One to Go

One more final to go! It has been a busy semester, and I am slowly inching my way to the end of finals week. It has been a lot of hard work this semester, and I can feel the stress that has been on my shoulders slowly receding. My last final is tomorrow at 1:30. Then, I am on my way home. I still have a lot of packing to do. I also have lots of studying to do.

Tonight, I will be relaxing with some friends. We will be enjoying some delicious pizza and some good company. It is so needed for all of us right now. We are all in need of a few laughs and some tasty food.

There isn't too much to say right now, but I will keep everyone posted. :-)

The Final(s) Leg

Get ready...

One final down. Four to go. Well, technically.

I had my first "exam" this morning at 8:50. I went in and met with my professor. We talked about my portfolio that holds all of my assignments from the past semester. The class, Intro to Graphic Design, consisted of us working through a series of exercises in our book. We created different pieces using Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. We also did three final, creative projects. My last creative project and the final in my class turned out really well. I wish that I could upload a picture, but it would require Adobe Photoshop, which is not loaded on my computer. A brief description: Me sitting on a hand, looking out the window onto a beautiful landscape. I also had fairy wings. The tag line read "Let your dreams take wing."

I also finished up a take-home test earlier today. It was for my Social Welfare Policy and Analysis class. The exam covered the book American Dream and some final class notes. On Wednesday, I have my Christian Values final. we will be meeting and having an in class discussion. Our final was a paper about "What then shall we do?" My last two finals are Practice 1 and Practice 2. I am excited for the week to be over--then it is home for the holidays. On the other hand, I will have quite a bit to do. I will be applying for grad school, a very tedious task!

So, "Get ready! Set! Go!" The semester started at a light jog and quickly reached a sprint. It is winding down now, but we must make sure that we push through to the end and cross that Finish line!

Last Day

It's the last day of classes! You know what that means! The semester has drawn to a close. Now, there are only finals left to go. It is almost unbelievable that the semester has come and gone so fast. It has been busy and utterly frustrating at times. There have also been warm, fun moments that have made the entire semester a joy.

I completed my grant project for my Practice 3 class yesterday. We performed our song, "Gardens Are Fly," to the turn of Baby Got Back. It was a hit. The other groups also performed. It was a lot of fun. I think that there are so many mixed emotions, especially for us seniors. We are seeing one more semester go by. We are one step closer to leaving Bluffton and entering the "real world." At the same time, I doubt that we could ever really leave Bluffton. There are so many wonderful memories and friends that will be with us for years to come.

This weekend promises studying but also relaxing!

Oh wow, Christmas break, here I come!

The End Is In Sight

It truly has been a hectic last few weeks. It is hard to believe that this is the last week of classes before finals! It really does feel like the year just started. I was just moving my things in. Just saying hello to my friends. Just starting my classes. As I look back on the last few months, I am amazed at all of the work I have accomplished--all things I feared would never get done. Here I am. I am closing in on the end of the semester, a bit weary and apprehensive but with a lot of excitement.

The Social Work Christmas Party was yesterday night. It was so much fun. We met at one of the professor's homes. She made lasagna, garlic bread, and punch. Other members brought extra goodies to share. The turnout was small, but it was still a lot of fun. We ate, painted ornaments, and exchanged White Elephant gifts. My professor's three children also joined the festivities. It was such a great chance for people to come together in celebration of the holiday season and enjoy each other's company. The roads were slick and the visibility poor on the way back, but everyone made it safe (thank goodness).

I am thinking ahead on the things I have still to do: a final paper and a couple of take home tests. I also have a "performance" piece for my Practice 3 class. We met today to finish up the lyrics to our song. Yes--we must sing (or rather, rap!).

I am anxious to go home for break, but I also realize that there is so much to do. While it seems overwhelming, I know I can do it. It is one more step on my journey.

Talk about a couple of busy days! It has really been one busy week. I have already met with one group. I am meeting again tonight (twice)! It is hard to keep track of which way is up. I have been trying so hard to get my project for Friday done, but it is truly a hard thing to do. I am finding it hard to write and hard to research.

I took a long nap today. I know I shouldn't have, but my body needed it. It is important to listen to your body. I don't want to get sick again. I also don't want to exhaust myself to the point that I can't do anything.

School work has taken up most of my time. I am feeling like there's no bright light at the end of the tunnel, but I know there is. And, Christmas Break will be here soon. That is going to be a much needed rest.

