What Can You Do in 30 Hours?

Hello, hello, hello!
I have an exciting update! As a resident assistant at my school, part of my job requirements are to run programs that meet different criteria. One of these criteria is to promote citizenship. My big program right now is the 30 hour famine. Now I'm sure that some of you have participated in high school, but have you ever ran it? Because let me tell you, it's not as easy as you'd think. You have to organize everyone's money, get people excited about it, and help motivate people to stick with it.

What makes it even harder is when you, yourself, can't do it.

I'm a Type 1 Diabetic. I have been for almost 19 years. And being a diabetic, going 30 hours without food isn't the best decision, especially when I'm trying to get my numbers under control, so unfortunately, I'm promoting an event that I can't fully support.

But on a positive note, there's quite a few residents who have actually stuck with it, which is awesome! I always feel really proud when the same students you see partying all the time are involved in events like this. It gives me hope that they are actually capable of growing out of this and that they will make a difference one day.

I've noticed that our residence is very determined to make a difference. The following are events and programs that we've run as a team over the past year;

• Build a School for Africa (We're attempting to raise $15000 to do just that. This has been done through events, concerts, and an empties drive. We're doing pretty good!)
• Hope for Haiti (One of the RAs designed a tshirt that has haiti and the word HOPE across it, which we sold across campus. We raised $5000!)
• 30 Hour Famine
• Alternative Spring Break (We've helped build 2 houses, one in Mississippi, one in New Orleans, and went to an orphanage in the Dominican Republic)
• Diabetes Walk for Hope
• One of our RAs has done two 24hr bike rides. The first was for our Africa fund, the second for Haiti. He's a great person!
• Breast Cancer Run
• Earth Hour concert (That'll be described in a later blog!)

That probably isn't all of them, but it's our big ones. I'm so proud to say that I go to this school and that I work with so many amazing people that are out to make a change. They're super supportive people who, like me, still see the wonder in the world.

I hope you are getting involved and making a difference. I know you're capable!
Love always,
Courtney

Live Like We're Dying

So these thoughts were inspired by a recent trip home and a newly discovered album. I'm an American Idol fan, and really enjoyed the Adam Lambert/Kris Allen face off, as I enjoyed them both. I managed to fall into the Adam Lambert album, and really enjoy it, but never seemed to find my way to the Kris Allen album, even though he was the winner. Well...let me tell you. His album is good. Really good. It's about love and endings and truth. I'm very much in love with his album. So as you can imagine, I listened to his album, A LOT, while I was home recently.

Now for the back story. I went home because it was one of my good friend's birthday, so naturally we were going out to celebrate. That's reason #1 for going home. Reason #2 was simple; I missed home. And as I was lying in bed listening to my iPod the other night, the song "Live Like We're Dying," by Kris Allen came on. This song talks about only having so much time in our lives, and making the most of it, which lead me to this; how many people have I lost in my life, either through death or distance, who probably don't know, or didn't know, how much they meant to me? I'm sad to say that there is quite a few. And I'm not OK with that either. These people meant something and have impacted my life, and I don't know if they'll ever be aware of that.

So I made a decision. No matter how my day is going, no matter what I have to do, I will make sure that those around me know what they mean to me. And here is my challenge to you. Make the world a better place by spreading love. The next time you hang up the phone with a loved one, or the next time you part ways with a friend, tell them you love them, or thank them for being your friend. Sometimes a small gesture such as that can make the difference in that person's life and create a chain reaction of positive feelings. And let's be honest; who doesn't like to hear that they matter?

Love always,
Courtney

And as per usual, I have a video for you :) It's Kris Allen's video for Live Like We're Dying.

Have a Little Faith in Me

I know, I know, it's been a while yet again. Time management is not one of my strongest skills (and since you're reading this, you probably already know that). So I'm sorry. But the beauty of time away is that I have a bunch of thoughts to share!

I have managed to restumble upon faith. And by faith, I mean religion. It was always a part of my childhood, but as I got older and developed my own opinions, it was something that fell by the wayside. But after being in school and on my own for a couple years, I realized I was missing something (besides a regular sleep schedule, consistent motivation, and healthy eating habits). That something was my faith. I've realized that just because I don't agree with everything in the political sense of religion, I do believe that there has to be something more to life; there has to be someone to turn to, something to hold onto when everything else falls apart.

Now don't get me wrong, this isn't me preaching to you to go find God or Buddha, or whichever you choose to believe in, but I am suggesting that you find something to believe in. I feel so much better now that I've opened myself back up to God; I'm stronger, determined, happy, and much more pleasant (at least I think).

Love always,
Courtney