Walking down any busy street, advertisements galore. Advertisements for products, activities, even people. Seeing such advertisements can create the urge to buy any of the goods being displayed: toothbrushes, shampoos, movies, milk endorsed by a celebrity. I responded with the casual phrase "I want that!". this phrase has become a staple to my vocabulary, for the urge to buy or receive certain goods is always present, though it does not necessarily imply that i will buy that good. I believe that being brought up in a society that is constantly advertising and promoting, I have become accustomed to buying and looking at goods through a consumer's eyes.

I know that I am not exactly the most driven consumer: I do no think to purchase every good on the market nor am I swayed to buy just about anything that tells me to purchase it, but I do know that many other young teens are. They are persuaded by the brand names that have lured others into buying them. This gimmick creates the sense that if a certain good is bought, the consumer who purchased the good will automatically have a certain coolness or popularity that other consumers have who have a similar good. This is further emphasized by endorsed goods, the concept that if I buy the product that so-and-so has, I will become like them.

I believe that I am partially materialistic, but I am also able to tell when I am being advertised to. I think I have an ability to willingly give myself up to the advertisements, meaning that I know when I want to buy something and will knowingly go to buy the product. I feel that I sometimes give items a more sentimental value more so than a materialistic value.