Final Blog

Hi Again!

Well, this is my final blog of the year - where has the time gone? It's hard to believe that I am officially at the halfway point of my time at Mercyhurst. I remember my first day as a freshman and all the thoughts I had racing through my head wondering what the next four years of my life would be like. As my sophomore year comes to a close, I think back to that lonely day - saying goodbye to my parents and living for the first time on my own. It was certainly sad leaving my family and I knew that homesickness was sure to set in. And I was right. The first month of school was the hardest - not academically but mentally. I was pretty homesick and was trying to adjust to a new lifestyle.

 My biggest fear about going to college was my roommate placement. During the summer, I received a letter in the mail with my assignment, along with his contact information. I never had the chance to meet him before I left for school, but I we communicated  through email and text message. Simple stuff though - who was bring the TV, refrigerator...etc.

When I arrived at Mercyhurst my parents helped me unload my belongings into my dorm room - Warde Hall - highly recommend it! It was then that I was finally able to meet my roommate. I lucked out with a great roommate. Throughout the course of the year we developed a bond and became great friends. We also met a few other great friends. By the end of the year we had a solid group of about 12 of us that met for dinner each night, and watched movies and played games every weekend. We were an extremely close group that had an extraordinary amount of fun.

As freshman year passed, we left each other for the summer. It was sad to see the people you spent practically every day with leave, but I took comfort in the fact that the following fall we would all be back. We even planned a weekend get-together in July and we all went to Buffalo and Niagara Falls. We had a blast, especially on the Maid of the Mist!

When our sophomore year began, I found myself living with the same roommate and my same friends. Unlike freshman year when it was two guys to a room, we had four guys to an apartment sophomore year! We cooked our own meals (well...not often but we tried) and laughed literally every day and all night. One weekend I took my roommates home with me to spend the weekend. We had a great time in my hometown and were able to spend a night at our cabin.

The second half of the year flew right by and before we knew it May had arrived. So as I sit in my room typing this blog, I look back at the first half of my college experience. I think of my very first day, the courses I've taken, the troubles I've encountered, and grades I've received. But most of all, I look back at the friends I've made and the memories we've made that will last a lifetime. That is what I treasure most.

The past two years we've shared together and the memories we've made can never be taken away from us. If the next two years are like my first two - I could not be more excited to start my junior year next fall. Mercyhurst has become my home away from home, and I can honestly say that I've finally been able to feel what it's like to have brothers - LJ, SM, BL, AE, SK

Hopefully that gave you a little insight into my Mercyhurst experience. Thank you to those who have taken the time to read my blogs, even though I know they have been repetitive and at times boring. Nonetheless, I have truly enjoyed being able to share some of my experience with you.

Have a great summer!
Ryan Smith

Kids & Sibs Weekend!

Well...the countdown has begun! We are getting close to the end of the term and summer vacation is quickly approaching! 

So far this term has been busy, mostly with Intel work and projects. Last week we completed a serial sexual assault case project. We were given 10 victim's reports and we had to analyze each and break each report down in terms of location, behaviors, time elements, victim description, and offender descriptions. We then had to create a briefing book with our analysis and findings. My partner and I easily put 40-50 hours into the project. Some of the nights we were in the lab from 7pm-4am! 

Right after we turned in that particular project we were given another project! This one deals with drugs and we have to construct a link chart. This project is due the Wednesday of finals week, so we have about three weeks to complete it. Again, I expect to put in some long nights.

This past weekend we had a special weekend on campus- Kids & Sibs weekend. It comes once a year and is a blast! Kids & Sibs weekend is when siblings of Mercyhurst students are invited to spend a weekend on campus. My youngest sister came and spent the weekend with me and we had so much fun! We checked in on Friday and were given a bunch of snacks and two matching official Kids & Sibs weekend T-shirts! 

