tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/ipfw/Monica//541 2009-11-09T16:35:43Z Movable Type 3.34 tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/ipfw/Monica//541.11306 2009-11-09T16:34:11Z 2009-11-09T16:35:43Z

So, I just scheduled for next semester, and when they tell you college is hard, believe them, because I am taking 18 credit hours and three days a week I will be going to class from 9-9 with a one...

IPFW targetx So, I just scheduled for next semester, and when they tell you college is hard, believe them, because I am taking 18 credit hours and three days a week I will be going to class from 9-9 with a one hour break for lunch. I have been working my behind off to get into the classes that I need, now they are all offered at the same time. I was once told that college students got very few breaks in a day. They had to choose between eating, sleeping, and homework, and even a pit stop to the bathroom was hard. I finally am a perfect example of the description. This semester has been a little bit of the same. Although my breaks are quite a bit longer, it's hard to balance homework, classes, work and a personal life. I guess if you look at the bright side college is usually only four to five years of you life. If you can make it through a few stressful years, you can make it through anything. tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/ipfw/Monica//541.10855 2009-09-23T13:36:28Z 2009-09-28T20:07:06Z

School is back in high gear and the transition from summer brake to a semester of homework and class is never easy. Here's a few tricks that I've learned to help me cope with managing my time. 1. I always...

Monica Gerdeman targetx School is back in high gear and the transition from summer brake to a semester of homework and class is never easy. Here's a few tricks that I've learned to help me cope with managing my time. 1. I always use my agenda book. In high school I always thought that the little book my high school gave me to write down all my assignment was for fun. I would sit in class and color mine up until there wasn't a page left without ink from my highlighter. Boy was I wrong. Most college professors don't even remind you of your assignments and when they are due. They give you a syllabus at the beginning of class and expect you to keep up with it every week. When you walk into class and the first thing that's said is "please place your 10 page paper up here on the desk." and you have no idea what's going on, it's a bad feeling! 2. Make lists. At the beginning of each week or even everyday, make yourself a list of everything that needs to be done. This way you won't forget by the end of the week. Even if it's not school related, this helps keep life organized. 3. Keep your important belongings in the same place everyday. Every time you walk in the door, put your keys, books, notebooks, shoes, and bag in the same place. This will help if you are ever in a hurry or late. I can't tell you how many times I've been late and I still can't find my keys. 4. Make time for your homework. Set a time every night or a few times a week that is set back for just homework. No matter what happens, don't brake that time. You can always go out another night, but homework has to be done. If you get into a routine, it become a habit. These are just a few things that I try and do every week to help myself cope with the stress of being a college student. Good luck to you as you learn to manage your time and studying. tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/ipfw/Monica//541.10615 2009-08-11T18:56:27Z 2009-08-11T20:05:01Z

I finally move back to Fort Wayne. I had a great summer, but I sure am not ready for it to be over. Back to school season will be here before you know it. Wal-Mart starts selling notebooks and crayons...

Monica Gerdeman targetx I finally move back to Fort Wayne. I had a great summer, but I sure am not ready for it to be over. Back to school season will be here before you know it. Wal-Mart starts selling notebooks and crayons and summer starts to wind down. I remember my first day of college. I walked in the building (at the University of Northwestern Ohio) with my schedule out looking for the right room number, wondering if I was ever going to know where to go. It wasn’t quite like high school where everything was all in the same place down one or two halls, but in separate buildings, on different floors, and sometimes even a drives length away. You never really realize how easy you had it in high school until its over and bigger and better things start. My first day at IPFW was no different. I actually got turned around backwards and sideways a few times walking through campus the first day. I had to find the art building, and I had no idea how to get there, but by my second day was a cake walk. I was an old pro at it already by day three, and now I could walk it backwards with my eyes closed. The first day of class isn’t like the first day of high school. In high school you would take the first few days passing out your books, getting to know the teacher, going over what you were going to learn, and taking it easy as you started the materials, but in college, day one is day one. Come prepared to class with a notebook and pen/pencil. It’s not going to be hard but the first day isn’t easy. If you feel lost, that’s because you probably are. Nothing will makes sense unless you take the time to read over your books before class starts, but don’t worry, give yourself a day or too and everything will fall into place. Keep in mind a few things on your first day: 1) Come prepared. A notebook and a pen or pencil is key on the first day. 2) Write down all the contact information that the professor gives you especially if it’s not all in the syllabi. You may not thing it’s important at the beginning, but at finals time you will thank yourself. 3) Make friends with everyone you sit by in class. Don’t be afraid within the first week or so to ask to exchange numbers. It’s a life saver when you forget what your assignments are. (or get names and add your neighbors to facebook) 4) just relax. It will seem like you are lost because you are. Give yourself two or three days and you will feel like you’ve taken the class for a good long time. tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/ipfw/Monica//541.10516 2009-07-11T01:49:09Z 2009-08-11T20:04:42Z

