Have you ever heard the saying “God has a plan for you?” Lately, I have been hearing it in conversations about people going through struggles. When something bad happens we sometimes find comfort in saying whatever happened is part of God’s plan, as sort of a cop-out. Believing God was somehow in charge of causing bad things to happen apparently makes things okay, makes the … Continue reading How God Works and His Plan for You

“Don’t be in such a hurry to condemn a person because s(he) doesn’t do what you do, or think as you think. There was a time when you didn’t know what you know today.” Malcolm X once said those very words and it’s a powerful and challenging reminder of how I show up and engage with others around me. This quote reminds me to check … Continue reading Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

Many fans were upset with the way the big fight went. Most people expected a slugfest that would bring out the barbarian in us all. What most viewers don’t understand is, that is simply not how Floyd “Money” Mayweather fights. If you were expecting to see a Mike Tyson type of “I’m going to punch you into next week” then you were deeply disappointed. But … Continue reading The Fight That Didn’t Save Boxing

One of the jokes I am constantly faced with as an English major is the most annoying phrase “grammar Nazi.” This annoys me first and foremost because people who use this phrase are accidently comparing people in the world who strive for clarity in written communication and who, at times, may hold too tightly to proper grammatical structure with the kinds of people who commit … Continue reading The Importance of Proper Grammar

Music is my life. Not so much in that I play or perform it, but I love music, and I love listening to it. It’s how I relax and how I get pumped up to do stuff. I even use it help me focus, strangely enough. I can’t do homework without some kind of music playing in the background. It’s strange to see how much … Continue reading Assembly Line Music

There are plenty of ways to say that something is coming to a close—the curtain falls, the end is near, and for the fans of Game of Thrones, winter is coming. This is precisely where we have found ourselves, nearing the end of another year at Gustavus, which means that it is also the natural time for reflection. We reflect on our choices for classes, … Continue reading Reflections From A First-Year

There is a difference between breathing in air and breathing in life. Not too long ago I found myself gasping for air. I had just gotten back from Spring Break in California with the tennis team, and was adjusting to the routine of being a student again. Being anxious for several days made me feel as though someone was pressing their hand against my chest, … Continue reading A Breath of Life

As students at a Liberal Arts college, it is basically guaranteed that you will end up taking a class that you do not love. Sometimes, in the efforts to broaden your horizons and gain experience in a variety of disciplines and fulfill the requirements of the college, we all find ourselves in that unfortunate place where we really don’t want to participate fully in the … Continue reading How To Get Things Done

Last month, I wrote a piece titled “Urgency Urgency: It’s All About the Intersectionality,” in which I called for slow, intentional time that is necessary for deep movement building.  This slow, intentional time is an important part of the process of healing, reflection and creates a foundation for the constant movement towards a just, fair and resilient world. What does this look like in practice?  … Continue reading Solidarity: A Pathway from Service to Justice