College is a time spent finding yourself and discovering what you want out of life. It is about building new relationships and being willing to walk the extra mile to discover new things about life. College is about finding something that will challenge you like you never thought possible and finding a place where you feel comfortable. I have found that new place where I learn something new everyday. Willard Sorority is my new family and home away from home.
When I first came to Nebraska Wesleyan, I was anti-Greek. I told everyone who’d listen that Greek life wasn’t for me, and that they could stop trying to get me to go through recruitment. After several close friends encouraged me to go through recruitment, I never looked back. Joining Willard has opened me up to so many new opportunities in just a short time. I feel like I have changed for the better since joining Willard sorority.
Willard is named after Francis E. Willard. In 1889 when the sorority first opened, a group of women picked her as their role model because for them she was the model of perfect womanhood. So as Willard’s, we strive for perfect womanhood just as Francis E. Willard did. A Willard strives to do her best at everything she does. A Willard is capable of excepting failed attempts, but willing to give something another try. A Willard is a girl who has a genuine care in her heart. She wishes her other sisters well and is excited to hear about their successes.
The thing I like most about the girls at Willard is that no two are alike. Each girl is different in her own way and no girl is defined by the others. Each girl contributes something different to the sorority and without her it wouldn’t be the same. Being in a sorority is like living with all of your best friends. They are there to share your joys and worries and they are always there to lend a few encouraging words when things get tough.
Being a Willard has allowed me to find some girls that I will hold close to my heart for years to come. Knowing that there is always someone around that will be there for you is the best feeling in the world. In just a short time, the girls at Willard have taught me that not everything is perfect and not everything goes the way we want it to, but in the end things always turn out ok. I have learned not to judge others based on first impressions and that people can change for the better. I have learned that friends are very important and taking the time to get to know them makes me love them even more. I smile and feel proud when I tell others that I am a Willard.
(The picture above is the Willard Sorority Symbol. Willard is the oldest and largest local sorority in the United States)
A growing problem in Omaha, Ne is the number of homeless and hungry people. During the winter, many homeless shelters become full to capacity and have to turn people away. I think it is our responsibility as privileged citizens to do something about these extreme conditions. The Open Door Mission is one particular organization in Omaha that is trying to break the cycle of poverty.
Poverty is a continuous cycle that causes people to be homeless and go hungry. In my opinion, one of the main causes of homelessness is no education. If people are not educated, they won’t get a good job. And if they don’t have a good job, they won’t be able to provide sufficient food for their families. It is a continuous cycle of problems that can only be broken through education. If we can educate the less fortunate about their living conditions, we could show them that they could have a better life.
Hunger and homelessness are nation-wide problems that need to be addressed. One particular group in Omaha that is working to end hunger on a worldly level is the Christ Community Church. This group packaged about 220,000 meals that will be sent to Mali. So many of the children in Mali are malnourished and many die of hunger within their first year. There is enough food in the world to feed everyone; we just have problems getting it distributed to the areas that need it most. I think our government could keep a better eye on problems like this and spend more money on attacking the hunger problem in our country instead of spending so much money on the war.
During my freshman year in high school, I had the opportunity to go to Chicago on a service trip with my school. One of the service projects that we participated in was a trip to the La Casa soup kitchen. Normally, most volunteers would have gone inside and served the less-fortunate their food, but on this day we waited outside in line with the less-fortunate. It was a different experience, because it really made me think about how everyday they wait out in the sub-degree weather just to receive a hot meal. Waiting in line with them showed solidarity with the poor. After we received our meals, we were able to sit and talk with some of the men and women. They had amazing stories of how they came to be where they are at. Many of them didn’t seem to mind that this was their lifestyle. Others were attempting to turn their lives around. One woman I remember told me that she had just gotten a job and she was trying to make a better life for her kids.
This trip to Chicago really opened my eyes to the fact that poverty, homelessness, and hunger live not only in Chicago but in my own city as well. After I got back from the trip I realized that I had ignored these problems for so long and had no idea that they existed! After this, I started doing more service projects that allowed me to confront these issues head on. I volunteered with habitat for humanity, I became a mentor for less-fortunate child through Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Midlands, and I helped fix up a community center in one of the Hispanic neighborhoods. Small projects like these are the start of make a change. The change may not be immediate, but overtime the little things will add up to a big change. Maybe someday our society will no longer have to recognize poverty, hunger, or homelessness as major problems.
Omaha, Ne is famously known as the host of the NCAA Men’s College World Series. Fans come from all over the United States to see their favorite teams play. But, do you thinks these fans would come to Omaha for a vacation if baseball wasn’t their main reason for coming? Many Omahans feel that the city they live in is boring and that there never anything to do. Although unknown to some, Omaha, Ne has many exciting events and venues to offer its citizens and visitors.