We then went out to dinner in Erie and went to Starbucks for a drink and to talk. We ended the night by watching a movie. Saturday we took the bus to the mall and did some shopping. We then returned to campus and grabbed dinner at the Egan dining hall. Surprisingly, my sister liked the food! haha

Sunday afternoon we went to Panera for lunch and then my parents met us there and we went to the mall. I am glad she was able to come down and I know she enjoyed her stay at the Hurst! Can't wait until we do it again next year!

Below is a picture of two stuffed animals we made on Saturday during the events on campus:

Anyway, I'm currently at work study typing this blog so I better get back to work! 

Thanks for reading!

Ryan

Law Enforcement Intelligence

Hello Again!

Happy April Fool's Day! It's hard to believe today is April 1st! We have one more full month of school and then it's summer vacation. We had Major Day and Laker Live-In over the weekend. Major Day is when prospective students are invited to come to Mercyhurst and learn about the various majors the school offers. Each major holds a discussion/information session for those students who are interested. We had a great turnout this year.

Students who attend Major Day are also invited to spend the night (Laker Live-In). Each prospective student is paired with a current Mercyhurst freshman to spend the night with. The prospective student is then able to get a better grasp of life on campus - especially life in the dorm rooms. The school hosted a few musical groups last night as well as a comedian.

Well we are approaching the middle of the term and Easter Break is coming up! The first half of this term has flown by and midterms are approaching! I have on midterm on Wednesday and another the following Tuesday. Yikes.

This term I am taking a Law Enforcement Intelligence class and so far it is awesome! Mr. Grabelski teaches the course. He was a homicide detective with the LAPD. That is one thing I value in the Intel Department - our professors have real-world experience. They come from the field and what they are able to teach us from their own personal experiences is wonderful.

So far we have completed two projects and we were assigned our third one last Friday. For our third project we are analyzing a serial rapist case with ten victims. We have to analyze each victim's statement and pull out the important information and organize it into an Excel chart. We've done several examples in class and it is challenging but intriguing.

Our new Intel building is coming along! They have made tremendous progress on it so I thought I would post a picture I took a few days ago.

Thank you for reading!
Ryan

The new Intel building!

Spring Term!

Hello everyone!

I know it's been awhile but I'm back on the blog! I'm so glad winter term is over and done with - spring term is the best! We've been having some beautiful weather lately. It's been in the 70s a few days and the upcoming week looks nice too!

The highlight of this term will probably be Spring Fest, which occurs is May. Sean Kingston is coming to Mercyhurst to perform. Tickets are free to students and it's just an all around good time. Last year we had the Plain White T's and they were great!

Well...St. Patrick's Day weekend was this past weekend and we had awesome weather! Friday night I just hung out with my roommates and we watched the Grinch haha - I know it's a Christmas movie but we all love it and watch it year round. During the day Saturday we hung out and Saturday night I went to the Presque Isle Casino for a Bruce Springsteen Tribute Band Concert.

I'm a fan of Bruce Springsteen and I didn't quite know what to expect from a  tribute band but they put on a heck of a show. The group was called the "B Street Band" and they were from New Jersey.

Below is a picture of my girlfriend and I at the concert with the stage in the background.

My girlfriend & I at the Bruce Springsteen Tribute Band Concert.

We also had an event for the Ambassador Club last week called Spring Tea. This is when we formally induct our new members. This year we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the ambassador club. It was a nice ceremony and we had a great day for it.

Well...that was a quick update but there will be more coming! My next blog I'll be talking about the new Intel course I'm currently taking - Law Enforcement Intelligence. So far it's a great class but I'll give you the run down next blog!

Have a great week!
Ryan

Lovin' Life at the Hurst

Hello again!

Well, it's official....we are now Mercyhurst University! Last week our college president, Mr. Gamble, announced our university status to the entire campus. We have a new name and a new logo! Check it out on the school website. Although we became a university, the college itself isn't changing much. We still and will always have a quality education and the one-on-one interactions with our professors. Mercyhurst will never change at the core.

