Solution to the solveable part of this problem? Looks like I'm off to purchase some waterproof, warm boots this weekend. I may not be able to change the weather, but I can at least change the small problem that I can fix!
I did have my first big exam this week - yesterday, to be exact - in International Relations. I have found that for most of my politics classes, or really any classes, I can study a lot better if I do it with a friend or two. Alone, I have a hard time concentrating on my work, and there is no one to hold me accountable to getting things done and making sure I am actually answering questions rather than surfing the internet or playing video games or something else that usually seems to take up a larger part of my day than it probably should. Most people may assume at first that studying with a friend is actually MORE of a distraction - but I know at least for me, the thought of someone else's grade besides my own hanging in the balance certainly motivates me a lot more than just worrying about myself.
Anyway, I actually feel pretty confident about how the exam went, though I did realize I need to begin my studying perhaps a few days earlier for the next one than I did for this one, because I know in the back of my mind that a few of my essays could have been a bit better. However, at least my two 'study buddies' that I worked with to answer questions beforehand seemed to feel confident about their results as well, and that makes me certainly feel a lot better myself.
One nice thing about Waynesburg is the fact that every Tuesday at 11:00, nothing on campus is scheduled as far as classes, meetings, or sports practices. The culprit? No, it's not just a nice break for everyone to grab a nap in - rather, there is a chapel service every week held in Miller Hall. Although it is not required attend, I rarely miss a week. Chapel is a nice time in the middle of the week to keep my faith on-target, and a reminder that church does not only exist on Sunday mornings.
My favourite thing about chapel is that there is a guest speaker every week - usually one that has travelled from somewhere off-campus, and they are always unique, so there is something for everyone to look forward to. This week's chapel hosted Mother Magdalena, an Orthodox nun. I had never heard a message from an Orthodox *anything* before, let alone a nun, so I was excited to hear what she had to say.
And what she had to say was certainly intriguing. She taught a very simple way to live a life of prayer rather than just having a short morning prayer when we wake up and one before we go to bed as so many seem to fall into the habit of doing. Mother Magdalena suggested that we try just one of her three ideas to help us live a more prayerful life.
1. Ask God's blessing on everything you do before you do it, whether its studying for an exam, talking to a friend, cleaning your room...anything.
2. Thank God for everything no matter what it is - good grades on exams and broken ribs both are suitable for thanksgiving.
3. Be a bee and not a fly - a fly goes into a room of flowers and finds the small pile of dirt, while a bee flies into a room of dirt and finds the single flower.
As for myself, I am trying the first one for the following year, and hope that it is something I am able to stick to. If you think about it, its really not that big of a thing to just ask for a short blessing on everything before you do it, but for someone like me that is so easily distracted and forgetful, I know it will be a struggle. However, I intend to see it through - nothing is really worth it in the end unless you had to fight for it, after all.
The rest of my classes seem to be going pretty good as well. I suppose posting a list of my classes might be in order - I should have done this last week, but I have already admitted to having a scatterbrained mind, and things tend to slip in and out of it quite a bit. However, I think that a list of reference might be in good order so that I can refer to classes in the future without you, loyal reader, becoming overly confused and wondering where these classes are coming from.
On that note, my classes this semester are:
-Western Civilization from 1500
-Art from the Early Renaissance
-The Ministry and Literature of Paul
-Minority Relations
-International Relations
-International Economics
Quite a nice spread, isn't it? A bit of history, a bit of the present, and even a bit of the future. It certainly makes for a week that never fails to intrigue me at least once a day if not more, and I am quite in love with my schedule. My suggestion when it comes to making your own schedule? Try to balance out how many classes you have on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with how many you have on Tuesday and Thursday. Sometimes this is impossible to do, but as for me - at the moment I have three on MWF and three on TTH, which is very comfortable. I have time to do work AND to take advantage of all my amazing friends here on campus as well as the campus events.
Speaking of amazing friends - did I mention that I am actually a commuter? I don't think so...yet another thing that probably slipped my mind previously. Anyway, yes, I am a commuter. I know, the instant stereotype is this kid that comes to campus, goes to a few classes, and then goes home and does not come back until the next day. No friends, no clubs, no on-campus involvement. Lies, I tell you...those are all lies.
As a commuter, I also happen to stay on campus every night until at least 9:00, at least when the weather is decent, because I do have a lot of friends contrary to the popular stereotype. My suggestion for making sure this happens to you if you are a commuter as well? Get involved on campus! Just because you're a commuter does not mean that you can't join clubs or organizations. That is how I met some of my best friends, and it gives me the opportunity to have a campus lifestyle with everything but living in the dormitories.
Speaking of clubs - I told you, scatterbrained, excuse me if I jump around a lot - I am Vice-President of the WORLD International Student Organization here at Waynesburg. WORLD actually stands for 'We Organize Relations and Learn through Diversity' - that's a little known fact on campus, so you can take that one to the bank! Anyway, back on track with why I brought up the club and trying to relate it back to my previous paragraph so I don't appear completely insane - it gives me a lot of opportunities to take part in campus activities. For instance, the WORLD club is going on Sunday to an Indian restaurant, which is something I probably would not have done had I not been in the club - and the best part? I get to spend the afternoon with all of my amazing friends that I met in the organization.
The point I am trying to make? Commuters - get involved and make friends, and you'll find that there are not really any disadvantages to being a commuter. You can have just as much of a campus lifestyle as the person next to you - only you get to have your own bed every night, and everyone knows how nice that feels.
Don't forget that this coming week I am making my trip to Grand Rapids, Michigan to Calvin College for the Faith and International Development conference (Hint, hint! Getting involved on campus and taking trips, just like a resident student!) so next week I will be able to tell you not only about the Indian restaurant and my life at Waynesburg, but also about my weekend spent at another Christian college. Where there will probably be even more snow than there is here.
Good thing I'm getting boots this weekend, that's all I have to say. Pack boots when coming to Waynesburg. You'll appreciate it if you do.
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