Well I'm sitting here listening to Coldplay and one of favorite songs comes on.It called warning sign off their "A Rush of B-s to The Head". It made me think about my situation at school. One thing about college is being held accountable for your own actions. Well I recently received an early warning report from one of my teachers. This is basically telling you that you aren't doing well and the report contains details about how to change that. So upon receiving this I realized that I have to turn things around. It wasn't because I wasn't studying or that I'm not smart all I needed to do was change how I study. I realized waiting until the test comes then cramming isn't very successful. I now study my notes every day and things seem to be working out. It only takes about an hour or two which I used to spend online or playing videos games. Setting a schedule of days has also been helpful for me and it leads me to not do anything wasteful when I should be doing something that's important. I came to the point in my life were I really have to grow up because trying to find a job without a college diploma is extremely hard. I had to sit out a spring semester and trying to find a job or at least a good paying job is nearly impossible unless it's backbreaking work. I commend those people but that isn't my future and if I keep slacking then I will soon run out of chances. The college has given me that second chance and I really can't afford to blow this wonderful opportunity or I'll end up in a place, I don't want to be doing something I don't want to do.

Hey everyone.  Since I have this forum available to me, I want to talk about someone who I don't give enough credit to, my mommy.  Oh yes, she has been there since the beginning.  When I was a wee lass I suppose I don't remember all the things she did for me, but I honestly have her to thank for the man I have become.  When my brother and I were little, she had the hardest job in the world.  Raising us was no easy chore.  We were natural enemies for most of our youth, so one thank you goes out to Mom, for not letting us kill each other. 

Time went on.  I had baseball pretty much everyday.  Who took me too baseball?  Mom did.  I think she would come to every practice to see me play if I let her.  No one has been more supportive of me playing baseball for the past 15 years.  I assume I would have given it up long ago if not for her.  So a second thank you goes out to Mom, my biggest fan.

I kept growing up right before her eyes.  I was in high school.  Honestly, I could have cared less about my grades.  Sure, I wanted to be successful and make some money, but I didn't have any idea how to do it.  What did she do?  She got on my gosh darn case everytime she could about how classes were going and how my grades were.  I tried hard in school because I didn't want to let her down.  She knew what I was capable of, even if I didn't.  She didn't go to college, but she knew I could.   Now I have her to thank for helping me get there.  A third thank you goes out to Mom, for being my best teacher.

So here I am today, and Mom still calls me whenever she can, asking me about how I'm doing, and how school is.  I have everything I ever asked for because of her.  Thank you Mom.

This past weekend was beyond words. I attended the Metanoia Retreat (Change of Heart) for the third time of my college career. My first year here at the school I had attended it because my friends said that it would be a fun weekend to get away for a while. This is when those friends became some of my best friends. My sophomore year at the school, I was on the team to lead the retreat, that was a great experience all in itself not only for the inner-faith aspect but for learning aspects of leadership. This year I chose to attend the retreat again due to the changes that have been made in it - each change was definitely for the better and was very impressive. I learned so much more about myself and about living life in general because each person had such an open heart. I had gone to Kairos in high school and loved it but didn't gain from it like the way I have in these retreats in college. Each person that I have had a chance to talk to through the retreats held by the Mount has become a new friend. This past Retreat Weekend, I have been able to make some new best friends. My heart has been opened up in to taking more chances and making my choices not only for my own sake of well-being but for every person around me. Every person in my life has had some kind of effect, whether it be for betther or worse, in the end. Every thing that happens is another life lesson, and therefore a good experience. My entire life I have been a firm believer in that everything happens for a reason. This retreat has made that belief even stronger. I have been able to open my heart to change and for believing every day is a new lesson in my life. This retreat has helped me to become a stronger, more relaxed, more faithful, and open to change kind of person. And last but certainly not least a much bigger fan of HUGS!!!

Thanks again for reading!!!

