15. Last Blog

Writing this blog once a week has been a great challenge for me. I definitely would not have done this kind of thing if it were not a class assignment. It has been a great to express myself, but also a great way to get to know others. It is a relief to get certain things off your chest. But, it is also feels wonderful when others identify with you and you know that others are having the same problems as you.
I think that the blogging experience has helped me express myself better. It has also helped me to feel more comfortable with my writing. I would not mind doing it all over again if I had too. During the beginning of the semester I thought it was a bad idea. It really is a fun assignment to have students to do, although it can get on your nerves at times.
In the end the blog was not that bad at all. I think it served its purpose of helping me become a better writer and learning new things about others. It lets me know that it is OK to have hard share with others. Also, it can be like therapy sometimes. It has been great blogging about things. God Bless!!!

14. Admiring

This week I am just glad that the end of the semester is near. I am really just ready for Christmas and New Years. I love this time of the year. It feels great to celebrate Christ and to start over with a new year. I cannot wait to spend time with my family, so let’s just get the exams over.
I guess one valuable less I have learned lately is that people are not always who you think they are. Those we look up to, we sometimes think their perfect. Well, that is not the case at all. It can be hard sometimes to realize that those who you admire make same mistakes as others. I guess that is why it is best to admire Christ and live for God.
It seems that life continues to get more complex. I am however glad to learn from certain situations and experiences. I try not to make the mistakes that I see others make, but of coarse I make my own mistake. I guess about all for this week. God Bless!!!

13. Thanksgiving Break

This week was great because I got a chance to spend time with my family. I am not however, looking forward to going back to school. It will be a lot of pressure because finals are coming up. The next couple of weeks will be pretty stressful. I ready to get them started, so I can have winter break to relax.
I had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I got a chance to see those I haven’t seen in awhile and we were able to talk about old times. We all got together to thank God for his mercy and kindness. It reminded me that there is nothing like family. It feels good to come home where you will always be loved and wanted.
I am excited to finish this semester strong. I pray to God that I do well on my finals. There is a lot of studying I will have to do, but I guess I am ready. However, I am just grateful to have the opportunities I have.

12. Drawing Into Emotions

I really hate the fact that we have to come to school Monday and Tuesday of next week. It seems like we should be out for the entire week. I really thought that our last paper would be a little bit easier to write because of the topic, but of course I was wrong. I guess it hard for me to write because I hate to write about personal situations or emotions. Dr. Miller demands know what his students are thinking. Well, I really feel weak when I let someone know what I think or how I think.
My emotions and feelings about family, faith, morals, and other personal things are mines. It feels like I am letting someone read my personal journal or something. Many may not feel the same way, but it’s the one problem I have. I guess it is because it takes me along time to express my feelings to those I love. Hopefully, I can become more comfortable in expressing my true feelings and not expecting everyone to know how I feel.
Every time I get a paper back from Dr. Miller and Ms. Furby there is always a comment telling to express myself more or use more personal detail. Well, I hope that in this last paper I capture that and much more. This one of the great steps I must take in order to take my writing to the next level. God has continued to bless me and I should be will to share my emotions with others.

11. Thoughts

This week I had test in four classes. I spent most of my time preparing for those tests by studying. Hopefully, I did well on those tests and I have a lot of god news next week when I get back to school. Next, week I will be working on my third and final paper for English class. Even though this paper maybe a little difficult, I am just glad that it is the last one.
I think this week I have just been living life. God has continued to bless me and everything is going pretty good. I know that MC is the place where I want to finish my education and I am planning to continue to grow here. I constantly plan for my future in my head and how things are going be for me down the road. So, far it has work in my favor. Not everything has gone exactly how I planned, but still I made it to college and accomplished great academic successes.
I think planning ahead does not help your life to be perfect. It does however give you goals and drive to accomplish those goals. Thinking about the future is something important for a college student to do. I think our English paper on our own personal mission statement will help some to achieve this.

10. God's Blessings

This week I finished my paper for English class. It was much more difficult than the last paper. I have a feeling that the next paper will be even more difficult. I have a lot of preparation to do for next week. It seems as if I have a test coming up in every class except English class. It is promised to be a long week next week.
I think God truly showed me and the rest of the world how amazing he is this week. He shows us everyday, but he reminded some of us who forgot. I had been having problems with my student account at school and I had been praying to God for help. Well, God always comes through. Earlier this week there was an error found in my account and I found out that I had actually over paid the school. God also showed the world that what they thought could not be done, could be done. When Obama was elected President, it proved that America is more diverse than many thought.
I think that America has along way to go, but I think we are off to a great start. I have witnessed that everyone may not agree on this new direction, but we should all work for the common good of America. If we are proud of the President, we should a least be proud of the history that was made Tuesday night. It has been a great week for me and I am proud to say that I witnessed this history making event. God Bless America!!!

