Time to kick up my feet and enjoy the sunshine!

Writing, for me, has always been a source of healing. When I have a bad day or something in my life isn’t going according to plan, I take out my journal and I write. Often, it doesn’t matter where I begin or how I end, so long as what I have written is honest and true in that moment. I write myself into circles, I weigh all my options, and I reflect on aspects of myself that I wouldn’t dare share with my closest friends. While this blog has not been quite as personal, each post that I have written for you reflects a part of me.  Saying goodbye to the blog is much more difficult than I anticipated, but it must be done.

Surely I am not the only one who is in disbelief that this time of year has come. The semester is over, my marks are in, and in less than a day I will be on a plane to Rome! I can hardly believe it – after weeks of planning and days of packing, the day is finally here. There is little to say other than how incredibly blessed I feel to have been given such an amazing opportunity. Perhaps I will write one last post when I return to share a few pictures and thoughts about the experience.

As I finish my last minute packing, I can’t help but think of all the adventures to come. Though I am not qualified to give it, my advice to you is to take on new challenges, step out of your comfort zone, and embrace opportunities presented to you. I thank you for your kind words of encouragement throughout the writing of this blog, and I wish you all the very best in the upcoming months.  For those of you who are now graduated, I am jealous, but extremely excited for your abundant futures.  I look forward to returning to campus next year, and I cannot wait to read next year’s student perspective.

Ciao!

With less than a week before my first exam, it has come to my attention that I should start studying. Who knew? In all honesty, exams completely snuck up on me this semester. Everything seems to have gone by so quickly and the end of term feels bittersweet this time around. I feel as though I will wake up on Monday morning and continue my routine as usual – wake up, go to work, go to class, and then to choir. This semester has been filled with growth, and I feel as though we have only just begun to scratch the surface of our course content. I’m not ready for the semester to be over, and I’m definitely not ready for exams! Keeping this in mind, I spoke with the beautiful and talented Carolyn Krahn, our Learning Centre Coordinator, to gather some wisdom on the art of studying and test taking. I wanted to share with you a few tips and tricks she gave to face the battle of exams.

Studying

• Start studying at least a week before your exam to avoid cramming
• Study for short periods of time
• Review past test results
• Look at the structure of the exam, the professors comments, and what they are looking for
• BE SELF AWARE
• Find out where and when you work best – where does your success happen?
• Go to the review class and treat it as a study block
• For the humanities – skim primary text materials in order of the course outline along with your notes
• Know if the test will be objective or subjective, essay, short answer or multiple choice
• Pack your supply bag the night before
• If you must cram – do not forget to get a good night’s sleep

Exam Day

• Do not talk to people before your exam
• Find a quiet place, review some last minute notes, and chill
• Be strategic – prioritize your time
• Skim the entire exam before beginning
• If the exam requires memorized material, perform a “memory dump” at the beginning of the exam
• When in doubt, qualify your answers
• READ THE DIRECTIONS!!!

I hope you take some of these tips into consideration as you study and write your exams in the next two weeks. Now I’m off to crack the books, good luck!

It’s that time of year again, the time of year when birds begin to sing, snow begins to melt, and springtime dances in the air. The time of year when flip-flops become appropriate footwear again and dresses can finally be worn without layers. Students are skipping to class (or perhaps just skipping class), and dreaming dreams of summer, not a care in the world. Well, at least this is what I wish I could say about this time of year.

In reality, this is the time of year when final projects are due, assignments can wait no longer, and when every chirp of a bird is a reminder that they are free and we are not. Not only are we stuck inside furiously typing, we are stuck inside when the beautiful sunshine is calling to us. Summer is a distant glimmer, because while there may only be four days left of classes, there are still presentations, final projects, and exams to think about. If that’s not enough, there are also award applications that have to be filled out (due April 15^th), and plans to be made for the summer to come.

One of the most useful things that my experiences have taught me is that making lists can help ease some of the stress when there is much to do.  Though it might not be beneficial for everyone, I am always making lists and schedules to keep myself on track. If I don’t have it written down somewhere, there is a big chance that it will be forgotten. That being said, I have come to realize that no matter how many lists I make, there will always be points left unchecked. No matter what I accomplish, something new will always take its place. Life is unpredictable. This is a fact that we all come to know the moment our plans stray from the original outline, and the moment a day goes from good to bad in a matter of seconds (or vice versa). In a way, it seems as though the unpredictability of life is, in fact, predictable.  So here’s a picture of what I predict my weekend will look like, but who knows what life will bring . . .

Happy Easter!!

Last week, the choir had the privilege of performing two songs for the audience of donors, board members, educators, and students present at the 17^th annual President’s Dinner. After we sang, we took our seats and gave our attention to the keynote speaker, Larry Day – a proud supporter of St. Mary’s and a successful businessman. In his address, Mr. Day spoke of his experiences in the television   industry, and explained that it was his liberal arts education, at an institution much like our own, that started it all.  His liberal arts education fostered a passion for journalism, and the desire to look beyond the ordinary.  Even in his interviews with Hollywood’s finest, Mr. Day exhibited his educational foundation by asking the difficult questions without fear, and seeking to find the true character of each big-time star. It quickly became clear that he did not want to focus on their celebrity status, but rather wanted to emphasize the diversity of each individual, and their wide range of abilities. It is this same emphasis that I believe is achieved as a liberal arts student.

