The Journey that is Seth Nelson: Don't Stop Believin'

Exit of a Legend, a New Chapter for the Journey that is Seth Nelson

2010-05-28T11:54:00.000-07:00

Hi, I’m John Webster, a Junior Spanish and International Economics & Cultural Affairs (phew, wordy, I know) major at Valparaiso University. I work in the Office of Admissions here and I’ve known Seth well through the office and through his ties with current students. I’m here to write a tribute to Seth as he leaves us tomorrow to head to Dubuque, Iowa to begin classes at Wartburg Theological Seminary on his way to being a pastor.

Seth has been a strong and steady presence for me and many other students in my class. He’s a regular attendee of Morning Chapel, and being a very approachable person, many students including myself have found him to be a good resource for advice as well as learning about quirky differences of campus just four years ago. I’m very happy for Seth and his future at Wartburg Theological Seminary in Iowa with his wife Jen, but I’m going to miss Seth and his warm, friendly, good-natured, hilarious spirit.

Seth told me he’s going to miss the community of Valpo that he has grown to know as home over his six years here. He is definitely excited to return to school though, as he found a love of learning at Valpo. As we all find, what makes college a memorable experience is the funny experiences with friends. Freshman year, Seth took a trip up to Chicago on the South Shore Line to visit a friend. Upon returning however, he realized he had forgotten to arrange a ride between his stop and Valpo. Being cellphoneless during his freshman year, Seth realized he had to “hoof it,” and so he embarked on a four hour walk back to campus, after stopping at A&W in Chesterton. In the fall of his Sophomore year, Seth met the girl that would become his wife at ultimate frisbee practice. Later in his Sophomore year, Seth went roadtripping with friends in Cleveland, they arrived at midnight but in the spirit of travel they discussed the other places they could go and how close they were. They ended up seeing the sun rise over Niagara falls at 6:30AM that morning. Other favorite memories of Seth’s include studying abroad in Namibia in the fall of his Junior year, getting engaged to Jen during the following summer, sprinkling the Center for the Arts snow covered lawn with fruity pebbles shot from a large potato gun with his good friend John Unrath, and last but not least, roasting marshmallows on the torches at our campus entrance.

Seth came to the VU Admission office because he was passionate about bringing students to the school he loved so much. I attest that he enjoyed his work here thoroughly, he’s known for being the enthusiastic, jovial guy that visits everyone’s office. He definitely served the office with the levity that he brings to any situation. He told me most enjoyed travelling to college fairs, particularly when he went to Wisconsin with Michael Hansen, one of our newer Admission Counselors, to train him. Apparently Michael is hilarious, and I expect him to fill the office with levity when Seth’s presence is no more.

In closing, Seth had one simple but sincere thing to say, that I can already agree with: “I am a better person for having come to V

The Value of the Valpo Degree

2010-04-15T11:33:00.000-07:00

Currently, many seniors are surveying FAFSA awards, checking scholarship amounts and figuring out how to afford college. Inevitably, these conversations lead to questions about the value of a college investment. Most everyone knows that employer standards in America require a college degree of some sort, but, when it comes to the question of salaries many will ask; will I earn the same, similar, or maybe even a better salary with a college degree from my cheapest school as with a degree from my most expensive school? How much debt is college really worth? Will there even be enough jobs available for college graduates when I graduate to make college worthwhile?
Questions concerning the value of investment are critical to the college decision process. At the end of the day a college education in America is expensive. Costs of tuition at public, private and community colleges and universities have been steadily rising at a rate that will not slow in the near future. The financial aid system expects most students to cover rising costs with increasing debt loads and has done little to keep tuition rates steady. Though scholarship and grant amounts have risen to help students out, they do not make college affordable for most students. In the end, college will cost money and it will cost a lot of money.
However, when you think about it, shouldn’t college cost a lot? When you consider major investments in life such as a car, a house, living expenses, vacations, etc, shouldn’t college be near the top of the list of things to invest in? A college education prepares students for a vast array of scenarios in the working world and, at excellent schools like Valpo, will give you skills to be a leader in the community, family and the world. These skills are hard to put a price on as their value is immeasurable, but I would say that they are worth a lot. If you do not agree then perhaps a college education is not for you. If, on the other hand, these skills are of great value, then I assure you college is worth the investment.
Furthermore, it is important to view your investment in a different light than paying for a car, an xbox, a vacation or whatever else you might want to spend money on. Unlike many major purchases, your college investment will likely yield greater earnings in return. When one buys a car and drives it for a couple of years, it can be resold but at a much lower rate than its initial price. The difference between what you spend for it and what you sell it for is money that is lost to you. Likewise, there are not many vacations that people will pay you to take. Typically vacation spots are very good at helping you part from your wallet. When paying for college you encounter a different story. Earning a simple bachelor’s degree you will average roughly $20,000 per year more than with a high school diploma (www.earnmydegree.com). As you invest in a college or university you invest in your future career and, unlike other major investments, you will earn more money in your future for the college investment you are making now.

So Why Valpo?

Let me point out that Valpo is not the school for everyone. As a university we have an identity and a mission. If you do not find that you mesh well with the university’s identity or mission, then Valpo may not be your best choice of a university. Yet, Valpo appeals to several varied interests of students, alums, and faculty and appeals to them in good ways. Valpo has an excellent sense of community and academic challenge where members of the community challenge one another to be the best that they can be. We are not a place for students who wish to slack off and waste their educational experience on mediocrity. Valpo is a place for students to behold success, see what they need to do to achieve it and put forth sincere effort in rising to the occasion. Even better than that, students and faculty support one another in their pursuits in order that success not be achieved at the expense of others but, rather, through the aid of others. At Valpo you will see that genuine success involves the betterment of all.
As I think about my friends who walked across the stage with me at commencement I think of Fulbright scholars, PhD candidates, doctors, engineers, lawyers, politicians, global leaders and a vast array of interesting, capable, successful people. My peers at Valpo have gone on to big things because we all supported and challenged one another in big ways while students at Valpo. Our success has not been paved by large family estates or fortunes, big money offers from networks of employers, but rather from the hard earned ability to do things well. Real success is marked by the quality of one’s work and there is no short supply of quality on the campus of Valparaiso University…

