Sophia99

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How do the two articles differ in their portrayal of AI as a collaborator in the creative process? 

The two articles differ sharply in how they portray AI as a creative partner. One frames their article as “supercharged creativity,” for a reason, suggesting that AI can serve as valuable feedback for our ideas and act as a catalyst for innovation. The other, however, takes a more cautious stance, implying that AI’s presence is intimidating and warning us not to trust it too much. 

Personally, I think much of this fear comes from how people engage with AI. Those who rarely interact with it tend to misunderstand it, while those who interact heavily, especially by asking deeply personal or intimate questions, sometimes begin to blur the line between machine and human. They start to believe AI could become human-like, which triggers deeper anxieties about what humanity is capable of creating. 

In truth, this fear mirrors something we’ve already been doing ourselves: creating life. Procreation is, in a way, our own version of creating AI, except that human beings have needs, they eat, they require warmth and care. AI doesn’t need any of that; it simply exists. Yet humans seem more alarmed by an artificial creation that requires nothing than by the living, needy creations they bring into the world every day. 

What concerns does each article raise about losing control or authorship?  

Both articles raise concerns about losing control or authorship to AI, but they approach the issue differently. They agree that humans shouldn’t hand over complete creative authority to AI systems. However, the article “Supercharged Creativity” takes a more open and supportive stance, suggesting that AI can act like a helpful partner, someone who offers ideas and feedback, almost like a creative advisor. 

In contrast, “AI Is Present” portrays AI with a sense of unease, as if it’s a lurking presence waiting to take over. The tone feels more cautious, even suspicious, compared to the first article’s optimistic trust in collaboration. 

Where do they find value or surprise in AI collaboration? 

They find value in AI collaboration when creativity stalls, when they hit a wall and need a spark to move forward. AI becomes like a constant creative advisor, always available, always ready to help generate ideas. The real surprise comes when the AI starts to feel like a shadow, one that learns your patterns, understands your choices, and even anticipates your next move. That familiarity makes the collaboration both surprising and deeply valuable. 

What assumptions about human creativity are challenged or reinforced in each article?  

The article “Supercharged Creativity” challenges the assumption that human creativity has limits. It suggests that, with AI, the possibilities are endless, so long as we remain respectful and treat AI like any powerful tool or weapon that can get out of control if misused. 

In contrast, “AI Is Present” reinforces the fear that we might surrender too much, letting AI dictate ideas instead of guiding us. It highlights a growing unease about blurring the line between human and machine, as some people begin to lose that distinction. This article reveals how certain human-like AIs can feel, so much so that people can’t help but care for them, even forming bonds that resemble strong friendships. 

Which article offers a more hopeful or critical view of the future of human-AI artistic collaboration? 

In “Supercharged Creativity,” the tone is hopeful. The article imagines a future where AI is present in every household, helping us with daily tasks while also inspiring us to discover, invent, and create new things. It portrays AI as a supportive and valuable partner in human progress. 

Meanwhile, “AI Is Present” reflects people’s lingering concerns. It points out that as machines begin to act more human, we start to feel empathy toward them. The article suggests that we shouldn’t exploit or mistreat AI but instead treat it with a kind of humane respect, as if acknowledging that our creations deserve care too. 

Do these perspectives agree on what it means to be creative? 

Not exactly. The two perspectives don’t fully agree on what it means to be creative. True creation doesn’t emerge from nothingness in a vacuum, but it does begin with a seed, an idea, a spark of imagination that we bring to life. Once a third party, like AI, steps in with its own suggestions or feedback, the process shifts from pure creation to collaboration. At that point, it becomes less about solitary originality and more about teamwork. 

Doing this assignment makes me think deeply, Dr. Wachanga. It’s amazing how your lessons always seem to line up with something I’m experiencing, like a reminder, an idea, or a confirmation. It feels so real, and I’m learning more than I ever expected from just a book or a report. Thank you for that. 

All of this has led me to a discovery: while AI can be a powerful and even positive tool, over time it may interfere with how we think. The effects might not be visible right away; maybe it will take 30, 50, even 100 years for us to realize what’s been lost, our natural train of thought, our creativity, our originality. I hope that when that time comes, there will still be people, or groups of minds, who think for themselves, whose feedback comes from other human beings with original ideas, imagination, and true creativity. 

