January 2015 – Page 3 – College Admission at Loyola

Itasca Crash

By Stephanie Rodriguez | January 22, 2015

This might be late news to some commuters, maybe to all commuters, but about a week and a half ago there was a huge delay on Metra trains. I, unfortunately, was in one of the trains that was delayed exactly 2 hours. As you can see from the picture, there was a train and car collision on the Itasca stop. The Midwest-Elgin line that I take makes a stop at Itasca and fortunately, it wasn’t my train that hit this car. The train in front of us was the one that, at 70 mph, hit a crossing car early morning. Details as to how this happened were not given right away.

Luckily, the elderly conductor, and the only passenger, of the car survived with minor injuries. The paramedics described that she walked to the ambulance. It is of shock and a blessing that this collision did not result in any deaths. It was frightening for those who were in the train; these people were transferred over to the train that I was riding in and described that the train had only one dent and nobody was hurt.

Even though, it was the first week of classes, I still attempted to make it to my 10am class. However, this was not the case. As you may all know, once you get to Union Station downtown, you need to take the Red Line all the way to Loyola. This is about another 40 minutes, and I got to class at the end of lecture. These are problems that commuters have to face, but it’s a sacrifice! This is why I enjoyed my dormitories at Loyola so much; they were so convenient, close, and fun! I recommend everyone to live near campus if they can for its convenience is maximal!

Note to commuters: take the earlier trains. It is better to get to campus sooner than later! Till next time…

Stephanie

**The picture is not my original picture. I googled this picture; however, I do have a video of the crash as my train passed the Itasca stop.

Getting Involved: It’s Never Too Late to Start

By | January 21, 2015

Yesterday, in support of a friend, I attended the Student Government of Loyola Chicago (SGLC) Senate internal elections, during which each candidate addressed the audience, giving a two minute speech then answering a question on the spot. A number of candidates mentioned getting involved as something they hoped to do, as well as encouraging others to become more engaged in the campus community and the plethora of activities that enrich student life at Loyola. This had me thinking about how I first started getting involved and about the organizations I want to look into and possibly joining.

One of the easiest ways to get a glance of all of Loyola’s student organizations is attending the Organization Fair, which takes place during the first several weeks of each semester. For the Fall 2014 Org Fair, I had no inkling as to which clubs or groups I wanted to be involved with. In some cases, I didn’t get the chance to sign up for the groups that fit my interests, one of which is Women in Leadership. Since my major, computer science, is universally male-dominated, I thought it would be a perfect way for me to network and explore the gender dynamics that I’m sure to have to confront in my career. It just so happens that one of my hall mates, also a computer science major, is also a member of the organization, which is a nice perk.

During the latter part of the fall semester, I learned to glean information about the different organizations on campus by browsing their Facebook pages. A large number of student groups have Facebook pages that are up to date, making it quite easy to determine whether the organization is a fit in terms of people, mission, activities and time investment. Even if you cannot commit to a particular organization, ‘liking’ their page allows you to see the different events they host throughout the year, which is a great way to support the people and causes that interest you or that you feel are meaningful.

If you don’t have Facebook or prefer not to ‘like’ various pages, another way to get the latest scoop on goings-on is via the bulletin board in each of the first-year residence halls. Several Halls, like my own, even has a monthly calendar that allows you see daily events, each of which represents a friendship network, a career-building opportunity, a unique insight, a new learning experience, or a channel through which to create social value as a college student.

This semester I hope to take part in several new organizations, as well as to find ways to make a positive contribution to the ones in which I am already a member.

Image from: http://www.rivervalleyunitedway.org/sites/rivervalleyunitedway.org/files/changestartshere.jpg and http://neskowinvalleyschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/getInvolved.png

Scheduling your Classes!

By Therese Bennett | January 21, 2015

Hello everyone! Since this is my last semester of picking classes and figuring out a class schedule, I thought I would give you guys some tips on creating your class schedule. I know that picking classes sounds intimidating and seems like complete mayhem, but if you get yourself prepared ahead of time, there really is nothing to worry about! So, here are some helpful hints to get yourself started

First off, print out this handy-dandy scheduler builder! http://www.luc.edu/media/lucedu/advising/pdfs/Schedule_Builder1.pdf

This has all the block times for all the classes during the semester so you can easily keep track of which courses you are taking and when. Make sure to write in pencil because while figuring out your schedule, changes will have to be made! It is always great having a visual aid, so make sure to print this out to figure out your upcoming classes on.

