Biking is great. It’s fun, invigorating and you can travel to your destination in a timely manner. With the breeze on your face and legs pumping away, it’s hard to imagine why someone would choose to not bike. Nonetheless, once you start biking, both pedestrians and cars become annoying. The same goes for the other way around: once you’re the driver, all things concerning people and bikers drive you crazy.

Pedestrian, biker, driver – we’ve all been one of these at some point and yet, the moment we do one, the other two simply become a nuisance. It’s like our memories as the other two personas are wiped clean and we are left analyzing our place in the world from only one point of view. It is entirely frustrating and an unavoidable circumstance.

So, since the inevitable situation of completely forgetting what life is like as a pedestrian or driver as you peddle down the road, here are seven easy ways to become the ultimate obnoxious biker:

Don’t use hand signals: In this case, feel free to turn left, right, backwards, diagonal, or whatever is comfortable for you. Don’t bother letting cars know which way you are turning because they should be watching for you, right? You’re the little person in this situation, just minding your own business on your bike.

Ride two…or three…or four abreast: The best way to ruin a driver’s day, is to bike in a large group. Be very careful that you don’t follow each other in a straight line because then you would be accommodating the cars and their respective lane. You definitely want to bike side-by-side to ignite the maximum level of frustration in a driver.

Don’t stop at stop signs: Please, you don’t need to stop. You’re a bike and if a car is already in the intersection, well, it’s on them to stop. Feel free to peddle right past that bright, red sign and mosey on past all the cars. Oh and the pedestrians can wait because that stop sign means nothing to you.

Don’t follow the rules of the road: honestly, it’s a car’s duty to be aware of your orientation on the road. Don’t worry about stoplights because cars will be in more trouble if they hit you, than if you were to rear-end them. In fact, try biking against the flow of traffic. You’ll hear a plethora of honking horns. Bike on the sidewalk while you’re at it. You might tempt a mom to curse in front of her toddle that you will probably almost hit. Finally, try texting as you bike and snag the attention of cars, people and the authorities. That’s quite the trifecta.

Ignore pedestrians because you’re a bike, not a car. Right?: A walking person should mean nothing to you because (1) you are bigger and therefore have more power, and (2) you aren’t a car and thus have a smaller window of opportunity in which you could severely injure someone. Take your chances and gamble a little.

NEVER stay in the bike lane. Ride just outside of it: The bike lane is not that big. It’s a crime against the biking community to force thin, two-wheeled devices to remain on the inside of the white line. To protest this lack of respect, bike just outside of the lane. In one swift move you are clearly “voicing” your opinion and turning angry drivers into livid, seething humans that can do no more than shout at you as they drive by.

No hands on the handlebar: This obnoxious move makes drivers extremely anxious and each pedestrian thinks you’re the show-off who might get hit by a car. Furthermore, no one cares that you can ride with your hands at your side. You just think they do. So, why not do it anyway?

I felt frazzled. I anxiously scrolled through my phone, trying to find the perfect image to Instagram. I spent 20 minutes downloading photos of my mom and I from my laptop and Facebook, but something did not feel right.

Was it the filter? Do we look happy enough in this photo? Should I post right now, or is too early? I frustratingly buried my face in a pillow and dropped my phone on the floor. I just wanted my mom to know that I was thinking about her. Why couldn’t I post the perfect image?

Mother’s Day has come and gone, but I fear no one will remember how I feel about my mom. No one will recall how much I thanked her or mentioned something quirky that she does. Strangers will never find a picture of my mom and I candidly smiling at each other. No friend can “like,” “comment,” or “heart” an image of my mom from the 1980s. No one will know how much I love my mom, except her. For you see, I didn’t post a photo on social media.

Mother’s Day images cluttered my Instagram feed and the “I love you” and “Thank you” statements accompanied each photo. I almost added one of my own until I overheard a conversation between two strangers describing how they considered deleting the photo of their mother because it didn’t receive enough “likes.”

A clarifying thought dawned on me: I couldn’t post the perfect image of my mother and I because it didn’t make sense to post one in the first place. She doesn’t have an Instagram. Therefore, that post could not be for her because she would never be able to appreciate it.

Subconsciously I knew that I wanted to post a picture for a variety of reasons, but doing it as a gift for my mother was not one of them. Which raises the question: why would I post a picture about my mom, for my mom, when she could not enjoy it?

