What’s this? Break already?

MISSION: To make it.

What if someone didn’t want Christmas break to come? What if someone actually wanted to stay here in Muncie and relax, study for the upcoming semester, or even work… who knows it’s possible… maaaybe?!

Yeah, I know that person is crazy, if there is even such a person. “Loco” would definitely have to be their middle name. I can’t wait to go home for break. It’s not that I don’t like being in Muncie but this has been the hardest semester in my 3 years here at BSU. What’s crazy, is the fact that I’m only taking 15 credits. Gosh, December 17th  here I come. I’m coming for you full steam ahead.

GOAL: Make it in one piece (mentally, physically, emotionally)

I’m not going to really think about break right now. I’m just going to focus on what projects I have to do now. Projects include the following

Political science paper + final
News website and story
Spanish final (which will likely dominate me)
TCOM story
Social work studying for final.

You see my days are long and my nights are longer! Remember the days when caffeine is your best friend and sleep is your enemy? Yes I know sleep is important but I have to get stuff done.

Although my head can’t rest on a pillow to dream of all the relaxation I will be getting on Christmas break, daydreaming in class is my alternative for now. I can’t wait to be finished.

ACCOMPLISHED: …pending…

Well I better get going, I have enough stuff to keep me busy for a while.

But I’ll let you know how things are going soon… if I make it.

Sally Prosen

Gobble Gobble

Hello all.

I haven’t blogged for awhile, so I’ll give you a little insight to what I’m up to. This semester has really flown by, and now with only three weeks left after our Thanksgiving Break, I feel like I’m running out of time to get things done.

I’m studying in Italy in the spring, and the paperwork just keeps on coming. What was really dissappointing was that the Italian government changed the visa policies on us-students can no longer stay to travel after our program ends in Italy or in any Schengen country. Schengen countries include most West European countries, except for Romania, Croatia, the UK, and I think Bulgaria? Anyway, supposedly they did this because the United States is making it very difficult to for foreign students to come here and study, so Europeans are doing the same. My mom said our CIA was over there and ticked them off. Great. It’s all politics. And for the first time, it’s personally affecting me.

My parents and I decided that I would fly to England and meet them there. That way I can still travel without being an illegal immigrant. Perfectly fine with me! I’ve always wanted to see England.

Besides my full time job of organizing my trip next semester, I’ve been juggling classes and work and other things. I actually got the swine flu vaccine Saturday. They were offering it at Worthen Arena during the basketball game. Go Cards! The whole process took maybe 10 minutes. That’s how easy it was. I was skeptical about the vaccine when it came out, plus I didn’t want to risk getting sick from it but I just got the injection, which was the killed version. What turned me around was that my room mate and her twin both got it and didn’t get sick. The nurses also told me when I was there that it would help me get through customs quicker if I was traveling soon-which I am! Great! Bring on the vaccines.

Very excited for Thanksgiving Break! I hope you all have a good one and enjoy spending time with family and friends!

Gobble Gobble.

Kate

 

New St.A.R.T

Hello,

I am a new member to St.A.R.T so this is my first time blogging. A little bit about myself is that I am a Junior majoring in Nursing with a minor in Psychology. I am very excited to be apart of this organization! I love working as a team and accomplishing goals together. I am also a perfectionist so I am sure Michelle is laughing at me for writing this out on paper before typing it. This week is very busy for me. I am very involved in my nursing classes so I have a report due and two tests coming up. I feel like all my professors are trying to cram everything in before Thanksgiving Break, but I will get through everything. I can’t wait to get to know more about other members.

See everyone next week for pictures!

Sarah Kays

School so far…

Hello everyone,  I am new to the St.A.R.T. Club and new to this blogging.  I think it is so neat to see something like this where people get to share their feelings and have people read them.  Anyways, I am a sophomore here and loving school so far.  I moved off campus this year and LOVE my new apartment with roommates I knew from freshman year.  Like I was telling Bobby, I have learned to let the little things go so much more this year and I find myself more comfortable and stress free.  I used to be uptight about my grades and getting worked up over the smallest thing that I thought I was “stressed” about. 

My dad is one of the most admirable people I know and he told me to just let the little things go and one bad assignment is not going to make or break my college career.  I seem to get all my school work done and have time to spare to spend it with friends, clubs or working out.  So I seem to be managing my time a little better.  College is a lot of fun and I want to enjoy every bit of it before it quickly drifts away from me and I have to enter the real world.

Thank you to all readers. =)

Lauren

Revelations Lead To Revolution

Hello everyone,

This is my first time blogging for the Student Alumni Relations Team, due in part to the fact that I am a new member…That’s pretty exciting, huh? In any case with that being said I hope you can forgive me if I’m not going about this right, but I do feel that I have some interesting revelations that you all may be interested in.

