real Veggie Tales, and I enjoyed it quite a bit! I like that the author gave vegetables their own, deserved story because they are forgotten, underrated, and misunderstood. That was a great idea and maybe I could write about some of the lesser-known foods of different cultures! For example, when people ask me about Indian food, they always ask me about curry.. but that is not all we eat! There are so many dishes that a lot of people don't know about. I'm sure it's the same way with a lot of cultures, so this would be a good way to inform people through funny little stories.

Power
I was thinking about doing a project with two sides pitted against each other, trying to gain power over the other. It could be Zeus vs. Hades, Gods vs. humans, lions vs. mice, etc. It could be any two groups against each other. Maybe I could do a Hunger Games-themed story or project in which a member of each group competes to see who is the strongest. The Zeus vs. Hades article I found was basically outlining the similarities and differences between the two, but I could write up a backstory for why they hate each other and then proceed with a set of obstacles for them to see who is actually more powerful or something. I'm not too sure on this one and I'm not sure if it even makes as much sense as the other topic ideas, but it's still forming in my head still! If I think of more ideas, I'll update this post :-)

Week 2 Story; Origin of the Moon's Phases

"I do not like this. I would be the moon. It looks cool."

The wise man spake yet again, "Be the moon." And he was the moon. 

"This is warmer than being the sun," murmured he, "for the light from the sun shines on me ever. I do not want to be the moon. I would be a smith again. That, verily, is the best life."

But the wise man replied, "I am weary of your changing. You wanted to be the moon; the moon you are, and it you will remain."

And in yon high heaven lives he to this day.

...

Years passed, and the eight sons of this moon, who was once a man, were growing. They often looked up to the skies to see their father, and grew very jealous of him. They, just like their father, wanted to be something else than what they were. They envied his life, which was extended in space and surrounded by millions of stars. They too, wanted to be the moon. The wise man, who had power over all things, heard the children complain about their present lives every day. So, he came to them.

"Children, go be the moon."

"But there is already a moon, and it is our father! How will we take that away from him?," the children replied. 

"Ah, but there is much you do not know about the moon. Each day you see the moon, glowing. He stands bright during the nights, and although sometimes invisible, he still glows during the day. Your father did not realize the consequences of his wish until he served as the moon day in and day out. He is growing tired. I have been hearing your cries, and have decided that you eight can serve as his helpers. Be the moon when he cannot." 

And so the eight sons came to be the eight phases of the moon: New Moon, Waxing Crescent, First Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, and Waning Crescent. 

Source: The phases of the moon step by step, as they appear in the sky.

Bibliography: Myth-Folklore Anthology; Origin Stories: The Moon.

Author's Note:
I based this off of the Anthology story Origins. I decided to continue the story and tell yet another origin story of the moon, but this time come up with the origin of its waning and waxing phases. The first part of my story incorporates the ending of the original story. The original story tells of a blacksmith who wanted to be a stone, and a wise man made him so. But then he realized he wanted to be a stone cutter, then the sun, and then the moon. At the end, he revealed that the life of the blacksmith was the best life of all of them, and wanted to go back. However, the wise man did not let him. I just continued it by having the story set years after the fact, and had the eight sons complete their father's role in the sky. I hope you all liked my continuation! :)

Reading Notes: Anthology

Origins
I love origin stories, such as this one! Whether I believe the story or not, whether I have a different origin story in mind than the one I read, I always love hearing them. I have not yet heard one about the moon until now, and I really liked it. For one of my future stories I might come up with an origin story of my own!

The Supernatural
I have always liked watching supernatural TV shows and movies, so I was immediately drawn to this story. I was a little confused when I was reading the story, however. It mentioned a ghost and a stranger and at first, I thought they were two different people, although reading it again I see that it was just one character. I think it was the way the words were interchanged; it made me think there were more characters than there actually were. I have been wanting to do a supernatural-inspired story for a while, so hopefully I can do that this semester :)

Tricksters
I really liked this story, particularly because of the dialogues! They were very nicely written and I am still learning the rules of quotations myself, so this is a good reference for me!

