The Freedom Writers

So I just got done watching the movie The Freedom Writers.  I saw it a long time ago when it first came out and thought it was good but haven't seen it since.  It was on TV today I watched it again and it was  a lot more personal to me this time around when I watched it.

The Freedom Writers is a true story about a teacher that get a class with students from the "bad part of town".  They are disrespectful and don't want to be in school at all.  The story follows her in her journey as she reaches out to the kids and has them write journals and really helps them turn their lives around.  They were all kind of segregated within the classroom because of gangs and what not.  They eventually all came together as a family and were able to relate to each other because they had all been through a lot of the same things.  They improved their grades and graduated and some went off to college.

This really got to me because I will most likely be working with kids or people in those kinds of situations some day.  I am a Vocational Rehabilitation major with a concentration in criminal justice.  I am hoping to work in probation and parole or a related field.  I just want just hope that I can be just a little bit like that teacher with the people that I work with it will be so worth it.  I don't just want to do my job and be done with it, I want to make a difference in people's lives.  I also might have an amazing opportunity this summer to work at a jail back home and mentor the inmates and help them get their GED and make goals for when they get out.  This would be amazing if I could do it!  It is definitely something I would love doing.

I just really hope that I can make a difference of some kind and help the people that I work with that they can do so much more and that they have a least one person behind them supporting them.  A good friend of mine once told me "You make a difference in just one person's life, then yours isn't wasted."  I think about that quote all the time.  I realize that I won't make a difference or connect with every person that I work with, but I want to help at least one person through it all.  Then it will all be worth it!!

TTFN!!
~Sadie Jo~

'If Tonight is My Last'

Alright, well this is my first blog about song lyrics.  I heard this song on my favorite show, One Tree Hill, last night and I have pretty much been listening to it since then.  It is nice to listen to, the singer is amazing!, and also I love the lyrics to it!  I have recently been going through a hard time in my life pertaining to relationships.  I'm not complaining because pretty much I brought it upon myself, but I am just sick of being confused and not knowing what to do.  I have been doing a lot of thinking...well actually thinking is ALL I seem to be doing lately.  And it's kind of nice that I came across this song because it pretty much does the talking for me and says what I want. 
If Tonight is My Last- Laura Izibor

If an angel came down to me, asked what I would do differently
I would say nothing, you see, I love someone truly
And if I do not see tomorrow, you know it's gonna be alright
'Cause I got my baby right by my side
--This section pretty much tells everything I want and want to feel in just four lines.  I want that feeling of loving someone so much and feeling so deeply for them that they are the only person I ever thinking about and only want to think about forever!!  

And if the rain ain't falling and the sun ain't shining
It makes no difference to me I'm right where I wanna be
--I want that giddy/happy feeling that no matter what is thrown at me or what obstacles I face I know I can handle them with grace because I have that special person by my side.  Someone that can cheer me up no matter what is going.

And if tonight is my last what I gotta do?
And if tonight is my last I wanna spend it with you
And if the sky fall's down it's gonna be alright
'Cause I got you here tonight

If I had to give all that I own
In return for the love that's grown
I would give it gladly 'cause nothing else compares
To the moments that we shared
--This is exactly how I feel right now.  I want something so badly that I am willing to give everything I have, because I know that past moments have meant so much and have stuck with me for a reason.  I know it can work under the right circumstances...just have to find them!

And if the rain ain't falling and the sun ain't shining
It makes no difference to me I'm right where I wanna be

And if tonight is my last what I gotta do?
And if tonight is my last I wanna spend it with you
And if the sky fall's down it's gonna be alright
'Cause I got you here tonight

Only given a short time on this earth
You gotta make each moment worth something beautiful
You gotta give every bit of you for the love
Half just won't do
-- This is how I am trying to live.  I realize I am only 20 years old, and hopefully have a lot more time to live, but you never know what will happen.  Gotta live every moment to the fullest and live with no regrets.  Do what makes you happy no matter what and no matter what other people say.  If you don't follow your heart you will regret it forever.  There is a reason your heart is telling you to do something, don't ignore it.  In order to find the love or other things you want you have to take the chance of being hurt and put EVERYTHING you have out there and take those chances.  Might be hard to do and you might end up hurt but I'm fighting for what I want and I realize it could majorly backfire.  I am scared to death right now but I am following my heart.  I just hope it ends in what I am trying to find.  If it doesn't....then I guess I start over. 

