Which got me to thinking, how could I sum up my Hope experience? There's so much to talk about (which I am covering in my lifeview paper for Senior Seminar, but you don't really want to read 15 pages...at least, I don't think you do).

Then, I remembered. A couple of my good friends, they take LOTS of pictures. I take out the camera once in a while (mostly for Instagram or my Photography class), but I really have relied on friends to document my college experience. And thankfully they've done a good job.

Freshman year:

Sophomore year:

Junior year:

Senior year:

You're fretting about your roommate, clueless about what dorm you want to live in, convinced you won't be able to ever say goodbye to your high school friends.

You get a packet in the mail naming all the classes, and you start to freak out more. The words "four-year plan" are enough to make you throw your cap and gown in the garbage disposal.

What's one thing that's easy to figure out?

What to bring to class.

No matter what classes you're going to, you will need some staples to ensure that even if you're not prepared for what the next four years have to offer, you are prepared to be a good student.

First, you need a bag or backpack. The first couple years I sported a brown Jansport backpack, but in my grown-up phase of student teaching, I invested in a Fossil tote (best purchase ever).

My student backpack and my teacher bag!

What's in it?

• Pilot Pens (minimum Pink, Light Blue, Purple, for taking notes)
• Micron Pens (Black, for illustration)
• Moleskine notebook (for writing)
• Moleskine planner (for planning)
• iPad (for taking notes, planning, etc)
• LOTS of methods for organization (four-fold folder or accordian style file folder)
• an external hard drive (WAY better than a flash drive)
  
• a flash drive, too
• TWO pairs of headphones (one earbuds for socializing and music, and one noise-cancelling for focusing and music)
  
• Sketchbook (when it's not in my studio)
• Waterbottle (I LOVE Camelback waterbottles)
  
• Chapstick, enough said.
  
• Cough drops (the fancy ones with the burst in the middle because when aren't college students sick?)
• Wallet (with ID, credit cards, loose change)

What is sometimes found in my backpack/bag?

• My computer — though it's heavy, most days it is necessary for the library or Lemonjello's when I really have to get stuff done!
• Books! Okay, books are always found in my backpack, but the kind of book depends on my classes. Sometimes books from the library for a Art History research paper or novels for my writing classes.
  
• My sorority binders (President or Rush Chair)
  
• A snack (usually almonds, an apple, a clementine, or those super good yogurt pretzels from the Cup and Chaucer!)

So, even if you are unsure about everything else, maybe what to put in your bag is the one thing you can be sure of!

Last week when the temperature hit 40 degrees, I put on flip-flops. My housemates demanded I take them off, but that little hour I got to wear them was so sweet. I actually haven't taken off my capris since the first day of spring. Why? Because the sun makes me feel good. It makes everyone feel good.

So what is there to do at Hope when the sun is out?

Drink coffee

Take a friend to Lemonjello's and drink coffee outside! The coffee's warmth will outweigh the fact that it is really only 40 degrees...

Kendall and Lauren know how to enjoy the sun at LJ's!

Rollerblade

Rollerblading is quite possibly my favorite outdoor activity. If you have rollerblades sitting at home and you're thinking, "no one in college wears wheels on their feet," you're WRONG! It's the perfect way to have fun in the sun, get some exercise, and chat with friends!

Tip: the sidewalks closer to campus are less bumpy — the further away you go, the rougher the ride.

Another tip: Don't take pictures while rollerblading. Yes, I took my own advice :)

Bike

I am so glad I brought my bike to college. Whether it's just biking to class or taking a after-dinner cruise with a friend, biking is the most efficient transportation around campus and a great way to feel the sun and get outdoors!

Okay, this is actually from a bike trip in Vienna, Austria...but it's with Hope students!

Hang out in the Pine Grove

Grab a blanket or a hammock and read, socialize, nap, or play guitar in the middle of campus where the sun is always shining! But, really. I don't think there's any time I am more content than when napping or reading in the Pine Grove.

Double hammocking in the Pine Grove — true skill.

Frolf, Intramural Sports, Powderpuff, etc.

Hope has so many organized outdoor fun to take part in! There are tons of intramural teams from soccer to ultimate frisbee to softball. You can also play Frisbee Golf on campus, with the official Frolf course.

Every year, sorority's compete in a Powderpuff tournament that's tons of fun (Although I think the practices are the best part).

Powderpuff — it was cold that year!

Make up games!

My sorority creates SIB Olympics every year, involving a tug of war, egg toss, mummy wrap and other events! So much fun, and a great way to enjoy the sun and fun!

SIB Olympics! (Yeah, white team won!)

Yeah, I was the Anchor for our Tug-o-war. And, yeah, I took it too seriously.

There are so many things to do outside at Hope to enjoy the sun. My goal for the rest of my time at Hope (which is a month, eek!) is to spend 20 minutes outside everyday, doing something active. Join me!

Here are some of my favorites!

Kittens Inspired by kittens!

Star Wars according to a 3 year old.

(Don't talk to that Darth Vadar guy, he'll get you!)

Talking Baby Twins!

(What an argument!)

Drive Thru Invisible Driver Prank

And some more serious videos....

World Spins Madly On Claymation

Thought of You Dance

Her Morning Elegance Stopmotion

And so many more!! Look forward, too, for my stopmotion video I will be making for my Sculpture class!

According to Facebook and Twitter, the frenzy was yesterday and I thought I had missed out on this colossal moment of my Hope experience. Turns out it's a two-day thing (thank goodness).

