Epitome of testing my patience

It has been forever since I have posted. I have been busy with work and life and didn't really feel like posting. And, I am a little burned out on posting on my own blog since that's what I do as my job.

Well now that school has started again, I inevitably ran in to.. school parking lot traffic. UGH. That is the only thing that I can say. People are ruthless. And annoying. And selfish. And rude. Completely, udderly, rude. They create their own lanes which not only jeopardize their safety but others as well. They push their way in without a thought and flip you the bird. They peel out and do donuts and race and weave through traffic in their brand new cars. I have a theory that all highschoolers except my friends live life as though it is bumper cars. They can crash their cars in to others and their mommies and daddies will just buy them new ones.

Now, I am a pretty level headed person. The only thing that makes me get irritated (other than social injustices and all that jazz...) is irresponsible drivers. You think you own the road, I get it. But the minute you try to swerve in between two cars and you spin out and kill someone, I hope you get in HUGE trouble. Like jail time, baby. Why must you be so freaking ignorant!? Your "joyride" could quickly become a "deathride" for an innocent person. Or their young child.

Yes, I know people who have been killed by ignorant drivers, or who have killed themselves in driving accidents.

I wish people didn't just write "R.I.P Joey who died in a car accident" on their Facebook or MySpace or back window and leave it at that. I wish they would change their outlook on how they live their lives. I wish everyone who knew someone who passed because of a driving accident changed their driving habits.

So anyways, I feel like this is the thing that makes me want to scream. There are 3 people in particular who I see at school on a daily basis who are incredibly horrible at driving. They are rude and inconsiderate to the max, and it takes every ounce of self control (and help from God) I contain to keep myself from politely telling them, "Hello *****, I just wanted to tell you that you are the worst driver ever. And, I hope that one day, you are pulled over for your ignorant driving and given a huge, fatty ticket." UGH! But, alas, I contain myself. Instead, I smile when I pass them in the hallway and keep FAR FAR away from them in the parking lot.


the end of my rant.



And remember. We must be the change we wish to see in the world- Ghandi.
I hope to be that change.

Dear Ms. Oprah.

I've been getting a lot of comments about why I'm so angry with Oprah, so I decided to sit down and type it all out at once so you can have the full perspective. I should probably wait to write this till I'm not so angry with her, but I wanted to get it all down so you could know where I was coming from. 

So on April 25th, a BUNCH of kids went out to their city centers and rallied in support of the Invisible Children in Uganda, Africa. I'm not exactly sure how the whole situation of "The Rescue" worked, but a celebrity was chosen from each area to "rescue" the area, kind of in a symbolic way in order to make the world of Hollywood understand and step-up to the plate. SOO, in San Diego, Vincent Jackson rescued our lovely city.. 

Chicago has been trying to get Oprah to rescue them SINCE THE 25TH! She has just dilly-dallied and has not done one thing nor given them the time of day. These kids have been camping out and some have been sleeping on the streets since the 25th! They're trying to get her to give her face to the Invisible Children campaign (as she has done before, she had the three guys that started the club on her show few months ago..) and she is not doing ANYTHING for them! 

The IC kids in Chicago even went to HARPO studios and tried to talk to her.. they stood OUTSIDE her door and waited for her for a while.. she didn't even send a producer out to talk to the guys, her HARPO people threatened to call the cops!!

SO, the newest update is that she is going to rescue the kids today on her show. Which, this really irks me because she didnt want to do anything to help these people with the cameras off, she wanted the whole world to see that she is all high and mighty and has a heart. Which, after this situation, I feel as though she is completely ridiculous and hypocritical.

If you "have a heart" for impoverished people and kids who are needy, HAVE A HEART ALL THE TIME. You can't just do it when the world is watching you.. that's not what being a good samaritan is all about.

So, bottom line- the kids waited 7 full days for Oprah to come to their rescue. Not only did kids in Chicago wait (they're the ONLY city in all of the participant cities that haven't been rescued yet) 7 days, but kids in Africa waited as well. Now, she's only helping them for publicity it seems. 

It's quite disappointing, Oprah. 

The end.

The Importance of a Mentor In A Girls Life

I grew up in the Church and I have always had women in my life who play a large part in not only my spiritual life but also in my life as a whole. They helped shape my choices and warned me against the poor ones, I am forever grateful for these women. 

Because I've always had mentors along with a wonderful mom whom I could tell anything to, I can't imagine how my life would be without these influences. Then I think about my friends and I realize- my life would not only be different, it would be empty. My mentors opened new doors for me and listened to me when I needed an ear. They always gave me advice but allowed me to choose my own paths. 

I have friends in my life who were not as lucky as I in regards to mentors. My friends don't always have close relationships with their moms and they are consequently left with no real women's wisdom except what their friends can give, which is not really wisdom-influenced. I have one friend in particular who not only doesn't have a wonderful relationship with her mom, but also has a pretty shaky relationship with her father. I don't blame her for this by any means, but I do see the difference in in influences behind her choices and ultimately her life compared with how I am influenced. 

I wish with all my heart that she had a good mentor in her life that she could talk to, (secretly I wish she had a mentor so she would knock some sense in to her), because sometimes her choices negatively influences how our friendship works. I think the fact that she does not have a close relationship with God cause her parents don't makes her and I butt heads sometimes. Her choices with who she dates, who she hangs out with, how she treats me are all affected and I truly believe it would all change if she had a girl she could talk to and that would give her advice. 

That being said, I feel like God has put me in girls' lives so I can grow up to be their mentors. I think that because of the experiences and hardships God has pulled me through I am destined to somehow be involved in high school girls' lives so I can be there for them like I wish someone was there for my friend. I feel like I am going to be in the position to "pass the baton" as Brian Berry says, to influence girls' lives like others have influenced mine so they can turn around and do the same. 

I might expand more on this later, but right now I need to finish homework.