Saturday, December 31, 2016
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Self-Worth: Make it a Movement
You are more than your grades.
You are more than a number on a scale.
You are more than your figure or physique.
You are more than the people that surround you.
You are more than your present circumstances.
You are more than your annual income or your material possessions.
You are more than your past.
You are more than your failures.
You are more than your successes.
You are more than what other people think of you.
You are more than what you think about yourself.
You are more.
Infinitely more.
And you are ALWAYS worth it.
#selfworth #makeitamovement
You are more than a number on a scale.
You are more than your figure or physique.
You are more than the people that surround you.
You are more than your present circumstances.
You are more than your annual income or your material possessions.
You are more than your past.
You are more than your failures.
You are more than your successes.
You are more than what other people think of you.
You are more than what you think about yourself.
You are more.
Infinitely more.
And you are ALWAYS worth it.
#selfworth #makeitamovement
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Book signing and Christmas Party
Sorry the post is so late, but I thought I would share a few pictures from our book signing and Christmas party. Thanks to all who have supported our latest anthology Hodgepodge: An Anthology by the Heartland Christian Writers!! <3
My mom and I upon arriving at the party. :)
Some of the writers as we were signing the books...such a wonderful group of people!! <3
Our book!! If you haven't had the chance yet, check it out on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other major distributors. Also, feel free to check out L2L2 Publishing...the best publishing company in the world! :) <3
Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Welcome to "The Divided States of America"
As I'm sure many of you know, Donald Trump won the presidency last night. It is a result that has left many people in shock, upset and angered. For many people, it's a declaration that America has officially screwed up and is now headed towards self-destruction. On the other hand, others are breathing a sigh of relief that we avoided the "greater evil" and rejoicing that Hillary did not win. Then there are people like me: you understand that America may have been doomed to have a not-so-great president from the start. Instead, you just chose which would be the lesser of the two evils, in your opinion.
But whichever side you're on, there is one thing you cannot deny. This election has divided America more than ever. It's separated the Democrat and Republican parties even more, and then caused splits within those two parties, not to mention the parties already outside of those two.
As a result of this division, people are being more and more hateful. They are not even attempting to accept the results. Instead, they are pointing fingers at which of their neighbors voted for this candidate or flaunting in their family's faces that their candidate won and there isn't anything they can do to change that. Hated, blame, and more hatred. What's even more ironic is that people are extremely hateful in posts that accuse others of voting in a hateful president.
Umm...you are aware that you and our now future president are not the same person, right?
The truth is, you may not agree with Donald Trump's policies. You may have an extreme dislike for the man and everything he believes in. But that does NOT give you a right to treat everyone that voted him in like crap. The same goes for everyone else that voted for Trump. Don't be a hateful gloater. Please, don't be that person.
Guys, you have to understand that our president does not define who we are as a people. Just because you beleive he's a hateful human being doesn't mean you have to become one. It's our job, our God-given duty as human beings to treat each other with decency and to love one another. Whether we agree with each other or not, you HAVE to love others.
So STOP.
Stop the demeaning remarks. Stop the accusations. STOP the hate.
The duty does not lie with our president to unite us as a nation. The responsibility lies with us, the citizens of the United States of America. It is our job to choose love, to pursue unity, and respect others, even when we don't agree.
Rise, America. It is high time to take our place in restoring our country, in making in great again. No matter which candidate had won, the only way things will change is when WE make the difference.
Saturday, November 5, 2016
Book Cover Reveal!!
So, it's been a little over a month since we did the cover reveal for our upcoming anthology , but I completely forgot to share it with you guys!
So, here it is, the cover to the upcoming anthology, Hodgepodge: An Anthology by the Heartland Christian Writers...hope you love it! <3
BACK COVER:
So, here it is, the cover to the upcoming anthology, Hodgepodge: An Anthology by the Heartland Christian Writers...hope you love it! <3
BACK COVER:
Hodgepodge: An Anthology by the Heartland Christian Writers
A collection of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and prose, this book is truly what the title suggests: a hodgepodge of literary delight.
Heartland Christian Writers began in 2006 when Janet Hommel Mangas decided to lead a Bible study for writers based upon Marlene Bagnull’s book, Write His Answer. Joyce Long agreed to co-lead after the study ended, and this writing group has been going strong ever since. A place of refuge for writers from all walks of life, the Heartland Christian Writers’ group embraces writers at any level who wish to learn more of their craft and advance their skill.
L2L2 Publishing is pleased to bring you this anthology.
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Monday, August 22, 2016
Of course I have tolerance...as long as you agree with me
Has anybody noticed that the tolerance movement is a little hypocritical lately? It seems as though you can't ever voice any of your opinions UNLESS you agree with that person. A lot of people have either gotten involved with ridiculous arguments or (if you are like me) have avoided voicing your opinions because you are afraid you'll make someone mad or offend someone.
