Half-Way

I'm half-way done with my college career, and I'm super excited about my Junior year. There's something special about Junior year; you're half-way done, getting deep into your major/minor classes, you've made good friends, you're starting to make post-college plans (unless you're me--I've had post-college plans since I was 10), but it's not at the crunch time of needing post-college plans finalized. I'm on the downward hill. This is just so exciting.

Everyone says this, so I know how cliche it sounds, but I honestly can't believe how fast time has gone. My youngest brother went through all the lovely freshman orientation this year, and I was thinking about my time two years ago in freshman orientation. It felt so long ago, yet like time barely passed.

I have changed greatly in these past two years. My life goals have altered and become more focused. I have become more outspoken. I have made lots of different friends. I think my group of friends are eclectic, but I really like that. Why would anyone want all their friends to be exactly the same? I think only people who are afraid of everyone being unique and different. Life is boring with everyone exactly the same. I have grown academically, spiritually, and physically. I left the States for the first time. I spent a whole summer on the west coast. I had crushes which thankfully I got over. It was a fantastic two years despite not being where I wished to be.

Since another busy semester commences tomorrow, and I always miss sleep during school, I'm heading to bed to sleep without the worries of school hanging over my head.

I'm so excited I'm finally a Junior.

The Help

I first heard about the book at Christmas time. My aunt suggested we should listen to it on audio book because the lady who read it was incredible. I didn't think much about it. I was going to read the book when I had time at home. But the time was not going to come until summer. (I don't like to listen to audio books. I prefer reading at my own pace and holding the book in my hand.) My parents bought it for me in May, and I didn't have time to read it until a couple of days ago.

It's a good read. But it wasn't life-changing. For some, maybe. But not for me. Racism has been a huge issue for me as long as I can remember. I've always been absolutely opposed to it and have never understood why people get so hung up on what is on the outside. I was disgusted by building separate bathrooms for the help because the employers were afraid of getting diseases. I was disgusted by how everyone was so narrow-minded. I was disgusted by the treatment of African American's. I was disgusted because we are still dealing with racism issues today--50 years later from the big civil rights movements.

I wasn't super happy that Skeeter left at the end of the book for New York, and Abilene and Minny had to stay in Jackson. I felt again that the Caucasian was escaping and the African American's were stuck dealing with the problem. (As I read about the author, I realized Skeeter left because Stockett left when she was 24. The Help was fiction, but it also had lots of autobiographical parts that probably most of us will never realize.)

I was happy that Stockett used a Caucasian lady who wanted to change the way African American's were being treated. She wanted to help them out, and maybe she wanted to start breaking barriers down. I liked the way the book flowed--hearing Abilene, Minny, and Skeeter tell the story. I enjoyed seeing Johnny actually treat his wife in a decent manner.

It may be a good start for those of you who haven't thought about the sin of racism. But there are many other books out there which deal with it much better--To Kill a Mockingbird. It was an interesting read and an easy read, but I probably won't read it again.

We'll see how much the book gets massacred in the movie.

A Conclusion

I finished it. And I finished it at the right time, in the right place, with the right person.

My heart was just as sad as when I finished the last book some years ago. I was sad because P and I would have no more character discussions and plot debates. I was frustrated with the conclusion, yet happy because the romantic in me was satisfied in the final picture. I was sad because the story was concluded; the last words had been spoken. No more surprises; no new funny moments to laugh at; no new parts I was going to cry when I read.

My favorite memories from going through the series were the discussions P and I would have about what was going to happen next. For a year solid, we discussed everything in detail on our walks to orchestra. Every day we would rehash our debates and discussions from the previous day. I don't remember half of what we said; I just remember our constant discussions and debates and how much I loved them.

I also loved the anticipation for what was coming next. I believe the anticipation was half of the amazingness of the series. She knew how to keep us waiting and wanting more. And we knew how to build the anticipation while we were waiting and wanting more.

That was when I finished the originals. Today, I finished adaptations.

I cried. I laughed. I cried. I stared. I cried. I was frustrated because it wasn't like the original, but P and I always have that debate. I want it to be exactly like the original; he doesn't mind the changes. I still cried though.

It's concluded. No more waiting, no more anticipation, no more debates and discussions specifically on what's happening next, no more surprises, no more character development. It's done. I have to keep saying that because I still don't believe it. Yes, I can go through the originals and the adaptations again, but it's not quite the same. I always wish there was more, but all good things must come to an end.

Thank you for being a part of my adolescent and high school years. Thank you for the privilege of being one of your fans. I'll always be one. Thank you for F, G, S and L--my favorite characters. Thank you for the surprises. The laughs. The cries. Thank you for building another world to enjoy. Thank you for being the fad during my elementary and adolescent years--I'm so glad I grew up with you. Thank you for starting the debates and discussions. Thank you for sharing your imagination. Thank you for the originals which I'll go through again and again and again. Thank you for the adaptations which helped my imagination. However, I won't go through those again and again and again. I'm a purist--the originals are the best. Thank you.

Farewell.