After returning from the CKI convention, the week began with a swift start. Monday brought two meetings and plenty of drawing to catch up on. In the morning, Jessi Fernandes-Flack, the president of STUFU, and I both were happy to attend the team meeting at the OSU Foundation to announce the exciting Cowboy Spirit results! Being towards the end of the agenda, it was really neat to hear about the great things that are occurring within the Foundation and to be a part of that harmonious spirit even just for a short time. Later that afternoon, I returned to the Foundation for a Cowboy Spirit follow up meeting. Every year after Cowboy Spirit, the advisors, executive board and prominent donors Mike and Anne Greenwood convene to discuss all aspects of the event, inside and out, what needs improvement, and what we felt had a positive impact. We have results from the surveys given to STUFU members about the event and detailed monetary results as well that assist in this process. We are very excited about this year's event, but must analyze our actions to grow the event even more! I'm already looking forward to next year!

Tuesday I had a Merchandise and Apparel Design Association meeting that featured designer Claire Kennedy! She truly provided a wealth of information and inspiration. Based out of Oklahoma City, Ms. Kennedy is a one-woman show; she designs, fits, and sews custom wedding and debutant dresses. Having been in apparel design for a year it is easy to see that this is where her passion lies due to all the work those processes entail. The information that she shared about how her business came about and the niche she formed for her business was very interesting. Also, she mentioned many strategies in maintaining customers and explained in detail the reasoning for her contracting procedure. Most notably, she discussed how important it is to discover your passion not matter what field you study. She stated that regardless of the work load that may arise it's always fun because it's what she loves! It's reasons like that that I feel organizations like MADA are so important; they bring in people who are experiencing their dreams and can divulge how they accomplished their journey.

Wednesday after drawing, I had an AIGA meeting in the computer lab for the purposes of the topic. Online professional databases, or portfolio-type websites were discussed in detail. It was extremely informative and I am so glad to know that there are opportunities such as this to showcase one's work. Behance, Linkedin and Vimeo were among the top sites that were explained in-depth. It's an easy way to not only get your work out there, but to see what others are producing as well. Being aware of how to setup these sites will become very beneficial to me as an art major.

My second exam in marketing was Thursday, followed by a Student Foundation executive meeting and a Circle K International meeting. The STUFU exec meeting was a bit more exciting than usual with the celebration of Abby Fox's birthday, which was the following day. The execs surprised her with a cake and warm wishes, although it would be difficult to do anything that could match the appreciation we hold for all that she does to support and encourage us!

The speaker for the CKI meeting cancelled last minute so we improvised by making a few more blankets to give to domestic violence next week. We also played a few entertaining ice-breakers!

The Lew Wentz scholarship deadline was Friday, so after an exam, I made a few final adjustments and dropped the envelope off at the Student Union. I believe that was my last scholarship deadline, for a while anyway!!   After I submitted my monthly CKI secretary report to the district, I was off to OKC for some live music! That evening I saw Needtobreathe, Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, and Graham Colton; what an incredible concert! The affect that live music has on my spirit never ceases to amaze me! All my worries disappear and I just take in the wonderful talent before my eyes. The exceptional gratitude of all three bands for our support was really neat too! Here are a few pics from the awesome night!

Me with Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers!	Needtobreathe!

Graham Colton!

On Saturday I woke up and got dressed to impress for the Kiwanis Governor's Visit. Throughout the year the governor of Kiwanis visits all the divisions within the Texas-Oklahoma district, this is very similar to CKI. There are many Kiwanis clubs within a division, so people from different parts of OK traveled to Stillwater to attend Saturday's event! Three members of CKI also attended; these events are always a lot of fun! Kiwanians are such a great group of people to be around! Here are a couple of pics from the afternoon.

	Chuck Rager, President of the T-O Kiwanis Foundation!

