May Term
Hello lovelies!

Here on campus, May term is in full swing, and ironically, just as people have gotten the hang of their classes, May term is ending. As of today, I have four more classes and then I am done! I am extremely close to completing my first year of college!

We have planned a lot of fun (and educational) events for GC next year-and by we, I mean the BSU (black student union) cabinet.

Next year at GC should be as amazing for all the first year students as my first year has been for me. I ask that you do a few things though:

1. Come prepared to work. College is NOT like high school.

2. Keep an open mind. Be willing to accept all people and don't make assumptions about who you will and won't like. College is a time when people are finding themselves, and that process sometimes makes people pretty strange.

3. Earn your grades, but also be social. The grades you make are (of course) of extreme importance, but so are the friendships you make while in college. These are people that you will stay in touch with for the rest of your life.

So, you guys probably won't hear from me before the end of May Term, but you will hear from me over the summer since I'm doing Maple Scholars and I'll definitely be here. If you're on campus for registration, talk to admissions if you want to meet and hang out, they'll know where to find me.

Until next time, relax, and get ready for the Joy of the Journey!
Posted at 14:21 #

A season of change
As I stated in my previous blog, there are numerous things that you guys have missed here at GC. One event was the very exciting trip my friends and I took to see Barack Obama when he was in South Bend.

While I'm not officially endorsing him because I think either he or Hillary will make fine president's, Barack does raise an interesting point about change. It is time for change

. It's evident everywhere. In nature, we have the emergence of very lush green grass and more flowers and budding trees than I can remember from my numerous visits to GC before I was a student.

On campus, there have been some very open and sometimes painful discussions about the state of the world, and yes, even the state of GC.

In my family, my sister gave birth to a 9 pound and ten ounce baby-the newest addition to our family. Things are changing.

There is also a change in the atmosphere on campus. Gone are the days of private seemingly passive faith and world views. We have become so unashamedly bold that GC was chosen by CNN for a special on first time voters-how faith and politics work together. I was one of seven students chosen, and I am proud to say that it is about much more than politics. The discussion on CNN has made me think about what I'm doing, why I'm doing and how I can do it better. And I am struggling to answer those questions. Fortunately, this is college, and thus, is the perfect time for me to struggle and learn, to change and to grow.

Other things you missed: SST send off. For those of you who aren't familiar with Goshen's Study Service Term (SST for short), it is our student study abroad plan. I am scheduled to go to Peru next fall, and am extremely excited...and nervous. My best friend here at Goshen left for Nicaragua yesterday, and I was a mess. I didn't cry in front of him, as it would have only made it harder for him to leave, but I thought about it for the rest of the day. A little over 24 hours later, and Goshen already feels really different without him.

Also changing is my major, unless I've already made you guys aware of this. I was pre-med when I got here, but I am following my passion (because GC truly is a place where you can and you are even encouraged to do that), and I am an English and Secondary Education major.

This May term, my classes are a intensive one week poetry workshop, taught by guest poet Maria Melendez, and Inclusive Schooling taught by (the incredible and very lively) Kevin Gary. We began our placement in schools today, and I was assigned to Pierre Moran Middle School. I am pleased to say that after one day, I am enthralled and loving the atmosphere of PMMS. I am planning on keeping you guys updated, and even adding some pictures, as soon as some kind soul returns my camera cord.

Love and Peace

Jenn
Posted at 21:22 #

Lots of things to say
Hello all!

It has been quite some time since I've blogged, and a lot has been happening. I am now at the end of my first year of college! Yay!

Finals are over and May Term is beginning. Things are looking up. To the 7 of my readers that I actually know and have kept in touch with via facebook, email and text, a lot of this will be old news.

I am truly sorry that I haven't blogged in a while, and I promise to NEVER wait this long again! I remember when I was a prospective student and I was reading people's blogs, and I remember how frustrated I was when people didn't update their blogs...and now it's me! But it won't be anymore!

My computer crashed about a month ago, but my new one will be here tomorrow, so you'll get all the pictures that were on my old hard drive. So, I will write again, with a real update tomorrow (or Wednesday at the latest, depending on what time printing and mailing closes)
Posted at 23:05 #

A little backstory

Hello potential GC students,

I neglected to tell you guys about a few things due to the hustle and bustle of midterms. We had kickoff a little while ago, and for those of you who don't know it's Goshen College's AMAZING talent show! I am attaching pictures to this blog.

Another thing I forgot to tell you guys about was the night we spent hanging out until about 7 a.m. Pictures are attached from that also.

I'd love to chat, but I have homework. Bye guys!

