An Open Letter To My High School Best Friend

An Open Letter To My High School Best Friend

With the end of the year coming fast, there's always a much needed thanks to the friend that got you through it.
Marielle Pomerleau
Marielle Pomerleau Apr 5, 2016
345
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As another school year dwindles down to the end, I begin to think of all of the things I've accomplished over the year. Some of the things I have done, I have found myself proud of, and others, not so much. But as I look back, I look back to my friend who was by my side through everything. Although you may or may not be a part of my life now, you have impacted my life for the better which has helped me become the person I am today.

Back years ago, we walked into the halls of our high school as freshmen. It was awkward, I will admit, and I'm sure we were just as uncomfortable as all of the freshmen who walk into high school for the first time too. High school at the time was a big deal and we were ready to take in its entirety. From that first day until the day we graduated, we surely made the time worthwhile. Although it did not mean much at the time, it means an immense amount now.

You helped me pick my classes. You helped me decide whether I wanted to go through the misery of chemistry or physics and you helped me decide whether I wanted to take a certain English class that I was interested in opposed to the class that most colleges would look upon as studious. Your assistance in picking my classes helped me decide what I'd possibly want to do with the rest of my life early on and they also helped me figure out that although there's something I would rather do, the option with the better outcome in the end is always the better choice.

You were there when I needed a shoulder to cry on -- you were always by my side when I needed you. Whether I was upset about a family issue, failing a test I needed to pass, or simply boys, you were there to let me vent and overcome my emotions to move on from it. Not only did you do that, but you helped me become stronger in the process by telling me what is best for me and helping me out to succeed in the future. I still live by your advice to this day and it has helped me overcome some of the most stressful things that have happened to me throughout college.

You were there when I needed to laugh -- whether it was watching a funny movie on Netflix or telling me a hilariously awkward thing that just happened to you. Your laughter truly was the best medicine. It made me discover the good and made me have a bit of fun where fun was never expected.

You have been here for me now. Whether it was your wisdom that you told me years ago or the thought of a funny story now, you have helped me discover the good in the situations that have brought me down to my worst. You have helped me discover that no matter what happens to me, I will come out of the situation stronger than I was before. You have taught me that no matter how small I think I am, I will always make a mark on this world. You have been my best friend since high school and although there are some things that occur in high school that are bound to change, this is one of the things that I hope stays.

Marielle Pomerleau
Marielle Pomerleau Apr 5, 2016
At University of New Hampshire

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17 Empowering Bible Verses For Women

You go, girl.
Julia Waterbury
Julia Waterbury May 22, 2017
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We all have those days where we let the negative thoughts that we're "not good enough," "not pretty enough" or "not smart enough" invade our minds. It's easy to lose hope in these situations and to feel like it would be easier to just give up. However, the Bible reminds us that these things that we tell ourselves are not true and it gives us the affirmations that we need. Let these verses give you the power and motivation that you're lacking.

1. Proverbs 31:25

"She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future."

2. Psalm 46:5

"God is within her, she will not fall."

3. Luke 1:45

"Blessed is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her."

4. Proverbs 31:17

"She is energetic and strong, a hard worker."

5. Psalm 28:7

"The Lord is my strength and my shield."

6. Proverbs 11:16

"A gracious woman gains respect, but ruthless men gain only wealth."

7. Joshua 1:9

"Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

8. Proverbs 31:30

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised."

9. 1 Corinthians 15:10

"By the grace of God, I am what I am."

10. Proverbs 31:26

"When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness."

11. Psalm 139:14

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

12. 1 Peter 3:3-4

"Don't be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God."

13. Colossians 2:10

"And in Christ you have been brought to fullness."

14. 2 Timothy 1:7

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."

15. Jeremiah 29:11

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'"

16. Exodus 14:14

"The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm."

17. Song of Songs 4:7

"You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way."

Next time you're feeling discouraged or weak, come back to these verses and use them to give you the strength and power that you need to conquer your battles.

Cover Image Credit: Julia Waterbury
Julia Waterbury
Julia Waterbury May 22, 2017
At Miami University

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Cancel Culture Is Toxic And Ugly

Stop deciding for me who I can and cannot like.

Emilee Nulsen
Emilee Nulsen Mar 21, 2019
32
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I was really hoping that canceled culture died in 2018, but unfortunately here we are in 2019 still "canceling" whoever we personally deem "problematic." Whether it's tweeting from six years ago or falsely made allegations, waves of people will grab on to anything they can to bring down whatever celebrity or influencer seems to be doing well at the moment.

Of course, it is important to bring light to horrible things such as racism, misogyny, domestic abuse, etc., but remember these horrible things are still happening TODAY. We need to focus our energy on combating the horrible things people are currently doing and saying; it is truly such a waste of time to bring up the problematic words and actions that someone in the limelight did almost a decade ago.

Let me be clear, there is no one person I am trying to defend here. I honestly don't care much to personally defend anyone who is being canceled by angry twitter-users who found something just bad enough to hold against them for eternity. I truly just find the idea of it annoying and ugly.

The idea that any person is a completely static, flat character is so inconceivable and unlikely that I truly have a hard time understanding why we cannot accept an apology from a matured person.

If we have no evidence that a person has made any recent damaging remarks, then how can we prove they haven't changed since they tweeted something wrong in 2013?

Of course, there are people who have recently or continuously proven they are indecent people who are not deserving of any sort of public exposure, but if they are truly so horrible, people will drop them without you having to tell them to do so. You don't have to condemn those who still remain loyal; they are probably not the kind of people you need to waste your time on anyway.

If the people canceling others were constantly watched like the people they have damned, I am absolutely sure there is something we could find from their past to cancel them as well.

Sometimes it is hard to remember that famous people are still human beings just like us. Anyone is prone to make mistakes, and those mistakes can absolutely be rectified over time.

Nowadays, people love jumping on the bandwagon of finding a new person to hate and don't even stop to think about the damage it could do to that person's life and reputation.

Give people a chance to prove that they are decent human beings before deciding whether "we" as a whole should love or hate them based on such a small amount of evidence.

I am not saying you have to love every celebrity. If you don't like what someone has said or done you absolutely do not have to give them your attention or devotion, but you should not tell me whether I can like them or not.

In 2019 we should put an end to canceled culture, and, instead, learn to take people at their word and accept their apologies for their past wrongdoings.

Emilee Nulsen
Emilee Nulsen Mar 21, 2019
At Missouri State University

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