Life Update.

Hi!

I hope you are all having a fantastic start to summer!  Recently, I have been really craving going back to my roots and being more creative.  Constantly being in school and studying is a big part of life but it is often draining and can take a lot of the life out of you.  So I decided to start painting and writing again because sewing takes up too much time.

I have been doing so much studying and practically living at the library.  This past semester I also rushed a medical fraternity and solidified my track towards medical school.  That has been a very interesting but also very stressful.  Also, engineering is hard, it is not impossible but it is definitely a difficult track but I am really excited to be able to apply all of the knowledge into the real world one day. 

One of the main things that have been on my mind is just travel and experiencing things outside of just gaining knowledge from a textbook.  I have always been a huge proponent of education but I think that a big part of learning is being able to go out and experience the real world and other cultures.  I really want to go to Europe, climb Mount Kili, walk around Sydney, and even hike up Big Sur.  I just haven't figured out exactly how or when I am going to do any of it.

Another big aspect of my life has always been my religion, of course, but right now me and the Big Guy are not on the best of terms.  There are always ups and downs in every relationship and that includes a spiritual one.  My mother always says that everything is done in His time and not my time so it is difficult just to accept that the majority of life is not in your control and you just have to trust. 

All in all, life has just been a lot of studying, sleeping, and trying to keep my sanity lol.  I have so many ideas for new posts and I will be making blogging a new part of my schedule so look out for more posts.  Leave any ideas below!

A.

Comparison.

Hello.

So I am sure that a lot of you have heard the expression, "Comparison is the thief of joy."
And I completely agree.

If you compare yourself to the people around you, you will never find happiness in all the things you already have.  This doesn't always have to be material possessions, it can be absolutely anything.  One of the main reasons I think comparison is such a negative habit is because it fosters a sense of envy.

Yet, I probably compare myself more than anyone I know.  I was at brunch the other day and one of my best friends even pointed it out to me.  It's something so simple that even I neglect to accept.

I've said time and time again, and I will continue to say it: we live in a world where it is so simple to look at someone else's life through a screen and just imagine how wonderful their lives must be.  Recently, I've been majorly struggling.  Struggling to find who I am, struggling to find happiness in the little things, struggling not to compare my life to others on social media, struggling not to focus on the future, struggling to find motivation, just struggling.  I have felt sad and alone.  And I am not afraid to admit it because it happens to all of us.

Then I think about how God gave another day to live.  Another opportunity to serve Him.  God, so wonderful, made the mountains and the sea and decided the world needed one of me and one of you.

But, then you think, if He made this world so wonderful why don't I have as much as her or why does that person have less than me?  Why, if everything is so peachy, am I not given the same opportunities as others? Why am I tempted by so much? Why do I fail at so many things? Why do the people around me care so little while they have so many people around them that care so much? Why do I have to work harder than others to achieve the same results? Why does their life seem so perfect while mine is so flawed?

We all have our own battles.  And I promise you that there is nothing in this world that a little faith and hard work cannot fix.  So rather than comparing your journey to someone else, try to fill your heart with gratitude.  If you notice something you don't like, rather than dwelling on it see how you can fix it, pray to God to help you, and have the patience and faith that it will get done.

There will be days where you cannot find an ounce of gratefulness in your heart and others where it comes pouring out of you.  But every day you have to wake up with a grateful heart.  No matter what.

Write your gratitude list in the comments below as well as any requests or post ideas!

A.

Why I Never Quit Blogging.

Hey!

So you guys are all probably wondering why after months of not writing anything I would always come back to blogging.  To be honest, it's not some super awesome reason other than I really love writing.  Blogging for me, was always fun.  It was never a tedious task or something I was forced to do.  Which is why it became something I could put on the backburner.

Oftentimes, I fill my days up with work and studying and lack to plan for having time to do the things I love.  I haven't consistently worked out in months, I do not sew anymore, I don't spend as much time with family and friends, and I neglected to pray as often and block out periods of time in my day specifically dedicated to the Lord.

My life became consumed by school, getting good grades, applying for research, being involved in extracurricular activities, so much so that I would not allow myself enough time to decompress and do things I truly enjoyed.  Not that I don't love learning, but school can oftentimes be a tedious and stressful part of a student's life.

Why am I telling you all of this? There is a lesson.  Just as God took the seventh day to rest after creating the universe, we must too take time to rest.

This spring break has been particularly rough for me.  I find myself staring at a little screen for the majority of the day, watching my schoolmates go to the beach, have brunch, enjoy life.  I felt like I was missing out. I still feel like I am missing out.  I feel lost, confused, upset; you name it and I feel it. 

