Posts Tagged ‘community’

APU All Access Weekends Are My Favorite :)

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

If 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 :)

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)

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 All-Access. We are sitting in the front row for a basketball game!! It was so much fun!

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 :)

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 :)

Attack of the Pirates

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

Wow has it been a rough couple of weeks. I do apologize for my lack of play by play, but one of the key things I have learned here at APU is how to set priorities, and for the last couple of weeks, getting my school work done and planning for this huge Halloween event has taken over the top spots.

Halloween, at APU? Yes, well, as you know, Halloween is a key environment for college aged kids of the drinking age to go out and party. Well, as we are a dry campus, we felt there needed to be something on campus for students to do to bring them the fun and candy of Halloween AND take away the temptation with a great Alcohol free environment. Thus! we set up a dual Carnival between University Park and University Village (two living area’s on campus.

I only heard rumors of what happened at Univeristy Park (UP) I can tell you that it was a big success! My part, however, was being 1st Mate Captain Malcolm Reynolds of the good Ship Serenity as we sailed the seas (or streets) of Village Island!DSC_0094

My scene that I personally worked on was the Cannon battle scene which went over AMAZINGLY! Huge battle between a fortress and a pirate ship.

The night in all was  very tiring, but I think it was a huge success and I definitely had a lot of fun doing it.

PS: All of you who got the Firefly Reference, 10 points!

halloween and homework.

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

So today is Halloween, and I’m writing a paper. I’ve never been super into Halloween after about age 10, but it’s been great to see carved pumpkins and some ridiculous antics around campus. Last night a few of my friends dressed up like old people and there were trick-or-treaters in the Mods (a sophomore living area), so I thought that was funny.

Right now, I’m trying to gear back up for another challenging week ahead. Sometimes it is hard staying focused with all these events around, but it has taught me a lot about self-control. Though, right now, I’m really distracted by quite a few things, including my plans to study abroad next year, starting at High Sierra, and then possibly on to Australia. Unfortunately I don’t think I’ll be able to go to Israel this summer, but I’m so excited about studying in High Sierra… it’s ridiculous. Hah. I’m also distracted, in a good way, by thinking about the things I learned this week.

This past week was Global Vision week, and basically it is a week where there all these events around campus that are Mission-minded, and are designed to make APU students think about the world as a whole, when sometimes we can get trapped in the bubble of southern california or america. All the chapels are internationally minded, and on wednesday, we had a chapel speaker who brought me to tears and created a standing ovation (which I’ve never seen) for at least 3 minutes after he finished. He was an exile from Libya, and was the most amazing christian I’ve ever met. I can’t honestly describe what he said, or why it affected the whole audience the way it did, but it was life-altering. I actually got the opportunity to talk to him for a few hours after chapel, being a part of the student organization here called MESO (Middle Eastern Student Organization), which is a group that strives to have open conversation about profiles and prejudices of the Middle Eastern nations, and delight in the different cultures that are predominately Muslim.

Anyway, I’ve got to get working on this paper, but I’ll post later on how halloween went. Hopefully I can get pictures of wacky costumes tonight. One of my friends is dressing up as a Scot, complete with a real kilt from Scotland. I’m a little scared. But he and I are going to go to HOLLAH-WEEN, an event in my living area that is designed to keep students on campus for Halloween, and thus keep them safe.

Finally a Video!

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

I promised the next blog would include videos.. so here you go!

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This is Karissa and Purple (Michelle) singing at an event called ‘Color the Night.’

Color the Night was an event to show APU creativity through student artwork and music . It was fun to see APU students play fun music and see all the beautiful artwork. :)

The next video has a story behind it.

Smith (the all guy hall) started dressing up for family/hall dinners.  Family/Hall Dinner is where you eat with your entire hall in the Dinning Hall. Not only do you dress up as the theme, you are supposed to act the part.  I believe the first theme for the Smith hall was Egyptians but it’s since been sheep, beggars, and other crazy ideas. Trinity 1st South has been waiters and first graders. Trinity 4th North have been really funny nerds and babies.

3rd North decided we wanted to go all out for our first ‘themed’ family dinner. Our theme was Safari, which meant we dressed up as wild animals. Yes, its a little bit crazy but it was a whole lotta fun :)

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Key Points of the Year

Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

Well, it has been quite a while since I blogged about anything, and like JP said in his post, College is a BUSY BUSY Place.

First, there is RA, which I feel is mostly a recharge for me, I love spending time with my residents, if I could simply be an RA without everything else, I would be set for life! Just building relationships and planning events and just being creative and there for my residents is the most amazing feeling.

Then there is Class, which is… well work. However, its nice to go somewhere and actually know what it is you are learning enough to give input whenever you learn anything new, to actually be a part of the dialogue and be able to practice the skills right after learning them… is that what it is like for all students? I feel like I am one of the worst students ever, I have never really felt like I was a part of a class, just simply taking in information that was forced at me, but here, I actually feel like I’m taking in things, actually learning. And after 2 years of Gen Ed Classes, its nice to find a major that I actually enjoy learning about, and that is why I am in my second year of Graphic Design.

Then Work. I really love what I am doing, working with computers, its the best when I get what we call Tech Aura where most every computer I touch gets fixed, but it sometimes gets frustrating, especially lately. There have been so many new problems with computers that its taking me a little longer to figure it all out. I am starting to feel like the worst manager ever, I can’t ever seem to get anything to work right. Luckily, I am surrounded by a very supportive and awesome staff, and team of Managers who are very helpful, making having an on campus job seem so worth it!

And Lastly, Track! We just got back from a retreat to the High Sierra campus and a hike up to Eagle Peak in Yosemite. It was so amazing and beautiful. This year, instead of rushing up the hike, I got a chance to just stay back and enjoy the scenery and take pictures, and get to know some of the new members of my team. And then on Saturday we did a fun ropes course and a canoe race. Sadly, the platform that we usually all sleep on was dismantled, so we just slept all over the top of Star Rock in random places, but it was still fun. All the pictures I took are located here: http://www.staphon.com/staphon.com/albums/Pages/Destination__Eagle_Peak.html

When we started: YouTube Preview Image

How the Arnold’s hike (My dad and I on the hike): YouTube Preview Image

Where we Ended: YouTube Preview Image

Conclusion: YouTube Preview Image

So, with all that, its a wonder I can every get anything done, but with all my APU friends, its not bad at all. The only thing I really have to keep my priorities strait is remember is our school Motto: GOD FIRST!

…and fire…

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

Living in community can be challenging from time to time… it can also include amazing events. This event was not one of them. Haha. Just kidding.

Every monday night my Resident Advisor, Josh Pena (who is great), makes a bonfire by the pool in our firepit and puts out music and smores stuff and hot water. It’s really as simple as that. But it’s great fellowship and a chance to meet neighbors. Unfortunately I’m sick currently and being out by the fire made my voice which is kind of gone weird sounding. Check it out:

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