It's Amazing

It's amazing how God works.

I did not initially get the position as Resident Assistant until the weekend before school started. I was devastated. I wanted the position for many different reasons. One, it looks good on resumes- an added bonus. Two, my family was struggling financially and I wanted nothing more than to do my part and pull my weight in whatever way I could. Three, I wanted to be someone that freshman girls could go to if they needed anything; someone they could trust and who would give them encouragement through their difficult transition.

I did not see this at the time, but looking back now I am able to see that not getting the RA position right off the bat was a blessing in disguise. It tested my faith and trust that God must have something better for me. Well, He definitely did. Being an RA is the hardest job I have ever had. No one properly prepares you for the literal 24/7- time commitment. But, I can't complain because I am so thankful and blessed to have this position. It's amazing how God works.

I am currently an RA in Brachman Hall and am loving every minute. I did not anticipate liking my residents and staff as much as I do, but I have made friends that I hope to keep for a lifetime.

The City That Never Sleeps-NYC

Thanksgiving break was exciting and fast paced. Unfortunately it was everything but relaxing.

November 22-27^th my friend Brittany and I went to New York City to celebrate Thanksgiving. We landed late Tuesday night and stayed with her family for the remainder of the trip in a small town, outside of the city, named Merrick. Our New York adventures did not begin until Wednesday morning at 6:30a.m. Unfortunately 6:30 became the standard time we woke up for the remainder of the trip. The train left at 7:00 every morning so we were able to be in the city by 8a.m.

Our first day in the city we arrived at 8a.m. We spent most of our time walking around and familiarizing ourselves with the new and fast paced environment. We also spent time with Brittany’s older cousin who gave us a “private tour” and showed us around the city. He showed us Time Square, Radio City and so much more. 

Thanksgiving was on Thursday so we got up early again and went to the Macy’s Day Parade. It was an experience of a lifetime. The moment Santa reached the end of the parade, the Christmas season officially began. We noticed the streets were filled with Christmas music as we rushed to make the train back to Merrick. That night we shared Thanksgiving with all of her aunts, uncles and cousins, watched football and shared stories.

The next day was Black Friday. The amount of people on the streets rushing into stores to be the first to get the best deals was insane! That day we went sight seeing: Staten Island Ferry, Statue of Liberty, the Mo Ma, Top of the Rock, saw Chicago on Broadway and of course a little bit of shopping

Having the opportunity to be in New York for Thanksgiving was a once in a lifetime experience and I am blessed for every New York minute I was able to experience during break.

The Stresses of School

College can be such a stressful time in life. One of my residents called me today in tears because she is so stressed about her courses. Currently she is a neuroscience major and says she is struggling to maintain her grades. She is taking 3 of her major courses as a freshman and is having a hard time managing and adjusting to her first year! I have tried to encourage her that it is still only the first semester of her college career.

As a Resident Assistant my goal is to remind her to take it one step at a time- one day at a time- because according to Matthew 6:26, "therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." It is good to set goals, but putting too much pressure on ourselves can sometimes cause us to perform worse in regards to academics.

As one of her peers, I too find myself worrying too much about tomorrow. Matthew 6:26 is a great reminder to be in the present, at peace and content with my life as it is now.

High Schools- State Championship Football Game

On November 4, my sorority Kappa Kappa Gamma had a formal with the fraternity Phi Delta Theta. Instead of going to the formal I chose to go to the Texas private high school state championship football game between All Saints Episcopal Schools and Oakridge School.

The game was Saturday at 7:30p.m. at Pennington Field. All Saints is the school where I am a YoungLife leader so it was great getting to go and support the team.

The group of girls I mentor is growing larger in number as the year progresses. Going to this game was a great way for me to get to know the girls better. We were able to talk and get to know each other a little more. Going to this game was worth missing my formal for because I was able to meet new girls and begin forming new relationships.

I am really looking forward to establishing a set small group of girls that will stick together and carry over into the next 3 years. A group that can all get together and share with one another about what is going on in each of our lives.

