As the semester comes to a close, I took the time this weekend to spend some time with friends because in 3 short weeks, I’m going back home for the summer. While I’m excited to see my family again, I’m going to miss the friends I have made here at Iowa.

On Friday night, the Salt Company hosted their yearly Film Fest event, where everyone dresses up and gets to watch homemade videos that people made. There were 10 films in total, and they were all well-made and fun to watch. The judges had some great commentary regarding the films, some of which caused some laughter in the crowd.

Saturday, I spent the morning at a work meeting, and later in the day, I went outside to play sand volleyball with some friends. It was such a nice day outside, so I’m glad I got some fresh air, yet I wasn’t outside long enough to get a tan like other students did. The lawn outside the west residence halls was filled with students tanning, which is a nice sight to see. With the weather getting warmer, more people are outside, and it’s amazing to see our campus so alive and full of people.

Last, but not least, on Sunday, I went to church in the morning, did some homework, and ate lunch before heading to the Coralville mall with a friend. While at the mall, I bought some summer clothes for the upcoming warm weather and left Barnes & Noble with two more books to add to my collection.

Overall, my weekend was great. It was the perfect balance between hanging with friends and having time for myself to do homework and relax. It’s moments like these that I’m going to treasure over the summer as I wait for the fall semester.

Continue Reading →

As we settle into the second semester of the school year, it can be hard managing classes alongside responsibilities such as work, clubs, chores, working out, etc. Getting back into the swing of things isn’t always the easiest, so here are a few tips to manage your schedule better.

First, find a way to stay organized. Using a planner or calendar can help you navigate what tasks or plans you have each day. I personally use my calendar on my phone to track my class and work schedule alongside plans with friends and important due dates such as when my midterms are. In addition to these, I highly recommend finding a way to track your assignments. This could be through your planner or calendar, but I find that using a spreadsheet online allows me to prioritize assignments and prevents me from falling behind or missing an assignment.

Second, get enough sleep! Sleeping at least 7 to 8 hours each night will do wonders for your productivity throughout the day. If you find yourself struggling once noon hits though, taking a 20 to 30-minute nap can help recharge your energy level. I also suggest try waking up early if possible because when I give myself plenty of time to get ready for the day ahead it generally makes me happier to start the day and eliminate any stress I would’ve felt if I was rushing to class.

Thirdly, figure out which order of doing tasks works best for you. Some people find that completing easy tasks such as taking a quiz is easier for them to get done first because it’s a low time commitment and gives them the satisfaction of checking something off their to-do list. Other people find that doing the hard tasks first though is better because they’re more motivated at first. There isn’t really a correct way to complete tasks, but figuring out what method works best for you is key to being productive.

Lastly, take frequent breaks. When we do too much at once, it can be overwhelming and cause us to burn out faster. When doing homework or chores, take 25 minutes to work on your task, and then afterward, take a 5-minute break. I find that when I give myself time to rest in between studying, for example, I use that time to go on my phone or use the bathroom rather than interrupting my focus.

Transitioning into a new semester with a new schedule can be hard for some people to adapt to. With these tips, I hope it makes your transition into this semester smoother.

Continue Reading →

As we head into the last week of the semester, here are some helpful tips to better prepare for finals week.

1. Start studying now! Even if your final isn’t until the second half of the week, it’s better to start earlier rather than later. Cramming for finals isn’t an option because this last grade can either make or break your grade in the class.
2. For every hour you study, take a 5 to 10 minute brain break. Studying for a long period can be quite mentally draining and may cause you to lose focus on the material you’re studying. During my breaks, I use the restroom, fill up my water bottle, eat a snack, etc. What’s important about my breaks is that I get myself to stand up and move around. Sitting down can start to feel uncomfortable after a while so try changing locations or taking a short walk to get blood flowing.
3. Eat food before your exams! Trying to take a test on an empty stomach isn’t fun and can be quite distracting when trying to focus. During my freshman year in high school, I didn’t eat breakfast before my morning exam and I almost passed out while taking the test. Luckily, I held it together and finished the exam, but feeling lightheaded definitely negatively impacted my score.
4. Take advantage of all the fun events on campus. The Iowa Memorial Union (IMU) has a ride range of events such as visiting therapy dogs, pancakes, massages, and so much more from Sunday Dec. 15th to Thursday the 19th.
5. Take the time to catch up with friends this week! While studying is important, you have plenty of time to meet up for coffee or have a movie night. This is the last week you’ll see your friends before having to go home for winter break, which may not seem like a long time, but it is. Luckily, your friends are just a phone call away, but I prefer talking to someone face to face rather than on the phone.

