Every two years, Alpha Phi Omega holds its national convention. Brothers from all over the country (and even from some other countries) come for four days of leadership, friendship, service and brotherhood.
This year the convention was in Boston, Massachusetts - home of the Green Monster, Cheers, Paul Revere, some killer seafood (so I'm told), Hahvahd, and a harbor full of tea. I was excited that it was in Boston because I had never been there before and it was bound to be cool because, well, it's Boston.
Unfortunately, I didn't get to see a whole lot of the city. I did get to Fenway Park (boo on the Red Sox) and Chinatown (which was more scary than cool) but most of my time was spent in the hotel convention-ing.
And that was AWESOME.
It was so incredible (I wish I could come up with a better word to express the amazingness) to see APO on such a large scale. Before I just thought about my little chapter on my little campus doing little service projects and things like that - but it's HUGE. There are chapters EVERYWHERE and it was a really powerful reminder that I am (and my chapter is), in fact, part of a VERY large whole. It was a wonderful feeling.
And it was interesting, too. One APO chapter isn't like another APO chapter and they're not like the next APO chapter. Every single chapter does SOMETHING differently. And from time to time I didn't really like or agree with their policies or the way they do things, but it was still interesting to hear about.
On the other hand, I spoke to lots of brothers from other chapters who gave me great ideas I want to take back to my own chapter and I in turn gave other brothers ideas to take back to THEIR chapters. It was really, really interesting just to talk to other people.
At the convention I was my chapter's voting delegate. Each chapter gets two voting delegates (my chaper only had one) to participate in legislation. Legislation is where various committees bring forth various proposals and resolutions to be voted on by the legislative body as a whole. There are long hours and you don't have time to run around and explore the city or go to other workshops that are being offered, but to me it was a sacrifice I was willing to make. Being part of legislation was awesome, and I was overwhelmingly proud to represent my chapter on the legislative floor. I was only one person with one vote, obviously, but I was helping change national APO policy. It was extremely rewarding.
The convention was a blur of excitement, deliriousness (little sleep was had) and enthusiasm and I loved every minute of it. It was an awesome feeling to be surrounded by 2,000 people who love APO and what it represents just as much as I do.
At the end of the convention there was an awards banquet. The convention committee took turns speaking and crying and hugging and thanking each other, various awesome chapters were recognized, and everybody was able to reflect on their time in Boston and with each other. We all tied our napkins together to represent being connected as loyal brothers in leadership, friendship and service.
Then, all 2,000 of us got up out of our seats and formed a circle around the massive ballroom that had to be the size of a football field (we had to actually make a two-layered circle), and sang the APO toast song. Yes, we have a song. That was hands down one of the coolest parts of the convention. It was like in that movie Drumline - one band, one sound. We were one massive group celebrating APO together as one.
It was great meeting people and learning new things about other chapters, but I think it was the contagious enthusiasm and love and passion for APO that I loved the most. Lately there have been some changes in my chapter and I know it's not everything it can be and, particularly last semester, I became frustrated and discouraged. But the convention put the APO twinkle back in my eye and I'm ready to take my APO high back home to my chapter and share with them everything I gained this week.
Monday, December 29, 2008
The Christmas Trick
This year Christmas went a little differently. Usually we, like, unwrap presents and, like, get the presents we unwrap.
That wasn't completely the case this year.
We looked in our stockings and pulled out some kind of random things with paper taped to them. The paper had the name of a real gift taped to it. For example, I got a "butterfly calendar" in my stocking but I really got an empty jewelry box. It was pretty funny and, honestly, really unexpected.
Then we started opening tree presents and there was a small cylindrical one that piqued my curiosity. I opened it and found a can of tomato paste with a label that said "hat" on it. I was confused. I definitely didn't expect to continue to get what my parents called "virtual presents."
My brother and I continued to open presents finding some real ones and some virtual ones that included a cardboard box with plastic bags and screws, canned food, books we already owned, and empty cd cases.
Eventually we were surprised when Mom gave us these really gorgeous santa sacks that she MADE full of the gifts we had received "virtually". Mom and Dad just got tired of us being able to guess what all of our presents were. Well, they definitely fooled us this year. Nothing was as it seemed. In the end it was fun and I liked not knowing what my gifts were. But one thing's for certain - they definitely fooled us.
That wasn't completely the case this year.
We looked in our stockings and pulled out some kind of random things with paper taped to them. The paper had the name of a real gift taped to it. For example, I got a "butterfly calendar" in my stocking but I really got an empty jewelry box. It was pretty funny and, honestly, really unexpected.
Then we started opening tree presents and there was a small cylindrical one that piqued my curiosity. I opened it and found a can of tomato paste with a label that said "hat" on it. I was confused. I definitely didn't expect to continue to get what my parents called "virtual presents."
My brother and I continued to open presents finding some real ones and some virtual ones that included a cardboard box with plastic bags and screws, canned food, books we already owned, and empty cd cases.
Eventually we were surprised when Mom gave us these really gorgeous santa sacks that she MADE full of the gifts we had received "virtually". Mom and Dad just got tired of us being able to guess what all of our presents were. Well, they definitely fooled us this year. Nothing was as it seemed. In the end it was fun and I liked not knowing what my gifts were. But one thing's for certain - they definitely fooled us.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Takin' Care of Business
Ever since I moved into Drake West Village, I've had the most annoying trouble with my internet. I'll be surfing the net, minding my own business, and then out of nowhere, my signal will break for like ten seconds, I'll get booted off iChat, and my tetris game won't load. It was really quite ridiculous. I mean, half of my ever-so-important chats with AIM buddy Ryan ended up consisting of the messages one of us missed when I was unexpectedly kicked off the internet .. again. And I don't even want to tell you how it hurt my tetris game.
Last night was beyond bad. I was being kicked off every two minutes it seemed and I couldn't get anything done. And I mean real stuff - not just my chats and tetris - I was actually working on things.
Realizing that enough was enough, today I decided to take matters into my own hands. I went out to the router box thingy (excuse my excessively complex technological terminology) and unplugged it and reset it thinking SURELY this would solve the problem.
Guess what?
IT DID!
Our internet no longer blips out on us all the time. It just... doesn't work at all.
Oops.
My roommate called her computer tech mom and boyfriend and they couldn't help us, and neither could my dad. All three gave us the same answer: call Qwest. Realizing that if I hadn't effed things up in the first place we wouldn't be in this situation, I decided that I should be the one to call.
So I called one number and finally made it through all the menus - only to talk to a person on the other end who did nothing but give me a new number to call. So I called that number. The guy needed the phone number the account was under. There was a phone number on the router box, so I gave him that. Apparently that didn't work. The phone number I gave him didn't at all match my address. Then he asked me for an account number off my billing statement which, of course, I don't have because DWV takes care of all that stuff. I talked to four people and nobody understood my living situation. I got frustrated, hung up, and went to talk to the DWV office where I got a new number to call and I was told to give the tech guy the room number ("My room has a phone number???").
I called the guy. I explained the problem. I gave him my room phone number (still kind of amazed that my room HAD a phone number...). I waited. And I waited. I was then told that there was no DSL service connected to the phone number I provided at all, and that I should probably call DirecTV.
