And all too soon, another SHO TIME has come to an end. I am in awe of how much work went into planning and executing SHO TIME. As a freshman last year, it just seemed like they had a couple of events planned, some student volunteers as “mentors”, and things just came together as it happened. How wrong I was! The exhaustive amount of time, effort, and heart that the team leaders, OLs, and of course Christina and the entire honors college staff, put into SHO TIME was incredible. And having to be super flexible and work around the rain and other surprises and still make it seem flawless is just inspiring and jaw-dropping. Maybe they’re made of flubber, because how else could they be that flexible and still seem completely put together? 🙂

Friday started off with an AWESOME lecture by Dr Richard Alley. Definitely better than last year’s astrophysics lecture, which was not my cup tea. While none of his ideas are exactly close to evil Inators, much of his talk was extremely relatable for many in the room, and his suggestions for what we could do to help the environment were certainly easily feasible.

The phrase ‘book discussions’ is usually met with groans and sighs by students, but my break-off group surprised me when I discovered over 75% had read the book start to finish (I was so proud!). We discussed Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri, a great book in my opinion. The overall themes in the book were incredibly rich and led to many great talking points, and the students in my group were so into discussing points of the book you would think we were talking about beloved childhood toys or adorable little robots cleaning up after humanity that end up falling in love.

Even though we took over the Knowledge Commons and weren’t exactly playing the quiet game in the library, Town & Gown was a HUGE success. The students, bless their newbie hearts, treated the guests like they were superheroes in disguise protecting our own Metroville and doing good in our community.

Best part of the day, hands down, was Late Night With the Dean. One of my favorite events of all of SHO TIME. Words cannot described how awesome, hilarious, engaging, and entertaining it truly was, From the special guests to the multiple games, from the videos to the thank you letters, the entire night was an outstanding success. Bravo to Dean Brady, Matt and John, the coaches, the lady scholars, the students, President Barron, and everyone else who participated on stage. It was a night no one will forget for a long time.

Friday night meant the end of SHO TIME, and tears threatened many new faces and mentors alike. The Final Bow was just that, with a touching thank you to the mentors organized by the freshmen. What better way to wrap up three incredible day than by spending time with new friends?

The fun and excitement had yet to come to an end though. After a summer of raising money and spreading the word of the event, we hosted Stop Hunger Now for the second year in a row. Our team was happy looking forward to working with about fifty incoming scholars who had signed up, but we were made speechless by the numbers who arrived to help: over 130 (almost half the incoming class!) came to support the event and lend a hand, and I am in shock and owing of gratitude to everyone who helped. Together we came together like mighty Chinese warriors and packaged over 10,000 meals to be sent to starving children, and knowing that we are making a difference is such an incredible feeling.

I would like to thank everyone who made SHO TIME such an overwhelming success. From applications in November to our Stop Hunger Now event, the magic of our Disney SHO TIME has truly inspired and touched all OLs, Schreyer staff, and the incoming class of scholars. The imagination and inspiration of Disney that acted as a driving force behind the planning and mentality of everyone can not be doubted, nor will it ever be. And in the words of the great Walt Disney, “I only hope that we don’t lose sight of one thing – that it was all started by a mouse.” Or in the case of SHO TIME, an idea by someone who wanted to change the lives of students.

I didn’t think anything could could surpass the excitement and energy of the first day of SHO TIME, but I am so happy that I was proven wrong. A second day of downpour didn’t phase our brave little scholars, they just couldn’t wait to be king of the Brain Show (so much fun!).

The day started off with an entertaining twist to the usually dry (sorry…) information session about the college. Scholars met the Schreyer staff, learned about the bare necessities of requirements they had to fulfill, some of the wide array of offerings across the college, and met the student handbook. Four years from now these new faces in the honors college will be saying, “I can’t believe I did that! I can’t believe I did this!” because of all of the incredible opportunities they will create for themselves. The two lessons of the day that I think were most important to remember were: “Communication” and “Never give up, never surrender!”, because anything is possible if we just stay focused and know when to ask for help or guidance.