Beauty and the Basilisk
I love this story because I love the story of Beauty and the Beast already, and the Basilisk part reminded me of Harry Potter. It was a really cool remake of the original, and I really enjoyed reading it! A fairy tale story or project would also be really fun to write about as well!

Source: Basilisk from Beauty and the Basilisk.

Reading Options

Aesop's Fables
I have a collection of Aesop's Fables that I used to read when I was younger, so I think it would be really fun and interesting to go through and read some of them again! The stories in this unit look really interesting, especially since they are written in the form of poems. I have always found poetry to be a challenging style of writing, so maybe I can get a chance to create my own poem through inspiration of these readings!

Folktales of Bengal
The stories in this unit look like they have a wide range of topics, which seems interesting to read about! I saw some familiar names in the first few stories, including Sani and Lakshmi, both of which I have read about in the past. I think this unit would be really fun to read / write about later on as well!

Arabian Nights
Just like with Aesop's Fables, I also have "The 1001 Nights" stories, but I have never read the whole book. This seems like a unit I would enjoy, especially because of the "nested storytelling technique" mentioned in the overview. It's a new kind of story for me, so I'm excited to read some of the stories and maybe be able to imitate that style of writing as well. I also see that the second half of the reading is about Aladdin, which is one of my favorite Disney movies! Maybe later on, my project could include some aspects of Aladdin or other Disney movies as well.

Source: A really interesting picture that I found online, representing a magical lamp. 

Time Strategies

The Myth of Being Too Busy
This article was really relevant and interesting to read because it was describing how we always claim that we are busy, although most of the time we just don't prioritize our schedule in the best way. I like the idea that we can always change based on what we actually want to do. For example, my goal is to keep a steady workout schedule, although sometimes that doesn't always happen because I either have early classes, so I can't work out before my class, and after class I do homework and study until I sleep. However, I recently realized that if I just managed my time in a better way, I would get done with school work before dinner, and I could go workout. OR I could sleep earlier and wake up earlier. During the day I usually spend some time on social media or talking to friends I haven't seen in a while, so I get side-tracked a lot. However, I know if there are certain weeks that I need to focus on schoolwork, so in those times I need to prioritize better.

The Important Habit of Just Starting
This article was also super relevant, so I was really intrigued by the title immediately! Getting started on something you don't want to do is one of the hardest things to do, so I relate to this a lot. I like the contrast it made when it was mentioning how procrastinators think; essentially it said that procrastinators don't think about how their future will be impacted as much and that they value what is happening currently than later. 

Source: An equation that was in the second article, about why we make certain choices.

Technology Tools

I never had blogging experience before this year, so I'm glad this class helps us learn about the tools and such to do so! Not only do I become a better creative writer through this class, but I also learn how to use tools on the Internet (embedding videos, linking sources, creating graphics, etc.). I think I want to start creating more graphics because I have more time to explore this semester. A good thing about this is that if you discover a new technology tool that you like, or if you complete something on the listed tools page, you can get extra credit for it! It's a good way to get extra points in case you can't complete all the assignments one week or something :)

Source: I feel like this describes the world pretty well at the moment.

Future Assignments

I took the Epics of India class last semester and I really loved the way the class was set up (which was why I enrolled in this class)! I usually did my assignments on Tuesdays and Thursdays and tried getting ahead on the weekends so that I wouldn't have to do much during the week. It's also really nice that we were able to make up any assignments we couldn't do with some extra credit, because there's so many opportunities to get the grade you want. My favorite thing was writing the stories each week, just because at first, I thought those would be my worst assignments. I didn't think my stories would come out to be super good or creative, but turns out, once I started writing, I just would keep going and end up almost going over the word maximum. It was great! I also loved getting to read other blogs and see how other people turned the stories we read into their own creation. We got to leave feedback comments and also receive constructive criticism from others, so it was a really uplifting and encouraging class :) This semester I might keep the same schedule as last time because I think it worked really well. 

