August 2009 Weddings
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
QOTD Tuesday (determination)
Tell us about a time when someone told you that you couldn't do something, or didn't expect much of you. How did you prove them wrong?
Re: QOTD Tuesday (determination)
Mine is small by comparison but my parents wanted to make sure that I could take care of myself. My Dad made sure that I knew/know what different tools are, that I can change my oil,brakes, tires on my car. My Mom that if it doesn't take brute strength I can do it. My parents are pretty inspirational people to me. I have met so many people through out my life that are like oh your a small girl you can't do that. I call BS I can do it and I can probably do it better then you.
I would agree with this.
My biggest wins were always academic--growing up through high school, I had a gaggle of teachers who didn't believe in me. Michigan teachers thought I was dumb because I was Mexican. Mexican teachers thought I was dumb because they didn't have a very high view of education in the States. Every year was a struggle to prove myself, get the best grades I could, and go onto the next grade with flying colors.
It was hard because these were teachers--to me, they were people of consequence. If I couldn't succeed in their classes, I was screwed. But I worked hard and did what I could to get ahead. I didn't have a ton of support school-wise, but my parents were always there for me. They were proud of me, and always reminded me that I showed them every year. And then I got into U Michigan and finally left it all behind.
Thinking about it, I wish my teachers had been like the teachers on this board. More understanding, more aware of differences, egalitarian. If I have kids, I hope they have teachers like this, because going through that wasn't easy.
Me too. But, I do have one experience I can relay. In one of my first job interviews during law school, a partner at the firm I wanted to work at told me that I wouldn't hack it as a lawyer because I'm just not fierce. I promptly told him that fierce was a state of mind. I ended up getting the job, and I like to think that I'm a better lawyer because I'm approachable and a nice person.
My ex-h told me I would never amount to anything if I left him. I walked out the door, took over 50K dollars in consumer debt and a truck payment in my early 20's and never looked back. My parents would help me flip credit cards but I had to pay them. Other than that, I lived as cheaply as possible and at one point was working 3 jobs and completing my degree. I will admit it was a daunting task, but I'm glad I had support but did it on my own.
And my mom was right, living well is the best revenge
I think determination isn't always about proving others wrong, but challenging yourself.
When I was in my late teens and early 20s, I suffered from massive panic attacks. I lost 30 lbs and was afraid of everything. I couldn't even get on public transport without having an attack.
So, moving to Japan when I was 24 was a pretty damn huge thing for me. It was never about living up to anyone else's expectations of myself, but finally being able to live up to my own.
Alyson & Phil | Planning Bio | Married Bio!
Dates & Quinces Blog
I totally agree. Moving to Cambodia, even though I was with E, was a huge challenge for me and I'm so proud of the way I came through it. Especially the last 2 months when he was gone. In that short time I became infinitely more independent and confident than I ever was before, and I think I surprised some people by dealing with it in the way I did.
Now jumping domestically.
Well that was a crazy couple of years.