Unto Us a Child is Born

“In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.  This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.  All went to their own towns to be registered.  Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.  He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”  Luke 2:1-7

Here we have the story of the birth of Jesus.  The passage this entire season centers around.  But let me back up a little to the story of Mary…

“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David.  The virgin’s name was Mary.  And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one!  The Lord is with you.”  But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.  The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David.  He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”  Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”  The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.  And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren.  For nothing is impossible with God.”  Then Mary said, “Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”  Then the angel departed from her.”  Luke 1:26-38

Think of the faith Mary must have had!  Imagine it happening to you!  What would I have done?  Surly my first thought would not have been “Here I am!”  even though I wish it could be…  Mary lays down her life for the Lord, everything according to His will. 

And the rest of the story…

“In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.  Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see – I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”  So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.  When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.  But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”  Luke 2:8-20

And there you have it, the birth of Jesus, our Savior, Redeemer, and Friend.  What more in this world could you possibly need?

There’s no place like home

There really is no place like home.  And I am so very happy to be back.

Things change.  Everything changes*.  And for the most part change is usually good.  Except when things like the lock on the front door changes so I’m locked out of my house at almost midnight…  But other changes, such as a garage door opener (unless you can still think you can still manually lift the garage door – like me) and a clean room are good changes.  It’s fun to see in how just 4 months, so many things change.

I love my church.  I really do.  I love everything about it.  From the glass window cross behind the alter, to children’s moment every Sunday (which included a moose in the nativity scene this week – only in Alaska…), to being welcomed right back into the choir as if I never left.  It’s where I grew up, my home every Sunday morning for the last 19 years, and I didn’t realize how much I missed it and everyone in it. My church changed.  They knocked out a wall in the kitchen, but that’s a good change.

Speaking of moose.  I knew I was home when less than 24 hours after got here a moose stood between me and my car preventing me from leaving.  I missed this place!

Another random thing.  I played the most amazing game last night.  Telephone Pictionary.  Instead of verbally passing a message around the circle, you pass an alternating phrase or picture.  The game starts with everyone writing a phrase.  Then you pass it to the next person, who illustrates the phrase with a picture on the next piece of paper.  The third person has to write the phrase again – or what they think the phrase it – based only on the picture the second person drew.  This continues all the way around the circle back to the original person when “one, two, knuckle my shoe” turns into “close the door,” and other such things.

So yeah, that’s pretty much all there is to this post.  I’m just glad to be home!

* Except God, but that’s a different post

110 Days Later

On August 31^st, I boarded a plane in Anchorage, Alaska that took me to Boston for my first semester of college.  Now, 110 days and a 20-hour trip later, I will soon be exiting a plane as the reverse of that initial journey.

My day began at 5:30 A.M.  I jumped out of bed after a fitful night of sleep and hurried to get ready to go.  At 6 I left International Village and got on the Orange Line to go to the airport.  This is a normal routine, nothing special or weird about it, until I arrived at the stop to switch to the Blue Line that would take me to the airport.  Apparently it was closed for some reason, and instead they were providing shuttle buses to the next stop.  Turned out not to be too much of a problem, caused a little worry, but eventually I made it to the airport and boarded my plane to Philadelphia. The highlight here was some man passing by with light up wheels on his luggage like little kids sometimes have on their shoes.  He turned out to be the pilot.  Awesome! 

I “slept” for the entirety of that flight.  I arrived in Philadelphia at about 10, and had 3 and a half hours to chill before my next flight.  I wandered around some, and then found my way into a bookstore.  There I picked up A Thousand Splendid Suns.  I read a little before finding lunch, and then hunkered down to read and wait for my flight.  The highlight of my time here was being pulled from my book by some faintly familiar sound.  Music had been playing in the airport in the background the whole time, but somehow this was different.  I listened more intently to discover with great joy that they were playing the opening act of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  Awesome!  Anywho, I waited.  And waited.  And waited.  And then waited some more.  And then they tell us that the flight is about a half hour delayed, so I wait even more still.  At this point panic makes a brief appearance.  I need to be on that flight leaving Phoenix at 6.  I need to be back in Alaska at 10 tonight.  I need to see my family.  I can’t explain this fully; I wasn’t every really home sick or anything during my first semester.  For the most part I had a great time there, called home every so often, and thought nothing of it.  But this feeling of readiness has been growing ever stronger in my last couple weeks here.  It is time to go home.  This delay could NOT make me miss my connecting flight.  And so when the time finally came to board, I did so praying that the process would be quick, that we would be in air soon, and that we would make it to Phoenix before that looming 6 o’clock deadline. 

