As per usual, break was too short - kind of. I feel much better rested than I have in past breaks. Last year it always seemed like I was running around trying to do all sorts of things and see all these people over the breaks. I had far fewer plans this break and it was enjoyable.

     I've been overcome with a sort of hopeless optimism these past few days. I can see the end of the semester, grades have been good, I've enjoyed what I've been doing, don't have to be house manager anymore, the first few snows are on there way - really feeling pretty good about things. I have my last organic test for the semester wednesday, a paper, and a few art projects to do before the semester end and finals - but it's all spread out pretty well so I'm really in a good position now.

     I switched where I plan to study abroad. I will be working in the lab with a professor next semester for a half credit and therefore do not necessarily have to transfer in a chemistry credit to make sure I graduate. Therefore, I'm basically looking to transfer in arts, language, and humanities courses - I've switched to Athens, Greece. I think overall I feel much better about this decision than the last - let's just hope it all works out.

That's a picture of one of my art projects - whenever I don't have a picture I'll just post one of these. 

Posted by Jake Ezell at 04:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

     It's been a bit of a tough week. I got hit really hard with some cold or something on Wednesday and barely made it out of bed. I think I went through 2 gallons of simply orange yesterday and who knows what else. I am feeling better today though and with any luck will have this winged soon.

     Thursday at college mentors, we did a sort of Thanksgiving/Native American theme which was pretty fun. We made hand turkeys and had the kids write what they were thankful for on them. My little buddy liked food, cars, his mom, and his friends I think were his four fingers. After that, we had a brief lesson on Native American art then did some Indian facepainting - if only you could have seen it all. I think the kids were more excited just to smear paint on our faces than anything else.

     Bio test today went ok. Its really hard to tell what the professors wanted as answers so I won't really be able to tell you how it went until I get the exam back sometime after break. I think I'm going to PU tomorrow for the Oaken bucket game.

Posted by Jake Ezell at 06:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

     Tonight was pretty interesting at Lambda Chi. As I'm sure some of you know and some of you don't know, things have been pretty distraught around here - I think I've alluded to that fact several times. With the Delt house closing, most students have been left scratching their heads wondering what is to come next?

     At his Chapel Talk, President White stated he and some other faculty would be talking with students about the Gentleman's Rule and changes that needed to be made, etc. This evening, I ate dinner next to the President of Wabash College in our fraternity house with a Dean behind me and two other faculty present. Dinner talk was light and we were all a bit nervous wondering what was to come next. We eventually split into groups and discussion of what is the current state of the Gentleman's Rule began.

     I don't know if there is a single alumni who wouldn't have been proud of the discussion tonight in the small groups. It's one of those times when, as a Wabash man, you stand so proud of the school you attend(ed) that it nearly brings tears to your eyes. No where else will you find this dedication to a school.

     We are Wabash, we always will be gentlemen, and we will persevere.

Posted by Jake Ezell at 11:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

    Thursday was alma mater sing in the chapel and I, having recently been elected into the position of fraternity educator, was in charge of getting the boys to memorize the words. However, with only a days notice, that's pretty hard. The freshmen ended up singing the first line of the song over and over again - I thought it was funny.

     Friday was crazy hectic. I had laundry and all to do on top of finishing some odds and ends before the weekend for academics and then trying to get to DePauw by 5:30 for the keg game and get my buddies directions to Wabash. All ended up working out though and my cousin and her punk roommate came up that evening along with 7 other HS friends. We had a pretty fun night, the room was pretty messy the following morning, but it was fun nonetheless.

     Saturday, I had to wake up at 7:30 for an alumni health professions networking event which was pretty cool. I wish the health-sciences majors had more opportunities like that. We heard some presentations and got to talk to some alums until about 11. I came back and tailgating for a while before going to the game which turned out to be a real heartbreaking.

