The Last Hoorah! January 18, 2010
Posted by Marina in : Winter 2009-2010 , add a comment
Before classes started, I decided it was time for me to break free for a day and have my last hoorah for my winter break. With this spontaneous attitude, Friday night I booked a trip to Philadelphia for Saturday. The cool part? Stevenson University is only 2 hours away from the best Philly cheese steak shops in the world, and not to mention all the history surrounding the place! Although I love being at SU, it is fun to let loose and see what else is around this area.
So Saturday morning, Tylor and I woke up and took a two hour drive to Philadelphia where we parked the car and walked around the city for hours. Our first stop was food – and what better food is there in Philadelphia than the philly cheese steak? Nothing, nothing at all. As Tylor and I experienced, Steak-uhms are not the same. We ate at Jake’s Steak for lunch where they sell the hottest cheese steak in Philly with a ghost chili sauce! I wasn’t brave enough to sign the waiver form for my life for my first cheese steak… maybe my second.
Taking pictures, laughing, and relaxing, we were able to see the best that Philly has to offer. On the way to the city part of Philly was the infamous City Hall… we passed through it almost 50 times before leaving Sunday morning.
Next on our list was LOVE park. Although right now it is all stone, in the spring the flowers bloom and the fountain is on, making it absolutely ‘lovely’. We had actually been to the LOVE parks’ twin in New York City about a year ago!
Now I know what everyone is wondering, where is the Liberty Bell? Don’t worry – I wanted to know the same exact thing. Needless to say, I am such a small town girl that I had a hard time figuring my way around the city. However, a nice lady helped us out at the Hard Rock Cafe’ and gave us the directions straight to 6th street where the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall are both located. Excited, I didn’t even stop for a carriage ride, I just went straight for the Liberty Bell – so here it is!
After seeing history in its’ fullest, we walked around the city some more to find the Museum of Art. When reaching this museum, I was one of the very few that did not know that the steps leading up to the entrance of the Museum were the steps that Rocky ran up during his self titled motion picture. While watching everyone run up the stairs like a champ, I gave it a shot. When reaching the top (finally), this is what I saw…
Beautiful, isn’t it? Well, after going through the entire museum, we decided to go back to our hotel right before night fell. We were so tired from the walk that we plopped down on the bed and took a short nap. When I woke up, I looked out the window and saw the phenomenal night skyline!
After dinner and a good night sleep, we drove back to SU in the morning. I must say if you ever have the chance to go to Philadelphia, do it! All of the museums offer discounts to full time students (with ID) and hotels in downtown Philadeplhia (where we stayed) are fairly priced. The food is delicious, as you saw above, and the sights are just incredible! If you are on a college budget, this is the trip to make!
Winter Break is Over! January 14, 2010
Posted by Marina in : Winter 2009-2010 , add a comment
For me, anyway. Yes, sad but true. With my trunk packed to the max, the extra time with my family has come to an end so that I can reacquaint myself with my reslife family. The reason i get to go back to school early? Winter RA Training… Yes, we train two times a year. However, I am totally stoked to be back at school – I missed this place! This semester I want to reach my 4.0 (again) and stay focused on working and saving money to pay back these loans! Which reminds me I have a FAFSA to do… Boy oh boy, the fun never stops! :] So to those of you returning to SU – Welcome back, Welcome back, Welcome back.
Top Ten Resolutions January 3, 2010
Posted by Marina in : Winter 2009-2010 , 1 comment so farNow that Christmas has come and gone, it is up to America to make their New Year’s resolutions and make plans to actually not break them in 2010! So in an effort to help those of you out at SU who are finding it hard to come up with your own resolution, I looked up the top ten New Year’s resolutions so you can start setting goals and even achieve them at Stevenson! Ready? I hope so.
