University VS. Community College.

Hello everyone,
A lot has been on my mind lately. All of which has much to do with college, adult life, and the like. As you may already know, I will be moving into the dorms in just 13 short days. At the end of this coming week, on the 25th, I will officially no longer be employed at The Dixie Saloon. I'll have one week after that to pack up my things, buy whatever else I may need, and find another job near the college. After that, it's the busy, busy, go-no-stop college life for me.
All of this is happening really fast, and thinking about all that I must do, and all that is to come is somewhat overwhelming. What's more overwhelming is the feeling I get while anticipating the response of those who I have just told 'I am choosing to go to community college over a university.' So today I'd like to clear a few things up.

First and foremost: I am very happy for all the people that are traveling far away and going to big universities. In fact, my very best friend is one of those people. She is very smart, and talented, and she is going to do so many good things in her life. She is very excited to be going to a university, and I am excited for her. I am by no means trying to bash people who are choosing to go to big colleges far from home. This is because choosing a college is a very personal thing, and we are all very different individuals, so it would only make sense that some of us will stay, and some will go. What I want people to understand is that, if I choose not to talk bad about their choice to go to college far from home, because it makes them happy, they should not choose to talk bad about my choice to go to community college, which happens to be close to home, because it makes me happy.
That being said, I'd like to address a few of the comments that have been made about my decision, and refute them in my defense. The comments go something like this:

"A person experiences new things when they go to a college that is far from their home town."
That may be true, however, I am here to tell you that you don't have to run from everything you know to experience new things. I am sorry for the people who cannot open their hearts and their minds enough to experience new things close to home. There are tons of new people and things to do in even the smallest of towns. You'll never know every person in the town you live in. Don't think for one second that I will not experience anything new in the years I attend a community college. I am not a small minded person, and I can guarantee that I will experience new things; you don't have to live 200+ miles from home to do so. All you have to do is have an open mind. *I should also say, I understand that you will experience things far from home. It will be easy to experience new things because everything is new: the people, places, and everything else. There is so much to experience in a new place, however, that does not mean that there is nothing to experience in an old place.*

"People who attend universities learn a lot more than people who go to community college."
If you know anything about college, you know that the first couple years are all basic classes anyways. You take the same thing no matter where you go. 10 years from now when we have all graduated from college, people will look at us all the same. I don't know if anyone ever told you, but no one cares how far you travel from home to get a college education. It doesn't matter what school you went to, what matters is what you did while you were there- no matter where you went. You can go to the best school in the world, and when you are compared to someone who went to a community college, it only matters how well you did while you were there, not where you went. I plan to use my resources, not waste my time, and apply myself at the community college I have chosen so that I can be sure I will learn all that there is to offer. You only learn less at a community college if you are unintelligible enough to believe that there is less to learn. *I should also say, It may be true that universities offer a large variety of classes, and may have some that community colleges do not have, but that does not mean that community college is no good. There are many classes that universities offer that are useless toward a degree. Fortunately for me, the community college I have chosen offers the classes I need for my degree. So, saying that you learn less in community college is not true. Depending on what you need to learn for your career path, community college may teach you all that you need to learn, whereas in a university you may be paying to learn things that you don't need to know. Its not about how much you can learn, its about how much you need to learn.*

"You're go to community college and you think you're saving money,  ohh you're superior to me."
Here's the thing, you can mock me all you want, but I don't 'think' I'm saving money, I know I am, because little do you know, I actually had everything ready for me to go to a university. I had my housing deposit paid, my orientation date set, my roommate picked out, and had already viewed the campus and made up my mind that GVSU was the right college for me. However, after a lot of consideration, my mind was changed because of the debt I would be in if I chose to go there for a full four year term. Just one year would have costed me over 22,000 dollars, whereas, here at North Central Michigan College, the community college I've chosen, I will only be expected to pay about 6,000 for one year. The difference is incredible. So, in response to your little comment about me being 'superior' to you, I may not be superior because I am saving money, but I am superior because I CHOSE to save that money, which is what makes the real difference between you and I. I know how to be responsible with my money, I know what kind of future I want for myself (a debt-free one), and I know how to make hard decisions that don't always favor the most pleasant option. So, go ahead, continue to mock me. Think what you like, but when you're thousands of dollars in debt because you picked the more favorable option to be cool, we'll see how you're managing things with your life 20 years down the road. *I should also say, if you are going to a university and you have the funds to do so without being in debt, good for you! I'm not saying that everyone who goes to a university will be in debt. I am referring to those who are being foolish with their money and are mocking me for being smart with mine. If I had the funds, I would go to a university too, however, that isn't in the books for me.*

