May

20

Once a Hawkeye, Always a Hawkeye.

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So this is it. It’s weird to think this is probably the last blog I will ever write as a student blogger for The University of Iowa. I have to say that it’s been an honor, and a pleasure, to share my thoughts, feelings, and experiences with this amazing university.

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As an incoming freshman, I had never even dreamed of blogging. I had never done it myself, but I had always followed other people’s. Then while exploring many of Iowa’s Facebook pages, I came across a post looking for student bloggers. I had no idea what it entailed, or how many people apply, but I decided to go for it. I created a blog, filled out the application, and sent it away. It was completely an impulse decision, and I didn’t think I’d even get it. But now here I am, 4 years later, still writing for the institution I love so much. I’ve loved being able to share my voice as a student. To this day I still don’t really know how many people actually read my blog posts (besides my mom of course…), but either way, it’s been a great outlet for me. It’s almost like my own personal, very public, diary of my college career. I wouldn’t change a thing.

I’ve been putting off writing this blog for some time now. At first I thought I’d have way too many things to say and this post would go on forever….but as I sit here, I struggle to find the right words. Iowa has impacted me in so many ways, I couldn’t possibly think of them all. So I’ll keep it to just a general handful.

Delta Zeta. Coming into college, I knew right off the bat that I wanted to participate in Formal Recruitment. My sister was a Phi Mu at her University, and I also thought it would be a great way to meet people, and create unforgettable bonds. When I went through recruitment, by the end I know Delta Zeta was were I belonged. It is such a unique and diverse blend of personalities, I truly felt like I could be myself with those women. I wouldn’t replace my sorority experience for anything. I’d encourage anyone to go through the recruitment process, even if they’re not completely sure it’s for them. You won’t know unless you try.

The Hawkeye Marching Band. In all honesty, this big, beautiful, sassy band was basically a second sorority for me. All those people truly became my family. Nothing can replace the memories of waking up at 4am, even in the brutal cold, to go rehearse outside in Kinnick Stadium before the game. I could not imagine my college career without the marching band. They were the very first people I ever met at Iowa, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Art Major. I didn’t know what else to call this one, but it’s really just the community of art students throughout the university. Being an art major is definitely not your typical major that you’d think of right away, but it’s something I’ve loved working towards these last 4 years. Art Building West, Studio Arts, those buildings were my home over these years. Countless hours starting, and restarting projects. The successes, the frustrations. Art has been the center of my universe, and I will always be thankful for the outlets that the university has supplied for me while a student.

My Roommates. The last 2 years of my college career, have been spent in a house with 5 roommates right across the street from the East side dorms. We’ve be through highs, and some serious lows, but I’m thankful to have had girls that care about me. Even though sometimes I wanted nothing but out of this sometimes cramped house, I wouldn’t have it any other way. No matter our struggles, we’ve always supported each other.

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So now comes the next chapter of my life. I’m excited, and also terrified, to move halfway across the country to live in Orlando, Florida and to intern in Walt Disney World. I’m so thankful for this opportunity, and I thank The University of Iowa for making me the person that I am today.

My advice to any student at the university is to not be afraid to try new things, and to put yourself out there. Don’t be afraid to jump at new and scary opportunities, but also don’t be afraid to say no. Live for yourself, and work towards your dreams. Iowa is a beautiful place, don’t take if for granted. Four years will go by before you know it. So cherish this place, and the people that surround you. The University of Iowa will only help you become the best version of yourself.

So keeping in the tradition of the Hawkeye Marching Band, we end every football game, win or lose, by singing the Alma Mater. It’s something I will forever hold dear. Once a Hawkeye, Always a Hawkeye.

“Come all alums of Iowa,
And blend your voices true;

Sing praises to our Alma Mater,
As good Hawkeyes do.

Let’s keep within our hearts a fire
To magnify her fame;

Bring credit to these noble halls
Where glory and honor reign.

The day is near when comrades here
Will bid farewell and part;

But each Hawkeye carries on,
They spirit in his heart.

Oh! Iowa, Iowa, we drink a toast to you;
We pledge our everlasting love for dear old Iowa U.

Alma Mater, Iowa.”

So for the final time, Go Hawks. 

May

14

The Final Week.

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It’s weird to think this is my last week of official class at the University of Iowa. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that I’m graduating. I’ll save the sappy stuff for my final blog post, but it’s really a weird concept to grasp that 4 years have gone by so quickly.