The Henry Doorly Zoo is becoming one of the largest zoo’s in the country. It may not be as big and great as as the San Diego zoo, but if offers a comfortable atmosphere for families and school aged children. The zoo offers many educational opportunities for kids as well as a array of exotic animals. The IMAX theater is another great attraction that the zoo offers.
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park is located just outside of Omaha. This state park has beautiful scenery and offers many attractions to visitors during all seasons. In the summer, the campground is filled with tents, motor homes and families crowded around a fire roasting hot dogs and making s’mores. The recently remolded water park has two tall water slides and a newly built wave pool. If you’re not into swimming, an early morning horseback ride or game of mini-golf may appeal to you. In the winter, when the weather turns cold enough, an outdoor ice-skating rink opens. If its too cold to be outdoors, an arts and crafts facility offers visitors the opportunity to paint ceramic statues.
As in Lincoln, sporting events draw big crowds to Omaha. Creighton Bluejay basketball is a popular event in Omaha. The Creighton basketball team has made it to the NCAA basketball tournament for the past few years. Almost every game is sold out and when the team hits the road, dedicated Omaha fans follow the team when they travel. UNO Maverick hockey is another popular sporting event. The atmosphere at one of these games is so fun; it is also a cheap weekly outing.
The Holland Performing Arts Center was recently built a few years ago. It is Omaha’s newest concert hall. The Omaha Symphony, Omaha Area Youth Orchestra, and many famous acts have performed on this stage. Omaha’s theater company puts on a large variety of great shows. The Orpheum Theater has had Broadway shows such as Phantom of the Opera and The Lion King performed on it’s historical stage.
These are just a few of the great things that Omaha has to offer. Every time someone tells me they’re bored, I can think of a million things do to! I feel that by knowing the city that I live in helps me to convince others that Omaha is the greatest city in Nebraska.
(The O! at the top of this article is the symbol used to promote Omaha events to the residents of Omaha. O! structures have popped up all over the city. It is a symbol that encourages the people of Omaha to get out and get involved!!)
Imagine for a moment that you are able to smell, feel, and hear everything you love about fall. Your annual trip to the pumpkin patch for a hayrack ride and a chance to get that perfect pumpkin are a few of the things you love. You are outside on a crisp fall day, jumping into piles of warm colored leaves. You can feel the cool breeze blowing through your hair and you can smell the fresh apple cider that your mom is making inside. Like your imagination, your senses come alive when you attend the weekly Farmer’s Market located in the historic Haymarket area.
Pieces of metal have been shaped into pumpkins, leaves, and scarecrows. Fresh produce and home baked pies lined the cobble stone streets of the Haymarket. Homegrown pumpkins patiently sit waiting upon a barrel of hay for a new owner. These are just a few examples of the variety the Farmer’s Market offers.
A typical Saturday morning in Lincoln’s downtown includes Husker fans tailgating and a Farmer’s Market that gives visitors a tasty treat. The historic Haymarket offers visitors a place where their senses come alive. People are able to see smell, hear, and feel all of the great things associated with fall. The old buildings and cobblestones streets remind us of a different time. They tell an unwritten story of how things used to be. A Saturday morning spent in the Haymarket, offers visitors a taste of Lincoln’s uniqueness.
An ordinary Farmer’s market might include a few vendors selling fresh produce or the occasional bouquet of flowers. The Lincoln Farmer’s Market offers more than food and decoration. Gypsy music and a group of twelve belly dancers is not something you expect to hear or see at a local market. Twelve women danced with style in front of the old train depot. I was captivated by their unique style. What made it unique was that I realized that belly dancing is a form of art. It is an art that is all about movement and rhythm. It was so beautiful and smooth, it was like watching a ballet.
One of the most interesting things to observe was the costumes that the women were wearing. Each costume was full of vibrant blues, reds, and greens. Clinky jewels covered their skirts. Their skirts fanned out when they did a twirl. Each woman wore a headpiece made of beads and colorful fabric.
Each dancer put so much emotion into the dance. The emotion was shown through her facial features. The way each dancer let her arms and hips flow to the music reminded me of the way hula dancers move so delicately. The music had no words, it was all about the rhythm. I was able to tell that the women were having fun; they kept a smile on their faces the whole dance. Since the performers were having a good time, I could tell that the audience was pleased with what they were watching.
