Just had another thought today, as everyone on campus seems to be talking about what their Valentine’s Day was all about: what they did, what present they received from their significant other, where they went to dinner, etc. etc. etc. And I started to wonder if many people know at all what the purpose of Valentine’s Day really is.

It seems so easy to make Valentine’s Day out to be this “Hallmark Holiday”, and it seems that so many in our society do just that. We focus so much on the “stuff” that we give and receive, we forget about why we are giving the stuff in the first place. Instead of thinking about the box of chocolates that we are about to give to our significant other, maybe we should take a minute to think about why that gesture is important in the first place.

In reality, Valentine’s Day is about love. It is about showing love to one another, romantically or otherwise. It means showing love to our husbands and wives, our boyfriends and girlfriends, our siblings and our parents, our friends and our teachers, but also showing love to everyone – even those individuals that are the hardest to love sometimes.

My favorite description of love is a well known verse from the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

If we could apply this magnitude of love to others, a love that is kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, not rude, not selfish, not easily angered, truthful, protecting, hopeful, perseverant, and never failing, not only on Valentine’s Day, but everyday…imagine what a wonderful place the world would be.

Happy (belated) Valentine’s Day Everyone!

By this time in the semester, especially in the spring semester, things can start to get a little bit crazy around here. With midterms right around the corner, summer within reach, and projects due left and right, I wouldnt be surprised for a second if the majority of Walsh students are a little stressed out right about now, myself included.

So, I got to thinking today about how we might go about making this stressful time a little less stressful.

I think one of the most important things we can do is to make some time for free time. Sounds a little crazy right? How can you possibly make time for free time? Well, just like we all schedule when we need to do our homework, and when we need to study, when we need to go to this meeting, and when we need to schedule to talk to our professors, we also need to schedule some time when we have nothing on the schedule at all! We need to make some time to simply close our eyes and relax, talk with a good friend over a cup of coffee (my personal favorite), or just turn on some music or our favorite television program and let the stresses of the day melt away. I think if we took the time to make some time for ourselves we would be amazed at how productive we would be once we have rested and revitalized ourselves.

Another equally important thing, and along the same lines is to eat healthy! I know for myself, when I get stressed, all I want to do is eat junk food…before I know it a pint of ice cream, a bag of chips, or a candy bar is gone without even a second thought. When we fuel our bodies the wrong way, our body and mind wont work the way we had hoped, and oftentimes we will find ourselves more tired, and less productive than before. Take time to get a well balanced meal, and by feeding your body and mind right, it is AMAZING how much better we can perform.

Lastly, I think it is important for us to stop putting so much on our plate, stop worrying so much, and stop pressuring ourselves to be perfect. All that pressure and all of that responsibility, when given to ourselves excessively, rather than making us better will simply continue to weigh us down and hinder our ability to do our best. So go to mass, pray about what is worrying you, share some of your stressors with your family, significant others, or close friends, never take on any challenge alone. By sharing the burdens that life may bring, we are able to help each other to achieve our fullest potential.

So, if you feel like you are running on empty by this time in the semester, take a step back and fuel your mind, your body and your spirit so that you can finish the semester strong and do your very best.

Ri·val·ry
/ˈrīvəlrē/

Noun: Competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field.
Synonyms: competition – emulation – contest – contention

We’ve all experienced it, the thrill of competing against that one individual, that one school, that one team. That feeling you get from your head to your toes that makes you want to work harder, play better, and pull out the victory. For those of us here at Walsh, that one school is Malone University.

Though it is difficult sometimes to find time to attend all of our sporting events, with homework to do, tests to study for, and meetings to attend, somehow everyone finds time for the games against Malone, and today was no exception! Yes, today was the much-anticipated Walsh vs. Malone basketball game, and it was, as always, a great time! Everyone was dressed in their matching t-shirts ready to cheer our team on to victory, and indeed (thank goodness!) we were victorious today!

Truthfully though, win or lose, a good rivalry is hard to come by, but it is something that I think both schools are extremely grateful for. How great it is to have a cause that all of us Cavs can rally behind, and I am sure the same goes for Malone as well. We may taunt and tease, trashtalk and chant, but as I am sitting back and thinking about everything from the pep rally to the comradery, to the victory, none of it would be the same without Malone and the tradition that their school, along with our own has created.

