Alexandra's Blog

Upperclassmen Apathy

I'm not sure why this week is bringing this subject on, but I feel like the button to push to get people going lately is upperclassmen apathy. And I don't mean it gets people going, I mean it gets those remaining students who are still active absolutely furious. As with any school, there's that group of students, all friends, or just all acquaintances, that you see everywhere. You're pretty sure that they have a tattoo of the logo, mascot or campus letters on their body somewhere. They just eat, sleep and breathe event programming, campus activities and the organizations they're involved in. And these students, myself included, just don't understand why everyone isn't as stoked as they are.

It seems as though first and second year students just run the school. You have so many options here, so much to do, get involved in, so many places to travel to, that when you get here, most students hit the ground running and take after a million amazing oportunities. Then, when you go abroad, you go through this amazing, eye-opening, point-of-view-altering experience that brings you back to the college environment with the attitude of "what IS all this?!" And so there's something of a division among under and upper classmen.

The upper classmen come back from abroad, totally changed, and sometimes with a college-and-world-weary attitude. Don't get me wrong, going abroad was, hands down, 100%, completely and entirely the best part of my time at school so far.  But returning to a standard collegiate environment is hard, and a looming graduation sometimes only further distances returning study abroad-ers from reconnecting with the many, many things a student might have been passionate about, pre globe-trotting. So when these juniors and seniors focus on internships, and jobs, where they used to focus on campus organisations, something of a class-wide bond is lost, and some of the seniors this year are REALLY fired up about it.

So what's happening? Well for one thing, the senior reverse-orientation program, called "Departures" has some more swing in its step this year, thanks to some very dedicated fourth year students. Additionally, members of Greek Life have met to talk about how to ramp up not only enthusiasm within 4th year Greek Life students, but all students who are beginning to separate from the University a little earlier than they need to. And it doesn't sound like a lot of talking to me. It sounds like the talk won't just be talk, but will have a lot of follow through, and I honestly can't wait to see it.  I'll keep you posted on major developments (Greek Life, for example, drummed up the idea of a big trip to Aspen, CO for the X-Games,) but in the meantime shoot me an email if you have a question about anything I've mentioned...or really anything at all! alexandra.mikros@gmail.com

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

When you think of college, I'm sure a lot of images come to mind, drawn straight from movies and TV. Students studying in grandiose libraries, partying, hanging out in the dorms. I think a lot of those notions are shared by students beginning their college experience...and mid way through their college experience.  One thing that does not come to mind are the stressful and the annoying things.

You know about the good side of college, I'm sure. You've probably heard a lot from family, friends, neighbors, acquaintances, strangers, whomever.  The lifestyle, the environment...if you're at all like I was, you are completely ready to start school. I think one thing that I didn't think about, while I daydreamed of all the fun I would have, is how I would handle the not-so-awesome parts of school. There is a bad side and an ugly side of college. You've got the good, that's for sure. And I'm sure you've heard about the ugly, such as gnarly showers and learning to live with people very different from you (which can also be good -not the showers, but learning to live with people.) There's bad with that too, just as with all things.

For example, I've spent the majority of this quarter studying like my life depends on it. I mean, I have holed up in the Sturm Law Library until 2 am...only to wake up at 4:30 am to continue studying (all nighters are not in my vocabulary. I refuse.) I've held down three jobs to pay for school (brace yourself if you're going the independent route), and I've had to sometimes admit defeat in a class and take a grade less than I had hoped for. I've paid over $150 for a book, eaten some pretty strange things in the dorms and definitely gotten plenty sick in the winters, living with so many people (so that could be bad AND ugly, I guess.)

One thing that gets particularly ugly and always guarantees a crazy week, every single quarter, is registration for the next quarter's classes. When the time rolls around, most students go into see their major advisor, they figure out what classes they'll probably want to take within the next quarter or two and thats that. However, I get this from a different angle because I work in the suite that hosts the Academic Advising office. Students come in for advising for all sorts of different reasons and, like students tend to do, they often do so really last minute. The result is a flood of students every day for two weeks and all kinds of paperwork flying all around. The other result is stress like nobody's business. I am kind of tempted to put up a sign at the front desk that says "Be Nice to the Front Desk Assistants,"  but I don't know if it would help much.  Students are stressed, advisors are stressed and then I get stressed. Gross.

