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Usernamesabrinasalam
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I consider myself to be a researcher, writer, and runner.
I have been researching since the day I was born, observing new sounds and sights. I research people and try to understand what makes us feel an array of emotions over other humans; anger, love, and passion. On a more professional level, I wish to research the input social media has on aggression. We humans are attached to our devices and are almost unhealthily protective. Why is it that we want to connect by disconnecting?
The ink of my pen flows through my blood, the open wound is when an idea emerges, and the oozes of blood my hands creating something new. I grew up reading tons and tons of books, the same old classics; Magic School Bus and Harry Potter. It was when I read Extra Credit by Andrew Clements I realized I wanted to connect books with my own life. I wanted more diversity like books Saints and Misfits, Alif the Unseen, and Ayesha at Last. I have created my own series of novels, plays, and short stories I hope to one day share called the Muslim American Series, about Muslims with different backgrounds coping with the beauties of faith, love, and the world.
My lungs burn, gasping for oxygen as I run. I want to stop, but I don't. I run a lot in my life; to the bus, the my math class on the opposite side of the school, and even around my house picking up baby toys. The day I first ran a 5K on my cross country team, I realized I hadn't actually lived until that moment I felt like I would die of exhaustion and yet I survived. While I haven't been the best runner on my team (I might actually be the worst), I have never felt more alive running my guts out. I have a goal, to get over that finish line. That is commitment and teamwork.
That's my life: sight, ink, and sweat.
Disconnect to Connect
Aug 29, 2018 6 years agoIs your five year old constantly on his or her iPad? Your teenager texting away at family dinners instead of listening to Grandpa? Let's be honest, even parents, after a long day at the office would rather unwind by scrolling through Facebook posts than conversing with their spouses. What is this iron arm that grasps society today to worship a flashing light of nonsense? Is humanity on the edge of turning into mindless robots only answering to the “ding” and “buzz” and radioactive pieces of metals in our pants pockets? Social media falls under the broad umbrella of social networking sites in which virtual communities can create profiles and collaborate together. That old saying “bells and whistles” is applied to social networking; it is eclectic, or wide-ranging. There are a variety of apps and services available to people. Social networking is a way of being. It is not about what we do but who we are. Adolescents are attracted because of the idea of always being “on”, such as being updated with the latest feed is the social norm. Adolescents are affected because digital media is the culture of most households. For young adult users, social media is a way out of loneliness, or stress at home or school. Unfortunately, this leads to online harassment. Social media addiction also leads to poor work ethic since students are constantly distracted. Many believe multitasking leads to a more efficient brain, however when we are on multiple websites and social networking sites at the same time, our brains become exhausted. Also, family relationships become compromised as parents and children prefer more to spend time on devices rather than with their families. This leads to decreased interpersonal skills and weak communication. Why can't people stop? Social media supports Maslow's hierarchy of needs, such as self esteem, which is boosted through likes and comments. People don't become addicted to the technology itself rather what it allows an individual to do. Dopamine is related to anticipation. We don't know when we will get a comment, that anticipation causes us to continuously check our phones thus become addicted. So how do we fix this epidemic in our 21st century of diseases? To start off, parents should be good role models from the beginning. Parents with young children who are seen constantly on their devices will prompt their children to imitate their parents. Parents must show their kids how to use social networking sites with discretion. Also, parents can begin to limit and lower screen time. This means turning off notifications or shutting off their phone for a given amount of time. This will allow kids to have a detox away from screens and focus on other tasks. It's important to keep in mind that social networking sites addiction is very similar to substance addiction, so people prohibited from using their social networks may feel anxious and jittery not being able to check their posts. The best remedy is to take it slow and have open communication. SNS using hinder strong communication so parents must take time to speak with their children and do activities with them is important. My interests in understanding SNS addiction came from a cyber bullying incident from when I first opened up my Instagram account back in sixth grade. When some close friends harassed me I realized it was difficult to tell my parents what was going on because even though they were fluent in using technology of all sorts, cyber bullying was not in their vocabulary for all of their lives since they had not grown up with such technology in their small village Birgonj, Bangladesh. Since then on my own will and freedom I decided social media was not for me. I've been able to open up and see that we are becoming transparent beings in a virtual and very unreal world. I hated that a mere flicker of the light interested people more than a simple hello. A communications counselor came to my Mosque and told me something that will always stay with me. There were people in the Middle East who worshipped idols rather than the one and only God. She said that today we are worshiping a different kind of idol, which is idleness. We let time slip away from us as we mindlessly scroll through photos. So, unhook from your devices and smile at the world!
