Greetings from the Student Life department
by Lamar Roth, Vice President of Student Life
So much has happened since Opening Weekend such as Mod Olympics, basketball games, drama presentations, concerts, and chapels. Relationships have formed, papers have been written and tests have been given. A truckload of doughnuts from Druber's has been consumed and many late night discussions have taken place (that have ranged from “who is being asked on a pick-a-date” to “the Church’s role in bringing peace to the Middle East”). The “Hesston Experience” is in process on campus. It is a blessing for us to get to know your student and we treasure these times. Enjoy this newsletter and the experiences that students share, and we hope to see you at Thanksgiving!
Photos from two Pick-a-Dates--Erb Men's RAs and KC Men's RAs
Fun times at Hesston College
by Gavin Betzelberger, Campus Activities Board, Delavan, Ill.
The Campus Activities Board (CAB) has been very active this year. This group of students constantly looks for and plans new activities for their fellow classmates to enjoy. These planned events encompass a wide range of activities both on and off campus.
So far this year, CAB has organized activities ranging from renting the McPherson water park to the “Larks Couch” (a privileged seating area, complete with hot pizza and beverages at our home soccer games). All Hesston students were invited to go to three FREE movies at the Starlight Drive-In. We brought a magician, dunk tank, and more to campus for a backyard carnival during Homecoming Weekend. With the onset of fall, the students were invited to lose themselves in a Corn Maze. And recently we held a campus-wide BUNCO tournament with prizes and raffles.
We also planned some great activities for the holidays, including a costume ball
for Halloween and a variety of performances by musicians and comedians hosted right here on our campus.
Photos from Mod Olympics
Photos from Homecoming Festival
Life in an Erb Hall mod (3EC)
by Annie Stutzman, resident assistant, Lebanon, Ore.
I don’t even know where to begin! My mod has been so fun this year. We have such a neat group of girls. We are each so different and unique, yet we “click” so well. We have had so much fun together – from Mod Olymics to Druber’s Runs, and everything else we do. There is so much energy and excitement in our mod that there is always something fun happening.
Our mod was actually the mod volleyball champs of 2006! Go 3EC! We had so much fun with it. We all dressed alike, with long socks and headbands, and we drew “tattoos” on our arms. We would head to the gym each night all together, and we even had our own cheer. All of the girls really got into it. We have a lot of talented athletes in our mod, so it worked out great for us. That week really brought us close as a mod. We bonded and we all became pretty tight. That week was crucial to our mod, I think. Our brother mod was the champion boys mod, too. We decided to play them to see who the true winners were…and we definitely beat them! That was SO fun.
Our mod meetings are something to talk about. We have a lot of fun whenever we meet. There are great snacks, some real good chats, really helpful “TIPS,” and a little bit of serious business. I feel like we really get to know each other well during these times, and just get to catch up with everyone in the midst of their busy schedules.
Whatever we do, we have fun together. I’m excited about our plans for a “Pick-A-Date.” We have a few of the staff members involved in it, and lots of fun activities are being planned. It will be good to get together and have some fun!
No matter what we are doing – whether we are foolishly dancing around, or just sitting in a circle, snorting in each other’s faces and reading all kinds of good “tips” – we have a great time together. I feel really lucky to have the mod I do. They’re a group of wonderful girls (or as I like to call them, my “modlings”). There is never a dull moment in 3EC, and I love it!
Life in a K.C. mod (2B3)
by Craig Freyenberger, resident assistant, Kouts, Ind.
Hello! My name is Craig Freyenberger, and I am the R.A. of one of the mods here at Hesston College. I have in my mod six very enjoyable guys. At the start of this year I didn’t know what to expect from these guys. Among the seven of us, we represent five states (Kansas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Indiana, and Florida), as well as one international student from Hong Kong. But as the weeks went by, we grew closer because of the many activities we have done as a mod. One thing we all have in common is that we like sports – especially baseball. Four of the seven guys play on the baseball team here at Hesston College. We are all very competitive. We recently played in the mod dodgeball tournament with all the other male mods. Although we didn’t win, this really helped us to come together as a mod.
When a person enters this mod, the first thing they will notice is how quiet it is. Usually there is hardly any noise in the mod, except for a few times when some music is being played in the bathroom, or in one of the rooms. Also, you can usually see one of us in the lounge watching TV. But as you go through the mod, you will see that everyone’s door is open. In their rooms you may see them at their desk on the computer or doing homework. But regardless, the open door is just an inviting atmosphere for other students to come in and visit.
Because we are usually in our rooms, we do like to get off campus once in awhile. Luckily for us, the college has set up a great way to do this. It is call the “Mod Parent” program. Mod Parents each adopt a mod as their own kids and allow them to spend time at their house whenever they want to get off campus. Our Mod Parents are Matt and Andrea Unruh. We went there once as a mod to have dessert. It was a great time to get to know them and just to be in a home again. Also, we’ve gone to Druber's, which is a great donut shop in Newton, with our sister mod. This was another great chance to get away from the campus for awhile and spend some time together as a mod. This is just a start though, because there are many activities we will do together in the future. I look forward to the times we will have together the rest of the semester, as well as during the spring semester
A typical day in the life of a freshman
by Bethany Stauffer, Burlington, Iowa
You may wonder what a typical day at Hesston College is like for a freshman student, so here is a “normal” day for me. I wake up at about 8:15 a.m. and head down to breakfast (because the hot breakfast ends at 8:30). Then I take my shower and get ready for class. At 10 a.m. I have my Introduction to Literature class. From there, I head to chapel at 11 a.m. After chapel (which lasts until 11:30), I head back to my room and do some homework. Normally during this time I am finishing up the homework I didn’t do the night before. I usually go to lunch around 12:20 p.m. and meet some of my friends in the cafeteria to eat with them. After lunch, I head to the trainers and do strengthening exercises for my ankles so that I don’t twist them in basketball practice. I have a 2 p.m. Introduction to Math class and a 3 p.m. Faith and Discipleship class. When classes are over, that’s when my typical day is not so typical anymore.
