And the Countdown Begins!

5 more days until the semester ends! Where has the time gone? I don't know whether to be excited or confused!

This past week has been a pretty eventful one. With it being the last week before finals, all major projects and assignments were due. On Thursday, I turned in 2 ten-page papers and 1 six-page paper. It was a moment that I had been waiting for for quite a while! With each paper that I turned in, I could feel the stress lifting off my shoulders. To celebrate the completion of our assignments, my housemates and I cooked a super delicious meal for our weekly dinner together. We decided on nothing less than...a turkey! This was my first ever turkey-cooking experience, and looking back I realize how thankful I am that I had help. Not only help from my housemates, but that of youtube and online how-to's. Considering how little we knew about cooking a turkey before we started the process, our end result turned out pretty well. Mashed potatoes and stuffing accompanied our main course, making it seem like Thanksgiving all over again! 

On Saturday, my parents drove up to Kansas City to watch the Rockhurst University student choir concert. Every year as the fall semester comes to a close, the choir performs in the Ceremony of Lessons and Carols. This is a beautiful Christmas concert where the choir performs the Christmas songs that they've worked so hard on during the semester. It's held at St. Francis Xavier Church right across the street, and is open to all students and the community. At this concert, a variety of instruments are brought in to accompany the choir, including an oboe, flute, violins, and a cello. It never ceases to amaze me how beautiful the music is! This year was my fourth, and final, year :( I know I am really going to miss performing in this concert!

students dancing to Christmas music

To kick off finals week, each year Rockhurst's student senate hosts a midnight breakfast on Sunday evening. All the essential breakfast foods are present, and for this reason it is a pretty popular event among students. This year, the line to get into the cafeteria went through the hallway, down the stairs, and into the student union. There were so many people! The fee was $1 or a canned food item, which go toward charity. Christmas music is played while everyone eats, and this year a mini dance party even took place. This breakfast is a great time to take a break with friends and get some energy for the long, (yet last!) week of the semester. To all students, good luck on finals! You will do great!

An Early Thanksgiving Feast

One of the most celebrated days for many a Rockhurst student is the Thanksgiving dinner, hosted by the Student Activities Board. Each year, SAB puts on a dinner for the students and faculty, about a week before Thanksgiving break. It's a perfect opportunity to get into the holiday spirit! All the staples of a Thanksgiving dinner are included- green bean casserole, stuffing, rolls, mashed potatoes, turkey, and pumpkin and pecan pie. In fact, it's such a big deal that students arrive as soon as an hour before it begins just to wait in line. The only cost is either a canned good or one dollar, which goes to a local charity. This year's dinner was absolutely scrumptious. It's heightened my excitement for break, which is only 4 days away!

On Friday night, I attended my sorority's fall formal- Theta Phi's in Disguise. I find this formal to be especially exciting. Each person in the sorority asks one of her sisters to find her a date. Until the night of the formal, she won't know who her date will be, and the date doesn't know who he will be going with. Each sorority sister decorates 2 identical masks- one will be hers, and the other will be her date's. They find each other at the dance based on their masks. It's always so fun to see who everyone brings! 

Cupcakes and Rollerskates

I feel as though these last couple days were a mini blast from the past. On Friday, I babysat for a little 4-year-old girl- soon to turn five. Since her birthday would be the following day, her mother said we were more than welcome to bake some cupcakes for the party. I haven't had a cupcake in ages! She left out on the counter a variety of different cake mixes, icings, and sprinkles. I couldn't pass this opportunity up! I quickly realized that the little girl loved to bake just as much as I did. She convinced me that she needed to take a taste test from every cake mix, so I decided I should do the same thing too :) Our finished products ended up being triple chocolate fudge, and fun-fetti, which happen to be two of my favorites!


The next evening, I attended the date party of one of Rockhurst's  fraternities. I was super excited when I found out we would be going roller-skating! Once we got to the rink, I was flooded with childhood memories. I remember how roller-skating was the "cool" thing to do when we were younger. I myself held a couple birthday parties at the rink. Since then, however, my skating skills have gotten a little rusty. I was pretty wobbly when I first stepped out on the rink, but by the end of the night, I felt I was skating much more smoothly. With the winter months approaching, this night of roller-skating proved to be good practice for another one of my favorite activities- ice-skating!

Babysitter, anyone?

After babysitting for a family for over a year, I recently spent my last day with the kids. I was both sad and happy to find out that the husband was offered a new job out-of-state, in the same city that the kids' grandparents and cousins live in. I'm happy that they can now live closer to their family, but it sure was hard to say goodbye to those kids- especially after getting to know them! It didn't feel so great losing a job either :(
I'm happy to announce that there is a silver lining, however. It seems like lately I have been showered with other babysitting offers! They keep popping up out of nowhere, and I'm quite okay with it! It's allowed me to meet a lot of great families in the community, some of which whose parents actually work at Rockhurst. I think this poor college student will be okay for the remainder of the semester- which is actually only 3 weeks and 2 days! Not that I'm counting down or anything...

