They say that being in college is the best time of your life, and whoever they are, aren’t wrong. Especially because college is when a lot of young folks pack their bags and jet off overseas for a study abroad experience of a lifetime. And this summer, I am going to be one of those young folks.

I have got plans to study abroad at John Cabot University in Rome Italy. I will spend late June through Early August sipping espresso by the Tiber River and studying sculptures erected by great artists. I will consume much more food than necessary, as I sample each different Italian dish I can get my hands on.

We all have dreams of doing big things, and there isn’t any reason why you can’t study abroad. The process isn’t so much difficult as it is about timing, and diligence. With a little faith and determination, study abroad can be a snap! And the staff at the study abroad office is more than willing to get the process underway with you. Don’t think about what could have been, do it!

I suppose that I am one of those individuals that enjoys summer by taking part in a summer hobby. This summer, I am taking up art!

I have decided to spend my summer perched in front of a large sketchbook making concept art with my brand new pastels. I know I am no artist, but I absolutely love the idea of being able to create whatever I like without worrying what people think. I draw what I feel, and I draw things that express my innermost feelings at that moment. I want to be able to visualize everything that is on my heart and mind.

I hope to create some truly inspiring pieces, and I am looking forward to my ideas coming to life and dancing off the pages. I plan to not think a moment about impressing people, or give my art a pretentious and pompous feel. I am going to express myself to the best of my ability, and allow my thoughts to truly be visualized.

I am truly looking forward to the experiences that await me!

Enjoy creating summer hobbies of your own! You never know what sorts of neat experiences you will cultivate!

Everyone spends their schools years studying restlessly to achieve the sorts of grades they’d like their employers to notice. But summer is the only time of the year where students can put their feet up and coast without a care in the world.

Sure some students work, and others spend their summers neck deep in internship responsibilities, but the summer is most commonly a four month long period of rest. It’s the time to sleep in till you’ve got to be at work. To learn new recipes that enrich your culinary pallet. To rise with the sun and jog around town until you’re short of breath.

I personally have a love hate relationship with summer. I love the time off from studying with my nose to the grindstone, but I hate the lack of air conditioning in my apartment. I love the summer sun during the day, but detest the swarming mosquitos at night. Everyone has their ups and downs about things, but when it comes to summer, it’s mostly ups. People love getting sand in their toes, and concerts or summer festivals. People love lounging by the pool all day, then getting ready for a fun summer night out.

Whatever you do this summer, be safe, stay cool, and have fun!

Every year in the spring of the final semester, the Student Ambassador Office throws a fantastic banquet to commemorate its seniors and thank its employees.

The upper room of the Bernhard Center is transformed into a brown and gold paradise with elegant centerpieces and a photo station. Memories from the year flash by on the projector screen and laughs sprinkle the room as embarrassing but humorous pictures pop up. Employees crowd the book table, in an anxious rush to fill out comments or sign their names in the senior books. All such a wonderful snapshot of the office is all about and what it stands for.

This year was particularly sentimental, as seniors that I am rather close to gave their tear-filled farewells to their fellow employees in heartfelt speeches. The only thing I could think to myself was how sad it’s going to be for me to stand on the stage next year and utter my goodbyes. Tears rose up in my eyes as I thought about it while sitting at a large round table with all of my friends.

The office will certainly be something to miss. Though it can often times be chaotic, it’s a place of love and of fond and pleasant memories. It taught me discipline and helped me to build on my character. It ripened me from a bashful yet curious young freshman to an outspoken and confident senior. I never thought the office would bring me so far. Its employees have been friends of mine who cradle my heart in woeful times, and brighten my spirit in times of joy. I couldn’t ask for anything more from the office than the wonderful pleasures that it has given me. It has opened doors, and built bridges, and made things the best they could be for me, and I don’t want to lose that. I will be sad to see it go, but I have got one more year to hang on to its wonder, and I don’t intend to waste it.

I spent my Saturday morning and afternoon managing an informational table outside of the dress area at the Girl Scout Building in Kalamazoo. I sat with a wide grin on my face as I passed out informational pamphlets and Western Michigan University lanyards to eager and excited high school girls. They giggled and smiled bashfully as they accepted goodie bags stocked with things of feminine intrigue.

The whole event was spectacular. A large room was crowded with beautiful dresses of all colors and lengths on long racks. Tables were cluttered with beaded handbags and clutches. A table by the window served as the accessory station housing necklaces and earrings of all kinds. Shoes sat in long rows on a table by the dressing rooms. It was all too perfect. Giddy volunteers in pink aprons squealed with delight as each girl left the main room with a bagged dress and shoes slung over her shoulder. It was all such a sight to see.

