I've been back from Oklahoma for almost 2 weeks. A large majority of the time I spent there made me want to write. Teaching every day in a classroom for two weeks gave me a brief insight into the next semester. I also realized how much I LOVE being in the classroom. Now, I have to admit some days were a little rough and I had to take my discipline up a notch, but the hard times made me a better educator.
So, some highlights of my trip:
The ride down with Josh, Curtis, and Brandon... :)
Meeting all the kids at the home
Grocery shopping... haha
Playing football with the kids
Teaching The Alchemist to 4 classes in a row for 2 weeks
Being a "cell phone wizard" haha
Sonic!
Hanging out with Carmen
Watching movies with Carmen using our SWEET set-up :)
Flavor Stix :)
Making brownies
The tour of the Cherokee Indian Reservation and the best tour guide ever: Robert :)
Playing Jr. Monopoly Toy Story edition with Brandon and Carmen
Going on a field trip
Getting hit on by little 8th graders on said field trip
Having friends call and wake me up bc they got to sleep in the next day
Getting lost with Carmen in Oklahoma City
The ride home and singing Leona Lewis "Keep Bleeding" with Curtis, Josh, and Brandon :)
There are so many other things that come to mind, but I'll stop here. I feel blessed by my new friendships and closer bonds with the others from the trip. I can't give the trip justice through a mere blog. I have learned to be patient and accepting in a new light though. My parents have blessed me so much, after working with these kids I feel so grateful... that is all.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Top 10 College Tips
It's May 1, 2008. I'm packing up all my belongings in my dorm room for the last time. Finals are drawing to a close, people are moving home for the summer, and a sigh of relief floats across this campus with a force so powerful you can't help but feel it. Another school year is coming to a close and this time it is different. Tomorrow afternoon I will be taking my last final...and it's of course for my history class. Then I have the joy of moving at warp speed and leaving Saturday at 2 for Oklahoma. I'm just so excited! ...not.
As the semester ends my new job will be beginning. I'm going to be an m.i.t. (Manager in training) at Abercrombie and Fitch at the Lakeside mall. I'm actually very excited about this job! I love working part-time at the A&F in the Village, so this is the next step, a bigger challenge to face I guess. I'm also excited to move into an apartment and decorate. I have big plans for my bedroom especially. :)
But I digress...So, what have I learned after 8 semesters, 2 maymesters, 53 classes and 148 completed credit hours? (Yes, I'm procrastinated on studying for my final exam tomorrow by adding that up...haha)
1.) People are always more important that getting the grade. I'm not saying you should slack off or anything, but if you have to pick between building relationships and killing yourself studying, I vote for the relationships every time. Good friends are hard to find, and they last a lifetime.
2.) Don’t worry too much about your looks. Trust me, they aren't everything. Leave your room without make-up and hair gel weighing you down. Feel good about being natural. Anyone who thinks any less of you for that, isn't worth your time anyways. And it makes those times you do get dressed up all the more special.
3.) Utilize the resources that are in your environment. This might be a good professor who will challenge you, building a relationship with the dean of students, taking a course that you will have to work hard in to succeed, etc.
4.) Make good friends. And when I say good, I mean it two fold. a.) Friends who are good people and encourage you to do good things and b.) friends who treat you right.
5.) Read, as often as you can.. enough said.
6.) Try and keep up on current issues. (This is still something I could be better at.) Whether you do this by watching the news, reading newspapers or the Internet, etc. You should be aware of the world around you, especially outside the U.S.
7.) Enjoy the social aspect as much as you can, but make sure you can balance your schoolwork too! :)
8.) Don't get caught up in gossip, especially when you go to a small school and have facebook to help you stalk people, it can be tempting to talk about your friends. We're all guilty, but in the end it tears people down and is NEVER good.
9.) Don't wish away your college years. There are times when you'll be stressed and frustrated but remember this is a special time in your life and you need to soak it all in.
