What is Independence??

I have been in college now for six months and honestly, I still feel out of place here. I wish I could just go back to high school and be a teenager (because eigh-TEEN still is such...) and not have to be an adult. Is that too much to ask? Being an adult means taking care of myself, being responsible, being independent. But seriously, what is independence? What does the word independent even mean?
Let's see...

in·de·pend·ent
  [in-di-pen-duhnt]

1. not influenced or controlled by others in matters of opinion, conduct, etc.; thinking or acting
for oneself: an independent thinker.

2. not relying on another or others for aid or support.


Out of all the definitions of "independent", these stuck out most to me. I reached a point a couple of years ago when I began to not quite agree with all of the opinions of my parents and mentors, and I realize now that that is when I started on my path to independence. I had relied on those loved ones for years to feed me with ideas, to teach me, to educate me, but I knew it was time to choose for myself what I wanted to believe and how I wanted to act. My parents had been the ones who taught me to read, what to read, when and where to go to church, what to eat, how to dress. Almost every aspect of my life up to a certain point had been influenced by them. But a time came of transitions away from their nurturing shelter to a world of discovery. Though I've kept those values they taught me as a part of my life, I now consciously choose for myself to go to church, read good books, and to dress appropriately, rather than following blindly behind my elders.

Probably the biggest thing I found this past year (or 6 months) was not friendship or fun or adventure, but was my sense of self and thereby, my independence. I also realized what independence truly is. I learned that independence is a continual growth process and is more than just moving out of the house and knowing when to eat and how to tie your own shoes. Sure my parents still pay for my housing and my education, and (hopefully ;) will continue to do so for a couple years, but that doesn't mean I can't take care of my own basic needs and the putting to use of that education my parents are providing.

In coming to college, my plan was to gain an education. Simple enough, find something you won't get bored of for the next 4 years and don't fail! But I'm realizing it's so much more than that. An education isn't found in a diploma or in books, but in learning when to yell at your roommate for making a mess (and more importantly, when not to do so), and in realizing you have less than $20 to last till the end of the month, and in feeling alone without your family, but realizing how to create a new one wherever you go.

I'm making my own definition of independence as I choose to cling to my loved ones and lean on them for support and as I realize that we will always need to lift others up. I may never be completely independent of the aid or opinions of others, but I've got to say, I don't mind. :)

-Amy

Revelations and Resolutions

Wow, I can't believe it's been almost a year since I last blogged.
And I must say, much has transpired since that last post.

8 Months. 8 long memory filled months.

Let's recap...
-I graduated high school.

-I went to the Bahamas

-I went to Hogwarts! (okay, Harry Potter World, but still)

-I tried frog legs and escargot. Alors, je suis très française
maintenant!

-I started my first semester at college.

-I finished my first semester at college.

-I swam with dolphins!

-I saw my first sibling get married (and missed my senior prom because of it, but I'm not bitter...)

-I drank more soda in the last 4 months than in the rest of my life combined.

-I saw snow fall for the first time.

-I said goodbye to many many friends but I made one of the best friends I've ever had or could've dreamed of having.

-And finally, I realized that I am so much more capable than I would ever have thought possible.


Honestly, the year 2013 was one of the most eventful ones to date. There was lots of stress, lots of heartache, lots of road bumps, LOTS of self doubt, but at the same time lots of hope, lots of laughter, lots of eye opening experiences, and lots of fun.

I've grown so much more in 2013 than I could ever have thought possible and I want 2014 to be just as life-changing and molding for me.

I'm resolving now to first, update this thingy more so I can better record all the awesome things that are going to happen to me. Next, I'm going to work my hardest and give my all in whatever I do. I believe that it's not about the numbers - losing 20 pounds, making X amount of money, getting perfect grades - but it's about putting in all your effort so at the end of the day you know that even though you might not have succeeded at everything you did, you tried. That's the first step.

So here's to 2013: the year of moving forward.
Here's to trying; taking the first step, and giving my all.

And here's to 2014: Are you ready to rumble?

-Amy

Green Cheese and Ham: The truth about "Oz"

And the award for most awful movie ever goes to....Oz the great and powerful! Seriously. It was horrid.
Just combine super cheesy writing, a hideous green Mila Kunis (Exhibit A is up above...), and over acting and you've got a disgusting mix that even James Franco and a bunch of special effects can't compensate for.

Honestly, I was reluctant to go see that completely unnecessary prequel in the first place (wasn't the musical Wicked enough explanation?).  But, I had hoped that it would shock me and provide an interesting new perspective on a classic story, or at the least be a nice little love story (what can I say, I'm a sucker for a romance). However, the latter was not possible because of the lack of genuine chemistry between Franco and Michelle Williams (Glinda). As for the former, I did enjoy Oz's background story and the beginning as the action was laid out, but as soon as Mila Kunis turned green and when Michelle Williams kept talking, my interest turned off. It was just weird and too cheesy for my taste from that point on.  

Okay, I'll stop ranting. Just had to get that out there. Whew... Much better.

