Saturday, December 17, 2011

The Place in Which I Live


Is it worth it? (College)

My latest peeve has been one associated with my current life status: College Student. 
I have been very frustrated with the way society has contradicted itself, and I am concerned for the future.
I am currently attending a community college, and though it is cheaper than a University, I have still had to take out student loans. I am putting myself in debt to make it through college; to make myself a better future. This strikes a current frustration. 

degreecentral.com provides statistics for college students. It says that 2,350,000 are enrolled and that only 1,750,000 of those students graduate. So why is this? Is it because the average debt of a college graduate is $23,700? Or maybe because the average monthly payment for college debt is $432.Granted, there are college students who make poor choices; ones who party too hard and don't want to go to class the next day, or ones who will get arrested for under age drinking, or drinking while driving.

These days, the media has put out the mentality that we should all strive to attain comfort and happiness in the moment we live in. No thought of the future, just basically "live and let live". There are few exceptions, the 1,750,000 who graduate college are focused on making a better future for themselves. This isn't a good thing! That number is insanely low, considering the population of 18-23 year-old's in the United States is 25 million. 


These statistics are harsh, but is it entirely the fault of students lacking the motivation to attend college? The rates of young adults enrolling and graduating college are declining, yet we see the cost of tuition rising because of the economy. What would motivate a student to go to college if the tuition costs are rising? 


I've seen the number of drug users, alcohol users, and teenage pregnancies go sky high! People are doing things that are putting them at a lower level in society because they are choosing to do things that make them happy in the moment. Why stay home and study when you can be passed out on a floor? Later on in these people's lives they can live off the government. The government is always there to pick up people when they fall. If someone can do whatever the hell they want as teens and collect from the government when they get older why would they want to go to college!


Then there are the exceptions. The kids like me and a few of my friends who chose to enroll in college and are determined to make a career out of the things we learned, yet we're the ones who have to borrow money to make a career.
Basically, we're encouraged to go to college, but we have to use outrageous sums of money to get there. Few people can find the reward to be mental and emotional of college when they know they have so much debt in order to get themselves through college. With the major decline of jobs, sometimes college graduates aren't able to find jobs after they receive their degree.
I feel some-what punished for wanting to go to college and in all honesty- I don't think it is worth the thousands of dollars that we have to spend. The education is worth it, but the prices of books are way too high, professor's salaries can't possibly be that much, fees, room and board, and tuition should be taken way down! It's almost as if college is just another way for the government to collect money from people! Sometimes, all people gain out of college is debt! No wonder people aren't going to college.
I realize there are pell grants and scholarships available for kids who have 4.0 GPA's or can really play a sport but those are for kids who are driven from day one. What about kids like me? I didn't get the best grades in high school and I didn't make varsity in any sports but after high school I was still determined to make a better future for myself. So since I didn't get amazing grades and because I am not extremely athletic means that I have to borrow that much more money! Not many kids are like me; even with no scholarships and only $1,300 in pell grants, I still went to college. What about other kids? Other kids would look at everything they aren't getting and say: "FORGET THAT!"
The new determination to do better could be immediately shut down!
Not to mention ACT and SAT scores. What if someone does really bad on those tests and they aren't given the chance to do better? Not very many kids ages 18-21 can create their own motivation. If someone wants to do well but doesn't test well, is it fair that they can't go to the college of their dreams?


The question someone might be asking is: Should people be given a free ride to college? 


I say: YES, at least for the first year.

I don't, nor will I ever think that it is fair for people who want to make a better future to have to accumulate debt. It seems like a punishment, kids who will drop out of high school or only settle for a HSD can live off their parents, the government, or a minimum wage job. Yet people who want to become teachers, doctors, biologists, business men, nurses, physical therapists, psychologists, radiology technicians, etc., have to go into thousands of dollars of debt in order to contribute to society and make more money to support themselves and future families. 

