Why I believe in Nikki Haley and the state of South Carolina

As a 22 year old graduate student I increasingly become more aware with the political atmosphere every day. Though I have always been interested in politics and the functions of government, local or national, moving back home to Columbia has truly opened my eyes to the great leadership we have in this state.

So in case you haven't noticed, the past few years for South Carolina have been a total hot mess. A lot of these events that happened truly brought our state together in the times where we needed support the most. I honestly believe that we would have been a different state after all of these events if it weren't for our governor Nikki Haley.

From the shooting at Mother Emanuel church in Charleston, the 1,000 year flood last fall, Hurricane Matthew and the Townville shooting all showed us how we as a state can always excel in the face of danger.

Though these four events are just the main ones that hit news headlines, Nikki Haley has continued to represent our state with grace and poise, something many people--especially politicians-- can't say or do.

Nikki Haley has continually represented our state with the utmost dignity I have seen in a long time.

Though many times South Carolina has been in the news for things we aren't proud of, we continue to band together as a state and support each other when in need. I can't tell you how many times this past week I have seen people posting on Facebook, Craigslist or even an add in the newspaper offering shelters for animals, places to stay for friends or strangers or even prayers and well wishes to those who chose to stay on the coast.

This past week alone I experienced my own appreciation for the people of SC. From my Facebook:

"There's times like these where I'm proud to be from SC. Today I was picking up food for Mom, Christopher, his roommate and myself and had a conversation with the girl cashing me out and a patron standing next to me. I told them how I was grabbing food for us four since Toph and Dom were in from Charleston and the patron next to me gave me $10 and said, "Here, pay for part of the food with this and be careful." She didn't have to do that. She could've easily said something else but she didn't. She gave me that $10 because she is just that kind. To the random stranger that helped buy a meal for my brother and his roommate--thank you."

This random stranger did not have to give me any money for their food; she didn't have to listen to my story and she definitely didn't have to care...but she did.

To me that speaks volumes of the kind of people that South Carolina calls its citizens. We might be different races, sizes, ethnicities, have different beliefs and care more about football than anything else but we are a family. We might not know each other from anything other than "neighbor" but that's what we are. We are neighbors.

As crazy as it sounds I really believe that we as South Carolinians use "Love thy neighbor as thyself" as a real life motto.

When my dad was sick a few years back and we were rarely home, our neighbor came over and cut our grass and made sure our house looked nice on the outside so we didn't have to worry about it when we came home. He didn't have to, but he did.

The lady at Zesto's didn't have to give me that 10$ for food, but she did.

Nikki Haley didn't have to ask for prayer during one of her press conferences during Hurricane Matthew but because she cares so much about this state she did.

The state of South Carolina didn't have to support Mother Emanuel or Townville Elementary after their devastating losses, but the thing is we all felt the pain, we all lost someone and we all hurt, so we did.

The thing is, South Carolina is unlike any other place I have ever been in my entire life. The support, love and thoughtfulness that we all exhibit is something that cannot be found anywhere else.

#SCStrong is a hashtag for a reason. We are strong as individuals, and we are even stronger together.

I honestly believe if Nikki Haley was not our governor during these events, and many others, we would not have bonded together like we have. She is an amazing leader who truly cares about our state and the people in it. Her quick actions during the flooding and Hurricane Matthew saved countless lives, I'm sure of it.

Though we may be different, different hair, skin colors, beliefs, morals, and backgrounds we are a state that bands together when someone needs it. I honestly wouldn't want to live anywhere else besides SC during these trials we have faced.

Thank you Nikki Haley for being the leader we have needed in our state.
Thank you South Carolina for being a state that I am proud to come from.
Thank you citizens for showing the world what true neighbors are.

I am proud to be from South Carolina and I am proud to say that this is my home.

I really hate the word 'adulting.'

Going away from home for 4 years really gives you a sense of independence, that is until you have to move back home.

Don't get me wrong I love my parents and I'd be stupid not to live at home with all of the opportunities they have given me and especially the one to save money while moving back in. Here's the thing...my dad likes to play this "my house my rules" kinda game. (Insert new eye roll emoji here--which has subsequently become my favorite just so everyone knows).

