What would you do if you knew you could not fail?
Robert H. Schuller
I remember when I was five. I wanted to do everything and I didn't think anything was impossible. I dreamed of being a firefighter because they had a cool uniform and got to slide on the poles. I wanted to be an astronomer because I was fascinated looking at the night sky. I wanted to be a model because it just sounded fun. I wanted to play musical instruments, speak foreign languages, go to Antarctica, and get straight A's when I went to school. When I got older, I wanted to be a lawyer because I wanted to be a voice for being that did not have one. I wanted to be a newspaper columnist to show my strong opinions to the world. I wanted to be a vet because I love animals.
When you get older, you fear failure. You fear embarrassment. You have more knowledge of the world that tells you your dreams are unlikely. You learn what your weaknesses are, often faster than your strengths. I worked hard in school, but I could never be perfect and also did better in some subjects than others. I took tests well but was bad at projects. In third grade when we started writing journals and the five paragraph essay and such, I was so afraid to write because I thought I would be judged by what I wrote. I loved answering concrete multiple choice questions, but I hated answering open ended questions out of fear of being wrong. I did eventually outgrow that. I learned that I'm tone deaf so I didn't join band in fifth grade when many of my friends did. I learned that I just do not have the body for a model, but I wasn't even that interested in clothes and makeup and such when I got older. I was fascinated by science, but when I learned about in school I didn't do well in it and thus gradually lost my interest. I learned I would need to be good at math and science to be a vet, and that I am also squeamish around blood. I learned that law school is hard to get into and the debt I would end up wouldn't be worth the limited job prospects the degree would offer.
I asked some of my friends what they would do if they knew they couldn't fail. I received a variety of answers, including fly, become a millionaire, become a pro bowler, write and publish, adopt a child, take the CPA exam, pass college math, and study human behavior. One answered "try to fail". Another one said that failure is impossible.
A few weeks ago, I was out with friends and they wanted to play pool. I knew it was something I probably wouldn't be good at, but I was willing to learn and try it. At first I did suck. A lot. But I gradually got better.
Sometimes I think maybe it is more fun to fail a few times before you succeed. There are no words in the English language to describe how wonderful I felt the times in my life that I tried something many times and failed before I got it.
I've decided that my January will be "Just Do it January". I do know there are some things that I do not want enough to shoot for, like go to law school. But there are other things that I want to do and I will try. I want to dye my hair. I want to read a book for fun. I used to love to read but then I got burned with reading for school in 9th grade and became to ADD to sit and read a book(or watch TV even), and since that I've barely been able to read for fun, even in the summers. The summers there was a new Harry Potter book I would read that, but it took me so long to finish. I want to try tell a friend something about myself that I very rarely tell anyone, and see if I am still accepted. I want to go into a job interview actually thinking that I will get a job, and not think about the economy and my lack of experience(not that exactly need a job now, but practice is good). I want to buy a scratch lottery ticket. I want to be more social. I want to pass stats and speech and research. I'm going to try to try new things all month and see how I do.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Seeing Others as Humans
Through every time period and every part of the world, humans have persecuted, tortured, and killed one another. Our history books are filled with wars, genocides, slavery, terrorist attacks, and massacres. That does not include the countless stories of crimes against individuals that we may never hear, such as abduction, rape, murder, prostitution, and abuse. These are dehumanizing acts.
In my first class today, I had a guest speaker from an agency that serves male prostitutes. He shared horrifying stories of childhood sexual abuse, homelessness, oppression and persecution experienced by these men. Then in my second class the lecture was on slavery and segregation against African Americans. Later I read a news story that was very tragic. A security video in China showed a car that run over a toddler, slowed down, and then ran over her once again with the back tire. The next car ran over her as well, hitting the already severely injured child. Both vehicles hit and ran. Over a dozen people walked or drove past, leaving the little two year old girl bleeding in the middle of a busy street. Someone finally picked her up and took her to a hospital where she died after being in critical condition and under intensive care for a week. I cannot fathom how such heinous acts can happen. I realized that victims in these incidents were dehumanized. The people hurting them momentarily seemed to forget they were humans. Powerful groups will often treat people of different races, ethnicities or religions as second class citizens.
Cain felt intense jealousy that drove him to murder his brother (Genesis 4). Humans have let themselves be taken over by their emotions since the beginning of time. People in positions of authority have a temptation to abuse and oppress people who are under them. Just as the rich want to oppress the poor and the strong want to oppress the weak. People get caught up in their everyday lives and do not take the time to help someone in need. Maybe if we remembered that we are all humans and loved our neighbors; the world would be a better place.
I heard a priest say that world peace must start on a personal and individual level. If you want the world to be a better place, you need to work towards it in your everyday life. This goes beyond do not steal or murder. If someone cuts you off in traffic, try to be patient. Rather honking and cursing to yourself, let it go and remember that person may be having a bad day. When you have a conflict, try to see the other person’s perspective in the situation. If someone is in need, push aside your own agenda for a moment and see what you can do to help.
I see that the world has gradually gotten better and I know we will continue to. Just a hundred and fifty years ago, slavery was legal in this country. Forty years ago African Americans were free but were still segregated. But today, we have an African American president. Although there will always be evil in the world and humans will always have temptation to sin, we will keep on improving.
