Tag: Loyola

The best project to work on is you.

The best project to work on is you.

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Eliza's Turbo Class

I do not know how I would’ve gotten through college without my best friends, coffee, and Halas.  Halas, Loyola’s exquisite Recreation Center, is pretty much my second home.  I remember walking in as a freshman, before all of the construction, and waiting in line for half an hour for Zumba class.  Yes, it got crowded and sweaty because the classes are that good.  Not even Chicago’s 2011, horrible snow storm stopped my roommate and I from attending the gym!

 

Over the course of the years, I have made many friends from attending the Group Fitness Classes.  We like to call each other the veterans because we come back each year and attend classes religiously.  I continue to enjoy these classes, but one of my favorites of all times has to be Turbo Kick.  This class was first introduced Fall of 2011 and was taught by a Loyola alumni: Katrina Badowski. She was the Loyola’s Dance Captain, now a Chief’s cheerleader, and a great friend.  She taught Loyola’s first Turbo Kick class…BUT what is Turbo Kick?  Think of a martial arts, kick boxing and dance choreography class.  If you want to burn around 1,000 calories, this class will do that to you!

 

After she graduated, I started attending other classes with some fabulous instructors and, now, great friends as well.  Eliza Stucker and Mary Kesinger took over the Turbo Kick classes and continue to teach other classes as well.  Keep an eye out for Eliza’s Step class and Mary’s wonderful PiYo class.  Last year, I was so dedicated to their workouts that I lost 15lbs from Turbo Kick and PiYo classes alone.  Ok, I also had to change my eating habits a tad bit…
If you haven’t checked out any of these classes yet, please give them a try!  Everyone is very friendly and you will get a workout, I promise.  Eliza will push you to that extreme level and Mary will strengthen your core just as well.  We are always looking for new members to make our Turbo and PiYo families bigger!

Mary's Turbo Class

The Downs and Ups of Declaring an Undecided Major

The Downs and Ups of Declaring an Undecided Major

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So you’ve finally decided on a college, it was a long process, but you’re here. You went on countless college visits, received way too many college letters, felt pressure from your parents as you filled out applications, and now you’re home free. All you have to do is buy some extra-long twin sheets and meet your roommate. Oh, and pick a major.

As soon as you step onto a college campus there is pressure to know exactly what you want to do with your life. But if you are anything like me then you aren’t quite ready to commit to a major. I assure you that you can rest easy because guess what? You’re 18 and you don’t have to have your life figured out. So as a college sophomore -who is still technically an undecided major- I want to help you navigate the nearly uncharted waters of the Undecided Major.

The Downs:

  • When other people tell you a detailed plan of their major and career path you’ll feel a little awkward telling them that you just don’t know yet.
  • You won’t have a group of friends from within your major right off the bat, so you’ll have to wait on ordering a “Quinlan School of Business” or “Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing” t-shirt.
  • The “freedom to explore” is pretty intimidating. Loyola has a lot of majors, which means you won’t be able to try them all. (You might want to spend some extra time with your advisor to get a feel for your options)
  • You might get stuck. Now that I’m going on year two of being undecided I’m pretty comfortable where I’m at, but am also feeling the pressure to choose a major soon. This has made it tough for me to abandon the Undecided Major ship.

The Ups:

  • When people ask you what your major is you get to be creative in your answers like, “Oh, I’m just here to hang out” or “I’m majoring in a little bit of everything” or “I’m majoring in the Magnificent Mile”. These answers might spark some genuine concern, but I get the most worried facial expressions when I say, “Nothing”.
  • Meeting other Undecided Majors is the best feeling in the world because they know exactly what you’re going through.
  • All your friends will try and pick a major that they think best suits you, which may actually give you some direction. (Asking for advice has definitely helped me!)
  • Your freshman year is going to consist of a lot of CORE classes, which is good for two reasons. You get to explore a lot of different academic areas that may help you decide on a major- while staying on track for graduation. Plus you’ll finish your CORE in a timely manner and won’t be a senior taking UCLR (University Core Literature Requirement).

I highly recommend starting your undergrad years as an undecided major, because we’re young and our thoughts about the future change. But don’t forget that Loyola won’t actually print you a degree that says “Bachelor’s of Undecided”. Don’t panic about starting college without a major. It’s definitely scary at first, but you’ll learn to own it and eventually learn to let it go. Who knows maybe next year we can get some “Undecided Major” t-shirts, too.

