Tumbl Into Me

[ijosephwalsh]

The First Day of the Rest of My Life

The future can be a scary thought. Sometimes, I worry too much when I think about it.

It’s sometimes hard for me to look into the future without considering what will come next. I’ve always been told to look as far into the future as you can. When you get to that point, look ahead again.

I am currently in my first semester of college and am enjoying it a lot. I also work a part-time job. Balancing both is not easy, but so far the rewarding feeling is amazing.

The beginning of this new chapter has me thinking. Before, I was just an innocent high school kid with not a worry in the world. Now, I have to start setting realistic goals for myself.

Sometimes I lie awake at night wondering where I’ll be in five or ten years. I constantly remind myself that my own personal success should not be based on the achievement of others. Every now and then that is difficult.

Right now, I’m pursuing a career in media studies. I’m taking classes in the mass communication department at Rock Valley College.

Eventually, I hope to transfer to either Northern Illinois University or to Columbia College Chicago. I recently visited Columbia. It was a beautiful school with a not-so-beautiful price tag.

I think NIU is more my speed as the program offered there is very broad. It would allow me more opportunities than just specializing in one specific area at Columbia.

After college, I’m hoping to work in the media. I would love to work in the creative services department at a TV station. I’m not going to pretend I know everything they do, but I know they get to do fun stuff. That’s enough for me.

Ever since I can remember, I have loved working with video and editing. In fourth grade, I had a web show with my friend. I’d like to believe I was just getting started. In following years, my passion continued to grow.

I knew at a young age I had different interests than my friends did. Everyone else seemed to like hunting, fishing, and sports. I just wanted to go home to test my new lights or try my new green screen.

These interests sometimes led to criticism from kids at school. I never really was part of the “in crowd”. I look back now and realize there was nothing wrong with this. In fact, looking back helped me to better understand my future.

I continue into my future with a positive outlook. Nothing can stop me as long as I put in the hard work and determination. I know I think differently than others. I’m okay with that.

Steve Jobs, one of my biggest influences, once said, “Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes, the ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things - they push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”

[ijosephwalsh]

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

One of the most important sentimental times of year for me is a season we are just about to enter. Ever since I can remember, Christmas has been my favorite holiday for so many reasons. My parents and I start decorating the moment we get home from our Thanksgiving dinner. Some may argue this is way too early, but I question what’s keeping those people from decorating their houses. As soon as we step foot in the door, I am headed to my basement to bring up tubs upon tubs of Christmas cheer. My dad usually doesn’t help much; he just relaxes on the couch while watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. After all the storage bins are upstairs, we start the madness. As I write this, we have just decorated our house. This year, we have decided to get a real tree again. For the past several years, we have had a fake one. We wanted to ‘spruce’ up our Christmas cheer this year and start a new tradition. This year is really starting to make me think of years past. Ever since this year, I have essentially still been considered a kid. Now, I enter the holiday season as an adult. I look back on seasons gone by and have so many feelings of nostalgia. I’ll never forget the days of childhood innocence. One of my favorite times as a kid was cutting down our own Christmas tree. We used to go to a very small hole-in-the-wall tree farm in Avon, Wisconsin to pick out our perfect tree. I think back and smile to all the years deciding our tree as snow fell. After we cut down the tree, we stopped in the little gift shop for some warm cider and good old-fashioned puppy chow. It was truly a childhood memory I will never forget. A few years ago, our favorite tree farm closed its business. We were so sad, we decided not to start a new tradition. For the next few years, we used an artificial tree. This year, we are finally going to try and start a new tradition. Hopefully our home will have another year of fresh smelling pine. That is one of the things I loved most about having a real tree. I love spending time with family during the Christmas season. Something about the warm and cozy feeling I get during this time of year just makes this time that much better. Of course, Christmas movies are also important. Sometimes I find myself enjoying a good Hallmark movie, but many times I just love a good classic. Friday nights and weekends are the best time to catch a flick. I think I love Christmas so much because of that warm and fuzzy feeling you get. People just seem a whole lot nicer during this time. It’s like a little bit of Heaven is everywhere. It would be even better if this was the case all year long. It’s great going shopping during the season. People always seem very outgoing and gracious. Seeing the Salvation Army bell ringers is one of my favorite sights. While all of these traditions and good feelings are important, nothing fills my heart more than Christmas eve mass. Our priest always has such a great story to tell to get you even more into the Christmas spirit. It’s such a nice feeling to be around like-minded people. My parents and I have a weird tradition of going to McDonald’s after mass. We aren’t really sure how it got started, but we’ve been doing it for years. After dinner, we stop at a dollar store and pick up some candy and anything else interesting we see. Finally, the big day comes. My parents and I load into the car and head to my aunt’s house. We have a nice big family gathering. If we’re lucky, there’s just enough snow on the ground to look pretty. Having a white Christmas isn’t a deal-breaker, but boy it sure does make it better. My family usually kicks off our dinner with a prayer from my uncle. He’s always good at putting how we feel into words. We are always thankful for another year of health, joy, and more importantly each other. After the prayer, we dig in. I can hear my uncle and cousin talking now. They’re talking about their next hunting trip and the hunting gadgets they’re hoping to get for Christmas. After supper, we all gather around to open presents. It’s always a nice time of love, laughter, and a ton of cool new stuff. The biggest joy in the entire day is spending it with the ones you love. You see, Christmas isn’t all about presents and money. It’s about spending time with people most important and bringing joy into the lives of others. That’s Christmas to me.

