Midterms

It is Midterms week starting tomorrow. Truthfully I don't understand why universities have one set week for exams in the middle of the semester. Because let's face it, it just makes for a lot of cranky, unhappy, unclean college students. And then once the week ends, Spring Break starts!

Personally I have three exams and a research paper due this week. None of which I am looking forward to. But seriously, whom ever looks forward to tests.
1. My Renaissance History class midterm is going to be insanely hard. It is a complete essay exam over everything we have learned over the first half of the semester. But he did not give out an form of potentially questions that he might ask. That is ridiculous.
2. My Earth Science lecture exam is going to be challenging, but hopefully not more so than the first exam. The first exam in that class kicked my butt, so I need to do awesome on this second exam.
3. My Earth Science Lab exam. This test makes me nervous because it is just identifying rocks, and to me these rocks are not all that different in look, feel, or composition. So identifying 40 rocks correctly is going to be so not fun.
4. Research paper due in Integrated Marketing Campaigns, yuck.

Since today is Sunday and my first exam is Tuesday, I escaped Vermillion for the day to study at Panera Bread in Sioux Falls. So far I have been here for 2 hours, and feel like I haven't gotten anything accomplished. Perhaps it is time to take a short break from studying and do some devotions. That would be a good way to recharge my batteries.

I am looking forward to moving to a city larger than Vermillion so that I can come to Panera more often. I'm ready to start the next chapter in my life. I love coming here to work, it has a great work atmosphere. But for two more months I will just have to stick it out in the smallness of Vermillion and making occasional trips to Sioux Falls or Sioux City to work at Panera.

LinkedIn

Just created a LinkedIn account. After attending the Job Fair yesterday in Sioux Falls, I was strongly encouraged to pursue that social media tool. I had always been told in my classes that it is a good idea to have one, and I always told myself I would do it eventually. I guess that means now. I am almost done with school, and then out in the real world I go.

If you want to connect with me on LinkedIn, that would be wonderful! Click the link above to be taken to my website.

If you have a letter of recommendation that you would like to include on my profile that would be wonderful also! I am beginning my job search, have sent out dozens of resumes, and I am praying God opens the right doors.

Thoughts..

I am sitting in my kitchen looking out the window on this absolutely beautiful day, I can't help but thank Jesus. Why is it that it is always the hardest to thank God on gross days for the blessings in our lives, but when the sun is shining and the birds are singing in the trees we praise Him.

To me this makes sense. The weather affects our moods. True. But the weather should not affect our relationship with God. I am often reminded in the most unusual ways how blessed I am.

I am getting an education. I have a job. I have a very nice place to live. I have plenty of food to eat. I have great friends, and a wonderful family who supports me in everything. So why is it that I still find myself lacking in my relationship with Christ. I have so many blessings from Him, but it isn't enough. I wonder if this is just a societal thing, an age thing, or perhaps, a mood thing.

Any suggestions?

I suppose it is about that time that I head to class. Another beautiful day and another reason to be thankful.

P.S. I submitted 9 job applications yesterday and already received my response. Yay! Praise Jesus!

Jobs

Ronald Reagan once said, "Each generation goes further than the generation preceding it because it stands on the shoulders of that generation. You will have opportunities beyond anything we've ever known."

Submitted my first job application for work in the Real World today! A little scary thinking of graduation and stepping out into the world, but so excited! Praying that it is well received despite my inability to start until August of this year. Would appreciate your prayers on this too! It would be my dream job. Event Planner for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Library. I love planning, I love throwing parties, I love lists, and I love Reagan! How could any job be more perfect?

For anyone who knows me would know that I love to plan events, as small as personal dinner parties or Super Bowl Game day events, to date nights for friends, Campus Crusade parties, or even high school proms and winter formals. My internship this year with Aramark (U.Dining) has been great because I get to plan events for JAM. It has been a bit difficult because of the very limited, non-existent budget, but absolutely great experience.

When I took this internship last September I didn't realize that it would be such great experience for this other full time position with the Reagan Foundation, amidst others. Working on a tight budget, being detail oriented, raising awareness, etc.

I know that getting this job may be a bit of a long shot, but with God all things are possible, right? But I am optimistic that if it is meant to be, I will be called for an interview. Then California, here I come!

My Story

We all have a story about our lives. Some of us may think that ours is not as important as the person sitting next to you in Biology. But that is not true. We each are creations of God, and as such we have a unique story to tell.

Below you will find a link to my story. Myself, along with 73 other individuals from 5 surrounding universities compiled our stories together with the assistance of Campus Crusade for Christ Ministries. These stories are from the heart, and each one is different. I encourage you to read mine, and the other stories on the blog. And then tell your own story.

http://www.stories.siouxempirecru.com/laura-as-story/

I was shocked by the number of responses that I received almost immediately after publishing my story. Classmates, previous employers, friends that had moved away, even relatives I hadn't seen in months sent me messages and encouragements. What an answer to prayer! This was something I didn't even want to do, but God used it for good.

So, I ask you, what is your story? And are you willing to share it with the world?