As the audience eagerly looked on, other visitors roamed through a sea of red to discover the other hotspots of the Farmer’s Market. It was a Husker game day; fans of all ages roamed through the rows of vendors as they killed time before the start of the big game. I might have been one of the only people there not wearing red, but I was happy to see that people of Nebraska take pride in their state and that they go out to support the home team.
In the background, you could hear the Husker fight song. All around the perimeter of the Haymarket, fans had set up their grills and started a BBQ. Other fans were listening to the pre-game shows on the radio which helped get them pumped up for the big game. In a few short hours, the majority of these fans flocked over to the stadium, leaving the market as quiet as it was before it opened.
Husker football seems to be the main thing that attracts attention around here. I was surprised at the number of people that were there. I think it shows that people are not afraid to get out and see the city that they live in. I feel that if more people attended things like the Farmer’s Market, they would become more culturally aware. To me, culture is seeing and interacting with things and people that you do not normally associate with.
The face of culture could be seen as I walked through the market. I saw people of all shapes and sizes. There were all types of people: Black, White, Asian, and Hispanic, young, old, small and big. The different types of people are an intricate part of the atmosphere. Without different types of people, there would be no need to have so many different vendors. The variety of people shows that not all social groups or races have the same tastes.
I think it is interesting that young people today do not know the reality of the city that they live in. Most teens from Lincoln probably have no idea that there are events such as the Farmer’s Market that go on every day right in their hometown. Most teenagers never move out of their comfort zone to see what is really out there. My perspective on this experience is that there are many so many little things that we miss. We often times do not allow ourselves to enjoy new experiences or get involved in activities that we would not normally try.
This experience taught me that I should not assume things. I assumed that it would just be produce and food vendors. I was wrong. The Farmer’s Market offered so much more than food. It offered entertainment and a unique experience for all of its visitors. I feel that our culture has tangled itself up in a mess. We are so obsessed about knowing everything that if we do not know we just assume something. Assuming puts doubts in our minds and gives us little confidence about what we actually do know.
It was interesting to observe the Farmer’s Market because I assumed that it would be similar to the one in Omaha. However, the market in Omaha is different from Lincoln’s market because it has no live entertainment. Omaha’s market has grown over the past few years, and now has about three times as many vendors as Lincoln’s market. The Omaha Farmer’s Market is also located in the downtown area. The atmosphere of both markets is similar; the old buildings that surround the festivities and the cobble stone roads give character to both markets. From personal experience, both markets are culturally diverse and provide a fun time for all.
When I was a junior in high school, I had the opportunity to work at the Omaha Farmer’s Market. I sat at the information table and helped all of the vendors get organized before the crowds came. From behind the scences, I never knew how much work it took to run one of these events. I arrived every Saturday morning at 530 a.m. It was still black outside and sometimes it was so cold, you wished you had a warm blanket to wrap up in. The vendors arrive early to provide the best for their customers.
After observing this event, I am shocked at how much more I notice. I started to notice different people around school and I started to see more signs about activities trying to get students involved. I feel good about saying that after this experience I will try to attend more events in Lincoln. Living life to the fullest is about getting out and seeing your surroundings. Attending an event such as the Farmer’s Market is a great opportunity to see a whole new side to the city of Lincoln. You are able to see the Haymarket, not as the Friday night hotspot, but as a place where the community gathers.
On game day, Memorial Stadium becomes the third largest city in Nebraska. Game day is one the greatest traditions of Nebraska. There is no greater feeling than the minute you step into Memorial Stadium. The atmosphere of the game is so intense, yet wonderful. The minute you step foot into the stadium, you can sense the excitement and intensity of the upcoming game. You can look around at a stadium full of 80,000 dedicated Husker fans and you can hear and feel the spirit that these fans bring with them. You know a die-hard Husker fan will always be there rain or shine.
I attended my first Husker game last Saturday night. I’ve heard for so many years that the feeling you get when you walk into the stadium is amazing! I’ve lived in Nebraska my whole life and have never been to a game! There are so many traditions such as Husker football games that go on in Nebraska and I had never taken part in one of the biggest of them all!
The most important part of this tradition is the tunnel walk. The tunnel walk sets the mood for the whole game. Before the players run onto the field they get so pumped up! Seeing all of the their energy makes the fans more excited. When the players run onto the field, the fans can see their enthusiasm. The music that they play as the players run onto the field is so exhilarating it gets the fans even more pumped!
Just watching this movie makes me feel excited to be a Nebraskan! Now that I’ve been to a game I’m hooked! I would go every weekend if I could. There is so much attitude and competitiveness in college football. You haven’t seen a real game until you’ve been to Memorial Stadium.
