How to Survive College

As my first semester winds down, I'm going back and looking through bible verses that I have leaned on while being way from of my friends and family. I hope these give you inspiration in your everyday life as they have in mine. 

Matthew 19:6
But Jesus looked at them and said "with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

1Peter 5:6-7
Humble yourselves under God's mighty hand that he may lift you up in due time Cast your anxiety on him because he cares for you 

Isaiah 9:6
And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. 

Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Romans 5:3
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 

Proverbs 24:14
Know that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. 

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 

Romans 12:19
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 

Psalm 139:14
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 

Philippians 2:3
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself. 

Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to those who are called according to His purpose. 

1Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give things; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Ephesians 2:8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. 

Micah 7:7
But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. 

Proverbs. 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. 

While being away from my inner circle of loved ones, I have found myself constantly relying on the strength of my savior. I can honestly say I have grown closer to the Lord this semester. I cannot wait to continue my journey and work to spread the love of Jesus in all aspects of my life. 

Thoughts from the first month at college

As I'm approaching the last few days of my first month as a college girl, I have definitely had many "WHOAH" and "ARE YOU KIDDING ME" moments. Here are just a few.

omg. How does everyone know I'm a freshman? Is it written on my face or something?

Wait... where is the target? 
but honestly what college town does not have a target.

I'm gonna have all of my work done at least a week in advance so I will stay on top of everything.
At least that lasted for syllabus week :)

WHAT?? That was due today??
oh not today? okay I'll email it just in case.

I have to read a whole book in how many days??
That's right a whole book in two days. Thanks honors college. Thanks

Do the professors not realize I have other classes?

How on earth are people involved with anything on campus??
I'm lucky if I can socialize with my roommate between study breaks.

okay jokes over. Where are the free t-shirts I heard so much about?

Idk how I'll gain weight walking 10 miles everyday.

I think I'm gonna go to yoga at 6am.
lol jokes on myself for ever thinking that would happen.

I HAVE HEADACHES

Why is it hotter in this class than outside?
come on Hume, this is the south lets get some air flowing.

where did these mutant squirrels come from?

Flim Flam? Bim Bam? what does that even mean?
Who knows what it means, but ill yell it anyways!

I know I know that person. should I say hey? What if they don't remember me?

Who said college was fun?

WHY ARE THERE SO MANY HILLS?????
me? ride a bike? up this? HA

I can't so this

I just need Target. And Bob's Victory Grill. And Taco Casa ice. And Ulta. And free meals with my family.

why do I have to pay to wash my clothes? do you want me to stink?

huh I'm actually making friends

Old Venice has my heart
and my allowance

Nelsons is the oldest and the best 

YOU LOVE TAYLOR SWIFT TOO???

Okay wow South Depot might be better than Chipotle 

Where has Ajax been all my life?
Yasss red beans and rice just yasss

wow its a beautiful day

omg this sushi is bomb
even when I'm skeptical about how long it's been on the shelf

I GO TO THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL
wow look at the lyceum #instaworthy

I LOVE MY SCHOOL

So happy to say my First month in college has had many ups and downs, but over all there is no place I'd rather be.

I AM AN OLE MISS REBEL

Letter to my Sister before I move out

 letter to my sister as I prepare to move away from my best friend.

The past 15 years I have watched you grow up from my real-life baby doll to my beautiful, clever, smart, funny, remarkable younger sister. You have maturity far beyond your years. Your (at times hard to find past all the sarcasm) inner-beauty truly reflects the beautiful person you are on the outside. You have so much poise and strength all wrapped up into such a young lady.

Gone are the days of fighting over what shoes to wear. Thank goodness we decided who gets what shoes without one of us dying. yay! Gone are the days where you force me to sit with you while you "study" (although I'm sure it'll still happen over FaceTime). Gone are the days where you climb in my bed when you're scared after watching a horror movie, and gone are the days when I climb in bed with you when I've had an awful night or bad dream. Looking back at all the times we have truly driven one another up the wall and to all the times I swore you hated me, I would not trade any of it because now I see how strong our relationship is because of it. You're probably the only person who I can be SO, EXTREMELY mad at but then we just look at each other and laugh and go back to normal. I also take pride in being one of only a few people that you don't stay mad at for huge amounts of time (after all who would you talk to about the other people you're mad at?).

