My Life at The Joe

This will be my last blog post most likely because I will be super busy until Thursday and then I am leaving early Friday morning.  WOW!  This year has just flown by and I can't believe that it has been what it was.  Last semester as rather difficult but this semester was really quite easy, and it's not for lack of taking difficult classes but I just seem to be understanding and doing them well.  I hope everyone has that much ease with all of their future classes. 

My only final I am even remotely concerned about is today and that is Calculus IV.  But to be honest, that isn't stressing me out either.  I have completed the review guide and made my allowed cheat sheet, and I doubt I will even need to use it.  I forsee it being more of a double check than anything else.  Thursday I have two education finals that I am not worried about, but need to review some material and complete my study guides.  My Core IV final was yesterday and it blew, but it's core so of course it did.  I felt like he lied to us a little about what to expect and I probablly did worse on it than my other tests, but I will still have an A so who cares?

I am going to BWWs again this Thursday because Chris is obsessed and he wants to spend what time he has left here this semester with friends.  I am excited because by that time all finals will be over and all I have left to do is pack up and leave Friday morning.  I have had a great year and a surprising one at times, but I know things will contnue to be great as long as I am open to new people and opportunities.  This year was quite interesting, and of course had its ups and downs, but I enjoyed it and wouldn't trade it for the world.  I hope everyone has an awesome summer and enjoys the time away!!  Until next time.......

<3 Jessica

I  can't believe that another year has passed!  I feel like it has just flown by and like Cassie, I wonder if I missed some of the finer things about it.  I am one of those people who would usually LOVE summer vacation but this year has been probablly the most difficult one of my life and going home just doesn't have any appeal anymore; but staying here doesn't exactly tickle my fancy either.  I just wish that I wasn't always stuck between a rock and a hard place these days.  Hopefully some things will change or at least I can stick it out until I can be done with them. 

This year has brought so much change for me.  I have a whole new group of friends and I am so glad for that.  The first thing to learn about college is to not just trust everyone because you want to, but people can hurt you.  But at the same time don't be afraid to put yourself out there and try to meet people and join in things.  It's all about balance the way I see it, balancing the good with the bad, the work with the fun, the sleep with the homework. :)  I just wish everyone could understand how much people grow and change while they are in college.  I feel like an entirely different person sometimes, and to be honest that frightens me a little.  I don't want to be an entirely different person than the one I came in as, but at the same time I want to grow and to evolve into a better person.  Not everything about college allows for that beneficial growth though, so sometimes it's hard. 

I have also changed in my habits about studying and homework.  I've always been really lucky that school just comes naturally for me and I never really have to try that hard to succeed.  This year has been no different, but I have come to the realization that I can do more than reciprocate knowledge back and forth.  I can understand in depth and stretch myself to push my limitations in the classroom.  I have become so much more dedicated and serious about my career and my future, but I have also livened up a lot.  Just ask the people who know me!  Not that I was ever a stick in the mud or anything like that, but I was quite prudent about most things.  Now I am a lot more happy-go-lucky and yet still responsible.  How many people can truly find that balance?  I'm willing to bet not many succeed at both.

I only hope that things can stay as wonderul as they have been for me lately, but like all good things they will eventually come to an end.  I have unfortunately been tested a lot this semester about friendship, family, courage, responsibility, and loyalty.  When things conflict and different worlds collide it can become so difficult to decide and to choose a path, but this year has helped me to pick the one that I know is right for me.  I still have many things left to decide and many choices left to make, but I know that I am growing as a person and that I can make the right ones.  I just want this summer to bring some fun and some relaxation, but I don't forsee too much of that unfortunately.

I have made some great memories this year and some of the best times of my life.  From Mr. Puma, BWW trips, Colloquium projects, window BBQs, IHOP visits, lost turtles, random roommates, late nighthub runs, hostile RAs, and anothing else that I have faced, I know that I wouldn't trade my time here for anything.  I am halfway done with my undergraduate college experience and I am sad for that, but also happy.  I have come so far, but still have much to go.  I can only hope that everything else to come will be just as memorable as these first two years have been.

I will try my best to update again but with no internet and little time this last week, I don't know that I will be able to.  I can't wait for tonight because it is our BWWs night!! WOO HOO  So until next time my lovely readers, have a safe and wonderful summer and good luck on finals!!

