Finals Week

Finals week, MY final, finals week! It was so exciting! As I sat in the library on Sunday night, my friends said there are free walking tacos. I wondered what for? Of course, finals week events and activities had begun! This is something that was surprising for me because it started so early this year.  Typically, the kickoff to all of the finals events and activities starts the night before finals begin as the President of the university, James Abbott, provides a late night breakfast for all of the students.  It has been my favorite event all 4.5 years I was at USD, I never missed one.  It is run by faculty and staff and is delicious food.  

This year, I attended various events and activities starting Tuesday with the Snack Attack.  This was a popcorn bar set up and goldfish crackers to eat and water.  Then, in the afternoon there was a chocolate break.  Upstairs in the MUC was the most chocolate I have ever seen at one time.  From Reeses, to Hersheys kisses and M&Ms, there was as much chocolate as you wanted.  There was even hot chocolate beings served.  Tuesday night was the Ugly Sweater event at the women's basketball game. I did not wear an ugly sweater, but the cheerleaders and dance team, along with a number of students did as well.  I went to the game because I really enjoy watching the women play and am good friends with most of the team.  They won the game by 36 points!  Afterwards, I went to the MUC where Finals Survival Kits were going on.  The line was easily 100 students long, maybe more.  The students went through the line and got various things such as water, granola bars and pencils.  

On Wednesday, the day started out with one of my favorite events of finals week, Pet the Stress Away! The Humane Society brings in some dogs for the students to play with.  I am an animal lover, especially dogs, so I find this event to be so much fun! Later that night was bingo! Now, I love bingo and had been in the library all day so my friend and I thought it would be good to go play for a while.  Well, as it typically goes, we were not getting even close to winning.  But, towards the end, they said not to clear your cards, they called one more number, and I won! I got a nice USD mug, which I use every day now!  After that was the best part of finals week, finals breakfast.  I love it because some of my professors help pass out food as well as the Athletic Director.  I got to talk with them for a while and enjoy the awesome food!

There was also a relaxation bar on Thursday put on by the Campus Activities Board.  There was an aromatherapy bar and multiple massage chairs!  

But, the best part about finishing up my finals activities was on Saturday morning, graduation.  Looking back at all of the activities and events I have gone to during finals week is pretty awesome.  It is such a great way for the University to give back to the students and show them how much they care.  I am grateful for such a great time at USD.  Graduation was the icing on the cake, I did it, I was finally graduating from college.  Now, I am sitting here in Wisconsin typing this blog and reminiscing on all of the great times I had last week.  It is surreal that I am sitting here typing it and not in the Neuharth Building.  

This I Believe...

There are many things to think about in life: happiness, money, family, friends, where your life will be in 20 years.  Dreams. What you want to do with your life, your goals. I believe you should always follow your dreams, if you're not afraid, you're not dreaming hard enough. I believe you can be whatever you want to be, follow your dreams and you have no idea where life can take you, believe in yourself. 

Take risks in life, it's exhilarating.  My great uncle Lanny, my hero, my inspiration in life, the guy who knew exactly what to say when needed taught me many ways to follow my dreams. Risk, he was one who taught me this immensely.  The first time I was at his house, he told me to go out to the barn with him. He gave me a saddle and said, "Hope you're ready to ride a horse, because today you're going to learn." That's a risk I had to take, I had never done it before, but I got on and it was awesome.  Taking risks are a lot like riding a horse, you never know what the horse is feeling or what it is going to do, you just have to believe. 

One year from Friday, my uncle was diagnosed with Leukemia and passed away 22 days later.  He was an alumni of Ohio State, a huge Buckeye fan. I grew up in Wisconsin, a huge Badgers fan.  Him and I always talked sports.  Dick Vitale, a sports broadcaster lives in the same city as he did.  Now, in March, we had a memorial service for him.  That morning, my aunt had me go to the grocery store to grab extra ice, as I was leaving, Dick Vitale walked in.  I got my picture with him and his words for me were, "Follow your dreams, you'll get there one day, keep believing in yourself." That alone reassured me that I am going in the right direction.  

I truly believe if you want something, you have to work for it, nothing is given to you in life.  There are going to be setbacks, hardships, days you'll want to give up, but you just have to look at the big picture and know that someday you will obtain your goals and dreams. I believe in following your dreams and believing in yourself. Dream big, be confident, and live life to the fullest. 

