Ticking talk

I remember sitting at my desk in that freezing-cold classroom. Two rows back; three rows across was where I sat, already waiting for recess to begin. I stared innocently toward the front of the room as my fifth grade teacher talked about all the things we had to look forward to in life. She continued talking for a really long time about everything from wearing deodorant to getting married, so I was pretty sure she had forgotten her lesson plan. But of all the things she mentioned that day, one thing stood out: college. One day, I would be in college. It was a concept so complex; so intangible to me, that I was sure it would never happen in a billion years. Besides, college was only for geniuses like Einstein. I just could not imagine myself surviving something so monumental as an extended education, let alone the fifth grade.

I received an e-mail yesterday about going to a senior class meeting. Apparently, according to that e-mail, I only have 17,107,200 seconds, or better said, 198 days left until I graduate with my BA. Time has definitely flown by. As I read those numbers, I thought back to that classroom; that speech; that moment in time when I thought my future was lightyears away. Then, a verse popped into my mind: "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." I discovered that verse on a chocolate bar. When I was a senior in high-school, my mom surprised me with a box full of graduation invitation candy bars. On every label was a picture of me, directions to my graduation, and Psalm 90:12. It has been one of my favorite verses ever since.

At this moment, I only have 197 days left in college. That little e-mail was a big reminder: Life is short. I have no choice but to soak in what I learn in every class, savor the joy of every activity, and cherish every little moment spent with friends and family. Those future plans that seem like they will never happen are sure to happen soon enough. For now it's time to start living. My days are numbered.

*This post completed for a class: JRN371

Behind the "scenes"

I could not have planned a better summer vacation. This summer, instead of taking a trip to Hawaii or a nice resort, I was able to complete an internship at my local newspaper, the Yucaipa/Calimesa News Mirror.

I couldn't believe how each day held a new surprise. Not only did I get to choose what I wrote about, but I also got to take pictures of fires, accident scenes and special events. As a staff reporter, I had a "backstage pass" to the city. I had the "authority" to interview important people in my community and catch their vision for a better Yucaipa.

Each day was unpredictable. I was often called to events late at night or in the middle of the day. I got to see SWAT in action when one man locked himself in his house and threatened to shoot police. I photographed a car that was split completely in half after it crashed into another vehicle because of a drunk driver. I watched as fire personnel doused the flames of a house that contained a deceased elderly woman. While some scenes were painful to see, I counted it a privilege to help cover these stories and gain experience in the process.

I was able to meet interesting people like local artists and a teen model. I was able to fly in a very tiny airplane with the "Young Eagles" and take a picture of Yucaipa from the sky.

From this experience, I learned to love the newsroom. Working, communicating and writing stories about the most interesting things and people proved to be far more exciting than any vacation I could have planned. I was sad to leave, yet excited to put my experiences into practice this fall at my school's newspaper.

*This post completed for a class: JRN371

Twenty-something

Today, I am officially a twenty-something. After church I met my mom for lunch at Mimi's Cafe, and we decided to share a yummy turkey sandwich. We were sitting there, wondering how I got to be this old, when I decided to say: "Mom, just think: 21 years ago, I was looking up at you with these very same eyes... and a little tiny head." I meant it to be funny, but in a serious tone she said, "Don't say stuff like that." Before I knew it, her eyes welled up with tears and we both started boo-hoo crying right there in Mimi's!

I could not pull myself together for about 2 minutes, and neither of us could look each other in the eye. We laughed at ourselves and cried some more. I tried to talk about the pretty flowers on the table or our fun plans for the day, but the thought just kept coming back of how time is flying by. Life is so good. Today I was reminded of how important it is to savor every moment.

Read all over

I kept touching the same spot on my right arm to see if the color had changed yet. Nothing. My toes wouldn't stop wiggling in the sand. The tide was high and so were my expectations of starting off this summer with some "fun in the sun." My friend put some tanning oil on herself while I thought about putting on some sunscreen... but I decided against it since we wouldn't be there long.

I couldn't lie still for the longest time. I really wanted to use my new sandcastle buckets, play in the freezing ocean swells or walk over to the pier. I was so excited that it wasn't easy to just lie there, but I knew that my friend wanted to get a suntan, so I didn't say anything. Laying out is really not my thing. I finally got comfortable on my beach towel in the sand. The soft sound of the waves and the radio made me almost drift off to sleep. This was the life.

A few minutes later I began to remember why I was not a fan of laying out. We got into the shade, and I suddenly began to see and feel the fiery effects of the sun on my skin. Now it worked: I touched my right arm and that spot went from red to white to red again in a flash. Somehow I forgot that those were my only two colors. My friend's colors? Tan and tanner. I was one fried lobster.

