Sept. 16, 2011
Summer was too short but sweet.

I spent my summertime with my loved ones down in Texas.

My summer didn’t really start until just after I got back from Catholic Teaching Seminar in New York City. I had a blast in NYC exploring the city and learning about the Holy See Mission of the United Nations. While in NYC, I had a chance to visit interested places like Ground Zero, Wall Street, Time Square, Central Park, Grand Station, Statue of Liberty, and the United Nations. I was thrilled with the fast pace in NYC—which I loved.

My summer overall was fantastic, not only because I went to the east coast but because I was with my loved ones. My hometown is close by South Padre Island, where I went to the beach to spend hot summer days. While I was in Texas I enjoyed every moment. However, it was soon time to end the summer and to start school. I arrived back to USM campus the first week of August because my Resident Assistant Training.

This is my senior year, and I am planning to make it the best. Classes are going great, but I barely have time to socialize with my friends. One of the techniques that I been using during my college years is time management. I found very important that every individual learns how to manage their time. I am very active on campus by being part of different organizations/clubs. Almost every day is pack of excitement either I am rushing to classes, work or meetings. Every second of my life is spent with joy and making a difference, particularly locally.

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Nov. 5, 2010
Catching My Breath

I’m posting a long blog this week, so bear with me.

The past few weeks have been very challenging for me because I had days that were full of excitement as well as days that felt I utterly exhausted.

I finally realize that time management is very important, especially when midterms are around the corner. I needed time to study for my midterms and do my assignments on time.

The first week of October was extremely busy for me because it was the first annual Latino Heritage Week. The celebration ran Oct. 4-8. Every day we had something going on. This was the first time that the Multi-Cultural Club sponsored something of this scope on campus and the number of students, faculty, and staff that attended the events was surprising.

I was glad that I had a chance to share my culture to someone else. However, the Latino Heritage Week wasn’t the only thing that USM’s MCC sponsored in October. The following week, it was Homecoming Week—which is a big event for school. It is the highlight of fall semester, especially the pep-rally and tail-gate party. Many students enjoy and remember that week.

The Spires Football Team did a great job during the game. They beat Bethel College by 27 points. The football team finally won a game on their territory. The Multi-Cultural Club sponsored the Homecoming Dance, which was a success—particularly for being a first time event. We had a great turnout, and the students danced their concerns away.

And that’s not all! On Oct. 12, I started working part-time for USM’s phonathon. I totally love it because it gives me a chance to communicate with alumni and tell them what’s new at Saint Mary. Of course, I’m also encouraging them to contribute to the University of Saint Mary, which helps students.

I’m not going to lie: there’ve been nights that I go to sleep very late because I am trying to catch on homework. One of my previous professors, Dr. Hughes asked me “How many hours do you study? Or when do you even have time to study?” I responded that usually, I study at night or in the morning and even during lunch. But I always do study and do the best in my classes.

I have a lot of work on my plate that I am trying to accomplish this school year. I did great on my midterm, especially my class on Principles of Human Geography. I got a B+ on that midterm. During midterm week I was kind of stressing, trying to find time to study for my exams. Nevertheless, I did well my midterms.
During my own time, I still had time to hang out with one of my good friends. Little by little, everything fell into place and I started to have time to hang out my loved ones and even talked to my loved ones for hours, especially my daddy. I am very thankful that he raised me to be a good lady. I don’t know what I would have been if he wasn’t my father. He is everything for me.

I was getting a little bit homesick during the Fall Break because most of my friends had a chance to go home and spend time with their loved ones. My suitemate, Brittany Clelland, and I stayed in the dorms feeling homesick. However, we made those days the best of the best.

We are both RAs in Maria Hall, and worked during the Fall Break. On Saturday we baked Dead Bread (Pan de Mureto). It was a blast, and it was perfect for the weather because it was a little bit chilly. I started to feel more close to home because back home, my relatives baked Dead Bread on Day of the Dead (Dia de los muertos.)

Now I am trying to catch my breath and take it easy. One of my good friends once told me that “we need to have time to enjoy ourselves, and there’s no need to rush on things.” He was absolutely right, because now that I am taking my life a little more slowly, I have more time to hang out with my loved ones.

College is a great place to learn how to mange time and gain life experience. I absolutely love Saint Mary because it has given me an opportunity to grow intellectually and spiritually. And I know my father is proud of me and what I have accomplished.

