XULA Freshman Seminar

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Archive for December, 2008

Voting Experience

Posted by Cui Wei Zhang on December 12, 2008

I am not a citizen in U. S. yet. So, I don’t have chance to vote on this time. But my friend had shared his experience to me.
 The voting is strict and serious in U. S.  So, he supposed to vote carefully. He mail in to vote and he had made a mistake on his ballot this time. Therefore, he took his ballot in to the polling place to get a new one again. He said when you surrender your mail-in ballot, the inspector supposed to write “IN PERSON” next to your name, and supposed to sign the register and then give you a fresh ballot. You give them your spoiled ballot and they write VOID or SPOILED on the ballot in red and then keep it to turn in at the end of the night.
 It is incorrect that the inspector at the polling place kept insisting that you had to vote provisionally. If you are
a mail in voter who is surrendering your ballot, you do not have to vote provisionally. You only have to vote provisionally in this case if you do not have your ballot to surrender. You can not to vote twice.
When you vote provisionally, you have to fill out a detailed envelope explaining why you are voting provisionally and sign it. Your ballot is sealed in
the envelope and then the registrar later verifies that you were eligible to vote and that your ballot should be counted. Although, I do not have chance but I also excited with my friend on this time his voting. This year, he voted for a black man. If I have chance to vote, I think it is a wonderful experience.

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Thanksgiving…

Posted by Rachael Flores on December 10, 2008

This year, Thanksgiving was probably about the same as last year, with a few additions. I spent the holiday in Baton Rouge (just as I do every other day). The major endeavor this time was research on how to fry a turkey. With every ‘i’ dotted and every ‘t’ crossed, the turkey frying was a success–not even a small fire was sparked. My husband and I awoke Thanksgiving morning around 6:00am and went to start the turkey-frying process at my in-laws’ house. Before the turkeys were finished, we went to pick up my grandpa for 10:30am to bring him to my dad’s house in Donaldsonville. We had a great Turkey-Day feast there (for which I made my famous “Pecan Delight” pie). We left his house, stuffed bellies and all, around 2:00pm, brought my grandpa home, and headed straight home for the Thanksgiving nap. After awaking that night, it was nothing but shop-shop-shop from 11:30pm to 2:00pm the next day. I’m not sure how I made it through the “Wal-Mart experience,” but all was well and I got to pick out some nice Christmas presents (for myself, of course…).

I was glad to have a break toward the end of school so I could take a minute and get my thoughts together. Unfortunately, most of the plans I made to study and finish up projects were derailed due to the death of my uncle. I was kind of dreading coming back to school because I had to make-up a couple of things I missed on the Monday and Tuesday before. I wished I had more time to do everything that needed to be done.

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Thanksgiving

Posted by tammar williams on December 10, 2008

Thanksgiving this year wasn’t too great for me because I was told that I would get to go home, and it ended up not happening. I was so excited at the fact that I would go back to Arkansas and see my family and friends. Then the day before I was supposed to go home, my father told me that he wouldn’t be able to come and get me, and that I would have to spend the holiday with my aunt who lives down here. He apologized and I said that it was ok and I was fine, but I really wasn’t. I walked back from the NCF building to my dorm, and I cried for a long time. I hadn’t seen my family since that August and I was really homesick. Some people say that they would be ok living away from their families, and I thought that I was that person. I didn’t realize that I would miss my family and friends from Arkansas so much. After I had my cry, I got a call from my aunt and she told me that we would be riding down to Houston for Thanksgiving. All I thought was “Great, another stupid eight-hour car ride”. I was not happy about my circumstances, but I had to endure. We got down to Houston and it was cool seeing my relatives that lived in Texas, but I still wished that I could go home to Arkansas. Overall it was an ok vacation.

I did get distracted from school a little bit probably just because I wasn’t at my dorm. I went shopping on black Friday and got a few things, and basically nothing else really distracted me except for the fact that I had to keep getting in the car to go to another relative’s house for hours. I didn’t really have too much time to study my school work, but I knew that I needed to because I had a biology lab final 8 o’clock that Monday morning. I didn’t really experience anything amazing except for the fact that even though I thought I was grown and could be away from my family, I really can’t for too long.

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THANKSGIVING!!

Posted by Courtney Williams on December 10, 2008

Thanksgivin = YUMMY!! This year Thanksgiving was different.  I went home back to Atlanta, Georgia. Yes, it was good to be home and to spend time with my family and friends. However after a couple of days I was ready to come back to school. Its funny ’cause now that I’m back I’m kind of ready to go back home. For the Thanksgiving break so close to the end of school it was not really a distraction. In my down time I just knew that I had to study for my test and finals that are approaching fast. It was crazy because here I have so much independence but when I go home my mom constantly reminds me that I still have rules to follow and a curfew because she does not want me out to late. So since I don’t live my family they do treat me differently sometimes. One minute I will be an adult and the next minute I’m still my mom’s little girl. Coming back home was like tease because I was going to have to come back to school for finals. I kept thinking to myself to go ahead and get these last two weeks over with so I can go home for a month. I had so much fun over the break. The only bad thing about the break was that my mom almost “tried” to ground me because one night I came in really late in the morning.  

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thanksgiving

Posted by Maryam Kanj on December 10, 2008

Thanks giving was fun this year even though there were some problems that got in the way. It was different from last year because my dad was in new Orleans last year while we were in Florida. But this year was fun because we were all together. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because I think my mom makes the best turkey. I went to my cousins house for thanks giving and we had three turkeys there. My mom made one my cousin made one and my aunt made one. They were all so good. I think it was kind of a distraction from school because you want to just be done it was annoying to have to come back just to take finals I think they should have just let us have all this time off, from thanksgiving until the spring term. My family did not treat me different because I see them like every day but they were happy to see me. I was dreading coming back to school because I’m supposed to go to Australia and now I have to wait two weeks so I can finish school to go. I did have lots of fun on thanksgiving because they food was great and it was fun to be with my family. The only thing that messed up my thanksgiving a little was that I had gotten into a big fight with my cousins wife and his mother called to complain how I was the one who started it. That was the only thing that got in the way of a great thanksgiving. I ignored them and tried to have fun.

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Thanksgiving

Posted by Courtney McClain on December 9, 2008

Thanksgiving really didn’t seem different besides the fact that I was treated like a guest. Well I keep telling my parents, “I’m a visitor, so I shouldn’t have to wash dishes, clean or cook” and I didn’t well I washed dishes while we were cooking for Thanksgiving. It was so good to be back at home. I didn’t have to wear shower shoes, use Lysol to clean everything before I use it and I also had a room to myself; I didn’t have to share with anyone else or worry about being to loud and disturbing them.

 

While I was at home on break I did noting at all that regarded homework, every time I tried to do math homework or work on my paper I always found a reason to do something else or play with my little brother. I did accomplish a couple assignments before I left, but everything I planed out to do when I got home wasn’t even thought about. Since I couldn’t concentrate on homework at home that was one reason why I wanted to come back to the school because I knew there would be no distraction from my family and friends wanting to hang out. The whole time I was at home noting amazing happened but I went out a lot to the clubs and spent a lot of time with my parents, which is rare because before I left to come to school I never was at home and never spent time with my parents. Being away from them brought us closer. I also thought I would never miss Xavier University, but deep down inside I missed the school and my friends I made here.

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Thanksgiving

Posted by Trang Tran on December 8, 2008

Thanksgiving this year was so different from last year. Last year, I spent time with my best friend in New York for Thanksgiving. It was really fun, because it was my first time in New York so she took me everywhere. I loved the cold weather, the Christmas lights, and the nonstop walking people strolled down on the street of New York City. The best part was going shopping in Times Square for Black Friday. It was also my first time spent $800 just to shop. I had Thanksgiving dinner at her sister’s house and afterward the girls were singing karaoke while the guys were playing poker. I had so much fun last Thanksgiving, especially with my best friend.
Thanksgiving this year was quite different. I had to work on Thanksgiving and the dinner is not even at my house. My family had dinner at my aunt’s house, which was not bad; I got to see most of my cousins who I haven’t seen in months. After the dinner I took my little brother and sister to the movie to watch Bolt. After that, I hang out with my boyfriend for a bit, and then I went home and rest. I woke up at 6 the next morning to get ready to go to the mall for Black Friday. There wasn’t any big sales going on but I did shop for Christmas. I went shopping for my boyfriend’s Christmas presents, and I spent almost $500 on him alone. It was fun going shopping without looking at the price before buying it, but it is not going to be fun when my next bills come home. It is okay, because it is just once a year, and a time for giving!

