Being Unapologetically You

So, I have finished my first year of college. And I have learned many things, both things I should have already known, and things that I knew at one point in my life, but which I should not have forgotten. Academically, I learned a lot, but I think it was the discoveries I made about myself, my relationships with other people, and simply about life in general that have stuck out the most. Looking back on the entire year, there are so many things I wish I would've done differently. There are relationships I wish I would've fostered more, as well as some relationships I should have evaluated more in depth. I am still working on developing my circle of friends at college. It isn't easy. But if there is one thing I have learned, it is that our relationship with solitude is fickle: we either seek it, or we seek to flee from it. I have experienced both in this past year and learned much from both.

Reflecting on the past year, I have put together a small list of things I want to share with new college students, current college students, or anyone experiencing change in their lives.  I hope these things can help you in any endeavor you are undertaking.

In the Depths of Despair

Our lives are painted with the pain and hardships we suffer. Sometimes our lives feel bleak, colorless, and aimless, and we are left to struggle with deprecating thoughts about our errors, our failures, and shortcomings. We even doubt the good that is present in our lives. We look at the world and the culture around us, and we lose hope, not only for the rest of humanity and our own futures, but sometimes we lose hope and faith in God, and we then linger alone in despair.

The Destructive Idea of Labels

Athlete          Thespian          Catholic          Protestant           Male         Female
Introvert        Extrovert            Artist                 Intellectual          Rich          Poor
Gay               Lesbian            Priest             Nun                     Muslim      Disabled

We've all faced it; we have all been labeled. 
How many categories do people place you in?

Why I Choose to Live Out Chastity

I have 1,500 pageviews! My blog has grown more than I imagined it could in such a short amount of time. A lot of work has gone into it, and I have learned so much from this experience. 

One thing I really want to talk about is why I choose to live out chastity and why it is so important. I've come across many people who do not agree with what I believe, and it is difficult. It truly is. The world teaches young people a different definition of what love is, and in order to find real love, we have to trust and believe in God's divine purpose for love. Many people are unaware of what that means. To understand what that means, we have to look at Christ.

The Virtue of Humility

I have a Pinterest account, and on it, I follow a lot of Catholic boards, which often will post religious images, prayers, and quotes. It occupies 95% of my news feed. Ever since Lent began, I have seen one specific prayer multiple times. The Litany of Humility kept popping up in my feed, and I finally decided to look at it and pray it. It was one of the hardest prayers I have ever said. It asks for deliverance from our own fears and desires, to change our focus from ourselves to others and, most importantly, to God.

The Power of Thought

Photo Credit: Dustin Scarpitti

"I can't do that." "I'm no good at it." "I'm going to fail."

These are common phrases I hear people saying from day to day. I must admit, I am guilty of doubting myself sometimes, as well. But how do these thoughts and statements affect us from day to day?

Seeing the World in a New Light

 

The Louisiana Superdome Photo Credit: Darria Dennison

This past weekend I went with the Washburn University Leadership Institute to the Leadership Exchange at the University of New Orleans. Groups of students from both campuses prepared presentations to share with one another. We then, on Martin Luther King Day, participated in a day of service to kick off the week for those in the city and to bring our stay in New Orleans to an end. I was there with five other students and our instructor. The experience impacted a lot of us on the trip, and we all met some truly amazing people on the Exchange.

There were many things I noticed while in New Orleans. Walking through the French Quarter, there were many homeless people who lined the streets. Driving around the city, there were still neighborhoods recovering from the desolation of Hurricane Katrina. Even with all of the obstacles and challenges that people in New Orleans face, there were still young people around the city working to make a positive difference in their communities.