Passion

American society will always be jealous. In the past, the nerd looked in awe to popularity, or that fat girl stared at cheerleaders as they leapt around in lithe bodies. Not much has changed. Everyone looks at each other, and wishes for something that they don't have - particularly success. Think it's too cliche? Think you're different? When was the last time you saw a drink in someone's hand, and wished to have one, too? Or a car?

People ask me: How do you do so many activities? Why do you play the flute? How are you so passionate?

Simply, I'm not that cool or amazing. Instead of asking me some weird, envy filled question, why don't you try it out? 

Passion is slippery. Passion does not click, and is not the best thing to happen to a person. You are not born with passion, nor do people suddenly become gifted with this gift from "God".

When I was in the 3rd grade, the school system still made it an option to take an extra band class, and my mom enrolled my brother and me because she wanted us to try out new activities.

An 8 year old puffing air, like a blowfish, through a clarinet is not the best sound. A group of 8 year olds with expensive musical instruments is not the best sight. For the first two weeks, I huffed and puffed and blew through the little wooden cylinder and could not make a sound. I complained to my mom, certain that I had no musical talent, and my brother was some God-send child who somehow was born to play flute, even though in reality- he sucked.

If it hadn't been for the persistence of my mom, I would have quit years ago. On the contrary, I was forced to work and work and work, until I grew to slightly enjoy that work.  Sometimes I would switch instruments, shake my head, switch again. I finally ended with the flute, and with my horribly out of tune notes, my oblivious self would turn and grin widely at my mom.
"You're great, honey!" "Thanks, I know!"

It wasn't the end. Every turn of the road blocked by another looming monster.

Scales of terror, the great, ugly upper register monster of the music swamp rearing its As, Bbs, and C- learning on a whole different level. But slowly, ever so slowly, with each note I played, each breath I took, every time I synchronized with the beat, a tiny, itty bitty piece of passion would plop down onto my soul. So insignificant were these little raindrops, that only now I realize the important of my strangled notes in late night practices.

So now, people ask me: Why do you play the flute? Why are you in band? How do you have so much passion?

I say, because I like it. So why don't you try it, too?

In Response to "Community Post #1: Exposing Hidden Bias at Google

America is thought to be diverse, but our attitudes say otherwise. It goes past race. In regards to the article, Exposing Hidden Bias at Google, bias in general is a problematic undertone in American society. Initially, in the earlier ages where men obviously triumphed in physical strength, sure, the "physically disabled" women could be expected to sit back and babysit the children- leading to the phrase "it's a man's world." Our attitude towards women working in great jobs is downright dismal. But, now as our world is shifting into an era of technology, shouldn't we be leaving those technical problems in the past?

Take one. America has attempted to tackle racial disparities by overcompensating for minorities, and leaving little for the so called "privileged", seen in college education systems. A horrible solution. Take two. Manjoo writes, men make 83 percent of Google's engineering employees and 79 percent of its managers. Instead of relaxing the hiring process specifically for women, employers should give them a real chance to enjoy working at the company. For a leading company worldwide, Google contantly experiences sexist comments inside the workplace. Why work somewhere you're already expected to turn in unsatisfactory work, and make sandwiches for everyone? 

A women should be judged by skill level, not gender. Scratch that, a person should be judged by skill level, not race or gender. From the article, it is common knowlege that a more diverse team works better and produces higher yielding results. Google, and other global companies have taken that into consideration, and are slowly equalizing the racial ratio. These companies are attempting to push America's attitude to an accepting one, but frankly, it's too slow. We need a dramatic shove in our societies to shock us into the new reality- gender or race won't matter in our technological dawn.