NEW BLOG!

http://kelseyheiter.wordpress.com/

Hey everyone! Check out my new blog. I think I am going to take this one a different direction, more about my writing and things related to literature, communication, and English. Let me know what you think! Make sure you visit this blog from now on, because this will be my LAST post on this blog.

Kels

music heals the soul

As I have spent the better part of my day at the Empo, I have discovered some amazing songs while working on mounds of homework. The first artist I discovered, thanks to a friend's blog, is Kina Grannis. Her song "Valentine" is absolutely amazing. It takes some true talent, in my opinion, to create songs in that genre of music. I created a Kina Grannis station on my Pandora and it might be my favorite to date.
These are the times where I wish that I had musical talent/singing ability. Sure, I can play the clarient, but I would love how to learn guitar and how to sing, that would be awesome. I so envy the artists that possess that talent, like my rommate, and I wish I could do something similar.

Here is a plug for my friend, Drew Jenkinson's Youtube Channel. He is a pretty talented so I suggest that everyone go check out his YouTube channel, along with his Facebook fan page.

Appreciate your music, that's all.

poetry

Sometimes, all I need is poetry to make my day better. Today was one of those days. It was one of those days where I felt like nothing went right, where every little thing that happened let to bigger things that ended up making me feel a rush of anger and sadness. They were all trivial things in the scheme of life, but I guess they relate to my life so maybe they aren't that trivial. These always make me feel better:

i carry your heart with me by: e.e. cummings
i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)
i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

Rain: by Shel Silverstein
I opened my eyes
And looked up at the rain,
And it dripped in my head
And flowed into my brain,
And all that I hear as I lie in my bed
Is the slishity-slosh of the rain in my head.

I step very softly,
I walk very slow,
I can't do a handstand--
I might overflow,
So pardon the wild crazy thing I just said--
I'm just not the same since there's rain in my head.

Poetry can do wonders for the soul. So can the Jaymay station on Pandora. I suggest both.

a nature journey

We all have that place where we feel completely at home - for me, that place is the Green River Preserve in Cedar Mountain, North Carolina. I spent three of the most amazing summers of my life at GRP. I cannot even explain how much that camp means to me, or how much it changed my life. I literally cannot put into words how much GRP impacted my life. From everything to amazing fire chats, to eating ants, to licking slugs, to making up dinner time songs, to cabin competitions, to learning how to kayak, to learning how to fly fish, to learning to listen to the river, to not showering for a week, to living in the wilderness in a tarp for a week, to learning how to achieve peace of mind. Some of my most valuable, life-changing lessons were learned at GRP. It is one of those places where I feel that I can completely be myself, complete with messy hair, running shorts and a t-shirt, tennis shoes, and 10 home-made bracelets adorning my wrists. I want to go back so badly it hurts. I want to pull out my Kelty hiking backpack, my hiking boots and my camelback and go for it - I would do that in a heartbeat if I could. For me, being in the Blue Ridge mountains is a feeling unlike any other. I feel completely free. The sound of the rushing water, the birds chirping, the wind blowing, there is nothing like that.

These are the laws that we live by at GRP and try to take with us after camp as well.
The Woodcrafter Laws:

Beauty- Be clean, both yourself and the place you live in. Understand and respect your body, for it is the temple of the spririt. Be a friend of all wildlife. Conserve land, forest and flowers.
Fortitude - Be brave, courage is the noblest of all attainments. Be silent while your elders are speaking or otherwise show them deference. Obey. Obedience is the first duty of the woodcrafter.
Truth - Word of honor is sacred. Play fair, foul play is treachery. Be reverent, show respect and tolerance for the beliefs of all others.
Love - Be kind. Do at least one act of unbargaining service each day. Be helpful, do your share of the work. Be joyful, seek the joy of being alive.

