Greetings all! I am sorry for the temporary break; I had a lot of academic catching up to do. But it seems to have been worth it for my freshman year has now drawn to a close. As I write this I’m hearing my peers outside, having parents assist them in packing up their belongings into boxes and crates. Walking through the halls I can hear tape being ripped and heavy objects being dropped. Suitcases and chairs are being rolled around and the garbage cans and donation boxes are full. It’s an interesting feeling, readying ourselves to say goodbye to the home we’ve only recently found. OWU has become so integrated in my life that the idea of returning to my other home is a shock. But the people I’ve met and the lessons I’ve learned will not leave me and the comfort of knowing OWU will be ready for me when I return in a few months is a comforting notion.. It was as great an experience as I had heard and then some. I have grown tremendously as a person and am so thankful for the time I have spent here. I hope everyone is able to find some form of solace, be it in with your family or old friends or perhaps even just a moment of peace by yourself. I for one cannot wait to see my family, my dogs, my friends, and to get back into the life I’ve had up to this point.

This summer try something new! Go to the movies and eat ice cream by the pool. If you have a job, do it well and try to enjoy it! Laugh at dumb jokes and smile at everyone.

I will be updating this blog sporadically throughout the summer so please check in whenever possible! And, as always, if you ever have questions or concerns please to contact me.

Stay safe, stay wonderful, stay happy, and enjoy your time!

Today OWU hosted the Bishop Champion Games, which is basically OWU’s approximation of the Special Olympics. Organized by OWAC (Ohio Wesleyan’s Athletic Counsel) participants were able to try their hand in a variety of track events, from the 100 meter dash to the softball throw to the balloon toss! Everyone had a great time and the weather was extraordinary (probably some of the best weather I have yet to encounter here in Ohio).

There are only a few more weeks before the school year comes to a close. Sentimentality aside, this means that there is going to be an onslaught on tests, papers and essays, quizzes, projects, and presentations for the students. I know I will be kept busy with it all. So I’d like to take this time to share some good ways to keep your head from falling off.

1. Go and speak with your professors! They are really helpful, patient, and want you to succeed. If you feel like you don’t understand something or just need some extra one-on-one time, don’t be above asking for help!
2. As always, stay organized. Budgeting your time will become increasingly important so keep careful records of what needs to be done. Write down assignments and keep a tidy agenda.
3. Make little sacrifices. Maybe you have to cut back on your Netflix time a bit more than you would like or maybe you have to leave your friend’s birthday party an hour earlier to study. It might seem painful but, ultimately, it is worth it.
4. On the flip side, reward yourself for a job well done! Get some ice cream or treat yourself to a movie night after you’ve finished a paper or aced a quiz. All work and no play can turn you into Jack Nicholson (from The Shining…hopefully some of you catch that reference.)

For all of you still in high school, these tips can apply to you as well! Don’t become overwhelmed and take everything in stride. As one of my high school teachers used to say, “How do you eat an elephant?-One bite at a time.” Hypothetically, of course. I don’t commend eating elephants.

Alrighty all, have a great upcoming week! Best of luck in all of your endeavors!

Hello all! I hope everything is wrapping up nicely for your month of March! For those of who have had a Spring Break, I hope it was spectacular. For those who are about to have Spring Break, enjoy it as much as possible and stay safe! And for those who will go without the much needed reprieve known as Spring Break, I’m sorry and wish you a very relaxing weekend.

OWU is playing its A-game at the moment. This week there were huge celebrations, informative events. and exciting activities held not only for Green Week (Yay for the environment!!!!) but also for Women’s Week (Yay for women!!!!!!!! Yay for Equality!!!). There were activities held during the day, during lunch, and during the night. To see an entire campus rally together to support such worthy causes is not only a beautiful thing but also very inspiring. It is through events such as these that we can be reminded that everything little thing counts and no good deed is for naught.

I’ve uploaded a few more pictures and there are more on the way! This is one of the most beautiful campuses that I have ever visited and I can’t stop falling further in love with the grandiose sights all around me.

Everyone, please stay safe and healthy. The weeks here are numbered so try to enjoy them to the fullest. If you ever need to talk or simply ask a question, I’m here and more than happy to speak with you! Have a fantastic day!

Hello to all! This past weekend was Circle K’s District Convention. It was a sort of leadership conference and I had a COMPLETE BLAST! However, there was a talent show portion so I would like to offer my apologies for anyone who had to witness my performance. I tried to have therapists on call for afterwards. OWU ended up with four trophies (we took first place in that talent show, despite my involvement!!) as well as receiving plaques and certificates for individual club members. I was able to meet so many wonderful people and cannot wait for the next convention!

