Stephanie Mills

One of my Favorite Bands/Songs Ever

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 13:57:15 -0400

One of my Favorite Bands/Songs Ever

The One where Nerds Win

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 13:03:44 -0400

The One where Nerds Win:

Vanderbilt’s fourth game of the College World Series is today! I am so proud to be a Commodore :)

The One that's "None of Your Business"

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 12:34:58 -0400

NJ Governor did a WONDERFUL job answering a tough question on a TV talk show the other day. Here’s the clip to start out with:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BYoO32uNEc

Christie addresses what I feel are three main concerns with today’s school systems: personal choice that parents have the right to make, paying taxes to a school system that you don’t use, and the governor’s responsibility to make their state’s school system the best school system in the country. Christie is elegant yet very firm on his views that he can send his kids wherever he wants to; yet, he also feels a deep responsibility to give children the best education they receive from any NJ school.

I am a product of an IL public school and really feel like I received an excellent education for the person I am. I also recognize, however, that many students thrive in private school settings. Competing school systems create an environment that each student benefits from.

Christie continues to impress me with his rhetoric and easy explanations… I think he is indeed a “great communicator,” and boy do we need a President with good communication skills. If you agree with me, and think that Christie should run for president, check out

http://www.draftchristieforpresident.com/

He is apparently not running but I have yet to find a presidential candidate that I think has as great of a spending record as Christie does, or one that communicates his beliefs and actions as well.

The One at the Beginning

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 12:25:53 -0400

The first article in a new blog HAS to be the hardest. I think I’ve started this about five times… one with a description about myself, one angry political blog, one about service, one about how much I love country music, one about the value of education… goodness me. I concluded that I had better just post something - if not stellar to just get over this crazy stigma I’ve invented that the first entry has to be of high quality and super interesting.

Here is a list of ten facts about me, just to kick it off:

7. I went to Moline High School and graduated in 2007. I was thrilled with the education I received, and I am really thankful for those I met along the way. I learned a lot (NOT about math or chemistry) about how to get along with a diverse group of people, and about things I liked and didn’t.

6. I am a musician, but not a “cool” one. I know how to play the flute the tuba, the saxophone, and the piano (weakly.) I am best at the flute (am I allowed to say that?) and have worked really hard over the years to play the coolest/hardest songs I can find. I don’t have the opportunity to play often any more, except in my attic bedroom when no one else is home.

5. I LOVE country music and the Opry. Thanks, Nashville.

4. I read nonstop, mostly books about history and classics, but also fun beach reads. I won’t bore you with a list of favorites, but when I find one I like I’ll probably post about it on here later.

3. I passionately want to teach and change lives. I am excited about a future teaching in a high-needs school, and potentially working on education policy and reform. So many kids out there deserve a better education and life than the one they are receiving, and I hope to change that.

2. I am SO grateful to God and my family and friends for helping me to become the person I am. There are just not enough wonderful things I can say about them.

1. The single most life changing experience I have ever had is serving an extremely poverty-stricken section of Huntsville, Alabama. The Lincoln Village Ministries has really inspired me to bring Christ and love to this community. Here’s a link for a video if you have a few minutes to look at this extraordinary organization: http://www.lincolnvillageministry.com/videos/LincolnVillageMinistries.mov

Thanks for reading all of this. From now on I plan on this blog being about educational policies, politics, and other cool things I want to address.