This weekend, it’s Halloween. Unfortunately, I am not doing much! I decided to spend time with my loved ones. I went to my Aunt Mary’s house in Olathe. And I am going to mass on Halloween.

I am pretty excited because I have caught up on homework, and this week there are a few important events: Day of the Dead and Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 2, and my birthday on Friday, Nov.5.

I finally turn 21! It’s a big number to celebrate. My family hopes I get the chance to celebrate! I am going to be working the entire weekend. And of course, on my birthday, the Student Government Association is hosting their first Town Hall Meeting. The event is for all USM students, especially those who want to express their thoughts about the University of Saint Mary.

I love my birthday because it is going be full of excitement! Oh yes, and I almost forgot that I going to cook enchiladas for my Historical Method class to celebrate my birthday and because one of my good friends missed out my enchiladas the other day.

It seems that I always have something to work on!

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Oct. 01, 2010

Still Surviving in the Open Ocean

Keeping up with classes and getting everything turned in can be a little challenging. Trying to find time to do my homework, and still have time to hang out with friends can be a hassle.

Saturday, Sept. 18, members from USM’s Multicultural Club and I went to celebrate Korean Thanksgiving Day at Johnson County Community College.

I got a chance to meet people from Korea, learned about the culture and also had a chance to eat authentic Korean food.

The Multicultural Club is having a Latino Heritage Week Oct. 4 through Oct. 8, just before homecoming week. I am personally excited and can’t wait for Latino Heritage Week; it’s going to be fun.

As for classes, my classes are going fantastic in general, especially, my drawing class which I am enjoying so far.

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Sept. 17, 2010

Life feels good, when our time is used intelligently! As a college student, we encounter many obstacles in life that make us grow to become a better person.

I truly enjoy USM because it is a great atmosphere to continue my education. My classes are small and comfortable, especially my class for Historical Method. I enjoy that because everyone in class gets engage in class decisions.

Even though USM’s size is expanding each year, we still have one-on-one communication with professors. That is one of the reasons I love USM: because we are not numbers compare to other universities.

Being a college student carries plenty of responsibility, ranging from classes to school activities.

Now I am getting adjusted to my new schedule. I have three classes from Monday thru Friday. I actually like it because I am usually busy the majority of the time. I love being an active student because that is what motivates me in life.

There were challenges I encountered when adjusting to my new life and having time for everything. I realize that it is impossible to participate in every event in school. For me that was difficult to accept.

My mentor Sister Madonna Fink once told me that “it is impossible to participate in every event.” It is true what Sister Madonna said to me, and I thank her very much for those words.

College has everything a person could wish for. This semester I have a private room and one suitemate. Brittany Clelland was my roommate my freshmen year. She is an awesome friend who I enjoy spending time with. This past weekend we both went to Schlitterbahn. Thanks to Kisha Stevenson who gave me tickets to the water park.

Brittany and I had fun in Schlitterbahn, it was very nice getting away from school and relaxing for one day. Every single day in USM something is going on. Next week SGA and CAB are having elections. I am running for SGA Secretary and I am excited for that.

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Sept. 3, 2010

Hello once again!

My summer was awesome but short.

For the majority of the time, I was working and baby-sitting. I didn’t go back to my hometown, Donna, Texas. I decide to stay in Olathe where my aunt Mary lives. I wanted to experience how it feels to be away from home the whole year. It was very interesting because I did miss my family.

I went to visit my parents for weeks during the summer and it was blast. I finally went to South Padre Island, Texas. It was very nice and hot. Overall I had an awesome summer.

Now, I can’t wait for classes to start because I am going to take Drawing I. Like I once told you, art is my favorite hobby but also a favorite class because I’ll have an instructor to critique my art work! I love when I get feedback on my work. I’d rather know what mistakes I did then just keep doing them.

I want to do my best in all of my classes and still be active in school activities like the Multicultural Club. I am looking forward to Multicultural Club because I have a bunch of activities planned.

I am very glad to be back to school because I miss the classes, and of course my friends. It is pretty nice when Maria and Berkel Hall are full with students. The feeling the students get when they are anxious for classes to start.

I am personally glad that I chose the University of Saint Mary to continue my education because it offers the best education any student could seek.

God bless

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