My Final Fall Break

The leaves are turning colors and dropping to the ground, the weather is getting chillier, and Mercyhurst students all just got back from their fall break!  It's just that time of year!

I must say, fall is one of my favorite times of year...especially when I am driving home for our lovely four day weekend and get to see all the beautiful leaves changing all colors of the autumn spectrum.  Plus, the long weekend gives all students a MUCH needed time to relax and recooperate after midterms and prepare for the marathon that is finishing up the term.

This year for fall break, I went home for a couple nights and then spent the rest of the weekend visiting my lovely boyfriend at his school.  It is so nice to be able to leave the crazy hustle and bustle that is Mercyhurst!  Of course, I did have to do a little homework over break...and probably should have done even more, but I didn't have to attend classes or meetings, or anything else for a few days.  An escape from it all was certainly needed regardless of how many exciting things were happening!

Last week I blogged about our Senior Class Gift presentations to Dr. Gamble, the Mercyhurst President.  They went SO well!  And, he and his fellow administrators chose an awesome gift that is really going to make a HUGELY positive impact on our school!  It is something that future and current Lakers will be able to enjoy!  I'm not sure if it is disclosable yet...but when I know whether or not our awesome gift can go public, my blog readers will be some of the first to know! 

Now that I am back to school, I am realizing that I have very little time left in my final fall term of undergrad!  Only a few more weeks to finish up all my papers, projects, and prepare for finals!  It's enough to make my head spin!  I know I will get it all done...I always do...but it doesn't make me any less scared or stressed!  Hopefully the upcoming Halloween festivities will keep me treading water!

Well, back to the grind!  Until next time =].

Senior Class Gift Committee Madness!

So, I have something really exciting that I am involved in this year!  Every year, Mercyhurst seniors get together and raise money for a senior class gift.  These gifts are usually something useful that would improve the school or benefit the student body in some way.  In the past, classes have raised money for a green roof on the ceramics lab, the mexican station in the Laker Inn, books funds, and the 24/7 study lounge on the first floor of the library.  With all the awesome precedents, the class of 2012 committee has really big shoes to fill!

My roommate and fellow blogger is the chair of the committee this year and we have really exciting ideas!  I can't tell you our ideas yet...it's a secret!  But, what I can tell you, is that if we raise enough money, we have the possibility to really add something great to the already awesome campus. 

Our class gift logo!

This group takes a lot of work, though.  We have to do fund raisers (LOTS!), choose and plan out gifts, and then propose them to Dr. Gamble (college president!) for him to choose between several options.  I chose to help with a proposal for one of our three options that we will be presenting!  Our committee is going to present TOMORROW!!!  I am nervous and excited all at the same time.  Giving a formal presentation in front of the president of the college is not something very many students get to do, so it really should be an awesome experience.  But let me tell you...it took a LOT of work.

In order to make our gift sound appealing and credible, we had to do some serious research.  We had to contact many people, find out quotes and specifics, and come up with reasons why our particular gift would benefit the schools and the students.  We also had to create a powerpoint presentation as well as a tangible paper proposal for the president to have in front of him to refer to and study in his deliberations for which gift to choose.  I'm am really hoping that all our hard work (which we had to balance with midterms, papers, and other homework...) will really pay off after tomorrow!

Here's to hoping it goes great and Dr. Gamble approves of one of our awesome gift ideas!  I will keep you posted on how it goes!

All that hard stuff...

Well, once again I find myself up to my nose with midterms and homework.  Of course, what is NEW with my life??

Luckily, I am finding a pretty good balance for doing work, studying, and my extracurriculars.  I sometimes wonder if I take on too much, but I know that through all the stress it will be worth it in the end when I have everything done and feel very accomplished.  So far, so good.

But, if you go to college and don't know how to balance your time, you will meet serious issues!  I am a firm believer in working ahead (I know, I know...I'm NUTS because I don't wait until the last minute to cram) but BELIEVE ME: it's worth it!

I am the kind of person that schedules my day very carefully.  If I have a lot to get done in one night (like tonight), I will go so far as to plan my day hour by hour just to be sure that I can fit it all in.  Plus, of course, I need a little time for myself or I would probably be clinically insane right now.

