A funny thing happened in shyam's room...

so Ishanee came down to visit us because we were about to watch an episode of alias

so she was really excited, why? she had pepper spray on her keychain

and who else was in the room, but the genius who is ravi antani

what did he say?

"oh can i try it?"

so he sprayed it into our trashcan

it was fine until drunk kevin came into our room

and he started dying...gagging....choking....

and we didn't realize it until he walked out of the room towards the water fountain

within minutes the rest of the occupants in the room (the ishanee, rp, james magown, ravi, davey, and chris)  started coughing as well

we had to evacuate our room

it was depressing

but after letting our room air out it's much better

mmmmhmmmm

Priotritizing

It feels great to just forget the world and stare at the sky while laying on the grass at the Capitol.

If you haven't already done so--do it.

It's such good relaxation.

To imagine that you are but a small part of the entire cosmos

It really puts your problems in perspective. Imagine if you were to fall off the face of the earth tomorrow--the world would still spin and everyone would, yes grieve for your loss, but they would go on with their normal lives.

Lesson: Don't let the stresses of your problems get to you.

The Problem: Living life with that motto.

I went with the Ishanee and we talked about everything.

Like how sitting on the capitol lawn was like a perfect art piece in my opinion.

Above you is the vast night sky. To your left is your escape from the world (for me it's art and architecture so the Capitol Building was right there :) To your right is the real world filled with school, stress, friends, and everything in between (and to our right was campus). 

le sigh

We talked and realized the most important part of our life was the people we care most about. Which is why/where the topic of this post is.

Prioritize. Who have you not seen in a while? If they've made an impact on  your life make it a point to keep in touch with them. Send them an email, give them a ring, go out and grab lunch with them. 

I've been trying to work on this myself.

Progress thus far:

Thursday-Lunch with Kali

Weekend HIMYM marathon-Holly R.

Message sent to Bethann for Lunch

I'm psyched.

We also talked about this:

So some people think I have a flaw. I'm not so sure what to think. They  say I spread myself out to thin. So thin that I can't get really close to anyone. Everyone is a best friend. They say there should be a limit. Have friends but have an even closer circle of bffs. I understand their perspective but I like having many close friends. It may mean I may not get to know their inner demons and hushed up secrets but you know I'll be close enough to be invited to their weddings--that's all that counts, right? JK.

I feel it may be my only child tendencies kicking in. But honestly, I'm not sure. 

Am I attached to all of them? YES beyond a doubt. This goes back to the another point. How can I keep in touch with all of them? Urgh.  A matter for another day.

New Perspectives

So I've been reading a book that changed my perspective.

One Day, All Children by Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for America.

Woah. I cannot even imagine starting from scratch a teaching corps that is be essential in the educational reform aims of this country. From scratch. No money, which means no people to help you because you can't pay them, and no one to understand your ideals because it's a new idea that hasn't even been tested--a pure hypothesis. 

One year a senior thesis, the next an actual corps comprised of 500 live bodies. Sheer genius.

This program is now so competitive that it's harder to make it to the corps than it is to get into Harvard. The good thing: you're not competing with anyone. If every applicant is qualified, everyone will get in.

Anyways what I got from this book:

1.) Do something extraordinary. So I've changed my concentration to Pre-Vet. I realized the stresses that surround the medical world. I'll work with people and with animals. My mother was very apprehensive about this decision. But when I asked my Mom when I am happiest the most she knew the answer. When I am with my dog. 

2.) I was volunteering at Johnston High the other day when a girl was reading through her government notes. She came across the section "Devolution in Oregon." She called me over and

 asked, "What is Oregon (which she pronounced origin)? I googled it and it told me something about the Pacific." I was baffled! A senior not knowing one of the 50 states of the United States! This is what the book was talking about--the rift between  education of the higher income sector and the lower income side. It made me realize the impact the work of TFA is doing for this country. It makes me want to join the corps. 

Audrey Hooks an alumni from TFA came in and talked to us about her experience at a school in Houston. She told us about her class and how it was hard for her to "come up with an incentive to make John do his homework or to get Greta to multiply," and I really really want my own class now.

Ok done with the book talk and onto a fun thing!

Art of the Day....corny I know

but I love art

The Pieta by Michelangelo

mmmm....

I stood in front of this piece of art and tears literally streaked down my face. So beautiful. The contours. The limp body of Jesus spread across the lap of his devoted and loving mother. Her face is etched with grief over the loss of her beloved son. Imagine carving that out of a single block of marble with nothing but a chisel and an idea of what the finished product is going to look like in your mind. He was a genius. Socially awkward and condescending but a genius nonetheless. The creases in her gown are in the right places, the weight of his body is weighing down on her in all the right places--such natural and elegant drapery. It all seems so tangible. This is the piece that first alerted me of my attraction and affinity to art and architecture. It probably would have had a greater effect if it wasn't behind a sheet of bullet-proof glass. Some madman came into the cathedral many years ago and started chipping away at it with a chisel...weirdo

the end.