Pilgrimages of Life

Over the past eight weeks, I have heard so many different stories and ideas. With all of the new information that I have absorbed, I am coming to shape my own views and morals. The stories and experiences we heard throughout the course were not only helpful, but extremely informative. I came to know the Church's stance on sticky issues, such as homosexuality, abortion, and abstinence. Learning all of these things is essential to me because I am at an age where I will begin to make my own choices and mold my beliefs.

I have also learned a great deal about the complexity of intimacy and relationships. Now, I know just what a real, healthy relationship requires. I understand that we need open communication, faith, and respect to love one another. Through our discussion of intimacy, I came to know that there are levels of appropriateness that we must follow. For instance, we cannot trust a stranger completely and therefore, sharing ourselves with someone we do not know can be harmful. It is up to us to draw our lines of what we think is good and bad and find someone who will respect those lines.

Some say love...

Everyone looks for something different in relationships, but many people have the same core values. For me, I look for a person that I can be completely comfortable and open around. I won't have a problem expressing my own opinions. I would respect my boyfriend/husband/etc and support his endeavors and try to be a source of happiness in his life. Of course, I would expect the same or similar treatment from him. I think I would know true love when a person is fully giving of his or herself. That person is willing to make sacrifices for the sake of happiness for the other person and always considers the other person when making decisions. Finally, I want my husband or boyfriend to be my best friend.
I also want a relationship to make me happy, not stressed or upset or angry. A song like "This Love" by Maroon 5 demonstrates an unhealthy relationship. The song illustrates a relationship that is both physically and mentally exhausting. The couple in the song has obviously experienced many break-ups and fights. This sounds honestly like a nightmare. I want a steady relationship that is not like a roller coaster.
I know that there will be hard times in life and I know I will need someone to lean on at times. I can only hope that my boyfriend or husband will be with me to brighten my days. The song "Better Together" by Jack Johnson sort of describes an ideal relationship to me. Johnson explains that he cannot explain his love fully in words, but he knows that life is just plain better when he is with his partner. That is the kind of love that I think is normal and that everyone desires.
In addition, the song "Closer to Love" by Mat Kearney really relates to my desire of supportiveness in love. Kearney sings about how his partner is going through a particularly tough time in her life. He lets her know that he will always be there for her and will be with her every step of the way. The rough times also bring Kearney and his partner closer to each other.
Next is one of my favorite songs ever, which is "Yellow" by Coldplay. Lead singer Chris Martin truly lets his listeners know how he feels about his partner. Not only is he in awe of her, he is willing to make certain sacrifices in order to see her happy. What Martin wants most is to see his partner happy. I think that is a truly admirable quality in a person.
Lastly, I chose a song that exemplifies a friendship within love. "Lucky" by Jason Maraz and Colbie Caillat is a simple song. They literally tell each other that they are lucky to be in love with their best friends. They have a love that is steady and true. They can depend on each other to be there when they get home.
I do agree with the article about the quest for a soul mate. Marriage isn't just some magical ceremony in which we find our other half. We have to find our best friends, someone we can depend on completely. We must be able to trust each other and be totally honest with one another. Relationships take a lot of work and are not always perfect. In fact, they rarely are. We have to be patient and work at these things.

The Changing Face of Marriage

I have experienced the "domestic church" in a relatively normal way. I have grown up with my older sister and younger brother. The three of us have been raised in the Catholic church by my loving parents. My parents have been role models of good, honest people and I truly admire them for that. We live a fairly traditional lifestyle and we try to appreciate all that we have.
The changing face of marriage could affect our nation in both positive and negative ways. In the positive aspect, same sex marriages or interracial couples may become the norm. This opens up doors for many families and protects them from unnecessary prejudice. However, the changing face of marriage also means accepting the high rate of divorce in the country. Families are supposed to be held together by two loving, committed parents. Having such a high rate creates unstable home lives for children and emotional issues.

I definitely agree with the statement that having college degrees makes for a more successful relationship. When both members of a relationship are educated, they can make better choices and more practical decisions for each other. They can clearly see what their future may hold. This statement only makes me want to attend college more! I want to make good decisions for my family in the future so that I can provide a stable, loving home for my family.

