Josh

Why is it Snowing?

Hello everyone,

    Well, it has been a little while since I have written last but what I would really like to talk about is this whole issue of the weather and then my excitement for the upcoming semester being that this one is almost over with! (Thank God!) I was actually teaching today and was not quite sure what the weather was going to be like for the day and then I got the surprise that I was not really all that thrilled about it, it was snow! Now at first I thought that is was not going to be that big of a deal because it was not snowing very hard and it was some what warm outside which meant that the snow should not stick to the ground and we can all be happy! But then as the hour went by, and my little students were working so hard on their packets, I noticed that it was snowing much harder than before and as I got closer to the window the snow was sticking to the ground! As to say, I was not very thrilled whatsoever by the weather I was seeing.

    I know that there are many fans of the winter weather out there and I am sure that the Smugg's fanatics are probably skipping their classes and going to the mountain today to get that one last thrill of the mountain, but I am getting sick of this white stuff we call snow! I love snow just as much as the next guy but I like the snow more when it comes around during the peak winter season and not when it is now spring! I remember getting out of work yesterday and my car was hot so I put down the window. It reminded me of spring and how warm it was gonna get and I was so thrilled that it looked like warm weather was finally coming to Vermont.This I guess is really why I am so depressed about the snow being around today. I was just so hopeful for what the warm weather could have been. But I know that it is April tomorrow and thus the warm weather is going to come. I just get so anxious sometimes that I want the warm weather now; I am impatient if you will!

    I am also extremely excited because I got placed with my teacher for next semester which means that I am officially going to be student teaching! This is so great because I got placed with the teacher that I had requested and I am going to have such a great time being a student teacher while learning how to be a teacher and having a great experience with it. I am just thrilled to be placed with Amy and be able to work with the same students that I have been working with for almost a year now! It is sad to think that the wonderful 8th graders that I have now will not be there but the other great kids will still be there so it will be great. I am just so glad that I already know my teacher, I know how she runs the classroom, and I know the students already! I just feel like I will be able to just dive into the classroom and immediately begin working with all of the students. It is going to be so great and I cannot wait to start next semester, but there is a lot of time in between then and now so I better control my excitement for the moment.

    Lastly, I would like to make little point about life and how we can learn from every situation that we are thrown into. There are so many times that maybe we say things, act in a certain way, or something comes up that is just out of our control. I know for me sometimes it can feel that nothing is going right or you feel like it will never end. If you are also like me you will think it is always your fault and then jump to the worse conclusion. Well, my suggestion is to just wait it all out, hope for the best, and try to move on. I know that it is hard but things always seem to work themselves out. You may be filled with doubt or even self-doubt and feel as if everything is your fault, but do not think that. It will only make things worse. If you need too talk it out with a friend if it will make you feel better, but sometimes not talking to a friend could help too. So that is my advice for the day people, have a great one out there!

              Don't worry, be happy now!
                            Yeshua

Here on Spring Break...

Hello all!

   I  hope that everyone is having a wonderful time on Spring Break so far! I know for you prospective students you just got back from break and do not have another one for at least a month, but college students are finally having theirs! The only problem for me right now is that I am not on vacation nor am I going to be able to. I unfortunately need to make up some practicum hours in the classroom because of all the bad weather this semester. There have been so many school cancellations that if I did not stay here for the break and make up time I would have to do it for the rest of the semester. And although I did not really have any plans for the break nor the money to do anything, it is finally hitting me that I am not getting a break from school.

   It is not necessarily the fact that I do not get a break that bothers me. This is because if I was home I would just try to work or do some homework. I am actually bummed out at the fact that I do not get to go home. What actually made me a little depressed today was when I brought my father to the airport at 4:40 this morning. (Umm yeah I have been up since then in a middle school! Yowzah!) I was looking around me and all of these families were traveling together and everyone looked so happy and glad to see one another. That is when the big slam hit me; I do not get to come home and visit the family until the end of the semester! I have been a little upset because all I want to do is be able to go home and relax with my family. I want to be able to see my dog and cat and just enjoy being home. But luckily on Sunday I am going to go home for the night and see the family. So at least I get to go home for a night, although I would like to be home longer, my schedule and amount of school work will just not allow it.

   I am glad though to be doing a full week in the classroom because it is a delicious taste as to what Fall Semester is going to be like. I will be a full time student teacher in the classroom around 40 hours a week. I have loved having this experience and getting to know what it feels like to be a teacher. Being around the students all day reminds me that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I love being around these middle school students and just having fun with them. I really enjoy being able to teach them, engage them, and get to know them. I was teaching for three hours in the classroom yesterday and it was wonderful. I just cannot wait to be a teacher and even better yet I cannot wait for next semester when I student teaching! It is going to be a lot of work but so worthwhile!

