Friday, March 30, 2012

Well…I am now writing my last journal.  This has been a great experience for me, and I have actually enjoyed being able to write some of my thoughts down each week, as well as show current and future Barton students and employees what life is like here. 

With that being said, it is probably obvious that I have made my decision to discontinue my basketball career.  Although I had an offer to continue playing, I was just not sure that I would be happy playing basketball for another couple of years. I have played since I was in the third-grade, and I have always loved the game! I never want to lose that! I am sure that I will be playing intramural basketball next year, and trying to have some fun.  It was great to meet and work with two excellent coaches this year. I really enjoyed getting to know Coach Kruger and Coach Spence, and they definitely helped me grow into a better, more confident basketball player. The girls have started their spring workouts to stay in shape.  I wish them luck! I, on the other hand, have been spending my scheduled basketball time working out with a fellow sophomore basketball player so that we can stay in shape despite not practicing.  I definitely enjoy the good workouts that I create!

Since I have chosen not to play ball, I will be following my aspirations to attend Emporia State University.  They have an excellent education program, and I plan to achieve the best education possible. I have already signed a lease, and I will be enrolling in April to pursue a Secondary Education degree in Mathematics. Wish me luck! :)

With my current and future free time, I have been, and plan to, spend more time with friends and family, finally rest and relax a little, be even more involved in community service and extracurricular activities, read, exercise, and try to enjoy life! Many steps to go, but I am happy and working on it every day!

I hope you all enjoy this beautiful spring! Thanks for your support for me and the Barton Women’s Basketball Team. Good luck to all of the new recruits! :)
 

Sunday, March 25, 2012

I am sorry that it has taken me so long to write my journal.  It has been a very busy couple of weeks for me with many ups, downs, stresses, and happiness.

The last week of school before spring break brought with it two major tests, as well as one test that would be a required assignment over spring break.  After great amounts of studying, I achieved high grades on all three of my tests.  It wasn’t much fun to have to take a tough Calculus test over break, but I knocked it out at the beginning of the week so that way I could relax a bit the rest of my break.

Additionally, without having basketball practice throughout the week, I used our scheduled practice time to work out with a couple of my teammates.  We worked hard every day in order to improve our strength and conditioning; it felt good to work out like that. Over spring break, I continued my workout regime, but I was able to incorporate a bit more variety since I was at home and working out at a local gym with my mom.

As far as basketball is concerned, we all had our “Exit Interviews” with the coaches at the beginning of the week.  I know that it was a rough week for many of my teammates. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I knew that I needed input on what to do regarding my future.  The coaches expressed that they would like me to continue my basketball career.  I have had uncertainties, but I did take a visit to the school that has been recruiting me on the following Thursday.  Throughout that week, and this past week over spring break, I have done a lot of thinking about my future.  I listened to many people’s thoughts and advice, and I will announce my final decision in my journal next week.

My first weekend on spring break, I was finally able to relax and go bowling with friends on Friday and Saturday, and also spend a wonderful day shopping with my mom and sister in Wichita on Sunday.  We had a great time! Throughout the rest of the week, I tried to workout, rest, work on bits and pieces of schoolwork, spend quality time with all of my family members (which was really great!), play with my dog and cat, and see some friends who I haven’t been able to see in a long time.

It is now the last day of spring break. I am planning to see my grandparents this afternoon, and then I will be heading back to school to prepare for the upcoming and very busy week.  I am already starting to catch up on all of my duties and projects for my extracurricular clubs.  

I hope everyone has been able to enjoy a week of spring break and beautiful spring weather!

 

Sunday, March 11, 2012

So many things rolled up into one quick week…

After Saturday night’s game, our team found out that we would be travelling to Labette to play in the first round of region playoffs.  On Sunday, Coach notified us that we would be leaving Tuesday afternoon in order to begin making the four and a half hour trip for our game on Wednesday.  This meant that we would all need to get our assignments from our teachers and begin preparing for the big game.  Practices were the same as always, just preparing for a new team.  When we left on Tuesday, we headed to Wichita to eat, study, and sleep in a hotel.  On Wednesday, we made the remaining trip to Labette and it was time to play basketball.  The game was pretty hectic the entire time, but we managed to grab the lead and keep it until part-way through the second half when we started to fall apart and Labette started to pick it up.  I had felt so good about the game during warm-up as I made most of my shots and was ready to win.  However, the game took a turn, and after five minutes of overtime, our season ended.  It did not feel good to lose, especially if it was my last game to ever play.  I have not yet made a final decision on my school choice for next year, but I will hopefully have a decision very soon.  It will be a big decision to make to decide whether or not to continue my basketball career and to find the school that will benefit me the most academically.

Despite missing school for basketball, I was able to stay caught up in my classes my using the long bus ride and the spare time in the hotel room to do my homework.   I actually felt more prepared after our trip than I did before we left.  I have two big tests coming up this week, so I will have to study hard for those.  Additionally, I worked a full 20 hours (the maximum allowed for students at the college) this week between tutoring and lifeguarding.  My clubs were slightly less active this week as I tried to postpone meetings during the end of the basketball season.

In terms of social life, the team got together to celebrate Taschell’s birthday on Thursday.  She was happy to get to go out to eat, and my roommate and I spent the afternoon baking her a red velvet cake.  It was nice to bond with the team outside of basketball practices and games; I wish we would have done more of that during the season to help our team chemistry.  Also, I have been talking to my best friend often to stay updated on her life, and I can’t wait to hang out with her this week.  I have also been hanging out with a good friend who has the ability to make me laugh and smile, and we have been having a good time.

The week went by sooo fast! And the last couple days have been different with no practices or extra gym time.  (However, I did substitute running, lifting, and abdominal workouts for the missed gym times.) It has been nice to relax a little and enjoy the company of my friends and family.  Our individual exit meetings with Coach Spence will be Monday and Tuesday, and then I will know more about any further basketball plans.  As for now, I am going to enjoy the rainy weather, spend a lazy Sunday with my family doing laundry and maybe some studying, and then prepare for the last week of school before spring break.

Have a great day!

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Wow, what a good, busy, crazy week!

Our Barton women’s basketball team had a few ups and downs this week.  We came off a homecoming win last Saturday to lose to Pratt this past Wednesday.  It was a tough game in which we should have won, but Pratt had the heart, effort, and execution on offense and defense that we did not have for the entire twenty minutes.  With a day off Thursday, Coach relied on us as individuals to get into the gym and make ourselves better.  I felt great on Thursday as I had a great shooting session, and was able to work out a little extra.  Friday, we were back practicing and preparing for a big game against Cloud County.  The Cloud game on Saturday night marked our very last home game…I was tearing up about it, especially because it was also sophomore night for the four of us who have been at Barton for the past two years.  We played hard as a team and pulled out a big win to finish our Conference season. We aren’t done yet though…we will be making the long drive to Parsons to play Labette this coming weekend for the first game of Region Playoffs.  From here on out, it is single-elimination for all teams.  Wish us luck!

