Author Archives | Jessica Foster

Foster: Is the “work hard and succeed” mentality a myth?

America is home to a variety of people with diverse backgrounds, customs and ethnicities. It is a country of immigrants, hopefuls and idealistic citizens. The three branches of power provide checks and balances to stop a majoritarian rule and prevent change from happening at a rapid pace.

This country used to be viewed as the nation of opportunities — a golden ticket. You could do anything you wanted to do if you worked hard enough. America would provide for you and guide you.

“The American Dream” is a hard life to achieve. It may be easier for someone with a good family, educated background and money in the bank to reach that big house on the hill. But people don’t like to talk about how difficult it is for someone from a low-income background. Can they still achieve “greatness”?

In Poor People’s Movements, Frances Fox Piven and Richard A. Cloward, state, “At most times and in most places, and especially in the United States, the poor are led to believe that their destitution is deserved, and that the riches and power that others command are also deserved.”

This quote can be interpreted in two major ways. One, the poor are people who have brought an underprivileged financial situation on themselves. They did not work hard enough and choose to accept government money instead of searching for a job. Two, the rich will always remain so and they deserve to stay powerful.

There are those who are less fortunate and are actively seeking to change their lives. However, there are also people who take advantage of welfare pensions and are not trying to turn their lives around. I believe that if you work hard you can make something of your life.

Is the “work hard and succeed” mentality a myth? Is it our job to even the playing field for every citizen and close the income inequality gap with the help of large government programs?

Nicole Francisco, a political science graduate student, believes that the “work hard enough and you will succeed” mentality is a myth because it assumes an equal playing field. She wishes that the constitution would fit the times as they change.

“I think when a society produces massive amounts of inequality, it’s fair to produce more government programs,” said Francisco of welfare programs. “I don’t think it’s a bad thing to spend money on something that benefits a large amount of people.”

In 2014, 49 percent of every dollar went to major entitlements such as Medicaid, Medicare, social security and health care. These programs have no budget limits. According to The Heritage Foundation, per American household, the national debt exceeds $145,000. The United States is now approaching 18 trillion dollars in debt, and yet we still continue to make government programs and spend more money. America’s welfare domain consists of about 200 federal and state programs.

What I find interesting about welfare money and sharing the wealth is that a large amount has to come from people who did work hard. Yet, if we continue to take from those who worked hard to earn their money then eventually no one will feel the need to succeed. What would be the point in paying for college and getting a job if what you make will be given away? At some point, there would be no money to share because even many of the hardworking people would stop striving to achieve.

In The National Review, Ben Carson writes, “The real problem is not the existence of wealthy people among us. Rather, it is the feeling of helplessness and dependency that has been propagated falsely throughout many facets of our society.”

Maybe that’s the problem. We will forget what it means to succeed. People will continue to grow ever more dependent on government support as we strive to close the inequality gap. There is some hope in this endeavor, but we should cut some programs and focus on expanding and sharpening only a few that can really help citizens.

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Foster: Past gossip has no place in a political election

Presidential Candidate Donald Trump is dredging up Bill Clinton’s sex scandal history that occurred during his presidency. The only reason Trump is dragging these incidents out is to enhance his own campaign and put a damper on Hillary Clinton’s.

Though both Mr. and Mrs. Clinton refused to respond to Trump’s accusations and critical analysis, it is still obviously rough ground for the couple. It was not something they hoped to address during Mrs. Clinton’s campaign. It is a tired and seasoned subject that has no place in the 2016 campaign.

A grown man turned into a tattle-tale to focus bad publicity on the Clintons, and in all honesty, made it quite obvious that he needed something as low as gossip to keep citizens talking about him. The Clintons are being asked to address old headlines, which is taking time away from their present campaign. Hopefully citizens will realize why this news is coming up and vote based off their beliefs and not gossip.

By using old scandals, Trump is acting in a selfish way to keep his candidacy strong. A candidate should seek to show their skill sets to the people. He or she should stand firmly in their beliefs, respond to opposing views with respect and strive to create a different, hopefully better, future for American citizens. Pointing fingers turns this country into a playground with bullies pushing others around to get their way.