10.) Try to be open-minded. If you go in with your mind already made up then you might miss out on getting to know a good person, making a new friend, or hearing a new perspective.
I'm sure there are more I could sit here and think of because these 10 came to mind so quickly but I feel that the cliché less is more fits well here. I'm not claiming to be some expert on "How to have the best college experience possible" but I think these might be universal and useful...that is all. :)
As the semester ends my new job will be beginning. I'm going to be an m.i.t. (Manager in training) at Abercrombie and Fitch at the Lakeside mall. I'm actually very excited about this job! I love working part-time at the A&F in the Village, so this is the next step, a bigger challenge to face I guess. I'm also excited to move into an apartment and decorate. I have big plans for my bedroom especially. :)
But I digress...So, what have I learned after 8 semesters, 2 maymesters, 53 classes and 148 completed credit hours? (Yes, I'm procrastinated on studying for my final exam tomorrow by adding that up...haha)
1.) People are always more important that getting the grade. I'm not saying you should slack off or anything, but if you have to pick between building relationships and killing yourself studying, I vote for the relationships every time. Good friends are hard to find, and they last a lifetime.
2.) Don’t worry too much about your looks. Trust me, they aren't everything. Leave your room without make-up and hair gel weighing you down. Feel good about being natural. Anyone who thinks any less of you for that, isn't worth your time anyways. And it makes those times you do get dressed up all the more special.
3.) Utilize the resources that are in your environment. This might be a good professor who will challenge you, building a relationship with the dean of students, taking a course that you will have to work hard in to succeed, etc.
4.) Make good friends. And when I say good, I mean it two fold. a.) Friends who are good people and encourage you to do good things and b.) friends who treat you right.
5.) Read, as often as you can.. enough said.
6.) Try and keep up on current issues. (This is still something I could be better at.) Whether you do this by watching the news, reading newspapers or the Internet, etc. You should be aware of the world around you, especially outside the U.S.
7.) Enjoy the social aspect as much as you can, but make sure you can balance your schoolwork too! :)
8.) Don't get caught up in gossip, especially when you go to a small school and have facebook to help you stalk people, it can be tempting to talk about your friends. We're all guilty, but in the end it tears people down and is NEVER good.
9.) Don't wish away your college years. There are times when you'll be stressed and frustrated but remember this is a special time in your life and you need to soak it all in.
10.) Try to be open-minded. If you go in with your mind already made up then you might miss out on getting to know a good person, making a new friend, or hearing a new perspective.
I'm sure there are more I could sit here and think of because these 10 came to mind so quickly but I feel that the cliché less is more fits well here. I'm not claiming to be some expert on "How to have the best college experience possible" but I think these might be universal and useful...that is all. :)
Friday, April 25, 2008
pet peeves
I have, what most would consider, a normal amount of pet peeves. I hate when people mess up you're and your....give me a break it's my major. It bothers me when a couple takes PDA to an extreme level, so that everyone around them feels uncomfortable. It drives me crazy when people are fake. This is probably one of the biggest annoyances on my list.
Usually, when you ask someone, "How are you?" or "How was your day?" They tend to answer "good" or "fine" without thinking. It's more of a reaction than a response. I've done it, but then there are times when just after I change my mind and say, "Actually, I'm stressed and tired. I mean life is good, but I miss sleeping." People tend to look at me like I'm crazy, but it's honest. I guess I'm confused on where the line is. When should we be "fake" or when is it okay to be blunt and honest.
This week is kind of rough. My last week of college is drawing itself to a close. I'm a little stressed and sad. There isn't a lot of work to get done, but endings are always sad. Emotions are running high, and I can't help but feel a little sad. When I graduated from high school I knew what the next chapter contained. Now, I'm not positive where I'm headed. I admit I'm a little scared. I know God has a plan for me, and I'm not worried about not being taken care of. However, I'm anxious to figure things out.
So, for me, I need to be honest and put my cards out on the table. However, there are those who are more private and like to give the typical "good" response ans that's okay. So, I'll always hate when people misuse your and you're, but I guess it's not that big of a deal when people automatically answer "good" or "fine" when someone asks them how they're doing...that is all.
