xvax-stephen:

A well-known speaker started off his seminar holding up a $20.00 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, “Who would like this $20 bill?” Hands started going up. He said, “I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this.” He proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar bill. He then asked, “Who still wants it…?” Still the hands were up in the air. “Well,” he replied, “What if I do this?” And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. “Now, who still wants it?” Still the hands went into the air. “My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We may feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who do love you. The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by who we are. You are special; Don’t ever forget that.

(via miszmai)

(Source: harleyplays, via saldizzal)

idumi:

Chocolate.

(via ffoodd)

(via nippura)

(via trameeee)

Arve
Pacific Union College
Freshman
25 April 2012
Business Scholarship Essay
Two types of service activities I was involved in in the past year: Music for Love Benefit Concert for Japan 2011 and Rebuilding Calistoga 2011. For Music for Love Benefit Concert for Japan, this happened during my senior year in High School in Loma Linda Academy. I was actually the one coordinating this benefit concert. With the help of my Principal and Religion teacher - they supported me and helped me get the location and some hands to put this together. This event, however, would forever haunt me. The cause was good: helping Japan in its time of need. But what caused this whole thing to be my nightmare is because I lacked the communication and team-leadership skills necessary to be able to allow everyone who is willing and wanting to help know what to do and when to do it instead of waiting and being clueless of what else to do. In the end, the concert was able to raise $600. Meager in a sense, but it is better than nothing especially when many curve balls were thrown my way. If you are to ask me if I am willing to do it again - I will say I will. I would rather overcome my fear and help others rather than be selfish and being afraid that nothing is going to come out as perfect as I planned. Another service activity I was involved in was Rebuilding Calistoga 2011. This event was sponsored by the PUC Student Ministries department. A group of students - along with the sponsors - all drove to Calistoga and worked odd jobs to help the elderly and their living spaces. In this one occasion, I was with a group where we were repainting an elderly’s home. To me, experiencing this service was important to do - especially to the elderly who have done their part in our world. They have taken care of us and now it’s our job to take care of them. Without them, we wouldn’t be where we’re at right now. These two activities helped me realize just how important service for others is. It pretty much sums up how Jesus wants us to love, and to love others.
I am the youngest of a family of six. My father is a Pastor and my mom a Nurse. Together, they’ve work their hardest to give me and my siblings a good life, giving my siblings and I what we need - and a little more if they have money to spare. My parents came from a poor environment so they tell my siblings and I the reason why they’re working hard: so that they can to end the poverty cycle in the family. With that, our whole family moved to the U.S. from the Philippines. Now that we’re here in the U.S., they’re hoping that my siblings and I would concentrate on moving forward and fulfilling that dream - helping everyone else, if we can, back home to build a better life. One that is far from poverty. When in college, my parents were working students. They were working about 40 hours per week - supporting themselves since my grandparents were incapable of doing so. With that experience, they do their best to pay for everything while I’m in school - including some allowance even though things are tough back home. They dislike the idea that my brother and I acquire loans, so they pay for everything, “Until we’re pushed to the wall” my Papa told me last year. Through this scholarship money, it would lessen the amount of load that my parents have to carry to allow me to finish my education. I love my parents and I wish to lessen the load that they have to carry for me to further their dream of ending the poverty cycle in our family and help others in the way. Through my parent’s example, I am willing to follow their footsteps in helping others. That would include supporting the scholarship program that PUC offers once I’ve graduated and gained my first check. Without this program, I don’t know how many of us students (current and past) are able to pursue our education and our dreams.
I am still young and I have dreams. I actually dream to be a singing, cooking, traveling businesswoman. Kindof like a gypsy. I know that’s a lot - but I’m closely getting there. I believe that my dream is based on service for others. Through these talents that were God-given and being acquired through my education, I can bless others day by day.
If granted this scholarship, it will not go to waste. It would allow me to continue learning - without further burdening my aging parents - and to serve others through the lessons I have learned. With that, I can turn around from my successful life and help others who are in the same position as I am.

now you’ve read this. be my witness & hold me accountable if i never turn back & support other students that are in my shoes. thank you :)

i’m going back to camp :D

wowfunniestposts:

Bored? click!

(Source: )

here’s to a new chapter for my summers :)

🙆🙆🙆🙆

myi-scandy:

door to goodness

(Source: brandonsbackupblog, via trameeee)

pros:
- i finish school ahead … of my siblings. lol
- i’m still in school mode
- i get to be home
- i get to help my sister plan her wedding (which is in four months!!!)
- meat. (lol i’m such a deprived meat-eater)
- i have internet

cons:
- i’m not going to be at PSR
- i’m not going to be part of the fun activities of PSR (aka teaching kids how to cook :( )
- i’m not earning money from a VERY fun and job that is full of blessings
- a couple of individuals aren’t going to be very happy with me if i don’t go to PSR
- i’m going to studyduring summer break
- i don’t have internet

why the confusion? well, ‘coz my mom’s turning 60 in a month … and i got to re-prioritize things ‘coz of that

(Source: sunass, via auj0urlejour)

ashleybrouwer:

Battenberg cake, a checkered sponge cake with apricot jam filling and a marzipan coat, was created to celebrate the marriage of Queen Victoria’s granddaughter, Princess Victoria, to Prince Louis of Battenberg in 1884. The four cake panels symbolize the four princes of…