Wrapping up my Walt Disney World College Program

My last episode as a Walt Disney World College Program participant. Soon I'll be updating from Disneyland!!

Goldie's Last Day

Goldie Daws Passed away yesterday (December 6, 2009)

She had been having trouble using the bathroom on her own. She had something blocking her bladder. Doctors tried everything. We had to put her down. :,( One of the many risks that comes from leaving home for something like the Disney College Program...home won't stay on pause until you get back as much as you would like for it to.

GOLDIE

Eeyore mixed with Dug.

She was shy but she loved everyone unconditionally.

She was humble.

She was sweet.

I'll miss her running around the room when she would get excited.

She was always there when I needed her.

We had a great 12 years together.

I put this video together with old clips and photos I found of Goldie on my computer. The song is called Goldie's Last Day by PFR. We named her after this song.

Halloween Vlog.

Check out my latest video blog!!

Older Vlog post and a video of me as a safari driver!

Kilimanjaro Safaris!

I love working as a safari driver!!!! It rocks!!

Check out my latest vlog:

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Rafiki's Planet Watch

New vlog post!

I'm here...living at the happiest place on earth!!!!

Hellooo!

I'm officially at Disney! Check in was yesterday and it was fun. They had us non-stop busy. Kinda reminded me of the first day at Mars Hill College except with a lot more people and a great disney flare.

First we were at Vista Way for room assignments and such. Then we had a little bit of free time and after that we went to Casting. Casting was AMAZING. That building is gorgeous. It reminded me of those videos of Pixar on the special features of all their DVDs. Very cool environment. I definitely had that whole "oh my gosh I'm really doing this" feeling as soon as I walked through the doors. The doorknobs by the way were like the doorknob from Alice in Wonderland. Super neat. Then there's a great rotunda with are gold disney statues on pillars and a disney cast member to greet you. Then you turn to your left and wall down this beautiful corridor that has awesome paintings on the walls from Alice in Wonderland. After that you follow a maze through the building as you talk to different representatives about what your job, your look, and various other important items. Hmm...I just put that together...the building is very maze-like...and it's Alice in Wonderland themed. I seem to remember a maze at the end of that movie. I wonder if that was intentional. They give you like 5 pounds worth of paper work.

I met some fun people and I'm realllly anxious to meet more.

I had two people recognize me from my vlog updates on youtube!! It went something like "wait...are you Jenny Daws?" and "Jenny Daws!" haha...I was a bit shocked. But verrrry flattered.

Also a few people have asked me if I'm a character performer or if I'm going to be Snow White. Hmm I guess it's the short hair cut. It's a nice compliment tho! I think I will be her for Halloween...I was already toying around with the idea. Tho...I'm not very fond of her or that movie.

I'm sitting in the computer lab waiting on my next vlog to finish uploading. Make sure to check it out. There is someone in here listening to Avril Lavigne very loudly on their headphones. I don't mind because I love her!! Good stuff.

My roomies seem to be pretty nice! We are all very different but I think it's cool because that means we'll have lots to learn from each other.

Oddly enough I haven't met anyone yet who shares my love for High School Musical. Which seems pretty weird!! But I have enjoyed talking to other disney lovers! One of my roomies has Disney Scene It...we will have to have a tournament soon!

I am most definitely working at Animal Kingdom at in "Africa" at Rafiki's Planet Watch and I'm very very excited about my job there! What more could a girl want?! Working at the happiest place on earth, at Disney's Animal Kingdom, in "Africa", working with and around exotic (mostly African) animals every day, with unlimited access to the parks!!!??!! How did I get here?!?! Thank you, God!! Thank you thank you thank youuuuuuuu!

I'm taking Corporate Analysis and Exploring Guest Services at Disney. Sadly, they don't start for a month or two.

Also I found out a cool place to volunteer with if my schedule works out. Give Kids the World. Terminally ill kids and their families can come and go to the parks for free!! ALSO...John Stamos is one of the chairman of the organization!!! WOW WOW WOW. There are DEFINITELY perks to volunteering ;). Thank God for the Bonner scholarship and giving me a love for volunteer work!

I could go on for hours typing about my adventures, but my vlog just ended and I'm finally having the urge to do some cooking. I better run and get something going before I loose that urge!! I'd say that cooking for me is kind of like blogging, vlogging, collaging, and writing...I can't really do it unless I'm inspired. Which means I might be starving for this little bit. :P

Watch my vlog here :)

Last vlog before I become a Disney Cast Member!

I'll be arriving in the Orlando area in 3 days and checking into the Disney College Program on Wednesday, which is in 4 days! Check out my last vlog until I am officially a Disney Cast Member!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMr77MDEoCs

Bittersweet.

I'm worried, sad, and bummed out about a few key things in my life tonight. Most of them having to do with leaving my family in 15 days to move to Orlando, FL for the Disney College Program and the various issues related to that.

I kinda wish I could be transported back to 1998 in Rome, GA, in the front yard of our house at 1863 Floyd Springs Rd. Once again playing in the fall leaves with my bestest little girl friends without a care in the world about where I'm going to be, or how I'm going to keep my family safe, close, and happy. We were golden then. Instead I would just be in that peaceful state of mind that goes along with being an 11 year old kid. Not worrying about what the rest of my life will look like at all. Back then the thought never crossed my mind that someday my family wouldn't be together, or that there would come a day when I would have to miss holidays with my family to pursue my dreams. It was just certainty that we'd be a unit always.

And now, the thought of moving away, to possibly never be a resident in my parents home again, to start my own path is tearing me apart. Thoughts of not being able to come home for the weekend if I need to. Or the ever real fact that Jer no longer lives here and that he's not on vacation, he's really gone to start his own path as well and I don't even know when I'll see my brother again :,(. Thoughts of what I'll be missing while I'm gone, Christmas with my family, my animals, my nephew, quality time with my parents and siblings that still live here. It rips me apart. My brothers, Becca, and I have finally reached an age where we are all on the same page and I love them so much more now that we're all adults than ever before, and now I'm leaving? Just when I'm starting to build such great relationships with them? Where will I be in the next 6 months? Where will the rest of my family be? Who is gonna take care of Molly?

