This One Guy

Yesterday was SJC’s 46th annual Little 500 go-kart race. True to the weather forecast, we woke up to heavy rain in the morning. We lucked out, though, because the rain let up a bit before noon, and we were able to get the race off with a short delay. Each year, students and alumni are given the opportunity to race go-karts around a track set up on four of the College’s roads. It’s always a fun time to go out and watch the race with friends. The race was cut a little short at the end because the rain started to return, but they raced about two hours. The weather worked out almost perfectly, just allowing us to get the race in. Little 500 is always an exciting weekend on campus. For a lot of people the celebration begins on Thursday and lasts into the early morning hours of Sunday. It’s a fun and exciting break before finals.

On Friday I had an interview to go through with the education department professors. At the end of your sophomore year, you officially apply to the Teacher Education Program. They are trying something new with our class in having interviews. I was already to go for my interview on Friday, and I felt pretty good going in. Once I got in, though, I have to admit that it was a bit intimidating. I was interviewed by three professors. Two were elementary professors and the other was a secondary education professor. It really wasn’t too bad. They asked me about my GPA and test scores, which both met the criteria for the education program. They also asked me about some of the challenges I thought I would face in teaching and why I want to be a teacher. Finally, they asked me to reflect on some of my strengths and weaknesses in the classroom after having completed four semesters of field experience. I think I’m in pretty good shape. I’ll get an official letter from the department head in couple of weeks. Classes before us have had to complete a large portfolio. I’m glad we didn’t have to do that. Though slightly nerve-wracking, I think the interview idea was a good one.

Being pretty involved at Saint Joe means that I have to be present at a lot of meetings. Last week I had a two hour board meeting with the Executive Board. I had a meeting on Thursday with the S.A. President. Today I have two meetings. I’ll be meeting with the College’s vice president of business affairs in the afternoon, and I have a Senate meeting in the evening. Other meetings I have to go to from time to time include meetings with the dean of students, the controller, the liturgy committee, the appeals panel, and other miscellaneous things. I’m not a huge fan of meetings, but I supposed it’s just one part of being involved.

Today was the annual College colloquium. The colloquium is a chance for students at Saint Joe to showcase work they have done either through a poster session or a presentation. All students and faculty are welcome to attend the colloquium. My presentation today was on my fourth grade unit plan that I wrote on Native Americans of Indiana last semester. There were about ten people who came out for my presentation. I talked about some of the unit’s activities and about the educational theory that was incorporated in it. I really enjoyed this opportunity to present my work and to hear others present research and projects they have completed this year.

I am taking an art class this semester that focuses on how to teach art in an elementary classroom. Though art education is not my focus, all elementary majors are required to take a semester of art instruction and a semester of music instruction. The art class requires us to do a four week practicum at a local elementary school. Wednesday was the first of the four lessons. I am with a third grade class. My unit I am doing is centered around the Inuit people of northern Canada. (You may know them better as Eskimos.) This week we talked about how the Inuit tell stories by making prints. Each student was given the opportunity to make prints of their own using a method that I actually learned this semester in the art class. Students had a great time carving their blocks and making prints while also learning a little about the Inuit. Even though I will probably never be an art teacher, I think there are a lot of ways to incorporate art into the regular classroom, and I think it can do a lot to reinforce content in other academic areas.

Education is a popular major/minor for incoming freshmen at SJC, so I thought I’d take a moment to talk a little bit about our education program at SJC. I have been very satisfied with the program my last two years here. Current research and education theory is stressed in our classes. Our professors really keep abreast with all the current studies out there. You may be surprised all the research and science that is put into education.

A very important part of the program is the field experience component. As an elementary education major, I put in sixty hours each semester in an elementary classroom. Secondary education minors put in less, but there is still a significant field component. Being in a classroom your freshman year really gives you an idea of what it’s like being in a classroom. I know that I will be much better prepared to student teach my senior year after having spent so much time in the classroom. What you do in your field experience depends a lot on the teacher you are assigned to. I have been mostly fortunate and have been with teachers who have given me a lot of opportunities in the classroom. If you’re with a good teacher, you will get to actually stand in front of a class and teach a lesson your freshman year.