So if you really want to see this movie, I'm not stopping you. But if you'd like to retain your lunch and not barf in your mouth at the horror that is this Oz the "Great" and Powerful, then I advise against it. :)


-Amy



PS If you didn't catch on yet, I'm a bit of a movie snob. I love film and cinematography and old movies, but because of that I'm quite critical of movies. Deal with it.

I'm a Cougar

Okay so its not what you think. I don't like younger guys (okay well there MIGHT have been this one guy who was a freshman when I was a junior...but that's another story ;) but, I actually just got accepted into my DREAM school BYU Provo!!!!! And their mascot just happens to be a cougar. I am so excited!!!!!!!!!

I'm going to start summer semester and room with my best friend since junior high, Chelsey. I just can't believe that I'm going to be starting this new chapter in my life and that everything is coming together so fantastically. Its kind of crazy/terrifying to think that I'm going to be caring for myself and living away from home. And I guess I'm pretty excited too to meet some smokin' hot college boys this summer.

Chikin Grease

To begin with, my mom and younger two siblings who live at home all went to Disneyland (without me) on Friday and Saturday and left my dad and I to fend for ourselves. And let me just say, we barely survived while my mom was gone.

The reason we were left home was because my dad and I both had work, he at his accounting firm Taxque and I at my new job at Chick-fil-a!! Eat Mor Chikin!

I started about a month ago and I still feel horribly incompetent. So far I have: dropped a dollar out the drive thru window (I haven't worked drive thru since), given someone $2 extra in change (luckily they corrected me), messed up plenty of orders, been scolded by my manager for flirting with a guy while taking his order, spilled hot coffee on myself, and many more delightful things. Okay, okay, so I know it sounds pretty bad over at the big CFA, but I'm actually enjoying myself and it is a great place to work. Also I now say "my pleasure" instead of "your welcome" because that's how we do it at the chicken capital of America.

I'm a big ol' workin girl now. Ain't that nice.

So I had work on Friday night and luckily I survived. Afterwards I went and got Mexican food with my daddy-o because apparently when mom's gone we forget that we need to eat to stay alive (who would have thought?!). And then I went to my friend's house.

When I pulled up to his house I saw my friends all standing in the bed of one of our friend's trucks and they were jumping up and down and dancing and if I didn't know better I'd say they were drunk (no, they weren't) so I just hopped out of the car and joined them! Then some random taxi cab pulls up next to the truck and the driver gets out and proceeds to stand on the side of the street and watch us. Being thoroughly creeped out we asked him if he was waiting for someone and he just said that he was "watching the show". Yeahhhh, we went inside after that.

On Saturday I had plans with my guy friend from the play Macbeth I was just in, but because I stayed up till 3 in the morning, I slept in till 4! So I basically stood him up unintentionally because I had to work again at 5.

Saturday night was my school's 50's themed MORP/Sadie Hawkins dance. I am pretty sick of school dances at this point so I really just didn't want to ask anyone (I just don't like dating, but more about that at a later time) but, being in Student council, I got roped into helping with the coat check at the dance.

So I got home from work and had to go straight to the dance to help out. My family was home by then, so I changed into my 50's attire (poodle skirts are a must :) and as I was leaving, I decided to ask my 13 year old brother if he wanted to help me at the dance...and he said yes! So basically I took my brother to the school dance. Rock on. 

He and I actually ended up having a good time doing coat check and dancing occasionally when we weren't busy, and despite the weird looks from my friends when they saw us swing dancing together I enjoyed myself.

So here are a few morals of this weekend:

-Humans need food to survive

-Taxi Cab drivers are creepy and might kidnap you

-Chikin is good for you

-Never trust me with your money

-I like sleep more than people

-Taking your brother to a dance is actually WORSE than taking your cousin (not that I would know about the latter or anything...)

- Nothing good happens after 2 am

-And finally, if you ever have a choice between work and Disneyland, pick work.



It's been my pleasure to serve you.

Happy Thanks-BlackFriday-giving

Why is it that Thanksgiving is becoming overshadowed by Black Friday?? Can't we just be thankful for all the crap we already have and not go out and buy some more crap?
I for one am very thankful for pie. Today  I had cookies and creme, pecan, peanut butter, and french silk. They were all delicious.

So today, I am thankful for pie.

School is Prison.

So I just finished writing (if you can call it writing) my senior research paper. Wow, it feels SO great to say that. *audible sigh of relief* I cannot feel my legs at this point from sitting for so long, and my lower back has been hurting for the last hour...well actually it went numb a litttle while ago. All in all, I'd say my spine won't be bending normally for a couple of weeks.
     

Please tell me who invented the idea of research so I can hunt them down and  throw my shoe at them.

As for the paper itself it was on prison rehabilitation....woohoo. Fun stuff, right?! And It was pretttty bad. Okay... probably/hopefully in the B range, maybe B minus, so not too horrific.
     

I should probably get some shut eye at this point considering I have school at 7:30... but I think I'll just sleep when I die....



Oh, and sadly Romney lost. Maybe that means that he and I are meant to be running mates for when I run for the presidency. RomneyPeterson 2030........or PetersonRomney 2030? Ooh decisions decisions...


Whelp, I guess it's Time to Barack and Roll for 4 more years then.