Just when you're least expecting it. . .

The week before this one was rough.

As in calling my mom and crying about how I was so lonely and bored.
It was a low moment.

And it wasn't that there weren't people around me. My floor is full of nice people.

It's just that last semester, almost every weekend looked something like this:

Marching band.

I was always doing marching band and it came to be what filled every week day from 3:30-5:30 and every Saturday from 8-4. I liked it too! 

Of course, there were the seemingly unbearable summer days where I'd shower twice because I was so sweaty, and those days were I just wanted to put my drum down, but we had to do it "one more time,"

but all in all, I loved the friends I made, the camaraderie, and the great feeling of accomplishment that came after each performance. (Also, it was a great workout!)

So when I came back from break and my roommate had a job and a boyfriend (they're cute!), I had a 14 credit hr. schedule (never again by the way. I had 17 last semester with marching band and it was fine.), and I didn't have marching band, I was beside myself. Miranda wasn't around as much and I had very little to no homework in all of my classes. I was bored. 

I know, I know. 

"Go find something to do!"

"You have more time for yourself!"

"You can't be bored in this big, great world!"

Yes, and no.

Maybe a better word would have been lonely. I was lonely too.

My days generally went like this:

Class, lunch, class, sitting in room for extended periods of time doing things like watching Netflix and Youtube or organizing, or doing both at the same time, dinner, back in room, go to bed. 

Many people don't bat an eye at having all this free time.

MORE TIME TO HANG OUT WITH FRIENDS!!!

Well, I don't "hang out" well with many people. Especially spontaneously. I also don't like big groups.

When I called my mom, she basically told me

1. I can understand why you're feeling lonely and bored. You're just not used to all of the differences.

2. You can't stay in your room all day, even if you think you want to.

3. Go intentionally do things with others, and I'll be calling and asking about what you did.

So I did. I wrote down what I did that weekend that was intentionally people-y.

Saying hi! Eating with a group of girls at dinner! Leaving my door open when I'm in my room!

I continued to try to be intentional throughout the week.

God helped me out a lot this week.

In fact this weekend has made me slap happy. It's a little ridiculous, especially considering that I was basically hanging out with people for most of the time.

Here's why:

I got a bid for Kappa Kappa Psi, which is the honorary band fraternity. (i.e. it's not associated with the Greek groups on campus). I was so honored. This weekend was the initiation of sorts. It was so fun and mysterious and exciting.  Each of the seven "prospective members" was paired with a "Big Brother" from the chapter. My Big Brother's name is Erin and she is wonderful! We are percussion buddies and she's even from kinda near my hometown! Here are some pictures of the evening!

Erin and me!

We like cookies!

Nathaniel and me!

Carly and me! (She's a bass drummer too!)

This whole weekend has just made me pretty slap-happy in general.

It's totally a God thing, and I could go on and on, but I'll sum up the weekend like this:

Saturday: Kappa Kappa Psi

Sunday: Church, lunch with 4 awesome guys, and a Superbowl party

Moral of the story: If you're open to change, you'll begin to realize the change wasn't as difficult as you were expecting, and you're a lot happier on the other side. Sometimes a little slap-happy. :)

Strictly Speaking

I was thinking earlier. And a thing has occurred to me.

If I were to suddenly gain magical awesome powers, I think I would tell my brother first.

Garth. The Brother.

That is all.

(Not quite. Have some pics of awesome characters with powers!)

 

Oh. And watch this clip. Because Idina Menzel is wonderful, and the animation is beautiful. And you need to make your life better by watching this. So do it. Right now.

Queen Elsa from Disney's Frozen

Rapunzel from Disney's Tangled

Ha. Flynn is all, "What. Is. Happening."

Jack Frost from Dreamworks's Rise of the Guardians

This punk is really and truly one of my favorites.

The Flash from DC Comics

This is Ned from Pushing Daisies. His only flaw is that he's fictional. Which isn't even a flaw, just a sad moment for me. Huh. I guess he is perfect.

Danny Phantom from Danny Phantom. This child. THIS PERFECTLY IDIOTIC CHILD.

Toph Bei Fong from Avatar: The Last Airbender

She is the most kick-butt, pwn-all twelve year old to ever have existed.

Avatar Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender

He's twelve, too. Watch out for those preteens.

And that's all I feel like doing for right now. I love me my characters.

Update

10 Things About my Life before I go to Spanish class:

1) Winter formal tomorrow.  I have "pearls" now thanks to Mom and the holiday Christmas.

2) -25 degree wind chill 'dis mornin'.

3) I love love my new calf length leather boots.

4) Mikaela, my favorite squirrel fan, is doing my hair for the dance.

5) Sherlock is back Sunday.

6) Remember how college is 90% about mental toughness?  Still livin' that life.

