Archives: South Florida
Bake Sales and Breast Cancer Walks
Last week, Black Student Union held a dollar bake sale to raise money for our upcoming events. I had a lot of fun with the bake sale. I learned that my VP Megan is amazing at selling baked goods! She had people dancing in the student center, giving away bags of chips if they showed us their best dance move. At the end of the three days, we made a lot of money for selling all good for a dollar or under. We were shocked as a club that just by selling two brownies for a dollar or four cookies for a dollar, we made a lot of money for our next event, BSU’s kick off party. We’ve been a busy club for the last few weeks, can’t wait to see all the effort come together on the 27th.
Friday night, I spent hours trying to get my project finished for one of my classes by midnight. I finally put all the finishing touches, and everything was turned in, but I couldn’t get to sleep until 2am. That wouldn’t be so bad if the Sigma’s hadn’t signed up to set up for the Breast Cancer walk and we had to meet at 4:45 am. I tried really hard to go to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow, but it felt like soon as I had passed out, my alarm was going off, and I was extremely confused. I rushed to get washed and dressed before my pillow called me back.
I made my way over to the school’s coffee shop, Christine’s. It wasn’t open but its a good meeting spot from anywhere on campus. We were wishing it was open, breakfast and coffee would have been great since most of us looked like we just walked out of a zombie movie. Ally was holding onto her coffee like a mother would to a small child crossing the street, she wasn’t going to let it go! Tova brought mini doughnuts which vanished as quickly has they came. Finally all dressed in matching outfits we packed into the cars.
Once we arrived at the walk, just like Sigma’s do, we rushed to all the areas that still needed to be set up. It may have been 5:30 in the morning, but we were caring heavy boxes, covering tables, and posting signs as fast as we could, then turning around to figure out what else we could do. FAU had some of their fraternity boys there as well, caring tables and opening boxes to lay out information. I watched as Mizner Park transformed into a sea of empowered pink. The numbers grew from a small 50 to hundreds of people with their children and pets. Survivors told their stories. My sisters were buzzing with excitement since this was our first year actually walking, normally we just set up.
At 9 am, with news cameras everywhere the 5 mile walk kicked off. It was great so see so many faces from Lynn, it was great to see the support of the community. I really enjoyed bonding with my sisters as we talked, joked, and reminded ourselves why being sisters is so great. At the end of the day, I learned a lot about breast cancer, accomplished more by 11 am than I think I ever have done in weeks (since normally on a sat I am just waking up at 11), and bonded with my sisters.
Its been a busy week and I loved every minute of it! Next weekend, I get to go home. I get to see my mom and my kitties, but before that, I better get to all this homework!
One week of being sick
This week felt like the longest week of the school year. I woke up very sick on monday and it took all week to get better. Not what I had in mind for this week. Now I am far behind in my classes and not very happy about it. 
I really hate being forced to stay in my room and take cold medication to try and get better as fast as possible. Not knowing if it is a flu, swine flu, or just the common cold make me nervous to show up to class with a fever, cough, and a sore throat. I didn’t want to pass on what ever I had to half my class.
Being sick threw off my whole week. Frankly, it threw off a lot. Being president of Black Student Union was complicated by not being active and able to run around to sign papers, plan future events, and working on events already in the works.
BSU held an event this week called, “What YOU need to know about date rape” which went very well. It was hard to host an event with a fever and hardly any voice but I am glad that we did it and I am glad I didn’t skip it because I was sick. I was pleased with how students were honest with their questions, asking the serious questions that they really wanted to know the answers to but were too afraid to ask before. BSU brought in Lynn’s security chief, a school nurse, a school couselor, and an outside guest speaker from the Palm Beach Victims Services. Each spoke for about 10 to 15 minutes about their role to help prevent date rape and if it did happen, how it helped. Afterwards, students got a chance to write on note cards their questions that were read out loud. I was really pleased with the questions as well as the answers. All the guest speakers were very honest, they didn’t hold anything back. All the questions were answered and people learned a lot, I know I did!
Well, off to the large pile of homework that has been waiting for me all week!
Important numbers for all students and future students:
Lynn’s Women’s Center: 561-237-7955
Lynn’s Counseling Center: 561-237-7273
Lynn’s Security: 561-237-7227
Safe ride: 1800-675-6349
Palm Beach Victim Services: 1866-891-7273
The First 24
I have been back in Florida for a little more than 24 hours now and I’m so excited but extremely tired! I could hardly sleep last night after I landed and arrived at the Marriott. My car was waiting for me in the parking lot with a loving note that she was taken cared of over the summer. I rushed to drop off my stuff in my room and came up with a lame excuse to drive my own car. lol. Yes, I’m weird. I drove to store and to my storage unit just for the fun of it. Man, when I opened my storage unit, I didn’t remember it that way! It some how had gotten a heck of a lot neater in my head over the months.
