Looking back: 7 Things I’ve Learned at PLU

Happy Wednesday, everyone! I hope you’re all doing well, and keeping up with everything during these hectic times. If not; good -- then I’m not alone!  

April turning into May marks the beginning of my last month at PLU _ever_ (!!!), and I don’t even know how to begin processing my time here coming to an end. I should be a pro by now, considering that I technically graduated last May as well with my undergraduate degree. Because I knew I’d be doing grad school at the same university, though, graduating didn’t really bring any significant changes to my life. In a way, this past year has just felt like an (extremely time consuming) senior year. But now… I have to leave??? 
 
As I am approaching the end of my PLU ~journey~, I’ve been trying to piece together a few lessons I have learned about myself and college throughout the years. Because what’s the point of paying $40+K in tuition every year if you don’t collect some life wisdom on the side? So for my last blogpost ever, I want to share 7 tips/lessons/nuggets-of-advice I’ve learned during my time at PLU. 
 
To preface, I know the majority of these “tips” have been repeated countless times, and I don’t claim any of them to be groundbreaking. But they’re clichés for a reason! So without further ado… here are seven things I’ve learned in college: 
 
1.     Time management is key, but don’t hesitate to ask for help
College is notorious for introducing the challenge of navigating a work-life balance. Balancing academics, social life, self-care, athletics, laundry, etc. etc. etc. is entirely possible – but you need to be intentional about how you manage your time. For me, time management manifests through my planner. Some weeks I like to leave things as blank as possible to give myself a lot of flexibility with my free time, and other weeks I need to schedule my days hour-by-hour in order to get everything done. 
 
While planning has been a consistent tool to manage my time while at PLU, my planner can’t predict my energy levels or mental health. Sometimes, the idea of balancing an identity of “good student” and “mentally stable student” feels like a cruel joke… and unfortunately, that’s just college (and life, lol)! This brings me to the second half of this lesson; asking for help is not only advised, sometimes it’s absolutely necessary. Don’t hesitate to lean on the community around you for help, whether that be asking for an extension because you just can’t get something done, seeking guidance from friends you look up to, or using PLU’s counseling resources when things feel particularly challenging. 
 
2.     You don’t have to have it all figured out
This is a phrase I have heard _a lot_ over the past few years. It speaks for itself, but I think it’s a helpful and comforting reminder for when things feel chaotic; you don’t need to have all the answers! Whether you are unsure about your major, what you want to do after college, etc., try to remind yourself that it’s okay (and super normal!!!) to not have everything figured out!
 
3.     You’re a person first, student second
THIS. You guys – 
I spent a large portion of my undergraduate years being consistently burnt out, because my sense of priority and responsibility rotated entirely around my identity as a student. Don’t get me wrong; prioritizing school and being on top of things is great, but this is where that work-life balance comes in again… you have to make time for things that “fill your cup” personally too. Sometimes I like to pencil in specific activities in my planner, as a written reminder to make time for myself, although I recognize that this is a little much for the average person. Another approach I take is to set aside an hour or two of the day where I “have to” take the time off, and when that time comes around I just do whatever I feel like in that moment. In short, try to be intentional about taking care of yourself and your free time – and this looks different for everyone!
 
4.     Critical thinking is a skill -- and it requires practice
It’s not realistic that you will only take classes that you love and are passionate about. Frankly, I did not care about most of the classes I took at PLU (sorry profs!). That said, one thing I really cherish about GenEds and other classes you might not have an affinity towards, is that it taught me to think about a number of different issues from various perspectives. I do want to note that it is perfectly fine to not like a class and have that reflect in your motivation, I definitely allocated my time and effort into classes disproportionately, based on my level of interest. My point is that some classes you just have to endure, but you can also do more than just endure them; you can enjoy them! For me, this enjoyment came from exercising my ability to think about issues I otherwise had never reflected on. Because thinking is a skill, these classes allowed me to practice and broaden my critical thinking skills, which in turn improved my performance in classes I really did care about!
 