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Thanksgiving

Posted by Nikketa Washington on December 8, 2008

Thanksgiving is a time to be with your family and to be thankul for what you have and a time to cherish evryone that is there.  Well this year thanksgiving was the same as lat year we had the same people over like we have every year. My cooked like always and I helped year. Well it was different because  we couldnt enjoy. Someone had broke in my brothers house and  stole some of his things. But We did not let that stop the show we got together as a family and prayed and was thankful that my brother and his kids was not in the house.  Well my home is here in New Orleans LA But my grandma has not moved back yet because the house is not finished so we all went Columbia MS  to celebrate. When we all got finished eating we went out to the Blue Room as a big Family and just had fun. It was alright to be out there with my grandma but I was ready to come on home to celebrate Bayou Classic weekend. I just can’t wait for my grandma to get home do it can be how it use to.  No it felt like any other time when I get out of school for Thanksgiving break I just had to get back into the mode of going to school after a long break. No my family treated me like always and plus I don’t stay on campus. I was just dreading to come back to school so that I can  hurry up and finish this semster.  It was a good thanksgiving nothing was different i was just happy to be with my family.

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Thanksgiving Break

Posted by Cherise Steib on December 8, 2008

Thanksgiving was very fun. I was so glad to finally go home for a while. My break started off with a surgery. My boyfriend had surgery on his shoulder the day before Thanksgiving. So I was in the hospital all day, but I didn’t mind.

Thanksgiving was at my sister’s new house in Baton Rouge. Her in laws were there and my family was there. Everybody brought in a dish with them. There was so much food in the house. After one plate, I was absolutely full! That is not normal for me. Every year for Thanksgiving, my family pulls names for Christmas. I’m usually the person who organizes everything. It’s fun to be the only person knowing who pulled what name. My family always tries to get me to tell them who pulled their name, but I never tell.

The break was definitely a distraction from school. I had work to do, but I didn’t do as much as I could have done. I did a few things, but not a lot. I just couldn’t focus over the break. I immediately went into lazy mode. The week after the break, I went into full student mode. I did so many assignments. I thought I was going to lose my mind.

Overall, my break was fabulous and I was glad to be home with family. There’s nothing like going home and relaxing and being in peace. Now I’m just waiting for the Christmas break when I can really be stress free.

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Thanksgiving Day

Posted by Cui Wei Zhang on December 7, 2008

The Thanksgiving Holiday is the occasion for family to be together. This is the 4th Thanksgiving Holiday I already had in U. S. The last three times to me and my family it was not very excited because they still keep their mine in Chinese Holiday. They thought Thanksgiving holiday is only for American people. Therefore, I only have a dinner home with my parents without my friends. But now, I want to talk litter bit about the 4th Thanksgiving of my family. This Thanksgiving Day to me and my family it was little different.  This time we have a celebration for my new house. We got time to share our special dinner with turkey and lot of Chinese food. The big different is we are without any American people on this day. We had Karaoke for fun, drunk, and played cards. It was the first time I have the same feeling as I was in Chinese New Year day in U. S.

The day after Thanksgiving Holiday is a big sale day, everything is on sale and people go shop every where especially the mall. This is a big holiday for the ladies and family to save money. In my family, I was shopped with my cousins to shop at the mall in Mississippi. I did buy a lot of the things, but I feel very happy on this holiday. I think to you are all the Thanksgiving holiday is not strange, but to me it is.

I was happy to know more about this holiday and its history. Now, I’m so exciting to waiting for the next Thanksgiving.

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Give Me a BREAK!

Posted by Joi Martin on December 7, 2008

To me, Thanksgiving has always meant spending quality time and sharing priceless moments with your family, friends, and loved ones.  This year when I went home, I was expecting to have a great vacation.  My best friend Nolan was coming over and we had new family members joining us this time around.  I was extremely excited and that was actually the best Thanksgiving that I can remember.

 

I went home Monday night for Thanksgiving because my only Tuesday class was cancelled.  I was so blessed to have that extra day off; I was in dire need of it.  I honestly relaxed the entire time I was at home.  I had intentions on doing some work but my family is very stingy when it comes to spending time with me.  I brought home all of my books and never picked one of them up, ha!  Although I come home often, they treat me as if I have been gone for months.  I live about an hour away from school and my mom works about fifteen minutes away.  I always see them but they make me feel loved whenever I come home. Yay!  It is always a pleasure to be home and as we approach the end of the semester, I get lazy but my family does not make focusing on my work any easier. 

 

On Thanksgiving Day, we gathered around the table and my mother led us in prayer.  Afterwards, we all had to mention one thing we were thankful for.  I said that I was thankful for a loving family because many people will not be having a happy Thanksgiving.  I even heard one girl say that she did not want to go home because of some unfortunate things going on.  I keep those less privileged than myself in my prayers and hopefully their situation gets better.  After feasting until we were too stuffed to move, we played games and just laughed until tears rolled down our cheeks.  Great times…

 

Friday, I went shopping with my mom and sister.  We bought so many things and also grabbed a bite to eat at Chili’s.  Saturday and Sunday rolled by quickly, and then it was time to return to Xavier.  I was sad but knowing that I would be home soon again made the school days go smoothly.

 

Overall, I had a lot of fun.  I wish all vacations could be like Thanksgiving and I wish we did not need a reason for family to get together.  I love being surrounded my loved ones and everyone having a good time with each other.  I try to keep those pictures and memories as vivid as possible in my head.  The love I receive at home makes life worth living. J

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Turkey Day…

Posted by Erin Gardner on December 7, 2008

Roughly three days before Thanksgiving I had gotten sick.  I was babysitting two sick three-year-olds a few days before and it turns out that there germs were a lot stronger than I had thought.  Nevertheless, I was full of meds and the majority of Thanksgiving passed in a haze.  However, I did notice that Thanksgiving this year had a considerably smaller celebration than in previous years.  Last year, my parents and I were traveling from Florida back home (to New Orleans) to meet with the family.  It seemed as though everyone had really made an effort to show their faces even if it was just ten minutes. This year, on the other hand, my parents, grandparents and I went to my aunt’s house, where the family agreed to meet this year.  We were the first to arrive and only about five more members came after, which was terrible considering the six siblings that my aunt has and her eleven nieces and nephews.  In addition, it was distressing that she had prepared such a vast amount of food and not even half of it was eaten; besides there were only so many plates that she could pack for us to bring home.

The medications that I had been prescribed to help me recover had to be taken for five days, which took the length of Thanksgiving break. Thus, I was fairly groggy for the entire break and I had lost my voice from the strain of all the coughing that I was doing. I prayed that at least my voice would improve for the return on Monday. I actually started feeling significantly better on that Sunday morning and I was looking to returning to school because there was only about two weeks left in the semester and I could not wait to breeze through them. J

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Thanksgiving

Posted by Phuong Dao on December 7, 2008

Thanksgiving this year was a good one. The food was way better than last year thought this year we didn’t have a thanksgiving party at my boyfriend’s house. This year my mom actually cooked for thanksgiving an it was good. IT was the first family get together in a long time, and my boyfriend was there to enjoy the experience as well. I would say that it is better than last year, but my mother didn’t treat me any different now that I moved out. This year was different because the families of both family was together for thanksgiving.

Going back to school was a dread, I  felt that I needed a longer vacation so thank goodness for december vaction! But over the holidays I was suppose to catch up on my work, but I didn’t. Instead I just kind of chilled back and relax I think I deserved it well enough. I think 3 days for vaction for Thanksgiving is just not enough. I wished it was like highschool where we’ll get a whole week. Haha, that would be great. Now, I’m glad we’re finnally done with school so I’m just trying to get by with finals and I’m gonna feel so relieved.

I didn’t do much over the thanksgiving holiday instead of just eating and got time to watch a few movies I been wanting to see. One thing I really miss is the food, too bad thanksgiving food only last for one day. Well, overall my holidays were great.

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Giving Thx in Dallas

Posted by Mychelle Williams on December 7, 2008

The day for Thanksgiving

I did not go home. This is my first ever Thanksgiving away from my mom. This was the first thanks giving that I did not go to my homecoming game.  I didn’t go home because at first we couldn’t afford the ticket. I only went to Dallas because her parents were blessed enough to buy both our tickets. I went to Dallas with my roommate. It was good to away from Xavier and in a home. I felt like part of the family. They treated me like one of their own and it was appreciated. It was definitely a distraction. I just laid around and slept all day, woke up and ate then back to sleep.

My roommates’ mom got us massage appointments. That was great! We really needed some relief. The home cooked meals were so good! We weren’t really treated any differently from our expectations. We were treated like the growing adults that we are. I t was refreshing to be in the company of people who believe and worship the same God as me. We went to many places including the club.

The Dallas club experience was what I had imagined it to be. The something drastically terrible happened. I lost my state id, never to be seen again. That meant a hassle at the airport. I had to be extra searched and it was time consuming. I was sad to leave but happy at the same time. It was because I’m tired of school but I wanted to see my boo. I missed him. I  was also eager to finish up and go home to “The city of Brotherly love and Sisterly affection”.