As twisted as these ideas may sound, I believe that any person that has an Instagram account can relate to these theories:

Mother’s Day posts appeared because

1. We want the “likes:” Everyone wants to feel good about themselves and receiving an abundant amount of “likes” on any photo boosts self-esteem. It makes you feel appreciated, thought about, and popular.

2. It’s normal to post on a “theme day:” Whether it is Throwback Thursday, Flashback Friday, Transformation Tuesday, Fourth of July or Earth Day, pictures concerning themes litter Instagram feeds on the respective day. It is as if we need people to know that we “care” about this day in some way. Posting a picture shows our concern and/or appreciation…obviously. Right?

3. We want people to know our own version of reality: Mothers are amazing people. They have the hardest job on the planet and probably deserve two Mother’s Days a year. Instagram never reveals reality. It is a filtered world that lets people create their own idea of authenticity. Your mom drove you to soccer practice everyday? You should thank her on Instagram so that everyone knows how you appreciate what she did.

Some mothers do have Instagram accounts and enjoy pictures just as everyone else does. My only critique is that we take a step back and analyze why we posted the picture. The reason behind the image can reveal the hidden motivations that may not even have to do with Mother’s Day. I believe that in some cases, individuals want people to know how they feel about their mom because we care about what other people think. Instagram allows us to create an “ideal reality.”

So maybe next year, we can simply call our mothers and tell them how we feel, without professing it to the world. I promise it will mean more to them than any picture you find on your computer.

With hungry eyes, I scrutinized my phone screen and waited. My blue, oval text message stared at me, taunting and teasing my brain. With an exasperated sigh, I threw my phone on the couch and started pacing around the room. I haphazardly dusted off my dresser and hung up my towel before I gave into the temptation and grabbed my cell phone again.

Finally, it appeared: The Holy Grail of an icon, the image that promised relief, the symbol of a technological conversation: “…” The dot, dot, dot. I held my phone tightly, anticipating the reply and counting down every second. What were they going to say? Should I have replied that fast? They definitely think I’m clinically insane now. Maybe I should have put a period instead of an exclamation point. I don’t want to seem THAT desperate – my thoughts leapt around my brain like toddlers in a bouncy house on too much candy.

I felt this pull to my phone, as if that “…” could ease some of the tension coursing through my body. Then, the worst happened. I gawked at my phone. The telltale sign of a reply vanished. The “…” disappeared. What? My brain scrambled for an explanation. The exclamation point scared them. I should have said “hey” not “hi” – what was I thinking? Stupid.

The “…” is a powerful symbol in the world of text messages. We make that sign into something evil and blame ourselves for a lack of response when it disappears. Instead of considering the possibility that the other individual became momentarily distracted, is possibly in class, could be driving to the store, on a jog, or trying to formulate their own calculated response, we immediately assume it is our fault: I scared them away, I said something wrong, I seemed desperate, I became too clingy, etc.

That symbol gives us a short burst of endorphins. Whoever created the idea must be highly amused by how easily it affects our everyday lives. It makes us feel wanted and it drives people crazy when “…” vanishes because clearly the other individual, whether it be friend, significant other, or family member, ceased forming their response.

Now, let’s all take a moment to realize that each of us have been that “other person” furiously typing away on our mini pads or touchscreens. More often than not, I simply became distracted and either had to put down my phone or I forgot – we’re human. It happens.

The interesting outcome in being a victim to the disappearing “…” is that we seem to completely forget that distractions also happen to other people. Here’s a thought: maybe it’s not your fault that they didn’t reply within five seconds. Maybe, albeit a wild idea, the other end of this conversation has a life outside of the text message world. Go figure.

Nonetheless, a reply that arrives 20 minutes to an hour later makes us anxious. We start to “decode” why the other person did not reply sooner and many, myself included, ask: “Is everything alright? Did I say something wrong?”

The vanishing “…” should not make us feel inadequate. Yet, it worries us. We twitch, pace, count sheep, vent to friends, and wonder what went wrong. Texting has created a generation of people that thrive off of immediate gratification. We crave fast responses and feel happy when a notification arrives on our cellphones. Basically, when the “…” disappears, it is the equivalent to an addict going through withdrawals. We feel off balance and shaky.

