Looking Through The Lens: College

Showing posts with label College. Show all posts

Dear AMA Fam,

This year has been prime or in John's words, best case. You have all become such a huge part of my life. I wish to thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart for such a fantastic year. Listen, you're my fam for life.

I have had a whirlwind of a year. I learned one of the biggest lessons this year; I am not a born leader. I am okay with that. Starting the year out as case director was hard. I went through nights of anxiety attacks, break downs, hair pulling out, you name it, it probably happened. With the amazing support from Ashley, Therese, and a few others I pulled myself from the position to better myself. Some times its okay to be selfish. Thank you for letting me use this year as a year to find myself and try things that pushed me to the limit and beyond.

It got 1000 times better from there. From the beginning of the year we were a family and with every event we became closer and closer. With the year coming to an end it is becoming harder and harder to say goodbye. I am flooded with so many wonderful memories from the past year. When asked at the last AMA meeting what our best AMA memory was, I couldn't choose one. I could have listed them all.

Some of my personal favorites are:
Volunteering at the Food Trucks
NOLA - Every. Single. Moment.
Any time this group got together is a favorite moment of mine

The only regret I have with AMA is not joining it from the beginning. Being involved with this organization for only 2 years is not long enough. Since I have had such an unbelievable time with the collegiate level I have thought about seeing what it is like to be involved at the regional level. I know this is something you're probably trying to do already, but some advice for next year, get those freshmen to join. Make them a part of the family.

I am so glad that as a family we were able to grow and experience things on a personal and professional level. Remember we are a professional organization first, social second. :)

So thank you, AMA Fam, for being the best part of my college career.

"So if we get the big jobs and we make the big money when we look back now will our jokes still be funny? Will we still remember everything we learned in school? ... I keep, I keep thinking that it's not goodbye. Keep on thinking it's a time to fly and this is how it feels. As we go on we remember all the times we had together. And as our lives change, come whatever, we will still be friends forever."

P.S. I know my sass is a lot to handle. I can come off as harsh, mean, salty, etc. Do not take that as a personal shot. Do not think for one moment that I don't appreciate you. I do, I appreciate each and every one of you.

Sophomore Year.
Side note: Sophomore is a very weird word.

First full year in the AIMC program. I joined AdGroup, which is the on campus Advertising Registered Student Organization. I didn't like it then, and even though I am not in it, I don't like it now.

I lived in my own room! I got out of the whole roommate situation. I guess college roommates just aren't my thing. I love living by myself. I live by my rules and I know that if I make a mess it is my responsibility to clean it up. I also do not have anyone disrespecting me and my things.

I met two of the most AMAZING people on earth and even though it took us a full year to become friends it was the start of the greatest friendships I have ever had.

Besides the two mentioned above, I continued to meet a lot of other very influential people in my life.

I opened my heart up a little more. Let a little more love in and in return let a little more love out.

This year I learned to love being alone. I accepted the fact that being alone was a good thing.

I also opened my mind up to other people's opinions and thoughts. Yes, I am talking about the controversial topics. I gained, what I think is, a better understanding of what other people think. This was a growing year. I am more accepting of people and their beliefs even if it goes against what I believe.

Other than that last one my sophomore year was very blah and boring.

When writing one of these sentimental posts does anyone really know where to start? I sure don't.

Let's go all the way back to the beginning...

Fall 2011/Spring 2012

I don't remember the complete details, but I do remember I had a rough first week, month, semester. I feel like a lot of freshmen do. If you know me, I am a fighter. Things may try to tear me down, but I fight to stay standing. Freshman year was the biggest fight I had. I changed friends faster than Usain Bolt. I faced challenges that seemed to big for life.

I went through some of the biggest losses in my life that year. Two of the most kind-hearted people left this earth to be with God. One by choice the other by accident, both by surprise.

I switch my major. No one, not even me saw this coming. My entire life, and I mean ENTIRE life, I wanted to be a dental hygienist. To be honest, part of me still does. I switched to Advertising/Integrated Marketing Communications. To this day it was one of the best decisions of my life. Also, one of the most challenging.

I met a friend who, even though we don't talk anymore, I still am grateful to have met. She is still one of the biggest influences in my life.