Stepping Up!

Today I attended the annual Step Up for Down Syndrome walk at Arrowhead Stadium. The money raised from this event goes towards the special services that are provided for those with Down Syndrome, as well as research. The event itself was really neat- there were blown up moonwalks and other jumpy things for kids to play in, games, and lots of food- including my favorite...hotdogs! And ice-cream! And cupcakes! The event concluded with a long walk around the stadium, wrapping around to where we began. As everyone finished the walk, they were given these cute, orange wristbands that said Step Up Walk 2011. 

Throughout the time we were there, I was surprised at how many people were present. The lot where all the activities took place was packed! It made me realize just how many lives are touched by individuals with Down Syndrome. The donation goal for this year was $410,000, but thanks to all those who came and helped support it, that goal was exceeded!  

Time's a Tickin'...

It’s recently dawned on me just how quickly this semester is flying by- and by that, I mean how soon my applications will need to be turned in to graduate schools! At this point, I’ve narrowed down my choices of schools, and have made a neat and organized spreadsheet detailing the specifics for each school. Aside from that, however, there isn’t much for me to brag about. I really need to pick up the pace!

For each school, I will essentially need:

- To fill out the application

- Send in my transcripts

- Send in my GRE scores

- Write a personal statement

- Send my resume

- 3 letters of recommendation

My goals for this week are to send in my transcripts and to ask several of my professors if they would be willing to write my letters of recommendation. I realize the personal statement is a very important piece of the admissions portfolio, so I really need to begin some deeper reflecting on my experiences here at Rockhurst, and how I feel those experiences have prepared me to take this next step. It’s scary for me to think how I’ve already reached this point in my life. It has gone by so incredibly fast, and has taken a lot of hard work to get here. I’m really excited for grad school- I love my major and all that I’ve learned though volunteering- but I’m not going to lie, I’m pretty nervous too! Especially about this admissions part!

This is how I feel

Ice-Cream of the Future

This past Saturday, I experienced- for the very first time- what it was like to work at an amusement park. In order to fundraise for our sorority, my Theta Phi Alpha sisters and I headed to World's of Fun, where we were given various jobs around the park. This weekend was "Halloween Haunt" weekend, and so many haunted houses were set up. People dressed in spooky costumes would roam about the park, sometimes sneaking up on unknowing guests and giving them a fright. 

My placement for the day was in food. At first I was a little worried because I didn't know what my job would entail. However, I was quite delighted when asked to serve in the Dippin' Dots booth. I love Dippin' Dots, and it sounded like a great place to be! After given a one-minute run-through on how things worked, I quickly realized how fast-paced this job was. Apparently I'm not the only one who loves Dippin' Dots! The line was pretty long most of the time I was there, and many people had not mastered the virtue of patience. It took some time for me to get used to the cash register while juggling 3 different orders with varying sizes and flavors. But 8 busy hours later, I felt I was a pretty efficient server. I even managed to organize the freezer that contained extra bags of Dots! 

Working in this booth gave me a greater appreciation for those who work in amusement parks- especially in the food booths. While I still love Dippin' Dots, I don't think serving this ice-cream will be in my future!

Exam Schmam

When I first realized that all my midterms fell on the same day, I felt pretty stressed. None of my classes this semester are incredibly difficult, but 3 tests and 1 paper due at once... yikes! I was very fortunate, however, in that after explaining my predicament to one of my professors, he allowed me to take an exam a day early, which was a tremendous help. I was also able to gather enough motivation to complete the paper a week early, thereby spreading out the midterms I originally feared to be jam-packed. In the end, everything worked out just fine and I was able to manage the midterm week.

My brother Austin and Me

The best part about midterms is the feeling of freedom you receive once all exams are finished. After completing my last test of the day, I was able to walk back home through the crunchy leaves, and really breathe in the fresh air. Fall break has arrived! It's such a great time to get some extra relaxation in. Because I babysit during the week, I wasn't able to leave for home right away. One of my housemates hung around the house with me, and one evening we gathered a group of other students who decided to stay on campus together for a movie party at our house. It was a great time! We all brought together a schmorgasbord of goodies- holloween cookies, popcorn, banana bread, and orange kool-aid.

When Saturday arrived, I took off early in the morning to pick up my younger brother who flew in to the Kansas City airport. From there we drove back home- belting out some tunes and exchanging stories from our school year thus far. This is my brother's freshman year of college, and I'm thankful for the car ride that allowed me to learn more about his experience at a new school (Holy Cross College in Indiana). I could see my freshman self in so many of the things he talked about. His experience from the first couple months at college brought back many memories of my own freshman year, and in some ways I feel so much wiser than when I first began! It's really made me realize how fast time flies.

