My Fitness Journey

I've always been a big kid. I played sports all my life, yet nothing seemed to help me in my fitness goals. I was finally inspired by the end of football season my freshman year. 

During football season I did what is known as a "dirty bulk". What that means is I ate whatever was in sight because 

1. Linemen are supposed to be big

2. I burned off as much as I ate

However, the flaw in that process occurred when the season ended. Although we still exercised intensely off-season It was not equivalent to the rigor during season. My diet did not change in that span and I had hit my all time high weight of 230lb.

During football season I was introduced to the world of bodybuilding/weight training. The idea of losing weight while gaining muscle seemed appealing. I trained solo and managed to cut 15 pounds by the first day of my sophomore year.

Although I had lost 15 lbs throughout the 3 month span of summer I am far from my goals. Luckily, I met some great friends who have gone through the rigor and have the results to prove it. They act as my support system. We often go to the gym together. I switched from my gym to their gym just so we could train together. 

Although I'm still pursuing my goals, I know that with my great friends to help me I will complete my goals by the end of the school year. I will be sure to update my weight as it significantly drops.

June 2014: 230lb

September 2014: 215lb

January 2015: 196.8 lb

The Problem with This Generation: A Rant

Remember going to your best friend's house and enjoying your social time? Remember when taking a picture of your food wasn't a social norm? Remember when we were social? All that nostalgia is gone, my friend. With the evolution of the iThis and the iThat kids and teens nowadays have an easier access to the internet than ever before. That could be a blessing or a curse. Instead of using it to be more productive, we have turned antisocial from social media. Sounds crazy, right? Well, I hate to break it to you, but it's true. Hey, what do I care? I must be a 70 year old man ranting about those whippersnappers. Unfortunately, I am a part of said generation. I am disgusted by how far, yet low we have come due to social media.


I want to start out by saying not all social media is bad. Social media can be good for checking up with friends, family, or meeting someone online. I may not be entirely justified to rant. There are some circumstances in which I can accept one needing social media as much as air or water. For example, maybe one doesn't have much friends where they are, but online they're a sensation. They feel accepted in their online community, which is great. However, the majority of users spend countless hours scrolling through a timeline, expecting joy from likes, follows, among other things.


A perfect example occurred just recently. The social platform Instagram recently had an update in which fake bot accounts were deleted from a users following list. In retaliation some users went to the extreme by deleting their accounts from the multimillion dollar app. After asking some of my peers it is apparent that included in this list were teenagers. After researching most often bot accounts are available in which one is capable of purchasing followers. The facts made me wonder: Is my generation so consumed by the idea of followers, likes, and other things that they would fake it in order to boost their self esteem?


The whole idea is very absurd. Let me set those who are confused straight: followers/likes do not determine what you're worth. What you're worth depends on what you think about yourself, not by the approval of others. Popularity is another idea that one should not base their worth upon. For example, you could but all the rage during high school, but afterward many of those people disappear from your life to pursue their journey, meaning nothing to you. Antisocial media has spiraled out of control consuming our lives.


To be continued in a later post...

What do you think? Leave a comment down below!

Rough Day...

Ah, December 15th. The first day of a new week. However, this wasn't your ordinary week. This was the last week before we left for winter break. While others frantically completed their homework to hold their grade over the holidays, I decided to take the week optimistically. The results, in the end, did not benefit me.


The first task on my list was to wake up at my usual time (4:15am) to allow X amount of minutes per task in my daily routine. At my usual pace, I am able to leave my home in the Ranch Bernardo area by 6:45am and enjoy a relaxing 15-20 minute car ride to school. The problem, however, was that I awoke at 6:00am. I was left 45 minutes to do everything before leaving in order to arrive on time. I guess the world decided to test how I react under pressure.


