Hey Everyone!

Honestly, this has been the longest I've gone without writing a word, I am soo sorry, my life this second semester has been very different and much busier than before so to break it all down for you here are some of the things I've been doing in the past four weeks:

1.) Childcare: Every Tuesday night I go to do some babysitting for Helping Services in town. This is a great opportunity because I get to make some extra cash, by spending two hours entertaining a few kids.

2.) Ethnic Arts: The weekend of 7-9th of March was the annual Ethnic Arts Festival here on campus. This festival included an array of food, dance, and entertainment from all over the world. I was involved by performing in the first part of a three piece Bollywood dance.

3.) Research Paper: That same weekend I had to write my Paideia Research paper. Which was on a woman named Victoria Woodhull, who was the first woman to run for President. Thankfully, it's finished and I don't have to worry about it until after spring break.

4.) Friend: That same exact weekend my friend Gennie from Texas came to visit.

5.) Sickness: I've spent a big chunk of time being sick, with a cold, a cough, a fever... or all three at the same time

5.) Tutor: Thanks to the amount of time I was sick I fell behind on my Stats coursework, forcing me to get my first tutor. It's not bad at all, and he's helping me catch up.

6.) Bowl-a-thon: Some of my classmates from my Social Work class put up this fund raiser to help the mentoring program in Decorah. Bowling was tons of fun.

7.) 18-credits: I am taking a total of 18 credit hours this semester, which let me tell you is a lot on my plate. These are Paideia, Sociology, Statistics, General Psychology, Service Learning for Social Work, and a fitness class called Walking, Jogging, Stretching.

8.) Service Learning: I am working to put on the SAPA Run/Walk this year, it's a run to promote sexual awareness on campus. I am also working on a Sexual Awareness Mock Trial in which I will be the victim's very close friend.

9.) SPRING BREAK!!!

Once again sorry for leaving this to the last minute.. Hope everyone is doing great.. and I will be better about posting weekly in the coming weeks.




Until next time,

Adriana

Oh! What A Day!

Right before I came to college I had the very strong belief and conviction that Saturday was NOT a day for homework. I am sure that this belief is shared by the masses, but today for the first time, I broke that belief.

You see, I am at the Library on Saturday night. Not only that but I have been here since 9:30 this morning. You may wonder... Why is she doing such crazy thing? Well I will tell you. I fell behind on my courses. I was sick for most of last week with a very bad cold. In turn I missed two Statistics classes and fell behind really bad. Not only do I have to catch up, but I have to do the work that is due on Monday. I am trying to do a week's worth of homework in one day. Let me tell you it's quite the task.

On top of that we just started our Research unit (something every first year student will have to do) in Paideia. I have been trying to get caught up with most of my classes as well as start researching my topic. Which by the way is on Victoria Woodhull who hold and behold (was the first woman to run for president in the U.S.)

So, you may wonder was is the moral of this story... TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF! Being sick is not fun, and let me tell you when you fall behind in college classes it is very hard to catch up (not impossible though) So I hope everyone is having an amazing Saturday (or at least better than mine) And I will keep you updated!

Leave comments = D

Until next time,

Adriana

Busy Times

Hey everyone!

I'm sorry I have neglected this blog, the start of Spring Semester did not go as smoothly as planned, so I have been full of things to do.

Spring semester is upon us and like I mentioned it did not start off well. I had to change my schedule, I missed my first Statistics class, I went to the wrong room for my Sociology class, I missed my first Paideia discussion. All in one day! It was chaotic, the result of this -- having to catch up during the first few days of class. But after a few days spent in the library, I am finally back on track.

Apart from the chaotic start of the semester, I have really enjoyed all of my classes. I am taking Paideia, Sociology, Statistics, Psychology, and Service Learning (Social Work). I absolutely love all my classes but the work load is much heavier than last semester.

My Service Learning Course is my favorite thus far. This class is a One Credit course, that is a follow up to my J-term class. It involves working as a volunteer for different service organizations, as well as working in a project created by me. There is only seven students in this class and we only meet once a week, but it is not an easy class. It is a completely student-led class. I am really excited to start working in my service learning. One of the projects that I will take part in is the Sexual Assault Prevention/Awareness Run, which will take place in the spring. I am excited to start learning and helping.

Aside from all my academic obligations and homework, I am also working hard for the Ethnic Arts Festival, which will take place March 8th. I am involved in a dance and a fashion show. I have practice twice a week, and I am excited because all our hard work and practice will pay off. I also do childcare for Helping Services on Tuesday nights, which is a fun way to earn a bit of extra cash.

All in all, Spring Semester will be very busy time indeed, but don't worry I will make sure to keep you updated.

Once again, feel free to make any comments, ask questions, share your favorite quotes, give me suggestions. Anything to make this space better. I want to extend a thank you to the person who commented last blog!

Well take care and stay safe!

Until next time,

Adriana

"If you take responsibility for yourself you will develop a hunger to accomplish your dreams." --Les Brown

J-term... Mission Accomplished!

Hey everyone!

