Preface of....who knows

Dum vita est, spes est - Where there is life, there is hope 

So I if you are reading this, this blog may not be typical to what you are used to if you are an "avid blogger" (but maybe it is). I have never blogged before, nor have I looked through other peoples. I also don't expect people to necessarily read mine. This blog isn't going to be about anything specifically, just about my own experiences, lessons I have learned, and the dreams I seek to fulfill. I am coming to many crossroads in my life and quickly understanding my own passions and I guess, I just have a lot to say. This isn't formal, I do enough of that in school. I am making this blog to rationalize my own values as I work to find my place in this...mess of a world we live in. I named this blog Dreaming for A Change because it summarizes my entire outlook on life. Right now, I am spending a predominate amount of my time consumed with thoughts on how I am possibly going to impact the world in a way that I want so desperately to. I am not really consumed with my own success...I measure it by my impact. I feel like people don't believe me when I say that, but its true. No I'm not noble, no I'm not selfless...I just am what I am. I have been blessed beyond belief in my life. Yes, I didn't grow up in an "ideal" childhood, but I would not be the person I am today if it would have been. My life has definitely seen its fair share of adversity, but I would say considering the way 90% of this world lives, I am still pretty pretty lucky to have what I have. 

In case you are just randomly coming across this or haven't talked to me in awhile, I am a first year Master's in Public Administration Student at Ohio University (and also hopefully getting a Certificate in War and Peace Studies, which I am super stoked about). I work on a research and evaluation team though my college and also participate on the Women's Track Team. My Undergrad was also from OU, Criminology Major....and yea that's me. 

 If you have been talking to me recently you know I am literally obsessing over what I am doing this summer...and after my grad program for that matter (Summer 2014). Right now I am working on my internship applications for the Department of State and the United States Department of International Development. I have never worked in Foreign Affairs or International Development, or even been to anyplace but Canada for that matter, but I am pretty sure this is what I want to do for awhile. If I get one of the internships with the State Department, I will hopefully be working in Sub-Sahara or North Africa this summer, the other internship is in D.C. 

I honestly have no clue why I want to work abroad so bad. Something has been pulling me toward it for awhile, but I knew it wasn't practical. Now, I know this is where I am supposed to be. I am seriously considering entering the PeaceCorps (or at least applying) because I want nothing more than work hand-in-hand with individuals who are 100x the person I'll ever be, but have yet to receive even one opportunity to succeed. There are so many awesome people from all over the world and I honestly resentful to how few of them I have been able to meet. Honestly, every U.S. citizen should take the time to sit down with someone from a developing nation because the conversations I have had with these individuals have been some of the best conversations of my life. Unlike many people I know, they know how to love. Not necessarily love for their spouse, friends, or even their children, but they know how to love in general. You can sense it without them even saying it. They have hope for the world, hope in their love. I can't even articulate how much better I have felt after reading about or speaking with these individuals, and maybe that is why I want to spend some time on the other side of the world. So going there, living with these families, maybe it is on my selfish behalf, but I am 100% committed to give everything I have to them, just as I know they will be to me.