its been awhile...

I know. I know. I've failed at keeping up with my blog. Not getting the LC job, winter quarter finals, and starting a new job with the LA Sparks all gave me too many reasons not to keep this up.  But I'm back at it now... Forgive me?

This quarter begins a long list of lasts for my college career at UCLA. Last quarter, last exams/papers (can't wait!), last raids/sisterhood events/date parties/recruitment/new alpha class/sorority events in general... The list goes on and on.

Through it all I will remember one of my absolute favorite quotes “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”- Henry David Thoreau With this in mind, I will move through the lasts reminding myself that "I have my memories" (remember that Bethany?) and I have a million FIRSTS still to come.

 

Searching For The Reason

I'm currently trying to remind myself that everything happens for a reason. The past few weeks, maybe even months I've felt pretty invincible. Things had been going my way. I'd been flying high, feeling good, and being consistently pleased with how things in life were going; unfortunately all that came crashing down today when I received a letter in the mail.

It's hard to feel good about my uncertain future right now. One part of my future became certain today, and that is that I will not be getting to do the one thing I truly wanted to do after graduation. I just have to put faith in the thought that God has some other plan in store for me that I'm just not aware of yet.

Rule #76

"Never make excuses. Your friends don't need them and your foes won't believe them."
— John Wooden

As funny as Wedding Crashers Rule #76 is, it is incredibly valid. As are the wonderful words of John Wooden.

Strive to only take actions that you would be proud of, that your friends and family would be proud of; but if you mess up don't make excuses. Take responsibility for the things you've done. If you made a mistake, admit it, learn from it, and move forward.

Dance Til Your Feet Ache and Your Eyes Want To Close

UCLA's Dance Marathon was this weekend. This was my second year participating in this awesome event that raises money and awareness for Pediatric Aids. On Saturday morning I entered Ackerman Grand Ballroom with the intention to dance and stay on my feet for a full 26 hours. 700+ dancers all stood up together at 11am, and we did not sit down again until 1pm on Sunday. The event was even more amazing than the first time I did it. Standing on your feet and staying awake for that long is incredibly difficult, painful, tiring, and INSPIRING. I had a wonderful time with all of my friends. And when I got home I went to sleep for 16 hours =)

As a whole, all those participating in Dance Marathon raised $410,530.68. Team Alpha Delta Pi, with our 50+ registered dancers raised $13,079.21! We were the number two fund raising team of the entire event! We more than doubled what we raised last year as a team, which is absolutely amazing!

Sitting down before dancing for 26 hours

Two of the AMAZING kids who spoke of behalf of one of the organizations DM benefits. Both of the boys have HIV and they spoke so beautifully about their lives and how things like DM make it better. It was fun to see them having such a great time.

The senior dancers and our moralers who came and hung out with us from 12am-3am

The three seniors right before POWER HOUR (the final hour)

$410,530.68. The total amount raised this year by UCLA Dance Marathon-ers. The most in UCLA's 10 years of putting on Dance Marathon!