This was a time where my fellow campers and myself sat with our counselors near a stream jutting off of the Green River discussing our deepest and darkest secrets. We shared our hopes for our lives and our hopes for others. We shared stories about our family lives, the heartaches and amazing experiences. That is the last time I have really opened up to someone about who I am through and through. The people that were present for that experience learned everything about us - our fears, hopes, dreams, dissapointments, hardships, depressions, heartbreaks, and new beginnings. That day was probably the most emotional and influential day of my entire life. I want that again. I want to be able to experience and enjoy something as much as I did with GRP.

"We love this earth as a newborn loves its mother's heartbeat. So, if we sell you our land, love it as we have loved it. Care for it, as we have cared for it. Hold in your mind the memory of the land as it is when you receive it. Preserve the land for all children, and love it, as God loves us." - Chief Seattle

our true fate

I think that fate completely exists in our lives. Fate is ever present, whether we realize it or not. I know that I sort of talked about this before, but it is something that has been playing out in my life a lot lately, so I wanted to bring it up again. This quote has stuck out to me recently: "They know that they are alone with the road surface, the cold, the wind, the fit of their shoes, their over-all-cardiovascular health - just factors, like the partner in the bed, and not the truth, which is the single body alone in the universe against it's own best time." I feel like this is saying that it is our fate that determines what we are with every single day, whether that be the road, the cold, or the wind, all of these different factors appear for a reason unbeknown to us. Fate has brought you here to my blog. Whether it was that you saw it randomly on my Facebook status, or if you are a regular reader, or if you are someone I barely talk to - you came here because of fate. Fate showed you this link, or showed me to you, and you decided to venture and see what this blog was all about. It is a big connected circle in a way. Here is an example: my roommates for next year, Rachel, Caitlin and Katie. We were all in the same leadership class last spring semester. Fate. I share one of my majors with two of them, and I used to be the in the major that third roommate is. Fate. The four of us never thought about rooming together, but then the two roommates who are my major were in classes with me last semester, and we decided to bring ourselves together to form a group of four roommates. Fate. It is this continuing cycle that never ends.

Sure, you may say that things just happen a certain way, but some things really are fate. You meet people because of fate. Everyone that you know plays a vital role in your life, even if you are not able to see that right now. Sometimes people that you think will never impact you turn out to surprise you in the most influential ways. Take my friendship with Andy for instance. We were in a group for a leadership project spring semester 2009, and we were not very fond of each other at first. I was very unhappy because I was under the impression that he was this kid that slacked off and didn't care about doing anything productive, let alone getting a good grade on this project, whereas I thought I was the complete opposite. (It turns out that we are we similar, but also very different at the same time). We learned that we were, in fact, complete opposites when it came to our personality types, and it was sort of our joke all semester, but, in the end, we ended up working pretty well together and came out with a decent project grade. Because of that project we were forced to be friends, and our friendship has grown from there, and now he is one of my best guy friends. Coincidence? No, fate. Strange things happen like that. Your life would not be the same without some of the people that are in your life. My life without the friends that I have met at college would be a completely different story than it is today. All of them have impacted me in ways that I cannot even explain. I can distinctively see some ways, but others I cannot explain. These certain individuals have helped me grow as a friend, woman and student.

If you really take the time to stop and think about the prominent individuals in your life and how you met them or what your life was like before them, I know that you will either have a difficult time doing so, or you will be able to make a clear distinction as to when they were not in your life. Fate - it really is all around us.

"There is no fate but your own fate."

new outlook

I have a huge test on Tuesday. I am talking 1/3 of my grade test, where the other 2/3 of my grade are made up of two other tests. For some reason, I am not too stressed. For those of you who really know me know that I am an ISTJ who gets stressed and anxious about lots and lots of things, but this semester, I am not working myself up about small, frivolous details. Sure, a test is a big deal, especially when it is approximately 30% of my grade, but I think that stressing out over small things like that anyway, makes me more anxious and more nervous that I should be. It does not help in any way. I study, I make sure I understand the material, and I conquer. That is my motto for this test: Study, Understand, Conquer. I think that will work. I spent an amount of quality time in the library today studying, taking notes, comparing book and lecture notes and reviewing for this test. I am still studying as we speak, but my four hours at the library were very productive indeed. Without my lack of a social network thanks to my Facebook depravity, all I had was music, YouTube, Google, and my Media Institutions book. Quality time right there. I have started listening to classical music, on a very low volume may I add, when I study. I know it sounds corny, but it really helps drown out the other thoughts that I have running through my head and allows me to take in what I am studying sans various distractions.

