Common Ground started tonight! It was so fabulous!
For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, Common Ground is a dialogue-to-action program that holds very diverse small group discussions about race. The goal is to discuss race from many different points of view and ultimately do something to improve race relations in the city.
I'm excited for next week's session, and I'm even more excited to see what happens at the end of it.
You'd never guess how liberating it actually is to sit and listen to a stranger say something you think is pretty ridiculous, only to find yourself listening attentively and then POSSIBLY explaining your experiences and feelings about the topic at hand. Well, it's liberating for me anyway. That was my surprise of the evening - being liberated in a situation that would seem to do the exact opposite.
Oh, and Otis Sanford was the guest speaker in my journalism class today! I showcased my huge, nothing-but-teeth, somebody-just-slapped-Herenton smile. I guess you could say I was a little excited about that, too. :)
Day 29 → Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
I'm a worrier. I try to avoid situations where I feel like there's a high possibility of failing or of getting hurt. Subconsciously, I am attempting to protect myself. In actuality, I am only hurting myself. I don't set high enough goals and standards for myself because I'm afraid I won't be good enough or do well enough (or whatever) and will end up getting hurt.
I've been working on that, and it's coming along nicely. It's a process. It won't happen overnight. The point is that it IS happening. I'm getting there.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Day 28 = The Day I Fell In Love With Dr. Thomas... Um, Not In THAT Way
Today was really good. :)
I had to read this chapter for my American Government class that didn't make sense to me (or most of the other people in my class) and take a quiz on it. When we told Dr. Thomas we were confused, he acted like he didn't really care. It lasts 10 minutes. After five, he says, "I know most of you read the chapter and are a little confused, and that's okay. I'm about to step out of the room for a drink of water, and while I'm gone if you use your books, talk to each other, or review your notes, that is something I will just never know about. Happy testing."
So obviously, we shared with each other, looked up terms in the indexes of our textbooks, etc. He came back three times, and each time we would still be sharing information so he would walk back out for more water. Finally, he said, "Okay, I'm starting to feel a little water-logged, so I'm going to excuse myself for one last drink, and when I come back I'll be taking up your lovely quizzes."
I so, so, so, SO love that man! He is just simply wonderful. :)
Day 28 → What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Um, well whenever I finally finished crying, I would attempt to start figuring out my life.
I had to read this chapter for my American Government class that didn't make sense to me (or most of the other people in my class) and take a quiz on it. When we told Dr. Thomas we were confused, he acted like he didn't really care. It lasts 10 minutes. After five, he says, "I know most of you read the chapter and are a little confused, and that's okay. I'm about to step out of the room for a drink of water, and while I'm gone if you use your books, talk to each other, or review your notes, that is something I will just never know about. Happy testing."
So obviously, we shared with each other, looked up terms in the indexes of our textbooks, etc. He came back three times, and each time we would still be sharing information so he would walk back out for more water. Finally, he said, "Okay, I'm starting to feel a little water-logged, so I'm going to excuse myself for one last drink, and when I come back I'll be taking up your lovely quizzes."
I so, so, so, SO love that man! He is just simply wonderful. :)
Day 28 → What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Um, well whenever I finally finished crying, I would attempt to start figuring out my life.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Incredible Day - # 27
Today was just amazing. I woke up feeling like a free woman, and the feeling only got stronger as the day continued. It's going to take me about a week [estimated] to get caught back up on everything, but at least I'm starting to get caught up, rather than getting further and further behind! And just so y'all know - none of my assignments have been late or anything. I'm a little behind on readings, etc. So far that hasn't affected my grades at all, and hopefully it never will.
That's pretty much all I've got to say about today... just that it was fabulous.
I'm still catching up on sleep, too, so I'm about to crash. :)
Day 27 → What’s the best thing going for you right now?
School. Most definitely.
That's pretty much all I've got to say about today... just that it was fabulous.
I'm still catching up on sleep, too, so I'm about to crash. :)
Day 27 → What’s the best thing going for you right now?
School. Most definitely.
Monday, September 13, 2010
The Light at the End of My Tunnel Day 26
I've posted recently about how exhausted I've been. I'm so happy (and a little saddened) to say that I will soon be able to keep up with everything MUCH better!
The sad part is that I won't be seeing my nephews every day because I'm no longer picking them up from school. It was seriously killing me - they are AMAZING boys, but they are such a handful at times! I love them to pieces, but I can't handle them on a daily basis. It totally drained me emotionally.
