Summer 09

Being the last summer to act like a child, I believe it was the summer I grew up. Instead of waking up in the late afternoon, lounging around the house watching Lifetime movies, laying by the pool and staying up way too late, I was being a big kid. I was going to bed before 9:00 p.m., woke up by 7:00 a.m. and was at work by 8:30 a.m. I worked from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Why? Because I decided that I needed to grow up, make some money and further my education.

Did I forget to mention I was in summer school? I am not sure you would call if summer school, but I did receive credit for it. I was an intern for Maryann in the Journalism Department. I made videos this summer; videos that could and would be shown to the incoming journalism students. Ranging from "How To" videos to "AP Style Guide" video, so I guess it was more of a hobby I got to do for college credit.

I did go home a few times this summer, but only for a short while. My parents still live in our hometown of Antioch. Yes, that is the place where the kidnapped girl was found; that story put our town on the map, and not in a good way. But back to me going home, the first time I went back home, my mom, sister and I went and say "Wicked". I was so excited because "The Wizard of Oz" is my favorite movie, so I was dying to see the musical. The second time I went home I took my boyfriend with me. I was so nervous, yet excited at the same time. He had met my parents before, but this is my home, the place where I grew up, I did not know what to except.

All in all, my summer was okay. Would I change anything? Maybe that I would have just enjoyed my last summer as a student, but instead I decided that it was time to grow up. I guess that was what I did this summer, grew up.

Sen10r Year

I had my last first day of school on Thursday. I can not believe it is my senior year of college. I will be graduating in 2010, which is only 3.5 months away, which means graduation is only 7.5 months away. Holy Moly, this is it; the final stretch. I can not express how excited and how scared I am to be in my final year of college.
I was sitting in class this past Thursday and Friday, and some teachers have you introduce yourself and your grade. Having to say I was a senior unleashed the butterflies in my stomach. There is no turning back now. My major is picked and almost complete, I have two more classes to complete my minor, and just a few elective classes and I am DONE! But what happens next? What comes after the graduation march?
FINDING A JOB!
The main focus of my school year is to complete my final classes and to apply for jobs. All this semester and next I will be searching for my dream job, or basically a job I can enjoy until my dream job becomes a reality.
Also on the agenda this year, getting a big chunk of "The Best is Yet to Come" complete. It has been in the works for months now, and I think it is time to finally put the pen to the paper and get cracking. Most people ask why write a book? Who wants to read about your life? My response..."Why do you watch "The Hills" or reality tv? Because other people's drama is entertaining; and trust me, my life is anything but drama-free.
So, here we go people. Three years down, one to go.

Coming to an end...

So, this semester is over. It went by so fast, I cannot believe the yearbook is finshed and six issues of the Banner came out; crazy! Working on Hit or Miss was such a great experience. Jill and I had so much fun coming up with a new topic every other week, to basically honor or trash talk. As horrible as it sounds, Jill and I, ever since we have met, have judged the latest trends, the food industries, coffee shops and the student bodies affection towards each other in public. To ask me which article was my favorite is like asking me which pair of my jeans is my favorite, I just can not do it. However, I can tell you the reasons why I love each one seperatly, just like the Hit or Miss Articles. The fashion article gave Jill and I a chance to critique the trends on the runway as well as on campus. I have a huge hatred for crocs, I am so glad I got to voice my opinion about it. The coffee shop review was great; being able to try multiple shops was an adventure and a real eye opener. As an avid Starbucks customer, I thought I could never be convinced to switch, but there are many other shops out there that are just as good. I loved being able to try new places, like Millions of Milkshakes. I would have never gone there if we did not start Hit or Miss.
Also, I really enjoyed writing the three sports articles, I have played sports since I was three, gone to many professional games and continue to watch them on tv. To get the chance to write about them was an honor. As a girl, I tend to get over looked as someone who could report on sports, especially a men's team.
I love writing, I love voicing my opinion, and I love writing about my opinion.

Wizard of Oz

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was written in 1900, by L. Frank Baum. Being a children’s novel, this literary tale has been republished multiple times, usually titled The Wizard of Oz. This classic tale follows the adventure of a young girl names Dorothy and her dog Toto, into the Land of Oz. After being caught up in a cyclone, her house is dropped in the Land of Oz, on top of the Wicked Witch of the East. In order to return home, Dorothy must travel to the Emerald City to the see the Wizard. While following the yellow brick road, advised to her by the Munchkins in Munchkin Land, Dorothy meets three creatures; the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion. Each wanted to go with Dorothy to ask the Wizard for help. When Dorothy sees the Wizard to ask him for help to get home, he is just a large head. When the Scarecrow sees the Wizard to ask him for a brain, he is a beautiful woman. When the Tin Man asks the Wizard for a heart, he is a beast. Finally, when the Cowardly Lion asks the Wizard for courage, he is a ball of fire. In return for their wishes, the Wizard wants them to kill the Wicked Witch of the West.