Back in everyone’s favorite room of 100 Thomas, the students heard stories and tales of travels, internships, and more from orientation leaders. Next came the popular lip dub challenge (which can surely be found online somewhere), where I heard that the staff did better in their rehearsals and performance than the incoming scholars *gasp*! But it was all good fun, and then it was off to dinner and the involvement fair! So many fantastic clubs and Schreyer initiatives, the night was filled with the sound of pens adding emails to never-ending list servs for clubs we may or may not be interested in.

And of course, the Brain Show. I may have been taking pictures all night, but that sure didn’t stop me from dancing in my seat! And the participants really got into the game and had an absolute blast! And of course, there were the excellent dance moves of some of our scholars and our very own Dean Brady. The applause was deafening.

At the end of this very long second day of SHO TIME, we are no longer inviting the new scholars to be our guest, Instead, they are now part of our group of Penn State Scholars. That’s what we call ourselves; we’re sort of like a team. Nerds and proud of it type of thing. And I think it is safe to say that everyone is beginning to feel right at home here in Schreyer.

Wow, what an incredible first day of SHO TIME! Not even with all the force of a great typhoon or colors of the wind could it rain on the spirits of the incoming scholars! They just kept swimming through registration and move-in, and after a while the rain doesn’t bother us anyway! As I walked around Simmons helping the incoming scholars moving in, I met so many new, smiling faces that I can’t wait to get to know better during their time in Schreyer. I’m so excited to think of how these new scholars will achieve things they never thought possible while they are here at Penn State – They make the magic!

Tears & Cheers was emotional, but parents and scholars knew it was only “See you later!” rather than “Goodbye.” Because saying goodbye means going away, and going away means forgetting. As scholars we never forget where we came from or what it took for us to get here to being Penn Staters and Schreyer Scholars.

The rain may have moved ice breakers indoors, but that didn’t stop any of the fun! I love ice breakers because while they can get super awkward sometimes, they really work magic on getting rid of those nerves! Then during dinner Mike the Mailman and the Nittany Lion stopped by for a bit, and they were a huge hit! Only the first day of college and already the scholars are meeting Penn State celebrities! 🙂

Day 1 came to a loud and spirited close with the crowd favorite event PlayFair. Non-stop ice breakers, games, and dancing is always a hit with scholars and OLs, and this year was no exception. The newest members of our Schreyer family spent the night making friends and having an amazing time, and it was a perfect ending to a long, successful day. The friendships made tonight will surely last long into everyone’s college careers. Because nothing is more important than friendship.

To all of the incoming scholars, congratulations on being accepted into (and choosing!) Schreyer. The world is at your fingertips, so go out and seize the day! Meet more people, try more new things, and have experiences and memories that will last you a lifetime.

Welcome to our Schreyer family!

I am so glad I picked this book. Not only was it a relatively easy read, but all of the little stories somehow managed to draw in my attention without trying. Nine tales, nine different perspectives, and nine different issues, yet together they all shared the common theme of finding our way through the daily struggles that we all face, which are not as different as we like to think.

Even though the book switched back and forth solely between the Boston area and India, each story had its own rich characters that I found easy to identify with in one way or another. Especially for those us of in college and high school, Mrs Sen’s driving struggles are something we know all to well. Mrs Croft could resemble an elderly family member in many of our lives. And Mr Pirzada, separated from his family in the midst of a terrible war, is a painful reality for so many today as Americans fight in the Middle East and war is breaking out in Ukraine.

But something that I noticed as I read the book, almost like a pattern, was how each story ended with that tale’s main character coming to a realization about their own identity, and how the struggle they faced in their story impacted and changed them. Some of the characters went through major life changes, like moving across the world, while others made more personal leaps, like Mrs Das and her feelings regarding her family. I think that this book leaves us with many lessons we can take with us, which we can use to come to our own conclusions about ourselves. We may not be moving halfway across the world, but moving away to college can still be just as scary and uncertain.

