Well it’s Saturday night of Memorial Day weekend and I’m currently at home in St. Charles with my parents, watching the first game in the Stanley Cup Finals – and what a game so far!!! I spent a majority of my Saturday outside in our gazebo, writing my final paper for my Spanish class so it’s nice to just relax and watch the game. It was an absolutely gorgeous day so I’m glad I was able to write my paper outside instead of in my room; I think it motivated me a little more to finish it! But a Blackhawks win would be icing on the cake, making it a perfect day!

This past week was Week 9 and the last week in May. Where did the term go?! This week I went to the Senior Art Show in Meiley-Swallow Hall and Oesterle Library for my Art History class and the exhibition review I had to write. I’ve never really taken the time to actually stop and look at the different pieces of student art on display on campus before and I have to admit, I was really impressed! The Senior Art Show features the works of 18 graduating seniors at North Central and they certainly have a lot of talent. If you’re on campus or in the area, I’d highly recommend going to see the show. The pieces will be displayed through June 12 so go take a look!

North Central certainly has many talented students on campus; on Wednesday night I went to the Chamber Singers Metamorphosis II concert and it was amazing!! The Chamber Singers is a group of twenty students under the direction of Dr. Wis that sing many different genres of music. The Metamorphosis II concert was their last one of the year and they sang many great songs. This week’s video blog features one of them as well as an interview with Sal Garza, my fellow blogger and member of the Chamber Singers. I hope you enjoy the video this week!

In honor of the Blackhawks and their fight for the Stanley Cup, the song of the week is “Chelsea Dagger” by The Fratellis. With all the goals they’ve been scoring tonight, it’s going to take awhile for this song to get out of my head – and I hope it stays that way for the rest of the series! Have a great Memorial Day weekend everyone and LET’S GO HAWKS!!!!!

Two weeks of classes left. Summer feels so close!!! But then I look at my “To Do” list and realize it’s going to take a lot of work for it to get here. At the same time, I know the last two weeks will fly by because this week certainly did – since when did Thursday get here so fast?! My list may be a mile long but I’ll have to work fast to get everything done on time!

This past Tuesday was Honors Day on campus. Honors Day happens every year and it’s always a busy day for everyone on campus. Students present research projects at the Rall Symposium, there’s a recognition ceremony during the day, and lots of smaller honors society induction ceremonies throughout the afternoon. This year I was inducted into the Mu Kappa Tau Marketing Honor Society. My parents and grandparents came to see the ceremony and it was really nice! They got to meet my advisors and marketing professors and afterward they took me out to dinner downtown Naperville. At this ceremony, the graduating seniors got their graduation cords to go over their graduation robe that represents their membership in Mu Kappa Tau. It’s crazy to think that that will be me soon!!

My grandpa, Marvin, and grandma, Sonja, and I at the Mu Kappa Tau Ceremony

We had our last AMA meeting of the year on Monday. At the end of Fall Term we held a food and clothing drive in the residence halls that turned out to be very successful. Since everyone will be moving out of the dorms soon, we decided to have another one at the end of this term. So we made and decorated the different boxes to put in each of the residence halls. But we’re not limiting it to food and clothes; this time we’ll also be collecting books, paper products, and basically anything that you don’t want to bring back home. If you have something you’d like to donate, you can find the boxes near the front entrances of each residence hall. They will be up through finals week. Don’t throw out things you don’t want anymore; if you can, donate it to a good cause!

The song in this week’s video blog is called “Your Love is My Drug” by Kesha. I think it has a nice summery feeling to it so I hope you enjoy it! Have a great weekend and enjoy the gorgeous weather we’re supposed to have!!!

P.S. – 15 days until Steven’s wedding!!!!!!