Secondly, when you are searching for classes, try to find classes that may double dip. Everyone is required to take CORE classes. See if you can find a class that can count for more than just one thing. Like if you are taking a philosophy class, see if you can find a philosophy class that is writing intensive. I know for my English major we had to have a multicultural class, so I double dipped my multicultural class with one of my English major classes. Double dipping can add extra work load to a class, so no need to go overboard. It just comes in handy for completing certain requirements without having to take another class.
Thirdly, check out ratemyprofessor.com. This website tells you the inside scoop on teachers at Loyola and their teaching style. Of course you cannot trust all the reviews, and ultimately, it is your own decision to choose a professor, but this website can be helpful in letting you know the workload, grading style, and overall class structure the professor has. The reviews are written by students for students. Of course, you will not always get the teacher you want, but a little background information never hurts.
Fourthly, HAVE A BACKUP PLAN! You will need to have more classes than you will take in your shopping cart when you go to register for classes. You must always have a plan B. Classes, especially popular ones, fill up fast and it is more than likely that a class that you want will already be filled by the time you go to register. So, it is important to have other options to choose from. Again, they may not be your dream classes, but you might be surprised that the backup classes you will take will actually be quite interesting and fun!
Finally, talk to your advisor. Don’t be afraid to approach your advisor for help. Scheduling classes is not an easy feat, and the advisors are there to help you. Set up an appointment with them to make sure that you are on the right track. My advisors have helped me loads of times! There is no such thing as a dumb question.

Hope these helpful hints will save you from the dreaded class registration, because it really is not that bad once you get the hang of it!

When in Rome…Do as the Romans

By | January 21, 2015

Italians do things a little differently than I’m used to in the States. But, now that I’ve been in Rome for a week I’ve had some time to begin adapting to the Italian culture.

Monday morning two of my friends and I went to run some errands in the neighborhood. Italy is not big on stores like “Super Wal-Mart”, so by the time you’ve bought everything you need you probably stopped into at least 3 stores. Our first stop was at the cartoleria, where we bought school supplies for the semester. It’s hard to compare a cartoleria to stores in the States, but a translation is be “a stationary store”. We managed to find all the folders and notebooks we needed, but those too are a little different than anything I’ve used before.

To look for pillows and towels we went into OVS, a store our SLAs (Student Life Assistants) compared to Target–which is an accurate comparison. I found the towels I needed, but we weren’t so lucky with the pillows. Through a back door you can exit OVS and walk straight into Simply, the grocery store in our neighborhood. I’m usually not a fan of doing groceries, but this time around I didn’t mind at all. I found it really interesting to see what was sold in an Italian grocery store compared to at home. I was surprised to see how many brands were familiar to me, only with Italian words on the packaging.

Just outside of OVS, there were a few street vendors set-up selling all sorts of accessories. My friends, Jordan and Jaime, had their sights set on the felt hats we’d seen plenty of Italians wearing already. So in true Italian fashion, Jordan bargained with the man selling the hats and talked him down to 20 euros for both–originally they would’ve paid over 30. Not too bad for our first Italian-style errand run.

A few other things we’ve been adapting to are the way Italians form “lines”. In general they go more for a large mob or crowd that eventually filters its way through the door or the check-out. This can be a bit stressful at times, but if you balance being aggressive enough to get through and patient enough to wait awhile, you’ll do just fine. Patience is key in general here because it seems that Italians run on their own clocks. Waiting in line for awhile doesn’t bother them, and its not uncommon for them to show up a bit late for anything. One part of this culture I haven’t had to build up patience for is the way meals are eaten and truly enjoyed. I’ve had the chance to eat at a restaurant a couple of times already, and each time our meal has lasted about 2 hours–something I’m definitely a fan of.

I think I’m starting to make a pretty decent Italian–well, I’m doing the best I can. Ciao!

A Visit To Wicker Park

By | January 20, 2015

Last Saturday, a few friends and I decided to take a walk through one of Chicago’s many, culturally rich neighborhoods, Wicker Park. This was the second time I’ve visited Wicker Park, the first being for an essay for my Anthropology 100 class. I was really excited to return to the neighborhood, because it has an amazing vibe and there is always a lot to see while walking around!

One of my favorite things about Wicker Park is how the neighborhood incorporated its history into its modern metropolis. Many of the modern day businesses and shops are located in old buildings of businesses that no longer exist. For example, there is a huge Walgreens located inside an old bank called Noel State Bank. The first thing you notice when entering the Walgreens is the ceiling. The ceiling is elaborately decorated and is quite beautiful to see! The inside of the store even still resembles the bank a little bit. In the basement, you can find the Vitamin Vault. The Vitamin Vault is where the store keeps its supply of vitamins and supplements. What is unique about this vault is that it actually is the vault of the old bank! They turned the old vault into storage for vitamins, and I think that is a really cool way to incorporate history into a modern society!

