Transitions Update- Family

This is my final update as the semester comes to a close, so I thought it appropriate to talk about who has helped me make it through the semester. My family. I love how my family never ceases to come through for me. All of those times that I forgot to bring my paper and my mom takes the time to find and email it to me last minute. All of those times that I forget something at home and my dad takes the time out of his day to bring it to me. And my sister, who is nice enough to drive me everywhere. My younger siblings who always make my day better.

I have come to appreciate the time I get to spend with them more. In high school, homeschooling, I saw them every minute of every hour of every day. Now, i'm lucky to see them in the mornings for a little bit, if they are awake, and when I come home for dinner. I am very greatful for a family that loves and cares for me, is always there for me, always eager to help me succeed, and keeps me set straight no matter what I'm going through.

 

This girl, UGH! what would I do without her! I think I can solidly argue that I have the best older sister in the world. She's always there for me, no matter what I need. Always ready to hear about my little "Freshman problems" and help me fix them.  

My awesome parents! Ever-ready to get me out of any scrape that I can't get out of myself. Always loving me and worrying about me.

 My little sister who helps keep me crazy.

 

 

Baby Brother #1, who should seriously be the next Andrea Boccelli, and if not, then Frank Sinatra will do just fine.

 And Baby Brother #2 who's always there to give me hugs and kisses when I'm feeling down. I couldn't decide which picture was cuter, so I'll just let you decide.

  Love these people so much! These guys are my support group, my team. They're always there for me, and I am so so SO grateful for them every day.

 

 

Questions, nice comments, and ideas are great. The whole idea of this blog is to help me better my writing. Any positive feedback is welcome.

Update on my Transition into College

Yesterday, I was walking across campus thinking about how well and how smoothly  my transition has gone from high school to college. For me coming to college hasn't felt like a huge deal. This is thanks to my older sister, who we call "the family guineapig." Since she is the oldest, she always has to experience the huge life milestones before anyone else in the family. She was the first to homeschool through high school and graduate, first to get her driver's license, and then first to go to college. With all these things, I have always had the chance to get used to the idea of things before having to experience them for myself. The same was true for college. She had already started here at TLU last fall, before my senior year, so I kind of knew what to expect. Now, here I am.

 

Thinking about where I probably was at this exact moment last year. I woul probably be sitting in my bed, in my pajamas (don't say "lucky homeschoolers" just yet!), reading my physics chapter trying to make heads or tails of it alone, or writing one of the two 3 page essays I had due every week, plus written homework responses and all of the reading I had to do. Just the usual routine I have had over the past 12 years of my education. Now, here I am going from class to class like it's no big deal.

 

The routine has become fused in my mind already, and like I said earlier, I don't find it wierd anymore. My study habits are improving and declining at the same time. My procrastination levels are still about the same, but I am more focused since I have bigger goals now that I have my mind set on college. My junior year, I loathed the idea of college. I thought, "what is the use of spending tons of money for classes I don't even care about. I want to teach music!" Now, I see it as improving myself to help me improve my future students and the extra classes help make me a well-rounded person academically (TLU has me sold over the "liberal arts education" idea). The better I become, the better I can help them become. This "bigger picture" focus, helps to keep me set to my work.

 

However, now I don't have my mom here to make sure I'm working on my essays instead of on facebook. Responsibility is about the same, although in different ways. In high school, I was responsible for both teaching myself the material, and making sure that I learned it well. This is a HUGE load for any person of any age, and has really matured me. Now, in college, I just have to take notes, and make sure I'm learning enough to pass the tests and (in the case of music classes) make sure I am prepared for my career. In this way, responsibility has even decreased a little. In other life areas, however, I have had more responsibility placed on me. I don't have my mom to make sure I'm where I need to be on time, I am responsible for managing my own money, and as I mentioned earlier am solely responsible for getting my work done.

Questions, nice comments, and ideas are great. The whole idea of this blog is to help me better my writing. Any positive feedback is welcome.

Take Time for the Small Things

Over the past couple of weeks I have seen so many students and teachers so strongly affected by the death of Dr. Hettinger. I did not know her personally, but my sister was in one of her classes and always spoke kindly of her and was also very sad to hear of her passing. I cannot know how they must feel for having lost, from what I hear, such a wonderful, kind person. I can, however, relate in a way to how they come to the realization that they must take a step back and make time for the small things. This past spring break, my older sister got in a terrible car accident. She and my six-year-old sister had been shopping and where on their way home. A man, who had been visiting from Corpus Christi, had been looking at his GPS, swerved out of his lane and rammed into the driver's side of my sister's car.  The car was totaled and completely crushed in on my sister's side, but thank God, neither of them had a single scratch on them! By looking at the car, you would never see how they made it out alive and virtually unharmed when you think of what might have been. My mom and I had been away from home when this happened, and came home finding them alive and well. They told us what happened and the thoughts rushed over me that if it had not been for the grace of God, I would not have two sisters today. I'm literally crying right now just remembering it. This was definitely a shock for my whole family. The next day, not just us, but all of my aunts, uncles and cousins living nearby decided to take the day and just be together. We went to the park and just hung out the whole day, because we had been awakened to the reality that life is just too short to forget about the small things. We got ice cream, we rode the train and got on the paddle boats and just enjoyed being together, because we knew that now. I have never looked at my family the same way ever again. Although I do forget sometimes and yell at my brother, or get angry at my sister sometimes, I always try and just cherish the short time I have here on earth with them. I blow bubbles for my baby cousin, I read a bedtime story and snuggle with my little sister, my brother and I blast our favorite music on my mp3 player (low-tech, I know : P), I paint with my older sister, say I love you to everyone before bed, and always give hugs because I remember that fact. Life is to short to not take the time for the small things.



Questions, nice comments, and ideas are great. The whole idea of this blog is to help me better my writing. Any positive feedback is welcome.