Well, my Week 7 was going along wonderfully when all of a sudden… I lost my voice. On Wednesday, I woke up with a sore throat but felt fine other than that. Fast forward to Sunday morning and I now have no voice. Normally, this wouldn’t be too big of a problem. But, the Women Chorale’s final concert is this Thursday night. I hope my voice comes back soon so I can sing again! Thank you allergies and changing weather for taking away my voice when I need it most! But I guess it’s better now than in two and a half weeks when I’m supposed to be singing at my brother’s wedding, right?

I’m really looking forward to the concert; we’re singing a lot of great songs! The concert is this Thursday, May 20 at 7:30pm in Wentz Concert Hall. For tickets or more information, click here!

Since this term is winding down, I’ve started finalizing summer plans. I just got my schedule for which Summer Orientation Sessions I’ll be working and which Professor I’ll be paired with for the year. I’m working two sessions in June so I’m really looking forward to that. Orientation last year was probably one of the highlights of my whole summer so I can’t wait for the sessions this year! I’ll also be taking two night classes at North Central this summer – World Religion and Astronomy. They’re two of my general education requirements so I figured why not take them this summer for something else to do. I’ll be living on campus in Naper Place most of the time so it’ll be nice to experience living in Naperville during the summer too. I just hope it’s hotter this summer than it was last summer!

I had a video blog planned for the week but things really caught up to me this week with classes and wedding stuff so I wasn’t able to get around to it. Who would’ve thought my life would get this hectic all of a sudden?! It’ll be a crazy Week 8 but I think I’ll be able to get in an interview. Have a great week everyone!

This Thursday I am proud to say that I registered for my last full year of classes at North Central! Yup, I’m graduating early and next year will be my last full year here. It’s so exciting to see the words “Pending Completion of Unfinished Activity” on almost all of the headings of my program evaluation. How crazy, right?! Now here’s the big question: how early will I graduate, a whole year or just two terms? If you ask my mom, she would tell you the answer is December 2011, or two terms early. But if you ask me… Well, I’d answer next June, a year early. It keeps going back and forth as to who is winning. I think I’m in the lead now but I’ll keep you updated on the progress!!

Here’s some more great news! I went through the housing selection process this week and am super excited to say that next year I’ll be living in Naper Place Apartments with my friend Erin! Erin’s going to be the RA of the fourth floor so I get to live with her and I couldn’t be happier. I’m really looking forward to having my own kitchen and being able to cook. Now I just have to perfect my cooking skills…

Besides registering for classes, this week has been filled with tests. Since it’s Week 6, it’s not surprising. We’re over half way done with the term now though so final papers and final projects are about to start. I have a lot to get done before the end of the term – especially with Steven’s wedding coming up!!! The wedding is less than a month away now, which means that there’s less than a month left of classes too. I have a feeling things are about to get very hectic, very quickly. I’ve already finished one of my final papers, but I still have two to go. I just need to focus and get those done sooner rather than later to make my life a little less crazy at the end of the term.

The Women’s Chorale final concert of the year is coming up during Week 8. I’m really looking forward to it because we have a lot of great pieces we’re working on. Also during Week 8 is Honors Day. This year I’ll be getting inducted into the Mu Kappa Tau Marketing Honors Society. Things just keep piling up on my calendar but I have a feeling it will all go by so fast!

I didn’t have time for a video blog this week but hopefully I’ll get something going for next week. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Hey everyone! Like promised yesterday, here’s the next video blog all from Relay for Life last night. I got there at 5:45pm and didn’t get back into my room to get to bed until 5:45 this morning. I am exhausted! I think we only sat and rested for about 3 of the 12 hours – the rest of the time we were walking, dancing, eating, and having a lot of fun! I’m definitely feeling it today though. I had an absolutely amazing time. I was walking for my grandpa, Marvin Schultz, my grandma, Sonja Schultz, and my cousin’s grandma, Lois Schubring. I’m really proud of myself and the rest of my team for sticking together the whole night and staying. I usually go to bed pretty early so I was afraid I wouldn’t make it. But I did! I hope you enjoy the video blog! Have a great weekend!!

