Exactly 41 days until my 18th birthday! :)

All of a sudden I found myself thinking sociologically when I was sitting in a desk at Geneva High School on Saturday morning. I was trapped in a classroom with 14 different people I did not know. I was attending a driving course called "Alive @ 25" because back in September of 2010 I got a speeding ticket. This class was at 8am and ran until noon. Anyway, while sitting there listening to other's stories of why they were required to attend this course, it totally reminded me of the movie The Breakfast Club we watched in class! I was brought to one classroom with a group of people I didn't know and we all shared stories of why we were there. It reminded me of the part in the movie when they all get together and shared their stories! Some people were at that class because they didn't completely stop at a stop sign, or they ran red lights or they failed to use their turning signal. Others, like me for example, were there because they got a speeding ticket(s). Just like in The Breakfast Club, everyone was in Saturday morning detention for several different reasons.

This is the story of a girl who cried a river and drowned the whole world!

All of a sudden I found myself thinking sociologically when I was enjoying my two days off because we got too much snow! Actually I don't know if I can say I found myself thinking sociologically, but I was definitely thinking about sociology class! Since we got too much snow that nobody could really do anything or go anywhere, I decided to start doing a puzzle with my younger sister Alice! She is 12 years old and starting and finishing a 300 piece puzzle with her really gave us some bonding time! And I was happy because I always find myself busy, busy, busy with work and school and schoolwork. So I'm not only glad that we didn't have school for two day, I'm also glad I got to spend some quality time with my family. :)

Also, I just want to say I am really excited to get our surveys back so we can pass them out! I can't wait to see the responses of teenagers about their reactions to theft! Oh, and I can't wait for the [second] weekend!

I will always have random titles!

All of a sudden, I found myself thinking sociologically when I was sitting in sociology class. We were beginning the worksheet "Meet the Sociologists". When we began to learn about Jane Addams it had me remembering.  I was remembering a mission trip I went on with my church in the summer between my 7th and 8th grade year. We traveled to the bad, run-down neighborhoods of New York. We were all put into groups and were assigned different missions. My team was sent over to this house called the Hannah House.

The Hannah House was a house for women and children to go for a place of food, shelter, warmth, love, care, clothes, showers, and whatever else these needy women and children needed. This house was ran by a lady who just had a huge heart for helping others. While there, my team saw and met many women who stopped in to get free clothes and a glass of milk or even just pick up a pamphlet about God. (We were on a mission trip after all!) Anyway, this lady and the Hannah House reminded me of Jane Addams and the Hull House in Chicago! Jane Addams was a sweet lady who had a huge heart for helping women and children as well. Her main focus was women's suffrage and the imbalance of power between men and women. She also worked hugely on world peace. And although this lady at the Hannah House couldn't really show the world peace, she definitely showed this neighborhood a place of peace and a place of love. I definitely respect both of these women for the work that they have done to make this world a better place!

Who am I?

My name is April Joy and I am an interesting person! I love people! I also love wiener dogs! I was born in Geneva, IL in the fabulous year of 1993. And if you were wondering.. yes! I was born in APRIL! The tenth day to be exact! Anyway, I like spending my time driving. It really relaxes me. I can play whatever music I want to hear and for the most part as loudly as I’d like to hear it. Plus, I love my car. I drive a 2001 Mercury Cougar. I also enjoy spending time with my friends and family. Traditional values like religion and God are very important to me too. I am an active member at Living Lord Lutheran Church and I have been going there for 17 years. America is also a huge part of my life! I’ve never traveled outside of the U.S. and for the most part I do NOT want to. I am a happy person here and I am so thankful to live here. I am very thankful for all the freedom we have and I never want to take it for granted.
Some of the biggest influences on my life are the actions of my friends and family members. My best friend Stevie Rae, really knows how to treat people nicely. Everyday she shows me how to love one another with way she treats others.
My mother is also a huge influence on my life because she teaches me how to be strong. My mother struggles with obstacles in her life, but the way she handles them shows me how to be strong and overcome negatives that life throws at us.
My future hopes are that I can be a successful lady and show the world that loving one another is possible. In the Fall of 2011 I plan to go to college in Nashville, Tennessee. I got accepted to a school called Lipscomb University! I really love the south so I hope that I can afford to go to school down there. I've applied for a few scholarships and FAFSA, so hopefully I can go there! :)