After not living in this room but a few days here and there for the last 4+ years I'm finally getting it reorganized and I'm finding so many things I hadn't seen in years. Going through drawers that haven't been opened and finding letters and notes and clothes that I haven't seen makes me thankful that I even have a place to keep these things when I'm not here.

I'm blessed with two amazing parents who have continually supported me while I played sports year round, went to camps, various tournaments, joined different clubs, went to my dream school, worked at the best place on the face of this planet and now have welcomed me back home while I go to grad school-with very few charges I might add. As I look at my walls filled with memories from AU, CBG and other things I can't help but see how many people have impacted my life in one way or another.  Blessed is an understatement at this point.

I think daily what life will be like once I lose my grandparents, after all they're all I have left. I regret the time I chose to avoid spending with them when I was younger. I appreciate the time I have with them now and I try and go over there every chance I get. My grandpa will be 91 in a few weeks, my grandma not too far behind him. But what I do know is that my grandparents are the reason that I am here today. If it weren't for the endless amounts of peanut butter sandwiches, the "grandaddy loves you"s, the "spending of my inheritance" as I like to joke about and all of the lessons and prayers I have received from them over the years I don't know where I would be.

So here's a funny story, I come home from work on Thursday, around 3:45, to find my dad already here. This is alarming to me because he normally works until 5 and isn't home until 5:30. So me being the nosey person I am, shoutout to you Grandma, I go digging. My form of digging always ends up like an interrogation...I learned from the best. "Why are you here so early?" "What are you doing home?" "You need to be working!" "Are you sick again?" Of course the answer I get from my father is, "Because I wanted to." (Can I insert that eye roll emoji again here? Cause I am.) If you know my dad this is is a normal response so I just move on to my next question which just happens to be, "Did I get any mail today?" His smart response is, "Yeah a bill for a thousand dollars payable directly to me." The laugh I let out probably would've scared anyone else around because it was that horrendous. I told him that even if I did have that amount of money he wasn't getting it from me. My dad has jokes y'all.

Don't get me wrong, (I apparently like this phrase way too much), I love living at home...most of the time. I enjoy being able to spend some time with my parents that I missed out on when I was younger because of how much I travelled, whether it was with them or not. It's kinda nice being the only child for once...sorry Toph. I enjoy the laughs with my mom when we are in the car and the constant harassment from my dad when we're just talking in my parents' room. Its things like that that you don't get at college. Granted some of my friends and residents definitely got both of those from me...sorry guys. I like being able to drive to my grandparents house whenever I want to, just because. I like sitting between my parents and grandparents at my church. Honestly, being home is great and I really appreciate it but home will never be Anderson University to me and vise-versa.

Honestly, this whole "adulting" thing really isn't that bad...for me at least. Yeah USC is definitely no AU but I have been so blessed already and I'm barely 3 weeks into my first semester as a grad student. In case you're reading this and don't know...I applied for grad school at Liberty and was set on going there online so I could stay in Anderson. My dad reminded me that I mentioned if he paid for grad school I'd go to Carolina so someone in the family could have a Carolina degree since he was never able to finish.

After regretfully applying just to appease my parents I finished with a 30-something page application for grad school. It took days to finish and perfect but a week later I had an email asking to set up an interview time with the head of my department and the head of my concentration. After being on duty that weekend I headed down Sunday afternoon to prepare for my Monday afternoon interview. I thought the interview went great as it was very informal and I felt very welcomed and comforted throughout the whole process. I left with an opportunity to look into grad assistantships with CarolinaLIFE, the chance to take an extra class and become a certified ABA therapist and a "possibility" of being accepted...which at this point I knew was a definite by the way Dr. Cristle said, "so when you get your acceptance email..."

A week later I was into grad school before I had even graduated undergrad...and all of this happened within a two week timespan. THE LORD IS GOOD! Not long after I received an email asking to meet with the assistant for CarolinaLIFE and a request for my resumé. I was immediately offered a job and was given dates to attend for orientation for this job as soon as camp ended.

Now here I am almost a month into my job and two and a half weeks into grad school and I'm loving it. I never expected that I would end up at USC...I had it made at AU. It was a small campus, I knew everyone, I was comfortable there, I had a good job outside of school, I was set.