7) Spanish 102 and Developmental Psychology are cool.

8) Saving Mr. Banks made me bawl both times.

9) Reprogramming my brain to remember this: "If you do this thing now, you won't have to do it later."
This is not how my mind works naturally.

10) Student back from her study abroad in Romania and another returning-after-a-break student and 2 Japanese high school students are now on our floor.  They are all super duper.

Hadn't posted since, what, November?  So there :)



Lovely :)  By BBCamerica

Get Up, Dress Up, Show Up, and Don't Give Up.

Have you ever heard this phrase?

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There are many days when this is about how it goes for me.

Many times the "Dress Up" portion is omitted, but it's kind of a mantra.

It's an especially good mantra on those days where you just want to throw your

hands up and then pull the covers over your head because you 

weren't actually able to fall asleep until 2 am and

the idea of movement is absolutely horrifying.

Not that I speak from experience or anything. (Just kidding. Sleep and I have

a really bad relationship. My body doesn't always think I should sleep. . .)

Nevertheless, this is one of the thoughts that, on certain days, gets me going.

Tuesday and Wednesday have been no different.

I slept terribly on Monday night, so by Tuesday evening, I was tired and 

ready for bed.

However, it wasn't even 7 and I still had things going on.

So I kept on going. I checked the campus job postings

again

to catch any new opportunities that may have appeared

since I last checked it

 3 hours earlier.

I'm desperate.

Can ya tell?

This time, behold, a new posting.

Office Assistant; Horace Mann Lab School

Well glory be, yet another office assistant position.
This is good. I want to find a position as an office assistant.

At this point, I pause.

I have filled out, to my estimation, close to 40 different applications

just last semester.

Of those, 1 one them got me a job, but I really need more than

6 hours a week, and if I end up with a job I enjoy,

well that's a bonus.

So I thought.

And here's what I did.

Instead of filling in the forms on Word, like I did for every other position,

I printed off the application 

and filled it in with black pen,

neatly.

I also attached a mini cover letter of sorts to the front, mentioning that

although I have never been employed in any office type positions,

much of my volunteer work has been dedicated

to typing, filing, spreadsheets, and the like.

Today, I dressed up
(the part of the "up" that I usually omit)

Yes, there were button-ups and cardigans involved. Pretty classy.

In the words of Kelli,

"It looks like you're going to work, not class!"

Ok, the whole point I'm getting to here is not

Look! Kara is trying to out-dress you!

Wrong. You'll usually win at that game.

The point I am trying to make is that I dressed up,

walked into the school, 

said, "Are you Ms. Ferguson? I have an application for you."

and handed her my application.

And ya know what,

she actually clapped and said, "Oh goodie!"

Now does that mean I got the job?

I don't know.

I won't know for a while.

But I do know that I did something different

something out of my comfort zone,

 and something that left an impression.

I got up, dressed up, showed up, and haven't given up yet.

College changes people.

Uncomfortable jobs change people.

And God gives those uncomfortable, changed people the strength to do things that are

WAY out their comfort zone.

Truth.

'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' Isaiah 41:10

The best is yet to come?

This is currently my desktop background.

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I don't know how accurate it is, but I would like to think that it's true, the best is yet to come.

To be honest, everything kind of has nowhere to go but up.

I'm not trying to be pessimistic here, but I am being real, and reality has been harsh this past year.

So, what does 2014 have in store? Let's look at the year ahead. It oughta be a good one.

Classes at Northwest next semester:

Professional Media Writing- Pretty pumped for this class. I got a professor I had this semester, and he's pretty great!

Intro to Design- An art class. I'll be honest and say that I am a little bit trepidatious about being graded on my art, :) but it is a requirement for my major and I'm excited to see what I'll get to create! 

Media Design- I'm excited about this class. It's all about layouts and using the computer to create things for different types of media!

Intro to Advertising-Pumped for this class too! I'm really interested in advertising and it's taught by my advisor, and she's super neat!

University Chorale- What can I say, I'll be back in choir and I can't wait!

Symphonic Band- What can I say, band is great!

Yearbook practicum- I can't wait to see what this class has in store! Basically, I'll be helping to create and publish the yearbook!

*Summary of my feelings on my classes next semester: PUMPED! :)*

Things happening next year:

Studying abroad (maybe)- Look out world!

Retreats with Navigators/J-Team- I can't wait for these! So many neat opportunities!

J-Team in general-J-Team (Joshua Team) is this really cool thing that you can do through Navigators. According to the Navigators, "Joshua Team is a 6-week program designed to develop your spiritual leadership, discipline and vision." It's based around Numbers 32:12.

Being a Sophomore in college next fall!- Ok, this isn't an opportunity, it's an absolute, and it's absolutely exciting thought!