<3 Jessica

So much has happened this weekend. Where to begin? Well, Friday night we did not accomplish too much. Chris, Anna, and I went to Noll and made Lazy Luey which is a really yummy dessert. Then we waited for Sarah to show up and at about 11:00 pm she finally did. Then we were really cool kids and went to bed because we had a 6:15 am wake up time.

That leads us to Saturday, which was Outreach to Teach at LaCrosse School. This was the longest day of my life. Earlier in the week I had helped out for Little 500 by throwing hay bales from a truck to a cart. That was exhausting in and of itself, but my week got better still. For Outreach I was supposed to paint dugouts but because the Lord blessed us with endless rain, we instead had the pleasure of completely reshingling the dugout roofs. This may not sound like a lot to some, but for me it was murder. Chris and I tore off the old roofing on a 17 x 6 dugout which had been there for almost 30 years and that took at least a good two hours because the wood was rotting under us and we almost fell through, and we had rain pouring down on us making us slip on the slippery felt underneath the shingles. We got up at 6:15 am to go and shingle roofs in the pouring rain, while other people got to "organize" classrooms. How lame, huh? The people who were with us were definitely not meant to be doing that job because we had an elderly woman, two tiny women, four teenage girls, one teenage guy, a kid, and two older more robust men. What a crew? But we did it and we did it well, and I really liked all of my group. It turned out really nice, but I am paying for it dearly. The combined effort of the hay and the roof has made me so sore that I was crying in pain for a while. I hurt muscles I didn't even know I had! It was worth it, except Outreach was not nearly as fun as everyone had told me and I didn't feel like it was very community building. Some people were very mean actually. I don't know that I want to do it next year, especially if it falls on Little 500 again.

So after we returned at about 5 pm we retired to take a nap, at least Sarah and I did. Then we all attemtped to have a cookout which was turned out to be more trouble than it was worth. We used a gas grill with charcoal because the gas was empty, the meat was not cooperating with us at all, and people were bailing on us right and left. But in the end we had some fun and made some good memories. The rest of the night was interesting, but not too wild for me, Chris, and Sarah. In fact, we were all dead asleep before midnight and we did nothing that would be called immoral at all. 

Then this morning we got up and waited for my parents to come pick up Christopher's dead car that had been broken into. But in a crazy turn of events that forced Chris to drive to exit 201, we ended up finding a turtle which is something Chris and Mike have been trying to get for a long time. He is a Red-Eared Slider, and he's about 7 inches long. They decided to name him Sheldon, how appropriate, and he now needs a new home. Mike is going to take him home this summer and then bring him back next semester to live with them in their dorm room. Hopefully he doesn't kill him. Later Mike, Anna, Chris, and I went to Busy Bee and ate some ice cream.

So now I am back at work and trying to finish up some last few assignments. Here is what I have left: a 2-page paper for Special Ed, a classroom management plan for EDC 221, one calc IV assignment, and finals. I am basically done for the semster. This weekend was actually quite a lot of fun but I am quite tired and looking forward to a more calmed down week. This Thursday we are going to Buffalo Wild Wings for an end of the year group bonding time event, and hopefully everyone comes this time. I am hoping that it works out. At least Steph will be there .  So that is all I have for now, so until next time.......

<3 Jessica

These last few weeks are going to fly by and I still have some things to get done.  Colloquium went very well, and I was pleased with how many people were at least slightly interested in our presentation. Granted we did bribe them with free MilkyWays. I also have my education interview tomorrow and I have everything in my portfolio now except for my SJA certificate because Sarah hasn't done them yet. I'm not worried though because I put lots of things in there that I could discuss and have ready examples of all of my different areas of growth and development. I hope that I don't stumble on my words though when they ask me questions.

I am also slightly upset because two nights ago someone tried to steal Christopher's car!! I parked it in Justin around 7:30 pm and then at about 11:30 we were going to get some McDonals's and we discovered that his car had been burglarized. The driver's side door had the lock broken out, the steering column had been smashed open so it could be hotwired, the glovebox had been ransacked, and now the car is "locked" and the battery dead. By locked I mean the steering column and the ignition, which now we will have to pay to have fixed. I just can't believe people in wholesome little Rensselaer would attack on the campus.  It just goes to show that everywhere can be dangerous and not to become complacant in your actions. I made sure to lock each and every door but that didn't change what could happen. People need to remember to be safe at their schools and to follow rules set down to keep them safe. Things like not walking alone after dark or in remote areas, locking doors, not propping doors, and keeping their keys safe can make the whole campus safer.