Even though you're smaller and younger than me, I truly look up to you-- especially in your spiritual life. Your love for Jesus encourages me to go to church even on the days where I'm beat from the week and just want to sleep. You remind me daily to say my prayers before meals without saying a word, just by bowing your head and saying yours. The grace of the Lord is present in everything you do.

I know sometimes you get compared to me and you hate it, but just know whenever I get compared to you it is one of my biggest compliments. You have the knowledge to do well on tests and the knowledge to do well in life. You are smart enough to see the bigger picture of things (where most of the time I get caught up in all of the small things).

You are not scared to be original and you no longer worry about what other people think. You just always do you.

You are my butthead, my spoiled brat, my procrastinator, and my "hate you" stare giver. You are my rock. You are my hero. You are my best friend. Not many people see the warmth, compassion, sensitivity, and love you are filled with because of the hard exterior you sometimes put up, but you are truly one of the most loyal, giving, fearless people I've met. You encourage me daily to be a better me and I honestly do not know where I would be without you.

You are pure Kara, and you are good. Your grace and kindness has the power to radiate and fill people up.

I am so glad God chose me to be your big sister.



                                                                 I love you always,

                                                                                  Kaci

Final Senior Trip post...For Now

Milan
After our day at the expo, we spent the next day touring around more of Milan. We went to Sforza Castle that was built in the 15th century. It was beautiful! While there we relaxed in the park beside it and enjoyed the sun and of course some gelato! We had lunch at a mozzarella bar before heading to catch our flight to Stuttgart.

Germany
From Milan we flew into Stuttgart, Germany where Simons father picked us up and took us back to their house. Simon's father is the mayor of a beautiful town, and Tuscaloosa's sister city Schorndorf! We spent five nights in Germany before flying back to Italy. We were able to stay with Simon's family for the entirety of our time in Germany, and I could not be more grateful. Both Simon's mom, Anni and his dad, Matthew were very sweet and wonderful! I truly felt at home while staying with them. Our experience in Germany was wonderful and full of adventure! I was pleasantly suppressed with pretzel with Nutella every morning for breakfast (and it's great)!

Schorndrorf
The next day we toured around Schorndrorf and saw all of the beautiful sights this city has to offer. That night we had supper at a bar that overlooks the city. On our last day in Schorndrorf we were able to go to the top of the main church and view the whole city (courtesy of the mayor's connections). We were also able to visit the castle, which sit just across the street from Simon's house.

Stuttgart
Our day in Stuttgart primarily consisted of shopping. We went to many stores and I even purchased some Birkenstocks for half of the price of here in the US!! Stuttgart has an amazing little indoor market that is sectioned off by different food groups throughout Europe! It was very cool. The architecture of stuttgart was also amazing. The castle, government buildings, and the opera house were all in very close proximity to one another. Across from the opera there was a small park and pond (if you can call a body of water 2 feet deep a pond) that really made the city feel homey and comfortable.

Munich
We spent our first tuesday in Europe in Munich and it was great! In Munich we did some shopping and visited many churches. The town square was crawling with history. For lunch we took the subway to the academic part of Munich to walk to a huge park with streams and lots of students sitting around studying and sunbathing. There we also many MANY bikers. In the park we went to a beer garden for lunch. the whole set up was like a buffet of traditional german food and of course monster beers. The food was great! I had a pretzel that was larger than my head!!! The best part of it all was the atmosphere. We got to eat and relax outside. The park made for a very peaceful lunch. After lunch we went to the top of a hill which set a little temple where we got a great view of the whole park. When we returned to the city center we went to the market. Although Stuttgart's market was very fascinating and different, this market was HUGE. There was any and every type of food you could have Imagined. Munich was a very tiring day, but well worth it. Seeing buildings that were bombed in WWII but rebuilt as close to the original as possible truly creates a feeling of nostalgia and realization of history. When reading a history book you don't understand the effects of bombings that take place in war, but seeing pictures of the building you're standing in after it has been destroyed really connects the dots.

