Back to School

Well, if you hadn't guessed from my lack of blog posts the past month (sorry!) I'm back at school -- and back to homework, term papers, and tests. But I'm still trying to find at least ten minutes every day to write. Ten minutes may not seem like a lot, but it adds up over the course of the week to more than an hour. Also, I often end up writing for more than ten minutes once I get into my "writing mode." So what if I miss the re-run "Friends" episode my roommates are watching in the living room?

That said, I've discovered there is a balance. I could lock myself in my room and write for hours every evening, but instead I've decided to become involved in a variety of organizations and volunteer groups I'm passionate about. I've befriended a mentally challenged high school student named Ronald through the "Best Buddies" program at USC and I visit him once a week -- he is one of the most caring and creative individuals I've ever met. I also tutor elementary schoolers in reading and math and am a counselor for a cabin of ten adorable third-grade girls through the USC Troy Camp organization. These girls inspire me with their optimism and energy, and remind me to enjoy the simple things in life, like an ice cream cone at the park on a sunny day, or laughing over silly jokes with your friends.

I plan to write for the rest of my life. I only have two years of college left. A large part of writing, I think, is going out and living your life, meeting people, putting yourself out there and amassing experiences to use in your writing later. And it's working, for me at least -- I'm constantly jotting down ideas for new stories, characters, and articles. Now I'm off for my daily dose of writing ...