An accumulation of thoughts by Sullivan Martz
http://beyondboulevard.wordpress.com/
http://beyondboulevard.wordpress.com/
The struggle of a lost ID
In mid January, after standing in Café 100’s ridiculously long line for 15 minutes, nothing in the world sounded better than skinny vanilla latte. With a long night of essay writing ahead of me, all I needed was a little espresso to keep me going. Yet as the barista told me my $3.57 total, I reached into my wallet and my student ID was no where to be found. Without any cash or alternative credit, I began to panic. I normally pay with the Pony express dollars my parents put on my card each semester, yet without an ID, I had no way to pay for the drink. Mortified, I told the barista I didn’t have any money, and had to cancel the order I had waited so patiently for.
Aside form the occasional lunch at Diggs taco shop or lemonade from chik-fil-a, my student ID had no purpose for me. Freshman year, I could not live without it considering I had to swipe myself into my dorm building at all hours. But now, because I live of campus, this hasn’t been an issue for me.. until this week.
On Monday night, it was approximately 9 pm when a voice came over the loud speaker stating that the security guard would be walking around checking student IDs after hours. I ignored the comment, because I had never had a problem with it before. One by one, the large woman walked up to each student and examined each ID card. Finally she got to me, and I was shocked when she told me I had to leave the library. I did my best to persuade her that I was, in fact, a student here, but she wasn’t buying it. “No ID, no library” she said sternly. People around me were beginning to stare, so I was forced to pack up my bag and leave.
Considering how much work I have to do this week, my late hours in the library are essential. So the next night I was forced to return. I picked a prime location behind a corner, with a perfect view of the doorway. My plan was to slyly escape to the restroom once the guard stepped through the door. I heard the door creak open, but once I stood up to leave it was too late. She saw me, and told me to leave. Yet this time, I decided to stay regardless of her demands. It’s a little concerning, but these days my time in the library consists of finding the best hiding spot rather than getting any work done.
Most people are probably thinking, “why don’t you just replace your ID?” Well, replacing the tiny piece of plastic is a hefty $35, an amount I would much rather spend on something else. Plus, my student email account has been blowing up with messages about the new ID cards every student will be receiving this summer. With only two weeks of school yet, I figured I’ve made it this far. What’s fourteen more days of hiding spots going to hurt?
In mid January, after standing in Café 100’s ridiculously long line for 15 minutes, nothing in the world sounded better than skinny vanilla latte. With a long night of essay writing ahead of me, all I needed was a little espresso to keep me going. Yet as the barista told me my $3.57 total, I reached into my wallet and my student ID was no where to be found. Without any cash or alternative credit, I began to panic. I normally pay with the Pony express dollars my parents put on my card each semester, yet without an ID, I had no way to pay for the drink. Mortified, I told the barista I didn’t have any money, and had to cancel the order I had waited so patiently for.
Aside form the occasional lunch at Diggs taco shop or lemonade from chik-fil-a, my student ID had no purpose for me. Freshman year, I could not live without it considering I had to swipe myself into my dorm building at all hours. But now, because I live of campus, this hasn’t been an issue for me.. until this week.
On Monday night, it was approximately 9 pm when a voice came over the loud speaker stating that the security guard would be walking around checking student IDs after hours. I ignored the comment, because I had never had a problem with it before. One by one, the large woman walked up to each student and examined each ID card. Finally she got to me, and I was shocked when she told me I had to leave the library. I did my best to persuade her that I was, in fact, a student here, but she wasn’t buying it. “No ID, no library” she said sternly. People around me were beginning to stare, so I was forced to pack up my bag and leave.
Considering how much work I have to do this week, my late hours in the library are essential. So the next night I was forced to return. I picked a prime location behind a corner, with a perfect view of the doorway. My plan was to slyly escape to the restroom once the guard stepped through the door. I heard the door creak open, but once I stood up to leave it was too late. She saw me, and told me to leave. Yet this time, I decided to stay regardless of her demands. It’s a little concerning, but these days my time in the library consists of finding the best hiding spot rather than getting any work done.
Most people are probably thinking, “why don’t you just replace your ID?” Well, replacing the tiny piece of plastic is a hefty $35, an amount I would much rather spend on something else. Plus, my student email account has been blowing up with messages about the new ID cards every student will be receiving this summer. With only two weeks of school yet, I figured I’ve made it this far. What’s fourteen more days of hiding spots going to hurt?