Throughout the course of the last week or so, some extremely unfortunate events have transpired that have been very difficult for me to confront. In a number of past blog entries I have mentioned my summer plans to study abroad in Italy; working over the Christmas break, applying for scholarships etc. Well I was very honored to receive the Provost Scholarship and to be selected as a finalist for the Bailey Scholarship. About the time I received notification of the Bailey finalist information, it was confirmed that the Landscape Oil Painting: Tuscany course was cancelled. Although I truly pride myself on thinking positively, it was difficult for me in this circumstance. I was not aware of the possibility that the class wouldn't make and truly had my heart, soul, and mind set on the trip, having already begun lots of research into the region, etc. I met with the study abroad office to discuss the possibility of other options. They were extremely helpful and although there were many programs, I have a summer employment commitment that ruled out a number of them and others were substantially more expensive or just not quite what I had my heart set on. With reluctance I notified the appropriate contacts of my decision and thus declining the Provost and my interview for the Bailey scholarship. One of my mottos is and always has been, “everything happens for a reason.” I believe that sometimes we don't understand why things occur, but we still have to have faith that there is a reason. This mindset gets me through any difficult time, however, it has taken a lot of prayer and support from my family to realize that waiting a year to try again is what was meant to be. I will definitely be trying again next year though! Every day is a new day, full of new opportunities and experiences!!

 

GO POKES!

My week began with monotonous tasks like making calls and sending e-mails, and ended with a monumentally historic event and an annual convention centered around leadership, fellowship, and service. Although every week needs balance, I would prefer the excitement that the end of this week brought on any day of the week!!

Tuesday evening was the general OSU Student Foundation meeting; the announcement of the Cowboy Spirit results got everyone pumped up! Increasing extensively from last year we raised $33,000 for the student scholarship fund! I am so grateful to all the sponsors who donated, all who bought tickets, and to all the STUFU members who worked diligently throughout this endeavor. The effort spent and money raised truly affects people lives! It's so awesome to be a part of such a wonderful event! Becky Endicott, senior director of marketing and communications, and Jonathon McCoy, assistant director of marketing and communications, also attended this meeting to discuss the upcoming campaign events! The internal launch for the OSU Foundation would be held on Thursday, the actual campaign launch on Friday, and announcements and giveaways at the OSU v. KU basketball game on Saturday! I was more than anxious to hear the exciting news of the campaign

Thursday, I was happy to help out at the internal campaign launch at the foundation and got to stay and listen to the program! The efforts and vision of this campaign really started to come alive to me as Kirk Jewel, president and CEO of the Foundation, Burns Hargis, president of the university, and Ross McKnight, co-chair of the campaign, spoke more intimately about the campaign's effects, why we needed this monumental campaign, and the level it's going to elevate OSU to when we reach our goal. The story of Evan Townsend and many other students is what truly inspires the accomplishments of this remarkable campaign. There were still a few specifics that I was eager to learn but that would all come the following morning! Here are a couple pics from the internal launch.

Rebekah Spaulding, STUFU member, and Jessi Fernandes-Flack, STUFU president, cutting the strings on the banner to reveal the campaign logo!	Kirk Jewel, president and CEO of the OSU Foundation.

Friday at the heart of the campus, the Student Union atrium, the unforgettable campaign launch for “Branding Success” transpired. As the OSU band played and people continued to filter in all tiers of the atrium, it was definitely a wonderful sight! Burns Hargis spoke powerfully about the mission of the campaign and the meaning of “Branding Success.” Then came the announcement of the campaign's ultimate goal of 1 billion dollars - the crowd erupted! Shortly following was the declaration that we were already nearly halfway to our goal! My mouth dropped open as I was clapping! What an awesome scene to be witnessing. The university, 'my university,' that I am so passionate about is striving toward heights never before reached to allow the education of more students, compensation of faculty, and the betterment of facilities and programs. I feel so completely grateful to be given the opportunity to attend a university that has goals of this nature and such impeccable leaders at the forefront. As the event proceeded, more exciting news came with the announcement from T. Boone Pickens of 100 million dollars! - on top of what he has already committed to the campaign and what he will match. Cheering filled the union and as Burns Hargis yelled “GO POKES,” confetti shot into the air from all directions, hundreds of balloons fell from the ceiling, the band was playing! It was so incredible! Afterwards STUFU members, including myself, handed out tons of giveaways, the main item being a “Branding Success” t-shirt. I love to see the smiles on peoples’ faces when you give them free stuff, haha. Honestly, I am grateful just to have been a small part of the historic event that occurred Friday; I will never forget that day! If you weren't able to attend or haven't seen the great happenings of that afternoon, I encourage you to visit www.witnessosuhistory.com where you can watch the video of the campaign launch! Here is a picture of the action from the event!