So, in the graduation theme, I thought I'd offer advice.

But not just any advice — other people's advice. Because clearly you don't want advice from someone who can't even pick up her cap and gown on time.

Piece of Advice #1

#1 comes from the one, the only, the best Dr. Heather Sellers. Last year she gave the commencement speech, and gave the homework that she gives at the end of every class. It's simple, and it goes like this:

She qualifies this:

Please, please, please take a class from Heather if you come to Hope College.

Piece of Advice #2

comes from Shauna Niequist, author of Bittersweet and Cold Tangerines. I'm going to continue with this theme of graduation and choose an excerpt from her chapter "The Home Team."

I'm going to continue the passage because it's just so true and so good:

Okay, for those high school or college graduates you might need this little part, too:

Piece of Advice #3

Okay, since this is just becoming a celebration of my inspirations, Piece of Advice #3 comes from spoken word poet Andrea Gibson. I own two of her books, which are so worth reading, but the inspiration really comes from the videos.

An excerpt from the poem "Say Yes":

She is an awesome human being, 'nuff said.

Piece of Advice #4

#4 comes from an unexpected source: a kid who calls himself, "Kid President." Watch this video for further explanation (and a ton of advice):

Beautiful words from a kid.

Piece of Advice #5

#5 comes from a a great writer of Children's Literature (although isn't all Children's Literature applicable to adults?), Shel Silverstein.

Everyday, people, everyday.

So here concludes my advice from people who are better at giving advice than me. Hope you learned a lot. Even if you didn't pick up your cap and gown, now you're prepared with some good ol' graduation words!

If they are feeling risky, or bold, they egg it on.

Last weekend during one of my punchy fits, Bri pointed her blow dryer at me and I Matrix'ed down to the floor where I erupted into a fit a laughter. This happened 10 times before she gave up on the joke.

Last night, after spending 10 hours in Depree, I came home with my current jam stuck in my head — "And We Danced" by Macklemore. (Yes, I am aware I am late on the Macklemore trend and no I do not care)

Try not to dance to this, I dare you. Also, the music video is hilarious — watch the full 6 minutes. Come on. Do it.

So, I came home very punchy — a common side effect of concentrating on clay and illustration and gluing cardboard all day and night. Much to my housemates' dismay, I threw on Bri's headband (that she wears everyday to work out — whoops, bad choice), stood on her desk chair, and blasted my jam. And I danced. And I laughed. And had a really, really good time… by myself.

What's the point of telling you about my punchiness, or my love for this past-peak song, or my ability to laugh (maybe too much) at myself? Because I realized how much I feel like Jess, from New Girl, when I do this.

Which leads me to the point of this blog post: New Girl is the greatest show ever. Why? Because everyone can relate to Jess. Don't believe me? Let me show you.

My housemates are all so different. We come from different homes, different families, different majors, different extracurriculars, passions, goals for post-graduation. But we can all be Jess:

How my housemates = Jess from New Girl

The Sympathizer — Leah

Like how Jess always wants to take on her housemates problems, Leah is so good at sympathizing with me, and is always there when I need some support, whether with ideas for art or fretting about grad school or what shoes to wear.

The Fashionista — Addie

Jess is a fashionista, there is no question. Even though her best friend is a model, she has her own style. And let me tell you, Addie's closet never ceases to surprise me. From her dresses to her shoes to the fact that she picks out her outfit and lays it out the night before, Addie is the fashionista of our house!

(Okay, besides the second one from the left on the bottom..really jeans and a skirt?)

The Go-Getter — Charlotte

So, Jess loses her job as a teacher. But she is passionate about finding a new career… actually she is passionate about everything, whether it's cooking macaroni or playing a new game with her friends. This is Charlotte. Charlotte is a master of the job search, the resume, the cover letter, the cold calling, the networking, the emails, but also spending intentional time with God and her friends every day.

The Performer — Meredith

Jess is wacky. Jess dresses in costumes, dances around the room, makes weird noises, sings her sentences. Meredith is that friend I can always rely on the sing "You Can Call Me Al" and make up a dance in our kitchen, or hold our bellies laughing so hard from some quirky motion we make up.

The Advocate — Bri

Jess supports her friends. Jess backs up her friends, no matter the battle. But she also challenges them to be better people — for Nick to be happier, for Schmidt to realize his inappropriateness. Bri is my constant advocate, asking for me to email her poems I've written because she's so proud of me, or challenging me to rise above pettiness.

The Self-Amuser — Lauren

Jess could sit by herself in a room all day and make somethin of it — amuse herself to no end. Lauren's room is close to the living room and the kitchen, and I can't count how many times I've heard her laughing by herself and being completely content.

The Quirky One — Me

See stories above of my "punchiness." But I told my housemates once, "If I'm the weirdest friend you ever have...you're lucky." I swear I'm not that strange!

In reality, I think we're all the quirky ones (see the photo above — so is the cast of New Girl). We play weird games, make up new songs and record them on video for all to see, double over in laughter for whatever reason it may be.

So, in short. I think New Girl is AWESOME because everyone can relate to it.

And also, because it is endlessly hilarious. See video below to be convinced...

To the untrained eye, Depree looks like a maze of paint splotches, white walls, random glowing letters, and double doors into double doors into some trap doors with only two actual classrooms with the conventional desk/projector/computer set-up.

However, to the Art major, Depree is a cornucopia of opportunity and inspiration, with separate studios for every discipline, complete with ink and presses for Printmaking, wheels and clay for Ceramics, scary saws for Sculpture, Mac lab for Digital Photography and Design, a dark room for Film Photography, and more.

