Aww, guys, you made me ink! Pearl from Finding Nemo

I’ve worked with MacKinnon Hall Director Matthew Perry all year. He serves as my go-to guy for all things RSA and Residence Life. Without his help, I would certainly be even crazier than I already am. Lately, the best part of working with him has been our ability to find some humor in all situations, even when things look bleak. Between quoting cartoons and mimicking our favorite characters, we somehow manage to keep smiling, even in situations that seem to indicate impending doom (”Matt, I think I lost the key to the cashbox!”)

I have heard so many times that laughter is the best medicine. For me, laughter is not just medicine–it is a way of life.

Follow this link to watch some of our favorite silly moments!

P.S. Don’t forget–Lil Sibs Weekend is coming up soon! Welcome your younger brother, sister, cousin, friend, nephew, nice, first cousin once removed, or anyone you wish to experience A Rocket Luau! You can find more information here.

Tuesdays and Thursdays hold my heaviest courseload of the week, with three classes, the first beginning at 9:30 AM. Today, my Administrative Law instructor suspended our in-class time, so we could use this period to complete an assignment she e-mailed us. The assignment required my classmates and me to investigate case law precedent in order to make an informed legal decision regarding a man’s employment with a state agency. Regardless of my exhaustion after watching and cheering at last night’s Women’s Basketball game with my friend Liz, the temptation to go back to bed was eliminated soon after I began working, as I became thoroughly engrossed in my research.

I met Matt, my RSA Advisor, for lunch where we chatted about future endeavors with the organization. (Lil’ Sibs Weekend is coming up March 19-21!) Then I headed off to my Introduction to Social Welfare course. Again, I was feeling lethargic, so I thought it would be necessary to have a Dr. Pepper at hand to keep me awake. This measure proved unnecessary, as my professor engaged our class in group discussion about the history behind modern social work and its implications in today’s society. I think I had an “AHA!” moment right then–this career path seems to be calling me. I love the idea of practicing law and presenting cases to court, but the ideologies and philosophies tied to social work have a gravitational pull on me. The hour long class felt like ten minutes!

I wrapped up with Estate and Probate Administration, where Professor Spiros’s wit kept me alert through what many would consider to be dry material. Regardless of whether I choose law or social work, I know I have a great pool of faculty members to mentor me and lead me toward success.

I am in no way ready for marriage, but, for the time being, engagement to UT has me head over heels in love. I had another great day of classes to prove that to myself once again.

Several of my friends are struggling with immense hardships right now–for some, the most trying they have ever experienced in their lives. They are the kind of situations where all I can do is talk. I can’t make anything better. I legitimately feel like I am doing absolutely nothing to help.

While I feel so useless, those friends going through these trying times thank me over and over… and over. They tell me I’m so great, a great friend. I can’t help but feel like the opposite–powerless and weak. I want so badly to just lift a finger and make everything better.

At the same time, I guess that is exactly what we do to be great friends: sit there and listen and talk when nothing else can be done. Or, on the other hand, we can do just the opposite: not talk and provide a distraction. We can bring some sort of positivity to a friend’s situation by just doing what we normally do. We can watch funny movies together, listen to music, or go hang out somewhere.

I watched Disney’s Robin Hood last week, and when Friar Tuck’s church has an empty collection box, his mouse deacon takes the only coin he owns from under his pillow and gives it to the Friar to aid the church’s ministry. “It’s not much,” he says. The Friar, in response, exclaims, “Bless you!” If the best we can give is all we have, it’s enough for someone else who is feeling the hurt.

I stepped out the front door of my suite this morning around 10:30, wondering what was in store for me at Memorial Field House. My only Monday class brought me a wealth of anticipation and anxiety over the past few days. I headed to room 1250, where I found several of my new classmates for… drumroll please… Culture and Commerce in the Arabic-Speaking World. I registered for the course in hopes to fulfill a Multi-Cultural Diversity Credit; I thought it sounded different and new. It also helped that it just so happened to fit my schedule perfectly.

As I waited for class to begin, apprehension began to build. The clock ticked on and on, and eventually I noticed our professor was twelve minutes late. Anxious feelings returned. I began forming an imaginary figure in my head–an older man with a thick accent I could not understand who taught a rigorous curriculum and provided little reason to hope for an A. At that instant, the lights turned off and back on, and a man emerged from the back row of the room, interoducing himself as Dr. Semaan, our instructor. He watched while the minutes dragged on simply to observe how students would react to his tardiness. He immediately began cracking jokes and putting all of us at ease. Next, he began his first activity for class by providing an opportunity for us to meet our classmates. That is when I met Sam.

