This year I have taken an entirely new approach to spring break. I no longer see it as a time when I must break the bank to see family or go to the beach with friends.

For me, spring break is a time to reset and catch up. I have been fortunate enough to find opportunities to work this week in the community doing lawn work and continuing my internship at Prairie Harvest in downtown Newton.

Schoolwork has been building up over the last few weeks, to which my response has been: “I’ll do it next week.” The break presents the possibility of working on tedious schoolwork at my own pace.

And the great weather has motivated me to begin training for soccer again.

With all of these necessary but dull plans, you may wonder if it even feels like a break. I certainly find joy in these tasks but I have decided I can afford making a trip to Kansas City for a professional soccer match and to Manhattan to see a friend I have not seen in months. If I really want this break to serve a purpose, I should make sure to remember to catch up on sleep!

– Eric

Well, here we are already several weeks into this new semester and I am writing my first blog! This describes my senior year so far, busy and going by quickly! I have been a blogger since my sophomore year here at Bethel. I will use this entry to talk a little about myself and what I do here.

My name is Madelyn Weaver and I am a senior from Hesston KS. I am majoring in Social Work with a minor in Management. I am involved in

many activities on campus. I am on the tennis team, a member of the Champions of Character group on campus, I’m in Concert Choir, on Student Senate, a part of the Student Alumni Association (SAA), and a co-coordinator of the Student/Community Action Network (SCAN).

Needless to say, those activities along with the mod of girls that I live with keep me very busy! However, I have really enjoyed the opportunity to be involved in so many activities during my college career. That is the nice thing about attending a smaller, liberal arts college such as Bethel. You don’t have to just choose one or two things to participate in, you can be involved in an array of different activities within different disciplines.

 

 

 

I hope to, with this blog, not only talk about specific events/issues/other random things about Bethel, but also include other recent or upcoming events that are happening at Bethel College.

So, without further ado,

Recent/Upcoming Events:

-The football team has their first home game this Saturday at 7:00pm!

-Volleyball also has home games this Saturday at 12:30pm and 2:00pm!

 

Events away from “Home”

–  Weekend – long tennis tournament in Nebraska

– Saturday: Soccer at Bacone College

– Saturday: Cross Country at Southern Stampede

 

Until next time!

MudSlam this year was originally planned for Sunday, the 13th of April. However, the weather predicted for this day was not very good. It was very cold this day, so MudSlam was canceled. Ironically, Kansas decided to bless us with some snow later that night. Our next try for MudSlam was Sunday, April 11th. As we got closer to the date, there were many nervous students because there was a high prediction of rain for that day. Thankfully, the weather was not too bad when the day arrived! It was quite windy, but very warm out. This was the first year of playing MudSlam that I did not shiver on the sidelines while not playing. However, it was very hard when playing on the north court because there was a very strong wind coming from the South. My team had many passes that came right back in our faces, and it was very difficult trying to serve against the wind. However, it was very funny to watch people try to serve into the wind.

 

The “Blockbusters” ended up winning the whole tournament. Thanks to everyone who helped make it possible!

 

 

These last few weeks of school each semester can get pretty stressful. Luckily, I have a wonderful mod of girls whom I live with and we have been able to combat some of this stress with some fun activities.

First off, for a whole week our mod lounge looked like the picture on the right indicates. We had a giant sleepover together!

There was a lot of bonding, pillow talk, and studying done together out in our lounge or makeshift “giant bedroom.”

We also have been taking advantage of the nice weather and doing or homework (or not) while laying outside in the mod courtyard on blankets!

The girls in my mod are definitely not the only people laying out and doing homework outdoors either. A lot of other students have been doing the same!

Our mod has also been celebrating birthdays, going to half-price apps, attending other events on campus such as: The Cinco de Mayo event that Student Senate put on (guacamole, salsa, refreshments and salsa dancing!) the Woven concert (which was amazing) , Jazz on the Green, senior recitals, and more!

It is hard to believe that we are officially done with classes and that all we have left are finals to study for and take. In the next few days you can expect from me some “stress buster tips” or ways to get yourself (and myself!) through the last days of school, or if school no longer applies to you than stressful days at work!

 

For my modmate, Mariyana’s birthday, my mod decided to blindfold her and take her to half price appetizer’s at Applebee’s. It was a very sad time when we got there and it was closed. So, Plan B… McDonald’s. Hey, it is the thought that counts, right?

Next up was the concert choir spring break tour! We all had a few days off and then had to be back on the Wednesday of spring break week. We rehearsed a few hours that day, had supper at Bethel College Mennonite Church, and then gave a mini tour at the church.

The next day BCMC, again, provided breakfast and then we had another few hours of rehearsal and sang for a meeting at Bethel College. Then, after lunch, we were finally off to Arkansas! This was a really long bus ride… about eight hours. Once we got to Little Rock, we checked in at a hotel and just relaxed until it was time for bed.

The next day, the choir sang at ACDA, which is the American Choral Directors Association. This was a great concert, and we received a standing ovation. After this, we had a few hours just to hang out. For supper we went to a fancy restaurant and ate some delicious food.

The next day, we got back on the bus and drove to Kansas City, Kansas. Then we sang at Johnson County Community College. They had a very cool hall, and it was great to talk with all of the people that came to see us. Sunday, the final day, we sang at the Church of the Resurrection. I enjoyed this service very much, and found all of the people to be super friendly. Our next stop was Panera– thanks to Dale Schrag. Then we finally got on the bus and drove home. It was a great trip!

This past week, Mojo’s hosted Kaleigh Glanton, a contestant on The Voice. Her dad, Howard Glanton, is the guitar instructor here at Bethel. Mojo’s was packed and it was a a great night of singing!

Lastly, but VERY IMPORTANT, my family got a new puppy! He is an Australian shepherd and some kind of terrier…. Everyone meet Cooper!!