Still Excited

I haven't stopped thinking about Brandeis all day.  I have never been more excited about something and I cannot wait to see what is in store.  The boys are so sweet and easy to talk to, and no matter what I know that I have made so many new friends.  I love you boys.

On another note, my friend Marissa, told me today that she wanted to start a blog after reading mine! I am so excited for her and to see what she will write about.  My blog is a place to write after a long day, or whenever I just feel like writing.  Go see her blog; marissashrell.blogspot.com!

LDB Nom Pick Up!

Today I found out that I was chosen to be a Louis D. Brandeis AZA nom! That means that after plug party a few weeks ago, they voted on who they want to be their potential sweethearts.  I am one of five girls that was chosen.  I am now luckily enough to spend the next 5 weeks with these amazing boys trying to win sweetheart.  I was kidnapped this afternoon by the boys and spent the afternoon hanging out with them.  I am so excited to be their nom and can't wait to see what is in the future! I just wanted to write really quickly about how honored and excited I am!

I LOVE YOU BRANDEIS BOYS OH YES I DO!!
love Dani nom!!

You Might Just Start a Chain Reaction

On April 20, 1999 Columbine High School in Colorado, experienced the worst school shooting in our country's history. Two boys put bombs in the cafeteria hoping they would go off during lunch, and as students walked out the boys were prepared with shot guns and other weapons to shoot students. When the bombs didn't go off the boys went into the school and began shooting.  There were 13 people murdered including one teacher. The first girl shot was Rachel Joy Scott. Many of the students were in the library with one teacher trying to hide from the shooters. They started hearing gun shots and within minutes the shooters were in the library. Rachel's brother was in the library with two of his friends. His two friends were shot while he was sitting in the middle of them. One of his friends was African American and the last thing he heard while he was alive were racial slurs. His response, "I want to see my mom," and was then shot.  Rachel Scott was sitting outside by a tree eating lunch with a friend when she was shot. Throughout her life, Rachel kept countless journals. She always wrote that all people had to give was compassion and kindness. With that you can start a chain reaction. She said that she was going to die young and wanted to make an impact on the world and that is what  has happened since her death. The shooters in some ways had a relation to Adolf Hitler, who was their role model. Hitler killed millions of Jews for no reason the same way these two boys shot innocent students. In many ways Anne Frank and Rachel Scott are very similar. Anne Frank wanted to be a famous writer and inspire other people. Rachel was inspired by Anne Frank. They both died for unnecessary reasons at a young age.  Rachel's Challenge has 5 steps.  Step 1: Get rid of prejudice by looking for the best in others, in reality without prejudice there wouldn't be bullying. Step 2: Chose positive influences and role models in your life.  Step 3: Keep a daily journal or diary for a month, it will change your life.  Step 4: Look for little things that make a difference.  Sometimes the smallest thing in life can have the biggest reward on someone else.  Step 5: Tell the people you love how much you care about them, you NEVER know what could happen.  It is all about people treating others with respect and being positive to all kinds of people. Rachel was the girl that sat with the new person on campus, stood up for bullies, and defended people with special needs who didn't have a voice of their own. When Rachel saw a boy getting bullied because he had a disability, she stepped in-between the bully and the boy and told the bully that he would have to fight her too.  The bully stepped aside. Little did Rachel know but the boy that was getting picked on had decided to commit suicide because he was tired of being bullied. Her small act of kindness kept someone from taking his life. Weeks before Rachel's death she wrote an essay about kindness and compassion. One day her teacher saw her drawing; it was a picture of eyes with tears, 13 tears, that when they hit the ground it grew into a flower. A business man called Mr. Scott, Rachel's dad, a few weeks after her death and said he had a dream of a picture. It happened to be the same picture Rachel had drawn in her journal.  No one knew that until Rachel's dad picked up her backpack at at the town sheriff's office. Her dad opened her backpack, took out her journal and flipped to the last page. On the last page, starring at her Dad was the exact picture the business man had described. Normally, school presentations are all about how to better yourself. Rachel's Challenge did more than just that. The entire time I was at the presentation I wanted to immediately make a difference.  After seeing this speaker I want to be the girl to go sit with the new student, stand up for the disabled student and support kids getting bullied. While her parents were cleaning her room, they found a hand traced on her dresser and inside was written, "these hands belong to Rachel Joy Scott and will someday touch millions of people's hearts." 
"I have this theory that if one person will go out of their way to show compassion, it will start a chain reaction." -Rachel Scott. 
Her challenge has inspired people nation wide. From celebrities to students, people have changed their daily lives to adapt to her challenge. I could write on and on about Rachel's Challenge but instead I just want to now challenge you to accept what I have told you about Rachel and take the challenge. 

