Blog #14

I can't believe that WRTG 150 Honors is done.

:/

bummer really.

i just want to give a shout out to Professor Elliott. possibly best instructor ever? i'm definitely feeling it :)

also. classmates. y'all are fantastic.

I guess what I really want to do right now though is reflect on this semester as a whole. the things i've learned and want to remember

1) I am a Daughter of my Heavenly Father and he loves me. So so much.

2) I can do hard things.

3) Life is sometimes mundane. It's supposed to be that way. I heard someone tell me the other day, quoted by one of the apostles maybe(?), life is like riding a train. There are going to be moments of beautiful landscapes, or times of graffitied walls, and than there are times of simply travel...but we are all just on our way back home.

4) Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.

5) "We should involve the Savior in every aspect of our life...because he already is"

6) My life is a gift. My life has a plan. My life has a purpose, in heaven began... I will follow God's plan for me.

7) I get to choose what my life is going to look like. small decisions lead to the big

8) Listen to the prophet's and apostles. They truly are the mouthpiece of the Lord.

9) Listen to the Spirit. Strictly follow.

10) He lives.

I am grateful for the semester, and all the personal growth that it has brought for me!

I pray I never forget.

Blog #13

Well?

...Ya.

What a BLESSING it was to go to London! :)

Kind of academic suicide...but it really has been worth every sacrifice I've had to make.

The first day we got there and visited Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and Tower Bridge. But then went to sleepies, because DANG JET LAG!

The next day we attended Windsor Castle. That mostly took up our entire day but it was so stinking fun. It was about an hour and a half outside of London, so our family hopped on a quaint little train and headed to see the Queen! haha. We spent an hour our two going through the exhibits of the castle there. Then we went to the River Thames just underneath the castle. We fed swans! haha. it was great fun. then we had dinner...oh man... it was the most adorable little restaurant I have ever seen. We sat outside surrounded by the glorious trees and flowers, looking up to the castle! We returned late that night.

The next day we went to the London temple. WOOO_HOOO. my brothers and I got to participate in baptisms there. it just made me realize JUST HOW MUCH WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE! Then we walked around the gardens there for a little bit. and then went to another quaint eating revenue. I'm telling ya. They just dot the landscape! AWH. I'm in love. haha. And for inside jokes purposes: GIANT OATY NOBBLY. :) Then we went and viewed the "essentials". Big Ben, Parliament, the London Eye. TOO MUCH FUN.

Saturday we filmed with my papa at the St. Luke's Cathedral. My my it was beautiful... We just got to sit there, listening to a beautiful choir fill the empty spaces of that beautiful cathedral. AND? I met my childhood rolemodel. WENDY. From peter pan. It was so stinking intimidating, meeting the girl I wished I could be for so many years. Super cool though! And that night we went to Wicked. Love that show!

Sunday we played it more layed back and just went to the countryside. We saw stonehenge! but really just enjoyed the countryside, namely salisbury. It may have been one of my favorite days. Just gathered at a park, with my family, of which i love more than ANYTHING ON EARTH. :) Yup. Salisbury was beautiful.

But ya! There was my slight itinerary.

Really though? The thing that I loved the most while I was there? MY FAMILY :)

Blog #12. Jessica=1 Personal Demon=0

My issues paper went pretty well in the end :) I couldn't be happier!

At this point I would like to share my brief history of... DUN DUN DUN... research papers.

In high school I had a writing teacher who really didn't favor me. It was unfortunate enough that he disliked me at the start, but then it was even worse when I gave him reason to. Let me explain.

During the final months of the class I was taking from him, I found myself very consumed in the school production I was involved in. This was right around the time that we were beginning research for our papers. I found myself waking up in the morning, going to school, coming home, showering, eating food, heading back to the school to do my hair and make-up, PERFORM, and then come home and attempt any homework into the late night hours. Needless to say, there were days my homework wasn't very good, and there were days more homework wasn't very, done. He knew my situation and tried to work with me, because I literally had NO time. But it was just kind of an awkward position for everybody.

Once the play was finished I found myself very much involved in my studies, unfortunately, I had fallen a little bit behind in my writing class.

It was kind of forced procrastination if you ask me.

ANYWAYS. in the end, i did poorly on my research paper. I felt like my teacher didn't give me any good reasons as to why I had receive the grade I did, and so I made the judgment call, "I must be a bad writer". I believe it too.

So, approaching our research projects for WRTG 150 Honors.....Oh ya, i was scared out of my mind. But guess what? I was determined! Determined to prove to my previous writing teacher, my parents, my friends, but really all in all to prove to myself that I COULD WRITE.

