Jan Term Begins

I had a wonderful Christmas break! It was nice to be home with family and friends. It almost felt like another summer break (I'm not used to not having any homework). It felt great to accomplish my first semester of college and I worked hard for the grades I pulled off.

Now we have accomplished the first week of Jan term! Jan term is a three week term during January where students can do many different things. If on campus, most people take only one class or PE classes. I am taking a class called Identity, Race, and Power. I realized that it's the first class I have taken that is different and unique to college. Most of my classes thus far are classes that are similar to classes that are offered in high school. The class explores American Diversity. I like it so far but it can emotionally challenging, but that is okay. We do a lot of reading outside of the classroom and although it is usually interesting, I am a slower reader and so it takes a lot of my time.

Jan term is also a time for fun! I am hoping that I will be able to make the most of it before another rough semester starts. I do not want to take it for granted. My roommate and I as well as several other girls have made a list of things we hope to do over the course of Jan term. We are going to try to take pictures doing each of the activities we do. I believe we are starting today by going hiking here shortly (time to bundle up)!

This week I started going to dance aerobics! This morning was the third time I have gone and it is offered three times a week. It is difficult but a lot of fun and a great workout. The woman that instructs the class is a junior here at Whitworth. She is a certified fitness instructor and teaches a class at least once a day, I find that pretty impressive!

So far this Jan term I have watched a couple of movies with people from the dorm, I have attended dance aerobics, we had a laundry room dance party last night, I have gone to frozen yogurt with a couple of people, I have been introduced to the televion series Bones, and I attended a training session for the conference that I am going to be a part of next weekend.

Next week there is going to be a conference held here at Whitworth for local high school students from Thursday afternoon until Saturday afternoon. It is called the B.E.L.I.E.F conference (which stands for: because every life is empowering the future). The conference was created by a couple of Whitworth students and it has been being planned for the last year and a half. This next weekend is going to be the first of hopefully many more! It is not advocating Whitworth but the purpose of the weekend is to encourage students to pursue a form of higher education. There are going to be a variety of speakers and workshops and lots of activities. I am a mentor for the program so I am going to have one girl staying with me for three days and two nights. I am going to be attending most of the events with her. I hope to build a relationship with her and learn a lot about who she is. Most of these students come from very difficult backgrounds where college is not usually an option. The high school is known as one of the toughest in the state with the most poverty and drop out rates. I know very little about my girl, but I know she immigrated to the U.S. within the last couple of years from the former soviet union and has had a rough time adapting. If you think about it, please keep my preparation for her arrival, the conference and my encounters with her in your prayers.The weekend is going to be a very busy one, but it should be great and I am very excited (and only slightly nervous).

I will be in touch with pictures from our adventures and an outcome of the conference next weekend!