Starting off with a Bang!

When bands come out with a second album, they often have to watch out for the “sophomore slump.” Fortunately, that same logic doesn’t apply for my college experience! My freshman year was so much fun that I thought it would be impossible to top, but, as usual, I was wrong. I’m more than halfway through the fall semester of my sophomore year, and I’ve never been happier.
I have felt more joy in the past few months than I have in my other nineteen years of existence. Yes, there are classes to go to and homework to do. Yes, Michigan football isn’t looking so fantastic. And yes, I know that the arctic-like Michigan winter is fast approaching. But I am feeling so great this year, I don’t think those little things can shake me.
So why all the smiles? One of the reasons is that sophomore year has given me more opportunities to take classes that I love. I just declared a Psychology concentration with a minor in Urban and Community Studies, which will hopefully prepare me for the School of Social Work in a few years. Instead of just fulfilling LS&A requirements, now I can take classes that I find truly fascinating, like Developmental Psych, Social Psych, and Intergroup Dialogues. Trust me – it’s a lot easier to roll out of bed and trudge to class when it’s a subject you love!
Also, I’m a Dance Marathon dancer captain this year! Last year I was a dancer, and it was one of my best college experiences. This year, I decided to take the next step, so now my awesome co-captain Rachel and I are leading a team of dancers. I can’t wait to raise money for our family and get to know them better. A few Sundays ago, UMDM had a Pumpkin Carving event and we got to meet our family, and our kid, Christopher. They are so much fun, and we’re planning on going to one of his indoor soccer games, which will be great.
Those things have been fantastic, but the greatest influence on my life this year, by far, has been New Life Church. I just moved to South Quad from Couzens Hall this year, and was feeling a little lonely and isolated from people I had met last year, so this has just been such a blessing. I’ve met so many fabulous people, and I have never felt more loved in my whole life. Even when the world is crazy around me (final exams, drama among friends, etc.), I have found somewhere and something that can give me peace always. It has been so refreshing, and nothing has ever brought me so much joy!
So basically, my sophomore year is awesome so far! I’m just hoping that it stays this great, but I have a feeling that (for the most part!) it will.

And the Winner is...

As if my opinion actually mattered, I’ve decided to give out my own little “Best of Ann Arbor” awards. I’ve been here at the University of Michigan for almost a whole year, and I’ve seen and done so much! Just thought I’d pass down a little bit of my knowledge…
Best Dorm Food: Bursley’s Cafeteria. I don’t live on North Campus, but if I did, Bursley would be my savior! It’s big, spacious, open all day long, and has great food. What could be better?
Best On-Campus Food: Beanster’s (at the League) or The Blue Apple (in Bursley). Don’t get me wrong, there’s usually nothing wrong with cafeteria food, but every once in a while you need a break. Both of these places are amazing because the food is fresh and not greasy, and the sandwiches are FABULOUS. Even better, they accept Entrée Plus, so you don’t need any real money. A piece of advice- I highly recommended the California from Beanster’s. Try it and you will know!
Best Coffee Shop: Espresso Royale Café. Whether for studying, catching up with friends, or just a cup o’ joe, ERC is my favorite place to go after class. There is always a hustle and bustle and fun music playing in the background, so you can go there to study, but also have fun. It’s a great break from the deafening silence at some of the libraries. But if the study environment isn’t what you look for in a coffee shop, it also has a lot of big comfy chairs to chill out in so you can spend hours talking to your friends there.
Best Clothes: Urban Outfitters. OK, so it isn’t very original, but there aren’t too many clothes stores to choose from within walking distance of campus! But the clothes are cute and unique, and there are always plenty of little knick-knacks to play with and books to read when you don’t have enough money to buy anything.
Best Little Place You’d Never Find: Getup, this teeny tiny vintage store I found wandering one day, the kind of store that you’d never notice until you already knew it was there. You have to go up these sketchy-looking stairs to get there, but the shop is really cute and whimsical once you’re inside. Everything there is one-of-a-kind and reasonably priced as well. Cheap + Fun = Awesome!
Best Study Spot: The Dude! That is, the Duderstadt Library on North Campus. I have to take a bus to get there but it is SO worth it. It’s so much easier to focus when you aren’t on Central, and Pierpont Commons, which is attached to the Dude, has a lot of food for when you need that 2 am study break.
Best Place to Relax: Relaxing? What’s that?!? Well, with finals coming up, there isn’t much downtime, so you’ll have to discover this one on your own!
Of course, this list is all just my opinion. Ann Arbor has so much to offer! There are hundreds of delicious restaurants, tons of great places to grab some coffee, and an almost never-ending number of study spots. When you come to the University of Michigan, explore and experience everything. You never know what you’ll find!

My Best 30 Hours

Last weekend was probably the best 30 hours of my life. No joke.
So in my past blogs, I’ve been writing a bit about the Dance Marathon, but during the past few weeks, it has been hitting us full force. Weekly meetings, dance choreography, writing more letters – and then it all culminated at the 30-hour-long Dance Marathon.
UMDM raises money for pediatric rehabilitation all year long, and it ends the year with the Dance Marathon, when dancers stand for 30 hours straight. The day before it started, I was terrified. I kept asking why I was going to torture myself like this. Going without sleep for thirty hours is one thing, but standing for that long? Ridiculous, right?
I walked into the Indoor Track and Field Building at 10 o’clock Saturday morning with butterflies in my stomach. But I was immediately overwhelmed by how much there was to do. Crafts, games, great performers and speakers (Mike Hart, anyone?), a late-night rave, lip syncing competitions, and of course, the infamous line dance, that we would learn step-by-step for the next day until it was over 10 minutes long. I thought that I couldn’t last, but encouraging words from my friends, teammates, and morale captain made the time fly by. By the morning, my feet were sore, my back needed a serious massage, and I could barely keep my eyes open, but words can’t describe how great the experience was. Not only did I get to bond with a great group of amazing people (Team OO!) and raise money for children (Over $450,000, thankyouverymuch), but the Dance Marathon showed me how much this organization actually helps. After 29 and a half hours of standing, a boy came up to the stage and played Five For Fighting’s “Superman” on the xylophone. Tears were streaming down my face while I thought of what a hard time kids like him have every day, and I felt so privileged to be part of a group that would help give him a better life.
At 4 o’clock Sunday, tired and practically delirious, all of the dancers collapsed onto the floor and made their way home. Before an hour had passed, I was dead asleep in my bed, not moving until late the next morning, but the weekend was definitely worth it. The Dance Marathon was the highlight of my year, and I can’t wait to do it again.
Exhausting? Yes. Draining? Oh, yeah. Emotional? Of course. But how rewarding was it? Beyond words.