It’s okay when “…” vanishes. Jumping to the worst conclusion is only going to create a sense of panic. Instead, take a moment to consider that the other end is doing something slightly more important than texting you. Better yet, don’t analyze it at all. Do something crazy like going outside.

Google search says:

“Nepal on ‘War Footing’ as quarter of population hit by quake”

“Nepal Earthquake: Death Toll passes 4,600 as rescuers face challenges”

“Nepal Villages Cut Off by Earthquake Wait for Aid as Death Toll Passes 4,000”

New York Times, BBC, FOX, CNN, Time and ABC News are just a few examples of the extensive reporting that covers the recent tragedy in Nepal. A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck the South Asia country on Saturday, April 25. The death toll has risen above 6,000 people and is still increasing. Articles concerning the state of the citizens, relief efforts, funding, the damage to buildings, water pollution and many more heavily populate the Internet.

Even sources such as Buzzfeed, Vice News, Twitter and Reddit are reporting on the devastation that grips Nepal. Facebook has a “Donate Now” button located on the home page and pledged to contribute an additional two million dollars. This topic is plastered on social media, radio, television, print news and day-to-day conversation.

The Internet gives the human race the chance to receive news the moment something occurs. Individuals are connected across thousands of miles and can exchange gossip and topics of interest at an alarmingly rapid pace. It also creates focused areas of interest. People can pick and choose what they wish to hear and see. Stories are no longer alienated on three to five main news sources. Nevertheless, one would think that with the arrival of the Internet, news would be shared across multiple platforms. We have the ability to create not only nationwide, but worldwide statements such as the ASL Bucket Challenge, body image movements and environmental protests.

Why do half the people I have spoken to in the last week not know about Nepal? It is estimated that fatalities will reach 10,000 people. Images of people crushed beneath buildings, children wandering the streets without parents and over packed hospitals exist on every media forum. Relief efforts are shouting at the public to donate money to ease the distress and sorrow.

I don’t see a collaborative effort within my Twitter feed to start a fundraiser. I don’t see Snapchat creating a public story to share images and urge people to give help in any way. I do see a friend’s late night party with a fifth of tequila on my Instagram. I do see Facebook debates on whether or not Marcus Mariota will be a decent fit for Tennessee. Our use of the Internet needs work. Priorities are backwards. Hundreds of people are dying everyday in Nepal, and we are arguing about the football draft. Forgive me if I am skeptical when someone asks, “Wait, what about Nepal?”

A topic such as the football draft is exciting to talk about and it is important to many people. It is especially relevant to the University of Oregon because of the connection the school has with Mariota. But, we can also connect to the individuals that have lost family members. We can connect to the feelings of love and community. We can connect to what it means to have a home. The issue is that we are not talking about matters such as Nepal. This bubble in college does not last forever and for a device that is supposed to link people and topics from around the globe, the Internet seems to be causing a disconnection. The way we use it does not reflect well-informed people.

We have every tool to build a world in which we address important topics. Presently, the Internet is used to ignore news. With one click we have the power to pretend like an earthquake didn’t happen. But, in doing so we are ignoring humanity. Horrible things happen and to disregard that fact is blatant indifference to reality. It is disrespect to Nepal.

It is time to begin utilizing social media as a tool to not only share posts and pictures from our own lives, but to also keep each other informed about the state of the world. Start reading the news. Begin discussing world issues. If we are the future, then maybe we should understand the present state of the world so that we know how to help and rely on one another when bad things happen.

Siena, Italy is abundant in red wine and cookie-flavored gelato. Thick slices of pork and petite wedges of deer meat. Colorful neighborhoods and cobblestone roads… and goats – big and little, horned and hornless, and a little grey goat. I met this intriguing group of creatures on an afternoon stroll I originally embarked on due to boredom.

The pamphlets, stories, videos and seminars convince potential travelers that the oversea adventures never stop. Irish beer, the Athenian Acropolis and Charles Bridge tantalize our thoughts. Great expectations take root in the brain and flourish into an uncontrollable frenzy of activity. It’s possible to be bored while studying abroad. In 2012 a study from York University, psychologists stated: “Boredom is universally conceptualized as the aversive experience of wanting, but being unable to engage in satisfying activity.”

