And We're off to a Kicking Start!

Well...after many long weeks, late hours, Christmas presents, and the bittersweet feeling of leaving home to start a new semester again...I am back at Rockhurst and already in the full swing of things.

For me, Christmas break was too short. And before your mouth hits the floor over my statement referring to Rockhurst's 6 week long Christmas vacation, let me explain. I stayed in KC to work so I was really only home for 2 weeks. It was quite nice to be home with my family, as I have found that instead of getting homesick when I first came to college, I'm a bit backwards on the process and am missing home more often now, the closer I get to graduation. A bit odd, I know.

And the big G word-Graduation-sums up everything I'll be doing this semester! I hope to remain working for the National Archives where I work now but there are a few different forms this could take, some depending on my "student" status. So post-graduate education is a factor, along with those necessary housing arrangements, since Rockhurst unfortunately gives graduating seniors just about 36-ish hours to be completely moved out of campus housing once the graduation ceremony is over. So I have a busy semester a head of me!

As for what I've been doing around here lately includes many things! As always, the spring semester started off with Panhellenic recruitment which is characterized by late nights, lots of junk food, and meeting lots of people! This year, my sorority Theta Phi Alpha welcomed some awesome new sisters and I am excited for all that they will bring to Theta Phi! :)

On top of starting out the semester, like alot of people I have run into...I cought the traveling cold! Boo sickness! I just hope that I did not spread it back home to my family when I went home this past weekend. Rockhurst thankfully offers great health services through the Goppert Health services, but so far I've been able to weather the sickness with lots of liquids, sleep, a good diet, and of course MEDICINE! YAY! I hope to be in tip top shape by the end of this week!

Check out some pictures of a few of the things I've done since the end of last semester!

I cut 11 inchess off for Locks of Love!

Me & Katie who played Glinda in our skit!

-I played Glinda last year! :)

Gamma Nu chapter of Theta Phi Alpha on Bid Day 2009!

Happy "Let's steal this land from the Indians" Day!!

For me, the week before Thanksgiving Break seems to always be a bit off. And I mean that usually I'm at that place in course work where there isn't anything WAY too big that is due, so part of me tends to just cruise on through but then part of me must always remember that the classwork that I will have to do over break is ridiculous! This break I must be working on my Senior Capstone paper for history, reading a book (which I still need to go to the library and get) and a small reflection paper--don't worry, this is far from the end of the list. So as great as it seems to be on Thanksgiving break, the teachers never let you forget that you are still in school. Sometimes I feel like they do not remember the fact that we have families to visit that we have not seen in quite a few months! Oh well.

This past week was filled with many things for me. One being the Social Mentor trip to Crown Center which I helped to organize. It was a blast! We rented out the entire Ice Terrace and then hosted about 120 freshmen and mentors. To read more check out Joe's Blog too!

Sadly, my car was still having trouble during the week, and I was getting very concerned since the trip home (3 hours away to Springfield, MO) was coming up! So she went back in but to a different mechanic who was actually able to find the problem. Stuck Thermostat.

Then, after hanging out for the weekend, going to Marshall Missouri to help the Beta Chi chapter of my sorority Theta Phi Alpha with their initiation, and packing to go home I can now say that I am super excited to be at home (but not thrilled about all that homework)!!

Check back next week to hear about all of the fun things I will have done over break....plus an exciting new change too!! :)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!

yes...I deactivated facebook it was that bad...

Last week was my first week working at the National Archives and though some people might look at what I do at work, is quite tedious and unimportant....I really do love it! As I was sitting there amongst all of the files and boxes and 100 year old court cases I realized why I love it so much. In the past, I have always worked in the service industry. My first job in high school was as a restaurant called Fuddruckers, after that I worked as a caterer at the Springfield Cardinals, and this past summer I worked at a country club. Each of these places were all about giving people what they want, making sure they are happy. Well, let me tell ya...in the grand scheme of life the fact that your water glass isn't filled on time or that your catered food doesn't come with gratuity included...DOESN'T MATTER! I'm so happy that now, I can work some place and really know that I am handling documents and files that allowed someone to become a US citizen 100 years ago, or that the government was keeping tabs on Indian reservation schools during the 19th century. When I'm at work...the fact that there are people out there who think they deserve anything they want just because they have money...makes no difference.

