Differences

On Saturday night I was able to watch See What I’m Saying at Lumina. The movie illustrated the lives of four deaf entertainers: Robert, TL, CJ, and the deaf rock band Beethoven’s Nightmare. The movie really made me think about all the different obstacles that people with disabilities have. When I go through my daily life I don’t think about the struggles different people go through and the movie helped me see that life is not easy for everybody. Some people have to go above and beyond just to do normal things. On USA Today’s website I came across a letter to the editor, http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/09/letters-deaf-athletes-wins-.html#more. The reader was responding the article Deaf Athletes Hurdle Barriers, Achieve Goals in College Sports; she was also asking different questions about why things are the way they are. One of the questions that she ask stood out to me, she asked why didn’t the USA Olympic Committee sponsor deaf athletes to go to the Deaflympics. She shares her view point about how she thinks that it is depressing that the deaf athletes have to pay for themselves while other athletes get funded to go to different competition. She says that deaf athletes are just as good as normal athletes. I totally agree with her view point. Just because an athlete is deaf doesn’t mean that he should be treated any different or not have the same opportunity that regular athletes have. I believe that everyone should have the same opportunity no matter what. They are the same people except one can hear and one cannot.

Process

My writing process has changed since I have been in college. In high school, I would finish my paper and then be done with it. I wouldn’t even pick it up again until the due date; now I see that proofreading is a factor in getting a better grade. Proofreading makes sure that my grammar is correct and also makes sure that my sentences make since. A lot of times when I write a paper I accidently add in a sentence an extra word that it doesn't need and it makes no sense to the reader. Once I finish a paper I proof read my paper and have someone else do it too. That way I get a different persons option on my paper. They are able to tell me mistakes about my paper that I wouldn’t have noticed. But a lot of times I end of writing my papers late and do not have time to have someone else proofread it. Doing it at the last minute always ends in me getting a bad grade because of simple grammar mistakes that could have been avoided.

I want my readers to get something out of the things that I write. I don’t want them to read something that I wrote and then wonder why they just read it. I want them to connect to my stories and learn or get something out of what I am trying to convey to them. I strieve for my blog entries to be on subjects that make people think and ask different questions. I don’t want my readers to be necessarily influenced by me, I just want them to ponder stuff after reading my writings.

"Superstition aint the way"

I don’t believe in superstition. All my life I have done simple things like have a good luck charm, cross my fingers, not opening an umbrella inside, etc. Even though I have done small things that seem and sometimes feels like I believe in superstition I believe in something bigger. I believe in Christ. Having Christ in my life, I don’t have to worry about having a good luck charm or crossing my fingers because he is always there for me no matter what the situation. He is more than something I can carry around with me, He is my life. I live to praise Him and not worry about earthly things. A lot of times this concept is hard, trying not worrying about what is happening on earth and in my life. I have realized throughout my life that I don’t have to worry because whatever is happening in my life and will happen in my life is a part of Christ’s glorious plan for me; this is not meant to bring myself glory but to bring glory to Him and his kingdom. Some people would say that Christ’s death and resurrection is superstition in some way but it’s not, it is factual. Superstition in my opinion is just a feeling to make yourself feel better about a situation; wanting to doing better on a test or assignment or trying to avoiding things from happening. Having Christ in my life is not just a feeling, it’s a truthful statement. I know that He is always there for me and that He will be with me through every situation. I also know that because He will help me through anything, I don’t have to worry. I believe I don’t need superstition; I need Christ in my life.

Memories

Recently the Carolina Beach Boardwalk has turned from a rundown youth hang out spot to a family attraction. They have gone back to their roots and brought back the rides and the shops. When I was younger, before the Marriott, there were lots rides and many arcades on the Boardwalk. Me and my cousins would spend countless hours on the boardwalk; playing the arcade games, eating at Britt’s Donuts, going to the local shops, playing putt putt, getting snowballs and riding all the rides. It was the best part of going to the beach. I have so many fond memories there.

Over the years the Boardwalk had decayed. The rides were taken out, some of the shops and arcades were closed down, buildings were torn down. It had become a whole different place when I graduated from high school. All the things that had made the Boardwalk special as a child were gone. Recently they have brought back the rides. When I first saw the new rides, I thought about the fun times me and my cousins had on the Boardwalk when we were little. Even though the 4 of us are now “all grown up” I found myself wanting to be little again and able to ride the kiddy rides. There is nothing like the Carolina Beach Boardwalk on a Friday night. The lights, the games, the rides and the people, all make it exciting. Reliving my childhood led me to the write my English essay on environment of the Boardwalk; because there is nothing that can compare to the excitement it brings.