This final, finals week has consisted of 2 finals, 1 final paper, and 1 final critique. Nothing crazy, but nothing breezy either. I started off by knocking the paper out ASAP. It was required to be about 4 pages, and I wanted to make sure that I got it out of the way so I could focus on my most difficult class. So by mid-day Monday, I was walking to my professors office to turn my paper in 3 days early.

From there it was time to buckle down and focus the next 2 days on studying for my most difficult exam. It was a law class, and frankly, being an art major, I just could not connect with the material. So I studied my butt off, and fingers crossed I did alright.

The next final was one of the much loved 7:30am exams. And by that, I mean completely struggling to get out of bed. Luckily, that final was a breeze and I was free by 8:30.

Immediately following that I had my final critique for my metal-smithing class. That class was an absolute blast and the teacher was amazing. I’m honestly sad to have that class end. It was so fun, and an amazing learning experience. I learned to work with so much heavy machinery I used to be intimidated by. I wish I could continue with it.

All in all, I’d say this was a pretty typical finals week. What other way to wrap up my college career? So as for today, I’m going to celebrate my birthday, and look ahead to walking in the CLAS commencement ceremony on Saturday morning!

Go Hawks!

Apr

13

The Best Time of Year

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In my opinion, the best time to hang out on campus is the spring. The weather is perfect. Not too hot, not too cold, beautifully sunny, everything is beginning to bloom, the grass is getting greener, and the top of the Old Capitol shines. I think every student should take some time to enjoy sitting on the steps on the west side of the Pentacrest and just enjoy the sun setting. It’s a beautiful sight to see.

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I love hanging out on the Pentacrest in my free time, or even between classes. A couple weeks ago I was out sitting on the steps (in the picture above) and I had the pleasure of making a new acquaintance. His name was Joe, or as I refer to him “Pentacrest Joe.” I never learned his last name, or got any contact information, but we had a lovely conversation for well over an hour. It’s people like Pentacrest Joe that make me remember one of the many reasons I love Iowa. We had a common interest, so we started chatting. Simple as that. No strings attached. So Pentacrest Joe, if you’re out there, just know I enjoyed our conversation very much, and the spontaneity of it truly made my day. One of the best things about Iowa is just how friendly the people are in general. There have been times that I may have been having a rough day, and someone simply giving me a passing smile on my way to class helped in even the smallest way.

As my time in Iowa winds down, I’m truly trying to make the best of everything. I’m making a strong effort to appreciate the smaller gestures, and things I may have taken for granted over the last couple years. When I walk to class, I try to give someone a smile that might have helped me in the past. Instead of rushing to classes, I take it slow and enjoy my walk and my surroundings. Instead of plugging into my headphones, I go without. Instead of watching Netflix in my room, I do my homework on my porch. Don’t wait to appreciate your surroundings, the people that go with it, and the beautiful campus that Iowa has. It’s a place that has impacted my life for the better, and it will forever be a part of me. I am a Hawkeye.

Go Hawks.

Apr

01

The Internship of My Dreams!

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You read that title right! I got the internship of my dreams! In my last blog post I was pretty vague about what exactly my internship was, but that’s just because I’m superstitious and didn’t want to jinx anything.

But now, I am proud to announce that come August, I will be moving to Orlando, Florida to be an intern for the Disney College Program! Screen Shot 2015-03-20 at 7.24.02 PM t

It feels amazing to have been accepted into the program, and I can’t wait to go to work for Disney after graduation! Not to mention, now I really know what’s going on after I leave Iowa! For months, I have been so stressed out not knowing what was going to happen after I graduated. But now I’m eager to get down to Florida and start working in Walt Disney World!

I thought about applying for the program almost 2 years ago, but ended up not going through with the application because I loved what I was doing in Iowa too much to sacrifice the time. But now, I finally applied, and I’m thrilled to accept a position with merchandising!

I am so excited to start this new chapter in my life, I’m honestly having a hard time focusing on the current one! I plan to cherish the rest of my time in Iowa, and with my all my friends, because I won’t know a soul when I move down to Orlando. It’s going to be quite the adventure, and I’m excited to meet and work with people from across the world! Maybe I’ll even meet some fellow Hawkeyes on vacation while I’m working!

Once a Hawkeye, Always a Hawkeye.

Go Hawks! 

Mar

23

Life After Graduation.

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Thinking about my life after graduation: What will it be like? Where will I end up living? What will I be doing? Where will I work? Will I get the internship of my dreams?

