Spending Summer 2016 in the Mountians

   Growing up, my dad, aunts, and a couple cousins would tell me of their summers at YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountains, NC.  They would spend their summers in college working at Blue Ridge, and they still say to this day that it was the best times of their lives.  Blue Ridge has a summer program aimed at college students, and for the last couple years I have been thinking about how I would love to experience this for myself.  Well my time has come! This past December I applied for a position at Blue Ridge.  I was lucky enough that they contacted me and asked to set up a phone interview.  We talked about why I wanted the job and how my family had influenced me and told me how wonderful it was.  The man who interviewed me was very excited to hear how I had other family members work there and that I had actually been to Blue Ridge.  After a long interview, I was offered a job working for Conference Services.  Needless to say, I was over the moon excited to be given this opportunity.  I have wanted to apply for such a long time now, and not only was I able to apply but I was offered a job.
   My family is so excited and supportive, which is all I could ever ask for.  I know being far away from them will be a new struggle for all of us, but I am positive that the excitement and joy that will come from this experience will help us get through.  For you see, this job will require me to live in North Carolina for two months this summer.  I will only be coming home for about three or four days for my dad's ordination to become a Deacon.  Yes, I am nervous to not be near family for the first time, but the excitement is so overpowering that I am not yet worried about being homesick.  I will be living in the mountains, meeting kids my age from all over the country and the world (along with others), and gaining new work experiences. 
   This week it has all become so real for me.  I received an email finalizing the details about my travel and work being done when I am out there.  I will leave a link to their website to help those who want to, to look into where I will be this summer.  My goal is to go into this with an open mind and come out of it with great experiences, friends, and memories.  I am so excited to be spending my summer in the mountains.    

<https://www.blueridgeassembly.org/>

Phip Formal!

 Hello World!
 This past Friday Sigma Phi Epsilon had our first formal!  It was the first time we had ever held a formal just for ourselves and our dates.  It was a lot of fun and everyone looked so good.  Our theme was masquerade and we wore red, white, and black dresses.  I loved getting ready for the dance with Shannon, Kat, Kitty, and Alex.  I ended up wearing one of Shannon's dresses.  I posted a lot of formal pictures on Facebook already.  If you want to see them just go to my photos and find the album "Sig Phip."  The formal came together really well and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.  I was really happy to have Lindsay there this year because last year she couldn't go.  I love getting pictures with her and sending them to my family.  She is my grandmother's god-child and she was the one who introduced me to Phips.  It has really helped me here at school, and it continues to help push me into becoming a better me. 
 Today I have been drowning in Biology homework, but I have been able to accomplish a lot.  I feel good about classes right now, and I'm still hopeful that I will continue to keep raising my GPA.  Besides that, nothing huge has been going on.  We only have about two weeks until spring break and a little over a full month left of classes.  With that and almost being 20, it has started to hit me that I will soon no longer be a teenager and I will almost be half way through undergrad...
-PK

Meeting Amber

Hello World!
 This week Illinois College brought in a speaker.  I was able to listen and meet Amber Tamblyn.  She is an actress, author, poet, and film director. Her first role was on the soap opera General Hospital when she was a child, followed by the series Joan of Arcadia, playing the lead. Her feature films include roles in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, The Grudge 2, The Ring, and 127 Hours. She also had a starring role on Two and a Half Men.  It was really cool getting to hear her talk about how she grew up and how she was able to keep going without breaking down.  Growing up in Hollywood is not easy and hearing how she was able to keep her head level was very interesting.  She loves what she does and is not scared of people telling her no.  I am grateful for IC for allowing me to learn from her.

(Brandon, Sam, Amber, and I)

 This past week was the celebration of Mardi Gras! It is one of my favorite holidays simply because it is celebrated all over the world, and the vibe surrounding it is so much fun.  (plus NOLA is my most favorite place on earth.)  With Mardi Gras comes the beginning of another Lent season.  This year I have decided to give up meat.  As extreme as this sounds, it is something I want to do.  I feel that I have not been diving head first into my relgion lately and think I need to do a little more to fully get back to where I need to be.  My faith is important to me, so this really isn't a huge deal for me.  I have been reading up on what I need to be doing and eating in order to maintain a healthy, non-meat life style.
 Thank you for reading, and until next week...
-PK

Fun in SPE

   Hello world!
 This week has been filled with classes and work.  Nothing too stressful, which has been nice. 
At the end of last semester I was elected Rush Captain for Sigma Phi Epsilon (SPE).  Our rush season doesn't start until we get back from summer break, but I have already started to plan.  The head of Greek life here at IC has already set up a time for us to meet about it.  She is very excited to start planning and honestly I am too.  I have some ideas I want to being to the table along with keeping some old favorites. 
 Shannon and I had a lot of fun last time just hanging out with each other and some friends here on campus.  We took a lot of pictures and just enjoyed the evening. 