In my first class today, I had a guest speaker from an agency that serves male prostitutes. He shared horrifying stories of childhood sexual abuse, homelessness, oppression and persecution experienced by these men. Then in my second class the lecture was on slavery and segregation against African Americans. Later I read a news story that was very tragic. A security video in China showed a car that run over a toddler, slowed down, and then ran over her once again with the back tire. The next car ran over her as well, hitting the already severely injured child. Both vehicles hit and ran. Over a dozen people walked or drove past, leaving the little two year old girl bleeding in the middle of a busy street. Someone finally picked her up and took her to a hospital where she died after being in critical condition and under intensive care for a week. I cannot fathom how such heinous acts can happen. I realized that victims in these incidents were dehumanized. The people hurting them momentarily seemed to forget they were humans. Powerful groups will often treat people of different races, ethnicities or religions as second class citizens.
Cain felt intense jealousy that drove him to murder his brother (Genesis 4). Humans have let themselves be taken over by their emotions since the beginning of time. People in positions of authority have a temptation to abuse and oppress people who are under them. Just as the rich want to oppress the poor and the strong want to oppress the weak. People get caught up in their everyday lives and do not take the time to help someone in need. Maybe if we remembered that we are all humans and loved our neighbors; the world would be a better place.
I heard a priest say that world peace must start on a personal and individual level. If you want the world to be a better place, you need to work towards it in your everyday life. This goes beyond do not steal or murder. If someone cuts you off in traffic, try to be patient. Rather honking and cursing to yourself, let it go and remember that person may be having a bad day. When you have a conflict, try to see the other person’s perspective in the situation. If someone is in need, push aside your own agenda for a moment and see what you can do to help.
I see that the world has gradually gotten better and I know we will continue to. Just a hundred and fifty years ago, slavery was legal in this country. Forty years ago African Americans were free but were still segregated. But today, we have an African American president. Although there will always be evil in the world and humans will always have temptation to sin, we will keep on improving.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Death Penalty
In 1993, Gary Gaugher called McHenry County police after seeing his parents’ dead bodies, according to a PBS newscast. After an interview with law enforcement officials, they claimed that they had received a confession from him, but it was not recorded and Gaugher denied it. He was arrested and put on trial for two counts of murder. Physical evidence found was inconclusive. He was found guilty and sentenced to death, although he continued to claim his innocence. On an appeal, it was reduced to life in prison. Gaugher was eventually granted a retrial on the grounds that there was no evidence of his confession. He was released from prison after three years. Two men later were later arrested for the murders and convicted based on their own confessions and DNA evidence. According to the Northwestern University School of Law Center on Wrongful Convictions, Gaugher said at his release, “Until this, I really believed in the criminal justice system”.
Gaugher was one of thirteen men in Illinois released from death row because of innocence between when the United States reinstated the death penalty in 1972 and 2000. In response to the potential deaths of these innocent men, Governor George Ryan declared a moratorium on the death penalty in 2000. The 167 people that were on the death row then were given life sentences in prison, according to the Chicago Tribune. He called for a review on the death penalty before it could be reinstated. In a speech, Ryan stated that “Our capital system is haunted by the demon of error: error in determining guilt and error in determining who among the guilty deserves to die. What effect was race having? What effect was poverty having?” The moratorium is still in effect, and no one has been executed in ten years.
On March 9, 2011, Governor Pat Quinn signed a bill ending the death penalty in Illinois. He also commuted the fifteen people on death row to life in prison. Illinois is now one of fifteen states and the District of Columbia that does not have the death penalty, according to Amnesty International. However, one member of the state senate and a member of the state house are already calling for reinstatement, according to the Chicago Tribune. They have introduced a bill that the death penalty should be allowed for the murder of a police officer, firefighter or trial witness, and also for multiple murders or torture.
Some people feel the death penalty is necessary to deter crime and to help the families of victims. However, George Ryan said when he declared the moratorium, “Yet if I did not take this action, I feared that there would be no comprehensive and thorough inquiry into the guilt of the individuals on death row or of the fairness of the sentences applied.... Abraham Lincoln said, ‘I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.’ I can only hope that will be so.” The state cannot bring back a murder victim by killing the murderer. Gandhi is attributed to saying, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”.
The death penalty is a final act that cannot be undone if innocence is found. Our justice system is imperfect and errors are made. As humans, we can never have a perfect system, so we should not practice irreversible killing. When Jesus saw the women in adultery that was about to be executed, he did not support it. He said, “Let he who is without sin among you cast the first stone” (John 8:7).
Gaugher was one of thirteen men in Illinois released from death row because of innocence between when the United States reinstated the death penalty in 1972 and 2000. In response to the potential deaths of these innocent men, Governor George Ryan declared a moratorium on the death penalty in 2000. The 167 people that were on the death row then were given life sentences in prison, according to the Chicago Tribune. He called for a review on the death penalty before it could be reinstated. In a speech, Ryan stated that “Our capital system is haunted by the demon of error: error in determining guilt and error in determining who among the guilty deserves to die. What effect was race having? What effect was poverty having?” The moratorium is still in effect, and no one has been executed in ten years.
On March 9, 2011, Governor Pat Quinn signed a bill ending the death penalty in Illinois. He also commuted the fifteen people on death row to life in prison. Illinois is now one of fifteen states and the District of Columbia that does not have the death penalty, according to Amnesty International. However, one member of the state senate and a member of the state house are already calling for reinstatement, according to the Chicago Tribune. They have introduced a bill that the death penalty should be allowed for the murder of a police officer, firefighter or trial witness, and also for multiple murders or torture.
