That's All Folks!

Well guys, it's that time of year. Graduation time!! I am currently working on my last project and then I am done!! Right now I'm doing my final portfolio for my Middle Level Education class and decided to take a little break and say my goodbye! Since I'm a Senior I won't be returning to blog in the fall so this will be my last blog. I really enjoyed sharing my college experience with you (Even if I did not do so good this term - Sorry!) and I hope you learned something about what it's like to be a Mercyhurst Laker!

My plans for the summer are to return to my usual job hostessing at a local restaurant that I've worked at since I was a freshman, do a little work as a secretary for a school near my house and maybe get some volunteer hours in at the Pittsburgh Refugee Center. I'm also running my first 5k! It's in Columbus, Ohio and it's called "The Color Run" their slogan is "The Happiest 5K on the Planet" and I don't think they are lying! And let's not forget I'll be lesson planning for my student teaching in the fall! So I'd say my summer is pretty packed!

This is a promo vide for the Color Run! :) I can't wait!

I'll be spending the next few days packing up my apartment, hanging out with friends, saying goodbyes and preparing for graduation. I can't believe it's already here and I know I definitely am not ready to leave Mercyhurst behind! I've made amazing friends that i know I will have for a long time, and I;ve had some wonderful experiences and great memories. Mercyhurst became my second home for the past four years, and I'm sad that I have to leave.

So to all my friends, classmates, professors, faculty & staff at Mercyhurst - Thank you, it's been great.

Some of the best girls I know at our last Ambassador event!

You're Never Too Old For Field Trips!

Hi everyone!
I hope you have had a fantastic week/weekend since I last blogged! This past week was pretty crazy busy - if I may say so myself! Classes are really in full swing now that we are heading into our third week - I have my second Environmental Problem Solving quiz tomorrow and my first project due this Thursday! Last week I went on 2 (that's right TWO) field trips - all in one day! Crazy right? Usually in High School you go on a field trip and it takes all day, it's awesome no classes, no homework, maybe a short paragraph about what you did. Don't worry friends in college (at least in some of your classes) field trips do exist. Last Thursday (the 8th), my Environmental Problem Solving class went on a field trip during our lab time to the Tom Ridge Environmental Center (TREC), down on Presque Isle State Park. The TREC is a pretty cool place.

Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle

When we got there we heard had a short lecture about what goes on at TREC. We learned about water pollution, fish, plants, animals, and  a ton of other environmental issues and how TREC is helping to curb problems and inform the public. Then we went on a scavenger hunt throughout TREC. We had a list of questions that we had to answer and could only answer by going through the center and learning more about what we had just heard. We even climbed the observation tower which we thought would be a good idea to run up. Poor choice - way more stairs than expected. But the view from the top was great, you could see really far out onto Erie Lake and back into the city of Erie. It was a pretty fun field trip and it was nice to get off campus and experience more of the city!
My second field trip of the day was to the Erie Art Museum with my Aesthetic Education class later that afternoon. I had never been to the Erie Art Museum, although I had driven past it countless times! I'm glad I got to go, they had some really nice exhibits and it was fun to get to do the self tour with my classmates. Not only were we learning, but we had some fun too! Now, I have to say the museum was way bigger than I thought. I was really impressed with it, and I'm happy to check that off my bucket list of things to do in Erie.

Erie Art Museum

This week should be pretty fun/crazy. I have a ton of meetings and as I mentioned before - my first project due Thursday! So I'm off to do my reading so I can finish the project!
Later Gators.

Hockey Night Part Two!

 Just a quick update - I just got back from the Men's D1 Hockey Game vs. Air Force and WE WON!!!! It was a great game, we won by a margin of just one goal, 3-2. The student section will tell you that there may have been some questionable calls....but hey, what kind of student section would we be if we didn't? ;-) We were very loud and definitely proud to be Mercyhurst Lakers!
Anyways, it was Mustache night tonight - so since I can't grow a mustache, I made one :) I even added a little blue behind it! Not only is blue one of my favorite colors but it's also one of our school colors - Blue, Green & White.
Hope you are enjoying your weekend!

It's a Mercyhurst Mustache!!

Again, my mustache for the Hockey game!

Movies, Music and More (oh my!)

For those of you have have not seen "The King's Speech" yet - I HIGHLY reccomend it! I went to see it last night here at Mercyhurst with my roommate and some friends. It was so good! I think I'm going to buy it when it comes out on dvd.... But anyways, Mercyhurst has this
awesome program called the Guelcher Film Series - which brings all kinds of great movies to campus for students and the Erie community! Last night it was "The King's Speech" and next week it's a clay animation movie called "Mary and Max" - it looks really cute I want to go! But what is great about the Guelcher Film Series is that all these movies are FREE to Mercyhurst students when you show your ID. The Mary D'Angleo Performing Arts Center or the PAC for short is where the Films are shown, this is also one of the places that Mercyhurst brings in some amazing live acts as well. For instance this Sunday, April 3 Buddy Guy is coming! I'm really excited to get to see such an amazing music legend perform! My brother, and Dad are both coming up for the show too so I get to see my family!

***P.S.- I GOT TO PLAY BUDDY GUY'S GUITAR!! He came out into the audience and was standing right in front of me and reached out and said "Give me your hand little girl," grabbed my hand and had me play his guitar! HOW AMAZING!!!!***

Although these kinds of events aren't usually free for students, the PAC offers student rate tickets so it is affordable.
Not your cup of tea? So you like the Opera? Mercyhurst streams Opera's from the Metropolitan Opera in NEW YORK live here! It's all a part of the MET Opera: HD Live Series.

Maybe the Arts aren't your thing, but you like to hear some great speakers? Check out the Live: From NY 92nd Street Y Series. This series broadcasts live talks by famous comedians, speakers, authors, buisnessmen and women and so many others! Last year I went to watch Mitch Albom, the author of "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" and "Tuesday's with Morrie", speak about his books and how he wrote them.
So no matter what you're interest, there are plenty of opportunities to see some great shows as well as listen to some awesome music.

Got questions? Ask me!