Entry #6. Love Yourself First.

In this day in age it seems like everyone is looking for a significant other in their life. All of our peers constantly post things on social media saying "Relationship Goals" or "Bae Goals". Or always wanting someone to "Netflix and Chill" with.  It seems like there is a constant need for love and attention in our world. In the 20 years I have been on this Earth, I have learned that the most important love you can seek is for yourself.

I previously discussed a relationship I was about to pursue in my getting to know me post. Well, I guess I jumped the gun and spoke to soon because things didn't exactly work out like I thought they were going to..which is okay! I have been out of a relationship for over a year and a half so this new thing recently was something I was very hesitant about. I just haven't felt that i am in a position to be with somebody else at this point in my life. 

Relationships are crazy. They bring out so much emotion and can be a lot to handle at times. When you choose to love and pursue someone, a lot of your time and feelings go into that individual. You most likely spend hours with them, plan dinners and dates with them,  and travel or create memories with one another.  You build a bond between the two of you that can only be felt and experienced together. 

Relationships can bring you the most happiness and greatest blessings around. However, they can also cause some painful heartbreaks and sadness. It is all a learning experience and is meant to happen in order to find the one significant other that you are destined to be with. You should never settled for less than you deserve and most importantly, do not love until you are ready. 

Learn to LOVE YOURSELF. This is your life, you are the star of the show and make all of the calls for you; before looking for a soul mate, find yourself. Understand your feelings more and vent them in some kind of way, whether it is to another person, in a journal or through an electronic blog. Develop your physique the way you dream it to be by dedicating more time to healthy eating and working out. Sign up for school or other classes to educate yourself and expand your knowledge on all different subjects. Learn a new talent, hobby, or participate in an activity you never have involved yourself in before. There is so much to do with yourself in this world and so many different paths to take. 

It doesn't matter what is being posted on Twitter or Facebook about ideal relationships and love goals.  There is no rush to finding a significant other. After all- I always heard that you shouldn't have to look for your destined partner, they will find their way to you in this life. Everything works out for a specific reason and you should always be ready and well prepared when deciding to get into a relationship. Discovering and loving yourself first is what it all comes down too, my friends. You don't want to risk stressing yourself out and having certain insecurities or trust issues come out because you simply weren't ready yet. You are the most important. :)

Happy blogging!

Entry #5. ASU Offers More Short Classes.

Arizona students!

Or anyone who plans to attend Arizona State University, listen here!

There is an article from Arizona Central online that discusses a new change that will be starting in January of next year for our AZ college. To follow along with what I am discussing and read it yourself click on this link: http://archive.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2011/02/22/20110222arizona-state-university-shorter-classes.html

Ultimately, this change is to offer more classes that can be completed in half of the time than a typical 15 week semester. This means students can take more class hours, finish courses quicker and ultimately graduate sooner with a lower tuition. How awesome!

In my opinion, this is a great opportunity to reduce the amount of time spent earning your degree. This semester at GCC I have felt very accomplished by taking the english 101 and 102 hybrid courses. This is a similar concept to ASU's new idea. I have loved the fast pace and feel like I work harder to get the work done because there has been double the work. This idea of shorter classes also saves a lot money- not only because you spend less time in school but there is more opportunity for electronic uses as well. A lot of the shorter courses that are going to be added are online- this is more convenient for students who are working a lot but still trying to complete school at a quick pace. 

This article definitely relates to me because I plan on transferring to ASU when I am finished with my studies at the community college. I hope to look into taking some of the shorter classes myself if they are offering ones pertaining to my degree. All students are different and everyone has their own way of learning in class. Some people just can't complete a shortened class because it is much too big of a workload for them or too fast faced, and that's okay. It is not like these shortened classes are mandatory, they are simply being put in play to help those who are trying to complete school quicker. 

Of course, there are the complicated subjects and classes that could probably use the full 15 weeks to really break down the material and teach the students successfully. So I am sure the shortened version will only be available for certain classes that are manageable in half the time of a regular course. 

Overall, I think is is a very substantial idea to offer short classes and will bring a lot of success to Arizona college students.  What are your thoughts?

Entry #4. Be Thankful.

Well, the orange and black has been put to rest and all of the skeletons, jack-o-lanterns and witches are back to their cozy place in storage. The stores have already switched their music playlists to the Christmas station and all of the winter seasonal decorations have been put on the shelves. Even though the entire planet automatically starts thinking about Christmas as soon as Halloween is over, we cannot forget about the most important holiday, Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is such a beautiful day and a time to be appreciative for everything you have in your life. This is a typically a holiday for family get togethers and bonding experiences, good food and gratitude. A lot of families have specific traditions they follow every year on this day and it truly brings together the members as a unit.

This is the last few days of November, just before the Christmas hype reaches full throttle and takes over completely for the rest of the year. It is a great opportunity to go around at the dinner table and share what it is you are thankful for and maybe reminisce on a blessing you received this year.

