SAAs

Most of you out there have no clue what SAAs are or who they are or maybe don't really care. But let me tell ya... SAAs are Student Admissions Associates and probably some of the most amazing kiddos out there. They're students who for no reason other than love for Gardner-Webb University will spend hours and hours of their lives giving their rooms to nervous, anxious, and way to self-conscious seniors in high school. They are students who will at the drop of a hat give a tour of Gdubb. They will show up at 6:30AM just to park cars in the freezing cold. They basically recruit students for Gardner-Webb.

I don't know what it is about this year that particularly impresses me... I guess it's how proud I am of our kiddos at GWU. It's the fact that there are kids on this campus that will shape the face of Gardner-Webb and the world. They're real, genuine, and generous people. They'll take prospects into their personal rooms and sit with them in the Caf. They travel 4 hours to a Barnes and Noble Coffee Shop and spend 11 hours riding in a car just to talk to a group of prospects. And for what? For points..so they can get scholarships... maybe. But mostly, no. They do it because they love Gardner-Webb, or maybe because they love just helping people. Or maybe because they're just generous people.

It may be true that a characteristic of today's generation is apathy, but I think it is far outweighed by the characteristic of hospitality and caring. So here's a shout out for SAAs and all those SAA-type kiddos out there at their universities doing the same thing. No scholarship will ever repay your service, but we sure appreciate all you do. I guess one way to say thanks is to emulate that attitude. Perhaps on a deeper level we should take those characteristics and apply them to our lives.

Do I love on people or care for them or make them feel at home? Do I invite others into my personal room, spend hours and hours in a car just waiting to talk to one person? Am I willing to show people in the dark a tour of the campus of life? Sounds a little cheesy, but it works. Am I willing to take the call at the drop of a hat? Regardless of the points... It's a challenge, no doubt. I'm in. Now, put me on the list and give me a call..I'm ready for that tour.

Thanks SAAs!

Be good.


Fern

What's it like going to Gardner-Webb University???

It's too early....slam!!! the alarm clock and all the sudden, you're going to college in like 4 hours!
What the heck? I just finished high school...I thought Jesus was going to come back to the Earth before college was a reality for me. So, once I've gone through those 12-15 minutes or so of sub-in-un-consciousness in the bed...I slowly roll out, take a shower, and the Zesty smell reminds me that in about 3 hours and 42 minutes, I'm going to college!

Wow, what to wear, gotta look good for the ladies, (I'm thinking..."what ladies?...I don't have a lady." Whatever...I take forever picking out my clothes...eat some cereal, pack up a few last minute things, b/c me and my dad did all the major packing last night. So, now, my mom's asked me 43 times if I have everything I need..."yes, mom!" The car starts, and we're going to college...

So, about 24 minutes later, I'm at college...yep, that's right...I only lived like a half a hour away from GWU. But, what does that matter...my parents weren't going to bother me... or were they???

Pulling into BS (that's Boiling Springs for those of you who don't know yet), there are ridiculous looking people at the stoplight intersection, painted, holding signs, yelling, whistling, and screaming, "WELCOME TO GARDNER-WEBB!! WHOO! WHOO!" Ok, that scares me... But, whatever. We pull in to where we're supposed to park, which we know because there were like 79 people pointing in 1 direction. Mom and dad pull up to the curb and I tell them that if they get out of the car, I'll legally change my name and become a nomad. I walk up to the check-in tent for Orientation and....

"Welcome to Gardner-Webb, what's your name?" - says this cute, way to excited and awake girl behind the table. Uh...Jeremy Fern...and then I have to explain that my last name is not "Sern" or "Tern", yes it's Fern..like the plant! "Oh, here's your name badge and info, just go over to those double doors over there and go through the Orientation lines," she smiles and tells me. Ok, great. So I wave to my parents to go find a spot and try to lose them before they get back.

Typically, if you knew me in HS, I would usually look at my shoes all day if I could...I was that much of an introvert. But for some reason, I introduce myself to this cheerleader behind me...I could tell b/c she had GWU colors on, cheer shorts, hair pulled back, and she was nice. So we chatted...and that was about it... :) It lasted about 2 minutes and that was probably the longest conversation I had initiated with a pretty girl..pretty pathetic huh?

