Week 18/19: Cara Parten

Cara Parten is perhaps one of the best friends a girl could ever ask for. This past week, filled with finals and exhaustion, and then coming home, Cara Parten was there for me when it seemed like no one else could be. 

When Cara and I were in high school we went on the trip of a lifetime to Dublin, Ireland, and for a week we lived and traveled together, seizing every moment we could and making for one of the greatest adventures of my life.  From waking up an hour early because of the time difference, to getting our picture taken with a leprechaun, to frolicking down the streets of Dublin, I realized that it was in those moments that we became true best friends, and I’m so grateful that I was lucky enough to spend that week with you, Cara.

See, the thing is, that Cara is magical.  And not like Harry Potter magical. But the kind that in this life is real. The kind that can open your mind and heart to so many possibilities and has the power to leave you in awe.  Cara, you bring this sense of full-ness to all of the people around you, and it’s through your childlike demeanor and your sometimes hidden wisdom, that you have the power to keep me in check more than anyone else.

Because Cara, while some people have goals that they tell to others, just so they have someone to “keep them in line,” I’ve realized recently, that with you, it doesn’t matter what my goals are. It doesn’t matter whether I want a 4.0, or to be the Queen of England, because no matter what my goals are you’re going to encourage me. And more than that, you’re always going to have the right words to say to get me back on my feet when I’m feeling down, and get me back determined to get where I need to go.

In the past 7 years of our friendship, I learned more about myself and the person I want to be than I could ever have imagined. You taught me that I don't always have to live up to other people's expectations and that sometimes it's okay to be different. You taught me how to accept differences, love unconditionally, and how to take a bad situation and make it into a fun adventure. 

Cara, believe me when I say that I am so indebted to you. I find a new reason every week to remember how completely lucky I am to have someone in my life like you. Someone who knows me so well, and someone who I can count on, through thick and thin.

I believe that everything with us has been give and take. And perhaps that’s why we make such good friends, and I want you to know that you can count on me, just as much as I depend on you. 

So thank you, Cara. Thank you for being my best friend. Thank you for being such a strong and incredible role model for me.  And Please, don’t ever let anyone tell you that you are less important than you are. You have so much potential. And you’re gunna change the world one day. And I’m so excited to watch.

Quote of the Week: “To be nobody-but-yourself - in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else - means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.” –E.E. Cummings

Other Cool Things That Happened: Finals Week Bingo with my Hall; Studied for Finals; Finished Semester 3 of the College Experience; Returned to Dearborn; Celebrated Christmas Early with Mi Familia; Spent a lot of time doing puzzles, hanging out with my family, and just relaxing!

Week 17: A Week of Heros

Alright Guys. Here it is. Sorry it’s so long.

Monday

Kim, for a really great one on one. Thank you for everything you've taught me, and continue to teach me. 

Ellen, Sophie, and Walter, I'm really grateful for our lunches in DHH. 

Audrey, thanks for always listening to me rant. 

Amanda, thank you for skipping class to work on Abstract. You really took one for the team :)

Fabrizio Zanello. Thank you for making me go to the board. I hated it, but I in doing so, I concurred a fear. 

Catie, Thanks for the encouraging text!

Andrew, Thanks for giving me Chocolate after my Presentation. :)

Katelyn, You are My Sunshine.

Sarah, Amanda, Holly and Various Residents, thanks for the food and laughs while doing Abstract.

Sophie, thanks for being there when I came back to brush our teeth. 

Tuesday

Sophie, Thanks for getting me breakfast when I overslept

Amanda, Thanks for bringing me my coat when I forgot it

Mom, Thanks for bribing me with coffee. Long live 8 AM Classes

Vasudev, Thanks for a great last IGTAAP session and thanks for the invitation for Indian Food! I'm truly excited!

Fang, Thanks also for another Great session, I hope you have great success and I'm sad to see you go back to China.

Walter, Thanks for staying to eat with me, and thanks for the ride offer to the SDC.

Amanda, Thanks for encouraging me to go to the Res. Life Info Sessions.

Bonnie Gorman, Thanks, for reading my email, and taking the time to watch the TED Talks. 

Gillyland, you impressed me with your courage today. Thank you for encouraging me without knowing it. 

Audrey, thanks for needing to go to lab. And thanks for playing in the snow with me. Your strength never ceases to amaze me. 

Sophie, Thanks for thinking of making cookies. And saying the words I'm sometimes too frustrated to say on my own. 

Girl in Kitchenette, Thanks for laughing with us. 

Wednesday

Tutor Michelle, Thanks for always helping. 

Daryl, Thanks for waving. 

Cameron, Thanks for staying to eat with me. 

Andrew and Felicia, Thanks for an interesting conversation. 

Audrey, thanks for always listening to me rant (again).

Catie, Thanks for that random text. 

Random Guy, Thanks for waiting and holding the door open for me. 

Ross, and interested Students, Thanks for helping me remember why I truly love my job. 

Ellen, Thanks for letting me distract you. 

Stefan, I'm truly going to miss you.  

