Finding a Treasure

This past summer, I read The Witch of Portobello, by Paulo Coelho.  On the cover, it said "from the best selling author of The Alchemist."  By chance, I found a 25 cent copy of this best seller at a thrift shop not too long afterwards.  However, I did not read it at the time because I started reading A Song of Ice and Fire.  

Yesterday I finally started reading The Alchemist.

Today I finished it at lunch time. 

What a WONDERFUL little story.

A shepherd starts out on a journey to fulfill his "Personal Legend" after a gypsy interprets a reoccurring dream.  Along the way, he learns to understand the Language of the World to interpret omens which lead him to his treasure. 

A few things I love about the book:

In the story, none of the characters are named, save one.  They are referred to as "the boy," "the englishman," and "the alchemist," etc.  Fatima is the only character who is named.  This makes her name very special and it makes her very special.

I could not choose any one phrase in the story that stood out from the others.  I don't say this because the whole story was unremarkable, I say this because each phrase was so beautiful and meaningful, that they should not be taken out of context.  However, I did choose ooone....

This story was written with a beautiful innocence and simplicity.  It is easy to read, easy to understand, and easy to love.  Open the book, open your mind and open your heart.

What is your Personal Legend?  What dream are you chasing?  What do you want but are afraid to go after?  What is holding you back? 

Remember:

"When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."

I Love Loving Books

I found this 30-day book challenge, but I decided to answer all of the questions at once because I never post anything consecutively for 30 days, but I do love to talk about books!

1. Best book you read last year: The Cure for the Modern Life by Lisa Tucker
2. A book that you've read more than 3 times: Harry Potter.  All of them.  
3. Your favorite series: Harry Potter and A Song of Ice and Fire
4. Favorite book of your favourite series: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince; All of them except A Feast for Crows in A Song of Ice and Fire
5. A book that makes you happy: Alice in Wonderland
6. A book that makes you sad: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini.  Such a tragic story.  I'm like my mother.  I hate when bad things happen to children in stories.
7. Most underrated book: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.  Beautiful story that most people have never heard of.
8. Most overrated book: The Great Gatsby.  I HATE that book and every character in it!
9. A book you thought you wouldn't like but ended up loving: Pretty Little Mistakes.  The cover (and title) were trite, but it was a really neat idea.  A choose your own ending book (like my old favorite Goosebump books) for adults!
10. Favorite classic book: Jane Eyre.
11. A book you hated: Lolita. I have never before HATED a book so much.  I could not even finish it.  The characters are disgusting and I couldn't handle it.
12. A book you used to love but don’t anymore:  Twilight.  I read the first 3 books, then realized they were moronic and had bad moral lessons that I didn't want to learn and I don't want other young girls to learn.
13. Your favorite writer:  Jane Austen, Lisa Tucker, John Steinbeck
14. Favorite book of your favorite writer: Persuasion, Jane Austen
15. Favorite male character:  Jon Snow and Tyrion Lannister, A Song of Ice and Fire
16. Favorite female character: Hermione Granger, Harry Potter; Lizzie Bennett, Pride and Prejudice
17. Favorite quote from your favorite book: "Reading is the magic key, it takes you where you want to be." from the Allice in Bibleland stories that my mother used to read with me when I was little.
18. A book that disappointed you: The Notebook.  The movie was So much more engaging. The book was written for 5th graders.
19. Favorite book turned into a movie: Pride and Prejudice.  The Keira Kightly version is my absolute favorite movie of all time.
20. Favorite romance book:  Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson.  It is so sweet and sappy.  I loved it.
21. Favorite book from your childhood: Can't You Sleep Little Bear? by Martin Waddell
22. Favorite book you own:  I own all of my favorite books!  I hoard books.
23. A book you wanted to read for a long time but still haven’t: The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.
24. A book that you wish more people would've read:  Catch-22.  I mean, I know that TONS of people have read this book.  But it never seems to be on anyone's reading list.  So few of my friends have read it.
25. A character who you can relate to the most: Athena from The Witch of Portobello
26. A book that changed your opinion about something: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.
27. The most surprising plot twist or ending:  A Game of Thrones.  The whole series is full of twists and turns, but after the first book you aren't quite as shocked when something shocking happens.
28. Favorite title: A Game of Thrones.  Its a clever little phrase.
29. A book everyone hated but you liked: I haven't really read any books that other people say they hated....
30. Your favorite book of all time:  I will never answer this question.  My favorite book of all time is always the one I'm reading right now.

Some questions I've added:

1. The book you recommend to others the most: The Red Tent by Anita Diament
2. Favorite genre to read:  Fantasy or Classic Romance
3. Last book you read:  A Dance with Dragons, the more recent book in A Song of Ice and Fire series.
4. Book you are reading now: Love's Labor's Lost.  Every once in a while I need a bit o' Shakespeare back in my life. 

A Reader....

I just finished A Dance with Dragons, by George R.R. Martin.  I will be writing a whole post about A Song of Ice and Fire, but for now, I just want to leave you with a quotation.


“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies," said Jojen. "The man who never reads lives only one.” 


And that is why I love to read!  I have lived many lives thus far, hopefully I will have lived a thousand before I die.


Maybe I'll get "A reader lives a thousand lives" as a tattoo someday...

Relationships are Key

An important part of my role as an AmeriCorps VISTA is to enhance the capacity of my organization to run smoothly after I am gone.  For this reason, I am writing a manual for the next person who comes in to fill my position, since I will most likely not be here to help them transition.  


Here is an expert from the "Lessons Learned" section of my manual:


Make friends with all of the member of the council.  If they like you, they will be more likely to call you back, more likely to open your e-mails and more likely to come to the meetings.  They will be more likely to volunteer to be on subcommittees.  It just works.  Don’t be shy; don’t be rude.  Persistence is key. Put aside your own personality preferences and find something in common with everyone.  Make an appointment with them to sit down and get to know them.  Write down some questions that you’d like answered about who they are, what they do and why they do it.  The conversation will usually get off topic, but that is where some of the real relationship building starts.  


As the saying goes, "It's not what you know, but who you know."  Certainly, you need to know some stuff to get very far.  One of the things you need to know (or learn) is how to know people.  If you don't know them, find a way to know them.