I had many fans in attendance at the game this weekend.  Not only was it my last home game as a Cougar, but it was also sophomore night and the night that I would be recognized at half-time of the men’s game, along with Deedra Richard, for achieving All-Kansas Academic Team status.  My wonderful family and friends came to support me! I also want to give a great big shout out to two of Barton’s biggest fans who come to almost all of our games. They’re all great! :)

In addition to practices, weights, games, and extra shooting and running on my own for basketball, I have been keeping busy with school and work.  This week I was catching up on reading textbooks for my classes, completing study guides, and studying for my Calculus Midterm.  Today, I plan on continuing to work on all of this as it will be a busy week with the trip to Labette on Wednesday.  Also this week, I spent some quality time Tuesday night with my Dad watching a TV show I had not seen before while my Mom taught a class.  Thursday night I took pictures with my best friend for our graduation invites (gosh, I can’t believe it will be here soon!).  We had so much fun! I also found two other times on Sunday and Friday to relax and enjoy the company of a good friend; we also had a wonderful time!

So…just when things seem to be getting busier and tougher, I am also finding time to relax, enjoy, and live a little more. It feels so good to smile more and find enjoyment in all the things that I do.  I have a lot of decisions to make in the next couple of weeks regarding my future plans, but I am taking things one step at a time.  Right now, the first step is to win on Wednesday. 

 

Sunday, February 26, 2012

I had a very good week!  Between school, sports, work, and life, everything seemed to go very well.

I started the week off with two tests within the first two days, plus being notified of a Calculus III test that would be due within the week.  I studied a lot for all of my tests, and it paid off when I achieved high A’s on all of the tests.  Furthermore, I worked nearly twenty hours this week and enjoyed every minute of it from playing with the boyscouts that I lifeguarded for to tutoring my peers within the school.  I also got to spend some time with my best friend who can always make my day and is so supportive of me! :) And, I also spent some time with someone who makes me smile every day!

Along with all of those activities, I spent numerous hours throughout the week on a project for CSO (Community Student Organization) in order to assemble a display case for a Career and Technical Education conference next week.  It was a lot of work, but the final product was a success! All of our group members did a great job connecting the past with the present.   

This week was our bye-week for basketball conference play as we did not have a game on Wednesday.  This extra time allowed me to stay caught up with my studies and complete a couple extra projects.  We spent the first two days of practicing conditioning very hard in order to get in better shape for the remainder of the season.  They were tough workouts, but it always made me feel good when we were done. We spent a couple practices further improving our skills, and then we had a full practice to prepare for Saturday’s game.  We played Colby on our Homecoming, and despite an up and down, messy game at times, we pulled out the win.  I made a few shots and played alright, but definitely should have started off better.  Today, I was back in the gym to get some shots up and workout in order to keep in the shape we have worked on this week.

We have two more conference games: one on the road and one at home.  Then, we will have a playoff game the following week that will start the rounds of single-elimination for the regional tournament.  We need to get some more wins to keep the season rolling.  Thanks for everyone who came out to support the basketball teams last night! Many of my friends and family members came to watch which was a wonderful surprise!

It is time to keep all of these good things rolling as I pursue the upcoming week!

 

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Wow! I just looked at the date, and I can’t believe how fast the month has flown by.  I guess that is what happens when you keep busy.  

The past week has been busy, challenging, and good all at the same time.  It was a normal schedule for me on Monday and Tuesday.  I worked (tutoring and lifeguarding) practically all day on Monday and finished the day off with an eventful team film session that left no extra time for homework and only enough time to shower and go to bed.  Tuesday was Valentine’s Day.  I was excited to get up early and take a few presents to my family members as a surprise, and I was hoping that my friends and family members would get the Valentine’s Day cards that I had sent out a few days before.  My Dad was my Valentine :) and he took my sister and me out to eat for the evening because my mom had to work.  It was a wonderful time.  

Wednesday, Game Day, came around.  We had a big home game against Butler and it was important for us to play well and get a win.  I did not have my best game, but the team came out with a win which was a good thing.  It was a rough game and we didn’t always play our best, but a few players stepped up and we pulled out the win.  Right after Wednesday night’s game, my parents and I quickly got ready and packed up to drive to Topeka.  An award ceremony was held at the Ramada Inn to recognize all of the Phi Theta Kappa All-Kansas Academic Team Award recipients.  Prior to the ceremony, Dr. Heilman and Dr. Quinn organized a brief tour of the capital that included meeting Kansas Senators and Representatives.  It was a really neat experience, and it even made me a little more interested in politics.  The award ceremony was awesome and it felt wonderful to be recognized for my achievements as well as watch all of the others throughout the state be recognized for theirs.  We got a big medal, a stipend, and a couple certificates.  It was a great day that I was able to spend with my parents, my friend and co-recipient, Deedra Richard, the advisors, and the administration.  I loved it!  Because I was gone in Topeka until about 5:30pm on Thursday, I missed my classes and practice. I made up practice as soon as I returned and I took some time to shoot a few extra shots.  Then, it was back to studying to get caught up on my schoolwork.

Friday was a long day as I once again attended class, worked hard at practice, and then worked an eight hour day between tutoring and lifeguarding.  My teammates even came to relax in the pool for a while during my lifeguarding hours.  After that portion of my day was over, I once again had to work on my schoolwork because I have a lot to do this upcoming week. In fact, I have two big tests on Monday and Tuesday that I am about to study for.

Saturday brought a big game against the undefeated Hutchinson Community College.  We knew it would be a tough game, but anything is possible, right?  Throughout the game, our turnovers and lack of rebounding the ball hurt us. They scored entirely too many points off of those mistakes.  I felt like we had the chance to pull off a big upset, but we could never get any closer than six points during the game.  We ended up losing by 15, but we competed.  I felt good about my performance, but I did not do much besides hit a three.  My parents, sister, and very close family friends attended the game which was really nice! It was great to see them and everyone else who came from Barton to show their support!  

Today marks the first Sunday that I will have to work at the tutoring lab this semester.  Therefore, I must now start studying and preparing for my tests, as well as finish my laundry so that I can have a successful week!

 

Sunday, February 12, 2012

My week started off pretty well as I achieved a high grade on my Calculus III Test and spent a lot of time with my family on Super Bowl Sunday.  I continued to work on my classes, went to the gym to get some shots up, and talked to some of my good friends.  As the week progressed, I attended a meeting to be recognized for my All-Kansas Academic Team award, attended many meetings for the organizations that I am involved in, started a few excellent projects through those organizations, and caught up with many of my good friends.

