Archive for October, 2009

Individuals Inspired United

Friday, October 30th, 2009

Yesterday was a sad day for many in our student body. There was an apartment fire on main street and, while nobody was seriously inured, both apartment renters and business owners lost all their posessions. Though it was an unfortunate event, I am impressed at how it has brought the community together. To get a better idea of what I mean read this:

“Our latest information is that seven Alfred University students were permanently displaced by the fire. Those seven all lived in apartments above either West Side Liquor or the Alfred Sports Center.

There are another nine people who were living in apartments in the yellow brick building that has The Collegiate, Kampus Kave and Hair Care on the first floor. That building sustained heavy smoke and water damage from the fire. Tenants will be allowed into their apartments today to reclaim as many of their possessions as possible, but they will not be able to live there until the fire clean-up and restoration are complete. Those who were living in the red brick building, which houses Alex’s and the Panda Express restaurant, are able to return to those apartments. Fire and code officers have determine the building is safe for occupancy, and utilities have been restored.

The University is providing on-campus housing at no charge for the rest of the semester to all students who were permanently or temporarily displaced by the fire. AVI Fresh, the University’s dining services contractor, has provided free meals for those students.

Any students who lost books, computers and course work are being asked to contact their professors to let them know they were affected by the fire so that accommodations may be made for this semester.”

This comforts me to know that I am in a community where everyone is willing to come together and accomodate those in need.

On a happier note we have a new way to tour our campus and it’s really fun!

Bike Tour

Been awhile…

Monday, October 26th, 2009

First I would like to say: hello! I’m super sorry I haven’t posted in awhile. These last few weeks have been really good, but stressful at the same time. Of course it is the same old, same old–getting ready for graduate school and preparing for a life without Alfred. But enough of that, it’s starting to get tiresome even thinking about it. I’ll press on and hopefully get accepted somewhere (please take me!). Haha.

Other than that, in the good category, I’ve been working on knitting. I typically crochet, but I figured I’d attempt knitting again, and I actually rather like it this time, which is a nice feeling. The first time I took up knitting I got super frustrated and gave up in all of two minutes. Maybe I’ve matured? Probably not.

Right now I shouldn’t really be posting on here–I’m working on an essay and a poem, but I figured I’d take a minute and just stop by. Hope everyone is doing well. I’m going to go outside, enjoy the nice day, and work on my essay.

end of october?

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

Hey Everyone, another week has come and gone! Its thursday and I am tired! Tomorrow and today we are firing off a soda kiln at cone three, which should be fun! I also found out a happy potter tribute band is coming and i think its totally EPIC! However, I am terribly excited, because I could be classified as an all out nerd. I suppose I am just really easily amused.

Birthdays!

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

This Monday my friends and I celebrated my roommates 20th birthday!  We had such a good time! We went to a restaurant called Marinos in Hornell. The food was wonderful. I arranged for the waitress to bring a piece of cake with a candle out at the end of dinner for my roommate, she loved it!  This weekend my best friend is coming because next Tuesday is MY 19th birthday! So this weekend all my friends and I will be celebrating! I cant wait, specially since i have not seen my best friend since August. 

Work has been going well. At the student calling job I got a very large pledge that I am quite proud of! :) Tours have been great and so has the weather! Although I think I am finally prepared for the cold.  It now has my permission to snow. hahaha!

Ive been quite stacked with homework this week.  I have a paper due Friday, yes thats tomorrow…but I will get it done! Speaking of the paper I should go and do that…Later!

Snow?!

Friday, October 16th, 2009

Yes. It snowed today. October 15th…not even winter. We’re supose to get 3-5 inches over the next two days. Wow. I looove alfred and its awesome weather!!!

Aside from the snow, everything seems to be slowing down since midterms have ended.  I have a lot of saturday tours coming up and a paper due next week.  My rommate’s birthday is quickly approaching and then mine follows by a week :) I am very happy to celebrate birthdays and hang out with my friends!  But this weekend is a paper writing weekend for me, although I will try to mix some fun along with homework. 

I went home this past weekend and had a blast hanging out with my family and 6mo old puppy.  It was nice being home but I found myself missing Alfred.  However I was very glad I got to go shopping, see a movie and see my friends!  The next time I will be home is November for Thanksgiving!

Bye for now!

-Melissa

And we’re back.

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

Break is over ( did it ever even start?) I was sick for most of it , which I guess is good considering that I’d rather be sick and rest at home , then to miss class. I worked here on Monday and gave a bunch of tours, all the families were very excited, despite the cold weather were having.

