My Inspiration

I got a very sweet phone call and some video chatting time with one of my old friends from high school recently. We met my sophomore or junior year of high school when she was just starting out on the water polo team. I really bonded with the girls a year behind me, and having Mikaela in my life only made water polo and swim season better. I am so proud of this girl. She's been working an amazing internship at our local hospital, is a leader within our high school community and the San Diego community, and an overall inspiring young woman. She was trying to decide what school she will be attending in the fall, and while we were discussing Saint Mary's, we got on the topic of the people who inspire us.

Come on, look how cute my Mom is!

My biggest inspiration is my mother. Hands down! My mother is the smartest, strongest, and sexiest woman alive. She did not attend a university like my father and I, nor did her family push her to pursue a scholarly career path. My Mom is the prime example that you do not have to go to college to be successful. She has a keen business sense, having run multiple businesses in her youth and built up two businesses with my Dad. She's an instructor at her job, and has so much knowledge about insurance.

My mom is a marathon runner, a second degree black belt in Tang Soo Do, is training for a triathlon, and has completed all of this after tearing her ACL/MCL over five years ago. She's remarkable. My mom has fought against everything to be successful. Her path was not easy. Yet, here she stands, one of the most inspirational people in my life. I say my mother is sexy because she is. She's gorgeous, confident, intelligent, and kind. Tell me that's not the epitome of sexy!

Obviously I have mad respect for my Mom. I know I drive her nuts sometimes (okay, a lot of times) but I really do have mad respect for my Mom. She's honestly the best! I'm so happy I get to be with her on Mother's Day!

Personal Growth and Dreams

Coach gave an interesting talk to the guys last week at practice. He talked about self discipline and personal growth. There was a lot of emphasis on doing self evaluations every couple of weeks to make sure we are who we want to be and that we are doing what we want to. It made me really think.

I started writing this post immediately after practice, but I could not find the words to say. Last night, however, I was on the College Prepster's blog (I love reading Carly's posts so much. You should read them here) and she had written a post about a dream list. That really got me thinking. I wish back in August I had written down everything I wanted to accomplish in my first year of college. I sit back now and wonder what I would've put down. Good grades? Hopefully. Make lots of friends? I think it's safe to say I can check that one off regardless.

My plan is to finalize a list of dreams for the next year while I drive home from school. I'm not quite sure where I want to find myself in a year. I would've lived in Europe for four months, been in my second year of college, hopefully taken on more responsibilities with the baseball team. I'd like to think my GPA would be higher, my major and minor more solidified, that I would be living with my friends. That maybe I would be running for an officer position in Swing club and instructing one of the classes. There's so much I hope to happen over this year, it's unbelievable.

What's even worse is there are going to be things I don't have control over! Who knows what life will throw my way in this next year. All I know is that I'll have to face it and work with it. And that's truly exciting.

Crunch time!

This was a Koan in my Asian Studies class senior year of high school.
Still is in my brain since that day with Mrs. Davis!
Image from: http://sd.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/i/do-not-dwell-in-the-2.png

It's here! We are now in the final stretch of the school year. 3 weeks, 8 days of classes, and 3 days of finals and then I'll be on my way back to California for the summer!

Hard to believe I'm practically done with my freshman year of college! This year has flown by. I feel as if I moved in merely weeks ago, and yet I've lived on my own basically for 9 months basically. I was remarking to my roommate this weekend while we were at her house for Easter how old I felt. She laughed at me, remarking "Leah, you're 19 years old. How can you feel old?" It isn't that I feel ancient and worn down, but rather, I've been looking around and noticing how different I feel in comparison to my siblings, my cousins, and younger teenagers we were around.

For example, we found ourselves at Burger King in Lake Geneva for some french fries and ice cream (which they sadly did not have since their ice cream machine broke just before we got there). After we ordered a group of sixteen year olds meandered in and were being goofballs. I felt so much older in comparison. These kids were the same ages as K and SK (Special K). It was weird watching them goof off, when I, a couple years ago, probably was doing the same thing. So much has changed in such a little amount of time. It only makes me wonder what the future will be like.

