For those of you seniors who are still searching for that right school, the right place to call home, do you ever feel a little lost? Do you feel like you are stuck on this island, not quite sure where to go or how you are going to get there? You are put there with a group of people that you did not know before, but your lives have all become entwined during your life on this island. As you look to part ways and leave, you may not all come back together, but you will still remember each others impact. And as you begin your last semester, time seems to move forward quickly, and yet, you look back at the memories and it seems that you are warping to different periods of your life. And as you move forward, you may have inclinations to come back to this place in your life, to come back to the island which you were on at one time. Well, I assure you that you have much to look forward, and that you will discover a greater world out there with new people to meet and new places to explore.
"Wow, Ryan, that seems analogous to my feelings about college and high school right now", you may say. Or maybe, "wow, Ryan, you need to stop watching Lost." Either way, I hope that you do look forward to a new chapter of your life where you gain independence, explore your interests and figure out what Benjamin Linus really has going on up in that noggin of his.
Coming up at Valpo, which I highly encourage you to consider if you have not already, are 3 more Destination Valpo Day's that will give Valpo admitted seniors the chance to stay on campus with a current VU student! You will also get to meet other VU students and prospectives that come from all over the country!
Even if you are unable to make one of the DVD visits, I encourage you to visit campus! Making the visit gives you a much truer sense of the students, academics and environment. I encourage you to make at least one visit to all of the schools you are considering if you have the opportunity. As much as I love Valpo and want to see you succeed here, if Valpo is not the place for you, visiting helps you find that out, too. That being said, I encourage you to check out our 4-week old, 202,000 square feet (twice the size of the White House!) Student Union as well as the rest of our beautiful campus. Spring break is from Feb. 28 until March 15, so unless you cannot avoid it, I would encourage you to plan your visit outside of those days.
Have a great weekend, enjoy the Super Bowl, and I leave you with this thought:
Why do scientists call it research when looking for something new?
Ryan
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Growing to your potential and Steering a Course
Hiya Friends--
This blog entry has nothing to do with campus events or deadlines. It is purely an entry that I hope promotes self examination. I know there are times in life where we all get off course, don't know what to do, are easily swayed by peer pressure-- it happens to us all. How we handle our actions, is what determines our ultimate success. Everyday I read my John C. Maxwell, The Daily Maxweel Reader to help me stay in the straight and narrow leadership path I enjoy so much being on. I find that his words can reach multiple levels-- from work, to personal life, dreams and set backs. To deciding on which college to attend, what major to choose-- or later in life, how to handle situations that come at you. Enjoy.
======================================
Steer a Course
If you could go anywhere, where would you like to go? Not in terms of vacations, but in your life. Your answer to that question does a lot to determine whether or not you are successful. You see, we're all on a journey, whether we know it or not. We are traveling inevitably toward the ends of our lives. So the real question for us is whether we're going to select and steer a course for it, or allow ourselves to be swept along the tide, letting others determine where we'll end up. The choice is entirely up to us.
What specific destination are you steering your life toward??
======================================
Growing to your potential
Novelist H.G. Wells held that wealth, notoriety, place, and power are no measures of success whatsoever. The only true measure of success is the ratio between what we might have been and what we have become. In other words, success comes as the result of growing to our potential.
It's been said that our potential is God's gift to us, and what we do with it is our gift to him. But at the same time, our potential is probably our greatest untapped resource. Henry Ford observed, "There is no man living who isn't capable of doing more than he thinks he can do."
We have nearly limitless potential, yet too few ever try to reach it. Why? The answer lies in this: We can do ANYTHING, but we can't do EVERYTHING. Many people let everyone around them decide their agenda in life. As a result, they never really dedicate themselves the THEIR purpose in life. They become the jack-of-all-trades, master of none-- rather than a jack-of-all-trades, focused on one.
If that descrives you more than you'd like, you're probably ready to take steps to make a change. There are four principles to put you on the road to growing toward your potential:
1. Concentrate on one main goal.
2. Concentrate on continual improvement.
3. Forget the past
4. Focus on the future.
When you know your purpose in life and are growing to reach your maximum potential, you're well on your way to being a success...
Final thought**
Are you focused on the one trade that will set you apart??
====================================
I hope you all have a wonderful week-- and remember, be legendary in your own way!