Sam is a freshman pre-pharmacy major from Pennsylvania. She shows enthusiasm and personality in and out of the classroom, showing a willingness to meet new people and try new things. I talked with her shortly after class adjourned. I was impressed by her optimistic attitude and positive demeanor. I noticed a certain genuineness about her and her eagerness to learn and become more immersed in UT’s culture and student life.

Today’s first impression of spring semester left me ready for more. Though I resisted the urge to shout, “First day of school! First day of school!” excitedly at my roommate this morning, Nemo’s readiness to start a new adventure translates perfectly to my attitude at this very moment. I’m waiting for more reasons to swim and explore.

How many holiday seasons do you remember when you got a really big present? If you are anything like me, those are few and far between. This is not to say I am ungrateful for the generosity of my family when it comes to gift-giving, but rather I’ve found that the most memorable holidays are made through the small gestures and events that truly make an impression on me. This holiday season will surely be one to remember for exactly that–the little things.

I must say the holidays sprang up on me. They came rather quickly, and I was not feeling very festive. As I left a particularly mundane day at the office, I ventured out into the grey, wet, and cold Cleveland weather to cross the street to the apartment complex where I park my car. As I entered the first set of doors, I followed customary consideration by keeping the door open a second longer for an older woman walking behind me, for which she politely thanked me. As I approached the next set of doors, I pulled the handle and stepped aside, allowing her to pass. She smiled and offered, “Thank you. Merry Christmas.” She could have stopped at “thank you,” but she said two extra words to remind me how special this time is. The extra breath she spent wishing me a good holiday completely made my day. After all, she was a total stranger. My mood immediately changed. I will always remember that woman.

The next day, I spent some quality time with Kasey, who you may remember from my first post. We went on a shopping venture to a local mall one day after I finished work. We ate huge burgers and fries at Five Guys Burgers and Fries (deliciously unhealthy) and sought out the perfect Christmas gifts for our families. Her advice provoked me to buy her brother Johnny a Christmas Story Leg Lamp Night Light for our family gift exchange. He loved it. Just spending a couple hours with my cousin really made me feel great, even though it was nothing extravagant. We’re now starting to plan more outings, like going to see The Princess and the Frog and cooking together. Our shopping trip will undoubtedly become a tradition.

Kasey also attached a gift tag with a photo of us to the gift her family gave me. I cant wait to hang it on my wall.

I’m sure I can’t be the only one who has stories of how something small truly brought the holiday spirit home to them. Feel free to share in the comments section! I look forward to reading them.

Happy New Year! I hope 2010 is successful and healthy for all.

Kasey and I celebrate the holiday season with our family.

How many have heard that phrase uttered year after year at their Thanksgiving dinner tables? Now, I’ll wait for everyone to lower their hands. While the purpose of Thanksgiving is certainly more than well-founded, but going around the table and thinking of something both original and eloquent to be thankful for can be, let’s face it, a little mundane.

With that said, I can’t help but reflect at least a little on the meaning of this national holiday. I have been truly lucky to have had so many wonderful people and experiences in my life, especially within the past few years. I have encountered unimaginable oportunities and grown so much from them. Only one entity is responsible for all this: the great institution known as The University of Toledo.

Had I not come to UT, I would never have met the friends who have seen me through so much; I would have never taken on the new roles and responsibilities that have allowed me to grow; I would have never been given the opportunities to travel and discover new places. I cannot articulate exactly how much this great university means to me.

Thanks, UT!

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

This weekend marks my second trip to the regional conference for the Central Atlantic Affiliate for College and University Residence Halls. In just over an hour, eight students and emerging leaders will board a van with our wonderful advisors and depart for the University of Pittsburgh. There, we will represent The University of Toledo and bring Rocket pride to schools from seven states. The UT community can be proud to know it is sending a diverse group of students with so much talent to show the region exactly what being a Rocket means. Our fearless leader, fellow University Journalist and the Resident Student Association’s National Communications Coordinator Rosaline Cordova has been working dilligently to prepare a strong group comprised of resident advisers (RAs), Hall Council representatives, a National Residence Hall Honorary Representative, and yours truly, RSA president.

Society’s connotation of conferences projects an all-business-no-fun-straight-faced-shirt-and-tie experience filled strictly with breakout sessions. While CAACURH will arm us with new and innovative ways of thinking to continually develop UT’s Residence Life through programming sessions, we will partake in different sorts of activities. CAACURH is a unique experience that bonds energy, screaming, and spirit with professional development and learning. We will show UT pride by dressing in superhero capes tomorrow (which, I hope, can earn us spirit points and hopefully start us  on a journey to winning an award for most spirited delegation.) We will also be shouting with pride for the cougars, CAACURH’s mascot.

