Christmas Break: 2011 in review



My first trip around Chicago with my sorority sister Sarah

My 19th birthday with my sorority sister adn close fring Amy.

This summer our family photo.

Me, Grandma Virginia, and my mom at Honors Convocation

Me, Grandma Virginia, and my mom at Tony's after graduation for brunch

My sorority sister Rory and me at a pre-halloween party, before we went to TKE

Those are some pictures from 2011. Within this last year I graduated high school, I turned 19, I'm going to my dream college, I am in sorority meeting my friends and sisters for life, and I've grown as a person.

When I first got to Drake University I thrived. We had our door open all the time, I was constantly meeting new people, and I was so excited for everything. Then a few weeks in I got homesick, I missed being home with my mom, my cats, and I missed my ex-boyfriend Tony. Then I rushed for sorority. I was so upset when Alpha Delta Pi was the only soroity interested in me, but my mom told me to finish recruitment. I'm so glad that my mom is smart and told me to stick with it. I loved ADPi on the last night of recruitment, and I joined. I'm going to be philanthropy chair for the year 2012. I've met a lot of great girls, and I'm sure I'm going to be friends with them for life. (Emily, Sarah, Amy, Nichole, Rory, Bre, Megan.)

So I got friends. I wasn't homesick anymore. I just needed to really choose my major. I was PR and English, but that didn't feel right. So I tried Technical Theatre Design and Writing. Didn't fit. So now I'm a double major Secondary education endorsement in english and possibly theatre and reading and my second major is writing. I think this is a great mix: I enjoy kids, I love to write, and I want to change the world.

Speaking of majors, I have one more class that needs to post and then I will offically know my final grades for my first semester at college. For my scholarhsip I needed to keep a 2.5, I currently have based off 5 out of 6 classes a 3.45 GPA. (Pretty good for first semester, and I got a B in Ethics the hardest class I've ever taken.)

I've grown up a lot I'm more mature and I've been through a little bit more. My friend Scott from high school passed away and my Grandma Virginia passed away.

Even with the sadness, I have to say it has been a great year. Thank you to all my family and friends for your support and help while I attend college. I love you all, Merry Christmas, Happy New Years, and God bless every one of you.

Thanksgiving Break

I came home for Thanksgiving break this weekend, and before I continue my blog I just wanted to go through a few things I'm thankful for...

My mom: She is my biggest fan, my coach, my best friend, and so much more. I'm so glad I got to spend time with her, because even though I don't call her and tell her or oovoo her I really do miss her. I miss her so much, and I'm really sad to leave tomorrow.

My cats: I was worried that my cats weren't going to love me, but I come home and Millie meowed at me and we all cuddled for an hour or two.

My dad and Angie: They bought me my ticket home, and I'm so grateful because I was totally ready to come home. I love them so much. I'm so glad they support me and Drake, because I love my school!

My sorority sisters: They have really made Drake a home away from home, and I love them for everything!

My Aunt Karyn, Uncle Tom, and Grandma Virginia: Thanks for coming to my first show! I can't wait to see you at Christmas!

I'm thankful for lots more, but that's a good start!

So the semester is coming to a close, I am three weeks away from finals and from my birthday. I only have three finals and have to turn in one portfolio for my poetry class. It is looking like I'm going to pass this semester with A's and B's, but my Ethics grade is walking on a fine line. (Aiming for an A!)

I have my show this week! I did the sound design for "The Flu Season" and it will be playing on December 1st- 4th. I'm very excited about my design, but a little nervous.

I am really loving Drake, and I'm very excited for next semester!

One Dana Kat. One Dream. One Destiny.

http://a-gif-collector.tumblr.com/post/3212000714

I really am just posting this blog, because I want everyone to see that cat. But I guess I can post a short blog about life too. It is going pretty good. I've had a cold for the last week, but it is finally starting to go away. Dog Sees God is this weekend, then I will get to start designing for Flue Season! I bought my pin and gaurd for ADPi, and found out my diamond sister. Her name is Megan, she is also from Colorado.

I did switch majors, because I decided I want to pursue what I'm passionate about. I am currently a double major in Writing (BA) and Technical Theatre Design (BFA). I think before class registration for next semester I am going to add a minor in Marketing, just in case the world doesn't pan out.