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Turkey Day

Posted by Bri Harper on December 7, 2008

This year’s Thanksgiving was a lot different from previous years. I did not go home because I decided to stay here for Bayou Classic weekend. I have a cousin who lives in New Orleans so I was still able to get some good home cooked food. It was the same type of food I was used to at home but I still enjoyed it. I stayed over my cousin’s house for a few days and it was a nice break from being on campus mostly everyday. We stayed up and watched movies and just enjoyed each others company.

            What was really nice was having a web cam. Since my family back home and I both had a web cam we were able to see each other on Thanksgiving Day. It was a nice treat because I got to see my aunt and uncle, my cousins and my grandfather. It was almost like we were all together. Having the webcam made me feel like I was not missing out too much.

            Also a friend from high school came to New Orleans during the Thanksgiving break. I had seen her since August so it was really nice to get to hang out with her again. We went to the mall and out to eat and we caught up on old times. The break went by pretty fast but I did not dread going back because I knew I only had two more weeks until I could go home for a whole month.

 

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Thanksgiving

Posted by Danielle Kennebrew on December 6, 2008

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on what you have been blessed with along with spending time with the ones you truly love and care for. This years Thanksgiving was different from last years. For instance last year I was able to go home to Atlanta Georgia and spend time with my family for a brief period. We had our traditional Thanksgiving dinner at my aunts house with all my cousins, aunts, and uncles. On the other hand this years Thanksgiving I did not get the chance to go home because I had athletic obligations to fulfill on the basketball court during that time. However, I was blessed to have some of my relatives including my mom, sister , father and a few of my aunts, uncles, and cousins come down to New Orleans and see me play. No, I did not go to my tangible home, but I was with the people I do care for. No, it was not a distraction seeing my family. It only made me more focused because I am so close to the end. I just want to make them proud and finish off the semester strong. I was not overjoyed with excitement, to come back to school ,but I know my obligations that I have to fulfill so going back to school was not anything I dreaded. Furthermore I knew that I would have only a few weeks till the Christmas Break so I am looking forward to that. Yes, I did have fun with my family. When my family came to see me they stayed at the Marriot Hotel and we were living it up by ordering room service an having fun being in each others company. I thought it was cool to see all the people who came down to New Orleans for the battle of the bands. It took us an hour and thirty minutes to get form Xavier to the hotel during that time. I really enjoyed being with my family for that brief period of time. I know some people didn’t get this opportunity to see their  family so I felt really blessed this Thanksgiving.

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Portfolio

Posted by Roseanna Desiree Jessup on December 5, 2008

This is my portfolio for the smester.

Hope you like =)

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New Orleans

Posted by Roseanna Desiree Jessup on December 5, 2008

Part I:

A passage from Tom Piazza’s Why New Orleans Matters that particularly took my interest was the introduction. I know that I’m a “soft” person it was very sad. I know a lot of people say that it was very redundant and that everything there was to say about hurricane Katrina has already been said but,  reading it was different. Of course seeing all of the horrible images of the aftermath on the news was one thing and living here now and still being able to see the damage is another thing but, reading it had a different effect. It stirred up something more. It gave a different view. Some of the things he wrote about, yes i’d seen them on clips of what was going on in New Orleans at the time but, I couldn’t believe. To hear about read about the desperation, the death, was very moving. It truly hurt my heart to hear of the father naked in front of his sons. To think about how something like that will be remembered, forever ingrained in the minds of those that suffered so terribly. How will those boys see their father as a man again? How will their father be able to look them in the face and tell them to be strong when he knows that they have seen him at his weakest moment? That is sad to think about. A lot of people only talk about those who didn’t survive but, what about those who did? What kind of struggles are they still facing? What about New Orleans? The city survived but… the d amage… the recovery. Tom Piazza makes you think about these things.

Part II:

I did attend Dr. Harris’s lecture and I was very frustrated by it. My frustration really did not have anything to do with Dr. Harris himself. He was great. i even stayed afterwards to speak with him. I had good things to say. It did seem as though he was a bit repetative about some things, things we’ve been hearing forever. Other than that, he was very inspiring. He is a successful man, someone that each and everyone of us can learn something from.

I was frustrated because I had to fight to hear to what he was saying and he had to fight to say it. This was really emmbarrasing because, last time I checked, we were all adults. One of the most important lessons I can remember is “there is a time and a place for everything” and that was neithere the time nor the place. It was childish and rude. So what if you didn’t want to be there. So what if it was movie night. I didn’t want to be there either. I had to study. I was tired. Even still, I was not rude. I really can’t say how this event could have been made better simply because I’ve found that a lot of students just aren’t appreciative of these events. They simply don’t want to go. It seems as though no matter how you change the event, students will find one reason or another to not like it.

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Thanksgiving

Posted by Roseanna Desiree Jessup on December 5, 2008

Thanksgiving, this year, was not much different from last year. I went home for the holiday. I got home the Wednesday morning before Thanksgiving. The House smelled like someone had been cleaning and, of course, someone had. My mom was making sure everything was in tip-top shape in case we had company. Food had been prepped and marinating in the fridge. By that night, food was already on the stove. The smell of cleansers and air fresheners were replaced with the smell of the brisket that was already slow cooking in the oven. By the time I woke up the next morning, my mom was already busy in the kitchen. My sister and stepfather were doing their part too: getting out the china getting the deep fryer ready (deep fryed turkey… that was new… and SO much better). I helped too but not for long. I volunteer at the convention center serving Thanksgiving meals. Including this year, I’ve been doing it for three years now. This time was a little different because my sister wasn’t with me. My mom let me drive her car to go. After I did my shift, I got home just in time to pray as a family and eat, and man did I eat. Everyone was nice and full. We watched some football together nd then, later that night, we played a game together.

It felt really good to be  home. I think being away made me more appreciative of what I have at home, the simple things. I have a double bathroom right up the hall, I don’t have to where shower shoes or slippers, I can actually sit on a couch, rather than lay on a bed all the time, I have a full sized bed that is so comfortable and, most importantly, I have my family. I didn’t realize I would miss them so much, but I do.

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Thanksgiving

Posted by Bechi Okwumabua on December 5, 2008

My Thanksgiving was very different from any one I have experienced. I was not granted the privilage to travel home for Thanksgiving. I ended up going to a teammates’ house and celebrating the holiday with her family. I was very sad in the beginning. My mom and I both cried on the phone, which is really weird because I never excpected to miss my family that much. The times when I am so used to be with my family, like Thanksgiving and Christmas, were affected by basketball. This means that my opportunities to see my family is very limited since they live all the way in Memphis. I sometimes wish that my family lived closer or that I had decided to attend a university closer to Memphis so that I could see them on special occasions, and sometimes just because. This Thanksgiving was one of those times. I had a lot of fun with my teammate and her family. They cordially welcomed me into their home. I was happy to be there, because being with family is most important on the holidays. Even though this was not my family, my mom explained to me that this is the same way she and my dad built our extended family. The closest friends that my mother has now are those she stayed with when she could not go home to visit her immediate family. She was also a college athlete, so she was able to relate to the way I was feeling. But my Thanksgiving turned out just fine. The food was delicious and I was glad that I did not have to stay up in KD over the whole break. It is important to get away from the school environment sometimes. Nothing amazing happened… besides my mom and me crying on the phone. That actually is something amazing! Now I know how it feels to be grown… and I don’t like it a lot of the time! The holidays are never the same without family.

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Week 15 Thanksgiving

Posted by Lamoyne Taylor on December 5, 2008

Thanksgiving is the is the part of the year when you gather with your family and think about everything you have to be thankful for.  It suppose to be a time to celerbrate with your family.  This year thanksgiving was different because the entire family moved to different states, but no Thanksgiving is the same.  When it came to this year, I had to drive to Mississippi from new orleans.  The reason why is because I attend Xavier University of Louisiana.  I think a major distraction from school is the vairety of activities that are held.  I also think that they are useful to ease the mind of people who study all the time. When I went home, I was treated very well.  I felt welcome if not better than before.  Once you truly understand the fundamentals of Thanksgiving, then you should know that it is not the time to mistreat your family.  No matter how long I leave home, I know that I am always welcomed and the hospitality shows that.  My sister and my greets me with happiness everytime I return home.  The good part is that even the communities are happy to see me at home.  During the break, I had a lot of fun.  I had time to enjoy my mom, and went shopping with my brother.  I also walked my dog.  The only bad thing that happen was that my grandpa died the week prior to Thanksgiving.  This was kind of hard getting use to and it was the most difficult part of Thanksgiving.

 

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Thanksgiving

Posted by Morgan Weber on December 5, 2008

     Thanksgiving was very relaxing this year, despite being shorter than my other previous years.   However, it was different from last year because I got some new shoes, finished a 600 paged novel, and watched T.V. while peeling some potatoes.  Even though these changes may not seem like a lot, they helped add to the fun of my Thanksgiving break.  Some other things that I did on Thanksgiving include spending time with my relatives and learning how to cook.  Also, since I do not live on campus, it was just like coming to the same old house, though I can imagine what it would have felt like if I dad come home after a long period of time.  Probably like one of the best things in the world if that were the case.  However, it was still good to be home and not have to wake up early in the morning.