Each education class at Saint Joe is a little bit different and focuses on a different aspect of education. The first class you’ll probably take focuses on human development and some of the psychology of kids. This semester I am in a class that focuses on differentiating instruction for different needs, including special education and gifted students. I have also taken methods classes on how to teach music and art.


I am actually getting ready to go through a benchmark next week. At the end of your sophomore year, you have to apply for official acceptance into the teacher education program. Your test scores and grades and field experience evaluations all have to line up. I’m good in all those areas. Then you have to complete an interview with education faculty. This is actually something new they’re trying this year. My interview is next week. From what they said, we need to bring in some work samples from classes or field experience and just be able to talk about why we want to be a teacher and sort of reflect on our strengths and weaknesses in the classroom. One good thing about field experience is that I have a pretty good idea by now about my strengths and weaknesses. This official application is an important process. I’m not too worried about the interview. I think I’ll be just fine.


If you’re interested in education, take a look at the program here. The intensive field component makes a real difference, and I think you’ll like what you see at Saint Joe.

I have to apologize to my readers for having not written anything in a couple of weeks. Things have been really busy around here! (And this week won’t be any exception) I spent Easter at home with my family. We had some out of town family come in too, so it was a nice time. It seems that things really start to pick up for the end of the semester after we get back from Easter. I’ve got two tests this week, a couple of papers, and an art practicum, where we teach an art lesson in a local elementary school. It’s all jammed into Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, so I’m looking forward to catching my breath on Thursday. I registered for my fall classes this morning. I’ll have 17 credits, so I’m sure I’ll be pretty busy next semester as well. That’s all I have for now. Make sure to check back later in the week for updates.

There is always time between spring break and Easter, but the two have fallen so close together this year that it’s created this funny in-between time of two weeks. We got back this past Monday, but we’re all eager for Easter, when we get a four day weekend. I’ve kind of been slacking a little bit this week, and that’s never a good thing. I had all A’s at midterm, so it shouldn’t end up hurting me too badly. It’s just a weird time.

Since I’ve been putting things off all week, I’m doing a ton of homework tonight. I have actually gotten myself to sit down and get some things done. I’m trying to get as much done as possible because I don’t know how much I’m going to want to do tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow, tomorrow is Palm Sunday, which requires quite a bit of advanced preparation. I have been working the last couple of days to help set up the chapel, get readers together to read the Passion, and get my altar servers ready.

I have been busy as always with Student Association. Currently, I am searching for accounting software that will address our needs. I was on the phone with a company in Oklahoma the other day, and they are sending me some software to demo. I’m hoping we can find what we’re looking for. The financial operation of SA will significantly improve with the right accounting program in place.

Other than that, it’s just been the usual. The only other news I have is that after months of not working, the chapel bells have been repaired. At first, you don’t notice when they’re broken, but you soon start to miss them. You just know you’re at Saint Joe when you hear their tune. They're always nice to hear when walking across campus. That’s all I have for now. I hope everyone has a good start to Holy Week tomorrow.

I don’t have anything fun and exciting for you today. I just wanted to get a blog entry in on this February 29th, seeing as it is the only February 29th to fall during my college career. Today was our last day of classes before spring break (which would probably more appropriately be called winter break). It was also our last day before midterm. I’m in good shape in all my classes, so I look forward to spending the next week relaxing at home. Right now I’m just doing the last of my packing and trying to get on the road sometime in the next couple of hours. Anyway, since it’s spring break: here’s to spring! (I'm hoping it will be here soon.) And happy leap day!

