Saturday, May 12, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
DONE
I AM ALL DONE. *victory dance*
No more AP tests...
No more finals...
NO MORE HOMEWORK.
NO MORE HIGH SCHOOL. Instead, I get to spend the next four weeks at the middle school working with my 6th graders for the entire day. It's gonna be awesome. :)
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Final(s) Week
It's almost over...incredible. This is my last week of school. Next Monday I start Career Study, which means I'll be spending all my school days over at East with my 6th grade Language Arts class that I've already been student teaching at the majority of the year. It's gonna be awesome. :)
But for now...I have to finish all my crazy last assignments and study my butt off.
Then it's my birthday, David comes home from college, we get less than a week together and once again he's off to Ohio for Bluecoats...but I'll be plenty occupied this summer, what with reading amazing literature, sorting through everything I'll need for college, and oh yeah...learning how to play a brass instrument.
Maybe I'll make a separate post explaining that...no time right now though. Gotta go study up! Charge!
But for now...I have to finish all my crazy last assignments and study my butt off.
Then it's my birthday, David comes home from college, we get less than a week together and once again he's off to Ohio for Bluecoats...but I'll be plenty occupied this summer, what with reading amazing literature, sorting through everything I'll need for college, and oh yeah...learning how to play a brass instrument.
Maybe I'll make a separate post explaining that...no time right now though. Gotta go study up! Charge!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
"I'm a Christian, unless you're gay."
http://www.danoah.com/2011/11/im-christian-unless-youre-gay.html/3/
I highly encourage you to read this article. All three pages worth. And really soak in the information. It's absolutely fantastic.
Here are some quotes (and my reflections) that really stood out to me:
I’ve heard the hate. I’ve heard the disgust. I’ve heard the disdain. I’ve heard the gossip. I’ve heard the distrust. I’ve heard the anger. I’ve heard it all, and I’ve heard it tucked and disguised neatly beneath a wrapper of self-righteousness and a blanket of “caring” or “religious” words. I’ve heard it more times than I care to number.
So have I. I think that's what makes this article really impactful, becuase I can relate to everything it talks about. I have those friends who are Christians and yet are still incredibly judgmental. I'M a Christian who is still incredibly judgmental. Not in terms of gay people though...my lack of kindness applies to those people who I see as being 'too different' compared to me. Maybe they're socially awkward, maybe they're disrespectful to others, maybe they're not as talented as I am. Whatever it is, I know there's certain people I look down on and brush aside in day-to-day life, not even thinking about trying to love them. Shame on me.
According to Christians, Jesus taught a couple of interesting things. First, “love one another.” Second, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”
Whenever I get in a conversation with someone about homosexuals and religion (which happens more often than you may think), the first thing that I usually say is that God tells us to love each other. I also add in the fact that Jesus loved the tax collectors and the prostitutes, people who were on the very outs of society, just like the gays are today. The bit about casting the first stone really struck me though, and it made me realize how incredibly stupid it is for me to pick apart other people...
Complete honesty time: I am constantly tearing down others in my mind throughout the day in order to make myself feel better. Walking through the hallways, I usually figure out if the girl in front of me is skinnier or fatter than me and if she's bigger, I get a little smug smile on my face that I'm "better than her". During Indoor Percussion practice, when one of the bass drums can't get their part but I've had my music down for months, I roll my eyes and think about how much better I am. Sitting in class, I see someone whose shoes don't go perfectly with their outfit or their color combinations/textures aren't exactly right. I judge them and then look at myself approvingly.
I am such an idiot...here's me casting so many stones every day, when I should be the one getting pelted with rocks.
I know there are many here who believe that living a homosexual life is a sin. Okay. But, what does that have to do with love?
Exactly...what does that have to do with love? What do any of my judgments have to do with love?
In truth, having a religion doesn’t make a person love or not love others. It doesn’t make a person accept or not accept others. It doesn’t make a person befriend or not befriend others. No, what makes somebody love, accept, and befriend their fellow man is letting go of a need to be better than others.
I'm not gay.
I don't dress differently.
I don't act differently.
I'm not addicted to drugs.
I don't smoke.
I don't have an eating disorder.
I don't have non-traditional piercings.
But I struggle everyday with the need to be better than others.
I highly encourage you to read this article. All three pages worth. And really soak in the information. It's absolutely fantastic.
Here are some quotes (and my reflections) that really stood out to me:
I’ve heard the hate. I’ve heard the disgust. I’ve heard the disdain. I’ve heard the gossip. I’ve heard the distrust. I’ve heard the anger. I’ve heard it all, and I’ve heard it tucked and disguised neatly beneath a wrapper of self-righteousness and a blanket of “caring” or “religious” words. I’ve heard it more times than I care to number.
