Cookie Break Bonanza!

Did you get a cookie with frosting during the end-of-semester stress reliever?

I hope you did.  But I sincerely apologize to those who didn't.  The frosting was homemade, by yours truly, because I thought store-bought frosting would be impersonal.  Plus, I like to know what's in my food and there's too many indecipherable ingredients in those tubs of goo at the grocery store.  It's also significantly less expensive to make it myself, although it takes a lot more time.  And that's where I ran into a snag.  First of all, I didn't know how much frosting to make.  Based on estimates from last year, I thought that 4 pounds of frosting for the first day would be enough.  I was wrong.  My first batch was all but gone in just four hours.  So, I gathered more ingredients and went home to make more.  I used up everything I had and returned at 5pm only to watch half of what I'd just made disappear into stressed-out student tummy's before we called it a night.  Then the responsibilities of being a student and a mommy came up.  By the time I got home, put my son to bed, and finished a 15 page paper on sequencing a chloroplast genome, it was very late and I needed sleep.  I just didn't have time to make more frosting before I hit the ground running the following morning.  I'm sorry.

We (the student ambassadors and staff) were stunned by the popularity of the cookies and unfortunately underestimated how much we would need.  It only took 8 hours (7 hours on Tuesday, and 1 hour on Wednesday) for students and staff to devour 400 cookies, and about 10 pounds of frosting!  But seeing the joy on faces as they slathered their cookies and plopped a few gummy bears on top was priceless.  I could see the stress drain out of students when they entered the atrium and found free food awaiting them.  This "End-of-Semester-Cookie-Break" was a definite hit and we'll do it again, but with more supplies.

Of all the flavors, the Mocha reigned supreme.  I supposed I shouldn't be surprised given the caffeine content of most student's on campus.  But it's an interesting story how I came to make that particular flavor.  You can thank a fellow student (but I don't know his name) who several days ago gave me a small individual serving packet of instant coffee from Starbuck's, which I tossed in my purse and forgot about.   See, I'm not a coffee drinker, but I thought it might come in handy in an emergency so I kept it.  When I was brainstorming ingredients to flavor my frosting concoctions I remembered it and mixed it in to half of the first chocolate batch.  The problem was that it was so popular that I couldn't bear to not make more, but I had already used the only packet I had.  So, I'll have you know that I went to Starbuck's and got more.  But you can't just buy one.  I'm now the proud owner of 13 more of those little packets of caffeine and am thinking they'll make good stocking stuffers for Christmas.

In closing, I hope you all do well on your finals and get just what you want from Santa!

Cupcakes and Courage

What do cupcakes and courage have to do with each other?
Not much, unless the cupcakes are colored red, white, and blue and it's November 11th and you happened to pass through the lobby of Mat-Su College at 11am.  In that case, free cupcakes served as a little 'thank you' to the courageous students, staff, and faculty at Mat-Su who are also American veterans.  You didn't have to be a veteran to get a cupcake, though you did need courage to eat the blue frosted ones that left your teeth, tongue, and lips brightly colored long after the cupcake was gone.

Members of the Student Ambassadors (myself included), the Academic Affairs staff, and Student Government put together the display to show appreciation toward the military veterans who make up about 25% of the student body at Mat-Su College.  Although it was a small gesture when compared to the contribution veterans have made to our country, I think it says a lot about Mat-Su College to have marked the historic day with such a personal show of thanks.

The significance of the 11th day of the 11th month at eleven in the morning goes back to the end of World War I.  The initial cessation of battle on November 11, 1918 at 11am was dubbed Armistice Day.  It was later memorialized by the burial of an unknown soldier in the highest place of honor in France, England, and later at Arlington Cemetery in the United States.  Armistice Day was renamed Veteran's Day by Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958 to commemorate all military veterans who ever served their country.

If you aren't a veteran yourself, I'm sure you know someone who is.  My father and uncle served in the Navy during Vietnam, and my grandfather was one of the Marine's who landed on Iwo Jima in World War II.  As a young child I have fond memories of helping my grandmother give out red poppy pins in support of the VFW.  The show of support from civilians really puts the cherry on top for Veteran's Day.  I hope that after you enjoyed a cupcake you also showed your appreciation for the sacrifices our veterans have made for the security of our country.  If you forgot, you needn't wait until next Veteran's Day.  Make a phone call to say, "Thank you", write a letter, make a donation, or volunteer your time and energy.  It will be well appreciated.

The Non-Traditional

What is a non-traditional student?
Definitions are not very specific but can include being older than 23, taking classes part-time while holding a full-time job, or not enrolling in college right out of high school.
In my case, it means I'm a 30-something wife and mother returning to college after a 10 year sabbatical.   I started my higher education as a bright-eyed, overachieving 15-year-old high schooler right here at Mat-Su College.  I was born and bred in Wasilla but promptly left after my Freshman year at Mat-Su to spread my eager young wings at Eastern Oregon University in the town of La Grande.  I had two of the best years of my life out there gaining independence, confidence, and experience.  I also met the love of my life, got married, and briefly lived near Portland, Oregon, before returning to Alaska to raise a family of my own.  Fast forward to today and I have a nine year old son whom I adore, thirteen years of marriage under my belt, and nearly two decades of life experience that tell me I am a very different person than when I started college all those years ago.

What's changed?  For one, I changed my mind about what I want to be when I grow up.  Art Teacher is out and Environmental Educator is in!  And I can no longer pull those all-night paper writing sessions, or wait until the last minute to study for a test.  All that free time and energy I had when I was a teen is used up feeding and caring for my family and household.  My priorities are all different.  And now I'm privileged to be a Student Ambassador for Mat-Su College, attending classes in the valley, at UAA, and even through distance education from UAF and Kenai Peninsula College.  I'm getting to know the ins and outs of my educational institutions while navigating my way to a long-sought Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Studies.  I'm excited about my education, despite its frustrations and hoops to jump through, because I believe that it will make my life better.  Education is a gift, a privilege, and I for one want to make the most of it.  Plus, it sets a great example for my son to see me working hard at a goal that is all my own.  In less than 10 years he'll be a bright-eyed teen setting out into the world to make his mark just like I did.  And if it doesn't go exactly as he planned I'll truly understand what he's going through.

So, I may be a non-traditional student (which really just means I'm not 18 and inexperienced anymore), but I'm still a student.  I attend class, study, read, write papers, take tests, and pick my way through the maze of university requirements to achieve what all students are working for...recognition for my knowledge and accomplishments.  It's my passport to a satisfying career.  And when I'm not in class I may be working as a Student Ambassador guiding new students to sources of information or helping staff connect with the student body.  Away from school, I might be found volunteering in my son's fourth grade class, or setting a healthy meal on the table for my family, or feeding our dog and three cats, or cleaning the house I helped to build with my own two hands.  And when I have some free time I'm likely to be visiting with friends and family, taking a vacation in some warm beautiful place, walking in the outdoors or volunteering for outdoor education, reading by the wood stove, or just relaxing on the couch to watch a movie. 

We're all in the same college-life boat, so why not share our experiences with each other and learn from them?  Even though this blog is about my experiences as a non-traditional student you might find it informative, entertaining, comforting, or even amusing.  I look forward to sharing with you and I hope you will pass on your own stories to other students and make connections at Mat-Su College that will last long into the future.