In a time where a countries dependency on its government increases, the incentive to work drastically declines. Welfare began long before the government welfare programs we know were created and were intended to lend a helping hand to families in need. But what happens when a system designed to help families in genuine need of assistance becomes a long-term way of life to those who are more than capable in finding a steady career? It comes as no surprise that a decent percentage of those receiving assistance from the government are in fact not in need at all. Certainly, there is no way to weave out those who are falsely claiming they are in need without causing much controversy, but I propose a series of possible solutions. I propose that we strongly consider the reissuing of the TANF fund to issue jobs to those who are genuinely trying to find their way out of poverty, consider making charity work a requirement for those who apply for assistance, regulate EBT more efficiently and make it a requirement to those collecting to be drug tested. If we do not make modifications to how we run our welfare system, how will we ever thrive?

People are much too reliant on government assistance and I think it is time to make a big change in a big way. Before researching this topic, my main question was simply, “why haven’t we created a system in which we help those who apply for assistance to find a job?” To my surprise, there was a system that helped those in need find jobs, TANF. TANF, also known as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Emergency Funds, had created nearly 250,000 jobs. “Support for the program is widespread and crosses political lines. Mayors of big cities like Philadelphia, Providence, R.I., and San Francisco, as well as governors in large and small states agree that this is a stimulus program that succeeds in creating jobs. The TANF Emergency Fund helps states encourage private hiring by reimbursing 80 percent of the costs of subsidizing new employment. The program targets low-income workers with children but is not limited to those receiving temporary assistance benefits. Thirty-five states have drawn more than a billion dollars from the fund, opening employment doors for a quarter-million Americans—including adults and some young people hired through summer youth programs.” (Owens, Christine L., and George Wentworth). At least fifty percent of eligible welfare recipients from single parent families were required to be enrolled into work activities, as for two-parent families, the requirement was for ninety percent. According to statistics provided by Michael Tanner and Tad DeHaven, “After all the credits, waivers, and exemptions are taken into account, only 32 percent of welfare recipients were working in 2009. While this is low, it does represent a substantial improvement over pre-reform welfare. Under the old AFDC program, only about 10 percent of recipients were working.” (Tanner, DeHaven). While many were participating in “work activities” under welfare, a great percentage of those participants were not in fact working, but were still collecting. “The work component of welfare reform was a big step in the right direction, but the actual changes to work behavior have been modest.” (Tanner, DeHaven). Due to these statistics, the fund expired September 30, 2010, leaving many participants in fact unemployed once again. In my personal opinion, I think we should reinstate a program such as TANF, but enforce stricter requirements, or maybe even attempt to give a bigger incentive to work. The mind set of many Americans today is that if they are collecting checks from the government while not lifting a finger, what is the sense in searching for a job? We need to break that mind set before we initially implode on ourselves. We need to put America back to work!

An interesting concept that I stumbled upon in my research was replacing welfare with private charity work. An unknown source speaks of a brilliant point made by Michael Tanner, an author and senior fellow at the Cato Institute, and Tad DeHaven, budget analyst for the Cato Institute, in the article, “Private Charity Should Replace Welfare,” they contend that private charities are more helpful to low-income families and individuals than government welfare programs. Tanner and DeHaven argue that private aid organizations understand that true charity starts with the understanding that people must develop self sufficiency and make wise life choices, and should not simply be handed a check every month. The authors maintain that private charities are better equipped to provide individualized aid and adjust eligibility standards to meet specific needs. In addition, they state that private charities are more efficient than government aid programs, so more of the donated funds can be used to benefit the recipients directly.” (Private Charity Should Replace Welfare). Welfare is great for temporary assistance, but many make it a long-term commitment and soon lose all incentive to work. With charity work, they are required to work for what they receive and on top of gaining work experience under their belt, they are exposed to a handful of people who are potentially in the same position that they are, whether it be financial or so on and so forth. With being exposed to others that share similar experiences, they might be able to share how they got themselves out of poverty and created a better life for themselves. Overall, I think charity work would benefit individuals in more ways than one. It certainly will not be for everybody, but for a select few it may be just what they need.