A short bout of a cold came over me at the start of the week, but through medicine, attempts to rest, and staying warm in the cold, I was able to recover quickly.  That was important due to all of the basketball activities that have been going on.  We have weight-lifting, film sessions, practices, and extra shooting on our own six out of seven days of the week.  I have been working hard in practice in order to try to make some improvements in myself, as well as in the team. After a big win against Seward, we came back on Wednesday to win a big home game (finally!) against Dodge City.  I finally knocked down a three and made some free throws to get back into the swing of things. We had been having very good, hard practices in the past week, and we were growing as a team and as teammates.  However, on Friday, we seemed to take a step backward as our practice did not go very well; it carried over to our game last night.  The saying goes that you have to practice the way you want to play.  We did not practice the way we needed to in order to play at the highest level and it caught up with us against Garden City.  The loss felt terrible. I wish it would have turned out a different way. I was able to make a few threes during that game which helped raise my confidence a little, but I definitely need to step up more defensively to benefit my team.  We will be back at it practicing and preparing Monday for our game against Butler on Wednesday for Hutch on Saturday.

This week will prove to be very busy for me.  Two basketball games (plus all of the other basketball practices/meetings), many classes that are preparing for tests, an award ceremony in Topeka on Thursday (which will cause me to miss a few classes and a practice), several organizational activities, and about 16-18 hours of working as a tutor and lifeguard.  However, it will be a good week. I am excited for my trip to Topeka, but I am nervous about missing class and especially practice.  However, I will get caught up!  I have a lot going on with my close friends, and a lot of decisions to make and support to give.  Everything will work out the way that it is meant to be. (That’s what I always say.)

Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Last night, the Barton Women’s Basketball Team finally clicked and persevered through a challenging game in order to beat the #6 ranked team from Seward County.  We started out poorly, down nine points, but then we slowly chipped away to get back in the game.  Despite many turnovers and missed defensive rebounds, we pulled back to win the game.  As a team, it felt great to finally bounce back, compete, and win an important conference game.  Previously in the week we had lost to Cloud County in a tough competition on the road.  We competed hard and tried to maintain a close game, but we were unable to pull out a win.  Overall, we have showed some improvement as a team this week, and we must continue to improve and stay focused as we finish out the season.  This week marked the start of the second round of conference play.

As an individual, I have been struggling as a basketball player.  My shots have not been falling in the past few games and that is my role on the team.  When I cannot fulfill my role, I do not feel as good about the game and how I played.  I have been trying very hard every day in practice, and shooting extra shots in the gym when I can; I just need to focus in more during the game to knock down those shots.  However, even though I was disappointed about my own play on Saturday night, I was extremely excited for my roommate who knocked down 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to be named Player of the Game! Congratulations Blair! ? I was also proud of my teammates who worked hard to pull out a big win!

Life outside of basketball was very busy and challenging this week as well.  The clubs that I am involved in had several activities and meetings this week that required a great amount of work.  One such activity was the Big Brothers Big Sisters Event that Phi Theta Kappa hosted and involved several of the athletic teams and other organizations on campus.  It was a great success!! So many people came out to help with the kids, and the children from the county had a blast! Kathy Boeger and many other people in PTK and around the campus did so much work for this event and deserve a great big Thank You!!! ?

My classes have kept me busy as I received a test grade for one class, took a test in another class, and have been studying all week for the big Calculus III test that I have to take this afternoon.  With all of the road trips and time dedicated to being in the gym for basketball, I have had to stay on top of my studies even though that has meant less sleep in the past few weeks.  Sometimes I start to wear down, but I have been staying strong.  It will pay off when I see my grades at the end of the year as I graduate and transfer to a four-year school.  Plus, I like my classes and I am learning a lot that will help me with my career as well as in my everyday life.

Finally, I want to share a very touching article that my Grandma sent me.  She had told me about this article after our Colby game, and it proved to me that there are still good people trying to help others in the utmost way.  Click on this story "The Assist of a Lifetime" which is from the Hays Daily News.  It is such a moving and wonderful article! I really appreciated reading a story where a very young boy had enough respect and care for another boy to hand him in the ball in the middle of a basketball game! I hope that you enjoy the story as well.

Today is laundry day, the day of my test, and the Super Bowl if I can find some time to relax and watch it! I am ready for a great week, and I wish the same for everyone!

 

Sunday, January 29, 2012

After last night’s game, everything feels a little less great.  The week had consisted of two good practices before achieving a big win at Colby on Wednesday night.  Despite a big lead in the Colby game, we let them come back to take the lead, and we had to fight back in the second half, make crucial free throws, and play solid defense in order to win the game.  It was a good win for us, and a very late night when we did not get back until one in the morning.  The next day, we evaluated ourselves and watched film to become familiar with our next opponent.  I put some time in in the weight room and in the gym to work on my shooting.  Friday, we were back at it trying to improve at practice.  Then, Saturday’s morning shooting around came and our girls did not seem focused and ready to go.  That led into the game that night when we failed to win a game against Pratt Community College.  We lacked team chemistry, focus, and effort to achieve more and better than where we have been so far.  It was only the fourth time in Barton’s history to lose a women’s basketball game to Pratt.  Coach was very upset and disappointed, as was I and most of the girls.  It was not a good feeling at all. Today is the day that we usually have to rest after six days of hard work, but after last night’s performance, we will be meeting in the weight room this evening for an intense workout.

In addition to basketball, school required a lot of time and work this week.  After nearly a month of classes, teachers are starting to test the material that we have covered.  I had one test last week, and I have two tests this coming week.  I have spent a lot of hours working on my assignments and studying, yet I still have so much more to do to fully prepare.  My grades will reflect the effort that I put into the classes, and I plan to put in a lot of time and effort. 

Working has also kept me busy as I tutor three afternoons a week to help my fellow students.  I also lifeguard two evenings a week to allow the boy scouts to enjoy a safe swim in Barton’s pool and participate in fun activities.  Additionally, I have had many college students, as well as other individuals, attending the open swim time on Friday evenings.  The hours I work have kept me busy and constantly on the move, but it has been good.

Along with classes and work, the organizations that I participate in have been doing a lot of work.  I have already spent numerous hours on community service work in the last two weeks.  Tomorrow will finally be the big day for our Big Brothers Big Sisters Christmas/Valentine’s Event that Phi Theta Kappa is sponsoring.  Many young children in need from across Barton and Pawnee Counties plan to attend the event.  PTK will be assisted in the event by the Barton baseball, softball, and basketball teams; crafts, sports, bingo, food, and prizes are planned for a fun-filled day for the kids, as well as the sponsors.  I am hoping that it will be a big success.  As soon as the event is over, we will move on to matters of new member initiation and other large community service projects to help the food bank, provide fun and community service for college students, and help the Ronald McDonald charities as we complete our pull-tab project.  These clubs are always trying to make a difference in the lives of others!

