Welcome to my blog - Read all about my many adventures as a graduate student in the Organizational Leadership program, a graduate assistant for the Office of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving and most importantly a Mercyhurst University alum!


Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Prayers and Thanks at Thanksgiving

The entire Mercyhurst community is praying for the safe return of a fellow classmate, Jenni-Lyn Watson. She is a junior, dance major and she has been missing since Friday November 19, 2010. She was last seen at her home in Syracuse, NY. If you have any information on her whereabouts contact her family at 315-451-7546 or the Onondaga County Sheriff's at 315-435-3081.

During this scary and horrible time, the entire Mercyhurst community has come together and it is very remarkable to see the work and effort being put forth. Jenni-Lyn went home for Thanksgiving break and has been missing since Friday but I am staying hopeful that she will return safely. There is a facebook group dedicated to finding her (http://on.fb.me/h59rJf), please join the group and check out the fliers and information on her.

It is during times like these that I must say that I have truly made the right choice in choosing to attend Mercyhurst. We are one of the few communities in which students are not numbers; it is awesome to see all of the love and support pouring out from students, staff and faculty of Mercyhurst. Just recently my friend Steve's mother passed away after a hard fought battle with cancer. Mercyhurst's Ambassador club donated money, the Admissions office donated a Mercyhurst basket to go to the chinese auction at a benefit that was held for Steve's mom. Steve said that after she passed away, he received numerous cards and phone calls from the people of Mercyhurst.
Mercyhurst students have also worked tirelessly to contact media outlets, hang signs and posters, create websites, post information on facebook statuses in hopes of finding Jenni-Lyn. Please continue to keep an eye out for her, spread the word, and most importantly, the strongest help that we can all give is the gift of prayer. We are all praying for Jenni-Lyn's safety and her family during this time.

To all of the prospective students out there, if you are looking for more than a school, if you are looking for a family, a place that cares, a place where people will know your name and a place where everyone will have your back during times in need, Mercyhurst is the answer. You will not find love and compassion like this at just any school. At Mercyhurst, we don't do kind things because we feel that we have to, we help one another, we look out for everyone because that is truly the Mercy way. What a great feeling it is knowing that I am so blessed to be a part of something so wonderful - for this I am truly thankful.

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Finals are finally over...time for a much needed break!

Finals were just this past Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Now that it's Saturday, I can safely say that I've had enough time to recuperate! I had two in class finals, one take home final and two term project/papers. My two finals were on Monday which was great because I took them and then was able to focus on finishing my projects. My projects both went very well, one turned out to be 30 pages long, it was a group assignment and we finished at 1 am on Monday night! My other project was to write a PR campaign for a company (it was for my public relations class) and I finished that at 3 am on Tuesday night (it wasn't due until 3 pm the next day). All in all, it was a stressful time, but that it to be expected. I am confident that I did well on my exams; teachers are expected to put the grades online by Monday, so now I am just waiting to see the results of my hard word!

On Wednesday my dad came to pick me up from school and it was so great to head home! I packed up my bags and some summer clothes (I am going to take them home and switch them with all of my warm sweaters). On Thursday and Friday I worked on catching up with my family and catching up on sleep! My parents went to work and my sister went to school but it was very nice to just sit around and relax.

Don't let me fool you, my break does not only consist of relaxing! I am going to be working on many things for next term such as preparing my planner with next term's classes and schedule. I also have a book report to complete for the Leadership Certification Program that I am in. Also, when I get back to school it's going to be CHRISTMAS TIME!!! As you can probably tell, I love love love Christmas! Before I left for break, a bunch of us decorated the student union for Christmas on Campus. It is basically a day where a bunch of underprivileged children come to Mercyhurst and spend the day with a buddy (a Mercyhurst student) and they get to do arts and crafts, eat a ton of sugar, see Santa and of course get presents. So over break I am working on some Christmas preparations for Christmas on Campus and tree decorating.

Well, I'd love to stay and chat but I have a movie and hot chocolate calling my name! Since I don't get a whole lot of time to relax during school time, you better believe that I take advantage of this down time!

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Finals. Need I say more?

Finals are here. This means that I have been studying and studying and studying and did I mention studying, since Thursday evening.
So far things are going quite well, I have motivation and I am working on staying on top of things. What keeps me going is knowing that in just three more days, I will be able to sleep as long as I want, catch up on the shows that I never get a chance to watch and just plain old relax!

My roommate Alexa and I just got back from the student union where the SAC (Student Activities Council) held "Food for Finals." They basically offer free food for all of our students! There was pizza, chicken wings, apple pie, candy bars, granola bars, combos, chips, and apples! Since this awesome food is all for free as well as a chance to stop studying for awhile, EVERYONE goes to it! So Alexa and I arrived 20 minutes early and there was still at least 40 people in line ahead of us. Luckily we were there early enough to get all of the food that we wanted!
Now that I am stuffed from the yummy pizza and apple pie, it's time to go back to studying. All that's between me and break is: a Finance test, a Business Law test, a Communication Theory and Research take home test and paper and a Public Relations campaign. I know it seems like a lot, but don't worry, I can do it!!!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Here's the Picture of the Week!

It's almost the middle of November and we still have yet to have a snow fall here in Erie, Pa. Great weather has been with us and we are all extremely happy for that! Tonight on my way to dinner, this beautiful and awesome sunset was in the distance!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

It's the Final Countdown

At this point there are four M-W-F classes left and four T-TH classes left! Can you even believe it?!
It's kind of a blessing and a curse. I am so so glad that the term is almost over, yet I am dreading finals and I am fairly nervous for the lack of time that I have to finish everything.


Before finals, I still have:
1. three Business Law assignments
2. a Financial Management exam
3. to turn in a draft of my Public Relations campaign AND make changes to the section that my teacher already checked over
4. complete a take home essay/exam for Communication Theory and Research
5. present my Communication Theory and Research project to the class
6. complete my Public Relations campaign
7. complete my Comm Theory and Research project
8. study for my Financial Management and Business Law finals
**All of this needs to be completed in the next TWO WEEKS!!!


I am so excited because I was able to catch a nap earlier today and now I am sitting in the living room about to get to work. I am looking forward to crossing things off of my list. I have zero meetings tonight and zero places to be, so that equals many things getting accomplished woo hoo!


Fifteen more days until break! Let the countdown begin!

Monday, November 1, 2010

The Picture of the Week!

This past Saturday was my 21st birthday! Here's a bunch of my friends who came over to join in the celebration!