To the Virginia Tech Class of 2019.

You know those moments in life where you really feel like you’re making an impact on people? A moment when things that you do – and some of them might be totally normal, day-to-day things for you – gets some kind of recognition? Well, one of those definitely happened to me today.

Late last night, I got an inbox message from a Hokie friend of mine that works at VT. Justin M. showed me that the President of the university, Dr. Tim Sands, had written a letter to the incoming class of freshman: the class of 2019.

He told me that I had gotten a “shoutout” in his letter…and I was kind of confused. Why would Dr. Sands give me a shout out? Read more after the jump …

Hands on, Minds on.

With it being “orientation season” at VT, many people have been asking me questions…from current orientation leaders to rising freshman (“first-year”) students. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to partake in this wonderful video about a hike to the Cascades that my friends helped me do. I wanted to share the video here because, really, everytime I look back at that experience it gives me THAT feeling. That feeling of, “man, what amazing friends do I have?” Great people, they are. Check it out, and many of the other great projects that have been going on at the university in recent years.

https://vimeo.com/78097896

Home is where the heart is.

It was more than two years ago that, for the first time ever, a Facebook status made me tear up.

“As I drive out of Blacksburg tonight, I leave behind my one true love… Virginia Tech. Don’t worry sweetheart, I’ll be back again someday and I know you’ll always be waiting for me.”

My friend Matt D. posted that to his Facebook in May 2013. I immediately wrote it down on a little piece of paper and stuck it in an old VT folder; I wanted to be sure I remembered it, because I thought it was powerful. Last week, while searching for something for a former student of mine in some old folders from teaching, I found that little paper again, and the feelings and memories all came right back.

Read more after the jump …

Well, we made it back in 1 piece!

Here’s to a very successful Eta Alpha Alumni Weekend at Smith Mountain Lake to celebrate July 4th, 2015! We are hoping to make this a semi annual thing; it was absolutely wonderful to be a little disconnected, on the lake, in a little country town with some of the best, most entertaining, easy-going people you’ve ever met. HA 4 LYFE.

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Photo cred to Kate C.’s Instagram/her selfie stick/my roommate Scinu G. :)

Music festival or food festival?

As I lament my return to the real world from an absolutely amazing weekend with 8 of my favorite people and 2 of my favorite dogs (and one of my absolute favorite American holidays!), I’m just sitting here staring at my calendar and procrastinating getting out of the couch (where I fell asleep last night). I’m like, “man, what do I have to look forward in the next couple of weeks?” Yes, I always am looking forward my job, but I’ve always, especially in my adult life, liked to plant little seeds of things to look forward to down the road.

For example, even with other trips, all summer, I’ve been meaning to plan a trip to Blacksburg for some business/service, a trip to Fort Lauderdale to visit one of my best friends, and to also finish the entire moving process that I began way back in FEBRUARY (there are still boxes ALL over my room!)! BUT…instead of planning or really thinking more about any of those, I ended up scrolling all the way into September in my calendar and remembering that my tickets have already been purchased for LANDMARK MUSIC FESTIVAL! I AM SO ECSTATIC.

And frankly even more exciting than the festival itself, at the moment (because I’ve been wanting to see Drake, live, for a while now), is this announcement that famed chef José Andrés is going to be curating the food court at the festival. If you read ANYTHING that I wrote about Firefly Music Festival, this year or last, you know how much I love the food at festivals. I’m happy to see that Landmark will absolutely, guaranteed-ly be no exception!

So. pumped. September: my birthday, Ohio State, and LANDMARK.

The rest of summer will just be filled in with random odds and ends at this point. :)

Lake vacation!

Good afternoon, friends!

As you know, the 4th is coming up. America’s birthday falls on a Saturday this year, which means the federal government has been gracious enough to give us the day before – Friday, July 3rd – off from our formal duties in the office. Therefore, a bunch of friends and I are scooting down to a secluded house on the lake in southwest Virginia, where we all went to college, to hang out, catch up, and just enjoy some general America-based shenanigans!

I’ll re-connect upon my return. Until then, remember these tips for enjoying a great fourth of July weekend holiday:

  • Even if your fireworks aren’t legal where you are (because let’s face it they probably aren’t), do your best to set them off safely – facing AWAY from ANY people, kids, pets, and your especially your face
  • Do a quick vehicle check before a long drive – I just got my oil changed this week!
  • Pay attention to local weather conditions and forecasts
  • Alternate any other drink with water – this is a great way to get plenty of water and remind yourself to take a bit of a break
  • Practice safe grilling and do it SOBER!
  • Bug spray, bug spray, bug spray!
  • Check for ticks and their bites after the fun is over
  • If you have pets, make sure you know their triggers and check on them frequently! I’ll have Char Char on the road with me! :)

Emotional absolutes.

Earlier this week, I was watching one of my favorite shows, Netflix’s Orange is the New Black. While I didn’t think Season 3 was as binge worthy as the first two, one of the best story lines this year (which started streaming on June 11th) involved Sam Healy, who has certainly grown on me over the 2 years I’ve enjoyed OITNB.

I wanted to share one of the more impactful quotes from this season – delivered by Healy himself. His words represent something I have practiced in most of my relationships and friendships, and strive to share with others every change I get. It’s valuable advice that translates well to being able to “argue well,” also.

“Words like ‘always’ are absolutes and using them is a way to reinforce what we want to believe. When speaking emotionally, absolutes can be dangerous.”

— Sam Healy
Corrections Officer & Inmate Counselor, Litchfield Penitentiary, Orange is the New Black

Life-changing: Firefly 2015.

[pullquote]”And in this particular case of crowd surfing, it also would not have been possible if not for the AMAZING strangers in the rows in front of us, willing to throw their bodies into support into allowing a man to cross something that had been on his bucket list, and thought may never come off of it.”[/pullquote]

Going to a music festival is basically like being part of a little magical village community that is harmonious (literally) but only exists for a few days. You come with high expectations of great music, great people, (when I go to Firefly I’m excited for great food), and you’re usually going with your friends or family – which makes the idea of being part of a “team” to have this experience that much better.

Even having known all of that before going to Firefly, if you would have told me that I’d end up at an epic rock concert in The Woodlands, crowd-surfing to the music of an epic band known as Matt and Kim, surrounded by thousands of amazing people – I probably would have told you … uh, probably/definitely not. Absolutely not.

But that’s exactly what happened.
Here’s the story.

Read more after the jump …