Well, sorry guys...that's my little soap box for right now :-/

As for the rest of my week at school...yup, you guessed it still busy. And it came to a dramatic finish with the emergency pit stop my car had to make to the radiator shop on friday, and initiation of our fall class for my sorority Theta Phi Alpha! I'm so excited about all my new sisters!!

And, as any college student would tell you this time of year.... I CANNOT WAIT FOR THANKSGIVING BREAK!! Don't worry...I'll give you a great big long list next time of how awesome my break is! As for now...I must make sure to get a good grasp on this week so that I can make it through the rest of the semester!

HERE WE GO AGAIN!!

Well...here it is again...another week come and another week gone...with the countdown to Thanksgiving growing ever smaller as the holiday grows near!


Senior year...well, while it is very much a blessing in all of it's rights, it comes at a very different calibur than the previous 3 years. The routine is familiar which makes it manageable however, the weight of being a senior and knowing that come this time next year I will have to have a real full-time job. And not only one that is a full-time job, but hopefully one that i can build a career off of! Ahh!

Last week was filled with feelings of growing up and being on the far edge of childhood. The rough draft for my Senior Capstone paper for my History degree was due...needless to say I was swamped all week! God bless my roommates for understanding when I had overtaken the kitchen table with my work.


Working towards my History degree at times makes me a little nervous because career paths in History are not always abundantly available. It just so happens that I have a work-study position in the Student Development office here on campus where offices such as The Counseling Center, Residence Life, Campus Ministry, Student Retention and the Career Center are located. Mike Theobald, the Director of the Career Center can offer some great advice for people like me-those who don't quite know what is available to them and want some help...we had a little chat last week and I definitely recommend the Career Center and it's services!


The Social Mentors also had their annual trip to the Haunted Houses here in Kansas City! While I unfortunately could not go (yes...I still had to work on my paper) I know it was a success. many people returned saying they had a blast! Next thing on the Social Mentor agenda is Ice Skating at Crown Center! I can't wait!


Well...in light of this wonderful fall day I have a great bike-ride planned and a trip to the park with Joe!

Have a wonderful week everybody...and please don't kill eachother after the election results come in! ;-)

Happy Happy...Joy Joy!

OK...OK...I have so many exciting things that have happened in the last two weeks I honestly forgot to share them!!

So...the first full week of October was when Rockhurst had our Fall Semester Break. It was a nice little break from classes, especially after a busy midterm week! I was able to go home for a few days and see my family. One thing I did was I got to see my brothers run in one of their Cross Country meets! I was so proud. All three of my brothers run for the Springfield Catholic Fighting Irish and the two oldest medaled in the race! I am always amazed at their athletic ability and determination because I could never run like they do in these races! I also got to see my family's puppy for the first time! I was a little skeptical when my mom first told me they had bought a puppy (I was not involved in the matter at all) but she really was kind of cute. Her name is Sam and she is a German Shepherd and retriever mix.

And.....the biggest item of excitement for me is......drum roll please.......I GOT THE PART-TIME STUDENT POSITION AT THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES!!! Ok...so here's the details. This summer I completed an internship at the National Archives regional office here in Kansas City. It was awesome because I got three academic credit hours for my internship which I needed as part of my history requirements, and i got to explore career options for someone with a History degree. well, the National Archives here in Kansas City also offers a few paid, part-time positions for students (called Student-Hires...imaginative, i know). I had been in correspondence with my internship supervisor about the position and at the start of my fall-break I was just at the point of waiting on Congress to approve the budget for the National Archives. So...I had to wait, which I'm not always the best at...and just when I was getting discouraged, and thought, surely i will not get this job...I GOT THE CALL SAYING I GOT THE JOB FOR SURE! Now...for me, this means many things: I get to work with others who enjoy history like me, I get a pretty darn good hourly rate, and I get to quit the Hallmark shop I have been at for the past year! Needless to say, I have been walking around on cloud 9 so to speak all weekend!