Spring Break Experience

2010-04-07T11:27:00.000-07:00

The following is what a current Valpo junior from Wasau, WI has to say about her spring break service trips. Enjoy!
Valparaiso University has a lot of different service options that students can participate in over Spring Break or the summer. As a sophomore on campus, I have had the privilege of going on two of these types of service oriented trips. Last year I went to Nicaragua with the Education Team to teach elementary school children English. Without being an education major, I was welcomed into the group and was able to broaden my horizons by travelling to a foreign country for two weeks. I was able to work on my Spanish since I had learned in Jr. High School and interact with students unable to speak English. I still receive emails from some of my students that I had there.
While that was an amazing experience, this year I decided to stay slightly closer to home. Through the Social Action Leadership Team on campus, I had the opportunity to travel to New Orleans for a week to work on hurricane relief efforts. It has been approximately five years since the devastation has occurred, but there is still plenty of work remaining. For a week I stayed in a church with eleven other students from Valpo. We had an energetic cook named Brenda that shared her experiences of being around during the storm.
Our work consisted of finishing up two houses a few miles down the road. Each had approximately seven feet of water damage from the levees breaking. The first day we were able to hear the stories of the homeowners; one of the men, a firefighter, explained how his division saved upwards of around 500 people from the flooding. Stories of alligators swimming in the water past houses and people breaking through their attics with axes were mind blowing. Now, every attic is equipped with an ax, and anyone that owns a boat must leave the key inside and have the gas tank full just in case it needs to be taken in the event of an emergency.
Physical labor on our end to restore the houses included sanding, mudding, texturing, priming, and painting. The work was at times monotonous, but the looks and gratitude from the homeowners made it entirely worth the blisters accumulated on our hands. It was humbling to know how we could help others so much with only a few hours of our time. On Thursday of the week, we changed up our scenery by air-boating into the marsh to replant hundreds of trees. With Ball Cypress trees in hand and a shovel type device, we covered the marsh with new baby trees for literally as far as the eye could see. The trees are supposed to help block the strong winds caused by hurricanes from reaching the inland areas with as great of an impact as they typically would.
All in all, my trip to New Orleans and my earlier trip to Nicaragua have given me a greater appreciation for what I have and a greater desire to help others. The university here really encourages students to take advantages outside of campus to learn and grow as an individual. I have learned so much from my service oriented experiences, and I can honestly say that they have impacted my life. If you decide to come to Valpo, try to fit in a time, even if it’s only a week, to commit yourself to service somewhere around the world. I guarantee you won’t regret it.

My winter morning walk

2010-02-05T08:37:00.000-08:00

Walking onto campus today I was struck by a subtle contrast. In front of me on my right lay our old union. This was the union building that I visited when I was in high school and utilized as a student. Filled with nostalgia, I remembered a time wrote a paper for my Greek drama class all night long in the 24 hour study lounge. As usual, I put off writing the paper until it was due and I committed the whole of my resting hours to write it well. I most remember the next morning as I walked back to my room. I stepped out of the lounge to the caress of the spring air chill on my fatigued face, the sun ascending over the horizon and the feeling of genuine accomplishment in my heart. That was a subtle moment of my college experience that I will always cherish.
I then thought about the many meetings during which I planned, discussed and deliberated over concerts to bring to campus, community events and a vast array of other activities. Yes, there have been an immeasurable amount of ideas exchanged in that old building that lies vacant now. There have also been many friendships started and nurtured in the old Jester's eating area. This was the main dining area in our old union where many friendly faces could be seen at any given time. When I was a student merely a few years ago, the old union was an active place for relationships to grow, papers to be written and the community to meet.
Then, on my walk this morning, I looked to the left and saw our new union that has been open now for just over a year. It is an impressive space that has added a great deal to our campus life. Though its opening has meant the closer of the union that I new as a student, it is a space that has already earned its stripes by providing good space for community. When I looked at it this morning, I was struck with contrast between it and the old union. The contrast that became apparent to me was not the difference between the spaces themselves. Rather, I was struck by the contrast of change. In that moment the new union was simply that; new. The old union was the reverse; old. The new is place for current students to have their own experiences of paper writing, late night lattes, stressful meetings and ever-welcome chance encounters with friends. It is a place for students to forge priceless memories that bring delight on their morning walks to work. The 'new' is entailed by change and means that everyone is able to have their own experiences. The 'old' is what we remember and the 'new' is what we experience. There is a lot of 'new' going on here. New class discussions, organizations formed, trips planned, games won, teams created, papers written, projects designed, friends made, etc.; are all part of the Valpo experience. Then, when these become 'old', they will stay with you and warm up your winter morning walks...

The Question

2010-01-06T11:39:00.000-08:00

I published this post last year, but thought it may be helpful to those of you who are now in your senior year. Enjoy!

There are interesting times in life when people find it convenient to hound you with questions for which you have no convenient answers. Having recently planned my wedding, I found that the wedding planning process draws a great number of answerless questions. Having also recently graduated, I found several people asking me about job prospects when I had none. Worse than these moments of questioning, though, was my senior year of high school.
In a lot of ways senior year is the best year of high school that one could have. Students, underclassmen, faculty, administrators, parents, etc. treat seniors with much greater respect than freshman, sophomores, or juniors. The red carpet is metaphorically rolled out for the seniors as they enter the school for their final year in the fall. In the school, there are no older students to treat their ambitions and existences as inferior. Furthermore, the sheer excitement of one's ensuing graduation overtakes the whole of the senior class and envelopes it with an energy unparalleled by any other group of students in school. It is just fun to be senior. Well, most parts of the year are fun....
Along with the excitement comes the endless questions. I shouldn't really say the endless 'questions', but rather the question, which is repeated endlessly: "So, where you going to college next year?" This question seems to start at the very beginning of the year. Before you have even gotten your bearings for your final year (and sometimes even before your senior year starts) they ask "the question". At first you hear it just a little. For most, it seems odd that anyone would inquire about which college you prefer at this time of year. How should you know where you want to spend your next four years? You haven't even figured out how you want to spend this year, let alone how you want to spend the four most formative years of your life. Why are they asking about this now? But, most are able to shrug the question off at first with little consequence.
However, as the leaves change and the temperature drops (for those of us in the upper Midwest), the question starts to hit home a little more. The question does not get to you because your answer has changed. You still do not know where to go. How should you know which college is best for you? How could you ever know that? No, the question hits home because you are starting to ask it yourself. You say to yourself: "Wait a minute, where am I going to college?" Your future seems much closer as you become comfortable with your senior status and really begin to realize that you are on your way out. When you pose the question to yourself it seems more daunting and it seems more real than ever before.
And to make it worse, they keep asking you, as well. By they, of course, I mean your parents, teachers, friends, and random adults in the community who you barely know. The only thing that could make the question more appalling to you at this point in time is for them to ask it to you. Sure enough, they do and they don't stop. One person will ask it. Then another. Then another. Then someone who already asked you. Then another.... and so on. Your answer does not change but they ask the question anyway. This is the worst time for them to seek an answer to this answerless question. This is the worst time for your college confusion, as well. You hit a point when you have several schools on your list and no way of deciding between them. The future is looming over you, as well as people nagging you for a decision about which college you will choose.
Though this is a difficult time, my advice is to be patient. The question will sort itself out. It has an almost magical way of eventually finding its own answer. Though the endless questioning continues to bring frustration and confusion, the question of which college is right for you will find a clearer answer down the road. The answer as to which college is for you may not come with total certainty, but be patient and you will be able to see an answer with greater clarity. In time you will find the college that is right for you and, like me, you will reflect on your experience with ease... later on.