     Though the break was great, I did find it distraction from school.  It was much to short, and I dreaded coming back to exams, school work, and speeches.  During my break, I took the time off to relax, and I must say that I relaxed too much.  But, I think I needed it.  It was fun to hang out with old friends and stay up late for no particular reason and eat lots of food which were all lost to me once school started back again. 

     During the break nothing particularly interesting or exciting happened, though I did see some friends that I had not seen in a while and was able to be couch potato for a couple of days.

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ThAnKsGiVinG

Posted by Nia Weber on December 4, 2008

Thanksgiving was for the most part a typical Thanksgiving for me. Every year my mom, sister, and I go to the Convention Center after attending church on Thanksgiving morning. At the Convention Center we volunteer at Marlin Gusman’s Thanksgiving Celebration to feed the elderly and homeless. We served Thanksgiving dinner and dessert, as well as passed out bags stuffed with different odds and ends and then helped clean up. Sometimes it is boring when we go because we may not do much, but when we do help out I know its not in vain when I see the smiles on people’s faces and hear their cries of laughter as they enjoy themselves and their Thanksgiving dinner that they would otherwise not receive. There is always entertainment including bands and singers such as: Irma Thomas, Aaron Neville, and other local vocalists and their bands. I also spent Thanksgiving at my cousins’ houses. I was at one house for about four hours, then my mother drove my sister and I to Donalsonville to visit with relatives there. We visited another cousin in Donaldsonville as well. But, instead of everyone being at my grandmother’s sister’s house, they were at my cousin’s new house.

I definitely enjoyed the atmosphere of being at home, even though I am from New Orleans. Unfortunately, being away from the dorms was somewhat of a distraction for me. Before I went home I had my mind set on what I wanted to accomplish as far as studying and doing papers and homework. Consequently, most of that studying did not go s I planned it to go. I did not feel well the entire time I was home. Friday after Thanksgiving I was supposed to attend the Greek Show and Battle of the Bands for the Bayou Classic with my cousin and her friends but that ended up not working out. So, instead we spent the night on Bourbon Street. It was extremely packed; everyone looked like they were walking over everyone like ants in an ant pile. Most of my family asked how I was enjoying college. And my response was, “Its fine,” only because I did not feel like having a long drawn out discussion about school. I was not ready to move back into the dorms after the break because that was a reminder that finals were getting closer. But on a brighter note, it also meant that the one month Christmas vacation was closer as well, and I am definitely excited about that!

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Thanksgiving!

Posted by Shannon Taylor on December 4, 2008

Thanksgiving in my family usually revolves around food, family fun, and watching T.V. and this year was no different for the most part. Since I am a college student now, Thanksgiving was so much more enjoyable. Even though I live in New Orleans and I wasn’t flying home or anything my family just treated me differently. Last Thanksgiving, I just went to the Thanksgiving dinner and hung out with my cousins. This year was different. My family just couldn’t believe that I was in college now. Questions were swarming me “How’s school?.. What are our grades like? Do you like it?” It made me feel loved. The food was also a huge plus! I had a home cooked meal and was loving every bit of it. I learned how to play this fun card game with my sister called Phase 10. So much fun!! I couldn’t stop playing it!! With all the fun happening, it became a distraction from my work. I was so excited to get a break off of school I had forgotten about some of the due dates that were coming up. So, I had to stop the family fun and get back to my school work. Not going to school was the easy part but coming off the break was the hard part. I had to wake up early for my 8 o’clock class and back to work I went. I had so much fun over the break! Now I’m in the process of waiting for the wonderful month off for Christmas! I’m so EXCITED!! 🙂

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Thanksgiving

Posted by whochrisvu on December 4, 2008

Thanksgiving is usually a time where the entire family gathers together for a big meal, but this year was different because my family and I went to Las Vegas.  I was really excited to go out of state and to go on an airplane for the first time.  It was one of the best vacations I had.  Even though all of the slot machines and card tables were making fun of me, I made the best of my time by watching the shows.  They ranged from magic shows to the traditional dancing ones with the Vegas showgirls.

It was just a different atmosphere.  I was able to walk around at night with my brother and cousin without any of the worries that one would feel- say walking around New Orleans at night.  Just to be able to walk along the Vegas strip and enjoy the nightlife was amazing.  Another thing that was different was being separate from my parents.  Once we had breakfast together, we went our separate ways until dinner.  I was able to check out several hotels, watch shows, or go shopping.

The worst part of the vacation was when it ended because all of a sudden the school work that I was supposed to have done just came flying at my face.  I realized I had two projects, a couple of essays to write, and a makeup quiz to study for.  It wasn’t the best feeling to come home to.  I was dreading the 8:00 class on Monday because that truly meant that the holiday was over and that I had to wake up early.  Besides the homework, my holiday was very enjoyable.

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Thanksgiving…

Posted by Britney Weary on December 4, 2008

This Thanksgiving was different from the others simply because I am now a college student and I had to come home on a plane instead of already being there. When I was home I was so excited. I was so glad to see my family and friends. They were happy to see me too. I can tell even though they claimed they didn’t. When I got to the airport in Houston, Texas, my cousin was the first to see me. She ran up to me and hugged me which made my mother and brothers come running over seconds later. There was so much emotion in the air my mother began to cry which isn’t unusual.

Going home was definitely a distraction. I didn’t want to do any homework. No matter how much I tried to forget about it, it still had to be done. I couldn’t ignore the due dates. I had to bite the bullet even though I was angry we had to do work over the break anyway.

My family definitely showed the love. They’ve always showed the love but because I was only in town for a week, they showed it even more. It was excellent. Even though I was glad to be home, the only reason I wanted to come back to school was to see my new boyfriend. Is that so bad? I didn’t want to come back to finish but i wanted to come back for the people. That’s sad. I was having such a good time at home. I wanted all my friends to move with me so I wouldn’t have to go to another state to see them.

Nothing particularly interesting happened while I was home but I’m sure something will happen soon. It always does.

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Portfolio

Posted by Sarah Wilson on December 4, 2008

Thanks for a great semester! Sarah Wilson

Thanks for a great semester! Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson

 

December 4, 2008

Essay

Experience

 

            As a student I think I was a well respected student. I did what I had to in my school work.

 

I feel that I was a great student I was always on time and never really miss my classes I had this

 

semester. I learn a lot this semester of my freshmen year. I learned that I can’t wait to the last

 

minute to prepare for things that should always study when I can basically everyday  for all

 

subjects. Then I would be a studious student that is prepared. Next semester I will have to do in

 

my classes to get better grades. I feel that I will do that next semester. My education so far has

 

been good. I learn a lot this semester in all of my classes. I would never change my major. I’m

 

going to stick with Premed/Biology all four years of college at Xavier. I feel that my focus my

 

college career has change a lot I believe that I would succeed in my college career in the next

 

four years. My attitude towards school hasn’t ever changed. I will always want to achieve the

 

greatest in class and do my best no matter what in school. I feel that my first semester in college

 

was a big change in my life. I will strive to do my best in college to achieve my goal of

 

becoming an ER(Emergency Room) Doctor in the future. Dreams will come true I believe that I

 

will do well in my future goals in my life. Xavier has been a big role in my life so far. Xavier is a

 

wonderful school to attend.  School is important source in my life and always will be in the

 

future.  I have three more years to go at Xavier University I have a long way to go from here.

 

Even though it seems to be a long time from now, that time will come very quickly and the next

 

minute I will be a senior in college. I can’t wait to be a senior in College so I can be more closer

 

to my dream of becoming a ER Doctor. Even though I have to go to medical school to become a

 

Doctor it’s all worth the time to attend school. I will achieve my goal even if it takes me until

 

I’m thirty years of age. I will become a doctor and help people in needed in the hospital.

 

Community Service Essay

 

            The type of community service I have done over the semester has been wonderful. I have

done over the semester has been wonderful. I love helping people that is in need of help. For

freshmen orientation I was help building a greenhouse in city Park. It was hot but it was worth it.

I’m glad that I did that to help my city. The next community service I had volunteered to tutor at

my elementary/ middle school name St. Rita School.  I would go every Tuesday evening to help

students that needed help with their homework or who had trouble with their homework. I would

make sure they would understand their homework thoroughly so they would get a good grade on

their homework or upcoming test. The children are the sweetest. I love helping people.

Two writings

1)

Sarah Wilson

Essay

 

An Uncomfortable Place

 

When I was in an unfamiliar territory initially I felt as though I did not fit in; in

that case on August 23, 2005 I was displace by hurricane Katrina in the New Orleans

area. My family and I were horrified about the Hurricane Katrina category five situation.

For this purpose my family chose to leave the city voluntary.

That day for us was so busy. We had to get things in order at our house, car, and

so on and so forethought.  We also went to the Winn-Dixx grocery store to get snacks for

the road trip. That night we had to pack almost the whole household in a Ford Explorer.