This blog entry has nothing to do with campus events or deadlines. It is purely an entry that I hope promotes self examination. I know there are times in life where we all get off course, don't know what to do, are easily swayed by peer pressure-- it happens to us all. How we handle our actions, is what determines our ultimate success. Everyday I read my John C. Maxwell, The Daily Maxweel Reader to help me stay in the straight and narrow leadership path I enjoy so much being on. I find that his words can reach multiple levels-- from work, to personal life, dreams and set backs. To deciding on which college to attend, what major to choose-- or later in life, how to handle situations that come at you. Enjoy.
======================================
Steer a Course
If you could go anywhere, where would you like to go? Not in terms of vacations, but in your life. Your answer to that question does a lot to determine whether or not you are successful. You see, we're all on a journey, whether we know it or not. We are traveling inevitably toward the ends of our lives. So the real question for us is whether we're going to select and steer a course for it, or allow ourselves to be swept along the tide, letting others determine where we'll end up. The choice is entirely up to us.
What specific destination are you steering your life toward??
======================================
Growing to your potential
Novelist H.G. Wells held that wealth, notoriety, place, and power are no measures of success whatsoever. The only true measure of success is the ratio between what we might have been and what we have become. In other words, success comes as the result of growing to our potential.
It's been said that our potential is God's gift to us, and what we do with it is our gift to him. But at the same time, our potential is probably our greatest untapped resource. Henry Ford observed, "There is no man living who isn't capable of doing more than he thinks he can do."
We have nearly limitless potential, yet too few ever try to reach it. Why? The answer lies in this: We can do ANYTHING, but we can't do EVERYTHING. Many people let everyone around them decide their agenda in life. As a result, they never really dedicate themselves the THEIR purpose in life. They become the jack-of-all-trades, master of none-- rather than a jack-of-all-trades, focused on one.
If that descrives you more than you'd like, you're probably ready to take steps to make a change. There are four principles to put you on the road to growing toward your potential:
1. Concentrate on one main goal.
2. Concentrate on continual improvement.
3. Forget the past
4. Focus on the future.
When you know your purpose in life and are growing to reach your maximum potential, you're well on your way to being a success...
Final thought**
Are you focused on the one trade that will set you apart??
====================================
I hope you all have a wonderful week-- and remember, be legendary in your own way!
Friday, January 9, 2009
A New Year
Maybe this makes me old, but I remember 1999 when there was fear and anxiety about this scary new millennium. All of our computers were going to crash, automobiles would stop working and mass chaos would ensue. What good all that worrying did, right? Good thing we won't have to worry about that again for a while.
With the new year comes a fresh start, and I made a new year's resolution. I am going to write more on my blog. Ambitious I know, but I think with some hard work, introspective thinking, and perseverance, it can be done. I have a habit of starting and stopping things with the intent to continue on, but for some reason, continuing tasks with no clear end in sight tend to slip through my fingers until it is too late and it becomes a lost cause. But not today! And if you are like me, I challenge you to pick something that you really want to pursue, whether it is playing an instrument, learning a foreign language, learning to cook, or any other activity that you may enjoy through life, continue on! Work at it! While you most likely will not see any immediate results, you will appreciate the day you look back and see what great things you have accomplished.
As someone who graduated from college a few years ago, I truly enjoyed the friendships I grew in my four years, but as the convenience of my friends living next door or down the hall disappeared with graduation, I realized how much time and effort friendships can take. If you are heading into your final semester of high school, I am sure that this inevitable event is beginning to hang over you (if it wasn't and now is, sorry!) as you gear up for your final semester. Enjoy the time you spend with those people, but also keep your eyes on the future. You have endless possibilities before you, and choosing college is one of the most influential decisions you will make. Yes the degree matters, but more importantly, where you end up will determine who you meet and who you are surrounded by. It determines what experiences you will have, how you will grow, what you will learn, and where your future will lead. So take the time in the college search to evaluate everything. Yes money matters, but will the different schools you are looking at give you a chance to become a leader? Can you truly learn the academic content while using it to serve others and make the world a better place? Will you be happy there? I hope you find somewhere that gives you answers to those questions...I was glad I found that place for me.
Good luck on the new year, and if you have any interesting, outlandish, or just plain sincere new year's resolutions, feel to post them on a reply. I think putting those out there can make them more concrete and I would enjoy hearing them. Regardless, enjoy the fresh start and in these winter months, stay warm! Unless of course you are from the south, enjoy the not so hot months! I leave you with this thought...
If 7-11 stores are open 24 hours/day, 365 days/year, why are there locks on the door?
