Where The Story Ends

Clearly my love for The Fray hasn't changed over the past semester considering they made up the title, but I am definitely sociologically different than I was a few months ago.

August 23rd, I posted my first blog about myself:

Hi everyone! I'm not really digging writing about myself, but here it goes... 

I'm seventeen and a senior in high school. Horseback riding is absolutely one of my favorite things to do. I started riding when I when I was six and have never turned back. Being around horses makes me happy and lets me unwind. If being in love with music is possible, I definitely am. The Fray is my favorite band and I've been addicted since I was in seventh grade. I've been to four of their concerts and am desperately waiting for them start touring again. But I also love finding and listening to a whole bunch of other bands. I also really love coffee. Caribou Coffee's blended vanilla white chocolate mocha is the greatest thing ever created. Camping is another one of my favorite things to do; along with just being outside. I like working out or going for a run too. On top of all of that, I've been babysitting an insane amount lately which stops my debit card account from plummeting because of coffee. My family and friends mean everything to me and they're a huge part of my life.

It's practically impossible to describe yourself in an entire blog so I think I'll stop here, and maybe you'll find out more about me in my writing on sociology.

Throughout the year I learned there are so many factors that impact and influence everyone, which essentially make all of us who we are. Groups, without a doubt, define a part of us. The people we associate ourselves with represent what we value, and without them life wouldn't be the same. I realized that I'm a sister, a daughter, a cousin, a horseback rider, a friend, a lover of music, a coffee addict, an adventurer, a runner, a senior in high school, along with hundreds of others. Those groups are who we are, who I am. They give us purpose and meaning in life. However, there are also groups constructed by stereotypes and discrimination, which restrict anyone who is a part of them. Between defining and degrading people based on their class, race, age, ethnicity, or gender is unquestionably affecting socialization.

Slowly I started to learn that our country basically sucks at times, to put it simply. Equal opportunity, justice, freedom are things way easier said than done. Our culture has so many flaws it's borderline ridiculous. There are so many chances for people to go out there an make a difference: lend a hand to those less fortunate, be deviant and help another, defend your beliefs, protect others, be opinionated, and fight for what is right. We underestimate how much we can do if we changed the way we're living or how much learning about our society could open our eyes.

I have explored, experienced, appreciated, understood, and learned so much since August. After expanding my knowledge about the world us in sociology this past semester, I want to make the effort to learn and change because one person can have an insane impact.