Procrastination...

Oh procrastination. I don’t know about all of you, but I have a serious procrastination problem – and it has a close link to my last posting on stress. Procrastination tends to just add onto stress that you already have. It’s a quick fix – you can do something better right then, but it always comes back to bite you in the butt. Even though I’m a pretty good procrastinator, the one thing that saves me is having to-do lists. I find if I write down things that I have to do it helps me organize my time and not forgot things. Plus, it’s so rewarding to cross things off your list and actually feel like you got something done. However, for us serious procrastinators, to-do lists just might not cut it. I found a few interesting tips at AssociatedContent.com…

1. Anticipate future assignments.
2. Don’t put assignments off until the last minute. I find this one a bit obvious….
3. Do hard assignments first. I personally don’t really like this one – I like to get small ones done so I can cross them off my list and not have them hanging over my shoulder. Plus, it starts the process of being productive without the frustration of a difficult assignment.
4. Work on large assignments in chunks.
5. Use a planner.
6. Expect the unexpected.
7. Just get started.
8. Page numbers. I find that one of the easiest ways to avoid procrastination when it comes to reading a chapter is to avoid looking and counting the page numbers. If you are constantly looking at what page you are on and counting to see how many you have left, you’ll never get done.
9. Avoid distractions. This is really hard to do in college since wherever you go there are tons of people, but if you can find a secluded spot or time of day to work, you will be way more productive.
10. Reward yourself. I love this tip. Personally I use food or social activities to bribe myself. This way you work really hard to get something done and there ends up being a positive experience.

Hairspray

When I was little my movies of choice were Beauty and the Beast and The Sound of Music. My love for musicals probably came from watching these wonderful movies filled with singing and dancing over and over again. What’s not to love about combining singing with dancing? I have continued to love musicals. I know the musical is good if afterwards I am pumped up and singing and dancing along.

A few weeks ago my suitemates took me to see the movie Hairspray. I loved it. We were singing and grooving for days. So we were all really excited when we found out that Hairspray was going to be performing at Purdue. And we became even more excited when we realized that Hillenbrand was offering the tickets for only $7. The public prices were $20-$45.

The cast performed Hairspray at Elliot last night. The show was really good. I was laughing throughout the entire show. They had a lot of different punch lines and sexual innuendos (well…some of them weren’t so subtle) that were hilarious (and different than the movie). There were also some ad-libs that were unexpected and outrageous. We were all laughing so hard (although if I had gone with my mom I would have felt awkward). The dancing and choreography was amazing. I wish that during my daily life people would break out into song and dance together in harmony. Everyone would know all the lyrics and dance moves...it would be so cool. The stage set-up and scene changes were really impressive as well. The one bummer about the musical was the lead, Tracy Turnblad. She was the second understudy and it did show a little. She did do a good job, but it was nothing to rave about. Her Baltimore accent was good and her acting was just fine, but you could tell she was a little nervous or maybe just not as experienced. Several times she faltered a little singing and was behind on tempo. All in all this very minor detail did not detract from my overall experience. The show was very entertaining.

One thing that influenced me to come to Purdue was all the opportunities that are offered here. Hairspray is a perfect example. We got to see an amusing and entertaining musical only three blocks from where we live and for only $7.

Ways to prevent getting sick in the dorms

It seems like once one person gets sick in the dorm we all do. It’s simply from people living so close together in the same building that germs are easily passed around. But don’t worry there are things you can do to stay healthy even living in a dorm.
First of all WASH YOUR HANDS, yes you hear it all the time but it’s true. Your hands are really big germ carriers. According to the article “Preventing the common cold” People get sick from touching their nose or eyes after coming in contact with germs. The best way to prevent this would be to simply wash your hands. Also washing your hands with just water doesn’t cut it, the soap is what lifts away dirt from your hands. It’s also important to wash your hand for a full 10 to 15 seconds in order to get rid of all germs.
Another way to avoid getting sick would be don’t share cosmetics. Eyeliner and mascara can be huge carriers of bacteria that you can easily get buy using some else’s make up. It’s also important to buy new make up frequently so bacteria doesn’t have that much time to grow. Your close can also carry germs so try not to let big piles of clothes sit around unwashed your room will be cleaner; you will smell nicer and stay healthy.
The article also suggests getting plenty of sleep and exercise, which can be difficult being a busy college student. It helps build up you immune system when you do come in contact with germs. Also drink plenty of water and try to eat healthy, you will feel much better and your body will be more equipped to fight off disease. You also might want to try keeping your toothbrush clean. It’s easy to set it down in the bathroom not realizing the germs it could pick up, so it would be a good idea to buy a new toothbrush every month or two to reduce your risk. Another obvious tip would be to stay way from sick people, this way you won’t be exposed to their germs because people are most contagious when they are sick.
If you do happen to get sick give yourself time to recuperate. It’s important to get plenty of rest to help your body fight off the infection. Also make sure not to share drinks or food with other people so you don’t pass on your sickness. If you follow most of these tips (especially washing your hands) you will greatly reduce your risk of getting sick even with living around so many people.

College and Cash

Let’s face it-college students aren’t made of money. Even if your parents pay for your college you can still find yourself running a little low on cash. But don’t worry. There are lots of easy ways to save and still have a good time in college.
The article “136 tips for saving money in college” suggests buying used books as a way to save some cash. The best time to do this is before you start your classes because many times the used books run out and you will have to buy new. Another good idea would be to sell your books back to the bookstore when you’re done using them. You will not get full face value for them but it will put a dent in the price you have to pay for your books the next semester. Another tip the article gives is don’t buy term papers online. This seems like a joke but believe me some people do it. These papers are usually expensive and professors can typically spot one when they see it so don’t waste your time.
Another way to save money is by not eating out. Chances are if you’re a freshman you have a meal plan. Get your friends to go eat with you and you will all be saving some money. Or if you are sick of dorm food buy a large pizza and spilt it with some people and the cost will be a lot less. The article also mentions buying things in bulk. For example: toilet paper, paper towel, bottled water, etc. It may seem like a lot but you will use it eventually and you will be saving a lot of money in the long run. Also when you do go shopping make a list and know exactly what you want so you aren’t tempted by any other items which can rack up the cost.
If you are really crunched for money you could consider getting a job. A lot of the places on campus offer jobs. (Dining halls, campus food courts and bookstores). If you’re worried about it taking up too much time, just work once or twice a week so you still have time to study. This will enable you to have a steady income (even if it’s a small one) to help pay for things in college. Another tip would be try to visit home once in awhile. Chances are your parents will be happy to see you and they will give you a little extra cash.
While these are just a few ways to save money in college, there are many more. If you are interested in more ideas I suggest reading the article “136 tips for saving money” just be smart. It’s probably not a good idea to go on frequent shopping sprees and buy things you don’t need.