I think I am really starting to figure out how I study best: classical music, no distractions, no wandering thoughts, and calmly, but with confidence. Calm and confident - that sounds like a good way to study for me. I think approaching it with the mindset that I really do know the material and all that the test is asking of me is to apply that knowledge, than I should be okay. We should all approach tests, and life that way. If we understand that we have the knowledge to succeed and we go out in life, in whatever we may be doing, and know that all we need to do to be successful is to apply those skills, then we should flourish in life. I think that is a good way to think about it - so go ponder that for a while. For now, I am off to continue studying.

the importance of friends

Sometimes we all just need to take a second and stop to appreciate our friends and all that they provide us with in life. They are all truly amazing. They each bring something different to the table that is unique to them - and I love every single one of my friends for doing that for me. I have some friends that I do not see as often as I would like, but I know that they will always be there for me whenever I need them. That is when you know who your true friends are - when they will be there for you through thick and thin, no matter the situation. I realized that they have all of your best interests at heart, even if you think that they might not, they understand you better than you think - or my friends do. I love that my friends are there to talk me through big realizations and are there to support me through trying to deal with a big issue. So thank you to all of my friends. I love each and every one of you dearly and I know that my life would not be the same without each of you in it.

And remember, if you need anything, I am always here for you - I want to return the favors that you all have done for me. You all are amazing.

anchorsplash 2010

Oh, Anchorsplash, what a wonderful, wonderful thing. Sure Kappa did not place in the top five, but my girls sure worked hard and looked amazing out there tonight! I wanted to share something with some of you that you might enjoy. There is a group called Semper Fi, which is a group of men in the Corps of Cadets who perform in Anchorsplash and Mock Rock each year. Here is a clip of them from Anchorsplash last year that I thought a few of you might enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlaFpyjXNSQ&NR=1

Both of these events are such amazing causes and really help out some great charities so, if you have the opportunity, please go out and support these causes whenever you can.

Tonight was amazing because the majority of greek life at Virginia Tech attended Anchorsplash, which allowed everyone to come together as one community in support of a great cause. I realized tonight how strong the greek community is and I am so glad that I am now a part of it.

peace. love. kkg <3

what does it mean to understand others?

How do you learn to understand a person? I think it depends on the level of how deep you know the person. I know my best friend Beth like the back of my hand. I also know a great deal about Brigid, and my parents. But other than that, I do not understand anyone as well as I know myself. Yes, I know and understand people, but not to level that I know myself or these four people. Sometimes, understanding just means being there for someone when they need it, even if you do not know them as well as you may know some other people. The essence of understanding, to me, is appreciating what other people have to offer and not taking any of it for granted.

We have to learn how to appreciate others and understand what each person has to offer in differences. Realizing that we are all different will give us a better reason to understand each other. I know that a lot of it is obvious but it was just something that I was thinking about today, so I hope that you all will take a second to think about other people and their differences and remember to respect everyone even though they may not share some of the same views or ideals that you have - just remember to try and understand their point of view.

a new beginning

As sad as it may sound, the first thing I do when I wake up is go to my computer to check my email, Google Wave, and Facebook. This morning I realized that I could not check facebook and, honestly, I was a little hurt and saddened, as pathetic as that may sound. Also, I checked my blog and saw that, for me, the video that I posted last night was not working, which was also disappointing. But then my day got better, because I turned on my Pandora and the first song that played was "Just For Now" by Imogean Heap - so today will be ok. I think that depriving myself of something for Lent, something that I constantly crave, will be good for me. I will probably accomplish the following sans facebook: more school work, being not as distracted, going to sleep earlier, etc. Yen changed my password for me, so I can't get on it at all (even though I may have already been tempted to click "I forgot my password" on the login page - but I didn't!) Yen and I are continuing our daily bible readings, which is something that I am enjoying so much. It is a great thing to break up my day and it is a very eye opening experience, because I have never read the Bible on a continually daily basis before. I am loving it so far.

