As this semester is coming to an end, and I am stressing out because as much as exams have snuck up on me, they have clearly snuck up on my professors even more! All of my teachers are throwing multiple projects or papers at me right now, trying to make sure they cover all the material they said we would and sometimes I just want to be like “THIS IS NOT MY ONLY CLASS!” But alas, I don’t, and each semester I survive and over break wonder why I stressed so much during the school year!

I cannot believe that come May 13 I will have officially completed half of my college career! It really is crazy how fast time flies! I’ve been thinking about the last two years a lot the past couple of days, and I look back at the friends I had the first week of college compared to the smaller amount I have now, and I am really happy with the good friends I have! College has been great so far, and I cannot wait to see what this second half has in store for me!

But first…I need to finish this semester!

I feel as though it has been forever since I last blogged! (When in reality it has only been a month) Ever since Spring Break I feel like I have been in hyper-drive trying to get everything done early so I am not stressed out with all my big projects right around exam time!

Over Spring Break I went to Pensacola, Florida which was a lot of fun, and definitely a much needed and appreciated vacation! I had a lot of fun, but once Spring Break was over it was back to reality of classes, school work, working at Orange Leaf and babysitting! Not much has happened other than staying busy. Last week was Spirit Week and because of work and babysitting I didn’t get to participate as much as I would have liked to, but I did get to go to the Cardinals game which is always a lot of fun with the Fontbonne group! Everyone who went to the dance said they had a great time, and the pictures made it look like a lot of fun! Hopefully next year I will be able to do more with Spirit week! Well, time for me to get back to all that studying and projects!

It is always easier for me to make it through a week or two when I have something to look forward to, and luckily lately I have had things to look forward to. This past Sunday was St. Patrick’s Day and since I come from a big, Irish family I am always excited to go to the parade and enjoy some corned beef and potatoes with the family! And starting Friday afternoon, I will be on Spring Break which I get to spend in Florida with my sister which should be a lot of fun because we have never seen the ocean! And then 5 or 6 weeks after spring break will be summer break so I am very thankful for how quickly this semester is going by because between classes, school work, working, and babysitting it has been a stressful one! I just have to keep looking ahead and remembering that all of this stress is very worth it!

Saturday night my friends and I went to a bonfire with a couple of our other friends. We were all just hanging out talking, and two of the guys got into a little spat and they were joking about fighting because apparently the arguing wasn’t solving anything. They were best friends so it was all just a joke, but me and my two closest friends at the bonfire at the same time all said “fighting never solves anything!” And then everyone looked at us weird, and we made a joke about how it was an education major thing, because we were the only education majors there. We all thought it was funny and it goes to show how your major and your classes actually do influence your behavior sometimes.

My favorite part of every (other) week is Taco Tuesday in Ryan hall! Last semester my friends and I would spend Tuesday nights making dinner ourselves, and this semester we could not find a night that worked for all of our schedules to be able to do that again, so knowing that every other week I had tacos and chicken strips in Ryan hall to look forward was the silver lining around that situation! Everyone at Fontbonne loves it when there are tacos AND chicken strips for dinner! There is always something to look forward to, you just have to find it!

Today, Thursday February 21st, Fontbonne (and just about all of Missouri) had a snow day! Although I never have classes on Thursdays this semester, it was still great because none of my friends did either! It has been a relaxing day around campus for everyone! A lot of us caught up on homework, watched movies, and just hung out with our friends! I really wish we had more snow days cause playing in the Meadow in the snow with friends is a lot of fun

This past weekend my suite mate and I went up to Maryville, MO to visit our best friend from high school, as well as her suite mate’s roommate, at their school, Northwest Missouri State University. NWMSU is much larger than Fontbonne University, but the city of Maryville is much smaller than St. Louis. Each time I go up to NWMSU to visit my friend, I always have mixed emotions. Sometimes I wish I had chosen a larger school where the campus would be much larger, as well as number as students. They also have Greek life there, and I wonder if I would have chosen to be in a sorority if Fontbonne offered them. But then I also realize that being 6 hours away from home would be difficult, and that I do not do well in small towns because I get far too bored and like living in St. Louis.

