Decisions

Today I went on a college visit to Kent State University. Going into this visit, I admit I was a bit apprehensive. Up until now, I hadn't visited a college as big as Kent, and I didn't like how big it was. I was frustrated because my original plans for my major didn't seem attainable. This really upset me. I felt like I wasn't going to be able to pursue my passions. My dreams drive me, sometimes literally, almost every day of my life. I had also heard all of the stereotypical rumors about Kent. I think most of us have heard them. There's the saying "Can't read, can't write, Kent State." I had also heard that it had a bit of a reputation as being a party school. Then there were some students in some of my classes that said they didn't know what to do with their lives so they were just going to go to Kent. Upon arriving on campus, all of these things left me. I saw a campus that had so much to offer me. It's size was not as daunting as I had thought. Talking to various people in my departments of interest made me see how I could make my dreams reality. I can't even describe to you how that makes me feel. It can actually happen! I'm going to do it! They are in reach! All of my questions were answered and then some. It calmed a lot of my fears about going to college. While I know that there will probably be partying at any school I go to, it's my choice about whether or not I participate. And I can tell you right now, it is the last thing I would ever want to do. I have dreams and I don't want to do anything that might jeopardize that. This new part of my life is getting closer every day. After taking in everything, I've decided that Kent is the school for me. It has everything I want. Now I just have to apply! This time next year, I hope to be a Photoillustration major with a minor in writing. Wish me luck!

Tom Hanks!

Yesterday my theatre class went to hear Tom Hanks speak. Actually, it was an interview. We were in the WVIZ/PBS TV station in Cleveland. It was filmed in a TV studio and we were the audience! How cool is that? Scott Simon, who works for NPR and has done hundreds of interviews conducted the whole thing. He asked Tom all about his work and he told us tons of stories about how he got his start and acting in different movies. Two people from each school that came got picked to ask Tom a question. It was so interesting hearing his answers. He is so down to earth and real, which is something that I was so happy about. I was afraid that he was going to be one of those people that puts on an act all the time and can never be themselves, but it wasn't like that at all. He was so funny and was joking around with everyone. He loves to make people laugh. At the end of the interview he took a group photo with everyone. He kept saying funny things and we were laughing the whole time the photographer was taking the pictures. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience, and I got to be a part of it! Since it was filmed for PBS, it's going to be on national television. I don't know when exactly, but they got many shots of the audience during the interview and the camera man filmed my section where I was sitting quite a few times! It was such an honor to listen to a master actor like Tom Hanks.

Believe

Today in my theatre class we found who got cast in the play we are putting on. It's called The Rise and Rise of Daniel Rocket. It's about a boy named Daniel who can fly. Yes, that's right! The first act of the play is when Daniel and all of his friends are in 6th grade. This is when they first find out that Daniel can fly. The second act takes place 20 years later when all the kids have grown up and Daniel has become famous. I won't give too much of it away, but one of the primary themes of the play is having the courage to believe in something or someone when no one else does. During the course of the play, there are only two people who really believed Daniel could fly and wanted to see him succeed. This helped Daniel to reach for his dreams and actually fly. He believed in himself. Isn't this a great parallel to life? If you believe in yourself, then no one can change your goals. Daniel refused to compromise who he was just so he could fit in, even though he knew he would be made fun of. This isn't the play my theatre class considered doing at first. The first play we were going to put on was Plaza Suite by Neil Simon. Each act can stand alone as a one act play because the characters have no connection except that they all rent the same room at the Plaza Hotel in New York. While it is a great play, the second act is very, "risque" to say the least. We all weren't entirely sure how we were going to stage it to make it less awkward. I for one didn't want to compromise my integrity just so I could get a bigger part. Bravely, my sister Elizabeth and I went to our theatre teacher and talked to her about it. Because of our courage to step forward and say that we didn't agree with it, other kids in our class also expressed concern that probably would have otherwise kept their mouths shut because they didn't want to be the only ones that felt that way. After listening to us, our teacher agreed with us and decided to change the play. Hence that we are doing Daniel Rocket. I feel that I can relate to this play a lot because of what it stands for. If I hadn't stood up and refused to sacrifice my beliefs, we may have never done anything. This play is going to be a great success. I got the part of Claudia, one of the kids, and Elizabeth is Mrs. Rice the schoolteacher. Both are amazing characters and I can't wait to bring this story to life.

