And I'm back. WOW, what an amazing trip. I am very thankful that I went on the trip. It was challenging emotionally and physically but an incredible experience. I had no idea what to expect but was pleasantly surprised by the group bonding and service projects. The devastation in the gulf coast is unimaginable. I cannot express in words how many people's lives were affected by the hurricanes.
The trip really made me open my eyes and be thankful for what I have and the people in my life. STLF is an excellent organization; I only wish I would have gotten involved sooner. I am actually considering leading a high school bus this upcoming Wednesday-Sunday. My parents think I'm crazy, but I think it would be so much fun and I am so "on fire" about this group that it would make it would be a blast.
There is so much I could say about this trip, but I really want to keep this short.
Good night to all!
Abby
Saturday, March 25, 2006
I make myself laugh
I wrote this e-mail to my prof. Reading it a week later makes me laugh...as does her respone:
Hi Sheryl,
So, I know that this is very late notice, but I didn't think It would hurt to ask..so here it goes. :)
I very recently found out that I there was a spot that opened up on the Pay it Forward tour for the week of March 17th to the 25th. The Pay It Forward Tour is basically a nine day community service road trip to Washington DC in which you stop in several cities along the way doing community service projects. It was started by a few Carlson students (who happen to be very good friends of mine) in 2003. It's really quite an impressive student group that really just wants to do some good in the world over spring break -- a time when many of our peers are doing the exact opposite. Here's an exert from their website:
"Since it's start, Students Today Leaders Forever (STLF) have successfully expanded in size and scope to include 7 college-based chapters on campuses throughout the Midwest, as well as a chapter at West Fargo High School. Recently, STLF has become a recognized nonprofit organization by the state of Minnesota and has developed a national office based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Pay it Forward Tour has gone from one bus of 43 students in our inaugural year of 2004, to four buses of 150 people in 2005. In 2006 it will consist of 8 buses and as many as 350 people traveling to our nations capital, collectively volunteering in nearly 40 cities this spring break. The Pay It Forward Tour has impacted hundreds of student participants, and thousands of others in communities across the country, and the movement has only just begun. " (www.stlf.net)
Because of swimming, I have never had the chance to participate or support my friends and honestly this is my last chance to experience what they spend so much of their time in college working on. I also feel like this is also my last opportunity to do a big community service event like this because I am graduating in May and then I starting work at Ernst and Young as an auditor. Not to be cynical, but we all know how much free time public accountants have. :(
I really enjoy doing community service work and being able to take this trip would allow me one more opportunity to do so. I know our midterm is the 23rd, but I would even be willing to learn the material early and come in over spring break and take the midterm. Believe it or not, swimming really doesn't allow me the time to do thing like this. This is something that I really want to do and actually have the chance to do. (hopefully, the length of this e-mail is making you realize that) I'm a good kid, that just wants to help some people out and as STLFer's would say, "change the world." Before you make a decision, I would highly recommend checking out their website..the vision and history is especially good, what STLF has accomplished is really quite amazing. I guess this is just my plee and hope that you will understand.
Thanks for considering it,
Abby
Abby,
Yes... It seems like a very worthwhile thing for you to do, I know you are a "good kid", and I know very well the demands of competitive sports on your time. So, go, enjoy, and make the world better off!
Two things: 1) scheduling your exam: talk to me after class today. My inclination is to have you take it on the Monday after the exam, which would be March 27th. Let me know if this works and we can figure out a time.
Second thing:2) after you graduate: I would strongly encourage you to try to volunteer even when you are working at E&Y! There are a lot of good organizations you can work with and a lot of things you can do that might not be a huge amount of time. Volunteering as an adult literacy tutor, working with kids swim teams at the Y... Anyway, just my encouragement on that front, as someone who has squeezed in various volunteer and civic commitments over the years!
