Inspirational video

Although it has been a few weeks since I have seen this video, I find that it affects me the same way every time. For one, I never knew that Charlie Chaplin was such a powerful orator. Perhaps to appreciate it, one must know the context of this video. The speech he delivers is from the movie "The Great Dictator," which I have not seen but as far as I know it is a movie that makes political satire of Hitler's regime. The movie came out in October of 1940, in the middle of World War II and Chaplin was extremely gutsy for acting in this role.

"I'm sorry - but I don't want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone..." Few videos have sent chills down my spine and inspired me the way this video has. I guess I consider myself a "dreamer." I have an idealized attitude and try to always see people and situations in a positive light. But I also recognize the need to resist and fight and to think for one's self. Otherwise, a lack of respect is born and people are taken advantage of. I have seen this happen on an individual level, but also on much larger scales. I feel like many governments have forgotten who they are representing and serving.

Easy Departure, Hesitated Journey

It's incredibly easy for me to start something. It's following through that is painful, unpleasant and difficult for me. I guess in a way that has made me a jack-of-all-trades, or perhaps a jack of no trades. I'm good at many things, but great at just about nothing. But my greatest obstacle is myself. My dad jokingly says this Polish pronoun about me, that I am like a 'hay fire... burns quickly and intensely and dies out before you know it.' I find that I am passionate and excited about something initially. But then, I reach a plateau in a given field or hobby and lose attention and focus. This has gotten worse in recent years as I try to take on far more than I can chew.

There are a few things, though, that I have chosen to depart with and have not let them go, even if it is on and off. I am a self-taught guitarist of two years now, 1 yr. on acoustic guitar and 1 yr. on electric. I am nowhere near where I want to be but I have no delusions of rockstar-dom or anything like that.. perhaps a gigging musician in the future. I'd like to find some bandmates but I will be gone from Stony Brook after this semester so perhaps it's best for me to just wait. Anyhow, design is another passion of mine and I've done a few graphic design jobs. But I have trouble separating hobbies from potential future careers. I am a business major though I don't feel like I fit into that world. I took a marketing concentration because I thought I could incorporate my eye for design but it seems like it's more about writing 90-page marketing plans and working in teams.. Both of which are definitely not my strengths.