Service During the Season and Beyond

2009-12-16T14:09:00.000-08:00

Amber Will, a political science major from Wausau, Wisconsin, shares about Valpo service opportunities at Christmas and throughout the year:

In the spirit of Christmas, we often take time to reflect on all the blessings bestowed upon us. This usually becomes a reflection also on the advantages many of us share when compared to families around the world. Whether we drop a few coins in the red container because the man outside is ringing his bell loudly or we buy a few extra groceries to donate to the food pantry, Christmastime is regarded as a season for giving – no matter how small. Here at Valpo, we join in this charitable spirit through many different aspects of campus life.
There are buy in levels for getting meals in the Union, but there are quite a few students that do not spend all of their money. So it isn’t wasted, there are ways to donate extra meal card money to one of the food pantries in Valparaiso. Just as an example of how much money this can add up to, one semester brought in eleven thousand dollars for Hilltop House! The generosity of giving just a few dollars can add up to packed pantries. There is also a project on campus called Adopt a Family. Looking back at Christmas, I remember running to wake up my parents in order to open up the presents underneath the tree. However, not all kids have this luxury. Adopt a Family allows different organizations on campus to raise money and buy presents for a family in need. This is especially helpful with the economic downturn many parents are facing. There are so many ways to get involved in the giving season at Valparaiso University.
But we don’t stop there. The community here doesn’t just want to donate and help others during this freezing season. Many organizations do countless philanthropy hours and raise money for various charities and foundations. The Social Action Leadership Team (SALT) run though the chapel does a semester long fundraiser called the World Relief Campaign. This entails adopting a project from some corner of the world and fundraising around campus and the community to raise money to complete it. In years past there have been donations made for educational programs in Jakarta, water pipelines in rural China, and a nutritional program implemented in Uganda. This year, the group is focusing on raising twelve thousand dollars to build a foster home on an orphanage’s property on Ometepe Island in Nicaragua. The government is closing down orphanages and sending all of the children back to potentially unfit families, so to combat the legislation the orphanage is building foster homes on the property so that the children can stay in a safe environment. The funding will provide one house that can hold up to five children. The entire campaign will run throughout the semester extending the season of giving up to the summer months. Valpo is truly a place where students can get involved and make a difference not only in the community but around the world.

Valpo Greek Life

2009-11-17T13:08:00.000-08:00

Hello all,
I know that when I was looking at colleges I was apprehensive about Greek life (fraternities and sororities). I did not understand much about what went on and the things I had heard were not very positive. Since about a third of Valpo students are a member of a fraternity or a sorority, I thought I would include a student perspective of what Valpo Greek life is like. Jacob Tewes is a Junior from Lincoln, Nebraska. Here is what he has to say about his fraternity experience:

"As a prospective college student living in Lincoln, Nebraska, I didn't really have any concept of Greek life or what it entailed. Sure, I'd seen animal house and heard stories about former classmates doing crazy initiations (that I knew weren't all true) at UNL, but I didn't care because it just didn't seem like something for me. When I came to Valpo, I didn't really even realize they were around until a bunch of the guys on my floor started wearing Greek letters around. I'm sure I could have sought them out, but I certainly never felt pressured to rush. Actually, I only became interested when I realized three of the people I respected most on campus just happened to be in the same fraternity. I started checking it out and joined when I came back in the fall. I think it was a great decision and I've really valued my time in the fraternity.

I guess if there's an idea I think prospective students should hear, it would be this: don't be intimidated by Greek life. They aren't going to hunt you down and haze you (at least not at Valpo) and they aren't going to get in the way of your college career. I really like the balance of Greeks and independents (non-Greeks) we have on campus, and I've appreciated Greek life from both perspectives. I knew they did a ton of philanthropy and threw great (all non-alcoholic) dance parties before I joined, and now some of my best friends are my brothers."

Caribou Coffee

2009-10-06T13:35:00.000-07:00

This morning I had two fairs at Aurora Central Catholic and Marmion Academy and just visited South Elgin High School. I was excited to see my sister-in-law's boyfriend at South Elgin H.S., where he teaches physics. It is always fun to see people you know in different places.
I have titled this post Caribou Coffee for a couple reasons. The first is pretty straightforward. I am sitting in a Caribou Coffee shop writing this. A laptop's location is always a viable candidate for a blog post's title. Today location wins out.
My second (and more interesting)reason is offered up by a friend of mine named Paul Frank. Yes, his name is actually Paul Frank and no, he has never designed any clothes. Paul is a friend of mine who also attended Valpo. He came to campus from Maple Grove and studied civil engineering, in case you are wondering. Paul is a fun guy who gets along with most everyone. Never seems to be too angry or wroth with anyone and is always pretty easy going. This makes him very easy to like. However, there are moments when Paul shows great rises in emotion. These moments are usually spaced out and lie dormant within his routinely easygoing nature, but every once in a while they emerge as Paul shows unprecedented amounts of excitement over things that seem seemingly small and ordinary. Paul is known to get energized about all things Swedish, trains, winter and, as pertains to this blog, he has an enduring love for Caribou Coffee.
I have a couple of distinct memories from my undergraduate years at Valpo of different excursions with Paul. We were traveling away from Valpo (there is no Caribou Coffee shop in Valpo) and he remained relatively quiet throughout our travels. Then suddenly, at the sight of a branch of his beloved coffee franchise, he would erupt in a fury of conversation about the delicious nature of Caribou Coffee. Carribou Coffee gave our silent friend voice; his dormant heart joy. It was glorious.
This subject may seem to be a trivial and unimportant point of my Valpo experience, but I assure you it is not. You see, Paul's love for Caribou Coffee made my Valpo experience unique. Not Paul's loves alone, but a combination of unique loves and perspectives from students all over coming together on Valpo's campus and bring them to one campus and academic experience. Paul's love for Caribou is mirrored by Ryan's love for Hamburger Helper (Ft. Wayne), Darryl's love for Van Wilder (Colorado), Holly's love for her free bicycle (California), Shaun's love for Jimmy John's (St. Louis), etc. Students come to Valpo from all over the U.S. and all over the world to share their loves for coffee, food, ideas, music, dance, athletics, and many other aspects of their lives. They influence one another and help one another see other ways of doing things. Together they form a community and this community benefits all who are a part of it.
Thus, I must thank Paul and all my other friends for making my Valpo experience unique. If anyone is wondering, I favor white chocolate mocha's...

