Avatars, expressing creativity

EMOTICONS

     Usually, the avatars we use for social networks such as Yahoo Messenger, Twitter, etc. are from emoticons. Because of the simplicity of such faces, we appreciate them and they somewhat represent what we feel as of the moment. Also, these faces are really nice to look at.

But, for me, I don't use emoticons as my avatar. Instead, I customize faces that I think will look exactly like my face right now.

THIS IS MY VERY FIRST AVATAR:

     I made this avatar when I was in 3rd year high school. Since avatars were the trend on social networks during that time, I also made myself one. I use the color purple for my background because that was my favorite color. Also, I wore glasses since Grade 6 up to that time. Even though this avatar is very simple, I really appreciated this because it somewhat had the features that I had at that time (hair, glasses, etc.) Also, my friend was the one who helped me make this avatar :)

MY FIRST AVATAR AT YAHOO MESSENGER: 

     Yahoo Messenger is really used by many. It offered some new features that users would love and would like to offer to others. This avatar that Yahoo Messenger offered caught my eye. When I first started using Yahoo Messenger, I used this avatar instead of my personal picture because I was shy to upload my real picture. In this setting, I am wearing a simple t-shirt and skirt to symbolize that I am a girl. Also, the background used in this avatar is the mall because I like to hang-out at the mall back when I made this avatar. I am wearing jewelries and eyeglasses because in real life, I really wear such things. My mood in here is Happy because I really am glad that I have successfully made my first avatar at Yahoo Messenger.

MY CURRENT AVATAR:

     This avatar is the one that I am using now in Yahoo Messenger. In here, I am holding a laptop which symbolizes that I am studying BS Information Systems since we do programming. Also, the background is somewhat similar to De La Salle University because of its long buildings. Since we still have regular classes up and until now (unlike other schools who are already on their summer vacation), I still use this avatar. When our summer vacation begins, I am planning to change this avatar :) Unlike my first Yahoo Messenger avatar, I am not wearing eye glasses anymore since I have switched to wearing contact lenses. Also, my mood here is happy.

     Since not all of us would like to publicize our real photos online, we make avatars the would express ourselves. In expressing this, we use our imaginations and our creativity in creating our own avatars. Through this, we can hone our talents and creativity in a way that we can show others what we think and what we are.

Broadcast Yourself

     YOUTUBE. This website had been there for us since... like for a lifetime. We get entertainment from YouTube through watching the videos that had been uploaded and for the community to watch and benefit on. Some use YouTube for good purposes while some, do not. They just do it for their own benefit and sometimes, may harm others. But, as time passes by, we see that YouTube is a good place for people to get discovered by to become great singers/actors in the future. But, different people have different corresponding views on what's the purpose of YouTube for them.

     It was just during the 3rd year of my high school life that I got to know what YouTube is. Back then, it was not a familiar term for me because I really do not use the internet way back. Now, for me, YouTube has made a huge impact on my life. Ever since 3rd year of high school, I got hooked up to Korean pop music. I watch their music videos and also some performances from YouTube. YouTube is my only source of videos. Because of this, I begin to make it a habit to check my YouTube account every time I open the computer for new videos available from subscribed users. Also, I go to YouTube for Korean dramas that had been uploaded with English subtitles so that we can understand the story. Because of YouTube, some things that give me happiness are from YouTube itself. It also saves me from boredom (except when the video buffers for a long span of time). Another impact that YouTube has made in my life is when finding videos for reports, etc. YouTube will surely be there to make life for us students, easier.

     YouTube has helped students in different ways. First is when doing research. Second is when finding related topics about your research. Third is when you had a hard time understanding the lecture of the teacher, you can find some tutorial videos (like mathematics) at YouTube and through there, you can fully understand what the topic is really all about. Right now, our country is mostly operated on technology. Technology had made a huge huge impact on the lives of all the countrymen living within it. Without technology, some of us would think that we may not survive on living because we are truly dependent on technology. Since YouTube is operated on technology-based, the education of the Philippines' level of education can elevate to a much higher standard. Through the use of YouTube, teachers may use the videos uploaded to be the tool used for teaching. Also, there are videos about statistics and real life situations and through these, the student's perspective on that particular subject would broaden.

     Technology is now evolving into a more effective way. It evolves so that we can live an easier life. As this process continues, technology will evolve in a fast paced view and the next generation are the ones that would benefit the most. YouTube, on the other hand, it would be used in education and would somewhat evolve in a kind that would fascinate the younger generation because they are the one who really uses YouTube. Also, I think it would be like in pixels in which it is kind of 3D. Because right now, some professionals are doing everything to make our technology more advanced.

     It is true that YouTube has been there for us through thick and thin. It helps us in some of our school works, and at the same time, for entertainment purposes. YouTube has made a huge impact to the whole wide world. Some base their future on YouTube whenever someone discovers what their real talent is. It somewhat applies to the purpose of YouTube. It says so on their tagline "Broadcast Yourself", which is true because we live in a democratic country and we have the right to freedom of expression.

A Blast from the Past!

I have lots of memories about my childhood. Some of them are good while some of them are not. But the ones that are worth keeping are those that made us who we are right now. Failures may also be a part of what you have been from the start up to the end. We all learn from them. Being a child, I think, is the most wonderful thing that will be a part of your precious memories.

Sometime in 2003, it was summer vacation and our family planned to spend it with our relatives. Of course, we planned it with the family whom we are very close to. We went to Pangasinan with my cousins from my father side and also with our grandmother. The trip lasted for about 5 hours. We slept at the car and when we got to the destination, we all can't sleep (except for our father who drove the car and stayed awake for 5 hours) because of excitement. Me, my siblings, and my cousins planned to stay in a room where there are no adults so that we can experience playing with our cousins just by ourselves (no adults).

We saw a lot of beautiful places at Pangasinan. It is known for their landmark "Hundered Island" and it makes Pangasinan a place where tourist can have their vacations. The beach was so nice but the only thing disturbing about the beach are the icky jellyfishes that will sting you when you come close to them. But, we must not let a little creature destroy our planned fun vacation. We only stayed at Pangasinan for 3 days. By the time when we were about to leave, we all felt really sad because we will miss the things about it that made us happy. That was the only family vacation that we had when I was still in grade svhool. But then when I reached high school, our family vacations are now based on abroad. Being at abroad is a lot fun but nothing can beat the fun that I experienced at Pangasinan with my siblings and cousins.

This experience was a special one because we really became closer with our cousins that started from that planned vacation. That was the time that we really all bonded and had fun playing with our dearest cousins. If I were give a chance to share it to others, I would post pictures that we took and share to them the nice things about Pangasinan. To a particular person, I would disclose it to my cousins so that we can reminisce all the fun things that we had there and laugh at the moments where we  had sleepless nights. Reminiscing a childhood experience is a nice way to make you more productive in the future.