These are all thoughts I have a a daily basis. I think everyone wonders what it will be like, but for me I’m wondering where (aka what STATE) I will be living in. I can’t say I’ll be remaining in Iowa past the end of my lease in August, but I also can’t necessarily say I’ll be moving home to Chicago. Soon I won’t even be able to call Chicagoland my home! My parents are actually moving to Denver, Colorado in the very near future. So Denver will be my new home.

BUT. I recently just made it through all the interview stages for my dream internship, and if they accept me into the program, I could be making my way down much further south! I won’t mention where, or what, the internship is (I’m very superstitious, I just knocked on wood!), but that’s because I don’t want to jinx anything!

Basically, what I’m saying is, is that my future has several different paths it could take. Some I’d love, others, not so much. I’m really trying to cherish all the time left I have in Iowa City, with my friends, and just in the city I have come to hold so dear to my heart. I have no idea what city or state I’ll end up in, but for now, Iowa City is my focus.

College is over before you know it, so rock it out in class, but don’t forget to make some amazing memories along the way. In the meantime, I’m checking my email a million times a day until I know if I got the internship, and trust me, if I do, there will most definitely be a blog post in the works!

Go Hawks!

Feb

23

My Favorite Restaurants in Iowa City

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One of the great things about The University of Iowa’s campus, is its proximity to downtown Iowa City. Being a senior at Iowa, I’ve had 4 good years of exploring the restaurants downtown, and there are still a few I’d like to visit before I move to Denver in August! So without further delay, and in no particular order, here’s the list of my favorite Iowa City restaurants!

Donnelly’s

Donnelly’s Pub is located in the pedestrian mall downtown. My favorite thing by far is to get their “drunken” wings in the Jameson buffalo sauce. They have classic shoe string french fries, and the Irish Pub atmosphere gives it a little more of a unique twist. Definitely some of my favorite wings in Iowa City.

Short’s

Short’s Burger & Shine is easily one of the best places to get a burger, located right on Clinton St. across from the Pentacrest. My favorite? The Tingley burger, which has avocado, pepperjack cheese, and green chiles. They have a long list, with a strong variety of different types of burgers with all kinds of toppings.

Airliner

The Airliner Bar is located close by to Short’s, also right on Clinton St. I typically go there for their pizza! I believe Tuesday night is half-priced pizza, which makes it a great place to get a cheap meal with your friends!

Hamburg Inn

Hamburg Inn No. 2 is an Iowa City classic. Located over on Linn Street, it’s great for breakfast and cake shakes! Hamburg is rich with history, and you can even sit at the very table where President Ronald Reagan ate his breakfast!

Z’Marik’s

Z’Marik’s Noodle Cafe is located on Dubuque St. just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the pedestrian mall. Comparable to Noodles & Company, I prefer this Iowa City staple.

Cactus

Cactus Mexican Grill & Cantina is easily the best place for some free chips and salsa, and some good Mexican food. It’s right on the corner of Burlington and Gilbert, and it’s so popular they even opened Cactus 2 just a couple storefronts down.

Mesa

Mesa Pizza is another Iowa City classic. Open late, and inexpensive, it’s another great place to get some pizza with friends. Not to mention they have some very unique toppings! My personal favorite is the mac n’ cheese pizza.

 

The list could go on, there are tons of restaurants all over Iowa City and even into Coralville that are great and unique to the Iowa City/Coralville Area. Sure, there are plenty of chain restaurants around to eat and those are always reliable, but theres nothing like an Iowa City staple.

Go Hawks!

Feb

17

Sick of being Sick.

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The title of this blog post says it all. I am sick and tired of being sick. Winter is usually a time of being sick, but for me that typically entails a cold that maybe lasts a week or two, and maybe a runny nose throughout the season. But this past month has been the worst.

For over a month now I’ve been sick. I have a horrible cough, major congestion, a runny nose, headaches, you name it. I’ve been to student health twice now, and each time they’ve taken a different approach, and each equally unsuccessful. So now, on Wednesday, I have yet another appointment. I believe this time I am having a chest x-ray taken. I’m not looking forward to it.

Usually to wrap up my blog posts I like to end with some advice, but this time I really don’t have any. I’m doing my best to get myself better, but it’s definitely a struggle. Hopefully I can finally kick this bug in me out, so I can be healthy again! Fingers crossed.

Go Hawks.

Jan

27

5 Weeks to Wellness Challenge!

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As a student at The University of Iowa, you will get more than your fair share of emails from the University advertising different groups, programs, events… the list goes on. But given the nature of my New Year’s Resolution (as I described in my last post), one of the most recent University emails caught my eye. The 5 Weeks to Wellness Challenge!