While searching for an example to present in my paper, I recently stumbled upon an article of a Kent woman asking taxpayers for a grand request, to fund her ten thousand dollar dream wedding, not to mention another two thousand dollars to fly her and her husband to Mexico for a beautiful honeymoon. Anne Broom, of Gillingham, has been unemployed since the age of nineteen and has since collected more than £100,000 in benefits. Miss Broom left school at the age of sixteen and worked as a nursery nurse for two years until she was so called, “overlooked” for a secretarial position by a ‘skinny blonde’. She later applied for several jobs without success and found her comfort in food. She is now thirty-three and still unemployed due to the fact that she was deemed unfit to work with depression and back pain due to her excessive weight. After thirteen years of collecting benefits from the government, “The Gillingham resident claims it is her ‘basic human right’ to be a bride and says that tying the knot would boost her fragile confidence and encourage her to try and find a job again. Miss Broom receives monthly benefits including £460 disability living allowance and joint £200 housing benefit with fiancé Jordan Burford, 39, who also gets £134 income support a month. The size 24 bride-to-be said: ‘I’ve dreamed about being a bride since I was 12 years old. ‘I deserve a fairy-tale church wedding and a party in a castle – but there’s no way I could afford it on benefits and I can’t work because I’m overweight.'” (Burrows). In her grand request, she asks for a designer dress, designer shoes, a horse and carriage to arrive in, champagne for her fifty guests, prawn canapes, 5-tier cake, and a big band to play them off into their happy marriage. “She added: ‘I want the taxpayer to fund my £10,000 dream wedding – it’s a basic human right to be a bride. I don’t see why I should have a small wedding at a registry office – I wouldn’t be able to fit in all my guests and a church wedding is far more romantic. I’m stuck in a rut at the moment and can’t find the motivation to lose weight, but if I was getting married I know I’d slim down because all eyes would be on me.’ ” (Burrows). I’m sorry, but absolutely not. Is it your right to be a bride? Absolutely, I think everyone could agree. Should the government fund your dream wedding? Absolutely not. If this wedding has been your dream since you were a twelve year old girl as you claim, I see that as being your motivation to lose enough weight where you are able to work and save up the money yourself. It is not the government’s obligation to fund your wedding. This is a perfect example of people abusing the system. Welfare was meant to help families in distress who just did not have enough to put a sufficient amount of food on the table to feed their families or to just simply survive, it was never intended to fund lavish dreams and desires. To some, I do not believe they understand the sole purpose of the welfare system. It is not intended to fund our everyday lives and to give to those who do not have the ambition to make a career for ourselves. I believe it is collectors such as Miss Broom and those who abuse the system such as she does, to be taken off or cut down on their allowance.

I recently took to social media to see where those around me stood on the issue. Miss Brielle Gilmore believes that we should “regulate EBT more efficiently.” As a local grocery store cashier, Miss Gilmore witnesses countless accounts of people abusing their ebt cards. Instead of buying healthy food and for necessity, many customers purchase “food” such as Sour Patch Kids, the extremely common Coca Cola, and an assortment of other processed, unhealthy foods. Abuse of the card was one of the few responses I received. I say few because a large majority of my eight responders reached a unanimous response to go forth with drug testing. I, myself, am a firm believer in drug testing to receive benefits. If I need to pass a drug test in order to make money, I believe those receiving benefits should have to pass as well. Although it will cause much controversy, I believe it will make a big difference in who receives benefits!

In a recent class discussion, a disturbing conversation was brought to our attention. My psychology professor spent a considerable amount of time talking of the government, issues that we are facing in America, and the popular topic of welfare. In the discussion of welfare, he brought up a conversation that he had recently overheard of what he believes to be a mother figure and young girl. When a young girl was asked what she wanted to be when she grows up, she responded without hesitation, “I want to be welfare.” I was in disbelief that a girl with the whole world in front of her, with the potential to be whatever she wanted to be, was dead set on being on welfare. My main concern was if she was taught that welfare is an acceptable way of life, how many others have that same thought instilled in them? How many young children will grow up thinking that the government is a personal security blanket? If we don’t make a change now, will we ever?

