By Kodie Butterfield
Staff Writer
In honor of my soon-to-be graduation from DMACC this summer, let me borrow a line from one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite activities, karaoke: “So tell me what you want, what you really, really want. I’ll tell you what I want, what I really, really want.”
What I really, really want is for you to consider taking my advice: get involved on campus before it’s too late.
As I look back over the last two years, I feel I’ve really gotten the full DMACC experience. I’ve been a full-time student, worked as a journalist for the Banner News, taken part in four theatre productions, lived in the dorms and joined Phi Theta Kappa as an officer. The Student Activities Council has offered countless intramurals, which I have tried to take part in, and karaoke. Karaoke has probably been my favorite thing to do, hence the song lyrics used above.
First, the Banner News. I’m not trying to sell anything, but I will say that I have met some amazing people during my time on staff. It can be time-consuming and takes hard work, but when you find something you love to write about, everything just flows. Other than the great staff, you also have the chance to work with possibly one of my favorite instructors, Julie Roosa. If you aren’t excited at first about working on staff, she will find a way to get you excited.
Working on the Banner News staff has been important for me because it was the first thing I joined on campus. I suppose you could say the Banner News was my doorway to doing everything else. Taking the first step is possibly the hardest part, but it will pay off in the long run.
Next, the Theatre Department. I had never intended to ever in my life take part in a theatre production. The thing that changed this was my friend Matt Beyer who talked and talked to me about it and finally got me to try out. That is probably the reason why I love that guy so much. The stage holds my most random and fondest memories of this place.
The theatre department isn’t for everyone, but if you’re looking for friends that will last a lifetime this is where I would point you. And, here, another line from my karaoke song seems fitting: “Gotta get with my friends. Make it last forever, friendship never ends.”
It take a lot of time in and out of rehearsal to put a show together in a matter of months but watching it all come together is extremely rewarding. You get the chance to step into a whole other world for a few hours a day. Kay Mueller brings a ton of experience to the table and is more than willing to help you learn your way around the stage. Just a quick piece of advice: speak up and don’t rush your lines.
Staff Writer
In honor of my soon-to-be graduation from DMACC this summer, let me borrow a line from one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite activities, karaoke: “So tell me what you want, what you really, really want. I’ll tell you what I want, what I really, really want.”
What I really, really want is for you to consider taking my advice: get involved on campus before it’s too late.
As I look back over the last two years, I feel I’ve really gotten the full DMACC experience. I’ve been a full-time student, worked as a journalist for the Banner News, taken part in four theatre productions, lived in the dorms and joined Phi Theta Kappa as an officer. The Student Activities Council has offered countless intramurals, which I have tried to take part in, and karaoke. Karaoke has probably been my favorite thing to do, hence the song lyrics used above.
First, the Banner News. I’m not trying to sell anything, but I will say that I have met some amazing people during my time on staff. It can be time-consuming and takes hard work, but when you find something you love to write about, everything just flows. Other than the great staff, you also have the chance to work with possibly one of my favorite instructors, Julie Roosa. If you aren’t excited at first about working on staff, she will find a way to get you excited.
Working on the Banner News staff has been important for me because it was the first thing I joined on campus. I suppose you could say the Banner News was my doorway to doing everything else. Taking the first step is possibly the hardest part, but it will pay off in the long run.
Next, the Theatre Department. I had never intended to ever in my life take part in a theatre production. The thing that changed this was my friend Matt Beyer who talked and talked to me about it and finally got me to try out. That is probably the reason why I love that guy so much. The stage holds my most random and fondest memories of this place.
The theatre department isn’t for everyone, but if you’re looking for friends that will last a lifetime this is where I would point you. And, here, another line from my karaoke song seems fitting: “Gotta get with my friends. Make it last forever, friendship never ends.”
It take a lot of time in and out of rehearsal to put a show together in a matter of months but watching it all come together is extremely rewarding. You get the chance to step into a whole other world for a few hours a day. Kay Mueller brings a ton of experience to the table and is more than willing to help you learn your way around the stage. Just a quick piece of advice: speak up and don’t rush your lines.
Next, DMACC housing. During my first year at DMACC, I lived at home in Boone with my family. This year I decided to make a change and move into the DMACC housing. It has definitely been a new experience. My family doesn’t live too far from campus and so I never realized how much of a difference a mile or two could make. Living across the street from the campus allows me to be thoroughly involved on campus. If the editor-in-chief needs help with layout or a friend needs help with homework, I never have to go far.