Coffee on the go

Coffee on the go

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If someone would have told me what a workout it would be to commute from my hometown to Loyola, I would have chosen to commute a long time ago!  (jk, living on campus is much more fun!).  Apart from the fact that my commute is only a two and a half hour commute, I have to say that I really enjoy it…as long as I have my Starbucks.
Yes, I’m that girl: “May I have a grande green tea latte with nonfat and two pumps of classic.”  However, to all of my commuters if you ever catch yourself leaving Union Station or Ogilvie Station you need to stop at THIS particular Starbucks on LaSalle St. right next to the Quincy Stop.  I’ve ran into many Loyola Alumni; I have conversed with business women, doctors, and professors.  This is networking at its finest!  I’ve actually met a professor who teaches at a graduate school I am interested in.
Anyhow, this is not a place to sit and drink your coffee since it gets very crowded from 5-9am.  Due to its popularity, mistakes occur but if they mess up your order, you might get a free goodie!  If you are ever downtown with friends, check it out! You’ll be amazed at how many people you meet in less than 30 minutes.

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The Countdown Begins

The Countdown Begins

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It is near the end of the second week of my last semester at Loyola University Chicago. As I get up every morning to start my day, I always ask myself,

Where has the time gone?

Four years truly flies by at a blink of an eye. Along with finishing up what is required of me academically at Loyola, reflecting on the impact this university has made on me has been very humbling.

One aspect of my Loyola experience that I will always be grateful for is my leadership development.

As a freshman mentee in the STARS program through the Department of Student Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, I, along with my first-year cohorts, attended a workshop facilitated by Student Leadership Development on evaluating our leadership styles.

The questions that encouraged looking into ourselves, how we work best with other people and independently, and how we can hone in on our leadership strengths helped me realize over my time at Loyola how much leadership ties into building and maintaining understanding, as well as community.

Both aspects have been and still are important to me with what I am involved in on campus, and I seek to encourage the students that are younger than me to consider the same as they embark on their own Loyola journey.

The Beginning of the End

The Beginning of the End

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It is my senior year at Loyola University Chicago. Typing the sentence itself for my last first post as an undergraduate student is still surreal.

This year I am looking forward to begin the steps needed to embark on the next chapter in my life. I will be enrolled in graduate school, hopefully in the fall of 2o14.

With the help of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program, facilitated through the Graduate School, I have begun the process to prepare for my post-graduate education as well as gain research experience.

Conducting this research this past summer has been similar to peeling off the layers of an onion. Every macro idea thus far reveals many micros that cannot be explored in nine weeks.

Why spend time behind the computer exploring the “virtual world” that is New African Social Media? The advent of African youth having the space to show creativity and to share it through virtual communities hits home. Producers are able to communicate and share what they believe Africa was like in the past, what Africa is like in the present, and what Africa will be in the future. New African Social Media is an example of how new forms of media impact culture. Those within this “virtual world” are able to re-appropriate content and attach new meaning to the content they create or share.

With this, it is interesting to unpack how this content differs from Africa-content material in mainstream media. New African Social Media allows producers and consumers to shed a different light on what Africa means and is to them: diverse, progressive, and positive. People are given the freedom to be bold to create, report, and share what they do not see in mainstream media; as well as to give a more balanced view of what occurs on and off the continent.

So far in my research, I have found that people most popularly share visually contextual content that depicts people, daily life, and women. The peeling of this onion continues as I unpack the why, how, where, and when of these findings.

Luckily, with the help of my faculty mentor, I am currently continuing what I started this summer through an independent study. I look forward to interviewing participants to learn their perspective on this topic.

With my research aside, my class schedule is light compared to semesters past. I have a little more free time to study for the GRE, as well as catch up with friends; especially those who studied abroad last semester.

I know that this is the beginning of the end of my undergraduate career at Loyola. My senior year will flash right before my eyes, but I will savor every moment of it.

Ebony Ball: Our Shades of Beauty

Ebony Ball: Our Shades of Beauty

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This year’s Ebony Ball was held at Regents Hall in the Lewis Towers.
Photo by: Antoinette Isama

One of the last events for Loyola University Chicago‘s Black History Month celebrations was Ebony Ball.

On Friday, Feb. 22, the Black Cultural Center hosted this formal for the first time at Regents Hall in the Lewis Towers on our campus downtown.

As vice president, I had to oversee the planning and facilitate tasks to prepare for this fun night!

With the theme “Our Shades of Beauty,” we sought to show the beauty of diversity by shedding light on how one should not be ashamed of the color of their skin.

Our social chair, Marlena Ortiz, had the great idea of embossing images on to pieces of wood that are examples of our different shades of beauty.