Next, I walk into the Orientation room and I get my ID pic taken...ok...let me just say, walk up to the chair and be smiling as you do it b/c they take your picture before you even sit down. Then on to get my tshirt, keys for my room, other random material, a free sample of Tide detergent (what?), a pocket schedule of what's going on that day, and people offering me computer accessories...what? I thought accessories were things you bought with jewelry.

Anyway...that was pretty good...everyone was nice and now I've got a chest full of stuff and I'm trying to see over my pile to walk. My mom and dad walk up..."perfect" I said, 'just in time to take my pile of stuff." So I unload my stuff on to my parents and head towards to car...
We pull up to Lutz Hall and it was odd...immediately the Campus minister and two other guys just wave, smile, open our trunk, and start carrying things into Lutz. I'm thinking, "How do they know what room I'm in." They didn't...but hey, it was helpful. I think I might have carried my backpack up the stairs and that was about it. So that was nice...I ran into my roommate...then we just started setting everything up. Not too bad...gotta pretty good hookup..as long as we've got A/C, food, video games, and music...we're good! Oh, and those Mr. P's pizzas you can heat up in the microwave...those are good too!

Then, I wave to the parents "bye" and I'm on my own...

Weird...someone asked me if I wanted to go to BK and that was at like 1:23AM. I thought, "I don't have to ask my mom and dad! That's awesome!" Yep...I'm in! So we ate until 3:30AM, played video games, slept for about 2 hours, then we were good to go...next day of orientation awaited.

Well, that was my Orientation experience...at least, 1 and 1/2 days of it...or maybe all I can remember.. :)...yeah, it was good times!

BON VOYAGE!!!

Bon Voyage!

Wow, I've never been on a cruise before, but it was worth it! My wife, Ginger, and I went on a 7-day Western Carribean Cruise on the Carnvial Victory for our 3rd Year Wedding Anniversary trip. We always try to think of some place in the US or even tropical that we've never been before and just exploit that place for what it's worth.
This cruise was the best tax-return money we've ever spent. For 7 days you get nothing but 5-Star Restaurant Food... I mean things like:

Sweet and Sour Duck Breast
Tender Beef Wellington
Filet Mignon
Lobster Tail
Prime Rib
Things you can't pronounce...but they were good!

All this food and so little time... Not only was dinner amazing, but there was 24-hour Pizzeria and Ice Cream place on the Lido Deck near the hot tubs. Good pizza...that's all I've got to say. The best part about it was that everything was free. FREE!

So, we did a few things while on this cruise...like...get in the pool, lay out on the 10th deck with a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean, brave a 3 deck high slide, learn the Cha-Cha, eat food we couldn't pronounce, eat pizza and ice cream whenever we wanted to, order room service, go to concerts, watch awesome shows, lay out in Costa Maya, Mexico and have real authentic Mexican food, do the Electric Slide in Mexico (what?), visit the town of Hell in Grand Cayman, pick up endangered species huge turtles, swim and lay out at the 7-Mile Beach, visit Ocho Rios, Jamaica, get offered drugs (which I turned down of course!) - (seriously some guy bought cocaine in Mexico, was searched, arrested, and left in Mexico for the rest of the Cruise to face trial! Yikes!), and then of course dance, eat some more, take about 200 pictures, and just enjoy time together. So it was kind of boring... ha ha ha!

Yeah, I'll go back on another one. Probably try Princess or Royal Carribean sometime to see what they're like. Anybody wondering if a cruise is worth it??? Yes! It's a floating resort, a mall, restaurants, dancing, gaming, and everything else. I'll post some more pics on Myspace soon.

I'm refreshed...I'm ready now to go the Beach... Only 19 more days 'til the beach. Aaah...cool wind, splashing waves, sand in my toes, wicked sun burn on my back, I love it!

I'm getting old....I'm 29!

Well, I know I'm still wet behind the ears, but man it feels weird to be 363 days away from being 30 years old!

April 26th was my birthday and I turned 29, yep, halfway to 58 and no too far from 30. Ugh... It's just a number right?? I don't feel older, I don't think I look older, but now my wife gets to make fun of me because for this small amount of time I'm 4 years older than she is. She's just a pup! :)

Everyone always asked me what I want for my birthday...so I never tell them. Usually because what I want has 4 wheels, a BMW logo on it, and cost like $60K. So, this time I told everyone that they could just give to the IPOD fund. I'm behind the times...I know...but if you know me, I'm never not listening to music! I'm a music junky...so when I work out, work in the yard, go on a cruise, or just sit around, the IPOD just makes sense.