Purdue's Campus

One thing that led me to come to Purdue was the allure that the campus possessed. Upon coming here I knew I could see myself going here and absolutely loving it. From the red brick buildings to the flowing fountains every part of Purdue’s campus displays a unique beauty. I don’t even mind walking to and from class because the scenery in between the two destinations never has a dull point.

The fountains have a simple structure, although they also have a certain uniqueness to them. I think they add a lot to the campus. I also love the bell tower; you can see it from so many different spots on campus. Especially at night, when you are walking along Third Street toward campus, when the tower is lit up, is one of the prettiest sights you will see here at Purdue. There is also a lot of construction underway presently to make the campus even better! This is shocking because I believe the campus is already beautiful so improvements are a huge excitement! For example, the Neil Armstrong building, which is in its final stages of development is an example of a unique and beautiful new addition to the campus. They are also building a new dining court, the Wiley dining court. This is a nice addition also, although I am not sure we need another dining court, I am not complaining, it will be a nice alternative to the other food courts. I have also heard word of a new dorm complex going up across from Earhart, so we will see what happens with that. It is nice to know that they are continually updating campus and making it even better than it already is!

Many college campuses are really spread out and the walking distances to classes can be somewhat ridiculous. This is another thing that I like about Purdue. Although, it is a rather compact campus, it is nice in many ways. It makes it easy to walk to classes. From my dorm, Owen, it takes only about ten to fifteen minutes to walk into campus, which really is not that bad. The furthest dorm, McCutcheon, is only a mile walk into campus. It is nice to have buildings that are close together also so if you do have two classes in a row you are not late. Also, if you have a break you have time to study in a library instead of saving time to walk to your next class. To walk into town is even a walk able distance. All in all I think this makes everything very convenient. I love the architecture Purdue has and I am glad to say that I love every aspect of Purdue’s campus. Purdue also maintains its campus as well. There is never trash all over the ground or graffiti all over walls. For being a place where thousands of college kids walk through it daily, the up keep of campus is incredible. It is always neat and tidy. There are also cute traditions that go with many of these structures. For example, running through the fountain. Many people participated in this one during BGR week. Also, walking under the bell tower as a freshmen means that you will not graduate in four years. Yikes! Crossing the ‘tracks’ is a tradition that you are supposed to do as a freshman and then cross them again when you graduate from Purdue. These different little traditions make campus fun and kind of add a little humor to campus as well.

The union is one of my favorite buildings because I feel like it has everything. It is a cool place to go and hang out, have meetings, study, eat, bowl, and do many do more things. I think it is cool too how there is a hotel connected to it. This makes it extremely convenient for when visiting campus or when relatives come up to visit. It is nice to have a place right on campus to stay and be so close to everything the campus has to offer. Really the only thing that you need transportation to get to is places like Wal-mart, Target and the mall. Even if you have to go to these places though, they are all within about a ten minute drive or so. As many know there is the city bus that can take anyone to these places as well. Purdue really has a wonderful set up. It makes it easy and convenient for students to get to where they need to go pretty easily. This is a huge advantage of Purdue’s campus and a big reason I decided to come here. I hope everyone is enjoying Purdue and its campus as much I am! Until next time, GO BOILERS!!

Phew!

I can finally let out the breath I have been holding for the past week. Thank goodness. I now know the grades I got on my three tests last week, and it is such a relief. I am completely satisfied with my scores. I studied really hard for my tests so it’s nice to see my hard work pay off. It’s nice to have that feel of accomplishment. If you did well on your first round of tests you can rest a little easy knowing that if you bomb one of the other tests when the material gets harder it will be okay.

Trust me though I don’t always have such a great feeling after I find out my test scores. For all of you who maybe didn’t do as well as you would have hoped on your first round of tests don’t worry. You still have time to save your grade. You can make up for the grade with your next two tests in the class. Next time you will know better how your professor writes tests and how better to prepare and study for it. Also don’t be afraid to ask questions and go to help sessions. Believe me I have had some bad tests, and I still ended up doing fine in the course. Don’t get discouraged.

Stress

Stress is a very prominent issue among humans, especially college students. There’s pressure to do well academically, to get a good degree and good job, pressure from friends, from parents, and the overall load of work and study takes a toll on the average student. During the past few weeks it seems like everyone on my floor has been really stressed out about exams and projects, myself included, so I decided that maybe I could do some research on stress. I found some useful info on Amherst College’s health education web site, and I wanted to share what I found to help out my friends and my readers.

Some common signs of stress are:

• Problems eating or sleeping
• Increased use of alcohol or other drugs
• Increased boredom and fatigue; a general sense of "the blahs"
• Problems making decisions; increased procrastination
• Becoming anxious and confused over unimportant events
• Increased frustration with minor annoyances
• Frequent colds and infections

This website also offered different tips to handle stress. Some of these include short term fixes:

• Relax where you are.
• Take a break.
• Ask yourself whether it's worth being upset over the situation.
• List all the things you think you need to do right away. Then prioritize the list and only do the top few.

Long term ways to handle stress include:

• Seek your own stress level.
• Choose your own goals.
• Think positive.
• Make decisions.
• Keep realistic expectations.
• Accept what you cannot change.
• Anticipate potentially stressful situations and prepare for them.
• Manage your time.
• Take care of your health.
• Take time for yourself.

Personally, I have a few ways to handle stress that I feel really work well for me. I really like the short term tip to take a break. Chances are, when you’re feeling really stressed, it’s just mental. If you take a break for a little while and take your mind off things, chances are when you approach your problem again you will come back with a much more collected and calm manner. I will continue to test out these stress tips and let you know what works best for me…

Also, click on the stress title of this posting for a link to the Amherst College Health Education website.

Groups Good/Bad

When I graduated from high school two years ago I was under the delusion that I would not have to work in groups in college. I quickly came to realize that of course you still work in groups in college especially in labs. It seems that no matter how many good group experiences you have with hard working, easy to get along with group members the bad group experiences always overshadow them by far.

Most of my lab partners have been cooperative, easy to get along with and work with, responsible, and conscientious. I am always very thankful when the groups turn out that way. It seems though that I always get the good groups when it is a short term project. I get stuck with a bad group or partner when it’s going to be for the entire semester or a really big project. My biggest pet peeve with group work is working with a partner who is not prepared or organized, but acts like they know everything. I work hard for my grades, and I do not like to be penalized for other people’s lack of motivation and caring.

