Stolen or Planned?
Since then, I was able to play with it. I got excited with the picture and video functions and I was able to document a lot of things. Most of them are stolen shots. I can really be the king of stolen shots because I can take pictures without anyone knowing it unless I make it obvious. Same goes with videos. :) Here's the reason why I like taking stolen shots. I got this quote from a booklet:
"Life is like taking our photographs. We often pose the way we wanna be seen by others. But sometimes, by taking stolen shots, we capture who we really are."
True! Spontaneity keeps everything natural. We become spontaneous if we don't overthink everything and have our minds cleared. We become spontaneous because we become aware of everything. If you think about it, stolen shots captivates the essence of reality. Everyone are great actors, it is just that many of us are not really aware of it. You can really see what kind of spirit and personality the person shows in a stolen shot.
The difference between people and the lower animals is, the lower animals are not aware and not self-conscious of someone taking a shot of them. They are just being natural. While, us people find ways to show to the world how are we supposed and wanted to be viewed in a visual sense. What we wanted to show is not necessarily tantamount to something natural, but a showcase of how we want to be seen. In social psychology, this is called "Self-presentation". We present ourselves as our public or social selves. We strive to look good and feel good about ourselves when we see these planned pictures. It raises our self-esteem. We want to be remembered through these things. We have an image and stature to protect and we always associate that to our selves, but it is actually our ego that is to be protected. This does not mean that taking planned pictures are discouraged, you can still do that because it will still be very helpful in ones reputation or something special in life. Stolen shots destroy the fantasy of self-presentation and reveals the reality of things much deeper than just mere self-presentation. It is nature itself. :) Photojournalists do this almost all the time. To sum it all up: while planned or posed pictures are ordinary, stolen shots are extraordinary.
iPad Naivety
Now, that I have wrote about a piece of photography and psychology, I will go back writing about the iPad. I am still quite naive with the use of this device as I find it difficult to download apps and perhaps making use of other functions. I have so many photos I would like to upload to my Facebook account to show to the world where I've been to for the past few weeks. :) I am willing to learn more about my iPad. I have an Apple ID but my problem is I couldn't download apps because it seems like a credit card is required. There is option for "no credit card". If I could download apps, I will just get the free ones. :) A neighbor said to me that I need it "jail-broken" which means to make it less restricted and more liberated. Perhaps, it is time to consult an Apple expert about these things. I am very new at this.
Thesis Psychosis
Let me be honest now. I know that I am not alone at this and that is a fact. Thesis is one of the biggest burdens in college. Personally, I think I am going to be deluded with the complexity of the paper. Never underestimate the thesis because it will beat you up like Pacman. I guess, in Buddhism, this is called Karma. We have a taste of our own blood and treatment. Formality happens to be so Draconian that it is starting to feel like I am in a over-refined university during the Victorian Era. It is so Draconian that people around us are testing us if we can get through all of the confusion created by different people with so many comments and recommendations that we are at loss in what to do. Who should we follow? Why do comments of one conflicts with the comments of another? That is a very big mystery for me. Defense? That's hell already.
Nevertheless, I am sure there is a way to get out of this mess. What we really need is the attitude of exploration and the conviction of defense through logical processes. Teamwork is a necessity because the fault of one is the fault of all. If you are an individualist (One who prefers to work alone), you will really have hard time, especially when you are not very close to your groupmates. Yes, I am an individualist and it is a challenge for me to do this. If only if I can really engage and talk with them a lot, then it wouldn't be so bad after all. A group thesis is just like a theater production, it requires cooperation for it to make itself very effective and efficient.
Research can be fun if you have the passion, the attitude and the enthusiasm to do it. Researchers are essentially bibliophiles (Book lovers). My research professor who likes to talk a lot and very very fast that I sometimes get lost in her lectures, said that her only requirement is to "READ". Well, I agree with her in that but let me add "CRITICAL THINKING". Critical thinking will make a very gigantic difference in research. It is a very powerful weapon and tool.
CRITICAL THINKING + CRITICAL READING = EXCEPTIONAL RESEARCH
But let me lament that many of us lacks the skills to think critically. It's a sad thing. It is not an innate thing, it has to be learned and it is best learned when you are with critical thinkers. I am sure there is a way, but I don't know that way yet.
Take it from the cliche "You cannot please everyone". We are often in the position that we try too hard pleasing our research adviser, panelists, dean and the research coordinators. That's where our confusion climaxes with their differing opinions and not knowing whom to follow. In one consultation they make an opinion of something, but in another consultation, they may change their opinion on that same thing. Sometimes opinions from different professionals can contradict each other. That's one reason why thesis is a mess after all. What do they really want from us? Are they doing this to test us if we are confident enough to pursue our research? Are they doing this to test if we are very sure of what we are doing? Perhaps. A very good and confident speaker is needed when it comes to these things. We often resort to the intellect of the authority in a particular field of expertise and we don't really question them. So, we learned to be gullible at things. I guess journal critiques are helpful in a sense that we will no longer be gullible and we would start questioning the study. I guess that's where critical thinking and read can begin. No wonder, my professors in the past semesters and years wanted us to do journal critiques. They were training us for the research. So, if we start to please everyone based on their expectations, we would fail because it would really look like they are doing the research instead of us students. Yes, they are very vigilant and meticulous. They control a lot of things when it comes to thesis, especially the technical and formal aspects both in qualitative and quantitative research. Anyway, it is still an experience to learn from. We can learn from failure and it will be an advantage to us because we can do it better next time. :)
College year finale
Finally, this is it! My last year in Manila Tytana Colleges, formerly known as Manila Doctors College. This is my 6th and last year in the college taking up BS Psychology. I will do my best in what I can do. I am very hopeful. :) I came into the campus in 2007 and that is a long time a go. Practicum will be a different experience for me because this will help me determine what I can major in and what my can be. I just hope that they will implement the board exam for psychometricians next year because with this, I can have my MA. Also, we will have foreign language classes as elective (Optional in the choice of language, but required). Now, I wonder if it has any bearing in the transcript of records. Well, it is helpful in a sense that we would be appreciating a different culture. :)
2 years in nursing and 4 years in psychology, it has been a very long journey. I would to be extravagant after the obstacles I will be facing for the last year and I am very sure that there is so many of them. AD ASTRA PER ASPERA! (To the stars through adversity!).
After college, I will take a traveling vacation and probably search for a job within the country first. I don't know have plans after that yet. I will travel with my ninang because it will be time to explore different places and that, I am sure, will be very memorable.
Ok, I think that's enough for now to be heard and to be seen and to be acknowledged. I am sorry if I can be quite boring at times. :) God bless all. :)
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