But, as always, there's a silver lining, and this is what I keep telling folks to be aware of: there are a lot of resources on campus for when things DO get bad and ugly and not as awesome as TV always makes it seem. The Academic Advising office stays open super late, Advisors for different departments offer pizza and pop while someone helps you figure our classes you've got left to take, and folks are always working to get you on the right track.

Now, I can't imagine when registration alone would make me so stressed that I need other means of assistance, but the University has so many resources to help with all kinds of bad and ugly. From the Health and Counseling Center offering several free counseling sessions to every student, to the Honors Department always offering free coffee to the honors students in a little study nook they have (ok, NOW I want to be in the honors program...) There's a lot of support here for when things aren't as awesome as we bloggers make it seem, and that's what's made my time here so wonderful overall.  I do have bad days. I've had really bad days. I've been so tired and so sick of homework that I'm just in a foul mood. But there's always a resource to be had on campus and I encourage students who are looking to start college next year to not only look at what's great about a school, but look at what a school or program can do for you when things aren't so great. It'll make a big difference in your over-all experience and the extra time in research will totally be worth it.

Snow days in college!!!!!!!!!!

I apologize for the excessive excitement of the title...but you have to admit that no matter how old you are, whether or not you're going to jump wildly into the snow with your day off or not, a snow day is pretty great. As you may know, DU students tend to not have Friday classes, or, if they do, they have shorter days. Well this week the weekend started even earlier than Thursday night. Mid-day on Wednesday the University sent out an announcement that DU would be shutting down at 2 p.m. due to excessive snowfall. Can you say AWESOME?!

I would say that I love class and it's a bummer that I was missing out, but that's a lie. Something about surprisingly having a ton of free time is about the greatest thing ever. On top of that, snowfall was SO intense, that school was canceled on Thursday as well..oh, snow, how I love thee...

There were some downsides, though. For one thing, on Wednesday a Career Fair was scheduled, which, due to the University closing, had to be canceled.  A Career Fair is pretty much the job market in a room. Employers come out to DU from all over the place, to advertise the availability of positions and collect resumes from DU students and Alumni. Students are decked out in their professional best, carrying recently reviewed and primed resumes...it's intense, especially lately with the job market down, but a really wonderful way to begin a job hunt as you get a feel for the competitive nature of things.

Another thing that was canceled was the DU Alpine Club's fall gear swap. The officers of the club, including Jon Jay, another DU Blogger, were stoked to present this fair. We ran the Gear Swap for the first time last year, and found things to be so successful that we decided to run the Swap annually. We brought in our sponsors/awesome-companies-that-give-us-discounts, such as FlyLow, Wilderness Exchange and so on, to sell new gear at steep discounts, while students bring in their used gear to sell to or trade with other students. New and used gear: awesome prices. Sooooooo fun. And canceled.

Win some, lose some, I guess. It still turned into four and a half days of an epic Halloween Weekend...I guess that's more like a Halloween Week...

Missing Abroad...

 Hi! My name is Alexandra Mikros and I am senior here at DU. I've decided to post today because I just received an email from my sorority sister, Rachel, who graduated last year. This was not your standard "work's ok, life's ok" email. This is an email from my friend who went abroad for a full year during her Junior year at DU and is now back abroad, teaching English in France.

Yea...can you say jealous?!

Or maybe...how do I do that?!

Reading her e-mail, I was overwhelmed with nostalgia. I want to be abroad again! My desire to go abroad again is similar to that of a spoiled little kid who wants a cookie. I want to go abroad and again, and I want to go NOW. The sentiment is not only my own. I have to say, studying abroad is by far the coolest thing I've ever done. But myself and pretty much everyone I know has a serious jones to travel 24/7 after studying abroad. I mean, DU students have got the travel bug like it's a fashion trend-the new it item...like it's a freakin IPhone- at DU. 

Damn you, DU. And I thought school was expensive to begin with.

So here I've been in my International Studies class, shamefully not paying attention (I know, I know...), haplessly looking at pictures of weekends in Paris, in Madrid, months on a Greek island...as my professor talks Hobbesian International Society. But I can't help it.  I'm daydreaming. I'm lost in wishing I could do what Rachel is doing.
 

Oh,  but wait. I can. Ha. A few days ago, I met with my Italian professor, coincidentally, also named Rachel (yes...our professors let us call them by their first names-it's awesome), who told me she would help me.  Apparently, all of the Italian students are completely in love with Italy after studying abroad (surprising, no?) and so there is some groundwork being done to find reputable programs for fluent Italian students to teach English in Italy. YES!

