Archives for Miss_Mallory

End Of semester Review

As the end of the semester winds down, a lot of us find ourselves reflecting over what happened over the course of the semester. From memories made, those laugh-until-your-face hurt moments, to maybe even those that you wish you could forget, now is the time a lot of us do that. And I was doing that today as well. After I took my one and only final of the day, I started thinking about this semester, how it all began, and what I thought at the beginning of the semester, compared to what I think now.

The first day I was on campus, I had told myself that I wasn’t going to let anyone know that I was any different than any other student on campus. I wasn’t going to let them find out I was 26 years old. I wasn’t going to let them find out that I am a single mother to two kids. I wasn’t going to let them know that my college history of getting to the point where I am now was a rough road. As well, I never thought that I’d make real friends here…..

So what changed? Shortly after the first few weeks, people started coming out of their shell. As did I. I still wasn’t able to open up to a lot of people, but there were starting to be cracks in my cover-up and conseal. I met two other students who were moms. One of them confided to me that only a few other people knew. That’s when it struck me. Since when is being a mom so bad? Why was I trying to hide my children from this part of my life? When did having children, suddenly seem like the worst thing ever?

As time progressed, I lost my mask that I was so adamant about having the first few weeks of school. I told people I was a mom to two wonderful children named Emma and Luke. After I let them know, they could see that I put them as a top priority in my life. I brought them to a football game, and brought them to trick-or-treat off the street. And these people that I had been going to school with, were treating my kids as an extension of me. They treated my children with the same kind of kindness and respect that they had treated me with.

And suddenly, I felt like a fool for trying to cover up who I am.

I took off the mask, and started being me. Me…Mallory. Mallory with the kids. Mallory with the curly frizzy red hair. Mallory who is 26, but still feels like I belong here. Mallory who has more than her fair share of blonde moments….. And I came to find out, that people still liked the real Mallory, 26 with two kids, and all.

And I have the students to thank for that. Thank you for making me realize that the shell I had put up to “protect” me, was in fact hindering me from my Bethel experience.

Don’t get the bug!

As a student who just recently came down with an Influenza/Pneumonia bug, let me tell you, it was horrible, and miserable. So in this particular blog, allow me to share some helpful hints to you, remind you of some that you may have forgotten over the winter months, and hopefully, you’ll stear clear of coming down sick. Pretty soon we will be gearing up for finals, and you don’t want to be fighting off a sickness, cramming all kinds of information into your head, and taking tests all at the same time.

1. Remember to wash your hands often. Granted, this will make your hands more rough and dry, which although, is much better than being sick. However, as a remedy for those dry hands, they have invented a wonderful thing called Body Butter. This will help keep dry skin on those hands you are washing twenty times a day more moisturized.

2. Eat healthy, especially foods rich in Vitamin C, Zinc, and Iron. This will help keep your immune system up, and more ready and able to fight that bug before it fights you.

3. Getting adequate sleep. I know this is especially hard during finals time, when you are staying up later and cramming your brain full of knowledge you swear you will never need.

4. Keeping hydrated. Drinking lots of water will help flush any toxins.

5. Try thinking positive thoughts….surprisingly this helps a lot. Negative energy will bring you down, everyone knows that. If you think sad thoughts, you become sad right? So think healthy thoughts, like “I will feel my upmost best today” (kinda cheesy I know, but hey, if it keeps the flu away, its worth the shot right?!) Cancer patients often times visualize themselves well. Even though you may not be suffering from cancer, why not apply the same thinking power to just a regular sickness that you are trying to stear clear of?

I wish all Bethel Students a healthy pre-final time! Stay well! And if you do get sick, recognize the symptoms and cut yourself some slack. And if it gets really bad….see the doctor instead of spreading your sickness to other students!

Fall Fest Craziness!!!!!

It’s that time of year, where apparently, everyone at Bethel goes into mass craziness. With me being new to Bethel, this is a new experience that I am excited to see unfold. I have heard from several different sources around campus, that this week is the busiest, and craziest, but also the funnest and will be one of the best out of the year.

Quite the oxymoron there huh?

Of the clubs and organizations that I am involved in on campus, we have spent about a month planning what we are going to do at Fall Fest. If every club and organization has done the same, I’m sure the results are going to be phenomenal! I honestly can’t wait to walk around to various booths to see what others have put together for their display. That is, given I have enough time between my other Fall Fest obligations and responsibilities.

As far as what my most favorite event is, I’m going to have to say the football game. I say that, because I love watching football,and cheering for my team (Which is OBVIOUSLY Bethel) but also because I don’t fully know what to expect or anticipate at Fall Fest. But that’s half of the excitement…..not knowing. So far, every other Bethel tradition that I have experienced, has been absolutely wonderful, and I am looking forward to Fall Fest….craziness included!

New School Year, New Faces, New Beginnings

Every new school year starts off with the opportunities for new beginnings, new experiences, and new encounters. This year, is the same. Already, we have almost been back in the groove of things for a month now. We have had our regular beginning traditions that Bethel has, various sporting events well under way, and unfamiliar faces are starting to turn familiar. I am one of those “new” faces that started out unfamiliar.

I am a transfer student to Bethel, from Butler Community College. So far, I have enjoyed every second here at Bethel, and would like to thank all of you that I have had the chance to get to know, for making me feel welcome. I was blown away at my orientation at how nice everybody seemed. I figured it was just because those people had to be there, you know like those people that are staff and get paid to be nice to strangers. But then after classes started, I realized everyone was nice. At least, everyone that I have encountered so far.

So, a little bit about me, that way if we haven’t met yet, I won’t be so unfamiliar. My name is Mallory. I am considered a sophomore and a junior, so I classify myself as a “Junmore” and I have found several people here at Bethel that fit that description as well. It should be a legitimate class I think.

I live in Wichita, and was born and raised there. I have two children, Emma who is 6, and Luke who is 3. If you see me at the football games, chances are I will have them in tow. They are a lot of fun, and are very friendly, so don’t be afraid to come say hi to them. If they bite, I apologize, but hey, at least they have had their shots and are up to date! (seriously….just kidding on the biting part) I do not fit the definition of a “Traditional student”.

I graduated from Wichita High School North in 2005, and started at Butler as a Psychology major. Then I met the father of my children, here at Bethel. I was currently dating a different Bethel student at the time I met my children’s father….anyway…that’s a boring story, and then this so called thing of life happened. I put school on hold, and went to being a mom. It was after Michael and I broke up that I realized I needed to get back in school. The rest is history, and here I am today, now a nursing major with a psychology minor. (Couldn’t quite give up the psychology completely)

I am looking forward to see what new faces I will encounter, and what new beginnings this year has in store for me. Already, a new beginning is this blog. I have never blogged before, but jumped at the chance to when I heard about the position. I am more than excited to be Bethel’s new blogger. I plan to have lots of exciting blogs so stay tuned!

Mallory