Usually, when you ask someone, "How are you?" or "How was your day?" They tend to answer "good" or "fine" without thinking. It's more of a reaction than a response. I've done it, but then there are times when just after I change my mind and say, "Actually, I'm stressed and tired. I mean life is good, but I miss sleeping." People tend to look at me like I'm crazy, but it's honest. I guess I'm confused on where the line is. When should we be "fake" or when is it okay to be blunt and honest.
This week is kind of rough. My last week of college is drawing itself to a close. I'm a little stressed and sad. There isn't a lot of work to get done, but endings are always sad. Emotions are running high, and I can't help but feel a little sad. When I graduated from high school I knew what the next chapter contained. Now, I'm not positive where I'm headed. I admit I'm a little scared. I know God has a plan for me, and I'm not worried about not being taken care of. However, I'm anxious to figure things out.
So, for me, I need to be honest and put my cards out on the table. However, there are those who are more private and like to give the typical "good" response ans that's okay. So, I'll always hate when people misuse your and you're, but I guess it's not that big of a deal when people automatically answer "good" or "fine" when someone asks them how they're doing...that is all.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
taken from wikipedia...
Lately my main focus has been on prayer and getting back into the groove of praying. As I shudder in this moment thinking about presenting my senior project in a mere 3 1/2 hours I need to turn my attention to prayer more than ever. Of course, my mind wondered what might pop up if I googled prayer and the first link was, of course, from wikipedia. So, I clicked on it and here is "prayer" according to everyone's favorite online encloypedia:
Prayer is the act of attempting to communicate, commonly with a sequence of words, with a deity or spirit for the purpose of worshipping, requesting guidance, requesting assistance, confessing sins, as an act of reparation or to express one's thoughts and emotions. The words of the prayer may take the form of intercession, a hymn, incantation or a spontaneous utterance in the person's praying words. Secularly, the term can also be used as an alternative to "hope".
I'd have to say this is a great definition, but I hated seeing prayer described like this. For me, it should be thought of as something more personal. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray he gave them the Lord's Prayer, which we all know by heart (or at least we can paraphrase it pretty effectively). However, I dutifully looked it up for anyone who didn't grow up having to recite this from the age of 5....
Matthew 6:5-15
5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Now, correct me if I'm wrong but do any of us prayer like this each time we talk to God? No, it's merely a blueprint we should use to guide us. Our prayers should not fit the cookie cutter definition seen in wikipedia. They become useful when we connect to God through them. A prayer's purpose should not be that of a time clock... something we merely do to punch in our worship time for the day. Prayer is a gift. Let us remember to use it as Jesus intended, rather than focusing on what we should be saying... Let us speak from our hearts, that is all.
Prayer is the act of attempting to communicate, commonly with a sequence of words, with a deity or spirit for the purpose of worshipping, requesting guidance, requesting assistance, confessing sins, as an act of reparation or to express one's thoughts and emotions. The words of the prayer may take the form of intercession, a hymn, incantation or a spontaneous utterance in the person's praying words. Secularly, the term can also be used as an alternative to "hope".
I'd have to say this is a great definition, but I hated seeing prayer described like this. For me, it should be thought of as something more personal. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray he gave them the Lord's Prayer, which we all know by heart (or at least we can paraphrase it pretty effectively). However, I dutifully looked it up for anyone who didn't grow up having to recite this from the age of 5....
