I'm Megan, a senior at Susquehanna University. My hope is that this blog will cover my four years here, from the firsts to the lasts.

"
In college, you learn how to learn. Four years is not too much time to spend at that." - Mary Oliver

Friday, April 29, 2011

Evaluating My Goals

For what may be my last post of the year, I wanted to take a look at some of the goals I set for myself this semester. After all the last day of a college class usually includes an evaluation of the course and the professor. This will just be a self-evaluation.

Here are those original goals.
1. Keep up with my New Year's resolution.
2.  Write more often, and not just for my Intro to Nonfiction class
3.  Read more often, and again, not just for class.
4.  Enlarge my social circle at Susquehanna.  Meet new people!  Make new friendships!
5.  Get involved in new activities, like Alpha Phi Omega, the service fraternity, or a reading board for a literary magazine.
6.  Procrastinate less.
7.  Study more.
8.  Cut down on my addition--fries!  

It’s kind of frightening to see how poorly I’ve executed these.   My New Year’s resolution was to follow a read-the-Bible in the year plan, but then I got behind and behind and more behind and now I’m super behind, so I’m deeming that a failure. I will try to catch up this summer. I’ve written in little spurts things unrelated to class, but not anything substantial.  I haven’t devoted enough time to reading for pleasure as I should have.  In fact, I’ve devoted, basically, no time. 

The social goal is one where I’ve made a bit more progress.  I’m not exactly overwhelmed with new friends, but I think I know more people now and know some people from first semester a bit better than I had.  I’m happy to say that number five has been completely achieved. I pledged Alpha Phi Omega—much of that experience came up in previous entries—and was on a reading board for RiverCraft.

My level of procrastination is probably quite similar to first semester, and I may actually have studied less.  Fries—well, I certainly don’t think I’ve increased my fry intake. Then again, I can barely think of that as a possibility!

Perhaps the top goal for next year should be to achieve more of my goals!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Wrapping Up

Including today, I have 11 days left on campus. I have often pontificated on this blog about how fast everything seems and how the year is practically over already, probably in an exaggerated fashion. Now it’s a reality. The year is almost over, and these next 11 days are a matter of wrapping things up.

Tonight I’ll be completing my last paper assignments for two of my courses, Sociology and Applied Biblical Ethics. For Sociology, I am writing an ethnography, basically a study on a society, based off the movie Shawshank Redemption. For Applied Biblical Ethics, I have to write a reflection on our final action assignment, which was to take a 24-hour period to live more deliberately—to live “unplugged” from media technology. I failed pretty miserably at it.  After these are turned in, I’ll only have exams left for these two classes.

I have one 5 page paper left for my Romantic Novels course which I have until May 7th to write.  The biggest thing left to do is my portfolio for Intro to Nonfiction. Last semester I was very intense about my fiction portfolio. I did lengthy rewrites in a very short span of time (gah procrastination!).  Basically, by the end of it, I was a creatively drained portfolio zombie. I hope that prepping my nonfiction portfolio is not as huge of an undertaking.

One way I want to wrap up the year is with a final excursion to the used bookstore downtown. Yesterday, during my attempted 24-hour sans media, friends and I took a walk downtown. 3 of us were wearing jeans. A mistake since it was really, really hot during our walk. Unfortunately the bookstore was closed by that time, but we were able to stop in at The Kind Café and pick up drinks. I got a delicious strawberry-banana smoothie which I enjoyed as we sat outside. Friday the bookstore is opened later, so we’ll probably go then.

I’m looking forward to this upcoming weekend.  It’s basically our final weekend and is Spring Weekend here at SU. There are going to be different events, like a carnival and a circus party at TRAX. I’m not sure which events I’ll actually be attending, but I do know that I want to have a fun weekend with my friends before summer, even if we just end up staying inside and watching movies!

Speaking of summer, a part of wrapping up the school year is prepping for break.  For me and a lot of people, one aspect of prepping is finding a job.  I filled out lots of applications over Easter Break.  I haven’t been hired yet, but I am hoping something will pop up.  I also plan to do lots of writing this summer—finally, not for class!—as well as reading. And of course, hanging out a ton with my friends from home.

Oh yeah, and missing SU.     

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Yesterday vs. Today vs. Tomorrow

Yesterday was a day of group presentations.I presented in Applied Biblical Ethics and Sociology, on female genital cutting and underage drinking respectively. It was very stressful leading up to Tuesday, but it’s a relief to have both group projects out of the way. The rest of the work left for this year is all individual. Of course, there’s still stress involved with that (Yes, I’m talking about you, nonfiction portfolio) but none of the chaos of trying to coordinate with others. Anyway, I thought the presentations went fairly well. Both involved PowerPoint and incorporated class involvement and video clips.