On the Road Again

2009-09-24T13:44:00.000-07:00

Well, my travels have commenced once again. This week I traveled around Elgin, Aurora, Oswego, and St. Charles, Illinois. I had a good time visiting with students at every high school I went to and I hope they enjoyed my visits, as well. I must admit, it felt good to see students at every school I went to. That is not always the case. Some schools I travel to do not have any students show up and it kind of bums me out. Now, I am in no way blaming anyone for not attending my high school visits. Often there are tests or certain classwork that keeps students from talking to admission counselors. Furthermore, a lot of students just do not think about taking time out of their class or day to talk to counselors. I was that way. Though I visited several colleges when I was in high school, I never met with any representatives that came to my school. Yet, I think I am in a good place to speak regrettably about not meeting the admission reps who came to my school.
First off, you should meet with counselors in your school because it is pretty cool to get out of class, even if for only 20 minutes. The school day can drone on in a monotonous way and it is nice to get a relief once in a while. On a more serious note, college is perhaps the biggest influence for your future. Don't you think it is a good idea to do a little research about which school you are going to? Even if you are not planning on attending some of the colleges, go talk to the reps. Figure out solidly WHY you do not want to attend that college or university and it will help you figure out why you want to go to the college of your choosing. Information is always helpful and we have a lot of it to share. Take some time to talk to admission counselors coming through your high school. We don't bite and we have a lot of info for you.

New Orleans: the city of Lutherans

2009-07-31T07:48:00.000-07:00

This may seem like an odd title to my post as there are not actually many Lutherans who live in New Orleans. The title does not refer to permanent Lutheran residents but instead refers to the massive amount of Lutheran high school youth who inhabited the city last week during the 2009 National ELCA Youth Gathering. High school Lutherans came from far and wide to unite in the Big Easy and serve the city in many facets. I was blessed with the opportunity to represent Valparaiso University at the gathering and meet students from all over the U.S. I spoke with students from Arkansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York, Washington, Ohio, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Indiana, and even the Virgin Islands and South Africa (to name a few). It was an experience of impressive magnitude as over 36,000 high school students convened in service, worship, and fun. Their efforts were so impressive that they merited a visit and award from the mayor of New Orleans and recognition from President Obama. For those of you who may have attended, shoot me an email at seth.nelson@valpo.edu or connect with me on Facebook at Seth at Valpo. For those of you who were not able to attend, I am up for letting you know more about the experience so you should connect with me, as well!

-Seth

The Cycle of Transformation

2009-06-17T07:49:00.000-07:00

We have just finished up our third FOCUS session out of four. It has been pretty sweet to see everyone finally coming to campus and getting their first taste of what Freshman year will be like. Students have traveled great distances to make it here and have seemed to enjoy most all aspects of their time on campus. Being a Valpo alum myself, it is always fun to picture myself as I was in their shoes. My FOCUS experience was a great opportunity for me to start feeling comfortable with campus. I was able to recognize where buildings were, who my professors were going to be and where I planned to live. Joy abounds in watching other students repeating these same experiences and developments five years later.
Even more so, it is good to see the development of personalities. Though I was obviously the same being when I was an incoming freshman, there were several things that were different about me at that time than now. My hair was longer, my travel experience was thinner, and, amongst other things, I had no college diploma. More than that, I suppose I would label myself as pre-transformed when I was a student at FOCUS. In high school I suppose I would have been classified as a pretty good guy with a relatively insightful view of life. Yet, there was a great amount that I had yet to learn and even more, as with Socrates, that I needed to learn I would never know. My mental and personal state was one of optimism and naivete that is not uncharacteristic of a high school senior. I was hardly worse or better off than the majority of my peers, but rather I was amongst my peers. Together we were waiting to be transformed by life and what was to come, and I think that those of us who chose to come to Valpo were awaiting this transformation more anxiously than most.
Lo and behold, when we came to campus, transformation is what occurred. As we met peers from all over the US and the world our social networks began to grow beyond the regions of our early youth. Not only were we influenced by friends from across the street or across town, suddenly we were challenged to consider the perspectives of friends from the mountains of Colorado, the coast of California, the cold lakes of Minnesota, the peninsula of Michigan, the desert of Saudi Arabia, the cities of Chicago, New York, St. Louis, Cleveland, and beyond. Suddenly, in a brief period of time, I was challenged and afforded the opportunity to view distant places and countries in new ways. I no longer considered New York a distant state filled with people I didn't know. Suddenly New York was the home of James and Matt. Saudi Arabia grew in my mind from being a country with oil deposits to being the place where my friend Ali heralded from. My perspective of the world was transformed by personal, important relationships with students, peers, and friends from all over the country and world. The world was no longer something I studied at impersonal distance but became something I related to through interpersonal conversation.
Likewise, my academic experience was laden with new angles, approaches, ideas, methods, and insights that brought knowledge to a personal level of worth and participation. No longer was my gateway to knowledge exclusively contained in the textbook or on the chalkboard. My learning became a dynamic dialogue that I participated in with my classmates, professors, books, lectures, and a variety of other new methods of intellectual exploration. All of these were invaluably transformative to my mind and my person. These opportunities allowed me to develop into a more reflective and content being who could appreciate the world for the beauty it has to offer.
Seeing students engage in their new campus for the first time at FOCUS brings me to a state of nostalgia at seeing them in the beginning stages of their own cycle of transformation. Valpo changes people and changes them for the better. My life is richer through my Valpo transformation and I am grateful that others will also be transformed.

FOCUS

2009-05-01T12:33:00.000-07:00

Brett Hartmann is a Junior from St. Louis, MO. See what he has to say about his FOCUS orientation experience:

FOCUS was a great way to get ready for my freshman year, and college life in general. I was worried about being in a foreign place without any friends, but quickly made some new ones. That made the transition in the fall much easier because there were already some friendly faces around campus. I got the chance to get used to where my classes would be, so I didn’t feel completely lost on the first day of school. While some of the ice-breakers and games we played felt kind of silly, my Orientation Assistant, Brent, did a great job leading our group and making us all feel comfortable with each other. I also had the chance to meet with an academic advisor so my class schedule was taken care of well in advance. It was fun to stay in the residence halls with other future freshmen. I knew a lot of people who meshed so well with the person they roomed with that they even decided to room together in the fall. One of my favorite memories was a late night run to 7-11 for slurpees- something that may seem small, but helped me to feel like Valpo was home. Overall, I think that the biggest benefit FOCUS offered me was getting ready for the fall and the transition into the new life that Valpo would offer.

