"So tell yourself you can."

I could never be a teacher... or at least the kind of teacher that operates within a classroom setting... not because it isn't a rewarding and respectable job... because it is. It's because I have no patience whatsoever. If you've ever been in a car while I'm driving, I'm positive you've discovered this.

But teachers are amazing! I say this because I've been blessed with a few epic teachers/professors along my education journey. The great teachers are the ones that not only really teach you something within their subject area, but also inspire you to be something more than your current state.

They are usually easy to spot because they are the ones who sincerely love what they do. They look forward to walking in the classroom and changing at least one or two students before they walk back out. This may sound dramatic or idealistic, but I'm positive that all my favorite teachers were like this on some level... and I'm so thankful for them.

Sixth grade is one of those grades where everything and everyone around you is changing, and I was no exception. Thankfully there was Mr. Clanton. He taught social studies but even more than that he taught me how to believe in myself. He played chess with his students after class (sometimes during), and I never thought anyone would ever be able to beat him. I told him this one day, and he told me as long as I told myself that I couldn't then I wouldn't "so tell yourself you can." I was the first student to beat him, and now it doesn't seem like that big of a deal but then it was everything.

I personally believe that teachers aren't just there to make sure you memorize a bunch of details, but they're also there to help you discover something about yourself... about your talents and capabilities.

I have no interest in becoming a professional teacher, but I do have a great amount of respect for them. I know that even though graduating college is just a few months away, every teacher I've ever had, in and out of the classroom, is responsible to some degree. Thank You.

Me vs. Nature - All Meese shall be called George...

One day after I graduate Berry College, I want to pack my car with lots of shiny camping stuff - Ya' know the usual - a tent, a sleeping bag, food, matches, a hatchet, bug spray (because bugs are evil), and one of those nifty survival handbooks - and just start driving west.

I use to love hearing those stories about Native American boys that got sent out into the woods for weeks at a time to prove that they could be a man... and even though I have no interest in being a man I think the Natives had something there - humankind vs. nature. I think when someone does this they most definitely have to change or learn something about themselves. I've told a few friends this and they asked "wouldn't you want to take at least one person with you?" and I say "no! that defeats the entire purpose..."

I would go alone, and I would take a journal to document anything that I learned about myself. I would have the campfire and the wildlife to keep me company. I would probably have to take a cell phone so family and friends don't say annoying things like "I'm not going to let you go." Because then I would have to sneak and go - and that's annoying.

I've recently read Jack Kerouac's On The Road and his other book Big Sur - and these books fed the fire that had already been started when I was a child while reading Jack London's Call Of The Wild and Sea Wolf. There's something about Jacks taking on the world...

Of course all of this literary wonder was inspiring, but there is something definitely wrong with the entire picture... all of the protagonists are dudes...

My dad taught me how to navigate through woods, hunt, load and shoot a rifle, use a hatchet to gather firewood, and use a pocket knife to whittle down an end of a long stick or limb to cook food on. I grew up very close to woods and went hiking in them for the majority of my childhood. I really feel like I can do this.

I've always loved the idea of being out in the wild all alone, but I think now there's something else driving this growing need home... and that is - I don't feel like an adult. I have no idea why that would be other than I only live an hour away from home. I don't feel like I've actually transitioned from being a kid to being an adult who knows exactly who they are. I need to conquer something!!! And what's better than conquering or overcoming nature?

Nothing... that's what. I'm not sure how far I would go until I turned around... but something tells me I'd reach California and probably start heading north for Canada. Have you ever seen a moose? One of the strangest things I've ever seen... and I think it's a shame that the English language gave the goose the plural form "geese" but wouldn't give the moose his plural "meese"... it isn't fair so I call them meese to myself... and I name all animals I come in contact with George.

Summer Time... again.

Sooooo the last time I posted was last summer, and now that another summer has rolled around I guess I should update...

I graduate Berry College December 10th.

I am planning on going to grad school at FSU to get my masters in film production.

I am officially obsessed with watching movies and then discussing them in detail with anyone that doesn't get annoyed.

I still haven't tried everything on the Starbucks menu, and I feel like maybe I'm not being as adventerous as I should be...

I'm starting to think that my life is strangely similar to Johnny Cash's life - now that I've read his autobiography Cash - I have a list of reasons... not kidding.

Feeling sort of sad that I'm leaving Berry so soon (arrived August 2009) - am I missing out on the traditional college experience by graduating early? I'm saving myself a lot of money... which always cheers me up.

Death Cab For Cutie has been my favorite band for over two years now, and my best friend/ boyfriend bought me their new album today "Codes and Keys" - Ben Gibbard's lyrics just keep getting better and inspiring my own writing.

I've done a lot of filming since August of 2010, I've decided that it's definitely going to be a major part of my future. It captures life in a different way than my poetry - some might argue in a more powerful way (not sure about that yet).

Most of my friends are married or are getting married... very strange for me.

My driving still makes people pray - I think God gives kudos for that...

I know this isn't the total update so I will be posting again soon.