5.     Take a class just for fun!
On a similar note, I would highly recommend taking a few classes just for fun during your time at PLU. I realize that not everyone is able to take classes outside of their major due to constraints with time and/or credit requirements, but if you have an available spot; try taking a class just because it sounds fun! My sophomore year I took a class with a professor who made going to class the highlight of my week. I would wake up in the morning and look forward to grabbing a coffee and sitting in her classroom for two hours. I loved the class (and professor) so much that every time registration came around I searched for any classes taught by that professor, evaluating whether any of them would align with my other required courses. I ended up taking four classes with this professor, and all four are ranked as my favorite classes I took at PLU. They had little/nothing to do with my major, I just really enjoyed the topics and how this professor taught her class. Long story short: take a class just for fun!
 
6.     Things rarely go as planned
Once again, I’m sure we’ve all heard this one before – so no need to elaborate. As a self-proclaimed control freak, I found it difficult to deal with unforeseen changes in my life, whether that be a project for school, a friendship growing distant, a relationship ending, or what have you. Even though we all know that things don’t go as planned, I still think it’s an important reminder. This pandemic has resulted in a lot of sudden and startling changes for most people, so this lesson is still really fresh. That said, I find that “smaller” changes in plans can feel just as unsettling, making this lesson applicable to a lot of circumstances where things don’t go as you’d hoped or planned. 
 
7.     It’s okay to not always feel put together, but be mindful of how certain behaviors can fuel a negative loop
College is a time when many people are living “alone” for the first time, and it can be a tricky transition. If you’re used to having a lot of routine chores taken care of by your parents, like cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc., the addition of these small, everyday tasks can feel disproportionately challenging. Pairing that with the general stress of being a college student, it’s easy to get off-track and neglect essential activities. For me, making regular meals for myself was the first thing to go whenever I got stressed. If I was feeling really overwhelmed, I would justify that I didn’t have time for cooking, and would wait to eat dinner until it was “convenient” (i.e., McDonalds at 11pm). Aside from eating, there are many other things that can make us feel like we’re not put together, like falling asleep with our clothes on from the day before, not getting ready for the day, etc. I want to emphasize that these behaviors are perfectly okay in moderation, because nobody feels put together all the time. The problem is when the lack of routine becomes self-perpetuating, fueling a negative loop of behaviors that only make you more stressed and tapped for energy.
 
 
And that’s it! I was originally aiming for a clean “10 tips I’ve learned at PLU”… but my list ran dry after seven – so there you go! All of these tips reflect challenges that I faced personally while going to PLU, and many are things that I still need to remind myself of. I’m hoping that my reflections can resonate with current/prospective students, or at least make you feel better about the whole adulting thing. With that said, this post marks the end of my blogging career! 
 
I’ll end with a quick thank you to PLU & Co. for the memories; it’s been (mostly) a blast!
 
-- Megan 
 

In-person Events This Spring

 Hello, it’s Megan!

I hope you’re all doing well (all things considered), and staying healthy! It’s no secret that campus life has looked a lot different in the past year, and reimagining what “social” means has been a ~journey~ to say the least. Spring Semester is when we get to enjoy our campus in all its glory, and take advantage of all the outdoor spaces PLU has to offer. In the context of COVID, the outdoors offers greater real estate to gather safely, and there are multiple initiatives on campus taking advantage of this. Today, I want to share some of the opportunities for in-person connection that are available to our current students. The Student Life Centers have organized a variety of weekly events that allow students to socialize in person, with peers and other members of the PLU community. 

I feel like the threshold for meeting and engaging with new people is a lot higher now than before, and although you might not feel like it’s necessary either, I know for myself that I need to actively challenge myself to socialize. Whether you resonate with that, or you’ve been looking for ways to chat and interact with others, I recommend trying out one of the events below; they’re made for you!

 

1)    NatSci Strolls

The Department of Natural Sciences is hosting weekly walks for anyone interested. This twice-a-week walk gives people a chance to meet up in person for a casual stroll around campus. A Natural Sciences faculty member will lead the group on an easy 20-minute walk beginning at the Rieke Science Center on lower campus. Most walks feature a different guest to share their expertise with the group. We’ll stick to the same route, so you can join or leave the walk at any point along the way. Students, staff and faculty from any area of PLU are welcome to join – the more the merrier!

 

Schedule:

Tuesdays 9:30-10am

Thursdays 1:30-2pm 

Walk agenda:

5 min – assemble between Morken and Rieke

20 min – walk our loop around campus

5 min – say farewell and head back to our next class/meeting/etc.

