02 March, 2010

Ethics and Values

So, this semester, I am taking an Ethics and Values class. I was reluctant to take it at first, but am now finding it to be both my most frustrating and most amusing class. So far, we have gone over everything from torture, to the existence of God, to abortion and so on. I find myself constantly in a state of confusion with what I have been raised to believe and what I find myself realizing I believe now. I will often comment in class and as someone counters my argument, I find myself realizing that I was wrong all along. I think back to my high school years and the view of the world I had then and compare it to my beliefs and world view now and realize that not in a million years would I have expected to agree with some arguments I agree with now. If someone had told me that I would do complete 180's on many ethical and moral topics in the future, I would not only have thought they were crazy, I would have been angry at them. As a whole, we like to close our eyes and ears. We get angry when others challenge our beliefs. "We are what we believe". I want to change this in my life. "I am what I decide to believe." The most mind numbing thing I have learned in this class is my lack on knowledge of the world around me and the history of why people are they way they are and why people react the way they do. The most recent occurrence being this article I had to read for my class on the Holocaust. "The Childhood origins of World War II and the Holocaust".
In many ways, I am furious at my high school history teachers. In other ways I am furious with myself. I recall the countless times my dad tried and tried and tried to open my eyes to history and the world around me. I blatently ignored him, 'knowing' that it's history....boring! I was taught all about the holocaust and WWII in school, but not once was it explained why something like this could happen. I always wanted to know HOW people could be so apathetic to what is going on around them. Although perhaps not to the same extreme, it still blew me away when I came up with the epiphany that WE are a part of this. The countless examples; starving children, countries with STD's out of control, India with it's lawless brothels; we are apathetic to the suffering. We do little to solve the problems saying "it's not our country, not our problem". I want to make a difference in the world. If it means teaching mothers how to raise children healthily, saving lives, or going to Africa to educate on the importance of washing your hands before delivering a baby, I want to do it. This is why I want to be a nurse, so that someday, I will be able to make a difference in the world.

13 February, 2010

Update

Haven't blogged, not apologizing. :)

So, since my last post, not a ton has happened. Well, a lot has happened, but not anything too exciting that I can really post pictures on or anything. Biggest life changing event: I quit my job so I could go back to school full time! It was a hard decision. I have been with the clinic for 2 1/2 years and have loved it! Every job has those things you will never miss, but all in all, I loved it. I loved the quirkiness of the doctor I worked for, I loved the everyday schedule I held, and of course I loved the biweekly paycheck. I miss a lot of it, but I am happy with my decision. I love being back in school. I feel like I am progressing in my life plan. I feel like I have a life plan! I feel smarter! I am studying to be a nurse, and only have a few classes left before I can start applying to nursing schools...the last two are the hardest too...Anatomy and Physiology. I had started the semester out signed up for both, but as it turned out, Physiology is just not my cup of tea. I am all things retarded when it comes to Physiology, so I decided to take it slower and switch around some classes. I am now on track to receive my associates degree at the end of this semester.

A few odds and ends that I think I may have left out:
I am currently enrolled in a tap dancing class. I have wanted to learn to tap dance ever since I was a kid! I signed myself up in September and got to work. I am now in the intermediate class. I love it so much!...Ryan could tell you that! I can't stop. If there is a hard floor, even carpet, I am usually tapping. Most of the time I don't realize I'm doing it till he looks at me with his "you're doing it again, and everyone is watching you" look. I was even in a recital at the beginning of January. If anyone remembers me from high school...they know how much I have being put on the spot in recitals! It usually ends bad...but this, I couldn't wait for!

Callista is doing great, she has grown a full 2 inches and a good deal around. You probably couldn't tell if you aren't me, but I'm excited. However, I think I have decided that I like her more this size...I can sit and watch movies while I hold her and play with her.

I have also enrolled in an Ice Skating class through school. It is really very hard. I am supposed to lean this way and put my other foot...where?? Are you crazy? Ok....OUCH!. Needless to say, I might need two new hip bones and a new elbow by the end of the semester....But, I can skate forwards, backwards, turn around while skating, do one jump...badly, and forward crossovers...I'm still working on backwards crossovers...

Lastly, my favorite class this semester is also the shortest and most dangerous. Snowboarding! I love it! And I have learned so much! I love boarding. It is so much fun! Unfortunately, it is also the most painful. I think I am just starting to learn how to board well enough that a helmet may start to come in handy......hence the whiplash I am currently experiencing. The mountain is really really Icy right now because PA is hogging all of the snow! Half of my snowboarding class is out of commission with broken bones. I keep thinking...it's only a matter of time...but I'll be careful. If it does happen, and I have access to my arms...I'll be sure to post about it. For now, though....this was a very condensed update.

Oh, and I'd like to share my sister's new blog with everyone! She makes jewelry and she makes some of the cutest and most elegant stuff! I am so jealous of her talent I am green!
Fashionable Finery