Transition.

Well, I officially received my diploma and have left the [great?] state of Indiana. It still doesn't feel like I'm done with college, mostly due to the fact that I'm used to leaving for the summer...so it'll be bizarre come August when I continue working while everyone else (including both of my brothers) return to school.

So far, life after graduation hasn't been that exciting. I moved back the day after graduating and unloaded and reorganized my room that Tuesday. In all, I think I took about eight garbage bags full of clothes/stuff to Goodwill...purging definitely feels good. Since then, my youngest brother Josh graduated from high school...so I was busy helping my mother get ready for the open house and such. This past week was pretty uneventful, aside from a quick (but awesome) 24 hour trip to Minneapolis to see my best friend Missy and my favorite team, the Minnesota Twins. [Target Field is beautiful, btw...definitely worth checking out].

Perhaps the only thing I've had a hard time adjusting to is this whole living at home business. Not many of my friends live in Sioux Falls anymore, so I've had to figure out what to do with my spare time. I've resorted to working out....a lot. Rotating between Jillian's 30 day shred and the McKennan Wellness Center, in which my work out time is filled with running, weights, and swimming, I'm definitely feeling more energetic and just feeling much better about myself, in general.

I finally start my job on Tuesday and I'm super excited. I'm ready to be a big girl and to figure out what exactly I'll be doing until November. And I'm SUPER ready for that paycheck.

But, in the meantime, I have two more days to do whatever I want...so I'm planning on enjoying that as much as I can :)

It's Almost Time....again.

Attention followers:



I graduate in 12 days (it should be noted that when I looked at my calendar to start the mental countdown, I realized I had not switched said calendar to the month of May...time is going way too fast...). I pick up my already purchase cap and gown tomorrow. Holy crap.

This time always brings about 12,000 sentences that contain phrases such as "this is the last time that..." Take a look at my Twitter feed today, and every single senior (that's probably not true...but a rough estimate) tweeted "Last undergrad class ever!" in some form or another. This is not to say that I am annoyed by this, because I tweeted something very similar. It's just overwhelming. Always having to think of an event or situation as potentially the "last time I will ever do this with this group of people."

Another example.

Today, I dropped a bag off in Scheele (imagine a really high-class, fancy apartment building...then think the opposite...that's Scheele dormitory) that I borrowed from a friend when I went to Europe (those blog posts are being postponed until summer FYI). I ran into someone that I had been working closely with for the past two years or so and she said, "Well I suppose this might be the last time that I see you for awhile." My response? "Yeah, I suppose so."

I don't like to think of graduation as a time of "lasts." I want this to be an exciting, intoxicating couple of weeks with some of the greatest people I have ever known. Who knows what this summer will bring, or where we will all be six months from now...what I do know is that I don't want to spend "my last moments" with friends getting all emotional about it.

Now you might be thinking..."Why Courtney, you are soulless."

False.

I will be incredibly emotional for the 10 hour road trip back to South Dakota...and numerous other times following that. I would hate to reflect back on graduation five years from now and just remember spending it over a box of Kleenex. So I'm turning my potential tears into laughs and I hope you'll do the same.

Last Monday night was my final Student Senate meeting. A bunch of people had asked me if I was going to cry during my final report, and I said no, I won't. But I have to admit, I thought about it. Looking out and seeing all of these people that I've grown to admire....it was hard to picture my Monday nights without them. I looked at Danny and thought about everything that we had worked through this year...looked at Justin and pictured him as a 1st grader (then I laughed...in my head)...looked at Collin and remembered high school graduation. You get the idea. But I survived without a tear...until I got to my car. So I'm not emotionless...I'm not trying to be cynical. It's just that I could cry about it every day, and all day, if I wanted to. Life, as I know it, will be changing in more ways than I can even imagine.

That realization makes this whole process difficult enough.

So I'm [attempting] to give the tear ducts a rest until May 17th.

Until then, I'm going to share some favorite memories from senior year...[in no particular order]:

• SigEp's Slip and Slide party and my poor, poor attempt to pre-pre-pre-pre game.
• Luau...great times with my favorite people and my favorite date :)
• All of the Twins/White Sox games (made it to 4 between the 2009 and 2010 seasons)...thanks Collin!
• Getting kicked out of the potential 5th Twins/Sox game (although, chronologically it would have been #2)....thanks Zach!
• All of the traveling! Went to New Orleans during the summer (ELCA national youth gathering with Valpo!), Minneapolis to see Josh run, fall break in Washington, DC with Collin and Luke, San Diego in February with Ryan, Europe (also known as the best trip ever) with the boys, and Montana with NCUR. I'm sure there's been more...
• All of the dance parties...for obvious reasons.
• Almost getting a bid to SigEp...thanks Collin! No thanks to Steve...
• Giving the charge to the student body at Opening Convocation
• Playing piano at Bethel Church.
  
