ohio or bust!!
Check your pulse it's proof
that you're not listening to
The call your life's been issuing you
The rhythm of a line of idle days
Scared of a world outside
you should go explore
Pull all the shades
and wander the great indoors
The great indoors
Lamplight makes the shadows play
And posters take the walls away
The T.V. is your window pane
The view won't let you down
So put your faith in a late night show
I bet you didn't even know
Depends on how far out you go
The channel numbers change
Scared of a world outside
you should go explore
Pull all the shades
and wander the great indoors
Though lately I can't blame you
I have seen the world
And sometimes wish your room
Had room for two
So go unlock the door
And find what you are here for
Leave the great indoors
Please leave the great indoors
Check your pulse it's
proof that you're not listening to
The call your life's been issuing you
The rhythm of a line of idle, idle days
So after hearing this song, and several other things that kicked me in the butt, I applied to Franciscan University of Steubenville in Steubenville, Ohio. It felt right, felt like the right place to go, try something new and still grow deeper in my faith. I called to make sure they recieved my application and all my transcripts and SAT scores, they said they had and that it would be two to three weeks before I knew anything. Talking to others who had applied or gone to Steubenville I discovered I would need to stay on top of my application... the guy who is in charge of admissions for the West Coast (Martin Hummel) is pretty much a slacker who doesn't do his job and screws up people's applications so they end up not being able to go. So I was prepared to have to keep on top of things to try to push my application through. I found out on Saturday that I GOT IN!!!!!!!! I recieved a letter from the director of Admissions within a week of them recieving my application (well, 9 days, but they sent the letter back to me within a week) I don't think Martin Hummel looked at it at all, I think the director did all of it. Praise God. If there was ever any doubt before that I was supposed to go to this school, there is no doubt now. One week. I am blown away. And then Michael and Chris tell me... it really is a calling to go to Steubenville, people don't just get accepted, they are called to go there. So I'm going. For sure. I don't even need to visit the campus (even though I am going to so I can speak with a counselor, look at housing etc.) I'm going. The way I see it, even if the school doesn't live up to my expectations... its better than San Bernardino. I have never felt so called to do something, or go somewhere in my entire life. God has seriously just closed certain doors in the past year, and thrown other doors wide open.. lol... some doors he has ever put neon lights around saying "come here". Praise GOD. The funny thing is, I'm not scared at all....All this time it's been "well, I don't know if I'm going to get in" then when I found out I got in it was like "oh crap, now I have to go to ohio" but that thought was very fleeting... I have nothing but peace and excitement about the whole thing... God has plans for me, he wants me there for one reason or another... I can't wait to find out why. Here's my application for my essay in case you wanted to read it... it explains a lot about my state of mind and the whole process. the question was : "In several well constructed paragraphs write about someone who has influenced your life greatly. What qualities or characteristics do they have that you admire? How will attending Steubenville help you to be more like that person?" Read on for my essay...
“Imagine the things you could accomplish without fear.”
My senior year of high school left me completely overwhelmed by the possibility of going to college, let alone somewhere away from home. Frightened by the prospect of being thrown into the college world apart from my family, and despite all gentle nudging from my parents to explore other options, I decided to attend California State University San Bernardino; an adventurous twelve miles away from home. It wasn’t until the end of my first year in college that I came to the realization that I had allowed my apprehension to decide my future as far as college was concerned; something I was quite ashamed to admit, even to myself. I knew in my heart that I needed to transfer schools and break out of the comfort zone that was my life; however I had neither the humility to openly admit my mistake, nor the courage to amend it.
My sister Danielle, thirteen years my elder, continued to encourage me, as she had always done, to get out and explore the world during college. Danielle graduated from Arizona State University with her degree in City Planning, attended the University of Pennsylvania where she received her Masters in Rural and Urban Development, and currently works for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Washington, DC. She has always been supportive of me in whatever I do, so long as I’m not settling for less than I am capable of. Even throughout my first year of college at Cal State San Bernardino, she continued to talk to me about moving out to Washington, DC for college. Although most of the time she tried to appear as if she was just teasing me, I knew she saw my decision to stay home for what it really was: a desperate attempt to cling to the comfortable. As much as I tried to ignore her urgings, I knew in my heart that my sister was right. I simply needed to find the courage to make the change.
