Preparing for Homecoming

So, this weekend was particularly odd for me. Mainly I think because I didn't have too much to do, and I did homework for most of the weekend. I feel like I'm finally starting to grow up because, 1) my tastes have been changing and 2) my out look on school and life have been changing. However, these next two weeks will have me as excited as a high schooler again, because we are getting ready for Homecoming!

Being in a sorority have made a few of the things I'm doing a little different, but this is such an exciting time for the campus as a whole! Next week, any RSO's or groups that want to participate can join in Homecoming Sing. Normally Greek Life has a huge turn out for this, and this year is no different. I've already been preparing with my sisters for our Sing performance. It's normally super funny and a good time, lots of different groups up on stage in A&S doing skits and choreographed songs. That's happening Wednesday.

Then during the rest of the week we have the parade on Saturday, the football game Saturday, normally a volleyball game that weekend as well. Also the sports teams compete against each other in a car push up the ramps of Memorial Stadium. There is so much more, but please go out and support our sports teams! I can't wait. As a member of the newspaper I'll get to see everything written down after, so if you can't make it next week read about it in the Branding Iron!

The picture below should take you to the Homecoming page at UW!

It's going to be a blast and I can't wait to show everyone what Chi O has been working had at for the last few weeks! I love fall, the weather, the clothes, the drinks, the food, but mainly it means the start of some amazing times! Football, Homecoming, Halloween, and soon after Thanksgiving will kick off our holiday season! 

-WyoBelle

P.S. How are you enjoying the switch into fall? Are you as excited for Homecoming and all the fun activities as I am? Will you be superfanning it for our football game? I wanna know! And to the readers outside of UW is your Homecoming soon? How do you celebrate it? 

Turn Your Whole Body

Okay, so I've been reading Plato's Republic for class.

However out discussion today got me thinking, a little after chapter 7 when Plato is explaining the Allegory of the Cave he states that education is not looking in the right direction. My teacher then explained more saying how one must turn their whole body to learn and become wise, this will then change how they feel about life and how they want to work in the world.

I know that most of that was boring, but it correlates to what we are doing with college. Now that may just having you rolling your eyes, but originally I was going into Pre-Med. I find Science soooo interesting, however I have found out that I don't always understand it. My first semester was kinda (really) rough. I'd already decided to major in Political Science because it was something I enjoyed learning about, and for Pre-Med you can have any major you want.

 I'd already found that I loved government, history, and politics when I was in high school. I decided to take a break from Pre-Med second semester and knock some of my major requirements out of the way. I found out that college classes can be fun. That I love to learn again. Most importantly, that I never wanted to go back into my science heavy coarse load of the Pre-Med world ever again.

Today I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do in a few years, I may go to Law School or maybe just intern somewhere. I may even get to go work in D.C. or maybe our state capital. As long as I'm working somewhere within the world of government I know that I'll be happy and that I'll be helping the world in the best way that I can.

It doesn't matter to me if I don't get a doctors salary, because I will have a job that I love doing. To me it was worth reading Plato just to realize that I'm on the right path.

Have you realized what you want to do with yourself? Or are you still searching for the right niche? I want to hear your stories too!

P.S. I have been ridiculously addicted to drinking London Fog since I've come to college, but this last week or so I've gotten really bad about it, and thanks to Starbucks it's gotten really popular!

Chase your passions

Ok guys so this really has been a long week so far, and I am so sorry I haven't been very active.

I know I'm not the only one feeling like this because all of my sisters do as well. Sisters you may ask? Yes! I am officially part of Chi Omega here at UW. That’s why my posts have been kind of odd lately. I'm starting to finally settle down and hope that I can have a normal schedule.

Here I am advocating for Fraternity and Sorority life, but also any other activity you want to get into. My freshman year I was waaaay to laid back, I hung out in my dorm became friends with my floor and didn't leave. Which isn't bad, but I feel like I didn't get to know Laramie or UW at all until second semester and even more this year. Now that I have a job and am in a Fraternity (Chi O is a womens Fraternity, founded well over 100 years ago) I'm super busy. However, I also know so many people now! I can't walk across campus without seeing someone that I know.

