He Is Risen!

By Emily Woodby

This past weekend was the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the amazing gift that was given to us through God’s perfect son. Easter weekend has always been a special tradition and a fun time to spend with the whole family. I was especially thankful this year that Baylor gave it’s students both Friday and Monday off from school. The semester is almost over, and the long weekend was exactly the break that I needed.

Pic 1Although we don’t have Easter egg hunts anymore, one tradition that is still a part of the holiday weekend is dyeing eggs. On Saturday night, we gather around the dinner table, cover it with newspapers and get creative with tie-dye and technocolor Easter eggs. From trying to dye the brightest egg, to writing names and drawing pictures, we have an unspoken competition to see who can create the stand out egg of the year! It sounds so dorky, but its one of my favorite memories that comes to mind whenever I think about my family.

Easter is such a unique time that celebrates our Lord and all that we have been given, but on lighter terms, it also signifies that summer is right around the corner. The flowers are in bloom, the pastel colors are everywhere and the family is all together!Pic 2

The Finish Line

By Emily Woodby

April is here. Not only are tests more frequent, but they are also more important than normal. There are less and less assignments to boost your grade in case you do poorly. Everyone is running in and out of the study rooms, constantly preparing for his or her upcoming exams. This past week, I had two tests (one day after the next) in my two hardest classes. You could say I looked a lot like a chicken running around with its head cut off…AKA I was a mess. I practically had to go into hibernation and lock myself in my room until the madness was finished.

I have never felt more free than when I walked out of the building after finishing my second test. In my head, there were fireworks and a huge parade when I walked out of those doors. The first thing I did to celebrate was stopping by Dr Pepper Hour where I bumped into Judge Starr! I took it as a reward for all of my hard work! I spent the rest of the day hanging out with friends and doing a whole lot of nothing to make up for the long days I spent without sunlight. College and classes may be really stressful at times, but at least it means that I’m getting closer and closer to the finish line!

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A MAJOR Decision

By Emily Woodby

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The Speech Pathology Building on Campus!

Although getting an education is obviously the purpose of college, I sometimes forget that I’m basically training for the job that I’ll hold for the rest of my life. For me, this semester has been so exciting because I got to start some classes for my major in the speech pathology department. It’s so neat to get a taste of my career everyday in class, and I love it more and more each day!

Coming into college, I was undecided, and the fact that my future was up in the air really stressed me out. I had to take a deep breathe and realize that even if I knew what I wanted to major in, my life could flip around at the drop of a coin. You never know what the future might hold. I had to reminded myself that God was the one in charge, and I started to pray about this “major” decision. Once I turned to God, the decision was a piece of cake!

Speech pathology is involved with children but provides a more lax schedule, which is perfect if you want to have time for a family one day! All in all, it was a perfect fit for me. Since I declared my major, it’s all been smooth sailing. If you’re in the same position I was, just remember that someone else is in control of your life, and it makes everything a lot simpler!

Destin Bound

By Emily Woodby

This past week was Spring Break, and it felt like everyone got out of Waco as fast as they could. With so many tests and projects and the end of the semester just around the corner, it was the perfect time for a little getaway! With that in mind, I went to Destin, Florida, with 11 other girls for a little rest and relaxation. In my mind, this was a huge deal because growing up, I was never lucky enough to get to go on a trip with my friends. I’m not saying that my family vacations weren’t fun (because the Woodby clan is a blast to be around), but there’s something so cool about being in a different city with just friends – it makes you feel pretty grown up!

We all stayed in my hometown the first night and packed up the car. Then bright and early the next morning, we loaded up and took off on the 12 hour drive to Florida. There were many breaks for coffee and Red Bull and countless sing-alongs to keep everyone awake. It was quite the journey to say the least. Finally, we reached our destination and unloaded our two cars full of luggage (girls don’t really know how to pack lightly). Then, I just took a deep breath because I was finally out of the car!

The week was so fun, just hanging out with friends and desperately trying to get a tan. Now school is back in session, the tests are still scheduled, and the sun tan that I did get is already long gone.  On the bright side I can just look at a picture and pretend for a few moments that I’m still at the beach and never left!

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It’s Official!

By Emily Woodby

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This past weekend was one for the books. After pledging for five weeks, I was initiated into the Zeta chapter of Pi Beta Phi here at Baylor. Not only was it an exciting weekend and a chance to spend time with family, but it also showed me how much I have to be thankful for.

First semester was a great experience for me. I loved that I got to come to a new town and meet so many new people. At times, it was a little scary, but I knew I would make some special friendships during my college years that God had planned for my life. With that in mind, I got comfortable in my group of friends and was perfectly content.

When bid day came and I walked into the Pi Phi room, I felt overwhelmed. There were still so many faces that I hadn’t met. However, through the new member process, I’ve meet so many amazing women and developed so many wonderful friendships. This weekend after initiation, we had a luncheon with our parents and bigs, and once again I scanned the room and saw the same faces that I saw on bid day but now in a new light.

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When I look back and remember how nervous I was to meet everyone, I just laugh. I had nothing to worry about. I am so glad that I decided to go through recruitment and am so glad that I am surrounded by 88 other amazing girls who I can count on. My parents and brothers being there to share in the excitement put the icing on top of a perfect weekend!

To all of the seniors in high school who are thinking about coming to Baylor and thinking about going through recruitment – my advice is to do it! Maybe there’s just something in the Waco water, but it’s one of a kind!

 

 

Gone Fishin’

By Emily Woodby

Pic 1As I’ve said before, Baylor is awesome for many reasons, including its commitment to service. As students, we are told to make a difference in our new community and give back to our surroundings. This is a big factor in all clubs on campus and definitely a big part of Greek life.