This is absurd, in my opinion. I'm tired of walking on eggshells just because everyone cannot handle that someone actually disagrees with them about something. We live in a culture where topics that shouldn't even be sensitive are becoming too touchy to talk about. And those topics that are tough to discuss, no one knows how to approach their discussion because everyone gets too upset about it.
But what if there's a better way?
Maybe we can improve this culture of offense and move towards a place where everyone can simply agree to disagree. Instead of giving into the lie that we have to get offended, we can move on and not allow it to negatively impact the rest of our day (or week or life or whatever).
Instead of reacting negatively, why don't we agree to disagree and continue our relationship with that person as though there was no disagreement at all? Disagreements don't have to change the way we treat people. It doesn't have to determine who gets to be our friend or who we show the love of Christ to.
In the past year, there have been numerous people who believe completely different things than I do. People who don't hold the same beliefs as me on religion, abortion, homosexual marriage, presidential candidates, etc. At first I stayed away from them or stayed away from sensitive topics, but I am learning that it's okay to disagree. It's perfectly fine to hold your own opinions and beliefs, even if you are in the minority.
Tolerance is not agreeing with someone. It's disagreeing completely and still respecting and loving that person. It's not allowing yourself to caught up in the offense you may feel at someone else believing you're wrong. And overall, it's choosing LOVE over hate.
So next time you feel tempted to respond with anything less than kindness...remember, YOU can determine the way the discussion goes. YOU alone can turn hate into love.
This is absurd, in my opinion. I'm tired of walking on eggshells just because everyone cannot handle that someone actually disagrees with them about something. We live in a culture where topics that shouldn't even be sensitive are becoming too touchy to talk about. And those topics that are tough to discuss, no one knows how to approach their discussion because everyone gets too upset about it.
But what if there's a better way?
Maybe we can improve this culture of offense and move towards a place where everyone can simply agree to disagree. Instead of giving into the lie that we have to get offended, we can move on and not allow it to negatively impact the rest of our day (or week or life or whatever).
Instead of reacting negatively, why don't we agree to disagree and continue our relationship with that person as though there was no disagreement at all? Disagreements don't have to change the way we treat people. It doesn't have to determine who gets to be our friend or who we show the love of Christ to.
In the past year, there have been numerous people who believe completely different things than I do. People who don't hold the same beliefs as me on religion, abortion, homosexual marriage, presidential candidates, etc. At first I stayed away from them or stayed away from sensitive topics, but I am learning that it's okay to disagree. It's perfectly fine to hold your own opinions and beliefs, even if you are in the minority.
Tolerance is not agreeing with someone. It's disagreeing completely and still respecting and loving that person. It's not allowing yourself to caught up in the offense you may feel at someone else believing you're wrong. And overall, it's choosing LOVE over hate.
So next time you feel tempted to respond with anything less than kindness...remember, YOU can determine the way the discussion goes. YOU alone can turn hate into love.
Friday, August 19, 2016
Purity:It's a heart thing
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." --Psalm 51:10
I used to think that purity was based on our actions and choices. To be pure, one needs to make sure they are dressed appropriately, abstain from doing things that are sinful and unrighteous, and make it obvious that they loved God with their whole heart (or at least act like they do).
But I'm not so sure anymore.
No, I don't think doing any of these things are wrong. I believe it is important to dress in a manner that's glorifying to God, abstain from sinful actions, and share our love for God with others. But I no longer believe that's the most important thing.
"...for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." --1 Samuel 16:7
When God looks at us and judges our purity, He's not basing it on what everyone else can see. To Him, our purity is found in the heart. Yeah, our actions and decisions reflect our purity, but it's not enough to just go through the motions of being pure. If our heart is in the wrong place, it doesn't matter how many good works we've done...God looks at our impure heart.
For instance, what if you acted like the poster child for sexual purity (I apologize if some readers find this topic a little sensitive). You've never had sex, maybe never even kissed a boy, and everyone knows it. You may preach to other young people about abstaining from sex until marriage, like you're doing. But when you are by yourself, you regularly fantasize about things that completely contradict everything you say you believe in. Your actions are in the right place, but your heart is somewhere completely different.
Which do you think God will look at? Of course He notices your outward sexual purity, but He also notices the things stored in your heart.
So now, I don't think of purity as something completely based in my actions. I want to make sure that my heart is in the right place, that every thought/attitude/mentality is glorifying to Jesus. It's not enough that my actions please Him, I want to please Him in everything.
I used to think that purity was based on our actions and choices. To be pure, one needs to make sure they are dressed appropriately, abstain from doing things that are sinful and unrighteous, and make it obvious that they loved God with their whole heart (or at least act like they do).
But I'm not so sure anymore.
No, I don't think doing any of these things are wrong. I believe it is important to dress in a manner that's glorifying to God, abstain from sinful actions, and share our love for God with others. But I no longer believe that's the most important thing.