I am still waiting to hear back from my internship interview to see if I will be there for sure next semester. I hope so... It would be an amazing opportunity. I am also meeting with Kathy Dickson at the Career Development Center tomorrow to talk about my resume/cover letter. The CDC is super helpful.

Well, that's all for now folks.

Coming Back from Break

Coming back from Thanksgiving Break is always a positive and negative time of the semester. It is exciting because it's nearing the end of the semester. It is also quite terrifying because it's the end of the semester. Also, I don't want to come back to school--that means end-of-the-year papers and projects. It is good to see friends though.

I left Bluffton Tuesday around 3:30. I had to go to Lima for a class. We attended a Thanksgiving meal that was hosted by the Heart of Lima Neighborhood Association. We had a chance to meet some community members and enjoy food and live music.

I had such a great break. It was relaxing. That is what I love about breaks. They give me a chance to rejuvenate my batteries. I am very much looking forward to Christmas Break. I did get a chance to do some homework (never an event to look forward to). On Wednesday, my boyfriend and I went out with my best friend and her boyfriend. We ate at Cheddar's and went to see Harry Potter. It was great to catch up with her. I am telling you-it is important to stay in touch with your friends from back home!

Thursday was so much fun. My parents and I ventured up to Defiance, where my boyfriend's parents live. We joined them, his siblings, and grandmother for lunch. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving spread and played board gamed. It was so much fun to just sit around and talk, play games, and laugh. Afterwards, we went home and relaxed. I took a nap and then worked on some homework.

Friday was dedicated to sleep and more homework (notice the trend?). Saturday was a girls' day out. My mom and I went to Wooster and went shopping. We made several shops. The main mission of the day was to find clothing for my internship. I searched high and low. I found a few things that should work nicely. I got my haircut, as well. My mom and I also went to see Harry Potter. I love the movie, and my mom really wanted to see it. Afterwards, I got some Chipotle for the road. Once I was home, I finished up a PowerPoint.

Today, I got some more needed rest and "perfected" my PowerPoint. I headed back to Bluffton and arrived around 4:45. I worked on finding some research and then finished up yet another paper! I got myself some East of Chicago and enjoyed some House. It has been a good break, but I can feel the weight of these last few weeks coming up!

Here I go...!

So... Yesterday was a blast.

Yesterday was the Thanksgiving Dinner hosted by Social Work Club. It was a huge success. We ended up having between 30 to 35 people attend. It was a lot of work before the actual meal, but everyone seemed to really enjoy it. We made mashed potatoes, a turkey, and stuffing. Another member of Social Work Club made a delicious cranberry dish. So good!

The people who attended all brought desserts or drinks--there was so much tasty food. I think the event was really successful because of all the wonderful individuals who offered their help. Next up, we will be planning our Christmas party and My Secret Social Worker. I think it should be a lot of fun. It was a great event last year with lots of good food, friendship, and fun. I am looking forward to the same this year.

I also went to see Harry Potter last night--the midnight showing. It was AWESOME (but very sad). I will tell you, though, that I had a terrible time getting up this morning. My eyes were saying "Tired. So tired!"

I am both looking forward to this weekend as well as looking at it with some apprehension. I have quite a few things to do this weekend. I want to get all of my work that is due right after break done, but I know that this will entail a lot of homework time. However, a few of my friends and I are planning a dinner outing for this weekend. It should be fun, if all of our plans come together!

Chaos Breeds Chaos

Oh my goodness! I feel like many of my blogs start out with a similar sentiment! Today has been hectic. My interview for my field placement was cancelled. The woman I was to interview with was out sick. I was a bit thrown off by this development. Today has been filled with me trying to get a hold of people and get things "hammered" out. I am heading up, with the gracious help of many others, the Social Work Thanksgiving Dinner. The people helping have been amazing and steadfast in their assistance. However, I have been typing like mad to make sure things are in place for a successful event. I also scheduled for classes today. It was my last time scheduling for classes at Bluffton University. It is a really daunting thing, looking at it now. I also have a few assignments due and a test this week. They have been keeping me quite stressed and in edge.

Luckily, I did have a nice visit home. This was a much needed break from school. I think that we can forget to take time for ourselves. We can forget to "self-care". This is so important throughout one's entire life. I was able to spend some time with my parents, as well as just relax.

On top of everything else, I am reconsidering the direction of my life. That happens a lot too. I am considering applying for jobs and graduate school and seeing what comes from that. If I can find a desirable job, I might just go part time at a graduate school. I have yet to decide what is the best path for me. There are so many opportunities ahead, but they can often disguise themselves as obstacle and nothing else. Just work with and around those obstacles!