The idea of a Juvenile Justice Council is to foster relationships between all relevant stakeholders working in prevention, diversion and intervention for youth.  By working together, we can achieve so much more than when we try to do all of the work ourselves.  Of course, this doesn't just hold true for our council, but for any project, vision or goal that you may have, be it personal or professional.  

Just Keep Swimming

I've started working out again.  I should not even need to say that, because I should never have stopped.

I am not particularly concerned about the extra 10 pounds (although I certainly don't like that either).  I am mainly upset that I allowed myself to rely on coffee instead of natural energy endorphins. I am just generally happier when I'm working out.

Here is how it always happens:  I'm working out regularly, feeling really great and looking great.  Then I end up going to a training or home for the weekend.  I don't exercise while I'm away and then when I get back I cut out exercise to "make time."  Really, when I cut out exercise, I lose time because I spend more time in bed wallowing around trying not to wake up.

So all I need to remember is to just keep going, no matter how difficult or time-consuming it seems.  When I quit working out, it is SO much harder to start up again.  Solution:  Don't quit in the first place!

PRESIDENT Obama

I need a history lesson.  Have we always spoken of the president as if he was our college drinking buddy?  Why do we call him "Obama" instead of President Obama?  Or Barack Obama?  To me, it seems incredibly disrespectful that the man in the highest elected office is spoken of in such a familiar manner.  And this has nothing do to with being a Democrat or a Republican.  It is about respecting the leader of your nation.

Procrastinating isn't just for College!

Granny Square Lap Blanket

Tonight's Official To-Do List:
1. Finish Grad School Personal Statement
2. Finish making a purse for a co-worker
3. Finish making t-shirt necklaces for a co-worker
4. Wash dishes
5. Clean bedroom


What I've actually done tonight:
1. Hang out with Dae-shana
2. Watch this week's TV shows
3. Finish this blanket I started at least 2 years ago
4. Now I think I'm going to bake meringues

Life Lessons from a Sappy Romance Novel

More than a year ago now, my aunt suggested that I read Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson.  I read it.  I cried.  I passed it on to my mother.

The thing that struck me the most was not necessarily the story, but a phrase that kept coming up.  Suzanne would often say something like "Aren't we lucky that we have your daddy?" or "Aren't we lucky we get to have this experience?" or "Aren't we lucky it's such a beautiful day?"  

I realized that "Aren't we lucky" is something that I say in my own life, and something that I believe every day.  I was lucky to be born in to a wonderful, loving, and FUN family.  I am lucky to have my physical and mental health.  I am lucky to live in a country such as this one that (at one time) allowed my family to advance and create the very comfortable life I live.  I am lucky to have gone to college and I am lucky to have been intelligent enough to take advantage of it.  Basically, I'm lucky.

My mom and I started saying it to each other.  A few weekends ago, my momma came to visit me and we got matching tattoos that say "Aren't we Lucky" around our wrists.  I would post a picture, but pictures of wrists look funny.

This morning my mother also reminded me that The Lesson of the Five Balls.

“Imagine life is a game in which you are juggling five balls. The balls are called work, family, health, friends, and integrity, and you are keeping all of them in the air. But one day you finally come to understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls, family, health, friends and integrity, are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered. And once you truly understand the lesson of the five balls, you will have the beginnings of balance in your life”

I don't have much of a comment for this because it is pretty self explanatory!

Owling Around

Owling on the Pool Table

I was an OWL for Halloween!

I was inspired a month or so ago when I found this adorable little owl costume on Pinterest.  Then I found these wings!

I decided the wings were a more important part of my costume.  I was sewing the wings up until an hour before I went out.  BUT now I can say that I made my costume.  The fabric was all thrift shop fabric totaling about $3.50.

I topped it off with some big eyes for my make-up and a bird's nest of curly hair.

I went out with my friends and had a jolly good time.

Camera Shy

I've lost my camera and I don't know where it is.  I found it to be missing more than a week ago and I am quite distraught.  The only camera I have now is my first camera from 2007.  It has 7.2 megapixels!!  Most people have that many on their PHONES!

I don't care about the camera so much, but the memories I lost.  There were pictures of me and my mama and daddy at Lake Genev, WI that I will never get to share now.  

The only good I can see coming out of this is that I will be forced to buy a new camera.  Last time I under-spent and I was underwhelmed by the capabilities of the camera.  Next time I will upgrade.

NO PICS OF COURSE!!!

These are the Days of My Life

I found this idea on Pinterest.  Here is my own version of the Days of the Week "To Do" Calendar.

Make Music Monday:  Thankfully, I'm already in choir on Mondays, but this could also mean practicing the Piano or learning a new song.

Take Time Tuesday:  Take time out to do whatever it is that I want to do! 

Weird, Wacky Wednesday:  Do something I wouldn't normally do, or something that I am hesitant to do.  This could be to eat something strange, wearing something bold or going to a new place.

Thesaurus Thursday:  Learn a new word and spend all day trying to use it.  Give myself 5 "points" for every time I use it.  Try to score more points than the previous week.

Fun-in-the-Sun Friday:  Go outside!  Go for a walk or a run (preferably with a friend).  This is particularly FUN at lunchtime when the sun is at its highest point.  Take pictures!

Sinful Saturday:  Do something naughty and exciting.  Drink a little too much or spend all day just being naked, or eat something I spend the rest of the week avoiding.  Ya know, indulge.

Study-Session Sunday:  Read a book, get some work done on outside projects, or get that Grad School App in!


 There we go!  I've already started (on accident, of course). 

Reminiscing About a Week to Remember

Me on garbage-pickin' day.

Tonight, I was inspired to make my blog look like something.  I finally took the time to figure out how to make a banner!

The photo in my new banner was taken during my Alternative Spring Break trip to Mullens, West Virginia in 2010.  ASB is a week-long service trip focusing on an issue area- ours being environment and rural poverty.  It is AMAZING to be part of a group of 45 college students who willingly give up their Spring Break to participate in a substance-free (no alcohol even if you are 21) trip where you work for free, sleep on a disaster blanket on the cement floor and shower in freezing cold water (or not at all).  These kids are special, I'm tellin' ya.
 

Female warriors and their haul.

Team 3 after a tough day of street sweeping!