"...for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." --1 Samuel 16:7
When God looks at us and judges our purity, He's not basing it on what everyone else can see. To Him, our purity is found in the heart. Yeah, our actions and decisions reflect our purity, but it's not enough to just go through the motions of being pure. If our heart is in the wrong place, it doesn't matter how many good works we've done...God looks at our impure heart.
For instance, what if you acted like the poster child for sexual purity (I apologize if some readers find this topic a little sensitive). You've never had sex, maybe never even kissed a boy, and everyone knows it. You may preach to other young people about abstaining from sex until marriage, like you're doing. But when you are by yourself, you regularly fantasize about things that completely contradict everything you say you believe in. Your actions are in the right place, but your heart is somewhere completely different.
Which do you think God will look at? Of course He notices your outward sexual purity, but He also notices the things stored in your heart.
So now, I don't think of purity as something completely based in my actions. I want to make sure that my heart is in the right place, that every thought/attitude/mentality is glorifying to Jesus. It's not enough that my actions please Him, I want to please Him in everything.
Monday, August 15, 2016
Thursday, August 11, 2016
If all things work together for my good, then why is this happening?
I saw a memory on Facebook yesterday from a year ago. It had some encouraging words, along with Romans 8:28 on it.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
But I didn't fully understand the meaning of those words until the year that followed that post. What I didn't realize was, the heartbreak I thought I was facing then would be minimal compared to what was coming. In the few months that followed, I was dealing with a betrayal that made no sense to me and a heart that was shattered into a million pieces.
At first I told myself to trust God, that everything would be okay in the end. But life kept coming at me and every time I managed to get back up, it seemed as though life took a baseball bat and knocked me back down again. Eventually, I lost faith that God had a plan for my life at all.
How on earth could this situation work out for my good?
I started doing my own thing, not even caring that maybe, just maybe, there was something better out there for me. Depression and anxiety kicked in, and finally I found myself at the bottom of a pit I didn't know how to get out of.
This is where He found me.
It was in the middle of the chaos that I finally came back to God. I gave up trying to figure out what the point of this heartbreak was and it put in the hands of Jesus. Even though it still hurt, I decided to hold on tight and trust that He would see me through to the other side.
My confidence may have taken a major hit, but I'm more confident than I've ever been in my life. I'm more willing to take chances and put myself out there. I don't try to hide inside a shell anymore.
I LOVE people. Yes, I admit that we all have our problems and sometimes people are going to be just plain mean, but that will never stop me from loving them the way I'm supposed to. I love meeting new people, and I'm more open to friendships with people of different backgrounds, beliefs, etc.
When there's someone hurting, I try to help. I want to take an interest in people and listen if they're hurting. I've come to realize that life is not all about me (although I still struggle with that sometimes).
Above all, I know with a certainty that God ALWAYS works everything out for our good. I'm glad that I went through all the heartache and the pain. Because of that, I'm stronger and closer to God than ever.
So, if you're in a similar situation, and you don't know how God could ever work it out in your favor, just put it in His hands. Stop worrying about it, and allow Him to carry you through the pain. Eventually, you will see that glorious light at the end, and the pieces of your heartaches will come together to form a beautiful masterpiece. <3
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
But I didn't fully understand the meaning of those words until the year that followed that post. What I didn't realize was, the heartbreak I thought I was facing then would be minimal compared to what was coming. In the few months that followed, I was dealing with a betrayal that made no sense to me and a heart that was shattered into a million pieces.
At first I told myself to trust God, that everything would be okay in the end. But life kept coming at me and every time I managed to get back up, it seemed as though life took a baseball bat and knocked me back down again. Eventually, I lost faith that God had a plan for my life at all.
How on earth could this situation work out for my good?
I started doing my own thing, not even caring that maybe, just maybe, there was something better out there for me. Depression and anxiety kicked in, and finally I found myself at the bottom of a pit I didn't know how to get out of.
This is where He found me.
It was in the middle of the chaos that I finally came back to God. I gave up trying to figure out what the point of this heartbreak was and it put in the hands of Jesus. Even though it still hurt, I decided to hold on tight and trust that He would see me through to the other side.
My confidence may have taken a major hit, but I'm more confident than I've ever been in my life. I'm more willing to take chances and put myself out there. I don't try to hide inside a shell anymore.
I LOVE people. Yes, I admit that we all have our problems and sometimes people are going to be just plain mean, but that will never stop me from loving them the way I'm supposed to. I love meeting new people, and I'm more open to friendships with people of different backgrounds, beliefs, etc.
When there's someone hurting, I try to help. I want to take an interest in people and listen if they're hurting. I've come to realize that life is not all about me (although I still struggle with that sometimes).
Above all, I know with a certainty that God ALWAYS works everything out for our good. I'm glad that I went through all the heartache and the pain. Because of that, I'm stronger and closer to God than ever.