But blogging is an outlet for me. Writing is an outlet for me.  I used to journal every single night.  I used to write down my prayers or write little poems or just talk about my day and feelings.  And I am writing now at a time where I just feel unsure about everything.

That's why I never quit.  Blogging won't ever be a full-time thing for me, I am going to be an engineer and work in the medical field someday and be a wife and a mother.  But I can always blog while I do all of it.  And if my blog can help even one person, then it is enough for me.

A.

Anxiety.

Hey!

So today, I want to discuss a topic I am all too familiar with: anxiety! You're probably wondering why I am so excited to discuss this but in reality, I am just really happy that have made it to a point in my life where I can not only openly talk about anxiety but I feel confident enough to give others advice on how to cope and deal with anxiety.

Anxiety is not always a sign of deep stress or even that there is something wrong with you, it is a normal mechanism that your body uses to react to a wide array of situations. Feeling anxious if there is a problem with your job or you have a test you did not prepare for is totally normal and shows that your body is reacting rationally to the situations it faces.  Someone with an anxiety disorder has o much anxiety that it interferes with daily life, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

I used to have terrible anxiety over the future, anxiety about what others thought about me, anxiety over whether I would be able to reach my goals, anxiety about money and financial tribulations, anxiety about what food I am going to eat, anxiety about my room not being clean, anxiety about whether or not I would ever get married, anxiety about whether or not checking that I had locked my car three times was enough, anxiety over whether my parents would be okay when I left the house, anxiety about if my little sister was being bullied, anxiety about getting into another car accident, anxiety about whether I prayed enough, anxiety over every little thing.  Everything.  It got to the point where I could not leave my car to pump gas because I was afraid that the people around me would stare or judge me.  I could not do something as simple as leaving my house without having a million thoughts running through my head.  Granted, I never told anyone and I dealt with all of these negative feelings alone, but they still took over my life.

Now, I am part of an amazing organization of almost 200 people at my school.  I don't stress the little things or those things I have no control over.  And the best part is, I no longer have panic attacks or sudden drastic shifts in my mood.

How did I get to this point? How can you get to this point?

Well, for one, I began trusting God and trusting that His plan for me was better than anything I could ever think of or stress over.  That was probably the biggest change in my life that truly led me to happiness and true joy.  I took my stress and my anxiety and my tears and I handed them over to Him, knowing that He would take care of me and everything would be alright.

Secondly, I realized that a great deal of the things in my mind were things I could not control.  I cannot control whether people like me or judge me, so why not continue living my life and doing whatever I want? Do not stress over things you cannot control.

Thirdly, stop wasting your time!  If you're spending your time being idle or sitting around and doing nothing, you are going to have more time to overthink and ruminate on negative thoughts.  Fill your days with schoolwork, volunteer opportunities, hanging out with family and friends, etc.  Sometimes it's better to be very busy so that you don't give yourself the opportunity to overthink.

Lastly, just breathe.  Oftentimes when you're in the middle of a panic attack or your staying up late at nite because you cannot sleep, or you feel as if your drowning in your own thoughts remember to just breathe.  Take a deep breathe and try to revert your negative thoughts to something more positive.

Anxiety is difficult.  I may be well for the most part, but there are still days where I struggle with keeping my mindset in the right place.  I don't think I could write everything down on this subject on one page or even in one day.  There are so many different types of anxieties and different people have different coping mechanisms but overall, this is what helped me.  If you are truly dealing with anything and feel like you need someone to talk to, I am always here and I encourage you to seek help if your negative thoughts make you feel as though you should harm yourself or others around you.

I truly hope this helps someone out there.  Always remember, that with God anything is possible and He will help you get through all of your trials.

A.

17.

Hello.

I genuinely did not want to write this post.

I wanted to avoid the subject at all cost.  I wanted to keep living my life as if nothing happened.

But the reality is, that 17 innocent lives were lost and countless others are in ruins. 

I would be a hypocrite not to discuss something that happened only 30 minutes away from my own home.

What upsets me most about the shooting at Stoneman Douglass High School is not that it was so close to home, or that people died, or that it occurred on a national and religious holiday, or even that this is such an acceptable part of American lives, but the fact that this person has the capability of making people fear for their lives when they are pursuing an education.  That upsets me most. These were children, innocent children.  And now so many of these innocent children are afraid to attend school, parents are afraid to send their children to get an education, school is literally an essential part of every child's life and thousands of students are now afraid of the institution that was meant to propel them towards a better life. 