Here is the key to handling the workload of college: TIME MANAGEMENT.  You don't need to by a psycho like me and plan your life by the hour, but it is probably a good idea to invest in a good planner.  Know when things are due, when your tests are, when meetings are scheduled, etc.  If you write it all down in front of you, you can then plan on when to do your work so that it doesn't get backed up on you!  Pulling an all-nighter because you forgot about a ten page paper due the next day is not exactly the best way to excel in college!

This is a skill that comes with time and patience.  College is a way of life.  You have to find the good balance between schoolwork, extracurriculars, and going out and having fun with your friends.  If you can do this, I PROMISE you that you will have the BEST possible experience with college!

So, here's to handling our stress in healthy ways!  And now I return to my ridiculously planned even full of studying, ambassador events, and a meeting! =]

Homecoming!

This past weekend was Hurst Homecoming 2011!  It was also parent's and alumni weekend so this tiny campus was hoppin' with visitors from all over.  It unfortunately was a cold and rainy weekend, but that did not stop my friends and I from having a ton of fun!

Roomies on Friday night

On Friday night, two of my roommates parents came to visit and we all went to "Rodeo Bingo."  Student Activities Council hosts bingo this weekend every year and it is totally worth going because there are AWESOME prizes.  This year some of the grand prizes inculded and Keurig coffeemaker and a flip video camera!  I have gone to bingo all four years and have NEVER won because I have rotten luck, but there are so many chances that at least someone you know will probably win something.  After Bingo, some friends and I went out to the Cornerstone bar and grill, right near campus, and was surprised to see it overflowing with alumni and students ready to celebrate their love for the Hurst! 



We didn't stay long, though because the next morning we got up to work the First Annual Alumni 5K.  This was organized by the Student Alumni Association, of which I am a member, and so we had to be up and ready to work it at 7:30AM!  That was one EARLYYYY and COLD morning!  I worked registration but there were a lot of other students that worked as court marshalls all morning in the cold and rain!  I felt so bad for them.  Luckily, though, we had a great turnout and it went very smoothly!  Plus, we had fun doing it.

Friends with the King and Queen!

After a much needed nap, I bundled up in my Mercyhurst gear and layers and headed to the Alumni tailgate.  It's not open to all students but since I belong to the Student Alumni Association, I was able to attend it.  There was delicious food and I really enjoyed mingling with alums of our awesome school!

Me and her majesty the Queen =]

Then, my friends and I headed over to the stadium to catch the football game against our rival, Gannon University.  It was FREEZING and miserable, and of course I have been battling with a terrible cold, but we still had a good time.  The best part was, my roommate Lindsay won Homecoming Queen!!!! We were SO SO SO excited for her!  She completely deserved it and even got a really pretty tiara!  It was so exciting!

After the very cold game, we headed over the Hurst Fest.  It was inside the rec center because of the rain, but still fun.  There was a petting zoo, snacks, games, and a mechanical bull!  I had to work the bounce house during the afternoon and it was really great to see all the little kids and siblings having tons of fun on it.  It was a great last Hurst Fest as an undergraduate!

Obviously, Saturday was a busy busy day for me and my friends!  When the day was over I crashed into bed early and spent the rest of the weekend relaxing and catching up on homework.  But, regardless of the cold temperatures and my little cold bug, it was a homecoming to remember!

Classes, Classes, Classes

So, when I was looking at colleges as a high school Junior and Senior, I was very focused on how the school looked, what kind of activities it had, and what the dorms were like.  One of the last things on my mind was what the classes might be like.  In this blog, I will tell you what it is like to sit in a Mercyhurst classroom and learn from some of the best professors out there.

Because I came from a fairly small high school, I knew that choosing a school with small classes sizes was something that I really needed to consider.  Mercyhurst's class sizes are awesome.  The student to faculty ratio is 14:1 and I can honestly say I have never had a class larger than 35 students.  In fact, I am even taking a class right now with just NINE people in it!  You will not find any huge lectures halls with 500 students learning from a teeny tiny chalkboard at the very front of the room.  At Mercyhurst, your professors know your names, know your major, and know how you learn.  In turn, it is always easy to get to know your professors and create relationships with them that can really benefit you, particularly if you really need a recommendation letter for graduate school applications or jobs! 

Of all the amazing things that this school has to offer, I cannot emphasize enough that my academic experience here is my absolute FAVORITE thing and it is what makes me continue to enjoy my time at Mercyhurst.  (Which is good since I am here for and education, after all...). 

