Credit Cards, Jury Duty, and Goofing Off

     So I'm in a Personal Finance class right now, and we've been talking about credit quite a bit. There seemed to be a general advisement to get a credit card and build credit, to carefully practice paying things off now, so that later we could take out a loan for a car or other things. Reason after reason, comment and comment all piled up, and in my mind there was a mounting pressure to just apply and get one. So I went to the bank and, feeling very grown up, expressed my wish to apply for a credit card from Chase Bank. I knew that I was only applying, but assumed that I'd get one; I assumed it was all just a matter of making the actual effort to ask and receive.

I was wrong.

I was denied, because I have no credit history! Duh! I'm in college, and this would be my first card! I thought they'd understand that, since it's a college credit account after all! Oh well ^__^; So that burst my bubble, my bid for more financial maturity and independence. I felt rather naive when I got their letter of rejection - I mean "inability to approve my request at this time". My mom says I shouldn't worry about that right now, so I suppose I won't. But I think they were discriminating against me on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, and age.

     I've also been called in for jury duty, apparently! At least someone likes me :) I like how they put it - I've hereby been summoned by the Superior Court of the State of California for service as a trial juror. So official-sounding. Everybody seems to hate jury duty, and I can see how it could be annoying to have to put the rest of your life on hold for it. But I don't have any classes on the day I'm supposed to come in, so it should be fine. I am wondering how long I'll have to stay and what other days I'd have to come if I was actually selected for a trial, though. That could be a problem. Well, I guess I'll see!

     This afternoon I didn't feel like being productive, so I goofed off and read Fox Trot and took a nap. It was so refreshing, and after I got up I felt rejuvenated and got some good room-cleaning done, and even some homework. But I'm nervous about the day when I won't be able to goof off, when I'll have to do what I'll have to do in the time I have to do it, with no other options or buffer zone. I don't like the idea of that. I like having time to play and relax. Will I still have it in the same way when I grow up?

My Sparkling Youth

   I can vividly remember being in high school and saying "This is our sparkling youth!" I had heard over and over again that the high school years are far too fleeting and ought to be appreciated, and I took that to heart. I still don't think I really comprehended that they would end, but I did my best to enjoy and savor every moment - because really, I had one of the best high school experiences anyone could hope to have. I went to Mountain Valley Academy, a home school program that was set up pretty much like a junior college. But it was so tiny! - compared to the attendance of most high schools, anyway. Our entire senior class was in Civics and Economics together. Most everyone knew each other and was friendly and kind; sure, we had our conflicts and drama, but there was little oppression or cruelty that I could see. Speaking of drama, woo hoo! Drama was to our school like football is to most schools. We didn't have a football team anyway, so that was just as well.
   I brag and reminisce as if those days were long ago, but they were really just last year - I'm a freshman in college. But they feel like an age ago. Perhaps because I know I can't ever go back, even by returning to the school. I've visited MVA, and it's just not the same. Not all is lost; many of the key people that drew me to that place are still in my life, even going to the same college as me. And I'm thankful for that. But it's not just them, either. It's that period of my life, the best I've yet known, that I miss.
   I have mixed feelings about growing up. Sometimes I cry and mourn the days gone by, and resent that I have to participate more in this world that is big, scary, and opposed to the things of God. But I do want maturity; I want to become the person God plans for me to be, more devoted to and capable of serving Him. And I want to be someone that people can rely on, a success in the small and big things I do. I want to be a wise, responsible, pure, lovely woman of God. It's going to be a hard road though. Never pray for wisdom or patience, they say! ;P lol
   I suppose if my sparkling youth is over, my time to be cut and polished has begun.