I have to say, that's half of way I love this school. Want to accomplish something? I've always felt able to approach a professor. Always felt able to ask for help. Whether it's a sponsor for a research grant or someone to help you go in the right direction after graduation, I'm finding that the DU education extends far beyond the classroom, and your professors do so as well. They don't have to get involved in your professional life...but I tend to find that they'll help you regardless. I bet that this is one of those benefits of a smaller University.

Yes, you'll even get help in finding ways to run away to Europe again...

 

Just another day in Pompeii...

On Campus Resources

Hi there! My name is Alexandra Mikros and I'm a senior here at DU. I moved to Denver a few years ago when I started school here and have loved it ever since. One thing that's making me love DU even more lately...? The many, many resources and the many devoted faculty that are available to students here.  

For example, through my work-study position on campus at the Academic Advising & Career Counseling Center, I've seen just how much students benefit from the academic and career services at DU.  I've seen so many concerned students come in, only to see them walking out more confident in their academic plans or career goals, after having spoken with an adviser. Drop in times, appointments, seminars...this office is SO busy, so full of information and so sincere in its efforts to improve a student's situation. Another service in this office complex is the Learning Effectiveness Program and the Disability Services Program. Both programs are geared towards aiding students with any and all disabilities, and I really do admire the program immensely. No student walks away without advice and I can't commend that enough.bb-

One resource that I have particularly benefitted from isn't even an official program. For the last few weeks, once a week, myself and a small group of particularly active students have been meeting with a member of the student life faculty. Now...life coaching sounds a little dramatic. That isn't exactly what happens. I suppose the best way to explain it is that this faculty member helps our group of students stop focusing so much on our on-campus involvement, and begin putting some of our focus on our friendships, relationships and so on. It's basically an unofficial program to get young work-aholics to mellow out about their responsibilities and start focusing on the things that really matter. I have to say, it's relieved a lot of my friends as well as myself.

Further resources include such offices as the Student Employment office, which collects listings from local businesses or on-campus offices to aid students in finding a part-time job.  Some students work as lab assistants, others in the Hotel Restaurant and Tourism Management major and so on. It's a pretty great way to find a job, espcially when finding the time to get off campus can be difficult. There's also the University Writing Program and the Undergraduate Research Center, which aid students in exactly what it sounds like they do. Basically, if you need help with something at DU, there's somebody that can help you or knows who could.

With that said, I'm going to get ready for that once-a-week meeting. If you have any questions about the resources I've mentioned, visit the website or you can e-mail me at alexandra.mikros@du.edu

Half-way through the quarter = Homework Marathon

Hello! My name is Alexandra and I am a "fourth year" (senior) here at DU. I'm finishing up a degree in International Business, with a minor in Italian this year and definitely feeling the workload more than I ever have in my time at DU.

I'm not entirely sure what it is. Perhaps true apathy taking form in the case of senioritis would make sense, but I'm saying this as I have a very detailed to do list laid out in front of me, after having stayed up until 1 a.m. to get that list narrowed down. No, not apathy.

Maybe too much to do? Yea...that sounds right. Now, in high school, the students who get really involved in whatever is going on are given certain stereotypes. At DU, it's not a stereotype, it's a norm. Students are really, really involved at DU. Even if it isn't with a club on campus, they're pursuing independent research projects, for which the University offers funding, or holding down an internship in downtown Denver. By the time students here are in their fourth year, they are often so immersed in whatever it is that they're passionate about, that it's difficult to have much else going on...including school. Yep, students over-extend themselves. It's simply that it is very difficult to pass up the opportunities offered to you here at DU.

Another side of it, though, is that it's very easy to fall behind. Don't get me wrong; the Quarter system is great. I like change and I like a challenge, and I therefore think the quarter system is the only way to learn. But it also puts a lot more responsibility on the student...there really isn't time to catch up on readings if you don't get started until two or three weeks into the quarter, and then...you're in the position I'm in.

No, I didn't do my readings the first week or so of school. And to be completely honest, there's still a book I need to buy (we're half way through the quarter here...don't ask what I've been thinking.)  So my spare time has been spent in a coffeeshop called Stella's, just off of Pearl St., right outside the DU area. I take over a table, covering it in notebooks, highlighters and market research, observe the new artwork for a moment, and then settle into some hefty reading and a serious cup of coffee.  REally, without this place...I don't know how I would get my work done.