This five-hour flight passed rather quickly as I read my new book almost in it’s entirety.  When the time finally came to land and exit, I hurried to find my next gate (at a different terminal of course) and arrived as they were making a “last and final call for all passengers on flight 138 to Anchorage, Alaska.”  Last call.  A flustered Emily approached the ticket counter, handed her ticket to the attendant who could clearly read the anxiety in her face and was kind enough to ask if everything was all right.  Her reply: I just need to go home.

I boarded and found my seat.  Shaken by what force I honestly don’t know, but unbelievably relieved to be on the final leg of my journey.  I finished my book (which everyone should read by the way, great book) and then wrote this.  I have 2 hours and 14 minutes remaining until we land.  Until I am home.  And I have never been looking forward to anything in my entire life more than this.

Who Says You Can't Go Home

That’s right.  I’m going home.  At 10:30 tomorrow night I will be walking off a plane back to Alaska.  And I cannot wait!  At 9:12 this morning I finished my last final, and have been mentally counting down the hours ever since.  Don’t get me wrong, I love it here, but there truly is no place like home.

A Northeastern State of Mind

While my journalism class has given me one state of mind.  My entire Northeastern experience has given me quite another.  So here is “Northeastern State of Mind.”  Pretty much everything you need to know about my awesome university.

If you truly want to understand everything in this video, then come to Northeastern! 

A Journalistic State of Mind

Today I turned in my journalism final.  An essay, about how much I like journalism and why.  As I’ve written about in a couple other posts, I really enjoyed that class.  It was a new field I didn’t have very much experience in, and for an elective requirement was a great class to pick.  So here is why I like journalism.  Here is why I continue to blog.

A New Future?

I have never in my 19 years of life ever thought of becoming a journalist.  Lawyer, sure; doctor, sure; even astronomer at one point.  And then there was – of course – the ballerina, actress, and Olympian.  But for the last six or seven years, I have had my mind set on becoming a geneticist.  I enjoy writing – don’t get me wrong.  I have a blog and love to write opinionated pieces about anything and everything, but journalism as a possible profession has just never even crossed my mind… until this class.  Journalism as a whole is so much more than just writing.  Even disregarding broadcast, radio, and internet media, and just focusing on the medium of print journalism, multiple aspects of the profession (besides writing) come into play.  This class has opened my mind to the complexity and diversity of journalism and has sparked an interest that I will likely carry with me for the rest of my life.

Journalism is not simply writing; it is not simply reporting; it is not, in fact, simple.  A journalist must keep in mind public opinion, politics, democracy, ethics, bias, and objectivity.  Other issues such as freedom of the press, globalization and a changing media also come into play as well as the business aspects of deciding what is news versus advertising versus public relations.  Add to these complex issues the changing consumer demands for new media, and today’s journalist has new challenges to make his or her work marketable in the competitive, capitalist American system.  So why do so many people pursue a career in this field?

This class answered that question for me.  Good journalism brings its purveyor a sense of fulfillment, a sense of pleasure, a sense of competition, and a sense of making a difference in society.  What better than to be the first to the scene, the first to catch a breaking news story, and most importantly, the one on whom the public relies to get the truth out there?  With this opportunity also comes great responsibility.  The journalist is the liaison between the world and the public.  What the journalist reports, people read with the mindset that it conveys truth.  It is monumental for journalists all across the world to maintain that truth and uphold the very foundation of journalism as a profession.  Freedom of the press is based on this concept.  The truth can be printed and it must be printed without fear of repercussions.  It is the journalist’s job to search, find, and report the truth.

I took this class to fulfill and arts and humanities requirement.  Never did I think that it would pose a change to my whole career outlook.  While my heart is still set on biology, a new state of mind has been created: a journalistic state of mind.  I have found the need to dig deeper to ensure the truth is found, the necessity to check twice for objectivity, and the consciousness to view the world with a critical eye.  Biology is an expanding field, continuously crossing new bounds.  As research develops, controversial issues are brought to the forefront such as stem cell research and genetic manipulation and those controversial issues must be explained.  While I may never work for a newspaper, magazine, or television broadcast company, I pledge to continue to write – to the best of my ability – the truth, and always look for the bigger picture, the multiple perspectives that shape it, and most importantly, to help others understand.

Die Math Die

I like math.  I also dislike math.  And if you want to know why then look at my other post about math. 

Right now however, I hate math. 

Why?

Because x + 2y + 3z = 4.

Because of the derivative of (x^1/2)^(x^1/2).  Which looks simple until you try to do it.

Because of the standard part of H[(H^2+1)^(1/2)+H].

Because of eigen values of 1, -2, AND -2.

Because x' = 2y + 7x and y' = 3x + 2y.

And 9 other similar reasons that all share one thing in common:  they were on my calc final.

And because I don’t want to face reality at the moment, I am leaving to go escape into Narnia.

Adios!

You've got mail!