Under the surface of what Lent represents is something bigger than ourselves - bigger than we can ever be, and that is what we need to remember. I will leave you with this quote for the day:

"A really great talent finds its happiness in execution."

because maybe you're gonna be the one that saves me

As I was sitting in American Literature yesterday, my professor began talking about how we carry around sins and keep secrets from people. This got me thinking - we all really do carry around "secret sins." I know I do. Some of them I share with certain people, but others I keep completely to myself. When I heard the words "secret sins," my mind immediately went to relationships and how we all have sins that we commit within relationships with our friends, family, and significant others. Then, I began writing down the lyrics to "Wonderwall" by Oasis, because when I think about relationships, I think about this song - I absolutely love it. Professor Mooney then mentioned being "victims of fate" and I, of course, related that to something completely different than what he intended us to think about it as.

I believe in fate - and I do believe that we are victims of fate in different aspects of our life. We do not meet people accidentally. You meet people because of fate. You find your friends because of fate. You fall in love because of fate. I believe that there is a plan for all of us to meet in the ways that we do. We really are victims of fate. Say you meet someone and you don't like them, but they grow on you over a period of time, and then you become friends. Fate. You were meant to be friends. Or you are in the produce section of Kroger one day, and you accidentally bump carts with a cute fellow shopper. Fate. Or, a meet-cute when talking about destined lovers. It is your meet-cute: I learned that thanks to The Holiday, aka my favorite movie. Isn't it interesting to think how we all meet? I met my best friends in college because of one guy that I knew in my dorm. For me, that is fate. Fate can work in all aspects of our life, not just with the people we meet, but I am not even going to begin to go into that.

Just remember, the next person that you meet could be someone that really impacts your life in ways that you never could have imagined. Fate. They could be your wonderwall. They could be the Seth to your Summer (I hope people understand this - if not, go watch the O.C.)

They could be your destiny. You never know - it's fate.

lent

Yen brought it to my attention today that lent starts this wednesday, so, what do you plan to give up? Yen and I decided that we would start doing something, as well as giving up something, so here is our plan. Her and I found a site of daily Bible readings for the Lent season, so we are going to read those everyday, and when we have time, discuss them. We started today, just to see if we liked it and to get the hang of it. I have one of the most amazing people as my roommate, just to preface this. She is such an amazing, beautiful, intelligent person and I envy her daily. Her and I discussed the passages that we read and I loved it. We had an amazing conversation and I cannot wait to talk to her everyday about our love for the Lord. On the other hand, we were both trying to figure out what we were going to give up, and I decided that I am giving up Facebook for for lent. It is going to be very difficult, but I will be able to do it.

Keep coming back to my blog for updates for the next 40 days, because that, and email, are the only ways that I will be able to communicate.

Consider giving up, or taking on, something for Lent. I promise that giving up Facebook for 40 days will not be the end of your life. Trust me - I am about to do it.

quiescent and compassionate

I have a running list of things I have always wanted to learn/do but have never done before. I am hoping to cross some of these off of my list soon, because I want to become more adventurous and experience things I have never done. I hope you have a list too, because it keeps life interesting, and you can learn more about yourself by keeping one.

So, here is my list. Judge if you want, but these are honest and I really hope I will be able to cross all of them off of this list in 50 years. They are in no specific order.

