Last Post, For Now

Although this is my last required blog for this course, I still plan on using this site to spill about my recent escapades and adventures in college. I loved being able to sit down and just free write about whatever came to mind. I am now able to look back on where I have come from as a writer and also as a person. This blog has acted as a sort of time line for me, tracking events in my life and thoughts in my head that would have otherwise been forgotten. That's the magic in writing. It's a record of things that may have been lost forever had you not sat down and written them down. I am thankful for this blogging assignment and I can not wait to write here working under my own deadlines.

Easter Sunday

I love Easter. I love the pastel colors, the big bows, the kids running around all dressed up. I love the Easter church service, the family brunches, the candies and the egg hunts. I even had a good Easter myself this year despite being away from my family. I woke up and went to church with two of my best friends. We then had lunch at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants. It was not your typical Easter celebration, but I still had a great morning and focused on the real reason for Easter. Our pastor retold the story of how Jesus rose from the tomb and how, as Christians, we have a responsibility to decide what this means to us. I liked this challenge and have been thinking about this all day. God really did have a reason for me being separated from my family this Easter; He wanted me to draw nearer to Him instead.

Easter Away

This is the first Easter weekend that I have ever been away from my family. I am one of the few kids who stayed at school and the empty parking lot view from my window is a little sad. I wanted to go home so badly, but as summer break is less than two weeks away, I understand why I am not. The good thing is I still have three of my California friends here to keep me company and celebrate Easter morning with. It's funny, growing up and growing away from things like Easter egg hunts that seemed so important at the time. I would look forward to the huge brunch, cards, gifts, and of course my Easter basket that I would find in my room every year. But now, the only thing that seems important about Easter is seeing my family and going to church with them. That is how you know you are getting older - the holidays start to mean more than just the stuff that comes with them. They mean family get-togethers and spending time with the ones you love. I can't wait for summer to be one giant Easter weekend where I can do just that.

Move Out

Today I moved half of my stuff out of my room. I had mounds and mounds of clothes piled on my bed, spilling out of boxes and on the floor of my closet. I made a large pile of stuff I wanted to donate, a stack of things to send home, and another bag full of shirts to give my little sister. Every shirt I went through had a story, a memory linked to it that I instantly recalled as I went through them. How do we accumulate so much stuff? I feel like I get rid of so many things at the end of each year but then I just buy more and more and once again it all piles up. I can't wait until I move in into my new apartment next year and get rid of even more of my clothes. But I am sure that I will have twice the amount of summer purchases to fill the space and the cycle will start once again...

Amazing Antiques

My new antique find. Obsessed!

What an amazing day I have had so far. After an indulgent nights sleep, I awoke at 11am and slipped out of bed to find that I received a job offer in my hometown. After calling the client to respond and accept the offer, I gleefully woke up one of my best friends from across the hall and we decided to do breakfast downtown. We walked into the comforting heat of the late morning and enjoyed the little slips of sun that peeped through the high clouds. The wind was warm, and we found free parking two blocks from the breakfast bakery we were going to. We had the most delicious meal and then walked to Starbucks where I tried a toffee nut latte for the first time. I have a new favorite coffee as of today. Then, we decided to do a little antique shopping for our new apartment that we will be moving into next fall. The place we went to was incredible, filled with timeless pieces from all over the world. We both instantly fell in love with the most amazing vintage dresser that we plan on putting in our living room. My friend and I decided that we absolutely had get it - it just begged us to buy it. So, after driving all the way home, talking about the thing, we turned around and went back to the antique store to get it!! Let's just hope our two other roommates will like it...

Bed Bond

There is something about a bed that is incomparable to any other place. A bed is a persons dream holder. It cradles you when you cry and it comforts you when you need it most. It is warmth and it is always there. You pick your side and that is forever your place. Your sheets swell up to your cheeks and your pillow props your neck perfectly. A bedtime is when kids drift off into the magical stories that their parents read them before the words morph into dreams. As I write this, I am snuggled up in my own cuddly cocoon, warm and surrounded by pillows and fluffy blankets. I have much to do but all I want to do it sleep. That is the mesmerizing power of my bed that I can not escape from.

"What most pleases the Lord"

"For you were once in darkness but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord." (Eph.5:8-9)
What about my life pleases the Lord? Answering this question, I believe, is one of our missions  as Christians. To depict what it is about ourselves that God loves and to keep doing it. Are we listeners, always at the side of our friends, lending an ear when they need it? Are we advisers, lending advice and instruction to those who seek council? I have yet to determine what it is about my life that most pleases the Lord. But I do know the feeling of when He approves of something in me. I get that overwhelming feeling of happiness and accomplishment that has an addictive taste about it. I know that whenever that pure sense of joy is present in my life that it couldn't be coming from anywhere but the Lord. That is what I want to do with my life. I want to take that feeling and invest it into things that bless Him in return. Will it be through my job? Through my family life? Through the way I treat my friends, acquaintances, or even strangers or the poor? I am not yet sure, nor do I know if it will only be one of these things. All I know is that it is my responsibility to find out and keep doing what pleases God most.

