tag:blogs.targetx.com,2013:/gmc/ashlei-miller//737 2013-05-20T05:07:10Z Movable Type 3.34 tag:blogs.targetx.com,2013:/gmc/ashlei-miller//737.16233 2013-05-20T04:44:20Z 2013-05-20T05:07:10Z

This year I wanted to be more service oriented so I decided to join the group "Scholars in Service of Pennsylvania (SISPA)" which is sponsored by Campus Ministry. Readers, this is seriously the best decision I have ever made in...

Ashlei Miller This year I wanted to be more service oriented so I decided to join the group "Scholars in Service of Pennsylvania (SISPA)" which is sponsored by Campus Ministry. Readers, this is seriously the best decision I have ever made in college. I have been presented with so many opportunities in this club and have been able to see so many things that I could never have imagined doing. As a SISPA member, you must complete 300 hours of community service in one year (August to August) and promote an area of concern throughout the community and college campus. My area of concern this year was Campus Ministry. We had one student who was unable to fulfill her duties so I picked up her area as well: Hunger and Homelessness. With these two positions, I was able to promote the whole of campus ministry and everything awesome the club brings to the gwynedd community, as well as, raise awareness of the lack of food and homes that we have in our surrounding areas. Every week, I take a group of students with me to serve at the local soup kitchen, Manna on Main Street. It's an awesome place that serves food to those who need it and provide other resources that clients would not have otherwise. Some people say that service is a burden but manna was never that for me. As soon as you walk in, no matter how bad your day is going the employees, the clients and volunteers make you feel warm and realize just how beautiful life is. As apart of my position, I was also able to travel. I went to Cincinnati on an alternative spring break trip. We served in several places in the city. We learned that the people of Cincinnati will never go hungry. As the gateway to the south, Cincinnati truly showed southern hospitality. While the service was fun, we were also able to go out and relax. My favorite part? Eating Kentucky Fried Chicken in Kentucky. How many people can say they did that!? I will always be grateful for the time I had there. I also went to San Diego for the weekend. GMC Campus Ministry is in charge of planning the Campus Ministry Leadership Institute at San Diego University. The campus is amazing and truly makes you feel closer to God. The founder of the college talked about the beauty of the college to one of her colleagues and said " “There are three things that are significant in education: beauty, truth and goodness,” she said. “But the only one that attracts people on sight is beauty. If beauty attracts people, they will come and find the truth and have goodness communicated to them by the kind of people here.” When I heard this quote, I felt a deep connection to her and USD. I also felt a better connection to Gwynedd. One of the reasons I am so in love with Gwynedd is because of the beauty, the truth and the goodness that is reflected. The GMC planning team will be heading back to USD in June for the Leadership Conference. I will keep you updated on how it goes. As a future teacher, I value education and believe in everything it represents. Knowledge is power and allows us to see a light in ourselves and in the world. Service is a form of learning that lets us see the world through a different light. It helps us to connect with the mercy values that become apart of who we are as gwynedd students. Service has allowed me to see the world and the only thing I can do in return, is to make a difference with the knowledge that I was given. tag:blogs.targetx.com,2013:/gmc/ashlei-miller//737.16232 2013-05-20T04:30:57Z 2013-05-20T04:41:57Z

This past semester, I had the privilege of going on a study abroad trip in London and Paris. It was a great experience where I was able to make new friends and also make a better connection with my education....

Ashlei Miller This past semester, I had the privilege of going on a study abroad trip in London and Paris. It was a great experience where I was able to make new friends and also make a better connection with my education. The trip consisted of members of the gwynedd community: professors, staff, and students! At first, I was very hesitant about my experience because of the diverse group. However, everyone was very welcoming and I truly felt apart of a distant family. I know some of you are probably thinking "why should I travel and leave my family?" The trip is more than just leaving your family. This trip enables you to find yourself and everything you stand for while you are worlds away from the people you care about most. In London, I truly felt a connection to the city and the people. I'm not going to go crazy and say I would move there but London helped me realize that my dreams are a lot bigger than teaching in my hometown. I went from dreaming about teaching in the suburbs of Philadelphia to dreaming about teaching all over the world. These are the trips that make you who you are. Never let anything hold you back. Let's run the world, griffins! :) tag:blogs.targetx.com,2013:/gmc/ashlei-miller//737.16199 2013-02-22T20:52:31Z 2013-02-22T20:53:22Z

This past weekend I had the privilege of going on a retreat sponsored by Campus Ministry entitled “Let Your Light Shine”. The retreat usually consists of talks presented by a group of student leaders followed by small group discussions where...