So, if you're in a similar situation, and you don't know how God could ever work it out in your favor, just put it in His hands. Stop worrying about it, and allow Him to carry you through the pain. Eventually, you will see that glorious light at the end, and the pieces of your heartaches will come together to form a beautiful masterpiece. <3
Sunday, June 5, 2016
A Letter to My Heartbroken Self
Dear Self,
You're hurting right now. You had to hear all about how your ex-almost boyfriend married someone else. The wedding pictures have popped up all over your Instagram and Facebook, even though you've done your best to avoid them. And even though it hurt, you were told that you shouldn't show that it bothered you. After all, that would be showing them, showing her and him, that they were the winners. But that's not true. Just because you're showing your hurt does NOT make you weak. You've taken this like a champ, praying for them and their marriage every single day and that God would bless them. And the fact that you're hurting doesn't lessen that and it doesn't lessen you.
You're afraid to believe in love again. You desperately want to believe that love exists and that somewhere out there lies a man that will love you unconditionally. But fear has stolen that hope. Fear that you will be horribly disappointed. Fear that there isn't somebody waiting for God to send you into his life. And fear that, even if there was, the love that he feels toward you would only last until someone better came along.
Self, you've had to watch a ton of your friends find that someone special in their life. This week alone, you've seen at least one wedding (other than your ex's) and two of your friends enter new relationships. You're genuinely happy for them, and you wish them the best. But it serves as a constant reminder of your own lack of someone special.
You know that there is so much more to life than a relationship. You have all these plans to travel to tons of countries, publish the novels you've written, and change the world. All of your energy and time is invested in building your relationship with Christ, creating other relationships, and being successful in college, Quite frankly, you're super happy with your life. And you thank God every day that you have so many opportunities and that He has put so many fantastic people in your life.
And yet, you find yourself measuring how special you are based on your relationship status. You've struggled with the thought that you're unlovable and not good enough. You've wondered why the only people that will notice you are the older, creepy men at your workplace. There have been many days where you shove negative thoughts about your own self-worth down so you can encourage other people. And nights where you've had to cry alone because you don't feel comfortable sharing these thoughts with anyone.
Dear self, listen to me. You are priceless and beautiful. There is NOTHING wrong with you, and you are so unconditionally loved already. Don't ever let someone tell you that you're not good enough. You are amazing and unique, and God knew exactly what He was doing when He created you.
Please, please don't believe that just because some guy left you and chose someone else that love doesn't exist. You may not believe in it now, but I pray every day that God will open your eyes and show you the love that exists. The love that stepped down from His throne in Heaven and died a horrible death on a cross for you. And I pray that, one day, there will be a man who knows this love and know what it takes to love the kind of precious jewel that you are.
And finally, LOVE YOURSELF. Love the person that God created you to be. Step out with confidence that you are exactly who you need to be and with the knowledge that, one day, the hurt will be gone. God will heal your heartache and restore your hope and faith, even if it takes a while. Don't lose sight of that, love.
~Your beautiful, loved self~
You're hurting right now. You had to hear all about how your ex-almost boyfriend married someone else. The wedding pictures have popped up all over your Instagram and Facebook, even though you've done your best to avoid them. And even though it hurt, you were told that you shouldn't show that it bothered you. After all, that would be showing them, showing her and him, that they were the winners. But that's not true. Just because you're showing your hurt does NOT make you weak. You've taken this like a champ, praying for them and their marriage every single day and that God would bless them. And the fact that you're hurting doesn't lessen that and it doesn't lessen you.
You're afraid to believe in love again. You desperately want to believe that love exists and that somewhere out there lies a man that will love you unconditionally. But fear has stolen that hope. Fear that you will be horribly disappointed. Fear that there isn't somebody waiting for God to send you into his life. And fear that, even if there was, the love that he feels toward you would only last until someone better came along.
Self, you've had to watch a ton of your friends find that someone special in their life. This week alone, you've seen at least one wedding (other than your ex's) and two of your friends enter new relationships. You're genuinely happy for them, and you wish them the best. But it serves as a constant reminder of your own lack of someone special.
You know that there is so much more to life than a relationship. You have all these plans to travel to tons of countries, publish the novels you've written, and change the world. All of your energy and time is invested in building your relationship with Christ, creating other relationships, and being successful in college, Quite frankly, you're super happy with your life. And you thank God every day that you have so many opportunities and that He has put so many fantastic people in your life.
And yet, you find yourself measuring how special you are based on your relationship status. You've struggled with the thought that you're unlovable and not good enough. You've wondered why the only people that will notice you are the older, creepy men at your workplace. There have been many days where you shove negative thoughts about your own self-worth down so you can encourage other people. And nights where you've had to cry alone because you don't feel comfortable sharing these thoughts with anyone.
Dear self, listen to me. You are priceless and beautiful. There is NOTHING wrong with you, and you are so unconditionally loved already. Don't ever let someone tell you that you're not good enough. You are amazing and unique, and God knew exactly what He was doing when He created you.
