Another Term Begins

Trafton B.

April 5, 2010 - 12:50 PM

Spring Term 2010.

I feel good about this quarter. I don't know why, but I feel like this term is going to be a memorable one. It's going to be difficult, but it'll be worth it. Classes by themselves stand to be a tall challenge by themselves.

The Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) is back in action, and we have hit the ground running. The Climate Equity Team and I spent a solid three hours in the lab today preparing materials for our first school visit this Tuesday. It hasn't really even hit me yet that we're actually teaching a lesson this week. My mind is still stuck in lesson planning and theory mode from last term, and the reality of this project probably won't hit me until we reach Spencer Butte Middle School on Tuesday afternoon.
Nerve-racking, but the anticipation is stirring.

I'm excited, too, for the old beginnings of the new spring term. Personally, spring is my favorite term without question. I'd venture to guess that I'm not in the minority amongst Oregon students. Really, there's just more fun to be had in the springtime in Eugene.

Hayward Field opens its gates for another season of Oregon Track & Field. My roommate, Cam, throws the hammer for the team so we're at every meet. We've actually had a chance to hang out with a bunch of athletes. Last night, we were at a track house and I thought to myself as I stood between Andy Wheating and Ashton Eaton that I will never again be in the presence of so much athletic talent. For those of you unfamiliar with Oregon Track, Andy competed for the 2008 US Olympic team in Beijing and Ashton Eaton just set a world record for the Heptathalon at the 2010 Indoor National Championships, where the women's team finish in 1st and the men in 2nd Place.

Intramural Softball returns, and you can bet that I'll be out there with everybody again. We're still reeling from last year's heartbreaking, extra-innings loss in the semi-finals. We may be in the least competitive co-ed division, but rest assured we're in it to win.

Other personal highlights include returning to nature guide at Mount Pisgah, Ducks Baseball at PK Park, the return of Saturday Market. Golfing at Laurelwood and Disc Golfing at Westmoreland. Being able to wear flip-flops again.

A lot of my friends ask me how I feel about the trimester system at Oregon, and personally I love it. I like being able to mix things up every few months. Or, as my mother would put it, "you can never get more than 10 weeks behind."

I like being able to push the reset button sometimes. I get to explore a new topic, and meet a new set of professors and classmates. Just switching up my schedule and having classes in new buildings is refreshing for me.

Especially now, though, I'm really eager to get this quarter going. I think it's because I really know where I'm heading with my education. Obviously, I have no idea what I want to be doing for the rest of my life. I don't know what my career will be, but I feel like I'm getting somewhere now.

Alright, it's past my bed time. Thanks for listening to my restless ramblings.

Good night .......and Go Ducks!