Dating

I disagree that dating in our current social context is 'essentially practice for divorce' because people can learn valuable communication skills that can help them later in life.  As mentioned by Fr. Malloy, our generation is afraid of divorce.  I think this has largely played into the idea that one should test the waters before jumping in.  While the college culture is often thought about as crazy and that everyone makes-out with a few people a night, I don't think it necessarily means sex in every case.  Hooking-up is the temporary answer that people have run to in order to try to secure their relationship.  While it is proven that this does not always work, people are insecure and do not want to marry someone that they will end up being unhappy with.  As a result, they don't want to make an eternal covenant before they know what they are agreeing to.  Unfortunately, I do not think the emotional side effects are often taken into consideration.  Consequently, hooking-up does not result in a good outcome in many cases although it is becoming more accepted as the norm.

Lent: It's Like New Year's With a Purpose!

For me, Lent is a time to reflect on what I have done this year and the choices I have made.  Lent is a time for me to look forward into my life.  Each year I hope to improve upon the aspects of my life that are not how I want them to be in order to have a better chance at reaching my goals.  My great-aunt gives us prayer books each year for Lent.  Along with reading the passages in those, I try to make a more concerted effort to center myself during those forty days.  That can take different forms throughout the season from getting more sleep, to writing in my journal, to trying to leave the house five minutes earlier so that I am not so stressed in the morning.


I have never been good at giving up something for Lent.  Frankly, I never understood the concept until I got to Mount.  As a child, my family and I always had a bowl on the table in which we would each place change that accumulated over the forty days.  At the end of the season, we would donate the money to a charity of our choice.  This year, I am going to do something different.  I have a nervous habit that I am going to try to break. I know it will not be easy to stop because I have tried to stop before.  However, that is such a small problem compared to problems other people have.  I hope that if I think of the struggles other people go through and how lucky I am, that I can break my habit over Lent with God's help.

So many songs deal with love.  Within that category, many talk about finding "the one" or a soul-mate.  One of my favorite songs by Blake Shelton is "God Gave Me You."  It is a touching song about a man's love for his wife and how he feels truly blessed to have her presence in his life.  It's message is similar to that in "I'm Going to Love You Through It" by Martina McBride which showcases a man's love and support for his wife while she undergoes painful surgeries and treatments to overcome breast cancer.  These two songs are good examples that when two people truly love each other, they will stay together through thick and thin regardless of the consequences.  Lee Brice lists everything he could have done if he had stayed single and never met his wife, but then adds, "But if I was a single man out there and on the loose, I'd be looking for a woman like you."  He also sings "Love Like Crazy" in which he gives advice that the best thing you can do in a relationship is just keep loving one another.  Country songs especially, like the ones I have mentioned do a great job of illustrating passionate, undying love for one another despite the challenges that the course of life presents.  Together, they combine to create the characteristics of a relationship that I would like to have with someone.  I want to have an honest, faithful, loving relationship that can handle the bumps along the way.  These songs all illustrate committed relationships that work through tough times.  I also want a relationship like that sung in "Honey Bee" where the couple's interests complement each other and they share many common values.  Through these songs, I have come to believe in finding a soul-mate.  However, I know that if I do find a soul-mate, that does not mean everything will always be perfect.  People are just people, regardless of how much you love them.  I want to have a love that I can accept their faults, reconcile with them, and emerge stronger out of any conflict.  Most importantly, I want to feel unconditional love for someone outside my family.

This ad is from Calvin Klein trying to sell jeans.  To Calvin Klein's credit, the advertisement features brightly colored jeans in the center of the picture.  However, the models appear half-naked in the picture which is very inappropriate.  I do not think it is necessary for them to showcase naked women in order to sell a product.  The women are so thin that someone who views this ad can actually see their ribs.  Not only could their tall, thin body make other girls feel bad about themselves, this ad could make women think they have to be a size two in order to be "hot."  I think that Calvin Klein could have those women have shirts on without losing the appeal.  The pants are brightly colored enough to attract attention without having to damage others' self esteem.  For example, Calvin Klein dress the models in a nude, white or black top so as not to distract from the product.

On the flip side of Calvin Klein, this Louis Vuitton ad displays models in full attire in a traditional-style diner. Both of the women sitting in the diner are carrying Louis Vuitton handbags.  I think that this ad it appropriate because the product is centered and a major focal point of the photograph.  However, I think there is a stereotype portrayed that women do not have anything serious to do and can thus sit in a diner, eat sundaes, and gossip.  In reality, most women cannot afford to wear white dresses and gossip, but are actually quite hardworking.  Since I am not very artistic, I am not sure how this ad could change to keep its selling appeal. I would maybe suggest more contrast in color, but I think this ad is quite appropriate.  This ad makes the consumer feel that one needs to be thin to be classy and fancy.

     In first grade, when I saw a girl in my class Irish Dance, I immediately knew that I wanted to join a school.  My parents were more than supportive, they looked around and by the beginning of second grade, I was a beginner at a local school.  I absolutely loved it... except for the part where I had to keep my arms at my sides.  Each year I got better and better and each year my love for the art grew.  It was freeing and fun.  It was so much fun to be a part of something, to perform, and to wear the kelly green accessories.  My jumper was my favorite.  It was a black base with a Celtic knot in the middle.  However, I realized that dancing was so much more than just the dresses.  It gave me confidence and a goal to work towards.  I wanted to be the best I could be.  This enthusiasm and genuine love for the art allowed me to feel good about myself and that I could excel in something.

      My sister, Erin, is someone really influential in my life.  She is three years and three days younger than me.  We always played Barbies together when we were younger, but in the past year or so, we have become very close.  She is still the one I blame if I can't find a shirt or if the bathroom is dirty, but she is now my best friend.  Erin has showed me the quality of unconditional love.  I'm not going to lie, I can be really mean to her sometimes and vice-versa, but we always somehow come back to each other.  She always knows the right things to say when I'm in a bad mood and doesn't hesitate to rant about someone if they hurt me.  She is the most loyal, loving girl I have ever met.  Between all of that, she even finds time for humor and can have me laughing so hard.  Little by little, each day she helps me become a better person.

       Coming to Mount was the best decision I ever made.  In eighth grade, after being in public school since kindergarten, my parents were shocked I wanted to take the test.  It was not an easy decision to make.  Our middle school, Tohickon, held seventh, eighth, and ninth graders.  Going to Mount would mean leaving my friends behind a year early.  I also did not know any of the incoming freshman.  I was petrified.  However, when I visited Mount, I just got a feeling that I knew it was the right school for me.  It is hard to describe, but somehow, that feeling was right.  At Mount, four short years later, I have made the best friends and had some of my best memories.  The memories I will always had of the times spent delirious after hours of studying or rejoicing over our term break that no other school has are unmatched and have formed life-long friendships.  Although it was hard to make the decision, I never regret deciding to attend Mount.