Week one of the new Spring semester is done! How was your week? Mine was interesting. I learned two things already!

First, I learned that any class can be fun if you make it that way. I am taking Administration in Criminal Justice and I thought it would be a little… flat (for lack of a better word), but as it turns out I can make it fun. Hearing the professor’s stories from his past career as a police officer and investigator makes the day.

Second, I learned that one of my professors is a strong and respectable man. My Children’s Literature teacher wears a kilt every Friday and- unlike some people- I think he is brave for walking around all day in it. He reveres his ancestors and shows his pride in his heritage by standing up for modern day times and the idea that men can wear a skirt too. If you ask him why he wears a kilt every Friday, he would probably give you the clipped version of “Because, I want to”, but the truth is he is making a stand. Years ago, when he was teaching at a different school, he was told that men wear slacks, dress shirts, and ties every day to their classes and women wear dresses. But, this particular man wasn’t going to stand for that. He was going to make a point and wear the clothes of his ancestors, against school wishes. Sadly, however, he didn’t get this chance before moving to New York and starting work here at Genesee Community College. So, to continue with his mission, he wears various kilts every Friday and shows off the fashion of his ancestors. His family should be proud and, as he told us, his wife finds it sexy… But, the point is, a man can look good in a kilt!

 

 

Well, we start the Spring semester in 5 days. Are you ready? I’m not! I have almost everything packed, have a plan for moving back, have my textbooks ordered and my schedule ready, but I’m still not ready to go back. Even after a whole semester in the Fall, I am not used to being away from home or being out of my comfort zone when it comes to have roommates. But, I am determined to make this semester all the better then the last. I will get enough sleep, I will work my butt off on my homework and in class, I will use my down times to work on my novels instead of taking a nap or eating or something worthless like that. I will beat those seven deadly sins that overtake us all at one time or another. Sloth (no naps everyday), Pride (meaning over pride), Greed (will not worry about other people’s grades or things and only worry about myself), Anger (will try to control my anger over everything), Envy (self-explanatory), Lust (but that one isn’t included in this scenario lol), and Gluttony (I will not want what I don’t need)- I will vanquish you all this semester!

~Genevieve~

Well, it’s 2012 everyone! The Spring semester will be starting soon and that means meeting new goals in your academic life and your everyday life as well. Are you striving to be a straight A student or just striving to be your best? Are you worried about any particular class or scared that you made the wrong decision when it came to your choices of classes? Don’t worry, you are not the only one. I am striving for those straight As, but I am terrified of accomplishing it. I am the type of person who has to work my butt off to even get one A and I am striving for FOUR, but it is the goal that I care the most about this year (besides finishing my novel). For once in my life, I want to feel proud of something I accomplish and in 2012 it is going to happen. The new year has brought forth a new me. What has the new year brought for you? Please share and Happy New Year Everyone!

 

~Genevieve~

Hey guys, Emily, here!

Well. The end has come. The end of the semester, the end of my student blogging, and the end of my acedemic career, here, at GCC.

As I look back on the summer after I graduated highschool, it makes me laugh knowing that I was nervous about coming here. First of all, there was the people issue. I graduated from Alexander Central High School with about 60, or so, other seniors. All but a few of these kids attended GCC. In highschool, one of the biggest topics of conversation around the lunchtable was the fact that almost our entire graduating class was going to attend this college and we were all annoyed at this prospect. It felt to all of us as if we were going through highscool  again. As with every highshcool across the country, not every member of my senior class got along with each other. To say that there were clicks and groups throughout my class was an understatement and everyone was not looking forward to purpetuate the groups within the halls of GCC.

However.

Surprisingly, to all of us, I believe, was the fact that this did not happen. As we all assimilated to college life, generally speaking, we went our own ways. I still speak with the people whom I was closest to in highschool, and have actually gotten closer to a few people that I was not friends with during those years. I think that when you are facing a major change in your life (like leaving an institution that you have been a part of for years) you start to worry about things that you dont realize are not going to matter very much once you have established a routine in your new surroundings. As far as I know (with a few exceptions that I am also aware of) every one I graduated with has done just fine here and is living their lives to the fullest. I am proud of us.

On a more personal level, I am sad to be leaving school. Its very bittersweet for me. When I first started here I was young, insecure, and honestly very intimidated by the floor plan of the school; (when you’re just starting out, its hard to understand the different sides of the school while factoring in the square-shape of the floors) and was worried that I would not be able to assimilate successfuly.