So, Im going to step back today as I bask in the glow of our basketball team’s victory, but also take time to appreciate the rivalry that is alive and well between Walsh University and Malone University. We will be ready for every new challenge that we face against them, and they the same for us. And may we always have this rivalry in everything from football, basketball and volleyball to mascot dance-offs and fan cheer-offs, all while embracing that spirit of competition that we all know and love.

Once again, I had the priviledge of attending a great program on campus this evening! The event was called “Dress for Success” otherwise known as the annual Etiquette Dinner. The dinner was open to juniors and seniors on campus, and it was designed to help you learn about how to dress for success for a job interview or for a formal dinner while learning the ins and outs of presenting yourself in a professional manner in those kinds of settings. The event was sponsored by the Career Center and the new Career Crew Club, and was co-sponsored by the University Programming Board, Joseph A Banks department store, and The Limited department store. With almost eighty people in attendance, it was truly a great turn out!

So everyone that attended dressed up in their very best professional attire and took part in a four course meal while learning how to properly participate in a formal dining setting. Who would have known that your napkin on your lap should be positioned with the fold towards your body so that when you are ready to stand up, the crumbs dont fall on your lap? Or who would have guessed that it is better to scoop your spoon away from the body rather than towards it because it looks more controlled and professional? What about the fact that the salt and pepper shakers must always travel in a pair as they are passed around the table, or that it is bad manners to ever set your utensil directly back on the table once it has been used? All of these things and more made for an extremely fun night as we all did our best to learn the best way to dine professionally and politely.

In addition, it was great because the representatives from Joseph A. Banks and from The Limited were able to present to the group about the dos and donts of dressing for success in an interview and in a professional setting. Such useful tips as what length of skirt to wear, or how much jewelry is appropriate, or what to avoid in your appearance to promote a successful first impression were all shared. And although we dont do this kind of thing every day, and it certainly will not be able to be used daily as we eat in the cafeteria here on campus, what an excellent opportunity to broaden our horizons and be prepared for any direction that our future careers and professional lives may lead.

My boyfriend Kyle and me, dressed and ready for the Etiquette Dinner

Walsh Wellness

I was so lucky to be a part of an excellent program co-sponsored by one of Walsh’s Peacemakers on campus, Emily, in conjunction with Walsh’s Health and Wellness Department this week. This program was focused specifically on women’s health and even more specifically, focused on female freshmen on campus.

Now, we all know about the dreaded “freshman fifteen”, which is notoriously the fifteen pounds that some students gain in their first year away from home, on a college campus. Though hopefully none of our freshmen had this issue, no doubt, each and every one of us at some point go through changes in our body as we get older, and especially as our lifestyle changes so dramatically when coming to college.

So, this program was set up on Saturday morning and again on Tuesday afternoon to allow the freshmen girls on campus to come and participate in a modified physical fitness test that would allow them to be proactive in looking at what risks may exist for them in areas such as hypertension (high blood pressure), BMI, cardiovascular risks (conditions that may occur in the heart such as heart disease), as well as strength, flexibility and endurance.

With over 60 girls signed up to participate in the event, it was most definitely a success. I was able to assist in taking blood pressures for the students as well as measuring their heart rate, BMI and percentage of body fat, and measuring their waist to hip ratio which is a good measurement to be used when assessing an individual’s risk for certain diseases of the heart. In addition to my station, the girls participated in a three minute exercise test to see how their heart responded to the physical exertion, also they participated in a station that measured the number of push-ups and sit-ups they could complete in a minute. Finally they were tested for flexibilty.

At the end of the circuit, the participants were allowed a free consultation with our campus director of health and wellness, so that she could discuss some of their assessment data with them while offering up suggestions for improvement in their health if necessary.

I think that programs such as this one are so important for all of us to consider attending because to be empowered with knowledge about your health can help you take control of your health routine such as the exercise you participate in and the food you eat. It can also allow you to be a true expert about your body, while allowing you to take an active role in reaching your goals for holistic wellness of body, mind, and spirit.

Yet again, this was a very helpful and useful event for our students, and something that we should all consider attending in the future!