I cannot believe that 2015 is already coming to an end..Why is the time just flying by? I feel like I blinked and October practically came and went. Take a moment right now to think about all of the crazy, challenging and rewarding experiences you went through during this year. I'm sure there have been drastic changes, pain and a ridiculous amount of memories and adventure. Think about all of the blessings you have received and what kind of life you have been given. It is important to constantly self-evaluate and this time of the year definitely reiterates that concept.

October through December has always been my favorite time of the year ever since I was a little girl. There is something about the cooler weather and the cheery mood that makes the season that much more enjoyable. All of the holidays are so fun to involve yourself in and celebrate- Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas.. and I got lucky with a December birthday on top of that! People seem to be so much more willing to do things for others around this time of the year. Donations are made to charities and the less fortunate and the world tends to put aside their personal wants for other individual's needs.

Every year for Thanksgiving, I go back to Las Vegas where I am from and spend the holiday weekend with my family. We always get the huge newspaper and store catalogs and plan our Black Friday shenanigans. Then on the night/morning of we hit the stores to shop until we drop, which is always fun and a rush trying to beat others to the deals. On Thanksgiving day, we spend the entire morning preparing the meal together as a family. Usually every member is in charge of a different food item and we all come together at the end of the night and feast. The meal is always so delicious and we usually get so full that we get stuck lounging on the couch watching Christmas movies after. Later in the evening, we always meet up with the rest of our family members and go to the Ethel M Chocolate Factory to look at all of the Christmas light decorations. Do you have any Thanksgiving traditions?

I hope this year you remember the real meaning to the holidays and take time to think about what you are thankful for. I encourage you to make a list of things you want to accomplish to "give" and help others this wonderful month of November. Maybe you can pick one person or  family to bless this year or surprise with a plate of baked goods. You don't have to go out and spend a bunch of money in order to shower someone you are grateful for them. Cooking and baking is always a great gift for  others and is equally rewarding to you as well. Homemade presents are always so much more sentimental anyways and it shows you put time and thought into it. Cherish this holiday season, it always seems to come and go way too fast. Xoxo.

Entry #3. A Slanted Report

While browsing the internet I came across many news articles and entire websites that shared thoughts and informations swaying to a particular side or viewpoint. Media and news reports can be extremely bias and it is important to recognize when a piece of information you are reading forgets to include the opposing opinion. 

One article I found very slanted, happens to be a report from the Washington Times by Kevin Sabet; the title of this piece is "Colorado will Show why Legalizing Marijuana is a Mistake".

Here is a link to read the article yourself: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/17/sabet-marijuana-legalizations-worst-enemy/?page=all

This is a perfect example of a slanted or bias report in the news/media. This specific article describes all of the negative sides and troubles pertaining to legalizing marijuana, however, it fails to address any good or positive aspects of the plant. This is most definitely a one-sided post because it fails to address the opposing viewpoint and benefits. I have read numerous cases about people being medically healed from cannabis. There are tons of individuals in this world either fighting cancer or other illnesses, dealing with physical pain, handling emotional instability, or suffering from depression who rely on marijuana as a medication. Many PTSD sufferers use medical marijuana as an antidepressant and for their high anxiety.

This author, Mr. Sabet clearly omits certain information from his article to focus only on the negative side of this issue. He also only uses specific stories and examples to back up his point and disregards all other perspectives. He puts in an example of a 2 year old girl ingesting a marijuana cookie and needing immediate medical attention. There is also mention of this drug increasing the rate of addiction, car crashes, and mental illnesses. No where does he include a medical benefit or positive outlook on the subject whatsoever. This author clearly wants his reader to agree with him that marijuana is bad and should not be legalized in this country; he shows this opinion by highlighting the negative risks and "what if" scenarios that ultimately makes marijuana come off as all bad and dangerous. 

I found this website, medicaljane.com, that shares tons of stories about people who have positively utilized marijuana to cure all sorts of illnesses and cases. One specific article I found on this website was about a boy from Phoenix, Arizona by the name Zander Welton who suffers from autism and epilepsy which result in violent seizures. At times these seizures would cause poor little Zander to stop breathing and ultimately slowed down his cognitive development. Surgery was the only option along with a heavy amount of pharmaceutical drugs as well. This ultimately failed to help Zander and actually resulted in even more harmful side effects. The Welton family was introduced to medical marijuana as an extract, a form of cannabidiol oil and an herb. His mother admits that it was difficult decision at first but cannabis was the only thing that finally eased the suffering for her son. 

Zander was able to walk backwards for the first time in his life, maintained a lot more focus in kindergarten, slept more peacefully at night and was actively playing around with his brothers and friends. He could go weeks without having a seizure and the marijuana oil ultimately made a huge difference. A claim was made by an attorney in Arizona stating the use of the cannabis oil could actually result in prosecution because it is a much stronger dose than the plant form itself. This was a big concern and fear for Zander's parents because this oil happens to be the only thing making a difference to his condition. 

“My husband and I made the heartbreaking decision to stop giving Zander the medical marijuana oil,” stated Jennifer. As heartbreaking as it was, both Jennifer and her husband wanted to follow the law as strictly as possible so they could protect their beloved son from prosecution."

