Camp Orlando 2014

December 15, 2014

   Five hundred Yearbook nerds. Four days. One Starbucks.

   Camp Orlando, offered each year by Walsworth Publishing Company, is a chance for yearbook and newspaper staffs from across the state of Florida (and beyond) to learn all about what it means to build a yearbook. Classes range from marketing to design to theme development, all of which focus on specific aspects of producing a successful book.


   Lots of coffee. Little sleep.

   As a staff, we've put together one main project so far, our "Be Branded" marketing banner, and tonight we'll be putting together our "Gallery of Excellence" theme board. There is a lot of work to be done, but with the great staffers and editors we have this year, I know it'll be great!

One Direction ~ Where We Are Tour 2014

October 5, 2014

   Oh my goodness, talk about a great concert! On Friday, my best friend and I went to Tampa to see One Direction and 5 Seconds of Summer perform and it was FANTASTIC. It is probably one of the most energetic concerts I've ever been to, and it was CERTAINLY the loudest.

We had no idea before we went, but our seats were INSANE. We were
about five rows up in the lower bowl, directly across from the catwalk.

I wasn't as familiar with 5SOS's music, but they had a great show. My favorite songs of the set were "Amnesia" and "She Looks so Perfect."

Harry Styles talking to the crowd in between songs.

The show was also just pretty. The lights, fireworks, and cell phone lights gave an overall glow to the stadium, which combined with the fog from the fog machine looked wicked. 


My ears might still be ringing, but it was an amazing experience overall. I saw one of my favorite bands with one of my favorite people, a great way to spend our Friday night!

Dealing with the Feels ~ Stress in School Part 2

September 18, 2014

So, now that you know EVERYONE deals with stress, the question that presents itself is:
               
How do I deal with it?

I've found over the past four years that I have three main ways of reducing school-induced stress. These won't work for everyone, but it's how I've managed to stay sane despite the incredible work load I deal with.

1. Figure out what is causing you the most stress, and tackle it a little bit at a time. Whether it be a project, college apps, or studying for tests, breaking stuff up works wonders. Sit down with a calendar or a sheet of paper, write EVERYTHING you have to do, then number it by priority. Then, take the top three of those and break them down over a week. This accomplishes two main things: it keeps you from feeling overwhelmed at the size of a major assignment and helps you eliminate procrastination.

2. Find something, NOT SCHOOL RELATED, to do in your free time. Now, don't get me wrong: if you want to spend your free time researching historical events because that's what makes your blood rush, go for it. But for me, I find that doing something to take away from school really helps me relax. Go for a walk, go shopping, play ten hours of Minecraft, read a book. Do something that is a change of pace from every day events. This will give you a chance to breathe, take a step back, and just enjoy some of your time.

3. Talk to someone. This is probably the hardest out of all of these. I hate burdening people with my problems, so I'm the kind of person to just brood over anything that's bothering me, but getting something off your chest does wonders for the soul. Look for a friend or sibling who will put up with a vent session. Go for a coffee, and let loose the frustrations! If you're like me and have a hard time telling other people your problems, start a journal. Journaling can be like a conversation, but no one else has to know anything you say. Or, if you want to be really cool, you can even start a blog!

There are so many other ways to reduce stress, and if you're feeling the pressure, try something. It's better to go on a fifteen minute walk than to let something stir inside of you. Stress sucks, as we've established, and it is a necessary evil of our lives, but it can be dealt with!

And if none of these sound interesting to you, my personal favorite way to deal with stress: naptime!

Stress in School ~ Part 1

September 11, 2014

   Well, we're well into the school year. Schedule changes are long since settled, homework loads are starting to regulate, and grades are starting to roll in. Basically, school is back to normal. For many students, myself included, school creates stress. This is completely understandable; we have teacher/parent expectations to uphold, social needs to fill, and sleep quotas to meet.
   I'd think most people would agree stress sucks. It isn't unique to school, employees have bosses to please, deadlines to meet, adults have bills to pay, etc. But personally, I believe that it falls short on adults the stress that we deal with on a day to day basis.
   For example, my day starts at 5:30. I'm at school by 6:30, normally reviewing notes, literature, or working on assignments while I wait for the first bell to ring. English starts, we complete a short classwork assignment, practice grammar, discuss literature, and take notes. Quiz on Tuesday, test Friday. The bell rings, second hour class begins. We go over notes, hold a class discussion, and try to wrap our minds our knowledge issues. Essay due Monday. Third period, history. Notes out before the bell rings, reviewing, preparing to fight for required class participation points in a class of thirty students. Take notes, and make sure to write anything that could be on an essay test. Relate it to the syllabus. IA Sources due Friday. Essay test Monday. Pop quiz in the near future. Fourth hour: Spanish. Round robin homework review, grammar lesson, class discussion. Daily homework, quiz Thursday, project due Monday. Lunch, three more classes with more tests, quizzes, and homework.
   Not to mention, don't forget to work on your college applications, look for scholarships, participate in extracurricular activities, volunteer, keep a job, sleep, keep up a hobby, and hey, remember you have those exams at the end of the year, better start studying now.
   I'm in no way complaining, and I understand my course selections probably account for the majority of the work I do, but this is just an example of a day at school. Seven hours spent at school, plus anywhere from one to five hours of homework every day, but school is a major cause of stress.
   If you're dealing with stress caused by school, believe me, you are not alone. Everyone feels the pressure, no matter how much it seems they don't, and everyone is trying to work through it. My next couple of blog posts will deal with ways to manage stress, tips for developing (and sticking to) a schedule, focusing, and keeping up with schoolwork. I hope they help!