 On this particular days, we spent all day clearing brush near an old church and in an overgrown cemetery.  By the end of the day, it was raining and all of us were wet, stinky and covered in mud.  Our team had grown so much by this 4th full day of service together, that we had quit our grumbling and focused on what needed to be done and how we could make it happen.  Some of my team members are still good friends I hope to stay close with throughout my life (in fact, I saw one just this past weekend!).  Its rare that you get a chance to spend a week with that many people who just want to make the world a better place.  I wanted to honor that experience and how it helped shape me as a person and the work that I do in the world and in my community.

Punctuality

Sometimes it is important to be on time.  Sometimes it's not.

Relax.

Restore Me

Tonight, I have returned from my final day at Restorative Circle Facilitation Learning Event with Dominic Barter. 

Unfortunately, I still have not found a succinct way to explain Restorative Justice in my own words.  I think the reason for this is that the definition keeps changing the more I learn about it.  Is it a philosophy?  Is it a movement?  Is it a set of principles?  Is it just a set of guidelines?

I suppose I can start with the thing I know about Restorative Justice for sure.  Restorative Justice is a form of conflict resolution which does not seek to punish the "actor" or the "wrongdoer,"  but instead to repair the harm caused by the action and restore the relationship that has been damaged as a result of the action.

In Macon County, I work with the Teen Court- a diversion program for youth, which uses a peer jury model that employs restorative principals to hold youth offenders accountable for their actions and repair the harm done to the community.   The panel of high school-age youth hear cases of juveniles (usually 17 and under) who have committed a crime which is punishable by law.  Our court hears many cases which involve underage possession of alcohol and possession of cannabis and/or drug paraphernalia, as well as retail theft, battery, aggravated battery, domestic battery, mob action, etc.  The jurors listen to the youth's story in an attempt to understand the cause of the actions and to prevent further actions in the future.  The jury decides on a set of "sanctions," such as community service, an apology letter to someone harmed by the action, an essay, etc. 

I am also part of Community Restorative Boards for the Adult Redeploy Program in Macon County.  Adult Redeploy is an intense probation program for non-violent offenders who would otherwise be sent to the Department of Corrections.  This programs seeks to address destructive behaviors through the use of an evidence-based program (Moral Reconation Therapy) and case management.  Community Restorative Boards (CRBs) are another part of Redeploy which a select group of clients are chosen to participate in.  CRBs are small (usually 3-4 people) groups of community members who have been trained in Restorative Justice who support the offender in repairing the harm done to the community and to relationships in their own lives.  Similar to Teen Court, there is an action plan for the offender to complete in order to successfully complete the CRB program.

Soooo... That is how I know about Restorative Justice.  Through these programs, I am connected to Illinois Balanced and Restorative Justice (IBARJ), the state-wide project to enhance the capacity of local organizations to create, sustain and improve restorative justice programs.  Through the IBARJ listserv, I was invited to participate a free "learning experience" with Dominic Barter.

I didn't know what the heck it was, but for some reason in sparked my interest.  I didn't know what to expect, but MAN was it an "experience!"  I walked in late after missing the first day of the event due to work conflicts.  The atmosphere was SO laid back.  In fact, at times, it was so laid back that I was uncomfortable with the comfort level of others.  This community is one which is very open and many people were familiar with each other from other events together.  Every once in a while someone would spontaneously break in to a yoga pose in the back of the room.  Massages were taking place all across the room.  People were crying.  I was squirming.

But I relaxed....eventually.

After accepting this level of comfort (but not necessarily sharing it), I started to admire the level of emotional openness this group of people have.  All day, people were sharing intimate thoughts and details of their personal lives in front of small and large groups of people.  Many had a wonderful emotional intelligence that I truly admire.  Dominic, and many others who spoke and shared their thoughts, ideas and experiences, put emotions in to words in a way that I could barely comprehend.  I have rarely allowed myself to really explore my emotions in this way before. 

The most significant idea I brought back with me is the importance of mutual understanding.  In the circles we practiced this weekend, the main purpose was to truly hear the other person.  Dominic said something along the lines of "Expression is not communication."  You may express yourself, but to communicate, someone must not only listen, but understand what you are expressing.

More to come.  I am still processing what I have learned. 

No pictures.  I wanted to have something to share, but I didn't feel right taking pictures of such an intimate gathering.

Kiddies

Last week was an insanely busy week.  So busy that I barely got any crafting done!! The favorite part of my week was definitely going to the Old King's Orchard After School Program.

I work with the Kindergarten through 4th Grade group.  In particular, I work with the youngest of those kids- Kindergarten and 1st Grade. The youngest kids can be the sweetest of all, but can also be the biggest hand-full.

I've started to get a little following of 6-year-old boys.  My favorite of which is Chris- the sweetest, most polite little thing that I've ever met.  He never jumps on me like the other boys.  He always asks for piggy back rides (instead of jumping on my back and grabbing my shirt) and he is respectful when I say no.  On the way home from the park on Wednesday, Chris asked if he could have a piggy back ride back to the Community Center.  I told him that I couldn't give any more piggy back rides.  So he just asked "Could I hold your hand, then?"   WHAT A LITTLE SWEETIE!  He held my hand all the way back and didn't let go until I told him to go play.

Would it be wrong to steal him and take him home with me?!?!

Experience

I've been an AmeriCorps VISTA member for more than eight months now.  I am working as the Coordinator for the Macon County Juvenile Justice Council (and other duties as assigned, of course).  I work closely with the Macon County States Attorney.

Recently, we have been talking about sustainability for the Juvenile Justice Council and have been tossing around the idea of funding my position as an actual JOB, rather than an AmeriCorps position.  The States Attorney must like me because he is very interested in making this happen before my year of service is up so that I can stay on as an actual employee.  Not only does he want to build this position for me, but he also wants the position to be something that I am interested in doing.

What a great compliment!!

My AmeriCorps experience has been a wonderful opportunity for me to make connections, get experience and learn how to get things done (for my community and for myself, it seems).  I believe that I made the right choice jumping in to this position right out of school.  My father wanted me to hold out for something that had better pay (which I would like, too!), but I realized that with my lack of professional experience in such a sluggish economy, that I would not quickly find a meaningful position.

Not only have I been able to develop in my official volunteer position, but in my after-work volunteer positions, as well.  Volunteering at the after-school program has given me experience with children to help me understand the difficulties that teachers face without having to be in a formal classroom.