So, tonight’s the night! Relay for Life is here and I’m proud to say that I’ve PASSED my goal of raising $150. It’s going to be a late night but I have a feeling it’ll be a lot of fun. My team and I are going out to dinner before and then heading over to Res Rec to set our spot up. At least one person from the team has to be walking on the track at all times but when you’re not walking, there’s so many other things going on. I’ll be helping with the pie eating contest later so that should be fun!

A lot has been going on with AMA the past few weeks. I have my new Exec Board in place so we’re just slowly trying to get things planned for the fall. We’re hoping to start making more connections with the companies downtown Naperville and work with them in the fall. At the meeting this upcoming Monday, we’re having two speakers come in to talk about their jobs and what it took for them to get there. We’re also hoping to work with one of the speakers to help advertising her non-profit organization, LEAVES, by creating new brochures and flyers. I really want AMA to become a more hands-on organization to give the members real life experience that will help them in the future. I think next year will be a great year for AMA and I’m really looking forward to it!

I’ve also still be working on the Illinois State Bar Association Newsletter In the Alternative this whole year as well. We only have one issue left to go! It’s been quite an experience for me since I don’t have much experience in law or arbitration. I’ve learned a lot though and am glad I decided to take on the challenge. Most of the pieces I focused on dealt with International Arbitration news. Only one more article to write though and then we’re done! It’s crazy how fast things are wrapping up.

For this week’s video blog, I’m going to take my camera to Relay tonight and talk with different people about the event. So, since it’s tonight, I won’t be posting it until tomorrow morning probably. The song featured in it is “What a Wonderful World” performed by the Ramones. Be sure to watch for the video of Relay tomorrow!!

Hey everyone! Happy Week 4!! Can you believe that next week is halfway through Spring Term? I swear it goes by faster each time.

This week has been, yet again, pretty relaxing for me. I had my Art History exam on Monday but other than that, things in my classes have been pretty laid back. Eventually I’m going to have to start working ahead in my classes and writing my final papers so that I don’t have to worry about it when I’m getting ready for Steven’s wedding. I’ve already started an Art History paper but I have about three other papers to work on so I need to get going on that! Again, who knew the end of the year would sneak up so fast?!

I also had a meeting with my advisor, Dr. Smith, this week to plan for my classes next year. I’ve decided to become a Spanish major instead of only a minor because I only have about two classes left to get that after this term. Why not, right? It will definitely benefit me in the long run. But I’ll have quite a busy schedule next year between my classes, working at the Admissions Office, and being a First Year Mentor. It’ll definitely keep me on my toes!

Well, unfortunately I don’t have a video blog for this week. Hopefully I’ll have a good one for you next week so definitely watch out for that. Sorry it’s such a short blog but I’ll definitely have more to say next time. Have a great week everyone!

One of the things I love most about spring is the return of the White Sox – I’ve missed watching the games this past winter!!! It’s been good to have them back and I have a feeling it’s going to be a great season.

This week has been pretty laid back for me and since the weather has been so gorgeous, I’ve taken advantage of spending as much time as I can outside. Today it got up to 80 – I couldn’t believe it!! It’s funny how it seems like our campus population grows so much during the warmer seasons since everyone wants to be outside and not in their residence halls. Downtown Naperville has been really busy so I love going down to the River Walk and just people watching. Once midterms come around I’m worried it may be hard to concentrate!

For this week’s video blog, I talked with Elizabeth Zelz, one of the students helping to put together Relay for Life. Relay is taking place in Res-Rec on April 31 – May 1 and it sounds like it’s going to be a great event. I’m currently signed up to be on a team with some other Student Ambassadors in the Admissions Office and our team is called “Tour Guides to the Rescue!” I wasn’t able to go to Relay last year so I’m really looking forward to experiencing it this year. It’s a really great cause and so many people on campus are getting involved – it’s amazing to see how big of an event this has become and how many people are supporting it.