Our family was so jam pack into that Ford Explorer car. The destination we were going

to because of the storm was Georgia. The drive was so long. It took us almost twelve

hours to reach our destination. During the trip to Georgia we stop a couple of times to

exercise or legs and stretch our muscles. After a while I couldn’t feel my legs because of

the small jam pack car. During that time we also got lost going to our destination.  It was

a strange and unusual time for my family. We thought that we would never get to

Georgia.

Since we left the city on that Saturday August 23, 2005. I really didn’t want to

leave my city New Orleans. That’s my home, where I’ am from and where I grow up.

However everyone had to get out of harm’s way it was really important.  That storm was

pronounced as a Category Five Hurricane. Category Five Hurricanes are very dangerous

it can cause a flood; it can also kill people.  That’s the reason my family and I left the city

when we did.  

Finally we were at my cousin’s apartment in Marietta, Ga.  When we got there

everyone in my family was tired and hungry. My family didn’t have much of anything.                

Even though we only brought a week of cloths with us. We didn’t know if we were going

to stay or go back home at that time. My cousin’s apartment was very small one bedroom

with no furniture inside the whole apartment. His kitchen was small like the bathroom:

but his living room was the biggest part in the whole apartment. So everyone sleep in his

living on the floor on sheets and covers we brought from home.

 

The next day it was Monday August 25, 2005 a day no one would forget. The day

           Hurricane Katrina destroyed the city of New Orleans.  My family and I watched the news

        on television. We were so shock and sad about our hometown. Also we saw our house on

television on the CNN news. Our house had water all the way to the 2nd floor of the house. I                                 

felt very poor and homeless that day. We felt like we had nothing after seeing our house on

television.

Weeks later being in Georgia, my family and I were staying in a hotel; instead of

my cousin’s apartment. My mom, brother and I had a room. My sisters had their own

rooms. I was glad about that no more sleeping on the floor. A few days later my mom

registered my brother and I for school in Marietta, Ga. We had to stay in school that was  

so important to my mother. The school name is Robert Lee Osborne High School the

home of the cardinals, that school was a public school. In my life time: I attend Catholic

Schools.  R.L. Osborne was bigger than most of the New Orleans schools I have

attended. The school colors where red and white. In their hall ways the lockers were

blood shot red. I guess because of the percentage of students going at Osborne. The

school also had a big gymnasium, football stadium and tennis court. I was in a different

territory and environment.

My first day at R.L. Osborne High School in Marietta, Ga: was a scary time for

me. I got a tour around the school but I still didn’t know were classes were located at in

the buildings. I still was late for my classes that day. I felt so uncomfortable about going

to this school and meeting new people that’s not from my hometown New Orleans. I

didn’t stop feeling uncomfortable until that school year was over. I still felt like I didn’t

belong at that school and in Marietta, Ga  period.

At the time in my life I didn’t really want to be there at that school are at that

state. Even though I stared to like the school R.L Osborne High. I still felt out of place

the second year in Georgia. I was still thinking about being home in New Orleans with

the people and places I love dearly.

 

After a while I had to suck it up and just deal with the situation.  Being in Georgia

not New Orleans; I join different types of clubs and sports to occupy my time. I had no

choice but to start likening my environment beside New Orleans. I join the choir,

volleyball team, dance team, and also tennis team. Doing the sports help me think of

home and I wouldn’t be as sad and anger as I was in my life time after Hurricane Katrina.

Finally I didn’t feel like I wasn’t in an uncomfortable place anymore. I felt like I finally

fit in the crowd in Marietta, Ga.  It was hard for me to not deal with that situation no

more. I had to give it up. I have to move on in my life: I told myself one day in Georgia,

and I did.  I love New Orleans and always will.

 

2)

Sarah Wilson

This Is What Thanksgiving Is All About

 

 

Thanksgiving dinner to my family is so important.  We go out of our way to have

everyone smiling and their stomachs full on Thanksgiving Day. This day is a joyful, loving,

thankful day for my family. Thanksgiving is one of the best times              in my life and my family’s life.

This is how my family and I prepare for the Thanksgiving dinner, in my house on Thanksgiving

Day.

               

First of all my mom and I go to the grocery store, there we get what is needed to

prepare the Thanksgiving meal.  If my mom and I don’t go to the store the family won’t have

anything at all to eat for Thanksgiving Day. Unless we get the groceries, there will be no food on

Thanksgiving Day. Essentially it’s a privilege for my mom and I to get the food for our family on

Thanksgiving Day because it’s a tradition for the youngest daughter to go grocery shopping with

your mom.

In addition these are the list of items my mom and I will be getting while we are in the

store shopping for food.  The first item on the list are the spices, no one can’t make a delicious

meal with seasoning.  The Second item on the list is the desserts: pies, cakes, cookie mix, and

cornbread mix to bake every item for Thanksgiving dinner. The Third item on the list is the

drinks: cold drinks, juice, and milk, and punch for the family. The fourth item are the stuffing mix

for the turkey and bell peppers.  The next item is the fresh picked bell peppers.  Another item is

the potatoes for the potato salad. The next item last but not least the turkey.  Our family dish on

Thanksgiving Day.  After that my mom and I head to the checkout counter line to pay, for our

food.  When we finally get out of the line, we started to put the groceries in the trunk of the car

then head home.

We arrive home and all of our family came to help us with the grocery bags.  Finally we

went inside our home with all of the grocery bags one by one.  We started to put it away into

the pantry closet. Since everyone corporate they only had one more bag of groceries left.

 

The first item we would cook for Thanksgiving Day is the turkey. The turkey is the main

dish of our meal. Without a turkey it wouldn’t be the same on Thanksgiving for my family. We

do this, so the turkey can be ready and cooked by dinner time on Thanksgiving Day. By that time

everyone in the household would be exhausted from that day, so everyone goes to bed around

twelve am.  The next morning is Thanksgiving Day. We would wake up everyone in the

household, for them to watch the Macy Thanksgiving Day parade on television.

Then my mom, brother, sisters, and I will start cooking the Thanksgiving Dinner.

However the other part of the family is watching the Thanksgiving Day parade. The turkey has

been in the oven cooking over night, so the turkey can be ready for dinner time. Next on our

agenda is the stuffing mix, so we can stuff the turkey and bell peppers for dinner. My mom

always does the stuffing and the turkey on Thanksgiving it’s my mom specialty. But my oldest

sister does the macaroni and cheese for dinner. My sister macaroni and cheese is the bomb. The

macaroni dish is always given to the oldest child in my family. My second oldest sister helps do

little things that are needed around the house.  That duty always stays with the second child in

my family.  My third oldest sister she helps with the desserts by oiling, buttering the pans to put

the mix in the pan and in the oven.

The tradition of the youngest child is to prepare and learn how to fix potato salad from

scratch, when I turned thirteen years old. My mom taught me how to fix potato salad. Since

then I have been fixing the potato salad for Thanksgiving Day dinner.

During that time Santa and his reindeer are on the television in the thanksgiving parade.

The turkey would finally be done.  The other food wouldn’t take that long either. In between

that time the whole family would be giggling and laughing at moments. We had together as a

family.

At four p.m all the food is done including the desserts. My oldest sister and mom are the

ones that dish out the food to everyone. Then everyone in my family sits in the den at the dining

table for Thanksgiving Dinner. Even before we eat my mother says a special prayer with the

family and we all say why we are thankful! When you knew my mom is done praying she always

says (In Jesus name Amen). Then everyone starts to dig in the food smiling at each other.

Having this dinner to me means a lot. I know that I will keep this ritual in my immediate,

also whole family. The love and closeness shared my family shared with each other is

undeniable. It’s what thanksgiving is all about.

 

Blogs

 

1) Week 1: Introduction

Hello, Everyone

My name is Sarah Wilson. I’m a native of New Orleans, La. Born at Touro Hospital on July 17,1989. I’m the youngest out of five siblings. My mother was a signle parent raising us to ger fullest. I want everyone to know something’s about myself. I love to sing. I been singing since I was little in a church choir. I loveto play sports also like volleyball, tennis, etc. I participated in school choir since elementary all the way to high school. I love to perform in front of a crowd to see the crowd reaction when I perform in any kind of way. That’s and odd thing about myself I love the attention on me. I never really complain about anytihng. Except one time I was so tired, I had back to back practice for volleyball then Dance Team. Without a break. The reason I wanted to come to Xavier. I believe that Xavier  is a wonderfuln and loving school. The environment is very friendly and caring. Also  I wanted to become a Doctor since I was nine years of age. My major is Biology/Premed. I pick this major because I love Science especially. I feel that nothing can get better than science. I love my city New Orleans. I love the culture,food,music,sites, everything about my hometown I love. I would love to learn more about the French language, and French culture of New Orleans, La. I feel that xavier will prepare me to do great things in my life. Also to help others in need, when I become a ER (Emergency Room) Doctor in the future.

