Hello World,
It has been almost two months since I last wrote a blog post. This is so uncommon for me. I love to post every week. It helps me put all my thoughts down into one place, and it helps get me ready for my upcoming week. I guess the reason I am writing now is because I have a lot on my mind...
I have been back at Illinois College for about six weeks. These six weeks have consisted of adjusting to apartment life, settling into new classes, and making sure I can hold a successful rush season. It almost seems like rush and class work are on my mind 24/7. It can be overwhelming. However, it is also helping me with time management. It leaves me very little time for myself. I often have to remind myself why I am putting myself through all this.
I have been able to keep up with classes. I do not feel as if I am behind in anyway. I also make sure I am putting that before anything. So far, so good.
Being the rush captain this year has allowed me to grow in many ways. I am more organized because if I am not, it would eat me alive. I have learn how to communicate better with others because without that, no one would be where they needed to be. I have fallen even more in love with Sigma Phi Epsilon Literary Society, and I could not be more grateful for that. Looking around and getting a behind the scenes look at Greek life, has opened my eyes as to why I rushed Phips and why others should too. I should never feel embarrassed or silenced about why I am a Phip. Being a Phip means you are classy, smart, beautiful, caring, social, forgiving, ect. No one can compare, so why not brag a little about my society and my sisters.
Sigma Phi Epsilon holds the Female Literary Society GPA Award. My sisters work hard for that. We know that before we can go have fun, our homework and grades better be up to Phips standers. We hold the Love Cup Award. This award is given to the society with the best Literary Productions. My sisters spend countless hours writing, memorizing, and studying their pieces before a production. We hold ourselves to very high standers because we expect nothing less from each other. I know I have personally benefited from giving production pieces. I am so much more confident in presenting a speech, and it's really amazing. We also hold the Service Award. We clock the most hours of service year after year. We know service is important not only for us, but especially for the ones we are helping. I am proud to be apart of something so much bigger than myself.
* PC '15 *
With that being said, we do hold many more awards as well. I personally like to strive for these three because we stand for "Knowledge, Love, and Service" and we always are able to uphold that. I know that after 100 years our founders would be proud of what we are able to accomplish each year. We stand out. We love each other. We help not only sisters, but our sounding communities. We are the women of Sigma Phi Epsilon.
SO for those of you rushing this fall, find your home. Find your sisters. Branch out and join something that will not only change your life but ones around it. Go see what each society has to offer, but know I love my society above all else. Let me help you find your home somewhere in Smith House.
SPL,
Miss Polly Keen
Hello World,
Everything is back to normal. I'm home and getting use to my normal routine. Not a whole lot has happened this week. I has able to get together with family and get some things ready for school. I'm ready to get back. I want to move in just so I can get everything organized and ready for first semester. I did however get time to read the new Harry Potter book! I really enjoyed it. I think my favorite part was being back with the characters and read about new adventures they had to face. It took me back to being a child and reading them for the first time with daddy keen and wishing I could live in that world. For me, reading Harry Potter is just pure joy.
Last Thursday, my family and I went out to Springfield Muni Opera and saw "Nice Work If You Can Get It." It was such a great show, so to all those involved, CONGRATS! I loved seeing a new show. It was funny, the music and sining was wonderful, and the dancing just blew me away. I hope I get to see more shows that give me that joy again.
*Autumn and I after the show. She was wonderful!*
To top this blog off, I would just like to say congratulateions to Ryan Held and the rest of the 4 x 100 relay team for bring the gold home to the USA! It was so cool and surreal to see that all happen. I wish nothing but the best for Ryan and his future with swimming and life. He was such a kind and smart friend who always walked the halls with a smile and said "hello." I got to see him race a few times in high school and I thought he was fast then, but seeing his last night blew my mind. The coolest thing was honestly seeing the pure happiness on his face. Just really awesome. (:
Until next week,
-PK
P.S. I cannot wait to see the Stringer girls (and Chris) this week!!!
Hello World,
When I look back at my summer at Blue Ridge, I know I did it right. I love the people I met, my working environment was fun, and I went on great adventures that Illinois cannot give me. It's so surreal to think I am already home. I remember telling my family last Thanksgiving that I as applying, and right after New Years I did just that. So thank you to Jordan Domin for hiring me! There is no other way I would have wanted to spend my summer. I feel like working at Blue Ridge has also brought me closer to family members who I don't get to see vey often (because of distance). I have loved talking to them about their time in the mountains and sharing stories.
Last Wednesday I was able to go white water rafting with USA Raft. It was such a great time! Our guide, Tori, was awesome and the views were beautiful! I really wish I was able to do it more often. I think it is becoming one of my favorite things to do. I was in the very front of the boat, and I think that's the most fun part. I loved paddling and getting splashed by the river. I kept wishing there was some way for me to take pictures. Maybe I need to invest in a water proof camera. There's nothing that compares.
