Gender and Dating Relationships

Andy Otto's article on Busted Halo brought up many good points.  I think it is definitely important for couples to discuss getting married prior to getting engaged.  Marriage is a serious commitment and a serious and mature discussion should take place.  The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is an "efficacious sign of grace."

In Andy's article he writes about the movie Runaway Bride in which Ike says, "You know, if you gotta dress it up like that it doesn't ring true."  I think Ike makes a good point because it seems like sometimes people have such over the top engagements and it doesn't really mean anything.  Of course many of the wedding traditions are important in my eyes, but I think the couple should make sure they don't lose touch of what is really important.  

My parents discussed getting married before my dad proposed. They even bought a house together and lived together for a few months to see how things would work out.  My mom didn't want to rush into any decisions without knowing it was right.  I think my parents made a good choice by talking about what they both wanted.  This way when my father proposed, my mom knew it was the right choice for the both of them.

Sexuality

After reading the article by Richard Sparks, I became more familiar with the church's teachings on sexuality.  I was aware of the church's strict teachings regarding sexual intercourse.  I agree with the church's teaching because I believe that sexuality is a gift from God and extremely significant.  I was unaware of some of the teachings regarding homosexuality.  I was aware that the church did not accept marriage between two of the same gender, but I was unaware that the church believes sexual intercourse between two of the same gender is morally wrong.  I believe today the world has grown and grown more accepting towards homosexual relationships.  I think the article did a nice job of explaining the role of sexuality in our lives.  I don't think the article missed any messages or themes.

Mission Statement

I promise to live every day to the fullest and always keep a positive mind. I will not take my life for granted and work hard everyday to fulfill greatness. I will be loving and compassionate towards not only my friends and family, but everyone around me. I vow to be more patient with my sister and guide her in the right direction. I will learn how to forgive those who have sinned against me and move on. I promise to always give 100 percent and never back down from a challenge. In the future, I hope to think of other before myself and always lend a helping hand.

Who Am I?

Through my family, friends, and athletics, I have discovered who I truly am. I believe my family has molded me into the person I am today. My parents have taught me right from wrong and encouraged me to make my own decisions. Ever since I was a child, my parents have encouraged me to always do my best and never give up. Also, my sister has influenced my life. My younger sister has taught me patience. She has taught me that sometimes I going to have to think of others before myself. My friends have also made me, me. Ever since I was three years old, I attended Catholic school. I was friends with the same girls from the age three to thirteen. I believe these girls taught me how to be a good friend and how to listen to other people’s problems. They constantly encouraged me to do my best, and I did the same for them. All of my friends were always there for me and this made me a very open and honest person. I am now able to discuss openly with other people. Ever since I was three years old, athletics have been a big part of my life. In grade school, I played every sport possible. I believe athletics have taught me many important lessons. Because I participated in many sports, I learned how to be a part of a team and how to work together to accomplish a common goal. Athletics have also taught me what great things can come from hard work and dedication. My family, friends, and athletics have made me the person I am today, and I am sure there will be many others factors that affect my identity as I get older.