If you are anything like me, you are rather knowledgable of the video game world, thus you would see Thanksgiving as I do. For instance, in a boss battle, I.e. Final Fantasy 7′s Cloud vs Sephiroth, you find yourself in a long battle (the semesters school work) and finally, you beat him! But it seems a little too easy… Then he rises again with huge wings and his battle theme gets more intense (Midterms) and suddenly you are glad you brought those potions (energy drinks) and you keep the fight going. THEN YOU BEAT HIM! but wait… Cut scene… Rest! It’s been 45 minutes since the battle started, you want to just leave your room and get dinner but you can’t, it’s not over, just a break (Thanksgiving) Suddenly, you fall in a cave, it’s just you (Cloud) and Finals (Sephiroth) and you decide… “I’m gonna end this party with a bang!” and you charge forth taking on the last two weeks like your life depended on it! LET’S FINISH THIS SEMESTER FELLOW STUDENTS!! LET’S END THIS BATTLE WITH EVERYTHING WE GOT AND SEE THAT FINAL CUTSCENE (Christmas Break!) but enjoy it because once the game is done… It’s another 3 disks, and there are so many other games out there that you want to play rather than starting that over again!
The Azusa Pacific Blog
Archive for November, 2009
turkey, theology, and the end.
Ellie Kipps Monday, November 30th, 2009I haven’t posted in over a month, very unusual for me, and my apologies to my reader are sincere. But life has taken on a…. mind of its own (perhaps? if that makes any sense). So now, I’m writing from my living room back home home watching USC beat UCLA football and thinking about the future.
For me, coming home my first semester of my freshman year was a nuisance. I wanted to be at college, experiencing the freedom, loving the autonomy of my own space, my own room, my own ideas. As an honors student, it threw me off to come home (which for me could only happen on holidays as I live 300+ miles away from campus), and not have my study space.
This year is has been very different. I was never homesick my freshman year, and this year I wasn’t exactly homesick, but I missed my family, and my friends, and I started to really appreciate my home home for what it was. It was so easy for me my freshman to call APU my home. It’s just that welcoming. I felt so comfortable and like I really was home. But now, as a sophomore and living truly on my own in an apartment in one of APU on-campus apartment complexes called University Park, it’s been a change in my attitude. My apartment truly feels like home, and during the day I can’t wait to get back to my place with my wonderful roommates and just relax and do homework, but there is something about having my own place, maybe it’s the kitchen and the attempts to recreate my mom’s cooking, or trying to decorate and make it feel welcoming, that made me appreciative of my childhood home.
I write this because it’s important to be excited about college, about creating a place for yourself in the world apart from the places you’ve maybe known all your life. But it’s also really important to spend time with family, and come home from school understanding that while you were making a place for yourself and growing and changing, the world at home kept going, and that families and church youth groups and high school friends kept growing and changing. As a freshman realizing this seemed both obvious and daunting, and I didn’t want to think about it. This year I’ve realized that part of maturity is recognizing and embracing that the world around me is continuing to grow older as well and that is actually an exciting reality. It means that dry old hometowns are made new again, that I have new people to meet in the faces and the hearts of old friends, and that family relationships can be still be invested in, can still be changed.
The semester is almost over, three more weeks until I’m back home for winter break, and I’m excited about heading into the future, but tuckered out by the workload this semester. Another great things about breaks is just that…. they are breaks. They are a chance to breath and refuel (on yummy food) and sleep (a much needed thing) and write a blog about appreciating where you are at, where ever you are.
No Lists This Time…
Kevin Mannoia Monday, November 23rd, 2009So it’s here…Thanksgiving. Seems like just yesterday we were having Thanksgiving. Time seems to stand still. And since the last time you celebrated Thanksgiving perhaps not all that much has changed. You’re still struggling with value in your work; can’t seem to find the ‘bulls eye’ that gives you a deep sense of fulfillment; circumstances keep rocking your boat; the only difference this year is that you feel more tired, worn, and incapable. So here you are again, trying to do what is expected of you and come up with a list of reasons why you should be thankful. Sometimes you can’t. Trying to list them all feels bogus, false, pointless. Well, at the risk of offending you may I offer a suggestion? Don’t try. Forget the list. Instead, try quieting your heart; still your mind; center your soul. Stop talking. What you just might find in the middle of that moment is a deep and rising presence of God’s Spirit. Let it rise. Embrace it’s flood. Allow it to overwhelm you. Sense the friendship of Jesus. Where you are incapable of making a list of things to be thankful for, allow Him to simply show up. That’s all He wants. I guarantee, if you do that there will be no other possible response than simple, basic, pure thanks. Be still and be thankful!