Heidelberg
Heidelberg was equally as historic and beautiful. In Heidelberg we visited the castle that overlooks the whole city. There was even a couple getting married there, how cute! The city center was very large and we were also able to do some shopping in Heidelberg. It is here that I was able to try my first schnitzel! We also stopped in a Hard Rock Cafe to get some souvenirs and to our surprise there was NO STORE in the cafe!!! I could not believe it!! Heidelberg was a truly amazing experience and there are MANY english speakers, so again this is a favorite of mine and if given the chance I recommend you visit. I know I will again soon.

Beach
After returning from Italy we spent the next day in Udine to celebrate Silvia's Mom's birthday before heading to the beach. For her birthday celebration we spent the day by the pool with a fantastic view of the alps. On Sunday we left for the beach. This beach was truly like none I have been to before. It was so strange to see brown sand on the beach, but also beautiful. One truly scary thing we saw on the beach happened on monday. While Silvia and I were laying out on the beach I noticed a man laying on the ground. Before we knew it we saw a another man preforming CPR on him and this man (in a speedo) truly saved his life. Eventually lifeguards and paramedics arrived and he was carried off of the beach. I can honestly say that in this moment I truly admired the life savors strength and speed to take charge and save a life. He was also humble. He never looked for praise. When the medics arrived he left and continued to play with his children. I do not know who this man is but I can say he is an everyday hero. At the beach we finally got some much needed relaxation to let our feet rest from the previous days of strenuous walking. We went back to Udine on Tuesday night and had hour Final meal with Silvia's family.

Venice
On Wednesday we left to head to Venice. Venice is a truly amazing city and I wish we could've had more time to explore and get lost in it. We went to saint mark's square. Again this was a moment of awe to take in the amazing mosaics that were all over Saint Mark's Basilica. To get to the square we took a water ferry where we got to see most of the island from the Grand Canal. Venice is amazing. It looks like the buildings Are coming out of the water. While in Venice I was able to try black pasta! It is pasta with fish and the noodles are soaked in squid ink. It sounds weird and nasty but I was very happy with my out of the box choice! We spent the night in a bed and breakfast in Venice. It was very cute and comfortable. The next day Silvia's dad picked us up and took us to the airport to head back to the states.

Silvia's family was amazing. Both her father, her mom, and her mom's boyfriend welcomed us with open arms (and full bellies). I had such a wonderful time with my great friend that I got to reconnect with over a two week trip. They say home is where the heart is. I left a little of my heart with them so I guess I have a home in Italy now too.








I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to go to Italy and Germany. I owe a huge thank you to Silvia, Simon, and both of their families. I also want to thank the Curry's so I could experience this with my best friend. Last but not least a big thanks to my parents who trusted me enough to allow me to go, who gave me money at holidays so I could save to go, and for instilling an adventurous mentality in me from the time I was little. I love you all.

EXPO 2015

Before planning the trip to Italy, I had never heard of the world expo. So, for those of you who feel the same way here are some quick facts before I ramble about my opinion on everything.

QUICK FACTS

• The world Expo has 145 pavillions set up on the grounds. 143 are dedicated to individual countries and the remaining three are the UN, CERN, and the European Commission.
• The expo is on display for 6 months and there is an expected 23 million visitors. 
• Universal Expos take place every five years.
• The Eiffel Tower was built for Expo. 
• Each Expo has a theme to identify world problems.

EXPO 2015

This years Expo was hosted in Milan, Italy. The theme for this year is Feeding the Planet, Energy for life.  Pavilion Zero is solely focused on the earth, energy, and food. This pavilion identifies the levels of food production around the world. Here many problems with world hunger and waste are also identified. Having taken AP Environmental Science really helped me appreciate this pavilion more than the average. Aside from the amazing set up and use of technology, the pavilion was accomplished without putting people down for the waste but rather showing different ways waste can be used to help make a more sustainable earth. 

As I said, this years expo focused on food, so naturally we ate (probably more than we should have), but we also walked a very significant amount (I have scares on my feet from blisters to prove it). It is hard to remember every country we visited because we did walk through a bunch, but I will try my best. 

Our first stop was to the Belgium pavilion where we enjoyed Belgium waffles, beers, and fries. What a combination. 

In the Chocolate district of expo we went through Cuba, which to no surprise at all was a little hut filled with Caribbean music and mojitos. We went through Switzerland and the lindt chocolate mini factory to get a firsthand look at the creation of such famous chocolate. 