Some people feel the death penalty is necessary to deter crime and to help the families of victims. However, George Ryan said when he declared the moratorium, “Yet if I did not take this action, I feared that there would be no comprehensive and thorough inquiry into the guilt of the individuals on death row or of the fairness of the sentences applied.... Abraham Lincoln said, ‘I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.’ I can only hope that will be so.” The state cannot bring back a murder victim by killing the murderer. Gandhi is attributed to saying, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”.
The death penalty is a final act that cannot be undone if innocence is found. Our justice system is imperfect and errors are made. As humans, we can never have a perfect system, so we should not practice irreversible killing. When Jesus saw the women in adultery that was about to be executed, he did not support it. He said, “Let he who is without sin among you cast the first stone” (John 8:7).
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Anticipation
I typed the word "anticipation" into to the title and looked it up dictionary.com. and I saw the definitions as:
1.
the act of anticipating or the state of being anticipated.
2.
realization in advance; foretaste.
3.
expectation or hope.
And now I think a better word to describe what I'm feeling right now may be "apprehension".
1.
anticipation of adversity or misfortune; suspicion or fear of future trouble or evil.
2.
the faculty or act of apprehending, especially intuitive understanding; perception on a direct and immediate level.
3.
acceptance of or receptivity to information without passing judgment on its validity, often without complete comprehension
But these seems like I'm definitely expecting something bad, and in some ways I really just don't know. Perhaps "concern"? Anyways, I'm in the calm before the storm. Summer is about halfway through, and boring as usual. At least I have work to keep me busy two days a week. Looking back at last semester I don't know how I got through it. And my next semester is going to suck too. Maybe more or maybe less. But everything will ride on this. I really can't believe that I'm halfway through college. Halfway. At least if you do the traditional four year route, which I hope to God that I will.
But I realize that college for me personally hasn't been about what I have learned in the classroom. I figured out in high school that most education is pretty pointless, and grades are not a measure of success. The experience of college has totally changed me as a person. And some of the crappy things that happened to me last semester I wouldn't trade in for the world because of what I got out of it. When my high level of stress, partly from my health problems, caused me to have a conflict with a roommate it made one thing lead to another, and give me an answer to question that I'd been asking God for years and in some ways was angry about. And I was really satisfied with the fact that I could figure out for myself through my experiences.
It sucks to be on a such restricted diet while living in a dorm and only having access to a microwave and not even having a car to get to Trader Joe's. Gone are the days when I can be a normal college student, swipe my ID at the dining hall, and voila. Gone are the days when I can take advantage of free pizza. Yet this has taught me to plan ahead and to be creative and resourceful. I've learned how to make omelets and quesadillas in the microwave.
I learned to advocate for myself. Last semester I learned how to talk to on campus to get what I needed. I begged to the Office of Learning Services to give me a stats tutor for a few weeks until they gave in. I learned how to deal with requesting custom meals and then requesting a meal plan exemption all together because I just couldn't get meals without the risk of cross-contimation. I spent time and stress away from my schoolwork to try to arrange a better housing option for next year so that I could cook for myself, only to end up back in the dorms. I've learned how to adapt to challenges and adversity.
I've been told by several people that they think I've had a rough life. Well, yes, I've had had some crappy things happen to me, but hasn't everyone? To be honest, I feel sorry for people who give up to easily. In my life, I've had to try hard and often fail several times before I can get what I want. It kills me to watch people snap their fingers, and either get it the first time or just give up. If I want something, I don't let anything get in my way.
I've also learned about how people bring different perspectives into situations and have different values. I had an assignment last semester to reflect on personal experiences with diversity I have had in my life involving race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, and socioeconomic class in a twelve paged single spaced paper. By recalling and reflecting all of these experiences, I realized about how everyone has different characteristics, but we are still all a part of the same humanity. I also grasped that God did not create races, ethnicities, or disabilities. He created each person as an individual and then society created labels and categories. I now strive to see everyone as an individual created by God. Disability, ability, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic class does influence who someone is. But there should not be generalizations based on these things. We do not need to categorize or stereotype.
People from different backgrounds will bring different perspectives into situations. I am now almost halfway through my college experience. I think that the main thing that I have learned by going away to school is to be more open-minded about other people’s beliefs and opinions. I went to a large public high school that I considered to be very diverse, but college has been a whole other experience. By meeting people from around the country and from different cultures and backgrounds, I have been exposed to different perspectives then the ones I have grown up with. During the first few weeks of my freshman year, I felt a little intimidated being exposed to such a range of new ideas. However, I have found myself starting to be more open to different thoughts and sometimes to even question my own beliefs. I think it is important to remember and respect that people will bring their own perspectives into situations. When having a conflict with someone, it may be caused by different values and listening to each other’s sides may make it easier. Most of what I have learned about diversity has not come from the classroom, but by meeting, interacting with, and attempting to understand different people in my everyday life.
I recall towards the end of my senior year of high school when I got cold feet about going away to college. I sought advice from older friends who had chosen to gone away and got the same answers: That it would be rough, but it was an experience that could never be duplicated and would change you for the better. I'm grateful I took the leap.