 THESE ARE SOME OF THE GREATEST PEOPLE YOU COULD EVER MEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Since I've been living in the dorm room setting for the last few years I've learned several key aspects of the DOs and DON'Ts of college life. My freshman year I brought just about everything I owned to my dorm and only used about half of it. Due to this, I have understood the meaning of being a pack-rat. I tend to keep EVERYTHING and throw away NOTHING. I've also have had several different roommate moments, good and bad. It all comes in the territory of dorming. So here are some hints: DO throw away papers from the 7th and 8th grade. That writing style won't do you much good in college. DO donate old t-shirts that you never wear. They may be in perfectly good condition but if you never wear them give them to someone who may need them. DO keep what's important to you. If someone wrote you a letter that at some point in your life gave you the biggest smile you could imagine, hold on to it, it may bring you that same smile again on a cold, rainy day. DO bring shower shoes. Our matinence team in the dorms are great people and do a great job, but you never know what could be tracking around on that floor. It's a matter of self-hygiene. DO NOT take over your room every time you want to be with your significant other. Of course you want some alone time and being in college, its some times more difficult to find shared free time for relationships. This does not mean your roommate should suffer. Work out ahead of time when you can have the room to yourself, with a significant other, with your roommate, or simply let your roommate have their time too! Also, set a rule of who can be in the room at certain study times and such. Your first priority for being here is to be a student. So that brings up another point. DO focus on school first. That is the reason you are here. Your friends should understand if you have a test the next day when they want you to go out for pizza with them! I am one of the first to understand procrastination so if you really do leave your studying time for testing the night before = take it! You will need it. In order to try to avoid procrastination, though, think of what you need to get done by certain times for each day. Like tomorrow I have a paper that I am going to work on with a teacher before the class starts [have I actually started that paper yet -> no, but this blog is due at midnight ] I am making sure that at least nothing will be late. But Do give yourself an earlier deadline than what was originally assigned. This way you can have it done in enough time to look over it, get your teacher, roommate, or someone to look over it as well. The more eyes to read over that 10 page paper you wrote in an hour the better! With the procrastination comes late hours - meaning lack of sleep! DO NOT overstress yourself. Working too late on papers can cause too much stress in addition to the lack of sleep that you will cause yourself for every all-nighter you pull. It's all bad - believe me! And of course you will need to keep yourself awake for every night you stay up in the lounges. DO NOT consume too many energy drinks either. You will then crash eventually and get in to even worse sleeping habits and won't be as attentive as needed in each class. Perhaps this is where I should make out the point that I have a pretty bad case of Attention Deficit Disorder. I get very easily distracted in classes! So here comes another hint. DO NOT get addicted to facebook. I am. And I tend to feed my addiction on an hourly basis. While it is a great communication device to keep in touch with old friends and to plan events and get involved with programs during a hectic semester of classes, it is also a horrible distraction (for example, considering how much i love taking pictures - i have over 140 albums). However, every time that I do check my facebook, I check my e-mail. DO check your e-mail as often as possible. When they say it is the main source of communication they aren't kidding. I get at least ten e-mails a day about events and programs coming up, in addition to e-mails from teachers and such about classes and activities that I am involved in. Which brings yet another hint. DO get involved. A lot of people tend to leave for the weekends because we are a 'dry campus'. That doesn't mean there aren't other ways to have fun. There are football games to go to - STUDENTS GET IN FREE! Campus Activities Board, is always coming up with fun events for the entire campus, not just dormers - that's right - commuters too! Campus Ministry works hard to put retreats together for everyone! Each floor in the dorms has weekly activities that you can join in on. The more the welcome - ALWAYS! 

Alright, well, I could go on and on with more hints but I think you get the jist of it! I hope you are able to gain from this and I will put more up as the semester goes along! 

Stay tuned for next week and thanks again for reading!!!

a look at my own dorm room!

Hey, what’s up everybody!

Life has pretty much returned to normal here in the tri-state area since the “hurricane” hit.  I’m pretty sure everyone has their power back now, although I did hear that some people just got it back TODAY, a week and two days after the storm! That would be terrible! There still is some visible damage to some of the houses around town. My prayers are still with those people.

On a different note, college is truckin on and most people are just taking or getting grades back from their first exams of the semester. Let me use this time to offer up some advice to potential college students, and this doesn’t just apply to Mount St. Joseph’s students:   

           DON’T

                             FREAK

                                          OUT!

A lot of students usually flip out when they are preparing for their first exams. There hasn’t been a lot of time to get to know your professors and identify their teaching style, let alone their assessment style.  True every class is different in the way exams are administered and the types of tests given, but usually students overanalyze the information being tested.  The most important thing to do is ask the professor how the test will be made up. If that doesn’t help, first off, just breathe and then start with studying the broad topics of the information being tested (this especially helps if you fall behind in your readings).  Then if you still have the motivation and time to study, focus on the more in-depth concepts being assessed. 

