Recently, a very cocky and cynical individual made the remark, “It’s great that you have good grades, but you do go to just a community college…”

I walked off.  Then, I turned myself around to face that individual.  My heels dug into the ground, I pulled my shoulders back, looked him in the eye and said, “Heck yes I do.  And when your swimming in a mountain of debt with your 3.08 gpa don’t you dare ask me how I made it in life…”

I threw on my confident smirk and walked off again.

Community College Myths

1) It’s the same people you went to HS with.
—–> No.  It is for people of all walks of life.  We are proud to be so diverse here.  I have had women with kids wanting to change their career paths in classes as well as 17 year olds who are taking college level courses in high school.  I have met people from every continent.  Trust me…my highschool class sure didn’t have over 5200 students- I doubt anybody else’s does.

2) Intelligent people go straight to 4 years.
———> I ran out of fingers counting how many friends I made with 4.0’s.  If the idea of intelligence is cramming the night before a test because your class size is too large to speak to the teacher so you don’t absorb the information anyways, I guess a 4 year may be right for you.  I will agree that some classes are easier than others, but let’s be honest here…Not all schools were created equal.  The best way for some is to go to a community college to knock out prereq’s, to win scholarships, that pay for your transferring education.

To be continued….

With the magic of the holidays, a girl sometimes likes to reflect on everything she has learned the past year.  While you are sitting there at your computer, may you find this article rather contemplative. By that I mean, I encourage you to look back through the past year and write down all of your advances, lessons in life, and triumphs.

1.) I learned that sometimes the majority of people are right.  Whether it is about a new hair color, or what my own future holds- sometimes it pays to just go with the flow.

2.) I learned how to put my own ego on a shelf and care about the wellbeing of somebody else.

3.) I learned the best way to become a true friend is to help somebody carry a 400 pound treadmill up 3 flights of stairs and be late for a pedicure.

4.) I learned that a simple “Thank you card” really can go a long way.

5.)  I realized the best cure for any ailment will always be love & coffee.

6.)  A 4.0 isn’t everything, but it sure is most everything (come on, laugh).

7.) I learned I will never be that girl who can walk successfully in heels across a room, or dress exceptionally well.  I can however, rock a hoodie and tennis with amazing style!

8.) I learned that everybody will return a smile.

9.)I learned that the majority of people just want somebody who listens to them- not talks to them.

10.) I learned that all my future possibilities are because I went to a college I didn’t ever expect to go to, and made the most out of it.
Happy Holidays!

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How to Have a Super Hot Finals Week (No Books Required)!

The frigid 34 degrees outside will be considered warm in comparison to the week to come.  Temperatures will dip below freezing just as college students all around the metropolitan area will become stressed out for finals week.  At the Iowa Western campus, some teachers have already begun their rigorous testing.  Buena Vista University is officially starting finals next week.  Across the river, backpack lugging Husker fans are starting to crack open the books at the bars during Monday night football.    Indeed, something needs to be hot and exciting during the next few weeks.  Why not make it be yourself?  The following are the top 3 proven ways to relax (while getting gorgeous), right before cram time.

• Get yourself a pedicure. There’s a great place on Emmett street in Omaha that would do a terrific job of pampering your toes! Treat yourself to a relaxing foot bath, citrus beads, a hot stone massage, and then a polish of your choice.  Pedi’s are not just for females anymore, as more males become interested in relaxing that overworked (and underappreciated) body part.

• Have a hot bath. It’s cliché.  Seriously though, the local grocery stores are having steep discounts on citrus fruits.  Buy yourself a medium sized one and squeeze the juice into the tub.  Then, add some fun fizzies or salts and relax.  It’s a sure way to achieve at least 80 degrees!

• Enjoy a fireplace, cappuccino’s, & bad music. It is true that sometimes, there really is nothing better in life than a latte.  Pick out a new variety and brew it at home while the fireplace is heating up.  Then, turn on some really bad music.  The type that you secretly enjoy when nobody else is around.  The oldies yet always goodies (Spice Girls, 98 degrees, Cher).  Relax for once.