Source: My favorite thing to hear or see in a class :-)

Thoughts on the Growth Mindset

The first time I heard about Carol Dweck was last semester (I took the Indian Epics class and we watched the videos in there too). I really do love what she said because it is so relatable to our world today and education in general. Many aspects of education have become such a competitive sport, where everyone is competing for a letter grade, a rank, or a spot in an institution. Instead, we should be trying to understand the material, grasp the main concepts of what we are learning, and learn how to apply it to our daily lives. I love the classes in which we learn something from a textbook or from a lecture, and then later on we see how useful that information was. Those classes are the best, because you see that you actually learned something useful. No matter what grade you got in the class, it's always exciting to recall something you learned from a class you took a long time ago to something you need at a particular moment. 

Last year when I did this assignment, I had written about a challenge I had about the fear of failing, which leads me to stress about how to balance good grades, sleep, a social life, and extracurricular activities. That still applies, although I learn new ways on how to manage my time every semester. Another challenge I have is getting distracted often. It's hard not to get distracted when new technology and social media outlets keep developing. I check my phone way more often that I would like to admit. However, apps like Pocket Points that reward you for not using your phone are a true blessing, so that has helped me keep my distractions in check.

Source: A reminder that challenges aren't always bad :)

I would definitely be more interested in learning about the growth mindset this semester, as well as trying out some of the challenges along the way! My academic goal for this semester is getting a 4.0 GPA while also finding time to do all of the things I love. I am really excited for this class, as well as my Religion and Nationalism in India class - cultural classes are always my favorite because there are so many fascinating things to learn! I hope to use the things I learned from the Growth Mindset in all of my classes, as well as when I prepare for medical school.

Introduction to the Biggest Boba Fan

Hey guys! My name is Akriti but my friends call me Kreets :) My family is from India, although I have grown up in Oklahoma City my entire life. Because of this I have had the opportunity to grow up in two different cultures at the same time: the one at home and the one outside of home. I have loved this experience mainly because it has allowed me to have a different perspective on certain issues and just life in general. My culture is very different than the one in America, yet somehow my parents found a way to adapt and interrelate the two cultures. :)

I usually go with the flow on a lot of things, so here's a lot of random information about me that I put together; enjoy! feel free to comment away on anything you find in common or even if you're the complete opposite of me :p

Random Facts about me:

• Class: Junior
• Major: Psychology Pre-Med
• Minors: Spanish and Medical Humanities 
• Birthday: May 23 
• As you could probably tell from my title, I love boba tea :-)
• I have one sister who is 6 years older than me, although everyone thinks we're twins... 
• Favorite hobby: painting
• Favorite color: turquoise, navy blue, rose gold
• I collect stuffed animals 
• I love meeting new people!
• I love jewelry like no other, especially rings.
• I love hugs. A lot.
• I adore dogs. I've never had a pet, but if I did it would probably be a corgi.
• I want to run a marathon one day (those take a lot of training and time that I do not have at the moment, but I've always wanted to get to that point).
• I am the biggest Harry Potter fan you will probably ever meet. 
• I have a stuffed animal BB8 from Star Wars as well as a remote controlled BB8. :-)
• I usually never sit in complete silence. I'm always playing music.
• Favorite artists at the moment: The Weeknd and Ed Sheeran
• I am always eating something. Food is the way to my heart.
• I. Need. Coffee. Every. Day.
• I have three onesies. 
• The amount of money I have spend on Starbucks in the past two years is probably as much as my tuition costs. (jk but really...)
• TV shows I am currently watching/have watched: Friends, HIMYM, White Collar, Suits, Quantico, Prison Break, Big Bang Theory, Arrow, Flash, Grey's Anatomy, Orange Is The New Black, Sherlock, Doctor Who, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (I know, I know, it's a lot...)
• Words that I like to live by: Be you. (it's simple but it means so much)

My sister and I. Who's who? 

Just a lil something I painted during camp. Peep my corgi named Sprinkles and the BB8 & elephant night-light in the back.

Organizations I'm involved in at OU:

Here's some of the organizations I'm involved in at this beautiful campus; I just thought I would list some of my favorite things about them!

• Camp Crimson - I actually never went to camp but still decided to become an SGL, and lemme tell you: it has changed my life for the better in so many ways. I love being able to interact with incoming students and allowing them to express themselves and be heard, but besides that, seeing how selfless everyone is at camp makes me want to be a better person too. Lovely organization with lovely people!

