Pilgrimges of Life

Over the past eight weeks I have learned so much in VHS. I appreciate the discussions we have had on potential vocations (both religious and non-religious) and the qualities of a healthy relationship. I think what helped me to truly connect with the information we learned in class was the personal stories shared regarding each individual topic. It is easier to relate to and idea or theory when an example is provided. I also enjoyed the movies and documentaries we watched occasionally. They too helped me to relate with the class curriculum.

I love that we ended our class with The Way because it truly embodies the different journeys we will all face in our senior year and college years. I also think it was important that we learned more about the "hookup culture," more importantly reality v. fiction. It is easy to get swept up in what television shows and magazines portray college life to be. However, thanks to VHS I will be able to step on campus well informed and confident. I am thankful for the information this class provided for me.

Some say love...

Healthy relationships in my opinion should be characterized by respect, communication, and trust. The power and control in any relationship should always be equally shared. Communication is also one of the most crucial aspects of a healthy relationship. It is important to talk about your feelings, wants and needs, and listen to your partner. In my personal opinion, the best relationships have a foundation of friendship and appreciate the little things in their partner. I agreed with the article on how society views the quest for a soul mate. I especially think that it is important to remain true to yourself and not change for a potential spouse. Being honest with yourself with lead you towards the right match. The following song lyrics represent qualities that I think are crucial in any relationship.

Appreciation 
"I never told her that I liked

They way she dances slightly out of time
And pretends she knows the words
To a song she's never heard
But I tell her all the time, hey
I was told to put my job in front of you
But it won't hold me like you do"

-Ed Sheeran's Gold Rush

Vulnerability 

"But if you find a hand to hold when the night comes
To be there when you’re old and your frightened
If you find some one who loves you with the lights on
You’ve found the one you love."

Passenger's The One You Love

Passion

"I want her everywhere and if she's beside me
I know I need never care
But to love her is to need her everywhere
Knowing that love is to share"
The Beatles' Here, There and Everywhere

Friendship

"A friend is what you'll always have in me 
I'm so grateful for the man you turned out to be"

-Jennifer Lopez's Again.

Respect 

"All I'm askin' (Ooh)
Is for a little respect when you come home (Just a little bit)
Baby (Just a little bit) when you get home (just a little bit)
Yeah (Just a little bit)"

Aretha Franklin's Respect

The Changing Face of Marriage

My experience through living in the "domestic church" has been strong thanks to the guidance of my parents. They taught me from a young age to respect others which is key in a successful marriage. Unfortunately, in today's society the sacrament of marriage has been shattered by a high divorce rate. Another concept that strays from traditional "ideals" is same-sex marriages. However, television sitcoms like The New Normal or Modern Family  strive to portray same-sex marriages and divorces as acceptable and normal. For me, a "domestic church" stems from a strong bond between two people who love and care for each other. In the end, growing acceptance of heterosexual and homosexual couples is clearly a plus and changing the definition of "domestic church" while couples that automatically turn towards divorce is negative. Thanks to the healthy relationship my parents have portrayed  I understand how a strong relationship should function. I intend on teaching my own family traditional church views along with the positive new views taking place today.

Vatican II on Marriage

I agreed with the council in that marriage is a vocation. In today's society, people see marriage as an event when in reality it is a symbol of dedication for another person. I appreciated the council's view that "the love of a husband and wife ought to grow and ripen." It is easy to see marriage as a burden and become bored with the concept. In my opinion, to encourage longer marriages couples must embrace growth individually as well as together. Lastly, marriage affects more than just those receiving the sacrament. As the Bishops explained, “the call to love reaches beyond the home to the extended family, the neighborhood and the larger community.” It is pivotal that as a couple you reach out to your community and church, working as one towards a common goal. Through helping your community the bond in your relationship can only grow.

Dating: What's the Point?