• Weekly meetings with Danny, Tim, and Bonnie...especially the one when Danny said poop.
• American Home field trip on Halloween (and the day after the Halloween dance party)
• Tim Garibay.
• You get the picture.

I loved senior year. But enough sentimentalism for now...I'll leave you with the second Jon McLaughlin song that I'm attempting to cover...



All my best.

Will Work for Food.

Everybody's seen this type of sign before. Whether it's along the side of the road, or in a crowded city street or park, our society is filled with people in need.

This morning, I played piano and attended the worship services at Bethel Church as usual. Following the second service of the day (third of the weekend), I began the trek back down Highway 30 towards Valpo. After first stopping at the Honeybaked Ham cafe (unfortunately, they were closed), I continued driving until I saw an elderly gentleman holding such a sign on the side of the road. I'm not sure what it was about that moment that broke my heart. Perhaps it was because this was the first time I saw an individual standing along Highway 30, praying for a passerby to stop, or maybe it was some inner guilt of mine because typically I'm not the person that stops. Today was different.

It's my "personal policy" not to hand out money, so I choose to hand out food. Ever since I participated in a missions trip to inner city Los Angeles before my junior year in high school, I have attempted to mentally approach these situations in a different manner. Most of the time, I continue walking...if I'm to be perfectly honest. For example, I just returned from Europe a week ago, and failed to hand out any food. It's scary, it's uncomfortable, and it's challenging. Again, today was different.

I drove past the man and continued on to the next intersection which had a Subway inside the gas station. I walked in and ordered a $5 footlong. This also sounds bizarre, but I had no idea what to put on the sub. I tried to think of the most generic sub sandwich, in fear that he might not like mayonnaise or peppers. Three minutes later, I walked back out with a turkey sub on Italian bread, with American cheese, lettuce, pickles, and tomatoes. On the drive back to the gentleman, my heart was racing. Why was I so nervous? I parked my car next to a temporarily closed gas station and walked across the street to the man. He was quite shy and I really didn't know what to say. "I brought a sandwich for you, sir." "Thank you, God bless you." "Have a good day." He shook my hand and I walked away.

Walking back to my car, I realize I didn't say "you too" after he said "God bless you." I hope he received a sense of that though, because even though I didn't say it, I definitely meant it. I got back into my car and saw another vehicle pull over to the side of the road and hand the man some cash. But perhaps what struck me the most was that this man, somebody's son, and possibly somebody's dad, grandpa, and brother, didn't eat the sandwich when I was there. He went and set it along the side of a fence and continued to hold up the sign. I'm not sure if I was expecting him to eat immediately or what, but it reminded me that if he's holding up a sign for food, he's going to need a lot more than a Subway footlong. He waved at me as I drove by. I waved back. And that was it. The interaction was less than two minutes long.

Back at my apartment, my heart was still racing. Still not sure why. Maybe it's the realization that if my grandpa was standing along the side of a highway, I would buy him all the food he wanted for the rest of his life. So why would I do so much for someone I know and love and do so comparatively little for a stranger? It's definitely something I'll be thinking about for awhile.

Great Places, Greater People

Why hello blog! currently listening to....neon: john mayer.

Happy Valentines Day :) Just wanted to take the time to share what I've been up to lately...last weekend, I took a trip to San Diego with Ryan to visit Matt. As we were on the plane from Minneapolis to San Diego, I started getting nervous...here I am, going to visit a friend, who lives with four other guys. Is it going to be awkward? Why am I always the only girl? Will they feel comfortable with me around? Three hours later, our plane landed and since I somehow managed to fit my stuff into a carry-on, we hurried out to the pick-up area. As soon as I saw Matt, I knew it was all going to be okay. He gave us each huge hugs and welcomed us to San Diego. Looking back, it's crazy how I didn't even notice the temperature difference at first...what did strike me was how relaxed I was. We got in the car and I stared out the window like a little puppy. I'd seen palm trees plenty of times before, but you just can't understand the beauty of San Diego until you actually go there. I guarantee a smile was permanently glued to my face, because I was filled with sheer giddiness. Before we got to Matt's house, we stopped for some bomb Mexican food (which would happen numerous times throughout the weekend)....as much as I hate to say it, it was much better than El Amigo, or any "mexican" food we have here in NWIndiana. We got settled in and then headed out for the night...

