The Show Must Go On

If any of you are familiar with the Queen song I quoted in my title, then you kind of have an idea of how I've been just trying to just trudge through everything, with my eyes on the prize for right now: Christmas break, on December 17th.

The end of fall term, unfortunately, did not have the ending that I had envisioned it would have. If look back at my post called "Parents' Weekend", you'll see two things: 1. A photo of my father, my mother, and myself at the Mercyhurst football game, and 2. the fact that I mentioned my mother's illness and battle with stage 4 cancer.

She lost that battle, on November 16th.

I got the phone call to rush home on November 15th, and was with family and friends when she passed away.

I missed my final exams while I was home for her funeral. Fall break was slated to begin November 17th anyways, so I stayed home for the Thanksgiving holidays. My professors, as well as the College itself, was incredibly compassionate and kind through this time.

I received sympathy cards and phone calls from several people, including within the History Department, Admissions Office, Campus Ministry, even from the Office of the President of Mercyhurst College.

In the end, I was able to reschedule everything and made up my exams. I managed a B in World Cultures, and an A in Educational Psychology, still waiting for my grades from World War II.

This term, my workload is substantially heavier. I'm taking U.S. History III (1945-Present) with one of my favorite history professors and best friend, so I'm excited for the class. Next is World Politics, which studies how nations interact with each other in the political realm. My third class of the day (that's right, three classes on Mondays and Wednesdays) is Teaching Secondary Social Studies.

Teaching SSS is an interesting class, but there's only 5 people in it! Three of them are graduate students, which makes going to class a little intimidating. But, I'm sure I'll do just fine. The big project of the term is designing an entire unit for a Social Studies class. I picked the American Industrial Revolution as my topic, so I'm excited about making the unit up. Lessons, tests and all.

My fourth and final class, thank goodness, is mercifully on Tuesdays/Thursdays- Buddhism. This I am exceptionally excited for, and I am enjoying it thus far. It's refreshing and intriguing to be exposed to an Eastern religion, opposed to the Catholicism traditions I've been raised in.

Also, as co-chair of the Communications Committee, I'd like to welcome three new Mercyhurst bloggers to the project: Ryan, Brendan, and Angela. Here are their URLs for the blogs, make sure to check them out!

ryansmithmercyhurst.blogspot.com
brendanmercyhurst.blogspot.com
angelamercyhurst.blogspot.com

They're also in the blog roll on the left of the page!
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That's my life, in a snapshot, for now. Hoping to get on here at least once a week to check in. But at the moment, I'm just not holding anything back until December 17th.

That's when I take my car, hit the 90, and head back to Buffalo, to home, to friends, and to my family.

Pens, Paper, Books, and a Hockey Puck.

One of the most beneficial things that students can do for themselves is take a break. Especially this week, when I swear, my classes are giving me more gray hair and headaches than I can keep track of. No lie, Tylenol has been my best friend heading into the final week of classes. Oh, and coffee. Definitely coffee.

But, by far the best thing to relieve stress is when a friend visits from home! My friend Marilyn (we went to high school together) visited this past weekend, and we had a hockey-filled weekend. No secret here, our mutual love for the sport definitely is what drives us to take these great trips, as this year we traveled to Cleveland, Ohio.

One of the best things about Erie is its proximity to three great, sprawling, exciting cities full of fun stuff to do. Cleveland, OH, Pittsburgh, PA and Buffalo, NY are all just about 100 miles in any direction, either on the 90 or the 79.
For this trip, we chose Cleveland, as Marilyn has never been there before. So OBVIOUSLY while in Cleveland, one MUST go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Which we did.

After the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, we took in a Lake Erie Monsters game, at Quicken Loans Arena. It was a great time, and the Chicago Wolves (whom we were cheering for) won, 6-5 in OT.

So, the lesson learned from this trip? A break does wonders.

Really, it does. Heading into the final week of classes, I feel more focused and prepared to take it day by day and do what I have to to be prepared for my exams next week. There is nothing better than having someone from home visiting you and getting your mind off your work. Letting go for the weekend was the best thing I've done for myself in quite some time.

But now, with finals week quickly approaching, we're all buckling down and working towards the best rewards of all: new classes and some well-deserved time home with our families.

Down the Home Stretch. Kind of.