Recently I have volunteered with Habitat for Humanity.  The Decatur branch of Habitat for Humanity has not had an executive director for ten years.  The new director has been on board since August and and is trying to re-vamp the way Habitat is run here in Decatur.  I will be assisting her by writing their Fundraising Plan.  This works perfectly for all parties- I will get some really interesting experience and the director will be getting free work.

Give of Yourself

One of the most rewarding things you can do with your time is to give it to someone who needs it.

I participate in Community Restorative Boards for the Adult Redeploy Illinois (ARI) program.  Adult Redeploy is a "second chance" program for non-violent offenders who would otherwise be on their way to prison.  It is an intensive probation program where participants must participate in "Moral Reconation Therapy" which is a 12 step programs to change decision making and thought processes for the better.  Community Restorative Boards are small community circles which seek to hold offenders accountable for their actions and the harm they caused the community, while acting as a support group for offenders who, all too often, do not have a strong support system in place.  

Today, one of my Community Restorative Board participants sat down with those of us from her Community Restorative Board and seven other community members to tell her story and to apologize for the harm she had caused the community.  This participant, a Registered Nurse, was in the program because of years of driving on suspended and revoked license (initially caused by  DUI).  She is a mother of two wonderful teenage daughters and has an incredibly supportive family.  She continued to drive on a revoked license for so long because she was so embarrassed to tell her family that she had lost her license.  She eventually spent 41 days in jail and, if she had not have entered the ARI program, would have spent time in prison.

What she did today was so brave and inspiring.  She sat in front of all those strangers and told them what she had done wrong.  Her tears were genuine, as was her remorse. Through this experience, she has learned not to hide things from her family and to trust that they will love and support her through anything.  

When she hugged me at the end, she smelled like my mom.  She is younger than my mom, but her hug was so heartfelt that for a second, I forgot that it wasn't my mom.  It felt really wonderful to be able to sit with her and support her as she told this room full of strangers all about what she has gone through (including strangers who represent law enforcement and the States Attorney's Office).

I love volunteering.  I volunteer on top of my full-time volunteer job.  As a matter of fact, I'm on my way to the Old King's Orchard After School Program right now!

The Internet Gets Me All Hot and Bothered

As a crafter, I get a lot of my inspiration from the interwebs.  I use Stumbleupon and Pinterest to find new ideas for crafts and ways to use all of the junk I buy at garage sales and thrift shops. 

Here are some of my own versions of crafts I've found, along with the link to the original inspiration.

I've made this headband with this flower on top.

I've made this garland, but with scraps from the t-shirts I use to make these rugs.

I've taken this idea to make a similar picture out of colored paper.

I made these paper flowers with old book pages.  Gorgeous.

I saved up toilet paper rolls for this project, too!

I've tried these magnets, with glass beads from Dollar Tree and magazine clippings. 
Total cost: ~13 cents each.

I've made this wreath from scraps and thrift-shop finds.

My stuff generally looks a little folksy, but I'm getting better!  Really, I just love creating things and being able to say "I made this."

Photo Fiend

Rich with the borrowed puppy, Nala.

Tonight I decided to deal with some old photos.  I haven't uploaded pictures to Facebook in several months, except for one album from my trip to Des Moines.  I bet I have tens of thousands of pictures on my computer.  You could say I'm addicted to taking pictures.  My camera goes with me everywhere I go, and when I don't have it, I usually regret it.  I've included a random sampling of memories from my new facebook album "Forgotten Photos"....

Alexa and Greer, the first time we met Greer <3

 
I LOVE taking pictures.  I actually took 2 photography classes in college, but you would never guess that from looking at my photos!! I'm still not very good at candid photos.  The best photographs of mine are of nature and other things that sit still.



The thing I love the most about photography is that, not only can you remember a memory forever, but you can also see what you did not catch before.  Life looks a little different in freeze frame than it did when you were busy living it.

Ellie being terrifying! (All she did was meow!!)

My mother always says, "Life looks so fun in pictures!"  It does.  Usually because it is!  I don't take pictures to make my life SEEM fun.  I take pictures because I am HAVING fun.  For me, part of the fun IS taking the pictures.

People seem to act a bit differently when there is a camera around.  They want to act in a way that they want to be remembered.  At parties, the action is ramped up when the camera comes out.  People start smiling more at all times, for fear of being caught on camera with a nasty look on their face.  A camera is an instant smile machine.

Hanging out with Jonathan and Doris

me and my woes

I am pretty extroverted, in general.  However, when it comes to my sadness and my insecurities, I tend to be intensely introverted.  Because I am generally confident in myself as a person and outspoken, no one seems to notice that I'm not really that confident physically.  It's not that anyone ever makes fun of me or makes me feel bad about my appearance.  I am my own worst enemy, I know.

I used to be able to see my eyes and my smile and good things about myself.  Lately I'm wondering how much a new face would cost.

Last weekend when I was hanging out with one of my mentoring girls, she asked why I didn't like her cousin.  I told her that he made fun of my acne and made me feel bad about myself.  She said "I don't think your acne looks bad on you.  Your acne looks good with your skin color."  I about DIED laughing at her sweet comment.  I know that she cares about me and wanted to make me feel better.  I'm not sure anyone else has ever been told that their acne looks good.  I've heard so many people say stupid things like "I don't even notice," that only make me think then you weren't looking at me.

I even feel self-conscious at home by myself sometimes.  But Ellie won't judge me, so I should at least relax when I'm on my couch!

Love and Learn

I believe that when someone comes in to your life, it's because you are supposed to learn something from them. They come at just the right time and offer you just what you need.

After getting out of two relationships in a row that left me emotionally drained and damaged, I found someone who was good to me and appreciated me for who I was.  He was certainly not perfect- but I thought so.  I met him just when I needed someone to bring me back to life.  When he left, I thought that eventually he might come back after we both did some growing up.  But now I don't hope for that any more.  Him walking away was also what I needed.  When I was with him, I was able to hold on to my life at college and didn't need to fully immerse myself in my new life.  Since then, I've become a part of my new community and moved on to a new phase in my life.  

Every new place, every new job, every new group of friends is a new phase.  Sometimes a few people come along into the new phase, but there is no reason to mourn those who stay a part of the past.  Take pictures to remember the past and look back to appreciate what it was.  Keep in contact with friends (thank goodness for Facebook!) and visit if you can.