This post is not political and will not discuss the subject in detail.  I simply ask every one of you to place yourself in the situation that those children faced the day a young man walked into their school with the intention of killing as many people as possible.  Place yourself in their shoes.  Feel their fear, try to imagine the sheer atrocity it must have been to sit and wait in a classroom, not knowing if you would make it out alive.  Then, place yourself in the position of the parents that sent their child off to school every morning for the past 18 years and now will never see their baby ever again, will never hear their voice ever again, will never hug them ever again, will never hear their laughter, will never watch them walk across the graduation stage or get married or have children of their own.  Have some compassion for those families and those students that have suffered. 

I implore all of you to hug those around you that you love, make it known to them how much they mean to you.  Pray for the families, pray for the souls of those students that lost their lives, pray for the young man who did this, pray that no other child will ever have to suffer this pain again.

I know that prayers and condolences will not make a change if they are not followed by action, but I choose not to get political because that's not my intention.  I am incredibly proud of the willpower of Broward as a county and a community, these young people will truly make a change in the world because of their choice to not be silenced but rather use their voices to help others in the future.

I leave you with this quote:
"Opting for peace does not mean a passive acquiescence to evil or compromise of principle. It demands an active struggle against hatred, oppression, and disunity, but not by using methods of violence. Building peace requires creative and courageous action." - Pope John Paul II

A.

Lent.

Hey.

So lent is a very important time for any Christian, but particularly as a Catholic, this time is highlighted by a multitude of events that culminate into the season of  Easter.  This is probably the most important season, surpassing Christmas simply because it is held in remembrance of Jesus' greatest sacrifice for each and every one of us.

I know you're wondering, "Well Ana, what are you planning on giving up this Lent?"
Well, my response to that question is quite difficult because I'm not giving up a specific item, but rather I am choosing to give up more of my time to the Lord.  I don't really have any negative habits that I must get rid of or any temptations that are causing me harm, but there are things I don't do like pray on a regular basis.

I've decided to dedicate at least half an hour every day to prayer and communicating with God.  The first thing my father said when I told him this was that half an hour was way too little.  But in reality, going from five minutes a day to an hour seems like a drastic change.

To be honest, I am the type of person that prays throughout the day and has a little conversation with God asking Him for guidance or saying a short prayer of gratitude or simply going to Him when I really need someone to talk to.  But I feel that dedicating myself to sitting down and simply thinking about Him, maybe praying the rosary, or reading some verses from the bible, would really help strengthen my relationship with the Lord immensely.

We all have super busy schedules, trust me I know the struggle.  But we should all be willing to dedicate at least a few moments of our day to honour our creator, the one who gives us everything we need and never fails to be there for us all when we need him most.

So I encourage you all to give up a few moments of your own day this Lent.  You can give up Netflix too (that's what I gave up last year :D), but also think about how amazing it would be to grow closer to God over the next 40 days.

I hope you all had a great Ash Wednesday!

A.

Habits.

Hi.

In my search to pursue happiness and pursue my goals, I looked up different ways people studied and lived their daily lives.  There was one common variable among all of these generally happy people.  How did they all build good such well-rounded lives? They developed habits.

A habit is an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary, according to the definition on Dictionary.com.

This is crucial because small habits, small consistent actions are what develop a person.  Once we formulate something as a habit, we no longer have to spend energy making the choice to do that action and we have more energy to make better-informed decisions on more important things in our lives, this is all part of the will-power theory.  You can find more information about the willpower theory through the American Psychological Organization: http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/willpower.aspx

So, how do we create habits? How can we use our bodies natural ability to form habits to our advantage? Why are habits so important?

We create habits through constant repetition.  We can use habits to make tasks such as studying, exercising, healthy eating, easier for our bodies and seem like less of a daunting task.  Habits are crucial because every small act, every choice, every single decision will build our character and eventually who we are as people.  Habits can be good or bad. Our ability to manipulate good habits and remove bad habits is what makes them so important.

It takes time to build an action into a habit.  But if we can take that time to help us develop something that will benefit our future, why not?

If you're interested in learning more about habits and research conducted on the subject I recommend the book The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg.

A.

Biomedical Engineering

Hey!

I decided to begin my school and study posts writing about my major and my first semester of college.  There is not much information available on my major unless you go looking for it so I felt it appropriate to discuss being a female in the STEM field.