Well folks? I CAN WRITE.

If I put my mind to it, work hard, and give myself sufficient amounts of time, I CAN WRITE.

(Jess? You can do it. =] )

Scoreboard? Jessica 1 Personal Demon 0.

Blog #11

I just want to start out saying… there is only one thing better than a good weekend after a stressful week.

And that is a good weekend after a couple of stressful weeks.

Huzzah for the Weekend!

This last weekend was much needed.

(spring break would be nice too…BYU. But we wont get into that. I’m over it. Ha)

ANYWAY.

About my paper?

I am feeling pretty good! I feel like my topic is engaging, materials should be pretty accessible, and hopefully I have learned my lessons from research papers past (enough that I will give myself time to write my thoughts well).

Procrastination? It’s not gonna happen this time. WoooooHoooooo.

I am a little worried about coming up with my thesis statement though. I feel like it is such a huge topic, but narrowing it down at all really limits the content I can work with <<ISSUE. It’s going to be a fine line to contemplate the next few days as I work up my thesis statement.

These are some of the things I want to include in my paper: I want to write about what developmental patterns are happening in that general age group. What is happening cognitively? Socially? Physically? Etc. I also want to write about the negative impact that environment can make during that stage, such as problems with distorted body image, eating disorders, low self esteem, competitiveness, and other common issues among teenage girls. Do you think it is possible to include all of that? Is it too broad?

Well. I’ve started looking for some information. The first thing I did was went to my Child Development teacher and asked her for some guidance in where to look for text. She gave me some contact numbers for other members in the department, and hopefully I will get a lot of help from those professors. I plan on meeting with them and getting some books, articles, studies, etc.

Otherwise, I haven’t researched more than that. I obviously have some work to do. 

I’ll get to it. :)

Blog #10

 Child Beauty Pageants:

 Though some people agree that child beauty pageants are acceptable, I personally believe that they are a huge portion of the issues girls face in their teens, and are more detrimental to the health of the youth in our nation then helpful.

 So why were they started? And how come they have become such a big thing? You know, if they are “so wrong.” Some argue that beauty pageants for children build a sense of discipline, patience and confidence because of the level at which most these little girls have to compete. They also argue that is instills in a lot of the girls a love for charity, because most pageants are involved with the community through donations and outreach. They also argue that they teach the girls to focus on education, because the winners are not only given prizes but scholarships as well.

I personally have to disagree.

In my paper I plan on focusing on all of the social problems teenage girls are faced with today that may in fact stem from this early exposure to glitz and glamour. Anorexia, Bulimia, other eating disorders, distorted body shapes, competitiveness between girls, and other maybe less obvious issues. I plan to prove the correlation by researching the human development of what is occurring in those young girls through these pageants. Developmentally, these girls are forming personality, standards, and placing their sense of worth. If in the early years, all that is focused on is their beauty, well then OF COURSE we are going to end up with girls with problems. The affects also reach girls who are not participating in the pageants, because of their association with the girls who do. They feel compared to, less beautiful, and begin placing their values on less important features too.

I am interested to research more into the history of the beauty pageant in hopes with recognizing it’s original intent. I am also interested to research the counter argument more in depth, it is a side I currently disagree with quite whole-heartedly, because I don’t really understand how anyone could think they were good. Maybe they really aren’t—and simply a form of entertainment and fulfillment for the parents. Who knows? At least in the end I will have research to defend my argument, whichever way it may sway (more ok with the idea, or even less, haha).

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/child-beauty-pageants-pros-and-cons.html

Blog #9

Well? I am actually pleased with how my paper turned out. I think.

Can I just say? That writing center is my new best friend. I loved working with the mentors there to improve and tweak the small things.

My biggest concern is that I will not have improved the weak spots as affectively as I could portray them through vocalizing the argument. The arguments in themselves ended up a lot stronger than they had previously been, and i think it was a really driving topic.... I hope I did well writing them down on paper.

Awhh well. What a relief it's over. :)

Blog #8

Thoughts on my Analysis:

Well?

Analyzing is great.

Writing about analyzing is not.

I am having a hard time express the things I’m thinking. I can see a specific example, and I can recognize why it works, but I am having a hard time vocalizing it through written text. 

Wish. Me. Luck. 