The most remarkable part of it all was that everything was free. From the gowns, to the shoes, to the accessories and more, young ladies were able to walk away with complete outfits for their upcoming memorable night.

I was honored to be a part of it, and I am so proud of Kalamazoo as a community for having such an event in its backdoor.

I am usually so busy that I hardly get a chance to breathe, let alone do something I actually like to do. But on those rare occasions that I get a chance to do something for myself, I take advantage of it.

I write stories. It’s the one thing that I get to do for fun and not for academia. I write fantastical tales of characters in peril, and valiant heroes who come from unusual places and complete unlikely tasks with finesse and ease.

Story writing is a brilliant and beautiful world. It’s a world where you can say what you like, and your whimsical imagination comes to life with your innermost ideas. I can sit for hours just daydreaming about the wonderful world of storytelling. It’s a world where anything and everything you want to happen can and will. A world where anything can fly, and most things have magical properties.

It’s a strange world, but it’s a world I love. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? I would love to hear about the things that you do when you are not overloaded with academic responsibilities.

The Bernhard Center’s second level ballrooms were packed with sights, sounds, and delicious and exotic smells. Performers danced in a breathtaking display on stage. people dressed in traditional clothing passed out plates piled high with yummy foreign treats. The air was filled with laughter and language, and music floated over it.

It was a tremendous experience. I was handed a lovely origami crane, and given a page with my name printed in Japanese script. I smiled with delight as I sat among others dressed in traditional Saudi Arabian garb for a commemorative photograph. I chomped heartily on a chicken kabob from Iran, and clapped along to the Dominican dances taking place in the center of the room.

All in all, a worthwhile experience. Not only culturally stimulating, but fun, and filled with the fellowship of countries.

The quote above was a little something I learned during my high school theater days. It was a tongue twister used right before a performance to get us to accentuate consonants when speaking on stage. Though I haven’t used it in years, this little play on words was running through my head earlier today when I was thinking about the weather that we have been experiencing.

I just returned from Chicago where I spent my spring break. It was rather rainy and quite cold while I was there. Upon my return to Kalamazoo, I found that the weather here is rainy also, but rather warm in comparison.

Today on my way to class I donned a windbreaker instead of my usual parka, and strode out into the slightly chilled damp air with optimism. Yes, it may still be winter, and there may still be snow to come, but I doubt that we will see snow like we had seen in January and February. That was dreadful.

Spring is coming. It may only be a whisper, but I am starting to hear her sweet melodic voice. Soon enough birds of all kinds will be perched on balconies and budding trees. It will be wonderful to get that sweet spring sensation when I sniff at the air and notice its new fragrances.

I am certain that spring is on her way…and I can’t wait to see her.

I don’t think there is anyone out there who isn’t excited about a little time to kick back and get some shuteye and some well deserved slack-off-time.

As students, we are always busied by long hard days, and late endless nights. It will be good for our weakening systems to sleep longer than usual and lounge about our residence halls and apartments like the inner sloths we are.

Some of us are gonna have a pleasant little staycation, while our fabulous flamboyant friends have tickets and pre-tans, ready for a week of luxurious poolside sun, or a delightful romp around Disney World.

We envy you travelers, but don’t think for a second that we will have a boring Spring Break. We will be having a good time! Especially those of us, whose birthdays are on Spring Break. *AHEM* Mine is on Spring Break every single year…without fail!

I may not be getting all glammed up in a Malibu salon, or laying beachside all afternoon, but my boyfriend is planning a jam packed trip to Chicago for us for my birthday! No it won’t be sunny, or warm, or crawling with tanned people, but it will be extra special because he planned it himself and it’s coming from his heart.

For the rest of us that are staying home, enjoy your week of rest and relaxation!

The candy, the balloons, chocolate, and roses, yeah, they are all super special, and fun to receive from your sweetie, but is that all that you really want?

I know what I want for Valentine’s Day. I want to spend time with the guy that makes me happy.

Everybody likes to get gifts, but sometimes, as cliché as it may sound, the best gift is spending time together.

No matter how long you and your significant other have been together, spending time together is always a wonderful way to express how much you care. Even if it’s just sitting together in a movie theater arm in arm, or having a nice dinner together, there a variety of simple ways to express how much you care.

I hope to have a romantic dinner with my sweetie where we just spend time talking about all the things that we really care about in life, and enjoy each other.

I hope that you really enjoy your Valentine’s Day, and have fun doing the things you love with the person you love!