So finally J-term is over. It has been quite a trip. These first year seminars are supposed to be very thought provoking and exciting mine definitely has been. I have definitely learned a lot, and I am excited for the Spring Semester to begin.

Last night as we were sitting around me and my friends realized how fast time has gone by. It seems like only yesterday that we walked down the hall. Full of dreams, expectations, and A LOT of luggage. As we sat around discussing this, I realized that a lot of things have happened in the past months, as a freshman at Luther College.

I feel a different person from when I left home. Somehow I feel more independent, many even a little bit older. Granted I still have my moments, when I just want to curl up, and call my mom, and have her take care of me. But for the most part this has been a great experience.

Now I'm not only done with one semester, but in a couple of days Spring Semester will be here, and with it the chaos, of having to manage everything. I am really looking forward to this.

In honor of the upcoming semester me and one of my roommates got creative and decided to improve our room. The results were amazing. Also, I got a digital camera, so I have been a little picture crazy the past few days!


So all of you out there, (if there is anybody) feel free to comment. Give me suggestions on how to make this better. Ask questions. Give me something you would like me to talk about. Share your favorite quotes. I want to make this blog the best it can be for the upcoming semester. Help me OUT!

Thanks in advance! Have an amazing weekend... I'm looking forward to your insight!

Until next time,
Adriana

"Knowledge about yourself binds, weighs, ties you down; there is no freedom to move, and you act and move within the limits of that knowledge." -- Unknown

Snowday... At Luther?

I had a SNOWDAY today... my first and probably last one ever! This week in Decorah, it's supposed to snow a lot, and we are supposed to get a couple of inches, which for the most part we already got.

Yesterday, when I heard the news I quickly turned to my all-knowing friend Rachel, and asked her, if there was snow days in college. Sadly, she said no. Later, however, I received an e-mail from my J-term teacher, asking us to check our e-mail in the morning in case the training session scheduled for today was canceled. Hoping for the best I woke up five minutes before training and gladly found that the training was canceled. Yay!

And even thought i would have loved to spend all day in bed or frolic in the snow, I had a lot of things to do. I spent most of my morning looking up YouTube videos, for a project for my class. This project consists of picking a song and essentially making a 'music video' that somehow relates to a topic we have discussed in class. I also spent a few hours watching the movie Enough, the one with J-Lo, in which she is abused and in turn ends up killing her abusive husband, for class.

After that I had to go to practice for this dance that me and a group of friends are performing in March. It is an Indian piece, and honestly it has been harder than I expected, but fun. We are performing this dance for the Ethnic Arts Festival, which will take place in March, like I already mentioned. It's an exciting time for the different ethnicities present on campus to show everyone a taste of their culture, through music, art, and food. It's going to be an exciting time! I'll keep you updated on that. Have a safe weekend everyone! Stay warm : )

Until next time,

Adriana

"To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men - that is genius." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Volunteer Training

Hey everyone!

Today I had a very exciting and informative day. It was the first day of my volunteer training for the Domestic & Sexual Abuse Resource Center, this training is part of my first year seminar. I will be certified as a Level 1Crisis Worker, which will enable me to work as a volunteer for the Crisis Hotline, once I finish. The training consists of four training sessions that go from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m, with breaks in between.

The training was held in Baker Commons which is clear across campus from where I live. Not knowing how long it would take me to get there on foot, I decided to leave super early, with my hair wet (bad idea, I had a horrible headache by the time I got there). I got there on time, thankfully. And I soon discovered that other people from the surrounding area, and other Luther students besides our class were participating in the training. This was great, because some of my fellow students from the fall Social Work class were present, it was a great time to catch up (during breaks of course).

However, the first training session didn't got as smoothly as planned. We were interrupted by a double booking, and we had to trek back to campus and find another place to meet. At the end it turned out just fine, and we got to hear very interesting information about Domestic Violence. We even finished a half an hour early. All in all, the first training session was very exciting and I can't wait for the next three. I'll keep you updated!

Until next time,

Adriana

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose." Dr. Seuss

Here We Go Again... 2008!

I hope everyone had an absolutely amazing winter break... I didn't. It wasn't bad but I certainly hoped it was absolutely amazing. I worked, and most of my friends were in holidays in Mexico, so I spent a lot of the time doing nothing at home.

Christmas day, however, was pretty awesome. I got a new laptop and tons of clothes, always good to start off the New Year. But now I'm back, and getting into my routine here on campus.

Looking back at my fist semester on campus it's really surprising. I can't quite believe it. Really... I finished my first semester of college? And I have my respectable grades to prove it?!

I'm excited for what the New Year, and the new semester has to offer. I'm open to new experiences, people, and classes... starting of course with my first year seminar during J-term. Basically we take one class for three and a half weeks. Pretty sweet huh?!

I'm taking a class called Crisis Intervention, it's main focus is on violence. Domestic violence, in its many forms... sexual, physical, mental and emotional. I was super excited for this course, and today during our first class session I was not disappointed. Except for the fact that I have homework. But I'll get over it... I always do.

Until next time...

Adriana

"Hold on, cause the world will turn if you're ready or not".