Archives: Natalie Shadle

CBU students of all kinds have been impacted in one way or the next by this past weekend’s festivities. Whether they participated or had their ears talked off by a roommate who did, all have been stunned by CBU’s ability to put on the experience of a lifetime.

As I am making huge life changes by getting married this summer, I decided against participating in this year’s ISP adventures, and thus did not have the opportunity to participate in what we call “ITW” this past weekend. However, since I do work for Conferences and Events, it’s always my privilege to know the ins and outs of every event, including the top secret ones!

That being said, this event and its happenings are meant to be top secret, so that each year’s round of participants receive the full element of surprise, so I’ll share only the little that I know everyone’s heard by now.

Essentially, ITW is meant to full equip ISP students for what could possibly be coming during their service project this summer. Students pack their luggage, grab their passports, and head over to the Kugel, which C&E has made to look like an airport… giant signs with terminal numbers and take off times and all. After checking their luggage and “flying” to their destinations, students begin the real fun.

During the next two days, students camp out on the ground, eat a minimal diet, and learn to deal physically and emotionally with situations they’ve never had to, all the while experiencing a deeply emotional and spiritual bond with their teammates. CBU employs the hands of psychologists, actors, mind-blowing props, and more to put on this intense few days, which is why it’s called Intensive Training Weekend.

All in all, good luck finding another school as passionate about making sure their students are fully and wholeheartedly prepared to serve overseas!

As I said in earlier blogs, I come from an itty-bitty Christian high school back home, where the motto was always, “University Ready. Life Ready.”

The teachers and staff pressed this on us every day and with good reason. Their hopes for us were that we would both be prepared for university success and then for adult life that followed.

Now living at California Baptist University, it’s the university’s job to continue on with the “Life Ready” half of the motto. As a graphic design major, this preparation is especially important, because our career path is changing every day as new technology presents itself!

In class this week, one of my professors took a good chunk of the time to have a discussion on a pertinent design issue that he felt we, as younger people, might be better aware of. He wanted to understand the issue himself so that he could better train us to tackle it after graduation. This discussion eventually involved altering his lesson plan quite a bit, and developing a unique assignment that would begin to equip us. As a professor with a pre-determined plan for the semester, making sudden changes like this can’t be the easiest thing in the world!

As a student with only two or possibly three semesters left following this one, I am learning to appreciate these discussions more and more. When CBU says they provide professors fresh out of the field, they mean it. These men and women are interested in so much more than just relaying textbook information; they truly care about their students leaving this place as life ready as they can possibly be, and understand the “real life” struggles of their disciplines better than anyone else!

Yesterday was one of what I would consider to be a typical, not-so-typical day. What? Let me clarify.

In the morning, I set aside some extra time to stop by the Conferences and Events office to fill out some paperwork. This paperwork was some of the most exciting paperwork I’ve ever had to spend time on – my fiancée and I have the privilege of renting our equipment from C&E for the big day!

Following this, I attended a colorful variety of classes – Comparative Religions, Intermediate Composition, and Intermediate Commercial Photography. As was to be expected, all three were vastly different from one another in material and subject matter – however, the professors of all three shared the same beautiful passion for teaching as an instrument of God’s hand, and for the betterment of our characters as young adults.

When afternoon rolled around, my roommate and I made our way up to the Recreation Center – the stunning, two-story beauty that highlights our campus. The Rec Center offers a range of activities for those interested – you’ll find everything from a professional rock climbing wall to basketball courts to a soccer field… on the roof.

And to conclude my busy, busy day, I enjoyed a hearty meal at CBU’s new dining addition – El Monte Mexican Grill.

I thought nothing of the busyness this day brought me. It was a very typical day for a student at CBU.

But you know, a day like this would be considered “typical” nowhere else that I can think of. No, this day was awesome. Not-so-typical, if you ask me. We are so fortunate to be here!

Do you remember being in high school, and how the thrill of beginning your senior year was almost too much to stand? But then somehow, about three months in, your veins began to crawl with that nasty, ruthless disease … senioritis.

In high school, you have some liberty to choose an elective or two each year, but beyond that your routine is basically set in stone. History of some kind, English of a sort, science in some manner; and, if you were one of the unfortunate, yet another math. Senioritis was a direct result of too much sameness, and everyone felt its drag.