The work didn’t stop once my classes were done yesterday. I still had to finish my 8 page essay for Romantic Novels. Fortunately, I was able to finish it much sooner than I finished my first paper. It’s due today at 4 p.m., and I get out of class at 2:50 p.m. I will probably look it over at least one more time and do some minor edits before sending it in.

Yesterday was also a big day for a lot of my friends—the doubles housing lottery! This is students’ last chance to choose housing. I was fortunate enough to already know where I’m living next year. Having that knowledge certainly was a huge weight off my shoulders, so I hope everybody else is relieved now that everything is settled.

Today, in comparison, is decidedly less stressful. Romantic Novels is cancelled so my academic day ends sooner. I only have one class tomorrow and barely any homework. Even our chapter meeting for Alpha Phi Omega and the weekly Hippo Family dinner is cancelled! Hopefully my InterVarsity Life Group isn’t cancelled as well because I haven’t had as many chances to go this past semester and my schedule is completely free tonight.

Because of this freeness, I should probably spend some time getting ahead on my portfolio or ethnography for Sociology but it will probably just mean a lot of relaxing, watching TV and talking too much and spending lots of time on the internet. My roommate and I have definitely been indulging in more television this semester. A recent guilty pleasure was the Prince William and Kate Middleton Lifetime movie, complete with atrocious British accents.

Though today is great, especially compared to yesterday, I’m eagerly anticipating tomorrow because tomorrow means going home!

Monday, April 18, 2011

Almost at Easter Break

Friday I had a workshop for my literary journalism piece in Intro to Creative Nonfiction, which was about me going to a dog expo where they had Dog Olympic Games and pet contests. I wasn’t feeling too great about the piece, but the workshop went a lot better than I thought; in the grand scheme of things, this piece might be the one that needs the least amount of revision, in comparison to my personal essay and memoir. Like Intro to Fiction, Intro to Creative Nonfiction ends with the turning in of a final portfolio. Whenever I try to think of all the assignments left before the year's end, I keep forgetting about it. Hopefully this doesn't continue. 

Relay Team in our super cool tent
Also on Friday, a group of friends from my floor in Hass headed off to Relay for Life, an event that lasted from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. the next morning; it raises money for cancer research. It was held in the Field House part of the fitness center. They had activities and tables selling things to raise more money. The most touching aspect was the Luminara Lap, during which the lights went off and attendees lit bags around the track in remembrance of those who fought against cancer.  It was impacting to see just how many people have lost love ones due to cancer, and I felt very blessed and privileged that I have not yet undergone such a loss. I did a lot of walking. Seriously, that was probably more exercise than I’ve done all year. By the end of the night (or morning, I suppose), my feet were in terrible pain, and of course I was exhausted. I climbed into my bed and woke up around 2 p.m. that day. Basically, it threw off my sleeping schedule for the entire weekend. (Can I still blame it for my late start this morning?)

The rain and wind were very intense Saturday. My friend Lindsey and I ventured outside, in hopes of making it to Deg for dinner, but made it about five steps before retreating back indoors. We ended up ordering Domino’s. Sunday was a day for getting work done. I also went to the Bible Study at Dr. Martin and Dr. Bohmbach’s house, which was awesome as usual. Also exciting was my roommate coming back, who'd been home sick for a few days.

This weekend I was slightly stressed out because I have a lot of work coming up in these few days before Easter Break. I have two group presentations tomorrow, one for Applied Biblical Ethics on Female Genital Mutilation and one in Sociology on Underage Drinking, and an 8 page paper on the influence of narrative technique in Daisy Miller and The French Lieutenant’s Woman for Romantic Novels. I really am looking forward to break, though it would be smart for me to spend it working on other upcoming assignments. I have two final exams, a final portfolio, and two more papers due before the end of the year. Another source of stress is finding a job for the summer!  I've felt so busy and haven't set aside enough time to apply to jobs.  I really need to get on it this week, especially over break.

If only break could actually mean a break!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Officially A Brother!

I’ve finally been initiated into Alpha Phi Omega, which is, if you haven’t been keeping up, a national, coed service fraternity.  Our initiation was late Wednesday night, and it marked me, officially, as a “brother.” 
Me and some other newly initiated brothers

One of the most exciting things was being able to exchange gifts with my Big Sarah afterwards.  I got my Big a shirt with APO letters on it—I actually made those letters and liked them, surprisingly enough, considering my usual crafty failure—and a paddle with my name and hers, APO, my pledge class, etc.  I also got her a little stuffed hippo because we’re members of the Hippo Family (APO has many animal-themed families, including penguins, frogs, lions, etc.) and wrote her a poem.  She gave me my first set of letters which I was so pumped to wear yesterday.  She also got me a really awesome Hippo Pillow Pet which I named Hagrid.  I used it as a pillow last night.  So soft and comfortable!  Her paddle for me is very cute, and I’m still trying to decide where it should stay in my room.