About a month into my journey last fall, I sat on my faded floral bedspread surrounded by cream-colored walls, opened my miniature planner and gazed at nothing. For the first time in my life, an empty to-do list stared at me. Instead of feeling the sweet release of relaxation, I felt frustrated and anxious. No homework, job, internship, obligations, chores or travel plans presented themselves to me. I felt like an addict going through withdrawals – a busybody addict.

A jumble of thoughts freely took advantage of my unoccupied mind and told me I should have a task. I should be doing something. I should be busy. I should be constantly traveling while abroad… and then a beautiful question popped into my head: Says who? No one is going to arrest me for not being busy. A law about maintaining an endless to-do list does not exist. So, I embraced my boredom and in accepting my current state of being, I automatically felt satisfied.

Still resting on my narrow bed, I let my mind wander and think about anything it wanted to. I had never felt so in tune to myself. Curious ideas, interesting realizations and odd dreams introduced themselves to me. An entire book called Autopilot: the Art and Science of Doing Nothing celebrates inactivity. The author, Andrew Smart, who studied brain imaging and data analysis, argued, “what comes into your consciousness when you are idle can often be reports from the depths of your unconscious self and through idleness great ideas buried in your unconscious have the chance to enter your awareness.”

The “I have to be busy” notion is a man-made and societal construct that we have forced upon ourselves. Constantly multitasking or planning for that next event prevents us from understanding our innate desires. Think about when someone asks you: “What do you like to do in your free time?” In my experience, I can answer that question when it concerns my best friend, but I struggle to respond with my own hobbies because I simply don’t know. I have not taken the time to listen to myself.

Thus, in an Italian apartment with a broken door knob, I stopped being busy and partook in a “conversation” with myself. Instead of trying to control my thoughts, I let my thoughts control the creative process and take me where they wandered. Boredom is frightening because it involves inactivity and not being busy is a concept that many try to avoid. Multitasking fools us into believing that we are purposeful people engaging in productive activities. Consequently, a lack of multiple pursuits is defined as lazy. But, as I embraced my boredom, I realized what I wanted to do in that very moment: walk.

I met a lively group of people from Venice who couldn’t speak a word of English so we talked through nods and smiles. I found a beautiful garden and a green meadow where I later returned to with a soccer ball. I stumbled upon a new gelato shop that served hazelnut and blueberry flavors. And for one hour, I sat in the middle of the Piazza del Campo and wrote in my travel journal.

Who would have thought that I would experience so much because of a small instance of boredom?

With an ‘A’ paper in mind, I anxiously waited to read the notes on my rough draft. As I tapped my foot against the ground and rolled my pencil between my fingers, I realized I was excited to edit this paper. I spent hours typing up this rough outline because I believed it had the potential to become a great final draft. I eagerly looked up at my teacher as they shuffled through their stack of white papers and with a quiet pat, mine hit the desk.

I flipped back the first page – nothing. I flipped back the second page – a couple check marks. I worriedly tossed the last two pages aside to reveal a hurriedly scrawled note that read something along the lines of: nice job, but this could use a little work. What work? Besides a few circled words and some scattered check marks, my first draft was as barren as a desert. All I wanted was a few notes of constructive criticism.

I understand that multiple classes are sizeable lectures and it is difficult for a professor and their GTFs to fairly grade each large assignment. Though my incident happened some time ago, it still lingers at the back of my mind because I know it is happening to other students.

The half-hearted checkmarks I received on that paper represented wasted money. I am paying for an education, but I cannot learn if I am not challenged. I would rather see endless remarks scribbled sideways and diagonal across each page because it means that someone wants to help me succeed.

Nonetheless, a rough draft involves effort from two parties: professors and students. Both have the potential to create or destroy the final draft. Effective feedback can only be given when effort is received. As students, it is our job to understand that learning doesn’t mean completing a last-minute final draft, pressing send and closing our computers. Just as we are constantly growing, we are regularly learning.

A well thought-out rough draft is just as important as the final version. It proves that education is more than a degree or a GPA. Turning in assignments solely for the sake of a grade is a waste of time and money. I would argue that the degree we are so bent on acquiring is not as important as one may assume. College is a small community compared to the entirety of this world. A graduate will not go very far if they cannot demonstrate the skills that are supposed to accompany a higher education.

