Hey God, It's Me

Hey God,

It's me, your daughter. I come to you after taking 3 out of 4 finals. I know we've talked a lot this week, but we haven't really talked in awhile, so here I am. For the past week or so there have been a lot of short prayers sent up from me to You. Quite a few quick prayers for exams or patience or focus, and at least 30 Hail Mary's. I know that our nightly talks have been short and have been about the same every night this week, me asking for guidance, knowledge, and strength alongside the normal prayers for my family, friends, and future. It's the prayer of a college kid. I'm sorry our talks have been so short and uninteresting, but that's why I'm here right now. I'm here to talk.

Let me begin by apologizing. I'm sorry. I'm the first to admit that my track record for Mass attendance has been dismal this semester, and I'm sorry. There have been too many nights that I stayed out too late and didn't make Mass the next morning, but I will try to do better. There have been many times lately that I've said something wrong or mean or didn't think before I spoke and I'm sure it's hurt you, and I'm sorry. There have been times that my actions have not been Christ-like and I have not lived like a child of God and I'm sorry. I will do better. Part of being human means that I will inevitably sin and do wrong, but being your daughter means that I also am forgiven and for that I can never be thankful enough. I am not worthy of your endless mercy and love, but I can spend every day trying my hardest to be.

All week I've been asking you for this or that, help me on this exam, help me get through this day, help me have patience with people, but now I'm asking you to use me. Use me to reach others. Use me to be a messenger. Use me to spread your word. Help me to do something for you, and give back. Send me out into the world with purpose and let me serve you.

xoxo,
B

"Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you." 1 Samuel 12:24

Enough is Enough

I write this post in the wake of recent events at UTC. Earlier this week, one of my very best friends and one of the best people I know was verbally attacked by others, including organizations, on campus. You may have heard of the story through various media outlets by now, but this is a first hand account of the overreach of political correctness in this country and more specifically on college campuses. On Tuesday night, Hailey Puckett and some others chalked the middle of UTC's campus, a spot called Heritage Plaza that holds the four seals of UTC, with pro-Trump drawings. Now let's back up a minute, Hailey was recently elected as a senator for SGA for the upcoming school year. Following the drawings, dubbed "The Chalkening", Hailey tweeted a picture of the drawing with the quote, "Super proud of our art work, but I have a feeling half of UTCs campus is gonna hate it. #TheChalkening #Trump2016". Her prediction was correct and after only about 30 minutes she deleted the tweet due to aggressive responses from a group of UTC students. One girl in the group took to it to screenshot the tweet and write a Facebook post about it encouraging people to share it and saying things such as "we as a campus support love, diversity, and unity and Donald Trump does not support any of these things" and the student went on to question why someone was allowed to run and be elected who supports someone who "encourages violence at his rallies, inequality, racism, and pure hatred". The student openly says that black UTC students took it upon themselves to "clean up" campus that night. I have many problems with this post, and I know that there are similar views from a number of people because they disagree with Trump. Trump is blunt and to the point, he doesn't sugar coat the truth and for that many people hate him and disagree with his campaign. That's fine, but even if you don't like him you have to respect that some people do agree with his policies.

However, the insanely messed up world we live in has told us that we absolutely must at all times be politically correct. The problem with this is that there is such a thing as being TOO politically correct and now college campuses are filled with students getting their feelings hurt and offended on every corner. Political correctness is out of control in this country and college campuses are breeding grounds for it. Professors are constantly having to watch themselves to make sure they do not say or teach anything that could offend someone and get them in hot water, which in some ways is interfering with their students' education. Political correctness has gotten entirely too out of hand, but it's so engrained that Americans don't even realize it anymore. If we continue to put such an emphasis on it, it will continue to destroy our country and I hate to see that happen. If someone hurts your feelings so what? We have 20 year olds more sensitive than 6 year olds and that's not okay. You don't have to agree with everyone and everyone doesn't have to agree with you, but you should respect that person regardless of whether or not you agree with them. That's what we lack in this country: a lack of respect for people of different views. We preach tolerance, but in reality it only pertains to the people who agree with your beliefs, and more often than not it's liberals preaching tolerance, but the second they meet a Republican (God forbid they be a Trump supporter too) they stop practicing what they preach and they try to tell the other person that their beliefs are wrong. It's hypocritical and childish. I respect people of different beliefs and their right to support whomever they wish in the election regardless of if I agree, and I ask that people do the same, and I sure know Hailey does.