So I am an undergraduate student studying Biomedical Engineering.  Biomedical Engineering (BME) is the implementation of engineering principles into the medical field.  The field of BME is extremely broad and can range anywhere from building prosthesis to wearable sensors to cellular engineering.  Many of the medical technology such as MRI as well as the heart rate monitor on a smart watch are all considered part of BME.

Currently, I have only completed one semester of college and therefore have only completed one class under BME.  Fall semester I took six classes: chemistry, chemistry lab, calculus, two honors courses, and intro to BME.  The majority of my studies consisted of chemistry, calculus, and MATLAB.  One of the major things about engineering that many people tend to forget is that it is not only a science based field but a technology based field.  Coding and computer simulations and laboratory work make up a great deal of your time and efforts.

My first semester of college was all about transitioning for me.  I wanted to focus on building good study habits and having a stable foundation in terms of my academics.  One of the most important things I did was waking up early and going to the library every single day.  Even if it is just staying at the library to read a book or watch a YouTube video, make it a habit to go somewhere that you can focus.  This way when the end of the semester comes and you're stressed, you won't have to waste your willpower on going somewhere to study (I will be doing a post on habits later on).

Otherwise, I did not become incredibly involved in any organizations until this semester simply because it was difficult to try and keep up a new schedule whilst accommodating to commuting and balancing everything.  I kept it simple and just focused on school for the first semester while I got accustomed to everything.  If you're going into your first semester, I strongly suggest that you do the same because it will be worth it in the end.

I apologize for the long post but I felt it important to discuss all of this because university is an important step in anyone's life and not many people know about what I am currently studying.  I hope you all have an awesome day and if you have any specific requests/suggestions/concerns just leave them in the comments below.

A.

Patience.

Hey!

So patience is not one of my strong suits. I want what I want and I want it now.  But, life has taught me that my plan is no match to that of the Lord's plan. 

We often think that we have everything figured out, or that because others are moving at a different pace than you that it is better, or that everything we have must be better than it already is. I am most definitely someone who has dealt with all of these feelings and has battled with life because it is not going where I want it to go.

You may be thinking, after months of not hearing anything on this blog, I am suddenly coming back talking about these abstract subjects that have nothing to do with fashion or beauty. Well, life took a turn for me.  Sometimes you must isolate yourself from toxic relationships and negative influences to truly hear God and His message to you.  That is what happened to me my first semester of university.  I wasn't "lonely", but I was alone and all I had to comfort me was prayer and simply listening because there was nothing else I could do.

On that note, I want to encourage you all to really focus on practicing patience.  Be still and just listen.  This doesn't mean you have to stop working towards your goals or go off into the desert and isolate yourself completely.  But try asking Him to guide you, guide your life, show you where He wants you to go.  I seriously struggled with this, with the idea that I could trust my life to someone I never personally met. It is difficult because everything seems so vague and there will be so many temptations that stir you away but stay firm in your faith.

In this world, people often move too fast and miss the little moments.  Those little moments, those small pockets of peace are where God speaks to you. I challenge you to slow yourself down in a world where speed is seen as something essential.  Don't drive so fast to work, just leave your house a little early.  Don't rush to finish your paper, start it the moment your professor assigns work. Don't anticipate getting everything you want the exact moment you want it because God will give it to you when you truly need it most.

I am officially back.  God has placed it in my heart to write my story, write my lessons, write about my life.  I will be writing about faith but also about university, beauty, and fashion as well.  I don't know what purpose this will serve or whether it will help someone, but I truly hope that someday someone reads this and is comforted to know that struggling is only part of life and that everything, absolutely everything can be resolved by simply having faith and being patient through your trust in the Lord. 

A.

How Do YOU Define Success

Hello!

So recently, I watched a video on YouTube by Gabriel Conte describing his reasons for thinking he is successful and how he became so successful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmQTyuQWJBc

This video really got me thinking, how do I define success in my own life and how does my definition of success alter the way I view my life.  Success, as many people think of it, is reaching a point of great wealth and popularity.  Yet so many of these wealthy "successful" people fall into negative habits, depression, and some even commit suicide.  Conte describes his success in terms of the relationships he has developed and the effort and time he has placed into those relationships in order to allow them to flourish.

I fell in love with his view of the world.

No, this does not suddenly make me the world's most positive person. No, I am not enlightened. No, I am not perfect.

But, my perception has shifted.

Success is not a one-size fits all.  We all measure success based on our own accomplishments and our own goals.  The main idea around this video and this post is that success does not equal wealth but rather how you take in all the blessings in your life and take advantage of those blessings in a positive manner.  Life is a great culmination of our actions and it really requires all of our efforts to reach a point of ultimate success.