"DirecTV? I should call them if I'm having problems with Qwest internet?"
"Yes, for the Choice TV."
"What..??? Uh... ok."
I didn't call DirecTV. Instead I went back down to the office and re-explained my situation. Apparently I'm not the only one struggling with Qwest tech support people. Drake West Village has kindly started to take care of things for me. Unfortunately, this all happened right around 4:30 and the office closes at 5, so for the night at least, my apartment (and my very agitated roomies) are without internet.
They can get over it, though. All they really need it for is youtube and flash games so maybe this way they'll actually study for finals. As for me, I DO need the internet and I'm sitting in the laundry room bumming a signal. Hey, it's nice down here. It's warm, it smells good, there's internet AND tv. What more could I ask for really?
Last night was beyond bad. I was being kicked off every two minutes it seemed and I couldn't get anything done. And I mean real stuff - not just my chats and tetris - I was actually working on things.
Realizing that enough was enough, today I decided to take matters into my own hands. I went out to the router box thingy (excuse my excessively complex technological terminology) and unplugged it and reset it thinking SURELY this would solve the problem.
Guess what?
IT DID!
Our internet no longer blips out on us all the time. It just... doesn't work at all.
Oops.
My roommate called her computer tech mom and boyfriend and they couldn't help us, and neither could my dad. All three gave us the same answer: call Qwest. Realizing that if I hadn't effed things up in the first place we wouldn't be in this situation, I decided that I should be the one to call.
So I called one number and finally made it through all the menus - only to talk to a person on the other end who did nothing but give me a new number to call. So I called that number. The guy needed the phone number the account was under. There was a phone number on the router box, so I gave him that. Apparently that didn't work. The phone number I gave him didn't at all match my address. Then he asked me for an account number off my billing statement which, of course, I don't have because DWV takes care of all that stuff. I talked to four people and nobody understood my living situation. I got frustrated, hung up, and went to talk to the DWV office where I got a new number to call and I was told to give the tech guy the room number ("My room has a phone number???").
I called the guy. I explained the problem. I gave him my room phone number (still kind of amazed that my room HAD a phone number...). I waited. And I waited. I was then told that there was no DSL service connected to the phone number I provided at all, and that I should probably call DirecTV.
"DirecTV? I should call them if I'm having problems with Qwest internet?"
"Yes, for the Choice TV."
"What..??? Uh... ok."
I didn't call DirecTV. Instead I went back down to the office and re-explained my situation. Apparently I'm not the only one struggling with Qwest tech support people. Drake West Village has kindly started to take care of things for me. Unfortunately, this all happened right around 4:30 and the office closes at 5, so for the night at least, my apartment (and my very agitated roomies) are without internet.
They can get over it, though. All they really need it for is youtube and flash games so maybe this way they'll actually study for finals. As for me, I DO need the internet and I'm sitting in the laundry room bumming a signal. Hey, it's nice down here. It's warm, it smells good, there's internet AND tv. What more could I ask for really?
Need a study break?
Stressed much? Sad that the most wonderful time of the year is shrouded with pressure and stress. Instead of going shopping or skating or baking Christmas cookies, we're stuck with our noses in books trying to memorize information we're just going to forget the instant we're done taking the exam.
If you're feeling finals a little more than you'd like to, take a moment to take a study break and check out these youtube videos. Just make sure you're taking a study break to watch videos and not taking a break from videos to study. :D
Jeff Dunham - ventriloquist extraordinaire
This one
This one
This one
They're all hilarious
Straight No Chaser - awesome a capella group. Very cool stuff.
Twelve Days of Christmas
There own personal theme song
Lion Sleeps tonight
Now get back to work!
If you're feeling finals a little more than you'd like to, take a moment to take a study break and check out these youtube videos. Just make sure you're taking a study break to watch videos and not taking a break from videos to study. :D
Jeff Dunham - ventriloquist extraordinaire
This one
This one
This one
They're all hilarious
Straight No Chaser - awesome a capella group. Very cool stuff.
Twelve Days of Christmas
There own personal theme song
Lion Sleeps tonight
Now get back to work!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
10 bad ideas from this semester
Nine days (and two papers, two exams, and a nasty apartment) and counting away from a whole month of ZERO academic responsibility. NONE. I had my days this semester where I got a whole lot of nothing done just like everybody else, but winter break is that magical time where you don't have to feel guilty about it... BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING TO DO! And thank goodness because this semester has been absolutely BRUTAL. As such, I thought I'd share with you my list of 10 bad ideas from this semester.
1. If you're picking classes and there are two English classes that sound mildly interesting, and in the course description each one lists some of the books you'll be reading, make sure you add those lists together to get a more accurate idea of how much you'll REALLY be reading that semester. Then you might want to add about 25% to that just to cover the other classes you'll have. Bottom line: taking American Lit and British Lit in the same semester was a BAD IDEA. Stay tuned for another post discussing just how many pages I read this semester.
2. If you're walking to class and think it'll be quicker to walk on top of the frozen snow that's where the grass used to be wearing nothing (on your feet) but worn out sneakers, think again. As it turns out, frozen things are slippery and the worn tread on my sneakers was no match for it at all. Theoretically I would have gotten to class faster, but in reality I was later because I had to pick up the scattered pieces of my pride after I fell flat on my butt. Bottom line: sneakers and ice is a BAD IDEA.
3. If you need to cross 31st street and there are no cars coming, feel free to cross without hitting the crosswalk button. If innocently out of habit you push it and cross, you'll be well accross campus without realizing that you stopped a whole string of traffic for no reason whatsoever. And, believe me, the drivers who use 31st frequently hate that crosswalk button and the people who use it and abuse it. More than once I've seen drivers zoom through the light before it can change, while intentionally driving too close to the curb. Bottom line: overusing the crosswalk button is a BAD IDEA.
4. If you decide, for whatever reason, that you can get away with missing the first week of class, you're wrong. Granted, I missed the first week for a reason that was totally worth it. Right around the time I would have been in econ, I was watching the first black man in history accept his presidential nomination. Kind of a big deal. Even bigger now that he actually won. So, yeah. It was worth it. It doesn't mean it didn't suck, though - missing classes, that is. The first week is always just review of the syllabus, but somehow when I got back I felt super behind and felt like I was racing to catch up weeks and weeks afterwards. Bottom line: missing the first week of classes is a BAD IDEA.
5. If you have something in a shiny wrapper, chances are high that there's going to be traces of some sort of metal in the wrapper. As such, putting it in the microwave isn't a good idea. I had a little pat of butter I needed to melt in a shiny gold wrapper and thought putting it in the microwave would get it nice and soft. After about two seconds sparks were flying and my butter practically evaporated. Bottom line: metalic-looking wrappers PROBABLY have metal in them and putting them in the microwave is a BAD IDEA.
6. If you're trying to get ahead of the game and order your books before the semester starts, make sure you're getting books for the right classes. Professors tend to teach several different classes, some of which might be similar to the one you're taking, but not exactly the same. In this situation it's easy to end up with a bunch of books you don't need, causing several last-minute trips to the bookstore for the books you DO need. Bottom line: buying books you don't need is a BAD IDEA.