Blog #7

Letter From Birmingham Jail. 
(I am floored. What an amazing piece of American Rhetoric)

Martin Luther does a good job of appealing to the audience’s ethos throughout his article. I felt like he did exceptionally well turning the odds in his favor at the beginning of the article, and did so as to credit the rest of his arguments and appeals that follow.

He starts by explaining how unordinary his response is, and claims that his response was given because he feels they are good men. In this case, he is building up the relationship between the two parties (him and the clergyman). He shares his opinion that these are good and respectable men, and in doing so creates an essence of his character (the he is a trusting, understanding, friend.) Right from the get go Martin Luther is conscience of his audience, and does not alienate them or their opinions.

He then strengthens this opinion of him, by sharing facts about his background. He builds his character to be much more than just a man behind bars.   He does this through statements like, “ I have the honor of serving as president of the…Conference,” or “I was invited here”. These statements give him credibility as to why he is there behind bars, and he tries to show us that it is because he IS a man of character, rather than not.

His argument for being a man of character is continued through the next paragraph as he alludes to prophets from the scriptures: “just as Paul.. carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners, so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town.”

This is an ethical appeal through its’ power as an emotional appeal. Let me explain. Martin Luther responds to his audiences understanding of religion by persuading them to draw the conclusion that he is like the prophet Paul. In other words, this comparison would have no affect unless his audience believed or related to the Apostle Paul. Recognizing that they have some connection to Paul, Martin Luther builds his character as crediting his desires as similar to that of Paul’s.

This is a very affective start to his essay. 

Peter Pan

            I wasn’t that surprised when he showed up to take me to Never Land; after all, I’d been planning his arrival for years.

            It all started with my wonderful plan for my fourth birthday party. It was to be Peter Pan themed (I as Wendy of course), and my neighborhood friends were to dress up as lost boys and Indians. I had every detail mapped out in my head. Yup, I was going to have the best Never Land party by far.

Well, July 26th arrived.  My neighbor sewed me the perfect little blue nightgown. My friends had all arrived in costume, as they should; things were going pretty well according to my master plan.  The adventures of crossing the wilderness (jumping on our couches) and climbing the tallest mountain (very dramatically climbing our stairs) had been a complete success. The cake was good, my presents were quality and pretty sure we’d already defeated ‘Captain Hook’.  There was really only one thing left to do: flying.

“Dad, it’s fairly simple. You will hook the string to our belt loops and just lift us across the yard!”

 Uh-huh, like that happened. His excuse? Well, who even really knows, something about the “physics” and “that wouldn’t actually work sweetie”…

 What was I gonna to do? I needed to fly!  I reviewed the options in my head but really there was only one possibility left: Peter Pan was going to come. He was, and you couldn’t convince me otherwise.

Well, he didn’t come; at least not for my fourth birthday, but that’s ok! I mean, he was gonna come eventually, right? I knew that time was sorta a funny concept over there in Never Land, so I patiently awaited his arrival. My Peter Pan was coming.

            *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *         *        *        *

            “Jess, we really should ride a ride together”.

 Man, could it really be senior year choir tour already? It had come far too quickly! It turns out time is a funny thing here on earth too.

            “Yes Steve, we really should. Any preferences?”

            “Hmm… Peter Pan”.

            “Haha, did you know Peter Pan is my favorite ride here at Disneyland?”

            “Is that so?”

“Really! I’ve always loved the idea of Never Land. Since my fourth birthday I’ve dreamed he would come. You know? I’m pretty sure he is still going to come get me one of these days…Haha….just you wait Steven Phillip, there are a few months left till my eighteenth birthday.. he’s got time”.

 I just couldn’t let the dream go. Part of me still longed for the fairy dust and stories to the lost boys. Not having to grow up. Though it was all pretend now, and I knew that a physical Never Land was impossible, the idea was real. I now dreamed that “Peter Pan” would come and take me to “Never Land”.

“Hey Jess.”

“Yes Steve?”

            “Could I be your Peter? You know, until he comes?”

            “Ha-for now I suppose.”

          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *          *        *        *        *  

            “Jess, what do you want to do for your eighteenth birthday?”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Gosh. Well pretty sure I’d done everything in the book. After eighteen years of birthdays I felt like I’d run out of creative things to do. Let’s see we’ve done the ice cream social, the luau, the pool party, the costume party, and the past couple years I’d done the whole “adolescent party”. You know, the ones where everyone shows up, you sit around and talk, dance, eat food, etc.; pretty much hanging out with candles on the top? Yeah. I’d conquered that one a few times over. What was I going to do to make my eighteenth birthday fun and memorable?

