...of Iowa meets Chicago

Hello Future Panthers!

As you might be expecting, college is supposed to be full of adventures...and I am here to tell you that it is!  I have already mentioned some of the wonderful people I have met here at UNI; here are some of the crazy things we do together :)

As a stress reliever from finals, my "floormates" and I decided to take a trip to Chicago! Seeing as my roommate, one of my floormates, and I are all from Chicago, the trip was easier on the wallet than having to stay in a hotel.  We had a weekend full of huge sleepovers, meanwhile sightseeing and sharing childhood experiences with our Iowa friends.  We took them to Woodfield mall (basically a mini Mall of America), took them downtown, and Christmas light viewing in the Naperville area.

We had a little fun in the random stores of Woodfield ;) 

They even experienced their first train ride and more firsts in downtown!

It is always a blast being able to show the friends you meet at college your hometowns.  Now when you tell stories from high school or just from back at home, they will be able to have a visual of those stories!

~STAR Joslyn

... of getting inspired!

Hey guys! So if you didn't know, I am a graphic design major at UNI. Over this winter break, I really wanted to make sure that I would be doing things that would be productive to me as and artist and graphic designer. (Not including watching Ink Masters marathons... because I could probably do that all break!)

What I've decided to do is find out some info on famous graphic designers, check out the work of others, and also do some designing and drawing of my own!

Doodles in my sketchbook. Like my slippers?

Milton Glaser is one of the most influential American graphic designers.  Do you <3 NY too?

So far, I've seen some pretty amazing works of art online (a trip to a gallery is definitely happening during this break!) and I've learned about some pretty amazing people. Having time to doodle in my sketchbook is another great plus of having some extra time on my hands, plus I get to mess around on photoshop and do stuff like this:

You could say I really "get into" this show.

Get it? :P

Stay inspired, baby panthers!

:)

-Melanie, STAR

...of a student staying busy!

Hey peeps! So today is my first day of winter break and guess what? My family is at work/school, and my friends are still in college! I feel like being at home with nothing to do can be a common theme among college students, so I thought I would share some different ways to keep yourself busy over break!

My first suggestion: LAUNDRY!!! 

If you're like me, you hold off doing laundry as long as possible, on the hopes that your clean clothes will last you until your next trip home. So, laundry is a good way to stay busy!

If you've finished your laundry, my next suggestion is WRAPPING PRESENTS!

I haven't wrapped any presents yet, so my day is going to be filled with tape, scissors, boxes, ribbon, and wrapping paper!

If you are still at a loss for ways to keep yourself entertained, one of my favorite things to do when I'm home is CRAFTS!

I'm currently working on some homemade presents for friends and family!

I hope my suggestions were helpful if you are feeling the initial shock of winter break and have nothing to do! Needless to say, I will be pretty entertained for the next few days!!

~Diann, STAR

...of holidays on campus

Christmas is coming! Christmas is coming!

Going away to college, you might think you will miss out on the holiday cheer in your hometown: cookies constantly in the oven, putting up the tree with your family, and driving around the neighborhood to look at the decorated houses. BUT! At UNI, you get to have all the fun away from home before break, which makes going home for break even better :)

Taking a stroll on campus, there is not a shortage of holiday spirit! You can get a glimpse of Northern Iowa's North Pole experience with just a click of the button below!

We also celebrate many other holidays too! As you might have noticed, Kwanza and the Chinese New Year were previewed in the video!

~STARs Joslyn and Melanie

...Of a Literacy Education Minor!

As some of you may know from my previous posts, I am an elementary education major with a literacy education minor.  One of the classes that you have to take to complete the literacy minor is a course called "Advanced Children's Literature."  I am currently taking the course, and I just completed my last class of the semester before our final next week.  My professor, Mingshui Cai, decided that today's class should be a "fun day."  Mingshui Cai is from China, and the entire focus this semester in the course has been on Multicultural literature.  Professor Cai decided that he was going to teach us to say "hello," "good-bye (or see you later)," and "thank-you" in Chinese.  He also taught us to write "hello" and the numbers one through eight in Chinese!