If we graduate from a university with only the knowledge surrounding our major and/or minor, we will build on a society that no longer cares about the rough draft. I like to imagine our education is in the shape of the letter ‘Q’. Our major is the tail that cuts loose from the rest of our learning and knowledge because of the heavy focus it receives. However, that tail would be rather odd to see alone, blinking at us from a word document. It cannot exist without a circle of support because then it could no longer be a letter. It would hold no meaning, just as our major or “final product” holds no significance without the research, support and time in other fields of study that helped us along the way.

Both professors and students have a duty to one another to care about the rough draft. A rough draft that receives poor attention will form a final version that is half of its potential. In the end, I did receive a good grade on that final draft, but I learned nothing new. For you see, besides a few grammatical corrections, I didn’t change one thing and now my ‘Q’ has a small skip in it.

 Follow Jessica Foster on Twitter @jessiemarie246

The orange flames seem so realistic that one can almost feel the heat. The amount of blown up cars and buildings truly scares you. The noise sends your mind into a panic as your eyes dart around searching for one thing to focus on. Except, the scenes change incredibly fast and the cameras swivel, flip, and turn far too often, which leaves your mind scrabbling to understand what event just transpired. Modern action movies excel in noise, blown up objects, and fiery, near-death scenes. What these films lack is any semblance of a decent plot.

Movies such as Indiana Jones and Transformers can both be categorized as action movies. They thrill the audience and promise adventure. A protagonist and antagonist are blatantly apparent and usually a “damsel in distress” is present. However, Indiana Jones focuses on the plot and intense shooting or “blow up” scenes add to the story line. Transformers focused on the amount of noise a robot could make, how high a car could be blown, or how many buildings could topple down during one battle – the plot was the sideshow.

Simply watching all the Transformers movies one after the other proves the amount of focus on heavy action scenes. I liked the first movie. Nonetheless, the filmmakers ruined the movie’s reputation with the choice to not only produce a sequel, but also a third and fourth movie. Each one became louder, the “fiery” scenes stretched longer, and they had at least one or two skinny, perfectly manicured women. The age we live in relishes in drama and special effects scenes.

The Lord of the Rings is my favorite movies series. They encompass a variety of movie genres. The filmmakers did the best they could to fit the movie to the book with the amount of money available to them. I also read the Hobbit and because of the success from Lord of the Rings, Peter Jackson was able to stretch a small book into three, highly detailed movies. Though The Hobbit is the prequel to Lord of the Rings, the latter was filmed first in the early to mid 2000s.

Compare the two series and one can easily see the amount of focus on heated action scenes in the Hobbit. In part, this is due to the advances in special effects, but that does not mean the producers or directors have to drag scenes out in a movie that never happened in the book. The female elf in the movie rendition of the Hobbit does not exist in the novel. She was created to add emotion and drama to the movie for better sales. The battle scene in the last movie dragged on for far too long.

Honestly, we live in a world that focuses on sales over reality. Why should the truth matter if it can’t make you any money, right? Action movies have figured this out to a bulls-eye. For example, the recently released Fast and Furious has a scene of Paul Walker running up a car as it falls over a cliff. Increasingly what the audience will witness are scenes that are impossible to accomplish in real life whether because of the law of gravity, science, or human fragility. It’s exciting to watch, but the entire focus of these movies revolves around those dramatic scenes.

Not all action movies are terrible. A small percentage has decent plots and use explosives or drama as flavor for the storyline. In my opinion, Men In Black or Captain America are decent representatives of that fact. The interesting and exciting story draws viewers in and the action makes people jump in their seats. One can follow the movie without feeling like the noise and effects are forcing you to lean back in your seat the entire time.

 Follow Jessica Foster on Twitter @jessiemarie246

The twisting, bucking and running will make hearts race. The shouts, chute clanging and ropes whistling through the air bring people to their feet. The smell of dirt, the singing of the national anthem and the smile on a cowboy’s face after he completes an eight second bull ride are all factors of a fun, entertaining and challenging rodeo.

Since I was a little kid, I have attended a variety of rodeos and relish in the excitement of all the events. Competitors, volunteers, stock contractors and even the people who clean up the trash complete an enormous amount of work to execute a rodeo. A large part of a successful rodeo is the animals. Bulls, steers and horses are competitors just like the cowboys and cowgirls. Both human and animal have a partnership involving respect, patience and consideration.