I may only be visiting home for a short weekend, but it's always nice to catch up with the family. Already I've been able to play a game of scrabble with my mom (a very successful game I might add...) and hang out with a couple cousins who I haven't seen for a while. This time at home has given me the rejuvenation I need to begin the second half of fall semester.

Homecoming!

After completing a week filled with classes and activities, I was more than ready to de-stress with friends on the day of homecoming. And what better way than by eating at a fine restaurant and dancing the night away?

After arriving with many other Rockhurst students at Fogo de Chao, a Brazilian steakhouse, I could immediately feel myself relax...all except my stomach muscles that is. Although the food smelled so delicious, I quickly realized that it was nothing compared to how great it tasted! What I find so enjoyable about Fogo de Chao is that not only is this restaurant worth going to for the food, but the overall experience as well. Servers come to the tables with many different cuts of meat, and you are given a little card to signify if: green, yes you would like to try it, or on the flip-side, red, meaning no thank you. It is definitely not a place where you worry about leaving hungry.

The homecoming dance itself was a blast. When we first arrived at the venue, I was a little concerned about the music selections, for they weren't the types of songs that compel you to run out on the dance floor. However, the DJ took a break when the homecoming court was announced. Being a member on the court, I was given the opportunity to represent my class. It was such an honor to walk in with other classmates who I've grown close with over my years here at Rockhurst. Once the Kings and Queens were announced, the DJ took his position back up- but this time, I found that the songs were so fun I couldn't keep my feet from           dancing! I had such a great time, and while it's a little sad that this was my last homecoming dance, I am so thankful for all the memories this night gave me.

Senior Homecoming Court

Hawk-Fest!

Last weekend I celebrated my fourth Rockhurst Day. To kick off homecoming week each year, Rockhurst students and members of the community are invited to celebrate an afternoon of festivities, right on Rockhurst's campus. Student clubs and organizations each set up a booth, which usually consists of a fun game-with prizes! Huge, blown-up moonwalks and obstacle courses are also there for children of (ALL) ages to enjoy, in addition to the fun snacks- like popcorn, snow cones, and cotton candy. Rockhurst alumni are invited to return for this celebration, which is great because it is so nice to see old friends!
The festivities conclude as the Rockhurst men's soccer game begins. During halftime, the homecoming court is announced- that is, the students who have been nominated by their classmates to represent their class.

Me and Breanna with the soon-to-be-named Hawk mascot!

The Homecoming theme this week is "Bourbon Street Masquerade." The dance will be held this Saturday night, and I'm so excited! Before the dance however, Residence Life is treating Rockhurst students to a free dinner at Fogo de Chao- a delicious Brazilian steakhouse located on the Plaza! Mmm!

Fiesta!

Chef Kim

Home at the "Treehouse," my housemates and I share in a sit-down, family-style meal once a week. We each take turns cooking the meal, and this week it was my friend Kim's turn. I was so excited when I found out she decided to whip up one of her famous delicacies... taco ring! It's a household favorite. Because this was such a special dinner, we decided that it called for a celebration. We brought out the colorful place-mats and filled our cups with strawberry smoothies. Yum!

This is just one example of what I love about the Rockhurst on-campus houses- the community that can be built. Not only within your own house, but with other Rockhurst students who live up and down the street! Over the past year, my housemates and I have been able to help each other in cooking, and have spent time catching up on each others' lives over dinner. While there may have been a few mishaps in the kitchen- recipes gone wrong, cookies a little darker than desired- it's almost always a source of laughter. 

Housemates!
Me, Anna, Kim, Breanna

What a Catch!

This past weekend, I was given the chance to celebrate a wedding with my boyfriend's family. Weddings are one of my personal favorite celebrations, and I was so excited to attend! The ceremony was held at the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. The chapel was beautiful- it was a little smaller than what I'm used to, but I really liked how it created a more intimate setting. It made me feel closer to the other people in attendance, even though I didn't know many of them! 

Me and David

Afterwards, the reception was held in a ballroom at the Marriott. The first thing I noticed upon entering were the beautiful decorations. Something I found very cute and creative was that at each table was a card with a song title on it. When your song was played over the speaker, that meant it was your tables' turn to line up for food- and I must say the food was scrumptious!

The highlight of my night arrived with the tossing of the bouquet. This is the part of weddings that I've never been able to succeed at in the past, so when they announced it was time, I approached the dance floor with an attitude of "why not?" But as the anticipation rose while all of us girls waited for the bride to toss it, I felt determination spark inside. And to my surprise, I caught the bouquet for the first time! 