Continue Reading →

For the past few weeks, I’ve been learning how to balance classes and two jobs. It’s been an adjustment, but I love the flexibility of the jobs that allow me to work around my class schedule. I work as a desk clerk at one of the residence halls and I’m a metacognition mentor for a college algebra class where I give feedback to students on their metacognition journals. So far, I love both of my jobs because of the co-workers I’ve met and the actual workload of the jobs isn’t too demanding compared to my food service job that I worked at during high school.

However, I have found myself struggling to balance my schedule. The biggest issue I’ve found is my sleep schedule is poor. On average, I’m getting about 6 to 7 hours of sleep because I wake up either once or twice in the middle of the night. The best thing that I found to combat this issue of sleeping in, is to leave my blinds open so that the natural sunshine is in my face and forces me to get up in the morning. Having a consistent bedtime has helped as well because I know that an hour beforehand, I should start my night routine such as packing my backpack, charging all my electronics, and spending some time reading before I sleep to unwind.

Routines are so important in college, and planning out my day has helped me feel less overwhelmed with my schedule. I find that Monday through Wednesday are my busiest days, with my mornings free on Monday & Tuesday where I allocate that time towards doing homework and studying. However, Tuesday and Thursday are the days that I have the time to sleep in so I’m usually not awake until 10 or even 11 am. Despite the challenges I’ve faced so far in the semester, recognizing these struggles early on is the best thing I could do for myself because now I know what I need to work on. Since coming back to college, I’ve been in such a better headspace than I was a year ago because of the friends I’ve made and the communities I have surrounded myself in.

Continue Reading →

Since coming to Iowa, I’ve been welcomed with open arms by the Salt Company and Veritas community. My faith has always been a part of my life, but until three years ago I wasn’t an active member of my church community. Here in Iowa, I’ve been going to Sunday service and Salt on Thursday nights at Veritas Church in Tiffin. The community here has been so wonderful and I want to share the opportunities I’ve gotten to experience that I may have not gotten if I had chosen a different college.

In September, I was invited to the fall retreat. That weekend was so much fun and helped me grow closer to the girls in my connection group. I wrote about this trip earlier this year so if you want to read more about the fall retreat, go read that post.

Before winter break, my connection group had a mug exchange where we all bought a mug and did a white elephant where we went around and fought over certain mugs that we wanted. It was fun to see all the different mugs people brought at the end because all of them were so cute.

A few weeks ago I started doing Veritas Kids on Tuesday mornings because Veritas hosts a women’s bible study that morning so I get to watch the kids while their moms are at the study. At first, it was rough since the two-year-olds were crying because they missed their moms, but the past two weeks have been mostly tear-free. They’ve gotten comfortable with being there and I’ve enjoyed watching over them because they’re so sweet and cute. I’ll read with them or color next to them, however, their favorite thing by far is the bubble machine.

Lastly, this past Sunday I got the opportunity to attend Homeiz’s which is where freshmen are invited to someone’s house within the Veritas community to enjoy a meal together with other freshmen. At first, I hesitated about going, but the idea of eating a home-cooked meal and meeting new people sounded like a great experience. I was assigned to visit one of the Salt staff members home and she was a wonderful host.

While there I and a few other freshmen and some Salt leaders drove us there, ate tacos, and had a great conversation. We talked about our current reads, favorite movies, and what college has been like this semester.