-Brett Hartmann, Theology ‘10

The Decision

2009-03-24T10:57:00.001-07:00

Some seniors know by now where they are going to college. Most have at least narrowed down their decision pools. Perhaps some have absolutely no clue. I am not really sure where you might be in all of this, but there is a lot of pressure for even those who have made their college decision. After all, did you actually make ‘the right choice’? Perhaps you screwed up somewhere, overlooked something, or just weren’t thinking of something when you sent your deposit? On the other hand, you could have gotten it dead on. You could have perfectly calculated all that there was to calculate, or simply stumbled onto the college or university that fits you best. But do you know that now? Do you know at this very moment with absolute certainty where you should be going?
The truth is, you cannot know with absolute certainty if your college decision is or was the right decision. It is a leap. Next fall, though you will probably not literally jump onto campus (though you may want to attempt such a feat for its symbolic nature) you will be ‘leaping’ into a different world. The college world is a dynamic place that changes with each incoming class. Though colleges and universities try to attract students who are relatively similar throughout the years, each freshman class has its own identity, persona, and distinct personalities. Therefore, even if you got to know a lot of students when you visited, your experience will not be the same as theirs because your peers will be different than theirs.
Furthermore, the move to college is a ‘leap’ because it is experiential in nature. This means that you need to be in classes and on campus as an actual student to really understand what it is to be a student. When touring campuses, meeting with students, faculty and admission counselors, and even staying overnight, you can get a picture of what your experience will probably be like. However, it is only when you step onto campus and start connecting with students, faculty, and your surroundings that you begin to understand the college experience.
So, your decision is a ‘leap’ of sorts, and not one that should be taken lightly. Thoughtful reflection is required. Yet, anxiety is also unnecessary. Research, questioning, and conversations should have brought you to a place of understanding between different schools. Hopefully, you understand enough about the schools that you are looking at to make an informed decision. Even if you do not have certainty behind your decision-making, you should have information (if you need more about Valpo let me know!).
The research that has brought you this far ideally will enable you to choose between several schools that fit you and your interests well. Though you have a ‘leap’ in front of you, you will not be leaping too far. Through the endless piles of mailings and emailings that you have received, you should be able to deduce a place that will probably fit you well. At that point, you can still make the wrong choice, or a mediocre choice of schools, or the absolutely perfect choice. However, in all probability, whichever school you choose from your shortlist will most likely be exactly or close to what you are looking for.
Valparaiso University, in particular, has one of the highest retention and four year graduation rates in the Midwest. That means that, in all likelihood, you will enjoy it here. So, while you may be stressing out about your future, know that your future experience will probably turn out well at Valpo…

Valpo is fun, but don't take my word for it...

2009-02-24T12:33:00.000-08:00

I thought I would offer up my blog to a current student. Susan Barnes has written down her top ten things to do at Valpo. Enjoy!

Top Ten Favorite Things to Do at Valparaiso University

1. Hanging out with my friends.
2. Playing pool at the Games and Recreational Center
3. Attending basketball games
4. Going to various activities put on by Union Board.
5. Worshiping at Candlelight and Celebrate
6. Playing at the Dunes!!
7. Attending concerts
8. Relay for Life
9. Going to the Athletics Recreational Center (ARC)
10. Colleges Against Cancer

It was actually hard to whittle down all my activities on to a list of ten but I did it! I should probably explain some of them, though. Ok, well, my name is Susan Barnes. I am a sophomore here at Valparaiso University. I am a double major in English and Secondary Education from Peoria, IL.

1. My very favorite thing to do on Valpo’s campus is to hang out with my friends. I came to this campus knowing no one and have met friends that I will be keeping for life. We do anything together from playing games to watching movies. We just love having fun and being with one another.
2. The very new games and recreational center is an awesome place to go to, again, hang out with friends and play pool, ping pong, and foosball. It is a great break between classes or studying. I’m not great at pool, but hey, I still try my best.
3. The basketball games here are awesome! Being surrounded by my friends, covered in brown and gold, cheering on our division one team… what could be better?! The Valpo vs. Butler game last year that was televised on ESPN 2 rocked!! It is completely free to students, you get a chance to win fantastic prizes, and because Valpo’s campus is medium sized, you will probably know most of the players! So much fun.
4. I am actually a member of Union Board. We try really hard to get students involved on and off campus and some of the events are really creative. Coming up we have Valpo After Dark which will have indoor ice skating, caricatures, photo snow globes, and more! I’m really excited.
5. One of the reasons I chose Valpo was for the religious life. Candlelight is on Sunday nights at 10:00 and is a beautiful traditional service where students worship by candlelight. Hence the name. Also, though, we have Celebrate. It is a more contemporary, casual service. It is led by a student band and you can go in your pajamas if you want! That is on Wednesday nights at 10:00.
6. When it is warm, one of my favorite activities is going to the Dunes. This is a beach off of Lake Michigan about 20 minutes from campus. They are beautiful and it is a great escape from every day life.
7. Several concerts are held here on campus by The Source (the campus radio station) and Union Board. Last year, I got to meet the lead singer of Dashboard Confessional and this year I was about twenty feet from Relient K!!! Also, coming up we have David Cook coming. It should turn out to be an awesome concert year.
8. Relay for Life is one of the committees I am on and it is a 12 hour commitment to raise money and walk for Cancer. We have about 50 teams on campus and all the students just have fun and hang out all night, basically, for a good cause. Great times.
9. The ARC (Athletics Recreational Center) is open to students at any time. I love going there for open swim or just to run for some exercise.
10. Colleges Against Cancer is kind of a branch off of Relay for Life. It is more individual fundraising work and volunteering for the community. It allows me to be involved philanthropic events all year round instead of one big Relay for Life night.

