Elon Edge, Issue 5
-
Upload
the-pendulum -
Category
Documents
-
view
229 -
download
0
description
Transcript of Elon Edge, Issue 5
ELONTHE PENDULUM | WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2011 | VOLUME 2, EDITION 2
what’s inside...6 7
3
The truth about your favorite treats. How healthy are they?
Which is better? Online classes or summer classes?
continued on page 4
5 Transitioning through time. Read about how students are preparing for the next stages of their lives.
Motivate your muscles this summer. Learn how to avoid an exercise lull.
Fading fastThe summer learning gap: What do we forget during the summer months?
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY WILL ANDERSON
kate.riley
It’s almost time to leave Elon’s
campus and explore life outside the
walls of a classroom. It’s almost time
to have a three-month break from
projects, tests, quizzes and stress. And
it’s almost time for summer vacation.
For some, this means a time to
dip toes into the salty ocean waves.
For others, it means a chance to visit
relatives or friends from home. Or
maybe it’s just a time to catch up on
television shows missed during the
school year.
Yes, summer is a sweet time to
take a step back from the stress
of schoolwork. But how much do
students forget during this three-
month mental break?
When speaking about
the beginning of each fall semester,
psychology professor Katie King finds
it is not necessarily that students
forget information, but that they have
problems locating it.
“With the right prompt, you can
2
Get arrestedSeriously. You are at risk for judicial action upon your return to campus
in the fall if you have a run-in with authorities during the summer while
off-campus.
do’s&don’ts
Check out grouchyrabbit.comThis website provides readers with funny
“information for successful living.” With
categories such as Signs That Things
Aren’t Going So Well and Realized,
Grouchy Rabbit has the potential to be
just the thing to entertain you when
summer gets a little boring.
Keep important materialsNotes, books and tests from this semester’s classes may help you out in
the future. Hang on to them so that they can be used as references in
semesters to come.
Take advantage of free timeEven though you may have an internship or a job, use your time away
from classes to do things you wouldn’t be able to do during the academic
year like catch up on some reading or take a few road trips.
Attend a summer festivalMerlefest has come and gone, but chances are there is another music
festival wherever you are living this summer. Try Lollapalooza,
Bonnaroo or Warped Tour, and make sure you stock up on food,
sunscreen and water before you head out.
DO: DON’T:
wednesday, may 4, 2011
Veg out all summerUnless you're at the beach, be constructive with your time. Don’t let
the summer pass you by. Make sure you have plenty of stories to share
with your friends when you return to campus.
Forget to keep in touch Sometimes just a Facebook
message doesn’t cut it. Give
your friends a call every once
and a while to check in during
the summer months. They will
appreciate the extra effort.
Be frugal Chances are you will be eating out quite a bit more during the summer months, so tip generously. Waiters and waitresses, just like you, are often crunched for spare change. If you have extra to spare, go for it.
Be a summer professionalA combination of hot weather and internships makes for some tough
fashion decisions, so make sure you are aware of your organization’s
dress code. Observe what your co-workers are wearing and dress
accordingly.
Get distractedIf you’ll be driving a lot this summer, keep focused on the road.
Vacationers and commuters try to text, apply makeup or attempt to
read maps while they drive. This makes a trip down the highway way
more dangerous, so don’t contribute to the problem.
PHOTO BY WILL ANDERSON
PHOTO COURTESY OF GROUCHYRABBIT.COMPHOTO COURTESY OF FOTOPEDIA.COM
3wednesday, may 4, 2011
14
With summer just around the corner, college students everywhere are trading in their winter boots and thick sweaters for a lighter, more colorful wardrobe. But students do not have to break the bank in order to keep up with the latest trends. Instead, they can easily and affordably transition their closet by updating their look with a few key pieces.
Floral prints
A big trend for summer is wearing anything with floral print, whether it is a puffy miniskirt or wedge platform heels. Floral prints are good for perking up basic pieces, but be sure to avoid going overboard and only wear one floral item at a time,
such as pairing a flirty floral tank top with khaki shorts. Sophomore Lyndsay Burch said floral print sundresses are also a
reasonable option because they are easy to accessorize. “A few floral dresses and a white dress can be nice to dress up and
down,” Burch said. “Wear them with flip flops and these pieces can be day-time wear, put them with some heels and nice accessories and they can be nice for going out.”
