Bomber

About two years ago I was in New York City for a class field trip. We experienced all the normal things that tourists do. We went to the top of the Empire State Building. We walked around Central Park. And we went to a Broadway show. The night of the Broadway show is when our typical trip evolved.

As we walked out of the theater we were expecting to find the city alive with people walking from store to store, tourists taking pictures in Times Square, and New Yorkers pushing past tourists. We definitely did not expect to see camera crews, news reporters, or police tape blocking off roads.

While we were watching Mary Poppins someone tried to set off a car bomb in Times Square. Luckily a street vendor noticed something odd about the abandoned car and notified police.

If the vendor hadn't done that, I don't know what would have happened. I may be hurt, or I may not have even made it out of the tragedy alive.

From this event I realized how unexpected life can be. I also realized that there is a reason I was kept on this planet. It would have been so easy for the car bomb to go unnoticed, but for some reason it wasn't. My life as well as everyone in Times Square was spared.

A few days ago I was looking thru some top news web sites. One of the top stories on all of the sites was about an al-Qaida recruit who was on trial for attempting to bomb the subways in New York City. This story reminded me of the time I was in New York City and how unexpected life is. So I chose to use the story fulfill the Storify assignment I had to do for one of my classes.

The Little Things Add Up

Today I had to do an interview for a story that I’m writing for my Intro to Reporting class. Right now we are working on profile stories. I decided to write about a bible professor on campus that opened a safe house for women who are struggling.

She stated the process in 2009, and by this summer she is hoping that the house will be at complete occupancy.

In addition to talking about her plans for the house she told me a little about her life and the process God took her through to get where she is today.

She told me about certain things that she did during her life she never thought that would be useful again. She said that she is good at lots of things, but not great at any of them. But she said she understands now why God had her do those things. She said that everything that she was interested in she is able to apply to the House.

I really liked hearing that. A lot of times I feel like I have a lot of little talents but that I’m not amazing at anything. I learned from this interview that if God had a plan for the little things in her life then He has a plan for the little things in my life too.

The little things will all add up to something great!

I Believe You

For some reason I believe almost everything people tell me. I guess I’m just an honest people and I assume that all other people are the same way.

Well, they’re not.

Over the past few weeks I can think of numerous times people have made of stories and for some reason I just believe them.

Probably the best story is:

It was around 9pm on a weeknight. I was on the phone in an intense conversation when suddenly I hear a knock on my dorm room door. I yelled, “hold on, I’m on the phone.”  

The knocking doesn’t stop. It turns into pounding. Then I heard a panicked voice, “Crystal, Crystal open the door! It’s an emergency!”

I open the door and my friend Brit comes pushing/falling in.

She had blood dripping from the side of her head.

I screamed and practically dropped my phone.

Then she started laughing. It was just fake blood. The worst part is she and the other girls she was with filmed the entire thing, and I’m the only one, out of all the people they pranked, who screamed.

That’s probably the best story, but it certainly isn’t the only story.

I believe a lot of things.

So I’m beginning to learn that not all people can be trusted, and that every situation can and should be evaluated and tested.

A Race Against Time

Lately I’ve been feeling stressed. I just feel like I have so much to do and hardly enough time to do it.

I try to do everything at a rapid pass, but some how time just goes by even faster.

When I look at my life it doesn’t seem like I have as much work as some people have, but it does seem like whenever I need to do something fast, time moves even faster.

I really wish that I could just stop time, or I wish that I could move at an exceedingly fast pace.

But since those things will never happen, I guess I have to learn to manage my time better.

Or I could just set every single clock I own ahead of schedule, then maybe I could be right on time with everything.

HAWAII

Yesterday there was a meeting for all of the people planning on attending the May Term in Hawaii trip!

I’m so excited! Three weeks in the beautiful state of Hawaii.

What could be better?

There really aren’t any life lessons in this post, but I did find out that I have to make a new blog about my adventures in Hawaii. I’ll be sure to link that to this blog because I’m sure I will learn tons of life lessons in Hawaii.

Dorothy It's a Tornado...Where's Your Cell Phone

On Friday night, I was at my friend’s house.

I a muggy day, it sort of looked like it was going to rain, but other than that it was a beautiful day and evening, that is until…

The tornado came.

Okay, it didn’t actually come, but her mom made us go in their cellar just in case.

I’d never been in a cellar before, so that was kind of exciting. But I really I was a bit frightened.

My friend and her family kept talking about a really bad tornado that happened a couple of years ago. They said that it was a mile wide and took out almost a whole town – at least one hundred people died.

I was not ready to die.

Just in case I thought, I’d better text my brother to see if he was okay.

Problem: my phone died.

My phone never dies, so of course it would happen right when I needed it most.

Well to make the story short…

1. I didn’t die

2. I charged my phone

3. I called my brother

4. We both lived

5. There wasn’t even a tornado

Lesson: always charge you’re phone, you never know when you might need it.