Field

I scheduled my field placement interview today! It is a really exciting event: it is a new experience that will be happening soon. I think that many of my fellow classmates are just as excited and nervous! I don't want to jinx the whole thing, but I am going to interview at a school. It would be a good opportunity.

Field is something that I have been anticipating since the beginning of the semester.

I have been pretty busy the past few days. I have been working on group projects. Group projects can be good and bad--a double-edged sword. I have a project due Thursday for my Practice 1: Micro course. We are working on crisis presentations. These projects look at crisis situations and a population directly impacted by that crisis. We then look at the best-model program.

My second project is my whole semester group project. We are working on researching the needs of the Downtown Lima community, as well as developing a project to address the needs.

The rest of this weeks proves to be a busy one. On Friday, I am going to be heading to Lima with the rest of the class to administer surveys. I will also be calling BINGO at the MMH. Then, I will be heading home for the weekend.

On the go go

It has been a very jam-packed week. I turned in my two papers that were do. My Macro group met on Tuesday evening and we completed our paper. It got taken care of pretty quickly. Hard work can do that. :)  That paper got turned in on Thursday. My Christian Values essay that was due Wednesday got pushed back until Friday. That gave me a chance to get feedback and perfect the paper.

On Wednesday, Chris (my boyfriend) and I had lunch with Chris's sister and her son. The baby is only six months, and he is as cute as a button! We ate at Jeanne's kitchen, here in Bluffton. Then we took her around to a few of the local stores. It was a really nice visit. The next day, we went up to Chris's parents' place. His sister was staying there during her visit. I got to play with her son, who is adorable. Chris's sister made us a vegetarian Mexican dinner: vegetarian tacos and enchiladas. It was a really tasty meal!

Thursday night, a few students from my Macro class met in order to decide what would appear in the survey that our class will be passing out. The survey is meant to help the Neighborhood Association of Lima. This organization is one that looks to unify the citizens of Lima. Our class is doing our project around the requests of the Neighborhood Association.

On Friday, my roommate and I went to an event called the CONNECTS Event. It was held at Davis Community College in Toledo, Ohio. The event focused on networking. There was a speaker, Jill Marie, who taught us the "etiquette" of networking. The skills included a firm handshake, eye contact, appropriate "commercials" (introductions of oneself and information about oneself), and more. It was an interesting opportunity. We met local business professionals and students from over eighteen schools (i.e. Defiance, Lourdes, etc.). We went with Kathy Dickson. She is the leader of the Career Development Center (CDC). That night, my roommate and I went to Bellacino's in Findlay. We had a roommates' night out. It was good to catch up. Even though we are roommates, we are both very busy and don't see each other as much.

Today, I went to lunch with one of my friends. It was a little day out. Before that, I had coffee with my boyfriend, folded some laundry, and watched an episode of House. Very exciting stuff, isn't it. (Laughs)

This is a good weekend because I don't have much due next week. It gives me a chance to relax some.

Time is flying by! It feels like I just started back to school, and now it is November 1. Wow!

Needless to say, I am keeping busy. I have a lot of stuff coming up. I have 3 papers due this week and a project due next week. talk about a lot to do and keep straight!

My weekend was pretty good. Saturday was family day. My parents came up. We went to the farmer's market in town and got some Mocha Meltaway cupcakes. They were so good! We ate lunch at Luke's. My parents love to eat there. It was so busy, though. It seemed like everyone in town was there or students were bringing their parents there to eat. We went to Wal-Mart and I picked up some groceries. It wasn't a particularly eventful visit, but it was definitely a good time. It was good to see my parents.

Later that night, I drove up to Defiance to attend a Halloween parade with my boyfriend's family. He had to work, but I decided to go. His sister was visiting from Texas with her 6 month old son. Her husband was working, and she decided to visit her family. I had never heard of a Halloween parade, but it was fun. I enjoyed visiting with everyone. I would have liked to stay afterwards to enjoy freshly popped popcorn and board games, but I decided I better drive back to Bluffton before it was too late. Yesterday was mostly a day of recuperation. I took a long nap and tried to wok on some homework.

Tonight, a friend of mine has invited a group of us over to his house to join him for cake and ice cream. His birthday is Wednesday. :)

Pumpkins and Storms

Oh my! What a day it has been! There was a tornado warning today and all of the students were ushered to safe areas. I walked over to Marbeck to get lunch (Fried Ravioli day--YUM!) only to find that it was going to be closed in 5 to 7 minutes. A storm was headed our way... Instead of staying at Marbeck and going downstairs to the hall, my friend and I walked back to Ropp. Let me tell you this: It was super windy. I was afraid I was going to be blown away. We all moved to the first floor, out of the way of windows. We were lucky-the RAs and HDs handled the situation really well. That was one positive.

