A New Chapter Begins..

     Monday, the 23rd of August, is when college as I know it changes dramatically. Last year I attended a much smaller university than that compared to the University of Oklahoma. This school is huge. This school is massive. The kind of school that makes you feel extremely left out if you're not careful. Is this what I really want to do? Of course it is. I couldn't be more excited and anticipated to begin this 5 year journey to my dream career: a Practical Modern Architect. 

     Ever since I was in the 7th grade, this goal of mine was established in a small class known as "Technology Education." In there, we were introduced to a computer software where we were asked to design (to the best that we could) and build a residential home. Creativity was endless in that course. I wanted to design the most sophisticated and appealing house out of the entire class. Weird for a 14 year old? Maybe. But ever since that year I've stuck to my guns and really feel this is a call from God for me to accomplish this as my career. 

     Monday is when the term "architecture" comes into blunt reality and sticks with me each and every day until 2015 when I walk across that stage and I'm handed my diploma. I know this is going to be tough and I know this is going to test every aspect of academics that my mind and body can handle, both physically and mentally, but I have to stick with this no matter how difficult and intimidating it may become. Monday is when I get my head completely wrapped around anything and everything that has to do with design, creativity, structures, drafting, and perfection. I can only continue to pray that this is God's will for my life and to ask Him to give me the utmost strength and perseverance to push through any wall and barrier that I might come in contact with in the next 5 years. I've got to fight through every "creativity block" and project hump to prepare me for the real world. I also want to be able to manage my time in order to accommodate both my academic and social life. 

     Right now is when I have to get mentally focused for what Monday morning will bring. What this year will bring and what the next 5 years will bring. This is when I get it done, buckle down, push through, and fight with everything in me to satisfy this God-given desire to become an Architect. Monday is when this new chapter in my life begins and I'm more than ready for it.

"If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."                                                                                         

                                                                                                                             -Michael Jordan

The Consumption of Sports

     I've been especially drawn to sports this year more than most. Ever since I was six I've enjoyed playing basketball and on occasions, football and soccer. But this year, sports have been nothing like they've ever before. What makes this entertainment so entertaining? Is it just a guy thing or are there just as many women out there yearning for the next event that will take up some time of their life? We live for the moment and anxiously wait for the next sport to introduce itself immediately after one sport's season ends. We can often get immensely carried away. 
     This summer, for one month, televisions across the globe were lined with "band-wagon" soccer fans as we were amazed and intrigued by every 2010 FIFA World Cup match. Nothing gave me more goosebumps than after Landon Donovan's Algeria goal in stoppage time. Countries are honestly brought closer together than ever before because of a simple sporting event. What makes this event so special? What keeps us coming back for more after every game to watch the next?
     Men's college sports consume me during the football and basketball seasons and no one expected to watch the Oklahoma Sooners' entire season without Sam Bradford. But how would the National Championship truly ended up if Colt McCoy never had gotten injured that first half of game? Sports are always filled with "what ifs" and "if that had only happened" statements. How could they not? We're all fans one way or another. The Super Bowl XLIV didn't exactly end up as I had planned either. Peyton Manning marched down that field one last time to take the lead like he always does in clutch situations and he did the last thing I would have expected him to do, choke. My favorite NFL quarterback of all time doesn't do that. But on the more positive side of things, The New Orleans Saints brought back their slowly recovering city a much needed, spirit-uplifting championship. 
     Then came my favorite seasons to watch: Men's College Basketball and the NBA. Nothing made me more excited than to see my Duke Blue Devils and Coach K bring back another NCAA Championship. I'll watch any game if Duke is playing, no matter who it's against. It was about time they finally pulled together. Now on the other hand, who really watches the NBA during the regular season anyway? (Ok, maybe I snuck in a few late night TNT games because Charles Barkley is one of the most ridiculous people I've ever heard) Everyone knows the playoffs are the main attention drawer. The OKC Thunder fought hard but didn't stand a chance against to the two, seven feet tall posts of the Lakers. I thought this would be the year LeBron snagged one for Cleveland, but maybe his elbow wasn't too up for it this year? And yet again, the annoyingly good LA Lakers went back-to-back. Free agency talk completely annihilated every basketball fan this summer. Was there really an all-star league wide summit? And if so, who all actually attended? Was LeBron's hour long prime time special a little over the top? How ridiculous are the Miami Heat going to be and I can only wonder how many Heat band-wagon fans will now magically appear this upcoming season (including me, hey LeBron is my boy)? But all eyes were on John Wall as he glided through the summer league. How good will he really be when he almost pulls off a triple double with 10 turnovers a game? 
     What happened to Tiger Woods? We all find out that he's a player (with other women, not just golf) and absolutely destroys his relationship status with his wife. Not only was that terrible, but golf was just as bad to watch without him there on the links. Don't get me wrong, I like watching and occasionally playing golf, but as I'm flipping through the channels and for some reason forget that there's a golf tournament going on that weekend, the first thing I look for is if Tiger is competing, and if he's not, then onto the next channel. He was, and is still my favorite golfer of all time. Now that doesn't mean I'm fine with what he did, but he's just amazing at what he does on the golf course (not to mention his video games are pretty sweet too) and I want to see nothing more than for him to regain his composure and begin to demolish opponents on the course once again some day. 
     Baseball hasn't ever been a huge attention getter for me until the playoffs come around. Regular season games a pretty boring to watch unless you get an interesting matchup or if Stephen Strasburg is on the mound. The Yankees are my team, and yeah yeah I know, everyone likes the Yankees, well I've liked them ever since I was a boy and nothing's like watching C.C. and Rivera make batters look like a bunch of fools. I'm pushing for them to repeat.  
     Oh yeah, Brett Farve. Heard today that he is deciding to retire. Wait, no, now he's not. Hold on, hold on, yeah he is for sure now. Nope, not yet. He's still good enough to play this game, but his decision making ability is worse than LeBron's.
     But as you can see, Americans today (or is it just me?) are surrounded by quality entertainment in sports and sports is what makes our mundane moments a little less plain. We get together with friends and family to root on our favorite teams, we fellowship with cookouts and barbecues, and frantically yell at that box in your living room that pours out time consuming sporting events. Why do we like them so much? I don't really know, we just do. It's that simple. Do we care how much it engulfs our mind and time? Eh, not really. So sit back and enjoy this time of continuous competition, whatever the sport may be and know that there's millions and billions out there doing the very same thing you are: rooting their favorite team or player onto victory. 
    

