Month: March 2015

Colossus 2015

Colossus 2015

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This past weekend the Department of Programming ((dop)) and the Student Activities and Greek Affairs (SAGA) of Loyola hosted Colossus 2015! Colossus is a two night concert and comedy series presented annually, where famous people visit Loyola and put on a show for a reduced price to students and staff! In the past, people such as Ke$ha and Aziz Ansari have been scheduled to perform. This year, the performers were Jason Derulo on Friday night and Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias on Saturday night! Both shows were held at Gentile Arena.

Sadly, I was only available to attend the Jason Derulo concert on Friday night and had to miss Gabriel Iglesias. But the concert was really fun! My friends and I arrived at around 7:30 P.M. and were able to get in and find good seats before the opening acts began at around 8:00. There were two opening acts: the first was a student DJ and the second one was a student band. The DJ played really cool remixes of songs and really got the crowd pumped up before the show! He was really energetic and I could tell he really loved what he was doing. The student band was also really good and really energetic. They sang a mix of both cover songs and original songs. Their sound was a mix of pop remixed with rock and punk. I really enjoyed their covers and liked their original songs! I would definitely go to see them perform again.

Once the crowd was pumped up, Jason Derulo finally came on! I am not a huge huge fan of Jason Derulo, but he definitely knows how to put on a good and entertaining show! He performed all of his popular songs that I’ve known since middle school and it was fun to dance and sing along! He also performed a new song that only came out a few days ago. It was a really fun evening.

Although I didn’t go to Gabriel Iglesias’s show, my roommate did and said it was amazing! She said he was absolutely hilarious, and performed for an extra hour! I really wish I could have been there.

All in all, Colossus 2015 was a huge success, and I am so excited to see who will come to Loyola next year for Colossus 2016!!

Being Present

Being Present

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Blog Post 38 - Photo 1

 

Around a month ago, several of my friends celebrated Ash Wednesday and introduced me to Lent. According to them, you can either give up something or choose to do something for forty days. While I probably should have chosen to give up dining hall cookies, I decided that I was going to meditate for ten minutes every day. I had not had any previous experience with meditation, so I set a short time frame that seemed doable. Although I failed miserably and only made it through three days of Lent, I tried something new that involved a bit of spiritual reflection.

I chose meditation as my designated activity because I have been intending to read the book, The Power of Now, since last semester. The book, which was on Oprah’s recommendation list, emphasizes the significance of being present in the moment and conscientiously avoiding worrying about the past or future. While browsing through information about the book, I can across a 10-minute guided meditation video on the author’s YouTube Channel, saving it in my “watch later” playlist until Lent.

Having very little knowledge and past experience with meditation, I did a little ‘googling.’ Mindful meditation is where you focus on one thing, like your breathing. This type of meditation focuses your mind strongly on one point and brings your attention back whenever your attention wanders. For me, this exercise seems to strengthen my ability to concentrate by ‘teaching’ my brain to maintain focus. In today’s constantly connected, information-laden world, where there exist a myriad of distractions, being present is becoming increasingly difficult. I am guilty of constantly multitasking, particularly when my phone is around, which I assume can’t be good for my brain as it strains to process a million things at the same time.

It makes sense that willfully focusing on a single task, namely the one in front of me, would boost productivity and improve performance, but more importantly, it would also reduce an immense amount of mental stress.

Although I have only just begun reading the book, the author focuses on “being,” which I think could potentially be an important leadership and teamwork trait. As a reporter and layout editor for my school newspaper, I quickly learned that, when collaborating with others, being present is the difference between hearing and listening and, in the face of constant, down-to-the-wire deadlines it can mean working effectively versus losing valuable time due to distractions. I am planning to give meditation another try, with high expectations that honing my concentration skills will ensure success on my next attempt at Lent.

