posted by Sabrina

We are in the homestretch here on Western's campus. Only 2 weeks left and even less for some! It is so hard for me to comprehend that the first year is practically over...whenever I thought of college when I was young, I always had this idea of college as being something grand and amazing-don't get me wrong ..it is-but at the same time college is just life. When I talk to people about college and all the experiences I've had here, people always tell me that college was probably the best part of their lives.
Now that I think about it...being in college for another couple more years doesn't actually sound too bad. But then again, just yesterday I was thinking of taking time off (or quitting) for a little while to 'discover' myself....but I can't just put a hold on life to figure out who I am...because it is those experiences in life that help me figure out my identity. Also, my identity is something which changes everyday....it is effected by each day's new experiences.
So anyway, moving on- I guess what I'm trying to say is that life is just life...just goe with the flow and live. Have fun! do what makes you happy- don't get too caught up in making other people, family members, friends, enemies happy. Ultimatley, you are the one responsible for your life and your own happiness....there are so many people who go through life complaining about not having a fulfilled life, about being unhappy etc....yet they do absolutely nothing about it....don't allow yourself to do that- find something you are passionate about and make it a part of your life. Let your life happen, let your life live.



posted in Adjustment

posted by Sabrina

Hey guys! It has been a long time since anyone has posted on this....but too much has been going on for me not to share.

I am in this really exciting science class where we talk about all of these amamzing current issues. ie. hurricane katrina, the USA's dependency on oil, etc....Anyway, it got me thinking about our planet and how we are using it. Are we being good citizens of planet earth? What are we doing to preserve it? Today, in class there was a debate on whether oil should be drilled for in ANWAR (a wildlife refuge in Alaska). Personally, I think there are better options out there...I mean just look at Western, we are the second public instition in the nation to be on 100! renewable energy...and frankly once the cost is split up among the student body it doesn't seem to be that huge of a sacrifice to make..paying a little extra to have a healthier environment. I don't know, I just feel as if we are abusing our privelege to live on earth. What do you think?

I don't if you guys know this but on campus we have this thing called the outback- ok frankly, I don't know very much about it- but it got me thinking- wouldn't be totally amazing if Western were able to cultivate its own produce (fruits/ veggies)...it could cut down on costs...I mean look at our meal plan issue- it is so expensive! We could even have science classes that could work out in the 'outback' cultivating the produce for their class ie class involvement- ok, well, frankly i highly doubt anything along these lines would really happen..but it would still be cool!

Well, let me know what you all think. But I think our environment is really important and we should be more aware of how we are affecting it. til' next time I guess :)


posted in Adjustment

posted by Sabrina

I don't know about you all, but this quarter has been exceptionally long, rainy and lackluster. My days seem to consist of waking up, trudging to classes under buckets of rain and (if you can believe it!) inches of snow even-then off to work for a couple of hours and if I'm luck (only on Mondays and Wednesdays)a two hour long evening class.....ZZZZZ- it's enough to put anyone to sleep.

I think I can count (with one finger) all the sunny days we have had since the beginning of this quarter. Ok, Ok,...I should def stop griping about the weather...not because everyone else is thinking the same thing, but because my griping doesn't change the weather- besides everyone else complains about it- I def don't need to be adding to it. On to more motivational topics: umm....they would consist of...well, I honestly can't think of anything right now...unless you all want to hear about the history essay I am supposed to be working on right this second...ZZZZ - I didn't think so :)



posted in Adjustment

posted by Sabrina

So on MLKjr. day I spent a couple hours devoted to reading to little kids about MLKjr and his influence in the world....it was quite interesting to say the least.

For the most part, I don't think very many of the kids really understood what I was reading about- so, I veered away from historical books and focused on more simple books- the ones talking about people having different skin colors, different hairstyles, different ways of life,...you get the picture.

I remember, at one point, I was reading to a little four year-old boy about how everyone is different and special in their own way...and he pointed to me and said 'you are special and I am special' it was so cute! I also began to feel that perhaps what we were doing was having some affect after all....it is hard to say though- he was only four- but at the same time what matters is that he has had that exposure- that kids understand that regardless of our skin color, our ethnicity, our background- we are all equally unique individuals who have something to offer to this world.