So I ask, how do YOU define success?  Does your malformed definition of success make you out to be less than you are? Can you modify success to fit your life? If you have yet to reach success, can you modify your goals to attain realistic, true success?

A.

Graduation!

Hey.

Life is a crazy ride.  This Monday I graduated high school and officially entered a new chapter of my life.  My family came to celebrate my successes, even after all I have put them through.  It has been a great blessing to have been given the opportunity to have such an amazing education and now be headed towards another institution to continue studying the subjects I love and enjoy.

Here are some photos from graduation:

It was an amazing experience and it went by so fast, I barely remember it.  Honestly, a lot of students were sad to be leaving behind four years of memories and friendships but I feel prepared to step into college and build new friendships, new experiences, and new opportunities.  High school was difficult but college will be something completely new as I step both into a new environment and into adulthood.

This summer, I hope to sew more and learn to make new clothing as well as visit my family in Puerto Rico and do some exciting things such as hike into the rain forest and go zip lining.  Hopefully I will make new clothes and be able to share them with all of you.  

I am so happy to be back to my normal self and feel much better since my last post.  

Quick story about my cap because it holds great meaning for me:

After the incident with choosing my university, I became very sad as I mentioned in my last post.  I was confused and lacked faith that God had a good plan for my future.  So I went looking for bible verses and stories and blog posts that would help calm my soul, things that other people experienced that would set me back on the path to prayer.  That is when I cam across the bible verse Jeremiah 29:11.  After I wrote it down, I kept it in my journal for a while and when it came to decorate my graduation cap, I wrote it.  As I showed the progress of my decorations to my family, my aunt noticed the verse and said it was the same as the one on the card she gave me. In disbelief I retrieved the card only to realize it was the verse in Spanish and a chill went over my entire body.  This was the sign that the Lord was present and ready to be part of my future.  He will take care of me and ensure my future.  

A.

Envy.

Hey.

Recently, I came across a troubling realization.  I am envious.

My mother is probably reading this and flipping out because envy is such a terrible thing and its one those seven deadly sins and its just generally not good.  But, we all do it.  We all envy.

In today's society is it so easy to go online and peek into someone else's life.  It is so simple to see all that everyone has, all of their material possessions, all of their relationships, their lives essentially.  It is incredibly easy to compare what you have to what they have.

Personally, I was really depressed about having to make the tough decision to enter FIU rather than move to Washington DC for college.  I had a difficult time finding a reason to get out of bed.  Sometimes, I lost my appetite and even lost a few pounds over my saddness.  I didn't really tell anyone about how I felt until one night I just couldn't hold it in anymore and I walked into my parent's bedroom, sobbing like a child because I felt everything in my life had gone wrong.

Truthfully, life just isn't always perfect. Things were not going my way and seeing everyone around me so happy, filled with so many amazing opportunities and new experiences, I felt like I was being held back from reaching my full potential.

Then, out of nowhere, all the signs that I kept praying for came to me.

It all began prom night.  Prom was incredibly expensive.  Don't get me wrong, it was an unforgettable experience and I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to be part of the tradition that is "Prom" but I regret paying so much for one night.  I regret feeling like I had to be beautiful for everyone around me rather than feeling beautiful for myself.  I mainly regret feeling sad for myself about not having a date because despite being dateless, I had an awesome time with my friends.

That night taught me that I was so concerned about what others thought about me that I did not stop to think about what I thought of myself. I needed the elegant dress, the beautiful hair, the long nails, everything had to be perfect (@ Sharpay Evans).  By the end of the night, my makeup was streaking down my face, my hair was frizzy, and my heels were in my hand.  None of the other stuff mattered because I danced with my closest friends and had a good time while still being sober.

After prom, I realized I didn't need a mans nor did I need all of these excessive and expensive things to make me happy.

Then, the following night I went to church and a lady went up to my mother and started speaking to her about a new radio station which led to the conversation about a Puerto Rican prayer group and then led to the conversation about a young adult ministry.

One of my main concerns about going to FIU was that I would not be involved in my faith as I would be at CUA, especially considering my recent hindrance in my faith (we all have moments where we question ourselves and our connection to God, but that's a whole nother topic).  When I found out that there was a youth ministry near me of students my age that sought the Lord in the same way I did, I knew it was a sign.

