Tag Archives: Lauren Woods

Seven More to Go!

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TreeBy Lauren Woods

I like to compare my first semester at Baylor to climbing a very tall tree in the middle of a forest. This comparison might sound cliché or random, but hear me out! As an incoming freshman from Minnesota, I knew no one from Texas. I moved 1,019 miles away from where I grew up, in hopes of earning a degree in Medical Humanities and hopefully making friends in the process. The first few days of classes are like the roots of the tall tree I was climbing. I found my strength in Christ and, like the roots of any tree, it kept me firmly planted while finding my way through unfamiliar territory.

Each week brought self-realization and new learning experiences. Quickly I learned that all nighters are not as fun as they look on TV. I found student organizations like RCC (Residential Community Council) and HLT (Hall Leadership Team) that helped me get plugged into campus.

Most importantly, I made friendships that I know will follow me for years to come. This realization came while I felt like I was climbing the never-ending tree. Finals seemed to arrive the day after classes had begun. I had always pictured myself being extremely stressed during this time in college, but I was confident with what I had learned and knew that I would ace my exams. After my last exam I remember thinking to myself, “I SURVIVED.” It was true; I had not only survived my first semester at Baylor but thrived. I sit here now writing my account of my first semester while smiling and feeling nothing but contentment. This could be compared to me finally reaching the top of that never-ending evergreen and looking at the forest that had been conquered. One semester down, seven more to go!

The Mockingjay – Part 1

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By Lauren Woods

This week, I had the privilege of attending the midnight premiere of The Mockingjay with a group of friends here at Baylor. In my opinion, there’s something thrilling about being at a movie premiere. For the last six years, I have attended the premieres of Twilight and The Hunger Games series with my friends in Minnesota. It’s cool to see myself in a new setting with new friends but still keeping old traditions alive.

The Hunger Games saga will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. I recommend this new movie to anyone and everyone who enjoys action and thrillers! The entire experience included eagerly waiting in line for three hours and eating more chocolate than one should truly ingest. It was a Thursday unlike any other here in Waco, Texas – one that we all will remember for years to come.

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AsianFest

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By Lauren Woods

Last week, I had the honor of attending AsianFest. It was a wonderful night full of acts that blew me away. Some may think that this event only pertained to Asian culture, but they would be wrong. There were elements of other cultures as well. For example, I watched salsa dancing by the Latin Dance Society!

I found myself on the edge of my seat while watching the taekwondo group break through wood boards and battle each other using their martial arts skills. Members of the alpha Kappa Delta Phi (aKDPhi) sorority performed a traditional Vietnamese dance that combined classic and contemporary elements. Lastly, a few groups choreographed dances to KPop (Korean pop) songs that made the crowd go wild. Each performance reminded me how beautiful and wonderful diversity is. I love how we all come from different cultures that embrace such unique traditions. If you have the chance next year, I highly recommend you attend the AsianFest Culture Show.

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Food For Thought…Potluck!

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By Lauren Woods

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When picking your roommate, I recommend going potluck, aka being randomly assigned a roommate. It was one of the best decisions I made before actually living on campus. Random roommate assignment is a chance for you to step outside your comfort zone and embrace the community experience! My current roommate is from Monterrey, Mexico, and I’ve learned so much from her.

This year, I’m a part of the HLT (Hall Leadership Team) and RCC (Residential Community Council) for Collins Residence Hall. These student groups have taught me how important community truly is when you’re in college. This sense of community starts with your roommate and extends to the entire Baylor campus. Hand picking a roommate your freshman year may be beneficial, but meeting someone new on move-in day is too. It gives you the opportunity to develop interaction skills with someone new. These skills are vital during and after college. Regardless of how you chose your roommate, community will be instilled during your time here at Baylor. I guess the question is, “How will you embrace this?”