Throughout the past several weeks and months, my family and friends have been an excellent support system.  I have been able to see my family at all of my games, on weekends when I do laundry, and whenever I can manage during the school week.  Also, I couldn’t ask for better friends who support me in all aspects of my life, no matter what is going on! I am so happy to see them succeed in their choices, and I am glad that we have been able to spend more time together lately!

This week presents several challenges in all areas of life: for the team, in school, and in organizations.  I hope to have a successful and productive week!

 

Sunday, January 22, 2012

After three weeks of conference play, our Barton Women’s basketball team is currently holding two wins and three losses.  We played a tough Hutchinson Community College team this past Wednesday in a home game that showed support for Breast Cancer Awareness.  A lot of people came out to show their support and attempt to fill the gym.  Despite all of the activities, we were not able to win the game; we did not give ourselves a chance to do as well as we should have done against a good team.  We are looking forward to the next time that we meet HCC to give ourselves a better showing.

Additionally, this was our first Saturday without a game in several weeks.  Due to an odd number of teams in our conference, each team gets a bye-week at some point, and we were awarded our bye-week this weekend.  This allowed our team several practice dates to improve before we head to Colby this coming Wednesday.  We have had several challenging practices during this time; we have worked hard, shot the ball, perfected some offense, and further improved our other skills.  A few girls on our team met with a recruit who Coach hopes to have at Barton next year.  We took her out to eat, showed her around campus, and tried to connect with her; I hope she liked her experience.  Also, with this extra time, I was able to visit a friend who I haven’t seen in quite a while and work on some homework.

My classes have been going very well for me this semester.  They are challenging because I must study a lot and try to do the extra work needed in order to make myself a better student and further my career.  But, on the other hand, I have more extra time than I have ever had in order to work on basketball, work in the tutoring lab or in the pool, and to actually take some time to see and talk to my friends. 

With my extra time, I have also been contributing to Phi Theta Kappa and Community Student Organization in order to help my school and my community.  We are working on several projects for the upcoming months including a project to help the children involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters.  These groups hope to make a significant impact in the lives of the people that we help this semester.  

A busy week is up ahead.  I have more homework to finish up, as well as a housing meeting to attend this evening.  My first test of the year will be this Friday and we have two big games this week.  I’m looking forward to make it a great week!

 

Sunday, January 15, 2012

I’m finally back into the swing of things with the start of school, a regular work schedule, and the set Wednesday-Saturday game routine that comes with Conference play.

This week was good; I was able to accomplish many tasks, as well as find some time to relax before everything starts to get super busy again.  I like my teachers and my classes, and I am hoping to have a great academic semester.  Furthermore, I have met, and will likely meet many new people this semester so hopefully it will be fun.  Reconnecting with and maintaining connections with all of my friends has been great, and I continue to learn more and more about them every day.  I am so lucky to have some very supportive and wonderful friends.

Throughout the week, I was also presented with many opportunities to be honored for achieving a position on the Kansas All-Academic Team.  I am very excited to follow through with these opportunities and accomplish more along the way!

As for basketball, we have had many ups and downs throughout our Conference play.  After our win Saturday night, we were unable to pull out a win against Garden City on Wednesday night at home.  The next day, we were presented with an opportunity to analyze our own game as we prepared for our game against Butler on Saturday.  I feel like we made some improvements on Thursday and Friday and it definitely paid off when we came out on top against Butler last night.  We have much more improving to do in order to stay in the Conference race.  We must continue to grow as teammates and seek to improve every day. 

Wednesday will be a big day when we play Hutchinson Community College at home.  Not only will this be a good game in conference play, but it has also been designated a Pink Out game to support Breast Cancer.  I hope to see many people at the game in order to support the men’s and women’s teams as well as to wear pink and show their support for breast cancer awareness. 

A big thank you goes out to all of the supporters of the college and the basketball teams as I always see a great fan support at our away games and home games! Thank you for always supporting Barton Community College!

 

Monday, January 9, 2012

Winter break at Barton Community College is now over; today was the first day of second semester classes.

However, I have been at the college for the past two weeks for basketball.  We started off practices right after Christmas, and we have been working through a lot of different aspects of the game.  We had several two-a-days, weight lifting, and film sessions to help us improve and increase our basketball knowledge.  On New Year’s Eve, we tested our team skills and added a new player to the line-up in a scrimmage event against Cowley Community College and Brown Mackie.  We had our ups and downs that day, but we were able to pull together as a team to do some good things.  Coach planned some team time for the rest of the evening as we were able to go out to eat and then he treated us to a movie at the theater.  It was a good time, and I learned much more about my teammates.

After that Saturday, we had to start preparing in more detail for our conference games.  We have encountered several trials in the last week as we struggle with turning the ball over and grabbing defensive rebounds.  On the opening day of Conference games, we lost to Seward County.  It was a real eye-opener and the team did not feel good about our loss.  The next day, Coach made a point; we paid a price, and we made some changes to make the team better.  This past Saturday, we overcame many difficulties throughout our game to advance to a win against Dodge City.  Once again, turnovers and a lack of defensive rebounds hampered our team.  But a win is a win, and we must continue to get better.  If all of the girls on our team and can pull together as one unit, surpass the blocks in our own roads, and seek a common goal, then we can be successful.

Additionally, in the past two weeks, all of the men’s and women’s basketball team members were back on campus.  The cafeteria was not open to feed us, so we had to rely on our coaches and very gracious members of the campus community to help us out.  This is a shout out to all of the families, boosters, college employees, and community members who helped out our basketball teams.  The food was great, and your support was amazing! Thank you!! :)

Well…back to school.  I am actually glad to be back in the swing of things.  My class schedule should be lighter than my past semesters, but I will be filling the time with work, basketball, and club activities. My roommate and I also gained a new suitemate over the break which will be a change for us, but it should be a good change!

In the past several weeks, I have been able to mend some relationships, move on from some trials, and grow in many areas of my life.  I am beginning to make decisions regarding my pursuits for the remaining years of my college experience.  It is a crazy and challenging task, but I am excited nonetheless.  There will be a lot of work involved, but it will all be worth it.

Wish the team luck as we begin classes and continue on our pursuit to an excellent Conference run! :)

 

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Hello all! I am very sorry that it has been two weeks since my last update.  I will quickly update you on the past two weeks.

The last week of school was busy with studying for finals.  It was stressful, but not having regular classes or a set work schedule helped me have more time to prepare for my tests.  I did very well on my finals.  It was such a relief to be done! I also finished all of my classes with excellent grades.