Please note that they expect everyone to wear masks

 

2)    Study Hall in the Library

Looking for other people to study with? Join the Diversity Center for study hall in the first floor of the library! The Diversity Center is hosting a study hall every Thursday from 2:30pm-4:00pm, which gives you 1.5 hours to get some studying done -- in a social setting. Check in with the dAdvocates for a chance to win some prizes!

They will be observing the Library's COVID-19 precautions, including physical distancing, masks, and no eating. 

3)    Coffee Chats

The Student Life Center’s staff have organized a “coffee chats” initiative, and they want to have coffee with you! All students are invited to sign up (link above) to have coffee with a Center’s staff member, and they’ll pay! Social distancing will be observed, and gives you a chance to enjoy a cup of coffee outside – free of charge! All of the Student Life Center staff members have a short bio up on the website, and you can see whether there is anyone in particular you’d like to connect with. Again, you can schedule your coffee chat online, using the link embedded in the ‘Coffee Chats’ title!

 

4)    Walk and Talks

Lastly, Campus Ministry offers the chance to “see a face, bump an elbow” every Thursday for in-person walks with Campus Ministry staff. The link in the title takes you to a Google Doc, which shows a full calendar for the semester. These walks are happening every Thursday at 10am, as well as other rotating times/days – so be sure to check the calendar if you’re interested! They meet outside the AUC clock tower, and there is no sign-up needed. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 2020 Election: A guide for International Students

On Monday, I had the opportunity to attend a webinar hosted by Cornell Law professor Stephen Yale-Loehr, called “Ballots and Borders: Election 2020”. The webinar provided an in-depth explanation of the U.S. immigration system, and laid out what is at stake for international students and scholars who are studying in the U.S. during or after the 2020 election.

As I exited the Zoom call at the end of the webinar, I found myself more informed in certain areas of U.S. politics, yet I was filled with more questions than ever when it comes to the U.S. election system “in action”. For context, I am a dual U.S./Norwegian citizen, and have spent the majority of my life in Norway, until I moved to the U.S. three years ago to attend PLU. I have inquired about the U.S. election system countless times, knowing that my status as a citizen permits me to vote in elections – so it might be handy to know how things work around here. That said, I still don’t fully understand how it works, and I probably never will, because if there existed an award for “World’s Most Unnecessarily Complex and Confusing Election System”, it would most certainly be handed to the U.S. of A. To help clear things up for my fellow international students, this blogpost will serve as a guide to the U.S. presidential election, and how its outcomes might affect you.

Primary Election vs. General Election

The presidential election process can be divided into the primary election, also known as the “primaries”, and the general election. The primary election serves as a stepping stone to the general election, and is used to determine who the primary candidate of each party should be. The primaries are run by each respective state and their local governments, where voters cast ballots for their preferred candidate. Some states, like Iowa, Nevada, and Wyoming, choose to elect a presidential nominee through a caucus instead of a primary election. In this case, eligible voters gather at local “caucus meetings”, where they discuss and vote on the presidential candidates.

After the primaries conclude, the presidential nominees are chosen for each party based on the results. The nominees can then announce their selection for vice president, and together they can start campaigning to win the popular opinion in the general election. In other words, the general election is characterized by only having one presidential candidate per political party. This year, the general election will be held on November 3^rd, and it is always held on the first Tuesday of November, every fourth year.

 

The Electoral College

To me, the electoral college is the most perplexing element of the election system. Unlike many other democracies in the world, the U.S. president is not selected based on a national popular vote. Instead, citizens in each state cast their general election ballot, which votes a number of party representatives into what is called the Electoral College, where their main objective is to elect a President after Election Day. Without going into too much detail, a presidential candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the election, out of a total 538 possible votes. The closest attempt to make this process representative is designating a fixed number of electoral votes to each state based on its population size. For instance, California has a population of nearly 40 million, and so they receive a significant number of electoral votes, 55 to be exact, compared to smaller states such as New Mexico, who receives 5 electoral votes. Are we overwhelmed yet?

It’s worth noting that this system has been critiqued by Americans and non-nationals alike, arguing that it is not representative of the actual public opinion. Instead, the public’s opinion is used to elect other politicians, who then get to make the “final call” as to who becomes President. A good example of how this process may be unrepresentative is the 2016 presidential election, where candidate Hilary Clinton actually won the popular vote by nearly 3 million people. This means that there were three million more ballots cast for Clinton than Trump, however… we all know how that turned out. One reason for this outcome, and one of the main critiques of using an electoral college to determine the outcome of an election, has to do with the number of electoral votes allotted to smaller states. The argument is that there exists an imbalance in voting power between different states, and although larger states receive more electoral votes – it is still not proportional across the board. Essentially, voters who live in larger states may feel as though their vote has less of an impact than those who live in smaller states. This is because smaller states still receive a substantial number of electoral votes – and may have a larger say in the outcome than what is proportional to their population size.