Here is a video to see more of what I am discussing.

This led the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)  to file a lawsuit in order to clarify Arizona's medical marijuana specificities and help young Zander. The Maricopa County Superior Court ruled in favor of Zander, reassuring his parents and doctors that they could continue treating his epilepsy with cannabis extracts without the fear of being prosecuted by the law. 

As you can see, I have shared a case where marijuana was not just all negative and "dangerous". This drug has positively impacted the lives of so many individuals in our world and you can find countless stories and cases highlighting marijuana benefits. This first article, by Mr. Kevin Sabet was very slanted and failed to recognize that marijuana is good in any way. It is harder to be convinced by this author because he seems to have tunnel vision on the specific subject. A good author is aware of the opposing viewpoints on their topics and addresses them to avoid being bias in their writing. 

Whether you are watching the news, reading an article online or listening to the radio, you should always be aware of biased media and slanted reporting. A lot of credibility is taken away from the piece when it is too one-sided. Along with recognizing slanted reporting in the media, it is also very important to not write in this way either. Sometimes when you are really passionate about a certain subject it can be hard not to be biased. In some cases biased ideas can be okay ( like maybe for a blog post, debate or court case); however, in a professional situation, it should be avoided. Good luck out there, there is TONS of slanted ideas in this big world. Happy writing my fellow readers. :)

Entry #2. The Big Apple

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words.

And there is something even more meaningful about that picture when you are the photographer. The image above was snapped by yours truly in New York City's Central Park. December of 2013 I was a senior in high school and had the amazing opportunity to fly out with a group of students and stay in NYC for 4 days. The best part about it was that my grandma was interested in chaperoning and got to go with me; we stayed in our own hotel room and just took the tour bus schedule with the rest of the group. I also celebrated my 18th birthday on one of the days we were in the city and can say it truly was a trip of a lifetime. I took tons of pictures and today I want to post some of them with you and share some of the great sights and points of high interest. In all honesty though, these pictures can't even compare to the true beauty in New York.

Central Park is in Manhattan, New York and is the most visited urban park in the United States. There is a 2.5 acre section in Central Park by the name of Strawberry Fields that is dedicated to the former Beatle John Lennon and is where this "Imagine" memorial is located. I was there on December 8th, which happened to be the same day back in 1980 when John Lennon was murdered in NY. In honor of his passing there were strawberries outlining the "Imagine" and flowers and other sentimental objects towards Lennon were covering the memorial. A man was sitting next to it playing an acoustic guitar singing all of John Lennon's songs; it was absolutely beautiful. 

The next phenomenal sight I captured happens to be the Empire State Building, which is a 102-story skyscraper in Manhattan and is thought of as an American cultural icon. It is currently the 5th tallest building in the world.

The picture above, I took at the National September 11 Memorial where the former location of the Twin Towers has been transformed into two pools with the largest man-made waterfalls in the United States. There is also a forest of trees and a lot of greenery; one tree in specific is fenced off from the public and is actually the only thing that survived the horrific incident on 9/11.

On one of the days, we took a ferry to see the lovely Lady Liberty and all of her wonder. We had a lot of things scheduled for that day so we were not able to stop on the island and climb/ explore her. However, the ferry ride was so amazing and the view was just breathtaking. Above is a picture of my grandma, girlfriends and I on the ferry. Next time I visit the city, I hope to actually touch The Statue of Liberty.

This photo was captured in Grand Central Terminal which is a well known train station in New York. It covers 48 acres and has 44 platforms, which is more than any other train station in the world. 

The next two pictures I took are of the Rockefeller Center. This is actually a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering 22 acres in the city. The dark picture is a view from the top of the centerpiece building, which is also known as the Comcast building. We went to the very top and viewed the city from the observation deck. It was chilly and started to sprinkle on us while we were up there- it was so refreshing! Radio City music hall is an entertainment venue in the Rockefeller Center and hosts T.V shows, sports, music and more. We got to take a tour of the inside and see all of the behind the scenes which was really cool.

I took this picture while I was inside the tour bus. It just captured the chaos of all the traffic and taxi cabs there are in the heart of the city. If you travel to New York, you HAVE to visit Time Square. It is just so cool to look at all of the things and people around you, especially at night with all of the lights.  

I was fortunate enough to go in December when the entire city was covered in Christmas decorations. There was Christmas music playing, hot chocolate being sold, holiday shops and seasonal smells all over the place. It was the best time of my life and I am so thankful for that opportunity. I know traveling is expensive but if you ever get the chance, I highly recommend making a trip to New York in your lifetime. I was fortunate enough to go with a tour group, so i was taught a lot of cool information and got to travel to a lot of difference sights and attractions in just a few days. When traveling to NY on your own without a group, it could be a lot harder to navigate through the city- especially when it's mostly walking or taxi. I am hoping to make another trip out there within the next few years and of course I will make sure to go around Christmas again because it was just too perfect.    This was a trip for the books, that is for sure. :)