The Words of the van der Stok Family
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The Words of the van der Stok Family |
At the CARP Winter Ball, three normal college students were awarded for heroic academic achievement. Here, they introduce a bit about themselves, and what pushes them to succeed.
What makes me, me: I believe in the value of being your best self and making your talents publically available. I am strongly driven not only to be successful but also to make a positive impact in society. Committing to my studies represents the first step in achieving my goals, and will supply me with the skills necessary to effect significant change on a societal scale. Having this big dream gives me the motivation to push myself and work hard even when I don't feel like doing it.
I also believe in true love! I believe that the relationships and blessings we are given have the potential to be the most beautiful relationships out there and I know that I personally wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for my husband. Not only has he been my number one fan and supporter (he made me breakfast every day last semester so I could get to class on time and pulled all-nighters with me so I wouldn't have to do them alone!), he is strong where I'm not and vice versa. As a joke, whenever something good would happen to either of us, we would say "Go Team Vanderstok!" since in reality, most of our victories are a result of that teamwork.
Biggest pet peeve: How I lose socks, just 1 sock from each pair. I think it's true that the washing machine eats them.
What makes me, me: I am motivated by my sense of responsibility -- once I have committed to something or someone, it is my duty to go through with what I have promised. I view my education as a commitment to myself, my family and most importantly, Heavenly Father.
However, I can't say that I wake up every morning with such an inspirational sense of responsibility. For as many good days, there are just as many difficult days...on those days, I feel as if my "cup" is completely empty and I have nothing to offer to anyone or anything. In those moments, I do what I was told to never do -- I think of myself. If I don't fill up my cup and remember why I do everything I'm doing, then I will just bring everyone around me down (and believe me, I am pretty good at that). So, I do things that I know will make me happy, like spending time with close friends, treating myself to Starbucks, or the wonderful combination of both. I also have a page in my journal where I list things I love about myself, and I'll force myself to read it when I'm really feeling down so that I can remind myself that I am a person worth being loved.
Biggest pet peeve: People hiccupping without trying to get rid of them. I'm that passive-aggressive girl that explains (in a matter-of-fact way) that holding your breath gets rid of hiccups, as if they didn't already know.
What makes me, me: I never quite fit in with the people around me. I was a tomboy but I hated sports, I am a girl but I liked hanging out with boys. I think, overall, this allowed me to have a lot of compassion for anyone that didn't quite fit in. I could never be angry or judge anyone for being the person that they are and I always really believed that people should be the person that makes them happiest. Often I feel that inconsistency or lack of integrity can impede this process. I have a bad habit in that I'll call a person out when they're acting in a way that doesn't truly represent who they are or the values that make him/ her happiest.
I want to do research in finding the best methods of helping others. I want to find out where the problems start from and develop methods tackling them from their root. In doing clinical social work where, as a counselor, I would be working to help my client do what is best in his/her life, it would actually be my job to call people out on where they need to find consistency and do what's best for themselves. I want to push people to be their best selves. That, to me, is very exciting.
Biggest pet peeve: Janie is long for Jane. It is a grandma's name. No one names their child Jane anymore. But there you have it.