Final Four Takes Dallas
Every single day, I’m reminded of how lucky I am to live in a city as wonderful as Dallas. I was especially thrilled after learning the Final Four NCAA tournament was going to be held just a few minutes away from my front yard. Although SMU was completely snubbed this year, I’ll admit it was still pretty exciting watching some of the top basketball players in the country compete for the national title.
As we are all well aware, UCONN won the championship title. Majority of SMU students are bitter about this, considering we swept the team on not one, but TWO occasions. Even though we weren’t participating in the tournament itself, it was still an amazing experience watching Dallas transform into “basketball central” for the weekend. The best part was that SMU students had the ability to get cheap tickets to the game, and go to the free concerts all weekend long.
My friends and I decided that for once, we would get off the couch and go to the NCAA concerts in Victory Park, just outside of downtown Dallas. So on Friday evening, we hopped on the DART and headed towards the big event. We arrived right as one of the opening bands had finished their performance, so we managed to squeeze our way to the front. At around 6:30 pm, Eli Young Band came on and the crowd went crazy. Every person was rocking out with their cowboy boots on and a beer in hand. As every person around me sang every word to every song by Jason Aldean, I realized how lucky I am to be here. I mean, a free concert of with some of the best country artists? To make matters even better, we went back to see Tim McGraw the next day in the rain, and watched as “the boss” Bruce Springsteen captured the crowd on Sunday night.
This past weekend was easily one of the best I have had in months. From now on, I will absolutely be taking advantage of all of the amazing events Dallas has to offer. We live in the most amazing city, so we better make the most of it while we can.
Every single day, I’m reminded of how lucky I am to live in a city as wonderful as Dallas. I was especially thrilled after learning the Final Four NCAA tournament was going to be held just a few minutes away from my front yard. Although SMU was completely snubbed this year, I’ll admit it was still pretty exciting watching some of the top basketball players in the country compete for the national title.
As we are all well aware, UCONN won the championship title. Majority of SMU students are bitter about this, considering we swept the team on not one, but TWO occasions. Even though we weren’t participating in the tournament itself, it was still an amazing experience watching Dallas transform into “basketball central” for the weekend. The best part was that SMU students had the ability to get cheap tickets to the game, and go to the free concerts all weekend long.
My friends and I decided that for once, we would get off the couch and go to the NCAA concerts in Victory Park, just outside of downtown Dallas. So on Friday evening, we hopped on the DART and headed towards the big event. We arrived right as one of the opening bands had finished their performance, so we managed to squeeze our way to the front. At around 6:30 pm, Eli Young Band came on and the crowd went crazy. Every person was rocking out with their cowboy boots on and a beer in hand. As every person around me sang every word to every song by Jason Aldean, I realized how lucky I am to be here. I mean, a free concert of with some of the best country artists? To make matters even better, we went back to see Tim McGraw the next day in the rain, and watched as “the boss” Bruce Springsteen captured the crowd on Sunday night.
This past weekend was easily one of the best I have had in months. From now on, I will absolutely be taking advantage of all of the amazing events Dallas has to offer. We live in the most amazing city, so we better make the most of it while we can.
The Trouble With Social Media
As the semester is quickly approaching its end, many students are finding themselves buried in work. At least for me, I have been assigned what seems like endless amounts of busy work and assignments. All my life, I have been the ultimate procrastinator. I always wait until the last minute to get something done. With the increase in social media outlets available, I cannot seem to avoid these distractions.
First and foremost, Facebook. The ultimate social media outlet that is a black hole of wasted time. Whether I’m stalking a random person from my kindergarten class, or browsing through tagged photos of myself from six years ago, I cant help but waste time and put off doing real work. Everyone seems to have a Facebook account these days, including my 12-year-old niece and my 84-year-old grandma. Not only is it a way of communicating with current friends, but a way of reconnecting with people you lost touch with long ago. I seriously need to learn how to cut back on my Internet intake, especially with finals just around the corner. It doesn’t help that I have 1,400 friends (half of which I don’t know personally), which leaves plenty of room for stalking.