[ijosephwalsh]

A Show That Makes My Heart Full

For as long as I can remember, I have loved the ‘90s sitcom Full House. This is not the case for many people. Sometimes, people will talk about how cheesy and unrealistic it is. While I can see some of their points, that has never stopped me from loving it.

I’m not sure why I love it so much. Since I have watched for many years, I think some inner child nostalgia comes out. I can sit and watch an episode 100 times and still love it every time.

I think a lot of people just see the show for face value. They see three guys raising three girls, and this uncommon plot turns them off. It always seems as though there are more people who dislike the show than those who do. Typically, you can find me from 7 to 9 p.m. on my couch watching. The series is in syndication on Nick at Nite.

I fell in love with the plot structure. The show has a lesson in every episode. Even through all the sappy music and hugs, I still can’t get past the warmth the show brings me.

I’m confident some of the morals and values I have today come from Full House. I always wished I had someone like Uncle Jesse in my life. The kid in me never judged the show based on being unrealistic. At a young age, I’m not sure I even understood what being unrealistic meant.

Let’s be honest here. Most shows on TV today are filled with profanity or some sort of sexual innuendo. Full House is the one show I have found that (for the most part) avoids all of that. Of course, there are rare occasions these topics come up as the show tries to teach a lesson.

I know people also argue the show is not practical. Some say it is highly unlikely for a dad to work on television and magically gain the support of his brother-in-law and his best friend to help raise a family. I think this is the magic of the show.

I can actually barely remember the first time I watched the show. My mom had it on TV one morning. I will never forget seeing the intro picnic. It is an image I will never forget. I went to San Francisco this summer and stood in the exact spot they had that picnic. It was a dream come true.

I continue to believe I will see value in the show for as long as I live. Since there are characters of all ages in the show, I will be able to relate to different ones throughout my life. That in itself is pretty darn cool.

[ijosephwalsh]

Now Featuring...

For my feature story, I will be writing about how Durand High School teachers are embracing technology in the classroom. This is the second full year students at Durand High School have had their own Chromebooks to use for classes. I plan to do my story on how the first year went for teachers and students alike. I plan to interview technology director Eddie Johnston. I would like his input on why the district decided to go 1:1 with Chromebooks and how he thinks this change will benefit all involved. Next, I will interview technology assistant Nicole Richardson. Nicole has been a big backbone in getting Chromebooks ready for students and making sure the technology is working properly. I also want teacher input. I will be interviewing high school English teacher Bonnie Smith. I will ask her various questions. I may ask how she has been using the technology in the classroom and how she wants to use it more. I also plan to interview Ryan Bland. Ryan is a social studies teacher and uses Chromebooks a lot in his classroom. I’ve heard he uses a website to grade his tests and am curious to learn more about it. I would like to ask them both how they would advocate technology in the classroom to teachers who may not be on board yet. As for a specific outline, I’m not sure I can say yet. I’m really just going to go into it with my interviews from above and see where it goes. I want to include specific programs and apps the two teachers use to better illustrate the benefits of technology in the classroom. I would love for a Durand teacher to read my article and say, “Wow, that was some good advice! I will have to try that in my classroom!”

[ijosephwalsh]

This is gonna be the best day of my life.