I challenged myself to open up a little bit more. I taught myself that life isn't going to be fun living closed off.

My aunt told me something I will never forget. "Never forget who you are and where you come from."

I learned that it's okay to make a fool out of yourself. At least you are making people laugh, and laughter is the best. Also, not to get embarrassed about so much.

On to my list of thanks...

Thank you to my first roommate who taught me that if I don't like the situation I am in, I need to change it.

Thank you to my second roommate who taught me that bullies will be bullies and you have to stand up to them. Stand your ground. Fight, but don't fight back. There is no need to sink to their level.

Thank you to the many friends who made the first year all possible.
Anna, Taylor, Sammie, Jon, Travis, Alex, Byron, Mike, Garrett, Jenny, and many more.

Thank you Amanda K. and Kayla W., for helping me make it through Micro Bio even though I was leaving the science program.

Thank you Tom Mehl, for helping me transition into the AIMC program. You helped me then and still continue to do so.

Thank you to my cousin Eric for making the trip to Copper Harbor over Christmas break, who knew that that trip would start a 5 year tradition.

Writing this post has flooded my mind with memories...

The night Garrett called me at 2-3 am because he had just hit a deer and didn't know what to do. I also hung up on him the first time, because you don't wake me up from a slumber. I'm glad I did eventually pick up.

The day my grandparents drove to Big Rapids just to bring me medicine.

Going for drives with Stopher and Sammie and 2 am.

My freshmen year was full of ups and downs. I do not regret a single moment of it.

Dearest Mothership,

You are appreciated. You are loved. Those two things you are not told enough.

I don’t see you as often as I used to. That does not mean that you do not cross my mind every day, multiple times a day. I miss you mom and I am not afraid to say that. There are days where a phone call does not cut it. I will admit that leaving school and driving 10 hours to see you sounds like a good plan. Then, when I call you, you tell me how that just isn’t realistic. Even though you tell me you miss me too, you know that school is important.

You need to know that you will never and can never be replaced. I've had some great role models in my life and I still do. None of them will ever be as great of a role model as you are. You have shown me that no matter what you do what you have to do. Even if that means packing up everything you own and moving roughly 600 miles away from your hometown and family. I realize now how hard of a move that was on you. I also realize you did that because you had your family's best interest in mind. I don't blame you (or Dad) for that at all. Don't think your hard work goes unnoticed. For you getting up at 4 am every day is like a walk in the park. Doing this isn't your first choice, but you do it because you have to.

I've realized that in these past few years that you are not only a mom to 3 kids and a dog, but you have family all over the world. Thanks to social media, I have seen what a difference you have made in so many lives. Your family stretches beyond the borders of this nation. You have kids in places such as Serbia, Jamaica, Russia, Dominican Republic, Poland, Macedonia, Romania, and Turkey. I'm sure I could name most of them, but I won't because I can't spell in other languages. You have 30 plus non-biological sons and daughters all over the world, living all sorts of incredible lives! That's not to mention all of you non-biological sons and daughters that live here in the states.

Thank you for giving me your unconditional love and support. All those years that you have sat on the bench at basketball games or drove 160 miles to see me swim. Those years you had just as much dedication to my sports as I did. Then there was those times you slept out in the van so I could attend an awkward middle school dance. Mom, you've done so much. How do I ever repay you? As I get older, I realize more and more how much you have done for me and continue to do for me.

I am proud to say that you are my best friend. Over the years you have been my secret keeper, my therapist, my bank :), my biggest fan, my shoulder to cry on, my motivator, my taxi driver, my doctor, and many more. I know I have been your pain in the butt, your headache, the reason for your tears (happy and sad), your mini me, and things in-between.

I love you mom. Forever and always.

College students have a lot going on. Most of us are taking 12-18 credits. Which means we are in class 12-18 hours a week. I want to emphasize, that's only class time. Every professor preaches how for ever ONE credit hour we must spend two to three hours of studying outside of class. Doing the math, that would put you 36-54 hours a week of strictly studying.

Total hours a week for classes 48 - 72
Total hours = 48 - 72

What if, lets say, you want to be involved. So you join an organization; which meets once a week. Typical organizations have something going outside of the meeting at least once a week if not more. So lets say, including the meeting, you spend 3-4 hours outside with the organization.