Needless to say, the rest of the weekend was filled with walking along beaches, bar-hopping, and hanging out with great people who never stopped making me laugh. It was incredibly sad to leave. I knew getting back on that plane meant a return to reality and a return to the stress of both the job and school (well, having to go to classes, would be more accurate). I was a completely different person in San Diego, in a great way. Life was carefree and I was willing to try anything. Every day was exciting and an adventure. Now I'm back in Valpo...and there's snow on the ground. Looks like I can't look at the stars from a hammock here...

MOVING ON. (currently listening to....someday: no more kings)

I might be traveling back to SFSD this weekend :) Not only do I miss my family (I had a nightmare last night that Josh died...), but Missy might be able to make it home too...and Matt is going home and bringing his best friend Casey (who has never been to the Midwest...he had to go buy winter clothes yesterday haha). It would be a great time for all of us to get back together and have some good times.

But in 13 short days....I'm flying to Germany for Spring Break with Brett, Justin, and Collin. I think I'm so excited that I can't even feel the excitement anymore. (currently listening to....please don't stop the rain: james morrison)...CAN'T WAIT.

Well...real life is calling. Have a great V-Day :)

Well...it's about that time again...

I should really just deactivate this whole blog. Not only do I NEVER update, but I feel that I don't have too many interesting things to say.

However, I decided today that I am going to [attempt] to send people letters in the mail. I think there's something romantic/nostalgic about it...and I'm gonna bring the trend back. Plus, I never get any interesting mail...the thing I look forward to the most is Netflix and the Economist (and no, I'm not 70...just trying to get smart, that's all...), so a response back would be the most exciting thing in my life since who knows when. That's probably not true...

In other news, I got my car back today and it feels like new. I should get in accidents that aren't my fault more often. But only with insured drivers, preferably...because the lack of insurance on the other party's part was just plain obnoxious and pretty annoying.

Also...I'm flying to San Diego on the 4th to visit a friend from home who goes to school out there. I'm really excited. And this makes me sound like a 12 year old, but I haven't told my parents yet. I'm sure they wouldn't care that much [maybe...], but they would just say that I have a spending problem. Which is true. I won't deny. I can hear it now: "Shouldn't you be saving for Germany?" Yeah, yeah....I'll tell them eventually. Maybe when I'm boarding the plane.

Graduation is looming. I'm super grateful to have a job post-grad....it's hard to see friends stress out over applying to school/jobs. I wish there was more I could do to help them...just pray I suppose! But I do feel very lucky.

On a final and incredibly random note, something happened to me for the first time last night. Can't really provide any more details than that. Just pray for me?

It's official...I'm the worst blogger ever.

I'm sorry blogger.com...but when it comes down to it, updating the world with the little new information about my life is low on my priority list. However, I do feel a little bit guilty...because I think it's both healthy and necessary to have a little get-away time from the hectic senior year I'm already having.

So my last update was in March. Hm. That was 7 months ago...what has developed since...

Well, first off...(if any of you are still on the edge of your seats) I was elected Student Body President, but not without a little controversy. Nothing like starting off my career as an elected official with a bang. This position is one of the many reasons as to why 4 hours of sleep is a luxury. I love it, I really, really do...but before Senate was back in session, I kinda wanted someone to impeach me (kidding...kinda). It's a hard job to juggle all by yourself, but I'm lucky to have such a great VP in Danny. Not only does he keep me on track with the important stuff, he provides the quality sarcastic remarks here and there. FYI, if he calls you and you miss/ignore it, do not text him back. This makes him angry. Just call. Or answer in the first place.

I finished my Christ College honors thesis over the summer after long, long hours of reading, developing thought, and writing. I ended up entitling it "Discovering and Understanding the Tragedy in Romance: A Theory of Love"...but ask me now as to what my conclusion was, and I'll have a hard time remembering. And now I have begun my political science honors thesis...originally, I was incredibly excited about starting it (as I do love politics), but now it's becoming another burden. It's incredibly difficult to be responsible for writing this huge paper while reading 200+ pages (which are completely irrelevant to my topic, mind you) on top of that for class discussion. I'm only taking 13 credits (the past three years, I took 18-22 credits each semester), but it feels like 32. I was hoping that things would be settled down by now (since we're only 3 DAYS from fall break!), but it hasn't. This is probably my doing because I sometimes find it difficult to stick to a schedule...but I'm choosing to blame it on this thesis that's hovering above my head.

Bah.

On an incredibly optimistic and positive note, I am absolutely loving the social aspects of senior year so far. I honestly love my friends to death and I truly can't imagine not seeing these people every day next year. Even at the age of 22, I've made so many great friends within these first 7-ish weeks of school...it truly amazes me. I really want to live this year to the fullest (cheesy, yes, I know)...regardless if that means I have to spend $20 to go to a concert, or spend $7 to see another terrible movie that Justin wants to go to. These are going to be the moments I remember.