Depree Art Center

So why, as a senior in February, choose to finally blog about my major? Because last week I spent over 30 hours in Depree.

For Ceramics II, I had four teapots due on Thursday. Teapots are of the hardest forms for a ceramicist/potter to master, so I was scared out of my clay-covered pants when I was told to make four. Oh, and they have to symbolize the four directions: North, South, East, West.

I threw (on a ceramics wheel, for non-art people) for hours upon hours upon hours. Spouts broke. Handles fell. Vessels had holes. Lids hated me. But the final product was this:

Clockwise, starting with the front-most teapot: South, West, East, North.

In addition to Ceramics II, I am also currently taking Sculpture. Right now we are making busts (again, for non-art people, a person from the shoulders, up) out of cardboard. Artist Ann Weber uses cardboard as her medium, and exhibited her work last year in the Depree Art Gallery (where I also work as a Gallery Docent).

Ann Weber: Beauty, Joy, & Wonder

In researching cardboard sculpture, I came across this video:

But, unlike many majors, my work in Depree doesn't end with class projects. Art majors are required to exhibit work in the Senior Show as seniors in the department. So, in addition to class work, I am also producing a body of work of my choosing.

My studio, in the basement of Depree, that I share with my fellow Art Ed major, housemate, best friend Leah

I won't do the big reveal of the project in its entirety just yet, but I am using pen and watercolor to illustrate sentences from anonymous contributors. I will then compile them into a limited edition book.

Here's a glimpse of of my favorites thus far:

So, there is a glimpse of my final semester as an Art major. To conclude, some humorous stabs at people of my kind:

Art Newbie Owl and Art Student Owl:

How UrbanDictionary defines Art Major:

And, finally, to confirm the inherent weirdness in all art majors:

Snowy Hope College this week! (Courtesy of Rachel Nielsen)

One of my favorite things to do in the winter is drink hot chocolate or coffee and listen to music. I think winter music is specific — it has to sound snowy, or cozy.

My current favorite winter songs:

So while the lock on my car door is frozen, my walk to class is cold, and the student teachers have had three snow days, THE WINTER MUSIC IS HERE!

My puppy's first snow!

Maddie Wilson :)

First, we have Maddie. She is a sophomore in Sigma Iota Beta and my granddaughter in the sorority (yes, we have families). She is involved as Panhellenic Representative and Intersocial Chair. Outside of SIB, she is a Management and Spanish double major, a member of the '15 Pull team and is studying abroad in Spain this coming Fall!

Me: Why did you decide to rush?

Maddie: I wanted to be a part of something, and to have a family away from home — a group of girls I could always count on. I decided to rush with a couple girls from Dykstra and together we wanted something bigger!

Me: What have you enjoyed the most about the sorority and Greek Life thus far?

Maddie: The relationships I've made within my organization but also in other organizations. I have done this through Panhellenic Council (responsible for being the governing body within Sorority Life). I also love the relationship we have with our brother fraternity, the Emmies.

Bri Nelson :)

Next, we have Bri Nelson, senior of Sigma Iota Beta. In Bri's time as a SIB she was on Executive Board as Parliamentarian, participated in the SIB teams of Relay for Life and Dance Marathon, and served on a committee for Heartraid, an Art Auction to support HIV/AIDs awareness. Outside of Greek Life, she is a Communications major with Art and Leadership minors. She is is a '15 Pull Coach, an intern at Karla's Place, and has had multiple photography internships.

Me: Why did you decide to rush?

Bri: Because I wanted to try everything on Hope's campus. Little did I know, I would fall in love with the organization, Greek Life as a whole, and the girls I have met and become best friends with.

Me: What have you enjoyed the most thus far about the sorority and Greek Life?

Bri: The conversations, the Business Meetings, sitting in Chapel with SIBs, and having friends around anytime, anywhere.

Next we have Paige Fawcett, sophomore in Sigma Iota Beta. In the sorority, Paige is a Rush Chair, and hosted a SIB retreat at her home in Rockford last Spring! Outside of the sorority, Paige is a Business Management and Communications double major, with a Leadership minor and was a member of '15 Pull Team, member of Business Club volunteered with Boys and Girls Club and Ready for Life.

Me: Why did you decide to rush?

Paige Fawcett :)

Paige: My mom was in a sorority when she was in college, and to this day she gets together every year with her own pledge class in Miami. I just think sorority friendships tend to be a lot deeper.

Me: What have you enjoyed the most thus far about the sorority and Greek Life?

Paige: Definitely meeting new people, not just in my sorority but also in other organizations... As well as getting involved in the school and in things I might not normally take part in, like Dance Marathon and Habitat for Humanity.

So, there you have it — a glimpse into why you should Go Greek!

Joining my sorority has been my favorite part of Hope College and I know I will keep the friendships made in my organization long after I graduate!

As a senior, I have experienced the good, the bad, and the ugly in terms of studying environments. I have tried the Science Center, CityVu Lounge, Voorhees Hall Lobby (straight out of Harry Potter), my friends' rooms, even a bike at the Dow. However, I think I finally have it down. 

Before I divulge my list of super secret study spots, I have to qualify two things: what "studying" really means for the college student, and when silent and social environments work best.