A collage of a few of my favorite pictures from both years of camp.

• India Student Association (ISA) - I have had the opportunity of being the publicity chair of ISA for two years now and I absolutely love it. I didn't know anyone before I joined ISA but the people in it are so welcoming that I felt at home right away. I have participated in numerous dance performances with my fellow ISA-ers and have loved every moment of them. Hopefully you will all see flyers for our events throughout the year and come enjoy a taste of the Indian culture :)

A collection of pictures expressing my Indian heritage.

• Integrity Council - Such a great organization on campus, but highly misunderstood by many students... We are stigmatized to be the people that are "out to get students," although I can assure you that is definitely not our job! I love that we get to serve on hearings, conduct investigations, and serve as peer educators, because having a mostly student-run council makes things more comfortable for many students. 

• Soonerthon - Oh man. Soonerthon. One of my favorite events in the whole year. I have attended Soonerthon for the past two years that I have been here and have always stayed til the very end. I just love the whole concept of it: Standing for the kids that can't. It's such a strong message and I love that our university puts on events such as these. #FTK.

The amount of money we raised for the Children's Miracle Network in the last two years!

• President's Community Scholars (PCS) - this was my favorite thing about freshman year. I have made certain connections from PCS that you wouldn't find anywhere else. The friends I made in PCS are those that will last a lifetime. 

Last PCS meeting freshman year with some of my favorite people at OU!

Storybook Favorites

High School Gods
The first story I read was High School Gods. I really liked how the author of this storybook related the stories of the Greek Gods and Goddesses to a high school and the daily dramas that occur during that period. The introduction definitely pulled me in by talking in the second person and starting off with questions. I know the basic information about the Greek Gods and Goddesses but this storybook gave me another perspective on their personalities. The author's note at the bottom definitely helped clear up any changes she made as well. The navigation of the storybook was simple but really easy to navigate, so that was good!

Love at First Retweet
The second story that caught my eye was Love at First Retweet. I really loved the storyline in this one, since it merged stories that we read as children into social media outlets. It was really relatable to today's world and I loved the way the author portrayed a new version of Little Red Riding Hood and the "Big Bad" Wolf, as well as an alternate story of Cupid and Psyche. The introduction really did a great job of letting me know what the story was going to be about! The layout on the first two pages were simple and easy to navigate; I only had a little trouble on the third page, Bad & Boujee, just because there were little boxes of information on the left and right, so it took me a second to read all of it and in the right order. Overall though, it was a great project!

BOO-mer Sooner: Freshman Year
The last story I read was BOO-mer Sooner: Freshman Year. I picked this one because of the title, and the introduction helped bring me into the story and learn what the storybook was going to be about as well! The layout and overall design of the project was well laid out too, so it wasn't hard following along or finding the next story. I love that the author wrote about the different myths you hear on OU's campus and put it in the perspective of a new, ambitious student. I love hearing things like that too, although I am not one to seek out haunted places. Overall, I really loved the stories in this project!

Source: The "haunted" organ mentioned in "BOO-mer Sooner: Freshman Year."

My Favorite Place: A Magical Time

The magical world of Disney is one of my favorite places to visit. I have been to Disneyworld in Florida as well as Disneyland in California twice each. All four times, I am mesmerized by the beauty of Disney. I love rollercoasters, so those are always fun, but the cute little characters and musicals along the way are just as amazing to experience. Besides Disney, I always adore Universal Studios, especially since they created the Harry Potter world. As I walked into the Hogwarts castle, Gringotts Bank, Diagon Alley, rode the numerous rides through the castle, and bought my first wand at Ollivander's, I experienced a whole world that I had been waiting to experience since I was in elementary school.

Source: A picture of the Cinderella castle in Disneyworld (Orlando, FL) at night, with fireworks illuminating the sky.

Source: The magical wizarding world of Harry Potter, including Gringotts Bank and some other stores along the way.

Source: The way to Hogsmeade and Hogwarts in the Harry Potter world.