The Best of Friends

To catch up with an old friend is like revising a picture album with your best memories posted on the pages. I love when I get to talk about old memories with the people I have known forever. Tonight I had dinner with one such friend. We were able to talk about so many times in our life that nobody else would understand. We laughed and reflected on our high school days that we will remember forever. We also made plans for the summer that lies so soon ahead of us during which we will make more memories to look back on in the future. These are the friends that will last a lifetime. They are the ones that accept your faults and celebrate your talents. They know who you are, inside and out. The crazy thing about the friend I had dinner with tonight is that I probably spend the least amount of time with her out of anyone in my group of friends. But it is because I know how strong our relationship already is that I can be secure in our friendship and not feel like I have to talk to her everyday in order to remain close. Sometimes the best friendships are the ones that can allow a little bit of distance without really feeling far away.

Now vs. Then

It has only been two years since I entered this campus as a freshman and in that short time, countless things have changed. I have an entirely different group of friends. People who I thought I'd know forever have seeped out of my life like sand through my fingers. Just one summer passed and all of a sudden, freshman friends become classroom acquaintances, people you only say hi to if you have to. My career goals have been established and I now work towards those goals everyday. Life isn't just about being popular or cool or building a reputation. My days are actually centered abound learning more about what I want to do with my future and making true, valuable friends to make memories with along the way. I no longer go out and try to meet new guys. I am lucky enough to be in love with someone from my hometown and the social pressures of impressing the opposite sex have vanished. I am more secure, more careful, more aware. I think before I say something. I aim to try my hardest at the things that actually matter. I finally feel like I know who I am and who God wants be to be. My future is unknown, but my present is secure. I am on this path and have gone through so much already in only two years. I can not wait to see what the next two bring and how much more I will grow.

Facebook Phenomenon

We are a Facebook generation. Who would have guessed that something like social media would become such an addicting phenomenon?  I have logged on just to check my Newsfeed somewhere around 10 times today. It's sad  that we become so interested in the pictures, comments, statuses, and posts of the public. But it is also a connection tool. I still keep in touch with many friends from high school through Facebook. I love to see what they're up to, how they're doing. But it can go too far. When you search the friend of a friend of a friend because you heard she was wearing the same dress as you three weeks ago and you want to see who wore it better, that's obsession. Sometimes I'll find myself on a random person's page, someone I have never met and I'll stop and ask myself, "Do I really care?" I become embarrassed at my waste of time and try to limit my usage. Will our children use Facebook someday? What will the world of social media look like when the next generation of college students are online? I can only imagine..

Half-Way Done

I attended the Honors Convocation this morning for an extra credit assignment. As I was taking notes on the main speaker, it all kinda just hit me. I have two more years until I graduate this place. I am half-way done with school. Forever. I realize how quickly I try to rush through the weeks, to get to the next test, the next paper, the next project. But if I keep on pressing through as fast as I am trying, I feel as though I will look back and regret not truly taking my time. Not only will I be leaving college when I graduate, but I'll also be leaving Texas. This place has really become a second home. It has put me through some of the most strenuous trials of my life and then lifted me back up to learn lessons that I never would have learned had I not come here. This place has become my adventure. It's a test that I try to do well in every day. I know I belong in California, but Fort Worth was the one place that I chose to live in all by myself. I am truly proud of the progress I have made and the life that I'm leading. I have two more years to continue to build my character and my intelligence so that when I put in that cap and gown, that I saw so many smiling students in today, I can be sure that I have taken my time here in Texas and really lived every college day of mine to it's fullest.

Beauty and the Bikini

What is it about bikini season that causes panic attacks in young girls' hearts? The second we remember that this feared season is almost here, diets start, tans emerge, and the competition begins. Yes, a competition. Sure, girls try to attract guys with their toned bodies and bronze skin, but what they really aim to accomplish is to look better that the girls lying next to them. Society tells us to be prettier, skinnier, happier than everyone else. The media leads us on a fast track of insecurities that is hard to ignore. I commend the girl on the beach without the double-zero size bikini who still struts her stuff. The ones who are even more confident than the twigs that lay on the sand. This is the inner strength that all women should strive to acquire. Ignore the models. Look in the mirror and smile at the body God has blessed you with. Keep it healthy, but don't over do it. There is nothing healthy about obsession. This summer is fast approaching and I can feel the concern on campus growing. More girls appear in the gym as the layers keep coming off. But relax. Slip on a bathing suit with confidence this year. It's more attractive than any possible body type.

The Finals Freak Out

We are officially in crunch time. Four more weeks. That's two weeks of last minute tests, projects, and papers, a week of study days and then it's here. THE week. The five days in which it all comes down to: Finals. The air on the campus is still as the students realize that this is it. These tests can count for up to 30% of your grade in a class. Borderline grade? That only means more pressure. The fact that .01 of a percent can be the cause of a student having to retake a class is insane. The only thing that pushes us through this week of sleepless nights of studying and Redbull galore is the sweet scent of summer that hangs so near in out futures. No class. No tests. No pressure. The days are ours to do what we please. But until then we take it one class at a time. One assignment at a time. Until that heavy week comes, we anticipate it's arrival by taking care of the little things. The tedious tasks that seem, quite frankly, pointless at this time in the year. But we carry on. Stay focused and be diligent in your work. Soon we will meet that week with confidence and at last be released from the finals freak out.