 Before I continue I will give you a little bit of a background about myself. I’m a junior finance major that is planning on graduating next winter and continuing my education by studying law. I have a deep interest in politics and think that being a public servant is a great way to help people. However my politics are not entrenched in the right/left paradigm that many people are consumed with. I am a strong advocate of classical liberal ideals and that everyone is the captain of their life, not the government. How can you argue with personal liberty?

 With that brief background I would like to get into some very startling revelations that I have come across in my few years being here at Ball State. In my day to day dealings with peers and associates I find it very bothersome that many people do not have any sense of what is going on in the world around them. What I mean by this is that so many people are consumed with the latest fashion, last weekends football games, and what is going on in Hollywood yet they have no idea that our president is taking his first step to disarming all of America…oh yeah, a lot of people don’t know that you have the right to posses and carry a firearm to protect you from an unjust and tyrannical government. (http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE59E0Q920091015). Is it safe to say that we have such a government? I’d say downfall started as far back as John Adams, but it’s debatable.

 Another fun issue that people my age seem to be really into talking about is how great their weekend was because they got so smashed and hammered. If they aren’t talking about last weekend then naturally they will be talking about their plans for the upcoming weekend and how much fun it will be to not remember that one as well. Maybe it’s just me but issues such as the world elite talking about a one world government openly in public (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/10/AR2009111015034.html?hpid=opinionsbox1) while it just goes on without the slightest of uproar from the people that are going to be ruled by these madmen seems to be way more important than what type of alcoholic beverage you’re going to waste away in.

 Don’t get me wrong people; I have nothing against football, entertainment, and having fun. I think it’s all well and good in proportion, but people have been so consumed with it that they no longer see the real world for what it is. These things have been given to the public as a distraction from the real issues. Everyone is becoming numbed to the real world to the point that it is awkward for you to wave to a stranger as you are driving through your neighborhood. I know it’s not everyone but for once could the people of this University, let alone the state or country, wake up for just a little bit and start talking about real issues and implementing real change. You’re not going to find the answers on Fox News, CNN, or from John Steward. We all can’t sit around and complain about how bad things are and just expect them to change. We have to get up do something. It is time for us to be real patriots and make this country our own.

 In my next blog, I’ll fill everyone in on what course of action I have taken in reaction to my distain for peoples attitudes in our society. I know I was a little all over the place and should explain my points a little more clearly, but this would get pretty lengthy if I did. I’ll try to clear things up more next time. If people find this interesting or would like me to touch on something I talked about in more detail I would love to do so next time.

 In Liberty,

 John Michael J. Boger

Dear Reader

Hi there! The sun is shining and our country is taking a day to celebrate all the brave men and women who have served to protect our freedom. What a wonderful day. Happy Veterans Day!

On another note…. Blogging for St.A.R.T. has led me to be curious – Who reads our blog? I noticed our blog has had over 6,200 hits. I encourage you (our readers) to leave a comment and let us know a little about you. You hear a lot from us and it would be exciting to know what some of our Alumni is up to. Where are you now? What are you doing with your life? Career? Family? Anything you would like to share. Also, I’d love to hear some of your reactions to our blogs. Did you have a favorite? Did one make you laugh? Hopefully I’ll get some feedback on this entry, if not that’s OK, too. Just curious

Allison

My First Semester: Short, yet LONG!

I, unlike some others, am in my first semester here at Ball State. Yep that means I still have seven more to go! I barely have my high school graduation gown taken off.  Like anything in life I look at this first semester like a challenge. A challenge to get involved in things that I want to be involved in for the rest of my life. A challenge to keep a 4.0. A challenge to stay fit. A challenge to influence people, meet new friends and become the person I need to be.

I have struggled so far. Sally, in response to what you asked, I am a guy and I did read your post. I for one can certainly say that I am wrapped up in grades and I find it hard to be happy with myself if I do anything less than perfect. I realize this is the wrong way to look at things, but I can’t help it. So, you are not alone. Anyway, I have struggled for once in my life, but not so much in classes. I have been to multiple club meetings where I have just not felt comfortable. I have not given up. When I find things difficult I find that that gives me even more of a reason to work hard and overcome that challenge.

