Kyra

Its That Time Of The Year Again

So I had an amazing summer, hopefully I’ll have a chance to upload some more blogs about how my summer fell together.

With only 3 days ’til school starts, its crazy to believe that I am a sophomore now- a more experienced, more connected, and a less confused individual on a journey to greatness!

Earlier this week I was a Peer Leader in the Iowa Edge program. TALK ABOUT FUN 🙂

This program will always have a spot in my heart, it was so shocking to believe that I was once in the freshmen spot, just a year ago. Iowa Edge brought me a long way, I learned so much and it really just gave me a head start and a taste of success. Iowa Edge made me eager to continue building the skills throughout the year that Edge originally equipped me with during the first week of my freshman year.

I was a Peer leader of the Dark Grey group! REPRESENT! Check out Iowa Edge Organization if you are looking to get involved!

Iowa Edge In The News:

The Iowa Edge banquet was last night! We all danced the night away! Oh, and the food catered was homemade and delicious!

Now that Edge is over, OnIowa has begun. The freshmen this year are really in for a treat.

Preparation: With classes right around the corner, I have to get on my A-game! I went and printed off all of my syllabi for class and read them over. I also marked in my planner when all assignments are due, exam time, and days that I should start studying or start on my projects.

My roommate moved in today. And our room looks sooo cute! Not too mention, because we are 2nd year students, we knew exactly what to bring and what not to bring. For example, I didn’t bring as near as many clothes or my printer. Unnecessary.

Me as a Edge Student:

Meeting Professor Mitch Kelly — "Iowa Edge gives you direct access to faculty"

Me as a Peer Leader

Google Commute!

Take a look at these bikes on the Google Campus!

California Bound

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Finding a ride to Cedar Rapids was a lot of hard work! Luckily, my sister Kyeisha, came through, and at 1:00 am I arrived in Cedar Rapids at my aunt Dena’s house. After 3 hours of sleep I was awake again getting ready to head to the airport. The C.R. airport was so quiet, but it wasn’t long before my air-rage began. Haha, I had to pay 25$ to check in my bag—grrr the first one should be free if you ask me! But of course no one did-hmph!

Once on my Continental Airline plane… I fell asleep at no surprise to me. Take off was annoying like usual; my ears were popping like popcorn. Iowa is sooo green Texas is brown.

TEXAS!

So I should probably buy something here as a souvenir!

I have never seen so many hot people in one place. This Houston airport is just filled with beautiful people!

As I was sitting down drinking a McCafe cappuccino drowned in sugar & a strawberry banana smoothie, a young girl with a southern accent smiled at me. After I returned the smile, she asked if she could eat breakfast with me because she didn’t want to sit alone. I told her OF COURSE! Her name was Aubrey and she was 13 traveling from visiting her mom back home to Oklahoma all by herself. She told me that I look close to her age…LOL that’s a lot older than what age people usually assume that I am. PROGRESS!

For all you who don’t know— I am heading to California. SANFRANCISCO to participate in Google’s freshman program called BOLD Immersion. When I land my friend Danielle is going to meet me at my hotel, Hotel Valencia and we are going to head to the beach! LEGGO!

Well I gotta go head to my gate! San Francisco is calling!

Hey Guys!!!

Long time no talk!

This summer just keeps getting crazier for me! Tonight was my first night of my online class Entrepreneurship & Innovation…. it was very interesting to say the least!

Right now I am in a dorm, working as an RA (the ‘lazy’ way of saying Resident Assistant) for an amazing program called Upward Bound! I am currently in Burlington, and Iowa this program has some really amazing kids this year. The majority of them are in the lobby area together playing the Wii game called Just Dance———> SOOO FUNNN!

To learn more about Upward Bound and other TRIO programs check out these links below!

http://www2.ed.gov/programs/trioupbound/index.html

http://upwardbound.uiowa.edu/

http://cde.uiowa.edu/index.php/triondil.html

I will try and keep you updated about my summer school experience!

In the meantime, if you have any question about being an incoming freshman…. write me a comment, I want to hear from you!

Students Abolishing Slavery

I am a co-founder of a new student group on campus called Students Abolishing Slavery (SAS), which believes that ending modern-day slavery is a feasible task and one that we delegate to ourselves as a duty of students at The University of Iowa.

To learn more about SAS, follow us on Twitter @IowaSAS, or email us at iowa.sas1@gmail.com if you want find out how you can get involved. We are open to collaboration with other student orgs as well! 🙂 ”

Be the change you want to see in the world.” -Mahatma Gandhi

Study Buddy

So I find that I study Spanish a lot better when I study alone at a table by myself, or with one other student in the same subject. If I have any other circumstances, I definitely don’t get a lot of work done. 🙁

Yesterday, my suitee Michelle and I couldn’t find a good place to study because everywhere was packed with people studying! There were people all over the lawn of the Pentacrest multi-tasking! People were getting their TAN ON while reading their text books!

