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One brand that I identify myself with is Under Armour. Under Armour sells performance sports apparel, especially sportswear that wicks sweat off your body. It’s a Baltimore based company that has just recently become popular all over the country. Under Armour represents some of my biggest passions and beliefs which is a reason why I wear it so much.

I identify with Under Armour because they make sportswear for people who love to be outside no matter what season. I find myself wearing Under Armour almost everyday, usually when I am running. There are times when I look in the mirror leaving my apartment and I’m wearing an Under Armour hat, shirt, compression shorts, and running shorts. I don’t mean to wear all one brand when I run, but find it to be the most comfortable. The clothes are good for more than just running; I wear them whenever I go camping or hiking. I relate Under Armour with some of my favorite activities, so I can easily identify myself with the company.

One of my strongest beliefs is that as a nation we need to improve our health and fitness because our overall poor health will cost us severely in the long run. Under Armour makes clothing that helps people get active and be comfortable while doing so. The brand represents fitness and being active, which I value very much.

Under Armour is a company that has its roots here in Baltimore. I was born in the city and have lived in nearby Sykesville for my entire life. I’m proud of where I come from and I like supporting a local company that gives back to the community, for example sponsoring the Baltimore Marathon.

Under Armour is a revolutionary brand of sportswear that continues to get better and better.

My Personal Media Habits

So much of our lives are determined by what goes on around us, especially in our early years. Media consumption is certainly influenced by how our parents raise. As I look back on my media habits, I realize that my parents and my household have had a great impact on my media habits now.

First, I have never been one to watch too much TV. I attribute this to my parents deciding when I was four years old to turn off our cable TV. We didn't turn it back on until I was seventeen in the spring of my senior year. I only watched TV when I was bored, and never planned out certain times to watch TV. Now, I still don't watch very much TV because as a child I had tried to find better things to do than watch TV.

Along those lines, my mom was vehemently against video games so they were never in my house. I was lucky to get a Game Boy when I was about 10. Now, I almost never play video games and I have no interest in ever purchasing a system.

On the contrary, one piece of media I use all the time is my computer. I've been using computers since I was three so I've been familiar with them for almost my entire life. I am on my computer for about three or four hours every day. I use it for communication, school, music, and gaming. The computer is so universal and can have so many purposes which is why I use mine so much.

I also always carry my cell phone with me. I didn't have one until I started driving, but I couldn't imagine not having one. I'm not the biggest fan of personal interaction, so my cell is a way to communicate without actually having to see the person face to face. Calling and texting are how I do most of my communication. For me, it's a method of being more social without actually being out all the time.

While I am happy that I don't play video games or watch very much TV, I know that I should rely less on my computer and my cell phone for communication. Being able to communicate well with people is a valuable skill that is being slowly lost in our culture. I need to work on using media less because I realize that I rely on it too much. This is a goal not easily accomplished because society has accepted replacing much of our lives with media to make them "easier," but I wonder if we are actually hurting ourselves with our ever-growing reliance on media.

Introduction

Hi my name is Colin Haser. I am a sophomore student here at UMBC studying Chemical Engineering. My interests include running, being outside, and hanging out with my friends. I currently run cross country and track for UMBC. I enjoy camping and hiking, and I am an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. My favorite sports to watch are football and baseball, and I am fans of the Ravens and Orioles. I listen to all types of music with country being my favorite.