It’s almost that time again…

I haven’t written in a while, but I’m going to try to keep writing throughout the school year.  It’s almost time to go back to school and I’m literally so excited. I love Washington and Lee University and I love returning that wonderful university year after year. I’m starting my junior year and frankly the most important  year for me, yet. This summer did not turn out exactly how I planned but I am still completely happy with the way it turned out. I planned on getting an internship or volunteering in a hospital, but I ended up working and my dad’s computer store all summer. And I love(d) it. My dad needed me, as he had recently lost his most senior technicians within 2 weeks of each other. I know how the store works, the ins and outs, and most importantly how to deal with customers. We have one new technician and two junior technicians, but the loss Brian and Andrew makes me the most senior employee of the company, besides dad. I make sure that everything is running smoothly and I try to keep dad as on time as I can. (He’s never on time for anything. Haha) But this morning I heard him say that things will get harder when I go back to school because I keep everything in order. And that means a lot to me to know that I am a major asset to the  company my dad is building for our family now and for future generations. He also compared me to Jessica White, the daughter of a dear friend of our family who also works for her dad. And that was like the biggest compliment ever because I’ve seen Jess and Uncle Errol interact and they remind so much  of me and my dad. I’ll be back in Lex in 2 weeks and I can’t wait. I’m gonna miss my family as always, but I’ll be back soon. I’ll be checking in on the store to make sure things are running as smooth as possibly without me, but I’m looking for my dad a new “Randl” as they call the job. I kind of do everything a little bit of maintenance and IT, stuff and a lot clerical work necessary for a growing business. I love it and I will miss it. I know that it will always be here if I should choose to come back. 🙂

An almost unbelievable Transformation

Today, I want to talk about something that truly changed me for the better: My Transformation to a woman of Alpha Kappa Alpha. Some may ask what does that mean? Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, founded January 15, 1908, was the first historically Black sorority.

Crest of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, which was designed by Phyllis Wheatley Waters in 1920. McNealey, E., Pearls of Service, p. 329. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The purpose of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated to cultivate and encourage high scholastic and  ethical standards, to promote unity and friendship among college women, to study and help alleviate problems concerning girls and women in order to improve their social stature, to maintain a progressive interest in college life, and to be of “Service to All Mankind.” 

The women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated are brilliant, ambitious, high-achieving, caring and thoughtful. They are leaders in their community; they are just fantastic women focused on making the world a better place. I am BEYOND proud to call myself a woman of Alpha Kappa Alpha. Kiki and De-Anna saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. They brought out a part of me that I didn’t even know was there. And for that I thank them immensely. During my Neophyte Presentation, I was someone that I hadn’t seen before and I was so into it. The crowd, my family, and my new sisters all cheering for me. It was amazing.

I am now a part of something so much bigger than myself. I am part of a sisterhood. I am part of an elite group of woman who have, intend to and will change the world. Our Grad Adviser said that your sisters are your family. Sometimes you may hate your family, but you always love them. I am a woman of Alpha Kappa Alpha and I always conduct myself as such. I have many great examples of what it means to be a woman of Alpha Kappa Alpha, but the one who does it best is my friend, my soror, and my associate Dean of Students: Soror Tammy Futrell! She is the most caring person you will ever know and she is the perfect example of what it means to be a woman of Alpha Kappa Alpha. I can only hope to have a smidgen of her hopefulness, loving nature and overall compassion for others.

A little bit random…

I can’t believe it’s been over a week since I last posted! My summer is quickly approaching its end and I feel like I haven’t accomplished anything. I haven’t volunteered in a hospital or gotten any clinical exposure. I haven’t read any books. Though I regularly read the news articles. Which is a new thing for me, I actually enjoy it a lot. I like being in the know about all the things happening in the world. I’ve watched many TED talks, which are absolutely ingenious and I’ve watched so many movies that I’m ashamed. Haha. So far it has been a good, but unproductive, summer. I love working with my dad and I don’t feel that it’s a waste of time. I’m working with customers and building my confidence in working with people, a vital skill in the field of medicine. I keep up to date on current events and I have never really been much into the news because it has always been kinda of depressing. But recently I think I have learned the importance of the world news, I don’t watch the local news, but I will read a bunch of news articles on various subjects.

