2kwl4vwls

I decided to take microeconomics class this summer.  I took it for fun.  Literally.  

Then, I convinced my wonderful and brilliant fiancé to take it with me.  My fiancé goes to Buena Vista University (loves it) and upon sitting in our class for one hour turned to me and told me something absolutely amazing!   (I will share that with you later). 

You never really know what a stranger is thinking.  In the admissions department, we always try to gauge what the other person is thinking and try to help them decide on the right path to academic success.  As a tour guide, I put myself in the new student’s shoes to make them feel more comfortable.   

When a foreign exchange student comes to Iowa Western for the first time, what do they think?  What do they see that we do not?  What do we take for granted that they love?   

I was so curious to see what my fiancé’s perception of a community college was.  His statement absolutely shocked me.   The biggest difference between all the schools he has been to was something we all see and experience every day!  What was it? 

”Wow.  The kids here seem so positive and upbeat!” He told me.  And after me thinking about it, I realized, yes we are. 

So I told him “Yeah, you better cheer up quick, after all, we are in econ!

Considering going to the best community college there is?  Think that last statement was a bit too bold?  If so, read my previous blog and you will instantly see why Iowa Western is the best choice. 

However, you may not be from here.  I recently just had a comment from a girl from Canada, who mentioned she read my blog quite often.  I got to thinking about it…and what do you suppose everybody worries about if they are not from a location?  Most people secretly wonder, what is there to do when they are not studying? 

Behold! 

Iowa:

Blank Park  Zoo- Des Moines, Ia

Lake Arrowhead- Neola, Ia (The only place I have ever successfully caught fish)

Newton Speedway- Newton, Ia

Snowboarding- any hill will do

Adventureland Theme Park- Altoona, Ia

CATCH A REIVER SPORT’S GAME, FOOTBALL STARTS 9-5-09

Nebraska:

Thunder Alley- bowling, go kart, laser tag

Skydiving – right by Lincoln, make sure you like your guide

Shopping- 3 malls close to Iowa Western’s campus

Henry Doorly Zoo- exit 13 in Omaha, (I have year passes because it is such a great experience! This is also where my fiancé proposed)!

Old Market- Historical shopping at its finest

So, there you go! 

Not going to lie… I did not go to the commencement ceremony.  (However- you all should come to mine :D)! 

My plane leaves for Florida in less than 24 hours and I am mega-excited.  I am going to spend a week in the amazing Sunshine State with their sparkling oceans and historical treasures. In fact, I am even going to be touring my 4 year school (the one I oh-so-desperately) would love to get accepted into and transfer to.  It appears to be the perfect blend of everything Florida is known for.

I was packing just an hour ago and began to assemble my best “accept me Florida” information packet.  It has all the things I am involved in at Iowa Western.  (Proof of blogging, of being an ambassador, of Leadership Academy, Presidential Honor Roll, and eligibility into Phi Theta Kappa; along with 2 recommendation letters.) 

Here is the ironic twist.  I have a …friend…who chose a different college path than I did.  This friend isn’t dumb by any standards in fact, he is a bright kid.  

However, he chose an alternative to the 4 year schools or community colleges after high school.  He graduates this year from his choice of school.    I have been watching him slowly struggle the past week as he gets denied from one college to another.  His credits won’t transfer, his grades aren’t what he thought they were, he doesn’t have too many awards or committees under his belt…basically just a kid who accidentally made a wrong decision and is trapped in his life.   He can’t get a job because his “qualifications” have not met with the standards of the dozens of companies he applied to.  Unfortunately, unless he wants to start his college experience completely over- he may not have a lot of options open to him.  The point of this blog, is to let you, my devoted reader, know that there are so many options awaiting you as you graduate.

From high school you can choose to go to a community college, a four-year, a technical school, or not pursue education.  From college, you can continue to grad school or pursue a career.  Essentially, every spring, there is some mark of a graduation in our lives.  The past academic year preps us for the dreams that are there after the ceremony.  

How do we know we made the right decision?  How do we as scholars recognize and seize opportunities?  How do we prevent the feared trapped box of nowhere to go but backwards like my friend?  It depends largely on the individual…yes… There are college grads with 4.0’s who made it through college after a life in poverty.   There are students out there just begging for one chance to grasp- and they find it!  

My best advice?  If you aren’t sure- start here.  Seriously.  Start at Iowa Western Community College.  To graduate or not to graduate is your next step.  Decide.  I never imagined the doors that would open to me- while my friend never imagined the doors that would rapidly close for him.     

If you are in high school or maybe already have a degree but can’t make it work in today’s complex society, or if you’re a mom/dad raising kids- we are the perfect blend of everything Iowa has to offer.  (Fields of Opportunities).  

