All In This Together...

WHEW. I am currently taking some deep breaths and counting down to nap time after one of the busiest weeks of my life! Spring Break wasn't near relaxing enough to prepare me for the flurry ahead...

MIDTERMS. While exciting, (hey you are halfway through the semester!) they are daunting (hey its a test!) and kind of freaky (hey you are almost done with your freshman year...). I had mine last week and this week, so my days were spent studying hard.

HAITI. Last week Thursday I went with Intervarsity to the Haiti Benefit Concert in the UC (University Center). It was such a neat experience. A variety of performers were there. There was a drum circle, solo artists playing guitars and harmonicas, a band, and much more. There was free pizza AND a raffle in the back for free plane tickets! The money from the raffle ticket purchases went to benefit Haiti. It was such an amazing experience. The lights were low, and while some people just stood there and listened, others moved their feet, clapped their hands, and danced along to the beats.

INITIATION. While the details of this event are secrets passed down in Kappa Kappa Gamma since we were founded in 1870, I can tell you that Initiation was a time that I will always remember. My pledge class and I are officially Kappa members as of 3/21 and are so excited! We finally get to learn all of the secrets and what all our symbols mean. Afterwards, I celebrated with my Big Sis in the sorority, Tracy, and some of my other sisters at brunch down at Olive in Mission Beach. Best pancakes of my life! Above is a picture of my Tracy and me. She gave me a big basket full of Kappa goodies and a pillow for Initiation!

GREEK WEEK. This lovely week is full of fun and some friendly competition between the Greek chapters here on campus. There is a relay, tug-o-war contests, fundraising for different organizations, skits, and a dance! Every day starting last Saturday, my sorority (Kappa) and our fraternity pair for skits (Beta) have had skit practice every day for several hours at a time. Even though it was long and exhausting, it was so much FUN and I really got to know some of my sisters and the awesome Beta boys. Now the theme is superheros, so some of our lovely Kappa sisters choreographed an AMAZING dance for us about telling about when Super Beta and Kappa Woman came to the rescue! We danced our hearts out during the presentations last night, and WON FIRST PLACE!!! It was so exciting that all our hard work payed off. We celebrated at a dance that was held for everyone, where there was a DJ battle and free Red Bull! Above is some of my Kappa sistahs and I, all ready to perform! We received roses from the Betas for being partners. Awwww!

SUNSHINE. Now the sun is shining, the flowers around campus are blooming, the temperature is rising, and the beach (or at least the pool!) is calling my name. Gotta looooove San Diego!

Sunshine, laughter, and love,

Avery

Spring Break and Back to Reality

Hello all! So back to reality here again after a wonderful, relaxing spring break. I went back home to the lovely CO to see my family. My sisters had no idea I was coming back so it was a nice surprise for them! We went up to the mountains for some snowboarding and skiing, and I loved being back on the snow! I also spent a couple nights with one of my best friends, Katie, up at CU Boulder. It was fun to meet her friends, see her dorm room, and catch up. College can make staying in touch all the time difficult because of how busy we are, but it is nice to know that we can always come back together like nothing has changed at all. (Yet at the same time, it is crazy how both of us have grown up SO MUCH since we said goodbye in August!)

So I know that a lot of you out there are anxiously awaiting and receiving acceptance letters from colleges, and I truly hope that USD is one of them! Here are a few hints that should help you in making the Big Decision:

1. VISIT the campus!!! There is really no other better way to get the feeling for a place you could spend 4 very important years of your life at. Look into dorm rooms, class rooms, ask questions. Take a tour! Stay overnight with a student if you can to see the life of a student. My fellow Ambassadors and I are hosting overnighters these next couple months and YOU could be one of them!

2. LOOK at what it has to offer. Clubs that tailor to your interest? A Greek system? Community service? Make sure that the college has opportunities for you to develop your passions- and discover new ones!

3. MAJORS are important. So you may not have a clue what you want to do, or maybe you have your life planned out. Make sure that you have good class options, and that majors you could even remotely be interested in are offered.

4. CLASS sizes make a difference! Some people like smaller classes, others don't mind large lectures. Also, think about how accessible you want your professors to be? USD has smaller classes and the professors all have office hours to meet with you. I know for me that has been very beneficial.

5. SIZE of the school. Small? Big? Giant?? Look at the number of undergrads at the schools.

6. LIVING options. What are the dorms like? Do people have to live on campus a certain number of years? What is the community like? Where you live plays a HUGE role in your college experience.

GOOD LUCK! Also: feel free to EMAIL ME with any questions you have about USD or decision making! I would love to answer them :) Averyjohnson-13@sandiego.edu

So as for me and what I have been up to: I have been battling a cold, so I am trying to get as many ZZZZs as possible. I am also studying hard for all my midterms. As for the fun stuff, I am so EXCITED for Kappa's initiation this weekend! I will finally get to be an active member of the sorority. I also have been spending a lot of time outdoors, because the weather is BEAUTIFUL! I love to take my books up to the pool and sit back in a lounge chair poolside while I read. It's like vacation (almost...)!

Until next time!

Love & Sunshine,

Avery

Countdown to Spring Break...

Life has been like a runaway train for the past couple of weeks, and I always feel like I am running to catch it! Thankfully, spring break is just around the corner. One week! Just a brief rundown of what I have been up to:

1. Applying to be an RA! I sent in my application, made it through the group process, and had my interview! Now the wait begins... Wish me luck! I find out whether or not I make it later in March.

2. Lots of homework... Second semester has been a whirlwind of exams, papers, and readings. Thankfully, I do enjoy (most of) my classes, so it hasn't been too hard to catch up. I just have to manage my time very well so I can get some sleep at night.

3. Movie night! One of the perks of USD is the Box Office. You can buy tickets to movies, theme parks, even Disneyland, for a discounted price. Even better, you can use Campus Cash (thanks Mom & Dad!). I saw Valentine's Day last weekend with some friends. It was a good mash up with a bunch of big names. The debate is still going on about whether or not Taylor Swift can act...

4. Big Sis/Little Sis with Kappa! The clues are pouring in as I try to figure out who my Big Sis in my sorority is! On day one I received some beautiful flowers, candy, and a stuffed owl (our mascot). Last night a couple of fine gentlemen delivered me a beautiful heart shaped cake! mmmmmm....

5. Saturday Night Live! No, not the TV show! Our school has some pretty rockin' bands come and play on Saturday nights. I ate my dinner while listening to City Walls. Those guys are amazing! I heard they are playing a gig in Orange County next week, so if you are in the area, check them out.

6. Cowtown Throwdown! Kappa Kappa Gamma and Sigma Phi Epsilon put on this hoedown to raise money for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. Tons of clubs and sororities/fraternities set up carnival booths for the guests, while some pro square dancers taught us all to do it country style! We danced the night away and all the proceeds went to UNICEF. Helping can sure be fun :)

7. Rose's Donuts. This little gem of a place is open 24/7.... well, really late that is. My friends and I satisfied our late night sweet cravings for less than a dollar at this shop right off campus. There were so many varieties of donuts, and they were amazingly delicious.

Well, I am now writing an explication on Robert Frost's "Mending Wall" for my poetry class. My professor has agreed to meet with me in an hour to go over my paper and fix it up! One of the many bonuses of small class sizes at USD. Back to work!

Springtime Looooooove,

Avery