We ended up staying downstairs for only about 25 to 30 minutes (at least the ones who just got back). After the storm had moved on, we hurried to lunch. We were looking to get lunch before going to class. I love fried ravioli, so I was not about to miss lunch today! I must say, it lived up to my expectations. I even got a to-go-box and took some to my 1:00 class.

On another note: Halloween is approaching FAST! There are numerous events on campus. I am hoping to make it to some of them. The Social Work Club has trick-or-canning Thursday, and that should really set the mood. I haven't been trick-or-"anything" in a really long time!

I carved pumpkins with the art club last night. It was amazing! The president of art club set it up. She bought pumpkins and made the food (salsa, cookies, cheese dip, caramel apples, etc.). She really created a fantastic event. I am not much of a carver/sculptor (my artistic talents lie in the 2D realm), but I had a blast none the less. We listened to the Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack and drank cider while carving our pumpkins. There were prizes for the most traditional, scariest, most creative, and best of show. I did not win, but I had fun. I wish I could say that I had a bigger role in the creation of this fun event, but instead I just joined in on the pumpkin carving festivities.

Meow!

Since my last post, things have been great.

My boyfriend was able to finally find a roommate and moved into a new apartment Friday! I am very excited for him--he has been looking for an apartment for quite some time. He is slowly bringing some of his things over the next week or so, but the majority of his stuff has been "relocated".

My Friday was very busy... I turned in a paper for a class. It was quite a relief to have it done! I went to the Mennonite Memorial Home and called BINGO. I always have fun doing that. It is fulfilling to reach out, if only in this small way. I also had a follow up interview for my Practice 1 class. That went well. The rest of my evening was spent relaxing. I ended up going to the Community Market here in Bluffton. I did a bit of grocery shopping. Two of my friends and I went to Arby's after our mini shopping excursion. I love being able to go out and catch up with friends. Thatweek had been a busy one.

On Saturday, I went to the Farmer's Market in town. It is located next to the bank and Post Office. I got some cupcakes from The Little Black Apron. It is a new business that does special orders. It is not an official store, but the lady takes orders and comes to the Farmer's Market, which ends next weekend. I got Buckeye Cupcakes. They were delicious. They are filled with peanut butter. The icing is chocolate and there are peanut butter crumbles on top. Yum! She makes multiple kinds. Next Saturday is Family Day. My parents are going to come visit, and I may try to take them to the market. I know they would like the cupcakes. I also got meatballs, which were tasty. After the Farmer's Market, I went to Findlay. My boyfriend and I's 3 year anniversary was Sunday. I wanted to pick him up a present. After, I stopped at the mall and looked around.

For our anniversary, my boyfriend and I spent the day together. We went to Olive Garden and spent the evening just hanging out. I was glad that he was able to get the day off.

Today is the start of a new week. I am excited because I have no assignments due, so it is a chance to rest and get caught up on some work. :-)

Time Flies

It is unbelievable how fast time flies; it really is. I cannot believe that the end of October is almost here! How can that be? It seems like just a few days ago, I was moving into school. Now, the end of my second month has almost come to an end. I guess that's what happens when there is so much to do!

It has been a truly hectic week. I had a Process Recording due today. A Process Recording is a project for my Social Work Practice 1 class. We had to interview an elderly individual and record our thoughts, feelings, and observations. The project, itself, was quite time-consuming. I also have a paper on an agency and how policy impacts its functioning die tomorrow. I have been working hard to get everything done. Luckily, I took my test of the week today. I am relieved to know that it is over. It can quite overwhelming at times when there are numerous things due at once.

Luckily, Tuesday provided a bright spot for me. Three of my friends and I decided to have a girls' night. We ordered pizza and talked. That was really fun. It is SO important to take time for yourself in school. I cannot say that enough! If you don't, you get burnt out so easily. Tuesday night was also the Breast Cancer Awareness Forum that was sponsored by the Social Work Club. Being an officer these past few weeks has kept me very busy! We were working hard to make sure that the panel (a group of people to talk about breast cancer) came together. I and two other officers also made and presented a PowerPoint that discussed the myths of breast cancer and facts that concerned men and women. We had a doctor and a woman and her daughter on the panel. The woman is currently battling breast cancer. Her story was so powerful. As you can tell, the social work club has been busy! We are also going trick-or-canning (collecting cans for a food bank) next Thursday. Then, we will be planning a Thanksgiving Dinner!!!