            Yup. You guessed it. Peter Pan.

 But I mean, why not really? Why not spend the last day of my childhood as what I was: a child? So I began planning my Peter Pan party for the second time.

            To: All Contacts

Message: Dear Friends, this next Tuesday is my birthday and I would be honored if you would come party with me! I’ll be finger-painting, coloring in coloring books, eating mac-n-cheese and ants on a log, jumping on the tramp, building forts and reading books, ultimate DAY OF PLAY! Oh, and dress up as your favorite Peter Pan character. We’ll be having cake that night around six, but feel free to come anytime from noon till midnight. Hope to see you there.

Message Sent.

            Well if Peter Pan wasn’t going to come, I was going to do the best I could just by myself. The days approached, and childhood started slowly slipping away. Dang it. Here it came: ADULTHOOD. Breath in. Breath out.

            The night before my birthday I lay in my bed thinking about my life. I tried thinking back to my Peter Pan party from age four and all that had changed between that Peter Pan party and this one; all that I’d accomplished and all that I’d become.

            Incoming Call-Steven Phillip. 

            “Um, Hello?”

            “Jess, you should probably come outside right now.”

            “What are you talking about? Dude…it’s eleven thirty at night.”

            “Oh come on! Your dream man is here to get you.”

            “What are you talking about Steve?”

            “Haha, just trust me. Come out to your garden.”

 I grabbed my brothers “Jon and Michael” and ran outside. There he sat.

Now, I’d always imagined my Peter Pan in green. The movie led me astray. Because guess what? Peter Pan actually wears jeans and a t-shirt just like you and I. He didn’t need to be wearing any sort of outfit for me to recognize him, I definitely knew who this was.

            “I’m sorry it took me so long Wendy.”

            “Steve…you really didn’t have to do thi…”

            “ No no, Peter.” He gestured to himself.

            “Peter.” I repeated it.

 He’d come! My Peter Pan had come to take me to Neverland. And let me tell you, Neverland was just as good as I’d imagined it would be. It involved flying (jumping on the tramp with my Peter Pan and brothers), eating our medicine (popsicles on a blanket), and taking a swim with the mermaids (running through the sprinklers).  

Childhood bliss.

Soaking yet beaming, I returned to my bedroom that night. Millions of thoughts ran through my head.

What just happened exactly? Was I really just in Neverland? Was I ready to be back home? Oh no… what if I wasn’t ready to come home? Could I face my upcoming birthday? Could I face having to grow up?

            That night I realized what the true definition of growing up was. I thought to myself ‘if growing up means acting appropriate for the situation, but allowing myself the liberty to dream, to explore, and to still believe in fairy dust---then growing up is nothing I need to be afraid of.’

  And then it hit me--I’d grown up.

Blog #6

 ‘What Christians Believe’ is a beautiful excerpt from C.S. Lewis’s book Mere Christianity dealing with the theology of Christianity. The purpose, as stated by Lewis in the title and first paragraph of this literary work, is to tell us what Christians believe. From the very first sentence and throughout the rest of the text he works on convincing and motivating his audience to believe in the truthfulness of the Christian belief, however against those beliefs they initially may have been.  He knows what he knows is truth, and he is anxious to share that with his readers.

The central message from this excerpt is that Christianity holds key truths; God lives, we are his children, good triumphs over evil, Jesus is the Christ, and our lives should be spent with an attitude of devout discipleship. 

Unlike most attempts to explain religion though, he addresses those of the world who are un-believing or doubting.  He dissects the truths into a very analytical representation, so those who may look at religion with a more skeptical view find their questions met (whether they want to or not). He assumes that if a God does exist, and if the world could recognize it, all would want to choose the less simple, yet more ‘correct’ lifestyle. This may not be the case. There are many people I know who have had or still currently have truth, they are just to lazy to live by the standards to attain the joys of abiding by that truth. They settle for less than they deserve.

There were many examples of rhetoric throughout this piece using all three appeals: ethos, logos, and pathos. I will analyze one of each, though many examples are found throughout.

Ethos: “When I was an atheist… when I became Christian”. With these two phrases, C.S. Lewis is able to build is credibility on both extremes. Those who are religious will appeal to the fact that he is now a religious man, and will be willing to hear what he has to say. Those who are atheist will appeal to the fact that he was too. Both audiences are addressed, and feel comfortable knowing the writer is ‘one of them’.