One Republic and The Script ~ August 16, 2014

August 20, 2014

   Absolutely amazed. I saw One Republic, The Script, and Jamie Scott in Tampa. Oh my gosh, was this one heck of a show!
   I couldn't pick a favorite act because it was all just so amazing. The Script was incredibly entertaining, really getting the entire audience involved and besides, who doesn't love beautiful Irish men singing to them? One Republic was just so mind-blowingly talented. They put on a great show, my favorites being Good Life and Counting Stars. 
   I had so much fun just enjoying an evening with friends, a welcome end to the first week of senior year. I'm Counting Stars that my next concert will rank as high in the Hall of Fame as this one! 

Goodbye, SYI

July 26, 2014

   All good things must come to an end, I suppose, and I guess SYI is no exception. So today, we packed our bags, shared a few last hugs, and slowly went our separate ways.


   Today was our last day. We shared one final breakfast with everyone and headed to worship, where we sang our hearts out, served communion, and ended with a conga line to the main Seminary steps.

   Even though it was hard to say goodbye to the family I've grown to love over the past two weeks, I know that we'll all see each other again someday, through SYI or by coincidence. Even now, only twelve hours since the official end, we've already been texting and Snapchatting each other.

   As we all return to our regular schedules, time zones, and lifestyles, I know that all of us will keep the experiences of the past two weeks fresh in mind, shaping and teaching us everyday as we grow in our faith and move on in life.


   My experiences at PTS and SYI can be summed up in three songs:
     1. Everything is Awesome by Tegan and Sara
     2. Washed by the Water by NEEDTOBREATHE
     3. How He Loves by David Crowder Band

SYI Week 1 Reflection

July 20, 2014 Pittsburgh Theological Seminary 616 N Highland Ave, Pittsburgh

   I have had quite the jam packed week, from mission work to classes, dances to naps. My first week in Pittsburgh is at a close, and I'm only more excited for the second! So, logically, what else is there to do other than reflect on everything that has happened this week? 
   WORSHIP. Everyday, we've opened and closed with worship services at the Seminary. We also had the opportunity to attend a Taizè service. This was one of the most powerful services I have ever attended. Other services ranged from drawing out our prayers in the art room to listening to the allegory of the Unicorn, to enjoying morning worship on the chapel steps. 
   MISSION. Wednesday and Saturday mornings we were able to help out at a couple of different mission sites. Half of the SYI crew worked at Garfield Community Farm while the other half worked at a housing project. At the house, we scraped old paint, primed ceilings, and helped with demolition. Unfortunately, our group wasn't able to work at the farm due to weather, but we were able to tour and learn about what the farm provides for the community and how the plots and gardens work. 
   CLASSES. The weekend marks the end of the first language class and the first week of elective classes. I took Greek the first week, and I'll be going in to Hebrew this week. My elective class, Practical Theodicy, has raised questions and offered theories of why evil and suffering exists in the world. I've learned a lot in this first week, and I'm excited to learn more! 
   SMALL GROUPS. Small groups have given me the opportunity to become closer with some of my fellow scholars and to just relax after a long day of class. Our group chose to meet in the basement rec room, snuggled up with blankets for our evening chats. We've shared Faith Journeys, shared jokes, and most importantly just had fun hanging out. 
   FIELD TRIPS. This week, we had outings to Inventionland and Kennywood Amusement Park. These were so fun, and a much appreciated break from regular class days. Inventionland taught us to always be creative, and that God can call you to do anything in life. Kennywood wasn't exactly a learning experience, but it definitely taught me who my fellow adrenaline junkies were! We also had free time to explore the area around the Seminary, which we took as a call to an ice cream shop. 
   RELATIONSHIPS. Probably the best part of this week are the friendships I've made. We've come a long way from the first day, that awkward car ride of silence from the airport. Dinners have turned into family dinners, everyone crowded around the conference table, sharing stories and jokes and, most importantly, chocolate chip cookies. We ended our week with a dance, and we're all still feeling the after effects of jumping for three hours today. It's amazing to see our group become more and more comfortable with each other and learning more about each other. I know these relationships are ones that will last for years, and we'll all only grow closer. 
   So, I'm pretty certain SYI is only going to get better from here, and I'm excited to see what else they have in store for us. For now, we're going to spend the afternoon relaxing with a pizza and movie night, recuperating and preparing for another week of adventures!

