fear less, experience more

     Midterms are finally over and I can finally write a little bit again about something that has been on my mind over the past few days. I love Colbie Caillat... especially a lot ever since I saw her in concert at the House of Blues in Anaheim this past summer. Something about her, she is so calm and collected and so genuine about what she rights. One of my favorite songs of hers is "Fearless."  As I have driven to work lately, I have listened to that song and it got me thinking about what it means or what it is to fearless. I think that when we hear the word "fearless" we think about someone that is not scared of anything, as the dictionary defines it: "lacking fear" or "without fear." We can look at people we know or have known or even perhaps learned about and label them as fearless. We see such courage and strength in these people and wish we could be like them.

     I believe that it is impossible to be completely fearless, but I do believe that it is possible to fear-less. Even the strongest, bravest, biggest people have fears of some sort, but they don't allow themselves to be controlled by their fears. We all have many fears: fear of getting hurt, fear of knowing the truth, fear of rejection, fear of public speaking fear of heights, fear of bugs, and the list goes on and on. These fears hinder our ability to act in the way we ultimately wish we could. We don't go after the job we want because we are afraid we might not get it, we are afraid of traveling because we afraid of heights, we are afraid to talk to someone because they might reject us or perhaps on the flip side, we are afraid to be ourselves because we are afraid of what someone is going to think.

Quote of the Day 10/29/11

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."            [Winston Churchill]

Quote of the Day 10/18/11

"Out of clutter find simplicity; 

From discord find harmony; 

In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”

[Albert Einstein]

Quote of the Day 10/11/11

"Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil."
[C.S. Lewis]

Quote of the Day 10/9/11

"Never leave that 'till tomorrow which you can do today."       [Benjamin Franklin]

Quote of the Day 10/7/11

got this message and it reminded me that words don't cost anything but they sure buy a lot:

"So it's been ages since we met (and last spoke) but I have a story for you... 

So this morning (here in Joburg it's 8:40) I got caught in major traffic for an hour and landed up missing an important lecture. I was sitting in my car, feeling rather irritated, when I stumbled across your blog. Needless to say after reading it I felt inspired to just make the most of the rest of my day.

So thanks for that, it's exactly what I needed."

a personal update for october

     Life has been crazy... well a super good, amazing, hilarious, maturing, exhilarating type of crazy. Time is flying, literally flying by. It is flying by so quickly that even Mondays no longer upset me anymore because before I know it, it is Friday. They say time flies when you're having fun and that statement could not be any more applicable to me right now. I usually address general subjects in my blog so I have decided to switch it up a bit. I get so many calls, texts, messages and emails and I figured it would be nice to at least address some of the questions in this blog so that I can fill in the people I love a little bit of whats going on in my life. 
     I am finishing up my 6th week at school. This year is very different  from last year. Last year had its charm in its own unique way but this year... well it's only week 6 and I couldn't be happier. The people I interact with, the professors I am taught by and the picturesque scenery that I am surrounded by have completely, entirely, inspired me. This year, my goal is to be proactive and pursue the desires which Christ has placed within me. There have been so many things I have wanted to do and see and be and now is the time. I am surrounded by limitless opportunities and possibilities and I am eager to take them. Every day here is the greatest blessing. Every day is better than the one before it. Yes, my schedule is monotone during the school week: class, work, homework, gym, but I gladly do these things with joy and I spend the majority of my day in laughter. The kind of laughter where you lose your breath and your stomach hurts. I know it sounds so cliche but no matter what I do, it is so memorable. The people that have surrounded me see the good in everything; the most annoying or upsetting of tasks become hilarious unforgettable adventures. 
     I am finishing up my last polisci lower division class and it's a tough one. I love politics but I don't love science and  that is what this class is all about: the science of politics. In the past, I have given up on science and mathematics but this is no longer the case. I want to learn it all and love it and I accept the challenge. My professor has been so understanding and helpful and I thank God for professors like her, so gracious and willing to do whatever it takes to help. Also, my major requires that I study abroad, so in 10 months I will be a student in ROME (stay tuned for those adventures). I wish I could go now but based on how fast time is flying,I know that my italian adventures are right around the corner. 
     My days consist of one thing happening after another so it is crucial to stay focused and on track. So far I have been able to do things in a timely manner so pray for me to keep that pattern up since coffee no longer helps stimulate any energy in me whatsoever, and sleep is of the essence. 
     I wish that everyone could be experiencing what I am experiencing. To be surrounded with so much love, support and understanding; to be given limitless opportunity; to be cared for and sought out by professors; to spend the majority of your day in laughter; to feel God's presence surrounding you and inspiring you; to live in place resembling paradise; to fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves and wake up to ocean sunrises; and know that you are absolutely, 100% at the right place at the right time ... I am blessed. So blessed. 