May my own future be full of sunshine, ocean, (and the Federal Reserve).  May your future be full of opportunities.  May we graduate this year of our lives to pursue the next. 

May we let it start in a community college nestled on 250 acres of farm land, acres of opportunity.   

What is the first impression people get of you??  Ever really thought about it?  Examined it?  Care about it?  I do.  And let me tell you, after this, you just might. This is really about perceptions.  One of my closest friends this term, almost never even talked to me!  I thought she was rude and completely stuck up, she thought I was shy and too introspective.  What changed?  I began to notice on my walks to class, from class, on tours, from tours that I saw her everywhere.  She was in the computer lab when I was.  I finally took it upon my self to say, “Hi”.  ”Hey.”  That was it.  That Hi-Hey Relationship lasted about a week.  I went into a writing lab about a month ago, and I saw mystery chick in there…yet again!  Rather than thinking she was stuck up, I got some guts, went up to her and I finally said, “Well, so I’m Klyn and I see you everywhere.”  ”OMG! I know!  I didn’t want to say Hi to you because I was afraid you wouldn’t recognize me.”  Think about that… both of us afraid to stick our necks out to make a friend because we weren’t sure what the other person thought of us, or what we really thought of them.  How many people, do you suppose this type of thinking prevents us from meeting?  When we are out in the real world, how many people have our dream job that we may have met in college- that we   were too intimidated by to simply say, “Hi.”?  I am guessing, that it is more common than we realize.  In my life, once I get an idea, I typically share it with most everybody I feel it is relevant to.   I was telling this theory of, you just never know who you see every day, to my dad when he said something rather intriguing:”Klyn, describe yourself to me. Describe yourself as a friend would.  Describe yourself as an enemy would.  Are you the person you want to be?”  So I did.  I answered that question.  I challenge you this week before finals, to really stick yourself out there.  Say “Hi” to that person you see all the time that you don’t know yet.  You may be shocked at just how similar your lives really are.  Lastly, describe yourself those 3 ways.  And then study for finals.  P.S.  Emily, I like iced coffee too!     

Let’s get real honest real quick.  The ONLY way you will get the effectiveness of this literature is to humor me, better yourself and grab a pen and paper and scribble some things down.   What are your strengths?  Think about that.  Write it down.  Seriously.  Just do it.  Now, what are your weaknesses??  Think about that, write it down.   Just one or two is fine.  Look back at your weaknesses.  How many of your friends have your weakness as their strength?  How many of your friends have the same strengths you do?  You will probably find that you know a LOT of people that are better at your weaknesses then are better at your strengths.  What is my point?  Glad you asked.   I am sitting here, after an amazing week.  I traveled down to Kansas City, (skipped 3 classes), to tour the Federal Reserve and attend a day long conference on money.  Truly one of the most exciting times of my life.  I got goose bumps during some presentations, especially the one by Kelly Edmiston detailing his research on the greater Kansas City housing market.  When it hit me.  I could one day do this if I can capitalize on what attributes I have.  

Still not sure on if you should venture into the realm of a fabulous community college?  Yikes!  What is there left to be unsure of? 

_____
Tuesday night there was quite the talent show brought on by the Student Activities Committee.  There were some rather atrocious acts coupled with actual talent.  My favorite was the rather artsy dance put on by the 3 sisters.  Their turns were absolutely flawless in my opinion and it was a performance that required quite a bit of precision and expertise. 

Congrats girls on your performance- hopefully it got you a well deserved top-spot. 

____

On another rather random note, it is open registration week.  Translation:  Long lines in the admissions office and eager freshmen ready to start their college experience.  Why not join them ?  

Here is the top 3 reasons why you (sitting at home debating on college) should just sign up for at least 1 measly class. 

1.  We are AFFORDABLE!  It is common fact that tuition is going up all across the nation.  No matter what your income level, we have a multitude of scholarships and a dedicated financial aid department who wants to prove to you that your education will be the best purchase you can make.

2.  We know what we are doing.  We have been around since 1966.  That means thousands of students, just like you, with the same worries have been through our door and started a new life chapter.  If they can, you can.

3.  I go here.  (Major advantage point). 

So put those worries down, register, meet me at orientation and look forward to a fun and amazing freshman year. 