Two reasons to use Clinton’s past as a campaign booster are remarkably obvious. As an article in the Boston Globe illustrates, Trump wants to keep his name in the press at all times. Understandably, no candidate wants to be left out of the media, but policies and speeches concerning the well being of this country should dictate the news. Old news about sex scandals should not.

Secondly, Trump is targeting a specific age group: the young generation of new voters. Many of these individuals were too young, or had yet to be born, when Clinton’s scandal reached headline news. Trump is rehashing it to gain more popular votes.

I firmly believe that the facts about the Clinton scandal should be remembered. It is and will always be a part of history. For some citizens, that truth may sway their vote and that is entirely their choice.

But, it has no place in an election. Is this a soap opera or a political campaign? Gossip is far too plentiful in this country, already. Do we want it to be witnessed at the front of this nation? Politicians are supposed to help us and fight for the rights of the people. It is a job that was always supposed to be done for other people. Now it looks like a live-action Instagram account where people are doing or posting things to gain more votes.

The Clinton scandal happened and if it matters to you then do your own research. If it comes from the mouth of Trump, ignore him. He isn’t announcing these facts for you or me.

Trump is looking out for his campaign by slandering another candidate with old news. This isn’t about if a Republican is better than a Democrat, or vice versa. Every candidate for the presidency, no matter their party, should be focusing on what the purpose of a politician is and creating new policies that will help future generations of America.

When a new president is selected hopefully he or she will have been chosen for the job because they are ready to make a positive change in this country not because they were the best at bringing other the other candidates down.

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Foster: To be informed citizens, we have to know our history

It’s easy to feel small and unimportant in a world populated by billions of people. It’s easy to think that what you do or how you act does not have an effect on the way society ticks.

This country has a lot of problems. Something is always wrong with a new president, a local politician or some state law. No one really understands Obama Care. That new guy is a rumored socialist. Oh, but this woman wants to tax you for all you’re worth (probably wants your soul too). Government programs are bankrupt. Why are we in the middle east, again? We print money like it magically appears in trees… the list is astronomically long.

Why?

You can’t please everyone. It’s as simple as that. Someone, whether it’s in a 200-person town or downtown New York City, will not agree. If we did, this life would be far less exciting. We would never challenge or inspire one another to push the limits and change tradition.

America is flawed because it was never created to please everyone all the time. The constitution was designed to give a voice to the people. It’s up to us on how we choose to use it.

We can start by knowing what it means to be a politician and understanding our own constitution. That is the only way to clear the current corruption. To make an informed vote, you have to realize what it means to vote and what you are voting for. If we do not know our own constitution, then dishonesty will continue because people will gain position by taking advantage of our ignorance.

Lately, politicians have not been the most popular people in the world. Many are accused of pursuing an election because of money. Some are blamed for their wealth or family ties. Being a politician has now become a career, but it was never supposed to be that way. An individual, whom we have supposedly elected into office to be a voice for American people, is not respected. That doesn’t seem right. We have lost what it means to be a politician.

In A More Perfect Union, Ben Carson describes the men who helped form the Constitution of the United States. They came from a variety of backgrounds, such as farming, doctors, business and soldiers. One type of individual didn’t exist. These men held political positions to help the nation, and then they would return to their former lives.

It was and should always be a selfless job that is done for the betterment of American citizens. Today, corruption has forced many Americans to turn away from the government and feel distrustful.

But, this is exactly what is hurting us. We have to face the corruption and hold our chosen leaders accountable for their actions. Carson writes, “We must remember that freedom is not free. We have to regard it as a prized possession that must be fought for and protected everyday.” What this country has to offer is not a right. It is a privilege created by individuals who knew what it was like to live under tyrannical rule. The moment we stop voting, think that a voice counts for nothing, or ignore the people in charge, is the moment we stop empowering the United States and ourselves.

If we know the history of our country, then we will have the knowledge to clearly see when something is not right. It’s not going to be easy to put America back on its feet.

