Decisions, Decisions, Decisions: UPDATE

On March 2nd, 2014 I posted about a big decision that had to be made. 
  Catch yourself up : Past blog post

In that post, the decision I had to make, was where I should attend college. It is such a huge decision since it determines my life style, my work, what will go on my resume/follow me for the rest of my life, my friends, and so much more. But...after lot's of research, mind changing, regretting, and thinking, I have finally made up my mind. If you are reading this, and you see me changing my mind, please, please, yell some since into me. Thank you! 

Alright, here it goes. My final decision. In the fall of 2014 I will be attending the College Of Western Idaho for two years. I will then further my education on through Boise State University getting my degree in general business. Although I will be attending BSU, my first year there (my junior year in college) I will study abroad in Brighton, England for a full academic year. (If you want to see more about the program I am going into you can click here. I will post more about this in a a year or so, when the trip is closer.) 

I came to the conclusion that this is my best decision for some of these reasons(not all the main reasons) (and I hope, those of you deciding where you should attend, that this will help lead you to an appropriate choice) 

1. It is cheaper to attend CWI - CWI is half the cost as it would be if I were to attend Grand Canyon University 
2. I will be able to get my own car - If I went to GCU I would not have my own car as I would always stay on campus
3. Familiar Town - I have lived here my whole life, I know how things work, I have my connections, I have my family, and friends. 
4. The cost I will save for attending CWI will allow me to spend $36,000 or so when I travel to England for  year. 

As you can see, it seems obvious why I would choose this option, but here is why it was so difficult for me. 

    

    To me, the college experience is everything. It is light high school, in the way that it doesn't last forever, its not something you can just repeat. Grand Canyon University has everything I have ever dreamed of in a college...ever. The only reason, and let me repeat that, the ONLY reason that made me lean the direction I did, was so I can have the opportunity to study abroad. 

   Studying abroad can give me so much more than going to GCU ever could. I get to experience a whole other culture, lifestyle, and learn so much. I want to become a International Marketer, and the best way to gain real experience is by going abroad, and job shadowing, and working with other marketing companies that are from the U.S. Plus, with the program I am going through, I have the chance to accomplish one of my biggest goals: going to Paris. It has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. With this program, for a few extra hundred dollars, I get to go on a field trip to Paris. See all of the amazing sights, buildings, culture, food, lifestyle, and put all these years of french into use. Its only a weekend in this entire year abroad, but it will mean the world to me. 

I believe this is the right decision, and like I said, if you see me saying "but GCU is so perfect...UHH" or something along those lines on any occasion, remind me about Brighton, and Paris, and all those dreams that will come true. 

Thanks everyone for allowing me to have this blog, and post things like this. It helps to get things off my chest, and I truely hope that someone, somewhere gets something out of this blog post, or this blog in general. 

Will all my love, hope, encouragement, and strength, I wish you all a lovely day! See you next week(:

Ashley Marie

March 26, 2014

Life is in your hands

          I learned something today. Recently, and as usual I guess, I have been hiding inside my positive world. People around me, have been having some bad days and I just tell them to be positive, and such. Today...today I thought something different. A friend of mine said something along the lines of this: 

My friend said she just doesn't get excited for things anymore, because it always leads to disappointment. 

     I realize that I am quite a positive person. I smile through the hard times, the sad times, and of course the best times. I see something positive in every day, every moment, and every person. It is just who I am, no matter how unhappy I am, I am constantly smiling, and doing my best to have at least one great thing occur. 

     For someone like me, it is hard to understand what others are going through, when they can't see the positives, when they can't just smile and find the good. When my friend said that she doesn't get excited anymore, because of disappointment, it reminded me of why I am who I am today. If I didn't get excited for things, I wouldn't have the life I have now. I wouldn't be my ambitious self, who goes out and does so many amazing things. 

     When an exciting plan falls through, I don't look at the situation and think, That sucks. I should have known. That was to good to be true. I think, awhh...that would have been so much fun! But that is okay, we or I will find something so much better to do!! I am so excited to see what we or I will do instead! 

     Not many people can do this...when I see an opportunity, weather it seems impossible or not, I get excited, and go for it. If it doesn't work, then I move on to something just as exciting, and never really get disappointed. If I am disappointed, it is just for a few minutes,then I perk back up, and move on. Here is where I question weather this is a good or a bad thing. To be positive, and get excited, and easily move on. 

This is what I think:

If something incredible turns up, no matter the possibility of it occurring, go for it. If it goes wrong, then find something better. Something even better may come out of it.  

