שואה - Let's not forget.

Take a look at my heart today.
I was just thinking of the Holocaust, and it has me feeling heavy-hearted.
I don't know what made me think of it today, but I thought I'd share with you.

The thing about the way I write is that I feel responsible.
I feel as if there always has to be a reason for what I write.
God has given me the ability to be able to, at times, express my thoughts well through my writing.
I don't want to be thoughtless about it.
So when an issue like this catches my attention...

The Holocaust has always been something that has tugged at my heart.
It's not so much tugged at my heart though...
It's made my heart sick.

I'm blessed.
I am a Christian, and I've always been grateful to live in a time and place where I don't have to be in fear of my life because of my faith.
Maybe that's why the Holocaust's atrocities make my stomach turn so much.
I'm used to freedom.

The Holocaust was inherently wrong.
I don't care what your religious affiliation is; nobody deserves to be treated like its victims were.
I know it went against everything I believe.

I encourage you to research the Holocaust to find out everything that happened with it.
Yes, a lot of what you will find about it is hard to read.
I hope it is hard for you!
The memories of it should still be shocking.

I think it's important for the world to look back at people's past cruel mistakes and remember them so, God willing, nothing like that will ever happen again.
It shocks me to hear of people denying that the Holocaust ever happened.

This occurred years and years before I was even born, but the lessons we can learn from it are still terribly relevant today.
So, please, let's not forget this.

Happy Tax Day!

Isn't it a lovely day?

Today is the deadline for the people of the United States of America to hand over part of their income to the government.

I'm sure it's joy.

I did my taxes two days ago, and I surprised myself by doing them so early.
I had pictured myself waiting 'til today to do them.
It would've been me having to deal with my signature tendency to procrastinate (which, fortunately, is becoming less and less of one).

This was my first time having to do taxes.
2008 marked the first year I was over 18 and with a job.
I filed online, and it was relatively painless.

I won't be getting much of a refund.
My check will be filled out to the amount of $20.

At least I'm not having to pay this time around...

Learn. It's good for you.

I just realized something. I love learning.
(OK, it's not so much a realization. It's just that it's at the forefront of my thoughts today.)

That is why my current semester of college is so exciting.

(Yeah, yeah... What a cheesy thing to say... Just stick with me.)

Because I'm a sophomore now, and I am finally getting to take classes in my major, classes that are going to be very practical. Not only that, I've actually been blessed enough to have also gained some experience that will really help me in the future. After all, it's helping me now.

I’m no longer thinking, when am I actually going to use this stuff in real life? I know I actually will, and that makes me happy. I’m actually doing something useful. I hate feeling like I’m wasting my time on stuff that doesn’t matter.

The only downside?

There’s still lots of homework involved.
I'm positively buried.

That’s life though; nobody ever said it’d be perfect. You can't learn anything (or gain any experience) by doing nothing.

And that’s OK either way. Perfection is an impossible goal.

This may shock you, but even I haven’t reached that yet!

My issues with [newspaper] issues

I'm planning to go into journalism.
I'm also beginning to learn that the "planning" part
can't stick around too long.
After all, action has to happen at some point!

In my spare time (which is very rare), I have been researching internships.
I do sometimes feel like I'm getting ahead of myself.
I'm only a college sophomore!
Still, I won't reprimand myself too harshly for my high hopes.
I'm glad I've found something I'm that excited about.
There are too many possibilities!

Yesterday, I was in the Carolinas,
visiting some of my family for Easter weekend.
We ate at a restaurant in North Carolina,
and I saw a local newspaper for sale outside.
I froze.
This paper was one of my internship possibilities.
On the way out, I bought one to read on the way back to my hometown.

Back in town late last night, we stopped at a convenience store for my family's Sunday tradition of buying papers
(a combination of our appreciation for them and my mom's recent interest in the "art" of coupon clipping).
With two more papers in hand, the same thought that made me freeze earlier in the day caught my attention again.

I pulled all three of the papers into my lap and looked at them, coming to the realization that I could, in time, be writing for any one of them.
What a profound realization that was.

I often have friends ask me where I want to go
with "this whole journalism thing."
Do I have a dream paper, one I've always dreamed of writing for?
I don't think so.
I'm just praying for open doors.

