Day 18: High school

My high school experience wasn't exactly the "best time of my life," and brought me many struggles. However, I had many wonderful friends in school, I was involved in many activities, and I took challenging classes that I learned a lot from. Through these experiences, I gained so much knowledge! Without this, I certainly wouldn't be where I am today. I would not be in college, at least not the exceptional college I am at now, I would not enjoy music or singing as much as I do, and I definitely wouldn't have many of the life skills I need to survive in the "real world."

Going to a large high school prepared me well for my relations with people as well. I had many friends, and for the most part got along well with everyone. However, there were just a few instances where I didn't get along with someone and we didn't see eye-to-eye. Because of this, I learned how to better handle disagreement and resolve conflict, a valuable skill!

My high school is known for providing excellent education to students, and I am so thankful for that! Now that I am in college, I am beyond prepared for my course load. I strongly believe that my high school education is what prepared me so well. Without this, I never would have been this successful in college, and for that, I am so thankful to JHS!

Day 17: Extended family

I am so amazed by my family and how wonderful they are! My family supports me through absolutely everything, and I am so thankful for that! Until just a few years ago, I was not close with any of my extended family, since I live very far from them! However, I have gotten to know many of my family members better recently. I am shocked to know how much they care about me, and have always cared about me, even though we weren't close! Suddenly, my support system has grown tremendously, and I am so thankful for that! I definitely feel surrounded by support, and I can't imagine life without this family around anymore! Thank God for this support system!

Day 16: Travel

I have been so fortunate to have been able to travel quite a bit in my life. I love traveling and being able to experience different cultures! Travel allows you to see new places, new environments, try new, unique foods, and meet people completely different from you.

While traveling, I have seen and done some truly amazing things! Each of these opportunities has given me a completely new perspective, and I have seen the majesty of God in so many different, wonderful places! In Ireland, I experienced many Irish celebrations, saw many castles (As they call them, ABCs: "Another Bloody Castle!"), and got to see Irish dance in the very place it originated! I also got to see the beautiful Cliffs of Moher, which are so incredible! The cliffs are massive and absolutely beautiful. I can't even begin to describe how wonderful they are, and how clear God's presence seems to be there!

In Curacao, part of the Netherlands Antilles off the coast of Venezuela, I was able to experience Dutch culture and Dutch food, plus see many amazing sights! Curacao has an amazing aquarium as well, where I was actually able to swim with dolphins! This was absolutely the highlight of my trip! I learned so much about dolphins, and found that they are truly incredible creatures! They are so smart, and I was able to work hands-on with them. What an experience!

I am simply amazed by the wonderful things that God has created, and I am so thankful that I have been able to experience it through travel! I am so blessed by these opportunities!

Day 15: Music

This week has just been a fantastic week for me in choir and private voice lessons, so today I am especially thankful for music, and what a big part of my life it has been! I have always been in choir and band (at least since 5th grade, when our school starts those), and I have always had incredible opportunities because of that. I have learned so much through my high school and college's music programs, and I have even gotten to perform in some pretty amazing places (The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago and the Disney stage in Orlando, to name a few!). Music has definitely boosted my confidence in so many ways as well, and challenged me to get out of my comfort zone. Three or four years ago, I never, ever would have done a solo in front of people. Now, I have performed solos in several solo competitions and I have even done solos in front of audiences of approximately 10,000 people.  I now know how much I actually LOVE performing in front of people!!

Not only has music given me many amazing opportunities, it has given me the chance to really worship God! Before I came to know Christ personally, I really didn't appreciate music or singing. Now, however, I see that He gave me my talent for music for a reason! I love being able to use my voice to sing His praise and share that with others as well! So I am very thankful that I have a voice to use for that!

Day 14: The little things!

Today I really took the time to realize what I am taking advantage of in my life. There are a million different little, petty things that I use or do every single day that I often either don't pay any attention to or I even complain about. I complain about getting distracted by Facebook when doing my homework, but I should be thankful that I have Facebook, or that I get to have homework and get an education! So many times have I complained about homework or going to class, but I am so incredibly fortunate to even have that opportunity!

This week in particular I have been quick to complain about walking everywhere on campus. I realize that this sounds incredibly lazy, and it really is! I have been struggling with some old injuries from horse back riding and dance for several months, however, and my knees have been giving me a lot of trouble lately. So, although I have been in a lot of pain, I should be thankful that I actually can walk and that my campus is so very small compared to most colleges! I am also very, very thankful for ibuprofen and ice! :)

I am so thankful for all the little things that I have that make my life possible, that many other people have to live without. And really, I am just thankful for life in general!

Day 13: "Necessities"

This evening, I attended what is called the "Famine Feast" put on by our campus's hunger awareness group. Is was sort of like a poverty simulation, and it definitely helped the participants, like myself, to see what it was like to live in a lower social class than we are used to. We were put into three different social classes, lower, middle and upper, and we were served different meals based on our class. I hadn't eaten dinner, because I figured "feast" meant there would be plenty of food to go around! When I was placed into the lower class, however, I was quickly proven wrong! My class was given a large pan of rice, which we had to eat with our hands, and the middle class was given watered down soup and some saltines. Meanwhile, we had to watch the "upper class" feast on spaghetti and bread.

This experience showed me how much I take for granted, and I am so much more thankful for all of that now. I am so thankful that I have food/a meal plan and can eat whatever, whenever. I am also thankful that I can afford to go to this wonderful private school to get an education, and that I know that I will always have a roof over my head or at least a place to go if someday I don't. I am so thankful for the clothes that I have, nearly an endless supply, and for my health and my family's health. I am so blessed, and hope/plan to share those blessings with others now that I see the need even more than I did before!

Day 12: Good days

I am thankful for wonderful days where everything goes right for a change. I had the best voice lesson I've ever had and everything just "clicked," I got to do barn chores and be around horses and then, to top it all off, I got a completely unexpected call from my best friend/sister!