WHABAM - by Kera

Holy cow! That is really the best phrase to describe entering back into the Hive (we're the yellow jackets....) Goodness do I miss you guys! However, it has been such an amazing welcoming back to campus. Classes are awesome - New Testament Literature (I am truly EATING it up!!!! So fascinating!), Intro to Criminal Justice, Calculus I, Tennis, and Analytical Chemistry. Criminal Justice is proving to be a possible difficult course (lots of work) buuut, get this, I get to go into local prisons and jailhouses and check 'em out and I'll be going to the Columbus Police Academy here in September. I am super psyched for that. I decided to join the criminal justice org and the pre-health org (to get feelers into other realms than basic sciences). I joined a gospel choir that a couple years ago was "taboo" in a way to the school, but is PHENOMENAL. You want to talk about some powerful worship - WHABAM - this is it! So I am really testing my limits on getting involved, but it sure is exciting :) I always worked better with more on my plate. My roommate Robin started out as reallly quiet, but the more we chat, the funnier she is and the more I can make her laugh! Woot! The one night she randomly hugged me. Totally was not expecting that. Tonight she said, " I think you are good with people" after I said that my brothers stole all the good things to do and I felt I had nothing to offer. ha.


Okay, here I am blabbing away. I feel God is really shaking things up here on campus and something crazy is going to happen! And all around here! It's been kind of weird coming back and feeling like I got the ropes. Do you guys kinda feel that way? Oh oh! And I have kids y'all! In less than week, I had 12 kids. It's about time I told you that you're all aunts :) haha. I led a small group of freshman and oh my goodness, so rewarding and fun! They're so funny and we took some silly photos. I really do feel like their mom. I check up on them and ask how they're doing and make sure they're eating and have someone to sit with. ha. :)


I am so glad to see you guys are embracing being back. College sure does something to you - thirsting after knowledge sure does it :) I love you guys so very much and I am SUPER estastic to see what AMAZING things you are learning and going to do. You are amazing women and you are going to do some life-changing things!

And So I'm Back.....! by Gabby

I can't tell you guys how amazing it feels to be back at Denison. It sort of feels like I was on this extra long crappy vacation, and now I'm finally back home. I settled back into college life a lot easier than I thought I would. Classes are going great, so hopefully this is going to be a good semester. I'm taking Philosophy 101, Psychology 100, Math 102- Statistics, and Sociology/Anthropology 100. I've already got homework and reading to do, but I was expecting that. Frankly, it's nice to have something to do besides sulk and listen to my mother screech at me all day.

This weekend I'm going on a student retreat called Quest. It's supposed to help us explore what we like to do and help us figure out what we want to do with our lives. Only 50-ish sophomores get to go, and I'm one of them! I'm pretty excited, but also kinda nervous. I'm just not really sure what to expect. Oh, well. I'm sure it will be great. I'll let you guys know how it goes!

Anyway, I'm off to do some more work. I miss you guys!

Sending you love from The Hill,
Gabs

Yay for a new semester! -By Amber

"Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life." ~Mark Twain

Who's happy to be back at school? I know I am! Denison has been as fabulous as ever, even though it has been pretty hot recently and our building keeps running out of hot water. It's been good, though. I also think this will be a vast improvement on last year, which was so emotionally draining, I feel lucky that I wasn't comatose all summer from emotion overload. I'm just so fabulously happy to be back with my Denison friends. It feels so good to be back at Camp Denidoo.

Even though it's only been 4 days (WHOA! Feels like longer) since I moved back in, I'm already readjusted to the whole Denison atmosphere and feel so at home. Also, even though today was only the second day of classes, I'm starting to feel the burn of being busy ALL THE TIME with schoolwork. I'm taking General Chemistry I, Introduction to the Science of Biology, Spanish, and Issues in Feminism. Feminism and Chem are good so far, but I'm already in love with Biology and Spanish. My Bio professor talks about himself in the third person, and told us that this semester we're all going on a trip to Biologyland. My Spanish professor is super cool: she's from Spain, so she has that super awesome Spaniard accent, and her voice sounds like the one lady from Holes... You know the one, the old lady who What's-his-face is supposed to carry up the mountain, but he forgets so his family is cursed? Madame Zeroni, that's it! Phew! That took long enough...

We are all going to do great. Just try not to let me and Gabs get to caught up in the Denison bubble...

Love and hugs to everyone! :)

Back in school! - By Cassi

Well, we are all back at school now. How does it feel, everyone? I am hoping that this year will be better in general for everyone. Not that we didn't have a good year last year, but it seems as though there is a lot of room for improvement in this current year. We all have friends to return to, we know our campuses, and most of all, we just know what to expect in general. I speak for myself when I say I am very happy to be back.

I have been enjoying the state of Utah since I have been back. Last week I got to hike Mt. Timpanogos, which is over 11,000 feet tall! It's the second highest peak in Utah. I hiked it with my friend Taylor, who has done the 9 mile trail in 5 hours total, up and down. I however, have never hiked a mountain before, so it took us a little less than 12 hours total. It was a pretty long day. All we brought were four granola bars, four packets of fruit snacks, and a bag of baby carrots. Oh, and a whole ton of water! Anyway, getting to the top of that mountain and being able to see the entire Utah Valley was incredible, and I know I'll never be able to replicate that feeling of accomplishment unless I hike another 11,000 foot tall mountain. That is probably the most exciting thing I've done so far.

Classes so far are good, because I'm swimming in a sea of art, religion, and English. My classes require a lot of reading, but I love it. The classes I'm taking are Honors English 201, LDS Marriage and Family, Sculpture, New Testament 1, and African American Literature. It's awesome! It should be a great year, even though our apartment is a little bit ghetto and small. I hope you guys are having a great time as well. Here's to our awesome blog. :)