The answer to the “bad” group problem should easily be solved by evaluations right? Teachers always believe this is the “easy fix” and will eliminate undeserving grades either too high or too low. Unfortunately this generally does not help. I personally cannot fill out an evaluation right in front of the other members of my group and give them poor scores (especially if you know them outside of class and/or they are genuinely nice people just awful partners). Other times I have filled out evaluations that did not have the criteria that related to why they were bad partners. Frustrating…

My advice for myself and you:

You cannot change the way your partner acts so just try and act like their annoyances aren’t fazing you. I recount my bad group experience with someone later. Usually when I say my story out loud I decide it wasn’t really as bad as I made it out to be at first. It always could have been worse. (And generally the retelling makes me laugh.) If your partner is really outrageous I would go beyond the evaluations and straight to the TA so they are aware of the situation. It is not fair for one or two of the members to be doing all the work, but everyone to be benefiting from their hard work. Finally always try to remember the great group experiences :)

Football Tickets

I always knew football was big at Purdue, but I don’t think I really grasped the concept of how big. I did what I thought every student was supposed to do: I bought my season tickets and so far I have gone in for every home game. Recently a few of my family members decided that they would like to go to the Ohio State versus Purdue game, and asked me if I could pick them up tickets at the box office. I thought to myself, “sure, no problem,” but boy was I wrong. Tickets have been sold out for as long as anyone can remember. Luckily, the ticket office sometimes decides to open up more tickets for big games just a week or two before the game, and I got an email from the office just yesterday announcing this. The ticket office opens at nine, so I decided to blow off my 8:30 chemistry lecture in order to come wait in line from 7:30 til nine. Although I was an hour and a half early, I’m probably the fortieth person in line.

The way it works is that the ticket office makes five hundred more student sections available for each of the upcoming games, and each student is allowed to buy up to four tickets to each game. Tickets for the Ohio State game are going for around for close to a hundred bucks a pop, so waiting in line to get tickets for $65 is definitely worth it. My suggestion to all Purdue students would be to buy season tickets and to tell family members to plan months in advance if they want to go to a major game. Plus, if you buy tickets and end up not wanting them, there are always people outside of games trying to scalp some, so it’s very unlikely that you’ll lose your money.

After experiencing some of the craziness about football tickets here, I kind of assumed that it was the same at any major college, but this is not the case. I went down to IU last weekend to visit friends and I was able to buy a ticket to their game minutes before it started for only $20 at the box office. This probably has a little something to do with how good the football team is…
Anyways, regardless of what college you go to, any student who is interested in sporting event tickets should research how their school handles sales in advance in order to avoid not being able to get tickets. You should take into consideration how big each sport is at your college take into account that some games are bigger than others…

P.S. It was definitely worth getting here early and being able to set up camp inside the ticket office building - the hundred or so people in line outside just had to whip out their umbrellas
:)
)

Turning your room around

Okay, so we are all crammed into a little area of space for the next eight months or so…not fun! I don’t know about you but this is one of the main things that is driving me crazy! I am constantly thinking of ways that I can rearrange my stuff to make it more compact. Even just decorating a room can also make it appear larger. First, as the semester rolls on, papers and assignments will pile up, you may want to invest in a small plastic file box, it may seem silly now, but you will need a place to store your papers/assignments and this will definitely help you keep organized.

Next, it is always a good idea to stack things. When things are vertical it saves more space. Even if you can’t attach things to the walls, vertical crates or boxes are a good idea. Also you may not have enough closet or drawer space. Remember to keep in mind the clothes that will be bulkier for colder weather in the coming months. A good idea is to purchase under the bed storage, this can help storing clothes. Also to help save space in the closet single hangers with multiple bars can help hang jeans and such things.

To make a room appear larger, mirrors on the walls can help. Also do not leave the walls blank decorate them with things. There is still time to make your dorm ‘homier’ you do not want to live for the next eight months feeling crammed and uncomfortable. Yes, we have been here for a month and hopefully many of these things you have taken into consideration but I have seen those rooms that make me feel like I am in a hospital room, so don’t compromise for a dull ugly living space. Fix it!
For more information on space saving and decorating your room visit http://www.iamnext.com/living/dormdeco.html.

Events At Purdue

Getting involved at Purdue can sometimes seem overwhelming. Being such a large school there are so many different ways to get involved and interact. Sometimes it is necessary to just take a break and relax. This is why it is so great that Purdue has so many events that take place year round. No matter what your interests are or your schedule, there is sure to be one that fits into both of these for each individual.

There are numerous events that will be taking place this year. There are various guest speakers and plays presented by Purdue Convocations. The events calendar is definitely something to check out; students even get a discount to events. The calendar can be seen at http://news.uns.purdue.edu/eventindex.html. This website is very helpful; it gives a brief description of the event, the date, and the price. There are so many different things offered and I think everyone should take advantage of attending an event because they are offered especially to us being Purdue students and this is a wonderful privilege we are given.
Another website to see upcoming events can be seen by going to http://calendar.purdue.edu/. This shows the different categories of events such as arts and entertainment, lectures and seminars, and career programs, just to name a few. The website is always being updated so even if there isn’t something you see interesting as of now, don’t forget to revisit it in the next couple weeks or so to see if it has changed. There may even be famous musicians of comedians that you may be a big fan of, take advantage of seeing them, you will most likely go for a better price than seeing them at a larger venue, and it will be more directed to the college audience.

A much anticipated and advertised event coming up is the play Hairspray. It is being preformed at Elliot Hall and is put on by Purdue Convocations. It will be on Friday September 28 at 8 pm. There are many other plays put on by Purdue Convocations throughout the year, so if this is of any interest you can also visit the convocations website at http://www.purdue.edu/convos/home.shtml.

One event posted, that I am sure looking forward to that is free for every student is homecoming! On October 26th there will be a boilermaker on campus parade at 8 pm. I don’t know about you but this sounds like a lot of fun to me, I have never been to a parade at night, and I think it will make for a different and more exciting atmosphere. Then after the parade will be a pep rally at Slater Hill. This will be king and queen coronation. After this, will be fireworks! This sounds like a fun filled night that will convey a lot of boilermaker spirit! The next day will be the game against Northwestern University. I am sure everyone will be extremely hyped up for this game and I cannot wait to see all the fans decked out for this special weekend!!

Keeping in Touch with your Parents

College life is so bust it is sometimes hard to keep in touch with you family back home. Between class, exams,eating, studying and various other activities it is sometimes hard to keep in touch.

A simple way to keep in touch with your parents would be to call them but that's not always easy. You may no a half hour to talk to your mom about the latest news on the phone. Some other alternatives to the traditional phone call would be to email, text, or send a letter (sounds stupid but I'm sure your parents would love it). Two types of communication that interest me are emailing and texting. This is a luxury that our parents didn't have back when they were in college. Today texting is one of the main forms of communication between teens. Today's parents are learning to use this new technology so now college students are able to talk to their parents more often by texting.