Learn what you can while friends are here and be thankful for them after they are gone.  Keep on loving and learning.  <3

Decatur: The Friendliest Town in Illinois

I swear to goodness, I cannot go ANYWHERE in this town without getting in to a conversation with someone.  I can't tell if I just look very approachable, but whether I'm in line at the grocery store, pumping gas or sifting through piles of junk at the thrift store- someone always makes a comment in my direction.

Today, when I came out of DMH Thrift Shop, I got on my bike.  A nice older black woman said something about me wearing high heels while riding.  We ended up talking for a few moments and were promptly joined by another woman who had come out of the store.  It was a pleasant conversation, as most of these random encounters are.

I think that Decatur is just small enough that man people feel neighborly enough to chat, but large enough that you don't know everyone and everyone's business.  I haven't been that many places in my life, but of the places I have been, Decatur is by far the friendliest.

Only in Decatur!

Benefits of Bicycling

A few months ago, I purchased a bike for $30 at a thrift store.  When I rode away from the store, I was wobbly and nervous, this having been the first time in about 10 years since I had ridden a bike.  I was sure that I would fall in to traffic and die, or even worse- live and be incredibly embarrassed.

But I made it home and have been riding that bike to work on a pretty regular basis. I only live 12 blocks from work, so it is the perfect commute.

Here are a few reasons I LOVE riding to work.

1.  MONEY!  I save $.70+ a day on parking.  Not to mention gas money and the wear and tear of city driving.


2. Exercise!  My ride is about 5-10 minutes, depending on how late I am.  You can burn about 50 calories for every 10 minutes of riding.  So- in riding to work, home for lunch, back from lunch and home again- I can burn up to 200 calories! 

3.  Toning!  Since riding my bike to work, I've noticed that my butt is perkier!

4.  Cardio!  I haven't been exercising much lately, but my commute give me just enough cardio to help keep my metabolism going and my heart pumping.


5. Its good for the environment!  It's hard to call myself much of an environmentalist if I drive my car 12 blocks out of laziness. 

6. Greeting the morning!  Morning is the most beautiful time of the day.  There is nothing better than a brisk morning ride on a sunny day.  Today's ride was perfect. I love waving to people and saying good morning.  Beautiful.

7. Endorphines!  Bicycling work is the best way to get a natural high that helps keep away "The Mondays" and help to stay positive throughout the day.

8. Bragging Rights! I love to tell people that I ride my bike to work.  And it feels good to hear people say "Good for you!" or "I wish I could do that."  Hopefully I will inspire people to start commuting my bicycle as well.

I cannot lie- sometimes there are some downsides to biking to work.

Downsides:

1. Sweat.  Its a bit gross to ride your bike in 95 degree weather and arrive at work all sweaty.

2. Rain.  Sometimes it rains unexpectedly.

3.  Drivers.  Drivers have bicyclists. Bicyclists hate drivers.

Second Hand Sally

My name is Alli Williams and I am an addict.  I refer to it as a hobby, but really its gone past that point.  I find it hard to drive past a resale shop or a garage sale without stopping. I hoard books and craft supplies and strange knick knacks and wall hangings.  I find it difficult to pay full price, even when shopping at the dollar store.  When I look at items in my home that I paid full price for in my past life before thrifting, I feel disgusted at myself.  I pride myself on how LITTLE I paid for something.  I refer to myself as a professional thrifter, an expert bargain hunter and a second hand slut.

And here is how I am so good at it:

 1.  Find 'em.  Locate thrift stores in your area.  It is pretty easy to search "thrift stores in ..." or try "resale."  Go to them all to see which ones you like the best and which ones have the kind of things you are looking for.  Many focus on clothes, others have large home sections, some have furniture, etc. 

2. Get to know the pricing system.  If you buy books, learn which stores have the best book deals.  Some places price items individually.  You are likely to find the best steals at stores that have general prices, like T-shirts for $1, Long-sleeves $1.50, etc.

3. Learn their regular sales.  Some shops have monthly sales, others weekly.  Some have sales on all items tagged with a certain color- these are the sales where you find deals on a great variety of items.  Others have sales on certain items such as children's clothes, housewares, accessories, or books.  Some shops create monthly calendars that list all of their special sales.

4.  Be on the lookout for special sales.  Often, shops will give out flyers for their upcoming blowout sales.  Others will put adds in the newspapers or put up large signs in their windows.

5. Know what you want.  Make a list of items that you want before you go.  Keep a running list of items that you would buy if ever you found them at a decent price.  I keep this list on my cell phone with the "notes" function.

6. Get past your apprehensions.  Having trouble buying things that others have used?  Start off small.  Dishes can be washed.  Buy a coffee cup or a utensil that you are missing.  Used books are no big deal!  You buy "pre-viewed" movies from movie store, why not the thrift store?  You don't have to buy clothes from the thrift shop, but don't close yourself off to the idea.  Some of my favorite clothes have been second hand finds.  Make sure to wash everything first.
7.  Don't be afraid to ask!  Looking for something specific?  Ask them if they have it.  If they don't- see if they will call you if they DO get it in.  Example:  I found a thrift shop that sold bikes, but none of the ones they had were my size.  I told them I've been looking for one and they wrote my name down and the approximate size I'd need.  About 2 weeks later I got the call and ran down to pick up my $30 mountain bike that was in perfect condition (and its pink!). I've heard of people doing this with music instruments, exercise equipment or furniture.

8.  Get by with a little help from your friends.  Don't go alone!  Its more fun to go with others.  Keep your friends in mind, even if they can't come along.  Do you hear your friend say "I wish I had a copy of The Grapes of Wrath"  or "I should buy a wine rack"?  Be on the look out for things your friends might like.  It makes for a cheap gift and an easy way to say "I was thinking of you."

9. Know when to fold 'em.  I tend to go overboard on my thrifting.  I've bought more books than I could ever read and more craft supplies than I could ever use.  There comes a point when you need to stop buying just because it is available, and start holding out for really special items.


10.  Use your resources.  Look on your local craigslist to find garage sales in your area! Or you can use this to find specific items you are looking for.  Try freecycling.  Shop in your grandmother's basement.

I am a thrifter!  Say it loud, say it proud.  Thrifting has helped me create a unique style and my home is certainly one-of-a-kind.  

Words I Live By, in no particular order

I read a lot of self-improvement stuff that I come across as I travel through the wonderful world wide web.  But in my (almost) 24 years, I've collected some knowledge of my own.  I stopped at twenty, but I bet I could have made it to One HUNDRED and twenty!

