Unfortunately, I’ve been taking summer classes all summer, but I did get to go home for a little bit before they started! I was able to spend some time with my boyfriend and family. Here’s a pretty picture from my backyard!
Kristyn
Hey everyone! Summer is almost over, so here’s to another year of Tau Beta and sisterhood and love and band and me being President! But… I’m not ready to say goodbye to my summer yet. Here’s some of what I’ve been up to: Unfortunately, I’ve been taking summer classes all summer, but I did get to go home for a little bit before they started! I was able to spend some time with my boyfriend and family. Here’s a pretty picture from my backyard! When we got back from the okay state of New York, my boyfriend and I were able to go ziplining! THAT was amazing. We also wandered around Austin, ate some good food, and visited a gorgeous botanical garden! We’re cute, we know ;) I’ve taken some breaks from studying and reading, with all of my summer English classes… I went to the beach with my big sister Heather McGowan (where we made our required trip to Olive Garden, and she took that embarrassing snap of me…), many walks with my dog were taken (and many pictures of him being sleepy were taken too), and I got to see one of our brothers marry the love of his life!!! Now that midsummer is over (thank goodness!), all that’s left of summer for me is working and finals. I can’t wait for everyone to get back to Waco and for marching season to start. I miss all of my brothers and sisters and, even though summer is great, I’m starting to get bored without the chaos. Until next time! MLITB,
Kristyn
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My sweet sisters! A big hello all the way from Peru to you and anyone else that might happen upon this blog post!! I hope each and every one of you continues to enjoy your summer vacations (and to all the alumni who are reading this blog I hope that you can find times to relax and rejuvenate while you continue to work these summer months). I hope that this blog brings joy to your heart and encourages you, my fellow music lovers.
This summer I have had the immense pleasure and opportunity to spend two months in an impoverished area (Collique) in the outskirts of Lima, Peru. I have served alongside the people of Peru through an organization called Operation San Andres (OSA). This organization has created an after-school/additional stimulation program for children in this area that also involves their families in various activities. OSA also takes part in biannual medical campaigns and several public health projects throughout Collique. Through working with the OSA children, families and the organization’s projects, I have experienced how showing and receiving love from others will create wonderful and intimate friendships, regardless of language and cultural differences. And isn’t this the same kind of friendship that binds us together? As members of Tau Beta Sigma, we are challenged to show love but also be willing to receive love from other members of this organization. This is something that I would challenge all of you to be aware of as we approach marching season and a new school year. How can you show love to others who might come from different backgrounds and experiences? And how can you open your heart to receive sisterly love? Another one of the many things I have learned during my time in Peru is the beautiful ability of music to transcend lingual and cultural barriers. Music has the ability to connect people across continents and centuries. During my time that I have worked with the children and staff at OSA, some of my fondest memories are centered around music. For their special birthday celebration, the children and I enjoyed dancing and singing together. I will not forget the joy on their faces nor their deep-bellied laughter as I encouraged them to leap and spin to the music. I’ve learned Spanish Christian praise music and listened to traditional Peruvian songs, connecting me to a culture I had never experienced. Additionally, I was able to share part of my story by having my Peruvian friends listen to a French horn piece I played in high school. Even though I am not fluent in Spanish, I can express myself through music and what a wonderful gift and blessing that is! As makers and lovers of music, we have been given a wonderful opportunity to express the joy of the soul without words and, in some instances, in ways that could never be expressed through spoken language. So here we are, sisters of Tau Beta Sigma, at the end of my reflection. Let us not forget the power of music and most importantly the power of genuine, unconditional love to connect us to people we never imagined possible. MLITB, Morgan Smith |
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