Mean Girls: Chapel Edition

Last Friday was junior class chapel. Now don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed this chapel, but it reminded me of the scene in Mean Girls where all the junior girls are gathered in the gymnasium after the burn book is released. Tina Fey’s character says, “Close your eyes and raise your hand if you have ever had someone say something mean about you behind your back.”  Next she said, “Now close your eyes and raise your hand if you have ever said something mean about a friend behind her back.”

The Chaplin spoke on James 3. This chapter explains how the tongue is a powerful weapon.

After he went through James 3 he asked people to stand if anyone had ever said anything mean about them, then he ask people to stand if they had ever said something mean about someone.  He totally took this from Mean Girls.

Who knew that Mean Girls would relate to the Bible so well?

From this chapel and Mean Girls, I have learned that the tongue is a powerful weapon and can easily influence what people think. It should be guarded and everything said should be thought through.

You Can Be Anything You Want

Last week in my Media History class we were talking about television and television news. The professor brought up a former student who is now working at ABC News. He said, “She did it, so can you.”

It was really encouraging to hear that someone who once sat in the same class as I am is now on national television.

Maybe these cornfields aren’t as bad as I thought.

This class discussion made me realize that I can be anything I want to be – all I have to do is try, and never give up.

More than a Mirror

A few days ago, I called my mom to ask her what my strengths and weaknesses are -I was filling out an application.

I really didn’t think that she would give me any information that I didn’t already know; after all, we were talking about me. I was wrong.

First, she stared telling me all of the things that I do wrong. Unlike most mothers, mine does not have a skewed vision of her child.  She had no problem spewing off my flaws.

I practically had to yell into the phone to get her to stop. When she did, I told her that I needed the weakness to sound like strengths in disguise since they are for an application.

Then she started on a new tangent, she still listed my flaws, but this time she told me more about them and how they make up who I am.

Flaw:

1. Fear of imperfection

Apparently when I was in kindergarten my teacher told my mom that I really struggled when we started new projects. The teacher said that I was just afraid to start because I didn’t know whether or not I would be good at the project.

I had forgotten this story, but the “I don’t want to fail” quality has stuck with me. I still hate doing something if I know I won’t be the best. However, I realize now that I have to try things that I’m not good at or else I will never learn how to be the best at them.

My mom listed other examples as well, but my flaws are not the point of this post.

The point is…you may think you know yourself pretty well, but in actuality sometimes you need more than a mirror. It is amazing how someone else can know more about you than you know about yourself.

Cheese with that Whine?

A few weeks ago, my friend Jimbo and I watched a stand-up comedy show.  Most of the humor was not exactly my favorite, but there was one thing the comedian said that has stuck with me.

Americans are so well off that we have to make up things to complain about.

That statement really resonated with me, and made me question my actions.

- Are the things I complain about worth complaining about?

- Am I truly thankful for all of the blessings that I do have?

- Do I rejoice about the things that I have or do I complain more about things?

The more I thought about it the more I began to realize how grateful I should be for the things I have.

The summer of 2009 I went to Jamaica for a mission trip. During this trip my group saw poverty, but we also saw joy. Even though the children we meet lived in homes that most Americans could never imagine living in, they were full of joy.

What is wrong with America’s youth? When did it become cool to made fun of things and complain about others?

Common Stupid Complaints Heard At College:

- Ugh! I have so much homework

- I’m so sick of this cafeteria food

- I hate morning classes

- ect…

When I think about it I realize that a lot of the things that most Americans complain about doesn’t really matter. I’m positive that there are people in other parts of the world that would be grateful for the things that Americans complain about.

From now I plan think of the privileges I do have instead of complaining about insignificant things I don’t have.

Include, Don't Exclude

Over the last few months I’ve been asking myself:

1. Why are there cliques?

2. Why do girls feel the need to exclude others?

Obviously cliques are something that girls all over the nation are facing. If that wasn’t a fact then there wouldn’t be movies like Mean Girls, and the Disney channel would have to come up with a new concept for all of their shows.

Up until the past few months I have been caught up in the lie that every school or social atmosphere needs to have a popular group and that only the elite can get in.

I have even felt the power of being in one of those exclusive groups. I’ve enjoyed the feeling of being wanted. It really didn’t bother me that others did not make it in the group. In fact, the idea that some people weren’t in made me feel wanted and worthy.

However, unlike some of the elite, I’ve experienced the other side of the equation as well. Growing up I was not the cool girl. I was a shy, big glasses wearing, and tattletale of a girl. I was not popular. I was always afraid that someone was making fun of me.

It’s kind of odd that even though I hated the feelings of worthlessness I had no problem making others feel worthless.

This past semester I’ve met a great new group of friends! These friends don’t reject people – they love them. My new group of friends is always inclusive. Now I just don’t understand why anyone would want to be exclusive.

