It won't be long

Hola!

A week just does not seem complete without another blog entry. Thus begins another attempt at extracting a few special gems from a whirlwind of a routine...

Presently, my mind is occupied with a few significant thoughts/concerns. Tomorrow, I have my first-ever appointment with my academic advisor. I will enter the 15-30 minute meeting with a truckload of questions, and hope to depart with a substantially lighter load. Her job is to advise my course selection for the spring and hopefully help me map out my path for the next four years. There are two problems, however. One: I'm supposed to arrive with a list of courses I want to take in the spring. Two: I have no idea what courses I want to (or should) take in the spring. But I'm sure these advisors are used to helpless freshmen knocking on their doors, so I really hope she's ready for me. I have thought a lot about it, though, and here are a few courses I really want to take (whether these are the best choices right now, I will soon find out):
- American History to 1865 (this ought to cure my ignorance)
- Spanish 102 (while it's still fresh..)
- Problem Solving with Computers (get my math credit... and finally learn how to use Excel)
- Mass Media and Society (which one is to blame?)
- Created and Called for Community (a required course for all spring-semester freshmen)
- Problems in Philosophy (... still not sure about this one)

So I'm looking forward to figuring all of that out; it'll be nice to have some direction and start to plan how I'm going to do the whole study abroad thing. I also have a job interview on Tuesday afternoon. Yes, that's right, a job interview. Apparently I was recommended by someone, because I received an email from the lady who coordinates Annual Giving asking if I'd be interested in working for the Phonathon. Essentially, it's a telemarketing job, but everyone I've heard from says that it's one of the best jobs around campus. The pay starts at minimum wage but goes up each semester, and there are lots of bonuses for callers who do well. Basically, I'd be working ten-hours a week calling alum around the country asking them for updated information or important news and then asking if they could sponsor the Student Impact Fund (a fund that aids in scholarships and study abroad programs for students). To many of you, such an occupation might not sound too glamorous, but when you see most of the other jobs for students around here... let's just say I'm pretty excited. The plan is that I'll start in February (at the end of the swimming season).

Speaking of swimming, Messiah College hosted its first ever swim meet (against Gettysburg College) on Saturday. Over 200 people showed up to watch and cheer us on as we made history... and got utterly defeated in the process. Ha.. but it was fine. I, along with a lot of other people, beat personal records, and pretty much everybody that swam got to set some sort of school record. After that, we all went over to the Men's Soccer game against Elizabethtown. Some sort of bizarre school tradition dictates that everybody throw marshmallows whenever anything exciting happens. So after dodging sticky balls of sugar as Messiah defeated E-town 3-0, we went to a concert at the Union and heard this band from Maine that was actually really good! Check out The Wrecking if you're interested.

So that was Saturday. What about the rest of the week, you might be wondering? Umm.. well I watched a few too many scary movies, went out for dinner with Lauren's dad and the 'gang', swam a lot, did a bunch of homework, and planned some course stuff. I'm looking forward to two cancelled classes this week (back-to-back, no less), my two forementioned meetings, and Friday night. Only, the problem with Friday night is that I have a serious conflict between my obligations to the Concert Committee and the Conor Oberst concert on Friday and the swim team and our fourth meet at the same time. I'd rather help out with the concert .. and we do have 8 meets throughout the season... but I don't know. I'll let you know how this turns out.

Right now, I need to get on with some work. I also have a Men's Swimming devotional with the team later tonight. And I should probably start exercising some self-control with all this candy floating around everywhere. Thanks again for all your prayers. There is a lot to plan for right now with the Spring Semester and J-Term approaching.

Love you all and all my lovin',
Josh

p.s. I apologize for grammar errors, and thanks to those who help me spot them.