Crunch Time on South Hill

  I am sure you are all aware of finals coming up in the next few weeks. What does the end of the semester mean for me? Well let me give you a list of what I have due from now until the end of the semester:

• 1 presentation
• 3 tests
• 3 (two - 5 page minimums and one - 8 page)
• 3 other assignments 
• Last but not least, a 20+ page senior thesis

Am I worried? To be honest I am not really that worried. Although I believe it will be difficult at times, with long days and late nights of work; I believe that I have prepared myself to get through this time of finals and get the grades I need to get. I think that you should feel the same way. Most of you have probably done your work well throughout this semester, and have gotten good grades. If you think that you have done well and learned a lot then all you need to do during these last few weeks of the semester is apply what you have learned. Is it that simple? I think yes. Is it easy? Not always. 

Sometimes we realize how much stuff we have to do in a certain time period and we panic. When we panic with school work we often don't even know where to start. My advice to you from here until the end of the semester is to work on one or two things each day/night so that you are not leaving everything until the very end. The more you get done now the less you have to do next week and the week of finals. That means that when the time comes to finish up those papers and take those tests that you will be better prepared for those tests. Not only will you be better prepared during finals but you will most likely be calmer and be able to think more clearly while taking those tests and finishing up those papers. 

Use what you have learned this semester and apply it to what you have coming up. Most people say use your time wisely, but I like to say use your time efficiently (shows the Economist in me). Get some things done now so that you don't panic later. Do some of your paper now so that you can revise it later, and make it better. Most professors aren't out to make you fail their classes. They have taught you the things you need to know in order to get those good final grades we all strive for. 

- M.E.

On the Way

I had the opportunity to go on a retreat with 14 other Ithaca College Catholic Community members to Camp Casowasco in Moravia, NY during a weekend in October.  The retreat center is a beautiful property located right on Lake Owasco.  We discussed topics such as how to better follow Jesus’ standard to how we can use it to make effective decisions. We were given many opportunities to spend time reflecting on Bible passages. The first activity we were asked to do was to write a short personal bio/timeline about ourselves. On Saturday afternoon, we each had the chance to “go on a walk with Jesus.” Both of these activities led me to see how God and Jesus have influenced my life.  No matter how difficult the times got in my life, God and Jesus were always there to guide me through times of darkness and provide me with a path to find my way out of troubling times.

Self-evaluation of our relationship with God, Jesus, and our Catholic faith made up a large part of the retreat; however, we also were given the opportunity to discuss present issues in our world. The way that we discussed this was first by watching “Hotel Rwanda” starring Don Cheadle, portraying the horrors of genocide that happened in Rwanda during the mid-1990’s.  The movie brought about many emotions, and it also brought about the discussion of human dignity. It was very interesting and moving to hear how people reacted to such atrocities that sometimes happen in our world. I was able to see how God can work inside our minds by helping us realize what should be done in the world about such tragedies such as what happened in Rwanda, and how we should act as Jesus would to liberate those who need help.

I believe it is very important for each one of us to take time to look back on how you have lived your life so far, and whether or not it is in the standard that Jesus set for us.  When you get the opportunity to get away on a retreat with others I encourage you to do so. The retreat to Camp Casowasco was a very enlightening experience for me and all who attended. It is experiences like these that make me appreciate the Catholic community we have built here at Ithaca College, and also make me want to continue my faith in an active way after graduation.

Midterm/Fall Break

So if you haven't looked at a calender in the past week, we are now in October. Time flies when you're having fun writing papers, doing projects last minute, and not finding enough time in the day to get all of your work done. And as we approach the time for midterm exams and papers you may be feeling even more overwhelmed. My advise (similar to the advice I gave in my first post of the semester) is to go and unwind in some way. Here are 4 ideas for unwinding and forgetting about school work for a little bit:

1. Go on a hike. The Ithaca area has great places to hike. Whether it is Buttermilk Falls, Taughannock Falls, or up near Circles there are amazingly beautiful places to go. Hiking not only provides a great exercise, but you will find that you will be totally entranced in the beauty of nature and completely forget about the stresses of midterms. Don't forget to bring a friend!