For lunch we went through the China pavilion and stopped to eat at the more traditional Chinese restaurant. 

Probably my favorite pavilion of the day was Spain. It was a light show throughout the building. Lights were reflecting off of hundreds of plates that covered the walls, floors, and ceilings. 

The English Pavilion highlighted bees. This pavilion had a steel structure that was made to resemble a honey comb. 

The United States pavilion highlighted the many different types of food that are present from barbecue to food truck stands.

 In Germany the pavilion focused on food production of the future.

 For a snack we stopped in EATaly for gelato and saw the tree of life light show.

 Every country, although sticking to the common theme of food, was very unique in every aspect of the structures and the presentation. All of the effort put into Expo was truly portrayed.

 One of the very unique pavilions was a "supermarket of the future". Down the isle of the super market there were flat screen tvs all connected to xbox connects. when you point to a food on the isle the tv pulls up the food and shows all nutritional value of the food. I also got to try some coca-cola life while in this supermarket. All of the pavilions were fantastic. 

At the end of the day we had the opportunity to see a mini Cirque Du Soleil performance. Although it was only half the time of a regular shop it was phenomenal. I can honestly say I was in awe of their abilities the whole time. 

All of the many MANY blisters that hindered my ability to walk the following days were well worth all of the sights I saw and countries I visited while at EXPO 2015. If you ever have the chance to go to an expo I highly recommend it. 

Arrival in Itlay, Udine, Milan

Posting this exactly 19 since my feet first stepped onto Italian soil. With unreliable internet access and jet lag I am just getting around to posting my wonderful experiences of the first few days of my trip.

The Airport Experience 

I departed from America at 5:48 eastern time and landed in Venice at 8:45 local time.

The airport was a whirlwind of stress for me. Taking extreme pride in punctuality, I was extremely nervous about the 46 minute layover from my first flight to Atlanta and my departing flight from Atlanta. After a bumpy, nauseating, but short first flight to Atlanta I had no trouble finding the next terminal and gate for my next flight.

The flight to Venice was EXTREMELY comfortable. I had the whole row to myself. This means I had TWO seats to stretch out across, TWO blankets to wrap up in (which were most definitely needed with -64 degree outside the aircraft temperatures), TWO pillows to support my back against the arm rest while laying, and TWO pull out tables to set my many diet coke orders on. I was unable to successfully sleep on the flight, but overall I could not have asked for a better situation to be in for 9 hours.

The Arrival

When we arrived we went through a short, quick, customs and passport stamping then headed to retrieve our luggage. We immediately found Silvia and her mother and were greeted with kisses on the cheeks, lots of hugs, and cappuccinos (which I have been craving ever since).

After about an hour ride back to Silvia's house we rested and waited on lunch. We were greeted with a plethora of amazing food all cooked by Silvia's mom. We had traditional bread from Sicily, traditional food from her northern region, and even traditional food from Rome. The food was amazing and I probably gained 4 pounds in just that sitting.

After lunch we rested some more and unpacked. Around 8pm local time we began to get ready for dinner. After numerous outfit changes and suggestions (lets be real what do Italians actually wear that I would own?) we were finally ready to go to a pizza parlor. The pizza and service was amazing. I was shocked though that at nine we were close to the only people in the restaurant because it was so "early".

After supper we toured Udine and met up with some of Silvia's friends before going home to prepare for our train to Milan the next day.

MILANO

Lets just get this out of the way first. I LOVED MILAN. I loved the architecture, I loved the atmosphere, I loved the food, I loved the wine, and I even loved the subways.

Okay now back to the story, Our train departed from Udine at 8:07am and was expected to arrive in Milan at 1:45 pm. This was the first time (that I can remember) to ever be on a train. Lets just say packing a suitcase bigger than myself was not the first mistake I made. I did have trouble opening the doors to the train car, which resulted in being insulted in Italian, but don't worry Silvia had my back. I was very impressed with the train overall though, and I was partially jealous that we do not have this type of efficient transportation systems back home.