Halfway through my first year I really began to miss the sports teams and extracurriculars I'd been involved in all high school. I looked into several things, but what stuck out to me the most was going Greek. I didn't feel like joining a club sport though I knew many people who had and loved it, and I wasn't all that into going to a Church group. I have nothing against them, actually I have several friends in Navigators (one of our groups) and have seen it to be a postitive influence in their lives.  So look around and find something that interests you.

The main motiviator for going Greek was the fact that I had so many friends in the Greek system, saw something I liked and wanted it too. Now I won't only have friends or sisters that I can call on for help no matter what, but when I graduate they will still be there and I will join and even larger group of alumni across the nation. Those who went Greek in college are almost everywhere and have a bond with one another. I gives a great network to start out on, plus it looks good on resumes. Apparently I'm not the only one who thought that going Greek was a good idea, as my pledge class across the row was over a hundred girls, extremely large for the last few years. I can't wait for the experiences and memories I will make.

Look into your passions chances have it that there is something on campus you can join! College is for making great memories and great friends, go out and do something!

-Wyobelle

P.S. If you are interested in going Greek here is a little video they showed us girls at orientation night before we started recruitment: Our potential, your  move: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un6c-MY4FEY

Step back and breathe

Alright, so my week started out pretty badly to be honest. I woke up Monday morning ready to

Take a shower and get ready for the week, only to find out our water had been shut off again. Twice in four days actually. I understand that construction happens and life happens, but when its 7:30 and you can't use your bathroom at all? It stinks.

 I then began to feel overwhelmed by homework and finishing recruitment and work By Tuesday night I was ready to quit something, mainly my math class as it was assigning the most homework and is my least favorite class.  However, when I went to church this weekend the homily was about not committing if you can't finish the job. I am completely in agreement with that, I don't like quitting. I never have, and I am super stubborn so when I should learn to back down I go harder at it. Unlike my freshman year when I overloaded on classes, I now know my limitations. I also know that doing things you love makes them easier to do. So while I have a pretty full school schedule, and I now have two more extracurriculars, I love everything that I'm doing.

 Yesterday when I realized how stressed I was about everything and that we haven't been in school a month I decided to take a step back.  I did nothing. I sat around with my friends, I talked with one of the RA's who lived on my floor last year, and I took a walk. Better yet I took a walk in the rain. I don't know what it is about the rain but lately it's been improving my mood to no end. I love the sound of it, the feel of it, and the comfy clothes and hot drinks it brings. It's killing me not to curl up with a good book while the rain pounds on the windows. When you get overwhelmed find something you love, it helps I promise.  

- Wyobelle

P.S. if you love the rain and want to listen to it even when it turns back into wyoming, try rainymood.com. It's the perfect white noise to do homework to!

Today will be a good day

Alright so it's the middle of week two and we are finally starting to get into the swing of things. Teachers are finally assigning more homework, we know where we should be going (for the most part) and we even know the names of people we sit by in class. The grindstone is upon us, and its looking scary as ever. Everyone starts of the year with great ideas and huge goals. Straight A's, never missing class, hanging out with friends all the time. However things don't normally turn out that good, at least they haven't for me, second semester was easier than first, and so far this semester is going better than the previous. That doesn't mean I'm taking easier classes, actually totally the opposite, but I'm starting my days on the right foot.

As of yesterday I've made a pact with a few of my friends to go running on Tuesday, Thursday's and go to 'Boot Camp' (one of Half Acre's programs) on Monday, Wednesday, Friday's. Today was our first day of 'Boot Camp' and saying that it was rough was an understatement. By the end my whole body was shaking because my muscles didn't want to go anymore. Now while it was rough, it has so many perks to it, and not just the fact that I'm getting in shape. I think my favorite perk is that I'm awake early, for a night owl like me that's going to seem pretty odd to get excited about, but I love being awake when the sun comes up. Its all quiet and it feels like no one else is there. I savor my mornings when I don't have to rush. 