OMGOSH!!!!

Okay, so my blog tonight is going to be a little unorthodox because I am super excited. I am in Indianapolis right now helping recruit students at the Black Expo's college fair. We went out to P.F. Chang's, which is completely amazing by the way...and we met Terry Robiskie (former NFL Oakland Raiders player, CLEVELAND BROWNS wide receivers coach)...and I got to wear the super bowl ring!!!!!

Because he worked in Cleveland for so long, he gave me a hat from the Oakland Raiders!!! It was amazing!! I am so excited!

My spring Break is going to be amazing! Here in Indianapolis with me are my roommate, Brett, my friends Messay and Saron, and Ms. Odelet Nance from the Multicultural Affairs Office...and of course, the top three hundred college football players from across the nation!!!!

I will keep you guys posted, especially about recruitment tomorrow. I will post pictures as soon as I get to campus tomorrow!!!!

Until tomorrow!!!

Winter Wonderland!
It's been a long time since I've last blogged. There has been a lot going on campus lately, and I haven't been able to find my camera cord. I am currently thinking about my SST, which is scheduled for fall of 2008, but will have to be changed. If you haven't been to the SST page, you should really go and look at the pictures and the blogs. Everyone I've talked to says SST is a life changing experience. And from what I've seen, the countries and cities that people are in are absolutely stunning.

I've made some new friends this semester also, most important to me right now are my friendships with international students. I learn a lot about current events and world affairs and other cultures just from normal conversation with them and from asking them questions.

Goshen has been transformed to a winter wonderland. It isn't very cold outside now, but it was a few days ago, and in return for our frostbite, we have received lots of gorgeous snow. I'm not a big snow person, seeing as I grew up with it, but watching my friends who are from other areas frolic in the snow like I did when I was a young child seems to awaken something in me.

It almost makes me like the snow.

Anyway, there will be another MASSIVE snow ball fight/snow angel making/snowman making party soon, so I'l l keep you posted, and I'll upload the pictures as soon as I distinguish my camera cord from all the other computer cords in my drawer...

Until next week,

Jennifer
Posted at 17:25 #

Christmas Break

So A lot has gone on since the last time I've posted a blog. Before break, there were finals of course, and also, a huge group of us decided to go on a trip to see Wicked in Chicago, about which I will post a second blog.

Christmas Break was nice though. We had a month off of school and I went home. It was fairly uneventful, but still fun. I went back to work over break, so I spent three out of my four weeks back at home working with some very adorable, but very active three-year-olds.

I also spent a lot of time hanging out with my friends from back home and my family. It was great to go back home and see everyone, especially since I'm not planning to go back home until May. Break was good, but it really feels good to be back. As much as I love my family and being home and not having to work on papers and study until three a.m., GC is a second home and it felt a little strange to be away from the people I've grown so close to over the last few months. Fortunately, I'm back now and classes are back in full swing and I'm ready. I feel like after my first semester in college I know what the professor's want and I am more than capable and definitely willing to do the work.

Until next time,

Jenn

P.s. the pictures enclosed are from or around Christmas break. :)

Stress time!
So it's about that time. I remember the craziness and anxiety I felt around finals week in high school and for some reason, I always thought it would be different in college. I always thought I'd be better prepared or less worried or know the material better. What I didn't think was that the stress would be even worse when finals week crept up on me and I realized that I hadn't done any of the reading for two of my classes, well at least the reading I need to finish before the finals. Besides that, a lot of things around GC and in my life are changing.

My relationships are definitely changing since I've been here at Goshen. My parents and I interact differently. It's less about permission and approval and more about them helping me to find my place in this world. They've been helping me learn how to be an adult. I've been joking about the fact that "I'm grown", as I like to say, since I turned 18, but I now realize how true that is. There is no Mom to make sure I'm awake for class, no Dad for me to complain to. There are no parents to keep me accountable as far as my faith, my work, or anything else. I am here, and I am learning what it means to be independent.

Besides my parental relationships, my relationship with God is changing. My interpretation of the Bible is changing as things are taught to me not as doctrine but as information that I get to interpret. I've learned so many things about my faith and about the Bible that I never knew. The faith that I've embraced and thought I understood seems to be so much different than the things I learned in Sunday school, Bible study and youth group. There are so many things left for me to discover. And lucky for me, I get to take another Bible class soon, and I hope that this next class, like my current class, leads to turmoil in my spiritual life because in the end, that struggle, more than anything else is what leads to growth.

I came to Goshen not only because of the academic reputation but because I wanted to grow in my faith. And now, more so than any other time, I feel like I am able to and being pushed to grow.
Posted at 15:33 #

Good times at GC

Hello All!