Through the hustle and bustle of the train station when arriving in Milan, we met up with Simon, who had flown in from Germany, and grabbed a bite at none other than a bugger king. We took a cab to our hotel, which was a little outside of Milan. We stayed at Cosmo Hotel Palace. I Highly recommend this hotel for anyone willing to take a subway, who likes affordability, and for who likes nice, clean rooms with nice views. If you're not up for this, then this is not the Hotel for you.

After unloading at the hotel and taking a short resting period, we all went out to explore more of the wonderful, beautiful city of Milan.

From the hotel to the city center, we took a street car and a subway. Like the train, it was my first subway experience and I am 100% sure I looked like a classic tourist as I tightly clutched my purse to my body in fear of any pickpockets. When we exited the subway the most amazing view was upon us. The Duomo. When I think of the Duomo I think of thousands of statutes on the exterior if the building. To be exact there are 3159 statues on the Duomo, but the truly amazing part is that it was built in 1386!!!!!! The United States of America was not thought about and there was a building being made with 3159 life-sized statues on it. The whole thing is truly remarkable. 

After touring the city center, we got back on a subway to go a little on the outskirts to a very nice restaurant. I had the most amazing pasta, and the place was even air-conditioned! I could've easily spent hours there eating, drinking, and chatting. When our wonderful meal was over we went back to the city center to see more of Milan at night before returning to the hotel and preparing for the next day. 

The next day we went to EXPO. EXPO 2015 will be very detailed in the next post. 

Italy, both Udine and Milan are HIGHLY recommended to visit if you're ever in the mood to see some of the most amazing, unthinkably beautiful sights. 

Ciao until next time!

The Trip of a Lifetime

Three days. Three days until I'm boarding a plane. Three days until I'm taking the trip of a lifetime. Three days until I finally get to embark on a trip that I've been planning for over a year and a half. Three days until I finally get to see one of my very best friends for the first time in a year. All in just three days.

In three days I will be on my way to a new city, country, and continent. I will finally arrive in Italy. All of this with my very best friends by my side.

In 2011 I made a bucket list and number 237 on the list will be checked off in just three days. Words cannot describe the excitement I am feeling now that this dream is becoming a reality. I look forward to the jet lag, the hot sun, the iceless drinks, the blisters on my feet, but most importantly the memories to be made that will last forever.

While on this trip I will be traveling from Alabama to Italy with my best friend, Shelley. Upon arrival we will meet Silvia, Shelley's exchange student from two years ago who eventually became her sister and my rock during junior year. Lets just say there will be PLENTY of happy tears! From there we will be spending time with her friends and family in Udine. We will visit Milan to see the world expo and other amazing features that the wonderful city has to offer. While in Milan we're meeting up with another exchange student and special friend, Simon. When we leave Milan we will head to Schorndorf, Germany to spend time with Simon's friends and family. While in Germany we will also see Stuttgart and Munich. The last few days of our trip will be spent back in Italy with Silvia's friends and family at the beach in Lignano Pineta! Our trip will end in Venice as we spend time there before boarding our plane back to the states.

We will be Europe bound for a total of two weeks in two wonderful countries. There are no words to describe how thankful I am for Silvia who has opened her home and took it upon herself to plan everything from the places to the trains to the hotels. I am also equally thankful for Simon and his family who have opened up their home to three girls and have also taken it upon themselves to show us the best of what their country has to offer.

Please pray for safe travels for Shelley, Silvia, Simon, and myself has we reconnect and experience an adventure of a lifetime. 

Now it's time for me to start brushing up on my limited Italian vocabulary. Be prepared for a plethora of pictures to come.

Shelley, Silvia, Me

Shelley, Simon, Me

P.S. the moral of the story is: If you ever want to travel the world, make friends with exchange students.

The Wonderful Men in My Life

In Honor of Fathers Day I've decided to post about the wonderful, selfless, caring men who have all had a hand in making me the person I am today. 


