HIST 100: Engineering The Past

Nicholas Greiner Lens

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I have only been on this earth for 24 years, but I feel like the earth and I are good friends. It seems like time after time good old mother nature likes to remind me of my mortality and how fast your world can change. Perhaps it is my upbringing in the mountains that makes me feel so small. In the day I would see the large majestic mountains and during the night there is nothing to obscure the billions of stars in the sky. Perhaps it is my experience around pain and suffering that causes me to think that life can change in a matter of seconds. Watching four of my friends almost be killed over a stupid decision to drift around dirt corners next to a river wakes you up those thoughts we all must face about our own lives. Perhaps as I first held my two boys, those two small flickers of new life, thoughts of how fragile they were filled my mind. Perhaps those feelings of hopelessness come as I watch movies that depict scenes of terror and the end of the human race. Perhaps I am filled with the feeling of insignificance as I read books with characters that go above and beyond to accomplish things they never knew they could do.

On the other hand, something inside me tells me that life is precious and that it should be celebrated. Something in my heart tells me to enjoy the moments of peace and of joy because those are the gems of my existence. Perhaps it was when I understood my oldest son’s first word and his face lit up with the brightest smile, consequently filling my soul, if you believe in such a thing, with blinding joy. Perhaps it is when I found out that my four friends would live and that there would be no lasting damage to their brains or otherwise so they could continue to be happy and reach their goals. Perhaps when I look up at the night sky I am filled with awe and wonder and when I look at the mountains I see clarity and the desire to climb to the top. Perhaps as I watch apocalyptic movies I am filled with hope watching the survivors fight all odds to live and make a happier future for themselves. Perhaps I am filled with desire to reach my goals and go above and beyond to accomplish when I read books with amazing characters.

 

This is a small glimpse into my contemplative brain.

 

My Lens – Jake Hinson

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Hi everyone, my name is Jake Hinson, I am a senior at Boise State studying Construction Management and this is “My Lens”:

  • Where did you grow up, and how did that place, as well as the people around you, influence you?

I grew up in a small town where everyone knew everyone. When I was in high school I could not wait to get out and move to somewhere new, now I miss not being able to go to the grocery store or church without running into people that I have known forever. Growing up here influenced me in many ways, and it wasn’t until I started college that I realized that. For one, there was really only one type of people that lived in my hometown. So after beginning college I realized that I was very hesitant to talk or acknowledge people that were different than me. I think that my lens, in this aspect, has changed drastically since I began school here at Boise State and for the better.

  • What kinds of books or other texts did you read in school? On your own?

I have always been a fan of Louis L’amour. For those of you not familiar with this author, he wrote western and war novels mostly. I have always been fascinated by these two topics and the way that he researches facts and writes his stories to parallel actual history is so intriguing to me.

  • Where (e.g., specific website, television news channels, friends and family, church, etc.) do you learn about what’s going on in the U.S. and the rest of the world?

Growing up my family would usually talk about news and politics around the the dinner table. Now that I have moved away most of my news comes from the internet. I try to watch the news as much as possible but it is aggravating to me that every channel is so one sided and to find real facts is almost impossible.

  • How do you spend your leisure time, and how might it shape your view of the world?

I try to spend as much time as I can up in the mountains. Whether I’m hunting, fishing, shed hunting, or even just up snowboarding I love being away from society. I used to rodeo in high school but I had to sell my horses to pay for college. I am hoping to get horses again soon and start team roping.

  • How has your religious or spiritual journey influenced how you view other people and their decisions?

My religious views have no influence on how I view people.

  • Did your parents or guardians come from different cultures? If so, how did these cultures appear in your home when you were growing up?

My parents were friends since they were six years old, that being said, they have no culture differences. This really created a strong cultural background for my brothers and I to grow up in.

  • How has your perspective on the world changed as you have matured and gained more life experience?

Like I mentioned earlier, my perspective on the world has changed dramatically. Not in a way that I agree that we should be burning our nations flag, or protesting that our education should be free; but in a way where I can accept people for who they are and feel more comfortable in situations where I may have to hang around people that come from completely different background than mine.

  • Are there people or experiences that you consider formative in your life—that is, they are or were essential to shaping the person you are today? Explain.

My Grandpa. He is the person that I have always looked up to. Until I was about 5 we lived with my grandparents, I can remember my grandpa, dad, and uncle coming home from work and my grandpa had been finishing concrete for so long that he couldn’t walk from his truck to the house. So my dad and uncle would have to carry him inside and put him on the couch for his back to rest. And at 5 am the next day he would be up for work to make sure that he could provide for his family. It is because of this work ethic that he had installed in my father that has allowed me all the opportunities that I have received in life. I hope some day that I can do the same for my family.

Daniel Zmuda

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Hey, I’m Daniel Zmuda! I am currently a Sophomore and I am majoring in General Business. I am from Boise, born and raised.

Basically I’m the middle child between two brothers. My older brother is 23 years old, and my younger brother is 17. By being the middle child it’s easy to see that the youngest of the family will always be the “baby” no matter how old he gets, and the oldest will always say that they had it the worst because they were the parent’s guinea pig. I think that I was able to expand my awareness outside myself and really develop self-analysis because I was able to see how my family has interacted with each other. My family is “Loud”, and we basically aren’t allowed to have anything to hide. There is always someone there willing to call you on your crap, for example if anyone in the family was being an ass, someone would be willing to put you in your place. My family constantly discuss ideas about the world, be it in politics, or anything else, and I think that it has been good for my brothers and I to  grow up in a home that the parents are willing to talk and debate anything and really give there children a voice.

I like to read, and it’s the same for music for me. Unless it’s just poorly written, I don’t mind reading it. I don’t have a specific genre of music or books that I prefer, it just needs to be well done. For Christmas usually I receive a bunch of books that I can read until the next year. I don’t think I have a particular favorite book. For Music, probably my favorite artist is Nicki Minaj.

I used to be incredibly interested in politics, and current events. As I grew older, and developed more awareness about the world I realized that only the Elite can make a difference. I find it hard to rely on what our Newspapers say about what’s happening, or Fox News, or CNN. They all are big businesses and are just out there to make a big story, even if it means leaving out the entire truth. My parents are both Conservative, but I grew up in the public school system, with very Liberal teachings, therefore the information that I was taught during school and at home have helped open my eyes to both sides of the debate. I personally don’t affiliate with either party, I might even consider myself an Elitist.

I hope we all have a good time in this class this semester!