While it’s not officially Spring yet, I’ve noticed many people around the Fontbonne Campus catching “Spring fever.”

Our campus’ hammocks have also appeared in the Medaille Meadow, which should be a sure sign of Spring coming!

Along with this, I’ve noticed more sunny days and the Fashion Merchandising Students are getting ready to host their Spring Fashion Show at [RE]FRESH by collecting reused clothing and looking for/casting models for the Fashion Show on April 26th! If you live around the area, you should definitely check it out!

A collection bin on campus for clothing to donate to REFRESH!

My Fellow Fontbonne Friends and I modeling at the Fashion Show last year.

Other exciting happenings around campus as we prepare for Spring…

The Environmental Club helped us get these nifty blue recycling bins for Fontbonne Residents!

There was a Pi Memorization Contest in honor of Pi Day! My friend Claire (on the right) won with memorizing 115 digits of Pi!

Peace, Love, & Sunshine.

As I may have mentioned before – or if I haven’t, I’m about to start – every year the Environmental Club puts on an “Environmental Fair” to help educate the community about various eco-friendly/green businesses and organizations in St. Louis. In the past, we’ve featured organic/local food, the Fontbonne garden, endangered animals, electronic recycling, second-hand clothing, upcycled jewelry, and lots of other cool stuff. I’m working on putting together the fair for this year, and I found a new place that I’m super excited about: Rosemary Grove.

Rosemary Grove is a store/website that focuses on selling only Fair Trade items. What does that mean? Fair Trade is a guarantee that no matter where in the world the item was produced, the workers involved got paid fairly, had good working conditions, and the planet wasn’t harmed by its production – it’s like the antithesis of a sweatshop. I’m so pleased that they will have a table at the fair!

And even better, the Environmental Club is partnering with Rosemary Grove as an “Advocate”. This means that whenever someone shops there and mentions us, we’ll get 10% of the sale, the proceeds of which we’ve decided to donate to the Missouri Botanical Gardens. Here’s a link to the website, where you can find our club on their list! http://www.rosemarygrove-online.com/pages/rg-advocates

There is also an in-store shopping event in the works for early April, so stay tuned for that as well!

Tomorrow, Monday, March 4, the Biological Sciences Organization will be hosting our semesterly bake sale. Usually, we donate a portion of the proceeds from our sales to animal adoptions. And, though we absolutely love animals and strongly support and promote saving their habitats, we have decided to break from tradition in order to support another worthy cause: breast cancer research.

On campus, a few students (including me) led by Dr. Thomason and Dr. Rayhel are currently working with the EMT6 breast cancer cell line and with mouse-derived macrophage cells. Dr. Thomasson originally published his research in the 1980s. Right now, we are trying to determine which new route we would like to take with this work.

So if you have any questions about the research we are performing on campus, or if you would like to support the cause and purchase a baked treat, stop by the BSO table tomorrow in the Ryan corridor between 11:30 and 1:30. We will have a variety of cupcakes, cookies, and other delicacies available for just $1 each, and every person who purchases a treat will receive a free handmade breast cancer ribbon of their choice in order to wear to show their support. We hope to see you tomorrow!!

Wow. I’m speechless right now thinking about the fact that I’m already a SENIOR in college in my last semester of undergraduate school.

I also can’t believe how quickly time has zoomed by! For example, I remember when my fellow Fontbonne friend Lara and I had just decided that we wanted to have a Benefit Concert focused on Human Trafficking/Modern Day Slavery sometime last semester. And the concert just happened on Friday. Crazy!

Of course, Lara and I have spent a lot of work on this event and we’re so relieved that we went through with it.

Like any event that I plan, I always worry about how many people are going to show up. However, why not take a risk once in a while? I never know what might happen until I try. As much as I would have loved the whole city of St. Louis at our show, the crowd who did show up was intimate and inviting. Plus, we raised at least $279 for The Red Thread Movement and The Covering House! How could we not be happy?

Not to mention that, but the performers were all local and lovely!

I’m definitely thankful to have had this opportunity to express my passion for social justice through being on FISH (Fontbonne In Service and Humility) and to have such a supportive community around me!

Peace, Love, & Freedom For All.

This year got really nasty with comments and jabs at each side of the Presidential debate and that was just on my Facebook among various friends. This year the politics of politics took its toll on my mind and spirit. I consider myself liberal in my views and found myself being called out on several occasions by friends. The weird thing to me about this is that although I am liberal in my political views I don’t tend to tell many people about them nor talk about politics with others.