Please, please don't believe that just because some guy left you and chose someone else that love doesn't exist. You may not believe in it now, but I pray every day that God will open your eyes and show you the love that exists. The love that stepped down from His throne in Heaven and died a horrible death on a cross for you. And I pray that, one day, there will be a man who knows this love and know what it takes to love the kind of precious jewel that you are.
And finally, LOVE YOURSELF. Love the person that God created you to be. Step out with confidence that you are exactly who you need to be and with the knowledge that, one day, the hurt will be gone. God will heal your heartache and restore your hope and faith, even if it takes a while. Don't lose sight of that, love.
~Your beautiful, loved self~
Monday, May 23, 2016
7 things I learned freshman year
So, I just finished my freshman year of college (yay!), and this year has been one of the most challenging yet educational years of my life. Both inside and outside of the classroom, I have learned a ton!
1. Don't judge a book by its cover.
You've probably heard this phrase a gazillion times. Honestly, so have I, and I always agreed with it. However, I never realized how much I actually limited my social life due to prejudgments I had made about other people. If they seemed a lot different from me, or had different opinions than me about certain issues, I normally This year I branched out, I became friends with people that I never thought I would be friends with, and I am so glad I did! There were so many people that I never would have given a chance before and now they are really good friends of mine.
2. Never be afraid to ask questions.
I'm always a little afraid to ask questions (even though I always have a million of them!), mainly because I worried of sounding stupid or that it would be considered a "wrong" question. However, this past semester I tried to get out of my shell some and ask questions that I've been afraid to ask. For example, I have always wanted to know what Germany's perspective on World War II and the Holocaust was. I mean, every time I learned about WWII, there was that nagging question: Well, yes, we know that happened and it's terrible. But what do the German people think about it?
It just so happened that my World History professor was from Germany, and he was born relatively shortly after the war ended (by that, I mean, probably within ten years of it ending). Perfect, opportunity, right? As the semester was coming to a close, I was getting more and more curious as to what he would have to say about it, but I was terrified to ask him because I thought it might be offensive. But one day I told him that I had a question, and after skirting around with words for a while, he knew exactly what I was trying to ask. And what did he do? He answered my question and all the other questions I had along with it, and also told me not to be afraid to ask things like that because they're important to discuss. I felt a little bolder when asking questions after that, and really happy that I'd finally found the courage to ask.
3. Math!
Okay, so right now you're probably thinking "So what, you learned math. Everyone else in America learns that in school too..." However, I not only learned math this semester, but I FINALLY learned how to apply it to my life.
I am super appreciative of all the math teachers that have taught me things in the past. And I'm not knocking all the Algebra and Trig that I learned in high school. But there was always a question in the back of my mind when I learned it: When on earth am I ever going to use THIS? Well, this semester I took Quantitative Reasoning (it's one of the Liberal Arts requirements at school), and this course was all about how to apply math to our life. We learned how statistics can be used to calculate information and how that plays into our grades, probability and how it can be used to make predictions or estimates on certain events in our life, and we learned how to use math to make a budget and figure out monthly payments (and pretty much financial situation in our lives)! We even learned how to use Excel to do all these things for us. And now I know why math is actually relevant in my life...yay, math!
4. It's okay to change your mind.
When I first came to college, I was aiming for an Elementary Education major with a Spanish minor. I had no intention of changing that, because I thought I would be really good at it and I would have hopefully have some job security considering my university's statistic (in 2014, 100% of graduates received a job in the education field). But my passion began changing the more I became involved in the Spanish-speaking community at school and when I took two (practically three if I'm counting World Geography) history classes. I realized that I was intensely passionate about Spanish and absolutely loved learning about history and making those connections that are so often overlooked in most history classes.
I also realized that I didn't really want to be an Elementary Teacher. I was going for it because I thought I would be good at it, and because I assumed it was 100% the right path for me. At first, I completely dismissed the possibility of changing majors. To me, it was completely ridiculous that I would even consider such a thing. But as the semester went on, I realized that maybe El Ed wasn't for me. So, after much praying, fasting, and discussions with parents, professors, and friends, I decided to switch my major. Now I am officially a Secondary Education in Spanish major with a minor in history (whoop whoop!).
5. Professors are not your enemies.
Before I came to college, I was told that professors don't care one bit about their students. I was under the impression that you were all on your own if you needed help and you should be prepared for people that intensely dislike you. And while I can't speak for every university/professor, at my school, I've found that statement to be untrue.
The professors at my school are so amazing. Not only are they super nice and extremely decent people, but they are willing to go out of their way to help you. I can't even number all of the countless times I had to go to my Quantitative Reasoning professor for help, and not only would she help me with the problems, but we would talk about all sorts of stuff and she would let me sit and do my homework in her office while she graded. Or all of the times I went to my Spanish professor's office and left with potential internships or knowledge about foreign culture that I had never heard before. And these are just to name a couple. Every single one of them has been so supportive and helpful, and they never make me feel as though I'm beneath them or that my opinion doesn't matter. They've completely changed my opinion of what a professor can be and I am incredibly grateful that God put them in my life.