For my final suggestion, though it may seem farfetched, I think it would be in our benefit to monitor EBT spending. I say this because I know of someone personally who spends her collection checks on miscellaneous things for not only herself, but her friends. When going out with friends, she offers to pay for coffee dates and countless other things for her entire group. As a freshman in high school, she dropped out and has since not been employed. She qualified for government assistance and has not attempted to find employment. For reasons such as this, I think it would be beneficial to monitor spending for the first six month or year to see what these collection checks are in fact going towards. If they are being used to purchase alcohol, cigarettes, and other luxuries, I think they should either be cut from the program entirely or lower the amount they receive. I know I may sound very farfetched, but watching people collect when they are perfectly capable of maintaining a job while I work two jobs to pay for everything I have is infuriating.

I am aware that in this paper I have brought up a series of good points, followed by a series of farfetched ideas. I know that I may be off base, and that is probably why I will never thrive working in government and why I do not wish to pursue a career in the government, but I believe that it is time for change. We cannot pretend that there is not a giant problem in the way the welfare system is run. Many problems are being addressed and I applaud those trying to make a difference. But many underlined problems are just being swept under the rug that I feel should be brought to light. I am not suggesting that any of these points are vital and need to be pursued as soon as tomorrow, but to be considered as strong points to keep in mind. We need to make a valid effort to make a better future for ourselves. We need to put America back to work!

Work Cited Page

– Burrows, Thomas. “Unemployed ‘bridezilla’ on Benefits Because She Is ‘too Fat to Work’ Plans Dream £10,000 Wedding with Horse-drawn Carriage and Mexico Honeymoon Funded by the Taxpayer and Claims: ‘It’s My Human Right'” Mail Online. Associated Newspapers, 16 Apr. 2015. Web. 01 May 2015.

– Haerens, Margaret. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 27 Apr. 2015.

– Owens, Christine L., and George Wentworth. “The TANF Emergency Fund Creates Jobs and Should Be Reauthorized.” Welfare. Ed. Margaret Haerens. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from “It’s Not a Recovery Without Jobs.” Politico. 2010. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.

– Tanner, Michael, and Tad DeHaven. “Private Charity Should Replace Welfare.” Welfare. Ed. Margaret Haerens. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from “TANF and Federal Welfare.” Cato Institute. 2010. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 28 Apr. 2015.

– Tanner, Michael, and Tad DeHaven. “TANF and Federal Welfare.” Downsizing the Federal Government. Cato Institute, Sept. 2010. Web. 01 May 2015.

– “Welfare Information.” US Welfare System. WelfareInfo.org, n.d. Web. 01 May 2015.

The evolution of music is nothing short of amazing. Music has been around since the beginning of time, from performing for full opera houses to modern venues, cellos and violins to drum sets and eight string guitars, and records to an infinite assortment of artists in the palm of our hands. As the world changed, so did the music, but not only in the aspect of sound. Although many new genres emerged, marketing, technological advances, advertisement, the art of performance, and so much more has made a remarkable change as well. As fascinating as the timeline pertaining to the history of music would be to cover, this article will focus on the years of the 1950s to present day and select genres of music, specifically rock ‘n’ roll.

Flashback to the 1950s, radio is all the rage. For the rebellious teenagers, they are given the sweet sound of Rock ‘n’ Roll. “Before long boy and girls around the country were rushing out to buy the latest hits from such artists as Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, and Bill Haley and the Comets. In 1956 teenagers found their first rock ‘n’ roll hero in Elvis Presley.” (US History Text). From that time on, Elvis Presley was known as the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Although wildly popular, Elvis was not the only face of rock ‘n’ roll of the 1950s.”The 1950’s saw the emergence and rise of Rock ‘n’ Roll and Rockabilly. Carl Perkins was one of the pioneers in the creation of rock music and his style is often referred to as “Rockabilly” because it sounds like a combination of country and R&B music with rock influences. Some other artists that were popular in the rockabilly genre were Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis and Gene Vincent.” (ThePeopleHistory). Although not as influential, many new artists and bands surfaced. Soon, live performances began to take the world (of music) by storm.

