Thank You For a Fulfilling Break

I squirmed in my desk as I kept glancing at the clock. There were five more minutes of class until I was free to do what I wanted for the rest of the week. All throughout Class I had been drifting back and forth between paying attention and thinking about all the time I would have over the next three days. My leg kept tapping the floor in restless anticipation. Three minutes. Break was knocking on the door. I drifted back into my plans for the week. I had three main things I needed to do, sleep, work, and planning. All three needed special attention to help me be a successful student and to prepare for the future when I graduate. I drifted back to class. Two minutes. As, my thoughts drifted off again a thrill came over me when I thought of black Friday. Not because of the deals, but because I could start playing my Christmas music and decorate my hall for the holidays! After Thanksgiving, I wouldn’t get dirty looks for playing my Christmas music too early! I looked at the clock we are in the final countdown! Now don’t get me wrong I love school, and have very few absences, but when a break is around the corner it is hard not to be excited to change up the pace and break the monotony of class, homework, eat, sleep routine. I was pumped and ready for break to begin! And so it did, I can honestly say that I was able to accomplish a few of the things on my to-do list. For that I feel accomplished. I enjoyed the time with family and friends and ate until I was stuffed. I couldn’t feel more thankful for everything! I hope that everyone had an enjoyable break with friends and family and if you haven’t started your homework yet, you have one day left!

We Came. We Played. We Conquered.

     

           The game was coming to a close; I shivered in anticipation as I looked out from my seat on the top row of bleachers. My hands were freezing from being outside for so long, but with adrenaline pumping through my veins I couldn’t be bothered with the chill. The clock kept ticking and still no one had scored, and then at the 80 minute mark, a goal! The crowd erupted into cheers as the Hawks, scored the first goal of the night. That goal made sitting in the cold much more worth it. As I cheered on the Hawks I looked around, and was impressed with the number of people that I saw at this game. There were a lot more than I  usually see at Rockhurst sporting events. Rockhurst University was chosen as one of the host schools for the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen. I kept thinking to myself that I wished that it was like this all of the time, I could feel the excitement in the air and a desire  to win and progress to the next level. I was startled out of my thoughts, as the crowd cheered again, we had made another goal! We were going to the next round! Everyone’s enthusiasm could not be contained. There was cheering and jumps for joy and I felt like I was at a school that was excited about their athletics. I will be at the quarter finals game tomorrow against Lindenwood cheering on the hawks and hoping that we make it to the final four. I am sure all of you have heard it again and again, if we make it to the quarter finals that will be the farthest that we have ever gotten in the tournament. I don’t know about you, but I feel like we can win!

Beyond Words 2013

                Yesterday was a long and laborious day, but I am proud to say that we had record attendance at Beyond Words. The tunnel had over 200 people attend. For those of you that have never been I recommend that you go one year because it is an experience unlike any other. You may be touched on a personal level by it, you may act cool and pretend that it didn’t shake you, but in the end you will take something away. I honestly hope it is a message for magis, and a call to live greater..

                This year our tour had several very well done rooms. The entire experience was something to be remembered even as an RA. For me it was awesome seeing how all of the RA’s came together and brought volunteers with us to help out. At the end of the night the RA’s had a small session where we reflected on our experience with beyond words, and in that moment while I was sitting in the basement of Corcoran I felt a huge weight lift off of everyone’s shoulder and a mutual respect for everyone for having toughed out the entire day. The tour through all of the rooms this year was a good chance for us to see the work that other RA’s had done and to get the same experience that everyone else had when they came through the tunnel. We heard a lot of positive feedback from the program and I am sure there are naysayers, but right now the praise is louder than the groans. I am sad that this is my last beyond words. It is kind of bittersweet end because I feel like that was a huge hurdle to cross and this semester is downhill from here, but at the same time, I am crossing off programs on my list that I won’t ever do again.

Leadership: Is It in You?

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. John Quincy Adams 

           

This quote is one of my favorite ones about leadership and I love that it also incorporates this year’s theme of magis. I think that leadership is something that is promoted very strongly on campus. As such, student senate was challenged by Father Curran to create a week dedicated to this value. Student senate invited several other organizations to help form this week including Delta Sigma Pi, Student Alumni Association and Order of Omega! This upcoming week will be filled with lots of different activities highlighting the leadership that we have at Rockhurst, from a current perspective and an alumni perspective. Come to the events to learn about the many faces of leadership. It is something that will be eye opening and hopefully an awesome learning experience! Here is the schedule of the week’s events:

Monday: Tom McDonald, CEO and President of the Kauffman Foundation at 7pm in SCI 115

Tuesday: Alumni Leaders Panel- 4pm Fishbowl

Wednesday: Karen Haran, former CEO of Harvesters 4 pm Fishbowl and SAB Turkey Dinner

Thursday: Senate Town Hall 6:30 pm Fishbowl

Friday: Beyond Words- come anytime during 4- 6pm in Corcoran Hall

Try to come to as many events as possible because there will be a punch card that will put your name into a drawing for some awesome prizes. Our goal with this week is to make it a successful as possible so that it can become an annual thing, especially since leadership is something that is very important to all of us in our future careers. I am excited for this week, and ready to see all of the hard work and preparation pay off to create this time of learning. Make sure you block out some time this week to bring out the magis in your leadership. 

http://thewellwrittenwoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/womenleadership.jpg

Picking the Right School

This past weekend my hall was filled with young and eager women. High school juniors and seniors were at Rockhurst to spend the night. The excitement in the air was palpable and the expectations were set high. My floor did an awesome job of helping out the rock viewers get a true feel for what life is like here at the rock. I hope that all of the students left with a new idea of what they are looking for in a college and what they aren’t looking for in a college. I honestly believe that the best way for anyone to know if they are at the right school for them is to visit and spend some time thinking about what it is that you want from your school. Their time here made me sit down and think about why I came to choose Rockhurst.

When I was looking for a college to go to I looked at the things the school could help me with as well as the things that I could give back to the school. I wanted somewhere that felt like home, where I didn’t feel like a number, somewhere that teachers would be willing to share their time with me, and a friendly community environment. I think that looking into different things that you want from a program and making sure the school that you want to attend has majority of those wants if not all of those wants is something that will enhance your college experience. The high school women who stayed in my hall have a new perspective on things that they want in a college and things that Rockhurst will make them expect in a college. For me Rockhurst was an easy choice for undergrad and it fit all my criteria, and I feel like in the end I made the right decision for myself and for my future. I have never felt so much support from a community before; I feel it even more now as I prepare to graduate in May. I feel comfortable using the resources that I have been provided to help me figure out what next year will look like for me. Even though the future is uncertain, I feel like I am not alone in the fight to become successful, but that I have an army of blue behind me helping me up the ladder to success, and helping me to stand on my own two feet.  

http://www.foxbusiness.com/on-air/willis-report/sites/foxbusiness.com.on-air.willis-report/files/styles/style564x317/public/choosing-a-college.png