     By no means would I say I was impressed by DePauw's performance, we just had a really really off day. It was pretty cold in those metal bleachers. The only thing that sincerely irritated me was when the Danni's rushed the field and instead of congratulating their players, attacked ours - some players even were spat on - ungentlemanly to say the least. I think its best we encourage the team in there upcoming playoff appearance and hope for the best there.

     Saturday night was pretty low key for me. I was pretty tired from the night before and running around all day and think I crashed around 11:30 and woke up this morning at like 1. It felt good to catch up on my sleep. We have elections for the second half of our officer positions tonight meaning I'll no longer be House Manager - pause for tears of happiness. It was good and I got done what I had wanted to so even though it wore me out, it was good.

Posted by Jake Ezell at 02:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

    Minus some slight dissension among the students over some administrative issues the past week, it's been a spirit-filled bell week. It's just too bad things have played out like they have over the past week in terms of student unity. However, last night was very affirming at the midnight cook-out. The freshmen are all guarding campus and at midnight, the ryhnies cook burgers and dogs in front of the chapel. It was very affirming to go out and have a burger before going back to studying with some Wabash men from around the campus. The discussion was good and it felt good to be united as a student body against a single cause - bringing the bell back to campus.

     It's been an easy week other than that, nothing crazy academically - that was last week. Other than that, I've got friends coming in for the game so I'm pretty excited for that. 

DEPAUW....

Posted by Jake Ezell at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

    That was a long week. The art project and organic test really put me behind on my sleep. However, with two classes out of the way, all I really had left the rest of the week was my bio quiz. It was much more relaxed in the second half of the week than the first. The Bio quiz went well and we had all the Top 10 scholars on campus.

    It's really hard to believe that was me two years ago, but it was. Time flies in college. I ended up going to a tenure lecture at noon on Friday -which was pretty cool. I really love how when doctors interview for positions the students are so directly involved. I actually got to go over some of the guys future research projects with him after the talk. After that though, I helped professor Porter in the lab for Top 10 day.

     So we bring all these students to campus and tell them you get direct contact and opportunities with the professors and personal attention. I remember back when I was looking at Wabash and they kept talking about how the professors in your major sort of become like a family to you. It really sort of dawned on me when I was walking around helping the high school seniors that what they had told me had come true. Friday morning, I'm walking by the lab, see my professor mixing some chemicals, and stop in. He tells me he's running the lab for top 10 day, I ask if he needs help, and just like that I'm in the lab that afternoon. 

     It was just a very good moment and realization for me to see that all the "talk up" about Wabash has been pretty true for me so far. I do know my professors very well and I do feel like the chemistry department is a sort of "home." 

Posted by Jake Ezell at 04:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

     So I paid for leaving Friday and Saturday. Sunday night was a long night of work followed by a completely full Monday morning. It literally was work almost all day. I underestimated the complexity of my art project and it ended up taking me a solid 10-16 hours this week alone, ha my back is sore from leaning over it. It looks good though... picture to come.

     Tuesday was another full day of running around because I had an organic test today. The test went alright and all but its literally a subject were the different between a dashed wedge and a shaded in wedge is 2-3 points. A few of those and you're dropping grades real fast. I'm setting the over under at about 80. I'd be happy to get above that - this was supposed to be our hardest test though. 

     Bio quiz Friday, so just a little more to go and I can finally lock things up this week.

Posted by Jake Ezell at 06:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

    From Wednesday on, last week was pretty typical. I had a few meetings and all - but nothing real exciting. 

    Friday night I went up to Purdue (30 minutes north). I ended up dressing up as Lieutenant Dangle from Reno 911, I know a phenomenal idea. haha PU was pretty fun though I went to an apartment party with my buddy from high school. I saw a lot of Roncalli grads from a few years ago.

    Last night I went down to IU (hour and a half south). This time I went to see my cousin. We did the costume thing again, but not so many other people haha. It was fun to go off campus for a weekend and take a break from Crawfordsville. 

    I found out I was accepted into the Religion 272 Immersion Course this weekend. That means I just got a free Spring Break trip to Italy next semester =)

Posted by Jake Ezell at 01:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)