Posts

Scorpion Bay, Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands

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This is a picture I took of Scorpion Bay, Santa Cruz Island. I've spent a lot of time here, camping, snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, kelp forest monitoring, scuba diving. I know that cove like the back of my hand. I've had a lot of firsts there. I've grown a lot there. Learned a lot. Santa Cruz and the Channel Islands are a reminder of the things I've done and am capable of doing, mistakes I've learned from, and the beauty and diversity that nature holds.

What is Happiness? Where is your Paradise?

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I'm moving to Hawaii for three years while I get my BS. Many react to my news with jealousy and excitement. You'd think I'd be just as excited, if not more, and I am..sometimes. Or at least I was. In the beginning I was ecstatic now I just feel worried, scared, nervous, unsure, sad, and panicked. I haven't been sleeping, I've been having panic attacks, nightmares, second thoughts... I'm obsessing over all of the unknown factors and negative possible outcomes. Time is flying by and I'm not ready. Once I'm there I know it will be easier, it's the anticipation is killing me. People tell me that I'll do fine and I have nothing to worry about; I know they're probably right. That doesn't seem to make my anxiety go away. They tell me I should be happy that I have the chance to study in paradise. But what if that isn't MY paradise? What if I don't like being stuck in the middle of the worlds biggest ocean drenched from hot humid weathe

Reflections 'n Stuff

            The whole blogging experience was totally new for me. I had no clue what I was doing, how I should write a blog, or where and when it is appropriate to post things.  It was interesting; I haven’t decided whether or not I will keep it going. My intentions are to continue, I feel like it might be a nice stress relief while I’m in Hawaii. I like that fact that I can be creative and share interests and information to others who might find it amusing. I appreciated being able to learn about my classmates and things that were important to them.  I feel like it brought the class a bit closer and was a nice outlet for everyone. Blogs can help you find your voice and writing style, which can be very beneficial for continuing in college writing. I have to give a shout out to my girls at our table; Monique, Patricia, Shaina, and Ashley! I’m still up for that karaoke night! Heyy!

The next best thing to diving with the Great Whites...

I woke up before the sun had come up, which normally I would not be happy about. Not today, today I was grinning ear to ear. I tie on my suit, gather my snorkel gear and my 4/3 (a thin wetsuit), and hop into the car. We get to the dock on the western most point on the island just in time to see one of the most beautiful sunrises I’ve ever seen. Definitely was on my “top ten sunrises of my lifetime” list. I took a couple pictures, but it really didn’t do it justice.  We take a look at the “cage” I’ll be diving in.  It had two thin round aluminum hoops on the top and bottom with thin fraying nylon netting around the sides and bottom of the cage.  The nylon netting was full of gaping holes.  My Mom started freaking out, to be honest it was much less than I was expecting too, and the captain assured her that they’ve never had an issue before.  I stepped aboard, hugged my Mom and Dad goodbye, and we headed out for a shallow reef about three hours off shore. The weather was per

Perpetuating Good, That Lats, in the Community That I am Apart Of (Thanks, HPU)

This is my personal statement that I wrote to HPU. I'm actually proud of this piece. I really put my heart into it. I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, responsible for what I say and do, respect myself and others, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every girl scout. Since the first time I recited the Girl Scout Law I’ve made it my goal to live by these morals. As a young girl the words really stuck with me. I thought, “Why can’t we all live by this?” I felt as though I had a valuable secret and I wanted to share it. Right around the age I started Girl Scouts I took my first trip to Sea World San Diego. This was another life changing experience for me. I vividly remember walking through the shark tunnel fascinated by these alien creatures dancing in the waters above me. I looked up at my Dad, pointing at a scuba diver cleaning algae off the walls, and said, “ I’m going

Three Important People...just three? That's not fair.

I consider myself lucky to find this assignment so challenging. I have many amazing people in my life; past and present. Relevance varies depending on which aspect of my life I am examining, career goals, personal values, school success, or extra curricular projects.             I can think of one person who has been there for all of it, I’m sure some of you have guessed already, my Mommy. She is one of the most beautiful people I know. She’s five feet and two inches full to the brim of passion, compassion, spunk, adventure, courage, experience, and knowledge. My Mom is 41 as of March of this year but acts closer to a 30 year old in the best ways possible. She has shoulder length brown hair but you may find it at her lower back if she is growing it out to donate it to cancer patients. She tells me if I look closely at her grey hairs I can see descriptions on them; the day I got my license, the day I started high school, the day I told her I was leaving to Hawaii for college, the day

Don't Hate, Appreciate

Growing up as an only child I always felt like one of the adults. I spent most of my time with older people; I really didn’t have any friends and kids my age picked on me. I wanted so badly to “grow up”, be an adult, and not have to deal with all the unfair hardships of childhood. By the age of thirteen I was a high school student with a part time job. I wanted to help my family out so I started paying for some of my own toiletries and clothes. I would go out with my friends and use my own money. It was nice. I felt a sense of independence. I liked not having to bother my parents for funds on trivial things. I still had trouble with authority. I did not appreciate being treated like a child, especially by adults that I felt had no moral standing to do so. I still longed for adulthood where I could stay out past curfew, make my own decisions, take care of myself, and not have anyone to answer to. I realized before I graduated high school that I would never stop having to answer to