Alarm goes off at 6am, hop in the shower, get dressed, make coffee, eat breakfast, pack my lunch, head to work, work from 8:45am-5pm, head back home. Usually I’m too lazy to cook food so I often settle for top Ramen or cereal, catch up on the latest news on msnbc.com, go to sleep. Then repeat it all the next day.

This is life well the life I’ve been living for 5 months. And I can’t complain but I also don’t know why I anticipated this moment so bad. My junior year of college I couldn’t wait to have my own apt, have a good job, and be an “Independent Working Woman.” Well I reached the mountaintop I guess…And its aiight.

I guess that’s the best way to describe it; grown up life has its perks like having your own place to come home to without your parents being all up in your business. But, now a days I’m not doing much partying not only cause I’m over the party days but I’m also too tired every night to hang out at a bar or stay up all night and head to the closest Denny’s at 5am.And I’m kind of still in a tight budget, its called bills before bills!

And by 9pm its bed time.

But all that to say, This young woman has faced a very transforming year. In one year I got to learn about social change and development across the world, and live in a completely different culture and urban environment across the country, and now I’m back home working each day with families and individuals who are facing housing crisis.The tragedies I constantly deal with from a mother forced to stay at a park at night with her child due to being denied shelter and young adults my age getting harassed in their homes, to trying to prevent families and individuals from becoming homeless.

This whole year has prepared me for this moment.

My work is to deal with poverty in a systematic approach. After spending the better first part of last year studying systematic oppression I am now able to work within it. While also getting the opportunity to adjust from becoming a college student to an alum.

Grown up life may be just alright when it comes to paying my bills, rent, and living each day in a routine. But, I’m not bored. I am challenged and I’m aware that this moment in life is preparing me for the next. So I take in each moment proudly. As now that I’m well into the new year where I hope to face a new adventure, new routine, and new practice and in all of which I will allow myself to continue to light my fire of passion for social justice.

Life is crazy. In a matter of a few days, weeks, and months your world, your experiences, where you’re heading and where you’re at feels like a long car ride in a road trip, awaiting to visit a state so distinct from the one you came from. Sometimes not knowing in what state you may end up in but still driving…

One year ago from today I was working on my last intro to video project, writing my final term paper for Film and TV genres, and fine tuning my senior capstone project for my Communication degree. While preparing to go on my first trip abroad to South Africa with my Sociology Department (The second degree I earned as an undergraduate) and then to move across the country soon after for my final semester of college.

I welcomed 2012 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Then I spent the beginning of the new year living in San Francisco, California where I became close to my peers there and got to fully embrace the progressive Californian hipster lifestyle of San Francisco. I left California ready to live back in the northeast and to graduate, but also a bit stressed of what is to come, the weariness of moving back to my parent’s house after spending four years growing into my independence was one thing I was dreading. And I’ve experienced so much in those past four years all the way to the better half of 2012 and I wasn’t sure if I was ready from living young, wild, and free to becoming a full blown adult.

After the hype of graduation diminished all that was left was me hanging around my parent’s house, unemployed, bored, and job searching like a dog. In a matter of days, weeks, and months…My life transitioned from full blown adventure to laying around my pj’s all day wondering “Now What?”

The dust has settled and the real world was not yet here while my college days were officially over!

corycopeland:

Some people will try to force their own beliefs about modesty (and God) on others. This is wrong.

NEW POSThttp:// corycopeland.net/2012/09/28/a-mans-thoughts-on-female-modesty/ …

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul.

It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.

And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.

-Paul Simon