Total hours = 51-76

Now lets add in time for sleeping, eating, and grooming. An average college student does not get the recommended amount of time to sleep. Let's say on average a college student sleeps 6 hours a night. You spend 2 hours a day preparing and eating food. Grooming, which will include showering, dental care and getting dressed, takes an average of 45 mins a day.

Total hours sleeping, eating, and grooming = 59.15
Total hours = 110.15 - 135.15

College students need money. So we need to work. I would say that 10-15 hours a week working would be plenty for a college student to make enough money to buy food and gas. Then maybe have a little spending afterwards.

Total hours = 120.15 - 150.15

This does not include socializing, commuting, and any other "extra" stuff we humans do. I forgot to mention that one week, 7 days, is only 168 hours. You have a minimum a little over 17 hours to do whatever. No wonder when we all go home are parents wonder why we want to sleep most of the time. It's because we are exhausted!

No we don't HAVE to do this, but as I stated most of this is expected of us. Employers like to see recent grads that were involved while in school. It shows time management abilities. It shows them that we didn't just show up and do the bare minimum.

College students are put to a standard of being super human. We are expected to be able to accomplish this and more! To be able to juggle everything at once and never crack or fail to hold it, its near to impossible. We, as young human beings, are burnt out by the time graduation comes around. There is a reason why young people aren't gung ho about getting a job right after school.

The saying goes that some things have to get worse before they get better. I believe that I experienced that last September when I lost some friends that I thought were going to be with me for life. After being in the dump for quite sometime I began to realize that the people I had around me were there to bring me out of said dump.
In comes Brittani, they girl who showed me that there are people out there who love me and will always love me. We became really close while working on the biggest project of our college career or we so thought at the time.
During that same period I got to know Therese, who has become one of my closest friend. She has impacted my life in ways unimaginable. Along with Therese came Mary, who has the greatest sense of humor out of all of us. She goes with the flow and her wit is incredible.
Allison and Alison have always been there but the past three semester we have become really close. Growing closer each and every day. I don't know what I would do without these fine ladies. I am blessed beyond belief that they are part of my life and I am a part of theirs. Laughs, class, and heartfelt times are what have brought us together. I have learned more about myself and well, marketing, from these ladies than I have with anyone else. I thank God that we crossed paths and now continue to walk a path together.

Tonight while being around some of these ladies, a "we're growing up" feeling hit me. In a month a few of them will be graduating and others will be starting at an internship. We are growing up and starting our lives. I wish so very much that we stay friends. I realize that growing apart may happen but I pray that will always be there for each other. I love these girls even if sometimes I don't show it.

Its funny you know, how easily grade schools can be closed but when it comes to colleges and universities they're going to be open whether its sunshine and 75 or of half the buildings on campus are gone.

Dear class,

We will not be meeting in our normal classroom today. The building has been demolished by Godzilla. Instead, we will meet at the local grocery store.

I hope you have all prepared for exam 2.

Thank you and watch out for the monkey,

Dr. Smith

Excuse me, what did you just say?

I'm not trying to get out of class because I've paid for it so I don't want to waste any money. Its just interesting because grade schools are closed because they are the future of America. Well excuse me, those of us in college are closer to being the future than your 10 year old niece. Don't give me an excuse on how those are public schools because I go to a public university. So tax dollars are coming here too.

Bundle up your college students before they head off to class because my 20 minute walk will give me frost bite in this wind.

Thank you and goodnight.

(Note: I love winter and snow. Going to class doesn't bother me. I love learning. I just had a thought so I ran with it. It's not THAT bad out here, but the grade schools are closed. No, Godzilla isn't here.)

There are those times when you just know people are talking about you, but no one will say it to your face. I don't mean those days when your shirt is inside out or you have toilet paper on your shoe (does that even happen?). I mean when you see and hear people say things about you and you just want them to say it to your face so you can set things straight!

Well, sir or ma'am, those things, those rumors, they're not true. If you see the need to tell people something about me that isn't true in the slightest of bit, please go for it. I will go on living my life as if you have nothing better to do than to talk about me behind my back or right in front of me.

