A Letter to The Notre Dame Grads

Dear Notre Dame Class of 2017,
I saw some footage from your commencement. Your speaker was Vice President Mike Pence, and many of your were clearly not happy about that. Several of you were so unhappy that, when he took the stage, you walked out.
You had every right to do that, I'll admit it. However, you should know how disrespectful that was. Whether you like it or not, Pence is our vice president. It is important to note that he was not there to discuss all of the political agendas that you all gave as reasons for walking out, he was there to give a commencement address, which typically involves simply encouraging the graduates in their pursuit of their dreams. The closest he got to political discussion was his discussion of the importance of free speech.
Your walk out was kind of contradictory in regards to free speech. You used your constitutional right to free speech and protest to walk out of the graduation, but you also demonstrated how you're all about free speech...but only when it agrees with your views. You walked out of your own graduation because the speaker was someone you do not agree with. You weren't even willing to listen to what he had to say. So much for free speech, huh?
One last thing, if you didn't want to hear the views of conservative Christians, you probably shouldn't have chosen to attend one of the largest Catholic universities in America...or any Catholic university.
Sincerely,
A Conservative American

Manchester

I just wanted to say that my heart goes out to the victims of the Manchester bombing that happened last night, as well as their families. You all are in my prayers.
My heart also goes out to Ariana Grande herself, since it was her concert that the attack happened at. A lot of people have given the celebrities that have posted on social media in support of their friend a lot of heat for doing so. The majority of these celebs have also expressed support and condolences to the victims and their families. However, people seem to be upset that they are supporting Ari as well. Why? Don't you guys think she feels awful about this? It was HER concert. Yes, she is safe while many others lost their lives or were injured, but she still deserves some love and prayers.

Babies and Graduation

Earlier today, a friend of mine who works for Students For Life shared an article (which you can read here). This article was about high school senior, Maddi Runkles, who happens to be pregnant. Runkles attends a private Christian school in Maryland, and, due to her pregnancy, her school is not allowing her to walk at graduation. They say she will still receive a diploma, but she cannot participate in the graduation ceremony. This isn't right.

I understand that the school wishes to uphold it's clean, Christian reputation. However, is excluding a girl from graduation for choosing life really very Christian? Christians are supposed to support life from conception to natural death. Now, I know many Christians who do not follow this, but even pro-choice groups have posted in support of Maddi. 

One of the reasons the school does not want Maddi participating in graduation is that premarital sex is a sin, and they don't want to celebrate that. However, regardless of age or circumstances, we are called to love and support pregnant women. Technically, we're called to love everyone, no matter what. Anyway, the school doesn't want to celebrate this "mistake" and make other girls in the school think that having sex and getting pregnant before marriage is okay. 

What kind of message is this really sending though? To me, it seems to be telling teen girls that if they get pregnant, they will be punished. All this does is discourage young women from choosing life.
The school wants to promote chastity and abstinence, which is all well and good, but studies show that abstinence only sex education doesn't work. Teens are going to have sex. We can educate them and try to discourage it, but the truth is, it's going to happen. When it does happen, and results in a pregnancy (which is the biological purpose of sex), we shouldn't be shaming the girl for having sex. We should encourage her to choose life for her child. If she doesn't wish to keep the child or doesn't think she's a fit mother, we should direct to adoption resources.
If you agree with me, I suggest you contact the school, which you can do here, and stand up for Maddi.

Letting Children Decide Gender?

Recently, a friend of mine shared a video (you can see said video by clicking here). This video suggested that expectant parents should not have gender reveal parties, or otherwise announce the gender of the baby, because they need to let the child decide what gender they are. The comments, and many comments on the original post said things I agree with. Pretty much everyone pointed out how ridiculous such a suggestion was.
The video says that "sonogram technicians can make their best guess, but it's ultimately up to your child." It also suggests you should wait until the child is 35, and let them decide their gender. No. I know a lot of people argue about the difference between gender and sex, but a lot of dictionaries list the two as synonymous, but do acknowledge that gender is more specific to the social aspect. Your chromosomes determine your gender, not what you "feel like."
If you're supposed to wait until they're 35 to determine their gender, should you wait til they're 35 to give them a name? Or not feed them until you know their preferences?

13 Reasons Why

**Warning: This post discusses the recent Netflix phenomenon 13 Reasons Why, which is centered around a suicide and also discusses the issue of rape. Also, there will be spoilers.**
Also,fair warning, this will be kind of long, as I have a lot of strong feelings about this.
Unless you live under a rock somewhere, I'm sure by now you have heard about Netflix's latest original series, 13 Reasons Why, based on the book by Jay Asher. Now, I haven't read the book, but I have watched the show. Honestly, I am not impressed and I don't recommend it, and it is certainly not for the faint of heart. There is one good message in it, be nice to people, you never know what is going on inside their head and what they may be going through outside of your interactions with them.
I had heard so many mixed reviews of the show. Everyone either loves it or hates it, there seems to be no in-between. As someone who has spent the last four years of my life studying psychology, I was not a fan. Many other articles I have read on the topic have mentioned that the creators of the show met with experts in the field who gave them all kinds of advice, that they did not follow, regarding portraying this kind of subject matter in the media. Normally, when a TV show deals with suicide, or really any sensitive subject matter, they put a warning at the beginning of the show/episode, and, if applicable, at the end there is usually something about what to do and where to go if you are dealing with whatever was shown in the episode and need help. 13 Reasons Why does not do this. There are warnings at the beginning of the last few episodes because they deal with rape and showing Hannah's suicide, but there is no "if you need help call this number" disclaimer at the end of any episode.
A lot of things also bothered me about the actual content of the show. Instead of having a ridiculously long paragraph, I will break it into bullet point.