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Using an example—maybe a campaign, video, meme, or community-led remix—
that spread effectively, describe how it started, changed, what made it go viral,
how it was received and shared across digital platforms, and discuss what made
it ticks:

🌸🌸🌸🌸 I am using Susan Boyle as my example because her story perfectly represents how
something can go viral and change someone’s life completely. For the longest time,
I honestly thought she had won the competition she participated in, Britain’s Got
Talent, but I just recently learned that she did not. She came in second place, and
someone else actually won that season. When I found this out, I felt so disappointed
because, like millions of people, I believed she deserved to win. Still, through social
media and digital platforms, Susan’s journey did not end with the competition. It
was because of the internet and the way people shared her audition video that she
became a global sensation. Even without the title of “winner,” she was able to
launch a music career, bring economic stability to her life, and take care of her
remaining family, while it lasted.
Susan Boyle’s life before this moment was very humble and even difficult. She grew
up in Blackburn, Scotland, the youngest of nine children, and spent much of her life
caring for her aging mother. She lived quietly, dealing with bullying and ridicule
because of her looks and mannerisms. She also faced learning difficulties due to
complications at birth, which made her childhood even harder. For years, Susan
dreamed of becoming a singer, but she had no real platform or opportunity to share
her voice. By the time she stepped onto the stage of Britain’s Got Talent in 2009, she
was in her late 40s, unemployed, and living alone with her cat, Pebbles, after her
mother had recently passed away. She didn’t have a husband or children, and later
in life, she openly admitted she had chosen not to marry, focusing instead on her
music and personal growth.
Her audition is where everything began. When Susan first walked on stage, the
audience and judges were skeptical because of her appearance, she didn’t fit the
typical image of a star. She looked, as some cruelly described at the time, like a
“Frumpy, middle-aged woman,” and many people assumed she wouldn’t be talented.
But the second she began to sing “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Misérables, the
entire room shifted. The audience was stunned, the judges were visibly emotional,
and within hours, clips of her performance were circulating online. Her voice was
so pure and powerful, like an angel, that it shattered everyone’s expectations.
This moment went viral almost instantly. News outlets across the world picked it
up, and within days, Susan Boyle was everywhere, on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter,
and every major news network. People shared her video not just because of her
talent, but because her story carried a powerful message: never judge a book by its
cover. She became a symbol of hope and inspiration. Even here in Wisconsin, far
from the UK, I heard about her through the internet. That’s how massive her reach
was.
What made this spread so effectively was the mix of surprise and emotion. Viewers
felt a deep connection to her story: a woman who had been overlooked all her life
finally getting the chance to show the world her gift. Her voice was breathtaking,
and it stirred feelings of hope and possibility. The contrast between how she looked
and how she sounded created a dramatic, unforgettable moment. It was not just a
performance: it was a reminder that greatness can come from unexpected places.
Though she didn’t win Britain’s Got Talent, the viral attention changed Susan’s life.
She went on to release her debut album, which became one of the best-selling
albums of all time. Even after suffering personal losses, like the deaths of her
parents and her sister, and continuing to live a quiet, single life in Scotland, Susan
now has the comfort and security that success brought her. She can live peacefully,
focusing on her music, knowing she touched millions of lives.
When I hear her voice, even without the music playing, I feel the energy of her song.
It is like hope itself is speaking. That is what made her story “tick.” It was not just
about going viral for a moment, it was about inspiring the world and showing that
anything is possible, no matter where you come from or how others see you.🌸🌸🌸🌸

This is from my chem 114: I had to study salt, sugar, egg white, olive oil, cream and half-n-half; all of them mixed in water one at a time. Then it became a metaphor…

My hypothesis is that everything is soluble. Under the right circumstances, in this Lab, I doubt that it could happen. But I think the attraction of the polar and non-polar would need another covalent bond or intermolecular agent, hence why the recipes need more than 2 ingredients to become great.

I realize that I was right. Some things can mix but not truly dissolve. The ingredients often need a third party, an intermolecular agent, or another polar or nonpolar compound to bring them together, a kind of mediator in the reaction. Even though this is chemistry, I can see how these principles apply to people. Sometimes, individuals don’t naturally blend. It’s not about conflict or disagreement; it’s simply that as human beings, we’re different by nature. Yet, with the right third element, something or someone who can balance both sides, the “solution” becomes easier to form. Without that, it might never happen, because we aren’t all sugar and salt. Most of us are eggs, olive oils, and creams, complex, layered substances with our own halves. 

