Don’t you wish Fall Break came around again? This is one of those breaks that are definitely needed at this point into the semester. Think about it… you’re half way done with the semester! I was definitely able to get some sleep and spend some time at home this fall break. I was also able to brag to other friends how we get a fall break, and they’re like… “What’s a fall break? Why don’t we get one?” It’s definitely a good feeling and I was able to get some reviewing done prior to my midterms coming up! Fall break occurs every year in the month of October for Loyola Students, usually on a Monday and a Tuesday. I know we all wish it was a bit longer, but we should appreciate we get this little break to catch up if we feel like we’re a bit behind.
If you are behind, by the way, it is OKAY! Just make sure to act on it, and try your hardest to keep your head in the game. Focus on the fact that Christmas is coming up and that means the end of the semester and Winter Break is nearby!
Stay motivated Ramblers, we are just weeks away from freedom! Until then, push through and this semester will definitely be in your favor.
It is quite shocking that we have hit the midpoint of the semester. After 5 weeks, we get to go back on break for Thanksgiving and bring back the turkey dinner and start shopping for Christmas gifts. After that, we have 2 weeks of classes and we can finally say that fall semester is done. Obviously, the picture quote isn’t directed to college students, but in the long run, we should strive to finish off our semester well.
Digressing, it is hard to be truly bored when the city that you study at, is literally an urban metropolis of never-ending attractions and events. Especially if you are a student from out of the city or even out of the state, you will be definitely be fascinated with what this Windy City has to offer. (We’ll save the specifics of that for a later blog!)
Back on topic, fall semester break, comprised of having Monday and Tuesday (yesterday) off, was well needed. I was able to get caught up on assignments and finally regain the amount of sleeping hours I had lost. (In that time frame, the Cubs also beat the San Francisco Giants, which was fantastic!). When half of the semester done, you should be able to have a clearer picture of how well you are doing in class. At this point, you can check your grades and see whether or not you need with withdraw from a class or if you need to make some improvements to bring up your grade.
Especially with so many holidays and Christmas cheer in the stores already, it can be distracting to you and your studies. You may want to consider gifts to give to people while in the back of your head, you know you got exams and papers due. With that being said, PLEASE, FOCUS on setting your academics as priority and learn to organize yourself in an orderly way. REEVALUATE on what you need to do to get that well-deserved grade in your classes. AIM to make this fall semester a successful one, free from regrets.
Going to professors’ office hours to discuss topics that are unclear can only help you to understand concepts better. Seeing tutors work the same way. Maybe you might be sleepy during class at times like I am. Well, I now drink coffee throughout the day to stay alert and focus and now, I don’t feel that sleepy anymore. Experiment and find out techniques that will help you out to do well in school; everyone is different.
And remember… Winter break is just about 1 month long. You can relax and do whatever you want, stress-free of any class assignments (because basically, you completed the class).
The smell of freshly roasted peanuts; the sound of people opening up their packs of Cracker Jack; and the sizzle of flash fried funnel cake crispy from the fryer, this is the place where Chicago traditions were born, this is Wrigley Field home of the Chicago Cubs. Right off the Addison Red Line stop, Wrigley Field is the main attraction as the second oldest baseball stadium (1914) still in use after Fenway Park in Boston (1912). Many visitors often wonder, what is it about the Cubs that make the team that makes them iconic Chicago?
The Chicago Cubs have not won the World Series since 1908 which was: the Collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Henry Ford manufactures the First Model T off his assembly line, etc. (There are rumors on campus that the only time the Cubs will win again is if Dumbach Hall is torn down, since it too was build in 1908, the oldest building on campus).
Despite their losing streak, Cubs fans remain dedicated and hopeful that the team will win. Each season, more and more fans show up to give their support and loyalty, as many see it as a time for family and friends to bond over America’s favorite pastime. It is fair to say that Cubs fans bleed blue.
Harry Carey, a renowned sports caster, was known for “bringing” the tradition of singing the song “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”, during the 7th inning, to the Chicago Cubs. This is what most fans look forward to during the game, bringing the fans together during their last hurrah.
The stadium is classic Americana. Like many buildings in Chicago, Wrigley Field has both age and character, with ivy verdant on all sides of the stadium. Many visitors take a picture of the signature firetruck red marquee sign that welcomes people into the stadium and one of the last hand-turned scoreboards in the nation (similar to Fenway).
Lastly, a big draw for many fans, myself included, is the traditional Chicago cuisine. Hot dogs and bratwursts are a staple, each lathered in mustard and/or sauerkraut (not ketchup). While between innings you can snack on nuts and/or Cracker Jack (a snack with: sticky, caramel coated popcorn, crunchy peanuts, and a small prize). If you are hoping to satisfy a sweet tooth, the stadium has options from flash fried funnel cake to cloud-like cotton candy.
Other events popular in the stadium include the annual crosstown classic, where the Northside Cubs go to bat with the Southside White Sox. This event draws the most die-hard of fans and people all together in this American classic. Additionally, during the summer months, concerts are held. Just this past year, the stadium has had guest artists like: Billy Joel, Luke Bryan, Pearl Jam, and so much more!