I am making a point to just be in a better mood. Smile at people as I walk past, wave to people I know, hold the door for people, so far it's made my days seem better. I have a really odd schedule because work is all evening long. With really interesting, and challenging Political Science classes this year, a job, and the fact that I am going through RUSH and joining a Sorority (not quite sure which one yet, but super excited) I'm extremely busy so when things go smother because I'm in a good mood I don't ever want it to change. 

I hope your second week is well so far, and here's a challenge try doing something nice for a day. Do a random act of kindness or just smile at people as you walk by, I guarantee that you will get more smiles back than odd looks (which I have gotten as well) and it will make your day seem a bit brighter. 

Look at this! I was in the Union and a girl who had been eating near me offtered me some cake because she couldn't finish it. It had been a handout from one of the vendors or fairs today. Sometimes its scary to take free food, but she was really nice about it and there has been free food everywhere. I believe that everything happens for a reason and if you put good into the world you will get it out. 

Is your new schedule odd? Have you had anyone perform a random act of kindness for you? Are you trying to have a better outlook on life? I want to hear!

-WyoBelle

Labor Day Weekend!

Can I just say that having a three day weekend after we just started school is heaven and hell?

I had a blast, a few friends and I went home and did silly small town stuff. Mainly taking a few 'Mains' in our friends truck, looking at stars, laying out on the deck, and most importantly Bonfires! I love to eat out over the fire, we did hot dogs and smores, but my absolute favorite is roasted Starburst! It seems to mainly be a southwestern Wyoming thing as most people have no clue what I'm talking about but it is the best. Roast it over the fire until it starts to bubble and drip. Pull it out and let it cool. You then eat it and its all gooey and crunch and absolute bliss! It seems so odd, but its one of my favorite camping treats. Its always a good idea to keep an open mind and you may find a new favorite!

Look I found someone else who does it! She lives in Utah so I think it must be a thing for our region, check out her page there were lots of other yummy treats that I'm going to try next time I camp!

It was a long crazy weekend, but it brought me closer to the two wonderful girls who came back with me. One is thinking of joining my crazy family and I for Thanksgiving! I love going home, even if its only for a little. I'm never sure how much longer I'll get to go home when I want so I make sure to have a blast when I go. Sometimes the littlest things really are that biggest. For instance we said goodbye to one of our girlfriends from high school that is going on her mission soon, 18 months she will be gone. I am so going to write her letters and maybe even get to send a care package or two! I'm so glad I got to visit with her when I came home this summer because who knows where we will be when she comes back. 

How was your labor day? Do anything fun, or memorable? I'd love to hear stories!

-WyoBelle

First Week Madness!

Oh my goodness! This last week flew by!

It was so crazy, first is move in and putting the room together and meeting up with friends. After all it had been a long summer and I missed my Laramie people. I also started my new job, which was terrifying. I am Copy Editor of the Branding Iron, which basically means I put the stories that are all written up onto the paper and make them look pretty. Its definitely a learning process but a week later everything is going by much faster. As my boss keeps telling me, just ask when you don't know something. Its better to ask and do it right then to have someone else fix it later, which is my boss's job but when its done right the first time everything goes faster.

 So after getting back into the swing of things is when I went to get my router fixed it turned out that my computer had malware all over it!! (Well they said it wasn't that bad) However, two and a half hours later I had to run off to work leaving my computer overnight at IT. Seriously guys, go to IT. They are super under-appreciated, but it all comes down to customer service. I have had wonderful and terrible experiences with IT just depending on how my mood was and who I was talking to. They know what they are doing and have always been able to fix my computer. So plan for up to an hour or two to go over if your baby is sick and more often than not you're walking out a whole lot sooner.

Alright I'll post more later, just wanted to let you know I hadn't fallen off the face of the earth.

How was adjusting to the first week?

- WyoBelle