Spring Break, Baylor Style

By Frances George- A Baylor Parent

A month or so ago, my daughter called out of the blue and announced, “I think I’ll come home for spring break.” Call me a bad mother, but I thought that was odd and told her so. Oops.

Instead I launched into a Mini Mother Sermon (do you ever do that?) that went something like this:
“Honey, this is your next to last spring break. EVER. You know, you don’t get those in Adult Land. Go and be with your friends at a wonderful destination and make memories. Get the most out of this unique and marvelous season called college! Home will be here waiting for you at Easter.”

In the end Mary Scott ended up going skiing in Colorado with ten other friends and had a ball after the 17 hour drive to the ski resort. (I received a text saying “I’m here!” at 4:23AM…. It was a beautiful sight even if it was the Sunday morning of Daylight Savings Time!)

Each day we received pictures of fun on the slopes, a day at the spa, tubing, dinners in the house, fun playing out in the snow, ski lift pictures, and sitting in the sun on the deck. By mid-week a phone call came and she said, “Mom, I’m so glad I’m here! We have had the best time. You know, we didn’t really all know each other that well when we came but now we’ve gotten really close and have had the best time being together! We have been able to relax, play games at night, pack lunches each day and just enjoy hanging out together.” Your normal spring break report, right?

Well, this is the part that makes Baylor, once again, so uniquely great. One day, Mary Scott called right in the middle of the day and I asked why she wasn’t skiing. She said, “Mom, I just decided to stay in today and have some quiet time alone. She told me “I wrote, had a long quiet time in the Word, prayed, listened to sermons and thought about the future. It was nice to just be still. Thank you, Mom, for letting me come.” How many college students do you know that go on spring break and take a mini retreat in the middle to dig deep in scripture, ponder their future, and then call to say “Thanks”?

After a week of skiing and relaxation, it was time for her to return to school. And very early Saturday morning, I received another text from Mary Scott at 3:23 AM claiming, “I’m back! Such fun!”

Third spring break in the books. One more to go. More memories to treasure. New friends along the way. In a day when so many students in so many other top tier colleges spend their spring break on one long continual binge of the “wild life”, Baylor students are a cut above; as someone once said, “These students are top drawer.” They have so much fun together and are grateful for every minute. Even though I personally knew only four of the eleven on the trip, I was not worried one minute about any of the group. You see, I have come to understand what constitutes a Baylor student and because of that, I knew they would look after each other and would be wise.

Studying the Word, breaking bread, laughter, snow, memories for a lifetime. This is the stuff of college as it should be.

This is the Baylor difference. It may not seem like an enormous thing but spring break at Baylor is just another reason why we love this school. The simple things sometime speak the loudest. Won’t you join the fun, Spring Break, Baylor- Style!

Baylor, Now and Forever

By Ashley Woo

Over Spring Break, I decided to be nonconventional and stay in Texas. One of my roommates is from out-of-state, so my other roommates and I decided that we should use this as a last push to convince her to stay in Texas after we graduate in May. Our first stop on our tour around Texas was Dallas, where we stayed with one of my very best friends Abigail. She was our tour guide for the day, taking us to have dinner in Uptown and dessert in Victory Park, driving us around the Arts District and showing us the Tri Delta house at Southern Methodist University. However, one of my favorite parts of my time in Dallas was when we were having Sunday lunch. Abigail’s mom is part of the Baylor family and also a Tri Delta alumnae. During lunch, we got a chance to ask her what life was like when she was still a student at Baylor. It was interesting to hear how things were actually very similar to what they are like now.

At one point, she pulled out her old yearbooks to show us visual representations of what she was talking about. As we flipped through the yearbook, it was fascinating to see what current professors, deans and advisors looked like during that period of their life. To think that the current Dean of the Hankamer Business School participated in Sing, float, Pigskin and other student events is a bit awkward to think about. However, because of Baylor’s emphasis on maintaining tradition, everything looked very similar to what you could see today, but in black and white. Things were done the same way, buildings looked the same, but of course, clothing choices and hairstyles were definitely a bit aged. One of my favorite things to see was what Sing looked like several years ago. Costumes were much more simple, but the amount of time and energy put into each act was the same, if not more.

All in all, spending an afternoon looking at old Baylor yearbooks was both fun and informative. Even though Baylor is focused on growth, it was encouraging to see that Baylor has not moved away from its deep rooted tradition.