This week is relatively hectic for me. I already have four meetings set up for this afternoon, as well as some club activities and assignments to work on. Field hockey Spring-Workouts start now as well so I have to stick to that schedule. I have a few papers due this week and some nice, hefty exams to help close out the first half of the semester. The next four days will have me running from about 8 in the morning until I finally quit studying for the night (the hours of this retirement have yet to be determined).

For all of those who feel that their eyes are closing against their will, relax. This is an actual epidemic known as “being a college student” and apparently is best treated with chocolate, coffee, and the odd cat nap. Having a friend give you a big hug and a pop on the head is also proven to be helpful in small doses.

Though it may not exactly feel like it just yet, Spring Break is right around the corner! The excitement is building and anticipation is already starting to creep into my daily life. I’m going to be visiting some family that includes five little ones. I’m hoping to harness some of their boundless energy while I’m with them to bring back to OWU! I’m counting on the simmering excitement I’m currently reigning in to get me through the week.

Everyone, have a wonderful Monday and keep your chin up! The sun is starting to shine and the world is still spinning!

Hello out there! I hope everyone is doing well. This time of year tends to accumulate all sorts of colds and sicknesses so I hope everyone is able to stay in good health.

The other day I was trying to decide what to get for lunch when I realized (quite suddenly) that I could have anything I wanted. I could get the pudding and two doughnuts and a soda and the delicious smelling french fries if I wanted to. After all, I’m a college student. My parents can’t tell me what to eat. My coach isn’t around to see. No one could give me any grief. So I choose the Caesar salad and a water bottle and headed to the library to get some studying done.

One of the best things about college is the freedom associated with living on ones own. This can range from eating a pint of ice cream every night (not recommended) to working out at the gym as little or as much as you want to staying up watching movies rather than doing actual schoolwork to possibly partaking in less reputable forms of entertainment. And some people may want to do all of this simply because it is the first time that they can! Be that the case, I think it is fair to indulge a bit. Buy frosting from Thompson store and eat it with a spoon. Don’t work out for a week straight. Watch all of your favorite movies after 11 PM. But then collect yourself and get focused. You are a college student now, meaning you have more responsibility than you probably have ever had before. That’s great! But don’t take advantage of it. Taking care of yourself (mind and body) is actually one of the most crucial steps to making it in the real world. Try and adjust your habits so that you can enjoy that which is good for you, such as working out twice a week or getting all of your homework done the night it is assigned. There may be times when this isn’t possible or that you just need a bit of a mental vacation. That’s totally fine. But don’t let that vacation become an extended stay or you will end up further behind in life than when you originally started.

Thanks again for reading! If you ever have any questions or concerns please feel free to ask me directly! Have a fantastic rest of the week!

Hello and greetings to everyone! Wherever you, I hope things are going well for you, that you are always striving to accomplish your goals and that the work you do every day is helping make this world a bit better. I’ve decided to  discuss something that I briefly touched on last time but here again is a tip that I deem crucial for college success (and should be held near and dear to the heart for both potential college students as well as current ones)- ORGANIZATION.

Whether you have seven classes or four, eight clubs or two, one sport or none at all, keep a record of what needs to be done! Smaller things, like picking up a check from your job or dropping off an assignment to your teacher, can slip through the cracks of the mind just as easily as bigger things such as, for example, a 20 page paper that was due an hour ago. Write down what you need to do, what you want to do, and when it all needs to be done. It is a relatively simple task and yet some people constantly refrain from doing so, for reasons unknown to me. Stay on top of what needs to be done and you won’t be overwhelmed by whatever lies ahead.

You will undoubtedly acquire many small pamphlets and invitations informing you about upcoming events. This is wonderful! But don’t try to keep all of those random pieces of paper floating about. Jot down the important information from them (who, when, where, what, etc.) and keep that all together in your agenda/planner. College is a busy time with lots of new an exciting things to do! In order to take full advantage of this, try and accommodate things that catch your interest. Do what you say you will. Don’t take on too much and NEVER be afraid to ask for help.

Well, I’ve got to go. I hope everyone enjoys their Friday evening and the rest of the weekend safely! Chao!

Hello all! Second semester is upon us and, I must say, so far it is fantastic! I have friends in all of my classes, my teachers are all really nice and excited for their curriculum  and my classes themselves are very interesting! I’ve recently been appointed to secretary position for P.H.A.T (yay!) and treasurer for Circle K (also yay!) so I’m eager to get to work and help out as much as I can. Field hockey off-season work-outs begin soon so I’ll be able to hang out with my teammates while also preparing to kick booty next season. Though the weather has been a bit frigid and unfriendly, things are looking bright for the 2013 Spring semester here at OWU.

I’ve come to notice that, in my half-a-year of experience thus gained, time management is really key to staying afloat. College IS different from high school. Your classes will be harder (yes, even more so than most AP courses) and the work load is greater. Add to this friends, athletics, club activities  and work and your schedule is pretty full. BUT IT IS MANAGEABLE! I’ve found that keeping a written record of my activities, like in an agenda, helps me keep my head from falling off. Even leaving sticky notes for yourself, like “don’t forget to write the paper” or “chem quiz next week!” will help. I’m just briefly touching on this subject now because a couple of my friends have been asking for advice on juggling so many things at once and I know that I’ve had this problem before myself. I have a lot more to say on it and will definitely come back to the subject of time management and organization so please look forward to it. So for all of you people feeling like your treading water, hang in there! There are plenty of resources available to you, from material items like planners to professors and friends to coaches and tutors. Keep working hard and enjoy this B.E.A.UUUUTIFUL new year! Good luck with all of your current endeavors!

I’m going to admit it…I was really sad Saturday morning (the 12th). I woke up and looked at my overstuffed little suitcase and realized I was leaving again. I looked at all my books, all of my clothes and pictures, all of my stuffed animals (don’t judge. They’re cuddly.) and I felt an immense desire to stay here. Most of my more random trinkets had been packed away in storage so as to avoid unnecessary dust collection but this room was still my sanctuary. I wasn’t ready to leave. I had a quick breakfast and was able to say goodbye to my mom and siblings and of course my precious doggies and then my dad and I departed. I waved goodbye to the house and we were off. The whole journey back was pretty rough even though one of my best friends, Montana, was on my flight. We talked and talked about the lives we had temporarily returned to and I kept thinking back to my warm bed and my warm family and how I wasn’t there.

I spent Saturday night with my roommate Emily and her family. They live very close to campus and were so, so kind. Then, Sunday morning, Em and I returned to OWU. The second my key slid into our room’s lock, my homesickness diminished. A sense of calm hit me and I remembered that this place, though very different from Aurora, is my new home. I have spectacular friends and exciting adventures around every corner here. There were some definite new semester jitters but it was a familiar feeling, one I could deal with. Lauren and then Frisia returned later that afternoon and the four of us began to re-set our room, unpacking and cleaning up. And everything was simple and good. I’ve settled back in without a hitch and am eager for this new semester to begin!

Best of luck to all!

This is my dog Dodger! He’s part terrier, part kangaroo, and part coyote. He’s kind of a stinker but he is so, so loved.

Ah, the holidays are drawing to a close but a bit of freedom still remains. I hope everyone has been having a fantastic time, whether they are at home or traveling. I hope everyone has been safe and healthy. And I hope most of all that everyone was able to spend time with the people they love.

Families can be crazy. And sometimes that craziness is exactly what you need to feel right again.They can be loud and messy. They can be wild and hilarious. They can be nosy and caring. And they can be as comfortable as a warm fire on a very cold night. I’m sure there are problems that arise, old issues that resurface or new dilemmas. There may be tension from having been away or maybe sadness at having to leave again. But it is important to remember that home is truly where the heart is. Enjoy the time you have together, even if only for an hour. Look at your loved ones and be reminded of the deep bonds that connect you. Appreciate all that you’ve been given and never stop having fun.

My family and I went to Telluride, Colorado for some of break. My cousins and their families, my grandma, my aunt and uncle, and the five Stevensons’. In total there were seventeen of us in a big-but-not-big-enough condo. Most of us went skiing (I actually snowboarded) while a couple stayed home with the really young ones. I’ve been skiing since I was about four but have recently picked up boarding just as a challenge. I’m decent and haven’t broken a helmet in over two years so I think I’m improving! For those of who haven’t visited the Colorado mountains, I highly suggest you do so. You don’t have to ski or board or even stay overnight. Just drive through and try not to lose your breath.

Have a wonderful time with what remains of break and I look forward to seeing everyone in the new semester!

Since this Saturday I have spent over fifty hours in the library. Luckily it’s very pleasant there, with four levels and a cafe.  It’s also quieter than any library you have ever encountered before, I promise you that.

It’s getting a bit nippy out as if reminding me that Colorado is just a week away! Finals are next week…it’s hard to believe my first semester of college is nearing an end! My classes are all set up for next semester and I’m actually really excited for them. I have some pretty big plans for next semester. And for the next three years too I guess.

Good luck to all who have tests! Or papers or presentations or games or just life in general.

This is the fountain outside of the library. It might be hard to see but there is a B.E.A.UUUUtiful layer of ice on the surface of it.