I’ve started doing observation fieldwork for my education classes. I actually am back at my old high school, which is somewhat surreal. As I walk through the halls Im not shoved anymore, but rather I hear ” Watch out shes a teacher.”

Its all very odd to me.

My school also recently got smartboards. My teacher and I have been attempting to figure them out. You can do lots of creative things with them , especially as an art teacher! Here I am next to it( also I would like to note that I made that  dress I am wearing out of a white bed sheet from salvo that I dyed and designed !)

 

In other news the conference bike is here in all of its glory…call Admissions and come take a spin on it with us!

hi!

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

Hello everyone! I am just checking in post midsemester break to let you all know that if you are heading here for a visit, bring a jacket! It snowed today for the first time which means more will be on the way soon! Midterms are good and over with luckily! I had Kilns to load and unload, engobes to test, and glazes to mix up. In short, I felt a little like a chicken with my head cut off. However, its all great now since I have tons of nice pieces that are now finished, and what is better than that? Anyways, talk to you all later!

Now Panic And Freak Out

Friday, October 9th, 2009

What’s up perspective students? Time to start the blog with the #1 phrase in blogging: “Sorry I haven’t written in a while.” We have been super busy with midterms. I had two this morning; one at 8:20 which was Organic Chemistry and one at 10:20, The Making of Europe.The day before yesterday was my Anatomy final and my Molecular Cell Biology final is on Wednesday after break. If you read my first post, I said that I am a Biology pre-health major which involves a lot of studying. The people in Herrick Library are getting to know me pretty well.

The big difference between studying for a highschool class and studying for college class is that you decide what it is that you’re studying. You are paying (a good amount of) money to do this, so it really should be something that you enjoy. That’s why I don’t really think of it as studying in the sense that I thought of it when I was in high school. When I’m on break I usually read something about neurology or human anatomy just because it’s so interesting when you start to get really in depth to your topic. I noticed that is a theme around here: you start studying something you are really intersted in, you study it more and start to get into the more interesting stuff (’cause we all know that the intro courses are no fun) and before you know it, you are doing it because you love it, not because a professor tells you to do it. In my molecular cell biology class, my professor plans it to be half independent study. We learn as much as we can during lecture, and go back to our rooms to study the rest. Things will be on the test about the subject that we might not have went over in lecture.

You guys scared yet? Don’t be. Like I said at the beginning… this is all stuff that you are going to want to study on your own anyway. You will love your major. And if you don’t, switch. That’s all there is to it. I have taken a wide range of classes while deciding to become a Biology major, so if you have any questions on what it’s like to be in a college classroom, post it up on here. I’m always happy to help out anybody who wants some information.

Fun days at AU

Wednesday, October 7th, 2009

Wow, I have been busy lately!  This week is mid-term break and I can hardly wait!  Although not everyone has mid-terms, (I only have one), it seems that everyone is crazy busy around this time of year with projects and of course papers. But this week everyone is truly “working for the weekend!”  I know I am since I have a paper due next week that I do not want to be doing this weekend as I visit my family!  I can’t wait for my mom to make me food!!!

This past weekend was an AUtumnvisit day for prospective students and since I am a tour guide I was giving tours all Saturday long!  I had some really good tours, specially thanks to the beautiful weather.  I met some really nice families and students who seem like they would do very well here!  After touring all afternoon a fellow tour guide, Nick, and I went to the Jet (the diner in town).  We met my roommate there and had a delicious meal.  From there we went to visit our other friend at her appartment.  By then it was time for a nap!  In the next few days I plan on breaking out my winter clothes, since the weather has been getting colder and of course do tons of homework!

The other day I was looking through my previous posts and I realized that I have failed to introduce myself!  My name is Melissa and I am a sophomore from southern New Jersey.  My major is Comparative Cultures and I have two minors- French and Anthropology  :)

Midterms week

Monday, October 5th, 2009

Hello Everyone! Hope all of you are in warmer weather than we are here. Its been a bit chilly lately but the rain and clouds only mean that I am forced to stay inside and get it together for midterms this week. That said, it hasn’t been too bad, just the normal midsemester scramble. I am working on making six heads and four large pitchers this week made out of ceramic. Glazing, kiln loadings and general craziness from my end. The best part about midterms week as an art student is that all of the students are generally all in the studios hanging out together as we work, which really makes it feel more like fun than actual work. You feel quite accomplished when its all done. Its funny when I look back on my years here at Alfred how much I have learned and seeing learning follow through to completion is almost surreal when you reallly start to consider it. Anyways, I hope all of you are doing well and enjoying the school year. I know I am.