Perspective

It's all about how you choose to look at life.

My absolute pet peeves include, but are not limited to:
-Food play by plays on Twitter
-Why can no one walk in a freaking hallway?? This is America, walk on the right. Then we won't have this awkward moment where I can't get by you. I just want to go to class without walking into your chest accidentally. Is that too much to ask?
-Can we decide as a population proper protocol for when you run across someone you barely knew a long time ago? Like I had a class with them, fall quarter of last year...should I smile and wave every time I see them? Is that creepy and over eager? Sometimes I swear I'm the only one who over analyzes my actions this much.
-Last, but not least, your time is NOT more important than mine. Do not act like I have all day to wait for you. Do not act like I don't have a billion things to do. I know I will probably waste much of that time when I get home, but the difference is that I will be wasting MY OWN time. I try to be considerate of other people's time and I know that sometimes I fail. Life happens, but when someone does me a freaking favor, I am going to try and do my best to make it as little of an imposition as possible...not take advantage of their charitableness.

It's all about how you choose to look at life. I tend to look at it in a way where I do not want to ruin anyone else's day. I'm easily pressured by drivers behind me in traffic and I worry about how the choices I make affect others. This is very different than other people I know. They are equally as good of people, if not significantly better, but they believe they have this right to pull out in traffic and drive slow. It's not that they are inconsiderate or rude, they just somehow think they have an innate right to pull out in front of that other car. I don't understand how this works.

Or another example, my older brother used to frequently think his time was more important than that of the 4 other people in our family. I swear, at least 1 night a week, he would wait until mom called us for dinner and then go to the bathroom. Every time. Like why? You want us to wait for you, starving, in front of hot food?? Is this some kind of power trip? Does it give you joy to manipulate us?? Like what type of person does this?

But it's all about how you look at yourself in relation to the world. I guess I don't think I'm all that important, but I'm ok with that. Other people's time will always be more important than mine to me. Recently, I have gained so more perspective and I'm starting to get more of a balance so that people can't just walk all over me, but still...It's so weird to me when I realize these simple things I should have realized before, but didn't.

I ain't ever gonna grow up...

When I was a kid, at my birthday parties, my parents would put on this rather awful puppet show in which they sang this song "I don't ever want to grow...no!" And it continued from there. ( Don't ask me why...I was 5, it seemed cool.) Well anyways, I was thinking about it and about how I am almost grown up. I'll be 18 in a little over 2 months. I'll be moving out next year, and I'm becoming more responsible for my own life. It's pretty crazy and I don't feel quite ready yet honestly.

Growing up is a strange phenomenon and it kills me to think that every decision I have made to this point has affected who I am today. The idea that every little decision I make actually has an impact on the general direction and focus of my life is incredible...and incredibly stressful. I don't know how people who don't believe in a higher power can do it. Knowing that God has my back and is watching over me is the only thing that keeps me sane enough to function.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you joy and a future." is my mantra these days. I'm just glad as I make decisions he is there to guide me and help me out.

I love you all and will miss you dearly when I leave :)

Wheaton

Wheaton College was pretty fantastic. I really hope I get in and they offer me lots of aid so I can go there. The campus was beautiful, all brick. Not quite as pretty as UChicago, but still great. It's fairly good sized, I didn't get to meet any students, but they look relatively normal. Downtown Wheaton is pretty legit and the proximity to Chicago is great. I don't want to count my eggs before they hatch, but I'd absolutely love to go there.

Now I'm at the airport getting ready to head back home to all of you and I'm pretty excited to get home. I just paid like $5 for wi-fi because I realized I had to email my teacher today. Airports that don't offer free wi-fi are stupid :/ But anyways, I decided to blog to make it worth my while. After this my blogs will return to their normal more intellectual selves, sorry about making this my trip log for a few days. Don't stop reading them though!!! I swear, I'll go back to being witty.

I'm so ridiculously excited to get home. And sleep. I have a ridiculous amount to get done this week...ohhhh dear.

