Thursday, November 12, 2009
Of Opportunities and Effective Administration
The song I have for this week is perfect for Fall. My brother got me hooked on Nickel Creek when I was in high school, and although they have since broken up as a group, I still love their music. One of the band members, Chris Thile, had a concert at UT last March through the Cultural Attractions Committee's concert series. If you watch the video--which you SHOULD--I hope you get a kick out of the mandolinist's spiky, gel-filled hair. One word: throwback!
In the blog before last, I had a rant about all the opportunities available to me, and how frustrated I was that I couldn't take part in all of them. Well, the stars must be in line for me because I found out last week that the CASNR sponsored study abroad trip has been split up into two separate trips, one before summer classes begin and one after. Needless to say, I am really excited! One group will go to Ghana in May, the other to Lesotho in August. I still have to apply and choose which trip I would prefer, but I love the fact that I can go!
Last weekend was the homecoming game here at UT, and we had an excellent game against Memphis. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this game at all, at least in the beginning. I was sitting with 3 friends, and we were assigned to sit in section D, row 4. Those are really good seats, in case you didn't know...very close to the field, UT players, etc. Apparently, lots of other students thought their tickets were in this section as well. I realize that you don't know me too well, readers, but I'm an outspoken and opinionated person who isn't afraid to stand up for myself. Hard to believe, I know. The situation in section D became so ridiculous and crowded, my group decided to leave and move to a section with empty seats farther up the stadium. For lack of better words, I was pissed about it. I PAID FOR MY TICKET, I wanted to watch my favorite sport with my favorite team, but I couldn't sit in section D due to other inconsiderate (and...ahem...some inebriated) students. I know that football games are supposed to be crazy and crowded and fun, but this situation escalated to a whole new level of insanity. After the game, I decided that I wanted to take action to ensure that this problem would not happen again--to anyone.
I took a picture right before we moved...keep in mind, I'm about 5'11.5 and I still couldn't see the field. Whatever happened to chivalry?
On Sunday, I decided to send an email to the Dean of Students, J.J. Brown, about my experience at the game. The email was long, descriptive, and straight to the point. I offered suggestions on how to prevent the overcrowding (ticket checks, increased security, etc.) and hoped that some good would come out of the situation as a whole. To my astonishment, I got a reply from Dean Brown the very next day, and he seemed genuinely concerned about my experience, and wanted to talk to me about it! We had a phone conversation on Wednesday that really made me appreciate him and his office, and he reassured me that the problem would be addressed at the football security meeting next week.
So, readers....even though some may feel like they're too young or obsolete to matter to the "higher ups," we all have a voice. My confidence in the administration increased this week, and I wanted to share my experience with you.
Have a great week....listen to some Nickel Creek, and don't forget to smile.
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Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Welcome, New Bloggers!
If you don't like this song, we can't be friends. OK, so....Office of Admissions people, please don't go crazy on me for posting a song that may or may not be about moonshine production. If you knew where I came from, you would understand. But, in all seriousness, this is an AMAZING song. It's a country-rock blend...the opening notes give me chills!
Moving on...I would like to say "Welcome" to the seven new bloggers! We are really excited to have you all on board. You all represent a very diverse group of people, and that is great for our cause: to represent the University of Tennessee and give prospective students an idea of what to expect if/when they come here. And, of course...a little pitchin' and reppin' never hurts (Go CASNR!).
Since you all have been blogging like fiends (it's motivation for me, really) and giving introductions, I figured I would give a little introduction myself. Here goes:
Hey there! My name is Elizabeth, I'm 19, and a sophomore majoring in Animal Science with a concentration in Pre-Veterinary Medicine. That's a majorly fancy way of saying that I want to go to vet school one day--most people don't realize how competitive it is! Oh, and I'm minoring in Wildlife and Fisheries Science because that sounded fun. Haha...that's part of the reason, but I LOVE the Great Smoky Mountains (Nate--I could make an inside joke, but I'm not going to because I love you) and want to learn more about the creatures and living things within the park and world as a whole. I own a horse, Boone, and he is total momma's boy. I board him at a barn in Knoxville, and ride about 3-4 times a week. It's really hard for me to stay inside all the time, and Boone gives me the ability to play outside and get some exercise. I love to travel and read. Learning really is fun for me--like my little mini bio on the top left says....I could spend all day in my farm animal anatomy lecture! My boyfriend, Caleb, loves the outdoors as much as I do, and we like to fish and hike. I have an amazing family, and I love Tennessee (namely, east TN!). I did grow up in this area, but whenever I leave for an extended amount of time--I'm ready to get back to my mountains and orange pride! I'm here to blog about UT, and also the College of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources (CASNR). If you have any questions, please comment on a blog! I will get back to you ASAP. So, to summarize: If you see me walking around campus (I'm tall and sort of hard to miss), you are allowed/encouraged to smile (because I WILL smile back) and ask me about my horse, CASNR, east TN, etc.
