Sharing coffee, hearts and more
March 5, 2010
This past week, I had the
opportunity to share with 13 of my fellow MVCC classmates a life
enriching experience. We did community service work at Cornerstone
Community Outreach by serving 65 homeless men. Five of my new friends I
met through the MVCC Christian Fellowship Organization and the other
eight from my Political Science class.
What a rich and rewarding experience it
was for everyone. The gym certainly took on a different feeling as we
converged on it. Lots of smiles grew on the men's faces as we passed out
clothes, socks and gloves donated by all the wonderful angels that I
know! Thank you, angels!
Monika filled the empty pantry with 18
boxes of cereal and the refrigerator with eight gallons of milk. Many
thanks to you, girlfriend!
Now it was time for the real work to
begin. Some of us shared a cup of coffee and played cards, while others
listened intently to the stories the men told. In the kitchen, Will, the
shelter's night supervisor, shared facts about being homeless and how
the shelter operates. As friendships were formed, the flashbulbs were
going off to commemorate this festive evening.
The evening came to a quick close and we
loaded back into the van. I was taken by surprise when everyone
announced that they would like to come back next month and serve. So
consider this your invitation and mark your calendar, March 27 will come
fast.
I want to thank each and every one of you
for keeping an open mind and sharing your time with these men. Know that
you have made a difference in their lives.
~William Feather once said, "Something
that has always puzzled me all my life is why, when I am in special need
of help, the good deed is usually done by somebody on whom I have no
claim."
Helping the homeless
Feb. 19, 2010
When is the last time you
were cold? Many people only know being cold as an intellectual concept,
a distant definition. But to really know and appreciate being cold, it
must be experienced. Try stepping outside for five minutes without socks
or gloves on and briefly dip into the realm of being cold. Authentically
feel the phenomenon that the word cold represents. Experience the cold.
Return to the confines of your warm home.
This simple practice may give us a
heightened appreciation for a pair of warm gloves or socks and help us
connect with others who are authentically cold this winter season.
As the winter season bears down on us, I
remember Chicago's homeless and their needs. This year is especially
challenging as many shelters are experiencing high numbers of homeless
people in need of some warmth. Please help me in supplying these local
people with a gift of warmth this winter season.
Through Moraine Valley's Christian
Fellowship Organization, we will be sponsoring "65 Days of Love: Share
Your Socks and Gloves." You can sponsor two brand new pairs of wool
socks and insulated gloves for $5.00 or consider donating your extra
hats, scarves, or gloves and help someone else to experience warmth. Our
goal is put together 65 bags that contain things like socks, gloves,
scarf, hat, shaving cream, toothbrush, toothpaste, magazine, book, pen,
lip balm, shampoo, etc. We're also accepting cash donations, and those
can be sent to our advisor, Michael Shannon, in A260. Make checks
payable to MVCC Christian Fellowship. You'll find "Love Bins" in each of
the campus buildings.
If you have any questions, you can contact
me at
meyersk5@student.morainevalley.edu. Thank you for your compassion
and kindness by giving the gift of warmth.
Ready or NOT, Final Grades are posted!
Jan. 5, 2010
The very second that my eyes
popped open this morning, I fumbled for my glasses on the nightstand,
threw them on, jumped out of bed and ran thru the house to the office
and jumped on the computer. After seventeen long grueling weeks, yes
grueling for me, I'm about to find out if I was able to master the
subjects that I took.
My stomach filled with butterflies. I kept
typing in the wrong URL to get to registration which is
http://webreg.morainevalley.edu. Finally success. I was there. As I
hit the enter button, my anxiety rose. I had an idea of where I was at,
but final exams always throw a wrench into everything, filling me with
self doubt. Here they come. My eyes readjust as the screen flips and I'm
filled with PRIDE! This was by far the most challenging semester I've
ever had. If you recall from my previous posts I've only ever taken two
classes per semester because of fear, that I would not be able to
maintain a respectable GPA. So I decided that I was going to put on my
big girl pants and take 4 classes. Well, let me tell you that was by far
one of the most challenging things I've ever accomplished.
I've a newfound respect for all you
college students out there who work and go to school full time I have no
idea how you do it, way too much pressure............ But I did it. I
literally had NO SOCIAL LIFE. I lived in the library and when they
closed I moved to Starbucks, I ate, drank and slept Earth Science,
Statistics, American Literature, and Math for Teachers. So not only did
I become knowledgeable in these subjects, but I also learned a lot about
myself. If I commit to something, I can achieve it. It's all about
reprioritizing your life and focusing on the end result and that for me
is GRADUATION in SPRING 2010!
Meyers' Top Ten List of Gratitude.
Nov. 23, 2009
As I woke up this morning, I took a few moments, reflecting over this
past year and with Thanksgiving less than five days away, I decided to
make my Top Ten list of Gratitude.
#10. Waking up and living my life on AMERICAN soil.
#9. Having the right to an EDUCATION.
