Uniquely ME!

As I've been cramming to finish my senior thesis paper for my Albright College honors graduation credit, I was browsing around on the Girls Scouts & Dove "uniquely ME!" campaign site. I ran across a video I remember seeing at a conference a few years ago. Take a look!

Senior Spotlight

I recently just submitted some answers for a "Senior Spotlight" section in my college's upcoming newspaper publication. These past few weeks have been so emotional, thinking about graduating and leaving my friends at school. Although I haven't had time to record my thoughts here regarding the mess of things that are going on in my life now, I thought that including some of my answers here would be more than appropriate. Enjoy!

Senior Spotlight Survey

Name: Melissa Jaworski (MJ)

Major: Elementary Education/Psychology

Hometown: Schwenksville, PA

After Graduation Plans:

Five days after graduation, my fiancé and I will fly out to Arizona to pursue internships at a mega-church of 10,000 people in Phoenix. Upon completing our programs, he’ll return to school at Eastern University while I sign on with Campus Outreach Services, an agency that aims to promote safe and healthy decisions in teens and young adults around the nation. If all goes well, I’ll be speaking to students across America about topics concerning dating, body image, diversity, etc. I’ll be substituting on the side for a bit of extra cash too! Come May 2010, I’ll be “Melissa Flora” (from MJ to MF-go figure), and my husband Adam and I will set off together to continue our adventure of life!

What will you miss most about Albright?

EVERYTHING! A better question is, “What WON’T I miss is a better question?” From beautiful days on campus to chaotic gatherings in the campus center, I’ll miss being within Albright’s culture 24-7. I’ll miss never again getting to give another Albright tour or the opportunity to sit on a student panel at an Open House. I’ll miss riding the pony with my POPs to gathering in the Campus Center for experience events, conferences, and meetings. I’ll miss late nights at the library, early morning workouts in the Schumo, and every administrator, faculty, and student with whom I built relationships with throughout my years at Albright. Yes, I’ll even miss the cafeteria food, especially the pineapples and the cookies. Most of all, though, I’ll miss being called an “Albright student,” knowing my experience at Albright will never again be the same.

What advice would you give to an incoming freshmen?

College is such an emotional time. Some of us are so excited to “start over” with new friends and opportunities, while others of us are greatly missing boyfriends and our favorite hometown hang out spots. When you come to college, it’s a new opportunity, so embrace it! Your college experience will only be as great as you allow it to be. Make the most of your time at Albright through opportunities and friendship; take risks, challenge yourself, and live your experience without any regrets!

How do you want to be remembered after you graduate?

I suppose I want to remembered just as I am now: as spunky, energetic, fun-loving, and caring MJ. “THAT’S ME!” (Pointing to myself as Amanda Bynes of Nickelodeon’s All That.) I want to be remembered as someone who loves opportunities, love adventures, and most of all, loves people, especially Albright’s people.

If you had three wishes, what would they be?

1. Is it cheating to wish for an infinite amount of wishes?

2. I would wish that Brian Dawkins is still a Philadelphia Eagle.

2. I would wish that every person would experience the joy of genuinely being loved and

loving themselves.

If you could go back to when you were a freshmen, what would you do differently?

-I would not have let my insecurities get the best of me when choosing to join organizations, lead peers, and be open-minded to new friendships. Specifically, I wouldn’t have dropped pledging a sorority. I would have applied to become an RA. I would have worked at Albright for conferences during the summer, and I would have randomly sat at any lunch table during meals to build friendships with people.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In 10 years, I see myself as old. I’ll be 32-yuck. On the positive side, I see myself as very happily married, cultured by traveling around the world, educated with at least a Master’s Degree, and an upcoming national public speaker. Wow, I’ll probably be a mom, too. Next question, please?

What is your favorite experience at Albright College?

Honestly, there are too many to list. I know that leaving Albright won’t be one of them.

Picture Perfect!

As I walked through my apartment door earlier tonight, I was greeted by two of my roommates who were excited to share a "fun fact" with me! Check out Albright's latest advertisement! It's picture perfect with all three of us together!

The Vagina Monologues

Today I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to support one of my roommates in a performance sponsored by two Albright College campus organizations. My roommate did a wonderful job in her piece, and the event was outstanding; educational, entertaining, and inspiriting, my heart swelled with school spirit as I watched thirty female Albright students and alumnus perform for an audience of over 200 students and sponsors!

Hence the title, The Vagina Monologues, the 90 minute benefit production celebrated "V-Day," a "global movement to end violence against women and girls. (The 'V' in V-Day stand for Victory, Valentine, and Vagina.) Performed by my peers, small skits and monologues entailing humorous, ironic, and poetic descriptions of the vagina encouraged audience members (both male and female) to celebrate the uniqueness of femininity and "respond against violence toward women." Some of the monologue titles included:

• The "Wear and Say" List (If your vagina could talk, what would it say?)
• My Angry Vagina
• A Six-Year Old Girl was Asked...
• My Vagina was a Village
• The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy
  

Each monologue celebrated women of all types: old women, young women, Hispanic women, African-American women, lesbian women, women with "positive experiences," women with "not-so-positive experiences," etc. Monologues were based upon Eve Ensler's award-winning publication The Vagina Monologues. She is also the founder/artistic director of V-Day, and is currently working on a new book of monologues, I am an Emotional Creature to be published in 2010. Based upon information given in a V-Day brochure, students learned of the purpose, mission, and awareness of V-Day and were given an opportunity to take action in various ways.