We have been trying to figure out if it is winter or spring outside. We have had unusually nice weather this past month - I'm not complaining though! I'm ready for spring and the sunshine!

Classes are going pretty smoothly for now. I have an American Government test tomorrow, so I plan on studying the rest of the day. Competitive Intel is going well too. We are now in the process of compiling our final project, our class company profile of Tim Hortons. We plan to get the company profile professionally bound, which will be a great thing to take into future job interviews.

I cannot believe how fast this term went - it seems like we just started. We have about 4 more weeks until another break. I should probably start preparing for finals!

I had a great time with my friends this weekend! On Friday night we went to the movies and saw The Descendants with George Clooney. It was a pretty good movie. Last night we went to the Hibachi Japanese Steakhouse and it was fantastic! They cook your food right in front of you and they also put on quite the show for you. Our chef was hilarious and he made some amazing food! You also sit with people you've never met before. We had four total strangers at our table but by the end of the night we were laughing and getting along great! Here is a picture of a all of us at dinner:

At the Hibachi Japanese Steakhouse! Yum!

Well, I'll post again next week!

Thank you for reading!
Ryan

Intel Update

Hey everyone!

In my last post I said I would try to update you all on competitive intel this week. Today I submitted my first draft of my Marketing & Sales section for our class company profile. Our class has its own wiki that we upload assignments to and then the class peer edits each others. It is a neat idea, however aggravating to use - especially when formatting pictures.

In class today we had six book presentations. I am scheduled to give my presentation on Thursday. For the book report, we need to be formally dressed (suit and tie) and have a visual aid (PowerPoint). Our presentation is to last anywhere between 7-13 minutes.

I was walking back from class today and I took a picture of our new intel building. It's just about complete! Here it is as of January 17th:

The new Intelligence Studies building at Mercyhurst College.

I posted a picture last week of our campus covered with snow. Notice how quickly the snow has melted! It has been unusually warm here the last couple of days. 

I had two tests today, one in criminal justice and another in intel. They went alright and I hope I did well. 

Anyway, off to dinner with my friends! We're heading the the Laker, which is a dining place on campus. Great food!

I'll keep the posts coming!

Ryan

Busy Week in Intel

Hey everyone!

Before I talk about intel, I just wanted to post a picture I took today. WE FINALLY HAVE SNOW!! It came Thursday night and when I woke up for class Friday morning I looked out my window and I was shocked! I wish we had snow for Christmas though, but at least we have some now. But I know come next month, I'll be ready for the warm weather to return.

This is a photo of Garvey Park, located pretty much in the center of campus.

Next week is going to be a very busy in Intel. On Tuesday my section of our company profile (Sales & Marketing) is due. I need to analyze the marketing strategy of Tim Hortons and analyze how it reflects in terms of sales. I plan on doing most of it today and then finish it up tomorrow. My Sales & Marketing section is just one small part of our Company Profile. By the end of the year we will compile our sections into one professional document. 

On Thursday my book report is due. Throughout our competitive intel course, we have to read a business book. My book is The 5 Levels of Leadership by John C. Maxwell. It focuses on leadership development. On Thursday I'll have to give a 10 minute presentation to the class on my book and also submit a written book report. Each student in the class is required to do the same thing, and at the end of the year we are publishing a book of our book reports.  We will have a book to carry with us throughout our careers that contains a synopsis of various business books that we can refer to. 

I'll try to post a blog next week and let you know how everything went!

Have a great weekend!

