Big Change

Hi Friends! Goodness it's been a long time. I had a great summer--I spent it in Logan (I definitely suggest everyone do this at some point in your time at Utah State). This semester has been so busy. I'm working for USU Residence Life as a Peer Mentor (blog about this to come soon) and I'm also an Undergraduate Teaching Fellow for the Beginning Latin class.

Here's a much needed update about my academic career here at USU:
I am changing my major to Liberal Arts with minors in Math, Latin, and Ancient Greek. That's right folks, I will not longer be a Mathematics Education major. I have always been uneasy with the idea of being a math teacher, but I never knew to what I could change my major. Well...the time has come. Finally, in my fifth year of school--don't worry, a lot of people take the 5 or 6 year track :)--I feel like I'm headed in the right direction.

So, I'm guessing you're thinking two things:

One: "What on earth is a Liberal Arts major?" The Liberal Arts Major offers a broad and challenging course of study in the humanities, sciences, arts, and social sciences. It allows a student to really explore all different aspects of the humanities, arts, sciences and social sciences and this major allows the student to develop an individualized curriculum in consultation with the program advisor. Check out the USU General Catalog to find out more.

Two: "Liberal Arts majors? Don't they just flip burgers when they graduate? " Yeah, I guess that's an option, but that's not what I'm going for. I am planning on going to graduate school either at a seminary or a university with a divinity school (like Yale, Harvard, etc.). I am interested in Biblical Studies with some sort of language emphasis. The reality is I don't know exactly what I will be doing when I finish that sort of degree, but it's a start at least.

Well, I hope the semester is treating you well. I'm glad I am finally able to catch everyone up on my major change (in both senses of the phrase).

-Shayla

Cache Humane Society

Hi friends! Sorry it's been so long since I've updated! This semester has been epically busy.

I've recently stumbled upon a really wonderful new activity--volunteering at the Cache Humane Society! I found out about it through a friend. They hold volunteer orientation every 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at 4PM. It's a really awesome opportunity to serve the community and get some "pet therapy."

My friend and Vicki and I go in at 8AM on Saturday mornings and spend a few hours cleaning out cat kennels (they clean them everyday!) and playing with the cats. The whole place runs like a well-oiled machine. It's very well-maintained and it's funded purely by donations from the public!

Here are pictures of two of my favorite cats, Saffron and Jimbo:

Saffron

Jimbo

Saffron is a sweet, cuddly little girl who just loves attention. If you sit on the ground in the communal (a large enclosed area for the socialized cats), she'll immediately crawl onto your lap. I haven't hung out with Jimbo much, but I'm a sucker for his sad-looking eyes that just scream "take me home!"

If you love animals and you want to contribute to the Cache Valley community, definitely check it out when you come up here!

Peace out,

Shayla M.

Check out the website if you're interested: http://www.cachehumane.org/CHS/Main.html

Top Ten Ways to Stay Sane Second Semester

Here are (my) Top Ten Ways to Stay Sane Second Semester:

10 -- Take naps! (If you're on campus, the TSC has some very comfy couches)

09 -- Eat chocolate

08 -- Listen to some of your favorite music while relaxing on your bed

07 -- Take frequent breaks while studying (every 45 minutes or so?)...to enhance these breaks, I usually go look at interesting books throughout the library :)

06 -- Take up a new hobby (crochet, eating contests, join a campus club*, paint, etc.)

05 -- Read a book...NOT a textbook

04 -- Explore the wonderful and beautiful Cache Valley--(e.g take a tour at the Pepperidge Farm Factory** or at Gossner Foods***)

03 -- Go see a movie!****

02 -- Laugh often (I try to laugh at least once a day)

01 -- Do something you love to do, and do it often

Hopes this helps,

Shayla :)

*https://www.usu.edu/asusu/clubs/

**http://www.pepperidgefarm.com/

***http://www.gossner.com/home/gossner/index.php

****http://www.westatestheatres.com/logan.htm

Best First-Week-of-School EVER!

Hi friends!

Ok, are you ready for this? This week has been one of the BEST first weeks of my entire school career. I am finally in a class as specific to my major as classes get: MATH 4500 "Methods of Secondary School Mathematics Teaching." Quite a mouthful. But a beautiful mouthful! I have this class from 7:30-10:15AM on Tues. and Thurs. It's really long, but the professor is so great. He is really engaging and definitely doesn't lecture the whole time. He asks us great questions and challenges our thinking. I had to read 40 pages from the textbook and so far I actually enjoy reading my textbook! Mostly because it contains everything I'd ever want to know about teaching math to middle school and high school students--my passion.

