Okay, lets get started ... The
last five - six years have been exceptionally unusual and busy years for me, but they've shaped my future in extrodinary ways. I became politically active back in 1999, (yes I know, I was only 16 at the time, but what better time to get started, right?!) when I began a petition to strengthen animal cruelty laws here in Virginia. When it was done, we had collected over 60,000 signatures from around the world - and Virginia now treats animal abuse as a felony on the second offense!! If you get a chance, check out my "Animal Abuse Alert" site under the links!
Then,
in January of 2000, I was attacked in our home. The man turned out to be a convicted sex offender who lived in our neighborhood and who had only been released from prison a mere 10 months before he attacked me. You can read all about what happened at the link for "The Attack" and find out what we are
doing to help strengthen Megan's Law in Virginia.
At this time, I added Second Amendment Rights as well as Megan's Law to my agenda, along with the other causes I was already lobbying for. Some of the issues I feel most strongly about, and you will find me speaking out on whenever I get the opportunity are Animal Rights, Second Amendment Rights, Prayer in Schools, and Megan's Law. I have always believed that if we don't like something, it is up to us to change things - how can I believe that, if I don't stand up and fight for what I know in my heart is right, myself? And yes, you're right - there is a link!! Check out my "Government For the People BY The People" site when you get the opportunity!!
As I said earlier, I'm a Junior this year, so classes alone are enough to keep me busy, yet I still find time to visit with my friends and family. Since starting college, I have served as Vice President of the Hall Council, as well as Treasurer of the RHA. And in January 2003, I pledged my Sorority, Alpha Delta Pi!! I've also managed to maintain a GPA high enough to be on Dean's List three out of four semesters, something I am really, REALLY proud of!! I sincerely hope that through my career choice, I will be able to make a difference in our society.
I hope you all will stop by often and visit with me here as we continue to update our site! Please be sure to visit my other pages, and see what we've
been doing, as we really have been rather busy this year!
This is
Daphna, our caseworker from PETA. Although the situation under which we met was
very tragic and sad, I am so glad that we have been able to become friends.
Daphna is one of those people that you just automatically love. Here we are at
their Christmas Banquet after they gave me the Student of the Year
Award.
Here are
some more of my favorite people, Sheriff Newhart of Chesapeake, my principle,
Mrs. Byrd, and Dr. Sybills. I'll never be able to thank these friends enough for
being there for me, no matter how often I needed them. Here we are as Sheriff
Newhart presents me with a Good Citizenship Award.
Of course,
probably the most important person in my life is my Mom, and my home page wouldn't be complete without telling you about her. Mom is my best
friend. She is always there, cheering me on, picking me up when I fall, holding
me when I cry. Simply - she's the best, and I love her with all my heart. We
love to do things together - shopping, a day at the beach, or we can just sit
around and talk for hours! On any given night, you're apt to find us sitting up
into the wee hours of the morning - laughing and talking and just enjoying every
second we have together! She's the first person I tell all my secrets too, the
first person I share my dreams with. Mom is one of those people who simply
refuses to let life get the best of her. Throughout everything that has happened
to us in our lives, Mom has made sure that she stood up and fought back, trying
to bring some positive results from every situation.
Please click
here to sign my guestbook!
Just a couple quick notes ... My original guestbook was with a different server, but somehow they managed to lost the entire guestbook! As you can imagine, I was really upset, I had some entries in there that meant the world to me. But anyway, Mom set up this new guestbook with Bravenet, although she hasn't really had time to customize it yet - but don't worry, it will save all the entries, even when she does!!
Also, things have just been really busy in our lives recently, so even outside of the guest book, some of the other sites haven't been updated for a while. We did add the Family Tribute page though, and that will hopefully keep you updated until Mom has time to go back and add new stuff to the old sites!
Thanks for stopping by, and please come back!!
In
May, Mom and I went to Vegas for a much needed vacation! These pics were
taken just after we got back, relaxed and ready for the summer!
This
is a pic of one of my favorite things we saw in Vegas, the Fountains at the
Bellagio, if you've never been, they are so beautiful, they actually made Mom
and I cry (okay, so we're kind of wussy, but just go see them, you'll understand
what I mean!)
While
we were there, I got to meet one of the comedians who was performing at the
Tropicana Comedy Club, Dave Russo. Dave was awesome, and we had a lot of
fun hanging out before he had to fly out to his next show. If you ever get a
chance to see him - GO! And make sure you tell him I said hi! (smile) ...