What just happened. Where am I. Who am I. What am I doing here. When is my next test. I had an essay due today?

My first semester of college… I don’t even know what to say. I’m writing this in the wee hours of my 18th birthday and I look back on how I came in- scared, wanting to go home to my mom, yet excited to be a straight-A student.  Nothing much has changed. Oh, except I’m far from a straight-A student. And I only have $0.89 left in my bank account. I’m still not quite sure what I’m doing here. I hate business but I’m hoping that will change next semester. I’ve decided to change my minor from Mandarin to French, which I’m happy about. I’m awful with keeping up with work. I wish I cared more! I just don’t I don’t care about business. I want to be a starving artist but I’m too scared of starving. But as a great man once wrote, “Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.” That’s what I’m counting on. I want my sun to rise. Maybe it has, and I’m just staring in the opposite direction. When I try to turn and face the light, I realize that even though I’m studying something I hate just so that my parents don’t kick me out of the house and so that they love me, I’ve made some of my best friends in the world. I’ve gotten fitter. I’ve gotten opportunities. And I can do damn near everything with a microwave.

I really appreciate photography. Seeing a picture of Times Square in 1946 is the coolest thing ever when you think about it. Every cloud, every shadow is frozen in time the way it was then, never to look like that again except in the memory of an inked on image. Long-forgotten stars of Old Hollywood and ads for products that have come and gone from fashion plaster the walls just as ads for the new Acura 2014 and Jennifer Lawrence’s weird face do now. It makes  you think, really. These things were big deals back then, back at that very second. They were talked about. What’ll happen 70 years from now? Will J-Law and Honda Civics be relics of a time forgotten, only available to our great-grandchildren through 2-D images that really, when it comes down to it, mean nothing to them? And the people. The little blurs on the street, and the ones you can’t see riding in buses or driving the cars congesting the road. The photo will capture a moment of their lives- there. Right then. These people were alive. They were sad, happy, rushing, sight-seeing… they were in the midst of their lives, now buried six feet under or aged beyond recognition from the mere back of the head. But there they are, living in the moment forever. Photos are so much more than pictures on paper. They are windows into details, times, lives- long forgotten now. It was as if we stole it from Time. No, we said. You can’t take this moment. It is now ours, belonging to all humans, for all eternity. They are intimate seconds, so short that the people and things in the photo probably didn’t even notice them ebb away. We are the thieves of time, and the cameras are our lock-picks.

I didn’t really pay attention to any of the other pictures, sorry.

Professor Trapani,

I am emailing to in regards to the limits problem on our homework assignment. I was just wondering, are we allowed to use calculator for it, or would you like us to do it by hand? Additionally, will you be giving out partial credit? Thank you very much for your time and have a nice day.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Elkind

My Music Playlist:

Remember the Name- Fort Minor
Stars- Les Miserables
The Music of the Night- Phantom of the Opera
I’ll Make a Man Out of You- Mulan
Soul Bossa Nova (Austin Powers Theme) – Raul Mendez
American Pie- Don Mclean
Hedwig’s Theme- John Williams
White Christmas- Bing Crosby
L-O-V-E- Nat King Cole
In My Life- The Beatles (couldn’t find this one on spotify)

link: https://play.spotify.com/user/eelkind1/playlist/0fldk3saIkDRx3c5zSQafP

So, I started to make a video and I had a script in its second draft before I realized it was Sunday… oops. Anyway, to be completely honest, I’m not big into music. I listen to it on my way to the subway and at the gym but I don’t have a favorite band. That being said,  movies are a big part of my life, so I’ve chosen movie things to put in instead of radio songs (save for a few choice ones).  So here are the explanations:

“Remember the Name”- This song motivates me in everything I do. I don’t give up, ever, and I know that I’ll be big one day. Like, it’s not a question. I will. I also know that it’ll take a lot of hard work. This song speaks to me in that way and gives me spirit and motivation. Plus, the violin intro is great.

Stars- Les Miserables is my second favorite musical, Javert is my favorite character, and Russell Crowe is my favorite actor. Naturally, this is here. This song represents the character of Javert and I’ve always sympathized with him the most because we’re similar. I believe that one must work hard and do good things in life. There is right and wrong and I don’t think that there are gray areas there.

Music of the Night- I listen to this song when I’m stressed, upset, or just falling asleep. I have a music box that plays it. It’s very gentle and Phantom is my favorite musical of all time, and what inspired me to want to be in entertainment.

I’ll Make a Man Out of You- Mulan was the only Disney princess I ever liked, and this song also motivates me to work hard. It was the theme of my epee squad when I first entered the fencing team freshman year, and it inspires me to be tough and do what I have to do.

Soul Bossa Nova- The first movie I saw in theatres was the original Austin Powers, which is one of the few things my dad and I have in common, which is why it’s here. I don’t talk to him much, but whenever Austin Powers is on TV, we order a pizza and watch it together.

American Pie- It’s just a beautiful song. It makes me value life and what I have in life, and reminds me that time moves fast so I can’t waste a single moment with negative feelings.

Hedwig’s Theme- Harry Potter has a very special place in my heart, like it does for billions of others. Hearing this gives me both comfort inside and nostalgia for my childhood, but no matter what I always feel seven again when I listen to it.

White Christmas- It reminds me of home. As soon as it hits December 1st, this movie gets played in my house 24/7 courtesy of my mother. I am not exaggerating when I say I have memorized every single second of the two hours of this movie. It’s grown incredibly annoying. However, it reminds me of my mommy and I love her, and this movie makes her happy. She isn’t happy all too often, so seeing her smiling and relaxed is one of the best things to lift my mood.

L-O-V-E- This is in every single RomCom from the 90s. Every. Single. One. And my family inexplicably loves RomComs. One of my fondest memories was when I was eight watching “The Parent Trap” remake starring Lindsay Lohan and waltzing to it with my big sister while my mom video taped it. So that’s why it’s here.

In My Life- Even though I couldn’t find the link, I had to include this song. My sister will be walking down the aisle to it in two weeks. One of my earliest memories was my sister and I talking about future weddings and she said she was going to marry a Backstreet Boy, and she would walk down the aisle to this. Years later, that’s what she’s doing- I mean, he’s no Backstreet Boy, but he’ll have to do. I love my sister more than anything. She is my best friend in the world and I’m happy for her but sad at the same time. I cry every time I hear this song and it will always be special to me.