Brightly-colored shoes and accessories
Another way to dress up basic pieces is enhancing them with brightly-colored accessories,
such as long necklaces, jewel tone handbags and colorful headbands. Brightly colored sandals and flats are also good for adding extra sparkle to a basic outfit, making them great to wear with darker tops and dresses worn during winter.
Mix, match and layer winter and summer pieces
Layering is a good method for recycling older items.Stash the tights you would typically wear with dresses in the winter
and go barelegged with a pair of peep toe heels. You can also pair light sweaters with camisoles and shorts or wear a light scarf with a spaghetti strap dress.
“I do buy basic pieces, like one or maybe three spring outfits, and then I still wear my jeans and light scarves in the summer,” freshman Devon Clark said.
Add pieces that reflect daring trends
A few of the most popular trends for this summer are
70s bohemian, punk rock and nautical pieces, so shake up your wardrobe by choosing items that echo these styles. A navy striped T-shirt with skinny jeans is a good for a nautical style, while flowing maxi dresses will give you a bohemian feel.
These pieces can be found at local vintage and thrift stores, so there is no need to blow your bank account at the mall.
Junior Kelly Mead said she thinks it is important to remember that less is more in the purchasing process.
“I have a job on campus, but it is much better for me to buy a couple of things instead of a whole new wardrobe because that’s kind of ridiculous,” she said.
Trends to expect for fall 2011
• Bold Red• Ponchos• Plaid• High Slits• Duster Coats• Bright Pants
Information from shopinfluence.com
lauren.ramsdell
Chances are you’ve at least considered summer
classes. Far from the days of high school when summer
was for hanging at the pool, sleeping in until noon or
maybe making a little money, summer in college can be
a way to get ahead of the game.
Elon makes it easy to take classes during the summer.
There are two sessions offered, one offered June 1
— July 1, and one from July 11 — Aug. 1. On-campus
classes are offered both times, but online classes are
only offered during the first session. However, both on-
campus classes and online classes cost $380 per credit
hour or $1,520 for a four credit course.
The condensed time frame makes summer classes
similar to Winter Term classes, where you can focus on
one subject at a time. It can be hard to pick what kind
of class to take and not every class is offered during the
summer. Here’s a guide to what kind of class you might
want and what time you should take it.
Physical proximity to Elon is essential to taking a
class on campus. If interning, working on or off campus,
or if you live within a 30-minute commute, taking a
class in person makes sense.
On-campus classes are also helpful if you need
structure in your classwork. If you know you can’t do
assignments with an ambiguous deadline, having a
professor encouraging you to get work done on time
is invaluable. Also,
online classes are run
through Blackboard,
so if you’re not
familiar with or don’t
like its interface, you
can save yourself
a headache by not
taking it.
Another benefit
of on-campus classes
is they are offered during both summer sessions. If
you’re busy, there is still time to take classes after July
1. If you got shut out of common classes for one of the
popular majors or one of the core requirements, they
are usually offered in the summer. Statistics, college
writing and basic communications classes are typically
available.
Online classes through Elon are very simple to take.
No matter where you are in the world, you are able to
take classes as long as you have an Internet connection.
This is perfect if you frequently travel during the
summer or need to move for an internship or want to
go back home. Online classes let you set your own pace
so you’re not squeezing your work schedule around
lecture times, if you are interning or working full time.
If you prefer to work on your own terms, there is
nothing so liberating as an online class. Procrastination
is a temptation, but if
you easily overcome
it, online classes can
be a breeze. They are
just as academically
challenging as
semester classes,
but you have more
free time during the
summer to devote to
homework, studying
and projects.
If you want to jump ahead on requirements, like
knocking out a civilization or society class, many
upper-level classes are offered online. It’s just a matter
of checking with your adviser to make sure those
classes fit in your graduation plan.
Online classes are also invaluable if you have an odd
summer schedule or can’t take class after July 1. Even if
you have a conflict during your online class term, such
as going on a week-long mission trip, simply e-mailing
the professor whose class you wish to take and working
out a make up work plan is easy as pie.
Regardless of what kind of class you can or need to
take, summer classes are a great way to further your
education. Taking classes at a local university can be
worked into a summer schedule. There are just more
steps involved to transfer credit.
easily and inexpensively update your summer wardrobekyra.gemberling
Online vs. traditional classes
On-campus classes are good if you:
• Are working on campus or nearby over the summer• Live nearby• Need structure or hate Blackboard• Can only take classes after July 1• Need to take a common prerequisite class, such as college writing or statistics
Online classes are good if you:
• Need to live far away from Elon during the summer• Need to work full-time• Like to work on your own time• Need a specific requirement, like an upper-level GST or Society class• Can only take classes before July 1
Which summer class style is best for you?
access memories,” King said. “It’s all
about activating prior knowledge.”
