My Alternative Spring Break Journey: Exploring History

Saturday was our last day in the Outer Banks, and we spent the day exploring the cultural history of the area. We started the day by climbing Currituck Beach Lighthouse, one of the five main lighthouses in the state. It took us 220 stairs to get to the top, and the view from above was breathtaking. Although we felt as though we could be blown away by the wind, the view of the area was unforgettable.

The Currituck Beach Lighthouse

We made it to the top of the lighthouse after climbing 220 stairs.

Our second half of the day began by our visit to the Wright Brothers National Museum in Kitty Hawk. Here, we learned about Orville and Wilbur Wright and the birthplace of aviation in the early 1900s. We listened to a speaker explain the history of the Wright Brothers' invention of aviation and explored the meaning behind an iconic moment in history.

It was interesting to hear about the geographic symbolism of Kitty Hawk in relation to the birth of aviation. The first successful power-driven flight in world history took place on a sand dune in Kitty Hawk, NC by the Wright Brothers.

Wilbur and Orville Wright contributed greatly to the birth of aviation.

The iconic photograph to depict this moment in history is one of the most reproduced photos in history. It describes December 17, 1903 as the birth of aviation and the death of impossibility.

This iconic photograph is one of the most reproduced in history. The birthplace of aviation
was the death of impossibility.

Although the Wright Brothers significantly advanced the world of aviation, they also inspired others to believe in the impossible. They brought to light the idea that impossibility is not about failure, but rather, about something that hasn't been done yet. This idea stuck with me throughout the rest of the weekend and even back here at Ithaca College.

I think the idea that the Wright Brothers killed impossibility is one that is important to remember because it motivates us to better ourselves and our daily lives. The legacy of the Wright Brothers highlights the quote that 'nothing is impossible.' Hearing about how the Wright Brothers failed numerous times before they successfully tested a flight reinforced the everyday motto that everyone fails in life. Failure is not an option, but a key to success.

All photos are my own.

My Alternative Spring Break Journey: Wildflower Preserves and Marshes

On our final day of service, Friday, we visited the North Carolina aquarium to help with outside renovations of a wildflower preserve.

We not only laid down gravel on the pathway, but also pulled out vines that were growing everywhere. Some of the vines, at least the ones growing on the ground, were Japanese Honeysuckle. Other vines included various types of ivies.

We cleaned out vines and weeds from the wildflower preserve

Our site supervisor was a botanist experienced in horticulture, so it was exciting to hear about her work with plants. I enjoyed listening to her speak because you could hear the passion she has for her work and her thirty years of experience working in horticulture.

I learned it is crucial to weed and pull out vines from gardens and wildflower preserves because it helps clear the path for budding flowers. In addition, without vines or weeds, insects have an easier time engaging with the plants. For instance, bees and butterflies have easier times pollinating flowers and helping them blossom. Without weeds and vines, the soil that is necessary for these plants is healthier and cleaner. We can protect the ecosystem by removing harmful weeds and vines from gardens and wildflower preserves on a regular basis.

In the afternoon, we explored a marsh on Jockey's Ridge State Park. Here, it was cool to see the wildlife and seawater animals that live in the lake. Our week's worth of work has resulted in our learning and understanding of how to protect the environment and its wildlife, and I think it was a unique experience to wade into the water and find wildlife we have been learning about every day.

The marsh we explored at Jockey's Ridge State Park

In the marsh, we discovered baby flounder, shrimp, blue crabs, mud crabs, and anchovies. Not only that, but we also saw the impact of our oyster shell bags. As we opened up a bag of oyster shells from last year, we saw how the oyster larvae attached to the shell, and thus, has been growing for the past year. Also, we learned that mud crabs and small shrimp like to live inside the shells as well.

Shells are an important part of wildlife, too

Visiting the marsh reinforced the impact of our work over the past week. For instance, bagged oyster shells are not only important for helping oyster larvae attach and grow, but it is also important for other organisms to thrive. Bagged oyster shells and the marsh are crucial for our food chain. They are environments for various wildlife, and without them, wildlife would be put on harm's way.

In addition, our planet ought to be well-maintained and protected because it is the environment that we live in. People not only benefit from a clean Earth, but animals do as well. Wildlife, mammals, insects, and sea life are all impacted by our actions. The next time we think about throwing garbage out a car window or letting pollutants enter bodies of water, we should think about how these actions will effect the life of an animal.







All photos are my own.

The Top 10 Lessons Learned from Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird"

It has been a few weeks now since the death of Harper Lee, a literary icon who passed away Feb. 19 at the age of 89. I have finally finished processing the legacy she has left behind in the world of classic American literature.

Sure, at first, I only thought about how her novel, To Kill A Mockingbird, was just one of "those" books we were assigned to read in the ninth grade. I never fully realized the impact Lee had on classic literature until now.