It’s possible that my generation won’t see the changes. But what about 100 years from now? 200 years? You will have family on this earth, and if we can’t spend the time researching politicians and filling in a bubble on a ballot for ourselves, then we might as well do it for them.

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Foster: Be a barn swallow in the new year

A barn swallow can make a home using a variety of tools. Mud, sticks, twigs and leaves are patched together to form a safe space. It becomes one place instead of four different things. Once all the tools are used together, the swallow has a new creation. It once started out as an empty space against the side of a barn. The leaves scattered the ground and the twigs cracked in two as people and animals trod on them. As individual things, those tools appear useless, let alone helpful for the formation of a nest. However, when the swallow combines all the items, the side of a barn ceases to be just that.

As we start a new year, it is easy to be caught up in the “new year, new me” statement and promise. We set lofty goals for ourselves like: hit the gym more, start volunteering weekly, contact mom and dad or call instead of text. These are all commendable ideas, but the pressure we put on ourselves to form a new person can lead to failure. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It just means that we cannot humanly complete the list we make on January 1st.

It’s not about creating a new personality or “starting over”. You will fail if you tell yourself that this is what the New Year means. A new beginning is about using the tools that currently surround us to add on to what we have already built in new and creative ways. Just as a swallow makes one object by combining four completely different things, we also must add on to the structure that already exists.

A swallow doesn’t try to put sticks and mud together on nothing but air. It has a base, a foundation to build off of. It utilizes a structure that already exists. Each New Year that comes and goes adds to a foundation. Instead of trying to force new habits, why not add on and improve on the existing lifestyle? Maybe choose one completely new tradition, but any more than that and you risk overwhelming yourself and quitting the gym or volunteer program within two weeks.

We are like a swallow and the barn is like our personality or souls. Every year, even every day, we add something new to whom we choose to be. We cannot patch together our personality with just sticks or with easily scattered leaves. We are far too unique and diverse for that. But if you take a little mud and glue leaves and twigs together then not only does it stick, but also three different elements are working together. They won’t stay together in thin air. The clump will fall apart and hit the ground. However, if you stick the cluster of leaves, twigs and mud onto a barn, they will stay.

Some leaves will be blown away by the wind, just as we cannot continue every habit or activity. Sticks will fall on the dirt and be forgotten. Not everything will fit just right. But, the swallow keeps adding new twigs and leaves until a home begins to take shape.

Our personalities are our homes. If we treat the New Year right, we can become even more comfortable within ourselves. Challenges are great, but 12 months is a long time full of obstacles, laughter and new people. To accomplish and enjoy the year ahead, we must be able to provide our own strength. The only way to do that is by becoming more familiar with who we are.

We are all swallows collecting leaves and mud to patch together a framework that will provide a safe place for our continual growth and learning.

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Foster: Modern day interruption

I pushed my straw around in a clear glass with my hand on my chin. Frustration had manifested itself on my face as I stared at the circles forming in my water. Anger didn’t seem the appropriate approach to something so trivial — even though this wasn’t the first time it had occurred. I had been interrupted.

In a sense, I had been restricted from continuing my train of thought, but it wasn’t by word of mouth. A television sat in the corner of the room, the lights flashing as scenes changed and the plot escalated. I realized that the show on the screen proved more important than my story as I noticed my friend’s eyes flicking between my face and the screen. I had been deemed less worthy of attention than a television.

I understand distractions. Campus squirrels regularly interrupt my daily discussions. Things flash out of the corner of my eye and people wave from across the street or café. They interrupt my train of thought or the casual conversation I am having with someone. But these are all examples that have been around since before our great grandparents learned to walk. Just as oral stories evolved into the written language and further evolved into radio and broadcast television, so too has interruption become more than a simple sentence disruption.

Interruption spans a variety of definitions today. With the advancement of technology comes the responsibility to realize that interferences in a conversation do not only originate from spoken word. Interruption and distraction are fairly interchangeable words thanks to cell phones and television.

It can happen the old-fashioned way when a friend talks over you or inserts their opinion before you have finished speaking — he worst is when someone begins another thought right when you say the last consonant. One, they weren’t truly listening to you because they began talking before processing what you had said. Two, they had interrupted the flow of the conversation by bringing up an entirely new subject.