SWS
Hi Sheryl,
So, I know that this is very late notice, but I didn't think It would hurt to ask..so here it goes. :)
I very recently found out that I there was a spot that opened up on the Pay it Forward tour for the week of March 17th to the 25th. The Pay It Forward Tour is basically a nine day community service road trip to Washington DC in which you stop in several cities along the way doing community service projects. It was started by a few Carlson students (who happen to be very good friends of mine) in 2003. It's really quite an impressive student group that really just wants to do some good in the world over spring break -- a time when many of our peers are doing the exact opposite. Here's an exert from their website:
"Since it's start, Students Today Leaders Forever (STLF) have successfully expanded in size and scope to include 7 college-based chapters on campuses throughout the Midwest, as well as a chapter at West Fargo High School. Recently, STLF has become a recognized nonprofit organization by the state of Minnesota and has developed a national office based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Pay it Forward Tour has gone from one bus of 43 students in our inaugural year of 2004, to four buses of 150 people in 2005. In 2006 it will consist of 8 buses and as many as 350 people traveling to our nations capital, collectively volunteering in nearly 40 cities this spring break. The Pay It Forward Tour has impacted hundreds of student participants, and thousands of others in communities across the country, and the movement has only just begun. " (www.stlf.net)
Because of swimming, I have never had the chance to participate or support my friends and honestly this is my last chance to experience what they spend so much of their time in college working on. I also feel like this is also my last opportunity to do a big community service event like this because I am graduating in May and then I starting work at Ernst and Young as an auditor. Not to be cynical, but we all know how much free time public accountants have. :(
I really enjoy doing community service work and being able to take this trip would allow me one more opportunity to do so. I know our midterm is the 23rd, but I would even be willing to learn the material early and come in over spring break and take the midterm. Believe it or not, swimming really doesn't allow me the time to do thing like this. This is something that I really want to do and actually have the chance to do. (hopefully, the length of this e-mail is making you realize that) I'm a good kid, that just wants to help some people out and as STLFer's would say, "change the world." Before you make a decision, I would highly recommend checking out their website..the vision and history is especially good, what STLF has accomplished is really quite amazing. I guess this is just my plee and hope that you will understand.
Thanks for considering it,
Abby
Abby,
Yes... It seems like a very worthwhile thing for you to do, I know you are a "good kid", and I know very well the demands of competitive sports on your time. So, go, enjoy, and make the world better off!
Two things: 1) scheduling your exam: talk to me after class today. My inclination is to have you take it on the Monday after the exam, which would be March 27th. Let me know if this works and we can figure out a time.
Second thing:2) after you graduate: I would strongly encourage you to try to volunteer even when you are working at E&Y! There are a lot of good organizations you can work with and a lot of things you can do that might not be a huge amount of time. Volunteering as an adult literacy tutor, working with kids swim teams at the Y... Anyway, just my encouragement on that front, as someone who has squeezed in various volunteer and civic commitments over the years!
SWS
Friday, March 17, 2006
grrrr
I feel awful. Amy's birthday was yesterday and I forgot, completely, until today. I scrambled to make her a birthday card...but I still feel bad. I wish I could express mail it to her or something.
On a happier note, I leave today for week 2 of spring break. I think I am more excited that I am missing school, than actually going somewhere. LOL
Peace out.
On a happier note, I leave today for week 2 of spring break. I think I am more excited that I am missing school, than actually going somewhere. LOL
Peace out.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Spring Break 3
I had a realization last night;
It's kind of sad. After an attempt to set up a senior sleepover at my house, we ended up at 410 with only two of us sleeping over. I honestly felt like no one wanted to be there. We sat around and watched two movies; No one asked about what each other were up too, even how each other are doing. It is like we know each other so well, that we are uninterested in each other and almost dislike each other. I was excited for this sleepover because I had set it up and I really wanted to catch up with my friends. Apparently no one else was into it. I was disappointed and then I realized that I shouldn't be. Despite the fact, that since freshmen year, these people have given me crap about being conservative and not drinking etc., I have tried my best to be their friend.
I guess my realization is that I don't have to be friends with any of them anymore, unless I want too. We used to be teammates; now we aren't. In fact we really don't have much in common. It almost felt like six strangers sitting around a TV last night. I don't know why they are uninterested, but I know I'm going to stop feeling guilty about it. I'm not saying, "I don't need them, or even that I don't want to be friends with them anymore." I just...am not going to feel guilty about the status of our friendship.
I don't think I'm getting my point across very well.
O well.
It's kind of sad. After an attempt to set up a senior sleepover at my house, we ended up at 410 with only two of us sleeping over. I honestly felt like no one wanted to be there. We sat around and watched two movies; No one asked about what each other were up too, even how each other are doing. It is like we know each other so well, that we are uninterested in each other and almost dislike each other. I was excited for this sleepover because I had set it up and I really wanted to catch up with my friends. Apparently no one else was into it. I was disappointed and then I realized that I shouldn't be. Despite the fact, that since freshmen year, these people have given me crap about being conservative and not drinking etc., I have tried my best to be their friend.