Home Sweet Home

By Torie Abbott

I had a wonderful spring break this year! I did not go anywhere extravagant or do anything extraordinarily fun; my week, however, was wonderful. For my Spring Break this year, I went home. The best part though was getting to bring my best friend from Baylor home with me. We had such a blast!

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I love those special times when my high school world and my college world collide, and I get to be surrounded by all the people I care about. In high school, it was easy for my friends to get to know my family. Also, since most of my friends all attended the same high school, they all knew each other as well. In college, this is a much more challenging feat. Not only is it hard for my friends at college to get to know my parents, it is almost impossible for them to get to know any of my friends from high school. When it does happen, however, it is such a great time!

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Being able to bring friends from Baylor home to get to know my parents and brothers, along with my high school friends, was a rare and great opportunity. Though it might not seem like the best Spring Break to some people, I could not have asked for a better break for myself.

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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SB2014. No Regrets.

By Patara Williams

YEEESSSS!! SB2014. #NOREGRETS.

Does this sound familiar? If not to you, it definitely does to me. It seems like everyone had the biggest and baddest events planned for their 2014 Spring Break.

In this facet…I’m just like everyone else.

In my mind, I had the greatest plan of all. It topped everyone else’s. While they were sailing on cruises, walking the beaches and flying from country to country, I was planning on being in Waco, Texas…in my bed.

What? Ten weeks of class is exhausting. What’s wrong with a little sleep…seven consecutive days worth of sleep?

Zzzzzz. Period.

But, at the last minute, I decided to maximize my week to its greatest capacity. I realized that I was looking out for my own interests and in the end the only person who could possibly benefit from 168 hours of sleep was Patara. So, I decided to call up my College Pastor and dedicate time to an awesome event called Catalyst.

In this facet…I was quite a bit different from everyone else.

What is Catalyst?

  • An annual Spring Break outreach/missions opportunity targeted at one of the oldest and most impoverished housing units in the city of Waco
  • An opportunity for children to experience the love of Jesus and partake in fun daily activities for an entire week
  • A wonderful blessing – every day kids were provided free meals (more than 60 percent of Waco children are on free/reduced lunch programs and rarely have food when they arrive home…could you imagine being out of school for an entire week?)

So…in essence, it’s very similar to what we know as VBS…on steroids.

What did this mean for me?

  • Surrendering myself in lieu of the interests of others
  • Bonding with children…not my forte…AT ALL
  • Giving up my 168 hours of sleep
  • Running around in the hot sun for 5+ hours a day
  • Getting injured anytime I tried to put together a gazebo

What did it mean for the Kingdom?

  • Sowing into the lives of children
  • Anointing homes with the love of the Lord
  • Bringing hope to the hopeless
  • Bringing joy to the broken
  • Pleasing my Father

The Lesson

Maximize the time that you’re given on this earth. Use any and every opportunity you can to love on your neighbor. In the end, your reward will be the greatest.

SB2K14. No Regrets.

Chasing Children

Chasing Children

Chocolate Milk + Face Paint = Cuteness!

Chocolate Milk + Face Paint = Cuteness!

 

The Magic of Spring Break

By Laura Teague

Pic 1During Spring Break, I got to go to Disney World with my mom, aunt, uncle and two family friends for six days! My mom and I realized during the first day that I hadn’t been to Disney World in 14 or 15 years (Wow, that makes me feel old). But the magic of it all was not lost. Seeing all the characters, riding the rides and spending time with my family made for a perfect week.

My one fear of the week was the major roller coasters. Heights and drops are not my thing…I was more in this trip for the magic and good food. My family finally convinced me to ride Expedition Everest, and after a 15-minute line and lots of screaming, I ended up loving it. The rest of the week was great, and most of the rides really were so fun (minus Tower of Terror. No thank you.)

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Walking around the park, I was amazing to see how much Baylor gear people were wearing! A few of my friends from Baylor were also there, so getting to meet up with them was one of the highlights of the week! It’s amazing how much fun you can have when tests and homework don’t exist for a week. I spent the morning with three of my friends from my sorority in Animal Kingdom and then met up with my roommate that afternoon at Epcot.