Next is the one and only Instagram. As if posting my photos on Facebook wasn’t enough, now I have to keep all of my followers updated on what fun things I’m doing that they are missing out on. Some people my age claim that they spend more time on instagram than on any other form of social media. Often times, choosing a filter and a caption is the greatest challenge of my day.
Snapchat. Whether I’m sending the world most horrendous selfie, or receiving a Mystory of someone’s vanilla Frappuccino, Snapchat is the ultimate way of learning what your friends are up to in that exact moment. It seems as if these days, people cannot function without knowing exactly what their friends are doing on a minute-by minute basis. Snapchat may seem pointless, but I find that I communicate with people more through Snapchat than I do with texting or calling.
When doing homework, I seem to feel the need to refresh all of these pages every minute, just in case I’m missing out on something. Social media defines our generation. My dad always yells at my friends and me by claiming we spend to much time on our phones, but what he doesn’t realize is that the source of the majority of our conversations comes from whatever someone has posted. All in all, I believe most college-age students are running in to some of the same problems I am. Hopefully, we can all demonstrate some self-control and cut ourselves off before the most important time in the semester: FINALS.
As the semester is quickly approaching its end, many students are finding themselves buried in work. At least for me, I have been assigned what seems like endless amounts of busy work and assignments. All my life, I have been the ultimate procrastinator. I always wait until the last minute to get something done. With the increase in social media outlets available, I cannot seem to avoid these distractions.
First and foremost, Facebook. The ultimate social media outlet that is a black hole of wasted time. Whether I’m stalking a random person from my kindergarten class, or browsing through tagged photos of myself from six years ago, I cant help but waste time and put off doing real work. Everyone seems to have a Facebook account these days, including my 12-year-old niece and my 84-year-old grandma. Not only is it a way of communicating with current friends, but a way of reconnecting with people you lost touch with long ago. I seriously need to learn how to cut back on my Internet intake, especially with finals just around the corner. It doesn’t help that I have 1,400 friends (half of which I don’t know personally), which leaves plenty of room for stalking.
Next is the one and only Instagram. As if posting my photos on Facebook wasn’t enough, now I have to keep all of my followers updated on what fun things I’m doing that they are missing out on. Some people my age claim that they spend more time on instagram than on any other form of social media. Often times, choosing a filter and a caption is the greatest challenge of my day.
Snapchat. Whether I’m sending the world most horrendous selfie, or receiving a Mystory of someone’s vanilla Frappuccino, Snapchat is the ultimate way of learning what your friends are up to in that exact moment. It seems as if these days, people cannot function without knowing exactly what their friends are doing on a minute-by minute basis. Snapchat may seem pointless, but I find that I communicate with people more through Snapchat than I do with texting or calling.
When doing homework, I seem to feel the need to refresh all of these pages every minute, just in case I’m missing out on something. Social media defines our generation. My dad always yells at my friends and me by claiming we spend to much time on our phones, but what he doesn’t realize is that the source of the majority of our conversations comes from whatever someone has posted. All in all, I believe most college-age students are running in to some of the same problems I am. Hopefully, we can all demonstrate some self-control and cut ourselves off before the most important time in the semester: FINALS.
The Perfect Place to Study: Sip Stir Café
I can’t seem to understand why, but for some reason all professors have decided to pile on copious amounts of assignments on students after Spring Break. Maybe they believe that they need to make up for lost time over our weeklong break from reality. While I feel like the majority of this work is just busy work, I still need to force myself to sit down and get it all done.
A friend of mine suggested we skip the usual library routine, and go explore Dallas for a change of scenery. After “yelping” local coffee shops, we stumbled upon Sip-Stir Café in uptown. As we stepped in and were greeted by the baristas dressed in black, I immediately knew this was going to be one of my favorite study spots. The modern design and open seating is the perfect atmosphere to let your brain do some thinking, with the aid of the unreal Chai tea and s’mores lattes.
Since my first visit to Sip Stir last Monday, I have been back four times in the past week. I’m pretty sure the employees have started to recognize me, and always welcome me with a big smile and a simple “hello.” Maybe the reason I love the place so much is because no one bothers me while I’m there. I can walk in, order my coffee, sit down with my headphones in my ears, and be left alone for hours at a time. Unlike the library, the sounds of whispers among my peers, distractions on Facebook, and ruffles of people opening up their chip bags do not distract me.