I am really looking forward to reading all the new blogs, and getting more feedback from readers. To the new bloggers: I hope you find blogging as fulfilling as I do. I really enjoy chronicling my UT experience.
The picture at the top is of me and my friend, Lawrence at our sheep lab for an Animal Science class. The Animal Science program is very hands-on, we work with animals in every class.
Till next time, readers!
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Monday, October 12, 2009
Confusion
College is annoying. And frustrating. And dadgum unnecessarily confusing. But, not for all the reasons you might think.
Yes, studying sucks sometimes. Yeah...being in a 50 minute lecture can sometimes feel like 3 hours, especially when your professor goes over transcription and translation a few million times. True--my idea of a fun evening is not being stuck in the Ag./Vet Med library until the librarian quietly approaches me to inform me that the library closes in 15 minutes, and I am therefore a complete nerd for being there that long (they don't say that part, but I know they are thinking it).
No, it's not really frustrating for those reasons. It's frustrating because I keep getting all these freaking opportunities thrown at me like baseballs at a batting cage. Sure, I'd love to do an internship one summer, OH WAIT....I've already promised my advisor that I would get Organic Chemistry out of the way. Would I want to work in your repro lab, especially since you are an amazing professor and probably have networking opportunities for me? Love to! Crap...I signed up to volunteer at the Young-Williams Animal Center, and that conflicts. Visit my exchange student "sister" in Germany for a few weeks during Christmas break....totally! Umm...sorry, I promised to fill in some at my vet clinic back home during the holidays.
Get the picture? Last week, an equine chiropractor visited the barn where I board my horse. It was fascinating, and he took the time to explain things to me and talk about how he decided on his career through veterinary medicine. This week, a guest lecturer in my Animal Science Biotechnology class talked about reproduction and IVF, once again.....totally fascinating. Even though I'm a "Pre-Vet" student, I like being able to explore other realms of the animal science industry as a whole. And, yeah--I'm definitely annoyed that I can't maintain tunnel vision. But, whether I go to grad school, vet school, med school, or backpack through Europe--it's exciting.
Today, as I walked across Joe Johnson Drive on the Ag. campus I saw the big, white "Make Orange Green" school bus slowly creep by. The bus is used by the Office of Admissions to give campus tours to prospective students. As I glanced at the high school students and parents on the bus, I thought back to my campus tour of UT my Junior year of high school. If I knew then that I would be dissecting cow ovaries and researching chiropractic medicine in animals in a few years, I would probably have laughed. And then freaked out. Because that is what I do. (Not always...sometimes I freak out, then laugh.)
My song choice for this blog is one of my favorite of all time---it's random, odd, and confusing. Just like my brain right now.
Let me also say as a side note, that I sat down and decided to type all this out in a manner of minutes. I sincerely apologize for the ridiculous stream-of-consciousness writing seen above. I just felt compelled to blog. And my procrastination skills are becoming more well-rounded. My blog people in the Admissions office are probably happy that I chose blogging over Facebook.
I know I am. =)
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Tuesday, September 8, 2009
A Good Start
"Southern Girl" by Amos Lee
Even though I am a southern girl, which makes me biased, I like to think that we are the best. Nate has good taste. My roommate and best friend, Kim, got me hooked on Amos Lee this month. I have decided that he has the BEST songs to study/write papers to because they are easy and quiet, but not lullabye-ish. Check him out.
So far, this semester has started out on the right foot academically. I am bad about slowly getting into my studying habits and then doing just OK on the first exam...and then I get a fire under my butt. But, there are plenty of changes that I've had to adjust to, one being that I am living off campus. I hope to devote a full blog to that subject sometime during the year.
Being the avid football fan that I am, the football season has been a letdown thus far, but I still have hope. I get even more frustrated at the attitude the student body and fans have toward our quarterback. Yes, he is a Division 1 football player, but he is in college, he is young, and we should support him rather than slam his playing. But, that is a rant for another day....
The football games and tailgating provided ample opportunity for picture taking.
A controversial point on campus right now is the Pedestrian Walkway sculpture. It is very large, and....um....mettalic, and its name is something along the lines of "The Whirlwind of Opportunity." As a blogger, I am told repeatedly to really present my opinions about UT, so here's my opinion of the sculpture: it's hideous. I am very appreciative of the arts, but it marrs our beautiful and traditional architecture along the library and amphitheater. Plus, the sculpture virtually ruins the view of The Hill and Ayres because it was placed on the highest point of the walkway. On Saturdays, the band and colorguard have to maneuver around it, and it is quite possibly the most awkward thing I've ever seen....but they pull it off, because after all, they are the Pride. The Hardee's-esque star popping out of the top of the ""whirlwind" about pushes it over the top for me. Wait, no...it does.