Family and Football

Texas Christian University played against Brigham Young University last Friday, October 28, at Cowboy Stadium. The screen is bigger than I remembered! That night, the Horned Frogs beat the Cougars 38-28 while we watched the St. Louis Cardinals take the World Series title against the Texas Rangers.
In regards to the TCU football game, fans were confident they would walk away with a win. The game was close enough to keep people's energy high all the way until the close of the 4th quarter.

My parents flew in, Thursday, from California for the game. I took them to the Junior Varsity Football game at All Saints Episcopal Schools where we watched my YoungLife girls cheer in the pouring rain. None of us were equipped for the rain so the 3 of us used plastic bags as shelter. The game was an interesting experience, but a great memory! You know your parents love you when they will stand in the cold and pouring rain to watch girls, whom they do not even know, cheer at a high school football game. 

That night we went Texas two-stepping at Billy Bob's where we also watched the Cardinals win game 6 against the Rangers. This brought the World Series to game 7 on Saturday when the Cardinals again defeated the Rangers and took the 2011 World Series title. We went downtown for a nice dinner Friday after the game and Saturday was dedicated to shopping at Northpark Mall in Dallas.

My parents left Sunday night. I will not see them again until Christmas so, it was hard to say goodbye. But, it was nice having family in town, even if it was just for a short while. I was happy to show them why I love Texas and how it has become a second home. I look forward to the next time they come out so I am able to show them the new things I have found to love about Texas.

Family For The Weekend

It has been 3 months since I have seen my parents. There flight comes in Thursday at 2p.m. and I am eager to pick them up from the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. I have many fun things planned for us to do while they are here for the next 3 days.

After I pick them up from the airport I plan for all of us to go eat lunch and go shopping around town. I am most looking forward to taking them to All Saints Episcopal school's- Upper School- Junior Varsity football game. While there my parents will get to meet the freshman YoungLife girls I mentor. Tomorrow night is also college night at Billy Bob's so I plan to take them there, after the game, so they are able to experience the World's Biggest Honky Tonk. 

Friday is the TCU v. BYU game at Dallas Cowboy Stadium. Both my parents and I bought tickets to go to the game. My dad is a huge Cowboy fan so he is looking forward to being in the stadium and both are eager to tailgate with a group of my friends before kick off.

Not only have I missed my parents these past few months, but I am excited for them to see the life I have established for myself here in Fort Worth. With the first year of college under my belt I finally feel at home here at TCU.

Fantasy Football

Originally I was extremely excited to be part of a fantasy football league. Now, I am just disappointed I do not have a sufficient amount of time to dedicate to it.

Because Sports Broadcasting is my major I thought fantasy football would be a great way for me to understand the game better, know the players and their position, the different teams and stats. Unfortunately I have been so busy with being a Resident Assistant, Young Life Leader on top of taking17 hours, plus homework and still trying to have some semblance of a social life.

Many say I am stretching myself thin. This may be true, but the things I am committed to are all things I love. I would not trade one minute spent with my residents, the high school girls I mentor or doing homework for an extra minute of sleep or alone time. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be involved, meet people and build close relationships with the people around me. I am blessed.

As for fantasy football, there is always next year! Hopefully then I will have more time to dedicate to my fantasy team and really learn about football. Hopefully then I will not have to call my dad for help about which players have the most points, whether or not I should make a trade or who should go on the bench. I look forward to the day I understand the workings of the game, and then who knows, maybe it will give me that edge in competing to be a sports reporter.

College Football Scandals

English- Writing as Argument- is one of the most difficult classes I have taken. The first essay we wrote was a Narrative Argument Argumentative essay; I stayed up all night trying to re-write and edit that paper. I ended up receiving a "C". The assignment we are working on now is a Rhetorical Argument Essay. We pick and controversial event to write about and then analyze an "opinion article" written about the subject.

The subject I chose to write about is the controversy regarding college football scandals. Although this has been a recurring issue for years, it has become increasingly worse in the past few years. Upon doing research I learned about the most recent scandal involving the University of Miami and big-time Ponzi schemer, Nevin Shapiro.

Shapiro was involved in the real estate industry during the housing market "boom" as well as a co-owner of a sports agency. He was making millions and was therefore, able to give millions, as a booster, to the University of Miami. His "generosity" to the players cost around $930 million (2002) in cash, gifts and parties at his mansion.