Fast forward to school. I survived my first three periods in the subjects math, honors Spanish, and english; which is a rare occasion, because I am often worn out after first period. What's next, you ask? Oh no, AP World History. Just the thought makes me flinch. The only thing that keeps me from falling asleep is the amount of friends I have in that class. Anyway, maybe 25 minutes in we're taking notes. An easy day, really. One thing you must know about that class, everyone talks. There isn't a day that the class could resemble anything of a library, in there it's a zoo. Back on topic. While we're taking notes my friend mumbles something (appropriate and) funny. I laugh. Then, with supersonic hearing my teacher pinpoints the source of laughter out of everyone talking and looks me dead in the eye. "Get out". I assume he's joking, because he often is a clown. I laugh, but that soon turns into a nervousness. His face is stern, not a smirk or anything resembling that nature. I don't understand anything that just happened, but I get out. I wasn't even remotely mad, just really confused. What's that term my 8th grade history teacher taught me? Salutary neglect. I wasn't doing anything wrong. After class goes on I retrieve my things inside and leave. I missed out on 11 slides of notes that are necessary for the homework. Maybe my laugh offended him? I'm sorry? These thoughts run through my head the whole lunch period.


After lunch I have weights class. Instead of the ordinary PE I have access to equipment similar to the ones in my gym. This is my outlet to remove the stress of the homework load and get my daily exercise. Anyway after a great workout I returned to the locker rooms to retrieve my bags. Unfortunately my locker somehow became stuck. With the time counting down to where we have to go to our next period, I rushed to my coach's office to seek assistance. He spent the time chastising me for getting it stuck. After he hit my locker a couple times with a mallet. "Welp, that's all I can do". He doesn't realize that I kinda need some stuff in order to work the next period. Thanks, coach. By the time coach left the bell rang already. I somehow channeled my inner Hulk and opened the locker.


Today was rough, but now I realized a few things...
-Although I didn't have time to do everything I needed, I still arrived to school on time
-Although my stuff was stuck I was able to get it back
-Although I was late to class my teacher was understanding of the situation
and as for the incident in history...just brush it off and move on.


I repeat, today was a rough day. However, in the end we have to stay optimistic. There are certain things in life we can't control, but we have to make the most of it. I spent the whole post complaining of events throughout the day, but in the end everything turned out okay and I learned a lesson.

My Audition (12.01.14)

Yesterday, (12/01/14) I had the pleasure of auditioning. Despite my sickness over Thanksgiving break, which left me incapable of doing anything fun, this audition made up for it. It was a great start to the last month of 2014, December! There were some obstacles I had to overcome, but in the end it was all worth it.


November 30, 2014 11:32 AM
I had just received the email. They want me. An audition on December 1st for a well known YouTube channel with over 10 million people subscribed and 2 billion views across their videos. This was a big opportunity to get my name out. After completely celebrating like a nerd my first obstacle had appeared, asking my mother if I could go. Had it still been on break I wouldn't have freaked out, but this was placed "perfectly" on the day I go back to school. After using my horrible charm I somehow managed to convince her it was the only fun thing I would do, due to my sickness throughout Thanksgiving break. After the conversation I eagerly ran to my room and responded that I would be available the next day at 4:30.


That same day... 4:13 PM
"Why hasn't she responded back with the address and your sides (script)?" my mother asks repeatedly up until this hour. The thing about my mother is that she doesn't understand "the biz". She doesn't understand that the people have to email over 50 kids to schedule their audition. Ding! Ding! My email notification alerts me. The lady helping me set up confirms she received my email and that she would "soon" send me all the details my mother was jabbering about. The newest obstacle would be playing the waiting game.


December 1, 2014 (the day of the audition) 12:00 PM
At this hour my friends would see me completely freaking out. Prior, I refreshed my email in every class, every passing period, and every minute of that lunch hour. I was scheduled to be taken out of school at 1:00 PM that day. My mom texted me, and let me know I would have to cancel if I did not receive the email by 12:50 PM. I was tempted to email the lady, but often that is seen as unprofessional. Still waiting.


That same day... 12:12 PM
I just sent an email, letting casting know that I extremely needed the call sheet. Although only two sentences the email itself would take twelve minutes to write. I had to write eloquently to seem as professional as possible. I texted several friends, my parents, and my 7th grade english teacher to proofread said email.


