An Ode to My Home

I've been a student at Florida State University for three years going on four but I've never really appreciated the town I'm in until recently. I'm currently in a cafe (All Saints) which is in the more artsy district. I was studying and then I looked up and realized how beautiful this city is. It's different and the people are sweet and intellectually wild. Have you ever just been somewhere, looked up, and felt yourself fall in love? I've had wisps of that emotion throughout the years but not as much as right now. I'm a senior and in a year, Tallahassee might no longer be my place of residence but I know it will still be home. I grew as person here, I met lifelong friends here, and I fell in love with a place for the first time here. It's a mix of students, families, and young working adults.

Every first Friday of every month local business open their shops after hours to the community. They showcase local art and just create this feeling of connection. A connection to the people, the place, and the air around you, if that makes sense. I've gone a few times and have enjoyed every moment. The artists are open and different-- wild in their own ways. The businesses are owned by hardworking lovable people. All Saints is full of multi-ethnic persons, vegans, artists, premed students. People who wouldn't normally hang out together, are here in this cafe studying and enjoying this city together.

I'm in love with this city for teaching me to embrace my inner self. For giving me the opportunity to break out of the shell I created to shield me from my fears. For unceasingly pushing me to identify my bad habits and change in an organic and positive way. I go outdoors a lot more, just like when I was a kid. I hang out with people who I usually wouldn't because they teach me to look at differences for their positive aspects. It was here that I realized how conservative I was but it was also here that I learned to be more open minded and to embrace who I was without discriminating against others who are "peculiar". Just looking around I see people with their friends, smiling, cracking jokes and I am in awe of how a simple cafe can create and exude such happiness. I am going to miss my time here in Tallahassee but I haven't left yet and I fully intend on making my last year worth it. I'm in love with my city. My weird but special and heart warming city that forever and always will be my home.

Take Flight by Lindsey Stirling

I'm currently on my spring break and I'm spending this lovely evening writing to you and watching Lindsey Stirling: Live From London on PBS. Watching her perform I felt the urge to write. She's so incredible because she took something she loved and made it into a career that she likes and is successful. The money she makes is probably great but I mean success is that she can sustain her own self with her passion. The power each person has within their self is so incredible and mind boggling. We can do so much if we apply ourselves. However, we also need to have confidence and the belief that we can do it. In an interview Lindsey Stirling stated that she was told her music wasn't marketable because it was so different. She made her own way and I along with many others can personally tell you we're very glad. The world is full of negativity but be yourself and know you were created perfectly. Stirling also keeps to the same style she's worn since I saw her first videos and it just made me realize that that is a statement of who she is and yes she's different but it's not bad but good. We are all different and if you're accepting of everyone's differences you learn so much and you open up a whole new world. I also think it was pretty amazing that Stirling chose to show her broadcasted concert on public television instead of some high paying network.