Dreamers

A song lyric popped into my head just now. "Godspeed, dreamers. You're the best of us." Kind of a true statement when you think about it. Where would we be as a world without dreamers? I consider myself a dreamer. I have so many things I want to achieve, places I want to go. It's what drives me. Sometimes I see people my age and I can't believe how they act. They don't know what they want to do with their lives. They are just wasting away, not even trying to change. I want to ask them, What are your dreams? Don't you have something to hold on to? That one thing that you would give anything to accomplish? Don't just sit there! Pursue it! Do not live in vain! Break the cycle! It hurts me to know that some people will never chase their dreams. Some people may not even have any. They don't think they can reach them. I want to reach mine. None of us want to feel like our lives never amounted to anything. But in God's eyes, our lives are worth more than gold. Everyone's life is a story. He cherishes our triumphs, is sad along with us during our downfalls, and through it all loves us in a way we will never fully understand. I'm amazed every day how much God loves me. It fills me with so much joy knowing that he's with me all the time. I know that I'll be able to reach my dreams with Him by my side.

Reconstruction

Last night I got together with everyone that went on the Ecuador trip. It was so wonderful seeing everyone again. During our post trip debrief, Rick asked us how God changed us as a person. Everyone said different things. Learning to rely on God more. Not letting our fears control us. Realizing God's plan for us. For me, everything about the trip changed me. God broke me to pieces and reconstructed me in a different way. I discovered things about myself I never knew before. Coming back to my life after Ecuador hasn't been easy. I keep catching myself starting to fall into the old habits I had before. When that happens, I remember how God has rebuilt me. I'm a new person for a reason. God wants me to reach my full potential. I'm trying to keep that in mind every day. Hanging out and talking with everyone helped me start to get back on track. I don't know how many of you guys read my blog, but if you do, thanks. You mean the world to me.

Memories

Today I finally finished my scrapbook of my trip to Ecuador. Going through all the photos brought back so many wonderful memories of everything I did there. It was also a little bittersweet. I miss Ecuador. I miss waking up in the morning and going up on the roof to read my Bible. I miss hearing the propane truck beep its horn to alert customers to come and buy. Smelling the bread baking in Arenas, the bakery next to my aunt and uncle's apartment. Having everyone you pass on the street say good morning or good afternoon to you with a smile on their face. Life in Ecuador is different from life in America. It's simple. It's uncomplicated. People hold their relationships in high regard. It's been almost 2 months since I've gotten back. I've been feeling the pressures of life lately. School, sports, not to mention all the political stuff going on right now. It can really bring a person down. Everytime I start to get stressed, I remember that my life doesn't have to be controlled by this. Only God controls my life. He knows what's best for me. It's not politics, it's not school projects. Politics cause a bunch of problems that I don't want to get involved with. God is fully involved in my life all the time. He knows everything that's going on. I may not understand some things, but I know that God understands and that I don't need to be afraid. He has big plans for me.

Surprises

I love acting. I'm quite a bit of a theatre dork sometimes. So naturally I'm taking two theatre classes this year. I love getting into a character and putting my all out on stage. This semester my theatre class has been given a major oppurtunity. My teacher couldn't tell us what it was at first, only that it was going to be in the newspaper and it's on October 12th and it has something to do with the Great Lakes Theatre Festival. So this past Sunday my sister Elizabeth and I ripped through the paper. We couldn't find anything. We looked at it forwards and backwards, upside down and sideways. Nothing. So Monday came and we were basically dying of anticipation. My theatre teacher stopped us in the hallway, thrust the day's paper in our hands, and told us to read the headline. We freaked out. Because...are you ready for this?...WE GET TO MEET TOM HANKS! Tom Hanks got his start in the Great Lakes Theatre Festival in the 70s. He's coming back to do a fundraiser for them. During the day he's holding a master's workshop for 5 local schools' theatre classes and my school was one of the schools chosen. Only 100 spots were open and we got in! Oh, and it's also going to be filmed for PBS and we get to ask questions at the end. Maybe I'll see myself on TV! This is going to be the most amazing field trip ever!