The Changing Face of Marriage

I have been attending a Catholic school ever since kindergarten and have therefore been taught a lot about the Catholic Church based on my parents' decision to send me to Catholic schools. Outside of school, however, there is not a strong presence of religion or a "domestic church". We used to attend mass much more often when I was little and I even used to go by myself some days, but eventually we stopped participating altogether. Starting around my freshman year at the Mount, we began attending masses at a Methodist church with my uncle and were enlightened by this experience. The services there are so much more spirited and uplifting and meaningful, so we went back more and more - and we were genuinely excited to go instead of the obligatory drag we felt when attending mass even on Christmas and Easter. That said, we again got lazy with attending and since the pastor recently changed we have been reluctant to go. I feel that a personal spiritual relationship is much more substantial and meaningful than simply participating in church and religion. In the future, I hope to set the same example for my future family by introducing them to the church but encouraging spirituality as opposed to religion. This is my definition of a "domestic church".

Dating and Marriage

I had always been a believer of committed and long-term relationships. That said, the current timing in my life make the idea of being in such a relationship rather unrealistic - college is just a few months away and therefore an endpoint would already be set at the beginning of a relationship. For these reasons I have begun to change my intentions slightly in relationships. For the time being, I hope for something less serious, light, and fun, if at all. I am looking for companionship more than anything and someone with similar views as me and who is open to communication, one of the most important factors in any relationship. I think that my views reflect more of society's values instead of the Catholic Church's values, but I think that each individual needs to set up their own morals to know when things are "right" and this cannot be determined by neither society nor the Church.

As mentioned in the articles, some couples are preoccupied with the idea of self-serving relationships. I think this is true to a point, especially in short-term and not very serious relationships, but do not create lasting and loving relationships in the future. they serve a different purpose and that is to be short-term. The difference between this kind of relationship and a serious one is the selfless giving of oneself to their significant other.

I agree with Maddie Koestler's blog post saying that a relationship should change you for the better and a couple should bring out the best qualities in each other. I love the idea that you pick up on each others' quirks and attitudes and I notice this in my own life with anyone I spend a large amount of time with. This is a little step in achieving that idealistic unity that is crucial in a successful marriage.

Dating... There Is a Point!

In my opinion, dating is a crucial aspect of any serious relationship and is by no means a practice for divorce. I can understand the logic behind the idea that dating several people on and off may lead to the habit of being able to leave a relationship at any time, but I think that it is even more important to practice some type of exclusive commitment before settling down in marriage. Dating is a learning process - both about yourself and your partner - and it is important to learn how to work with your partner and to be secure together before deciding to commit yourself to them for the rest of your life.

In reading the article about today's "hook-up culture", I was pretty surprised at the many different meanings of the term "hooking up" and how a lack of clarity can be problematic. I was also very surprised with the statistic that a majority of people have had 5 or fewer hook-ups ever. My expectations from my peers and the media have always led me to think that this number would be skewed very differently. Knowing both of these things is useful in making smart decisions.

Love songs

Some of the most important qualities that I look for in a relationship are comfort, absolute trust, and happiness. I believe these are essential not just for romantic relationships, but for friendships too. I have realized that pinpointing specific qualities in the other person is not nearly as important as how they treat you.

Make You Feel My Love - Adele

"When the rain is blowing in your face,

And the whole world is on your case,

I could offer you a warm embrace

To make you feel my love."

I love how this song depicts a limitless and unconditional love for someone. The lyrics say that she would do anything in her power simply to make someone feel loved.

You Won't Feel A Thing - The Script

"Cause I will take it on the chin for you

So lay your cuts and bruises over my skin

I promise you won't feel a thing, no

Cause everything the world could throw

I'll stand in front, I'll take the blow for you, for you"

This song really shows how someone would put their lover before themselves. There is another line later in the song that sums up the idea: "And if I fall here, at least you know my dear that I would die for you."

Please Be Mine - Jonas Brothers

"But I'll be there forever

You will see that it's better

All our hopes and our dreams will come true

I will not disappoint you

I will be right there for you

'till the end, the end of time"

This is one of my favorite songs and sincerely expresses one's never ending dedication to someone they love.

You Make My Dreams - Hall & Oates

"What I've got's full stock of thoughts and dream that scatter

You pull them all together

And how, I can't explain

But you make my dreams come true"

This song basically says that the person's life is crazy and scattered, but when he is with the "girl of his dreams", everything comes together and makes perfect sense. It is like she completes him and brings out his best self.

The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson

"If you are chilly, here take my sweater

Your head is aching, I'll make it better

'Cause I love the way you call me baby

And you take me the way I am"

I think this song is adorable and describes love in a much simpler and undramatized way. It talks about how her love is shown through small acts of kindness and represents both giving and taking in a relationship.

Thus far, I have hoped for the idea of a "soul mate". I am generally idealistic and optimistic, especially when it comes to love and relationships, so the idea of finding one person who is completely and perfectly matched to each and every person absolutely appeals to me. That said, I am not sure yet if that is reality or not.

Sexuality in the Media

The first advertisement that I found is of a nude woman holding a giant perfume bottle. It is for a Coach perfume and the ad also highlights several other Coach products such as bracelets, a headband, and sunglasses. I think that this is an effective advertisement because of the crisp, bright colors and not because of the sexuality. This ad would have been just as effective with a bottle that was not transparent or even some sort of clothing. While searching, I noticed that almost all of the advertisements (including those that were sexually overt) were of women. The only time I noticed a man, he was fully dressed in a suit and tie; however, the women in the ads were more and more scantily clad the more I flipped through magazines.

The second advertisement I found is for a limited edition Tiffany & Co. necklace. I found it in an InStyle magazine and, although I realized that there are many sexually overt images, this particularly caught my eye. I think it is quite effective in capturing the audience's attention. I spent about half a minute trying to figure out what the patch of skin was, until I realized that it was of a woman's chest and I immediately felt uncomfortable, however I feel that the audience will remember the ad better for that exact reason. In my opinion, the overt cleavage is not at all necessary and there are many Tiffany & Co. advertisements that solely highlight the product and without the use of models. True, a necklace is worn around the neck as pictured in the ad, but I do not think that the model's lack of clothing is appropriate.

Identity

1. Being a part of the Mount crew team my freshman and sophomore years has played a major role in shaping who I am today. Prior to this experience, life was easy, but I soon learned the real meaning of hard work. I feel that these years were very crucial in developing my personality and because I was constantly challenging myself, Inow have a very determined work-ethic and self-motivation as well as an optimistic attitude about all of life's hardships.

2. Throughout the past 4 years, there have been several medical circumstances that have challenged my family and I. Specifically, my mother spent a week in the hospital last winter and I was responsible for taking care of my younger brother. Later that year, he too spent several weeks in the hospital and I was again faced with many responsibilities. Through these difficult times, I was able to give of myself in order to help others in need and learned much more about my own capacities than I ever could have imagined.

3. My friends have been a huge influence in my life. I am lucky to have several close friends whom I love and trust. Each of my friends has a unique personality and I have learned from their distinctive qualities and have come to appreciate my own individuality as well. They have all taught me how to relax, to laugh and to look on the bright side. I would not be the person I am today without their care and support.

(4) Christa Black