9. Maintaining

This week I did spent much of my time revising my paper for English class. I also had to do a paper for Human Biology. This week seemed to be long for some reason. Then, it really does not help that I got a cold this weekend. I had been waiting for the weekend to come and now I have a sore throat and stuffy nose.
I really do not have much to talk about this week. Everything has been going as it usually does. I am however very excited about Election Day approaching. I hope that everyone goes out and votes. I hate the fact that I am only seventeen because this is a very big election year. It would nice to be apart of the history that is about to be made.
I guess that I am just dealing with life. I am just happy that God has blessed me to be where I am and I am trying to make each day count. I am definitely glad that my cold is attempting to go away. It feels great to be living and sharing life with those I love.

8. Presidental Elections and Financial Crisis

This week has been relaxing. I have not had much work and no test (Thank God). I have just been getting my thoughts together for my English paper. I looked at my mid-term grades, and I am not doing badly at all. I am not where I want to be yet, but with hard work it possible to get there.
My family has been having financial difficulties lately. It’s kind of odd because gas prices are going down, but it is getting even harder to live a comfortable life. This sometimes makes me wonder about the fairness of America. I have been watching the national news lately and listening to the Presidential candidates. The financial crisis is not only affecting those in the corporate world but the middle class world. I would like a President that puts those who work hard mopping floors or waiting tables before those who sit behind a desk and sign checks. They say America offers equal opportunity, but I would definitely disagree. When the wealth help the wealth, who will help those in need?
I think that the nation is slowly crumbling, as is the rest of the world. People forget what our country is about. Everyone is looking out for themselves, when this country was built on the concept of looking out for each other. We should be proud to serve one another, but everyone wants to be on top.

7. Church Problems

This week I found myself up all night studying for my tests. I was trying very hard to get ready for my math test and I have been preparing for a while. I still have the feeling that I did not do as well as I want. Any improvement will serve me well in that class. I am nervous as well as excited about mid-terms because I want see where I am at this point and what I must improve in.
I had a very uncomfortable experience at church today. After Sunday school, my cousin and I were talking and I made a joke. The joke was about something that happened in church, but it was not about anyone in the church. A little girl was standing behind me and joined in on the joke. It was funny and harmless, but somehow it was told to someone else and they took personal offense to it. They later confronted me about the joke and I explain to them it was harmless. Later I went to my cousin (the one I first told the joke to) and I was telling him about the person who had taken offense to the joke. In the middle of our conversation another member buds in and tried to say that I was talking about the person that was offended. Then, the drama started.
Personally, I think a joke is just a joke. Others may feel different about it. I will say this though, when someone is not talking to you do not interrupt their conversation with another person. Also, if you feel someone is talking about someone else then pull them aside and get a clear understanding of the situation. I think that a lot of times in churches people bring the wrong attitude and that makes it hard to find a church that you enjoy. I honestly feel that I have a great preacher at my church, but the people that attend my church are messy and nosey.
Church membership is supposed to be about family, coming together, and faith. I feel that sometimes my church does not fulfill this for me. I think people get so tangled up in what they want that they forget church is even about God. Then, they wonder why it so hard to get non-Christians to join the church, probably because there is as much chaos in the church as on the streets. I pray that God will help me find my place in this church or lead me to a church that has they qualities that I believe in.

6. Enjoying Life

This week I spent my time getting ready for my tests I have after fall break. I have three tests next week, which is crazy considering I have only five classes. I thought it would be best to start studying early. This way I have more time and I will not get the material confused.
My best friend and I were not talking to each other very much. It is hard because we attend different schools this year and we are so use to being around each other all the time. It was exciting this weekend when we finally got the chance to hang out. We went to the fair and had a blast. It was fun to talk about old times and enjoy each others company.
I really did not have much to say this week on my blog. I am however glad that everything in my life is on a steady track. I think that life is about working hard, but not getting lost in that work. You must take time out to enjoy life. I think sometimes in life we get lost in working hard and sometimes we enjoy too much. It is important to find the balance between the two, and I am trying to do so.