Sincerely, Sarah Wilson

 

 

2) Xula Mission

Hello, Everyone

      I feel that Xavier is trying to help anyone that wants to be something in life. Like help graduating senior students go to medical school, dental,grade school, etc. Xavier has a loving, caring, and heart-warming atmosphere. You get to know the students, especially the Teacher’s. I love that we can get to know the teachers better and they get to know us more. Sothe teachers, and students can be on the same page. I feel that I will keep the mission going strong because of my education is a big part of my life. Being a Xavierite is the best thing in the world. I feel like I belong somewhere with loving people in my university community. I know that the Alumni at this school is proud to be a Xavierite because this school is one of the only almost all black catholic university in the nation.  Xavier has the most students that graduated enter school’s and finish for a Master’s Deagree.   I believe that the university feels that we will succeed and accomplish what we came here for to Xavier. To get our Bachelor’sDegree to go to big and better school’s to get our master’s degree.   I think I will hold the mission up because after medical school I want to help at Xavier to teach Volleyball in the future.  I feel that Xavier does a good job upholding the mission. I don’t hear no complains about anything at Xavier at all. Not form students, teachers, not even alumni. I feel like Xavier is the Best University in the United States of America. Of Course Louisiana. Thank You for reading my blog.

Sincerely,  Sarah Wilson

3) Week 3 : Community Service

Community Service  to me is helping people that’s in depressed need of help. I have paticpated in many community services in my lifetime.  One of the community services I did where feed the hungry in Atlanta, Ga. We went to downtown Atlanta at night. I feed some homeless people a hot meal that day. I feel like I made a difference in them people lives by feeding them a hot meal. I also did a community service in New Orleans , La named Helping Hands. We went to City Park and started to landscape, help build a green house for our beautiful park. My feelings about all the community services I been in I feel like I can help or do anything that was in need at that time. I love to help people, I love to make people smile. I want the world to be helpful also about people in need more.  The types of community services that interested me are feeding the hungry, help fix houses, build different buildings. Make sure people that need help is help by someone.  I feel that helping people is a God giving talent. I feel that god has to be in the people hearts that want to help others in need. My particular community service I would do is feed the homeless and help build a homeless shelter.  The project would be called Help Others in Need. I would produce hot meals for people that are hungry around that area and more.  I would target the most needed place that have homeless people in need of shelter and food.

 

4) Xavier and Me

I’m proud to say that I’am part of the Wilson’s Community first, I’m currently in the Xavierite Community, my home town community New Orleans, and other communities. I’m also part of the Biomedical Scholar Community, Premed/Biology community, and  St. Katharine Drexel Dorm Community. I love the communites that I’m currently in at the moment. These communties are the greatest in my life right now.

  These are some communities that I would like to join. The Pom Pom Squad, Volleyball Team, Biology Club, Pear Dean, and also a sorority.  To join the communities I listed above. I would have to try out for most of the positionsto join their communities. Like for insists Pom Pom Squad I would have to try out for two days straight to be on the team and in their community.

  The reason I would love to join those communities they are very active and exciting.  I would feel like I fit into something I would love to do for college extra activities.  The guidelines of these communities stay focus, practice, make sure you do your school work. That’s the most important part in your life and why you are at Xavier and at college.

  I feel like if I’m going to be a part of these communities that it would be so important to me to join these clubs and communties in my college career.  Most of all being a Xavierite is the best communtiy of all besides my Wilson community my family.  Communties can be the best things in your life if you let it.

Sincerly,  Sarah Wilson

 

 

5) Elections/Voting

I’m glad be a U.S citizen, that I’am going to be a part of history in the making. A african american running for president also the first Democratic black candidate. Even being part of a women alson running for president named Hillary Clinton. For the Democratic Party.

In this election the economic and war is an big issue. I feel that the economic system should get better over the years. That they should keep social benfits, student loans, are any type of benificial help for the us. Citizens that need the help from the goverment. I feel that the war should be ceased and they should bring the soldiers back home with their family. I think it has no point being there if they don’t want help from us.

Yes I considered of listening to both side and I have but I stick to my choice Obama. I like most of Obama views and electoral choices if he become president. But Mccain sticks to his old and have to rule ways. He wants to cut alot things for the poor so his rich can get more. In the economy if he become president.

I feel that this election is important to everyone in Xavier, New Orleans, the United States of America we are going to be part of the 2008 election and history. Obama is a person that goes around and interact with the people of the united states of america voters and talk to them. I’am very sure that he tries to understand were we coming from  to be a better president of this election. This election would be talk about for years to come for a long time.

 

6)  Responsibilities

As a student my responsibilities is to do good in school. To have a great point average so I can get into a awesome medical school in the future. I always had a responsibility. I had to keep my grades up since I can remember. To succeed in life you have to work hard and study for what you in life. Nothing is free or easy.

I feel like college is a challenge to me. I have to study more than I would regularly in my life. College is no joke it’s the real deal. I want my grades to improve more then what it is now. It’s not bad but it can be better than that. I see myself improving by studying more and going to tutoring sessions if I need them in the future.  Life is not easy college is definitely not easy. So college is not easy either.

I have to take my time to do my work and sit down and try to understand what I don’t know about the subject. I would ask my teachers more questions in class if needed help.

I would have to change my whole routine in my life to succeed in school. I would have more time to study then of doing nothing. I would study with other students. Everyone needs help in their life in college especially. I would be more focus on my work then anything else on my mind. I would succeed to get into medical school in the future and I will have a good grade point average before I graduate.

 

7) Week:9 Studying

 I study in a quiet place in the library to concentrate on my subjects to get a good grade. I study all of my subjects. The subject I like to study is Biology Lecture notes the most, because he give us certain notes and material to study. To prepare ourselves for the upcoming test and modules. For me to improve in all of my subjects. I can start to study more and harder to understand the material. I can start to go to tutoring for all of my subjects. Even if I don’t have truoble in them.

I study everyday between my breaks for my classes. Also after my classes I study again. Even though I don’t have test or homework in some of my classes. I still study for it. to refresh my memory of the material. My study schedule is very reasonable. I also study on the weekends to keep my mind refresh and working. On monday I study between nine am-eleven am and in the afternoon. Tuesday I study after my classes that’s at tweleve pm. Wednesday I study at eleven am and then after my last class for that day around five pm. Thursday I study between nine am until tweleve pm and after school. On friday i study before eleven am and afetr school too. It keeps me focus on my work more. I study in a group so we can test each other about our material we are going over. To me studying with others helps me to understand it little bit more.

 

8) Week 10: Classes

My favorite classes are my Tuesday and Thursday classes. At 8:00 am- 11:40 am on Tuesday. On Thursday 8:00am and 1:15 pm.  This class is fun to me. I get to participate in the class. Also talk to my neighbors about the class discussion. I get to focus on all my classes that I don’t have that day. Also the classes I do have on that day. I have time to take naps in between and I don’t have to rush to doing my work. I have more to do the assignments. My Least favorite class is a none credit course. I take that class for nothing to me. It’s a waste of time and energy to do that work for that class. I feel that it’s really a waste of my time to got to that class and do the material for that class. This class is very boring to me. I have no kind of fun at all.  I would had made the class credit hour course. Made more interesting ,andfun to learn and interact with to do the material in class. So the students try to at least come to class. Participate and do what they have to do to pass the course. I would try to look on the bright side of things and do what I have to do in that class to pass. I feel that if I was interested in the class more I would have a better attitude about the material and class. Then I would focus on the materials like I suppose too.

 

9) Week:11 Majors and Careers

 My major I started with Xavier is Premed/Biology. That’s the only major I will be doing at this school. The reason why I wanted to major in premed/Biology because I love to help people with they are hurt or in need. This has been my passion since I was eight years of age.  I always wanted to help people in that type of way.  I will never change my major because this is my field I wanted to succeed in to do to help people that are injury or hurt. Also watching different television shows had me convenience to really join that field. I love the rush to help people that are seriously hurt and need of help in their condition. The shows are: Er, House, Discovery Health channel, and etc. This list of shows can go on and on.  

I see myself in the (ER) Emergency Room help people in need like if someone come with a broken ankle I would help to put and cast on his ankle and give him crutches. Another one can be a person just got stab in the stomach and I would had to see how much blood the person had lost also how I would stich his wound. To me I will feel complete because I wanted this career since  I was a child I always believe I will do it. I just feel accomplished and Happy with my life because I achieve my goal and that’s all that matters.

 

10) Week:12 Stuff

The only thing that happened that was good was that I just got hired at Cafe Du Monde.  This going to be my first job ever. I never work before so this should be interesting. Besides that I went to the Cricket club it was my first time for a club action. never did that in my life either. I’m a quiet clam type of person so you won’t see me do that often. Also freshmen orientationwas kind of fun. My group soul gold had fun so did I. my great experience in school is that I’ am attending college for the first time. Away from my mom for the first time. On my own for the first time. It’s alot that has change in my life but it’s for the good. Becausenow I’m and adult I have to do things for myself. Life can be hard at times but you have to stick through it and try to do your best at it. So far life in college is totally different from high school. But overall I’m glad that I’m not in Hugh School and in college. So I can achieve my dream of becoming A ER(Emergency Room) Doctor. I’m glad that I’m in college so I can do what I always wanted to do since little child. After I graduated from Xavier University I will be attending medical school and proceed as a doctor.