I guess my realization is that I don't have to be friends with any of them anymore, unless I want too. We used to be teammates; now we aren't. In fact we really don't have much in common. It almost felt like six strangers sitting around a TV last night. I don't know why they are uninterested, but I know I'm going to stop feeling guilty about it. I'm not saying, "I don't need them, or even that I don't want to be friends with them anymore." I just...am not going to feel guilty about the status of our friendship.
I don't think I'm getting my point across very well.
O well.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
ME
ISTJ. In case you were wondering.
responsible, planner, private, loner tendencies, perfectionist, organized, detail oriented, organized, would rather be friendless than jobless, realistic, observer, clean, focused, does not talk about feelings, finisher, punctual, private, does not appreciate strangeness, not adventurous, not spontaneous, follows the rules, dutiful, avoids mistakes, conventional, likes solitude, insensitive to the hardships of others, prepared, anti-tattoos, things rules are important, cautious, security seeking, prepares for worst case scenarios, logical, analytical, does not accept apologies easily, hard working
responsible, planner, private, loner tendencies, perfectionist, organized, detail oriented, organized, would rather be friendless than jobless, realistic, observer, clean, focused, does not talk about feelings, finisher, punctual, private, does not appreciate strangeness, not adventurous, not spontaneous, follows the rules, dutiful, avoids mistakes, conventional, likes solitude, insensitive to the hardships of others, prepared, anti-tattoos, things rules are important, cautious, security seeking, prepares for worst case scenarios, logical, analytical, does not accept apologies easily, hard working
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Spring Break 1
I need a hug.
I'm not sure why. Mostly, I just need to feel loved. There are two bad things about this feeling:
1. I won't do anything about it. I'll sit here and blog instead.
2. I feel guilty that I need/want a hug.
I take way to much pride in my ability to be self-sufficient. I have always struggled at asking for help, and apparently receiving a hug when I need one, represents that I can't do everything myself.
Anyways, changing the subject.
I officially am skipping as second week of school for the Pay it Forward tour. I'm on the bus that Jenny is leading and am really excited to spend some time with her. It makes me nervous to take that much money out of my down payment savings. However, it's for such a good cause that I feel like God will make it up too me. It's not like I'm just blowing the money on something really materialistic, it's for charity!!! Aghhh. It just makes me really nervous.
Moving on, I am having a spring break sleepover. My parents just don't know about it yet. I already told everyone they could come over on Monday night. Ooops. I just am waiting for the "right" moment to ask them. They didn't seem to happy that I texted them at 1:30am yesterday to tell them I was sleeping on campus. It is just a frustrating situation. I feel like they don't trust me, my mom asked if, "I was as drunk as a skunk." And they think I'm being very inconsiderate if I don't call and check in. I just wish that they would trust me more. It is really the only downfall to living at home. They live is such a bubble, I feel like they have no idea how "conservative" of a kid I am.
grrrr.
I'm not sure why. Mostly, I just need to feel loved. There are two bad things about this feeling:
1. I won't do anything about it. I'll sit here and blog instead.
2. I feel guilty that I need/want a hug.
I take way to much pride in my ability to be self-sufficient. I have always struggled at asking for help, and apparently receiving a hug when I need one, represents that I can't do everything myself.
Anyways, changing the subject.
I officially am skipping as second week of school for the Pay it Forward tour. I'm on the bus that Jenny is leading and am really excited to spend some time with her. It makes me nervous to take that much money out of my down payment savings. However, it's for such a good cause that I feel like God will make it up too me. It's not like I'm just blowing the money on something really materialistic, it's for charity!!! Aghhh. It just makes me really nervous.
Moving on, I am having a spring break sleepover. My parents just don't know about it yet. I already told everyone they could come over on Monday night. Ooops. I just am waiting for the "right" moment to ask them. They didn't seem to happy that I texted them at 1:30am yesterday to tell them I was sleeping on campus. It is just a frustrating situation. I feel like they don't trust me, my mom asked if, "I was as drunk as a skunk." And they think I'm being very inconsiderate if I don't call and check in. I just wish that they would trust me more. It is really the only downfall to living at home. They live is such a bubble, I feel like they have no idea how "conservative" of a kid I am.
grrrr.
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