Monday, February 24, 2014

Safari yangu ina ameanza

 
Safari yangu ina ameanza
 
(My journey has just begun)


Did you know that South Africa has the most rapes in all the world and nine out of ten rapes are NOT reported to police officials? Being raped also comes along with the fear of getting infected with HIV. About 25 million Africans have HIV. My dream is to go to Africa and help the people who've been raped so they can live a life without fear, I want to raise awareness of rape within Africa. Little by little I am reaching my dream. This dream of mine has developed over the years and the journey has just begun.
 
It started in my sophomore year of high school I had a class called African literature. The class consisted of learning all the 54 countries and learning about a culture I only knew about by the things I saw on t.v. We read this book called, "Things Fall Apart" by a man named Chinua Achebe  and that is when my desire to go to Africa started. The way he brought the story to life made me want to explore the ins and outs of the culture. He talked about the how family how beautiful yet destructive it can be. Our teacher even had a cook come in and cook for us a traditional meal and talk to us about the way flavors were incorporated into a dish. Everything that I learned had me in awe.  

The main reason that I also have this urge to go was because so many women get raped and no one helps them. My junior year I just had this thought placed heavily on my mind that I needed to go out and help these people. In that moment I was like, "I am going to be a sex therapist to help people who've been raped and molested. If you ask me "Why a sex therapist?" I wouldn't be able to tell you how it came to mind. Have you ever just had something placed in your heart and just not know why it was their?
 
When I told my mom that this what I wanted to do she accepted it and supports me a 120%. Then I told her I wanted to go to Africa she was happy that I was acting on what I wanted to do. Ever since I can remember she always called me her "little missionary". I would deny it and tell her that she is crazy and that she had no idea what she was prophesizing into my life.
 
So lets fast-forward to 2 months before now. I came across a missionary group who go out and help the people in third world countries and bring to them Jesus Christ. One of the missions is to go on a "South African Expedition".  I applied for the trip half heartedly doubting that I would be accepted to go, basically saying, "Lord if this is you will then let it happen". I had two interviews, very long interviews about who I was as a person and why I want to go. I was scared if I got denied because I had two interviews and if I got this far there couldn't be any turning back.
 
Now fast-forward to last week on Thursday, a call from a Georgia area code had me thinking that the people are calling me to interview again. A women named Lauren talked to me about how she really liked who I was as a person. I was so nervous cause it sounded like a call of rejection but she congratulated me on being accepted to go on the trip to Africa. The feelings that rushed over me were mixed with happiness and being shocked. Happy I am getting to go and shocked that I actually made it into something I really want to do. This trip is confirming the plans for my future.
 
I am going to be engulfed in so much culture that words cannot express how happy I am.
 
My journey is just beginning.

Monday, February 17, 2014

Draft 1





Going to Africa has been a dream of mine since I was a sophomore in high-school. I want to go to help women who've been raped. My dream of going to Africa has lead me to even go into a field where I can be able to help women. My calling is to help others and help them mentally and spiritually.

In my sophomore year I had a class called African literature. I learned about the cultures of many of the countries I learned about the struggles that they go threw. I feel in love with the culture, but I knew something needed to be done about the women being raped. In that moment I came to the conclusion that I was going to be a sex therapist. At first I didn't know how to tell my mom that is what I wanted to do but she accepted it when I told her.

Even though it is really awkward to tell people I want to be a sex therapist I think we don't have enough of them. Sex is a beautiful thing the action of two bodies becoming one is just a beautiful thing. I want women to have a beautiful sex life even though they have had a traumatic experience. I think as a young girl knowing what I want to do is amazing. I am so determined that I even applied to go on a missionary trip to Africa. As of right now its the only thing that I can find close enough to actually allowing me to work and interact with the people in Africa.

Being only 18 years old I know that it is a big decision to go to another country with people I never met before to a place that will be so new to me. I am so excited to go I am a little nervous. This has been my dream since sophomore year and for it to actually be happening is so astonishing to me.




  

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

outline

Thesis- My mother is the essence of my life, she is the anchor that keeps me grounded.


OUTLINE

Paragraph one-  I want to talk about when I was a child and how she taught me values and morals

Paragraph two- high school and how I had to apply the values that she taught me

Paragraph three- I want to talk about me know and how my mom affect my decisions and things I do.

Thesis

You'll Be In My Heart
 
 
A child and a mother have a bond that is unbreakable. A bond that always remains over time. My mother is my anchor. She is beautiful, mean, over protective and humble all at the same time. My mother is probably the strongest women I will ever met.
 


Monday, February 3, 2014

Mixtape

Nas and Damian Marley- Africa must wake up
-I like this song because I plan to go to Africa in the summer and I just love the culture and everything about the continent. I also want to go their to help women who have raped. the song talks about many problems among the people and the government. Also about AIDs being a big problem.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD69yB62HJU

Mercy Me- I can only imagine
-This song was my grandmas favorite song. I come from a religious background and I just love the way it makes me feel when I listen to it...it just leaves me in awe with how I can only imagine the things that I can do when I come in front of God.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_lrrq_opng

Phil Collins- You'll be in my heart
-Tarzan is one of my favorite Disney movies and this songs just reminds me of a relationship with my mom. no matter where I go she will always be in my heart.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQPp4BdFXO4


Bruno Mars- Count on me
-this song just explains my relationships with my friends. I am that friend that is always around no matter what. they can  call on me and I will be on my way, no matter what they can count on me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JNtAtGGNRU


Marvin Gaye- Your all I need to get by
-This is an older song but I just love it cause this song is about love. And I love the song and how it shows how one feels about the other. even though it is an old song it just puts a smile on my face whenever I hear it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdqtmnd2T0U



AUTOBIOGRAPHY BRAINSTORM

TRAITS
  • Misunderstood
  • compassionate
  • Smart
  • Funny
  • Humble
  • Blunt
PEOPLE
  • My Mother
  • My brother
  • Grandmother
  • Martin Luther King
EVENTS
  • Graduating High School
  • Getting awards for debate
  • Being more independent
CHANGE
  • When my grandparents passed
  • Senior year
  • Switching high schools and having to make new friends
  • Knowing that my grades are everything