College & Making Friends

A vital part of human existence is about the relationships we build and the influence we have on one another.

We are meant to be social creatures, like in Genesis when God said that it is not good for man to be alone.

I've learned that friendships in college, however, make or break your character as a person.  Isn't that scary?  College is such an interesting time of development where we exert independence, but we aren't really fully independent yet.  Sure we act like it, but in reality are we really fully independent and not just in the material sense but also in the emotional and psychological sense.

As a freshmen, I have SO much to learn to continue growing.

This mindset of learning not only in school, but also socially is seen differently from different people.  I've seen people my age on campus who have taken less care for their scholastic experience and more care for their social, which is a problem.  They are consumed with partying and flirting and the drama behind their lifestyle is so ugly.
And, on the other hand, I've noticed people who don't socialize enough and need to take a break from the pressure they put themselves under in school.  I understand the desire to make good grades and do well, but as social humans we also need to take the time to care for ourselves as a whole person and not just our mental facilities.  

How do we find this balance?
Being active in a wide variety of groups and organizations allows you experience different perspectives.  to surround myself among different friends.  Experience with dealing with both the "nerds" and "jocks" helps make my social experience more wholesome because I am encountering the real world.  In my work circle,  I am most likely going to face opposing views and have to spend more time with others to understand their views.  I'm OK with this, in fact, I find it very interesting how different people bring different qualities out of myself.  I am still myself, but I will insert certain phrases and sayings to relate to the social group I am around.

I've also noticed the people who seek this same balance as myself.  Qualities I see in them are that they are still focused on school, but they can also relate to a wide variety of people their age while having core friends to turn to.  They aren't giving up true friendships to trade for less real ones, but, as Christians, Jesus ate with taxpayers and sinners.  A problem I see on campus is being able to see the other side, the opposing view.  I need to be able to relate to people my age, even though my friendships with them might not be as deep as others because it is not centered on God.  The effort to relate to the other side, however, I've noticed is laking at my school and I'm still learning how I feel about this.  Charity and loving all people is important, but it doesn't mean that I have to be friends with everyone.

I do know that I've been blessed with friendships at Belmont Abbey.  It is so important to surround myself around good people who strive for holiness because, then, we can support one another towards the same goal.

What to do?

Guys,

I've been really bad with my blog recently.
Sorry!
I just don't really know what to do with it because I like blogging for the sake of keeping up with friends, sharing stories and writing, but I don't want to have to try be creative.  If I come up with something, then I'll write on it and that will be that.
So basically I haven't thought of anything to write about and this is a really boring post.

But I will share my thoughts on my baby sister because she's been consuming my thoughts/prayers/conversations for the past couple months :D.

Although I think that its strange that I'm at school while my family is taking delight in a new member, I love how connected I can still be to the "going ons" of my household.  I believe that connection comes from sharing such close quarters with my family for most of my life.  And I really appreciate that security of coming home and feeling like I haven't been gone for the past two months, which is how I felt during my recent trip home on fall break.  By the grace of God, I'm so lucky to have such a large family.  Sure the challenges of the family hadn't disappeared, but the fact is that (for the most part) we can get past those conflicts and focus on having a good time when we all get together.  Obviously, my parents play a huge part in my family's connection and who I am today.  What I love the most about their parenting style is that they have so much going on that I have the space to properly develop and come to them if I need to.  They are not the type of parents who pester their child but I trust them so I want to tell them all the major changes going on in my life.

Anyway, so Stella Therese Marian is gorgeous and so so so tiny! I'm always amazed at how dependent babies are of others, but just holding that tiny, innocent, precious life does something to the human heart.  How can purity of soul not affect us jaded ones? I look back on that short time that I got to meet her and I feel so blessed.  And to think that I am the godmother of her, especially when she has her whole life in front of her! Just think of the potential! I would love to grow up as the baby of the family so that I could see the experience of others and distinguish who was successful or doing well so that I could plan my life in search of the same happiness.