Just remember that you can only do as much as you can do. That makes a lot of sense, right? But it’s true! If you try to push yourself too hard, you will get stressed and forget half the stuff you studied, and that is just pointless.  So when taking your first exams, relax, take breaks when studying (and often: this keeps you focused), and just do as much as you can.  And worst case scenario, if you do terrible on the exam, you have the rest of the semester to work hard and bring up the grade, because you’ll know what to expect on the next exam!

Life’s too short to stress out over an exam!

>Eric M.

Hey everyone.  So here is what's going on.  One of my professors, who is new to the area, was asking what the deal is with eastsiders and westsiders around here.  This got me thinking a few things.  Where is this mysterious line that divides the Cincinnati area?  Ok, I am going to try to explain it as I learn it.  Pretend Cincinnati is an apple.  We are going to take an apple knife and cut this Cincinnati apple in half.  One side falls towards Cali.  The other side will fall towards Maryland.  Neither piece falls north or south.  So, in summary, we have the creation of the west and east sides of Cincinnati.  The west being composed of places like Cheviot, Delhi, Westwood, and Bridgetown.  The east side has Loveland, Milford, Blue Ash, and Mariemont.  I am actually from the far east.  A place called Owensville which is in the northeast part of Clermont County.

Coming to the Mount, which is on the west side and primarily composed of west siders, I came to realize that they aren't all that bad.  At least they are better than outsiders.  Of course there is the long running fight between the two sides, a kind of Cincinnati Civil War.  Really though, its not much more than a long running joke.  There are a lot of things that each side is known for.  West siders are known as the die hard sports fans, more community driven.  East siders are thought of often as more sophisticated, Starbucks loiterers.  The westies always use their trademark slogan, "west is the best".  The east side just responds by sitting back and checking their stocks.  These are all little stereotypes, some a little true, some not.  I've found that at the Mount, everyone gets along with everyone for the most part.  So, instead of a Civil War, I would have to give Cincinnati the new title of the Melting Pot. 

So sure our schools battle, our residents fued, and tempers boil sometimes.  Deep down we need to ask ourselves, which side is really better?  I would have to say whichever side is closer to Florida, which is neither.  Can't you see that we just need to get along.  The Mount is doing it.  I think that you can too.  See ya everyone.

Here are some pics from my forray into the world of gardening:

Ah yeah.  You like that don't you?

Its the first day of Fall/Autumn.  Some random words/things that come to mind when I think of Fall:  Leaves, orange, darkness, coolness, fresh air, poetry, death of insects, more school, clothing, fishing,  botched elections, deer, and football.  Not necessarily in that order. 

Also, Fall reminds me of marching band.  Yes I was in the band in high school, and college (undergrad).  Please don't ever make this comment when around me: "This one time, at band camp..."  Just don't even put the thought in my mind.  Anyway, in many ways those were the best times of my life.  Traveling around the state and country.  Feeling the electricity of a friday night football game as we destroyed another opponent.  And the chilly saturdays at competitions when your stomach was in knotts from being so nervous.  Being in the marching band allowed me to go to Disneyworld, DCI competitions, Bands of America, numerous road trips to unbelievable playoff games, bowl games, and the like.  My time in marching band culminated with marching and performing with the Miami University Marching Band right in front of Macy's before Santa Claus came out in New York for the 2003 Macy's Thanksgiving day parade.  It was an incredible experience that I will never forget.  If you never participated in marching band at any level, just know that it is more than dressing up in a funny looking uniform, playing an instrument, and being silly.  Band members are often the hardest-working students as they maintain hectic schedules, hours of rehearsal, and sacrifice their time and energy to provide the visual and aural soul of the school they represent.  The band is a harbor of tradition in the fight songs, alma mater, and school colors, yet it is also reflects the future and continuity of the educational institution in the face of a new member who seeks to carry on those traditions, and takes pride in representing the name on the sleeve of their uniform, just like those who put on a jersey. 

So it saddens me to hear from a Dean of Faculty who says that participation has dropped, and the Mount Marching Band will not take the field for the remainder of this year.  It seems that the status of the band is up in the air.  Hopefully, there will be a resurgence in participation when the administration takes action to "look at ways to increase efforts to recruit more students into the band program."