This is my written work from when I was learning Chinese!

After we learned a little Chinese, we did a chopstick competition!  Here is what it looked like:

Two of my table members practicing using the chopsticks before the competition started!

Each table was given a plate with beans on it, a cup, and a pair of chopsticks.  We each had a few minutes to practice holding the chopsticks and putting the beans into the cup.  After a few minutes of practicing, every student had one minute to put as many beans as they could into the cup.  The person that did the most at each table won a prize.  I was HORRIBLE at this task!  One of my table members put 28 beans into the cup and the other table member put 22 beans into the cup.  Guess how many I was able to put into the cup?!  FIVE!  See, I told you I didn't do very well!  The final activity was learning Tai Chi.  Yes, I am not lying.  I learned Tai Chi in class.  First, my professor showed the class a shortened version of a Tai Chi routine.

Mingshui Cai, my professor, performing a Tai Chi routine.  He was good!

After my professor performed a Tai Chi routine, he asked for a volunteer to come forth.  Guess who volunteered as "tribute" for this event?!  ME!  My professor taught me a few Tai Chi moves, which I'm sure was rather entertaining to watch, and then I had to teach the moves I learned to another student volunteer in the class.  I made a few mistakes but I was told by the person that I taught that I was the best Tai Chi instructor she has ever had.  I'd like to mention that I am the only Tai Chi instructor that she has ever had! ;)  After all of my hard work at learning and teaching Tai Chi, I received this from my professor:

A very intricate paper cut-out!

This is a very intricate paper cut-out of two pandas that I received for my participation in class!  I have had quite a few classes that were as entertaining as this class was today, and that is why I love my classes at UNI!  I cannot possibly say that ALL classes at UNI are like this, but I promise you that you won't be disappointed!  The professors are so passionate about teaching and it shows!  Hopefully this helps all of you future Panthers to see that college classes aren't as intimidating as you may think!  Happy College "Hunting!"

~Vanessa, STAR

....Of Students Celebrating the Seasons

Every year UNI's Campus Activities Board (CAB for short) puts on an event called, "Celebrating the Seasons."  This year, the STARs decided to take a field trip to Maucker Union to partake in this event! There was karaoke, ornament decorating, stuffed animal stuffing (basically building your own stuffed animals), a holiday photobooth, and horse drawn sleigh rides around campus!  Not to mention, it was all FREE!  This event was such a fun way to celebrate all holiday seasons and relieve some stress with finals coming up next week.  

 

As part of the event, there were free sleigh rides around campus!

Vanessa, Joslyn, Diann, and Emily enjoying the events!

Two members of the UNI Women's Rugby Team showing off the stuffed animals that they stuffed!

If you cannot tell from the pictures and the video, this event was an ABSOLUTE hit!  I sure hope any of you future Panthers check out the holiday celebration next year!

~Joslyn, Emily, Diann, and Vanessa-STARS

...of staying fit with fitness classes

In college it can be really easy to put off working out and exercising. (For me especially!) So I've decided to combat winter laziness and get myself off of the futon and working out this upcoming spring semester. In high school, our coaches just told us what our workouts were. Now when I'm all alone trying to work out, I have NO IDEA what I'm doing. (No, seriously. I'm clueless). Thankfully, the Wellness and Recreation Center has the solution to my dilemma: FITNESS CLASSES!

I had all of these classes to pick from for my spring workout mission!

Each class has multiple sections a few nights a week so finding one that works with your schedule is really pretty easy. (As a girl with a busy schedule, it was even easy for me!) Plus, if you're in the mood for something other than a fitness class, the WRC also offers dance classes, strength and toning classes, and a ton of others. You can take a peek at the classes they offer for this spring semester here: 

http://www.uni.edu/wellrec/fitness/classes.html

After checking out my options, I chose....

BOOT CAMP!

With a description like that, there is no way I won't be in shape after this class! And the best part about it is, a few of my friends and Gamma Phi Beta sisters have even agreed to take the class with me! (I'm still trying to convince my roommate!) 