If you have any prayer requests, please use the Prayer Request link or on the Cougars’ Den to let us know. There are 57 faculty members at APU who are committed to praying for you.
Blessings on you, especially this week!
Kevin
San Francisco Art Trip for High Sierra!
JP Park Tuesday, November 17th, 2009Hey guys! Sorry I haven’t blogged in two weeks! I have so much catching up to do with you guys, and so much to tell you all! As everyone keeps saying again and again, college is super busy and time flies by so fast. I feel like it was just last week when I flew on a plane from Virginia to California to start college, when in reality, I’m already almost done with my first semester.
A couple weeks ago, me and the rest of the students here went to San Francisco for an Art trip, where we visited numerous museums and cathedrals. We visited the New St. Mary’s cathedral, Old St. Mary’s cathedral, the Mission Delores Basilica, the Grace Cathedral, the Legion of Honors museum, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the De Young Museum. It was so amazing!!! When I walked inside each of the cathedrals, I could feel God’s presence and aura all around me. We also took part in a Catholic mass, and that was pretty cool, too. The museums were all extraordinary. I saw art pieces of modern artists and famous ones like Picasso and Chigall(sp?).
In San Francisco, me and a few friends decided to hit up the party scene. The first night, I went to a techno club and it was awesome. I’ve never been to a club since I turned 18, which was in late August, so I was excited to go to one for the first time. Clubs aren’t as bad as everyone makes them out to be. The next day, me and a few other friends from High Sierra went to a huge club with a dance floor that lit up different colors. We had such an amazing time at the club. We celebrated my friend’s birthday, who was Candace from High Sierra. She had a blast at the club, and I’m glad we could all spend time together just to deepen our relationship. Here’s some pictures from our time in San Francisco, ranging from our museum, cathedral, and club experiences. San Francisco is definitely a unique and awesome city!
Me and Jules in San Fran
View of some on San Francisco
Wandering through the graveyard at Mission Delores
Me and Candace in the busy streets on San Fran
Navigating the New APU Libraries Web Site
Kimberley Stephenson Tuesday, November 17th, 2009If you’re a veteran library user, you may have noticed a few changes to the University Libraries site this fall, thanks to the fabulous web developers in the Office of University Relations. Here in the APU Libraries, our mission is to help you find the resources you need to be successful in your research. We think our re-designed web site is a huge step forward in that mission.
With the re-design, we’ve streamlined the look and feel of the site, made it easier to get important information, offered you more ways to connect with the University Libraries, and introduced several new research tools. Our overall goal was to make it faster and easier for you to get the books, articles, media, and library information you need.
Screen shot of the newly redesigned University Libraries web site
Here’s a quick tour of some of the features of our new site:
Fun and useful information
- Current hours are posted daily for all three libraries.
- Instant access to your library account is provided right on the home page, so you can renew items electronically.
- Newly-added library items are featured each day (you can also subscribe to the new items feed).
More ways to get help
- Get instant, 24/7 research help from librarians via live chat through the “Ask a Librarian” widget. APU librarians monitor this service on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons; at other times you will be sent into a nation-wide research help center, where you can chat with a non-APU librarian.
- Learn about the best resources for your assignment by checking out our new LibGuides system. These guides are tailor-made by APU librarians with resources and research tips specifically for your class or major.
- We also have LibGuides devoted to helping you start your research project and cite your sources in MLA or APA style. There are shortcuts to the guides right on the home page.
New ways to connect with the Libraries
- Become a fan of the APU Libraries on Facebook and learn about new resources and happenings at the Libraries. We even have our own APU Library Search app in Facebook!
- We’re also on Twitter, if you’d prefer updates that way.
And, best of all, faster access to the books and articles you need!
- If you need books that are located in different campus libraries, or if you just don’t want to take the time to fin your books on the shelf, you’ll love our new requests system. When you find a book or video you want to borrow in our catalog, just hit the “Request” button and let us know where you’d like to pick up the items (make sure they’re listed as “Available” in the catalog before you request it). You can even add multiple items to your book cart and request them all at once to save even more time. In about 24 hours, you’ll get an email notifying you that your items are ready to pick up. Regional Center and online students can use the requests system, too–just choose “By Mail” as the pickup location, and we’ll mail the items free of charge, with return postage included!