Let’s start from the bottom of the list:
Number Ten: Get Organized. No one likes being messy all the time, especially when it tends to affect our everyday lives. In 2010, you can take steps to becoming a more organized and prepared you! Take the time to make lists of things to do and put it in a spot where you will be sure to look over it at least once a day. Organize your room and your desk so that you can find things easier – it will help you out in the run. Always missing events and assignments? Pick up a planner for the 2009-2010 school year in student activities office and write things down! This planner comes fully equipped with events, calendars, rules, and much, much, more!
Number Nine: Volunteer and Help Others. Even if it is something small like helping a struggling classmate every Tuesday after class, you can make a difference in 2010. Whether it be joining service clubs on campus or offering your services during an event, there are plenty of volunteer activities at Stevenson. Trying to find something on a larger scale? Then join me and some of my other collegues on the Alternative Spring Break Trip where we will be traveling to New Orleans to help rebuild the St. Bernard’s Parish! If I can do it, you can do it!
Number Eight: Learn Something New. There are opportunities everyday to learn something new! Many events are held on campus to support this outreach and expand student knowledge outside the classroom. I know this year I want to get in shape and learn the moves used in Kickboxing – so why not join the kickboxing class every Wednesday night?! You can learn to sing by joining the Chorus or learn a new sport by joining an intramural team! Trust me, there is plenty to see, learn, and do at SU!
Number Seven: Find a Better Job. Make 2010 an amazing year by working in a field that you love. Tired of that waitressing job? Career HQ can help you create a resume and provide you with valuable tools you will need in the workforce. They can also set-up mock interviews to rid of those pre-interview jitters. Mustang Central, an online database for students, also provides students with a unique outlook on available jobs within the Owings Mills community. With these kind of opportunities, you should experience great success with this resolution!
Number Six: Quit a Bad Habit. Wanna stop smoking? Or biting your finger nails? Visit the Wellness Center to recieve tips on how to kick these nasty habits. Even if you want to stop eating junk food, the Wellness Center can help you decipher a nutrion plan that works best for you so that you’ll never crave another chocolate sprinkled donut again!
Number Five: Find Love. Face it, everyone wants to find love… it is ultimately inevitable. Having troubles? No worries. My favorite section of our school’s newspaper The Villager is the SU Singles section! Each week a new single is featured in the newspaper with complimentary details about him or herself. Don’t like what you see? Go to the paper and ask them to put you in! I am sure you’ll find a few more emails in the inbox. Still not working for you? SOCIALIZE. Go to events and mingle with the singles!
Number Four: More Time with Family and Friends. This involves a lot of time management. For 2010, plan ahead of time to spend time with your loved ones so that your school, work, and social schedules won’t interfere. Use your planner and your calendar and be sure to meet up with friends at the events held at Stevenson. There is one almost everyday! Don’t want to go to your family? Have them come here! Baltimore is a beautiful place to visit in the Spring. So have your family and friends come in for the weekend and spend the day at the Harbor, or the Zoo, or even the Aquarium!
Number Three: Reduce Debt. I love the topic of money. Bottom line, stop spending all your money! It is a proven fact that college students spend more money on food than anything else. You have a meal plan for a reason and with the new Mustang Mula, you can enjoy a delicious sub from Subway or a slice of pizza from New York Pizza. So start off 2010 right – open a separate savings account and only eat out for special occassions. Oh, and ladies, just because those shoes are on sale, doesn’t mean you need them.
Number Two: Stick to a Budget. Although this was touched on above, see some of my other blogs pertaining to college students and money!
Number One: Get in Shape. Do you want to live until 2090? Exercise is key. In 2010, make it your personal goal to go to the gym for at least a half an hour every other day. Try choosing healthier options at Rockland and utilize the gyms provided for you on campus. With the new gym opening up next year, our fitness center will be sure to increase in size which means more machines for everyone! Have trouble making time for the gym? No problem. Taking little steps such as parking farther away from a destination and taking the steps instead of the elevator can increase your physical satisfaction within yourself. And as always, the Wellness Center is here to answer any questions you have and to help you become a better, healthier, happier, you.