Graduation Surprise

My sister, Diana, graduated from UofM Ann Arbor on Saturday (May 2nd).

It was a very emotional moment for my parents since their first born was graduated and now she is heading to California for Medical school.

We've had this day in mind for a long time. Trying to figure out what to give Diana as a present. Finally the idea came to mind- why not put my editing skills to use?

We decided to ask my whole family from Ecuador to video tape themselves saying congratulations to my sister. While I waited for their videos to come I worked on the first part of the project/surprise- I edited pictures from her birth till now with music from our childhood in the background.

It turned out so good!

I have attached the first part of the project (the picture portion), since the videos are all in Spanish. I'm in many of the pictures- don't make fun of me :P

[still working on getting the video here]

I didn't finish it till the day of her graduation since I wanted the video to end with a picture of her with her cap and gown.

Sooo...I ended up editing that night till late- the worst part is the Diana was at my house so my dad and I tried miracles to get her to not see what we were up to. 

My dad was printing a CD cover that came out really nice.

Anyway...we had a big celebration with my family on Sunday.

That's when we showed her the video.

We got everyone around the TV. Then I handed her the DVD- she looked at it and was already surprised by seeing the "CD" cover on it with a picture of her in her cap and gown (it said Congratulations Diana!). She slid the DVD in and sat down to watch it.

It didn't take long for tears to roll down her face. Once she realized that it was my dad singing she was really touched (it was extra personalized).

Then she REALLY started crying from happiness when the video part started.

She was shocked to see that the family had taken the time to send her congratulation videos.

Everyone who watched it was very touched by the surprise and I got many compliments for my editing skills (go me! :) )

After endless hours of working on this project, I got it done, and the best part of all- it was a success!

Diana said it was the best present that anyone could have given her and she felt really loved.

What else can I say? I feel really proud.

Finals are getting to me

Today has been quite a day!

I stayed up till around 2am, had to get up at 7:30am to work at 9am, was so tired that I was falling asleep at work, left work early, tried to take a nap but my phone get going off, got up on time to print my paper and go to school.

However, when I went to print my 4-page paper, the last page printed, the third one printed, the second one printed, and then the printer ran out of ink. I just needed the first page!

I got irritated of course, it was almost 1pm and my class is at 2pm (I live 40 minutes away). I thought the process of changing a cartridge was easy, but then my printer wasn't communicating, and I ended up spending 30 minutes trying to print one page!

It was 1:30pm, I was definitely late to class. I decided to send my paper to my professor so he wouldn't think I was late because of the paper (and later on found out I didn't attach the paper!)

I ended up leaving my house in tears all frustrated. 

Side note: It is probably best not to drive when you are this upset- I'll leave it at that.

Anyway, I got to class about 15 minutes late, and printed out the first page finally and turned it in.

I am just really stressed with finals at the moment. 

I hope that my awesome Adv. Writing for TV professor moves our final deadline to next week :D because I have my sisters graduation on Saturday and my aunt from Ecuador is coming that day and we are having a great celebration on Sunday. I have so much to do and hope to be able to relax with the family and enjoy their company.

At the moment, because my day keeps getting better, I realized that I forgot my charger for my laptop. I hope the help desk with lend me one, since I can't borrow anyone elses because they have PC's.

I just need finals to be over with!

I'm VP of DTS

On Monday my sorority had our last meeting of the year, and as we normally do on the last meeting, we had elections.

I came to the realization that now Megan Motta and I are the oldest members of Delta Tau Sigma!

How did that happen? It seems like it was yesterday when I pledged DTS (Fall 2006).

The girls were so nice, fun, and most of all loved the sorority. I wanted to be part of this great group of girls.

I am so glad I joined. It has been a memorable experience.

However, when I was a new member, I was just learning more and more about the sorority and its traditions. I always had an older member to look up to and ask questions.

Now our only two older members left are graduating, making me and Megan the oldest members. This seriously makes me want to cry! 

I love the new girls and always will, but it is so different being the "go-to-person."

I have never ran for an E-board position before...and I can't figure out why. 

I guess I always knew someone above me that was great for President, or Vice President.

This year I felt I was ready to have more of a leadership position and continue to help the sorority grow. I am so thankful to have been elected as Vice President.

Though it is going to be a different experience, I am going to make the best out of it next year being the "big dog". I have learned so much from the previous members and am happy to be able to share it with the current and future Delta Tau's.