1. Take the saying "You learn something new every day" to heart.  Don't think you've learned anything yet today?  I like to stumble until I do.  Or Wiki-surf: go to Wikipedia and read the featured article (or as much of it as you are interested in) and click on one of the links in the article.  Do this several times over until you find yourself on a completely different topic.

2. Don't let clutter take over your life.  Every time you notice that your living/work space has become messy, pick up 3 things.  Sometimes this game turns in to 5 or 10 things, or an hour's worth of scrubbing when the mood hits.

3. Set small goals frequently.  For example:  do yoga every morning for a week, read 2 books this month, save $100 this month.  Even if you never reach them, it helps to motivate you for a while.

4. Be shamelessly thrifty.  Shop at yard sales, thrift stores and clearance racks. Why pay full price?  Here is my own guide to thrifting.

5. Volunteer Regularly.  When you volunteer with one organization on a regular basis, you form relationships that are just as rewarding as the work itself.  Volunteer for a cause you believe in and the experience will be so much more than a "resume builder".

6. Cancel your cable TV for a year.  Read a book. Cook a nice dinner for someone you love. Play board games with your family or friends.  Cross something off the honey-do list. Go for a night walk. Learn an instrument.  Pick up a hobby.  Do a puzzle. Get that regular volunteering in.   If there are shows you just can't miss, you can usually find them on Hulu.  Once you've learned to survive without it, I doubt you'll be in a hurry to get the cable hooked back up.

7. Don't waste time worrying.  Most of the time we worry about things that will never happen.  Don't think about problems that haven't arisen yet, and spend your time solving the problems that do arise.

8. Be your own best friend.  If you don't like yourself, how do you expect others to like you?  Do what you can to improve yourself, but accept yourself for who you are, not who you'd like to be.  Spend time alone to find out who you are when no one else is looking, for that is your truest self.

9. If you think you can't, you can't.  Approach every task optimistically.  Its amazing what you can do just by saying, "I can." You can run a mile.  You can learn to knit.  You can read War and Peace.  But you can't if you never try.

10. Be good to others.  We're all in it together.  When someone is rude to you, try to think of what they may be going through that would make them act in such a manner.

11. Take pictures often.  My mother always says "Life looks so fun in pictures."  I always reply "My life IS fun.  I take pictures to remember."  It's always a treat to look through old Facebook photo albums and think about how I felt at that moment.  Always be making memories, but don't forget to take a look at old ones every once in a while.

12. Try new things!  Don't box yourself in and settle in to the life you have.  Always reach for new things.  Take a different route to work.  Prepare a meal you've never tried before.  Shake up your Saturday Night routine.  Try on that skirt you think looks so great on the mannequin.  Even if it doesn't work out, at least you will have learned something about yourself.

13. Spend big bucks on experiences, not things.  Things break, get used up or get lost.  Spend your money making memories.  THINGS to invest in: a camera, a nice big bed and good walking shoes.

14. Stay humble and be grateful for what you have.  In Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson, Suzanne is always saying "Aren't we lucky?"  This is a saying I've taken to heart.  Be thankful for everything you have and everyone in your life.

15. People come in to your life for a reason.  People come in and out of your life- some people stay longer than others.  Learn what you can from them while they are there.  Don't mourn lost relationships, but cherish the lessons learned from them.

16. Trust your gut.  There are so many examples of this that I'm having trouble choosing.  This works as good test advice, moral advice or dating advice.  When you know, you know.

17. Call your mom.  On Hwy 20, there used to be a sign right outside Rockford that said "Call your mom."  I never understood what the advertisement was for, but I always called my mom.  I think it was good advice.  You should tell her you love her too.  Which reminds me....

18.  Say "I love you" as often as you mean it.  Love makes the world go 'round.  All you need is love.  Love conquers all.  Cliche, cliche, cliche.  But seriously.  Don't YOU love it when someone says "I love you?" Doesn't it just make ya feel good?  Well, others like to hear it too.  There isn't enough in the love in the world.  I bet terrorists would think twice if a few more people told them "I love you" every once in a while! HA!

19. Know what is going on in the world.  You don't have to read the newspaper every day or watch the 6 o'clock news every night, but you should have some clue about major events happening locally, nationally and globally.

20. Wake up before you want to.  Get plenty of sleep, but don't miss the best part of the day.  Mornings are magical.  Sunrise is the most peaceful time of day.  Hitting snooze feels good for 10 minutes, but 10 minutes of yoga will wake you up better than a whole pot of coffee.  Use extra morning time to relax before you start your day.  Don't start your day in a hurry.

Crafting 'Cause I Can

I was flipping through a Real Simple Magazine, again. I was inspired by this door organizer from the Container Store that sells for $12.

You must understand that I am a craft supply hoarder.  From my many trips to local thrift shops, I've collected quite a nice collection of fabrics, yarns and assorted odds and ends.  (See:  Alli's guide to thrifting). I dug through my toy chest full of supplies (the chest itself also a thrift shop find!).

Some felt, leftover cardboard and some embroidery thread did the job.  I also found a nice tapestry needle so I could hand stitch my project easily.  I didn't make a pattern, but this one is simple enough to wing it.

This version certainly looks a bit more folksy than the $12 version, but this one was probably a total of.... $.60!  If I made a few more of these, I could sell them for $2 and still make a nice little profit.

Choc-ana Cupcakes with Nutella

I love baking cupcakes!  In fact, one year for Christmas, my boyfriend-at-the-time's mother bought me 500 Cupcakes, a cupcake pan/ 2 tier carrier, a cupcake rack and other assorted cupcake tools.

I have modified a recipe from 500 cupcakes to make chocolate-banana cupcakes!


2 sticks butter/margarine (softened)
1 cup sugar
2 cups self-rising flour
4 eggs
3 mashed ripe bananas
1/2 cup cocoa powder

Nutella (for frosting)

Preheat oven to 350F

Grease muffin tin (batter could yield 18-24 muffins) or use paper baking cups.

TIP:  Grease the top of the pan, not only the cups.  This helps the muffins slip out even if they grow above the rim of the cup.

Combine butter, sugar, flour and eggs until smooth.  Stir in Banana.  Add cocoa to taste.  I estimate that I put about 1/3-1/2 cup in the batter.

Bake 15-20 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.  Don't have toothpicks?  I use a knife to the same purpose.