6. Forgive and move on.
There will come a time in your life where someone is going to hurt you. And it's very possible that they will hurt you really badly. For me, this happened as I was entering college, but the pain and the struggle to forgive raged on even into this past semester. Although I kept saying that I had forgiven them, I blamed them for a lot of the emotional and spiritual problems I was battling, and if I'm being honest, a part of me hated them.
But somewhere along the line this semester, and I don't even know when or how, I realized that I was a prisoner to bitterness. It had invaded every part of my life, even affecting my ability to make wise decisions, and it prohibited me from moving on. Finally I'd had enough, and I managed to forgive them. Now, I rarely think about them anymore and when I do, it's with compassion and not hatred. No, it doesn't make what they did right, but I have finally moved on and I couldn't be happier.
7. It's okay to expand your interests.
I always thought that I had a variety of interests before college: writing, reading, and music. But boy, if I thought that was a lot, then I have an enormous amount of interests after this year. I have realized just how huge a nerd I am when it comes to learning. Now, whenever I can, I love to research almost anything I can get my hands on, and I love to try out new things.
Whether's it's reading a history book, campaigning for a friend running for office (that was super interesting!), or going to an event where you're only allowed to speak Spanish, my interests have expanded immensely. And it's been so much fun! Even though I might be a little indecisive with my interests, I feel like maybe it's better that I know a little bit about everything. Who knows, maybe it'll help me become more well-rounded! :)
So, there you go, 7 things that I learned during my freshman year of college. And these are only scratching the surface of the lessons that I've learned and that I'm sure I will continue learning during these next three years. Until then, I can't wait to see what's on the journey ahead!
1. Don't judge a book by its cover.
You've probably heard this phrase a gazillion times. Honestly, so have I, and I always agreed with it. However, I never realized how much I actually limited my social life due to prejudgments I had made about other people. If they seemed a lot different from me, or had different opinions than me about certain issues, I normally This year I branched out, I became friends with people that I never thought I would be friends with, and I am so glad I did! There were so many people that I never would have given a chance before and now they are really good friends of mine.
2. Never be afraid to ask questions.
I'm always a little afraid to ask questions (even though I always have a million of them!), mainly because I worried of sounding stupid or that it would be considered a "wrong" question. However, this past semester I tried to get out of my shell some and ask questions that I've been afraid to ask. For example, I have always wanted to know what Germany's perspective on World War II and the Holocaust was. I mean, every time I learned about WWII, there was that nagging question: Well, yes, we know that happened and it's terrible. But what do the German people think about it?
It just so happened that my World History professor was from Germany, and he was born relatively shortly after the war ended (by that, I mean, probably within ten years of it ending). Perfect, opportunity, right? As the semester was coming to a close, I was getting more and more curious as to what he would have to say about it, but I was terrified to ask him because I thought it might be offensive. But one day I told him that I had a question, and after skirting around with words for a while, he knew exactly what I was trying to ask. And what did he do? He answered my question and all the other questions I had along with it, and also told me not to be afraid to ask things like that because they're important to discuss. I felt a little bolder when asking questions after that, and really happy that I'd finally found the courage to ask.
3. Math!
Okay, so right now you're probably thinking "So what, you learned math. Everyone else in America learns that in school too..." However, I not only learned math this semester, but I FINALLY learned how to apply it to my life.
I am super appreciative of all the math teachers that have taught me things in the past. And I'm not knocking all the Algebra and Trig that I learned in high school. But there was always a question in the back of my mind when I learned it: When on earth am I ever going to use THIS? Well, this semester I took Quantitative Reasoning (it's one of the Liberal Arts requirements at school), and this course was all about how to apply math to our life. We learned how statistics can be used to calculate information and how that plays into our grades, probability and how it can be used to make predictions or estimates on certain events in our life, and we learned how to use math to make a budget and figure out monthly payments (and pretty much financial situation in our lives)! We even learned how to use Excel to do all these things for us. And now I know why math is actually relevant in my life...yay, math!
4. It's okay to change your mind.
When I first came to college, I was aiming for an Elementary Education major with a Spanish minor. I had no intention of changing that, because I thought I would be really good at it and I would have hopefully have some job security considering my university's statistic (in 2014, 100% of graduates received a job in the education field). But my passion began changing the more I became involved in the Spanish-speaking community at school and when I took two (practically three if I'm counting World Geography) history classes. I realized that I was intensely passionate about Spanish and absolutely loved learning about history and making those connections that are so often overlooked in most history classes.
I also realized that I didn't really want to be an Elementary Teacher. I was going for it because I thought I would be good at it, and because I assumed it was 100% the right path for me. At first, I completely dismissed the possibility of changing majors. To me, it was completely ridiculous that I would even consider such a thing. But as the semester went on, I realized that maybe El Ed wasn't for me. So, after much praying, fasting, and discussions with parents, professors, and friends, I decided to switch my major. Now I am officially a Secondary Education in Spanish major with a minor in history (whoop whoop!).