It just frustrates me that I have a moment of weakness and things spread like a wildfire.

So here it goes, I'm going to let you in on a secret of mine. I know I am not the only one who fights this emotion. It's called embarrassment. We've all done things in our life that makes us feel embarrassed. As in, I'm not completely proud of myself for doing so and I will never do it again. Well this keeps biting me in the butt. I'm not going to give away what it was because I am embarrassed. (Note:Nothing illegal, I didn't go streaking, truth or dare wasn't involved, etc.) So this thing, that I did is having its way of being twisted and stretched to make an even worse story than it actually its.

I just want to say for all you readers, I am perfectly happy being single and I love the fact that I am single. I have no intentions on dating anyone. Shoot, there isn't anyone that I have my eyes on. I have found myself happy and content living the life I have. I have friends who make me happier than I have been, I am in the process of finding myself a career that I love, and for the majority of the time I couldn't be at a better place in school right now. So take your little rumor and shove it back into your brain and leave it there.

I know this isn't the first time I've dealt with a rumor and it wont be the last, but what I can tell you is that rumors suck. They make it hard to interact with people and to go about your daily life. All I can tell you and myself is to keep your head up and this will pass. People will forget about it. Those who spread rumors have nothing better to do with their lives and are finding "flaws" in other people's lives to feed on. Just be the best you, you can be.

Don't be afraid to feel the need to talk to someone about it. I am here, I will listen.

I wont soon forget 2014, but it will eventually end up in a filing cabinet in my mind and wont be accessed until something there is a trigger. This is a year that I can truly say I have discovered more of myself.

I turned 21. As sick as I was that day, I had dinner with my family and had my FIRST alcoholic drink. Yes, first. I made a promise to myself and my parents that I would not drink until I was 21.

Received a job that taught me so many lessons in life that I will be forever thankful for. I do not for one bit regret taking a job a Camp Walden. I learn to be more patient with people. This will be a job that I will never forget. I met some of the most wonderful people here. We've been the most ridiculous, childish, and yet the most responsible and family-like. I will not forget those who I worked and played with. Thanks to you all.

Started my fourth year at Ferris. This was one of the most stressful years at school that I have ever had. Completed my capstone class, campaigns. This was rough. My group and I created an advertising campaign for Pizza Hut and I learned more on how to work with people that have completely opposite personalities as you do.

Applied for what I thought was going to be my dream job/internship and ended up not getting it. That's okay because I am on to bigger and better things!

In the mix of all that I lost what I thought was my best friend. Changes happen and for some reason that was supposed to occur. With that happening, I met some of the most wonderful people. I am forever grateful that they are in my life.

Now here I sit, in a house that is uncomfortably too cold. Waiting for the new years to ring in. I wish you all the best in the your future endeavors. Here's to 2014 and to the coming 2015.

Is been one hectic week.

I had a crazy Tuesday which cannot go into full detail because, well because I can't. I had meetings and events which included bowling to go to. I was busy from sun up to sun down. Well 11 am to 11 pm. Yay college!

Oh I forgot to mention an exam on Monday which leads to my exam on Wednesday. Not sure how I did on either of them but I only did the best I could do.

Thursday was just as bad as Tuesday by things I cannot go into detail on, but just take my word for it. Let's just say I wasn't pleased on either of those days for things that were out of my control. Went out to the bar to relax and take my mind off things but it just made things worse when I was put into a very uncomfortable situation with people I didn't know and I just wanted to leave. It was one of those times where you just wanted to crawl into your bed and shut the world off.

Friday came and I finished out my class week and heading to the city that will forever hold my heart, Grand Rapids. I went to my grandmother's church's Thanksgiving dinner. I went into a slight food coma and now I'm here writing this.

Enjoy your weekend!

Unfortunately I have no exciting plans. It is all work on projects and homework for me.

I am finally getting organized my fourth year of college. I was organized in the past, but not this organized. I am hoping that this will help me stay caught up with all the assignments that are due in all of my classes.

Here is what I did.

I have a different folder for the days of the week. One for Mon & Wed classes, Mon, Wed, Fri classes, and Tues & Thurs Classes

Inside my Mon & Wed binder I have a list of all my assignments due for the whole semester. This binder is the most used binder that is why it is in there. I have the assignments organized by date. On this list is the due date, what class it is, what the assignment it is and how many points it is worth. This was made on Excel.