How did anyone hear about upcoming shows? Through newspaper articles, flyers, and the ever so popular radio and television. Although television dominated through the fifties to the sixties, the radio made a grand gesture in attempt to win its audience back. They presented recorded music, news, talk shows, weather, public-service programming, and shows for specific audiences and eventually received a large enough audience once again for them to not only survive, but to flourish. Newspapers and flyers were a great way to spread the word to local residence, but radio helped reach a much larger audience. Today, radio does play a part in advertising upcoming shows and events, such as simply promoting the event and even holding contests for tickets and the occasional backstage pass, but a majority of advertisement is done through social media. Artists promote upcoming concerts and the releasing of singles and albums through their “personal” Twitter and Facebook accounts, hold interviews that can be found on YouTube, television, and radio stations. This kind of advertisement can reach anywhere from one hundred to one thousand people in a matter of just one single post and it is a great marketing tool!

Now that word has broken out about the upcoming show, now all that’s left is to purchase the ticket itself. Back in the fifties and sixties concert tickets ranged anywhere from fifteen to fifty dollars, but typically was between twenty and thirty dollars. “In 1998, the average ticket prices for the top ten grossing North American tours were $47.96, in 2008 the price skyrocketed to an average of $151.34. When tours became popular, the most expensive ticket for top ten tours in 1998, for such bands as the Rolling Stones, a ticket would cost about five hundred dollars. In the year of 2008, a tour ticket for Bon Jovi would break the bank for a whopping $2,060” (Billboard). The King was a bit more pricey for his performance. “Ticket prices for Friday night’s Elvis Presley concert in Hammons Center, an event that is expected to draw the largest crowd ever at the Southwest Missouri State University facility, apparently have leveled off at about $50 each.” (Lopez). In the year of 2013, a ticket to the House Party Tour containing A Day To Remember, Pierce The Veil, All Time Low, and the Wonder Years on campus at uMass Lowell ran for $38.50. Before, tickets were general admission and did not dictate where people were prohibited to go. They could roam freely among the venue, push their way to the front of the crowd, or easily stay in the back if that is where they were most comfortable. Today, customers pay for which section they will be seated in for the duration of the show, whether it be in the pit, a section of seating, or lawn seats if they are available. The ticket prices may cost a pretty penny, but the experience itself is priceless.

In the early years of concerts, band merchandise was limited, naturally. Although there was not much variety to choose from, tables were slammed. People found it dire, which it was, to buy one of the two or three band t-shirts available. How else was anyone to know that you attended the greatest rock show of all time without a proper souvenir? Today, the variety is more than plentiful. Customers can find merchandise ranging from multiple different t-shirts, hats, string backpacks, bracelets, cups, posters, sweatshirts, shorts, stickers, CDs, etc. Something that has not changed however, is band merchandise is generally paid for in cash, unless they have a Square Reader, which is a portable credit card processing accessory that attaches straight to their mobile phone.

Now that everyone has heard of the show, bought their ticket, and got some killer merchandise to take home, the only thing left is to enjoy the show! Back then, there wasn’t much to help hype the crowd, but that never seemed to affect the overall performance. The artist had their microphone, instruments, big speakers, and an assortment of white, bright lights to emphasize the awe factor of the show. Even with the simple supplies they had, the crowd never seemed more alive. Today, artists have everything from the prior list including colorful lights, speakers throughout the venue, and they are given the option to use fog/smoke machines, confetti cannons, strobe lights, large backdrops that are able to display videos and effects, and depending on what kind of show, an assortment of other things. Concerts today are as if they are an illusion that you’ve entered a new world, and once you leave, the world that you once knew does not seem nearly as exciting as it once was.