7. If you get a store credit card - say, for instance, a Khol's card - keep on top of using it and paying the bill. Having only one credit card is easy because I know that around the 8th of every month, I have to pay them. I can transfer my money and pay my bill in a timely fashion. My Khol's card threw me off a little. I got the bill but simply forgot about it and ended up paying two days late and incurring a late fee of almost 30 bucks which practically doubled my original bill. Bottom line: being irresponsible with multiple credit cards is a BAD IDEA.
8. If you have a lot to do, youtube is not your friend. It wouldn't be so bad if next to every video you watch it has ten more videos related to the topic. It's part of their evil plan to make everybody fail out of school. If I could somehow get someone to block me from youtube, I'd do it. Just for the next week or so. Lately I've been watching Jeff Dunham videos. It's bad news. Bottom line: watching videos instead of studying is a BAD IDEA.
9. For that matter, if your friend who sits next to you in class brings her laptop and plays tetris the whole time, try and resist checking out tetris on your own time. You'll never stop. It'll suck you in and never let you go. I'd never played tetris before this semester and I can't get enough. It's amazing. The lines disappear and it's so satisfying. The version I play CLAIMS it only goes up to level 10, but I've made it to level 11. And that's just so disappointing because I thought if I maybe beat tetris I could conquer my addiction once and for all. Little do I realize NOBODY can beat tetris. Bottom line: playing tetris is a BAD IDEA.
10. If you pick classes and realize you have Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays off... you should also consider that that also means you have A LOT of classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Not only that, but you can't even consider Wednesdays as off days because you're so busy doing all the homework for your Thursday classes. Sure, a four-day weekend looks good on paper, but Tuesdays and Thursdays NEVER END it seems. Wouldn't it be better to spread out the classes and the work load? Yes. Bottom line: having all your classes on the same days is a BAD IDEA.
1. If you're picking classes and there are two English classes that sound mildly interesting, and in the course description each one lists some of the books you'll be reading, make sure you add those lists together to get a more accurate idea of how much you'll REALLY be reading that semester. Then you might want to add about 25% to that just to cover the other classes you'll have. Bottom line: taking American Lit and British Lit in the same semester was a BAD IDEA. Stay tuned for another post discussing just how many pages I read this semester.
2. If you're walking to class and think it'll be quicker to walk on top of the frozen snow that's where the grass used to be wearing nothing (on your feet) but worn out sneakers, think again. As it turns out, frozen things are slippery and the worn tread on my sneakers was no match for it at all. Theoretically I would have gotten to class faster, but in reality I was later because I had to pick up the scattered pieces of my pride after I fell flat on my butt. Bottom line: sneakers and ice is a BAD IDEA.
3. If you need to cross 31st street and there are no cars coming, feel free to cross without hitting the crosswalk button. If innocently out of habit you push it and cross, you'll be well accross campus without realizing that you stopped a whole string of traffic for no reason whatsoever. And, believe me, the drivers who use 31st frequently hate that crosswalk button and the people who use it and abuse it. More than once I've seen drivers zoom through the light before it can change, while intentionally driving too close to the curb. Bottom line: overusing the crosswalk button is a BAD IDEA.
4. If you decide, for whatever reason, that you can get away with missing the first week of class, you're wrong. Granted, I missed the first week for a reason that was totally worth it. Right around the time I would have been in econ, I was watching the first black man in history accept his presidential nomination. Kind of a big deal. Even bigger now that he actually won. So, yeah. It was worth it. It doesn't mean it didn't suck, though - missing classes, that is. The first week is always just review of the syllabus, but somehow when I got back I felt super behind and felt like I was racing to catch up weeks and weeks afterwards. Bottom line: missing the first week of classes is a BAD IDEA.
5. If you have something in a shiny wrapper, chances are high that there's going to be traces of some sort of metal in the wrapper. As such, putting it in the microwave isn't a good idea. I had a little pat of butter I needed to melt in a shiny gold wrapper and thought putting it in the microwave would get it nice and soft. After about two seconds sparks were flying and my butter practically evaporated. Bottom line: metalic-looking wrappers PROBABLY have metal in them and putting them in the microwave is a BAD IDEA.
6. If you're trying to get ahead of the game and order your books before the semester starts, make sure you're getting books for the right classes. Professors tend to teach several different classes, some of which might be similar to the one you're taking, but not exactly the same. In this situation it's easy to end up with a bunch of books you don't need, causing several last-minute trips to the bookstore for the books you DO need. Bottom line: buying books you don't need is a BAD IDEA.
7. If you get a store credit card - say, for instance, a Khol's card - keep on top of using it and paying the bill. Having only one credit card is easy because I know that around the 8th of every month, I have to pay them. I can transfer my money and pay my bill in a timely fashion. My Khol's card threw me off a little. I got the bill but simply forgot about it and ended up paying two days late and incurring a late fee of almost 30 bucks which practically doubled my original bill. Bottom line: being irresponsible with multiple credit cards is a BAD IDEA.
8. If you have a lot to do, youtube is not your friend. It wouldn't be so bad if next to every video you watch it has ten more videos related to the topic. It's part of their evil plan to make everybody fail out of school. If I could somehow get someone to block me from youtube, I'd do it. Just for the next week or so. Lately I've been watching Jeff Dunham videos. It's bad news. Bottom line: watching videos instead of studying is a BAD IDEA.
9. For that matter, if your friend who sits next to you in class brings her laptop and plays tetris the whole time, try and resist checking out tetris on your own time. You'll never stop. It'll suck you in and never let you go. I'd never played tetris before this semester and I can't get enough. It's amazing. The lines disappear and it's so satisfying. The version I play CLAIMS it only goes up to level 10, but I've made it to level 11. And that's just so disappointing because I thought if I maybe beat tetris I could conquer my addiction once and for all. Little do I realize NOBODY can beat tetris. Bottom line: playing tetris is a BAD IDEA.
10. If you pick classes and realize you have Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays off... you should also consider that that also means you have A LOT of classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Not only that, but you can't even consider Wednesdays as off days because you're so busy doing all the homework for your Thursday classes. Sure, a four-day weekend looks good on paper, but Tuesdays and Thursdays NEVER END it seems. Wouldn't it be better to spread out the classes and the work load? Yes. Bottom line: having all your classes on the same days is a BAD IDEA.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Fabric Softener
You'd think that as a third year college student, I'd know the general ins and outs of doing my own laundry. And I like to think I do. I don't separate my laundry simply because I can't afford to, but I know you're supposed to - and when the magical day comes when I have my own washer and dryer and can do as much laundry whenever I like, I'll be glad to separate my lights and my darks. For now, however, at $2.25 per load (plus some if the dryer doesn't do it's job properly which isn't an uncommon problem) I'll just throw it all on the pile.
On Saturday I left home to come back to school after Thanksgiving break and Mom did my laundry for me because she's nice like that. I took the stack of clean clothes off the counter and noticed two things: they smelled REALLY good and they were REALLY soft. I mean REALLY, REALLY soft. And two days later, I still can't stop smelling my laundry.
At first I just thought it was one of those things like sandwiches. I can make my own sandwiches, but they always taste better when Mom makes them. So I figured sandwiches, and now laundry, would just always be infinitely better at home no matter what I did.