#8. Being part of the best student body at MORAINE VALLEY COMMUNITY
COLLEGE.
#7. The ability to light my candle of knowledge from the best of the
best PROFESSORS in the world!
#6. ENGAGING class room discussions, which have taught me to be
open minded and see different perspectives.
#5. FRIENDSHIPS that have grown and enriched my life.
#4. UNCONDITIONAL love of my dog, Baloo.
#3. Being a SURVIVOR and not a victim.
#2. Having a JOB.
Saving the best for last..........drum roll please........
#1. YOU, my loyal readers who come back month after month to see
what is going on in my world.
I encourage you all to take 5 minutes. What are you thankful for?
Happy Thanksgiving!
Peace,
Krista
Gratitude
Oct. 14, 2009
Its 6:40 a.m. and the winds of change have arrived. As the cool 47
degree winds hit my face and the bitter sweet fall smell fills my car as
I pull onto College Parkway. Down the long driveway my eyes are
immediately drawn to the massive Roman coliseum columns that stand
before me. Landscapers, landscapers everywhere feverishly setting the
sod, and planting shrubs and trees that will surround our new courtyard
before old man winter arrives.
As I pull up into the new "EMPTY" parking lot of the newly
constructed Dr. Vernon O. Crawley Science Hall, I get out of my vehicle
and start walking toward the doors, my eyes can't help but to admire it
all. This vision has been talked about for as long as I've been here on
campus and now it's a reality. The magnificent buildings, adorned with
walkways and lush vegetation. Feelings of gratitude and the realization
of just how blessed and proud I am to be a Moraine Valley Community
College student set in, a lump in my throat starts to form and and my
eyes start to well up! Yeah, I know, but I've always been a cry baby!
I want to say thank you to all the people who made this happen. Dr.
Crawley was the first to come to mind as I know this started with his
vision. The second person I thought of was Rick (Brennan, Campus
operations). I see him hard at work in every building here on campus all
hours of the day and night and always with a smile on his face! So my
heartfelt gratitude to you both and everyone who has brought this brand
new side of campus to life! You‘ve made my last year here at MVCC very
exciting and full of many firsts and lasts. For that I'm grateful!
Once again MVCC lives up to its slogan "Changing Lives For a Changing
World!"
I hope to see you all this Sunday at the Building Dedications and Open
House from 1–4 p.m.
Peace,
Krista
"Life moves pretty fast. You don't stop and look around once in a
while, you could miss it." -Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Anxiety
Sept. 23, 2009
Welcome back everyone. Hard to believe this is the fifth
week of classes and I haven't dropped one class!
I've been suffering with anxiety since May
about this upcoming semester because if I want to graduate in spring
2010, I would need to take my last seven classes between now and then.
So that means four classes this semester and three next semester and for
the majority of you that's the norm and I have the utmost respect for
you that you're able to keep it all together. But no, not for me. I have
only ever taken two classes because I was afraid that my GPA would
suffer terribly and I would not be able to take care of all my
responsibilities . So I put my big girl pants on and am taking four
classes this semester! And you know what? I'm doing great. I've been
juggling things much better than I'd anticipated; even scored a 90
percent on my first Statistics exam!
Speaking of Statistics, I've heard nothing
good about this class and that is no exaggeration. Everyone has shared
their nightmares with me over the last twelve weeks and so far I'm
thinking that it's getting a bad rap. I'm anxiously waiting for the
floor to drop out and it hasn't. So I'm going to take a stand here even
if it's alone. Statistics is FUN! I highly recommend it and know that
you can accomplish anything, but you have to WANT to.
Well, that's all for now, time to juggle …
"The willingness to accept
responsibility for one's own life is the source from which self-respect
springs."
Joan Didion
Meet your new Phi Theta Kappa VP
Aug. 18, 2009
I'm beaming from the inside out. I just learned that I
was appointed to the position of vice president of service for Phi Theta
Kappa. I'm honored and so excited to start my last year here at Moraine
Valley (did I just say "my last year"? Well, that's all together another
blog. Stay tuned.) in this prestigious role. Especially the "service"
portion of my responsibilities; something happens to me when I do
service work. A feeling like none other runs deep within my mind, body
and soul, one that I only feel during and after service work. It's
almost euphoric, a mixture of peace, goodness, completeness that fills
me up.
For those of you who have no idea what Phi Theta Kappa is, we are an
international honor society serving two-year colleges. In order to
become a member, you must have a GPA of 3.5 and have completed twelve or
more credit hours here at Moraine Valley.
Two orientation meetings will be held on Thursday, September 24 @ 2 p.m.
and 6 p.m. Stop by the Student Union (U111) to learn more about who we are and
what we plan to accomplish this year. We will also have a table at
Welcome Week which is August 25, 26, and 27 from 11 a.m.– 2 p.m. in
the quad. Stop by and say hello. The first person to mention that
they read about Phi Theta Kappa on my blog will win an MVCC backpack!