Grace College...and a little extra

Well, I'm BACK! On this blog, not in Washington. Currently I am residing in the basement of a lovely house about 20 miles out of Chicago. I have spent the last few days in Indiana visiting Grace College and Luke Karangelen and his lovely, lovely friends. I last wrote on Thursday night...here's the rundown of what has occurred since you last read:

Friday -  Took the train from Chicago to South Bend before I got picked up by some Grace College representatives. The train was sketch, but the reps were nice! There was also a time change on this little train ride, about 10 minutes before I reached my destination, so that was confusing. I spent some time with Luke and his friends playing Rock Band in the girls lobby before I had to go to dinner. Luckily, Cheyenne and Kayla were my hosts and had cleaned their room fantastically for me. Dinner was good, then I skipped out on the "panel" for the competitors and went back and hung out with Luke, Aaron, and Kari. They are pretty freaking hilarious so it was fun. Then I stayed up until 2 AM with Kayla and Cheyenne in the room before I decided I needed to crash.

Saturday - Today was the competition, so I had to be at the room at like 9:15 to write my essay. But I really wanted to go get coffee first, so I did and then I may have been like 2 minutes late to the essay room, but oh well, they hadn't started yet. The essay was about how much Christians should be involved in society. Is it better to isolate ourselves, or should we just jump right in. I think I did fairly well. I wrote a lot. Then I hung out in the competitors room playing Apples to Apples until my interview which I think went well. We'll see. (Decisions are mailed out Friday!) Saturday I continued spending the day with Luke and Aaron and Kari and a lot of other people who were fun and nice. I love them all already. Then I stayed in the boys lobby until like 12 before heading back and crashing fairly soon after that.

Sunday was church and driving up to Chicago (another time change) with Cheyenne, Kayla, Hannah, and Leslie. We hung out at the Pier and walked around and met a homeless guy with a saxophone. It was fun. (See pictures on Facebook).

Everyone at Grace was so nice. Honestly, I came on this trip with UChicago being my top choice and Grace being kind of far down on the list, but I really think  I could have a lot of fun at Grace and I'm going to have to consider it. But if I go to Grace I think I'm going to switch to an accounting major, because Luke already has all the books for it!!! I don't know...all I can do now is wait and pray.

Wheaton in the morning! I'm pretty excited because I think it might be the perfect middle ground between Uchicago and Grace. Which would kind of be perfect! Anyways, good night.

Sometimes, you have to go with your gut.

Hi all,

I'm doing great if you were wondering. It was a beautiful day here in Indiana. This morning I awoke early to take the train down from Chicago to Grace College. Both of these are great schools and could prospectively be great places to attend. But neither of them have been like, "Wow, I love this place...I belong here." Maybe I won't feel it at any school I visit. Just gotta trust that God is going to let me know where he wants me. That's all for tonight I think, I'll let you go how the morning goes. I'm actually not nervous at all. I feel bad that I'm not nervous somehow.

I'm probably going to just pass out now....

University of Chicago

This campus is gorgeous. That's seriously all there is to say. The dorm I'm staying in is a historical landmark and this campus connects the right amount of modern and antique. For example, today I sat in on an Introduction to Humanities class and they had speakers, a electronically controlled projector screen and a projector, but they still had blackboards at the end of the room. No whiteboards...but something about the sound of someone writing on a chalkboard makes me utterly content. The class was incredible, running on three hours of sleep I could barely grasp what he was talking about, but it was great. There were 15 students in the class, all sitting around a big table actually having a discussion. Apparently that's how many of the classes are here at UChicago.

Everywhere I walk I'm struck by how pretty it is here, pictures don't do it justice. It was beautiful today, sunny and about 45 degrees. The people here seem really nice too. The dorm I'm staying in is kind of the "nerdy" dorm, but they are all incredibly nice. The girl who I am staying with is like the nicest person ever so that's pretty chill. I got to meet a guy who is involved in and told me about the campus Christian clubs and he seemed really chill. When I first got here, I swear there were just hot hipster guys everywhere, but as the day wore on they seemed to disappear. I really like this school. I don't know if I can imagine myself in this particular dorm, but I can see myself at this particular school.