But, alas, there IS something I can do. I asked Mom what her laundry secret is and she kind of just looked at me and it was in that moment I was reintroduced to dryer sheets. I used to use dryer sheets freshman year, but I ran out and just never bought new ones. I figured I didn't even really need them.
I was wrong. And I didn't even realize they acted as a fabric softener. I thought they just made your clothes lets staticy. Little did I know. All this time I've been missing out on true laundry bliss.
How does one little waxy sheet make all your clothes so soft? I'll never know the answer. I'll just be impressed.
On Saturday I left home to come back to school after Thanksgiving break and Mom did my laundry for me because she's nice like that. I took the stack of clean clothes off the counter and noticed two things: they smelled REALLY good and they were REALLY soft. I mean REALLY, REALLY soft. And two days later, I still can't stop smelling my laundry.
At first I just thought it was one of those things like sandwiches. I can make my own sandwiches, but they always taste better when Mom makes them. So I figured sandwiches, and now laundry, would just always be infinitely better at home no matter what I did.
But, alas, there IS something I can do. I asked Mom what her laundry secret is and she kind of just looked at me and it was in that moment I was reintroduced to dryer sheets. I used to use dryer sheets freshman year, but I ran out and just never bought new ones. I figured I didn't even really need them.
I was wrong. And I didn't even realize they acted as a fabric softener. I thought they just made your clothes lets staticy. Little did I know. All this time I've been missing out on true laundry bliss.
How does one little waxy sheet make all your clothes so soft? I'll never know the answer. I'll just be impressed.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Graduation
You know what's scary to think about? Graduation.
It keeps me up at night.
I'm only a junior but graduation is coming up and it's coming up fast. Three semesters is nothing. It's really not. 45 more credits, two capstones, and only three more journalism classes and that's pretty much it for me. From there it's job hunting, apartment hunting, and student loan payments.
Frankly, it's terrifying.
In some respects it's also exciting. This semester more than any other I feel so burned out and over school. I want to be done and I want something new and I want to be an adult. Or something. But I know I'll miss it when it's gone, so I shouldn't wish it away. Heck, I've got it easy now. Relatively. At this point though it just seems monotonous and endless. It's probably thanks to my classes. I'm not exactly thrilled with them this semester. They're loads of work but not rewarding and that's frustrating. It seems strange that change, something we all fear to some extent, can also be something we crave.
I'm ready, but I'm not. Not that it matters since I can't exactly make the decision to graduate tomorrow.
And it's not just my graduation that has me a little anxious. I know a lot of people who are graduating this year and I've known a lot of them for three years (two and half if you want to be technical) and just recently it hit me that they're going to be, well, gone. They're going here and there to jobs and grad schools. They're going to their futures, leaving me in my present and their past. I don't mean to make it sound so morbid. I mean I can pester them through facebook and things but somehow that's not quite the same. I'll survive and get over it of course... I guess I'm just not ready for it.
It keeps me up at night.
I'm only a junior but graduation is coming up and it's coming up fast. Three semesters is nothing. It's really not. 45 more credits, two capstones, and only three more journalism classes and that's pretty much it for me. From there it's job hunting, apartment hunting, and student loan payments.
Frankly, it's terrifying.
In some respects it's also exciting. This semester more than any other I feel so burned out and over school. I want to be done and I want something new and I want to be an adult. Or something. But I know I'll miss it when it's gone, so I shouldn't wish it away. Heck, I've got it easy now. Relatively. At this point though it just seems monotonous and endless. It's probably thanks to my classes. I'm not exactly thrilled with them this semester. They're loads of work but not rewarding and that's frustrating. It seems strange that change, something we all fear to some extent, can also be something we crave.
I'm ready, but I'm not. Not that it matters since I can't exactly make the decision to graduate tomorrow.
And it's not just my graduation that has me a little anxious. I know a lot of people who are graduating this year and I've known a lot of them for three years (two and half if you want to be technical) and just recently it hit me that they're going to be, well, gone. They're going here and there to jobs and grad schools. They're going to their futures, leaving me in my present and their past. I don't mean to make it sound so morbid. I mean I can pester them through facebook and things but somehow that's not quite the same. I'll survive and get over it of course... I guess I'm just not ready for it.
Monday, November 17, 2008
What your major says about you
So... I'm a magazine journalism and English double major. As you'd expect, I do lots of reading and writing. Lots and lots and lots and lots. SO much reading and writing, in fact, thanks to this semester I think I'll throw up the next time I think about reading anything ever again. Writing seems harder to avoid. I think this blog qualifies.
But just because I chose to write and read and write and read and write and read some more doesn't mean I can't do other things. There are all sorts of major stereotypes that I find really quite annoying. For example - journalists can't do math. Ok, I'll admit that this stereotype has been circulated by journalism students just as much as non-journalism students, but there's a point where you have to draw the line. The other day someone prevented me from doing a task that required basic adding and subtracting because "you're journalism major. You can't do math." First of all, I took AP BC Calculus in high school. I wasn't exactly a wizard with calculus, but I scraped by with a C with some help so I'm not totally stupid. I can derive with the best of them (well, some of the best of them), thank you very much. And I can certainly add and subtract. I remember those flash cards from elementary school.
Just because I chose not to do math doesn't mean I can't do math. There's a difference, I feel. On the opposite side of the coin, there's the stereotype that people studying accounting, finance, actuarial science, physics, etc... aren't creative. I think that's total bull. I think everybody has the potential to be creative. I also think there's an aspect of creativity in all professions. Especially when it comes to problem solving. Sometimes you have to come up with some pretty creative solutions. That's creativity, too.
And to say that anybody studying anything is inept at whatever they're not studying is wrong. Drake has a core curriculum just like almost every other school ever so even if all you want to do is eat, drink, and sleep pharmacy for six years, TOO BAD. You have to take a variety of other courses in order to graduate.
It's a silly way of thinking and I wish we'd move away from it, but it's going to stick around for a good long time. In the meantime, I guess I'll just get back to reading and writing since I'm apparently good for nothing else. Maybe tonight I'll hide under my covers with a flashlight and do some derivatives secretly.
But just because I chose to write and read and write and read and write and read some more doesn't mean I can't do other things. There are all sorts of major stereotypes that I find really quite annoying. For example - journalists can't do math. Ok, I'll admit that this stereotype has been circulated by journalism students just as much as non-journalism students, but there's a point where you have to draw the line. The other day someone prevented me from doing a task that required basic adding and subtracting because "you're journalism major. You can't do math." First of all, I took AP BC Calculus in high school. I wasn't exactly a wizard with calculus, but I scraped by with a C with some help so I'm not totally stupid. I can derive with the best of them (well, some of the best of them), thank you very much. And I can certainly add and subtract. I remember those flash cards from elementary school.
Just because I chose not to do math doesn't mean I can't do math. There's a difference, I feel. On the opposite side of the coin, there's the stereotype that people studying accounting, finance, actuarial science, physics, etc... aren't creative. I think that's total bull. I think everybody has the potential to be creative. I also think there's an aspect of creativity in all professions. Especially when it comes to problem solving. Sometimes you have to come up with some pretty creative solutions. That's creativity, too.
