Finding My way

Change is happening all around us. Within the past few months, The University of Toledo has seen changes in several areas. Specifically, student organizations have or are in the process of choosing new leaders for the 2009-2010 school year. This not only affects the students in those organizations, but the student body as a whole. So far, I have been nothing short of impressed by and proud of the up and coming student leaders in The University of Toledo community.

Just weeks ago, this campus was buzzing with talks of elections and campaigining. The elections for the new Student Government president and vice president was the source of the hype, and students found themselves completely immersed in the excitement. With four tickets running for the highly coveted postion, the competition was intense and the results highly anticipated. Eventually, fellow University Journalist and Campus Activities and Programming director Krystal Weaver was announced as UT’s new Student Government President with Panhellenic Council president Raechel Wise as her Vice President. The story can be found on the Independent Collegian’s website.

With such a highly contested race, I must confess that I myself was concerned about whether the results were the best for the student body. Today, I stand corrected.

This morning hundreds of student leaders gathered to hear information from administration regarding budgeting cuts in a depressed economy and staff restructuring. Ms. Weaver led the group in an orderly manner in an attempt to bring dialogue between students and administration. She spoke professionally and articulately with several administrators and ensured the students their voices would be heard. She has dedicated herself entirely to the benefit of the student population here at The University of Toledo. In the coming days and weeks, she will be meeting with several administrators, including President Dr. Lloyd Jacobs, to represent the thoughts and ideas of the students. Her tireless effort has not gone unnoticed.

With Krystal Weaver leading our most prominent student organization on campus, Student Government, I have total confidence that we can only improve our campus as a whole. Seeing her efforts, other students, myself included, will undoubtedly feel inspired and motivted to realize their potentials and take this institution to new heights. Together, we can all do great things.

Being a first-year college student presents a number of new possibilities and opportunities. Inevitably, said college student will make some mistakes. Maybe making mistakes is not necessarily as bad as many of us think. Every mistake, no matter how small, always seems to teach us something.

One of the best experiences I’ve had at The University of Toledo is serving as a campus tour guide. I love everything about it ok, maybe sometimes the weather becomes a touch irritating. I am so proud of this campus, so showing it off to prospective students is truly exciting for me. Of course, this is not to say I have not had my stumbling points… literally.

Immediately following my interview with Nick, my current supervisor, he suggested I shadow a tour that was just about to leave the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. I enthusiastically accepted this proposal, ready to gain the experience I needed to eventually lead my own tours. Now, it is more or less an unwritten job requirement of a campus tour guide that you walk backwards while showing campus to the families on the tours. So, being the industrious tour guide in-training that I was, I decided I should walk backwards with the tour guide leading the group. I wore clogs that day. I wore backless clogs that day. Mistake Number One.

The entire tour, I spent more time trying to keep my feet in my shoes (while walking backwards) than learning the tour route around campus and picking up on new and interesting facts about the university. At one point, my shoe came almost completely off my foot. Cue embarassing trip. Lesson Learned Number One: Do not wear backless shoes when one’s job requires walking backwards.

This may be a silly example, but it goes to show that every little mistake can lead to a lesson learned. With so many new opportunities presented to us as college freshmen, the opportunity for mistakes grows with it. I’ve come to realize the opportunity for mistakes just gives more opportunity to grow, and nothing could be more beneficial as one walks through life. In my case, I just so happen to be walking backwards.

I find it both unbelievable and exasperating to hear some people’s complaining. It drives me absolutely out of my mind when I hear someone say something like this: “Well, UT’s pretty nice, and classes are ok, but there’s nothing to do on the weekends.” I am usually very patient and tranquil, but statements like these nearly send me into a firey rage. Take a look around! What more could you want in the way of things to do on the weekends? Let’s just name a few.

Like sports? You’re in luck. From intramurals, which take place all year long and are hosted in the Student Rec Center , to varsity athletics, UT is buzzing with adrenaline-pumping, high-energy sports action. Playing intramural sports is fun and free! All you have to do is grab a group of friends and sign up for any of the leagues on http://www.imleagues.com. There’s everything from basketball to badminton, with a season in the fall and spring and two seasons in the winter! If you just love spectating, Rocket varsity athletic events are perfect for you. ALL EVENTS ARE FREE!! That means zero dollars coming out of your pocket! Just bring your Rocketcard and cheer on the teams.

Maybe the arts are a little more interesting to you. Luckily, UT is located just minutes from the Toledo Museum of Art, which has a multitude of wonderful pieces, along with concerts almost every Friday night. No car? No problem! UT’s bussing system runs to the art museum as well–again at no cost to you. Also located close to the art museum is the Toledo Glass Pavilion, which has pieces of glass art. Toledo is known as the Glass City, after all. Oh, and did I mention admission to the art museum is free?

Maybe you want to find some entertainment while staying on campus. If that is the case, I have a word of advice for you: keep your eyes open! There are fliers all over this campus advertising the latest events. For example, this Thursday another edition of UT Unplugged will be hosted in Rocky’s Lounge in the Student Union. The event starts at 6 and features UT students performing acoustic music. Plus, there is free coffee served for all who attend! There are comedians, music artists, and lecturers of all sorts around campus just about all the time. Another example: last Thursday night, some friends and I went to the newly rennovated Memorial Field House to hear a lecture from Baba Brinkman, who adapted three stories from Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales into a rap. He told the crowd about how the Tales relate to rap music today. It was entertaining and educational.

Whew! That was long-winded. But, as you can see, the thought that there is nothing to do at the University of Toledo is false. Want to hear about other things to do on the weekends? Take a look around the UT website and the calendars on there. E-mail me if you’re looking for something to do if you have any questions. I would be more than happy to show you fun things to do on campus.

Contact me at stephanie.gurgol@utoledo.edu if you have any questions. Go Rockets!

I decided it was appropriate in my circumstances to take the Beatles’ lyrics one step further. Let’s face it: lately, I cannot possibly imagine what I would do without my great group of friends. I have found so much truth in the idea that sometimes, friends are so close to you they more or less become family.

Those of you reading may be able to identify but might still be scratching your heads wondering why I’m rambling about how amazing my friends are. Just days before my birthday, I experienced the end of a very close and stable relationship. I felt the ground slip out from underneath me. My confidence shattered, and I found little reason to drag myself out of bed in the morning. Then I would roll over, finding my phone next to my bed, and see a text message waiting for me. I found messages along the lines of, “You’re an amazing person. Don’t forget that. I love you girl!” These small gestures helped me make it through each day. Through the end of one relationship, others strengthened. It is unbelievable how lucky I have been. One of my closest friends lives on the floor above me here in the Academic House. Any time I felt sad or needed company, all I needed to do was run up a floor and spend time in her room. She listened to my griping and complaining, offered sensible and mature advice any time I needed it, and even let me sleep in her room (with her roommate’s permission–thanks Leah) several times. If I did not live in a residence hall on campus, I would not have these kinds of resources, namely being surrounded by some of the best friends on the face of this planet.

I want to use this venue to recognize and thank every single person who has helped me during this time. The list of names is lengthy (and possibly unending). I want everyone to know how wonderful the people I have been privaleged to meet here at UT have changed my life in so many positive ways. So to all of you who took time out of your day to stop and help a friend in need, thank you. Without you, my days would be filled with drudgery, but with you, I find reasons to keep my head held high and live with gusto and enthusiasm. To risk sounding mushy, I love all of you.

On another note… Who went to Songfest on Saturday? It was incredible!

Here’s a photo from Songfest. These are just a few of the people in my life who keep me smiling: Heather, Kaylee, and Brian, who loves making crazy faces. They always have me lauging!