 

Image from: http://www.mindfulexposurebook.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Being-present.jpg

Overcoming Struggles and Challenges

Overcoming Struggles and Challenges

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From the start of winter break to present day, there have been some things that have occurred within the family that have considerably impacted the way I performed in school. I have dealt with the physical and emotional struggles that come with it; some days, I feel so alone and helpless. Sometimes I have taken my frustration and anger out on others even though they may not know why and if I could, I would take back my words and actions. Socially, I have slacked. Academically, I lost my undivided attention in some classes because my mind was cluttered in so many thoughts. Learning new material became harder. Nonetheless, it is visible that I have taken two steps backwards.

As the month went by, time healed me. The struggles and challenges lessened because the family situation was brought up in the household that often, some friends became supportive, and I began to clear my mind and find peace. I began to rely on my faith and attended church mass more often. I am not that religious but knowing that a higher being was there to guide and watch over me was enough comfort. In addition, I tried to be more optimistic to others; I did not want to impose any negativity or frustration upon them. Finally, I had positive thoughts. With a bright mindset, I was able to open up my mind and be in the right mood to focus and concentrate.

For others, the Wellness Center here at Loyola can be helpful to find solutions to the struggles and challenges.

Anyways, I am currently doing better emotionally and I am trying my best to improve academically by meeting up with professors during their office hours and frequently attending tutoring groups. Things are looking better from here. Hope is still close to me. I can overcome the challenges and struggles that hang over me and as time passes by,  the weight will be lifted off my shoulder. I must stay strong and continue to stay hopeful.

Fellowship – what is it?

Fellowship – what is it?

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I am here to tell you a little bit more about what a fellowship is because frankly, I would have liked to read or find out what it entailed.  I first heard about a fellowship when I watched “The Imitation Game.”  Yes, the movie.  I know it just came out, but it wasn’t until this movie that the word “fellowship” really intrigued me.
According to the University of Berkley a fellowship is:

– are short-term opportunities lasting from a few months to several years
– focus on the professional development of the fellow
– are sponsored by a specific association or organization seeking to expand leadership in their field

 
Think of it as an internship, except you get paid and you get a stipend depending how long the program is.  You have the support of all the academic professors and it looks great in your resume.  The numbers of fellowships are increasing, so there is so much money out there which can be invested in your area of study! I share this with you because I think it is important for everyone to have a little knowledge on some great opportunities that are out there.  If there is one thing that I have learned is to not leave anything until the last minute.  Always be prepared.

As we approach Easter Break, I am really looking forward to get back on track with my planning.  I do not want to record a step  by step game plan because truthfully, they never go as planned.  What I want is to just have a general idea about my options. I am just grateful that I will be graduating, and I have so many choices as to what I can do after college.  This is the beauty about having an bachelor’s degree from such a great school!

 

St. Patty’s

St. Patty’s

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Just like every other holiday post, I’m going to start this off with a hearty HAPPY SAINT PATRICK’S DAY!

This is one of my favorite holidays of the year, and it makes me so happy to see all the green everywhere. Being in Chicago presents amazing opportunities for Saint Patrick’s Day, and you should take advantage of them. Go to the parade downtown, or check out one of the many Irish restaurants and pubs that Chicago has to offer!

With the good news and celebration comes responsibility, and as Loyola students, we are responsible to take care of each other (and really anyone) if we see someone that needs our help.

For Loyola students themselves, brush up on the Good Samaritan Policy. Always take the opportunity to help a fellow Rambler and make sure that they can get home safely. Keep your ID on you at all times.

Be aware that there will be a lot of people at the festivities, and although this is a really great opportunity to make new friends, it’s also a very good opportunity for theft. Don’t carry purses that can easily be gotten into, and make sure that you’re not waving money around infant of people. Be careful, and be aware of your surroundings.

Have a good St. Patty’s Day, stay safe, and wear green!!

My First ABI Trip

My First ABI Trip

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Blog Post 37 - Photo 1

 

Over spring break, I joined ten students and two graduate student leaders on an Alternative Break Immersion (ABI) trip to small town Mount Vernon, Kentucky. We filled two vans and traveled side by side for eight hours, driving south, past the Mason Dixie line. The program I attended was set up in collaboration with the organization A-SPI, Appalachia – Science in the Public Interest, with the focus on environmental justice and sustainable living.

