College Musts

With the semester in full swing now, I found its really easy to get a case of the winter “blahs.” Luckily, the weather has been on Purdue’s side so far, and we’ve had a really mild winter. I never thought I would take so much notice in the weather, but having to walk even 5 minutes to class takes some preparation. The best investment I have made in my college career is my pair of rain boots. Never have I had a pair of shoes that I’ve loved and used so much. Anyone here can attest to the utter importance and awesomeness that is the rain boot. They are an every-season kind of shoe that is a definite college staple.


Now that I’ve publicized my love of rain boots, I need to also say how amazing my experience in the Residence Halls have been. This is my second year living in the dorms, and I’m really glad I did. Last year, I met my roommate online, so I only knew a little about her, but I’m so glad I did. We are both in nursing, so having almost the same schedule made it really easy to study or relax in our room. We lived in Earhart, which I loved! The dining court was right down stairs, so during those below zero days, I never had to venture outside just to eat. This year I upgraded to Windsor (remodeled within the past few years), which has been just as awesome. Again, the dining court is connected to the hall, so no inclement weather has to come in the way of my eating. It’s great living with so many friends, and there is never a dull moment. Also, I love being able to walk to anywhere on campus, the longest walk being about 15 minutes away. I never appreciated how nice not having to drive everywhere is before coming to college. Though the rooms aren’t as luxurious as some TV shows make them out to be, they are also not the horror stories you hear of either. I would definitely recommend living in the dorms for at least one year while at Purdue. It’s a great way to meet new people, and have as many desserts as you please!

Now, all I have to ace my round of tests coming up and avoid the colds that have been circulating. Boiler Up! (Go Giants!)

-- Mary Jacobs

Future Goals Reassured

Although I am away from Purdue, this semester has already been so amazing and has reassured my future goals.

Part of my major involves having an internship during your last semester of school and I am doing mine at two elementary schools as a guidance counselor and I love it. It is everything that I expected and more. I love it because it is so rewarding. After week three, the children at both schools are starting to know me and always make an effort to say good morning and give me high fives. There is one student in particular that I have been spending a lot of time with, and this week he gave me a big hug and said “I really like you.” That was the best part of my week, and those little moments are what make my internship so great. From the three weeks I have been an intern, I have learned that this career is so unexpected and no day is ever the same. While there is a structured schedule, it doesn’t always go as planned and things will come up that can change your whole entire agenda. I have also learned that it comes with a lot of disappointing news and hardship, so the positives must always be appreciated to keep you going. More specifically, children will continue to have issues at home and school, but when they have a good day, you must smile with them and appreciate that triumph. Having this hands-on experience is so reassuring and prepares you so much for the real world. While I miss the campus, my friends, and every Boilermaker tradition, these students make me smile so big every day. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Boiler Up!

-- Jacey Abney

Purdue Goes to the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl!

I had the opportunity over break to attend the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in Detroit, Michigan where Purdue played against Western Michigan. A group of friends and I planned a road trip to visit the Ford Field and watched the Boilermakers to a 37-32 victory! We had great seats, not to mention were in a dome and didn’t have to bundle up for the cold and slushy weather. Last time Purdue appeared in a bowl game was back in 2007 when we beat Central Michigan. It was great to see so many fans attend the game and help support our team. We definitely a great time!

-- Kim Ziarko

Purdue University Dance Marathon

Last November, I participated in Purdue University Dance Marathon. PUDM is an annual student run event which raises money for the Riley Hospital for Children. Throughout this 18 hour marathon, we learned a group dance, heard from the Riley families, and watched other performances. There was also lots of businesses who donated food and provided activates to keep all of the dancers’ spirits up. I had a great time spending this meaningful time with friends and meeting the Riley families.

PUDM 2011 raised $303,562.82 for the kids of Riley Hospital. It was an inspiring event and I hope to participate again next year.

-- Kelsey Leliaert

Focus Groups

One of the really cool things that I like about Purdue is how much emphasis is put on research. Even the book stores want to make sure that they’re looking into the opinions and thoughts of their students/consumers.