     If you have read my previous posts, you would know that I really want to study abroad in Brighton, England for a year. I have wanted to do this for a while, and am SO excited. I really hope this opportunity becomes a reality. There I am getting to excited again. But, lets say, it doesn't happen. Maybe I can't afford it, or something stand in my way. Yeah, I will be sad. I will wish it still could have happened, and will imagine what it would have been like. But I know that I can't keep thinking like that, because I will just become depressed. Instead, I find something good that will come out of me staying. Maybe I can plan a trip outside of the state, or somewhere with some close friends. I can save up for a vacation to Europe after I graduate from college! I can focus on college here, graduate, and receive the best career in the world. I can use the money I will save from studying abroad for a future trip, probably to England and Paris. ect. 

     You see? That right there, is what I do. I am happy to be positive. It allows me to achieve so much! I remember in middle school I tried out for the dance team in 6th grade, and didn't make it. I tried out again in 7th grade, and still didn't make it. at that point, would you give up? Well, I didn't. In 8th grade, I tried out...and made it. I expected not to make it, but tired anyways. 

     Positivity is never giving up. Its seeing the ups inside the downs. It is seeing what good can come out of a bad situation. It is not worrying about what bad could happen, but what good could happen.

     Often, I hear people say But what if (something bad) happens...then what? I usually respond with Yes, but what if (something good) happens? You will never know. unless you go for it, 100 and 10% (Dr. Seuss reference) 

     Seriously, if you want something, no matter how out of reach, and what disappointment may come out of it, give it your ALL, every single bit of your effort, your energy, your attention, no matter how difficult, and that disappoint will never reach you. so...really, life is in your hands. It is your decision on how you want to live: With disappointment haunting your every move, or adventure, happiness, extraordinary moments. 

Ashley Marie

March 21, 2014

Just Some Random Thoughts

So...if you have your own blog, or even if you don't you would know that it sometimes is quite difficult to come up with creative ideas. Well, last week I got a little bored, and shot this very random video! Also, on my blog, you don't get to see my true self, so now you can!

Enjoy my weird self, talking about nothing relevant(:
    PS: I am sorry its long...I didn't realize how long it was until after I have finalized it. but...that's okay. if anything, the bloopers at the end are the best!

Click -->  Just Some Random Thoughts Video!

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My absolute favorite car! A 1956 Chevy Bel Air (Blue)

Ashley Marie

March 18, 2014

Photography

I may not be a professional when it comes to photography, but I love it. I never leave the house without my camera. Here are a few pictures I have taken over the past 4 months or so. Enjoy!(:

    

-Ashley Marie

March 11, 2014

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions.

       Decisions are hard to make. Right now, I am faced with one of the biggest life decisions I have ever come in contact with. And I will admit, I am terrified, I don't know which option to choose, I have an idea, but it is so hard. What is that decision you may ask? Well, It is about choosing a college to attend. 

       If you saw my last post, you would see that I took a trip out to visit GCU (Grand Canyon University) in Arizona. Everything about that place is amazing. It is gorgeous, warm, home like, friendly, and the amount of activities is endless. I would love to go there, but...it is not that easy. You see, my other choice is to attend CWI (College of Western Idaho), a community college. Both options are quite different in price, location, people, style, housing, ect. 

     If I attend GCU, I will be able to meet so many new, amazing people, and potentially start over and get an opportunity to learn and gain new fun experiences. To me, the college experience is huge. You only have a few years to have that experience, then its gone, its over, that is it. So, if I go to GCU, I get that experience. If I attend CWI, I won't get that college experience, but I will pay off my first to years very quickly, I will get a job, own my own car, and stay with a few friends, and not really have the opportunity to completely start over. If I go to CWI, then I do however, have the opportunity to study abroad in England for a year (which I mentioned in a blog post in the past). But then I wounder, If I really want to do that or not...

     This decision may be easy for some, but for me, my decison determines my life for the next two years. Who my friends will be, what my life looks like (crazy activities, or normal old boise). It determines what life path I will take, the connections I make or loose, the people I will gain or loose as friends, and SO much more. It is just stressful to think about. And the worst part? I need to make a decision ASAP for several reasons. Tips anyone? Tips would be wonderful. Every one tells me to follow my heart, but that is quite hard when your heart is torn. I wish I could get a strait answer, know it is the write choice, and just go with it, with no hesitation, and not regret. See, that the thing. I don't want to make a choice, and regret it in the end. That, to me, is the worst possible thing that can happen. I regret a HUGE decision. 

I promise to update my blog on my final decisions, and later I will blog about weather I regret my decision or not, and even give tips from what I learned from all this. 

    I know this is not Tuesday, and I am not sure if this post will replace the one for Tuesday or if I will post something else, either way, have a beautiful week, enjoy life, and I love you all(:

Ashley Marie

Sunday, March 2, 2014