More often than not though, interruption takes the form of new technology. Cell phones are the worst culprits as their small size and modern, casual usage allows them to overtly sneak into a conversation. I never realized how rude it appeared if I pulled out my phone during a conversation and started scrolling through it. Sure, I continued to nod my head and say “mhmm” or “totally,” but my mind was not fully present. I had consciously chosen to remove a part of myself from the discussion, and, thus, a section of me did not care about the interaction in front of me.

Our friends and acquaintances deserve more than that.

Nonetheless, interruption is a difficult concept because in some situations it’s a necessary evil. It can happen in cases of surprise or to stop someone from harming themselves or another. But it should not happen because you found a video of a cat chasing its tale on your phone or iPad. It should not happen because the commercial about Nike’s new shoes is on the television.

If you find that people don’t look you in the eye in a conversation or don’t have follow up questions because they have been scrolling through Facebook, just stop talking. Eventually your friend is going to realize that it has suddenly become uncomfortably quiet and there’s a good chance they’ll pick up on the hint. Once you have their attention again, just pick up from where you left off.

People are more impatient and distracted today than they have ever been in the past. But there is still a certain level of respect that we all need to hold each other accountable for.

 

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Foster: Is it really Christmas time?

Face paint and costumes are shoved under the bed for another year of hibernation as Halloween fades into the past. Whether it is from an overdose in candy or one too many drinks, the stomachache inevitably kicks in. Leftover candy corn suddenly tastes like powdered, sugary paste and the idea of a pumpkin patch causes you to cringe. So, what does one do?

Well, I went to Hirons for an errand because life had resumed its normal, busy routine. As I waited at the checkout counter, tapping my foot and admiring the chocolates lining the aisle, a man and a woman walked in the front door.

Now, understand that just over two weeks after Halloween, dancing snowmen and colored ornaments already decorate the front of the store. Local and corporate businesses didn’t give us too much turn around time.

The two people pause as they pass the wall covered in fake snow and tiny villages. With a role of her eyes the woman says, “Look at this…” and pointedly walks away.

And her friend replied with a shrug, “What? It’s Christmas time.”

Is it really? Halloween isn’t a holiday until about a week before it begins. We may frantically order costumes a month in advance, but no one says, “Happy Halloween,” until a few days prior for fear of being gawked at like you walked out the front door with underwear on your head. But, “Happy Holidays,” is perfectly acceptable the day after Halloween. Even Starbucks chucked out their Fall cups as if they carried the plague. Last time I checked, December 22 was the first day of winter.

Thanksgiving and Christmas have been lumped into one holiday. While stores and coffee houses play “jingle bells” on repeat and look like the North Pole threw up on their merchandise, mom is frantically searching for a turkey that is big enough to leave a few day’s worth of leftovers, but not so large that it can’t fit into the oven. While people with full time jobs cross their fingers that they can have Christmas Day off, children are simultaneously becoming pen pals with Santa Claus. The Holiday time is different for everyone, but nobody wants to be left out of the festivities.

Thanksgiving has become that awkward three-times removed cousin that you don’t want to talk to because you met them once when you were eight-years old, and now they want to know when you’re getting married. You can’t pretend to be someone else. With Halloween, you can physically act and speak like something or someone that has no relation to who you are. Memories from our childhood come flooding back and we want to latch onto those feelings for as long as possible. Christmas provides a happy and inviting atmosphere that reminds us of our best memories as a child.

Thanksgiving is overlooked by businesses because it revolves around food and family time. They have nothing to sell you except a gigantic turkey and cranberry sauce ingredients. Maybe just celebrating Thanksgiving in November would be a good habit to begin. In one way, you fight the corporate and consumer nonsense that the holiday season has become and put family above material money and things. That’s not to say anything is wrong with playing Christmas music a little earlier than necessary. In all honesty, it’s my favorite time of the year.

But, just because you can’t buy many things or pretend to be someone else, doesn’t mean Thanksgiving deserves to be Christmas’s opening act. In other words, don’t forget about a holiday just because society is throwing the retail of another in your face.

