Hope for the world

     I know I've been a slacker on the Oxford updates, and I apologize. But stuff gets crazy here! There's no time to breathe!! The way I look at it, the less time I'm spending blogging for my loyal followers is more time I'm spending here enjoying myself. So it's a good thing! :)
     Four more days, and I'll be headed back to the states. Excited to see my family, but sad this journey is over. It's been an amazing one for sure.
     I promise to update everyone on my last few weeks once I'm home and things have settled down. But for now, I just wanted to put this URL up ... my dad sent me this link to a story because I'm a "I want to save starving children in Africa" freak, and I enjoy uplifting stories like this. So I thought I'd pass it along to those of you looking for a reminder of the goodness in this world. I hope I can one day make an impact in the developing country like these non-profit organizations are. If it's meant to be, it will be. Enjoy!
    

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/innovation/08/14/solar.light.bulbs/index.html?iref=obnetwork

The Oxford Adventure - Week Two

Trafalgar Square, right in front of the entrance
 to Buckingham Palace

     Another week has come and gone. I can't believe that I've been here for two weeks! Before I know it, I'm going to be boarding a plane back to America. Don't get me wrong, I like America, but I'm loving England!!! I could see myself living here after college ... not sure if I would, but I think I'd get on just fine. :)

The Oxford Adventure - Week One

     Hey there, loyal followers! It's been a while! I apologize for not being better about getting on here and putting up some life updates, but life has been busy. I've been in England for a week and a day now, and it's been amazing!! The schoolwork is beginning to build up and take control of my nerves, but I've got to remember to breathe. But besides the work, things have been amazing! I'm going to try to do my best to give a weekly recap of what my adventures have consisted of, but I'm not making any promises. Anything that seems blog worthy will appear eventually. I promise. :) But here's a play-by-play of Week One!

SBU-TV Sports falls short

St. Bonaventure University’s TV crew gets nominated for a College Sports Media Award but loses out to neighboring school
By Maddie Gionet - features editor

     ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. (June 20) – Unlike Michael Davenport’s buzzer-beating shot, SBU-TV Sports’ clip of the February 5 game could not beat Rochester Institute of Technology’s at the College Sports Media Award ceremony on June 7.

Newsflash!

     Just a quick head's up for all you loyal followers out there, I've started another blog! Woohoo! :) I realized it might be a good idea to have a professional blog so future employers don't have to weed through my usual rants and raves to find my real work I've done for school or The Intrepid. And so ...
     I made a new blog!  Words Mean Something Good name, huh? :) There's an explanation for the name in my first post on the blog, so go there and read it if you have questions.
     Well, that's about all I wanted to say. Come follow me!

Fireflies and Bubbles



      Life is made up of fireflies and bubbles. Or more commonly known as memories and moments. It's upsetting to think time flies by, but it's also exciting to think of all the opportunities you're presented with in a lifetime. It all comes down to how much time you want to spend catching fireflies and chasing bubbles.
    Memories are like fireflies. They're hard to catch, but one you've got them, you'll never forget them. Just like a firefly unexpectedly lights up the dark, summer sky, a memory lights up a dark place in your life. The firefly might not stay, but the memory will.

SBU-TV Sports nominated for award

By Maddie Gionet, features editor
     ST. BONAVENTURE (June 2) - With 1.6 seconds left on the clock, Michael Davenport shoots and sinks a 3-pointer for the Bonnies.
     After a failed Hail Mary, the crowd stormed the court since St. Bonaventure just defeated the then undefeated-in-the-Atlantic-10-Conference Duquesne, 64-62, on February 5.
     While the students ran amuck, SBU-TV Sports and its crew calmly continued on its broadcast, which included various shots of the court storming and an on-court interview with head coach Mark Schmidt.

The Burning House

     Here I go again with the weird stuff ... just bear with me. I was fiddling around Sunday night on the world-wide Web, and I remembered that Sunday is PostSecret day. So being the weirdo who likes to read secrets of strangers, I went to the website and read some pretty intriguing secrets..
     I don't know what it is about that website ... I really like it! I always think about what my secret would be and I can't come up with anything good. I understand that I don't have to have some deep, dark, depressing secret that's burdening my life to send something in to PostSecret. I think what pulls me towards the site is that little hope that I'll come across a postcard with something written on it that directly connects to my life.
 Not like someone writing, "Maddie Gionet, will you marry me?" More like someone writing about a tough time they're going through that I'm also dealing with in my life. It's the feeling of knowing someone is either going through the same thing I'm struggling with or did struggle with and they got through it. Reassurance ... it's a good feeling.

