Earth Week 2012

If you're thinking about making a positive change for your community, then Earth Week is the perfect time to start considering and planning. It can be just as simple as recycling your newspaper, cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, or aluminum cans. If planting your own garden sounds interesting, try it out! Otherwise, rather than attempting to grow your own vegetables, I'd go to the local farmer's market to pick up some organic foods. I have also invested in fluorescent light bulbs; it uses up less energy and lasts longer than incandescent bulbs. Instead of cranking up the heater during cold seasons, I like to cuddle up with extra blankets and rather than buying bottled water, I've bought a water filter for my kitchen sink.

You'd be surprised how much of a difference you would make preserving the earth by just making these small changes day by day, step by step. So why not celebrate Earth Week by making a few of these commitments?

In the Home Stretch

Once again before I even knew it, the semester flew by. All sorts of finals are coming our way, so LTC students, let's do it! For me, personally, I'm not as overwhelmed as I was at the beginning of the semester. I'm just really excited that we're rolling towards summer and that I'll be completing my end-of-the-semester projects. My fellow classmates are just as thrilled as I am for a terrific summer break before fall semester comes. I still have a few tests and assignments left and a final project for two of my classes, but I have never been a procrastinator so finishing up any coursework for the end of the school year will not be an issue.

During this time there are many things happening all at once. Students are preparing for exams, getting ready for spring graduation, and making plans for the summer. I also know for sure LTC instructors have got to be busy bees when the semester is about to wrap up. They're stuck with grading hundreds of assignments, organizing their files, and managing their students. What do I have to say about that? Well, all I can really say is to work hard and stick with it. Just a couple of weeks and it's summer break!

Strike a Pose

Just last week I was asked to do a photo shoot with four other LTC students for the new 2012-2013 college catalog. Although it was a sunny afternoon, the temperature was frigid. Regardless of the weather, I still had a fun time meeting with the other students and taking photos with them. I learned which programs they were in and enjoyed their friendly demeanor. We took pictures in front of the bridge and switched positions here and there, but what I liked the most was when we had our pictures taken as we were walking down the pathway towards the north lot. During this time was the most natural of the snap shots because we actually walked and talked as the photographer clicked away at the camera. I remember I had to carry a big, black purse (it belonged to one of the girls) for the picture and boy, was that one weighty luggage. The purse was half the size of my upper body! The girl and I laughed and joked about how big and heavy it was and how anyone could possibly have that many items crammed in a purse. I had a great time at the photo shoot and can’t wait to see the new catalogs!