The temptation may be there for college students to stick their heads into textbooks.  However, its almost freezing outside, at least be hot!

I was feeling fat.  I went to the gym.  Upon entering the gym, I checked the mail.

The mailbox had a scratch and win card from the local Chevy dealership.  I guess some lucky individual is about to win a Camaro.  I scratched that card with a fervor of excitement.

I was a winner. That’s right. Me.  A winner.  After torching through my fat calories, I ran home.  ”Trav we won something!”  He then had to call the dealership.  Only they couldn’t tell us what we won unless we agreed to test drive a car and visit.  Sure thing.

We get there.  We read the fine print on the drive.  9997 out of 10,000 was the chance you could win from that scratch card a Butterball turkey.  Your odds of winning a turkey were yes…99.97%.

We won a turkey.  Not the Camaro, the flat screen tv, the blackberry, or anything else.  We won a turkey.

The sales lady went to grab our new pet.  However, they ran out an hour ago.  The odds of winning a lottery ticket if the turkey’s run out- 100%.  We won one.

I scratched that with a fervor similar to that of the first scratch card.  We won $15.  I bought 15 more scratch cards.  Those were scratched with slightly less of a fervor as my penny was now dull and my hand now cramping.

I won $20.  The odds? No friggen clue.  I then went to Hy-Vee and bought a turkey.

Does anybody know how to cook a turkey?!

As many of you know already, last semester I met the most interesting and yet amazing individual.  With her permission, I am going to share a story about a day in an anonymous class.  She does wish to stay anonymous, so for the sake of this tale I am going to call her Katie. 

~ ~ ~

The topic that day when we went into class was dominant and recessive genes and the traits that can be passed down to offspring.  From the comfort of the front row, I took notes just in case there was anything new to learn. 

Little did I know, I would learn something very new that day.  The following 5 minutes changed the life of everybody in the room.

Teacher, “So for example, if both parents are caucasion a child can not be african american.  Another example, if both parents are blue eyed-it is impossible to have a brown eyed offspring.”

Katie laughed. 

“Is there something you would like to share Katie?”

“No offense but thats wrong information.  My eyes are brown and my parents both have blue eyes.” 

Did you spot the problem?!  Thank goodness to Katie’s great personality and bubbling manner the incident was quickly resolved. 

Hello-
Everything has been going alright since my admission to UNMC over a week ago.  I recently had a chipper little visitor who had me rolling in laughter over all the silly things we could do once I left. 

Here is just a tidbit of all of that.  While the semester hasn’t stopped and many of you haven’t had the privilege of getting a break- I have been perfectly relaxed (none of my homework loads on this shummy computer).

Allow me to preface by saying: Some of these are completely obnoxious and originally came from a book in a novelty store 

Enjoy!

1.) Go roller blading

2.) Pour water in hand, make sneeze noise, sneeze on the back of Hannah’s neck (of course this completely gives it away).  —this actually came from Google

3.)Have a “I’m not competitive contest”.  Of course, if you want to lose you are still competing to win and it ill eventually drive you crazy.  Again, taken from that search engine we love called Google.

4.)Share this link with as many lovely people as possible.  http://www.hallmark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ecard%7C10001%7C10051%7C682091%7C-2;-102001;11446;-102034;183072%7Cecard%7CPR4S%7Cecards?cardType=premium&template=n&categoryId=183072

5.)Make one of those fleece tie blankets that everybody but me can figure out.

6.)Turn on the radio to something other than country.  Practice singing each song with a country twang.  Instantly hick-a-fying things makes everybody laugh.  General rule: anything rap is instantly hilarious!

7.)  Convince somebody else to sit in a library and hum at an annoying rate until somebody else decides to react.  (I’m sure Dan will, Jk). 