Students’ old memories need to be
stimulated in a proper way to recall
information when reviewing work
from previous classes, King said.
She said a key way to spark dusty
memories is to review notes before a
class begins.
“If students were self-regulated
learners, it would help a lot,” she
said.
Although summer vacation is
coveted by many, students need to
remember reviewing notes may be
necessary. Successful students look
over their notes daily, King said.
“The problem is that students often
don’t spend summer continuing to
learn, which ultimately is what they
need to be doing,” she said. “It is not
always case of retention of material
because learning is absolutely
voluntary.”
King referred to what is known
as the relearning curve: the speed at
which a student acquires knowledge.
“You take algebra and say you don’t
remember the material,” she said. “But
then, as you are learning, you learn
quicker because you remember parts
of the material. Spending the first
days and weeks of a class reviewing to
access this prior knowledge is really
important. You can’t start a class
without reviewing.”
Some students say the reviewing
process isn’t always an option.
Sophomore Ellie Erickson and
junior Sarah Graves say they haven’t
experienced review sessions in many
of their classes.
“My classes do not review at the
beginning of the year,” Erickson said.
“We hit the ground running. But I
think that reviewing is a necessary
part of learning.”
Graves agrees, saying classes
at Elon usually jump right into the
material of a course. But she said she
does feel it would be beneficial to
have review sessions after such a long
break.
“I feel that a refresher would
definitely be beneficial in all classes,”
she said. “Reviewing, I feel, will only
help us in the long run.”
Some students have found the
tutoring services on campus to be
a large help in bridging the summer
learning gap when class revision is
not a part of the course syllabus.
Tutoring services, located in Belk
Library, cater to students who need
help in a wide range of subjects, the
highest demanded being mathematics
courses.
“The fall semester is busier than
the spring,” said Laurin Kier, associate
director of tutorial services. “Our
number one demand is Math 112, or
general statistics.”
When students come into their
freshman year and are required to
take statistics, many assume it is
going to be difficult. According to
Kier, therefore, the Tutoring Center
is the place they turn to. The same
goes for other math classes during the
semester.
In September 2010, the Center
had 71 statistics, 48 accounting and
39 calculus tutoring sessions. These
three subjects make up the top three
most demanded courses, Kier said.
Kier agrees with King that students
should take a large part in the
reviewing process.
“If a student were continuing
a subject from high school and he
or she did not want to fall behind,
they should continue to look at the
material,” she said. “If they don’t
do that, I think that they will have
a rude awakening in college that
things move more quickly.”
As Graves and Erickson said,
students do not always have the
option to review in the classroom.
Therefore, it is up to students to
either push themselves or find an
alternative, like that provided by
the Tutoring Center.
“I think that the students that are
pretty well-prepared understand
concepts better,” Kier said. “Even if
they don’t understand the formula,
they understand why the formula
works the way it does. Those kids
are going to be able to pick it up
pretty quickly.”
For many college students,
summer vacation is a time to lie
in the sun and forget the hardest
calculus equation learned the past
semester. But students should
consider reviewing a textbook or
maybe something simpler.
“During the summer, you should
still be reading the news, reading
books and having intellectual
conversations with friends,”
Erickson said. “If you can keep that
up, I don’t think there is a summer
learning gap.”
4 wednesday, may 4, 2011
Editor: Sam Parker
Designers: Kristen Case, Marlena Chertock, Lina Patton, Gabriela
Szewcow
Photographer: Will Anderson
Copy Editors: Ashley Fahey, Eva Hill, Rebecca Iannucci, Kate Riley,
Edith Veremu
Contributing Writers: Sarah Dodge, Ashley Fahey, Kyra Gemberling,
Anna Hirschbiel, Melissa Kansky, Katie O’Brien, Lauren Ramsdell, Kate
Riley, Katy Steele
Elon Edge staff
Reviewing strategies help enforce learning retention
from page 1
Graphic by Kate Riley
it could be worse5wednesday, may 4, 2011
Than wondering how in the world most Americans obtained driver’s licenses.
How did you possibly pass if you can’t remember to drive FAST in the FAST lane.