I still have much work to get done including a 5-page core paper, a 2-page special ed paper, a classroom management plan for EDC 221, and my interview. I also have four finals but I can handle this. I must get going to lecture soon though, so until next time.......

<3 Jessica

These last few days are really coming down to then end of my second year at The Joe.  So much is done but so much is still left to get done in just a short amount of time.  I have been fortunate that this semester as probablly been one of my easiest by far, especially compared to tlast semester which wasn't really that hard but in comparison it is.  At least I have no more mjaot projects ahead of me.  Here is what I do have left: 5 page personal essay for core 4, one calc 4 test, entrance interview for EDC, management plan for EDC, 2 page explanatory paper for Special Ed, and a few intermitten assignments but then mainly just my 4 final exams.  I stil am unsure of the exam schedule but I don't think I can leave until at least late on Thursday, so more likely I'll head home on Friday in the morning. 

I still need to do some refining to my portfolio that I have been working so hard on and now it sucks because they don't even want to look at it. But I am still doing one for myself just to keep my things together and to watch and reflect over my progress.  Plus yopu never know, they may go back tot hat and then I'll be ahead of the game.  Well, I really need to do some work but I WILL post gain this week to let you know about upcoming Little 500 activities, Outreach to Teach, Mr & Mrs Puma, thr Talent Show, and if Sarah comes up.  Hopefully eveything works out so I can enjoy all of it!!

<3 Jessica

Sorry I didn't get to update anymore during lst week, but I was pretty lazy.  I should have goten more homework done but instead I have become hopelessly addicted to Charmed.  If anyone knows what that is then kudos to you because it is awesome!  I did get all of my Colloquium done except for a small glitch with Maple, but I'm fixing it today with Donelly hopefully or I will just nix it from my presentation.  It's not life or death so it doesn't really mater that much.  I am also missing one education assignment but since I don't see him until Thursday, I can put off one paragraph for a few days. 

I also need to get my portfolio done, especially for Christopher' s sake because his interview is this Friday and he needs to wow them with things since he is lacking in Praxis and GPA.  I know he will be put on probation until he passes Praxis I, buthopefully that will be this summer so he can join without falling behind a semster.  I am finding that everytime the education department switches how thry will assess us I become more and more demotivated to keep up.  I am a person who needs consistency and calm.  Not that I can't accept change because I enjoy a good shake-up every once in a while, but they have changed their grading method EVERY semester that we've been here.  It can become quite frustrating because I put quite some time into Chalk & Wire, and then without warning they just pulled that plug and I lost a lot of that work.  They simply need to be more consistent because students are already worried enough without their little parlor games. 

I am also quite excited because I am going home this weekend and I shouldn't have too much on my plate to get done while I'm there.  After Colloquium it should be smooth sailing, assuming McKim doesn't decide to be a jerk and pile on some project but I don't think he will since he won't have time to allow us to complete them and get them graded in time for grades.  However, I do have one last core paper and some finals, but I'm not too worried because nothing can beat last semester when I had three, count them three, dfficult math finals and a core final.  And three of them fell in the same day: my two hardest math and the core on a Tuesday, which is already my least favorite day of the week.  Interestingly enough, I was born on a Tuesday.

Well, I am going to do some Facebook stalking now so I will end it here.  Until next time, enjoy the wonderful weather!!

<3 Jessica

I am quite busy at the moment trying to get all of my homework done so I won't be so busy this weekend.  I am finishing up my Colloquium which I think is going to turn out fine, and then I am playing catch up with education homework.  I am only missing one assignment that I didn't understand but I can finish that up really quick.  I also need to start on my classroom managemtn profile and complete our interview portfolios.  Chris and I have been saving stuff and bought things so we could isplay our work with some dignity, at least we hope.  Well that's all I have for now. I will probablly update tomorrow after everything has calmed down because tonight my schedule is definitely full.  Until next time.......

