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Youth Talk Search for a column topic reveals workings of mindBY ASHISH VIJ
I hate writer's block. So here I am, trying to think of a topic for this column. But I can't seem to think of anything.
What can I talk about? Well, I thought I'd start with what I know. Let's see--what do I know?
It's hard to come up with good ideas when I'm thinking about the upcoming SAT-1 test. Or my biology homework. Or my computer science lab.
So what is there to talk about?
Well, I'm sure I can think of something sooner or later. Where did I put my pen? Oh, there it is.
What am I doing? Oh, just my biology outline. Did you know that transcription is the synthesis of RNA under the direction of DNA?
Oh, I just can't seem to concentrate. Maybe I should just drive to the library.
I forgot. I don't have my license yet. That's right, I'm a 16-year-old without a license. Actually, I still haven't received my permit. Sooner or later.
Maybe I just need to relax for a bit. I know! I'll just work on my webpage for a while.
No, that agitates me more often than relaxes me. Stupid HTML. And I still don't know what to talk about for this column.
Believe it or not, adults have it easy. All they have to do is work in a job that they most often or not like, and get paid for it. Oh, some may say, "What about my bills?" or, "What about taxes?" Well all they have to do is just write a check and off they go. No worries, no obligations. Yes, we teenagers definitely have it harder.
Sure, we may get free shelter and food, but how about our other problems? We juniors have to worry about doing well on the SATs, getting good grades and getting accepted into an excellent college. That's a lot to put on a 16-year-old mind.
So back to this column; what can I write about? Oh wait; I have new email.
"You may have already won $5,000,000!"
Yeah, right. All I have to do is reply to that message with a valid credit card number and an order of no less than 25 magazines. I hate junk mail. It's kind of sad how junk mail has hit cyberspace. No place is safe from that big picture of Ed McMahan saying, "You may have already won $5,000,000!" I've even seen it on the Internet; it's scary.
Of course, that $5,000,000 would be useful--oh, who am I kidding? Let's see--what can I write about?
Well, I sure need a license. And a permit. And a car. Unfortunately, I fell behind on all of these out of pure laziness. And as a result of my actions, I'm now caught in that new driving law.
What good does that law do? I honestly don't see the point of restricting new drivers to only driving with people over 21. There is no possible way to enforce this law with every single teen. In fact, some could easily--I'd better stop before I give someone ideas.
What is a good topic for a column? I still can't think of one.
Maybe I should browse the Internet for a while. You know, just to get ideas.
Sure, like that's going to happen. I go online too much. I even find myself making up stupid reasons to log on. Well, I guess I'm just a "Net freak." Ever since my eldest brother launched his own company that creates software for constructing web graphics, I've found myself testing his product both online and at home, reporting bugs and giving him suggestions. I enjoy creating graphics for the school newspaper, and so I naturally became an advocate of his company, appropriately named NetStudio (www.netstudio.com). Actually, I've become an advocate to the point that I subconsciously flash his website address whenever I can. Strange, huh?
Of course, I use his product on my own webpage (www.vij.com/ashish www.vij. com/ashish). I usually log on to work on my page even more, and to find new ways to spice up my own site.
Now, as my mother always says, "Everything has its limit." I'm afraid I'm coming dangerously close to that limit on surfing the Internet, as I connect many times in a day. In fact, I admit that I'm connected as I'm writing this column.
Well, enough about my experiences with the Internet. As the people who edit my school columns know, I write about this sort of thing much too often. No doubt they stopped reading the moment I mentioned the word "Internet."
So what can I write about?
Well, I think I'll just stare at my homework for a while as I try to think of something. Maybe the muse will strike me, and I'll just spontaneously start writing about what goes on in a teenager's mind. Wait--there's an idea!
Let's see--what goes on in a junior's mind? Shoot, I still can't think of anything interesting.
I might as well start to write the introduction. As instructed in Journalism 1, a good story begins with a good lead or a catchy phrase. What's a catchy phrase?
"My fellow Americans." No.
"Howdy there." Double no.
"Uh. "Triple no.
This is harder than I thought. Well, I'll think of something sooner or later.
What can I write about?
Ashish Vij is a junior at Saratoga High School.
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Saratoga, California Since 1975