And if tonight is my last what I gotta do?
And if tonight is my last I wanna spend it with you
And if the sky fall's down it's gonna be alright
'Cause I got you here tonight

"All is good in the end, if it is not good...then it is not the end!!"

TTFN!!!
 

The Last Song

So another movie I got for my birthday was The Last Song.  I wasn't too sure about this movie at first because I wasn't sure about Miley Cyrus being in it, but it was one of the best movies I have seen in a while.  It also has to be the saddest movie I have EVER seen.  I have never cried so much at a movie.  Again I say major spoiler alert on this one.  Don't read until you have seen it!!!!

Okay so a little background on me first to understand why this movie touched me so much.  About 6 years ago now my uncle died of cancer.  He was my hero and my favorite person/family member.  He and my aunt always babysat me when I was little.  He would always take me around in the woods and teach me things and let me help with the yard work (my favorite was to ride in the trailer behind the lawn mower).  I would follow him around EVERYWHERE, which looking back on it most people would get frustrated or annoyed...but he didn't care!  I was definitely his shadow.  As I got older my sister and I were in sports and dance and he made it to pretty much every game and recital.  Even when he was going through chemo he made it to my sister's softball games.

He was also one of the most compassionate people I know.  He didn't have anything bad to say about to anybody (well maybe some bad refs or umps here and there).  And he was always cheering me up when I was down.  If we lost a basketball game it was the usually response "Whatcha gonna do?!".  He was just a sweet and caring person and would do anything for anyone.  And he would never let it show when the chemo was getting to him.  He was so strong.

Then came the dreadful night when we got a phone call and found out he was in the hospital.  We rushed to the hospital and the sight I saw will never leave my mind.  He was laying in bed with a breathing mask and wasn't wearing his usually Nike hat.  He looked so weak and fragile I instantly broke down.  After I composed myself I went and sat by him for a while and held his hand.  I talked to him for a little bit and he was somewhat aware of what was going on and that we were there but he didn't talk.  I was holding his hand and didn't really know if he knew I was there and then he took his thumb and rubbed it on the back of my hand a few times.  I knew then that he knew I was there and I was glad.  We were there with him all day long.  We napped...tried to keep the little cousins (his grandkids) busy with stuff and we waited.  People came and went to see him and to pretty much say goodbye.  I reluctantly went home with my parents that night thinking I would be coming back to be with him.  I woke up the next morning and found out he had passed overnight.  I never got to say my goodbye.

So, The Last Song really hit me when the audience finds out that Ronnie's dad has cancer.  The end of the movie is Ronnie staying with her dad and helping him out as he gets worse and worse and eventually dies.  This was soooo hard for me to watch because I did the same thing.  I remember first hearing that my uncle had a tumor...and then it progressing to cancer...and then seeing him deteriorate right before my eyes and then eventually losing him.  It may have been 6 years ago, but I remember it all like it was yesterday. 

I also commend Miley Cyrus on her performance.  She did an amazing job on showing the right emotions and really bringing the audience in making them feel what she is feeling and what people in those situations feel.  It might be a sad movie, but it is a great movie!

Me and My uncle

I would never wish upon anyone that they have to deal with a loved one going through cancer.  It is sad, and hard, and very emotional.  It took me a long time to bounce back from it all and it is still hard on me.  I really recommend this movie to anyone! To anyone out there fighting cancer stay strong; Livestrong!!