One of my favorite days was spent cleaning up illegal trash dump sites, working alongside James, the leader of the program, and five inmates from the local prison. We were told that, for every certain number of days they worked, one day would be taken off their time. Getting the chance to work with, and talk to, people on such different paths than my own felt incredibly refreshing yet productive. One of the sites on our itinerary overlooked the highway, with the Appalachian Mountains as its backdrop. It was breathtakingly beautiful, even on that overcast and rather gloomy day. There, as my group collected a seemingly ever-growing hill of roof shingles, we engaged a hilarious conversation with Tim, one of the inmates—everything he said was funny because we didn’t know any of the older music references he was making. He was incredibly patient with us, answering our curious (yet, to him, probably very peculiar) questions, from whether he had tattoos to was he from the area to did he have any children. That encounter, a moment of experiencing the juxtaposition of two very disparate cultures, both urban Chicago and more rural Kentucky, as well as an older generation and a younger generation, coming together and mingling in laid-back conversation, was a definitely a memory worth keeping.

We also learned about “food deserts,” a term referring to situations where residents living in remote counties have very little access to healthy, fresh food, an environment in which, oftentimes, the only store that could be accessed is a nearby gas station. We also learned more about poverty in the area, and I was saddened to know that many families see no more than “a couple thousand dollars” flow through their hands each year.

Another aspect of the A-SPI trip, for us as students, was being immersed in minimalistic simplicity. We tried to “tread lightly,” minimizing water use by taking as few showers as possible. We slept on the ground, had a simple diet, and utilized hardly any technology.

On my 2015 Spring ABI, I was afforded the unique opportunity to visit a small town for the first time in my life. The experience opened my eyes to a different part of America, a sector of society that I had only read about, but really wanted to better understand. Sometimes, it is easy to assume that everyone in the United States lives as we do, but they don’t.

I also truly enjoyed getting to spend an entire week with a group of such funny, sassy individuals from Loyola.

Staying in Touch

Staying in Touch

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Hello again! Hope everyone is enjoying this fantastic weather Chicago is currently having! It is supposed to get into the 60s next week and I have a hunch that classes might not be that well attended because everyone is going to want to go to the beach and spend some time in the sun! This past Tuesday I decided to enjoy some sports to get into the full swing of spring.

Being from the suburbs, I went to my little brother’s baseball game. Well, he really is not that little (he is fourteen) but to me he will always be my little brother. Unfortunately, the game was not played outdoors, but instead, inside a huge dome in Rosemont. It was a lot of fun! My brother played really well!

Having family so close to me and all around me while I have been at Loyola has meant a lot to me. My dad is a doctor at Loyola, my older sister graduated from Loyola, I go to Loyola, my younger brother is a junior here at Loyola, and my youngest sister is a freshman here at Loyola. Also, on the plus side, being from a suburb located closely outside of Chicago always a makes it easy to go home and see family. College is a super exciting time in your life. You will make new friends, learn new things, prepare for the future, and overall just grow as a person, but it is always important to remember those who helped you get there. So don’t forget to call your family, friends, or anyone who is close to you in anyway and has influenced you to become the person you are today. They will always be there for you when you need to cry over a grade, talk about the stress of your future, or just to catch up. College really does fly by (I would know, I am graduating!) and you do not want to lose contact with the ones that you love.

So in the spirit of a new season of spring upon us, give your loved ones a call! Especially if you are missing home while you are at your home away from home, Loyola.

Make New Friends, but Keep the Old

Make New Friends, but Keep the Old

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This week has been sort of a learning experience for me. Monday-Thursday, I have had friends come into Chicago for their spring breaks as a vacation. Living in Chicago, they wanted me to show them around and hang out with me. While I was appreciative to have friends that wanted to see me, it wasn’t exactly easy, especially because they stayed for more than one weekday.

In honor of others’ spring breaks, and in hopes that you’ll see some familiar faces coming to visit you these next few weeks, here are some things that I think will help you get through 6 of your friends and family members visiting you all at once.

1. Make a plan.
Easier said than done, but ask them what they want to do when they get into the city. It’ll make you planning your day a little bit easier.