8.) Make one of those old fashioned prank calls that we all remember when we were like…6.

9.) Pretend to go to that Apple Orchard, (I’m sure it’s closed by now).

10.)  When there’s a snowman, take the head off and put it next to it.  Cover the base with ketchup.  (Hilarious)!

I celebrate my 22nd birthday this year from my private room at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.  The life expectancy is 33.  Any person in my situation would divide the two just to see how much life they have lived and what is left.  .67 of my life has been lived.  .33 is left. 

I know that life expectancy changed, and at least I inherited a disease where there is hope.  It doesn’t limit my ability to communicate.  I do not look different from other people (sure the fiery red hair is unique).  My synapses send and receive information in a normal manner.  It is true, I look completely normal.

However, I believe this blog shouldn’t be any normal blog.  It should be cheerful.  It should focus on the positives of Cystic Fibrosis. 

1. Thank you Cystic for making me intelligent.  I now understand to get through college I need to study extra to make up for the two weeks every few months I am put into the hospital.  Without this lesson, I wouldn’t have a 4.0

2.Thank you Cystic for teaching me to network and be resourceful.  I know every person  I meet I can one day form a relationship with that is beneficial for all parties involved.  I refuse to be the girl that people forget.  Cystic, you made me branch out of my box and enrich other’s lives.

3.Thank you Cystic for making me money hungry.  I know my battle with insurance and jobs liking me after I go away time after time will damper my spirits.  By teaching me to be aggressive and giving me intelligence, I can beat the insurance scandals and make Forbe’s List in just enough time. 

4.Thank you Cystic for making me love.  Many people can’t love those around them because they do not understand the value of life.  By 22 years old, I have found and will marry the man of my dreams.  I love my family despite hardships in growing up.  I still have friends from elementary school.  I genuinely love everybody who has come close enough to me to realize how short life is.

5. Thank you Cystic for making me strong. I may not be able to bench more than my 4′11″ mother, but I can withstand emotional news that would break down the average woman into a pile of sobs.  I do not cry.  Many people say I have a level of emotion that is comparable to a straight line.  Cystic, through killing my friends and keeping me alive- you made me strong.

6. Thank you Cystic for making me love my body.  I hear about anorexia, bulimia, women complain their breasts are too small or their hips are too wide.  I hear women spending hundreds on outfits to impress the outside world.  I hear makeup revenues stay constant, despite the economy- and yet, here I am in a hospital room without a shower.  My hair is piled on top my head and my clothes came from Goodwill.  I love my body.  I have always thought I was beautiful.  My legs carry me through troubled times, my shoulders convey confidence business executives have.  My face is heart-shaped to reflect my personality, and my pale skin is evidence that I don’t need makeup for a blemish.  I love that sometimes my hips hug my jeans.  I love waking up to see I am still that gorgeous girl.   

7. Thank you Cystic for my ability to dream.  I am not limited by that set of rules of bureaucracies have when they begin telling me to wait my turn in line.  I know that true love is able to change a soul and miracles can happen.  Thanks to Cystic, I know that the dreams I have are only attainable by looking some man in a suit down and telling him the way I expect things to work.  My opinions are valuable and my dreams are conceivable and I don’t need policies to validate that.

8.Thank you Cystic for my ability to seek out the good in the world.  For example, there are some teachers this coming spring who are able to work with my needs to move to Florida and are busy trying to set up arranged courses.  I am attracted to good quality wholesome people and in turn, they are attracted to me.  Thank you Cystic. 

9. Thank you Cystic for my ability to eat all the chocolate i want.  Most people can only have so many calories a day- but because I don’t digest anything I eat- I can eat a bunch of chocolate without much complication at all. 

10.  Thank you Cystic Fibrosis for making me live.  I may statistically be at .67 but the memories, events, love, friendships, stories easily make me years above my peers.  As a result, I am friends with people in their forties and will continue to grow very quickly. 

