Spring break itinerary full with fun

Written by Abi Humber Tuesday, 15 March 2011 14:45

At long, long, long last, it is spring break for North Park! I wouldn’t typically make a “days until freedom” paper chain countdown, but I had an exceptionally insane few weeks before midterms and it needed to be done.

My brain felt like it was melting and I was beginning to lose sanity. Sometimes making crafts from my childhood keeps me from turning into a crazed monster, which would have been bad news for everybody. We even pretended to have a “Barney Bag.”

Now I’m temporarily free from the terrors of college academics and get to kick it solo in Chicago for 10 days. I’ve got no real plans and will be by myself, which probably seems strange to anyone who knows me.

I am usually surrounded by people and going from one...

Read more: Spring break itinerary full with fun

Progress made on road to recovery

Written by Abi Humber Tuesday, 22 February 2011 17:02

Those of you who have read my column since last spring may recall the April submission about my experience with sexual abuse. I was attacked around this time in February 2010, so I’ve spent much of the past week in reflection—looking backward and seeing how far my feet have brought me as I’ve wandered down the road to recovery.

Actually, scratch that. My feet haven’t gotten me anywhere. I fully believe God has carried me this entire year, or has at least been pushing me in a wheelbarrow or shopping cart or something. All I know is, I couldn’t be in the healthy, transformed place that I am now if it weren’t for God’s redemption in my life.

Throughout the past 12 months, I’ve experienced moments (or even weeks)...

Read more: Progress made on road to recovery

Body art is a form of self-expression

Written by Abi Humber Tuesday, 08 February 2011 15:36

“The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself” (Friedrich Nietzsche).

I came across this quote last semester when I was browsing the Internet, probably procrastinating on some assignment. I had to read it a few times to really let the message sink in, though, because I was in Facebook/Tumblr mode, not contemplate-Nietzsche mode.

The more I reflected on the words, I realized that, to some degree, they ring true in my life. I’ll mull over this more later.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how much I love weird people. “The mad ones,” those who have a fire...

Read more: Body art is a form of self-expression

Except about Justin Bieber, ideas slow to come

Written by Abi Humber Wednesday, 02 February 2011 01:03

I’m not going to lie, I don’t feel like I have a single idea worth writing about this week. In comparison to my most recent column about “caring,” which felt like a small breakthrough in terms of processing my continual growth, nothing feels print-worthy.

Only a week into this semester’s classes, I’ve already learned an unbelievable amount of new information. This is exciting for me, but I’m not yet to the point in which I can articulate my findings in an interesting way. Stay tuned for many a column about issues concerning “Gender and Justice,” which is easily my favorite class thus far.

How silly is this: Three writing-centric classes this semester, and I still can’t seem to effectively generate ideas. Ridiculous...

Read more: Except about Justin Bieber, ideas slow to come