Paintball

Paintball. Never did I think that I could be a participant in this painful sport. But once my sorority decided to plan a paintball mixer with a fraternity, I soon became painfully familiar with this term's definition. I hadn't originally planned on playing. I brought my camera and had enthusiastically volunteered as the photographer for the event. But when the range owner handed me a gun, I felt a rush of power that was hard to turn down. Call it the thrill of the hunt, but when that mask was strapped to my face, leaving the rest of my body daringly exposed to the flying, colorful ammo, I had a sense of excitement and adrenaline rushing through my veins. I soon gave up my camera duties and joined the fight. At the "Three, two, one" countdown, the paint flew and the players charged the center of the course. Some of us hid behind protective landmarks, peeping out to aim at the opposing side. On one such occasion, I peered from behind a distressed tree stump only to instantly be blinded by a giant pink splat of paint on my goggles. Shocked yet enthused, I went to the sidelines to await the next game. Why do we, as humans, have that natural competitive tendency? How come that gun in my hands made me feel like I could take on the world that day? I craved the risk element, soaking up my newly-found confidence that the gun gave me. As a girl who never thought she would paintball in her whole life, I can honestly say that I can't wait to do it again. But this time, I want to be the one to shoot that splat on my opponents mask.

The Good in Greek Life

The best thing about belonging to a group like a sorority is the fact that it makes you feel exactly that way - like you belong. No matter where you are on campus, you know that there is bound to be another member of your same group no more than a block away. She is your sister, and the two of you have been through things together that others will never be able (or allowed) to understand. Other friends are still great, but they do not share the secrets and stories that are exchanged between you and another member of your sorority. Sure, these social clubs have an air-head reputation and are one of the most stereotyped groups that women can belong to. So why do girls in colleges everywhere still try so hard to get in them? Why do young women sob when they don't get the house of their choice at the end of recruitment week? Because everyone wants to feel like they belong somewhere. Wearing the letters of a sorority that match the sister's standing next you you says that you belong to more than something than just your own name- you belong to the name of your chapter too. There is no greater comfort than knowing that you are not alone. You have support, strength, and sisterhood when you have a home in the Greek community, and I am so thankful for the amazing one that I have found here.

Fruit Salad Days

 Some days are big bowls of fruit salad. Some parts are sugary, some parts are bitter. There are pieces that are bright, colorful, and delicious. But you always find morsels that are mushy and make you want to spit them out. I had a fruit salad day today. Lots of different little parts to it and various in sweet and sour experiences. Fruit salad days are so exhausting that by the end of them you just lay there, feeling so full and tired that you can hardly move. But then you realize just how much you actually got done. Suddenly your food coma becomes nourishment and you are thankful for the choppiness of the day. Maybe I am loopy from this crazy 24 hours that has given my emotions whiplash, or maybe other people actually understand what I am talking about. Either way, no matter how much fruit salad I have on my plate, I know that by the end of the day I can always look back and be thankful for the sweet pieces and learn from the sour.

With God as my Strength

"Trust me and don't be afraid for I am your strength. Think what it means to have me as your strength." This is a quote from the Bible (Isaiah 12) that I found to be specifically inspiring. I am often fearful of things that are simply out of my control. Getting a job, being successful, living a happy life. These are my goals that I work towards everyday. The fear of not attaining them is scary, but it's also pointless. God has a plan. That plan is how my life with go, no questions asked. There is nothing I could do or say that would change this plan, so why worry about it? When I really think about what it means to have Him as my strength, I breathe a sign of relief. He is the one I can pour my burdens out to, I can give all my troubles to Him and rely on His help and power to get me through every tiny bump on the road. Knowing this, I can be sure that I will be okay no matter what happens in life. God is my strength and with him, anything is possible.

Summer Countdown

Coming back to school after spring break is a strange time. I feel like I have been gone forever, but it's also like I never left. After being surrounded by amazing friends and family, doing nothing but eating, laughing, and enjoying my incredible hometown, being put back in the atmosphere of classes and studying is a bitter transition. Not that I didn't miss all of my friends at school (swapping stories of our breaks was a highlight of my day today), but it's just a weird feeling to be back after such a free-spirited and carefree ten days. These next five weeks are going to be rough. I will have to force myself to focus on my classes and to actually care how I do in them. When I know I have such an amazing summer ahead of me, focusing on the schoolwork ahead of me is daunting. My spring break was filled of Lakers games and Las Vegas, sunny California skies and the love of my family and boyfriend. To know that all of that and much more lays ahead of me in only five weeks makes it so hard to focus. The countdown has officially begun.

Spring Break Countdown

HOW is it possible to study when we are just days away from spring break!?! This I cannot understand. If I were a professor, I would strategically plan my exams before the week leading up to spring break so that my students wouldn't be as overwhelmed and distracted. I have four midterms and a paper due this week, all before Wednesday. The library and I are becoming extremely close once again as I find my spot in my dark little nook there almost daily. Writing test, Stats test, Media Editing test. All tomorrow, one after another up until the hour of my freedom comes and I walk out of the journalism building with a happiness and excitement unlike any other! Actually, I will probably be in a delirious daze until I have napped. But after that nap, reality of my upcoming break will hit me and I can finally begin to get mentally prepared to do absolutely nothing but relax. Home cooked meals, manicures, the sweet salty beach air of my home town. I am looking so forward to this escape from the college bubble I can hardly stand it. But for now I have to focus. Four good hours of study time tonight and I should be prepared enough for tomorrow's trying times. Deep breaths and strong coffee are my crutches tonight... Three. More. Days.