 

The 2020 Presidential Candidates

The webinar I mentioned at the beginning of this blogpost was mainly spent reviewing each of the presidential candidates in regard to where they stand on immigration matters, and how this might affect international students. Immigration has been a signature issue for Trump throughout the 2016 election, as well as his past four years in office. In short, he will very likely continue his efforts to reduce both legal and illegal immigration, which will consequently affect the international student population in the U.S. as well. Most notably, the Trump administration has recently proposed the elimination of “Duration of Status” for F-1 students. “Duration of Status” allows F-1 students (and other student visa holders) to stay in the U.S. without a hard expiration date, and it allows students to renew their paperwork pretty easily if said student would like to pursue further education in the U.S. after their initial program end date. The elimination of “Duration of Status”, then, would result in heightened restrictions for how long international students may be permitted to stay/renew their stay in the U.S. after they finish their program.

Biden, on the other hand, is interested in reverting many of the immigration laws and policies that have been passed under the Trump administration, and supports a comprehensive immigration reform. Just some food for thought!

With that said, I want to encourage all eligible voters to GO VOTE PLEASE, and fellow international students – tell your friends what’s at stake and to GO VOTE PLEASE!!! :-) 

 -- Megan

Sources:

https://www.columbiaspectator.com/spectrum/2020/10/19/international-student-guide-to-the-us-presidential-elections/

https://www.cfr.org/election2020/candidate-tracker

“Borders and Ballots: Election 2020” Webinar, hosted by Stephen Yale-Loehr

 

5 Ideas for a Safe and Fun Summer in Washington!

Hey everyone, it’s Megan!

I hope the summer has treated you well thus far, despite the restrictions we are all facing. I myself have found it challenging to keep busy, and I’m always looking for new things to do in the area. With that in mind, I wanted to share with you some items off of my summer to-do list; some of which have been crossed off already, while others have yet to be explored. Taking the context of this summer into consideration, it’s important to tailor your activities to current safety guidelines, so the following ideas will all be social distance-friendly for that purpose. Because I’m writing this with a PLU audience in mind, I have specifically included activities that don’t require extensive travel from the general Tacoma area. So, without further ado – here are five ideas for a safe and fun summer in WA!

Rodeo Drive-In Theatre

Port Orchard, 43 minutes away from campus

The family-owned Rodeo Drive-In Theatre is Washington’s largest outdoor theatre complex, with 3 projection screens and a total capacity of about 1,000 cars! Although drive-in theaters are often perceived as a ‘blast from the past’, this activity has experienced a rediscovery of sorts in recent years, and today they are nearly as well-attended as back when our grandparents would go! Bring some friends, some lawn chairs, and pocket money for snacks!

I have yet to check this one off my list, but I am determined to make a night of it sometime this summer! The Rodeo Drive-In Theater is currently up-and-running, and in compliance with Phase 2 reopening guidelines. Gates open 7:30 pm Friday-Tuesday (closed on Wednesday and Thursday), and the show starts at dusk. Check out their website here for a weekly movie schedule, advance ticket purchase, as well as some more detailed information about what to expect. A night at the drive-in theatre will be a memory for the books, and the best part is that there are very few COVID-restrictions due to the nature of this activity; you are automatically socially distancing!

Northwest Trek Wild Drive/Wild Walk Experience

Eatonville, 35 minutes away from campus

The Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is located in Eatonville, WA, and they are dedicated to conserving native Northwest wildlife and natural habitats. Under normal circumstances, Northwest Trek allows visitors to roam their parks and interact with the habitat, but in response to COVID-19 they are now offering alternative experiences; the Wild Drive and/or Wild Walk Experience!

The Wild Walk is the new, safe way to experience the Norwest Trek’s central exhibit area. It allows you to walk down a one-way path to see native wildlife like grizzlies, bald eagles, otters, cougars, wolves, and more – while staying safe, healthy, and socially-distanced. Some things to keep in mind: wear a mask, bring a water bottle, and they don’t take cash!