Dakota Days 2014!

It's the best time of the year, Dakota Days 2014 at the University of South Dakota. But, this year was even more special because it was the 100th celebration! The celebration started off one week ago with Bingo in the Muenster University Center.  Prizes included things from the Barnes & Noble book store like t-shirts, cups and various other things.  Monday night a comedian was brought to campus provided by the Campus Activities Board.  I did not attend, but did hear that it was extremely hilarious! This was also the same night the Dakotans and Strollers got tapped, always an interesting night, that's for sure.

Tuesday night was Yotes Got Talent in Aalfs Auditorium followed by Royalty Reveal.  There were some pretty remarkable acts ranging from singers, to tap dancers, whistlers to even a bagpipe player.  The 1st place winner was the tap dancer, who tapped to a song by Justin Timberlake.  Now, the best part from Yotes Got Talent was when one of my best friends performed, but then Head Football Coach Joe Glenn got called up on stage and asked to sing "Fight South Dakota." Now, I assume most people like me thought he was just going to sing into the microphone, but he surprised the crowd with his talent of playing the piano along with it! Following the competition, Dakota Days Royalty was introduced, followed by announcing the top 7 finalists.  It is so great to see such awesome school spirit and my friends who were nominated.

Wednesday night was the Verm Town Bash and Battle of the Bands competition. In that, the Dakota Days Royalty got the opportunity to sit in the nice cold dunk tanks all night.  Thursday night was the Al Neuharth Award and Friday was the pep rally!

The really, truly big day of the week is on Saturday! There is the parade, which was over two hours long.  Now who thought a parade in Vermillion, South Dakota would be that long? Not me. Tailgating was next, which has increased by impeccable numbers the past years since I started attending USD. The atmosphere was unreal, it felt like I was back home in Madison, Wisconsin going to celebrate the Wisconsin Badgers football game. Next, was the biggest part of the week, the football game! With it being a historical game for the Coyotes, the coaches did something incredible for their team.  Over the summer, they decided they were going to raise money on their own so they could get the team special uniforms for this game.  This included chrome helmets and red jerseys with chrome lettering and the Yotes looked awesome! The game however, was a great time, but unfortunately, the Coyotes lost to Northern Iowa 28-16.

It truly was a special week at the University of South Dakota, where incredible memories were made all week long.  Seeing the school spirit and all the red all week around campus is something that makes you proud to be a student at the University of South Dakota.

Islamic States Crisis

On Wednesday, September 10, 2014 President Barack Obama presented a proposal on how the United States would be going about the current issues with the Islamic States. The President made the proposal on prime-time television from the White House, where he said, "The United States will join friends and allies to degrade and ultimately destroy the terrorist group, known as ISIS." Obama also stated there will not be combat going over to Iraq or Syria, but it will be a relentless effort of airstrikes throughout the countries.  He says it will not be like the war in Iraq, there will be no American's on foreign soil.  Obama did not have a start date to when these airstrikes will begin or a time frame it will take to ultimately destroy the ISIS. Some of his top aides did state they believe this will go on longer than Obama's time in office. Obama also asked for congressional support to help train Iraqis as well as Syrians to combat and take control of the ISIS group. Obama did get French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius to agree to helping with airstrikes as well as finding others to do the same.

Republicans thought he was too ambiguous and his plan of action was very indirect. They also thought he had no clear plan.  The republicans also argue that the strategy is not tough enough to defeat the ISIS.  The Democrats, however, worry the plan could drag the United States into another long military engagement.  Senator Claire McCaskill, a democrat from Missouri said the training that is going to take place could take up to a year before any arms are provided.  The House of Representatives voted yesterday to approve Obama's proposal of authorizing the United States military to train and equip Syrian opposition forces.  According to abcnews.com the vote was won 273 to 156. The United States military has everything it needs to strike the ISIS inside of Syria, but is just awaiting the approval from President Obama.

According to CNN.com, the top United States military leaders have just approved the proposal to strike the ISIS targets inside of Syria.

The United States and Iraq have a good relationship after the war and has shifted to make a long-term connections.  The United States people are skeptical about having airstrikes in Iraq and Syria because the US spent so much money on the war in Iraq, when we have so much debt in the United States already.

The United States and Syria have a steady, neutral relationship, but it is slowly depleting.