This experience was really unique in that it opened my eyes to yet another facet of our world- the world of children. I began to realize that what we say, what we do, how we act has ahuge influence on how we are percieved by children- our words and actions shape so much of a childs life....that is so amazing- at the same time it can be dangerous if children are not surrounded in a healthy environment...but I digress.

Anyway, if anyone is interested in becoming involved within the community- the Center for Service Learning (located in the Wilson Library- 3rd floor) is a great way to do so!

I have felt truly blessed to have been able to participate in promoting the beliefs of MLKJr.- His vision of equality for all men is a great one and one which I try to strive for as well.

posted in Extra-curricular

posted by Sabrina



Here is a picture I took-I'm hoping to get some photography time in over the break! YEAH!

The quarter is winding down: but no one sleeps due to the intense all-nighters pulled days in advance of the looming finals. This is exactly what my last couple of nights (and days) have been like....as I'm sure many of yours have been as well.

I've had three finals down and only one to go....yuck!

Anyway, in reflection of this past quarter---I have to say that I have learned more from college than I expected but at the same time I didn't learn as much as I expected. I came into college expecting to learn about amazing topics in my classes,expecting to write tons and tons of amazing essays (I haven't had the chance to write a single good essay- we haven't really had ANY assigned! Sucks- only 'cause I love writing), and finally I really and truly expected to become really involved in my class's (i.e. lively participant of a class discussion)- considering none of these happened for me- you might be wondering how/why I learned more than I expected.
Well....I learmed more about life and people than about the subject matter of all my classes combined. I learned that people really make differences, that friendships help you through the rough patches in life, and that life really comes down to what you make of it. And that is my challenge to you: make your life what you want it to be. Don't just be passive- grab life by the handles and start driving! This is your opportunity- I know for me, the time has come to do this same thing.

posted in Adjustment

posted by Sabrina

Sitting here in the comfort of my dorm room, with the heat blasting and a jar of 'Odwalla' juice for my sore throat, I look outside and take in the beautiful snow. I think of all the wonderful times I have had in it. All of the snowmen, igloos and snowfights I have had with friends and family. But for just a moment, which turns to many minutes, my mind drifts to something not so beautiful.

I think of children dying, children being taken from their families, children being forced into slavery-to be prostiutes. Children who don't have wonderful memories of having fun and playing with friends because their lives have been stolen. I wonder what my life would be like if I was one of them. How would I feel? Sometimes, but not very often, I remember my life in India and how I could have become like them. I could have become a lost child with no memories of love and laughter.

But I'm not. I was one of the lucky ones. For some reason I was spared. Often, I think that that reason is becasue of this. Because of my voice, because of my compassion, because of my need to tell the world of the horrors that are going on.

Right now, while you (and I) sit comfortabley in chairs, in a warm place, in a room, or a house there are children in Africa (and all over the world) who are being forced (by the government and from guerrila armies) from their own homes, their villages and being put to work. They do everything from suicide missions to prostitution to fighting on the frontlines. What is even worse is no one seems to know a great deal about it. Does the news report on this? Rarely. Do people talk about it or even, what can be done? At the same time, it is easy to understand why not. WHy? Why bring something so terrible into light....keep it in the back of your mind for as long as possible...then it won't get to you or your conscience. But for me....it doesn't work that way because it has gotten to me. IT has gotten to me. At the same time, I feel I don't know what to do...so I do the only thing that I can possibley do and that is use my voice to express my feelings. I know that someday I will do something for those children, something to help them out of their plight.

But for now, what I would ask each and every one of you is what can you do? How can you make a difference in their lives? Can you make a difference?

I believe I can.


posted in Extra-curricular

posted by Sabrina

Ok, before I start- I’d like to apologize for not writing in what seems to me like forever! It has been a pretty hectic time- what with all the midterms and classes to study for.

I have to say that the following story was most def the highlight of my week and one which I shared with everyone possible…..so, listen up-

The other day, I decided it was finally time to get rid of the dirty mound of clothes which were sitting in my closet so I wouldn’t have to risk the chance of having to run around naked(due to the lack of clothes- which would happen eventually!)