The next minute
Casting magically responds with all details included. Now I am back doing my happy dance. However, I forgot something, I have to memorize my script by 4:30. "Thank goodness I have 5th period weights" I thought. Starting at that minute I frantically attempted to memorize my lines.


One hour into the drive
My dad drove me, as he was off work that day. Traffic, traffic everywhere. The roads were backed up, the fastest we went topping off at 27mph. Technology is great, do you agree? On my iPhone you can see the estimated time arrival. The thing that wasn't great is my arrival would be five minutes before my audition. Being late is the number one sin of acting. Being late would earn you a bad reputation in the acting world.


4:50 PM
I finished my audition, just arriving on time. I personally felt great about my audition. Everyone there being very helpful. Another successful/stressful day. Another day in the life of me.

Peer Pressure: Everybody's Doing It

Disclaimer: A serious issue is discussed, please be respectful to others.


Note: There is both negative and positive peer pressure present in society. For obvious reasons (the consequences) I will be discussing negative peer pressure.


Peer pressure is an issue that is present in everyone's life at some point. To start off I will state that I personally feel, being in high school, peer pressure is at an all-time high. I do not want my readers to do something that will haunt them for the years to come. Today, I challenge you to take charge of who you are and rise against peer pressure.


I want to share my inspiration for this post. My friend, an innocent girl, was pressured to do something that she normally would not have done. I felt the need to help her, but also to use her as an example to those who may currently be affected by peer pressure. No, I am not here to point out her flaws and call out her mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes and there is nothing we can do after the deed is done; we can only hope to avoid these situations.


First, allow me to define peer pressure.

Peer pressure- Social pressure by members of ones peer group to take a certain action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in order to be accepted.

The word that stood out to me was "accepted". The need to feel accepted is a common theme in peer pressure-related incidents. I have noticed this while interacting with my own peers. Some things do not add up, and I feel peer pressure is to blame. Innocent people taking reprehensible actions. Why? Why must we feel the need to conform to the values of others? Acceptance. I acknowledge that opposing the opinions of your peers can be difficult, but it can be done. By standing up for what you believe in you may be setting an example to someone who is feeling the same way. It is important to be who you truly are and to do what you feel is right for you.


I have written my suggestion on how to combat against peer pressure. Understand my solution is not the best, as I am basing this entire post on my personal experiences. My only go-to rule is to ask myself a series of questions. What do I stand for? What are the consequences? How can it affect me and my future? What will my parent/guardian say if I go through with this? These can seem silly at the moment, but could be the difference between a good and bad decision.


You can definitely learn a lot from peer pressure. Perhaps that "friend" pressuring you into drugs was not a friend to begin with. In my life I have cut out several people due to their ignorance and inability to respect my values. These dangerous friendships had no place in my life with goals of success in mind. However, I still have many friends that both affect me and are affected by peer pressure. I feel it is my duty to attempt to help them regain control of their life. I do not want to sound preachy, but just know everyone fits in where they belong. It is good to be surrounded by those who share the same interests and values as you. Great friendships will encounter problems along the way, but never should they be about pressuring you into something you're uncomfortable with.


For those of you affected by peer pressure I want you to know

• You are loved
• You are unique
• You are beautiful/handsome
• You are worth it
• You are not alone

For those of you who have succumbed to peer pressure and are facing the consequences and are going through a rough time also know

• You are loved
• You are unique
• You are beautiful/handsome
• You are worth it
• You are not alone

I know what it feels like to be alone. I have been in some situations that you may be dealing with. Some I am proud to say I strayed away from, while others served as a lesson when I acted in the incorrect way. I am concluding with a list of hotlines that specialize in certain situations you and your friends may be going through. Here you can find help. Unfortunately some of these hotlines are limited to certain locations. With little effort you can find a hotline that can drastically change you and your friends' lives for the better.

Lights, Camera, Action: The Basic Necessities to Becoming an Actor!