<3 Jessica

This weekend I have actually been very productive, and it scares me a little! I am usually one who puts off homework, especially projects, until the absolute last minute but for the Colloquium I am way ahead of the game.  But with this comes a price, and for me it's that I always wonder if I should change stuff since I have it done so early.  But that's not such a bad thing since I have so much time and we still have to present to our Calc IV class and they can offer some suggestions if needed which will be good.  I am finding that the more I get done the better I feel, which makes common sense I'm sure but it's not my usual style.  I really do enjoy being on top of things in the area of school because then I keep things straight, don't mess up as much, and don't stress which is my usual MO.  I hope that the rest of the year goes by as easily as this because I don't forsee too much more being a problem since this is probablly the toughest assignment I will have this semester and it's honestly not that hard.

I, like Avi, amd also on an IM volleyball team ,Hagen's Heroes.  I wish I could tell you that it is wonderful and lovely but to be truthful it causes me too much unnecessary stress sometimes.  Not that we can't have fun, but it's difficult to do when I'm worried whether enough people will show up or the opposite and people are mad at me because they don't get enough playing time.  It's like a never-win situation.  I wanted to join to have fun and get some exercise, but some people take it way too seriously and won't allow others to have fun at all.  I am a very competitive person by nature, but all I asked of my team is to try.  Because face it, if you can't return a single serve in a game it's hard for anyone to have fun.  If you can't get a chance to play or even rotate onto the court, how can you enjoy it?  Also, my team doesn't all exactly get along so it makes it even more difficult at times.  But I try my best and do everything I can to get every person playing time. 

In the rest of my life, not too much is going on.  I am just taking it one day at a time and doing my best to enjoy every minute of it.  I don't want to wake up one day and realize that I missed my life and let it pass me by.  I take Ferris Bueler very seriously, LOL.  I want to be more patient and more compassionate, and simply enjoy the small joys of life as much as I can.  Too many people waste their time being angry and petty and I just don't want that for me.  I wish that people could take a step back and look at themselves to see how stupid they are behaving, but I am just as guilty as they are about being shallow.  College is definitely a time for growth and reflection, but also enjoyment.  These are supposed to be the best years of my life, and I want them to be regardless of the drama, the tears, the laughter, and the work.  That's what makes life so wonderful is the mixed bag, and the surprises.  Life would be awfully boring if we knew everything and didn't need to learn through experience.  I need to get going though because I need to catch up on some reading and education, but nothing major.  I will be sure and update you soon though because a lot is coming up that wll be exciting: the concert, Outreach to Teach, and Little 5oo!!

<3 Jessica

So we finally figured out how to get cuter blog templates and I am sooooo excited!!  This one is so much more me than those other ones were.  But in other news, thing are going pretty well.  Chris and I have a serious start on our Colloquium and it is turning out better than I had expected.  We are going to finish our poster this weekend and get into the computer lab on Sunday and hopefully finish or almost finish our Maple worksheet.  I hope that it ends up being amazing and we get a good grade.  I am also going to try my best to get caught up with all of my other homework, especially education, this weekend as it will be fairly quiet and calm here the next few days, since so many of my friends are gone.  I also have quite a bit coming up the next few weekends so I want to get a good jumpstart on all the work I know I have due soon. 

I am also quite excited because our Vocal Jazz Ensemble performance is next weekend and I may have a solo.  The only downer is that my future roomie, Jackie, is also trying for the same one and she will probablly get it over me.  I'll be sad if I don't get it, but it's ok.  I will still be heard and have fun.  I hope my family will be coming up to see me perform but you never know.  Well, I must get going because I have a project calling my name.  Hope everyone has an awesome weekend and a good rest of semester!!

<3 Jessica

So I really should be doing homework since I have an ominous pile starting to form around me but I just don't feel like doing it.  Let's see, I have a Colloquium project that is supposed to be done tomorrow that I haven't started, core reading but who does that ever, education assignments coming out of every possible nook and cranny, and more but I am just going to be lazy and put it off until the weekend.  I will be doing some major work tonight, however, and possibly try to get my special education powerpoint out of the way as well as all of the research for my Colloquium which will just leave the Maple worksheet to complete, oh and the poster as well.  I am finding it increasingly difficult to focus when the weather is so nice and I am just tired of school in general.  I don't want to be here, but I also don't want to be at home. 

