The rest of my life. November 12, 2008

Okay… so on the menu today we have:

My dream
Changing my major
Taking a break from school
Missions Trips
Making my dream a reality

 My dream: To start an NPO for victims of human traifficking. It will be a two step program wih two purposes. First of all get people out of sexual slavery, and then meet their needs in regards to the hierarchy of needs: First their physiological needs must be met. That’s obvious: Food, Shelter, Clothing, etc. Then their safety needs. A secure compound including a school, a dormitory, and office buildings for the main offices and therapists; this will involve guards, fences, the whole spiel, and people they can feel safe with. A mentor will be assigned to each person that comes into our organization, this person will be a friend and have almost a parent-like role for the victim. A stable figure they can rely on and feel safe with. Which leads into the next step of the heirarchy, belongingness and love: Not only will they have a relationship with their mentor, but they will be assigned core groups. This is a same-gendered group with which they can have fun in planned activites, make lasting friendships, and ‘belong’. Their core group leader will also be a stable adult-figure they can trust. Then their esteem needs must be met. They must feel their own personal self-worth. They will be able to attend school, but this won’t be any school, it will be an arts school. There is substantial evidence to prove that the arts can be an extremely beneficial form of self-expression and release for victims of trauma. They will be trained in music, drawing, film, pottery, graphic design, and theatre arts, along with their usual subjects. Their instructors will be uplifting, and inspire a passion and love for learning in their students, they will encourage them in all their interests. This is one way they will be able to achieve esteem. Older students will be able to work in a coffee shop/bookstore and a thrift store, which will not only be a way to raise funds to make the mission more self supporting, it will also help the students to find validity in themselves and their ability to make money to support themselves. It will give them job experience. They will be taught basic fiscal skills through their wages as well, and encouraged to save much of their earnings. 
The final stage of the hierarchy, self actualization, is up to the student their self.
Younger students will be adopted by families that have been trained on what to expect and how to deal with a child who has been through so much trauma. Families will be carefully screened and often the same-gendered parent will be assigned as the mentor from the beginning.
Older students will be highly encouraged to attend college. They will also receive help from the organization like a parent would give to their child as they make their way into the world. Help getting their first apartment, paying for college, getting a car and liscence, etc. 
The role of the mentor is a life-time commitment. The mentor will be there for the student in a very personal way their entire life. The mentor, and possibly the mentor’s family, will become the family and support system the student is lacking.
Also, I think it should be noted that throughout this entire process extensive therapy will be ongoing and possibly provided after the student is discharged. Victims of human trafficking often show the signs of post-traumatic stress syndrome, and these problems will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis by a team of therapists.

Changing my major: I look at all this and realize… a theatre major is not gonna help me with this. I want to change to a business major with a minor in sociology and religon. Take some classes on grant writing. It’s a serious switch… but hey. I’m really scared I’ll have to take lots of math classes, though. Haha.

Taking a break from school: THen I realize… I hate college. I’m over school. I want to be done with it, and get on with what God wants me to do… but I need to get an education, or people won’t give me money… but I hate school. So… a gap year. I need to work and make some money, anyways… because a college education is expensive, and I do not want debt. So… how do I legitimize a gap year?

Missions Trips: I need to get experience anyway, right? And I REALLY want to go to India and work with victims there. I work one semester, save up some cash, and the next? India. SO bomb.

Making my dream a reality: Everything is just… coming together. It’s amazing how God works. If I can give anyone one piece of advice it’d be, ‘Seek God in everything.’ 

It’s the only thing I know for sure.

Obama ‘08. November 5, 2008

I’m pleased with you America.
I am not pleased with Wyoming, because they made it impossible for me to vote.

 Had I a vote to cast, however, Obama would have had it.
 Change is good. Change is needed.
Another four years of Bush (as liberal and conservative analysts predicted McCain would be… except on steroids)  may not work… seeing as these last four years have done so much for us.

I’m happy, despite how my parents may feel, despite how the student body of this school may feel… I think this may be a good thing.

