Stress: Will it be the death of me?

One is never alone.

There is comfurt in such a thing.

Stress will not be the death of me, IB taught m

e that.

True relationships are based on a person who learns to love and learns to let others love them. The latter being just as difficult as the former.

Relationships is the best cure for stress. No matter if its ranting, sharing stories, laughing together, hanging out together or a simple text. There is comfurt in real relationships.

A dear teacher once told me, "You better be laughing really hard or crying your heart out."

I thank God she did.

Rules and Regulations.... SURPRISE!

My initial impression of a Jesuit university was one that was quit controversial, as I was logging on to numerous university review websites that indicated the "real" Fordham student life I figured it was one of those universities that is simply labeled to have integrity and a good Christian background. This was one the factors that lead my parents to let me attend the university, of course I did not tell them about things I've read and heard about it knowing full well that such things will only hinder my enrollment. However, as I reviewed the printed Rules and Regulations of the school including the Code of Conduct I was surprised to see that things like sexual intercourse and the possession of birth control such as condoms and birth control pills were prohibited, towards a certain extent. To be honest, despite such things written and documented around the school I must say that such activity still exist around the campus given the cliche excuse of "its college!"

Another rule that astounded me is the documentation on students who are under the age of 21 that are present in a room that contains alcohol despite any and all circumstance. Both rules and regulations are something I have learnt to respect fully during my first month in Fordham University. =D Yay rules!

St. Ignatius: Admirably Devoted or Mere Obedience

St. Ignatius of Loyola was a religious man, despite his initial attempts to rebel, and is known throughout the Jesuit community. His ideals to always be prepared, humble and obedient towards the 'true Spouse of Christ our Lord, which is our Holy Mother, the hierarchical Church', although undoubtably much esteemed than any overly advertised modern day matter, can be seen as a challenge, a fear or in my case a longing.

Being brought up in a conservative Chinese Christian family in Indonesia, God and the Church was something I encountered at a daily basis. As shameful as this may seem, my beliefs then turned to be redundant. I became arrogant and settled into a comfortable state of 'I know, but I can't..' St. Ignatius' life was a testimony to one of his finest principles, to set aside our own personal judgement and rise above such human tendencies in order to keep the human mind open and balanced to finally become obedient to what the Lord has sought to be the best for each of our lives. I believe that God does know and have the best things set out for each individual with their best interest at heart, without envy, distractions and the weaknesses of humans.

General Information

My name is Jessica Tjandra and I'm a freshman in Fordham University.

This is a blog, obviously, about my impressions of New York.

I've never been here, literally, and have only seen bits and pieces of NYC through

western movies. So here I go...