Sister Nena Reflection #1

Last week I had the honor of helping Sister Nena with her garden. Although there was not much to do for the actual garden, we worked together to water holes that that the ground could be moist for the men who are going to put in another bed soon. She helped me replant my tree too because I had made the dirt moldy and did not go about it correctly the first try. After we finished watering the holes, Sister Nena invited me in her house and we talked about gardening and cooking for about half an hour.
I feel that these visits with her are very peaceful to me and brings me back down to earth. I did not expect to make friends with a nun! But I love Sister Nena :) She is very nice and she has such an incredible life story. It was amazing to hear about her childhood because it is so different from the lives children are enduring today. She is not judgmental or sour about us "kids these days", which makes it so relaxing to be around her and help and learn! I am really very excited for our net visit. Hopefully she will teach me how to cook. We have been talking about that and I hope that I can help her maw dinner one night. I am grateful for getting these experiences and cannot wait to help her out again soon.

Freshman Requirement Reflection #2: Dr. Sakena Yacoobi

      On Wednesday October 22nd, I had the honor of attending the reception and formal Speech of Dr. Sakena Yacoobi. She was born and raised in Afghanistan and became a refugee at a young age. when she saw all the women struggling and being treated horribly, she absolutely felt a strong urge to make a change. In response to the harsh treatment of women, Dr. Yacoobi started a school system for women so that they could learn their way out of struggles. Once the various extremist groups caught he young women and killed them, Yacoobi responded my creating underground school. It worked. And to this day she is helping more women and influencing more people every day.
      She is so loved by everyone who knows her, except for the crazy groups of people that want to kill her. She is extremely brave and stated that when god is ready for her to die, she will die. Something unique about Yacoobi is that even though she is very spiritual, she made is crystal clear that she accepts al religions and that the education had little to do with a actual religion. her goal is to teach young women actual life skills and how to be smart and strong.
        I completely admire and am inspired by this woman to the moon and back. She was kind and sincere in all the advice she gave, yet very humble. This is the kind of leader that has the biggest influence. People follow her because they want to, not because they are scared or threatened. But because they genuinely love this women. I am so grateful to have had this privilege and especially happy that I took advantage of going to it instead of skipping I for soccer. Because just being in her presence was an honor. It was amazing to meet a glorious person, and see how human they are. because if she is just human than that means anyone can be great like her. It was just such a positive and enlightening experience.

Freshman Requirment Reflection #1: Poetry Night

Poetry Night: Austin Smith

    Austin Smith's poems were incredible. His diction was descriptive, his language was colorful, and he had some odd morbid twists. My poem was one which name I cannot recall. It was one of the only humorous ones I remembered.  THis poem was a personal experience he had while traveling on a greyhound bus across state. He read us his work and described the different passengers on the bus. Next to him was an old lady losing patience and other people around was a lady with turrets, a grumpy man, and another lady who insisted the man behind her was pleasuring himself.

    Everyone in the crowd was bursting of laughter as we have all had those hilarious but frustrating and uncomfortable moments. Austin was descriptive yet blunt. His comments about the man masturbating was to the point. He even put in a couple of quotes that the lady with turrets was yelling. His language made it easy to visualize the setting and created an environment where the audience could experience what he did when he was on the bus. For example when he told us the lady with turrets “blurted out” nonsense and how this caused a reaction in the lady next to him t get frustrated and make angry comments, it was just a crazy and humorous situation. I felt like all of his poems ended very suddenly with a BAM finish that would leave the audience tin thought. All of his poems were incredible, especially the one about his imaginary sister. If he had not told us he did not have a sister, I would have sworn she actually existed. He was descriptiv of her gold hair and stubborn and independent family, Austin even described how she had effect on the family and parents. It was a sad ending to hear why she was living with a mediocre man in a worn out situation. I wondered why he ended many of his poems so desperately. It was skillful yet sad. I would enjoy buying a book of his and reading those poems on my own. They really got to me. It was definitely worth going.