Oh wow! It's been such a busy week... I think I need a nap. :-)

Ace of Cakes... My Reality

Last night, Bluffton held its first annual Ace of Cakes competition. If you have watched this show, you can understand the craziness that is cake decorating. Myself and two of my friends took on the challenge, competing against several other teams.

Walking in, we did not know what we were getting ourselves into. Believe me, cake decorating is hard! We decided to go with a Halloween themed cake. Much to our despair, the other teams there were really, really good. There was a castle with a princess, a cheeseburger (looked good enough to eat), a pool, a shoe, a cupcake mountain, a river with boats and a bridge, a game board, a chalkboard, a Breast Cancer Awareness bra, a pumpkin, and then our cake. The concept of ours was cut short when our haunted house fell apart. Instead, we used fondant to make pumpkins and ghosts, oreo bits to make gravestones, cake for the tiny house, and gummy bears for trick-or-treaters. While ours was not going to get us our own show, it was great fun!

I fueled up before the competition at Chipotle. Some friends of mine went with me. We stopped at the mall and then made our way over to the land of yumminess (i.e. Chipotle). I always like going out with my friends. I think that it helps to break up your week or (in my case this week) celebrate the end of the week. I had two tests this past week. There was a lot of studying and stress. Once they were done, a great weight was lifted off my shoulders!

Mid-Day Musings

Waking up at 4:30 is unpleasant. Waking up when you don't have to is even more unpleasant. I am one of those people who doesn't get back to sleep easily unless I am extremely tired and still in that "sleep zone"... Or whatever it may be.

Needless to say, I only managed to get about 20 minutes of light dozing in the remaining 2 hours before I ha to get up for work.

So, to back track, the homecoming dance was pretty fun. There was a large turnout. I think that the football win might have attributed to the school spirit as well. There were a lot of alumni, including last year's graduates.

My Sunday was filled with homework, as was my Saturday afternoon. I had a movie for Christian Values at 7 pm last night.

My evening will consist of studying. I have two tests this week. I just hope I will be well-prepared. I have a lot that I need to do, and I can tell it is midterm time. It is in the air. There are a lot of projects and tests coming my way. Others are feeling it too.

I am very excited for this weekend, though. For C. Henry Smith, we are going to the Freed Center at ONU to see a performance of Hamlet. That should be pretty good. Afterwards, my boyfriend and I are going to (belatedly) celebrate Sweetest Day. :)

That is all for now...

Ready, Set, Go!

This past week has been really good. Well, really good and really busy! The week after Fall Break always does two things to me. 1. It makes me a bit sad when the next week comes because I find that week to be VERY long. 2. Makes me realize everything I have to do. On the other hand, I have gotten so much done. THAT is a great feeling. In college, you have to realize that there is always a bit more to do. BUT there is always so much to look forward to!

I had a paper due yesterday, and I got that out of the way. It made me a bit nervous to hand it in, since I wasn't quite sure it was what my professor wanted. However, I was also immensely relieved! Whoo--one paper done and out of the way!

On Wednesday, I met with Kathy Dickson about my resume and grad school process. I am slowly working on getting both of them done. It is a lot of work, but dividing it up helps. Also, I know how happy I will be when it's all done. Knowing you have completed something is a huge relief. It is also exciting. It is like tackling a small (or, in my case,  large one) goal!

Yesterday, I called BINGO at the Mennonite Memorial Home. Usually, there are classes where you are asked to do some kind of service work. In the past, I have done things at the MMH. This year, I am doing it just to help them out. That is one of the great things about Bluffton--it has given me a lot of chances to get involved with the community. I also met with someone for a class project, afterwards. It was a mini interview. Afterwards, I went to Chipotle and relaxed in my room with some television. A friend and I then went down to Bob's for some food. We got there just in time to see the MCB (Marbeck Center Board) get to the best part of the evening (in my opinion). We saw one of the members get "pied." They made a whip cream pie, and he had it smeared over him. MCB members are good sports--you'd have to be!

Today, I went to the library to work on some homework. I am really getting into using the library as my study area. In the past years, I have gone there off and on, but I have found it to be a real haven this year.

Tonight is the Homecoming Dance! I am very excited. I love to dance... Even though I am slightly silly while doing so. I will try to report back on the "festivities" ASAP. Have a great weekend!

