May 2009 Archives

Hey readers, By now I know most of you are already out of school or getting there in what may seem like years to finally arrive. Now after the Senior Prom the only thing to look forward to is GRADUATION. In every seniors mind the image of walking in front of his/her classmates with their cap and gown to finally receive that high school diploma and move on to better and bigger things is what they carve the most.  High school graduation is one of the highlight moments in your early education career because for many it is the first time an actual accomplishment is made after 12 hard years of learning and growing mentally. Right now students are finishing their last finals to receive those last credits needed for either high school or college. Now it is really the time to appreciate the easy things that many of us took for advantage in high school. For example, the long weekends because of random holidays throughout the academic year no longer exists in college. The lack of homework from most or all your classes also leaves because there is always something to read in one of your college classes. With graduation just around the corner it finally starts to hit that college is closer to reality than your thought before. It can be sad to leave behind what you are most used to but the saying that "college is the best time of your life" is not too much of an understatement. I hope everyone is ready to move on and planning on enjoying their summer to the fullest even if you are working to save up some money but this is the time to relax. Thank you for reading and if you have any questions please feel free to ask me and I will do my best to answer promptly. Jennifer

Hey readers, Hopefully most of you are done with classes and especially finals! For most Penn State students the summer began Saturday morning even though many got lucky and finished finals before Friday. Now is when I am allowed to sleep in without feeling guilty about using my time productively for homework or studying. This summer I am also completely dedicated in getting my suntan back to how is was before I lived in Erie (which might take up alot of my time!) I am looking for a summer job which is something completely normal since most college kids are broke by the time when the year ends. Looking for a job is always stressful and time consuming but when it is time to buy all your items before school begins again there is no better feeling than having the money to do it. Many friends this year were lucky enough to find a paid internship that would not only pay them real good but will help their resume for the future.  For most college students the summer composes of relaxing from school work and working even though there are  number of students that decide to take summer classes in order to go ahead or catch up with their classmates. I hope everyone is relaxing and enjoying your time at home close to family and loved ones! If you have any questions please feel free to ask me about anything! Thanks for reading, Jennifer

Hey readers, I can literally say that I am just one final away from going back home for the summer and that is only in a couple of hours. I have been slowly packing (instead of studying) and I have been mentally ready for quite a while already. There is no better feeling about being done than knowing that you didn't completely boom your finals and might end with a decent GPA. My freshmen college year is on the verge of ending and I can't believe how fast time has gone! When next year comes around my friends and I will be the ones with experience. Some of us will be the ones helping freshmen settle in their dorm rooms or directing them to mandatory meetings during Welcome Week or even be their RA's which can be a little weird since we only have one year of experience on us. I am looking forward to next year because now I know what my interests are and where I enjoy spending my time on weekends and what clubs I would want to join. I will be less of a confused "puppy" around campus looking for the activities and people that catch my attention. I am also looking forward to the new Lacrosse season because I will no longer be the rookie on the field and I will be able to enjoy playing more than just trying to catch up with most of the experienced players already on the field. I am pretty sure next year is going to bring many good memories and experiences that will remain with us for most of our lives. I hope everyone had just as a good experience in their first year in college like I have and for all those incoming freshmen reading this blog right now I wish you the best of luck! There are many saying out there that mention "college" as being the best time of your life and this can be true as long as your attitude is welcoming to new things. Good luck with the rest of your finals! Thank you for reading, Jennifer

Hey readers, As people start leaving it becomes the weirdest sight when you enter their dorm room and all you see are the white plain walls with a mattress and a empty desk. It is incredible the difference one can do to a room once all their personal  belongings get settled in. Many students (mostly girls) strive to make their rooms feel like home so when you enter there are all sorts of paintings, pictures, and objects on the wall giving the room a sense of comfort and familiarity. My room is not too fancy but it has a little bit of me on the walls and my desk. When moving in, the rooms look like cells and it is incredible the difference that can be made when students start being creative with their decorating skills. For example, during the Christmas holiday this year my roommate and I decided to put up colorful lights and a miniature Christmas tree to bring the holidays in our spirits. We also decided to decorate for Easter and St. Patrick's day which ended up bring some excitement into our room. However, I wouldn't say our room is the best because we have left the decorating simple for our everyday routine but some rooms around the hall are extreme and full of life. When going into my friends room I was shocked at how much they were actually able to decorate in such a small space and when I entered her room yesterday it was EMPTY! It was too weird for my comfort because it made it even more official about the end of the academic year coming close. I have slowly began packing and just like I mentioned in the previous blog it is a bittersweet feeling inside. I hope everyone is finishing off their finals strong and prepared to go home. For all those students that are already done I wish a safe trip back home and a good start to their SUMMER! Thank you for reading, Jennifer

Hey readers, I am sure everybody is excited about the end of the year coming closer but the ending is always bittersweet. I have completed two of my four finals and I can't be more excited about being done with studying and homework but this also means going away for the summer. Friendships in college are different from an other relationship I have had throughout my life because you literally live and see them on a constant basis. For example, you go to class, eat dinner, do homework, go shopping, and hang out with them constantly making separation a little bit harder. When speaking to a good friend earlier we noticed it would be so weird not having that constant availability to anyone on your floor or even those that live in other dorms but still on campus. I cannot be more excited about going home to see my family and close friends that I left behind but I can't say that I will not miss the people I have meet in Erie. Students are already leaving home and eventhough I am very jealous I am happy for everyone that finished their first year of college with wonderful memories. Good luck to everyone and their last finals and hopefully everyone is ready to go home!! Thank you for reading, Jennifer

Hey readers, Now classes are over and all I can think about is SUMMER! I can't wait until I get back home and finally get the chance to sit back and relax without having any school work in my head for about 3 months. I am mentally done but finals are just about to begin and I can't find the mindset to focus anymore. I have gone to the library twice this weekend and have studied for a total of 10 hours but I can't say that I used all that time wisely. I have been struggling all weekend long to get my head into finals like last semester but it has not been the same. This spring semester I have not studied as long and hard as I did the fall semester and I am hoping it does not come back to haunt me. I remember spending ridiculous amounts of hours in front of my books for days for my previous finals and cramming all types of information before the big test. I think having gone through the whole finals stress once before has relaxed me more eventhough I don't feel as prepare as I should be. The good thing about all this is that my first final is not until 8 pm tomorrow so I still have time to go over all the material and get more comfortable with it because I get tested on it. I have spoken to some friends and they feel the same way I do right now which makes me a little more confident about my situation. I am wishing everyone luck on their finals and hopefully you feel more prepared than I am! Thank you for reading, Jennifer

Hey readers, Today is my last day to have classes as a college freshmen andI am so excited! I can't believe time has passed by so fast because I can still remember the first day I set foot in my college dorm. Everything was so new and different in my eyes and I felt very uncomfortable because I didn't know anyone. I can still recall meeting my roommate and her parents just as I walked into my room and feeling strange about the fact that I did not have any idea about the person I was about to live with for the next months. Everything that I was about to do was new to me but I was ready to start fresh and meet new and different people throughout the months. I was ready to see what my classes were going to offer and what I would learn. However, that excitement quickly left and I cannot be happier that today is the last day of classes. I am most excited because this means I am just that much closer at going back home and spending some quality time with those that I love andcare for. Classes may be over but finals are just around the corner so there is no slacking off just yet. This is the time when the library becomes your 2nd home and all you focus on is getting through your last tests. I hope everyone is studying for their finals and the best of luck! Thank you for reading, Jennifer