I am so stoked, you guys. This is the class I have been waiting for. And I'm planning on doing some extra projects that go along with this class through the Honors Program (more about my experience of Honors in a later post). So hip-hip-hooray for school! I am also taking a neat class from the same professor, MATH 4400 "History of Mathematics and Number Theory." Who doesn't want to learn about how math came about? Come on, you know you're curious! :D I assure you it's going to be interesting! I'll keep you posted on how the semester plays out--I am SO EXCITED!!

Until next time,

Shayla--Your incredibly nerdy, math-loving USU Friend :D

Finals Week Fall 2009

Hi everyone!

Man this semester has been CAH-RAZY! Two finals down (one of which I proctored since I'm a TA for STAT 1040) and three more to go. I am just so excited for this week to end. My MATH 5710 class (doesn't that just make you cringe a little? A 5000-level math class? yeah, me too) has been my hardest this whole semester--and the kind of funny thing about it is the title of the course is Intro to Probability. A 5000-level "intro" class? You better believe it.

Oh, and the reading of Caesar went well. I can't tell you how awesome it was to be reading and translating REAL Latin! Not just sentences made up by some textbook author. And we'll be reading Viril's The Aeneid next semester. I've been told that reading Virgil is one of the BEST reasons to take Latin. So now I'll get to find out of this is true. Anyway, I hope December is treating you all well! And that you have a fantastic holiday season! I know I will.

I though I'd add a picture I took of my MATH 5710 book while lounging on the quad in November (before it got cold and snowed). Just thought it was neat with Old Main in the background :)

Peace out friends!

Lingua Latina (The Latin Language)

Hey friends!

Today I wanted to write a little bit about my passion for Latin.

"Latin?" You might say.

"Yes, Latin."

"That dead language that Caesar knew? 'Carpe Diem' and all that?"

"Yes, the very same."

"Ummmmm...why?"

Actually, I am studying it because of a professor. A professor whom I had for CLAS 1100 (basically a class about the study of word origins), Dr. Mark Damen. He's a Latin/History/Drama professor who encouraged me to take Latin and said that he thought that I would really enjoy studying it. And he was right. So, moral of the story is, weigh the advice of your professors heavily, they often know more about you and your learning style than you would think.

All anecdotal stories aside, I thought I'd include some fun phrases in Latin so you can impress your friends:

Excuses

My dog ate it.
Canis meus id comedit.

I did call. Maybe your answering machine is broken.
Sane ego te vocavi. Forsitan capedictum tuum desit.

Baby, Sweetheart, would I lie to you?
Amicule, deliciae, num is sum qui mentiar tibi?

I was kidnapped by aliens. What year is it?
Hostes alienigeni me abduxerunt. Qui annus est?

Insults

I think some people in togas are plotting against me.
 Sentio aliquos togatos contra me conspirare.

I laugh at you! Derideo te!

May faulty logic undermine your entire philosophy. Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant.

If Caesar were alive, you'd be chained to an oar.
Caesar si viveret, ad re mum dareris.

Oh, and one last thing. We're going to start reading Caesar's Invasion of Britain in my second-year Latin class. So excited. Just got my book in the mail. I'll keep you posted!! :)

A Little Bit About Me...and Why I'm Here

Hey guys! Just wanted to write a brief post about me and why I chose to come to Utah State University. I was born and raised in Utah (Riverton, Utah--yeah Silverwolves!). My parents are both from out of state, so I grew up visiting other parts of the country quite frequently. I am a Secondary Math Education Major with a Latin Teaching Minor.

You may be asking: So Shayla, why Utah State?

Well, let me tell ya, I was NOT planning on coming to school here. I applied to several other schools in-state (USU, U of U, Westminster, SUU) and a couple out of state (UCONN, Colorado School of Mines). I got accepted to all of them, and I got great scholarships from most of them. So it was a tough call. But the crazy thing is, I had almost completely thrown out the idea of going to Utah State. I was trying to decide between U of U and SUU, thinking that if I didn't even consider Utah State, my life would be easier. But then I got invited to Scholars' Day.

I took my campus tour and my world was turned upside down.

I fell IN LOVE with Utah State and its campus. I fell in love with the old, collegiate and regal buildings, the college-feel, the college town, the residence halls, the TSC, Old Main, the Quad surrounded by trees--it just felt like college should feel. I could totally picture myself walking from class to class, chatting with classmates about nerdy details of the previous lecture, and enjoying every stinkin' minute of it. Cheesy, I know, but OH-so-true. And that was that. While my father and I drove home, all I could think about was college. And Utah State. And how I was so excited to spend the next 4 (or 5, or 6) years there. The rest is history.