My dad and brother came and picked me up. They stayed a few days on the mountains, so on Friday we went to Biltmore Estate. Let me tell you, if you ever have the chance to visit please do! It was my second time going and I am even more in love with it. The history behind it is amazing, and the details put into the house are so cool. The things they were able to accomplish during that time was mind blowing. It was built by George Vanderbilt II in the late 1800s and remains the largest privately owned home in the United States. Everything in the house comes from some other part of the world. George went around and brought things back that he thought would work well in his home. It was also one of the first homes to have electricity. I could get lost for hours just looking and reading and asking questions, but hopefully you will be able to experience it one day.
*dad and I in front on their observing ramp*
One of the big jokes in the office this summer was me trying to see a Black Bear. I kept an eye out all summer. There were two or three families of bears that were living on the campuse. It seemed liked everyone else was able to spot them but me. I would go on truck rides at night to try to see one and people would even try to race me back to the spot where they had just seen one. I'm disappointed to say that I never saw one. I just wanted to be able to say I saw the bear in it's home. I think that would have been the coolest thing ever. I guess that just means I have to go back soon and look some more!
My last night there I stayed up until 3:00am and just talked about my summer. I had to be in the car by 6:00am but it was so worth it. I loved looking over the summer with my new friends; friends who I know I will have with me forever. I didn't expect to connect with the staff like I did. The memories I have with them will always be on the mind. Muhammed made fun of me when I tried to learn Turkish (which is one of the hardest languages I have come across), Egor won't tell me every day how I have the best and softest hair he has ever seen, Zoradia won't come walking in with the cutest outfits all the time, Travis tried so hard to help me understand how the Pokémon game worked (which I am getting better at), I won't get to lay on Alyssa's bed listening to her awesome music with Olivia, Kadie won't be making fun of Andrew and get me laughing harder than I needed to, and Leah won't be giving me anymore massages for a long time... These moments will stay with me. Their faces will forever be in my head. I am so lucky to have social media to keep up with them. I am also hoping that my roommate, Tew, will be able to write to me once she is home. I know everyone is where they need to be tough. I think that's why I haven't sob yet. I wish more than anything that I will be able to not only visit my American friends but those in Turkey and Spain and Russia and so on... It has sparked a fire in me that I need to help build. So thank you to everyone on the mountain for giving me the most amazing summer. I hope to see you soon.
*Tew and I with Muhammed photobombing*
I want to also say thank you to my mom, dad, and grandma Mary for sending me love packages this summer, and to Shannon and Josh for their letters. It was fun getting them (:
It was nice coming home to family though. I was able to see everyone at once. My aunt Kathy had her family all together (minus Tommy who was working). Megan brought her adorable family over to celebrate Vivi's first birthday! She and the twins are getting so big and cute. Katie is home from Switzerland with her girls. I have not been able to see them since Christmas and it was so so wonderful to see them! Just playing and hugging on the girls made me so happy. I know they are where the need to be, but it will so great to finally have them home in a year. And of course my mom was over the moon happy to have me back. I know this wasn't easy for her, but it means the world to me that she has been so supportive.
I have been able to post and write about my experience at Blue Ridge and I encourage anyone who wants to, to checkout my earlier blogs and my album "Blue Ridge '16" on Facebook. I tried to capture my summer the best I could. I know I will spend days going back and reminiscing on my time spent with amazing people.
*dad, JT, and I on High Top (a hiking trail at Blue Ridge)*
I was able to read a lot this summer. I loved it. Ian even surprised me by mailing me two of the new books I had my eyes on. I finished one of them already called All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda. This is a great book for anyone who loves mystery novels with a twist. I am currently reading Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler. This one is about a girl moving to NYC for the first time. I am liking it so far, but I may be putting it one hold. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child came out last night! I will most likely be picking up my copy this week (and also finishing it). This just brings back memories of daddy keen reading Harry Potter to me every night growing up. It will Always stick with me...
-PK
*THANK YOU*
Hello World,
Sorry this post is a day later. I had a busy Sunday that left me really tired. I didn't get a lot of sleep Saturday night because I stayed up and talked to some of the people here. It was a really fun time. I had to be up early on Sunday because of group of us went to Dollywood. I had never been before and wanted to check it out. I will say this, I had a great time and loved the rollercoasters. I do wish the park would have been bigger. It was fun, but I think I am going to stick to Six Flags. I was very sore and tired when I finally got back to my room so I decided to wait until today to type all this out.
It has also hit me that this is my last week here at Blue Ridge. It's really hard for me to believe that I have spent seven weeks here already. The time as gone by so quickly. I love the people I have been able to meet here. I think that is what I will miss the most about being here. I sat around a table last night and just smiled at the people I was with. I truly am going to miss everyone here. However, I am so ready to get home. I have a lot I need to do before school, and I'm missing the people back at home.