I walked into my office today.  There was a stack of papers on it, updated policies, and new information I needed to sort through.  I knew that I had to thoroughly prepare myself for the appointment I had in an hour.  With everything going on in the economy, I was one of the people everybody turned to for answers.  ”Mrs., sorry to interrupt but line 1 wants to ask you some questions on why the reserve ratio changed.”  The secretary then handed me the paper and left.    The Wall Street Journal would have to wait. I reached for the phone, answered a few questions and politely explained that anything further would need to be addressed at a different time. I flipped open my computer to see a dozen emails.  Only 8 am. Chances are, my boss sent me something important that I needed to know before the conference.  I flipped through them all, learning little tidbits of information I could use within the hour.  I love my job working for the Fed.  ~   All of my career opportunities started this semester when I sat in Mr. Hedrick’s economy course learning about the Federal Reserve Banks and feeling somehow, that someday, I could  be there.  I find it ironic, I came here to be a teacher and I am going to be leaving in less than a year fully motivated to head in the direction of the Fed.  The basics of his course are teaching me the basics of how the world works.  I know that when I transfer to Florida in less than a year now, I will reapply these same principles.It had occurred to me the other day, just how precious our time here at college really is. 

Hello world,So I just so happen to get to be able to help with New Student Orientations in the fall and let me tell you- I am totally excited.I met with the other NSO group members a variety of times this past week, and we are already a very tight knit group.  We have so many good ideas to bring to campus.  We all are required to go to a certain amount of activities per semester, so be ready to see us all wherever you kids may wind up.  For example, there is a comedian, Eric O’Shea coming to town this Tuesday night at the Arts Center at 7 p.m. Everybody should check it out!  If you are hesitant on going because you don’t know anybody to go with yet, join all of us!  Wednesday night then, we all have a meeting to learn the technical stuff of the job- but seriously, I am so excited I don’t even see how that can be difficult!  Yea, I am a total dork.Moral of the story- GET INVOLVED.  Iowa Western is the absolute most amazing place to be if you just throw yourself into activities.  I never would of thought all these great opportunities would come to me, or that I would be able to break out of my shell long enough to meet such great people!  Get involved.  

It just so happens that when I become so overwhelmed with things to do, I remember why I chose Iowa Western Community College. 

Here is what you need to know: I am involved with 2 on campus jobs.  I am on the Presidential honor roll, the leadership academy, taking 18 credit hours, and am a commuter with a needy chihuahua. 

I was gone in the hospital as you all know, and when I returned you can only imagine the STACK of projects, papers, and assignments I had waiting for me. 

The worst part was…math… friggen math.  How in the world was I ever going to make imaginary square roots equal x in time for a quiz, a test, and catch up on 7 sections?! 

Then, came my answer.  Choose Iowa Western because of the faculty.  There is no other college that would even come close to the dedication they have here. 

Spring break, my math teacher offered to pay for a babysitter for his family, to come into his office to catch me up on all of my makeup work. 

So Thursday of Spring Break, while everybody was travelling around the United States, a dedicated faculty member tutored me for 8, yes 8 consecutive hours.  Long enough for me to fully understand the last two weeks of work and leave having done exceptionally well on a test.  In fact, my grade is now up to an A because of that. 

I don’t know if legally I am allowed to say the name, however, I would highly reccommend you incoming students who struggle in math to sign up for a professor with the initials of D.K. 

I challenge any of you, who are even contemplating this school or currently going to another one- to tell me of better service.  There is simply nothing more impressive about a school than the staff.  The Iowa Western staff is outstanding. 

Thank you. 

What life is really like living with no common sense.  First of all, I had to go down to Kansas City Monday.  I decided it would be hilarious to imitate the noises of all the animals I saw during the 4 hour drive.  My fiance was really patient as I began to make hundreds of “mooo’s”, “neiggghhh’s”, “bark’s”, “cock a doodle dooo’s”, and “meow’s”.  Then after about an hour , asked me to act my age.  Ooops. So, I decided to let his headache subside and sit quietly.However, the bubble gum I was chewing was starting to taste bad.  So I rolled down the window and spit into the wind.  I didn’t have the heart to tell him there is bubble gum lodged in his backseat somewhere.  I looked over at him and said, “Hi honey.” Smiled real wide and hoped he didn’t notice.  Ooops again. We stopped for coffee.  Yay coffee, because my (diagnosing myself now) A.D.D. did not have enough fuel to continue being annoying.  After a cup or two  I thought it would be funny to recreate something my brother use to do on long car trips.  He use to gently bop dad on the forehead while dad was driving and scream, “DEER!”.   I bopped my fiance and screamed, “Pigeon!”.  He slammed on the breaks and we almost side swiped a jeep.  Ooops yet again.   He decided to get out of the car to have a cigar.  While leaning against the car he decided to look in the back seat.   What do you know?  He found my bubblegum.  Oops.  Only another hour until Kansas City.      If I come back alive, I am going to have a big cup of lemonade to celebrate.  That is really what spring break is all about, lemonade and a hot dog from the gas station.