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20 Times April Ludgate Inspired Me To Be A Better Person

"If you ever speak to me in Spanish, please use the formal 'usted.'"

Veronica Rodriguez

Nov 21, 2016

Calvin College

20 Times April Ludgate Inspired Me To Be A Better Person

I've written articles in favor of my favorite female comediennes, authors, and activists, including, but not restricted to, Roxane Gay, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Amy Poehler and Sandra Cisneros. Award-winning actress Gina Rodriguez ("Jane The Virgin," "Deepwater Horizon") has been one of my favorite people to write about, not just because she is amazing at her craft, but because she's a frontrunner in bringing accurate representation of Latinos to Hollywood. However, I cannot forget about actress Aubrey Plaza ("Parks and Recreation," "Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates"). Half Puerto Rican, this seriously talented actress should definitely be on Gina Rodriguez's Movement Mondays on Instagram.

Aubrey's role as April on "Parks and Recreation" was defining for me, because she was unapologetically herself, unafraid to let her dark little heart show, and yet always willing to move mountains for the people she loves.

For this and many other reasons listed below, April is an inspiration to my own dark little sense of humor.

Let's begin with...

1. When she was honest about her interpersonal relationships

2. When she wasn't afraid to display her true feelings

3. When she was proud of her heritage

4. When she refused to third-wheel with annoying couples

5. When she sang like nobody was watching

6. When she knew the answer to life's problems

...I jest.

7. When she asked life's most important questions

8. When she was unashamed of being an introvert

9. When she used fashion to make meaningful statements

And again..

10. When she was bent on obeying her parents at all costs

11. When she was confident in her intelligence

12. When she showed her enthusiasm for work

13. When she revealed the secret behind her mad leadership skills

14. When she dressed for the job

15. When she understood respect in more than one language

16. When she shared words of wisdom with her friends

17. When she went into labor with her priorities straight

18. When she was vulnerable about her inner struggles

19. When she planned literally killer office birthday parties

And finally...

20. When she showed her loved ones how much she truly cares (DEEP down) about them

Clearly we need more people like April in the world—people who are unapologetically themselves, yet always put other people first in the end—after a lot of dark thoughts and threatening birthday balloons, of course.

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20 Times April Ludgate Inspired Me To Be A Better Person

"If you ever speak to me in Spanish, please use the formal 'usted.'"

1. When she was honest about her interpersonal relationships

2. When she wasn't afraid to display her true feelings

3. When she was proud of her heritage

4. When she refused to third-wheel with annoying couples

5. When she sang like nobody was watching

6. When she knew the answer to life's problems

7. When she asked life's most important questions

8. When she was unashamed of being an introvert

9. When she used fashion to make meaningful statements

10. When she was bent on obeying her parents at all costs

11. When she was confident in her intelligence

12. When she showed her enthusiasm for work

13. When she revealed the secret behind her mad leadership skills

14. When she dressed for the job

15. When she understood respect in more than one language

16. When she shared words of wisdom with her friends

17. When she went into labor with her priorities straight

18. When she was vulnerable about her inner struggles

19. When she planned *literally* killer office birthday parties

20. When she showed her loved ones how much she truly cares (DEEP down) about them

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25 reasons your last semester in college is the best and worst time of your life

"The Office" understands the struggle of the first week back from winter break.

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2. When you remember you have to walk in the freezing cold to your classes.

3. Feeling overly confident in your academic abilities on the first day of classes.

4. Walking into your first class and seeing friends from your major.

5. That moment when you open the syllabus packet to see what possible pain lies ahead.

6. You resent the professors that keep you for the whole class time on the first day.

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12. When you're broke after buying your textbooks for the semester.

13. When you realize that you really need to start getting PATH points...

14. Impatiently waiting for all of your classes to be up on Isidore.

14. The realization that this semester will be harder than you anticipated...

15. Getting overly excited for going out on the first weekend back from break.

Each Disney Princess has their own personality, and chances are you've got a friend in your group to match it.

Cinderella, “The Clean Freak”

Snow White, “The Friendly One”

Belle, “The Studious One”

Mulan, “The Fighter”

Pocahontas, “The Peace Keeper”

Sleeping Beauty, “The Sleepy One”

Rapunzel, “The Sheltered One”

Tiana, “The Independent One”

Ariel, “The One Who Is Shy Around Men”

Elsa, “The Mom”

Anna, “The Impulsive One”

Say yes to new adventures!

It's full of opportunities to learn more things.

It's one of the easiest times to make friends.

It helps you learn how to think critically.

You get to focus on what you want to study.

Class is minutes away from your dorm.

. . . and the library

You won't be judged for going to class in your PJ's

You will truly create yourself.

If you are an ISU student, you will come across most of these things during your time on campus.

1. The wait for Buffalo Wild Wings is always going to be long on Thursday nights.

2. Another inevitable wait — the line at The Pub II on Wednesdays.

3. Your feet will automatically stick to the floor at Chasers.

4. The only place busier than The Alamo II during finals week for book returns is Chipotle on Halloween.

5. The. Train. Never. Stops. Choo-chooing.

6. The wind tunnel never gets better, and you never get used to it.

7. Your friends are either from a suburb of Chicago or a small town in Illinois — there is rarely an in between.

8. You know and probably love a bearded man named Bill Shields.

9. The squirrels on the quad double as our second mascot and wannabe pets.

10. The only time you really find yourself at the library is for a group project or during finals preparation.

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