#van zeller

[alexkegler]

Trilha sonora do dia... Van Zeller​ - You Can't Lose ... #Rock

[curioussatire-blog]

Chasing Cool

I completely admit that I talk about Vanguard way too much on this blog. But lately, writing one of the 8 million college essays I so eagerly look forward to spending many a late night gauging my eye out with a spork- I have poked and prodded at why I believe in the power of media and its affect on the masses.

It's real simple. It's cool. Just like anything else we all would pour our hearts into. So when asked "Who influences you?" this was my answer; this was how I chase cool. 

Chasing Cool

"Cool is that inherent drive to be in a state of constant forward motion. Cool allows us to step beyond the lines of the status quo. To those who are cool, it is a mindset necessary to survival.

Secretly, I have always wanted to be Indiana Jones. He has a cool hat, a cool whip, and goes on cool adventures to the ends of the earth with cool companions. He fights for social justice, knowledge, and the girl too, by putting his life on the line, and winning, every single time. I grew up with Indy, and his adventures molded my childhood image of what cool really stands for.

I have seen the modern day Indiana Jones and her name is Mariana Van Zeller. She’s Current TV’s documentary series, Vanguard’s, lead investigative correspondent and the new definition of cool. Where Indy is a genius professor at the nation’s best schools, Mariana has overcome obstacles, refused rejection and persevered to attend leading institutions. Where Indy illuminates stories of ancient lost histories to the academic world, Mariana relates the most pertinent and controversial events to an audience that she inspires to take action. Just as Indy fights to educate and discover, Mariana challenges the assumptions and ideals behind every story she investigates. By being cool she inspires me and in the end, isn’t that one of the best byproducts of cool?

Her inspiration and Indy’s curiosity drove me to become the youngest member of my educational gap year team.  At 16 years old I needed special permission since everyone else was 18 years or older. But I couldn’t contain my curiosity.  I needed to explore the world.  So I took the initiative, got accepted to the program, explored the world with sixteen other students for eight months, and started my own cool adventure.

That adventure continued as we returned since our final leg gave us the opportunity to speak in front of a variety of audiences. I needed to find a cool way to connect with people.  Finding a topic that detailed some personal truth forced me to look inside, stay authentic and discover a core idea that resonated with others. That internal journey created my speech on self Image.  Delving into that topic brought me into the uncharted waters of vulnerability by publicly illuminating very personal stories.  That adventure continues with my blog which allows my voice the freedom to continue exploring. I hear from my audience that my ideas inspire them and allow me to create my very own cool byproduct.

The last year has shown me that cool can be spread through education. Cool can begin with one influential person encouraging another. Cool can be incited in the masses. Cool can change the world.

So while I can’t fulfill my childhood dream of becoming Indiana Jones or Mariana Van Zeller, I still strive to explore- for my restless teenage curiosity, for my hunger for adventure, and my never-ending epic quest of chasing cool."

I love feedback. So share your two cents! Worship it like God on Sunday or rip it a new one. Your opinions are valuable (strictly speaking for those who have a brain- that's a biggie), so let the world know what you think in the People's Perspective above. Thanks for listening! See you on the wire! V.V.V. signing off!