Isn't this view pretty?

Anywho, this year has flown by! I finally broke down tonight and made my way to the library. I have only been in the library on campus a handful of times, simply to print out papers and power points. Tonight, however, I broke down. I packed up my backpack with all of my work and my laptop and went searching for a nice table next to a window.

Boy, have I been missing out on a prime studying place! The view is remarkable. I love looking at LeMans (even if the sky is all grey and cloudy because of the rain). I think this table and I will be good friends for now on. Mom and Dad will be so proud that I actually found the library and put it to use. No joke, I went home over Christmas Break and Spring Break and the running joke was "Saint Mary's has a library? Oh, I should go find that one day. That could be helpful". The library is seriously nice. I'm currently eyeing one of the rocking chairs and wondering if I would actually get some reading done or if I would fall asleep.


If anyone needs me in the upcoming 17 days, I'll be in the SMC Library (and hopefully awake!)

There's No Crying in Baseball

NCAA Baseball season is well under way. Notre Dame, as of today, is currently 9-17 overall with a record of 1-11 in the ACC. Ouch! Not a great start to our season, but I believe we will do better.

I spent all day Friday and Saturday working with the team, and I'm just starting to get the dynamic of it. This team works hard, and I'm not just talking about the players. I mean the entire team. Each coach, manager, trainer, and player puts in 100% effort and wants to make sure everyone succeeds. It's different to be apart of a team and not be the athlete, I'll tell you that.

I've learned a lot working under the Hoff-man and A-Dawg. They're two really great people to work under. Each is dedicated and works their ass off daily. I value what they have to say, as they challenge me daily at work. It isn't just, "Hey Leah, shag balls". Rather, more like "Hey Leah, do you want to order food for the opposing team and then go and set up the field for their practice with me?" When working with Hoff and A-Dawg, your year does not matter. They want you to work your hardest and show that you are committed. Saying you are a freshman and don't know how to or don't know any better is not an option. This isn't just a job. They demonstrate that as a manager, you are apart of this team and therefore, you HAVE to be fully committed.

I didn't think I would learn this much about work ethic and myself when I applied to be a manager. I expected myself to be working with other students, running errands for coaches, and just going with the flow. Working with baseball is the opposite. I have learned how to be independent at a job, how to take and order and execute it to my greatest ability, as quick as I can, while still being efficient. I've learned that you will work with people you don't get along with, and that sometimes you have to roll with the punches in order for things to work out again. I learn more and more about myself daily as the season goes on.

The boys's season has not been that great. Yet, if you watch practice, you wouldn't guess it was such from how dedicated everyone is and how hard to boys train. We'll see how this weekend against FSU goes. I have a good feeling about Florida.

Go Irish!

Staying on Task

This seems to be a big issue for me right now. Since I've gotten back from Spring Break, I cannot seem to get my stuff together and get ready for the rest of the semester. There always seems to be something to tear me away from the task at hand. Even now instead of writing this post, I have wandered way to Facebook and my email.

It must be the fact that the snow is melting, the days are finally getting longer, and spring is in the air. Such lousy reasons to stay inside at my desk. Alas, though, this is where work gets done (or should get done), so here is where I will stay. Spring fever is definitely setting in, and I think it's getting to me. Three weeks ago, I was complaining about being stuck inside due to snow and bad weather conditions and how much I would've rather it be spring. And now it is! Let me assure you though, I think now is worse than then because I actually can go outside and enjoy it. It's physically possible! Except, I have work to do, therefore I must force myself to stay inside.

Besides some red tea to help me focus, and the likelihood that I'm just going to turn off my internet connection, there's not a lot to do these days to help with my concentration. This will be the true test of my discipline this semester– can I handle being a studious young adult with Spring arriving?

