Tuesday, May 12, 2009

"It'll be good. It'll be like going home!" - The 88

I'm going home today! YAYAYAY! I'm very excited for summer to begin. Not only will I get home-cooked meals and my bathroom back, but I have a great job, Brewers games, Summerfest, camping, a trip to NY, my brother's wedding to look forward to; it's going to be an amazing summer! It's time to kick back, relax, and enjoy the next few months.

This morning Sara and I packed up everything in our room and loaded my car. The room looks strange now. It's funny how a whole year can be packed up in a matter of a few short days. The girl who will be living in our room next year came to check it out yesterday...so it's official: it's not ours anymore.

Sometimes while I'm in the moment, I get stressed out and forget all the great things that are going on in my life. But looking back on this year, I feel really proud and happy about everything that happened. I interned in the Admission office, I spoke to several new groups for Speakers Bureau, I got nominated for a national graduate study scholarship, I kept my grades at a 4.0, I joined ADPi, and I landed a great job for the summer. (Haha, looks like a lot happened.) But all of that wouldn't matter if I didn't love the people around me. This year, I made a bunch of new friends, and my pre-existing relationships have grown stronger. Right now, I feel like I have it all!

I can't wait to be revitalized to come back for another go-round next year. Talk to you soon!

Monday, May 4, 2009

The end is near!

This past weekend was Springfest. It was SO much fun! A Dave Matthews cover band and "Reel Big Fish" played, and they were both a blast. Also, a couple of my friends threw pies in my face for charity. It was a fun, good, and warm day! I'm so happy that I can finally say this: summer is on it's way!

It's not just the weather that's making me think of summer, it's also because the semester is finally coming to an end. Today was my last day of three of my five classes, and tomorrow is the actual last day of class for everyone! It's exciting, but also a little bit scary to think about all the stuff I have to do before I leave.

I packed most of my room yesterday and sent it home with Mark. It's weird now...the walls are white and my futon is gone...BOO! But, I also finally feel like I'm going to be leaving soon. And, it's a relief to know that most of my packing is complete.

I have four finals. Poetry on Thursday, Philosophy on Saturday, American Public Address on Monday, and Contemporary Literature on Tuesday. It may sound like a lot, but even though I technically have four finals, three of those are "take home" exams. Basically, that means I have three papers to write and only one actual exam (that's the life of an English major). Tomorrow, I have to dig in on papers and studying.

It won't be all work and no play for me, though. I'm going to be saying goodbye to some of my best friends, so I'm planning on having a fantastically fun-filled week!

Monday, April 27, 2009

It's been a while!

We're in our last full week of classes! I cannot believe it , this semester has zoomed by! I mean, don't get me wrong...it was the hardest semester I've had yet academically. But it was so chalk-full of events and homework that time just flew! I'm really proud of myself this semester. I've dedicated so much time to my studies, and I know it's going to really show when I get my grade report. It feels good to know that I worked hard. Now all that's left is the last little push through finals, and then I get to go home, spend LOTS of time with friends and family, travel, and make money!

The past couple of days I've also been thinking about how to pack all my things to move out! Am I going to have enough boxes? How many trips do I need to make to get all of my things home? Will I need to store anything here over the summer? It's such a weird experience, moving out. I've made my room my home for an entire year, and I'll never be back inside of it again. Unless, of course, I wind up being friends with the people who live there next semester. Taking down pictures and memories makes the room feel empty, and I guess it is without all of the cozy things my roomate and I decorated with! Next year, I'll put up different pictures and posters and I'll make a new room my home. College is so WEIRD!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Here are a couple of formal photos I promised weeks ago!

Me, my Big sister Megan, and my Grandma


JoAnn, Kailey and me








Friday, April 10, 2009

Easter weekend and such.

Easter is this Sunday, and a lot of students are heading home to spend the weekend with family...and I'm one of them! I'm bringing my roomate, Sara, with me. She lives in California, so she couldn't go home for the weekend. Plus, I thought it would be nice to show her Racine. After all, we've lived together for nearly two years now. It's about time she came home with me! I love giving tours...she's in for a treat! Hopefully she really doesn't want to do anything too exciting. All I can think about right now is sleep...ohh my gosh, how I miss it!

Last night Sara Wimmer got initiated into ADPi, and I didn't end up getting back to my room until around 12:30. I know that doesn't seem late, and I guess its really not. But when you have to wake up at 7:00 every day, and when you're definitely not a morning person (like me), then it really takes a lot out of you. I'm not looking forward to the car drive home today, I always get even more tired when I'm driving. I wish I could just snap my fingers and be home!...at least Sara will be there to keep me company!

I've gotten a good leg up on that to-do list I have on my last post. I started my American Public Address topic, I finished research for my Speakers Bureau in-class, and I'm starting research for my poetry and contemporary lit. presentations today. I think as long as I continue to stay on top of things, the last three weeks of class should go fairly smoothly.

Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

It's a beautiful day...and I'm getting old!

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and it's slightly....WARM! Yes, I said it!

I'm so happy because I finished a poetry paper I've been trying to get through for weeks. I've never had such bad writer's block. Every time I sat down to write that paper, I couldn't think of ideas....at least not good ones. I talked to my professor several times, and each time I realized what I shotty idea I was bringing to him. But, alas! It is finished...and I think it's good. We'll see when I get my grade back. Speaking of grades, I also received my second American Public Address exam back today...another 100%! I felt awesome after that.

Tonight I don't think I'll be doing much, or at least I hope not. I want to just relax and hang out with friends. It's been a stressful couple of days, especially since I made a list today of all the big projects I have before the semester ends in four weeks...this is scary, take a look:
1. Write a 6 page Contemporary Literature paper.
2. Write a 7 page American Public Address paper in which I define and justify criteria for the greatest piece of American rhetoric, and select a speech that fits my critieria. Any contraditions within the paper result in an "F"...P.S. this is worth 15% of my overall semester grade.
3. Write a 5 page philosophy paper.
4. 25-minute group presentation for Contemporary Literature.
5. 25-minute group presentation for Poetry Aloud.
6. Speaker's Bureau in-class speech.
7. Speakers Bureau presentation about cyber-bullying to the local Kiwanis group.
8. 4 page reflection of the semester for Speakers Bureau.

That list doesn't include thing I have to do for finals...three of which are final papers and one of which is an exam. YIKES! I just want to play outside forever! It's truly scary how fast the end of this semester crept up on me. I have no idea where the time went. In fact, I still feel like I'm 16 and only have my learner's permit. When did I trun 20?

Well, enough reflection for the day. I need to go soak up some of the nice weather!

Monday, April 6, 2009

Admission Possible and Weather

Today I'm speaking to a group called Admission Possible at 4:15. I'm really excited about it! Last year, I talked to the same group (of about 25 students?) and they were amazing...so smart, diverse, such good questions, and just fun all around. I'm giving a talk about the student experience at Ripon for about 45 minutes with Q and A. I'm looking forward to the kinds of questions the students ask this year. It should be a good time!

Other than that, I had a really good weekend and did absolutely everything I planned on. Also, the weathermen keep saying it going to snow (yes, snow...in April...it's Wisconsin), and it hasn't yet. So I'm crossing my fingers that it stays this way! I just want spring to hurry up and bring me summer!