Bryan's WRIT 340 Blog

  In my opinion, making the world a better place can be done either in small or large steps. Even if people aren’t able to directly work for social organizations, I still feel like charity or volunteer work can be good enough to make a difference. The onus of changing the world seems to always fall on the younger generation, but I wonder why should the responsibility get put on us. Especially with increasing wealth disparity and rising inflation rates, this amount of pressure on us seems unreasonable. But, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make an effort to do better. Instead of focusing on the younger generation, everyone has to step up in order for meaningful change to happen.  Helping the world can be as simple as reducing food waste or picking up trash you see on the streets. Oftentimes, large programs calling for drastic changes shut more people out than invite people in. Small steps can be more inclusive, even if they aren’t the most effective. I know that there is urgency ...

Have you ever tasted something and had flashbacks to specific memories? A lot of people experience this, from a soup that brings you back to your mom’s cooking to a pasta dish that triggers memories of food poisoning. Research shows that taste is directly linked to both positive and negative experiences, which helped our distant ancestors determine what foods were fundamental to their survival. Even though these memories are usually associated with food, in my case, the different flavors of chapstick take me back to various points in my life. I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with chapstick. When I was younger, I had really dry lips, so naturally, I bought some Chapstick-brand chapstick. That was my biggest mistake. Instead of making my lips better, the chapstick caused my lips to dry out even more. After this, there was a period of 3-5 years where I tried random types of chapstick to see which one worked for me. Finally, in my junior year of high school, I ended up with Burt’s ...

 “They sat for a while together, listening to the drone of the bees, watching the darts and the droops of the swifts, eating strawberries, smelling the honeysuckle.” In contrast to the prologue of the book, Lucy Jones ends Losing Eden with a different tone. The prologue paints a grim view of the future, where nature is something only experienced on screens. But in the epilogue, nature is in full bloom, aided by humanity’s desire to protect the natural world. In Losing Eden, Jones dives into the power of nature, not only to heal people but to provide solace in a world focused on individualism. The drive of capitalism is in direct opposition to the conservation of nature. While people learn to take, nature itself has nothing left to give. She argues the importance of nature through both scientific research and personal anecdotes, including her own experience of healing from her addiction through nature. One interesting thing that Jones mentioned was how she felt better after swimming...

  “Why did nature end, Granny?” Granny sighed. “We didn’t love it enough,” she said. “And we forgot that it could give us peace.” For my second book, I picked Losing Eden by Lucy Jones. The prologue of the book ends with a very poignant note, referencing the continued destruction of nature not only physically, but psychologically. Lucy writes about the powers of nature–how it helped her combat her addiction and how it can help others as well. The novel is easy to read, and Lucy masterfully weaves in anecdotes and research to explain her message: Humans need nature. From nature providing healthy bacteria that lessens depression to nature helping children become more social, the natural world plays more of a role in our lives than you might think. Lucy argues that humans are forgetting about nature, as they stick to the ever-changing technological landscape. With this shift in attitudes, comes the denial of the basic human need to feel connected to the world.  I chose this book...

TO: Clark Hansen, CEO, AMDP FROM: Bryan Wu, R&D Analyst, AMDP DATE: March 11, 2022 SUBJECT: Investment Proposal: Philz Coffee As per your request, I have conducted extensive research to find a company for AMDP to invest in. The company must encompass the goal of AMDP to operate not only in a financially profitable way but also while maintaining a socially responsible and environmentally sustainable baseline of operations. After careful consideration, I recommend Philz Coffee as a potential investment. Philz Coffee is a San Francisco-based coffee shop that dedicates itself to its green sourcing initiatives and generous donation programs.  AMDP Investment Standards Before I dive into Philz Coffee, I would like to revisit the basic criteria for AMDP’s consideration of investment.  Triple Bottom Line The Triple Bottom Line is a concept introduced by John Elkington that measures a company’s financial, social, and environmental performance (Hindle). The three separate bottom lin...

The Monterey Bay Aquarium Having been interested in the ocean all my life, the Monterey Bay Aquarium has always been a place where I begged my parents to take me every year. Located along the Central Coast of California, the aquarium is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to the research and conservation of native marine life in Monterey. It is a spot perfect for any age, and even now, I still try to visit the aquarium at least once a year. The aquarium itself has many exhibits, ranging from the rocky shores to the kelp forest. The main attraction of the aquarium is the sea otter exhibit. Located in the center of the building, it’s hard to miss the big tank or the bigger crowds around it. Another popular display is the jellyfish, which is part of the open sea exhibit. Usually, you can cycle through all exhibits within 1.5 hours. But, the aquarium has a bunch of events that they host, such as animal feedings, touch pools, or even informational presentations from researchers. Here...