Though it is taking me time to get used to USC and the literal whole city that it encompasses, I am finally getting settled. It took me two weeks to figure out the shuttle but I'm making it. I have some awesome camp friends nearby that always keep me smiling. I have some amazing coworkers who believe that no question is a stupid question. I work for some amazing people and with some amazing students and teachers. I have a bangin' paycheck. I am just overly blessed. More than I could ever ask for.

So after moving back home I am pretty sure my parents are having as much of a love-hate relationship with it as I am sometimes. One night after talking to two of my amazing friends Kayla and Andrew from AU, I broke down and just wanted to quit and it was only the first few days of work, not even school. I hated it here, there were too many people, I didn't know anyone. It just wasn't AU. I even looked into my options for moving back up to Anderson while doing school online and working on AU's campus just so I could be happy again.

But here I am. I'm still in Columbia. I'm still alive. I'm still doing my job and I'm still in school. Why? Because my parents supported me and told me that it would all work out. Because my friends said that they missed me and I missed them too, but that they knew I was always gonna visit. Because my church family knew that I was finally on the right track to doing what I was born to do. Because my campers believed in me enough to wish me luck in grad school and because it's always for them.

So for as long as it takes, Columbia will be home again. At least for a little while. Whether I move back to the upstate after I finish or down to the coast like I would like, I'm just sitting back and enjoying the ride.

I was always told that we have plans and God just laughs at them and says, "Not today, I have something better in mind." Now I believe it. I thought I would leave AU with a degree in SPED but I didn't. I thought I would do grad school online and be fine but I didn't. I thought I would never move back home but I did. I thought I would never graduate after that stupid 40+ page paper but I did. God made it work. He made it work together for MY good and that's all I could ever ask for.

So as I was putting my billions of t-shirts away tonight and cleaning up a little in my room I saw a gift my first CBG secret pal gave me above my bed and it has Jeremiah 29:11 on it.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

What an amazing comfort that was to me tonight, just when I needed it most. As I read that a song came to mind that truly meant a lot to me as I was in high school. "I may be weak but Your spirit's strong in me. My flesh may fail, but my God You never will." 

The Lord always has plans bigger than ours. Take me for example. I'm a perfect example of God saying, "you thought wrong." 

My life is changing, faster than I ever thought it would, but here I am. I'm alive, I'm kicking', I'm doin' my thang. But if it weren't for those friends, those campers, those parents, my family and so many others who believed in me when I didn't even believe in myself I wouldn't be the young adult I am today. 

So 'adulting' isn't a proper term to me. It's called growing up, being responsible and taking charge and if that's what being an adult is, then lets go. It's gonna be a long ride. 

Until then, stay safe fam.

Lauren.

Farewell to Summer

On Friday, August 5th I said goodbye to a place that had been my home for the past four summers.

I walked into Camp Burnt Gin as an 18 year old who had just completed her freshman year at her dream school. I thought the world owed me everything. As the summer began my eyes were opened to the beauty of life that these campers had. These kids smiled at everything because they had no reason to be unhappy. That summer changed my life.

Now here I am 4 summers later a completely changed woman. I walked out of Camp Burnt Gin with a new perspective, as I do every summer. Camp completely broke me and as I watched it change the lives of 40 peers it changed my perspective yet again.

This summer was no different. I took on a new role as Arts and Crafts director, I was held to a higher standing. This summer I entered as a college graduate. I was excited about my future but more nervous than I would admit.

2016 has been a whirlwind of emotions for me. I graduated college, I got accepted into grad school, I got a job immediately after getting accepted, I completed my last summer at Camp Burnt Gin, I was an RA, I made new friends, I saw new things.

Though I am afraid of the next steps that are headed my way I am so excited for all of the new opportunities that lay ahead.

To Camp Burnt Gin, thank you for the memories that were experienced, the love that was given and the laughs that were shared.

To Anderson University, thank you for giving me some amazing opportunities, some amazing friends and a more amazing appreciation of higher education.

This next step starts tomorrow and I don't know how this is gonna work. I am scared yet hopeful of all of the new journeys I will be able to take but I also know that I am right where I am supposed to be.