Fall Break

Fall break is one of those times: it is both relaxing and just a bit stressful. Fall Break started this past Friday. It was a break that is much needed by my friends and I. While we enjoy being at school, a nice break always helps to alleviate some stress.

On Friday, I went to the Mennonite Memorial Home. I call BINGO there in the Alzheimer's ward. I always look forward to calling BINGO. The residents are so nice, and I like being able to help put on an activity they enjoy. The woman who is normally there was not able to be there Friday. She asked if I would be ok calling by myself. I felt that it was important for me to do so. Many of the residents look forward to BINGO. I headed home after BINGO. Friday night was relaxing. I managed to fit in some TV and got some much needed sleep.

On Saturday, I went to Woosterfest (a local spin on Oktoberfest) with my parents. This was a lot of fun. Woosterfest itself wasn't overly exciting, but it was great to spend the afternoon with my parents. Sunday consisted of more resting. I have been pretty tired lately, and the sleep was needed greatly.

Today is filled with homework! I am working on my Social Welfare Policy and Analysis paper. It is keeping me busy today. Updates to come.

I am excited for this coming weekend: Homecoming!!!

So, I have been MIA for a few days! I have been keeping really busy!

I have a paper for my Christian Values in a Global Community course tomorrow. I completed it last night, and it was a lot of work. The paper was 5-7 pages, pretty standard in college. The thing about Christian Values that I like is that it challenges your values and perspectives. On the other hand, that is what makes it so difficult to write a paper for the course. I had been really struggling to complete the paper and have it meet my professor's standards. That is why I decided to meet with my professor this afternoon. One thing that I so love and appreciate about the Bluffton faculty is their desire to help students succeed. I have never had a problem getting a professor's input or assistance!

Luckily, my professor thought my paper was pretty good. What a relief! I came back to my room and did some minor grammatical changes and added a bit to the body of the paper. With this out of the way, I can let out a huge sigh of relief.

Today was a pretty good day... I went to the Cross Cultural forum. This is probably one of the best forums of the year. The students who went on the trip share pictures and talk about their trips. I went on my Cross Cultural in May of 2009, but I still love to hear about other people's experiences. At lunch today, they had fried ravioli! I love it! So tasty. :-D

On my agenda for tonight is printing off information for graduate school. I am planning on getting my Master's in Social Work, so this is one of many steps. I'll keep you posted on all of that!

                                  Just a funny picture... Taken at Hot Topic this past Thursday, just for fun. :)

What's in a Weekend...?

It is amazing how fast a weekend can go by when you have so much to do! I think there is something about the time-space continuum that just makes weekends speed up! It seems like it only just begins and then is gone! This, my friend, is why I did not post this weekend. Busy days are preceded by more busy days!

Friday

My Friday afternoon was packed full of stuff to do! I had my social work club meeting at noon. That always entails a lot of hard work. It is worth it when the events are finalized, but there is a lot of work that must be done to make those events possible. We were discussing some upcoming fundraisers, as well as our back to school event. That event is this Friday, and it should be fun.

Afterwards, I headed into Lima with a few people from my Practice 3: Macro class. For this class, we have are working with a group in Lima, Ohio. It is our goal to improve the relationships between the community members and the local businesses and organizations. I and two others went to the library in Lima to do some background research. That is one of the good things about social work classes--you get out into the community. However, it is also a time-consuming project. It is about coordinating schedules. Following the trip to the library, we went to the Allen County Council On Aging, where we met up with the rest of our group. We had a conversation with the staff there about the needs of Lima.

Saturday

Number of hours spent in the library here on campus: 2 and 1/2
Number of papers completed: 1
Success? Yes

The majority of my day was spent working on my paper for my Practice 3 course. I decided to get it out of the way. I then printed out the articles I needed for my next paper (for Practice 1). The library is a great place to go and study/work on papers. It is pretty peaceful and has all of the resources you need.

After working on my paper, I played tennis with a friend. Neither of us are especially good, but we had fun! We even got some good volleys going.

My boyfriend came to visit. He and I and many other friends then went to Findlay. We ate at a great restaurant called Bellacino's. They serve Italian style food... Sooo good, and not overly expensive. I highly recommend it. Then we went to Wal-Mart. This is always an adventure. We looked at fish and amused ourselves in electronics. Then, we came back to Bluffton. My roommate, boyfriend, and I watched the Prince of Persia. Good movie, by the way. :-)

Sunday

Number of hours in the library: 3 and 1/2
Number of papers completed: 1
Success: Yes

So glad to have that project out of the way!

