Monday, November 22, 2010

Holidays at Georgetown

Hello!

Thanksgiving is approaching and everyone here at Georgetown is looking forward to the break!

School has been hectic these past couple of weeks as last papers and projects are being assigned. The end is in sight and that is motivation for all of us to keep on going. It is crazy to me to see how fast this semester has flown by. I remember the first days of class, getting my syllabus and not knowing anyone in the class. Now we are in the final weeks and I look around and seem to know almost everyone in each of my classes. This semester has been a great one and I love how much I have progressed in writing, reading, and even study skills. Most importantly however I feel like this semester has helped me grow up and become a somewhat more mature adult.

With all the holidays the social scene has definitely been in full swing. There have been many parties and functions celebrating these holidays such as the Pilgrim and Indian party thrown here on campus by the Kappa Deltas. There is truly so much to do that I hate when I have to miss out for studying, but everyone knows that school comes first, and everyone is very supportive in helping you make studying and homework your top priority.

A few things that I am looking forward to:

First of all it would have to be Thanksgiving. A wonderful break from the stresses of school to spend time with family and watch football is definitely needed right about now. Not to mention the great food! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays and I can’t wait to travel and see my family to celebrate.

Secondly I am looking forward to Georgetown’s traditional Hanging of the Green. I have never experienced this but everyone says it’s the perfect way to begin the Christmas season. It is the lighting of all the decorations across campus and a great community building event. Christmas is such a great time of year and I know it’s a special time on Georgetown’s campus as well. There are Christmas chapels and many festivities to celebrate the holidays. I will let you all know all about the events after I have participated in them! I can’t wait!

Lastly I am really looking forward to ending my first semester of my freshman year of college. I have had a wonderful time in these few months and that has reaffirmed my decision in choosing Georgetown as the right place for me. I have met SO many new people by living in Knight Hall, in my classes, through Freshman Family Group, and through the informal rush nights for all the sororities. I truly look forward to next year and all the great stuff it has in store for me. New classes, rush, and internships will keep me busy but that’s what college life is all about, the experiences.

Stay tuned to hear about all the holiday fun!

Monday, November 8, 2010

Fall Fun at Georgetown

Hello All!

It’s a beautiful time here at Georgetown. The leaves are falling on Giddings lawn and autumn is in full swing!

Last time we talked I was getting ready to celebrate Halloween, Georgetown style. I had such a great time at the parties that weekend and everyone was so creative with their costumes. Dancing the night away with all my friends made the night even better! I have to say it was definitely one of my favorite college experiences so far!

This fall has also been an exciting time for sports as well. Georgetown football has had a very successful season and just won their conference this past weekend! My friends and I love going to watch the games and always make our way to the Kentucky football games when we get the chance. The weather has been perfect which has made the season that much more enjoyable. It’s about that time to start shifting gears and getting ready for basketball season though, my favorite!

On to the academics…

Classes are still going strong and now the countdown begins for Thanksgiving break! It’s been a difficult couple of weeks with an English paper and a Foundations paper both due on the same day, but now that they are over I can look forward to the final weeks of the semester and the dreaded finals at the end. Scheduling takes place this week and I’m anxious to see what classes I will be participating in next semester. I can’t believe I’m already thinking about second semester of freshman year! It’s coming up very quickly and I can’t wait to see what it has in store for me.

Georgetown has given me so many opportunities for experience. This past week I got to travel to Frankfort with the radio team for a live broadcast from the capital to report the election results. It was such a great learning experience for me as I got to see how a broadcast was put together and how news like this was gathered and reported. Being a communication major it was an awesome opportunity for me to get to know the upperclassmen communication majors and ask them any questions I had for them. I was also able to participate in the process of finding a new professor to join the communications staff. I was able to listen in on phone interviews and ask questions to the prospective professors which gave me great insight into the job application process. I realize that these are opportunities are because of Georgetown’s small size and the fact that I get to establish such close relationship with my professors.