And to all the people who are like ‘Oh no! Obama is president! America is going to suck! We can only trust God!’
Who the crap cares who the president is? God’s still in control. If God didn’t want Obama to win, I can guarantee you he wouldn’t have. And quite honestly, did it really take Obama getting elected for you to trust God?
Yeah.

He can’t screw America up anymore than it already is, anyway.

Johnny and June October 27, 2008

Oh there’s something ’bout a man in black, 
Makes me want to buy a cadillac, 
Throw the top back, 
And roll down to Jackson town,

I wanna be there on the stage with you, 
You and I could be the next rage to,
Hear the crowd roar,
Make ‘em want more, 
I’ll kick the footlights out,

I wanna love like Johnny and June, 
Rings of fire burnin’ with you.
I wanna walk the line, walk the line 
‘Till the end of time, 
I wanna love, love ya that much,
Cash it all in, 
Give it all up,
When you’re gone, I wanna go too, 
Like Johnny and June,

I wanna hold you baby right or wrong,
Build a world around a country song,
Pray a sweet prayer, 
Follow you there, 
Down in history,

Heidi Newfield read my mind.
I want someone that I can’t imagine my life without. There’s so many awesome people in my life, especially right now… but I could live without about 95% of them… I want to add someone to that 5%.
Someone that loves and encourages me in all of my dreams.
Someone that wants to never leave my side.
Someone that I feel the same way about.
Someone  that makes me a better person.
Someone that makes me love God more.

Granted, I don’t want a love story exactly like Johnny Cash and June Carter… I’d like to avoid the drugs and divorces and all that… but she… she loved him. And he loved her. And they complimented and completed each other, I want someone who completes me, that fills in all the cracks my imperfections leave. And matches the qualities I need matched. :]

Let me explain something to you boys… September 28, 2008

Girls.

You say you don’t understand them, well, I will shed some light on the subject.

1 – DO NOT lead us on. Don’t flirt with us if you’re not planning on taking it any further. If you like us, let us know. If you don’t, don’t act like it.

2 – We need to know we’re loved. Let us know from time to time. It can be something simple, like sending a post card, even if we live right next door. Or just dropping a text sayin’ “hey, how are you?”. It lets us know you’re thinking about us, and thus, that you care.

3 – All that cutesy boyfriend stuff, yes, you need to do it. It’s romantic and we absolutely love it and it makes our friends ever so jealous because we have such a sweet boyfriend.

4 – Remember details. It may seem stupid to you, but it’s really important to us. Eye color, Perfume, Shampoo, Favorite Gum, Candy bar, Board Game, Pizza, Movie, Soda, Restaurant. It’s another thing that shows us you care and are genuinely invested into our lives.

5 – This sounds cliche, but do it. You really want to go for the gold? Look into her eyes and tell her she’s beautiful. Not sexy or hot or anything like that (those have a time an place, but when in doubt, gorgeous or beautiful are the key words here).

6 – Be a gentleman. This one can be tricky. Most girls love having the door opened for them, all that stuff that you were taught when you were little. I knew a guy that, honestly, was pretty ‘average’, but he was the perfect gentleman, and guess what? Girls were swooning. You will run into the occasional few that don’t want to be a lady and therefore will refuse such chivalrous behavior, but they’re quite rare.

7 – We understand you about as much as you understand us, so be patient. We want to learn, so talk to us about it.

8 – Speaking of talking, sometimes we want to do that. We’re girls. We’ve been taught not to express our emotions in a physical manner, but to talk it out. That’s what our girlfriends our for… but every once in a while, you’ll have to put up with it. Sorry. Brownie points for you if you can put up with it!

9 – If your interested, please, let us know. Make the first move. You’re the guy, that’s how it’s supposed to be. You have to get the ball rolling. You might get turned down, but, really tell me the absolute worst that could happen. It’s as awkward for us as it is for you!

Together Forever. July 7, 2008

Same thing as before. I want to be in that cute couple, ya know?

Just… Hold Me. July 4, 2008

I wasn’t kidding about that boyfriend thing… I just want to lay on the beach with someone. Feel like the most precious thing in someone’s world. : ) Do you ever feel that way?