The rest of my weekend was spent watching my own personal Gilmore Girls marathon. It's important to treat yourself after a long day of working.

Monday

Go time:6:40am
Stop: Approximately 5:10pm

What occupied that time:

Work, class, class, work, lunch, work, paper to write, work for the social work club...

It is a busy life, the life of a college student. Worth it? Yes. Absolutely. I spent tonight talking and laughing with my friends. We were unwinding from a long day of school and work. Mark my word: It is soooooo important to have good friends!

Happiness is...

What brightens up a day (one that has been less than positive) more than lunch outside (Other than pizza last night at our first Art Club meeting)? A frisbee that changes colors in the sunlight acting as a tray. Let me back up and explain: Today was the President’s Forum. President Harder spoke today about the future of Bluffton. It is very exciting to hear about all the new places and changes that are coming our way. Anyhow, President Harder announced that the new Health and Fitness Center is close to breaking ground. It will be built behind Marbeck Commons, where the old softball field used to be. While I will not see the facility built during my time here at Bluffton, it is certainly an exciting renovation that is soon to take place!

Lunch consisted of hotdogs, hamburgers, brats, veggie burgers, potato chips, coleslaw, corn, and cheesy broccoli casserole. Let me tell you that there is nothing like a lunch outside (on such a gloriously beautiful day) to cheer a person up. I woke up this morning with a stuffy nose, a sore throat, and a headache. A lunch outside was just the ticket—I felt better just being outside.

After my afternoon class and work, a few friends and I went into town (along Main Street here in Bluffton). We headed to the Etcetera Shop. It is a thrift store here in town. We had a business fair last week (it’s an annual event), where all of the local businesses come to advertise their shops and restaurants. We can pick up free things, and one of those is a plastic bag that allows us to fill the bag full with clothes. Whatever is in there is ours at no charge from the Etcetera Shop. Next, we headed to Ten Thousand Villages-a fair trade store that has items made by people all over the world. It is one of my favorite stores in town. The things are so amazing—very colorful and creative. I also recommend the Dough Hook. It is the local butcher shop that also happens to make baked goods. They have some of the best cinnamon rolls ever! Yum! I love the town of Bluffton, and I think that it is really homey!

That is one of the most amazing and important things to mention about this town: you feel welcome. It becomes a part of your life and who you are. You become a Bluffton Beaver through the university and the community!

Friday Night with Friends

Today was a lot of fun!

12:00
After my classes were finished, I met with the other officers of the Social Work Club. Today was our first meeting of the year. It seemed to be really productive. I am the secretary, and it is nice to have a more active role than I did last year. That is one thing that I love about Bluffton-you get the chance to really be involved. We talked about some of the events we want to hold this year, and I think it will be a lot of fun for everyone. Some of our ideas include a Back to School Pizza Party and a Trick-or-Canning (the collection of canned goods around Halloween).

2:00
I also had my meeting with Professor Heather Koontz. She is one of the three social work professors on campus. The seniors are getting ready for field placement or internships. It is a very exciting time that is also filled with a bit of nervous energy. It is a new step... One that I am looking forward to but am also kind of worried about. I think it is like a Catch 22 in that way. No right answer, per se. This is the beginning of my journey, and I am looking forward to where it might take me.

5:15
My friends and I headed to the Beer Barrel in Lima. Don't let the name fool you-we went there for the PIZZA! I got the lasagna and ordered a small pizza for tomorrow. Both were good... but the lasagna was AMAZING! Really, really good. :) Very cheesy and saucy. Mmmm... Two of the girls who went were my freshmen floor mates three years ago. It is amazing that I have re-connected with old friends as my time at Bluffton begins to wind down.

11:30
Now I am getting ready to watch a movie: Couples Retreat with my roommate and boyfriend. Woohoo.

Good night.