Ryan 

Back from Christmas Break

Hey everyone,

Just got back from Christmas break-it flew by! I can't believe it's 2012, but I had a great break. It was nice seeing the family and my cousins. Every year my grandma and papa have all of us cousins over to make cookies, eat pizza, decorate, do a craft, and sleepover. We call it Cookie Night and this was our 20th year doing it! We had so much fun! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Each year, right before Christmas, I look forward to watching Darlene Love on The Late Show with David Letterman. This was her 25th appearance on the show, it has become a holiday tradition. Each year she sings her song, "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" so I just have to post it, and if you have time please watch it! It's a great song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENX1QeEcO_k

Just click on the above link and it takes you to YouTube. haha New Year's Eve was also great. We have a New Year's Eve party at our house every year with my family and it was a lot of fun this year. We were able to act wild and crazy, and of course we watched the Ball Drop. I actually was in Times Square in December 2008 for the Ball Drop - we rang in 2009. My cousin and I made it on TV for about 5 seconds too!

Classes started back up today, I had criminal justice at 8:00 AM and then intel right after. Both were easy today, the professors just introduced the next topic we will be covering. Next week will be a busy week for intel. I have my section of our company profile due, it's on sales and marketing for Tim Hortons. I'll explain more once I finally figure out what I'm supposed to be doing.

We finally have snow in Erie now! I'm thinking about joining the ski club again this year, if I have time with intel and ambassadors.

Anyway, I'll keep the posts coming!
Happy New Year!

Ryan

Christmas at Mercyhurst

Well... I couldn't resist publishing a Christmas post.

There's nothing like Christmas at Mercyhurst. The school itself is beautiful year round, but at Christmas time our campus transforms into something special. A Christmas tree with white lights welcomes you into Old Main. The Student Union is transformed into a winter wonderland and the buildings are decorated with wreaths and lights.

Above is a picture of the Christmas tree located in the lobby of Old Main. 

The school holds several Christmas events on campus this month. Christmas on campus is a popular one. Kids from the Erie area come to Mercyhurst for the day and make crafts and play games. We also have our annual lighting of our campus Christmas tree. Free horse-drawn sleigh rides are given that night as well.

This is my favorite time of the year and I'm glad I'm constantly surrounded by Christmas here at school. Now all we need is some snow!!

As far as intel is concerned, nothing much has changed since last week. We are still grasping our project, we'll find out more during tomorrow's class. Once we have some developments I'll post them here.

Exactly 20 days until Christmas as I write this :) This is exciting!

Merry Christmas!
Ryan

Competitive Intelligence

Hello Again!

We're back from Thanksgiving break and winter term is officially here! This term I am taking Competitive Intelligence (business intelligence). I had my first class yesterday and it seems like this will be an interesting course! We were given a company to analyze for ten weeks (similar to the country study in Advanced Intel, but this time it'a a company study). Our class has been "hired" by Starbucks to construct a company profile of Starbucks' biggest competitor - Tim Hortons.

Over the next teen weeks we will be looking at Tim Hortons in depth; their sales, marketing techniques, current research and development projects they are working on, and their overall company background - all of which is useful information to Starbucks.

In the intel program at Mercyhurst, we are exposed to three disciplines of intel: national security, competitive, and law enforcement. This is class is designed to give students an introduction to competitive intelligence (CI). The course teaches the basic fundaments and terminology associated with CI.

We are also required to read a business book for this class and do a book report. The book I selected is "The 5 Levels of Leadership" by John C. Maxwell. I just started and it is so far pretty interesting.

Competitive intel is a career I am considering so I hope to learn a lot in this class. I will have more posts coming regarding our project and the class.

Last post I attached a photo of the new intel building that is being constructed on campus. When I returned from Thanksgiving break I couldn't believe the progress that has been made, so I thought I would attach an updated picture of the new building.

This is an updated photo of the new intel building on campus. Notice the skywalk from the new building to our library.
It looks better and better everyday. Can't wait to finally have class in there!

Thank you for reading!

Ryan 

Crisis Week

Hey everyone & Happy Halloween!