So if you’re looking to seclude yourself and get some work done, or avoid the horrible fluorescent lighting of Fondren Library, I highly suggest making the quick trek to McKinney Avenue and stopping by Sip Stir.
I can’t seem to understand why, but for some reason all professors have decided to pile on copious amounts of assignments on students after Spring Break. Maybe they believe that they need to make up for lost time over our weeklong break from reality. While I feel like the majority of this work is just busy work, I still need to force myself to sit down and get it all done.
A friend of mine suggested we skip the usual library routine, and go explore Dallas for a change of scenery. After “yelping” local coffee shops, we stumbled upon Sip-Stir Café in uptown. As we stepped in and were greeted by the baristas dressed in black, I immediately knew this was going to be one of my favorite study spots. The modern design and open seating is the perfect atmosphere to let your brain do some thinking, with the aid of the unreal Chai tea and s’mores lattes.
Since my first visit to Sip Stir last Monday, I have been back four times in the past week. I’m pretty sure the employees have started to recognize me, and always welcome me with a big smile and a simple “hello.” Maybe the reason I love the place so much is because no one bothers me while I’m there. I can walk in, order my coffee, sit down with my headphones in my ears, and be left alone for hours at a time. Unlike the library, the sounds of whispers among my peers, distractions on Facebook, and ruffles of people opening up their chip bags do not distract me.
So if you’re looking to seclude yourself and get some work done, or avoid the horrible fluorescent lighting of Fondren Library, I highly suggest making the quick trek to McKinney Avenue and stopping by Sip Stir.
Post Travel Depression: the Unavoidable Downfall of Spring Break
Feeling sad, depressed, or tired? Can’t stop dreaming of the sand between your toes and the sun on your skin? Yeah, me neither. Post-travel Depression. It’s a real thing.
Coming back to school after a week of vacation is never easy. I can’t help but cringe at the thought of actually getting back into gear and doing schoolwork. My motivation is sparse, and I have suddenly lost all enthusiasm towards getting good grades. My whole life, I have been taught to value education yet after my week in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, everything else seems a lot less important.
Prior to spring break, my schedule was packed with what seemed like endless exams, assignments, and projects. I felt like all of my teachers were trying to kill me, all at the same time. Never in my college career have I had so much to do with such little time. Even my mother was concerned for my well being when I called her in tears after completely bombing a research exam that I had spent hours in the library preparing for. The only thing getting me through the week was the thought of a margarita in my hand overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Maybe the reason I had such an incredible spring break was because I had been under so much pressure and stress right before the trip. So I pose the question, is it fair that our professors weight our grades so heavily that one poor score can drop our grade from an A to an F? People tell you before you come to college that it is going to be the best four years of your life, yet they all refrain from telling you how stressful it ends up being.
All I know is that if Spring Break hadn’t occurred right when it did, I would have cracked and gone crazy. I’d like to think that Mexico saved my life, although that’s a completely ridiculous claim on my part. Whether I was paddle boarding at sunset with a pod of humpback whales, or canopying with monkeys, I have never felt so free in my life. After returning, I called my parents and told them not to be alarmed when I drop out of school and move to Mexico. My father’s only response was “make sure you leave the car keys behind.” So does that mean he approves?
Check out the video from the trip here: http://vimeo.com/89573251
Feeling sad, depressed, or tired? Can’t stop dreaming of the sand between your toes and the sun on your skin? Yeah, me neither. Post-travel Depression. It’s a real thing.
Coming back to school after a week of vacation is never easy. I can’t help but cringe at the thought of actually getting back into gear and doing schoolwork. My motivation is sparse, and I have suddenly lost all enthusiasm towards getting good grades. My whole life, I have been taught to value education yet after my week in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, everything else seems a lot less important.
Prior to spring break, my schedule was packed with what seemed like endless exams, assignments, and projects. I felt like all of my teachers were trying to kill me, all at the same time. Never in my college career have I had so much to do with such little time. Even my mother was concerned for my well being when I called her in tears after completely bombing a research exam that I had spent hours in the library preparing for. The only thing getting me through the week was the thought of a margarita in my hand overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
Maybe the reason I had such an incredible spring break was because I had been under so much pressure and stress right before the trip. So I pose the question, is it fair that our professors weight our grades so heavily that one poor score can drop our grade from an A to an F? People tell you before you come to college that it is going to be the best four years of your life, yet they all refrain from telling you how stressful it ends up being.