At about 8:45 am, I arrived at Lynn, already checked out of my hotel room, ready to check into school. I had checked in online the first day the school loaded it on mylynn, and so all I had to do was pick up my new parking decal. With the old ones removed from the previous two years, I happy slapped on the new one and was ready to check out my new room.
I opened the door to the new wing in Freiburger that has been changed to singles and noticed the new paint job. Signs and colors were splashed everywhere by my RA and classmate Wideline. (An awsome combo by the way, my RA and my classmate, we can study when she’s on duty and bored out of her mind…. or watch TV…) My room used to be a twin in an all guys wing. Now its a single on the girls floor, which in this case, happens to be the bottom floor. I’m not so sure how I feel about that at the moment, I’m just counting my blessings that I didn’t have to carry anything up the stairs!
I’m all moved in in one day! Thats never happened before! I’m in shock. haha. My boyfriends mom helped me move in since he couldn’t get time off of work. She laughed at our three day plan, slowly moving the stuff in. Within three hours, all my stuff was out of the storage unit, I had closed my account there and was heading back to school with the last half of my stuff, while his mom went home to relax, still laughing at our three day plan. Mothers have mad skills at packing and moving! After dinner at their house, the no longer working muscle came over and helped take the really heavy stuff into the room. I love this system. It took only a third of the time and half the energy. I have already put a lot away, my bed is set up, along with my laptop. Containers are in their places, and my sink looks like I’ve been here for days already. The only down side to the extreme move in, sun burn and a very sore body.
I love my room. I think I called my mom 5 times today to just tell her how much I love my room and how greatful I am to have it. I have so many ideas for my new room, my mind can’t keep up. So much to do to make it a place where I can really focus and relax when I need to during the rough weeks to come.
After two years under my belt, I feel like I’m finally getting the hang of this college life.
Now, I am going to force myself to go to sleep so that I don’t over to it today and try and unpack my room in one night. I just feel like I am on a roll and its hard to get off! There is always tomorrow between meetings… ah! Another meeting and it will only be day two!
Last night at home
Tonight is my last night at home and I’m sad but excited to leave. I can’t wait to start school. Even though I know I am going to be extremely busy for the first few weeks, I know it will all be worth it. I’m looking forward to moving in on friday as well as meetings for Black Student Union, Recruitment for Sigma Sigma Sigma, oh and, class.
I may still coach youth soccer again this year at night. I’m hoping to get a part time job during the morning at a vet clinic to get some practice. Its going to be a busy year and I love it! All I can say is, bring it on!
It is sad to leave home, say good bye to my mom. She’s almost near tears, repeating over and over again that I am going off to college. I keep trying to inform her that it isn’t the first time. She really seemed to enjoy having a few weeks with me home. I think its because she could use me as a maid to clean the house to her liking, (one of the perks of living in a small dorm room, small space to clean.) and that we got a chance to go see a few movies together.
Well, its off to bed for me. I only have a few hours left to get everything packed away and say good bye to my mom tonight since she’ll be at work when I leave.
Mini Vacations
Right now, I am in Florida! During a heat wave. Boo… lol. I’m here to see some friends and enjoy the sun and beaches. I’ve been waiting for these four days in the sun for a while now. I spent yestorday at the beach and visiting the zoo.
It feels strange to be back in Boca Raton when I’m not at Lynn. I feel like a tourist but I know where I am going. I’ve been really enjoying the time I can now take to learn about this amazing part of Florida that I spend 8 months in and hardly ever have time out of the lab to see it all.
I’m surprised that Florida seems so peaceful and quiet just days after the 4th of July. Maybe it’s because it is so hot outside.
On a sad note, I’m sorry to say that I got an email from Lynn Universities president, that a student at Lynn, a sophomore named Wyatt, passed away on July 4th. Even during the summer, Lynn University is making sure that if its students need grief counseling that they can call Lynns counseling center. The staff are on duty even during the summer.
I hope everyone is having a safe summer. Sun block is a must even if you are not at the beach. Don’t forget to make sure all of your paperwork is in at the school. It is as easy as a single phone call to 561-237-7184.
