My Own Personal Hero.

      Freshly graduated, and embarking on a new journey, I have found myself in the middle of what I like to call "the gray area" of young adulthood. You know, the classic "So what's next?, what are you going to do now?" series of questions you receive from various teachers, family members, the occasional stranger in front of you in line at Costco who sees your alumni shirt and sniffs you out to be fresh meat. Because, let's be real, those who proudly brave wearing a shirt claiming their alumni from their institution, are those who wish to be distinguished from the classic "college student." {insert sarcastic eye roll here}.

    So, to address this very simple, yet daunting, heart-pounding, palm-sweat-inducing question, I do what every normal young adult does. I simply shrug and say "something, I'm sure!" or "Well, for right now, take some time off, enjoy some freedom, I mean, I've been studying vigorously for 4 years!" Which all really translate to "I'm not sure yet, and if we could change the subject I might not go into a stress induced anxiety attack." And so, to distract myself from the fact that the next 60+ years of my life are currently being arranged, I divert my attention to buzzfeed, blogs, and books. 

    Well, lucky for me, I stumbled across an amazing book, that has inspired this blog post. That book is "Fly A Little Higher" by Laura Sobiech. 

        If you're not familiar with the story of Zach Sobiech, I highly encourage that you take the time to learn about what an amazing impact this young man had on his family, the music industry, and life itself. I had heard about Zach as many did, through links shared on Facebook. Unfortunately, it had been the day he died, when I heard his song "Clouds," and immediately, I dragged my mom into the living room, "Mom! You have to watch this with me! It's about this amazing boy, you'll really like it!" And there we sat, my mom and I, watching Zach's "My Last Days" video, and crying on each other's shoulder, because we sympathized, and we understood. 

     One year later, I'm back home after surprising my mom with a visit back to my hometown of Wellington, FL, casually strolling through Target, attempting to avoid impulsive purchases, and this book stops me in my tracks. "Mom! Look! She wrote a book! Mom, I HAVE to buy this!" So we did. Because, again, we understood. Zach's story, was close to our hearts, because cancer is close to our hearts. Cancer is what tested our strength, cancer is what made me develop a passion for nursing, and cancer is the reason my family wakes up every morning with a positive resolve for the day. 

      A concept that Laura Sobiech, the brave mother of Zach Sobiech, enforced was the importance to write down the memories that happened during a tumultuous time. She kept a journal during Zach's treatment, which helped her cope with her emotions and organize her thoughts during the entire journey that Zach's treatment, condition, and life taught her. Upon reading how her reflections motivated her care with Zach, I came to a realization that I too, needed to have a way of reminding myself of the battle I conquered with my mother. While I am so blessed to still have my mom around to call everyday, skype every week, and nag occasionally, it is never far from my mind just how far we have come. That being said, I have never taken the time to sit down and truly write down how my mother and I endured her rigorous disease process, and I thought "maybe it's time to share my story." So, here I am.

      Over the next several weeks, I want to recount my beautiful Mom's battle with Stage 3 Ductal Breast Cancer, and how she continues the fight today.  I promise this isn't any attempt to gain sympathy or feed off of Zach Sobiech's amazing life, but simply an inspiration stemmed off of a family that showed true beauty in the face of adversity. If I can make one person, whose simply skimming the internet, feel touched by my story, I will feel as though I have done my job, and have passed on the beauty of strength, even when it is the only choice you have. 

To watch "My Last Days: Zach Sobiech": http://youtu.be/9NjKgV65fpo

    

Time to Grow Up? Things I wish I would've told myself.

  It's been quite a while since I posted! I have to say, a majority of the reason (aside from the last minute assignments that senioritis has not stopped me from completing) is my recent whims of adventures and outings, as well as planning my much anticipated graduation! Four years have come and gone so quickly, and it's been quite the ride. I feel like I sound like my parents (every young adult's nightmare) when I say that I blinked, and it all passed. Except, in the intermittent moments when my eyes have been open, there have been memories, life lessons, and moments that have been worth keeping. So, like every sappy Senior Seminole, I have looked back, and thought "Amanda, if you could speak to 18-year-old you again, what would you say?" Here's what I've come up with:

Amanda,
     Admit it. Your parents were right. Just accept it now, because as time goes on, this concept is going to prove even truer. Time, it just passes so quickly, and you're not even prepared for all the memories you're going to make! This is going to be the wildest 4 years you will ever have, and there are so many moments that will change you!

1.Tailgating is a thing. Arts school didn't prep you for that, but people love football, it's pretty much a religion (and no they don't watch the game just to cheer on the people on our team, so you should probably figure out the game.

2. There is nothing like dorm life. Sharing bathrooms, and using a sink as a bathroom/kitchen sink is simply a tool to build character (or so I've convinced myself.)

3.You should probably take advantage of a free gym membership, it's the last time that'll ever happen. Except for hospitals that have gyms inside of them for their employees, and let's be real, that's not happening on your days off. Take advantage.

4. Despite what you think, people don't care what you do. This is your chance to be completely who you are, or listen to the wrong type of music for a while, and maybe follow a fad that doesn't necessarily have it's way of staying in your future (a.k.a. the bows you're wearing in your hair won't stay there forever, so be thankful for that.)

5. People speak slang. Always in all ways. No matter if it's people preaching "Wild and Free" to "YOLO," it's basically a perpetual anthem to do what you want, whenever you want, because you're young. But let's not say those terms, to be on the safe side.

6. Fruit being soaked in a clear liquid is NOT nutritious. Don't listen to the DJ, it's a ploy, and when your headache wakes you up tomorrow, you'll realize why.

7. The "band" kids are some of the coolest kids you will ever meet in your entire life.(MCATDT)

8. Despite what your first two years have trained you to believe, knowing everything about every single class is not the end all be all, trying your best is.

9. Dressing scantily is not the trick to having fun while going out, dressing comfortable is. Every girl goes through this, don't be ashamed, unless you're walking in shame at 1 in the afternoon, then maybe feel a little shame. (This too shall pass.)

10. Sunday mornings/afternoons with your friends, re-living the events of the week, are one of the greatest memories you should treasure.

11. Despite what you think, being considered "nice" is not a curse, it's a blessing. Go with it, don't try to be someone you're not.

12. It's actually okay to stay in on a Friday and study. It'll have a hand in your career later on. 

13. Coffee is everyone's best friend. 

14. Doing laundry before you run out of clean underwear is the key to success in life. Okay, not really, but it definitely makes feel more successful. 

15. Watch/read the news. It's time to become a citizen of society, and it makes you not seem like the average college kid. 

16. No matter how old you think you are, the love of your parents/siblings/dogs is unlike any other. You'll cherish it more and more as time goes on. 

17. Being 21 is everything you thought it would be, but with it comes a responsibility, and a realization that time to become an adult is near.

18. Being yourself (your awkward, quiet, need-for-cheesy-humor self) is completely okay. In the words of Dr. Seuss, "Those who mind, don't matter, and those who matter, don't mind."

19. Dreaming "big" is not a curse, it's a blessing, and it'll take you places. (See you soon, Austin.)

20. The friends you make in college, no matter what age or year, are some of the greatest people you will meet in your entire life. Treasure them, and everything they bring to your life, because they truly make your experience worthwhile.

 

"You can get what you want, or you can just get old"- Billy Joel

Why "A Beautiful Era"?

I believe that everyone has their own definition of a time period that they perceive to be the "best" time period. For some it was the head-banging, neon-lit 1980's, or the flower-power, peace-and-love 1960's, or like old souls like myself, the roaring, rebellious jazz age of the 1920's (minus the slightly oppressive state for females- could've done without that.) But in all actuality, what's synonymous with all of these time periods is that there was a group of people, usually in their late teens to early 20's -- that just enjoyed their time, enjoyed what they had, and lived life with no regrets.

The name of this blog is "A Beautiful Era" for a reason. Honestly, I feel that if I were this age, living in any time period, I would be having the time of my life. Tapping into my people-watching tendencies, I simply can't help but smile when I think of how great it is to be young. One of the perks of living in a college town is you truly never run out of sights to see and stories to tell. It could be a Tuesday Night, and people are hell-bent on having a great night at the local bar, even though they have an 8am class the following morning that they may or may not make it to, but hey! They can just worry about that tomorrow. Today doesn't have to affect tomorrow, it just has to for this moment - for right now. It's a time when you can be completely free to do whatever you please, and maybe have one too many beers or glasses of wine, and turn to your friend the next day and laugh because it happened. It's a time where you can forget the world and get lost in a sunlit park by yourself and reflect upon the past and the future. It's a time of bliss, and a time of possibility.

