Decisions

     Never put a burden on anyone but yourself. Sometimes people seem to mess up and blame someone else because of their mistakes. People should take the consequences for their actions. Life is full of decisions and it is up to one to make up their mind on what decision they will make. It is okay to make the wrong decision because all you will do is learn from it. In order to make the right decision look at someone elses mistakes and learn from them. Being a coward is not stepping up to your punishment and mistakes. It makes one look bad and also is a bad influence for people who look up to them. This world will never change if people never face up to there mistakes. This life is about learning from mistakes.

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     This weekend my friends and I celebrated my 19th birthday. Every one that I talk to came to the goat and then there was an after party. There was no drama and everyone behave themselves very well. I had on a very pretty dress on and I was glowing the entire night. I danced the night away while spending it with people that always made my day. At the after party everyone socialized, laughed and had a great time. The joy of being a college student is that you don't have a curfew so I didn't get in until four in the morning. I wish I could have a night like that again.
    As I began to get older I began to face new challenges and responsiblities. This year my goal is to become a more influential person. I want to do that by always walking around confident so people can be influenced to do the same. As I age I will began to become wiser and more mature. Adversities will come my way and I will face them and fight throughout the storm.

Natural Beauty

Some people put all types of makeup on their face and think that its cute. However, it is not true beauty.  True beauty is when you are natural and don't need to wear alot of makeup to show off your beauty. Many people have surgery because they don't like something on their body. When people do all of that just to make their beauty known, they obviously have very low self esteem. True beauty is also what is on the inside not what is on the out. A person should spend more time focusing what is inside their heart whether than makeup and hair. However, it is okay to look good, but it should not be focused on all the time. God made us the way we are for a reason, we should appreciate it.

A team

A team shares a bond that no one really has. However, in order to form that bond a team must have a friendship off the court or off the field. When you are a team you are fighting for that inch until you gain a yard. You have to be more than a team a family must be build. When one of your teammates aren't working hard you pick up for their slack and then get on their case. A team sets goals and has high standards. You laugh without limits and fight hard to accomplish that one goal. When it is time for battle a team puts there gear on and go in for battle. As the battle is going on a team bleeds together and gets scrappy with there opponent. However, a team can't do all of this without love. When you have love throughout your entire team many championships are won and many bonds are formed.

Love

Love is a four letter word that people take for granted. This word can be used to describe feelings toward a love one, a spouse or maybe even a friend. However, love seems to be thrown around mostly with young adults or people in relationships. When a boy thinks they have strong feelings for a girl or vice versa they use the love word not knowing in the end someone will get hurt. Many people think love means taking long walks in the parks holding hands, looking deeply in that person's eyes in saying I miss you, or roses are red violets are blue. Thats not love, love is deeper than that. Love is when your pissed off at that special someone and all you can think about is them. Love is when you feel butterfly's when your with that special someone or away from them. Love is someone you talk about all the time and can't help, but smile when you think about them. Love is secure, deep, precious and tricky. When you think your in love you may not be in love. However, think long and hard about whether you are because if you tell someone that four letter word and your not truly in love with them that can hurt them deeply. Never throw love around or use it in vain because this word is very special and its meaning its much more than what one may think it means.

Respect

When you present yourself make sure your head is held high and show a large amount of confidence. Always speak with sense and have pride while speaking. Never have a demeanor in which you think your better than someone. When you do these things people will respect you. Respect is everything, it is how people perceive you in life. However, respect will not come naturally and it is not easy. In some points in life you could be doing all of these things and that person will always look over you or maybe even above you. When this happens this should make you want to gain respect even more so that you can prove them wrong. Never say anything to the person just continue to work so respect can be gained. Actions speak louder than words.

Being an American

Many people take the American flag for granted. When we recite "for liberty and justice for all", many people don't actually believe what they say. When September 11th happen, people were very sad because of losing a love one and some people showed sympathy for those people who were involved in the tragedy. However, after a while many people forgot about what actually happened. They did not forget mentally, but phsically they forgot. There actions did not show anymore, many people have no respect for our country, which shows through the words that people say and also the actions. In order to be a true American, one should respect the country that we live in. Many individuals should show dignity and also pride. This country is beautiful and not everyone has the priviledge to say that they are an American. Therefore, in the future people should take the time to really ponder on those words, "for liberty and justice for all". Actually think about what that really means.