As the giveaways diminished, I hurried back to my room to grab my already packed bags. I was on my way to 56th annual District CKI Convention: Highway to Service, in San Marcos, Texas. Although the 9 hr drive didn't get us there in time for opening session, we still arrived in time for the candidate's speeches in regional caucuses. After hearing the platforms of several people, our division then elected a lieutenant governor, since this task had not been done at Spring Rally.

Saturday at the convention brought a full schedule beginning with House of Delegates at 8am. This is where we vote, by way of Robert's Rules of Order, on proposed amendments to the District bylaws of CKI. Then there are 3 great sessions of workshops, which all have a variety that one can choose from. After a break for lunch we were back at the conference center for a 4 hr Salvation Army disaster relief training! I was truly surprised how in depth the training was; allowing us to work through specific scenarios and learning inside and out the services that the Salvation Army provides! I am now certified to go onto the site of a disaster whether local or international and provides services for those in need!!

During this training I did have to leave momentarily for my scholarship interview that was held during that time. Applicants submit their application at a deadline prior to convention, but must be present at the event to interview and receive their award. After the training we all returned to our rooms to prepare for the Governor's Gala, the semi-formal awards and dinner portion of the weekend. There are many outstanding individuals and chapters in our district and it's always a joyous night of celebration as awards for recognition and achievement are granted. From Oklahoma State, Allison Prisco, won the Outstanding Impromptu Essay Award, for an essay she had composed earlier that day in a timed session; Rachel Heick, was awarded a $1000 scholarship; and I was honored to receive a $1500 scholarship! The weekend was definitely a success. Overall, however, the aspect that I enjoy most is with out a doubt reuniting with all my friends and the Kiwanis family. Almost everyone in attendance I have been fortunate to meet at a prior event and it is always so much fun to catch up with all these truly wonderful people! Also, many of the Kiwanians I have known since my years in high school in Key Club, and they continue to support me in all that I do. The generosity and kindness of these individuals never ceases to amaze me!

Sunday was the second portion of House of Delegates where we elected our governing officers for the 2010-2011 year. In the Farewell session, the governor made a farewell speech, the 2009-2010 officers were retired and the newly elected were installed! After a few pictures were taken we were back on the the road! Here are a couple pics from the event!

Although this weekend was definitely full of excitement, near or far, I never lose sight of the Cowboys. Winning against Kansas - no. 1 in the country, was such a great victory!!

Go Pokes!!

Although a little worn out from Sunday's schedule, Monday left no time to spare, with my first American History test the following day. The grade in the course consists solely of 3 tests including the final exam, so I knew I could not take studying for this test lightly.

Wednesday added excitement to my week, with an American Institute of Graphic Arts meeting that focused on construction and binding methods. A student kindly demonstrated how to stitch in binding for a typical project. He discussed different threads that can be utilized and some do's and don't's in order to achieve the best outcome. Also, the comparison between stitches, screws and staples was made. The student also brought some of his work that functioned as a series; it was excellent in quality and design! Then the president, Rachel Goetzman, discussed different types of paper that can be beneficial to certain projects based on their texture, weight, etc. The professors that were present added in helpful tips as well! Although the information still seems somewhat overwhelming, having not been exposed to much of the like, I can only anxiously anticipate my future in the graphic design program at Oklahoma State. Information sessions such as this can help me begin to focus on the projects that lie ahead.

The OSU Student Foundation met at the Murphy House for our executive meeting to recap Cowboy Spirit and to move forward with plans for the upcoming months. I felt it was an exceptionally productive meeting with plans for a new, improved agenda, and gearing up for the welcoming of new members in April. The second biannual Thank-a-thon, and other donor appreciation events are also approaching - very exciting!!

After STUFU, I arrived at the weekly Circle K International meeting and was looking forward to learning about the Share the Wealth program. Two students, who are currently enrolled in a Share the Wealth course were generous enough to come speak to us about different health trends and provide valuable facts. We engaged in numerous ice breakers and an intense game of Health Jeopardy! After the meeting, the officers and members attending District Convention discussed some final details. It's hard to believe that time of year has come already - for all CKI'ers in Texas and Oklahoma to convene and share a weekend of service, workshops, elections, and celebration of the year! Next weekend, five students, including myself, will be traveling to San Marcos, Texas, to represent the Oklahoma State University chapter.