As far as basketball…we did not have set practices during the last week, but Blair and I went to the gym several times.  We had one team meeting during which the coaches warned us about staying in shape over break, and they gave us a paper where we are supposed to record all of our workouts over break.  Throughout that week and this past week, I have been getting into the gym to run, shoot, lift, or a combination of them all in order to stay in shape over our long break.  We have been given a break until the 26th and then we must all report back to school for practice.

In addition to that basketball update, the college has been updating the gym.  Not only have they been painting all the walls, but they just recently installed new backboards for our court! They look very nice, and our court will look even better after they refinish the floor over break.

After school was out, my sister and I moved back to the house for our breaks.  I had a break over the weekend (besides working out) and then my mom, my grandparents on my mom’s side, and me left early Tuesday morning to head to Houston, Texas to see a family member and celebrate my grandma’s birthday.  It was a very long car ride, but we finally made it to Houston.  We spent a lot of time with my Great Uncle there, and we saw some sights and did some shopping.  I was lucky enough to finish the majority of my Christmas shopping while we were there! We returned to Great Bend late Friday afternoon, travelled a little more on Saturday, and today I am finally taking the day to relax a little.

I have wrapped several presents, and still a few more left.  I love giving gifts to people, especially thoughtful gifts that mean something to the receiver.  I cannot wait until my friends and family members are able to see their gifts.

Over break, I have been able to spend a lot of time with my dog, Oston.  He was so excited when I took him on a car ride; it brightened my day! He seems to be doing well, but his leg and hips are swelling up from the Cancer.  I am trying to enjoy all of the time that I have with him.

I am hoping to enjoy this week by meeting up with my close friends, spending time with family, working out, reading good books (already finished two so far), and maybe even finding some time to relax! 

Happy Holidays! :)

 

Sunday, December 4, 2011

It has been a crazy week!  

It all started Monday when I woke up at 6:00 am to find out that we did not have school due to a campus-wide power outage.  This was a blessing, because we were supposed to leave Monday afternoon for a game in Missouri which would have required me to miss classes and have much more work to make-up; I was even able to get further caught up on school work so that I could relax a little on the long bus drive.

We departed Monday afternoon for Joplin, Missouri where we would stay at a hotel for the night and practice in the morning.  We were able to bond a little more as teammates as we roomed with new girls and spent more time with each other.  Tuesday we had a morning shoot around, relaxed some, and drove the remaining distance to Crowder College.  The game was rough.  We committed entirely too many turnovers and did not execute well, but we hung tough and played hard throughout the entire game.   At the end, we came up a few points short which would make for a long bus ride home.  My parents attended the game that night though, driving all six hours there, and then six more back; I realized how very much I value their presence and support at all of my games!

Wednesday was a long day after returning to Barton at 2:00 am and then having to get up for classes and work early the next day.  All of my teachers were playing catch up after missing Monday’s classes in order to cover all of the information needed before finals.  That has meant that I have had to do a lot of work this past week in order to prepare for this final week of classes, and my very last tests.  I have one test tomorrow and one test on each day of finals this week.  I have been studying and working all day, yet there is still so much more to do.  Wish me luck on my tests!

I also received a great phone call on Wednesday to inform me that I achieved an award and scholarship that I had been endeavoring for.  I am now a part of the All-Kansas Academic Team through Phi Theta Kappa.  I will be able to attend a banquet at the capitol in Topeka in February, and I will be eligible for the running in becoming part of the All-USA Academic Team.  It has been a nice accomplishment!

Thursday night I met with my best friend for dinner, catching up, and delivering her birthday present.  It was a great time and she loved my creative present that brought up old memories! :) She celebrated her 20th birthday on Thanksgiving, and I was glad that I could spend some time with her.  I also heard from an old friend who I have not seen in several months.  It was really nice to know that he was still thinking about me, and it was good to hear how his life has been.  These were some much needed talks with my friends!  

And finally, the week ended on a GREAT note!  After a rough game Friday night, we pulled out a major win Saturday night.  We did not play our best on Friday, even though we pulled out a win over Fort Scott.  Coach was very upset and made some extremely important statements in the locker room that we needed to hear.  His talk worked; Saturday night we came out playing hard against the #3 ranked team in the country.  After a hard fought battle for forty minutes, our Barton team persevered to a big win! It was a great way to end the semester going into Christmas break.  However, it shows us that we still have some big tasks ahead of us as we strive to be a better team during next semester’s conference play.  

Now, it is time for me to get back to my school work and prepare for my finals! I can’t wait for Saturday when I will finally have a little break for the holidays! :)

 

Sunday, November 27, 2011

A short week calls for a short entry.

It was extremely nice to only have two days of school this past week.  I had one test which I am happy to say I got a very good grade on.  Also, it was great to have a few days off to try to catch up on my notes, even though I still have a few more left to finish up tonight.  Additionally, this week will be tough after missing a full day of classes on Tuesday, one class on Monday, and attending several classes Wednesday after a late night/early morning return from Missouri.  Finals are approaching in two weeks, and I have a lot of studying and focusing to do throughout the upcoming days. 

This week was also Thanksgiving.   Due to the fact that we had games in Hesston on Friday and Saturday, the girls on the team were not able to go home for the holiday.  Instead, we practiced hard and accomplished some good things in the mornings, and came back for team bonding later in the afternoon.  My parents, Coach Spence’s family, and a few community members contributed to our bonding by making us a Thanksgiving meal.  It was delicious, and it was much appreciated!  As a team, we also decorated 100 gift bags for young children in need.  These bags will be handed out at the Big Brothers Big Sisters event on Monday, November 28th at the Christmas Event that Barton’s Phi Theta Kappa organization is hosting.  I regret that I cannot attend the event after I have helped plan it, but we will be on our way to Missouri for a game against Crowder.  …Back on track to team bonding….after eating and decorating, we also watched a movie each night.  The first night we watched a movie called Miracle.  It was a very moving and inspirational movie.  The second night, we finished off team bonding with a humorous movie that was much more entertaining than I would have thought.  Finally, we finished off the week with two basketball games.  Friday’s game against Hesston was tough as we lost two girls to injuries and had to play without one of our leading scorers.  We lost in overtime when we could not finish out the game.  However, on Saturday we bounced back, gaining two players back, to get a big win over Brown Mackie.  I finally knocked down a few shots this weekend.  It felt good to help my team out, but I am still looking to become a more consistent shooter and a more solid player.  I am also wishing well for our teammate who injured her knee, and hoping that she will get better soon.

The upcoming week will bring several challenges as we must all maintain our grades after missing several classes while also performing at our best on the court.  We face three tough teams this week as we play Tuesday in Missouri, and Friday and Saturday at home.  We need to pull out some wins to end the non-conference season on a good note going into winter break.

I am feeling good after spending some much needed time with my family today, and I am ready to have a great week!  I hope you all enjoyed your Thanksgiving! :)

P.S. – maybe that wasn’t so short…oops!