Sorry it's been so long since I've blogged! I've been having some technical difficulties as well as being incredibly busy. Mid-terms are over,so I have a little more time now, but not much.

Last weekend was the BSU dance (Black Student Union). It was a lot of fun. My friends and I all went together and we had a great time on the red carpet, dancing and most of all just taking a break from studies and being able to hang out. This weekend is hour after, and I'm not going to this one. Hour after is a semi-formal event, with a band and lots of people, and although it's loads of fun, I have no time.

I was reading my journal the other day when I realized that there have been A LOT of events that I've gone to since I've been here...two hour afters, BSU dance, and the Luau, for which I still have to post pictures! Still, one of my favorite events are the times my friends and I decide to go the the dam and hang out under the stars and listen to the water. The greatest thing about Goshen, at least of what I know so far, is not all the events, but the people. That has been my experience, and I hope it will one day be yours, too.

Until next time

Jenn

The Life and Times of Goshen College
So it's about one in the morning and I'm awake after a lovely day with my friends, and a lovely evening too.

This past weekend was amazing. It was major hang out time with friends, and not to mention...after hour! After hour, for those of you who don't know is a formal/semi-formal gathering. It's like homecoming, depending on which after hour you attend.

My friends and I got all dressed up and we decided to go out together and make it a huge activity. I went with some girls from my floor, including my roommate (whom I love to death), and my RA, who (stragely enough) I've become pretty good friends with. It was amazing. So my weekend was shot as far as studying goes, at least until Sunday night when I began to study for my huge biology exam! I feel like I did pretty well on it, and although usually I'd stress out about studying, I've come to realize that college is not just about learning in an academic sense, but it's also about learning from other people.

My life since I've arrived here at Goshen has changed soooo much. I believe it's changed for the better. I love this school. I miss my family, but I love it here and I am soo glad that I was placed here at this time in my life.

I'm going to bed. It's about a quarter after one and if I go to bed now, it'll be an early night (at least for me)!

Until next time

Jenn
Posted at 01:13 #

Life is crazy
Today has been a very busy day. I'm writing this so I can unwind and process the events of the day. I was hired by the MAO (Multicultural Affairs Office) and the Call Team (therefore, I will be calling prospective students). :) I still love it here, but once again, I can't stress the importance of finding a schedule and sticking to it. I'm a list person, I function best when I make to-do list and I can check things off because then I can see that I actually am doing the things that need to be done, whatever works for you, do it.

I was actually writing to tell you all about the Luau we had here at GC the other night. It was amazing. We began the Luau inside the leaf raker but it was far to hot so we ended up going outside to the fountain and....we got in!!! I was so amused. There were seriously like 50-60 people in the fountain, standing room only. Good times at Goshen. I can't say enough about this place, but I guess I'll have to leave it here because I have a paper to write, chapters to read and exams to study for....I promise I'll upload pictures later!

Until Next time
Posted at 20:33 #

Technical Difficulties
Hi guys,

I didn't want you guys to think I was too busy for blogging, we've just been having some technical difficulties and my blog's haven't been posting.

Life here at Goshen has been fun. My classes are picking up speed and my social life has been amazing too...so amazing in fact that I have been staying up extremely late so that I can get everything I need to do done. Good times, but time management is hugely important here. College is great, but I have to go now because I have homework, my friends just left my room. :)

Until next time
Posted at 23:10 #

College life
So, I've been writing blogs that have not appeared on my page, so you guys haven't been able to read them. I may post them later, but you guys will just have to remember the time frame they were written in. I'm here at Goshen, exhausted from classes, hanging out with friends and doing research so I can figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life. Even though I'm really tired, I'm happy here. I really feel like Goshen is a good fit for me. The people here are amazing. My roomate and I are getting along well and my floormates are awesome. I've been so busy here that I haven't really had time to really get homesick. Of course, it helps that I talk to my parents everyday and my mom has embraced technology enough to email me!! Seriously, life here at Goshen has been an adjustment. It hasn't been a bad adjustment, it's just been different. I've never had to be so responsible for myself or had the opportunity to do so much (or so little). My first week here was trying because I had a little bit of senioritis left over and I had difficulty resisting the urge to hang out constantly...but this week things are getting better. There are papers to write and chapters to read and I can't shirk my duties so my senioritis has given way to the full of energy frosh. Well, I have homework to do and I need to study. I also have a meeting to go to in about a hour. Later on today I'll study outside on the lawn. Until next time, Blessings Jenn
Posted at 16:17 #

Tomorrow!!!