5. Professors are not your enemies.
Before I came to college, I was told that professors don't care one bit about their students. I was under the impression that you were all on your own if you needed help and you should be prepared for people that intensely dislike you. And while I can't speak for every university/professor, at my school, I've found that statement to be untrue.
The professors at my school are so amazing. Not only are they super nice and extremely decent people, but they are willing to go out of their way to help you. I can't even number all of the countless times I had to go to my Quantitative Reasoning professor for help, and not only would she help me with the problems, but we would talk about all sorts of stuff and she would let me sit and do my homework in her office while she graded. Or all of the times I went to my Spanish professor's office and left with potential internships or knowledge about foreign culture that I had never heard before. And these are just to name a couple. Every single one of them has been so supportive and helpful, and they never make me feel as though I'm beneath them or that my opinion doesn't matter. They've completely changed my opinion of what a professor can be and I am incredibly grateful that God put them in my life.
6. Forgive and move on.
There will come a time in your life where someone is going to hurt you. And it's very possible that they will hurt you really badly. For me, this happened as I was entering college, but the pain and the struggle to forgive raged on even into this past semester. Although I kept saying that I had forgiven them, I blamed them for a lot of the emotional and spiritual problems I was battling, and if I'm being honest, a part of me hated them.
But somewhere along the line this semester, and I don't even know when or how, I realized that I was a prisoner to bitterness. It had invaded every part of my life, even affecting my ability to make wise decisions, and it prohibited me from moving on. Finally I'd had enough, and I managed to forgive them. Now, I rarely think about them anymore and when I do, it's with compassion and not hatred. No, it doesn't make what they did right, but I have finally moved on and I couldn't be happier.
7. It's okay to expand your interests.
I always thought that I had a variety of interests before college: writing, reading, and music. But boy, if I thought that was a lot, then I have an enormous amount of interests after this year. I have realized just how huge a nerd I am when it comes to learning. Now, whenever I can, I love to research almost anything I can get my hands on, and I love to try out new things.
Whether's it's reading a history book, campaigning for a friend running for office (that was super interesting!), or going to an event where you're only allowed to speak Spanish, my interests have expanded immensely. And it's been so much fun! Even though I might be a little indecisive with my interests, I feel like maybe it's better that I know a little bit about everything. Who knows, maybe it'll help me become more well-rounded! :)
So, there you go, 7 things that I learned during my freshman year of college. And these are only scratching the surface of the lessons that I've learned and that I'm sure I will continue learning during these next three years. Until then, I can't wait to see what's on the journey ahead!
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Review of "Princess Cut"
Today, I'm going to do something I've never done before and that's write a movie review on my blog. I've been wanting to share this movie with you all for a couple weeks now but I've been super busy. So, here goes!!
Summary:
"Princess Cut" follows the story of Grace Anderson, a small-town farm girl who dreams of finding true love one day. The story begins with Grace having her heart broken as the guy she has been long-distance "dating" for a while announces his engagement to someone else. She finds solace in Jared, a handsome barista who takes Grace faster and farther than she would like. At the same time, Dr. Clint Masters moves into the house next to the Anderson family farm. After feeling that something about her and Jared's relationship is wrong, Grace decides to pursue a relationship with God instead of guys. But just when God seems to finally be putting her love story together, things begin to fall apart at the seems. Will she ever find love or ruin her chances at happiness forever?
Review:
I absolutely loved "Princess Cut". It's a little cheesy, as many Christian movies are, but I thought it was extremely cute and, as a single woman who has experienced a lot of what Grace went through in the movie, I can definitely relate. I loved that they showed the spiritual aspect of the relationship and how much praying and guidance should be sought before pursuing a relationship with someone, instead of just showing sparks flying and fast-moving romance. Quite frankly, I would recommend this for anyone, whether you're looking for a cute date night movie, a girls night in, or even a young adult retreat. However, I think this is a must-see for any Christian singles...it will definitely get you thinking about the way you've been pursuing relationships!
NOTE: This post was not endorsed by any companies or the makers of the movie itself. It is 100% my opinion and was written because I really liked the movie. If you would like more information on it, you can follow the link below to view it on IMDB. :)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3175798/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Objectified
So, I was working on homework in the library the other day when I glanced up at the magazines racks, only to find something that both shocked and horrified me. There, on the top of the magazine rack, was Rolling Stones magazine. On the cover? The entire band of 5 Seconds of Summer (I believe that's what their name was) completely naked, with only their hands or small objects to cover their private parts.
Not to insult Rolling Stones or 5 Seconds of Summer, but was that really necessary?
This is only one of numerous examples where men and women are being objectified by being portrayed as "sexy" through their lack of clothing.