I hope that all of you all that are making decisions about college consider class size as a factor in your final choice. I didn’t realize how beneficial to the learning process that a class of at most 20 students really can be. Because there aren’t as many students in the class there is more opportunity for one-on- one help and conferences where the professors are more than happy to help you with any problems you might run into whether school related or even general help.

I love Georgetown College and everything it has provided me with, and I hope you all stay tuned to my journey though my freshman year!

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Homecoming and Halloween!



Hello!

Last time we talked I was preparing for homecoming, and what a great week it was!
It was super busy here on campus as everyone competed for the homecoming awards given out Friday night at Songfest. There was the bench painting judging, common ground service, black and orange day, and finally the much anticipated Songfest. Being a freshman I didn’t understand why my older friends were stuck practicing for Songfest all the time. However, at the show Friday night I understood why all the strenuous practices were necessary. Each production was awesome! I really enjoyed being a part of the audience but I really can’t wait to participate in it next year. On Saturday my friends and I attended the football game where we beat Pikeville, Go Tigers! We then got ready and headed to the homecoming dances. My friends and I went to the Lambda Chi Alpha dance first and then went to Lexington to attend the Phi Kappa Tau dance. It was such a blast! Homecoming week was definitely a week to remember here at Georgetown.

Class scheduling for next semester has begun and I can’t believe it is already that time. My year is flying by, but I know it is because I have stayed so busy. The work is getting a little harder now and my hours in the library have picked up some but it is all been worth it. I actually enjoy going to my classes which has been a big motivation in staying on top of all of my work. It’s been difficult but I try my best in everything I am faced with which is the key to success in college classes.

This week I am looking forward to the weekend’s Halloween festivities. Halloween is my favorite holiday and I can’t wait to experience it here at Georgetown. There is community trick-or-treating in the dorms on Thursday and two parties on the weekend and I’m so excited about dressing up! It’s going to be so much fun but the best part is getting to be with all the friends I’ve made.

Speaking of friends I have the best group of friends anyone could ask for. They are the ones that keep me going here. Adjusting to college life has been hard but having them around has made it so much easier for me to transition. My suggestion for any incoming freshman would be to get out and meet everyone because you may just make some best friends. I’m so grateful that I have a close group to experience this first year with and look forward to my next 3 and half years with them!

My best friends are in the picture in the upper right hand corner. These girls are amazing!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Homecoming!

Hello again!

Exciting times here at Georgetown College!

Homecoming week is upon us and everyone is getting ready for the festivities. The benches in front of each dorm are being painted, there are Songfest practices going on every night, and the whole school is getting ready for the big game on Saturday. As an incoming freshman you are told how fun and exciting this week is but I can’t wait to experience it for myself!

Fall break has just ended and it’s back to class tomorrow. I had a great weekend at home with my parents and even got to see some of my best friends. I went to a concert, went shopping, went to Keeneland, and of course went to cheer on the cats! It was also a great time of resting and I finally caught up on my sleep! After being on my own here at school for a couple months, going home makes me realize how independent I am becoming.

There are so many things coming up here at Georgetown like Halloween and Fall retreat, it just keeps getting better! It seems like there is something to do every weekend which has definitely made my transition easier. I look forward to all the different activities that are available to us, such as free movie night sponsored by GAC. Getting to see a movie in theatres for free, I’m in! I also use the weekends to catch-up on homework and just hang out with friends. It really is a relaxing time here on campus.

My first two papers are over and graded and it’s on to the next! These past couple weeks have been very busy with school, and mid-terms are next week. I can’t believe it’s already that time of year! I’ve learned the best ways to study and have slowly started to learn each teacher’s expectations. I feel like I am finally adjusted to this new lifestyle and even got corrected by my mom when I called Georgetown “home”. That’s how I truly feel though; I’m so comfortable here. All my friends and the relationships I have made with the faculty are just some of the reason why I love this place!

Well I’m off to study with some friends but stayed tuned!

Alyshia

Monday, September 27, 2010

Having a Blast!

