Springfest!!

This past Saturday was Springfest on campus, and it was amazing! Springfest is a day every spring when SMAC (the Student Media and Activities Committee) sponsors a huge fun day. There's a mechanical bull, an inflatable obstacle course, there was a drive in movie, and bands playing all day. Quiet Drive was here, which is really cool because they're a pretty big name. They even did the soundtrack for the movie John Tucker Must Die. Anyway, it was a great weekend.

Yesterday was the last day of classes for the semester! Woohoo! That leaves me with only 2 more finals to get through and then I'm home free! I'll have a couple days to relax and wind down before heading to Jamaica for two weeks on my Maymester program!! How exciting!!

As for right now, I have some major studying to do!!

~Jess

This post is an assignment for a class....

Interpersonal Communication Critique:

After looking at a couple blogs regarding Interpersonal Communication, it seems that most are just types of journals. They are posted by individuals who are recording their interactions with a certain individual. At first, that sort of turned me off just because it seemed so personalized that it would be harder for anyone who doesn’t know the people to gain anything from it. However, after I thought about it, I realized that learning from examples is very integral to the Interpersonal Communication field. Studying a textbook is not a great way to learn about communicating interpersonally! That being said, I think being able to read people’s experiences and blogs about their own interpersonal relationships can help me learn skills to deal with my own. And even if their interactions don’t apply directly to a relationship I’m in right now, perhaps they will come in later down the line as I interact with new people and I will then have the experience of reading the blogs to draw from.

Picnics, Ice Cream, and Mill Ponds...

The mill pond way back when!

...this is what every day at college should be like. Lucky for me, it was what yesterday was like for me! The commons meal was served outside in front of the Student Union yesterday- picnic style! We're talking burgers, brats, fruit salad... the whole nine yards :) It was amazing! After dinner there was also a live band playing on the Union steps in celebration of Earth Week. Next I headed downtown with two of my best ladies, Theresa and Lindsey. We walked to A&W to pick up some ice cream treats and then headed down to the beautiful little mill pond in Ripon. We even got to dangle our toes in the water- and the water was dramatically warmer than I expected! It was a marvelous night, topped off with a little homework and an early bed time :) Ahh- I love college :)

~Jess

Midwest Horse Fair!

This weekend I got to go to the Midwest Horse Fair in Madison, WI to represent the Ripon College Equestrian Club at one of the three best horse fairs in the nation! It was so exciting! Mary Avery, Gail (the Vice-president of the club), and I gave a clinic called "Horse 101" which covered the basics of horse ownership to help expose people who came to the fair who didn't know a lot about horses to the essentials. It was an amazing trip but I'm glad to be back in Ripon and away from all that traffic!!

~Jess

64 Degrees and Sunny, baby!

I don't think there could be a more beautiful day! The sun is shining and it is simply gorgeous outside!

This morning I had class, led a Continuing Education class at the CLC, had a fabulous picnic lunch, and am now at work. This afternoon I plan on taking a nice long walk, grabbing some dinner and then hitting the books for a couple hours. Not a bad day if you ask me! :)

~Jess

Finding Some Time to Horse Around

This past weekend I got to go riding :) Mary Avery, a business professor, took me and three of my friends out to the stable to ride and it was amazing! We got to ride for hours on trails and hills and over pastures- ah! This is the life!

As far as today, I've already had a very exciting morning! I had an interview with a representative from Edward Jones Financial this morning for a summer internship. Then I had a really fun Computer Mediated Communication class. Today our professor introduced us to an online world called "Second Life." It was really fascinating! Anyone can create a free account and can participate in a virtual environment through their own personalized avatar. Pretty wild, I know, but it was fascinating!

Then I attended a lunch where everyone from the college who went on an Alternative Spring Break trip got together to share their stories, experiences, and pictures. This past year we had groups going to Colorado, Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, and Panama! Talk about good opportunities!

This afternoon I'm working at the CLC for an hour, eating dinner with my friends, and then getting some homework done before my SIFE meeting at 9. I think I might be able to fit in some relaxation time too....I'm good at that ;)

~Jess

Panama, Check! Jamaica, Here I Come!