TIP:  I've been known to burn my cupcakes by walking away and forgetting about them until I smell them burning.  I found a great tip in Real Simple Magazine.  Allow the muffins to cool, then use a grater to gently scrape off the burnt outer edger.

Frost with Nutella!!

TIP:  Kroger Brand Hazelnut Spread also comes in a crunch version and it is DELICIOUS!

Chai the Way I Like It

Tazo Chai mix
Vanilla Silk Almond Milk

1:1 + ice

Tazo Chai Concentrate is more of a spiced Chai. Oregon Chai is more sweet- also delicious.

Almond Milk makes the drink a bit thick.  Sometimes I like to dilute it a bit by doing 1/2 almond milk and 1/2 skim milk.

One of these days I'll get around to mixing my own chai, but I'm not that ambitious.  However, I'm sure it would save me some money!  Dang this stuff is expensive!!!

Thrifty Rag Rugs

In my house, we used to have a big, old rug made out of what I assume was recycled wool clothes.  As I was stumbling one day, I came across a tutorial for how to make t-shirt yarn.  At first I thought, "what the hell would I want with that?"  But I was wrong.  I quickly put the two thoughts together and decided to make a rug.

First rugs I made- dirty with use.  They hold up well, though!

Supplies: A stack of old t-shirts,  sharp scissors (not kiddie scissors, either), and a size Q crochet hook (you can get these big plastic hooks at Wal-Mart for $3).

Useful Tip: It is best to use t-shirts without side-seams.  You can use shirts with side-seams, but you have to be careful to hide them as you are working.  It is not too difficult to make sure the seam always lands in the back of your work.


Well, I had lost that tutorial, so I found another one here at Polka Dot Pineapple.  I don't cut my strips as large as hers though.

 Useful tip: You can make smaller yarn balls out of the sleeves to help stretch one color further (and to use as much of the shirt as possible).

To make the rug:

Big Rug for Mama to match her decor.

 Chain 5
slip stitch to make a loop
single crochet in a circle until you run out of yarn.
Tie on another color an keep going until desired size!

Especially at the beginning, you have to be careful that you increase stitches regularly enough that your rug doesn't start to look more like a bowl.  But the great thing about t-shirt yarn is that it is so dang stretchy, so even if you don't increase the right amount, you can always shape the rug later.  To increase, do 2 single crochets in the same stitch.  Usually the first and second rows, you will need to increase in every stitch, the next row will be increase every other stitch.  After that, increase as needed- whenever it seems like a stretch to make it to the next stitch.

Useful tip.  It takes about 9-10 shirts to make a rug with a 2 foot diameter.  The bigger your rug gets, the fewer rounds one ball of yarn will make it around the circle. 


This is a super easy and fun craft, especially if you have someone there to teach you how to do it.  I have taught friends and my mentoring girls.  My friend Meghann loved it so much that she finished her rug within 24 hours of learning.  My mentoring girls (ages 9, 12 and 13) have caught on incredibly quickly and manage to help each other when I'm not in the room. Dae-Shana has said that she wants to continue making rugs and sell them to make money.  If I can give these girls a skill that they could make a few dollars off of, then I have far surpassed any ideas I had the first day I started this silly little craft project.

Useful Tip:  Shirts with patterns (especially stripes) look great!  Most patterned shirts will had side seams, though.

With rug making skills in high demand at my apartment, so are old t-shirts!  Being the regular thrift-shopper that I am, I manage to find some amazing deals. I am always on the look out for good deals on t-shirts, especially bright colored ones for the girls.  Because of my second-hand addiction, I now have a 2-foot tall rainbow stack of t-shirts waiting to be made in to rugs.

Logic Games

This is something I've only recently come to understand: when a friend comes to you with a problem in their lives, they don't want your logical solutions.  They only want you to listen.

As a rational person, if there is a problem in my life, I think of ways that I can solve the problem.  I am a problem-solver.  I think of ways to fix it and then I go about fixing it.  Well, not everyone is as logical as I am.  Some people like their own anguish.  Some people revel in their own distress.

However, I refuse to stop giving my logical advice.  I don't mind when people do not or cannot take my advice, but I am just unable to listen without offering up a few solutions.

Update:  I've realized that I should never be a therapist or a counselor.  My advice would always be: "Your worries are irrational and your problems are made up."

I Made Something Yummy!

My friends and I had Brinner (Breakfast for Dinner) on Sunday. I decided to bring fruit.  Well fruit is boring.  So I also made a fruit DIP for my fruit.  I vaguely remembered making a yogurt/cool whip/cream cheese fruit dip-or some combination of some of those ingredients- in Jr. High.  I couldn't find anything with all three ingredients on the interwebs, so I decided to be brave and experiment.

It worked!  Here is what I did.

1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
1 Tablespoon Vanilla
1 cup yogurt (I used Vanilla Stonyfield Yogurt, but Strawberry probably would have been good too)
1 container of Cool Whip

Cream the cream cheese and vanilla until it is smooth.  Add the Yogurt, mix until smooth.  Fold in Cool Whip.  Voila! Easy, Delicious Fruit Dip!

To make it a little sweeter, you could probably add a tablespoon or two of sugar or sweetner.

Dear Diary

Last night I wrote a post that, upon re-reading it this morning, I realized had no business being up on the internet.  A blog should not be a diary.

DON'T Let Them Eat Cake

In my office, it is ALWAYS someone's birthday. Or someone is retiring.  Or someone got another degree, or got married, or had a baby.  There is ALWAYS a reason to party and ALWAYS a reason to eat cake and ice cream.  All of the newer people complain that they have gained weight since working here.  Macon County's obesity rate is almost 30% and this is reflected almost everywhere you go, be that to the office, the library, or the grocery store.  A very small number participated in the fitness challenge a few months ago, but no one turns down cake.  Elevators take our cake-eating butts up and down the measly four flights of stairs and the parking spots closest to the building are coveted by all.  Why can't we celebrate birthdays with watermelon and popcorn (NOT the movie theater butter kind)?  I can't lie, I always eat the cake, but at least I turned down the ice cream.

Side note: Government offices are behind the times in everything from fashion to computer software.  The PAPER!  Paper files filling entire offices and storerooms, paper print outs of every meetings' agendas and minutes, etc.  My vision of the future includes a tablet for every attorney and a smooth, updated programs for clerks and support staff to keep updated.  Yes, the system might crash, but it is not difficult to find a reliable place to back-up the system.  What if the building burns down with all the files?  It will be harder to back up all of those paper files!