When is it okay to start celebrating Christmas? That depends entirely on you.

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Foster: Thoughts we all share in the grocery store

It’s that time of the week again. You saunter down the stairs, yawning, with hair sticking in a variety of directions. You rub your eyes and grimace at the light streaming through the windows, cursing whatever class you have to attend that day. But, at least you have coffee and breakfast to look forward to right now.

After downing your first, maybe second cup of coffee, your stomach finally threatens to hurt you if something edible is not consumed. As a loud rumble echoes from your abdominal, you open the fridge door and look inside with horror. Nothing. Maybe a piece of turkey or an old bag of carrots silently taunt your hungry expression. Breathe, maybe this is one of those “open the fridge door and there is literally nothing to eat moments”. You try again, and again. Did that turkey grow hair?

Wait, what’s today? Oh s***, you were supposed to go to the grocery store two days ago. But, like most of us, you avoided it because the task is quite annoying. You either buy too much food and gawk at the register price, or forget important items and kick yourself when you get home.

Taco Bell and Qdoba dinners can last a few days, but eventually will send you running to the bathroom. Inevitably you will have to purchase food of some variety and here are thoughts that many of us share while trying to act like adults:

1. People are silently laughing because I’m pushing a grocery cart around:

With all the technological advances going on, is there really no new cart fashion coming out soon? I seriously run into everyone with this thing, and my keys keep falling through the holes. Can I just ride it across the parking lot?

2. I’m so hungry. Why did I come hungry? Maybe samples are around here somewhere:

Now everything looks good to eat. I’ll take that. This looks good. Oh! I’ve never tried this green thing, but it could be good with hot sauce. Everything is good with hot sauce. Can I buy all of aisle 3, please? Thank you.

3. Damn it, I forgot my list:

No big deal, I think I remember most of it. It definitely said: ice cream, fudge brownies and cookie dough. You know, for when I bake and stuff. I’ll buy some lettuce for a salad. That will balance it out. See mom? I can do adult things.

4. I really hope I don’t see “this” person:

If I see “so and so” I’ll never leave this store. I’ll be trapped here forever in small talk and idle chatter. But, I also really don’t want to see “other so and so” because how awkward would that be? We haven’t talked in ages and I’m not about to nod and smile as I grab toilet paper off the shelf. Get me out of here now.

5. Why does everyone look so depressed in here?

I wonder if I look sad… I’ll start smiling and be that person who makes someone’s day brighter. I think they just frowned harder at me. Okay, this is weird. Stopping now.

6. Did they just ask me what I’m doing here?

Oh I don’t know Sherlock, trying to find Waldo I guess. You’re welcome to join. I think I saw him around that corner. You should definitely go look.

7. Oh no. I have to buy that one thing that is so weird to carry around:

It’s okay. I’ll just get it at the end and hide it under all my other groceries. That way no one will know. I’m seriously on ninja level right now. Oh no. Eventually I will have to buy it, which leads to checkout, and that means the person at the register will have to touch it…Definitely going to keep my head down the entire time.

8. Why does the checkout person look so mad at me? Did I do something to you? They’re judging me right now. I like chocolate okay? It’s been a stressful week and I just want to go home and watch Netflix. Just don’t look at me.

Always remember that the stress from grocery stores affects us all. Happy shopping. Maybe you’ll find Waldo.

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Foster: Going Home to Mom and Dad

As a child, mom and dad appear to be these “all-knowing” people. My mom could tell the moment something bothered me and both my parents knew when I had trouble on my mind. At the time it baffled me. I convinced myself that they had eyes in the back of their heads. They even knew the answers to my math problems, which also confused me because they went to school almost “100” years ago, right? – Such was the thought process of my naive, young mind.

I figured that my parents were super humans and adults had secret meetings in which they talked about all the knowledge in the world. Mom and dad could do anything. No person or thing scared them, they had weird “big-word” conversations with other adults, and always provided an answer.