Although it's very important to keep in touch with your parents you also need your space. You are an adult now and are able to make your own decisions. Some parents who are a little too protective are also called "helicopter parents." Helen Johnson states in the article "Do helicopter parents do more harm then good?" that "parents like Lewis are far too involved in their children's lives." and that "In taking over, they are sending a profound message: You are not capable of handling your life," Lewis is a single mom with two sons in college who goes far beyond the duty of being a mom. Although her sons appreciate having a mother to do everything for them experts say it's not for a child's well being. The article goes on to talk about helicopter parents and how they are sweeping college campuses.

The bottom line is that you should keep in touch with your parents but not too much. Once a day would be more then enough to inform them about all of the days activities. And if you are too busy some days then send them a quick text or email just so they know you are alive and well.

To learn more about helicopter parents go to this website: http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Health/Story?id=1237868&page=1

5K

Today was a great day. I ran a 5K hosted by Tippy Connect with two of my friends and my boyfriend. The race was a benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wabash Valley. The staff who organized the race did an excellent job. They provided drinks and food before and after the race. Also they stood along the running path and encouraged us as we ran by them. It was a great experience. It gave me such a sense of accomplishment.

It was a beautiful morning to go for a run. It was sunny, but still cool with a little breeze. The mayor of West Lafayette, Jan Mills, started the race off at 9:00am from Purdue West. I started out the race feeling pretty good…and then we ran up a hill. But once I set my pace I felt strong again. One of my friends and I helped push each other on. Sure my legs were tired, but there was the staff standing along the running path cheering us on which made it a lot easier to go on. There were also several policemen who very kindly blocked and directed traffic for us to ensure that no one was injured. Plus they handed out plenty of high fives along the way. The last half of a mile I was struggling, but I also think I ran it the fastest. It was –well breathtaking to catch glimpse of the finish sign and sprint past it. Needless to say I was out of breath when I finished. I felt great though, and next time I want to finish with a faster time. I love running because you are running against yourself and the clock. It depends solely on the individual effort you put in. You train, but not until the big race day do you really see the progress you have made.

There was about 70 runners this morning. There were many different people running. Moms and dads running with strollers, twenty something to 50 something men and women, people in shape, people working on getting in shape, and even a young girl. It was nice to look around and see all the different runners (and quiet a few of them pass me). I would like to think that twenty years from now I will still be running 5Ks.

All in all the 5K was extremely successful. I accomplished my goal, it made me want to run more races, and we raised money to help the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. I would definitely recommend running a 5K. You should grab a few friends to join you. It is a really good idea to run with other people who can train with you, push you, and encourage you. I can’t wait to run another one and beat my time.

Freshman 15

Before coming into college I always heard horror stories about people gaining tons of weight once they went to college this is known as the "Freshman 15." So naturally I was really worried about gaining weight in college and I told myself it would never happen to me. Now that I am in college I can really see why a lot of people gain weight. It's not just lack of exercise but it's also all the different kinds of food available to you. For starters the dining halls which is where most people eat at least once or twice a day. There are all different kinds of foods ranging from pizza to Chinese to ice cream cones as well as many other delicious fattening foods. These foods taste great but they can also add a couple inches to the waist line. http://www.housing.purdue.edu/NetNutrition/Form2.aspx?topicID=MealDetail&process=MealDetail&unit=828&menu=264375&category=&procID=10&update=true&parent=793 From going to this website I was able to see nutrition information for the food at Ford dining hall and the other dining halls as well. I figured out that if you eat a Cheeseburger and fries your meal can total up to 791 calories! This is close to half of the suggested caloric intake per day, needless to say most people eat way more then just a cheeseburger and fries. I have seen some people with two or three plates piled with food.



Dining courts aren't the only thing contributing to the Freshman 15, it is also snacking in your room and ordering pizza late at night (lets face it we have all done it). It's so easy to just give into the temptation of snacks when most dorm rooms are filled with them. Some of the common favorites would be easy mac, chips, pop tarts, granola bars, pop, candy, pizza rolls, pretzels and many more. Sometimes you won't even notice it and you will just grab a snack or two while your studying.As for the pizza I feel like someone is always ordering pizza late at night and the temptation is overwhelming.



Eating isn't the only part of gaining weight it is also lack of exercise. College students today are so busy with classes, exams, clubs, intramurals etc. That there is hardly any time for exercise. And when you do get a free hour or two the co rec is usually jam packed with people and a lot of the machines are taken and you have to wait to use them. Although the freshman 15 happens to a lot of people it's not all of use. As long as you try to eat moderately healthy, try not to snack to much, and try to exercise two or three times a week you will have better chances of staying fit.

Wave on Wave

What a week! Stressful days somehow always manage to pile onto each other making for one stressful week. I am never ready for the “wave” of tests and projects that always seems to come about every five weeks. I get used to my routine of doing homework and studying. I have time to do practice problems, read, and stay on top of my assignments plus socializing, eating, exercising, and sleeping! Then the wave hits and all I do is study, study, study.

The wave hit me this week. I had tests Monday and Tuesday night, and I just finished my third test this afternoon. It seems like all I have been doing is constantly studying, but the tests are finished now. The wave has finally come crashing down...and so have I. I generally feel a mixture of emotions after the wave has passed.

1. Tiredness

2. Relief

3. Ickyness

The general feeling of ickyness can be attributed to the fact that all I have been doing is eating, going to class, eating, studying, class, snacking, studying, and studying again. I have barely had time to sleep let alone exercise. My body is not appreciating that right now.

After riding the wave the best feeling for me is being able to sit down, relax, and do absolutely nothing after the last “stressor” is finished. I enjoy getting back to my routine and having time to socialize, sleep and exercise –which allows my body to like me again. Unfortunately, I then remember I should start preparing for the next big wave to hit me by catching up on the homework and preparations I didn’t get done since I was studying.

Oh the good ol’ life of a college student –the waves just keep coming.

But there are only 24 hours in a day...

As college students, it’s often really hard to balance schoolwork, social life, extracurriculars, and sports. Personally, I’m a very social person and my major is challenging, and every day I feel like it’s a struggle to find time for everything. One thing that has really helped me keep from stressing out is making a ‘to do’ list. As I accomplish tasks, I cross them off and it makes me feel like I’m actually getting somewhere with everything I have to do. Also, I’ve been planning my week by the hour and deciding when I’m going to do what. I try to get all of my schoolwork done during the week so that I can have the weekends to go out and be with my friends. I also ask myself, “How am I supposed to find time to work out among all of this schoolwork?” I’ve decided that even when I’m swamped, it’s mostly mental and I actually don’t have as much to do as I think. Instead of sitting in front of my computer and trying to figure out where to start, I’ll go on a 20 minute run. It’s not forever, but it’s better than nothing, and it usually helps me relax, gather my thoughts, and take my mind off of schoolwork for a few minutes. Lastly, I’m learning how to take advantage of those awkward one hour breaks between classes. Instead of walking back to my dorm just to switch books and watch TV for 20 minutes, I find a nice spot in the shade and read or study or knock out a few math problems. It’s efficient, and I’m amazed at how much I can actually get done in an hour when I’m not distracted.