Well-tomorrow is our last day of crisis week! We started last Wednesday and I've been living in the Intel Lab every since. (In case you forgot, crisis week is when our professor will assign us a tasking and we have exactly one hour to report back to him with our analysis and briefing) I received my first crisis week assignment last Friday, which was a written briefing, also known as a SFAR (Short Form Analytical Report). I received my team briefing earlier today and it went great! Tomorrow I expect to receive my individual oral report. I'm really not that nervous though, as we've been researching the European Debt Crisis for eight weeks now!

Immediately following Crisis Week, our team needs to get started on our final briefing. Our final briefing is scheduled for next week and will be approximately one hour long. In our final briefing we will discuss our group's findings and analysis regarding US trade and the European Debt Crisis. We are also expected to create a link chart, just like we did in the Advanced Intelligence Analysis course I took last fall (I have a blog entry specifically on that class if you would like to read it).

In other news, tomorrow is November and the end of term is near. I've already registered for four winter term classes:
       1) American Government
       2) Advanced Computer Applications
       3) Competitive Intelligence
       4) Criminal Justice

All of the above are required classes for intel students. We will also have a new intel building next fall, which everyone is excited about! Here is a picture of the construction:

New Intelligence Studies Building Construction

Thank you for reading! Enjoy the fall!

Ryan

Update

Hello again!

Well midterms are over and Thanksgiving break cannot come soon enough! I'm starting to feel the end of term coming - everything is starting to creep up on me. I've started on my final projects and reports for my classes after looking at my calendar and realizing we have like three weeks left of this term! 

On Wednesday we start our Crisis Week for Intel. It lasts from 10/26-10/31. Our professor will call us and give us a "crisis" going on in the world and we then have one hour to prepare a briefing for him on the situation. One of the briefings is a written piece and the other is an oral piece in which you have to meet him and give your briefing. It's going to be a nerve-wracking week but I'll be glad once it's over! 

We just had an Open House on campus yesterday and we had a great turnout! I gave four families a tour of campus and answered their questions. We had a few people interested in the Intel major so I was able to talk with them one-on-one and tell them my personal experiences. If you are considering a major and want more information just call the school and ask to set up a meeting. It helps A LOT. 

Anyway, I'm going to get back to writing this final essay for my history class - even though it's a beautiful day here in Erie. Welcome to college. 

Thanks for reading, 

Ryan 

 

Back at Mercyhurst!

Hello again!

I'm back at Mercyhurst for my sophomore year and I can't believe how fast it's going! Last week I had midterms and fall break is approaching! Soon it will be Thanksgiving and Christmas!! I'm taking three classes this term: American History, Writing for Intelligence, and Macroeconomics. I really enjoy all three classes and I like my professors. I really like the trimester system here because I'm not bogged down with a bunch of classes. I have my three classes and I can take my time and focus on each one. My favorite class this term is Writing for Intel. We have a ten week project on the European Debt Crisis and our final briefing is right before Thanksgiving break. Our project is going well so far, I've learned more about financials than I ever thought I would. But more importantly, I've seen how the economic trouble in Europe is directly tied to the US and our future. It's a great class and I've learned SO much.

I think the cold weather has arrived in Erie, 50's & 60's all week. The snow will be coming in another month or so! I'm considering joining ski club again this year. They go to Holiday Valley one night a week. They provide transportation to and from the ski resort and the college pass is affordable.

Well- that's a small update of my life at Mercyhurst right now. I'll keep the posts coming with more updates and information.

Thanks for reading!
Ryan

Easter Break

Well, today was my first day back to classes since Easter break and we are on final approach to summer vacation!! It was nice being able to go home and see the family but pretty soon I'll be home for 3 months and I can't wait! It's now crunch time for Intel. We've been working for the past 7 weeks on our country studies and next week we give our final briefings! This week I will be busy getting my report together and preparing my presentation. I will post updates. My goal is to have my report finished by Monday! Anyway- have to go work on Intel homework. Sorry it's a short post-but thanks for reading :)