When I said "goodnight" to Molly tonight and she licked me on the nose like she often does, I couldn't help but shed a tear...How can I leave her? It's not like college where I can come home every few weeks. 5 months away from her? What will she think? How will she feel?

I just don't know about all this growing up business. I keep thinking of all the wonderful things that I've taken for granted about the infamous Daws family all these years, and now that I finally appreciate everything that is the essence of Daws and everyone in this amazing unit I was born into, I'm leaving and everyone is going there separate ways and all manner of changes are taking place! It's just not fair. I dare anyone to say that we are not a special family. There's just something about the Daws family that is magical.

I just wish I could fast forward and make certain that the future of the Daws family will be bright. I think then I could leave a little easier.

I'm reminded of a quote from Father of the Bride,

"I mean, I know I can't stay, but it's like I don't want to leave." - Annie Banks

:,(

23 days til Disney!

I have two new blog posts. Episodes 6 and 7.

Check them out here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_LDJFJD8AQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VkZ4oKLRAA

I spent the week before last in Asheville, NC. I have sooo many awesome friends who live there. It might be one of my favorite places in the world. So many great memories from college there too.

I found out that I will likely be working at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Sweet! I just might get to use my biology degree after all! I love that.

I'm so stinkin' excited. I'm really gonna miss my family and my pets though. :/

From the Inside Out - Todd Fields

From the Inside Out - Todd Fields 

(well...i'm not sure who wrote this song first...

but i've been listing to his version on repeat.)

A thousand times I've failed Still your mercy remains

 And should I stumble again Still I'm caught in your grace

  Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades

 Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

 my heart and my soul, Lord I give you control

 Consume me from the inside out Lord 

Let justice and praise become my embrace 

To love You from the inside out  

Your will above all else, my purpose remains 

The art of losing myself in bringing you praise  

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades 

Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame 

In my heart, in my soul, Lord I give you control 

Consume me from the inside out

Lord Let justice and praise become my embrace 

To love You from the inside out  

Chorus 2x 

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades Never ending, 

Your glory goes beyond all fame 

And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise

From the inside out Lord, my soul cries out

Todd Fields is my favorite worship leader/artist.  Check him out on iTunes.  

All of his songs are so powerful.

2 new "vlog" posts! check it out!!

Here's an update of what I've been up to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDyLktkEAbo&feature=channel_page

Here's a little slide show music video I put together of past times at Disney World with my family and friends! The song is a pretty awesome remix of attractions sounds and songs from different parks. I'm not sure where the song came from ...but it's great for diehard disney fans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIZ972o2o_g&feature=channel_page

Memorable Quotes...

The Daws Family: we are movie people, we are television people.

Some families are sports families, some are music families, some are book families, some are car families, and some are other-kinds-of-things families. But my family: we are movie and tv people. We know tons of movie and tv trivia and most of our conversations consist of quotes or references from movies and tv shows that we love. Because of this, hanging out with my family is like being in a special club that speaks its own language.

I view my life as if it were a movie. I compare it to things I've seen or heard in movies. I think in movie quotes.

Here are just a few of the quotes that have been swirling around in my head lately:

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Kathleen Kelly: Sometimes I wonder about my life. I lead a small life. Well, not small, but valuable. And sometimes I wonder, do I do it because I like it, or because I haven't been brave? So much of what I see reminds me of something I read in a book, when shouldn't it be the other way around? I don't really want an answer. I just want to send this cosmic question out into the void. So good night, dear void. - You've Got Mail

Lucy: Do you believe in love at first sight? Nah, I betcha don't, you're probably too sensible for that. Or have you ever, like, seen somebody? And you knew that, if only that person *really* knew you, they would, well, they would of course dump the perfect model that they were with, and realize that YOU were the one that they wanted to, just, grow old with. Have you ever fallen in love with someone you haven't even talked to? Have you ever been so alone you spend the night confusing a man in a coma? - While You Were Sleeping

Harrison Winslow: Who came up with this ridiculous concept anyway? Resolve your entire life in one bold stroke? What if I fail? And I will. I'll fail. I'm telling you. I always fail. Then my whole life will be a complete failure.
Thomas Reilly: No offense, Harrison. But you died a failure because you never tried. - Heart and Souls

Milo Peck: Hey, life's tough. Sometimes you don't get what you want. Mostly you don't get what you want.

- Heart and Souls

Thomas Reilly: I've loved people before and they went away. So a long time ago I made a decision that I wasn't gonna need anybody anymore. I wasted most of my life that way. And I know I'm late and I know don't deserve it, I need you I love you. - Heart and Souls

Mike O' Donnell: When you're young everything feels like the end of the world. But it's not; it's just the beginning. You might have to meet a few more jerks, but one day you're gonna meet a boy who treats you the way you deserve to be treated. Like the sun rises and sets with you.
- 17 Again

Bailey: Ya know, I don't know, Tibby, maybe the truth is there's a little bit of loser in all of us, ya know? Being happy isn't having everything in your life be perfect. Maybe it's about stringing together all the little things like wearing these pants or getting to a new level of Dragon's Lair - making those count for more than the bad stuff. Maybe we just get through it... and that's all we can ask for. - Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
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I think my favorite kinds of movies are those with beautifully spoken, meaningful words. My favorite songs are the same way. I'm a words person. When I listen to a song or watch something...I pay way more attention to what is being said than what the music sounds like or the way something was shot. Because of this, I love movies that have some kind of narration or voice over either by an outside narrator or ones that are narrated by the main character. Those are the best!

I will NOT waste this summer, ok!?

I have no real obligations until August 12th.

This is frustrating. Although something that is even more frustrating is the fact that whenever I'm extremely busy, I hope for down time like this and whenever I'm extremely "un-busy" I hope for something to consume my time.

Why can't I be satisfied? Whenever I have a million friends around...I wish to be alone. Whenever I'm alone I wish I had someone to hang out with. What's up with that?! I'm very fickle.