 

11) Week 15: Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a day that my family be thankful for all the things that God had done for us that year.  This year I had to work on Thanksgiving Day and last year I didn’t have to because I didn’t have a job. Also I was in Georgia with my mom and family. This year I was with my boyfriend family and my sisters for thanksgiving. I didn’t get to go to Georgia like I plan to see my mom but for christmas I will see my mom.  Even though I didn’t get to go back by my mom I was good to be in newOrleans where I was born and raise. I really needed that break for school. I needed to catch on rest and work to prepare for next semester. Also I didn’t forget to study over the hoilday. My sisters they never treated different because I stay in the dorm they kind of miss me not being there wuth them. I was glad to come back to school so I can see my friends and finish the semester out. To start fresh and new next semester.  The time off from school I had a good bit of fun I enjoy the time for myself. Even though I study when I can. I didn’t have to go to class and sit there and learn about somthing I was free for five days that’s all what I needed. I got my hair done during the brreak I really needed that done. Also I got to hang out with my family and my boyfriend over the break I was enjoying the time I had that wasn’t occupied. I was enjoying my free time until school start again on the following monday. Overall I had a wonderful break and i wouldn’t change for the world.

 

 My semster so far has been a great expirence I will always remeber my first semester in college.  I will tell my children, grandchildren so on so forth. I will share it will everyone I know. This was a once a life time chance in my life I will alwys rember my freshmen year.

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~ Thanksgiving

Posted by Latasha Smith on December 4, 2008

Thanksgiving mean to me is a lot family and friends coming together from a long year thankful for family friends that care an always there for you. This year was different than last because last year I was home the whole time and everybody was home but this year I went off to college an mostly everybody did to and now since I am the only person that so far away from and everything couldn’t wait to see me because they hear an saw pictures of me but they wanted to see it there self how college change me and what I look like how. I did go home to Milwaukee, Wisconsin is when I got off the plane is so cold and when I look in the window I seen snow on the ground I miss that. When my mama an uncle Dewayne can an got me from the airport I felt like I was home the air was more fresh to me and I seen people I known for ever I was so happy to be home an my mama an uncle was happy to see me. It was distraction from school so near the end because going home for the holiday I never pick up a book or study because before I left New Orleans I told my self this was going be a short vacation because finale was right around the corner and I started missing my family an friends I never been this long away from them and I need to get my mind back home track because Xavier making stuff hard an mad an I know it was time to go home but now am back I feel so much better now I did a lot of crying while I was home because I lost my grandmother in 2000 and my life been crazy after that but I have to keep telling my self I can do it and she is still with me in spirit and everyday she watch me. My family would treat me the same because I don’t live with them any more but I kind of do because anytime I had came home from college I go to my mama house but I have a lot of house that I could stay at that’s just how my family are. To be honest with you I had so much fun with my family and friends in Milwaukee I truly didn’t wanted to come back to school but I known I had to because finale was here but I will be back home Saturday for Christmas break. I a lot amazing happen while I was home my friends change into better people my God sister know how to drive and I let her drive me around the city an I seen some of my high school friends that’s in college and it was really good to see them because I haven’t then since graduations an my last day in Milwaukee before I went off to college Aug 15 an also my favorite member was in town and me an him mostly see each other for Christmas but me an him went to the mall an shop and talk about school an he ask about college.

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Thanksgiving

Posted by Corneisha McCorkle on December 4, 2008

I live just outside the city, approximately twenty minutes away. I also work across the river on weekends and Mondays. For the longest I didn’t have my own means of transportation to and from work, because I stay on campus. So I spent the majority of my weekends at home this semester. When I finally got my own car Thanksgiving was right around the corner so I wasn’t to excited to go home. Thanksgiving wasn’t really a break since we have finals right when we come back to school. Despite that I didn’t to much studying over the break. Not surprisingly I’m paying for that now. I have been staying up late and pushing my body to keep up with my mind in spite of my lack of sleep. Compared to last year this Thanksgiving was different from last year. I wasn’t working last Thanksgiving so I had more time to spend with my family and friends. I also didn’t have such a heavy work load to work through last year. I find that when I do go home I’m not as productive as I am when I’m at the dorm. So the fact that I got absolutely nothing done over the break isn’t a huge surprise to me. Because we’re in the holiday season I worked extremely long hours at my job so when I went home I ate whatever I could find and went to sleep. I would wake up the next morning and repeat the process. I’m a little sad to say that I don’t enjoy going home like I did before. I miss my mother, but that’s about it. I would rather stay at the dorm any day. Christmas break is fast approaching so it looks like I won’t have much choice.

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Thanksgiving

Posted by Hai Tran on December 4, 2008

For me, this year’s Thanksgiving was the same as last year. I live at home so there is nothing new on how my parents treat me, but we are not that big on Thanksgiving after my brother left the states for school two years ago. We did not have turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, or any of those delectable foods that we SHOULD be eating on Thanksgiving Day, but I did have spaghetti and meatballs so I was not too upset. Although I’m used to having a feast before my brother left, I was perfectly fine with a quiet day sitting in front of the television screen mindlessly watching the football games. I had a lot of fun over my break, but I had to do even more work than I had fun. I had a ten page research paper due for English, I had a Biology Lab final that Monday and a World History test also, and a week packed full of quizzes and final projects due for my classes before finals. I DREADED coming back to school, but now halfway through the week I think I will be able to survive. Over the break though, I went fishing Wednesday night, which was very cold, but we caught a load of fish in a short period of time so it was a successful evening. I watched television and did my homework all Thursday and Friday evening I fell ill from food poisoning. I believe it was from the spaghetti or Wing Zone I ate for lunch, but I could always be wrong. The rest of the weekend I spent recovering and doing more homework, not leaving the house at all. In the end, I spent more time on working than I did enjoying, but in the end I will enjoy my upcoming Christmas break.

-Hai Tran

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Thanksgiving 08

Posted by Courtney smith on December 4, 2008

This thanksgiving was one of many changes for me. This year I made the transition from high school to college. For the first time in my life I had to travel to another place just to spend time with my family. I went home and got to reconnect with my family and some friends who I had not seen in a few months. There were no really memorable events that happen to me. I hung out with my lil cousins for a few during thanksgiving. They are two and three years old. Thanksgiving dinner was filled various foods. There’s was tons of food left over to enjoy. I was supposed to come back to school on friday to attend the bayou classic , but I changed my mind. I felt that spending time with my family was so much more important. I had a lot of fun with my family and it reminded me of why I miss home so much. It also reminded of the reasons why i left to go to school elsewhere. I was anxious to come back and finish up the last few weeks of school. I miss my family terribly when Im away but I know im here to better myself. This year im thankful for so much. I survived a car accident that could have ended my life. I graduated from high school and I began my journey here at xavier.  I have met some really cool people here and experienced some really awesome things. I hope that I shall continue to have many things to be thankful for.

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Jasmine Grant:Thanksgiving

Posted by Jasmine Grant on December 3, 2008

My thanksgiving was pretty good. I really have no complaints about it even though I did not get to spend it with my actualy family. I play basketball and we had a game on Thanksgiving day so some of us did not get a chance to go home. I spent Thanksgiving with my second family, some of my teammates and my coach and his family. My mom came down from Shreveport so that I did not have to spend my thanksgiving without at least some of my family. I was happy that my mommy came down. The only thing that I did not like about my Thanksgiving was that my this was around the same time that my daddy left to go overseas to the war in Iraq. It was the last time I would see him for a year. Im used to talking to my parents each and everyday. Him being all the way over there I will be unable to do that. That was the one thing I didn not like about my Thanksgiving. Our women’s basketball team hosted a Thanksgiving Classic. The classic included Dillard University,Langston University,Wiley College, and us, Xavier University. We played on Thanksgiving against Langston University and this was considered a big game. We had just came off the road in a tournament in Tennessee. The team that we lost to Langston beat so this was considered a big game. We practiced extremly hard because we knew we had a big game ahead of us. We won and it was a big game for us to win. Our coach was proud so that meant a lot.

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This Thanksgiving-Gobble Gobble!!!