Our perceptions of our parents changed in high school to the degree that we believed they were wrong and we were right. As a teenager, my brain convinced me that mom and dad wanted to destroy every fabric and thread of my life. I wanted out of the house and college granted many of us that getaway.

Except, I didn’t find the escape I thought I wanted. The first weekend in college surprised many students with new friends, late nights, the giant LLC salads and a glimpse of the idealized definition of freedom. However, the first two weeks of college found first years lost on campus and therefore late to multiple classes. The giant lectures, endless reading and sea of new faces made many aches for something familiar and loving. Fast forward a year to summertime where I felt happy to be home, but increasingly at odds with my parents.

What is happening? As we grow into adults and learn new routines, we start to see mom and dad not as “all-knowing beings” or “destroyers of the high school social life”, but as individuals who had and still have their own dreams and aspirations. Parents become human.

College challenges students to form their own opinions, confront obstacles and choose a major that add to our strengths. Mom and dad don’t do this for us. So, when we go home for winter or summer break, we face not only our parents, but also other adults who may disagree with our new routines and/or opinions. As kids, we saw all the strengths in our parents. Now we are aware of their faults.

I like to think of it like this: As kids, we were the football and parents were the running back or wide receiver who dodged, jumped, and tackled opponents that sought to block our path or hurt us. During high school, mom and dad became coaches. We ultimately played the game, but they ran next to us on the sidelines, pulling us out when we became tired or upset and pushing us when we weren’t trying hard enough.

Now, we are playing basketball. The court is ours and we hope that every ball that flies toward that net is a clean swish. Nonetheless, nothing is that simple and parents become the backboard that offers support whenever we are off our game.

As summer begins and we embark on whatever job, vacations, or internship that will occupy our time, have patience with mom and dad. Frustrations will happen because you are different. You will see yourself reflected in them and you will also notice the parts of your personality that are solely your own. Their ambitions and faults will become more obvious.

Be kind and don’t be afraid to learn from one another. Seeing parents as more than mom and dad is odd and slightly terrifying because for 18 or so years, that’s how we best understood them. Now they are equals and mentors who simply want us to grow, laugh, and learn.

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Foster: Going Home to Mom and Dad

As a child, mom and dad appear to be these “all-knowing” people. My mom could tell the moment something bothered me and both my parents knew when I had trouble on my mind. At the time it baffled me. I convinced myself that they had eyes in the back of their heads. They even knew the answers to my math problems, which also confused me because they went to school almost “100” years ago, right? – Such was the thought process of my naive, young mind.

I figured that my parents were super humans and adults had secret meetings in which they talked about all the knowledge in the world. Mom and dad could do anything. No person or thing scared them, they had weird “big-word” conversations with other adults, and always provided an answer.

Our perceptions of our parents changed in high school to the degree that we believed they were wrong and we were right. As a teenager, my brain convinced me that mom and dad wanted to destroy every fabric and thread of my life. I wanted out of the house and college granted many of us that getaway.

Except, I didn’t find the escape I thought I wanted. The first weekend in college surprised many students with new friends, late nights, the giant LLC salads and a glimpse of the idealized definition of freedom. However, the first two weeks of college found first years lost on campus and therefore late to multiple classes. The giant lectures, endless reading and sea of new faces made many aches for something familiar and loving. Fast forward a year to summertime where I felt happy to be home, but increasingly at odds with my parents.

What is happening? As we grow into adults and learn new routines, we start to see mom and dad not as “all-knowing beings” or “destroyers of the high school social life”, but as individuals who had and still have their own dreams and aspirations. Parents become human.

College challenges students to form their own opinions, confront obstacles and choose a major that add to our strengths. Mom and dad don’t do this for us. So, when we go home for winter or summer break, we face not only our parents, but also other adults who may disagree with our new routines and/or opinions. As kids, we saw all the strengths in our parents. Now we are aware of their faults.

I like to think of it like this: As kids, we were the football and parents were the running back or wide receiver who dodged, jumped, and tackled opponents that sought to block our path or hurt us. During high school, mom and dad became coaches. We ultimately played the game, but they ran next to us on the sidelines, pulling us out when we became tired or upset and pushing us when we weren’t trying hard enough.