This past semester I went to a few focus groups that were hosted by University Book Store. Set up into a girls group and a boys group, representatives from different companies came to see what young adults were prone to buy. We got to see different clothing, hats, sports gear, and Turvis cups. It was really neat to be free to talk about what we liked and didn’t like about the items we see in the book stores for sale. Some of the topics we discussed were how much we’d be willing to pay for an item, if it mattered what the material was, how it was washed, or if it was made in the United States, and on what occasions we would wear such items. Some of us even went down to the detail of the cuts of sleeves, length of shirts, and some of the products we got to try on. I would have easily done this focus group for free but as luck had it, every focus group I went to I was rewarded with some kind of product: a hat, a tshirt voucher at the book store, and a free Turvis mug. It was definitely worth me time!

-- Kathryn Stwalley

Student Teaching

This semester is a whole new ball game for me! It’s already been one week and I’m still adjusting to going to bed early, waking up early every day, not getting naps in during the day, and having to make daily lesson plans. However, my experience so far is going great. Right now I am placed at a local middle school. I say right now, because for Family and Consumer Sciences Education you student teach at two different placements. For the first 8 weeks you teach in a middle school setting, and for the second 8 weeks of the semester you teach in a high school setting. After I am done with this placement I will move to a high school in nearby Crawfordsville, Indiana. During your student teaching placement you work with a mentor teacher on a daily basis and a University Supervisor comes to observe you every other week. It’s a an exciting and nerve-racking experience because you get to take over someone’s classroom, and treat it like your own but you still have people observing and evaluating you. My suggestion to manage your stress level is to stay ahead of things by planning in advance, and establish good communication between you and your mentor teacher.

Until next time,

-- Bridget Gehlhausen
-- Senior, Family and Consumer Sciences Education

Happy 2012!

I don’t think I could’ve started off the New Year better than a trip to Aspen, Colorado with the Purdue Ski and Snow Board Club.

I hadn’t been skiing in ten years, but with the help of my very savvy ski instructor and tips from all of my friends, I had the time of my life! Around two hundred of us left on the afternoon of New Year’s Day on three huge buses for Colorado. Twenty-seven hours later we were unloading our bags in Snow Mass, one of the four mountain villages included in what is considered the Aspen area.

Our trip was full of surprises: lost ski boots, lost lift passes, bouts of altitude sickness, and a sprained wrist… but all of this couldn’t have stopped our group from having a good time! We had eight altogether in our cozy condo on the side of the mountain, which we named our “Aspen Family.” Coffee in the morning and hot cocoa at night (along with sore muscles and runny noses) kept our little family tight-knit. J
Aspen itself really has the capacity to “wow” anyone… from the tall peaks and beautiful slopes, to the tourists it attracts, being there is quite an experience. Although I didn’t know it, Aspen is actually one the major global ski capitals. In fact, my group ski lesson was with an Australian, a Puerto Rican, and an Italian; I was literally the only American! It was so interesting to meet the different people, get to know more of the Purdue students in the club, and just soak in the sights.

This was the trip of a lifetime and I’m so glad that I got the opportunity to go through Purdue. What a way to start the year!

-- Colleen Troke

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteering is a great way to get involved not only on campus at Purdue but also the community of Lafayette and West Lafayette. Since my sophomore year I have been volunteering with a couple different organizations on campus and off. For the past two years I have participated in Boiler Blast, which is one day a year where Purdue students go to the homes of residents in the surrounding area and help the household with several different types of chores. My first year we had to paint cabinets for the house that I went to and last year we did yard work for an elderly woman. So what do you at the home you are assigned to is different depending on their need. 

Another place that I volunteer is the Lafayette Crisis Center. I have been volunteering there since my sophomore year and absolutely love it. I have become a trainer for future volunteers and also am an on-call volunteer. At the crisis center, we have 3 different lines that we answer. We have a line called 211, which is called when there is a need for a referral to different human services programs, like counseling centers or financial assistance organizations, in the Tippecanoe area. We also have a crisis line, which is usually a caller that is having a difficult time and we need to have that open ear to listen to them. On this line we also get calls forwarded to us from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is the line people contemplating suicide can call for support. The last line we have at the Crisis Center is a teen line, which is what it sounds like… a line that teens can call.

Volunteering at the Lafayette Crisis Center has been one of the best experiences I have had during my college career and has confirmed my passion for wanting to work in this type of environment as a career. 