My Weekend

I just got back to campus after a great weekend with my family. My sisters are in high school and they had spring break this week so they came down, along with my parents to spend the weekend with me. They picked me up Friday night and we got a hotel by the mall and as soon as we got there, we headed for the pool and hot tub! We went out to dinner and went to the movies after to watch Soul Surfer. After the movie we drove around downtown for a bit then went back to the hotel to swim and hang out. Saturday was a shopping day. We went to the mall and the stores around it. My mom and sisters love to shop-dad and I just walked around. I did buy some new shorts and jeans though. Saturday night we went out to dinner again and then hung out at the hotel...back in the pool and hot tub. They just dropped me off back at campus and they're on their way back home now. It was a great weekend with the family. I've missed them a lot and it was nice spending the weekend together. I LOVE YOU GUYS AND THANK YOU FOR COMING :)

Update

Hello everyone! Classes are going pretty good so far. A couple more weeks and then we'll have midterms. This semester is flying by. Today we had a career fair in the athletic center. Many employers set up displays and many students were able to hand out their resumes. This event is mainly for juniors and seniors, however it is open for all to attend. Advanced Intel is starting to speed up, we are now all working on our link charts, which is said to be the hardest part of the class. They are due in 2 weeks so we've been busy gathering our sources and learning the new software. Last night the group (my friends) ordered a bunch of pizza from Papa Johns and all hung out. Tonight we're all going to watch Butler beat Wisconsin in my friend's room. We all entered a pool and we've all been keeping a close eye on our brackets. This weekend is Laker Live-In weekend as well as Major Day. Any students considering Mercyhurst, feel free to stop by Saturday and pay us a visit. You'll be able to sit in on classes and gather a ton of information. Then Saturday night the freshman will host prospective students for the night. The prospective students are assigned a current freshman and will spend the night in the dorms. I went to Live-In last year and it was a lot of fun, so hopefully I can make it just as much fun for my Live-In. I know I have an Intel major so that will be nice giving them the inside scoop. Well, back to studying for my Western Classics quiz tomorrow! Thanks for reading!

Advanced Intelligence

I am now taking my 2nd Intel course this year, Advanced Intelligence Analysis. It seems ever since I came here in August, upperclassman have been giving me tips for the class. Of the two classes Intel students take their freshman year, this is the more difficult one, but it's also when you get to actually be an analyst. As of now, I've only had one full week of classes under my belt, but it was a busy week. The course consists of a 10 week project called a country study. Each student is assigned a country (one you've most likely never heard of) and must answer the following question: Will your country be stable in 18 to 24 months? In order to answer this question you must do an in-depth analysis of your country's stablity and predict their stability in the future. You must look at the country's military, its technology, its geography, as well as the political, economic, and social status. Together, these "areas" can give you an indication of the country's future. Along with a final report, we must also create a link chart, which shows our findings and the various relationships we discover. Then we must present our findings in the form of a briefing in front of the class. The briefing can be no longer than 10 minutes and we dress professionally (suit & tie). I was assigned the country of Armenia and I have been gathering sources and reading up on my country. The biggest piece of advice I received from the upperclassman was not to procrastinate, and now I can see why. This project is so involved that if you wait to get started, you will get behind and things will creep up on you. Whenver I have time available, I am busy researching my country, printing articles out, and reading Armenian newspapers. So far I have enjoyed this project. It's neat to learn about a country you've never heard of and after 10 weeks I'm sure I'll know more about Armenia than the people living there do...ok well maybe not but close. I'll keep you posted on my project as I work through it.