I know the fall will be hard. But I anticiapte the next step in my life and want to see what I can gain from each challenge. I'm grateful from the perspecitves I've gained from my experiences and look forward to what will happen next.
1.
the act of anticipating or the state of being anticipated.
2.
realization in advance; foretaste.
3.
expectation or hope.
And now I think a better word to describe what I'm feeling right now may be "apprehension".
1.
anticipation of adversity or misfortune; suspicion or fear of future trouble or evil.
2.
the faculty or act of apprehending, especially intuitive understanding; perception on a direct and immediate level.
3.
acceptance of or receptivity to information without passing judgment on its validity, often without complete comprehension
But these seems like I'm definitely expecting something bad, and in some ways I really just don't know. Perhaps "concern"? Anyways, I'm in the calm before the storm. Summer is about halfway through, and boring as usual. At least I have work to keep me busy two days a week. Looking back at last semester I don't know how I got through it. And my next semester is going to suck too. Maybe more or maybe less. But everything will ride on this. I really can't believe that I'm halfway through college. Halfway. At least if you do the traditional four year route, which I hope to God that I will.
But I realize that college for me personally hasn't been about what I have learned in the classroom. I figured out in high school that most education is pretty pointless, and grades are not a measure of success. The experience of college has totally changed me as a person. And some of the crappy things that happened to me last semester I wouldn't trade in for the world because of what I got out of it. When my high level of stress, partly from my health problems, caused me to have a conflict with a roommate it made one thing lead to another, and give me an answer to question that I'd been asking God for years and in some ways was angry about. And I was really satisfied with the fact that I could figure out for myself through my experiences.
It sucks to be on a such restricted diet while living in a dorm and only having access to a microwave and not even having a car to get to Trader Joe's. Gone are the days when I can be a normal college student, swipe my ID at the dining hall, and voila. Gone are the days when I can take advantage of free pizza. Yet this has taught me to plan ahead and to be creative and resourceful. I've learned how to make omelets and quesadillas in the microwave.
I learned to advocate for myself. Last semester I learned how to talk to on campus to get what I needed. I begged to the Office of Learning Services to give me a stats tutor for a few weeks until they gave in. I learned how to deal with requesting custom meals and then requesting a meal plan exemption all together because I just couldn't get meals without the risk of cross-contimation. I spent time and stress away from my schoolwork to try to arrange a better housing option for next year so that I could cook for myself, only to end up back in the dorms. I've learned how to adapt to challenges and adversity.
I've been told by several people that they think I've had a rough life. Well, yes, I've had had some crappy things happen to me, but hasn't everyone? To be honest, I feel sorry for people who give up to easily. In my life, I've had to try hard and often fail several times before I can get what I want. It kills me to watch people snap their fingers, and either get it the first time or just give up. If I want something, I don't let anything get in my way.
I've also learned about how people bring different perspectives into situations and have different values. I had an assignment last semester to reflect on personal experiences with diversity I have had in my life involving race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, and socioeconomic class in a twelve paged single spaced paper. By recalling and reflecting all of these experiences, I realized about how everyone has different characteristics, but we are still all a part of the same humanity. I also grasped that God did not create races, ethnicities, or disabilities. He created each person as an individual and then society created labels and categories. I now strive to see everyone as an individual created by God. Disability, ability, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic class does influence who someone is. But there should not be generalizations based on these things. We do not need to categorize or stereotype.
People from different backgrounds will bring different perspectives into situations. I am now almost halfway through my college experience. I think that the main thing that I have learned by going away to school is to be more open-minded about other people’s beliefs and opinions. I went to a large public high school that I considered to be very diverse, but college has been a whole other experience. By meeting people from around the country and from different cultures and backgrounds, I have been exposed to different perspectives then the ones I have grown up with. During the first few weeks of my freshman year, I felt a little intimidated being exposed to such a range of new ideas. However, I have found myself starting to be more open to different thoughts and sometimes to even question my own beliefs. I think it is important to remember and respect that people will bring their own perspectives into situations. When having a conflict with someone, it may be caused by different values and listening to each other’s sides may make it easier. Most of what I have learned about diversity has not come from the classroom, but by meeting, interacting with, and attempting to understand different people in my everyday life.
I recall towards the end of my senior year of high school when I got cold feet about going away to college. I sought advice from older friends who had chosen to gone away and got the same answers: That it would be rough, but it was an experience that could never be duplicated and would change you for the better. I'm grateful I took the leap.
I know the fall will be hard. But I anticiapte the next step in my life and want to see what I can gain from each challenge. I'm grateful from the perspecitves I've gained from my experiences and look forward to what will happen next.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
I want to...