Friday after class, I was off to Weatherford, to work on and complete a major scholarship application. Scholarships truly are the reason I am able to attend this prestigious university and especially the reason I am able to be involved in so many wonderful opportunities that have honestly made me the person I am today. Service is my passion and I am so utterly grateful for the funding I receive because without it, I could never dedicate the time and effort that I do currently. All scholarships take time and preparation to obtain however, some totaling 10 pages, plus an essay and multiple letters of recommendation required. Although having some school work to catch up on, completing an application such as this relieves a lot of stress.

What a great weekend for the men's OSU basketball team with a 82-75 point win over Baylor!! Unfortunately the outcome for the Cowgirls wasn't as favorable but I still expect both teams will be headed to March Madness!

Here's a pic from the Men's game.

Photo courtesy of Newsok

GO POKES!

That phrase was needed to help me maintain my drive several times during the very busy happenings of this last week. Realizing that you must persevere when circumstances may seem tougher than others can help you stay motivated to achieve your goals.

As Stillwater woke up to huge snowflakes falling to the ground Monday morning, I made my way to my art history exam. Afterward I went to the Student Union to promote Cowboy Spirit at the OSU Student Foundation booth. When traffic picked up between classes, I attempted to pass out fliers and spread the word about the awesome philanthropic event.

Tuesday morning I had the second portion of my math test, which was shorter than the first, so it wasn't too bad! That evening consisted of the last StuFu meeting before the big event! We all turned in our tickets and picked up t-shirts to return to those who had been a part of the first 200 to purchase a ticket. After composing thank-you notes, two of the committees, including Donor Relations, met on campus to chalk and spread awareness about Cowboy Spirit! Then I headed back to my dorm to begin a full night of drawing. Although having worked on the assignment a majority of the previous weekend, I had a significant amount left to accomplish. I try to avoid pulling all-nighters, but inevitably they happen once in awhile. Luckily another classmate was also working on the project and it made the night more fun.

With the assignment complete, although I was tired, the day went well. I worked at the Cowboy Spirit booth again in the afternoon and got to bed early that night!

Thursday evening provided a full schedule, but was extremely rewarding. Dr. Mary Jo Self, associate professor from the College of Education, was generous enough to speak at our National Society of Collegiate Scholars meeting that evening. In honor of Integrity week, that was the topic of discussion. Her talk was truly thought provoking and ‘hit home’ in many ways. Dr. Self used several specific instances to describe integrity and its importance. Also stating that in the work place there's much else of equal prominence. The personal experiences she shared, along with her views on integrity really allowed us to witness her character and I respect her greatly. She recited a top ten list from the book “The Integrity Advantage: How Taking The High Road Creates A Competitive Advantage In Business” by Adrian Gostick, Dana Telford, and Mitt Romney. Then she ended with an inspiring quote, “If you have integrity, nothing else matters; if you don't have integrity, nothing else matters.” Here's a picture from the meeting.

After NSCS was over, Circle K International had a big meeting planned. Officer elections were held for the 2010-2011 year. We conducted Robert's Rules of Order and as candidates gave speeches, we voted on each position. I will be happy to serve as Secretary again next year! Here's a picture from the elections.

Friday finally arrived and I was very anxious for the Battle of the Bands to get underway! Passing out fliers in the afternoon by Chi-O Clock hopefully attracted a few more people to the event that night. When the time came to go out to the Tumbleweed, everything really came together. All the bands were great and attendance was more than double from last year's event. Beside the main attractions we had a few other special announcements; we were very fortunate to have Burns Hargis, president of the university, make an appearance and announcement at the event. Then Keith Anderson, special performer of the event, signed an OSU guitar that was given by a donor. The guitar will be auctioned off in the fall and all proceeds with go to the Cowboy Spirit scholarship fund! We were very grateful to have so many people come out and support such a great cause! Here are some pics from the event!

Saturday was spent studying for a major test at the beginning of next week. Due to my commitment for Sunday, I knew I would need to get as much done as possible on that day. Of course I had to take a break to watch the victorious bedlam game though!!! Go Cowboys!