Welcome back, everyone. I hope you had a phenomenal summer break and
you're geared up to see all the new changes that have taken place here
on campus. You're barely going to recognize it! I can't wait to walk to
class now: new pathways, new sights, and new buildings! WOW is the word
that kept popping in my mind as I walked from the new "U" Building to
the new "C" Building. Enjoy….
"What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments,
but what is woven into the lives of others."
-Pericles
Essay Winner "How My Community College Changed My
Life"
July 21, 2009
In March, I read an article in the Glacier regarding an essay contest
that MVCC was having: "How My Community College Changed My Life,"
although I entered it in 2008 and didn't win, this year was going to be
different. I've been cultivating my writing skills and I wanted everyone
to know that MVCC really has changed my life. The prize: 12 FREE credit
hours. Wow! Who couldn't use that?
So, I worked on my essay for a couple of weeks—yes, a couple of
weeks—editing, revising, editing, polishing, polishing and polishing. My
mentor and COM-101 teacher Ericka Dieters always told me, "Writing takes
time and lots of it."
It
happened. I received a letter from Dr. Vernon Crawley, president of MVCC,
congratulating me on my essay and stating that I was the 2009 winner of
the Paul Simon "How My Community College Changed My Life" contest and my
essay would now be entered at the state level. Chills ran up and down my
spine as I read the news. Yes, I'm very proud to have received this
award because of my previous poor writing skills. So, to be recognized
for this is a tribute to how much I have grown since I've been here at MVCC.
And as if that wasn't enough, I was honored at the MVCC June Board
meeting, where Dr. Margaret Lehner's heartfelt introduction me left me
in tears and virtually speechless as you can see in the photo.
This is how MVCC changed my life!
How my community college has changed my life!
Albert Schweitzer once said, "At times our own light goes out and is
rekindled by a spark from another person." I can attest to the darkness
first hand, on August 3, 2004, my world turned completely black, my
husband Brett, at the age of 42, passed away after battling cancer.
Scared and alone, I was faced with making many decisions, Brett was my
high school sweetheart, and we always made decisions together. So I
spent the last four years grieving, transitioning and reevaluating my
life. Through Brett's death I began to understand the true meaning of
life and just how precious it is.
My dream to be an Elementary Education Teacher, at the age of 38, with
no college background, was this possible? I was lost and insure, but not
anymore, I now stand tall, confident and proud with only 27 credit hours
left to complete, before I, the first in my family, becomes a college
graduate!
Moraine Valley Community College has built my confidence, my
self-esteem, and has been my advocate every step of the way. After my
world was shattered, MVCC helped me to pick up the pieces, one at a
time, careful repositioning, yet resculpting.
I always struggled with writing, probably because I thought that if the
words didn't immediately fall out onto the paper that was an indication
of my inadequacy. This was another fallacy of mine: "Writing takes time
and lots of it", my communications Professor would constantly reassure
me. My communications classes have built my self esteem by allowing me
the buoyancy to write and speak with eloquence and conviction. Last year
I was asked to write a Public Service Announcement for Charity Benefit.
The committee was so impressed with my writing; they then asked me to
record the PSA, so it could be aired on the radio. This was the first
time in my life that I was being recognized for my writing, I couldn't
believe it, my confidence level dramatically increased.
As my spark turned into flame, MVCC
approached me with an opportunity to further enhance my writing skills,
journaling monthly for their "Meet Our Students" section on their
website. I was shocked, I just couldn't understand why they thought I
could write, but I graciously accepted the challenge.
My flame now burning brightly, MVCC had
yet another proposal for me, "Representing the Non-Traditional Students
in the Spring advertising campaign. This would entail a Television and
Poster campaign." I was elated; I've never been on TV before, definitely
a "life moment" for me. My self -esteem at its highest peak, being asked
to represent the 18,000 students here on campus is an incredible honor
and so respectable.
My spark was rekindled by every person on
this campus, who has presented me with endless opportunities. I never
thought that in such a short time I would have grown this much, but I
have, MVCC has definitely changed my life, a firestorm has been ignited!
Peace, Krista
Choices….. Summer School or NOT
June 19, 2009
It's always a big decision to make should I take classes over the summer
or have I earned the right to take the summer off? After all, my brain
is frazzled; it needs to recover from the last 17 weeks, and the 17
before that. One question and one question only, would answer that… do I
want to graduate in the spring of 2010? Bet you can't guess where I'm
sitting right now on a Friday afternoon? I certainly don't see any
lifeguards or feel the sand between my toes or hear the roar of the
waves. It's more like the sounds of click, click, rah- dah- tap- tap,
emanating from the 6 other dedicated students pounding away feverishly
on keyboards, staring at a screen. The letters above the doorway read
Cybercafé, and it's just me and my biology book.