Probably the most talked about subject on campus is THON. And for those who, like me, had never of this “THON” before arriving on campus for the first time, uncovering the magic behind the mayhem takes time and a “let it happen” approach. After all, who would think that a weekend of no sleep, no sitting, and walking around in tutus and crazy hats could be received with the overwhelming love and support that it undeniably is? Call us crazy college kids, call us delusional, call us whatever you want. But there is nothing in the world like walking into the Bryce Jordan Center for the first time during THON weekend and finally understanding WHY we do it- why we wear shorts on an otherwise random (and always bitter cold!) weekend in February, why we stand outside in said shorts (and the cold) for hours on end waiting for the BJC to open that Friday afternoon, why college students dress and act like little kids for an entire weekend, why (and how!) tens of thousands of Penn State students are able to raise millions every year, and why we spend 365 days getting ready to do it all over again.

Here are some common phrases you’ll hear year-round about THON:
“One day we will dance in celebration, until then we will dance for a cure.”
We THON so that every cub can grow up to be a Nittany Lion.
We THON to do the impossible- for the cure (FTC) to pediatric cancer.
We THON FTK! (For the Kids!)

Hopefully now you’re asking “how can I get involved in THON?” Worry not my friends, there are many (and easy!) ways to participate in THON. You can join an “Org”, which is a THON Organization, a group specifically focused on raising money throughout the year to benefit THON. There are already dozen of THON “Orgs”, and more are being formed every year. Each Org has a name, like Atlas or Apollo, and many have a trademark accessory or tidbit about them that sets them apart during the year and in the BJC during THON weekend (Atlas wears pink fuzzy hats, another group wears giant fish hats). You basically have your pick of Orgs, its not hard to find one you feel is a good fit. And one of the highlights of joining an Org is being able to travel with them across Pennsylvania and surrounding states during “Canning Weekends” to collect money for THON. I’m sure everyone in Pennsylvania has seen someone from Penn State standing on a corner in the fall holding a metal can and asking for donations. These brave souls are known as “canners”, and I have yet to meet someone who went “canning” and did NOT have the time of their lives. Canning is an experience like any other, and plays a vital role in the fundraising efforts of THON. If you get the chance to go canning with your Org or committee, DO IT! You won’t regret it!

Oh right, I almost forgot about committees! There are fourteen of them (which you can find out more about by going to THON.org), and they comprise of captains and committee members. There are also Directors, which oversee their committee as a whole. For THON 2014 I was a member of Rules & Regulations as a committee member (shout-out to my fellow AmERICAn GladiatoR&Rs, best committee ever!). As a committee member I was one of 15,000 student volunteers who participated during THON weekend to help actually run THON itself. Each type of committee is responsible for a different aspect of THON, whether it be food, selling THON merchandise, security, dancer morale and support, or one of the other million cogs that keeps the engine of THON weekend running smoothly. Rules & Regulations, known affectionately as Rules & Regs or just R&R, is responsible for security, line management, crowd control, and the PASS system (a complicated system that allows people with appropriate passes to go down to the floor-level where the dancers are). R&R members are easily spotted by their red t-shirts, and are the best people to turn to with questions or to ask for directions during THON weekend. R&R members are some of the few people allowed into almost every area of the BJC, and they really know their stuff when it comes to all things THON.

Being a committee member was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my time at Penn State. Not only was I heavily involved with THON weekend, but in the weeks leading up to THON, I made friends and lasting bonds with the other members of my committee, friendships which I will carry with me even after I graduate. Committees typically meet once a week in the evening (so as not to conflict with classes) starting in October, and that time is spent learning about our specific responsibilities as part of THON, spreading the word about THON to (and sometimes raising money from) friends and family, and growing closer as a committee. By the time THON weekend rolls around, you will trust your fellow committee members more than you thought capable (and have plenty of inside jokes, I assure you!), and have friends with whom you will share the incomparable experience that is THON weekend.