2. You can start going to the gym, or start going back again if you haven't been there in a while. Working out not only will get you in better physical shape, but it will also provide a stress relieving activity. You will concentrate on your workout instead of stressing about classes. Working out will also help you sleep more soundly and increase your focus on daily tasks.

3. Start shopping for things to make a Halloween costume out of. Places like Trader K's and the Salvation Army are great places to go to find used clothing to make a costume (and its cheaper than buying a new costume). It is better to start getting stuff for costumes now so that you can get the good items before other people do!

4. Dine out with friends in the Commons. I know, college students are poor, but there are places in the Commons where you can get a very good meal for a good price. Restaurants like Simeons, Mahogany Grill, Ithaca Ale House, and Kilpatrick's are just a few examples of good and affordable places to eat. I guarantee you and your friends will have a good time just going out to eat for a non-dining hall meal.

There are many things to do in the Ithaca area, but these are just a few examples. So forget about midterms and go have some fun. Don't forget to bring your friends with you, because I am sure they want to get away from the stresses of midterms also!

M.E.

The O's

For anyone who follows the MLB, they have probably noticed that the Baltimore Orioles are having a great season. As an Orioles fan myself, I am very excited about this. The Orioles currently have a record of 85-64, and are going to the playoffs as it stands now.  Another reason for Orioles fans to be excited is that this is their first winning season since 1997. I could ramble on about how exciting this season has been as an Orioles fan, but I want to concentrate on one of their newest team members, Dylan Bundy.

Dylan Bundy is only 19 years old and has been able to hit triple digits with his fastball since he was in high school. Needless to say he is nothing short of being a pitching phenom. Along with being young and talented, he has also been noticed by the people of the MLB. He is currently ranked the #2 overall prospect in all the MLB. With prestigious recognition and talent comes pressure. Being 19 years old and pitching in the major leagues can accentuate the pressure of being a highly rated prospect. But, I think we can learn something from the opportunity that Dylan Bundy has been given. I know that he has a lot to fulfill, but I think with dedication he can become the great pitcher people think he can be. I think that he knows he needs to take advantage of the opportunity that he has, and knows he needs to prove himself.

We should all strive to take advantage of the opportunities we are given. When someone comes asking you for advice; that is an opportunity to become a helping hand in that person's life, and I don't think that any of us would want to let that person down. When we have expectations, we want to fulfill them. I believe that every opportunity we receive is a gift from God. And even if the opportunity may have difficulties about it, God wouldn't present us with the opportunity if he didn't already give us the abilities and tools needed to succeed with the opportunity. All of us have been given tools to achieve success, and it is our calling to use those tools to succeed when given the opportunity to do so.

Dylan Bundy has high expectations to fill throughout his MLB career. But, I believe we have higher expectations (from God) to fulfill throughout our entire lives. We must answer our calling from God and fulfill the expectations he has for us.

Balance

      As the Fall semester starts I know that many students feel overwhelmed.  We are taking new classes, joining new organizations, and taking on different responsibilities.  I know that for me it sometimes seems like I have too much on my plate. I am taking 5 classes, writing an Economics thesis, playing rugby, doing ballroom, working a job, and I am treasurer of 4 different organizations on campus.

     Freshmen can especially feel pressured, because they are in a new environment. They are trying to make new friends, get acclimated to a different kind of class schedule than high school, and trying out new clubs that interest them.  Students will get stressed, whether it is at the start of the semester, midterms, or finals. But, stress can be good for people sometimes. It is the way that we learn how to overcome obstacles we encounter.  What isn't good for you is distress;  when someone becomes distressed it is important for them to have an outlet.  Whether that outlet be a person, a sport, or some hobby.  Students need to find a balance in their busy lives so that they do not become distressed.

     Balance in a college student's life is very important.  It is what keeps us sane.  I encourage everyone to work out some kind of schedule.  I do not mean fill every second of your day with chores and responsibility.  It is very important for college students to build in time for themselves during their busy days.  Spend an hour or two a day doing what you want to do, because if you never do what you want to do then you will never see the real reward of the school work you have accomplished.  Balancing your life means that you get your school work done, and your reward for that school work is to spend some time doing what you like.  I know college students feel like they always have to be doing something school related, but I will tell you that it is much easier if you do things slowly and progressively so then you have some time for yourself.  Balance your life so that school isn't the only thing that you're concerned about.  Grades are important, but college isn't just about grades. It's about experiencing new things, and finding out the kind of person you are and the kind of people you want to surround yourself with.  The key to learning these things in life is balance.