-Wear a kilt and play the bagpipes
-Go zip-lining through the rain forest
-Take a Greyhound bus across the country
-Take a train across Europe
-Pitch a tent on a public beach in Hawaii
-Have a job as a tour guide
-Rescue an abandoned dog
-Get something I wrote published
-See a waterfall
-Become more self-confident
-Learn more Spanish & sign language
-Wade in a fountain in the moonlight
-Ride a Segway along Lake Michigan
-Have a mooter scooter
-Have a job at a coffee shop
-Make a difference in someone's life
-Live a life worth living
-Work at the Waa Waa gas station in Virgina
-Go to Cedar Point and ride every roller coaster
-Work at an amusement park
-Go to bartending school
-Learn how to knit, and knit sweaters for small dogs
-Go zip-lining through the rain forest
-Take a Greyhound bus across the country
-Take a train across Europe
-Pitch a tent on a public beach in Hawaii
-Have a job as a tour guide
-Rescue an abandoned dog
-Get something I wrote published
-See a waterfall
-Become more self-confident
-Learn more Spanish & sign language
-Wade in a fountain in the moonlight
-Ride a Segway along Lake Michigan
-Have a mooter scooter
-Have a job at a coffee shop
-Make a difference in someone's life
-Live a life worth living
-Work at the Waa Waa gas station in Virgina
-Go to Cedar Point and ride every roller coaster
-Work at an amusement park
-Go to bartending school
-Learn how to knit, and knit sweaters for small dogs
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Little Things I Love
I live for life's little pleasures:
:: puppies: :trampolines: :jumping in the leaves: :Wii: :diet coke: :manicures: :icees: :shopping: :animals: :winter: :elliptical: :sociology: :praying: :lip gloss: :Pac-man: :cherries: :pay day: :umbrellas: :texting: :pedicures: :reading: :naps: :Redbox: :hugs: :soccer: :hot tubs: :orange tic tacs: :roller skating: :necklaces: :Christmas: :rainbows: :my laptop: :sidewalk chalk: :you tube: :sunsets: the beach: :downtown Chicago: :poetry: :smoothies: :ice skating: :vacations: :spring: :iced tea: :snowflakes: :driving: :Starbuck's: :blogs: :fall: :biking: :politics: :outcry: :magazines: :bouncy balls: :posters: :music: :doodling: stargazing: :babysitting: :Pandora: :massages: :photographs: :notebooks: :breath mints: :mascara: :coloring: :baking: :pet sitting: :shopping: :late nights: :bowling: :books: :brick walls: :newly sharpened pencils: :full moons: :chai tea: Whole Foods: :musicals: :swimming: :laughter: :concerts: :trees: :iPods: :purple: :Disney: :feathers: :kittens: :chess: :toaster ovens: :vegetarianism: :Target: :diet cherry dr. pepper: big sunglasses: :yoga: :sleeping in: :editorials: :fuzzy slippers: :board games: :sweatpants: :improv shows: :quotes: :dry erase boards: :earrings: :flip flops: :swordfights: :pinball machines: :big hoodies: :gluten free: :playing cards: :snowball fights: :clicky pens: :movie nights: :post it notes: :pillow fights: :sneezing: :strawberries: :game nights: :pickles: :sunshine: :windows: :whirlpools: :theater: :social work: :crayons: :tacos: :mini golf: :kickboxing: :Eeyore: :history: :dance parties: :on demand: :Frisbee golf: :coffee: :theology: :notepads: :bunnies: :Tweedy Bird: :bumper cars: :rain: :picture frames: :waterfalls: :fortune cookies: :tissue paper: :shopping cart races: :Magic 8 balls: :pinwheels: :kaleidoscopes: :Carbiou: :crystals: :telescopes: :skipping rocks: :bridges: :calculators: :lighthouses: :Apples to Apples: :singing to the car radio: :museums: :hearts: :Jenga: :peace signs: :faux fur: :earmuffs: :dog walking: :ice cream: :guinea pigs: :ninjas: :black & white: :blueberries: :cheetah print: :pink: :bonfires: :bean bags: :summer nights: :Tinkerbell: :mittens: :working out: :rollercoasters: :chocolate: :carnival games: :Chipolte: :gel pens: :wrapping paper: :cushions: :booths: :towel animals: :blankets: :the mall: :sculptures: :
:: puppies: :trampolines: :jumping in the leaves: :Wii: :diet coke: :manicures: :icees: :shopping: :animals: :winter: :elliptical: :sociology: :praying: :lip gloss: :Pac-man: :cherries: :pay day: :umbrellas: :texting: :pedicures: :reading: :naps: :Redbox: :hugs: :soccer: :hot tubs: :orange tic tacs: :roller skating: :necklaces: :Christmas: :rainbows: :my laptop: :sidewalk chalk: :you tube: :sunsets: the beach: :downtown Chicago: :poetry: :smoothies: :ice skating: :vacations: :spring: :iced tea: :snowflakes: :driving: :Starbuck's: :blogs: :fall: :biking: :politics: :outcry: :magazines: :bouncy balls: :posters: :music: :doodling: stargazing: :babysitting: :Pandora: :massages: :photographs: :notebooks: :breath mints: :mascara: :coloring: :baking: :pet sitting: :shopping: :late nights: :bowling: :books: :brick walls: :newly sharpened pencils: :full moons: :chai tea: Whole Foods: :musicals: :swimming: :laughter: :concerts: :trees: :iPods: :purple: :Disney: :feathers: :kittens: :chess: :toaster ovens: :vegetarianism: :Target: :diet cherry dr. pepper: big sunglasses: :yoga: :sleeping in: :editorials: :fuzzy slippers: :board games: :sweatpants: :improv shows: :quotes: :dry erase boards: :earrings: :flip flops: :swordfights: :pinball machines: :big hoodies: :gluten free: :playing cards: :snowball fights: :clicky pens: :movie nights: :post it notes: :pillow fights: :sneezing: :strawberries: :game nights: :pickles: :sunshine: :windows: :whirlpools: :theater: :social work: :crayons: :tacos: :mini golf: :kickboxing: :Eeyore: :history: :dance parties: :on demand: :Frisbee golf: :coffee: :theology: :notepads: :bunnies: :Tweedy Bird: :bumper cars: :rain: :picture frames: :waterfalls: :fortune cookies: :tissue paper: :shopping cart races: :Magic 8 balls: :pinwheels: :kaleidoscopes: :Carbiou: :crystals: :telescopes: :skipping rocks: :bridges: :calculators: :lighthouses: :Apples to Apples: :singing to the car radio: :museums: :hearts: :Jenga: :peace signs: :faux fur: :earmuffs: :dog walking: :ice cream: :guinea pigs: :ninjas: :black & white: :blueberries: :cheetah print: :pink: :bonfires: :bean bags: :summer nights: :Tinkerbell: :mittens: :working out: :rollercoasters: :chocolate: :carnival games: :Chipolte: :gel pens: :wrapping paper: :cushions: :booths: :towel animals: :blankets: :the mall: :sculptures: :
Thursday, June 9, 2011
untitled.
