I just realized how many shows I watch...
Let's see...
Doctor Who, Castle, Once Upon a Time, How to Get Away with Murder, Sherlock, Game of Thrones, Shadowhunters, and more recently, Supernatural. I'm sure I've forgotten a couple. And I've ditched a few shows. They don't count.
So I just completely caught up with Supernatural, and I am in love. Amara gives a whole new definition to "I will eat your soul."
Let's see...
Doctor Who, Castle, Once Upon a Time, How to Get Away with Murder, Sherlock, Game of Thrones, Shadowhunters, and more recently, Supernatural. I'm sure I've forgotten a couple. And I've ditched a few shows. They don't count.
So I just completely caught up with Supernatural, and I am in love. Amara gives a whole new definition to "I will eat your soul."
Enough about me watching TV. Time for...
SUMMER, PART TWO!
Well, I guess this is the REAL part one, considering how my previous post, "Summer, part one" was actually what happened during the spring. But we're getting off topic here.
About a month or so ago, I went on a trip to DC for a Girl Up Summit. Funnily, I wasn't even part of the club. I just went for the food. Jk. I went to gain more experiences and to see what's happening around the world.
I had my thoughts and views on the issues that girls faced around the world before the summit, but I never thought too much or acted on my beliefs. I guess I just wasn't enthusiastic about this movement.
So, I get to DC by train, and I find out that it's HOT. Okay, what a great start. Nonetheless, the group I was traveling with and I decided that we would walk to our hotel from the train station. I mean, it was cheaper than taking a taxi/Uber, we would be able to see some parts of DC while we were finding our way to the hotel, and it wasn't THAT far. Or, it wouldn't have been if we hadn't taken so many wrong turns. I think it took about half an hour, give or take, for us to get to the hotel. That was fun.
The day we got to DC, there wasn't much going on at the Summit. We got these bags and shirts, and we went on our merry way.
The next day was when the Summit really began.
It wasn't the number of peeps who were there that surprised me. It was how excited and how strongly they believed in the cause that impressed me.
I went to my assigned table and met the group I was going to work with for the next few days. Everyone got their breakfasts (I was the first to get my food, muhahaha), awkward introductions were made, and attempts at small talk failed. You know, the usual.
That day, I listened to all of the speeches from the speakers and went to the workshops that were there. Nothing too exciting, I don't think, and my attitude to the Girl Up cause didn't change too much. I just thought more about the girls that were struggling in other parts of the world.
The second day was what hit me, I believe. There were more speeches and workshops that I attended, and I really began to appreciate all that was happening. I saw the struggle. I understood that it was REAL. The enthusiasm of the cause caught up with me.
The last day, Wednesday, was Lobby Day. That was when we went to talk to Representatives, Senators, staff, etc. I was really nervous because, well, I was promoting a cause to really important people, but I believed that I was able to do it. The group I was with had three meetings. I messed up the first two times (but I covered it up half-decently, haha) and I delivered my lines perfectly the third time. Phew. That wasn't too bad.
While the group I was in DC, we toured the city. We ate the food, took a bus tour, and walked around on our own (IT WAS STILL SO HOT AND HUMID AHHHH). Oh, that was fun. Saw a lot of peeps playing Pokemon Go (It's DC. They're everywhere.).
After boarding a train to come back home, reality hit me. I was leaving DC. The Summit was over. I was leaving all the wonderful peeps that I met. I just thought to myself, "Next year. I'll do it next year."
Once I got home, I had to submit a report to the leader of my group (they make a memory book kind of thing). Here's what I wrote:
“As an "outsider" to Girl Up, I did not expect this summit to be "eye-opening" or "life-changing" at first, but I knew that I had to keep an open mind. I had relatively strong thoughts and opinions and a decent understanding about the issues at hand before the trip, though I never expended much effort in advocating for a change. What impressed me was not the sheer number of advocates present at the summit, but how excited, determined, and selfless everyone was. This summit brought together hundreds of brilliant young people who wanted to change the world for the better. During the summit, there were various speakers and workshops that allowed those who attended to better comprehend the situation for underprivileged girls around the world. I was enraptured by all of the speeches, but especially by those of Marley Dias, founder of #1000BlackGirlBooks, and Abhilasha Damor, a peer educator. They had motivated me to not just think and form opinions on the issues that other girls faced on a daily basis, but to take action and believe in Girl Up's cause. Before I left my house for the summit, I knew that on the last day of the trip, Lobby Day, I would have to speak to important people. I was scared and confused, as I did not know what I was to do or say. Though, after listening to the speakers, attending the workshops, and conversing with fellow attendees, I felt more courageous, as I truly had nothing to fear. This trip not only helped me realize that I could empower other girls around the world, but it also helped empower me. After attending this summit, I decided that the coming year, I would join the Girl Up club at my school and make what is now only a thought, a reality.”