Right now for me it all about sacrificing the small things and the
things I feel I'm entitled to, all for the greater good of myself and my
dreams. Summer classes aren't as bad as you might imagine. I kind of
like it. Sick, huh? The campus takes on a whole new look and feel, new
faces, flowers abloom, so much more laid back, a slower pace even though
we have a mere eight weeks to cram in what would normally take seventeen
weeks. The pressure is there, but it seems less smothering, maybe
because the summer breeze blows it away so quickly. I understand that MVCC has had record-breaking enrollment this summer. Over 11,799 other
students are making those sacrifices as well! Way to stay motivated and
plow your way through to your dreams.
Biology is extremely demanding. With only three weeks left, I have to
focus more now than before. Starting what I feel is going to be the most
challenging chapter: cellular reproduction/DNA.
I'm also taking COM-102. Paul Pajeau is my instructor and he rocks! I
read an article featuring him in the Glacier a while back and I knew
that I wanted to experience his class. His philosophy of life is very
similar to mine and I knew he would be a perfect fit. With only two
weeks in, I know that I'm going to walk away with more than the ability
to communicate well. Highly recommend Mr. Pajeau!
Time to get back to my bio book. Enjoy your classes. Six weeks to go and
two semesters left before I realize my dream!
Peace, Krista
"You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the
courage—pleasantly, smilingly, nonapologetically—to say 'no' to other
things. And the way to do that is by having a bigger 'yes' burning
inside. The enemy of the 'best' is often the 'good.'" ~Stephen Covey
Wall of Fame
May 26, 2009
It's
8:42 am, 5/20/09. "Krista, holy spaghettios! You are on the wall in the D
Building. It's awesome!", read the text message sent from my friend,
Monika, who by the way, makes the best coffee at the Espresso Love cart
in the D Building!
On the wall, I thought……. Oh maybe they hung my poster up there. So the
next day before class I stopped in to see my face on the wall, never in
a million years would I have imagined what I saw—5 feet by 5 feet—that's
me in the upper left hand corner. I'm elated. Can't wipe the smile off
my face. How cool is that? I couldn't have dreamt a better college
experience for myself. This has been the most rewarding and fulfilling
experience of my life. When I chose Moraine Valley Community College
this was the first major decision I had to make on my own after the
death of my husband, and without a shadow of doubt it was the right one!
"Changing Lives for a Changing World!"
Peace!
Begging for Change winner of Two PAL
Awards
May 7, 2009
Last night at the MVCC Spring 2009 Film
Festival, Begging for Change rocked the house and walked away
with not one, but two of the prestigious PAL awards! The first one being
Audience Choice and the second Best Film first runner–up.
I'm so proud and I cannot stop smiling. The excitement is still running
feverishly though my veins.
To be put in the same category with the
rest of these films, which were made by students at MVCC, who one day
aspire to be a director, producer, and/or actor, was satisfaction
enough. But then five total amateurs took the film festival by storm
and, when I say amateurs, the crew of Begging for Change is the
definition of. As we are all a bit older and did not grow up in the You
Tube, camera-happy generation, we were at a clear disadvantage.
But this is where
P A S S I O N comes into play. You can have all the tools
and knowledge to get a job done, but when you invoke passion into
something, this is what will set you apart from the rest of the pack!
Begging for Change crew is the definition of passion and I was so
blessed to have shared the last 15 weeks of countless hours with each
one of them! Russell, Michele, Mike and Monika I'm so proud to call you
my friend, from the very depths of my heart thank you for your
dedication, time and passion!
To Andre, Joseph, John, Amos, Joe, Willie,
Andrew and to all the men at Epworth, your honesty, trust, and
willingness to share your stories with me was life altering. You have
all inspired me to be a better human being more compassionate, less
judgmental, and a better listener. Each one of you will always have a
spot in my heart and I pray that you will all find your way and God will
give you what you need!
To my instructor, Mr. Duchler, thank you
for the challenge and raising the bar for the student body. Your
encouragement through out my journey was imperative and gave me the
much- needed confidence I lacked.
To Dan Pal and the Filmmakers Club, I
appreciated the evening you put together and the opportunity to showcase
my work. I encourage the student body to attend future film festivals.
It's a great evening of fascination, imagination and great food! These
awards belong to every person in the world who has experienced
HOMELESSNESS!
Peace,
Krista
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs;
ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because
what the world needs is people who have come alive." ~Harold Whitman
Scholarship WINNER
April 27, 2009
On April 15, I was awarded not one, but two scholarships from the MVCC
Foundation. A heartfelt thank you to the Foundation and everyone who was
involved in this wonderful evening! I'm ecstatic to have been selected
as the recipient of the Developmental Education and the Support Staff
Association scholarships. This means I will be able to continue my
education with no interruption due to my financial restraints. Know that
if you are having financial difficulty and are not eligible for
financial aid, scholarships are available to you, if you qualify.
Check out the website at
www.morainevalley.edu/foundation/scholarships.htm for the
scholarships offered. Enjoy the last two weeks of the spring semester
and I hope to see you over the summer!