Last week was Catholic Colleges Week, and our diocesan newspaper, The Catholic Moment, ran an article entitled “The Spirit of Saint Joseph’s.” I was interviewed for the article, and am quoted a couple of times in there. I really liked the article because it gives a pretty good overview of Saint Joe and talks a lot about our Christian Humanist focus. The article is available online; you can check it out if you’re interested. Here’s the link:

http://www.thecatholicmoment.org/articles/February/021708a.html

If you’ve had a chance to read some of my previous entries, you’ll know that I’m a big believer in the Core program at SJC. I thought I’d share something kind of cool that we’re studying in Core IV right now. (At least I think it’s cool) One of the many things that is covered in Cores III and IV is theology and philosophy. In Core III we read the Greek philosophers. In Core IV now, we’re reading parts of St. Thomas Aquinas’s writings on natural law. One thing I like about Core is getting to read so many primary sources rather than just reading about something.

I won’t try to explain the whole thing, but basically Aquinas attempts to take theology and explain it through philosophical reason. It’s all very fascinating to see how he will establish one fact through logic and reasoning and then make more points based on it. It all kind of makes your head hurt a little bit. I have kind of a burning question, though, and it also came up for me last semester when we read Plato and Aristotle. When I was in high school, I took an economics course where we had to learn about economic thinking. It’s all pretty similar to kind of logic used in philosophy. I remember reading a book in that class by an economist who tried to help you understand economic thought. In the last chapter of the book, he told a story about a dollar blowing out of his hand on a windy day. He went through this whole long thought process about how it would be just totally illogical to go chasing after the dollar, and the whole thought process made perfect sense. In the end, though, he did chase the dollar and picked it back up. He ended his book by saying that, though economic thought is logical and makes absolute sense, there are situations where it’s really just kind of dumb to think that way. I have to agree with that. So that brings me back to Aquinas and the Greek philosophers. Their thought is logical and seemingly universal. Should philosophical thought be used in all things, though? Are there times when it’s just better to throw logic to the wind? I don’t know, but it’s just a thought that came to mind as I was reading Aquinas, and it’s maybe worth thinking about. It’s something I hope to bring up in my Core class tomorrow and discuss.

That’s just one example of the kinds of things that Core gets you thinking about. Pretty neat for a gen-ed requirement, huh? In Core, it’s not just about learning a bunch of stuff. It’s about making those kinds of connections and really thinking about the content of these classic texts we read.

So maybe Aquinas and philosophy isn’t your thing; I happen to find it interesting. With Core, though, it’s not the only thing you’ll be learning. For instance, before we got into Aquinas, we were reading Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. The main emphasis of that unit was really about literature in the medieval period. I enjoyed both stories a lot, but literature isn’t as much my thing. For me, I was mostly just trying to keep track of what was going on as I read. Another unit we went through in Core IV was based heavily on history. We learned about the collapse of the Roman Empire, the rise of monasteries, and the feudal system in Europe. Literature, philosophy, theology, and history are four important parts of Core IV. Even though they’re different disciplines, all of these things come together into Core IV’s theme: The Christian Impact on Western Civilization. If you don’t like one thing, you’re sure to like another. I don’t know if you find that interesting or not, but I just thought you might like to see a snapshot of one guy’s experience in Core. After all, Core is a big part of life at SJC.

A work by Picasso (taken without flash)	Me with my professor and some classmates in front of the ice sculpture

My second visit to Chicago this weekend was a field trip with the art class that I am taking. We went to the Art Institute of Chicago on Sunday. I was pretty excited because it was one of the few places in Chicago I had never been. It was really neat! It was just exciting to stand right next to a piece of art knowing that it had been created by someone like Pablo Picasso or Claude Monet. Monet’s paintings were some of my favorites. It’s a neat place you should check out sometime if you’re ever in Chicago. (If you’re an education major you’ll get to go on the field trip your sophomore year.) I’m not an art buff by any means, but it was a great experience, and I would go back. At the end of the day, we took a walk to nearby Millennium Park to see an ice sculpture that’s there all through the month of February. All in all, it was a great trip, and I’m glad to be in a class that has given me that opportunity.