Hopefully it truly is a priority to restore the marching band, and to see the value of having such an organization representing the Mount.  There is an opportunity to rethink the band's role in our school, and to consider the possibilities of trying to utilize the band as an ambassador to the community in unique ways.  There are many different and perhaps new ways to get students excited about joining an organization.  But generating excitement takes work, commitment, and support from top to bottom. 

In closing, I won't be attending any games at MSJ the rest of this year, for various reasons.  But the day the Lion's Roar Marching Band does retake Schueler Field, I will be in the stands wearing blue and gold.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPNnIFH6_RU

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOfhpGbFS-Q

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx0ktWojxTM

Hey everyone.  It sure is good to be back.  As I mentioned in one of my blogs from last spring, my roommate and I were considering getting an apartment.  Well, that dream came true.  We recently moved into our own place, and just for the record, no one told me it was going to be this hard.  Now, as a normal college student, I don't have a lot of money.  So what is my obvious concern during these first few weeks in the new place?  What am I going to eat?  It turns out cooking isn't as easy as Mom always made it look.  It just isn't like the dorm days when I could walk down to the food court and swipe my card whenever I am hungry.  No, it's not like that at all.  And so I have found out what living in poverty is all about.  Ok, so it's not real poverty, but I am hungry.  I am having to learn to stock up on cheap food.  My diet right now is consisting of potatoes and corn dogs.  I did however hit the jackpot the other night when my dad sent me a meatloaf.  For one night, Nick and I lived like kings.  In reality, it's not that bad.  I know that I'm going to have to learn to fend for myself at some point, so this kind of forces me to do it. 

On a brighter note, I am still trying to win the lottery.  I am thinking that if I can hit one good run, I can stock up the apartment with food for a year.  So I am still waiting for that to come through.

Overall, I really like the new place.  We've got it furnished with couches we got as presents from our grandparents, as well as posters, various decorations, and a fake cactus, which Nick hates.  The cactus I own, however, was spawned in another one of my get rich quick schemes.  During our first few days at the apartment, we didn't have cable.  The only channel we could get had Antique Roadshow on, which I personally find fascinating.  I sat there and watched as these people brought on old paintings and clocks only to find out that they were worth thousands.  So in a spur of genious, I went to a yard sale and bought the fake cactus for 50 cents.  As I learned from Antique Roadshow, the value things increase greatly over time.  So, in theory, my cactus should balloon in value from 50 cents to $1000 shortly.

Anyway, until one of my schemes to make money actually pays off, I am going to continue to live off corn dogs.  It's actually pretty fun.  See ya everyone.

- Jesse

Hey everyone!

Well, this is it! The last blog before school is out.  This year went so quick.  In fact, after this week, I’m going to be half way done with my college career.  That’s pretty weird to think about.  I don’t feel like that’s the case at all.  These first two years flew by!

Anyway, I thought I’d talk about the exams, since they seem to be on everyone’s minds this time of year.  Myself, I’m not too worried or stressed. I’m usually a good test taker and a few tests don’t hold a candle to the papers and projects I’ve had to complete these past few weeks. 

The way the exams work is pretty simple. You can search “exam schedule” on inside.msj.edu to find our schedule.  The schedule is listed by the time of day the course usually meets.  Then, it lists what day the respective exam will take place and what time. For example, my Age of Ideology class meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:00.  The exam takes place on Thursday at about 1:15 till 3:05.  After that, I’m done with the course (which is a pretty tough course, just for future reference).

You will also find that some classes don’t meet for the exam.  One of my classes has an optional exam, only if you need the extra points to boost your grade. I have an A in the class, so I don’t really need the points, so I opted out of taking the exam.  Out of 5 classes, I only have to meet for 3 exams, and they are all on different days.  This laid back scheduling helps ease any stress students feel when faced with the exams and definitely helps me feel more comfortable with them. 

So when faced with the final exams, just relax, use the free time created through the exam schedule to study as much as you can, and just take the tests. There isn’t much more you can do, so relax, do your best, then go enjoy your summer! A lot of people get over-stressed, but there really is no reason to. By this point, you will have been working for 10 weeks for a good grade, one week isn’t going to kill ya.

If you’re in college, push through these last weeks, and if your in high school, enjoy the time you have left.  Then enjoy the summer time!

I’ll try to post up a few blogs over the course of the summer break, just to let you guys know what’s goin on.

See ya!

>Eric M.