2. Go to classes.
While I by no means have perfect attendance, I genuinely tried to go to classes while my family and friends were here. They’ll understand that you go to school here and that even if it’s their spring break, it’s not yours.

3. Don’t stress.
Your life and their life will both be harder if you worry about being with them every second of the trip. Work around obstacles like classes, and if they’re down for it, you can even ask your professors if they can come to class so you can show them what a typical day is like for you!

4. Get guest passes early.
If they’re staying with you, make sure that you get a guest past 24 hours in advance of their stay if they’re planning on staying with you and you’re a freshman.

Good luck showing your guests around!

Damen Food Court

Damen Food Court

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One thing about the dining halls on campus is that they close at 8pm (except for DeNobili Late Night Dining), which is early for some and a disadvantage to people who eat later or become hungry after 8! Fortunately, the Damen Food Court is open until 1 am and offers a huge variety of entrees and snacks to be purchased to ease hunger or snack crazes after 8 pm! In this post, I will be talking about some of the features of the Damen Food Court.

The Damen Food Court is located in the Damen Student Center on the Lake Shore Campus. The food court features a Mexican station, a burger studio, a pizza and calzone station, a milkshake machine, and many snacks and drinks available for purchase! At the Mexican station, one can purchase everything from burritos, burrito bowls, tacos, quesadillas, and many more options with all of the appropriate fixings. At the burger studio, one can create their own meals out of options such as burgers, chicken tenders, veggie burgers, and crispy or grilled chicken sandwiches with a huge variety of toppings and condiments, with curly or regular fries on the side. People can also order a combo meal that comes with a regular small drink from the fountain machine.

In addition to the food stations and machines, the food court also has some grocery items for everyday needs and foods. People can buy fresh sandwiches, sushi, frozen pizzas, fresh fruits and vegetables, macaroni and cheese, cookie dough, lunchmeats, chips, dips, candies, and many more items that people might want! The food court also sells items such as medicines, Band-Aids, paper towels, paper plates, razors, deodorant, and cleaning supplies.

All in all, the Damen Food Court is a great resource for late night dining or just snacking in general. Everything can be purchased with dining dollars or real money. So if you’re hungry after 8 pm and live far from DeNobili Late Night Dining, visit the Food Court for all of your needs until 1am every night!

Seeing “Tosca” at the Lyric

Seeing “Tosca” at the Lyric

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Hello everyone! Hope you all had a relaxing spring break (even though the weather was not exactly “spring” weather at all last week). I can definitely say that the break was not long enough! While some of my friends traveled to all different kinds of places including Mexico, Arizona, and Spain, I stayed in the burbs writing papers and getting my wisdom teeth out. Not a super relaxing break that I was hoping for, but I did head back to the Lyric Opera to see another wonderful performance of Tosca!

It was AMAZING! Beautiful sets, wonderful singers, and an overall captivating storyline. In this opera, there is a painter who helps hide a fugitive and he is taken as a prisoner because of this. His lover, Tosca, pleads for his release with the general who has taken him captive. Tosca is the most beautiful woman to the general and he wants to marry her, so he proposes that she exchange herself to him for her lover. She does not agree and completely stricken with grief, she laments over her lover. The general sees this and has a “change” or heart. He says that he will stage a fake execution for her lover so that they can then be reunited and he, the general, will not look like a fool at the end. Of course the general is lying, and when the painter is getting shot, the so called “fake” bullets are real and so he dies. Tosca then kills herself because she cannot bear to live any longer without her lover the painter.

This opera was much shorter than the other one I saw. We were there for only about 3 hours, including intermissions. All the singers were fantastic, but Tosca was the best. The control she had over her voice, emotions, and pitch was incredible. She completely sucked the audience in and made us all feel the same emotions she was feeling. It was truly magical. At the end, she had to take so many bows because people just kept on clapping for her! I saw this play at the beginning of my break, so it was a nice start to an otherwise uneventful break. Remember that I said you can get student discounts at the Lyric to see shows for only 20 dollars so take advantage of it! I really believe that everyone should experience the opera at least once because you may be surprised in finding that you actually like it!