Going to Homeiz was a great experience and one I would love to do again if given the chance. I got to meet some sweet girls who I’d met before but didn’t know that well going into the dinner. I’m glad I got to eat a meal with them and chat since all of us are in different connection groups.

Coming to college was scary at first, but having a faith community that supported me was something that I needed. I have such a close relationship with my friends and the community at my hometown church, so leaving that behind was harder than I thought. What I love about Veritas compared to my hometown church is that everyone there understands the struggles of being a college student because they either are one now or have been and know what it’s like. My hometown church’s youth group was similar in that way, but it’s different because everyone’s in high school besides the adult volunteers and I can’t relate to them as much as I used to.

Overall, having a community whether it’s a place or a group of friends, is important to have when at college. For most students, it’s their first time being away from home and there are certain expectations that you’re supposed to follow. My first semester of college had a few bumps in the road, but I made it to the other side, and for me, that wouldn’t have been possible without Veritas.

Continue Reading →

As we head into the new year I have a few goals that I plan on following over the year and into the future. When I made New Year resolutions or goals in the past, I’ve always made a giant list that was hard to keep track of. This year, I’ve decided to keep it short and focus my attention on four different goals.

The first goal of mine is to find time to be in God’s presence whether that is through prayer or reading my bible. My faith has become such a huge part of my life since my junior year of high school and I want to continue my relationship with God every day.

My second goal is to become a reader. I’ve always enjoyed reading but making time to read a book for fun is difficult. However, as long as I read a few pages a day I’ll be able to call myself a reader. Reading at least one book a month is my goal and so far I’m about halfway through that goal. I’m currently reading Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams. So far, I’m enjoying the book more than I thought. I won’t give any spoilers but if you like a slow burn and small-town romance story then this book is perfect for you. It’s about this bodyguard, Will, who is assigned to watch over this famous pop singer in a small town in Kentucky. The singer is about to marry this guy and his sister, Annie, owns a flower shop in the small town and Will can’t stop thinking about her. I primarily read romance books, but this year I want to dive into mystery books, especially the A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder series by Holly Jackson.

My third goal is an obvious one to achieve good grades. I currently have a 3.3 GPA and I want to keep it in the 3.0-3.5 range so that I can get into the business program and prove to myself that I have the capability of succeeding. I’ve always been motivated to get good grades and that’s because I love learning. From an early age, I found myself to be curious about how the world works. I wanted to become a teacher, an author, and a journalist, but I landed on majoring in business specifically marketing and advertising because I’m constantly on social media looking at advertisements. Our world runs on businesses producing products and finding new ways to market and advertise those products.

My fourth and final goal is to be organized. I’ve always been an organized person who loves making to-do lists. However, I find myself lacking at times. I’ll wait until the last minute to do my laundry or simply become lazy and ignore tasks such as doing my skincare or not studying enough for an upcoming test. When I have my life and room organized, I feel at peace. I’m able to thrive in my environment when I have a plan. I don’t always stick to my plan exactly, but when I have clear intentions for the day set, I’m able to get all my tasks done and on time.

As you head into the new year, think about at least three to four manageable goals that you can focus on this year. When we set clear intentions at the beginning of the year, month, week, or day, we can shape our lives to become the life we want for ourselves piece by piece.

Continue Reading →

My first semester of college was not what I expected. I went into college not sure what I wanted to do but with my history, there were a few things on my list that I was interested in continuing. One of those things was finding a job in Iowa City either on campus or not, which did not happen. I had applied to one or two jobs and was offered a position but based on my or their schedules, they weren’t offering me enough hours. However, I did work at my job back at home over Thanksgiving break and plan to work over winter break. I also applied to work for The Daily Iowan but I didn’t hear back from them about an interview. Instead, I joined this blog where I get to share about my college experience.

Back at home, I was involved in my church youth group. We meet weekly and during our meetings, we talk about our weeks and plan for upcoming retreats during the school year. When I came to campus I was overwhelmed with how many ministries Iowa offered both on and off campus. Yet, I connected with Salt the most and since going there and my weekly bible study with the Navigators, I have found myself much more connected to my faith. Both these communities have brought me some amazing friends and I love hanging out with them whether that is in our bible study or connection group.