Now that the show is over, the next time people will be able to hear the music again is through the radio, tapes, and stereos. The options were limited, but they never seemed so sweet. Today, with technological advances, we have all the music from the show, previous work from that artist, and a whole other assortment of artists in the palm of our hands. We are given personal music libraries on cell phones and iPods, we are given radio, music television, Pandora, Sound Cloud, YouTube, and what seems to be an infinite amount of other sources for music. In reference to concerts themselves, in 2006, Live Nation launched and made the art of buying concert tickets seemingly effortless. With access to your music library, it generates a list of shows that it believes you will like and allows you to purchase tickets through the app itself and experience the beauty of another show all over again. Today, we can put on our headphones and slip into the 1950s and beyond by a simple search, fall into a world of our own and simply get lost in the music.

Work Cited

“Action At the Top.” Billboard. N.p., 7 May 2009. Web. 16 Apr. 2015.

Lopez, Francesc. “Elvis Presley in Concert.” ElvisConcerts. Web. 24 Apr. 2015.

Music Played in the 1950’s Popular Music From the 50s.” 1950’s Music Played in the 50’s Bands Groups Singers from The People History. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2015.

“Popular Culture of the 1950s.” Postwar America. Web. 24 Apr. 2015.

The evolution of music is nothing short of amazing. Music has been around since the beginning of time, from performing for full opera houses to modern venues, cellos and violins to drum sets and eight string guitars, records to an infinite assortment of artists in the palm of our hands. As the world changed, so did the music, but not only in the aspect of sound. Although many new genres emerged, marketing, technological advances, advertisement, the art of performance, and so much more has made a remarkable change. As fascinating as the timeline pertaining to the history of music would be to cover, this article will focus on the years of 1950 to present day and select genres of music, specifically rock ‘n’ roll.

Flashback to the 1950s, radio is all the rage. For the rebellious teenagers, they are given the sweet sound of Rock ‘n’ Roll. “Before long boy and girls around the country were rushing out to by the latest hits from such artists as Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, and Bill Haley and the Comets. In 1956 teenagers found their first rock ‘n’ roll hero in Elvis Presley.” (US History Text). From that time on, Elvis Presley was known as the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Although not as influential, many new artists and bands surfaced. Soon, live performances began to take the world (of music) by storm.

How did anyone hear about upcoming shows? Through the newspaper, flyers, and the ever so popular radio and television. Although television dominated through the fifties to the sixties, the radio made a grand gesture in attempt to win its audience back. They presented recorded music, news, talk shows, weather, public-service programming, and shows for specific audiences and eventually received a large enough audience once again for them to not only survive, but to flourish. Newspapers and flyers were a great way to spread the word to local residence, but radio helped reach a much larger audience. Today, radio does play a part in advertising upcoming shows and events, such as simply promoting the event and even holding contests for tickets and the occasional backstage pass, but a majority of advertisement is done through social media. Artists promote upcoming concerts and the releasing of singles and albums through their “personal” Twitter and Facebook accounts, hold interviews that can be found on YouTube, television, and radio stations. This kind of advertisement can reach anywhere from one hundred to one thousand people in a matter of just one single post and it is a great marketing tool!

Now that word has broken out about the upcoming show, now all that’s left is to purchase the ticket itself. Back in the fifties and sixties concert tickets ranged anywhere from fifteen to forty dollars, but typically was between twenty and thirty dollars. In 1998, the average ticket prices for the top ten grossing North American tours were $47.96, in 2008 the price skyrocketed to an average of $151.34. When tours became popular, the most expensive ticket for top ten tours in 1998, for such bands as the Rolling Stones, a ticket would cost about five hundred dollars. In the year of 2008, a tour ticket for Bon Jovi would break the bank for a whopping $2,060. Before, tickets were general admission and did not dictate where people were prohibited to go. They could roam freely among the venue, push their way to the front of the crowd, or easily stay in the back if that is where they were most comfortable. Today, customers pay for which section they will be seated in for the duration of the show, whether it be in the pit, a section of seating, or lawn seats if they are available. The ticket prices may cost a pretty penny, but the experience itself is priceless.