I finally told my family that I was looking to transfer to another school, although I was unsure which school. After a trip up the state of California visiting colleges I still did not find a school that completely sold me. I had always held Franciscan in the back of my mind, but was too afraid to take the risk. I resigned myself, again, to the idea of finishing my degree at San Bernardino and returned in the fall to start my second year of schooling there. Shortly after, I attended a Life Teen Inspiration Tour with my parish. It was at this event, that God kicked me and allowed me to understand everything my sister had been telling me all these years. At this event Mark Hart, the Life Teen BIBLEGEEK, said, “In our lives we are paralyzed by fear. God is not comfortable. We need to move in faith, not be paralyzed by fear. If you are comfortable, you are not living your life for God.” There it was in plain English, this time in words I could not ignore. I had always claimed to be a woman who lived her life for God, and I knew then that, if I believed it to be true, I had some changes I needed to make.
Danielle has always been able to meet whatever challenge she has faced, from moving across the country entirely on her own to examining her own life and working to become a better human being. She has shown me that the world is bigger than my hometown of Rancho Cucamonga, California, and that I have a responsibility to God and to myself to broaden my horizons and mind. With her motto, “Imagine the things you could accomplish without fear,” Danielle motivates me to expand my mind and to move in faith. I admire the way she relocated to Pennsylvania and later to Washington, DC entirely on her own. I am inspired by her unquenchable thirst for knowledge, her determination to better the lives of others, and her constant desire for personal growth. I would like to emulate her faith and courage by exploring the options placed at my finger tips, free from the restraints of fear.
Attending Franciscan University is the most challenging decision I have ever had to make. Leaving friends and family is something that I previously would never have thought myself capable of. Steubenville will challenge me in every way imaginable; I will be pushed intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and physically. Though fear creeps up on me at the initial thought of moving some five-hundred miles away, I know that Steubenville is the only place that will challenge my intellect while also building my faith, supporting me in fellowship, and providing opportunities to better the lives of others. I am confident that this choice, although the most difficult decision of my lifetime, will be the most rewarding I have encountered thus far.
Through Danielle, I have come to the realization that fear will be present in every decision for the rest of my life, especially those with the potential to be immensely rewarding. The key is for me to acknowledge the fear and to continue to move in faith despite it. Moving across the country to Steubenville, Ohio is an opportunity that fear almost robbed of me. Though at some moments the idea of it is completely frightening, I know that the rewards will outweigh the risks. With the motto, “Imagine the things you could accomplish without fear,” my sister has challenged me to envision the things I could experience if I refused to be held back. This time, from my point of view the possibilities are endless.
that you're not listening to
The call your life's been issuing you
The rhythm of a line of idle days
Scared of a world outside
you should go explore
Pull all the shades
and wander the great indoors
The great indoors
Lamplight makes the shadows play
And posters take the walls away
The T.V. is your window pane
The view won't let you down
So put your faith in a late night show
I bet you didn't even know
Depends on how far out you go
The channel numbers change
Scared of a world outside
you should go explore
Pull all the shades
and wander the great indoors
Though lately I can't blame you
I have seen the world
And sometimes wish your room
Had room for two
So go unlock the door
And find what you are here for
Leave the great indoors
Please leave the great indoors
Check your pulse it's
proof that you're not listening to
The call your life's been issuing you
The rhythm of a line of idle, idle days
So after hearing this song, and several other things that kicked me in the butt, I applied to Franciscan University of Steubenville in Steubenville, Ohio. It felt right, felt like the right place to go, try something new and still grow deeper in my faith. I called to make sure they recieved my application and all my transcripts and SAT scores, they said they had and that it would be two to three weeks before I knew anything. Talking to others who had applied or gone to Steubenville I discovered I would need to stay on top of my application... the guy who is in charge of admissions for the West Coast (Martin Hummel) is pretty much a slacker who doesn't do his job and screws up people's applications so they end up not being able to go. So I was prepared to have to keep on top of things to try to push my application through. I found out on Saturday that I GOT IN!!!!!!!! I recieved a letter from the director of Admissions within a week of them recieving my application (well, 9 days, but they sent the letter back to me within a week) I don't think Martin Hummel looked at it at all, I think the director did all of it. Praise God. If there was ever any doubt before that I was supposed to go to this school, there is no doubt now. One week. I am blown away. And then Michael and Chris tell me... it really is a calling to go to Steubenville, people don't just get accepted, they are called to go there. So I'm going. For sure. I don't even need to visit the campus (even though I am going to so I can speak with a counselor, look at housing etc.) I'm going. The way I see it, even if the school doesn't live up to my expectations... its better than San Bernardino. I have never felt so called to do something, or go somewhere in my entire life. God has seriously just closed certain doors in the past year, and thrown other doors wide open.. lol... some doors he has ever put neon lights around saying "come here". Praise GOD. The funny thing is, I'm not scared at all....All this time it's been "well, I don't know if I'm going to get in" then when I found out I got in it was like "oh crap, now I have to go to ohio" but that thought was very fleeting... I have nothing but peace and excitement about the whole thing... God has plans for me, he wants me there for one reason or another... I can't wait to find out why. Here's my application for my essay in case you wanted to read it... it explains a lot about my state of mind and the whole process. the question was : "In several well constructed paragraphs write about someone who has influenced your life greatly. What qualities or characteristics do they have that you admire? How will attending Steubenville help you to be more like that person?" Read on for my essay...