Double Business Degree. The program that opens the door between two continents: America and Europe. Many of you may not know what this is about, so I am here to tell you.
The partnership between Loyola University Chicago and Universidad Loyola Andalucía, my home university, offers amazing possibilities. The greatest is the Double Business Program, which I am part of. It allows students to spend a semester in the John Felice Rome Center (Rome, Italy) and a whole year in Seville, Spain (or in the case of Spanish students like me, in Chicago). Sounds awesome, right?
The plan does not only have academic advantages. It is obvious that it differentiates you and doubles your internship and job opportunities, widening the range of places and positions you can access (students become fully employable in both continents). However, I can tell from my personal experience that it does much more than that. It broadens your horizons. It takes you out of your comfort zone to a more global and original thinking. It opens your mind. It makes you appreciate your culture from another perspective. It lets you take the best of each educational system. It helps you improve your communicative and social skills by living with people who speak a different language and have different customs.
Participating in the Double Business Degree Program has been the best decision in my life. So far it has allowed me to travel, meet amazing people and develop new talents (never had I thought that I would learn how to sing “operetta italiana”). And I cannot wait to see how it is going to shape my future. One major, two continents, three countries, three languages, lots of friends and… the best of all: two degrees without having to add any more years of studies! Business students: what are you waiting for?
Being a college students means being constantly busy and constantly handed new opportunities (or so we all hope), and this isn’t a bad thing. Opportunities are the gateway to successful careers and lives, but there is a point at which you run out of time to accept these opportunities and their implied commitments. This is a problem that I am facing, not for the first time all together, but for the first time on my own.
This year I have definitely been blessed with all the opportunities I have been given, but I have started to realize that I’m coming to the end of my availability to do anything else. The realization came the moment I opened up my instagram app and realized that I had five accounts logged in on my phone that I was working on or with or ran myself. It was that moment when I said, Hey, this actually is A LOT. Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do. My work on social media both for the school, myself, and my sorority brings me so much joy, but the problem with working on social media is that you’re working all the time. Social media doesn’t stop, so I’m constantly posting or liking or monitoring something! Maybe I overbooked myself.
The last two weeks I’ve been stressing out more than usual, and missing assignments, something that I never like to do. Maybe you noticed I haven’t posted on this blog much, this is why. But I don’t want to live behind the excuse of overbooking myself, and neither should you. That’s why I’m taking all these things as another opportunity, one to learn where my balance is. These four years are all about finding yourself and finding out who you’re going to be for the rest of your life. Realizing where your limits are and where you can improve your time management/ procrastinating is just as much a part of this as picking a career path.
The biggest learning experience that I’ve had from this just over the past few weeks, is that I have the ability to manage a lot of things at once, but if I don’t stay organized it will all turn into one major mess. This year more than ever I have been writing things down. If it’s not written in my planner it’s probably not going to happen. Maybe you got away with just remembering it in high school or even Freshman year of college but, once life starts to move a little faster you’re going to thank god for your planner too.
Another important scheduling and time management tidbit I’ve learned, is consistency. If you do the same thing over and over again, it becomes a habit. Going to bed and waking up at the same time can seem like a drag, especially on the weekends. When it gets to be mid-semester and waking up to go downtown isn’t fun anymore though, you’ll be glad you wake up before your alarm.
Taking on more is scary and exciting at the same time. It’s the feeling of moving forward and learning hands on, and I know that I am thankful everyday for the opportunities I have had this semester, but it can be challenging. It’s okay to feel stressed out, even by something you love. Don’t forget to take breaks, and eat cookies, and when you feel like you don’t have time for anything anymore take a deep breath and tell yourself you can do this, because guess what, YOU CAN DO THIS!
One of the most exciting things college students has the opportunity to do, is be able to continue their education and immerse themselves into another culture in a different country. Not only will their classes be credited, but they get to experience extraordinary things- culture, language, people, environment, and so much more. Here at Loyola, we offer a range of countries student can choose from- Rome to Vietnam to Ireland- the list goes on.
Within focus, I will go into what kind of experience you may find in Asian countries such as China and Vietnam. Hopefully this way, you have a better idea of the kind of setting you may find yourself studying at, in the future.
Loyola’s Beijing Center, located in China, is one of the three most popular choices LUC students choose to study abroad at. Beijing, being the nation’s capital, will probably be an indicator that you may find yourself among the more modern side of the city- tall buildings and skyscrapers, TONS of technology, busy streets of walking people, lights, and so on. It’s a lot to take in, I know!
Food, the inevitable, may range in enumerable variety and may seem a little strange if you come from a more Western style taste palate. However, it tastes satisfactorily good!! (Generally speaking).
Since you are apart of an American-based education program, you will probably have the chance to go on trips to see tourist attractions- Great Wall, Forbidden City, the Yellow Mountains, terra cotta soldiers, etc. Things will be grand in scale and generally look regal or super elaborate. If you’ve seen the Beijing Olympics, especially the Opening Ceremony, you have a better idea when I talk about things being elaborate and grand-scheme.