Now, I used to think that it was only women being heavily objectified and sexualized in our society, but I have come to realize that men are being objectified too. Women are put on the covers of magazines like Shape and Vanity, making sure they have minimal amounts of clothing to emphasize their breasts and butts, and men are made sure to have nothing less than their shirt off to show their huge muscles and "sexy" v-shape body.
But when we see those, are we actually registering them as people? Or do we just see figures meant to be used as sex-objects?
I truly believe that this one of the biggest problems in our first-world culture. Not only are we molding an image of our celebrities that suggests their worth is only in how they look, but we're teaching our generation the same thing. Teenage boys and girls, and even children, see these images of half-naked celebrities being called "sexy" and "amazing" and they believe they need to do the same thing. Our young people start thinking their worth is tied into how they look or how well their body fits this "hour-glass" and "v-shape" figure.
I don't think it's a coincidence that our suicide and depression rates among young adults and teenagers have gone up with the increase of media's presence in our lives. I don't believe that it's just chance that millions, of teenagers are following fashion trends that actresses and actors have begun. It's definitely not coincidental that I see numerous scantily clad girls and boys without proper clothing on my college campus every single day, even when it's below freezing out. They've somehow gotten it into their heads that showing off their body is even more important than their health and safety.
Why are we allowing this to happen?
Someone please tell me why thousands of those magazines are still being sold every day. Tell me why Teen Vogue and Vanity are still on the shelves and being sold to girls who haven't even gone through puberty yet. Why are we allowing this indoctrination of "I have to look like that" and "I need to be sexy" to reach our generation? Why are we allowing them to objectify themselves?
Now, I'm not saying that we need to dress frumpy or that we cannot allow even an inch of our lower arm to show, but I am suggesting that we start revolutionizing the fashion industry, that we start taking over media and magazines. Instead of letting magazines that objectify human beings--valuable, precious human beings that are smart, funny, helpful, compassionate, etc--why don't we start advertising magazines that uplift girls and boys, that tell them their worth has nothing to do with the way they look.
Whether or not you agree with this or not, their worth, and YOUR worth, has to do with a loving Father that saw all the junk and mess we were and decided to die for us anyway. It has to do with a great Creator that designed us to be exactly who we are--strengths, flaws, and all--and saw us as perfection.
That's right, teenage boy, twenty-something young woman, or whoever is reading this, you were created for perfection. Don't let anyone or anything else tell you otherwise.
Not to insult Rolling Stones or 5 Seconds of Summer, but was that really necessary?
This is only one of numerous examples where men and women are being objectified by being portrayed as "sexy" through their lack of clothing.
Now, I used to think that it was only women being heavily objectified and sexualized in our society, but I have come to realize that men are being objectified too. Women are put on the covers of magazines like Shape and Vanity, making sure they have minimal amounts of clothing to emphasize their breasts and butts, and men are made sure to have nothing less than their shirt off to show their huge muscles and "sexy" v-shape body.
But when we see those, are we actually registering them as people? Or do we just see figures meant to be used as sex-objects?
I truly believe that this one of the biggest problems in our first-world culture. Not only are we molding an image of our celebrities that suggests their worth is only in how they look, but we're teaching our generation the same thing. Teenage boys and girls, and even children, see these images of half-naked celebrities being called "sexy" and "amazing" and they believe they need to do the same thing. Our young people start thinking their worth is tied into how they look or how well their body fits this "hour-glass" and "v-shape" figure.
I don't think it's a coincidence that our suicide and depression rates among young adults and teenagers have gone up with the increase of media's presence in our lives. I don't believe that it's just chance that millions, of teenagers are following fashion trends that actresses and actors have begun. It's definitely not coincidental that I see numerous scantily clad girls and boys without proper clothing on my college campus every single day, even when it's below freezing out. They've somehow gotten it into their heads that showing off their body is even more important than their health and safety.
Why are we allowing this to happen?
Someone please tell me why thousands of those magazines are still being sold every day. Tell me why Teen Vogue and Vanity are still on the shelves and being sold to girls who haven't even gone through puberty yet. Why are we allowing this indoctrination of "I have to look like that" and "I need to be sexy" to reach our generation? Why are we allowing them to objectify themselves?
Now, I'm not saying that we need to dress frumpy or that we cannot allow even an inch of our lower arm to show, but I am suggesting that we start revolutionizing the fashion industry, that we start taking over media and magazines. Instead of letting magazines that objectify human beings--valuable, precious human beings that are smart, funny, helpful, compassionate, etc--why don't we start advertising magazines that uplift girls and boys, that tell them their worth has nothing to do with the way they look.
Whether or not you agree with this or not, their worth, and YOUR worth, has to do with a loving Father that saw all the junk and mess we were and decided to die for us anyway. It has to do with a great Creator that designed us to be exactly who we are--strengths, flaws, and all--and saw us as perfection.
That's right, teenage boy, twenty-something young woman, or whoever is reading this, you were created for perfection. Don't let anyone or anything else tell you otherwise.
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