This past weekend I went to Minnesota with the dance team to compete! We had so much fun! We went out to eat at TGI Friday's, we sat in the hot tub, and did some bonding activities in our coach's room. Though we didn't place, we raised our score by more than 1/5 from last year and we all felt really satisfied with the performance.
School lately has been kind of crazy, and I'm more than ready for a break. Next week all of my major research papers and presentations for the semester are due, so I tried really hard to get a good grip on everything this week so I don't have to bring it home for Thanksgiving break. Even though I'm sure the week after break will be extremely stressful, it's worth it to me to enjoy some time with family and friends.
I have a french exam today and then I'm heading home to Racine, WI. When I get there my brother David, mom, and boyfriend will all be waiting for me. Tonight we're going out for dinner and then who knows! On Thanksgiving my family and I just chill out. We don't do anything big (we still have turkey, dont' worry) and that's what I love most about it. It's one of the most relaxing days of the year. I've agreed to go shopping on Black Friday with my mom. This will be the first year since I was 16 that I don't have to work it...so from someone who's been on the other side, I'm scared! Other than that, I've kept my schedule free so I can do whatever the heck I want for a couple of days!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
A few new things:
The dance team is going to St. Thomas, MN this coming weekend for a competition! I'm really excited not just to compete, but to hang out with the girls for the weekend. Travelling with them is always so much fun. As preparation, we performed our "Viva la Vida" routine at a women's basketball game this weekend. Now we're working out some of the kinks this week in practice, and we should be set to go by Friday when we leave!
I'm also in the process of writing a big research paper for my Mark Twain class. Our assignment was to choose one piece of Twain's work and analyze it in comparison with his life, cirticism of the work, and other pieces he wrote. It may sound boring, but I've been learning about this guy all semester, so I'm looking forward to drawing some conclusions of my own.
I had to take my car in to Cliff's to be worked on. It's going to put me more than $600 in the hole to fix everything (ball joints, tie rods, etc.). It stinks, but I know that I'm not getting ripped off because Riponites, staff, and faculty have all given me good reviews.
It's starting to get colder, and that scares me. Now that I live in the Quads, it's a little bit further to walk to and from class (not that I really have any reason to complain). I think I better buy a warmer hat.
I'm also in the process of writing a big research paper for my Mark Twain class. Our assignment was to choose one piece of Twain's work and analyze it in comparison with his life, cirticism of the work, and other pieces he wrote. It may sound boring, but I've been learning about this guy all semester, so I'm looking forward to drawing some conclusions of my own.
I had to take my car in to Cliff's to be worked on. It's going to put me more than $600 in the hole to fix everything (ball joints, tie rods, etc.). It stinks, but I know that I'm not getting ripped off because Riponites, staff, and faculty have all given me good reviews.
It's starting to get colder, and that scares me. Now that I live in the Quads, it's a little bit further to walk to and from class (not that I really have any reason to complain). I think I better buy a warmer hat.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
It's 70 degrees and November...I love Wisconsin!
The weather has been very strange here. The past couple of days it's been beautiful, and this weekend it's supposed to snow. WEIRD!
This weekend was a lot of fun! My boyfriend came up on Friday and we watched "The Omen" with a bunch of friends. I hate scary movies, but my roomate told me I had to watch since it was Halloween. Saturday I had a dance performance that went really well. Later that night, my boyfriend and I went to a really nice restaurant in Fond du Lac called Theo's. We had so much fun! It was one of those nights where you can't stop laughing and smiling. Sunday was really relaxing. Mark and I built a fort...haha, I haven't built a fort in probably 10 years! It was awesome!
