This Week’s Picks: May 5, 2013

Hi dears!
The first two exams of the semester are this year. Woo-hoo.
Almost done with 1L! Praise God. God is so good.

Congratulations to the UF graduates:
Felicia (undergrad, off to be a pharmacist!), Harshul (Grad.Engineering), Sam (Grad.Engineering), Yash (Grad.Engineering) & Sydga(Grad.Engineering). I am so proud of you guys!

Go Gators! May God lead you as you continue on in the path He has for your life.

1] Latino branding has gone to far…
An excellent article by Julio Ricardo Varela for NBC Latino

“Any sense of authenticity about the U.S. Latino experience is getting oversaturated with clueless mediocrity. Instead of trying to reflect a new and honest perspective of the bilingual-bicultural individual, we are fast becoming a Barrio Demographic. Instead of being ready for primetime, we get naked Panamanian models resting on large broccoli stalks.”

I completely agree with him. Instead of people knowing who the amazing Latin artist and professionals are, all people know is Pitbull and Sofia Vergara. Don’t get me wrong, Pitbull has talent (yes, even he has talent), but he degrades women. He performs with what looks like a harem of half naked women, and some of his lyrics are just offensive. Vergara, likes to perpetuate the hot Latina, sex-symbol image. When will people realize there is so much more to being Latin?

2] Prayer
“Prayer moves the arm of Omnipotence. Prayer has “subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire.” Christ Object Lessons, pp. 171, 172.

3] from #Wheninlawschool tumblr

While studying for exams:
One minute-

The next-

4] Song of the week- the lyrics aren’t particularly something I identify with but I love, love Zero Assoluto and the melody has been stuck in my head after letting Scusa ma ti voglio sposare play while doing my property outline.

5] Movie I wish I could watch instead of studying for exams: Mujeres al Borde de un ataque de nervios


XOXOXOXOX-
Make each moment count. EAT.PRAY.LOVE.

Growing up

What a Friday.
I have been outlining like a beast.
It has been a nice birthday celebration week. (I know, so Puerto Rican of me to celebrate for logner than a day). It is just so weird. All of a sudden, something snaps and you realize– you are no longer Disney Channel material. I am an adult, now actually well into her twenties.

There were those days where you begged for a bra, you dug in the size 0 bin at the mall just to be able to say you bought something from the “Juniors section.” The days when we felt grown up putting acne cream on our foreheads, and watched the teen-bopping novelas. It is so crazy how we grow up.

Freaky.

Things change. We often don’t notice a change in ourselves; we feel the same. But for some reason, it has been moment of epiphany. Maybe law school did it for me. Professors treat you like colleagues, and you attend fancy-shmancy events. You receive honors, and learn to make a real difference in your profession.

Sometimes, we feel like we don’t want to grow up.

I can say one thing, no matter how old we become, we can still hold onto a sweet innocence in our way of living. We can try to make certain that what is really most important in life, remains important.

One thing is sure, God has been so good to me. Growing up has been sweet, and I look forward to God’s blessings and His plan for my life. Thank you God for every experience and opportunity I have gotten the chance to live and learn from.

In for a treat.
-Gabriela Yareliz

Immigration Reform Rally 2013-May Day NYC

NYSYLC Photo

By: Gabriela Yareliz
It was a pleasure marching yesterday for Immigration Reform through Manhattan with a united group of dreamers and reformers. My admiration goes out for all of the immigrants who marched yesterday, unafraid. They carried their countries’ flags in one hand and the huge American flag between them. The American flag was clutched in their dark, working hands. It is about keeping families together, and keeping the workers who elevate the economy. It is about giving these workers what they are entitled to. It is about giving their children an opportunity to dream and thrive.
Thank you to the NYPD for keeping us safe.

(Photo by the Examiner)

The Guardian.co.uk

Who is your Shepherd?

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

A Spiritual metaphor from Dr.Tony Evans: If you stare at the lion, he’ll scare you. If you focus on the cage, you can handle him.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

To need a Shepherd, you must recognize you are a sheep.

Sheep are the dumbest of animals. One of them can walk in a circle and the rest begin to follow it, until they are all walking in a circle thinking they are going somewhere. You never see trained sheep, or sheep jumping through hoops. They are too dumb. That is why the Bible says we are like sheep that have gone astray.-Tony Evans

Keep your eye on the Shepherd, and you will make it through the valley.- Tony Evans

We believe He can take us to heaven; we are just not sure He’s got our back on earth.-Tony Evans

God can not only meet your need, but give you more than enough to satisfy.-Tony Evans

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not lack anything.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

“The Lord is your shepherd; He got ya, and you are covered.”-Tony Evans
(Note: Spelling the word “shepherd” is tricky.)

Building

“You should walk by faith, not by feeling. We do not want a sensational religion; but we want a religion founded on intelligent faith. This faith plants its feet on the eternal rock of God’s Word. Those who walk by faith are all the time seeking for perfection of character by constant obedience to Christ. The Captain of our salvation has given us His orders, and we are to yield implicit obedience; but if we close the Book that reveals His will, and do not inquire, or search, or seek to understand, how can we fulfill its obligation? We shall be found wanting at last if we pursue this course…How do you stand before God today? Today, we want Christ abiding with us.” Review and Herald, Apr.9, 1889

“Therefore whosoever hears these sayings of mine, and does them, I will compare him to a wise man who built his house upon the rock.” Matthew 7:24
Ye Shall Receive Power- daily devotional

Michelle Rodriguez for Cosmo Latina

By: Gabriela Yareliz
Michelle Rodriguez is gracing the cover of Cosmo Latina (Yes, Cosmo now has a Latina Edition–my, the times are changing!) Anyway, I really like her personality. She is known for tough girl roles and a fit bod. She has the perfect amount of attitude, femininity, confidence and beauty. She is a writer who knows how to kick butt… what is not to love?

Some of her best quotes:

(Photo from Cosmo)

“I rebel against everything, even myself!”

“Sometimes you gotta believe. And sometimes you may be wrong. But until you try it and put it out there, you can’t let anybody have an opinion about it. And that’s how you get it done.”

(Photo from Cosmo)

“I’m attracted to manly men. I can’t do metrosexuals who get their nails done more than me.”

M-Rod, fearless Latina at its best. Check out the new issue. Marc Baptiste has some great photography in it.

Identified



We are finally finishing classes. We have much outlining and studying ahead of us.
This crying is mostly about the sleep deprivation which has accumulated over the weeks.
We had our last Con law class. She called on me, as she always does. We have a strange bond. Are you really cold called if you know she is going to call on you, always?
It has been glorious… truly.
All good things come to an end… including 1L. Month of May, you are my Everest.

Some favs (from various law school tumblr sites):

When it’s the last week of school and exams are looming and professors are STILL assigning new material


When you look up at the clock in class and only 20 minutes have gone by when you thought it was more like an hour


When someone right behind you is on call but it feels like the professor is staring into your soul instead of looking at them

I wish contracts was as interesting as the Godfather. It is not. Oh, to be a Coppola!

Okay, I need to go study. Enough with this pathetic break.
-Gabriela Yareliz