Peace, Krista
"To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take
nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kind that will
stand behind the action. Nothing that is done for you is a matter of
course. Everything originates in a will for the good, which is directed
at you. Train yourself never to put off the word or action for the
expression of gratitude." ~Albert Schweitzer~
Begging for Change
April 21, 2009
Exciting news: Begging for Change makes its debut on the silver screen!
It all started 15 weeks ago. I'm taking Film Appreciation 107 and for
our final project, we could write the notorious paper or make a film.
For me, my college experience is all about challenging myself in
different arenas, so I chose the latter of the two.
I started right away. Mr. Duchler explained that making a movie is not a
solo act, but comprised of a team of dedicated, talented people. So I
set out to find those qualities in my friends and family. I could not
have chosen a better crew each and every one of them made this film a
true success. A big thank you to Monika, Michele, Mike, Russell, and
each man at the Epworth Center!
So what could I make a film about, I thought to myself? Since I've been
volunteering at a men's homeless shelter since November and I realized
that my perception of homeless people was not reality, I posed that
question to others and concluding similar thoughts. I knew that a
documentary about homelessness and the people who live through it would
be my focus.
Countless hours spent interviewing, filming, creating and editing has
been by far the most rewarding experience of my life. It's amazing how
these homeless people have enriched my life and made me a more
compassionate and caring human being.
I invite you to join us on May 4 at, 6:30 .m., in the Fogelson Theater
on campus for the MVCC Spring Film Festival. It's sure to be a great
evening and I hope to see you there!
Enjoy the last three weeks of classes!
Peace, Krista
"How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it!"
~George Elliston
New Beginnings
March 13, 2009
Ahhhh Spring Break! Not sure about you but I certainly need that, my
brain hurt! I'm continually being challenged in the Algebra arena, but
am seeking out the help from the wizards in the Tutoring Center and
utilizing my Instructors office hours. I urge you all to do the same,
when utilizing office hours it's all about me and my needs in understand
the concepts being put forth. This time is truly PRICELESS and has
helped me to excel in the areas that I was second guessing myself. Go
ahead give it a try and watch your mind expand.
I was really stressed out about mid terms and spent every waking hour
studying, so I'm hoping the out will be positive. I need a "C" or better
in my MTH098 course, in order to take the next requirement MTH121. This
is last and final remedial course I need and to tell you the truth I'm
glad I took them; I have a better understanding and will be able to pass
this on some day to my students.
Before break I met with my advisor Jeremy Kingery, who by the way is the
best, most knowledgeable and helpful academic advisor, so that I could
start selecting my summer classes. I'm so excited, I only need 9 more
classes to graduate, so I have mapped out my 3 final semesters here at
Moraine. Hard to believe that I have reached this point; I'm on my way
to becoming a college graduate!
Spring has certainly sprung here on campus, new life and grand
beginnings as the Student Union KICKS OFF the unveiling of the "U"
building. Over the break I was fortunate enough to be at the right place
at the right time and received a sneak peek at the new space. Let me
tell you, it's impressive and I can't wait for you to see it and enjoy
our new space. So remember on Tuesday, March 17, 11:30 a.m.-1:30
p.m. the grand opening will be held. Performances by 24K Dance
Club, Moraine Valley Jazz Ensemble, bag piper, a St. Patrick's Day
celebration, a look at the new Student Art Gallery ,food, games, and
prizes will be taking place as Dr. Crawley welcomes us all . See you
there and welcome back!
"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can
start today and make a new ending."
~Maria Robinson~
Scholarship Winner
Feb. 11, 2009
On Friday, I was presented by the Student Government Association with a
$200 gift card to the MVCC Bookstore. Once again I'm honored and
grateful for this award. I would like to extend my gratitude to the
Student Government and the committee that selected me.
Since winter break I have been researching
and applying for scholarships. Many of them offer substantial financial
rewards based on a question that required a 300-to 500-word response.
Currently spring semester is being paid for by a scholarship that I was
awarded by the Foundation Office at MVCC. So if you're in need of FREE
MONEY I suggest that you check out the Foundation Web site at
http://www.morainevalley.edu/Foundation/scholarships.htm or you can
always visit them in Building B, Room B240 or call (708) 974-5740. It's
there for taking, if you like.
Week four already? Thus far I've logged
about 16 hours in the Tutoring Center as I‘m currently enrolled in my
final remedial math course—Math 098. The struggle continues so I must
stay focused on the prize. Even though I struggle, I'm trying some
positive affirmation, I‘ll let you know if it works because I do LOVE
ALGEBRA!
I'm also looking forward to the
announcement of Professor of the Year. Did you nominate a professor? I
did. She is assistant professor of Communications, Erika Deiters.
Professor Dieters was instrumental in much of my success last year and I
wanted her to be recognized for her efforts. The professors at MVCC work
very hard on our behalf to make sure that we are all successful. Being
grateful for the things we have and the people in our lives is so
important. So go ahead and SCATTER
KINDNESS today—say thank you!