The smile-inducing part of this is that I will now have a LOT more time for my homework, and I will be available in the hours that almost every campus activity takes place during (the afternoons). I'll actually get to do something fun while I'm in college! And yes, I totally say this with enthusiasm. Y'all have NO idea what is has been like to literally kill myself working on stuff for school and trying to get those boys to cooperate and do things all day, only to come back to my dorm room and work on my homework alone. It's been SO lonely!
I went ahead and sent in my application for the Fall sessions at Common Ground (where you talk openly about race relations and find solutions to common problems) and got an email confirmation that I had been accepted. I'm so excited! It starts on Monday and lasts for 7 or 8 weeks. They have two hour meetings on Monday nights, so it won't be taking up too much of my time for me to study. I've been wanting to do this for SO long, and I haven't had the time. A friend of mine started Common Ground out of her desperation to literally find some common ground among groups of people from different ethnic backgrounds. I can't wait to start the sessions so that we can begin discussing race and how we can create change.
I'm also taking my application for the school paper in tomorrow. I can actually do that now, too! :)
I feel like a free woman!
Day 26 → Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Just about everyone has. I think most people have that moment or day, or week, or period of time in their life where it honestly seems like things could NOT get any worse, and the only thing they can do is wonder if it's all really worth it.
The sad part is that I won't be seeing my nephews every day because I'm no longer picking them up from school. It was seriously killing me - they are AMAZING boys, but they are such a handful at times! I love them to pieces, but I can't handle them on a daily basis. It totally drained me emotionally.
The smile-inducing part of this is that I will now have a LOT more time for my homework, and I will be available in the hours that almost every campus activity takes place during (the afternoons). I'll actually get to do something fun while I'm in college! And yes, I totally say this with enthusiasm. Y'all have NO idea what is has been like to literally kill myself working on stuff for school and trying to get those boys to cooperate and do things all day, only to come back to my dorm room and work on my homework alone. It's been SO lonely!
I went ahead and sent in my application for the Fall sessions at Common Ground (where you talk openly about race relations and find solutions to common problems) and got an email confirmation that I had been accepted. I'm so excited! It starts on Monday and lasts for 7 or 8 weeks. They have two hour meetings on Monday nights, so it won't be taking up too much of my time for me to study. I've been wanting to do this for SO long, and I haven't had the time. A friend of mine started Common Ground out of her desperation to literally find some common ground among groups of people from different ethnic backgrounds. I can't wait to start the sessions so that we can begin discussing race and how we can create change.
I'm also taking my application for the school paper in tomorrow. I can actually do that now, too! :)
I feel like a free woman!
Day 26 → Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Just about everyone has. I think most people have that moment or day, or week, or period of time in their life where it honestly seems like things could NOT get any worse, and the only thing they can do is wonder if it's all really worth it.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Day 25
I'm so drained right now. I cannot wait to crawl into my bed and pass out - if I even make it to my bed! Totally not kidding when I say that passing out on my laptop is a possibility tonight. But since I didn't blog last night, I wanted to make sure I did tonight.
This weekend has been an extremely busy one for me. It's been wonderful - I just wish I could have made it a little longer so that it wasn't so exhausting. I'm always saying how I need more hours in a day, and this weekend has been no exception!
It involved going to a mosque, writing an assignment for my English composition class, hanging out with friends I promised to hang out with, editing pictures, reading portions of textbooks, studying, shopping for MORE stuff for school, and the tiniest little bit of sleep in the middle of all of it.
I told someone today that recognizing how exhausted I am at the beginning of the third week has led me to be completely terrified of finals week. Part of my problem is that I've been off my iron supplements for about seven months now, while still having problems with anemia. I couldn't get in to see my doctor at any point that I was free during the summer and kept forgetting to try and get an appointment with someone else, and now I seriously don't have time to go. It sucks, and I hate myself just a little for being a total dork in the summer and not remembering to make a doctor's appointment.
I mentioned the mosque earlier - all I'm going to say about that is just WOW! It was a wonderful experience that I am so thankful I was given the opportunity to have.
I've also decided that I really want to pledge next year. I'll have to figure the financial thing out, because I have no idea how I'm going to foot the bill, but if I want it bad enough, I'll find a way, right? Anyway, I was leaning toward Alpha Delta Pi when I realized the list of sororities and women's fraternities I had been looking at on the U of M's website was ONLY a list of the ones who had housing on campus. WE HAVE AN AKA CHAPTER (Alpha Kappa Alpha, for those of you who have problems recognizing pink and green in its abbreviated format)!!!
