Classes...yes that's right. For probably the first time so far in college, I actually like ALL my classes. Last year, I had some classes I absolutely loved. My favorite was actually my 8:00 am Communications class. Then there was Western Traditions in which I loved the professor, but the content at times didn't spark my interest. However, this semester I am finding relevance in all my classes...*gasp* even my Consumer Chemistry class. Its kinda nice to be calculating answers and measuring things, after so many art classes of looking at still life drawings and analyzing. So I guess this Cornerstone education thing at Simpson is perhaps a good idea, because it adds a little bit a variety every now and then when you need it.
Besides classes starting this week...let's see...there's been a ton of other things going on too. The first year students arrived! I enjoyed moving all the first year students into the residence halls last Saturday. Not only did I get to have an amazing time hanging out with my fellow Greek students, but I enjoyed meeting so many new faces, and of course there are always a few chuckles at the girls who try to fit their whole walk-in closet into a little dorm room. lol...That was me a year ago, and I definitely learned to downsize. One season's worth of clothes at a time is definitely enough. :)
Last Sunday the infamous Stand Around! While it may not compare to last year's with the mechanical bull, perhaps the Tropical Sno and rock climbing wall were just as fun. I thought about joining in the dance off, but that was left up to Drew.
Throughout this week I've been busy adjusting class times, reading, and still having time for student activities. Wednesday night was a CAB lecture called Sex Signals. It was a great lecture that started off with the comedy of male/female stereotypes, college life, and dating. Throughout the lecture though it also focused on many points that college students need to be more aware of, kind of like the first year introduction of Risque Business.
By today (Friday), I'm so excited its the end of the week. Off to class at 2 and then its Labor Day weekend. Hmmm...free I-Cubs tickets tonight or a free movie on the square? I'll have to think about that in between my thoughts of World Politics at 2. :)
Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Tired of the Rain?
So is anybody else tired of all this rain? I know down here in Indianola there isn't too much, except for the rain today. On my way to Wal-Mart today I about got wiped out by a semi that splashed water on my little Grand Prix. I couldn't see out my windows while I was turning the corner. *scary*
Back home (Humboldt, Iowa) my parents are dealing with overwhelming flooding. Its sad to see so many people having to take everything out of their flooded basements. There's pretty much lakes in the streets. Not to mention the Des Moines River flooded its bank in our downtown area. Hopefully the rain stops and starts going down. There's no reason we should have to spend the last few days of summer stuck in the rain. I want to soak up the last of the hot summer sun. Hopefully at my sorority's pool party tomorrow! *fingers crossed* But I guess one good thing about the rain is fun activities like mud sliding. Last night some girls from my sorority house went mudsliding...lol...It made for a pretty interesting time.
The pictures to the left show a little bit of what everyone is going through right now with all the flooding. The first one is a flooded basement, and what most people in Humboldt are waking up to. I hope things get better for my hometown. The second picture used to be a backyard, until a pickup floated into it.
No Longer a First Year
As Saturday, August 25th approaches, I look back on just a year ago. It was me last year as a first year student moving into the unpredictable college life. I don't think anyone can ever quite be 100% prepared for college. I know I was so unsure of things moving in that first day. At times I wanted to turn around and drive right back home to Humboldt. Though quickly throughout the day I started to change my mind. By the end of the day I was so excited to be meeting 412 new first year students, and having my own dorm room.
One word of advice for all those new to college....take advantage of all the opportunities. That's what made my first year of college one of the best experiences ever. Right away within the first few weeks I got elected freshman class president, joined a sorority, gave my first campus tour, helped CAB set up for family weekend, took a Pilates class, and ate ice cream at President Byrd's house. I quickly learned Simpson is a place where everyone can get involved if you just show an ounce of initiative. I wasn't trying hard to get involved, rather I simply felt like getting out of my dorm room. There are so many campus organizations, and always something to be a part of.