Stella's Coffee Haus; fills up with students every single quarter, right around finals

So that's the less glamorous side of college. It IS easy to fall behind, and I don't know a single person that hasn't done so at least once.  School is really demanding and can really force you, not to  just learn to prioritize, because we all know what we SHOULD be getting done, but to give up what you want to do at the moment. That way you aren't clutching a coffee mug the size of a bowl until the wee hours of the morning...

For those of you who are exploring your options for where to attend college, I am guessing you're in a similar boat. Looking at websites, pictures, talking to friends, friends-of-friends, and folks you don't even know, and flipping endlessly through those college ranking books. Oh, right...then there's school every day too. It stays busy like this, but it gets fun and I hope that you take some time to explore, not just the academics of where you go to school, but the life you could have depending on where you go. If you have any questions at all- about academics, student life, the greek system, the non-greek system, the dorms, the food, the fact that people play golf on campus, or anything at all the comes to mind- shoot me an email; alexandra.mikros@du.edu ...I'll be more than happy to answer any questions!

Welcome Home

Hello! My name is Alexandra Mikros and I am a senior here at DU. When I first came to DU three years ago, I was so full of questions, I felt I had to stop myself from asking too much. But my biggest question was, will I find my home here?

I had been wildly fortunate in high school, in that I had an amazing group of friends, a wonderful theater program where I spent so much of my time and a beautiful city, Chicago, to explore on a daily basis. I really didn't see anything getting better than that. But it did. First, I joined the Alpine Club, and though I had never been camping before, I ended up going on about a dozen trips by the end of the year, and developing quite an extensive knowledge of the outdoors during my time in the club. I also joined a sorority, Tri Delta, and have had amazing experiences with my sisters both here in Denver, and abroad. 

Over the last few weeks, many students have been finding similar places for themselves, and this weekend was a REALLY big time for that! Greek recruitment took place from last Thursday to Monday night. For four days, girls looking to join a sorority came to each sorority house to meet the girls and get a feel for each sorority.  On Monday night, we got to welcome our new sisters to the house, and I can't tell you what a great feeling it was!  We welcomed forty seven new members to Tri Delta and I cannot be more excited about it. It isn't that Greek Life is something everyone SHOULD do. It isn't that Greek Life is THE social scene on campus. It isn't the connections or networking, the letters or the pride...it's that the new members feel at home, feel welcomed and feel connected. 

Now, Greek Life isn't huge at DU, but it certainly is strong. Where many schools have about 60-80% of their campus as "Greek," DU's Greek students stand at a modest 20% of the campus make-up. That small stature hardly makes a difference. Fraternity and Sorority letters are everywhere, philanthropic events take place multiple times a quarter, and if there's a club on campus, more often than not, there is a "Greek" leader involved.

Though I wouldn't hound anyone to go Greek, I would hope that as you observe schools to attend, you look at the opportunities to get involved. For me, much of my involvement on campus is due to Greek Life and my very supportive sorority sisters.  What on campus would encourage you to get involved? And where do you see yourself feeling at home?

Endings and Beginnings

Hello! My name is Alex and I am a senior at DU, all the way from the beautiful city of Chicago. I've spent the last three years working on an International Business major, and an Italian minor and I've spent my last summer working for the Discoveries Orientation program at DU. Two weeks before classes began, I was running all over campus and getting so into DU, it's hard to separate myself from the university at this point, and harder to imagine graduating in eight months. 

What was particularly great about the Discoveries program, for an intern, is just how how much I learned about the development of so many other students at DU. There's a huge effort for students to promote their "DU story," which is what they've gotten involved in, started and worked on since their Freshman year. I have to say, I haven't heard one story that hasn't motivated me, and I think that energy is shared around campus. This year's first year class is  so motivated and it's absolutely amazing to see! For example, the DU Alpine Club has a huge membership basis already, the number of students looking to get involved in Greek Life is soaring, and interest in working with the DU Programming Board and the AUSA (student government) is very, very high.

Though "Pioneer Pride" had been hurting a little for a few years, I think it has been recovering recently and I really feel that this year's first year class will have a LOT to do with that in the future. If you're just entering DU or thinking of applying or attending, this will definitely be an exciting year to be a part of the DU community.