Of course, things aren’t the most important part of being initiated.  I’m very excited to be fully part of a group that is filled with such cool, admirable people and that does so many great things on campus and in the community.  I hope a lot of friendships stem and flourish from APO, as well as characteristics in myself, like leadership and positivity and service.

Speaking of organizations that mean a lot to me, last night, Thursday, I went to the second to last InterVarsity large group meeting of the year, which is pretty sad. It’s been such a blessing and such a big, shaping influence on my freshman year.  I think I even attended the first IV meeting of the  year, so it’s been a pretty significant constant.  I will miss this fellowship so much over the summer!  It’ll be so strange to come back next year, with the seniors gone and a group of unfamiliar freshmen.  No longer being the youngest just seems freaky. I'm sure, though, that IV has a great year in store next year.  

Monday, April 11, 2011

I Get Down

“I get down.
He lifts me up.
I get down.
He lifts me up.
I get down.
He lifts me up.
I get down."

I sang these words loudly and enthusiastically from the auditorium aisle, dancing without reservation.  All the small group leaders had rushed out of their seats to pump up the kids at Lutheran Youth Day during this high-energy worship song.

Though some got up as early as 4 in the morning so they could start assembling a balloon arch at 5 (which looked fabulous!), and almost all of us got up a little bit earlier than on a usual Saturday, we all seemed able to retain our excitement throughout the day.  This was vital, since the kids at Lutheran Youth Day, who ranged from 6th to 12th grade, were sometimes shy and quiet and needed a bit of coaxing.   

During the first morning session, the small group leaders got to make a dramatic entrance that I think really set the tone.   When the kids cheered, we rushed out from the back of Stretansky Concert Hall and from the stage.  Then we threw candy into the audience. The kids got a ton of candy.  We did this again when starting another large group session.  I only hope I didn’t hit too many people in the head!

When we weren’t in great large group sessions, led by either musician Rachel Kurtz or a praise band of SU students, we were in small groups.  I was co-leading a group of sophomores, juniors, and seniors (some of whom were probably as old as me).   Our sessions included some icebreaker games, looking at Bible passages and discussing them, and viewing and discussing this great video about the woman at the well.  They were a bit reluctant to talk at times, but I hope they all got something out of our sessions. Personally, I had a blast and fully intend on participating next year.

Later I went to Air Band, where fraternities and sororities dance to a mix of songs. It was really fun, and I cheered my loudest for all the Alpha Phi Omega girls who were performing (they did great, of course). I was in a section with a bunch of people from APO, and we were all wearing white T-shirts with gold, spray painted Greek letters. I really felt like part of the organization. I’m so excited that Wednesday I will finally be initiated! Anyway, Air Band was really entertaining. The frats, especially, had very funny performances.  There were Justin Bieber impersonations. And spears. All sorts of craziness.  It felt so college.

And that blasting music really made me want to get down, in another sense of those words.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Tales of Tomorrow (and a bit of today...)

Again, another busy weekend is in the works.  Tomorrow is Lutheran Youth Day, a day in which middle and high school students come to Susquehanna's campus to worship, study the Bible, and this year, hear a concert from musician Rachel Kurtz.  I've volunteered to be a small group leader for that day.  SU students comprise the majority of the small group leaders (though I think some alumni are coming to help), and the event itself is organized by SU's Deacon of Service, who's a senior here.  I am really pumped for this experience, even if it means waking up early on a Saturday, because it'll be so new to me.  The last time I led a Bible study on a semi-regular basis was middle school!  And I've never really been in this position of guiding a group of people who are younger than I am.  While this adds to the excitement, it's also a relief that this new experience is not something I'm doing alone; each person has a co-leader working with them.

Also on Saturday is Air Band, which is one of the culminating events of Greek Week, during which the Greek organizations compete against each other.  In Air Band, each fraternity or sorority has members perform to a song.  This involves lip-syncing, dancing, costumes, and sets.  As a pledge (and a soon-to-be brother!), I'll be there to support Alpha Phi Omega.  Watching Greek Week thus far has been a somewhat strange experience.  It is very intense and competitive.  I will admit to not understanding Greek Week as clearly as I should--like, um, what does the winner get again?--but I do understand that I am very excited to be a part of Alpha Phi Omega.  It will be great if, during this week, at least a few more people gained respect for or even knowledge of this awesome service fraternity.

