On candle passing...

i've decided to change the direction of this blog, details of which will be posted at a later date.

When I was a freshman at LMU, I joined one of the (then 7) service organizations on campus, Belles. It consists of 50 women dedicated to serving the greater Los Angeles community as well as being "the official hostesses" of the university. Each year, we have a candle passing ceremony in which the graduating senior Belles reflect on their experience in the organization and pass a lit candle on to the new class of Belles (Baby Belles). I remember sitting there in April 2007, listening to all the seniors talk (confused as to why they were so emotional) about how this org had helped them find themselves, created lasting friendships, and changed the direction they were going in their lives. Each senior had a unique experience of Belles, but they were similar in that they were in awe at how fast the time had passed since they had been Baby Belles. They each in their own way said: "Babies it's going to go by so fast, please cherish every moment you have with these women."


Now, it has come. My candle has been passed on to the new generation of Belles. Sometimes we may take for granted how blessed we are to be in a group of 50 phenomenal women, with a reputation of service, love, and solidarity that is upheld in each one of our hearts. When I first applied for Belles, I had NO IDEA how competitive it was. Now I look back and think "Wow, there are literally HUNDREDS of girls who could be sitting where I am right now... and they chose me." I was the one they wanted ... but now I think it's not that they wanted me, but maybe they knew that I needed them. I could sit here and ramble about the memories I've had in Belles, talk about how Belles has helped me to find myself, created lifelong friendships, and changed the direction I want to go in my life - but the blog would be so long, I doubt if anyone would read it.

I never thought this time would come so fast. Babies if you're reading this, please cherish every moment you have with these women. Sometimes you experience things that are indescribable, and you try your best to convey the feeling to others. Over the past few weeks, I've learned that I have 50+ women that share with me something we could NEVER explain.