So have I. I think that's what makes this article really impactful, becuase I can relate to everything it talks about. I have those friends who are Christians and yet are still incredibly judgmental. I'M a Christian who is still incredibly judgmental. Not in terms of gay people though...my lack of kindness applies to those people who I see as being 'too different' compared to me. Maybe they're socially awkward, maybe they're disrespectful to others, maybe they're not as talented as I am. Whatever it is, I know there's certain people I look down on and brush aside in day-to-day life, not even thinking about trying to love them. Shame on me.
According to Christians, Jesus taught a couple of interesting things. First, “love one another.” Second, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”
Whenever I get in a conversation with someone about homosexuals and religion (which happens more often than you may think), the first thing that I usually say is that God tells us to love each other. I also add in the fact that Jesus loved the tax collectors and the prostitutes, people who were on the very outs of society, just like the gays are today. The bit about casting the first stone really struck me though, and it made me realize how incredibly stupid it is for me to pick apart other people...
Complete honesty time: I am constantly tearing down others in my mind throughout the day in order to make myself feel better. Walking through the hallways, I usually figure out if the girl in front of me is skinnier or fatter than me and if she's bigger, I get a little smug smile on my face that I'm "better than her". During Indoor Percussion practice, when one of the bass drums can't get their part but I've had my music down for months, I roll my eyes and think about how much better I am. Sitting in class, I see someone whose shoes don't go perfectly with their outfit or their color combinations/textures aren't exactly right. I judge them and then look at myself approvingly.
I am such an idiot...here's me casting so many stones every day, when I should be the one getting pelted with rocks.
I know there are many here who believe that living a homosexual life is a sin. Okay. But, what does that have to do with love?
Exactly...what does that have to do with love? What do any of my judgments have to do with love?
In truth, having a religion doesn’t make a person love or not love others. It doesn’t make a person accept or not accept others. It doesn’t make a person befriend or not befriend others. No, what makes somebody love, accept, and befriend their fellow man is letting go of a need to be better than others.
I'm not gay.
I don't dress differently.
I don't act differently.
I'm not addicted to drugs.
I don't smoke.
I don't have an eating disorder.
I don't have non-traditional piercings.
But I struggle everyday with the need to be better than others.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Sigh...life.
I am so ready to go to college...
I feel like my life is in triple fast-forward right now. I have to keep up with all my classes, I have to stay on top of jazz band, wind ensemble, indoor percussion, and symphony, I have to write a resume/cover letter for career study and get that figured out, I have to apply to Millersville's Honors College, I have to start preparing for AP tests, and on top of it all this week has a huge workload that I'm not prepared for.
Those are all my HAVE TO's...I also have my WANT TO's, and my family and friends unfortunately fall under that category.
I want more time with my family...I want to be able to see my dad more often. I want to bond with my sister cause I know she's struggling with stuff. I want to play video games with my brother. I want to have relaxing time with my mom, it seems to be always hectic and stressful now. I want to see my friends more. I want to actually HAVE a close circle of friends.
Figured out yesterday that David won't be able to go to post-prom because he'll already have left for Bluecoats. I told my mom about it and she said, "Well why don't you go with a group of friends?" WHAT group of friends? I have sprinklings here and there but not one big group that I'd spend five hours with at post-prom.
Sigh...life.
I want to have more patience.
I want to have peace.
I feel like my life is in triple fast-forward right now. I have to keep up with all my classes, I have to stay on top of jazz band, wind ensemble, indoor percussion, and symphony, I have to write a resume/cover letter for career study and get that figured out, I have to apply to Millersville's Honors College, I have to start preparing for AP tests, and on top of it all this week has a huge workload that I'm not prepared for.
Those are all my HAVE TO's...I also have my WANT TO's, and my family and friends unfortunately fall under that category.
I want more time with my family...I want to be able to see my dad more often. I want to bond with my sister cause I know she's struggling with stuff. I want to play video games with my brother. I want to have relaxing time with my mom, it seems to be always hectic and stressful now. I want to see my friends more. I want to actually HAVE a close circle of friends.
Figured out yesterday that David won't be able to go to post-prom because he'll already have left for Bluecoats. I told my mom about it and she said, "Well why don't you go with a group of friends?" WHAT group of friends? I have sprinklings here and there but not one big group that I'd spend five hours with at post-prom.
Sigh...life.
I want to have more patience.
I want to have peace.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Shakespearean Hokey-Pokey
O proud left foot, that ventures quick within
Then soon upon a backward journey lithe.
Anon, once more the gesture, then begin:
Command sinistral pedestal to write.
Commence thou then the fervid Hokey-Poke.
