Ways to Combat the Mondays

Posted on September 29, 2014 by alicroom

By Maggie Malone

Mondays are almost like practice days where anything and everything can go wrong before you settle into the groove of the week. College life can get a little crazy sometimes. You name it, and it’s probably happened, from bombing a test to doing a face plant in front of everyone, their mother, their long-lost cousin (twice removed) and their dog.

Beginning the week on a sour note is never a great feeling, but with some faith, trust, pixie dust and maybe a whole lot of Netflix, sometimes the worst of days can be patched up into something wonderful. Here on my fail proof tips on how to combat this sometimes dreaded first day of the week:

1. Napping

While many people discourage the practice, I always find it nice to curl up in bed and catch a few winks. It helps me feel refreshed before I tackle something else. It’s kind of like getting a new start. Naps not only rest the body, but they also rest the mind. This goes perfectly with item number two on this list.

2. Netflix

Ah, that aforementioned famous instrument of procrastination. After a horrible day, I often find comfort in losing myself in the stories and adventures of others. Watch your clock, though. Netflix eats up hours as fast as the Cookie Monster can devour a cookie.

3. Exercise

This especially helps on those don’t-touch-me-or-I’m-going-to-explode occasions. Instead of giving your bewildered roommate a sound tongue lashing, take out that frustration on the Bear Trail that circles the campus, the McLane Student Life Center (We call it the “slick”) or even leave campus altogether to run through the twisting trails at Cameron Park.

4. Friends

Even as a mega introvert, I’ve found that some of the best memories at college happen with the friends I’ve made here. Friends are often one of the best places to turn, as they can offer advice, thoughts, listening ears and shoulders to cry on. Along with plenty of laughter and adventure, of course.

5. Hobbies

Personally, my go-to choices are reading, writing, photography and prayer (but that’s more of a lifestyle than a hobby). On days where I just feel cooped up, I snatch my Canon from its place and explore the campus for new perspectives. It’s not too uncommon to see me chasing squirrels with a camera.

Don’t lose hope yet, friends! Sometimes all you can do is make a huge cup of tea and carry on. That’s OK, though. The end of your day just might be better than the beginning! And tomorrow is a new day. The day after is a new day. The next Monday is a new day. At a crazy wonderful campus like Baylor, who knows what beautiful surprises are around every corner!

An Honest, Helpful Hand

Posted on September 25, 2014 by alicroom

By Micah Furlong

Ah, the season of new beginnings. Everything is about to change in your life. You’re starting a brand new adventure, and you’re trying to figure out where you think you should go to college.

And suddenly, you find yourself reading this blog.

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I hope to be helpful to you in this process because a million and a half people helped me while I was in your seat. I don’t imagine that everyone is as scared as I was, but you might be reading these ramblings because you feel some sort of the same anxiety I went through. So in that aspect, I’m going to try to be helpful.

But I will also be honest, which may not seem helpful at times. Baylor is a wonderful school, but it is by no means perfect. There are flaws, injustices and nitpicky issues that I will discuss. But don’t think I’m always a downer. I came to Baylor, and pay good money, because I enjoy a lot about it. I hope that for every con I might show, I also show a pro that you should experience.

Maybe I should let you know a little bit about myself.

This is me.

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I’m a bit awkward. I enjoy writing and prefer poetry. I’m part of the Honors College under the University Scholars program, which they didn’t really explain well until I actually got here. I’ll tell you some more about it at some point in the future, I’m sure. But basically, I’m free to create my own major – which is perhaps the coolest I’ve ever heard a college doing in the history of everything, including when Oxford invented toast. I study philosophy, political science, philosophy, history and philosophy.

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I’m sure that I’ll reveal more and more controversial things in the near future (like the fact that I’m a liberal in the South). But for now, I’m just the guy who, in the love of Christ, is trying to help out you as much as I can.

Ohana Means Family

Posted on September 24, 2014 by alicroom

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.

Just When You Were Getting Homesick…

Posted on September 23, 2014 by alicroom

By Torie Abbott

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It is Family Weekend at Baylor University! This 54-year-old tradition invites the families of students to campus for a weekend of fun, reconnection and Baylor spirit. It gives students the chance to see their families after being away at school for a month while also letting parents see what their student’s life is like as a Baylor Bear.

Historically, this tradition has been titled Parents’ Weekend. A few years ago, however, it was changed to Family Weekend to ensure that siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. felt included on this special weekend. Some of the weekend’s activities include a breakfast event that allows parents to personally meet their student’s professors and After Dark, a university-wide talent show. Traditionally, the weekend would conclude with a football game before the family left to return home.