When I mentioned my childhood dream of being an AKA to my friend, Monterica, she told me that it was crazy for Memphis not to have a chapter and suggested I scope out Memphis' Greek webpage again and try to find it. When I saw it listed, I was like - OMG, There it is. THERE it is! THERE IT IS!! IT'S HERE!!! AT MEMPHIS!
Seriously, y'all have no idea how excited I was. I decided I wanted to be an AKA when I was 10. I idolized a teacher at my elementary school (who became my sixth grade teacher the following year), and she was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha! Actually, many of my former teachers were. After I began talking about it, I found out that I knew a LOT of AKA members... and I still do. In the last week alone, I have either discovered or been informed that three more of my friends are AKAs.
I went to after-school care when I was at Snowden. The director, Mrs. Greene, was (still is!) a member of Delta Sigma Theta (don't mix them in with AKAs for safety reasons, y'all!). When she noticed how often I wore pink and green socks/accessories/etc. she mentioned something about AKA colors, and I informed her that I wanted to become a member. She chased me around the cafeteria for 25 minutes with another after-care teacher's AKA umbrella. HAHA! I love her to death.
For those of you who think I'm a little confused - yes, I do realize that AKA is a mostly African-American sorority. But see, that's why I'd fit in so well! :)
Day 25 → The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Obviously because I have added some incredible people to my life.
This weekend has been an extremely busy one for me. It's been wonderful - I just wish I could have made it a little longer so that it wasn't so exhausting. I'm always saying how I need more hours in a day, and this weekend has been no exception!
It involved going to a mosque, writing an assignment for my English composition class, hanging out with friends I promised to hang out with, editing pictures, reading portions of textbooks, studying, shopping for MORE stuff for school, and the tiniest little bit of sleep in the middle of all of it.
I told someone today that recognizing how exhausted I am at the beginning of the third week has led me to be completely terrified of finals week. Part of my problem is that I've been off my iron supplements for about seven months now, while still having problems with anemia. I couldn't get in to see my doctor at any point that I was free during the summer and kept forgetting to try and get an appointment with someone else, and now I seriously don't have time to go. It sucks, and I hate myself just a little for being a total dork in the summer and not remembering to make a doctor's appointment.
I mentioned the mosque earlier - all I'm going to say about that is just WOW! It was a wonderful experience that I am so thankful I was given the opportunity to have.
I've also decided that I really want to pledge next year. I'll have to figure the financial thing out, because I have no idea how I'm going to foot the bill, but if I want it bad enough, I'll find a way, right? Anyway, I was leaning toward Alpha Delta Pi when I realized the list of sororities and women's fraternities I had been looking at on the U of M's website was ONLY a list of the ones who had housing on campus. WE HAVE AN AKA CHAPTER (Alpha Kappa Alpha, for those of you who have problems recognizing pink and green in its abbreviated format)!!!
When I mentioned my childhood dream of being an AKA to my friend, Monterica, she told me that it was crazy for Memphis not to have a chapter and suggested I scope out Memphis' Greek webpage again and try to find it. When I saw it listed, I was like - OMG, There it is. THERE it is! THERE IT IS!! IT'S HERE!!! AT MEMPHIS!
Seriously, y'all have no idea how excited I was. I decided I wanted to be an AKA when I was 10. I idolized a teacher at my elementary school (who became my sixth grade teacher the following year), and she was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha! Actually, many of my former teachers were. After I began talking about it, I found out that I knew a LOT of AKA members... and I still do. In the last week alone, I have either discovered or been informed that three more of my friends are AKAs.
I went to after-school care when I was at Snowden. The director, Mrs. Greene, was (still is!) a member of Delta Sigma Theta (don't mix them in with AKAs for safety reasons, y'all!). When she noticed how often I wore pink and green socks/accessories/etc. she mentioned something about AKA colors, and I informed her that I wanted to become a member. She chased me around the cafeteria for 25 minutes with another after-care teacher's AKA umbrella. HAHA! I love her to death.
For those of you who think I'm a little confused - yes, I do realize that AKA is a mostly African-American sorority. But see, that's why I'd fit in so well! :)
Day 25 → The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Obviously because I have added some incredible people to my life.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Just Another Ordinary, Amazing Day - Day 24
Today seemed liked it dragged on and on at the same time that it was flying by.
I had my journalism class this morning, and, after picking up an application for The Daily Helmsman (the school newspaper - I want to write for it), I came back to Towers and did laundry. I saw a couple of the same people I did laundry with last week, and I ended up hanging out with one of them for a while at lunch. (What is it with me making most of my friends in the laundry room? I think my fabulous Bounce dryer sheets give me a confidence boost. lol!)