In the early years of concerts, band merchandise was limited, naturally. Although there was not much variety to choose from, tables were slammed. People found it dire, which it was, to buy one of the two or three band t-shirts available. How else was anyone to know that you attended the greatest rock show of all time without a proper souvenir? Today, the variety is more than plentiful. Customers can find merchandise ranging from multiple different t-shirts, hats, string backpacks, bracelets, cups, posters, sweatshirts, shorts, stickers, CDs, etc. Something that has not changed however, is band merchandise is generally paid for in cash, unless they have a Square Reader, which is a portable credit card processing accessory that attaches straight to their mobile phone.

Now that everyone has heard of the show, bought their ticket, and got some killer merchandise to take home, the only thing left is to enjoy the show! Back then, there wasn’t much to help hype the crowd, but that never seemed to affect the overall performance. The artist had their microphone, instruments, big speakers, and an assortment of white, bright lights to emphasize the awe factor of the show. Even with the simple supplies they had, the crowd never seemed more alive. Today, artists have everything from the prior list including colorful lights, speakers throughout the venue, and they are given the option to use fog/smoke machines, confetti cannons, strobe lights, large backdrops that are able to display videos and effects, and depending on what kind of show, an assortment of other things. Concerts today are as if they are an illusion that you’ve entered a new world, and once you leave, the world that you once knew does not seem nearly as exciting as it once was.

Now that the show is over, the next time people will be able to hear the music again is through the radio, tapes, and stereos. The options were limited, but they never seemed so sweet. Today, with technological advances, we have all the music from the show, previous work from that artist, and a whole other assortment of artists in the palm of our hands. We are given personal music libraries on cell phones and iPods, we are given radio, music television, Pandora, Sound Cloud, YouTube, and what seems to be an infinite amount of other sources for music. Today, we can put on our headphones and slip into the 1950s and beyond by a simple search, fall into a world of our own and simply get lost in the music.

Unofficial Work Cited Page

Ø http://admin.bhbl.neric.org/~mmosall/ushistory/textbook/Chapter%2027%20Postwar%20America/ch%2027%20sect%203%20Pop%20Culture.pdf

Ø https://www.google.com/search?q=difference+between+concerts+then+and+now&biw=976&bih=460&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=YXsiVeOXO8m2sAWPk4SQCw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#imgdii=_&imgrc=sQyc5cyULnPODM%253A%3BP-y7VfQMJnRXwM%3Bhttps%253A%252F%252Folddognewtits.files.wordpress.com%252F2014%252F09%252Fimg_8021.png%253Fw%253D662%2526h%253D860%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Folddognewtits.com%252Ftag%252Fthe-difference-between-concerts-now-and-in-the-80s%252F%3B353%3B459

Ø https://books.google.com/books?id=3Huu90EQHpEC&pg=PT23&lpg=PT23&dq=difference+between+concerts+then+and+now&source=bl&ots=iuKu_GAWgX&sig=Z2feKjyJ4mtY_P43liRaxhAvzhc&hl=en&sa=X&ei=GXsiVcTnMfOJsQTHuIGgCQ&ved=0CCQQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=difference%

Ø 20between%20concerts%20then%20and%20now&f=false

Ø http://www.pophistorydig.com/topics/tag/rock-n-roll-1950s/

Ø http://television50s.weebly.com/fun-facts.html

Ø http://www.chicagonow.com/hippy-shakes/2014/07/rock-concerts-then-now/#image/9

Ø http://admin.bhbl.neric.org/~mmosall/ushistory/textbook/Chapter%2027%20Postwar%20America/ch%2027%20sect%203%20Pop%20Culture.pdf

Annotation Questions:
What was the average cost for rock concert tickets before vs. now?
How has advertising changed?
What kind of band merchandise was sold before vs. now?
What was the average price for souvenirs before vs. now?
What kind of advancement have we made in modern instruments, such as eight string guitars, etc.
How many bands typically played concerts before vs. now? (Small and large scale)
How have technological advances helped modern performances?
Was there a typical capacity in which venues could handle vs. now?
How do older concerts and festivals compare and differ from modern concerts and festivals?
(Plus questions I will find throughout my research)