"At times our own light goes out and is
rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think
with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."
Albert Schweitzer
How bad do you want success?
Jan. 7, 2009
2009 hmmm……. Unbelievable. I'm a bit
nervous about leaving 2008 behind. Blessings were plentiful for me this
past year. I‘m excited, but also a bit apprehensive venturing into the
unknown year ahead.
Have you seen me on TV? If you haven't, be
on the lookout for MVCC commercials. If you recall in October, I was
asked to represent the non-traditional student and I taped a commercial.
I'm elated, as I have never been on TV before and this is definitely a
"life moment" for me. The first question I get when I tell of my
newfound fame is, "wow much did you get paid?" That always makes me
chuckle, because the value of being asked to represent the 18,000
students that make up the student body cannot be measured in dollars.
Instead it's honorable and respectable and I'm proud to represent YOU!
MVCC has out-surpassed every expectation I
had and is one of the best decisions I ever made. Hard to believe that I
actually have 39 credit hours already. I'm two-thirds of the way there
and, if all goes as planned, I will be graduating summer of 2010. It
seems like yesterday that I was in a frenzy because I had to take the
placement test (little did I know that was a cake walk compared to my
MTH-095 final).
Finals sent me into a state of exhaustion.
This break was much needed and I'm back feeling refreshed and revived.
MTH-095, which is a remedial (high school level) course, whipped me up.
I struggled every chapter, and algebra was just not coming easy for me.
Unfortunately, math is not the sort of subject that you can say, "oh
well, I didn't get this chapter, maybe I'll get the next." The next
chapter is always built on the one before it, so it's imperative that
you master the previous concept in order to move forward. Needless to
say I spent 67 hours in the tutoring center last semester and if it
wasn't for the amazing tutors, I would be retaking MTH-095 instead of
basking in the glory of my B! This is exactly what sets MVCC apart from
the rest of the colleges. You're never on your own. When you think you
CAN'T, there is always someone there asking, "how can I help?". My
heartfelt gratitude to each of the kind, patient tutors that helped me
to understand factoring, how and why getting the variable alone is
necessary, and graphing, not to mention all the other techniques. I now
can walk confidently in my MTH-098 class with a strong foundation and
I'm looking forward to conquering the almighty "X".
Happy New Year to you and I leave with
these words of wisdom from the Rev. Run:
"There was a little boy named
Steven who once asked a wise old man what it took to be successful.
The wise old man picked Steven up by the scruff of his neck and
dunked him, head first, into a barrel filled with water. Steven was
kicking and squirming with all he had, but the wise old man just
kept him under water. After holding young Steven there for several
minutes, and mere seconds before Steven passed out, the wise old man
released his hold on the young boy. As Steven began to catch his
breath, he said, "Hey, why did you go and do that? You must be out
of your mind, you could have killed me." The wise old man just
laughed and said, "You asked me what it took to be successful? Well
what was the one thing you wanted more than anything else when you
were underwater? Young Steven said, "I wanted AIR!!" The wise
old man said, Steven when you want SUCCESS just as much as you
wanted that air, you'll have it."
How bad do you want success?
The Twelve Days Till Finals
Dec. 6, 2008
See what Professor Dieters started? I
wanted to write about the upcoming finals, so I counted the days on the
calendar. It was 12, and I said to myself, "Hmmm, 12 days to finals,"
and then the music started to play, and I was singing A Partridge in a
Pear Tree. The rest is history!
On the first day of Class,
my professor sent to me
A syllabus in a Word doc.
On the second day of Class,
my professor sent to me
Two books required for class,
And a syllabus in a Word doc.
On the third day of Class,
my professor sent to me
Three chapters of reading,
Two books required for class,
And a syllabus in a Word doc.
On the fourth day of Class,
my professor sent to me Four credits closer,
Three chapters of reading,
Two books required for class,
And a syllabus in a Word doc.
On the fifth day of Class,
my professor sent to me
Five resources for research,
Four credits closer,
Three chapters of reading,
Two books required for class,
And a syllabus in a Word doc.
On the sixth day of Class,
my professor sent to me
Six hours of studying,
Five resources for research,
Four credits closer,
Three chapters of reading,
Two books required for class,
And a syllabus in a Word doc.
On the seventh day of Class,
my professor sent to me
Seven words of wisdom,
Six hours of studying,
Five resources for research,
Four credits closer,
Three chapters of reading ,
Two books required for class,
And a syllabus in a Word doc.
On the eighth day of Class,
my professor sent to me
Eight Blackboard discussion tips,
Seven words of wisdom,
Six hours of studying,
Five resources for research,
Four credits closer,
Three chapters of reading,
Two books required for class,
And a syllabus in a Word doc.
On the ninth day of Class,
my professor sent to me Nine weeks of teaching,
Eight Blackboard discussion tips,
Seven words of wisdom,
Six hours of studying,
Five resources for research,
Four credits closer,
Three chapters of reading,
Two books required for class,
And a syllabus in a Word doc.