A mad gyration, hips in wanton swirl.
To spin! A wilde release from heaven's yoke.
Blessed dervish! Surely canst go, girl
The Hoke, the poke -- banish now thy doubt
Verily, I say, 'tis what it's all about.
Then soon upon a backward journey lithe.
Anon, once more the gesture, then begin:
Command sinistral pedestal to write.
Commence thou then the fervid Hokey-Poke.
A mad gyration, hips in wanton swirl.
To spin! A wilde release from heaven's yoke.
Blessed dervish! Surely canst go, girl
The Hoke, the poke -- banish now thy doubt
Verily, I say, 'tis what it's all about.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Movie and Appetizers :)
I have had a ridiculously awesome past two days.
Friday after school, the jazz band met at Jeff's house to practice our music and it was a lot of fun. Pretty chill environment...and I got to lead a couple songs, which was great cause after we played them through at the end I could definitely tell they were getting better. I also got to eat pizza and chocolate lava bursts while I was there. :)
Then me and Kaitlin (sophomore tenor sax player) went back to my house, Leslie came and picked us up and then we all went to go see "The Vow" together. SUCH A GOOD MOVIE. Definitely not as good as "The Notebook" (a lot of people are comparing it to that) and it's not one I NEED to see again, but I really enjoyed it. Good balance of rumor and romance.
SPEAKING OF ROMANCE. Side-tangent time! I had the realization that I am not a very romantic person. I don't need or really even want those little "romantic gestures" or random presents or anything...like David and I did absolutely nothing for Valentine's Day and I was completely content with that. All that sickeningly sweet stuff is not for me. :P
BUT...I do enjoy romance movies. As long as they're not too over the top. Long story short..."The Vow" was excellent. :)
Then YESTERDAY, Indoor Percussion had its first competition and we were at Souderton, my old home! It was a lot of fun...especially walking in and knowing all the parents helping out. :) We had a really chill warm-up, tuned up our drums, and then performed.
Beginning was shaky (I blame the pit, haha), but then about 45 seconds in we really got into the groove and it was an overall good show. Probably the best we could have expected for a first competition.
We got home at 7:30...SO EARLY. So me, Red Shoes (real name Dave but most of us call him Red Shoes), Joelle, JWaz, Meaghan, and Andre all decided to go out to Applebee's. We got there around 8:30...and half-price apetizers start at 9:00. So the waiter came by like three times asking if we were ready and finally on his fourth round we were all like, "Ok we all know what we want now." It was pretty funny. :) And THEN...we lied and said it was JWaz's birthday and we got a free sundae, which we all shared. :)
It was so much fun...especially since I'm usually so busy I get no social time with my friends but I got to go out TWICE this weekend!
Friday after school, the jazz band met at Jeff's house to practice our music and it was a lot of fun. Pretty chill environment...and I got to lead a couple songs, which was great cause after we played them through at the end I could definitely tell they were getting better. I also got to eat pizza and chocolate lava bursts while I was there. :)
Then me and Kaitlin (sophomore tenor sax player) went back to my house, Leslie came and picked us up and then we all went to go see "The Vow" together. SUCH A GOOD MOVIE. Definitely not as good as "The Notebook" (a lot of people are comparing it to that) and it's not one I NEED to see again, but I really enjoyed it. Good balance of rumor and romance.
SPEAKING OF ROMANCE. Side-tangent time! I had the realization that I am not a very romantic person. I don't need or really even want those little "romantic gestures" or random presents or anything...like David and I did absolutely nothing for Valentine's Day and I was completely content with that. All that sickeningly sweet stuff is not for me. :P
BUT...I do enjoy romance movies. As long as they're not too over the top. Long story short..."The Vow" was excellent. :)
Then YESTERDAY, Indoor Percussion had its first competition and we were at Souderton, my old home! It was a lot of fun...especially walking in and knowing all the parents helping out. :) We had a really chill warm-up, tuned up our drums, and then performed.
Beginning was shaky (I blame the pit, haha), but then about 45 seconds in we really got into the groove and it was an overall good show. Probably the best we could have expected for a first competition.
We got home at 7:30...SO EARLY. So me, Red Shoes (real name Dave but most of us call him Red Shoes), Joelle, JWaz, Meaghan, and Andre all decided to go out to Applebee's. We got there around 8:30...and half-price apetizers start at 9:00. So the waiter came by like three times asking if we were ready and finally on his fourth round we were all like, "Ok we all know what we want now." It was pretty funny. :) And THEN...we lied and said it was JWaz's birthday and we got a free sundae, which we all shared. :)
It was so much fun...especially since I'm usually so busy I get no social time with my friends but I got to go out TWICE this weekend!
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