On Location | Indiana State Library

For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been researching and editing a history paper about Indiana Quakers and slavery I wrote last semester for an upcoming competition. My research led me to the Indiana State Library last Thursday, where I sat down with a letter from Levi Coffin and every Indiana Yearly Meeting Minutes record I could ever want. For three and a half hours I sat in a hard-backed wooden chair and poured over those minutes, thinking about the people who created them 180 years ago. A man across the aisle from me looked at several large maps intently, and stacks of other documents waited in the wings inside climate controlled rooms and drawers.

It’s a beautiful thing, hundreds of documents waiting to be read by some twenty-first century person who prefers paper to pixels.

What I’m Reading Spring Semester 2015

Welcome to the semi-annual school book list extravaganza!

Okay, so it’s not that exciting. But I’m proud to say that this semester I have the extremely reasonable number of 11 books for the next three and a half months. MUCH better than 31. It helps that I only have three courses this semester (I’m trying to make my blog like a fourth class, but so far I’m rather failing at that…) and that only one is an English class.

Liberal arts for the win my friend.

Best Studying Tips | The SECOND Day of Blogmas!

On the second day of Blogmas, Leeann’s blog gave to me: the best study tips…

As I’ve struggled through studying and paper writing, I’ve hoped and prayed for some solution to my agony and dismay. “Please,” I say to anyone who passes by, “tell me how to stop this!” My friends and fellow students pat me on the back then go into their finals sob stories of two finals in one day and a project with a group that won’t meet.

I needed a hero, and it came in the form of this article from my dearest mom. It lists “scientifically proven” methods to success during study week, and while it had quite a few suggestions I already knew it also gave me the proof that I was making the right decisions (I’ve never had an all-nighter and I plan to keep that streak; this article told me why that’s a good thing).

Favorite Christmas Songs | The FIRST Day of Blogmas!

On the first day of Blogmas, Leeann’s blog gave to me: 10 Christmas songs to sing!

Hello everyone, and welcome to Blogmas Day One! While I’m stressed and freaked out to the max right now, trying to get all my work done for the two papers/two tests I’ve got going on in the next three days, I’m also super excited to spend the next 12 days with you getting ready for Christmas. Something to enjoy while write 24-pages over the next 24-hours… :)

But since it is finals season, I’m listening to quite a lot of Christmas music. It’s what keeps me sane during winter finals. Knowing that the “Christmas spirit” is still around keeps me motivated. So for this first Blogmas post, I’m going to share with you my top ten Christmas songs for studying:

10: We Three Kings, Aly & AJ Ah, the favorite duo of my past. I love We Three Kings, and these sisters do an amazing job with it.

9: Silver Bells, Bing Crosby & Ella Fitzgerald Nothing like some Bing Crosby. I love all of his songs, but Silver Bells makes me think of 1940s Christmases.

8: 12 Days of Christmas, Straight No Chaser This is just a fun song I like to listen to after a particularly long study session.

7: The Christmas Song, Nat King Cole A classic. All the feels.

6: O Holy Night, Nat King Cole Yes yes, another Nat King Cole because he’s the king. And because this version of another favorite Christmas carol is simply beautiful.

5: It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Andy Williams Another king of Christmas music, Andy Williams’s version of this song is just perky enough to make that Environmental Crisis paper seem worth it…

4: The Nutcracker Symphony I choose the Nutcracker when I need to do some serious thinking but need some background noise. It’s just soft enough to be in the holiday spirit while letting me do my work.

3: It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas, Michael Buble Ah, Michael Buble. The 21st century version of Bing Crosby. How I love his voice; this song is so soothing, so one of my top picks when I’m at my stress peak.

2: Christmas Time is Here, Vince Guaraldi Trio Because it’s from one of my favorite childhood Christmas shows, it gets me pumped to go home at the end of a long line of finals.

And my all-time favorite song…

1: Suite from the Polar Express It’s hard to convey how much this song (and movie and book) means to me in one line, so just trust me when I say this song is so full of meaning to me that I pull it out frequently during finals.

There are some favorite Christmas songs missing, such as Carol of the Bells and O Come All Ye Faithful; but those aren’t really songs I listen to while studying. I need tunes that will perk my spirits or get me in the mood to finish my work and go home!

What are your favorite Christmas songs?

---

Below the Line:

• As soon as I publish this post, I’m jumping straight into studying for my U.S. Women’s History test. After tomorrow morning, I can kiss that class goodbye!
• Still haven’t finished buying all my Christmas presents yet… I really like to find people something they’re going to love, so it’s difficult to spend that much time looking while writing a paper at the same time.
• 3 days! 3 days and finals will be over.

5 College Posts You Need to Read

If you’re anything like me, you’re in the midst of crazy college stress and are wondering how the heck you got into this mess. (Or maybe that’s just me :)). Today I wanted to share with you a few posts I’ve found on the World Wide Web about surviving the four years that is college:

• 5 Things I Wish I Knew: Planning Ahead in College– Some really great tips that apply even if you’re already in college.
• Anything at My College Advice– I’ve mentioned her before, but Katie has posts on about every question or topic you would ever want to know more about.
• How to Plan for a Busy Week {college students}– a great post for when you have those super crazy weeks. For those of you who have crazy weeks every week, stay tuned to next year. Hopefully I will have figured that out myself by then!
• You know, I have some pretty great posts too… ;)
• A Love Letter to College Freshmen– This was posted right at the beginning of my freshman year of college, when I was scared, stressed, and desperately homesick. My mom emailed it to me and I liked it so much I taped it up on my wall that year. If you read any of these, it should be this one. If you want to see more of these types of letters, check out More Love Letters’ Dear College campaign.

What are your favorite college posts?

---

Below the Line:

• Better late than never, right?
• History presentation: accomplished
• I went home this weekend for my dad’s homemade beef stew and some family time. It was great to get away from DePauw for a little bit and hang out with my family. Plus, I happened to make it to our neighborhood farmer’s market. That means tamale time!

 

What I’m Reading Fall Semester 2014

Remember back when I said my course load included 30 books this semester?

I’m going to regale you with a list of all of them.

When I thought of this post, I was super excited about telling you all about the books I get to read this semester. Now that I’m thinking about it, this could be really boring to anyone not related to me. So I’m going to excite you all with awesome pictures, witty writing, and the promise of an update of school so far in this issue of “Below the Line.”

(Also, disclaimer: classes are still subject to change. One stack of these might be replaced with another.)

So now that you’re hooked…