I am still astounded at how much love can pour forth from my heart because of such a tiny person.  I can't wait to see what she will be like.  What is her personality? Who will she take after? Will she survive being the youngest, especially after three boys? She's going to have to be a strong person for sure because there is a lot of competition in my family.  What's she going to look like? God, do you think, maybe, if she could, like you know, take after me?  Pretty please?  Because that would be so cool.  AHHH I can't wait to show her the ropes! I can't wait to see how God will use her in this crazy thing called life.  

ZzZzZz = College Life

Last night, we had the president's ball, which was fun.

I'm getting an x-ray tomorrow and could use some prayers.  It's not  that I can't make another few weeks of this because I get around really well.  I just miss soccer - alot.

Here is a list of all of the classes I'm taking this fall:

Bio Lecture and Lab

Honors History of Ideas

Honors Rhetoric

Theatre Appreciation

First Year Symposium

Homework is starting to pick up.  This weekend I'm writing 4 papers, but most of them are short.  I really love my classes though.  I'm turning into a nerd because  I never realized how much I love understanding subjects before.  Coming from a homeschooling background, I never had the opportunity to go to class every day.  I talk so much class.  Its pretty funny.  And I've definitely seen that being able to teach yourself subjects has been so good for me in college.

Honors classes are so much more intense than my other classes.  I'm really glad I'm in the Honors program because I am learning so much.  What I especially love is that the professors take the time to make sure we understand the difficult texts or their critiques of our written work.  It's a very learning conducive environment and the people I'm living with are such a great group of smart, silly, and genuine people.  I was sick this week and the way they took care of me was just like I was a part of their family.     People just pop by our suite and we throw parties! The other night we threw a nail/smoothie/bollywood party in our room.

And that's my update on college life!

 

Sweetness

College life is awesome!

I'm here for preseason and even though I broke my foot and therefore can't play soccer I am having SUCH a blast.

I love college soccer! I love the people, how everyone is so driven, the coaching staff and how much time they invest in really getting to know you.  It's so me and it's really great.  I just have to be patient and hungry at the same time.  I'm biking a bit, doing core workouts, and keeping engaged in the classroom sessions.  I gotta be able to rock 'n roll when my time comes, and trust me it's coming.

So far, the people I've met have been really fun to get to know.  It's nice to be part of a "family" and get to know campus before everyone else arrives this weekend.

The basilica and the adoration chapel are so great to be able to go to whenever I want as well.

And strangely enough, I'm looking forward to classes starting....

I must be going crazy or something.

PACKING!!!!

People,

I am leaving in 6 days!
I can't believe it!

I've started legitimately packing my clothes and essentials today.

Wow, I have alot of STUFF.

See my 2 siblings before me have gone to colleges close by.
My college is 7 hours away.
I can't do what they did, which is swing by home and pick up stuff if they need it.
So I have to prepare myself for the colder months while not bringing every article of clothing I own.
This is alot harder than it sounds.

Does anybody have any college packing tips?

I'm trying not to overdo it.  It's not exactly working.  Oh well!

TTFN!

The Ups and Downs

WELLLL

I have some news.

As I'm sitting here, figuring out how to say this, I look down at my last post about the beach.  One sentence sticks out to me - "I'm enjoying this season of my life."

If you knew about recent events, you would look at my life now and think to yourself, "That statement does not portray how she feels now."

And a couple of days ago I would have agreed.

However, I've had a little time to think, pray, prepare and I know now.

My soccer dreams have not been in vain.  Sure I have a Jones Fracture in my 5th metatarsal base.   But if I want to succeed in life than I have to take any and every experience as a growing experience.

I feel like my world has been turned upside down and I have learned alot about myself.  This is just the beginning of what's to come and I'm not worried.

A part of that comfort and confidence comes from me saying good-bye to control.  I have a very extroverted personality and I'm a bit of a control freak.  I have a choleric temperament that I get from my mother (go figure).  This fracture is not something I can control so I need to stop blaming myself and start working on other stuff.  Dwelling on myself being injured is pretty depressing and I'm not the kind of person who wants to be depressed for even a second.

This summer I spent a good amount of time working on my fitness and it's hard to not see that time as being a waste now.  One thing I've learned is that my time is not God's time.  And I know there is such wisdom in His planning.  Do I like being humbled? No, but I really appreciate it later.

Maybe this is His way of saying slow down.  I want you to enjoy the relationships you are fostering now.  I want you to lean on me at this time because I am carrying you.