I hope everyone's summer is going well. I have had a pretty nice one myself. I've kept busy with work until last week when I took at trip to an orthopedic surgeon .I've had knee problems for pretty much what...

Monica Gerdeman targetx I hope everyone's summer is going well. I have had a pretty nice one myself. I've kept busy with work until last week when I took at trip to an orthopedic surgeon .I've had knee problems for pretty much what I would call my entire life, but really it's been since my eighth grade year in school. I finally got fed up with the pain, grinding and catching in my knees and I went for a check-up. To make a long story short I had my knee surgery this past Tuesday and I am on my long road to recovery. You never realize how great life is until it's gone. For me it's my leg. I never realized how much I used my legs for things other than walking until now when I can't. It's crazy when you stop and think how true that is about everything in life. When you live at home and your laundry’s done every week and there's usually food in the fridge for you to warm up when you get home, you don't even realize that it doesn't have to be until you move out and it isn’t'. Maybe you should take a few extra seconds to thank that people that make life "good." As far as my recovery, I'm doing great! I took my first steps without crutches yesterday, and I am on my way to a normal walk before I know it! tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/ipfw/Monica//541.10459 2009-06-20T19:52:54Z 2009-06-25T15:48:53Z

Moving into the fall of 2009 I will be at junior status. I’ll be 21 in August and I’m finally feeling the pressures to grow up. I decided that since I spent my first year commuting to a school close...

Monica Gerdeman targetx Moving into the fall of 2009 I will be at junior status. I’ll be 21 in August and I’m finally feeling the pressures to grow up. I decided that since I spent my first year commuting to a school close to home, and my second year on campus here at IPFW, I decided that I would try and spend my third year off campus. I’ve weighed my pros and cons and figured to try it on my own. I’ve heard from several sources that you don’t know what it’s like to be responsible until you are on your own, paying your own bills, without anyone watching over your shoulder. I looked at all the perks of living on campus: I didn’t have to bring furniture to my apartment, I had my own room with a lock and key, I didn’t need any appliances, I paid one lump sum and all my bills including internet, cable, electric, and trash were all included, I was within walking distance from campus, I wasn’t responsible for my roommates to make their payments on time, and I was able to meet a bunch of new friends. That really sounds like a good deal until you look at my personal cons. I will be 21 and most of campus is filled with freshman and sophomores, I didn’t have to pay all my bills, I just paid one lump sum to student housing and they were pretty lenient on giving me a few extra days, I never had to lock my door on the way out of my apartment, which was nice but put me in a bad habit when I moved back home, I always had an RA that took care of any problems that I had including a roommate, and I had to live with people I didn’t know going into the year. I have always been fairly independent working since I was a sophomore in high school, and at times including here in Fort Wayne I work three jobs to pay the bills. I feel that moving off campus will only help me to learn responsibility in a lot of areas in life. I would have never traded my first year at IPFW in Student Housing for anything because that’s where I met my new roommate that will be moving with me. tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/ipfw/Monica//541.10389 2009-05-31T02:03:01Z 2009-06-08T17:33:50Z

My brother graduated from high school the other day. I couldn’t help but cry, because we went straight from a loss at baseball Regional finals to the gymnasium for the ceremony. The principal Mr. Edinger spoke for the class. He...

