Two Wolves

          I like to think that I am a good writer. I can put words on a page better than if I spoke them. I do not like public speeches, but I want to get my words out so I write. Some writers are very skilled. They can sit themselves down and bust out a story in no time. Others need inspiration and emotion to write. Both sides are great at what they do. The first group can write about the factual and structured side of something while the latter brings the emotion to the table and helps connect people to what they are writing.
          I can do both, but I write better when I have inspiration.
          I am a huge procrastinator. That is why I am sitting in the computer lab typing instead of watching movies with the rest of my class. But you eat from the plate you make I guess.
          I am a big fan of simple, little quotes. They may be a few sentences, but contain so much meaning. Something simple like, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." A favorite of mine is a dialogue between an old Cherokee and his grandson.
          Grandfather: "My son, there is a battle between two wolves inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, inferiority, lies, and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, empathy, and truth."
          The boy thought about it, and asked, "Grandfather, which wolf wins?"
          The old man quietly replied, "The one you feed."

          A small tale about a big lesson. Controlling one's emotions is a hard task. Patience is key to keeping a cool head and having the right emotions. Someone who can control their emotions control every aspect of their own conscious. It keeps the mind and bodily urges in check.

Pet Peeves

          Ok so everyone I know has their own little annoyances called pet peeves. Pet peeves odd because they are the most annoying things that someone has to deal with and yet they aren't even that big of an issue to most people. I am seriously going out on a limb here by saying some of mine. And if you use them against me I will make you regret it. So be warned.
          I have ADD. So I have focus issues and am always moving. I tap my feet, my hands, grind my teeth, and bob my head. That is what helps me stay awake and focused, but if someone else does it I will loose it. It is very odd, but that is a pet peeve of mine.
          To go along with my ADD, is the fact that I hate being touched. That is partly why cuddling is no fun with me. I can't stop moving and being touched is weird. My friend Ranen knows about this. So sitting by him in class can be terrible because he will bug me by lightly touching the back of my neck or head and sit there watching me. He knows that I have to retouch it to "wipe off the germs" or something to that effect. He finds it hilarious and I hate it.
          One of my biggest pet peeves is when I am in the middle of a conversation with someone and another person walks up and starts talking like they know what the conversation is about! You fool! Just sit there quietly like a normal person and listen. Then you will know what is actually being talked about. So zip the lip, listen up, and you will be fine.
          I am normally a patient and tolerant person, so don't do these things and I will like you. Keep up the good work.

Someone Worth My Time

          We've all heard it. "Love at First Sight". It is one of the most beautiful things Romantics understand, but also the rarest; maybe even unrealistic. Everyone dreams of love. Some with another person, some with solitude, and some with beauty they find. As a Christian, love at first sight is not really believed in. Taking the time to know a person is something more valued than love at first sight. But many people feel this at some point in their life. A girl is shopping at the mall with her friends and she catches the eye of a man coming out of the sports store. A guy is playing football in the park with his buddies and a beautiful woman walks by with her dog.
          Or in my case; goes bowling with two friends. One has been my best bud for years, the other a girl who I have met on and off several times through the years. It wasn't love at first sight for me. I had dated a while before and immediately came up with the conclusion that dating in high school is pointless. So I never really thought about her. Since we are high schoolers and had fun, we got each others' numbers. After weeks of talking to her, I realized just how amazing she was. Beautiful, smart, kind, full of faith in God, and more mature than any high school girls I could find. She was perfect. Talking to her and being with her were wonderful times. I could be myself and not close up. She is worth my time.

Running On Empty

          Four weeks to go. It really crept up on me. Three weeks of cramming and hard work to bump up my grade just enough to exempt an exam. It's no fun; all the hustle and bustle that saps my energy and makes me like a zombie. It's hard, but everyone goes through the same thing. Some have it worse, some have it better. It has been a long school year of getting ideas and facts crammed into your brain and stored for later use. Of course, most of it is forgotten. But it all must be recalled for the big tests at the end of each semester. Exams. The death and fear of everyone in school. Exams are the biggest tests that a high schooler will take every semester. They are the Bill Cosby of the school. Everyone thinks they are a joke until they find out how bad they actually are. But after a few years of them, you know that they really suck. People will spend hours studying for them and days stressing over the unknown. But at this point I'm like, "Screw it, I don't care. Throw it at me. #noregrets" And I don't actually do too bad on them. Yes studying more will help, but it stresses me out more. So I just relax and keep calm and I'm fine. Keep a cool head kid and you will go far. Also walk quietly and carry a big stick to get rid of your enemies.