Hailey was degraded on social media for her personal political beliefs after chalking campus Tuesday night, and was even asked to resign from her newly elected position for the following year. While people were yelling about how Trump oppresses people and is evil, they were doing the same thing to Hailey and not even caring they were doing it. This girl couldn't even go to class on Wednesday because of everything going on, and when she did venture onto campus she had to have people walking with her solely for protection. Please tell me how that is spreading love and supporting diversity and unity because I see none of those things. Everything people were saying Trump does that they hate they were doing to this kind-hearted girl. She basically had to hide all day while being blown up and essentially cyber-bullied via Twitter and Facebook, but refrained from saying anything further for fear of her words being twisted even more. People were putting words in her mouth and were trying to make the tweet into things it didn't mean. It's basic knowledge that college campuses are hot spots for young liberals, but can be scary for young conservatives, so if I had to guess when she said, "I have a feeling half of UTCs campus is gonna hate it" who are you to be saying that it meant one thing or the other? I interpreted it as, "all of the liberals and anti-Trump college kids aren't going to agree with this", and not as "black UTC and all of the minorities were being targeted". Not everything has to be about race and gender regardless of what all of the politically correct people of the world will have you think.

No one deserves to have their First Amendment taken away because some people disagree with it or because what they say may offend someone, which let's be real you can't do anything without offending at least one person these days. Much less should someone be asked to resign from a position with a group encouraging diversity and inclusion for an unpopular belief. This whole thing was a mess and had it been any other presidential candidate, it would have never even gotten attention. If "Feel the Bern" had been written it probably would've even been praised and taped off by Sanders supporters as a monument. Hailey is great, and I'm glad she's not resigning from her position because she has done nothing wrong, nothing other than use
 her First Amendment right.

Stay classy,

B

20 things I've learned in 20 years

Happy Spring guys! I know I've been MIA, but life has been in the way. Everyday I see little things that remind of how lucky I am and how incredible this world is. I've been blessed with 20 years on this Earth now and I've come to realize a few things in that short time, so here they are.

1. Have a relationship with God.
In this day and age God is looked down on in society and so is having a public relationship with Him for the most part. Don't be afraid. Even if it isn't hip, go forth and be a child of God.

2. Put your relationship with Him before everything else.
Once you let God take control things will get easier. It's not always an easy thing to learn, but part of having a relationship with Him is trusting Him to take care of you. He won't steer you wrong.

3. Take time to enjoy nature.
Even if it's on your way to class, look around at the trees and flowers and the beauty of the world. Nothing is better than getting lost in the Great Outdoors every once in awhile.

4. Make time for your family.
Your family made you who you are, so don't overlook them. They're more than likely the ones who will always have your back. Spend time with them every once in awhile.

5. Especially your grandparents.
Grandparents are blessings, and I'm so fortunate to have 3 living grandparents plus a step-grandmother. They are full of wonderful stories and life lessons, if you take time to listen I'm sure they can teach you something.

6. You will never regret doing the right thing.
ever.

7. That right thing may not always be the easy thing.
Sometimes we choose the wrong thing because it's easy or comfortable instead of stepping out of our comfort zone to do the right thing. Be remembered as someone who always did the right thing even when it wasn't easy.

8. Always be humble and kind.
*insert Tim McGraw song lyric*

9. Be a good friend.
No one likes flaky friends or sometimes friends. Be the kind of friend you like to have. Be there for people. I'd rather be a good friend to a few people than a sometimes friend to a bunch of people.

10. Be passionate about something.
It doesn't matter what it is (unless it's making meth or something illegal or bad). Be passionate about something you love and do it. Make a career of it if you can.

11. Don't be afraid to try new things.
I never want to miss out on something great because I was too afraid. What if I had been to afraid to move to Chattanooga? Or what if I had been too afraid to be a lifeguard? I would've missed out on some amazing memories with some amazing people.

12. Go for it.
Whatever it is. Whatever is holding you back. Overcome the wall and go for it.

13. Learn new things.
I love learning personally. Today, I was prompted with the question, "What would you do if you weren't a student?". I replied that I would be sad because I'm that big of a nerd and I love learning so much. Knowledge is a powerful thing people.

14. Stand your ground.
Do not let someone walk all over you and mock your beliefs. I repeat, DO NOT. Be polite about it, but stand up for yourself.

15. It's okay that everyone has different opinions. 
I'm a Republican. I don't hate Democrats though. I'm a Catholic (which is a Christian). I don't hate people of other religions though. It's called tolerance and it's important to have. It's okay to disagree with people as long as you respect their opinion.

16. You can't always get it right.
But you sure can try your best to.

17. Life is tricky.
If there's anything I've learned it's that life is not easy, but it's what you make it.

18. Attitude is important.
A good attitude can go a long way. You can have a great day or a terrible day and it's all up to you. Wake up with a mindset that everyday will be a great day.

19. Work ethic is everything.
We live in a world with a poor work ethic. We have become lazy and selfish and we don't want to work for anything. I was taught by my grandpa that if you want nice things you have to work for them. I do everything 110% and I naturally expect everyone else to do so as well, but that's not always the case. Be someone with a strong work ethic.

20. Have fun.
It's so easy to get bogged down in daily life. Go out with your girlfriends on a Monday night. Go for a hike. Go to the beach. Read a book. Whatever it is you do for fun do it. Life is short.

Maybe you listen to some of these, maybe you ignore all of them. It's up to you.

Until next time,
B

P.S. 55 days until Spain!!!