All I know is that if Spring Break hadn’t occurred right when it did, I would have cracked and gone crazy. I’d like to think that Mexico saved my life, although that’s a completely ridiculous claim on my part. Whether I was paddle boarding at sunset with a pod of humpback whales, or canopying with monkeys, I have never felt so free in my life. After returning, I called my parents and told them not to be alarmed when I drop out of school and move to Mexico. My father’s only response was “make sure you leave the car keys behind.” So does that mean he approves?
Check out the video from the trip here: http://vimeo.com/89573251
Midterm Madness
Any college kid knows that once students actually need to start reading the required texts, paying attention in class, and spending time in the library, midterms are approaching. As a sophomore in college, I am well aware of the craziness and stress that comes with midterm grades. It rolls around twice a year, and always seems to sneak up on us. Even though it always comes and goes every semester, we still act like it’s the end of the world.
It’s the first time all semester that students actually realize that they need to get their act together and do work in all of their classes. I know it's bad when I see that my newfeed on Facebook is loaded with old photos being brought back to life by students who will find anything to do instead of study. The first few weeks of the semester, many students blow off miniscule assignments and readings for a night of margaritas and mambo taxi’s at Mi Cocina in Highland Park village. We all think that we can get away with such behavior, until we find ourselves all hyped up on caffeine at 3 a.m. the night before our midterm exam. Why do we do this to ourselves?
It’s a statement of fact: most college kids are lazy. We put work off until the last possible minute, and freak out when we realize how much we have to do. We jump through numerous hoops to find the easy way out of most assignments, and expect the best grades for the least amount of work possible. Guilty as charged, I am one of these students. As I sit here in Fondren Library and look at my calendar for the next two weeks, I actually want to break down in tears, curl up in a small hole and never come out. I knew from the first day of classes that my schedule was going to look like this, but of course I chose to do nothing about it until the night before. If only there was some kind of way to save myself from this misery of stuDYING. Only four more exams, three projects, and two papers stand in the way of me and Mexico. Maybe next semester I will have learned my lesson, but for now, let’s just hope I make it to Spring Break alive.
Any college kid knows that once students actually need to start reading the required texts, paying attention in class, and spending time in the library, midterms are approaching. As a sophomore in college, I am well aware of the craziness and stress that comes with midterm grades. It rolls around twice a year, and always seems to sneak up on us. Even though it always comes and goes every semester, we still act like it’s the end of the world.
It’s the first time all semester that students actually realize that they need to get their act together and do work in all of their classes. I know it's bad when I see that my newfeed on Facebook is loaded with old photos being brought back to life by students who will find anything to do instead of study. The first few weeks of the semester, many students blow off miniscule assignments and readings for a night of margaritas and mambo taxi’s at Mi Cocina in Highland Park village. We all think that we can get away with such behavior, until we find ourselves all hyped up on caffeine at 3 a.m. the night before our midterm exam. Why do we do this to ourselves?
It’s a statement of fact: most college kids are lazy. We put work off until the last possible minute, and freak out when we realize how much we have to do. We jump through numerous hoops to find the easy way out of most assignments, and expect the best grades for the least amount of work possible. Guilty as charged, I am one of these students. As I sit here in Fondren Library and look at my calendar for the next two weeks, I actually want to break down in tears, curl up in a small hole and never come out. I knew from the first day of classes that my schedule was going to look like this, but of course I chose to do nothing about it until the night before. If only there was some kind of way to save myself from this misery of stuDYING. Only four more exams, three projects, and two papers stand in the way of me and Mexico. Maybe next semester I will have learned my lesson, but for now, let’s just hope I make it to Spring Break alive.
Blissful Days in Dallas
Sunshine, Sunshine. Finally, there’s sunshine. Growing up in the snowy little Ski town of Park City, Utah, I could not wait to get away from the bitter cold when it came time to start applying to college. My parents suggested I look at schools in Boston, or New York, but the thought of wearing my North-face down jacket until May made me shutter. I needed a change in climate, so I packed my bags and came to Texas. I had always been under the impression that the weather in Texas was warm and sunny all year long. I knew the summer heat would be brutal, but I assumed that it would cool down a few degrees and be perfect during the winter months--- I was WRONG.