I think that dating is a healthy way of discovering what qualities you may desire in a future partner. Dating to me is not practice for divorce. If you never put yourself out there and try to meet new people how are you going to be able to make a decision on whom to marry. The "hookup" culture and dating are two completely different ideas. While "hooking up" has no immediate definition, in today's new society, hooking up is often times the equivalent of sex. I think that it is important for the media and celebrities to tone down this pressure teenagers are feeling to "fit in." In the long run, more monogamous and healthy relationships may potentially result in successful marriages.

Relationships

In this article marriage stereotypes are discussed. Marriage is constantly evolving and changing with the modern world. For example, rather than marry for the religious sacrament society stresses the importance of opulence and gifts. I do think that before a couple decides to take the next step and marry they need to be certain they are both comfortable in whee they are as individuals. Females fantasize about their future husband, lavish wedding, and dramatic proposal often times forgetting to focus on what type of person they want to spend the rest of their life with. In my opinion, marriage is about true love and passion for the other not a party and rings. However, while some norms change, tradition is important. I personally think that the man should propose because men are often stereotyped as "stoic" when it comes to relationships. Asking someone to marry you is an extraordinary act and reveals inner feelings. I model my views on healthy relationships based off of my parents experience. My dad proposed once he knew he and my mother were both comfortable in their chosen career paths and shared similar goals. Although he could not provide a ring at the time, my mom said yes because she was in love with who he was not what he had. Today, they work together to accomplish their goals while also encouraging me and my sister to pursue our dreams. They defy stereotypes in the sense that they both work and share household responsibilities.

Wonderful Gift and Awesome Responsibility

In this religious article by Richard Sparks the church's stance on sexuality was discussed. I was familiar with its view, however the article did explain relationships and sexuality to a greater extent than I had previously known. The Bishop emphasized the church's support for unified relationships and that with marriage comes sexual intercourse. I agreed with the Bishop regarding the sanctity of a relationship, yet in 2012 some things should change. People, specifically young adults are becoming more and more accepting of the homosexual community. Therefore, I think the church should at the very least reevaluate some of their beliefs on who deserves to receive the sacrament of marriage. In the end, this was an extremely informative article. 

Mission Statement

My mission is to strive in all that I choose to do. To build a reputation of being dedicated while honorable in each personal and academic goal. I believe in treating others with the respect I would hope to receive. I believe in living each day to the fullest. I hope to grow stronger with each accomplishment, and even stronger with each setback. To forgive but not forget, so as to learn from each experience. I will remain guided by my values and beliefs.

Who am I?

Through working at a special needs summer camp, traveling to eastern europe, and spending time with family I have discovered who I truly am. The summer going into ninth grade I decided I wanted to get more involved in my community. My cousin, Liam, was planning on attending a camp called Expressions. Expressions is a camp that helps teenagers with disabilities such as autism and extreme asbergers become more confident in who they are as individuals. I started volunteering when I was thirteen and continued with it because I love it. I love helping these campers realize their potential through everyday activities that may seem easy to some but are a challenge to them. I hope to either pursue a career that advocates for others in my future or in my spare time.

This past April I was able to participate in the Spring 2012 trip to Easter Europe. On this trip we traveled to Munich, Budapest, Prague, Vienna, and Nordenberg. It was the trip of a lifetime because we visited unique places most don't typically think of going to. During this adventure I realized my passion for travel and experience of different cultures. My favorite time spent on this trip was when I would have one on one conversations with the natives. They were surprisingly friendly and eager to fill me in on what life was like on a normal day. I appreciated the feeling of independence that comes with exploring a foreign country with friends. In college I would love to travel back to Munich and study abroad for a semester so that I could soak in even more culture.

Lastly, my family has helped to mold me into who I am today. They encourage me to think for myself and develop my own opinions on happenings going on in the world. My parents were the first people to introduce me to some of the classics in the music industry such as the Beatles and Mozart while also taking my sister and I to a plethora of different museums in Philadelphia and New York. I am thankful for all the opportunities they have provided for me. Through work, travel, and family I have become  the person I am today. Through experiences I have yet to encounter I expect to change and discover even more of what makes me, me.

The Rathaus-Glockenspiel of Munich is a tourist attraction in Marienplatz