Her novel raises awareness to racial inequality, gender roles, innocence and rape. The protagonist and main character of the novel is Atticus Finch, a character many readers would consider to be the symbol of society's moral values and a hero. I am now more appreciative of To Kill A Mockingbird and see how the novel leaves readers with inspiration, integrity, and moral values.

Here are my top 10 quotes - and lessons - I learned in Lee's literary work of art.

1) "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it."

2) "But before I can live with other folks, I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience."

3) "Real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what."

4) "It's not time to worry yet."

5) "Try fighting with your head for a change...it's a good one, even if it does resist learning."

6) "Atticus had said it was the polite thing to talk to people about what they were interested in, not about what you were interested in."

7) "I do my best to love everybody...It's never an insult to be called what somebody thinks is a bad name. It just shows you how poor that person is; it doesn't hurt you."

8) "Equal rights for all, special privileges for none."

9) "But you see, they could never, never understand that I live like I do because that's the way I want to live."

10) "Atticus says you can choose your friends but you can't choose your family, and they're still kin to you no matter whether you acknowledge them or not."

For more quotes, check out Goodreads! 

Goodbye 2014, Hello 2015

Wishing everyone a healthy, safe, and charitable New Year! What are your plans and resolutions for 2015?

Photo credit: http://123greetingsquotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Happy-new-year-greetings-2015-wishes-images-wallpapers-pics-pictures-messages.png

Actions > Words

What do your actions say about you? How do you define yourself to others?

Making Connections

Being a journalism and communications student, I have a love for movies and entertainment. The best movies, in my opinion, are like books. They depict a certain message or moral to the viewers, providing lessons and inspiration to others. Whether it's a lesson about the true meaning of love, acceptance, or happiness, movies share with us the ups and downs of life. Some of the best quotes, and some of my particular favorites, include:

• "Life's a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get" ~ Forrest Gump, 1994
• "Oh yes, the past can hurt. But from the way I see it, you can either run from it, or...learn from it" ~ The Lion King, 1994
• "Don't ever let somebody tell you...You can't do something. You got a dream...You gotta protect it...If you want something, go get it. Period" ~ The Pursuit of Happyness, 2006
• "The world is not a wish-granting factory" ~ The Fault in Our Stars, 2014

My love for movies have led me to become a volunteer at the first-annual All-American High School Film Festival (AAHSFF). The festival, held in Times Square, New York City, allowed me to showcase my passion for film and entertainment while exploring NYC. 

Volunteering at the festival has provided me to network and build connections with industry-executives and other professionals. For instance, my work with assisting at the local college fair has allowed me to network with different universities and schools, a potential for the future if I decide to pursue higher education post-undergraduate. In addition, I have met professionals of the film industry, or potential future employers. Also, I have built relationships with students and volunteers of other similar interests, all while exploring the city of New York and Theater District of Times Square. 

Although the film festival was only held for one weekend from Friday to Sunday, my experience with the festival allowed me to create relationships and make connections with students, professionals, and the city. My connections and networking paid off. 

In February, I landed an internship with the AAHSFF team. As an intern, I am learning many skills that will help me in my future career. For example, I have learned valuable time management skills as a result of the tedious tasks completed. Moreover, I am learning how to further connect and keep in contact with my networks. As an intern, I have utilized my journalism and public relations skills to spread the word about the event, hoping to gather more volunteers and attendees for the festival. The internship has allowed me to learn and grow into both an individual and an employee. 

**To learn more about the All-American Film Festival, future volunteer opportunities, and event/ticketing information, check out the website!

**Click here for the link to the AAHSFF facebook page

**And be sure to follow AAHSFF on twitter

Photo credit: http://geniusquotes.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/David-Brinkley-quote.jpg

About Me

Hi! Well, you're probably wondering who I am and why I started a blog. My name is Sara Kim, a current student of the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College. Welcome to my blog, The Carousel. I am a journalism major with minors in international communications and health policy and management. I love to tell stories, write, learn, and explore. 

Being the curious journalist that I am, I wish to do nothing more than to make a difference in the world. In order that I can make a positive impact on the lives of others throughout the world, this blog acts as a story. It is a story about my journey in seeing the world and experiencing life to the fullest. Through this blog, I will recount my volunteer experiences. I want to inspire others to give back to society and reach out to those in need. I hope others realize the true meaning of giving and how much we take our lives for granted.

It is exciting to know that you have the ability to travel to new places, meet people with diverse backgrounds, and hear stories about their hopes, dreams, and lives. The best part? Anyone can get involved and find ways to help out in one way or another. I have traveled, met people I would have never expected, and heard stories that gave me a new perspective on life...all while volunteering and partaking in community outreach initiatives. I hope to never stop experiencing or seeing all that life has to offer. Everyone has a story. 

And this is mine.