• There is no real mention of the complex mental health problems that those who choose to take their own lives often suffer from. It is simply a blame game. Hannah blames those around her for ending her life, which results in them blaming themselves, and leads to lots of destructive behavior. Some may agree that people treating Hannah like garbage are to blame, others may say that, ultimately, it was her choice. It a way, you're all at least partially right, but there is more to consider. Her classmates bullying her, the things she witnessed happening to her friends, and what Bryce did to her likely triggered her depression. Her attempts to cry out for help went unheard, making her feel like suicide may have been her only real option, even if that wasn't true.
• The faculty of Liberty High are extremely dismissive when Hannah tries to get help. The note she leaves in the class discussion box in one of her classes made it quite clear that, although it was submitted anonymously, there was a serious problem. That teacher should have taken it to an administrator or the counselor to determine what to do. When Hannah did see the counselor, he essentially told her to get over the assault she had made fairly clear she had experienced. 
• After Hannah's death, the faculty seem more concerned with saving themselves in the Bakers' lawsuit, than actually helping the students. Instead of addressing the issue of the horrible insults written on the bathroom wall, they paint over them. I also don't recall there being any scenes where the teachers really talk to the students about suicide, although, the show does begin several days after Hannah's death, so that may have happened earlier. All they seem to do is educate parents on the warning signs, telling them to keep an eye on their kids, and put all these "you are not alone" posters up in the hallway. Unfortunately, in many cases, this is exactly the kind of thing that happens, but it still makes me uncomfortable and needs to be discussed.
• The show romanticizes suicide. They portray it as the only way to truly be heard, get the love and attention you craved in life, and get revenge on the people who hurt you. As mentioned above, suicide is an immensely complex issue. Portraying it in this way is very inappropriate.
• In the last episode, they actually show Hannah's suicide, with one of the main characters narrating as it happens. This essentially makes it a step-by-step guide to taking your own life,which is not something anyone, especially teens, should be watching. Studies show that when there is talk of suicide in the media, the number if suicides increases, which is why the news rarely reports on suicides, and have to be extremely careful when they do.

Parents, if you allow your children/teens to watch this show, I suggest you watch it with them and discuss the issues portrayed with them. To anyone who has suffered from depression and/or suicidal ideation, I would not recommend that you watch this, but, if you do, don't watch it alone.
If you or someone you know is in danger of suicide, do not hesitate to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, or, if the danger is more immediate, call 911.
For more information you can also visit their website: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/#
If you live outside the U.S., you can find information on your country's suicide hotline at, http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html
You can also visit http://www.crisistextline.org/get-help-now/ for information on resources for a variety of struggles from domestic abuse to eating disorders.

Life of A Psych Major

Being a psych major is great. Here are some struggles all psych majors understand.
1. Taking abnormal psych and self-diagnosing everything you do all the time
2. APA Style.

3. Finding the perfect article for your paper...and it's in a foreign language
4. ...Or you can't access the full text
5. When you tell people you're a psych major and they don't want to talk to you anymore

6. Taking developmental psych and re-evaluating your entire childhood
7. ...And thinking you're an expert on parenting
8. Looking for an article for your research paper and getting lost in the databases for the rest of the day
9. When your friends say something causes something and all you can say is "correlation does not equal causation"
10. SPSS. It's the worst.

Theatre Kid Problems

If you have been in theatre, you know all the joys and sorrows of it. You're having the time if your life, but you're also stressed to the point of tears. It's the best!

Here are some of the struggles and excitement you know as a theatre kid.

1. Knowing exactly how many minutes are in a year

2. So. Many. Bobby pins.

3. So. Much. Hairspray.

4. Making musical references your non-theatre friends don't get.

5. When anyone else makes a musical reference, and you're the only one that gets it.

6. Having to tell your friends, "I can't. I have rehearsal." 

7. Having to tip-toe backstage in character heels or tap shoes.

8. Putting up with that one cast member who thinks they're the director

9. Having to avoid milk to prevent mucus

10. Losing all sense of modesty when doing quick changes around other people backstage

11. Correcting people when they call it "play practice." I mean, everyone knows it's called rehearsal.

12. Correcting people who call the musical a play. Call it a show, but never call it a play.

13. When the boys complain about having to hear make-up

14. Going out in public in full stage make-up

15. Waiting for the cast list to be posted

16. Getting the part you auditioned for

17. Getting yelled at for talking backstage

18. Getting yelled at for not talking loud enough on stage

19. Mouthing along with scenes you're not in from backstage

20. Having to run around and find your friends and family after a performance

21. The week before the show. 

22. The rush of opening night

23. The bittersweet feeling of closing night

24. The end of the last show your senior year of high school

25. The cast party

26. Sharing stories at your last cast party senior year

27. Cast t-shirts

28. Looking back at old scripts and having no idea what the notes mean

29. Hearing a lyric or line from a show and momentarily losing it

30. Not wanting to trade any of the stress and craziness for anything in the world

31. The family dynamic of the cast