This is the hope that lies in you.

Wow. Don’t you love that feeling when everything seems to have shifted, for the better? The affect that people can have on one person is immense. There’s a plethora of happiness going on and I have Invisible Children to thank for that. My happiness can always be routed back to them. Having the IC roadies at my house last week was a fun, entertaining and joyous occasion. I feel so blessed to have met them, conversed with them, spent time with them, and gotten to know all of them. They are truly the nicest people I’ve ever met in my life. I realise that’s a monstorous statement but it’s one I wholeheartedly mean. The Ugandans (Lilian and Benna) shared some great stories with us, and Lilian and my dad got to talk about their childhoods together (growing up in Uganda and India was apparently very similar). I really miss all of them and am so grateful to have learned things so much from them with the short amount of time we all had together.

I also am pleased with the screening and want to thank everyone who came. We raised $43 in cupcakes, brownies and bracelets, and sold $1450 worth of merchandise. And 5 children have full tuition in their school in Uganda as well. I want to thank you guys for not being apathetic anymore. Apathy is a feeling that has plagued us all. We see tormented individuals and know it’s terrible, but then we go on with our day thinking to ourself, “Well I can’t do everything for everyone.” My dad was talking to me about how he spends the same amount of money on lotto tickets every month that the visible child scholarship asks for (which is $35) and how he’s going to stop his gambling habit with lottery tickets so he can help a student in need. In the words of my father, “People aren’t hesitant to give $40 or $50 to their own kid, because they know them. But giving to someone you’ve never met and will never know, that’s a different story. That takes a wholehearted, giving person. Our Guru’s taught us to be selfless and giving, and there are so many that don’t live that type of lifestyle. But for me, I know what’s right, and this change is right.”

Senator Coburn finally lifted his hold on the LRA bill. I jumped and screamed for joy when I found out yesterday during tennis. I got stared at, but the joy overcame me and I couldn’t help my actions. The passing of this bill is going to change everything. Watching it progress one step at a time lights up my heart. I’ve been calling Senator Hutchison’s office daily to hopefully get through to someone. I’ve emailed, called, and have done everything short of stalking but I’m getting zero responses. I’m also calling/emailing Congressman Sessions, and am also not getting results. It’s frustrating, but persistence is key.

In Partners in Art today, Josh had a visitor come and talk to him. I assumed it was a teacher. The man was very nice, just like the other adults that come in. I noticed them saying “I love you man” to each other and I admired their close relationship. (Josh’s speech is difficult to understand at times but for the most part, we know what he is saying). After the mysterious man left, I asked Mrs. Rogers who it was. She surprised me with the response, “That’s Josh’s dad. His parents are divorced and he only sees his dad every couple weekends.” As Mrs. Rogers continued talking about Josh and his parents, I was fighting back the tears. Josh is one of the friendliest and sweetest kids in that class. He started crying when his dad was about to leave, and only then I understood why. I remember him kissing his dad’s hand, and his dad kept saying I love you over and over. Replaying this now is painful. My dad and I are very close, and I could never imagine what it would be like to not have a father in my life. It pains me to know Josh is not only dealing with his own mental and physical disabilities, but he doesn’t even have strong family support at home. I feel I need to double up my love for him to attempt to make him forget his home life for at least an hour.

ਹਰਿ ਨਾਲਿ ਰਹੁ ਤੂ ਮੰਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਦੂਖ ਸਭਿ ਵਿਸਾਰਣਾ ॥
Remain always with the Lord, O my mind, and all sufferings will be forgotten.

This line from Anand Sahib keeps me going.

You and I both.

Summer is essentially over. How this came to be so, I have no idea. Time is a funny thing. We don’t realise it when we have it, but when it’s scarce, we miss it. Time confuses me, angers me, puts me off balance. I wish there was more of it, and less of it. Time shortens life. It controls our every move. It dictates people’s lives, with no care or bother. Appreciate time, because it will slip from your hands faster than soap and water. Time has a way of making us more anxious, stressed, and downright pissy. If we had an endless amount of time, there wouldn’t be a worry in the world. We would have an infinite lifetime and could do what we pleased. But if that were so, our overcrowding would be much worse. Time keeps things in order, as much as I hate it, it does the world some purpose.

Everyone’s leaving. My handful of same-aged friends are all I have left. Everyone else, my tennis friends, newspaper friends, random friends, are all off to college. As happy as I am for them, I’m a tad bit frustrated that they have to leave while I’m stuck in Garland for another year. I know when it’s my time to leave and adventure off into college-land I won’t think twice about who I’m leaving behind, so I really can’t blame everyone’s enthusiasm. I just enjoy being selfish when it comes to people I care a ton about. The people that I’m going to miss aren’t just everyday ordinary average people. They’re the ones that inspire and help others, bring joy to every room they enter and have some sort of effect on people around them (sometimes not such a positive vibe). Not having them around is going to make me feel lost and adjusting to their non-presence is going to be a huge task, which is why I have to occupy myself so I won’t even have a split second to realise how badly I miss them. And to everyone whose leaving– screw you all.

(It’s easier to be mad at people than to actually miss them).

I FREAKING DID IT.
Not society’s version of “it” but ‘it’ as in the Invisible Children screening! Over two months of hardwork, stalking, bothering and harassment has led me to success! October 1 at 6 pm in Naaman’s big gym is where the event will be held. It will be life altering, and everyone and anyone should go, no matter what age. Put that date in your planner, people! The amount of effort and time I put into this is much more than anything I’ve ever done, so I’m slightly proud of my work, but it doesn’t end here. There’s still a lot more I have to do for this screening, plus I’m helping another friend with planning a huge charity concert for Invisible Children. It is something you definitely do not want to miss, so stay posted for that information!

My class schedule is a bit messed up because of conflict with scheduling. I feel like all the core classes all happen at the same time. Quite frustrating, and it has created a lack in a science course. However, I have fillers like Creative Writing and Partners in PE and senior release of course. It goes something like this for first semester:

A Day: AP Econ, AP Stats, AP English V, Photojournalism
B Day: Senior Release, Creative Writing, Newspaper, Varsity Tennis

(For 2nd semester, replace Photojournalism with AP Psych, and Creative Writing with Partners in PE)

Pretty easy for the most part. I just hope the new stats teacher isn’t a moron.

 

The Tank is gone (RIP baby). I now have an ’09 Versa. Its better for the environment I guess, but I miss the Tank more and more everyday. On the rare occasion that this phenomenon can actually happen, tears streamed from my eyes for a good twenty minutes whilst sitting in the tank at the car dealership that day, right before I handed them the key that brought me so much jubilation. New cars really stink, because I have to be ‘safe’ and ‘areful’ with it. The Tank let me do as I pleased, and people would run into me and I wouldn’t get even a scratch. It was like a miracle vehicle. But now, it is probably waiting for its death at an impound lot. This summer has forced me to let go of far too many things. Unfair to the fullest.

With a few deets that should be left unsaid, I will venture off into an abyss of The Odyssey and Data Sheets.

Don’t forget,
-Oct 1
-6 pm
-Naaman’s big gym
BE THERE. Please.