I am feeling like I am trapped in between a rock and a hard place because I honestly just want to go away on a vacation or something so I can avoid everything and everyone.  It's not anything against anybody, but I just need a real break and some time away to be by myself.  I am coming to that point where I am so tired of the blah that I am becoming anti-social and a bit tempermental and moody.  Everybody has those times where they just want tobe left alone and not annoyed by people, right? 

I am also hoping that the next few weeks go by fast because I just want to be done with school work and away from professors and expectations.  I understand that I am an adult and need to accept my work and all, but part of me is still young and not ready to completely settle down and be responsible.  Trust me when I say that I am responsible for more than my fair share of things that I shouldn't have to be responsible for, and it kills me that I am in that position.  I just want fun and calm and happy.  Is that too much to ask for?  I don't think so.  Well, I have lecture coming up soon and I need to check me email again.  I am living in Halas next year, which is not my first choice but it was my second so I can't complain too much.  I  am debating whether I want second or third floor, but I know that I want a room as close to Gallagher as possible because I am lazy and that's where Mike and Chris will be living next year.  Until next time.......

This past weekend the choir went on tour and it turned out ok, I guess.  Our first stop was at Kankakee Valley High School and I must be honest when I say that we sucked it up there and their high school choir kicked our butts.  We did much better at the Methodist church in Michigan and way better at the Cathedral in Toledo.  That was actually a very pretty facility and it reminded me a lot of the massive cathedral in Washington DC, only smaller.  I did enjoy our home-stay more than I expected because Jackie, Hillary, Allison, and I stayed with a very klind older lady from St. Claire Shores, Michigan.  She was quite friendly and told us some pretty cool stories.  She also served us very yummy French raisin toast in the morning which was absolutely delightful.  We need to send her a Thank-You card!! 

Other than that the trip wasn't so bad except that those of us on the charter bus had a mean surly old bus driver named Rufus who was a complete and total jerk.  He was a bad driver who needs to learn to appreciate that a large bus needs plenty of time to stop and also that on long trips people need things such as water on the bus.  But besides him and the fact that we were very late getting into Michigan, the trip went pretty well.  I was extrmely glad to be back though and ended up crashing on Saturday as soon as we returned to campus.

I am getting very excited for Easter Break because I just want to be home and eat some food and not worry about homework, but unfortunately for me this break will mainly be doing homework and preparing for projects that have been so conveniently placed upon me for the same week.  I just need to make sure I take some time and get them done, or at least started because they are both due the week I get back.  I also have some other stuff, including a core paper, due this week and should really get going on them but I find myself unable to focus with the lovely weather outside :)  I am enjoying this weather immensely because I have heard that snow is on the forecast and that makes me rather sad.  Well, I need to read some stuff for core and possibly start my two page paper that is due Tuesday so I had better end this here.  Until next time.......

<3 Jessica

So the choir is going on tour this weekend and I must be honest when I say that I'm not at all excited about it.  It wouldn't be so bad if we were staying in hotels, but oh no not us.  Samra feels like home-stays are a part of singing somehow and so we will be staying with complete strangers in strange places.  And if that isn;t bad enough, we are not even being given emergency contact numbers in case something goes wrong.  Only like six people have his number and I don't have any of their numbers and I know I'm not the only one.  I sure everything is safe and nothing bad happens or I may just be SOL.  How exciting, right?? 

I love to sing and everything but I also have quite a bit going on right now and a lot more coming up very rapidly.  I have a colloquium project, two field trips that require interviews as well as a power point presentation, a classroom mnagement plan, a lesson plan presentation, an education interview, the actual colloquium, two core papers, countless math assignments.  This ought to be a very fun rest of the year!!  Not that I can't handle it, but I would enjoy just sitting and getting it done rather than traversing about the midwest in an attempt to recruit singers who probablly won't come here anyway.  I am looking forward to getting away but I wish it was calm and not hectic and not so rushed as it will be this weekend because we are hitting three states in only two days!! 

Well, I feel like reading some Dante, no joke I really like it so far, so I had better end it here for now so I can get that done while I am at work.  I have an IM volleyball game tonight and my team and I need to finish our shirts before that so that I can go to IHOP tonight with some friends so I get a good meal in before no meat tomorrow.  Should make for an interesting night.  Cya soon!!