Short blog, I know, but like I said I really just wanted you all to see that cat.

Sometimes the Big life pushes you down, but you just got to choose to pick yourself up.

I have had a crazy week! Luckily it ended on a good note!

The Purple People Eater (that's the name of my Ipod.)

 The biggest bad thing that happened, was my Ipod broke. I had to send it into Apple where they will either fix it or give me a new one. It was an extremely unexpected expense.

However, in the big life there is really no need to think negatively and only remember the bad things. I had to learn that this week, because I got super disappointed about all the happenings in life and I was homesick. With this new life lesson under my belt I would like to list all the wonderful things that happened this week, and I am choosing to ignore the negatives. (Except my Ipod, because music=love.)

Good.Things.List:
1. I learned two songs on Ukulele this week.
2. I am the Board Operator for Dog Sees God (Charlie Brown Spoof, super funny)
3. I am the Sound Designer for Flu Season (Straight play about finding love in an insane asylum)
4. This weekend was recruitment, and I wasn't sure at first if I would love the sorority life.
5. But I do love the sorority life. I am officially an ADPi (Alpha Delta Pi) The first sorority ever in America.

I think five is a good number to stop my list at.(In Christian Numerology the number five means law. Just to increase your literary knowledge.)

So to explain my list and why they are positives I will go one by one. I got a ukulele for my Birthday in December, and took lessons to learn to play before coming to Drake. I don't play chords very well, but I learned "Amazing Grace" and "Shortnin' Bread". I have "Shortnin' Bread" memorized. "Shortnin' Bread" is a Southern Folk Song, and is a short but sweet song.

I'm going to combine two and three, so I am currently a English and PR double major. However, I found this quote by Howard Thurman:

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

I have always come alive when I write, so I want to switch my primary major to writing. After I do sound for these two shows, I'm considering switching my Secondary major to a BFA in Technical Theatre Design. I know it doesn't seem like a good choice, but the sound here is so amazing and I love listening to a song and placing it to a scene. I love finding the perfect sound to create an atmosphere, writing and sound make me come alive. However, I am going to finish the semester off and be open minded. If I do switch I'm going to talk to my advisers, and ask if they think I could do a double major with a minor in Public Relations. As long as I plan my schedule right I will be able to do everything and then some. Plus most college students change their majors like four times.(We are all so indecisive.)

Now about the shows. For "Dog Sees God" I am sound board operator. Rehearsal for me starts on September 24th. The show dates are September 29, 30 and October 1, 2. Then for Flu Season, I am the sound designer. The show dates are December 1, 2, 3, 4. There is a difference between being sound board operator and being a sound designer. A designer will design the show they will select songs and sound effects for the show, they will choose where to put it, the designer will choose where the speakers should be placed in the theatre, and they will set up the qlab. A board operator operates the board during the show, they will hit go to run a cue. I'm working my way up, my tech theatre friend even thought it was unfair that tech isn't my major and I get to design. I am so excited to design for this show, and to learn all about the new things in the sound world. Below is the link to when shows are, and a little bit of more information.

http://www.drake.edu/artsci/theatre/SeasonPoster1112.pdf

http://www.drake.edu/artsci/theatre/DrakeTheatreHomePage.html

I am also going to combine four and five together. Labor day weekend was sorority recruitment. I had a very interesting experience. The first night I visited all five of the sororities, I loved Alpha Theta Kappa, Alpha Phi, and Kappa Kappa Gamma. I didn't like Delta Gamma and my experience at Alpha Delta Pi was not the best. I originally didn't like Alpha Delta Pi, because when I went through recruitment they didn't have enough girls so that each person rushing could talk to one sister. So it was like going on a date with Flavor Flav from Flavor of Love, there was the one girl who could sing and take all the attention and then there was me the awkward quiet girl. Both nights I got stuck on the terrible double date, but ADPi was the only house that kept calling me back. On the last night of recruitment, called preference night, they explained why we had been chosen. There was this beautiful metaphor about flowers and how they are unique and then how when all the flowers are together in bouquet they make something beautiful. The metaphor hooked me. ADPi, bid on me the next day, and tonight I'm going to the Alpha ceremony. I love my sisterhood they are all super nice, and I'm going to work super hard to be a part of my sorority. We are required to do two hours a week in the library, 10 hours of community service a semester, a GPA of at least 2.6, and there will be dues. ADPi has the cheapest dues on campus. It is still expensive, but I want to have sisters so I'm going to find a way to make it happen.

