The Changing Face of Marriage

I feel the 'domestic church' is an important part of our faith community. A deep belief in faith must be rooted from the family. Through example and teaching, parents can teach their children about their faith and the importance of it. Together, the family can depend on their faith to get them through the hard times and to have to always rely on. The 'domestic church' helps strengthen the family bond and the faith that family shares. With family faith comes religious morals and values. I feel some of the standards are becoming less strict when it comes to the marriage process in the twenty-first century. Now it is seen that couples are waiting to get married later in life once they have their life in control and a good foundation. I feel there are both pros and cons to this. For example, a benefit to waiting until later in life to get married is that the couple is more mature and knows more of what each of them want. However, a drawback to this is that they may feel they have waited to long and rush into a marriage in order to start a family. This can lead to marital problems. Another controversial topic is that couples are moving in with each other before marriage. I think this is good because it allows the couple to to see what it what it would be like to be married. However, it also takes away from the whole marriage process and may teach couples to walk away from a relationship when things get hard instead of working them through. Finally, I am comforted knowing college educated couple have a more likelihood of having a successful marriage. Someday when I have a family of my own, I will establish a 'domestic church' in my home because I feel it is important to the family.

Some Say Love...

Ariana Grande sings, "You give me that kind of something / Want it all the time, need it everyday / On a scale of one to ten I'm at a hundred / Never get enough, I can’t stay away," in her song "The Way." When thinking about finding the person I am going to spend the rest of my life with, I hope he gives me that something I can't live without. I hope to find someone who has consistent beliefs with me and goals to get married and have a family. Also, someone I can be intimate with and treats me well. In Rihanna's "Stay" she once again talks about not being able to live without this person. She sings, "Not really sure how to feel about it. / Something in the way you move / Makes me feel like I can't live without you. / It takes me all the way. / I want you to stay." I want my soul mate to be my other half, my best friend. I believe you will find your soul mate when it is meant to be. Some may experience love at first sight, but it is also possible for the relationship to build into something.  Florida Georgia Line  describes it as love at first sight in "Cruise", "Yeah, when I first saw that bikini top on her / She’s poppin’ right out of the South Georgia water." However, just because this person is your soul mate it does not mean everything will always be perfect. Life gives you ups and downs and its about working through your problems together with this person that makes what your two have so strong. Pink's reason to fight for love is because what they have is so special in her song "Just Give Me A Reason" she sings, "Just give me a reason / Just a little nit's enough / Just a second we're not broken jut bent / And we can learn to love again." Finally, Imagine Dragons describes how you should feel once you find your one true love, that is "On Top of The World," "‘Cause I’m on top of the world, ‘ay / I’m on top of the world, ‘ay / Waiting on this for a while now / Paying my dues to the dirt / I’ve been waiting to smile, ‘ay / Been holding it in for a while, ‘ay / Take you with me if I can / Been dreaming of this since a child / I’m on top of the world."

Dating: What's the Point?

After reading chapter five of our textbook, I disagree with David Cloutier's claim that dating is just practice for divorce. I feel by putting ourselves out there and dating we will find what we are interested in in a potential life partner. I feel dating also allows us experience love for a partner that cannot be experienced otherwise. It helps us grow into being a better person for our future spouse. Since we are so young, I feel among my peers and I we may not be thinking about someone were dating or taking to prom as a future husband because there is a lot of time to do that thinking ahead of us. Hereby, in that way the author of the book may be right in saying adolescents are just living in the moment when it comes to dating, but in my mind I don't see this as wrong. However, this may be why the hook-up culture in college is so common because people aren't taking the activity as serious as it should be. They are not thinking about what it includes, true love for another person.

Little Women

After watching Misrepresentation and reading the article, I have definitely become more aware of the injustices towards women, most apparently in the media. Of course going to the Mount I am aware of the need to become a woman of empowerment and stand up for our rights and the rights of others; however, it has never occurred to me just how much women are objectified and sexualized in the media. From tabloids, to movie and TV shows, to the news, women are mistreated and underrepresented in places of power. After being brought more awareness to the injustices, as before I guess I just saw it as a way of life, I now feel the need, more than ever, to stand up for women in a way that will gain respect for us as people with the capability to bring positive change to the world and as those who are willing to work together with all, men included. I hope in the future my gender will not prevent me from making a difference or becoming successful. Though I know in order for this to happen we must strive for equal rights, which I know women can accomplish. Going to the Mount has taught me that I can accomplish anything a man can, and that its not our appearance that sets us apart from the rest of society, its what we bring to the table with our knowledge and beliefs that will lead us to be women of empowerment. I know as a female my ability to achieve goals should be no harder then a males ability. With this, I know I will be a woman of empowerment.

Mission Statement

My main goal in life is to be happy, its how I reach this goal that becomes my mission. In order to be happy in life I must do what I enjoy. A sense of accomplishment is one specific aspect I will acquire by graduating college and having a career I have a passion for, one where I show up to work happy everyday. In addition, helping others is something that brings a smile to my face. Wether it be helping those who are less fortunate than I in a poor area or those who just need their day brightened. One talent of mine that I truly enjoy is making art. I hope to be able to use this in life and continue to improve my abilities. In the future, I also hope to raise a family with a husband I truly love, much like the example my parents set for me. I will continue to stand up for my beliefs and stay true to myself through all that life brings my way.

Sources of My Identity

My recent trip to Mississippi for the service trip was an experience that affected my identity. It was a very eye opening and humbling experience for me. Seeing what little the people of Canton, Mississippi had while still managing to appreciate life helped me realize the need to be more grateful for all that I do have. It also helped me to appreciate the little things in life. It's amazing how much a smile, birthday cake, or coloring book page can brighten someones day. On the trip, I also learned to stand up and speak out more on the injustices we face in our country today, such as immigration and discrimination. In total, this experience allowed me to realize how much I can gain from participating in service projects and I will be sure to continue to do so in the future.

Along with this experience, my parents have also played an influential role in forming my identity. They have instilled in me a sense of hard work and determination. They have also encouraged and taught me to use my personality and skills to thrive as an individual. They have provided me with a sense of humor. They have helped me through the hard times and allowed me to see the bright spots during these times. Through their examples, I have learned what I want in a husband and future family. They have helped me shape my faith and have provided my with many opportunities to grow as an individual including my education here at the Mount. Without them, I can honestly say I would not be the person I am today and I know I will continue to rely on them for future advice and love.

Another factor in shaping my identity is my years of catholic education in both grade school and here at the Mount. I feel I've learned to be a well rounded person, more specifically a well educated woman of the future. I've met friends I know I will keep for a lifetime, those who have also helped shape my identity. I've been provided with great opportunities and have been greatly prepared for the future, in both college and in life that lies ahead. Through the years with the great teachers, friends, and education I have come to finding who I am as person and what it is I enjoy in life. I feel my education opportunities have allowed me to explore many possibilities and lead me on a path to a successful future. Mount Saint Joseph Academy