So after signing up for section 18 of Boot Camp, my spring fitness mission is on it's way! 

Wish me luck! 

Stay fit and healthy, baby panthers!

:)

-Melanie, STAR

...of Holiday Hoopla!

So every holiday season, Cedar Falls Main Street puts on Holiday Hoopla! The "hoopla" begins the day after Thanksgiving and continues throughout the holiday season. A variety of special events and contests happen during Holiday Hoopla!

(Side note: My friends and I have developed a tradition of going out to dinner to celebrate the end of the semester. This time, we decided to go out to Tony's, a pizzeria on Main Street, which means we also got to see downtown during the "hoopla"!)

A new addition to Holiday Hoopla was the light show!  It was totally awesome! We were all dancing around in the cold to the different songs, while people in their cars just stared at us! 

Here are a few pictures from my visit to downtown!:

 

My friends and I in front of Santa's Workshop!!

 

Us doing the interlude dance :)

 Basically, Holiday Hoopla is awesome and if you get the chance, go check it out! It's awesome! :)

Au revoir mon amis!

~Diann, STAR :)

 

....Of "My American Dream"

As an Elementary Education major, you are going to be required to attend events on campus that can help to develop you further as a professional.  One of the events that I most recently attended was last night and it was called, "Critical Conversations: Voices of the Cedar Valley."  At this event, I was able to view what the American Dream looked like to a group of sixth grade students from Carver Academy Middle School in Waterloo, Iowa and also what the American Dream looked like to a class of students from Wartburg College.  One of my favorites was of a boy that dreamed to invent a flying car or learn how to build robots so he could work for NASA!  After about twenty minutes of reading the students' work that was on display, everyone gathered together to have a panel discussion about ways to improve our teaching to students learning English as a second language.

The one on the right was my favorite about the boy that wanted to work for NASA one day!

There was such a great turn out at the event!  Pictured is my co-worker, Kari!

The panel had the president of the Hispanic Latino Student Union (HLSU) at UNI, the sixth grade teacher of the class from Carver Academy Middle School, and the Assistant Principal from Carver Academy Middle School.  The panel members all shared such inspiring stories and information that was very helpful!  The panel members told us all to encourage ESL students to achieve their dreams and to let the student speak in their native language.  I was assigned to attend this event, but I am sure glad that I was!  I always love reading students' work and the panel discussion that was held helped me to gain insight on teaching diversity and the importance of it!  What a great event and it is no surprise that this event was apart of UNI's Reaching for Higher Ground events.
I am currently working on my American Dream by going to UNI and graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Literacy Education.  My question to you is: what is your American Dream?

~Vanessa, STAR  
  

... of Christmas on a college budget

The times of hot chocolate, mittens, and watching Elf on repeat have come. The holiday season has always been one of the times of the year that I look forward to most, and this year is no exception. With Christmas fast approaching, I was struggling with one tiny issue: what do I get my family? ...and on a college budget no less. I needed a cost effective option, but I still wanted them to love their gifts. So, what to do?
I found my solution in the craft aisle. What is it you may ask?

Lots and lots and LOTS of....

YARN! (and a pair of knitting needles)

Now, I know what you're thinking.. Knitting? How old is this girl?

To answer your questions, YES knitting. And almost 20 :) but back to the important stuff...

Scarves are warm, they're soft and cozy. Who wouldn't want to give something warm, soft, AND cozy to the ones they love? So, you guessed it, EVERYONE GETS A SCARF!

They get to be comfortable in the cold winter, and I get to have fun acting like an old lady knitting for them. Besides, not only is knitting fun- it makes for super cheap gifts! The scarves I make are only about $7 in materials which means I can make gifts for my whole family in a really inexpensive way. 

Plus, it's handmade by yours truly so they have no choice but to love it!

I've obviously been busy (I can't help but knit while watching Elf). And I only have oh, ......5 scarves left to make before Christmas. I had better get to work!

Stay crafty, baby panthers

:)

-Melanie, STAR