Everybody loves getting things in the mail, especially college students.  And that means me!  So here are a few of my favorite surprises of the semester.

Benjamin wins coolest birthday card this year with a self made graphic of Harry Potter Happy Birthday!  And a message that made me laugh.  Of course I will hire you as my encouragement consultant!

Care package/birthday present from my two favorite people.  Complete with giant marshmallows!  Thanks Uncle Billy and Lisa!

Gusties!  Thank you so much for these Ava.  They are perfect for when our room gets freezing because the heat decides not to work…

Reads:  Butternut squash is a real letdown.
No butter.  No nuts.
Just squash. 

The most awesomest card ever.  Enough said.  Thanks mom, dad, and Noah!

Care package from Brittney that arrived right when I was feeling the most left out of parent weekend.  Thanks for making me smile!

LOVE. THIS. PIC.  Thanks Christ First for sending out your love! (and a bit of Alaska weather) Miss you all!

And finally… SNOW!!! Emily you are totally awesome!  Thanks for sending me “snow” so I could have some of AK in my dorm!

And there you have it.  One week left and the semester is DONE!!! Can’t wait to go home!

Science Club for Girls

As I’ve stated a few times throughout my blogs, I love volunteering.  Why you say?  I’m not 100% sure.  There is no monetary gain, it takes time and can be difficult, yet every time I always go and do it again.  There is an intrinsic value associated with volunteering, that “good feeling” you get when you know you did something that helped someone, that made a difference.

My junior year of high school I created a Division A Science Olympiad program in a local elementary school.  I went in once a week and set up a lab and then went through the activity with the 20 or so 3^rd through 5^th graders.  It wasn’t always easy.  Those kids are pro at finding every loophole in the rules imaginable, but it was something I loved.  I loved science, and I loved sharing that with others.  I loved inspiring the students, and seeing them learn and explore fields completely new to them.  I took what I loved doing, and gave it to someone else.  Is there anything better than that?

When I was accepted to Northeastern University I found out that I was a part of the Community Evolvement Program.  I would have to volunteer at least 100 hours per year for my five years spent here.  I didn’t think it would be difficult, I’ve volunteered plenty before and it’s something I enjoy.  I was partnered with the group “Science Club for Girls” for this year.  Perfect right?  Science Club for Girls runs after school programs for grades k through 6 weekly.  Each grade has a different curriculum adjusted to meet their age level requirements.  College aged girls in science related fields work with the girls as mentors.  7^th through 12^th graders can be “Junior Mentors,” and work alongside the real mentors.  The entire program is very well developed to benefit all age groups and allows girls of every age to be involved.  Like my program back home, Science Club for Girls works to get students excited about and interested in science.  They however go one step farther, and focus on girls to help them excel in a predominately male field.

So there I am, the beginning of my first semester of college, and I get my assignment: 1 to 5 on Fridays and 9 to 1 on Saturdays….   Really???  I want to volunteer don’t get me wrong, but 8 hours on my weekend??  Seriously.  

So the following Friday I jump on the T and ride down to where I think I am supposed to go.  I get off at Harvard and then backtrack down Massachusetts Avenue.  Or at least that’s the plan.  Somehow I get turned around and am not able to find Mass Ave and end up wandering around Harvard for a good 20 minutes.  Eventually I made it to the Amigos School, and hesitantly found my way in to the cafeteria.

Let me just stop here and explain a few things.  Well, not explain, describe.  I approached what I believed to be the school building, what according to my directions was the school building, but what looked to me like a prison.  And not the kind of “I’m trapped in school like a prison!” or the Houston High prison building with the towers.  I’m talking like cement walls, no windows, fences all around, and cars parked haphazardly anywhere they could possibly find a place.  I eventually found the front doors and walked inside looking for some indication that I was in the right place.  The “art” on the walls was the only clue I could find.  No signing in at the front office?  Where is the front office?  And more importantly… Where is the cafeteria?  I mosey on down the hallway and around the corner, following the trail of tree paintings that I would guess were made by first graders, and to my extreme luck walked straight into the cafeteria.  

From there I somehow managed to find Rosalind, or rather, she found me.  It must have been the look of shear confusion and udder bewilderment on my face that gave me away.  And she told me to just sit tight and wait till she had time to tell me what was going on.  So I waited, and I waited, and I waited.  As students came in, sat down, had snacks, and then left.  I don’t remember the rest of that first day, but I do remember leaving with a sense of disappointments.   Assistant Site Manager?  I wanted to be a mentor!   Instead I have to organize the supply room and make copies and run around finding people what they need…  NOT what I was expecting.