I love having friends, and living in a happy world. The only way to accomplish that is by accepting the differences in others and being willing to set aside differences to at least be civil with one another.

Friends are what make the world go round. The more friends you have the more networking is possible.

I’ll never forget what my first grade teacher told me before I moved. She said, "Moving will give you the opportunity to make new friends."

I love having friends, and I love having people be nice to me.  For this reason, and many more I include, not exclude.

Attitude is Everything

I’ve learned over the past few weeks that attitude is everything!

Over spring break I had an interview for a job that I really wanted. However, I knew that there was a good chance that I would not get the job due to being unqualified. I went into the interview with a positive attitude though. I figured that even if I didn’t get the job that it would be a good learning experience.

My mindset truly made the difference! I didn’t get the job, but I really enjoyed myself. It was a wonderful networking opportunity, and I am better prepared for applying next year now.

If I had gone in with a different attitude my experience would have been much different. I might have been mad or upset. The experience could have made me more apprehensive about applying to future jobs. Since I went into the interview thinking of it as a learning experience then no matter what happened it was great!

I’ve learned over the past year that I can pick the attitude I have about situations. I can choose to be happy or upset. Last year was sort of difficult for me. It was freshman year—everything was supposed to be great: my best friend from home was my roommate, I had my major picket out, and I was at a great Christian university.  Over the course of the first semester almost everything changed. My best friend decided to move home. After three days I found out that I hated my major. I was also beginning to question whether staying at the Christian school was right.

I became extremely upset and I just didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. I became very pessimistic.

I realize now that if had just had a different outlook on the situation I would have had a much better first year of college.

I truly believe though that attitude is everything !

Try. Don't Cry!

The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25) was spoken on today in chapel. The speaker said that you have to work with what you have. He said, if you can’t even use the one talent God has given you then why would you ask for more? 

That got me thinking…

- Do I use all of my talents to their fullest extent?

- Am I using my talents to please the Lord?

Sometime I just feel like cruising thru life only doing the things that I know that I can succeed at. I don’t even want to try the things that might be challenging. I might fail, and I HATE failing. I’ve begun to realize however, that you have to try if you ever want to succeed.

A few weeks ago I was talking to my dad. I told him how unmotivated and discouraged I was.  I said that I just wanted to give up and that I wasn’t even going to try out for the position that I wanted. I knew that I wouldn’t get it.  He told me, you’re right you won’t get it if you don’t try.  Then he said:

“Even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes.”

At first I was a bit confused when he said this, but then I realized that you really have to work for what you want or else you will be miserable like a starving blind squirrel.

You have to work with what you’ve got to get what you want.

Lesson: Don't be a starving blind squirrel

Planning Needed

This week I learned that planning is essential in college life.

There is always something more enjoyable than sitting down for hours working on homework.  Fun always happens, but deadlines only happen once.

I’m the kind of person that always gets things done.  It may take me until the last minuet, but it will be in on time.

I have a problem saying “no” to fun.  The past two weekends I’ve had visitors.  Now, I loved having these people around, but having them around meant that I didn’t have time for recuperation from the week or reparation for the next week. 

Last week I had a big project due in one of my classes.  Instead of planning it out and doing a little each day.  I put it off until the day before it was due.  I found “better” things to with my time than homework.  Now if I had been smart, I would have said “NO” to a few things like chatting to my friends every night.  Ten minutes a night for a couple weeks could have saved me HOURS. 

Oh well, things worked out and I turned my project in on time.  I may have only gotten four hours of sleep and I may have not had time for a shower, but I did get my project done on time.

The problem now is….

I’m sick

Planning should have happened.

Friendship

This week I learned that friendship means doing things for others without any benefit to one’s self. 

As and an art student I have a few classes in the dilapidated Fine Arts Building that is approximately half a mile from the rest of campus.  One of the classes that I’m talking is Watercolor.  This class required that I go to the Fine Arts Building on my own time and paint.

Problem:

1. This building freaks me out.

2. I had to go at night…even freakier

Solution:

My wonderful friend, who I will call A&W, volunteered to go with me to the building.  She asked for nothing in return and came joyful.  She had to sit in the room with me for two hours but she didn’t complain.  Not even when the workers and the security guard started talking about all the different kinds of meat the love such as tongue, liver, and other disgusting things. 

Later when I apologized and for taking so long and thanking her for coming she said with a smile,

“That’s what friends do for each other.”

This statement made me think about my own life…

- Do I live for me

- Am I willing to do something just for the sake of someone else

Life is full of lessons

Life is full of lessons.
However, I often find myself not taking the time to appreciate or to learn from the events that occur in day-to-day life.    
I believe that God placed people and situations in my life for a reason and I plan to figure out what those reasons are because there are LESSONS TO LEARN IN LIFE.