January may just be my favorite month at Bethel. The entire month is filled with more free time because of only having to worry about one class and if you play your cards right (like I did), that class is only two weeks long! That leaves much more time to hang with friends, play intramural sports and go support the basketball teams! This last Saturday the teams went to Bethany College in Lindsborg and both got the win. The ladies are now 3-3 and in the top half of conference and the men are 4-2. They have been working very hard and have been back on campus since the 27th of December; talk about a short Christmas break! Read More

Greetings from the Volweider sisters in sunny Cuernavaca!The Social Development and Social Justice Class has been in Cuernavaca, Mexico for five days now. We started our journey last Tuesday morning after much excitement and anticipation! Our traveling went seamlessly with the exception of one of our ginger students passing out on the flight from Houston to Mexico City. Luckily, there were a couple of doctors on the plane and the flight attendants were helpful, so everything turned out all right.We were greeted by the Quest program director Gerardo, (who was quickly nicknamed Gelato) and took a bus from Mexico City to our first destination of Cuernavaca. All of our eyes widened and smiles came to our faces when we caught our first glimpse of our new home for the next two weeks. It is located on a mountain in the outskirts of Cuernavaca. There are rolling hills, beautiful trees, fields of corn, and a colorfully painted house. The house has no door to enter and it is open to the flourishing outdoors. We also quickly discovered the stairs to the roof where we found a pool and the view of a lifetime overlooking trees, hills, and the city below. We also then had our first taste of the delicious traditional Mexican food that is prepared for us three times a day. Eating these meals is an activity that everyone in our group looks forward to! Read More

Interterm is just around the corner! This is a different time at Bethel, and it is another one of those things that makes Bethel unique.Interterm is a bonus mini-semester; it spans the entire month of January and consists of classes that meet most of the morning or afternoon, or travel. Interterm is the time to go places, and this year is no exception. There are classes going to Mexico, Haiti, and Israel, but I won’t be going to either. Though it’s not as glamorous, I’ll be spending the interterm here at Bethel. Read More

I’d like to think that’s what the score was, at least. Semester one is officially OVER. I can’t quite say for sure, since not all of my grades are posted yet, but I feel pretty good about it. The last week of school was probably the most fun yet stressful. I was expecting finals week to be full of hours in the library and no fun, but it was actually kind of exciting. I was lucky enough to have my finals schedule evenly spread out so I only had to focus on one test at a time. Some people were not so lucky and had 3 finals in one day, but professors are very understanding and most will let you take a final on a different day if you have 3 or more scheduled the same day.

Campus is more or less empty now, which is kind of depressing. I’m going to work next week at the bookstore and Mojo’s is still open as well, but it won’t be the same. Now I just have to wait for everyone to come back for Interterm! Merry Christmas everyone!

This week is the last week of our Fall Semester and so naturally it is filled with exams. Many students have been posting on Facebook how hard their classes were, how stressed they are and finally when all is said and done how happy they are to pass and are almost on Christmas Break. As for myself, my last final of the week is here at 2pm and then I just have some loose ends to tie up. I get to enjoy hanging with my friends one more night before moving home (across town) for two weeks. Christmas break is always a welcome thing but it is also bittersweet. Since we are constantly surrounded by friends and loved ones, it is a sad thing to realize we may not see eachother for a couple weeks, a month and a half…or ever again. Some students may leave at semester or are graduating…and so this week is also a week of goodbyes.

In any case, I hope you all enjoy your Christmas break!! Become refreshed and ready to come back to school and dominate the Spring.

“If you relax, it comes. Don’t seek, don’t search, don’t ask, don’t knock, don’t demand. RELAX. If you relax it is there. If you relax…GOD shows you the way.”

Bethel is one of those small colleges that has so much to offer including some things you would not find out about until you get here. The biggest two traditions of the beginning of winter are during the same week. The Lighting of the Green is a powerful event that always occurs on a Sunday night before Finals week. The college students all come out to our beloved Green and are handed a candle to hold. Once the ceremony starts, singing can be heard from all directions. The first candles are lit and then progress around the circle in different directions. You will be lit by your neighbor and get to light your other neighbor’s candle. The whole ceremony is very beautiful and unique and is something everyone must attend at least once! We are usually blessed with nice weather but watch out for the wind! Read More

People usually get very busy and stressed around finals week, but this semester I am looking forward to this finals week!  Today is reading day, a day which there are no classes or finals and everyone spends the day studying and preparing for their finals.  I have 3 finals, one on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  They are spread out very well, so I do not have much to stress about.  I have plenty of time to get all my studying in.

I also look forward to finals week because of all the food and parties that occur during this time.  Almost every club schedules a party for Reading day of finals week.  There is good food and good times!  Also, there are Christmas parties for each dorm, Voth Hall’s being tomorrow night.  Also, Voth Hall has a food cart that travels the halls during finals week.  If you ever need a break from studying or even a quick “pick me up”, the cart and all its food and drink is available to you.  There is also a Christmas Party in the Cafeteria, serving nachos which is held by the Bethel Parents Association.  They also give out gifts to every student who attends.

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