Just like any sport, rodeo can hurt any competitor, human or animal. From my experience in watching and participating in rodeos, more humans than animals suffer from injuries. Nonetheless, I have spoken with people and read many stories that claim rodeos purposefully abuse and mistreat animals. What people don’t realize is that rodeos would not be possible without these animals and purposefully hurting them is never the goal of this sport.

Rodeo is a western tradition that dates back to around the 18^th century. Spanish cattlemen called “vaqueros” embodied the first image of the modern-day cowboy. They influenced the American cowboy, and the tradition of large ranches with cattle and horses spread rapidly as the west opened up. These cowboys would host competitions amongst themselves and other ranches to see who had the best riders and ropers.

Modern-day rodeo competitions are a tribute to a part of American history. In analyzing the use of animals in the sport, one also has to evaluate it in the context of where the sport originated. Rodeo developed in a period of time that was far less sensitive than the world we live in today. In the 1700s, cowboys roped calves around the neck to catch them and brand them. They rode bucking horses to turn them into workable horses. Rodeo events are not new. They pull from historical occurrences that simply gave cowboys a way to test their skills and win a little money.

A majority of competitors have lived and worked on ranches for a large part of their lives. These cowboys and cowgirls understand how to work with and care for animals such as bulls, steers, and horses. They are not going to mistreat an animal that could  help them win their respective event. For example, the flank strap that cinches around a bull or horse is not tightened to the point of pain. It is only made to make the animal feel tension directly in front of the hind legs, and once the ride is complete the strap is immediately removed and the animal knows to relax. According to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) livestock rules, this strap must be lined with fleece or neoprene.

The PRCA has around 60 rules that govern animal welfare. The bulls, horses, and steers are well provided for and any competitor that purposefully harms an animal will be disqualified from his or her event. Any animal that is obviously ill or mistreated before the rodeo begins will not be allowed to participate in the event.

Furthermore, rodeo athletes can potentially win a large sum of money. To win an event, the animal needs to perform well. A sick, beaten, or underfed bull will not leap out of the chute to challenge a cowboy in an eight second ride. That bull would simply not have the energy.

Rodeo animals are bred specifically for their events. These animals are not pulled from a random farm and thrown into the arena. The Christensen Brothers Rodeo and Stock Company and Harry Vold Rodeo Company are just two examples of businesses dedicated to raising and breeding high quality rodeo animals. These companies make money when rodeos want their cattle or horses, so it would be wise of them to provide animals that are healthy and happy.

Rodeos are challenging and it is possible that both people and animals can be hurt, but this sport embodies tradition, hard work, and spirit. Cowboys, cowgirls and the animals work together to preserve an important part of American history.

The Internet is a world of its own. With a slight touch of our fingers on a laptop, trackpad or an iPhone app, we enter a realm that involves no more physical energy than slight movements in our fingers and twitching of the eyes. Share, like, comment, reply, add, friend, follow…simple words that cause an avalanche of information.

Social media provide the opportunity for users to share and discuss a variety of topics. They can range from food, health, government, animals, movies, people, etc. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Pinterest are examples of different types of forums that exist to harbor and flesh out theses ideas. One subject that engaged millions of people less than a month ago involved something as simple as a dress.

This dress caused social panic in the online world and eventually caused real, face-to-face arguments over the catastrophic issue. Is the dress black and blue, or is it white and gold? Absolute panic. This issue became so prevalent that it sneaked its way into our everyday conversations. I overheard people arguing about the colors on the way to class, over coffee at Starbucks or even in classroom settings.

This dress cluttered my Twitter feed. Picture after picture of that dress popped up accompanied by “Check this out,” “Outrageous,” “Definitely white and gold”… The arguments over breakfast, lunch and dinner became so heated that I found myself defending the type of image I saw. As a social human being, I wanted to engage in the disputes.

However, only recently did I take a step back and realize how bizarre this fight was. I use the past tense because, in all honesty, no one cares anymore. Like a storm that dumps rain in a matter of minutes, the topic flooded our minds for a few days and disappeared.

I find it amusing that something as simple as that dress found its way into everyday arguments. Imagine what we could accomplish, achieve or change if we discussed matters that actually mattered. The presidential elections are just over a year away and all I see on Twitter are re-tweets of Frozen 2. I know politics aren’t always as exciting as an animated singing blonde with magical snow powers, but I think we can work through certain priorities.