On a more personal note, I was astounded to witness how many Albright students came to support the event. I thought that my roommate (in case you're confused because you thought I went to see my roommate, I actually have 3 roommates!) and I were lucky enough to grab seats when we arrived 15 minutes prior to the event, but people continued to flood the room until 15 minutes after the event was schedule to begin! The V-Day girls were delighted to continue expanding seating for their audience. Even more, when the performance began, I again was flabbergasted by the young women's acting skills! Despite how shy or introverted some of the women may appear on campus, each actress was not afraid to speak loudly, clearly, and eccentrically, even adding witty motions and perfectly-planned pauses to dramatize their monologues! I laughed and applauded enthusiastically after each performance; appreciating the concord that was shared and celebrated by each woman in the room. There is no doubt that I've gained some new perspective on the uniqueness and creativity entailed in being a woman.

If you're interested in exploring the "V-Day Movement" in greater depth, check out their website: http://www.vday.org.

What Happened to my Money?

I am officially more broke than I've ever been before.

It's quite an interesting experience, to say in the least.

Since I've begun student teaching, I have not had an opportunity to earn money. Any campus jobs of giving tours or working at the fitness center have been replaced by my time spent with small children (although this is a joke because the majority of children are my size, especially now that I'm in a 6th grade placement). My job at a city after-school program has been replaced with after-school meetings and planning periods. For the first time since I've taken responsibility for my spending, I'm experiencing spending without earning.

The above situation is never a good scenario. Most logical people try to spend money they earn, and even then, that's not always the intention. Because of my need to still pay for gas and food, I've been using my savings to "dish out the dirt," and the money is going quick. Just last night, I was spending some time in Walmart, shopping for a few essentials for this week. Seeing that my college is on "spring break," the college dining service is not providing us with any food for the week (usually I have a 7 meal "flex). Thus, with only a few dollars to spend (my debit card has been out-of-commission for a few weeks-long story), I found myself buying the infamous "cheap foods:" Ramen noodles (12 packs for $2.00), Ramen "to-go" packs (6 for $2.00, perfect for school lunches), a pack of 6 bagels ($2.00), and two boxes of cereal for $3.50. When I arrived at the counter, I found myself wondering what others thought about my purchases. Did they know that I was running low on money? What did they think about me? While pulling out $3.00 worth of change, I even thought, "how embarrassing that I'm paying with change."

It's funny how quick we are to judge others based upon money, sometimes.

Luckily, my thoughts about others opinions and my "embarrassment" quickly subsided with the reality that I just don't have money! A huge aspect of growing comfortable with who I am has been redirecting my thoughts when I naturally surrender to culture's falsity that my outward appearance or performance categorizes my character. These moments have served as the loudest reminders that my worth, my purpose, and "who I am" derives from my faith in God's intentional creation of me and my comfor that he "sees me" as I am-regardless of my circumstance.

After my fiance introduced me to a budget excel worksheet that he created last summer, I've since been recording my spending. I've watched how I've been finding ways to make ends meet without spending dollars on unnecessary items (mostly food trips and occasional shopping trips). Here are some thoughts/reflections/etc regarding my recent personal recession:

• I really don't need as much as I think. Neither do I need as much as I want.
  
• It's interesting how simple shopping becomes when you know you do not have the money to afford careless buying. My recent shopping trips for food have become much quicker, as I'm easily able to breeze by particular aisles, knowing "I just can't afford that now."
• I'm extremely thankful for the times when my parents hand me a $20 bill for gas or offer food from the house. I love you Mom, Dad, and Nancy! Who ever said that part of the relationship had to end when I graduate college? ;)
• There are many ways to be creative with spending-and there are many ways to find loopholes to spending! I'm learning the art of finding resources, especially including friends and family).
• I love/hate money. ;)
  

Ironically, I've found some peace in my "money-less" situation, and have even enjoyed the experience as a test of humility and integrity.

Of course, that's not to say that I expect to live this way forever. In fact, being in this state has pushed me to better understand what my financial situation will be like after college. I just recently read a "life after college explained" book from our alumni office, which discusses saving/earning/spending money, taxes, apartment shopping, job issues, etc. I'm fortunate that my fiance is well-aware of the need for communication about these important topic. Not to mention that we are also well-aware that we have a wedding to pay for! (Talk about creative ways to spend-or not spend, as we prefer.)

I'm excited to see how this experience challenges me to grow; hopefully in wisdom and financially! ;)

Teaching Moment

I walked out of my student teaching classroom Friday positive that "public school teaching wasn't my gig."

My students were complaining, whining, and making it obvious that they wanted nothing to do with three tests we were scheduled to take during our language arts period. After having at least a dozen students talk back to me, handing out more than my comfortable "two" demerits (a disciplinary consequence-I'm a whimp), and feeling as if I were talking-and teaching-to the walls, I was nearly in tears.