I’m definitely a person that can lack the motivation to go to the gym after a long day of class and work, so the simplicity of this challenge is what attracted me to it. Not to mention at the end you can win some cool prizes! Who doesn’t like free stuff right? Without much hesitation I signed myself up to take on the challenge! I’m even in the process of trying to recruit some of my friends to join me! So now before the challenge begins next week I’m trying to think of times in my schedule to fit in some activity, as well as trying to think of some new, healthier meals to try out!

The basis of this challenge is to keep you consistent in your activity levels, eat healthier, while also encouraging you to try new things. The challenge starts on February 2nd, so if you’re interested I’d sign up quick! Check out the webpage for some more information regarding the challenge and how to sign up!

http://studenthealth.uiowa.edu/5-weeks-to-wellness/

Go Hawks!

Jan

20

New Year, New Resolutions

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Happy 2015 Hawkeyes! As with every new year, it was time to make some New Year’s resolutions! But unlike most years where I make a big long list, this year I decided to focus on just one. So my biggest goal for 2015? Live a healthier lifestyle.

I’ll be the first to admit, I love my junk food. Chips, popcorn, you name it, I love it. One of my biggest offense is soda. I love drinking Coca-Cola, Pepsi, RC, any of the above. I definitely get strong cravings for it. So my first step to lead a healthier life is to cut the soda. Ok, maybe not completely. In order to ease my way into it, I’ve decided to only treat myself to a soda if I eat out at a sit-down restaurant. I’ll be frank, I love it too much to cut it out completely. So my main goal is to not keep a supply at home, and focus on drinking more water instead. My parents even got me a really nice Tervis water bottle for Christmas that I’ve definitely been taking advantage of!

My next step to being healthier, is focusing on my portion sizes when I cook my meals. I love to snack, so I love to eat, a lot…So typically my meal portions are a little disproportionate. I definitely have eyes bigger than my stomach, and because I don’t want to waste the food, I end up eating it all anyways. I’m on a college budget, so I can’t always afford a lot of nice fresh produce each week, or organic brands. I go for it sometimes, but it’s not something I can afford on a regular basis.

Another step to my overall goal, is to be more active. I definitely became quite the hermit this past semester, and that’s something I want to change. I’ve recently found I love going to the fieldhouse and going up to a racquet ball court and just hitting a tennis ball around. I also typically incorporate a small workout up there as well. I also intend on getting back into the swing of climbing this semester. I definitely missed that this past fall.

Being over 2 weeks into the next year, so far I think I have done a really good job. This time around I feel that my resolution is much more realistic. I definitely have my weak moments, but hey, no one’s perfect right? I’m really proud of my progress so far, and I have every intention of keeping it up! I think it’s really important that if you truly want to achieve your New Year’s goals, they need to be realistic, that or just pick one and dive right into it! I can’t wait to see what these coming months bring for me. Happy New Year!

Go Hawks!

Dec

09

The Year of Lasts.

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It’s a weird concept to finally accept the fact that I’m a senior at The University of Iowa. Iowa City has been my semi-permanent home for the last 4 years, and with that I’ve developed a second family. The Hawkeye Marching Band and Delta Zeta have been 2 major components of my time here at Iowa, and with that also comes my year of lasts.

The beginning of this semester wasn’t all that bad, besides Formal Recruitment and the emotions of it being my last one, I was just going through the motions of classes. Now as the semester winds down, I find that many of the things I’m doing are some of the last things I’ll ever get to do. They are experiences I can never repeat.

One of these times was the last home football game against Nebraska. This marked the final time I will march on Kinnick’s field as a member of the Hawkeye Marching Band. It was my last chance to be a part of the “Boom.” Never again will I be able to crouch on the sidelines and run on the field as a student and band member. Sure, I can participate in Alumni Band, but I’ll never be able to experience that energy as a student with my close friends wearing the HMB uniform. As I was crouched on the sideline I did my best to just take it all in, and live the moment. I wanted to remember what it was like to have this view of the stadium. As a freshman you get to take Kinnick’s field during On Iowa! but it is rare for a student to ever be on the field again after that day. I got to experience week after week with some of my closest friends. Moments like that have defined my college career. I can’t image my time at Iowa without those experiences.

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Cherish every moment you have because 4 years goes by faster than you think. Something you love might not always be there. My future lies in Colorado after graduation, so visiting Iowa as an alum will be no easy feat. Going into finals week and my last semester at Iowa, I plan to embrace and cherish every moment I’ve got left.

Go Hawks.