Caitlin's blog
Class of 2008, Business Adm. Major, from Crystal Lake, IL

First of all, so to let you know the girls bball team did AWESOME they beat Stevens Point for their first playoff game (which was something that was an upset) but the girls did a great job of stepping up and controlling them throughout the whole game and ended up beating them by like 10!! GREAT job girls!!
Once that week was over I was home free (kind of)… I had two exams, paper and work but it was all worth it for SPRING BREAK!! Three of us were off and went to Cocoa Beach, FL, it was so nice – the weather was awesome minus one overcast day (which we deemed as our shopping day) otherwise it was spectacular. Half the week we spent at a hotel but then the other half of the week we stayed at Nicole’s aunt’s house – it was a ton of fun hanging out with the family – hot tubbing, going to the beach, belly surfing and surfing, Ron Jon’s, going to Longdogger’s for wing night etc. We then got back on Saturday to O’Hare and we were exhausted… we woke up at my mom’s on Easter and all looked for our Easter baskets  then slept most the day. We ended the night with a big dinner and then we were back to school. It was great to see the fam even if it was only for a day (and most the time we were sleeping). Once we got back we heard that the hockey team won that night in N.Y and are now National Champs! So needless to say Monday while I was working it was busy!! The boys got off the plane and were escorted (police and everything) back to campus, after that the celebration began!
Classes then began on Tuesday and man was it rough to come back to the cold and to classes – hopefully this cold weather thing is going to leave soon and spring will come. Which means CHEERLEADING TRYOUTS!!! This year Rachael and I get to put them on – p.s. they will be Sunday April 27th – should DEFINETLY tryout – it’s a blast and I have made some of my best friends here at college because of it. I can’t believe that it is almost over too… it’s nuts your time here really does FLY by. Only 6 weeks till I graduate and become a big kid, it’s crazy. I have finalized all my plans for living arrangements, a car, a job (most importantly), etc. I did though create a new email address (you know, a professional one) and make profiles on both careerbuilder and monster – so I feel ok at this point! Well there are a ton of things coming up in these next few weeks that I have to prepare myself for: Next weekend I will be going to Omaha with the SHRM e-board (minus Jackie – bummer) for the regional HR Games and conference, then the following weekend I will be off to Hilton Head Island to help my uncle and cater for the Heritage PGA Golf Tour. It’s going to go super fast and hopefully I can keep you updated with what’s going on – Have a great week!

So I last left you when I was going to the SHRM sponsor a student dinner, leaving for Milwaukee for the Job Fair at Marquette and that weekend being my 22nd Birthday!! First of all, the sponsor a student dinner was a lot of fun; I was teamed up with Jenny Lowe (J. Lo), SPHR an HR manager for Imperial Supplies LCC, who is just a ball of fun! It was held at Brett Farve’s Steakhouse and there was a great guest speaker whose topic was “ I Win, You Win – Bridge Building Negotiations”. Then on the following day I drove down to Milwaukee for the Job Fair held at Marquette. It was nice because I went with some friends and there was a good turn out of employers there in search for new hires. It was intimidating at first but then I got use to going up and introducing myself. It was a very good experience and I actually have had a couple people email and set up interviews with me! Nevertheless on to the good stuff… that weekend was my BIRTHDAY!! It was extremely fun the girls and I went to Nakashima’s which is sushi and hibachi grill place, we went for what I call the cook top table! It was a blast; a couple of the girls had never been to one before so that was even more interesting to see how they liked it. After that we headed out for a night on the town! That next night we went to the Hockey game and then my buddy’s girlfriend was up so we had a little fun girls time and then it was someone else’s birthday so another night of fun! Since then I have basically been working at my internship and at the bar, I’ve also been counting down the days until I leave for spring break!! (in case you’re wondering there are 6 days until I am on the beach! – I can’t wait to be in the SUN!!) My dad actually came up for my last basketball game! The girls did awesome and won the conference tournament and now they are off to Steven’s Point for an NCAA playoff tonight – GOOD LCUK GIRLS! But it was nice to have my dad here for my last home game, we went out for sushi and then spent the night at his favorite pub (the Abbey – where I work) Classes have been good; jam packed with homework and tests but good. A lot of the professors like to have an exam or paper due right before spring break so this week and next are a little hectic. Sadly Cheerleading is ending, but because the girls have an NCAA playoff I get to cheer one more time! Otherwise, we already had our end of the year party, which is always a great time. This year Cheryl made us dinner and then she presented us with our senior 4-yr. Blankets!!! They’re great, she also always gives us a CD with all the pictures she has taken over the season – it is funny going back and looking at a whole seasons worth of pictures and what big goof-balls we all are. We also just did a service project as a team! We went and volunteered for the Girls Night Out program at the YMCA. It is a program for 6th grade girls to go to the Y and spend time with girls their age as well as learn valuable lessons. This week we learned about Friendship and what/ how to be a good friend. Then we taught the girls a cheer and two dances, after that we kind of showed off our stunting skills for them (it was a nice example of trust and how we’re all friends!) So now I am off because I have a phone interview in 15 mins and then I am heading off to Stevens Point to cheer on the Girls Bball team! Have a great weekend everyone!