Success

     There are many sacrifices that need to be made to be good at something. Many people think that success comes easy. For example, when I was in 11th grade there were five starters on my basketball team. However, the people who worked the hardest got on the court. One girl who could had the most talent on the team did not work hard. When it came down to game time she wondered why she didn't start. The coaches told her that she did not put the work in like the girls who started. That game lead to her lifetime decisions. She didn't work hard enough to get into college and now she is staying with her father with no job. This shows what not working hard can do to you. If you put in the work success will come knocking at your door, however, if you don't you will not be in a good situation.

     Another example, last year I had a challenging anatomy class and I wasn't doing very well at the beginning of the semester. However, I constantly asked questions and was always assertive in class. This caused me to pull my grade up and also gain my teachers respect by the end of the course. Working hard always has a great outcome. Many people need to start looking at what success really is and fighting to they get there.

Money

Many college students have trouble with budgeting their money. This is so because they are use to their parents controlling their money. However, when they get to college they want to spend it all. In order to avoid spending all of their money a student must put out a certain amount of money and use that money for that one week. If they don't use it all keep it put up to the next week. Also college students shouldn't use credit cards. College students take advantage of credit cards by using their card extremely too much. However, they are blind to the fact that they will have to pay back the money on their credit card when they graduate. Many times college students are in debt because of a credit card. College students should also stop giving their money to their friends. When  they give all of their money to their friends they will run out in a blink of an eye. In order to keep money in college a student must know how to budget money, not get a credit card, and never give their money to their friends.

Time Management

Many college students have trouble with time management, but the question is why? The reason college students have trouble with time management is because they are used to procrastination. Procrastination is when a student holds an important task off until the last minute. This can be avoided if a student has good time management skills. In order to have good time management skills a student should make a schedule and always have a planner available. The schedule should include when the individual has class and the location. The planner should include what the individual has planned for the day and the times. When a student has a schedule and a planner their life will be so much easier. They will find their assignments getting turned in on times and it will be easier for them to get to their classes on time. Every college students should have good time management skills, because if they don't they will not be the best student. It doesn't matter how smart you are, organization is key in being a college student.

Division of Student Life

     The division of Student Life is a way to change the Wartburg community. There are many different areas of the division of student life such as, socially responsible daily behavior, direct service, community/economic development, voting/formal political activites, direct action strategies, grass-roots political activity/public policy work, community building, and advocacy through community education. I would want to be involved in the socially responisbile daily behavior. If I become involved in that group I feel that I can lead most of my peers to get on the same track as me. For example on weekends I can get a big group to abstain from alchol or sexist behavior. I will also get people to start recyling, engaing in student employment, and also being accountable for people on their dorm floor. There are many responsibilities that I would half to be accountable for. In order to get people to listen to me I will have to form meetings and become more socially active on campus. The Division of Student Life is a great opprotunity for many students to be involved in and once I make a difference others will follow.

God needs more attention From College Students

     When college students start to gain their own independence from their parents, they start to drift more away from God. Peer pressure becomes a factor and so does confidence. College students start to replace their strong belief with fear. In order to change this college students should read a verse every night, and have a small conversation with God. When college students do this they will start to become closer with God. College is the biggest transition in students lives and in order to seek security we need comforting. We will not seek conforting from our friends, coaches, parents, or teachers, God will only help us with that problem. There our many struggles and adversities in college. In order to deal with these problems college students turn to drinking, drugs or anything that has a negative affect. That breaks God heart because he is right in front of us and we tend to continue to drift away from him. In order to get closer with God, college students need a change of heart. When the heart softens God will come in and the transition to God will be extremely better.

