One thing I suppose I am ready for, however, is spring weather! We have had almost two solid weeks of snow, and though I will admit that it does make the campus quite a pretty sight out the window during class or walking around, it is quite cold to be outside in. However, that has not stopped most of the students from having a good time despite the cold weather. Every morning when I walk between my classes, I see new trails in the snow from where people have been sled riding the night before, and deer tracks all over the place from their midnight wanders.
Even 'Lake Wahneita,' our local pond on campus, was completely frozen over to the point that you could stand on it.
Oh! I just realized I have already been rambling about summer and snow and all manner of other things that somehow seem unconnected now that I look back at them, and I have not even introduced myself considering this is my first blog. My name is Brandi, and I'm a sophomore - well, a junior on paper I suppose, but this is my second year here, so I consider myself a sophomore. I'm an International Studies in Culture and Biblical and Ministry Studies in International Missions major, with a Political Science minor - a long title, I know, but its been a great experience so far. I guess you can really tell whether or not you are in the right major depending on how much you like going to class, or like reading your textbooks, and I must say that I actually like mine. I would have never imagined that in high school, but its become the reality here at Waynesburg - finally, I am enjoying what I am learning about, and actually find it interesting! It definitely helps with the college experience, I am certain.
Besides that - and perhaps, actually along those same lines - my biggest pressure at the moment aside from getting assignments and papers in on time is that I am waiting to hear back about whether or not I have been accepted to study abroad next year. You see, I applied last semester to the Irish American Scholars to hopefully spend next year in Northern Ireland. However, I have to wait until March to find out, and being the impatient person that I am....well, you can probably imagine what that is like. Anyway, I have high hopes for getting into the program - Waynesburg has an absolute plethora of study abroad programs, by the way, and I am sure I will ramble on about those more in the future - and will hopefully continue to blog from Northern Ireland next year as well, so at least we (loyal reader and myself) have that to look forward to.
Okay, enough about me and back to the campus! I suppose the other big thing on campus right now, or at least for those of us with a creative side, is the Muse and Stone deadline. The Muse and Stone is Waynesburg's literary magazine, where anyone on campus - and even outside submissions from around the country - can send in fictional short stories, creative non-fiction stories, poems, and even artwork. The submissions are then viewed by blind judging by the Muse and Stone club on campus, and those that are selected are published in the journal, which is given out for free to anyone that wants one. My short story 'From Valhalla with Love' was published in last year's edition, so I have high hopes for this year as well.
Of course, being the 'on top of things' person that I am - you may find this to be a slight exaggeration of my personality over the coming months - I sent my submission last night. The deadline was today. The way I look at it, the point is that I definitely made it in before the deadline, and that is the most important thing. Now, I cannot say on here the title of my work at the moment, considering that would throw off the blind judging part, but if it is accepted I will be sure to make note of that in the future. Wish me - or rather, my story - luck!
Speaking of last minute deadlines, I also signed up yesterday to attend the Faith and International Development Conference at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan (the deadline for that also being today). It is a trip sponsored by Waynesburg for students in majors like myself, or just anyone interested in sustainable development and human rights, to spend three days at Calvin College attending workshops and meeting like-minded people. I went on the trip last year, and it was a great experience, so I am looking forward to going again this year. The trip is exactly two weeks from yesterday, so I conveniently don't even have to wait long.
Well, next week seems like the week the semester is *really* going to start. I start having all of my first big exams, and deadlines for papers begin to show up. I have written one large paper already, however, for my Ministry and Literature of Paul class. The BMS (Biblical and Ministry Studies) classes here at Waynesburg really force me to work hard, write a lot of papers, and do some serious thinking. However, I know they have also helped me grow a lot in my faith, and I have learned things about the Bible that I probably never would have realized otherwise. It has been very rewarding thus far, and I think it will continue to be that way. Though I may not like the work at the times that I am doing it, I know now in my fourth semester studying the subject that in the end, I will be satisfied looking back at what I have done and how far I have come since the beginning of the semester.
Seems like that is a pretty good place to bring this first entry to a stop - after all, the sun is finally shining outside and the snow is melting (more snow forecast tonight for those of you who do like the winter weather, so do not fret!) and I have probably rambled long enough. Closing statements? I am really looking forward to keeping this weekly blog, and hope that whoever is out there reading it is going to enjoy it as much as I know that I will.
Oh! PS, one last closing thought - the subject line? That is actually not a Christmas song, in case that is what you were thinking. It is just a winter song, and thus, totally appropriate for the month of January. Just in case there were any questions. Glad we cleared that up, and thanks for reading!
No comments:
Post a Comment