Today is election day, and I can't wait until it's over. I really and truly care about who the next President of the United States is, but I just want to know already! More than that, I want my roomate to know...so that I don't have to hear about it anymore. She's been doing a lot of work for this election. I can only hope that her choice of candidate wins, not only because I believe in him, but because Sara will be very difficult to deal with for the next couple of months if he doesn't! I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
This weekend was a lot of fun! My boyfriend came up on Friday and we watched "The Omen" with a bunch of friends. I hate scary movies, but my roomate told me I had to watch since it was Halloween. Saturday I had a dance performance that went really well. Later that night, my boyfriend and I went to a really nice restaurant in Fond du Lac called Theo's. We had so much fun! It was one of those nights where you can't stop laughing and smiling. Sunday was really relaxing. Mark and I built a fort...haha, I haven't built a fort in probably 10 years! It was awesome!
Today is election day, and I can't wait until it's over. I really and truly care about who the next President of the United States is, but I just want to know already! More than that, I want my roomate to know...so that I don't have to hear about it anymore. She's been doing a lot of work for this election. I can only hope that her choice of candidate wins, not only because I believe in him, but because Sara will be very difficult to deal with for the next couple of months if he doesn't! I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Registration, registration.
This week all students came back from fall break to find registration forms in their mail boxes! I know I'm such a dork for saying this...but figuring out which classes I'm going to take next semester is extremely exciting to me. For the past three semesters, I've gotten into my first choice of classes. So here's what I've got so far...
English: Poetry Aloud 4 credits
English: Contemporary Literature 4 credits
Communication: American Public Address 4 credits
Communication: Speech Practicum AKA Speakers Bureau 1 credit
Sociology: Intro to Sociology 4 credits
Education: Business, Education, and Economics in Jamaica 2 credits
The last class that I have listed is actually a "Maymester." Right after commencement, a few different departments offer students (regardless of their major) the opportunity to travel for 2-3 weeks to another country. In order to go, students usually have to take a course during the spring semester to gain knowledge about the place they're going. The cost is really minimal (they reand from $300 to $2800...mine is going to cost $1500), and for those students who aren't going to get the chance to go abroad, it's an excellent opportunity to have an experience in another country. I'm really excited about going! Even though I'm an English major, I'm really interested in educational policy. This will be an awesome chance to see what the educational system is like in Jamaica. Also, I'm going to Chicago in the Spring of 2010 for the Urban Studies Program. There I'll be able to supplement what I've learned in Jamaica by interning for someone who analyzes educational policy for a living. These two experiences will hopefully help me deicde what I want to do after I graduate from Ripon...graduate school for educationl policy? I hope so!
Off to do some work!
English: Poetry Aloud 4 credits
English: Contemporary Literature 4 credits
Communication: American Public Address 4 credits
Communication: Speech Practicum AKA Speakers Bureau 1 credit
Sociology: Intro to Sociology 4 credits
Education: Business, Education, and Economics in Jamaica 2 credits
The last class that I have listed is actually a "Maymester." Right after commencement, a few different departments offer students (regardless of their major) the opportunity to travel for 2-3 weeks to another country. In order to go, students usually have to take a course during the spring semester to gain knowledge about the place they're going. The cost is really minimal (they reand from $300 to $2800...mine is going to cost $1500), and for those students who aren't going to get the chance to go abroad, it's an excellent opportunity to have an experience in another country. I'm really excited about going! Even though I'm an English major, I'm really interested in educational policy. This will be an awesome chance to see what the educational system is like in Jamaica. Also, I'm going to Chicago in the Spring of 2010 for the Urban Studies Program. There I'll be able to supplement what I've learned in Jamaica by interning for someone who analyzes educational policy for a living. These two experiences will hopefully help me deicde what I want to do after I graduate from Ripon...graduate school for educationl policy? I hope so!
Off to do some work!
Monday, October 27, 2008
FALL BREAK!!!!
One of the many perks of going to Ripon? FALL BREAK! I left on Friday, October 17 and just got back last night. It felt really good to be here again. My best friend Ashlee came home for a weekend, and it was really good to have some "girl time." It's been a while since we were able to do that. This past weekend my brother and his fiance came to my hometown as well as my boyfriend's mom. Lots of visitors, but lots of fun!