So, the point of my anecdote was not to spark sympathy, because I am getting better, but to show you that sometimes life sucks.  Sometimes, we see that others are enjoying their lives and we see all that they have but even once we reach a similar point we still see what we don't have rather than all of the blessings around us.

Look around you.  Right now, you are probably envious and jealous of someone who has more, who has more money or more friends or more time to relax.  Let it go (@ Frozen lol).  Focus on all the amazing opportunities, even if they are small.  Things may not be going your way right now, but if you continue striving for your goals you will have all that you need to fulfill your own journey towards happiness.

It is so difficult with all of this negative energy and this push to lead an idle life but God calls us to keep pursuing greater goals.

Today, I am focusing on the small victories of just going to the gym and the sun shining beautifully outside because life is too short to be envious.

A.

P.S. - I looked like a little princess at prom and I had such a fun time!

Science.

Hello

My two favorite subjects in school have always been science and mathematics.  As a young girl, I was often teased and bullied for doing well in school and enjoying these subjects (even when I myself did not understand them).  Females are told from a young age that they do not belong in the STEM field because of their gender, because of women's predetermined role in society.  Furthermore, the entire discussion of science is seen as something to be discussed by people who lack the knowledge to be adequately part of the conversation.

Obviously, I consider myself a laymen, someone who lacks proper specialized knowledge in a particular subject.  I am still a student, still in the process of learning.  But this makes my role in the conversation that much greater, it makes me and all other students part of the future.

This weekend the March for Science was held in more than 600 cities across the world on Earth Day.  I learned more about the subject, as it is directly related to the field of engineering in which I plan on going into.  The movement is based "on informed advocacy, community building, and accessible education" (according to the March for Science website homepage: https://satellites.marchforscience.com).

Instantly, I thought about the great impact science and learning has on our community.

It is so important to be part of a conversation and to establish a connection with the world around us in a more coherent and specialized manner.  So, I encourage all of you reading this to become more aware.  Science may not be your best subject, sometimes the material is difficult to grasp and the lessons are hard to apply but it impacts every single one of us on a daily basis.

Learn. Be present.  Establish yourself as a member of society.

This world, it is not going to be here forever.  We must learn not only to care for it but to evolve in it.

If you have any topics or things that you wished to be discussed, please leave them in the comments below.

A.

P.S. - I wrote this a while ago and simply forgot to post it (lol) but I still believe the message is pertinent and hopefully sparks a discussion.

Evolving.

Hi.

Recently, things in my life have changed.  I have changed.  My perspective, my priorities, everything about me has matured and grown up into a small, concise package that is Ana Valentin.  When I began writing my blog, I made it in the hopes that I could share some of my high school experience as well as my love for fashion and other super girly things.  As crazy as it may seem, I am not the same person I was as a freshman in high school.  I have grown up a little and honestly, fashion is no longer a priority of mine (mostly due to lack of funds, but we will ignore that).

There is so much more I want to discuss and put out into the world (even if the only people that read this are my parents, hi mom and dad :).  Point being: my blog is a piece of me that will continue evolving as I do.

Quick Update:
So yes, I have chosen to change my blog and eventually the style and look will change too.  As I go into college and face the real world, I will have new experiences with new people and a whole new life.  Right now, things are changing drastically and not in the way anyone expected them to.  I will be remaining at home, living at home, commuting to college, studying biomedical engineering, while *hopefully* working part-time nearby.  No, I haven't decided if I will go to medical school or grad school or anything else for that matter.
But I am getting a new car and its beautiful, I will share at a later date.

Some of you may be wondering, why has Ana suddenly decided to make such a drastic change? Well my dear reader, because a drastic change was made in me.  I want to have fun times and be goofy and at the same time be able to uphold a meaningful conversation with another person, and I want my blog to reflect that.  I attempted to emulate people with a totally different life perspective than mine previously.  Now I am creating my own content that makes me happy and sparks a discussion that I want.

For a long time, I did not use my blog or write anything because I did not know how to tie in my life to my blog.  This time I can share my life, the reality of what college is like from my perspective and make a place where my ideas and my thoughts can flourish and my experiences can be shared without the overwhelming need to make everything perfect like all other social media seems to force us to do.  I realize I am not attending a college like Stanford where different minds come together in a melting pot of brilliance, but I've come to the conclusion that anything you do in life is up to YOU to make the most out of it.

I hope you all can support me in my decision to change this blog into a more lifestyle-discussion piece.

Thank you for all the loyal few that continuously read my work, and to the new readers I hope you stay to find out what I am all about.

A.