A map of Wild Walk experience at Northwest Trek.

The new Wild Drive is the other way to see Northwest Trek. This is a separate ticketed experience from Wild Walk, and it offers an hour-long tour of their facilities from the comfort of your own car! You tune into a specific radio-frequency to get the tour audio, and you meet bears, cats, canines, and so much more on the trip. You can order tickets online off their website here, and if you’re interested; act quickly! They seem to be going fast!

Anderson Island

Ferry departs from Steilacoom; Island is 20 minutes away by ferry

This is perhaps my most recent endeavor, as I took a trip to Anderson Island this past week. Anderson Island is the southernmost island in the Puget Sound, and is accessible by boat or a 20-minute ferry ride from Steilacoom. Although the island has a limited array of activities, you don’t need more than one; the old swimming hole. The Ol’ Swimmin’ Hole, or Lowell Johnson Park, has two separate, cordoned off swimming areas – one for the “Big Kids”, and the other for the “Little Un’s”. The park features a floating “V” dock, water slide, sandy beaches, a sand volleyball court, and picnic areas. It is known as “The Ol’ Swimmin’ Hole” by locals because of its historic origin as a gathering place for bathing before electric power was introduced to the Island in the 60’s. Today, it’s just a really good place to spend a summer afternoon.

Although there might be some concerns about social distancing, I wanted to include this idea after my own experience traveling to Anderson Island this week. The old swimming hole was not very crowded despite the amazing weather, and it was very easy to maintain social distancing as few people are spread out over a large area. Some features, such as the floating dock, are a little less distanced, so I’ll leave that up to your discretion. I had a really nice day on the island, however, and would highly recommend this hidden jewel to anyone looking for something to do nearby! You can buy walk-on tickets if you don't have a car, and remember to check the ferry schedule here to plan your trip ahead of time.    

Local Thrift Shopping

Thrifting adventures last weekend

Refresh your summer wardrobe on a budget! Although this idea is a little vaguer in terms of location, I would highly recommend hitting up some of your local thrift stores this summer. As a self-proclaimed shopaholic, I am always on the hunt for ways to renew my clothing selection, and thrift stores are by far my favorite way to do just that! Although thrifting may seem like a daunting task at first, it merely requires some patience and a good eye for potential in order for your shopping trip to turn into a success. I have countless finds from thrift stores that have now become staple pieces in my closet, and they were all under $5! I normally go thrifting on days that are a little overcast, and I give myself a small budget to work with, as well as a list of a few clothing genres to stick to. This adds a little personal challenge, and it prevents me from getting things I’m not actually looking for. Some of my personal favorites are Bargain World, Parkland Thrift Center (50% off on Saturdays!!!), Goodwill, etc. If you are looking for more upscale finds, I suggest going to thrift stores that are located in high-income zip codes; trust me, it works!

Take a Hike!

At least we tried :-)

Not a groundbreaking suggestion, perhaps, but after months inside; I think it’s worth a mention! I recall the last hike I went on, which was right around the start of quarantine. A couple of friends and I hiked Rattlesnake Ledge thinking that it would be a good idea for social distancing (surprise: we were wrong). With that in mind, I would suggest not choosing the most popular hike in the greater Seattle-Tacoma area, so hopefully you can learn from my mistakes! Washington Trails Association consistently updates their website with information regarding hiking in the time of coronavirus, which I will link here. Here are some things they say to keep in mind:

•         Plan ahead: Aim for lesser-traveled trails, and pick a couple of backup trails in case your first pick is crowded. For a complete guide of hiking options in WA, check out WTA’s Hiking Guide!
•        Practice physical distancing: When you see approaching hikers, give them a little “on your right (or left)!” to let them know you’re coming towards them. Give each other space, and cover your mouth when passing.
•        Clean up: Respect public lands and communities by making sure that anything you bring with you is also brought back/thrown away properly. After all, Mother Earth is going through enough already!

Hiking is such a great way to soak up the summer while still being active, so I will definitely be giving some of our local trails a visit throughout the next few months!

***

Alright – I think that’s all I have for this time! I hope I gave you all some ideas for activities to try this summer, while still practicing social distancing in the process. We don’t have to be bored just because summer looks a little differently this year, and I encourage you all to make the most out of this time despite some restrictions. Stay safe, everyone!

-- Megan