Creo que...

I remember attending a Common Prayer at St. Norbert College focused around the theme This I Believe from National Public Radio. This project encourages people to share stories about the core values that guide their daily lives. Also, one of the songs for Varmond's Christmas concert is I Believe by Yolanda Adams. Therefore, I decided to use I believe that..., the title of this blog post, for the basis of my writing. I have begun reminiscing about my weeks here in Mexico. There are a lot of memories and I feel that I have learned a lot from this experience.

I believe that all children have the potential to succeed if you give them the chance.

I believe that you learn so much by having patience.

I believe that time passes by quickly when you don't worry about what time it is.

I believe that strangers can become true friends.

I believe that a place you visit for the first time can become a place to call home.

I believe that you gain a new perspective by living in another culture for an extended amount of time.

I believe that you need to be willing to accept that nobody is perfect and that there will be challenging situations.

I believe that you need to give respect in order to receive it.

I believe that students want to see their teacher as a normal person and not just as a teacher.

I believe that holidays are a time for coming together to celebrate each others' company.

I believe that everyone just wants to have fun.

I believe that you can get caught up in the moment and let your emotions get the best of you.

I believe that personal reflection is one of the best ways to learn about yourself and your actions.

I believe that a positive attitude and upbeat personality will get you far in life.

I believe that a "go with the flow" lifestyle is one of the best ways to live in the present moment.

I believe that people should be happy because everything happens for a reason.

I believe that teachers should continually encourage students to do their best.

I believe that parents have an integral role in a child's education and willingness to enjoy school.

I believe that students respond better when teachers use a calm voice.

I believe that it is ideal for people to know other languages as well as their native language.

I believe that you must make the best of each situation.

I believe that teachers should set high expectations for their students in order to help them develop as both students and people.

I believe that history and rich cultural traditions should not be ignored.

I believe that there is always time for laughter and smiles.

I believe that you need to look within people to find where their true talents lie.

I believe that you need to have open eyes and ears, an open mind, and an open heart.

I believe that family and friends are important in life.

I believe that honesty builds good relationships.

I believe that nature is one of life's most beautiful things.

I believe that you can be an influential person to someone and not even realize it until a given time later.

I believe that there is always a reason and a time to say "thank you".

I believe that teachers must admit when they are wrong, learn from the mistakes, and move on.

I believe that what may appear to be small acts of kindness to you might be a huge gesture to the people you are helping, making them feel that much more appreciated.

I believe that teachers must recognize the learning abilities of every student and provide what is necessary for them to succeed.

I believe that there is always some time within each day to relax and appreciate the beauty of life.

I believe that you should say hello and greet people each time you meet them.

I believe that you can't have everything you want.

I believe that it is important to share our love and to actually say "I love you" to the important people in your life.

I believe that in a two month period your taste buds can change to the point where you can now eat and enjoy spicier foods.

I believe that when you grow up in an area that experiences a beautiful change of seasons you begin to miss it after being in sunny, warm weather day after day.

I believe that a teacher should ask for students' opinions in order to create a positive and fun learning environment.

I believe that living outside your comfort zone is a great way to learn about yourself.

I believe that by taking risks you will encounter failures but more importantly successes that were unknown to you earlier.

I believe that it is important to stay in touch with those who impacted your life.

I believe that no matter how many photos you take on a journey, the best memories are those you have vivid images of in your mind.

What do you believe?

Con paz,

Stephanie