And to say that anybody studying anything is inept at whatever they're not studying is wrong. Drake has a core curriculum just like almost every other school ever so even if all you want to do is eat, drink, and sleep pharmacy for six years, TOO BAD. You have to take a variety of other courses in order to graduate.
It's a silly way of thinking and I wish we'd move away from it, but it's going to stick around for a good long time. In the meantime, I guess I'll just get back to reading and writing since I'm apparently good for nothing else. Maybe tonight I'll hide under my covers with a flashlight and do some derivatives secretly.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Obama's Speech
Ok, I know it's kind of a bit late, but I read and watched Obama's election night speech online recently and there are some quotes here that really jumped out at me. And I thought I'd write about them for kicks and giggles.
1. "To those Americans whose support I have yet to earn – I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too."
Reaction: Awwww. Like they'd have a choice, anyway. Republicans are threatening to move to Canada... but then they'd be closer to Sarah Palin. Seriously, though... I loved that he acknowledged the REST of the country, not just his supporters and those who voted for him. Elections are so polarizing and it was important to address the nation as a whole.
"...The true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope. "
Reaction: Awww. The "unyielding" was the best part. Sometime when I think of hope, I think it's the only thing you have left when all your options are exhausted and there's nothing left to do in any given situation. But he's referring it as a tool for progress. Clever.
"This is our moment. This is our time – to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth – that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes We Can."
Reaction: Will the speech writer please stand up? I'm insanely impressed with this part. It's just incredible. And then you have that last part: "we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes We Can." He somehow turned a campaign slogan into national political sentiment. That's just staggering.
I'm not in love with Obama by any means. I still have serious reservations about him; but I can't deny he is an incredibly dynamic speaker and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't the tiniest bit stirred by his speech.
1. "To those Americans whose support I have yet to earn – I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too."
Reaction: Awwww. Like they'd have a choice, anyway. Republicans are threatening to move to Canada... but then they'd be closer to Sarah Palin. Seriously, though... I loved that he acknowledged the REST of the country, not just his supporters and those who voted for him. Elections are so polarizing and it was important to address the nation as a whole.
"...The true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope. "
Reaction: Awww. The "unyielding" was the best part. Sometime when I think of hope, I think it's the only thing you have left when all your options are exhausted and there's nothing left to do in any given situation. But he's referring it as a tool for progress. Clever.
"This is our moment. This is our time – to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth – that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes We Can."
Reaction: Will the speech writer please stand up? I'm insanely impressed with this part. It's just incredible. And then you have that last part: "we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes We Can." He somehow turned a campaign slogan into national political sentiment. That's just staggering.
I'm not in love with Obama by any means. I still have serious reservations about him; but I can't deny he is an incredibly dynamic speaker and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't the tiniest bit stirred by his speech.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
The Omaha Zoo
A couple of weekends ago my mom came up to visit and we took a drive to the Omaha Zoo. I had been wanting to go forever and we finally went :) It's just under a two-hour drive to get to Omaha, so you can easily go for a day trip.
Check out my pics! :)
Check out my pics! :)
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Election Day!
Today I went to the polls and voted. I got my ballot and went into a little booth at a little church and filled in the little bubbles with my little pen and cast my little vote - a little vote that makes a big difference. I have to say that physically going to the polls is really exciting. It was thrilling to be able to participate and see a bunch of other people participate, too. It's hard to believe that everything lead up to this one day and that afterwards, it'll all be over. Well, actually, I suppose it'll all be beginning. In the election day spirit, I decided to post this video.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Meredith and the Internship Hunt
One of the greatest things about coming to Drake for journalism is that right here in Des Moines we have Meredith Publishing home of publications like Better Homes & Gardens, Midwest Living, Living a Country Life, etc. They have dozens of nationally read magazines. Which is, obviously, great for budding journalist types like me. I'll readily admit that having Meredith in the city was a draw. And it's still great...
But...
It does not - I repeat - does NOT begin and end with Meredith Publishing. I'm serious. Last year all the sophomores were all going crazy because everybody was applying for the Meredith Junior Apprenticeship progam thing that Drake offers. It's an awesome opportunity, you get class credit, real experience at a magazine... but it's insanely selective (only five students are selected). I obviously wasn't selected, but fellow blogger Kayla Porter (although, I guess it's Kayla Craig now) was. And that's awesome for her. But I think journalism students often spend so much time focusing on the Meredith factor that they forget that there are truckloads more opportunities out there.
Sure, apply for Meredith internships, but don't turn away from lesser known magazines or publications. Experience is experience no matter where you can get it. Who knows? You may stumble onto something really cool. Plus, I don't know how Meredith works or anything, but they're a huge corporation with a national reputation and maybe a smaller publication will take more chances on interns and give them more assignments.
Again, I don't know. But there are other options - LOTS of them. You just have to find them and not be so picky.
But...
It does not - I repeat - does NOT begin and end with Meredith Publishing. I'm serious. Last year all the sophomores were all going crazy because everybody was applying for the Meredith Junior Apprenticeship progam thing that Drake offers. It's an awesome opportunity, you get class credit, real experience at a magazine... but it's insanely selective (only five students are selected). I obviously wasn't selected, but fellow blogger Kayla Porter (although, I guess it's Kayla Craig now) was. And that's awesome for her. But I think journalism students often spend so much time focusing on the Meredith factor that they forget that there are truckloads more opportunities out there.
Sure, apply for Meredith internships, but don't turn away from lesser known magazines or publications. Experience is experience no matter where you can get it. Who knows? You may stumble onto something really cool. Plus, I don't know how Meredith works or anything, but they're a huge corporation with a national reputation and maybe a smaller publication will take more chances on interns and give them more assignments.
Again, I don't know. But there are other options - LOTS of them. You just have to find them and not be so picky.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Audubon Adventure
Over fall break I went with friends Ryan and Naomi to Ryan's hometown of Audubon, Iowa to check out his farm, the town, and all the nerdy touristy stuff along the way. It was great fun and a really nice distraction from the stress of school. Check out the pictures :)
Here's the route we took. We took the long way. The REALLY long way. But we got to see a lot of cool stuff
Me at the site of the very first train robbery. It was Jesse James, of course.
Tree in the middle of the road!!!! A surveyor stuck his walking stick in the ground to mark the section corner in 1850. The stick took root and 157 years later, there's a tree there.
Plow in the oak. Waaaaay back during the Civil War, a farmer was called to war and left his plow out and a tree started to grow over it. There are still pieces of it showing like this one
This windmill was originally in Denmark. Someone paid to have it taken apart, shipped over, and reassembled.
Another view of the windmill. This is one of my favorite pictures of the day.
This little mermaid statue is an homage to the real little mermaid statue in Copenhagen, Denmark. It's a tribute to Hans Christian Andersen's story - before Disney got ahold of it.
ELK! There's an elk enclosure at Nathaniel Hamlin Park. There's like a gazebo overlooking the enclosure and you can drop elk feed down some tubes for them. I love elk. Especially this little one.
Blacksmith shop at Nathaniel Hamlin Park
Large and in charge - Albert the Bull is the world's largest bull. He's 30 feet high and weighs 45 tons.