I've been trying to come up with ideas of what to do with all this free time...

• Read The Chronicles of Narnia
• Have a daily time with God
• Re-learn French
• Learn to cook

But somehow I can't bring myself to wake up before 11 for such simple and seemingly unimportant activities.

It occurred to me the other day ...I've never read ALL the way through the Bible. Which seems pretty stupid since I base my life and all my decisions on it's teachings.

When I was always busy with school I always promised myself...

"if only I had some free time, I'd do all the things I always put off because of all my obligations." Well that time is now and one of those things on my "list" was to read the Bible.

So perhaps since I have absolutely nothing to do and it's a rare occasion when I actually have anyone to hang out with in the mind-numbingly boring city of Buford, maybe I should just bite the bullet and commit to reading the Bible this summer.

I'm frustrated with me...I WILL make the most of this down time!!! I don't want to wait my summer!!

Actually the only reason I am writing this...is because I need some way of keeping myself accountable...so at least next time I write hopefully if I haven't been keeping up with this commitment, this post will convict me and I'll be held accountable.

I have NO excuse for not reading...so feel free to yell at me if need be.

60 days and counting...

It's hard to believe that in 60 days I'll be working at Disney World with unlimited access to all 4 parks whenever I feel like going. WTF!?! Crazzzzzzy!

Not too much has been going on...

Here's another video update!

Learning how to use iMovie!

I am trying to learn how to use iMovie so that my video blogs can be much more entertaining :)  

Here's my first try...tell me what ya think!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCPK_RO_I0w

Video Blog!?!

Check out my new youtube account!

I am now a video blogger...crazzzzy!

So, I didn't realize how ridiculously shy I am.  I can do all sorts of stupid silly things in front of a camera....but when it comes to being serious...I need some practice.  I wonder if there is any deeper meaning to that...do I not take myself seriously enough?  Maybe that's why I always have trouble getting everyone else to take me seriously!  Hmm...who knew you could learn so much about yourself just from making a video blog.  :-P

My new video blog endeavour is made possible by my brand NEW MacBook!! Yay!

Also I have a NEW hair cut!  It's super short.  I've always wanted to cut it this short...It definitely takes some getting used to though.  I go back and forth between loving it and hating it...I'm quite the indecisive woman.  

We'll see what comes of this whole video blogging thing...I'm just testing the waters.  

http://www.youtube.com/user/jennydaws

Church Hopper Extraordinaire

I just want to find a contemporary church with meaningful sermons from taken from the bible and good worship, where I can connect with other Christians who are around my age and in the same stage of life!!! It's a shame that I'm striking out trying to find that. I'm sick of church hopping!

I've had some crazy church hopping experiences...there was the time I visited a church just to watch the preacher teach the congregation how to cook a delicious meal of chicken or the time when the pastor of the church pelted the congregation with packages of skittles. I want to go to a church that's not ridiculous!! Like the good ole days when churches weren't trying to impress you with showing things...like food!! lol. Also I want a church that isn't so big that i'm just another number!!

If you would have asked me or anyone who knew me when I was younger if I thought I'd be a church hopper or almost completely a non-church go-er when I became an adult I would have laughed!

I grew up as a pastors kid, assuming the daddy's little princess role in our church and eating it up! I loved the church I grew up in...and I still love it! I will most likely get married in that church. Unfortunately we didn't stay at that church or in that area past age 11. Due to even more unfortunate circumstances, after I was about 17 my dad never really had a steady church he was pastoring. Now that he does interim pastor work (he comes in and works as the pastor until they get a permanent guy to come), the churches he is at are always very far away from our house. So here I am living at home again (at least for the summer) as a college graduate, in a city I never really connected with, having few friends here, and all I want is a place to connect!!

I am soooo over the suburbs...cities are fun, but I really love small towns and the community feeling that comes with them.


So I guess I'll just stay home tomorrow...maybe watch a sermon online or something. I don't have a great attitude about find a church either lol...I'm just frustrated that I'm not already connected in one with lots of wonderful friends and a serious boyfriend...haha...I dunno...It's just funny how life doesn't turn out at all how you imagined it when you were 10 years old.

But I'm sure it's all part of God's master plan...just feeling a lil blue and wondering what's next for me now that college is over and life is wide open...or narrow and closed (depending on how you look at it :P)

Mars Hill College Alumni!

Hello, from the Mars Hill College graduate!

I graduated with a degree in Biology on May 9th.
The week after graduation I went to Merritt Island, FL to visit my Aunt and Uncle with Kristina (my roommate from college). I took Kristina to disney for the first time! We had lots of fun. I also got to meet some fellow upcoming disney college program participants.
The week after that (last week) I subbed every day at the daycare that my mom works at. It was really fun, though I'm glad I have this week to chill out now.
On saturday was my graduation reception. It was great! I'm glad so many people were able to come to it.

I am going to do the Disney College Program on August 12th. Until then I'm just chilling out at home, learning to cook, reorganizing my life, and looking for summer work.

Tonight I cooked my first meal of the summer, chicken tetrazzini. It turned out pretty well, I definitely ate WAYY too much of it. I'm stuffed.

Time

How the heck did I get to this point? I'm graduating from college a week from today.

All the speculating and dreaming I've done about being out of school is finally becoming a reality. I feel as though my future out of the education system will be so much free-er. I can use my free time how I want to use it. I can do what I want to do. I think what I've disliked most about this last semester and all of my time in school is that I have been a slave to my work...even when I'm not in class. I've had to spend my time learning things I don't really care about. When I get out I'll be able to relax at night and my free time will be my own again! I can spend that time indulging in the things that I love...I feel like lately my personality has been suspended because I haven't been able to do "Jenny" things ...only homework.

I am pretty darn excited about having time to read the Chronicles of Narnia again...I've been stuck in time inside of the Horse and His Boy for months! I gotta get through that book so I can find out how it all ends up (don't tell me!!!).

As we go on we remember...all the times we've...shared together.

