Catching Up After a Fantastic Day

Good Day Fellow Humans,

It’s been awhile since I checked in. Needless to say I’ve been rather busy. But, today was such a fantastic day, and I wanted to catch you all up on some incredible things that have happened in my life recently, and why today was such a phenomenal day.

Catching Us Up:

• I was accepted to become a TA for the HON 100 course this upcoming fall semester. HON 100 was such an incredibly meaningful experience for me, and now I get to help make a group of 7-9 incoming students experience the same thing.
• I have recently accepted the Lead Student Assistant position in the Honors Office. This has been something I have been hoping to do since I was a wee little freshman. I’m so excited to be able to help coordinate events like our Winter Charity Ball and our Student Recognition Dinner.
• I have been given the opportunity to help one of my favorite professors at Central Michigan University in an attempt to „gamify“ a World History course, with the intent being to create an active learning environment which encourages students to take initiative in their education. This research/development will serve as my Honors Senior Capstone project, and I will begin the research process this summer.
• I was able to attend a Learn Today Teach Tomorrow Conference with an incredible Keynote Address by Heath Nestle, and it really reaffirmed that I am heading in the right direction with my life.
• I have recently celebrated my 1 year anniversary with my lovely best friend.
• I have been given the opportunity by my family to present the Silas Woods Memorial Scholarship at Saline High School in honor of my Bubman, and I couldn’t be more honored.
• I will be working at University of Michigan this year as a groundskeeper.
• I have recently begun working on a new slackline trick, and am incredibly happy to inform everyone that it is coming along quite nicely.

Why Today Was So Damn Great:

• The morning started off with the 2015-2016 HON 100 TA’s meeting at the Malt Shop in Mt. Pleasant to discuss some future plans for next semester. We were able to talk about some of our favorite experiences from HON 100, which brought back memories to doing my Personal Development Portfolio. I am so excited to be able to help students step out of their comfort zone, all while helping them transition to the academic and social life of college.
• Directly after that meeting, I headed back to Larzelere for the Larzy Picnic. I got to sing some karaoke with some great people, and watch some of my residents sing karaoke to another one of my residents playing the piano. It never ceases to amaze me how talented and incredible my residents are. They have made my first year as an RA an incredible experience, and I’m so thankful to be able to watch them grow.
• After that was the Larzy Paint Party, which is one of my favorite events of all time. For those of you who don’t know, the Larzy Paint Party consists of 30-40 college students wearing crisp white shirts splashing paint on each other. Larzelere has an incredible sense of community, and there are certain moments that make me really just stand awestruck at how much of a family the hall really is.
• Following the Paint Party was Pie A Staff. This year the pies consisted of some lovely Gordon Food Service chocolate pudding. I got quite a few pies to the face, and quite a bit of pudding up my nose. It’s always amusing to watch college students throwing pudding in each others faces… It’s proven by research. 🙂
• I then went to work at the Honors Office, after a quick shower to remove all paint and pudding from my body of course. We’re currently getting ready for our Student Recognition Dinner tomorrow, and it’s amazing to see how close we are to the finished product.
• Later that evening after work, Larzelere Staff made our way over to the Powers Ballroom to attend the Residence Life Banquet. I always love being surrounded by the ResLife community, and there are few times where I feel more at home. Central Michigan University has created a ResLife program that is one to marvel at. Everytime I find myself surrounded by these individuals, I know I am surrounded by strong leaders who are always looking to make a difference in people’s lives. The banquet was very nice, with a lovely keynote address from Joanie Schmidt, who will be leaving us as Director of Residence Life this year. I unfortunately have not gotten to know Joanie personally, but I have heard her give Keynote speeches twice. I love what wisdom she has to share, the standards of excellence she has created, and the legacy she is leaving behind. I cried multiple times throughout the evening, which made me feel a little bit like my mother, but it seems to be a natural side effect of being surrounded by so many loving and caring individuals.
• To end the night, I was able to visit my mom (who’s up here for MMTA) and my cousins. I am so thankful for any time I get with my family, because it is hard to come by during the school year. I got to spend some time with my mom this week, and I wish the rest of my family could have been able to be up here too.

I’m now writing this blog post, clearly, and getting ready to do some studying for finals next week. In essence, today was one of those days that make you realize how lucky you are to be alive. I’m so thankful for everything that has led me to where I am today, and I don’t think I would change a single thing. I want to end this post with a quote that is strongly associated with Joanie Schmidt, and one that I have really been thinking over today:

„I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer, or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again“               -Stephen Grellet

Think on it my friends.

Until next time,

Randi