Some of my greatest memories from freshman year include all the Orientation activities. The Wesley Woods day turned out to be a lot of fun. I think my LAS group really bonded over all the hassles of trying to do those high ropes courses. Then there was the Stand Around, and of course the weather couldn't have been worse. It was pouring all night, but that didn't stop my hall of girls in Kresge from participating. We were soaked to the bone, but still thought we'd try riding the mechanical bull. haha...It was an amazing night overall.
The awesome college experiences didn't end after Orientation though. They continued throughout the year with things like fundraising at Dickens of a Christmas (on the Indianola square), the CAB national convention in Nashville, my first spring break trip, helping out at Jr. Visit Day, and my first May Term Trip (Washington, D.C.).
I'm actually pretty sad I'll no longer be a freshman. I can't use the excuse of "Well I'm just a freshman!" Now its time to grow up, cause I'm no longer new to this college thing. :) Well I suppose I can still have a little bit of fun.
One word of advice for all those new to college....take advantage of all the opportunities. That's what made my first year of college one of the best experiences ever. Right away within the first few weeks I got elected freshman class president, joined a sorority, gave my first campus tour, helped CAB set up for family weekend, took a Pilates class, and ate ice cream at President Byrd's house. I quickly learned Simpson is a place where everyone can get involved if you just show an ounce of initiative. I wasn't trying hard to get involved, rather I simply felt like getting out of my dorm room. There are so many campus organizations, and always something to be a part of.
Some of my greatest memories from freshman year include all the Orientation activities. The Wesley Woods day turned out to be a lot of fun. I think my LAS group really bonded over all the hassles of trying to do those high ropes courses. Then there was the Stand Around, and of course the weather couldn't have been worse. It was pouring all night, but that didn't stop my hall of girls in Kresge from participating. We were soaked to the bone, but still thought we'd try riding the mechanical bull. haha...It was an amazing night overall.
The awesome college experiences didn't end after Orientation though. They continued throughout the year with things like fundraising at Dickens of a Christmas (on the Indianola square), the CAB national convention in Nashville, my first spring break trip, helping out at Jr. Visit Day, and my first May Term Trip (Washington, D.C.).
I'm actually pretty sad I'll no longer be a freshman. I can't use the excuse of "Well I'm just a freshman!" Now its time to grow up, cause I'm no longer new to this college thing. :) Well I suppose I can still have a little bit of fun.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Why I Love Iowa
The State Fair every year definitely gives me reason enough to love Iowa. I mean where else can you find endless blocks of hundreds of fried foods to try. Fried tenderloins, fried steak, fried Oreos, fried onions...the list goes on. One can never go wrong with funnel cake or an old-fashioned root beer float though. If the food isn't enough to make you love it, then there's always the 4-H exhibits. There definitely are some talented kids with amazing crafts. The art exhibit is always my favorite, especially the paintings and photography. I think next year I might try to enter my own artwork.
After the 4-H exhibits and the artwork, there's always the animal barns. Even though we see a cow or pig every 10 feet or so in Iowa...lol...its still fun to go look at them up close. Some of those cows there are enormous...a little bit scary to be standing next to.
This year at the State Fair I went to the Chris Cagle and Dierks Bentley concert. I don't even think I need to explain how amazing it was. Then again I'm in love with the country music. The performers though were completely down to earth and put on a great show. Dierks Bentley jumped into the crowd a couple of times. Too bad I wasn't in the front section. He also took someone on stage with him, and I must admit I was a little bit jealous at that point. lol. By the end of the night my ears were ringing from singing so loud, and I was still on that concert high.
Gotta love the rush of energy you get from concerts! Perhaps I'll drop out of college and become a groupie...jk. Speaking of college, classes start pretty soon and I move into my sorority house this Saturday. I can't wait to see everyone again and meet all the new faces for incoming first year students.
Only 13 more days 'til class!