Studying:

Urban Dictionary defines Studying:

What falls under studying :

• Completing assigned reading, rather long handout, coursepack, textbook, or novel
• Writing an essay, response, term paper, final, or journal (huge in the liberal arts)
• Creating a powerpoint, Prezi, or other form of presentation
• Working with a group or as an individual to analyze and understand information for a quiz, test, or final

What happens in addition to the above while studying:

• Ordering pizza to the library
• Drinking coffee
• Checking Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest to avoid the very act of studying
  
• Talking with friends who thought it was a good idea to study as a group
• Staring out the window
• Drinking more coffee
• Blogging about studying (guilty)
• Looking up places you could live, and jobs & grad schools you could apply to if you get good grades from studying
  
• Saying "Hi" to every person who walks by your location
• Calling/texting Mom, Dad, Sister, Friend, or anyone else, really
• And, my personal favorite: making lists and organizing the studying you have to do and thereby avoiding actually studying

Where I study when I need seclusion:

• Basement of the Library. Amazing study cubbies hidden behind stacks of books, and the Rare Books Room... on a silent floor. (Tip: most people go UP when they get to the library. The basement is a hidden gem at VanWylen).
• My room. When I had a roommate (so, up until my senior year) this was not a good choice. Chats not applicable to essays nor memorization of material, funny videos found to keep each other from falling asleep, and Facebook stalking that I am ashamed to say I spent hours partaking in are all present when studying in a room with a roommate. However, in my own room I can often hunker down with some tea and a locked door and read an entire book in one sitting! With only checking Instagram 3 times! Whew!
  
• My studio in Depree. This year, I have had the opportunity to share a studio with a couple friends in Depree (The Department of Art). Being that it is a room inside of a room in a basement, it's easy to seclude myself. In fact, often art-making falls under the category of studying for me. How lucky am I?
  
• Off-campus coffee shops (Way-cup Cafe on 17th St & Uncommon Grounds in Saugatuck). Sometimes my regular coffee shop (which I will address in my social study spots) is just too busy. Finals week is not the time to walk downtown and try to find a table at the local coffee shops. However, going off the beaten path can be just as successful (as long as I don't divulge this to too many people...oh wait...Darn).
  

Where I study when I can be social:

• Lemonjellos. You can read more about LJs in my blogs here (to learn about my obsession) and here (to learn about this and other frequented foods of Holland). Lemonjellos is my #1 study spot. I read, write, blog, draw, chat, and basically do anything here. While there is an element of saying "Hi" to everyone you see and getting distracted by coffee drinking, this spot fuels my learning. What can I say? It just works.
  
• The Kletz. On the rare occasion I can actually get work done here, it is the perfect place to study. I love being able to sit in a restaurant environment surrounded by students in comfy booths without having to buy food or feel the pressure of being a customer. Maybe this is weird. Maybe, as Professor Heather Sellers would say, this is SO West Michigan to care about being a customer. But it's me. :)
  
• My living room. Both last year and this year I have had the blessing of a living room. It's such a nice place to feel at home, surrounded by friends, and working casually. And I mean casually. I do NOT try to write an essay or a novel here. I might try to write a response, or peruse some notecards. There is a time to be social while studying, I promise.
  
• Curriculum library or 1st/2nd floor of Library. I laugh a little at people that study in the library on a daily basis. Not the 4th or 3rd floor people, or the basement people, but those who sit on the 1st and 2nd floors, or in the Curriculum Library (specifically or Ed. majors) and try to study. This is where I work on group projects and such, but never can I ever study in these places. The saying "Hi" the socializing, is too tempting here.
  

Lastly, my favorite study companion and what gets me through the hurdles of studying and wherever I am: my noise-cancelling headphones.

Yes, I need music to study!

Curious what music I listen to while I study? Listen to my newest 8tracks playlist:

We stood steady as the stars in the woods from BeccaHawk on 8tracks Radio.

I didn't travel, unless you count moving from my bed to the couch.

I didn't win any awards (although I did finish all of my graduate school applications).

I didn't even fall in love… besides with a new coffee shop in downtown Traverse City.

No, the exciting thing is… that I bought my dad's old iPad!

My parents are HUGE iPad advocates. Within their first year of of being iPad owners, I think they were secretly hired by Apple to advertise it to anyone they came in contact with. After my Gram came to visit from California two summers ago, they convinced her to get one, as I'm sure they did with countless others.

For a long time, I was unconvinced. I have a laptop, which has everything I need. How could it be beneficial for an art student who uses Photoshop on a daily basis, or a college student who types an essay a day?

And here's the answer to all my qualms: it will not replace your laptop. But it will come close.

My iPad home screen — full of awesome apps!

Reasons why I love my iPad (and my favorite apps):

1. My new organized life. You could argue that because I have had an iPhone (you can view my blog about my iPhone here), I should have already been able to reap the benefits of a technologically-organized life. However, I couldn't not reason planning my life on a screen that is small enough to fit in my pocket. So, when I got my iPad I decided to make the switch from my favorite Moleskine planner to a combination of iPad apps.

Calendar

Calendar: simple, comes loaded on any device. But it quickly and easily replaced my planner. I love that I can have separate calendars that make my events color coded! No more carrying around 10 different color pens!