Dating: What's the point?

Dating in modern day society is definitely not "practice for divorce". I think that this claim is inaccurate. How could someone expect a teenager to date one person and stay with that person for the rest of his or her life? Dating when you are a teenager is all about finding out what you really want in a person. You might discover the qualities that make a good partner and even learn about yourself. I am not encouraging dating an insane amount of people, but having a few different relationships may be beneficial.
The "hook-up" culture in colleges has become extremely common over the past few years. Young adults are just looking to find a quick sexual encounter. Most times, people who "hook-up" are not searching for long-lasting relationships.  However, the "hook-up culture"is not a safe or healthy way to from long-lasting relationships. You are exposing yourself and giving yourself to complete strangers. People should learn to respect their bodies more and not constantly give themselves away.

Gender and Dating Relationships

I agree and disagree with some points in the article.  I do believe that modern society is changing substantially when it comes to dating and gender. Women are called to take control of the future of relationships. Men are looking at women to take the initiative. I think that this is a good step forward in the world of dating and relationships. However, I feel that some men may feel emasculated if women ask their partners to marry them. Call me old-fashioned but I want the man in the relationship to propose to ME, not vice versa. I don't think I would feel comfortable asking someone to marry me. A man getting down on one knee and producing a ring is a true expression of love to me. I think that is truly every girl's fairy tale.
I agree with Andy's discussion of open communication and trust in a relationship. I mean, who would actually get engaged without speaking seriously about it first? Getting married is a huge deal. You are committing yourself and your love to one person for the rest of your lives (hopefully). Marriage is not to be taken lively. You must be in a relationship where no secrets are hidden from your partner. You have to sit down and seriously think about your future together.

The article by Richard Sparks shed light on some new ideas and discussed some things that I was already aware of. For instance, I already knew that the act of sexual intercourse and sexuality itself are considered gifts, which both require a great deal of responsibility.  Additionally, I was aware that the Church looks down upon pre-martial and outside-of-marriage sex.  However, I was not aware that the Church advises against using birth control. I feel as though this is something that should be changed. Not everyone who is married wants to have children and should have the option to not procreate. I also believe that their policies on reproductive processes, such as in vitro fertilization and surrogate motherhood, should definitely be altered. It does not seem fair to married couples that would like to have children, but physically cannot. Counseling and therapy is not a good enough alternative for couples that wish to bear and raise a child or children. Finally, I was not aware of the church's policies regarding homosexuals. The article states that a person may have a homosexual orientation, but cannot act upon this orientation sexually. Acting sexually with a person of the same sex in considered morally wrong.

My Mission Statement
I will always try to be the best person I can possibly be. This means being constantly determined, open-minded, and willing to push myself. I will explore my limits and I will not allow challenges to set me back.  My potential is limitless. I will also learn to appreciate how fortunate I truly am and never take any opportunity for granted.  I promise to learn from my mistakes. I will always try to be honest with myself and others. I will be willing to listen for God's calling for me and I will embrace each new day with a positive attitude.

Who Am I?

Over the years, I have met many people and been exposed to new experiences. These factors have helped me develop as a strong individual. One of the most important factors in shaping who I am is my family. Since I was little, my mother and father have created an environment in my home that has allowed me to express myself. They have encouraged my creativity to flourish and always put up with my often crazy antics. I owe my confidence to them, as they have always believed in me and supported my endeavors.

The next factor that has defined me as an individual is crew.  Before coming to Mount, I never thought I would ever row. My sister warned me not to join the team (she referred to them as cult). However, the crew team is nothing like a cult. It is an atmosphere in which I am constantly discovering how strong I am. My coaches always push me to my limits, mentally and physically. Since the time I made the team in freshmen year, I have noticed how mentally strong I have become. I feel as though I have the power to do anything that is thrown in my way. I am more open to accepting challenges now.

The final factor that has shaped me was my trip to Peru last winter. Not only was I immersed in a completely new culture, I was also exposed to extreme poverty. Many Peruvian people live with very little material belongings. It was such an eye-opening experience for me. I became so grateful of what I had and realized how fortunate I am. The experience definitely humbled me.