Than taking a nap right before you go to bed - you need the extra energy to
change your clothes, wash your face and brush your
teeth.
THAN THINKING ALL THE ROYAL WEDDING COVERAGE WOULD SUBSIDE BECAUSE WILL&KATE FINALLY TIED THE KNOT. WHO KNEW NEWS ORGANIZATIONS
WERE SO INTERESTED IN WEDDING DRESS DESIGNERS AND
INVITATION PATTERNS?
Than thinking extreme couponers are crazy but secretly wishing you had the patience to search for 60 cent discounts every day. Who doesn’t want a $3 grocery bill?
Than running two miles a day - When is that “runner’s high” supposed to start kicking in again?
Than replacing a few of your eight glasses of water a day ... with beers. Come on, it’s
practically summertime.
Than watching re-runs of the Royal
Wedding every week from now
until July ... you’re simply taking
advantage of the history lesson.
THAN CONSIDERING
BLUEBERRY MUFFINS,
BANANA NUT BREAD
AND CARROT CAKE
HEALTHY OPTIONS
- THEY DO HAVE
FRUITS&VEGGIES IN
THEM ANYWAY, RIGHT?
{ {
Than not knowing what to do with the rest of your life, even though you’re graduating in less than a month ... you know what they say, you always have the rest of your life to figure it out.
Than deciding to get that trendy haircut ... and then wondering why you did. What am I supposed to do with this piece? It looked so good in the salon.
anna.hirschbiel
As the year comes to an end, changes are being
made throughout the Elon University campus. The
Class of 2011 is entering into the “real” world, while
the freshman class climbs the collegiate ladder.
“It’s hard to believe that my first year of college is
almost over,” freshman Kensey Gooch said. “It went by
so fast.”
Gooch will be continuing her education at Elon in
the fall.
“It will be nice not to be the new kids on the block
though,” said Gooch in regards to the upcoming
semester.
Some students are preparing for their first summer
internships. Sophomore Dean Coots is a media arts
and entertainment major with a concentration in
cinema and plans to intern at News 12 Connecticut as
a local news journalist this summer.
“I wish I could just press pause,” Coots said.
“Everyone says that it’s the best four years of your life
and I feel like it is going by way too quickly.”
Sophomore Christine Mavraganis has taken the
mandatory pre-internship seminars to prepare for
hers.
“I am really looking forward to doing something
that isn’t my forte to expand my horizons,” Mavraganis
said.
She will be working primarily with social media,
managing Twitter and Facebook accounts.
While some students are about to embark on a new
experience, others are returning from their semesters
abroad.
“This experience has been life-changing,” said
sophomore Bridget Riley, who is finishing this
semester in Ecuador. “However, despite how much I
love it here, it will be great to be back on campus in
the fall.”
But while Riley still has time at Elon, some students
do not.
“It’s very bittersweet,” said senior Kimberley
Campbell. “I have had so many amazing and unique
experiences here and met so many interesting people,
which makes leaving very difficult but it is extremely
exciting to be moving into the next chapter of my
life.”
Campbell is graduating in May with a business
degree.
“I feel torn between these incredible past four years
and the excitement and anticipation of venturing into
the real world,” she said.
With only a few more days of classes, the
enthusiasm of summer and the changes that come
with it are stirring around campus. Emotions are high
with exams around the corner and the pressure of
finishing the year strong. But the expectation of what
is to come keeps the student body moving forward.
“My future is completely up in the air at this point,”
Riley said. “But I can’t wait to see how it falls into
place.”
Different year, new experiences
Elon students prepare for academictransitions during summertime
6wednesday, may 4, 2011
ashley.fahey
The end of the semester is right
around the corner: jobs, internships,
summer courses and days of relaxation
are taking over students’ brains. But
one activity students may be forgetting
about is exercise. Between the craziness
of juggling commitments and the laziness
of the sweltering summer, it is easy to
disregard the gym, despite its importance
to every individual’s life and health.
One of the most popular excuses for
not working out is the unbearable heat
and humidity.
“The heart works two to four times
harder to move blood into the vessels,
which dilate as the body heats up,” said
Janice Zimmerman, professor of medicine
at Baylor College of Medicine. “Exercising
in the heat places extra stress on the heart
and this can be especially dangerous for
those with cardiac conditions.”
