Today's Campus Gratitudes

Korrin B.

November 3, 2010 - 8:15 PM

I am a big fan of gratitude. For a long time, I even kept a gratitude journal where I would artistically display my top five "gratitudes" of the day. I always loved the warm, tingly feeling doing so gave me. It is amazing how, even on a rough day, taking the time to sit down and think of five things you can be grateful for can really improve your mood. Therefore, today's blog post is dedicated to the fabulous idea of gratitude - and with a UO theme!

1. Beautiful Fall Colors: Today was absolutely gorgeous on campus. Yes, we had a little teaser of the rainy season the past week, but today I could've believed that summer was starting all over again! It was warm and sunny and the yellows, oranges, and reds of the changing autumn leaves were vibrant against the bright blue sky. It was just stunning and enough to put a smile on anyone's face. I sat outside to enjoy my lunch and soak up all the vitamin D I can before the rain decides to come back and stay a little longer.

2. Planning, Public Policy and Management: This is, in fact, the best major you could ever choose at the University of Oregon. I am thankful everyday that I was somehow led its direction. It is full of interesting classes and caring faculty and staff. This term, I am doing work-study hours with the department's Internship Program Director. It has been fun getting more involved with the department through this. It is also even more fun now that application season is among us again and I get to work with her on perfecting my resume and preparing for some competitive post-graduation fellowships. Further, I have a wonderful thesis advisor who I have been lucky enough to have as a professor for a couple of different classes. My major is fabulous.

3. The Quarter System: Although there is validity in the reasons why many UO professors and staff might want to switch to a semester system, there are also days where I am so grateful to be on the quarter system. These days come even more often as a fifth year senior running on her last undergraduate energy. Week six is just about over already, meaning that Thanksgiving and a nice break are so close!

4. Tasty Foods: The University is surrounded by them. East Thirteenth Avenue is home to some quite delicious and quick restaurants. Some of my favorites including Café Sienna (a chicken burrito with rice and beans worth writing home about), Barry's Espresso and Deli (great sandwiches, great soup, and even challah, to add the icing to the cake), and the place I ate today for lunch - Milky Way Bagel. I had a scrumptious whole-wheat bagel loaded with veggies and cream cheese and I indulged myself and got an iced chai bubble tea!

5. Secret Parking Spots: I'm afraid that is that most I can elaborate on this topic.