Reminders

Reminders: In the past, the right side of my weekly planner served as a simple to do list for the week. I often broken down into several lists, work, classes, sorority, etc. Now, reminders does the same thing, but I can set alarms for when I want to be reminded! Nothing like waking up at 7:45 in the morning to a reminder that you must write today (one of my New Year's Resolutions)! Per the advice of another Student Blogger, it also asks me at the end of every day if I have tweeted today. SO Helpful!

iStudiezPro

iStudiezPro: This is the best app I have found yet. I am SO impressed with the user interface, the aesthetics of it, and the customizable options! The gist of it is that I keep the planner look that I've always loved — Schedule on the left, assignments on the right. The app uses fun icons and colors for classes, and also carries over your events from iCal (the calendar app above). It also reminds me when my assignments or due (I set this for, again, 7:45 AM). AND the push notifications show how many assignments I have left for the week! This has already been a lifesaver! THIS APP IS A MUST HAVE FOR ANY COLLEGE-AGE IPAD USER.

2. My lighter bag. In other semesters, you could spot me from a mile away. My brown Jansport backpack looked like a small child latched onto my back. It was HUGE. This was mostly because I carried notebooks and binders at 7 AM that I would use at 9 PM. Now, I have most of these materials on my iPad.

Noteshelf

Noteshelf: This is the app I use for notetaking. I tried out several notetaking apps, but honestly I'm a sucker for a well-designed app. I love that you can have separate notebooks on a shelf with customizable covers. The app also offers wrist protection, so that the touch screen doesn't pick up on your resting arm. I use this in class with my Adonit JotPro Stylus. Everyone in my classes has been enthralled with it!

You can also set a 4 number lock on some Top Secret notebooks!

Notability: I also use Notability for note taking for my job as an interview writer. It records audio while you write, and then you can go back and click where you wrote and it will play the audio that was being recorded during that note! Amazing technology!

3. New fun! Here's my list of fun/helpful apps:

8tracks — The best site for music exploration

My Fitness Pal — Tracking Calories & Workouts

Art Studio — The closest to Photoshop I've found for iPad!

Flipboard — Your news and RSS feeds all in the same app!

Types (Myers-Briggs Personality Test) — Fun to compare friends personalities!

TED — Inspirational Talks!

Below are some things I've done on Art Studio with my stylus! So fun!

I'll keep you updated on my iPad adventures and how this semester goes with this new technology!

Even when I was young, I loved watching Kids Say the Darndest Things. I think I must have been destined to listen to kids' hilarious views on life… as a teacher.

Throughout student teaching, I've heard too many funny comments from my students to count.

1st grader: "Miss Hawkins do you know Max in 3rd grade?"
Me : "yes, is he your brother?"
Boy: "No, he's my bro"
Me: "What does that mean?"

I taught the kindergartners their first lesson in portraiture — self-portraits in the style of illustrator Todd Parr. After I told the kinders that they could add details, like glasses or freckles. One of the cutest but most devious kinders approached me with a smile.

Today, the kindergartners and I read Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. When Hermey the elf wanted to be a dentist, not an elf, the kinders were confused. I tried to explain that everyone wants to be something different.

Even some of my high school students say the darndest thing. I asked them all to evaluate my teaching at the end of the experience, and one of the replies is above. I had numerous girls comment solely on my "cute clothes" while one boy marked me down because I didn't play country music!

And I know it is just the beginning of great blog-worthy comments from students. I'll keep you updated! But for now, a Christmas-themed kid video (watch at least 3 times in a row).

So it clicked: what are my favorite blogs?

College Chef by Charlotte Park

My best friend and housemate, Charlotte, has her own food blog! So many good recipes, lemme tell you!

Dear Girls Above Me

The subtitle says at all — a funny guy comments on the silly things he hears from the girls the live above him.

Food on My Dog

Simply enough, blogger takes pictures of the food he puts on his dog. HILARIOUS.

PostSecret

Postsecret is my all time favorite blog. Anyone can send in a secret on a postcard, and Frank Warren curate the postcards into a weekly Sunday post.

Word After Word by Heather Sellers

Read my past blog on Professor Sellers here.

Word after Word is Professor Sellers' blog about her thoughts on writing and life. Professor Sellers is one of my favorite professors at Hope, and part of the reason why I'm here.

Shauna Niequist's Blog

Author of Cold Tangerines and Bittersweet, Shaun Niequist writes about simple life. My sorority, Sigma Iota Beta, hosted Shauna to speak on campus during her Bittersweet book tour in 2010.

The Creative Writing MFA Blog

During the Creative Writing MFA application process, this blog has been key. Applicants and current MFA students answer any and all questions about the process.

What Should We Call Me

What should we call me started the GIF blog explosion — two law students entertaining each other through funny "real life" applications of pop culture video clips.

Awkward Family Photos

Just an example of Awkward Family Photos.. I think it speaks for itself.

When Parents Text

When Parents Texts is a great blog that posts submissions of texts that parents send. Some hilarious stuff!

The Kollection

The Kollection is a great way to find new music! They have different genres and post videos, songs (even downloadable ones!) for the genre you like!

Jamestown Elementary Art Blog

My current student teaching mentors, Lisa Worden and Denise Teitsma, at Jamestown Elementary in Hudsonville, have their own classroom blog! Not only is it a great way to show parents and community members what awesome things are going on in the art room, but it's also a great source for other teachers to get ideas!

Look, it's me!

My wonderful mentor teachers!

Me again :)

I taught the kindergartners about shapes and different kinds of lines and texture through creating these awesome Texture Trucks.

So, that's it for now: my favorite blogs! What are yours?

I wake up in the morning and do this: 

Okay, not really... but how awesome is that?

Anywho, I just scheduled my LAST semester of my SENIOR year! Even with 18 credits, I have Mondays and Fridays off, and Wednesdays I don't have class until 3!

