I am really excited about taking these classes and having homework every night doesn’t bother me too much. It is showing my youngest that is still in elementary school to do her homework every night when she has it and it is also showing her that I don’t expect any less of her than I would do myself! I also am trying to show her if you don’t procrastinate, it is a lot less stressful doing your work. I think she is slowing beginning to understand. Two of my other children are in college and I hope that I can inspire them as well to do their best. I would hate for them to have a ton of financial debt after college and not have a degree. In this economy, that is not a good option!

I got to babysit my grandbaby who is now 2 months old. Guess that is a good way to take a “break” from doing homework on the weekend. Of course, everyone has their own special things they like to do. I cannot encourage someone enough to go back to school if that is what they want to do. If there is a will, there is a way. You just have to find the way that works for you! I can’t promise it will be a picnic either, but if you have people that love you and that will support you, anything is possible! THANK YOU SO MUCH TO MY TEAM!!

After my first year of college, the fears and anxiety I had went away because I adapted to the new life style. Now I am finishing my last semester of college and those feelings of fear, stress and anxiety are back. I graduate in a few short months, and then I must get a Big Girl Job! It is so exciting to say that I am finally finishing my last year of school but it is also very scary thinking that I will have to get a full time job and have bills to pay! All I can hope for is the best. Hopefully there is a job out there that is perfect for me. If not, mom and dad better be prepared for me to move back in! HAHA

One part of the wildlife that never gets old is seeing the deer walking through campus. Sometimes they are laying in a group in the quad, other times they are right outside the academic buildings nibbling on the bushes

I will never forget the one day my friend and I were going to the student center around 10pm. We decided to take a short cut and walk through the center of the quad. As we were walking, we could start to make out a few large lumps in the grass ahead. We didn’t think anything of it, thought maybe someone decided to play a prank and throw some large rocks in the grass. As we got closer we could see white smoke coming out of the rocks. As we approached we realized the rocks were really deer that had decided to take a little break on their nightly hunt for food. If we would have been walking any faster we would have totally tripped over the deer lying in the grass.

My favorite so far this year was when these two amazing actors or impersonators (which ever you choose to call them) came through the doors of Urbana University.  They were George Bush and Bill Clinton “in the flesh.” The student activity committee invited these guys to come and show there faces–or better yet our former president’s faces.

When SAC (student activity committee) told us they were choosing four secret service officers to help get the school to interact, I willingly volunteered for a spot. Our job was to walk them around and add to the illusion of the impersonators act. Some students opened up to the “presidents” by telling their thoughts on politics and the election. This made this experience all better to see the different opinions of the student body. This day was by far the coolest/ creepiest day ever, due to the fact that these guys looked exactly like our former presidents. I loved it and I hope you love them too!

Like a lot of students on this campus my favorite professor is Mrs. Bumbalough. There are so many reasons why I love her so much. First of all, she is like a mother figure to every students that is in her classes. She takes you under her wing and helps you through not only class but other things that may be going on in your life as well. She truly shows she cares about each  and every one of her students. She is one of the most outgoing people I know.

I can remember days when I would have her class at 8 a.m. and I thought to myself “really, I’m up at 7:45 to go to class?” But luckily, I had Mrs. Bumbalough. She is also one of the strongest people I know. The last reason I would say that she is my favorite professor is because she has great ideas for education majors. She has helped me come up with so many activities and lessons that I can teach to students when I become a teacher. Every semester at the end of the semester, she would give up sticky notes that we would stick to each other’s back to write something good about the person. Whether it was great to have them in class, how smart they are, or how they liked a lesson that we taught. No matter what she always had a way to make class fun. I can honestly say that I came into college scared of math and thought that I couldn’t do math because it was too advanced for me, but Mrs. Bumbalough changed that for me. I will forever be grateful and blessed to have had the chance to have such an amazing professor.

Sincerely,

Alecia

Students and staff gather around to support such a loved professor

My favorite memory at UU would have to be when I was a RA–resident assistant. There was never a time I wasn’t busy and I enjoyed every minute.  There are so many amazing and wonderful things that go along with being a RA.  You get to meet a lot of really cool people. On campus you are considered one of the role models that lead the students on campus.  As an RA, I got to go to the presidents house and meet with a lot of people that came to the school because we took them around the school to show off UU!  Being a RA really helps with developing a family atmosphere while I was there.  I felt that if there was ever a time that I needed someone or wanted someone to talk to, I could go to any of  my fellow RA’s and ask them for help and guidance.

Bethany (girl in the middle) is a RA in the Freshman dorm!

