Final Blog

This year i have learned a lot about myself, and am trying to be focused on being thankful for the things i get to do(not have to do), because everyone doesn't have the opportunities that i do. At times this year when i would look at what is on my plate and feel overwhelmed. In angelos we have several deadlines and sometimes it was hard communicating with the photographers, designer's, and getting a hold of people for the stories we are trying to cover. Then i have my other classes that I'm trying to stay on top of so i can graduate in May. I am captain of the women's basketball team and at times my coach asks a lot of me and i feel overwhelmed with that. Then on top of that i am getting married this summer in June so i am trying to plan the wedding of my dreams. SHUT UP NICOLE! is sometimes what i feel the Lord is saying to be. I need to be thankful. This reality hit me earlier this year. In October a basketball player from Vanguard University was paralyzed after diving into the ocean. Her whole world was turned upside down. She may never be able to play basketball or let alone walk again and here i am complaining because I'm tired of running during practice. I had the privilege in meeting her the first week of December, her spirits where so high and she still was smiling despite her disabilities I just broke out in tears after the meeting and i felt so convicted and like an ungrateful brat. I am blessed to be at a great University who is focused on living ones purpose. Even the fact that i have the opportunity to attend college, there are people my age who wish and pray everyday to have the ability to learn and i continue to not take advantage of the resources i have. And in yearbook my advisor made a great point when she said we have the opportunities to publish something that will be looked at years down the road, we need to take more pride in our stories and continue to make them better each time. So that will be my challenge this coming up new year, to really be thankful and blessed with the path the Lord has chosen for me, even though at times it seems hard, someones situation is always worse so I need to praise him and give him all the Glory!

I Need Africa More than Africa Needs Me.

I need Africa more than Africa needs me. To many this statement sounds backwards. when , looking at this Globally isn't Africa the country that is going through so much turmoil, poverty, and hurt. People are starting to understand that Africa is a country that needs assistance from other nations that are better off, but what this statement does is help one understand that Africa could be the Nation actually helping us. How so? I think people can learn from Africa and it's people. About what is really important in life. here in the United States many citizens ultimate goal is to have that "American Dream" Live in a great home, drive a nice car, and have a career that provides for your family. All of that i feel is a great goal to have, but Africa goals are much simpler than that because of the lack of resources. Surviving and having a meal each night, and being able to take care of themselves and one's family if one becomes ill, are more important things to that Nation. I don't think this statement means that we don't continue to help Africa. There is so little that we can share that will help people in the nation tremendously with things we take for granted here in America. So yes i need Africa, to keep me humble to help me remember that as a christian it is my duty to reach all the Nations and do what i can to spread God's goodness, and to help me realise how fortunate i am to love in a place where i have endless freedoms to do as i please and the resources to become all that i can be.

Lakers

I Love The Lakers Our Project was to find Blogs of Interest then write about. I sat for a while and thought, HMMM, what do i love. Well i love My God, My Family, My fiance, and the Lakers. It is kinda sad how intense i get when the NBA season rolls around. Last season when the Lakers made it back to the NBA finals in a classic rivalry against the Boston Celtics i was almost in tears of Joy in Jubilation's. But then those happy tears quickly turned into sad one's, and so much anger when they lost. I couldn't watch T.V. for about a week, or read the news paper because i didn't want to see any news on how the Lakers had failed. It was nice to find other bloggers who share my same passion. One blog i found was interesting and made some very key points about the Lakers past and present. Where they have been and how many never saw them going back to the finals after the Shaq and Kobe spilt. I agree when the author said how it is hard to compare the old school lakers will Magic, Kareem, and all of the other superstars from the decade when they were ridiculous but i think this new era with Kobe can do big things as well. Especially considering that they have a great coach in Phil Jackson.
Another Blog i read about the Lakers was about how Bynom is an intrical part in the Lakers future and that is why he just recieved a new million dollar, 5 year contract. I would have to say i might disagree with him a lilttle. Bynum is young, yes and has very much potential but the writter of the Blog said the Lakers organization will be built around him in the years to come when Kobe is gone. Don't get me wrong i feel that he is a great player but someone who is going to have a professional organization built around him should have all of the qualities. A leader who everyone respects, have great court awareness, and i think he does but it is hard to be a great leader on the court when you are a post player, and last i think you need to have some age on you, well except if you are Lebron!
Lebron is the topic of the next blog, and it was actually a thing Kobe vs. Lebron. The thing i like about Lebron is he understands his role. Yes he is going to be the best when Kobe is done but right now he can't finish games and does not have all the experience yet, although his appearance makes him a little older. But i completely agree with the author who said that Kobe is the best right now. He has the total package especially from winning the Gold with the USA team in China because he became a better defensive player and rebounder which will only help the Lakers even more this year. I love the lakers and will argue with anyone who thinks otherwise because i will bled purple and Gold till I die!

First Time for Everything

It's hard for me to know now that i am like many others in my age group. I don't have a myspace or a facebook, because i am not into that stuff. I feel i talk to the people i want to talk to face to face and i don't want to have any fake conversations online. But because this is a class assignment that i must take part in I'm joining the crowd. Maybe this will be good for me to get some of my thoughts out there and give people a chance who don't know me to kinda understand what i am about.