My Life at MU

The Home Stretch

Fall Break was just a few weeks ago, and it's already the last day in October.  I can't believe it's just a few more weeks until Thanksgiving break, and then Christmas break is around the corner.  I have a few tests under my belt, and my midterm grades were even better than I expected.  I also pre-registered for classes yesterday.  I'm super excited about that classes I'm taking next semester.  It's also a little hard to believe that after this semester is over, I only have three semesters left.  I'm definitely in the home stretch.  I love this time of year.  Fall is here, the weather is getting colder, and the leaves are starting to change... well a little anyways.  RHA hosted its annual Oktoberfest last night.  The evening went really well.  It was a lot of fun to hang out with other students and just have a good time.  Beta Beta Beta also has its induction ceremony soon.  This year I will be inducted as a full member.  Well, I think that's it for now.  Hopefully the rest of the semester will go as well as the beginning. - Amber

Its almost crunch time...

Hey Everyone!

So it is almost the end of October, which means the semester is quickly approaching an end. And everyone knows what the end of the semester means: EXAMS! Not only are exams in the near future, it seems like a have multiple tests every week now! But hey--isn't that what college is about?

As far as softball goes, we had a great fall season. As I mentioned in my earlier blog, we had scheduled ourselves to be in the University of Tennessee fall tournament. We made the trip about a week and a half ago, and let me tell you--it was one of the best experiences I have had while being involved in athletics. I never thought I would get the chance to face the division I national runners up while being here at Methodist. I'm not knocking our team, its just that it hadn't ever crossed my mind. But when Coach announced that we would be going to the tournament and playing Tennessee earlier this summer, I knew that it was going to change my life, and it did. As a pitcher, I knew I was going to be pitching against the best competition out there, I knew I would have to be in "my element." To make a long story short, we did not succeed in beating the Lady Vols, and judging by the score you might not think that a player could have grown from this particular game. However, just knowing that I was not intimidated, that I was up to the challenge, that I was confident enough in my own abilities as an athlete to step on that mound and do my best was more than a win could have ever given me. I am so happy that I am a part of the Methodist Tradition, and i'm even happier to be someone who is helping to carry it on.

Enough of my motivational sports psychology! Now it is time to focus on schoolwork even more and get my hours in for my internship at the courthouse. Working with the Cumberland County Courthouse has already provided me with so many oppurtunities; and in case anyone is interested one of my advisors will be conducting two mediation classes on saturdays for a small fee, in which after completion you will be certified as a mediator in North Carolina (See Wendy Vonnegut if you're interested!). I'm almost done with my Paralegal minor, and last week's advisee meetings helped me to sort out my schedule. Dr. Fields helped me get the classes I need in order to complete my chemistry degree, and he also persuaded me to pick up a biology minor to help with my preparation for pharmacy school. Its great to have advisors who really care about your professional goals!

Well I am going to go read my lab so I am ready for it at 2pm. Hope everyone is having a good semester! Oh yeah--Happy Halloween :)

Lesley

Homecoming

Homecoming is a blast!! There is so much to do.  You have the pep rally, the football game and then the dance later on that night.  The great thing about Homecoming are the people that you get to see that have graduated from Methodist a few years ago.  You are able to see what they have been up to and just recall the good times that you had.  To me, the best part to Homecoming is the dance.  This year myself and 11 of my friends all went out to eat and then went to the dance together.  We all dressed up and had a great time!!  I would not have missed it for the world!! - Chris

Growing up

College is where you grow up.  In high school I used to always think I was capable of doing everything.  I was taking as many AP classes as I could, playing in numerous orchestras, working a part time job, as well as being an officer of practically every club I was in.  I did all these things to impress people, get into colleges and earn scholarships.  Everyone would marvel at my accomplishments, saying how much they wanted to be like me.  What very few people realized is I was miserable.  I was stressed out beyond belief, rarely went out with the few friends that I had, and thought that earning anything less than an A was the end of my academic career.  I graduated as valedictorian and performed an elaborate violin concerto at senior awards, which recognized my dedication to academics and music.  However, once I came to Methodist, those things didn't matter as much as I thought they would.  In fact, no one really cared.  The only thing I did in high school that proved significant in college was pass a total of 6 AP exams, allowing me to transfer in 24 hours worth of credit.  Stepping into my first college class made high school null and void.  I felt like I had burnt myself out for nothing. 

Did this realization about high school change my ways in college?  No, not until I had a heart-to-heart with my mentor.  I had become overcommitted--looking at my schedule made me cry.  I didn't know how I was going to get everything done.  My mentor asked me why I was doing so much.  "It will look good when I apply to grad school."  Wrong answer.  "Grad school doesn't care if you earn a minor in math or that you are in the Fayetteville Symphony.  You are a biology and chemistry major.  They care about how you do in those classes.  You need to learn to limit yourself."  It was possibly the hardest decision I’ve had to make but I chose to listen to him.  I dropped the math minor and told the conductor of Fayetteville Symphony that I would no longer be a member.  I can now breathe a little easier.

