Saturday, April 14, 2012

Not your average day at the salon

Hello my fellow followers!

The sun is shining, the wind is blowing, and it is absolutely beautiful outside.  But nothing is more beautiful then making someones' day.  This past Thursday April 12th, I was part of the Dress for Sucess show at Burlington County College hosted by the Career Services department.  The point of the show is to show other students how you are suppose to dress during an interview, what to say, and what NOT to put on your resume.  All of these important facts are trying to help students prepare for the "workforce". 

All of the volunteers for the "Dress for Sucess" show, like myself.  Are treated to a brand new suite, a new pairy of dressy shoes, and a full makeover including hair and makeup.  On this day,  I went to get my hair done at Rizzeria salon and spa in Voorhees, NJ not knowing that I would be holding on to a rubber band filled with hair and a smile that would not leave my face.

As the 12th "to do" on my bucket list, I wanted to donate my hair.  However, I must say I was hesitate at first, until I got a little push from the director of the Career Services dept at BCC and my friends who were in the show with me.  As I sat in the salon chair at Rizzeria, I was scared to see 10 inches of my hair be cut off, but wouldn't any girl?  Deep down though, I knew thats what I wanted, and at the end of the day...its just hair, right?  

After was all said and done, the next thing I knew one of the students at the salon was coming up to me in tears and told me how much it meaned to her that she had donated my hair.  The next thing she said stopped my heart for a moment.  She continued to tell me how she just overcame a brain tumor, where she lost all of her hair.  To us, it is just hair, but to others its security, confidence, and beauty. 

I will remember that day forever.

Sunday, April 08, 2012

A Easter Special

Happy Easter!

A time to celebrate with your loved ones, eat lots of ham, and enjoy the simple things in life that we tend to forget about in our everyday busy lives. 

My mother and I's relationship has always been rocky,  more so worse latley in the past couple years.  However, today I went home to spend some quality time with my family before my mom and her boyfriend left for his sisters house.  In a split second  before she left, I reached out and gave my mom a hug and a kiss goodbye.  In that simple moment, it made me remember how important family is.  No matter how much you may disagree, bicker, and agrue, at the end of the day,  your family is family and it is a unconditional love that you hold ...no matter what. 

A task for you:  Take a moment and think of all the special times you have shared with your family,  reach out to them and give them a hug, let them know how much you mean to them. Trust me, the little things count the most.  ; )


Friday, April 06, 2012

4,400

This number is not relating to people who do not vote, hoard cats or even drop out of school.  This number is a statistic of how many "young people" commit suicide per year, because they were bullied.  It is outrageous in 1,000 different languages, and it is completely unnecessary.  The only question to really ask is ....why?


While being young and having a "childhood" is suppose to be the best time of your life for many, its not.  Going to prom, getting their drivers license, and winning State Champs for the soccer team, would normally be on any teenagers priority list, and it should.  However for some, it is these victims least concern.  Whereas for them, the idea of simply going to school is haunting.  

So what gives me the right to talk on behalf of all of these bullied victims?
Well, I use to be one of them.
 


I was in Elementary school, 5th and 6th grade.  I was care-free and curious, but most of all, I was hopeful.  I was hopeful that the next day wouldn't be like today, which was a continuous thought.  However, that "hope" dwindled down little by little with every school day that passed by.  I remember walking to the school bus,  and thinking to myself: "today will be a great day if I don't get bullied."  I didn't know what I wanted out of life, I was only a young girl going through grammer school, but i did know one thing....
                                       I just wanted to fit in.
 



I wasn't your tyical "pretty girl".  I had a perm of big wavy curls that was bigger then my head, glasses that could compare to chicken little's and braces that could hold and entire familys dinner in them.  Attractive huh? 


I got it all, the typical four eyes, brace face, and frizz ball, were all daily rituals when going to school, and it hurt. It hurt hard, every single day.  An although I must say, I did not get a percentage of abuse other kids may encounter, I still felt the same feeling of being rejected and not "fitting it". 


It blows my mind.  It blows my mind that one single person, can indirectly take someone's life.  The thought of a innocent 12 year old waking up every day and being afriad to live their life is one of the many reasons why I am such an advocate when it comes to bullying.  To me, a voice is one of the most powerful weapons that anyone can have.  Stronger then a gun or a knife, your voice has meaning.  You just have to use it for good. 



 

Monday, April 02, 2012

A Moment of Motivation

Happy April Everyone!


While I am on the continuous topic of "change",  I believe there is no other month that should have the label "change" next to it then April.  It is a month filled with upcoming spring weather, students college decision letters being received, and of course, my one and only brother's birthday (April 14th).  However,  more importantly, I would like to share with you one of my most achieved moments in my life.  While most would say, graduating high school or getting promoted at your dream job, (props to you if this happened) I personally would say, starting a movement at my very own college.  


I go to Burlington County College, (which by the way, is ranked the #1 community college in New Jersey) and to tell you the truth, I absolutely love it and I could tell you a 100 different reasons why, but we'll get into that another day.  


December of 2010 I came up with an idea to start a "LGBT AWARENESS WEEK" at my college, which involved eye-opening statistics, inspirational speeches by keynote speakers, and many exciting activities  (read this to get the details of how I started it in a article I wrote for the BCC newsletter).  When I confronted 2 other friends of mine with the idea, they were totally down.  After planning for 4 months, April was just around the corner and there it was staring at us right in the face before we even knew it.  Everything that we had done prior was finally coming together for "LGBT awareness week".  


While last year was great and all,  the numbers of supporters were against us, and was upsetting in the least.  This year, I brought up the idea again, and it was an even bigger hit then last year!  I have had so many people come up to me, people I do not even know, and ask me: "How do I help plan for the LGBT awareness week?"  That simple question, in all seriousness, melted my heart.  In my eyes, they were asking me: "How do I help the campus come together and shine the light on what the LGBT population faces every day?"  That to me, is one of the greatest things that I could ever ask for.


It is so inspiring, in which I can not even put into words.   It is so inspiring to see so many people come together and help support and plan in this week.  We have come so far from last year in the progress, that hopefully someday in the future the whole college will be involved!  This year Burlington County College's LGBT AWARENESS WEEK will be held from April 16th-20th, and will conclude on Friday with the National Day of Silence.  Come check it out and these other great events!

OTHER UPCOMING CHARITABLE EVENTS IN APRIL:

Green Your School Challenge      Sponsered by: Dosomething.org      Date: Feb. 1st - April 22

The Water Games                         Sponsered by: Dosomething.org      Date: March 19th-April 13


A Day Without Shoes                    Sponsered by: Tom's Shoes            Date: April 12th 2012


Pet Health Block Party                 Sponsered by: ASPCA                      Date: April 17th, 2012

The KONY Project                        Sponsered by: Invisible Children     Date: April 20th, 2012