Why are my white socks pink and blue...?!

As an incoming college student, one adjustment that many kids have to make is that of doing his or her own laundry. Although many kids do their own in high school, many, myself included, had the luxury of throwing dirty clothes in a laundry basket and having them reappear every Thursday, clean and folded. Unfortunately, the laundry fairy cannot accompany you to college. I have learned a few lessons about laundry that I think would be worth sharing to the incoming college student, or the student who has yet to do laundry and is now wearing very smelly clothes.

First of all, I would strongly advise learning to do laundry BEFORE coming to college, rather than thinking that it will be easy to figure out all alone. Personally, I did my own laundry the majority of the summer before college. This made me pretty comfortable with it, but it still wasn’t second nature. I would suggest maybe 4 months of consistent laundry doing before college; this will make it second nature and your entire wardrobe will be very familiar to you. This will make laundry sorting at college a much quicker process.

Another point to remember is that the washers and dryers in college are most likely not the same as the one’s at home, so be sure to check out the features before you use them. In Owen Hall at Purdue, for instance, our washers don’t have a place for fabric softener; instead you have to buy fabric softener sheets to put in the dryer. Also, don’t forget to remove all lint from the lint trap – it’s easy to forget, but if you do, all of your clothes will be covered in little fuzzies!
One of the hardest things about doing laundry in college is planning your time accordingly. Realize that once you start, you won’t be able to leave your dorm until you’ve finished – generally a little short of two hours. You don’t want to leave clothes sitting in the washer because colors could bleed or leave them sitting in the dryer because they will wrinkle. And although everyone hates to admit it, leaving clothes sitting in the laundry room increases the risk of something getting stolen. Last, but not least, pick a good time of the week to do laundry. The weekends are always the most busy since everyone has big chunks of time open without any classes to go to. Pick a time during a weekday when you have time between classes so that the room will be less busy. Don’t wait until the last minute to do laundry either since there is no guarantee to get a machine…

Bring on the Sniffles!

It’s very normal for people to develop colds in the winter and late fall, right? It seems like everyone gets a little case of the sniffles, some cases worse than others. However, just in the past week I have noticed that the number of colds and the severity of each case is MUCH higher in college than I ever remember it being in high school. I would like to dedicate this blog to documenting how to survive cold season in college, particularly when living in a dorm.
First of all, there are many factors that contribute to the increased number of colds in college. Number one is probably lack of sleep. Increased homework loads and social activities take up more time than ever before and guess what – there are still only 24 hours in a day. Living in the dorms, there are many more items that are shared with many more people than one is usually accustomed to in high school. Shared objects in the dorm such as doorknobs, remotes, etc. are perfect places for germs along with even more trafficked areas such as floor bathrooms, study tables and computer labs.
Even though the germs are out to get you, there are many things you can do to keep those dirty suckers away. First and foremost is making sure you get enough sleep. This along with a healthy diet, regular exercise, and a daily vitamin will help keep your immune system in tip-top shape. Also, washing your hands and using antibacterial hand lotion as often as possible will help reduce the amount of germs that make it to you. (A note about antibacterial lotion: Purdue kindly provides a dispenser at the entrance to the major dining halls to help you stay healthy – use it!) Also, get antibacterial wipes to wipe down work areas and shared areas around your living space – it’s cheap, easy, and it really helps. Hopefully I’ll be able to take my own advice and stay healthy in spite of the 12 snotty coughers in my hall whose germs are on a rampage!

Study Sessions and Exams

I thought it was extremely weird when I first found out that exams were not done in class. I really didn’t understand this concept. The other day I had my first exam, and I’m not going to lie I was a bit nervous. It sounded so serious, my teacher gave us strict instructions about meeting in Elliot Hall. She even sent us all emails about what section we would be in and that we had to be fifteen to twenty minutes early. I studied like crazy, the term exam instead of test made it sound so much more intimidating.

When six thirty rolled around on Tuesday, I tried in every way to prepare myself. I had my number two pencils, my student ID, and I set my phone on silent. I decided to go to campus early to study a bit before going to the exam that way I knew I wouldn’t be late getting there because I would already be nearby. This turned out to be successful, and I even got some necessary study time in at the library. So I would recommend this idea because it forces you to study and it’s always a good thing to study right before an exam so everything is fresh in your mind.

Another thing I would recommend is to go to the study sessions, even if you think you already know everything. It was actually a mistake that I went to my math study session on Monday morning. It was the day before the exam and the only reason I quickly found out it was optional was because of the lack of students in my class that morning. I forgot that it wasn’t mandatory and I am glad I did because I cannot say I would have WANTED to get up at 9 am on Monday to go to a what is posted as an optional class.

I thought I knew everything pretty well; I took notes, did all the homework and did well on the quizzes we took daily. However, when I went to the study session, students asked questions that I didn’t even think of that ended up helping me on the exam. Most of the problems we went over were very similar to the questions on the exam also. All in all I ended up getting only one problem wrong, which I didn’t think was too bad. I am confident in saying that I will continue to go to any study session offered even though it is optional. After all, it will only be about four times a semester; I think I can make the sacrifice of not sleeping in for a better grade.

Boiler Football

I had never been to a college football game before coming to Purdue. Naturally, I had some idea of what it would be like, but not fully. I knew that going to a big ten school that the football games would be extremely fun and high-spirited. First off, tailgating is pretty insane; people are everywhere; students, parents, alum, and others all gather early before the games to cookout with fellow boiler fans. One of the many popular spots is the intramural fields, maybe I only think this because it is right across from my dorm and I consistently see massive amounts of people and tents set up there. People set up games, one of the most frequent seen ones being bags, or also known as corn hole. Mainly this is parents and alum or just fans that come to the games that gather here, but students do also.

On game days it is very hard to try and sleep in. Especially living in Owen, which is located right next to the stadium. People get up pretty early and start screaming in the streets. Then there’s also the breakfast club, who get up as early as 5:00 am to go to the bars and dress up in funky costumes. When I first saw these people dressed up all weird I was extremely confused and had no idea what was going on. When a friend explained the reasoning behind it, then it made a little bit more sense. People will go to the football games in these outfits and it always makes me laugh to see some of the goofy outfits people come up with. I have never seen the campus more busy than when there is a Saturday home game. You walk outside and people are everywhere! A football game is an all day event I have found out. It’s nice though that everyone has so much spirit.