Jeez I can’t believe a month has flown by already! We are in the fifth week of classes and it couldn’t be more brutal… the weather STINKS right now. It is beautiful outside but there is so much snow, I just don’t want to walk to classes (I know that sounds really lazy of me) but in my defense it is an obstacle course to get to class because of all the hidden patches of ice. It’s no fun for me but for onlookers it is probably hilarious watching people and how if they fall they do the whole shoot back up and look around to see if anyone saw them thing. I know it has happened to me a couple of times :) Today I literally spent two hours outside attempting to shovel our driveway (because our landlord doesn’t do it for us man I miss the dorms) but the best part about it is the fact that on my way back from Wal-Mart I got my car stuck at the end of my driveway because I didn’t shovel far enough (I had to go next door to get man power literally they will definitely be getting some homemade cookies later this week!
So I guess lets backtrack a little… My family came up a couple weekends ago, which was a blast! I got to go out to eat (The Prime Quarter is spectacular!), do a little shopping, hanging out and all of that stuff you honestly don’t know how great it is to have your parents come visit when you’re in college and I don’t know how to explain it so sorry (it’s just good)! Sadly though because my mom came that just signified the fact that cheerleading is seriously almost over (The girls are #1 and so they are hosting the conference tournament this means 1 or 2 more games to cheer at!!!) but it’s extremely sad because I won’t be trying out next year (I will be at tryouts but you know what I mean) It’s just one of many things that will be ending soon solidifying the fact that I am going to have to grow up soon. Which is extremely terrifying and exciting all at the same time. On that note my roommate and I will be going to the Milwaukee Job fair on Thursday to hopefully get big kid jobs and become grown ups! It is suppose to be a great place to meet a ton of companies, organizations, etc. and I know a bunch of people from other schools that are going too in hopes of the same thing.
As of now though I have been basically running around like a chicken with its head cut off running errands, going from class to my internship and on top of that I seriously think that one of the snow plow guys has it out for my… after I shoveled for two hours well then I had to do it again because they plowed AGAIN… I mean honestly people my back can only handle so much!
Other things I am doing this week ~ I get done with class at 3 tomorrow and then go to work at the Abbey from 4p.m. bar close at 2a.m. serving from 4-7 and then bar tending from 7:30-2… that is going to be long. Then on Wednesday I am going to SHRM’s sponsor a student night, this is a dinner meeting where students are paired with business professionals, we have great conversation, a good meal and a spectacular guest speaker who is talking about building the bridge between people and negotiation. The best part about this crazy week is that it ends with Friday being my 22nd birthday! Hopefully I will have some good stories to tell you about next time, so until then make it a good one!

So I last left you when it was still Christmas Break, classes have now begun and the routine of class, work, practice, homework etc is starting to set back in. This semester I am taking three classes - Mass Communication, Interpersonal Communication and a class for my Internship. So far the classes are interesting and I truly enjoy them! Honestly I don’t care what major/ minor you want to pursue but I believe that everyone should take Interpersonal Communication! We are in the third week of classes and I have had two quizzes, a five-page journal entry about my internship and I have my first exam tomorrow… so these Profs are wasting no time.