Maybe I don't have to know what I'm supposed to learn from this.

It's OK for me to suffer a bit.  It's OK to sacrifice my physicality especially because I've been so blessed.

I've seen friends and family send out their love and support.  They have been my crutch for the past week.  It fills my heart with such bliss to know how strongly they care for me.

Maybe it's enough to know that I've gotten to where I am and who I am today because of love.

XOXO,
Robyn

BEACH

Hey There!

Update on my life:
Well, I went to the beach last week for the Fourth of July.  It was fun/incredible/awesome and totally worth the car ride with no air conditioning.

I know, how did we survive that?
Seriously, it wasn't that bad because we would go in the morning, but it still was a little uncomfortable. Like I said though, totally worth it.

Since I'd never driven myself to a vacation before I decided that I wanted some company.  And what better way to spend a week at the beach than to go with friends. I ended up choosing 2 of my good homeschool friends and it was hard because I really didn't want to hurt feelings.  I know how that feels and it stinks.  But in this scenario, I hope that I handled it well and didn't come across as a brat.  I really was just trying to do what was best and to pick friends who I knew would get along with family.

Beach life is SO my life.  It was wonderful to be by the water, just relaxing and getting pampered by my aunt and her family.  My cousins went out of their way to accommodate us, which was very nice.  We all had loads of fun and I enjoyed seeing everyone get along.  

I also got home just in time to see my Great Grandma stop by our house on her way to my Nana's.  Every time I see my 95 year old Great Grandma I am filled with this incredible assurance.  It's almost like I get this feeling that by the time I am her age my life right now, that I make SUCH a big deal of, will be of little to no consequence.  That test I didn't do so great in? That summer of stressing and organizing before leaving for college? My summer jam? My new clothes? How many push ups or pull ups I did? How many miles I ran?  They won't make a difference in the world when I reach my 90's.  If I reach them!

So stop worrying! I'm enjoying this season in my life.  That in-between awkward age where you are exercising more independence and yet a part of you is still clinging for the comfort and ease of home.  Let go and let live.

"I am not afraid, I was born to do this." - Joan of Arc.  

Please keep my Great Grandma in you prayers.  She has shingles and although she is doing much better, she still has pains.  She has been very calm and strong throughout the storms in her life recently.  It's really been a blessing to watch her live her life and to see all the love she has poured into her family.

Another joy of this summer has been planning and preparing for the birth of my goddaughter and baby sister! I'm SO EXCITED! Do you know how good it is to see a pink blanket after 10 years of seeing blue ones?

TTFN!  

Happy Mother's Day!

Thank you to all the mums out there!

My mommy is my role model and inspiration.  I don't know where I would be without her!

“When a man loves a woman, he has to become worthy of her. The higher her virtue, the more noble her character, the more devoted she is to truth, justice, goodness, the more a man has to aspire to be worthy of her. The history of civilization could actually be written in terms of the level of its women.” 
― Fulton J. Sheen, Life is Worth Living

What's Happening?

Update on me: my life hasn't been terribly interesting lately.  My schedule is literally family, faith, hw, soccer, and babysitting.  I had a spa night with girlfriends last weekend and went to a swing dance.  Both of which were incredibly fun!

The other day I wrote my favorite things about being homeschooled that I thought I'd just copy and paste :)