This past weekend was Kappa Omega Tau’s Fishery event. They rent out the fair grounds and host a carnival of sorts for the special needs community of Waco. Members of all of the sororities and other clubs come to help with booths and hang out with all of the visitors.

Pic 2My friend’s name was Laura, and she was an absolute joy to be around. It was so great to be reminded of the difference we can make in people’s lives, even if it’s just hanging out with them for a day. I especially enjoyed the day because it was a chance to get to know my new member class on a deeper level – something about community service naturally brings people together. Overall, Fishery was a great success and an amazing thing to be a part of!

Home Sweet Home

By Emily Woodby

Pic 1August 22 feels like forever ago. I remember moving into my dorm and feeling anxious about sleeping in my new bed that night. It just didn’t feel like home yet. It wasn’t anything bad; it was just the beginning of a new chapter that I had to get comfortable with. Time flew by and before I knew it, Collins 222 was definitely my home.

When finals week came around, I was ready to get home, relax over Christmas break and see my family! Living in a dorm, you learn to appreciate what you had in your home – space! That’s the one thing I did not think about coming into college. My bed is basically the only thing to sit on besides my desk chair. By default, it became my couch, comfy chair and sometimes my kitchen table.  So by the end of the semester, I was yearning to be home.

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The break was great – I got to spend time with my family and see all of my friends who are at different schools now. It was a much needed time of relaxation. Once again time flew by, but it was a good thing. I didn’t realize how much I subconsciously missed my home in Waco. I realized that it is officially my new home, and I couldn’t wait to be back. All the fun, stress, lazy Sunday afternoons and memories that came along turned this little dorm room into a home. So, don’t worry everyone – I’m home (sweet home).

Farewell to Floyd Casey

By Emily Woodby

One of the events that has marked this year at Baylor University is the construction of the new stadium, which also means the last season in Floyd Casey. I completely understand that it may sound weird that I’m sad about saying goodbye to a football stadium. So call me crazy, but I am shamelessly, very sad about saying goodbye to the old “Case.” Don’t get me wrong, I am unbelievably excited about the beautiful brand new stadium being built right next to the river and cannot wait to be a student when it opens! My whole family is pumped about the construction, as we regularly bring up the progress in our group text, discussing what new parts have been finished and how huge it looks from the view on I-35.

I guess I’m sad about this new chapter because it means one has been closed. I’ve grown up coming down to Waco to cheer on the bears and have seen Floyd Casey Stadium in a familiar light. It went along with the Baylor campus that I grew up seeing as a second home of sorts. So many fond memories come to mind when I think about all the games I’ve been to and all of the hours I’ve spent sitting in those stands.

As the last game is right around the corner, everyone is getting ready: waiting in the long line to get their student ticket, deciding on what to wear and figuring out what time they should head over to the tailgates. I am so excited to finish out the season strong and support the Bears by cheering my little heart out, but when the game is finished, it’ll be a sad farewell to Floyd Casey.

Time Flies

By Emily Woodby

This week, I had the realization that I am almost done with my first semester as a freshman. Wow. It feels like I unpacked yesterday, but I feel like I’ve been here forever at the same time. When I realized that Christmas break is less than a month away, I started to think about the goals that I set for myself at the beginning of the year and how I currently measure up to those standards.

I’ve worked hard at making the transition from high school to college academically and, for the most part, I’ve gotten the hang of my classes. I’ve made it through midterms, and finals are right around the corner! I definitely still have work to do and will hopefully ace my finals with the help of lots of caffeine, maybe a few all-nighters and lots of prayer!

I’ve made great friendships with girls who I know will be in my life for many years to come. Like I’ve said before, the beginning of college can be stressful as you are faced with the pressure of picking out friends that could potentially shape your next four years. Luckily everything works out in the end, and everyone finds his or her niche before long! Baylor and the churches in the area are so great with helping students build relationships with uplifting people and organizations.

Lastly, I think the most important goal that I had set for myself was a combination of the two. I wanted to successfully manage a balance between my academic life and my social life. I am here at Baylor to get my degree but also to make memories and build relationships like everyone else. Finding a balance can be hard. But, reminding yourself of your priorities and not overworking yourself makes all the difference. I think that I have found a way to do this, and because of that, I’ve had an amazing semester so far! I guess it’s true what they say: Time flies when you’re having fun!

Cheetahs, Zebras and Bunnies! Oh My!

By Emily Woodby

TyFor me, Halloween marks the real beginning of fall. With pumpkin spice lattes and fall décor everywhere, I can’t help but savor the cooler breeze and the sense of warmth it somehow gives me. At the beginning of the year, one thing that I heard about constantly was the Freshman Leadership Organization’s (FLO) Halloween dance at Cameron Park Zoo. I didn’t know what to expect besides seeing other freshmen in costumes. Now I know what the rage was all about.

 

Beanie Babies

At the zoo, there are these huge stairs that lead down to the dance floor, which lies between two animal exhibits. I thought this was a really cool location; we were all dancing like crazy right next to monkeys and tigers that were just hanging out. OK, now to the most important part: the costumes. Earlier that day, my friends and I didn’t have a clue as to what we were going to be. Then, I had the grand idea of dressing up as Beanie Babies! They all laughed at me and doubted my brilliant plan, but who had the last laugh? I happen to think we made the cutest Beanie Babies there ever were, but I may be a little biased. Just like any other girl, I love to dress up, so Halloween is the perfect holiday for me!