Since that day - two days ago - I have been stuck like this. Lying face down, arms framing my head, just the way I was when the sun brutally attacked me in slow motion. As bad as I want to play outside, I can't. It is too hard to move.

The good part about all this is that I'm being forced to sit still. I never "had time" to read a good book. Yep, that is pretty much all I can do right now. No more wiggling around. No more getting comfortable... just being still. I have read two books in two days. Bud, Not Buddy and Pictures of Hollis Woods. GREAT books. After finishing them, I could not believe how I hadn't taken time to read in... I don't know how long. Even though I was stuck at home, I got to go all over the place. I got to travel with Bud and Hollis. Before I knew it I was in the middle of nowhere in Michigan and then in the woods of New York. I was lost in another world thinking: Now this is the life.

I was stranded under the sun that day. I could do nothing else but lie there waiting for the time on our parking meter to run out. Now I am stranded on the couch, but I get to experience great people and places without even getting up. Next time I go to the beach to lay out with my friend, I'm bringing some strong sunscreen and a good book.

Spring forward

A herd of zebra came running through campus today. They were mostly pink. They had flags held high and wore their stripes shamelessly. I was one of them.

As we stampeded and chanted crazy zebra chants, all the other herds looked at us in awe. They were smiling. We were wearing pink tee-shirts with zebra booties on the back. It was quite a sight.

When I showed up to participate in Campus Day, I was not expecting to become a zebra. WHAT a rush. I may not have a voice tomorrow. But for now I am home alone; the excitement has been tamed, and the crickets are chirping.

Right here in this cricket-moment I'm realizing that I have a love/hate relationship with the unpredictability of life. One of my favorite things to do is look forward to the next big thing. I've found though, that my "next big things" never turn out the way I plan them. Sometimes for better; sometimes for worse.

Who knew I would watch my friends do a toilet-driving relay race? Or that I would help perform our skit in front of SO many people because we won third place? Who in the world, in the words of Pocahontas, knows what's just around the river bend??

Nothing about this year will be the same. A herd of zebra will probably never graze the front lawn of CBU again. My face-paint is now smeared, and I can't re-live the events of today. I don't know what the future holds, and that's a little scary to me. I have a general idea--just like with most books, you can predict what comes next. I'm just a character in the story going from page to page.

Now that this chapter has ended, I'm wondering what else the Author will write. No one knows if the next chapter is going to be good or bad, funny or boring, sad or amazing... What's happened already has been great, but I can't wait to turn the page.

When one door closes...

It is amazing how much I have in common with a person who is twice my age. Let's call her... Naomi.

Naomi was my favorite teacher in high school. Her bubbly personality was so easy to love, despite her strict classroom rules. She loved teaching English, so I loved learning it. Naomi was my high school English teacher from 7th to 10th grade. (Yes, just like Mr. Feeny on “Boy Meets World.”) By this time, I was attached. Her enthusiasm had gotten so contagious, that I made it a priority to be her constant shadow. She was a joy to be around.

My heart broke to pieces when she said she was making a career change right before my junior year. I thought I would never see my favorite teacher again. I expressed my concern, and - like it was nothing - she told me, "Well, now we can be friends!"

And so it began.

Naomi has been my mentor and closest friend ever since she stopped teaching. She always maintains the most positive attitude. She is going through so many big changes in her life now (so am I - how ironic…), and I love to watch how she fully trusts God like it's no big deal. I wish I could be more like her. Her love for the Lord still inspires me every day. I am always at her house soaking up all the wisdom I can get. I am her shadow; her Ruth: wherever she goes, I am so there. I hope and pray that she stays in my life as long as possible, and that I turn out to be a fraction of the amazing person she is.

This little fish

I can’t believe this semester is over. Deadlines, interviews, writing and rewriting made the time fly by, and I must say it has been a rewarding experience. I remember how intimidated I was on the first day of class. I told my mentors that I felt like a little fish in a big pond, but they assured me that everything would be just fine. I scored two interviews, a great photo (by Eric McFarland), and plenty of words for my first story. It was so rewarding to see my name in “lights” for the first time.

Being published was a great experience, but the best part of this semester was working with other people. Photographers, mentors, editors, and other writers made me feel like I was a part of the team from the very beginning. I was able to work on a recession spread with my mentors and two other people. That was probably my favorite story to work on. It was a great feeling to be a small part of something bigger. That’s the feeling I’ve gotten this whole semester as a writer for The Banner. Everyone is on the same team with one goal in mind. Of course there are pressing deadlines, but when everyone has their own small part, it creates accountability. I knew that I had to do my part because others were depending on me to do so. Each person’s talent works together to make a polished finished product, and that’s why every issue of the Banner turns out so great. I am so proud and thankful to have been a part of it.

Upcoming stories include sports and profiles, since I have not published such pieces yet. I am also working on another story that I'm really excited about! More on that soon!