I've got to work on memorizing the anatomy of the heart, so until next time...
Keep on smiling and GO VOLS!
• • •
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Here We Go Again
"Iris" by The Goo Goo Dolls
I'm still learning, folks. I have the hardest time getting back to a regimented schedule that I'm happy with when I start a new semester, and that is why this new blog has taken so long to get posted. Luckily, my blog mentors are wonderful and understand that school comes first. I've got a full load this semester, and I'm loving the challenge. I'm still trying to decide on my favorite class--it's a close tie between Farm Animal Anatomy and Soils and Civilizations (I will probably devote a full blog on the latter in a few months). Either way, since I am now a Sophomore, I'm "getting into" my major a little more and spending more time on the Ag. campus. It's a good thing.
Let me fill you in on my crazy summer with a few photos and captions:
May was filled with relaxation, catching up with high school friends, and pony time. At the barn where I board my horse, all the horses are referred to affectionately as "ponies." Boone, seen above, turned into a pretty boy this summer, even with all the rain. He is a 11 year old Thoroughbred gelding and gives me an outlet for all my "spare time," money, and energy. But he is totally worth it.
June was dominated by one thing: Biology. I decided to take a summer class at UT to help with my class load this fall and having the extra 4 hours will push me up to a Junior (60+ hours) in the spring. To keep me from going stir crazy in the library, my boyfriend, Caleb, and I went to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park 75th Anniversary concert. It was amazing!
July was probably the best month out of the summer. My mom, her best friend Becky, and I went to Charleston, SC for a week and had a blast. There is just something about that town that makes me feel so...Southern.
August was a whirlwind of craziness: my mom started back to school (she is a high school teacher), I was trying to pack in preparation to move into an apartment off campus, and I had Lasik surgery. That's right--lasers and corneas and all that good stuff! TLC Laser Eye Center in Johnson City had an excellent offer going for the summer, and we wanted to take advantage of it before I moved back to Knoxville. So, less than a week before classes started, I went under the....um...laser, and had my nearsightedness corrected completely! The picture above is right before they called my name to go into Pre-Op, and it was also the last time I had to wear my glasses. I don't think I look too terribly nervous. Ha.
I think I'm going to wrap this up so I can go study my Bio lab material, but I promise that there will be more in-depth blogs to come!
Thought for the day: A smile confuses an approaching frown.
PS....I'm on a Goo Goo Dolls kick. It might be a throwback, but all of their songs are SO good. My roomie, Kim, isn't tired of it. Yet.
• • •
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Home
On a Tennessee road windin' down
From the hills of my hometown
Runnin' straight from,my heart to my soul
Where every son and daughter knows
One lane comes and one lane goes
So hold my dreams 'til I come home
Tennessee road
--"Tennessee Roads" Melonie Cannon
I've always been one of those people who has to watch at least one newscast per day. Like most households, my parents maintained a loyalty to one particular channel: we watched the local NBC station, WBIR, which is based out of Knoxville. I can't really explain "why" I love WBIR so much, but I think it has a lot to do with their dedication to representing east Tennessee so well. Their message, "Straight from the Heart" has always struck me as a different, sincere type of mantra in comparison to the other local stations. The first time I heard the song "Tennessee Roads" was during a WBIR commercial (see the Youtube video). As an avid country/bluegrass fan, I had to have it. I looked everywhere, iTunes, Amazon, music stores...no one had the song or the album. One day last week, during a visit to Mckay's Used Books and CD Store in Knoxville, I found the album and almost freaked. The song is what I think of when I think of Knoxville, UT, and my home. It sort of brings everything I've experienced in the last year full circle.
When I went home for the summer, I wanted to wait a while before I posted a year-end blog. Well, that hiatus lasted a bit longer than I had hoped, and I apologize. BUt, I'm going to blog about what I've wanted to for the last few months... This is such an exciting time for incoming Freshmen....Orientation, dorm shopping, roommate reveals. This time last year, I thought I was so prepared for college. But, I wasn't. I wasn't prepared for the grueling amount of studying, the small amount of space I had to live in, and the sudden lack of home-cooked food. But, on the other hand, I wasn't prepared for the amazing amount of information I would be absorbing, the relationships created with friends and professors, and the sense of Independence I gained.