We do have a liberal arts core, which is something that not all colleges offer or require.  This means that besides the basic classses that all college students in the country take (writing, math, natural science, etc.) we also take classes such as religion, world perspectives, and art.  Through my classes here, I am exposed to so much more about the world and feel as if I am developing into a more well rounded adult.  Hopefully, when I finally graduate and become a teacher in a high school somewhere, it will reflect in my teaching and in my life since I will know about more things than what is simply in my major.

Classes and professors at Mercyhurst truly are top notch and lend to the amazing experience that you get when you choose our school.  Hopefully, if you are looking for the same kinds of things I was when looking at colleges, you will see that Mercyhurst has got it all!

Silly Games, Fall Ball, and Good Friends

Hello Readers!

Some friends on Friday!

This past weekend I had a really great time living the dream here at Mercyhurst!  My boyfriend, Ben, came to stay at school with me which always definately enhances the weekends.  On Friday night, I got together with some good friends and we had a game night.  We played this game called Quelf, which is one that you should all try sometime!  There are different cards that contain charades, random things you need to do and not laugh while you do it, and demands like spend the rest of the game under the table.  We had a lot of laughs and its a good one to play if your around new friends that you might just be getting to know, it definately forces you to get comfortable fast!  We played a few other games, devoured popcorn and chips, and spent the night just enjoying each other's company.  It is something that every college student needs every once in a while!

On Saturday, my boyfriend and I went to the mall.  We, like always, played with a puppy at the pet store, fell in love with it, and was forced to give it back.  You would think I would learn, but yet I continue to play with those little guys!  What can I say, I am a sucker for puppy therapy =].  One downside, though, for all you younger Lakers out there...they recently changed the rules to having to be 21 in order to play with a puppy.  It doesn't affect me much, but I know I would have been sad not having puppy therapy when I was younger!

Yes, we're nerds!

Roomies all dressed up!

Saturday night was the annual Fall Ball here on campus.  The theme this year was "red carpet" and it was under a big tent right by the student union.  This was my first (and will be my last!) year going to the ball and I must say I always love a good excuse to get all dressed up!  I wore a cute little friends, had dinner with some friends, and did a little dancing under the tent!  Fall Ball is certainly a good experience and everyone should go at least once!

Dancin' the night away

After my super fun weekend, the rest of the week has just been spent going to class, doing endless homework, attending a million meetings, and being a busy little bee.  College life really doesn't provide very much free time, but when opportunities like this weekend come up, SEIZE them!  Especially once you're a senior and have very little time left here!  Today I got my first mailing about graduation in May!  Craziness!  But, for now, it's back to the grind...until next time!

Making the Most out of Mercyhurst

In your frantic search for the right college for you, keep in mind that Mercyhurst, and any college for that matter, is all about what YOU make of it.  But, of course, Mercyhurst has a ton of really awesome things to offer for every student!  In fact, this year we were named in the TOP 50 colleges in the U.S. News and World Report!  This is HUGE for our school, especially since we jumped up a whomping 36 spots from last year on the list!  So, if you have any doubt in your mind about the excellence of our little school, just check out the article!

Besides that very exciting news, I have been busy busy with start of the year excitement.  As you know, this is my senior year and so we are trying out best to take pictures of EVERYTHING that we do!  This means that on the first day of school, we took a ton of fun roommate pictures!  You can check our silly selves out!

Workin' the club fair!

Obviously I really enjoy spending time with all of my friends and roommates here at Mercyhurst.  But, I wouldn't have even met them  if it weren't for all of the clubs and organizations that I am involved in.  I belonged to the Leadership Certification program, cheerleading, I am an ambassador (along with all of my roommates), and I belong to the student alumni association, just to name a few.  Most of the people I hang out with were met through these groups and if it weren't for being so involved, I would probably be a total, friendless loser!  When you get to school, the best way to learn about the innumerous clubs that you can join is to attend the Experiential Learning Fair.  This is basically just the club fair and there are tons of involved students with tables, information, and often free candy in order to let students get the chance to see all the happenin's at the Hurst!  And, since we don't have greek life, clubs are the best way to meet new people and make lasting friendships.  So, if you choose Mercyhurst, DEFINATELY check out everything it has to offer so you can get the full experience!

That's all for today, but stay tuned to see what all I did this weekend!!  It was awesome!