Gathering practically all the articles of clothing I owned, I made the mad dash to the laundry room in the hopes of getting a washing machine. OH! OH! To my surprise – there were four (yes, FOUR!) washing machines open. I was ecstatic! After jamming all the clothing among the four (yeah!) machines I sat to do homework….I don’t know how many of you know this….but the laundry room is an AMAZING place to do homework…it’s really peaceful and warm….but I digress…back to the story. After about a good forty-five minutes of homework, I decided it was time to go get some food. Thinking nothing could possibly happen within the ten minutes it would take to go to my room, get food and run back to the laundry room…I made the decision to leave the laundry room….only to find on my return….that it was NOT such a good choice…….


When I came back….I found that the washing machines were done doing there thing….yeah!...but NOT….because when I opened the door to the first machine…..bubbles and bubbles and even more bubbles came whooshing out! They were everywhere…..all over my shoes, slithering across the laundry room floor, and in my face and hair……at that moment I was both excited and shocked……how did this happen? This should happen more often!

I don’t know how many of you have crazy laundry stories like mine…..but now every time I go to do laundry, I think fondly of the bubbling washing machines!

posted in Dorm Life

posted by Sabrina

So, this last Saturday was the annual 'Make a Difference Day'- Our FIG seminar class participated and it was amazing...I don't know if you all know about 'Make a Difference Day'...but it was started about 16 years aga by USA weekly and what happens is that the last Saturday of the month of October is dedicated to creating a better world- whether it being collecting canned food for the homeless, beautifying the community, building homes, etc....anyone who is involved (in any way) makes a difference in the world.

Our group met at Bellingham High at 7:15 AM (yes, on a SATURDAY)and headed off to collect canned goods at about 9AM. We split up and divided the surrounding neighborhood...we all collected about 50 some bags of canned goods...it wa AMAZING!

I remember thinking, while we were going from home to home, that maybe what little food we were collecting wasn't going to make a difference...but then I began to think about people who didn't have any food and I realized that even one CAN can make a difference! When you think about it this way, you have a much better outlook on the possibilities of the future!

I don't know why....but for some reason- I felt like this volunteer program was the right thing- I felt really connected to Bellingham and the people. I think this is something I am going to pursue- volunteering.

I don't know about all of you, but with the way things are going in the world - I feel really good about the fact that not only do I have a voice but I also can make an impact in this community and eventually the world.

If you want to learn more about the 'Make a Difference Day' even tcheck out www.makeadifferenceday.com :)

posted in Extra-curricular

posted by Sabrina



Here is a pic of me- hanging out with two of my friends!

Zach....I totally agree. When I came to college, I expected it to be a challenge...I didn't expect it to be a repeat of high school. The same old habits- not studying, just being able to skate by without doing much work, improv 10 min speeches, etc....I don't know....maybe life is just like that....or perhaps we are just in easy classes right now...when we get into classes that interest us and are a higher level than we'll really have to hit the books....I'd think...but whatever...I'm just going to embrace the fact that everything is easy riht now and go hang out with my friends!

posted in Academics

posted by Sabrina



A pic of home- I heart Gig Harbor!


After three tumultuous weeks at Western, I finally decided it was time to head home.
I had seen all my friends going home the last weekend and had begun to get jealous. With mixed feelings I drove the two and a half, almost three hour, drive to my house. On the drive down, I wondered what it would be like. Would I feel like stranger in my home? Would things still be the same? Would I want to come back to college? With all of these thoughts rumbling around in my head, I began to think that maybe going home wasn’t such a good idea. I was so used to college life already….better not to mess up the cycle. But it wasn’t as if I could just turn around and head back…I was almost there.

Suffice to say, my weekend home was amazing. Although it was slightly weird being home and back in my hometown….it was definitely fun. I have to say that I looked forward to coming home though (home to college- isn’t it interesting how now whenever we refer to ‘home’ we are talking about Western or our dorms?)

I wonder if you all felt the same way I did…it was good going home and seeing familiarity but at the same time it almost felt like you didn’t belong there anymore.

posted in Adjustment