Next week I take my first Art History exam so I will be devoting a good portion of my time this weekend to starting to review for that. I had a Psych exam this past Wednesday and I think it went pretty well. It’s starting to get to be that time of the term where I’ll be having exams and papers due more frequently. But only 7 more weeks left until the end of the term… And 7 weeks until my brother’s wedding! My mom informed me this morning that that’s only 50 days away. I have a feeling time will fly!!!

Since I’m so excited about the White Sox season and have been spending most of my nights watching their games, it’s no surprise that the song of the week is “Go, Go White Sox!” I know you all know the words so sing along if you want and remember to root, root, root for the White Sox at their next game!

It’s the end of Week 2 and it feels like it should be the end of Week 7!! This term is going to be a long one… Personally, I’m really looking forward to the end of the term because my older brother, Steven, is getting married June 5 – end of Week 10!!! That means only 8 more weeks left until his wedding! How exciting is that?! There hasn’t been a wedding in our family for way too long.

This week hasn’t been too busy for me but tonight I’m going on the Orientation Staff retreat. Last year, as some of you may remember, I had the honor of being an Orientation Leader. This year, I’m excited because I am now a First Year Mentor. FYM’s are new to the Orientation program and are very similar to the Orientation Leaders. As a FYM, I will be doing many day activities with the first-year students, particularly being involved in their First Year Experience class fall term. This position is going to be great because I’ll be able to make even more of a connection with the students in my group since I will be with them for the summer sessions, Welcome Week, and Fall Term as well. The Orientation Staff retreat tonight should be a lot of fun and I’m excited to get to know all the new people on staff. In the video blog today, you will see Molly Link and Angie Snodgrass talk a little about the different things the Orientation Staff has been working on and what the sessions will be like this year. Molly and Angie are our Orientation Training Leaders and have done a lot of work so far to create the new staff and get things ready for training and the summer sessions.

I really love my schedule this term because it means I’ve been able to pick up more hours in the Admissions Office. I am now being trained on how to answer the phones and transfer calls so that was really fun yesterday. On Saturday there will be a First-Year Visit Day that I have to miss because of the retreat but it sounds like it will be a great turn out!

In the video blog this week, the song “Secrets” by One Republic is featured. I hope you all have a great week and enjoy the springtime weather!

FINALLY the nice weather is here!! Can you believe that today’s going to be in the upper 70s? You have no idea how happy that makes me. It seems like the weather is cooperating with our term – Spring Term started on Monday and the weather is warming up along with it! I’m hoping this means no more snow… But unfortunately in Illinois, you never know. Oh well, I’ll take the warmth while I can get it!

I had a great Spring Break this year, although I feel like it was my least eventful. I worked a lot babysitting for some families back in St. Charles, relaxed on the couch (a little too much for my parent’s liking), and learned how to knit! Yup, I learned how to knit. I have to admit, I’m getting pretty good at it. I’m working on a scarf and only had a few problems getting started. But the whole break was really relaxing and I definitely needed that. I was really excited to get back on campus though!

This term I’m only taking three classes instead of four like I usually do. I have Psychology, Spanish, and Art History. I’m really enjoying Art History because I haven’t taken an art class in years – probably since Middle School! The first two days of classes have been really interesting. We’re looking at art starting in the 18^th century and I’ve learned a lot so far. Like I said in an earlier post, this is also my last Spanish class I’ll take to get my Spanish Minor. It’s a Spanish literature class, specifically Latin American literature. It’s going to be tough because the authors have been using different slang words native to their region that I’m not used to. I think I’ll enjoy it though! Since I only have class on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday this term, I’m working most of the day on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Admissions Office. It’ll be nice to give tours now that it’s warming up again! Of course, I’m also still in the Women’s Chorale. We’ll be having our final concert on Thursday, May 20^th so we have a lot of work to do in preparation for that!

Well, since it’s the first week of the term, I’m still adjusting to my new schedule so I didn’t have time to create a video blog yet. Don’t worry – there will be lots of different events happening this last term so we’ll have some fun videos coming up! Have a wonderful weekend everyone and enjoy the spring weather!