“Imagine the things you could accomplish without fear.”
My senior year of high school left me completely overwhelmed by the possibility of going to college, let alone somewhere away from home. Frightened by the prospect of being thrown into the college world apart from my family, and despite all gentle nudging from my parents to explore other options, I decided to attend California State University San Bernardino; an adventurous twelve miles away from home. It wasn’t until the end of my first year in college that I came to the realization that I had allowed my apprehension to decide my future as far as college was concerned; something I was quite ashamed to admit, even to myself. I knew in my heart that I needed to transfer schools and break out of the comfort zone that was my life; however I had neither the humility to openly admit my mistake, nor the courage to amend it.
My sister Danielle, thirteen years my elder, continued to encourage me, as she had always done, to get out and explore the world during college. Danielle graduated from Arizona State University with her degree in City Planning, attended the University of Pennsylvania where she received her Masters in Rural and Urban Development, and currently works for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Washington, DC. She has always been supportive of me in whatever I do, so long as I’m not settling for less than I am capable of. Even throughout my first year of college at Cal State San Bernardino, she continued to talk to me about moving out to Washington, DC for college. Although most of the time she tried to appear as if she was just teasing me, I knew she saw my decision to stay home for what it really was: a desperate attempt to cling to the comfortable. As much as I tried to ignore her urgings, I knew in my heart that my sister was right. I simply needed to find the courage to make the change.
I finally told my family that I was looking to transfer to another school, although I was unsure which school. After a trip up the state of California visiting colleges I still did not find a school that completely sold me. I had always held Franciscan in the back of my mind, but was too afraid to take the risk. I resigned myself, again, to the idea of finishing my degree at San Bernardino and returned in the fall to start my second year of schooling there. Shortly after, I attended a Life Teen Inspiration Tour with my parish. It was at this event, that God kicked me and allowed me to understand everything my sister had been telling me all these years. At this event Mark Hart, the Life Teen BIBLEGEEK, said, “In our lives we are paralyzed by fear. God is not comfortable. We need to move in faith, not be paralyzed by fear. If you are comfortable, you are not living your life for God.” There it was in plain English, this time in words I could not ignore. I had always claimed to be a woman who lived her life for God, and I knew then that, if I believed it to be true, I had some changes I needed to make.
Danielle has always been able to meet whatever challenge she has faced, from moving across the country entirely on her own to examining her own life and working to become a better human being. She has shown me that the world is bigger than my hometown of Rancho Cucamonga, California, and that I have a responsibility to God and to myself to broaden my horizons and mind. With her motto, “Imagine the things you could accomplish without fear,” Danielle motivates me to expand my mind and to move in faith. I admire the way she relocated to Pennsylvania and later to Washington, DC entirely on her own. I am inspired by her unquenchable thirst for knowledge, her determination to better the lives of others, and her constant desire for personal growth. I would like to emulate her faith and courage by exploring the options placed at my finger tips, free from the restraints of fear.
Attending Franciscan University is the most challenging decision I have ever had to make. Leaving friends and family is something that I previously would never have thought myself capable of. Steubenville will challenge me in every way imaginable; I will be pushed intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and physically. Though fear creeps up on me at the initial thought of moving some five-hundred miles away, I know that Steubenville is the only place that will challenge my intellect while also building my faith, supporting me in fellowship, and providing opportunities to better the lives of others. I am confident that this choice, although the most difficult decision of my lifetime, will be the most rewarding I have encountered thus far.
Through Danielle, I have come to the realization that fear will be present in every decision for the rest of my life, especially those with the potential to be immensely rewarding. The key is for me to acknowledge the fear and to continue to move in faith despite it. Moving across the country to Steubenville, Ohio is an opportunity that fear almost robbed of me. Though at some moments the idea of it is completely frightening, I know that the rewards will outweigh the risks. With the motto, “Imagine the things you could accomplish without fear,” my sister has challenged me to envision the things I could experience if I refused to be held back. This time, from my point of view the possibilities are endless.