There are several key elements to
exercising outdoors during the summer:
avoiding outdoor activity between 10
a.m. and 2 p.m., avoiding direct sunlight,
wearing light-colored clothes, drinking
plenty of fluids and gradually exposing the
body to heat may help it adjust better to
the conditions, according to Zimmerman.
Another fact to keep in mind while
working out outdoors during the summer
is how the body reacts to the climate.
“The hotter it is, the harder your
body has to work,” said Todd Durkin,
owner of Fitness Quest 10 in San Diego.
“This is where a heart rate monitor
comes in handy. You can make sure
you’re not pushing yourself too hard in
warm weather conditions, which can
up your risk of heat exhaustion or even
heatstroke.”
But if the dripping humidity of summer
is too unbearable, other alternatives are
available. A local gym is always an air-
conditioned option in addition to aquatic
activities, such as swimming. Ice skating
and hockey are extreme ways to beat the
summer heat while still being active and
having fun.
If laziness is more of an issue when
it comes to staying motivated and being
active, then setting aside time just for a
gym run is the first step in ensuring that
physical fitness occurs, even during the
sluggish summer days.
“Look for something that you enjoy,”
said Sarah Luihn, a sophomore exercise
science major at Appalachian State
University. “Don’t try to go to the gym
every day because that’s just not realistic.
Also, as long as you make plans with
friends, you are more likely to keep it up.
For the super lazy people, definitely do
not try to exercise on your own because
it will work for about a day and then the
motivation turns into procrastination.”
Psychologically, it can be easy to fall
into the mindset that summer break is
a vacation from the normal, jam-packed
schedules of students during the academic
year, which frequently includes hitting
the treadmill. It can easily get forgotten
or associated as an activity
done at school, which is a
dangerous trap to fall into,
because staying active is
important year-round.
A third challenge
students may face this
summer is balancing
commitments, such
as a summer job or an
internship, with physical
activity. While both
internships and jobs
are time-consuming
and require dedication, exercise is still
important.
“The best thing to do is to look for
something close by,” said Luihn. “You
don’t need to factor in three hours a day
for exercise if you are busy, so try to do
something small or light during the
week like taking your dog on a walk or
going on a nature trail. Maybe look for
pickup sports teams through a nearby
community center because most of those
teams meet for pickup games at night.”
While breaking up workouts into small,
10-minute increments several times
throughout a day is not the most effective
way method, it is better than nothing.
On the busier days of summer vacation,
it is still manageable to incorporate mild
exercise, from stretching to crunches,
several times.
No matter what your summer plans
may be, whether it is an internship or
relaxing on the beach, be sure to factor in
gym time several times a week because it
is important to stay active during summer
vacation.
Beat the summer heatKeep motivation levels rising with the temperatures
Summertime Exercise Facts and Tips- Avoid outdoor activity from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Avoid direct sunlight- Wear light-colored clothing
- Drink lots of fluids before, during and after you exercise- The hotter it is, the harder your body works
- Pay attention to air quality levels — smog and heat don't mix- Make sure to wear sunscreen if exercising outside
- Pay attention to the signals your body is giving you — if you start to feel pain or discomfort, stop your workout
- Check your pulse every so often
Information courtesy of Janice Zimmerman and ultimatefitnesshealth.com
PHOTOS BY WILL ANDERSONAbove: Jake Goldsberry works on toning his legs while working out. Below Left: Taylor Shaw efficiently uses her workout time by combining cardio with reading for class. Below Right: Molly Jackson and Shaw add time on the ellipticals during their workouts.
katy.steele
With only a few weeks left of school, it’s almost
time to head home for summer. You know what that
means: cookouts, picnics, s’mores and more. But just
how bad are those treats? Check out this guide to
check up on our favorite healthy, and not so healthy,
summer treats.
Is frozen yogurt actually better for you than
ice cream?
Nina Marinello, sports nutritionist at the University
of Albany, says not necessarily.
Frozen yogurt actually has a lot of the same
ingredients as ice cream, but instead of being made
with cream, it’s made with non-fat milk. At TCBY,
both 4 ounces of frozen yogurt and hand-scooped ice
cream will get you the same amount of calories, 110.
But the frozen yogurt has zero grams of fat, while the
ice cream has three. Of the two, ice cream will almost
always have more fat, but frozen yogurt often has the
same or more sugar, especially when it’s doused with
toppings. No matter which frozen dessert you love,
just remember to enjoy it in a reasonable portion.
Do you really need eight glasses of H2O a
day?