The lord is ever faithful

BAMA

As many of you know I had the privilege to work with the Belton Area Museum Association this past year as my internship. BAMA has become a huge part of my life over the past 9 months. I have met so many amazing people and had so many great experiences throughout the whole process.

For many, this job was just a regular position at a local museum, but for me it was not.

Throughout these past nine months, I met some famous artists, a representative and some of the most amazing people in the state of South Carolina. I have also learned so many different skills that will help me in the future and for that I am forever thankful.

Thank you to the director, Kathy Benson, for allowing me to work at the museum.
Thank you to the assistant director, Abigail Burden, for listening to all of my stories and dealing with my hot mess self all year.
Thank you to the board for accepting me as more than "just a college student," and allowing me to get the hands on experience that I did.
Thank you to the visitors, for continuing to come and complement us on our hard work.
Thank you to the donors for without your support the museum could not function like it does.

I am truly honored and appreciative of everything that I was able to do this past year with the museum and will truly cherish it for the rest of my life.

Here are some pictures documenting my time here at the museum:

-This flag was flown at Pearl Harbor when it was bombed.

-This is Representative Mike Gambrell of Belton.

-This is a mannequin dressed in a WW2 Marine uniform that I did.

-A photo of the Italian exhibit.

-During our fundraiser "A Night for the Museum."

-During the Belton Christmas parade.

-Me with artist Waylan Moore.

-Me with artist Paty Cockrum who used to draw comics for DC and Marvel with her husband.

-Turkey shoot centerpiece.

-Display case made out of Derricks loans to the museum.

Always be thankful,

Lauren.

The Selfish Generation

With today being Easter there is so much that can be said but in so little words.

Tetelestai // It. Is. Finished.

Going to a Christian school I am surrounded by those of the same faith. We have chapel every week, we have the opportunities to go on spring break mission trips, we have professors who openly will land can pray for you, we have prayer in class, we have the first hand experience of a Christian community but take a step just two blocks down the road and all of that changes.

Anderson is a nice college city. Not too big, but not too small either. The position of AU in Anderson is in the historic district but part of our campus extends our of the historic area.

While it is so easy to get wrapped up in this tiny Christian fused bubble it is so easy to forget about the outside world and get solely immersed in the Christian culture that is embodied on our campus.

With today being Easter I have been thinking about the truly lost generation that I live in.

How many 21 year olds can say that they attend a Christian university and are actually happy with their placement and faith. Very few, I'll tell you that.

It's so hard to live out your faith fully in a generation that relies on technology, pornography, selfies, and attention.

My generation is selfish. There's no other way to put it. We. Are. Selfish.

This generation is so wrapped up in trying to get the most likes, the newest technology, any form of pleasure and whatever else satisfies their earthly pleasures.

It's so hard.

It's hard to live a life devoted to God.
It's hard to be a Christian in a world full of hatred.
It's hard to be a person because your opinion is always wrong.
It's hard to be unique because you're an outcast if you don't go to a "megachurch."
It's hard to be yourself because you're worried if you're going to offend someone.

It's not fair to those who truly want to pursue God and have a relationship with Him when everyone is too dang concerned about hurting other peoples feelings.

When did we as people become so soft and stubborn all at the same time?

My generation.

There are so many things wrong with the appeal of a megachurch. The idea that people only go for the free things. Or the idea that they only go because they look like 'good Christian people.' Or even the idea that they want to be apart of this grand movement. But you know how a lot of those old grand movements got started...as one person claiming to be something they were not trying to falsely profess themselves as the God while subtly putting the emphasis on the one true God.

Now don't get me wrong, I am all for the idea of multitudes of people coming to Christ through multiple locations. To me that is awesome. But I am all for the idea of obtaining salvation the right way and not using money to pay your way into a church...but that's my side note.

Anyways, I'm under the opinion that people my age use the look of participating in a megachurch as a boost for popularity because they can say they are apart of a "movement."

So here's a story for you...

Last semester in my Colonial and Revolutionary America class I had a classmate that decided to interject her opinion on our discussion of the difference between religion during that time period and today. Her statement was, "I don't understand how people my age can not go out and try new things. They all go to their parents church because thats all they know and they are too afraid to go anywhere else."

Now knowing me, of course I'm gonna get salty --shoutout to Shawna and Randi for holding me from jumping across the oblong table.

