Welcome back!

Hey everyone!
My name is Brittany Browne and I am a sophomore at Notre Dame this year. I am a new member of the our school's newspaper "Columns" as well as a new blogger. My freshman year at NDM seemed as if it flew by, and time still has not begun to slow down. It's hard to believe that Honor's convocation has already passed! My only advice to freshman is to appreciate this new experience and try not to feel so rushed. College is a new beginning and a great way to broaden your horizons. I am a commuter and I drive from Edgemere which is located in Baltimore County close to Dundalk. I try to spend as much time at Notre Dame as I can, but sometimes it can be difficult between a full time job and a forty five minute drive. However, I always to to find the time to get involved in the campus and attend some of the great events.


Now I would like to tell alittle bit more about myself and how I came to become a student at our wonderful school. I attended Sparrows Point High School and graduated in the class of 2008. The reason I chose Notre Dame was because I had gone to a small school ( literally the second floor was my middle school and the first floor was my high school). I love that our school has it's own little community where everyone feels a bit confortable. I am a declared double major, both communication arts and political science, and I am currently taking 18 credits this semester. What can I say, I like to keep myself busy! I look forward to sharing my year with you and hope to keep you interested  =]

RSVP?

RSVP? What does that mean? I remember when I first started my program...my professors then and now would always refer to RSVP, so much so that I had started to ask my classmates what was RSVP. Well...one professor finally explained that it is the guiding principles of Notre Dame experience, and when I was done, I would not only know it by heart but would use it to guide me in my professional and personal life. Well...I guess I've come full circle.

RSVP~Research, Self-Reflection,Vocation, and Practice. This is the College of Notre Dame's framework. My journey as a student has definitely required me to go down each of these paths. This I come to realize isn't a linear path, but one that goes in many directions- converging at some points, circular at others...even radiating out from a single point. I find myself doing a lot of self-reflection, lately. It's not easy to be objective. Sometimes...I may want to gloss over my faults and shortcomings, but then I realize through research and practice
(personally, professionally, and socially), that if I want to be the best at my vocation-honesty must prevail. Do I want to grow? Do I want to be the best at what I do? If so examining my achievements and mistakes are a necessary evil. How else will I know what to change or build upon? Be open to critiques from others, whether they be family, friends, colleagues, or even enemies. It's not easy...but reflect we must. Here are a few quotes that speak to me...how about you?

• 'To see the future you have to travel on the rough edge of experience.' Harriet Rubin Fast Company writer.

• 'We can easily forgive a child whom is frightened of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.' Plato

• The price of change is measured by our will and courage, our persistence, in the face of difficulty.' Peter Block Business Philosopher

• 'If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing it badly.' G K Chesterton.

RSVP I am starting to realize what it means to me! What does it mean to you?

New at CND

Hello there! I'm Kristin Moore and a freshman here at CND. I'm just getting into the swing of things here and I'm liking it so far. I'm taking 15 credits with an intended major in Psychology and a minor in Spanish. I'm taking Sociology, Social Psychology, Spanish 234, IDS, and Basic Statistics. I know I'm lucky, I skipped the 100 level Spanish classes and freshman English, and I'm not taking any science classes at the moment. Thank you AP tests! So I pretty much love my schedule. I have joined several activities to keep me busy, as if the homework was not enough. I'm in Best Buddies, which is a club that pairs us Notre Dame students with students with disabilities. It's really fun a new way to grow and learn. I know it sounds cliché, but I usually end up benefitting more from my buddy than she does from me. I also have an ELI conversation buddy from Korea, whom I have yet to meet, so I'm looking forward to that one. I am also a staff writer for our very own Columns. The latest article I'm working on is one about Fraser Smith and his book about the unsung heros in the civil right movement from Maryland. That should be interesting, so keep an eye out for the next issue of Columns.

If that wasn't enough of an introduction, I'd love to tell you a bit about the pre-Notre Dame Kristin. I was born and raised in Montgomery County, MD and graduated 2009 from Seneca Valley High School. I enjoy long walks on the beach....

Now that I've settled into my daily routine, I've found myself looking for even more things to do on and off campus. On campus my favorite spots are the library, that hill next to the soccer field, and my own bed of course! As for off campus, my favorite thing to do was go to Towson Mall, but, wow, that got old fast. I'm new to Baltimore, so looking for new things to do is pretty easy. I've gone to the Inner Harbor and explored the happenings around there. The college town shuttle has been very helpful on account of the fact that I have no car. Besides that, I'm learning how to get around on my own.

Well that's all for now, but I'll keep you posted on the exciting events in the life of Kristin!

New Beginnings!

WOW! September is almost over, it's time for pumpkins, Halloween costumes, and lots of candy. For those of you that don't know me my name is Georgina Whalen and I live in Parkville. I am a graduate student at CND, working on a Master's plus 30, (it is a pre-doctoral program) and I love it!