I knew that I was going to be homesick and I was homesick the majority of the time, however, I enjoyed living on my own. I had complete freedom on how my day would go and had no obligations besides taking an exam or the occasional meeting with my academic advisor. With this freedom came a lot of responsibility like taking my trash out. I always waited until the last minute to take my trash out which would usually be around two to three weeks’ worth of wrappers, tissues, and empty Amazon boxes.

Spending money for me wasn’t too much of an issue. Sure, I bought new clothes and a weekly iced chai latte, but I mainly ate at the dining hall for every meal. I barely went out to eat for fast food or even restaurant food unless a friend invited me or there was a special going on such as a $6 entree at Chipotle on Halloween.

Not having access to a car is what restricted my freedom in some ways because I had to rely on public transportation. Since it was my first semester and everything was new, I explored a little but not a lot because I was afraid of getting lost or stranded. I went on the Coralville bus once I think to get to a volleyball game but that was about it.

However, I ride the cambus everywhere especially because I live at Mayflower. For the first month, I probably walked a few times to the main campus and back until the warm weather disappeared. I have a hate and love relationship with cambus because at times its whereabouts are inaccurate or the fact that there are limited routes on the weekends which makes getting to campus hard sometimes. Having to plan out when to leave so that I catch the bus on time has been a struggle for me this semester.

Overall, my first semester of college wasn’t so bad but it was one crazy rollercoaster ride of emotions. One day I was happy and the next I was just exhausted. College gives you so much free time that you have to use it wisely or you’ll get behind. When I procrastinate things they pill up and cause me to feel frustrated and overwhelmed.

As I head into my second semester next year, here are some things I plan on changing. First, I want to explore the campus more. I chose Iowa because the campus was so pretty and the way it was laid out in connection with downtown Iowa City. I hope to explore the campus more and the surrounding area such as Coralville when the weather gets warmer. Going to a women’s basketball game is also on my bucket list and hopefully, I’ll get to do it with my dad when he comes to visit.

My sleep schedule is a priority of mine next semester. I have an 8:30 class twice a week and to make it to class on time I’ll have to adjust my sleeping schedule. I’m naturally a night owl so I tend to stay up too late and this is a habit I want to change next semester.

Lastly, I want to make some new friends. I haven’t found my group of friends yet or the people I can count on to hang out with whenever. I hope next semester I find the friends I’m searching for. Surface-level friendships only last so long and I hate to say it but I’ve lost friends this semester, one of them being my roommate. As much as I enjoy my dorm to myself, a new roommate would be great to have and maybe we’ll become good friends. Whatever the future holds for me, I can’t wait to see what happens.

Continue Reading →

Since being at college, the week off for Thanksgiving break was my second time visiting home. This break was very much needed because college has not been an easy transition for me. I knew that spending some time at home and away from the daily stressors and responsibilities would be beneficial.

While being at home, I spent a lot of my time helping my family. I drove and picked up my sister from volleyball practice and racked leaves with my father where I enjoyed the cool, brisk fall weather for the last time.

In addition to doing chores at home, I was able to work about 20 hours at Tropical Smoothie Cafe. I worked there for about 14 months prior to attending college and will be working there as a seasonal employee. I was working with new co-workers during the week who were all nice and good company. I missed working more than I thought and not just for the money. I missed interacting with people and seeing their smiles when they sipped their smoothies.

Over my break, I spent time seeing my friends who are still in high school as well as my best friend from my childhood. Whether it was getting food or going to Target, I enjoyed hanging out with my friends. It was nice to catch up with them and talk about how school was going for us. While I didn’t get to see all my friends, I’m glad for the ones I did see. Within three weeks I’ll be back home where I already have plans set to see them.

The biggest joy of the whole week was getting to hang out with my sister. Our relationship has always been fluctuating in the sense that at times we were best friends and the next day we were enemies. Either way, I love her so much and miss her deeply. Being able to hang out with her at my friend’s hockey game and watching the new Hunger Games movie with her, were memories I am glad I got to experience with her.