UPDATE:  I decided that obesity rates would be an interesting addition to the community profile data.  I have found a wonderful site on the CDC website where you can see interactive maps of obesity by state and county for every state in the United States.  Macon County is a bright spot in the middle of Illinois. The only county in the state with an obesity rate of 29.7+.  Go Macon County! We're Number One!!!

Spirits Lurking Everywhere

Kindred Spirits, that is.  Today I spoke with a woman in my office- a very experience and intelligent attorney- with whom I agreed with at almost every turn.  We spoke, initially, about child support.  However, once business was finished, there was an off-hand comment made about politics.  Of course, I couldn't let that one lie once it was thrown out.  We touched on everything from the "debt" to the grant process and my future run for political office.  Getting to know someone who shares the same dreams and ideals as you is so rejuvenating.  It's like a fresh log placed on the fire within.  Right now, with my nose in my books instead of on the grindstone, my fire had started to weaken.  I manage to find so many people like I met today.  It restores my faith in humanity after sitting in this office where murder, assault, rape and so many other heinous crimes are discussed so casually.

I KHAN Do It!

The quantitative reasoning section of the GRE is just math, mainly algebra and geometry and data analysis.  Easy stuff, right?  Well its not as easy as I thought it would be, since the last math class I had was statistics in my first semester of college, almost five years ago now.  Yea, I remember that there IS such a thing as the quadratic formula and I remember that there IS an equation for the slope of a line, but NO, I couldn't have told you how to figure it out.

In my quest to re-learn the math I have forgotten over the years, I remembered a TED Talk I had seen on the Khan Academy.  Number one, if you dont' know what TED Talks are, get on there and look around- incredibly innovative ideas on ALL kinds of topics, from clean water to education and wireless electricity to economics.  Number two, if you don't know what Khan Academy is, get on there and look around!

Khan Academy is a learning site where the creator, Salman Khan, teaches through YouTube videos.  For example, I needed to learn the quadratic formula.  Khan academy is wonderful for learning math.  In his videos, he takes you step by step through the problems.  I am not sure how well this works when you are learning something for the first time, since I was relearning what I had learned in high school.  However, some teachers are using sites like Khan Academy to improve classroom productivity.  Students' "homework" becomes watching these videos and doing some practice problems online.  When they get back to the classroom, the teacher spends their time and energy in helping the students with what would usually be their homework.  Teachers basically become tutors.  This saves classroom time, and frustration at home.  I can't remember how many times my brother brought home homework that he didn't understand, and neither did my parents.  Even for students whose teachers don't use Khan Academy, the site is free and open to all.

I'm in love with Khan Academy.  If you create a login (you can connect using your Google account or Facebook account), you can earn points for every practice question you answer, and you can earn badges for  getting a certain number of points, or for watching so many minutes of video.  Anything you can turn in to a game or competition, I'm in.  I love to earn points for learning!  And I LOVE doing math.  My bedroom floor was littered with scratch paper as I tore through the practice questions.  The quantitative reasoning section is my favorite part of the GRE and hopefully I can get a score to prove as much.

First Attempt

Competition for high grades seriously limits the quality of learning at all levels of education.

Write a response in which you discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree with the statement and explain your reasoning for the position you take. In developing and supporting your position, you should consider ways in which the statement might or might not hold true and explain how these considerations shape your position.

Sports motivate kids to work hard and dedicate their time, patience and energy in order to excel.  Many of the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that motivate youth to succeed in sports, should play a role in education.  Competition for high grades is an academic motivation to study harder, ask questions and to go above and beyond the usual expectations.  The best athletes don't simply go home after practice- they practice on their own, attend sports camps and play for fun on the side.  Likewise, the best students don't relax at home after school-  they get tutoring where needed, spend hours on projects and are inclined to academic past-times such as reading, writing, or playing games such as sudoku or scrabble.  Not everyone can play in the championship game, and not everyone deserves an A.  However, even second string deserves a chance to play, and everyone deserves a quality education.  Competitive grading works well for students with natural ability and strong intrinsic motivation for success in education, but this policy may leave behind many of the students who need the most help.

Competition for grades is an extrinsic motivator that taps into the intrinsic need to succeed.  As a straight-A student, I NEED to get that A.  Because this drive to succeed, I would do anything necessary to get it.  I would spend hours making a presentation polished and perfect.  Not only did I want to do well, I wanted to have the highest GPA, the highest ACT score and the most decorations at graduation.  Although this did not happen, that spirit of competition forced me to delve deep in to my school work where more than a little learning took place.  

Unfortunately, some students struggle more than others.  No matter how much extra time is put in, nor how many questions asked, some students are not able to reach the top level.  This spirit of competition may actually discourage them when they see others around them succeeding where they are not.  For this reason, there should be a limited number of grades available.  It is difficult to objectively say who deserves the limited number of As - should it be the student who works incredibly hard, but doesn't quite grasp the concept or the student who easy understands, but never goes out of his/her way to learn more?  This is not to say that all students like the former deserve As, or than none of the latter deserve them.  

Some of the most difficult teachers are those who only give out 3 As per semester.  In my experience, these are also the teachers who work the hardest to help those who WANT those As.  This does not mean that competitive grading works for all students, nor for all teachers.  This is a policy that could not be implemented as a standard which all teachers must follow, however, it works well for certain students and certain teachers willing to go above and beyond for the students.

I have presented my response honestly with no changes after the initial 30 minutes I was given.  At least my integrity will remain in tact, if not my self-delusion of intelligence.  

I could already critique myself as I was while writing it.  Don't talk about yourself so much.  You shouldn't write in an essay that you are a straight-A student, especially if the essay isn't very good!!! Too much time setting up the introduction with the crazy sports analogy, not enough time developing your two main points.  Also, the two main points contradict each other.

Jeeze louise!  This timed essay thing is stressful!  But I believe I would give myself a 4.  It is adequate for the limited amount of time given.  I believe I followed the task adequately.  The support for my first point was mainly based on my own experiences.  I am not sure this is necessarily a weakness of the essay.  The support for my second point is somewhat weak.  In my own experience with matters of education, competition for grades hardly seems like the most important topic, but this was the task assigned to me.