In Ryan's church
Mr. Audubon himself!
One of Ryan's farm kitties! KITTIES!
The farm!!!
Satchel! I love this dog. :D
Here's the route we took. We took the long way. The REALLY long way. But we got to see a lot of cool stuff
Me at the site of the very first train robbery. It was Jesse James, of course.
Tree in the middle of the road!!!! A surveyor stuck his walking stick in the ground to mark the section corner in 1850. The stick took root and 157 years later, there's a tree there.
Plow in the oak. Waaaaay back during the Civil War, a farmer was called to war and left his plow out and a tree started to grow over it. There are still pieces of it showing like this one
This windmill was originally in Denmark. Someone paid to have it taken apart, shipped over, and reassembled.
Another view of the windmill. This is one of my favorite pictures of the day.
This little mermaid statue is an homage to the real little mermaid statue in Copenhagen, Denmark. It's a tribute to Hans Christian Andersen's story - before Disney got ahold of it.
ELK! There's an elk enclosure at Nathaniel Hamlin Park. There's like a gazebo overlooking the enclosure and you can drop elk feed down some tubes for them. I love elk. Especially this little one.
Blacksmith shop at Nathaniel Hamlin Park
Large and in charge - Albert the Bull is the world's largest bull. He's 30 feet high and weighs 45 tons.
In Ryan's church
Mr. Audubon himself!
One of Ryan's farm kitties! KITTIES!
The farm!!!
Satchel! I love this dog. :D
Saturday, October 25, 2008
High School Musical Madness
Well, he's back. Zac Efron and his popular posse of basketballers and bookworms have finally taken the box office by storm garnering what is expected to be hundreds of millions for Disney - because if there's one company who needs the millions, it's Disney, right? I'm shocked they waited so long to put a High School Musical movie in theaters. But HSM 3 is now playing, so I guess that's what counts. And now hundreds of thousands of Efron-worshipping, "I want to be Hannah Montana for Halloween" seven-year-olds are dragging their parents to the sweet and cheesy flick.
I would expect no less.
What still surprises me is the number of 20+ year old COLLEGE students who drag their friends along to see it. And the sadder fact is that most of the friends are going rather willingly. Is it just me, or is anybody else baffled by the Disney college takeover? Hannah Montana? The Jonas Brothers? High School Musical? Are you kidding me? I feel like college students have grown way out of the key demographic.
Don't get me wrong, if I see the Lizzie McGuire movie on tv one night, I'll stop and watch it. I will. Let's keep in mind however, I was also in middle school when Lizzie McGuire was popular. And It reminds me of those days when Hilary Duff didn't look like some freakish alien with a huge head, tiny body, and horse teeth.
I'm getting off topic.
What I don't get is why stuff like that appeals to college kis NOW. Is it just because it's all cutesy? Do we crave cutesy? I like cutesy, but I'm not spending nine dollars for it.
If you understand this bizarre obsession, please explain it to me.
I would expect no less.
What still surprises me is the number of 20+ year old COLLEGE students who drag their friends along to see it. And the sadder fact is that most of the friends are going rather willingly. Is it just me, or is anybody else baffled by the Disney college takeover? Hannah Montana? The Jonas Brothers? High School Musical? Are you kidding me? I feel like college students have grown way out of the key demographic.
Don't get me wrong, if I see the Lizzie McGuire movie on tv one night, I'll stop and watch it. I will. Let's keep in mind however, I was also in middle school when Lizzie McGuire was popular. And It reminds me of those days when Hilary Duff didn't look like some freakish alien with a huge head, tiny body, and horse teeth.
I'm getting off topic.
What I don't get is why stuff like that appeals to college kis NOW. Is it just because it's all cutesy? Do we crave cutesy? I like cutesy, but I'm not spending nine dollars for it.
If you understand this bizarre obsession, please explain it to me.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Things to do
People like to ask if there's anything to do around here. Sometimes I think students exhaust the options closest to campus. How many times can you go to Mars Cafe before it gets old? Seriously. The other problem is that other activities aren't within walking distance, leaving those without a car at a disadvantage, or they cost money students can't afford to spend.
One option that I think goes overlooked is volunteering. Stay with me, here.
You don't have to be in some sort of organization to do community service. Independent people do community service all the time. I've met dozens of people who get their family together and volunteer "just because." And I think that's totally cool - maybe it's even better in some ways because it's absolutely not required of you to do it.
You can do and see some seriously cool stuff when you volunteer. Here's one of the best parts - it's free. If you volunteer at a place that would normally charge admission, you're going to get in for free. Who is going to make a volunteer pay? Plus, you can stumble on some pretty awesome stuff you never would have thought of before.
For example, I volunteered at the Drake booth for the Iowa State Fair. I got in for free because I was a volunteer, I parked for free (so far I've saved a total of like 15 bucks), I spend a couple of hours at the Drake booth giving little kids bulldog tattoos and then met up with some friends and spent the rest of the day at the fair.
It's easy enough to find volunteering opportunities. There are massive searching sites like volunteermatch.com that sort opportunities by category so you can find something you'd like to do. You'll probably be able to get a group of friends together to go do it with you, too.
So you're helping give something back to the community, doing something fun, and not spending any money doing it. Sounds like a win-win to me.
One option that I think goes overlooked is volunteering. Stay with me, here.
You don't have to be in some sort of organization to do community service. Independent people do community service all the time. I've met dozens of people who get their family together and volunteer "just because." And I think that's totally cool - maybe it's even better in some ways because it's absolutely not required of you to do it.
You can do and see some seriously cool stuff when you volunteer. Here's one of the best parts - it's free. If you volunteer at a place that would normally charge admission, you're going to get in for free. Who is going to make a volunteer pay? Plus, you can stumble on some pretty awesome stuff you never would have thought of before.
For example, I volunteered at the Drake booth for the Iowa State Fair. I got in for free because I was a volunteer, I parked for free (so far I've saved a total of like 15 bucks), I spend a couple of hours at the Drake booth giving little kids bulldog tattoos and then met up with some friends and spent the rest of the day at the fair.
It's easy enough to find volunteering opportunities. There are massive searching sites like volunteermatch.com that sort opportunities by category so you can find something you'd like to do. You'll probably be able to get a group of friends together to go do it with you, too.
So you're helping give something back to the community, doing something fun, and not spending any money doing it. Sounds like a win-win to me.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
JuicyCampus.com
Remember the movie Mean Girls? With Lindsay Lohan and her posse of pink plastics? Remember the book they had where they would trash everybody? Let's take that book and put it online. Let's anonymously post it on a huge public forum like JuicyCampus.com.
Good idea.
Not.
If you haven't heard about JuicyCampus, just know it's a new internet fad where anybody can go online, look up their campus and read defamatory and slanderous rumors about their peers. And it's totally anonymous. TOTALLY. I mean, it's probably easy to track an IP address and figure out exactly who is behind each post. But who has that much patience? Nobody at all.
In the past two weeks, the popularity and use of the site has absolutely skyrocketed. Sororities are slammed, fraternities are defamed, individuals are mercilessly slandered... the list goes on. To be fair, some posts are perfectly innocent - like the ones about which classes to take, which professors are good, what there's to do around campus... that sort of thing.
