Goodbye Junior Year

Chelsea G

June 17, 2012 - 10:00 PM

This week has been filled with graduation parties and it truly has been bittersweet. I'm so proud and happy for my senior friends, but also saddened by the thought of them not being here this upcoming year. We have all been trying not to dwell on those thoughts, but rather celebrate the experience we have had together here.

 

Yesterday was my old neighbor's grad party as well as my roommate's. It's was so nice to finally be able to meet their families. The experience only made me feel closer to them and of course it is always fun to hear embarrassing stories about when they were younger.

 

So far summer in Eugene has been everything I could hope for. The weather has been amazing and my friends and I have been taking advantage of sun bathing on my deck. I know that this next year is going to be great. So far each year I have been in college has only been getting better and better. I definitely think I experienced the most growth in the past year. A lot of it due to my time abroad and the new friend and situations I have been in this year. Although some of my choices haven't been the best academically, I still have learned so much in and outside of the classroom. I now have a new major that has been teaching me to become bilingual.

 

That's not the only thing I have gained this year, the friendships and memories I have made are truly priceless. I am so thankful for everyone that has been part of my life this year and I really will never forget them. This year has been such a blessing and couldn't have ended more perfectly.

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Nathan’s & Missy’s New Chapter

Chelsea G

June 11, 2012 - 11:00 PM

Our dear friend Nathan has finally returned after being away since January. Nathan has been studying abroad in Seville, Spain for the past few months. Although he had a life changing experience, you can tell he is happy to be home. Nathan lived in my room fall term while I was abroad and then I took his place once he took off. Next year he will take my current roommate's Colleen's room since she is graduating this year. Even though everyone is having a busy dead week, we all made the time to celebrate Nathan's homecoming. We are all so happy for him to be home with us and we're excited for memories that are in store for the future.

This weekend I also had to find time in my busy schedule to come home for my little sister's graduation. It is honestly so surreal that she is graduating already. I can remember waking up early for grad practice, nervously receiving my diploma while praying not to fall, and taking millions of pictures after the ceremony so vividly still. It truly feels like it was just the other day. Missy has decided to follow another path and she will be attending OSU next year. It was wonderful to see her graduate and I'm excited for her to start this next step in her life. Now I must try to get a good night of rest so I can hurry back to Eugene in the morning to finish the rest of my finals. Then it is finally summer!!

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Final Dead Week

Chelsea G

June 4, 2012 - 9:00 AM

Well here it is, my last dead week, ever. Dead week in the School of Journalism and Communications is usually our hardest week. It is the week where all of our term-long projects have to be turned in and final edits be wrapped up. Dead week is suppose to be a week to prepare for finals however, it is anything but relaxing.

 

If the University of Oregon were on the semester system then I would presume that dead week would be a breather. But when you only have ten short weeks to cram an entire course every class counts. We all must attend every class dead week because material we learn in those classes will be on the final. And in some classes they are taking their third round of midterms during dead week!

 

I am not sad to be done with dead weeks. The only thing that is starting to get to me is the fact that this is my last week of classes, ever. Sure, there will be finals next week but for all intensive purposes this is my last week of college. Nay, my last week of school. This is the last week of my life of knowing exactly how each day is going to go since Kindergarten. After this week I make my future. Yes, I technically have always had that option. It was my choice to go to classes and my choice to go to college. This was the logical and expected path to take though. Here's to saying goodbye to what I know and hello to a whole new world.

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Another Year Closer to the Real World

Chelsea G

June 3, 2012 - 12:00 PM

Fall registration has already snuck up on me and I have been trying to decide a schedule for the past week. Today I finally sought help from an advisor to make sure everything is in place for me to be able to graduate on time with both of my degrees: International Studies and Spanish. It looks like my fall term is going to consist of more Spanish and a couple general eds that I need to still take care of. I have the opportunity to graduate early; however, I do not think I will be pursuing that. It seems I am avoiding the real world for as long as I can stall. I would save a lot of money; however, this short time I have for my undergraduate is priceless and irreplaceable. All my life I have been preparing. Elementary school prepares you for high school, high school for college, and now college is my last stop before I enter the adult world with full responsibilities. I know I still have another year, but all this attention on the seniors' graduation coming up I can't help but to feel some of the stress they are taking on. This week I had two going away gatherings for two of my dearest friends. It's surreal this adventure is already ending for some of my peers when I can still remember moving into my dorm so vividly: like it was yesterday.

My future plans are still hesitant; although, I know at least one thing for sure. I plan to make the most of the short time I have left in college. You only get to experience your undergraduate once. I have already learned so much about myself, relationships, the world, and so much more in the time I have been here. I heard the quote, "just trying to find the balance in a tilted world" the other day and I think it really applies well to my life in the past few years. I came to college to receive an education, but sometime that is hard with all the distractions that come along with going to a university. In the end, I would never take any of the distractions out. Although they may interfere with my academic studies, they prepare me in other ways. I have been so fortunate that my college education has taught me in more way than just academically. That is the type of education that is priceless. I am sad to see some of my peers preparing to graduate; however, I am excited to see what is next for them. Good luck to all the seniors and congratulation!

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Sasquatch

Chelsea G

May 29, 2012 - 10:00 PM

After hours of getting homework done early, days of preparing and listening to new bands, and a year of dreaming---it was finally time for Sasquatch. I have now spent the past three Memorial Weekends up at the Gorge in Washington seeing one of the biggest music concerts in the NW.

 

Sasquatch should be experienced by anyone who appreciates alternative rock music. This year I was most excited to see Bon Iver, Beck, Head and the Heart, and Metric. I went with my roommates and my coworker, Spencer. Once again, this year didn't disappoint. Our weekend was filled with a beautiful atmosphere, wonderful friends, and outstanding music. We were planning to leave early Friday, but last minute decided to head up Thursday. Although the preparation was stressful, it was definitely worth it.

 

This year Sasquatch was flooded by so many fellow Ducks. Almost everywhere I turned I could see someone wearing an Oregon sweater or making an "O" sign with their hands. It was like you could take the Ducks out of Oregon, but you can't take the Oregon pride out of the Ducks.

 

Although my weekend was one I'll never forget, I am happy to be back in Eugene. Being in a tent for 5 nights without a shower really reminds you to appreciate the things you take for granted. I am now frantically trying to catch up on the school and work that I missed. To keep me pushing through this week I plan to constantly remind myself that summer is quickly approaching. It will be very bittersweet to end this year. I'm excited for a break from school, but I'm also sad to be closer to ending my time in college. It's insane that there's only a couple weeks left of my third year in college. I am really sad to see some of my close friends graduate and the idea of being closer to the real world is slightly terrifying. Right now I'm just trying to take deep breaths and appreciate the amazing weekend I just experienced. I think this is a good indicator of the amazing summer I am about to have.

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