I'm a first generation American, and Proud to be one! The only times I feel out of place, is during the holidays meant for families. You see, all I have for "family" is my mom, dad and brother. This also means that the holiday of "Thanksgiving" or Turkey Day, holds little to no significance to my family. By significance, I am of course referring to the significance we have been raised defining: Pilgrims, Mayflower, Indians, Corn, Turkey, Pumpkin Pie, eating till you burst the seams with all your family.
We grow old, we lead busy lives, and we no longer need to hear or act out the story of Thanksgiving. To me, the holiday's significance has become a yearly reminder as a time come back to family and reflect on all that we are thankful for, which is probably the true heart of the day. My family and I spent this Thursday cleaning house and I did 6 loads of laundry (obviously a college student with no quarters). But I spent the whole week leading up to the day thinking about friends, and all the little things in life that I am oh so so thankful for. Late night phone calls, chocolate cake, Family Dinner Night with friends, rolling on the floor laughing until your stomach hurts, and the opportunity to live another day to experience all those things over and over again.
And so I wonder...why do we celebrate this day only once a year? In an ideal world, everyday would be Thanksgiving (and I'm not just saying that out of my passion for pumpkin and pecan pie), but I am so thankful for the yearly reminder Thanksgiving Day brings to us.
*don't worry....we celebrated T-Day on Friday, had the feast with friends and it was good!
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Thursday, November 11, 2004
BLOOD MONEY??
It's the beginning of a new month, and we all know what that means: BILLS DUE. So with Christmas Season creeping up on us, rent to be paid, due dates to be met....I think I can speak for the majority of us, that the weight of debt is settling in. As a college student, it's an even heavier weight than prepared for.
So the question is, when we start selling our belongings and our plasma to lighten the load....have we gone too far? When we start sacrificing our carefree, social life that college is supposed to provide, are we growing up too fast and losing sight of our youth? I personally can't say when I think enough is enough. I've given up every night this coming weekend. Not to be a college student and have a fun night out with friends, but to be with 3 and 6 year-olds babysitting in order to lesson the load of the debt the beginning of the month ensues. Not only have I sacrificed my social life, on Tuesday at 1pm, I will be spending the following three hours of my day sitting in a chair selling my plasma for a measly $15, if that!
The therapy of shopping, a stress reliever of the forgotten past. The ability to release creative energy into crafts and projects, a skill now rusty and hidden beneath cobwebs. The simplicity of a bubble bath and leisurely hours spent reading are replaced stealing minutes thumbing through magazines or mentally book marking pages in novels at the local Barnes and Nobles Bookstore. The amenities that were once an extension of my being have been dissolved into luxuries I can only enjoy in my dreams. My once free-time is now spent putting in extra hours at the office, babysitting, returning unused products to their stores for cash refunds, and now the final blow: selling my plasma.
Is this the only answer to our poverty brought on by college woes? Is this the only way to climb out of the dark tunnel we created, before it is too late and we are faced with the real debt the world out there welcomes to us after graduation? Spending our blood's money, is this what it's come to?
So the question is, when we start selling our belongings and our plasma to lighten the load....have we gone too far? When we start sacrificing our carefree, social life that college is supposed to provide, are we growing up too fast and losing sight of our youth? I personally can't say when I think enough is enough. I've given up every night this coming weekend. Not to be a college student and have a fun night out with friends, but to be with 3 and 6 year-olds babysitting in order to lesson the load of the debt the beginning of the month ensues. Not only have I sacrificed my social life, on Tuesday at 1pm, I will be spending the following three hours of my day sitting in a chair selling my plasma for a measly $15, if that!
The therapy of shopping, a stress reliever of the forgotten past. The ability to release creative energy into crafts and projects, a skill now rusty and hidden beneath cobwebs. The simplicity of a bubble bath and leisurely hours spent reading are replaced stealing minutes thumbing through magazines or mentally book marking pages in novels at the local Barnes and Nobles Bookstore. The amenities that were once an extension of my being have been dissolved into luxuries I can only enjoy in my dreams. My once free-time is now spent putting in extra hours at the office, babysitting, returning unused products to their stores for cash refunds, and now the final blow: selling my plasma.
Is this the only answer to our poverty brought on by college woes? Is this the only way to climb out of the dark tunnel we created, before it is too late and we are faced with the real debt the world out there welcomes to us after graduation? Spending our blood's money, is this what it's come to?
Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Welcome!
Welcome to my Blog Spot!
I'm definitely new to this kind of thing, but oh so excited! I'm assuming that if you have the time to come and read this site, then you are bored like I am most of the time. So I will try to keep it entertaining and random enough to keep you on your toes!
A little bit about me:
I'm definitely new to this kind of thing, but oh so excited! I'm assuming that if you have the time to come and read this site, then you are bored like I am most of the time. So I will try to keep it entertaining and random enough to keep you on your toes!
A little bit about me:
- I'm finishing up my undergraduate degree in Special Education here at Texas A&M. Yes, I'm an Aggie...mostly a 2%er, but I still love the school and have maroon pride!
- I love to travel and I love kids, so I hope to incorporate the two for my future job. So I'm sure you will be hearing all about my travels as I post on this site!
Well, check back soon for more updates!
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