Graduation

Last Thursday, a comment from Morningside's Dean got me thinking. I thought, did he really just compare our graduation to a funeral? The answer is sort of. He told us that only a few events in our lives take as much precedence in our lives as commencement. Graduation, he said, was along the same caliber as weddings and, yes, funerals. 

As for me, I came up with a different comparison to this very special day. This day for me happened on August 22, 2008. Don't ask me how I remember that date, I just do. But something very special happened on that day. That was the day I became a college student. But most importantly, it was the day that is strikingly similar to May 12, 2012. 

On both of these days, I was enormously tired, quite sweaty, and tears were falling from both my eyes and my mom's. The first day I met most of my friends was the 22, and I parted ways (temporarily) with them on the 12. The 22 was the day that we had matriculation, where we attended a formal ceremony welcoming us to college. The 12 is the day we officially became alumni of the same college. Both seemed to be bittersweet moments, but both mighty achievements as well. 

I am proud to be a Morningside College Alum, mostly because it means I have completed my degree. I am also proud of who I became at Morningside, and that I have some very special friends. 

Me and my moose family graduating. Last May we went on May Term together.  

Friends at graduation. We all met the first few days of our freshman year. 

One last photo of us as Morningside students. 

Look, I got my diploma, and it was signed too!

Mentoring

This last semester, I spent one day a week going to a local classroom and mentoring a second grade student. We spent between 25 and 45 minutes together each week. Often I would have Saqueo read to me, but sometimes we did some writing and other times we played some card games.

Over the time we spent together, I found out just a few things about Saqueo. I found out right away that he is bilingual, and English was actually his second language, but he did speak both languages quite well for only being in second grade. He told me his favorite sport is soccer, and he loves P.E. He seems like he is an active little boy, but he was also very shy. In fact, he reminded me a little of myself when I was his age. 

One of my favorite parts about meeting with Saqueo was the stories he would read. Some of them were in English, and some in Spanish, but I managed to understand them just fine. He seemed to enjoy reading in Spanish a little bit more than English, and had slightly better fluency in the Spanish books. But no matter what he was going to read to me, my favorite part was how excited he looked when I arrived each week. It was always in those moments that I knew what I was doing was really making a difference in someone else's life. I felt like it didn't matter how big or small the world was, I could still help change it. 

For me, that's what a lot of this semester was for me. I got to see where I was making a difference, and see the happiness I created for someone else. Furthermore, I got to see how I could be myself and still be a role model.

I'm not sure how much impact I had on Saqueo's life, but I can sure tell the impact he had on mine. 

The End of Morningside

With graduation just around the corner, I feel it is necessary to take some time to reflect back on how everything has been for me here at Morningside. In just 10 days, I will be leaving Sioux City to step into the real world and continue on my path. Before I leave, I would like to remember what things I truly loved while I was here. Even in my four years here, some of these things have changed, and I know they will change as the college moves into the future. 

Here goes:

1. The friendly people - In the search for a college, this is one thing that really drew me in to attend Morningside. 

2. The beautiful campus - I have enjoyed sitting by the fountain, Bass field, and just walking around campus, both day and night. It is generally a peaceful place, with the exception of the activities held on campus from time to time. 

3. The Psychology Department Faculty - I have really enjoyed getting to know all of the professors who not only shared their knowledge with their students, but also got to know us, and invested more than they needed to in us. They constantly give me guidance in my future, and show me how to be a professional in the field. 

4. Faculty outside the Psychology Department - There are a select few professors not in the Psych Dept. I know I will also greatly miss. These professors had a strong impact on my life at Morningside, in some of the most positive ways possible. They are truly what make our Morningside Community so close. 

5. Friends - In four years, I have made so many friends and I am truly grateful for the memories I made with them. They have all made a huge difference in my life, even if they don't know it. 

6. Classmates - These are those of you who know exactly what we had to go through to get through our classes, and you added a nice bit of humor and enjoyment for class everyday. 

7. The fountain

8. Connie, the lunch lady :)

9. 30 percent off in the bookstore on Mondays when the football team wins by 30 points or more

10. Living in Roadman, both North and South - fewer fire drills than Dimmitt, plus no hill

11. Studying in the library late into the night - sometimes I even helped close the place down

12. Getting coffee at the Spoonholder, like every single day

13. Free time during finals week

14. The Graduate Office staff - they were like my second family the last two years here

15. Squirrels - how cute are they running around all over campus :) 

This is just a short list, and I know there are so many other things I didn't mention but will miss. I really have enjoyed my time here, and I can't wait to see what Illinois State will have in store for me. 

Oh look, a squirrel!

Our Boston May Term group. Travelling with these girls was a lot of fun, and we saw
so many great places in Boston and the rest of the New England area. 

The Moose Family! Only, they weren't yet moose!

Psi Chi induction - a group I was proud to lead this past year. 

They all loved me so much, they attended Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1
 with me at midnight in matching Potter t-shirts!