But honestly, how can you say that you know why I go to the church that I go to just because you go to a megachurch and think life is all lilies and butterflies because you're in the world? No.

To her statement my response was simply this, "I go to my church back home because it is where I'm comfortable. My family goes there, I grew up there, I was saved there, I have friends there. That is my church home."

(which promptly shut her up.)

And that is what is wrong with my generation.

We are so caught up in ourselves that we have no common respect or understanding for why others do what they do. Had I not stood up for myself I would have been seen as one of those people who just do whatever their parents do. But no, that's not the case.

My wish for this generation is to relinquish their selfishness and be more considerate. Someone is always gonna have it worse than you. Someone is always going to have it better than you. But every person has a story and every story is different and until you know someones story you have no place to judge them or why they are who they are.



Just some food for thought:
-Have you given someone that benefit of the doubt?
-Are you one of those judgers?
and the ever classic...
-What would Jesus do?



Happy Easter everyone!

-LG

Joy in the Journey

     For most people change is a good thing. I agree mostly. Change can happen at good or bad times and can rapidly flip your world upside down. The idea of change has always scared me because I like to be where I am the most comfortable. For me, this place has been AU.

     As most people know I have dreamt about going to AU since I was 12 years old. After visiting the campus for a week long music camp I dreamed about attending this beautiful school within the next 10 years. Though my only time visiting this campus was this one week until November of my senior year of high school I was dead set on attending Anderson University without any concern for another school as a choice for my post-secondary studies.

     Anderson University is not the cheapest place to attend and knowing this I worked hard throughout school as an honors student and kept my grades as well as my extra curricular activities high and prominent to make sure I had what it took to be accepted into this school. Throughout school I have taken out just a few loans and the rest of my education has been covered by grants and scholarships from local legislators and just through my high school academics and extra curricular activities. Even though I have taken out some loans I will be graduating with around 1 years worth of tuition in debt, which for most people is very little compared to the amounts of student debt that arise every year from overly-priced institutions.

     With that being said, Anderson University has changed while I have been a student and has certainly changed me as a person as well. Enrolling into AU and graduating at 17 I moved into my new home in Denmark on my 18th birthday in August of 2012. I was so eager to learn and knew that I was dead set on my major being Special Education my roommates being my best friends for the next 4 years and my life to be just as picture perfect as I had dreamed it would be over the previous 6 years. What I didn't know was that God had a bigger and better plan for my life that would drastically change my plans into what He had planned.

     After first semester I moved into another dorm with a really good friend at the time and everything was great. I got diagnosed with Mono and at that point in time was serving on the Freshman class senate as well as a member of the SC Student Legislature.

     Heading into sophomore year I was Sophomore class president, I had just spent the best summer of my life at CBG and was continuing work for the admissions office on campus while student teaching and passing my classes. Life seemed great. Then at the end of the year I was struggling and instead of trying to talk to my professors about it I decided to listen to peer pressure instead and got in a lot of trouble. This one decision completely changed my life and honestly showed me the reality of the real world.

     By the time junior year rolled around I was in a new major, a new job off campus and was completely separated from most of my previous activities on campus. My friends still were the same and my life continued to eb and flow just like it had before just under certain circumstances.

     Now here I am senior year. I began the year in North Rouse living with one of my greatest friends and working at Red Lobster again. Come September I'm moving back across campus after accepting a position as a Resident Advisor, something I never thought I'd do, and working on my senior paper. I was also voted as Senior Class President and continued to manage 15 other credit hours on top of my already hectic schedule. This semester I'm only taking 12 hours but between mentoring my amazing 33 residents, working on the senior class giving campaign, going to all of my meetings and living life I have quit Red Lobster and life seems to be back where I wanted it to be.

The best part about this all is that God's detour in my life put me right where I wanted to be the entire time. 

This semester I have had the opportunity to watch our Chapel services online because of the hours I hold at my internship at the Belton Museum (another thing to add to my list of responsibilities.) Tonight as I watched over last weeks chapel we were reading through James 1:2-8 which goes like this, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.  Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do."