I've been homeschooled all my life and so has everyone in my family. My parents believe that they are primarily responsible for the education of their children and for us that means being well formed in our rich Catholic faith. We didn't have the money for private education so my parents took on the responsibility of homeschooling. Like any other schooling, you have to work hard so it's not always "fun". But I can say that without a doubt, homeschooling has formed me into the person that I am today. Homeschooling enables me to become very close with the people I will always have a relationship with for the rest of my life, my family. And I'm not just saying this. My best friend is my older sister and that relationship would not nearly be as close as it is now without homeschooling. Even with my extremely close friends, although I ignore it most of the time, there is always this tiny seed that I might be judged for what I say or do. And let's face it, some friends come into our lives and leave with no explanation. With my family, I am always free to express myself. I can always trust them. In highschool, there were some ups and downs in my family, especially ailments and family trials.  If needed, we took a break from school to sort out the medical needs of the family. As a family unit, we've learned how to get through the good and bad times. Homeschooling allows for flexibility, but it also teaches the student to be responsible for his own work. I'm enrolled in a curriculum, which means that I have to send my work in regularly to an accredited program to receive an official transcript. I'm also heavily involved in classes outside of my house or online classes. I have homework deadlines. I gained work experience through refereeing, babysitting, and nannying. I am a captain on both of the soccer teams that I'm on now (highschool and travel) so I understand what it takes to be a leader for homeschoolers and public schoolers. I didn't get brilliant scores on my SAT's, but they weren't bad. My GPA isn't above a 4.0, but I still got into the Honor's program at Belmont Abbey  I'm very extroverted, social, and I'm definitely not sheltered. I'm your average teenage girl who thinks one direction is the cutest thing and loves to go shopping and have spa nights with my girls. I think my parents protected me in a good way, but they never withheld information from me. Most importantly, my faith has been allowed to blossom through being homeschooled and it has definitely been challenged by peers and adults. I am confident in my faith and am able to have charitable discussions with those I do not agree with. I LOVE that I have grown up with going to daily mass, holy hours, and confession on a regular basis. For me, homeschooling has been the greatest platform for me to be able to grown within myself and develop my talents.

Yuck

Guys,

Today I have to dissect a Frog.  Do you know how gross that is?

Sincerely,
Me

Prom Dress!

I found my prom dress yesterday!

Nothing could have made me happier.

OK, that's not entirely true.  

But I was super happy that I found my dress at a thrift store for such a great price that I bought 2.  Only I would buy more than one dress for prom.  hehe.  The only problem is that they both need straps to meet the modesty requirements for our homeschool prom.  But I hope that can be fixed easily.

 Whoops that's not a prom dress! But he's still cute so I think I'll keep him.

Now here's the prom dress!

 And here is the extra one!

I'm off to do homework now!

Bacteria, Mold, and Everything in between

I decided I needed a blog post with pictures.  So here's my month in pics! Just in case ya'll thought I was kidding about some of this.....

My favorite dress from Prom Dress shopping.  Only problem is that it is too expensive :(

Yay for Kingdom Monera!  

 Opera night and interview dress that Goalie gal helped me pick out!

 Pete's 5th B'day

MOLD that I got to work with yesterday! 

 Signing my letter of commitment!

 =D

 Semi Formal pics from earlier this month! I'm with Capsangel, kitty, SRP, Goalie Gal and Clowny

Shoe party I had when they were all on sale.  

 Chilling with my babies.

 Belmont Abbey trip where my grandparents surprised me by joining me for the weekend! What a blast!

Travels

Traveling to North Carolina one weekend and Richmond the next is exhausting.  Let me tell you.  Lucky for me, in between those travels there was a birthday party, virus, iron deficiency problems, soccer, school, and lots and lots of medication.  Also, prom dress shopping, a hilarious opera at the Kennedy Center, the start of lent and penances, and some very happy news.

I was accepted into the honor's institute at Belmont Abbey!

So all my travels were worthwhile and wonderful and exhausting, but mostly wonderful.

The best part about traveling? I got some one on one time with my parents.

The trip to North Carolina was spent with my daddy and the trip to Richmond with my mom.

Also, in one weekend I got to spend some quality time with both sets of my grandparents! It is rare for me to see one set of grandparents at all, but to see both in the span of one weekend - inconceivable and purely awesome.  

But back to my one on one time with the padres.
I guess I've transitioned from this stage of thinking of my parents as authoritarians and am starting to view them more as companions? They still provide for and protect me, but there is also this (blessed) freedom during this stage in my life where I get to spread my wings a bit.  After all, I will need to be able to manage myself when I go off to college.  I feel very blessed with the parents God has given me and everything they do for me.  I tell them thank you at certain moments, but all they do and have done is really starting to sink in.
See I have a Choleric temperament and I have issues when people (*cough* parents) tell me when to do something and how I should do it.  Being a senior is hard because you are right at the cross roads.  Almost gone from the house, not wanting to listen, because we have it all figured out right? But - oh those stupid buts - we still have to remember our place and God's rules.  Yes, I'm talking about that whole fourth commandment thing.  So it was really swell that I got to spend 2 weekends just hanging out with my parents.  Sure we had itineraries and places to go, but we also got to have deep discussions and moments in the car rides (which were long) where we just enjoyed each other's company and shared common interests.
And my parents are both so different that it was really an awakening for me to notice how differently I related to my mom as opposed to my dad in such an intimate setting.