Logos: “A car is made to run on gasoline, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other way.” By appealing to the logical side of religion, he appeals to both sides of his audience once more. Logic will build the faith of those whom already know and believe, and logic may also be the very thing that starts the faith of those who don’t believe. Not everything in religion is logical though, so C.S. Lewis explains, “if we ask for something more than simplicity, it is silly then to complain that the something more is not simple”.  Something’s just aren’t simple…religion is one of them. There will have to be areas we are based on faith and spiritual witness alone.

Pathos: Appealing to a persons emotions in a paper about religion is just sort of inevitable. I believe that it is through his logical appeals C.S. Lewis finds the most strength in strumming each individual heart. (As truth is revealed, or made clear, the spirit will bless us with a confirmation. I believe that with all of my heart. The spirit, and our Father in heaven, are guiding our lives and if we will turn to them seeking for truth, we will receive). 

The Ophelia Syndrome. Blog #5

The Ophelia Syndrome

Genre:

I’ll be honest; I am not very solid in my knowledge of genre. I feel like there are one million different genre types, and who is even really sure what they all are.  But for this reading I thought it fit most under the Informational Non-Fiction. Though it was initially given as a faculty lecture, or motivational speech :)

Purpose:

This particular text (or lecture) was given to inspire us to become thinkers and finders of truth, not just mindlessly accepting of someone else’s word. Dr. Thomas G. Plummer is definitely trying to move the audience to action. He wants people to question, refine, and solidify their opinion till it becomes their very own.

Central Message:

Not many of us ask ourselves, “How do I feel? What do I think?”---and wait for an answer. (We should.)

World View: 

I think it is pretty apparent what this specific author thinks about the world. He thinks that people are not taking the opportunity to open their eyes and minds to THINK. He understands that if people were to do so the world would be, (pardon my cliché phrase) a better place. But really. We would be surrounded by people who found truth for themselves, instead of impulsively adapting to the less than perfect leaders before them.

Tools of Writing:

A few examples…

*One of the Major tools of writing found in this text is his use of an affective allusion as he references Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

*He also uses metaphors very clearly. Heck, he tells us that’s his intention of the paragraph as he states “Most of us have metaphors…” and then goes on to share a list of metaphors. I liked the presentation of these metaphors, because though we got the immediate connection and understanding a metaphor brings, he did it in a way that wasn’t cheesy or over the top. Instead of saying, “ a metaphor is like this to me, and should be for you..” he said “these are some metaphors some kids came up with to describe their experience with the Ophelia Syndrome.”

*He also used voice. He did this by adding personal stories and individual reflection. I liked this! It made it easier to read-and I was more inclined to listen to what he had to say because, well, he was saying it; not some computer generated, not thinking, Ophelia Syndrome textbook. Ya know?

Tools of Writing were found all over throughout his writing, but these were the three that I thought were most affective. 

Blog #4

I really loved writing my personal narrative.

Really and truly LOVED writing it.

Except? THE ENDING <<It murdered, slaughtered, and destroyed me>>

Now, I’ve done some pondering…. I think this is why.

There is just so much stinking pressure to have the PERFECT ENDING.

Let’s face it. We are surrounded by stories that end with just the right flavor. Be it romantic, comedic, or action packed… you sit through that movie, book, episode, series, article, game…… to get to the ENDING.

Well? My story doesn’t have an ending yet.’

 I think that is why it was so hard! I was faced with the challenge of putting a bookend somewhere where one didn’t really happen. Ya know? My life is still going on. I’m still in my story.

ANYWAY.  It just makes me all sorts of excited to finish out this storybook of mine. To find where the pages of MY life will lead me. Where I’ll find my ending: my happily ever after.

And for the record, I did find an ending that pleased me for this paper. It just took a lot of drafts to find. :)

***

My favorite part of this assignment was writing the dialogue. Conversation kids--I’m a firm believer.

Dialogue brings voice. And character.

Example? well, I think sometimes people get lost by what you are trying to say with all the descriptions.

            She furrowed her brow as her cheeks turned a light shade of red.

Where it could more simply state: “I’m hurt.”

We have been talking all our lives. We get conversation. I loved using that for my benefit throughout this paper.

I also really loved doing peer edits. I’ve never really enjoyed them before, but dang, I thought these were fun. Maybe it’s just the essence of the paper, but I really did enjoy reading the other stories and I learned a lot about my writing through theirs.

Overall this was a really great way to start off the semester for me. I am not as good at the other styles of writing, but telling my story, now I’ve been practicing that for years ;) No, I’m just kidding. But I do think it was affective in building my confidence so I can hit the upcoming, less natural papers with power and umf! Bring it on. :)

Blog #3

So I have biology from nine till ten-fifteen Tuesday/Thursdays, and a work meeting at eleven. So like, forty-five minutes in between classes.