1. Live a genuinely happy and fulfilled life
2. Go skydiving
3. Read the Bible cover to cover
4. Read seven books in seven days
5. Learn Turkish
6. Go on a missions trip to Africa
7. Spend one week in Greece
8. Give a steady portion of my income to a charity for the entirety of my life
9. Get a tattoo
10. Learn how to krump
11. Learn how to play acoustic guitar
12. Have at least two children
13. Work in a third world country for one year
14. Join the Peace Corps for one year
16. Marry my best friend and love of my life
15. Set a sea turtle free
16. Hike the Appalachian trail
17. Write a book
18. Understand calculus
19. Teach others
20. Learn how to sing
21. Grow all of my own vegetables
22. Donate my hair to Locks of Love
23. Become a proficient photographer
24. Live in Burlington, Vermont
25. Understand how God works in my life

I think making lists like this lets you think about everything that you want to accomplish throughout your lifetime. Even though some of these things may never happen, you can always think about them and what it would mean to you if they really did happen.

guilty pleasure

Everyone has a guilty pleasure. At the moment, mine is knitting. I know, I am not a 70-year-old woman who has no life and knits sweaters all day, but I do enjoy it. I took up knitting over winter break and have been working on a scarf ever since. Granted, I have had little time to actually work on it thanks to something called college, school work, and activities take over my life, but when I do get the chance, I really love to knit. It is a sort of stress reliever because you repeat the same pattern and motion over and over again for hours. When I was first learning to knit over winter break it took me two days to learn, which seems like no time at all, but think about it me sitting down each day for about eight or nine hours trying to learn - it was definitely frustrating. I finally figured it out and started on a maroon scarf, which right now, unfortunately, will only fit some sort of small animal. Although, when I finish, I can probably use it as a beach towel because I made it extra, extra wide. It is almost the width of my body - I am ridiculous.

We all have those hobbies that calm us down and envelop us for so long that we do not even realize the hours that fly by. That is what knitting does to me. I bought more yarn to start on another scarf but I have yet to finish my first one, which I am very upset about because the yarn I bought is multi-colored and it reminds me of fall, so I need to have it finished by the fall. Yes, I am a grandma, but hey, I enjoy it. Let me know if you want a scarf for Christmas this year - I would be happy to knit one for you.

anonymous note

As I came back to my room around 6:30 pm after a very busy day, there was a note on my desk from my roommate. To preface this, my roommate, Yen, and I leave each other sticky notes on our desks on an almost daily basis and then put them on our wall, which has become the "Note Wall." Yen put a sticky note on my desk that said "I found this in front of our door" and next to it there was a piece of computer paper folded in half. I opened the paper and began reading:
"You shouldn't want to ever be someone else. You should be your own person. Don't overwhelm yourself. As your friend, I don't want you to aspire to do too much, with the motivation of affiliation. That's what I do feel you are doing. If you can take the time to step back and only do things that you are truly passionate about you will get more out of your college experience, and not burn yourself out. People will still love Kelsey Heiter if she only did three extra curriculars. You don't have to do every single activity in the world. I say this because I love you. I say this anonymously because I don't want you to feel attacked. But please, be yourself. Be Kelsey Heiter, not the Kelsey Heiter who wants everyone to know her."

To whoever wrote this: thank you. Thank you so much. Whoever you are, you understand who I am and I appreciate that. I love to be involved, but I am at the point where I about to get in over my head. You knew that - whoever you are. I am passionate about everything that I do, but I am at the point where if I add in anything else, I am going to lose that passion. I am going to continue doing my homework at 1 am (which is very unlike me by the way) and I am going to continue to be stressed and not myself. This note came at the perfect time. It is a sign. And I appreciate it so much. You, whichever of my friends did this, understand what I have been acting like since the beginning of the semester, which is not something I am proud of, but which is true. I have been stressed everyday, not sleeping normally, and just conerning myself with being heard, being known. As trivial as that sounds, it is true. I know I do not need to prove myself by joining 100 activities, but sometimes I try to.