As I heard my name being called, I walked across the stage. I stood at the stairs and flipped my tassel. I graduated high school. Sometimes it is difficult to think of the happiest moment in your life. There are so many things to be proud of, but some definitely stand out. That moment for me was on May 21, 2017. I woke up in the morning and remember staring at the ceiling. Today was the day I had worked twelve years for. In about six hours I was going to walk across the stage and become a high school graduate. It almost didn’t seem real at first. I thought back to all the elementary field trips, junior high science fairs, and even high school dances. I couldn’t help but be proud at how far I’d come. It was actually kind of sad to see it come to an end. All throughout the years, I couldn’t wait for the next step. I was always looking ahead. In that moment, I stopped and realized that moment was now. In the fall, everyone else would be returning to Durand High School. My classmates and I would be moving on to bigger and better things. I remember thinking about this while we stood in line to receive our diplomas. The time had finally come. All of us had received our diplomas. Our principal made closing remarks. Then, he said, “It is with great honor and pleasure I present to you the class of 2017.” We threw our caps into the air. The high school band began to play the recessional. In that instant, time froze. I thought of so many memories. Friends’ birthdays, late-night study sessions, and cross country meets all passed through my head during this frozen moment of time. I felt so full.

[ijosephwalsh]

A Parachute Predicament

I woke up very nervous on Saturday. Today was the day I was going skydiving. I didn’t really want to go, but my friend convinced me to try it. The day began with breakfast at a local diner. Even though the food looked great, I simply couldn’t eat anything knowing I was going to be jumping out of a plane in less than an hour. My friend had been skydiving a couple times before, and he told me there was nothing to worry about. I sat in fear as he enjoyed his breakfast as if nothing was out of the ordinary. We arrived at the skydiving center right on time. As we boarded our plane, I overheard the attendants talking. They were explaining how they had been with hundreds of customers and never had issues. While this certainly helped calm me down a little, I was still a nervous wreck. My friend had no worries and began to put on his parachute pack. I followed along with the help of the attendant. He began to strap himself onto my back. In a weird way, it was comforting to know I wasn’t alone if something happened. The attendant opened the door to the plane. I instantly felt nauseous. We were so far up in the sky. The assistant continued to explain some things, but I tuned him out with my own fear. I had so many second doubts. I had wanted to go skydiving all my life, but I never built up the courage to do so. I wasn’t sure if today was the day. My friend assured me the dizziness was completely normal. At one point, it was too hard to tell what was what. My head was spinning so bad I felt as if I were going to throw up. It was at that point the attendant counted down from three to one. Before I knew it, I was falling from the sky screaming like a little kid. I’m pretty sure I threw up a little. I hoped my vomit would not make it to Earth. Suddenly, the parachute deployed. In that moment, all my fear went away. I realized the parachute was the source of all my worries. I wasn’t worried about skydiving, I was worried the parachute wouldn’t open. We slowly descended towards Earth. Just then we stumbled onto the ground and came to a stop. We had made it to Earth, and I was safe. My friend congratulated me on a job well done. I skydived. I finally did it.

[ijosephwalsh]

Music can change your life for the better.

There is no doubt in my mind that music has changed my life for the better. Some days, certain songs perfectly describe the thoughts or emotions you are feeling. Over the years, certain songs have stuck out more than others. Many times, if a song means a lot to me, I can remember where I was and what I was doing the first time I heard it. Some of the songs I enjoy because of the way they sound, but most of them have special meaning as the songs related to something going on in my life at the time I first heard them. Every time I hear each of these songs, they bring me back to the time in my life when it meant the most. I think that is the most special part. Here are five of my top favorite songs of all time:

5. Powerful – Major Lazer Undoubtedly, this is one of my favorite slow songs ever. The amount of power and passion that went into this song is unmatched by any others I have ever heard. The song describes having powerful feelings for someone, and I think the vibe of the song demonstrates perfectly how it feels to like someone so much.

4. They Just Haven’t Seen It – San Holo Many of my friends know me for liking all types of music. This is a prime example. I’ve always had a love for EDM and other forms of electronic music (trap, dubstep, etc.) and this song is no exception. The beat drop in this song is absolutely phenomenal. I first heard this song while I was running. This song got my adrenaline pumping!

3. Don’t – Ed Sheeran I’ve always loved Ed Sheeran, but this song in particular has always been my favorite by him. Something about the upbeat vibe this song has is awesome. I remember loving this song before it actually became popular on the radio. #Hipster, I know.