 

I think of myself as cream and olive oil, organic, rich, and complicated. But with the right element, I can mingle, I can mix, I can shine in harmony with others. Perhaps my conclusion drifts more toward humanity than chemistry, but in this lab, I’m learning more than reactions, I’m getting to know myself. 

And for that, I am grateful. 

It isn’t October yet, but the horror stories have already begun.

I left my dorm that morning in good spirits, ready for class. The hallway was quiet, almost too quiet, and the air felt heavier than usual, thick, damp, like the building itself was holding its breath.

That’s when I saw it.

At first, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. A used condom, sprawled in the center of the hallway like some cursed offering, its pale rubber glistening faintly in the dim light.

I froze. My throat tightened.
It shouldn’t have been there, things like that belonged in trash cans, not exposed like some grotesque warning.

But as I stared, a strange feeling crept over me.
The hallway seemed to close in, the buzzing of the fluorescent lights louder, almost like whispering. The condom wasn’t just trash. It felt… intentional.

I forced myself to move, rushing past it, but the image burned itself into my mind like a brand.
And then came the worst thought: if this is here… what else is waiting in the shadows?

Hours later, when I returned from class, that thing was still there.
Exactly where I’d first seen it.
Untouched.
Unmoving.

By nightfall, I passed by again. The air smelled metallic now, like old blood.
The condom lay there like a penitent soul, trapped between worlds, a silent sentinel watching me.

But this time, I swear…
I heard it whisper my name.

Work as an Essential Part of Human Life 

Work is one of the defining aspects of human existence. Some people believe they have a choice when it comes to work, but in reality, very few truly do. Whether or not we acknowledge it, everyone is compelled to work, sometimes by necessity, sometimes through societal expectations, and sometimes by love or duty. Even at this very moment, I am working by writing this essay, striving to complete it on time and with quality. Although I may not want to do this, I care about doing it well. Through my effort, I hope to show my teachers that their work matters too. 

This essay argues that work is not only unavoidable but also essential for personal dignity, community survival, and spiritual growth. Drawing on Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day, and the documentary Free Solo, I will explore how work manifests in different forms, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual and why it remains central to human identity. 

The Inevitability of Work 

Many people view work as a punishment; a burden placed upon humanity as a result of the biblical story of Adam and Eve. In Genesis, Adam and Eve are expelled from Eden and told they must labor: Adam by cultivating the land and Eve through the pain of childbirth and the care of her family. Because of this, work is often seen as a condemnation. 

However, even if Adam and Eve had never been exiled, they would still have needed to work. They would have had to gather food, build shelter and furniture, and raise their children. Work is therefore not simply a curse; it is a fundamental part of survival. It existed before the Fall, it exists now, and it will exist in the future. As Thoreau writes in Walden, “Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit” (Thoreau 87). Even something as simple as appreciating a season requires conscious action. Work is embedded in every aspect of life, from the mundane routines of self-care to the profound effort of raising families and sustaining communities. 

Those who appear to reject conventional labor cannot escape work. For example, drug dealers and criminals may seem to be living the “easy life,” but they must constantly plan, protect their status, and secure their survival. Similarly, sex workers engage in labor that some view as an “escape” from traditional jobs, but their work is deeply demanding emotionally, physically, and psychologically. Work comes in many forms, but it always requires effort. 

Work Beyond Employment 

When we talk about work, it is easy to focus on paid jobs or careers. However, work encompasses much more than financial labor. It includes the mental, emotional, and spiritual tasks necessary to sustain a healthy life and community. A brain that does not “work” begins to decay; a mind that does not engage with the world stagnates. Work is therefore essential for personal growth and survival. 

Even love involves work. Offering a compliment, forgiving an enemy, or extending kindness to a stranger takes thought, courage, and risk. As Thoreau reflects, “Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth” (Thoreau 64). While Thoreau values truth above all, love and truth themselves require continual effort to nurture. Similarly, maintaining daily routines, waking up, preparing meals, caring for oneself, fulfilling responsibilities, demands discipline. These repetitive tasks may become boring, especially when done alone, but they are fundamental acts of work that preserve dignity and structure in life. 

