Letter from OU :)

Dear Verdigris Class of ’10,

I am writing you today to give you some tips that I think may help you out within the next year.
First of all, February is almost over and I’m hoping that by now you all have applied for college somewhere. But if not, don’t worry! Still apply somewhere! Your first choice might not still be taking applications, but you do NOT need to take the first year off just because of it!
If you’re going to somewhat of a harder school, (like OU, TU, ORU, etc.) and you think a course might be crazy hard, consider taking it at Community College over your summer break, or during intersession.
Talk to upperclassmen! Find out what courses are good to take, and which professors are cool. Upperclassmen have already been in your position, don’t be scared to talk to them and ask them questions!
Try not to room with someone that you already know. It ruins friendships.
If you’re going to party, try to do it in moderation. Keep in mind that you are having to pay to go to school now, and grades are important. Failing a class means taking it again, and taking it again means paying for it again.
Make new friends.
Live it up.
Ask questions.
Get involved.
Take lots of pictures! (Be sure to keep inappropriate ones off of Facebook though!)
And cherish every minute of college. It truly does go by faster than you’ll want it to.

Love, T.K.

Bystander Behavior

I think that one of my biggest problems with being a bystander would definitely be when it comes to my friends dating lives. Many times I just don’t feel like I can give them the advice on whom to or not to date. This did not really have an impact on me until this past year. My friend was dating a guy who was a nice guy, but I knew he was just not good enough for her. She gave me the news that she was pregnant, and at first her baby daddy was being completely supportive. Since then, things have definitely changed for the worse. They are no longer dating. She is due in June, and is having a baby girl. He now prefers to refer to their daughter as an “it,” and told my best friend that she might as well “give it up for adoption.” I wish that I had told my best friend that he wasn’t good for her.
Another situation that I have been a bystander to would have to be the alcohol problems in my family. When I was younger, I did not necessarily understand any of it. Now that I am older, I should tell my dad that his drinking bothers me and that it worries me for his health.

When I was in high school I had a tendency to be drawn to guys that treated me horribly. The aftermath of this is that my heart has been shattered time and time again, and I find it incredibly hard to trust. There are many situations that occurred because of that time, one in particular, which has drastically affected my life. If there was anything that I wish someone would have stepped in to save me from hurting this would be it.

I don’t think college students speak up because we feel it’s not “our place.” I believe that college students are so consumed with living their own lives that they don’t take the time to look around and see what anyone other than themselves are doing. College students also do not want to be labeled as “judgmental.”

Priorities

Without priorities my life would be an absolute chaotic mess. At times I must admit that my life has been this chaotic mess that I speak of.

I have found that it is not an easy task for me to tell someone no. As I have gotten older I am getting better at handling my priorities, but this problem definitely caused many issues in high school. I am the type of person that gives 110% in whatever I am doing – because of this I found myself in WAY over my head many times. Before coming to OU my priorities were in a wide variety of things – church, school work, StuCo, working at Gymnastics City, softball, track, managing the basketball team, and cheerleading. On top of these things, I tried my best to be a loving daughter, caring friend, supportive sister and aunt and a loyal girlfriend. I was a very “busy bee” throughout this time. I would go over and beyond for every organization, team, job, person, etc. Looking back I am SO surprised that I managed to do all of that and not go crazy!

Now that I find myself at OU, I see that my priorities are extremely different. I am not nearly involved (YET!!!) this year as I was in high school. First semester my main focuses were school work and cheerleading. Towards the end of first semester I became involved with Sub30, which now takes over a significant amount of my time! This semester I have shifted my priorities some – I’m making more of an effort to get out and expand my circle of friends. I am trying to get more involved with different groups on campus, and still active in building up Sub30. I’m finding that it is a lot easier to get school work done, and I can be even more supportive for my friends and family.

I will be the first to admit that I still have some glitches in my priorities. Like, for example, I won’t be getting a grade for this blog because I was late in getting it done. I had an extremely close family friend pass away, sending me to my second funeral in a week and a half.

Sometimes we forget when we are prioritizing that we should always be aware that the unexpected can catch us off guard and throw our schedules off.

Influences.

When I first saw that this blog was about influences, I thought it would be truly a breeze. Then, as I sat down in front of my laptop, I realized this one would be harder for me than I ever imagined.

I could start with how watching the Olympics when I was young made me want to be a gymnast, and was the initial start to my gymnastics career. Or how I wanted to play softball because the ball diamond was all I knew my whole life, and I wanted to be just like my daddy and my big brother.

I could talk about my day to day influences, like how I go to eat at the Caf because that’s what sounded good to my best friend. And when I wear my rain boots because it’s raining out.

I also have influences that have changed my life. My life has been influenced spiritually by Pastor Rick, Miss Pam, Donna Clyma, and the other great spiritual warriors in my church. My life has been impacted, and I have been inspired by the many people close to me that have fought the battle of cancer. My life was influenced recently when Janelle Fitch, who was a motherly figure in my life, passed away from her battle with cancer.

Then, there are the certain situations that have influenced me. Like, when my friend Jenson passed away, and I chose to live my life to the absolute fullest. Or when my best friend told me that she was pregnant, and I decided to step up and be there for her throughout the entire thing.

Since graduating high school I have been influenced in many ways. My advisor has influenced the classes I took first semester, and am currently taking. Upper classmen have influenced me in which professors were good to have as teachers. I was influenced by being verbally harassed in the middle of the night to get a room change. I was influenced by Caitlin to attend my first service at Sub30, which has radically changed my life.

The truth is my list of influences could continue on and on. I am influenced by the stranger who smiles at me while I am walking down the street. I am influenced by a style that I see in a magazine.

I am influenced by life.

This is who I am.

I chose the blog name “A New Beginning” because it totally describes this year of my life. When I first came to OU in the fall, I was so excited! Once I came off that high, it was rough, but I finally got adjusted and situated. With the start of second semester, I absolutely did not want to come back, but I am glad that I am here. It is a rough road, and I am certain that in the end I will be stronger and a better person for making it through it. It is a whole new beginning: I am currently not pursuing any sports, which is an entire new world for me. I live two hours from home, and I brought no one from home with me, so I am on this adventure alone. Everything here is new and different and fresh, and I am excited to see where I’ll end up.

Now, on to a little bit about me. My name is Toni Kaylene Worley, T.K. for short. I was raised in the small town of Verdigris, OK. I graduated with a class of 62 amazing people. I live my life for Jesus Christ, and I try to keep Him in everything I do. Sports have always been a part of my life. I grew up on and around the many different types of ball fields, mainly being baseball/softball diamonds and football fields. I started gymnastics when I was 4, and continued competitively for 7 years. After gymnastics, came cheerleading, which I have been participating in for 7 years now also. Throughout those years I have also played softball, soccer, basketball and ran track. I have two older brothers, who I admire. Caleb is 21, and lives at home with my parents. Trent is 30, and has his own family including his wife Ashlee, and my wonderful nephews Jaxon and Cash, who I absolutely love. I adore my mom and dad. They have done a fantastic job of providing for me and our family, and they did a wonderful job in guiding and raising me. Leadership played significant roles in my high school years. I was class VP for two years, StuCo secretary for one year, and my senior year I was StuCo President.

Likes: purple and green. Smoothies. Ice cream dates. Singing. Photography. Laughing.
Loves: Family. Friends. And Jesus Christ.
Hates: Cancer.

I hope this gave you an insight on who I am. :)