I am currently taking a Literacy Coaching class and Behavior is Language online course. Both are challenging, yet, the practical experience I am gaining will help me obtain the positions I will be looking for when I graduate.

One thing is for sure, having a family and going to school is a major challenge, hurtle, and anything else you want to call it! BUT it is worth it and doable! The late nights and early mornings just to get assignments completed and make sure dinner and breakfast is ready in peace, well what can I say we do what we have to do. Life...

Sundays!

Go Ravens! It looks like we may go all the way this year.

It's Sunday already, and I have class tomorrow evening. Am I ready? that's a good question... the answer is yes...I have to stay focused. I have made a schedule for my online course, but it seems I can only stay on track with that during the week...What to do? Well, I guess the only course of action is to double what gets done during the week so that I don't feel like I'm behind.

Graduate School

Hi! I'm Becky Myers and I live in Lexington Park, MD and attend the NDM classes at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center (SMHEC). I am currently working on an MA in Contemporary Communication and am about half way there I think...I hope. This semester I have two classes: Gender Communication and Human Communication Research. Both are proving to be incredibly intriguing! One of the major advantages of my masters program right now is that it is actually related to my current job. (I work in the recruiting branch of a human resources department).

I am able to adapt my learning in "real-time" which was impossible to do as an undergraduate.....FINALLY! It feels so empowering to put this good knowledge to use! (Sure makes me pay more attention too)

My Gender Communication class in particular is opening up new avenues of thinking for me. Dr. Peterson is teaching us via VTC from Baltimore. I chose this class because I have always had a bit of angst about getting along with other women at work...I have a hard time understanding them...especially when they are not 100% feminine. From what it looks like, Dr. Peterson is going to solve all of my problems within the first couple of Monday nights!

Right now we are focusing on definitions of feminists. When I first heard this phrase mumbled about in class I couldn't help but think, "oh boy, here we go....here comes to the silly chitter chatter about whatever men can do, women can do better."....Surprisingly we didn't hit on this though! The class ran into some interesting conversation on famous figures who didn't fit their "feminine" or "masculine" molds. As humans, we always enjoy analyzing other humans...but I have never had the pleasure to do just this in such a degree or fashion. I felt like I was listening in on some juicy gossip. I even kind of tilted my head and little bit and scooted up in my chair to get comfortable. If only I had some popcorn! We probed around in personal behaviors of people such as Hilary Clinton, President Obama and Hurricane Katrina victims. Eye-opening to say the least!

I went to work the next day and just started paying attention like never before. I stared at people, tried to figure out their motives instead of just "assuming" them.....I started to feel like it was my first day on the job and I was seeing and hearing everything for the first time.. Or as Plato would say,

"Everyone of us is like a man who sees things in a dream and thinks that he knows them perfectly and then wakes up to find that he knows nothing."--Plato

This gender class is going to be an exciting adventure....we've already paired up and started working on our debate teams...not sure how I'm going to peacefully agree with all the alternative perspectives of my classmates...but I'll give it a whirl! See, feminist studies aren't so bad!!

Three Weeks In

It's been 3 weeks already (that time has flown by, no?) and you can tell that school is fully underway! Honors convocation and family weekend is rapidly approaching, student organizations are starting their first and second meetings, events are starting to come back on campus, the Freshman are settling into their classes, and the seniors are excited to graduate in a few short months. As a senior myself, I can't believe I am going to graduate in t-minus 8 months; the time has certainly flown by. Where has it gone? I don't think anyone knows that answer, but of course about 99% of the time was spent studying, at dance practices or other club meeting, working in IT, or commuting to school.

My senior year has started with a bang; I am quite certain it will end with a bang as well. So, what's my schedule like this year? Well, I am taking 16 credits. I am editor of the school newspaper, Columns; working once more in IT; and running my butt around campus to various meetings. Although my classes are not hard, they are challenging courses. For example, I am in love so far with my Honors Communications Women In History class. Digital Media 102 (3D Modeling) on the other hand will prove to be a challenge this semester because I'm learning a completely new subject (3D modeling) and software without prior knowledge or experience. However, the class is interesting and I am certain it will turn out to be okay.

Hope your classes are going well.. I will update shortly!

-Nikki

About

CND Bloggers is a new project brought to you by Columns, the student-run newspaper of College of Notre Dame of Maryland.  The project will hopefully gain campus wide readership, spirit on-campus, and a great learning opportunity for students to read about the lives of other CND students. 

This site therefore serves as a collection of blogs from Notre Dame students sharing their experiences on and off campus, as well as stories and interesting facts. Come "meet" the students of Notre Dame and gain new friends. Don't forget to comment on a blog entry!

If you are interested in becoming an official CND Blogger, please e-mail columns@ndm.edu with "Blogger Interest" in the subject line.

Thanks!

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