- You can now search many of our research tools right from the home page, including our library catalog, LINK+, the Periodical Finder (a list of every journal, magazine, and newspaper in the Libraries’ collection), and two new tools called Quick Search and Multi-Database Search.
- Using the Quick Search box on our home page, you can find books and videos from our library catalog, plus articles from 5 of our article databases, all with just one search. For example, look at the Quick Search results for a search on the Dead Sea Scrolls–you’ve got books and videos on the first page, plus you can click the “Articles” link to see articles on the Dead Sea Scrolls from 30 of our online databases.
- Finally, Multi-Database Search allows you to search multiple article databases simultaneously. You can use the Multi-Database Search by typing your search terms into the box on our home page and choosing “Multiple Databases” from the drop-down menu, or you can click on “More Search Options >> Multi-Database Search” to go there directly.
We hope you’re enjoying the new site, and that it helps you get access to the research you need. Remember, if you need help with your research, or with using any of these tools, we’re available. Oh, and we’re always looking for ideas and suggestions, so let us know if there’s anything you’d like to see on the site!
APU All Access Weekends Are My Favorite :)
Kelsey Bjugstad Tuesday, November 17th, 2009If you are even considering coming to APU, I would highly encourage coming to an APU All Access campus preview. I love APU All Access. I love it so much that I went to two of them and now host students who come. :)
I went to my first APU All Access my junior year. My best friend and I had wanted to go to APU for years. Jana’s Dad is an alumni of the college so she had been here for Homecoming many a few times but want to experience APU as a student. I had never been to APU and was hoping it would live up to Jana’s stories and what I’d heard from others.
My best friend Jana and I hanging out on West Campus in March 08 :)
I had so much fun my first preview weekend! It was fun to experience dorm life, go to a chapel, sit in on classes, and just learn more about APU.
Jana and I again :) Seems like so long ago!! The background is the Darling Library (West Campus)
So why did I go to a second APU All Access? I know, it seems kind of strange. One of my best friends moved away in junior high and called me to tell me she was going to an APU All Access campus preview in January of my senior year. I only get to see her about every other year and I couldn’t think of a better way to spend a weekend. :)
Lainey and I at the January APU All Access. We are sitting in the front row for a basketball game!! It was so much fun!
I was accepted in December because I did “Early Action” but I thought that another APU All Access could confirm my discoing. It definitely did! You may have heard that APU has great community and that everyone is really friendly, and its true! The best example that I experienced while I was visiting occurred after sitting in on a Journalism class.
We watched the Women and Men's teams play! It was pretty awesome. APU Basketball is kind of a big deal here :)
The professor talked to me and the other preview student before starting class. He asked us where we were from and if we were interested in Journalism. The class was interesting but after it was over a girl in the class stopped us and asked us why we were interested in APU. She shared her experience in the Journalism program and then asked us where we were headed next. It was lunchtime so she offered to drive us back to East Campus even though we said we could easily walk or talk the trolley. While driving us back she shared more about why she loved APU and how much she enjoyed her classes.
It seems like such a small gesture but looking back it really meant a lot to me as a preview student. A college student not even related to the All-Access program took time out of her day to spend time with, talking to, and talk about APU with some high schooler who, in way, interrupted her classes and routine. It just showed the honest friendliness and community at APU.
Honestly, if you have any interest in APU, come to an APU All Access campus preview. I’ve heard the best way to choose a college is to go to the campus and envision yourself there. Personally, APU definitely fit that description and I easily ruled out others by visiting campus.
I had an awesome time hanging out with the girls who stayed in my room for All Access :) I’m so glad they enjoyed their weekend here. Both are planning on coming to APU next year! Can’t wait to see you guys! :)
-Kelsey
P.S. Just a helpful college hint… ALWAYS randomly hit the “Control/Command S” button while typing ANYTHING. While writing this blog and outlining the entire book of Exodus my Microsoft Word decided it would be funny to have “an unexpected error.” Not so funny when it only recovers half of each document. Sigh. Oh well :)
Also, if you are interested in an APU All Access campus preview you should go here:
https://www.apu.edu/admissions/undergraduate/visit/
(It gives dates, cost, and all the fun events that you’ll do :)
Recent Comments
Do you teach how to ride the real tall unicycles.
I think it’s wonderful to see students participating in service learning and contributing to community...
Thank you so much Mariah for your comment! It truly is not as scary as so many people make it seem. College is not...
Thank you for showing us high school students that the real world isn’t as scary as teachers, peers, or parents...
MEGGERS! Isn’t it crazy to look back at last year and see how far we’ve all come? Freshmen no more,...