"I just want to get away from this small town and see what else is out there."
Do you really think that because I am choosing to go to community college that that means I don't want to see the rest of the world as well? Of course I'd love to move to a big city and see things I've never seen before. The problem is, by doing so, I'll never have any money to go see anything else. It is unfortunate that people who wish only to go to a university far from home for the sole purpose of getting out of their home town cannot find beauty and peace with their current surroundings. I don't have to run from everything I've ever known to see new things. There is so much already here that is overlooked. *I should also say, getting away from this town would be great. Everyone deserves a break, but you should never run from your problems or your past (not that that's what people who are going to universities are doing) but in general, trying to start over is sometimes not possible when there is so much unfinished business holding one back from starting out fresh. If you are in the clear, though, go for it, explore the world; there is plenty to see.*

Before I close this post I want to point out a few more things:
If you are a person who has chosen the university college life, I am sincerely happy for you. As I mentioned above, everyone has their own reasons for staying or going, and choosing is a very personal thing. I am by no means placing every person who has gone to a university, or who plans to go to a university, in the same category. My responses to these comments are only to the people who have made it a point to make me feel as though I am making the wrong choice by going to community college. My reasons for going to community college are about family, unfinished business, money, and personal wishes. All very personal things. So, if you are going to a university, or community college, and you are happy with your choice and understand that others are happy with their choice, then my responses to these comments have nothing to do with you. I am only addressing the people who seem to misunderstand what community college means to me, and the reasons I have made the choice I have.

No matter where you're going, congratulations to you, and good luck with your future endeavors.

Oh, and by the way, I got a hair cut yesterday. 3 inches off.

beautiful beach days.

Hello everyone,
I've taken some time off the blog. Mostly because I've been so so so busy with work and tutoring the girls. Its been a crazy couple of weeks for me. But don't worry! I'm back now. So, today I'm just going to post about a couple beach days that have occurred over the past week or so and were quite memorable.

6/15/12

Lindsey, Carly , and I before venturing into the water with the boat.

Lindsey and Carly taking the boat out on a Navy Seal mission.

Feather. I probably shouldn't be touching things like this.

6/28/12

My very best friend in the entire world. I know I'm going to miss her so much when she leaves for Grand Valley without me. It will be devastating.

The best part about Sturgeon Bay is that you can share it so easily with everyone. We had a group of about 10-15 people and it was such a blast.

And of course, the good ole boat. We've already made some great memories with this little guy.

More posts coming soon. I promise. 

suspense building.

Well. Now that it is officially May and I've kept you all waiting a good long 7 days after telling you all that I have some amazing posts for this month, I have Your very first one! So here is a video describing a little bit about whats been going on during this past week.

What I said at the end of the video about people not taking it seriously basically means that it hasn't fully hit some people that we will be graduating in under a month. My class has a lot of maturing to do before they should choose to go off and be on their own. Most of them haven't fully realized all of the responsibilities that come with being an adult. I'm not sure I have even realized all of them yet. So, like I said, hopefully people will get their poop in a group and grow up a little. We're all going to have to sooner or later. Let's hope they realize sooner.

bad day.

Today has been one of those days that I wish I could have stayed at home and cuddled with my teddy bear, little dog cody, and my blankets with a nice cup of hot chocolate. I hate high school and I will be more than happy the day I graduate and move very far away from here. Because I don't feel like writing out all the different ways I've been violated I'll just let you know that my friends talk a lot of crap, and apparently making eye contact with them as they are talking about me behind my back is not hinting enough to shut the hell up. They either really don't care, or think I'm incredibly stupid. That's okay, I'll continue to spend my free time doing the things I like no matter what they have to say about it. It's also okay because I'll make much better friends in college.