On Tuesday I went to senior convocation and experienced my first real feeling of bittersweetness about graduating. Today was the last day of school! MY last day of school! What!? We also had graduation rehearsal today. That's when it all became real. I'm graduating in 9 days! I still have to pass my genetics and ecology final (so i can't REALLY relax until next Thursday, may 7th, when final grades are posted...but then it's official.)

It all happened so fast. I'm wishing I would have had more time to hang out with a lot of awesome people. There are so many people in my world here at Mars Hill that I always intended to or wanted to get to know better or invest more time in. It sucks that time has gotten away from me and any chances I have to be with these people are slipping away! I will miss my close friends here very much. But it's the acquaintances or friends that I didn't actually hang out with outside of classes, scholarship meetings, blueprint, or seeing them in the caf...that I'm lamenting even more. Those are the people who I might not have ever said much to...but they've meant a lot...just seeing them...having them in my bubble...around me....that's something I'll miss. It's the people that I would exchange a friendly (or sometimes flirty) smile with almost every day that I regret not having taken the time to invest in. The friends that I would say "yea sure...we'll totally hang out soon!" and then we never did...I feel pretty crappy about those relationships. I've appreciated having these people in my life so much...I just wish I could convey that to all of them!

There have been so many awesome memories...every semester has been a new and different experience. I'm so thankful for my time here and all the wonderful people that have put the color into my life.

In my newly forming adult life...I want to:

• invest in my relationships more
• make a recipe scrap book
• learn to cook
• read novels
• stop stressing out so much!
• be intentional
• life live on purpose

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HDM3eYp4KQ

Burnt to a crisp...

Not only am I burnt to a crisp from this recent emergence of glorious sunshine....I am also officially burnt out from school.

Especially now that it's beautiful outside...it's getting increasingly harder for me to concentrate. I can't fully enjoy the sunshine...but I also can't fully concentrate on school. It's actually pretty miserable and has left me in constant panic and worry. I don't like it!

I have two tests tomorrow with I feel pretty unprepared for. Every time I've tried to study, my brain shuts down and I get wayyyy overwelmed. This is a bit scary. I would hate to make it this far (13 days!!) just to fail miserably and disappoint everyone around me including myself.

I can't think like that though. I will make it! I've come too far to give up now. I got this.

I finally went onto the roof of Moore Auditorium the other day (a Mar Hill College must for every student). It was pretty awesome. You have to climb this scary metal ladder wayyyy up and then you walk along the rafters and crawl out a door onto the roof.
I enjoyed that immensely :). So I'm officially ready to graduate.

I've been listening to that Graduation song by Vitamin C alot lately. Haha...good stuff.

I'M SO READY!!

And the winner is....

I chose to do the college program at Disney World in FL!

CA was just wayy too expensive and unrealistic. Maybe I could transfer there later...but for now I'm very content with my decision to go to FL. I'm excited to be living there again...especially since it will be near my extended family which I don't get to see very often. I will be there from August 12-January 2. :) In the mean time, I'm going to try to get my old retail job back at Nordstrom in the Mall of Georgia. I hope that works out so I can make some money before I go to FL.


13 days til I graduate!

Lyrics.

I got accepted into the Disney College Program at Disney Land in California! Now I have a decision to make. FL or CA?

Whether or not I like a song usually depends on whether or not I connect with the lyrics in someway. I love lyrics. I get pretty darn impatient with songs that have really long intros because I love the lyrics so much. I totally think in song lyrics and movie quotes. So when I was trying to put into words how I am feeling about getting accepted into both Disney World and Disney Land College Programs...these words came to mind from the musical Wicked:

That's why I couldn't be happier
No, I couldn't be happier
Though it is, I admit
The tiniest bit
Unlike I anticipated
But I couldn't be happier
Simply couldn't be happier
(spoken) Well - not "simply":
(sung) 'Cause getting your dreams
It's strange, but it seems
A little - well - complicated
There's a kind of a sort of : cost
There's a couple of things get: lost
There are bridges you cross
You didn't know you crossed
Until you've crossed
And if that joy, that thrill
Doesn't thrill you like you think it will
Still -
With this perfect finale
The cheers and ballyhoo
Who
Wouldn't be happier?
So I couldn't be happier
Because happy is what happens
When all your dreams come true
Well, isn't it?
Happy is what happens
When your dreams come true!

-Glenda the "Good" Witch

It's really interesting how this has all hit me. My dreams have come true...I should be bouncing on the walls with excitement, right!? I'm learning that dreams are pretty scary once they become reality...that's when you have to think about all the little details like money and time! Either way I'm going to miss thanksgiving and Christmas with my family. Either way I'm missing out on priceless time with my nephew, my pets (especially my dog, Molly, she's getting pretty old), and my family. Either way I'm moving out and who knows if I'll live at home again. Either way I'm becoming an adult! Just as the song says "'...Getting your dreams, It's strange, but it seems, A little - well - complicated. There's a kind of a sort of : cost,There's a couple of things get: lost"

Yesterday I was leaning towards Disney Land. Today I'm leaning towards Disney World. There are pros and cons to both. Ultimately I need to spend time praying and asking God what HE wants me to do. For all I know HE might not even want me to go to either one. I need direction...I've always struggled with praying for things...perhaps this is a great opportunity for me to conquer that.

There are 20 days until I graduate. Yay!!!!!!

I'm doing my Senior Seminar Presentation on Monday! Ahhhh! I keep going back and forth between being crazy nervous and being really calm about the whole thing. I just want to get it over with! I've been freaking out about this for about a year...I can't believe it's finally here! Yikes!

Prickly

I graduate in 23 days. I love that. Really I just love that this whole stressful time will be finished. It's making me find fault with everything and everybody...it's not the Jenny we all know and love. I just need some alone time lately just to de-stress. Soon the stress will be over...I just hope I don't go too insane before it does.

BTW...Guess what!?
I got accepted into the Disney College Program at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL! Heck yea!
That's pretty freaking sweet! I'm still waiting on Disneyland in CA (my preference). But either way I suppose I'll be working for Disney in the fall. You would think I'd be crazy excited right? I'm actually seriously nervous and scared of the commitment I'm about to enter. But I'm sure I'll do great and love it.
I think I just have random commitment issues sometimes...anything long term scares me. Which is why I dislike committing to long term projects...I like short term goals. They are so much less scary and do-able. I suppose that's just my personality...maybe I don't believe in myself enough or something...who knows.

