This piece was written by Le Flambeau Foundation Scholar Ruchama who recently completed her Junior year of college in the U.S. As you will see in Ruchama’s update she is multi-talented and incredibly gifted. She is carrying a double major in Accounting and Music and is now officially a senior – considering going for her CPA. Ruchama is an alumna of THE SPARK of Le Flambeau program. We came together for a reason and it is clear that extraordinary blessings came of it, and have yet to come. Congratulations!
BLESSING
This past week a colleague asked me, “Ruchama, what is your favorite English word?” It took me just a few seconds to answer, “Blessing.”
I always wake up in the morning and know it’s a new day. It will bring new opportunities, new challenges and above all new blessings. I know that I am blessed to be where I am today, and blessed to be able to follow my passion, while I also make sure that I am a blessing to someone else every day. I am so humble and so grateful to affirm that God acts in mysterious ways, and in His timing. I am forever grateful to Le Flambeau Foundation for being such a blessing to me.
There is no such thing that brings so much contentment, joy, and happiness when someone is converting dreams into reality. I am counting my blessings, and I make sure that I count them every single day! That does not mean there are no challenges, or no obstacles along the road. Though people are ever grateful for the obstacles themselves, yet, they would not trade the insight, character, and strength they had gotten from them for anything.
My schedule had been hectic this past semester with 20 credits (8 classes), and 15 hours of work. However, I am enthusiastic to get done what I started. At the beginning of the semester, I had to revise my mission statement, and work on “Leaving a legacy” a leadership project which is for juniors and seniors. A second project was a group project aimed to serve people with special need in the community. I was thrilled to do it – there is no greater leadership than being a servant leader.
The fun classes of the semester were Auditing, Business Law II, Worldview II, Applied Strings, and piano. The most challenging was Music History, a writing intensive class. This class was all about presentations, discussions, listening to music, listening tests, and research papers. We were required to cite only one source from the internet and at least seven other sources from at least seven different books. The final test, which was 30% of the semester grade, was composed of 29 composers, 16 musical terms and 27 pieces from different genres (symphonies, concertos, operas, piano sonatas, preludes etc….). I had to take some real deep breath. The second more challenging and very interesting class was Popular and World Music. The first half of the semester covered the different music in different cultures. The second half covered popular music. Three students per class session, each of them presented a different chapter had to prepare their outline for the professor and for the rest of the class and also teach the class what the chapter is about. And finally I played the viola for the orchestra this past semester because they were shorthanded of violist. It was fun at the same time required a lot of concentration, especially when I did not sleep enough. I had to remind myself that I am playing an alto clef when I am in the orchestra, and switch to violin for recitals which is played on the treble clef.
For the summer I am working full time on campus, doing sales tax. I am not taking any classes. I am just writing a book and practicing music in the free time.
Next year is my last official senior year. I will be taking Advanced Accounting, Corporate Finance, Management Information System, Music History II, Principles of Conducting, Applied Strings, piano, and probably play in the orchestra. So far, my graduation date is May 2016. At the same time I am thinking about taking the CPA exam. If so, my graduation date will be December 2016 just to get a few credits in order to meet the 150 credits requirements.
The best method to accomplish any work of merit is enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is the vital force that provides energy to the body. Enthusiasm is the spark in your eyes, the dedication in your attitude, this vigorous handshake, this irresistible impulse of energy and desire that lead you to accomplish your goals. An enthusiastic person remains dynamic in the fight in order to achieve his/her ideal, and constant to keep alive the flame of expectation. Therefore, strive to be firm, devoted, persevering in your ideas because enthusiasm does not arise from nothing, it does not manifest itself in a desert or in an unproductive land. All those who have a dream light the torch of enthusiasm. Keep your treasure. Guard yourself from losing your enthusiasm for it widens, and embellishes life. Do not forget to count your blessings! Appreciate even the smallest things in life; one day you may find out those small things are of the utmost importance.
Ruchama Charles
To read earlier articles written by Le Flambeau Foundation Scholar Ruchama (click here), (click here)