The Indoor Addiction

My eccentric and witty professor of my Women in Literature and Culture class made a statement that I have never realized about our campus: The only time you actually see anyone outside of an classroom or dorm is when they are walking to class. People don’t just sit outside and read or toss the Frisbee around with friends. Sure, there are the select few that do engage in outdoor activity, but compared to other campuses, TCU is in a state of year-round hibernation. My professor continued his rant, saying that, “TCU doesn’t even feel like a college campus.” Sadly, I realized how true his accusation was. Although he was taking it to a bit of an extreme, he made me wonder, where does everyone go when they’re not in class? Even I am guilty of this indoor addiction at this school. I am currently sitting in the library at 3:30 in the afternoon, when it is 72 degrees and beautiful outside. My professor talked about the covers of college brochures that almost always display exaggerated images of focused students, buried in books as they lie under lush oak trees around there campus, soaking up their knowledge as they soak up the sun. Why don’t we do that? This weekend I will make it a goal to study for my midterms while attempting to get a pre-spring break tan that is very much in need.

Blind Date

 "Y'all ready for some sushi!!!?!?" The voice of the young cowboy wearing brown boots, light blue Wranglers, and a tucked in Polo shirt still remains vivid in mind as if it was just last night that I got picked up on my very first blind date. My friend Ashley had somehow convinced me to be her wingman on a dinner invitation from a new guy she had met who was bringing a friend along. The second I saw the two boys jump out of their huge white truck to pick us up at our freshman dorm last year, I knew that his forced double date was destined to be an interesting one. The two were the definition of southern gentlemen, which, only having been in Texas for a few weeks, this California girl was not used to. But I smiled at the chance to get to know a little more about this strange Texan culture that I was surrounded by, and hopped in their truck, pinching Ashley next to me on the camouflage car interior.  We drove off to the sushi restaurant, the boys shamelessly belting out “Big Green Tractor” and smoking cigarettes out the window, “If my family could see me right now…” I laughed to myself.

-

These are the kinds of adventures that we will look back on, years after college, and laugh about. When I feel far from home I just remember all of the times such as this one that has made my years at school so entertaining. Life is a crazy ride. Live it to the fullest and never turn down a chance to make another memory.  

The Sky Line

 A certain hierarchy of the sky is established through an invisible line on airplanes that thinly separates the first class from coach passengers. I temporarily felt the stinging split of the extra foot in space that divides the two cabins as a standby passenger on my flight to Orange Country today. I was assigned seat 4A, the very first row of coach, behind first class. I watched as their flight attendant handed out plush pillows and cozy blankets and orchestrated a pre-takeoff beverage service to the 11 lucky travelers. My fellow 4A friends and I had no choice but to stare at the privileged passengers, only inches in front of us, be granted with special treatment which we all silently envied. The cup of coffee being poured to the large man in seat 3B would have been greatly appreciated considering my morning had begun at 3am to make my first flight. I sat there, dreamily drowning in the cup of caffeine being served when a blonde airline angel from above approached me, and sang, “The last seat in first class is open for you if you would like to move up.” I sleepily smiled, grabbed my purse and left behind my coach comrades to join the chosen ones in front. In my mind, I thanked my dad for his career as a pilot, which can sometimes allow me to have access to this kind of special treatment when I travel. So here I sit, coffee in hand, sinking into my oversized seat, feeling the burn of the stares from the people right behind me. I know how it feels to be the person on the other side of the dividing line of privileged travel service, but today I am blessed and thankful for my first class promotion.

Random Rain

There is something captivating about the rain. I was just scurrying around my room, my mind running a million miles a minute, thinking of all of the things I have to do before I leave town this weekend, when I suddenly glanced out my window and saw a gleaming reflection shining off the streets. The cars parked outside twinkled with the fresh coat of pure rain that had randomly started, lasting only about five minutes. The air looked cleaner and everything just seemed fresh and crisp. Even my mind felt cleansed just from looking. There is something romantic about the rain. Why is it that the kissing scenes in the movies are so much steamier when a sudden shower of thick rain pours down on the dramatic setting? It represents something fresh, new, and exciting. Something passionate and unexpected. Some people could argue that the rain is just a gloomy sign of bad weather, but for me it's is an excuse to snuggle up and stay warm or an invitation to go outside and dance in it. I am off to California this weekend and, surprisingly, it is supposed to rain the entire time. I could not be happier to pack up my rain boots for a few days and spend my weekend under the showers.

Our Virtual Selves

A writing assignment in one of my classes brought up an interesting topic this week. The concept of shaping your "digital identity" is an idea that has become not just the the norm of our society, but almost a necessity to effectively be in communication with the rest of the world. However, this new way of keeping in touch is not the most honest form of socialization. If you have a Facebook, online dating profile, or you're a gamer, you have already created your own digital self. Just how much that self resembles who you are in real life is up to you, the person behind the profile. These avatars we create could represent us as who we really are or as the complete opposite, such as the college professor at Seoul University in South Korea who, in the online gaming world, personifies himself as a little girl. Michelle Jana Chan explains this particular case as well as others in her essay, "Identity in the Virtual World." Although that professor is an extreme example of masking ourselves behind our computers, we can experience subtle falsities as well. Sure, some one might be brave enough to "poke" you on Facebook, but would they ever have the courage to ask you out face-to-face? When it's a virtual reality you're living in, everything about yourself, your actions, and emotions can be handpicked, "Some would argue that virtual identity is a truer reflection of self than someone's image in the real world," writes Chan. So how does this affect our real life social skills?  Morphing into these online avatars can be an escape but it can also be a trap. We can not fully understand one another if we have various identities on and offline. Researching this topic has inspired me to snap into reality and get to know those around me, not from my news feed, not from their Twitter, but from the individual's personality in real life.

