Family and Alumni Weekend

If you didn’t realize it, already this past weekend was Family and Alumni weekend! The weather couldn’t have been worse… or better. The families were able to experience all that the Midwest has to offer when it comes to weather in the weekend was jam packed with lots of family events, and Rockhurst spirited events. I went to the men’s soccer game on Friday and it was a great! The game was one of the most well attended games that we have had so far this year. I wish that attendance at our soccer games were always as well attended as the one on Friday. My friends and I painted our stomachs and rooted our team on to victory. The hawks played a great game and I was on the edge of my seat at some points during the game because we were so close to scoring. I was impressed by the performance at halftime by the cheerleaders and the dance team. They both seem like they are going to have a great year and I hope that this will be a big step into promoting more school spirit on campus. The rest of the weekend went by in a blur after the game. I heard many positive comments from my resident’s parents. The Office of Student Life and the family and alumni weekend coordinators did a great job with the weekend. There were plenty of things for families to do. I love how soon they have this weekend in the school year. I think that for my residents this is something that they really enjoyed this weekend. My residents enjoyed being spoiled by parents, taking a break from all the schoolwork, and being able to enjoy the family time that they may have been missing. This was a great weekend, and I feel like it brought families closer together.

http://annawrites.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/stick-family.jpg

Saying Goodbye to Friends

Saturday I said goodbye to one of my closest friend. We just met last year, and it’s crazy to think how well we hit it off. The whole time I have been here, we have been involved in many of the same things, but we just never talked. Last year, we were put on the same staff in McGee and it was a blast, I didn’t know at the time how much we would help each other make it through last year. She left on Saturday to go to China for a year and I am sad to see her go, but I am so happy for the new chapter she is starting in her life. It makes me nervous for the next part of my life. Where will I be in a year, I know that I want to go to graduate school, but I don’t know if that’s what is meant for me. I am scared for the future, because I feel like it is too soon to be taking care of myself, making money, and paying bills. I am too young to be an adult; it was just yesterday that I was walking onto Rockhurst campus for the first time getting a tour about campus. Now, I am giving those tours, and very much a part of Rockhurst life. Seeing my friend leave on Saturday made me question myself more about if I am going to the right field am I doing what I was meant to do. I have always been dead set on my path, and now I feel like I am at a crossroads and whichever road I pick I won’t be able to turn back and press a restart button for a while. This is part of the stress of senior year. I like to know what is going to happen and being in control of my future, but right now, I feel like the future is something I have to wait out and see if I made the right choice.     

Senior Year Salvation?

I don't know if you have ever heard of the saying Senior year salvation, junior year jail, sophomore slump, and freshman frenzy. In high school my friends and I always referred to the stage s of high school as thus. We felt that Senior year should be a breeze because we were finishing off an old chapter and starting a new one. The way I feel for college is a little different, I feel like Senior year = stress. Right now is a very stressful and busy time in the life of a senior. Well, the life of a senior who is interested in Physical Therapy school. I am sure that it is just as difficult for everyone else, but seniors planning on going to graduate school have it rough. There are so many hoops to jump through to complete your application. Once you finish the process of filling out all of the paperwork then you have to play the waiting game to find out if you will be accepted. Once you get accepted then you have to figure out financial aid, or lack of financial aid. Honestly, I feel like a senior in high school overwhelmed by all of the choices that I have to make and by how much each decision will affect the final outcome of my application. Despite being so hectic and crazy this year, I have enjoyed my time here at the rock. I feel like senior year is the year that you try to get right. Everything, that I have wanted to do in years past and just never put in the time to do, I am forcing myself to do it. I am participating more in different activities around campus, I am going to more SAB events than I have ever done before, and I am cheering for our team at majority of the home games. I think the lesson that I have learned so far, is that even though I want to live out the motto and do more I have to do more within reason. I can’t do too many things at one time because then nothing will get done to my standards. I am going to continue studying for my GRE this Friday wish me luck! 

picture: http://www.fastweb.com/uploads/article_photo/photo/1415741/crop380w_app_form.jpg