What I love about the beginning of each CBU semester is that there is absolutely no sameness to be had. Every first week of school hands you that beautiful, terrifying thrill of all things new. For example, this semester I have an exciting blend of film, world religions and design awaiting me – in stark contrast to last semester’s toss of sociology, physics and typography.

This will be my first semester ever taking as few as 15 units, which is considered a normal, sane person’s load – but I figure wedding planning will add an additional three units worth of my time! I’m excited to have the opportunity to learn and grow yet again as a student this semester, soaking up the blessing of living the college life.

Saddle up, Lancers – around the track we go again!

“Deck the halls with boughs of holly! Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la…”

Normally, having to slide back into the swing of school after a luxurious break away from homework is a struggle no student looks forward to. But me? I was ready — ready to see those boughs decked out in holly!

My decked-out week began with a sweet surprise. My fiancée invited me to go to chapel with him on Monday, even though I’ve already fulfilled my credits for the semester. He insisted that this would be an especially “great one.” Boy am I glad that I went!

Chapel on Monday was unique and beautiful in a way I had yet to experience. It was essentially a combination of Christmas-related musical acts, performed by students and staff alike. Rosy cheeks, bright eyes, and warm smiles filled the room – Christmas spirits were high as our brothers and sisters in Christ shared the extraordinary talents they’ve been given.

To continue in celebration, Wednesday’s chapel was a magnificent show put on by CBU’s choir and orchestra! What a treat that was! And for the cherry on top, Conferences and Events spent a morning setting up for CBU’s annual Christmas party taking place Thursday evening. Sledding, ice skating, classic Christmas tunes, and joy all included!

As much as I look forward to these two weeks being over, so that I can go home and enjoy a long stretch of quality time with my family, I will be sorry to say goodbye to the holiday cheer that envelops this place each winter.

As much as I love keeping busy, I could use nothing more right now than Thanksgiving break … and judging from the whispers all around me, that seems to be the general consensus!

Over holiday breaks, the CBU campus steadily becomes what’s been called a “ghost town,” as its students filter out to head home. For those who have not made plans to go home, including students who live far away or are even international, Residence Life does allow for them to live on campus for Thanksgiving. Some even look forward to the “ghost town,” because it allows peace and quiet for studying and being fully prepared for finals week and the Christmas activities to follow.

Assuming that Conferences and Events doesn’t work over holiday breaks, I asked for the week off just as a formality. But then earlier this week during a shift, I overheard some co-workers asking one another if they would still be around to take shifts next week. Huh?

So I approached my supervisor with confusion and he laughed, “Of course we still work! There is always work to be done around here.”

Realizing that over break no conferences or events will be held, I then asked, “But, what exactly do you do, then?”

And to my surprise he responded, “We decorate, of course! It’s a blast. And then when students return from break, the whole campus looks like Christmas!”

Well, there you have it, folks. CBU even makes an effort to be festive for the sole two weeks we have left when we return in December. I was initially a little bummed to realize that I’d be out of town for this fun, but at the same time, I could really use that time off to spend with my family. When I come back in December, I’ll have the rare pleasure of being one of the students who just enjoys all that CBU does to be special, without necessarily having a hand in it this time.

Happy Thanksgiving!

When I’m asked, “Why did you choose CBU?” I automatically give this reply: the family culture!

In high school, I attended an itty-bitty private school where my classmates and teachers were all considered family in my eyes. This atmosphere helped me to grow as a student and woman of God, but also nourished my education to its full potential. So, when I decided to look at colleges, this family-culture was exactly what I hoped to find.

I feel this culture surrounding CBU every day – through my professors’ drive to connect with us, the events that bring us together, the closeness of each individual department, the investment of roommates into each others’ lives… But this week I’ve especially been immersed in the potency of this culture, because … drum roll please … this week, I got engaged! Ah!

See, as a student, your life is so consumed with schoolwork, jobs, and balancing what little time you have left between your flaking social life and sleep deprivation, that even a big step as exciting as this one requires support.  Today, both of us felt that support radiating from every direction. My professors each congratulated us individually, my boss wished us the best, and our classmates were overjoyed. The family culture was so evident today that I am still feeling a little overwhelmed with emotion.

While this incident certainly stands out in my mind, CBU has proven a beautiful family culture in so many other ways – the way professors pray over their students;  the way classmates check in on one another; the way the Crazies seem to scream with a ridiculous yet harmonious noise. Due to this truth, I’ve never once doubted my decision to come here. I’ve found my home away from home, and couldn’t be happier with the people I am blessed to share it with every single day.

