Student Loans Amount Due by College Degree

 

Read the full Instagram post H E R E

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Advice to a College Freshman From One in the Know

So, you're going to college. Here's some things I wished I knew when I was a naïve little freshman. You didn't ask me for any advice, I know, but I'm your big sister, so you're gonna get a list anyway 

1. For the first couple of months, keep your door propped open whenever you're in your room. Seriously. People are going to be walking around a lot, so it's a great way to meet your hall mates and make great friends.

2. Don't be stupid, though. Lock your door when you're not in. People suck sometimes.

3. Don't get too involved in settling down the first couple of days. You can unpack later, it can wait. Run around campus, do all those stupid freshman welcome things, and get to know people. 

4. Do not be the person who burns something in the community microwave. You will forever be known as the dummy that set the fire alarm off at 2 am in the morning on a school day. You will get death threats. Especially don't be the person who sticks a wet baseball in the stove because you want it to be dry when you play catch. Just don't. 

5. Treat ratemyprofessor.com like the Bible when signing up for classes. It will save you a lot of heartache and sleepless nights. 

6. Have a couple rolls of your own toilet paper. You never know when it will become a rare commodity. 

7. Never get into the habit of just smiling and nodding when someone is talking to you. You may end up accidentally agreeing to a date and then have to ninja around campus for months to avoid him because you're too socially awkward to face him again....

8. High GPAs look great on paper, but sometimes it's more important to network and gain relevant experience. Get a job, volunteer, intern, do whatever it takes to gain some experience. Get to know your professors. You don't need to become best friends with all of them, but if you can get close to even a few, they can be great resources and possibly provide letters of recommendation for you in the future. 

9. Before classes start, walk around campus and find all of your class locations. You will avoid being that pathetic looking freshman frantically running around the hallways and barging into class 20 minutes late on the first day. 

10. Remember to have a social life. You're in college, have fun, do dumb stuff, just be safe about it. 

11. If you find you're having trouble staying awake in class, sit in the front. It's harder to doze off when the teacher is glaring at you or, worse, spits a lot. It's gross, but effective. 

Anyway, have fun! These next four years will be amazing for you, I'm sure. Keep in touch!

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International Coffee Day 2018

Aging has its benefits --- for people and for coffee, as studies continue to reveal.  In the world of coffee aficionados, the best flavor comes from beans that have been "monsooned", or stored in an open-air warehouse where the beans are exposed to the tropical elements for approximately 16 weeks.  The added moisture and wind result in a low-acid, full-body brew.  The process mimics shipping methods of the 1600s, when coffee from India travelled to Europe aboard sailing vessels.  The journey took up to six months, with the beans soaking up the moist air.  As shipping methods became faster, coffee got a sharper taste.

Maybe all that natural aging has increased its health benefits too.  Recent medical research indicates that drinking coffee lowers a person's chances of getting colon cancer, gallstones, cirrhosis of the liver, Parkinson's disease, and type 2 diabetes.  Plus, coffee helps control asthma and alleviates headaches.

As it turns out, Americans drink so much coffee that coffee is the number one source of antioxidants in their diet.  Take that, fruits and vegetables.  

-- Have a Good Day

Coffee


Cat Poop Coffee


Iced Coffee Recipes






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College Graduation: Tassel Colors Decoded

You can show your smarts at the next university or college graduation you attend by matching up some of the tassel (or robe or hood) colours to the area of study, using this key:

-- Have a Good Day, Sept 2012

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List of a Few Memorable Lincoln Laureate Winners

I chose these guys deliberately.
Vandercook College of Music:
Sat next to Daniel's parents & Voice Prof. during the convocation. Daniel is pursuing a Voice and also a Percussion Major. If my son ever wants to change his degree to Music Education, this school may be a good option.

pc: the lincoln academy of illinois

Wheaton College:
I couldn't ignore WC, of course!  Tryphena does not know my WC sophomore son personally, but daughter Jill (who sat next to Tryphena) made sure to mention his name. I showed the picture to son and he does not recognize her, nor the academic representative.  BTW, I was rather surprised that our friend's son, Caleb G, did not win the award for WC. Talk about student involvement!

pc: the lincoln academy of illinois

McMurray College:
I met Professor O'Hearn at the pre-convocation continental breakfast. Friendly and eloquent.  We discussed Politics a little. Did not seem surprised that I am a Conservative. She is a writer.  I want to read her book when it's eventually published.

Aurora College:
We met Tia during the pre-convocation breakfast. She does speeches often -- I admire this ability in anyone.  Her Mom was not at all surprised that she had won. It's rather usual for her to get an award, says she. As young as Tia is and while still in college, she's already married.

pc: the lincoln academy of illinois

Trinity International University:
What a pleasant surprise! Till the day of the convocation, daughter had not known that Margaret was chosen as the Laureate of her Uni. She is my daughter's old friend whom she met while they worked at Lake Geneva Youth Camp. Small world!