Apart from that, I find the site entirely deplorable and can cause serious problems on campus.
Even if someone sleeps around, drinks too much, throws up on people at parties, has a crush on a professor or whatever, I think everybody deserves their privacy and a smutty site like JuicyCampus only violates that right. I was appalled by the blatant immaturity exhibited by the students on the site who are, let's face it, adults.
I think everybody needs to grow up or use the bathroom wall like the eighth graders they are.
Good idea.
Not.
If you haven't heard about JuicyCampus, just know it's a new internet fad where anybody can go online, look up their campus and read defamatory and slanderous rumors about their peers. And it's totally anonymous. TOTALLY. I mean, it's probably easy to track an IP address and figure out exactly who is behind each post. But who has that much patience? Nobody at all.
In the past two weeks, the popularity and use of the site has absolutely skyrocketed. Sororities are slammed, fraternities are defamed, individuals are mercilessly slandered... the list goes on. To be fair, some posts are perfectly innocent - like the ones about which classes to take, which professors are good, what there's to do around campus... that sort of thing.
Apart from that, I find the site entirely deplorable and can cause serious problems on campus.
Even if someone sleeps around, drinks too much, throws up on people at parties, has a crush on a professor or whatever, I think everybody deserves their privacy and a smutty site like JuicyCampus only violates that right. I was appalled by the blatant immaturity exhibited by the students on the site who are, let's face it, adults.
I think everybody needs to grow up or use the bathroom wall like the eighth graders they are.
The BIG question
A couple of weeks ago I received an email from an incoming freshman that I think merits a post of it's own. He wrote, "I'm not much of a drinker. Is drinking a big deal on campus?"
First of all, let me start by saying that after almost two and a half years in college I've learned one thing (well more than that, but one REALLY important thing) - college, and life, is all about choices and their consequences. The word "consequences" has a negative connotation, but there can also be good consequences so stay with me here.
To go ahead and answer the question - Drake is college. Drinking happens in college. You can avoid it if you choose to, but it's definitely there.
That being said, it's my choice NOT to drink. I don't like the frat party scene, being around drunk people is both annoying and uncomfortable, the alcohol I've tried has been absolutely disgusting, I like having total control of what i say and do, and I'm underage. I'm also a paranoid, jumpy type of person who would be constantly worried about getting caught with alcohol. I can wait until it's legal, thanks.
However, there are lots of people who DO choose to drink. And that's cool. They can go out and party or stay in and party. They can go from frat house to frat house bumming free booze or do really whatever they want to. It's their life and as long as I don't have to be around it or deal with it, I don't mind it at all.
But, like I said, with choices there are consequences.
For example, not drinking leads to good things like healthy livers and better general health and maybe better grades and likely safer nights out and smarter decisions... ect. It also leads to bad things like peer pressure (get used to it), feeling somewhat removed from the rest of college life, competing with alcohol for time with friends who do drink... ect.
The same thing goes for drinking. There are good things like feeling good and not so stressed and worried and frustrated with life and having a good time and meeting new people and not feeling so inhibited...ect. The bad things, well, the bad things have been shoved down our throats since the eighth grade. So we won't get into those things here.
So there are good and bad consequences for either choice.
As far as if it's "a big deal," i don't really have the numbers for you or anything. But I will say the percentage of college students who don't drink is higher than you'd think. A lot of people don't admit they don't drink for whatever reason, so sometimes it's easy to feel kind of alone if you're not a drinker. But you're not. Not even close. Plus, not everybody who drinks drinks to get drunk. There's a big difference. Some people won't consider it a good night until they black out on someone's futon. Others want to have a drink or two and just have fun. Not all college students are irresponsible drunkards - some are, but not all.
Bottom line?
If you want to drink, go ahead and drink. It's ok.
If you don't want to drink, don't drink. It's ok.
First of all, let me start by saying that after almost two and a half years in college I've learned one thing (well more than that, but one REALLY important thing) - college, and life, is all about choices and their consequences. The word "consequences" has a negative connotation, but there can also be good consequences so stay with me here.
To go ahead and answer the question - Drake is college. Drinking happens in college. You can avoid it if you choose to, but it's definitely there.
That being said, it's my choice NOT to drink. I don't like the frat party scene, being around drunk people is both annoying and uncomfortable, the alcohol I've tried has been absolutely disgusting, I like having total control of what i say and do, and I'm underage. I'm also a paranoid, jumpy type of person who would be constantly worried about getting caught with alcohol. I can wait until it's legal, thanks.
However, there are lots of people who DO choose to drink. And that's cool. They can go out and party or stay in and party. They can go from frat house to frat house bumming free booze or do really whatever they want to. It's their life and as long as I don't have to be around it or deal with it, I don't mind it at all.
But, like I said, with choices there are consequences.
For example, not drinking leads to good things like healthy livers and better general health and maybe better grades and likely safer nights out and smarter decisions... ect. It also leads to bad things like peer pressure (get used to it), feeling somewhat removed from the rest of college life, competing with alcohol for time with friends who do drink... ect.
The same thing goes for drinking. There are good things like feeling good and not so stressed and worried and frustrated with life and having a good time and meeting new people and not feeling so inhibited...ect. The bad things, well, the bad things have been shoved down our throats since the eighth grade. So we won't get into those things here.
So there are good and bad consequences for either choice.
As far as if it's "a big deal," i don't really have the numbers for you or anything. But I will say the percentage of college students who don't drink is higher than you'd think. A lot of people don't admit they don't drink for whatever reason, so sometimes it's easy to feel kind of alone if you're not a drinker. But you're not. Not even close. Plus, not everybody who drinks drinks to get drunk. There's a big difference. Some people won't consider it a good night until they black out on someone's futon. Others want to have a drink or two and just have fun. Not all college students are irresponsible drunkards - some are, but not all.
Bottom line?
If you want to drink, go ahead and drink. It's ok.
If you don't want to drink, don't drink. It's ok.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Answering your questions...
I've been getting a lot of questions from you prospectives lately via email, so I thought I'd post some of them here so everybody can see the answers.
Is Greek Life a big deal on campus?
Well, based on the numbers, only about 30% of the campus is involved in Greek life - and that includes non-social greek life like professional pharmacy and business fraternities/sororities and things of that nature. But it FEELS like the social greeks are everywhere. I wouldn't say I feel "left out" or "outcast" from Drake society because I'm not involved, but from time to time it feels kind of overwhelming. The social greek thing isn't my cup of tea whatsoever, so I might not be the best person to ask. Just know that social greeks are a particularly strong presence on campus.
What's the food like?
The food is campus food... so... lower your expectations and you'll be happy. I think Drake food kinda gets a bad rap and I don't think it's as bad as people say it is, but it's nothing to be excited about. Except for Hubbell brunch. mmm.. Hubbell brunch. Bonus - you'll REALLY appreciate home cooking when you visit your family.
Are there community service opportunities on campus?
