Ideas

One idea I had for my passion blog would be to blog about mental health issues. I feel like many people may not know a lot about these issues, or may not have accurate information. I would enjoy learning more about the disorders, and providing the information I learn to others. Things such as depression, gender dysmorphia, alcoholism, eating disorders, anxiety, and depression are things that can affect anyone, directly or indirectly. People close to me have suffered from many of these problems, and I feel that more information about these disorders could help people better relate to those suffering from these diseases. I would really like to provide more information to people and help dispel some myths about these health problems.

Another possible idea for my blog would be to write about television shows and provide reviews and general information about them. I would write about a show I enjoyed and what it is was about. I would then research the critical reception of the show, any awards it received, and any behind-the-scenes information that is interesting or important. I really enjoy sharing things I like with others, such as television, movie, book, and music recommendation. Along that line, I think would enjoy researching shows and sharing what I enjoyed about them with the class. I know this is not as serious as my other topic idea, but I am “passionate” about it, and I think I would really enjoy writing about it.

One idea for my civic issues blog is write about the current happenings in the federal government, especially in Congress, and examining how those events relate to partisan politics. I would choose a bill and analyze how party politics influenced that particular bill. I could discuss why it did or did not pass, or why it was written a certain way. The same could be done for federal appointments or other large events. I could also include the opinions of leaders from both sides of the spectrum, and those in the middle. The blog would be a combination of current events and analysis of party politics.

A second idea for the civic issues blog is to discuss the civic discourse surrounding a specific political event. I would examine an event and the ways certain groups, such as political parties, different news organizations, and people in different areas react to that event. Certain bills in Congress or actions of the President elicit different reactions from people of different political leanings or areas of the country. I would also like to look into what motivates the different opinions of different groups, and the method in which the groups share their opinions. For example, why is some discourse done on social media while other opinions are shared through violence? I think it would be very interesting to examine the civic discourse from different groups and their opinions on an issue.

One idea for my “This I Believe” project is to speak about my belief in the importance of empathy. I highly value the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. I have come to learn that no one has a perfect life, and when you can remember this fact and put yourself in another person’s situation, I think everyone gains something. If someone is rude to you, imagine how you may have responded if you were having a bad day. I believe there is value in not getting angry, and instead thinking about what could have caused a person to act the way they did. Especially if you know someone is having a bad day, and why that is, you can better understand them and be more respectful of their feelings. When people can look at things from another’s point of view, everyone can be happier. I have some stories I think would work well for this belief and would aid in my explanation. I would like to find a more coherent way to express my belief, but overall I think this belief could work well for the project.

Another idea I have for the “This I Believe” project is to discuss my belief in positivity. I think that a lot can be gained from always looking on the bright side and trying to remain positive. This is a lot easier said than done, but I do believe that trying to remain positive is a very important thing to do. I feel that negativity is often unproductive and positivity is more often than not the better alternative. Remaining optimistic in hard situations not only helps you, but also gives hope to those around you, and I think that is a very valuable thing.  However, I do not think I have any stories that fit neatly into this belief, and I am struggling to articulate on it.

Let me know what you think of these ideas!