Yesterday, my dad became the Chairman of the Board for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Maryland. I could not be more proud of him. I know that it was a hard decision for him because he it requires him to step COMPLETELY out of his comfort zone and apparently our conversation is what convinced him to accept the nomination. He is 100% focused on the kids and the reason he accepted was for the kids. I see it as a wonderful opportunity for growth for him. You’re never too old to continue growing as a person.

ALSO… how about them student loans…?

I do not personally pay for my college education because I was lucky enough to receive a fantastic scholarship from the school of my dreams. But I realize that this is not the case for the majority of my friends. They and their parents are struggling to find a way to pay for their kid to attend a university, which is vital in our attempts to find jobs. Without a college degree you are much less “valuable” to employers. And it is not the fault of the person because maybe they are qualified in the skills region, but lacking in the continued education area. College is necessary for kids to grow up and to find themselves. And if these new rates don’t go down, just imagine the number of students that can no longer afford to go to a university. It is not fair. I believe that student loans should be the exception to rates linking with the financial market because students attending college is necessary to our future as a country. Our students in K-12 lag behind other countries and college is our equalizer. SO GET IT STRAIGHT, CONGRESS… Someone needs to be looking out for the students, because currently we’re working 2 jobs and attending school full time and wouldn’t be able to run for office anyways without our college degrees.

Happy Birthday, Boomer!

Tomorrow is a very special day. Not only because it is the birthday of our nation but because tomorrow is Richie’s birthday! Richie and I have been best friends since 3rd grade when we played on the same soccer team and lived in the same neighborhood. Most people think he is quiet and reserved and he certainly can be, but he is actually super funny and one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.  Get him playing a game, especially with his family, and you will see a whole different side of him. I think he has really changed since going to college and it seems that he just a little more outgoing, which is awesome. If everyone knew the Richie I knew, he’d have to beat the girls off with a stick, but actually. He is smart, funny, cute and has an absolutely superb singing voice. I can’t believe that we have been friends for the past 12 years and each year I feel like we get closer.  I never let that head of his get too big. Haha. And always kept his only-child-self in check. Even though he likes the Eagles and the Phillies, and ALWAYS bad talks the Ravens and the O’s. I still remain his friend. Even after he threw rocks at Gizzy, my cute innocent dog, we were still friends. That’s probably the only time I’ve ever wanted to actually, physically fight him.

This post is for you Richie, though you may never read it and I will put some variation of this on your Facebook wall. You are one of my very best and oldest friends. I truly appreciate and love you. You deserve all that this world has to offer and I have no doubt that you will achieve your dreams. I have no doubt that you will find a girl who is absolutely perfect for you. I have no doubt that you and I will always be friends.  You are the brother I never had and I like to think that I’m the sister you never had. You just have to have as much faith in yourself as I do. Thank you for making me part of your family and I have to say you have truly made a difference in my life and I love ya, kid. You are the only person I willingly play monopoly with because I know how much you LOVE that game, who knows why. I know I hate it. haha. Also, remember that time we played Scattergories with your folks and it just got out of control and I never wanted to play again? I’m totally and completely over that… I think. haha. Also, we all think it is time for you to let go of that girl. It’s been 8 months, at least, and you can do so so so much better than her. I hope that your birthday is everything you’ve ever wanted and more! I love you.

And It All Began with a Quote…

I will admit that I am a compulsive planner and analyzer. My mind is constantly things that have happened and creating these odd scenarios as to future events. I feel a need to know exactly how I feel at every moment and also a need to decide what I want for the rest of my life. I was certainly meant to see this quote today. I would love to attend a medical school, but I always think about what if that doesn’t happen. So not only do I look at future medical schools, I explore future postbac programs and master’s programs. And I drive myself crazy trying to plan my entire life right now. My dad always says that you should only put positive thinking out into the world because you can’t wish for what you do not want to happen because then all the universe know is what you don’t want. You ask for what you want, but then comes the dilemma of figuring out what that is.

I am just going to take this one step (or one day) at a time. I am going to set little goals for myself in order to achieve my larger goal. 1st stop: finding some place to volunteer. There’s a place that I am seriously interested in volunteering and I mistakenly emailed the wrong address, the address linked to on the page. But Laura, the woman I mistakenly emailed, sent me a message saying she forwarded my information to the right person and “she will be in touch, but you can also contact her directly.” I’m wondering how long do I wait to contact her if she hasn’t contacted me. I think a week is a good amount of time and it has only been 5 days, but I just know that this opportunity could be perfect. So in two days, if she hasn’t contacted me, I will contact her! And that little goal will be accomplished.