Music

Music is my life. Some people say music is there life but they don't really mean it. There are many songs that I relate to such as Weak by SWV, Respect by Aretha Franklin, and Over by Drake. Weak by SWV helps me get through my relationship problems. When I have tough break ups Weak by SWV helps me move on. Respect by Arethat Franklin encourages me to have respect for myself as a young lady and to also encourage other females to do the same. Over by Drake helps me before my basketball games so I can demolish my opponent. Every song that I like compares to something that goes on in my life. That is why I compare music with my life. Sometimes when my day is going bad I can turn on a song and feel much better then what I was feeling. Music is more then just lyrics, every song has a meaning and purpose. I love all types of music and I never discriminate. Music will be apart of my life until my heart stops.

Facebook

Facebook was originally a social network for people to connect with other people that they knew. However, now facebook has been getting out of hand. Many young children get on facebook without their parents knowing and many young teens get on facebook when they should be doing their homework. Facebook has become a time killer and people are taking advantage of facebook. Many relationships end over facebook because of he said or she said. Some people lurk on others pages to see what they said and also to start drama. There are many children that lie about their age just to get on facebook. Facebook can also be dangerous, many stalkers find young children and also adults because they tell where they are located at the time. Facebook should not be used anymore because it is not being used properly.

Mensa

     The Mensa is getting very old and sometimes needs to be done. There is no way that the Mensa should have the same food for lunch and dinner. The pizza is always there with the same sphaghetti, the fries are always to salty, the grill cheese is to soagy, the chinese food is never made right. All the food always has to much salt or too little salt. Sometimes they just microwave the food and serve it again. The salad bar I'm not complaining about, that should stay. When you are in the out Mensa being healthy is sometimes very hard because of the food choice. In order to change the food that the Mensa serves I will talk to the person who is in charge of the Mensa and explain to her that the food selection should be more of a variety and more healthy. IIf that doesn't work I will take a petition and give it to the President of Wartburg and see if he can change. The food selection is getting out of hand and its only October. If the food becomes more healthy and more of selection less people will be sick and more  people will eat the food.

Track

     Track involves talent and hardwork. It is not your ordinary sport, you can't just step on the track and think you will win your race. There is an indoor season and outdoor season, the indoor season starts in September and the outdoor season starts in March. Training may consist of an endurance workout or a speed workout. An endurance workout for sprinters may be 6 400s in a certain time and a sprint workout may be 10 200s. Everything will be mainly timed and if you don't make the time you have to do it over. You know your working hard when the lactic acid builds in your legs and you can't run anymore. However, thats normal and you should always finish the workout. Track also involves lifting. The hamstring, quads, core and the entire upper body must be strong in order to improve in all your specific events. Outside of the condition and lifting there is a sort of passion that you must have for the sport. As soon as you step on the track you must believe that you will deveaour your opponents. When there is ten meters left in the race a person should always run through the finish line and never give up. Improvement will occur if a person always works hard and has passion. Track will help you grow as an individual and keep you motivated not only in track but in other endeavors in life.

Liars

     Liars make me upset and I don't respect them. I honestly don't understand why people can't tell the truth. Some people lie about the smallest things. For example, my sister once lied about taking the trash out. Why would you lie about taking the trash out, either you did or you didn't. What really upsets me is when someone lies to me and the lie is big. I get the sense of betrayal and sometimes that sense of betrayal can end up with me being hurt.
     Some people ask why I get upset when someone lies about something small. The answer is that small lie will eventually add up and the person won't stop lying. Yes, when I get lied to it hurts and I've been lied to many times in the past. The feeling sucks and it takes forever to heal from. No, I would not have been hurt by my sister not taking out the trash but that will honestly piss me off. I'm not saying I have never lied because I have lied to people before; when they see that I lied to them the look on their face is priceless. It makes you cry inside even though you weren't the person that was being lied to.

     However, if a person tells the truth I will honestly feel much better. I may still be hurt but I will still feel a sense of respect. Respect to me is everything and if you don't even have the dignity to face me with the truth than you have lost any respect that I once had for you. That is why people should tell the truth because when you lie you show that your a coward and you can't stand up to what you did in any situation.