I just got back from cheering at the women’s basketball game against Ripon College, yeah that’s right… we won!! Both basketball teams are doing great and it is going to be extremely sad next Saturday when it’s my last home conference game. I mean because our teams are doing so great I’m sure we will be hosting the tournament (and then I would get to cheer more) but still it’s sad knowing that it’s actually coming to an end. Cheer has been a great part of my college life… I would definitely suggest getting involved with some group, sorority/ fraternity, athletics etc. It’s sad thinking about the people I have met here and leaving them because like my coach says “this is the last time when you will be living in a community when everyone is the same age and all doing the same sort of things.” I have met some great people and some people that I thought were great only to find out otherwise. Either way it is all about living and learning. I have some great memories and I am going to continue to make some in these last couple of months!
Other things going on…. Well my internship is going great tomorrow I am going to a job fair with the YMCA (Y). I haven’t done this yet but I am excited to see what it is like on the other side of the table recruiting! Otherwise I am just starting to do things besides the menial tasks I’ve been doing. I am starting to work on the new hire paperwork and helping with recruiting for the school aged child-care (SACC), which interests me, so we will see how everything goes!
Some fun things going on… I have set plans for our spring break! My two BFF’s and I are going to Cocoa Beach, FL and we are so excited. It has kind of been really cold here so I can’t wait to get in the sun! Also, Nicole (roommate/ BFF) and I have started to go to work out classes (the one I went to today – step n sculpt – kicked my butt :) ) it was a ton of fun though! Also, my family is coming up this weekend for our senior/ recognition game on Saturday! Well until next time, have a great month!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! I hope everyone had amazing holidays… mine were pretty eventful. First of all I got home just in time for my girlfriend’s second annual cookie exchange party. This is just a party where like 20 girls from our high school class get together, talk about old times and chow down!! Meredith and I went on a cookie baking frenzy, we made thumbprint, chocolate thumbprint, pecan dippers, turtles, chocolate covered pretzels, mint thins, and peppermint patties and so many others I can’t even remember. I am definitely all about the sweets over the holidays. Anyways then each girl brings a plate of her cookies and at the end of the night we all take a variety home. As lame as that may sound it was a blast! Then Christmas was fun too but it was the first time I have actually split Christmas between my mom’s and my dad’s house. We (my sister, two brothers and I) were at my dad’s for x-mas eve and morning and then went to my mom’s x-mas day at noon. It was kind of weird, I hate being part of that stupid statistic (a divorced family), and I never thought it would happen to me. We make due though and have fun while attempting to make it normal. The day after Christmas my mom, sister, brothers and I piled in the car and went to my papa’s house in Ohio. He got married on the 28th. I don’t know how many people can say that they went to their grandfather’s wedding. Let me tell you, that was a trip and a half. Her name is Pat and don’t get me wrong, she is very sweet, it was just a different feeling seeing her instead of my nana. Nonetheless, she makes him happy and that is what matters! Those four days while we were there felt like weeks because of the emotional toll it took on everyone, but it was great to see all of my family! I am very blessed because I can honestly say I have one of the greatest families EVER, we are all very close. We left Ohio on New Years Eve day (if that makes sense) and once we got home in IL, I drove back up to DP (DePere) for a night of festivities! It was a great night, we had some friends over and there was fun had by all! Otherwise I started my internship this past Thursday and I am really looking forward to working with the HR ladies at the YMCA. I got a tour, was introduced to a ton of people (I unfortunately will not remember their names put with faces – which probably isn’t a good thing) and got my own email address at the Y. I am sort of nervous that I won’t catch on fast enough but we will just have to see how it goes. I am also still working at the Abbey Bar and have to work tonight on top of that I am back here for Cheerleading! It was so good to see some of the girls; I missed a couple games for the wedding so I have been away from them for a little while. Everything will get back into routine though soon, starting with the home basketball and playoff games. It is nice though because school doesn’t start back up till the 21st so I will be working and lounging around! Until next time, good luck with the start of you next semester!