To be honest, I have no idea how I'm going to do this, but I have big plans in the future that are dependent upon me being disciplined now. So I shall succeed!

xoxo, Leah.

PS:  This is totally my motivation right now–

Why I Need Feminism....

My first semester at Saint Mary's forced me to take Intro to Gender and Women's Studies, or Feminism 101 as I jokingly called it. Before even attending the first class, I decided I was going to hate it. "I don't need a class on feminism"; "I am a feminist, but why do I need to study it? I think women are doing pretty well for themselves." I would say to my roommate through orientation and the first couple of weeks of school. I didn't care about first wave feminism– they pushed for the 20th amendment. I was bored of the second wave of feminism– it was the 1960s; they were all hippies. The third wave intrigued me, at least. It was something I had heard about a lot. How can women be feminists and still be feminine? How can women be professional in the work place and viewed as equals with their male peers without having to wear their power suit everyday?

I regret not taking that class more seriously. In my second semester, I feel I have grown a lot. I need feminism! I am a feminist! With Notre Dame baseball season on it's way and the boys traveling around Florida, Texas, and North Carolina to play games until the snow melts here in the Bend, I've been doing a lot of research about how to further myself in this game. I already know I am at a disadvantage at practice, simply because I am a freshman– I'm inexperienced; I don't know how the team works just yet. Still I feel as if I'm at a further disadvantage from that. My other half at practice is a boy at Notre Dame who's played baseball for 12 years. At practice, he's trusted with more responsibilities simply because he's played before.

I understand that. I am less experienced, therefore I am not as useful as he is. And this has made me realize I need to get smarter. Smarter and better than any of the other women managers, along with male managers. I also need to work harder. I want to create a career out of this. I need feminism because there's no one who's done this before. This is unchartered territory for women and someone needs to do it.

What do you need feminism for?

How a California Girl Deals with the Never Ending Snow Storms of South Bend

The current view from my room.

Winter Storm Rex has come to South Bend and is depositing up to another six inches of snow. This is ridiculous! We've had so many storms this year, I've lost count. White outs have become a normal sight and this view is not the worst we've had. Crazy right?

I can tell you that it is not easy to keep up a good spirit when all you have outside is grey and white. Coming from the coast where everyday was normally sunny and warm, and I got to see the ocean at some point during the day, this bleakness is not idea. It really gets you into a slump and productivity is at an all time low. So there's really so much you can do.

From: imdb.com

These are my tips for getting through the weather depression:

• Light: Don't sit in the dark! Open those blinds up, turn on those lamps! Create as much brightness as you can. Despite it being dark outside, there's still some brightness, and that natural light will help. I know it bothers my roommates but when I'm in the room, I pull up the shutters and turn on some of the lamps in the room we're in. Don't hide in the dark! Let your light shine ;)
• Music: I like to put on Jack Johnson or Jimmy Buffett on days like this. Why? Well, because it's tropical and reminds me of home. Maybe even a little hawaiian slack guitar. It's light and creates a happier mood overall



Image compliments of
imdb.com

• Movies: These, like music, can be put on in the background. I have spent countless nights doing homework with Donovan's Reef, Mamma Mia, or Lilo and Stitch in the background. These movies take place in tropical climates and have spectacular scenes involving the beach and the sun. They cheer me up. Those three are my go to movies, but my roommates and I have watched countless other films like 50 First Dates or Princess Diaries. 
• Exercise: This helps so much! I'm not the best, because a lot of times I'll look outside and refuse to leave the building. HOWEVER, because exercise releases endorphins, you can't go wrong. I'm not going to go into the whole science-y part of this but I can guarantee you that exercise is a great option, especially if you are feeling some cabin fever. 

I'm sure there are hundreds of other ways to combat weather depression, these just work best for me! Also, relish the sun when it is out. I made the mistake of taking the sunlight for granted, so on days when it was very bright and sunny I would stay indoors. Now I try to get out and walk around or do something to soak in the UV rays. My roommates have told me tanning works as well.