This is when I know that I have friends who love me for just who I am. You - you made me realize this. Thank you. You will never know how much that note means to me.

unrequited love

"I've found almost everything ever written about love to be true. Shakespeare said "Journeys end in lovers meeting." What an extraordinary thought. Personally, I have not experienced anything remotely close to that, but I am more than willing to believe Shakespeare had. I suppose I think about love more than anyone really should. I am constantly amazed by its sheer power to alter and define our lives. It was Shakespeare who also said "love is blind". Now that is something I know to be true. For some quite inexplicably, love fades; for others love is simply lost. But then of course love can also be found, even if just for the night. And then, there's another kind of love: the cruelest kind. The one that almost kills its victims. Its called unrequited love. Of that I am an expert. Most love stories are about people who fall in love with each other. But what about the rest of us? What about our stories, those of us who fall in love alone? We are the victims of the one sided affair. We are the cursed of the loved ones." -The Holiday

The Holiday is probably my favorite movie of all time. It is the movie I reach for when I am happy, sad, confused, excited, or any other emotion that exists. I almost know this quote by heart, and I believe it with ALL of my heart. Unrequited love - of that I am also an expert. It is a strange feeling. It is especially strange when you feel it for someone that you would have never expected. I am thinking about this, because as we approache Valentine's Day, I find myself alone - well, not really, but it's complicated. Wouldn't it be easier just to tell some directly how you feel? Yeah, I think so. Been there, done that. Does not make it any clearer. Relationships are the most complicated aspect of any person's life - hands down. For me, I do not think there is anything as confusing as relationships. Unless you count quantum physics or something like that, but that is beside the point. If you have a loved one this Valentine's Day, celebrate with passion. If you don't, you can do what my friends and I are doing, which involves some choice activities and then sappy movies. Perfect.

Food for thought: Honestly if you have feelings for someone, for goodness sake, LET THEM KNOW. Yes, do it. You will feel much better after you do so. Trust me.

a pretty how town

"You're not Seth Cohen." - Summer Roberts

Yes. You are not Seth Cohen. Oh the dramas of life. I have been thinking a lot about the O.C. lately, partially because I have been watching it a fair amount, and as corny as it sounds, I can relate to a lot of the issues that the characters go through. I will not get into details, but bottom line is that I appreciate how my life can be compared to the O.C. (through stretched metaphors).

Today is a good day for a poem, and I wanted to share this one with you all. It is one of my favorites; it is called "anyone lived in a pretty how town" by e.e. cummings. I have loved it since I saw it for the first time in 8th grade. Enjoy:

anyone lived in a pretty how town
(with up so floating many bells down)
spring summer autumn winter
he sang his didn't he danced his did

Women and men(both little and small)
cared for anyone not at all
they sowed their isn't they reaped their same
sun moon stars rain

children guessed(but only a few
and down they forgot as up they grew
autumn winter spring summer)
that noone loved him more by more

when by now and tree by leaf
she laughed his joy she cried his grief
bird by snow and stir by still
anyone's any was all to her

someones married their everyones
laughed their cryings and did their dance
(sleep wake hope and then)they
said their nevers they slept their dream

stars rain sun moon
(and only the snow can begin to explain
how children are apt to forget to remember
with up so floating many bells down)

one day anyone died i guess
(and noone stooped to kiss his face)
busy folk buried them side by side
little by little and was by was

all by all and deep by deep
and more by more they dream their sleep
noone and anyone earth by april
wish by spirit and if by yes.

Women and men(both dong and ding)
summer autumn winter spring
reaped their sowing and went their came
sun moon stars rain