5. School vs. Home

My week at school was great. I studied a lot this week and wrote two papers. I wrote a paper on the Tuskegee Project for my Human Biology class, and I continued writing my paper for English class. There was much to keep me busy this week, but I am getting use to that. I finally started to get the hang of things in Math class (Thank God). My classes are going good and so is my social life at school.
But, there is always a problem somewhere. When I went home this weekend my visit was not so pleasant. Everything was crazy and it seemed like any complications I dodged at school came back to haunt me at home. My problems transferred from one place to the other. It would be too easy to have a good week at school and a good weekend at home. The older I get, the tougher life gets.
I feel like home should be the one place I can relax and be stress free. That is what someone’s home is to them, the one place where they feel comfortable and they know they belong. I felt uncomfortable and out of place. You would think that people would miss you more when you are gone, but maybe not. Everything cannot be perfect, because there is no such thing as perfection. Once you climb one mountain, then you are often to the next.

4. Realizing

This week began well, even though I took two tests on Monday. I was much more relaxed about taking these tests than I was about previous test. My roommate and I are getting closer. It was kind of weird in the beginning, but weeks have gone by and we understand each other more. It feels great to be able to have a connection with my roommate.
I am continuing to figure out how hard college life really is. It really helps to be able to write down my thoughts and emotions. I am finding out things about myself and understanding myself better than before. It is very crucial that I become a better writer considering I am a Pre-law major. English class is helping me to expand my thought process and write better.
Getting my tests grades back at the end of this weekend, I realized I am not living up to my expectations. I have decided to change my purpose for coming to college. Originally, my reason for coming to college was to get a degree and get a good job. Now, my reason is to learn. That may sound weird, but I realized I must learn to be a better person and learn to understand different perspectives. My grades are important, but it is more important that I take something from each lesson.

3. Growing

I guess I have had a pretty good week this week. I have been taking a lot of test this week though. But, next week I will have even more test and I have to do my paper for English class. I am however excited to be able to write about my thoughts on what I think a “Christian education” is about. It is going to be a challenge trying to explain my concept. Hopefully, I am up for that challenge. I am also ready to have my first exams in certain classes, because you do not really have an idea of how the class will be until you take the first exam.
I think I am getting use to everything at MC. I have grown a lot since I have been here. I did not realize that until I went home this weekend. I am trying to be more responsible and get more organized. I must admit, I almost forgot to write my blog entry for this week, as you can tell. My faith is continuously being tested. But, I must continue to do the right thing and live according to what God wants.
Like earlier this week, one of my friends was having a bad day and I accidently stepped on her toe. It was a total mistake and I apologize, but she got mad. She started to say some outrageous things, and could have been just as ugly. However, I decided not to be negative, so I walked away and ignored the situation. I think that shows a huge growth in me, considering that I use to have a very short temper. I am attempting to correct my flaws. It is difficult, but I know it will be worth it.

2. Bad Week

This week has been a little difficult for me. It has been pretty tough and for some reason I do not know what the problem is. Maybe it is the fact that I still have to get use to being on my own. Having to do everything for yourself means having more worries.
The worse thing that happen to me this week was getting a horrible grade on my first quiz in one of my classes. The information was not very difficult to grasp. For some reason, I just had a bad day and made simple mistakes on the quiz. My mother tells me I over stress a lot. Maybe she is right.
I have to learn to relax and take it easy. Its hard though because I feel that on the next quiz, I cannot make any mistakes. I was feeling really down about it, but then I had a talk with my mother. Her words of wisdom and encouragement keep me sane at times. Now, I know I just have to work harder and that this quiz grade will not determine how well I do on the others. Staying motivated has gotten me this far and hopefully it will take me farther.

1. First Two Weeks

My first two weeks at Mississippi College have been exciting, but also has been a learning experience. It is a challenge to get use to a new environment. It is amazing how fast you have to grow up and make decisions of your own once you go to college. So far, I have already developed intellectually, spiritually, socially, and emotionally.
I think my English 101 class has been the center of my intellectual growth. I have never seen the methods Dr. Miller uses to teach. He encourages you to think outside the box and you are able to see different point of views. He also challenged me, by assigning this blog page. I must admit this is not something I would typically do.
Spiritually, I have grown because I have, what I believe is a closer relationship with God. Coming here has encouraged me to read my Bible more and focus on pleasing God. Taking Bible 110 and going to Chapel gives me great inspiration.
Socially, I think most freshmen have grown socially these past weeks. Coming to a new school and not knowing many people, forces you to mingle. Making new friends has been important because I am away from my family for long periods of time. Friends must substitute for family.
I know I have strengthen emotionally. Being away from my comfort zone and facing challenges makes me emotional. Dealing with those emotions and getting through them, that strengthens me.
I think that there is still a lot of growth to come. I am ready to receive all that MC has to offer me, because I want to continue to better myself.