I’m content to know where I stand on various issues. Because of this I don’t feel the need to tell everyone how I feel, persuade them to feel what I do, or try to change them. I guess I’m happy to live in a country where so many views can be held and or expressed. I am thankful to the men and women who have served our country in the military to protect this right. If anything I am thankful to be friends with various people with differing opinions from my own. There is something to be said in learning from others is how I’ve always felt.

This leads me to a story about election day. I had lunch with a very conservative friend of mine that chose to talk to me about politics. I told her that she knew that I was liberal and where I stand but I am thankful that we live in the US where we both can have such differing views and be friends. She backed off and agreed she was thankful that we were friends and that no matter what our political view she was glad she knew me. Wouldn’t this be a great thought for our leaders of our country, state, and towns to have?

I know that I’m praying for our current leaders and will continue to do so in the next year as some change and others stay the same. In reality, our leader, is not a man or a woman but God and through Him all things happen. I would much rather pray that God be a part of our country and how our leaders handle things than spend time debating with one another over fine details. I pray that you will join me in the coming weeks in praying for our leaders that they be graced with God presence and work for God’s glory. Together, I pray our country takes a stand not against one another but to pray for God’s almighty presence and will to be done in our country.

Blessings on your week-

Sherry

Hello, Fontbonne Blog Readers!

I seriously can’t believe that it’s my Senior year at Fontbonne already. It feels like just yesterday that I was writing my first blog on here.

It’s been nearly 3 weeks since the first day of classes started, and I already feel like I’ve been here for months! I’m still just as busy as ever, but I’m still excited for what this new semester will bring.

This past summer was quite lovely. I had the opportunity to go to Kenya, Africa with FISH (Fontbonne In Service and Humility) for 2 weeks where we partnered with African Impact and helped out at the Mukeu School for children with special needs. This included both helping out in the classroom and rebuilding the kitchen at the school.

We even went on an African safari in the Masai Mara!

I participated in an event called The Color Run with my fellow Fontbonne Friend Allie (who also happened to be my first roommate at Fontbonne and went on the FISH Africa Trip with me).

Allie’s family was also nice enough to take me to my first NASCAR Race where we conveniently ended up meeting racecar driver Jeff Gordon.

And one of my favorite things this Summer had to have been getting help from friends and family to raise over $500 for charity:water for my 21st birthday. Because of this money, at least 25 people in developing countries will get the access to clean water.

Other updates since the school year started:

I got to be a FOCUS (Fontbonne Orientation Committee Uniting Students) Leader for Freshman Orientation this year, which was a great experience. The Freshmen seemed to have a great time at the different activities like the Overnight Trip at Lake Williamson and the Freshmen Frenzy.

It also brought me back to my Freshman year, remembering how exciting Freshmen Orientation was and attending all of the events like the Freshmen Frenzy.

I moved into the Southwest Residence Hall this year, which is apartment-style living with 3 other roommates. I’ve loved every minute of it so far. I don’t have a meal plan anymore, but that’s no problem because we have a kitchen here where I’m learning to cook my own meals, which has been a fun learning experience.

My roommates and I even won the door decorating contest in Southwest!

Since I’m majoring in Speech-Language Pathology and minoring in Psychology, I have lots and lots of classes in those fields of study this semester. Those classes include: Audiology, Intro to Neurogenic Communication Disorders, Positive Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Biopsychology, and I even get to be in Pre-Clinic for Speech Pathology (where I get to observe and help out in speech therapy in the on-campus clinic in the 2nd floor East Building).

We had a pool party in the Meadow the other week, which was really fun.

The Meadow also has the new addition of hammocks this year, which have been more than welcomed by students.

And now I’m starting to realize how many things have happened since the semester started…wowza! I can only imagine what the rest of this year will be like…

I’m going to leave it at that for now! Until next time…

Peace, Love, & Pool Parties!

Hello Everyone!
I just wanted the end the year with a CONGRATS!! We made it!! I know I still have one more week left and it’s exams, but the end is so near that I can taste it. I have been a busy bee and Fontbonne has been great with making the last few weeks a blast! Just this past Friday, April 27th, I participated in Fontbonne’s annual Service Day. It’s a day where all from the Fontbonne community come together to volunteer at various locations across St. Louis. I volunteered at the Open Door Animal Shelter and played with kittens and walked dogs! The shelter is a “no kill” shelter, and they have hundreds of animals waiting to be taken home. I know I fell in love with every dog that passed by. Besides helping animals, other options were available like the St. Patrick’s Day Center, Project Solomon, and more! This was a great way to spend my Friday, and I am glad Fontbonne gives such an opportunity to all of its faculty and students.
To keep going, on Saturday night, I am sure everyone heard the tornado sirens, saw the golf ball size hail, and got wet in the rain. Fontbonne trudged through the weather and held a delicious SGA Banquet for all who showed initiative in leadership. I was lucky enough to be nominated for the Emerging Leadership Award, but my good friend Claire Toler won because of her outstanding determination to bring awareness of eating disorders to Fontbonne’s campus. The food was amazing and made by our own food service, Ameriserve. The theme was Doctor Seuss, which made my night because I loved reading those books when I was younger. It was great to see all of the people who influence our community and make Fontbonne a better place.