All- Greek Service Project: Squash Hunger

I feel like this year has flown by so quickly! It feels like just yesterday my residents were rushing off to orientation events with palpable excitement as they began their year. As I walk around campus I can feel a shift as the weather changes and I began to get into the rhythm of school. The hot summer weather is slowly becoming cool fall weather. This week I had a meeting with Order of Omega and we decided where we wanted to do the All Greek service project. We chose to work with John Hornbeck an alumni of Rockhurst University & Episcopal Services to do the event Squash Hunger in November. We picked his organization because they help the community in a lot of different ways. Also, helping out his organization indirectly helps out Rockhurst indirectly, because some of the soup kitchens feed Rockhurst students who can’t afford to buy food for whatever reason. We felt that this project can help to give back to an organization that gives to our students. For the squash glean we will be driving out to Liberty to collect squash off of a huge farm, the squash will go to food banks and feeding agencies in Kansas City. If you are interested in volunteering at one of the soup kitchens around here you can always talk to Julia Vargas to get more information. Service is something that I feel is a very big part of who we are on campus, so you will never be denied the opportunity to serve. I f anything you will be encouraged to participate in service projects throughout the year, because it is something that is important to the Jesuits. Remember the theme this year, and do more when it comes to giving of your time. Always strive to be servant leaders to others.

Go Hawks!!

Gooooooaaaaaallll! I went to the tailgate on Friday and it was great! The soccer team did an awesome job and made it a game worth watching. My personal goal this year is to attend more Rockhurst games. I can feel the nature of this campus changing and trying to bring more school spirit on here, and let me tell you I have caught the Hawk fever! Tailgating was a fun experience and I hope they do them more often before different sports to increase attendance! The line to get free pizza and the free shirt was really along and a lot of people came out to support our soccer team. Going to the game reminded me of all the fun I had in high school when I went to basketball and football games. I want there to be pep bands and spirit sticks that are passed down the grades. I can see that it could happen. In years past, Rockhurst has been about creating a great reputation around the Kansas City area. Now, looking ahead I can see them doing more on campus so, that it becomes an all-around college experience for those who love sports and those who love education. Keep up the good work Rockhurst! Change is slow coming, but it is coming nonetheless. I would love to come back to Rockhurst 20 years from now and see the way our school spirit has become an integral part of the community. The theme this year is awesome because it makes me ask myself how I can do more for Rockhurst. In what capacity can I help to make Rockhurst better when it comes to school spirit? I think that by encouraging my residents to go and participating in the wear blue on Fridays I can help to spread Rockhurst Spirit! Go Hawks!

Hawks and Buckets

This week was very hectic! I enjoyed the three-day weekend, but it also drains me so much. I am ready for this year to calm down and get into a succinct rhythm. This week I had a lot of catching up to do and reorganizing! However, since this is my senior year, I put all that on hold Thursday for Hawks and Buckets. This is one of my all-time favorite events that SAB puts on, and you might be wondering why I enjoy people getting a whole bunch of gross stuff dumped on them. For me it’s the thrill you never know what will be in bucket number one and if it is the prize, you just got lucky. So, I patiently waited to see if my number would get called and when it did, I groaned inside because I saw some of the stuff that had been dumped on the previous contestants and I was not excited to have that dumped on me. There was doubt in my mind for a little bit, I kept telling myself I didn’t have to claim the ticket as mine, I could just let someone else go up there instead. My competitive nature took over and I stood up, took my rightful place in the kiddie pool, and waited. The whole time doubt and excitement ran through my mind. As people began to pour the contents of their buckets on my head, I began to wonder if I made the right decision.  The adrenaline began to kick in and I started calling out bucket numbers faster and faster, and then I saw the confetti dumped. Not, on my head but my components, I got out of my kiddie pool and shook my head in defeat; I looked up and saw all the remaining buckets being dumped on her head. At, that moment I was happy that I hadn’t won, and content that I was able to participate my senior year in my favorite event. If you have never done it you should, it is definitely a memorable experience!