In addition, Wicker Park is home to many unique businesses and a delicious doughnut shop! Two of my favorite stores to visit while in Wicker Park are Reckless Records and Myopic Books. Reckless Records is a really cool record store, where customers can purchase old records as well as CDs and DVDs for a really cheap price! Myopic Books is an amazing bookstore, with books on any topic you could possibly think of. I even found some textbooks I have used in class there! The store is filled top to bottom with books, everywhere you look! It really is quite an amazing place to explore. At the end of your exploring, if you find yourself looking for a snack, I would recommend visiting Stan’s Donuts and Coffee! The shop resembles a 50’s theme, and has the best donuts I’ve ever tasted! It is truly a must-stop when in the neighborhood!

All in all, being from out of town, I love exploring not only downtown Chicago, but also the little gems of neighborhoods Chicago has to offer. So far I’ve only visited Wicker Park, but I’d love to visit more neighborhoods and explore!

Dining Hall Qualms

By Samantha Eddmeiri | January 20, 2015

I am the biggest advocate for midnight runs to McDonald’s and 5 pm trips to the gym. Honestly, if it will allow me to consume more food, I’m in. However, we’re in college. Money is tight, and let’s be real here… we cannot afford to spend $8 on meals every night. I don’t care what you do for a living, if you’re in college, you should not be able to afford that kind of luxury.

Here at Loyola, we’re on an all-access meal plan if you’re a freshman or a sophomore. While the dining halls do get repetitive and boring, there is a way to make the best out of it. We are afforded three dining halls, and unlimited swipes to them throughout the day, as long as they are within thirty minutes of each other. There are several make your own options: pizza, pasta, sandwiches/wraps, and omelets in the morning time.

While going to dining halls constantly does get boring, even with the three options for a change of scenery, there is something that I discovered that is really more common sense than anything, but makes a difference: take the food to go. Most of us college kids have mini fridges and microwaves in our rooms, and if not, available to us in our lounges. While I cannot guarantee you’re going to be in the mood for whatever the dining hall is serving us that day, I can almost guarantee that if you open your fridge, see a cute little wrap waiting for you that appears to be custom made and expensive looking (okay okay, more expensive looking than if it’s just slapped onto a plate) it is going to make your meal experience ten times more fun.

While Loyola really doesn’t make a statement of whether you are allowed to take food out of the dining halls, many students do it regardless. Find a tupperware container, go have one of the employees make yourself a custom wrap (try a spinach or tomato tortilla with turkey, freshly sliced tomatoes and lettuce, pickles, and a bit of mayo/honey mustard!), thank them, and take it back to your room and put it in your fridge for that perfect on-the-go pre dinner snack.

Eating dining hall food doesn’t have to be the awful experience that it sometimes is chalked up to be. Besides, where else can you get unlimited soft serve? Don’t knock it before you try all of your options.

2015 Bear Tie Ball – Let’s Eliminate Pediatric Cancer!

By Stephanie Rodriguez | January 19, 2015

I had to wait until this week to tell you all about the biggest event for Bear Necessities Pediatric Foundation 2015! Every year, Bear Necessities hosts an event called 2015 Bear Tie Ball. This year the theme is Latin Nights, to take place on Saturday February 28th at 6pm in Union Station. I am looking forward to this event for I have heard great things about it. If you didn’t know, Bear Necessities is “[a] Chicago based national organization dedicated to eliminating pediatric cancer & to providing hope and support to those who are touched by it.”

I want to share with you this great opportunity in which your attendance will demonstrate support on eliminating pediatric cancer. I feel so blessed to be an intern for this organization, and I cannot wait for this event! I am so excited to meet so many people and this event’s Emcee will be a Former Chicago Bear, Anthony Adams! So, save the date. I will be posting more information and details as we approach the date!

Meanwhile, we will be in charge of making sure everything goes as planned! I have seen the time and dedication that these people put into this organization, and I know that it will be anything less than perfect. 🙂

Thank you to all of the sponsors who continue to donate money for a great cause. This event is for all and you can purchase the tickets on the link below!

Click the link for more information.

Service to the Community

By | January 19, 2015

To some, community service may be something not done very often; to others, it has become a big part of their life to help others. For me, I love to volunteer my time at my local hospital, Swedish Covenant. Since freshman year of high school, I have dedicated my summer, days off of school (full and half-days), and weekends towards volunteering here. I suppose the motivation that keeps me volunteering is the idea (or dream) of being a doctor; I love to help others feel better and become stronger and healthier. This semester, I have scheduled to volunteer more frequently to show others and the hospital my true commitment and passion towards service by volunteering every other Friday at nighttime.