<3 Jessica

Sorry that I haven't posted in quite a while but the week before Spring Break was out of control and I don't have internet so no posts over break.  Lets's see......  The week of midterms was horrible.  I had two midterm tests, a core paper due, a Colloquium Form to be sent in, and more.  It wasn't so bad I guess but I was already in break mode so it was much harder than it should have been. 

Break was all right I suppose.  I didn't really do anything except for lounge, eat, and sleep.  I did have TWO dentist appointments though, one for a cleaning and the other to have four cavities to be filled.  Let me tell you that royally sucked.  I have never seen a needle that long before and I never want to again!!  I did get to see Sarah's play on Saturday which turned out ok, but it was a weird version of Alice in Wonderland so it was a little lame.  Sarah was a door which I found amusing but she didn't so I told her she did a good job anyway.  I always told her she made a better door than a window!!

I did take my Praxis test over break and passed math and reading, but am still waiting for the writing results.  I think they're mailed sometime about a month after the test date so we'll just have to wait and see.  Unfortnately, Chris missed the reading section by two lousy points so he'll need to take it again sometime soon.  I hope he passes it this next time or he'll have some trouble with the Education Department......EEK!!

Well, I am tired and ought to do some math homework before class in about 40 minutes so I will leave you there.  I may try and post again tomorrow to fill in the gaps I missed about my break but I have quite a bit to do today and this week in fact, because I have to take a test early and then we're on tour this weekend for choir. Honestly, I'm not excited for that but I have to go so I must get things done before we leave at 8 am on Friday.  Until next time.......

I can't explain to you how glad I am that we only have one more week left until Spring Break.  Even though I am not going anywhere this time I'm still really looking forward to getting away and not having to worry about schoolwork.  I do, however, have quite a bit to get done before I can go home, not to mention the whole Spring RA this coming weekend.  I really only need to worry about this rsearch paper, an I guess my "midterms" which I assume won't be that difficult as they are both for McKim.  But I still nevertheless need to get these things done in time.

This weekend was pretty exciting because Sarah came to visit.  I felt bad because the days on the weekends can be quite boring here in Rensselaer, but it wasn't too bad I think.  Amanda and Amy, two of her friends, came with her so it gave them more company and made it less dull.  I hope they had fun this weekend because I would hate for them to think of this place as completely awful.  I am not feeling so well today though and I really would just like to go to bed now, but unfortunately I have to be here at work until 10 pm.  I can't complain though since I do get paid to sit here and be a Facebook stalker. 

Not too much else is going on right now except forcing myself to get that paper done and to get ready to go home and for the Spring RA.  I'm just hoping that this break will be at least semi-relaxing even with stupid Praxis and a dentist appointment.  I think I am going to forgoe doing any PLE during break and just make it up during my weeks left because I don't want to bother with stuff like that while I am on break.  Well, that's about all I have for now so until next time my lovely readers.......

So I'm pretty sure that Sarah is going to come visit me this weekend and I'm so excited!!  My sister never gets to come see me, I always have to go home if I want to see her.  Not that Imind, but she never gets to come see how I live and what my campus is like.  She's been here once I believe this year and once last year but things have changed so much since then.  I'll know for sure tonight. 

I am pretty busy though actually, and there's a lot of homework I should be getting done but I feel too lazy to start it.  I'll probablly write my research paper tomorrow if Sarah can't come until Saturday or wait until Sunday if she can't come at all.  It won't be too hard once I actually get going, but it's the getting started that's tough.  It's on Gregorian Chant which actually I find quite fascinating so I won't mind this too much, and it is only 5 pages so it's not all that bad.  I could also use to start studying for my midterms and to begin working on my Colloquim project, but I'm not stressed about either of those yet so they can wait.  I need to get some details about my Spring RA though since I am leaving for that next Friday, of my Spring Break I might add. 

I have quite a lot to get done over break, at least for the first part of the week.  I wish I was going somewhere warm and sandy but not this year.  Next year we are trying to plan on going to Gulf Shores or at least somewhere since it will basically be our last chance to do anything together for Spring Break.  Some of us will be student teaching our senior year which means different weeks for Spring Break and it's awfully sad that we can't make our senior year go out with a bang.  But this break I will be taking tests and having teeth pulled probablly so not much excitement there.  I am so tired right now and I need to do some math so I will end it here for now.  Until next time.......