Spring Break

Hello everyone!
I can't believe that spring semester is already here! This freshman year has been flying by and before you know it, summer will be here! Today I started my new schedule with new classes and new teachers. I am taking 2 classes on MWF and 1 class on TTH. I like to have something to do everyday, it makes the day go by faster and keeps me occupied. So far, Advanced Intelligence looks like the best class. We have a 10 week project that was introduced today and it sounds very interesting! Taking classes within your major is the best because you enjoy it so much more and are eager to learn, because after all, it's most likely going to be your career! It wasn't much of a spring break-it snowed most of my time home, but it was really nice spending time with the family, hanging out, and best of all..relaxing. The week flew by though, I'm just looking forward to summer break now! March will be a busy month for me. I am officially being inducted into the Ambassador Club this Sunday, mom & dad are coming for that! Laker Live-In is also this month and hopefully I'll be able to spend the weekend with a prospective student and show them around campus. We also have a Career Fair on March 24th. Sibling weekend is also coming up, I have to double check the dates though. My sisters are looking forward to spending a weekend with me at college. So there are many events I'm looking forward to, which is why I think this semester will be the fastest one yet. And hopefully things warm up a little here in Erie...the snow is getting old.

Winter Term Almost Done

Hello!
It's been awhile since I posted last, but it has also been really busy! Winter term is coming to a close and final exams are quickly approaching! Semesters fly right by. It was a busy weekend as well. Friday I had my first official solo tour for Ambassador Club! It went well & I had a really nice family. That night I went to the hockey game with some friends. We won! Saturday we took the bus to the mall and we planned on getting back to campus around 6 but that never happened. We were planning on catching the bus at Target but it was late...like 2 hours late. We had to mess around with the bus company and walk a ways but we finally managed to get back to campus. Saturday night the SAC brought in a magician/illusionist/mind reader guy. It was awesome! He put on a great show and it was mind boggling. It was held in the Taylor Little Theater and there was a full house. Then Sunday I spent the day doing laundry and getting homework done, and that night of course watched the Super Bowl with some friends. We ordered pizza and wings, but unfortunately the Steelers didn't win. Oh well, it was great night and we had a lot of fun. Anyway, off to the gym now!

Thanks for reading!
Ryan

Being a Freshman

Going from being the big seniors to the small college freshman is quite the transition! Okay, well not that bad. Mercyhurst makes it pretty easy to get involved. It all begins during welcome week where you get to meet all of your fellow classmates and spend a lot of time together. They bring in entertainment and speakers during welcome week that help with the adjustment to college life. College is all about expanding your horizons and taking risks. There is bound to be someone who shares your likes and is interested in the same thing you are. My best advice is to just be outgoing and don't be afraid. Start up conversations with people you've never met and sit with different people in the dining hall; it's all about being willing to take the risk. I figure I'm only here for 4 years so I better make the most of it! It's also easy to get involved in clubs and activities. For example, I'm an Intel major, but I also help out in the communications department filming a TV show. I am also in the National Security Club, Philosophy Club, and trying to get into Ambassador Club. There is such a variety of clubs here, you will more than likely find something that interests you. And if you don't see anything that you like, you can always start up your own club. I have a couple of friends who have started their own club and so far they have been pretty successful. You can also get involved in the weekend activities. The Student Activities Council (SAC) has something going on every weekend. Recently they had a Christmas celebration with a tree lighting ceremony, free dinner, horse-drawn carriage rides throughout campus, and open ice skating. In the fall term they had events such as bongo ball (it's a mix of paintball and laser tag), fall ball, and coffee houses. There's always something to do on the weekends. As far as life during the week, classes keep you busy but I haven't been stressed out...yet. I'm always expecting it but luckily it hasn't happened yet. We have a solid group of about 12 friends and we do everything together. We are a tight group and we eat dinner together and hang out every night. We have a variety of majors in our group and a lot of different interests. We like to make our own fun during the week. Just last week we all made Christmas cookies in the lobby kitchen and all frosted them together, of course listening and singing to Christmas music the entire time. We also order pizza or wings often. We usually do it on like a Wednesday night to break up the week. We have the food delivered and take it to the media room and watch a movie. It's great having everything right here. Our dorm is more like a hotel than a college residence hall. I sort of went on a tangent there...bottom line-there's a lot to do here and don't be afraid to take a chance!