Catie, Ben, Myder, and Jim, Thank you for making me smile (and taking me to McDonalds). You turned this bad day, into a very great one :) 

Thursday

Emily, Thanks for taking my mind off of school and going back down memory lane in class.

Marissa, Thanks for reminding me to smile :)

Jin and Vikrant, Thanks for really great last IGTAAP sessions this semester.

Dr. Wang, Thank you for all your help on Calculus.

Dining Hall, for a yummy special dinner.

Catie, Thank you for letting me borrow your very painful shoes.

LC Staff and Kim, Thanks for a great night at the Library

Mom, Thanks for the cake

Armada, Thanks for eating the cake and hanging out after. 

Kim, Thank you for always supporting me. 

Friday

Brandon, Thanks for a really great last IGTAAP Prep

IGTAAP Coaches, Thanks for a good last meeting of the year. I’m always grateful for our great conversations.

Sophie, Thanks for playing Ukulele and singing with me.

Ellen, Nicole and Sophie, Thanks for all the fun times at Cyberia. I look forward to playing “Shampoo” with you again.

Ellen and Ben, Thanks for everything. You guys are wise beyond your years.

Sophie, Thanks for being there for me. Even when you don’t have to be.

Saturday

Catie, Thanks for always having an open door. And Thanks Sophie, for being Gross with us.

Ben, Thank you for checking in on me.

Mont Ripley, Thank you for giving me something beautiful to look at and dream about while studying.

Daryl, Trevor, Sophie, and Catie, Thanks for letting me play Euchre with you.

Cara, Thanks for always being an inspiration to me.

Sophie and Audrey, Thanks for a great dance party.

Liz, Thank you. For a great Skype session, and for accepting me even at my worst.

Caleb, Thank you, for working hard with me to pull off a pretty great Program.

Armada, Thanks for coming to hang out. Especially to Jon and Sean for being honorary Armada members.

Ellen, Thank you for always being so great. I miss having you as a roommate.

Daryl, Trevor, and Holly, Thank you for letting me crash your movie night. 

Baba, Thank you for another great conversation. As always.

Sunday,

Sophie, Thank you for being twinsies with me today. From matching, to eating Jimmy Johns, to studying, and watching Glee. Today was great.

Liz, Thanks for Freaking out about Josh Groban with me Today.

Emily and Nick, Thanks for being my Combinatorics Buddies. Rawr!

Audrey, Thank you for letting me listen to you rant. ;)

Armada, Thanks for jumping on board with Finals Week Bingo!

This is possibly one of the coolest and most humbling things I’ve ever done. I hope you guys enjoy it too.

Quote of the Week: "Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome." –Arthur Ashe

Week 14/15/16: Forgetting Why I Began...And Starting Over

Soo, it’s kinda been a while since I posted one of these, and if it’s any consolation, it’s not for lack of thought on the matter.  For a long time I struggled with who would be my “Hero.” Would it be some member of my family, for the wonderful break I had? Would it be Liz, for all the Skype bonding we did over break? Would it be Amanda, for catching up after way too long? Or would it be any of my friends at school, who made coming back to Tech feel like coming home all over again? Or maybe, maybe it would be the girl who made a mistake, but handled herself with such poise and dignity, that sometimes I’m still in awe.

I couldn’t decide.

And it took me way too long to realize that the reason none of these people were standing out to me, was because I had grown used to them.  Used to their caring nature, their patient ears, their helpful hands, and their strength and courage.

Realizing this was both cool, and kind of sad.

It was cool because I realized just how lucky I am to be surrounded by such wonderful people. And how much I truly love my life, if only for the people I get to spend it with.

On the other hand, it was sad because I realized that it only took 12 weeks for me to lose sight of my initial mission.

The point of this blog was to recognize the little things people did for me that made me grateful to have them in my life. From holding the door open, or telling me a lame joke just when I needed it, or even to those who trusted me enough to let me into their world.  Those are the people I’m most thankful for.

So, as much as I’d like to say I’m going to sit down and reenact the past three weeks of my life so that I don’t forget a single person or action that made my day just a little easier, I can’t do that. I don’t have that strong of a memory.

But what I will say, is that this coming week, I hope to keep a list of every little itty bitty thing that happens that I’m grateful for. The true “Lollipop Moments” in my life.

So, get ready, 7 days from now, you will have a list in front of you. Some names might be repeated. Some might not. Some things might not have a name attached to them, because it might be a random person on the street, and some might have more than one name.

I’m excited for this task, and if you are too, join me. Send me your list. Post it on the web. Share your joy.

Other Cool Things that Have Happened: Girls Night with Armada; Hockey Game with Armada; Hockey Game with Res. Life in the Box; Thanksgiving Break with My Family; Ellen’s Birthday Surprise at Joey’s Seafood; Champed my Calc test after studying for over 5 hours straight; Did legit PA work; Skipped Class and Napped/Watched 500 Days of Summer with Sophie; Saw (more than one) beautiful night sky; Watched my Friends in Coffeehouse; Watched my Friends get ready and go to Dining Out; Enjoyed the First Snows of Houghton; Built the Best Gingerbread Boat, ever.

Quote of the Week: “Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” -Leonardo da Vinci