In other news...


I got my cap and gown!! Yay!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check this out...My brother's band, Stellate, is in AP magazine!! He's the second one from the left. I'm so freaking proud! I carry the pages around with me everywhere I go.


ALSO... A friend of mine, Ashley Griffin, is a graduating art major and I'm in her art exhibit this weekend at my college (sadly I can't be there)! She took photographs of a bunch of people with a creative item that defines them. (I took a picture with the t-shirt quilt that I made this past summer.) She made the person black and white and bumped up the contrast of the item. It looks pretty awesome...I'm so proud of her! Here's one of the invitations:


My photo of the invitation is pretty crappy...but you get the idea!


I also finished my senior seminar paper...but I don't have a nifty photo for that yet.

Fried!

My brain hurts.

39 days.

Starting on Friday, I'll be pretty free for the next two weeks to actually have some down time!

Gotta push through!!

As soon as I find some free time...I'm watching some freaking Full House!! Heck yea!

Graduation Announcements

I made my own graduation announcements! Not only does it save me money, it was fun!

Responsibility.

My mom works at a day care teaching two year olds. The character quality that they are learning for this month is "responsible". Last month my mom and I were chatting on the phone and we were trying to come up with a simplified definition of the word "responsible". Here's what we came up with...

Responsible: Doing what I know I should do, even when I don't want too.

Pretty good, eh? I think it pretty much sums it up. In my case...I need to be responsible as I enter the last few weeks of the semester so that I can get all my work done. I am having to do what I know I should do...homework...even when I don't want too.

My current responsibilities include:

• Genetics
• Population Community Ecology
• Senior Seminar Project
  
• Decorative and Wearable Arts (including various craft projects)
  
• Senior Bonner Internship in the Lifeworks office
  
• among various other long term responsibilities to myself, my family, my friends, and God.

Things I have to do before I can graduate (in no particular order):

• Correct Population Community Ecology (PCE) Paper
• Write a second PCE Paper
• Write the remaining reading reports for PCE
• Two more tests and finals in PCE
  
• Finish Senior Seminar Experiment
• Finish Senior Seminar Short Film
  
• Write Senior Seminar Paper
• Senior Seminar presentation
• Senior Seminar poster
  
• Two more tests and finals in Genetics
  
• Make a purse for Decorative and Wearable Arts (DWA)
  
• Refurbish an old purse for DWA
  
• Plan a tree planting for earth day for Lifeworks
  
• Finish the senior bonner handbook for the senior class
• Bonner Banquet presentation

Am I forgetting anything? Yikes....so much to do...only 45 days to do it in!

I'm feeling pretty ok about it all today...we'll see how I feel tomorrow though.


Here's a much happier list....

Things I'd rather be doing:

• Spending time with friends that I won't always have around :(
• Hanging out with Megan Anderson!
  
• Spending time with aquaintances I always meant to hang out with more
• Cleaning and organizing my room (seriously lol)
• Making sure everyone I know here at Mars Hill knows how much they've meant to me
• Enjoying my last weeks as a college student
• Spending time with my nephew
• Reading
• Watching Full House
• Making cards for all the friends I'll miss terribly
• Enjoying spring
• Going to Looking Glass Falls and Sliding Rock one last time!
• Being silly
• Appreciating/encouraging/building up my friends
  

All of this is kinda on hold until further notice. Unfortunately some things are time sensative like once I do have time...it will be too late. I just hope I can get enough quality time in with all the important people in between all the work I have to do.

Oh how I love my list making... :)

How 'bout this?

Get into the Disneyland college program.
Move to California.
Network while in the CP.
Get a job working as an intern or production assistant for Walt Disney Studios.
Network while working for WDS.
Get a job working for Disney Nature.

It makes perfect sense. Should be a piece of cake, eh?

That's my plan....what's yours, God?

Florida or California?

It's been wayyy too long!

I will be graduating college in 51 days. That is, if I can pass all my classes. I can honestly say I'm a little worried. But I'm trying not to think about it. I am so completely over biology. It's draining the life out of me...it's so hard! I will be so relieved once I've completed these last three biology classes I'm taking. Also I'm taking a decorative and wearable arts class...aside from being lots of work...this class is pretty easy.

I had previously applied to the Disney College Program at Disney World in Orlando, FL. I have not heard anything yet, except for a letter telling me that I should know by April 17th. I know that some people have already been rejected or accepted. I am on spring break though...away from my PO Box. I called the mailroom, but alas...still no letter.

My brother, Jer, is possibly moving out to California to pursue his film making dreams. My cousin and his wife are quite possibly moving out there as well. That got me thinking about Disney Land in Anaheim, California. So I have applied and had an interview with the college program at Disney Land as well.

Who knows where I'll end up. Now all I have to do is wait until April 17th. I'm not a fan of waiting.

I'm also looking for a summer job here in Georgia from May to August, if anyone knows of any!

In other news, I turned 22 last friday! I don't feel as though I'm qualified to be 22 yet! It feels weird! I went to the Magic Kingdom for my birthday. It was awesome. I got in for free and they gave me a pin that says "Happy Birthday, Jenny" ...so all the cast members kept telling me "happy birthday" all day.

The next day we went to the beach where I got scorched! I am not a sunscreen user...I just can't wrap my head around the idea of the sun being bad for me. That just can't be! I love the sun!

While in FL, I stayed with my Aunt Cindy and Uncle Vic and hung out with my cousins Paul and April and their spouses Kelly and John. I finally got to meet my cousin April's son, Dante...he is 18 months old and really well behaved. I love the Berry/Tomassoni's! I wish I loved closer to them so we could hang out more often!

I'm about to go be a good aunt and hang out with my sister-in-law, Becca and my nephew, Grant. Grant is 4 months old and super cute!

Spring break is going great.

I'll try to be better about updating.

Jump Right In!