Monica Gerdeman targetx My brother graduated from high school the other day. I couldn’t help but cry, because we went straight from a loss at baseball Regional finals to the gymnasium for the ceremony. The principal Mr. Edinger spoke for the class. He summed up their education and accomplishments along with some advice in about 20 minutes, but those twenty minutes had to be the most uplifting minutes of my life. He spoke about existence and what really matters, starting with a quote from the speaker that spoke at my graduation (in 2007.) He said “When you read a tomb stone, it has the name, the date of birth, and the date of death. The hyphen between the dates represents your entire life. The only thing that leaves the grave with the mourners is your character.” He continued with how your entire life is your portfolio, and that is how you build character. Too many people go day to day saying they want the biggest house and the nicest car, the best job, the most money, and all the riches in the world. What does any of that mean when receiving the bad news of a lump in your breast, or when you find out your father has only one week to live? Even if you have everything in the world, you can still be alone. Being rich doesn’t mean having money but having friends. My good friend from high school lost her dad the other day. I attended the showing and it was the hardest thing to know she’s my age and now has to live without her daddy. A day later another good friend was told his dad had less than a week. He was told on a Friday and the following Friday was graduation. I can’t even tell you how much sorrow was in my heart for him. Jefferson’s principal ended his speech with his life lesson. “What do you want to mourners to see in your hyphen? Change the world. You are our future. My favorite animal is the turtle, because to move they have to stick their neck out, and in life, you will have to stick your neck out too. Good Luck.” It may not make sense to you, but the biggest lesson I took from that night at my brother’s graduation is life is what you make it. College is only a small part of your hyphen, so have fun but keep in mind what really matters. tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/ipfw/Monica//541.10304 2009-05-12T18:08:46Z 2009-05-12T21:56:43Z

I’m finally back in my home town, and I’m having a bit of a hard time with the change. I never thought that I would say it but “I miss school.” I really am glad to be close with my...

Monica Gerdeman targetx ]]> tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/ipfw/Monica//541.10303 2009-05-12T18:03:43Z 2009-05-12T21:49:57Z

Finals week is finally over but let me tell you once finals are done and you think the worst of your worries are over, they for the most part just begin. I finished my finals early on Thursday but on...

Monica Gerdeman targetx lucascarterphotography.com ]]> tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/ipfw/Monica//541.10119 2009-04-24T18:22:32Z 2009-04-24T18:45:45Z

I know when I decided to go to college a big question was, “What will my days be like?” Being the first in my family to go to college was scary. I didn’t know what to expect in a...

Monica Gerdeman targetx If you want to see more of my shots visit my blog/website: http://mstopphotography.blogspot.com/ Feel free to ask any questions or leave comments!!! ]]> tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/ipfw/Monica//541.9972 2009-04-14T15:40:03Z 2009-04-14T18:37:23Z

Some of my fondest memories of my first year of college so far are the things that no one tells you about until it’s over. I enquired a list of six things that I think are the most important. 1....

Monica Gerdeman targetx ]]> tag:blogs.targetx.com,2009:/ipfw/Monica//541.9893 2009-04-07T23:09:55Z 2009-04-08T13:42:40Z

So I'm from Ohio, and the most frequently asked question that I hear is, "Why in the world IPFW?" My famous answer to that and most other questions has always been "I don't know," until I really started to...

Monica Gerdeman targetx So I'm from Ohio, and the most frequently asked question that I hear is, "Why in the world IPFW?" My famous answer to that and most other questions has always been "I don't know," until I really started to think about the reasons I am here. A little background on myself, I am not a traditional first year student here I actually transferred from a smaller school in Ohio. After this semester I will be a junior and I’m actually just a photography major, working toward minors in journalism and sports management. (My majors and minors have been changed several times!!) I would start off by saying IPFW is not for everyone! It's a pretty big campus with about 13,000 students, and a much smaller housing community of around 700. The facts sometimes surprise people because they picture us as a community college for commuters and part-time student with full time jobs. If you’re looking at IPFW, I would recommend a tour of our campus because it really isn’t enough to just read about it online. I first toured campus in June of 2008 and it was little overwhelming! A few things that attracted me to this school were the student housing, the beautiful campus, and the numbers! Our student housing isn’t like your traditional dorm room setting. I currently live in a four bedroom, two bathroom apartment style dorm. It’s really nice because I have my own room, I share a bathroom with one other roommate, and we have a kitchen and living room. The only down side to the apartments are you have to learn to cook for yourself real quick. The campus is just a very pretty and is a well-taken-care-of place. I really think a tour speaks for itself! Finally I liked the numbers! I like that there are 13,000 students on campus, but the student / teacher ratio is 26 to 1. I like that class sizes, unless it’s a lecture, are usually under 20 students at a time, and finishing off my last topic, I am a pretty big sports fan and like the fact that IPFW is a division I school. It’s pretty neat to see other big schools like Ohio State and Penn State come and play here! Feel free to leave comments or shoot me an email: gerdms01@ipfw.edu Subject (IPFW) ]]>