It's hard to believe that I will be at Goshen in a little over 24 hours!!! How exciting is that?! I've been talking to my classmates and floormates :) and I have yet to find one person who is not excited!!! My room has a "vacant look" to it and my entire life is in bins and bags...

This excitement doesn't mean that I won't miss my parents, but I do at least have them for a few more days since they have to stay in Goshen until Sunday. Somehow, God always makes sure things work out for the best. So, I am truly anticipating my time at Goshen and I believe it will be one of the most important journeys of my life. I will keep you all updated, including pictures when I move in!!! Move in day is tomorrow for me!!!

Blessings

Jen

BUSY BUSY

So, lately my life has consisted of work, home, sleep and shopping for college...today was no different. I went college shopping for like 6-7 hours, and I'm still not finished. :-( My roomate and I are sharing the big stuff, but the little stuff is nerve wracking.

I can't believe I spent so much money...but on the bright side- My dorm room will be awesome!!! I'll be sure to take lots of pictures when Brett and I move in on August 23! I have Twelve Days until my arrival at Goshen. It'll be a whole new experience, all new people and of course, lots of academics.

I can't wait!

Posted at 22:37 #

Mon, 30 Jul 2007

College Countdown

I have 24 days until I embrace the land of independence!!! Wow. A part of me is excited, and another part of me is incredibly nervous. I'm really excited to be at Goshen, but I'm a little nervous about taking biology my first semester. Seriously-bio. It's been two years! It's not the class that makes me sigh witn anxiety, it's the lab. So, I'm hoping for a really awesome prof and praying I'll make it out with at least a high B.

Besides worrying about the bio lab, I've been pretty okay. I'm excited to take pysch and my summer has been awesome. What better way to spend my summer than with little children? I work with the older kids at my job, but I often slip away in search of the little ones who can warm your heart with one of their smiles. :-D

Tomorrow at work we're going to the park and to get ice cream. It'll be fun. Although I really do love my job, I'm also ready for it to end. I don't get a vacation since I'm leaving early anyway :-( . But, anyways, I have less than 24 days until Goshen. I'll race you to the rec-fit center!!!

Posted at 19:37 #

Sun, 29 Jul 2007

The College Countdown
So, it's been about a week since I've written and that means 7 more days have gone by. My facebook countdown says that I have 26 more days until I have to arrive at the lovely campus of Goshen College. While a huge part of me is excited, another part of me feels a few jitters. Could this be Freshman anxiety? Yeah, probably. But after talking to a few of my future classmates, I've realized that it's completely normal. So yeah, I'm good. I had a scholarship interview scheduled for today and much to my delight, I nailed it! That's another $1,000 going towards my education. Hopefully, my academic year is just as successful as my scholarship interviews have been! So, needless to say, my anxiety about leaving home has been traded in for my anxiousness to meet new people and experience new things. I'll be in Yoder this fall, and we've named ourselves. "Yoder-o's: Taste the Mennonite." Haha, if ever there was a brilliant marketing strategy to convince students to choose a certain dorm...we've discovered it. Anyway, hope you all are having a great day! I am!
Posted at 22:11 #

Sun, 22 Jul 2007

Hello All!

I was really excited about blogging for Goshen. One thing most people learned about me quickly in high school wass that I had lots of school spirit. I imagine college will be no different.

It's a bit strange to write a journal that you know strangers will read. And although many of you will remain anonymous to me, you'll know a lot about me. As a type of icebreaker, let me tell you about myself.

My name is Jennifer Speight and I will be a Freshman this fall at Goshen. I am from Cleveland, OH, just about 4 hours away (maybe a little more). I have an older brother and an older sister, a brother and sister in law, a niece and three nephews. Along with my parents, I imagine my niece and nephews are the people I'll miss most when I leave. I'm an ALANA student (which stands for African, Latino, Asian, and Native American student) and as of today I have 31 days until I have to be at Goshen. Time flies.

I'm really excited to be going to Goshen. My church is really excited for me too. A lot of my church family graduated from Goshen, so they're excited to see the next generation of "goshenites".

Let's see, I'll be in Yoder this year, I have an amazing roomate and I've met some amazing people who are and will be at Goshen this fall. Goshen's a good place, you should come :)

I work at a daycare, and I LOVE my job. The kids are sooo cute. I am not 100% sure about what I want to major in, but I am seriously considering education. I don't want to bore anyone with a long introduction, so I'll leave it at this. I promise I'll be back soon though.

Happy Sunday!!!

Posted at 14:53 #