Me and Bre, My bid day buddy

Thank you to Dad and Angie and Mom for helping me with my unexpected expenses this week including sorority and Ipod help.

I have had a great week when I only look at the positives. I'm super excited for everything happening. I have sorority retreat on Friday night, Executive Council Lock-In on Saturday (I'm Publicity Chair for Carpenter Hall), and Parents Weekend is next week :) I can't wait to post again, maybe I'll put a video up next time!

Preference Night Outfit

For Bid Day Activities we went to Incredible Pizza, a dave and buster like place. We all got mustaches.

2 weeks down

The last two weeks have been crazy! After we moved in from Thursday morning to Saturday night there were scheduled events to do. It was called Welcome Weekend, It wasn't awful but it was just so tiring. I met a lot of new people such as the theatre department and my floor mates. I live in the basement, or as I  call it The Dungeon of Dance.

The first week of classes has gone by now, and it seemed pretty easy. I'm sure they will get harder since I'm taking 16 credit hours of class, but I'm not too worried. I met all my teachers, and like all them except my math teacher who acts like she is teaching third graders and can't remember how to do the math herself. I took a bit of too easy of a math class. (Oops!) Other than her, I like all my professors. I haven't had too much homework yet, but I'm taking tonight off (Saturday) to get all my homework done with, so I can have Sunday free.

I've gotten to explore Des Moines a little bit too. My friend took me to the Statue Garden. That's a picture of me in one of the statues. It is a really cool statue, because the alphabet makes it up.


I also attended the theatre department party last night, I met a lot of new people and some I already knew. We all got dressed up, it was shall I say awesome.

With all this fun I hadn't been missing anything from home, except for the food because I have felt sick from the food in Hubbel all week. However, I realized today as the fun toned down that I really miss my baby brothers all three of you, and I really miss my mom. Hopefully the homesickness doesn't get worse, because I'm super busy this week.

I may or may not post next week depending on my schedule.

Girls from my hall.

My roommate Lauren and I

Evy and I

Move in day complete!

Today I moved into my dorm. Our journey started yesterday at 6 a.m. We did make a pit stop, and that pit stop was at the Danish Immigrant Museum in Elkhorn, Iowa. (Fact: Danish people moved to Iowa, because it looks so much like Denmark!) {Extra fact: Dana College in Nebraska is actually pronounced Dan-a and is a Danish College!)

Some truck, with my name that we saw driving to Des Moines

Dana College!

Geneology chart- See we are really African Americans (sorta)

Now that we have arrived at Drake, My room is awesome! Thank God for my Dad helping and bringing stuff, it would of been a huge struggle. And It was really nice walking around with him! We set up my dorm, I will have more pictures later but I have a few now. This weekend is a lot of activities and a lot of fun.

I'm so glad I chose Drake, I know there will be a few moments where I cry or get scared. However, there is not better feeling thanknowing I'm standing on the edge just close to to see the whole world, and little bit of the secrets it holds. I'll try to write frequently!

If you by chance feel like writing, I will tell you my address.
It is my first and last name, Carpenter Hall, 2900 Forest Avenue, Des Moines IA, I can't remember the zip code (but you can look it up?)

Me and Dad!

Me and Mom

My desk area.

My lofted bed space.

It's here

Tomorrow (Tuesday) we leave from Parker to Des Moines at 6 a.m. We are packed to the limit, and I'm a little stressed. I'm still very excited for all the new things, but today me and Tony officially said "farewell".  Our departure from our relationship was a step towards having a mature college relationship. We are still going to be friends, hopefully best friends.

I'm a bit sad, and the stress is disappearing now that I'm packed and set. I can't wait to move into me dorm, and set it up.

I know this was a short blog, but I need to sleep, because we are going to pull out of the driveway at 6 a.m.