Yesterday our Jamaica Maymester group met and discussed the final details of our trip. It's coming up so quickly! Before I know it this year is going to be over and I'm gonna be a junior!! Time sure does fly!

I have plenty to get me busy before the end of the year, though! I'm taking over as the Mentor Coordinator/Center Manager of the Collaborative Learning Center (the CLC) next year, so I'm currently planning initiatives. It's an exciting new opportunity and I am looking forward to next year!

I also found out the my living group was granted our request to live in Tri-dorms next year which I'm stoked about! The rooms and closets in tri dorms are huge :) Plus, you can't beat the location!!

~Jess

A weekend at lake Wee-ma-tuk

As you can see from the picture, my weekend was pretty interesting! Three of my friends and I went down to Kent's lake house to help move furniture. His family just renovated it, so now it's all done and we went down to help move some select furniture back in- needless to say, many of the items in this picture didn't make the cut ;)

It was really fun, though! His house is on a little peninsula, so the views are gorgeous! We got to balance our work time with play time, so it worked out to be a perfect little vacation from homework!

Accepted Student Days was also this past Friday and Monday and I had a great time meeting all sorts of new people (and enjoying the food) mmm!! I can't wait until next fall to meet the new class!

~Jess

We're going to Nationals!!

Our SIFE team qualified for nationals at our competition yesterday! :) We competed in Minneapolis and it was a great time! Nationals are in Chicago May 13-15, only two days before I fly out to Jamaica! I can't wait!

But first things first. I have to finish scheduling my classes for next fall! Christy and I have a prospective student staying with us tonight- here name is Tara and I'm really excited to meet her! I also have my first IM volleyball game tonight. Wish me luck!!

~Jess

"Elk Sleeps with Own Wife By Mistake"

Yesterday author Ted Pelton visited campus. The title of my post is the title of one of his most recent short fictions, and was one of the pieces Ted presented at his reading in Caestecker Gallery (the campus art gallery) last night. His pieces range from political satire to stories about Woodchucks, and everything in between. All of them are infused with Ted's humor and wit and are refreshingly different and original! Ted used to teach at Ripon College in the 1980's, so it was fun for him to be back on campus and fun for us to get to interact with such a respected author and publisher.

Other than that, I've just been enjoying the beautiful spring weather! It's been so nice outside! Yesterday Kent and I went on a little nature hike/photoshoot and it was gorgeous! Hooray for Spring :)

~Jess

I'm back and my trip was AMAZING!!

My trip to Panama was beyond words! The people were so friendly, the countryside was gorgeous, and it felt so good to know we were helping people! We worked building a house for the nuns of Father Wally's mission, stacking rocks to strengthen culverts for the rainy season, met with the people of the village, and even got a chance to go deep into the heart of the jungle! The place we went to has been seen by less than 50 in the entire world and is completely untouched by humans. The water in the stream up there is pure enough to drink right out of the riverbed [trust me, I did it :) ]. I have some gorgeous pictures of the terrain up there, but I haven't uploaded them to my computer yet. I'd better get on that!

We also spent some time in Panama City on the last two days of our trip. We got a tour of the canal and some of the gorgeous antique architecture of the city. I can't say it enough- this trip was unbelievable!

~Jess

I leave for Panama in less than two days!!!!

Author Stephen Powers-

I CAN'T WAIT!!! I'm so excited!!

I just finished up a ten page paper for my Interpersonal Communication final, and I'm beginning a five pager about Shakespearian Literature. Fun. It's all good though! This week wouldn't really even be that bad if I weren't leaving two days early. All least I'm over the hump now and I can almost feel the tropical sun beating down on me! Oo la la!!

The group I'm going to Panama with is from the college, but we're going to help in a mission that I priest from Ripon set up. His name is Father Wally, and he's been working down in Waucoco for years now. His website is http://www.frwally.com/ if you want to check it out! It just goes to show how close the college and community are in Ripon and also how giving the citizens are! I love Ripon!