The Internet is a formidable tool. It has the power to make or break someone’s day, enlighten us, bring us to tears, and apparently ignite arguments over the color of a dress. We all want to believe that we add to important discussions that circulate within society. With one Twitter re-tweet or Facebook share we pass on information, which means we are participating as active citizens…right?

Social media are a delusion. Actively participating in discussions or arguments means we listen and respond to each other. Social media provide a forum in which information can continue circulating. It doesn’t involve a true response. Each person adds something new because we want to be heard, so we provide input without listening to one another.

The discussion about colors of a dress makes us feel like we are adding to society. The dress became a major topic, and thus people wanted to have an opinion about it. Nonetheless, it is frightening that the arguments became important enough to dictate face-to-face conversations. One hardly sees that with topics that involve the government, ISIS or foreign policies. Not only are we not responding to one another, we are letting trivial matters dominate the direction of our conversations.

I understand that the dress topic is fun. Many topics that circulate within the social media sphere exist purely for enjoyment purposes. It’s possible that if we turn social media into a tool that caters to important debates, our society would be a lot more informed than just whether a dress was black and blue or white and gold.

The post Foster: Let’s talk about the dress appeared first on Emerald Media.

Amidst the dirt and the dust of a rodeo is an individual with a little glitz and a lot poise. Follow the herd of young girls in the stands, and you will encounter well-ironed jeans, a shining crown atop a cowboy hat, and a warm smile. This is a rodeo queen.

The sport of rodeo harbors many courageous cowboys and cowgirls, who hope that hours of practice at home will give them five to 15 seconds of glory in the arena. A western tradition, rodeo hosts a variety of competitors in events such as bull riding, bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, barreling racing and many more. The smell of kettle corn, beers clasped in friendly hands and upbeat music accompany the dedicated fans as they cheer for their favorite athlete. Rodeo embodies dreams, aspirations and family.

At the beginning of every rodeo, the national anthem will play, a small prayer will be spoken and one rodeo queen after another will gallop into the arena, waving to the crowd with ecstatic smiles.

I’ve ridden horses for the majority of my life and will admit that I was skeptical of participating in a form of “pageantry” in the rodeo world. I associated the sport with hard work, hours of practice, fast horses and professional athletes that I looked up to. What I quickly realized is that a rodeo queen has all those characteristics. She spends hours working with a variety of people, is constantly on the move or taking care of her horse, and rides into an arena at a break-neck speed.

A rodeo queen is not a pageant girl. She is a woman well versed in horseback riding, public speaking and rodeo knowledge. She volunteers her time as an ambassador to her respective county, state or professional title that she represents. A rodeo queen will travel hundreds to thousands of miles in her one-year reign, representing her rodeo at multiple competitions. She will speak for her rodeo in front of news cameras, on radio shows, to local community groups, and to both children and adults. A rodeo queen is the face of her rodeo.

One does not just become a rodeo queen. For example, when I competed for a title, I had to write and recite a two to three minute memorized speech, I was interviewed about my awareness of current events in the news, I completed a written test on rodeo knowledge, I answered impromptu questions and completed a horsemanship pattern.

One of a rodeo queen’s most important jobs is remaining a role model for children, especially young girls, and a source of information for adults. One of my favorite memories is the look on a little girl’s face as I handed her an autographed picture. Her smile spoke volumes and in those small moments, I realized the role I was embodying was much larger than curled hair and lipstick. Yes, I had to dress the part, but in donning my crisp jeans, belt buckle, and flashy earrings, I became someone’s source of inspiration.

A rodeo queen works with her family, participants and each person who helps make a rodeo possible. The support that a rodeo queen receives and in turn gives back is nothing short of a family. I suppose that’s why rodeo has survived all these years. It’s a sport that would not be possible without the collaborate effort of all those involved. It’s the rodeo queen who has the honor of sharing this message with the world.

Whether she is a county queen, state queen, or even Miss Rodeo America, she is far more than a pageant girl among the sweat and earth of a rodeo. A rodeo queen title gives young women a chance to discover confidence within themselves and represent a sport they believe in and enjoy. A rodeo queen is just another cowgirl.

The post Foster: The Rodeo Queen appeared first on Emerald Media.