(Hint hint moms and dads great summer sales on dorm stuff going on now!)
What not to pack
To all the high school grads, listen up! Your first act as a freshmen going to college is to stop your mother!
Why you may ask? If they are anything like my mother, they will go into some insane sort of new nesting syndrome and start trying to make sure you have “everything you need for college” which will only be short the kitchen sink.
I ended up having what seemed like half my house in what used to be the size of my bathroom in Kuwait. Lets just say, it caused some problems… for two years. I just now have my stuff under control. Hmm, so lets say, I got rid of one third or my room a year till I finally got down to what I actually use.
So what are the warning signs it is going to take a small army to get all your stuff down to South Florida and 4 years to get rid of it all?
- Your mom has been planning for you to go to college for 4 years… as in when you were a freshmen in high school.
- Your mom spends more time on the market now than she’s ever had. She’s wondering if she will need to mail laundry detergent down ahead of time or will it go in the car? (The answer is NEITHER. We have supermarkets down here too.)
- Your father wants to buy a new car… sees how much you need to take down to Florida and now rethinks that he should use it to rent a truck to move all of your stuff.
- The guest room is now a testing ground for how much stuff your new room can hold. Only problem is, your mother forgot that you will have a roommate or two and now you can’t find the dog…
So what should be in those back breaking boxes? Well, I would say for girls, two boxes of clothes (try and squeeze some shoes into one of thoes boxes) and one box for guys. Guys just seem to have less clothes than girls. A TV, a microwave, and a bed sit that you can sleep on for a year and not be embrassed by. That means a long talk with mom and dad about what style that you think you will want when you get to college. Fav books and movies are a must. Photos of family and friends for your wall. A new laptop… hint hint mom and dad. Lynn has a discount with Dell I believe. Its part of your welcome to Lynn package.
Also, caf food has improved greatly since your parents went to school. Which reminds me, when your parents start going on and on and on about when they were in college, please remind them in a loving way that that was a while back and that times have changed. Although not all things about college change, a lot of food standerds have over the years. I would tell you all the ways that college has changed, but I don’t think it would be allowed on here! You can still email me if you have questions though! 
(manderson5@email.lynn.edu)
Well, I am off to bed. It’s almost 1am and I have a busy day of chores tomorrow. Oh the joys of vacation!
No fun in Miami
I just got back to campus after dropping off my sorority sister Michelle at the airport in Miami. Of course, she can do nothing the simple easy way. Well, I tried to drop her off yestorday but she ended up having a problem and having to catch the flight tonight. So yet again, we made the trip to Miami. She got on the flight this time. Now I’m sad. I’m not going to see her for 5 weeks because she’s going to be doing an internship down in Brazil. I have the keys to her car so while she’s gone and when I get back from winter break, I am going to be starting her car once a day so it runs smoothly when she gets back.
Now I am going to relax for a few minutes before I finish up some stuff and set up my room.
The longest weekend
I just had the longest weekend. It is 2 am on Monday morning, and this is my first chance to slow down and blog. I blogged earlier while doing homework, but now I am free. (don’t worry, I don’t have class until 2 in the afternoon.)
So saturday morning, I went to the breast cancer walk that the school helps out at each year. All the clubs sign up to set up, some walk, and others clean up. I could only be there for a little while, but I loved seeing the support… at 5:30 in the morning.
It was really the morning. Some people had been there since 4:40 in the morning. I had only about 3 hours of sleep before I went to the breast cancer walk, then I left there early to go to work. I was at work from 8:15 to 12:30 pm.
Work! Coaching youth soccer is so much fun. I love my job, but the first day back, those kids wore me out! I forgot how hard it is to keep track of 5 and 6 year olds in large numbers. I am starting to see why people have kids, expensive entertainment. Those kids are the funniest things to listen to some times. I asked one how many gates he went through and he said 400, then the one next to him said 1/6th. I was near tears.
Since it was the first day, as my boss distracted the parents with papers, we coachs played games for the kids that taught them simple soccer skills without them even noticing. Red light, green light is still a big hit.
Then I rushed back to campus after grabbing food with Cristina to eat and take a shower. I left to run to the bus heading to Orlando for Halloween Horror Nights. I had so much fun!
First of all, I am a huge chicken. Michelle, my sister, asked me to go with her and I was like, you are crazy! There is no way I am going to pay some one to give me a heart attack! Well, finally I agreed and told her that it was her one sisterly wish of the year.