Dr. Heinz Valtin a Dartmouth College medical
professor, says he’s debunked this myth. The
amount of water you drink is really determined by
your individual diet and size. A more accurate way
to estimate how much you need is to divide your
body weight by 50 and multiply that number by
three, says Wendy Bailey, a digestive health expert
at Probiotics.org. If you weigh 150 pounds, shoot for
around nine 8-ounce glasses of water each day.
Baked chips versus regular chips?
As far as nutrition goes, it looks like baked
chips might be the winner. Baked chips have all the
crunch without all the fat of regular chips. A 1-ounce
serving, about 15 chips, of Baked Lays has two
grams of fat compared to 10 grams of fat in regular
chips. Although you’re only saving about 30 calories,
the lower fat content definitely makes baked chips
healthier. Try them with vegetable salsa to add back
some of the flavor.
Are hot dogs really that bad for you?
Hot dogs tend to get a bad rep.
A 1994 study linked children’s hot dog
consumption with an increased risk for childhood
leukemia. The reason? Nitrite. Nitrites give hot dogs
their pinkish color, help preserve the meat and add
flavor. But the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food
Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) says these
nitrites react with amines in human stomachs to form
nitrosamines, which are known to cause cancer.
Many hot dog brands have nitrites listed on the
ingredient label, but the Cancer Prevention Coalition
recommends consuming only nitrite-free products
like Oscar Mayer’s Select brand of hot dogs, which are
labeled as “No nitrates or nitrites added.”
Other ingredients are also questionable. The first
three ingredients in Oscar Mayer hot dogs are listed
as, “Mechanically separated turkey and mechanically
separated chicken and pork.” This mechanically
separated meat is a paste-like substance made when
bones with attached edible meat are ran through a
high-pressure sieve. The FSIS said bone marrow,
spinal cord and fine bone particles are included in
the final product. The substance was declared safe by
the FSIS in 1982, but to avoid it altogether, opt for a
brand like Hebrew National, made with 100 percent
kosher beef.
7wednesday, may 4, 2011
“Advice from “Mom”
Take comfort in natural change
Love,Mom
FACTorFICTION?
The truth about summertime treats
Even though frozen yogurt is made with non-fat milk instead of cream, a 4-ounce cup of it has the same amount of calories as one scoop of ice cream at TCBY.
PHOTO BY WILL ANDERSON
Although you only save approximately 30 calories per bag, the reduced fat content of baked chips versus regular chips accounts for their healthy factor.
PHOTO BY WILL ANDERSON
Nitrite and other commonly used ingredients found in hot dogs are believed to be cause cancer.
PHOTO BY WILL ANDERSON
The end of the movie "Grease"
is cliche, but it ’s true for me. Every
summer, I always promise to
hang out with my girlfriends, do
everything I didn’t have time to
do during the year while the kids
were in school and look forward to
having an eventful three months.
And although ambition is a good
trait, it doesn’t mean it's a reality.
At the end of every August, I
realize I didn’t see my friends as
much as I wish I had and I didn’t
do everything I wanted to. I feel
like I wasted my entire summer
being unproductive while failing to
advance myself either academically
or socially.
But the truth is, I'm not the
same.
Even if we don’t go through the
transformations we plan to, we are
constantly forced to transform in
life.
The more obvious transitions
often have greeting cards made for
them. Happy Birthday, Congrats
Grad!, Happy Mother’s Day, and
Sorry for your loss are just a few.
For example, you might say,
“I’m graduating.” But I bet most
of the time, you don’t realize how
impactful graduating or other
changes are. Most of the time, we
are too caught up in the moment to
realize the overall affect.
This is something that I have yet
to grasp, even after a marriage and
two kids. I often tell people I still
feel the same as I did in the fifth
grade. But since then, I’ve been
to college, lived on my own and
traveled to different continents. I
don’t look like I did in fifth grade,
and I’ve switched all my Madonna
CDs over from my Discman to my
iPod.
The beauty of unrealized
transitions are that they enable us
to grow unknowlingly.
Just like the metamorphosis
of ideas throughout history, we
are able to naturally weed out the
things that don’t jive with us while
we are able to carry the things that
are important to us throughout our
journeys.
But like the thousands of
revisions and copies that it takes to
make the semi-finalized doctrines
we have today, it takes thousands
of tries in our own lives to figure
out exactly who we want to be.
Hopefully, after multiple attempts,
these instances not only affirm, but
fossilize and immortalize what we
think is most important.