   So although I really want to go home and be able to relax life is good. I am glad to be where I am doing what I am doing. I am getting more experience for my career choice instead of sitting around the house doing nothing. (Second thought that could be nice!) But I hope all my roommates and friends are having a good time and enjoying their vacation. And remember guys, if I am calling you all the time from the apartment it is not me bugging you I am bored and miss you guys. Although the apartment is nice to be alone in, it can be alone. Of course, the perk is that Colleen is here so we can hang out with each other. Cute right?

                   Have a good one y'all,

                                Yeshua

What a Nice Day...

Hello everyone!

    Well, I have to say that I never thought that I would be sitting back in the admissions office taking care of the front desk. I actually kind of like doing it because I loved working in admissions, talking to people about SMC, and being able to hang out with all the cool admissions counselors and staff! I also really enjoy being able to answer the phone because I used to have such good conversation with parents over the phone. It is just so nice and I am so excited! Except, I am not answering the phones because of the staff being in a meeting. So that is sad but at least I get to be in charge of the front desk. So come on people and get in here I have a big smile on waiting for you!

   I am so excited for today because it is such a beautiful day outside. It is not too cold but not hot and the sun is shining done so brightly. And you want to know the best part about this glorious warm weather? Well, the snow is melting and that is my favorite part! I cannot wait for the snow to completely go away and then spring will make its way back to Vermont. I know that so many skiers are probably heading off to the mountain and crying because they know the snow is melting but I could not be any more excited. I am so sick of having to wake early and brush off my car or literally punch the ice off my car. I am so excited that I can just wake up and go in the morning. GOD I love the warm weather!

   I am also very excited because my students did so well in class today. I was not really sure at first because the two boys I work with one-on-one were so off task today and not wanting to do anything. All I did was bring a movie in for them to watch and just ask them to sit there and watch it. The students before the movie were all over the place and it was really keeping me on my toes so to speak! I thought today was going to be a disaster and the boys were going to learn nothing. But then, while we were doing our exit slip or wrap up activity they blew me away! I was asking them questions and they were giving me the right answers! I was so impressed with all of the information that they knew about their historical figures they were researching about! They were impressing me and my professor as she was sitting there listening to them and also being blown away by all the information they knew about their historical figures! I am so proud of my students and they remind me of how I want to be a teacher, for students like them!

   Also, for everyone to know, today I am officially only three months away from my birthday! I am so excited and that makes me also know that the semester is almost over. I know this is crazy to think about but in 6 weeks I am done! That means in 6 weeks I will be a senior in college and getting ready to student teach! Oh man! Also, by the way, I will be an Orientation Leader next year!!! I am so excited and I cannot wait to find out if Nick got it too!

                    Have fun out there,

                              Yeshua

No Need to Worry...

Hello All,

    Well, if there is something that I have learned as a valuable lesson it is not to worry anymore. Now for my friends they may be thinking that I could never learn to not worry but it something that I do need to work on. What really surprises me is that when I think about worrying it does not even make any sense to do at all. Let us sit back for a second and really think about it, where does worrying get you? All it does it make you stress out, get upset, or make you feel as if you are losing control of what is going on around you. There is really no need to worry because somehow everything will always get done and even if it is not done the way you wanted it too, at least you got it all done. Somehow it will always work out and you would be surprised how better off you are when you are worry and stress free. Here is one amazing quote that I have taken from me this past weekend and MUST follow by:

    "Do not worry about your life. Can you, by worrying, add a single hour to your life span? If you can't do a small thing as that , why worry? Do not keep worrying."

                ~Luke 12:22-29

    Woah! You may be thinking to yourself that you cannot believe that I have quoted the Bible but to be completely honest with you, there is a lot of good advice in there. I actually do know a lot of people who are not religious whatsoever but they do have quotes from the Bible to worry by. I really enjoy quotes like this because it teaches you that the Bible is not just there are spiritual guidance but has good advice on how to take care of your everyday life outside of religion. Who knew that back in the day men and women had to worry about stress and thus they made this quote?! But doesn't the quote just make perfect sense for the stress of you life? All that worrying does is make you stress out, feel out of control, and definitely does not add an hour onto your life. More likely it actually takes away from your life and does nothing at all to help you. So let me tell you what happened to me on Monday night as a good explanation as to why I need to not worry so much.