Well... what a wonderful question. There are a lot of service organizations to join, or if you don't want to commit to an organization, there are plenty of opportunities to take advantage of on your own. I'm in Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed community service fraternity, and, as you can imagine, we do all sorts of community service. There are also organizations like 10,000 Hours Show that reward their volunteers with a concert at the end of the year, Circle K, and others that aren't coming to mind right now. Plus, Drake participates in "Feel Good Fridays" where different service opportunities are offered every Friday. You don't even have to join an organization to participate.
Should I bring a car?
I spent two years without a car. Guess what? I survived. But now that I have a car... well, let's just say it's awesome beyond all reason. The DART city bus system is free for Drake students and it's becoming more and more popular, but sometimes it's confusing and you have to worry about catching the bus at the right time. There are things to do around Drake, but I think students really exhaust those options fairly quickly. It's probably likely you'll find a friend who happens to have a car, but I always felt funny about bumming rides and stuff. If you have a car to bring, I'd recommend it. If not, you won't be miserable.
What are the dorms like?
THEY'RE AWESOME, thanks for asking. All the freshmen residence halls were renovated over the summer or the previous summer so they're pretty brand-spankin' new. They're gorgeous and have air conditioning and giant white boards by every door and new furniture with real mattresses and all sorts of awesome things. So... yeah. Halls are awesome. And they're a nice size, too.
Should I loft my bed?
Yes. The end.
What is Drake West Village? Is it nice?
Drake West Village is an on-campus-but-off-campus apartment complex for upperclassmen. I'm living there because this year's freshmen class didn't fit in just the freshmen halls and the extra freshmen were put in the upperclassmen hall I was supposed to live in and I was booted to Drake West Village. I live in a 4-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen and two bathrooms and all that good stuff. The apartments are totally furnished and everything so it's nice to not have to worry about buying furniture. Because I was supposed to live in the dorms, I'm just paying room and board. If you sign a lease, you have to pay a monthly rent which, honestly, runs rather high considering a college students' budget. The gym they talk about in DWV is nice, but tiny. The laundry room is nice and smells good. And there are study rooms which are nice when you have to get out of the apartment...
Ok, keep your questions coming, kids!!!!
Is Greek Life a big deal on campus?
Well, based on the numbers, only about 30% of the campus is involved in Greek life - and that includes non-social greek life like professional pharmacy and business fraternities/sororities and things of that nature. But it FEELS like the social greeks are everywhere. I wouldn't say I feel "left out" or "outcast" from Drake society because I'm not involved, but from time to time it feels kind of overwhelming. The social greek thing isn't my cup of tea whatsoever, so I might not be the best person to ask. Just know that social greeks are a particularly strong presence on campus.
What's the food like?
The food is campus food... so... lower your expectations and you'll be happy. I think Drake food kinda gets a bad rap and I don't think it's as bad as people say it is, but it's nothing to be excited about. Except for Hubbell brunch. mmm.. Hubbell brunch. Bonus - you'll REALLY appreciate home cooking when you visit your family.
Are there community service opportunities on campus?
Well... what a wonderful question. There are a lot of service organizations to join, or if you don't want to commit to an organization, there are plenty of opportunities to take advantage of on your own. I'm in Alpha Phi Omega, a co-ed community service fraternity, and, as you can imagine, we do all sorts of community service. There are also organizations like 10,000 Hours Show that reward their volunteers with a concert at the end of the year, Circle K, and others that aren't coming to mind right now. Plus, Drake participates in "Feel Good Fridays" where different service opportunities are offered every Friday. You don't even have to join an organization to participate.
Should I bring a car?
I spent two years without a car. Guess what? I survived. But now that I have a car... well, let's just say it's awesome beyond all reason. The DART city bus system is free for Drake students and it's becoming more and more popular, but sometimes it's confusing and you have to worry about catching the bus at the right time. There are things to do around Drake, but I think students really exhaust those options fairly quickly. It's probably likely you'll find a friend who happens to have a car, but I always felt funny about bumming rides and stuff. If you have a car to bring, I'd recommend it. If not, you won't be miserable.
What are the dorms like?
THEY'RE AWESOME, thanks for asking. All the freshmen residence halls were renovated over the summer or the previous summer so they're pretty brand-spankin' new. They're gorgeous and have air conditioning and giant white boards by every door and new furniture with real mattresses and all sorts of awesome things. So... yeah. Halls are awesome. And they're a nice size, too.
Should I loft my bed?
Yes. The end.
What is Drake West Village? Is it nice?
Drake West Village is an on-campus-but-off-campus apartment complex for upperclassmen. I'm living there because this year's freshmen class didn't fit in just the freshmen halls and the extra freshmen were put in the upperclassmen hall I was supposed to live in and I was booted to Drake West Village. I live in a 4-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen and two bathrooms and all that good stuff. The apartments are totally furnished and everything so it's nice to not have to worry about buying furniture. Because I was supposed to live in the dorms, I'm just paying room and board. If you sign a lease, you have to pay a monthly rent which, honestly, runs rather high considering a college students' budget. The gym they talk about in DWV is nice, but tiny. The laundry room is nice and smells good. And there are study rooms which are nice when you have to get out of the apartment...
Ok, keep your questions coming, kids!!!!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
DNC Pictures
Blogger is no longer being stupid, so here are LOTS more pictures of the DNC.
I think it's a cool picture despite being blurry. This is coming back to the busses after the Obama speech
CNN was giving away ice cream. No lie.
There were a bunch of different media tents and each one had something very awesome in its lobby. This one (not the one I was in) had a Wii den
Collecting flair - it's really popular to trade pins at the conventions. I became obsessed with it. It was super fun.
My media tent had an oxygen bar in it. I'd never done an oxygen bar before, but it was kind of cool. this is a silly picture.
The change we need?
This gives you an idea of where I was sitting. Enjoy the distant back of Cheryl Crow.
O-B-A-M-A
Stevie Wonder - still very close
Patriotism
Adoring fans....
He's ready to go ... I wonder if she'll vote for him?
Snipers
Believe it or not, that's Barack Obama
Also Obama
The Obamas and the Bidens
Bowing his head in prayer
Fireworks and flags
Massive pilgrimage to Invesco field - bad picture, i know.
Nancy Pelosi's back
Shawn Johnson....
Jennifer Hudson singing the Star Spangled Banner
I think it's a cool picture despite being blurry. This is coming back to the busses after the Obama speech
CNN was giving away ice cream. No lie.
There were a bunch of different media tents and each one had something very awesome in its lobby. This one (not the one I was in) had a Wii den
Collecting flair - it's really popular to trade pins at the conventions. I became obsessed with it. It was super fun.
My media tent had an oxygen bar in it. I'd never done an oxygen bar before, but it was kind of cool. this is a silly picture.
The change we need?
This gives you an idea of where I was sitting. Enjoy the distant back of Cheryl Crow.
O-B-A-M-A
Stevie Wonder - still very close
Patriotism
Adoring fans....
He's ready to go ... I wonder if she'll vote for him?
Snipers
Believe it or not, that's Barack Obama
Also Obama
The Obamas and the Bidens
Bowing his head in prayer
Fireworks and flags
Massive pilgrimage to Invesco field - bad picture, i know.
Nancy Pelosi's back
Shawn Johnson....
Jennifer Hudson singing the Star Spangled Banner
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