I’m a few weeks out of the roughest semester of my life, but it’s the one that has taught me the most about myself, life, and God.
-Take everything a day at a time, a semester at a time, a year at a time, or whatever. Plans can always change. You can always transfer, change your major, switch jobs, drop a class, or whatever you need to. Anyone who has their life planned out is going to change it.
-Always leave yourself a way out. Give yourself a backup plan and give yourself permission to take it. I planned myself a backup but I didn’t want to use it when I really should have.
-No one is going to hand anything to you. You have to be persistent. Sometimes it means asking someone else, or continuing to ask until you get it.
-Sometimes you have to confront people if you have a problem. If you ignore it, it tends to just get worse.
-Watch what you say about other people, chances are it will get back to them…and may not be worded the way that you intended it.
-Sometimes you have to give up. Or take a break and try again later. Sometimes success comes from accepting failure and growing from it; rather than refusing to give yourself permission to give up or fail
-There are some things you just have to leave to chance; you can’t just force things to turn out the way that you planned
-With that, being in control is just so overrated some times. There were times I would get anxious and desperate to be able to control something. The times that I realized I couldn't be in control and let go; it just felt amazing.
Above all-this verse is always ingrained into my head. I made it my email signature this semester.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me-Philippians 4:13
-Take everything a day at a time, a semester at a time, a year at a time, or whatever. Plans can always change. You can always transfer, change your major, switch jobs, drop a class, or whatever you need to. Anyone who has their life planned out is going to change it.
-Always leave yourself a way out. Give yourself a backup plan and give yourself permission to take it. I planned myself a backup but I didn’t want to use it when I really should have.
-No one is going to hand anything to you. You have to be persistent. Sometimes it means asking someone else, or continuing to ask until you get it.
-Sometimes you have to confront people if you have a problem. If you ignore it, it tends to just get worse.
-Watch what you say about other people, chances are it will get back to them…and may not be worded the way that you intended it.
-Sometimes you have to give up. Or take a break and try again later. Sometimes success comes from accepting failure and growing from it; rather than refusing to give yourself permission to give up or fail
-There are some things you just have to leave to chance; you can’t just force things to turn out the way that you planned
-With that, being in control is just so overrated some times. There were times I would get anxious and desperate to be able to control something. The times that I realized I couldn't be in control and let go; it just felt amazing.
Above all-this verse is always ingrained into my head. I made it my email signature this semester.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me-Philippians 4:13
Saturday, January 1, 2011
100 Things I Did in 2010
2010:
1. Crystal straightened my hair and I thought it would look good with darker highlights…but I have yet to do that.
2. I had to start taking pills before eating dairy products…yay.
3. I started writing editorials.
4. I lived with two amazing girls, Brenda Romo and Marisol Miron. I didn’t know them very well at first but now they’re like my family =).
5. One night during finals I took a break from studying and me and Mari chased each other out of our room to the lounge and had a swordfight with our belts.
6. I went on Jenny Craig diet. It took ten pounds away from me and kept it.
7. I tutored people in Chicago to get ready for the citizenship test.
8. I saw Avatar in 3-D at the IMAX at Navy Pier.
9. I got diagnosed with celiac disease. Now I have to eat gluten free products and I’m one of those people that scrutinize food labels and need their stuff prepared in a separate dish.
10. I got a 92% on a speech. And I’m horrible at public speaking.
11. I visited the nice little town of Plano, IL several times and have no need to go there again.
12. I’ve learned to like vanilla almond milk.
13. I got my dog an ID tag for his collar, he probably hasn’t had one for five years and it’s a miracle that he hasn’t run off.
14. I went on an Eastern Caribbean cruise to Antigua, British & US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
15. I went snorkeling on the St. Thomas Island.
16. I got a manicure and a pedicure.
17. I learned that it feels weird to work out on a moving ship.
18. I declared a major in social work. And I’m way more passionate about that then I was with special education.
19. The faithful Wal Mart bike I’d had since second grade got stolen the last week of school since I never bothered to lock it. It was a piece of crap but it was like a constant in my life. But I have a bike that actually works now.
20. I had a job in maintenance that I had to wake up at 6:50 am two days a week for. That lasted for one semester.
21. But now I’m getting paid to writeJ.
22. I heard “Teenage Dream” read aloud in a scholarly voice like a poem by the old professor and an analysis of its theme. I can never listen to that song the same.
