Student Journals

What are we going to talk about today? What is the next thing that I am extremely thankful to Missouri State University West Plains for giving me? Well, I would have to say the people. I have met some extraordinary people here on campus. Virtually everyone that I have come in contact with at MSU-WP cares about me and my success. I am going to take a little bit of time to make a shout out to some really important people. I will try to type this without crying.

The Admissions Squad (Rachel , Missi , Caitlin, and Melissa, Dr. Lunday, Karen and Trudy): You guys have opened so many doors for me and given me wonderful experiences. The ambassador program is one of the greatest things that I have ever done, and it wouldn’t have been possible without you guys! Thanks so much.

Dennis Lancaster: You and the Honors Program have impacted my life more greatly than I have words for. You have ‘taken me out of the cave’ and it is one of the most impactful moments in my life. You forced me to write killer papers that turned out to be some of the most fun I have ever had. You helped me to see the world critically. Also, you went to Greece with me, and I could never forget that, even if I wanted to. Thank you, Denny.

The Ambassadors (Past and Present): You guys have been awesome. It has been a pleasure working with you. It has been fun. I love dance daring with you, putting on red carpet days with you, and just having fun with you. A lot of you have become close friends and I wish you all the best. I will miss you all, besides Ty and J.w. #missouristateuniversitywestplainsstudentambassadorsforlife #donkey

Krista Webb and the IT Department: You guys offered me a job and it has been a wonderful working experience. It was a wonderful experience to work on campus. I met lots of new people and had a great time. I really appreciate the experience and opportunity.

Rogers Taylor: You have been so much fun! You have helped me to make friends here, and provided me with opportunities to do things I never thought possible. You make college fun. It has been a pleasure to know you!

There are so many more, but alas I have not the time to write each and every person. I have had wonderful experiences with you all. Who knows where life may take me, but I have to leave you all here. I leave you here to the future students, so that you may help them in a way that MSU-WP has helped me. I will miss you all, and it has truly been great fun! I wouldn’t trade these experiences for the world! I encourage every perspective student to highly consider this college. It has changed my life.

You can’t tell, but I am bawling by this point! *sniffle*

Hey guys! Long time, no post. That is totally my fault. I have been super busy with getting ready to graduate and transfer colleges and life! This semester is almost over, and with that my time here at Missouri State University West Plains. For my last few journal posts, I will write about what I have enjoyed most about MSU-WP.

Firstly, one of the things I have enjoyed most about MSU-WP is the ambassador program. There is no feeling comparable to helping students with matters at this college. I have met tons of new people, practiced my public speaking skills, influenced youths to come to this college and better their lives, visited high schools and talked with the kids about college. I have had satisfying and successful hard work in this program. I feel like the ambassadors that I have shared this duty with have become a family to me. I am very close to a lot of them, and its nice knowing I have those friends there for me.

If you are thinking about or planning to go to this college, then I would highly suggest trying to be in the ambassador program. It truly is the chance of a lifetime and I have enjoyed every bit of it. (*Insert smiley face here*)

*Editors Note:  To  be considered eligible for the Ambassador Program, please complete the scholarship application available on the financial aid webpage by the March 31, 2012, deadline.

The Grinch Who Failed Finals

This is the tale
Of a college student in a pinch
His name is anonymous
So we will call him ‘The Grinch’

He was known throughout campus
As not being too bright,
Maybe his brain was too small
Or his head not screwed on quite right.

There he sat,
Playing video games
While all his friends studied
Through night and through day.

They studied for Physics,
Math and Chem.
But he would have nothing
To do with them.

He loved his computer
So fun and so bright.
He played on the internet
Til morning light.

His teachers and peers
Said “Boy, you will fail.
Study tonight,
Maybe we can help?”

He laughed and refused,
Thinking “What ignorant fools.
Wasting their day
Learning tables and rules”

“Who needs college?
I’ll be a bum.
And watch all those students,
While having fun.”

So the days passed,
And he still did not study
He was sickened by students
Who were riddled with worry.

They were just grades,
They couldn’t matter.
Class is boring
With that nonsense and chatter.

The night before finals
And he settled for bed,
But checked his facebook
One time before rest.

He had a message,
As well as three pokes.
He wondered their purpose,
But no one knows.

So he poked them back,
And went to creeping,
Found Cindy Lou Who’s page
And some meaning.

“I’m worried about my friend,
He just doesn’t seem to know,
That college is important,
And shouldn’t be let go

Times are getting harder
The economy is bad.
It’s hard to find a job
no degree in hand.

I will try my hardest,
To get good grades,
I put my life on hold
And studied for days.”

Something clicked for “The Grinch”
When he read those words.
Understanding dawned on him
He had been absurd.

He would not do well
On these tests that next day
Unless he got up immediately
And studied away.

Some say his brain
Grew three sizes that night.
He studied til dawn
Good grades in his sight.

The next few days
Were kind of crazy.
Test, tests, tests,
And even more to study.

He made it out alive,
Though it took him some work.
He’d gotten good grades,
On the tests that he took.

On the day after finals,
The college students gathered round
To sing cheers that they,
had one more semester down.

It’s here! It’s here! One of the biggest events of the year that I look forward to. Where men can dress in drag and not have their motives questioned, people can scream at the screen and not be thrown out of the film, and everyone attempts the Time Warp. That is right. “Rocky Horror Picture Show” is here! This movie night is the event on campus that I most look forward to. It is a great way to get the community involved with our university. People from all over are encouraged to go to the West Plains Civic Center and share an evening with us.

For those of you who don’t know what “Rocky Horror Picture Show” is, I am telling you that you are missing out. I will not try to explain the movie to you, because I don’t think I can. In fact, it is better that one does not try to rationalize this movie. Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, and Meatloaf are among the cast of stars that will brighten the screen that night. Who can resist Tim Curry in drag? No one, I tell you. No one.