I've been focused so much on weekends on this blog--that's where the excitement's at!--but as for today, I'm very excited to only have one class at 3 p.m.  My Intro to Nonfiction course isn't meeting today because the professor is having conferences with students about their literary journalism pieces.  Speaking of which, I've already had my conference and blech, I have so much to rewrite!  Later on I have a meeting about my group project for Applied Biblical Ethics, which will end in a 25-30 minute presentation on an ethical dilemma.  Our ethical dilemma regards female circumcision and how we as Americans, as Christians, etc., should involve ourselves (or not involve ourselves) in changing or ending this practice.  Usually I'm hesitant about group projects, but my group is really great, and I think our presentation has the potential to be really informative.     

Monday, April 4, 2011

Yet Another Eventful Weekend

This weekend has, again, been action-packed, so to speak. Friday I went right from class to a service project with my Alpha Phi Omega pledge class. We hosted a prom at Graysonview, a nearby senior assisted living community. A group of us had to go a bit late since we didn’t get out of class yet. I didn’t get to help that much with dinner, but I did get to make a fool of myself dancing. Some of the residents who weren’t dancing said they just enjoyed watching, so I hope my poor moves entertained them.

Saturday my pledge class had our second group service project at the Campus Gardens, located at Susquehanna University’s Center for Environmental and Educational Research. The group of us met at the back of Degenstein, the student center, and walked to the gardens together. We spent about four hours de-weeding the garden beds so things can later be planted there. I focused on pulling out grass. It’s quite tricky to get grass out, including the root, so it was quite a triumph every time I succeeded. I was actually pretty into the gardening and would totally consider going back to volunteer when it’s a bit warmer.

Later that day my friends and I met up with Madison, the prospective student my roommate and I hosted overnight in the beginning of the year. She’s attending next year and was on campus for Accepted Students Day. We, then, headed over to the dance showcase, which featured dances by the SU Dance Corps and by different dance classes. One of my friends from my dorm, Hass, was in it, and it was great to get be there and see her perform. It was a very good show and made me wish I knew how to dance.

Sunday Weber Chapel hosted a Taizé service. Taizé is a style of worship involving meditative singing and centering prayer. There are many short, simple songs that are repeated, and there are many times of silence within the service. This type of service is based off the Taizé community in France, where thousands, mostly young people, make pilgrimages. During communion, we went up to kneelers, which is not normal procedure. There were also candles on the altar that could be lit as a prayer, an act of commitment, in remembrance, etc. I absolutely loved this service. It was very refreshing and unique. I would love to visit the original Taizé community one day—maybe when I’m studying abroad!

Immediately after chapel, I met with my parents and my brother for lunch. They came to visit for my induction to Alpha Lambda Delta, the freshman honor society. We had brunch at the cafeteria, and then we went to the ceremony. Afterwards my family and I went shopping, then had dinner at Red Robin. When I got back to campus, I headed to a biweekly bible study with two of the religion professors, then crashed in my room for the night with TLC and The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles, a book for my Romantic Novels course.

Next weekend will also be busy because my entire Saturday is going to be taken up by volunteering at Lutheran Youth Day. I think the weekend after that is the Relay for Life. Hopefully I will able to find some time this week and the next for some ample relaxing!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Contemplating the Future--Grad School

I’ve always been the type to think ahead.  I remember researching colleges when I was in middle school.  It’s no wonder, then, that since I’ve been thinking about librarianship as a possible career, I’ve been doing some research into grad school.

If I do choose to go ahead on this career path of librarianship, I will have to get my Master of Library Science degree eventually, but I do not necessarily have to enter grad school immediately following graduation from Susquehanna.   In fact, it might be better to wait for a few years and get experience in a library before embarking on a Master’s.  That is probably the safer way, as well, since I could ensure my interest in librarianship and not end up getting a degree that I won’t put to use or won’t enjoy putting to use. 

There’s also the question of residential or online.  If I choose to wait to go to grad school, I may end up doing my degree online instead of in-person.  That way I could continue with my job and wouldn’t have to relocate my family if I had one, which, wow, isn’t that a weird thought?  Thinking of the future, though I do it often, can still boggle the mind a little. 

Another reason grad school is a concern is money.  Though I have a great merit scholarship at Susquehanna, I still am going to have a hefty amount of student loans upon graduation.  I don’t want to plunge myself even further into debt—even if grad school works as a way to defer loan payments.  The only way I could see grad school working for me is if I have substantial financial aid.  I know that some grad schools offer fellowships or assistantships that cover full tuition. 

As of right now, I am pretty uninformed and undecided on the issue of grad school, which I think is okay for the point I’m at in my education.  However, I definitely want to get myself more informed.  Susquehanna, like many colleges, offers a Center for Career Services that I very soon want to use to my advantage.  They offer one-on-one advising about careers and graduate school.  This is something my tuition is going towards, and I would be a waste not to utilize this resource.