As a RA, I was expected to come up with cool ideas and activities for the my hallway and community building to do. I could let my creativity shine!!  Being a RA also helped me financially because if you get the job–they pay for your room and board!! I was ecstatic when I got the job because as many other people like me, I am going to be paying back loans and this was another way to keep the loans at a minimum while also developing myself! There were some tough times that I can honestly say challenged me but when it was done, I always learned more and thought to myself, “this will help me in the future.” If any of you are thinking about becoming a RA, I highly recommend it!  It will challenge you and make you  a better person. Have any questions about becoming a RA. Call Mitch Joseph, located on the bottom level of the Student Center.

Alecia Epps

I grew up in a very musical household where my father was playing guitar and singing old Beatles songs to me when I was still in the womb. My dad came from a very musical background from playing guitar for over 50 years and being in bands all his life. Growing up, everything had to do with either singing or guitar for me. I started piano lessons at the age of 5 and my dad started teaching me guitar at 9. We have countless home videos of me putting on my own “concerts” where our fire place was my stage. Around the age of twelve, I started writing a lot of songs and music with my dad, and have continued ever since. My songs are something I really take pride in. It is my way of releasing stress and letting others know how I truly feel on the inside. I put a lot of videos on YouTube and what not, so if anyone ever wants to go check me out the URL is: http://www.youtube.com/user/09mmyers.

Enough about me, and more about my current FAVORITE movie. I know others feel the same, but I’m in love with the movie Pitch Perfect. I will literally watch it over and over again some nights while I’m working on homework and studying. If I’m not watching it I’m usually listening to the soundtrack. Overkill, yes I know. But then other day I was just messing around in my room (working patiently) trying to learn the “Cups” song that the character Bella does for her audition. I’ve gotten some compliments on it, so I thought I would share it with everyone! Hope you like it too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWnWiUhHdSo

Who else at Urbana University wants to share their talents?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT1SCG1jX0A

Some of the history behind the “Harlem Shake” is that it was actually a dance that originally began in Harlem, New York in 1981. The inventor of the dance was a resident named Al B, and because of this the dance was originally called the “albee.”  Al B use to say that the dance came from ancient Egyptians and described it as “the way the mummies used to do.”  Haha!  This music and danced has been used in music videos over the years and referred to in several songs.

The actual video for the song titled “Harlem Shake” was uploaded to YouTube on May 10, 2012, and this February the videos of people dancing started going viral!    So be sure and check out Urbana’s own Harlem Shake video! I know everyone had a blast making it, and you’ll be cracking up while watching it! 

For the meal you get all you can eat pancakes and sausage and it is only $5.00 per person! We will be starting breakfast right at 9am in the Student Center. The Easter egg hunt is set up in age brackets and will start at 10am in the center of campus. (Who wants to have a contest to see how many eggs you can find after the hunt? Come to me for your prize after! haha) We will also be selling shirts at this event, so you can pick one of those up too! All of the workers will be wearing them, so you’ll be able to see the design and all the colors we have.

I invite everyone to come out, bring family, pass on the news to people you know and have a great time with myself and my fellow athletic training students! We’re going to have a great day and look forward to seeing everyone there! Thanks in advance for everyone’s support!

My journey begins last fall when I was looking for a new job. I was working part time, but wanted something full time. In searching for something I felt was within my means, so many places were looking for degrees. I found it difficult to be up against people with degrees when applying for jobs. I want to be able to compete! I have years and years of experience, but sometimes that just wasn’t enough. I decided that in the fall of 2013, I would go back to college. I figured that would give me enough time to get everything together and get accepted.

I contacted my high school by e-mail and they sent my transcripts that day. Wow! That was fast and easy. I went online to the previous colleges I had attended, there were two, and paid for those to be sent. Within a week, both of those had been received by UU. I filled out my application and was accepted within a couple of days. It was that easy!! I was done so quickly, I had enough time to meet with an adviser and schedule for 2013 Spring Semester. I didn’t even have to wait for Fall! I am starting two semesters earlier than I had planned!

During the Christmas holidays, I got more and more anxious about starting classes. One of my evening classes was cancelled, but I got into a traditional class during the day. It was really nice to have that option. It really opens up getting your classes you need without having to wait. When the week before classes start came, I was petrified! I figured I would be the oldest person in my class….what would that be like!? Would I be able to comprehend anything? Would I make a fool of myself in front of all those kids? The questions just kept whirling around in my brain!!

The first week of classes…..have been AWESOME!! So far, I am getting adjusted to going to class and yes, I am the oldest person in my classes. So far, everyone has been very nice and helpful. I have not been laughed at by the younger students, they are very congenial and the teachers have been wonderful to everyone in the classes. I am really starting to look forward to going to my classes and learning everything I can. It has raised my self-esteem and made me more confident in my work.

I will be blogging more later, so come back and check how things are going. I hope that I encourage someone into conquering their fear of what would happen if they decided to go back to school. It really isn’t that hard to get started and everyone that I have encountered at UU has been extremely helpful and always have time to sit and discuss whatever it is that you have on your plate. Their goal really seems to be to get you going on your path to success!