Almost a year ago I sat down to write a blog post about the flaws of Donald Trump. It ended up being a longer post than I had the time/patience/inclination to write, but I saved what I had of it that far. Today I found this draft, and I think, that as my absentee ballot came in the mail today and the election is fast approaching, it is pertinent to this moment in time. I'm not editing what my December-of-2015 self wrote, nor am I adding to it. Not everything may be still relevant or correct, and it definitely wasn't edited when it was first written. But I'm publishing it now, in its raw form, just in case. And so, without further ado, my seventeen-year-old musings on our Grand Old Party presidential candidate, Mr. Donald J. Trump.
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It turns out that a couple months ago I, on a whim, entered a writing contest called the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest. I totally forgot about this, until a few weeks ago when I got an email informing me that I had won an honorable mention. I couldn't even remember what story I entered. After a bit of emailing back and forth, I discovered that it was a short story I wrote in one sitting back in May. The story is entitled "A Ghost Story," and it was inspired by the French screenplay Les Jeux Sont Faits by Jean-Paul Sartre. Today I finally reread it, and I'm actually kind of proud of myself. I figured, since stories are supposed to be read, I might as well share it here. And so I am. Without further ado, "A Ghost Story," by Audrey Goates.
There is no reason to hold back on being profound.
There is no reason to hold back on saying something deep. There is no reason to hold back from saying something you find remarkable, whether or not it's something you came up with on your own. There is no reason to tread lightly on saying something that could change whole world views because you are afraid someone will not agree. You cannot afford to limit your world and your discussions because doing so would go against something that someone once told you. We all have quotes and sayings and thoughts that we hold dear, we all have heard something once that changed how we see the world. Whoever it was the originally said that thing was brave enough to say it, to write it, to whisper it in someone's ear or shout it from the rooftops. If you have something to say, say it. Don't hold back on a moment that will change the world because the person to your left might disagree with your statement. No one tells stories about bland discussions on topics already understood. No one remembers the speeches or lessons that followed the book exactly or restated long-known ideas. Branch out. Tell a new story. Reinterpret something. Don't leave that to the "professionals," be a great mind yourself. The professionals didn't become professional without trying something new themselves. I am so tired of people deciding they don't need original thought. I am so tired of people telling me only what they've heard others say before. Do not be afraid of analyzing and criticizing and reimagining. Do not be afraid of doing or saying something remarkable. Do not ever shut people down because you read once in a textbook that their idea is impossible. Let them be philosophical. Let them wonder, and ponder, and think for themselves. And let yourself do so too. Not just for yourself, but for everyone listening. As my departure for college fast approaches, I’ve been thinking a lot about the scary parts of college. It’s been all excitement, all the time, for several months now, maybe even years, but in the hassle of packing and vacationing and realizing that Utah is very much not green (incredibly unlike Pennsylvania), I’ve started to dip into holy-crap-this-is-actually-happening-and-maybe-I-don’t-know-what-I’m-doing territory. I am ready for college. Maybe this is arrogant of me to say, but it is true. I am good at school and doing my own laundry and brushing my own hair. I have spent time at sleep-away camps and away from my mom, have stayed home alone for a weekend and pumped my own gas. I get good grades and do my readings and write above-average essays. But I am also very much not ready for college, it would seem. I don’t know how to cook or get various stains out of fabric or type all that well. I hate cleaning (sorry, suitemates!), I’m bad at first impressions, and I’ve almost never studied in my life. I don’t think I’ve properly done my homework since 10th grade, and I’ve taken seven AP classes since then. I always have my dad wake me up, I listen to music too loud, and I get cranky easily. But, most importantly, I’ve forgotten that I’m going to miss people.
Dear Steve Jobs, I've been a fan of yours for as long as I've known you've existed, and although I'm fully aware that you're dead, I'd still like to thank you. Thank you for being a leader in the world of creating sleek modernity. When people think "modern," they think of the neutral silvers and blacks that make up your devices, and slim, crisp lines. Windows 10 tried hard, but they didn't make it. To borrow a word from my father, Apple devices are simply always going to be "sexy"-er. I've been told that your imagined Apple was of bright colors and weird shapes. Thank you for giving that up. Most sincerely, Audrey xoxo
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I'm Audrey, a college student and existential rambler.
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February 2021
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