Thursday, August 21, 2014

My ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Confession: I was kind of hoping nobody would nominate me for the ALS ice bucket challenge. Not because I am a girly girl that doesn’t want a bucket of ice on me, but because I felt very ignorant to what ALS even was and how it impacts people. And then I would be pressured into donating.

Then I was nominated.

I felt conflicted in different ways. When I was nominated, it felt as though people were posting the videos because everyone else was doing it. It was the “cool” thing. Or people did it as a way to look good. Some even were doing it because they had the notion if you did it, it would mean you didn’t have to donate. My friend explained, that’s not the point. You should donate anyway. I also wondered what people would think if I never did post a video. Would people think I was a bad person? Would anyone even notice? It’s crazy how self-conscious people can when it comes to a subject as this.

So I decided to open my eyes and ears and learn. I have read people’s opinions of the movement, watched videos of others, and I wanted to learn what in the world this ALS even is. To my knowledge, I haven’t had a close family member or friend suffer from it. I didn’t have a personal connection. I finally stumbled upon a video that enlightened me. The one made by a man who was recently diagnosed with it and has a mother who has it as well. I finally felt emotionally invested. I also learned that a favorite teacher and mentor of mine at Emporia State had a husband who passed away from it.

Something Emporia State taught me outside of the classroom was the value of giving back. More and more I see the importance of it. As I have been trying to raise money for my journey to Miss Kansas USA, I have become more aware of myself and find myself trying to find ways to give back in ways I can here and there. I have been one lucky girl that have received many opportunities and help especially in my college career. So I want to do the same for others. 

So here I am.
This is my ice bucket challenge. I am going to donate to the Kenna Reeves team to support the Emporia Area Walk to Defeat ALS. I challenge my communication family to consider doing the same! You can access it here: http://web.alsa.org/site/TR/Walks/KeithWorthington?team_id=278554&pg=team&fr_id=10159

I may not have just poured ice over my head, but I felt like a cold person as I had made the confession in the first paragraph. I also wanted to do something different and in a way I am passionate. I wanted to write. 

I will be submitting my donation online tomorrow when I get paid. J

Sparkle&Shine.
Rachel 
Kenna Reeves and I 


Saturday, August 9, 2014

The Darkness

The Darkness

The darkness with all the lights off
won’t cover me up and the words
I want to say to you.
Even if I’m inches from your lips,
the air I breathe into you won’t tell you either.
I can hear the silence rooting for me to do it.
My chest is sitting on my heart.
The words, so big, they can barely make it
through the lungs catching my breath.
Your kisses are coaxing my words to come out.
To let you know I like you.
They tell you, I like you.







...
Sparkle&Shine.
Rachel

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Rachel Nicole Marshall

Hi, my name is Rachel Nicole Marshall and I got a picture with Rachel Nicole Marshall. I am not typing about a selfie either.

Confused?

In March 2007, I was 15 and received a messaged randomly on Facebook by Rachel Marshall. She told me that we have the “same government name.” Even down to our middle name. Spelled the same too. She was 18 at the time.

Over time, we have had fun telling each other “happy birthday” on Facebook, getting confused when we like each other’s stuff, letting others think we like our own things, and completely getting people mixed up when we start commenting on each other’s posts back and forth. It doesn’t help that we resemble each other, both sporting brunette hair and gracing brown eyes. Not to mention about the same body shape too. She is from Michigan and we have gone all these years as “Facebook friends.” We finally met this week for the first time 7 years later and I guess you can say we are actually friends without Facebook tacked before it. She was in town for a business trip and asked me if I would be willing to finally meet. Both of us, I think deep down wondered if we were actually who we say we are online. Because, you know, that is a thing.

I would have to say it was an amazing experience to see her in person for the first time and not in a picture online. We sat at Chicago’s bar, had a drink, and just chatted. And it didn’t feel weird. We even tried to have fun and show people our I.D.’s because we thought it was cool. And who would have thought that we also share an addiction and love for nail polish? She organizes hers too!

As we sat there chatting, we had to marvel at the world and how fascinating social media can be and how it can bring two strangers like us together. And even more; two girls who share such a big part of our identities, our full names.

I am glad I was able to finally meet Rachel Marshall. I feel like we are connected in a way. Kind of like sisters somehow; awkwardly. And I am confident we will keep up on each other’s lives through Facebook just as we have done all these years. :)

Never a dull moment.

Sparkle & Shine,

Rachel Nicole Marshall