So its exactly a month until I depart from down under. This honestly has been such a phenomenal experience and I wouldnt trade it for the world. I have gained so much sense of self. I have learned more about my identity, strengths, weaknesses, and talents. I want to highlight some of the great things that Ive experienced.
1. Living at St. Marks.
Living at St.Marks has made my experience here in Australia. I have met so many great friends that will last me a lifetime. I really admire the traditions that St.Marks has in place and how well it remains enact after all these years. Here is were I began to get ideas for my career in education and how I would love to run a school. Seeing that everyone values the tradition and takes it seriously shows there comment to Marks and their beliefs. Seeing that people can be so faithful in what they believe in made me question the things I believe in and what they mean to me. It brings me to my next post… .
2. Morals and Beliefs.
Confirming my faith has been an interesting challenge. I have been excited to encounter and meet people with different religions and no religion at all. It has given me insight into my beliefs in christianity and what that really means when people ask me whether I am religious or not. I have been struggling with my connection with God every since I began college. I don’t go to church that often, but I would LOVE to commence services when I return back. I feel so thankful for my life and in order to have a rejuvenating start, I would love to go to church. I do need to find a church that fits the things that I believe in. I have finally found those things. I am not saying that Christianity has absolutely everything that I believe in, but it does cover the main ideas. Hopefully with this new since of self and quest for a new beginning, I would love to find a good church home.
3. Weight
I have been dealing with weight issues pretty much all of my life. I was often compared to family members, friends and just people that were the same age as me. I always thought I was pretty confident with myself, because I needed to be. No one else was going to respect me and look down upon me if I didn’t believe it. Being here in australia, ive lost about 15-20lbs. Its insane the amount that just comes off when your diet changes, but the idea started to consume me. I started always thinking about my weight, what i looked like in pictures and in clothes and I started doing things that I never thought i would do, compare myself to other girls. I have used it as motivation to get my body right, but it seems that I am conforming to the western thought of beauty and not defining what it means to be beautiful for myself. It goes beyond just being healthy, but being happy with my body shape and style. Well, I definitely feel great with this new weight loss and I plan to feel even more liberated once I get to America and get clothes that fit my new luscious curves. :)
4. Adulthood
Adulthood is vastly approaching and I honestly am getting very scared. The thought of next year’s plans give me shivers because, as of now, I have a vague idea of what I want to do after college, but I need more. I know I want to go to graduate school, but as Im looking for graduate schools I need to be looking for Jobs as well. Ill be having a few student loans and things when I first get out, but Im hoping that I find a job that wont consume me. Im partly ready to get out of Australia because I feel like my mind has been idle, but maybe it hasnt. I think that Ive been learning about myself and the world around me and having a job or doing rigorous schoolwork would have deterred me from it.
5. Passion
I am also glad that I finally found the thing that I am most passionate about. The education system is a topic that is most dear to my heart. Although higher education is an elitist system, I have gained so much from the system. I also see a lot of flaws within the system and I hope that I pursue a career within it and that I am able to offer support to students within those institutions that would get lost otherwise. I hope that i can create a program that supports students that are first generation students. With the increase of immigrants and parents that didn’t go to college I would like to help those students find ways to be successful in the higher education and stay successful.
All-in-all. I feel like Ill be starting my life all over again. Ill be meeting new people, catching up with old friends, and beginning what I feel, is the REBIRTH OF DANIELLE JOHNSON. I cant wait for it to begin.
Kanye and Jay Z do an impecable job at finding the right directors and producers for their videos. This New video, “No church in the wild” by Roman Gavras is representative of all the global revolution that is taking place with our generation. I love that their music marks a bit of history while going past the superficial and exposing the critical. The Throne achieved another success.
(Source: beyonce)
(Source: beyonce)
(Source: rebelxcouture, via ilyyjayy)
(via hiphopcheerleader)
Aversive Racism and Police Violence. A cartoon by the sometimes controversial Kirk Anderson highlights the circular thinking that can lie behind race-based prejudice and violence. KIRK ANDERSON.
This keeps happening over, and over, and over.
(via hiphopcheerleader)
(via hiphopcheerleader)
Style Suiza Mayo 2012
Nadja Giramata por Andoni & Arantxa. Estilismo de Martina Russi.
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Style Switzerland May 2012
Nadja Giramata by Andoni & Arantxa. Styling by Martina Russi.
Style Suiza Mayo 2012
Nadja Giramata por Andoni & Arantxa. Estilismo de Martina Russi.
…..
Style Switzerland May 2012
Nadja Giramata by Andoni & Arantxa. Styling by Martina Russi.
Style Suiza Mayo 2012
Nadja Giramata por Andoni & Arantxa. Estilismo de Martina Russi.
…..
Style Switzerland May 2012
Nadja Giramata by Andoni & Arantxa. Styling by Martina Russi.
Style Suiza Mayo 2012
Nadja Giramata por Andoni & Arantxa. Estilismo de Martina Russi.
…..
Style Switzerland May 2012
Nadja Giramata by Andoni & Arantxa. Styling by Martina Russi.
Style Suiza Mayo 2012
Nadja Giramata por Andoni & Arantxa. Estilismo de Martina Russi.
…..
Style Switzerland May 2012
Nadja Giramata by Andoni & Arantxa. Styling by Martina Russi.