I have clear plastic sleeves for things that I need to look at everyday. This one here is just this classes section.

Behind the name of the class I have the assignment list for just that class. I have highlighted the different assignments. For this class readings are in pink, cases are in orange and guest speakers are in yellow.

Next to that I have the dividers that have pockets. Here I put handouts and assignments to turn in. I have two of these per class. One for handouts and one for assignments, respectfully.

After the pockets I have a good sections of lined paper for notes.

After that I have the next class and it continues all over again.

Class assignment list.

Pockets

Notes.

Class section.

Assignment list and pockets.

This is my one class that I do not have an assignment list and it is driving me crazy!

Notes.

That is it. I also use a planner that has all the assignments written in there. I tend not to write those in my planner too far ahead because most professors assignments are subject to change.

The other binders are exactly the same so there was no need to post pictures of those.

That's what I am doing to stay organized this semester! What are some things you do to stay organized at work or college?

I was told by multiple people that the friends you make in high school don't last long after high school. Over the years your friends will fade. On the other hand those you make in college will be with you for a lifetime. I sure hope that isn't 100 percent true. I love my friends in college, but I also love my friends from high school. I do not want to lose my friends from high school. Shoot, all of them helped me to shape who I am today. They all helped me become the lady I am turning out to be. They taught me to love, laugh and live. I cannot picture myself without having the friends I did in high school.

My friends in college have pushed me to better myself as a human being. I learn to be truthful and honest with myself and others even if it means that others are going to be hurt in the process. It sucks and maybe I shouldn't be that way, but wouldn't you rather know that someone was completely honest with you rather than lying to you? I would take the truth. They have taught me that I am my own way to happiness. I should rely on no one else to be happy. If sitting in my room for days on end (it does not happen) make me happy then I should do it. I should not be sorry for anything that I do that makes me happy. If I want to be the only one laughing at a joke then so be it. I will do so.

Ultimately, in the end, my friends taught me to be me.

Well today I am starting my "get healthy" program. I have been feeling BLAH lately and I am going to start doing exercises that I can do in my dorm room! No equipment. As a part of that I am going to go the 30 day plank challenge. As listed above those are the different days and lengths of planks I will do.

Before each plank I am going to do 50 jumping jacks and running in place for 2 mins. Just to get my heart rate up. I know this isn't a long workout, but you start somewhere right?

On a side note completely unrelated. I wanted to tell you all a show that I am addicted to! My friends will attest to this. If you haven't or even if you have seen an episode or two of please I encourage you to watch Parks and Recreation. The show is great. It's funny, but I believe a lot of people will/could relate to the characters.

Well that's it. BYEEEEE

Questions about my blog and a few pictures as well.

Where does your blog name come from?

Well I am into photography and cameras have lenses. That's a known fact, but I also choose that name because I wear glasses. I bet you didn't know that tid bit. :)

What inspired to do your blog layout that way?

Well I've said it once and I will say it over and over again because I love the work she did. Bree at The Thing About Joy designed my blog. Yes I have changed a few things here and there, but I have kept it the same for the most part. Please go and visit her! :)

What made you want to start a blog?

No one reason made me start a blog. I wanted a place where I could share a few of my favorite pictures and I wanted a place to share stories about my life. Not many people know what it is like going to college and that's the main reason why I started this blog, but as I continued to blog I never really share stories about going to college.

One interesting fact about you.

I like to take horizontal life pauses. :)

A little update on what I am doing. Working, obviously. Trying to make this summer a summer to remember, but I get stressed out way to easily. I have been working on that. Making friendships that hopefully will last a while. I am starting to read more books. I am three days from being done with the 30 day squat challenge! If you have never heard of that look it up! I will tell you, you will notice a difference in your leg strength almost instantly. Other than all of that I am enjoying life!

Hope you all are having a great start to you week!

Father's Day is this month, take a listen to this song! :)

I know I have fallen behind on the May Blog Challenge and I hope to get caught up tomorrow. I just got back from Ferris today. Yay for 9 hour drives! I already miss every one, but I am glad to be home with my family.