Work in Literature: Thoreau and Ishiguro 

Thoreau’s Walden presents work as both a practical necessity and a spiritual endeavor. He writes, “Books are the treasured wealth of the world and the fit inheritance of generations and nations” (Thoreau 112). This statement highlights the intellectual labor involved in reading and writing. Books are not merely objects; they are the result of countless hours of human effort and creativity, passed down as a legacy for future generations. Reading them is also work, requiring concentration and reflection. 

In contrast, Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day offers a more somber portrayal of work. The protagonist, Mr. Stevens, devotes his entire life to service as a butler, adhering to strict professionalism and etiquette. While Stevens is undeniably hardworking, his devotion traps him in a “box” of routine and duty. By focusing solely on his role, he neglects his personal desires and relationships. As one character reflects, “If you are under the impression, you have already perfected yourself, you will never rise to the heights you are no doubt capable of” (Ishiguro 43). Ishiguro’s novel raises a haunting question: Can work become so consuming that it prevents us from truly living? Stevens’ tragedy suggests that not all forms of work lead to fulfillment. 

Work in Action: Free Solo 

The documentary Free Solo provides a modern, real-world example of work’s complexity. Alex Honnold dedicates his life to the dangerous and demanding pursuit of free solo climbing. His quest for perfection requires extraordinary physical conditioning, mental preparation, and emotional focus. When Honnold achieves a monumental goal, he feels restless and immediately seeks new challenges. This illustrates how work can become an endless cycle, driven by ambition rather than satisfaction. 

At the same time, Honnold’s wife, Sanni, undertakes her own form of work. She labors emotionally to support their relationship, protect her family’s future, and reconcile her fear for Honnold’s safety with her love for him. The film demonstrates that work is not always visible or celebrated, yet it is equally vital. 

Conclusion: Work as Human Identity 

From Thoreau’s philosophical reflections to Ishiguro’s tragic narrative, and from Honnold’s daring climbs to Sanni’s quiet struggles, the evidence is clear: work is universal. It is not limited to earning money or holding a job; it encompasses every effort we make to grow, connect, and survive. Babies “work,” they are constantly developing and learning. Even God, in the act of sustaining creation, works continuously. 

Work is life, and life is work. While its forms may vary, physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual, it remains the thread that binds humanity together. We will work until the day we die, but if we engage thoughtfully and purposefully, we may reach the end of our lives able to say that it was all worth it. 

Hi, I want to write more today. Usually, I grab my typewriter, but… I don’t feel like typewriting right now.  

Today, I went on the air for the very first time here at this school. Their board is different, so it felt a little strange at first. 

I also wanted to talk about my PE class. That is the one where I feel the most connection with my classmates right now. Maybe it is because it is a physical class, and we are all pushing ourselves, seeing who can endure more, who can do better. It is a tough class. I watch my classmates try so hard. Some of them seem like leaders, but I can’t always tell if they are doing it for themselves, to impress someone, or just for the teacher. I hope they are doing it for themselves. Because at the end of the day, no one else matters. You just need to be the best version of yourself compared to who you were yesterday.  

This school feels better than the other two… or four… or five? My God, how many have I been to now? I wish I could graduate this winter, like people in Green Bay were saying. But apparently, I must stay here a little longer, spend more money, and go deeper into debt. Thank you, life. I just hope it’s all worth it. 

Oh, and I got accepted after my audition! I am supposed to be talking about health. When am I actually going to be talking about health? Only God knows. They threw me into it, and I guess I looked so serious that they thought I could handle this delicate topic. What they don’t know is how OCD I can be, obsessed with cleanliness, organization, and straight lines. That is my world. But I’ll try my best to adapt. Like I have been doing this semester. 

I need to learn to be better, to grow, to be open. It reminds me of my time with LJB. Thank you. You taught me how to be more relaxed with my environment, to not be so picky about dirt, bugs, poverty, loose dogs, or even what people say. I learned so much from you. 

Unfortunately, life keeps moving, and things change. But I definitely would like to have that summer back again… definitely, perhaps if God allowed me, I would like to have it back, but this time, for the rest of my life. 

Sometimes, it feels like life is a series of seasons. Some are bright and golden, others heavy and gray. I have learned that no matter how fleeting the good ones feel, they leave a mark. That summer was proof that joy exists, even if it doesn’t stay forever. 

So here I am, pushing forward, adapting, hoping, believing, learning, and changing for the better. I hope the next season will be proof that all this effort was worth it. 

Sophia out.