Archives: Travel
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!
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!
Exams and Summer Plans
The end of this week starts Exam week. I have an exam on Thursday for Human Anatomy. So not exciting. *sigh* exams are a very stressful time of year at in the spring because for freshmen and sophomores, it means moving out of the dorms. Seniors are nervous and excited about graduation just being days away and having family flying in from all over the planet. Sophomores and juniors are fighting with the housing board to let them move off campus. Oh what a wonderful but very busy time of year!
I am still planning on what I am doing for summer vacation. It keeps changing due to new information coming in each day which only complicates things. Originally, I was suppose to go to Brazil to see Michelle for a week, then come back and spend time at home, get a summer job, and chill with the cats until my mother returned home from Iraq. Now its looking more like summer courses. I need 3 courses to get into vet school that Lynn does not offer.
Something that I have learned since I have been in college is that no one just tells you what to do anymore when it comes to your education. It’s YOUR education. I meet or email my adviser a few times a semester to make sure that I am on track. I just had an hour long meeting about my future and that is when I realized that I needed to take these summer courses this summer not next summer. Thus, the change in plans. I also need 400 hours of clinical work, but I am not worried, for there is the Career Center on campus that can help me. I have realized this year that I must be pro active in my college career. If I want to take a course, I have to speak up when I’m planning my schedule with my adviser, they aren’t mind readers.
The power of email. It is so important now and days when talking to professors. Recently, one of my professors forgot to print out my handouts for my final project. She was going to print them out in color for students that asked ahead of time. I had asked her a week in advance in person, as well as emailed her back and forth. She forgot the day of my presentation, but because there were emails for proof that I had asked for them, my grade was not affected.
Well, I must go back to looking for summer courses. I have to find the courses online because I could not find any of the courses that I need in DC, apparently they don’t like animals or vets there and my mother insists that I come home this summer, that I’m never home and don’t spend time with her. Funny, cause here I was thinking she was never home due to being in a war zone.
Spring Break in Baton Rouge
I’m spending my spring break in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Exciting stuff. I have tons of photos but no time to load them onto my computer!
Lynn University has their spring break a little early, so everyone I know that doesn’t got to Lynn, still have classes. I’m visiting one of my friends from high school, Jarrod, but he’s got midterms this week so today he’s a little busy trying to get some studying in.
Oh I forgot to mention, I’m at LSU. Its a great school, with abou 30,000 students. I can’t even picture going here. I get lost in the dorms! The school is so beautiful, the campus is filled with great buildings and willow trees. There are students everywhere you look and the dorms are constantly full of noise at any hour of the day. Just being here for a few days is making me miss Lynn and the environment at Lynn.
Here, it is extreme security. I guess it is a must when there are 30,000 students, but at Lynn, at least you can easily go see your friends! Or just go to the rest room! At LSU, you need a key to get into the hallway you live on, and it does not work on any other floor, (not so at lynn, if you live in that building, you can get into any wing of that building so you can easily go see your friends.) I got stuck in a stairwell for 25 minutes because my friend didn’t hear his phone and you can’t get out of the stairwell without a key unless exiting the building into the freezing cold. Then you need a key to get into the restroom. Its crazy!
Well, I’m off to get some quick studying in myself and then maybe find something to eat.
Speeding for class
A lot of times, students will come in saying that they got stopped by campus security or the cops on the way to class and the professor will let them off easy (of course with proof) because they feel bad. Yes, students are so worried about getting in trouble with their professors, they would rather be given a ticket than to show up late.
Well, today, I was shocked to find out that one of my classmates got a ticket on his way to class… and now has to go to jail because of his speeding.
I for one know how hard it is to get up in the morning sometimes for my early classes, but my oh my, speeding so fast you have to go to jail? Wow. I was shocked at first, but now, wow. I feel bad for the guy. I mean ya, he was speeding, but that is just a bad morning! Plus, he was still late to class.
A new year, a new semester
I am very excited to get back to Lynn. I spent my new years at The Palm Restuarant. I had a wonderful time and brought home a doggy bag for my two cats who were more than happy to take some fish off my hands.
Now, it is time to go back to school, and start having a great time learning amazing stuff about science. Making metals heat up from chemicals, figure out sound waves of people talking in the room, or how the human body is able to move from place to place.
I have a new room now so I have to get that all set up.
I am looking forward to getting back into the swing of things as my grandmother would say. Although, I’m not looking forward to going back to caf food after having so much good food at home. Oh well, at least I get to be with my friends again and I only have to buy one new textbook this semester. Thank you Anatomy II, Chem II, and Phyisics II. hehe.
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.