I am also going to try to “just see what happens” in my life, to just relax some. Last night I went to a Nationals-Brewers game and it was so much fun! I got on the big screen. My dad caught one of those t-shirts and the guy in front of me was chasing whatever was in his flask with beer. Also the beer vendor had to be drunk and he was selling those beers like crazy. It was so much fun and I wasn’t thinking about school or the future or anything. I was just having fun with my family and enjoying myself. I liked that.

I really also enjoy blogging. This is so much fun and it is such a great way to just work things out in your mind and to talk about whatever you want and write. I used to write ALL the time. I had notebooks and notebooks of stories, poems, and just thoughts. I haven’t written in a long time and I did not really realize how much I’ve missed it. And now that I’ve started again, albeit in a very different way than before I hope to never stop. I’m not sure what category this post would even fall under. Random Thoughts, perhaps? Haha.

 

Beauty. What is it?

My sister who wears essentially an extra small in everything she owns was so happy because she finally could fit into these shorts that I believe were a double zero. Does no one see anything wrong with that? She’s so pretty just her, without make up and her complexion is nearly perfect. I honestly wonder if she even knows how truly beautiful she is. She loves that show Toddlers and Tiaras, which  just reinforces this idea that you’re not beautiful if you don’t have perfect hair, skin and teeth. Honestly, I think the show is hilarious because I wish it was a satirical imitation of real life… but that show is real life You have to act a certain way and wear particular clothes. If you don’t, then it’s nearly impossible for you to win, as is shown when the new pageant girls compete and they are different, and they don’t place. It’s ironic that these beauty pageants have nothing to do with beauty.

Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. I understand what a cliché it is to say that, but it’s true. I would never put my child in a pageant unless it was something she wanted to do, which means she would have to be at an age where she could decide what she wanted to do. I would allow her to make her own thoughts and opinions about pageants, just as my parents did with me. I just do not believe in what pageants encourage. They punish differences and encourage homogeneity. Everyone wants to look in the mirror and see a person they’ve always wanted to be. Someone that’s not only aesthetically pleasing but intelligent, funny, thoughtful and caring. Or at least that’s what I want.

I want to be not only comfortable with how my face looks but how my entire body, head to toe. And I’m working on it… Sorta. I’m lacking some inspiration. But I know that I am smart, thoughtful and caring. And I am at the very least beautiful on the inside. Haha. How can beauty be judged if it is so subjective. There isn’t just one way to be beautiful…

Because beauty is:

noun plural beau·ties.
the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).

I like this definition of beauty because it is not a tangible entity. It is sort of like a feeling. Shouldn’t we be teaching our kids that they can feel that with just being themselves? They don’t have to have on make-up, tons of hairspray and fake teeth to feel beautiful. These kids in the pageants don’t look like children, they look like mini-Barbies and we all know what a terrible image Barbie is for children. Children should be taught that beauty is not just associated with aesthetically pleasing qualities, but also personalities and thoughts. A pretty face will fade and what will be left? Hopefully some substance? A brain, perhaps? You are more than just what you look like. Beauty is more than just a attractive face.

Related articles

• Toddlers and Tiaras: Reasons why I disagree with it (teenagecountrygoth.wordpress.com)

 

Being Wrong?

If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original. –Ken Robinson

I definitely have a fear of being wrong. I don’t like to raise my hand if I’m not at least 95% sure that my answer is correct. But there were certain classes that the professor would see my face and call on me because he was sure that I had something to say. And I did and I do now. I think that’s why I started blogging. It helps me keep up with the news and current events. It allows me to be intellectually stimulated, something I desperately yearn for in my life. And it allows me to take a chance with little consequence.

I’m going to try to break my fear of being wrong. It’s going to be difficult but it needs to be done or like the Ken Robinson said I’ll never create anything original. And I want to be innovative and come up with new and different ways to see the world’s problems. I’m not jaded and could be considered to be naive because of my lack of jadedness and life experience, but I just think I have a fresh new pair of eyes! That’s what my generation needs to be creative and inspiring. What we need in the world are more visionaries. People that dare to think differently and be their own person. Ken Robinson also alluded to quote by Pablo Picasso:

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”