My voice, is small and faint but that doesn't mean I don't want it to be heard, at least by the peers of my Facebook page.
I think that the first 2 years of college should be offered as public high school education, at a community college for free for students right out of high school. This will help give students a chance to get good grades to send to 4 year universities and get scholarships who didn't work as hard as they should in high school and it will encourage kids to keep on going. I bet some kids would realize how rewarding college is if they know they have a chance to succeed in it! If I were given the chance to attend a community college for 2 years for free I would work my tail off so I could send an impressive transcript to a 4 year university (which is what I am doing now) without having accumulated debt and given the chance to earn scholarships. 

My dream college is a liberal arts university and it costs $35,000 a year (in tuition) to attend, I am going to accumulate a lot of debt attending that college alone, why should I have to go into debt attending a community college when I can do well and be given the chance to decrease my cost with scholarships at the private college? 


For my next and final subject: Parents who want to go back to school.
Though I myself am not a parent, I know that being a parent is a full time job! Schooling should be available to adults wanting to go back at a discounted rate. I believe that this economy will be lifted up if people are able to get jobs, people in their 30's who can't get a job without a degree should be able to do it. Prices of college are discouraging, and I don't think society has room to complain when the drop-out rates for college are so high.


In conclusion, people should be given the opportunity to do better without going into debt or paying outrageous sums of money. There will be less college drop-outs and more qualified people to take jobs and make jobs. If more people were given an opportunity to go to college and become what they want to be, it will create more jobs because more people will be qualified to make jobs. For example: Businessmen creating businesses.









Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Digestive Disorder

When I was 14 years old I was diagnosed with a digestive disorder called CSID. Without going too far into detail, my stomach does not produce enzymes used to digest starch or sugar. Starch is in bread, pasta, potatoes, beans, rice, and a lot of other things and sugar is in everything.

If I consume anything containing sugar and/or starch my stomach gets big and begins to hurt (picture). The next morning I wake up with a sore throat, a runny/stuffy nose, a weak body, and a stomach ache. 

This will last up to 5 days and sometimes longer. When my body is unable to digest that much, it also fails to digest the harmful bacteria, this causes me to crave what I essentially cannot digest. So whenever I want to make a small compromise on a pop tart, bread stick, gardettos, or maybe a burrito at Taco Bell, I am in a lot of pain but then I crave what puts me in pain! Not only that, but I am constantly hungry and what do I turn to? What I crave.

This disorder is also the reason that I am so skinny and weigh less that 120 pounds. My body doesn't absorb carbohydrates-which is generally what makes people gain weight. My Mom put it well: "what makes you fat, makes me sick."

Right now, I am sick because I gave in to some junk food. I am so tired of this! I feel like crap but I am craving sugar and starch every 5 minutes.Just imagine how difficult this is for me.

Yours Truly

I would be highly surprised if anyone took the time to read this, but since I don't feel the need to write a lot about myself on Facebook, Twitter, or even my own Blog 'about me', I thought I'd post about me! This blog is merely a chance to get to know me the way I really am, so please, forget anything you heard.

My full name is Elora Roanne King. My mother picked out my name as an 11 year-old and on November 23, 1993 she gave me the name! My middle name is Roanne because it was my great-grandmother's name and it is my mother's name. I have always had red hair and blue eyes, naturally but I have died my hair many times.
I have a rarely diagnosed digestive disorder abbreviated as CSID.
I was a weird looking kid with big teeth and funky hair cuts until I was about 12. I had braces for 22 months to fix my teeth, and I finally found a hair cut that worked. I had great skin until 2007 when my face began to break out in uncontrollable acne. I dealt with bullying and harassment because of it. My back arched and I had the lowest self esteem ever!
I have had many crushes on many boys, but I have only had 3 boyfriends, 1 of which was what most would call "serious". 
When I was 13 and 15 I got moles removed on my back, I have scars.
On July 27, 2008 I was in a car accident resulting in cuts on my forehead and arm, whiplash, and a concussion. I have scars from that too (physical & spiritual).