    While on the religious retreat this weekend we actually got stranded for one day and could not return back to SMC. This made it so that I missed four meetings, missed my academic day, I could not teach two lessons, and I literally had to play catch up for two days to take care of everything. I remember coming back to campus and feeling relaxed, but I was all over the place with rescheduling meetings and trying to figure out how to get all my work done. Well, that night all of the worrying that I was doing came together and I had a panic attack! This really surprised me because I normally handle my stress pretty well but then on Monday night I had the scariest moment of my life. A panic attack made me feel completely out of control and was so terrible to go through. I am just so glad that my roommates Nick and Logan were here to take care of me because I do not know what I would have done without them. I am sure you are thinking, holy crap! Well, that is the right response and let me tell you why.

    For one, I can not believe that is what happened to me because I feel as if it was ridiculous that I lost control like that and physically had a panic attack. I have never been so scared in my life and it taught me that I NEED TO NOT WORRY! As I am sitting here right now, all of my work is done, I have nothing else to do until break, and everything is fine. That showed me that my body was screaming at me to calm down because I was freaking out so bad I had a panic attack. I really hope that now I know to follow that quote for my everyday life and everything will be fine. But also remember, your friends are there to help you through anything you may need. No matter what they want to be there for you even if they do have a final the next day. If they are true friends they will sit by your side for three hours to make sure you are alright. Logan and Nick, you guys rock!

                            Lots of Love,
                                            Yeshua

Emay-may...

Hello all!

    Well, I have to say that I had one amazing time this weekend on yet another retreat for SMC. As I am sure you can tell by now, I try to get involved with as many things as possible on campus. One of the last things I had not done yet was the religious Retreat Emmaus. I know that I have talked about LEAP before and this is a similar retreat but it is more religious and more of a reflective weekend. I think that this was a nice opportunity for me because I am a very reflective person in general. However, I do not normally reflect on my own life or my own personal relationships. I always reflect on my education practices or situations that happen in my life but never really focus on myself. This weekend has really opened up a lot for me and I got so much out of it. My roommate Nick also went on the weekend and he seemed to get a lot out of the experience as well.

    The reason that I really liked the weekend was because it was very relaxing. We got a lot of sleep and did not do any strenuous activity. We just got to hang out, reflect, talk, and then get plenty of sleep. Being that I feel as if there is always a lot going on in my life at once, it was nice to be able to step back for a second and get a reality check on my own life. I really got to put everything together, some personal and not so personal things together. I really feel as if I have pieced my life together at least for the time being so that I can now focus on my studies without the stress of worrying about my own life. I do highly suggest that other people go on this retreat because it really helps to calm you down and think about the role that God has on your life. So obviously if you are not quite a religious person the retreat could work in two ways for you. Either you would be comfortable and maybe even think about God and let him into your life or you would have a bad experience and completely be unimpressed by the experience. But if you are someone like me who is willing to try anything, it could be one of the best experiences of your life.

    It was also such a nice weekend except for the fact that an Ice Storm hit NY, which is where the retreat was, and we were stuck there for an extra day. Of course, I was very upset when we first heard the news and I had to literally make 9 phone calls to people to let them know I was not going to be back till Monday. I was pretty upset because I missed three meetings, feel like I have fallen behind on work, and I missed my last Accepted Student Academic Day yesterday. I had worked very hard for the day and was just depressed about not being able to make it. Yet, the extra day of rest and comfort was so great and I feel ready to tackle the world. I know that I will be able to make up the work and everything will be fine now, I just need to role with the punches and somehow everything will get done. I really had such a great experience and it reminds me more and more how I chose the right college to go to.

    I definitely owe people some thanks for being so understanding and helpful with the experience. First of all, to the lovely Brigette. She was the one who made me go on the weekend and it was a great experience. I want to thank all of the team members for making it an amazing experience. I also was to thank Jo for being an amazing supportive person on the weekend and even Father Brian for being a strong spiritual leader. (Even though you called me fat! haha) I also have to thank my parents for giving them support for the weekend and Nick's parents! Jodie and Scott, you guys are great and I was so glad you were a part of my experience as well! You all rock my world and I just hope I get more opportunities to share back the experience I had whether it be through going on the retreat or being a disciple. This will stay with me for a while and I will use the quote, Live the Fourth, and do not worry because it gets you now where.

                                Peace,
                                        Yeshua

Our School's Unbelievable history...

Hello y'all!

     Something that has recently come to my attention from a meeting one of my Professors had gone too was over the issue of our school's history. Most of the students on our campus do not really understand the significance of our heritage and this is something I would like to fix. There are so many resources on our campus on our history, which is full or rich content that all of our students should be aware of. What struck me the worst, was that during tour guide interviews we would ask the question about our history and most students knew we were founded by the Society of Saint Edmund, but most did not know that we were founded in 1904 and they knew nothing else about our history. Let me then dedicate this blog to telling about the history and significance of our school.