One of the first good decisions I made coming into UT was applying for a learning community. Learning communities are groups of students with similar majors or majors within the same academic program. The students live in Morrill Hall (the best dorm, in my opinion...but I'm biased!), take classes together, and form friendships. Since I am a student within the College of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources (CASNR), I was able to apply for the CASNR Learning Community, and live on the same floor as other girls in Animal Science, Food Science, Ag Econ, etc. We took two 1 hour courses that were designed for team building and leadership skills, and the class gave everyone an opportunity to have FUN and relate to one another. We would ride the bus together, eat together, and hang out. I loved out late night study sessions in the lobby on the 10th floor...someone would order pizza and we would all stress over the Animal Science test the next day. Having this automatic group of people I had similar interests with was an amazing way to start out at such a big school. Other learning communities cater to students in the Honors program, engineering, architecture, public policy, and even undecided majors. If you are even remotely interested in it, sign up!
I experienced lots of ups and down, too. General Chemistry was a huge challenge....it seemed like no matter how hard I tried, I wasn't understanding the concepts. So, I had to ask for help. I got a tutor, who just so happened to be one of my best friends and biggest influences during the year, Kari. She was a super senior in Food Science in CASNR, and she took me under her wing. With Kari's help, along with attending a few Supplemental Instruction sessions , I was able to do well and finish out my first semester with good grades.
All four years of high school, I was a member and officer in Student Council, our student government that helped make changes for the school and coordinate events. I wanted to do something similar to that in college, and the SGA was definitely the answer. I applied to be on Freshmen Council, a group of 45 Freshmen designed to represent our class by writing and passing bylaws to improve campus life. Freshmen Council gave me a new group of friends and a way to make a difference on campus. After applying, I had go to through two rounds of interviews, which is great practice....if you want to get involved with the bigger organizations on campus, you usually will have to interview.
The first time I took a UT campus tour my Junior year of high school, I knew that I wanted to be a "tour guide" while in college. My guide, Hillary, was so enthusiastic and I could tell that she really enjoyed showing the prospective students around campus. At some point in the year, I found out that these students were referred to as Ambassador Scholars, and they do more than just give tours. I applied to be an Ambassador in the Spring, and once again had to go through several rounds of interviews. Over 300 students applied (including fellow blogger, Nate!), and I knew that it was incredibly competitive...there were only 15 spots available . I made it through 3 rounds of interviews, and I was totally surprised and ecstatic. After the final round, I was cut...but I was so happy to have made it that far as a Freshman, I didn't see it as failing. It showed me that there are plenty of opportunities, and I get to decide where and how I want to spend my time. I plan on applying again next year...and maybe you'll see Nate and I sporting the orange polo's in a few years!
Moving out of my dorm in early May felt like saying goodbye to a friend. My roommate, Kelsey, and I had made out dorm a true home. We had rugs, Christmas lights, and loads of posters and color. I never thought I could fit so much stuff in my car...
My experiences with CASNR and the Animal Science department has been more than rewarding...the Ag campus is my favorite place at UT. I've gotten to take part in fun labs (including sticking my arm into a cow's rumen!); study at a smaller, quieter library; and interact with several professors and advisors willing to sit down with me any time to work out a problem.
To all of you coming to UT this fall: get ready for an amazing, tumultuous, and life-changing year.
To all of you considering UT in the future: do your research, visit lots of schools, and realize how awesome it is to have choices!
The University of Tennessee is a home to me.
Who knows....maybe it could be a home to you, too.
Keep smiling, readers. Love to you all!
• • •
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Decision Time
Where's the fire, what's the hurry about?
You better cool it off before you burn it out
You got so much to do and only
So many hours in a day
-Billy Joel "Vienna"
Oh, my sweet readers. Where to begin? I've started this blog about 6 times (no joke...I checked on the website we use to create the blogs) and I am DETERMINED to finish this one.
You are probably wondering why this slacker can't seem to throw a few lines together to sum up the final happenings of my Freshman year. Well, to put it simply: I can't. I can't translate the feeling of walking down the Pedestrian Walkway, chatting with so many people who have become my family here at UT. I can't make you smell barbecue chicken day at Mabel's on the Ag. campus, and how fantastic it is to sit at a table right next to several of my favorite professors. I can't explain to you how utterly depressing it is to take apart my dorm room, pulling down posters and looking through old cards from family and friends when I first began in August. And finally, I just can't sit here and type out "why" it is you should come here. If there is one thing I've learned this year, it's that college is so much more than classes and learning/expanding your mind. It's about gaining experiences and learning from them as well. You will learn this at any university, but I chose the University of Tennessee, and I am so happy I did.
So, whether or not you have made your choice, remember that wherever you go, you can thrive. This decision is an important one, but it's an amazing right we have to choose where we want go to in order to continue our education.
I will follow this blog up with another when I'm not experiencing mass amounts of cramming for finals.
PS: Nate, you are a total overachiever and I love you. Even if you do make the rest of us look bad. ;)
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