On the tenth day of Class,
my professor sent to me
Ten final exam tips,
Nine weeks of teaching,
Eight Blackboard discussion tips,
Seven words of wisdom,
Six hours of studying,
Five resources for research,
Four credits closer,
Three chapters of reading,
Two books required for class,
And a syllabus in a Word doc.
On the eleventh day of Class,
my professor sent to me Eleven challenges' to pursue my dream,
Ten final exam tips,
Nine weeks of teaching,
Eight Blackboard discussion tips,
Seven words of wisdom,
Six hours of studying,
Five resources for research,
Four credits closer,
Three chapters of reading ,
Two books required for class,
And a syllabus in a Word doc.
On the twelfth day of Class,
my professor sent to me
Twelve reasons to reach for SUCCESS, Eleven challenges' to pursue my
dream,
Ten final exam tips,
Nine weeks of teaching,
Eight Blackboard discussion tips,
Seven words of wisdom,
Six hours of studying,
Five resources for research,
Four credits closer,
Three chapters of reading,
Two books required for class,
And a syllabus in a Word doc.
SUPERSTAR!
Nov. 11, 2008
O.K., I just walked onto the campus this morning and my face is
plastered everywhere! I'm feeling like a SUPERSTAR. One of my fans
rushed up to me at the Espresso Love coffee cart, handed me a Sharpie
and asked me for my autograph! OK, so it was my friend Monika, big deal!
Nonetheless, it's exciting and I'm feeling like a SUPERSTAR!
Let me backtrack here. A few weeks ago
Karen Town, from Moraine Valley's, Marketing department, approached me
and asked if I would be interested in working on a project. You know me
I said absolutely even before I knew what it was going to entail. She
explained that she is working on the spring marketing campaign for the
college and thought I would be a perfect fit to represent the
nontraditional student. How honorable is that? I'm still walking on
cloud nine.
The next week, I was on my way to the
studio, where I created a video and had a
still photo shoot to possibly
be used for a commercial, posters, billboards, etc! Let me tell you that
was definitely a lifetime opportunity forever etched in my mind. It was
so cool!
Reflecting back over the last six years, I
never thought that I would feel happiness again. 2008 has been an
exceptional year for me. So many blessings have come my way and I am so
grateful for them. Jill Hinrich, my hero, who helped me cope with the
loss of my husband, always said "Good things await, good things await!"
I never thought it to be true, but let me tell you it is and it feels so
good!
Praise the bridge that carried you over.
~George Colman
Free Books for Spring Semester
Nov. 3, 2009
At the last Student Government Association meeting, I was awarded the
Book Scholarship! A $200 gift card to the Book Store. I'm grateful to
have been awarded this scholarship and would like to thank the SGA for
this blessing. So once again I will attend MVCC at no cost to me. The
SGA Book Scholarship coupled with the Joanne Karen Basick Memorial
Scholarship will cover the entire cost of the Spring 2009 semester! How
cool is that? MVCC certainly has given me more than I had ever
anticipated. Not only am I getting an exceptional quality education, but
they are also financially helping me along the way.
Did you know that MVCC offers scholarships based on academic
achievements, career fields and/or financial need? If you're in a cash
crunch, I suggest you stop in the Foundation Office (B240) and pick up
the booklet that lists
all the scholarships that MVCC offers. Once you determine which ones
you're eligible for, fill out the application.
One of my favorite Chinese proverbs that you need to keep in mind is,
"Talk doesn't cook rice."
Go get em!
Struggling...
Oct. 13, 2008
Two tests in to my beginning algebra class and my grades are less than
honorable, a C and a C+. I'm really struggling. The time spent in the
classroom twice a week and the homework given is just not enough to get
me through. So, I decided that I needed an intervention if I'm going to
maintain my GPA. Karen Bartemio, my math guru, to the rescue. Karen
taught me Math-090 last semester and respectfully I appreciated her
style of teaching. Her patience, coupled with her catchy sayings for all
the rules, bringing the numbers to life and making it so easy. Hands
down the best and most patient math instructor I've encountered.
Karen suggested that I head on over to the Tutoring Center to get the
extra help I need. OMG, a diamond in the rough right here on campus and
I never knew it. Needless to say, I have spent the last two weeks in
there and WOW what a difference that has made on my test scores. I just
receive my third test back Thursday and I received an A . By George, I
think I've got it and let me tell you what a wonderful feeling it is to
"get it!" I'm still flying high and wanted to share this fantastic place
with you all.
My success is owed to all the tutors who have sat with me explaining "
to get 'X' alone, you must get rid of the parenthesis first" and my all
time favorite one "two numbers with the same signs are a positive
number." All the tutors are extremely knowledgeable and very patient.
Thank you to each and every one of you and I will see you in the
morning!
So please don't be intimidated or too shy to ask for help, head right on
over to B284 Monday thru Saturday, grab a seat ,and let your mind be
molded!