I feel like as midterms are behind me, I'm beginning to breathe a little easier and the term is almost at a close. I'm starting to relax a bit, and my life has slowed down. It's slowed down enough to let me review everything I need to do.

Which includes registering for classes. And there goes the relaxation.

But seriously, registering for classes makes me eager to finish up this term and start the new classes! Bring it on! New material, new professors, new classmates! Even new SCHOOL SUPPLIES! YES!

Truth: one thing that gets me really excited for a new term is new, fancy pens. Really, it's my one splurge, to buy nice pens. It's okay to laugh, I promise.

Getting back to classes- I registered for 4 classes this upcoming term. Because, let's face it: once winter hits and we're under three feet of snow, I'll be spending lots of time in my townhouse, so it's better to not waste my time and instead make some hot chocolate and hit the books. I'm taking three courses that matter for my major: Teaching Secondary Social Studies, World Politics, and U.S. History III.

One of my best friends and I have taken a class together every term since Spring 09, and I'm not willing to break that chain now. So again, I'm sucking it up and taking 4 classes.

My fourth class is Buddhism. Now, I was born and raised a Roman Catholic. But after about 20 years of being surrounded by my Christianity, I'm ready to broaden my horizons a bit and dive into something new and exotic. I'm really pumped for this class. I've heard that it's difficult and that there's a lot of reading, but the people who have taken it haven't regretted spending their time in that class. I'm hoping that's a sign of good things to come!

But for right now, I'm focused on attempting to stay focused. Which with me, is never a guarantee, but more of a "work in progress" type of deal. Unless there's coffee involved, and then anything can get my full attention!

Pass Me the Tylenol...

I haven't posted in a while, and I promise that it's not for lack of interest...but after all, it is midterms week and I've been buried deep into my books and homework for a while now.

But, the storm has passed and we're back to normal classes and work loads. The midterms were overall not too difficult. I'm taking World War II (this midterm was a breeze, but I'm a history major, so if it wasn't, that would be a problem), Educational Psychology (a little more difficult, but I was prepared) and World Cultures (this midterm kicked my butt!). I felt horrible after the World Cultures midterm. For a 100 level class, it was really hard. I'm sure I did just fine, but I'm putting in extra effort for the rest of the term to make up for it.

But right now, we're on fall break. It's nice that Mercyhurst is on trimesters, it's just more opportunities to get home. Usually when I tell people that we're on trimesters, people look at me like a) I'm speaking Swahili or b) implying that I'm a pregnant woman (neither are true) but it's really great! 5 weeks of classes are past me and I'm halfway done with the Fall term.

The weather this past week has been atrocious. Personally, I typically enjoy the rain and thunderstorms. But I draw the line at seriously contemplating getting two of every animal and building an ark. I was halfway convinced that I was going to have to paddle to my classes, especially across the large puddle that forms in front of my townhouse whenever it rains. My roommates, however, built a bridge:

How is that for good old Mercyhurst ingenuity!?

But, I'm the type of person who isn't content unless I'm completely stressed out. So, on top of my classes, I'm working two jobs. One is at the campus coffee bar- it's cool, I love making the drinks and experimenting with the flavors. The next time you get a latte or something, try vanilla+hazelnut+peppermint together. Trust me, it's really good! It kinda tastes just like Christmas.

My other job is working at Old Navy here in Erie. Another job that I really enjoy- I mean, who doesn't want a discount on some pretty awesome clothes? I went and blew $100 on a shopping spree...and I'm sure I'll do that repeatedly, especially when the stress at school calls for some retail therapy!

Parents' Weekend

So this past weekend was homecoming, and I was definitely most excited to see my parents. We've always had a good relationship and they're always the reason why I miss home. I had to give a tour to a Fashion Merchandising student in the morning (and a big THANK YOU to my friend Rachel who rolled outta her pajamas to show us her on-campus apartment), and then I was free to spend the day with the parental units.

Here they are:

That's us at the Mercyhurst vs Lock Haven football game. The first half was pretty bad (our first 3 offensive drives ended in 3 turnovers >.< ) but Mercyhurst was leading, 7-0 at the half. That's my Dad on the left, me in the middle, and my Mom to the right. This past January, she was diagnosed with a stage 4 cancer-which makes time with my parents just a little more special than usual. I try to make time to get home whenever I can, but it's nice that Mercyhurst is just 100 miles from Buffalo.