"Failed" Families

I was born into a traditional family. My parents have been married for almost twenty-five years. I have not had to suffer through being seen as a child of a “failed" marriage or having to become part of a blended family. I guess I would say that I was privileged growing up. I was able to live with both my mom and my dad.

In society today, there are many marriages that are ending in divorce. Children have to decide which parent they want to permanently live with. People move on and blended families are formed but their past marriage stays with them. In the article Stone Soup by Barbara Kingsolver, the main character admires a blended family and wonders why such a loving family could still be seen as “failed." When couples get a divorce, no matter the reason, they are still seen as having a “failed” marriage. Even after being happily remarried they are still known for having one “failed” marriage. They can never get rid of their baggage. Another theme we have seen in American society is blended families, which are created because of divorces; they are two families coming together. The most famous blended family was the Brady Bunch. Even after thirty they are still a popular television family. Most blended families are not as popular as the Brady Bunch. Even though blended families are just as happy as any traditional families, people still look down on them. They are seen as less functional then traditional families. Blended families consist of everything a traditional has: mom, dad, and children. There is no difference but still they are looked down upon.

Back Again

The start of classes marked that summer was officially over. I can’t believe how fast it went by. It feels like Santa Cruz Summer Project was a short lived dream. Now my Wilmington friends are finally reunited. We spent a summer apart and all had different experiences. It was like nothing had changed. We interacted in the same way as we did when we parted for the summer; all with high expectations. A hand full of my friends came back to school with a new outlook. It seemed God had turned against one of my friends. His life had changed and everything that he had known was altered. Here is a link to his blog where he shares what he has learned this summer http://dylandodson.blogspot.com/. I am not trying to put words in his mouth but from the outside it seems that this summer completely changed his life. I admire him and how he is daily overcoming what God has thrown his way. It was for God’s glory and not for our own understanding.

Another one of my friends got an internship with Lifepoint Church. This summer he has built the zone from scratch. He would be better qualified to explain the zone but it is “where children bring their parents to church” to learn what is going on in the children ministry for that month. It is a monthly event. He has poured out his time and soul into making this a success. The big unveiling is September 3, this coming Thursday. To find out more you can visit http://www.lifepointnow.com. We are all excited to his hard work pay off. Lifepoint is a growing Church in Wilmington. I can see the good Lifepoint is doing in our community. They have impacted so many people, like many churches. In Jeff Kapusta’s blog, the pastor of Lifepoint Church, he shares what has been going on at Lifepoint, http://www.jeffkapusta.com/. They have just entered into a Hope series. This series is about finding hope in different situations. Jeff blog recent blog is about a special event they held at Lifepoint this week. It was where people from the community were able to come and reflect on their relationship with God and get prayed over.

This summer has been a summer of change and growth for all my friends and for the churches here in Wilmington. I am excited to see how God uses us in the upcoming year.

Testimony

I was able to share my testimony this week with project.

I was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. Every Sunday my family went to church. I remember hearing that Jesus loved me and wanted me to go to heaven to spend eternity with him. When I was 7 I asked Jesus to come into my life because I thought that it was the only way to go to heaven. After that I knew that I was going to go to heaven because I had accepted Jesus, so I thought why even have a relationship with God. I went to middle school and then to high school where I struggled with jealousy and being accepted. Nothing I had was ever good enough. Somehow I became a leader in my church’s high school group but God was not part of my daily life. I was a Christian on Sundays and Wednesdays, the rest of the week I was whoever I wanted to be. I went on many trips with my church but nothing that I hear about God stuck. Towards the end of my high school career and start of my college career I started drinking and getting into drugs. It was another way to be accepted and get away from my problems. Slowly I started to realize that I wanted something different in my life, more fulfilling. On a whim I went on Campus Crusade’s Winter Conference just to have something to do. It was the best decision I could have made. Everything that I had been hearing in church made sense and I finally understood the depth of Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross. I asked God to come back into my life and be the main focus; it wasn’t about being accepted and it wasn’t about myself anymore. It was about glorifying God. I started reading my bible, praying and doing everything I thought a Christian should do. Everything was great; my life had changed for the better until my Grandmother died. Suddenly my world had changed. She was the person who had the biggest impact on my relationship and pursuit of God. She made me want to be a better Christian. If God hadn’t been there during that time, I would have been in pieces. God became my strength and He got me through the most difficult part of my life so far. Since then my relationship with God hasn’t been perfect just like any relationship, I have my ups and downs but I remember how God has helped me threw my hard times.