Question 4: Book-Face

Though it is not something that you can hold in your hand and manipulate I still consider it to be an invention, an ingenious one at that, and I truly believe the creators never fathomed the vast amount of information that would become Facebook. However I believe that our world today would be a better place without Facebook because the social networking site allows for hours to be wasted, privacy to be breached and cyber-bullying to take place. I know that I am just as guilty as the next person about wasting hours upon hours checking out Facebook and then if you think about it I pretty much wasted hours stalking my friends Facebook and delving into their “private” life. Facebook opens up numerous avenues for people to search you and find out everything they can about you. Companies admit to checking up on a potential employee on Facebook before hiring them checking into an individual’s character based on what they see in pictures and statuses. When it comes to cyber-bullying social networking sites like Facebook make it easy to slam a peer especially when you don’t have to actually face them to tell them how ugly they are or how much you hate them. Therefore, life without Facebook could potentially provide people with more time to do other things in life like work or spend time with family and friends. It could also save people a lot of frustration and hurt because they wouldn't be sharing their lives with the world and bullies wouldn't be stalking the internet for prey. The problem with Facebook is that young adults do not realize that once something is posted to the internet it never goes away and anyone can find it including the police, teachers, colleges, and future employers.

Risking it All - Question 3

Courage, to have courage someone must be willing to risk it all, to take that death defying leap no matter how scary it may seem. When I think of what it takes to be courageous I am reminded of the following quote from Muhammad Ali, "He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life." A risk can take many forms; it could be risking a bad grade to take a challenging class in high school, risking the loss of a dear friendship because you chose not to go with the group, or even risking your future to pursue your hopes and dreams. So, to me, courage is the willingness to take a risk. I believe that even the youngest of children have the ability to be courageous because they will take many risks as they grow up. It is the outcome of the risk that creates the person that they grow up to be. I like to think that the risks I took to get where I am today are what made me into the strong, ambitious woman that I am today. The amount of courage an individual has is measured by the risks they are willing to take to achieve their hopes and dreams, even when the risk could be failure.  

Life Changing Decisions to be Made

It is April of my senior year of high school and the pressure to decide was overwhelming. My mom was pushing for the University of Arkansas but I wanted nothing to do with the place at that time, Missouri State was looking much more appealing to me but, when it comes down to it I knew I would have to go to the school that was offering me the most money. The more money they gave me, the less debt I would have upon my college graduation and for an 18 year old kid that wasn’t exactly my thought process but for my parents it most definitely was and I am grateful for that decision today as I write this story of my life. I’m not going to lie, I still fought tooth and nails not to have to go to that “awful” place but in the end the decision was made on the last possible date for acceptance of scholarships and enrollment. I remember feeling destroyed on that day, I don’t know if my constant fighting was really because I just didn’t want to belong in Arkansas or maybe I just didn’t want to face some of the things I would face when I went down there. Reflecting back on that day, I was not happy with that decision then, I am more than happy now though that the decision to attend the U of A was made for me. My experience at the University was one that I never could have expected. I made the best of friends while I was there and we share many found memories. Many of which are written in the following pages, detailing our escapades as we developed into strong, young women who achieved all of our dreams.  

Passionate with a Capital "P"

The single most important word that describes me is “passionate.” I am the type of person that when a challenge or task is placed before me I put my heart and soul into it. When something needs to be done I don’t just do it halfway or slowly, I get things done quickly and efficiently because to me a job should be done exceeding all expectations rather than just completed. I have always jumped into things and given them my all. As a student in undergrad I once took 23 hours in a semester so that I could graduate a year earlier than my peers. When I entered graduate school it was the same story, I completed the program in 2 years while working a full time job and helping coach volleyball. I blazed through the schooling, not because I was ready to be done but because I was ready to begin work on the things that I am most passionate about. My passion for life is what makes me the individual that I am today. I strive to do everything to my full potential whether it be in the classroom or out in the world. Passionate sums up all the words that could describe me in this world with just 10 letters:

Persistent

Achiever

Supportive

Solid

Independent

Outgoing

Noteworthy

Audacious

Thoughtful

Exciting