Issue #3- Racism

This week we had the opportunity of hearing the story from a Holocaust survivor. It was so amazing and heartbreaking to hear the things she went through. Just as a young girl, she endured all the torture and persecution from the Germans. Through much perseverance, she survived and escaped to the United States.

Her story made me look back on my life and see how fortunate I have been. I have been so blessed by God!!

I arrived a little bit late to my alpha meeting because of dinner plans with family friends but I quickly got caught up with the discussion. As we met with our group, we talked about the racism and discrimination we have seen in our lives. It was interesting to see the similarities and differences that we all had in our schools and hometowns. This week, I was reminded that each person was made in God’s image. We need be careful not to judge others and not treat people differently just because of the color of their skin.

More issues...

This week we discussed the issues of Sexual Assault, Body Image, and Pornography. We decided to split up our alpha group and meet with just the girls to get a more intimate discussion. It was a good opportunity for us to open up and be honest with each other. It was awesome to hear each girls story and know that other people are going through the same struggles we are going through, even though we sometimes feel like we are the only people feeling that way. We were able to encourage each other and reiterate the love that God has for each of us. Especially with body image, it is important that we always remember we were made it Christ's image and He thinks we are incredibly amazing and beautiful! I have loved getting to know each of these girls and being able to talk through and listen to different parts of our lives. :)

Issue #1- Alcohol

This week in beginnings, we talked about the issue of Alcoholism. We got the opportunity to hear testimonies of people who have gotten sucked into the party scene and others who have been on the outside of it, the dangers that encompany it, and the consequences that can come from it as well. We were shown the importance of staying strong to your values and beliefs, not being influenced by peer pressure, and not being judgmental toward others. Because many people use alcohol as an escape, it is essential that we hold back our judgments and be there for these people who may be having hardships in their life the issues they are trying to run from. I thought it was neat that our group was able to be honest about their outlooks on the issue. It was interesting to see people’s different views.

Through the personal stories and our alpha group discussion, I was reaffirmed with my decision to not drink. I have just seen so many people hurt by it through my relatives, friends, and others. I have also personally been hurt by it from friends, so it has never been something that I have wanted to be involved in. I have been blessed to have a parents who have been great examples to me and have always encouraged me with my decisions to not drink. I chose to surround myself with people who have the same morals as me so that I would never have to worry about temptation when I was with my closest friends. Because I have stood strong in my values, I have sometimes been seen as judgmental. But I was reminded that I need to not focus on what others think, and just continue to be strong and make an effort to be there for the people who are struggling. Because the judgments of others have been discouraging for me at times, I made an effort to reach out to more people my last year of high school- I didn’t want to look down on them for things they were doing but befriend them while being an example to them of what I believe. Through this I was able to make some really good friendships, grow in my life, and maybe even make an impact on those around me.

More on Strengths...

HOW COULD YOUR STRENGTHS WORK AGAINST YOU IF YOU DON'T MANAGE THEM?

BELIEF:
You can be seen as judgmental towards others because you are so strong in your own beliefs and values.

EMPATHY:
You may become so overwhelmed with others’ problems that you do not take care of your own.

HARMONY:
You may disregard your own wants and needs in order for there to be harmony and agreement.

MAXIMIZER:
Being able to see the potential of people can lead to frustration in your life if they are not living up to their true abilities.

RESPONSIBILITY:
Because you don’t want to let people down, you may over-book yourself with commitments.


HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD ON EACH STRENGTH DURING YOUR FIRST SEMESTER AT APU?


BELIEF: Show others my love for Jesus in my life and that my beliefs and values are unchanging.

EMPATHY: Be there for others whenever they have problems or just need a friend.

HARMONY: Put others’ needs ahead of my own in a healthy way to reach agreement and harmony.

MAXIMIZER: Do everything to the best of my abilities and even allow myself to be pushed further as I am challenged with new things everyday.

RESPONSIBILITY: Find a good balance of being a responsible student, team player, and friend.