Riley Kawola Portfolio

      Everything that we encounter in life is a learning experience. Whether it be an obstacle we must overcome or a moment of gratitude. That is why it is so important to take a moment to slow down and reflect on our past experiences, take what we learned, and apply to the future. Over the past year I have not only grown as a writer, but also as a person. I want to take the time to reflect on my five biggest takeaways from this year, not just regarding my writing, but also my growth as a person.      The biggest and possibly most important lesson I learned this year was to push the boundaries and not stick to the norm. As I looked through all of my assignments, videos, and work that I completed, I noticed that they all had something in common. Each assignment assessed a norm within society, and encouraged me to reflect on that specific norm. From breaking apart a famous New Yorker image to assessing a documentary on minimalism ; each video, article, o...

          Whether we admit it or not, most of us are living to impress others. From buying designer bags to show our friends that we're wealthy, to hiding our true passions and interests to fit the norm. Caring about what others think of us is the center of our worlds; it influences who we're friends with or what we wear. The movie Little Miss Sunshine directed by Valeria Faris and Johnathan Dayton, starring Steve Carell and Abigail Breslin tackles the idea of what really makes people happy, and what is normal.      The movie follows a family's trip across the country to have the youngest family member, Olive, participate in the Little Miss Sunshine Pageant. The story follows the family's dynamic, along with all of the struggles they face. While at first the movie may seem to be about the family's bond, it can be deciphered that the movie is actually about doing what makes you happy and not caring about what others think.  ...