The Life of Forrest Gump

Promotion?

2010-08-18T15:20:00.002-04:00

A friend who also attended USC for Higher Ed & Student Affairs has been working at Alabama for three years. This semester she is teaching a class, mainly for freshmen students. Below is an email she sent based on a conversation she had with a student after the very first class:

Conversation with a student in my class:
Liza Lee: I just wanted to introduce myself, I’m Liza Lee
Me: Great to meet you, where are you from?
Liza Lee: Decatur, did you say you were from South Carolina?
Me: No, I just want to grad school there.
Liza Lee: Oh, my cousin went to grad school there but now he works at another school as the Dean of Students or something. He plans events for students.
Me: Really? What is his name?
Liza Lee: Josh McKenzie

Ladies and gentlemen, within a month's time I have worked my way up the ladder and am now the Dean of Students for Northwestern University (which was just named the #12 school in the country by 2011 US News and World Report [again]). haha!

First Week as a Chicagoan

2010-07-12T21:50:00.000-04:00

As this is my tenth day living in Chicago, I would like to declare myself a native and Chicago know-it-all....or something like that.

The first full week has been amazing/hectic/surreal all rolled into one! First I'll talk about my humble abode, located smack dab in Wrigleyville. Now, I have decided it is fate I live here, because right around the corner of my house is a bar called The Houndstooth- Alabama inspired! What are the chances?! It is a cool little bar with houndstooth wallpaper, framed pictures and articles about the University of Alabama, three different styled rooms, and enough people packed in on a weekend night to count as the entire population of the great Yellow Hammer state.

My first weekend was filled with touristy things with the fam (I can refer to them as touristy things because, again, I am a native). The Cubs game at the historic Wrigley Field, a mere 5-10 minute walk from my house, was awesome, a trip to the Northwestern campus, perusing through the overly crowded Taste of Chicago and sight seeing that had our dogs a barkin'.

On a side note, there is no Wal-mart or Kroger around. So where did I go grocery shopping you ask? A place called Jewel Osco, which is a typical grocery store. But can I tell you a regular little container of ice cream was $6.99! I'm STILL outraged at my frozen dairy delight.

I have become a real city person by riding the "L" (I have been told to stop calling it the train because that is something totally different. So I ride the "L") everywhere. In my 10 days here, I have used my car once! I am a short 5 minute stroll to the "L" stop and it is a 25ish minute ride to Evanston- home of prestigious Northwestern University. NU is an amazing campus- located right on the lake (Lake Michigan, I believe). AND, did you know that NU's peer institutions are Duke, Brown, Yale, NYU....so we have some smart lil nuggets here!

This past weekend I went on a kayaking tour of Chicago on the Chicago River. I would not advise touching the water, unless you are wanting to contract diseases, but nonetheless, it was an awesome way to see downtown Chicago from a different perspective.

Now that you have a little tid bit of an update, you can eagerly anticipate a post or two about some muy delicioso restaurants around town and some other cool facts.

One more thing, I randomly passed the movie set for Transformers 3 yesterday in downtown Chicago. How crazy is that!?

"McCain would never put a 10% tax on tanning"

2010-06-07T13:45:00.003-04:00

I always scoffed at the people that got caught up into the ridiculousness of The Jersey Shore...until I got caught up into it. What is not to like...except everything, which is why I like it. They just released a preview of the second season (which will be in Miami)...and I could not have laughed harder. Two awesome quotes from the video below:

I had fried pickles for the first time ever. It’s like a sliced pickle, and it was fried. It was crunchy but juicy. Eating fried pickles was a life-changing experience. -Snooki (while in Savannah, GA)

I don’t go tanning tanning anymore because Obama put a 10% tax on tanning–but I feel like he did that intentionally for us. McCain would never put a 10% tax on tanning–because he’s pale and he’d probably want to be tan. -Snooki (while having self-tanner applied to her at home)

Watch the 2010 MTV Movie Awards at MTV.com!

This Southern Boy is Goin' North

2010-06-07T13:38:00.001-04:00

As you may have already heard, I am now an employed citizen of this here America. I will be starting at the beginning of July at Northwestern University working as the Assistant Director for Orientation and Parent Programs. I could not be more excited about this position, the school, the people...and the area. Yes, I do realize that Chicago is above the Mason Dixon line...but I think I have some time to move around and explore a little, right? I hear it gets a little chilly in the windy city (probably even colder than 55degrees!?) so I will be accepting any and all long johns donations...and gloves...and Hot Hands packs for that matter.

Northwestern is a highly selective institution located in Evanston, IL...which is the north side of Chicago. I have already found a house I will be moving into the first of July, located in Wrigleyville, near Wrigley Field.

Now people have told me about the cold weather and cold hearted people and how I will adapt. To that I say, NO, I will be bringing a taste of the south up to good ole Chi-town! Polos, seersucker, the use of y'all, etc etc will all be packed nicely away for my travels north. I have a few months until the weather starts dipping below the 60degree line...so I have until then to beef up my winter clothing.

Wish me luck on being a real live adult. It should be an interesting journey, that you will definitely be included on....

Hello, freshman

2010-05-31T10:21:00.004-04:00

During the summer months, I continue to live in the building I served as a hall director for the past year. Though the buildings are usually empty during this time, mine will be occupied by orientations leaders, orientation students who choose to stay on-campus during the sessions and conference attendees.

This past weekend I bee-bopped down to the University of Alabama to see a friend who is interning there over the summer and my sister, who will be a junior in the fall. I returned to Columbia and the building late Sunday night to a crowded parking lot. It was at this point I realized freshmen orientation would be held the next day and students were most likely moving into the building for the night. I grab my (MTSU) suitcase and head inside. I have managed and lived in the building for the past nine months, so I know how to walk in the building in where to go...so for the record, I did not appear to be lost or questioning the direction I should be taking. As I walked through the first lobby, a group of three orientation leaders were sitting on the couches. I said "Hello" and kept walking. Before I round the corner to the elevator, I hear a girl yell from behind,

"HEY! Are you here for orientation!?"

I slowly turn around, look at the three girls who have decided to become excited about the prospect of meeting an incoming student, and said, "No. I am the hall director for this building."

It is fine. 18 and 23 years-old are the same. They were most likely thinking I was simply a non-traditional student coming for freshman orientation...

The Porch Boy Adventure

2010-05-31T10:13:00.002-04:00

As I am backlogging on my time directing a freshmen residence hall, there are multiple stories involving my "educational" conversations with students who have made decisions that are...not the brightest. There is one particular decision that jumps out involving a student I will lovingly refer to as George. You have heard the saying, "He is not the brightest crayon in the box;" I am thinking this one is a nice murky gray.

One month after the start of school, I am taking a quiet, relaxing stroll outside of the lavish residence hall. As I am soaking in the warmness of the Carolinian sun, listening to the birds sing their songs, and watching the squirrels play a game of jacks, I look up to admire the tall, luminous, cheerful residence hall structure. It is at this point I notice something out of the ordinary, something that seems to break the day that effervescenced with joy: George was standing outside of his dorm room (definitely not located on the first floor, mind you) attempting to build a porch. Now I am no engineer, but I was not impressed. He had even managed to bring out a school spirited bag chair and some PVC piping...which I assume were to aid in his construction of a safe and sturdy porch.

I quickly re-entered the magnificent residence hall structure, adorned with historically intricate and detailed architecture, circa 1971. I entered the elevator, with another passing breath as I noticed phallus symbols were not sharpee-d on that particular elevator at that particular time, to make my way to the floor. As the doors open sesame, I step foot onto the white tiled floor with the room directly ahead, in my line of vision. The door is open wide...which must have been opened so they could invite guests for a delightful afternoon tea on the porch, no doubt.

My tightly balled fist knocks on the open door. A little nugget of a boy pops his head from behind another portion of the room, sees me, has the "I just made a poopy in my pants" look, and quickly stammers "I told him not to do it!" I simply step into the door frame and ask the lil nugget if he could tell George to come back inside for a quick minute. He is happy to oblige. He squeaks out to George to come inside. George turns around and sees me through the mildly film-covered window and a look of terror passes over his eyes. It is obvious to me that the students do not know me at all...as terror and fear are the first feelings that pass over them when they see me- instead of the usual look of glee. However, I'm not complaining. It is natural to be intimidated by my demeanor and permanently scowl-adorned face.

Back to George, I ask him to come back inside. Now mind you these are no ordinary windows that he had to climb out. These are long windows that open from the top, and probably stop at my chest (I am 6'2''...if you don't know that, then you don't know me. And again, quit creeping on my blog ya creep-o)...so he had to get all monkey-like to manage his way in and out of his luxurious dorm room. As he was scurrying back into the room, I quickly had a passing fear that he would trip-up climbing over the window and plant face-first onto the tiled floor. Fortunately that did not happen...because then I would have had to clean-up blood and that would have taken even more time away from my leisurely strolling period. As his feet hit the room floor and he stands erect, I ask him, " George, what were you doing up there?"

"Building a porch," he doofily responds.

"George, you were building a porch," I ask. "Is this a good idea, George."

He spends a hot minute rolling his possible answer through his head, as I see the wheels spinning at slow-speed pace. "No," is what he finally decides to answer with.

"You're right, George," I reply. "You're right, it isn't a good idea. Why do you think it isn't a good idea, George?"

"Because, ummm...because we are high up," he says with a questioning tone.

"You're right, George. You are standing outside of your window that is not on the ground floor and you are building a porch. You could have fallen off and gotten hurt...and I do not want to make that kind of call to your parents. George, have you heard of the breaking the plane policy?"

He quickly responds with "No," as if he will be let off the hook with this answer.

"Well, George, it was included in the contract you signed at the beginning of the year. It says that nothing is to be thrown out of your room window. George, that includes bodies. George, that includes your body."

"Well, what's gonna happen?" he interrupts.

"George, I am glad you have noticed this wasn't the best decision to make a few weeks into school. I will give you five minutes to bring all of those materials back into the room..." He quickly spins around to leap out the window to retrieve his newly acquired porch furniture. "Hold up, George. George, if I ever see you outside of your window again, I will ensure that you are immediately removed from campus housing and given the opportunity to live in your own apartment with a real porch, ok? Thank you for the understanding, George. Y'all have a good evening."

A month later, during a phone conversation with a parent of George, it is told to me that he was simply trying to make his own space due to some roommate problems he was having.....

NDSU-Nashville?

2010-05-28T09:38:00.006-04:00

So I have to mention a story that was picked up by some national news sources at the end of last week regarding Miley Cyrus and her thoughts on pursuing higher education. As you can imagine, it would be a huge PR opportunity for Miley Cyrus to mention what school she would be interested in attending. HUGE! All those lil tweeny nuggets would want to follow right behind her...even to North Dakota State University-Nashville?....

The 17-year-old singer-and-actress said: "I'm not gonna go to college right now. I am a firm believer that you can go back at any age you want, because my grandma went back to college at 62 years old."
Miley hasn't ruled out further studies all together, and has thought about copying her sister by going to North Dakota State University (NDSU).
She said: "My sister went to NDSU in Nashville, so I'd probably want to be there with all my friends." (article)

My initial thought had me asking when North Dakota State opened a branch campus in Nashville, TN. I even had to Google it to make sure I wasn't completely out of the loop on something. I must ask you to do a little exercise:

Out loud, say N-D-S-U
Out loud, say M-T-S-U

Repeat until you realize the mistake the media made in what would have been MTSU's biggest PR opportunity since Al Gore visited campus back in the early 2000s.

Even the popular entertainment site, Perez Hilton, stated NDSU. If we cannot count on Perez for the most credible and accurate information, who can we trust? Also, as stated by a friend on Twitter:

RT @mallorygrooms Dear Miley: We appreciate that you wanna go to MTSU, but we are in the Boro, not Nashville. http://tl.gd/1g0r8q

NDSU-Nashville: Be Loud! Be Proud! Be Blue!

(at least one source got it right)

"We don't become Southern...we are born that way"

2010-05-27T17:27:00.003-04:00

I was talking with a friend the other day and the topic of Southern culture was brought up...and it got me thinking. What is the true definition of the South and a Southerner? Is it tradition; a friendly smile; a slow drawl; a polo on the chest tucked into seersucker rooted by Sperry's? Is it tradition; the amount of sugar in a cold glass of iced tea; the overuse of conjugated words, an appreciation for culture and the past? The Mason-Dixon Line geographically draws a line of where the North ends and the South begins...but it isn't about location or the use of a koozie; it is a mindset, a way of life...it is how you were born and raised. Let's be honest, Maryland, those Virginias and Florida are under the MDL...and that doesn't mean a thing, y'all.

On to a couple of Quotes...

Well, they're Southern people, and if they know you are working at home they think nothing of walking right in for coffee. But they wouldn't dream of interrupting you at golf.
- Harper Lee

Yes, sir. I'm a real Southern boy. I got a red neck, white socks, and Blue Ribbon beer.
-Billy Carter

She grew up on a side of the road
Where the church bells ring and strong love grows
She grew up good
She grew up slow
Like American honey
-Lady Antebellum, "American Honey"

All I can say is that there's a sweetness here, a Southern sweetness, that makes sweet music. . . . If I had to tell somebody who had never been to the South, who had never heard of soul music, what it was, I'd just have to tell him that it's music from the heart, from the pulse, from the innermost feeling. That's my soul; that's how I sing. And that's the South.
-Al Green

Do Southerners laugh at different things than Northerners do? Yes...Northerners.
-Roy Blount

Within the South itself, no other form of cultural expression, not even music, is as distinctively characteristic of the region as the spreading of a feast of native food and drink before a gathering of kin and friends.
- John Egerton, from "Southern Food, at Home, on the Road, in History"

In the South, the breeze blows softer...neighbors are friendlier, nosier, and more talkative. (By contrast with the Yankee, the Southerner never uses one word when ten or twenty will do)...This is a different place. Our way of thinking is different, as are our ways of seeing, laughing, singing, eating, meeting and parting. Our walk is different, as the old song goes, our talk and our names. Nothing about us is quite the same as in the country to the north and west. What we carry in our memories is different too, and that may explain everything else.
-Charles Kuralt in "Southerners: Portrait of a People"

The South--where roots, place, family, and tradition are the essence of identity.
-Social historian Carl N. Degler

Even if they've moved away, most people who grew up in the South still consider themselves Southern.
-Lillian Hellman

Growing up Southern is a privilege, really. It's more than where you're born, it's an idea and state of mind that seems imparted at birth. It's more than loving fried chicken, sweet tea, football, and country music. it's being hospitable, devoted to front porches, magnolias, moon pies and coca-cola... and each other. We don't become Southern - we're born that way.
-Anonymous

Things a True Southerner Knows

A Midwesterner's Thoughts on the South (including rules, definitions and thoughts)

If You Don't, You Should...

2010-05-15T11:04:00.003-04:00

...watch Modern Family.

Bow-tie Bonanza

2010-05-13T10:25:00.004-04:00

As you may know (if you don't, then you don't know me. In that case, why are you being a creeper and reading my blog?), I have a special appreciation for the bow-tie. It is classic; it is timeless; it says "Hey! Look at me, I am dressed up but you can tell I am fun because I am wearing a bow-tie." I have only recently picked up this appreciation during the past several years...before I was plagued with the thought that only those men who I considered "female hygiene products" wore bow-ties. Oh, how wrong I was. Yes, it may be more popular in the South, but everyone should adopt our ultra cool ways and learn how to tie that little piece of timeless-ness around your neck.

THIS is how I learned to tie a bow-tie. I AM a Millennial, aren't I?

An article titled "Resurrection of the Bow Tie" that was sent by a friend today (and inspired my bow-tie tribute post)...and it is in the New York Times...so you know it is legit.

Finally, my Student Affairs and College Administration aspirations have furthered simply because of my bow-tie affection. HERE is an article from The Chronicle talking about college presidents who wear bow ties...and another ONE.

Vid of the Day

2010-05-11T19:10:00.005-04:00

Whoa...

Cola Top 5: Good Eats

2010-05-11T09:20:00.002-04:00

As I begin to close out my two years in Columbia, SC, I figure I should do a bit of highlighting and recapping. As my avid readers wait with excitement to read my recommendations each week (by each week, I mean I will post recommendations when I want. Because I do what I want. I'm grown.), I will be posting my personal faves from the Palmetto state's capital. This time around I'll focus on restaurants. Columbia has a good little selection of awesome restaurants, but I have narrowed down my personal top five for your reading pleasure. Read on lil nugget, read on.

5. Tsunami

The Asian inspired restaurant is located in the Vista area. The Vista is composed of several streets lined with all-brick buildings, a bevvy of restaurants and even more happy hour selections. I'm not a fan of sushi, which most people order at the "undersea volcanic eruption" establishment, so I am partial to the Grilled Chicken Teriyaki plate and the ginger dressing on the salad puts the....ginger on top.

4. Miyo's

Miyo's has a few different locations across Columbia (under names such as M Vista, M Cafe or simply Miyo's) but sticking with the Vista theme, M.Vista is my choice. You may be asking yourself, "Josh, why do you have so many Asian-inspired restaurants on the list if you don't like sushi?" To that I respond, "Because." Miyo's is similar to Tsunami....except better. Edamame for apps, one of the chicken and rice plates, you can't go wrong. You EVEN get a fortune cookie as your leaving....that's when you know you're in the right place.

3. The Chains

I can't talk about my favorite places to eat if I don't mention the tried and true. Those "chain" restaurants that are chains for a reason...because they're simply awesome. McCalister's, Moe's, Qdoba...they're all great (although McCalister's tops the list with pure ease).

2. The Gourmet Shop

Outside seating. Enough said. In Columbia, SC, I choose places to eat based on if they have outdoor seating (it is a trend for Happy Hours too...but that's for a later time). Any panini and the pesto pasta salad is my ushe (that was supposed to be the shortened version of usual...I'm not sure I like how that came out). Chicken salad, salads, hummus, sandwiches...the perfect lunch spot in 5 Points. Even better, it is only a five minute walk from my apartment.

1. DiPrato's

By far my favorite place in Columbia. This little "delicatessen" has a great lunch and even better weekend brunch. What they're famous for: warm pita chips and the pimiento cheese. You could not have a better appetizer...ever. I suggest the Vermont pimiento cheese, it is better than the original. The nugget of a place always has a variety of specials then the usual menu of salads, soups, sandwiches, etc. If I was not under the constraint of a grad school budget (which means I'm just rolling in the dough, right?), I would do all my grocery shopping here. They have cases of food, including anything and everything Southern. Shame on you if you haven't eaten here. You need to go...and take me (that means pay for me too, just to clear up the confusion).

Cray Cray Vid of the Day

2010-05-10T17:38:00.001-04:00

What is happening here?

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T16:57:00.004-04:00

End of the Year Slideshow

2010-05-03T14:33:00.004-04:00

Me and my Spuddy (Katie)

aka winners of "Spuddies of the Year"

My program had our End of the Year banquet on Friday evening. The slideshow is awesome. People cried...which means it was a success, I guess. But since I have no emotion, I will simply recognize that it was sad.

End of the Year Slideshow

"When I was a kid, the worst of all days was the last day of summer vacation, and we were in the school yard playing baseball, and the sun was down and it was getting dark. But I did not want it to get dark. I did not want the game to end. It was too good, too much fun.I wanted it to stay light forever, so we could keep playing forever, so the game would go on and on. That's how I feel now. Come on, come on. Let's play one more inning. One more time at bat. One more pitch. Just one. Stick around, guys. We can't break up this team. It's too much fun. But the sun always went down. And now it's almost dark again."

- Mike Royko on the death of the Daily News in 1978

Email from resident

2010-05-03T12:06:00.004-04:00

Today I received a reply email from a resident after I communicated that the floor would be charged for excessive damages to the floor. Below is the email in its entirety:

"That is hoarse shit"

Note: I know how to spell. He does not.

UPDATE: My reply to him:

Hi ########,

I would like to remind you that your email to me, a University employee, is automatically kept on record and is subject to review from the University. In future communication to any person(s), not just an employee, I would simply suggest a more professional email that contains well structured sentences and ideas. You are pursuing higher education and are able to articulate something more than the language included in your previous email. I would also suggest the use of spell check and ensure that homonyms are not incorrectly used in future communication. Please remember that my door is always open if you have further concerns.

Best of luck with your final exams and your summer travels,

Josh

Interview Question of the Day

2010-04-27T17:57:00.003-04:00

Today I had a phone interview with a school in Indiana. The first question that was asked:

"Do you know we are above the Mason Dixon Line?"

Are y'all really....

Another Reason I Love (?) Housing...

2010-04-27T17:54:00.003-04:00

The stories.

Any person that works in University Housing can tell you, hands down, the stories are the best part of your work. You just cannot make it up. Case in point...

Last night, after leaving the drunkfest in 5 Points, it was reported a resident had a credit card stuck up his butt and was sent to the emergency room after, unsuccessfully, trying to remove the foreign object. I will not provide any further details...as they are even more disturbing.

No, this building is not your toilet...

2010-01-21T02:02:00.004-05:00

As you know, I am the hall director for a 480-bed freshman residence hall. I take great pride in the fact that my building, consisting of a 70% male population, consistently wins the award for most alcohol and policy violations. We have become total BFF with the university's judicial office. Anywho, my latest story can be found below:

While in class, soaking up all of the benefits of education and the legal system as it relates to higher ed, rocking on the edge of my seat in angst of what the teacher had to teach me next, I received a text from my supervisor that read like so:

"Oh, remind me to tell you about "pee boy" coming to look for us in the office to talk to us."

Your first question must be, "Oh, you have an office?" Why yes I do, is my answer. I have my very own office with a floor to ceiling window. Your second question may revolve around the fact that the term "pee boy" was used to describe a resident who came searching for me while I was out.

You may be wondering how I could work with a student that has such a nickname (given by us of course) and how sad it must be that this 18/19-year-old has a urinary problem (no, it is not a bed wetting problem, so don't feel sorry for him). This is where it gets sad. I quickly replied after chuckling to myself:

"Which one?"

You read that correctly. I had to ask...because we have more than one. For some unexplainable reason, it is easy for some students to mistake the building's lobby or their roommate's side of the room for a white, shiny toilet bowl. Oh, the joys of working in housing...

The End of the Beginning...

2010-01-21T01:48:00.002-05:00

Please wipe the tears from your eyes so you can read my first post in quite some time, as I apparently decided I needed a hiatus from this award winning piece of work (I gave it my own award). With 106 days left until I graduate from the University of South Carolina, I have decided I need to pick my bloggyness back up, because let me tell you, my job has definitely provided me a bevy (thank you grad school vocab) of stories that I need to record. You will be welcomed back into my life of grad school...you.are.welcome.

My final semester will be a hectic one. My supervisor has been promoted, leaving me to run my lil nugget of a building and all the 480 lil freshies on my own. I also have a great opportunity to work with the Greek Life office again this semester and also work with the Leadership office. I am thrilled about my new involvement...if only that little class thing wouldn't get in the way!

This semester also brings the program's Comps, everyone's favorite part of year (sorry, let me grab a rag to clean up those drips of sarcasm). February 19th will be the day that decides if I actually graduate the program with a fun comprehensive exam. Study groups have been formed. Flash cards have been made. Hairs have already been pulled from scalps. Team names have been decided. But most importantly: the group t-shirt is still underway. My team has chosen to keep our team name and t-shirt under wraps until Feb 19th...it adds a sense of mystery and curiosity, right?

Someone told me that I finally have to find a grown up job for when I graduate. So I guess I will be searching high and low for that...since la madre (keep up, I am obvi bi-lingual and that was Spanish for mother) has already informed me I will not be bumming on their couch because McDonald's is always hiring. Tough crowd. I will mainly be searching for jobs in the areas of fraternity/sorority affairs and first-year experience/new student orientation...the south, the west, the northeast..my options are pretty open!

The Phone/Internet Debacle of 09

2009-08-10T23:01:00.002-04:00

I moved into my apartment on Thursday, July 23rd. I immediately noticed I was not able to access the internet...or use the phone in my room (which is supposed to be for University Housing purposes...but I want it to hook TiVo up to) as the jacks were not working properly. I immediately told my supervisor's supervisor so the problem would be fixed immediately. He requested a work order for the problem to be resolved. Two weeks go by and still no internet or phone. I am starting to get upset I do not have these necessities (being the internet...and tivo). I decide to take matters into my own hands and give the maintenance staff a call "Hi, This is Josh McKenzie the Columbia Hall ARLC. I am calling to check on the status off my work order.....oh, you'll send someone up there immediately?....Thanks." I get to my room later that day after the worker has come and gone- which I am able conclude based on the door hanger on my door knob that says "We've Been Here!" The hanger says the problem has been fixed and lists what has been wrong with the jacks causing me to have no access to the outside world from my computer for 2 weeks. What is written under this portion you might ask? It reads, "Your phone was plugged into the internet jack." A mere two weeks earlier, at the beginning of this debacle, I scoffed at one of my friends who asked if the cords were plugged into the right jacks. "I'm not stupid," I quickly snapped.

I am now reevaluating that...

Death Sentence

2009-08-10T22:49:00.003-04:00

So I have decided to be adventurous and register for a little something something called the Mudrun, sponsored by the United States Marine Corp. Notice who it is sponsored by again. I have signed a death sentence. I was randomly thrown on a team last weekend (a team consists of four people...3 other friends from the program)...just in time to prepare for the race on September 19. The mudrun is 4.2 miles of treacherous terrain, obstacles, and pure insanity. Just to get an idea of what this little thing I am attempting to train for is, the course description is below. You may cry for me.

The obstacles in the USMC Ultimate Mud Run are named for battles, places and items that are significant in Marine Corps history and lore. Distances are approximate since the route of the course may be changed slightly from year to year.

Start - 0.15 mi of flat, open terrain

1- Belleau Wood- 0.46 mi wooded terrain, with 3 sets of 6-10' rolling hills, 2 sets of "stairway to heaven" ladder climbs, and five 6-9' drop offs.

The Marines were first called Devil Dog (Teufelshunde) by the German soldiers of WWI, during the Battle of Belleau Wood in 1918. It is also where Dan Daly made his now-famous battle cry, "Come on, you sons of bitches, do you want to live forever?" Sergeant Major Daly is one of only two Marines to receive the Medal of Honor for two separate acts of heroism (Major General Smedley Butler is the other).

2- Mt. Suribachi- 45% incline, 90' long.

Mt. Suribachi, on Iwo Jima, is where AP photographer, Joe Rosenthal, took one of the most famous photographs of WWII. The photo of 5 Marines and a Navy Corpsman raising the U.S. flag was taken atop Mt. Suribachi on 23 February 1945.

Funchilin Pass (includes obstacles 3, 4, 5, & 6- 0.75 mi of wooded terrain, 10 culvert obstacles, 2 sets of "stairway to heaven" ladder climbs, 7-15' high, mud hole with fallen log obstacles.

Funchilin Pass is a 4,000' high pass, which was held by Colonel Chesty Puller and his Marines, during the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir (known as the "Frozen Chosin" for the extreme cold) during the Korean War.

7- Water obstacle with fallen logs- logs over water hole, participants go under logs.

Bunker Hill (includes obstacles 8 & 9- 0.17 mi, 20% incline with 9 plateaus (#8), 3 sets of culverts (#9).

The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on 17 June 1775 as part of the Siege of Boston, during the American Revolutionary War. It is where Colonel William Prescott is known as the officer who said, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!"

10- Heartbreak Ridge- 0.27 mi. ridge terrain, 5 sets of 6-8' zigzag ridge crossings.

Heartbreak Ridge is a fictional movie about Marine Gunnery Sergeant Highway (played by Clint Eastwood). The actual Battle of Heartbreak Ridge was fought during the Korean War by the Army's 2nd Infantry Division.

A Shau Valley (includes obstacles 11, 12 & 13)- 0.40 mi open terrain leading into wooded terrain, water filled "rice paddy" (#11), Hamburger Hill water hole (up to 5' deep) with dirt mounds leading in to and out of (#12), Light Armored Vehicle Trench (LAVs straddle 3' wide trench filled with water, participants crawl through the trench, under the LAVs) (#13).

The narrow, 25 mile long, A Shau Valley was one of the strategic focal points of the war in Vietnam. It was an arm of the Ho Chi Minh trail, funneling troops and supplies toward Hue and Da Nang. It was the sight of many fierce battles, including one of the bloodiest, which was the fight for Hill 937. To those that fought there, it was known as "Hamburger Hill." The LAV is the armored fighting vehicle around which a Marine Corps Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Battalion is built. Fox Company is part of the 4th LAR Bn., 4th Mar Div (Marine Division).

Ho Chi Minh Trail (obstacles 14-21- 1 mi, wooded terrain, "Monkey Bridge" (#14), mud pit with rope wall (#15), rope swing (#16), log crossing (#17), culverts (#18), 10' vertical walls (#19), cargo net climb (#20), culverts (#21).

The Ho Chi Minh Trail was a complex web of different jungle paths that enabled communist troops and supplies to be moved from North Vietnam to areas close to Saigon. It was the most vital supply line for the Communist forces and was, therefore, of vital strategic importance. Many U.S. servicemen from all branches fought, bled and died there.

22- "Heartattack Hill"- 0.25 mi, 30% incline

23- Rice Paddy- water filled

24- Perfume River- 40' low crawl/swim covered with cammie netting, dirt mound leading in to and out of.

The Perfume River (called Huong River in Vietnam) is a 30 km long river leading to the c ity of Hue, in the central Vietnamese province of Thua Thiên Hue.

25- Hellfire Valley- 5 hills (8-15')

Hellfire Valley was a strategic battle during the Korean War.

26- Pusan Perimeter- "Z" shaped trench, varying depth, water filled

The Battle of the Pusan Perimeter, during the Korean War, was a textbook example of teamwork and its use in infantry tactics. It is still used as a case study today.

27- 10 Log Hole- water hole, with 10 fallen logs, must be negotiated in an over/under manner.

28- Rice Paddy & Low Crawl- 24' Rice Paddy, 24' low crawl covered in "cammie netting"

Rice Paddies dotted the landscape of Vietnam, making the movement of men and material difficult. The Low Crawl is a tactic used for movement under enemy fire.

29- Litter Carry- 100 yards, Three team members carry the fourth team member on a stretcher over the FINISH line.

U.S. Navy Corpsmen are non-combatant combat medics that risk their lives to save the lives of injured Marines. They have been in every battle in which Marines have fought since 1814.

Finish

New Haircut...

2009-08-10T22:47:00.001-04:00

My Supervisor: "I like your haircut. You look like a commercial."

Me: "Commercial? What commercial?"

Supervisor: "A peanut butter & jelly commercial."

Back to Columbia

2009-07-24T22:05:00.004-04:00

Fitting everything into my new "apartment" is eerily reminiscent to a can of sardines...better yet, a jar of pickles. Pickles are packed way tighter than sardines; why isn't the saying "They're packed in there like pickles." What I'm trying to say is the "apartment" is a tight fit.

Tears of SOAR

2009-07-24T21:20:00.004-04:00

So last weekend was my final weekend in the metropolis of Statesboro, GA. I do not want to say tears were shed...but then I would be lying. The tears, however, were not my own. Let me start at the beginning.

OK, well not the very beginning as that would be much to long of a post for you to read. Last Friday was the final SOAR session. Now this little shin dig was only a one-day orientation since it was only for our lovely transfer students. This was a sad, sad day for us all. The day carried on as usual, with parents bringing all kinds of crazy with their questions until approximately 10:58 am. One of the orientation leaders had been "accused" of "dirty rushing" an organization in which he is president. Another complaint was submitted at 10:57 that day. Being the budding young professional that I am, I decided to lay aside my fear of confrontation and take the bull by the horns (and by bull I mean the 20 year old human male). I marched up the grandeur staircase of the student union building toward the guilty party. Aha! I caught him red handed, in the act of "recruiting." I pulled him aside and told him that we were taking a walk. I ask him about his desire to make friends for his organization and why he's breaking the SOAR laws etc etc. Now, we are entering the portion of the story that you must brace yourself for.

Another reason I needed to have a nice lil chit chat with this dude is because he had, for some unearthly reason, decided to tell some other orientation leaders he had a conversation with me where I blatantly told him I hated him. Now I know I am finally moving out of my "fear of confrontation" stage...but I have not moved that far...and thats just downright mean. As we all know, I have a horrible memory. I turned to the overactive leader and stated "Now, you know I have a horrible memory so please remind me when we had a conversation where I, in fact, told you I hated you." He dramatically gasped and said, "We never had that conversation!" "I know," I replied. "I know we never had that conversation, so my question concerns why you are spreading that to other leaders?" This is the point of the story where I refer back to my opening sentences concerning the crying. Again, it was not me who cried that day, it was him. Yes, I, Josh McKenzie, made a person cry. I try to hold back my intimidating demeanor for most interactions, but for this scenario (apparently) just color me green and call me Hulk. If the conversation wasn't awkward enough before with just the whole confrontation, it is even more awk while I still have to lay down some good ole discipline while looking into the eyes of a sobbing college male. I have decided he cried on his own right by stirring up his own emotions during our chat....that does not change the fact, however, that I made a leader cry during our final session. The tears that streamed from his face must have also clogged his ears, because I soon as I return from lunch after that little fun party I hear what he has told everyone else I said to him. Needless to say, our convo about not making up conversations with me and spreading them to the team did not pan out that great.

That night was the closing SOAR banquet. Everyone was dressed to the 9's (apparently I am a 62 year-old man). We ate some din din, gave some awards (I got Best Facial Expressions?), and got presents! One of the presents I got from the staff was a huge board made to look like a Twitter page, filled with comments by ever leader: so cool! Story after story is told and voila, the banquet that started at 6:30 ended at 4am. In short, it was a great way to end an even better summer! (minus the whole crying scenario)

Great Memory...

2009-07-22T16:14:00.002-04:00

So, I recently received one of the thousand daily emails over the NODA listserv (National Orientation Directors Assoc). The particular one I am referring to was from a Ms. Samantha Hartlen. Now my little brain starts to church, as I believe this name sounds extremely familiar. Of course to check my possible relationship status with this lady I head straight to the wonderful world of Facebook. I quickly type in the name and up pops a return. A graduate of Suffolk University. I think to myself, "Wait, I think I know..." I click on her profile picture to gain confirmation of how I know this woman. Her face pops up and my confirmation is received. This is, in fact, the girl I was talking with during our GA Recruiting weekend when my gum magically fell out of my mouth in mid-conversation and onto her shoe. Did I mention this was the very first event the potential students attend during the recruiting weekend? I am glad this memory came rushing back as I am now even more excited to get back to South Carolina and greet her with open arms in the coming weeks...

How did it get so late so soon?

2009-07-16T21:10:00.003-04:00

"How did it get so late so soon? It's night before it's afternoon. December is here before it is June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?"

-Dr. Seuss

Tomorrow is the last SOAR session of the summer (one day transfer session). Man, how did the past 11 weeks fly by so quickly?? Its my last weekend in Statesboro before I leave sometime next week.

Today at orientation...

2009-07-11T00:27:00.002-04:00

PARENT: How old is the intern?

SOAR LEADER: He just turned 23, ma'am.

PARENT: OH......he looks 12.

Today at orientation...

2009-07-11T00:22:00.002-04:00

PARENT: (to SOAR Leader) Y'all are doing a great job. (turns to me) and you are doing a great job as well!

SOAR LEADER: Don't tell him that. We don't want him getting a big head.

PARENT: Oh no, I really mean it! (pause) Actually, you do have a big head.

It's My Birthday!

2009-06-25T20:46:00.003-04:00

Happy Birthday to Me! This is a picture some of my friends posted as their profile pictures on Facebook. It was the cover a the Asheville (NC) magazine a few months ago and they insisted it looked exactly like me. I disagree!

The Hilton Head Trip

2009-06-24T18:25:00.001-04:00

I would like to tell you about my day yesterday. It was an interesting day...and by interesting day, I mean I am glad it was yesterday and already done. It was the Mid-summer SOAR Leader Retreat. I was responsible for planning and organizing this whole shin dig. The only parameters I was given was to have an "educational component" in the morning then funness in the afternoon. So, I chose beautiful Hilton Head. We were to go to a pottery painting studio for everyone to paint a tile after they reflected on how they had grown as a person and as a leader- they then had to artistically express that progression on their tile then present it to the group (they will get them back at the end of the summer banquet presented as one huge tile showing how everyone has been tied together during the summer, but then tell how it is now time to take their experiences and what they have learned to keep growing and take their new knowledge into their respective futures- their tiles will then be handed back to them). We were scheduled to eat at a burger-ish place called One Hot Mama's and then they were given 4 options for the afternoon, including the beach, outlet mall, movies, and mini golf. I had everything nicely planned and organized....I will now tell you how it really went. I had to drive a 12 passenger van (Erin drove the other). If you remember who I am, you remember I am not a good driver. Also, do not think I did not tell all the people in my van to buckle up because most highway accidents that occur every year happen in 12-passenger vans. I had printed out a whole book of mapquest directions for Erin and I, but I told her I could lead from Statesboro to The Art Cafe (pottery place) in Hilton Head because I had Kevin (the GPS). Well, it is a possibility that Erin thought I was under the influence yesterday morning, as I was swerving all over the lanes. Huge vans are hard to maneuver...especially when you are trying to bond with 1/2 the orientation team by singing Spice Girls' Do You Wannna Be My Lover at the top of your lungs. One example, I swerved across 2 lanes on the interstate to get off at one of the exits...I thought Kevin was telling me I still had a while to go. The Art Cafe is located at 1 North Forest Beach Dr. Kevin took us to 1 North Forest Dr. Those two streets are not the same. It was 15 minutes away from our location...so we entered the island on the wrong side. We put the correct address in Kevin, and I felt pretty ok about only getting there 10 minutes late. But Kevin was trying to take us down roads that did not exist...and the Joan look alike (that was for you, cousin) could not have gone down dirt paths through the woods. There was a lot of turning around and backing up. This does not pair well with 20 college students and a supervisor. We finally made it to The Art Cafe...30 minutes late. I had a slight break down in the van after I pushed everyone out. The rest of the day went..ok. We ate at One Hot Mama's. There was a waitress there who was a SOAR Leader in 1995, which was a great experience for our team, showing them that they can be whatever they want to be after they graduate b/c of their experience with SOAR. We then headed to the beach. A few people wanted to go putt putt instead, so I took them to mini golf, dropped them off and proceeded to head back to the beach. As I am climbing out of the van and walking toward the direction of surf and sand, i receive a voicemail (my great phone decided to not actually ring). I check the voicemail. It was left by one of the SOAR Leaders I had just dropped off. She sounded frantic...and out of breath. "Josh! (panting) You are not answering your phone. They only accept (panting) cash. I just literally chased you down the road. I was running next to the van and you did NOT stop.(panting) JOSH, you did not stop. Ok, so ya know, when you get this you can call me back. bye (panting)" It was a pretty great voicemail. I stayed at the beach the whole time while half the group went to the outlet mall. I saw a real live starfish and live sand dollars. That was my beach excitement. Skip to us meeting the other van of peeps at the outlet mall so we can head back home. Kevin, once again, tells me the most difficult way possible to get to the outlet mall. He asks if I want to take the toll road to the mall. I press no so I will not have to hit up the students for $1.25. Well, as we are coming onto the toll bridge, I start to get angry with kevin for not doing what I say. So out loud I say to the students "Why did Kevin do this. (I repeat back the question he asked me) 'Do you want to avoid the toll roads?' I said NO......ohhhhhhh...." So after all of the SOAR Leaders stopped laughing at me for being a huge dumbass....they then took up a church offering of $1.25. Afterwards, Kevin makes me cut across a highway of high speed traffic AFTER we pass the mall. Well, I decide to cut across, which causes all of the people in the van to start screaming uncontrollably, as I narrowly missed being sideswiped by an oncoming van (not like the Joan impostor we were in...I mean a mini-van). Anywho, we get the rest of the group and I tell Erin she can lead the way back to good ole Statesboro. On the way back, we listen to Erin's mix cd from her freshmen year of college. Think 2001ish hardcore rap music. It was interesting. That was the end of the trip. All in all i think they all had a good day...it, however, could have gone smoother.

The Hamster Story

2009-06-24T17:39:00.002-04:00

So, this summer I am interning with orientation at Georgia Southern University in the metropolis of Statesboro, GA. I have had the privelege of major professional development experiences over the past seven weeks- I categorize it as professional development because I wear a suit a lot, and that makes me look pretty important (and just down right snazzy). Tell me who else can answer questions about who knows what to a university I have been at for approx 2 weeks (at the beginning of the orientation sessions) while hustling across the gorgeous south Georgia weather of 116 degrees (heat index)? Well let me raise two thumbs, because that's this guy. Ok, so now to my real story...

Last week was a special orientation for a certain population of student (I will not explain the population because I don't want you to have to slave over reading this. You're welcome.)...needless to say, we had 1200 students and parents for the Friday-Saturday session. On Thursday, we opened the Rec center for all of our little peeps to come check-in with us at the front of the building, then move to another part of the building to pick up housing keys, make their IDs, fin aid, blah blah blah. Well, at approx 4:27 pm, a mother and daughter duo walk into our lavish recreational activity center (that is not sarcasm, btw- its a pretty sweet set-up) to check-in for SOAR. With an aura of excitment and a giddy pep in her step the daughter proceeds to the back of the building to our other services. The mom, however, turns around to walk back out of the building toward the parking lot. Let me tell you my placement during this series of events: front and center gretting people as they enter. The mother re-enters the building rushing back to meet her daughter as she is carrying a hamster cage. No, you did not read the incorrectly, I infact did say she was carrying a hamster cage. And not just a dingy one at that, it was the Deluxe version with tunnels, wheels, a nice little pent house sitting on top...the whole shebang basically. One of the professionals walked up to the mother to hault her from moving any farther into the building. "Excuse me ma'am...no animals are allowed inside the building." The mother says she did not want to leave them in the weather (I am not sure why as it was only 101 degrees at the time). As if it were completely normal that she brought a hamster cage (with live hamsters in it) to orientation, the professional told the woman to lay the cage on a table in the front and to retrieve it after her and her daughter were finished with all the good stuff in the back. Once the woman walked away from the area, my supervisor became extremely excited to go look at the 2 hamsters. She runs over to see them run in their tunnels and what have you. After approximately 15 seconds, she looks up from the cage to announce that the hamsters were, in fact, dead. Both hamsters...not a single breath left in their little lungs. She has someone come over to confirm. They really are two dead hamsters in the middle of the cage. Now I was told rigamortas had not set-in at this point...but who knows.

Well, this information leaks to all of the orientation leaders that are present at the time. Most of them look and gasp, a few laugh (at this point I am uncontrollably laughing...crying laughing), while one of our leaders had started to cry. She's just a sweet lil girl. So the mother daughter duo finally come back to the front of the building after what seems like an eternity. Everyone has scampered away from the lobby area as they do not want to be blamed for the death of two adorable (sarcasm, btw) hamsters. The daughter immediately notices her pets have kicked the can....and our orientation leader that was crying earlier..well she is now sobbing, with mascera running down her face. Needless to say she was hiding on the other side of a wall so she would not be noticed. I am intentionally standing on the opposite side of a rather large column crying...not from sadness, but from laughter due to the ridiculousness of the entire event. The family leaves...with a little less pep in their step than when they entered.

You think the story ends there, well it doesn't. There is a prequel you should also know about. Your thoughts are the hamsters died of heat exhaustion since they were left inside of a car for 10ish minutes in 100+ degree heat, right? Well, you are wrong. I find out the next day the real reason they most likely died. The van the hamster-killing duo rode in on the way down from Atlanta did not have air conditioning. Now they feel so bad for these little creatures who are not receiving the proper amount of ventilation. Solution: hold the entire hamster cage outside of the window as they are driving 70mph down the interstate. My theory: they died of either shock...or over inflated lungs. Poor poor little creatures.

Ok, that is the end of my extremely long story. Hope you're having a great summer. Happy Wednesday!

Georgia Southern!

2009-05-25T21:46:00.004-04:00

I have now been at Georgia Southern University 2 weeks and the verdict is......I LOVE IT. If you are not familiar with Georgia Southern, it is located in the booming metropolis of Statesboro, GA (I would again like to introduce you to Sarcasm). GSU is home to 18,000 students and Eagle athletics. Statesboro is a small lil town with everything centered around the university. Though there is not too much going on in the 'boro (mirroring my 'boro, home to MTSU) there are many things in the area. Savannah is only 45 minutes, the beach is an hour, Atlanta is still a 3 hour haul, and then parts of Florida are only 2 hours....so some beachin good times will hopefully be had this summer!

During the academic year, I was not the most satisfied with my assistantship experience. I was beginning to question my chosen profession. Luckily, the past two weeks alone have squashed those little dissatisfactions! Not only are the SOAR leaders awesome, the professionals are too. My supervisor is an alum of the HESA program at South Carolina (she graduated in 2007) and has provided me with a great experience thus far. She actually announced her promotion from Coordinator to Assistant Director of Orientation and Parent Programs the day after I arrived in the 'boro...so a search will soon be occurring for the Coordinator position (it made me feel great to "accidentally" overhear a conversation between her and her supervisor saying it was too bad I still had another year of school left...and her suggesting it is not uncommon for students to do grad school from afar...). The orientation office falls under Admissions at GSU...and all of the Admissions recruiters and Admissions staff have been extremely welcoming and friendly over the past few weeks. Although, one decided to tell me I look like the 4th Jonas Brother (which reminded I had been compared to David Archuleto by a parent at Orientation last summer and compared to Zach Efron the summer before. Awesome). There is also a girl two years ahead of me who graduated from MTSU, the HESA program at South Carolina, and works in the Leadership office at Georgia Southern...so I apparently am stalking her. Crazy.

The SOAR Leaders (Orientation Leaders) have to be my favorite part of my internship. SOAR is a very well respected office on campus and recruit the best of the best for the SOAR Leader positions. There are 23 (21 new timers, and 2 returners who are "in charge"), all amazing. I have been in training with them for the past two weeks...and will be training this week as well...then its our first session on June 1! They even made this awesome video...a parody of "Im on a Boat" to talk about their Bus system, "Im on a Bus":

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1106192571398&ref=share

I was able to get back to Columbia for a night to hang out with some peeps during this long weekend. But anywho, its a full week ahead, so Im outta here!

We're Def. Not in South Carolina Anymore...

2009-04-09T21:45:00.004-04:00

I feel comfortable saying that California is NOT the South. Its a true fact of life, like dogs don't like cats, or rain is wet, or Lindsay Lohan is crazy.

Last week (and at the time of posting, I now mean back at the beginning of April) I was an intern at the Western Region Greek Leadership Conference/National Cultural Greek Leadership conference out in San Francisco. For those of you loyal readers (which is apparently none, seeing as I just discovered a View Counter that is at 14 views....since August. I didn't cry....much) I posted some short daily updates on Twitter. Basically I wanted to be a celebrity who feels they need to share everything from their status in the coffee line to their pooping schedule. No one really cares.....except when it comes to me, of course. But let me give you a quick lil rundown of the week.

Tuesday

Arrive to San Fran at 2:30 pm. Receive my first "Where are YOU from?" at 2:37pm. Dinner with the entire conference staff at some place that I forget the name to...still a great place though. I am interning with people from Montana State University, University of Denver, University of California, Stanisglaus, University of San Francisco, and University of Oregon (Chi Omega). We are in meetings til midnight being trained on the week ahead...and let me tell you the time change was rough to work through...basically it was 3am "my" time. Yay bedtime.

Wednesday

Moreeeeee training. A day full of learning the ins and outs of how those westerners do things in their neck of the woods. I recieve my 14th comment regarding the apparent "accent" that I have. It is Wednesday when I realize the other interns are pretty bangin.

Thursday

First day of conference stuff. 800 students and advisors start flooding into the luxurious Hyatt-Regency in Burlingame (San Fran). I am the all-helpful greeter for the flock of students/advisors entering the Greekified conference. Looking back, however, this may not have been the best job suited for me.

Example:

J: Hey! How are y'all doing. Are y'all here for the Western Region Greek Conference?

Students from school in Oregon: (long pause)........um....what?

The "accent" apparently got in the way. Thursday...like Friday and Saturday...was a great day, but extremely long. It was normal to attend a Conference staff meeting at 6:30am and be finished with our last assignement at midnight-ish. I spent my days setting up educational session rooms, assisting speakers, herding cattle (I mean students), tearing down educational session rooms, introducing speakers...and having a grand ole time. I met a lot of great people though. So the experience was a great one. The 5 other interns were awesome to work with- and I have been able to stay in contact with a few of them over the past several weeks. California is NOT the South....but it was still a pretty darn good time.

Twitterin to CA

2009-03-29T21:23:00.005-04:00

Twitterfied.

I leave for California on Tuesday morning to intern at the Western Region Greek Association Leadership Conference...that's a lot of words. Anywho, I am still unsure of my schedule and what I will and will not see, but I have a fun little Twitter account so I can upload info and pics from my phone. So get ready and get jazzed to be tweeted. If my updates have a link attached to them- click on it because those are the pics.

Click HERE for a twitterific good time.

Bama Girl Trailer

2009-03-25T13:13:00.002-04:00

I thought this was an interesting trailer. The documentary is from 2007 footage- but its interesting. It has won numerous awards, if you check out their website.

It was SROWtally Awesome!

2009-03-19T14:01:00.008-04:00

OH it was SROW sweet.

"Cheerleading camp on crack." There is no better way to describe it. Well maybe Cheerleading Camp on heroine....but I'm not really sure of the affects of heroine. Mom, do you know? Anywho, it was an awesome weekend! I met up with the SOAR team (the orientation team) at Georgia Southern last Thursday and traveled with them to Ole Miss for the conference. Man, they're an amazing group. Nearly as amazing as me, but we won't get into that debate at this moment in time. The 9 hour bus ride was just that....9 hours. And let me tell you, 9 hours is a long time. It's way longer than 5 hours.

Thursday we arrived at the majestic Holiday Inn of Oxford, MS. The hotel must have decided to go with an African inspired lobby. And by African inspired, I mean they randomly had three stuffed lions in glass cases in the middle of the lobby. No hint of Africanness anywhere else. It is my guess they got the lions from the zoo down the road and stuffed them...that's not too morbid, is it? We arrived to the jungle late late Thursday night...so we went to b

ed. Yes, I know that is a good story- I'll tell it again later.

Friday morning we walked around the square of Oxford. Great southern square. Afterwards began SROW. And let me tell you it was the beginning of a SROWtally awesome weekend. The first event was a sticker swap for all the undergrads. See, now when I heard there was going to be a sticker swap- I packed my personal sticker album of Lisa Frank and scratch-n-sniff stickers...but that was apparently not the right thing to do. The 1400 students in attendance crammed themselves into the Rec Center gym and went crazy, slappin their school's stickers on various spots of peoples' bodies (and by various, I mean everywhere....everywhere) to the beats of sweet lil T.I. and Soulja Boy. The picture explains it all. That night was the Sing/Skit/Dance Competition. Let me tell you, this was not taken lightly. Schools have been practicing their stuff for months. And I don't want to sound biased, but Georgia Southern's was the best. They ended up winning Third place. Yayy! The video is their performance.

Saturday was mostly educational sessions. There was some good. There was some really bad. But all...interesting. The theme of the conference was "Once upon a SROW..." so it was all fairytale/Disney themed, which was also....interesting. I participated in the Graduate Case Study Competition and actually ended up winning! Best Communication!! So that was SROW exciting.

There was a closing award ceremony on Sunday...and I have to take a second to brag on Georgia Southern. They won more awards than any other school in attendance- and there were schools from all over the Southeast (yes, even U. of Alabama). They won the Service Project, 3rd in Dance Competition, 1st place in the SCVNGR Hunt, Me with the Grad Case Study, and my supervisors won the Best Presentation of the conference! So it was pretty cool to see GSU doing so well.

They have such a top notch program and their orientation leaders are just simply the best of the best on campus. I cannot wait to work with them this summer!

But now, its back to the grind (what does that actually mean? What grind am I getting back to?). School work and grad asst work is no fun. But I counted today and I only have 39 days until the last day of classes. Which I am not sure if that is a good or bad thing. I have a ton of stuff to do until then. Boo. Simply, Boo.

I am also beginning my countdown to San Francisco: 12 Days.

I started a Twitter account (if you haven't heard about it, google it) last week. So I will include a link to my Twitter site so you can see all my Tweets (yeah, thats right, my Tweets=my updates) while I am in San Fran. I'll just be uploading what I am doing, what I've seen, and pictures from my phone...yes, I am such an innovator of communication. HA

Oh, what a semester so far...

2009-03-09T18:28:00.002-04:00

Why hello sweet sweet cyber-world. Oh, how I've missed thee. Now let me count the ways....1. I...ooo, shiny!..

And by shiny and bright, I mean my life. Oh, I keed I keed. But, the graduate life is going swell. Just swell. Let me tell ya though, this second semester is not the easiest. 12 hours of time-draining classes and 20 hours of GA work is a little much. But who am I to complain.

Right now, the weather is a sunny 85 degrees and the first official day of Spring Break. So, I may not be spending it on the beach livin it up in PCB (uh, yeah right) but its still nice outside. Days like today are reasons I heart USC (again, University of South Carolina..not that OTHER one).

In case you haven't heard, I have accepted an internship at Georgia Southern University for this summer working with freshman orientation. woop woop. im excited to be working with them. I am actually heading to Ole Miss with all of the orientation leaders this weekend for SROW (Southern Region Orientation Workshop). It should be an interesting conference. There have been at least 10 different people who have described the conference as "cheerleading camp on crack."

I also found out I will be interning at a Greek conference in San Francisco later this month!

This semester has been going well...but busy. The best word to describe it is busy. Until next time (whenever that may be), have a good one.

The Beginning of a New Semester...

2009-01-11T02:23:00.002-05:00

...And a new year!

Spring Semester 2009 begins tomorrow (Monday). Excitement overcomes me (ok shoot me. Im halfway lying). Aside from still working in the Resident Student Learning office, I have also registered for four classes which I'm keeping my fingers crossed will be more enthralling than last semesters' (which were the equivalent to watching the History Channel). It is hard to believe I am already starting the second semester of my graduate career, which at the end, will mark my half completion of the program. This semester will also include a few exciting events. Ill give you a rundown of them, I know you're giddy with excitement to find out:

1. Summer Internship Search: Many students within the program search for a Summer Internship. One popular avenue of choice is NODA (which deals with Orientation programs). Today is the final day to submit resumes and applications. From here, I wait for my 8 schools of choice to receive my info...and then I wait. My list of choices included Florida State, Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss, Texas A & M, Georgia Southern, Tennessee, and Auburn. Though I am nervous, I am also excited to undergo the entire process.

2. GARP (Graduate Assistant Recruitment Program): It is the recruitment program for potential graduate students. I am ready to meet the new peeps and see how the whole process works, since I was unable to attend mine last year (I was in Hawaii...I know a horrible excuse!).

3. SEIFC (South Eastern Interfraternity Conference): Over the holiday break, I submitted a proposal to present at this conference which is attended my fraternity councils across the south east..and found out last week it was accepted! This will be my first time to conduct a presentation at a regional conference!

4. ACPA (American College Professionals Association): Many of the students within my program will be traveling to attend this conference in Washington DC in March. It will be a great trip...especially in DC yo!

5. Graduate Assistantship: I also will be interviewing within the next month for a different assistantship for the 2009-2010 academic year. I am thinking about taking a Housing live-in position, but am open to other opportunities, depending on what spots will be open for next year. Due to the greatness of the economy and budget cuts, there have already been GA positions eliminated next year...which is scary.

Well, those are a few things I'm looking forward to. BUT, let's take a second to recap last week. It was training for Resident Assistants and I was responsible for creating the video for Resident Mentor (RA) Recruitment. I decided to do a little YouTube spoofin, and the product is the hilarity of this video. Enjoy! (make sure to watch the out takes!)

Click HERE to see the vid if you are on an Apple or have Quicktime. Quality is 100 times better

Anddd, We're Back...

2008-12-26T16:11:00.005-05:00

Oh sweet sweet Christmas time (or for my Jewish readers, Hanukah. btw, Shalom!). That one time of year to gather with friends and family, discussing the year's events (I'm talking about who in your graduating class has gotten fat, or what Britney Spears has done this time...I dont mean important, worldly events. I think there was an election this year...eh, whatev), receiving a Mt Everest sized stack of family Christmas Cards (Ours is featured on the right), and the one time of year it is OK to stuff your face with ridiculous amounts of sausage balls, 28 layer dips, triple chunk double chocolate macadamia nut cookies, and other low cal, no fat foods (Reader, let me introduce you to Sarcasm. Sarcasm, this is Reader). The time of year meant to bring rarely seen families and friends together...but delivers the question of "Is it time to go yet" 7 minutes after arrival- thank 7 pound 8 oz sweet little baby Jesus for those no cal sausage balls being shoved down your throat. (And to my friends and family that are reading this, OF COURSE I was glad to see YOU, I'm talking about different people!...)

Now, to my massive audience base, I have received a cornucopias amount of fan mail asking where my dear little writings have been and why the hiatus (and by massive base I mean 3 people, and by fan mail, I mean those two people asking "Where the hell happened with that blog thingy). Well as you can tell by my use of the word cornucopias, I am in grad school. So that end of the semester thing got a little intensive. What did you miss though: my lulling on of why I believe writing papers are unnecessary (That would have obviously been during the time of my paper writings), the results of the election (the Presidential, Idol's not on til January), dressing as Bleaker from Juno for Halloween, Thanksgiving festivities, and discovering how this whole economy thing is really effecting me (basically I blame everything on the economy- which turns out to be the correct blamee 97.4% of the time). So you didn't miss too much. I know you have been extremely worried. But you can now stop it.

Back to the whole Holiday thing though (I said Holiday this time for our Kwanza readers as well. Which reminds me, Happy 1st Day of Kwanza!), December is also the time for the never ending Tacky Christmas Sweater Party themes. Or as some like to unfortunately call it, "Another party to wear the tacky clothes I wear the other 364 days of the year." For the rest of us, Goodwills are raided, closets are ransacked, and our parents current wardrobe is sifted through to see what tacky sweaters we can find this year- along with light up necklaces, santa socks, and reindeer antlers. Obvi, this is my Christmas Sweater in the picture. I don't like to use Tacky to describe it though. Instead, I like to use.....Awesome. If it weren't for my mother, it would have been worn to the Christmas Eve Church Service. Instead, I had to get ready using real clothes in the dark (b/c our power conveniently went out during Church preparations. Not because we were trying to be good to the environment, saving electricity or anything). Anywho, in short, I heart my Christmas Sweater.

I now have a week left until I must report back to duty in South Carolina. What will I be doing until then you may ask? Good question? That is what I am asking myself. Ill be using some gift cards and stocking up my forced grown-up, old person wardrobe (that means ties, button downs and pants and the like for work....not old person like black velcro comfort walkers from walmart or depends...) and doing a little New Years Celebratin! And with that, here's to wishing you and yours a Happy Chrismahanukwanzakuh and New Year!

YouTube Monday

2008-10-20T09:02:00.002-04:00

Notes: The "special effects"=AMAZING! Love the Tazmanian Devil tshirt from approximately 1984. Also, what makes this even better, she is wearing an Auburn Shirt in the bottom one! She has recorded this, watched it, then decided it was just so good that she had to put it on YouTube! Enjoy!!

Southern Cold

2008-10-20T08:52:00.003-04:00

So I woke up this morning to go get my fitness on at the Strom (rec center), stepped outside, and it was a mere 40 degrees! Now, I've come to discover over the past months, since more than half the people in my program are from the north or northwest, that my definition of cold/hot is slightly different. Fact: I was shivering at the USC vs LSU game Saturday wearing a jacket (straight up reppin the 80's in the Member's Only). I was then made fun of....because it was 60 degrees and that is considered everyday weather in the north. I figure today's 40 is preparing me for later this week, when I head to Cleveland, OH for a conference with 5 other grad students. Who WOULDN'T say a 13 hour car ride in a 15 passenger van to a place that will be 37 degrees from Tuesday to Saturday is the best time ever!?

Sweet Home Alabama

2008-10-11T00:06:00.004-04:00

Last weekend was my first trip to the University of Alabama in a really long time. I went to stay with the sweet sis and see the crazy cuz- both too much to talk about in one post!! My sister is a freshman at Bama, so you may be asking yourself, "Wow Josh, did you go down to hang out with a gaggle of 18 year old girls all weekend." My response, "Gaggle? I don't think that is the correct term to use for a group of girls. Geese maybe, but not girls. And I wouldn't say I hung out with girls- they should be described as Alabama Sorority Girls." Yep, I'm pretty sure that is how I would respond to that question.

It was great being down in Tuscaloosa for the weekend. It is a whole other world in Crimson Country. Everyone is dressed in their Sunday best (crimson & white not required, but preferred) as floods of elated collegians poor from the towering Greek-lettered houses to march across the street, chanting rants and raves with shakers in tow and mini-bottles strapped beneath designer dresses. The tide stormed the field at 2:30pm, but did not do the same with the scoreboard at the end of the 4th. The Houndstooth adorned football team triumphed over Kentucky retaining its winning season, but by only a single point. Good times were had over the weekend as many people were introduced (all of which were Alabama friendly- the best kinda friendly you can get), the infamous game day Yellow Hammers were drank, and cheers were sung. Tuscaloosa is the definition of a true southern college town- with money being shown, spirit at 250%, Greek letters omnipresent, and southern hospitality on the other side of (almost) every corner. And of course with these good times wouldn't be had without some memorable moments, here is just a highlight of a few (and no, these are NOT fabricated):

(While sitting on the couch, recapping the drunken night before)

Girl 1 to Girl 2: You were making out with hollister boy last night. EW! I was trying to be a good BFF and pull you off but you kept pushing me away. I mean, like, he was wearing a Hollister shirt. Gross.

Girl 1: Do you mind if I use your bathroom?

Girl 2: No, go right ahead girl.

Girl 1: (emerging from the bathroom moments later) OMG! I just weighed myself! That is no good! WHY do you have a scale in there!?

Girl: We've been dating awhile, before I started here. But I don't think I like him anymore. I mean, he's a Beta now.

Girl: If he stays with you, you are NOT getting in KD!!

(A pledge coming up to me during the game)

Pledge: Did I take your order?

Hypothetical Question

2008-10-08T11:40:00.002-04:00

Is falling an adventure only the fortunate few are able to experience? Or better yet, falling and being caught by the one who pushed? Knowing you have found a potential who can make the grass greener and the sun brighter. Finding a potential who can open those heavy eye lids with ease in the morning, or causing hardships in shutting them at night, tiredness being replaced with anxious glee. How do you know when that has been found? Or, how do you cope if your "Pusher" does not want to also be your "Catcher?" Rejection can come as harsh as those office flourescents.

If You Need a Good Laugh...

2008-10-06T10:16:00.001-04:00

This is the funniest video I have seen on YouTube. I hope you cry laughing!

We Ready...

2008-09-22T23:52:00.003-04:00

BA

That means Bad Ass (sorry mom), and that's basically how I describe the MTSU Sigma Nu Fall Pledge Class 2008. I went back to MTSU this past weekend for Smoker Night and Bid Day, and let me just say I wasn't disappointed- like most 19 year old girls were when they found out Britney WASN'T performing at the VMA's, tear jerker, I know! It was great getting back there and seeing everyone. And watching 30 new guys run out, all adorned in navy Sigma Nu Bid Day shirts, with a look of elation and pure ecstasy, knowing they were the biggest pledge class of any fraternity for fall '08 made the trip that much better. The cream of the crop (why do I always think of creamed corn, a little sickening) is basically how to describe them if you don't want to say BA.

Though I already knew many of them, after meeting all of the new guys, it really got me to wishing I was still there. Though I never had this thought then, having enough on my plate to stay busy, I now look back and almost feel robbed of a year and a half of true experience- and seeing how our hard work over the past several months paid off with the elitism of new guys really put me on that mind track. Knowing the amount of work each of the members did during the past year and a half, what we have all been through, how hard we have worked to get back to functioning- to have it all pay off with coming back for our first formal Recruitment since '06 with the largest pledge class (all of which were highly courted by others down the row) has a deeper meaning than many will know- and also quickly moves back where we left off, back to where we belong: on top! And I'll just say, that night, pure entertainment! So much better than watching an episode of The Hills (that's not really saying much though, I guess, now is it).

They say "If you're on the outside you'll never understand. And if you're on the inside, you'll never be able to explain." True story. My time with Sigma Nu could never be traded, as so much of me grew during that experience, however, a few extra chapters would have been nice.

*Pic: Notice the colors of NU (ours, of course) and the colors of OLD (a certain other). Funniest poster of the weekend.

Welcome Back, Kotter?