Of course, I can't want the $99.00 version of the IPOD, I have to have the 30 GB one that's like $5,000. But hey, I don't ask for what I want very often. So I think I'm like $70 away. I just want to get it before I leave on our cruise.

Ginger and I are going to the Western Caribbean on a Carnival Cruise! 23 days till we ship off! Can't wait!

I'm done talking about me...

Here's My Soapbox

OK,

I guess when I was a high school student, I can't say I thought much about this either...but I think high school seniors should be a little more proactive regarding their financial aid and external scholarship searching. Too many students say to me at the last minute, "Are there any other scholarships I can get?" Usually, I'll ask them, "Are there any scholarships you've applied for?" And typically they answer me with a "No." So, for all you guys and gals out there, juniors or seniors, or even freshman and sophomores, here are some ideas to get you started on the External/Outside Scholarship Search:

1. Set up a 15 - 20 minute conversation with your guidance counselor to chat about scholarships, grants, and loans available from your school or community.

2. Get on the Internet! Google "scholarships and teaching" or "scholarships and grants for college" or "private college scholarships." Also, look into some of these sites:

www.cfnc.org
www.finaid.org
www.scholarship.com
www.fastweb.com
www.nextstepmagazine.com
www.sallie-mae.org
www.educaid.com
www.hispanicfund.org

3. Call your local Chamber of Commerce and find out if they know of any town, city, county, or community scholarships for college students.

4. Ask your parents if their workplaces have scholarships or if your church might have a college scholarship.

5. Call the college financial aid office and see if they know of any resources available to you.

The funds are out there and you'll be amazed at how much scholarship money is left at the end of the search that hasn't been given to someone.

Be a part of the financial aid process, help out your family, because every scholarship you receive is one book closer or one fee closer to making your college dreams a reality.

Start in your Junior year, start in the summer before your senior year, in fact, start NOW! :)

Peace,

Jeremy

Two decisions....

What's the deal with always having two major life changing decisions in your life and not knowing which one to choose? I mean, can't you just get a clear direction for one of those decisions and it be an easy thing... no!

There has to be two decisions, equally choosable, where the line is fuzzy and you have no idea if you should choose one over the other. That's how it always is. But I've found that when I make a decision, the Lord blesses whichever path I choose the way He sees fit. That knowledge doesn't exactly make this decision an easy one, but it makes me feel better knowing that God will take care of me either way.

Sometimes I wonder if God doesn't put two decisions out there that are equally viable and both could be the right path. Maybe God wants you to have the faith to walk through either one and simply rely on Him. In that case, God would be in either choice and would teach us in either case. Maybe that's hard to swallow because we think there has to be one decision that's right out of the two. I don't know...

Post your comments... anybody going through two big decisions and can't figure out which one to go with?

Hope of the day: God is with us either path we choose.

It's beautiful outside...you should go out and play!

Presidential Inauguration

Hey Everyone!

Well, yesterday was our new president's Inauguration Day. Dr. A. Frank Bonner comes to us from a background of Furman U. and UNC Chapel Hill and had served as Provost and Vice President of Gardner-Webb University for around 13 years before being named GWU's 12th President.

It was an exciting day yesterday. I actually got to play guitar for the Instrumental Background music for the Delegates Luncheon! Ooooh.. Aaaahhhh.. It was fun...I just had to pull everything out of my head to play for it...45 minutes long! Ugh! But what a day...we had a campus worship service, the delegates luncheon, the Inauguration service, and the Gala last night. Now how many of you have attended a Inauguration Gala or just a Gala for that matter??? That's what I thought....so awesome! Here's what was there:

1. Ice Sculptures of the GWU logo!
2. A chocolate fountain with marshmallows, angel food cake and fruit to dip in
3. Shrimp, Sushi, Wings, fruit, veggies, Pork Loin, and a whole lot of other fattening foods!
4. The Frank Love Orchestra and a sweet dance floor (yes our President and his wife boogied!)
5. My beautiful wife in a very gorgeous dress
6. Dancin' at a Baptist University...yes!

So it was so much fun...here's the link to the day... http://aux.gardner-webb.edu/Publications/inauguration.html

Check it out!

Question of the Day: Do high school students care that much about emailing?

See ya,

Jeremy