Long Time, No Talk

I know I haven't written in a very very long time, but recently I have been so busy.  Last week I was not home for more than an hour until I would fall asleep every night.  Between nom period, school and Pacesetters there has been no stopping. On Saturday, Pacesetters competed in our annual contest, and we did amazing!! Although I had to leave so I could go to a Brandeis event, the day was really fun and we performed all of our dances flawlessly.  Nom period basically deserves a blog dedicated to itself.  Words cannot describe how much I have loved being a Brandeis nom and I cannot believe walkdown is on Saturday.  I love these boys so much and I want to be their sweetheart more than anything.  They are all so sweet and I have so much fun around them.  We had our nom overnight on Saturday and even though I didn't sleep for over 24 hours, it was so worth it.  I would suggest that everyone at least plug a chapter and see what happens.  You have nothing to lose and you make such a good friends out of it.  I will cherish these last few weeks forever and hope that everyone gets this amazing opportunity just like I did.  To all of LDB: I know I said this in my walkdown paper but you boys have truly made this the most unbelievable experience I will ever have in BBYO and I don't think I can thank you guys enough.  I love you from the bottom of my red and black heart.  Happy 9:32, because it doesn't matter what time it is, it is always 9:32 in Brandeis.  I love you boys. 

We take TAKS tomorrow, which isn't a big deal, it would be fantastic to get commended so I can get a 100 as my English exam grade, wish me luck!
Well I am going to go get my "full nights rest before taks" ...just a good excuse to catch up on some majorly lost sleep.

I LOVE YOU BRANDEIS BOYS OH YES I DO,
love Dani Nom.  

Stars in the Sky

For me, I spent the Superbowl with the lovely boys of Louis D. Brandeis at their annual Superbowl party.  It was so fun to spend time with the boys just hanging out.  We were eating, laughing, and watching the game in a relaxing environment.  For a change instead of constantly thinking about being a nom, it was much more laid back.  I bonded a lot with the sophomore boys but spent some time with everyone.  They are so much fun to be around and are so caring.  Like typical boys, they asked the noms to get them food and such, which I didn't care at all about it. If I am already getting up, why would I not get someone food? No big deal to me.  The more time I spend with the boys the more I want sweetheart, and hopefully that will work out, but at the end of the day being sweetheart will not determine my life in the long run.  As amazing as it would be and as sad as I will be if I lose, eventually I will move on and leave a different legacy in my home chapter, Fannie Sablosky.  Love you Brandeis boys!

Now onto a different topic;
Over the weekend I received my Avodah acceptance letter for camp! I cannot wait to spend all summer in Bruceville, Texas with some of my best friends.  Although not all of my friends are doing it, it will still be so much fun and a good break from being in Dallas.  While reading over the acceptance packet, it made me think back on my time in Israel.  I know I write a lot about Israel, but it had such an impact on my life.  It made me value the little things, show pride in being Jewish and taught me who my true friends are, as well as me forming the best friendships I could have ever imagined.  Avodah will only strengthen those friendships even if the people I am closest with aren't there.  In Israel I enjoyed not having constant contact with everyone in Dallas. Don't get me wrong, I missed my friends and family a lot, but it was so nice to just spend time with the people I was with and not have to worry about what was going on in Dallas.  When I was in Israel, the drama back at home didn't effect me, as long as everyone I cared about at home were okay, then I didn't have to worry.  During Avodah I will have my phone so I can talk to my friends, but I'm sure there will be times when I just want to turn it off.  Some of my Dallas friends will be on Younglife trips like Wilderness, a week long hike through the Colorado mountains, or Workcrew, a month long working experience cooking, cleaning, and helping the staff at the different camp locations.  I will want to hear all about their experiences when they get home, but it is good for our friendships to be apart of a little bit.  It is so weird to think that I am finally old enough to be an Avodah.  I cannot wait to work with campers and remind them how amazing camp is.  It is where I have some of my most favorite memories and have formed friendships with people who I am certain will be lifelong friends.  I hope the campers I have will have that same connection.

Can't wait to be back in the 76630.  Stars in the sky bring the summer right back to me.

Snow Days!

So living in Texas, we don't get ice or snow very often.  This week has been a very big exception.  Ever since Monday night all the roads have been covered in ice.  We haven't had school since Monday and have barely been able to drive.  On Tuesday afternoon Brooke, Caroline, Jackie, myself and our moms went to see a movie.  The girls saw No Strings Attached, and the mothers saw The Fighter.  It has been a lazy and very cold few days.  All the girls spent the night after the movie, including Vince Anne and Christina.  We spent the day together, had breakfast and did a lot of laying around.  Sarah, April and Trey also came over because their power was going off and on.  Our house was packed like usual, and on a day like this I wouldn't expect any less.  We had family dinner and just hung out.  Although I love being off of school for now, making up the days won't be much fun.  Stay warm!!

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!!