Sunday I had a full day ahead of me as I went to Oklahoma City to work a wedding and reception with Jody Reed of J Reed Designs. In hindsight, due to adequately preparing for my test on Tuesday, I might not have worked the event, but the day was fun nonetheless. Not getting home until 1 a.m., the 13 hour day was hard work, but the money is always needed.

The week was definitely a test of my endurance, but there were great lessons and fun times that I will always remember!

GO POKES!

The week began with a major scholarship deadline. The Bailey Scholarship is awarded to Arts and Sciences students applying for study abroad programs. Although I had prepared the application prior to that afternoon, I needed to deliver it to the appropriate office on time.

Tuesday was the first Merchandise and Apparel Design Association meeting of the semester. As usual, the speaker provided an abundance of information. Brad Jackson, from Jackson Jewelers in Stillwater was generous enough to speak to us about his career, their business, how they got started, and what to look for in a diamond. The Hearts On Fire diamonds which Jackon's carries, has the world's most perfectly cut diamonds. Now, I will admit that I'm not exactly the most giddy person when it comes to the topic of marriage, but discussing what makes a diamond shine the way it does was pretty neat! Fifty percent of a diamonds value is due to the way it is cut. This becomes important when shopping for a diamond, which may seem easy, but as I found out can be an extensive process. Although, with the CAD (Computer Aided Design) systems available in many jewelry stores, you can see the exact ring you want from all angles before purchasing it. In the short time that we listened to Mr. Jackson speak he also had a chance to tell us many delightful stories he has experienced with couples throughout the years, having been in the jewelry business since he was born. I don't know when I will be in the market for a ring but when I am, Jackson Jewelers seems like a very friendly and helpful environment!

Thursday was a stressful, but exciting day consisting of two tests, two meetings and class in between. Both tests were luckily on the easier side and I had studied earlier in the week, so I wasn't too worried. The OSU Student Foundation Exec. meeting brought more planning and reminders for Cowboy Spirit which is approaching so soon!! I'm really looking forward to this year's battle of the bands! Circle K International followed shortly after, in the Student Union, where we began by discussing upcoming events. We were all looking forward to hosting the District Spring Rally on Saturday! Then we started cutting and tying blankets that we will give to DHS. Here are a couple pics from the meeting.

Saturday morning came with lots of enthusiasm due to all the Circle Ker's who were on their way from different parts of Texas and Oklahoma to meet for the Spring Rally. I love district events with CKI because almost everyone has been a friend from a previous CKI or even a Key Club event! So in a sense these events are an excuse for friends from long distances to get together and perform service projects - what could be better?! We all met at the Renaissance Living Center in Stillwater and decorated the residents' doors for Valentine's Day; they were so happy to see so many smiling faces. Builder's Club also met us there so we had plenty of help ensuring that the doors were wonderfully decorated for the upcoming holiday! After finishing, the CKIer's met at the Student Union and had lunch. An interactive ice breaker got everyone going and really made the afternoon entertaining. Then the business of the day was conducted. Normally, the purpose of Spring Rally is to elect the division's next Lieutenant Governor, but due to predicted weather the Governor of CKI couldn't be present; therefore, the election was postponed to the District Convention. It was a great afternoon of service, leadership, and fellowship nonetheless! Here are a few pictures from Saturday.

CKI & Builder's Club!	The ice breaker at the Student Union

When Sunday arrived I was headed to the library for the duration of the day. Another two tests next week doesn't leave room for much down time. Luckily friends were texting updates on the Super Bowl haha. Congrats Saints!

This week brought good times and challenges, but without the work what are you really achieving? I truly believe more each week that attending Oklahoma State brings opportunities and challenges that help me grow in ways I could do nowhere else!

GO POKES!

Between meetings, Cowboy Spirit preparation, scholarship deadlines, snow days, and Cowboy basketball it was another exciting week at Oklahoma State University!

Tuesday during a break between class, I delivered a Cowboy Spirit t-shirt and tickets to a donor who generously aided in our fundraiser for student scholarships. Then I mailed a scholarship application, and bought large bristol paper for my next art project. I've learned that in order to get everything accomplished, you really have to utilize any spare time wisely. Later that evening, there was a general OSU Student Foundation meeting, with Cowboy Spirit remaining at the top of the agenda! After we broke up into our committees and composed our thank-you notes, we were dismissed with posters in hand, ready to tackle the campus with Cowboy Spirit advertisements.

