On Tuesday, I attended my first day of on-campus classes at SLCC. During my US Economics class, my proffessor mentioned 5 basic propositions, the first of which was "Choices matter".
Now, you, being human, probably occasionally confuse the things you CAN do with who you ARE. I can think of no better way to explain the fault in this logic than to use myself as an example to the contrary (I hope)
My abilities are as follows
1) Some might describe me as animated. I often hear that I should go into acting, simplly beccause I (and I'm quoting an acquaintance here) "exude drama from my pores". This 'gift' results in my being very good at providing entertainment and telling a good story. However, this leads to another ability. I am an incredibly good liar; I can convince anyone of practically anything.
2) I am pretty good at learning. I love learning anything and everything I can. this may seem like a good thing. Except this applies to people as well. I will learn as much as I can about a person. the good and the bad. The things they love, and the things that make them weak. Now, if I'm your friend, this is all to your advantage, because it makes it easy for me to keep our conversations light, and our interactions stress free. However, this also means I am capable of tearing you down peice by peice. The better I know you, the more damage I can inflict.
3) I'm good at reading people. I once had a friend who used to send me a pictures of her acquaintances and tell me to read them. that was it. nothing more than a picture. I would tell her everything I could, everything from basic age to their number of sexual partners. I was never wrong. This may sound very sherlock, but it's true.This ability means that I can, will, and do draw instant conclusions about everyone I meet.
4) combine all of these skills together and you get my final, and perhaps most dangerous ability. since I am good at acting, lying, learning how you work as a person, and reading you moment by moment, this means I can also control the situation to get you to react a certain way. This is known by many as manipulation.
Stay with me though.
I hate these parts of me. Much as Harry hated being able to speak in parseltongue, and being able to feel voldemort inside him. I hate how I feel when I lie and cheat and manipulate to get someone to do what I want them to do. I avoid it like the plague. The bubonic plague. The one that inspired a nursery rhyme. (btw do you guys sing it "ashes ashes" or "achoo achoo"? I've heard both used equally)
And so, I choose not to. I try everyday to be honest and kind. I try not to draw conclusions from what I see, and, although I can't control what pops into my head, I never hold these things against anyone. I give everyone equal chances at proving me right or wrong, and by the time they do, I don't even remember what I originally thought.
Friendlies, I am sure that you, like everyone else, have parts of you that give you the power to be a social monster. But that doesn't make you one.
What you choose to do is what makes you who you are.
Choose to be brave. and selfless. and smart and honest and kind.
Choose to be Divergent.
Now, you, being human, probably occasionally confuse the things you CAN do with who you ARE. I can think of no better way to explain the fault in this logic than to use myself as an example to the contrary (I hope)
My abilities are as follows
1) Some might describe me as animated. I often hear that I should go into acting, simplly beccause I (and I'm quoting an acquaintance here) "exude drama from my pores". This 'gift' results in my being very good at providing entertainment and telling a good story. However, this leads to another ability. I am an incredibly good liar; I can convince anyone of practically anything.
2) I am pretty good at learning. I love learning anything and everything I can. this may seem like a good thing. Except this applies to people as well. I will learn as much as I can about a person. the good and the bad. The things they love, and the things that make them weak. Now, if I'm your friend, this is all to your advantage, because it makes it easy for me to keep our conversations light, and our interactions stress free. However, this also means I am capable of tearing you down peice by peice. The better I know you, the more damage I can inflict.
3) I'm good at reading people. I once had a friend who used to send me a pictures of her acquaintances and tell me to read them. that was it. nothing more than a picture. I would tell her everything I could, everything from basic age to their number of sexual partners. I was never wrong. This may sound very sherlock, but it's true.This ability means that I can, will, and do draw instant conclusions about everyone I meet.
4) combine all of these skills together and you get my final, and perhaps most dangerous ability. since I am good at acting, lying, learning how you work as a person, and reading you moment by moment, this means I can also control the situation to get you to react a certain way. This is known by many as manipulation.
Stay with me though.
I hate these parts of me. Much as Harry hated being able to speak in parseltongue, and being able to feel voldemort inside him. I hate how I feel when I lie and cheat and manipulate to get someone to do what I want them to do. I avoid it like the plague. The bubonic plague. The one that inspired a nursery rhyme. (btw do you guys sing it "ashes ashes" or "achoo achoo"? I've heard both used equally)
And so, I choose not to. I try everyday to be honest and kind. I try not to draw conclusions from what I see, and, although I can't control what pops into my head, I never hold these things against anyone. I give everyone equal chances at proving me right or wrong, and by the time they do, I don't even remember what I originally thought.
Friendlies, I am sure that you, like everyone else, have parts of you that give you the power to be a social monster. But that doesn't make you one.
What you choose to do is what makes you who you are.
Choose to be brave. and selfless. and smart and honest and kind.
Choose to be Divergent.