I’ve been thinking a lot about purpose and motivation lately. How we (the college folk) come to college because of our dreams and there ability to become reality at college. From waking up early five days a week to workout till we drop, to going out of our comfort zone to make friends, we all strive to better ourselves. I think knowing your purpose alone is not enough to succeed in life. I believe that it is purpose and ambition that define success. When we have ambition and purpose we have almost a sort of magic about us.

          I like to use JFK as an example with his purpose to push our country beyond its limits along with his ambition. JFK stated that he wanted to land a man on the moon and return him safely in 1962, a time where even the most wide-eyed physicist would have thought it was inconceivable. Everything was working against them, the energy required to reach escape velocity along with fuel and the fact that the super computers at the time had less processing power than a modern day phone. Despite those nearly insurmountable odds however he was able to make it happen. Even in Oswego at a time were money is being taken from schools and publically funded universities president Stanley was able to get millions to build a new science building which is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

          I like to think we can all make this magic happen if we are willing to do what it takes to reach our goals. For those of you who don’t quite know their purpose I urge you to examine your life to find the things that make you feel fulfilled and to not be afraid to experiment to see if you truly have found it. I want to try and emphasize this as much as possible because of the tremendous security and motivation boost that comes along with it. I can’t imagine how hard it would be to motivate myself to do something I don’t like if I didn’t know I needed to get through it to fulfill my purpose.

          I’ve known since I was maybe 7 that I wanted to be a scientist, but that alone wasn’t a purpose, it could barely even pass as a goal. This is because a purpose like a goal is much more specific and with all the niches in all the science fields the probability of me feeling fulfilled just picking one would be roughly the same chances of finding a diamond in a coal mine. It wasn’t until much later that I decided I wanted to be a chemist and even that isn’t enough to be a purpose. I had to find out what it was about chemistry that drew me to it.

          It was the possibility of creation that excited me, the ability to make something that had never been made and discover new things. It was this ability and having the equivalent of a full back stage pass to the universe which made chemistry irresistible and made me realize I had found my purpose. I really like to help people (the reason I started blogging), cooking, trying to find out what makes people tick and eating candy but these are interest. I could do those things everyday and not be fulfilled so it is a difficult but important distinction to make.

          Once you find your purpose and if you have the ambition, I implore you to take bold steps and to set tough but realistic time limits for your goals. I ask you to do both these things not because they are easy but because they are hard and will serve to push you to the best of your abilities.

JFK’s speech http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g25G1M4EXrQ&feature=related

So today, despite the coldness, I am in a great mood. I’m soo glad it’s Friday. I think it’s the fact that we actually had a full week. I wasn’t used to sitting in class for soo long. Rush for APO has finished and we ended up putting in for 38 bids. This means Monday afternoon we will offer 38 people the opportunity to pledge. Not all of them will of course but APO continues to grow and I couldn’t be more proud. yayyy! But, today is Friday so I have some free time to do homework, get caught up on Jersey Shore and of course attend ALANA’S FIRST EVER PEACE WALK on SUNDAY 🙂

So as I have said before I am taking PED 237 Martial Arts this semester. It is still nuts!
The instructor definitely reminds me of Yoda. This class makes me feel like some sort of Jedi. As dorky as that sounds there is no real other way to describe him. He makes us do intense workouts though, I am getting conditioned and full of ninja power. While I can’t ever say ninja in class or even think about it, when I am outside of class, it is a whole different story. I really feel empowered and a lot cooler. Not that I should, I know like three things. Oh well, it is my favorite class these days.
Oh and the term “Bovaries” is the fabulous new and improved equal gender expression. My guy friends always say that something is “The balls” when they think something is cool. However, that is pretty sexiest. We came up with an equal gender opportunity expression instead. We originally thought of “Overalls” but then people would just think of the stereotypical farmers pants…and that just wouldn’t work. It is a pretty funny standing joke either way.
Share your own collegiate made up words, we all know that we have them…:)

Be Ozzy

         As this is my first blog post I suppose I’ll give you a little background about myself. My name is Kalib St.Ange I am a sophomore, and I’ve traveled all the way from Brooklyn NY to study chemistry. It was my quest for discovery and independents which brought me to Oswego. Being a science major I quickly made friends with many of the other science majors in my classes and in my dorm. We studied together went to events together and even decided to take some classes together. Freshman year I also joined Chemistry Club where I got to know more chemistry majors and faculty, I worked in the chemistry stock room prepping chemicals and glassware for labs and I even got a chance to do some research in the biochemistry lab. All and all it was a great year and it was done in the blink of an eye.

          Now sophomore year is here and I’m ready to do chemistry on the next level. I’m taking Calc II, Organic, English, and Physics this semester so it’s going to be rough, but I think I’m up to it. I am still in Chemistry club, the stock room and I’m still doing research. The first two weeks back were rough, since I had lots of work and I realized a few of my friends didn’t make it back this year (a sad reality of college life) but it makes me relies that I’ve done well and I have to continue to do well.

It’s only one week of school and I’m overwhelmed. I realize that I put myself in this situation by taking a lot on to my plate but, I also am disappointed because I thought I prepared enough to take everything on.

