Archives for bpowers

Farewell. Auf weidersehen. Adíos. Adieu. Ciao.

So, my loyal readers, it has taken me a couple weeks to find time to write my last blog for Bethel College. I have been busy relaxing at the lake with no time to write this blog (in all actuality, I had time but chose not to — hey, I was on vacation!).

So, just like they tell you, graduating is the best and worst day of your undergraduate degree. Getting an A on that Organic Chemistry test or forgetting your speech in Public Speaking cannot compare to you feeling as happy and sad as you do on graduation. You are so excited to graduate and move on to the next chapter in your life. You actually get to join the big-kid world. But that is scary, too. At the same exact time you feel ready to join the big kid world, you’re not. You don’t know how to be an adult. You have no idea how to pay bills, cook, sign a lease, or do your own taxes.

Not only are you happy and scared but you are also heartbroken. You don’t want to leave the place that became home for you over the past four years. The family that you cherish. It’s hard. It’s hard to give up a routine. It’s hard to embrace the change. There are so many things you see daily that you will miss. Like the beautiful Ad Building glow at night. Like the campus blossoming with flowers in the spring or splayed with leaves in the fall. Like your friends that you eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner with everyday. Or of course the family you’ve made in the Mods. Like your favorite professors in Mojo’s. Or your coaches walking down the sidewalk.  You’ll miss having YOUR seat in Convo and kicking freshmen out of them at the start of the year.

However, with all of this, you must not get too broken up. You will be able to see your Bethel family again. You’ll meet up with your Modmates numerous times to reminisce about the good ol’ undergrad days but you’ll make new memories, too. You’ll also of course come back for Fall Fest. Who can miss that? You will visit random days because you just need somewhere that understands you. You will get to play in Alumni games and of course come back for concerts.

So remember this. Graduation is a happy, scary, sad day. But that’s the beauty of it! Enjoy every minute of it. Because you will never have a more special day with an even more special family.

Roll On, Threshers!

With much love,

Brooke

Brooke’s Declassified Finals Survival Guide

Here is THE guide to a successful week of finals….

First off, study the heck out of the material. Seems kind of obvious, doesn’t it? Well, that’s because that is all you can do.

Second off, put off studying. Go outside and play disc golf with your friends. Choose a movie over looking at your notes. These are the time you’re going to remember, trust me (I’ve been through this for four years now).

Third off, drink TONS of coffee. It helps,  I promise.

Fourth off, counteract the coffee with lots of water. Please be sure to stay hydrated.

Fifth off, go out and binge on fast food, ice cream, soda, and all other absolutely terrible food choices.

Lastly, love the fact that you are studying or taking a study break. These are the moments that are going to be with you for the rest of your life, and they are important. Friends mean everything and you would not be surviving this hellish week without them. Enjoy the stress and bask in the glow of sleep deprivation.

Every minute of this week is glorious.

Live it. Cry a bit during it. Love it.

Brooke

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The Week Before Finals Week

This week is literally death for everyone involved. Why this week is so much worse than actual finals week? No one knows except the professors.

All of us students go through hell the week before finals because for some odd reason every professor decides it’s a good time to pile up the assignments due. For example, I have two papers, two exams, one presentation, and of course the usual homework all due the week before finals.

My load isn’t even that bad. Others have it way worse than I do. I have a friend who has a biochemistry exam on Friday! What is the point in that?! The students don’t get the exam back in time to study it and it just stresses them out more. It isn’t helpful.

Another thing I do not understand is why professors want to grade these things? Why in the world would someone make all of these assignments due? I know for a fact each professor has at least two classes they are teaching. So that means even more work! Professors should conduct study groups all week instead of assigning projects. This way kids actually pass their finals.

The only way to get through this week and make it to the next is by lots of coffee, lots of laughter, a little bit of crying and zero sleep.

Good luck to all of you enduring this week of stress.

Brooke

 

Getting the Job

Okay, followers, this post here is a biggie.

Recently in convocation, we had a presenter come speak to us about ways to excel in interviews. It helped. Kind of. Most of the things he mentioned a lot of us knew already and it didn’t quite “fit our fancy” on what we thought we would like to hear about. So with my marvelous interview experience (an experience of less than 10 interviews), here are my 10 tips for you.

1. Make sure you pee beforehand! This is clearly number one, because you do not want to go through your entire interview needing to take a whizz and not being able to concentrate on the task at hand. (If you do need to pee, don’t be embarrassed, just use the bathroom so there are no accidents.)

2. Brush your teeth REALLY well. No one likes stinky breath.

3. LAYER on the deodorant. You will be sweating like a pig.

4. Wear comfortable shoes. Nothing is worse than aching feet all day (but of course make them comfortable “professional” shoes).

5. Brag about yourself. What you are there for is for them to better understand who you are and how successful you are. This is not a time to be modest.

6. Lunch time: Eat everything on your plate. You did not pay for it, so why not? (Also, it shows the money spent on you was well worth it.) Note: Do not eat so much you need to puke.

7. Tell jokes. Be humorous. No one likes a Debbie Downer. Showing you have a personality is key.

8. Be personable. Tell them interesting things about your life that show you HAVE a life outside of the workplace. Allow them to see the real you (as long as the real you isn’t awful).

9. Do not only ask questions about the company. Ask questions about them, too. Where they are from, how many kids do they have, etc. This shows you’re interested in them as a person, not just an interviewer.

10. Send a thank-you note in the mail. This shows that you actually care. An e-mail is impersonal, and shows zero effort.

I hope this helped. Good luck to all of you seniors (and others) trying to make it in the real world.

Brooke

 

#SeniorSeminarRush

Seminar. A seven-letter word that brings desperation and dismay to seniors’ lives. Here are some things not to ask these struggling souls:

  • “Are you done with your seminar?”
  • “Have you finished your paper?”
  • “Have you set a date to present?”
  • “You do know that URICA is in two weeks, right?”
  • “Why didn’t you do this in the fall?”
  • “Well, why aren’t you working on it now?”

If you do ask these questions be sure to brace yourself for ugly, rude, smart-aleck comments to be shot back such as:

  • “Are you done talking?”
  • “Of course I am! That’s why I’m slamming my head into this desk — for nothing.”
  • “Set a date? Ha!”
  • “Yes, I do know, but did you know that you’re annoying?”
  • “I clearly had more important things to do like eating and sleeping.”
  • “Obviously I like to induce stress upon myself and live a miserable life.”

For all of you who now know not to pester these dangerous creatures, do not take it personally. We do not mean to be rude. We just have too much stress for us to handle. (Which is why we clearly should have listened to the seniors before us when they told us to finish it in the fall.)

For all you underclassmen — get prepared and GET YOUR SEMINAR DONE IN THE FALL.

For all you seniors out there stress eating, having random mental breakdowns and of course binge watching Netflix, I understand the pain. However, we can power through. One word will help — GRADUATION.

– A Senior Who Wishes She Got Her Seminar Done a Long Time Ago

Sun’s Out Guns Out

Okay folks, spring is upon us and everyone knows what that means… Sun’s Out Guns Out.

Everywhere you look on campus there is spring clothing. You’ve got those who rock the khakis, bro tanks, and Raybans. Then you’ve got the spring dresses and skirts. Of course, there are those cute strappy sandals. And you will ALWAYS see people without shoes.

This is the best part of Bethel! Bethel always gets lively when the sun comes out. You will see people do many of the following things…

Ultimate Frisbee on the Green

Studying outdoors

Disc Golf

Sand Volleyball and basketball

The list goes on and on. So when you see these people outside go join them! I am 100% positive they will not mind at all. Get out there and have some fun in the sun!

Brooke