So. Today I have for you what I have been working on in Art. One of the very few times during the day that I am not pissed off. This is the journey we have been on since we started making our senior ceiling tiles. This is what we are working from.

This is a picture of Carly in the basement of the school rummaging around for some good, clean tiles.

This is a picture of me taking a seat on some chairs in the filthy basement because I am a senior and I can.

This is the very start of the phoenix I have started drawing on the tiles.

This was a couple days after I started drawing it. It's coming along nicely.

And this is what I started today. I've drawn everything, so today Carly helped me paint most of the base coat. 

**All photos were taken with my iPhone.**

ups and downs.

Back in one of the summer months of 2011 I was informed that my work place of four years would not be reopening their location. Now, if you knew where I worked, the people I worked with, and the people I am used to serving there, you would understand that there are really two sides to the way I feel about this situation. Like most experiences in life, there are always good and bad things; there surely were both ups and downs to the predicament I had been placed in upon being informed of the company's misfortune.
So, a few weeks ago, I was forced to look for a new job or two, seeing as I have to leave for college in the fall and it is crutial that I make enough money to support myself when I'm away from home. I was hired at two places and I'm still finding out some information about what exacly is going on with my old job. Right now I am for sure working at the two places I was hired, and if I'm lucky, I may be able to still work at my previous job which is under construction and expanding as we speak. If I am able to, I will more than likely be in a manager position, which is awesome! My fingers are crossed.
So tomorrow is my first day at one of my new jobs. I haven't had a "first day" of work at a new job since I got my very first job in 2008. I was 14 years old, and I have learned so much about work since then. I'm definitely ready to start working at a new place, however there are some things that I will definitely miss at little old Mackinaw Sweets. I will miss the lovely ladies I worked with. Making Starbucks drinks, sampling and serving delightful chocolates and fudge, and creating perfect icecream cones for screaming little children. However, I will not miss the irritating foreign customers who cannot speak english, or de-icing/scraping the coolers, or listening to Starbucks junkies complain about how "this drink is not right!" I will also not miss answering the same questions over and over again.
I'm pretty sure some things will be the same at my new jobs though. There will always be those people who don't think anything is ever good enough, those people who are so unthankful that they will hurt your feelings as a hard working server no matter what. I'm sure I'll be asked many irritating questions, but as a new employee, I'll probably ask my fair share as well. There will still probably be things about the new jobs I'm starting that I hate doing just as much as I did about some of the things I had to do at my old job. The list goes on and on and on. I'm sure I won't ever get sick of dressing nice (part of the job description as a hostess). I'm excited. I'll have to let you all know about how my first night goes as a hostess at The Dixie Saloon, where I'll be spending most of my summer nights.

So yesterday when I got the call that I would need to do some paper work for payroll, I got really excited. I did everything I was asked and I got a nice little white card for punching in and out. After confirming my position as a hostess I went into town with my boyfriend and we picked out some dress pants and I also got a fancy sweater and another new dress. In my last post I talked about how I had just gotten a new dress in TC and I was worrying about getting another one in case I wasn't able to have my graduation party the same day as graduation. Well the problem is solved, I now have two new dresses. One for graduation and one for my graduation party, which the day and time is still being decided. I will also fill you in on that later!

So over the course of the next couple days you should be looking for an update on
-my experience at my newest job and ( which you can check here )
-the date and time of my graduation party as well as some exclusive details involving the decorations I plan to have! ( which you can check here )

Stay Tuned!!

Also, I promised that I would have a notecare video, and I intend on keeping that promise. Hopefully I'll have that ready for you all very soon. (o: Don't lose hope yet.

**And a side note to those of you who I had asked to help me, and chose not to respond to my request to help me get my blog out there to some of your fellow followers: Thanks anyway, I'll help myself. It may be more work for me to contact some of the followers of those I follow individually, but I will do it because I have a love for blogging and I want to expand the blogging community. If you shared the same love for blogging that I do, you would have helped me out, as it would have helped you in the end as well. I guess that's what you get for choosing to ignore me. Your loss.**

toughing it out.