These past few weeks have been absolutely miserable. At times, it’s colder here in Dallas than it is in Park City.. WHAT? Over winter break, I considered bringing my ski jacket back to school with me, but it took up my entire suitcase so my mother refused to let me. The weather here is only bad for a few weeks out of the year, so it wasn’t worth it to trek my winter clothes all the way from Utah for only a few bitterly cold days.
It wasn’t until this past Saturday where I finally decided to come out of the cocoon of blankets that my bed has become. As I rolled over to the sound of my alarm, I decided to check the weather app on my iPhone to see how many layers were required for the day. I cannot express how joyful I was when the numbers on the temperature gage was above 70 degrees. I couldn’t believe my eyes. For the first time in months, I could wear shorts. I would wear tank tops, and flip flops, and sunglasses. I hopped out of bed, and immediately threw on my running shoes and sprinted out of the house. I took my daily workout down to the Katy Trail, and spent what seemed like hours running around soaking up as much vitamin D as possible. I could finally justify my reasons for coming to Texas.
So these next few days while the weather is nice, I promise you can find me studying on Dallas Hall lawn, or taking a stroll around Snyder Plaza, taking advantage of this beautiful weather before this place turns back into Antarctica.
Sunshine, Sunshine. Finally, there’s sunshine. Growing up in the snowy little Ski town of Park City, Utah, I could not wait to get away from the bitter cold when it came time to start applying to college. My parents suggested I look at schools in Boston, or New York, but the thought of wearing my North-face down jacket until May made me shutter. I needed a change in climate, so I packed my bags and came to Texas. I had always been under the impression that the weather in Texas was warm and sunny all year long. I knew the summer heat would be brutal, but I assumed that it would cool down a few degrees and be perfect during the winter months--- I was WRONG.
These past few weeks have been absolutely miserable. At times, it’s colder here in Dallas than it is in Park City.. WHAT? Over winter break, I considered bringing my ski jacket back to school with me, but it took up my entire suitcase so my mother refused to let me. The weather here is only bad for a few weeks out of the year, so it wasn’t worth it to trek my winter clothes all the way from Utah for only a few bitterly cold days.
It wasn’t until this past Saturday where I finally decided to come out of the cocoon of blankets that my bed has become. As I rolled over to the sound of my alarm, I decided to check the weather app on my iPhone to see how many layers were required for the day. I cannot express how joyful I was when the numbers on the temperature gage was above 70 degrees. I couldn’t believe my eyes. For the first time in months, I could wear shorts. I would wear tank tops, and flip flops, and sunglasses. I hopped out of bed, and immediately threw on my running shoes and sprinted out of the house. I took my daily workout down to the Katy Trail, and spent what seemed like hours running around soaking up as much vitamin D as possible. I could finally justify my reasons for coming to Texas.
So these next few days while the weather is nice, I promise you can find me studying on Dallas Hall lawn, or taking a stroll around Snyder Plaza, taking advantage of this beautiful weather before this place turns back into Antarctica.
Valentines Day in Dallas
It's that time of year again. Candy hearts and cuddly teddy bears fill the aisles of the grocery store, and couples struggle to find open reservations at their favorite restaurant. It's Valentines Day, the one day of the year where it is perfectly acceptable to display your PDA with your significant other all day long.
People who don't like this holiday absolutely HATE it. Personally, I think these people are bitter and acting jealous. Just because you're single doesn't give you an excuse to hate on people who aren't.
Being single, you would think that i'm the type of person who despises Valentines Day, when in fact, I love it. It's one of my favorite holidays, not because I'm in a serious relationship, but because I absolutely adore flowers and boxes of chocolate and delicious food, all to myself. I don't think there is anything wrong with cuddling up on the couch, watching some stupid rom-com, all while eating a tub of Ben & Jerry's half-baked ice cream.
Tonight, I plan on going to Eatzies with my three best girlfriends and eat as much food as we want without fear of fitting in to our tightest dresses. I will admire the couples walking and holding hands, and not scream at them with jealously as some people have been known to do. Maybe next year I'll be walking down the SMU boulevard arm and arm in with my significant other (Zac Efron) but until then, a girl can only dream.
