Kevin

Is it really already the end of April? I can’t believe how fast my first year of college is going by. It’s nights like these that I love to just look back and reminisce on what has been a school year full of wonderful memories. I came to college a week early, spending the time immersing myself in service and learning about leadership in the First CLAS program. School started, and not too long after I was hired as a Student Ambassador for the Office of Admission. I tried out for baseball, and eventually found myself hanging up my spikes for the last time. I was an assistant site leader for Taste of Service. I was the captain for an Intramural Volleyball team. I’ve been skiing at Mount Hood. I’ve been mentoring at McMinnville High School. I have worked with KSLC, Linfield’s Student-run radio station, as a member of the Sports Broadcast Team. I found out recently that I’ll be staying at Linfield over the summer conducting research for the Chemistry Department. Did I forget anything? O yea I’ve been going to class too! Duh!! This past school year has been the most exhilarating thing I could ever imagine. It’s been busy most of the time, stressful for parts, but I have honestly enjoyed each and every minute of my time here at Linfield thus far. Things may not have gone exactly how I imagined every step of the way, but I have truly found that Linfield College is a place with a number of doors open to each and every one of its students. I have been lucky enough to take the time to walk through and explore some of them, and I’m excited to see what the future has in store. It is without an inkling of doubt that I can say that there is no better place for me than here, in the heart of the Willamette Valley, in McMinnville, Oregon, at Linfield College. If you’re at all curious as to what I’m talking about, come and check it out for yourself. I’d be happy to show you why Linfield is the place to be!

Hope to see you on campus,

Kevin

As I erased the majority of my white-board calendar last night to start putting things up for April, I realized just how busy March has been. I thought after everything that went on in February, March would be a piece of cake. I find myself sitting here yet again, wondering where all the time has gone. It has gone to classes, work, fun and games, and good times with friends. March has been utter Madness, but I never said that was a bad thing. Right now I’m two days away from Spring Break, and it will be Madness right up to the finish. I have my History of Ancient Rome Midterm this morning, Physics Discussion and Chemistry Lab this afternoon, and work this evening. Tomorrow I’m going non-stop from 8am to 4pm with various obligations. Sometime in there I have to do laundry and pack to head home! But I can honestly say that I have been enjoying the Madness here at Linfield College, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

It has been an interesting March thus far in terms of weather. We’ve seen rain, snow, and sun, and even all on the same day. Take this morning for example. I woke up to a light dusting of snow on the ground with huge flakes slowly coming down. As soon as the sun came up the snow turned to rain, but by the time I was done with my first class (at 9:00 am this morning), everything was melted and the rain had stopped. Now I’m sitting here looking out my window at bright blue skies, green grass, with the sun shining everywhere. It’s a balmy 48 degrees, but with all of the sunshine a light jacket will suffice. I was told when I came to Linfield that it rains a lot in Oregon, but it doesn’t rain every day. I took that to heart, and I’ve seen exactly what they meant. Obviously we are in the Pacific Northwest, so rain is inevitable, but I think many people don’t give enough credit to the days that it doesn’t rain, or only rains for an insignificant part of the day (like when you’re sitting in class). Right now my afternoon is looking to be quite beautiful, and for the fourth day in a row I know I will be outside enjoying this weather, either going for a run or tossing around a football or frisbee. The day before these four straight I had to work all afternoon, so I was stuck inside looking at the sun. Mother Nature must not have gotten the memo that it’s supposed to rain all the time up here in Oregon. Instead she has decided to rain a bit in the morning and clear up as the afternoon progresses, making for some gorgeous days. My sunglasses are sitting out on my desk, and they have definitely been getting some use. So to those high school seniors out there that are considering Linfield as a possible school to attend in the fall, as someone from out of state, I have been pleasantly surprised by the weather. It’s all about your frame of mind, and if when you see our campus on a sunny day, you’ll know exactly what I mean.

That’s all for now,

Kevin

It is February 24th, meaning the first month of the spring semester is almost over, and I am left to wonder: Where did all of the time go? Why it seems just yesterday it was Superbowl Sunday and I was flying back to Linfield to start the spring semester. Now we’re a month in, and a month away from spring break. Time has literally flown, and I’m starting to realize where it went.

The last month has been filled with constant activity. My four classes have accounted for the majority of the time. I am taking a total of 17 credits, which is a pretty heavy course load. Since I am a freshman, I actually had to petition the Dean of Students to let me do so (the usual limit is 16). My four classes are Ordinary Differential Equations (Math 210), General Chemistry (Chem 211), Physics: Intro to Mechanics (Phys 211), and History of Ancient Rome (History 230). As a double major in Chemisty and Math, three of these classes are right up my alley in that they are completely centered on topics I am both familiar with and good at. However I have probably enjoyed my History class just as much, if not more, than the science and math. I have come to learn that Roman history and culture is completely fascinating, so I’m glad I took the class. I am taking it to fulfill my Vital Past requirement as a part of the Linfield Curriculum. The school has these LC requirements to force students to broaden their horizons and learn about topics outside of their comfort zone. I am doing just that, and enjoying it at the same time. While it won’t be enough to convince me to change my major or even take any more history classes, I am glad I was required to take at least one.  

Outside of the classroom things have been just as busy. The RISE Mentorship Program is getting started over at McMinnville High School, so I will be spending an hour a week working with high schoolers who, for whatever circumstances, wouldn’t normally think about college, and I’m trying to help them aspire to go to college. Also, I have become much more involved with KSLC, our student-run radio here at Linfield. I am an analyst for our Sports Broadcast team, which is a great job for me since I have had experience playing just about every sport there is. I did my first live broadcast with another student, Max Milander, for the last basketball game of the season, and things will get even more busy now that baseball season has started.  Intramural sports have started again, and while I’m not playing basketball, I’ve got a guaranteed starting shortstop position on one of my friends IM Softball teams.

Whew, that was a lot of information, and I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface. However, as it is Friday, I’m gonna get going now and enjoy my weekend. I hope everyone is doing well.

Til next time,

Kevin

Yesterday was the start of the Spring Semester here at Linfield and boy did I start it off right… not! I woke up late and had to rush to get to my first class on time. Once I got there, I realized that I didn’t have a pencil, so I had to be that guy and ask for one. And the day was just getting started. But while my day may have been a little rough around the edges, all I had to do was look outside to remember why I love it here at Linfield. The weather was BEAUTIFUL yesterday for the first day of spring. All I had to do was look out one of the huge windows in my class and realize that maybe things aren’t as bad as they seem, especially when you’re a student at Linfield College. I have two of my favorite professors this semester for what I think will be two fantastic classes. One of my other professors reminds me of a teacher that I had in high school that I really liked as well, so it’s shaping up to be a good semester thus far. And to cap it all off, this morning I woke up bright and early and had extra time to get to class early. I even had two (2) pencils. The underlying message here? It is really hard to have a bad day here at Linfield, because in just a blink of an eye you’ll find yourself smiling for some reason or another. It is just that great here, that’s the bottom line. If you don’t believe me, come visit and check it out for yourself. In closing, this Spring semester is starting off strong, and I know it’s gonna be a great one!

Til next time,

Kevin