Cystic- you could of chosen anybody to kill.  I’m really glad you picked me.  Cheers to (.67 x hope) for a longer life with you.

Last night, I celebrated for the first time in about 6 years- Halloween ( I have been hospitalized every single Halloween).  I was finally well enough to experience all the costumes, decorations, candy, makeup, and pumpkins.

Trav and I went over to my family’s house, where every holiday is a competition to outdo the one previously (just wait until my Christmas blog).  Their yard had over 30 decorations.  Zombies, ghosts, demons, and skulls hung from the trees.  Tombstones, luminaires, fake hands, pumpkins decorated the yard.  There was even a fog machine they purchases to blow fog across their yard.

In addition, there were a few strobe lights beating different speeds.  Sirius XM radio was playing loudly from the garage the Halloween station.  Random screams and dungeon noises filled the smokey air.

Mom, dressed up as an evil witch.
My dad, brother and his girlfriend were the mediators.
Travis was a zombie with a fake bony hand that felt much like the tips of a rake.
I went for a rather cliche role: the healthy dead girl.

We only had 25 trick or treaters, almost all under the age of 7.  Ashley would lead them up to the bowl of candy, in which mom held as if she was an inanimate decoration in the lawn.  Just as the kid would take a piece, mom would spring to life and scream.  The kids would step back, and Travis would jump out of a pile of leaves and scream “BOO!”.  Overall, about every kid cried.  After each tear, Trav would have to rip off his mask to let the kids know they were safe.

Enjoy!

Now that midterms are over, it is more prominent than ever before just how many empty seats are popping up in my classes.  Kids who are deciding college may not be right for them, adults who decide entering the workforce is a better idea, family emergencies, sick days, and military duty seem to be plucking students out of their desks and placing them accordingly where they may fit in society.

Last Wednesday night I fell asleep to that thought.  How society decides where we ultimately wind up despite fate, freewill, and determinism.  Despite all we try to accomplish our world ultimately shapes us, rather than us shaping the world.  Can that be true?

I woke up Thursday morning three hours earlier than what my alarm was set for.  Full of vital energy, I got ready for the day and decided to stop at the local Kum n Go for a cappaccino.  Afterall, it was 6:30 am and I felt at peace with the world and where I was (maybe a caffeine jolt could get me back to my more cynical self).

I drove around for the next two hours rethinking that simple thought.  Am I here because some unknown force knew I would be successful here and at this time in my life, unsuccessful anywhere else?  Or am I here simply to pass the time between where I should be and where I currently am?

I pulled up onto campus at roughly 7:53 a.m.  and began to walk towards admissions office from the Kanesville parking lot for my 9-12 shift in admissions.  As the darkness from night faded into daylight, the birds started singing and the squirrels danced for what food they could find, I took a deep breath to fully notice this place.

A student sat at the sundial facing my direction.  He seemed quite exhausted as if any moment life would put him where he was needed, despite trying to be at the sundial during sunrise.  As I approached, a foot away, he seemed to look past me as if I was just another image in the background without life.  Looking down at his phone quickly, he opened what must have been a text message and wiped a tear from his face.

I finished my walk as if I was merely floating towards admissions, not even feeling the ground underneath me.  The cold suddenly didn’t sting my nostrils or take my breath away.  It was as if everything in my life was coming together, for the first time, for a reason.

Maybe your here because of work, school, friends, or visiting.  Maybe you read this because you just won a special award from Iowa Western (congrats Nicole), and because of your excellence you enjoy keeping up with students.  Maybe you read this because you are about to join a club (Phi Theta Kappa initiates- congratulations) and need to know what others think.  Maybe you read this blog because everybody tells you to (thanks admission’s office) or maybe because you are sitting there, with your own coffee, wanting a break from what society has you doing (Becky).

Either way, thank you all for making where I wound up  the greatest place for me to be at.