Introduction: Litsa Eileen

When choosing a book...do you judge a book by its cover?

Im going to be honest. The books with the more appealing covers get my attention first. Sometimes the titles do it for me. Either way, good looking cover or not, when reading a book many of us skip over the introduction and dive right into Chapter 1--where the real story begins. Or is that where the story truly begins?

I believe that the introduction is the most important part of the book. This is the part where the author gets the opportunity to tell their story and explain their purpose for writing the book. The introduction provides context for the story the author is going to tell. The introduction is a proactive way to answer the "why" questions readers may have later as they turn through the pages.

This concept applies to people. We can only truly understand others once we understand where they come from--their introduction. Everyone has an introduction. Everyone's introduction affects how/ why they do/say the things they do. As people add to their introduction, they create meaning. One thing could mean 54309 different things to 54309 different people. Meaning depends on a person's experience. For example, I LOVE Yo Burrito because to me it means mason jar margs, good friends and good times. My friend Maureen dislikes Yo Burrito because she felt sick for a while after she left there. Okay, bad example...but you get the idea. When someone in a group says Yo Burrito and I get extremely happy and Mo has a nauseated face, one would have to understand our experience with Yo. An introduction allows for the author to explain experiences and meaning.

The point is...take the time to learn introductions. I am guilty of jumping right into the "chapters" of people, assuming I know them well enough. I don't. Also, while you think about learning the "introductions" of others, think about what your "introduction" would say. What has shaped you to be the individual you are today?

Here is my introduction:

My name is Litsa Eileen Orban. I just recently began to brand my middle name. It's working out pretty well, I must say. Explaining my first name to people has always been a challenge, but I thank Wade Jones for so nicely pointing out, in second grade, that my name rhymed with pizza. I forget the exact names he used to call me, but the pizza thing stuck and it works. So, thanks Wade.



I am 23 years old and to this day I couldn't tell you what year has been the best. I couldn't really say there has been a worst either. I really believe it all matters in the BIG picture and every good and challenging moment built me to the happy girl that I am today.


I AM THANKFUL. I have a lot to be thankful for but at the top of the list is my next fun fact: I am adopted. I was lucky enough to have someone love me so much to know it was best to let me go and a couple to love me so much to raise me as their own. It's special and one day I will adopt, too.

I am an only child. People love this. They think it must have been so great. No sharing, no annoying siblings..none of it. Are you kidding me?!?! There was no one else to blame things on and all I wanted to do was share!! I don't blame my parents at all for this situation. I think it worked out for the best. Instead, I played with my stuffed animals...a lot. This may explain why I find such great value in working at Build-A-Bear Workshop for six years and creating friends for other little kiddies. Also, being an only child caused me to love my friends as if they were my brothers and sisters. From the beginning, i have placed a high value on my relationships with others.



I am Nicaraguan for those of you that were wondering/forgot/cared. It's extremely entertaining to experience the different ways people ask about my nationality.

Examples:
"What are you?"...my response:" a girl"
"What are you mixed with?...my response: "a little bit of man and a little bit of woman"
"How'd you get that skin color?"...my response: stare
orrr my favorite thanks to a target cart boy: "Are you black or just really tan?"...my response: "Are you ignorant or just really socially awkward?"

In third grade I would tell my friends that my mom took me to the beach and i got really really tan and it wouldn't go away. I also had curly hair and I wanted an excuse for that, too--never made up a good story for that. Anyways, it just added to my individuality ( and all pre-teens can appreciate individuality right?...wrong. we all just wanted to be B SPEARS ).




So now that we've cleared that up we can move right along. Those of you that know me well may notice that I rep a christmas tree during the holidays, but really enjoy my matzo ball soup year-round. This can be explained by my parent's religious diversity. My mom is Jewish and my dad is Roman Catholic. To be honest, this was strange to understand at first, but it made me think (and people- thinking is a good thing!!). Neither my mom nor my dad have been forceful about religion and for that I am thankful. I do not identify with either religion. I know that I believe and that I am a spiritual being, but this is an area I still need to explore.

This may seem silly, but another part of my identity is the color ORANGE. I love the color orange, the flavor orange, oranges (the fruit)...anything orange. I asked my mom when this started. She said she can't remember when I didn't like orange. I really have no idea where it came from...but it's here and it's SURE to stick around. I looked up what the color orange symbolizes and found this. I don't think it's far off.



So, those are my basics. That is my core. Some other must-knows include: My mom is my best friend. She is the strongest woman i've ever met. I eat a lot. like...a lot. i do enjoy to run. I run distance though, not fast...at all. I love music. All kinds. It gets me through any type of day. I'm quirky and I refuse to compromise that for anything. I forgive. I like to laugh...especially with best friends. I sing loud in the car with the windows down. If there is the option to sit outside--i will sit outside. I grew up on Saved by the Bell and Dawson's Creek so I may refer life situations to those shows. I love bodies of water (oceans, rivers, creeks, etc) and I loved living in Florida. I am a semi-teeny bopper at heart...okay not semi, wholehearted. I love neat jewelry and I get that from my DIVA grandma. She is awesome and I miss her and my gramps very much (they are in Minnesota being well taken care of). My family still sits at the dinner table for every meal and we talk about trending topics or our day. I wish I were closer with my extended family. I read my horoscope and some days I believe it and some days I dont...not sure that is the idea, but whatever. I love to travel and I love every place I go. One of my strengths from Strengthsquest 2.0 is adaptability. I tend to find beauty in my surroundings--wherever that may be--and make the best of it. I have a cat named Punky and she is just that...a punk. I love a good quote or lyric. I'm a bit of a shopaholic, but I do recognize the value of a dollar. I really soak in life lessons and I am working on remembering those lessons when living a normal day-to-day life...it's easy to fall into the swing of things. I believe in the umbuntu philosophy that says, "I am who I am because of the relationship I have with others". I do think that every person in my life has a role and shapes me. I am grateful for every person that has contributed to my life.

Education is important to me. I graduated THE Florida State University with a degree in Public Relations (something weird: I never received my diploma. sadly, I would not be upset if they told me I had to go back and be a student again). I am now working towards my Masters degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs at the University of South Carolina. I just completed my first year of grad school and it's hard to comprehend what exactly happened in that year--because so much did happen. Currently, I am doing my internship at the University of Alabama. RTR. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it so far.

My friends and I decided to start a blog since we were all separated doing awesome things. I'm glad it followed through. The purpose of this blog was to share summer stories and keep everyone up-to-date...but let's be serious...this is Litsa Eileen we are talking about and this blog could go anywhere! I wouldn't have predicted that I'd share my "introduction" with the blog world, but it's me and I am happy about it and I believe you need to know it in order to give me a real chance :)