Resources :
Ashraf El Gamal’s : The Evolution of the Music Industry in the Post-Internet Era
http://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1501&context=cmc_theses

Spartucus Jones’ : The History of Music Festivals | List of 8 Important Music Festivals
http://spartucusjones.hubpages.com/hub/The-History-of-Music-Festivals

Steve Jones’ : Rock Formation: Music, Technology, and Mass Communication
http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=5hJ1AwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&ots=GOBAw14vgo&sig=ATZeJAINoq12A9IsAUnHCR2d9TI#v=onepage&q&f=false

Meghan Garvey’s : The Minds Behind Music’s Biggest Tech Advances in the Last 10 Years
http://www.complex.com/music/2014/12/the-minds-behind-musics-biggest-tech-advances-in-the-last-10-years/dr-dre-jimmy-iovine-co-founders-of-beats-electronics

Marissa Scimone

Holly Pappas

English 101

30 March 2015

It comes as no surprise that no two people are the same, not even identical twins. How can two people who share the same DNA be so different? Curiosity. Who we are and the things that capture our attention and interests are a direct reflection of curiosity. It is essentially where your personality stems from, how you present yourself, and how you go about your everyday life. It is not only what sets us apart from so many people, but it is also what brings us closer to others as well. The question that I will propose in this essay is simply, how? How does curiosity set one person apart from another and bring us closer to one another all at once? Also, how does curiosity affect us as individuals?

How does curiosity set us apart from others, yet bring us closer to one another all at once? Take a moment to analyze yourself, your life, and the people you surround yourself with. Now, focus on those you surround yourself with, particularly your best friend. You and your best friend share a variety of similar tastes, such as genres of music, your love for your local coffee shop, sharing an interest in tattoos and piercings, and so on and so forth. Ask yourselves, what is your ideal date? What qualities do you look for the most in a potential partner? What are your long and short term goals for your future? In a perfect world, what would your lives be like? After discussing your answers, you will discover that no matter how similar you both are, you are both also so incredibly different from one another. You two share very similar interests, but there will always be topics and things that interests one of you that does not particularly appeal to the other, and that’s okay. It is okay to share interests with one another, and it is also okay to venture off on your own and learn more about what interests and fascinates you. It is essentially what makes us who we are.

Now, just for a moment, take a step back and analyze your friendship with your best friend from the time you first met to this very second. You’ve bonded over your similar interests and tastes and you two couldn’t seem more alike. Now, think back to everything that you have taught one another, and the new experiences that you both have brought to the table. You two have extensive knowledge on countless different topics and subjects, and you two have experienced so much on your own, but together it is as if you two have a world of your own. You two push one another to achieve their dreams, overcome fears, and in time,become the person that the five year old you would be proud of. Your curiosity about the world has created not only a great friendship, but a bond. “In life I believe family and friends is the most important thing. Without family and friends you don’t have people who genuinely care about you or who would be there for you no matter what.” (Jayson). The people around you are a critical aspect of your life. They help you grow as a person, and they teach you how to love others, just as they love you. Although some relationships themselves do not stay forever, their memory has made an imprint on your life and that will last a lifetime.

Without our knowledge, curiosity has implanted itself into our everyday routines, occasional hobbies, inspires new conquests and is the core of our interests. For instance, discussing everyday routines, curiosity leads to your local coffee shop. It peaked your interest, so naturally, you decided to check it out. You found yourself scanning the menu until you came across something that you found to be interesting and to your surprise, you loved it. Before you knew it, you found yourself carving out time every morning to make a quick coffee stop before class or work. Next thing you know, you are on a first name basis with your barista and say, “good morning,” or hello to other frequent customers because they have now become an acquaintance to you. You’ve talked with another regular customer in line while waiting for your coffee, when you both realize that you have both been dying to get into yoga, and you both decide to give it a shot together and exchange numbers. After everything is said and done, you have made a new friend, and it would not have been possible without curiosity implanting itself in your everyday life. When you really think about it, curiosity plays a key role how we interact with others and with whom we build relationships with.