Perfect Roommate

     After filling out everything to attend Wartburg College, I realized that I had to do one more thing. I had to feel out my information to get a roommate. There were many questions about your study life, what your interest were, and what type of person you were overall. Honestly, every question on there I told the truth because I didn't want to end up with a horrible roommate. However, after I sent my information in not even a week later I received the information about my new roommate. A variety of thoughts were running through my head, was she like me or different? Therefore, to find new information about her I used the number Wartburg gave me and text her. Everytime I text her she took four hours to text me back so I never knew really what type of roommate she would be. We never really shared our interests over a text message or anything like that so when I met her for the first time it was a surprise. Her name is Ashleye Armelin and she sings, plays basketball, runs track, and has her head on straight just like me. There is never a time that we have argued or got into a dissagreement. I can tell that she will not only be my roommate but my bestfriend. We are very compatible for roommates. The worried thoughts that I once had about my roommate all went out of my head. Wartburg did a great job with matching me with the Perfect Roommate.

Why I choose Wartburg

     When I visted Wartburg last year April I thought my visit was going to be horrible. All the other schools that I visited were all the same. There was no diversity, they did not have good academics, and there athletics were another story. However, when I arrived on Wartburg campus I knew this was going to be my new home. The people were friendly, the food was great, the academics were outstanding, and they had great sports teams. I had alot of offers from Division 1 schools for sports but that still didn't change my mind. Wartburg gives students an opprotunity to have a liberal arts education. A liberal arts education is exploring all different fields including your field of study. I must say I didn't no what a liberal arts education was until I had my IS 101 class. Even though classes are challenges students still maintain to graduate. The Professors work very well with your schedule even if you are an athlete like myself. For freshmens they even have time managing classes that will help you with you first semester at college. Wartburg College is like a family school you don't no everybody but you no just the right amount of people. I am glad that I can now call Wartburg College my home. Thank you Wartburg College for choosing me to be apart of your program.

College Students Do the Darnest Things

     After high school everyone declares their college and some even declare their major. Parents are so happy and proud of their children's accomplishments. However some parents are looking for their child to accomplish something bigger, graduating from college. As college rolls around the young adult starts getting their dorm stuff, school supplies, and even a new attitude. Finally, the young adult gets to college kisses their parents and promises them they will bring home a diploma. Despite what they say their actions do the opposite.

     As the first week of college begins the student has a schedule and everything ready to go. When that first paper comes the student is determined to finish it, then comes the weekend. Everyone is pressuring them to go to the bars and party, however they no they have a paper so they so no. The next week comes and the same things happens. They say no again. Then the third weeks comes around and they change their answer to yes, knowing that they have a paper. The student slowly starts to change and the student no longer becomes a student they become just a person that goes through the motions at college. Parents call every week the young adult assures their parents everything is okay. However, when that year is over that young adult is asked no longer to attend the school. The parents begin to get confused and their child can no longer reassure them that everything is okay.

     That is what happens to some college students. Their focus is not where it should be and they are sent home the next year. Peer Pressure happens to the best of us, however it is a small decision that can send peer pressure in a different direction. College is not all about books it can be fun to, however it is up to that person to manage their time.
    

Writing

     Writing helps me express my thoughts and makes me feel free about everything. When I write the environment has to be quiet and I have to be in the moment. Sometimes people write about things that really never occured but when I write it comes from the heart. Writing is in my feelings that I always hold back. Sometimes I dream about it and sometimes I think it so I put it on paper. When I write it comes from past experiences in passion and my memories. Writing hides everywhere in my life, it allows me to  open up and reveal my feelings. I mainly write poems because with poems you have a little more freedom and it doesn't have to necessarily be structured. If I write for no reason what I'm trying to say  will never get found. That is why I always write with passion and excitement. For example, when I wrote about betryal once it wasn't the most exciting topic but I made it exciting because you could feel what I was saying and going through. When you see me walking down the street everyday you will never no my history or my past but when you read my writing everything will be revealed.