Finally became a person who "blogs?"

     What am I supposed to do on this thing? I've read plenty of blogs before in the past and never once did I see myself as being a "blogger." It sounds so nerdy. What exactly do people put on here? How personal can you really get without it being ridiculous? Should I just talk about personal thoughts and opinions? Sports? Music? All I know is that at the end of today, August 7th, 2010, I will officially be a part of this social networking called "Blogging." I honestly don't know how long I could actually keep this up or if this will just become another "Xanga" or "Myspace" that eventually wore off entertainingly. Anyway, should I have to introduce myself? But how much can I really include in order for me to stay smart on the internet? Oh well here it goes:

             

     "Hi, for those of you who don't know me, my name is Aaron. I'm just a college student who's majoring in Architecture. I love my God and everything that is about Him. He is my rock and I try to live for him the best that I can each and every day. I love Basketball and am a huge sports fanatic (except for Tennis and the WNBA). Music is my passion and can drift away the day while listening..."

...hold on hold on, this is starting to get a little too much like Myspace. Maybe I should stop. You've got the gist of things. So I guess I've come to a conclusion on what exactly I'll put on this thing. My random thoughts, personal opinions, ideas, goals--and sometimes I might get slightly ridiculous with all of this, but bare with me I'm new at this--and basically anything that's on my mind at that split second of time, no matter what it is. You will get me, no walls, zero boundaries, and vulnerable expressions that might not make sense to you at the time and may seem a bit extreme, but it'll be something that's important to me at that moment. My blog is titled "moments of exhilaration" for a reason. Everyday I experience a moment of happiness and gratification that my God exemplifies to me. A whisper of awesomeness and wonder brings chills up my spine on how incredible my God really is. On a side note, I also know for a fact that I'll have to talk about music, any kind of sport stories or occasions, TV, and of course, my friends and family. I have a beautiful life in front of me and I want to do nothing more than to share little glimpses of it with you. Read it if you want, but it's no biggie if you don't.