Now, for those of you who might be interested in a History degree, feel free to check out Rockhurst's History department. If you are already in a History program and do not know what you might do with it...I strongly encourage you to search out those internships! They are great ways to make connections, and to explore options and see what you like!

Well, as fall continues to wrap its arms around us...the weather outside is getting more and more wonderful! Yes, fall is my favorite season! So go out and have some fun! :-)

Don't Stop.....BELIEVIN!

One thing that is true no matter what school you are at is that...College students are BUSY!!

Last week was preceded by Family Weekend and I was more than thrilled to have my mom and dad come up from Springfield, MO where I'm from. That was really awesome. It was just my parents who came up because my three younger brothers were working on their homecoming floats and had cross country practices and meets and all those things that keeps high schoolers on the go. Anyways, although i had to work Saturday afternoon right after my parents arrived it was still really great to see them.
After family weekend was over, homecoming week began! Rockhurst and the Homecoming Committee always plan great events during the week leading up to homecoming to get us excited and to sort of give us a break from all of the studying and homework we do. Some of the things include a hypnotist, $3 movie night, and the week is concluded with Rockhurst Day which is an afternoon of fundraisers, free food and opportunities for Alumni to come back and celebrate. This year, my sorority Theta Phi Alpha hosted a fundraiser which was a lot of fun! It was called "Pie a Theta Phi" where anyone could buy a pie and throw it in our faces.
The Homecoming dance was the highlight of the week for me. My roommates and our dates all signed up to eat at the Hereford House for free before the dance. The event was sponsored by Residence Life and this year was their third year sponsoring the dinner. AND IT WAS DELICIOUS! And to top it all off...I LOVE to dance too! So a free meal and dancing often the perfect combination for me! Never do I like to leave a dance before the very last song has been played (something my boyfriend and I definitely disagree on sometimes)!

Now starts midterm week and this week doesn't look any less busy than last week! I have three tests this week, the Bibliography for my senior capstone paper due and no more time than I usually do. Thankfully though, the reward is that next week is fall break and that means...getting to go home for a few days! I can't wait.

A Busy and Tiring past 7 days...

I have certainly had quite a busy week since i last got on! Last week my sorority, Theta Phi Alpha hosted our informal recruitment event and we now have four AWsoMe new pledge sisters and i'm so excited! :) the week basically consisted of all of us getting together and hanging out, working on a project for one of our philanthropy organizations, Glenmary Home Missioners.

I also had my first test of the semester in my world religions class this monday which was not as bad as i had thought it might have been. The test was about the Hindu religion, which i'm sure you can imagine how daunting that might seem! Since then i've had to concentrate on researching for my capstone paper for my History degree...and no, i have not come to a concrete decision yet incase you were wondering! plus, i must keep reminding myself that i need to be concentrating on taking the GRE (Graduate Record Exam) and applying to grad school. unfortunately i don't have my life after Rockhurst figured out yet! :(

I've also had to see two of the Rockhurst Film series movies since the last time i wrote. the first one was called koyaanisqatsi and it was a very interesting non-verbal film that comments on the state of human existence in this day and age. the other movie was called Walkabout and it was about a teenage girl and her young brother who are stranded in the Australian outback and come to depend upon an aborigine boy whom they meet while he is on his walkabout; his rite of passage into manhood. The first movie was a bit unique and out of the ordinary and the second movie tried to put the issue of diverse cultures into perspective for the audience.

The Rockhurst Film series' are always entertaining and the movies are certainly thought provoking...infact my freshmen year my boyfriend Joe and I went and saw one of the films and we enjoyed it so much that he actually bought it online later!

Well that brings me to today when one of my new sisters, Lauren and I, did a little bit of shopping for some homecoming outfits for the dance next weekend. however, it just didn't seem to be the day we were meant to find huge bargains (although i did buy a really cute black dress for $20)!

And as for any college student would go...i feel a bit exhausted and naturally haven't started my homework due tomorrow! So i better tear myself away from my computer and take a gander at all my assignments! Peace out.