Quote of the Day 10/6/11

editors note: Usually when a celebrity or famous person dies, we think about it for a few seconds and move on. Steve Jobs was more then just a celebrity or man with a lot of money. He has changed and revolutionized our generation. His creativity and never ending pursuit of changing the world will be truly missed. He pushed the boundaries of what we knew and brought technology to the next level. His life may have ended but his legacy will live on for generations to come. 

Quote of the Day 10/5/11

"Faith crosses every border and touches every heart in every nation."    [George W. Bush]

the gift of friendship

i love point loma for many, many reasons. one being that I have made some of the best, most fulfilling, inspiring, honest friendships. these people have changed my life forever, i have truely learned the meaning of "lifelong friendship." my fellow friend and blogger gave me a little shout out the other day in her blog about friendship. here is what the ever so brilliant masey schrader wrote:


If we are, as I have heard the rumor, a combination of the five people that we spend the most time with, then I think it is safe to agree that who we befriend matters. Where we invest our time, who we invest our time in, is either beneficial or detrimental to our own spiritual growth.
Friends are not just companions. They are models of character.
I could not talk highly enough of a young woman who has become one of my closest friends in the past year. Lydia's person sort of just speaks for itself though: her unselfish and genuine manners, classy presentation, adventurous spirit and confident mind, quick wit, and a faith that is rooted deeply in the image of Christ. I strive to be a person of her likeness.
Without sounding like I have or girl crush or that I am campaigning for her presidency, I'm gonna say that she's one worth stalking in the blogging realm. We need more brutally-honest, Russian woman to speak from the depths of their convictions. To challenge the consideration of priorities. To motivate inward change that produces tangible results. To remind us to live in laughter and love.

One of these women just so happens to be a dear friend. And how strengthened I am by her companionship


i humbly accept your kind words and know that i cannot put into words how much our friendship has touched my life.


read the rest of her honest, candid look on life at:
http://maseykole.blogspot.com/

Chaos over cupcakes

Cupcakes. Who doesn't love cupcakes...? Berkeley students apparently. 

     Recently, a bill was passed by the California State legislature and currently sits on Governor Jerry Brown's desk. The now infamous bill, SB 185, would allow the UC and CSU systems to consider race and other factors in college admission decisions. The problem is that the bill is in defiance of Proposition 209. Approved in 1996, the proposition established that the state of California prohibits public institutions from considering race, sex or ethnicity in their decision making process. With the way the bill is currently written, universities could accept an applicant on the factor of race alone. The language of the bill is vague and confusing. It would “authorize the University of California and the California State University to consider race, gender, ethnicity, and national origin, along with other relevant factors, in undergraduate and graduate admissions.” Yet it does not define how the factors are considered and weighed and what are "relevant factors?" Talk about ambiguity. 

     There are more fundamental components in the arena of higher education. I would argue that socioeconomic status is more relevant than one's inherent genetics. The bill never mentions that. Those who are outraged and call the college republicans racist should observe that in between the lines of the bill, the legislature is essentially  determining socioeconomic status based on what you look like. 

     This is what the Berkeley college republican are protesting. You cannot assume how much money a person has based on what they look like. Just because you are white, does not mean you have millions of dollars and a trust fund and just because you are Latino, does not mean you are working 5 jobs to support yourself. There are many white people in the United States living below a normal standard of living and many Latino families living extravagant lifestyles. It is not fair to say that the color of your skin determines your personal financial situations. We all have our own struggles and hardships and are dealt a different hand. We are constantly challenged to rise above the hardships and push ourselves to be the best we can be, in the circumstances we are put in. When an individual applies to a university, that is what they must be judged upon; what they did, with the resources they had, with the circumstances surrounding them. 

     The irritating part is that the Berkeley college republicans were just demonstrating their first amendment rights. They felt that the state legislature was out of line and were voicing their disapproval. What bothers me the most was how much backlash they got and are still getting. Some form of protest or demonstrations happen every day in the US. We have the right to say where ever and whenever we want that we feel that the government is not acting in our best interests. What this has showed is how much political correctness still reigns in our society. Frankly, the college republicans were the conservative minority in a liberal majority and that just doesn't fly these days. They are now the ignorant, racist, closed minded individuals on campus because they simply spoke up and voiced their opinion. They are now receiving numerous hate mail and threats. They wanted to awaken the minds of other students. We as students get so into our studies, friends and social life, we forget what is going on in the world around us.

I applaud the Berkeley college republicans, and their brave efforts to awaken the community.

Quote of the Day 10/4/11

"I’m trusting You’re the way   

I’m trusting You’re the way  

Trusting You’re the way my Savior"

[Taken from Tim Hughes recent song "Counting On Your Name"]

This song takes my breath away, check it out:

Quote of the Day 10/1/11

“That is the best - to laugh with someone because you both think the same things are funny.”          [Gloria Vanderbilt]