Right now, I am going to college at North Idaho College. Studying and finding myself.

I am in the process of creating my modeling and photography portfolio. Two things that I am determined to make a paying hobby out of. When I am through at community college, I want to move to Seattle, Washington and attend Northwest University where I will finish my degree as a teacher and get in touch with a local church to begin as an Intern.
I love big cities, I love the rain. I am attracted also to beaches, hot suns, and swim suits. I love writing.

I am absolutely obsessed with shoes and I really enjoy wearing high heels; they make me feel confident. Not only are they something I love wearing, but I can guarantee I won't let it go unnoticed when I see a pair I love. Just come shopping with me if you wanna know what I mean!


I have found my reason to live and that is Jesus Christ. I have my faith and my beliefs, I choose to stand firmly in them as they define me. People who do not know me well see that I am a Christan and want to call me a "Jesus Freak", "Bible Thump-er", or my personal favorite: "Bible Humper". What everyone has wrong is I am not the type of person to shove my beliefs down your throat and I am not judge-mental, I also won't pressure you a million times to go to church with me. However, I'm going to ask you if you want to go, I am going to pray for you, and if you're having an issue with something or you want advice, you better bet I am going to tell you how Jesus can help because I know He can. Other than that, I hate that people assume that I am a weirdo Jesus loving, annoying, self righteous, annoying, Girl! I'm not and people who know me really well will say the same thing.


I am not perfect, it is sad that I have to state this, but since it is true, I have not done everything morally correct and I have definitely sinned against my heavenly Father. This a lot of times labels me as a "hypocrite" and yes, I have been a hypocrite before but that is none of your business. You know that phrase: "Only God can judge me"? Well, it applies here too. Whether you think or know I am a hypocrite is irrelevant, I do not answer to you. 


When it comes to guys: I've had "friends" of mine tell guys that I am a freak! Like, the type of girl  who will text guys all the time or bug the crap out of them. I'm here right now to tell you that I am not like that. I have enough self respect and common sense to understand when someone does, and does not want to talk to me. I pick up on hints.


I confess, I do not often text people first. In fact, it is very rare that I will text someone first because I want to know that people want to talk to me. I have a HUGE thing with not being where I am not wanted and that includes your inbox. If I want to talk to you, I'll text you and if the conversation fails then I'm done; you come to me next time, bro! And if they never text me, then they don't want to talk to me. I'm not a problem for them and that definitely isn't a problem for me.


Now, this one is a big issue: My Facial Expressions. SO many people have told me that when they first see me, I look like a "stuck up Bitch". I am not lying! Something about my straight face makes (as my friend, Amber put it) me look like I want to kill someone. I've even had strangers say they dislike me because I look stuck up or mean. I wish with all my heart that I could change this. It is sort of funny for me to see the way people's faces change when they talk or look at me and I smile or say something that isn't stuck up. It's like someone flips a switch in their head that says 'oh, maybe this girl is nice', so I'm warning you now: I look stuck up, but I'm not! I wish I knew this before, I would have learned to flaunt my smile "curve" a little sooner and more often.


All in all, I am a down to earth girl with a lot on my mind. I'm the kind who will get shaky and nervous, my heart will beat a million miles an hour, and I'll sweat if I think someone is mad at me. I'm the type of girl who will get goose bumps and cry when I see a total stranger crying, I get teary eyed watching Extreme Makeover: HOME EDITION.


Just a girl, trying to find a way to show people who I really am...not who I (accidentally) put myself off as.


I love to laugh. I'm tone-deaf. I love shopping. My favorite compliment is: You smell good. Shoes are my best friend. I am still in love. I spend too much time on Tumblr. I love taking & editing pictures. I am hopelessly addicted to coffee. I enjoy reading. I like tea at night. I love getting tan. Acrylic nails are beautiful. I love fashion.  My favorite colors are green, pink, and purple.