However, there were some changes to the weekend this year. For the first time, there was not a football game for Family Weekend. Honestly, I think this is a good thing. Instead of parents scrambling for tickets to the new stadium, they got to focus on the other campus activities and on spending quality time with their student.

Overall, Family Weekend is a wonderful campus event. With or without football, Baylor is a great place when it’s filled with families. Luckily for students, it always comes at a great time in the semester.

94 Days…Until Life Begins

Posted on September 22, 2014 by alicroom

By Patara Williams

Where did the time go?!

On Friday, I will be attending my last After Dark (all university talent show) as an undergrad.

On Saturday, I will be taking the GRE (Graduate Records Exam), a glorified SAT-type test that is required in order to apply for Graduate School.

Next Wednesday, I will be attending a HIREABEAR job fair. Paying for one’s own rent is not fun, but it is a segue into grownup-hood.

In 94 days, I will be graduating from Baylor University!

Last week, I dreamed that I was staring into a mirror with my cap and gown on…anxious much Patara?

I’ve recently found myself overusing the phrase, “If I knew then (freshman year), what I know now…”

I was the epitome of stubborn as a freshman. I knew that I would never change my major, I knew that I would maintain with a 4.0 GPA, I knew that I would go to a Texas medical school and I definitely knew I would graduate in 8 semesters.

I knew wrong.

My four and a half (yes, I’m elderly) years as an undergrad have slapped me in the face on innumerable occasions. The personal timeline that I drew out for myself told me what I would do, when I would do it and how I would get to the point where I wanted to be. However, it didn’t control for the learning experiences that I would inadvertently encounter.

Along the way, I have learned what I do not: like, agree with, believe in and so on. The Patara that I knew freshman year is totally different from Patara that I know now.

She now knows that life will throw curveballs at you, really fast ones.

She now knows that her life may not work out the way she planned, but will eventually end up magnificent.

And she now knows the essence of a Baylor education.

So, she tells you to:

Embrace your time as a student. Challenge yourself with opposing viewpoints. Question what you believe, so that you can know why you believe it. Learn to listen to others; it means much more than just giving advice or empty feedback. Don’t be afraid to spend time getting to know who you are because you’ll be forced to reckon with the perceptions of the rest of the world. Enjoy your time here because pretty soon you’ll be saying, “If I knew then what I know now.”

Ten Things They Won’t Tell You in a Study Abroad Brochure

Posted on September 19, 2014 by alicroom

By Maria Dillman

After all of the customary orientations and information sessions about studying abroad in the Netherlands, I knew I was getting the opportunity of a lifetime to study in Europe for a whole summer.

Travel across Europe, check.

Take classes at an international university, check.

Get a ton of likes on Instagram pics, check.

Yes, these are the normal benefits, but I didn’t realize how many more I would get to experience. I summed up everything I saw, heard, felt, ate and experienced into a list of things one can’t fully understand until they experience study abroad themselves.

But reading about it is the next best thing. . .

1. It’s fun to get lost in a big city – I loved exploring unknown streets that were made completely of cobblestone and flooded with bikers, but the feeling of finding a familiar landmark or navigating to the desired location is even better. The accomplishment and independence of living in a new place and calling it home is exhilarating.

2. Bikes= Life. They are such a time saver, and everyone uses them. It’s the thing over there. Also, it is quite normal to walk six miles in a day.

3. Meeting the locals offers a new perspective about the cultural gap – They tell you all the insights and secrets about their country that you can’t find in a tourism brochure, whether it be mannerisms, habits, behaviors or attitudes.

4. The language barrier is a humbling experience. It is really frustrating when you can’t read signs that say thing like, “Do not board this train,” or when you can’t order a ham sandwich. You learn to be quiet most of the time. For starters, it doesn’t give away that you’re an American as much. Secondly, it seems like you can soak more in. I wonder what language they’ll speak in heaven…hopefully, I’ll understand them all.

Waiting for a Bus in Austria (Taken on a Disposable Camera)

5. Traveling is so fun. But tiring. And amazing. Public transportation is great to say the least. It was definitely frustrating at first, and I thought I would never be able to figure it out. But then I got the groove of things, and before I knew it, strangers were asking me which train they should board. However, traveling can also be quite awful, like the night train we took to Salzburg. After spending twelve hours on the train, we were sleep deprived, our necks were stiff and the creepy man next to us was starting to smell. But then when we stepped off into the fresh air in this new exciting place, and we knew it was totally worth it. All the troubles were forgotten.