As I said earlier, Fall Break begins Wednesday (well technically Thursday)...and I'm heading to DC for the second year in a row! Not only do I get to spend some quality time with @collinfields and Danny in Georgetown, but my dad and Nick will also be out there over the weekend! Needless to say, I'm super excited...and I've never driven to DC, so this should be an interesting experience. 4-ish years ago our marching band took a trip to NYC via bus, but I really wasn't paying attention to the scenery (or possible lack thereof), so I'm pumped for a day full of driving.

On a completely random note, I'm in love with the show Glee. Not only do I absolutely love show choir, but I just love this show. If there were any way I could become a cast member, I would probably have a heart attack. I think I missed my calling...I'm destined to be in show choir forever. Ha.

Second random note. I experienced a major blast from the past this weekend, in the form of an ex-boyfriend. I don't really know what else to say at the moment, besides the fact that it was unexpected...and I think anybody else who was there could account for that.

Well, there is absolutely no reason for me to still be awake right now...I could have been in bed before midnight. #fail. And I'll try to update more often. #thatsalie.

(If there's snow on the ground when I wake up, I'm yelling at my dad...and @zachuey and @triberocker)

I'm Running for VU Student Body President!

Yes, it is true...I am officially running for VU Student Body President, and I'm absolutely thrilled! This wasn't something that has been in the works for years, or even months for that matter. The encouragement and confidence of others has brought me to where I am. For this reason, I feel that I am in a great place to serve as the leader here on campus. Since I'm linking to this post in the Facebook group, so graciously created by Rachel, this will serve as a somewhat informal introduction into who I am and what I've done here at VU.

Well...my name is Courtney Heitkamp and I hail from the great city of Sioux Falls in the great state of South Dakota. I am currently a junior political science (emphasis on public policy and public administration) and humanities double major, with a minor in political communication....and I'm also in Christ College...holler! Looking to my involvement in student organizations at Valpo, I have held numerous leadership positions.

First, looking to Student Senate itself, I started as a Residence Hall senator in April of 2008 and served as a secretary for the Committee on Residence and was also a member of the Discretionary Funds Committee (in which we allocated 100K of rollover funds). I then decided to run as a Junior Class Senator for the 2008-2009 academic year and I have been honored to serve on the Finance Committee as secretary and also as the Chair for the MBAR Revision Committee. These two positions, in particular, have enabled me to come into closer communication and cooperation with student organizations of all sizes. Especially turning towards MBAR, this committee did a great job of revitalizing the senate financial system to make it work for student organizations. And to me, that's the purpose of senate. Through these experiences, I have garnered a repetuation of being able to answer and research questions proposed by both senators and students, as a whole, and also demonstrated that I'm willing to work hard for the betterment of the student body. I am still working on a project with the Career Center in helping students, especially juniors, prepare themselves with the graduate school/prof school application process...which will hopefully be implemented in the Fall of 2009!

But enough about Senate.

I've been heavily involved in College Republicans, and am currently serving as Co-President of this organization. My tenure will be coming to an end, however, in a couple of weeks, in order to ensure more efficient transition between leadership so that this group maintains a strong presence on campus. Also, I'm involved with Student Alumni Association, Intramural Advisory Council, the Christ College Steering Committee, Pi Sigma Alpha, Mortar Board, University Council, and the Conversations Project.

In the past, I've also been involved with Kantorei and Campus Crusade (just so you know!).

So yes, I'm involved...yet not overly involved. I've been incredibly careful not to extend myself too far, because my greatest fear is not being able to complete any task or fulfill my obligations to an organization to the best of my ability. With this said, I feel that I have successfully placed myself, and my mind, in the right place to run, and win, the SB presidency.

I offer the student body open partnerships. VU has the unique ability to grant organizations a high degree of autonomy and I know that I am capable of fostering and assisting all student organizations to the best of my ability. I am no longer willing to accept that Senate is incapable of working with student organizations. I lobbied for MBAR for this reason...in order for anything to move in a more positive direction of cooperation between all groups, all parties involved need to come to the table with level heads and clear hearts. I'm fully prepared to do this.

I'm not in it for the stipend. I don't even care about the $2,001 that I will potentially earn. I wish I could do away with it. I'm not even sure if words can convey how willing I am to serve in this capacity and serve as the liason between students and the administration. I want to be a presence, a go-to voice, for this campus, and I feel that I have already proven myself capable of being such a person for VU.

I love this school, I love what it stands for....so together, lets make it better.

Spread the word like wildfire, lets make it happen folks.



All my best...