This year, please consider getting involved in THON in some way, whether that be by joining an Org or a committee, or by supporting other clubs and activities in their THON endeavors (most clubs, activities, and sports teams get involved in THON in one way or another). Many THON Orgs will have booths at the involvements fairs in the HUB during the first week of classes, and information about Orgs and committee applications can be found on THON.org under the “Students” drop-down tab where it says “Get Involved” (or you can just click on the links). And no matter which path you choose, get ready to learn the 2015 THON “line dance” (You’ll find out about that gem soon enough 😉 ).

I can’t wait to hear all about your experiences with THON and to hear why you THON!

For the Kids,
~Olivia

“THON is not just trying to find a cure for cancer.
THON is doing the impossible.”

Once upon…an honors course! (No more bad jokes after this, I promise! 🙂 )

My first year here at Penn State was highlighted by the four honors courses I took: History 130U (Introduction to the Civil War Era, 1848 through 1877), English 137H and 138T (Rhetoric and Civic Life I and II), and CAMS 045 (Classical Mythology). Each course was great, but my favorite was actually not an honors course to begin with, but rather a regular course that I turned into an honors course. I was able to “honors option” CAMS 045 (Mythology), thereby having it count for honors credits even though it was not originally offered as an honors course. After consulting with my professor and the SHC, we reached an agreement that required me to complete extra readings and write a research paper in exchange for my desire to have the course qualify for honors credit. To honors option a course is not the traditional path scholars take, but it certainly is a valuable alternative to keep in mind. (More information about the process can be found here, though the actual paperwork is online through the Student Records System, which you’ll learn about later.)

I am so happy that I chose to pursue that path with my mythology course. As a regular member of the class I read about the Greek gods, ancient Greek writings and culture, and an overview of ancient Greek history. I took the tests, wrote the papers, and participated in lecture with the other students, but I also did extra readings and wrote an analytical paper comparing extensive aspects of three very different versions of the same classic tale of Electra. While I originally was hesitant about the “willingly signing up for more work” part of this honors course, I absolutely loved this course. Greek mythology has always been an great interest of mine, and the additional writings and period cultural aspects I was granted access to in my research pursuits were invaluable. I was able to explore this interest of mine to levels that I could never have imagined.

Honors courses may be stereotyped as having “more work” and being “much more difficult” than non-honors courses, but my four honors courses have been my favorite classes at Penn State. The smaller class size, more personalized interaction with your professor, and a greater interactive environment are just a few of the pluses that come with taking an honors course. My three honors professors so far (English was the same for parts I and II) were absolutely fantastic, I hold nothing but high regard for them. My History professor may have had a class of eight students, but he actually made that one of the best parts of the class, since it allowed a higher level of discussion between students in class. The small size also allowed us take a day trip to Antietam National Battlefield, which was such a fun day.

My English professor wouldn’t let us call him anything but his first name (shout-out to Adam and section 22!), and the class was both academically productive and highly enjoyable, even though the class was so late in the afternoon. My Mythology/CAMS professor was so easy to talk to, really down to earth, and his office door was always open. I met with him on numerous occasions to discuss my additional work, but the meetings were always lighthearted. While these are not the only phenomenal honors professors at Penn State, they certainly affected me in their dedication to the own work, to their teaching, and most especially to their students.

If you are ever debating over whether or not to take an honors course, or to honors option a course you are currently taking, DO IT. There will be extra work involved, but if you are really interested in the topic of the course, you will NOT regret it. But please do not discredit non-honors courses after reading this, I found my current major of interest by taking a 300-person, 100-level class, but I still fell in love with the subject. The courses here at Penn State can surprise you if you let them, and honors courses more so. I know, the schedule of courses has a lot of courses to go through, but please do not be afraid to check the box that says “honors”. One of those courses may impact you in ways you could never have imagined.

So be brave, freshmen! College courses are not THAT scary. And if you happen to fail a class along the way, it is not the end of the world, I promise. And I’m not trying to sound like your parents or professors, but you will survive, and you will be stronger because of it. “It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.” (J K Rowling)

So yup, honors classes are great. Can’t wait to hear your stories about your own honors adventures! 🙂

Olive