6. Delirium is a thing. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed more. It might have been because I was with great company or that I was so out of my comfort zone and sleep deprived that I laughed uncontrollably at the most trivial things. At any rate, it’s not a bad side effect.

Backpacking in the Black Forest (40 km later…Some of Us Were Still Happy)

7. Places are cool, but people are better. For all the beautiful sights I saw, I learned one very important thing: the people who are with you make the trip worthwhile. I think the best experiences and memories that will stay with me forever are the ones that involved a funny moment or good conversation. Yes, the beautiful places are amazing to see and experience, but if I were alone, I don’t think I could appreciate them as much.

8. How to avoid paying for bathrooms. There’s definitely ways; you just have to find them.

9. Schnitzel and Spatzle and Stroodle and Croissants will be missed in America. The food is just plain different. Also, bread is served at every meal. Just like Buddy the Elf has four main food groups (candy, candy canes, candy corn and syrup), Europeans have bread, bread, bread and bread.

10. Life is cool wherever you are…you just have to make the most of it. We need to appreciate what we get, not the things we don’t.

Hiking in Switzerland

Shamelessly Addicted to Coffee

Posted on September 18, 2014 by alicroom

By Emily Martin

Coffee has gotten me through a lot of rough days during my Baylor career, so I guess it’s a good thing that there are about a million coffee shops in Waco. This past weekend my best friend (and her adorable puppy named Dixie) from Texas A&M came to visit me, so obviously we had to try (literally) every coffee house in Waco.

Disclaimer: DON’T DO THIS ALL IN ONE WEEKEND. Seriously. We were so jittery and my heart was beating so fast that I thought I was going to die. Space out your coffee shop visits. Maybe just do one per weekend? Trust me, you’ll thank me later.

First, we went to Common Grounds. CG is my all-time favorite place to study in Waco because they have great drinks and the atmosphere is different from any other coffee shop I have ever been to. Also, the people who work there are extremely inviting and kind. They even know my order, which is a plus for me!

The second place we went was the Olive Branch (located underneath Spice Village). This is my favorite place to go to for breakfast. They have amazing pancakes and even better coffee. Their 254 roast is to die for! Hannah and I ended up each buying a pound of it so that we could have it at home. So on top of already being hyped up on Common Grounds and Olive Branch coffee, my car even smelled like a coffee shop because we left out bags of coffee in it.

We decided to take a little break from our Coffee Excursion and headed over to Junque in the Trunk, a little antique store on La Salle that is only open Friday to Sunday. Of course when we walked in we were offered free Dr Peppers (who can resist that??), so we gladly took them and poured even more caffeine into our bodies. I had never been to Junque in the Trunk, but it was definitely worth the visit! We also visited Magnolia Market, the shop that Joanna Gaines (from HGTV’s “Fixer Upper”) owns. Her shop is worth a visit! I love the show Fixer Upper because the couple met at Baylor and are doing some pretty amazing things to the homes of Waco.

Back on the Coffee Tour, we headed over to Outdoor Waco to test out their coffees. I was surprised at how good it was! I didn’t know how it would be since it was made in a bike shop, but I ended up really enjoying it! Plus, while you’re there you can walk around and check out their shop.

Our coffee day came to an end at Dichotomy, a small coffee shop in downtown Waco. Their coffee was a little pricy, but it was tasty! Hannah and I both got iced mochas, which I would definitely recommend. I would also recommend going upstairs to sit and enjoy your coffee. They have a balcony that is really pretty.

We may have missed a couple of places, but I honestly don’t think that either of us could handle another ounce of caffeine that weekend. On the positive side, however, Hannah now wants to transfer to Baylor because she loves Waco so much…mission accomplished.

From Woodland Greens to Gold and Green

Posted on September 17, 2014 by alicroom

By Diana Cates

The past three weeks have been a complete whirlwind for me . . . I mean, I literally feel like Taz has gotten a hold of me in his little tornado (fond reference for those Looney Tunes fans). This isn’t to be misunderstood; I have loved every exhilarating moment of this journey! This tornado-like feeling was expected, and I knew drastic change was coming, but it still caught me by surprise.