While the break was short and over now, it gave me time to reflect on what I love the most about these two places I call home. My hometown is where my family and friends are. The familiarity of my hometown brings me happiness and is a place I can always run back to if I need to. Iowa City though has given me such amazing communities to be a part of and allowed me to pursue my education on my own terms.

Continue Reading →

A part of me misses the way my life was prior to coming to college. I had fewer responsibilities and it was easier to access things. Now I rely on the Cambus and walk to get to places such as Starbucks or class rather than hopping in my parent’s car and driving to my destination.

Whether I’m in class, studying, or eating meals at the dining hall, I spend a good chunk of my time alone. This same feeling is relatable to a lot of college students. My friends have expressed their feelings of homesickness and their struggles with living on their own.

I myself, have struggled with homesickness. One of the reasons why I chose to attend the University of Iowa was because if I wanted to visit my family or have them visit me, that option was available. While I did apply to colleges closer to home, the closest being a 45-minute drive, I knew that I had to get out of my shell.

Since starting college in August, I have seen my family three times. I visited my family over Labor Day weekend at my grandparent’s cottage up in Wisconsin which has always felt like a home away from home to me. Two weeks later my family came up for a weekend and we went to the Western Michigan football game. And then a week ago I went home for the weekend.

My family were originally planning to come and visit me for the Minnesota football game but my dad had conflicting plans the next day and the hotel prices were not cheap. We came to the conclusion that it was cheaper for me to visit them and this past weekend worked for both of our schedules. My bus tickets costed around $130 for a direct round trip.

I left for my trip on Friday afternoon. I was nervous to take the bus because it was a new experience for me, but I was also excited to see my family. My sister had no idea that I was visiting this weekend and I was excited to surprise her.

When I opened the door to my house the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. My sister was right there at the front door and was so surprised to see me. Seeing her face and her crying made my heart melt because me and my sister have such a wonderful relationship. It took years of fighting to realize that she was my built-in best friend.

After eating my dinner we drove to my friend’s hockey game. While there I got to catch up with my other friends that had invited me. It felt good to catch up with them since we don’t talk much over text. The next day was my sister’s volleyball tournament, which was uneventful because her team dominated the other schools and won every match. Afterward, my sister joined me to run a few errands. Driving in the car with my sister is something that I missed a lot more than I realized. Driving was such a big part of my life because it was a struggle for me to learn and was something I did every day. Now, I rely on the Cambus and friends to get me places which is so surreal after driving myself everywhere.

Saturday evening I met my friend at her Uncle’s house where her cousin was having her birthday party. My friend’s cousin was turning four and it was a costume party which just warmed my heart seeing the kids dressed up. My friend and I spent an hour there and then left and went thrifting and grabbed cookies to bake back at her house. As the cookies baked in the oven, we put on Get Out which is a thriller movie streaming on Netflix.

Sunday morning my family and I went to church where I saw my friend that played hockey on Friday night. It felt good to catch up with him since we don’t talk over text much either. Unfortunately, I was not able to talk to him long because I had plans with another friend. I met my other friend at Cane’s for lunch and we had such an amazing conversation together. After lunch, the two of us went to Walmart where she grabbed a quilt for her bed. Afterward, I spent the rest of the day chilling at home and enjoying my parents and my dog’s company.

Monday morning my bus was scheduled to leave at 12 pm so my parents took me and my sister out for breakfast since she had the day off from school for Columbus Day.

Overall, visiting home was a success. I did everything that I was planning to do and more which felt good. I don’t plan to see my family again until Thanksgiving break which may seem like a long time from now but with academics and my social life, time will go by faster than I think. If the homesickness starts to affect your ability to study or see friends then take a weekend trip home or call your parents or your sibling. I call my mom at least once a week just to tell her how’s life going and see how’s volleyball going for my sister.

Whenever I feel homesick I remind myself that family is forever. In this chapter of my life, I have to do it without my family and while that seems scary, it just makes the moments with them so much more sweeter.

Continue Reading →