“Jimmy’s Café” – synonymous with “God’s Café”

2009-02-09T12:45:00.000-08:00

I am not sure how many of you have visited Valparaiso, IN, but just beyond the edge of campus there is a glorious establishment- Jimmy’s Café. Nestled neatly on a downtown side street, Jimmy’s has a personality that enlivens the area and brings smiles to many a starving soul. Jimmy’s has great prices, great food, and, most importantly, it has great people. The restaurant is owned by a family of Greek immigrants who bring the welcoming spirit portrayed in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” to northwest Indiana. Every time you enter the crowded doorway you are finely greeted with a “Hello, hon’!” Feeling welcomed is a wonderful emotion which never evades me as I enter Jimmy’s Cafe.
The kind, fervor filled service does not cease as you take your seats. Throughout your meal you will feel cared for and important. The waiters never fail to offer kind service, regardless of how full the place may be. At Jimmy’s everyone matters. Everyone cares. Everyone belongs. Just one more thing I love about Valparaiso…

Newnion- noun. Conjunction of "New" and "Union"

2009-01-14T12:27:00.000-08:00

Walking onto campus I was struck with a realization. The large structure that I have been watching come to completion over the last two years is now complete. Though it may seem strange, this thought was hard to fathom. Two years ago, I returned from my semester abroad to find the center of Valpo's campus in shambles. There was a massive crater where a library once stood and the sidewalks that once led peaceably around it had been reduced to muddy paths of doom. It was a difficult transformation for this Lutheran academy to experience, but we all knew that it was necessary for the experience I am now having two years later.
On my walk to work that morning, I realized that the doors of this gorgeous newnion were now open to the public. No longer was I forced to don a hardhat in order to tour a hollow building. I could walk through it... I could experience it... I could personally behold the brand new Harre Union at Valparaiso University.
Being four times the size of its predecessor, the Harre Union is an expansive structure that is already opening a world of new opportunities for Valparaiso University students. There are a seemingly endless amount of study areas for students to relax with their afternoon mocha and Plato, "Kite Runner", or whatever they may be reading that day. There is a 24 hour lounge where students can escape from their roommates to study at any hour of the night. Not even frigid temperatures can keep students from an excellent study experience as there are hearth lounges scattered throughout the building. When it comes to spaces for academic study, Valpo equips the most (and least) studious of students with a new space and atmosphere to aid in their studies.
For those who like to rock out, we have a brand new ballroom on the second floor of our newnion. Spatially, the new ballroom has double the capacity of our old unions Great Hall. The space seats 1,000 students, ostriches, or whatever crazy mammal you would like to squeeze in there. (Actually, I don’t think they allow pets or exotic animals…I will do some research.) This will be plenty of space for Mae, Plain White T’s, Dashboard Confessional, Relient K, or whichever bands students decide to bring in the future.
My favorite part of the newnion is the brand new dining areas. All of our dining services have been finally centralized into one space. Students are now much more likely to randomly intercept their friends between classes as everyone is going to the same place. Yep, the newnion is where the action is. Students from the far corners of campus come to experience the hustle and bustle of activity that is in this new magnificent structure. Did I mention the food? We have hired a new chef to keep the food platters arrayed with a harmony of edible options. Seriously, it is good stuff. We have new pastas, meats, soups, and entrees, in addition to the same old patty melts that I enjoy so much. The newnion provides a dining extravaganza for the most scrupulous of tastes.
I hope any of you who read this will be sure to come visit and experience the new, Harre Union.

Merry Christmas to all!

2008-12-18T08:35:00.000-08:00

Some of you may be asking yourself, "What does my admission counselor like to do around Christmas time?"
Well, I am so glad you asked. Some of my favorite pastimes are as follows:

1) Snow forts. I feel like Will Ferrell in "Step Brothers", but I still think one of the best things about wintertime is the opportunity to build a big defensive wall of snow and seek to destroy your siblings from behind its cover. Snow forts rock!

2) No school. Though I am graduated now, I love the fact that students don't have to be in school for the next couple of weeks. Live it up.

3) Stockings. I know that the existence of Santa Claus is a highly debated topic by many adults, but I think we should put our feuds aside and enjoy stockings. I mean, how cool is it that you get an oversized sock filled with candy and presents!

4) The fact that my mom never objected to me indulging my sweet tooth at Christmas time.

5) The movie, "It's a Wonderful Life".

6) Red Rider BB guns.

7) Good food.

8) Good family.

9) Oh yeah... did I mention snow forts?

These are just a few things that I like about Christmas. If you would like to add to the list, feel free to email me what your favorite things about Christmas are at Seth.Nelson@valpo.edu. Otherwise, you can Facebook message me at Seth At Valpo. I will be sure to post what you like about Christmas, too!

Winter Paradise

2008-12-02T10:08:00.000-08:00

Valparaiso has become a winter wonderland once again. As the snow falls, it caresses the earth and canvases the campus with a white blanket of wintery goodness. The chapel is capped with white that makes the roof blend with the sky in a celestial manner. The trees are a sprinkling combination of white and green or branches covered with snow and ice. The campus is transformed and seems to itself change with the weather. Every morning as I walk to work, I am greeted by the graceful view of life that the aesthetics of campus offer all who travel and study here. Long before I ever came to Valpo, I hoped to be a part of a landscape like this- our ‘Vale of Paradise’ as Valparaiso is translated to mean.
If I had it to do over; if I could choose another school; if I could choose another view of grace and beauty; I hope that I would choose none other than this- Valparaiso University.

Longing for the Study Abroad Experience

2008-11-12T12:14:00.001-08:00

Some of you who have met with me may be intrigued by my title. I have already studied abroad and already had the experience. Why would I be longing for the study abroad experience?

I knew that I wanted to study abroad before I came to college. In fact, I knew that I wanted to study abroad long before I knew which college I wanted to attend. I was intrigued by the idea of living and studying in another country. There seemed to be literally another world waiting for me to come and study it. I did not hesitate to share my interest with admission counselors as I visited colleges and met with representatives. I got an idea of where and how I could study abroad and dreamed of which countries I might eventually experience.
When I came to Valpo, I originally planned to study at Oak Hill Seminary in England in my junior year. I was a pre-seminary student in my undergraduate studies at Valpo and thought that the Oak Hill program would help me to discern a great deal about my future and my vocation. Incidentally, the program ended after my freshman year because they no longer had space for our students. It was up to me to find another program to travel to. I had it narrowed down to four that Valpo offers; Cambridge, England; Reutlingen, Germany; Athens, Greece; and Windhoek; Namibia. There were many draws to each of these programs. Each of the countries had distinct, appealing cultural elements that beckoned for my presence with each program respectively. It was a difficult, drawn out decision process that I will not bore you with now except to say that I finally decided to study in Namibia.
During my Namibian experience, I lived with three different families in two different countries on the other side of the world. I learned parts of four different languages, lived in three distinct cultures, and made friends with 18 different Americans from all over the United States. I was able to study history, politics, reconciliation and Southern Africa in new and unique ways that were not available to me here. I climbed the two highest sand dunes in the world, saw where the Indian Ocean meets the Atlantic, and felt the sun beat down on the oldest desert in the world. I met people from Europe, Asia, South America, and people from all over the continent of Africa. None of these opportunities were available to me in quite the same way while I stayed in the United States.
Sure, I could have read up in an in depth manner on the history of Apartheid, but I could not have met survivors from the Robin Island prison where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for over 25 years. It was possible for me to have talked to people from Southern Africa in my home country, but I could not have been a part of their homes in their country. I could have imagined how other people on the other side of the world might perceive me, but I could not have asked them myself unless I had traveled to their country, eaten with them, and taken the time to hear their stories and see the world through their eyes. All of these opportunities and many more were unique to my study abroad experience and all have changed my life forever. I am a better man for having traveled to South Africa, lived in Namibia, and come home to share these experiences with the world around me.