The Desire to "Draw Near"

The other day I was humbled and inspired by a complete stranger who I have had on my mind since the incident occurred. I was in Einsteins having breakfast and cramming for a test when I looked up and saw a girl sitting across from me reading, highlighting, and taking notes in her Bible. Here I was, anxious and nervous for my exam, frantically trying to focus on all of these facts and terms in front of me, while this girl was completely at ease and enticed by the most important book of all. I envied her calm, peaceful composure as she wrote something in the notebook she had open. I would say that my relationship with God is strong and growing, but do I spend enough time with my Bible? After long days of reading, studying, and homework, opening up any book outside of what is required for class is usually the last thing on my to-do list. But it is through our knowledge of His word that we are sharpened by God to become affective tools for his glory. If I am not reading about how to fully and effectively live for God, how am I supposed to know if I'm doing so? One of my favorite passages, James 4:8, reads, "Draw near to the Lord and He will draw near to you." The more time, love, and energy I put into coming closer to God, the closer He will come to me. The deeper I know Him, the greater desire I have to live for Him. Be aware of what people in your life will help to lead you on God's path. Some of the most inspiring people can be perfect strangers who are also discovering God's perfect love.

The Strength in Silence

I often find that the best remedy after an overwhelming day drags you down is to find a relaxing, quiet place and give yourself some alone time. Let your thoughts simmer for a few minutes, or hours, and soak up the silence that surrounds you. It is so rare during these college days that we are ever alone that we can start to depend on the company of others to keep us occupied or to prevent us from feeling lonely. But becoming comfortable with being with yourself and only yourself is truly a way of regaining peace of mind. Personally, this is how I recharge. By being by myself, talking only in my head, I regain my strength and my sanity. Back home I have a few special places I would do this. There is a certain view of the ocean I would regularly visit, and a particular bench overlooking a beautiful canyon near my house that I would also escape to when life led me there. Tonight, being far away from those places back in California, I deemed this comfy corner in the library my site of serenity. Speaking to no one, besides the occasional text message, I studied here for four and a half hours tonight, taking occasional breaks to just sit and think. Exhausted as I am from this ongoing study session, I feel content and at ease with my life once again. The frazzled feeling that I had when I walked into this building tonight is no longer weighing on me. We are a breakable species. We get tired, and stressed, and swept up into tornadoes of tests and personal pressures. Remember to stop, slow down, and meditate on the things in life that actually matter. Your health and happiness come first. Find your own secret place to sneak off to and re-lift your spirits that can so easily fall flat in this crazy life we live. 

"... but the greatest of these is Love."

So, it's Valentines Day, the day when millions of women across the country get dressed up and picked up for their dinner date at 7 o'clock with their significant other. Hoping for flowers or chocolates, they pick out a new dress and try to make this day a special one. Some men scramble to find those last minute reservations or pick up the only bouquet left at the flower shop. Others, the hopeless romantics whom I adore, have been prepared for weeks, plotting out every moment of this day for love. Earlier today, I spotted one of these types. I smiled at the sight of a boy waiting outside the steps of a sorority house, nervously clutching onto a box of candy with a big red balloon tied to it, shamelessly awaiting the arrival of the girl he wanted to show his affection for. I stood there and thought to myself how adorable I thought it was, but also how silly of a concept this day really is. We chose a single day out the entire year to celebrate love. Love, the thing that this life is all about. 24 hours to show your partner that you care with some combination of words, actions, and gifts. What if this was something we as humans thought about doing year-round? Think of how much deeper this world could love if Valentines Day wasn't just a day, it was a continuous way of living. My significant other asked me to be his Valentine today and I told him that I wouldn't just be it today, but I would be his Valentine everyday of the year. It doesn't mean I'll send him candy or love notes every day of the week. But constantly reminding him that I care about him? That's the kind of year-round Valentine I can be. And not just with my boyfriend, but with my family, my friends, even with strangers. Little acts of love can change your mood, can make a bad day better, and can fulfill our lives in unexplainable ways.

