Five year ago, after graduating from high school, I took one year to myself to figure out what I wanted to do and where I wanted to go. It was a wonderful year of discovery, action, travel, and spending time with the family.
Then when I had made my decision I moved to college in Spain for two years. I go there knowing I had to move to a new school in two years time since they didn't have my major. But it was two years away, so of course I didn't need to worry about it. Then the two years were over and I moved to the US. I thought, wow, those two years were over and I was in the US and thinking, the next two years will be over but not for a long time. But now the two years are over once again. Where have the last four years gone? Where have the last two years gone?
At times I thought it would never end, sometimes I hoped it would go by faster, but now that the end of this part of my life is here I really don't know how I should or want to react.
It's been wonderful, stressful, enlightening, encouraging, discouraging, upsetting, annoying, happy, sad, and exciting.
But all in all I know it was a great time and it was a great decision. I'll never think back and second guess my decision making process. I'm glad I'm where I am.
Wednesday, 16 May 2012
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Packing up, moving on
Packing bags is neither easy nor quick. I'm not going to deny the fact that it takes time, effort, and planning to do it the right way. More so even when you're packing your bags to leave the country for good and have to cram two years of hoarding into roughly four suitcases. Yeah sure, FOUR SUITCASES?!? Seriously though, it's not that much...
So far I have one completely packed and ready to go, one big bag full that just needs to be added to a suitcase, a batch of small bags that equal to one suitcase, and then all my other stuff which is probably one and a half suitcases still.
I thought I would have roughly four suitcases full, but now looking at it, as I keep shopping and hoarding all my stuff, I realize I might have five/six/seven.... no, five though. So let's hope to keep it strictly business and only bring home what I need.
But I don't want to leave anything behind! I have a nice little collection of random stuff here that I got attached to, like a pet just made out of wood and paper and stuff...
And then the next problem: Where am I going to put all this stuff!?!
So far I have one completely packed and ready to go, one big bag full that just needs to be added to a suitcase, a batch of small bags that equal to one suitcase, and then all my other stuff which is probably one and a half suitcases still.
I thought I would have roughly four suitcases full, but now looking at it, as I keep shopping and hoarding all my stuff, I realize I might have five/six/seven.... no, five though. So let's hope to keep it strictly business and only bring home what I need.
But I don't want to leave anything behind! I have a nice little collection of random stuff here that I got attached to, like a pet just made out of wood and paper and stuff...
And then the next problem: Where am I going to put all this stuff!?!
Monday, 14 May 2012
Oh lord...
Are you serious? How can a university function when the departments are so disconnected that they can't even respond to my emails and apply my acceptance information...
I wrote my future graduate school three times now about hearing back if my offer acceptance has been received because I sent in the payment, the forms and firmly enrolled. But so far no response. Also, I accepted my scholarship twice yet they still wrote me congratulating me on my offer.... Hold up, seriously?? What's going on????
GET IT TOGETHER! JESUS!
I wrote my future graduate school three times now about hearing back if my offer acceptance has been received because I sent in the payment, the forms and firmly enrolled. But so far no response. Also, I accepted my scholarship twice yet they still wrote me congratulating me on my offer.... Hold up, seriously?? What's going on????
GET IT TOGETHER! JESUS!
Tuesday, 8 May 2012
Saturday, 5 May 2012
Being there
The power that is service is amazing. Never before have I truly realized the strength and support it relays to other people. Today I went out with a friend to volunteer at a 5k run. While we didn't run or walk to 5k, we made a difference in the lives of others. This was surprising on its own because the people in the run were making a difference in ours. Thinking that all we did was hold an arrow at the 1 mile mark, people running past kept thanking us. It startled me, in a good way, when I finally figured out that they were thanking us because of our support for them who are supporting others.
It's the little things, what might not mean anything to others, that means so much to the specific group of people. Just spending a couple of otherwise idle hours out in the beautiful sun holding a big red arrow made the people running feel more empowered and supported a great cause, research on multiple myeloma, bone marrow cancer.
Just one step at a time, one hour at a time on your free days, you can make the kind of difference that can possibly change lives. By just thinking: "there's free bagels there, so why not?" you suddenly catapulted yourself into the position of volunteer which leads you to touch the lives of others. Having several causes close to my heart myself I know that I would love even the slightest most unenthusiastic volunteer around.
Because, still, they decided to be there.
It's the little things, what might not mean anything to others, that means so much to the specific group of people. Just spending a couple of otherwise idle hours out in the beautiful sun holding a big red arrow made the people running feel more empowered and supported a great cause, research on multiple myeloma, bone marrow cancer.
Just one step at a time, one hour at a time on your free days, you can make the kind of difference that can possibly change lives. By just thinking: "there's free bagels there, so why not?" you suddenly catapulted yourself into the position of volunteer which leads you to touch the lives of others. Having several causes close to my heart myself I know that I would love even the slightest most unenthusiastic volunteer around.
Because, still, they decided to be there.
Friday, 4 May 2012
Lead by example
The day after the presentation. It was wonderful and sad all in one go. While the presentations went well, we went out for drinks after, and we all got along splendidly it's sad to think that we connected like this on the last possible day.
But nonetheless it was all worth it. As a summation of the past four years, two years in my major, I learned a lot of lessons that are not only valuable to me as a student, but also as a person. One of the major lessons I have learned has to do with acceptance. While we all think we are tolerant and accepting, are we really? Do we really forgive and pass no judgment on others? Do we really live in a world where we feel nothing matters but we think? I think, and learned, over time that there is no escaping the judgment of others and the only real step to take is to learn and teach others about the power of acceptance.
With just some simple thoughts shared by those aware of the need or lack of acceptance and tolerance we can at least strive to provide for others the world that we all want to have. If you can't live your life without judgment then why do you expect others to do the same. Like a lesson learned as a child and as a student, and now as an adult: Live by example.
Picture from weheartit.com
But nonetheless it was all worth it. As a summation of the past four years, two years in my major, I learned a lot of lessons that are not only valuable to me as a student, but also as a person. One of the major lessons I have learned has to do with acceptance. While we all think we are tolerant and accepting, are we really? Do we really forgive and pass no judgment on others? Do we really live in a world where we feel nothing matters but we think? I think, and learned, over time that there is no escaping the judgment of others and the only real step to take is to learn and teach others about the power of acceptance.
With just some simple thoughts shared by those aware of the need or lack of acceptance and tolerance we can at least strive to provide for others the world that we all want to have. If you can't live your life without judgment then why do you expect others to do the same. Like a lesson learned as a child and as a student, and now as an adult: Live by example.
Picture from weheartit.com
Thursday, 3 May 2012
Capstone
Tonight is the night of my Criminal Justice Capstone presentation. What this means is that I have my paper done and in a nice folder. I have my poster printed and it's huge. I have my reference page printed and copied. I have my dress and nice shoes and nice bag and nice make-up. I have my note cards to give me cues and I'm pumped to get this started. First I'll have a dinner with the Jesuits, a senior year event where you reflect on the experience at a Jesuit university. After that I'll head over to the presentations and at 6pm I'm going to be standing next to my awesome poster with awesome knowledge.
I'm excited to be able to wrap up this project and get the presentation over with. But I also don't want it to end because this will be the last criminal justice class I have here at uni. =(
I'm excited to be able to wrap up this project and get the presentation over with. But I also don't want it to end because this will be the last criminal justice class I have here at uni. =(
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