SYI Mid-Week Update

July 15, 2014

   Well, the last few days have been quite an experience, and one I can tell will definitely affect me for the better.
   For the past four days (and also the next two weeks), I've been in Pittsburgh at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary for the annual Miller Summer Youth Institute. This program offers students a chance to better understand their faith, learn different aspects of theology, and find a peace with the direction they are headed in life. We'll also be visiting an amusement park, working on different mission sites, and hearing from several speakers from the Pittsburgh area.
   So as for my experiences here, I have quite a collection of stories.
   Saturday was the travel day. I arrived in Pittsburgh by plane, along with a couple other scholars. We were received by some wonderful SYI staff (Morgan and Chris, some cool kids; Derek, cool kid-at-heart) and were shuttled to the Seminary by a driver. Now, since this is my first time in Pittsburgh, I was like a kid at a candy store; I had my face pressed to the glass driving through the city. I'm shocked at how green everything is! I was expecting more city and less trees. Once we had all settled in and arrived, we had dinner and relaxed. This mainly included some board games (namely, the most awkward game of Apples to Apples known to man), watching the World Cup, and playing volleyball outside.
   Sunday, we headed to Eastminster Presbyterian Church, just a block from the Seminary, for morning worship. The church was beautiful, with astounding architecture and amazing stained glass windows. The service was nice, featuring a blend of traditional hymns and modern praise songs. Though, the lack of air conditioning was quite a shock to my Florida baby self, I loves me some air conditioning. The rest of the day we played more volleyball, enjoyed some ice cream, met for small group, and prepared ourselves for class the next day.
   Monday marked the first day of classes. The morning started with Ancient Greek with Prof. Davison. We learned the pronunciation of the alphabet, some basic reading, and some homework worksheets to practice translating. After the morning break was Practical Theodicy with Dr. Hancock. This class is most certainly my favorite so far. It covers the big questions, "Why would God create suffering?" and "Why does evil exist?" to name just two, not to mention we're reading C.S. Lewis' never-meant-to-be-published journal.    
   During free time, we finished our homework in the library (where we saw Karl Barth's actual desk) and then headed over to the craft room. Having some Disney withdrawal, I decided to color a couple Disney inspired pictures and enjoy conversation with the other scholars until dinnertime. After dinner, we heard from a speaker from the Fred Rogers foundation. This was one of the best speakers I have ever had, and the presentation left more than a few in tears. To me, it really made it hit home what it means to have faith and shows that I can make a difference in the world no matter how crazy my dream is and how stacked the odds may seem. We ended with worship, small groups, and snacks.
  Tuesday, we repeated the same schedule. Morning language class, elective class (Theodicy), lunch; and then we had free time. Now, since both my room mate and I are incredibly studious, we knocked our homework out in no time, and had about two hours of time to enjoy ourselves. Rather than encroach upon the boys game of basketball, or repeat craft time from theprevious day, we decided to try our hands at tennis. We were both absolutely terrible, but we had a great time playing and that's all that really matters. We ended with small group and worship again, and I'm now up past lights out updating y'all on my life!
   I already feel like I've grown in my time here, and I can't wait to see how much I've learned and changed in two weeks. Through the amazing people I've met so far and the classes I'm taking, I can tell this is going to be an experience worth my time.