Acting has always been a part of my life. I've watched hundreds of movies growing up. I idolized the work of Will Smith, Denzel Washington, and many others. At the age of six I began to take acting classes. Three years ago I decided to take my hobby and turn it into a profession. The first year was tough as I had some struggle, but I have worked a few times. I can't release my stage name, but I have worked in some commercials you may have seen. With my personal experiences I can help you start your acting career. Sorry to all the thespians, because I'm focusing on the film, TV, and commercial aspect of acting.

Step 1: Take acting classes!

If you want to be an actor you definitely need classes in order to keep yourself in great condition. However, there are a few examples of famous actors who had never taken an acting class, yet were discovered. For example, Jennifer Lawrence was discovered while walking with her mom in New York City. The chances of being discovered without actually acting is highly unlikely. Please, take some classes. There are many types of acting courses. Some are

• Method 
• Audition
• Commercial
• Scene study
• On-camera
• Cold reading
• Improvisation
• Vocal

among others. There are a lot of classes, all of them can help you in some way. 

Step 2: Get headshots!

Headshots are a marketing tool that is very necessary in an actor's career. It is an 8 x 10 photo that displays who you are and your look. It is the first thing that a casting director sees as you audition. What your headshot looks like can mean callback or rejection. Although they can be pricey it is recommended to get headshots at a professional photographer. I don't mean the department store photos or your uncle who just got a new camera, a professional that specializes in acting headshots. Typically headshots can cost anywhere from $200-$1,000+. You can start with the cheaper, but I recommend increasing the quality (and price) of the headshot as you rise through the ranks. A great resource to find your next headshots is through Reproductions.

Optional to some: Get your entertainment work permit!

In some states, like the major acting states of California and New York, minors under the age of 18 need something called the entertainment work permit. It is necessary so that you can work on bigger picture films and commercials. A link to all the details will be here. The process of getting the permit can be tiresome, like it was for me. You need three things: a report card, your doctor to fill out a physical, and your school to fill out another sheet. It is not an ordinary work permit, because the entertainment industry is a whole different thing. At this stage I was already anxious to get my career started and the long waits did not help. Don't worry, you're almost there. 

Step 3: Get an agent/Sign up on casting websites!

For some getting an agent is really hard. For others it is easy to attract many people willing to market them. I can't speak on behalf of the agents, because I never had one. What I can tell you is to avoid scams. An acting agent should never tell you where to take classes, get headshots, or take money upfront. An agent will only get paid when you get paid, 20% to be exact. Personally I use casting websites, and will continue until I get an agent. Some of the ones I use are Backstage, LA Casting, and Actors Access. However, it can be pricey to maintain these prices combined, but included with these websites you get resources and can apply to jobs as you go. 

I hope this article helped those of you confused where you stand as an actor. May you be successful in your career! Thanks for reading!

Google: Advocating Diversity

After reading an article by the New York Times about Google attempting to advocate gender diversity in their employee work force a series of thoughts ran through my mind. Why are they just now realizing their bias ways? What events led up to this realization? What do the superiors at Google feel about the subject? I decided to examine the article very closely in order to establish my further opinion.


First off, I would like to commend Google for their efforts to improve the diversity of their employees. It takes a lot of honor to admit your mistakes and strive for improvement. I am on Google's side, which is pro-diversity. I personally believe a job applicant should be judged by their skills (among other important information), steering away from the race and gender factor. As stated in the New York Times article, "Google's leaders say they are unhappy about the firm's poor gender diversity..." I'm glad that Google was one of the first to realize the situation. Since the statement released, a snowball effect in which companies that have the same predicament are eager to diversify their employees. Google has set an example and companies are joining the (positive) bandwagon.


Many statistics show that men are more likely to be hired than women. Especially in the tech industry men are the predominant gender working. Since the article focuses on Google, the New York Times states, "Over all, seven out of 10 people who work at Google are male." I am a strong believer that women should be equal to men humans should be equal to other humans. Throughout history I have learned women were often disregarded in society. They have fought for their rights and deserve to be treated equally. Although some rights were gained, some did not change. You would think that with our modern-day morals and principles that the discrimination would be eradicated. To be honest, these types of discrimination might never stop existing, but with every small step, we can set an example for the next generation.  

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