     Life is a rollercoaster and it will bring you around a couple of times until you can actually realize where it is taking you. There has been many struggles in my life some big and some small. Too many times people have told me that I was not capable of things and I have always ignored them. Other times people have talked about me behind my back but I still manage to smile. My grandmother always told me to fight  people with my pretty smile. Don't get me wrong there are times when I want to say words and maybe sometimes show action but I always have been the type of person to walk away.
     There is a difference between a weak and a strong person. A weak person has adverstiy and doesn't accept challenges but a strong person has the same adversities and accepts those challenges while becoming a stronger individual. To help get through challenges, tears always help me. Some people say crying is for the weak but in my opinion crying makes you feel better on the inside. It is okay to feel pain. Laughing also cures a person from a tough situation and I always laugh when I'm going through something. People would never know that I'm struggling, its not that I try to hide my pain it just makes me feel better. Laughter, crying, and a beautiful smile is a cure to all tough situations.
     God never puts you through a situation that he knows you can't bare. I always call on him in time of need and I wait for his voice and he answers me. Through pain and struggle I become a stronger person. Never fight obstacles, endure them, because God will you through.

High School Days

      My high school experience was very interesting from freshmen year to senior year. Freshmen year I was really nervous, I had my head hanging down and could never really look the upper classmen in their eye. I always stayed on top of my books but nobody would have ever known because of my insecurity. The upper classmen were so intimidating, the way they stood posted on there lockers popping their gum in the most annoying way and they were always late for class. I promised myself I would never act like that when I was a senior.
      Sophmore year was a little better, but not the best year. I became part of the basketball team and everyone was starting to know me. However, I still stayed was locked in my shell. I never really did anything except go to school, play basketball and go home. Honestly, I was considered a lame.
      Junior year, was my best year. My shell started to slowly crack open. My voice started to become loud and I didn't hold my tounge for anybody. I developed my personality, many people started to hang and become cool with me. Teachers even started to know my name, and my grades were great even though they were never bad. My social life was the main thing that increased. People started to invite me to parties, and I even got my first real boyfriend.
     Senior year was also a good year. Mainly because I slacked off, my homework was done at the last minute honestly everyday. Although I slacked off, I still passed. Graduation and prom was fun and very intereting, nothing crazy happened, I was just laughing at both events the entire time. Yes, I was laughing not crying at graduation. Overall my high school experience was amazing, it got me out of my shell and helped me with my personality.

Jurassic Park

     Jurassic Park was very interesting, however it made me very skeptical. I didn't like the fact that they cloned dinosaurs to create different genes for another dinosaur. That in a way made me upset because it seemed as if they were playing with God. God creates genetics so that a person or even an dinosaur can have an unique quality about themselves. I also didn't like that how they used blood from mosiquitos, so the dinosaurs could get their DNA. That was honestly weird, I didn't understand why they took DNA from a diminutive mosquito, that showed that they were that desperate to create something new.

     Even though there were many things that I didn't life, I did like a couple of things. It was very interesting to me how the dinosaur could change the sex while they were in the egg. Although that is still fraud it still entertained me. When the dinosaurs almost attacked the children, that had me on the edge of my seat. The little boy was comical with his smart remarks and his joyous attitude. The girl on the other hand I didn't like to much, it seemed as if she thought she new everything but in reality she didn't. Though I didn't agree with how they created different dinosaurs by cloning and switching DNA, I was on the edge of my seat the entire movie.  I must say it entertained me; however it wasn't a great movie but I would recommend it to a six year old.

First Day

My alarm suddenly went off at 8am as I streghthed my arms, slowly climbing down from the top of my bunk bed. As my thoughts started to clear I realized that I didn't have class until 12pm, however I still wanted to get up and enjoy the campus before class started. A million thoughts were going through my head. What are the professors like? Will I have to do a 10pg paper for the first day? Will my professors like me? You can say I was extremely nervous. As 12pm quickly arrived my nerves soon went away. My first class was amazing, class was let out early. Professor Wright's class was an overview of what the semester was going to be like. Finally I had my last class of the day which was the most interesting. As the Professor walked in, her right brow raised slightly higher than her left as she clicked her pen walking to her podium. She never told us her name but she did say she expected alot out of the class. As my nerves suddenly came back, the hair on my arms started to come up. At the end of the class she promised us that we will become better writers if we put the work in.

     Personally, I was not expecting the day I had. I thought all of my professors would be snotty and stuck up. However, they did not seem like that at all, they were helpful and very enjoyable. My first day has me looking forwad to the rest of the year, I am determined to stay focused so that I can make my college experience a sucess.