Antique Hunting & Jewelry Haul

June 30, 2014

   Since Saturday afternoon was absolutely gorgeous, my parents and I decided to go out to some antique shops in our area. This is always one of my favorite things to do, as I feel it is so much more rewarding buying something with history to it than something fresh from the shelf (Unless of course we're talking about food, always buy that fresh!).
   I was also on a mission to find a Claddagh ring. I've wanted one for years, ever since my older sister got hers. At the time, I was too young to keep up with a ring, but I remember having quite the pout over not getting one.
   The first shop we popped into was called "Oliver Twist Antiques," and featured an assortment of old furniture, comics, dolls, clothes, and dishes. I picked up this golden orb necklace from among the heaps and heaps of jewelry, and I am quite in love with it! It has a little purple stone inside and is on a longer chain, so it reminded me of Hermione's Time Turner from Harry Potter. And at seven dollars, it was perfect.
   We perused Downtown for a while longer but with no luck, so we stopped for some lunch at a local restaurant to map out a game plan for the afternoon. We decided to head to Renninger's, a large antique mall and flea shop just outside of Mount Dora. 
   Now, after Downtown had been a bust, I was feeling a bit put down on my Claddagh search, but the cosmic forces prevailed, because in a little shop called "Jewels by Julie" I happened across THREE that were in the right size. I settled on one with a blue stone, which I believe is sapphire, and which is an amazing color. Here, my mom also picked up a bag with random bits and bobs of old jewelry, which included this little bow ring, which she gave to me. 
The crown represents loyalty, the hands represent service, and the heart represents love.
The bow represents, well, a bow.
   The last little shop we stopped by here didn't have a name, but it was run by one of the sweetest ladies I've ever met. She had quite the collection of old dishes (lots of Fire King and Pyrex), buttons, and furniture. Here, I happened to find a Royal Wedding button from the wedding of none other than Prince Charles and Princess Diana. I basically squealed with joy, much to my dad's displeasure of "my eardrums didn't need that," but hey, what can a self-proclaimed anglophile say? It is from Selfridges, after all! 
   I also got a little crown pendant, which I'm not sure where it is from or what it is, but I thought it would be quite right for an upcycled magnet or keychain. I'll need to do some more research to figure out the origin, but I thought the crown was pretty neat.

   So my jewelry collection is quite improved with the necklace and rings, and my inner history geek has been satiated for the week with the Royal Wedding button. I can't wait to go out on another hunt for more antique wonders!

Disney Trip ~ June 21, 2014

June 26, 2014

   Since June 21st has the most hours of daylight in the year, I had to find some way to take advantage of all that sun, and with some friends down visiting us the stars were aligned perfectly! What better way to celebrate the summer solstice than with good friends and good fun at Disney World? We all loaded up and headed out, and we were there in time for the opening ceremony (my second time watching it this month, woo) and before the park got too crazy.
   Now, I've been going to Disney for a long time, pretty much all seventeen years of my existence on this planet, and I've seen some pretty crowded days and some pretty empty days, but for a beautiful day in June, Magic Kingdom was almost disappointingly not crowded. Not that I'm complaining, I got to ride everything I wanted to without being barraged with strollers and stray balloons.
I finally got to meet Rapunzel, and it was fantastic and the face character was adorable.
(As a seventeen year old I probably shouldn't get so excited over this but shh it's Disney!)
   We started off the day with some Fantasyland adventures, moving on to Frontierland and finishing the day in Tomorrowland. It was a pretty fun filled day, with every other cast member addressing me as "Batgirl," yay for t-shirt references! Even the barista at the Mainstreet Bakery and Starbucks decided to get in on the fun, adding some little annotations to my drink.
    We finished off the day with a quick monorail ride over to EPCOT, where we walked around and did a bit of shopping. I really wanted to visit the UK part of the World Showcase, just because it's my favorite and I love to marvel over the jewelry, gardens, and Doctor Who merchandise. Overall, it was a great day with great people, and I can't wait for them to visit again!

TRANSFORM ~ June Lootcrate

June 21, 2014

Woo, it's Lootcrate time!
     Seeing that wonderful black box in the mailbox each month is an absolute treat. This month's theme was "Transform" and I have to say, I may have squealed at multiple points during the opening.


     The first thing I opened was the little Transformer figurine. This cute little Decepticon is named "Thundercracker" and he'll have a nice spot no my nerd shelf with Superman and Jake the Dog from previous crates.  


     The second thing in the crate was an MLG wristband. Good thing too, now I have a complete set with my Attack on Titan band from the "Attack on Titanfall" crate!


     Next in ye old crate o'goodies was a Transformers HexBug. Again, a Decepticon and right up my alley of "random things I'd never think I needed in my life."



     And my favorite part of the crate (the cause of a miniature fangirl attack) the fantastic "Marty McPrime" shirt. I'm a pretty big fan of Back to the Future so this is a great addition to my nerd shirt collection. I mean what's better than robots and time travel, right?


     Finally, there were some MLG stickers and a Decepticon sticker. I'm not too familiar with the MLG teams, though I do recognize Team Optic. The Decepticon sticker is pretty sweet, and I'll have to find somewhere good to use it.