Shenanigans and Sunshine

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By Lauren Woods

During midterms, students begin to stress out more than normal. Lately, I’ve found myself looking very closely at all the details in my life, instead of standing back and looking at the big picture. Something that has helped me combat the midterm blues is simplicity and thankfulness.There’s nothing better than enjoying the little things in life that, when acknowledged, make your day a little better. Here’s a list of things that ought to make your day a little better while walking around our Baylor campus as of late.

1.)   The Memorial Dining staff write encouraging notes on to-go boxes.

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2.)   The decorated tree outside of Memorial Dining Hall.

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3.)   Random activities on Campus (Yes, 4th of July in October happened).

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4.)   RGIII helping conduct during halftime at the first game at McLane Stadium

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Everyday, no matter how stressful, has a little bit of sunshine in it. Whether that be through a 4th of July in October celebration on Fountain Mall or the dining staff reinforcing how awesome you are, it can make your day a little bit better.

You’re Never Too Old for a Treasure Hunt

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By Lauren Woods

Every day, we pass numerous objects that we often overlook in our daily hustle and bustle. But what if those objects were something more? What if I told you that the objects you passed might be a part of a worldwide game of hide and seek? This game is called Geocaching, and it is possibly one of the most beautiful concepts I have ever heard of.

One may ask what this unusual word may mean. That person is in luck, because I have a definition! Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunt using GPS-enabled devices. Geocaching reminds me of the beauty in our world. I didn’t think that this wonderful activity would be at Baylor University, but boy was I wrong.

Here’s how you play:

  1. Download a geocaching app to find out the coordinates of a geocache.
  2. Look up the coordinates on your phone.
  3. Go to the coordinates and start searching!

There are geocaches everywhere! My roommate and I recently spent 30 minutes in search of a geocache which led to success. You just have to know where to look. The treasure you are searching for can come in different forms. It could be a box or a disguised container – you simply don’t know, and that’s part of the excitement. Once you find your hidden container, you must open it to see what treasures it holds – usually there is an object of some sort like a sticker, an army man or a yoyo. This object now belongs to you, but in return, you must replace it with something that represents you and sign the entry log. In an abstract way, you’re meeting someone for the first time through this treasure hunt. I encourage anyone and everyone to research geocaches in their area. It’s an awesome way to get outside and find yourself a real adventure!

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Ohana Means Family

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By Lauren Woods

My first week on campus was one of most bittersweet, eye-opening weeks of my life. I’ve lived on my own before, but this was a whole new ballgame. If you ask anyone, they’ll tell you. Baylor University is so much more than a college; it’s a loving community. I’ve never been able to freely discuss how I view things from a Christian perspective. That changed my very first week of college. I am now on week three at Baylor and loving it. I feel as if my experience thus far can be described through something I witnessed my second day of classes.

I was walking to the Draper building where my sociology class is located, but before I got there, I spotted a group of students cheering on the curb. Now, when there’s a group of people cheering at Baylor, chances are something cool is happening. Naturally, I walked over to see what was going on. It took a moment to process what was in front of me. There was a family of duck-like birds who had just crossed the road. All but one of the babies had made it over the curb. This innocent baby bird was dramatically flailing its little wings in hopes of joining its family. The crowd of Baylor students was encouraging this baby bird with such passion; I couldn’t help but smile. All you could see was a group of students cheering, a baby bird jumping and a family of birds waddling away. An upperclassmen guy had finally had enough of the familial separation. He grabbed his notebook, scooped the baby bird onto the curb, and exclaimed something along the lines of, “BE FREE!” The crowd was simply overjoyed.

I had doubt about attending Baylor before I had arrived on campus. This doubt was thrown to the wind as soon as I had stepped on campus. I felt as if I was like this baby bird. Through welcome week activities and classes, I have been encouraged and welcomed with wide arms into the Baylor family. A separation or gap in my life has been filled, and I’m so excited for the next four years. As the wise Stitch once said, “Ohana means family, and family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.“ I’m so glad to be a part of the Baylor Ohana.