I went to an open mic night and it was super great too. So much talent at this school. I don't know if this is for sure where God is calling me, but I know I could grow a lot here. Off to Indiana tomorrow, let's keep that adventure going.

Valentine's Day and my exciting weekend...

Happy Valentine's Day ya'll! I will not be wishing anybody a Happy Single's Awareness Day, because that is the most retarded thing ever. I don't know about you guys, but I'm aware I'm single every day! And it doesn't need an "awareness" day. It's not a disease, it's not like cancer or AIDS. 


Don't reject singleness. I embrace every single moment I have of singleness. Think about your lifespan, think about how much of that the average person spends married....


This time of being single is such a short, short time...so why rush it? Just chill out and have some fun. 


It's the only time I'll ever spend just finding out who I am. Until you are able to know and love yourself, how can anyone else truly know and love you? God's still working on me for sure and I'm happy to just go with the flow on this whole dating thing.


On a new note, tomorrow night I will be heading to Seatac Airport to board a plane to Chicago!! I will be spending Thursday evening at the University of Chicago, before heading down to Indiana to Grace College for the Presidential Scholarship competition on Friday. I stay Friday and Saturday night at Grace with my brother and his friends, then head back up to Chicago Sunday afternoon. Monday I plan to tour Wheaton before heading home. All in all, it's going to be a crazy/fun/informational/stressful weekend.


I will definitely be posting continuous updates on Facebook, I plan to blog nightly and I may even upload some videos, if you are all nice. So keep checking back!!


Well I need to get back to packing, love you guys. 

Stuff Girls Say

I haven't done a rant since my dating post (I know that wasn't that long ago, but roll with it). I'd just like to say....Girls, shut your mouths. 

I do not want to hear you say things like "All guys are jerks" or "Where are all the nice guys?" Yes, many a guy will just as soon break your heart as eat a pie, but you absolutely cannot make generalizations about the male population as a whole. If you're going to get pissed when guys say, "Make me a sandwich" or objectify women, you have to 

1. Stop making generalizations.

2. Stop putting yourself in a place to be objectified. 

I have run across my own fair share of unsavory fellows. They aren't worth my time and they aren't worth the time you spend complaining about them. They can only get away with being jerks because girls respond to them and give them what they want anyways.

As for being objectified, stop complaining or start covering up. Those are your options. You can't put yourself out there to be looked at and then get mad when they look. Do the responsible thing and wear clothes that fit and cover your junk.

That's all I have for tonight.

Love you guys.

Dickens' Great Expectations

So, I finished Great Expectations. A little hurriedly, but I finished nonetheless. I first must say that I love Charles Dickens. The first part of the book made me feel like "WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?!," but in the end he connected every little detail and I rather liked it. This book reminds me that what you think is happening, or what you think others are feeling, is probably not right, even if the evidence supports it.

Like it seemed obvious that Miss Havisham was Pip's benefactor, when that couldn't be farther from the truth. Pip thought that Miss Havisham had predestined him for Estella (I never really thought that, did anybody else?), when she really just wanted to break his simple little heart. I really would never have guessed who his benefactor was (I won't spoil it for ya'll, go read it).

It makes me sad a little in the end that he doesn't end up with Biddy, but I think it suits the story. It also serves as a good lesson. Don't let the good things (and people) in life pass you by because you think something (or someone) else is better. You are often blinded as to the true nature of that "better" thing (or person). It's important when you find a friend who will stand by you, to stand by them, even when your circumstances change.

I was disappointed that Pip never got to settle down and start a family, but I think that the ending was extremely suitable. It reminds me that while life doesn't always turn out perfectly...but if you can learn lessons along the way and be content with who you become, it's worth it.

Plus, I think it's worthy to note that all Pip's friends that stuck by him, were the one's who didn't come from money (Joe, Biddy, Herbert etc.) I think Dickens was trying to make a point there. Your real friends love you for you, and are the only ones who will stick by you when it counts.

Dating??