Finally, Spirit Week is this week and it is one of many ways to relieve some of the pressure of exams! Monday was field day, Tuesday was sand volleyball, and Wednesday was karaoke night. Tonight we got to celebrate Cinco De Mayo early with a fiesta and piñatas! I think I am the most excited for Friday’s Spring Fest and the concert in the meadow. We will be having South Jordan playing at Fontbonne, and it should be a good time. I recommend Googling this band because they are pretty impressive. That about wraps up my last post for the semester… Thank you for putting up with my rants, tall tales, and gibbering rambles!!! I’ll see you guys some other time!
Jeanne!

Hello Everyone,
Last post, I was supposed to have a picture of my old Beta Fish, Clark Kent, but difficulties loading prevented that from happening. SO! Without further ado, here is the late Clark Kent (sympathetic sigh here please) and here is round 2, Apollo!!!! (“Ooooh” and “Ahhh” here please).

This week is one of those weeks where I do not have much to do, but I know I will have a ton to do next week and can’t do anything about it. The end of the semester is coming up fast and summer is waiting. I don’t know about you guys, but I am ready to hit the pool and run around like a crazy person, throwing papers in the air as I do so. I am looking forward to the summer break and even for next fall semester. I don’t have a big summer planned. It will most likely involve work, work, and more work. Hopefully I get a camping trip in! If you have never been camping I implore you to try it. My family and I do a floating/camping combo near the Meramac at the Garrisons River Resort in Steelville, Missouri. It’s cheap, quaint, and you can pitch your tent right next to the river. Fishing is nice and the water is great. That will be a summer highlight for sure in my book!

I don’t have much else to say, so I will just end this post about donating blood. Today at Fontbonne the Mississippi Valley Blood Center was here, and I participated in saving 3 lives today. To anyone thinking about that needle, it is easier than people think and does not hurt. A quick pinch and you are perfectly fine. I make it a habit to donate when I can. The American Red Cross has many different facilities that take appointments every day. Just Google the nearest site near you and start reaping the benefit of feeling great for taking time to save lives. Blood is needed more than people realize, especially you O type blood people!!! So if you aren’t too busy, give a donor facility a call and set up an appointment today!!!
Thanks,
Jeanne!

Do you like to shop? I love to shop. Unfortunately, constantly buying new things and throwing out the old is not a very eco-friendly move. So can one be both an environmentalist and a shopaholic? Of course. The first step is getting rid of the things you no longer need or want – but just because you don’t want them doesn’t mean someone else wouldn’t! So donate your old clothes, games, toys, electronics, furniture, etc. so they can find a happy new home, or find a recycling center that will accept items that are beyond repair. A quick Google search can work wonders for finding ways to recycle things.

Now for the fun part – buying more things! There are tons of antique markets, consignment shops, and second-hand stores near Fontbonne, and they are perfect for finding one of a kind items. One store I’d like to highlight is [RE]FRESH, which happens to be right across from another shopping mecca, the St. Louis Galleria. [RE]FRESH is a clothing store that benefits foster and adoptive care children. They accept clothing donations from the public, and sell them at a very reduced rate to these children, who don’t have much to spend on clothing. However, the public is also able to shop for clothing (also at very reasonable prices) and the proceeds go back to the Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition. They have a wide variety of clothing for men, women, and children, and the money goes to a great cause! So support the community and the environment – go shopping today!

You think that your days are hard. Take a long hard look at yourself in the mirror and log onto YouTube and search KONY2012. Nothing is more powerful than an idea. The idea is to make the world aware of the cruelness around us. Kony is a horrible man who abducts children in their sleep and forces them to belong to his cult. The girls are turned into sex slaves and boys are handed a gun to wreak havoc. The children are then required to harm their own families, friends and other youngsters. Over the past nine years, there has been a small group fighting for sad things like this to end. What we can do is join in to spread the word. This is a harsh reality of what is going on outside American grounds. We think we have it bad — think again and fight for something worth fighting for, and let’s start with rescuing these children and serving justice to KONY! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc