Monthly Archives: November 2013

CBU Homecoming Weekend is always a highlight of my fall semester. This will only be my second, but the average student will attend at least four of them, so I can confidently say that I’ve enjoyed the ones I’ve experienced. The big day lands on a Saturday, too, which is perfect for my busy weekday schedule and Sunday Male Chorale concerts. Technically, the two-day day event started on Friday. The main attraction, though, is the next day with the Block Party and Fortuna Bowl. Through my vast experience with homecoming, I’ve developed a method to make the most of the fun times that await. At least, I thought I did. Usually the best times to be had are the ones you don’t plan for.

The day started bright and early, 11 a.m., out on the front lawn. You can’t have a CBU event without the opportunity to snag a free t-shirt, so I started at the line in front of the ASCBU tent. This year’s shirt was the image of the CBU Lancer painted by David Garibaldi, an America’s Got Talent finalist and performance painter, who actually visited the campus on Friday. Receiving free clothing is great, but the main attraction is everything else. Between food trucks, academic department tents, and bounce houses, there is plenty to do. Obviously, I favored the last one on the list, although waiting in line behind 7-year-olds made me feel old. Last year, I spent the majority of the afternoon racing through obstacle courses and literally bouncing off the walls . I thought I might make a repeat performance, but last year I wasn’t in Male Chorale during the fall semester.

Part two of homecoming started at 2 p.m. with a Male Chorale sound check. I always tell my friends to come see the group perform Sunday nights, but the locations are never close enough for an easy drive. No location is closer, though, than the center of the front lawn. Now that we’re more than half way through the semester, our sound is much better, too. I’m always laughing and smiling through normal concerts, and this time was no different. If anything, I was more excited to sing for people I actually recognized. My grandpa was there, too, which made it even more special. After finishing the hour long concert, I was about to leave when I was assigned to the crew to tear down the entire stage and sound equipment. That was definitely not on my 3-step plan for a successful homecoming experience, but I like helping wherever I can.

That tear down kept me busy until 6:40 p.m., but we finished just in time for the final part of the day: Fortuna Bowl. I managed to change and get back over to the front lawn in time to receive a free hot dog dinner, courtesy of ASCBU (again), and watch the end of the woman’s flag football finals. The homecoming court walked on the field next, which could’ve been me this year since I was nominated for Sophomore Prince. The main focus, though, was Mr. and Mrs. CBU. The funny thing was that Mr. CBU ended up being Josh Siemens, who was about to play with Weeblos in the men’s flag football finals following the crowning. That game did not disappoint, either, with a quadruple overtime performance and Stealth taking the cup with a surprise QB run. The anticipation for an amazing firework show doubled with each overtime draw, and it didn’t disappoint. I don’t know how CBU does it, but every year the sky is lit up with a show that even Disneyland would want to come see. Such a great day.

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For the last few weeks, I’ve been hearing countless complaints and gripes. Many conversations have entailed the stressed monotones of CBU freshmen experiencing their first round of college midterms.

I call it, “midterm madness.”

Now, as an art student, I never feared midterms, to be honest. This is mostly because, well, I only had two – one for Oral Communications and another for Design Thought Foundations. Studying for both just meant reviewing some notes and being prepared to write a lot, neither of which fazes me.

So when friends, or even a roommate, would vent their midterm madness stress to me, I did my best to empathize… but couldn’t. I considered myself lucky, almost unfairly so, and a little slacking, because as a graphic design and photography student, I don’t really have to worry about a boatload of midterms looming like a storm over my head for two weeks.

But just as midterms for non-CAVAD majors began winding down… the projects hit, and boy was I wrong about “slacking.”

I don’t mean to complain, because in all honesty I do enjoy creative projects. But when, for example, a CAVAD major suddenly has four projects and two essays due in one week, things get rough.

The last four days for me have entailed nonstop work. My eyes are a little fried from all of the computer screen time, and to be honest I’m feeling a little low on creative juices. By the time I’ve gotten to bed shortly after midnight each night this week, I’ve had a hard time falling asleep because my brain is still on high-speed productive mode. After trying for a half hour to fall asleep for a short nap yesterday, I eventually came out of my bedroom and said to my roommate, “Oh well. My brain won’t shut up.” Back to work.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the opportunity of the challenge to do multiple projects on top of each other within a time constraint, because I know that’s what the “real world” will be like after graduation, and this is excellent practice. But this week, readers, I probably won’t be giving an emotional goodbye to them.

If anything, after this week I’ll feel incredibly accomplished as a growing designer, and for that I am very grateful. I’d take that over “midterm madness” anytime.

Well, folks, we are halfway through the semester. Midterms are over, and we are trekking on toward finals.  I didn’t think midterms week would be that busy for me, considering I only had one midterm and it was for my online class.  Let’s just say I was wrong in that assumption.These past few weeks have been some of the busiest weeks so far, but also some of the most fun I’ve had this year.

I’ve gotten to the point in the semester where the weeks just seem long and endless.  I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “So much to do, so little time.” Well, that has been my motto for the past few weeks and sleep barely exists when you have so much to do. Let’s just say, I’m exhausted and ready for the weekend to come so I can finally sleep in.

Even with a crazy busy week, there are moments that stick out as great. I believe one of the simplest joys in life is being able to catch a meal with a friend and catch up on life. I was able to do that this last week with one of my favorite guys here at CBU. Catching up with friends is a great way to rejuvenate in the middle of a long hard week.I’ve found that the friends I have made here at CBU are some of the greatest I have ever had. They are extremely supportive and loving, allowing me to have fun and get away from the cares of the world.

Another great aspect of CBU is the sporting events that we have. This last week, I had the opportunity to attend the women’s volleyball game against Azusa Pacific University, which CBU won. I went to the volleyball game with my staff (the other resident assistants for west Colony), and we had so much fun rooting for CBU. This was another great way to just break away from the stresses of the week anddo something fun.

Okay, so now it just sounds like I had a fun week and had to compensate by staying up late to finish homework, but really all my free time is filled with schoolwork. Remember how I said I only had one midterm? Yeah, it was a midterm for the online class that I was taking, and it took two hours to complete. Two hours to complete a midterm! After taking tha,t I did not want to do anything else, but there was still so much to do that I had to push through.

On top of my busy week, this weekend was the weekend I had weekend duty, which wasn’t that bad, but it just means that I am up until 1 a.m. for two nights in a row.  The most grueling was Saturday to Sunday. On Sunday the University Choir and Orchestra had concerts all day and our call time was 6:15 a.m. Let’s just say Sunday was a long day, and I was running on less then four hours of sleep. UCO had three morning concerts (basically, we sangfour to five songs during the services), a four and a halfhour break, and then an evening concert. While I would have loved to sleep during the four and a half hour break, I–you guessed it–did some more homework.

I didn’t write this blog to make you feel sorry for me. In fact, it is really written for the opposite reason. Sometimes it is easy to forget that life can get crazy, and it can get in the way of what you want to do. Don’t take the easy days for granted. Soak them in, because I’ve learned that they are few and hard to find. Remember college is just a season of life, and it doesn’t last forever. Take advantage of every opportunity you come across, have fun, hang out with friends, do nothing, because before you know it the days of nothing will be gone and the craziness of life will persist.

There is something so deeply important in gathering as a household and maintaining healthy bonds between roommates.

I say this acknowledging the blessing that it is to live with the roommates I have this year in the gorgeous University Place housing area. Not only am I close to Brisco’s and the events on the front lawn – which have been increasing in excitement with the coming of Fortuna Bowl – I also have the advantage of rolling out of bed later (a massive luxury) as I am right next to the building where the majority of my classes are held. Beyond my extremely convenient location on campus, I am graced with the company of three women who have proven to be a source of consistent blessing for me this semester.

The four different lives that intersect at the meeting point of our apartment have experienced much over the past few weeks. I have seen one roommate barge in announcing victory at an easy exam, another relate an epiphany and breakthrough volunteer opportunity, and another burst through the front door utterly spent, but elated after a long rehearsal for the upcoming theatre production. (Shameless plug aimed at all CBU students and local residents: go see Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, opening November 15. My roommate is a lead in the show, and from what I have been hearing from behind the curtain, it is going to be astoundingly brilliant. It’s also my personal favorite Shakespearean comedy. The Bard knows his way to the audiences’ funny bone; you’re guaranteed to laugh uncontrollably.) While each of us have these insanely busy schedules and rarely find a moment where we are all together and not swamped with homework, we all have managed to find time to keep up with every other housemate and exhort one another in kind.

I realize this post will easily turn into a love letter to my roommates – because seriously, they’re wonderful – but I also want to spend my time musing about the beauty found in the opportunity to live with other students at this time of life. We do school together, learn about ourselves in a group, and achieve a level of community that is completely unique to the college experience. We go through life on campus, experience highs and lows, and life becomes a never-ending party where friends are constantly present.

I have had several moments over the past month where I realize that not only am I now a junior, but I am quickly approaching the halfway mark of the year. The time has flown by at an alarming rate, and only makes me more aware of all that I have enjoyed and will continue to enjoy over the course of my undergrad experience. While I could easily spend dozens of pages pouring out my thoughts on everything I love about my life here (don’t worry – I won’t!) I realize that the biggest blessing has been the community I have found. CBU has become my home away from home, and the people I have shared life with have become additions to my family. I know for certain that a large part of who I am has been shaped by the people God has put in my life, and I see His love given abundantly through them. It really is amazing how much this community does for us, and these are years I will not easily forget.

Forgive me for my abundant sentimentality, but I have to spend a moment giving thanks to the people who share life with me. Thanks for the coffee dates, the overcooked macaroni and cheese (and messy kitchens), the BBC movie nights, the hilarious phrases to add to the “quote book,” and the companionship I have found to be priceless. Life is truly fuller when shared with fellow humans. Friends, you are valued. Carry on, and I will see you next week.

The Alumni Dining Commons: the safe haven for all CBU students to cherish and enjoy. While some prefer the casual atmosphere of Brisco’s or the quick grab-n-go quality of Subway, there will always be a time and place for a pleasant meal at the caf. As a connoisseur of scrumptious dinners, and an always-hungry male college student, I try my best to fit in at least one visit to the sacred grounds each day. I actually do feel an emptiness inside of me (not of food, but of fulfillment) when I steer away from the doors leading to the never-ending waffle bar inside the ADC. It’s not that I need a daily ADC fix to keep me stable; I just want a solid meal that no made-to-order sandwich will ever match. With such a strong attachment to the happiest place on earth, it should come as no surprise that I started working for Provider this semester as a dish washer. I say this not to foreshadow an article about the complexities involved in removing trays and washing pans, although there is much, much more that goes on back there. I just want to justify my own claims about the caf since I speak from both the consumer and employee level. Having said that, I still want to focus on what is important: the food.

More specifically, I want to focus on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, more commonly known as sushi days. Two times a week, or three if you count Sunday brunch, the Kamiyami Sushi title is hoisted over the serving area closest to the beverage station. Of all the days to skip out on your friend’s invitation to eat a small lunch at Brisco’s, you should choose sushi day. I thought the upperclassmen were joking last year when they told us stories of the limitless of California rolls and gone-too-soon Shrimp Avocado rolls. It’s the combination of these two which really keep me coming back to grab another plate. As amazing as the rice rolls taste, they usually act more as a complement to my tray with a main entrée or two, a bowl of fruit with yogurt, and a tall glass of pomegranate blueberry flavored water. Last Wednesday, however, sushi became so much more.

Wednesdays are usually my more relaxing days of the week, but that morning I knew I had too much to accomplish in too little time. I had a good 40 minute pocket of time for lunch and of course my stomach pushed me to the ADC. I wasn’t feeling up to my usual positive self, and I needed a kick start. Then, the greatest of ideas broke through my clouded, stressed out mind: just eat sushi.

Like the old saying goes, “Too much of a good thing is a better thing,” or something along those lines. I’ve been meaning to give it a try all semester but never had the motivation. Today was perfect. Four of my friends and I began the challenge. Only plates of sushi would be allowed, along with a light beverage. You can only grab one plate at a time, so we made too many return trips. The lady serving caught on pretty quick but had no problem dishing them out to us. We stacked the plates all onto one tray and built a little fortress of sushi trays, which changed half through when they ran out of the first kind. No idea why that would happen.

The sushi runs slowed down after we reached our fourth plate, but I was determined to go on. I downed my sixth plate with the satisfaction of a job well down. Then we counted and tallied up the scores. We were at 96 pieces between the five of us. We grabbed one more plate to even it at 100 rolls of sushi. I had proudly consumed 27 rolls and enjoyed every second of it. Hi-fives abounded. The whole time that we were there laughing and playing with chop sticks, I had forgotten about all of my worries. I was relaxed and ready to tackle all of my assignments. I left the caf in such a better mood than when I entered.  I love the ADC.

As a graphic design and photography student, every week I am awed by new tactics and tricks that bring graphic art to life. But more than this, I am consistently awed by how determined the professors of CAVAD (College of Architecture, Visual Arts, and Design) are to extend opportunities to their students to learn how to do these techniques on their own.

I remember as a high school junior coming to stay overnight at CBU for the annual “24” event that CBU offers to perspective students. During the morning of my second day on campus, I had the opportunity to attend a class from my chosen field of study. So, I attended a Photoshop class. This class experience was, in my opinion, the initial spark that sent me to pursue CBU as my college choice. I observed how small the class size was (which, coming from a graduating class of 13, was pretty significant to me) and how each student was provided substantial workspace and a huge Mac to work on. Granted, none of those things were good enough reasons to choose CBU, but they definitely inspired me to look into the school further. Sometimes, it truly is “the little things.”

Jake and his favorite guitar!

Now, as a student, I’m currently working on a studio photography project – which obviously means that I am required to use the CBU photography studio for my upcoming photo shoot. When we were first assigned this project, my heart skipped a beat because of how the idea both excited and terrified me. During class that day, my teacher took the time to show us how to use the studio, beginning to end, explaining everything from plugging the equipment in, hooking up the equipment to our cameras, testing the lights, etc. Already feeling a little overwhelmed by how complicated the process is, I wasn’t exactly thrilled to hear him slip a comment into the demonstration about how leaving the generator running after leaving the studio could burn the building down. Um, yikes!

I’m still hoping he was feeling sarcastic that morning.

Well aware that I had no idea of how to put all this fancy stuff to use, I reserved the studio for that Thursday evening–not to work on my project, but to mess around with the equipment and get familiar with it before attempting the assignment the following week.

My dear little sister and I! 🙂

My younger sister came to spend the night in my apartment that evening, which made for an extra fun experience that I was able to share with her and her growing passion for photography.  She, my boyfriend, and his roommate joined me initially in the studio and helped me to get everything set up. About a half hour later, my two roommates walked in, announcing as they entered that they had brought along four other people! Well, perhaps needless to say, this announcement added to the pressure of having no clue what I was doing.

Nonetheless I smiled, invited them to come pose on the set, and I snapped away. To my extreme relief, the process came pretty naturally, and in no time the ten of us were laughing, smiling, and having a wonderful time. I definitely remembered to turn off the generator (praise the Lord!) and, best of all, I left that night feeling like a pro.

I hope this post communicates what gratitude I feel toward my professors for extending this much freedom to their students, as aware as I’m sure they are just how ignorant and green the majority of us are.

Beautiful memories!

This week I learned that with some faith in myself, a whole lot of trust from my professors, and little bit of camera dust, I am able to produce beautiful memories. What a blessing that is!