Lent

"The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

- Gospel (Mark 1:12-15)

I believe that this passage epitomizes the meaning of Lent and also what it means to be Catholic. Lent is a journey for us all. During Lent we are asked to abstain from eating meat on Fridays and to give something up or add something good to our daily lives. These two things are simple, but I think that there is a deeper meaning to our Lenten journey. Jesus went into the desert for 40 days, but most of us don't live near a desert nor are we actually called to go to a desert. Our desert is everyday life. 
Just as all of us are tempted, Jesus himself was tempted by Satan. We are all temped to do things that are not right. The point is to see if we will choose right over wrong or good over evil. Everyday life is filled with obstacles. And at those obstacles we have to make a decision. Many of these obstacles pose the question of good or bad. Many people don't realize that what decision you make can have consequences. If we chose the wrong way or the bad path we compromise our path to eternal life in the Kingdom of God. If we chose the right or good path we maintain an open path to the Kingdom of God. Isn't that what we all really want to take the right path so that we can end up eternally happy?
I see Lent as a small representation of our entire lives. We need to take the lessons that we learn throughout Lent and continue to use them after our Lenten journey. Must see that there is something more important than just our immediate needs, and instead see that there is an ultimate goal for us as Catholics. We are here by the graces of God and he can call us back any moment he feels fit, so we must make the most of the time we have on earth. We must be the light that we wish to see in the world. Choose the good over the evil.

New York Football Giants

21-17. That was the final score of Super Bowl XLVI between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. As a Giants fan I was watching the game with high energy and cheering after every good play the Giants had. My friend Matthew and I were the only two Giants fans at our friends apartment watching the game. As the game drew to an end him and I had big grins on our face as our three Patriots fan friends began to realize that the Giants had once again found a way to defeat Tom Brady and the Patriots in the Super Bowl. But, there is another topic I would like to focus on rather than just the Super Bowl outcome itself. I want to talk about perseverance.

With two games left in the regular season the New York Giants had a record of 7-7. Although Eli Manning was having his best season yet the Giants running duo of Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs were having their worst. They were last in the NFL in rushing yards per game, yards per rush, and total rushing yards. Their defense although exciting at times was not playing their best. Their head coach, Tom Coughlin, was about to be run out of town for the team's lack of success. Then, with convincing fashion, they defeated the New York Jets and the Dallas Cowboys to close the season at 9-7. They had made it into the NFL playoffs for the Wild Card round. They beat the Falcons in the Wild Card game. Then they beat the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round. And then with one game between them and the Super Bowl they beat the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship. Walking into the stadium that for so many years has adored Eli Manning's older brother Peyton, they pulled out the upset against the Patriots to become the winners of Super Bowl XLVI. This was the second time in 4 years that the Giants upset the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

In all of these games the Giants defense stepped up to make big plays when they needed two. The running duo of Bradshaw and Jacobs picked up their play to once again create a very effective running game when the Giants needed them. Giants fans once again believed in the Giants and in their head coach, Tom Coughlin. The Giants did all of this with their backs against the wall. They succeeded when many thought they did not have a chance with two game left in the regular season. They buckled down, realized what they needed to fix, and found ways to victory for the last 6 games of the year. The Giants showed how a team can rise from the scrutiny of fans and media to the highest point a NFL football team can reach in a season. They did all of this with perseverance.

Perseverance will bring people through the toughest times of their lives. When a family has financial problems they buckle down and stop buying the luxuries they once enjoyed. They buy only what they need so that they can get by for the time. That family, with perseverance, will make it through those financial woes and eventually get back to a point where they can live happily without the worries of money. The same philosophy works for anyone from a college student to a business owner to an entire country. The key to this philosophy is not to give up. No matter how tough things may seem you can overcome them. Now, it won't happen with magic. You have to put effort into keeping yourself up, because somedays may be worse than others and you may think that you can't keep going. The whole idea is that whenever things are bad in life you just need to realize that their is a way through it all.  Persevere and you will find a way through.