something new

flashback

As I sit in my bed, currently in a sweatshirt and running shorts, as my first ever college snow day begins, I am reminiscing about what it would be like to be a kid again. Yen and I woke up this morning, looked outside, and jumped out of bed to check our phones and email to see if classes were cancelled for the day. I seriously felt like a little kid, who always gets really excited when there is snow on the ground because you know that the day will consist of your mom's cooking, hot chocolate, sledding, snowmen, and best friends. Basically, college snow days are the same, minus mom's cooking + west end. There are no days like snow days. When Yen and I got the email saying that classes were cancelled, we were ecstatic, or about as ecstatic as we could have been at 9 a.m. We both went back to bed until 11:30 and then woke up and somehow started talking about elementary school. It was probably the fact that I was drinking a juice box this morning, but that is beside the point. We talked about trading lunches, birthday parties, goodie bags from birthday parties, birthday cupcakes that our moms would bring to school lunches for our birthdays, Chuck E Cheese, and first crushes. Oh the days of elementary school. When all of our problems could be solved with Dunk-a-roos and the Spice Girls. When we did not have to worry about tests, money, relationship issues, ignorance, cruelty, or the real world. Those were the days.

So, on this snow day, I challenge you to remember what it was like when the world was great - when our biggest dilemma was what and with whom we were going to play with next. I know that I am going to enjoy today, even though I have to study for a test that I have on Monday. But for now, I am going sledding with Brigid - best snow day ever.

the beauty within it: my life list

many things will catch your eye. few will catch your heart - pursue those.
- anonymous

EDUCATION AND CAREER
Publish an article in the New York Times
Take a course at an Ivy League and get an "A"
Go to Law School
Have a burning passion for my career
Write a book
Become proficient in math
Work in New York City
Teach others

RELATIONSHIPS
Find the person who I can fight, cry, laugh and love with
Understand the true meaning of 'best friend'
Show my parents how much I truly appreciate them
Have someone tell me that their life would not be the same if they had not met me

TRAVEL
Visit all 50 states
Live in a third world country for a year
Visit the seven wonders of the world
Save a penguin
See white sand
Be in two places at once
Swim in the Dead Sea

FOR OTHERS
Build a home for someone
Save someone's life
Pay it forward
Give away a substantial amount of money to help someone
Donate a kidney
Befriend someone who is lonely
Teach someone to read and write
Teach someone to love
See into someone's true soul
Forever see the beauty in every single person I know

FOR FUN
Donate to Locks for Love
Get a tattoo
Join the Peace Corps
Sponsor an animal
Sing karaoke
Paint something beautiful
Work at a floral shop or bakery
Knit a blanket for someone
Learn photography
Meet Adam Brody and Rachel Bilson
Be a camp counselor
Find my true meaning of God



we grow, we learn. "The purpose of life is a life of purpose." -Robert Byrne

beauty of poetry

seeker of truth

follow no path
all paths lead where

truth is here

-seeker of truth by: e.e. cummings

And what is Life? An hour-glass on the run,
A mist retreating from the morning sun,
A busy, bustling, still-repeated dream.
Its length? A minute's pause, a moment's thought.
And Happiness? A bubble on the stream,
That in the act of seizing shrinks to nought.

And what is Hope? The puffing gale of morn,
That of its charms divests the dewy lawn,
And robs each flow'ret of its gem—and dies;
A cobweb, hiding disappointment's thorn,
Which stings more keenly through the thin disguise.

And what is Death? Is still the cause unfound?
That dark mysterious name of horrid sound?
A long and lingering sleep the weary crave.
And Peace? Where can its happiness abound?
Nowhere at all, save heaven and the grave.

Then what is Life? When stripped of its disguise,
A thing to be desired it cannot be;
Since everything that meets our foolish eyes
Gives proof sufficient of its vanity.
'Tis but a trial all must undergo,
To teach unthankful mortals how to prize
That happiness vain man's denied to know,
Until he's called to claim it in the skies.

-What is Life? by: John Clare

Why Education is Important.

College education = Jobs. Simple as that. Why are we all in college? To gain knowledge that will help us in the 'real word,' to get jobs, and to be successful. Sure, that might be true for some of us, but for others it is not. For me, I fall somewhere in the middle. I am a true believer that you have to be passionate about everything that you do, so working towards some degree that you do not have a passion for is pointless in my eyes. Let's look at my own college experience thus far: I came in as a 17-year old student who dreamed of becoming an Orthopedic Surgeon. I had the normal course load of a freshman Biology major: Chemistry Lecture and Lab, Biology Lecture and Lab, Calculus, etc. I thought I was going to be fine. Little did I know, I had absolutely no passion for the subject matter that I was about to embark on. After two weeks I knew it was not for me. Luckily, my parents were there for me 100 percent and worked with me to help figure out a new major.

