Wound Culture and Genre: A Study on Vigilante Justice in Dexter-FINISHED!

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Matthew

Hello avid readers!

I haven’t been posting often lately because I’ve been working on my Master’s Degree thesis. I am pleased to announce that “Wound Culture and Genre: A Study on Vigilante Justice in Dexter” has been completed and I am graduating next Thursday. The words to describe how I feel about successfully completing my studies at HPU escape me beyond stating that it has been a great run and coming to the island was the best thing I could have done to turn my life and around and learn to love myself again.

I don’t know what will happen from here but I know that it will be another grand adventure in the journey that is life. Aloha!

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From One Graduation to the Next

Posted on April 28, 2012 by Matthew

Hello avid readers,

The photo comparison between my college graduation in June 2010 and my graduate school graduation in May 2012 should speak for itself on far I’ve come in my quest to live my life healthy.

June 2010-252 lbs/45% BFP

May 2012-197 lbs/22% BFP

I’m still working at things but I think it goes without saying that I’ve come a long ways. What tips do you have for me to push ahead towards getting in even better shape than I am by this point?

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Those Final Steps

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Matthew

Hello avid readers!

As always I apologize for not writing on here nearly as much as I should. I’ve been quite busy working on my thesis and other course work for the past years but I have good news! Last week I successfully passed my oral defense meaning that after I make the neceessary revisions to my thesis and have them approved I will have completed the capstone requirement for my degree 100%. It is my goal to work away so that I’ll have my final draft submitted by the 25th to make sure that I have time to get the thesis professionally proofed and submitted to UMI.

In exactly one month I’ll be graduating with a MA in Communication so wish me luck as I take those final steps towards completing my degree!

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On Shabbat-A Poem

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Matthew

Hello avid readers! I was looking through my notebook from BCI and found this lovely poem I would like to share with all of you.

With the lighting of a match
Shabbat has now begun
It is time to catch
and touch our neshama then run.

In Shabbat G-d has blessed us all
While we sing songs of praise
As if we were at the Western Wall
Trying to travel to a spirtual maze.

During this time families come together
and tell stories of the old;
Of the Bride we can’t forget her
Of the glory of Shabbat, it must be told.

Stand together as one
and the spiritual battle is won.

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Spring Break-A Breath of Fresh Air

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Matthew

Hello avid readers!

I apologize for not writing on here nearly as often as I’d intend to. Right now I’m in the thick of trying to get my thesis finished. This process takes up so much of my time that I’m very exhausted and drinking way too much coffee just so I can get the job done. Thankfully I’m the stage in the process where a lot of the work is expanding upon pre-existing ideas to make them more well-rounded so that the thesis has properly analyzed the topic to the the upmost of academic standards.

The good news this week is that I’m about to start my Spring Break trip to Los Angeles for my cousin’s wedding. The bad news is that I have to take my thesis along and work on during downtimes. Having to bring my work along with me is a bit of a drag but I have my deadlines to meet in order to conduct my defense on time so there isn’t a lot of choice in the matter. Work aside I’m going to have a great time with my parents and extended family. I haven’t been to LA for almost two years now so I’m really looking forward to having a great time checking out the sights and catching with with family and friends.

Life is good.

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Enter the Revisions

Posted on March 3, 2012 by Matthew

Hello avid readers!

I hope that everybody is doing well today because I’m doing great! A few days ago I turned in the compilation draft of my thesis meaning that it’s all about revisions from here. It’s hard for me to believe that I’m getting ever closer to graduation. It’s been a long process so far but it’s one that has helped me better understand my self perception as I strive to better myself. Things aren’t over yet but I’m confident that everything is going to work out. I just have to keep doing the legwork to get to May 17 to that stage when I graduate with my M.A. in Communication.

For the last few nights I’ve been starting to serious examine various PhD programs in my field to see which one would be the best fit for me. No matter what happens in my life I’m definitely always going to be a writer. At the same time academia and the more theoretical side of the communications field does intrigue me. There are plenty of people who successfully live in both worlds so why shouldn’t I work towards that goal? Perhaps there are easier routes I could have gone in life but this is the one that Hashem has made for me to walk down. To ignore that is folly.

Wish me luck as I wrap up the last few months of my Master’s Degree and begin to explore the next step in my life.

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MattWrites Presents #1 “Lost In the Thicket

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Matthew

Hello avid readers!

I posted a new vlog on youtube. As a new experiment in convergent media I’m going to start doing vlogs in addition to the writing that I already do here. Please check the new vlog post here!

Keep following my work! :)

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Fitness Progress Report

Posted on February 5, 2012 by Matthew

The picture speaks for itself.

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Ponderings from Orting

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Matthew

Hello avid readers!

The best thing about being home is having a Mom who feeds you food that is of a higher quality than you could ever hope to cook in your bachelor pad. Seriously though I’ve been enjoying my trip home to Washington State. Being away from home for such a long time made me appreciate my Mom and Dad so much more than I might have if I had stayed home after graduating from Central. Of course as anybody who reads my blog knows I didn’t take the conventional path (a habit which I’ve had my entire life!).

In less than two weeks I’m returning to Hawaii to attend my final semester of graduate school at HPU. At times I can hardly believe that I’ve actually gotten to this point. Earning my Master’s Degree is going to be one of my greatest accomplishments after earning my Bachelor’s Degree and becoming an Eagle Scout. It’s a lot of hard work but the knowledge I’ve gained and the experiences I’ve had (attending classes….getting in shape…etc) have made me into a better person that I even thought possible.

All in all I look forward to the upcoming semester with open arms as I prepare myself for my final obstacles towards earning that degree that I’ve worked hard for over the past two years. It’s game on!

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Aloha from Canada!

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Matthew

Hello avid readers!

I’m just checking in during my visit home. It’s so fantastic to be home with my parents. :) A vacation is exactly what I needed as I refresh myself before my final semester of graduate school begins at the end of next month. I’ve been so busy that there hasn’t been a lot of time to write at length this week. Victoria, BC has been fantastic to visit these past few days. Tomorrow it’s back to Washington State until the 23rd. On another good note I’ve already written one poem during my trip home and hope to continue writing creativity….and let’s not forget that I’ll be working on my thesis so that it’ll be more polished!

In the meantime…here’s a photograph I took of the Parliment Building in Victoria!2

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