The Castro

If I could live anywhere in the world, I would want to live within the Castro District of San Francisco.  The main reason I would want to spend my life there is because it was the center of the AIDS epidemic and has only recently, within the past 20 years, bounced back and become home to both the one of the largest AIDS nonprofits and the center for many gay rights campaigns.  The Castro is actually quite large, so let me be specific.  I want to live on the actual Castro Street, but that is extremely expensive as it is the main street and runs through the center of the valley.  It is a very busy area and there is always some kind of event going on whether it is a jazz concert or a march to remember those lost.  Living here would be amazing and fulfilling because I would be able to support the two main things that I believe we need in this country, gay rights, and a cure for AIDS.  

If Money Was No Object

If money was no object, what would a person do with their lives?  That's what this project sought to figure out.  What each and every individual in Early College would do if they did not have to worry about the monetary value.  Some went for a funny route, while others took a very serious stance on the issue.  A lot was learned from the project and it has helped me figure out a little bit about myself.

In the video, I say that I would be a microbiologist and cure HIV/AIDS to help the millions worldwide affected by the disease, but after doing the project and watching other peoples' videos, I decided that I would much rather be an activist.  I want to get out into the world and show people the truth about HIV.  In Lorain County, there are still people who believe that HIV can be contracted from being in the same room as an infected individual, or that AIDS is still a gay disease.  Both of these ideas are extremely false and people need to understand that. So, in conclusion, I have decided to change how I would help society.  Instead of finding a vaccine or a cure, I want to help people understand what HIV infection means and what they can do to prevent themselves from contracting this life threatening disease.

"1984" George Orwell

          The book I most enjoyed reading is 1984 by George Orwell.  The book shows what Orwell believed would occur in the future.  It follows the life of Winston as he travels through life in a dystopia.  He is part of the controlling party of Oceania, one of three major countries, and is being watched constantly by Big Brother.  He defies the party when he pursues a relationship with Julia and the plot continues on with them being imprisoned for their actions against Big Brother.  The two become reformed by the party and are sent back into the community.  This book characterizes what life would be like if freedom did not exist.  The reason I enjoyed this book so much was because the concepts described in the writing were easily seen in today’s society.  The rich have become richer and the poor are poorer.  The freedom to do as one would choose no longer exists.  No matter where a person goes, somebody else know where they have gone, thus making it near impossible to drop off the grid.  These are just a few of the ideas that made 1984 an amazing book.