 

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Another week has come and gone.  This week was one of the most difficult weeks I have experienced in quite some time.

The team played three games this week, and we won all three.  The games were very competitive as we played good teams; a couple of the games even came down to who could hold on for the last few minutes of the game.  We did some good things and some not so good things.  I personally had some very difficult experiences in these past three games.  On Tuesday, I could not make a single shot.  On Friday and Saturday, the same was true except worse: all of my shots were air balls. :(  I spend so much time in the gym shooting to perform that way, and it was really disappointing.  To add to that, I did not get to play in the second half of Friday’s game due to a very poor performance in the first half. That was one of the hardest situations I have had to endure in quite a while, and I felt awful.  However, Coach talked to me after the game to try to help; I was still very disappointed and sad though.  This week we will play in another Friday-Saturday tournament.  We hope to overcome our poor second game performances, and show improvement as a team this week.  

To add a positive note to this weekend, I was able to see a lot of important people in my life.  My parents who are always my biggest fans and supporters were at all of my games.  My grandparents also came down for my games this weekend which was very nice because I had not seen them in such a long time; I wish I could have played better while they were here though.  Also, my high school basketball coach came to watch Saturday’s game, as did my little sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters, Sage.  I cannot forget that my actual sister, Ashley, came to both games, also; and so did one of my best friends and our close family friends.  My cousin was also the manager for Coffeyville, so I got to see her as well.  With so many people at my games I wish I could have played better, but I know they all love me regardless.  My roommate’s family came down for her games this weekend.  It was really nice to hang out with her and her sister! And her sister left me such a nice note to keep my head up and keep working hard, so I will definitely keep that around!

As for school…well, it was a very busy week.  I felt very sleep deprived as I stayed up studying for tests and trying to work on scholarship applications and homework.  I overcame it all, and by Friday I was feeling very accomplished.  Not only did I help complete Operation Christmas Child for Phi Theta Kappa, but I also completed and submitted my major scholarship application (wish me luck!).  I am still behind on some notes that I would like to rewrite and study, but, from today through the upcoming Thanksgiving break I know that I should be able to get caught up.  

And, to add a positive note to my busy week, I was able to spend an evening with one of my best friends.  We went out to dinner and talked forever; it was so great to catch up!

Now, I am looking forward to having a break from school for Thanksgiving.  We will not get a break from basketball because we will have games this Friday and Saturday in Hesston.  It will probably be a good time for team bonding as we spend Thanksgiving together with very few people on campus besides our team.   And, after Thanksgiving, there will only be a couple weeks left of school, including finals, and then it will be time to relax for a few weeks!

 

Sunday, November 13, 2011

This week brought three more basketball games.  At the end of the week we finished with a record of 3-0 and an overall record of 4-2.  We played a JV team on Tuesday and back-to-back games against two Junior College teams on Friday and Saturday.  As a team, we showed improvement and moments of great basketball; however, we also found many areas that we need to continue to develop.  Consistency will also become a very key ingredient that we are lacking.  Personally, I was finally able to knock down a few shots in two of the three games in order to help the team.  I am still working on my shot and hoping to become a more consistent and confident shooter.  My role was different this week as I was no longer a starter for the team; it was kind of hard to adjust and cope, but I was still able to spend a significant amount of minutes on the court.  Our next three games this week will be home games.  It will be nice to spend some time on our home court and play some good teams.

Outside of basketball, I had many other obligations.  Even though my working hours have been reduced due to basketball, I have still been trying to work in the tutoring lab and at the pool whenever I can help out.  Additionally, I kept busy with my school work.  I once again asked my classmates to record lectures and upload notes for me when I had to miss school for basketball.  CSO and PTK have been keeping busy with collections for Operation Christmas Child (and an upcoming Monday evening social to pack boxes) and writing letters to soldiers overseas to show our appreciation and support.  Furthermore, my best friend came home from college this weekend for a visit and another friend from last year has been keeping in touch more often via phone calls.  Today, my roommate and I wanted to support our friends who were playing each other in a football game in El Dorado, so we took a road trip; it was a good time to bond, get away from campus, and have a fun time (even though we got lost several times).  This week will bring even more challenges as I try to complete a scholarship application, keep up with basketball, and study to perform well on a couple very important tests.

It has been very difficult for me to keep up with all of my classwork while still practicing, going to the gym to shoot extra, maintaining my club activities, and trying to spend time with my roommate or even be a little bit social.  With a couple big tests this week, I know I have a lot to focus on.  My sleep has seemed to be sacrificed as I try to keep up with all of this work, and it does not seem like it will be any easier until Christmas break.  On a positive note though, my advisor and I organized my class schedule for next semester and it will be my lightest load yet.  I am very excited for that! Plus, it will probably mean that I will be able to enjoy more aspects of all that I do.

After being out of town for basketball a lot, I was finally able to go home to do two weeks of laundry.  I was also able to see my doggy who seems to be doing well even though he still limps a lot and has very little energy at times.  It was also nice to see my cat who seemed to miss me because he was very loving.  I also got to spend some time with my sister and my parents which was very nice.

Well, my weekend is not over as I must continue to study and catch up on homework.  I am continuing to stay optimistic as always (especially after our GPS lead us astray on our way home again).  Learning from new experiences! ;)

 

Sunday, November 6, 2011

It was a long week that seemed to pass by very quickly.

After several weeks and months of preparing, we finally played our first regular season game.  We achieved our first win of the season on Tuesday against Bethany JV.  Even though we won the game by a considerable amount, we found many areas to work on.  We had to have a quick turn-around following this game because we then headed to Midland, Texas early Thursday morning to stay until Saturday.  After a long bus ride, we finally made it to Midland and were able to readjust our legs and bodies to prepare for a tough game Friday against the #3 ranked Junior College team in the nation.  However, it wasn’t enough as the game did not go in our favor.  The game was a great disappointment; we should not have lost as bad as we did.  We should have played much stronger, tougher, and with more passion and heart.  Game two on Saturday against Cochise College left the team with a similar feeling.  This team was definitely beatable; we persevered to grab the lead and we held the lead until the last few minutes of the game when we lost it.  As a team, we did not show the excitement and passion needed to enjoy the game and achieve a desired result.  Personally, I disappointed myself in these past three games; I did achieve a starting position and played several minutes which was extremely rewarding! But, I know there is much for me to improve.  I work on my shot nearly every day in the gym, but I have yet to help my team out by knocking down a shot.  This week, I hope that I can change this fact by improving my shot and my game-mentality for shooting.  Additionally, I have to find a way to better lead the team, reduce my turnovers, and improve my offensive handles.  We play three more games in the next six days, so we must come out ready to improve in a short amount of time and compete with these teams.