So as you go into this summer
thinking about all the things you’re
going to accomplish, remember
that many changes worth keeping
will happen naturally. You don’t
have to make an intentional note to
transform yourself. Transformation
will come with time.
Never change because you
feel you have to. You are perfect
the way you are, and you’re only
getting better.
8 wednesday, may 4, 2011
The connotation of summer is no
work, but with internships, jobs and
travel programs, students’ summer
vacation plans are rarely relaxing. Elon
University sophomore Sarah Davenport
and junior Margaret Spotts further defied
the definition and fit an entire nation into
their summer plans.
The two girls biked over hills in
Savannah, through flat planes in Kansas,
up 30-mile mountains and after crossing
nine states, ended their six-week journey
on the shores of California.
“It’s really hard to describe my biking
trip because words don’t describe it,”
Davenport said. “We finished at the Santa
Monica Pier. We got there and we dressed
in red, white and blue because we had just
biked across America, and we screamed
as we drove down the last road, which
was 15 miles.”
When arriving at the beach, the bikers
removed the front tire and ran into the
Pacific Ocean.
“I think the trip was mostly about the
hidden surprises that came up along the
way,” Spotts said.
Although Davenport said she expected
biking over the Rocky Mountains to be
the most difficult part of the trip, she said
the hills in Georgia and the marathons of
flat areas were the biggest challenges.
“It was the hardest thing I have
ever done, by far, but it was the most
rewarding,” Davenport said.
Davenport recalled waking up at 4
a.m. to pack up the campsite and biking
approximately 75 to 80 miles until
reaching the next site at 5 p.m. Davenport
and Spotts traveled with a group of 13
students and two leaders as part of the
American Challenge, an Overland Bike
and Tours program.
The leaders motivated the participants
and pushed them past their boundaries,
Spotts said.
“One of the leaders put a bell on my
bike and one of the hardest moments
was when I looked down and the bell was
gone,” Spotts said. “Just by looking at the
bell, I found encouragement.”
The leaders showed that although
the journey is hard, the sense of
accomplishment outweighs the struggle,
Davenport said.
Although their dive into the Pacific
Ocean signaled their achievement, the
leaders’ encouragement still resonates
with them.
“I am working for the company this
summer and the reason is that the
leaders were just so remarkable that I
want to give the same experience that I
had,” Davenport said.
Overland hired Davenport to perform
administrative tasks for three weeks and
to lead three one-week biking and hiking
trips for fourth and fifth-graders.
In 2010, Spotts served as the leader for
seventh and eighth-graders and is leading
a bike trip for high school students this
summer. Even while participating, Spotts
said she always made a conscious effort
to motivate her peers.
Davenport recalled Spotts comforting
her during an especially challenging day
and staying in the back with those who
were struggling more.
“I really learned so much about
myself doing the biking trips like I can
be a leader and I can achieve all of these
things and that people like me for who I
really am,” Spotts said. “Having learned
so much about myself through those
trips, I really wanted to help those kids
find themselves.”
Although the physical challenge
initially attracted Davenport to the
program, she strongly values the
opportunity to leave her corner of the
universe and push her limits, she said.
Davenport attended the same school
for 14 years and went to the same church
her entire life. The American Challenge
allowed her to meet and interact with
new people in an unfamiliar setting.
“That’s what I want to do for the
fourth and fifth-graders: push them out
of their comfort zone and make sure they
try something new,” she said.
Although her summer job is not a
traditional one, Davenport’s experience
with Overland contributes to her career
aspirations.
“My major is sport and event
management, so after college I want to do
something in the recreation business,” she
said. “My leader from American Challenge
does work for Overland full time, and that
is something I would like to do.”
Spotts’ service as a leader for Overland
also influences her career goals.
“I always wanted to be a teacher, so it
hasn’t influenced me one way or another,”
she said. “But it has made me realize that
I love working with kids and teaching
them to be who they really can be,” she
said.
melissa.kansky
Crossing the country:Two Elon students spent one summer biking across the United States together
Photo by Will Anderson
Photos Above And beloW submitted
Top right: Spotts on her bike. Spotts, with Davenport, spent her summer biking across nine states through a program called the American Challenge. Top left: Davenport’s brother did the same trip three years ago and came out to visit her in Santa Monica as she finished the trip. Bottom right: The entire group together at the Santa Monica Pier after finishing their cross-country journey. Bottom left: Davenport and Spotts on the last day of the bike ride.