Changing subjects a little bit, I think that this recession that our country is going through is the perfect time to step back and look at what we are challenging ourselves to do. Are we too caught up in school or work? Do we spend too much time with our cell phones or laptops? Do we take time to interact with those around us? Are we trying to change the world, before we make the world around us right for ourselves? This reminds me of an old wives tale:

There once was a great king, he decided to take a tour of all of his kingdom. His kingdom was very large and the journey was rough, as the roads were often covered in rocks. The king was very tired when he returned from the journey which he had decided to take on foot. He reported to his council that he was very pleased with his kingdom. He had seen many hard workers, children playing and a very beautiful mountinous landscape. He did, however, have one complaint. His feet were sore and full of cuts.To solve this he asked his council to cover all of the roads in th kingdom with leather, to make the roads soft for his future travels. His council was very distraught, as this would be a very large project to undertake. One of the brave members of the council, thinking that this idea was not necessary, said to the king, “Instead of covering the roads in leather, cover your foot in leather and make a shoe for yourself.”

This story shows the importance of having our hearts in the right place, before we are able to change the hearts of others. The time of my first semester has flown by. I have used it to make everyday count by in some way changing myself for the better. This makes each day seem long, but when I look back I feel like I have barely taken a breath since I have been here.  Just remember you have to make sure your motivation is in the right place you can accomplish anything!

I look forward to many more posts!!

Bobby

Time really does fly!

It’s hard to believe that I only have one semester to go in my college career! It feels like yesterday I was saying my goodbyes to my parents on move-in day, now I am getting ready to buy my cap and gown. CRAZY! Throughout my years here at BSU I have seen myself mature, develop new skills and make many new friends. Even though the economy is not the best currently, I am truly looking foward to entering the “real world” and seeing what it has in store for me Best of luck to everyone with the remainder of  your semester!

‘Scary’ campus & Veteran’s Day!

Hi! =]

Okay, so when I first came to Ball State, I was an architecture major – which means I stayed in studio until the wee hours of the night finishing projects just to stumble sleepily back to my dorm room around 4 in the morning.  Most of the time I would walk back alone, and I never felt unsafe or scared once. 

Currently as a junior, I can’t say I feel the same way anymore.  There have been assaults, muggings, tazings, and now…a bomb threat at Ball Gym??  Good grief! What’s up people?! Are you procrastinating on your ENG 103 paper?  Need some dough for a new calculator for stats? 

 These days, all of my friends and I go out of our way to walk with each other to our cars at night, and I’d bet that architecture students are using the buddy system at 4am.

I’m not sure why all of these events have been going on,  but it sure isn’t making Ball State look appealing - which is totally not fair to the school because they do have a lot of security in place.  Hopefully this is just a freak thing and nothing else will come up.  Otherwise, I would imagine that the publicity Ball State will be getting about their “unsafe campus” will really deter the incoming freshmen class and create an uproar among current students.

But, what can the administration do??  I dunno.  I heard they have put more security around campus and the parking lots, but I’m not exaclty sure what that means.  Security gaurds?  Blue light thingies? Video cameras?  I don’t know.  It’s frusterating that just because of a few random people, all of Ball State has to suffer.  =[

Anyways!  Today is Veteran’s Day and I for one am really excited.  See, I’m a pretty big fan of America and my freedom and I’d like to give every Veteran and current soldier in the world a high five.  I can’t even explain how appreciative I am for those people who fought for my freedom.  Wow.

Alright, I’m off to class for the day!  Talk to everyone later!

-Nicole

My young mid-life crisis!

Hello, I am also a new St.A.R.T member and this is my first time writing a blog post for the organization. I am a senior journalism major with a focus in news-editorial. I also have two minors: communication studies and fashion. Yes, I know that is a weird combination .

After graduation, I would love to switch gears a bit and go into corporate communications.  I think I have a pretty strong resume that would allow me to do so. Immersive learning projects have given me great experience and I have held a few good part-time jobs (on and off-campus) over the course of my college career.

Currently, I am working at the Career Center on campus. There I work in two different deparmtents- I help out with career events such as job fairs and I also work in the Career and Experiential Learning Lab. I even blog for the Career Center (check out my blog on the Ball State Univeristy Career Center’s Facebook page under blog box.)

As this semester winds down (slowly but surely) I am undergoing what I call my “young mid-life crisis!” Yes, I know you probably thinking that graduation is an exciting time- new career and the start of my life! While, it is exciting, I am finding that it is very stressful as well. My BIG problem is this: do I go to graduate school now or do I seek professional employment?

I have thought about this for a while and I keep going back and forth over the issue. I have contemplated the pros and cons of each decision and I have spoken with many people to get their opinions. Everything allows comes out 50/50! What is a girl to do?

Meanwhile, I am going through the interview process for potential jobs! Now, don’t get me wrong, I am having a blast meeting new people and interviewing with employers! However, this is crunch time in my “young mid-life crisis” because I only have a few months left before I have to make a decision that will change my life forever!

I guess time will only tell what my future holds for me. Please, wish me luck . I will be sure to keep you posted on the decisions I make as my crisis cotinues to unfold.

Best,

Shayla Kiser