 Tomorrow night we have our first literary production of the semester.  SPE holds three every semester, having a different theme each semester.  This production's theme is "Finding Yourself in Courage."  I wrote a creative piece on how to love yourself again after a boy breaks your heart.  My mom, dad, and brother are going to head over tomorrow night to come listen to me give my production.  I'm excited to see them, but I am also nervous to present it in front of them.  SO WISH ME LUCK!
-PK


     

Two days late. Yikes!

   Hello world! Sorry to say that I am two days late at posting my weekly blog.  It's just that nothing excited has really happened this past week.  I went to classes and enjoyed them.  I did however decide to drop my accounting class. I just did not feel it was the right fit for me.  I did however pick up a history class that I love.  The professor is great, but sadly this is his last semester her at IC.  His class this semester is all about the Holocaust.  I am hoping to get a lot out of it.  If I'm not in class then I'm either doing homework or working.  I cater for the school.  I find myself very busy with classes and work.  
   So, for now I am signing off.  Hopefully this week will have more exciting things to post about.  PK   

First week back and turning 100

   Well I survived the first week of my new classes.  They were not nearly as bad as I thought they would be.  I like my professors and seem to understand what is happening in the classes.  I am taking a math, bio (with lab), accounting, and a Spanish class this semester.  My accounting class will defiantly be my toughest class because there is so much homework.  But I am still hopeful for a good semester.  This week I also officially declared a major in Biology with a focus on medical technology! Onto even later nights of studying and more homework and labs!
   This past Friday (January 22) Sigma Phi Epsilon literary society turned 100! I have loved being a part of our 100th Anniversary.  Phips has given me so much over the past year and I will forever be grateful for it.  I am hoping to post an extra blog this week to better explain what a literary society is here at Illinois College and what we stand for. 

Roommates (left to right): me, Kat, Shannon, Abbie,

all members of Sigma Phi Epsilon!

 

 

           On a different note, this week I had a friend pass away here at IC.  She was driving to class after the snowfall and lost control when her car hit ice.  Please keep her and her family in your prayers and remember to drive carful in this weather. 
   Thank you again for following me this week trough this blog.  Remember to hug the ones you love and keep wishing for warmer  weather.  PK

Starting a New Semester

   Today, I have finally moved back into my dorm! I have been waiting for this day for four long weeks. I have enjoyed spending break with my family. It has been wonderful.
   Over break, I have learned a lot about myself and feel that I have grown even closer to my parents. They are one of my biggest blessing. It is so nice to know that they are standing behind me through every path I decide to go down. I have so much planned for this year already and I am so grateful for their support.
   I had a very important interview this past week. It was one of the most enjoyable interviews I have ever experienced, and it went so well. I will post in a later blog about the job and what it could entail. For now I will just say it is a dream job for me right now. I could not be happier to even get the chance to apply.
   I also found out this week that a group of friends from school and I will be enjoying spring break at the beach! We are very excited for this bonding experience and to be some place warm. This will be my first long trip with a group of girl friends. I will post later about where and who is going! That will be a whole blog in its self
   Growing up, my dad read me the Harry Potter books every night before I went to bed. It was my favorite part of growing up. I have enjoyed the movies so much, and I love following the actors and actresses on their social media. One of the most iconic characters, Snape, was played by Alan Rickman and he sadly past away this week. He was a wonderful actor who was killed by cancer. Many of you probably know of this, but I was so shocked to hear of his passing. May he rest easy.
   Being back at Illinois College is so nice. We start classes on Tuesday and I feel so prepared. This semester will push me, but I am so ready to tackle it. I want to prove to myself that I can get out of this semester with the best grades. Though, any prayers you would like to send my way wouldn't hurt!
   Until next week... PK