A White Chick from Next to the Boondocks

(This post is an assignment for my Foundations of Multicultural Education class.)

Jerald and Loraine Anderson

I chose this picture to represent my grandmother and her influence on me.  My grandmother passed away in the early 80s from cancer, so obviously I have never walked with her on this Earth in a physical body.  However, I have felt her influence in my life many times and I can pinpoint specific moments when I know that my grandmother is with me.  My mother always used to talk about my grandmother's love of learning and how smart she was.  I wanted to be smart just like my grandmother in heaven.  I know that she and I had a relationship in heaven because I can feel it whenever I think about her.  I admire her love of learning and as such strive to take advantage of all the learning experiences which I have the opportunity to enjoy.  Also represented in this picture is my love of family and belief that we can one day be reunited with our loved ones in the spirit world.  My grandfather passed away just over five years ago and I know he and my grandmother are happy and reunited now just as they were in this picture on their wedding day.

Cougareat Food Court Logo

I chose to include where I work as part of my cultural diorama because of all I have learned while working there that has helped to shape my character.  I have been a part of the management for about three years and in that amount of time I have learned a lot about respect, communication, sacred resources, stewardship, and responsibility (just to name a few).  Because of the experiences which I have had there as a member of the management team, I have been able to pinpoint what kind of impact I want to have on those whom I come in contact with and how I want to be viewed by others.  Certain other members of the management team have been examples which I have looked up to because of the influence which they have on others and the respect which they have for others and their values.

Marching Band Competition- Megs and Me

In high school, I was a part of the marching band and learned A LOT.  I joined my freshman year and remember how much I hated band camp- it was SO hard and I felt like I wasn't getting it and I was doing everything wrong.  Junior year, I quit.  After quitting, I realized how much I missed the music and how much the joy really was worth all of the hard work that went into each show, each performance, each set.  I learned to value hard work and endurance for the reward that comes after.  Our directors had a vision for our band to become one of the greatest in the state.  We attended intense competitions that pushed our small band to its limits.  Our band program was not made up of a lot of people.  Our principal put so much more emphasis on the sports than any of the arts programs and they all suffered from it.  Despite this challenge from forces beyond their control, our directors had instilled in us that we could still be the best band in the state.  No matter what others say or think about you, the most important thing is that you be your best self.  We learned that you can set your goals however high you want as long as you are willing to work hard enough to reach them.   (After marching season of junior year concluded, I rejoined for my senior year.) 

Six Things About Me

1. I Love to Bake.  

Especially cupcakes.  I generally don't eat majority of what I bake; I give it away to other people.  No, really.  I bake cookies to give to my neighbors.  I bake brownies for my roommate.  I bake cupcakes for my coworkers.  Sure, I'll try it during the process.  But the second best part about baking is giving whatever I've created to someone else and watching their face just light up.  My favorite part about baking is listening to Disney music, dancing around the kitchen, and singing at the top of my lungs.  

2. I Hate Power Point Presentations.  

Absolutely despise them, in any way, shape or form.  I have yet to have a decent teacher of any subject who uses power point.  'Nuff said.

3. I Take Long Showers.  

And I love them. If you've ever lived with me, you know I take showers whenever I'm upset.  The shower is a good place to cry, and also a good place to take a vacation from the real world. I've discovered that when I'm in the shower, if I close my eyes, I can be anywhere in the world, taking a shower.  I can be at home with my family, across the hall from the most magical room ever (the room I shared with my sisters).  I can be in my apartment, escaping the ever growing pile of homework.  I can be at my Aunt's home, cleaning the dirt out of my hair from playing with my little cousins.  I could even be somewhere I've never been!  

4. I Mean Business.  

I am une femme d'affairs (which means business women in French- it just sounds a lot cooler in French than in English).  When things get real, you better watch out.  I've realized who I am and how I want to be, and I'm ready to take on the world.  I know what I want from myself and it's going to make my life the best thing I'll ever do.  

5. Sometimes, I Cry.  

This world is tough, and I try to be tough.  But sometimes, you just have to cry.  Sometimes, a good cry is the only way to make things feel better, to make you feel human.  A lot of the times, we cry because people don't act like we're human- somehow they hurt our feelings, intentionally or unintentionally; somehow things didn't happen the way you wanted them to; somehow you messed up; somehow something went wrong.  Crying is a way to show emotion.  Showing emotion isn't bad; it happens.  Being strong isn't about never crying; it's about stopping.  It's about getting up after a good cry and being strong enough to keep going, to do what needs to be done.  During the hardest moment of His life, the Savior cried.  But He still got up, carried on, and did what needed to be done.

6. I Am Beautiful.  

And so is every other young woman on this planet.  Each one of us brings something unique and wonderful to the table, and somewhere out there is someone who needs whatever you bring.  It doesn't matter whether I wear $50 jeans or $5 jeans.  It doesn't matter whether my hair is straight or curly.  It doesn't matter whether I'm wearing a formal gown or sweat pants, because my personality doesn't change with my clothes or my make-up.  

And that's what's made me realize the change I want to be in myself.  I realized that I act somewhat differently at work and at home and at my apartment and I don't like that.  I want to be me.  I want to be the one who shoots for the moon and is in charge of my life.  

I want to be Leigha Marie Nunnally, fearless and decisive.

This Month's Challenge:

Write about you.  1-6.

1. Something you Love.

2. Something you Hate.

3. Something you Do.

4. A Strength

5. A Weakness

6. Why are you beautiful?