"Don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game".

HIIII!<3

It is currently: 9:24

I am currently: drinking a deliciously cold diet coke

My mood is currently: a bit frazzled but happy overall.

aaaaaand we begin...

I know, it has been a while but things have just been CRAAAZY hectic. I am on SHU FORCE (<3) and we had our kick-off fundraiser last night!!! aaaand today were speeches for an undisclosed board (due to the fact that we cannot advertise online) My stomach has literally been full of butterflies for a good 48 hours. 

I was really nervous about SHU FORCE. Being a freshman, the need and want to prove yourself in every aspect of your new atmosphere is seen as crucial and imperative. That alone puts 95456789 x more pressure on all of us. But it is that pressure and that drive that will push you to reach so far above what you thought you could achieve.  

Currently, my room is a MESS. My work is all over the place although, I refuse to fall behind. I am attempting to put myself out there as much as possible and sometimes, it's really hard. Being here, as any other freshman at any other college will tell you is a very trying experience. Like I have said in other posts sometimes days are good and sometimes days are bad but its what you make of it. And through taking the time to sit here and take a breather I have realized that it is not so much about proving things to others, its about proving it to yourself. 

This is not anyone else's college experience, its mine. Where I am going and what I am doing is all dependent on me and my drive. The way others receive it is no matter. I like where I am, who I am with and where I am headed. That is all I need to keep going. Last night at FORCE, I had 3 or 4 people show up to see me but knowing that since I have been here, I have made a few real friends who would be there for me to cheer me on or cheer me up doesn't sound so great but it is really all you need. Having 15 fake friends who really have no investment in you is useless, its the people who will not only have fun and laugh with you but also hug you when you cry that really matter.

Another thing that I really love about SHU is the volunteer opportunities. I am a member of Sunshine Kids where we mentor children from the Bridgeport area once a week. It had always been a dream of mine to be a teacher. Being around children had always given me this sense of grounding and warmth and being on a college campus, there aren't many little ones running around. So, every Tuesday I make my way down to the campus ministry office and do homework, eat dinner and play with the cutest little girl. One of the first weeks we were here she told us that her mom told her that if she failed another spelling quiz she wouldn't be allowed to have a birthday party this year. So that visit we did the very best we could with studying. We made color-coded lists, took mini quiz's, spelled words out loud and alphabetized like no other. This week she came in and told us, with a huge smile, she got a 93 on her quiz and I honestly could have cried. It seems so silly as I sit here and type this story but in that moment, knowing that I helped her get that grade and feel good about herself was so extremely rewarding. 

Also, since my last post about all the problems I've encountered since I've been here I figured I should list the great things that have happened to me since I've been here. 

1. Navigating Leadership

 2. Sunshine Kids

3. SHU FORCE

4. The pints of ice cream that are sold 4 floors below me

5. Finally doing well in math

6. Writing in this blog

7. Getting my first package

8. Schedules GALORE 

9. Having a television in my room for the first time in my entire life

10. FRO-YO!

and of course, we cannnot forget 

FIVE THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY...RIGHT NOW

1. Dawson's Creek Season Six.

2. The Flintsone Family<3 

3. New bottles of Shampoo

4. Finally visiting Seton and Merton...and re-falling in love with Roncalli

5. Anyone who reads this and posts their top 5.

<3! mia. 

Comments

[Sarah Tully]

1)Naps
2)Sweaters and Uggs
3)New York Yankees and Giants
4)First grade class I help out on Wednesdays
5)Glee

[Elizabeth Brielmann]

1. Girl talk :)
2. my sunshine kid!! kayla :)
3. halloween costumes
4. planning trips for my friends from home to visit!!!!
5. lady gaga's new song that no one else knows yet

[Vicki Shaw]

1. Girl Talk :]
2. Naps
3. Cancelled classes this week
4. Video Chatting
5. Scanning through the channels with katie dumper and abby and finding Angels in America on.

[Kathryn Artesani]

1. The flinstone family!
2. The leaves changing color
3. The CO
4. Much needed sleep
5. A working printer....finally!
6. This blog

Sorry, I broke the rules and have six