Matthew 6:5-15
5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one. 14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Now, correct me if I'm wrong but do any of us prayer like this each time we talk to God? No, it's merely a blueprint we should use to guide us. Our prayers should not fit the cookie cutter definition seen in wikipedia. They become useful when we connect to God through them. A prayer's purpose should not be that of a time clock... something we merely do to punch in our worship time for the day. Prayer is a gift. Let us remember to use it as Jesus intended, rather than focusing on what we should be saying... Let us speak from our hearts, that is all.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
the value of a college education
School is drawing to a close. It's the same every year for me... the last week of classes has crept up on me and now there are so many things to do in a short period of time. First, there are the papers and projects to finish and present. Next, there's registering and getting everything arranged for my trip to Oklahoma. Also, there are summer living arrangements to be finalized. Oh and did I mention presenting my senior writing project and preparing for and taking final exams? This is what college is about. being capable of taking on so many things and still managing to do them all well.
I don't think the things I have learned in college will help me much once I graduate; however, I do think the skills we obtain by taking courses and completing so many tasks at once will. I'm not discounting my education courses. Yet, I think that a lot of teaching techniques are not learned in college, but rather, in the first few years I will spend in a classroom of my very own. The truth is most careers will train you to complete the job you were hired to do. To enter into these careers you usually are required to have a college degree. Often, the degree does not even have to be in a certain field, any degree will do. (I know this is not true in my case; I need to be certified to teach...duh) However, your job does not cover much of the material you were taught in your courses at college. Rather, the purpose of you college degree is to show you can handle multi-tasking, responsibilities, and critical thinking.
I'm not discounting the value of having a college degree, but I do think its value differs from our perceptions. I guess I'm about to find out when I start my job in 4 weeks. However, I do have 2 weeks of intense training and 4 weeks of loose supervised training following that. I've learned a lot about balancing multiple responsibilities in the past 4 years. This is a lesson I will take with me all throughout life, and that is the most important thing I think I will take away from my college education...that is all.
I don't think the things I have learned in college will help me much once I graduate; however, I do think the skills we obtain by taking courses and completing so many tasks at once will. I'm not discounting my education courses. Yet, I think that a lot of teaching techniques are not learned in college, but rather, in the first few years I will spend in a classroom of my very own. The truth is most careers will train you to complete the job you were hired to do. To enter into these careers you usually are required to have a college degree. Often, the degree does not even have to be in a certain field, any degree will do. (I know this is not true in my case; I need to be certified to teach...duh) However, your job does not cover much of the material you were taught in your courses at college. Rather, the purpose of you college degree is to show you can handle multi-tasking, responsibilities, and critical thinking.
I'm not discounting the value of having a college degree, but I do think its value differs from our perceptions. I guess I'm about to find out when I start my job in 4 weeks. However, I do have 2 weeks of intense training and 4 weeks of loose supervised training following that. I've learned a lot about balancing multiple responsibilities in the past 4 years. This is a lesson I will take with me all throughout life, and that is the most important thing I think I will take away from my college education...that is all.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
inspiration: eleanor roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt has always been a woman that I have looked up to. Besides the fact that she married her cousin I have wanted to be just like her since I was about ten. She once said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."--A quote that has stuck with me since middle school.
In the beginning I'm not even sure I knew what this quote meant in relation to my life. However, now as a senior in college I have a deeper understanding of it and can relate to it on a more personal level.
I'm guilty of caring too much about what other people think of me. It's a flaw I've been aware of for a few years now. There has to be a balance between listening to our friends' constructive criticism and worrying too much about conforming to appease those around you.
Over my past four years at Rochester College I have seen many people put on faces, which they feel they need to wear to fit in on this campus. Also, I've seen many individuals who do what they want even if it might not be what's "cool". (Who really knows what that is anyways?)
I admire both groups... I know, I know I shouldn't be neutral like this but, this is my blog, and I do what I want.
Group 1 (the conformers) I admire you because I've been in that position. It can be something as simple as sitting through a bad movie just because it's the one your friends picked. I went to see Superbad, even though I knew it was trash, (funny yes, but trash) and afterwards I felt horrible for wasting 2 hours of my life filling my head with such junk. I've laughed at jokes that were tasteless and crude, worn clothing I did not think was very attractive myself, and so many other little things. Now that I'm 21 I hope to share my limited amount of wisdom with whoever might read this. Find people who like who you are. To quote Dr. Seuss, "Be who you are because those that mind don't matter and those that matter don't mind." It's okay to be weird or different. Don't worry so much about how others might judge you.