Wednesday, also during a break between classes, I visited local businesses down Hall of Fame and asked if they would agree to advertise Cowboy Spirit. Most happily obliged and I was on my way to do a little grocery shopping before the impending snow storm. I wasn't alone. Walmart was overflowing with people stocking up in preparation for the worst. I tried to maneuver my way around, get what I needed, and was on my way back to campus for my last class. The concrete had already been salted all over campus; I was really impressed!

As expected, Thursday brought bitter cold air and freezing rain. Luckily I only had to go to math lab in the morning; most of my classes were after the 1 p.m. time that the campus closed. The weather certainly caused cancellations of some sort in most people's schedules. That evening, I was planning on helping with the Rt. 66 Tour event, hosted by the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Special Guest speaker Jullien Gordon was going to discuss “The 66 Things A College Student Must Do Before Graduation.” They're hoping it will be rescheduled in sometime in May. The Thursday night CKI meeting was canceled as well, but it's always better to be safe!

Friday brought snow, snow, and more snow. The snow days and the weekend gave me much-needed time to get ahead on everything and catch up on my sleep! Here are a couple pictures from outside of my dorm.

Although men's basketball wasn't what we hoped for this weekend, they played a great game against Mizzou who have a tough home winning streak. Our Cowgirls, however, had a monumental victory over the No. 8 Aggies at Texas A&M!

 

GO POKES!

As the second week of the semester comes to a close, normalcy has returned and I hit the ground running once again. The spring semester always seems to be more of a challenge between balancing scholarship work and school work and with the summer season rapidly approaching, it can be hard to stay focused. Although still in the beginning of a semester, things are exciting and I look forward to each day in class.

Wednesday was definitely full new experiences, starting with a 4:30am wake up call to wait in line in hopes of receiving a study abroad scholarship. The Provost (SAO) Scholarship application is a first come-first served scholarship opportunity for students who plan to study overseas for short periods, like spring break and summer, or longer periods, like a full semester. I have heard there is a lot of competition for this cycle that includes the summer scholarships. I arrived at the union at 5:10 a.m. and was about 25th in line. As the time slowly passed, more and more students trickled in and the aroma of coffee filled the basement as we all occupied ourselves until 8:00 a.m. rolled around. Then one by one we went into the office, turned in our application and that was it!

Although somewhat drowsy throughout the day, everything went well. I had an adviser’s appointment to discuss a letter of recommendation I had requested and was looking forward to the first AIGA meeting of the semester. When I got out of my drawing lab at 6:20 I conveniently walked up stairs to the AIGA meeting, scheduled for 6:30. I'm very thrilled the meetings are on Wednesday nights this semester; last semester they were on Thursday nights, and I was not able to attend. We started out with a great game that dealt with common labels of products, food, clothing etc., and then discussed all the upcoming events. There are always great opportunities available, like contests to enter and places to go to have your work reviewed. Although I feel I may not be at that point in my degree yet, I think it's great to hear about what's out there. Also, there's a department-wide event coming up, a career weekend in Dallas, Texas, and a resource page for OSU graphic design students to utilize in the works - all very exciting!!

I always say, “there's never a dull day,” and Thursday was no exception! A productive Student Foundation executive meeting centered on Cowboy Spirit started the evening off. It's really getting to the “crunch time” phase with this awesome philanthropic event, and I can't wait until Feb.12th!! There's still a lot to be done, but I think each year we're learning more, working together as a group, and I have no doubt it'll be a successful night!

After that, I rushed to the union to make it to the first Circle K International general meeting of the semester. It was great to see some new faces! We discussed all the upcoming events, informed them that they still had a chance to go to District Convention and played a fun ice breaker. The room was full of laughs that evening as we played a mixture of Catch Phrase, charades and Password. Everyone wrote a person, place and thing on 3 separate sheets of paper; then we split into 2 teams. A person on team 1 drew from all the papers and that team guessed, like in Catch Phrase, as to what they were. When time ran out it was the next person's turn on team 2 and this continued until the papers were gone. The next round all papers went back into the box and the same process was done but with charades and then the 3rd round was similar to Password. Acting out Burns Hargis, Las Vegas and a paper clip got quite entertaining haha.