Rachel's challenge tied into something personal to our school. The Peer Helpers and Peer Mediators have been working on an anti-bullying campaign, "It Starts With Me." In each fourth period class today there was a bullying discussion led by Peer Helpers, Peer Mediators or Student Council class representatives. We discussed types of bullying, how to prevent it, individual stories, and how one person can start a chain reaction; the motto of Rachel's Challenge. 

You might just start a chain reaction. 

Catching Up!

Over the past few days a lot has been going on.  I have caught up on sleep from Chandelle, celebrated my 17th birthday, attended a BBYO event and spent the majority of my time at school or working on school things.  My birthday was exactly what I wanted; time with my friends and family, nothing major.  We went to Gloria's for dinner and then some friends and family came over for cake.  I spent my birthday with the people I love the most.  As the week went on I was busy with school.  This was a good weekend.  We had a family dinner at Babe's on Friday night, followed by me catching up with some friends at Braums.  Brooke, Caroline, Jackie and I went to Vince Anne's to catch up and it was a fun night.  Saturday was exciting! It was finally Brandeis Plug Party for BBYO.  In each guys chapter there is a girl, and Plug Party is the first step in the process.  After plug party the guys vote on who they want to spend 6 weeks with; up to 5 of the plugs.  Following the 6 weeks is Walkdown.  Walkdown is the night when the current Beaus and Sweethearts pass down their titles to the next Beau or Sweetheart of every chapter.  Sweethearts are the girls in the guys chapter, and Beaus are guys in the girls chapter.  It is an emotional night and I cannot wait to see what happens.  But first I need to wait and see if I got chosen to be a nom.  Plug party was so much fun and I am so glad I chose to plug Louis D. Brandeis AZA. 

I'll write again soon!!

Chandelle 2011

Chandelle is a junior senior girls ask guys dance, which happened to be this past weekend.  Throughout all the planning for the weekend there were little spats of drama, but the weekend turned out better than anyone had expected.  The dance was so fun and this was the first dance that my entire group of friends was one group for the dance.  For chandelle there is a committee and two committee heads; next year the heads are Jackie and Brooke, and I couldn't be more excited for them.  They will put together an entire committee and plan the dance for our senior year.  Friday night we met at my house and then rented out the Gymnastics Place for a few hours to jump around and hang out.  We were all exhausted but it was a great start to the weekend.  Saturday I spent the majority of the day getting ready.  Our pictures were at the Richardson's and from there we left for the dance.  Most dances not everyone dances, but we were all on the dance floor having a great time all together.  The dance was amazing and from there we had our after party at Brad's.  It was a night full of food, friends, fun and memories.  We ate nonstop at Brad's, relaxed outside by the fire, watched movies, got very little sleep, and just spent time with our best friends.  Chandelle 2011 has been my favorite dance so far and I can't wait to see how amazing next year's dance is.

New Year

With the new year comes new challenges, experiences, and memories.  Along with the usual new years resolutions of eating healthy and working out, I also want to try and blog at least 4 times a week.  As the year gets busier we will see how that works but I want to write more and take even more pictures than I already do.  Everyone says that a picture says a thousand words, and I want to be able to remember the memories of high school, so what is a better way than to take pictures.  On my phone, there is an app called, Project 365, where each day you take a new picture and at the end of the year there is a picture for each day.  I've already started it and hopefully that will help me remember everything as well.  Since writing has become such an important part of my life, I want to make sure I do everything to make sure it remains that way, especially when it comes time to apply for college! Well before I start my homework for the night I will put up some pictures from Regionals and New Years Eve!

Happy new year!

love you roomz

the sablosky twins reunited

the best friends

new fav pic

Hello Second Semester

Today was my first day back at school and the start of second semester.  It is very weird that after this semester I will be a senior.  Going back to school means no more sleeping in, staying out late, relaxing all day, and doing absolutely nothing without having to worry.  Although, I already miss winter break, second semester will hopefully fly by.  This is only a three day week, and then next week of school and then Chandelle weekend! Chandelle is our junior senior girls ask guys dance.  I am so excited, and cannot wait.  It is also a few days before my birthday and a three day weekend.  First semester was really hard and stressful.  Second semester I am expecting stress and some rough days and weeks but hopefully it will be better than first.  There is a lot to look forward to in the next few months; chandelle, my birthday, plug party, nom period, walkdown, and just so much more! I'm ready for second semester and then its off to camp all summer! I just wanted to write really quick and now back to precal homework. 

Good luck with second semester,
Dani