Saturday marked another victory for the boilermakers. The weather was much nicer than the last game and it was also parent’s day, so the fan turnout was phenomenal. The student section was pretty rowdy and everyone really helped cheer the boilers on to victory over Central Michigan. The half time show was also great on Saturday. The band, twirlers, gold dusters, and cheerleaders all gathered on the field and performed. It was very entertaining. The crowd also mastered the wave on Saturday; I think it went around the stadium about five or six times. It was pretty exciting, the crowd even at one point would slow it down and then speed it up, it looked really cool and it was fun too. I like the idea of people being thrown up in the air after we score a touchdown; it’s kind of funny looking. I also liked how they played the song shout after the third quarter. Things like this make it easy to really get into the game! I can’t wait to the next game; hopefully we can keep up this winning streak!

Toot, Toot "Boiler Up"

The days pass much more quickly when you have something to look forward to on the weekends and what better thing to look forward to than a Purdue football game. I love football Saturdays. You get all decked out in black and gold, grab some friends for brunch at Ford or join the tailgaters on Slater Hill, and then walk with the crowd of people to the stadium. Once inside I love standing on the bleachers and yelling “1,2,3,4 First Down,” cheering on the players, and joining in the wave (our wave skills are pretty impressive…normal, slow, and fast speed). Then we score a touchdown –I jump up and down, give high fives all around, and count along as someone is hoisted into the air. It’s a bonding experience with people you don’t even know, but will soon get to know after standing by them for eleven weeks. Plus a game just wouldn’t be the same without singing and dancing along to Shout at the end of the third quarter.

Let’s not forget about the band though. How great are they (minus the early morning pre-game songs before I am out of bed)!? I came from a small high school that could barely hold together a band so I never appreciated how much they reeve up the crowd and how entertaining they can be. Last Saturday I got to the game a little earlier than I normally do, and the band was so awesome! Everyone might not get to appreciate the formations they make on the field, but my roommate got a chance to sit in a box office and took these pictures. I was impressed! Throughout the game I always love watching the band members swinging and jumping around. How do they always have so much energy? They definitely pump me up during the game. I really appreciate all the long hours of practice they put in and the many hours of playing before, during, and after the game that make our football Saturdays so great!

Making new friends

Coming into Purdue I was very scared about making new friends. I have had the same firends since gradeschool and it was very hard for me to leave all of them. I went to a huge higschool of 3500 or more and all my friends went to IU or other schools. I knew that Purdue was for me because I got right into the nursing program so I really wanted to give it a chance. The first day after my parents left I felt very lonely, I remember sitting in the chair by my computer thinking wow I really should have gone to IU with all my firends. Meanwhile I looked across the hall to see two girls putting their futon together so I decided to go talk to them. They ended up being really cool and today they are some of my best friends. I think college is all about taking chances. You really have to step out of your comfort zone and try new things. I also starting leaving my door open so anyone could just walk in, just from doing that I pretty much know everybody on my floor. Another thing I started doing was talking to the people sitting next to me in classes. When you have lecture halls of 400 or more its hard to find people you know. But everyday I just started talking to whoever I was sitting next to and now I find myself knowing a lot of people in my classes.

Another way of making new friends is finding people to go eat with. Since everyone living in a dorm pretty much has a meal plan it's easy to find someone to eat with. By doing this you are forming friendships and getting to know all kinds of new people.

You could also try joining a club or a intermural sport. I joined the equestrian team and just from doing that I have met lots of cool girls. Purdue pretty much has every kind of group you could ever want to join you just have to find it. Soroities and fraterities are also a great way to meet new people. Just by going through the recructment process you meet so many different kinds of people. And if you decide to join one you will meet people that have a lot of the same interests as you. I realize that sororities and fraterities are not for everyone, but I encourage you to at least see what it's like, who knows you may surprise yourself and love it. If you decide they are not for you there are still many opportunities to make friends.

The difficulty of making new friends is all the studying that you have to do. I personally feel overwhelmed because I have to take a lot of science courses like biology and chemistry. It's completely different than highschool because you aren't pressured by your teachers to succeed. You have to be self motivated to complete your assignments and to study for important exams. By building a framework of friends you will find people in your same classes and be able to study, learn , and succeed together.

I Love Ford!

If I could have dinner with anyone in the world, I would want to dine with John and Mary Ford. Actually I would just like to dine at the dining hall that was named after them. And although they probably have nothing to do with how delicious the food is there, they still occupy a place in my heart. For those of you who aren’t aware, Ford Dining Hall is THE BEST dining hall on Purdue’s campus – on any college campus now that I think about it. I happen to live in Owen, which is located right next to Ford Dining Hall. Allow me to give you a short description of why, in my opinion, Ford Dining Hall is the most amazing place in West Lafayette to dine.
I would just like to note right away that although the line at Ford is often way out the door, it happens to be the fastest moving line in Indiana, so please don’t get discouraged. Once inside, you have many food stations including – but not limited too – pizza, Italian, salads, sandwiches, all American, meats, desserts, etc. And this is no usual cafeteria food – I would put money on the fact that the brilliant chefs at Ford could give your own mother a run for her money. It is hard to describe in words how amazing this food is, but let’s just say that it is my main concern when the term ‘Freshman 15’ comes to mind. Not only is the food amazing, but it’s all you can eat! You can sample any and all of the options at any given meal. So for those of you who love food, I can describe it as nothing less than heaven. Ford Dining Hall also features a soft serve ice cream machine conveniently located right by the door, to be sure that no diner should miss out on this delicious dessert.
The one and only downside to Ford is that it isn’t open 24 hours a day! But Ford definitely makes up for this flaw with a lovely feature called On the Go. On the go is open the whole day and features great food choices that are sure to meet any hungry students’ needs. You can just grab 5 items of your choice and be on your way to class… or wherever you choose to go. I plan to continue to check out more of the dining halls as soon as I can tear myself away from Ford and I will be sure to keep you updated on the different sorts of dining at Purdue!

Boiler Up!

“Boiler Up!” A phrase heard often around this vast college campus, but also a phrase that unites a school of more than 30,000 individuals. Each Saturday we wake up to the “Extra Special” parading down the street, honking its horn while the breakfast clubbers wander aimlessly down the streets in their unique costumes. It is almost like a notification to get up, to tailgate, and to get into the game with your close friends. This feeling is something I am not used to.I went to a relatively large high school, but we were not united. On Friday nights we would venture out to the local football game, but this experience is nothing compared to Big Ten Football. In high school, I would go the game with a few of my close friends. We would sit in the student section, compiled of the eager freshman, sophomores, juniors, and seniors in their spirit wear. I would only converse with my close friends and we would not even pay attention to the actual football game. In college, I venture to countless tailgates and meet a lot of new people. Once inside the stadium, I step into the “Black-out” section and am overwhelmed with a feeling of unison. We yell the infamous first down chant and jingle our keys at kick off. I don’t know many of these people, but we are all united over our love of Purdue football. I believe that at a school this size and this diverse, nothing is better than seeing a group of people come together over a common idea. Purdue Football is so much more than just a game. It is almost a lifestyle; one that unites a campus and encourages people to break out of their normal schedules and cliques. I love Purdue Football.