My classes for next semester:

• Basic Sculpture
• Ceramics II
• Adv. Creative Writing: Fiction
• Christian Feminism
• AND my Senior Seminar: Faith and Friction in Literature

I absolutely LOVE scheduling and surprisingly have no qualms about senior year... yet.

So how am I filling my free Mondays, and Fridays? Jobs! Not only do I have an obsession with scheduling, but also JobStop. What is JobStop, you ask? It is a Hope website where on campus and off campus employers can post job opportunities! It looks like this:

Lately, I've been looking at the "Entry Level" positions (scary Senior stuff!) but here are the jobs I've applied to and received from the program:

THIS JOB! Student Blogger for Hope College Admissions

Writing blogs, tweeting, & networking with prospective students

Weekend Building Services for Hope College Physical Plant

Cleaned Gilmore Hall bathrooms

Depree Art Gallery Docent at Hope College's Depree

Sitting at the desk in the gallery!

Interview Writer for Hope College Public Relations

A new job!! Conducting and writing interviews of Hope people for the College Catalog

Sales Associate for Good Goods American Craft Gallery in Saugatuck, MI

The best summer job I could've asked for

Transcriptionist for Fairly Painless Advertising in Holland, MI

Transcribe audio files to text on an as needed basis

Hope College has blessed me with so many things, but JobStop and my schedule have been huge parts of my college life thus far!

And, to send you out, go find YOUR job and YOUR schedule! Get amped! (You NEED to watch this)

The Art Ed majors with one of the Keynote artists!

The Schedule of Events

The Grand Traverse Resort where the conference was held — us locals call it the Milk Carton :)

We left Friday morning and got to the Grand Traverse Resort just before noon. Now, if you know me you know I live just outside of Traverse City. The house I grew up in is actually just 5 minutes away from the Grand Traverse Resort, and I grew up going there for Mother's Day dinners, and Christmas pictures. In short, I was psyched to be on my home turf!

Once we got checked into our condo (that's right, condo) and registered to the conference (free stuff galore, including awesome PriorLife bags made from recycled banners) it was time to start learning!

Awesome Priorlife bag swag we got from the conference!

On Friday, I went to two workshops: Marvelous Marbling and Two Tiles, One Workshop. During Marvelous Marbling, I learned a new technique for marbling paper and got ideas for a new way to create book covers! In Two Tiles, One Workshop we experimented with new glazes and I networked with all the educators sitting at my table. A couple were from the area, and it was fun to compare mutual relationships.

Marvelous Marbling: Watered down paints with cut up broom bristles for brushes

The blended, slimy mix that we tapped and swirled the paint in and then dipped the paper in

Friday night, I met up with my family for appetizers and then met the rest of the group at my favorite restaurant: Poppycocks. We had good food and a good chat and walked around downtown Traverse City (I was the tour guide). Then we went to Inside Out Gallery for a quick look-around.

One of the pieces in Inside Out Gallery

We winded down the night by going to the Art Educators Bonfire and a dip in the outdoor hot tub!

Saturday

Saturday started out with a big breakfast and a Keynote Speaker (Oh, and a piece of fudge to promote next year's conference at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island!). Robert Root-Bernstein spoke about how creativity is necessary for careers outside of the arts, and how students who immerse themselves in the arts are more successful in other areas as well.

To get on my high horse for a moment, Nobel Laureates are:

• 2x more likely to be Photographers
• 4x more likely to be Musicians
• 17x more likely to be Artists
• 15x more likely to be Craftsmen
• 25x more likely to be poets or prose writers
• 22x more likely to be performers, such as actors, dancers, or magicians

In fact, Alexander Fleming worked as a unique artist: he painted with bacteria in Petri dishes (you can see two of these paintings below). He left his dishes out to create his palette, but found that one bacteria was killing all the other "colors." This bacteria ended up being Pencillin.

Alexander Fleming's bacteria paintings that helped him discover Pencillin

Root-Bernstein wrote a book detailing more about his fascinating research on how creative people think. See Sparks of Genius: The 13 Thinking Tools of the World's Most Creative People below.

Next on Saturday I went to three workshops: Art & Language, Collage of Secondary Instruction, and Digital Books. Art & Language discussed the third grade experiences at Grand Rapids Art Museum, and how they've incorporated literacy into art museum visits. Collage of Secondary Instruction (as you can see below) was a speed dating of art instruction. We went through the room of lesson plans and examples and came out with almost an entire curriculum! I snuck into the second half of the Digital Books section, and let me tell you the iPad is SOLD. I am a huge promoter of visual literacy, and with the ebook age upon us, the time is NOW to teach our students how to apply their skills as e-authors. He also showed us a variety of art-class-able iPad apps and how to make your own document camera using an iPad. Needless to say, I'm saving up for an iPad as much as a new car now.

Saturday night I had the group over for pizza, dessert, and conversation at my parents' house (note: 4 years away from "home" leaves you wondering when to stop calling it my house and start calling it my parents' house). It was so great to be home and see my parents and my puppy, and to introduce my family to my friends (and vice versa). We took the Myers-Briggs tests on my dad's iPad (normal, right?) and had yummy food and great conversation. Then, you guessed it, we ended up in the outdoor hot tub at the resort. Both nights, I had great conversation in the hot tub with other art educators. We talked about creativity, students, and everything in between (networking, people, networking in a hot tub).