My favorite places to shop are: Vanity, Wet Seal, Victoria's Secret, 1318, Forever 21, Aeropostale, Claire's, Maurices, DEB, and anywhere that sells high heeled shoes.


If you want to know more, talk to me! I know it sounds weird, but I already care about you.

You don't have to like me; I'm not a Facebook status

"...all I wanted was to be accepted." 
This line is from a movie called Never Been Kissed staring Drew Barrymore. If you haven't seen the movie, it is about a woman name Josie who must relive a high school student life to write a piece for the newspaper she worked for. Though she was thrilled to do the undercover job at first, flashbacks of her high school career sent her down in the dumps when she reminisced on the torture inflicted by her peers.
The relevance to this movie isn't exact in my own life. I washed my hair, while she didn't. She was a nerd who had good grades, and I can't say the same about myself. However, Josie Gellar and I had one thing in common: The desire to be accepted.
Starting at such a young age, I learned what it was like to be rejected by my peers. As a first grader, I had an issue retaining my bladder and often wet my pants which caused for bullying. In fourth and fifth grade I dealt with boys calling me "ugly" straight up to my face. I dealt with constant harassment from my peers, but even in the midst of all that, I still wanted them to be my friend. 
Middle School I was bullied for my acne, and as a new student, I was willing to be anyone's friend, even those who treated me badly.
High School I was made fun of for my beliefs, rumors were spread about me, and people created endless gossip about me.

When I started college, I didn't think I had to deal with it. One guy in particular is a god example of why I need to change. He means absolutely nothing to me, but without a justifiable reason, he decided he didn't like me. I do not want to lie and say that it didn't bother me, because it did. My frustration toward people who can say they don't like someone without talking to them is absolutely unexplainable!
As I witness college life more and more, I realize that everyone else is determined to do what every college student does: Party, drink, smoke, etc. While these things are not my goal, it causes others to not want to be around me. Even though it is not a matter of opinion how immature it is to judge someone based on their preferences, people still do it. 
In thought of this, I realized that I need to get over what people think about me. Though I was telling myself that I was over it, something inside of me still cared when someone expressed a dislike. The only thing that changed, was I didn't actually do anything about it.
In elementary, middle, and high school I would have changed anything just to be accepted. In college, I stand my ground but in the back of my mind, I am frustrated at people's lack of adherence to the fact that I have a personality and that everyone is different.
The solution is simple: I need to seriously not care what people think. The people who accept me for who I am are the people I want in my life anyway! Why on earth would I want a few shallow boys in my life? I don't, so I'm not gonna change my preferences.
I don't smoke. I don't drink. Why would I start just so a couple of strangers will like me? 
There is no need to blend into my surroundings. 
I see people do that and it makes me sick! It is my job to be myself and when people don't want anything to do with me, I say "okay, moving on!" without anything in the back of my head.


I love Jesus, I live for Him. I am not going to stop just so people on this earth will like me. This place, is foreign. I do not understand others' actions. I serve Jesus, not myself and when others see that as foolishness and reject me, I should rejoice in my salvation and not worry. Just treat them with kindness, and move on!

:)

Sunday, December 11, 2011

I'm done & for real this time.

This is more or less an explanation of a Facebook status I posted, which is the title.
I am done feeling bad for no reason. There are people in my life who will get mad at me for no reason or stupid reasons. I'm not talking about 'matter of opinion' reasons, because different things make different people mad, but little tiny things that send someone up in flames. I've been pulled under this bus countless times. 
Therefore, I am done. When someone gets mad at me for a ridiculous reason I am not going to feel bad about it or even apologize. I stress myself out and 9 times out of 10 they stay mad even if I apologize. They can get over it or stay mad at me, it is up to them. I am not saying "sorry" even though I did nothing wrong, anymore. Once again:
I'm Done!

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