As liberal arts students, we are asked to look past the surface, think critically, and use a multitude of disciplines to approach any given situation. My last post spoke of the importance of education in seeking truths, but now, in light of Mr. Day’s approach to interviews, I want to speak of the importance of asking questions. Asking questions implies a curiosity, and without questions and curiosity, I believe our world would function very differently. Being engaged in an education that requires courses from several branches of learning prepares us to ask the necessary questions – questions that not only challenge those at whom they are directed, but also those who pose them.

The chief aim of a liberal arts education is to equip an individual with the ability to think freely and critically.  As stated in our program planning guide, accessible through the STMU website, St. Mary’s University College is committed to a liberal arts education and sees it as valuable for its own sake. It provides individuals with the opportunity to discover and eventually realize their human potential. Larry Day is a living example of the benefits a liberal arts degree can provide.

We walked into the theatre, and the lights went down.
There were smiles on faces, not a single frown.
We stepped into a world, filled with wonder and joy,
But something was missing, and it was up to a boy.
One little boy, filled with hope and desire,
Knew that he had the whole town to inspire.
He went on a mission, to bring back a tree,
Only to find that it never could be.
The trees were all gone, cut down by a man,
Needless to say, I wasn’t a fan.
But it wasn’t all evil, the man was once good,
Maybe, perhaps, he just misunderstood.
He didn’t know the troubles he’d cause,
How is he bad if he’s broken no laws?
These were the thoughts that passed through his mind,
But in the end, he found he was blind.
Blind to the sadness, the beauty erased,
Blind to his actions, producing waste.
The story was over, and the boy was just mad,
How could this man have let things get so bad?
Now the man had a trick, an item of need,
For you see all along, he had but one seed.

I have always been fascinated by the movies. They allow you to shut the whole world out, and go to a different time, and a different place.  Most movies have a message, and the message of The Lorax is quite clear – but that’s not why I’m here. I simply want to remind you all of the most remembered quote from the movie: “UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not.” In university, we are taught to always search for the deeper meaning. Education helps us to find truths about the world around us and ourselves. Throughout this semester, I have been shocked that the truths I was once taught were missing some valuable pieces. It seemed odd to me, and to my classmates, that key parts of our history had been left out of our educational experience until now. Nevertheless, now that we know, we cannot help but care. I encourage you all to take the care that you have in your hearts, and use it to create something bigger than yourself – after all, it starts with just one.

When I was younger, I often spent my summer days riding my bike and drinking slurpees. My brothers and I would ride around and meet up with friends in the neighborhood. We always had one spot that we favored. I remember there being a beautiful pond, a bridge, and trees all around. It was like our very own summer getaway. One of my favorite parts about this place was that there was a dock that I could sit on and let my feet dangle over the water. As the years went by, we found other ways to spend our summers and it wasn’t long before this magical place was forgotten.

A few years ago however, I went on a walk determined to find the pond that held so many summer memories. After a few circles around my neighborhood, I found it! I was all at once overwhelmed with nostalgia and disappointment. As much as I love where I am in my life, a part of me will always long for the days where my greatest worry was making it home on time for dinner. A few minutes from home, this place was my escape. Here, time would stop. I could be anything, anyone and go anywhere. The water used to shimmer in the sunshine, but all that was left was a dried up pit filled with empty cans, bottles, and wrappers. My once oasis had been turned into my nightmare – this was my first reaction. I left that day feeling wounded, as if someone had intentionally taken something away from me.

Again, the years went by, and I moved on. I tried to find a new place that was all my own, a place where I could be myself, by myself. In that time, I found that I always felt most at ease when I was surrounded by nature. Then, the end of high school came, and I had to say goodbye to many close friends. It was during this time that I remembered my place of refuge. I went back, and found a new beauty in the bare rocks, worn out bridge, and broken dock. Now, I share this place with friends. I go there to have honest conversation, to reflect on my own, and to smile at the past. It is my sanctuary, and no one can take it away from me. Everyone has a place that they call their own, a place where they can be themselves with no judgment, and no distractions. As time moves on, your place may move and change, but so will you. Finding your sanctuary isn’t difficult, it’s finding the time to celebrate who you have become in the process.

Many, if not all of us, are guilty of pushing our bodies over the limit. We force ourselves to stay up later, wake up earlier, and fit more activities into our days. When we feel a cold coming on, we stock up on Vitamin C, Cold FX and whatever else we think might keep the virus away.  Then, when the virus inevitably hits us, we force ourselves to continue as though we are perfectly healthy. We show up sick to work, to school, to presentations, and to the gym as though there would be grave consequences if we stayed home to recuperate.  In reality, the greater consequence lies in not taking proper care of yourself. When did it become a crime to be sick?

When I was younger, I very much disliked missing anything because I was sick. I remember being so mad at my Mama every time she made me stay in bed and rest – sometimes, just to make her happy, I would lay in bed pretending to sleep while really working on homework, reading or being productive in some way so I wouldn’t feel as though I had lost a day. In retrospect, I may have been the odd one out . . . I mean, while most kids faked sick, I faked healthy. Now however, I am the one who forces me to stay home and sleep. As much as I dislike it, I know that if I don’t give my body the rest that it craves, I will not only make others sick, I myself will get worse.  I also take into consideration the fact that my attitude changes when I am sick. When I can positively influence the energy I exude just by getting a day of rest, why would I choose to do otherwise?

So do us all a favor, if you’re sick . . . stay home! No one wants to be around a sick person, because if we get sick, then our busy lives will have to be interrupted too – there is a lot at stake. Your students will find something productive to do with the extra time, your professor will still have a class to teach, and your employer can make do for a day. And though it seems impossible, the world will keep turning, I promise.