When I really think about it, I am glad I chose Fontbonne. I have loved my first two years here and have made terrific friends! I actually know all of my teachers, and recognize the majority of the faces on campus. I am glad I chose a small school in a big city!

This semester has been a bit of an adjustment for me. For the first time in my four semesters here at Fontbonne, I do not have classes all five days of the week! I managed to get my schedule so that I only had classes Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I like it a lot so far! It makes managing my time a lot easier. The only downside is I have my first real online class, and getting used to that has been a struggle. Because I do not actually go to a class, I tend to procrastinate on the assignments more than I should. It’s not a good habit, but I have gotten better at not procrastinating! If only I could figure out time management for this one class!

I’ve really enjoyed the first few weeks of this semester, it is less stressful (that could be because it is the first time ever that I do not have a math class…strange feeling for me!) and I really enjoy my classes. It is always a good idea to make the best out of your classes. My first class  is an education class I absolutely love! The teacher is great, everyone is full of discussion, and it is a good way to start the day. My second is a literature class, and not one I enjoy, but I am lucky enough to have my best friend in the class so that makes it much better! Thirdly, is a computer class with my former adviser who is really funny, time goes by fairly quickly in class and I’ve already learned some pretty neat tricks on the computer. And on Monday nights I have an honors class about Masculinity. It is really interesting to see how society has changed the definition of masculinity through the years!

So, basically what this blog post is about: Time Management, Making the best out of the schedule you’re given, and enjoy your semesters in college

It’s that week…it comes every semester. I know it all too well. That week just before finals when ALL of your teachers are trying to cram everything in, they’re giving you final papers, presentations, and projects. And they all want it done in such a short amount of time. Panic week.

I decided this blog would be a good way to take a break from all the last minute work to be done and reflect on how far I’ve come this semester…So here goes nothing:

In the matter of two weeks I will be officially 3/8 done with my college career! Since I’m a math geek I have to look at it in fraction form And I have definitely grown over these three semesters, but I especially feel like I have this semester. I am the type of person that hates asking for help, or admitting defeat. I like to work problems out on my own and figure things out by myself. This semester has been too tough to rely only on myself. A good lesson to learn from college 101: Make friends with AT LEAST one person in each one of your classes. You need someone you can trust and rely on to give you the notes on your sick days, or your “sick” days. You need someone who you can study with, or who can help you understand the homework better. I can now say that I am friends with my entire physics class because I have sucked it up and gotten the courage to ask for their help with homework and study guides. It really can be a lot easier when explained by peers! In my Calc class I have always had friends who are willing to help, but I have a great teacher who is willing to dedicate her time to help me understand the material, and likes to see her students asking for help.

In the beginning of the semester I would just attempt all of my calculus and physics problems then turn in the homework for partial credit but now I go to my teachers and classmates for help to make sure I fully understand the material and can complete each problem before turning it in. Getting help can really boost your grade! I am glad I learned this lesson relatively early on in my college career…or at least before it was 1/2 way over

Good luck to anyone enduring panic week…and may the odds be ever in your favor for your exams!

What has seemed like the longest, most difficult semester of my life…is finally coming to an end! As my final day of Thanksgiving break is beginning, I am realizing that once I get back I only have two weeks left! That’s just crazy! Although two weeks is a short time, I do have a lot to get done within that time, so I can’t be blinded by how close winter break is, I need to plow through the rest of the work and not just quit! Even knowing the amount of work these next two weeks are going to be, I still find it hard not to be excited. After I finish my final exam on Thursday December 6th, I will have five weeks of no classes! I’m sure after about two weeks it will begin to feel too long, but five weeks off sounds great right about now!

Winter break is so close! … Yet so far…