I was very lucky to be hired at Student Activities. They helped me with EVERYTHING. If I had a problem with a class, I could talk it out with one of them. If I needed to know where a particular room in one of the buildings was, they had the answer. When I was in need of a job, they took me under their wing without even a second thought. I am a different person now, then when I started here a year and a half ago, and SA is the reason for that change.

Because of the responsibilities they have given me, I am a confident woman who knows how to conduct business with people. Because of SA, I had the amazing opportunity to be selected as Student of the Month, and sit down with President Sunser. Because of SA, I can stand up for myself and walk confidently down the path of my life.

Thank you Student Activities Family, for everything. 🙂

And now to those of you who are freshmen 😉

The biggest piece of advice I can give to you is to take your education into your own hands. You are in college now, do not expect other people to do anything for you. Your life has begun, and it is up to you to take responsibility for your actions and your life. Ask questions of your professors; they are there to teach you, not scare you, and contrary to popular belief they do not enjoying failing people. Believe it or not, what you do with these years will have a dramatic effect on the course of your life so be smart. Choose your friends wisely, they have an impact on you as well.

Lastly, wait a week after the semester starts to buy your books. This is the most practical advice I can give you. Often, you wont need a couple things on your required reading list and/or your professor will tell you that you wont really use your text book. By waiting, you will save SO much money and alot of backaches carrying those books around.

Finally, I have had a blast blogging for Genesee Community College. I hope that the people who read this blog (I would love to meet you brave people and shake your hand) enjoyed what I had to say about the life and times of an average GCC student. Thank you for listening to my humble ramblings.

Until next time,

Emily K Patrick, GCC, Class of 2011

Hi Guys, Emily, Here!!!

Yesterday was my birthday; I am now 20 years old. Wow. I feel so old…. Anyways, I wasn’t too sure whether I would have a lovely day or not yesterday, due to the fact that my schedule had me here, at school, from 8 am until 9 pm. Craziness. Especially on a day that is meant to be spent celebrating with family and friends.

Well… it was a million times better than I thought it would be!!! My SA family made me feel incredibly special and loved and I thank them for it. They truly make my time here at GCC exciting, fun, and fulfilling. We don’t like to talk about it, but I am going to miss them very much when I graduate.

So, at the risk of sounding too sappy for everyone’s taste, I will end this short blog post with a great video from “The Office” about birthdays, and a princess song (We had a Tiny Tot dance class do this song for recital one year, it gets stuck in my head every birthday ever since then). The dialogue from this clip was running through my mind all day yesterday and I was dying for someone to write my favorite quote from this episode on my facebook wall yesterday (which didn’t happen, but pop quiz! its hidden somewhere in this blog post).

Now I get to share both with you!!

Have a great day!!

Emily 🙂

Hey, guys!!

So, I havent blogged in FOREVER!!! I realize that that is totally lame so I am going to try and redeem myself by posting some Thanksgiving cartoons so that I can get back to trying to dig myself out of the homework hole I have created!!

I hope everyone has a FANTASTIC Thanksgiving!!

Emily

This is not really a blog, but more of an opinion and suggestion. Everyone should go see Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1 this weekend! Go! Now! Hurry, before the werewolves kick all the vampire butt!

Theatrical Trailer:

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810158314/info

As I sit here, at my desk in Student Activities I cannot think. My mind is racing, I can’t sit still, and I keep talking in different voices to my boss. Why am I this way? Cabin Fever, my friends. Thank goodness my boss finds the different voices amusing; I am at least accomplishing a little something today.

I can’t explain the cabin fever, except to say that it is warm outside and I have arrived to the point in the semester where you can almost see the end in sight…. but it makes you loopy. You know the feeling. You’re so overwhelmed with work and school and everything else in your life that you simply go insane.

My friends…I am insane.

Now, the one bright spot in all this mess is Sunday because I AM GOING TO THE BILLS GAME.

If you remember just one thing about me, let it be that I am a HUGE  Buffalo Bills fan. Just hideously, ridiculously huge. And the fact that I am going to the game on a gorgeous Sunday morning in my beautiful Orchard Park, NY is almost too much to bear. So. For all you Bills fans out there I am going to give us a taste of the fantastic butt-kicking the Bills are going to unleash on the Jets this Sunday. Enjoy, and try not to tear down any goal posts!!

Emily