Group 2 (the independents) All I have to say is you're an inspiration to me. I don't mind being silly here and there, but I'll admit there are times when I'm not brave enough to just be myself. My goal is to laugh more and worry less even as I'm turning into an "adult"...that is all.
In the beginning I'm not even sure I knew what this quote meant in relation to my life. However, now as a senior in college I have a deeper understanding of it and can relate to it on a more personal level.
I'm guilty of caring too much about what other people think of me. It's a flaw I've been aware of for a few years now. There has to be a balance between listening to our friends' constructive criticism and worrying too much about conforming to appease those around you.
Over my past four years at Rochester College I have seen many people put on faces, which they feel they need to wear to fit in on this campus. Also, I've seen many individuals who do what they want even if it might not be what's "cool". (Who really knows what that is anyways?)
I admire both groups... I know, I know I shouldn't be neutral like this but, this is my blog, and I do what I want.
Group 1 (the conformers) I admire you because I've been in that position. It can be something as simple as sitting through a bad movie just because it's the one your friends picked. I went to see Superbad, even though I knew it was trash, (funny yes, but trash) and afterwards I felt horrible for wasting 2 hours of my life filling my head with such junk. I've laughed at jokes that were tasteless and crude, worn clothing I did not think was very attractive myself, and so many other little things. Now that I'm 21 I hope to share my limited amount of wisdom with whoever might read this. Find people who like who you are. To quote Dr. Seuss, "Be who you are because those that mind don't matter and those that matter don't mind." It's okay to be weird or different. Don't worry so much about how others might judge you.
Group 2 (the independents) All I have to say is you're an inspiration to me. I don't mind being silly here and there, but I'll admit there are times when I'm not brave enough to just be myself. My goal is to laugh more and worry less even as I'm turning into an "adult"...that is all.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
prayer
Prayer is a very powerful tool. I strongly suggest everyone keep a prayer journal because a) it's the best accountability partner a person can have b) you will see prayer working in your life c) it will help you improve your prayer structure d) it's nice to look back later and see how much you've grown spiritually.
I have gone through phases in the past 4 years of college in particularly but lately I just want to get back to prayer. My body is aching for it. Yes, I have a physical pain because my prayer life has been lacking lately. My stomach is in knots and I have never felt so far away from God. I just need my heart to be broken. My environment needs to improve. Work, school, and everything else is just too stressful, and I'm tired and hurting.
I'm going to change it up. Try and get back to my spiritual walk because I've left the path and find myself wandering to the road, which is wide and easy to travel. However, in the end it doesn't take me anywhere good. I'm hurting and it took me far too long to see what I need is prayer. I'm starting now, and I'm pledging to get back to the way I used to be a few months ago. I feel like it's conditioning. I've taken a few months off so my body is out of shape and needs to be broken. It's going to hurt for at first, but soon I know I'll be better off for it.
I ask for prayers as I make an effort here to get closer to Jesus...that is all.
I have gone through phases in the past 4 years of college in particularly but lately I just want to get back to prayer. My body is aching for it. Yes, I have a physical pain because my prayer life has been lacking lately. My stomach is in knots and I have never felt so far away from God. I just need my heart to be broken. My environment needs to improve. Work, school, and everything else is just too stressful, and I'm tired and hurting.
I'm going to change it up. Try and get back to my spiritual walk because I've left the path and find myself wandering to the road, which is wide and easy to travel. However, in the end it doesn't take me anywhere good. I'm hurting and it took me far too long to see what I need is prayer. I'm starting now, and I'm pledging to get back to the way I used to be a few months ago. I feel like it's conditioning. I've taken a few months off so my body is out of shape and needs to be broken. It's going to hurt for at first, but soon I know I'll be better off for it.
I ask for prayers as I make an effort here to get closer to Jesus...that is all.
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