People (or at least teenagers) don't date anymore. Let me define "date" for you since nobody seems to understand the concept.  By date, I'm not talking about a relationship. I'm talking about "You seem pretty cool. Let's go to coffee so I can get to know you." Nowadays with texting and Facebook stalking, people go straight from friends to boyfriend/girlfriend without that middle part.

I think it is because it has gotten to a point where dating has the connotation of a relationship. It used to just be a thing people who might possibly like each other did, and now it is associated with a deep seated desire of the other person. Plus it so rarely happens that it's a super big deal. I wish it could actually be commonplace. Then it wouldn't be so hard, and after going on a date, it wouldn't be a big deal to just decide to be friends. Because that is the POINT! To know what the other person is like and make that decision.

Most of the guys I know still ask girls out like Jr. Highers. They text them 24/7, then say something cryptic like "let's hang out." Do you want to hang out or do you want to go on a date? Be clear. Honestly, if a guy who I was sort of acquaintance buddies with came up to me and said "I think I might be attracted to you, Let's go get coffee/dinner/lunch/anything," I will probably say yes. Unless I absolutely can say there is no chance in heck that I could ever be attracted to him, or there is some danger in it, or it would upset one of my friends for some reason, I admire the courage it took to ask me, enough to at least give the poor guy a fair shot.

It's like high school is the middle ground of dating...we should be more mature in relationships than Jr. Highers, but we haven't quite reached an adult level. Valerie and I were talking about this very subject on Wednesday and it's irritating. I want to go back to those '90's sitcoms like Boy Meets World where Shaun could just ask a girl to Chubby's without that becoming a marriage proposal. I guess I'm defining "date" differently than a majority of my peers and that makes me sad.

Now, people could say "Sarah, why don't you make this change and ask people on dates?" Because I am a wimp. I don't have the kind of courage it would take to put myself out there. That's why I have a deep respect for a guy who can ask a girl on a date. Even if it's over text. Obviously, there's bonus points for having the balls to do it in person, but honestly, if you feel it...just do it.

It shouldn't be that big of a deal.

Classical Literature 101

For those of you who don't know, I am in the midst of trying to read some good old classical literature (For my complete reading list, click "Books To Read" in the header). So far I have waded my way through One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Great Gatsby, and am in the middle of Great Expectations.

So far I have realized one thing...classic literature makes absolutely no sense. All three of these "great" novels are all over the place. I can follow the stories. There's a bit of a language barrier at first, but once I get into the gist of it, I can follow along without a problem. And I understand that they are meant to symbolize other things, but it all seems very random and chaotic. 

I really like Cuckoo's Nest though and the Great Gatsby was sort of awful to me. I'm excited to be plugging away because reading old books makes me feel smart and works my brain in a way that normal books just don't. Plus I love the feel of a musty old book from the 80's or earlier. It's completely fantastic. Even when I think the book is stupid because it has weird subplots or something, it is still stimulating me intellectually for whatever reason. 

Today I bought a super old copy of Crime & Punishment, and mildly less old copies of Siddhartha and The Picture of Dorian Gray at Half Price Books with Val (I've never been there before and I loved it!). Plus she let me borrow a bunch of books, so I am excited to start reading!! If I have any fully formed thoughts about these things, I may or may not share depending on how good I feel.

If you're wondering, I'm having a super awesome week. I just feel good and even though I have a ton to do and this month is going to be crazy, I'm excited. I'm also super psyched about how many people are reading this  blog because I mostly just was writing it for me. I feel a little pressure to be smart or something now because you all responded to my last blog, but hey I'm not doing this for you, I'm doing it so I can not do my homework. 

Also, I'm super stoked because I will be heading to Chicago/Indiana in two weeks from tomorrow and it's my first solo trip anywhere ever! And I will be getting to check out my top 2 schools (UChicago and Wheaton), so I'm just all around going nuts getting ready for this trip. And I have decided that I really love microeconomics, which is great since economics is my major. (Don't ask me why, everyone does, I don't know). 

I'm rambling. I'm aware. Good night, my dears.