Yesterday I had a special guest in my Creative Writing Workshop class. It was an author named Stephen Powers who writes poems about Dolly Parton. Pretty bizare, huh? But he was hilarious! He is originally from Wisconsin and just moved down to Georgia last year to teach Creative Writing at Gordon College. His poems are about his family trips to Dollywood he used to take with his family and they're really good! They remind me of my own family road trips. :) He also used to work as a stand-up comedian, so he'd interject some bits into his presentation to us and he was just hilarious! What an exciting week this has been!

~Jess

Wow, two posts in one day...

I almost forgot! Last night I went to see the spring play, Arcadia, and all the actors did an amazing job!! The sets were gorgeous, AND they even lit stuff on fire on stage. Pretty cool, I know :)

The play is performed all the way through Saturday, so anyone who's interested should come see! The tickets are free, and the show starts at 7:30!

Okay, I think I'm really done blogging for the day...

~Jess

One week until Panama!!!

It's offically only one week until I head to Panama!! I can't wait!! Unfortunately, I have a mid-term and two papers standing between me and my trip, but I can handle that. I also have the chore of packing :( but I KNOW that everything will be worth it once I get to Panama! I am just so excited! I've been trying not to think about it, but I can't help myself anymore! Ahhh :)

Sorry, back to life this week...

Tonight I'm eating dinner with one of my professors and a couple people from the library and a poet! He's speaking to our creative writing class on Monday, but it will be fun to get to meet him early!! He is obessesed with Dolly Parton, so all of his poems have at least something to do with her and they're amazing! His name is Justin Cronin if you want to check him out!!

~Jess

Ouch!!

Today I got my vaccinations for when I go to Panama....which means four shots in one day. My arms don't feel too bad right now, but I bet I'll have a tough time moving them tomorrow!! It's all good though, I'd rather have sore arms than malaria or thyphoid!!

Life is busy, busy, busy around campus! I'm currently working with the SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) organization on writing the script for our regional competition in March. I've been getting to see all the projects the SIFE students have put together and they're just amazing! One girl translated the city calendar of Ripon into Spanish so the Hispanic community could understand the notices, and that's just one of many!

On a less academic note, my roommate Christy and I, along with some friends, had a good ol' fashioned sleepover party on Saturday night AND built a fort in our room with blankets and stuff. It was pretty amazing if I do say so myself!! We also rearranged some of the furniture in our room on Sunday afternoon just to spice things up and it looks great!! Life is good :)

~Jess

Two Weeks and Counting!!

It's only two weeks until I leave for Panama! Wow, I can't believe it! This year is flying by! Today the Seniors got fitted for their caps and gowns. Unreal- before you know it they'll be graduating!!

Last night there was yet another comedian on campus. He performed at the Terrace, and it was a great show...and always great with a snack (the Terrace has amazing subs and pizza). Today is my good friend Lauren's birthday, so that's exciting, and I've been in party-planning mode for a couple days now. It's so hard for me to be tricky, but so far I haven't given up any secrets, so that's good :)

That's all for today!

~Jess

Feliz dia de san valentin!

Happy Valentine's Day!! It's a freakin' blizzard outside right now- but at least it's a gorgeous blizzard! :) I feel like I'm in a snow globe!

I have some exciting news on the horizon- I'm applying for an internship in Australia this summer!! How cool is that??? I was looking at doing my study abroad program in Australia, so who knows, maybe I'll end up back again next year! What I DO know is that I'm going to Panama in March for a service trip, I'm going to Jamaica on a Maymester program in May, and I'm going to Australia in June! And all thanks to opportunities at Ripon College! Life is goodm man....or should I say mate! :)

~Jess

Horsey time :)

Tonight I'm going out to the stable to ride with Professor Avery and I'm so excited! I've been so busy that I haven't been able to go out there lately and I miss just being around animals!! It's snowing, but it's the kind of big flakes that are fun to catch on your tongue, and it's really still quite warm. Perfect horseback riding weather if you ask me!!