Well it yesterday as I was making my walk to the library thinking about all the things I COULD do with my next half hour or so when I stopped and realized the weather. OH, the weather. Overcast, rainy, wet sidewalk weather. :) It happens to be my favorite.

Why on earth would I go inside now?

So I didn’t. I put my headphones in and just walked around Brigham Square. Around and around and around. Ha. I secretly hope someone was watching, because I’m sure I looked foolish. Huzzah. But as I walked, I listened to some songs which touched me. Yes. Music is a powerful thing. Here are some of my treasures.

“I got lost a time or two,

Wiped my brow and kept pushing through” –Rascal Flatts

We are speaking of the most important of all blessings. The Lord said, “If you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.” – Russel N. Nelson

“Tune my heart to sing thy grace,

Streams of mercy never ceasing

Call for songs of loudest praise.” – Come Thou Fount

“Happy is the heart that still feels pain.” Ingrid Michaelson

            In Humility our Savior grant us holiness and love.

We also talked about this idea yesterday in my Book of Mormon class. We talked about, in Alma 37 how he tells us he forgot the sorrows of his sin, but he did not completely forget. We talked about how it is important to feel pain so that we will recognize the need for spiritual change.

Man, those ponder times really are something. It helps me connect to my mind, to connect to my Father in Heaven. I am so grateful for the blessings I receive from Him daily! I certainly don’t feel worthy to be so blessed.

I am a Child of God, and he has sent me here, has given me an earthly home with parents kind and dear. Lead me. Guide me. Walk beside me. Help me find the way. Teach me all that I must do, to live with Him someday.

Leaving Home Blog #2

 It was a lot harder than giving up some walls and a roof, that thing I’d called home.  Over the years it had become more than just my place of residence, it had become a place filled with familiar faces, schedules and memories. I was now asked to give all of that up. Who was asking me to give it up? Well, I was. And that is why it was so hard…because deep down, I knew I’d have to.

The Monday before I moved out my family gathered around and cried. OK, to paint this picture you have to first understand that my family is not a bunch of criers; something in our waterworks was broken through the generations, which gave me the blessing of the non-crier-curse. But there we sat, a family of non-criers expressing through tears emotions we didn’t know how to voice. 

I am the oldest of five kids and the idea of this eternal family unit being separated for the first time in any of our lives felt sad.  But we all knew it was time to happen, and we all knew things would turn out ok. As scary or sad as it all seemed, it really was quite thrilling and exciting too. :) All in all, I just couldn’t imagine what lay ahead.

I have a lovely mother who taught me a lot of things growing up, one of these being...ease your way into a cold pool. YUP, a pool. First step in and let your feet adjust. Then in to your knees. Then your thighs. And Hips. Just adjust, adjust, adjust.

I now stood at the edge of my situational pool. I looked around for somewhere to set my foot in to let me “adjust”. Nope. This was not the time. I waited for the right moment, and jumped; complete submersion in all things COLLEGE.

Hmm, odd, my situational pool felt a lot like EFY with everyone bringing their bags in, getting their keys, situating their rooms, the first roommate encounters, saying goodbye to family members, etc.  In fact, it took me about a week to realize….this wasn’t EFY. We weren’t going to end with a testimony meeting and just head back home. Nope, we were here for good.

I won’t lie. Times were hard. Conflicts arose. Mistakes were made. But those same times were also really good. Isn’t that how life seems to go?

For all of the anticipation that went into coming to college, I felt like my complete submergence method had worked. I started finding some new familiar faces, a schedule of my own with the creation of some NEW memories. It's true, college was for good. I mean that, for GOOD. I have learned an grown so much! Not just academically, but as a person. I will always be daddy's little girl, the family's hoo-hoo, the sister, the daughter. I will just have to do it from a distance, because now is the time to live out my college experience. 

ME. (one hundred words and counting) BLOG #1

I could tell you I find pleasure in goldfishCrackers, the smell of wet sidewalks, playing with chalk, and the warm summers sky. That I am going to sing, sing, sing, ‘like’ Facebook photos and eat cereal for every meal because I Can. Or I could say I’m prone to climb into my tree house and have a salsa party with my siblings.That part of me still believes in Santa Clause or I cry when I see a snake. I could tell you this, or that, or these, or those. But if you really want to know me? Well, Let's Talk:)