    For one, we are the only Edmundite College in the entire world. Although the Edmundite sect of Catholicism is small indeed, being there are less than 50 Edmundite priests in the world, that makes us extremely special. I am sure that we are one of the only colleges that can say we are the only type of college that exists in the entire world! Well, at least for me that is pretty dang cool! Secondly, people do not realize that our heritage is extremely important because we are almost directly related to the Civil Rights Movement!

    Basically, there were priests that wanted to start a school in Vermont that was based on their own ideals in a abbot in Canada. They actually had the name Saint Michael's because that was the name of the abbot there. So they bought a piece of land in Colchester, VT and created our wonderful little school. The gave us similar ideas of pacifism, acceptance, and tolerance for all people. The Edmundites were also known for reaching out to the poor and oppressed and helping them to survive. This was where the work of our priests reached out to Selma, Alabama. The priests had a parish there and saw the injustice that was happening to the black community. Thus, many priests backed their bags and traveled to Alabama to help the black community gain a voice in the Civil Rights Movement.

    There was actually a Edmundite Priest, Ziter, who created the Don Bosco Boys club, which gave the black youth of Selma, Alabama a place to get off the streets, a place to make social friendships, a place for education, and a place for spirituality. Even once priest during the movement, Maurice Ouellet helped to take care of Civil Rights Activists during many different movements. Although the study of white clergy in the Civil Rights Movement is just getting off the ground it is quite evident that many white clergy put their voices out there and risked their parishes for the movement. They did not only risk their parish for the movement but their lives as well. It is believed that without their help and leadership the movement may not have been so successful, but of course, more research needs to be conducted to prove that fact.

    Regardless, white clergy who were Catholic, Protestant, or Jewish helped in the Civil Rights Movement. And being that many Edmundite priests, coming directly from SMC, helped during the movement. It is just so incredible to me that I have learned all of this new information about our school. We just have such a rich and cultural history that is cannot be ignored and should be known by all people. This should especially be known by all of our students on campus and I plan on making it a point to teach our new and old tour guides about our history. This is just so important and really makes our school unique and at the same time incredible. We come from a long line of helping those in need and I know that tradition will continues for more years to come.

                               Much respect,
                                            Yeshua

So it goes...

Well hello all!

    I must say first off that the weather is getting quite nice around here. I think that my favorite month must be March because I know that is the time of the year when I know that winter is coming to its end and spring is on its way. Now, I know that I do not really look forward to mud season and the in between of seasons can be sometimes kind of ugly, I really like the fact that the winter is almost over. I do enjoy the snow and the skiing, but I cannot stand the cold at all! I hate having to step into the cold and feel so cold before getting to class that your hands could fall off! I know that means I should buy gloves but those cost money, so I will deal with the cold. But for some reason after living in Vermont for the last 20 years my body has not come accustomed to the cold. It has actually done the opposite and reacts terribly to the cold. But it is getting warmer and my body likes it!

    What is really surprising me right now is the fact that we are now 8 weeks through the semester. I really cannot believe how fast the time has flown by but I like it. The reason is because last semester I felt as if I had so much homework to do all the time that the time flew by because of all the work. But now time is just flying by not because of the amount of homework but because of my extracurricular activities. I am on the SA, LEAP, a founder's coordinator, and a director for the Best Buddies Midnight Madness program. So although I may have a lot on my hands with school work and working at Chili's, I actually kind of like it. When I was in High School I thrived off the constant business and having to run all around the place to get to meetings or go from event to event. I really like being in the swing of things and I just love being busy! Except, my last Accepted Student Academic Day is Monday!

    I normally would not be that nervous, but I did not realize how quickly that is approaching and I need to make sure that I send out a series of emails tomorrow about it! I love the day and all of the events. I really love seeing all the interested students, but then again, I have over 50 students coming and I need to get more hosts which is going to be very hard at this point. I will do all the emails and such, but it takes a good deal of time which I do not have. But that is okay, with the amount of hosts I have now I will be fine we just may need to double up on hosts and prospective students! But I hope that those students who are coming are excited because this day will be so worth it for you! You will get to know the school so much better and it is such a great time to be able to see current students and our beautiful campus! So for all of you coming, safe driving and good luck! I will be doing all the behind the scenes stuff and although it may be stressful and time consuming I cannot explain to you how rewarding it is! Last time hearing how much all the students like it made it worthwhile for me!

                                Much Love,
                                            Yeshua