A New Week

This week has already proven to be a great deal less stressful than the previous one. I am grateful for that. I went home this past weekend for a friend's college graduation party and came back feeling refreshed. Sometimes, it is a good idea to get away. It can be the difference between being stress free and feeling like you are going to pull your hair out! :-)

Ok... Now let me rewind. On Friday, I went to Chipotle with some friends. Mmmm.... Chipotle... It is sooo delicious. That might just be my stomach talking, but it is pretty darn tasty! THAT can also be a great way to clear your mind-get out of your everyday routine. Spend time with your friends. Spend time by yourself. Go for a walk. Or, in my case, go to Chipotle and Wal-Mart. It might be hard to believe that a simple trip out to eat and Wal-Mart could be some kind of cure all, but it really is. Seriously, over the past three years (not including this upcoming year), I cannot count the number of Waffle House runs that were followed by a trip to Wal-Mart. There might not have been a need to buy anything, but it can be fun. Trust me! College Wal-Mart trips are different than ones you make at home. :)

My mention of Waffle House reminds me: I made a visit there Friday night as well. It is a definite late night run. Yum! I headed home Saturday for the grad party and was back here on Sunday. That same night, I am (slightly) ashamed to admit, I made a Taco Bell run with my roommate and two other friends of ours. If you are noticing a theme, then you have been paying close attention. This blog seems rooted in food! Sometimes, you need a break from Marbeck. And a late night trip to one or more of my aforementioned "haunts" is always a nice break from studying.

Yesterday, I did the usual (classes and the like). I feel like we are getting into a bit more of the actual content. I have Intro to Graphic Design and Social Welfare Policy and Analysis on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It's always nice when you start to feel like you are diving into material that interests you! Last night, I did some reading and then a group of us went up to the Shannon. The Shannon is the movie theatre in town. It is a great place to go in town. It's $3 per person. That's a deal. Plus they have popcorn/drink combos. ;-) We saw Dinner for Schmucks-pretty funny but no overly in-depth plot.

Right now I am getting ready to head to lunch and them to my 1:00 class-Practice 3: Macro. It's another social work class that deals with a social worker's role in the community. I am planning on some homework and reading. Then, some time to relax!

A Busy First Week

   It has been a VERY hectic week. I seriously feel like with it being senior year, everything is amplified. The work. The stress. The emotions. I have been very busy trying to get everything organized and figured out for my classes (the organizing is a bit less than successful). Monday was nothing compared to the rest of the week. I know this will be a rewarding year, but it is also going to be jammed pack with work!

   On Tuesday, I had as pretty full day. I worked early in the morning (as usual), and then I headed to my classes. Right after those, I went to work for the psychology department. Immediately following that, I went and chauffeured a cat. Yes, I am serious! A friend and I went to Dunkirk (a little town about 20 minutes away) to pick up my boyfriend's cat. He had an appointment with the vet the next day, so I took him to the kennel here in Bluffton for the night. Quite a little adventure!

   Tuesday night, I also went to Game Night hosted by MCB. It was a lot of fun. I was super excited for Dutch Blitz. Unfortunately, I didn't actually get to play. Fear not, though. I own the game and will host a tournament of my own soon! Hahaha. I ended up playing Life with my roommate and four other girls (two other pairs of roommates). Coincidence? I think not. :-)  I did not win. In fact, I was last place. Not such a good turn out for a game called Life.

   Wednesday was a bit more relaxed. I went to work and then to my classes. I spent the afternoon with my boyfriend. We ate at Common Grounds, the local coffee shop. I tried Ma's BBQ Beef. Pretty good... I had night class last night. It is Christian Values in a Global Community. Every senior must take it. I was worried at first--the workload is pretty big! However, the professor, Lynda Nyce, really has a great approach to it. I think it will end up being a pretty good class.

   Today, I have worked at Marbeck (too early!) and attended my first of two classes. I am ready for lunch. Mmmm... I like chili and that should be the soup of the day. I think my fellow classmates might cringe at my love for Marbeck's chili. It's not amazing, but with a LOT of cheese, it hits your palate in just the right way.
 :-)

My Last First Day

Here I am... Back at Bluffton University for my last year as a senior. It is hard to believe that only a few years ago I was a freshman. I am feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness about this being my last time moving into my room or going to my first classes.

I moved in Saturday with the help of my parents, grandparents, boyfriend, roommate, and roommate's boyfriend. I guess that list of helpers speaks to the amount of stuff I tend to bring. In my efforts to be prepared, I have always overpacked. Then, I make the promise that next year I will bring more stuff! This weekend was spent catching up with friends who I haven't seen over the summer. My roommate and I indulged in Padrone's pizza and cheesy bread (college must haves here in Bluffton) and a movie. Afterwards we went to the Whippy Dip. It is the local ice cream "stand" here in town. Everyone loves it. Too bad they will close soon!

I attended my first two classes of the year and also my only two classes of the day earlier this morning. The rest of my day will be and has been filled with work. I work on campus as a swiper at breakfast and as a professor's assistant. Keeps me pretty busy! That's how I have felt today: busy, busy, busy! I can tell it will be a very busy and exciting year already.