Hello All!
I have had another wonderful week here at Georgetown and can’t wait to tell you about all the cool stuff I have been doing. From Zumba workouts with the girls to awesome worship services at Common Grounds, I have been so busy! Here is a recap of everything that been happening on campus since I last talked to you:
Freshman Family Groups were formed! I am so excited about this opportunity to share the word of God in a small group setting with other freshman like myself. Two upperclassmen lead the family as the mom and dad, and the freshman in their group are the children. My family is the best! It is such a great way to unwind from a stressful day, and fellowship with other freshman students who we may not know. I look forward to getting close to all the members of my family as we journey through this first year together. It is comforting to know that while we are struggling with homework or maybe feeling a little homesick that there is a group of students you know are praying for you!
Greek Informal Rush Nights have started! These are so much fun to participate in every week and I’ve met so many upperclassmen through these events. Food, nail painting, dancing, talking, TV, they have it all. This too is such a good way to make some friends and to just take a break from the academic realm of college and focus on the social parts. Being the sixth week of school I have begun to make some great friends in the sororities and have been out with them on weekends, and hung out at their houses. It is so comforting to know you always have older girls that are willing to answer your questions or give you advice on things. They are so welcoming and that is just one of the many reasons I love it here at Georgetown.
Well my first test results came back, and thanks to a couple hours of studying, I got a 98%. Not bad for my first exam! I am still awaiting results on my first English paper, but it was my English teacher who put it best. She told us in class, “It is about this time of the year that you begin to realize how much you truly do in one semester.” She is SO right. I have great classes, but there is homework that comes along with each one. Nothing unmanageable, however, it is more than I was used to in high school. This has been a challenge and time management has really become a skill I have had to master. I have found myself being more responsible from when school first began, and honestly college forces you to become that way. I have to wake up on my own, plan my days on my own, and set priorities. These are all things that I took advantage of when being home, and now looking back I realize that. I’m so grateful for the college experience I have had already, because I appreciate that they have made me grow up in a sense.
I have found in going home and having people ask about my times here that I can’t help but smile as I recall all the fun I have already had, and that I plan to have here at Georgetown College.
Keep following my journey, every week presents something new!
Alyshia

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Week Three: Still Going Strong!

Okay, three whole weeks down! So much has gone in the past two weeks so let me catch you up…
First and foremost, academics. I am absolutely LOVING all my classes. They are so different from those at my high school in the fact that most are centered around a discussion in which you are encouraged to participate, adding in your own thoughts on the specific subject. This takes learning to the next level as you are able to articulate how your mind processes the information, as well as hear from others about how they view the subject. I have had some dates with the library, but I have learned so much in just these three weeks! I just turned in my first college paper, and I’m hoping for the best. I have visited all of my teachers during their office hours to introduce myself more formally, and have begun to develop relationships with them as I utilize their knowledge. My favorite class has been my communications class with Dr. Sibal, or Kenny as he would like us to call him, because that is my intended major. My English and Foundations courses have been tougher because they have really stretched my mind and made me think of things in many different perspectives. I have my first Biology test this week so keep your fingers crossed for me!
Now for the fun stuff! Outside of class I have been involved with so much. I love hanging out with the upperclassman girls in the sororities and attending their weekly nights of fun that are intended to help freshman girls get to know them better. Cookouts, TV, slumber parties, and movies we have done it all. I have been so grateful for how welcoming they have been, and it has truly made my transition easier. I have also been involved with the Global Scholars Program here at Georgetown and have been to many special events here at the college, and even a field trip off campus with the other Global Scholars. I attended the Involvement Fair this week and signed up to be a part of many interesting organizations including the Green Team. I even work a couple hours in the Wilson Art Gallery here on campus. There are so many ways to get out there and meet people, my only problem is fitting all of them in!
While going home is always refreshing, I find myself anticipating getting back to campus to hang out with all of my new Georgetown friends. I have already made connections with so many people, and I look forward to many more experiences with them during my freshman year. Stay tuned more adventures to come…

Sunday, August 29, 2010

And So It Begins...