A Stranger Interaction

Today while flying to visit a friend, I initiated myself in a familiar yet provoking situation. Upon boarding the plane, I found my set near a window in aisle 15A, locating myself near a middle aged man whom I have never seen or met in my life. As the plane took flight I noticed that the man and myself were reading the same “Sky Mall” magazine. I thumbed and flipped through the thing quickly and found myself laughing at several of the advertisements in the magazine. Articles that others may find interesting and peculiar came across as childish and hysterical to me. As I sat there finishing the magazine, I noticed the stranger to my left laughing continuously. After a moment, I decided to ask the man what he was laughing about. He pointed to an article and photo in the magazine and I chuckled along with him. I than began to think how outlandish it was that I had just interacted with a complete stranger in a unique way because we shared a similar sense of humor. We were both complete strangers; neither of us had ever spoken nor intermingled with one another yet we shared a common similarity. I find myself interacting with people like this everyday. Sometimes it is with my friends, other times my professors, and sometimes even complete strangers on airplanes. I am 19 and have come into contact with thousands of individuals throughout my life and it is fanatical to think about how many people have influenced me in a way that has made me who I am today. Yes, my parents, brother, and friends, have formed me exponentially, but what about the complete strangers I continue shaking hands with or bumping into on a daily basis? The girl at Einstein's that puts cream cheese on my bagel might really like Gossip Girl or that police officer that gave me my parking ticket may enjoy cheeseburgers as much as I do. You just never know, so I have come to realize just this: never miss a chance to engage and meet some one new. I never know what new person God may bring into my life each day, but if I persistently converse with each new individual, then I can take something from each and every day.

Math Mood

I sat in my bed this evening, in a weird, irritating funk. Something was just bothering me. I couldn't find anything that was really wrong enough in my life to be feeling this way, so I did what we all do when we want to numb our minds for a while and think about other people's lives rather than our own. I logged into Facebook. After drifting into Face-space for about 40 minutes, I grabbed my stuff for statistics class and sluggishly meandered downstairs to my tutor. I sighed heavily as our session began as I stared at the daunting numbers in the book and wished they were words instead. Words, I like. I can understand words without putting them into a formula first. Words are free and flowing and can be strung together to mean anything. Numbers are flat and dry. They mean one thing and one thing only. And for me, they have always meant a headache and bad grade. But tonight, not even five minutes into our study session, something amazing happened that defied all rules that have previously applied to math and me. I got it. I actually understood what I was doing. I remembered formulas. I plugged the right things into my calculator. I was shocked. My tutor laughed at my surprise and my utter glee that suddenly radiated out of me. I did my stats with a smile on my face tonight, feeling confident and prepared for my test on Friday. I learned from all of this a valuable lesson: don't hold back when it comes to asking for help. If I hadn't asked one of my sorority sisters to tutor me in stats, I would never have been feeling this confident about the material, as ready for the test, or as far from my bad mood as I do right now.

Early on Sundays...

Waking up at 8am on a weekend morning is not something most college kids would be willing (or sometimes able) to do. Even for me, I have found only one thing that manages to encourage me to roll out of my warm, fluffy bed and actually get ready for the day. That thing is my church. As a freshman, the only church service I ever made it to was Easter Sunday. But this year, I made a new promise to myself to try to make it there every week. And I can honesty say that nothing has been more worth losing a few hours of sleep over. My friends and I drag each other out of our dark, cozy caves, brew a quick pot of coffee, and enjoy the time we get together. We have been able to grow so much closer as friends and in our faith because of our resolutions to brave the early morning and dedicate an hour to God. But this one hour out of my week has put a pressing desire on my heart to give one hour a DAY to meditate on, read about, or talk with Him. I only hope I can be as consistent in this as I have been every Sunday. It seems that the more I seek God, the more he urges me to dive even deeper into my faith which is both a challenge and blessing in my life.

Sick of Being Sick

There are certain things in college that just aren't the same as they were in high school. Getting sick, for example, is one of those things that can seem so much worse when you don't have someone to take care of you. When I lived at home, I was a bit of a drama queen every time I felt even the slightest bit of a cold. I loved how my parents would buy me special food and let me lay around, watching endless hours of TV. Now when I get sick, I am all on my own, no personal chef, no one to even pick up my prescriptions. However, this has forced me to become extremely self-reliant and much less of a complainer. I don't even like telling anyone when I feel ill because I believe that feeling bad can be a state of mind and once we convince ourselves that we feel better, we actually do. Now that I have seen how awful it is to be sick in college, without Nurse Mommy or Daddy to the rescue, I really appreciate the things that my friends do for me while I am under the weather. Bringing me breakfast or coming with me to CVS, it's the little things that mean so much and help me down the road of recovery. I am so thankful for them will return the favor when they are sick in bed and need a helping hand.

TTYL

Once upon a college party there was a boy who met a girl. They spent the whole night talking and getting to know one another, sitting on a crowded couch yet hearing nothing but the other person. He was charming and she was funny and they both felt like they had known each other forever. The next night they saw each other again and spent hours and hours chatting away, exchanged phone numbers, and made plans to hang out next weekend. Sunday came and he texted her an exhilarating, "Hey" which she waited exactly 18 minutes to respond to. The next day was Monday and as the girl walked out of her first class, she almost ran right into the boy. She stopped suddenly, caught off guard, and opened her mouth to say hey. But before anything came out, the boy swiftly moved around the girl, staring blankly at her face, and fist-pumped his frat brother standing right behind her. The girl stood there, mouth still open, and watched him disappear into the classroom without even turning around to wave. Later that night, another inspiring text appeared on her phone from him asking, "whats up" as if the incidence from earlier had never occurred. 

