December 3, 2007

Ahh, dead week is finally here. Some people complain that there is too much going on during dead week, but I have to admit my week is going to be pretty easy. That will be a nice change of pace after last week.

Here is how my week went:

Monday
I spent Monday morning and afternoon working on my Web site, which is a project for my internet communications course. The site is worth 50 percent of our grade, and I edited it until I couldn’t look at it anymore.

After I handed it in and went to class, I started making my grocery list. I needed supplies to make more than 100 Christmas cookies for my Public Relations Student Society of America party. When I got home I began baking, a process which took me until 4 a.m., but I actually enjoyed it because I got to watch a Christmas movie while I worked.

Tuesday – I skipped class Tuesday afternoon because the rest of the Student Foundation executive team and I had lunch with Marlene Strathe, interim president of the university. The lunch was very productive, and I really enjoyed myself. I love meeting new people.

That evening was the last Student Foundation meeting of the semester. Instead of having business as usual, we decided to have an etiquette dinner. My committee has been planning the dinner for more than a month, and it couldn’t have gone any better. I think the members learned a lot, but most of all, I think they enjoyed themselves.

Wednesday – With the end of the semester looming, the time for professor evaluations had come. I’m very used to evaluations, but this year it was a little different. Because I’m a TA, I was not the one evaluating the class, but the class was evaluating me! This was extremely nerve-racking, but I’m excited about getting the students’ feedback. I hope it helps me improve for next semester.

Right after class on Wednesday, I hurried home to pick up party supplies and take them to the PRSSA meeting. We had a pretty good turnout, and I think everyone enjoyed decorating the cookies I had made earlier in the week.

Thursday – After class, I graded the High Five all day! The High Five is an assignment for media style and structure. It teaches the students to write in journalistic style. It is extremely relevant to students, but it’s not very fun to grade. After grading for grammar and checking their sources, we have to give them a grade on the quality of their writing. There are guidelines, but it’s somewhat subjective, so it takes me longer to grade. They were due on Monday and after grading Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, I was still only about halfway done.

Friday – I don’t have class on Friday, so after cleaning my apartment, I headed to the OSU Foundation for a Christmas tree decorating party. My Student Foundation committee along with members of the Foundation had been planning this party for quite some time, and it was so great to see it happen.

After the party, I packed for the weekend and went to dinner with some friends. We were celebrating a birthday, and we got to go to Kyoto Japanese restaurant (I LOVE that place).

Saturday & Sunday – My family and I traveled to Pampa, Texas, to move my sister and brother-in-law. Moving isn’t the most exciting thing in the world, but it was nice to spend some time with them and see their new town.

All in all, the week went wonderfully! It was busy, and I’m glad to have a break, but I wouldn’t change anything about it. I love seeing people enjoy themselves, and if I can do anything to make that happen, I consider it more than worthy of my time and effort.

	This was my table at the etiquette dinner. We had so much fun! (Left to right: Me, Lindsey Price, Caroline Diedrich and Dennis Rudasill)
	These are some of the pretty cookies the PRSSA members made.
	Here are a few Student Foundation members surrounding the ornament table at the Christmas tree decorating party. (Left to right: Josh Ward, Lindsey Price and Caroline Diedrich)
	Here is a picture of the Foundation’s tree after we got finished with it. I think it looks WONDERFUL!