This was opening week at Walsh for the Spring Semester, and there were so many exciting things going on each day to welcome students back for a successful semester! There was everything from ice skating to BINGO, and from basketball games to game shows that were ready to make the first week back enjoyable and fun.

On Thursday of this past week, I attended the Walsh version of the popular game show “Dont Forget the Lyrics!”. Hosted by our own Walsh student, Kyle O., the game show was sure to be a success! As the students entered the auditorium, they were given a ticket that allowed them to be entered in the drawing to be a participant in the “game show”, how fun and exciting it was for us in the crowd to be anxiously waiting to see if it would be our turn to go up to play the game! To make the deal even sweeter, first prize was two tickets to a Cleveland Cavalier’s game worth $200, and second prize was a $50 gift card.

Though I, myself did not get called up to participate, the evening was a good time for all. The students who did participate chose from a range of categories, anywhere from pop rock, to oldies, to 2000s, to Christmas songs, and did their best to fill in the missing lyrics as they appeared on the screen. The best part, however, was the karaoke performances that went along with the contestants attempts!

All in all, it was another great Walsh program for students to participate in, and made the first week of Walsh a great one. A big shout out to the University Programming Board for all of their hard work in making every week enjoyable for the students here, and for coming up with creative ways to have fun. I for one know that I will be paying MUCH more attention to the lyrics in my favorite songs, just to be sure that I will be prepared for the next time I have the chance to participate in a game show so close to home.

Hello! Happy New Year! I am very excited to be back at Walsh for the spring semester…finally unpacked and ready to go for classes tomorrow!

This time of year is a great one for making New Year’s Resolutions, and everyone has one that they hope to keep throughout the 2013 year. For some, it may be starting to excercise and eat right, for others it may be to be kinder to others, and for others still it may be to be money savvy, and save rather than spend.

For the average college student, however, New Year’s Resolutions come in an entirely different variety! Some of the most common resolutions for my peers are things like: pulling off that 4.0 GPA, or making the deans list, keeping your dorm room clean, or trying your best to say “no” to that second dessert at the cafeteria.

Personally, my goals for the year include succeeding in my nursing classes including my second semester of med surg (gulp), saving my money for my trip to Tanzania this summer, and working hard to take each day one moment at a time rather than getting wrapped up in the hustle and bustle that comes from the hectic life of a college student.

No matter what your New Year’s Resolution is, and no matter if you made one or not, it is never too late to make the decision to better yourself and change something about yourself for the better! Make sure to make it realistic, make a plan of action for how to make it happen, and then reward yourself when you do!

What a great opportunity that the New Year and the new semester come only a week apart, because what better chance could there be to have a clean slate and a fresh start for yourself! Happy New Year, and happy spring semester 2013!

As a part of the honors program, my classmates and I are responsible each and every semester for the organization, coordination, and operation of a project in service to the Walsh community and beyond. In the past our class has done projects such as: the creation of a thank you video for the Brothers of Christian Instruction, the creation of a variety of “tie blankets” to donate to a local women’s shelter, and the purchase and donation of books for a local inner city elementary school.

This semester, we chose a project that was extremely applicable to a very real and current issue in our country today. We knew that we wanted to do something to help with the victims of Hurricane Sandy that recently hit the East Coast of our country. We thought at first that we would like to gather supplies and put together “survival kits” for the families that were affected, many still without power, water, or a roof over their head. However, upon discussion with our campus ministry department on campus, we realized that the greater need existed for monetary funds to donate straight to those in need.

We were very excited about this, but worried…how do we make this exciting and doable? How do we raise enough donations to help as many people as possible on a campus of college students who generally don’t exactly have extra money lying around to donate?

Right as we asked ourselves this question, the answer came to us…what if we tried to raise money in a very realistic and exciting way? What if we tried to raise money one dollar at a time?

We ran with the idea, calling it “The Power of One” Campaign in which we decided to ask for one dollar from every student, faculty and staff at Walsh University. We put together our advertising, sharing with everyone our mission…that one person, one dollar at a time, from one university could make one big difference in the world!

On Monday the 12th, we decided to host a 24 hour super-fundraiser, and we collected money from students, faculty one dollar (or any extra change that happened to be lying around) at a time! Through the efforts of our classmates, we were able to collect during the day in the David Student Campus Center, walk through all the faculty offices in the afternoon, and go door to door in the dorms asking for donations in the evening.