Judson University:
Andrew was the winner at my oldest son's Alma Mater.  Yay!

Trinity Christian College:
Son in Law Daniel attended Trinity Christian College during his freshman and sophomore years.   Congrats to Roberto!

SIU-Edwardsville: 
Keelah was the winner at my second-born daughter's Alma Mater. Our daughter got a full-ride at this school.  Good times!

SIU-Carbondale
Dr Goldman, the academic Rep for the winner Kara, was friendly and spent a few minutes talking to me and hubby before the convocation. He had a hand in the decision of who got the  2018 Order of Lincoln Award -- which he rightfully could not yet divulge to us at the time, though we had jokingly asked for the names, LoL.  My daughter's Father-in-Law graduated from this school many years ago... back in the day when it was memorable for being a party school.

Last, but not least, East-West University:
I was looking forward to meeting this particular Student Lincoln Laureate winner.  EWU was my former employer -- back in the day when I was newly married and had only 1 child. During this season in life & while employed there, I made at least two very important decisions that I would change in a heartbeat if it were possible. Whenever Hillary Clinton spoke of glass ceilings, this was what I thought of while there: "And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass..."  (Deut. 28)

The pay was low, and the lack of advancement obvious.   Far more important, priceless things were waiting for me at home. Why didn't I quit sooner? Sigh. Lord, give me beauty for ashes.

Anyhoo, I am grateful for the work experience. Told Laureate-winner Kisha to give the head honchos my regards and a sincere "Hello!"

Sound advice from King Solomon to all the student laureates (and to young Moms):

Lincoln Student Laureate 2017

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College Daughter's Lincoln Laureate Award Ceremony

The convocation of the prestigious Lincoln Laureate award for Illinois college  & university seniors -- our daughter in particular -- was held at the Old State Capitol Building, Springfield Illinois.  We are so very proud of her!  Thank You, Lord God!

assigned spots for group photo

group picture with Governor & Mrs Rauner

one of the double-stairs leading to Hall of Representatives

DD in foreground; Governor Rauner at podium area

"You must be the Mom.  Congratulations!" -- Mrs Rauner to me

Luncheon

Student Laureates Inducted in 2017

19.8.28.18

Wheaton College Football: the Good, Bad, and Ugly

Oh, boy. Got this email from Wheaton College, IL .... Dear Campus Community,
Today, we learned that law enforcement will bring charges against five current Wheaton students arising out of an incident that took place in 2016 amongst members of the football team. The conduct we discovered as a result of our investigation into this incident was entirely unacceptable. The College has fully cooperated with law enforcement in their investigation. To not impede the law enforcement investigation, the College was bound by confidentiality and unable to share information until now.

Wheaton aspires to provide an educational environment that is not only free of hazing of any kind but practices our values as a Christian community, as outlined in our Community Covenant. When this incident was brought to our attention by members of the football team and coaching staff in March 2016, the College took swift action to initiate a thorough investigation, including engaging an independent external investigator to conduct a timely and impartial third–party investigation into the incident.

Our investigation into the incident resulted in a range of corrective actions. We are unable to share details on these disciplinary measures due to federal student privacy protections.

We are profoundly saddened that any member of our community could be mistreated in any way, and this incident has strengthened our focus on comprehensively addressing hazing at Wheaton. Our Board of Trustees has engaged outside experts to lead a campus–wide review of the level of effectiveness of our anti–hazing policy and of the culture around how students treat one another in our campus communities, athletic teams, and organizations. 

We aspire to honor Jesus Christ in our relationships with one another and we are grieved anytime the actions of any member of our community fall short of this aspiration. Each member of the College community who acts in a covenant bond with others should consciously strive to maintain relationships that support, encourage, and help others.

I strongly encourage faculty, staff, and students to utilize our anonymous hazing reporting tool at www.wheaton.edu/ethicscomplaints.

Philip Ryken
President
On behalf of the Senior Administrative Cabinet

... in response to this incident in the Spring of 2016:
link--> Felony Charges Against 5 Wheaton College Students

Danse Macabre Piano Duo by Camille Saint-Saëns

Danse Macabre Op. 40  

Daughter plays same beautiful & "fun" Piano duet, 4 years apart.  Can you spot the difference between the 2 versions? 

Version 1 Jill is happiest with this version;   played with a friend -- a Piano grad student -- April 2017

Version 2 Jill playing  in year 2013.  Aaaaah, this brings back good  memories.  We will forever miss the multi-talented JP 

Anthropologie: Celestial Halter Gown by Ranna Gill

Gorgeous, metallic DARK TURQUOISE dress by the designer, Ranna Gill. Daughter wore it to her college Piano Recital.  She made a grand entrance.  The dress was shimmery, yet subdued and formal enough through its use of dark color. Compliments by guests were for her piano-playing skills (one hour's worth of difficult, memorized music!);  and for her choice of dress. 

Ranna Gill: Celestial Halter Gown

Anthropologie CELESTIAL GOWN




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