With basketball now in full swing, I have had to adjust my working hours and be even more structured with my school work.  Due to our long trip to Texas, I had to make arrangements to get all of my classwork and notes. Luckily, I have some great classmates! One student scanned his notes and sent them to me so that I could complete my Calculus assignments, and another student recorded a lecture for me so that I could listen to the class session and take notes without missing anything. I am very grateful that they were so helpful.  I may have to make more arrangements in the upcoming weeks because we will miss several other class periods, or even full school days, for basketball games.

The extra-curricular organizations I am involved in are also staying very busy.  Phi Theta Kappa started Operation Christmas Child on Monday and I donated many items from home to send to these children who are in need.  Our collection drive ends this coming Friday; I hope we receive a lot of donations!  Also, the community service project for the upcoming week is writing letters to soldiers.  CSO (Community Student Organization) is having a pot-luck supper event this week to write letters, make group decisions, and bond as an organization.  Furthermore, both groups are participating in selling Barton materials at basketball games to support the organizations or other causes.

In my last update, I explained that my dog had cancer.  Due to basketball, I have not been able to go home to see him, but my Dad surprised me by bringing Oston out to the college to see me.  I was so happy because he acted like his old self: running, sniffing around, and hardly focusing on his foot even though he was not putting very much pressure on it. Mom and Dad say that he is doing well, and I hope that I can go visit him soon!

Sunday, October 30, 2011

The past week has been full of ups and downs and in-betweens.

Starting the week with two relatively smooth, easy-going days was very nice and almost relaxing, but more and more things fell into step as always.  My days were packed minute-to-minute with classes, meetings, practices, extra gym time, games to watch, a scrimmage to play, and hours to work.

As a basketball team, we tried to break down our skills in order to maximize our efficiency and improve our offensive and defensive goals.  We were able to test our progress Thursday evening when we travelled to Hays to scrimmage a Division II team.  Despite Hays’ advanced skills and numerous years of experience, we tried to keep up and finish every game.  We may not have played our best, or showed the necessary improvement that we needed, but we were able to watch film and label the aspects of our game that needed further focus and work.  With our first regular season game approaching in two days, we have introduced more techniques and practiced the areas that needed the most attention.  Finally in full swing, all of us girls are looking forward to competing and getting better every day!

Saturday evening, my family hosted a team dinner in order to meet all of the girls and provide an opportunity for team bonding.  The night was filled with fun and interesting conversation, as well as delicious, home-cooked food.  It was great to have Coach Kruger present, and we all missed Coach Spence who was a guest speaker at a coach’s conference in Wichita.  It was a good time, and I think that the girls enjoyed getting away from campus for a few hours.

Not only did I have a good time bonding with my team, but I had a very good day on Saturday.  It started off with a surprise phone call from a good friend whom I have not talked to much recently.  Then, we had basketball practice, I worked at the pool, and I completed several scholarship essays; I felt very accomplished. However, after all was said and done and all of the girls left the house, my family received a call from our veterinarian diagnosing my black lab, Oston, with Cancer.  I was devastated.  Oston has been my loving companion since I was twelve, and I cannot imagine losing him.  The doctor said that he may still have three or four months left, but that the Cancer has probably already spread to his lungs.  I cannot control anything about this situation other than my reaction.  I will enjoy every last minute I can spend with him, and hope for the best. 

As for everything else, I am still striving to do my best and improve in all aspects of my life.  Missing school for our many basketball games in the upcoming week poses many challenges as I will have to spend extra time making up assignments and meeting with teachers in order to receive the lecture notes and needed information.  With three games in the next seven days, I must be on top of my game on and off the court. With that said, I must now get back to studying for a very important exam tomorrow. Until next time, wish us luck for an excellent start to our basketball season.

 

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Another week has passed by and very quickly at that.  Today, I am left feeling like I have so much to do and to accomplish within the week.  Despite having two days off from school for “Fall Break,” I still have not managed to finish everything that I wanted to get done.  But, no matter what, I am thinking optimistically and it will all get completed!

I have little more to say about school due to the fact that we only had three days of classes this week.  Plus, during those three days, one of my classes did not even meet (due to an ill teacher). This break allotted me some extra time to work on my schoolwork.  I plan to take advantage of any breaks I get from now on in order to stay caught up and maintain my grades throughout the upcoming basketball season.  Looking ahead, there are several dates in which I will have to miss an important class, and I definitely do not want to fall behind or miss important information.

Additionally, I will start a project through Phi Theta Kappa within about a week in order to help children during the holiday season. The project is entitled Operation Christmas Child and I hope that it will be a great success!  This afternoon, CSO, the group that painted pumpkins last week, donated those pumpkins to a home for the elderly in a nearby community.  These two organizations are doing great things for the college and the community and I hope to keep that up!

Another main focus has been basketball.  The season is quickly approaching with our first game in nine days! We have been preparing throughout our practice times and even on our own individual time.  My roommate and I have tried to get into the gym whenever we can manage to in order to improve our shooting, and, like coach says, “To get a feel for the ball.”  Not only have we been trying to incorporate all of the new plays, defenses, and skills into our practices, but we have also tested those abilities in scrimmages.  Yesterday, we were given the opportunity to play two good teams at a location in which we scrimmaged in ten-minute spurts. By days end, we realized that we had done some good things, but that we have so much more to work on and to improve.  The film doesn’t lie.  After a film session and hearing all of our teammates’ responses to the film, we can all say that we noticed similar problems that must be corrected as soon as possible in order for the team to experience success.  The team experienced another trial to overcome when a sophomore guard injured her knee at practice this week.  It is not yet clear what the outcome of her injury will be, or when she will return, but we hope for a smooth recovery for her and our other teammates who are not yet able to play.  The limited amount of ten players has meant that every player must step up and take advantage of every opportunity to get better and improve the team.  One more scrimmage this coming Thursday will give the team one more opportunity to grow and improve our skills against an outside, experienced opponent before our first meeting with competition during the regular season.

With many thoughts running through everyone’s minds in terms of basketball, school, and life, (including my own) we must all persevere to make the best of the opportunities we are given and to enjoy the time and experiences that we have in front of us!

 

Sunday, October 16, 2011

It has been a very eventful week.  Not only did the team learn and accomplish a lot throughout practice this week, but there was also a lot going on off the court.

After a long weekend of basketball and experiencing our first bat of competition, we were able to spend some time this week reflecting on our skills, accomplishments, and the areas that we needed to improve.  The game film doesn’t lie.  After watching ourselves play, we gained a better understanding about what our coaches have been trying to teach us; it also helped us visualize what we needed to work on in practice.  We had to stay mentally focused as we added more aspects to our game this week.  In order to remember everything that we learned, I made sure to document the new items in our team journals.  Also, after poor free throw shooting over the weekend and with the goal of becoming a better shooter in mind, I spent about an hour in the gym everyday shooting; I am hoping that my shooting will show improvement soon. 