For me, it's a little bittersweet. Recruitment begins on Thursday and although I'm really excited for this new class to join Greek Life, I am pretty nostalgic for  three years ago when I was going through recruitment, beginning to get involved in Alpine Club and just starting to feel out the college lifestyle. It's funny- I've had such a great three years that I'm already nostalgic...and I haven't even graduated yet...

Congratulations and WELCOME to the class of 2013!! And for those of you thinking of coming to DU... I hope to see you on campus!

Send-Off Parties!

Hello! My name is Alex and I am a senior/ 4th year student at DU. I am originally from Chicago but have been here in Denver for a full three years. I am a member of Greek Life, an officer of the University of Denver Alpine Club and an intern for the DU Orientation program. I have studied abroad in Florence, Italy and am working on a PINS Research project in South America. To say the least, I have maximized my time here at DU!

Just last night, as a representative of the Orientation program, I attended a send-off party in Colorado Springs for this fall's incoming first year students. If you haven't heard of DU's Send-Off Parties, check them out! They're DU's way of getting you a bit more comfortable with moving away to school, before you actually arrive on campus. You meet the folks in your area who will also be attending DU, and you get to talk to returning students, who already know the ropes.

I attended a Send Off Party in the Chicago suburbs three years ago, and it's amazing how quickly the tables have turned, and I have found myself as the one giving advice as opposed to asking for it.  It was also great to see just how ready everyone is for school. I don't mean in the sense that nobody seemed nervous or anxious. It's just that everyone was definitely ready for the next steps in their lives and the Send Off Party was a great way to ask questions about that.  There was a lot of excitement, nerves and general anxiousness.

If you're getting ready for school, check out the parent program's website for information about Send Off Parties. They're a great way to meet other local DU students and a really comfortable way to ask questions. If you're thinking about applying to DU, I would say consider things like the fact that DU sets up times and places for you to hang out with your classmates, whom you haven't already met. Very few schools go so far to make students so comfortable, and it's definitely something that I have always appreciated!

Meanwhile, the Orientation office has been cranking away, answering first-year student calls and getting all sorts of things together for Orientation week.  You can definitely feel that it's crunch time! I hope everyone is getting ready and getting excited! If you're attending DU, there are about three weeks to move in!! If you have questions about what to bring to your dorm room, what classes are like or how to find your away on campus, email your Orientation Leader. They're all great people and they are all really excited to help everyone out!

Mountains, Mountains, Mountains

Hi There! My name is Alexandra and I'm a fourth year student here at DU. Since school has ended for the academic year, I've been enjoying my first summer in Denver and all I can say is wow! I have spent most of my time working, but every weekend, sure enough, I've managed to get into the mountains. At this point, I feel like I know I-70, the highway that stretches west to the mountains, like the back of my hand.

I have been rock climbing and climbing 14-ers as often as I have time. So far, I have climbed Mt Elbert, Huron, Democrat and Cameron. The last two I climbed on Sunday. A group of us planned on climbing a circuit of four fourteeners in a day, but found that a heavy storm was moving in way too fast. We saw a wall of clouds and rain pouring down in one direction, and our third peak, Mt Lincoln, in another. We decided to hurry to Lincoln, and made it just 100 vertical feet from the summit before we watched five bolts of lightning strike about 30 miles away. Needless to say, we ruefully looked at the peak and hurried back down. Lincoln and Bross are for another day.

Back in Denver, things have been pretty cool. Like I said, I've spent a fair amount of time working with the Orientation program, and it has been a great way to use what I've learned in my last three years of school, to introduce new students to DU. We've been planning evening events, brainstorming, and constantly talking about how to make First Year Students as comfortable as possible. Coming up next week, we have our first One-Day Orientation for Transfer Students. It will be the first time that all of the Interns are working with students this summer, and we're all so excited. I mean, really, really excited.

One of the other folks in our office mentioned the other day that all of the Orientation Interns are just really, really happy all the time. That we're always really excited.  At first I thought she was exaggerating, but you'll see this too when you come to school here. The orientation staff is just pumped.  Always. We walk into work saying "HEEEEY! How ARE you!?" as if we HADN'T just seen eachother the day before.  Stay tuned to hear about just how excited we stay all summer. It doesn't sound possible that students care this much, but here, people really do.