** This is going to be somewhat of a rant.  **

Dad,

The first thing I want to tell you about is probably what ticks me off more than anything else. If you ever want to make me very angry, all you have to do is look at me and tell me to my face one more time, "you don't do a damn thing." That is probably the best way to get a good smack in the head from my firm, flattened hand. I am sick and tired of coming home to unhappy parents who are so close minded that they cannot see all that I do do, but instead only see what I do not do. I understand that I don't do every chore in the house without being asked. I don't do the dishes every single day. I don't do the laundry every weekend. I don't dust the house every chance I get. I don't vacuum the house every night. I don't sweep the floor every day. I don't always clean up after myself, and I hardly ever clean up after someone else. This is due to a number of reasons:

It is because:

1.) I am not your maid.- I am the child, you are the adult. I do not have children, I am not a house wife, I do not own this house, and these are not ALL my responsibilities, nor should they be.

2.) I don't always have time.- Believe it or not, I am a high school student, who is currently dual enrolled. I am taking AP college level classes, and I have a LOT on my plate. I get that times have changed since you were in school and that you don't even know what calculus means, however give me some slack. I understand that school is no excuse, but I'm sorry: School comes first, chores come second. Any day.

3.) I forget things.- I am human. If it's that important, remind me. Don't throw a fit, that isn't going to get anything done. In fact, that will just piss me off, and chances are, I won't do it then. Be the mature adult you say you are and remind me politely. You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.

It is not because:

1.) I don't care. - I DO care. I would love to do all the chores in the house. If it made your life easier, and if it got me bitched at less, I would definitely do it in a heart beat. Unfortunately I am sometimes busy, and I DO have a life. As I mentioned before, I am a senior in high school.

2.) I think it's asking too much.- Obviously it isn't asking to much to do the dishes each night. I get that I am not asked to paint the house and mow the lawn every day. I totally understand that what I am being asked to do isn't a big deal and doesn't require much effort. But before you come into my room and interrupt me as I am writing a scholarship essay, to win what could mean 1000 dollars worth of free work time off, ask yourself if there is anyone in the house that is free at that moment that doesn't have important duties regarding school. Ask yourself if there isn't a better candidate, someone who does poorly in school and doesn't care, someone who has extra time. Ask yourself if you couldn't maybe do it yourself this time. Or, if you really want me to do it, just ask me to do it when I get the chance. If I forget, politely remind me. 

3.) I'm lazy.- I am not lazy. I don't spend a lot of time doing things for me. My time goes into school, college, and my boyfriend. I'm lucky if I even get time to see him. There is never a time when I am not doing something that is important, or a time when I am not thinking about all the things that I SHOULD be doing that are important. (and this blog is important because without it I would kill someone.)

So, yes. I do things all the time. Maybe you don't realize it because when you were in school things were different for you, and you didn't ever have to do a lot. Well, news flash. Times have changed. I am required to do well in school, and to go to college. My generation is being asked a hell of a lot more than yours ever was. So, before you tell me that I don't do a damn thing, think about all of my accomplishments, and instead of telling me how terrible of a person I am, think about congratulating me on my successful journey through high school as it has been extremely difficult, and I am somehow still pushing through, and making my way to the finish line with flying colors. Next time, before you tell me about everything that I have not done, before you pick me apart piece by piece, think about all I have done, and see if it outweighs the petty things I have neglected, as your words and actions may be crucial to my decisions regarding whether or not I will call, or come home to visit when I leave for college. Ask yourself if you appreciate my being apart of your life. And if you do, treat me with respect. Otherwise, mark my words: I will not visit home during college. You will not hear from me. You will no longer be a part of my life. It is your choice. Choose wisely, you've only got 62 days left (until graduation) to make an impression, to direct me to a decision that may define the rest of your parenting experience with your one and only daughter. 

It may not sound like it right now, but I do love my dad very much. I am very sad that I feel the things I have written here. I'm disappointed with our relationship. I could be without a father, like so many others. I shouldn't take the things that I do have for granted. I just think he's lost, he doesn't know what to do sometimes because things have changed, and his little girl is growing up. He's trying to hang on as long as he can, and sometimes he gets upset and does things and says things he shouldn't do and say. He has a lot on his mind I'm sure. It must be something to see your children growing up and going off on their own all at the same time practically. I do forgive him. I pray for him every day. I pray for myself every day.

I pray that we can figure out how to get along before it's too late.

Because it is very important to me.