First week of freshman year, complete! What a wild and crazy seven days it has been. From moving in to all the welcome back parties, I have been a busy girl! O and did I mention classes? Want to know what this whirlwind of a first week entails, read on!


August 19th: Move in day! How exciting right? Because of my super enthusiastic parents I arrived at the dorm at 9:00am on the spot and was consequently one of the first students to have my boxes moved into Knight Hall. I was immidiately greeted by an army of smiling faces ready to help me carry my things up to room 214. I was SHOCKED when i found that in a matter of 5 minutes my two carloads of stuff was already in my room! They made it so easy for me and my family to have plenty of time to set my room up just the way my roomates and I wanted it. After a long day of meetings and a picnic to end it, my parents said their final goodbyes and I waved as they cried all the way to the car. I know they were thinking it was so hard to leave me, but in my mind one word came to mind...FREEDOM!


Freshman Orientation occured the entire first weekend, talk about an exhausting blast. The activites included TIGER TIME on Giddings Lawn, fun time with your small groups, and a select few were even hypnotized! I can't begin to tell you how many friends were made in that one weekend. It was a great way for me to adjust to my new college lifestyle before starting classes that Monday.


I was so excited for the first day of school to start! I put on my dress and headed to my first class. After walking around for ten minutes,I was relieved when an upper classman helped me find my way around the Asher Science Center (you will find out quickly that everyone here is friendly and wants to help!) The rest went very smoothly and I now love all my classes! The professors are so friendly, and I can't wait to see what all the discussions they have in store for us. I think my art class is going to be my favorite!

Finally to my favorite part of my first week of being a college student, the welcome back parties! Georgetown College knows how to put on a good dance party. Each fraternity and each sorority put on a themed bash to welcome returning students and allow the freshman to meet all the upperclassmen. I had a blast getting all dressed up with the Knight Hall girls (you can check out some of our pictures on facebook) and look forward to the rest of them that will take place this week!

I have LOVED this first week in my new home! It has been such a great experience and I can't wait for you to join next year! I hope you keep following along as I take you on my freshman year journey, hold on its going to be one crazy ride!

Alyshia

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Introduction!

Hello Prospective Georgetown College Students!


My name is Alyshia Powell and soon I will be embarking upon my first year at Georgetown. I am very anxious to start this journey and I am excited to share this experience with you!

A Little Background Information…

Growing up in Winchester, Kentucky and attending the only high school in the county, George Rogers Clark, fun and opportunity were somewhat limited. My friends and I made the short trip to Lexington for shopping, eating, and entertainment, but I truly enjoyed the peaceful feel of my hometown. School years consisted of homework, attending every sporting event (yes, Clark County does have some school spirit!), and bonfires with the friends on the weekends. Summers were times to relax, swimming and of course the summer job. As I progressed throughout my years in high school I began to realize the importance of my college decision and its impact on my future. That’s when I began the ultimate search for the school that best fit me.

Why I chose Georgetown…

Being such a short distance from Lexington, many seniors at GRC end up attending the University of Kentucky. Knowing that I wanted to be different and separate myself from the norm, I began looking for other colleges in Kentucky. Also, being very dedicated and passionate about my education I knew I wanted a small college with many opportunities to get involved in activities on the campus. Having lived in Georgetown growing up I was familiar with the campus, and decided to look into what the school had to offer. After visiting, meeting all of the friendly staff, and plenty of long talks with Johnnie (if you haven’t met him yet, he works in admissions and he’s GREAT!) I decided that Georgetown was the place for me! I began to apply for all the scholarships offered through the college and ended up earning enough scholarship money to make Georgetown my future home!



I am now just days away from moving in and my excitement and nerves are kicking in! I can’t wait to meet everyone I will be sharing my freshman year with. Living on my own and working through all the trials that come along with being responsible for myself and my schoolwork will be very challenging, but hopefully you will follow me as I overcome these obstacles and reveal to you the Georgetown College experience!