I love you Uncle Kenny and I miss you!!

TTFN!!

Dear John

So, my birthday was last week and one of my presents was the movie Dear John, which I love.  I actually read the book first.  The movie is very different from the book; it doesn't even have the same ending.  Spoiler alert: if you haven't seen it yet I wouldn't read this til you have.
Dear John is a sotry about long distance love and the army.  Even though I have no experience with having a significant other in the armed forces, I have a lot of experience with long distance relationships.  This movie shows how difficult long distance can be and that eventually as time goes on you need to stop and figure out if you can continue in such a relationship.

It seems like every relationship that I have ever been involved in has been long distance, but varying in some way.  They have ranged from a few hours, to long distance just during the week, to way across the country (this is the most recent one =) .

Sometimes long distance is so hard because some days all you can do is think about the other person and how much you miss them; it consumes your whole day and you are down in the dumps.  I would be lying if I say I don't think sometimes it would be easier to not do it. 

Every now and then it just gets so difficult that you feel it would be simpler to end it, but then you remember how much you love the other person and the reason you are fighting to stay together.  It takes all you have to get through the time apart until you are finally able to be together for good.  It can definitely turn you into a very strong person.

One other thing that this movie brings up that I believe in is that everything happens for a reason and what is meant to be will always find its way in the end.  In the movie they break up, and go their separate ways, but in the end they find their way back to each other because they were meant to be together.  They went through a lot to get there together.  I just think that I'll let whatever happens happen and what is meant to happen to me will happen!!  Until then I will just hang on through the distance.

TTFN!!

Dirty Dancing

As you can probably tell from the title of my blog, I believe Dirty Dancing is the best movie ever!  I'm sure there are plenty of people out there that don't agree with me, but it holds a lot of meaning to me.  When I was little every time I would go visit my aunt the first thing I would do was go into the basement and put Dirty Dancing in the VCR.  It was the only movie that I had ever watched to the point where my aunt had to get a new copy of it because I wore it out!!  When I watch it now I see how it can be considered a little cheesy, but back then to me it was the BEST movie ever made! Nothing could ever compete (I actually refused to watch Dirty Dancing Havana Nights for the longest time because I insisted that they could never make a sequel to the original).

I guess back then that movie to me was kind of like some hope of what the future could hold.  It was the ultimate love story of a couple from different parts of town beating the odds and doing what was right for them and not everyone else.  It also got my attention from the amazing dancing in it (I have danced since I was 2 years old).  The movie sends the message that no matter what happens, or no matter who is against you, you need to do what is right for you and eventually everything will fall into place.  I have learned this a few times over again in life.  And mostly dealing with relationships.  People may not 'approve' of who you are seeing, but if you are happy and you love each other it doesn't matter.  Eventually they will see the happiness and love and accept it.  If not they don't have your best interests in mind.

Another aspect of the movie that I loved was...Patrick Swayze, of course!!  I of course thought he was dreamy, and I mean, come on now, who can resist a good-looking/amazing male dancer!?!  For the longest time on all my birthday and Christmas lists I had 'meet Patrick Swayze' but that unfortunately didn't happen.  Especially when he passed away after his amazing fight against cancer.  His character kind of resembled the guy I always saw myself ending up with.  Smooth, caring, would stand up for me, would be there for me, would be willing to work through anything to be together, and of course good dance skills wouldn't hurt ;)

I guess I have tried to live my life following the messages in this movie.  Don't settle for less than what you deserve and try your very hardest to achieve the things you want in life.  Don't give up and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.  I just hope that when I look back on life some day all the memories and things I have accomplished rush over me with exhilaration like the infamous lift at the end of the movie!!

"'Cause I had the time of my life
No I've never felt this way before...

And I've searched through every open door
Till I found the truth
and I owe it all to you"
I think this is good enough for a first blog...sorry if it was random, cut me some slack it's my first post :)
TTFN