Sunday

The art ed students that are currently student teaching (that includes myself) had our "professional portfolios" due Monday. So, I woke up early Sunday morning with a large Starbucks and a bagel to work on my Art Ed portfolio on Weebly ( you can view it here). Then, we went to the Keynote Artist's workshop: Timothy Basil. It was called "Happy Accidents" and was all about using creativity and implusivity in your art. It was amazing. He used a hair dryer, blades, paints, and more. It was inspirational and great way to end the conference.

To top of the wonderful weekend, we ended our Sunday in Traverse City by going to the Dennos Museum. I showed them my favorite elementary school secret: the Children's Room at Dennos. Then we perused the Inuit Art Exhibit before heading back to Hope.

In short, the MAEA was a great way to surround myself in my major and feel at home in my chosen profession. I really feel affirmed but the conference and learned a lot not only from the presenters but also from the the other art educators. I can't wait to go in the future and maybe even present!

Well, I can't speak for the rest of the college population, or even Hope College, or even the women of Hope College. But I can tell you what shows I enjoy when I miraculously find time to watch an episode or two (mainly times when I find myself sick in bed, as was the case last week).

My favorite TV shows:

Modern Family

Modern Family is just plain old funny. It's a lot of one liners, and a sort of family dynamic version of The Office (a classic favorite). Here's a clip of the main character, Dad Phil Dunphy, doing his thing.

New Girl

New Girl centers around a quirky female teacher (Zooey Deschanel, AKA Jess) and her equally quirky 3 male roommates. The following clip shows the hilarity of the roommates, though Jess herself is equally entertaining.

How I Met Your Mother

I have maintained and will always maintain the fact that HIMYM is our generation's Friends. Not that I don't love a good Friends episode, but HIMYM brings our current reality to very similar situations. The following is an example of the outlandish stories in the show.

Parenthood

Parenthood has, for the last two years (at least), taken rank as my #1 favorite TV show. I usually wait and watch them in large doses with my mom on breaks, but sometimes I get too excited to wait. Last week was one of those times! The show is just so REAL — real people, real problems, real relationships, and real(ly) messy. It's funny, it's dramatic, it's part of my family and should be part of yours too. Think Grey's Anatomy but in the family setting. Here's the promo for the most recent episode — spoiler alert if you want to catch up on the other seasons first.

Honorable Mentions:

Criminal Minds

Law & Order SVU

What Not to Wear

True Blood (my summer obsession until some really creepy episodes)

Shows other college students (cough, my housemates, cough cough) watch that I just can't get into:

Gossip Girl

Kardashians

Man versus Food

Breaking Amish

But when do we have time for this? The answer is.....never. Realistically, we should be working on homework with the TV break being the Presidential Debates. However, that is not always the case. Sometimes you should need a laugh from Phil Dunphy (Modern Family) or a couple tears from Laura Graham (Parenthood)… or maybe even a scare to keep you from sleeping (shouldn't you be up all night studying anyway?) (Criminal Minds).

So, because the student teachers don't get an official Fall Break, Meredith, Leah, and I spent our Saturday at ArtPrize 2012.

Now, I explained Grand Rapids… but you're thinking: what the heck is this ArtPrize she speaks of?

ArtPrize is an open-submission, public-vote art contest in downtown Grand Rapids.

The details

• Any property owner in downtown Grand Rapids may be a venue, and artists must find their venue in a sort of artist-venue dating site (the website's words, not mine, people).
• Voting occurs online and via text.
• Anyone may make art; anyone may submit art; anyone may vote; anyone may view.
• ArtPrize just completed its third year as the world's largest art competition (again, the website's words, not my own).

The stats for ArtPrize 2012

• 162 venues
• 1,517 artists
• $560,000 in prize money ($360,000 Public Vote, $200,000 Juried Vote)

Now that you know WHAT it is, and WHERE it is, I can give you a glimpse of what I saw. (Note: I didn't go to the two biggest venues: the Grand Rapids Art Museum and the Urban Institute of Contemporary Art simply because the line was around the block and my friend had to get back to campus for work. Yes, I do know that makes me a bad art major.)

I fully, 100% believe that every Hope student needs to spend at least one summer living in Holland. I don't mean for a May Term, or for weekends with friends — I mean house-renting, job-going, living-among-the-tulips summer. So this summer, between Junior and Senior year, I moved into my full year lease in a house on 15th with six other girls. Here's what unfolded:

May Term

I didn't take a May Term this semester, but I have both previous Mays (Watercolor for Freshman year & Austrian Art and Architecture in Vienna for Sophomore year). AND because most May Term-ers need a place to stay, we had 14 girls living in our house and up to 20 on weekends for visits. It was a house full of love. Coming home to smiling faces and friends makes up for any amount of hectic parking, dirty dishes, and not always being able to watch what you want (cough, my housemates have a True Blood addiction, cough).

Cookouts

I'd like to say we did this more often, but one of my favorite nights of the summer was cooking out on our neighbors' deck. We are lucky enough to have a house right next to five of our closest guy friends, AND they have a back deck (complete with tiki torches). We spent an evening cooking kabobs and playing Fishbowl, our favorite game. 

Beach days

I still say no beach can compare to my hometown — secluded beaches 15 minutes any direction of my house. However, Holland State Park is a great alternative. It's been so great to take a couple hours with friends and just lay at the beach; although, I did end up playing in the waves the entire time most days. We also went to Saugatuck Dunes State Park a couple times — a mile hike in, but so worth the secluded area and beautiful scenery!