So why do I long for the study abroad experience? I long to have the formative cultural immersion experience that I once had. To see the world through another country’s eyes is amazing and, I assume, it is the most unique the first time that you are really able to do it. More importantly, the first time that you are effectively able to view yourself through another country’s eyes is a priceless experience that I would relive again if I could and I hope to do so in the future. That is the study abroad experience I long for.

Iowa and back again

2008-10-22T13:52:00.000-07:00

Quote of the day:

"Big gulps, eh? Nice....Whelp, see ya' later!" -Lloyd in "Dumb and Dumber"

I spent last week bumming around eastern Iowa, my home state. I would like to give a shout out to Ryan and Will at Iowa City West. We had a good conversation about African shark stories.
It was a good week of visiting students. I went to the St. Ambrose fair and visited students in the Quad cities, Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. I got to go to the Amana colonies. Though I grew up in Iowa, I have never been there before. I also stopped at the world's largest truck stop. It definitely lives up to its name. It was far bigger than any other truck stop that I have been to before.
My travels are mostly done for this fall. All in all, during high school visits, I sat through two fire drills and one tornado drill at Culver Academies. I always loathed fire drills in high school and that loathing has not changed much over the years. Needless to say, it was interesting to sit through them. I also got to travel around four states, see friends and family, and meet a lot of new friends along the way. It has been a good travel season so far and is mostly over. It has worn me out a bit, but I have been happy to see all of those that I met with you.

Reminder, November first is fast approaching. Remember that you must have all of the pieces of your application postmarked by the 1st in order to be considered early action applicants. If you have not applied yet, make sure that you get the pieces of your application in ASAP!

Welp, see ya' later!
-Seth

The Excitement of it All

2008-10-15T05:41:00.000-07:00

Well, I have done quite a bit of traveling so far. I spent the entirety of last week up in the Minneapolis area. I met with several of my students up there and met a lot of new students as well. One of my good college buddies lives in Minneapolis near Lake Calhoun and Uptown and I was able to hang out with her quite a bit. It was good to experience Minneapolis with a friend. I have found that friends make cities come alive in ways that touring a new place alone cannot compare to.

Another highlight of my Minnesota adventures was finding my old house. I had some time after my visit to Armstrong high school so I thought I would drive into Plymouth a little further. I was able to patch together some of my five year old memories and locate the first house that I remember living in. The house was a lot bigger than I remember. The street I lived on, however, seemed much smaller than I remember. Perhaps I found the house confining and the outside area liberating when I was young. I am not quite sure.

This week I am back in Indiana. I am currently writing in Central Park in Warsaw, which is south of Goshen and Elkhart for those of you not familiar with Northern Indiana. I have visited several schools in South Bend, Mishawaka, and Elkhart so far, and I have a few more. I am going to the Warsaw college fair in a little bit, will go the college fair in Plymouth Indiana (not Minnesota) tomorrow night, and was at the Saint Joseph County College fair last night.

It is exciting to be out on the road. I really enjoy seeing new places and meeting new people. More than that, though, it is exciting to meet seniors in the fall of their college decision process. The majority of high school seniors feel the greatest pressure of the college decision process as we speak. The fall is a time of great confusion and anxiety. Though I am sure that most an idea of where they want to go to college, the list is still not narrowed down to one yet (nor should it be). There are a few schools that offer what many of you find appealing and competitive. How should you know where to spend the greatest four years of your life?! You are just a high school student! This sort of confusion presses on one and causes stress when contemplating the future.

I am writing this to also encourage you to live it up. This is an exciting time in your life. There are several opportunities just waiting to be realized and experienced before all of you. That is the most exciting thing about senior year. You all are on the eve of opportunity. Later in life you will look back and see choices that you have made. You chose one college over another, one major over another, one job over another, etc. You will see on the other side of the choices that you will have made that there are opportunities that were closed by the choice that you made. There will be good and bad things about those moments of reflection that lie ahead of you. But now, at this time in your life, there is only opportunity. You can go to this school or that (or be wise and choose Valpo! I love shameless plugs…). You can study anything from Philosophy to Mechanical Engineering, Nursing to Accounting, Exercise Science to English. You can choose to go to school in the Midwest, East Coast, or out West. You can choose to study abroad. You can choose stay near home or venture out a little bit. You may not be certain about which of these paths to choose yet, but one thing is for certain, these possibility lies at your doorstep. The great beyond awaits you. The future is waiting to become yours.

It is an exciting time to be a senior. Win your football games, cross country meets, and soccer games. Rock out the tuba, violin, or whatever it is that you play. Lead your high school to greatness. But most of all, live up your moment of possibility. Live up this moment before you head out and are defined by the world and the choices that you make. Enjoy this moment, for it is unique and you will want to remember it when it has passed.

Keep on Rockin in the Free World

2008-09-25T14:05:00.000-07:00

Heyo,
I have been hitting the road hard and will keep on rolling for the weeks to come. I have traveled to Elkhart, Mishawaka and Lake County Indiana so far. I have had good meetings with a lot of students. I enjoyed talking to a couple of guys from Marian High School in Mishawaka. I also enjoyed my visits at high schools closer to Valpo like Andrean, Crown Point and Lake Central high schools. For those of you in Lowell, after I visited your high school I stopped by the Dairy Queen and had an excellent strawberry shake. If anyone you know works there, feel free to extend a compliment there way.
This next week I am excited to fly up to Minneapolis. I will be there all week. I am excited to see some of my friends and family members who live up there. Also, little known fact, I was born in St. Louis Park and lived in New Hope and then Plymouth, MN until I was five. I am excited to travel to Robbinsdale-Armstrong high school because that is where I would have gone to high school if I had not moved. I might also stop by French Park for those of you who live in the Northwest suburbs. I remember the park fondly from when I was little, and might take a little trip of nostalgia back that way. If you guys have any other recommendations of places that I should check out in the city, let me know. You can comment on my blog here, or send me and email at Seth.Nelson@valpo.edu. (FYI, I have been to the Mall of America enough times to make it seem small. I don't think I will be traveling there this time.)
Well, that is it for now. I am excited what the wide world of admission counseling has in store for me next. I hope to see some of you up in Minneapolis next week!

