Hello, readers!
What a memorable few months it has been! I couldn’t be more happy with my decision to come to Ball State University. I’m getting to know so many new people from all over Indiana, from bordering states, and even across the country and the world. I’ve met people from New Jersey, China, England, and occasionally I’ll get to see some familiar faces from my home in Noblesville that I had not seen since graduation.
Besides meeting new people, I am amazed at how involved I am able to be in such a short period of time. I’m a member of the Student Honors Council (SHC), a group of students in the Honors College that represent a larger student body to host events, provide activities, and accomodate to a more enriching experience in college academically and socially. I am a liaison for SHC to the Honors Living-Learning Community Committee. Once a month I meet with hall directors from DeHority Hall and Park Hall, the Dean of the Honors College, and the director of the Living-Learning Communities and resident life to discuss what events SHC plans to host. These events create a living environment conducive to the Honors community’s goals as well as an opportunity for Honors students to become involved outside of the classroom. I have another meeting this afternoon to inform the group about a spaghetti dinner SHC is hosting for the Honors College students. An Honors professor will be coming to talk to a group of students about her classes for the coming semester as well as her experiences around the world as a global traveler.
I am also a member of BSCTM, the Ball State Council of Teachers of Mathematics. I was just elected as a NCTM, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, representive for Ball State. In April of 2011, the national conference for NCTM will be held in Indianapolis! The conference is about 4 days long and will showcase featured speakers, different teaching techniques, and presentations on today’s education in mathematics. I feel so lucky to only be in my first year of college and already having so many great opportunities to enrich my future.
Besides being a mathematics education major, I am also a dance perfomance minor. For any major or minor in the Department of Theatre and Dance, freshmen are required to take a one credit hour class named Practicum. Essentially, every freshmen signs up for a job in the department, whether that means ushering a show, selling tickets in the box office, working on costumes, or playing in the orchestra for a show. For the past two weeks I have been working as part of the general backstage crew for the musical Company. Before the show I help sweep and mop the stage and set, during the show I help with hand-offs of props to the actors and the moving of furniture, and at the close of the show I am responsible for making sure every prop used by the actors is returned to its correct place. Sadly, tomorrow is the last performance of such a wonderful show. I have met so many new people in the theatre department that I normally would not get to meet, and the experience has helped me appreciate a live show even more than I had before. The next performance in University Theatre this semester is The Nutcracker. Instead of only featuring classical ballet to tell the story of Clara and the Nutcracker Prince, the Department of Dance has decided to feature other forms of dance including jazz, tap, and modern. The show runs from December 8-12. I’m excited to see the new adaptation to such a classic and loved story!
Thus far, my experience at Ball State has been extraordinary! I am meeting new people, enjoying new activities, and becoming a part of wonderful communities created by programs just like St.A.R.T. I can’t wait to see what else Ball State University has in store!
Go Cardinals! 
Katie D. 2014