When Friday finally came around, I decided it would be best if I went home due to the amount of progress I needed to make on scholarships, not to mention homework. It's not that I don't have a conducive work environment here, but I felt if I separated myself from any social possibilities (haha) and really focused on what I needed to get done, I would get the best outcome. I completed 2 scholarships and most of my homework so it was a pretty worthwhile weekend. If it wasn't for Cowboy basketball though, it definitely wouldn't have been an exciting weekend! “How 'bout them Cowboys!” It was a great weekend for Oklahoma State basketball with the boys win over Kansas State at Manhattan and then the girls win over Colorado!! The guys getting a record-setting win at that; first win on the road against a top 10 team since 1958! Now that's impressive. Here are some pics from this weekend!

Photos courtesy of Newsok

GO POKES!

Life was as busy as ever the first week of school, and I happily jumped right into my normal routine at OSU. New classes, fresh faces, and the same incredible Oklahoma State atmosphere made for a great first week of the semester!

Monday was filled with last-minute activities such as purchasing my books at the overflowing Student Union bookstore, getting my insurance ID made for my study-abroad trip, running to the bank and buying all the art supplies needed for my Drawing II lab. Also, I had some important tasks to complete for a couple of the approaching scholarship deadlines.

With Cowboy Spirit just around the corner, Tuesday brought a special OSU Student Foundation Exec. meeting and the general meeting that followed. There are so many exciting projects going on right now with STUFU and the Foundation; I’m very grateful to be a part of such a truly philanthropic organization. We were fortunate to have Becky Endicott, the senior director of marketing and communications, and Jonathan McCoy, the assistant director of marketing and communications, of the Foundation speak at meeting that evening. The news that they delivered to us about the upcoming campaign launch on Feb. 26 was so incredibly compelling I could barely contain my excitement. Experiences I’m sure witnessing or hopefully being involved in this monumental campaign will bring prove to me why OSU is such a unique university. I’m so lucky to be afforded the opportunities to participate in such life-changing events.

Thursday was definitely full of excitement as well, with the reception for Benjamin Harjo Jr. in the Gardiner Art Gallery. If you haven’t had a chance to see his incredible pieces displayed on the first level of the Bartlett Center, I would highly recommend it! Every piece is so wonderfully mesmerizing and unique, yet somehow cohesive with the next. I was fortunate enough to meet Mr. Harjo and share my appreciation of his talents. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to attend the lecture due to a conflicting meeting, but I was happy to mix and mingle with his supporters. Here is a picture from the event.

After the reception, I went to a CKI exec. meeting, which will be our last meeting that is formatted in this way. This semester we have decided that for member recruitment purposes, it might be more effective to have slightly shorter meetings every Thursday, instead of only on alternating Thursdays. We will have an exec. meeting following each general meeting. We’re hoping that this gets members more involved! We also discussed many upcoming events, such as Fall Rally, which we were chosen to host here in Stillwater and the annual District Convention that is quickly approaching.

 

Friday arrived and it seemed like it had been almost two weeks, haha. Needless to say, despite my awesome week, I was ready for the weekend. It was a great one; I got to see some friends that came from Texas who hadn't been to Stillwater before. Let's just say, when it comes to talking about OSU and Stillwater they came to the right person! Haha. We went to “Joe’s” the first night and I think they really enjoyed the rest of their time here. Since this weekend is longer than most, I’ll have a chance to get ahead on a little homework and make sure I get plenty of rest for the upcoming week - a very rare occurrence!!

 

Go Pokes!

This winter break, although different than usual, was just as enjoyable and seemed to fly by as quickly as most. The highlight for me was definitely working, which kept me occupied from the beginning to the end of the four weeks. Fortunately, due to the holidays, I got to spend a couple long weekends with my family!

As mentioned previously, I feel extremely fortunate to have been hired on at Uptown Marketplace in Weatherford for the duration of Christmas break. It was a great learning experience and honestly just a lot of fun! The people that I had the pleasure of working with were wonderful and so welcoming. Also, growing up in Weatherford, it was nice to see many familiar faces that frequented the store. As a college student, money is always helpful; however, it was particularly pertinent that I obtain a job over the break in order to help finance my upcoming study-abroad trip in May. I am applying for scholarships to assist in funding as well, but the recipients are not informed until after full commitment to the program has already been made.