My Amazing Dad
Kevin Crawford is more than a father who has always played an active role in my life, he is my hero and best friend. I truly trust him with all of my secrets. Whenever I need advice whether it be with friendships, relationships, or even outfits he is the first person I turn to. He's been my taxi driver (for at least 16 years and those days when I don't feel like driving), my cook, my laundry mat, my bedroom cleaner (for those weeks that the floor becomes taken over by clothes I decided not to wear), my pharmacy/ food delivery guy. He's been the person on the other end of the text I send during first period when I realize I ran out of the house without a project, paper, diet coke, deodorant, ect. He's the guy who drops anything if I'm sick (or forgot to study for a test) to come check me out. The guy who comes to the rescue when I lock my keys in the trunk of my car or when I have a killer migraine and crave excedrin. He's the guy who I argue loud and proud with in regards to all things politics because he taught me the importance of being able to form my own opinions and think for myself. He is the wonderful man I can call at any time throughout the day and vent my feelings towards. He has had my back on the softball field, basketball court, and cheer mat. He is the ultimate dad. He is super dad. I'm so lucky to call this God fearing, drop anything to help someone else, Alabama football fan dad mine. I love you so much.

My Wonderful Stepfather
Meeting you during my crazy(er), hormone filled days of middle school it's surprising you stuck around with two of the sassiest, hardheaded, eye rolling, constantly picking at you girls, but I'm so happy you did. Clay Patterson has done more than turned me into an Ole Miss Rebel. He's the guy who I text (way too much) to see how much money I have left on my debt card. The guy who's taught me to love bread pudding and eat pints of Ben & Jerry's at anytime because dessert is always an acceptable replacement for any meal. The guy who's taken me to visit the schools of my dreams and eat some pretty expensive steak while we were there. He's been supportive during breakups, deaths, and conflicts with family. He's truly an amazing man who's introduced me to an amazing family. He's treated me like his own and now I can't imagine life without him. I love you Clay.

All of My Many Fabulous Grandfathers
My Granddaddy. One of the most amazing, sensitive, hard of hearing, caring, giving, selfless men. Without him I would not have been able to do as many of the adventures I have such as mountain trips, beach trips, and European vacations. From coming to get me at school to take me to the doctor to teaching me how to play solitaire on the computer I've always looked up to him. I owe probably an extra 15 lbs on my body to him for constantly going out to eat. Through him I learned the true meaning of love. He loved my grandmother for nearly 60 years. I watched him pick up food for her, cook when she was too tired to, do laundry for her. I watched him stay at the hospital day in and day out after she had a stroke until he had to be admitted because he was too worried about her to eat or sleep. He taught me what love is and how you sacrifice for those you love. My favorite place to go and spend the night has always been granddaddy's house (and not just because of the Krispy Kreme I wake up to). I'm so proud to be your baby girl. I love you Grandaddy.

My Papa. I know for a fact I got my sass, wit, and work ethic from him. He is one of the strongest men I know, mentally and physically. He worked hard for everything and put himself through college and law school when the odds were against him. He's lost friends and family, but he still manages to have a sparkle is his baby blue eyes. He taught me to say "yes sir" and "no sir". He taught me to respect my elders and always listen to their stories no matter how long they are or how many times they fall asleep before they're over. I can't stand to sleep past ten in the morning because I always imagine his voice yelling "GET UP YOU'RE WASTING DAYLIGHT". I know my need for adventure comes straight from you. I owe my first time water skiing and tubing all to him. He's the man who spent time and money teaching me to fish at Ann's house and the bay. His goofy side (that often only appeared around his granddaughters) is my favorite. I can't imagine going to buy halloween costumes in July with anyone else. I love you Papa.

My Daddy Don. I'm sure no one has a Daddy Don (at least not like mine anyways). He's the type of man who will greet you with a five minute long hug (even after back surgery). He's the kind of guy who lets all the grandkids drive the golf cart on the farm (even if you're five years old like I was). He taught me the proper names for the different kinds of cows and he taught me to eat oysters straight out of the shell. He is truly a kind, genuine person who would go to any length to see any of his 11 grandchildren happy. He's the person who convinced my parents to let me have my first dog after I begged and begged. Even though sometimes he wears the wrong colors (orange and blue) he never fails to put a smile on my face. I am truly so happy to have my Daddy Don and all of the wonderful family he brought with him. He's adventurous and funny. I love you Daddy Don.

My Daddy Pat. I haven't known him for near as long, but I do know that he's the type of guy who would welcome three new women into his family with open arms and treat them as if they've always been there. He's helped me tremendously with choosing a college and actively making sure Ole Miss did everything they could to get me there (and it worked!!!). He's supported me and encouraged me through the past four years far beyond anything I could have expected or imagined. All of the trips to Oxford and Mt. Fuji have allowed me to grow closer with him and truly see his kindhearted character. I've seen him handle difficult situations with dignity and strength. I've seen him go from suits to Hawaiian shirts (a personal shocker for me). Thank you for everything Daddy Pat. Hotty Toddy. I love you.