A lot has happened and changed in the past few weeks.
Good things...Bad things...in between things.

I am so incredibly ready to be moving on. Not necessarily moving on from the people..(well...)...seriously I will miss most everyone I've had the opportunity to know here. Mostly it's just that I am ready to move on with my life in general. This section, the "college-student" part, of my life has expired. As a friend would say, "I've expended my resources here." I'm ready to take on the next stage.

I'm the senior Bonner intern in Lifeworks (the career development center at my college). I work there on Tuesdays and Thursday afternoons. I'm coordinating a career fair, making a senior handbook (a book of all the seniors' experiences as bonner scholars), and arranging a tree planting for earth day. I am thoroughly enjoying this work. Everyday I work in there I am even more excited about getting a real job. It's the closest thing I've ever experienced to a real job, where I have my own responsiblities. It's as if I'm still a lowly college student on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays and on Tuesdays and Thursdays I get a preview of my life to come...a life with no school. I can not wait.

I spent an hour on the phone with my dad just now talking about my future plans and discussing all the bills I'll be taking on once I get a good job. I'm excited to be taking over all that stuff. It will be pretty neat to have a steady income. I mean...providing I get a steady job somewhere either over the summer or after I complete Disney College in January (if I get in). If I don't get in to Disney College I might see if I can take over the Americorp Vista job at my school. That would put me working in Lifeworks as an actual employee. I'm sure I would enjoy this job because it will just be an amplified version of my volunteer job there.

I should know about Disney College by the end of the month...though it could be as late as the second week of March. I just want to know one way or another so I can make plans accordingly.

The countdown has begun....there are 78 days til I graduate.

Disney Commercials

Here are some entertaining and heart warming commercials for Disney World from years past.
Sorry for the poor quality of some of them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA93vBjD4EU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM-8SrBbOTE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b95oyhSd5ls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMlTlLZAqdE

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=512310798334

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=512324545784


Dear Disney College: please let me in!!!

Happy Late Valentine's Day

The best valentine's day song for singles :)


Love Love, Kiss Kiss - Alkaline Trio

Take a look you see I painted you a picture,
It's black and white except the blood's a little richer
Down in the corner I gave it my signature
And then I titled it "This one's for the Winter"
Check it out, you see it's just a big disaster

I dedicate it to the fact that it's so hard for you to dream,
A million heartbeats around you make it hard to sleep
Doesn't help you're freezing in your bed your blankets aren't enough
All you want is some one there, all you say is so what?

Love, Love, Kiss, Kiss, blah blah blah.
You're making me sick, I wish you'd just stop showing off
For the rest of us that no one wants to love
It's hard enough trying to drink another Winter all alone
Love, Love, Kiss, Kiss, blah blah blah.

Well do you find you like to fall in love with people that you're never gonna meet?
It's easier than breaking up and crying in the street
Do you curse the happy couple? Do you cringe at wedding bells?
Do you drink up all the punch while you wish 'em all to hell

Love, Love, Kiss, Kiss, blah blah blah.
You're making me sick, I wish you'd just stop showing off
For the rest of us that no one wants to love
It's hard enough trying to drink another Winter all alone
Love, Love, Kiss, Kiss, blah blah blah.

You can't escape this fatal case of melancholia
It's in your face, in every place you go it's stalking you
And there are days when we all say we feel we just can't go on
But you've felt this way all along

Love, Love, Kiss, Kiss, blah blah blah.
You're making me sick, I wish you'd just stop showing off
For the rest of us that no one wants to love
It's hard enough trying to drink another Winter all alone
Love, Love, Kiss, Kiss, blah blah blah.

Drama sucks....people are ridiculous.....life is good :)

I think I may have outgrown college......81 days til I graduate....and counting.

Being an Adult

Being an adult is hard. That's a fact. When you're younger you look up to adults and you get excited about being one when you grow up. ....But now that I'm there....I'm starting to realize how hard it really is.

When you're a kid you have rules supplied by your parents that you follow willingly (well...if you're a good kid)....now that I'm older I'm realizing that I have to start thinking for myself. I make the rules now. It's up to me to make sure I stay out of trouble, behave like a competent member of society, and uphold my christian values. No one is making me do it. Perhaps, It would be easier if they were, because of how much of a pacifist I am. You tell me to do something and convince me it's the right thing....and I'll stick to it...usually with no questions asked. That's just how I am. I'm compliant.

Now that I'm an adult I'm realizing that...as easy as it would be to continue on that path of following humanly orders. The hard road is to actually consult with God myself on what He wants for me and stand my ground on the way in which I feel He leads. That's hard for me...it's so much easier to just get advice from people and follow it. Wise advice is awesome and I welcome it. But I need to learn that it's ok when my personal word from God is different from what others might think I should be doing.

I am excited to see what God will do as I totally commit all my decisions to Him.

I pray...He leads...I follow. As it should be.

Purity...

I have a huge passion for purity.

As a Christ follower it is my aim to live a sexually pure life and save sex for marriage. Sex is most fulfilling if saved for the commitment of marriage. That's how it was made. Sadly, in this day and age marriage itself doesn't mean as much as it used to. There are so many divorces and the whole issue of homosexuality. But when it comes down to it....marriage is between a man and a woman who were made to complete each other and to connect in such an intimate way that is supposed to last forever through thick and thin no matter what, come what may. It's beautiful. AND if you're convincing yourself into thinking that you'll be able to ride the fence as close as possible and not eventually give in...be real with yourself. I've seen too many friends give in that way. If you're aim is to be pure...don't put yourself in tempting situations...because everyone is human...we weren't made to withstand that kind of temptation...so be smart and real with yourself.

This is kind of a touchy subject but it's on my heart because, though most people don't agree with me...I know there are those few that do and I think they should know that they're not alone in their principles.