At some point I am sure that you or someone you know has gone through an experience as described above. How does the party scene get transformed into a kind of different life in which we only live in once the sun goes down? You meet someone out, realize the next day that they are in your class, yet neither of you acknowledges the other. The next time you meet someone out, SAY HELLO when you see them again in the daylight. Learning how to talk without the excuse of "liquid confidence" is a communication skill that we all must acquire eventually if we plan on say, getting a job. Or spouse. Don't text, call. Don't chat, meet for lunch. As scary as it can seem, learning how to use your words and not your keyboard can be a very beneficial talent. The more we do it, the more friends, fun, and real confidence we will gain.

Snow Day

Oh how the smell of a snow day hangs heavy in the crisp winter air tonight. I awoke last night, as the rest of my campus did, to the glorious sound of a text message from none other than our school's digital alert system declaring the following day of classes as canceled. A smile spread across my sleepy face as I drifted back into dreams of the free time and frostbite that I would soon wake up to on this Tuesday morning. And when I did, after braving the icy, freezing conditions of the storm for about 15 frigid minutes in an attempt to get some breakfast, I decided that it was best for my sensitive, Californian body to go into hibernation mode and remain indoors until I could go outside without the winter windburn making my eyes water and my face feel raw. Call me a complainer, but being raised on sunshine and year-round summers, I am completely comfortable with acknowledging myself as a winter wimp. After receiving the second "school is canceled" text tonight, I sat there in my bed once again, wondering just what I am going to do with all of this time on my hands. I'm not sure that I have had more than an hour free to do absolutely nothing since this semester started. But thanks to these sudden snow days, my possibilities are endless. Just as long as I don't go outside of course...

The Company You Keep

You are the company you keep. This statement can become increasingly true when your surroundings become a constant cluster of friends in this microcosm we call college. Friends feel like family, roommates become your other half, and sorority sisters seem like real sisters. These are bonds that can be made in just the four short years we are given at this semi-real-life experience we are having. The people you choose to surround yourselves with are the people who will shape your memories. They are the ones you will reunite with in 10 years and say, "Hey remember when we __________?" They are the stories you will tell your kids about. They keep the secrets from your worst nights and tell the tales about your best. They are your inside jokes, your therapists. The ones who will go through the Taco Bell drive through with you at 2am just because "you had a rough day." As I laid in bed earlier tonight, crammed against three of my best friends, all staring at the overly-dramatic and oh-so-addicting latest episode of Gossip Girl, I realized all of these things. Each day we spend together, the closer we get and the more we learn from and love one another. They have become my best friends, my family away from my family. Find yours and cherish them. Your college company will become more than just something you "keep."

Soak Up the Sun

There is something about a sunny day that can change your entire mood the second you walk into it's warm, welcoming heat and let it's lively light soak into your skin. As a California native I grew very accustomed to my perfect 70 degree days that would wake me up every morning and last until sunset, when the colors of the day melt over the ocean in a blur of beauty that I'd drown in as I stared. It's kind of romantic how the whole world just stops for that split moment when the sun comes down from it's perch and meets the palm of the earth, slipping away to visit the rest of the world for a while. There has never been a sunset that looks exactly like any other. It's like each one put's its own fingerprint on the city it enchants. Maybe it's the feeling of Friday that has me in this bubbly, creative mood. But I think it's this little glimpse of summer that has my spirits so lifted. You can always count on the tricks of Texas weather to bring you a sunny surprise just when you need it most.

Unplug Yourself

As I walked to lunch today after my last class, taking in the surprisingly warm winter air and enjoying the sweet sun, warming my cheeks,  I suddenly noticed a girl unsteadily walking straight at me. Hands down in front of her, she clutched on to her purple, bedazzled iPhone, texting away in her own little world. I barely swayed out of her way in time to avoid a head-on collusion that she probably wouldn't have even noticed anyways. Rolling my eyes, I continued walking and spotted my friend across the street who seemed to be looking right at me. I cheerfully waved at her, expecting her to do the same. But she just stood there, blankly staring back in my direction, looking dazed and distant. Her lips were moving and her head was bobbing up and down. Then I noticed two little white buds in her ears, "Of course," I thought, "listening to her iPod." I met up with another friend and began to tell her about my weekend plans, the car trouble I was having, and the cute guy in my statistics class when she suddenly interrupts me, "Huh?" she looked up as if she hadn't heard a single word I just said. "Sorry, I was texting. What did you say?" With these three technological tizzy's all happening within about five minutes of each other, I was forced to stop and asked myself, how often am I the one who is constantly plugged in? I'll admit, I'm rarely further than 10 feet away from my phone and I almost constantly have at least a few people I'm texting throughout the day. When I'm not on my iPhone, I'm on my Mac Skyping, Facebooking, emailing, even blogging. Today I got an outsider's view on how all of these digital addictions can effect other people. I realized how much I must miss out on when I distract myself with a consuming computer or hand-held device. I instantly wanted to unplug my life and reintroduce myself to face-to-face, personal, real interactions with the world around me. Challenge yourself to use technology as little as you can for just one day and see how you feel after wards. Notice the weather, the people around you, the life that exists outside of a screen. 

This is a blog post that I will use tonight as a place to vent out my frustrations with this day that has seem to become a series of irritating and bothersome events. Sorry for the bring-down.  

1. Today was my first quiz in Media Writing. As I studied up until the hour of my class, I realized that I would not be on time if I walked. So I drove. When I returned to my car after class I was presented with a $100 parking ticket. 

