Rae's blog

When I was young girl, I was often told that good grades and hard work would get me to the top. I was also told that the good guys knew that what mattered was on the inside and not on the outside. However, as I am now considered an adult (by age), I wonder how valid these ideals are. Or are they taught to children by adults, who want to form a better world, knowing that the standards they are presenting to these children, are in actuality quite high?

I have two illustrations to help demonstrate my point.

The economy is rough. I don’t have to write those words to know their weight. The California unemployment rate is now at 11.6%. California is in a major budget crisis. Workers in both the public and private sector are taking major pay cuts, but in some cases are expected to work longer hours. I’m currently a new grad, with a Masters degree from a pretty good university, having a hard time trying to even get a phone chat with prospective employers. I totally get it. The economy is bad.

For the longest time, I blocked out my high school years. I wasn’t part of the “popular” crowd nor was I part of the “teased and bullied on a daily basis” crowd. But, I still hated it. I was the geek (in a good way) who was also an athlete (volleyball and tennis). Let’s not forget yearbook. I was trying my best to “succeed” so that I could leave and get into college. One of the things I was trying to get away from the most was the popular crowd. Let’s just say we had different values. I thought that through hard work and education I could get to the top. Even after two degrees, as I am starting to build my business, I can’t help wonder, did the “popular” kids have it right in high school?

When I first joined Twitter, it was an under the radar micro-blogging tool to share quick updates about my life. Little did I know just how big its role would be globally.

When I heard about the Iran elections, I knew things were bad. However, I read very little about what some are now calling a revolution. I did this because, being the wife of an Iraq war veteran, it takes very little to stir up images of unrest, rioting, and death, especially within the Middle East region. Not that I have ever been to or spent time in that region, but after hearing first hand accounts of war, there are imagined images that are burned into my memory. I’ve been there – the worrying, no sleep, no word. I was trying not to get too emotionally involved.

Then I saw the YouTube video of Neda Agha-Soltan.