I just wanted to share with you all a little snapshot of what my year was like. This is no way my whole year because I did a lot this year, but just some things. I hope to make a bigger collage, or maybe a scrapbook soon.

I will be writing a post soon about my whole year this year, stay posted! :)

Me? In 250 words? Definitely not enough words. :)

Born in Grand Rapids, MI on January 5th. Cut myself from the nose to the eyelid with a licenses plate (still have my eye and can see). Had my first teacher crush in 4th grade. Lived in my favorite house until I was 10 years old. Then I got the worst news of my life. “We’re moving”. From that moment on, I will never be the same again. My family and I packed up all of our things and moved to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.. very tip I should add. Left my best friend and all my family in the place I still call home. Parents bought a resort: restaurant, bar, and motel, in a little dinky town on the edge of nowhere. Population 80 year around residence, so no one there was my age. I was forced to grow up faster than any kid. 5^th grade was the worst year in school for me, I was the all famous “new kid”. Hated it. Middle school is where I met two of my best friends ever, Joe and Rachelle. High School was better and I changed my outlook on where I lived and sucked it up until I graduated. I had to find happiness in where I was or it was all going to go downhill. After graduation, I left the UP to go to school at Ferris State University where I am working on earning my bachelor’s degree in Advertising/Integrated Marketing Communications.

Well, I did it! :)

This weekend was a crazy busy weekend for me.

On Friday night and Saturday morning I did some volunteer work for my organization, Entertainment Unlimited (EU). This weekend at Ferris was Ferris Fest which is a free outdoor concert that EU puts on every year. Sorry I do not have any pictures to put up here I didn't have anytime to take any.

Then this afternoon my sister Jen graduated from Davenport University! She is the first on in my family to graduate. I am so proud of her, she has been through a lot and she made it through it all and graduate college! :)

The graduation was long, but it didn't take as long as I thought it would. The name calling/listing was the thing what took the longest. Other than that the speakers and everything else was short and sweet.

We sat next to a giant screen so yes, this is a picture of a picture.

All of the graduates.

After my sister's graduation I drove back to school to go to the FYE/SLED banquet (First Year Experience Sophomore Leadership Experience & Development). It was just a short banquet, but it was a thank you from the RA's to the residences. Here are a few pictures from that.

Kayla and I

Who ever took this picture got my dimple in it. I also like this picture a lot.

My Mama Jo Jo, Jeremy and Brooke (L to R)

Kevin! :)

This is a nice picture of my friend Haley.

Jeni darling.

Zach

Kayla and Sara.

Just like last year I have met so many amazing people and some of them I have only gotten to know in the past few weeks. Which is okay, I love getting to know people. It some how amazes me that we, everyone I meet here, choose Ferris for a school and we all ended up together. Almost like we were supposed to meet.

Anyways, at this banquet we received awards if we completed the FYE/SLED requirements. Since I am in SLED my requirements were: Goal Chat, Mentorship RSO Leadership, RSO Involvement SLED Programs (2), Resume, Community Service (10 hours). I do not know what the FYE requirements were, but I completed that last year.

I am starting my last week of classes this week. I cannot wait to be done for the summer. School has just been dragging on and on. As well as dragging me down and down. I have had multiple sleepless nights and stressful days. I ending up having to have three exams during exam week. I will have one on Monday at 8 am and two on Wednesday back to back starting at noon. This means I will not be able to leave Ferris until Thursday morning because of my long drive home I have to make sure I am not driving during the late hours. I am driving home by myself and I do not want to fall asleep.

That's whats new with me.

Have a good night everyone and I hope you all have a great start to your week. Good news I don't have class until 11 am tomorrow so I get to sleep in! :)

Looking Through The Lens

Dear AMA

Graduating College Part 2

Graduating College Pt. 1

Dear Mom.

Burn Out

Friends are Friends Forever

Godzilla Snowstorm.

Rumors Suck

Bless you, 2014.

Week Eleven Comes to a Close

College Class Binder Organization

You Are The Best Thing In My Life

30 Day Plank Challenge

Blog/Life/Photo Update

College Collage.

May Blog Challenge: Day 1

Busy Weekend

Hi There!

Featured post

I am here.