I have basketball practice at either 4 or 6. If it’s at 6, I go back to my room and do some more homework. I eat before the 6 practice, or after the 4 practice. Then I take another shower because I’m all sweaty from practice. I do some more homework and try to get it all done so I can do something with my friends. There are several options to do at night. You can play games, watch a movie, take a walk, or go to Newell’s or Druber’s, depending on your mood. I normally am up until around 2 in the morning until all my homework and everything else is done. This is a “normal” Monday, Wednesday and Friday for me. On Tuesday’s and Thursday’s I have different classes, and more time for naps!
Adjusting when your child comes home
by Molly Simmering, campus counselor
Throughout their college years, students are asking questions that families may find uncomfortable. As hard as this may be for you, this is work your child must do. In Marjorie Savage’s book, You’re On Your Own (But I’m There if You Need Me), she highlights some of the questions we see our Hesston College students wrestle with. “Students are looking for the answers to the five W’s: Who?, Where?, What?, When? and Why?”
- Who am I?
- Where do I belong?
- What will I do with my life?
- When does it all begin?
- Why?
Students DO change as they gather facts and theories and try to integrate these lessons into their lives. Not all education comes from the classroom and students will begin to see their own experiences and their family’s values in new ways. “They are questioning themselves, testing new directions, doubting their abilities, and discovering impressive qualities in themselves,” says Savage.
Both you and your student will have your own expectations of how the vacation or break will go, and your ideas will conflict. The family is not like what he/she remembered and things may feel different. Whether it’s a new closeness between her and her younger brother, or perhaps a rearrangement of furniture in her room, things are different.
QUICK TIPS FOR THAT FIRST VISIT HOME
- Talk to your student about how much he expects to bring home. He might have saved up a month’s worth of laundry or is planning to bring home his stereo system.
- Since the days leading up to school vacations are usually hectic, don’t be surprised if your child sleeps more than seems normal. Dorm life and exams may exhaust her.
- Talk in advance about family obligations and how you will handle use of the car, curfews, and information sharing. Explain the reasoning behind your rules.
- Discuss your expectations regarding doing your child’s laundry, what daily household chores you want help with, and any family obligations or holiday plans. If you ask what plans your student is making, explain that you want to know so that you don’t make arrangements that will conflict with his schedule.
- Recognize that some of her disagreeable behaviors are not a rejection of you and your values, but they serve as a way for her to communicate her independence.
Ultimately, there will be a mixture of emotions for you and your child as she comes home for that first visit. Whenever possible, look for opportunities to point out the positive changes you see in your student and know that her questioning is a part of becoming an independent adult. Please know that she misses you more than she may tell you!
Blessings to you and your family over the holidays,
Molly
Highlights from fall break
photos and excerpts from the Bel Canto Singers fall break tour journal (by Bel members)
Oct. 14 – Got up extremely early and headed out for a nine hour bus trip to Hopedale, Ill. Once there, we had a really long rehearsal, followed by a really yummy dinner, and a pretty good concert. Met our host parents and headed off for a much-needed night of sleep!
Oct. 15 – On Sunday, the Lord’s Day, we arrived at Brad’s church bright and early. We traveled to East Bend Mennonite Church. After singing, they treated us to a wonderful potluck meal, complete with the pie of your choice. Yum! Later we traveled about five hours to Goshen, Ind., (to Karissa Miller’s home church--Siloam Fellowship). Had a concert that evening, then went to our host homes.
Oct. 16 – Finally able to “sleep in!” Sang for chapel at Bethany Christian High School. Shared the chapel time with admissions counselors from all the Mennonite colleges. Met with the Jubilate Singers (Bethany’s larger choir) and they asked us questions about what college and dorm life is like. Their small choir (Cornerstone Singers) sang for us, then the News Team sang “Coney Island Babe” (complete with choreography), which everyone loved! Had our evening concert at Kelsey Shue’s home church, Kidron (Ohio) Mennonite. Josh Dean’s mom and Kevin Eby’s family made the trek from Virginia to come surprise them!
Oct. 17 – We sang at Central Christian School in Kidron, Ohio, (the school Crystal Steiner and Kelsey Shue attended before coming to Hesston). Then we went to an amazing cheese store. Drove to West Liberty, Ohio, and gave a concert at Bethel Mennonite Church.
Oct. 18 – After breakfast in our host homes, we took off for home. It was a 14 hour bus ride! We played games, watched movies and slept on the way. Arrived safely in Hesston about 9 p.m., and there was much rejoicing.
A few highlights (and photos) from other students’ fall break trips:
- Six girls went camping in Missouri
- Soccer team trip to Colorado
- Visiting family at home
- Some took a friend with them when they went home
- Staying on campus (very peaceful & quiet!)
- Ten girls went to a student’s home in Texas
- Staying with a friend at a cabin in Colorado
- Visiting friends and touring the campus at Goshen College
- Three students went to Branson, Mo., to go “Geocaching.” It’s like a global scavenger hunt that you do with a GPS. They had fun, but got lost a LOT and did about 22 U-turns in three days! One night they couldn’t find a campground, so they stopped at a church and called the number on the sign to ask if they could set up a tent in the yard.