23. I hung out in the ARCC with Monica Brands and learned how to paint.
24. I probably wrote at least 40 papers.
25. I learned the art of all nighters; whether for fun or to write a paper.
26. I got to see and clean back rooms around the school that are usually locked.
27. I tie dyed two shirts with Brenda.
28. I carved a pumpkin.
29. I TPed and streamered Mari’s room on her birthday.
30. I went ice skating at Millennium Park.
31. I fed homeless people in Chicago.
32. I rode a CTA bus for the first time.
33. I went to Nonna’s in my dress, fake uggs, and northface after formal.
34. I saw Blindside, an amazing movie.
35. I observed people on Michigan Avenue and on the L for a sociology project.
36. I probably got blood drawn at least 5 times between donations and tests. But I only fainted once.
37. I participated in a 30 hour famine; abstaining from food & facebook.
38. I’m learning how to deal with failure.
39. I had a pillow fight in the dorm lounge.
40. I got through a chemistry course with a prof that barely spoke English. I had to read the book over and over again and teach myself.
41. I mopped locker room showers.
42. I filled out numerous job applications.
43. I met Meg Cabot in downtown Naperville with Kelly.
44. I learned how to navigate public transportation in Chicago.
45. I jousted in a shopping cart.
46. I went to the Holocaust museum.
47. I started to enjoy some country music.
48. I tried to give up chocolate for Lent and I made it a little over half way through.
49. I broke my online shopping virginity…buying textbooks on Amazon. That’s the only online shopping I’ll do.
50. I started Wii Fit workouts.
51. I wheeled around a campus in a manual wheelchair for my social work class.
52. I started taking Spanish again after a four year break.
53. I was a guest host for admissions.
54. I went to a glow stick dance.
55. I went down a carnival slide and played inflatable games.
56. I hung in out in the children’s section of the library with Kelly and we relived our childhoods.
57. I played in a playground at a Palos elementary school with Yesenia.
58. I was in a flour fight.
59. I went to a roller rink.
60. It was the first year I sat in my room and did homework like all day on Halloween.
61. I voted in my first election.
62. I started a blog.
63. I’m learning how to knit.
64. I let my brain hurt through a semester of philosophy. And I’m doing it again next semester.
65. I learned to be more open minded about other people’s views and lifestyles and to see things from different people’s perspectives.
66. I had my first and only gas station taco.
67. I had 10 minute conservation with a Catholic priest about differences with Protestantism.
68. I went to a root beer kegger.
69. I visited a monastery with Monica and went to an interesting prayer service there.
70. I keep learning that I need to stop second guessing myself on quizzes…but I need to apply that knowledge on future quizzes.
71. I got kicked out of the library several times when I stayed there until it closed. That’s like an ultimate nerd alert.
72. I almost got the point of being able to do APA citations in my sleep.
73. I learned about the importance of good communication skills.
74. I stargazed in the baseball field and listened to Christine tell Greek mythology stories about the stars.
75. I packed school supply kits with children in Haiti with special needs kids at Elim.
76. I contributed to making a 6 ft tall Christmas tree from empty pop cans.
77. I slept through the second Illinois earthquake of my life.
78. I got a George Foreman grill.
79. I went to a speakeasy party and a medieval faire put on the by the history club.
80. I want to a task force meeting on ways to improve pedestrian and biking safety in Palos Heights.
81. I donated blood twice. Another time I got deferred for lack of iron.
82. I made of a bucket list of 100 things I want to do before I die. So far I’ve done like five of them.
83. I played live mafia.
84. I played heads up seven up for the first time since elementary school. I played it for the first time using Spanish words.
85. I had many philosophical discussions with different people.
86. I jumped in the leaves.
87. I took the Meyers Brigg personality test several times like I’ve been doing since my sophomore year of high school. I also get INFP but one time this year I got INFJ.
88. Whole Foods became my BFF.
89. I saw 3 gospel choir performances.
90. I got my first henna tattoo.
91. I played apples to apples
92. I made paper snowflakes.
93. I crossed 59 with Kiley like we did all the time the summer of ’09.
94. I got contacts.
95. I went cosmic bowling twice.
96. I stayed up til 2 am with Crystal watching movies one night.
97. I played in the snow.
98. I’ve done things I never I thought I’d do having faith it will work out.
99. I became more self confident.
100. I was ready for a fresh start in 2011.
1. Crystal straightened my hair and I thought it would look good with darker highlights…but I have yet to do that.
2. I had to start taking pills before eating dairy products…yay.
3. I started writing editorials.
4. I lived with two amazing girls, Brenda Romo and Marisol Miron. I didn’t know them very well at first but now they’re like my family =).
5. One night during finals I took a break from studying and me and Mari chased each other out of our room to the lounge and had a swordfight with our belts.
6. I went on Jenny Craig diet. It took ten pounds away from me and kept it.
7. I tutored people in Chicago to get ready for the citizenship test.
8. I saw Avatar in 3-D at the IMAX at Navy Pier.
9. I got diagnosed with celiac disease. Now I have to eat gluten free products and I’m one of those people that scrutinize food labels and need their stuff prepared in a separate dish.