Let’s start with what takes up most of my time, Alpha Phi Omega. I love APO and eat breathe, sleep APO. But, last spring when was re-elected as President, I spent hours upon hours preparing to make this semester easier. I had an Exec board that was killer, re-did every binder, with all the papers they would need. Forms and contact info galore. I was ready. However, as the summer slowly progressed Orientations came and went, one of my E-board members resigned. Little to my knowledge they had done no planning for the Fall Rush or pledge program, so low and behold. I did it. Now trying to run RUSH, help the other e-board members settle into their jobs, and do my own job, I’m slightly stressed. The people I do have around however are wonderful. I love the remaining e-board members, as well as the regular members who just go the extra mile and thank god I have fellow blogger and brother, and housemate Danielle to have my back.

My next time consumer is simply walking around. Years of snowboarding and soccer has taken a toll on my knees and is quite evident if you see me hobbling around on crutches. One torn meniscus and sprained LCL leaves me crutchin’ around trying to get to class on time, make it up to the third floor in my house. If I wasn’t already stressed, this would have done it.

In addition to these, Peer advising, TAing, 18 credits and ya know the basic eating, breathing, and  sleeping have got me stressed and it’s only the first week. Good thing I’ve got excellent, wonderful people who care about me and help as much as humanly possible. Dave, my housemates and friends are wonderful, wonderful, wonderful and I love them.

Oh yeah, tonight everyone should come to the Laker Leaders Glee profromance at in Waterman theatre in Tyer Hall.

Until later 🙂

(Photo taken from Oswego Palladium "Todays Top Photo's" Aug 30th)

The Best Week ever Huh?

Yeah I said it and its only the conclusion of the first week. Carpet still Stanley Steamer Clean! Nothing on my bedroom walls yet , cupboards only half full  and I’m already proclaiming Best Weeks.

Pretty bold I’ll admit it but I also plan to say that every week this semester so get used to it. In all seriousness though this week was pretty amazing. I always call the first week of class Syllabus Wk. Go to class get the syllabus skim over for grading method, attendance policy and # of exams , pray you get out early and rush to add or drop for better times. Also it doesn’t hurt that the weather was glorious last week it almost got a little tooo glorious had me having thoughts of cannon balling off Scales into the Lake. Before I could do that,  the weekend had me under two covers so I will NEVER complain about hot weather in Oswego again!

I met a ton of people …cool people and if I met you amazingly enough I can guarantee that I remember your name or where I met you from.

They say that first impressions are lasting impressions and my First week made sure to impress.Africka Step, Involvement Fair , Oswegonian General Meeting, CSA’s Back to School Labor Day Event. Yeah! One thing for sure there are two sides to Oswego. This place is very much a place of getting out of it what you want. If you have plans to rule the world like the Brain(as I do) then this may very well be the place that it all starts for you. For every ambition and aspiration there is some sort club , organization or available resource. However if you want to just lurk in the background not really becoming involved, running home at the first available weekend you can definitely get away with that (but don’t that’s WACK)

Everyone that I’ve encountered asked me the same question “so how do you like Oswego” and my reply was always the same “let me go through my first real week get some class time in and I’ll let you know”.

So now I’m Letting You Know…Osw Rocks

**This Post was Supposed to be for Monday but I actually lost my draft (yeah it blows i know) Anyway If you like my post or are slightly entertained enough to come back I’m posting Every MONDAY… this way you know when to check for me till next Mon PEACE!**

I gotta be honest….. I was not at all into the idea of living with 5 other girls. FIVE. I had lived in a dorm room by myself for 3 semesters, due to being a chronic migraine sufferer that warranted having my own room. I was approached by my friends Leah and Kayle, asking if I would come to live with them in the Village.

I can proudly proclaim that I am calling Building I home until May 2011….. and maybe longer than that!

So you may be wondering about the title of this post… one of my closest friends and the cutest little hardcore-music-loving-girl I know lives not two steps away from my door. She’s got a tattoo on her foot that says “to be the last one standing” arched over a perfect sunflower. I’ve always been inspired by little snippets of lyrics like that, and I think deep down inside, my inner biker chick is craving a tattoo of some sort…. someday. But don’t tell my mom.

Anyway, I love my housemates. I love my home. I love EVERYTHING right now. I’ve got a killer schedule this semester (and by killer, I mean FLIPPIN’ AWESOME) which allows me to start at 3pm on Monday and Wednesday, start at 11am on Tuesday and Thursday, and take Friday off! I had to schedule my classes this way since I’m attending two weddings this semester: my cousin Jill’s wedding and fulfilling Maid of Honor duties for my sister’s wedding. It also allows me to squeeze in a session of physical therapy three times a week, and leaves me with an empty house for most of the morning which allows for lots of household chores to be completed.

Alpha Phi Omega is also starting up this week, as we are preparing Rush events for the Fall 2010 pledging season! Not to shamelessly plug (but really to shamelessly plug) if you are interested, please search “Volunteering is Sexy” on Facebook and join the group for more information (or just click that link). If you didn’t already know it, community service is a very valuable asset to any resume, not to mention it just feels good to do good deeds for people, with nothing but gratitude in return. I feel passionately about this organization, and have held an executive position within the Fraternity during its most successful pledging semester in years. I’m so glad to see that this campus is taking notice of the organization that our alumni Brothers have laid the foundation for, and the work that current Brothers have put in to make it the premiere service organization on campus.

So, I guess that’s where I’m at right now. I wish I could make this entry a little more interesting to read like my previous posts, but we all need a cliche “this is how I’m doing” post, right?