Greek Day Results

I promised to blog about the results of Song and Skit & Greek Day...so here it is:

Delta Tau Sigma won Song & Skit!! I was really happy, specially since I put a lot of time into it.

As far as Greek Day goes...

So who won the cup? Let's put it this way- no one.

Everything was fine until the afternoon events.

After the morning events, DTS was tied with Chi Omega Rho- then we had lunch- and then started the afternoon events.

We got through two out of the five afternoon events until the storm hit. (DTS was down by two)

Everyone had to run in for shelter- the weather was really bad! 

I ran in to the architecture building with no phone or car keys (because the person who had then was no where to be found)- then I saw the ambulance in the Tech parking lot.

What happened? I don't know all the details, but a girl (who is a Deepher) go her wrist ran over by someone riding a motorcycle. One of my sorority alumnae called the ambulance.

The storm didn't even last an hour- and everyone was ready to continue the events, until we heard what had happened. Out of respect, DTS decided to not continue with Greek Day since many of the Deephers had left and were not competing anymore. We couldn't be proud of a trophy knowing that the Deephers were not competing and that one of them got hurt...

So like I said, no one got the trophy. We are still trying to figure out if there will be a make-up Greek Day so we can see who the winner is.

Finals

I have been trying to figure out what my third blog this week will be on and honestly my mind has been so preoccupied with my final projects that that is the only thing I can think of!

I can't wait until this semester is over! I have to write a 3-paper for World Masterpieces II that is due in a week and haven't started it yet (normally I don't start papers this late, but To the Lighthouse has been a really difficult book to read and understand).

I couldn't figure out what to write about and finally decided on my thesis today (yay!).

I also have an editing project due next week and I am not nearly done *tear*

I have more finals to worry about too and the fact that Greek Day is this weekend does not help!

So wish me luck! (I know I will do well in my classes like always, but at the moment I am overwhelmed with projects/finals)

Song & Skit and Greek Day

There are two huge greek events this weekend: Friday- Song & Skit, and Saturday- Greek Day!

On Friday, all greek organizations are going to perform either a song or skit they have prepared. Fraternities compete against each other and Sororities compete against each other.

There will be judges who decide who gets 1st, 2nd, 3rd, (etc) place. 

My sorority is Delta Tau Sigma and I am extremely excited about our song & skit.

I can't tell you what we are doing because it is top secret until tomorrow haha- sorry! 

What I will tell you is that we are NOT going to be in leotards this year!! (for the record I was not part of that song & skit last year and thankful for it!)

But I will definitely blog about what we did and how it went after Greek Day.

Saturday all the Greeks are going to be on campus competing in different activities such as toilet bowl race, mattress race, tricycle race, three legged race, etc. 

The Greeks are extremely competitive- last year it got so bad that Greek Day was almost cancelled this year. 

Anyway, I will blog about Greek Day after it happens, but it is something that has occupied my mind a lot lately and just wanted to throw it out there.

Honoring the Memory of Professor Kelch

Today the LTU Scholars had a reception honoring the memory of Professor Kelch.

We had a plaque made and hung it up on the door of the Scholar's room.

Kevin Kelch passed way last year. It was a very unexpected death and it broke the hearts of many students and faculty members. Including mine.

Kevin Kelch was the founder of the Scholars Program at Lawrence Tech. He was very passionate about many things and made great contributions to the university. One the the two greatest contributions that Kelch made that made a difference in my life are 1) Creating the Media Communication Program in LTU; If it wasn't for Kelch, I would not be attending LTU. Being a student at LTU has brought so many opportunities and experiences and I thank Kelch for making such a great difference in my career and life. 2) Creating the Scholars Program; The Scholars Program has been a great help at making college life easier. It has helped me in numerous ways: making long lasting friendships, getting involved in the community, being with a group of students who care about their classes, and the program has also helped me financially (supplying snacks, drinks, paper, pens, bluebooks, etc). Most of all- I have somewhere to be and do homework while I am at school (I am a commuter)- the scholar room is my home.

It has been very difficult to say goodbye to Kelch. He was very passionate about the Scholars program and it was a difficult process deciding on a new director for the program. Kelch is simply unreplaceable. However, I have to say that our new director, Holly Helterhoff, has been doing a great job!

I have many great memories with Kelch and know that he is in a happier place. 

Through my religion I have learned that death is a messenger of joy- and we should be happy that the person is in a better world. 

I ask myself sometimes why he had to leave this world so early- but I must have faith in God and know that it was for a reason.

I will always remember Kelch and I know he is always with the scholars :)