Anyway, after that I picked up the bears. We had a most interesting day. Little boys are always interesting.
I came back to school and hung out with Amy. While she was at her floor's meeting, I finished up working on Lorie & Michael's engagement pictures. I was SO excited to let them see their photographs! It was really special for me to be able to shoot their engagement session because they're both very special people to me. I'm so glad they loved them!
Amy and I had movie night later on - hello, Reese Witherspoon chick-flick! It was great. :)
I found out earlier that on my first assignment in my journalism class I got 10/10. So far all my grades have been 10(or above)/10 - I'm so happy! I'm really not trying to brag. I've just been trying really hard in school because I WANT these grades so badly, so getting them is really important to me. I'm proud of myself, and that's something that hasn't happened to me very many times in my life. Eventually things will get tougher and I won't be getting perfect scores (obviously!), but I'm hoping my grades don't drop too much.
Sometimes I forget that I'm in college. What used to seem so far away is here, right now, and it's weird. Like, some days it's absolutely no big deal - it's just completely normal. Other days... not so much. I guess it's crazy for me to think about it in the present tense, rather than the future tense. But I have to tell you - so far I am enjoying myself very much!
I've got a TON of homework to get done this weekend, so I'm closing out this blog and going to bed. I mean, I DO have to get up and get started on it at some point tomorrow. :)
Day 24 → Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Dear Monterica,
I decided to make you an imaginary playlist because 1) my blog program has commanded it, and 2) you are wonderful & I miss you.
1. Your Love by Nicki Minaj - umm, this is our song. lol
2. Don't Be Jealous of My Boogie by RuPaul - who could have a playlist without including Blake-not-Boo?
3. Wetter by Twista - this is an inside-only thing... sorry y'all.
4. Brown Skin by India Arie - 'cause you once told me you were chocolate-y.
5. Flying Without Wings by Reuben Studdard - girl, do you know how many times I almost crashed the car because I nearly fell asleep driving late at night when you wanted to listen to this slooow song? lol!
6. Be Without You by Mary J. Blige - you up and left me for UT 'ChattaNOGA'... RUDE!
7. Seasons of Love by RENT - because I looove you! :)
I had my journalism class this morning, and, after picking up an application for The Daily Helmsman (the school newspaper - I want to write for it), I came back to Towers and did laundry. I saw a couple of the same people I did laundry with last week, and I ended up hanging out with one of them for a while at lunch. (What is it with me making most of my friends in the laundry room? I think my fabulous Bounce dryer sheets give me a confidence boost. lol!)
Anyway, after that I picked up the bears. We had a most interesting day. Little boys are always interesting.
I came back to school and hung out with Amy. While she was at her floor's meeting, I finished up working on Lorie & Michael's engagement pictures. I was SO excited to let them see their photographs! It was really special for me to be able to shoot their engagement session because they're both very special people to me. I'm so glad they loved them!
Amy and I had movie night later on - hello, Reese Witherspoon chick-flick! It was great. :)
I found out earlier that on my first assignment in my journalism class I got 10/10. So far all my grades have been 10(or above)/10 - I'm so happy! I'm really not trying to brag. I've just been trying really hard in school because I WANT these grades so badly, so getting them is really important to me. I'm proud of myself, and that's something that hasn't happened to me very many times in my life. Eventually things will get tougher and I won't be getting perfect scores (obviously!), but I'm hoping my grades don't drop too much.
Sometimes I forget that I'm in college. What used to seem so far away is here, right now, and it's weird. Like, some days it's absolutely no big deal - it's just completely normal. Other days... not so much. I guess it's crazy for me to think about it in the present tense, rather than the future tense. But I have to tell you - so far I am enjoying myself very much!
I've got a TON of homework to get done this weekend, so I'm closing out this blog and going to bed. I mean, I DO have to get up and get started on it at some point tomorrow. :)
Day 24 → Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Dear Monterica,
I decided to make you an imaginary playlist because 1) my blog program has commanded it, and 2) you are wonderful & I miss you.
1. Your Love by Nicki Minaj - umm, this is our song. lol
2. Don't Be Jealous of My Boogie by RuPaul - who could have a playlist without including Blake-not-Boo?
3. Wetter by Twista - this is an inside-only thing... sorry y'all.
4. Brown Skin by India Arie - 'cause you once told me you were chocolate-y.
5. Flying Without Wings by Reuben Studdard - girl, do you know how many times I almost crashed the car because I nearly fell asleep driving late at night when you wanted to listen to this slooow song? lol!
