You built a cast around your broken heart and signed it: They Were Wrong

There is so much in this video.  So, so much.

I have watched this time upon time today, and it only gets better.

These are the people I want to work with.  I want to be around.  I want to hear.

I know I'm entering into the field of student affairs, but this isn't just a middle school thing; it doesn't always end after high school.  And, you know what?  Sometimes "It [doesn't] Get Better"...at least not as quickly for some as it does for others.

I watch this video and I think about my own time in college.  I think about my years at JMU in undergrad and I think about the students I see and interact with on a daily basis now that I'm back in grad school.  There is still brokenness and pain here.  It's not just some fad or phase that will pass after high school graduation.

I think about the words we (read: I) use on a daily basis.  You know what we I can be an ass.  I can say things out of a horrible place and it's not nice.  Bullying and name calling still hurts the college population.  I want to help.

I want to fight for them.  I want to hear them.  I want to be there.

I think about the pain that is brought into RISE every Sunday within some of the students.  Who's listening to them?  Who is making sure they're okay.  Who's telling them that they are beautiful and words do hurt, but they can tell everyone that they're wrong!  They can cast their heart and sign it.  They can look in the mirror and know they're beautiful!

Who's listening to their pain?  Who's seeing it?  I want to hear it.  I want to see it.

Where does that begin for me?  For us?

I need to stop with my hurtful language, number one.  I name that.  I also know that it's going to be a struggle because I know where it's coming from.  But where it's coming from should have already taught me that words are sticks and stones; they hurt like hell.  So why do I use them too?

I need to listen.  There are silent cries everywhere.  There are loud cries everywhere.  I have two awesome ears.  I need to put them to use.  I think I do a good job with this now, but it can always be more.  I need to stand up and help those who can't speak find their voice.

Bullying isn't a elementary, middle, or high school thing.  It's a person thing.  It's a power thing.  It happens here at JMU.  It happens in colleges everywhere, and it's so much more intense.  Highly educated people know more words to use as bullets.  Highly educated people know how to use their tongues to cut deeper than before; they know where to cut to hurt the most.  Highly educated people are also still ignorant enough to do it.  And it still hurts.

So maybe this is rambling.  Maybe it makes sense to you.  Or maybe the video is enough to speak for itself.  Whatever it is, I know that I need to make changes, but I also know that I want to help.  I want to listen.  No matter what job I may get, I want to be there for those who don't think there's anyone there.

Tonight's playlist:
Three Wishes -- The Pierces
Heavy In Your Arms -- Florence + The Machine
Cold Water -- Damien Rice
Gravity -- Sara Bareilles
Angels or Devils -- Dishwalla
The Way Things Are -- Fiona Apple