It's that time of year again. Candy hearts and cuddly teddy bears fill the aisles of the grocery store, and couples struggle to find open reservations at their favorite restaurant. It's Valentines Day, the one day of the year where it is perfectly acceptable to display your PDA with your significant other all day long.
People who don't like this holiday absolutely HATE it. Personally, I think these people are bitter and acting jealous. Just because you're single doesn't give you an excuse to hate on people who aren't.
Being single, you would think that i'm the type of person who despises Valentines Day, when in fact, I love it. It's one of my favorite holidays, not because I'm in a serious relationship, but because I absolutely adore flowers and boxes of chocolate and delicious food, all to myself. I don't think there is anything wrong with cuddling up on the couch, watching some stupid rom-com, all while eating a tub of Ben & Jerry's half-baked ice cream.
Tonight, I plan on going to Eatzies with my three best girlfriends and eat as much food as we want without fear of fitting in to our tightest dresses. I will admire the couples walking and holding hands, and not scream at them with jealously as some people have been known to do. Maybe next year I'll be walking down the SMU boulevard arm and arm in with my significant other (Zac Efron) but until then, a girl can only dream.
Soaring Spirit at SMU
When applying to college my senior year of high school, all I really paid attention to was the school’s colors, and whether or not I could pull them off. Looking back, it was easily one of the most ignorant things I could have been thinking about when deciding what the next four years of my life would be like. Despite my parent’s constant suggestions, I barely considered the academic ranking of each school, or the unique programs and courses that were offered. To me, one of the most important aspects of college life was the school spirit.
It is pretty questionable why I chose a school like SMU considering these were the things that I valued. I mean, the student turnout at each sporting event is anything but impressive. SMU students seem to have more pride in their sorority or fraternity than in the school itself. It is obvious that I will see more Greek letters represented on the boulevard than images of the mustang itself. The pride in the mustang was something that we lost years ago, and I have had my doubts about whether or not we will ever be able to gain it back.
These doubts were persistent and dominant until the basketball program kicked in to high gear. With Larry Brown as coach, we’re suddenly on the map, with hopes of making it all the way. After beating Memphis last Saturday, SMU is now ranked #25 in the NCAA. The reconstruction of Moody Coliseum has led to sell-outs—every game. Students used to be able to flash their student ID card to get in to each game. But now getting tickets is a much more complicated process, requiring a 7 a.m. wait in the bitter cold. Surprisingly, SMU students are beyond willing to endure such obstacles for the opportunity to cheer on their team. The highlight of each game is the high energy of the student section. Screaming fans wearing red, white and blue holding posters with their favorite players number written in big red letters. The school is finally getting some recognition for the athletic programs from networks like ESPN and NBC. Because of this program, SMU is seen as something other than “Southern Millionaire’s University.” We’re now a basketball school, and that’s something I am beyond proud of.
When applying to college my senior year of high school, all I really paid attention to was the school’s colors, and whether or not I could pull them off. Looking back, it was easily one of the most ignorant things I could have been thinking about when deciding what the next four years of my life would be like. Despite my parent’s constant suggestions, I barely considered the academic ranking of each school, or the unique programs and courses that were offered. To me, one of the most important aspects of college life was the school spirit.
It is pretty questionable why I chose a school like SMU considering these were the things that I valued. I mean, the student turnout at each sporting event is anything but impressive. SMU students seem to have more pride in their sorority or fraternity than in the school itself. It is obvious that I will see more Greek letters represented on the boulevard than images of the mustang itself. The pride in the mustang was something that we lost years ago, and I have had my doubts about whether or not we will ever be able to gain it back.
These doubts were persistent and dominant until the basketball program kicked in to high gear. With Larry Brown as coach, we’re suddenly on the map, with hopes of making it all the way. After beating Memphis last Saturday, SMU is now ranked #25 in the NCAA. The reconstruction of Moody Coliseum has led to sell-outs—every game. Students used to be able to flash their student ID card to get in to each game. But now getting tickets is a much more complicated process, requiring a 7 a.m. wait in the bitter cold. Surprisingly, SMU students are beyond willing to endure such obstacles for the opportunity to cheer on their team. The highlight of each game is the high energy of the student section. Screaming fans wearing red, white and blue holding posters with their favorite players number written in big red letters. The school is finally getting some recognition for the athletic programs from networks like ESPN and NBC. Because of this program, SMU is seen as something other than “Southern Millionaire’s University.” We’re now a basketball school, and that’s something I am beyond proud of.