And I saved the best for last "IT'S FREE!"
You MUST prepare if you want to win in life! Paul "Bear" Bryant, college
football's winningest coach said "It's not the will to win that
matters—everyone has that. It's the will to prepare to win that
matters!" YOU MUST give your all! Some one once said to Violinist Issac
Stern, " I'd give my life to play like you! Then Stern turned and said.
"OH THAT? I already did!" Give it your all! ~ Rev Run~
In Danger of Extinction?
Sept. 26, 2008
Yellow Striped
Empty
18 feet in length
Asphalt surface
8 feet in width
Where am I?
Are you also looking for a parking spot? Welcome back everyone. It's
good to be back, but parking is a nightmare! Are you all feeling my
pain??? It's good to look around the campus and see it buzzing with life
again. But, in a sense I have become something I never thought I would
be: a STALKER! I have found myself sitting in front of the campus doors
waiting for someone, anyone to walk out, shouting out the car window
"Hey are you leaving?" If the answer is "yes," then I slowly follow
behind them, praying that they are close (but that hasn't happened yet)
so that I can procure their spot.
The Glacier ran an article about the parking situation and someone
stated that they are always spots on the other side of the tennis
courts. So guess where I have been parking! The walk isn't bad and since
we're still experiencing nice weather, I have been taking advantage of
the "no hassle spots." But I can tell you now I am not going to be this
excited when it's 20 degrees outside.
Hope you all enjoyed Fall Fest it was a beautiful day outside and lots
going on in the quad—music, games, prizes and free food! If you're
looking for a way to get to know more about Moraine and all it offers, I
highly recommend the events that the Student Life Center puts on.
Welcome Week, Fall Fest and Spring Fest come to mind. All of the clubs
are out there talking about what they offer and giving away trinkets.
Our master of ceremonies, Demetrius Robinson keeps everyone involved and
most of all makes you feel welcomed and part of the Moraine community.
He is a wealth of knowledge, so stop in the Student Life Center and
introduce yourself to him.
KICKN4CHRIS, the benefit that I have been working on for the past nine
months will be happening this Sunday, I'm so excited. This is THE
charity event of 2008 stop on out and be a part of it. Check out
www.kickn4chris.org
for further information.
All for now, I hope you are FALLING back into student life! Remember
"Ideas are worthless, intentions have no power, plans are nothing….
unless they are followed up with action…..." Rev. Run.
A Kick N first-class summer
Looking forward to new challenges that lie ahead
Aug. 25, 2008
Action packed best describes the last two months for me. The majority of
my time has been spent working on a benefit for my friend, Chris. He is
12 years old and fighting Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. A benefit in his
honor, KICK N 4 CHRIS will be held on Sept. 28 at Hawthorne Race
Track.
Planning an event of this magnitude takes enormous effort by a team of
dedicated people. We have done numerous mini fundraisers up until this
point, such as three pub crawls, Bourbonnais Bears training camp,
Thunderbolts game, and Wrigleyville Firehouse, etc. Through these
efforts, my heart has been touched and my faith renewed by the many
Chicagoans who have donated their time, money and services to ensure
that Chris's medical needs are met.
Chicago really is the "Heart" of America
and truly is my kind of town! Meet Chris by logging on to
www.kickn4chris.org. I invite
you to join me in supporting Chris and his family on Sept. 28.
The knowledge and personal growth that you achieve from being involved
in community service cannot be obtained from any other resource than
itself. If you have never been involved, I urge you to check it out.
There are so many ways to give back, and the feeling you walk away with
is something unlike you have ever felt. Moraine Valley offers many
community service opportunities. Get going, get involved!
As if that wasn't enough, I found myself gazing at the wonderment of one
of the Seven Wonders of the World—the Grand Canyon. I'm speechless,
trying to find the words to describe what I saw; majestic and stunningly
gorgeous come to mind. My next exploration of the canyon will be in it
and doing some whitewater rafting down the Colorado River! Navy Pier,
Wrigley Field, Taste of Chicago, Montrose beach, Cellular Field,
Michigan Avenue and Moraine Valley campus were also part of the action.
I managed to spend time in the classroom taking two classes and was
pleasantly surprised by the Humanities course I took. I had no idea what
to expect and I loved it. Maestro Sean Doyle brought the material to
life as he has studied and visited many of the places in our textbook.
World Mythology will definitely be on my schedule for spring 2009.
Well, that's all for now, and I leave you with some food for thought.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: "Enthusiasm is one of the most
powerful engines of success. When you do a thing, do it with all your
might. Put your whole soul into it. Stamp it with your own personality.
Be active, be energetic! Nothing great was ever achieved without
enthusiasm."
July 28, 2008
The Heat is ON!
Finals this week, I'm a bit stressed........lots to accomplish before
the eleventh hour. I'm not sure how I ended up behind the eight ball, but
I did.
Good luck to everyone else who is furiously hitting the keys on the
keyboards around me in the library.
Peace, Krista