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My spring break was a blast; I loved getting to experience something from my childhood again with my family and friends. Disney is such a unique place that is fun if you’re 5, 25 or 85. I found this quote from Walt Disney after I left the park, and I think it sums up this trip perfectly:

“Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and dreams are forever.”

My Final Spring Break

By Michael Allen

Like I mentioned in my last blog, I went to New York for my last Spring Break! Despite the cold weather, it was a blast, and I got to see a lot! For me, Spring Breaks are about making lifetime memories with a group of friends and getting to explore new places along the way.

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On our first day in the Big Apple, we did a lot of walking around Times Square and got talked into going to a comedy show that evening by one of the vendors in the area. The comedy show had a few funny acts, but was nothing to write home about. After that, we explored the area around the main part of New York University’s campus. It was fun getting to see people our age that go to school in a city that is the complete opposite of Waco.

We took it easy our second day because we were so tired from traveling the day before. We went to lunch at an Italian food restaurant and then walked around the area right behind Times Square. There were a bunch of restaurants in that area that had all different types of food. This was the coldest day, so we didn’t spend much time walking around that afternoon. That evening we took a taxi down to the Meat Packing District and had a great dinner at a smaller restaurant. It was nice eating at this restaurant because it was quieter, so we were able to talk.

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On the third day, we decided to venture away from Times Square. We started off by going to Rockefeller Plaza to catch the end of the Today Show and then walked around Fifth Avenue. For breakfast, we went to Grand Central Terminal. If you haven’t been to Grand Central, I would definitely recommend it because the underground food area has a bunch of great options! After breakfast, we took the subway down near the Lower East Side and explored Greenwich Village, SOHO, China Town and the financial district. It was neat to get to walk around all of these different areas, and at a coffee shop in Greenwich Village, we saw Alec Baldwin! We also saw the World Trade Center memorial and ate lunch at a small pub across from the memorial.

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After lunch, we walked down to the Financial District. As a finance major, I knew I wanted to go back and see Wall Street since I hadn’t been in a few years. Here is a picture of me standing in front of the New York Stock Exchange.

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We headed back to the hotel after this and rested before going to dinner at a Chinese food restaurant called Tao. For anyone going to New York, I would definitely recommend this restaurant because of the good food and great ambiance. You can’t tell as much in the picture below, but behind my friend and me was a huge two-story Buddha!

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On the fourth day, we had brunch in the Lower East Side and then took the subway to Central Park. We walked around Central Park for a while, which was a lot of fun because it was finally above forty degrees.

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We wanted to ice skate, but decided that it was not worth the money. There were plenty of artists in the park, so we decided to get a caricature done of the group instead. The artist definitely exaggerated a few facial features on everyone, so it didn’t turn out as realistic as we had hoped. But, it will still be a great memory.

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On the fifth day, we woke up, had breakfast and then headed to the airport to get back to Texas. All in all, it was a great trip with great friends. I would recommend any incoming freshman or current student to plan a Spring Break with friends. It’s easier to travel when everyone is in college because you do not have to try and plan the trip around work schedules! I would recommend going to Florida at least once if you don’t mind the drive, but it sure was nice to fly north this year!

Surviving until Spring Break

By Patara Williams

5 exams, 1 paper. 5 days, 67 percent motivation. Level 10 tiredness.

How will I ever make it?!

It’s the week of midterms, and as I stare down at my planner covered in thin tipped Sharpie, streaked in pink and yellow highlighter and tabbed every so often, I roll my eyes.

“Patara, just look forward to the entire week that you’re promised off,” I whispered to myself unconvincingly. Spring break lurks around the corner.

Fast forward 5 days.

Friday, March 07, 2014

I sit here praising the Lord for the peace that now settles over me. How did I make it through?

  • Prayer & Quiet Times
  • Breakfast
  • Starbucks
  • ONE EPISODE of SCANDAL
  • Exercise

It’s true that in college, there will moments or even weeks that may seem overwhelming. However, the point of it all is not simply to focus on the outcome, but to focus on the way that we manage our deeds that yield the outcome. Learning to manage our behaviors is substantially more crucial to our lives than learning to manage our time.

Don’t allow your deeds to be dictated by the actions of your peers.

It may take your roomie three hours to study for an exam, and it may take you seven hours to study for the same exam…your studies take precedence over your roomie’s request to go to Austin for a study break. Period.

Reward yourself with a break.