Service Week: Basic run-down and History

Service Week started out when Covenant was first installed. The people on the board for creating Covenant wanted something special for our school to do. With consideration to our small size, it was decided to start what is now called Service Week. It was a great decision that has influenced the faith of hundreds of students.

          The board decided to separate the classes so we could connect with each other. The freshmen stay local and do some work at Elam Christian, Roseland Christian, Christian Haven, and whatever other work is needed at the school or someone's house. 

          The Sophomores go up to Camp Tall Turf and GRASP (Grand Rapids Area Service Project) in Michigan. They clean and fix up the camp, cut and stack wood, and fix up people's houses in Grand Rapids. 

          I am a junior and we went to Big Creek Missions in the Apalacha region of Kentucky. The two counties we were in were ranked as some of the poorest places in the nation. People lived in little shacks and trailers. The car was a four wheeler and the SUV was a four wheeler with a trailer attached. The education system was not the best, many do not go off to college and some even drop out of high school. We saw how poor these people were and knew that our help was needed here more than any place we have been already. 

          The Seniors go out of the country and work at an orphanage in Guatemala. They used to go to Mexico, but the gang violence was becoming too extreme which made it unsafe for the students and chaperons.

          Everyone loves Service Week. It gives us a break from school and our everyday lives. Many come back with a changed heart and strengthened faith. A week of service was a great idea for Covenant. It helps spread God's love to other people and God blesses them through our work.

College Visit #1

Last week Thursday was the day my friend Colin and I went to visit Dordt College. It was quite an experience. To get to Dordt in Iowa, we had to fly. Having never flown before, I was somewhat anxious. To top that off, we flew from O'Hare by ourselves. No parents were with us. It was awful. We were sent all over the place and were given instructions by people who had such bad accents that we could not understand them. After calling my dad several times and multiple trips back and forth, we finally got on the airplane. It was amazing. I enjoyed every part about the flight except that my ears kept popping. I took so many pictures that I could make a map of my trip.

We landed in Sioux City where we met Dordt freshman, Sam Boman who drove us to the college. We walked up to Admissions were met by our high school friend Morgan. She showed us our rooms and took us to the Recreation Center. It was a party. Bouncy houses, untold amounts of food, ticket prizes, and knock out games. I had fun and won a box of 30 chocolate bars. But after a while, we went to our rooms and prepared for the next day's events.

Friday and Saturday were spent getting acquainted with Dordt, going on tours of the campus and talking to the professors. I felt right at home. Every one was so welcoming and included me in their everyday activities. Campus golf, Call of Duty and Halo, The Walking Dead, basketball games, and late night doughnut runs at the local bakery. My roommates were two great christian people. They did a great job representing Christ in what they did and said.

 Sunday was spent with my sister Danielle. We went to her church in the morning and then she made us lunch. She is a great cook and the fish patties were delicious. I was very tired that day because of the sleep I was not getting, so I fell asleep on her couch.

Monday we packed up and went back to the airport. It was much easier this time since we were heading to O'Hare and not from it. My dad picked us up and that was our trip to Dordt. I loved it there and the campus life is very suited to my style. As of right now, I will be going to Dordt. It will be hard for other colleges to attract my attention like Dordt did.

Can't Stand The Silence

This past weekend was one of the biggest fails in my life. I am in a Mass Media class and my teacher, Miss Boman, asked all the students to do the impossible. We had to give up media for the whole weekend from Friday starting at 3 p m to Sunday ending at 3 p m. It was impossible, for in this day and age, who can give up media? It is one of the biggest things in a person's life and their way to connect to the outside world and their friends. I didn't last ten minutes. I had my phone out and I was checking my iPod for any notifications. I knew it was going to be a long weekend.

My life, like everyone else's, revolved around media. My Achilles heel is music. Take out music and I flounder in a pool of boredom. I listen to music in the car, while taking a shower, while doing homework, even while sleeping. Music calms me down and shuts out the world and my problems. But my problem was having to give up the music. And like Achilles when the arrow struck his heel, I failed. The fast was terrible for me. Music was playing, I watched TV, I was on my phone and iPod. I fasted about as well as a fat kid in a candy store. I did not do well in the fast at all, so Miss Boman decided that myself, and the rest of the kids that failed, redo the media fast! Oh boy, what fun! I will be put through this AGAIN. I couldn't handle it the first time, let alone a second.

But this will be a healthy change for me. It will teach me self control and not to rely so heavily on technology. The first was a "test run", but the second will turn out much better.