Remember Me

     Sanctus Real said it best:

"Oh, I want to leave a legacy to be remembered,

More than just a memory that fades away,

Because we only, we only get one life."

~ Legacy



     Sure, a little morbid ... don't worry, I'm not thinking of doing anything drastic. But do you ever wonder what type of legacy you're going to leave behind?

     Today marks the second anniversary of one of my best friend's (Alicia) mother's (Tricia) death. I don't really want to go into details, but this day marks an important day in my life.

     I had never really witnessed death before this, and never death at such a young age. Sure, I've been to multiple funerals for great aunts and uncles but I didn't really know them so there was no connection. There was a connection with Tricia, though. This was the first time I truly questioned life and what we're here to do. This day comes with sadness, but also inspiration. May 19 always reminds me to live life to the fullest and have no regrets ... leave a legacy you'll be proud of.

Students balance busy social life and academic life in different ways

     ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. (May 10) – Monday, 8 a.m. Abhi Aggarwal wakes up and immediately turns on his iPad – but not to check Facebook or Twitter. Aggarwal’s finger taps the calendar application and a sea of appointments washes over the screen.

     “I have a daily schedule,” said Aggarwal, a junior bioinformatics major. “It really helps to have all my appointments in front of me at every second of the day. I even have to schedule getting a haircut.”

     Friday, 8:30 a.m. Aja Wzientek has worked out for an hour and now heads to class. Afterward, she’ll go to intramural volleyball practice and then complete her 32-hour work week at Tops.  Beginning and finishing her homework are two thoughts that haven’t even crossed her mind yet.

     “Sometimes I feel like I don’t have enough time in the day to do everything that needs to get done,” said Wzientek, a junior physical education major. “But I’m totally self sufficient. I pay for my car, my housing, everything. It’s nice to provide for myself, but I’m definitely busy all day, every day.”

     Aggarwal and Wzientek are part of a proportioned population of St. Bonaventure University students who demonstrate the difficulty of getting the most out of their college experience while maintaining a stellar grade point average.

     Professors and students interviewed all had different advice on how to balance extracurricular activities and schoolwork.

     “Time management is everything in college,” said Aggarwal. “To-do lists and schedules make you create goals. Whether your goal is simple or complex – it gives you direction.”

     Aggarwal said attending class and maintaining a schedule hold the same importance in his life.

     “I don’t have time to study outside of class, so the only time I get to learn something is when it’s being introduced in class,” said Aggarwal. “Even if you do have time to study outside of class, you should still go to every class. It makes studying much easier down the road.”

     Aggarwal averages 20 to 21 credits per semester and maintains a 3.8 grade point average. He said he tries not to crisscross class and meetings. Holding leadership positions in three different groups makes that difficult.

     As president of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), treasurer of Campus Activities Board (CAB) and president of the service fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega (APO), Aggarwal said he dedicates a total of at least 16 hours a week to all three clubs.

     “I spend two hours every day, including weekends, developing business models for SIFE,” said Aggarwal. “I spend about one to two hours per week coordinating activities and planning social events for APO and another one to two hours per week managing CAB’s budget.”

     Aggarwal said his drive comes from the goals he has set.

     “I always try to incorporate my future into what I do,” said Aggarwal. “I ask myself, ‘How will this help me in the future?’ I want to take advantage of everything.”

     Wzientek’s reason for being so busy differed.

     “My parents don’t have much,” said Wzientek, pronounced ZIN-TEK. “I have to work for everything I want, but it drives me to ensure that my life will be better and easier than theirs.”

     Wzientek said she accomplishes this goal by getting the most out of her education and working close to a full-time job.

     “I’m taking 18 credits at SBU and three online at JCC,” said Wzientek, who maintains a 3.8 GPA. “It’s more adaptable for me, but it definitely takes up all my time.”

     Wzientek said using her planner helps her schedule her packed days.

     “I play volleyball, work 32 hours a week at Tops, ref youth sports at the YMCA weekly, tutor and take notes for the Teaching and Learning Center and I’m the secretary of the education honors society, Kappa Delta Phi,” said Wzientek.