*myself, Bekah, and TL*
We took an all staff picture last week in front of Eureka Hall. The picture will hang in the café now, along with all the others. I think it's really cool how I will now be on the wall with my dad, aunts, and cousins. I'm sure that I will come back and find the picture and just reminisce on my summer here.
That's all I have for this blog. Thanks for reading and make sure to click the "follow" button to keep up with my blogs (:
-PK
Hello World,
Well I officially have less than two weeks here in the mountains. It's the strangest feeling knowing that this amazing summer is coming to its end. I have loved being here and getting to know the people and all the great adventures I have had. I have a lot planned for the next two weeks!
I am excited to be home though. I have a lot to do before I head back to IC. I want to look into my classes, get ready for Rush, and maybe pick up a few things for the apartment. I am so excited to move in. I am also excited for Rush. I have a lot of ideas swimming around in my head now. If you want to keep involved with what I and my society is doing, follow us on twitter: @SigPhips and instagram: @phips1916
Being here gets me excited about possible travels I have in my head. One of the trips I am hoping to plan is one to Alaska. I have some family moving there this summer. I would love to be able to get out there next summer. Fingers crossed!
This past week a group of us went out to get some food in Asheville. We went to White Duck Taco Shop. Literally the best tasting tacos I have ever had; 10/10 would recommend. I ended up with the fish tacos and I think it is my new favorite thing to eat. Springfield needs to open one ASAP. I need to go back before I leave for home.
*found this wall behind the taco shop*
That's all I have for this week. My next one should be exciting so make sure you read.
-PK
Hello World,
Yes, I know that this is not my normal day to blog. We have had a lot of trouble with the wifi this week, and I wanted to make sure that I was able to post this weekend. So for right now I have wifi and I am taking full advantage of it. Happy Saturday!
Right now, outside the entrance of Blue Ridge, a tree has fallen in the middle of the road and has taken some power lines with it. The company working on it is hopeful that it will be fixed by tonight. As of right now, there is only one building with power, wifi, and AC: Blue Ridge Center (BRC). It's a busy weekend here. We had four large groups come in last night. Also, last night a group of the staff went to Launch Trampoline Park in Asheville. It was actually so much fun! I had never been to a trampoline park before and wasn't sure if I would feel "too old" for it. But being the child at heart that I am, I had a blast. I would highly recommend going to one. I even think they are opening one back in Springfield, IL soon...
This past Monday, as you all realized, was the Fourth of July! A group of us ended up going to a parade in a town over. We also ended up going paddle boating that afternoon. I couldn't tell you the last time I was able to do that so it was that much better. Later that night we went into downtown Black Mountain for the fireworks. We were even able to find an ice cream shop near by and I got Carmel Ripple in a fresh, handmade waffle cone (talk about heaven). We ate the ice cream while watching the fireworks. It was a lot of fun. I was also able to talk and get to know Maria. She grew up in Columbia but now lives in Italy with her boyfriend. She is such a sweet, kind, and intelligent women. I'm very lucky to call her a friend now.
Today I was able to catch up with my cousin Heather. It was so so wonderful to see her. She's in Asheville for a visit and asked if we could have lunch. We just talked and caught up with what we're doing in life. I haven't seen her in a little over a year and have missed her. It's so cool that no matter where I go, it always seems to work out that I have some family near by. I hope I get to sit down with her again soon. Thank you for a wonderful afternoon Heather!
I'll leave you with the book I am currently reading. It's the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. I have a huge book with all seven in one. Right now I am on book five, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I have been speeding through them! They just pull me in and are really well written. I would highly recommend if anyone just wants to read a good "fairy tale," as Lewis refers to them. However, I think they are so much more than that...
-PK
Hello World,
I really don't have a lot to say in this post. I don't find myself having a lot of inspiration at the moment. I have been working very late all week and just want to find time to sleep. Tonight I have showered and put on a nice face mask to help me calm down. I am putting on The Cornicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe and going to bed. I am actually in the process of reading all seven of the books and am currently on the third book, The Horse and his Boy. Today I went on a little hiking adventure. I didn't get very far up the mountain only because I found a little river and wanted to just listen and take some pictures. I am hoping that on Tuesday some of us are heading into Asheville for some shopping. I would really love to pick up some t-shirt dresses.
That is really all I have for this week. I think I am just tired from working so much. I do love the amount of hours I get, but sometimes I don't think it would be all that bad to have the morning shift. Anyway, until next week...
-PK
P.S. I would just like to congratulate Ryan Held on making Team USA for swimming. I'll be praying and cheering you on! #Rio2016