Being a Leader

Hello Lovelies!

As I have stated before, I am in a position of leadership at my school as the Battalion Commander of  Junior ROTC program of 250 cadets.  This past year has taught me so much about being in charge of a large group of people and being held accountable for everything that happens concerning the group. Leadership is so much more than just delegating and commanding people, it is so much more than just telling others what to do while you sit back and take the credit.  I am held responsible for all the good and bad that happens in the Gator Battalion.  So, stemming from this experience that is about to end in less than a month (wow, that's actually crazy) I wanted to let you all know some of the lessons I have learned this past school year!

~ 1 ~

Always be part of the process, but learn to delegate.

So, the majority of the time people that are placed in high authority have type A personalities.  From a psychological perspective dealing with stress, type A personalities are more competitive and self-critical.  It is important to know, you cannot control every little detail.  But that does not mean you must delegate every single task to someone else and just watch them do all the work.  Have a balance between delegating and doing thing yourself.

~ 2 ~

Be passionate about what you do.

People around you, particularly those underneath your leadership, will notice any changes in your enthusiasm and will mimic whatever you do.  If you are having a bad day, they will have a bad day as well.  If you lose passion for what you do, everyone around you will feel the same way.  I have watched projects fail because the participants lose passion due to bad/lack of leadership.  Remember, you are the foundation of whatever your in charge of.

~ 3 ~

Comparison is the thief of joy.

Whatever you do, never compare yourself to other leaders.  There is a stigma that you must be better than the last and you must be the best in your group, but that is not necessarily always the most optimal viewpoint.  You are not in a competition with anyone but yourself.  So focus on what you have to do and do the best within your own capabilities and everything will turn out fine.

~ 4 ~

Learn from those around you.

Despite being chosen for the position of Battalion Commander, I take the time every day to speak to the freshman in the program and converse with them as I would with a friend.  This is something that so many leaders overlook, the power of the smaller majority.  Everyone underneath you is dependent on you and it is important to know who they are and to learn from them.  They have ideas and concerns and they can bring a new perspective to the table. Do not underestimate anyone.

~ 5 ~

Trust yourself. Only yourself.

I once said, "Loneliness is an easy thing to come by on the road to success." That is true.  Being in charge and accountable for everything that occurs to a group of people forces you to make certain sacrifices.  My best advice is to keep things to yourself concerning the leadership role you are in because many people will want to see you fail.  Obviously do not hold things in and speak to trusted advisers but be careful about who you choose and acknowledge that you are in a position others want and may envy.

~ 6 ~

There is more to life than what you are leading.

As much as people tend to make their entire lives about work or about something very important to them, it is essential to maintain a balance among all aspects of life.  There is still family, religion, friends, and simple daily tasks that can be put on the back-burner.  Do not feel bad or selfish for occasionally saying no or taking a day off.

Leadership is such an important skill to have in life and I think everyone should have the basics of leading a group of people.  I hope this post will help some of you out in any upcoming leadership roles you may encounter.  If you have any questions or need some advice, I am always available so do not hesitate to ask.

Have a blessed day!

xoxo, Ana

Cardinal Preview Day 2017

Hello Lovelies!

As you are all now aware of, I will be attending the Catholic University of America in the upcoming semester.  This past weekend I attended Cardinal Preview Day in which I got to explore the campus, speak to prospective students, and check out the Biomedical Engineering program.  I absolutely loved the experience and it really confirmed my choice in attending that institution.

I will be getting back into blogging as I've truly been missing writing and want to share the college experience with all of you.  Lots of things will be changing as I enter university, obviously I will be moving from Florida to Washington D.C. which is a completely different world.  This is incredibly exciting and I am honestly really happy.

Here are some pictures from the trip:

I really hope that I will be given the opportunity to remain consistent on my blog and hope that all goes well throughout the next four years.

xoxo, Ana

P.S. - Not sure if you noticed, but I did cut and color my hair.  I still have mixed feelings but I may go blonder next time!!

Happy 2017: I'm Back and I'm Better

Hello Lovelies!

It has been so long since my last actual post.  I honestly feel as if I have abandoned one of my favorite aspects of my life.  I have been extremely busy.  There has been many events that have occurred since we last spoke.  I want to quickly fill you guys in on some of the things that have occurred since I last wrote before I let you all know about the future, especially concerning my senior year of high school! :D

Well, I have participated in countless events such as the Freedoms Foundation Valley Forge trip as well as an awesome program called H2O to Go at Florida Atlantic University.  Those were more educational trips concerning history and marine biology, respectively.  I also went to Washington DC for Academic Team and made 16th in the United States.  Then, as a senior in high school so much has happened.  I am the Battalion Commander of my JROTC program so that's been so much work but I have also done Raiders (we made it to states! :) and other events throughout the year.  It has been very stressful but rewarding.  In my personal life, I had a boyfriend and then realized that neither was prepared for that kind of commitment and broke up with him shortly after.  Now I am spending time with my closest friends.