Other than travels and sending in my deposit for college (!) nothing much is going on.  Well, actually, I might have just found my roommate....so that is pretty exciting.

Personally, I find the beginning of lent to be rather dull and the end to be much more exciting...

Nothing is really typical around here

I’d like to take you through a typical *cough* day of me being a homeschooler.

7:45 – I wake up.  As in, I open my eyes hoping that this state of being awake is just a bad dream.  But, alas, as I lay there for a minute or two my brain begins to function.  I begin to remember the mountain of schoolwork that I must complete and all the things I must do before my trip this weekend!  Curse you brain for using your organizational powers on me at this exact moment.  Now I feel obliged to do something productive.  Lately, I’ve been noticing my mood when I wake up and the impact it has on my day.  Like this morning I woke up in an optimistic “I’m going to start fresh and have a good day,” mood.  Whattadifference.

8:15 ish – I walk downstairs, eat cereal, CHEERIOS are the way to go imho, and start school.  Mi madre is really into classical music these days; something about appreciating real talent.  Whatever that means.  Haha.

10:02 - Some people in my family are sick so somehow the baby, 2 yrs, is getting away with watching Thomas the Tank Engine.  Why, when I was a kid, I never got to watch TV in the middle of the day.   

10:15 OK so sometimes I write little love notes to my future husband.  Because I’m a romantic and yesterday was Valentine’s Day.  Hey I’m single and I can do what I want.  Don’t judge me!   

11:30 Lunch break! One of the most beautiful things about being homeschooled is how creative you get to be in the kitchen.  Like today I had a scrumptious salad for lunch with some cookies.  I also *had* to do some things like discuss prom forms for my 3 dates with my mom, brother, and 2 friends.  And I’m pretty sure I talked to my sister somewhere in there.

3:30 School day is technically over.  I did some Macbeth, Woman in White, government, religion and bio.  Now it’s time to babysit!

6:30  Whew.  Why am I so tuckered out after only 3 hours of babysitting? I babysit weekly for a 4 yr old and twins for a family who lives right down the street from my house. C, one of the twins, is soo adorable.  There was this one moment when I was holding him and he just randomly gave me the sweetest kiss on the cheek.  What a ham!  Also, it’s kinda fun and challenging to hold the twins in my arms at the same time.  Don’t worry, I’m careful!

7:30 Doing dishes for 10 people when the dishwasher runs out of room for all the soup bowls is loads of funnn.

8:30  I look in my inbox to find a recruitment questionnaire needs to be filled out for some press conference.  Yipee.  My recruiting coach called and I called him back but I got his voice mail.  Wonderful.  Atleast I get to listen to Taylor Swift’s new song “Safe and Sound” while I write this questionnaire out.  I’m also looking into buying Audrey Assad’s album “Heart”.  From the demos on itunes, all her songs sound really beautiful.  I love authentic Christian artists! 

10:36 Forget that government test.  I need me some Downtown Abbey!  Buying season 1 was a mistake….I’m so obsessed with the time period, characters, COSTUMES, and setting.  I highly highly recommend it!  

10:40 GAH there is so much to do before I leave on Friday morning! 

Today is...

Today is the day that I sign the National Letter of Intent, which binds me to play soccer at Belmont Abbey in the fall.  

Talk about a major decision! 

After much praying, talking, and deliberating it has come down to this:

This is the college I believe God has put a special place for in my heart.

This is where I can see myself being totally fulfilled academically, spiritually, and athletically.  

I'm a little nervous because I'm human and we worry about big decisions, but, at the same time, I know worrying ultimately isn't doing me any good.  It'll just add more pressure and who needs that? Besides, I'm pretty confident next year will be great no matter the challenges or rewards! 