This literary tale should be added to the canon list for many reasons; one being it is such a well-known story. It has been rewritten and made into a classic film, that every generation is being enlightened by the tale of Dorothy. Her journey through unfamiliar town, Dorothy takes the adventure head on, not allowing anything to get in her way of getting home.

I believe it is a great story for all young women to read. It is a girl empowering book; especially during the 1900’s, when girls did not have a voice or the chance to be independent. It allows them to feel like they can do whatever they put their mind too.

Still

“Still”

Appearance is what people see when they look at you. They see your eye color, your hair color and how tall you are. You can change your eye color with contacts, you can change your hair color to whatever you desire and you can add a couple of inches to your height with some heels, but you are still the same inside.
People can change their outer appearance as often as they want. Some even like to change their personality to match those of their “friends”. Still, deep down inside, you are you. You are who God made you to be, and that was yourself. You can not change the gifts God has given you, for He gave them to you for a reason; so you are you.
Still, in the depths of yours soul, there is only you. You are still who God intended for you to be. God is Still going to love you, no matter your outer appearance. God is Still going to be your friend, no matter how many times you change your personality. God is Still going to support you, no matter the road you take in life.
God is and Still will be with you, for you are and will always Still be you.

Smack Down.

Perez Hilton is the most opinionated person online. With his blog perezhilton.com, he gossips about celebrities, giving the facts, then stating his opinion. I am an avid reader, and the one story that no one could stop talking about is the Rihanna and Chris Brown smack down. Not only did Perez post the facts, he wrote his opinion, posted the opinion of fellow celebrities and also a statement made by Rihanna's father.

Apparently, Rihanna at this time has decided to reconcile with Chris Brown and her father said if that is her decision, he will stand behind her. After pictures surfaced of Rihanna, her fans stood behind her and Chris Brown's voiced their disappointment in him. Burning his cd's, Chris Brown fans are still awaiting a statement from him and why this abuse happened.

Being a girl, I could never take back a boyfriend who hit me. Granted, I am not the one in that situation, but I still feel like all women would agree. No matter what you say or do to set some guy's temper off, that still does not give him the right to hit you. I have no respect for anyone who resorts to violence instead of words. Weird, we go to school for years and interact with people from the age of four and taught that violence is never the answer. So if we are taught this starting at such a young age, why are people turning their heads the other way when we are older and forgiving such behavior. We would be sent to time out if we pinched the boy who chased us around the swing set, but someone who brutally hurts another is forgiven with just a slap on the wrist? Does this sound right?

I kind of blame Rihanna, not for getting hurt, but for allowing such behavior to be forgiven. She wants to make things work with Chris Brown. Sweetie, I know you got hit, but how hard did he hit you to make you not have common sense anymore? Someone hurts you, you get away from this person. Is that a hard concept to agree with? I know of many instances where girls blame themselves for being hit or bruised by a guy, but it isn't their fault. Stop taking blame for someone else's mistake.

How To...

break up with your best friend.

Recently, I have been faced with the reality that people change. You will not always be "best friends" with the people you were with in high school. Sometimes you are lucky to maintain a relationship with them and other times you are more then fortunate to still be best friends. But what happens when one is not putting enough effort into holding on to the friendship as the other, you must break up. Just like you would not let a boyfriend treat you a certain way, a best friend should not either, so here are 5 steps on how to break up with your best friend.

1. Slowly cut off contact
Unlike a boyfriend, you can not just say "we're over!", you slowly have to stop being available. Example: take a couple days to reply to a call or text message, you have to slowly let this person know they are not on the top of your priority list anymore.

2. Text instead of call
In today's society, it is more common for friends to keep in contact by texting, but best friends always call. When the phone rings, do not answer. Take some time and text back an hour or two later, asking what they wanted. You are not fully ignoring them, but you are still letting them know you have other things to do.

3. Give them the same effort they give you
One of my friends from high school is the most selfish person I have ever met. Harsh? Yes, but very true. She does not call, text or even Facebook (the most impersonal way possible) so I give the same effort, none. You are letting this friend know their actions are going unnoticed.

4. "Forget" to return contact
You might once in awhile get a text or message, but guess what? You do not have to respond. You'll probably get those monthly text that say "I miss you", you do not have to respond. Actually, we urge you not too. If they really missed you, they would try harder to make sure that the only thing they miss is seeing you, because they talk to you so often.

5. Saying the words, "I am done"
No one wants to be the barrier of bad news, but when you are not being treated like a best friend, but more of a convenience to this person, you must say good-bye. There is nothing wrong with going your separate ways, and there is nothing wrong with moving on, you just have to make sure you have said your peace and walk away gracefully. It does not matter how you do this, whether it is over the phone, in person, via text message, Facebook or Myspace, as long as you have made it clear to this friend that you are just two different people now and its time to move on.