Blaze Among Us and Inspire

WOW- so many great things have happened in the past week, I don't know where to begin!


Let me start with last Saturday evening. My sorority, Theta Phi Alpha, held our first date party of the semester at Faulkner's Ranch. It was great fun! I had never heard of the venue before, but was pleasantly surprised upon arriving. The landscape was beautiful- grassy farmland stretched out before us, with horses and goats, a pumpkin patch, a playground, and a fire pit filling in the space. It felt so nice to be encompassed by a spacious atmosphere where I could smell the fresh air. Being a small town girl and all, I felt quite at home! We started the evening off, obviously, at the playground. There were tire swings shaped like horses! Who could pass that up??  
After working up an appetite while "horseback" riding, it was time to roast some hotdogs. Hotdogs happen to be one of my favorite foods, and kudos to Faulkner's Ranch- those may have been some of the best hotdogs I have ever tasted! Either that, or I have some pretty savvy hotdog roasting skills :) 



It wasn't long before we were met by a tractor pulling behind it trailers of hay. We all hopped on for a very scenic hayrack ride. At this point, the sky was dark and, since we were away from the city lights, the stars were shining brightly. With the air hinting that fall was coming, it was the most perfect hayrack-riding atmosphere! We toured around the farm before returning to our gathering space, where some of my Theta Phi sisters were brave enough to try their hand at roping a mechanical bull.
I had such a great time at Faulkner's Ranch. It was so nice to catch up with my sisters after summer break!
I strongly recommend this ranch for anyone who's looking for something fun to do- especially with the approaching fall season!


This past Tuesday, Rockhurst held its annual Mass of the Holy Spirit. This mass that Rockhurst celebrates along with other Jesuit universities across the country, is one of my personal favorites. Not only is there a spirit of excitement and joy among the congregation, but the choir sings for this mass. I absolutely love being a part of the chorus! Our choir instructor always selects such beautiful songs that really enhance the mass experience. I feel like the lyrics have a way of reaching out and speaking to me. And the musical accompaniment...wow! It is so beautiful! 
In addition, Father John Craig gave a wonderful homily. He tied in the Jesuit core value "Finding God in All Things" (which is the core value that Rockhurst has dedicated this year to) to the focus of the mass, the Holy Spirit. He spoke about moments when we feel a special movement within us, when we feel a spark. God can be found in these moments, for He is in all things. During those very precious moments, God reaches out to us and sends His Holy Spirit, so that we may experience HIm. This homily, along with the beautiful music, gave me a feeling of such peace and inspiration.


Somewhere that I feel I've found God recently is with the children who attend the schools I'm volunteering at. Joining the kids in the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing classroom has been such a blessing. Yes, I've already experienced a fair share of nose-bleeds, spilled milk, and lessons on sharing, but I've learned a lot too. I think it's so amazing how some of these children have a hard time hearing their fellow classmates, yet those children who can hear will use whatever communication they can to include them. They don't let physical barriers prevent them from being friends...and they're only 3-5 years old! I think the world could use examples like these kids.

Back in...Green!

Although Labor Day was only a day's worth break, I really feel as though it gave me that extra little time I needed to transition from summer vacation to fall semester. My Rockhurst on-campus house (often referred to as the "treehouse" by me and my housemates, since it's the color green) is gradually beginning to look lived in- and I must say that I'm proud of the personality it seems to possess. Not only that, but its spacious as well! My 3 housemates and myself each have our own room this year, as well as a good-sized kitchen and living room. Maybe this year I will attempt some extravagant recipes, now that there's plenty of room to move about the kitchen and cook multiple things at the same time!

I feel as though I'm getting in the swing of my classes as well. Often times at the beginning of the semester, it can be hard to determine what classes will be like. How much studying is involved in this class? Is there lots of homework? At this point though, I think I can say that I'm happy with the classes I'm taking this semester. All of them, except choir, are theology classes, which is my second major- and they're all pretty interesting! However, I'm a little bummed that I'm not taking any CSD courses right now. I finished all the required fall courses, so I'll have to wait for spring. 

Until then, however, I will soon begin volunteering twice a week at a place called Children's TLC. It offers therapeutic and educational services to kids with and without disabilities. I went through orientation earlier this week, and when I go tomorrow I'll begin interacting with the kids in the classroom. The classroom I'll be volunteering in is the Deaf and Hard of Hearing room. I'm so excited that I'll be able to put to use the sign language that I learned in my classes! This is something that I may possibly be interested in doing as a speech-language pathologist once I graduate, and I'm so excited to gain more experience! In addition to Children's TLC, I will begin volunteering at a school for kids with special needs, called Marian Hope Center. This Friday will be my first day, and I can't wait!!!