Although this occurred many years ago, it is just now being revealed to the public. University of Miami quarterback, Jacory Harris recently admitted to the public that he had accepted extra benefits his freshman year. He formally apologized to the University president, Donna Shalala and his fans. Because of the illegal payment and recruitment of players, the University of Miami was close to receiving the "death penalty" like SMU.

The current debate is whether or not players should be paid. Some argue that giving them a paycheck is fair and it may be the solution to eliminating corruption. Others argue that amateurism should be maintained because no matter what the corruption will proceed.

Not only has the reasearch and writing process helped me in my english skills and writing ability, but I am even more excited to jump into my major- Sports Broadcasting. I now feel more confident in my knowledge regarding sports and feel that I have something to contribute to a sports centered conversation.

YoungLife Club

FORT WORTH, Texas-- Being a YoungLife leader is not an easy position to hold because it is all about taking the initiative to meet high school students, build relationships with them and then make it a point to spend time with them. YoungLife is all about contact work and forming relationships because ultimately, in this life, everybody just wants to be loved and understood. What better way to show someone you care than to simply spend time with them.
My life has purpose. I am living my life for something far greater than myself-Jesus Christ and His will. The other day I went to eat yogurt with one of the girls in my group. It was great hearing about her life, where she comes from, her interests and what goals she has for her life.
I have grown up an only child which I feel has caused me to mature faster than most however, I would have given anything for an older sibling to look up to. It would have been nice to know that if I had questions, needed advice or even someone to talk to- besides my parents-that I could count on them to be there for me.
That is the goal in this YoungLife leadership experience. Not only am I learning things about myself and other people, but I am able to be that reliable person, ( the mentor or role model that I never had), for these high school girls who may also need someone to be consistently present in their life.

Why Being a Resident Assistant is So Time Consuming

FORT WORTH, Texas--Last night I did not sleep. There was a paper due by 8 a.m. and by midnight, I was still not close to being finished. I have been working on the paper for 2 weeks, but when I went into my teachers' office hours, to get her feedback on the final draft of my paper, she kindly informed me that I  was not addressing the prompt correctly.
I had no intention to stay up all night, but it was 5 a.m. before I knew it. Next time I looked at the clock, it was 7 a.m. and I still had to get ready and walk to class. I walked through the door and handed my paper in, complete and on time.
The best, and worst, part about being a Resident Assistant is getting to know all the the freshman. The girls in my hall are fantastic. All of whom I hope to stay friends with next year. The guys that live in my dorm are great too. We are all very close, hang out, laugh and talk. The downside to forming these close relationships is that the freshman are all very comfortable with me. Many come to me for advice-sometimes at 3 a.m.- they stop by my room to say "hi" and end up chatting for an hour. If they do not knock on my door it is because there is a gecko in their room, a light is broken, there is a funny smelling coming from the hallway, and the list goes on. In the past year I have become a exterminator, "counselor", handy man and all around "Mrs. Fix It". If they are not in need of or talking to me then they are all mingling in the hallway.
The positive side to being so close with everyone is that, last night, when I had to "pull an all nighter", 2 of my residents were sitting in the hallway and, at 2 a.m., were more than willing to help me with my paper.
Although being a RA can be a very time consuming job, I would not trade this job for anything different. I truly believe life is about the relationships we form and the people we impact. I hope that I am able to be a positive influence in each of these students' lives; teach them something both as a RA and as their friend because, they are definitely impacting me.

YoungLife

Fort Worth, Texas- September 19, 2011- YoungLife is a Christian organization that gets young high school teens together for an event called "club". Club is located at the YoungLife offices, on Curzon Ave, every Monday nights at 7:27 p.m. Ultimately the goal is to introduce adolescents to living a Young Life that is filled with joy and laughter. YoungLife believes this joy and laughter comes from our hope in something better than ourselves and this world we live in; it comes from Jesus Christ.