Posted by Kristin Williams on December 3, 2008

Thanksgiving this year was not like normal. By it being my first semester in college everything was chaos and hectic for me this last week. I felt more overwhelmed and force to do work where as high school I know that I could always do it later and be done. Now in college that’s a different story. I have so much to do that it’s starting to catch up with me. When I finally get one assignment done another one pop us. A lot of my family members didn’t get together like we normally do. We did have guest in town that stayed with us for the weekend though. My dad’s best friend, his wife and two children came to New Orleans from Atlanta to see how everything was going and visit some family members. They stayed by us and enjoyed themselves.  My parents knew how much work I had to do, but still encouraged me to have fun and keep our guest company like I’m supposed to. So two days of my week vacation was dedicated to going out where ever my parents took them and enjoy myself. This was actually my break of the week. We drove them to Bogalusa a small town in northern Louisiana, the French quarter to have our famous beignets, and any possible place they wanted to go. My mom and I cooked several of our normal dishes but with a healthier approach than previous years. I didn’t eat a lot of turkey and pies, because I’m not too much of a pie or turkey person. This break was really a major test for many, because school is near the end so it is a shock when this week goes by so fast. My family didn’t treat me any different because I have been staying with them this whole semester. They really were worried about me focusing on my work instead of enjoying the break that I had with them like I usually did in the past. I can say that I was kind of sad to come back to school not that I didn’t want to see everyone, it is just that I wish there was more time for me to get what I wanted to do done. That way I could’ve enjoyed my week and would have been excited about coming back to school and telling everyone how great thanksgiving was. This thanksgiving for me was surreal and like I just floated by day by day. WE ARE ALMOST DONE! YEAH! ~Krissy~

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Week 15: Thanksgiving

Posted by Sarah Wilson on December 3, 2008

  Thanksgiving is a day that my family be thankful for all the things that God had done for us that year.  This year I had to work on Thanksgiving Day and last year I didn’t have to because I didn’t have a job. Also I was in Georgia with my mom and family. This year I was with my boyfriend family and my sisters for thanksgiving. I didn’t get to go to Georgia like I plan to see my mom but for christmas I will see my mom.  Even though I didn’t get to go back by my mom I was good to be in newOrleans where I was born and raise. I really needed that break for school. I needed to catch on rest and work to prepare for next semester. Also I didn’t forget to study over the hoilday. My sisters they never treated different because I stay in the dorm they kind of miss me not being there wuth them. I was glad to come back to school so I can see my friends and finish the semester out. To start fresh and new next semester.  The time off from school I had a good bit of fun I enjoy the time for myself. Even though I study when I can. I didn’t have to go to class and sit there and learn about somthing I was free for five days that’s all what I needed. I got my hair done during the brreak I really needed that done. Also I got to hang out with my family and my boyfriend over the break I was enjoying the time I had that wasn’t occupied. I was enjoying my free time until school start again on the following monday. Overall I had a wonderful break and i wouldn’t change for the world.

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Thanksgiving

Posted by Angelica Wilson on December 3, 2008

Thanksgiving this year was okay.  I got to spend time with my family and friends which was great.  No one treated me different because I see them just about everyday.  As for the break I really enjoyed it because I got to sleep in late.  But the whole time I went to work.  It was something for me to do, to earn money rather than spending it like everyone else that week.  Even though we have a lot of fun activities that week I still didnt do anything, catching up on sleep was all I needed.  And as for homework or studying I didnt do any of that either.  I thought about doing it, but I said to myself that Iam on my break and Iam going to enjoy myself.  Now, when I look back on it, I regret saying it because this week id the last week od school and all the professors are craming last minute work on us.  But thats okay Iam just ready for this semester to be over so I can look forward for the next one-but not too soon.  As for thanksgiving dinner I just watched while my mom and aunts cooked.  I didnt help because they like things a certain way, so I just continued to watch.  On Thanksgiving day I went to church, which was good, and afterward to walmart to pick up last minute things.  After that I went home, changed clothes, ate, and watched television.  A little later, I went with my cousin by her relatives, whom she never met.  It was weird but we all had a good time.  Then I went back home ate some more, and for the rest of th eday we all sat around watching t.v. and playing dominoes. And now that we returned to school, I really dreaded coming back because now its time for finals.

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Thanksgiving

Posted by Hung Le on December 3, 2008

The true meaning of thanksgiving is coming together as family and celebrating with a feast. Personally I believe that thanksgiving brings family closer together because it’s the only holiday where the more people you have the more comforting it feels. This years thanksgiving was somewhat disappointing because I didn’t get the opportunity to have thanksgiving with my extended family. All my relative stay in Florida and I was stranded at school. I thought It would be better to come back on Christmas, being that I have a month off instead of just a few days. I made the best of my situation, I drove to Lafayette to have thanksgiving with my sister and a few other friends. To say the lease it came out to be wonderful, I did majority of the cooking because I nobody else wanted to. The food came out a lot better than I imaged. The turkey came extra juicy because I based it repeatedly. I had a blast I just enjoyed the comfort of just simply relaxing on holidays. To be completely honest I was very distracted from doing any type of work let alone school work. I knew finals where slowly approaching but I suppress my obligations and enjoyed my thanksgiving. I definitely dreaded going back to school because I had mounds of assignments due. I have to say I had a great time the food was great, I had fun watching football, and most importantly I got to sleep until my heart my content.

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**ThAnKsGiViNg**

Posted by Jacinda Whitley on December 3, 2008

This year was the Thanksgiving I think I have ever had because it was a long awaited, much needed break from school. I had a long semester and I was ready to go home and NOT eat cafeteria food. I took the first flight out of New Orleans to Houston Monday night. When I arrived in Houston I was able to catch up with some old friends. We all hung out for a day or two until Wednesday evening when I headed to my grandmothers house in Lake Charles Louisiana for Thanksgiving.  My grandmother cooked enough food for the whole city! I tried not to eat too much but that didn’t go well at all. We went to the Black Friday sell at 4:00 a.m. in the morning as well. We bought lots of gifts on sell. We also ended up visiting my other grandmother in east Texas where we were able to bond with cousins I haven’t seen since the summer. Though I told myself I would try to study this break that didn’t go to well either. I came back to test in which I passed by the grace of God because I didn’t study well enough for it over the break. Overall I ended up having a wonderful time with my family and friends. My mom was also really happy to see me. We almost went shopping everyday! My brothers and dad gave me a hard time as usual. They always want to know what boy I’m talking to or who I’m dating so they can give them the third degree. I hadn’t seen them in so long I kind of missed that. With that being said, I can’t wait til Christmas.:-)

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thanksgiving.

Posted by Melinda Williams on December 3, 2008

This Thanksgiving was different in comparison to last year because last year during my Thanksgiving break my life consisted of basketball games and basketball practice. Last year my basketball team was enrolled in a tournament at the Alario Center on the West-bank and the Wednesday before Thanksgiving we had a game. So, when my mom picked me up last year we had to rush to Wal Mart because she had not gotten anything to prepare for the Thanksgiving meal. Surprisingly enough, she found most of the things we needed and the Thanksgiving dinner went about like normal despite the last minute shopping. During this break, my old team was enrolled in the same tournament. So, on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving I went to a game to see my old team and it made me miss playing ball. I missed it so much, on Wednesday morning and the Saturday morning after Thanksgiving, I decided to attend the team’s basketball practice. That was something I really enjoyed because, I was not the only one who attended the practice. My former teammates, who attend Dillard and Southeastern, also came so it was a mini reunion.

Being home for Thanksgiving was somewhat of a distraction because I knew I had a lot of work to do but I did not do it. Instead, I caught up with old friends and when Monday came for me to return to school I was dreading it. Honestly, Thanksgiving break was a tease. It made me want to hurry up and get finals over so I can have my month long Christmas break. I had so much fun and I know that I will have even more fun for Christmas.

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Thanksgiving

Posted by Faith Hicks on December 3, 2008

 

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THNKXGVNG

Posted by Haroon Waseem on December 2, 2008

it was pretty fun this year. Myy mom and sister came all te way from cali to celebrate it with us over here. So it was pretty fun. Me and my cousins played taboo and our team won. Well that was no surprise. We always win. Then all of us played LIFE and that was SO MUCH FUN! i won that game as usual. And then rubbed my awesome beach house and 5 kids in their faces. I was happy. I had 5 kids! pure awesome.  Anyways, i also took my sister sight seeing in Mississippi. That was fun, she took alot of pictures, got kind of annoying after a while but it was still fun. My mo malso bought me a new pair of jeans from GUESS. That was fun. They were only 30 bucks too! so i also bought a new hoodie jacket, which was slightly more than that. Compared to last year, this year i had more fun, there were more people and more places to go see and have fun. Now i think that thanksgiving should not have come so close to the end of school year. I did not do any amount of work on thanksgiving and now have to do hte evaluation sheet for this class nad portfolio stuff for english as well. SUCKS. To top it off, i also have biology lab finals. BLEH! I live with my dad so it was fun seeing other people in the house. I also did not have to open the store in the morning so that was a relief. But i planned dto sleep in the mornings and that plan was ruined becasue my mom and sister were here so i had to get up early to take them places. But i had fun doing that so it wasnot that big of a deal until yesterday when i realized that i passed out at 5 at home only to wake up at 9 and realizing that i still have to finish my english essay. Thanksgiving was fun but the aftereffects of what happened that week were dire.

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