Reading over this passage makes me realize that even though my journey is ending here at Anderson University I am always able to find joy in my journey. God put AU on my heart at a mere 12 years old and I made it my goal to attend my dream school. Anderson University is a place where I have not only grown but prospered as a human and as a child of God. Though there are so many things that  have changed over the years, my love for AU has only grown stronger.

Today I found joy in my journey. And my journey with AU still has 68 days left in it. Thanks AU, for being my joy.

A special kind of person...

Over the past few years many colleagues and I have discussed the concept of when uninformed people state that it "takes a special kind of person" to "deal" with special needs kids.

Honestly, yes it does. 

I have been involved in many different conversations about this statement. My feelings range from: 1. Excuse me what did you just say to me? to 2. Ya darn skippy it does. Because this topic is so controversial in my eyes writing it out seemed to be the best way to get my true feelings out. 

So here it goes.

To many people, special needs children used to be a burden. Now they are slowly realizing the beauty behind the different people in our society. Their capabilities that they have and their true innocence that they obtain. 

Most recently the "End the R Word" campaign has gained a lot of attention. Shows like "Born This Way" and many different modeling agencies have taken those with special needs under their wings to show a more diverse population. But that's the issue....they're only doing it to show diversity, not what truly lies behind the  diverse person. 

Many different families across this country go through similar things each day. From a child throwing a tantrum because he/she does not have what they want to get through the day or a child soiling themselves because they are physically incapable of using the bathroom "normally."

The thing is, people don't understand. 

They don't get it.

Walk a mile in their shoes see how it feels.

Sit a day in that wheelchair unable to move see how it feels.

Try speaking but nothing comes out see how it feels.

Then let me know what is really happening behind closed doors.

So what it takes them a little longer to comprehend things than it takes us.

So what it is a lot more work for a person to take care of someone with special needs.

So what they aren't as fast as you.

So what they need help doing daily activities.

So what they "don't understand."

Truth is...they understand A LOT more than you think they do.

So yes, it does take a special person to work with someone with special needs. I tear up at the thought of someone going days without a diaper change, days without food, days without the proper care that they need because some IMBECILE is too caught up in their own selfish ways to take care of someone else who needs help more then their own personal "entitlements" they think they are due.

What I don't get:

• Is how someone could blatantly not care about someone who clearly can't help themselves.
• How people can be so stinking cold hearted that they can't give up five minutes of their day to help someone.
• How people are so stinking selfish that they can't, for once in their life, help someone other than themselves.

If someone knows these answers please let me know...

So yes, it does take a special person to work with someone with special needs. 

• It takes a lot of courage for someone to selflessly give up their time for someone else's gain.
• It takes a lot of heart for someone to voluntarily give up their time to help others. 
• It takes a lot of patience to comprehend the ignorance that comes from society.
• It takes a lot of will to sustain from blowing up in someones face when they act incompetent.
• It takes a lot of love for someone to believe in that person knowing that they are trying their hardest.

As many of you know I have worked at a camp for special needs children for the past 3 summers. My camp director always wears this shirt that says, "Don't DIS my ABILITIES." Something that always comes to mind when I hear someone using the R-word or other derogatory terms that were directed towards one of my babies. I have worked with children with special needs all of my life. My brother, my best friend, my biggest supporter and pain in the neck has special needs and I thank God everyday for being BLESSED with someone who has taught me so much about not only me but life in general. 

I don't do it for the money.

I don't do it for the gifts.

I don't do it for the substantial gratitude from parents when their child has hit a milestone.

I don't do it for myself.

I do it for them. 

For their smiles.

For their laughs.

For their hugs.

For their "I love you's."

For their selflessness.

For their love.

I do it for them. 

I do it for their Beta Club inductions.
I do it to watch them get a 4.0 in their first semester of college...something I never did.
I do it to watch them walk on their own for the first time.
I do it for the I Love You in sign language.
I do it for the piggy back rides.
I do it for the bonds that I have with their families.
I do it to show that they can grow in a week.
I do it to show that they are NOT a stereotype.

I do it for them. 

Take a look at these faces....it takes a special person 

to NOT see the beauty in their eyes

to NOT see the beauty in their smiles

to NOT see the unending love in their hearts.

Thats the kind of special person I would never want to be.

I'm so blessed, 

LG.