My dad always tells me that I have to find a way for the little things to keep me happy, to find a way to stay enthusiastic and excited about life and helping people.  Our generation has to be the one that does not become jaded and crushed by the realities of the world, but instead diverge from traditional thinking and deal with the realities. We all have in us to be great, to be absolutely extraordinary. What it really comes down to is whether that part of us is lucky enough to be nurtured. For me, I am lucky enough that my parents see that within me and my sisters and they nurtured it. My almost 17- year old sister, could be absolutely brilliant if she put as much work into actual schoolwork as she does her clothing and her cheerleading. But she’s smart and creative and my parents have allowed her to pursue cheerleading and gymnastics and given her a space to use her creativity. They always say if she could only use her powers for good. Haha. She will find a career where being creative and innovative will help her make a living. They do the same with my littlest sister. I’m sure she is destined to be an amazing chef. She loves food and enjoys making it and adding her own twist. My mom lets my littlest sister cook with her and it is enjoyable for both. It is a time to be creative and spend some time together. That part of me was nurtured and still being nurtured to this day.

And I have vowed to always stay true to myself and keep whatever it is inside of me that allows me to be passionate about life.

Let’s Talk About DOMA…

The Defense of Marriage Act was passed in 1996 and stated that gay and lesbian couples would not be recognized as spouses under federal law. This means that they, not only, could not receive any joint federal benefits, but if their significant other was in the hospital they did not have hospital visitation rights. If their spouse died, they had no legal claim to anything. But now that DOMA has been repealed, gay and lesbian couples can receive those benefits, but how will this work in states where marriage for gay and lesbian couples isn’t legal? I’m not sure how that’ll work.

My personal opinion of same-sex marriage is that it is, just that, a marriage. We don’t call marriages between heterosexual persons, different-sex marriage because now that just sound dumb. Gay and lesbian couples getting married does not affect my future marriage. My best friend in the entire world is gay and when I found out I was upset. And it wasn’t about him being gay at all. I thought about all the hardships he would have to overcome because of the world we live in. I support same-sex marriage because I can’t think of any reason not to do so. A couple of straight people who met 5 minutes ago can go to the courthouse and get married, but a faithful, committed gay or lesbian couple can’t. Does that make any sense at all?

My hope is that the repeal of DOMA will encourage other states to legalize gay marriage and that it will make it easier for same-sex couples to adopt. I learned in my developmental psychology class that kids of heterosexual couples and same-sex couples have essentially the same outcomes. Which is interesting because many people state reason they are against same-sex marriages is because of the effects on the children… I ask what effects? They probably grow up more open minded and with less stereotypical views of gender roles. Hmmm… raising boys and girls that actually believe that they can do and be anything they want. That sounds like a good thing to me.

Helping Educators Support All Students Act

Recently, I read the most recent amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965: Helping Educators Support All Students Act. I found it to be interesting and needed in today’s school system. My father thinks differently and I can understand where he is coming from. He thinks that the new amendments, that will introduce in-service training programs for instructional support personal to see the early warning signs of mental health conditions, will allow for children and adolescents to be labeled by personnel other than doctors. He thinks that children with behavioral issues will be labeled as having a mental health condition and pumped with Ritalin or Adderall. Which brings up the issue of over-medicalization.

This potential downside to the bill was one I had not thought of before and one that should be given serious consideration. But the “Helping Educators Support All Students Act” will also try to assist “in linking students to supports and services,” which is necessary for areas that are considered to have a shortage of mental health professional by the federal government. It also had a clause about Indian Children? This confused me a bit, is this is because they are separate from the states? ALSO, it is going to bring in a “school-based mental health provider and community organization with expertise in the lived experience of mental illness,” to help with the training and make the referral system run smoothly.

This excites me because I do believe the bill has the best of intentions and should be implemented because of the statistics stated in the bill.

Did You know? These are all direct quotes from the “Helping Educators Support All Students Act”:

” Approximately, 1 in 5 children have a diagnosable mental illness.”

“Fifty percent of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14, and 75 percent by age 24.”

“Fifty percent of students with a mental illness, age 14 years and older, drop out of high school.”

“For youth between the ages of 10 and 34, suicide is the third leading cause of death, and an estimated 90 percent have a diagnosable mental health conditions.”

“One in 10 children and adolescents suffer from mental illness sever enough to cause some level of impairment, but only 1 in 5 such children receive specialty mental health services.”

These statistics are alarming and we need to find some way to help these kids. I wish I knew more but I’m reading a lot lately and soon I hope to be somewhat well-versed on the subject.