Until next time,
Ryan
With the new year comes a fresh start, and I made a new year's resolution. I am going to write more on my blog. Ambitious I know, but I think with some hard work, introspective thinking, and perseverance, it can be done. I have a habit of starting and stopping things with the intent to continue on, but for some reason, continuing tasks with no clear end in sight tend to slip through my fingers until it is too late and it becomes a lost cause. But not today! And if you are like me, I challenge you to pick something that you really want to pursue, whether it is playing an instrument, learning a foreign language, learning to cook, or any other activity that you may enjoy through life, continue on! Work at it! While you most likely will not see any immediate results, you will appreciate the day you look back and see what great things you have accomplished.
As someone who graduated from college a few years ago, I truly enjoyed the friendships I grew in my four years, but as the convenience of my friends living next door or down the hall disappeared with graduation, I realized how much time and effort friendships can take. If you are heading into your final semester of high school, I am sure that this inevitable event is beginning to hang over you (if it wasn't and now is, sorry!) as you gear up for your final semester. Enjoy the time you spend with those people, but also keep your eyes on the future. You have endless possibilities before you, and choosing college is one of the most influential decisions you will make. Yes the degree matters, but more importantly, where you end up will determine who you meet and who you are surrounded by. It determines what experiences you will have, how you will grow, what you will learn, and where your future will lead. So take the time in the college search to evaluate everything. Yes money matters, but will the different schools you are looking at give you a chance to become a leader? Can you truly learn the academic content while using it to serve others and make the world a better place? Will you be happy there? I hope you find somewhere that gives you answers to those questions...I was glad I found that place for me.
Good luck on the new year, and if you have any interesting, outlandish, or just plain sincere new year's resolutions, feel to post them on a reply. I think putting those out there can make them more concrete and I would enjoy hearing them. Regardless, enjoy the fresh start and in these winter months, stay warm! Unless of course you are from the south, enjoy the not so hot months! I leave you with this thought...
If 7-11 stores are open 24 hours/day, 365 days/year, why are there locks on the door?
Until next time,
Ryan
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Classes Start today!
Today is the 1st day of the new school term here at Valpo - welcome Spring 2009! While it doesn't seem like Spring yet (there is snow on the ground) things have "sprouted" over the holiday season and the air has a buzz about it.
The new Harre Union (yes, pronounced hairy...ha ha that will never get old) opened on Monday for returning students and boy is it perty! Centralized dining and mailboxes are key features and they are staying quite busy! Even the bookstore looks more polished and of course, the offices that moved have gotten a serious upgrade in their looks as well....finally they have entered the modern age.
As a new student at Valpo, you will come to see that while the buildings are new, the sense of community and academics has not changed. I challenge you to come visit and not fall in love with our campus and all of our opportunities.
As always, if you need anything, you know where to find me in Kretzmann! Good luck in your studies this semester and I look forward to seeing you soon!
Jennifer
The new Harre Union (yes, pronounced hairy...ha ha that will never get old) opened on Monday for returning students and boy is it perty! Centralized dining and mailboxes are key features and they are staying quite busy! Even the bookstore looks more polished and of course, the offices that moved have gotten a serious upgrade in their looks as well....finally they have entered the modern age.
As a new student at Valpo, you will come to see that while the buildings are new, the sense of community and academics has not changed. I challenge you to come visit and not fall in love with our campus and all of our opportunities.
As always, if you need anything, you know where to find me in Kretzmann! Good luck in your studies this semester and I look forward to seeing you soon!
Jennifer
Monday, January 5, 2009
Happy New Year
Hello my loyal readers--
I hope everyone had a wonderful and adventurous Holiday Break! I am back in the office after a 2 week break and am looking forward to speaking with you, answering questions and also having you come in for a visit.
I know I have talked a lot about the new Harre Student Union opening, but alas, it is finally open! Yesterday I walked around the union and heard The Killers, some Jack Johnson and some other awesome music playing through the piped stereo system. It definitely created a fun atmosphere for everyone.
Have you given any thought to your New Years Resolution?? Remember, January 15th is the deadline to let me know your resolution if you want to be eligible for a prize.
I'm off to review more files! Have a wonderful day... and remember, be legendary in your own way!
I hope everyone had a wonderful and adventurous Holiday Break! I am back in the office after a 2 week break and am looking forward to speaking with you, answering questions and also having you come in for a visit.
I know I have talked a lot about the new Harre Student Union opening, but alas, it is finally open! Yesterday I walked around the union and heard The Killers, some Jack Johnson and some other awesome music playing through the piped stereo system. It definitely created a fun atmosphere for everyone.
Have you given any thought to your New Years Resolution?? Remember, January 15th is the deadline to let me know your resolution if you want to be eligible for a prize.
I'm off to review more files! Have a wonderful day... and remember, be legendary in your own way!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