My Hectic Little Hometown
Having been raised in the little ski town of Park City, Utah, I have a deep love for the small town culture. I consider Park City my favorite place in the world and I am so proud of my hometown. Whether I'm tearing up the slopes at Deer Valley with my best friends, or cuddled up by the fire with a bowl of turkey chili, I'm happiest when I'm in the mountains. In a small town such as Park City, I can't go anywhere without running in to at least one person I know. It's the kind of town where everyone knows everyone, and knows everything about each other. Being a local, you know the minute this perfect little town turns into a place packed with Hollywood's hottest celebrities, people dressed in black, and indie-film critics, the Sundance Film Festival is just around the corner. For two weeks every January, the town becomes a magnet for some of the greatest and most powerful influences in the film industry. Every year, over 50,000 people flock to Park City with movie tickets in hand, hoping to catch the year's top films. Personally, I have a love/hate relationship with Sundance. The fact that my five minute commute home from school in the afternoons turned in to a 45-minute parking lot was aggravating, along with having the Westboro Baptist Church protest a film outside of my AP Environmental Science classroom window when I was trying to finish a final was quite the distraction. But aside from the traffic and the snobby tourists, Sundance has its perks for the locals. Not only does the festival bring in millions of dollars of revenue for the city, but locals have the ability to get involved in an industry they wouldn't other wise get the chance to experience. My high school's auditorium was the main theater for premieres, so it was not uncommon to see celebrities (Anne Hathaway and Jack Black, just to name a few) roaming through the hallways talking to students. The school also brought in filmmakers to talk to students about the filmmaking process, and showed us clips of their movies before they were premiered to the public. It also was pretty sweet when classes ended half an hour early in order to avoid the madness of the public transportation system that would stop by the high school. As I sit here in Dallas, I cant help but miss the craziness of the Sundance film festival. I catch myself stalking E! online to see which celebrities are eating lunch at my favorite restaurants, or to see if any of my friends are photo-bombing in the background. For now, the news articles and TV specials will have to satisfy my homesickness until I can return back home to my perfect little town. Until then, Us Weekly will have to do.
Having been raised in the little ski town of Park City, Utah, I have a deep love for the small town culture. I consider Park City my favorite place in the world and I am so proud of my hometown. Whether I'm tearing up the slopes at Deer Valley with my best friends, or cuddled up by the fire with a bowl of turkey chili, I'm happiest when I'm in the mountains. In a small town such as Park City, I can't go anywhere without running in to at least one person I know. It's the kind of town where everyone knows everyone, and knows everything about each other. Being a local, you know the minute this perfect little town turns into a place packed with Hollywood's hottest celebrities, people dressed in black, and indie-film critics, the Sundance Film Festival is just around the corner. For two weeks every January, the town becomes a magnet for some of the greatest and most powerful influences in the film industry. Every year, over 50,000 people flock to Park City with movie tickets in hand, hoping to catch the year's top films. Personally, I have a love/hate relationship with Sundance. The fact that my five minute commute home from school in the afternoons turned in to a 45-minute parking lot was aggravating, along with having the Westboro Baptist Church protest a film outside of my AP Environmental Science classroom window when I was trying to finish a final was quite the distraction. But aside from the traffic and the snobby tourists, Sundance has its perks for the locals. Not only does the festival bring in millions of dollars of revenue for the city, but locals have the ability to get involved in an industry they wouldn't other wise get the chance to experience. My high school's auditorium was the main theater for premieres, so it was not uncommon to see celebrities (Anne Hathaway and Jack Black, just to name a few) roaming through the hallways talking to students. The school also brought in filmmakers to talk to students about the filmmaking process, and showed us clips of their movies before they were premiered to the public. It also was pretty sweet when classes ended half an hour early in order to avoid the madness of the public transportation system that would stop by the high school. As I sit here in Dallas, I cant help but miss the craziness of the Sundance film festival. I catch myself stalking E! online to see which celebrities are eating lunch at my favorite restaurants, or to see if any of my friends are photo-bombing in the background. For now, the news articles and TV specials will have to satisfy my homesickness until I can return back home to my perfect little town. Until then, Us Weekly will have to do.