So this weekend, I got to spend 3 whole days with my mom. Which is awesome, because we are now both very aware that we will be spending 4 months on opposite sides of the country in the fall. I almost feel like I'll never get enough time with my mom, what with 2 more siblings and work and everything else. But still, we both never pass up a chance to spend some more time together.
So we are banking as much mother-daughter time as possible before August 20th when its time to get on the plane for Washington DC. This weekend we visited the Dunn kids and took them to the park,
and we went on a walking tour at the U (giving my mom an opportunity to literally walk a mile in my shoes).
I've always loved to write, ask my junior high buddies and they'll tell you that instead of parting it up with them every weekend, I was at home writing in my notebook.
My first story followed the outline of an X-Men movie. What young teen wouldn't want superpowers while they forge through puberty? I was a young girl named Angel who had telekinetic powers in addition to being able to read minds (an homage to Jean Grey, my favorite character) who had no real friends and no family ties. So much angst! Finding old drafts of this book isn't as much a blast from the past, but more of a big-bang-like feeling. How can something that I wrote so long ago say so much about who I still feel like today?
Writing continued to get me through my adolescence. First was Not Normal Anymore, followed by Drama Queen Society, a brief detour to write the play Mafia Princess, then Three Years Later, then According to Me, and currently in the works is The Other Love Story.
Being the self-obsessed diva that I am (NOT!), I'm always in every one of my books, however, my role in this new book is in fact in-direct compared to past works. For once I'm focusing on the stories from other people's points of view. Where did this great and terrible idea come from? Obviously heartbreaks and heartaches prompt us to do ridiculous things with our free time to avoid feeling feelings. Anyway, the right way for me to move forward is to write about why other people can't move forward, or something like that. Wish me luck!
Taylor Swift is known for bashing her exes via country-pop hits, and everyone always seems to know which ex she is addressing every time a track is released.
"Back to December" is her only known apology ballad, a shout out to Taylor Lautner if you will. Swift, like most girls, never illudes to the possibility that her relationship ended because of her own actions. We don't believe the breakup was our fault, and it's easy to be the victim.
However, this song stirs emotions for me, and while the situation is more or less victimless, letting go of love still hurts.
I guess the heartache makes you realize the good stuff about a relationship while you try to justify the reasons it ended. At the end of the day, you are basically punishing yourself for allowing your heart to love someone. We shouldn't hate ourselves because we know how to love.
"And I think about Summer, all the beautiful times I watched you laughing from the passenger's side, and realized I loved you in the fall"
Realizing that you love someone is intimidating, especially when you aren't 100% sure about how they feel about you.
But as Mistress Swift says "Maybe this is wishful thinking, probably mindless dreaming," that's what love is: Action taken on wishful thoughts and mindless dreams.
I wonder though, what happens in her alternate reality when she goes back to December and does one thing different? Does she keep the guy? Does he eventually break up with her? Did he know he loved her when she walked away the first time? Or, like her, did he only realize it after she left?
I don't know. But I would go back to February and do something different, or even to three weeks ago and walk away on my terms. In Swift's fairytale we can always go back, unfortunately, it still remains a fairytale regardless of whether it worked out or not. Which is why we "go back to December all the time."
Admit it, we are all guilty of Facebook-stalking at one point in time or another. Whether it be that hot guy from work just to see if he's got a girlfriend, or the ex-best friend from high school and browsing through their digital life ensures that you came out better. We all do it, some of us more so/better than others.
I enjoy Facebook, although I only stalk when I am trying to pass the time. Now it is officially part of my internship duties. Earlier today I was given a rather large Excel Spreadsheet with at least a hundred names of U of U big wigs to find on Facebook and add to the Sustainability Research Center page that I created.
I really do enjoy applying my social networking skills to real life, it makes me feel a lot better about having a "fluff" degree. Yes, I said it. Although I refuse to believe it, I will address that most Humanities majors (Communication, English, Philosophy) are considered 'fluffy' and time-killers. I won't give in though. At this point in time, my degree has enabled me to create, manage, and network my various online sites.
So now my question is, who are you stalking on Facebook?
I've spent my college life studying Mass Communication, and most of high school studying Journalism (obviously one led to the other). It fascinates me in so many ways; the news (broadcast, print, online), editing, writing, and so much more. At the end of my Communication studies I found myself looking for more. I loved the news, but I wanted to expand on my academic focus.
Enter Public Relations.
Last Summer I had my first internship opportunity with Corroon for Governor! My very first communication internship, and it was wonderful. All summer long I updated media clips, researched the competition, and composed talking points that would soon become speeches. I love politics, and this campaign made me realize that my passion was in fact deep-rooted.
Enter Communication Purpose.
This summer I was hired to be the Communication Intern for the Sustainability Research Center at the University of Utah. I had never been extremely informed about the environment, other than land conservation and population control, so this was definitely a new area to incorporate my skills into.
The main goal: to make EVERYONE aware of sustainability.
The ideas in my head took off, and they involved Facebook, a Blog, and a whole lot of social networking. Currently they are all preparing to go live by the end of the month.
Shortly after this internship ends, I will board a plane to Washington D.C. to intern on behalf of the University of Utah Hinckley Institute of Politics from August until December. I should return the weekend following my 22nd Birthday, and attempt to catch the last 4 months up with my family before figuring out my next step.