2008-09-17T00:20:00.007-04:00

The show kind of pre-dates my years, and I've never come across TV Land to see an episode, however, I DO know John Travolta was in it. That's beside the point though, get Travolta out of your head, greased hair, spandex-tight bellbottoms, multi-colored disco floor, and all, and just play the theme song in your head. Why am I doing this, you may ask? Well, because I told you to and it makes the story better if you have a soundtrack going in your head...and that is the song I have chosen. Any who, it was announced today that Sigma Nu at Middle Tennessee State University has been approved to have our charter reinstated! In laymen's terms, we are technically a fraternity once again!!! I won't go into the deets (that means details) but let's just be excited, bust out the streamers, poppers, and celebrate us a good ole time. To top that off, fraternity recruitment started this week- what kinda coincidence is that! So I'll be heading back to the boro (short for Murfreesboro. I just like to keep you up to speed on my extremely cool lingo and abbrevs usage- again, that means abbreviation) this weekend to participate in my first Smoker Night (Formal Night) since Fall 2006 and Bid Day on Saturday- again, the first one since fall 2006, but hopefully that was already obvious by my previous mentions. To say the least, I am more than ecstatic for the weekend and proud of the guys that worked on the piles of paperwork to get them there. {Insert Air Fist Pump over left shoulder and Air Fist Pump Over Right Shoulder HERE}

As I am on this whole Greek kick (the fraternity/sorority thing, not the actual country thing), sorority bid day at MTSU was on Monday and I wanted to say Congrats (hopefully I do not need to debrief you on that abbrev) to a few of my friends who went through! I could insert one of those extremely corny sisterhood quotes here, but I won't...because like I said...they're corny, and I don't like corn (especially on the cob. Don't you hate when it gets stuck in your teeth, then forcing you to crudely pick at your teeth, jamming your entire fist in your mouth doing so, all the while sitting across from the Queen of England, who then, for some peculiar reason, thinks you're being disgusting and gives you the stink eye). In short, congratulations, I couldn't be happier for y'all.

I now want to have a brief convo on the weather- not that I feel as if I am experiencing an awkward pause in the conversation with you and have run out of other, actual subjects to discuss (you know exactly what I am talking about)- but because I just want to mention it was somewhat cool in Columbia today. That is right, the normal humidity was absent, causing my clothes to stay dry for more than 17 seconds after stepping outside and becoming drenched with sweat. I dare to say it was cool, and pleasant. I have a friend who moved from South Carolina to MTSU to start his freshman year this fall. I wrote on his wall (facebook terms, not his actual living room wall. My name is not Harold and I do not have a purple crayon [google it]) the other day asking why it was so humid (this is obviously not a question I was looking for him to answer), and knowing exactly why he moved out-as the day I wrote that it felt like 107 degrees. To that he responded, and I quote, "It was a cool 75 here today, with a nice breeze. It probably won't be like that in SC till November." I have since deleted his friendship.

I Love the Home of my 82,000 Friends

2008-09-14T23:20:00.010-04:00

Oh sweet weekend. Full of heat, fun, garnet, football, angry SC fans and triumphant UGA fans.

Friday night was spent at Delaney's, a bar in the right-next-to-campus 5 Points. The area is populated with unique shops, Columbia-original bars, and restaurants found in movies. Weekend nights, however, the hair comes down and kiddies are out to play. 5 Points turns from the walker- friendly area it is during the day, into an all out bar crawl, crawlers being of the

20-ish age. Back to Delaney's though, the hyped McFly is an 80's cover band that was set to rock some strings and bust some amps

Friday night. Over-hyped is how I would now describe it. The singer, however, did wear a bright red suit, which was interesting...the most interesting thing of the performance. Despite the mediocrity of the set, dances were still danced, laughs were still laughed, and fun was still....funned!

Now to the Palmetto state's church day: Game Day Saturday. Time of Kickoff: 3. Time of Tailgate: 10. Temperature in Degrees Fahrenheit: 178. Number of the Closest Friends in Williams-Bryce: 82,000. Now, from my perspective, it was obvious the #2 ranked Georgia would be pulling ahead by the end of the dollar (4th quarter..you can LOL amongst yourselves). Since I was wanting my life expectancy to span past September 13th, I decided to keep that thought to myself while the Gamecock Fans spit some insults and trashed some talk. Taking my standing spot in the student section of Williams-Bryce, packed in as tight as pickles (Ref: See Ellen Degeneres stand-up, b/c pickles are definitely packed tighter than sardines) the game lasted longer than waiting for Lil Mamma to spit out her absurdity of critiques on ABDC...and I have the farmer's tan on the back of my neck to prove it! The energy and passion that fills the stadium proves to be the best place in the city of Cola! Next week, the Cocks take on the non-SEC school Wofford, hopefully that venture will end in victory.

To my Blue Raiders, Good Luck with Sorority Bid Day Monday afternoon, and with Fraternity Recruitment this week! I'll be back on home turf Thursday!

And to those of you who did not get to witness the best impersonation in SNL history, I posted a little linky-link to the left from the Palin/Clinton sketch that opened up the season last night (Michael Phelps hosted, was horribly awkward, and the rest of the ninety minutes was packed with dullness..and then Lil Wayne!).

That Southern Thang...

2008-09-10T21:38:00.005-04:00

As I was born and raised in the south, I want to take a second to talk about religion: football. More specifically college football. Yes, southerners care for the NFL, but it's the college league that reigns king. I mean, why would you eat at Olive Garden, when that Italian place with the real food is closer to home. I've had two main sources of excitement so far this week, both relating to said religion. First off, Middle Tennessee had a little upset this past weekend. They won. And not just to that college from Podunk, Wisconsin where the importance of football falls right under something like Volleyball...or bowling. It was against Maryland. Again, not Central Maryland College West at Sumter, just plain Maryland. That's the big time, boys. The video proves it.

The second may seem slightly more minute (the small kind, not the seconds and hours kind), but it is far from that. It could be measured on the same level of excitement 28 year old women felt when New Kids on the Block announced a reunion. I got a ticket to the USC vs Georgia game!! You may be asking, "But sir, why is this such a big deal? Did you simply not just purchase a ticket?" And to that I would respond, "Don't call me sir, I am not a 57 year old man with a comb over thinking I am stumping people on the whole question of whether or not that is actual hair from my entire head, or just a tiny section. You can simply call me Josh." Once I am past that little debacle, I would tell you about how Gamecock country deals with the student ticket sich (short for situation, btw). You may have to read the next few lines twice or thrice over, it can be confusing. A student is given points based on their classification (Freshman-4, Sophomore- 6, Junior- 8, and so forth). If a student wants to go to a football game, they must go to the athletic website during the "Request Phase" for that game and request a ticket. You are then entered into a lottery. Depending on how many points you have depends how many times your name is entered into the lottery (you earn more points for attending a game, and penalized if you get a ticket and don't go to a game). Of the 30,000 students, 9,000 tickets are awarded. You get a nice little email saying you actually won a ticket- let me tell you though, the rejection email is pretty harsh. It is as if SC was dumping you and merely decides to send an email to avoid the pain and awkwardness of the delivery. Anywho, this time I won the lottery and got a ticket! Hard to believe there are more logistics to this whole ticketing charade, but who wants to read for another thirty minutes. Just know I'll be decked out in Garnet and Black come Saturday.

You also may be wondering about the name, The Life of Forrest Gump. Obvi, my name is not Forrest Gump (it's Josh btw, nice to meet you). Like Gump, however, I am from the great state of Alabama (I've decided to add Great State of- prior to my mention of Alabama to parallel Sarah Palin's mention of The Great State of Alaska in every speech she has given. Except I don't add that northern twang thing to it, so don't get that little audio snippet in your head when you read it) where Paul "Bear" Bryant is a legend and hounds-tooth is forbidden by Auburn fans. He also went from The Great State of Alabama (it's catching on, isn't it) to South Carolina to find his Jenny. If I wanted to be all grad student on this, I could say his search for his love correlates with my move to SC from the Great State of Alabama to find my love in student affairs (because I am nearly certain my love as it relates to the human kind happens to be in a more horizontally shaped state). You may also be asking why I didn't say The Adventures of Forrest Gump, that sounds more exciting. Well, my life isn't that exciting to be considered adventurous. It's just life. So feel free to follow as I walk in my unadventurous shoes. Because, ya know, "Mama says they are magic shoes. They can take me anywhere...."

Off to USC We Go....

2008-09-09T21:51:00.008-04:00

That is the number of days I have now been a resident of Columbia, South Carolina. A place where the Palmetto is ever present, where Cock is in the vocabulary for those of all ages, humidity makes the air thicker than butter and hotter than hades, where the bow-tie is preferred over the neck tie, and the mercedes are bountiful. Ahh, the University of South Carolina, Gamecock Country. Fields of Garnet and Black farther than the eye can see. From those 45 days, I have come to the conclusion that everyone is equipped with that southern hospitality, without SC being categorized as a truly southern state. Like the truly southern state of Alabama, however, football is the official religion and the color orange is a sin (Clemson orange, that is). Rich with tradition (as are many of the students), USC is ingrained in the minds of all who attend from the crawling years, creating an energy that surrounds the expansive campus. With roughly 30,000 students, Carolina spans across acres of land, an abundance of train tracks, and buildings older than that grandmother of the three women in Sex and the City. It is a place I have quickly come to love and fallen, eerily with ease, into yelling "Go Cocks!"

As a first year in the Masters Program for Higher Education and Student Affairs (more commonly referred to as HESA) my cohort consists of 45 students. With a ratio of exactly 2:1, it is easy to say the women by far outnumber the men in my program. Along with those in their second year, all 80 students are equally as outgoing and passionate about the field they are in. With the caliber of these students, the ingenious and friendliness of the administration and the multitude of opportunities available within the field, it is easy to see why the HESA program is recognized as one of the best in the country.

Working as a Graduate Assistant in the office of Resident Student Learning (concentrating on leadership), taking nine hours of graduate classes, and working with the office of Campus Wellness (and later this semester Judicial Programs) for my Practicum, along with conferences, meetings and come-as-they-arise requirements, it is easy to say I am staying busy. This blog is to keep you up on what's going on in Gamecock Country and what progresses. And seeing as I am trying just to live one day at a time and work with whatever I am handed, check back to see what's occurring, because as they say, "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get..."