6. Be Without You by Mary J. Blige - you up and left me for UT 'ChattaNOGA'... RUDE!
7. Seasons of Love by RENT - because I looove you! :)
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Day 23 - SIGH @ Values
Values In The Modern World - such an interesting and complex name for a class. And yet, it is quite simple to understand, especially after you read the course description (these are listed on the website where you register for the classes you want to take right next to whichever class they go with). Somehow, most of the students in my 'Values' class still don't understand what it means to be in a philosophy class. Either that, or they just have no concept of what the subject of philosophy really is.
Philosophy is derived from two Greek words meaning "love" and "wisdom". So roughly translated, philosophy = the love of wisdom. Wisdom is rational. With wisdom comes the ability to listen to another person's ideas and suggestions, while not necessarily agreeing with them, but at least acknowledging that they could have some valid points. This is where my issue with these people comes in.
Today in class we were discussing the Divine Command Theory. To my understanding, it is, in a nutshell, a moral theory stating that God decides what is right and wrong because God decides what is right and wrong. (I know I just lost some of you, and that's okay - my point here is not to educate you in philosophy, but to give you the main topic our discussion was based on.) Mrs. Botts was saying how this is a circular pattern (God decides because God decides), and we were talking about the arguments against it.
Let me make this crystal clear before I get jumped by some Christian soldier or something - she was in no way trying to convert our class to Atheism or anything of the sort. She was challenging the theory and trying to get someone (just ONE person) to give her a rational (not religious) argument in favor of it.
Could they do it? Nope. Did they, instead, waste up our class time arguing about God and their individual religious beliefs? Yep.
Why is it that people don't understand that philosophy is meant to be RATIONAL? It is not faith-based. It is a way of thinking on a deeper level, and it's all about logic.
I hate it when people can't even quit rambling on about how they're so good because they go to church on Sunday (in their slutty clothes after they had pre-marital sex the night before, I'm sure) and shut up long enough to entertain the idea that someone else might have a different opinion about God or moral reasoning.
I'm probably going to screw up my terms or just screw up with general philosophical knowledge when I say this, but I feel like creating a new theory that says: being hypocritical and getting on everyone's last damn nerve is morally wrong.
It's a deontological theory, y'all. Learn to love it.
Day 23 → Something you wish you had done in your life.
The way y'all talk, my life is over and I'm looking back on it. Honey, from where I'm standing, my life is just beginning! There are a lot of things I want to do, and I still have plenty of time left to do them. :)
Philosophy is derived from two Greek words meaning "love" and "wisdom". So roughly translated, philosophy = the love of wisdom. Wisdom is rational. With wisdom comes the ability to listen to another person's ideas and suggestions, while not necessarily agreeing with them, but at least acknowledging that they could have some valid points. This is where my issue with these people comes in.
Today in class we were discussing the Divine Command Theory. To my understanding, it is, in a nutshell, a moral theory stating that God decides what is right and wrong because God decides what is right and wrong. (I know I just lost some of you, and that's okay - my point here is not to educate you in philosophy, but to give you the main topic our discussion was based on.) Mrs. Botts was saying how this is a circular pattern (God decides because God decides), and we were talking about the arguments against it.
Let me make this crystal clear before I get jumped by some Christian soldier or something - she was in no way trying to convert our class to Atheism or anything of the sort. She was challenging the theory and trying to get someone (just ONE person) to give her a rational (not religious) argument in favor of it.
Could they do it? Nope. Did they, instead, waste up our class time arguing about God and their individual religious beliefs? Yep.
Why is it that people don't understand that philosophy is meant to be RATIONAL? It is not faith-based. It is a way of thinking on a deeper level, and it's all about logic.
I hate it when people can't even quit rambling on about how they're so good because they go to church on Sunday (in their slutty clothes after they had pre-marital sex the night before, I'm sure) and shut up long enough to entertain the idea that someone else might have a different opinion about God or moral reasoning.
I'm probably going to screw up my terms or just screw up with general philosophical knowledge when I say this, but I feel like creating a new theory that says: being hypocritical and getting on everyone's last damn nerve is morally wrong.
It's a deontological theory, y'all. Learn to love it.
Day 23 → Something you wish you had done in your life.
The way y'all talk, my life is over and I'm looking back on it. Honey, from where I'm standing, my life is just beginning! There are a lot of things I want to do, and I still have plenty of time left to do them. :)
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