     Her secret to surviving one week, let alone a semester?

     “Me time,” said Wzientek.

     “I work until 9:30 on Friday nights, and then I’m done with work for the weekend,” said Wzientek. “I love dancing. It’s really cathartic.”

     The summer benefits of Wzientek’s efforts during the academic year also push her to stay busy.

     “I’ve been to Europe three times in the past two years,” said Wzientek. “I work hard during the school year, save my money and get to travel to places like Switzerland, Spain, Italy and France. All the hard work really pays off when I get to have experiences like these.”

     Chuck Walker, professor of psychology, said students need self control to balance all facets of college life.

     “Studies have shown that higher levels of self control lead to better academic performance and more participation in university life,” said Walker.

     Other Bona students carry heavy course loads and make time for campus involvement like Aggarwal and Wzientek. They said time management is crucial.

     “Staying active, volunteering and filling my day with lots of activities actually help me not get stressed,” said Sam Margulies, a junior biology major.           

Margulies, who has a 3.96 GPA, said she takes as many credits as possible each semester and has not gotten below an A minus.  But it wasn’t all easy in the beginning.

     “My dad’s father died during his first semester of college,” said Margulies. “It made it really hard on my dad, and he didn’t do too well that first year. I wanted to work hard to make my dad proud, so my studies were everything during freshman year. I soon realized I wasn’t enjoying college.”

     Since then, Margulies said she has made the best of her time at St. Bonaventure, incorporating her interests into her extracurricular activities.

     “I’m in charge of the healthcare division of SIFE, I take ballroom dance classes, I tutor, I’m a member of BonaResponds and Bona Buddies, I have a radio show at the Buzz and I’m a student ambassador,” said Margulies.

     BonaResponds and Bona Buddies are two service-oriented groups on campus, said Margulies.

     Structure in Margulies’ day reduces stress, she said.

     Faculty differed in their opinions on how students can be successful in every aspect of college life.

     Mike Threehouse, head coach of the St. Bonaventure softball team, said he holds his players to individual standards.

     “I recruit all of my players in high school and get a good look at their high school grades,” said Threehouse, whose team had a mean 3.48 GPA for the fall semester. “I hold them to those high school standards and then look for them to do a bit better.”

     Threehouse said he reminds his players that getting an education comes before playing softball.

     “They all know that I’ll bench them or take them off the team if they don’t do well academically or aren’t honest with me about their schoolwork,” said Threehouse.

     Walker said each student needs to start slowly and work up to balancing more than one task.

     “It’s sort of like muscle memory,” said Walker. “You need to focus on one task, and once you gain self control in that task, you can begin to transfer the control to other tasks in life.”

     Threehouse agreed.

     “It’s all about self determination,” said Threehouse. “Not many people will tell you to go for it. You have to do it yourself. Down the road, in your future, you’ll be happy you pushed yourself.”

JMC 202 Story

Students learn about the Franciscan values outside of the classroom

     ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. (April 27) – Someone takes a few extra seconds to hold open the door for you. Drop a notebook? Before you can pick it up, someone has already done it for you. You’re walking to class and someone smiles at you. Some call these actions selfless acts of kindness. St. Bonaventure University students call them Franciscan values.

     “These values are innate in us,” said Alex Henry. “We don’t even realize we’re using them in everyday life.” 

Jump

     As my sophomore year comes to a close, I'd like to reflect a bit. I promise, I won't be too wordy. :) One word can sum up this year - risky.
     Risky. Dictionary. com defines risky as, "hazardous." Not the best definition I've seen before, but it'll do. If I could define risky after this year, and definitely after this semester, I would say it means jumping without knowing where you might land, taking a chance on someone else and trusting that everything will work out the way it's supposed to.

Students, professors agree writing well prepares students for the professional world

     ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. (March 28) – You didn’t get the promotion. You work for an employer instead of being the employer. You are not credible. You can’t write well.
     “Writing is one of the few products we have to offer the real world,” said Daniel Ellis, an English professor at St. Bonaventure University.

     Students and professors said writing well prepares students not only for college, but also for their job through good communication skills.

What happens in a classroom stays in ... cyberspace?

What Happens In A Classroom Stays In … Cyberspace?