I hate to steal thunder from Rosaline, but I could not hold back from writing about my anticipation for this weekend. I hope she can give the blogosphere a review of our experiences post-conference when we return with an unprecedented wealth of knowledge and new ways of thinking, along with stories to correspond with the energy of the weekend.

The moral of our story? Please don’t hate me for cheering for another mascot. I only want to show CAACURH my pride. After all, “cougars got your back!”

Status: Wide awake, laptop open, fingers poised and typing.

I feel it necessary to share my thoughts with the world. The coherence of these thoughts and experiences may be faulty, as 2 AM rapidly approaches. What time to I have class in the morning? That’s right, 8:00.

For the second straight evening,  I find myself wide awake into the wee hours of the morning. My roommate is awake as well, though her actions truly reflect her sleep/lack of sanity. The image of the stereotypical college student concots itself in my head. I see one who delays her studies and other tasks for weeks and weeks, until her deadline is merely hours away. Commence mad rush to finish everything in one night, complete with the sleep-deprived day to follow.

I fully expected to find several versions of this college student synonomous with procrastination everywhere at UT. Suprisingly, I have been surrounded by industrious and dilligent students thus far in my collegiate career. I realized lately that the environment surrounding a person truly effects his/her habits. My roommate Kaylee has demonstrated her dilligence several times over. She is productive to a fault, with impeccable organization. Her side of the room is always spotless, and her assignments are always completed on time, usally early.

Seeing this dedication, I can’t help but adjust my ways. Just last week my side of the room looked awful. I was about ready to call FEMA and enlist some hurricane disaster relief. After days of seeing Kaylee’s organization, I struck a burst of energy and completely organized my side of the room. Unfortunately, it was on a night when I couldn’t sleep, so it was a 2 AM cleaning spree. I don’t think Kaylee was all that thrilled. I feel so much more functional now.

My attitude and demeanor have improved drastically since I followed the example of my roomate. I always worked hard before, but now my hard work translates into efficiency. I have the best roommate ever.

Time: 2:18 AM.

Status: Accomplished. Thanks, roomie.

Sophomore honor society Lambda Sigma is a national organization. Our chapter at The University of Toledo consists of sixteen members, all of whom are in the top ten percent of the sophomore class. Together, we form the Alpha Psi chapter.

While Lambda Sigma stands on four pillars of leadership, scholarship, fellowship, and service, the Alpha Psi chapter has added another unoffical pillar–energy. Each member enthusiastically supports any type of endeavor within the group, whether that means taking part in a philanthropy walk for the Sunshine Children’s Home, creating social events to foster fellowship, or taking on the challenge to increase the member count, all involved willingly jump in immediately. No one person ever needs to shoulder all the responsibility, as all hold themselves accountable for the success of the group.

Lambda Sigma’s Alpha Psi chapter strongly dedicates itself to serving the Toledo community, the University included. At the same time, all involved grow and form strong bonds of fellowship with one another strong enough to create the “Lambda Llama” hand signal. If you are a second-year student interested in serving the community and building new friendships, contact me by leaving a comment on this post or e-mail president Heather Griffin at heather.griffin@rockets.utoledo.edu. I mean, come on, who doesn’t love a good llama?

Three of my closest friends and I share a spacious suite in UT’s newest residence hall, which was opened in 2004. We have two bedrooms, a common area, and a bathroom. Our common area comes complete with a couch and armchair, plus shelves we use as a TV stand. All of our furniture is new. It doesn’t get much better than this!

That being said, I must be honest and say I miss living in the Academic House. I have come to believe that a college student’s first residence hall room will always be his/her home while experiencing college life. The community we built on the second floor of A-House last year was incredible. Aileen, our resident advisor, welcomed all the girls on the floor and encouraged us to get to know one another. Some of the best memories I have made so far at UT were with the girls I bonded with at A-House.

While I miss living in the Academic House, it is only fair that I step aside and let a new community of residents experience the wonders it has to offer. I have been priveleged enough to meet and spend time with many of the girls that live in the rooms in which I spent so much of my time last year. They are all so wonderful! They have already built an exceptionally strong community in their halls and have formed inseperable bonds. Seeing this is truly a pleasure for me.

Living on campus provides students with an unforgettable experience. I encourage all students to take advantage of residential living at UT. Who knows, you could even have the space to ride a scooter (with wheels that light up, of course) into your friend’s room!