I am one of the lucky ones. I have so many men in my life who have shaped me into the person I am today. I have an army of supporters and encouragers behind me. I do not know where I would be without each one of these wonderful men.  Words cannot and will not be able to describe the thanks I owe to each. I Love You All.

Genius Syndrome

Let me take the time to introduce you to one of my passions, and tell you the story of how it all came about. 

I only volunteered at the camp for autistic kids because my new 12 year-old step-brother, whom I was just getting to know, was signed up as a camper but was petrified to attend.  Without much thought, I told him, “I’ll come with you and be a counselor and you will at least know me.”  That seemed to assuage his fears and soon I was signed up, trained, and reporting for duty.

While waiting for my camper to arrive the first day, a young boy approached the cabin, oblivious to his surroundings, mesmerized by the watch around his thin wrist. I tried to capture his attention with a smile and a cheerful, “Welcome to Camp,” but he didn’t even look up. Once all of the children arrived, we were paired up with our camper. The boy with the watch, Sam, was assigned to me and I became his guardian for the week. Over the next few hours I grew concerned because I was unable to connect with Sam and he hadn’t spoken a single word to me. However, on the afternoon hike, Sam’s high-pitched voice belted, “KACI! THERE IS A BUG!!! HELP ME!” This exclamation proved a few things to me:

1. Sam had been paying attention to me as I made one-sided conversation with him throughout the day.

2. Sam realized that I was there to protect and care for him.

3. Sam and I both have an extreme fear of bugs.

Both paralyzed with fear, we clung tightly to one another, shrieking like little girls until the  GIANT cockroach scurried by. From that moment on we connected and he fully trusted me with all of his needs.

 Exactly at 12:00 each day he announced, “Kaaaccciii it is twelve o’clock. That means it is time for lunch. We should be going right now”.  He heralded every activity we were assigned each day with similar punctuality, courtesy of his sacred watch.  After supper each night, Sam would race back to the cabin in order to be the first one in the shower.  To my surprise, on that first night he poked his head out of the bathroom door and called, “Kaaaccciii I need you to hold my watch for me. I cannot get it wet. Please, please, please do not lose it.” Dutifully, my eyes never came off of that watch either. It was my responsibility to look after him, which means I had to look after his mysterious, extraordinary, beeping watch.

            Sam has Asperger’s Syndrome, which. falls under the autism spectrum and is commonly known as “genius syndrome.” Sam made me believe just that. Aside from being able to tell time, he could speak Spanish, Latin, and some French. He can play the piano like a little Mozart and his air guitar skills are impeccable.

Sam taught me a lot that summer, like how to lock a bathroom door from the opposite side and how to have correct posture while riding a horse. More importantly, though, Sam demonstrated the joy in being unapologetically authentic, embracing the gifts he was born with, without regard to social expectations of how he should act, dress or speak.  I now understand what Albert Einstein meant by, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Strangers may meet Sam and be put off, but now I endeavor to be more like him. Because of him, I don’t judge a person by how closely they fit into our media-driven concept of “normal”.  I recognize that everyone, regardless of IQ or social skills, has unique talents worth celebrating.  His lessons from that week will change how I interact with people for the rest of my life. And I owe my thanks to a nine-year-old boy and his mysterious, extraordinary, beeping watch. 

Thanks to Sam and all of the wonderful, different, outgoing, loud, dramatic, fabulous kids at camp (who could occasionally lose their temper a time or two), I was able to have a first hand look at how everyone in the world has a true purpose and unique attributes that fulfill their purpose. I realized that most people spend their time trying to fit into a role they perceive to be correct all while losing  their identity in the process. The most important lesson I learned from these children is to see the world through nonjudgmental, caring eyes. No child at camp saw you by what you were wearing or what you looked like, they saw your actions and your spirit. My Passion is to stand up for the acceptance of mentally handicapped people and work with others to help them understand their differences and needs. 

*names were changed for the protection and privacy of campers