What was really good about my break happened during the week on Monday and Friday. When I was a freshmen I took Public Speaking and then Advanced Public Speaking. I was then invited to become a part of an elite group called Speakers Bureau. Speakers Bureau is a hands-on class and requires that I set up my own syllabus. That means that I set up my own speaking engagements in the real world, I decide how much of my grade they will be worth, I decide what the criteria for grading is, and I write my own self-assessments. That may sound like "la-la" land, but it's not at all! I'm really passionate about speaking, so I want to make improvements. I think it goes to show that ultimately you have to improve upon yourself...no one else can do that for you. Anyway, one of the events I set up was to talk to two groups of 8th graders while they were one a field trip to a college. After all, who better to talk about college than a college student? Plus, higher education is something that I really believe in and it's one of my interest areas as I look forward at careers. I went to talk to students and they were so much fun! They had some awesome questions and got really involved in the conversation. It's really great to see young kids really examining the possibility of college and how to get there. That was by far the best part of my break.
This week looks preatty busy, but that's to be expected after a long break. Have a good one!
What was really good about my break happened during the week on Monday and Friday. When I was a freshmen I took Public Speaking and then Advanced Public Speaking. I was then invited to become a part of an elite group called Speakers Bureau. Speakers Bureau is a hands-on class and requires that I set up my own syllabus. That means that I set up my own speaking engagements in the real world, I decide how much of my grade they will be worth, I decide what the criteria for grading is, and I write my own self-assessments. That may sound like "la-la" land, but it's not at all! I'm really passionate about speaking, so I want to make improvements. I think it goes to show that ultimately you have to improve upon yourself...no one else can do that for you. Anyway, one of the events I set up was to talk to two groups of 8th graders while they were one a field trip to a college. After all, who better to talk about college than a college student? Plus, higher education is something that I really believe in and it's one of my interest areas as I look forward at careers. I went to talk to students and they were so much fun! They had some awesome questions and got really involved in the conversation. It's really great to see young kids really examining the possibility of college and how to get there. That was by far the best part of my break.
This week looks preatty busy, but that's to be expected after a long break. Have a good one!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Forgot to show some homecoming pictures!
Homecoming performance! The theme of this year's homecoming was "Wild, Wild Ripon" so the dance team did a routine to Boot Scootin' Baby. It was a lot of fun!
Some of the dance team standing around at our float decorating contest!
My dance coach, Steph!Monday, October 13, 2008
It's been a while...
The beginning of last week I was really sick, so I didn't do much except for eat, sleep, and go to class. I went to see the nurse here on campus, but I am allergic to all the meds that could have helped me. In a few days a bunch of sleep and vitiman c did the trick.
Then this weekend hit and I was feeling better. On Friday I went to my friend JoAnn's house to see where she's from. We went on a jeep ride through the corn fields and by the river, and we got stuck in the mud. It's so different than where I'm from, but it was so nice to finally see her house and meet her family.
Today is my brithday...I'M 20! It's so crazy to think about. I still feel like I'm 15, don't know how to drive, and that the world is such a big and scary place. I'm not a teenager anymore :( My roomate has been calling me an old fart all morning...got to love her. The two of us were hoping to go out for a birthday dinner, but today is too busy so that's being pushed back until tomorrow.
Everything else is still the same and even though this week is going to be extremely busy, Friday most of us get to leave for fall break!
Then this weekend hit and I was feeling better. On Friday I went to my friend JoAnn's house to see where she's from. We went on a jeep ride through the corn fields and by the river, and we got stuck in the mud. It's so different than where I'm from, but it was so nice to finally see her house and meet her family.
Today is my brithday...I'M 20! It's so crazy to think about. I still feel like I'm 15, don't know how to drive, and that the world is such a big and scary place. I'm not a teenager anymore :( My roomate has been calling me an old fart all morning...got to love her. The two of us were hoping to go out for a birthday dinner, but today is too busy so that's being pushed back until tomorrow.
Everything else is still the same and even though this week is going to be extremely busy, Friday most of us get to leave for fall break!
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