Living in student housing isn’t the easiest thing though. You can have up to three roommates at once and sometimes being a girl living with three others can be tough. I have been lucky enough to have some nice roommates. I’m not going to say that we are all best friends, but they are genuinely nice people. My tip would be that if you are going to live in the dorms, find some people you know and try to get placed together. Housing adds another dimension to your college experience. Living on campus allows you to truly be involved on a different level. If I hadn’t been living on campus during basketball season, I probably wouldn’t be the screaming Bears fan that I am now.
Phi Theta Kappa. Phi Theta Kappa is probably the best thing on campus to get involved in. PTK is an honor society for two-year colleges. My advice about PTK is that if you get an email asking if you want to join, contact Nancy Woods with a simple yes. PTK offers great opportunities to network with people from around the world and make connections. Last year we went to Nashville, Tenn., for the International Convention and it was fantastic. I was able to grow closer to my chapter officers and also meet people from around the world who were all working towards similar goals. Plus, it looks great on a college or job application.
It’s not just the scholarships, though, and the way it makes you look. PTK is about the experiences you gain and the friends you make. It connects you with people who have their degrees in the field you are interested. Being a part of PTK and especially being an officer allows you to build relationships that will benefit you in the future. Being in PTK puts Nancy Woods in your corner, which gives you a huge advantage over other people in your situation.
I know that when you first come to DMACC your advisor is probably telling you the same thing I am: get involved on campus. When I first came to DMACC, I thought to myself that this is a two-year college, and they probably won’t have much to interest me. I’m happy to say that I was wrong.
My involvement at DMACC Boone Campus has opened up countless opportunities for me and let me find my own way. I’m not going to say that it’s easy to work for months putting on a play together or that you will instantly be best friends with your roommates or that karaoke won’t possibly be the most embarrassing moments of you life, but in the long run these will be experiences that you carry with you into your four-year university and for the rest of your life.
The best advice I can give you is to find something you love or even just an aspect of it. Whether it is writing, building sets, or just your regular classes, go that extra mile. Join the Banner News, work in the theatre department, become an officer of Phi Theta Kappa. Just do something that will make your experience at DMACC even more memorable. College is about discovering yourself and that requires taking a chance.
So, in closing, let me pull one last line from my karaoke song: “Tell me what you want, what you really, really want.” And then go do it.
Living in student housing isn’t the easiest thing though. You can have up to three roommates at once and sometimes being a girl living with three others can be tough. I have been lucky enough to have some nice roommates. I’m not going to say that we are all best friends, but they are genuinely nice people. My tip would be that if you are going to live in the dorms, find some people you know and try to get placed together. Housing adds another dimension to your college experience. Living on campus allows you to truly be involved on a different level. If I hadn’t been living on campus during basketball season, I probably wouldn’t be the screaming Bears fan that I am now.
Phi Theta Kappa. Phi Theta Kappa is probably the best thing on campus to get involved in. PTK is an honor society for two-year colleges. My advice about PTK is that if you get an email asking if you want to join, contact Nancy Woods with a simple yes. PTK offers great opportunities to network with people from around the world and make connections. Last year we went to Nashville, Tenn., for the International Convention and it was fantastic. I was able to grow closer to my chapter officers and also meet people from around the world who were all working towards similar goals. Plus, it looks great on a college or job application.
It’s not just the scholarships, though, and the way it makes you look. PTK is about the experiences you gain and the friends you make. It connects you with people who have their degrees in the field you are interested. Being a part of PTK and especially being an officer allows you to build relationships that will benefit you in the future. Being in PTK puts Nancy Woods in your corner, which gives you a huge advantage over other people in your situation.
I know that when you first come to DMACC your advisor is probably telling you the same thing I am: get involved on campus. When I first came to DMACC, I thought to myself that this is a two-year college, and they probably won’t have much to interest me. I’m happy to say that I was wrong.
My involvement at DMACC Boone Campus has opened up countless opportunities for me and let me find my own way. I’m not going to say that it’s easy to work for months putting on a play together or that you will instantly be best friends with your roommates or that karaoke won’t possibly be the most embarrassing moments of you life, but in the long run these will be experiences that you carry with you into your four-year university and for the rest of your life.
The best advice I can give you is to find something you love or even just an aspect of it. Whether it is writing, building sets, or just your regular classes, go that extra mile. Join the Banner News, work in the theatre department, become an officer of Phi Theta Kappa. Just do something that will make your experience at DMACC even more memorable. College is about discovering yourself and that requires taking a chance.
So, in closing, let me pull one last line from my karaoke song: “Tell me what you want, what you really, really want.” And then go do it.