I go knock on Michelle’s door and we head to the bus. We couldn’t find a seat together, but ones next to each other, with the isle between us. We were both sitting next to guys we didn’t know and trying to stay awake so we didn’t fall asleep on them by acident. Well the guy I sat next to was very nice. I forgot his name the moment I fell asleep though. *frowns* He was really nice. At least I slept most of the way which I was happy about. I was so tired!
Once we got there, we of course ran to the first scary house we could find. I don’t think I have ever screamed so much! I was so scared, I grabbed Michelle’s backpack and screamed “Run!” which she more than happily replied, “I’m trying, let go of me!” lol.
Well, we shopped as well, which we then ended up very broke by the time we left. I got a few shirts and of course I had to stop at the Men In Black store. Oh and don’t forget the Simspons store. I now own a Bart Simpson shirt.
We tried a bunch of rides, The Mummy, the Simspsons, the M.I.B, and a few more. Then the scare houses! I think we went to 3 of them. I was more than happy to scream. I had a poster in my hand when we went through the third one and I screamed at one, “touch me and die!” Yes, I was going take him down with a poster. lol. Hey, I was scared. Then another one came out of know where and was screaming for me to hit him, I nicely grabbed Michelle’s arm and turned to the nice scary man and said, “No thank you.” and ran for my life! I don’t mess with people who asked to be hit, they have nothing to lose it seems.
At 2 am, we were back on the bus, heading back to Lynn. I listened to my Ipod all the way back. Once back, it looked like 50 zombies were walking back to their rooms. 5 somthing in the morning is not a good look for most people. Michelle and I hardly said anything to each other, it was just the heavy foot march back to our rooms. I crawled into bed, very sore, very tired, and heavily in pain all over, expecially in my feet.
Well, I woke up late afternoon sunday, ate, when to my Sigma meeting and then headed back to my room to do homework. I spent a good portion of my time sending emails, getting some Tri Sigma things done and chatting. Then came the homework! Ugh, at least it is all finished! And I did really well on my midterms so I am happy!
Well, good night everyone! I have reason to party for next weekend, awesome grades! Yes! lol. I wonder if I can get money out of my family for my midterm grades? Hmmm?
No changes
Thank goodness there will be no changes (so far) due to Hanna showing up right when school starts. I am looking forward to meeting all the new freshmen and seeing my friends again, that if I have to order Hanna away, I will! So not in the mood! I want to get back to Boca! I want to move in and see my friends. I miss college.
Don’t forget to check out www.lynn.edu/hurricane. Also check out Hurricane Information Web page. All students should keep their cell phones close to them as well as check mylynn every few hours.
Students traveling with their families, just print out the emails and hand it to a parent. No questions, just answers! How great is that? lol.
Were’s the hold up? Parking!
This is mostly for returning students.
I was trying to check in on MyLynn, when it said that I had a hold. I was like, ahhh, how in the world do I have a hold on my account? Well it was in parking. So I called the school and asked what was up with that, since even Cristina has a hold on parking, and she doesn’t have a car. Well security informed me that each year we have to fill out a form (click here for the form) for parking. Why, I do not understand, but we must! So I filled out the form and sent it in. Now I am just waiting for the ok that will allow me to check in. Problem solved!
I can not wait to get back on campus! Oh its almost to hard to stand, all this waiting! The 6th seems so far away! I am looking forward to seeing Ashlea so I can tell her happy birthday in person and give her a hug! Classes start up on the 8th and I still feel that is way to long to wait for my first class. Yes, I was the kid in middle school that loved the first day of school. But the first day of college, 15 times better! lol.
Cristina just flew down there this morning, which makes me jealous. She’s already in the beautiful Florida sun. Rob texts me every day about what we are going to do when we back. I’m not quite sure when I plan on sleeping for the first month. Between new science classes, to hanging out with my friends, to blog meetings! Oh boy, So busy and I could not be happier to be busy once again. Then work starts up! Yes! Teaching again. I miss the kids hyper happy little faces while they learn new skills which to them look crazy, but for us coaches are old news. (Now that thought makes me feel old!)
School, dorm life, sisters, friends, parties, movies, dinners. So much to look forward too! Ooo… and my car. Can’t forget the car, which probably will be very cranky and won’t start once I get back. Oh well, work on that when I get there. Back to Boca Raton. Back to the lovely sun and the bright open space. Oh so much to look forward too!
Hmm, still got to go shopping for cool dorm stuff! This year, I have two wonderful roomates who want to have the best room on the floor. (No pressure there! lol.)