I came home and slept for three hours.

On a Friday night.

Lame.

Thus, I wasn't shocked when admist performing a drama on stage for children's ministry on Sunday morning (one of my favorite things to do), when asked how my student teaching experience was coming along, I easily answered, "fine...ok. I definitely don't think I'm meant to teach in school."

Little did I know then that Monday would be such a great day.

What a change.

Children are so bizarre. They can hate you one minute-and then the next, be laughing right alongside you. I don't understand them. I was convinced that all of my students hated school on Friday, yet today, I was blown away by how incredible their behavior, interest, and cooperation was.

Even while teaching a terribly difficult geometry lesson (which included over three pages of overhead notes), they were patient, on-task, and enthusiastic to participate. I found myself enjoying "making learning fun" for them-using them as manipulatives, pointing out parallel and perpendicular objects in the classroom, etc.

In fact, I was so impressed by their behavior that I introduced them to a fun "high 5 game" that I learned during educational theatre. Note: 5th grade is the PERFECT age to play the "high 5 game." My teacher was even impressed and thanked me for teaching her a new game!

After the game, the students were able to calm down, jump right back on task, and even partipciated MORE than in the previous math lesson! I was overjoyed to find that mixing in a little 'fun" transition time for the kids (especially for kids that don't have recess) promoted their attitude towards learning.

"See, I can do this," I thought.

A few hours later, I was reading one of my cooperating teacher's comments in my response journal. She wrote, "You will make a fabulous teacher. I would be honored to have you teach on our (5th grade) team."

Today was a good day. In addition to the above, I received an "A" for my first placement grade and was asked by another faculty member if I was planning to apply to work for the school. (I was already asked by the principal and have prepared my resume and cover letter.)

So, am I really "not meant to teach in school?"

Back to square one?

Oh, the possibilities.

Oh well, I'd rather have too many options than none at all. :)

Smile! You're Engaged!

I have a new "banner" that runs across the background of my phone. It reads:



For several of you whom are friends of both Adam and myself, many of you may have read about our engagement story on his blog, The Adventurer. If you haven't gotten a chance to read it, take a few minutes now to indulge yourself in the "mini-romance."

As today dates us to three weeks since the proposal, I find myself still in shock about my updated "relationship status." I sheepishly admit, I find myself gawking at my ring with my friends numerous times, moving my finger up and down, left to right, especially in areas where the lighting is stellar! (Our church building is one of these places!) My peers within my campus organizations tease me, asking me to not "pull the engagement card." I find myself retelling the story to complete strangers (such as this past weekend when I led a teenage girls' workshop on accountability and mentors), and I still have friends congratulating me!

Here are some of the silliest changes that I've had to grown used to since receiving "the ring:"

• Seeing my new Facebook relationship status read "engaged." Ahh!!
• Having a sudden desire to not wear gloves. (Joking-it was 18 degrees today.)
  
• Always wanting to wave or shake people's hand with my left hand. (Okay, just kidding!)
• Feeling as if my left hand is a bit heavier than my right. (Again, kidding.)
• Needing to find ways to readjust my wrist so that when I lean against my hand I'm not gashing my face. (Not kidding. It hurts sometimes! I'll stand the pain, though!)
• Being extra cautious to not knock my ring against furniture, walls, or objects in fear of damaging it-even though it's nearly harmless!
• Being extra cautious to not knock my ring against furtniture, walls, or objects because my diamond is just so BIG! ;)
  
• Taking my ring off when I use cleaning products-and then remembering to put it back on!
• Using a toothbrush and toothpaste to occasionally, just occassionally clean my ring. (Obsessed, I know.)
  

With all jokes aside concerning the ring, I'm excited to celebrate this next period of my life with Adam. More than any shine, shimmer, or sparkle that the ring projects, I treasure it because it is a symbol of his love and commitment to me. I value Adam's investment in the purchase of the ring-he had been changing and rearranging the ring and making payments on it for more than year and a half! Yet, I value more his investment in our relationship as a couple: our communication, team-work, and perseverance to encourage and support each other in what we're bested gifted and passionate to pursue.

With all of the excitement of wedding planning, I value that Adam is constantly redirecting my focus to concentrate less on the wedding and more on the marriage. While planning how we'll spend our time together within this next year or while brainstorming specific details for the wedding, he reminds me that our wedding day should not be regarded as our highest priority because it will be our relationship that lasts our lifetime that we'll need to extend our greatest efforts towards.

I'm extremely grateful that I'm committing to celebrate and adventure through life with Adam. I'm attracted to his passion, enthusiasm, and love for other people. (I'm focusing on the interior here, the exterior attraction speaks for itself!) He offers me moments of simplicity and celebration when I forget to "schedule" them in myself. He has helped me to view life as an "adventure," and how to love it! I am excited for us to continue to use our gifts and strengths to draw each other closer to "just be" with God.

Big plans are ahead for us two....and I'm excited to share them with the wonderful community that embraces and celebrates life alongside us.