What's Next?

Today I have been reflecting a lot about the direction of my life.  We spend years of our educational life preparing for the steps ahead.  In middle school they tell us we need to study hard because High School will be harder and we need to be ready.  Then as we approach High School Graduation we are encouraged to apply for college and further our education.  Again they try to prepare us for the college workload and for the steps we need to take to be successful.  Then we enter college and we are faced with thousands of options.  Our future seems un-limitless and full of so many majors our head could spin.  Then you blink and it is your senior year.  You are excited and hopeful, everything you've worked hard for over the past four years is coming to end.  We look for internships, jobs, Grad Schools and other things to get us a step into the real world.  But this time it is different than High School.  If you're lucky you have an amazing advisor, parents and friends who are here to support and encourage you; though some are not as fortunate.  Yet for all of us we are faced with the same thing, we cannot have our hands help as we venture out of the safety of our universities.  We no longer can redly rely on others to make our decisions for us.  This seems like a harsh reality, but it is the same thing millions before us have gone through and they have survived.  As I reflect over the reality that is setting in, that I won't be waking up next year with my biggest responsibility making it to class and being an active participant, I am reminded I still have an entire world open to me.  It is possible that some of us will not be using our majors, and it might seem like a waste of four years, but I can guarantee that it will not be.  College has allowed me to realize what I like and what I don't.  It has allowed me to grow great friendships and find value in every single one of them.  I've found a relationship with God that I can grow in and an amazing appreciation for those who have helped me on this journey.  Leaving college in a few short months has taught me things will not work out how you plan, no matter how much you plan.  You will indefinitely change your mind, how you feel about things, and be called to completely different opportunities.  The future is scary and it should be, if it was easy then it would not be exciting or challenging.  We learn and grow from events that make us step out of the box.  So just remember no matter where you are in life to let yourself be afraid, and excited.  Challenge yourself! If you're called to be a teacher, a writer, a mission worker, a CEO, a doctor or stay-at-home parent, do it; but don't let yourself get stuck, always let yourself grow.   So what I'm trying to say is it might not seem like we are prepared for this step in life, there is no check-list and it is scary, but that's ok, let it be.  Don't let a lack of a job or a plan stop you from being and living!

9/11

Today marks twelve years since the most fatal act of terrorism in the world, to date.  This date will forever stand in the minds of all Americans.  It is difficult to recall what the world was like before this attack on American safety. Today,  no longer a small-minded fourth grader, it is easier to understand the bigger picture of this horrific act of violence.  Yes we lost many, many American lives, but it is hard to hold onto the number of fatalities when we are constantly surround by death and violence.  The horror of the deaths have passed over the past twelve years.  We will always remember 9/11 for the deaths and the heroes, but it has come to hold a more important meaning: representing a bigger symbol.  It represents the building of America and the strengthening of our Nationality.  Remembering 9/11 gives us hope that our generations and future ones will be able to bring some good into the world.  We were the children of war and we are now the future.  We have the amazing ability to go out into the world and do good.  We can become doctors, teachers, lawyers. Our options are endless.  We can become the Engineers and Architects that build stronger and better buildings, planes, and cars.  We will create museums and write books, sharing the past with the future.  It does not matter what our career is, we all have a part and a job to do.  Our generation will become the parents of the next;  in that we have great power and responsibility.  So we must remember 9/11 but also carry on with the world that is ahead of us.  We have the opportunity to become great and make a difference.  For this we should always remember 9/11, the men and women who fight for our country, and everyone else who have lost their lives.  They have not been able to carry on the fight and further change the world, and so it is our duty to do so. We were their future then and we are their hope now. So in this hope we carry a country and world on.

Day 29... Where have I traveled?

U.S.A.

I have visited all of the States in purple.

All of the New England states I visited on a road trip with my Best Friends last summer! 

Outside of the U.S.A. 

Costa Rica

Canada

Day 14... the LOTTERY

That's right.. this day's post is pretty much asking me: if I had more money than I could imagine, what would I do with it?

Well I'm going to of course take the extremely practical approach and buy every single item of clothing I want and nothing else.  Ok, I'm just kidding but believe me, I would definitely upgrade my wardrobe.

Here is a list of what I would do when I won the lottery:

1. Pay off all of my student loans

2. Pay off my parents debt. I know, number one daughter right here! :)

3. volvo. enough said

4. I would travel to a bunch of countries and do mission work! 

5. I would spend the rest on various charities (RMHC, The ALS association, Leukemia and Lymphoma society) and put the rest in savings! 

6. Oh and shopping of course

Day 13... Earliest Memory

So I am way behind on the 31 days.. so I'm going to try to play catch up.  I'm skipping Day 12's, what's in your fridge, because my only fridge is in Maryville and it has a 2 liter of water in it and that's about all.

So day 13 is my earliest memory.  It's hard to say exactly what my earliest memory , since there are a lot of videos and pictures, making it difficult to pinpoint what I actually remember.  So I'm going to go with what my favorite early memory is.

In 1994, I was two years old and the best movie ever came out.  That's right I'm talking about The Lion King.  My favorite memory is going to the movies with my mom, up near the old shopping mall, and seeing this movie.  I'm pretty sure this was my first movie in the theaters, but it could have been Pocahontas.  I remember being dressed in a Lion King sweatshirt and matching leggings.  Around this time I also got my favorite stuffed animal.

Isn't he just cute? And yes I did cut off his hair when I was little. 

In case you were wondering what I looked like back in the day, here are some examples: 

Lauren's back!

So my sister is back from North Dakota tonight, which means that we are both home for the first time in almost a month.  Despite the minor accident involving her new comforter and spaghetti sauce while she was gone, she still wants to hang out with me. So what are we doing on our first night home? Uploading a ton of CD's from the library, watching Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and watching One Direction on repeat. You've got to love sister bonding time! Oh and listening to her read entries from her fourth grade journal was pretty entertaining.

"The Best Song Ever" 

and it really is the best song ever! 

Day 7... Pet Peeves

So I've been avoiding Day 7 (see Worst Habits) because I thought that it was a post about what my pet hates and I was completely confused.  I've realized that it must mean what are your Pet Peeves. So I'm backtracking and doing Day 7 today!

Inconsiderate Drivers or Driving in a big City

Dirty and long finger nails: I have to keep my nails clean at all times

When professional writing (books, newspapers, online news) have very noticeable grammatical errors.  I have horrible grammar (but I'm getting better) and spelling; but it annoys me to no end when professional outlets don't catch them.

Using the word "moist" to describe a texture or surface (really any word that describes something gross).

I hate being early and I hate being late. Also along with this I really don't like waiting when I'm ready to go.

I also dislike when people talk down to me or think I'm stupid.