Something I admire about young adulthood is every person's willingness to be daring, bold and adventurous. You can get up and sing Karaoke in front of complete strangers with no hesitation, simply because it's fun and you know your biggest fans are all the friends who encouraged you to do it in the first place, like my lovely friend: 

Or you change it up, and give yourself a whole new look, reinvent yourself, or simply just spice things up, like my friend who decided that it was time to give her blonde locks and bit of a "color"
(doesn't it look great?!)

This is the state of the most resiliency, the most bravery, and the most courageousness, anyone will ever have. You have a chance to make wrong choices and bounce back, laugh them off, and chalk it up to living. You have to chance to mend your own heart and realize how strong you really are. You have the chance the be the most responsible person and the most rebellious person all in one day. Who says you can't be a flower child soul who loves Madonna in her "Like A Virgin" days whilst calling you're dearest friends "old sport" and drinking martinis? Because really, we have nothing to lose, nothing holding us back, and deep down I think every young adult knows--the fun is just beginning.

Defining "Beauty."

Take a moment and think about the word "Beauty."
What comes first to your mind?

It's amazing how varied of responses can stem from this one word.  It truly can be anything, from a beautiful picture, to a beautiful person, to a beautiful moment.

If you were to look up the definition right now, it would return as "a combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, esp. the sight."

What's great about this is that in its own definition, beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. It is as unique in definition as it is in the world. 

When I think of beauty, I also have a flurry of images, thoughts, people, and objects that rush my mind like a waterfall.  I am, by nature, a dreamer, so as a part of my mission with this post, I want to encourage that you be a dreamer in this moment as well. 

We live in a world where beauty is often manipulated to be standardized, run of the mill, status quo. This is where my extremely Latin and stubborn side comes out. I think we can all agree what we consider "beautiful" is superbly unique. Perfect example: I am what you would call somewhat of a music snob, I like what I like and have no qualms about it. Give me an iPod with some Young the Giant and Otis Redding and I'm set for life. To me, when I hear their music, I define it as beautiful, and breath-taking, and, forgive me for this pun, "music to my ears." My brother on the other hand, quite the opposite. He was born and bred to be a Rock Star. I'm talking Metallica and AC/DC nonstop. He practiced his guitar for hours and hours until his fingers bled, until he nailed the songs he loved most. One day, in one of our many tiffs about playing music in the car (he'd been driving so he clearly won the argument), he played "Master of Puppets," turned up the stereo, and said "listen to that...man, what skill." At that moment I understood. To him, that was beauty. That was his art, and it made him happy, and in that moment, I thought nothing could be more beautiful.

This makes me think of many moments that go on in life that go unappreciated. This is the time when many people are finding out about acceptances into schools, be it college, graduate school, law school. In that moment, when that person opens up their envelope and sees "Congratulations." Beautiful. When someone realizes their dream is coming true. Beautiful. Other moments? Seeing someone for the first time in a while, a joyful reunion. Beauty in the smiles of those who are simply wish you to "have a good day" or "enjoy." Beauty in a child's face when they look up to their parent. Beauty in the excitement of going on a date, or meeting up with friends, or even going home (especially those who are away for a long period of time, like us collegiate folk.) 


Sometimes, you need to escape to understand what you consider beautiful. My friend and I recently took a break from it all and decided to drive to Panama City Beach for the day. Why not? We're young, we had a break, and in this cold winter mindset, a little sun never hurt anyone. This was our chance to cast our worries away, so with that, we got in our car with some good music and hit the road. We went for some sunshine, but what we got from our adventure as a whole was so much more.

I believe that the beauty of letting go and escaping is finding a revived and renewed feeling of who you are. Letting your inner beauty out of its cage, unadulterated, and free (and confused and happy at the same time-- Perfect Taylor Swift reference, don't you think?!)


So, this is my challenge to you all. take the time to reflect, right here, right now.  What in this very moment, is beautiful to you?

Let it be.