In high school I wasn’t naïve to the idea that I was doing too much, I just didn’t know how to handle it.  Now, as a college sophomore and with a little help from individuals I respect, I am mature enough to set limits and stick to them.  I have grown up.

--Ashley

Fall Semester

The fall semester is flying by.  Everyone has been keeping busy with classes and endless activities.  After everyone survived midterms, we enjoyed a few days off for fall break.  The Student Activities Committee has been entertaining Methodist with some amazing events like the Womanless Pageant and the Hollywood themed Homecoming.  Last weekend, students enjoyed the many different athletic games that took place as part of Homecoming.  Christopher Newport came back after half time to beat the Monarch Football team 24-17.  The Volleyball team won 3-0 over Shenandoah, but lost to Averett 0-3.  While the Methodist guys Soccer team dominated Randolph-Macon 2-0 and the women's soccer team stayed undefeated in conference, winning 2-0 over CNU.  This year, MU clubs and organizations are gathering to show their school spirit.  The Monarch Zone (the tailgating area for home football games) has been packed with clubs like the Student Government Association, the Accounting Club, ACHE and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.  Even Radio stations like 96.5 The Drive have come to show their support.  The Monarch Zone has been full of fun games, face painting, and delicious food.  The semester is not over yet and great events are still to come.  Everyone support the Student Education Association Bake Sale on October 24^th and the Basketball and Cheerleading teams at Hoopla Frenzy on October 25^th.  See ya soon! - Samantha

Don't Waste Time!

College students are notorious procrastinators.  We wait until the last possible moment to do everything, only to find ourselves up at 3 in the morning surrounded by coffee cups, feeling like we've been hit by a car, and asking ourselves "Why didn't I start this sooner?!"  Yet, even after pulling an all-nighter, we do it again, and again, and AGAIN.  I can't tell you how many times this has happened to me; for all you math nerds, x is most certainly approaching infinity.  I wish someone would have told me to watch out for the procrastination trap BEFORE I fell in.  For prospective college students and even those college veterans reading this blog, I am offering you some advice on how to manage your time wisely and improve study skills:

1. If your professor tells you all the daily homework he assigns for a specific test isn't due until the day of the test, DON'T wait until the night before to do it all.  When you cover a topic in class, complete the assignment dealing with the lecture that SAME night.  It not only helps reduce your overall workload, it reenforces the material and helps you be prepared for the test (yes, that's the real purpose of homework).
2. REWRITE YOUR NOTES IMMEDIATELY AFTER LECTURE!  I find this to be EXTREMELY helpful in all subjects.  For those courses that are fact based (such as history, biology, philosophy, etc) make flashcards from your notes to study the information (this method doesn't work if you wait until the night before the test to make the cards and study).  Do a few at a time and add on to your stack, reviewing all the way.
3. For applied learning classes (math, chemistry, physics, etc), if you are having trouble understanding/remembering the steps to a certain type of problem, do as many of them as you can find (even beyond those assigned).  Practice makes perfect.
4. Read the assigned readings BEFORE you go to lecture.  You will better understand the material and know exactly what questions to ask the prof.
5. Don't be afraid to go ask your professor for help in a timely manner.  Don't go up to them a day before the test and say "I don't understand any of the material you've covered."  Their goal is to help you learn (not fail you, like most of us tend to think).  Show that you're making an honest effort and want to do well.  It will also make them feel appreciated.
6. Just because most profs promise a dropped test grade, don't go into the test thinking that.  Study and prepare like every test grade determines whether you live or die (but don't stress yourself out).  Dropped test grades are heaven sent but they can also be your worst enemy in ways you could never imagine.
7. Work on term papers throughout the ENTIRE semester.  Never turn one in late.  Any computer/printer related excuses DO NOT work. DON'T miss class the day the paper is due because you're trying to finish it (that looks REALLY bad).
8. Science majors: all the courses you take in the science department are woven together and deal with each other in some way, shape, or form.  Learn and understand EVERYTHING or it will come back to haunt you.  Do lab write ups when you do the experiments, don't wait to finish them 3 weeks later, you'll leave something out.
9. Don't overcommit yourself.  "Jack of all trades, master of none."
10. Make a "To do" list.  It's amazing how satisfying it is to mark something off. *puts a check next to "Write My Life at MU blog"*

More to come in the very near future.  Good luck!

--Ashley

School So Far

School has been really great so far.  I have made it through my first tests in all my classes!  I think that it will be a great semester.  The weather here is perfect! It is just starting to get a little cool outside.  The sports teams here at Methodist are doing great!  I have been to several football games and I have had a blast!  The soccer  teams and the volleyball team are also doing really well too.  The Monarch Tour Guides have really been busy lately.  We have given a lot of tours to prospective students and parents. I have a feeling that we are getting ready to give even more tours as the weeks role by.  I've got to run. - Chris