2. I ordered a salad at Smashburger, attempting to take the healthier route. When I got home and opened my salad, I stared back into a bowl containing about 12 pieces of lettuce. Not enough to satisfy a rabbit. 

3. As I read for my Lit. class, trying to ignore my growling stomach, a piercing screech filled the air and I realized that the fire alarm was going off. Great. 

4. Since I was outside already, I decided to go to Starbucks with a friend. Afterwards, as we pulled back into the parking lot, my car's steering wheel locks, engine dies, and maintenance light turns on. Is there anything worse than dealing with car trouble as a college student?

I somehow managed to turn the car back on and cautiously park it in the lot. Tomorrow will be a day of paying my ticket, calling Triple A, and figuring out what I can do this weekend to change my bad luck that will not stop following me around. UGH!  

  

College-Coma

You know those days in college that just seem to never end, and by sunset you feel like you just went through the entire week itself, only to check the calendar and realize that just one day has passed? Just one Tuesday has gone by and I feel like it's time for the weekend already. Tuesdays. My dreadful day of the week with three one-hour-and-twenty-minute classes, starting at 11am and lasting until 5:20pm. Add a dose of everlasting homework and a prior night's sleep of about five short hours and I become a walking zombie, spacing out with blurry eyes and blank expressions. So what do you do when this college-coma washes over you? Put on your favorite iTunes studying playlist, write out your homework plan of attack, with the hardest tasks listed first, and just force yourself to start working. Give yourself a break about halfway through your work (a shower, a phone call, 10 minutes of Facebook stalking) and have a set time that you can aim at to finish. Taking my own advice, here I sit, cracking open a fresh Naked juice, thinking of giving myself all three break options, and slowly falling asleep to my soothing playlist. Forcing myself to cope with this coma, I'll wrap up this blog post and continue working my way down my long list of to-dos that these Tuesdays never fail to test me with.

Relationship Buffet

There is something in college that I like to refer to as the Relationship Buffet. This is a title I have prescribed to the multiple options of dating that seem to be held as acceptable during the ages of about 18 to 25. It starts with "The Hook-Up," next comes the "We're Talking," then there's "LikeBasicallyDatingButNotExclusiveYet," and the infamous, "Facebook Official." Of course there are always the classics such as the "Long-Distance Relationship" and the "She's still in High School" or "He Graduated Last Year." So many options and only eight semesters to try them all out. But which one works the best? The question isn't which type of dating in college is right. It's which type is right for you. I have witnessed every item along the Buffet be sampled by my friends, or by myself in some cases. Some end in heartburn, others in harmony that are still lasting to this day. But no matter what the outcome, the Relationship Buffet is always a learning experience. Take note of your changing tastes and don't be afraid to get your heart broken.  That's the only way you will ever learn to appreciate what might end up being your main course.

List Your Life

A good friend of mine asked me to complete a "homework assignment" within the next three weeks. He said to write down everything I've ever wanted to do for fun with him, my friends, my family or even with just myself. As I have been keeping a list of all these adventures in my head, (spending a whole day in a cozy pillow-fort or finding a place in California with more stars then city lights are only two of the many examples I've come up with so far), I've thought a lot about something that we as college students can often forget to do: prioritize. The stuff that matters most to us can quickly become things like GPA's, internships, and job connections, things that are very important at this age. But we should all try to remember that what makes this life worth living are the people and memories that shape us into who we are. Life is such a short and fast-paced gift that we can forget to just stop and enjoy every day that we are so blessed to have. I'm not advising anyone to just throw their books in the air, hit up every party there is tonight, and make some "memories," (which they probably wouldn't remember much of), but I'm simply saying that it's important to keep a healthy perspective on what it means to truly live. Do things that make you happy, make your own list of "to-dos," surround yourself with people you love and start checking it off.

Winterburn

How do you cope with windburn and 28 degree mornings when you have grown up under the ever-present, perfect San Diego weather that your family won't stop reminding you of? One word: layers. And the consequences of that long-sleeve shirt, fluffy Northface, and over-sized trench coat that you tie together with a scarf and head wrap? A miserable heatwave that overwhelms you the second you walk indoors. Today, after tirelessly trekking the 13 minute walk from the Greek to Beasley Hall, I entered my classroom with burning ears and sweating palms. I tore off my jackets, only to get goosebumps about 3 minutes later. There is no happy medium with it comes to winter weather in Texas. If it's going to stay this cold, I pray that it at least snows so school is canceled. It's the only good thing that this weather can bring about besides cups of cocoa and cute winter coats.

Write What You Know...

They say that the easiest way to be a good writer is simply to write what you know. So as I sit down to create my first official blog I ask myself, what things do I know enough about to write on everyday for the rest of this semester? To know what you know, you must know yourself, so who am I? A college girl from California, dealing with the trials and triumphs that these young-adult years bring about. From secrets and sorority-life to love and lessons that we'll never forget, these four years can take a toll on the average 20-year-old. Which is why we all need a little time to cope. So, here you have it: The College Cope. I intend for this blog to be an outlet where myself and others can vent, praise, ask advice, give advice, or simply just ramble on whenever necessary. Words are powerful things, they can break a person. But they can also build us up in immeasurable ways. I hope this site becomes an entertaining escape where we can laugh at ourselves, question the world, and help one another cope with this crazy thing called life.