On the subject of scholarships, numerous deadlines are rapidly approaching and preparation for most of them is not easy. So I spent as much time as I could when not wrapped up in holiday festivities trying to organize the needed information for the respective scholarships.

In addition, I had a couple opportunities to work at catered Christmas parties. These are always fun for me because I love interacting with people. Also, it's a pleasure because many of the guests are familiar faces! 

FAMILY: what I think the holidays are all about! My family definitely makes every holiday more wonderful than the last. This year was certainly no exception - minus a little deterrence due to the weather that covered the state of Oklahoma. A majority of my family still arrived to celebrate Christmas at my grandparents, but my uncle was unable to make the trip from St. Louis due to the hazardous conditions. We’d much rather have our family safe, but it wasn’t the same without him there. Luckily, he arrived the next weekend and we had a great time. Also, it was very nice to spend time with my brother over the holidays! Especially since he didn’t make it home over Thanksgiving this year, the 10 days that he was here were a blast. Although we still have sibling rivalry in all the games that we play, haha, it’s all in good fun! He had so many stories about his life in California; I want to visit him! It was a white Christmas and Happy New Year for me in Weatherford.

A couple things Santa brought me...I think he likes OSU too! haha.

Cowboy football season came to an end in a well-earned, respected bowl game. Although the outcome wasn’t favorable, the successful season gave all OSU fans high hopes for the future. No matter the circumstances, Oklahoma State fans are ever-present, exemplifying orange power!

Photo courtesy of Newsok

Although the breaks never seem quite long enough, I am always ready to return “home” and become immersed once again in the life that I am so passionate about: the life of an Oklahoma State Cowboy. Just pondering my opportunity-filled future remaining at this prestigious university, motivation kicks in to press on into another promising semester!

Go Pokes!

December 14, 2009

The strongest principle of growth lies in human choice.  - George Eliot.



Finals week had arrived at Oklahoma State University this time last week. Long hours of studying, little sleep, and stress accompany this period of exams each semester. Some semesters are better than others, this semester, however, might have posed the hardest finals schedule I have yet encountered. Mainly due to the days the tests were scheduled, last week was quite stressful for me. When all was said and done though, everything went well. When I completed my finals on Thursday, I felt like the world had been lifted off of my shoulders!

Wednesday served as a much needed break point in between the beginning portion of my finals and my remaining one on Thursday. I was extremely honored to be invited to a lunch at Mike and Anne Greenwood's home. Anne had prepared a wonderful afternoon for a few guests that were fortunate enough to view her extraordinary Christmas decorations! With the numerous beautiful and meaningful Christmas trees, and warm wassail, I don't know who wouldn't feel right at home It was a very pleasant afternoon and I was so grateful that I was able to enjoy it with such wonderful people!

The rest of the day, continuing into the night was spent studying for my remaining final - Art History. I was so relieved to be finished on Thursday. Although I was a bit on the tired side I was happy to fulfill a commitment that evening that I had made a few weeks prior. A friend had asked if I would help cater an event in Oklahoma City on Thursday evening. I knew I would be done with finals, and a little extra money is always needed; it turned out to be fun, I'm glad I had that opportunity! We left at 4pm and returned to Stillwater at 11pm - I definitely slept well that night!

I had been looking forward to Friday all week because my good friend from Texas A&M was coming to spend the weekend with me! We've known each other for a long time so it's always great to reminisce over old times and make new ones! Saturday night, we spent in Bricktown with another friend and I left from there to go back to Weatherford!

Seeing my family and my puppy is always wonderful, but this break I have something else to look forward to! I was fortunate enough to get a job for the length of Christmas break, which I wasn't sure was possible. Some may not find that appealing, but I'm always looking for a change of pace or something new and challenging! I'm working at a local home décor shop in Weatherford, I start the 14th, so I'm not quite sure what my duties will entail but I'm really looking forward to the job! I found out for the first time last Christmas break that a month is a very long time to not have a steady schedule and I enjoy staying busy. So I'll be sure to update on how it goes, I'm sure it will be great.

Another sensational semester at OSU has come to an end. It seems like just yesterday I was composing my first blog!