Even if you've made a few mistakes....it's never too late to put your foot down and start out fresh. When you want to make a change, be honest with yourself, get support, make some changes that will take you out of tempting situations, don't be afraid to make some drastic sudden changes, acknowledge you can't do it alone and ask for God's help. You'll be blessed for it. Sex is so much more beautiful and fulfilling inside of marriage (I know because I have seen the effects of it in the lives of others who waited)...God knows what He's talking about having us wait...after all...He created sex. :)


1 Corinthians 6:18-20, 7:1-3
18Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.1Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry.^[c] 2But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.

Busy Bee

I'm sooooooooooo busy!!! You don't even understand....it's insane. After this week it won't be as bad though. I have sooo many commitments....2 hard biology classes, a class that requires me to do craft projects, voice lessons, choir, my bonner scholarship (interning in an office...where I'm working on a senior project...and volunteering at a homeless sheltar), biology senior seminar (a research project and short nature film), and they're going to be offering free martial arts classes at my college so I might be starting to take those too.

Am I spreading myself too thin? or just taking advantage of every last opportunity I have here in the last days of college?...plus only a few of those things are expendable...so I'm pretty tied down until May 9th. Each normal day begins at 7AM and ends at 5PM...but then I have homework and whatnot.

Tomorrow we get senior pictures taken! How exciting!

I finally figured out what I'm doing my senior seminar project on...and surprisingly enough...it was influenced by Disney Nature. I'm doing a survey of the landscape change in this area from the early 1900s up to the present. I've been going to the archives our library (where there is the sweetest little old woman who knows everything about the history of this area...fasciniating stories) and looking through all their photo archives finding all the pictures of landscapes and nature views from this area through the years. I've found 84 pictures so far that I'm going to narrow it down to the ones where the exact locations are available. Then I'm going to go to these places and film what the area look likes now. Once that's done I am going to overlay arial maps of the area from 1950 to now so that I can chart how much the landscape has changed using Geographical Information Systems. I will cut the old pictures, the new footage, and the arial maps together with some footage of some of the endemic species of plants and animals (only found in this area) that are at risk if the landscape is further destroyed. Once I've analyzed the data and done my research I will have to write a paper and I'll take excerpts from that to make a naration for my film.

It's all coming together...I figure it's something that will look good on a resume and it's a product that I can present ....just in case Disney Nature ever decided they simply couldn't go on without giving me a job interview :)

OHH speaking of Disney...I'm officially a Disney College Program applicant!!!! I have a phone interview on Friday!!!! I can't wait! If I get in I'll be going from August until January. :)

New Experiences

I'm midweek through my first week back at school. It's great to be back and see everyone. I think I'm going to love my classes. I'm taking Genetics, Population and Community Ecology, Senior Seminar, Decorative and Wearable Arts, College Choir, and Voice Lessons. Yikes! That is alot! My schedule is crazy. I'm busy from 7-5 four days a week.

College choir is definitely new for me. My voice teacher suggested that I join. I was a little nervous going to the first practice yesterday, but it wasn't so bad. I'll definitely be learning a lot as I go. Who knew that musicians speak a completely different language!? It's a struggle just figure out where we are on the page based on all the musical jargon. It's an exciting new challenge though.

Also my Decorative and Wearable Arts class is going to be amazing...we're making collages, journals, rugs, and lots of other neat crafts. It is right up my alley.

Oh and I'm a bonner scholar...so I receive tuition money in the place of volunteering 140 hours per semester at non profit organizations. This time I'm the Intern in the Lifeworks office where all the scholar staff members work. I started yesterday. I'm basically just a secretary. I just entered stuff on the computer for four hours. I really enjoyed it though...I got to listen to my ipod and just zone out. That's definitely a fun new experience. I can remember pretending to be a secretary when I was little...I still feel like I'm just playing pretend hehe.

For the rest of my bonner hours I will be returning to work at a local day center for the homeless. I'm excited about going back on Thursday.

Anywho...this is my quick post just to say that I've been having a great week back. I'm keeping up with my routines and I've been working out (my body is exhausted!). I absolutely love how my schedule is so diverse. It feels very well-rounded. I'm excited about trying some new things and pushing myself through hard classes.

Even though I get nervous or anxious about trying things I don't know much about or being in hard classes...the satisfaction of sticking with it and looking back knowing I did that...is very rewarding. So go out and try something out of your normal box! It's great :)

What to Expect from My Blog...

Since I'm in the beginning stages of this blog...let me just say a few words about what to expect fro my blog. I'm a senior in college about to graduate--I'm excited about life and all the possibilities it has for me. This is my journey into adulthood, into the real world, while still holding onto my child-like/innocent personality.

I'm all about all things positive: positive living, motivation, hope, dreams, morality, family values, encouragement, good clean substance free fun, redeeming the time, making the most of my situation, purity, staying young, living life on purpose, stepping our of my comfort zone, living an epic life, finding the good in every situation, keeping an open mind, trying new things, and just about anything else that has defined me as eternally optimistic. I'm a Christian, I'm obsessed with Disney, and I love Full House. This is where I'm at, These are the things I love and endorse.

I plan to write many blog posts that will either be in the form of ideas on how to improve, brighten, or get motivated your own life or merely happenings from my life that I hope will be an encouragement to others as they follow me through my journey.

These are the kinds of blogs you can expect from me. =)

Back to School...For the last time!!

I should be sleeping right now...but I've been struck with spontaneous motivation lately which keeps me up into the late hours of the night...the kind of spontaneous motivation that comes with every new year.

This sudden motivation boost is great...though it keeps me finding a million random things that need to be done and making never ending to do lists. As soon as I finish one list...I come up with more ideas of things that I "need" to do and I make a new one.

Eventually I'll run out of steam and probably slip back into procrastination land for a month or so...most likely this will be as soon as I get my first home work assignment. Isn't that always how it goes? Funny how that works.

Anyways I'm headed back to Mars Hill College tomorrow for my last semester! Crazy! I can remember the days of being bitterly depressed thinking I would never be done with school. I'm so ready. I'm not good with long term goals, so graduating is a really big deal to me.

I will be a college graduate on May 9th...then what? Who knows. I have lots of ideas though. I most definitely want to pick French back up. I took 4 semester of French at my community college. I was very good at it and really enjoyed it. After I transferred to Mars Hill and realizing they had no French courses, I got out of practice and forgot everything. So that's one thing. I have lots of self-improvement ideas for when I get out of school. I guess if I am unemployed for a while...at least I'll have that.