Dorm Life cont.

It didn’t take me long to realize that living in a dorm and being in college is way different then living in the comfort of your own home. Some things I have noticed from just being here a month are that:

You are almost always never alone,
No matter how hard you try your room never stays clean,
Your bed probably will only be made once or twice a week,
Your trash can will be perpetually full,
You will go through water like its oxygen,
You will always have something that you should be studying for,
You will realize how easy high school really was,
You will begin to hate do laundry and you will let it sit in your room until you have nothing left to wear,
Facebook will become your new best friend,
You will start to get used to walking all the way down the hallway just to go to the bathroom,
you will re-read the paper posted on the bathroom door every time you go in there and every time it will be just as interesting as the first,
Although you thought they were amazing at first you will get sick of the dining courts,
you will make tons of new friends,
You’ll get excited when someone writes a new message on your dry erase board,
You will be surprised at how fast the Jimmy Johns man can bike to your dorm,
You will hate walking to class in the rain,
You will become best friends with the people that live in the rooms around you,
You will spill things on your carpet and not clean it up for a couple days,
Thursday nights will become part of the weekend,
You will never go anywhere without your cell phone,
You will feel as though some people in the dorm never go to sleep,
You will think futons are extremely comfortable,
You will realize how broke you are,
You will love getting things in the mail,
Fans will become your new air conditioning,
You will nap more then you did in Kindergarten,
You will spend ten minutes looking for your toothbrush and realize you left it in the bathroom,
You’ll miss having the mall less then five minuets away with stores you actually like,
You will miss real food,
You will miss your car,
You will miss your dog,
You will miss being able to shower without having to wear sandals,
You will miss going high school football games,
You will actually like talking to your parents on the phone,
You will consider wearing a t shirt to class dressing up,
You will always have something to do on weekends,
You will get really sick of Easy Mac,
You will find it to hard study in your room because there will always be something to distract you,
You will decide you are going to start liking coffee

A new "first" (and hopefully my last)

I have heard several stories while at Purdue about people who have gotten hit by cars on campus. I have seen many incidents of cars driving too fast or recklessly, and I have seen students walk across streets without caution. However, I have never seen anyone get hit by a car nor have I gotten hit myself until…tonight. My record changed Car =1: Me =0.

I went out for a run around 8:00pm. It was still light outside with clear visibility although it was starting to turn to dusk. When I came to the intersection of Martin Jischke Drive and State Street I slowed down, looked to see that it was safe to cross since the light was green the way I was running, and looked for cars turning –all the things you are supposed to do to avoid getting hit right? There was a car turning right to my left, but I checked to make sure there wasn’t an opening in the traffic for them to be able to turn right on red, and there was not. So I proceeded to run across the street when the car pulled forward. The car could clearly not turn right yet because there was a steady stream of traffic, but the car pulled forward anyway into the crosswalk and right into me. My toes were run over by her front tire, but fortunately I have good reflexes and was able to pull my foot quickly away. The front of her car also hit my left knee…the knee that I tore my ACL in only five months ago. The driver asked me if I was okay, and I said yes because what else was I supposed to say? I think I am okay. I was quite stunned though. I am going to have a bruise on my knee, and my toes definitely feel like something very heavy was on them, but I was able to run another two miles so we’ll see if I am feeling any pain tomorrow. Hopefully not in my knee!

What stinks though is I did everything right. How was I supposed to avoid that situation? I had no way of predicting that the driver would pull forward –without looking both ways –in preparing to turn right when clearly she could not go yet. Obviously I was a little peeved; however, the incident did give me something to blog about so…um..thanks.

14 Do's

This is my sophomore year at Purdue. Last year I learned a few things from my day to day experiences and observations. Maybe they can help you too…

1. Do take advantage of all PU has to offer. This sounds like something that your parents would say, but I am serious. Be active. Try something new. Walk down to Boiler Market and eat with your friends, join an intramural team, or go to a salsa club callout and take advantage of the free lesson.
2. Do open your room door…it may seem awkward, but you’ll make the greatest friends in the dorms. The people you meet in your dorm will be the people you’ll always remember. You may remember them for something quirky they did, or they may become your best of friends. Give it a chance.
3. Do realize that Facebook IS addicting. I know!
4. Do take breaks from studying. It is a necessity.
5. Do use your printing quota from the ITAP computer labs. It’s handy when you have breaks on campus, and you’re not wasting your ink and paper.
6. Do study for a test more than just the day or two before. Tests are not like they were in high school. Yes, studying sucks, but it is much more bearable when you study in little chunks. You remember the information better. Plus it is much better than pulling an all-nighter and having to drink 4 cups of some caffeinated beverage before your test. Hopefully, I can save you a little pain by passing on this tip.
7. Do take late night Wal-mart runs.
8. Do check weather.com frequently. It will become your best friend
9. Do remember to always have an umbrella in your bag. I have lived in Indiana all my life, and the weather is…well…erratic. The 50 degree morning is a prime example.
10. Do go to games (football, basketball, soccer, track, swimming…). You don’t truly experience Purdue until you have been to a sporting event. The energy from the crowd is the greatest feeling. You’ll want to cheer, to clap and to yell “Boiler Up.” Be there.
11. Do walk down the right side of the sidewalk. It’s just the way it is.
12. Do always look at the color of the stoplight and for cars before crossing the street. Don’t just follow the crowd –the crowd can be wrong.
13. Do ask for help from professors, TAs, or your classmates. If you don’t connect with your TA don’t worry. Find another TA, email them, or go to their office hours. I have found that people are generally very willing to help.
14. Do know that it’s okay to stay in some weekends. Don’t think that everyone goes out every weekend –have a hall video game tournament or binge on Grey’s Anatomy. These nights can create the most lasting memories.