Every fall, Community Life and Conferences and Events partner up to put on a favorite of student events… Midnight Madness! The event is used as a fun and energetic way to introduce the student body to each year’s women’s’ and men’s’ basketball teams.

Last year, I was sadly unable to attend due to a conflict in my schedule; this year, I almost missed it again but was lucky at the last minute to get scheduled to work the event (a perk of working for Conferences and Events!). You see, each year there are hoops to jump through in order to get tickets to Midnight Madness. The event is so popular that Community Life has to be clever with how they keep the gym from overcrowding.

This year, in order to obtain your tickets for the event, you either had to attend a certain women’s volleyball game or men’s wrestling match last week, dressed up for Halloween. I couldn’t attend either, but boy do I wish I could’ve been a fly on the wall for that display!

The event begins late at night and only lasts about an hour, but there’s so much going on that there’s no chance at all of falling sleepy!

When I first entered the gym, I was shocked to discover the legitimate challenge of making it past the doorway… I was a couple minutes late clocking into my shift because it took me so long to navigate through the blinding fog and strobe lights being emitted for effect. Once inside, I was handed my “ticket,” which this year was a rubber bracelet which could be unhooked and, “voila!” it becomes a flash drive! How awesome is that?

The event proceeded with drifting fog, blasting music, dancing lights, 3-point shots and slam dunks, and hundreds of hyped up students all jumping and screaming in their “crazies” T-shirts!

The energy was invigorating – what an incredible, mad welcoming for this year’s teams!

Graphic designers and photographers have a fair reputation for being introverted artists. The same is generally true (not always, but in many cases) for college students studying to go into a creative field. Hence, even in the small world of CBU, we graphic designers tend not to stray far from our little bubble.

However, if you so happen to be close friends with a student of another discipline, you hear a lot about what they’re learning and what their bubble is like, too. In this case, my boyfriend is on the total opposite end of the study spectrum. He is enrolled in CBU’s nursing program, and thus, I know all the ins and outs of how it functions… and let me tell you, were it not for my artistic bias, it’d be mighty difficult to persuade me that any other major on campus is nearly as extraordinary as nursing!

While in the three-year-long program, nursing students are technically “employed” at various hospitals where they intern for one full shift each week in different areas (i.e. pediatrics, general floor, ER). This way, they are not only memorizing information out of textbooks but also gaining hands-on experience along with their peers, which according to my boyfriend has been an absolutely invaluable experience.

The school itself is equipped with a lifelike hospital set, filled with hyper realistic “dummies” of different genders and ages, allowing students to practice administering shots and other medical procedures.

A new hospital recently opened up near my hometown, and it was communicated to job-seeking nursing grads that the hospital prefers to interview graduates from CBU.

Given that knowledge, it doesn’t take a science-geared mind to comprehend how unique and remarkable this program is. My boyfriend and the rest of CBU’s nursing students have chosen arguably the best place around to learn how to be a healer for God’s people.

What a blessing!

I’ve had so many students ask me, “Where do graphic design students have their classes?” Well, let me tell you – in our creative corner, of course!

Graphic Design and Photography students don’t really live in on-campus housing. At least, it doesn’t always feel that way. Most days it feels as though we live on the uppermost floor of the historic James building; our home away from home!

Our program is a smaller one, compared to business, nursing, and the like – however, we’ve certainly made the most of our little space up there. As soon as you enter the fourth floor of James, you know you’ve set foot in our creative corner. Posters are hung wall to wall, advertising exciting opportunities such as marketing internships and film festivals; all of the classrooms on our end are filled with Goliath-sized iMac computers; we even have bright orange walls in our main design lab. I’m pretty sure those wouldn’t fly in any other discipline!

But the true hidden gem of our corner, the pride of our department, is the photography studio. All the way in the back of the fourth floor, nestled against a cozy lounge area, lives the magic. This room contains everything from professional flash equipment to gorgeous backdrops to large modeling fans and more; and it is completely free for our majors to use, whenever we’d like! What other school can boast that privilege?

I’ve been assigned a “Surreal Sermon” project for which I need to portray a Bible story as it would have truly looked. So, this week I’ll be spending a lot of time in that studio, using top-of-the-notch camera equipment that is available and free of charge for us to use as well.

We graphic design and photography students are enormously blessed by these freedoms and privileges. I can’t imagine what it would be like to “live” in any department outside of my creative corner!

Come see it sometime!