SUMMER, PART TWO!
Well, I guess this is the REAL part one, considering how my previous post, "Summer, part one" was actually what happened during the spring. But we're getting off topic here.
About a month or so ago, I went on a trip to DC for a Girl Up Summit. Funnily, I wasn't even part of the club. I just went for the food. Jk. I went to gain more experiences and to see what's happening around the world.
I had my thoughts and views on the issues that girls faced around the world before the summit, but I never thought too much or acted on my beliefs. I guess I just wasn't enthusiastic about this movement.
So, I get to DC by train, and I find out that it's HOT. Okay, what a great start. Nonetheless, the group I was traveling with and I decided that we would walk to our hotel from the train station. I mean, it was cheaper than taking a taxi/Uber, we would be able to see some parts of DC while we were finding our way to the hotel, and it wasn't THAT far. Or, it wouldn't have been if we hadn't taken so many wrong turns. I think it took about half an hour, give or take, for us to get to the hotel. That was fun.
The day we got to DC, there wasn't much going on at the Summit. We got these bags and shirts, and we went on our merry way.
The next day was when the Summit really began.
It wasn't the number of peeps who were there that surprised me. It was how excited and how strongly they believed in the cause that impressed me.
I went to my assigned table and met the group I was going to work with for the next few days. Everyone got their breakfasts (I was the first to get my food, muhahaha), awkward introductions were made, and attempts at small talk failed. You know, the usual.
That day, I listened to all of the speeches from the speakers and went to the workshops that were there. Nothing too exciting, I don't think, and my attitude to the Girl Up cause didn't change too much. I just thought more about the girls that were struggling in other parts of the world.
The second day was what hit me, I believe. There were more speeches and workshops that I attended, and I really began to appreciate all that was happening. I saw the struggle. I understood that it was REAL. The enthusiasm of the cause caught up with me.
The last day, Wednesday, was Lobby Day. That was when we went to talk to Representatives, Senators, staff, etc. I was really nervous because, well, I was promoting a cause to really important people, but I believed that I was able to do it. The group I was with had three meetings. I messed up the first two times (but I covered it up half-decently, haha) and I delivered my lines perfectly the third time. Phew. That wasn't too bad.
While the group I was in DC, we toured the city. We ate the food, took a bus tour, and walked around on our own (IT WAS STILL SO HOT AND HUMID AHHHH). Oh, that was fun. Saw a lot of peeps playing Pokemon Go (It's DC. They're everywhere.).
After boarding a train to come back home, reality hit me. I was leaving DC. The Summit was over. I was leaving all the wonderful peeps that I met. I just thought to myself, "Next year. I'll do it next year."
Once I got home, I had to submit a report to the leader of my group (they make a memory book kind of thing). Here's what I wrote:
“As an "outsider" to Girl Up, I did not expect this summit to be "eye-opening" or "life-changing" at first, but I knew that I had to keep an open mind. I had relatively strong thoughts and opinions and a decent understanding about the issues at hand before the trip, though I never expended much effort in advocating for a change. What impressed me was not the sheer number of advocates present at the summit, but how excited, determined, and selfless everyone was. This summit brought together hundreds of brilliant young people who wanted to change the world for the better. During the summit, there were various speakers and workshops that allowed those who attended to better comprehend the situation for underprivileged girls around the world. I was enraptured by all of the speeches, but especially by those of Marley Dias, founder of #1000BlackGirlBooks, and Abhilasha Damor, a peer educator. They had motivated me to not just think and form opinions on the issues that other girls faced on a daily basis, but to take action and believe in Girl Up's cause. Before I left my house for the summit, I knew that on the last day of the trip, Lobby Day, I would have to speak to important people. I was scared and confused, as I did not know what I was to do or say. Though, after listening to the speakers, attending the workshops, and conversing with fellow attendees, I felt more courageous, as I truly had nothing to fear. This trip not only helped me realize that I could empower other girls around the world, but it also helped empower me. After attending this summit, I decided that the coming year, I would join the Girl Up club at my school and make what is now only a thought, a reality.”