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Heather Nance

UWRT-1102 T/R 8:00

WP #4

February 12, 2015

Star Struck

I have spent my fair share of time standing in lines with the kids so they could get an autograph

of their favorite athlete. Most of the time this is in line after a college sporting event getting the team to

sign the standard team poster to hang on the bedroom wall. A few times there may be a professional

sports figure who was doing some signing for charity or community events. Usually you get two seconds

with the star, who barely looks at you and you move down the conveyor belt type line. If you’re lucky

and you get an extra second you can get a quick photo maybe even ask to have your photo taken with this

person. This does not make me feel like I really met the celebrity but only got to witness them go through

the publicity motions. There are a few people in my mind in which that process would seem worthwhile.

Alecia Beth Moore AKA P!nk, the famous pop star, singer, songwriter and actress (Bio.com).

She is one of my favorite current artists. I have an appreciation for her style. She has been able to take her

childhood dramas and tribulations for what they were, her past. Her songs reflect the hardships she went

through and how they made her a better person. She learned from them in a positive way. She grew into

be a better person not the next generation of the same drama. She developed her strengths within and

worked hard to be the best she could. Her song lyrics in her song Perfect (the clean version) reflect her

speaking mostly to her young self as a reflection of what a positive role model for young girls should be.

Another musical icon in my life is Bob Dylan. Now I know he is an acquired taste. Not everyone

is a fan of his singing in fact lots of people say he can’t sing at all. But there is one thing for sure and that

is he can write amazing songs that last generations. The poetry behind his lyrics cannot be compared to

anyone. I have spent many hours, days listening to Bob.

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Hillary Rodham Clinton is a great role model for women and young girls. She impresses me as a

woman of honor and respect. Her husband made a very large public spectacle of himself and their

marriage. Hillary did not let his indiscretions bring her down. She proved to be a strong contender for the

Democratic Presidential nomination. Most people see her as a powerful woman and is not looked at as the

poor woman whose husband cheated on her. There are a lot of political affairs were it is the poor wife

who is left looking pitiful. Not in this case Hillary came back and proved no woman needs to live in the

shadows of a man.

Jim Carrey made the most amazing commencement speech to Maharishi University of

Management on May 24th 2014. I enjoy Jim Carrey as an actor. I think he is funny like most people, but

who knew he had a softer side, a serious side. Listening to his speech filled with so many wonderful

words of wisdom had me enthralled. To me he is a well-rounded man and person. His insights and

comical relief makes me want to know him more. This is the best part of his speech the part that really

touched me: “As far as I can tell, it’s just about letting the universe know what you want and working

toward it while letting go of how it might come to pass. Your job is not to figure out how it’s going to

happen for you, but to open the door in your head and when the doors open in real life, just walk through

it. Don’t worry if you miss your cue. There will always be another door opening. They keep opening. And

when I say, life doesn’t happen to you, it happens for you, I really don’t know if that’s true. I’m just

making a conscious choice to perceive challenges as something beneficial so that I can deal with them in

the most productive way. You’ll come up with your own style, that’s part of the fun!” (“About MUM”).

Words we can all live by.

A few years ago when watching American Idol I heard a singer who caught my attention. Maybe

it was because of her rendition of the well-known Me and Bobby McGee and my love for Janis Joplin, but

none the less I thought she was great. I followed Crystal Bowersox for the season, rooted for her and I

enjoyed her singing and how she presented herself on the show. She was young then and at 29 now could

still be considered young. She was a single mom with a little boy and she just wanted to get herself out of

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the rut she was in. She lived a hard life and wanted something better for her son. Singing was the way she

knew how to make his life better. She made it to runner up that year. She was still able to get record deals

and has been on tour across the country several times since the show. I would say she seems to be doing

well. I would like to meet this person, this strong independent woman who knows what she wants and

goes it.

Music has always been important to me. Most of the artists I become fans of is because of their

lyrics, strong lyrics with a point. Not surprising here with these people I have mentioned. All have used

their words in speech or music to make some bold statements. In every case their words have connected

with me on some level. What does that say about me? I take words to heart. Nothing like good quote from

a song to get me motivated or inspired. Like my favorite quote from a great song by Crosby, Stills and

Nash "Don't let the past remind us of what we are not now". I have used that quote several times to pick

myself up from a difficult time in my life. To me these are words to live by. Every one of these people

have spoken to me that same moto in some way, shape or form.

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Works Cited

“About MUM” Maharishi University of Management Full Jim Carrey Address Video and Transcript

Comments. N.p., n.d. Web 11 Feb. 2015

Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.