Nathan's USF Blog

Spring Semester

usfnate — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:53:03 +0000

Wow Christmas break just seemed to fly by if you ask me. I do not know where the time went. Well, anyway it is over so now to focus back on those classes. This semester is going to be rather interesting. I have 3 business classes, a communication class, a theology class, and a Biology class.

Principles of Management
Introduction to Marketing
Computer Application in Business
Writing for Media
Introduction to the Bible
Natural History of Indiana

That is 18 credit hours and that is going to make for an interesting semester. I think I am really going to enjoy it though.

I thought some motivation for this blog was really important, I have a feeling I may be looking back at this periodically throughout the semester for some more motivation. This clip is lengthy but worth the watch. It is from Facing the Giants which was a fantastic movie.

(I found the clip on youtube)

Awesome

usfnate — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 18:03:51 +0000

Sunday was really awesome!

First of all, Mass (I am going to discuss the new translation in a later blog) was really awesome. I love going to Mass.

Second, Christmas at USF seemed to be a huge success. I was able to go to Star of Bethlehem 2011 which was incredible. I recommend everyone go see it.

Third, the Living Nativity, I really enjoy being able to participate in this event because it does remind me of what the season is all about. I appreciate the Christmas Season even more because of being able to see the Nativity.

I also find it really awesome to be able to see the Living Nativity, which was first presented by Saint Francis on Dec. 24, 1223. He wanted to be able to see what happened on the first Christmas when Jesus became man. How awesome is that.

I did have an interesting thing happen to me with the llama I brought in as a Wise Man. He (Butterfly) got scared when a gas golf cart came up behind us, Butterfly jumped and head butted my bottom jaw. It kinda hurt, but hey, the show must go on right? I will post some pictures of the Living Nativity when I receive them.

I heard about this song and found it in a video! It represents the Reason for the Season very well in my opinion. I really love this song and would like to share it with everyone. The song is called “A Baby Changes Everything” and is by Faith Hill, I found the video on YouTube.

Looking forward to Sunday

usfnate — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 21:03:44 +0000

This Sunday holds several things that I am really looking forward to. 1) Second week of Advent. 2) Second week of new translation (I will talk about this in a later blog) 3) Living Nativity ( I will be one of the Kings. I invite everyone to come see this; it is really inspiring.) and Christmas at USF (tours of Brookside Mansion, the choir, lighting of the lake). It is a really exciting time to be involved and to be a student at the University. If you would like more information about Christmas at USF, let me know! Hopefully we will see you there.

Penance

usfnate — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:10:58 +0000

In my Franciscan Theology class today we discussed the concept of Penance. We discussed it’s importance both in our personal lives as well as in the Franciscan spirituality. This was a very interesting discussion and it reminded me of this video and I wanted to bring this video back into the limelight. This video always gets to me because it really shows the necessity of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This Sacrament is a way to mend back together our relationship with God, that we have broken through the decision of committing sin. Through sin we decide to turn away from God. It takes the love of God to be able to mend this relationship, but God does not force us to do this. It is our decision because God gave us free will, and through free will we have the choice to decide whether to follow God or to turn away.

CEO Forum

usfnate — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 19:18:30 +0000

We had the CEO of Culvers come in and speak to the community and our students. It was really rather interesting to hear his experience of the owning and operating a business the size of Culvers. He discussed some of the successes as well as the failures of the company. Following the keynote speaker was an opportunity to ask other business gurus questions about business. It was a rather interesting day and I feel like I learned a lot from this opportunity offered by the school of business.

Mirror Lake

usfnate — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 05:48:35 +0000

I was walking campus the other day and while walking, I had the opportunity to think about nature and the beauty that USF has to offer. First, we have a beautiful lake, while we are not allowed to swim or ice skate in the lake, it is beautiful and it is a big part on campus. I think the most beautiful view of Mirror Lake is from the second floor of JPII. It is really awe inspiring. I have found myself sitting in the prayer room of the library, seeing the view of the lake and ending up in prayer.

Campus Visit Day Fall 2011

usfnate — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 17:43:27 +0000

Today was Campus Visit Day (CVD) and we had a blast just check out this photo to see what I am talking about.

CVD fall 2011 group shot

This is our traditional CVD group shot. It just goes to show how much fun we always have on our CVD’s and why YOU should come and check us out. We always have a grand old time. Occasionally, some of us get into a photo shoot contest with one of our cameramen named Bryant (I hope I spelled his name right) but this is what we get.

Byant hiding behind his awesome camera again.

Another illustration of how much fun people miss not coming and checking out this awesome University….

It is also a chance to run into friends that have graduated and came back to visit.

Ashley

Finally just for those random awesome times.

SOCA TV Studio

usfnate — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:47:41 +0000

The University of Saint Francis has an incredible opportunity for SOCA students
especially those interested in a major that has to do with any film and TV
filming, we have an actual TV studio. One that has an interview set and three
cameras, a sound board, lighting, and controls for the cameras, etc. It was
really awesome to be able to help create an interview with the artist Bruno
Surdo, who was asked questions about his school of arts in Chicago, as well as
the pieces of art he brought to display, including his piece representing
September 11, 2001. This artwork incorporates the debris that he found on the
ground after that fateful day. During this interview for Broadstrokes which
airs on PBS, I was assigned to control the sound board. I look forward to
learning more about this studio and being able to be a part of the process of
the different components that are involved, in this awesome program we have
available.

USF Cougars Football

usfnate — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 21:28:58 +0000

I get to do the sideline chain gang again this year, and last Saturday was our first home game. It was a lot of fun. It was a beautiful day. The cougars won and nobody got hurt! There were a few times when the chain gang had to drop and run, but we had a good time. I have come to really look forward to coming to these games. If you come, stop by and say hi during halftime or before/after the game. Let me know you are reading these posts.

First week of school

usfnate — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:52:08 +0000

Today marks the halfway point for the first week of classes, which is also the day of opening convocation, which is also one of my favorite activities of the year. For those of you who do not know about this awesome program, it is the Mass celebrated by most of the students, faculty, and staff on campus. However, it does not stop there. Bishop Kevin Rhoades, Bishop of the Fort Wayne South Bend Diocese, celebrated Mass and the Sisters of Saint Francis of Perpetual Adoration and the Board of Trustees attended Mass with us as well. Basically all the people who make it possible for us to be here, and to be able to learn in this environment,were all here.

I found Bishop Rhoades’ homily to be very profound, as he was talking about the opportunity, and in some ways the responsibility, we have as a Catholic University. Our education is not only about learning facts and figures about our majors, but to learn about the truth. He wants us to keep that truth with us when we go into the world of work.

Sister Elise got up on stage after Mass and talked about how we can fulfill the value of the year which is “Encourage a trustful, prayerful community of learners.” She recommended things like having daily prayer in the classroom, before meetings and group activities all the way to our daily personal prayers. I find that to be an awesome idea and something we, as student body, ought to demand happen. For that to be the case though, for that to happen, it needs to happen first with ourselves. Then it can spread to the rest of the University. As our Patron Saint said, “Preach the Gospel at all times, use words when necessary.”

One more thought for today: I was reading somewhere that St. Francis went to one of his followers and said, “We are going to go out to the streets to preach today.” The follower was so excited because he would get to see St. Francis preaching. When they went out, they just spent all day out in the streets. They did not say one word. That night they returned to the monastery and St. Francis said, “Whew, that was a full day of preaching.” The follower asked when they had done any preaching. Saint Francis said, “All day we preached through our example.”

I found this to be extremely humbling because, even as children, we learn actions speak louder than words.