Through our efforts, I am pleased to say, we were able to raise over $1,300 in support of the victims of the tragedy! The money was donated through Catholic Relief Services and was used to provide supplies, basic needs, and in turn hope to those who had lost everything.

Thanks so much to the Walsh community for all of the generosity during the fundraiser, and God bless those who are still suffering from the natural disaster, hopefully our efforts have helped to continue the recovery process slowly but surely.

The Power of One!

This past week, Walsh campus as lucky enough to host a guest speaker who is a woman by the name of Immaculee Ilibagiza. Immaculee is from Rwanda and was a college student about the age of many students currently at Walsh during the time of the Rwandan genocide in 1994. She was a member of the Tutsi Tribe, the group of people who were persecuted during the genocide purely based on their race, their looks, and their tribe with which they associated. The Rwandan nation at the time was also home to another tribe called the Hutus who initiated the violence against the Tutsis, with the sole purpose of eliminating them off the face of the planet. The Hutus killed every Tutsi they could find, including babies, elderly, and families.

Immaculee survived the holocaust by living in a 3 foot by 4 foot bathroom in the home of a minister who chose not to take part in the fighting, for nearly three months. She spent the time in the bathroom with seven other Tutsi women also attempting to hide from what would have been certain death.

Immaculee lost every member of her family including her parents, her siblings, and her best friends to the genocide as they were all killed by Hutus. When she left the bathroom after the genocide was over, she came back to a world that had been completely turned upside down. She had lost everything, and yet one thing that she gained was her faith.

In hearing Immaculee speak, now almost twenty years later, she continues to speak of her faith that was found in those days in the bathroom, and how it was her faith that encouraged her to persevere and to live, when the easiest thing in the world would have been to give up, to sacrifice herself to the rebel armies, and to end the suffering.

In her speech at Walsh on Thursday, Immaculee spoke to a room full to the brim without a single empty seat to be found. She spoke of the importance of faith, of doing good, of choosing kindness, and of learning true forgiveness. She is truly an inspiration to all of the lives that she touches, and she continues to speak across the country, hosting retreats as well to encourage others to strive to grow in their faith in the same way that she has. In the time since the genocide, Immaculee has also written many books about her experiences.

If you get the chance, check them out! They are amazing books, and you will be amazed by the impact they will have on your life!

For more information about Immaculee, check out her website (http://www.immaculee.com) and be sure to read her book Left to Tell if you have the chance! You will be glad you did!

This past week, of course, was Halloween! And though there are many ways that people choose to spend the holiday, here at Walsh we have our own tradition called “Trick or Treat in the Halls.”

This is a campus wide event that allows for Halloween fun while giving back to the community. Each hallway in each of the residence halls compete in a contest to decorate their room doors as well as their entire hallway with a Halloween theme, to win bragging rights for the rest of the year. This year my hallway’s theme was “Lemmon Hall Goes Green this Halloween” and we decorated our hallway with milk jug ghosts, toilet paper zombies, and construction paper bats, witches and pumpkins that were all environmentally friendly! Combined with a CD on repeat full of the best Halloween-themed songs we could think of, our hallway was ready for some competition!

Everyone on my floor, dressed up and ready for the trick or treaters!

But the competition is just a small part of what the day is about! At 7pm the campus and the halls were open to families and children from the Walsh community and the North Canton area as they were all encouraged to come trick or treating door to door in all of the dorm buildings! Not only does this keep the children safer by keeping them off the sidewalks, roads, and out of the weather, but it also encourages families in the community to be a part of the Walsh family!

All of us...looking nerdy!

We were all so excited, preparing our rooms and our hallway for the children and their families to come! We bought candy for the kids (all 600 of them!) and we all dressed our best in our costumes to prepare for our guests!

It was a great night, we had a great time dressing up to impress the children coming through the halls and seeing the smile on their faces as they got candy at each and every door they turned to on the floor. It was such a rewarding evening of giving to others, sharing joy and happiness on such a fun holiday, and just having a good time in fellowship with each other!

My roommates and Me LOVE these girls!

It is truly the greatest way to celebrate Halloween, and I absolutely cannot wait for it to come again next year!