Hello World. June 27, 2008

So… I’m continuing in the same vein of my last post. Growing up. It’s a scary prospect, really. I mean, tonight, I made $28 bucks in tips. Not bad considering I only had 4 tables. What am I gonna do with it? Buy gas and put the rest into savings. See what I mean by “Kati” is boring?
You see, for those of you who don’t know me personally… everyone at home calls me Kati. My name’s Katelynn. So… when I go to college I want  to start going by K’Lynn… thus the name of this blog. When I went down to Vanguard I introduced myself as K’Lynn. I think K’Lynn sounds more fun and quirky and… it’s a change. I’m going for a total CHANGE. Don’t get me wrong… I don’t want to be a fake person… I think I am now, though. Well, no. I think I embrace the darker side of my personality. The quieter, angrier, meaner one. Soo… I guess, in welcoming the California Sunshine I’ll welcome the sunnier side of my personality (Metaphor is such a great literary tool). The fun, crazy joyful, friendly (to EVEYONE) gal that I was at camp. All my good traits and I’m going to discard my bad ones like an old diaper. Eewey.

Back in the day… June 26, 2008

Haha. This made me laugh. It also reminded me how fast time is going… I mean, I’m seventeen. In my lifetime alone so many advncements have been made and events taken place… Life is gone in a snap. So you HAVE to live each moment. Live it up.

That’s what I intend to do in Cali. There’s so many things I’ve always wanted to do and try… there’s so many things I want to be. There’s this whole personality inside me that is bubbly and crazy and kind and fun and just great. That person… K’Lynn, came out at camp a little. The person I am at home, though, Kati. She’s faar too boring for my taste. She’s going away. I’m not sure she’s who I am.

I want to have a boyfriend. I want to dance. On a team. I want to sing in front of a thousand people. I want to sing my songs. I want to run down the beach in a bikini! I want to stay out until 2am. I want to be a flirt. i want to speak spanish. I want to help people. I want to be good at something! I want this blog to have a thousand hits! I want to be famous on YouTube!!

I don’t even know who I am or what I’m capable of yet… but I sure want to find out.

How am I supposed to breath without no air? May 30, 2008

I’m realizing more and more how important the people God has placed in my life are to me. My family, obviously. God hand-picked this bunch. You know that saying… “Every family has one?” Yeah… they’re all “one”. Haha. They’ve had my back through everything. They’ve been honest when I didn’t want it and needed it. They’ve let me vent and told me when I needed to get a grip. I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world and I don’t know what I would do without them.

Then there’s my friends… “Friends are the family you pick up along the way.” They’re the family that I chose, but God put in my path exactly when I needed them. They’re an amazing group who has made me laugh and cry and hope and pray and dream and dance and heaven knows what else. They’ve had my back through my weakest and strongest and brattiest moments. They are the world to me. Especially you, missEK. If only I could take back half of the pushing and pulling I’ve done to this girl… “I loveloveloveloveLOVE YA TO DEATH!!!” In recent days… we just keep getting closer and closer. “God made us best friends because he knew our mothers couldn’t handle us as sisters.” It’s true.

Soo… this leaves me trying to think. These folks are my air… and… what the heck am I gonna do without them next year?? I mean, really, anyone who knows me knows, I believe that life isn’t about things. That’s stupid-talk. A well-lived life is about God, firstly. And, secondly, is about the people that it touches and touch it. No matter where I go God is going to be right next to me, so no worries there. Also, like I told Breanna, your family… they’re the friends you can’t forget about… they’re permanently linked to you by blood, and generally stronger stuff than that. It’s my friends… will we just slowly fade out of each other’s lives? Will we drop to nothing but a signature in a yearbook and a couple of pictures from high school? I sure hope not. So, how do I breathe? Tell me.

I miss back then. May 21, 2008

Wishing for what was. For better days. This one makes me smile every time. We’ll see what the summer holds.
Do your thing God. Bring our boy back to us before he gets into any real trouble. Show him your perfect will for his life. Amen