The biggest news has to be my acceptance into The Catholic University of America in Washington DC.  I have placed my enrollment fee in and will officially be attending in August 2017 in the school of Engineering to study Biomedical Engineering with a focus on pre-med.  I am super excited for the opportunity to study at such an amazing and religiously fulfilling institution.

The year 2016 was really difficult for me and very enlightening.  I am ready to go into 2017 with a new perspective and insight into what life is really about.

I hope you all had an amazing new years and holiday season and are prepared for another year of new experiences and obstacles.

xoxo, Ana

Long Time No See

Hello Lovelies!

It's been almost two months since my last post and I feel horrible.  Life has honestly been such a whirlwind of events and studying and working that I haven't had much time to do anything.

I hope you all will forgive my lack of posts recently.  I will be working hard to post new content as soon as I can. Right now, I am in the midst of AP season and I am taking three exams so please bear with me.  I plan on getting a new camera soon so that I can bring you all quality, unique content.  This summer is going to be an interesting one, so you all should be able to come on this journey with me.

Hope you're all doing well and can have patience with me.

xoxo, Ana

Big Things Coming

Hello Lovelies!

As those of you know who read my second to last post, I have kind of been dealing with a lot lately and life has kind of been a whirlpool of new experiences, both good and bad.  For a minute I felt very hopeless and like things were never going to get better.  God, as always, has proved me very wrong.

Sometimes, God has an unconventional way of showing us that life has it's difficult moments but it always gets better.  He will never put us through anything that He feels we cannot endure.  And as a teenager in today's society, those hardships become a lot more public.  He is always pushing us, testing our limits, helping us to go in his path.  If you are as stubborn as I am, sometimes that requires a little push.

The last couple of weeks served as a BIG push.  God most definitely tested my limits and although I failed in some aspects, I got back up on my saddle and pushed myself toward God's path.  Now, I am reaping the rewards.  My life is taking a very busy turn for the better.  {As if I wasn't busy enough...}

I am finally going to Philadelphia on Thursday and I couldn't be more excited !!!

My academic team made it to Washington DC !!!

I might be getting a job.... or I at least applied !!!

In a few months I start college applications !!!

So basically, my life got really exciting, really fast.  I am super pleased at how everything is turning out, although I am exhausted and stressed {good stress guys :D}.  New opportunities are so important to take advantage of and make the most.  You can always learn something new from even the simplest of moments.

Hopefully my new job means a better wardrobe which means more fashion posts.  And hopefully I will take lots of pictures in Philly and Washington and life will be great because you all have new content and I get new experience!

I hope you all are having a great February and ill talk to you in a few.

xoxo, Ana

Relative Happiness.

Hey Lovelies!

Today I have a post for you all that is a bit more intimate.  I want to talk about happiness, specifically "relative happiness."

Most of us live in a place where no real poverty exists, only relative poverty.  We compare ourselves to other people and we compare what we have to what others have.  But we have a choice to live a happy and fulfilled life, and yet many of us are not proud or glad at their current position in life.  We are never content, we always want more, seeking perfection.

Happiness is a choice, a feeling.  Not always is happiness available for us, sometimes we have to feel sad, upset, even depressed.  What we cease to realize is that joy and great pleasure is a lifestyle that you can commit to.  Life does not always hand you lemons, life will have hardships and you will suffer.  But that does not mean that you can never be happy again.

You can choose to go about living your life dwelling on the things that did not happen and on the things that you did not have.  Or you can choose to dwell on the people that love you and the happiness you gained from simple things, like a lovely sunset.  Focus on the fact that there are people out there with so much less, who are living in real poverty, spending days hungry and alone.

Did you know that generosity releases hormones that make you feel better, happier?

Give back to those who have less.  Give back to those who have helped you.  Give back to those who have hurt you.

Live a life of joy!  Live a life worth living.  You only have one chance, you only have this moment to make it count.  So choose happiness!

We all have someone who cares for us, even when you feel as if you don't!  If you are reading this, know that I love you and I appreciate you.

xoxo, Ana