While at Purdue, you have lots of opportunities to volunteer. It could be through a fraternity, sorority, or a club on campus. But my advice is to get out there and volunteer!

-- Alyssa Schnaus

First Blog of 2012!

Winter Break is the lazy river ride after the white water rapids that is finals week.

Taking time away from school and spending some time with the family is very relaxing, unless you have a family like mine; they couldn't wait for me to head back to school! After a little time off for Christmas, I came back to school early to continue my training for wrestling. Winter Break is the middle of our season, so we can't take much time off, but not having to worry about any school things was very nice. I missed home, but once I was there I realized I missed school more. The friends, food, activities, and overall atmosphere of Purdue has become more familiar to me than anything else, and I'm just a sophomore.

Whether you live in this state or not even this country, Purdue can be your home just like it is mine.

-- Andrew Wiseman

Back to School!!!

After a long and relaxing break, it was finally time to come back to Purdue and get ready for the second semester. As much as I love a break from school and getting to see my family, it's always fun to come back to school and see all of your friends. I moved back into my apartment and was quickly ready to meet up with some friends to catch up. However, after getting a chance to get reacquainted with everyone, the work begins again. Lately, like all of the other students on campus, I’ve been busy trying to straighten out my class schedule as well as get all of my books and supplies that I will need for the semester. In addition, it is important to get organized and plan out time in your schedule for homework, clubs, extracurricular activities, and free time. It’s always a hassle but once you get everything done and are prepared for the semester, you feel so good! When you think about it though, it’s funny how when you’re on break your excited to get back to school, but as soon as classes start you can’t wait for things to die down again.

Is it Spring Break yet!?

-- Sam Shaner

Public Health Internship Experience

I am so lucky to have landed a great internship with Purdue Rec Sports. I began last October and have learned so much in the last couple of months. In fact, this internship has really opened new doors for me. I really had no idea the large role Rec Sports plays in each student’s life. I had this assumption that Rec Sports just consisted of a fitness facility and fitness classes. I learned quickly that is not the case at all. The most interesting fact I found out about Purdue is that we have a high ropes course near campus that Rec Sports facilitates. Many different groups on campus utilize this ropes course for team-building exercises. Plus, they are extremely fun.

My role at Rec Sports is to help manage the Fitness and Wellness Programs offered at Purdue. I am currently in the midst of my capstone project. My capstone project is to create wellness presentations that will supplement our current Learn To Play Away program. Learn To Play Away is a fitness instructor request program. So, your organization can request a fitness class like yoga and zumba and we will come to your location and conduct a class for you. My goal is to add a short wellness presentation to the fitness class. College is a very critical time for students to build lifelong healthy habits. This is a way to educate students about healthy habits. I have been working on the program since October and cannot wait until it is up and running.

I have been enjoying this internship so much that I am interested in pursing a career in recreational sports. It has been very difficult because there are so many different paths in the health field and I seem to enjoy them all.

Boiler Up!

-- Jaci Reiter

Study Abroad…. Do It!

I am sure you have all heard from one person or another at some point in your life “study abroad in college, its a once and a lifetime experience!”. I know I had several aunts who told me year after year about their exchange experiences and how I HAD to do it once I was in college. At the time I found it a bit annoying and just wanted them to leave me alone, but now that I am a study abroad vet it is my turn to nag. Study Abroad! It will change your life!

I spent this last semester living in Sydney, Australia studying at the University of Sydney. I can without a doubt say it was the most exciting and rewarding 5 months of my life. I was able to meet people from not only Australia, but around the world. I was able to live in one of the best and most beautiful cities on earth. I swam with Nemo in the Great Barrier Reef, climbed a volcano in Indonesia, and Bungy Jumped off a 144 meter platform in New Zealand.

I am not going to say every day on exchange is like vacation, because it's not. Some days will be hard and some days you will want to step back into your comfort zone. Being away from home made me learn a lot about other people, but it also taught me a lot about myself. It widened my perspective on the world, and gave me sense of how the world views me. It taught me that being away and putting yourself in new and uncomfortable situations is not always easy, but that often the greatest rewards come from our greatest challenges.

-- Maggie Flynn