Michelle and I ended up going to the Old Capital Mall and studying at the little tables meant for dining next to the escalators! We studied for like 2-3 hours and we got a lot done! HIVE FIVE MICHELLE! 😀

Major. Minor. Degree. Certificate.

I have a double degree in Japanese and undeclared Business with a minor in Spanish.

What does that mean? Well, a double degree is very similar to a double major, however Japanese and a Business degree belong to two separate colleges; so they call it double degree. My business major is undeclared because I don’t know what part of business I want as my emphasis. I believe some of the options are Economics, Marketing, and Finance. I am in Japanese because I traveled there a couple of times when I was in high school and I would simply love to communicate with my friends and family there. Also, I could see how learning another language would benefit me in any career.

Although that’s what I have declared, I am open to a change of plans. 🙂 I am only a freshman and I know I have time to figure out exactly what I want to do the first couple of months I am out of college (then after that- I am open to a change of plans again 😉

There are a couple of certificates that I have my eye on!

http://www.uiowa.edu/~socialwk/certificateinccc/

International Business

I can’t wait to talk with my academic advisor about them! Every student is assigned an academic advisor, and I just happen to love mine! Me and my best friend have the same advisor, and we often get into “arguments” on who my advisor likes better. 🙂 She responds quickly to all my questions and has one of the most relaxing offices I’ve ever been in! On top of that, she takes the time to get to know me, remembers who I am, and sends me emails about events that she thinks I’d be interested in. I am not sure if all advisors are required to do that, but it wouldn’t surprise me if she goes above and beyond what is qualified. Shell, my advisor, always tells me something thought provoking and leaves me pondering the things I want in life. GOTTA LOVE IT 😀

A lot of my friends have had this success with their advisors, however, I don’t think they can top mine! But then again, it could be like the whole Panchero vs Chipotle Feud (You’ll learn about that when you come!) or the Bestest Dorm Spiel! Everyone always thinks their residence hall is better than someone else… give it a rest PEOPLE! Mayflower is definitely the coolest! haha 🙂

IOWA EDGE

Check out the new Iowa edge website!

http://iowaedge.uiowa.edu/

Check out all the mentors (including me!)

If you have been following me you already know that I participated in Iowa Edge and that it really put the most beneficial spin on a jumpstart to my career at The University of Iowa.

The University of Iowa is an exciting place—full of academic, cultural, and social opportunities. Yet, attending a large university can be overwhelming and a little intimidating.

Many students have found that programs like The Iowa Edge eased their concerns and ensured a successful transition to university life. The Iowa Edge, August 15-18, 2011, is an exciting program for African American, American Indian, Asian American, Latino/a, and first-generation college students.

Participate in The Iowa Edge and:

Meet students and campus leaders who will support you during your college experience
Enjoy specialized campus tours and get familiar with campus life before the semester begins
Develop leadership skills for success in class, on campus, and in life

The Iowa Edge is your personalized introduction to campus. On the first day of class, you’ll feel like a seasoned pro—not a lost first-year student. Move in early at no charge. Lodging, meals and program expenses for all participants are paid by a grant from the Kevin and Donna Gruneich Charitable Foundation.

-Iowa Edge Website

Register Now!

Walk It Out

The nerves are racing inside of each and every one of us. The music is blasting in the background, but to us, seems to be drowned into a whisper by our beating hearts. It is time.

The show is about to begin and all of the models for the Hip Hop category are dressed and in line to start the show. The other groups are cheering us on, and shouting things like “break a leg” and “you’ll do great” in attempt to decrease the pressure and calm our nerves. It is 8 o’clock and we are taking the runway!

Check out a slide show from the show 🙂

and one from the Daily Iowan

Everything has to come to an end.

Whoa, it is hard to imagine that I have less than 3 weeks left until I have successfully completed my first year at the University of Iowa. Looking back, I have grown sooo much, experienced a lot, and enjoyed the company of so many different people.

This Friday is my last training day with the Iowa Edge Peer Leader program and that makes me excited for next year’s incoming freshmen to be a part of Iowa Edge. This program really helped me get my foot in the door on campus.

Tomorrow is my birthday! Unfortunately, it will be celebrated at work until 9 pm, however I will be headed to:

Women’s Resource & Action Center (WRAC) event Take Back The Night Rally! It is a march and rally created to speak out against violence!
Friday I am going to get my SALSA ON! 😀 The University of Iowa International Crossroads Community (ICC) will hold its annual Latin dance festival, Gusto Latino, from 6 p.m. to 1:00 am. THERE WILL ALSO BE FREE FOOD AND A TACO BAR!!! HEY!!!!!!!
In between time I will be studying hard and planning for the summer, I’ll fill you guys in on that sooner rather than later 🙂

Experience Iowa Blogs

More Information

Admissions Links

More Blogs

Author: Kyra