YoungLife is all about being silly! The night starts off with an upbeat and contemporary song that everyone knows. For example, "Baby" by Justin Bieber. After the song is over, everyone can participate in the game, then a messy game is played for those who like to bravely volunteer for things, more fun songs and finally a short message. Ultimately, the goal is to bring about smiles and laughter. Getting people to laugh is what causes people to let down their defensive walls, share their hearts and create a sense of community.

If we live our lives without the relationships there is no meaning. We all want to be known by others. So, we form relationships that we may grow together. We are not created to be alone on our journey through life. This is what YoungLife is about: building relationships, community, loving one another and being a positive presence in each other's lives.

IGNITE- TCU "Come As You Are"

Last Monday- September 5, 2011- marked the beginning of Ignite at TCU for the remainder of the school year. As I walked into the gymnasium of the Recreational Center I was in awe to see the amount of students sitting in the bleachers. Little did I know it would grow more crowded within the next ten minutes. Students had to stand off to the side or sit on the floor at the front of the stands. As the night progressed the emotion increased. The ignite worship team is incredible to say the least. The gym shook as the music filled the air. I look around to see hundreds of students on fire for God, lifting their hands-not seeming to notice anyone around them. As people worshipped Christ individually and in their own way, a sense of unity was created among the students. Each person there has-or is pursuing- a love for Christ. It became a common ground between each student in that room.

A young and “hip” man named Matt led the message. He cracked jokes, created laughter, pulled on people’s heart strings and, without even trying, uniting the TCU student body through our common passion about Christ and His word.

The most moving part of the Ignite experience is seeing familiar faces share your same interests. It is the people you pass walking around campus and wonder, “What do they like to do in their free time? What are they involved in?” Ignite is a great organization that encourages students to “Come as You Are”. It is a nonthreatening environment that brings TCU students together to have a good time with their peers and simply be. It is an escape from the realities of life. It is just one of the many elements that make the TCU spirit and student body that much stronger because we are all here-going through a portion of our life’s journey- together.

TCU- 48 v. Baylor- 50

Last Friday- September 2, 2011- the TCU Horned Frogs lost to the Baylor Bears. It was a close game from beginning to end. By the end of the third quarter the Frogs were down 47-23. Baylor QB, Robert Griffin, completed five touchdown passes plowing through the TCU Defense. But, known for being a second half team, Coach Patterson and the Frogs came back. In the fourth quarter, the Horned Frogs scored 25 points. Casey Pachall led the Frogs to three straight touchdown drives all ending in touchdown receptions. On the first two touchdown drives, TCU went for the two-point conversion; both of which were completed. On their third drive and touchdown completion they, again, went for the two-point conversion but failed. This would have tied the game, 47-47. TCU kicker Ross Evans went for the 27 yd field goal and missed.  Baylor took possession of the ball, drove it down the field where kicker Aaron Jones made a 37 yd field goal making the final score 50-48, Baylor. It is said that if the Frogs had won, the game would have been considered possibly one of the greatest comeback in college football history. 

TCU v. Baylor- Friday Sept. 2nd

TCU is a team that has truly established themselves in the world of college football. After winning the Rose Bowl against Wisconsin and being ranked number 14 last season TCU really has something to prove. Being undefeated and finishing 2^nd in the poll, the Horned Frogs feel the pressure of maintaining their title. This week TCU plays the Baylor Bears- a Texas rival. Although TCU beat Baylor last year 45-10, this year the Horned Frogs have lost 6 starting players; one being their QB, Andy Dalton. The Frogs are coming back with only a few key players including Brock, Carter, Wesley, Tucker and James. The new starting QB, Casey Pachall, has big shoes to fill following Dalton who carried the team in winning 42 games throughout his Horned Frog career.

Baylor on the other hand has something to prove. Last year they did have a successful season-something to be proud of. They broke through and played in a bowl game for the first time in the past 16 years. Last year Baylor’s defense allowed over 400 yards per game however, this year they have brought in a new defensive coordinator, Phil Bennet. The Bears are hoping that his defensive schemes give them the chance to beat TCU at the game this Friday.

TCU has been known for their strong and fast moving defense. What this next game will really come down to is whether or not the Horned Frog’s D can stay strong against Baylor’s offense and now the Bear’s "new" Defense. The bottom line is the Baylor Bears are out for purple Horned Frog blood.