Now, we are playing basketball. The court is ours and we hope that every ball that flies toward that net is a clean swish. Nonetheless, nothing is that simple and parents become the backboard that offers support whenever we are off our game.

As summer begins and we embark on whatever job, vacations, or internship that will occupy our time, have patience with mom and dad. Frustrations will happen because you are different. You will see yourself reflected in them and you will also notice the parts of your personality that are solely your own. Their ambitions and faults will become more obvious.

Be kind and don’t be afraid to learn from one another. Seeing parents as more than mom and dad is odd and slightly terrifying because for 18 or so years, that’s how we best understood them. Now they are equals and mentors who simply want us to grow, laugh, and learn.

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Foster: We all have rogue pigs

In the 5th grade at a sunny, county fair, surrounded by livestock, rickety carnival rides and greasy curly fries, I learned what composure meant. I spent countless hours raising a 250-pound white pig. My nerves were wired when he and I entered a grassy show ring with 12 other kids and their giant hogs. Anything could happen, so I watched my pig like a hawk as the judging commenced.

Now, I suppose that as an 11-year-old, I still had some wiggle room to throw an absolute fit when something didn’t go my way, especially since this was my first 4-H show. My first mistake was neglecting to keep the corner of my eye on the peers around me, as a pig happened to bolt between my legs.

Life has good and bad surprises. Nobody enjoys the bad shockers. When life doesn’t go as planned, it’s hard to maintain calm and poised. Voicing outrage, frustration and irritation would be far easier. But, easy doesn’t necessarily mean right.

Babies, toddlers and young kids throw the loudest tantrums and they’re not afraid to do it in public. We’ve all witnessed the mom and child in a grocery store. Child wants something, mom says no, kid starts to cry, mom still says no, and the child loses control of every emotion.

Imagine if for every bad grade a college student received, we stomped around campus, tears running down our faces, and we awkwardly contorted our ligaments into weird positions (i.e. “stiff legs”). It’s a hard concept to envision because we can hardly fathom anything of that kind happening. Bad grades, red stoplights, drowned phones, missed flights – they happen. If we threw fits about every little thing in broad daylight, public spaces would be incredibly loud, annoying and depressing.

That “life plan” we all envision when listening to our favorite songs, writing in journals, or graduating with a certain degree, doesn’t exist. It’s a good thing that most teenagers and adults don’t throw huge fits; nonetheless we still do in our minds. We kick and fume and pound on the inside of our heads, beating ourselves up because “it” didn’t go according to plan. The schedule didn’t work out and now all we can do is mentally scream in furry and punish ourselves.

Life, moments, stuff, or whatever you want to call it, is messy. It’s horrible and irritating. It’s infuriating and stressful. But, at the same time, it is a wonderful blessing. A roller coaster is only fun because it twists, turns and spins in weird directions. If a roller coaster sped off in a straight, flat line, it would be boring. No one wants to jump on that ride. Life is a roller coaster; it makes you feel sick during some twists, knocks the wind out of you on other twins and in the end, all you can remember are the laughs. Why do you think people keep riding that stressful contraption?

As a first time pig shower, I had a dramatized vision that I would take the blue ribbon with flying colors. My pig walked calmly by my side and the pressure from the eyes in the crowd did not shake my concentration. Little did I know that another youth’s pig decided to go on a little adventure.

As I rounded a corner and that pig ran between my legs, he picked me up and I rode this pig backwards as he scampered across the square ring in front of a giant crowd. Eventually, I fell off and stood up, trembling, shaken and utterly embarrassed. My face turned tomato red and all I wanted to do was cry, yell at the other kid and run out of the ring.

Instead, I picked up my show stick, brushed the hair out of my face, and stiffly walked across the ring to find my pig and continue showing. My blue ribbon dream was crushed, but because I forgave myself for the circumstances that were out of my control and maintained my composure, I still placed.

Those random, bolting pigs exist in all of our lives. If we continually scream about the fact that it happened, we might forget that the ride is actually a little amusing and a lot of fun.

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