Nevertheless, China is a breathtaking country and through studying abroad, you can take classes that pertain to China (history, art, religion, politics, music, and more). Altogether, it is clear that you will have a full experience of China and hopefully have a greater appreciation for Chinese culture and in general, the nation itself.
Moving south of China, is Vietnam! Loyola also has a campus here, located in the capital of Ho Chi Minh City. Similarly to China, it is a bustling city full of people and energy. However, the city is different in that although it is an urban city, it is not as contemporary. People (roughly 90%) ride motorcycles/scooters and bikes, street vendors can be found everywhere, and stores are family-owned, and the only noise you can hear will be vehicles honking (there are no traffic lights).
Street food happens to be the best kind of food out there. You get to see the cooker make the food right in front of your face. Ingredients are visibly fresh and food aromas can be smelled everyone. People walk around in comfortable clothes (PJ’s are totally acceptable) and you pray a car/motorcycle doesn’t run you over while crossing the street.
Again, as you are a part of an American-based education program, you will probably visit tourist locations such as Hoi An, Mekong Delta, Thien Mu Pagoda, and Ha Long Bay. Unlike China, where you have specific sites, you have Vietnam with broader sites such as towns and rivers.
Vietnam is generally a more rural type of a country. I have been here before and can testify to that. If you are looking for a more raw and relaxed setting to study abroad, Vietnam will definitely be the place for you to study abroad. If you are looking towards a more modern-driven, energy-filled experience, China is a fitting place to study abroad.
For more information on LUC Studying Abroad, here’s the link: http://www.luc.edu/studyabroad/
LUC Students Studying Abroad Bloggers: http://blogs.luc.edu/goglobal/
Being one of Loyola’s biggest ethnic organizations, Kapwa, the Filipino Student Organization, lives up to its name of inclusivity and family. Coming from a large, close knit Spanish Filipino family, I knew that I wanted to be part of a college group that promoted community service, social justice, and appreciation of the Filipino culture. I believe Kapwa filled all these boxes in with their many committees.
Kapwa Advocates: This sector focuses on social justice issues and explores various aspects of identity and the stresses the importance of acceptance and appreciation of our differences. Additionally, we explore the complexity of being a Filipino, as it often means being a person of various ethnicities and racial backgrounds.
Kapwa Academics: Striking abalance between a college work load while also maintaining a healthy social life, is difficult. This is why Kapwa has student led study halls to help you with study halls to help you. These are students who may have similar classes as you and are willing to give tips and tricks to help you succeed.
Kapwa Community Service: This group stresses the importance of giving back to the community, a practice that is very common for many Filipino families. Here, charity events and fundraisers are held to better help and reach out to the Rogers Park neighborhood and the greater Chicago area.
Kapwa Cultural/Kapwa Modern: There are two dance groups within Kapwa, the cultural and modern dance groups. In Kapwa cultural, we explore different traditional dances of the Philippines that reflect the Spanish, Chinese, Malaysian, and Islamic influence that dance has in our country. Each year, this group performs a showcase in the fall at Night in Manila (NIM) and in the spring, Battle of the Bamboo. Here, Loyola competes with other colleges/universities from around Illinois in a set of cultural dance suites complete with traditional music on local instruments and colorful, ornate costumes. In Kapwa modern, we try out different upbeat and current music styles that include Hip-Hop, K-Pop, etc. Regardless, both groups promote the importance of dance and music in the Filipino culture.
Kapwa AKB: Kapwa’s AKB program is a mentor program that focuses on the Filipino idea of helping your family out. AKB stands for the Tagalog words: Ate (older sister), Kuya (older brother), and Bunso (youngest sibling). Here, freshmen students get paired up with a family of an Ate and Kuya (an upperclassman), to help be there guide and mentor as they go through their first year of college. Together, they attend Kapwa events and hang out both on or off campus and get to know each other better.
Throughout the year, many events are scheduled to promote the Filipino culture/identity and educate about Filipino history. For example, during the time of Halloween, we plan an event called “Halo-Halloween”, named after the famous Filipino dessert. Likewise, we have a Karaoke night where we sing together all the songs you can think of! It does not matter if you are identify as Filipino or not, you are always welcome to be a member of Kapwa! Mabuhay! (Welcome!)
Yup, you read correctly… FREE massages and snacks, it can’t get better than that. Last year, over 1,400 students attended the fair so it is definitely worth it! The Wellness Fair provides Loyola students, faculty, and neighbors with opportunities for self assessment, reflection, stimulation and growth in all areas of wellness, which include: physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, cultural, environmental, and vocational. This is your opportunity to visit over 50 booths staffed by health and wellness professionals from Loyola who also offer activities and education to students. There is also free STI/HIV testings as well as a FREE flu shot clinic for students. Take advantage of this as a Rambler and prevent yourself from being susceptible to the flu this semester!
It gets better… all of this is free and open to the public here at Damen Student Center in the Multi Purpose Room (DAMEN MPR)
When is it?
The event will take place this Wednesday October 5, 2016 from 12:00PM-4:00PM.