We left at halftime to see the womens' ice hockey team face off against Wilfrid Laurier. Our womens' hockey team was ranked No.1 in the USA for the better part of last year, and this year the Womens' Frozen Four is being hosted by Mercyhurst College and the city of Erie. I have two good friends on the team, and I'm happy to say they both scored against Wilfird Laurier. 'Hurst won, 7-0.

Mercyhurst also won the football game, 41-0. Looks like someone poured on the gas in the second half.

We went to dinner at Applebee's with my friend Courtney and we enjoyed good, off-campus food. I don't know how I managed to eat as much as I did...

But Sunday morning we went out again to Eat N Park near the 90 on Upper Peach St before my parents left for home. We said our goodbyes around 11:40, because I had my first day of work at Old Navy starting at noon.

I already miss them, and I guess the one tidbit of advice I have for college students is that it's okay to miss home. It's natural to be homesick every once in a while. Mercyhurst has this ability to create a new, home-like community among its students.As good as the community in Erie is, if you want to visit home, go ahead! There's nothing that can replace Dad's dinners and Mom's cookies.

This week is going to be hectic, as I work 5 out of the 7 next days. I'll be going to Oil City, PA for this weekend and will be attending AppleFest in Franklin, PA with some close friends. Can you say "road trip"?!

Heat Wave!

By some act of God, the thermometer in Erie currently reads 88 degrees.

88! I'm melting like a sno-cone in Phoenix.
(insert Wizard of Oz-esque shrieks here..mmmmeeeelllttttttiiiinnnnggggggg)

This heat is very unusual for somewhere like here, let alone this late into September. Good thing I'm living in the E 41st Street townhouses, where my roommates and I have air conditioning. Days like this are when we definitely get our money's worth for living where we are.

It's kind of cool, actually. Only freshman dorm for their first year at Mercyhurst, then it's off to on-campus apartments and townhouses. Apartment living through the college- with maintenance, police and safety, and everything still included. And if you get into the townhouses, air conditioning. And a basement. And a parking lot. Which means no watching in horror as a snowplow buries my car in the middle of January.

BUT the weather is supposed to get back to its normal, 60-degree self for Parents' Weekend, kicking off tomorrow. My parents are coming, it's not a far drive. My house is literally just about 100 miles from the 'Hurst, which makes it an hour and a half straight shot down the 90 from Buffalo. I'm really excited to see my parents, they're the best.

A visit from the parents usually means getting a care package from home, and getting spoiled like a little kid for a weekend. Including dinner out at a restaurant. REAL food! :D

I didn't have much to do today, as I was able to swing an AMAZING class schedules that's given me Fridays and Mondays off. Hello, 4-day weekends. Every week.

But tonight, I'm working an event for the Ambassadors Club- that's the club that gives tours of the school when people want to visit. However, this event is at a local country club to help with a fundraiser, so all that means is a mini-roadtrip with a good friend who's also working it. Nothing more fun than a friend, a car, a highway, and loud music!

Welcome to the Blog

Hey, I'm Steve- a junior here at Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA. It's pretty hard to believe that I've flown through two years of college already, but here I am, at the halfway point. To my bachelor's degree, anyways. I'm studying History with a concentration in Secondary Education- that's right, I want to teach high schoolers.

Call it insane, call it noble, but teaching is what's calling me.

I'm from Depew, a suburb of the winter wonderland known as Buffalo, New York. I won't lie to you, I miss home everyday (I mean, c'mon. Chicken wings. Do I need to say anything further?) but the community here at Mercyhurst truly has made Erie, Pennsylvania my second home.

And for those of you wondering about the blog title...Mercyhurst just happens to be on one of the highest points in the city of Erie. My brother was also looking at schools here and when I told another college's representative of my enrollment at Mercyhurst he said "So, how's life up on the hill?" Voila, blog title. Done.

There's always something going on at the 'Hurst, which means I'll have plenty to write about. I'm open for any questions from students, parents, or anyone who just wants to know about Mercyhurst- my email is in the "about me" box to the left. We're undertaking this project for you, the reader, so don't be shy!

"Carpe Diem. Seize the day, boys- make your lives extraordinary."- Robin Williams, Dead Poets Society