Ashlei Miller This past weekend I had the privilege of going on a retreat sponsored by Campus Ministry entitled “Let Your Light Shine”. The retreat usually consists of talks presented by a group of student leaders followed by small group discussions where students can further discuss the issues that were presented in the talk and get to know one another in more depth. We also enjoy delicious meals together and free time that usually consists of us all walking down to the beach to take a leap of faith in the annual “Polar Bear Plunge”. Did I mention that we stay in Sea Isle City? Only one block from the beach? As the retreat started, I knew what to expect and how to avoid the hard-hitting questions that will allow me to open up and shine my light. I was trying so hard to keep everything bottled up, that eventually the bottle exploded. One of the things that many students do in college is set certain boundaries for themselves that only take away from the learning experience and true meaning of college. We come to school to brighten our light and eventually let it shine out for everyone to see it. Our bulbs are made at Gwynedd- Mercy College. We work hard every day going to classes, taking tests, having fun to test just how far our light can truly shine. Our goal is to spread the light and eventually help someone else find theirs. While sitting on the beach, I looked up at the stars and truly became at peace with my situation. I realized that in order to continue growing, I had to step out of the box and make a change and shine! I know I’m really pushing the whole “light” theme throughout this post, but as you search for a school that best fits you- search for a school that will shape you into the person you want to become. Shine Bright, Ashlei tag:blogs.targetx.com,2012:/gmc/ashlei-miller//737.16100 2012-09-30T20:12:47Z 2012-10-01T20:06:42Z

G-O-O-D M-O-R-N-I-N-G, GOOD MORNING! WHAT, WHAT! GOOD MORNING! This energizer changed my life this summer. Last year getting up at 5 am, picking up my carpool by 6AM, at work by 6:30AM would be a joke. This summer I had...

Ashlei Miller G-O-O-D M-O-R-N-I-N-G, GOOD MORNING! WHAT, WHAT! GOOD MORNING! This energizer changed my life this summer. Last year getting up at 5 am, picking up my carpool by 6AM, at work by 6:30AM would be a joke. This summer I had an internship with Summerbridge Pittsburgh where this lovely morning agenda became my reality. I was able to live with two co-workers who had the same goal as me: make sure that our students were changed for the better. I was very nervous about living with people who I only talked to once. I had to remember that college is about risks and that sometimes to get what you want you have to take those risks (even if they were only just a dream at one point in time). My roommates wound up being my biggest motivators and helped me be the best teacher I could be. The 9th grade team helped me realize that the life as a Legendary Boneless Buffalo Wing with Ranch on the Side can be challenging but you have to keep on flapping your wings and hope for the best! This summer two of my good friends passed away within three days of each other. These girls meant a lot to me and at some point in time gave me encouraging words that helped me get to where I am now. Their deaths happened in the middle of my internship and both funerals took place during the week. I decided not to tell any of my co-workers about this low point in my life. My co-workers, however, were very loving and made me feel comfortable and gave me the energy I needed to get through the day. The love I felt in this program reminded me of Gwynedd more and more every day. Sarah Bachner was the biggest supporter of them all. When I think of a Boss, I think of someone who is just going to boss you around and forget your name all the time. She may have bossed me around sometimes(!) but she was more than that. She was everyone's biggest supporter and gave all of her employees the encouragement they needed to successfully do their jobs. Who makes getting in trouble sound good? Sarah Bachner. Her powerful impact on my summer reminds me of the love of the Gwynedd Professors. The open door policy at Gwynedd reflects just how loving and caring our school can be. Staff and Faculty want us to succeed and be the best we can be at our jobs. These are the qualities that will shape us in the future. These are the memories we will never forget. The love I felt this summer was constant and when I was with my Pittsburgh friends, even though I was six hours from Philadelphia, I felt like I was home. I truly believe that everything happens for a reason and this internship was a sign that I am exactly where I need to be in life. Blog friends are you where you want to be in life? I encourage all of you to step outside of your comfort zone and do something you love! It will make sense eventually. It always does. Until next time, Ashlei tag:blogs.targetx.com,2012:/gmc/ashlei-miller//737.16050 2012-06-17T22:01:57Z 2012-06-17T22:14:42Z

Hello Everyone! It's been awhile and I apologize for my absence, but I come bearing exciting news. This summer, I have the unique opportunity to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime internship through Breakthrough Collaborative teaching rising 9th graders the art of...

Ashlei Miller Hello Everyone! It's been awhile and I apologize for my absence, but I come bearing exciting news. This summer, I have the unique opportunity to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime internship through Breakthrough Collaborative teaching rising 9th graders the art of writing. I wasn't planning on having a great summer, but thanks to the Career Services at Gwynedd- Mercy College, I was able to find something fun to do this summer. Not only is this a great step for my future career endeavors, but I have the opportunity to live in a different city this summer. I am meeting new people and growing more as a future teacher. I am also spreading the word to prospective students about the school that allows me to put my future in focus and follow my dreams.I am looking forward to sharing my experiences with you this summer and next year. tag:blogs.targetx.com,2012:/gmc/ashlei-miller//737.15677 2012-01-30T02:42:54Z 2012-02-09T19:31:19Z

Hi Everyone, My name is Ashlei Miller and I am excited to share my journey through GMC with you! Being in college has definitely been the time of my life but not without my fair share of ups and downs....

Ashlei Miller everything. We constantly live by the Ohana method from Lilo and Stitch. "Ohana means family and family means nobody gets left behind." Family is very important to me, because they are a backbone that leads my daily life. I love that whenever I have a problem or am feeling homesick, or need to make a decision- I can count on my family to keep my interests in mind when they give their opinion. I graduated in June 2010 from Cheltenham High School. During High School, I was not very involved in activities. When I was looking for a college or university- I wanted to find somewhere where I could fit in and make decisions that would positively affect my future plans. Gwynedd- Mercy College was the one place that really showed me that I could have a voice here. I wanted to be a name and not a number. Until Next Time, Ashlei Miller <3 ]]>