Next

Michael Crichton is hands down my favorite author up to this point. I absolutely loved his book, Next. The science and suspense of the novel and how he takes all the different individuals lives and molds them together at the end of the book is absolutely entertaining. The genetic engineering aspect of this novel makes me want to pursue that field even more because there is so much out there that has yet to be discovered. It was an absolute thriller that I recommend to anyone who is in the Biology field. The way he writes his books is so interesting too because it forces you to stay intrigued throughout the whole story. He skips around from chapter to chapter talking about all these different characters and how their lives are being affected by genetics, and then all of a sudden at the end they all some how inter-twine and connect. I personally love his style because it's almost as a mystery and I always am trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together before the book is finished. He has definitely strengthened my interest in science, and I will continue to read his books in the future!

Thanksgiving Break

This year's Thanksgiving break is probably going to one I cherish greatly. I never thought it would be this hard to come back to school but it is. I was so glad to go back to see all my family and friends again and all that has changed. It was a pretty crazy break too. I went from one day having Thanksgiving and outraging Christmas shopping to a day filled with the pain of getting shots and my teeth worked on at my appointments. I also attended a couple basketball practices where I got to see my old teammates and coaches and was able to scrimmage with them.  Later in the week, the whole family went over to my granparents house and helped move furniture around because my Grandma decided to get new carpet in the upstairs rooms. It was very nice and everything, but wasn't exactly my idea of spending my break. It was alright though because I still got the whole deay with my family and was able to get a good meal then as well. I really do miss the break now. I knew it was going to go fast but never thought it'd go as fast as it did. Now I'm sitting here writing this blog in my dorm room and trying to plan out how I'm going to endure the next few weeks until Christmas break. It will definitely be a new and interesting experience that's for sure.

Thanksgiving

I'm so excited to go home this upcoming week for Thanksgiving break. It's so odd how you can go from living with your parents and siblings and wanting them out of your hair; to the complete opposite and can't wait to have them back and seeing all of them again. I haven't been able to see my family in such a long time and I never thought that I would ever experience home sickness. It's not horrible but I definitely want to be back. However, this year's Thanksgiving is a little different than what is has been in previous years. By little different I mean a lot different. We aren't even really having one! I couldn't believe it when my mom told me. She said we have to help move furniture at my grandma's house because she's getting new carpet. Now I'm completely fine with that and I want to see my grandparents, but I don't see how that would completely halt the whole holiday.  I really hope we can get something figured out because Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays to celebrate. The food is absolutely delicious, and then the rest of the day you just get to relax and watch the football game with everyone. No matter what I seriously can't wait to be back but I really hope we can work something out.

Nationals!

This weekend our girls cross country team made history once again in Oshkosh, Wisconsin at the 2011 Division III Cross Country Championships. Despite the conditions they ran incredibly well. The team overall got sixth in the nation, with freshman Alana Enasbit and and senior Emily Eimers receiving all american honors. They ran throough so much adversity this season, with injuries and other mishaps, that it was just releaving to see them become so successful at the end. I'm am so extremely proud of them and it definitely pumps me up for next season. I'm definitely ready to be on board and do my part so that maybe I will be the one running out at the national meet next year. It's a pretty big goal, but I always felt if you want something bad enough you'll go get it. That is exactly my focus for next year and even this upcoming track season. Everything I do this spring is going to be a step forward to getting me to where I want to be next season. I can't wait to get started and begin another amazing season with the whole cross country family!

Cross Country Regionals

     Cross Country Regionals was held at the Max Cross Country Course at Wartburg this year. Throughout my whole experience during my first season I'd have to say it was one of my top five favorite experiences by far. I wasn't able to be on the course running, though I will be next year, but instead I was with my other teammates who participated in an all out cheering section. We painted our bodies in orange and black with various letters and words written on our bodies. I even had a knight costume that I wore while we ran around the course screaming for both the men.s and woman's teams.
     It was a blast to see so many people come together to support the runners; it really showed what a true family we were. However, one of my most memorable moments was when I looked over to the Luther group and saw a guy in a norse outfit staring me down. I didn't really know why he was doing it, but then one of my teammates told me to go out into the middle and challenge him. So of course I did and it felt like one of the most epic battle scenes was about to occur. But instead when I raised my sword our whole team went charging wildly and circled around them chanting we are Wartburg. It was one of the greatest moments ever by far. Hopefully next year though I will retire the knight suit and instead be on the line waiting for that gun to go off.

State of Fear Review

     I was extremely entertained by the ending of State of Fear. I usually don't enjoy reading, especially extremely long text, but I absolutely enjoyed it. I have never been so engulfed in a book ever in my life. I was completely wrapped up in the action of the Gareda Island section when they had to go against a terrifying cannibalistic tribe and the ELF corporation in order to reduce the effects of the tsunami. I was really able to relate to this section through other stories and movies I have read and seen. Movies such as Tears of the Sun, and Blood Diamond, helped me create visuals of the events and characters in the cannibalistic village part. These films take place in South African villages, but they still posess some of the same characters and rituals. They have child soldiers which capture and kill off intruders, and they also have scenes that portray the same events as they did in the book. Overall I really enjoyed this book because it engaged me one hundred percent throught the whole read. I'm very excited to start into Next for our next novel project. I think Michael Crichton is an outstanding author.

State of Fear Review

 It was one of the last few weeks of the summer. I finished buying  all my books online and was now waiting for all of them to be shipped to me. I received all my textbooks, none being a huge surprise, mostly filled with content and pictures and all of the standard length a textbook should be. Then I got to a small but decently shaped square box. I opened it up and saw that it was the State of Fear. I picked up the book, turned it to the side, and opened it to the last page dreading what the numerical result would be. I have never in my life read a book that was seven hundred and ninety-eight pages long! I was in shock and when I heard we'd have to have it done in a weeks worth time I started panicing a little because I can't sit and read two hundred pages  in one sitting. So I started the book this week to get ahead of the game, and I must say the terror of the book has definitely calmed down. Eventhough it is a long read it is by far one of the most interesting books I've read. I'm loving the scientific base and how the conflict of the story keeps rising. I find myself sometimes even losing track of time because I'm so into it. I'm glad we are studying Michael Crichton and reading his works because I have found him to be an extremely interesting and entertaining author as well as a director.

Bad News Bio

     Previously last week in Biology class we had a test over cellular respirtation and photosynthesis. It was a lot of material to cover and very detailed. I felt that I had a good general background, but the results showed otherwise. My score showed up on the wrong end of the spectrum and I was very disappointed with myself. I knew college was going to be a challenging experience but I didn't know it was going to be a complete struggle. I sat down for a little while in my room after I got back from Biology that morning and sat back and thought of ways that I could get my goals back on track. As a solution, I set up to personal conferences. One with my advisor and the other with Dr. McClung himself. I expressed to both of them that health care is my future and my passion. I just needed to know how to make that possible.
     Both of them gave me great study tips and different methods to absorb the information I was learning. I have already seen changes in my confidence on assignments and tests, and I also catch myself interacting more in class and understanding the concepts before they are even explained in lecture. I really feel that these new methods of learning and keeping touch with my teachers on a personal level will definitely help me excel throughout the remainder of my schooling at Wartburg.