What Will We Truly Miss From What We Have Been Given?

In the verse Jeremiah 29:11, God declares, “For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you, not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.”

Now this quote means a lot to me, because for four years this quote was written on the whiteboard in my room and bookmarked in my Bible. Throughout all of high school this particular word from God gave me a sense of peace when I was thinking about where my life is headed. Through all of my triumphs and tragedies I was constantly reminded of God’s presence. Through injuries, State tournaments, bad days, Band concerts, difficult classes, fun nights with my friends, the stress of choosing a college, and the joy of getting accepted to my dream school, UW-Madison, I have had these words and the constant presence of God in my life to guide me and bring me to my high school graduation just as He has done the same for my fellow classmates.

It is important for all 2016 graduates to know that wherever we end up, we not only have God, but the entirety of our support systems and the relationships that we have formed during our time in school. Through talking with fellow graduates, whether they go to McFarland High School or are attending college with me next year, I can see in their eyes the deep passion that each and every one of them has when talking about their future hopes and dreams. The fire in everyone’s eyes is inspiring and is truly God’s work.

And even if the inevitable happens and life doesn’t go as planned and doesn’t have that fairy tale ending that we all had in mind, as heartbreaking as it may be, we will be OK. Believing in the power of this verse doesn’t clear our life of suffering and pain, but with the power of God and all of this things that he has carried us through and provided us with, we can have the reassurance that we can be brave and bold and forever have someone to guide us.

But before we head off on this next great adventure, we must all spend these last few weeks enjoying these relationships and moments that God has given to us. Like every Senior class, we all look forward to the end of high school and all of its baggage and the beginning of this next great adventure. However, I have noticed that we’ve been so busy naming all of the things we dislike and can’t wait to leave behind and move on from that we’ve forgotten about the things we love dearly and will miss full-heartedly and will make leaving for good unimaginable.

Each and every person has a long list of things that they won’t miss at all. Trust me, I have my own. But we all have powerful things that we will yearn for again and again for the rest of our lives. And a lot of times, the most powerful moments and relationships are the ones that morph and change us and allow us to learn and grow.

For me, I will miss my fellow captain and closest friend and our oil and vinegar relationship that works together and leads our teammates. I will miss my teachers that geek out over derivatives and politics and laugh so hard they can’t breathe, yet still challenge us to think in profound and deep ways. I will miss my coaches and the sport of cross country and track that have shaped my life and made me who I am today, as awful as some workouts and races may have gone and how frustrating the sport can be. I will miss my closest friends, whether we’ve been close for a decade, a few years, or in some special cases, only a few weeks and how they have shaped my life and allowed me to grow in my own way beside them as they have done so in their own way.

It is important to ask yourself what you will miss. Even if you are sure that high school is the worst and a soon-to-be thing of the past, or if you had the time of your life in high school, what will you miss? I am surely convinced that each and every one of us (as the graduates) has these moments and relationships that we will miss dearly. So as a challenge to my classmates, pay attention to the things that will be missed after we go through this momentous milestone of graduation. And look for how God gave you these relationships and aspects of your life and how they have made you who you are. Positive moments and negative moments, good relationships and poor relationships, big occasions and little details. Thank God and these people and these moments for the impact they have had on your life. For all of these moments and relationships have been sent to us by God to change our life for the better and make us into the individuals we are today and the people we will be tomorrow.

WIAA Rules and Other, More Important Things

I understand the unrest and frustration, sometimes the WIAA is very unreasonable. To my fellow peers that are upset over this issue, I see you and I hear you. But I have one thing to say...

WHY CAN'T WE SEE A REVOLUTION LIKE I AM CURRENTLY SEEING IN MY FELLOW YOUNG PEOPLE ON OTHER ISSUES?

When another mass shooting takes place: Why don't we fight for gun responsibility and better background checks and more respect for those suffering from mental illness?

When an unarmed black man is shot 17 times by a police officer: Why don't we call for a change in our systematic racism that white men and women continuously deny?

When a six year old girl is punched by a boy on the playground and the supervisor suggests that the boy likes her: Why don't we fight for women's rights and teach girls that no one that likes them should EVER hurt them?

When men and women are discriminated for being who they feel they truly are: Why do we spend more time complaining about a gender neutral bathroom being installed, instead of complaining about the fact that these beautiful people are being taken from us at alarming rates?

When a child goes to bed hungry: Why aren't we upset that this happens in the richest country in the world?

When a Muslim's life is threatened when they are in public: Why don't we fight for freedom of religion for those that may not be Christian, when that same concept of freedom in only fought for when it involves wedding cakes for gay couples and Kim Davis?

When those looking to lead this country spew hate and lies like way too many of our potential leaders are currently doing: Why do we find their "lack of political correctness" and their fear mongering okay and worthy of votes?

I'm sorry, but the world is so much bigger and there are so many bigger issues to focus on than what you can say at HS basketball games in Wisconsin.

Think of the change we can make and the lives we can change if we throw all of our energy behind fighting childhood poverty, or racial discrimination, or misogyny, or religious freedom.

There are people in the world that are dying from far worse and there are people for dying for much more important things than what students can say at a basketball game.

Let me say that again-

PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD ARE DYING FROM WORSE THINGS AND THERE ARE PEOPLE DYING FOR MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THINGS.

Fight for what you believe in loud and proud, but please don't lose sight of more important issues that impact us all.

I understand you, I see you, and I hear you, but these are my thoughts and beliefs.

My Heart in Paris and in a Million Pieces

My heart breaks into a million pieces as I refresh my news feed to bring me more news about the tragedy that took place in France today. This act of terror and violence does not belong in a world that all people deserve to live in or should ever have to imagine.

Even seeing posts about the lives lost, commentators all feel the need to place blame and spread more hate and disgust with whomever they feel deserves it this time around. Before everyone starts to post things about what could have been, should have been, would have been, and what we should do now, please use your loving humanity. These people who were killed, hurt, wounded, those who will receive terrible news, and those that are opening their doors to those needing help, deserve all the attention, love, and support.

Sure, many beliefs and ideals may cause some to point blame on numerous people and groups of people, some examples include; refugees, those in the Islam religion, Barrack Obama, those that support the right to carry, or those that support more gun control. Maybe there are direct ties, maybe there are underlying reasons for why this took place. Think all you want and do all you want. But these are humans and our brothers and sisters. These terrors do not stay confined to borders or languages. We all feel grief and sadness, we have all experienced loss, and we all have seen too many shades of terrorism.

Don't let any ideals or beliefs get in to way of your support for these people that are not going home to loved ones; either because they are stuck in the city, experiencing the loss of a loved one, or for those all too many that took their last breaths today.

Our French allies need a lot more power than any post to Facebook or twitter will ever offer. Go out and spread the love to over power the hate and please help us all work towards a world that needs more love and compassion than this hate or violence. The type of violence that makes people sick to their stomach and brings them down to their knees.