Crystal Amberlyn

Everyone is afraid of something. The question is whether the fears we have are rational or irrational.   If you look at the many different definitions of phobia, you’ll find what differentiates a fear and a phobia is the rationality, intensity, and symptoms of the fear. Phobias are intense fears that are manly irrational or exaggerated and result in symptoms related to anxiety. Although phobias are considerably worse than fears, they are just as common. So, why did I decide to talk about phobias? Just as many other people in this world, I have a phobia. Therefore, I was interested in learning more about them. HelpGuide.org provided a great article for me to do so, and you can find it here .   Luckily, when you have an irrational fear, you are aware it is irrational. My irrational fear or phobia is of walking or driving up or down steep hills. This is because I fear losing my stability and falling down the hill uncontrollably. I have even had nightmares about this! M...

When you commute to your campus from home, it can be hard to fight the urge to go home to your couch as soon as classes end for the day. I have personally experienced this. Entering college, I knew I wanted to meet new people and get involved on campus. Unfortunately, I have not been able to do so to the extent I have wished. Going into my third year of college, I have ceased many opportunities to get involved. This year, I have taken up three leadership positions as well as joined three extra student organizations. I am currently president of AIGA , the professional association for design, vice president of Kappa Pi and the communications specialist for Polar Rhythms at Ohio Northern University. Kappa Pi is an art and design honorary fraternity, and Polar Rhythms is a student a cappella group on campus. The three student organizations I have joined are Student Planning Committee (SPC) , Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and True North PR firm. I am mo...

I am not a crazy cat lady but, in all honesty, I do not know if I could love anything more than my cat, Adobe. After watching the Disney classic, “The Aristocats,” I went to my mom with a random thought. “Do you know what would be cute? A white cat named ‘Duchess’,” I said. “Well, my friend from work has a cat with kittens,” she replied. “I think he said one was white.” My eyes widened, and my mom instantly regretted saying a word. Of course, it took some charm and good reasoning to convince my mother to let me have a kitten. My mother’s main argument was we already had a cat. “Two cats are too much work,” she said. Yes, T.J. was very loving, but he never felt like my cat. He was my mom’s cat. I wanted an animal to call mine. An animal I can raise throughout its lifetime. I also argued T.J. was an old and overweight housecat. Therefore, why not give him company? Clearly, my mother could not counter my reasoning. Once the kitten was old enough, I picked it up and brought home the...

For the past three years, I felt my future was planned and certain. I could look down at the end of the tunnel and see an inviting light. I was content with my future but in a split second, the light was gone. Now, all I am left with is darkness and uncertainty.   As humans, it is almost a natural desire to find a partner we wish to spend the rest of our lives with. Some people may tell themselves or others they only want company, not a relationship, but even they tend to give in, fall in love and marry. When I was a junior in high school, I thought I met “the one.” The man I would marry and have a happy life with. If this was true, there would be no need for this blog. This summer, my life was turned upside down. For three years, I have been with one man. The one I crossed my fingers and prayed I would marry. The majority of my time was spent with him. A life without him was unimaginable. In June, for reasons I do not feel the need to explain, we separated. It was m...