Working in Saugatuck

Speaking of Saugatuck, it's where I worked this summer. Saugatuck is a small, river-side, art-centered town just a 20 minute drive from Holland. I worked at Good Goods, an American Craft and Art Gallery in a historic home right downtown Saugatuck. I learned so much about American Craft, Sales, and just life in general from the wonderful women I worked with and it's a summer I will cherish forever. 

Summer Arts Camp

I touched on this a little in my last post, but for part of my student teaching requirements, three other Art Ed majors and two Dance Ed majors and I taught a Summer Arts Camp in August at Holland Area Arts Council. We designed the entire curriculum along the basis of "Carnival of the Animals." It was a lot of work and a lot of fun!

Bike Day with Mom

My mom and I take one really long bike ride together every summer, and we didn't want this to end just because I was living 2.5 hours south of home. So, she brought her bike here! We spent the day in Saugatuck, talking about life and futures, and fitting in a nice bike ride adventure to a couple fun places in Saugatuck. It doesn't feel like summer until our bike ride is completed, and I was glad to show her my home away from home for the day.

New Puppy!!!

Finally, I managed to get home a couple weekends to visit my parents, friends, but also my parents' NEW PUPPY! She is an Australian Cattle Dog named Ruby, and she has been known to kayak, swim, take hikes, and chase bikes in circles around the yard (among the normal puppy things — biting, eating shoes, escaping from her cage). She is my parents' pride and joy and just a little bundle of love to come home to every time I get a chance.

Other fun things this summer:

• My Birthday! (my absolute best friend came to celebrate with me)
• Ruthie's Wedding in Interlochen!
• GR Whitecaps games
• Mumford & Sons concert in Dixon, IL
• Color Run in Ann Arbor
• Visiting Leah's cottage in Hale
• Jet skiing and reminiscing with friends in TC

And in between all of this, I loved constantly being surrounded by the love of my friends. They truly mark my Hope College experience, and I couldn't be happier to live in the same house, or just a couple blocks away from so many of my close friends this summer.

I challenge YOU, if you haven't already done so, do have a Holland summer! Find a fun job, find a cool house, and some friends to live with. I promise the rest will fall into place!

Summer Arts Camps at Holland Area Arts Council — Just one of my placements!

This is more of a Public Service Announcement than anything, for those that have noticed my absence from campus since this school year began.

But also this is a glimpse for any and all Education students on the semester that you are working towards, the semester in which you get to put into action everything you've learned in classes, field placements, and your life as a student thus far.

First, let's rewind. Hope College's Education program is outstanding for so many reasons, but one big reason sticks out to me: field placements. How silly is it that a lot of Education majors at other schools don't get classroom experience until the Student Teaching Semester!? Hope allows Education majors to experiment in a variety of classroom environments at incremental involvement and time levels before spending 40 hours/week in the Student Teaching placement.

My Field Placements:

Educational Psychology Placement, Spring 2010 Jefferson Elementary, First Grade Classroom

Exceptional Child Placement, Fall 2010 Very Special Arts, Community-Based Instruction

Elementary Art Ed. Methods Placement, Spring 2011 Holland Area Arts Council, K-7 Afterschool Art

Secondary Block Placement, Fall 2011 Black River Public School (Charter), AP Art & Art History

Secondary Principles Placement, Spring 2012 Macatawa Bay Middle School, 7th & 8th Grade Art

Art 307 Placement, Summer 2012 Holland Area Arts Council, K-5 Summer Arts Camps

So, before even stepping into my Student Teaching I had experience in six different settings K-12. Need I reiterate that there are Ed majors at other colleges that don't step foot into a classroom until their Senior Year? We are so very lucky.

Fast Forward to this Student Teaching Semester:

I am currently in my Secondary Student Teaching Placement at West Ottawa High School. In three weeks I will complete this placement at start at Jamestown Elementary in Hudsonville.

My Schedule:

5:45 AM Wake Up

7:15-7:30 Arrive at school

1st Hour: Introduction to Art

2nd Hour: Digital Art and Photography

3rd Hour: Drawing and Painting

Lunch, Planning Period & Driving from South to North Campus

5th Hour: Digital Art and Photography

6th Hour: Ceramics

3-3:30 Leave School

3:30 – 4:30 NAP TIME

From there I have night classes Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs at varying times. In between classes, homework, and planning for the coming teaching day, I try to eat dinner and spend some quality time with at least one friend.

11-Midnight Read, Write, and Go to Sleep

Clearly, I'm a busy gal. However, I cannot begin to explain the importance of this semester on my education. I fully believe that Education majors, more so than a lot of other majors, leave Hope prepared and with full knowledge of the REAL WORLD.

Do you have questions about the Education major or the Student Teaching Semester? Ask away!

GANGNAM STYLE.

Now, allow me to explain. Although at first glance you may see only a strange man doing strange dance moves while wearing shades and whatever obnoxious outfit he can't find, don't be fooled… No, I'm kidding, that's really IT. But while Hope students aren't attempting the new Gangnam Style dance moves, what are they listening to?

Here are my top songs for the past couple weeks:

Now, for the snippet of my summer involving some of these artists.

This summer I attended the Gentlemen of the Road Stopover Music Festival in Dixon, IL. Mumford and Sons heads it up, but they bring along different friends to each of the cities. In Dixon, I discovered Apache Relay and developed even more my love for Dawes… not to mention I saw Mumford and Sons in concert!!!!!

(Photos courtesy of Brianna Nelson)

So you can choose: Gangnam Style or Mumford and Sons? There's something for everyone!