Our coaches always stress the concept of being good teammates, and this was a very important week to exercise that value.  Two of our teammates had surgery this week; one of our excellent shooters broke her hand and cannot play for several weeks, and another hard-working teammate, coming in as a freshman, has been out for several weeks due to a knee problem, but we are looking forward to her return very soon after a promising outcome of surgery.  Additionally, another player has been out with a concussion, and we have been fighting illness among a few others. Practicing with only ten players was a little difficult, but we all persevered and improved ourselves throughout the week.  When all members of the team are healthy and functioning then good things are sure to come!

Off the court, I put in several hours tutoring fellow students, and I am hoping that they succeed on their tests this week!  I also spent a significant amount of time lifeguarding and helping people who come to the pool with pool workouts.  In the world of school, I spent a lot of time and energy working on studying and completing homework for my courses.  My grade check for the basketball team showed very encouraging results, and I plan to continue working hard to maintain my grades.  The two clubs that I am involved with are developing numerous projects that will benefit the school and the community in a positive way.  Today, CSO (Community Student Organization) held a social meeting in which the members were able to get to know each other and have fun decorating pumpkins to donate to a home for the elderly in a nearby community.  Another important part of my life for the past three and a half years is my involvement with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and this weekend I was finally able to spend some much needed time with my “little sister.”  We were able to bond as she told me about her life and experiences recently, watched movies, baked cookies for the basketball team, and played games.  It was a fun time for both of us.

I am now looking forward to a three day school week, and I am hoping to make myself better every day in every way.

P.S.- I hand-drew the Scream face on my pumpkin :)

 

Sunday - October 9, 2011

It has been a week now since our season officially started. We started out the season strong with several good practices in a row.  The weekend was tough, but we were focused and ready to get going full swing.  Throughout the week we had to persevere through the fatigue and challenges; we learned, drilled, and took some steps in the right direction.  As a finale to our week, the team headed to Missouri for the weekend to face our first competition.  It was a learning experience, and we identified areas of the game that we need to improve, but we also played hard and did some good things. It was also a time to bond with different teammates and have a little fun.  With a few weeks until our next scrimmage, we will have to stay focused and get better throughout all of our upcoming practices.

A very relieving/exciting part of my week was finally completing my online class; it will be such a relief to not have to spend all of my time working on geography.  I will finally have a little extra time to do some things that I enjoy.  This week it proved true when I was able to hit the gym a little more often to work on my game and spend some extra time relaxing with my roommate.  PTK (the honor organization that I am a member of) made great strides this week; my friend and I obtained a donation of thirteen water jugs to use for our Ronald McDonald Pull Tab Collection project, and we were able to make posters and start the project as of Friday. It was such a wonderful feeling to finally get that project underway!  My friend and I were also able to bond and have some fun while working on this project.

Of course, I had to stay focused on my schoolwork this week.  Blair and I spent several evenings in the library and in our room trying to study for our tests and finish our assignments.  I have kept up on all of my notes and reading, and I’m currently working on a take home test for my Calculus II class. (Wish me luck!  )

Not a week can pass without a few challenges, but I have stayed strong through it all. Even when my mind is spinning with a hundred different thoughts and trying to make the best life decisions, I have managed to stay focused on the most important aspects of life.  I have tried to have more fun and roll with the tide.

This bus ride has been very relaxing and has provided me a time to rest for once.  I have put a lot of my work and craziness aside in order to watch movies with my teammates, chat, and simply let my mind go as I listen to music.  We are almost back to Barton, and I will welcome being back in a familiar place.  I am ready to start another productive and enjoyable week!

 

Saturday - October 1, 2011

This week passed by so quickly…

Dionne and I were the chosen team captains for the week; therefore, I made sure to keep in contact with coach every day so that I could make sure all of the girls knew what to do.  Overall, this week seemed to be a recovery week in which we did many cardio pool workouts and weight-lifting.  We also took individual pictures and team pictures this week.  I am excited that I was given number five to wear on my jersey this year, even though numbers really do not matter all that much (but it has been my number for most of my life). 

Today marks the first official day of Junior College basketball practices.  I am sure we have our work cut out for us today and for all of the days to come.  Not only must we prepare for our first game of the season on November 1st (only one month away!), but we must also prepare for our scrimmage games during October.  The team will have to come together, work hard, get better, stay focused, and have some fun in order to achieve our best.  I am looking forward to this season.

By this past Sunday at 6:00pm I had finally caught up on all of my school work.  It was such a wonderful feeling to know that I had everything done and that I could finally relax for a short while before more things would need my attention on Monday afternoon.  I was able to read a very good book that I had been working on all school year, and I finally finished it! Of course, the week brought more challenges with a big test to prepare for, more online class assignments, three meetings for the various clubs I’m involved in, work, and more!

A lot of aspects of my life will change soon as I adjust the hours I am scheduled to work to adjust to my basketball schedule, finish my online class within the week (hopefully!), and fully delve into our basketball season.  These changes are something to look forward to and it will all work out! 

After a productive week, I am looking for a productive weekend filled with basketball, work, and seeing friends who are home from college.  I’m developing my goals for the season and hoping for the best!

 

Saturday - September 24, 2011

It was another busy and challenging week, but I also managed to find some time to relax.  I am home for the weekend to finish up my online assignments and spend some time with my family.  This break is much needed after a week full of practices, classes, and working.

All of the girls realized that we needed to get in better shape and continue to stay in shape when we have a couple days off.  (I hope we all remember that during our break this weekend…) This week we focused on getting in shape and developing physical and mental toughness.  Mental toughness…that’s the key to continued success. 

This week, I also experienced a very sad situation. One of my favorite teachers experienced the loss of his son on Tuesday.  I am very close to this teacher, and I have known his family for quite some time; I am very sad to hear that this event has fallen upon their family. He will be taking a leave of absence, as expected, so that will change the elements of my class for a while.  In other classes, I am continuing to work hard to maintain good grades and master the information. My Interpersonal Communications test went very well this week, and I am excited to have very little homework from my on campus classes this week.

On Monday, I tried to give blood, but my iron level was too low. I will have to monitor what I am eating and watch my iron so that I can participate at the next blood drive. However, bonding with my Dad and sister that day was very nice as we all went to give blood together.  My mother was sick this week, but she is now feeling better and is back at it again! My friends and I are keeping in touch more and more which I am very thankful for. I miss meeting my best friend for walks and to talk, but she has kept in touch very well despite being three hours away.

I already spent some time in the gym this morning, worked on some homework, and now I’m off to attend a training session for work.  I am hoping for a stress-free weekend, and looking forward to the upcoming week!

 

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