I've been trying to get my life more organized these last few days at home. I must say that iGoogle, Google Reader, and Google Calendar have really helped me out as far as organization goes. I highly recommend them. I want to start networking more as well. Not really sure what for...but networking is good no matter what I guess. Twitter is a helpful networking tool, as well as, Facebook. Sheesh...God bless the internet.

Oh and speaking of technology. My friend is giving me her used (and slightly cracked...but usable) iPhone! How amazing is that!?

Anyways, until I have something more to say...

Disneynature

...WOW.

I went to go see Bed Time Stories with my brother, Jer, today...I wasn't so sure about it going in. But it actually turned out to be really good. I laughed a lot and it left me with a nice warm fuzzy feeling. It was super wholesome and had a great message for kids, as well as adults.

But this entry is not about that...and I'm not saying "WOW" because of the movie...oh no. The thing which merits a nice big capitol "WOW" is Disney's latest film label, Disneynature. It was recently created in April of 2008 as a throw back to Disney's previous nature film endevor "True-Life Adventures." This was a nature film series started by Walt Disney himself in 1948 and continuing until 1960. It was a big hit with lots of award winning films...well apparently they're bringing it back in under the label of Disneynature.

Before the movie today they showed a trailer for the first of many films under this new label, a film called Earth. WOW...you simply must watch this trailer before you go on reading...and make it full screen...

Now you're saying it too aren't you!?...WOW. The film is from the same director/producer of Planet Earth and The Blue Planet. I haven't seen The Blue Planet, but if the movie is half as good as Planet Earth then it's sure to be AMAZING!

Anyways, when I got home I did a little research on Disneynature and visited their website. Take a look.

Disneynature is based in France and according to the website...

"Disneynature is the Walt Disney Studios' label dedicated to working with the leading filmmakers to produce one cuttting-edge theatrical release each year celebrating the wonders of the world in which we live."

"There are no stories told with more drama, excitement, humor, inspiration, than the stories nature tells. Disneynature will travel to the farthest reaches of the planet to capture these stories so that they can captivate audiences around the world."

I'm most definitely a nature person. If there is one thing that can move me...it's nature. I love a good breathtaking view. That is the sole reason why I want to travel so bad...I care little about historical sites or monuments...but to see the wonder and majesty of the natural world that just screams out the glory of God....that's something I can get behind.

After seeing the trailer for Earth I got chills! While reviewing the website my heart began to beat rapidly. I grew up on the Disney values, eating up all the "if you can dream it, then you can do it" advice. So at once the gears in my head started turning....how absolutely amazing would it be to work for Disneynature?!! Even if I was just a lowly production assistant...who cares!! I'd be based in France and traveling the world, adventuring, using my biology degree, combining it with my love for Disney, and being apart of something so grand...something that takes the glorious parts of our world that often get overlooked or can't be readily seen and brings them to light for everyone to see and marvel at our universe that can't help but point back to a creator!

WOW. I've found my dream job. Most definitely. If only....

I've been searching for an epic job or something exciting to do when I graduate. Any suggestions would be very appreciated. So far the ideas I'm looking into are....

• The Disney College Program
• Some kind of career with Disney...Adventures by Disney perhaps?
• Becoming a flight attendant
• Going to technical school to get some kind of culinary degree while living at home and working
• Going to work at Zoo Atlanta ...I interned there in the summer of 07.

I'm still searching and praying about what God wants for me...I just have this burning desire to do something filled with excitement (which definitely comes in many forms) and travel. I would also love to have the opportunity to find my way in a big city at some point in my life. We'll see what happens. I'm just waiting for a door to open.

Anyways....if you want to lift your spirits...I suggest you spend some time marveling at the world around you. It's full of inspiration :)

Live Life On Purpose in 2009!

Happy New Year!!

My friends and I had a craft party at my house for new years eve. We bought plain white shoes and decorated them and we made "resolution boards".

We also spent a big part of the night playing with a slinky...ha...I am forever amazed at how being a kid never gets old. No one ever really wants to stop playing with toys and grow up...I'm convinced that "growing up" is just a societal thing. If more people would just break down, forget about trying to be cool, and rediscover the things that they once enjoyed when they were a child...the world would be a much happier place.

I love how I always manage to find ways of having so much fun while being totally sober.



Here's a tip for the new year...buy a small 7" X 5" notebook. Use it for making lists...currently I have many running lists. Lists of people to reconnect with, to do lists, new years resolution list, lists of music to check out, lists of things to eventually blog about. Some other interesting list ideas are...list of traits you want to find in a mate. This really helps to keep you from lowering your standards and settling for less than you deserve. Also make a list of the kind of person you want to be. Then you can take steps forward to becoming that person.

Having a notebook for lists really does enhance my life (weird, I know)...it really helps to keep me motivated and organized. Also I'll use the same notebook for random notes, thoughts, poems, quotes, or doodles. Plus when you finish the notebook you can look back and read all the interesting things you wrote down.

Here's a list of some of my new years resolutions:
1. Get in the habit of doing a morning routine of spending time with God, eating breakfast, reading the news, and exercising
2. Read more!! and stick with books once I start them!
3. Be a leader...I'm always so passive.
4. Speak out...I always find myself keeping quiet about my believes and convictions...no more!
5. Stand up straight (I would really like to improve my posture)
6. Become a better listener and improve my memory
7. Reconnect with old friends...invest more in current ones
8. Improve my music tastes (any suggestions on bands I should try out?)
9. Live life on purpose!! Don't just drift through life.

Also here is a picture of my resolution board...it's very symbolic ...and I love to play with words!



Here are the shoes I made....yay for splattered paint!


I hope you got some fun ideas for some ways to at a little positivity to your life...crafts, rediscovering the things you loved when you were young, making lists, doodling, and I really encourage you to make a resolution board..perhaps this visible resolution list will serve as a constant reminder through out the year as I see it on my wall.