The Changing Face of Marriage

My parents have always been very strict about keeping in touch with my faith as I grow older. For the past 18 years, my parents would take me and my four siblings to church everyday Sunday. Not only have their influences rubbed off on me because of their strong religion, but I know I will carry their ways of teaching myself onto my family as well. My father converted after he married my mom, which shows his dedication of wanting to be a strong Christian role model for his children. My family is so close and as I continue to grow up, I know I can truly say that religion is a huge part of who my family is. However, many families nowadays split due to parents divorce and do not experience a domestic household like many others. I hope to raise my children to be faithful to their religion and show them to raise their children in a domestic church environment like my parents have done for me.

Some Say Love...

I believe that one of the most important qualities of love in a relationship is trust. Without trust between a couple, nothing could be pursued between two people compared to if there was trust. In addition, I think that it is important to find someone who loves you unconditionally and will accept your flaws and see past them. In other words, empathy is just as important as trust because each person in a relationship needs to be understanding in any situation that comes their way.

In several of my favorite songs, many portray positive vibes of falling in love. In Zac Effron and Vanessa Hudgens song Just Wanna Be With You they sing, “no matter where life takes us nothing can break us apart”. This shows that they will do anything to stay together no matter what is thrown their way in the course of life. Next, in Chris Brown’s song Next To You he sings, “One day when the sky is falling I’ll be standing right to you”. Meaning that through anything and everything he will always remain faithful to the person he loves and will never give up on the relationship. In Taylor Swift’s song Crazier, she writes “you showed me something that I couldn’t see, you opened my eyes and you made me believe; you lift my feet off the ground’ spin me around you make me crazier”, she is saying that the person who she is falling in love with opened her eyes to new thoughts and experiences that she would not have seen without him. In addition, in the song Wanted by Hunter Hayes, he sings “I just wanna wrap you up.. wanna make you feel wanted”, in other words he will do anything to make the other person in the relationship feel wanted and special which something that is needed in a relationship.

In total agreement, I think that many people are too busy looking for their “soul mate”, that they may actually miss out on some amazing people and different experiences. I believe when looking for someone to fully commit yourself too, we can put that in fates hands because what relationship and person is right, will be meant to be. 

Gender and Dating Relationships

I believe that this article rings true in some cases. When Andy Otto refers to the stereotypical proposal of our current society between a man and a wife, he says it is always the same. I believe that it is hard to be different and go against the typical engagement/proposal because it has been going on for so many years. The readers response who believes that it is not entirely fair to place the burden on women’s expectations alone is correct in my eyes. I believe it goes both ways, the men are just as responsible for these traditions that have been carried on for years. This article compares yet has its differences with my love story project. More specifically, my father proposed to my mom in a different way than most couples. After 2 years of dating, my dad thought it was finally time to propose to my mom. So he left the ring under my moms pillow in hopes that she would find it when she woke up. Although this is not typically how one proposes nowadays, but dad told me he wanted to do something “unique and different” which I believe set a very good example for my siblings and I for the future.

Dating: What's the point?

Everything changes in the blink of an eye nowadays, whether it is music, style, culture, or even people, nothing seems to stay consistent. It is evident from David Cloutier that the many perceptions of dating have led to huge controversy whether it is "practice for divorce" or "poor training for marriage". I do not agree with his claim that dating is practice for divorce. No matter what age you are, every person should experience different people to see what he or she is in to. There is nothing wrong with waiting until any age to marry, but only is one is fully ready to commit. In present day, dating is considered to be a norm for adolescents and adults. Even though the age for one to date, and then marry has been increasing over the years, it is still common to marry young which seems it may be risky because one many not know exactly what they want yet. When referring to the "hook-up culture" I think it is completely pointless, especially when you do not know the other individual. I look at it as a way to boost self esteem for the wrong reasons.

Little Women

The most valuable gift we have from God is our free will. As a citizen of our country, a resident in the Philadelphia area, and a teenage girl in an all girl high school, my eyes have been opened drastically to the way individuals have abused the gift of free will. After reading the article “Little Women” it is evident that children, especially females, are sexualized at a very young age. I think that if this situation is this problematic at the moment, it will only continue to prosper and grow if individuals are not conscious as to how they are selling themselves in public. When I enter the workplace in the future, I will put much thought into what I wear because I know that I can draw attention from anyone if I do not.  In my eyes, social media is mostly to blame for how our society displays this specific problem. Television shows like the Kardashians and Toddlers and Tiaras are prime examples of poorly individuals treat their appearance publicly. The Mount has taught me that individuality in any human being can make a difference in this world no matter how small of an action.

Sources of My Identity

       Throughout the past 17 years, I have come across many people, experiences, and opportunities that have shaped me as a person enabling me to grow in various ways. More specifically, my family, running, and service has affected my identity making me the person who I am today. The primary and most important influence on my life is family. For the first 13 years of my life I was a one of four children just looking forward to high school like any other teenage girl. However, one Saturday evening my mother called me up to her room and told me news that would change my life forever, she was going to have a baby. Although I was not in favor of this sudden change, I knew that my family would have to make adjustments to the house, our daily schedules, and our lives in general. My now four year old brother Ben, has been the sunshine on my rainy day and always brings life to our family. Without him, we would not be the five Robbins kids, we would have a huge piece of our family missing only making us four.
         Secondly, running is another source that has affected my life in a positive way due to my passion for the sport. My sophomore year of high school, I spontaneously decided to take up a sport and become more involved at the Mount. Track was never my specialty so I told myself that if I did not like it I could stop and try something else. The first race of the season I happen to qualify for the meet of champs which was my goal for the entire season. Ever since my first race I have fell in love with the sport. Running keeps me sane, healthy, and motivated. Although this is my last Track season at the Mount, I know at some point in college, I will join the Track team once again.
         Lastly, my dedication to service throughout the past four years of my life has had one of the biggest influences on my life. Two weeks ago I attended a service trip in Mississippi that opened my eyes to so many new views. I encountered so many new people who lived in horrendous poverty; therefore, serving them opened my eyes to realize how truly blessed I am to have what I have. In addition, I have been a CSC representative and officer for my grade. I attend LaSalle Academy weekly, which is where I have built many relationships with so many children of so many different ages. Due to my experience with children, I luckily realized about myself that I wish to pursue a career in workingwith children with special needs in the future.

Mission Statement

Ever since I was little I was always told by my parents to follow my dreams no matter how far out of reach they seemed to be. Although I am still journeying through my path of life which God has enabled me to live to the fullest,in the near future I know I will need to stay true to myself and always remember about what I am truly passionate about in life. Recently I have developed a deep passion for running. It has become a huge part of my life and I know that I will be able to carry the love I have for this sport with me anywhere. In the future, I hope to make a difference in our world through service and tending to the needs of others by traveling to certain areas in our world that were effected by natural disaster, poverty, and hunger. I believe that in everything I do, God's graces will be present among me guiding me to live a happy and healthy life.