A student takes a comical professor’s quotes and shares it with the world on Tumblr.com

By Maddie Gionet, staff writer

                ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. (March 22) – You’re falling asleep in yet another boring class. As your eyes begin to close, you hear your professor say, “I don’t get my news from a cell phone. In fact, I left mine at home today and tried to make a call with my car keys.” What would you do?

If you were Joey Mullin, you would post this quote to your blog.

Check it out!

     A little blurb I did to welcome two new members to the Embrace it Africa team.
http://www.embraceitafrica.org/embrace_it_Africa/Lindsays_Blog/Entries/2011/4/3_Welcome_to_Our_Newest_Embrace_it_Africa_Team_Members__Tony_and_Kristen!.html

     Interested in learning more about Embrace it Africa? Here you go!
http://www.embraceitafrica.org/embrace_it_Africa/Home.html

Christmas in March

Fenway Park, NYY vs. Boston, 2008

     A Yankees fan, a Red Sox fan and a Mets fan are climbing a mountain and arguing about who loves his/her team more.

     The argument goes on for some time, each fan insisting that he/she is the most loyal fan and the most devoted to his/her team.

     The Mets' fan insists he/she is the most loyal.

     "This is for the Mets!" he/she yells and jumps off the side of the mountain.

     The Yankees fan yells, "This is for the Yankees!" and pushes the Red Sox fan off the mountain.

     Happy Opening Day...it's going to be a great season.

Students say schoolwork increases stress levels

     ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. (Feb. 25) – An alarm clock rings in Máire Reynolds’ dorm room. She rolls out of bed and shuffles to her desk. Her first task—set up her daily schedule.
     “I strictly manage my time,” said Reynolds, a sophomore management major with a 3.7 grade point average. “I make a checklist to see what I need to do and check things off when tasks are finished.”

Happy Spring!

     Happy Spring! It actually turned out to be a gorgeous day! I woke up to the sun shining through my window, birds chirping and not a sign of snow anywhere.What a good way to start!
     So here's to a new season! A new beginning in every sense of the word! A new beginning for me, for my friends, for nature, for everything.

My heart is in...



Alaska. Denali National Park to be exact.

     I'm sitting here in my warm, well-lit dorm room, looking outside to see the flurries of snow whipping around so fast you can't tell if it's really snowing or if the wind is just moving the snow all over the place. As nice as it is inside compared to outside at the moment, I'd rather be somewhere else. Does that ever happen to you? You think of a memory, or read something, or hear something or see something that reminds you of somewhere else? That's me tonight. I'm here, in St. Bonaventure, N.Y., but my heart is in Alaska.

Students, professors differ in amount of technology usage

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. (Jan. 31) – Ryan McDonald sits in Café La Verna, a coffeehouse on St. Bonaventure University’s campus, typing a text message. Thumbs a blur, they suddenly stop. Message sent.

     “Funny, isn’t it?” said McDonald, a junior management major. “I’m about to be interviewed about technology and I can’t put my phone down for two seconds!”

The Truth about Valentine's Day...and other holidays

     For some, it's Valentine's Day. For others, including your fearless leader (me), it's Single Awareness Day. As much as I don't want to have a bash session on everyone who is happily in a relationship on this day, it seems so easy to do so. I'm going to try not to though, I promise.

Screamin' Green

     I colored last night. Real coloring. In a real coloring book...The Princess and the Frog coloring book to be exact. As childish as it might seem, I really enjoyed it! It was not only relaxing, but it was fun to just sit down at my desk and use it for something other than schoolwork. I forgot how much fun being a kid was.

Lack of Inspiration

     Do you remember when you were a kid and Saturday morning was the best morning ever? You'd wake up early and park your little hiney in front of the TV to spend a pleasurable morning with a bowl of sugary cereal (minus the milk) and your favorite cartoon characters. Those were the days.

In the beginning...

     In the beginning there was light...well, maybe not for me. How about, "In the beginning there was new life." That's what this is -  a new life, a do-over, a restart...I think you get the idea.
     I've finally decided to start living for me and making myself happy instead of trying to please everyone else. It's not going to be an easy journey, but it's going to be a good journey. :)
     So this will be a place for me to chart out my new adventures and just write. Sometimes it'll be stories I have to write for my journalism class, other times it'll just be me writing about life's ups and downs. One way or another, I'm in for an extraordinary journey and I can't wait to see what it brings!