10. I got a 92% on a speech. And I’m horrible at public speaking.
11. I visited the nice little town of Plano, IL several times and have no need to go there again.
12. I’ve learned to like vanilla almond milk.
13. I got my dog an ID tag for his collar, he probably hasn’t had one for five years and it’s a miracle that he hasn’t run off.
14. I went on an Eastern Caribbean cruise to Antigua, British & US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
15. I went snorkeling on the St. Thomas Island.
16. I got a manicure and a pedicure.
17. I learned that it feels weird to work out on a moving ship.
18. I declared a major in social work. And I’m way more passionate about that then I was with special education.
19. The faithful Wal Mart bike I’d had since second grade got stolen the last week of school since I never bothered to lock it. It was a piece of crap but it was like a constant in my life. But I have a bike that actually works now.
20. I had a job in maintenance that I had to wake up at 6:50 am two days a week for. That lasted for one semester.
21. But now I’m getting paid to writeJ.
22. I heard “Teenage Dream” read aloud in a scholarly voice like a poem by the old professor and an analysis of its theme. I can never listen to that song the same.
23. I hung out in the ARCC with Monica Brands and learned how to paint.
24. I probably wrote at least 40 papers.
25. I learned the art of all nighters; whether for fun or to write a paper.
26. I got to see and clean back rooms around the school that are usually locked.
27. I tie dyed two shirts with Brenda.
28. I carved a pumpkin.
29. I TPed and streamered Mari’s room on her birthday.
30. I went ice skating at Millennium Park.
31. I fed homeless people in Chicago.
32. I rode a CTA bus for the first time.
33. I went to Nonna’s in my dress, fake uggs, and northface after formal.
34. I saw Blindside, an amazing movie.
35. I observed people on Michigan Avenue and on the L for a sociology project.
36. I probably got blood drawn at least 5 times between donations and tests. But I only fainted once.
37. I participated in a 30 hour famine; abstaining from food & facebook.
38. I’m learning how to deal with failure.
39. I had a pillow fight in the dorm lounge.
40. I got through a chemistry course with a prof that barely spoke English. I had to read the book over and over again and teach myself.
41. I mopped locker room showers.
42. I filled out numerous job applications.
43. I met Meg Cabot in downtown Naperville with Kelly.
44. I learned how to navigate public transportation in Chicago.
45. I jousted in a shopping cart.
46. I went to the Holocaust museum.
47. I started to enjoy some country music.
48. I tried to give up chocolate for Lent and I made it a little over half way through.
49. I broke my online shopping virginity…buying textbooks on Amazon. That’s the only online shopping I’ll do.
50. I started Wii Fit workouts.
51. I wheeled around a campus in a manual wheelchair for my social work class.
52. I started taking Spanish again after a four year break.
53. I was a guest host for admissions.
54. I went to a glow stick dance.
55. I went down a carnival slide and played inflatable games.
56. I hung in out in the children’s section of the library with Kelly and we relived our childhoods.
57. I played in a playground at a Palos elementary school with Yesenia.
58. I was in a flour fight.
59. I went to a roller rink.
60. It was the first year I sat in my room and did homework like all day on Halloween.
61. I voted in my first election.
62. I started a blog.
63. I’m learning how to knit.
64. I let my brain hurt through a semester of philosophy. And I’m doing it again next semester.
65. I learned to be more open minded about other people’s views and lifestyles and to see things from different people’s perspectives.
66. I had my first and only gas station taco.
67. I had 10 minute conservation with a Catholic priest about differences with Protestantism.
68. I went to a root beer kegger.
69. I visited a monastery with Monica and went to an interesting prayer service there.
70. I keep learning that I need to stop second guessing myself on quizzes…but I need to apply that knowledge on future quizzes.
71. I got kicked out of the library several times when I stayed there until it closed. That’s like an ultimate nerd alert.
72. I almost got the point of being able to do APA citations in my sleep.
73. I learned about the importance of good communication skills.
74. I stargazed in the baseball field and listened to Christine tell Greek mythology stories about the stars.
75. I packed school supply kits with children in Haiti with special needs kids at Elim.
76. I contributed to making a 6 ft tall Christmas tree from empty pop cans.
77. I slept through the second Illinois earthquake of my life.
78. I got a George Foreman grill.
79. I went to a speakeasy party and a medieval faire put on the by the history club.
80. I want to a task force meeting on ways to improve pedestrian and biking safety in Palos Heights.
81. I donated blood twice. Another time I got deferred for lack of iron.
82. I made of a bucket list of 100 things I want to do before I die. So far I’ve done like five of them.
83. I played live mafia.
84. I played heads up seven up for the first time since elementary school. I played it for the first time using Spanish words.
85. I had many philosophical discussions with different people.
86. I jumped in the leaves.
87. I took the Meyers Brigg personality test several times like I’ve been doing since my sophomore year of high school. I also get INFP but one time this year I got INFJ.
88. Whole Foods became my BFF.
89. I saw 3 gospel choir performances.
90. I got my first henna tattoo.
91. I played apples to apples
92. I made paper snowflakes.
93. I crossed 59 with Kiley like we did all the time the summer of ’09.
94. I got contacts.
95. I went cosmic bowling twice.
96. I stayed up til 2 am with Crystal watching movies one night.
97. I played in the snow.
98. I’ve done things I never I thought I’d do having faith it will work out.
99. I became more self confident.
100. I was ready for a fresh start in 2011.
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