After the 4-H exhibits and the artwork, there's always the animal barns. Even though we see a cow or pig every 10 feet or so in Iowa...lol...its still fun to go look at them up close. Some of those cows there are enormous...a little bit scary to be standing next to.
This year at the State Fair I went to the Chris Cagle and Dierks Bentley concert. I don't even think I need to explain how amazing it was. Then again I'm in love with the country music. The performers though were completely down to earth and put on a great show. Dierks Bentley jumped into the crowd a couple of times. Too bad I wasn't in the front section. He also took someone on stage with him, and I must admit I was a little bit jealous at that point. lol. By the end of the night my ears were ringing from singing so loud, and I was still on that concert high.
Gotta love the rush of energy you get from concerts! Perhaps I'll drop out of college and become a groupie...jk. Speaking of college, classes start pretty soon and I move into my sorority house this Saturday. I can't wait to see everyone again and meet all the new faces for incoming first year students.
Only 13 more days 'til class!
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
The BIG Country Bash!
Written 6/26/07
This past weekend turned out to be more exciting than I could have imagined. It all started off with the extreme weather on Friday night. I guess the tornado sirens going off in Indianola on Thursday night just weren't enough. There was a tornado warning in effect on Friday evening too.Smart as I am, I was on my way to Des Moines on Friday evening when the tornado warning was in effect. Just as I was almost out of Indianola the sky started getting really dark. I figured it was probably a good idea to pull over, so I proceeded to park in a car wash as the storm passed over.
Let me tell you that sitting in a car wash listening to the National Weather Service noise beeping on the radio is not a calming feeling.I took some pictures though with my digital camera while waiting for the storm to end. Turns out there were two tornadoes that night in Cumming and Norwalk. Pretty scary weather that night.
Saturday and Sunday was filled with almost 24 hours of country music. My roommate and I went to the Big Country Bash at Waterworks Park in Des Moines!
There were around twelve performers at the bash. The lineup was:
Jason Brown (An amazing guy from Iowa),
Bombshel,
Luke Bryan, (picture to the left)
Jamie O'Neal,
Tracy Byrd,
Clay Walker,
Sarah Buxton,
Carolina Rain,
Danielle Peck,
Jake Owen,
Billy Currington,
and Blake Shelton.
This past weekend turned out to be more exciting than I could have imagined. It all started off with the extreme weather on Friday night. I guess the tornado sirens going off in Indianola on Thursday night just weren't enough. There was a tornado warning in effect on Friday evening too.Smart as I am, I was on my way to Des Moines on Friday evening when the tornado warning was in effect. Just as I was almost out of Indianola the sky started getting really dark. I figured it was probably a good idea to pull over, so I proceeded to park in a car wash as the storm passed over.
Let me tell you that sitting in a car wash listening to the National Weather Service noise beeping on the radio is not a calming feeling.I took some pictures though with my digital camera while waiting for the storm to end. Turns out there were two tornadoes that night in Cumming and Norwalk. Pretty scary weather that night.
Saturday and Sunday was filled with almost 24 hours of country music. My roommate and I went to the Big Country Bash at Waterworks Park in Des Moines!
There were around twelve performers at the bash. The lineup was:
Jason Brown (An amazing guy from Iowa),
Bombshel,
Luke Bryan, (picture to the left)
Jamie O'Neal,
Tracy Byrd,
Clay Walker,
Sarah Buxton,
Carolina Rain,
Danielle Peck,
Jake Owen,
Billy Currington,
and Blake Shelton.
I've been to a lot of concerts before, but the Country Bash was something completely different. It was a really fun atmosphere full of country music, cowboy hats, and great food. The time I spent there definitely turned me into a hardcore country fan. I wish the bash would have lasted all week. There's no way I'm missing out on next year! Plus, I didn't realize Jason Brown is a country singer from Iowa. He's pretty good, and not to mention he's going to be at the Warren County Fair. Count me in! :)
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