At the hospital, I work at a patient care unit (post surgery). My work is scattered- I answer call lights, I can organize charts, resupply inventory, help do sponge baths, feed patients, walk patients, help discharge, and so much more. The people I am with, most of the time, are CNAs and nurses because they have the most contact with the patient.

Working at a hospital is truly a blessing. I am always on my feet doing work and I always get to meet the people and (if I am lucky) talk and hear their stories on their family, jobs, dreams, and tragedies. With that being said, I sometimes build connections with people and surprisingly, I meet them outside of the hospital months later and get to check up with them on how they are doing.

All in all, I love what I do and I hope to continue to aspire to become a doctor for the given reasons (from volunteering).

By Stephanie Rodriguez | January 18, 2015

Hello, everyone! I know that I am late on this, but let’s just get to the point: how amazingly, delicious is Protein Bar? I am from the suburbs, and I NEVER knew it existed. It wasn’t until recently that I found myself walking down Dearborn that I came across it. Since I am trying to eat healthier, and I had forgotten to pack my lunch, I had limited food places I could go. Luckily, my internship allowed me to get a 45 minute break in which I got to devour this delicious, yet healthy, bowl. It consists of spinach, quinoa, black beans, flex seeds, and pesto chicken. It almost tasted like a Chipotle bowl, but the healthier version. I really, really, really want to try their salad next time I go; they come in a cute, large bowl! I loved this place because it gives you the amount of carbohydrate, protein and fiber in each order. This made it so easy for my daily track of protein and carbs! Whether you are trying to eat healthy or not, you need to try this place out! So far, I have only tried this bowl and the original burrito and that was as delicious! The burrito was made with whole wheat grain, and I was stuffed. I have to admit that I’m going to purposely forget my lunch on the days I go to my internship because this is so good. This is also a great alternative for some late night studying snack! Yummmmm.

Weekend Numero Uno in the Eternal City

By | January 18, 2015

With orientation still underway, the JFRC staff had us in good hands during our first Roman weekend. Massive meals, a visit to the Colosseum, and a day in Lazio’s countryside made the perfect end to week number one, and perfect start to our first week of classes.

Friday night we had the opportunity to partake in a group dinner at a local restaurant of the Balduina neighborhood (the neighborhood that houses our campus). For 25 euros we were served a 4 course meal that lasted nearly 3 hours. As enjoyable as it was, eating itself turned out to be quite exhausting—but completely worth it. In an attempt to walk off our feast, we headed for an overlook of the city. Rome is breathtaking at all times of day, but catching my first glimpse of the Vatican lit up at night was my favorite skyline feature.

On Saturday morning we had our first chance to explore the city center in the daylight with a trip to the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Before we headed out, a JFRC professor gave us a lecture about the history of these two magnificent Roman ruins. My knowledge of the Roman Forum was especially lacking, so the lecture was appreciated. Touring the Colosseum was the first time it hit me that I’m in Rome. I loved trying to imagine what this massive amphitheater would have looked like in its most glorious days—covered in marble, filled with a cheering crowd, and gladiators battling lions in the arena.

The Roman Forum was the perfect place to explore ancient Roman ruins. It’s incredible to imagine what a powerful hub the area used to be. The Forum was filled with palaces, arches, a basilica, churches, gardens, and other government buildings that are now crumbling, yet still magnificent. We were there until closing and weren’t able to see the whole thing, but I hope in my time here I’ll get a chance to return and continue exploring.

Sunday morning all 235 JFRC students piled into 4 charter buses that would take us through the Lazio countryside to visit two 16^th century villas. Our tour of the Villa Lante focused on its extravagant gardens and fountains. The water all flowed from a nearby natural spring and was able to move throughout the entirety of the garden without any electricity or pumps.

Our next outing was lunch at Parco dei Cimini, which included 3 courses. But perhaps more impressive than our meal were the animals that greeted and entertained us during our lunch. The path into the restaurant was lined with two hawks and two owls—two of which later joined us inside, accompanied by an animal handler of course. Halfway through lunch that same animal handler rode up on a donkey, which a few students then proceeded to ride, because when in Rome! Right?

Villa Farnese was our last stop. The inside of this massive building was covered in beautiful frescos that were all tailored to the (future) Pope Paul III who built it. My favorite room was painted with maps of the world. Of course they were a bit off from how we know the earth to look now—the biggest issue being the lack of Australia, which at the time had not yet been discovered.

Our weekend of further immersion in Italian culture has given me a glimpse at just how spectacular this semester will be.