2. Putting the Dog to Sleep – The Antlers This song has a very subtle, ambient feel to it. The lyrics mean much more than what meets the eye. When I first heard this song, it didn’t really make much sense to me. I thought the lyrics were actually describing someone putting a dog down. It is really describing a relationship near the end. The song subtly describes a relationship that neither person is happy in, and how it is sometimes better to just let go instead of trying to make things work.

1. Can’t Hold Us – Macklemore Ever since I head this song on a Microsoft Outlook commercial in 2013, it has been my favorite. Something about this song just makes you feel so alive. It sounds silly, but every time I hear this song I just can’t help but get into it. I think the chorus is my favorite part. So much passion!

[ijosephwalsh]

People you have never met can have a huge impact on your life.

When it comes to influences, many of us would say that we are most influenced by the ones around us. Nowadays, you can easily be influenced by people you watch online, television, or listen to on the radio. For me, dressing nicely and looking sharp has always been important to me. I usually dress up for work anyways, but sometimes I wear a dress shirt and tie just for the heck of it. About two years ago, I found a gentleman on YouTube named Antonio Centeno. He runs a YouTube channel called Real Men Real Style. Not only does he post videos on men’s fashion advice, but also life advice as well. There are many times in my life where I’ve needed advice during certain situations, and 99% of the time Antonio has made a video about it.

The video below is an example of some life advice Antonio gives. If I were interested in this, I would go to his channel and search for happiness and this video would appear. He gives various tips on how to be happy and how to apply those tips to everyday life. He gives advice on how to be confident in your own skin and embrace who you are. His attention to detail and the way he speaks to the viewer sets him apart from other YouTubers.

This video below is an example of some fashion advice Antonio gives. This is actually the video that I discovered him through. A couple years ago, I was in the market for some new dress clothes. Since I have a slim build, I had a hard time finding a good-fitting shirt. Every shirt I found in my size seemed to have too much extra material, causing it to muffin top over my pants. I eventually found some extra slim fit shirts to fix my issue, but that led to another issue. I constantly found myself tucking in my shirt all day because it just wouldn’t stay. I found Antonio’s video on this issue and was immediately hooked. He recommended buying Shirt Stays, a suspender that clips onto the bottom of your shirt and runs down your leg and clips to your socks. It sounds ridiculous, but it works amazingly well. The Shirt Stays keep your shirt tucked and your socks pulled up. Antonio was a true life saver when it came to that, so I began to watch his other videos. Almost everything I wear today is a result of his advice. I also use his life advice during many situations. It is safe to say he has had a huge impact and influence on every aspect of my life.

[ijosephwalsh]

This is the funniest video clip on the Internet.

Ever since I can remember, this has always been my favorite funny video on the Internet. It’s clichéd to say, but cat videos are in my opinion are one of the most important parts of YouTube. You can’t watch just one. Once you start, you are likely to still be watching cat videos for hours to come. I first stumbled across this video on a TV commercial and thought it was the funniest thing. This was when I was younger, so I was easily amused. I sometimes wonder how one couldn’t at least smile while watching this video. I remember searching this video on YouTube and laughing until I cried. Ahh, childhood memories.

[ijosephwalsh]

Why the heck am I going to college?

It’s no secret that going to college nowadays is very smart and often an essential part of getting a good job. Ever since I can remember, I have pondered what I want to do for a living. Sometimes while I lie awake at night, I picture myself in different career scenarios and wonder what life would be like if I decide to go down that respective path. Regardless, college for me is going to be much more than figuring out what I want to do for a career. College is going to be a time of self-discovery–a time where I not only learn material from classes but also learn about myself. I grew up in a small town. My graduating high school class consisted of 31 students. If something happened in the school, everyone knew about it by third period. My point is, college for a small town kid can be flat out scary. You don’t quite realize what you’re getting into until it happens. Making friends is especially hard, because in a small town you have had the same best friends and classmates since kindergarten. Don’t get me wrong, the level of love and sense of community you get in a small town is amazing. Some people never leave small towns and don’t move on to higher education. So, why the heck am I going to college? I’m a firm believer that I was created to create. I was never a math whiz or very good with anything analytical in general, but I’ve always been creative. I have interests in graphic design, video production, broadcast, and journalism. I want to use these talents and build on them in college to make a difference in the lives of others.