I decided, with their help and guidance, that I should pursue something that I am passionate about and interested in, so I decided to switch to English. No, I don't want to be a teacher - newsflash: you can pursue a multitude of things with an English degree. Also, don't think it is an easy major, because it is not. No major in college is easy. They all require hard work and diligence, so do not ever judge anyone on their major. It is their life, not yours. Moving on - I switched to an English major, transitioned to English classes, and fell in love with it. I was passionate about the subject matter, I was excited - it was just what I needed. About two months into it, I decided that I wanted to add a double major in Communication, which I had been planning to do by taking the Introduction to Communication 1014 class, which I had to pass to be eligible for the major. Long story short - I am now happily a double-major in English and Communication.

I thought about Law school for a while, but in the end decided it was not for me. So now I am on the Marketing/PR route, thanks to my internship with the Smithsonian Museum this summer.

SO. What is the point? you may ask. Well, let me tell you.

Education. We are here to do the following:
1. Learn
2. Grow
3. Network
4. Understand

If we do not understand what the point of education is, then we are all staring at an unknown path in front of us. What do you want to do with your life? That is the question. If you don't know, you will eventually figure it out. But that is what we are here for, to learn life lessons that will help you succeed in your life. Now, I don't just mean help you land a job, I mean help you understand the world that we live in. How others work, how the world operates, what politics are, what community service means, what relationships mean, what love is. That is what we learn in life - all of those matters combined.

I believe that the only way to be happy and successful in life is to do things that you are PASSIONATE about. Passion. That is what life is all about. Passion for your work, for your world, for your town, for your loved ones - that is the secret.

People who know me know how involved/busy I am. I always get comments like "Why do you do so much? Why are you so involved? Can you handle it all?" The answer is passion. I have a burning passion for everything that I do. I am a copy editor for the Collegiate Times and I absolutely love it. At times I complain about it - honestly, at times I complain about everything, but who doesn't - but I truly enjoy it. I get to help make people's stories pristine. I have the privilege of reading others words, the words that they have put hours into to get down on paper. I learn something new every single day from the writers I read. I am a Peer Leader for the Residential Leadership Community. I am not sure if I have ever done anything as rewarding as this experience - especially this semester. At times I am frustrated, and as Jake taught me tonight, sometimes I can venture close to the "Oh Shit" zone when I become stressed and put out of my comfort zone, but I am so proud to be doing what I am doing. Working with students to help them learn more about themselves and the program they are working in. Honestly, the class I am in this semester should be called "Leadership and Life" because that is exactly what it is. It is amazing. Words cannot even describe the passion that I have for it, and it grows every day. Homecoming Board - I get to network with alumni who LOVE Virginia Tech, how can it get any better than that? They are so willing to give back to our school to make it even better than it already is. Fundraising and networking with them is such an enjoyable experience. Big Event Committee. One day to give back to the Blacksburg and Christiansburg community. How can you even put that into words? This is what I am talking about. Passion. Passion for others, for your community, for your world, for your LIFE. Your life.

You only get one life, so you should live it how you want - full of passion and excitement for what YOU enjoy. Don't let others influence, you do what is best for you. Do what makes YOU happy. And that is why, as I write this, I am making a mental list of other things that I want to still become involved with at Tech. Education does not only take place in the classroom - it takes place in everyday events. And even though some may seem trivial, when closely examined, are some of the most meaningful occurences that will happen in your life. You are learning in every facet in your life. From your friends, professors, family members, peers, and strangers. You cannot ever escape education. I think that the point that I want you all to take away from this is that there is a world out there beyond textbooks and exams. There is a world that is waiting for you to explore and develop, because who knows, your next passion may be waiting for you right around the corner.