No Social Media

I love social media. I’m always on Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, etc. For those of you who don’t know what those are:

Twitter

Snapchat

Instagram

Facebook

Sometimes I never post anything, I just scroll and see what other people have to share. Yes, social media is an amazing way to communicate, share ideas, and exchange information whether it being in words, pictures, graphs, etc. but these purposes often slip my mind. I’ve become so accustomed to having social media that I have to take a step back and appreciate it from time to time. So, for this past week and in honor of exams, I decided to stay off of social media.

First and foremost, I did go most of the week without social media but I didn’t quiet succeed. I stayed off of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram but I gave in on snapchat. Posting on snapchat is so simple and quick that I didn’t notice when I was actually doing it.

If I had to pick, I think Snapchat would be my favorite form of social media. I have snapchat streaks, when you and a friend have snapped each other consistently for a number of days every day, with nine people. My highest is 262 days with my neighbor from home. I also love the snapchat filters and how they incorporate emoji’s into the app to indicate things such as streaks and best friends. Many people say they love Snapchat because it gives them a thrill as the pictures vanish. Because the pictures go away, they feel they have to stop what they are doing and give snapchat their full attention because if they don’t look right now they “will never see it”. In my opinion that sounds like an extreme reason. I don’t open snapchats unless I have time to do so. I wouldn’t stop everything I’m doing to see my friends make a funny face or a smart comment. My second form of social media would definitely be Twitter. It’s also simple and quick. Unlike Snapchat, it’s easier to stalk people because it doesn’t show who views your posts (lol).

I learned that even if I don’t get on social media, I easily find other things to distract myself with. I have no idea as to why I procrastinate so much. Whether it be because of movies, naps, listening to music, drawing pictures, I’m just always doing everything EXCEPT what I’m supposed to be doing. Maybe that’s why I’m typing this post at 2:30 in the morning.

Feel free to follow me:

Twitter and IG: ryannlynn_
Snapchat: rlynn

Thanks for reading. J

How Long Does It Take to Get From State College, PA to Downtown Baltimore, MD?

When I rolled over and it was 7:35a.m., I knew it was going to be a pretty interesting day. I rushed to get ready and walked down the stairs. Once I was outside of my hall I realized I left my bus ticket inside. So, I ran back up all the steps, grabbed my ticket, and still managed to make it to 071 Willard on time.

Things were starting to look better until I went to put my earrings in because I didn’t have time to put them in earlier. I dropped one and boom, it was gone. Every time I lose an earring, it’s just never a good day. Anyway, class finished and I looked for my earring one more time. Sadly, I had no more success than the first time. Quickly, I walked over to the bus stop to wait for the bus. It felt like 10 degrees outside and the bus was 30 minutes late. To pass the time, I met three new people and we were all going to DC or Baltimore which meant we had to transfer buses in Harrisburg. Quickly, we were filled with anxiety. Our bus to Harrisburg was already a good forty minutes late, would our bus from Harrisburg to Baltimore/DC leave us?

Its 10:45: the bus is finally here and the bus driver tells us “I promise you the bus won’t leave you guys. It’s restricted.” Well, he lied. When we got to Harrisburg, it was noon and there was no other bus to take us the rest of our trip. The lady behind the desks tells us that our bus left 10 minutes before and now we have to wait for the 4:15 bus. Man, oh man. What are we supposed to for four 

hours, we can’t just sit in the train station.

The doors were so short, lol. 

So, my 3 friends and I went to grab lunch. Afterwards, we were just walking around and taking pictures of the capitol building. Before I knew it we were inside of the building, walking around freely. I never knew these buildings were open to the public, it never crossed my mind.

The building was so beautiful. It seemed as if every room we went into, they got better. The amount of detail in everything was so astonishing and admirable. Before we realized it, it was time to go back to the train station. We got on the bus and we were on our way.  

It was 6:30p.m., and I finally made it to Baltimore from State College.

So, this is my new adventure this time. It was an experience to get stranded in a city that I’ve never been to before. It was my first time touring a state Capitol building. Now, I hope to be able to visit each and every state Capitol building. Although it was not planned, it came with a very important message, “It’s not what happens to you but how you react to it that matters.” –Epctetus. 

Also, always listen to your mom when she tells you that you should always wear a coat because you never know what’s going to happen.

Thanks for reading. :) 

Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti "NO"

The music world isn’t an unfamiliar place to me. I’ve grown up playing the piano, violin, and viola. Here and there, I’ve even tried band instruments. I never really imagined myself being in a choir though. I mean, of course I think that I’m the best singer when I’m in the shower or around my house, but actually performing - no thank you. So, this week, I decided to go to a choir class. Let’s just say that my assumptions were reassured and I should stick to instruments.

I walked in the room with my friend Sam. She introduced me to the instructor of the day, a Graduate student and TA, Melody Gifford. She is accustomed to only teaching elementary school students. So, at least I wasn’t the only one stepping out of my comfort zone.

The classroom was huge. It had four rows, each one higher than the next. There were at least 20 chairs in each row, they were all colored blue. A mirror covered one of the walls and there was a huge piano in the middle of the room. So, Sam grabbed a seating chart, we found her seat and I sat right next to her.

Okay, assigned seating, section leaders, it all seemed familiar so far. It was time to warm-up. The class then stood up, I thought to myself, I mean that only makes sense nobody sings sitting down. Then they stretched. Like touch the sky, touch your toes, do windmills with your arms type of stretching. Next, they were instructed to “let all your air out.” The room filled with painting dogs. Just as I thought of how weird this was, they were instructed to do trills. Okay, okay, I know what trills are, this should be normal. Nope, nothing like I’ve done. The room soon filled with mini helicopters and cicadas buzzing around my head. Next, the room was filled with sirens. Warming up has to be almost over, right? Finally, something I was familiar with. They matched pitch with piano and did scales.

Choirs are divided into four sections: Soprano, Tenor, Bass, and Alto.

I’ve always wondered why choirs often sang in different languages. So, I figured this was a perfect time to figure it out. One of the main reasons is to add diversity. I’m not sure why I couldn’t figure this one out on my own because why would such a creative group of people only stick to one language of music. Secondly, it adds to the learning process. Different languages have a variety of amazing composer that offer harder levels of music. It offers a challenge, which musicians seem to love.

I am very grateful that Sam invited me to go to choir class with her and that the instructors were so happy to have me come and watch. I’m also sure that everyone else is very grateful that I play instruments and don’t sing.

Thanks for reading

P.S. Sam CAN sing J

All photos by me