Week by week I came back.  Each time trying to find a better route there that didn’t take an hour to get there.  In my entire career as assistant site manager at the Amigos School, I only found my way there without getting lost once.  Pathetic I know.  Anywho, my experiences improved slowly but surely.  One week I even got to mentor the 2^nd grade girls! (That was my favorite week no doubt)  The final week (today) we had science fest.  Total chaos might be a better name.  Each grade picked an activity to do and all the rest of the groups rotated through.  Three hours and countless paper towels later I exited the school, thankful that I was finally done, but kind of sad that this was over.  Next semester this won’t fit into my schedule.

60 volunteer hours later, I have finished the semester, and while I may not be at Amigos next year, I’m sure I’ll still have a great time with Science Club for Girls at Northeastern.  I am the treasurer for the club here, and with the president and vice president leaving in a month, I’ll have my work cut out for me.   I hope to be a mentor in the future, and continue to share the wonder of science with the next generation.

Living in the city definitely has its perks.

Here are some highlights of the past week:

Boston Common Tree Lighting

Unlike tree lightings that I’ve been to before, this time my nose didn’t freeze off.  We joined the hundreds of others in Boston Common for the annual Christmas tree lighting.  Hot chocolate, Christmas carols, smiles all around…  The perfect way to kick off the Christmas spirit.

The Nutcracker

I had never actually seen this performance before.  I honestly felt a little out of place walking into the Boston Opera House Saturday to watch a performance of the Nutcracker by the Boston Ballet along with parents and lots and lots of little girls in dresses.  However the experience was just as special for me as it was for them I am sure.  I loved it!

No Limits Dance Crew

A Northeastern group that performed Saturday night.  I had my fill of the arts that day.  However I’m grateful that I could go!  The group of about 70 girls and 2 guys had some pretty spectacular numbers spanning just about every genre of dance. 

The Blue Man Group

Oh my goodness one of the best performances of my life!  Seriously the only place you will need a poncho to protect you from the banana slime and paint and come home with a souvenir of toilet paper.  If you ever get the chance to go then DO IT! Totally worth it!  An exceptional display of light, music, magic, stunts, and of course comedy, the Blue Man Group brings it all. 

And that is how I have spent my last week here.  In culmination with the final episodes of Chuck season 3, and the last few classes of the semester.  A week and a half! Then home for me!

For my mom

Hi mom!

Guess what today is?  YOUR BIRTHDAY!!! And while you may want to be humble and keep it on the dl, I'm here to pronounce it to the world :)

So this is for you.  For all the things you've done for me, and all the years you've stuck by my side.  I am so thankful for your guidance and love throughout my life.  I love you, and I miss you, and even though I can't be there with you today physically, I'm there in spirit*.

Hope you enjoy this!  The result of less than two weeks of self guitar lessons has resulted in the following video.  Hopefully I'll be a little better by the time I make it home.  TWO MORE WEEKS! I can hardly wait.

Love, Emily

 

*And in a you tube video

Comic Relief

In realizing that the last post might seem kind of dismal, hopeless, full of despair...  I will explain.  Though inspired by a discussion focusing on all the horrible things going on in the world, it is meant to be taken in a satirical light.  The troubles of our world are numerous, and taken by themselves can provide a dim view of the future.  However they are not alone, they are accompanied by a slew of positives that add great weight on the subject.  Another thing to mention is the magnitude of worry and stress fear creates.  There is no reason to go through life worried that the next day will not come.  We’re here.  Now.  Use the time you’re given!  Let God take care of the rest.  The weight of his world is too great to attempt to bear on your own.  And while we have an obligation to do what we can to help, ultimately it is a problem bigger than we can fix, a picture bigger than we can see.  The final point of my little satirical demise of the world is the emphasis people put on issues like the world ending in 2012.  So much attention is given to minor issues such as this, and society seems to be missing the view of the real problems here and now that our world is facing.

While my normally optimistic self turned towards the pessimistic side, the mood was lightened (in the joyous way that it normally is) by a truly stunning performance of Northeastern’s NU and Improv’d!  I wrote earlier in the year of my first encounter with this group, and though impressed then, I was blown away this time.  Their last performance of the semester was met with a bang.  The room more crowded than I had ever seen it, full of students just like myself thankful for the study break*.  From Iron Man murdering people underwater with pancakes to excuses for being late to work because your camel encountered a bucket of acid and defeated it with a crossbow (yes that works believe it or not), they delivered just what the crowd wanted, and in my case, needed.

So lesson learned.  Don’t ignore the problems of the world, but don’t get dragged down in the insurmountable crisis portrayed.  And above all, always remember to smile.

~Emily

*A catalyst of my pessimism of the evening, when you do an entire homework assignment and get every stinking one wrong… The culmination of the end of the world and failing math doesn’t do much to put you in a good mood.  In theory I’m doing fine in math, it’s when the actual application arises that I seem to panic.  Regardless I was in desperate need of a distraction.