It was a fun weekend in Chicago. Before going to college, I had only been to Chicago a few times. At Saint Joe, though, you’re in such close proximity (about an hour-and-a-half), and you really are able to take advantage of the many opportunities offered there. I know the Student Union Board offers a bus ride up there either once or twice a year if you don’t have a car. It’s a great city to be close to.

Me in the Corvette	My friend Jon and me in front of the Camaro Bumblebee

This weekend I went with a couple of friends to the Chicago Auto Show. My long-time readers may remember me going last year. It was a fun day to be sure. The weather was much better this year, so we didn’t have to sit around the night before and worry about getting snow. It’s exciting to go around and look at all the different cars out there. Of course we spent a lot of time looking at the Fords. We also had to go and check out the Camaro and the Corvette. It’s a little exciting to get to sit in cars you know you’ll never afford in your lifetime. I was with my two cop friends, so of course they go running toward anything with red and blue flashing lights. There were a couple of police vehicles on display that we went over to see. The show was a little slimmer than last year since not too many people are interested in buying a car right now, but it was definitely a fun time. It’s always nice to take a day trip with friends on a weekend.

I would like to thank my friend, Adam Young, for the pictures in this entry. (He's also the photographer of my main blog picture and my campaign photos that helped me get elected in November.)

I’ve written quite a bit about my major on my blog, but I haven’t concentrated too much on my minor. I am an education major, and my minor is in business administration. I am hoping someday to be in school administration, and I think some exposure to business will give me an edge. I took a few business classes in high school and really enjoyed them, so it was natural for me to continue in business classes in college. A typical minor is 18 credits (6, three credit classes). In business, this involves five basic, principles classes and one higher level class of your choice. I’ve been taking one class for my minor each semester and should have it complete by the end of my junior year. I think I’ve been gaining a good background and some positive exposure to the business world. Unfortunately, the principles classes can be kind of dry and dull. You get a lot of theory and not too much practicum, but this would be expected of a lot of minors. Right now I’m in a marketing class, which goes through all the basics of marketing and the terms and concepts in the marketing field. Our business department was just recently granted a national accreditation. Our education program has a similar accreditation, so I am glad to be involved in two nationally recognized programs. All of my experiences in the business have been very positive. It’s probably one of the more popular majors here. While Saint Joe isn’t Kelly or Crannert, I think it still has a strong business curriculum. Along with that also comes the Core program, which I think will make an obvious difference in business majors and minors here. Honestly, I would love to double major in education and business. However, they are both very demanding majors, and I just can’t do both. If you’re thinking about business, take a look at the program here. The College is also rolling out a sports management program next year if you have an interest in that area of business. It looks like it will be a popular course of study, so that’s one more way to go. Finally, if you have an interest in an education major with a business minor, don’t think you’re the only one. Personally, I love the difference between the two and the variety it gives me in my classes.

An opportunity offered twice a year through Campus Ministry is the Busy Student Retreat. This week is the second one this year. Busy Student retreat does not follow the traditional retreat format. Each day for the four days you are given three scripture readings. The idea is to spend about a half-an-hour a day on these. Then, you meet with a retreat director for another half-an-hour. Br. Tim and Ary Nelson, the two campus ministers are available for this. Also, a priest and a sister from Ohio come over for the retreat, and you can meet with them. This is a retreat that you can participate in over and over again. I did it last winter and am at it a second time this week. It’s a good chance to take a step back and reflect without having to sacrifice too, too much time in your schedule. There are also a couple of prayer opportunities during the week, and mass is offered to close the retreat on Wednesday. It worked out nicely this year, falling during the first week of Lent. Like I said, this is just a great opportunity that’s offered to all students here. I am enjoying the time to reflect and take a closer look at scripture this Lent.