We are both struggling.

"but through struggle there is beauty and resilience."

It just takes some time & hope.

Both of which I have a little of. Hopefully it's enough.

I love you,

I hope you love me still.

-Miranda

it's a beachy day.

Today the weather has been beautiful. So I decided to take advantage of it and go for a run. I choose the beach to run along because its a very calm, private place where I live and because I really get a good workout running in the sand. I love it.

I decided to go at 5:00. The sun was getting close to start setting.

I like to match when I work out. Makes me feel better about myself.

Sea shells! 

The only downer about running on the beach is that it is super windy. But it makes for great pictures.

There is even a little water pump. However I would not suggest drinking out of it.

You know, they say that walking out of the door is the hardest part of working out. And I believe that is probably true. I am motivated though. Since I'm going to college in just 5 short months I want to get in shape and start eating healthier. I want to be a healthier person. I plan to take advantage of the gym, yoga classes offered, and also the meal plan at GVSU. I'm so excited to start getting in shape!

I hope your day has been as good as mine. Enjoy the rest of it!

stress level: skyrocketed.

Today was stressful. The entire weekend was stressful for me. You'd think that after everything I accomplished I would be stress free right? Well, no. Currently on a scale of one to ten, one being chill, and ten being smash-your-head-into-a-brick-wall-stressed-out I am a 15. So, my stress level has skyrocketed. It was actually pretty okay up until early this afternoon. 

The weekend wasn't all terrible. I mean, I had an interview, and I got a job! I also found out some good news about PANDORA. There's a sale this weekend if you buy 100 dollars worth of jewelry you get a free bracelet. And since my boyfriend and my 10 day breakup occurred over my birthday he hasn't got me anything. But when I told him about the sale, he got a smirk from ear to ear. So that's fantastic. I also got everything done I wanted to complete this weekend.. And I even got some relax time to myself.

So you're probably wondering why my stress level is so high then? Well today I was going through some stuff for GVSU that I got in the mail, and I was trying to figure out how much its gonna cost me to go there and how much my financial aid will pay for and all that stuff because a scholarship I'm applying for requires that I say what its going to cost me and what I'm going to get. Well I realized that because I waited until february to apply to GVSU, even though I got accepted, I missed some important scholarship deadlines. I MISSED OUT ON FREE MONEY! by like a month. So naturally I was ticked off. Well then, I checked out my FAFSA stuff, and it looked to me like I'll only be receiving 1700 dollars. Which seemed very strange. Well then I was even more pissed off.

After that I got off my laptop and tried chilling out. I did everything I told you guys I like to do. And it still wasn't enough. So then, I decided to have a 'spa night'. Kind of.

First, I found this stuff in the cupboard in my bathroom that I haven't used in a million years. Its a really nasty color, but I got it out anyways.

Then, I rubbed it all over my face. Yes, the picture you are looking at is of me with crap all over my face and I am not wearing make up. So enjoy it, because you'll probably never see me like this again. Haha.

Then I took a shower. I love Herbal Essences. It smells yummy and it really does the trick for my hair. I also lather myself up in Pure Seduction sugar scrub from Victoria's Secret. And a good face wash always makes me feel refreshed.

 When I got out of the shower I use the Secret Craving lotion and Love Spell perfume from Victoria's Secret. Smelling good always makes me feel much better. (o:

And then, I took the nail polish off my toes. (yes I know they look absolutely disgusting here and there is a bruise on my right big toe because two idiots were screwing around in the library and dropped a chair on my foot!)

And I painted them red. Because red makes my nails look nice and I always feel sophisticated. Like how you feel and probably look with red lip stick on.

So after I chillaxed a little. I got back on the FAFSA website, and back into my GVSU account, and it looks like, if I was looking in the right place at the right thing, my financial aid/gvsu student aid package will pay for all $22,112.00 for my first year at Grand Valley State University. So for the time being, if that is true, I am a happy girl. (o:

Enjoy your night!

GVSU.

Today I have super great news:

And now you have heard my excuse for the lack of super great posts lately. But now that things are back on track and now that the future doesn't look so blurry, hopefully I'll be able to get back into the swing of things. Like I said, keep your eyes open, I have some great posts coming soon! I hope you're as excited as I am!