1. My Story Told By a Band of Gold Chelsea Buch

2. Part One Introduction 1

3. Being educated is a term that is thrown around often by people everywhere. It would be safe to say that everyone has talked about education at some point in their lives. But what does having an education really mean? To me, education is a challenge. It is something that is not always easy to do. Being educated is stepping out of your comfort zone and broadening your horizons. An education is something you work for, it isn’t just handed to you on a silver platter. Education can be represented in various ways such as objects, people, or events. To me, an object that can represent education is a ring. Rings can illustrate different meanings. They can be more than just a fashion accessory, they can symbolize a promise, a marriage, or almost anything that you want them to. Throughout my life, three different rings that I own have all represented me and my education. They can all symbolize my learning experiences in the past, present, and future. 2

4. Part 2 The Past 3

5. V irya. A buddhist word meaning strength. This word was written on a ring that I received from my best friend when I first came home from the hospital. When I was seventeen years old, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. I spent an entire week in the hospital learning how to live and cope with the disease that I will have for the rest of my life. Being in the hospital included not only just getting over my sickness, but having to go to what seemed like never ending classes, meeting with several doctors, and learning how to adapt to something that I was not prepared for at all. I learned all about the disease, my pancreas, how to check my blood sugar, how to give myself insulin injections, and what I have to do when I become hyper/hypoglycemic. This entire experience was one that changed my life forever and strength is definitely something that I needed, and will continue to need as I battle this incurable disease. This is why that ring is so important to me. Every time I wear it and look down at my finger, I’m reminded of the hardship I went through, but it gives me strength. When I see it, I realize that I was given this life because I am the only one strong enough to live it. So despite my past battles, this ring reminds me to have the strength to move on. 4

6. Part Three The Present 5

7. The symbol that represents my sorority is a swan. The symbol that represents my education is my swan ring. When I think of the present, my sorority comes to mind immediately. All of my sisters have changed my life and have educated me in a whole new light. They have further taught me things such as trust, loyalty, and friendship that I could not imagine picking up anywhere else. It started freshman year when I first attended Bloomsburg University. I hated it here and knew that I needed to do something to change my view. Therefore, I decided to rush for a sorority and Theta Tau Omega ended up being my perfect fit. After rush, I had to pledge for four weeks with fourteen other girls. I was with these girls every minute of every day for this entire length of time. Little did I know that these girls would become my rock. We all became so close, so quickly and to this day they all bring out the best in me. Pledging was not an easy process but it was such a learning experience. I now have a whole new meaning for the word respect, how to work together when things get tough, how to be humble, and how to put my whole heart and soul into something that is so important to me. This is some of the best education that I have ever received. On our last night of pledging when we finally were accepted into the sisterhood, we received one of the most anticipated items, our swan ring. Ever since my ‘Big’ gave me this ring, I have never taken it off. Whenever I see it on my finger, it brings me so much happiness and reminds me of the amazing life and bond that I have formed with my sisters. 6

8. Part 3 The Future 7

9. H appiness. This is the main thing that I want in my future. The item that I think represents my ideal future the best is an engagement ring. I can see it now, walking down the aisle in all white and being truly happy. Ever since I can remember, I have wanted to grow up, find the perfect job, get married, and start a family. All of these things are frequently in my thoughts and I believe they can all start with a ring. I’m not by any means high maintenance about the ring, it could be from a vending machine for all I care. But, I truly think that it is an important stepping stone in my future. Once I am engaged, I believe that the rest of the things that I think will make me happy will fall into place. I am not totally naive and I know that my future will not be perfect, but I think that is where the education will come in. Marriages can go wrong, I may not receive my dream career, and I could have obstacles keeping me from starting a family. I know that life can be cruel sometimes and it isn’t always going to go my way. But I also know that with every mistake comes a lesson and these lessons can make me more educated than I probably even realize. This is why I think an engagement ring symbolizes my future. Once I receive it and get through that potential first event, I believe my life has begun. Whether my future brings me good times or bad times, I know that I will learn from every move I take. That ring will bond me to happiness. 8

10. Part 4 Conclusion 9

11. T he rings that I wrote about symbolize my idea of education. Each one represented something that I believe defines being educated. Whether it is showing strength from my past, broadening my horizons in my present, or finding happiness in my future, I know that I’m learning. Education is a challenge. It is learning lessons through the good and the bad. Being educated is something you have to work for, it’s life. Everyday you learn something new and it could be from school and books, or it could be another life lesson. From my past, in the present, and as I continue on to my future, I know that I will be learning each and everyday. 10