With the help of our other executive board members, each centerpiece and accent piece were crafted and painted by hand.

There was great music from a student DJ from Northwestern University and I would also consider this year’s Ebony Ball as the most successful – especially with how diverse the turnout came to be.

The students that attended had a great time! I hope that with events like these, my organization can bring the Loyola community closer together.

Who Says You Need to Spend a Lot of Money on XMAS

Who Says You Need to Spend a Lot of Money on XMAS

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While I started my Christmas by heading home with the family I quickly came back to Chicago to give my girlfriend her first “real” Christmas. To put this simply she has never had a stocking and never had that special feeling when you come out of your room to see a tree with presents. While I am fully aware this is not the real meaning of Christmas, it is nice to have this type of experience once in your life.

I was on a budget though, $50 to be exact for dinner, decorations and presents.

First mission, presents!

When I was home I found this treasure at Disneyland, only $4 after an employee discount. Our first movie and probably the one that best describes us is “UP.”

Not quite as easy this was made and the wire was purchased for $2.

I also included a photo album, a cheesy coupon book and earrings.

Oh and don’t forget a stocking full of random things that reminded her of the cutest moments in our relationship.

Next Step, Decorations!

Went to the consignment store down the street and found it all for a total of $30 this included the fake tree, lights, stocking and ornaments!

Finally thanks to Aldi market I managed to put together a great dish that she would love as well. After boiling potatoes, I pan fried lemon marinated tilapia and topped it with caramelized onions and cranberry sauce!

I am happy to say it was probably the most work I have ever put into a Xmas and I look forward to not being a college student so I can do it the way I would prefer.

In comparison this is what I did at home.

Lets just say I like Christmas!

Fine Arts Problems

Fine Arts Problems

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This week I had a major project due in my Visual Communication class. Of course, the night before I was having issues with glue, ink and everything in between.

So how did I deal with this? I turned my room into a visual communication studio, basically. I needed a decent sized work-space that would alow me to be hands-on, messy and most importantly I needed quiet.

I took my kitchen table and covered it with newspaper, which I convinently moved right in front of the tv. I worked on mounting my project for hours and laid my finished boards all over the room to dry.

Being a student in the Fine Arts department, creating a medium like this to work in is so important. The only downside is reasurring your roommate that you will clean up the mess the very next day.

After scrambling for a few hours, I took my project in for critique and await a final grade!

Registration Week

Registration Week

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I couldn’t let registration week pass without a small posting about it. This is always an important, hectic time of year that will shape everything about the spring 2013 semester. Seniors are scrambling to make sure they have all their required classes in order to graduate and crossing their fingers for a spot in a class with 3 seats left.

It is during this time when being organized, informed and aware are the most important. Loyola has numerous resources to aid students with their academic questions such as daily walk-in advising hours.

Aside from this, I would encourage prospective students and new freshmen starting in fall 2013, to browse Loyola’s various websites and become as aclimated with the resources available and other various events going on here at LUC. Doing so will enlighten you more than you think and will be especially helpful during stressful times!

A Weekend in Ohio

A Weekend in Ohio

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Something I consider to be a HUGE perk of college is getting to meet new people from an array of places all over the world. It is so fun for me to hear different accents, learn about cultures and if the opportunity presents itself and travel home with them.

This weekend I got the opportunity to travel home with one of my good friends that I met this year, Sydney. Being such a travel lover, I instantly jumped at the opportunity to take a trip to her hometown Akron, OH.

After living in the city for a year and a half now, I thought I had seen all the different forms of transporation. I was wrong. I usually take the Amtrak home and I have of course ridden the CTA trains and busses, but when I saw the two-story Megabus that we would be traveling in, I knew we were in for a journey.

We wasted the 7 hour ride with napping, studying, musicing and talking. When we arrived, we were greeted with the most fun-loving, warm welcome. I had never before spent much time in the Ohio region of the United States, so I was taking in all the different architecture and stores that I hadn’t seen before.

Although we were only able to spend a single day there, we made the most of it. Sydney’s mother made us breakfast in the morning, which is such a treat when college gets too hectic to cook breakfast for yourself. As for the rest of the day, we drove around to see some sights with Sydney’s friends, shopped at the local mall and later attended a family Halloween party. The night ended with a movie that we only saw 20 minutes of after falling completely asleep.

As my own parents were on a trip of their own this weekend, it was great to be in a family home and experiencing a new place. I am so thankful for these connections I have built through my Loyola community that ultimately brought me to going on this wonderful trip.