However, advice a friend gave me last week is
still running through my head.
Basically, it was that I shouldn't be afraid to "go big" with my career.
"Big" referring to both my future achievements and my "ability" to write for some specific large, well-known newspapers.

It's sometimes scary having people believe in you.

I'm pondering if I would be willing to "go big"
if those doors were opened to me.
I suppose I just need to be smart enough to not let myself be afraid of opportunity.
God, give me wisdom...

¿Que pasa?

I am learning to speak Spanish.

I've been, um, pretty successful with it so far!

I've taken a year of Spanish at the high school level and five semesters at the university level.

I am, by no means, fluent, but I'm happy with the fact that I can now hold a short conversation with someone (albeit, with a very limited vocabulary).

That being said, I wanted to share a thought with those of you who are also learning the language.

Memorization is key.

While some people stress over how hard learning Spanish is, it is important to remember that memorizing things is how you learn.

Memorizing the verb tenses and vocabulary will help you immensely. Take the time to memorize all you can.

Unfortunately, you will need to remind yourself of what you've learned later on. It's possible to forget. If it's any comfort, that's the way it is with most people's native languages. I know I proofread even when I write in English!

Here's something to help you memorize your verb tenses:

HANDOUT-VERB TENSES.doc
(Click the link to go where I've uploaded it so you can download it.)

This handout was given to me by one of my Spanish professors to help us study. :-)

Breaking Spring and limits

I just settled into my dorm room after a restful week--my university's spring break.

How was it?

Truth be told, it was quite boring.

I stayed in town for the week. Since I made the decision to go to college in my hometown, going home for spring break means a mere ten-minute car ride.

I rested. I read books. I watched television. I cooked. I did laundry. I wrote. I got caught up on my homework (for the most part). I went shopping. I spent time with my family.

The last thing was the most important thing I did.
It would surprise you to know how little time I spend with my family, despite the proximity.
I'm so busy through the average week that the time just flies by.
Thankfully, we're still close-knit.

Oh, but it was such a restful week!
It was like a vacation for my mind.
It gave me a lot of time to think.
Maybe too much.

I originally had grand notions of sandy beaches and cool mountains in my mind for spring break.
Hearing other people's plans, I was feeling a bit left out.
I wanted to travel and explore elsewhere too, but I didn't have plans.
I told myself that I was staying limited because I wanted some time to relax.
As it turns out, I might not know how to relax.

Oy vey. This town, though I love it, drives me crazy.
Sometimes I think I have too much of a sense of adventure.
While I know that isn't the least bit true,
I wish I wouldn't find myself thinking so wistfully all the time.
It's unsatisfying.

It is as if Columbus would have stayed in Italy.
There wouldn't have been history made there; Italy had already been explored.

Often, I remind myself that I'm not tied to this town.
Though I have good friends here that I've known for years and years,
not even my family is from around here.
The possibility that I'll leave this town is almost a definite one.
I'll shove off with a smile, a wave, a bittersweet goodbye, and a tear in my eye.
My day will come.

I feel like what God's calling me to do requires me to broaden my horizons--
not limit them by silly geography.
I've had my whole life so far
to take the "safe" route and to plan for the "safe" career in the "safe" location.
I'm readying myself to take some risks now.

So, now, as I will be in the future, I am praying.
I pray that God will, in the most literal sense, show me where to go.
'Cause I feel like I'm going somewhere.

Springtime: just about here

The weather reached an unusually high 80 degrees today.
Though it's only the early part of March, I think it's safe to say that spring is here.

I love this season.
Sure, the weather is wonderful.
I love the flowers and the breeze...
But there's more to my love than that.
Spring lets us see life's seasons in a new way.

All nature takes the opportunity to break free from the confines of winter cold.
It's a time for new life as birds chirp while they freely fly and flower petals unfurl despite the previously unforgiving ground.
There is new birth.
Everything is given a new start.

There are times that I need a new start myself.
My hopes sometimes get shattered;
I have to pick up the pieces.
I'm so thankful that God lets nature serve as a reminder that I too can have a new beginning.

Today, with the sun shining on my face, I was glad.
The whole irrepressible joy thing is certainly coming into play.