After completing several exams, I decided to “detox” and wind down for a break with a single one hour episode of SCANDAL. The key factor here is that I only watched one episode. Submit to God and forsake your Netflix. Studies are more important.

Omnom often.

Eating breakfast is more important than you’ll ever know. Oh, and when I say “breakfast,” I am implying a balanced meal consisting of a grain, protein and fruit or something fairly close to that. Also, it is wise to pack snacks to eat (omnom) during the day as you’re studying. Some of my favorites are:

  • Almonds
  • Pretzels and Hummus
  • Strawberries and Blackberries
  • Kale Chips
  • Cliff Bars

Exercise

This may sound like madness, but this week, I got up at 5:45, headed to the SLC (Student Life Center) at 6, worked out, showered, reviewed and then went to class. I maximized my time and was much more focused during my exam. Yep, I increased my mental acuity and harnessed brain power by running, stair-stepping and cycling. Winning.

Starbucks

…is not for everyone, but it IS for me. I also enjoy Common Grounds and simple HEB teas and coffees that give me the extra boost that I may need during a late night study session. If you don’t need caffeine, don’t use it. And, if you do…consume in moderation.

Prayer

For me, this was the most important factor because I find peace by spending time with God. I encourage you to meditate, pray or read devotionals that offer encouragement and combat against frustration.

Just remember, you can do it! Learn how to manage your behavior and in doing so, you’ll be sure to maximize your time and ability to be successful in your sojourn as a college student!

Sic ‘Em…You!

Spring Break…It’s almost here!

By Torie Abbott

It’s that time of year when everyone is just a little bit tired. The semester is about halfway over, and the school week is filled with midterms. Sing just ended this past week, and summer internships and jobs are beginning to fall into place. Everyone, frankly, just needs a break! If this is you, it’s totally OK. You have the Spring Break Blues.

The spring semester is just a hectic one for everyone. There is so much to do, the weather is (typically) so nice and everyone is looking forward to summer. That is why we get a whole week off during the spring semester…we all need it.

Whether you are planning a trip with friends or family, staying in Waco or are just going home for the week, you are hoping for some rest, so you can finish the semester strong in the coming weeks. Remember, most importantly, to take some time for yourself this week. You deserve it!

With Spring Break just around the corner, the best advice I can give is to study hard, finish the week strong and remember you have a week of relaxation ahead of you.

My Spring Break Adventures

By Michael Allen

With two weeks until Spring Break, I decided I would share my college Spring Break experiences thus far. Spring Break is one of the best parts of spring semester. Students have the opportunity to return home and relax, go on a mission trip through Baylor or take a road trip with friends to a fun destination. I went home to rest my freshman year, but then I took road trips with friends during my sophomore and junior years.

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Sophomore year’s Spring Break destination was Gulf Shores, Alabama. In order to beat the Spring Break traffic, my friends and I chose to leave Waco at midnight on Friday with hopes of reaching our destination by lunchtime. While an eleven-hour drive does not sound like it’d be fun, we had a blast. I have always thought of it as more of a bonding experience. It’s an opportunity to share in the excitement of what is going to unfold that week. It ended up being an fun week of eating at different seafood restaurants, exploring the town and relaxing on the beach. After a week in Gulf Shores, I was ready to get back to Waco and finish my sophomore year with great memories.

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For junior year’s Spring Break, I made a little bit of a further drive to Destin, Florida. I would have to say that I like the city of Destin better than Gulf Shores. There seemed to be more restaurant opportunities, and the beach was very nice! I once again left at midnight, but enjoyed getting to Destin early on Saturday. I would always recommend caravanning when making long trips like this, just to be on the safe side. It’s also fun to travel to Spring Break destinations with your friends!

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My twin brother, who attends TCU, also went to Destin for Spring Break that year and ended up staying at a house three doors down from mine. It was fun getting to experience that week with him and all our friends.

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Overall, it was a fun week, and I would definitely recommend Destin to anybody looking for a beach destination for Spring Break!

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For my senior year Spring Break, I have decided to switch it up and not go to a beach. In two weeks, my friends and I will be traveling to New York for the week to enjoy some time in the Big Apple. We hope to see a few shows and explore all that the city has to offer. I am relieved to have a three-hour flight instead of my usual long drive. I’ll share stories about my final Spring Break when I get back!