Voluptuous View of Valparaiso Tour

2008-09-08T09:11:00.000-07:00

Hey all,
I will be out of the blocks and out of the office very soon in order to visit high schools both East and West of the Mississippi. So, if you live in Lake county Indiana or Minneapolis, MN; South Bend Indiana, or anywhere in eastern Iowa, you may want to take a look. The Voluptuous View of Valparaiso is scheduled as follows:

Monday September 29th
Mohtomedi High School, MN
Concordia Academy, MN
Minnehaha Academy, MN
Moundsview High School,MN

Tuesday September 30th
Eden Prairie High School,MN
Minnetonka High School, MN
Wayzata High School, MN
Robbinsdale Armstrong High School, MN

Wednesday October 1st
NACAC- Minneapolis Fair @Minneapolis Convention Center

Thursday October 2nd
NACAC- Minneapolis Fair @Minneapolis Convention Center
Lutheran Fair/LECNA Fair

Friday October 3rd
Lakeville North High School, MN
Eagan High School, MN

Monday October 6th
Bishop Noll Institute, IN

Tuesday October 7th
Elkhart Central High School, IN
Trinity School at Greenlawn, IN
St. Joseph County College Fair, IN

Wednesday October 8th
South Bend-Clay High School, IN
St. Joseph High School, IN
Warsaw College Fair, IN

Thursday October 9th
Mishawaka High School, IN
Penn High School, IN
Culver Academy, IN
Plymouth College Fair, IN

Monday October 13th
Munster High School, IN
St. Ambrose College Fair, IA

Tuesday October 14th
Moline High School, IL
Davenport Central High School, IA
Davenport West High School, IA
Muscatine High School, IA

Wednesday October 15th
Iowa City- City High, IA
Cedar Rapids Jefferson, IA
Cedar Rapids Kennedy, IA
Cedar Rapids Washington, IA

Thursday October 16th
Iowa City West High School, IA

Monday October 27th
Decorah High School, IA
Valley Lutheran High School, IA
Cedar Falls High School, IA

There you have it. There are a few more schools that I may visit, so be sure to check with your high school guidance offices to see if we are coming your way. Also, if you have any Valpo wear that you have picked up at a visit, but sure to sport when I come to your school. I have prizes for those sporting Valpo shirts when I visit.

Keep on rockin in the free world.

-Seth

The Question

2008-09-03T13:36:00.000-07:00

There are interesting times in life when people find it convenient to hound you with questions for which you have no convenient answers. Having recently planned my wedding, I found that the wedding planning process draws a great number of answerless questions. Having also recently graduated, I found several people asking me about job prospects when I had none. Worse than these moments of questioning, though, was my senior year of high school.
In a lot of ways senior year is the best year of high school that one could have. Students, underclassmen, faculty, administrators, parents, etc. treat seniors with much greater respect than freshman, sophomores, or juniors. The red carpet is metaphorically rolled out for the seniors as they enter the school for their final year in the fall. In the school, there are no older students to treat their ambitions and existences as inferior. Furthermore, the sheer excitement of one's ensuing graduation overtakes the whole of the senior class and envelopes it with an energy unparalleled by any other group of students in school. It is just fun to be senior. Well, most parts of the year are fun....
Along with the excitement comes the endless questions. I shouldn't really say the endless 'questions', but rather the question, which is repeated endlessly: "So, where you going to college next year?" This question seems to start at the very beginning of the year. Before you have even gotten your bearings for your final year (and sometimes even before your senior year starts) they ask "the question". At first you hear it just a little. For most, it seems odd that anyone would inquire about which college you prefer at this time of year. How should you know where you want to spend your next four years? You haven't even figured out how you want to spend this year, let alone how you want to spend the four most formative years of your life. Why are they asking about this now? But, most are able to shrug the question off at first with little consequence.
However, as the leaves change and the temperature drops (for those of us in the upper Midwest), the question starts to hit home a little more. The question does not get to you because your answer has changed. You still do not know where to go. How should you know which college is best for you? How could you ever know that? No, the question hits home because you are starting to ask it yourself. You say to yourself: "Wait a minute, where am I going to college?" Your future seems much closer as you become comfortable with your senior status and really begin to realize that you are on your way out. When you pose the question to yourself it seems more daunting and it seems more real than ever before.
And to make it worse, they keep asking you, as well. By they, of course, I mean your parents, teachers, friends, and random adults in the community who you barely know. The only thing that could make the question more appalling to you at this point in time is for them to ask it to you. Sure enough, they do and they don't stop. One person will ask it. Then another. Then another. Then someone who already asked you. Then another.... and so on. Your answer does not change but they ask the question anyway. This is the worst time for them to seek an answer to this answerless question. This is the worst time for your college confusion, as well. You hit a point when you have several schools on your list and no way of deciding between them. The future is looming over you, as well as people nagging you for a decision about which college you will choose.
Though this is a difficult time, my advice is to be patient. The question will sort itself out. It has an almost magical way of eventually finding its own answer. Though the endless questioning continues to bring frustration and confusion, the question of which college is right for you will find a clearer answer down the road. The answer as to which college is for you may not come with total certainty, but be patient and you will be able to see an answer with greater clarity. In time you will find the college that is right for you and, like me, you will reflect on your experience with ease... later on.

The First Paraphs of a new Chapter

2008-08-27T13:11:00.001-07:00

Dear Reader,
My name is Seth and I am a new Admission Counselor for Valparaiso University. I am excited to be a part of the Office of Admission and am excieted for the opportunity to meet with students who are looking into coming to this fine institution.
This has been quite the year for me. I just graduated in May and got married about a week and a half ago (August 17th, 2008). There have been a lot of life changes for me between these two events. I started working for the University in June, moved into my own place and started a life without school for the first time in 17 years. It has been quite the transition. I suppose this is what people refer to when they talk about 'growing up'. Oddly enough, however, I do not feel as though I am really growing into a new stage of life or becoming an 'older' person. The changes and transitions I have experienced thus far and am continuing to experience simply seem to be new events for my life. They do not seem to have huge sway over my person. I am basically the same guy that I have been for a long time now and I do not foresee that changing too much in the near future. (My new wife may think otherwise, but we have time to work that out...)
All this is to say that I feel content with my last four years at Valpo and how my experience has prepared me to be me as I have entered into the work force, started paying my own bills, and started a family. I do not feel that I have to change who I am or be anything different than who I already am. I have known several friends from other colleges who have had serious reality checks as they entered the working world. They did not know how to adapt to their new situations and it ended up being very hard on them personally. I gratefully say that that is not the case with me. I am ready and I am excited for all the changes I have been able to enjoy thus far, and those to come.
Classes started at Valpo yesterday and though this is the first time I have not been starting class since I was six years old, I am overjoyed for the freshman who get to simply be themselves here at Valpo and beyond.