It is wonderful to share interests with someone else, hell, it is encouraged, but never lose sight of your own personal desires and fascinations. Wherever you go, always hold who you really are close. After all, it is what sets you apart from everyone else and that is all you can hope to be, an individual. Your curiosity has allowed you to express yourself however you wish and it has carved itself into the little details of your being. The range of curiosity is seemingly endless. It ranges from something so simple, such as how we express ourselves, to what we plan on doing with our lives. Take a moment to think about your bedroom. We design our bedrooms as if it was a physical representation as to what is going on inside of our minds. Upon walking into some people’s room, you can find their walls to be covered in posters of their favorite musical artists, paintings, and pictures. They have candles and books overflowing their bookshelves and what seems to be an infinite assortment of pillows on their bed. Most people design their bedrooms to be a temporary escape from the world around them, so naturally it is a reflection of themselves. It is one of the many ways that we express ourselves and to most, we take an exceptional amount of pride in our little masterpiece that we call our bedroom. However, some people do not choose to put their art on their walls, but instead they put it on their bodies, some express themselves through the work of tattoos. For those who do not go as far as tattoos, they express themselves through their wardrobe. It is actually a very cool concept that such various types of clothing, shoes, and accessories can accommodate to everyone’s own style and personal interests. However, not all self expression is physical. Where fashion and decoration fail, music speaks. Some of the greatest of self expression is through music. The world is filled with genre after genre of music and for some, lyrics speak for them when they cannot find the words themselves. Music speaks to everyone differently, and it is only then that you will discover what is left unsaid by not only yourself, but those around you. Self expression is our physical representation of who we are, and more often times than not, it speaks for us.

Curiosity inspires and also challenges us. More often times than not, curiosity is what inspires people to become a better version of themselves. It can inspire short term goals, such as picking up a guitar and wanting to learn your favorite song, finding yourself on a health kick to try and improve your personal health, or wanting to learn how to tumble. However, it can also lead us to much greater goals, such as getting into your dream college to study the field that you wish to spend the rest of your life working in and it is a beautiful thing.

Curiosity even goes as far as in inspiring us to explore the world around us. As we are little, we could spend hours upon hours just exploring our home and backyard, but as we grow older, we wish to go further. “The overly curious mind exhibits a “lust to find out and know,” not for any practical purpose but merely for the sake of knowing. Thanks to the “disease of curiosity” people go to watch freaks in circuses and charlatans in the piazzas. “ (Eamon.) It will take us everywhere, from our backyards, to local events, all the way to another country. It inspires self growth of knowledge of not only ourselves, but also of the world around us.

Curiosity plays a key role in how we go about our everyday lives. “I believe we are all a sum of our experiences, and that we choose what experiences we have based on our curiosity.” (Buckman.) Our curiosities and interests are meant to be indulged. They subconsciously lead us to some of our best experiences and memories, such as seeing your favorite band play two hours away, just getting in your car on a whim to go to the beach in the dead of winter just because you miss the sound of the waves crashing around you, and a group of your friends taking a trip across the country because you’re both so eager to explore somewhere that you’re not so accustomed to. Curiosity makes you want to explore not only the world around you, but also the world inside of you. It is not until you indulge your interests that you discover who you truly are and where your curiosity can take you.

Your curiosity carves itself into the little details of your being, and we mustn’t be so afraid to express it. More often times than not, we are too intimidated to show who we really are to others in fear of being judged and ridiculed. Being yourself is one of the best things you can do. It is important to maintain a relationship with yourself and accept all of your corks, but more importantly, it is vital that you do whatever it is that makes you happy and remember to always love yourself. No two people were designed to be the exact same, so do not act as if you are any exception.

Work Cited Page

Eamon, William. “The Disease Called Curiosity.” WilliamEamon. 2 August 2010. Web. 8 March 2015.

Buckman, Sarah. “Curiosity and Self.” English 101. Edublogs. 14 March 2014. Web. 8 March 2015.

Jayson. “Portfolio: Curiosity Memoir “CCP:Memoir.” Edublogs. 8 May 2014. Web. 30 March 2015. (Last name not specified.)