     This was a pretty good month for Lootcrate! I'll definitely get the most use out of the shirt and I've got some great new additions to the nerd shelf. If you're interested in signing up for some great gear, head on over and check out Lootcrate!

(Very Belated) TFIOS "The Night Before Our Stars"

June 20, 2014

Good Morning, everyone!
   So a few weeks ago, my best friend and I went to the Thursday night premiere of "The Fault in Our Stars," the movie based on the best-selling novel by author John Green. You could say we were just a wee bit excited.
My (very basic) TFIOS inspired manicure for the night.
   Assuming there would be a long line, we arrived around 5:30 (a mere three hours before the movie was set to begin.) Much to our surprise, we were only the second group of people in line, and it was about an hour before anyone else showed up! Despite our early arrival, we managed to stay entertained by playing cards, talking, and mentally preparing ourselves for the movie (which included comparing the amount of tissue packages we'd each brought with us.)
Me and the best friend, pre-movie selfies to pass the time!
  The doors opened, and we were able to go into the theater. Each of us at this showing received  The "Night Before Our Stars" started, prompted by a short video introduction by John Green himself, and as the movie began we were all immediately immersed in the world of Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters.
   The movie was fantastic, and sharing the experience with other Nerdfighters and TFIOS fans made it all the more special. We made a few new friends, and the post-movie live stream was a wonderful experience. It included musical performances, as well as a Q&A with the cast and the ever-so-wonderful lost cameo by John Green himself.
  The whole experience was great, and spending it with my best friend made it so much better. I can't wait until Paper Towns is out and ready to watch, because we'll be the first ones in line!

Senior Summer!

June 19, 2014

Heyyo!
 Well, it's finally here. I'm officially a senior! I don't know whether I'm more excited to be done with school or nervous about what finishing means, but the one thing I do know is: this summer is going to be better than ever! Friends, Disney, relaxation, and sunshine!
  I'll definitely be posting more about my summer adventures, so if you're interested be sure to stop back by the blog!
   -Jessie


Disney: How to Prepare for the Best Day Ever!

March 18, 2014

Welcome, Spring Break! A week of no school, sleeping late, and my favorite thing of all, visiting Walt Disney World in Orlando. No matter if you're going with family, friends, or just yourself, Disney always delivers a magical experience. Now, here are my top five ways to prepare yourself for a day at the "Happiest place on Earth!"

1. Do the Practical Stuff
Now, this is for your parent, legal guardian, or qualified trip planner for the day. This step involves buying tickets, making reservations, and developing a plan of attack for the day. I'd recommend checking out Disney's "My Disney Experience" app and website to organize your day. Check park hours, park hopping transportation, and parade/character appearance schedules. If your stay lines up with any of the special festivals, check out all they have to offer.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/plan/

2. Be Preparrrreeedd!
After all of the planning stuff, pack your bags. Whether your visiting for a day or for a week, some important things to remember are snacks, tissues, ponchos (this is Florida we're talking about), extra clothes, and money. ALWAYS REMEMBER A WATER BOTTLE, this will save you three dollars and hey, water fountains are free! If you want the full Disney experience, remember your camera, pens, and autograph pad for all of those character meetups.

3. Yay, music!
Yes, this is completely necessary. Pick your favorite songs or soundtracks from Disney films and put yourself together a playlist. This will get you in the mood, and who can object to a little "Be our Guest" being sung to them? My personal favorites include anything from Tarzan, Lion King, or the Princess films. If you'd like to be lazy and make this step even easier, just find a Pandora station based on your favorite movie!

4. What to wear?
Before you plan to wear your brand new, most favorite dress ever, check the weather. Florida is notorious for rain and heat, so plan around the daily forecast. Shorts and a t-shirt are the easiest outfit, as well as a casual dress or jeans and a shirt. I've seen some crazy outfits, from six-inch heels to full on princess costumes, so as long as you're comfortable you'll be fine! If you want to really get into it, check out Disneybound, a fashion blog devoted to bringing Disney styles into the real world.
http://disneybound.tumblr.com/

5. Get excited!
Now that everything is planned, and prepared, and all ready to go, relax and be excited! Disney brings out the magic in anyone. I've probably walked down Mainstreet USA at least a hundred times in my life, and every time I'm amazed that I still feel like I'm walking into another world. Plan a movie marathon, listen to all of the Disney music, check that Disney tag on tumblr, or do any Disney related activity. Anything to bring out your Disney side will get you ready for any experience the park can offer. Just think: you can go from seeing Cinderella in the movie to getting her autograph in the matter of a few days!


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