I’m not the traditional Baylor student, in the sense that for the past seven years I have worked and traveled around the world with the Marine Corps. This makes me a bit older than the average student, which has been one of the dizzying contributors of my whirlwind experience. It has taken considerable adjustment for me to go from that work environment to the vibrant, youthful university campus that I have come to love so much already. Fortunately, an open heart and mind have made this transition easier.

Over the summer, I spent a month in the hills of Fort Sill, Oklahoma, completing what would be one of my last field exercises with my unit. It was rough living on meal rations (MREs – always go for the pasta ones!), but it was rewarding to see the cumulative results of my hard work. One week after returning home, I drove down to Waco to spend five days with hundreds of other new incoming students during Line Camp. What a contrast! I had no idea what to expect, but it proved to be THE perfect beginning to my Baylor experience, and I highly encourage it to every new incoming student.

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Call it a whim or perhaps sheer intuition, but last spring I found myself on the Baylor campus, not having previously considered attending. At the time, I didn’t realize that in doing so, I was already on a life-changing path. There is an endearing glow to the students here at Baylor, and it’s something that captured my heart when I visited in March. Though this quality is intangible, it is evident in so many different aspects. It is present in the smiles you encounter when you’re walking to class. It is experienced when you drop your books, and ten students stop to help you (which, incidentally, happened last Wednesday!). Most of all, it is seen in the faces of your professors and advisors who do everything in their power to see you succeed.

Understandably, the camaraderie of the Marine Corps can never be replaced, but I feel prepared to hang my woodland greens for now. It is with pride that I now bleed gold and green!

SIC ‘EM BEARS!

Victory Lap

Posted on September 16, 2014 by alicroom

By Avery Jackson

Senior year has finally come! I’m on what some people call a victory lap – this means that it took me five years instead of four to graduate. However, I am no less excited!

I spent my summer as a nomad in Valparaiso, Indiana, working for a non-profit called Kids Alive International. This summer, I wore many hats! I created online newsletters, used my graphic design skills, took photos, wrote and edited stories, made donor presentations and did many hours of research on corporate matching gifts. I did the vast majority of the impact reports on both the countries we serve in as well as our previous site projects and fundraising events. I loved every minute!

In addition to the 40 hours I spent in the office, I also thrived outside of it as well. I made friends and explored Chicago, Wyoming and even Florida. I also had some much-needed family time with my parents and three youngest siblings, rode horses and trains, swam in the great lakes and even managed to squeeze in some concerts.

However, during my three months of summer, I stayed in SEVEN different homes. I basically lived out of my suitcase. That was an adventure in itself!

I loved getting to spend time with my siblings!

Driving with my dad and my fearless feline, Jezber, back to Waco from Indiana was a relief. Baylor has really become my home. I began to feel excited and energized the closer I got to my art-filled apartment. After my fourth major internship, I now know that I have many of the skills I need to survive in the “real world.”

My Study Abroad Experience – Baylor in Great Britain

Posted on September 15, 2014 by alicroom

By Susannah Mohrmann

When I first began thinking about my college experience, I knew I wanted to study abroad. I knew that my college years would probably be the only time I would have the opportunity to go to another country for several weeks or even months. Baylor really stood out to me because of the opportunities it gave to study abroad in almost any country. Once I came to Baylor I met older students who had studied abroad, and I eagerly asked them every question I could think of. Many of the opportunities available are for entire semesters; but when I discovered how much I loved Baylor, I could not imagine missing a full semester. I knew I would have to study abroad in the summer.

I soon found out about the program Baylor in Great Britain from several people and professors. Here is the gist of the program:

Baylor professors travel to London to teach you at Imperial College.
You get six hours of Baylor credit.
Class is only 8 -10 a.m. Monday through Thursday.
The rest of your day and the weekends are yours to travel and adventure through the United Kingdom.

This past summer in the UK was one of the most incredible experience I have had at Baylor. I met new friends, traveled with old friends and developed relationships with my professors. From day one of the trip, I had a three-page list of places I wanted to see. I checked every place off by the end. I also traveled to Scotland, Wales, all over England and even Barcelona, Spain. By the end of the five-week trip, I felt like a local. I knew how the Tube worked, and I was able to give directions to other tourists.

I am so grateful I was able to have this opportunity to study and learn in another country rich with history. It was seriously the best experience I have had since I have been in college. I made deep friendships, learned a new culture and learned how to be more independent. Baylor does an incredible job with their offerings in study abroad programs. Take advantage of the time you have when you get to college. Do things out of your comfort zone and experience something new!

Baylor Admissions

Who you will become, begins here.

Monthly Archives: September 2014