Other than that, school is in full swing. I have a midterm in my Communication class on Thursday, so I'll be studying for that, and I give my first speech in Public Speaking on Friday. ANNDD add Valentine's Day to the mix and it's going to be one crazy week!! Crazy good, though. And that's all the matters to me :)

~Jess

Another fun weekend!! :)

This past weekend was really fun! Everything from birthday celebrations to Superbowl parties kept me busy, busy, busy, but it was awesome!! On Friday it was my one-year anniversary with my boyfriend, Kent, so we went out to dinner at a restaurant called Gooseblind in Green Lake. It was amazing! They have everything from fish, to wraps, to pasta, and everything is delicious!! I had the pasta carbonara and even the leftovers were yummy!!

On Saturday morning my mom came to visit and took me out to brunch. There was also an Ethical Leadership Program event on campus that I wish I could've made it to... but I couldn't turn down seeing my mom!! Saturday night I went out wish my girlfriends and we hung out at one of the fraternity houses, it was our friend Mike's birthday so we had to stop by and wish him well :)

Then Sunday was church, an awesome brunch in the commons, and a nap before heading to a Superbowl party. If there's one thing I love more than the Superbowl commercials, it's the snacks at Superbowl parties. SOOOO much food, but I'm not complaining!

Yesterday we had a guest lector in my creative writing class, a writer/professor from the Fond du lac area (her name is Paula Sergi and she taught a class here last semester which I was in). Anyway, she's always a hoot and it was great seeing her again! Yesterday was also an informational meeting on the Londen/Florence semester abroad programs- just one of the endless possibilities for off-campus study Ripon offers. Oh, and did I mention that your financial aid follows you abroad for a semester? So you get to go to college anywhere in the world for near the price you would to stay right here. It's a great opportunity and I can't wait to take advantage of it!!

Today at lunch one of the local businessmen involved with the renovations happening to our downtown came to talk to the students in the Pub. Then anyone who wanted to could fill out a twelve question questionare and get free Roadhouse pizza just for doing it! For those of you who don't know, Roadhouse pizza is probably the BEST pizza ever- and they donated the pizzas for free. This is a really exciting time at Ripon College because students involved in the SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) organization are given the opportunity to work hand in hand with the entrepenuers who are making the renovations to downtown. If you want to check out what's going on, just check out this link: http://media.www.riponcollegedays.com/media/storage/paper944/news/2008/01/23/News/Sife-Brings.Downtown.Developers.To.Campus.To.Hear.Student.Views-3161806.shtml

Well, that's all for me for now! Take care and stay warm!!

~Jess

Brrrr.....!!!!

It's soooo cold!!! Brr!! Good thing the dorms are nice and warm and good thing the Terrace (one of the food options on campus- the one with subs and pizza) delivers! I've been doing homework, curling up on the couch for a movie and taking it easy- it turns out this cold weather isn't all bad :)

Tonight a bunch of friends and I are making dinner. So far on the menu is pasta, red sauce, salad, and I'm making the desert- I'm thinking chocolate covered strawberries!! Mmmm! I can't wait!

~Jess

Baby, It's Cold Outside

I probably don't have to tekk you how freaking cold it's been recently. It makes me so thankful that Ripon is a condensed campus! I can't even imagine walking 20 or 30 minutes between classes! I think I might lose a limb to frostbite doing that!

Anyway, I just got done talking to one of my professors about study abroad programs and I'm just so excited!! There are so many amazing options, the only hard is deciding which program to choose!!

Classes are in full swing and I am really enjoying my Communication classes! We're study Interpersonal Communication and it's fascinating how much the smallest phrases or gestures can mean.

Today is my friend Mike's birthday, so my friend Lauren and I are making him a cake and filling his room with balloons! It's going to require some severe stealth, but we'll get it done!! :) I better get started blowing up all those balloons....

~Jess

I'm baaaaccckkkk!!!!

It's back to the grind and I'm so glad to be back!! Life is back in full swing and I love it!! I have all new classes and I absolutely LOVE them!! I have 2 communication classes, 2 English classes and an internship counting for credit for my Religion major. There's so much to tell! Ahh...I'll continue in another post. I have to get to the CLC to mentor!!

~Jess