High School vs. College

Even though I’ve only been at Purdue for a month, I’ve picked up on some big differences between high school and college. If I were back in high school, I would have loved to have a serious heads up about a few of these. Let’s start with the differences that make college the “best time of your life.” First of all, for those social butterflies out there, the best thing of all is being constantly surrounded by friends. There is never a dull moment in the hall of a dorm, especially on the girls’ side. However, this could go both ways; those of us who are used to our own room and bathroom or doing homework alone in a very calm environment, say goodbye to efficiency and hello to about a million distractions. Fun? Yes, but also very frustrating at times. Another great perk of college for the more social student is definitely the constant availability of social events; parties, functions, clubs, etc. And also the nonexistent curfew. Nothing is better than going from home by 12:30 or grounded to being able to do as you please until all hours of the night. However, all of this freedom leads to a few more serious differences between high school and college…

With freedom comes responsibility, and this can be a difficult issue to tackle for an 18 year old who just wants to have fun. Personally, I am a very social person and I love going out and being with my friends. However, I also chose engineering as my major, and it’s kicking my butt. The amount of homework is incredible, and the amount of material I’m expected to learn on my own time is, in my opinion, not possible. Let’s face it - high school was basically a joke. I hardly ever studied for a test and I got good grades by doing just enough, and I’m starting to realize that that just won’t cut it in college. For the first month of college I have been trying to get all of my schoolwork done during the week so that I can have the entire weekend to do whatever I want. I would highly recommend this method – the girls living on my floor generally do the same and so far it has worked out pretty well (although we have yet to take an exam so my opinion may change after next week). Luckily I was a pretty responsible kid to start off with, but I think a lot of high school kids should really try to talk to college student to really get a feel for what they are in for.

Rainy Days

I have always loved rainy days. Nothing is better than snuggling up on the couch when its storming to watch a good movie, or falling asleep to the sound of light rain on the roof. However, now that I'm in college my opinion has changed.

I hate rain.

Everything about rain makes a college student's life miserable. Allow me to walk you through a rainy day at Purdue from a girl’s prospective. You realize it right away when you wake up; you now have an afro courtesy of the humidity. When you go to take shower your towel still isn’t dry from the night before. Everything in your room feels sticky and dirty. Although this makes for a very uncomfortable day, the rain does lead to some very amusing/annoying events.

You walk to class in flip flops. Every time you take a step your flip flops fling little chunks of mud onto the back of your legs. Not a pleasant feeling. The other day on my way to class, a city bus drove through a HUGE puddle right along side of the sidewalk…and yes, that’s right, completely soaked me from waist down with the splash. So much for the umbrella keeping me dry.

And then comes an event that will brighten anyone’s day, unless of course you are involved. As all of us with driver’s licenses should know, roads are very slippery when wet. Not only does this apply to cars, but bikers also face the same issue. Although you hear many squealing bike tires on the way to class, nothing is better than being at the right place at the right time, to see nothing better than a bike mishap. Today I saw a very speedy biker completely take out an innocent pedestrian because his brakes went out on the wet pavement. Although this is very unfortunate, I am ashamed to admit that I was very amused (along with the other fifty people on the street corner).

One last bit about rain. Our first home football game got poured on – never too much fun. Until next time…

My Recent and General Findings

Although I have only been at Purdue for all of around three weeks I am getting accustomed to my new college life. I guess I could say that adjusting hasn't been as hard as I though it would be. I remember the first week all I could think about was how I was going to be so lost around campus and most likely come in late to every one of my classes. I was determined to not look like the average freshmen with their map out in front of them and a completely confused look on their face. I have definitely sported the confused look on campus, but I decided to look at my map before I left for class and it worked out pretty nicely. Luckily for me I have yet to get lost, which really surprised me but I'm definitely not complaining. Although many of the buildings do look familiar I am now able to differentiate them some how.

I also remember not being particularly happy with the fact that I have an hour break between classes once a day. I didn't know what I would do for that hour; I didn't even know where the libraries were located. As a result, I started going to the union during that break, finding a comfy couch or chair, and catching up on some reading for a class that was due in a couple of days. It is a nice habit I have gotten into and it really helps me force myself to get some homework done. Also, if anyone is looking for a place to take a catnap between classes, I have noticed the union is also pretty popular for that, so you might want to check it out. Just a suggestion. Anyways I have come to find that perhaps those hour breaks were actually a blessing in disguise.

Another worry of mine was living in this crammed dorm. Although it isn't the best experience, I can say that it has helped me become more organized. This was a big shocker! However once again I can't say I can complain about that one. It's nice to know where everything is and because there aren't too many places to put things it's quite easy to know where things are. All in all I am confident in saying that I am completely enjoying my college experience thus far. I can't wait to report the rest of my findings here at Purdue...until then boiler up!!

Introduction to dorm life

Owen Hall 1160 West Stadium Avenue, my new home for the next year. As soon as we pulled up to the curb that sunday morning there were people wearing bright colored shirts rushing over to us offering to carry my stuff to my room. Once it was all piled in it was time to unpack, this took awhile since I am not a very oranized packer and I had way to much stuff and not enough space. I found myself sitting aroung letting my parents do all the work. My dad being the computer genius of the family began setting up my computer and printer. After a couple hours passed it was time for my parents to leave, I had waited for this moment for 19 years and the time had finally come. I had always thought it was going be so easy for me to say goodbye to my parents but I started to realize it was actually one of the hardest things I had ever had to do. After watching them drive away and wiping the tears away from my cheek I wandered back inside to my new home.

The first day I sat awarkdly in my room talking to my room mate which was someone I had just met. It was hard for me to grasp the fact that I would be living, eating, and sleeping with someone I hardly knew. Thankfully my roommate turned out to be pretty cool, going into college I was pretty nervous about the whole room mate thing. You always here crazy stories about room mates gone bad, and I had hoped that I would never have to have one of these stories of my own.

My Mission Statement

My inspiration for this blog comes from my experience of searching for the “right” college for me. Deciding what college to attend was one of the toughest decisions thus far in my life. I visited many colleges looking for where I belonged. Although touring the schools and listening to the admissions counselors was helpful, the best way for me to get the “scoop” on the campus was through the students’ eyes. Seeing the campus from the inside by staying over night and talking with current students helped me narrow down my decision and then finally decide on Purdue. My desire would be for my posts to allow everyone to get a glance at the daily life of PU students through my eyes and that it is relevant to all who read it. Hopefully you enjoy my “scoop” :)

Picture from: http://skyblue101.stumbleupon.com/tag/photography/20/

Mission Statement

The mission of our blog is to get the "inside scoop" on Purdue's campus through our eyes as students. Our goal is to create an entertaining blog that is very conversational and encourages responses from other students. We will investigate many different aspects of daily life at Purdue including:
· Housing
· Food: dining halls, local restaurants
· Facilities: classrooms, recreation center, libraries
· Events: athletics, concerts, dances, speakers
· Academics: homework, professors, exams, etc.
· Extracurriculars: clubs, intramurals, jobs
We hope to paint a picture of what life looks like for us at Purdue. We would like to reach prospective students who wish to learn more about life at Purdue, and we would also like to connect with other current Purdue students who have had similar experiences as we have. Since we are documenting many different parts of life at Purdue, we hope that our blog will stay exciting and won’t get repetitive. Not only will we write about our personal experiences and opinions, but we will also include the experiences and opinions of our friends and peers. We hope you enjoy our scoop on Purdue… Boiler Up!