"Mistakes. They are important. There is a lot I will teach you this semester, but some of the most important lessons you will learn and remember are going to come from the mistakes you make in this class." 
-Sra Moran

I'll be the first to admit that I was very weary of taking Spanish 2 this semester. I had heard a lot of.... not so good things about my professor. I was scared. All I wanted to do was make a good grade and do well in this class. I knew that I was capable of doing but I was so worried. 

The first few weeks of class scared me to death. I was so intimidated by my professor because I knew this was going to be a tough semester and she got down to business. The first chapter test we took I was so worried about because I was not grasping the concepts we were covering. I went and had a session with my professor that I had last semester because she was a familiar teacher to me and I knew she could help me figure things out because she had been so good at it before. (I really only asked her for help because I was too intimidated to ask my current professor.) Well the first test went great. I made a really good grade and I couldn't have been more excited. And don't worry I made sure to give sra. Thompson a big hug for it. 

The next chapter was also a little difficult for me to master and I think sra. Moran picked up on it. She would call me out when I had a confused look on my face. I will forever be grateful for that. I was a little embarrassed at first that she would notice the confusion all over my face, but when she slowed down and broke it down even more for me I was glad she noticed. And from then on I was not embarrassed to just say, "Umm repita por favor." 

There was one particular day that I was as lost as last years easter egg when I left class. So I went up to her very hesitantly and asked her if she had any office hours that she would be willing to spare so I could ask more questions to understand what we went over in class. Of course like I expected she did and she told me to come by when I had a chance. So I did. When I went by my knees were shaking. Why? Because like I had said before she intimidated me so much. But I went in and sat down and started asking questions and she reexplained to me the things that I was not getting. We chatted and she was a huge help to me that day. I realized after that that she wasn't as intimidating as I had originally thought. She began talking to me and my Spanish buddy after class and I thoroughly enjoyed our conversations. 

There was another time I went to a honors presentation and the speaker was talking about when is a good time to start teaching children Spanish. If I wrote a reflection I would get extra-credit for Spanish so of course I jumped all over that. When I got there no one else from my class or anyone I knew for that matter was there so I just sat in the back alone. In walks Mrs. Moran. She sits down next to me and we make a little small talk before the presentations start. And then we chat a little as we leave. I wrote my reflection paper and gave some thoughts to what all was said and I got a response my professor that really....touched my heart. I struggle with Spanish. I talked about in my reflection that if maybe I would have been introduced to Spanish at an earlier age, I would understand it better and know it better. I talked about how incompetent I feel learning Spanish. I respect and love the language I just have been able to learn it and pick up on it well. I mean I struggle with learning English, my own language. The response I received from Sra. Moran gave me a little bit of a boost in my self-confidence. I know that I am a bright young woman and that I am capable of doing just about anything I set my mind to, I still need that reassurance. I got just that and a little bit more from the email I received. Such a kind gesture that probably shouldn't have meant as much to me as it did. I am so thankful for kind hearts that I am surrounded by here at FHU.

I just took my last Spanish test before my final this last week and I needed a good grade on it to secure a decent A before I took my final exam. She graded our tests and gave us our final grade report. Well let's just say I walked into that final with a decent A! When I walked up to her office to get my test that would help me study for my exam I saw Sra. Thompson. I just love talking with her! She called me into her office and asked me what I was up to, and I almost burst with excitement to be able to tell her that I had a 95 walking into my final exam. I don't think I have ever been so excited about a grade in my whole life. And when I got done talking to Sra. Thompson I know I have never ran so fast in my whole life back to my dorm with excitement.  Even scared my mom because I was so excited to tell her that I had done well. 

Even though my final exam didn't turn out as I would have hoped, I still wound up with an A. A few tears were shed finals week. But you know, it happens. Failing a final exam and still having an A isn't an easy task but some how I pulled it off and I'm not complaining one bit. Sra. Thompson told me its not about the ingredients of the pie but the actual pie itself. And I couldn't agree more. Sra. Moran told me that my failing grade did not reflect on how smart I was and for the first time in my life I actually believe those words. 

This semester was a good one. My Spanish class was wonderful. Sure I had to really work for that A but it made it just that much sweeter in the end. I wouldn't trade anything for this past year of Spanish. And I especially would not trade anything for the 2 professors that I was so blessed to get to know this year. 

Unique, different, odd ect.

This past Sunday I was at home for the thanksgiving holiday. We talked about how we as Christians are called to be different. My bible class teacher asked us, "Do we like to be called different or unique in a general sense?" Every single person in class said no. I was like, but why not? I didn't understand why no one wanted be called different. Then I thought back to a few years ago. To a time before I was in  college.

I have always been different. I like things that are a little different from things that people my age don't really like. I know that I am different. But I think back to a time, and even sometimes now to when I didn't think that I was different. Or I just didn't want to be different. I wanted everyone to think I was just like them. I didn't want to stand out. I wanted everyone to like me. I struggled with my self image and I just wanted to fit in.

I spent a long time hiding some of of my qualities. I spent a lot of time hiding things that make me, me. It took me a long time to embrace what is different about me. My likes and dislikes and what I like to do and how I act and how I talk may make me different from everyone else. But I shouldn't be afraid or ashamed of that. I need to embrace that. I shouldn't waste time hiding it I should flaunt it. I am me. I am never going to change who I am. I will never be able to make me something that I wasn't meant to be. And why would I want to be something that I'm not?

We should all flaunt what is different about us. (Myself included) I know that I am better about that now than I ever have been before. I am learning to embrace my weirdness because I have tried so hard to accept my imperfections. I struggled so much to please everyone but myself for so long. I spent some time being so unhappy with my life and all the things that were happening in it. Don't apologize for being yourself. Be you and find the people that accept that about you instead of changing just so someone will like you.

Sometimes I still don't like myself. Sometimes I still get frustrated that I am different. Sometimes I do not like for someone to point out how different I am. But I am working to get better about it little by little. I read this quote one day and I don't remember who said it but it is very appropriate "Be weird, be random, be who you are"

Be happy. Be you. No one else can do you like you can.