Also, I'd like to give a shout-out to College Girl for selecting me as the winner in her 10,000 post drawing! Thanks for the gift card College Girl! 

Happy Wednesday all! 

March For Life 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYnl7dTjhcg

I shouldn't be blogging.  I should be doing school, but this just made me a little upset.  Very upset.  Let's start with a little quote by these pro-choicers.

"Our life, our right."

Oh boy, let's go to the very beginning.  Sexual Reproduction 101, when the sperm (male gamete with incomplete set of DNA) meets the ovum (female gamete with incomplete set of DNA) a new nucleus is formed with a NEW set of DNA.  Let's look at the 4 criteria for life.
1) All life forms contain DNA.
2)  All life forms must be able to extract and convert energy from surroundings to sustain them.
3) All life forms must sense changes in their surroundings and respond to those changes.
4) All life forms reproduce.

An embryo, in fact, meets all these criteria.

That group of cells that is forming in a woman's body that magically pops out and becomes a baby right as a woman goes through labor and gives birth is ACTUALLY a living human being from the very beginning.


How is that so? From when his/her DNA from the father and mother merge, a new nucleus is formed. Yes, this person has his/her own unique set of DNA.  This person uses energy from the mother to sustain his/her life.  This person senses and responds to changes in his/her surroundings.  Ever see an ultra sound? I have! If moving and having a heart beat isn't sensing surroundings and adapting to the womb than what is? And if you really study the process an embryo undergoes during the stages of pregnancy you can obviously see that his/her cells are reproducing asexually and that the embryo is DEVELOPING.

Thus, we can only conclude that this blob of cells is actually a baby.  A person.  With their own unique set of DNA.

To me, it is illogical to presume that getting rid of (killing) a person with a unique set of DNA is NOT murder.  Abortion is wrong because it is murdering an innocent life.
And I understand that it's scary and you feel alone when you are faced with an unwanted pregnancy.  But there IS help! So many resources like project Gabriel are available to women who want to put their child up for adoption or need funds.  Women do regret abortion.  And we have help for that too, such as project Rachel.

Being pro-choice means you have the ability to make good and bad choices.  Being pro-life means that you stand up AGINST the bad choices and fight for the good.  It means you are FOR life; that you honor and respect that all man are created equal.  From the moment of being created we all have a right to live in an equal manner as any other human being until we naturally die. No life, no matter how small or undeveloped, is a bad choice.  Life is a very good choice!  After all, the only people who claim that life is a bad choice are people who have chosen to live!

As Fr. Pilan says, "Death cannot drive out death; only life can drive out death."  Only the voice of the living is going to stand up for the voice of the dead, or those who cannot speak.  Just because they haven't fully formed and been born does not mean their right to live is not equal to ours!

So the answer to "Our life, our right." Is simply: it's not your life at stake here! It's not YOUR right to take away a life! To murder!

"Pro-life that's a lie you don't care if women die"

Hold on!  Being pro-life doesn't equal not caring if woman die.  We do care; hence why our name is FOR life.  Pro=for.  We are for life! We are for all men being created equal! We are for standing up for the innocent so that they are not murdered! We are for helping women so that their souls and bodies don't die!

This video is created by the Washington Times and I thought it was pretty well done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLEbw-cLuGA

hello world

How ya been?
Good to see you my old familiar friend!

Yes, that's a Lady Antebellum song.

This is going to be quick, but I just wanted to update ya'll on what I've been up to the past few weeks.

The week after Christmas was spent with my mom's side of the family.  We had a wonderful time surprising my Great Grandma for her 95th birthday.  It was a mini reunion and I loved being able to see cousins, aunts, uncles, and nana.  One thing these reunions always show me is how different, unique, and awesome my family is.  We had a great time and a great party with lots of love, laughter and cameras!

Last week, I went skiing for the second time in my life and got to conquer a black diamond.  My brother, L, went for the first time.  It was pretty cool to see him go from never having skied before to mastering a black diamond.  That trip was spent with great friends and good memories!

This week, unfortunately, has been more depressing as I have to get back to reality and catch up on some school work.  That and being sick hasn't made this week the best.  *sigh* I miss Christmas already! Don't we all?

TTFN
ta ta for now!

Robyn