I Don't Want Perfection.

As the school year closes, I'm learning things I will do, say, act, buy, or think differently next year. I'm making a mental list of activities I must take part in, school clubs I want to be involved in, and ways to make a name for myself in my senior year. One thing in particular I've learned, is my unending disgust for perfection. I am my own worst critic.

Looks. Everyone is judged in high school for how they look. And I'll be the first to admit that I stereotype students by how they dress. Typically, it tells a lot about the person. But dear fellow high school preps, snobs, and even people who judge me- I am human. I am a teenage girl. My nail polish will hardly ever be perfect AND match my outfit at the same time. I have more bad hair days than I can count. I don't always wear make-up. I oversleep. I don't always look like I stepped off the cover of Seventeen or even American Cheerleader. I often wear things that are already old news in the fashion world. Or last year's tee shirts.
On the flip side, I like to keep my wardrobe fresh by mixing outfit combos. I love to accessorize. I highly recommend resale shops. I love to bargain shop. I like to create my own flair and style. And be me. I love to look pretty, but it means nothing if I don't feel pretty. And that does not mean I have to be perfect.

School work. Sometimes we have days that we are sinply not in the mood. Some days we have other things in our lives occurring that make it hard to focus on a history assignment about the French Revolution. Or maybe we physically feel awful, but absences aren't an option. These things happen. And I am no longer going to beat myself up over them. I am promising myself that I will try harder than ever during my senior year, to excel with my future in mind. But that doesn't mean perfection.

General personal flaws. Rumors, bad names, fallouts, and just plain jerks. They are everywhere. In high school- trusting no one is the best policy. (But you learn nothing that way.) Several points I need to make here-
A. I believe in a conflict, that you should try to "be the bigger person." Although, I don't think it always solves the problem. Hear me out though, I think there are certain ways according to each circumstance to handle ths issue. Maybe the person in question needs a non confrontational request for an apology. Maybe parents or police should be involved. (Please not that I am not promoting violence. Simply saying that "letting it roll off your back" does not always work.)
B. I am a Christian. I do believe the commandments of Jesus Christ. But being a Christian means that you are forgiven when you do wrong. Not that you are perfect. The only perfect being to ever walk planet earth is Jesus himself. I have my own personal opinions about piercings, tattoos, etc. I believe everything has a boundary. And not everyone's boundary is the same. This however does not give you the right to be rude or hateful to someone because of that choice. Live your live, not theirs!
You Only Live Once. Yes, this rap song by Drake and Lil Wayne has gone viral, and isn't the cleanest. Although, the message is so true. We have one life to live, and it could be taken away at any moment. Why waste so much time, money, and disapointment trying to make it perfect? It won't ever be. Obstacles are thrown our way each and every day to teach us and help us grow. So what if someone does something different than you? So what if your wedding isn't traditional? So what?

I only want happiness. I don't want perfection. One day I want to be able to tell my grandkids that I worked hard at what I did, but I had a great time while taking each moment and making it last. I want to inspire them to do crazy things, and learn from them. I want them to know that I will always love them, no matter what dumb things they do, and that I won't judge them. I want the best for my family, now and in the future. But not perfection.

New Perspective

Over the past year I have developed some opinions about things due to experience. One of them being school. I love to gripe about school. The list of things I hate about it is endless. The list of things I'd rather be doing is rather lengthy. I so often feel sorry for teachers and the students they have to put up with, and the work they put in for little recognition.  I have strong opinions about the things BA schools is doing right and wrong. BUT, I've come to realize something...if you don't like something- change it. Do something about it.

(Pictured above is Mr. Chitty, the 2012 BAPS District Teacher of the Year)

If you would have asked me in January what my college plans I would have told you that the sound of college makes me want to barf. If I don't have to go, I'm not. I am going to work and save and ponder on my future. But seriously, what good will that do me?

When I was younger, I wanted to be a teacher. I love office supplies, decorating, teaching, presenting, getting dressed up for work, etc. Teaching is something I just keep coming back to. I realize that with teaching there are a lot of things that could stress you out. Defiant students, students who simply don't care, hateful parents, grading homework, etc. But (differing with age group) I've seen on so many occassions, the best teachers are the happiest. If you truly enjoy what you do, you are happy. If you are happy, your job is done to a higher standard. With some age groups, (and with boundaries in play) friendships are made. Memories are made. Teachers impact kids more than they ever know.

Throughout the school district I attend, there are things that I support, and things that simply disgust me. However, sitting back and complaining or planning on discriminating, I can join the team and work to make it  better. This entire mindset is going to take a tremendous amount of hard work, and heart. I've decided to make this my goal to make my family proud, support a future family, and make a difference.

So the moral of the story, little tykes, is- if you don't like something, CHANGE IT.