Finding a summer job- Someone, please hire me! I'm friendly, punctual, and I work hard! Also, I'm cute, if that makes a difference.... :)

Overall, 2014 is on a good track right now! I don't really do the whole resolution thing, but I do like to look for something that I can change for the better in the new year. I certainly have a thing or two, but it's mostly about learning from the year before (both good and bad) and moving on from there. Here's some of my inspiration for the new year:

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Ecstatic: The Math, Arrow, and Frozen Reasons

Humans. I am on top of the figurative world. On TOP of it, I tell you. I know all y'all are wondering why. AND I WILL TELL YOU HOMO SAPIENS WHY. (I would also like to point out: This blog is about our experiences at college. Which includes life. Not strictly college-related activities. As evidenced by past posts.)

1. I just finished my LFR final. Meaning I finished my math final. I never have to take another math class again. I am DONE with math for the rest of my life. This makes me happy. So happy, in fact, that I was wondering on the walk back when the last time was when I was so happy. And I remembered.

My test was like this. Only with letters instead of numbers.
And then Satan said, "Let's put the alphabet in math."

2. The last episode of the TV show Arrow. (On the CW 8/7c on Wednesday nights.) That perfect show with the PERFECT TOMMY MERLYN. Because Tommy Merlyn is the most perfect of individuals. And Oliver is my freaking would-be child. I swear, the world is so cruel to him. I want to tuck him in, give him warm milk, and hiss away all the people who try to hurt him/the WRITERS. (Who are beyond amazing. If I can ever become half of the writers they are, I will have accomplished something.)

It occurs to me that some of you may not be aware or used to this sort of reaction when it comes to characters, or even people in general: fictional or not. And I would say that this is normal, but I am pretty much a nut. My circle of friends at college and my family are used to this, and even partake in similar actions. (Not for Arrow. This is my show. But other shows/books/movies/characters and such.) But my greatest passion in this world is storytelling, and when I manage to find something with good plot, setting, characters, and production, I get excited. I get very excited. And there is no shame in finding joy in what you love.

3. Talking about wonderful storytelling reminds me of the time BEFORE the Arrow mid-season finale that got me ecstatically happy. Seeing Frozen. It came out the Wednesday before Thanksgiving this year, and there was a huge cry of "Best musical experience since The Lion King" and stuff. There was a nice round 100% on Rotten Tomatoes from the critics.
And let me tell you: I can see why. This movie is simply beautiful. Frozen follows two princess sisters, Elsa and Anna. Elsa has the ability to control and create snow and ice, and these abilities are revealed during her coronation day. Elsa runs away, and by doing so brings and eternal winter over the kingdom. Anna has to go and find her sister and bring her back to stop the winter.
Several of you know that I am a huge animation buff. Especially the movies that come from Disney, Disney/Pixar, and Dreamworks. And this movie completely hit all the right notes. Since I love animation so much, I'm biased when it comes to movies like this, but I also know what to look for and appreciate. The music brought me to tears. The songs were beautifully constructed, and "Let it Go", the big musical number, has been nominated for a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award. The animation of the snow was wonderfully done, and looked real. And the story. There were a couple of twists that I didn't see coming, which is unique since Disney tends to stick to the same formula.
So yeah. Frozen was a beautiful movie, and you can bet money that I'll be seeing it again, despite having seen it three times already.

Now to go pack for my MONTH LONG BREAK THAT STARTS ON MY BIRTHDAY (tomorrow) AND STUDY FOR MY ASTRONOMY FINAL WHICH IS AT 8PM TONIGHT. What is with this world and dumb test times? Seriously.

A Bit of Advice to Myself

Hello!  Tomorrow, I will be halfway done being a freshman!  And I feel the need to give some advice to my second semester self.

Dear Eliza,
Here's what I've learned my first semester at college.

- Don't overbook yourself.  No committing to another regular activity or taking extra shifts at work.  As cool as RUSH was, next year I will not be taking part :)  Time management = good grades + relaxing weekends.
Never let anyone pressure you into doing anything.  As kind and well-meaning as they are, they have never been a pre-nursing major.  This sounds snooty, but it's true.

- This semester, read everything your prof gives you.  This includes syllabi and anything he/she has typed up.  This will save trouble later.

-  Stress and worry are really stupid.  If you feel that way, just do the next thing.  Ya know that phrase?  How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time.  Just do one little to do item and keep on trucking.  College is all about being mentally strong, it seems.  The persevering win in the end.

- If you stay up late pinning on a week night, you may doze off in chapel the next day.  And the chaplain may happen to see you with your eyes closed.  Just speaking from personal experience here...

- As much as you want to do the honors program, as good as it looks on a grad school application, you really don't have time.  You know what else looks good on that application?  Actually getting your BSN!  And actually getting good grades! Ha ha

Signed,
Me