Though the movie is rated R so it isn’t appropriate for all audiences, it’s all in fun!

The event will be held on December 7th, 2011 at the West Plains Civic Center. It starts at 7 pm and admission is free! Dressing up in costume is welcomed and appropriate props will be provided. I hope to see you there.

On November 11th, 2011 the world was changed. The legends of the Dragonborn were proven to be true, Dragons were let loose upon the world, and the vast region of Skyrim was finally opened up to the multitudes of fans that have been waiting for 5 years. Just in case you are still unsure as to what I am talking about I will let you know. It is a video game named “Skyrim” that I am talking about. Numerous fans lined up outside GameStop and Wal-Mart in order to purchase their copy at midnight precisely. I, on the other hand, just recently got it yesterday. Even though I just received it yesterday, I have already devoted approximately 10 hours in the game and have barely scratched the surface of all that is involved in this game.

Now, to the point of this article: “Skyrim” may be a wonderful game, but it could not have come out at a worse time. Finals are in a few short weeks and, instead of studying like we should be, a vast number of students are probably playing this game. Even though we have this game to occupy our time, I urge you students to realize that finals are important. Let’s put the game down for a few hours an evening and devote them to our studies. Christmas break is almost here and then we can play this game all we want.

After everyone has had their fill of the Snickers, Paydays, M&Ms, Butterfingers, candy corn, and every other candy known to mankind, what is the thought on their minds? Christmas. A few of you might have said Thanksgiving, but that holiday often takes a backseat compared to the awesomeness that is Christmas. Whilst Christmas is a beautiful time we must stop to smell the roses – er the turkey. So, in celebration of Thanksgiving, I will talk about why I am thankful for Missouri State University – West Plains.
1.) I am getting the real college experience, while never having to stray too far from home.
2.) I have taken classes here that will not only help me with my degree, but with life in general.
3.) I have never had a faculty member that didn’t care for my success and didn’t want me to succeed.
4.) I have made friends here that I will treasure for the rest of my life.
5.) I have had experiences that I will never forget here at MSU -WP.
6.) It has all been affordable. It is nice to walk away with a degree and not having any student debt.
There are so many reasons to be thankful for this college. These are my tops. What are your favorites? Comment and let me know!

If you have but one tiny ounce of adoration for the gift that we call ‘the arts’, then you must be informed of the exciting new organization that is being formed within the campus of Missouri State University–West Plains. I, Jeffrey Tignor, am quite the fan of the hit television show “Glee” that airs Tuesday nights on Fox. Many evenings I sit down to watch this show with nothing but sheer excitement and a bowl of popcorn. “Glee” does a fantastic job of taking current hits and translating them into show choir tunes. It has shown countless individuals that show choir can be an exciting time full of endless Journey songs. This show has inspired me to do something great with my extra time.

I, Jeffrey Tignor, am in the process of creating a show choir here at MSU-WP. It is still in the rough stages, being as I just finished the constitution, but I can say with utmost certainty that the choir will be up and running within the next few weeks. We hope to compete as well as entertain. We want to showcase the talents of individuals on this campus, showing people that show choir can be a good time.

You may ask “Jeffrey, why are you telling me this in your journal?” and I say to you, dear faithful reader, that I am shamelessly promoting myself. Once this club is official, we will need members. I need voices to fill the halls with sweet melodies that will linger in the hearts of individuals for the rest of their lives. We will need members that can create props and sceneries that will ignite the flames of creativity in people’s hearts and minds. We will need choreographers that can create dance steps that will mesmerize and mystify many people. In essence, we need you. You don’t have to have a beautiful voice that can stop a heart. If you want to help the arts in any way, be it with props, dance, voice, and acting then we need you.

The second reason that I am writing this journal is to show you that, if you have the idea for a club, four members, and a sponsor, then you can do anything you set your mind to, especially at Missouri State-West Plains!

How many people have heard of Tom Wood? He is an artist that has done work for quite a few companies. He has worked for the Insane Clown Posse, Pepsi, and Frito Lay. Recently he published a book that was picked up by Wal-Mart and Barnes and Noble. There has been talk of it being turned into a movie.

His pieces of art are absolutely stunning. There is so much detail and care taken with everything he does.

On October 10th, Tom Wood came to my Game Art Drawing class to give us a speech. (I might add that I am a student taking courses toward the Associate of Applied Science in Computer Graphics and Programming.)  Mr. Wood talked about his road to success. He worked as an art director, making contacts all over the world, and managed to strike out on his own 10 years ago as a business owner.  Because he’s doing so well in his business,  he came in to give us tips and ideas for our own artwork. He talked about what programs he uses, where his inspiration comes from, and much more. It was a great opportunity that everyone in the class was blessed to have.

If you would like to look at some of his stuff, here is the link. Enjoy!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/TOM-WOOD-FANTASY-ART/151970422995

I have been conducting a lot of tours for the past few weeks so forgive my lateness in this journal.  It adds to the suspense. This is the last journal of the summer regarding my trip to Greece, so I would like to go over highlights of the rest of the trip instead of step-by-step. I am sorry, but if you would like more details on anything about this trip or how to take one then I encourage you to approach me!

I’d like to tell you of the trip to Delphi. This was my favorite tour. It was pouring rain that day so we took the guided tour in a museum. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable of everything in that museum. You could really tell she was passionate about Delphi even when it is in ruins today. Since it was raining, I decided not to climb up the hill to Delphi. I stayed behind in the museum. Afterwards we went to lunch and it stopped raining. Out back of the restaurant we got to see a beautiful sight; a breathtaking view of a large olive orchard. There we had a strange occurrence. We ran into students from Missouri State University in Springfield. I remember bumping into someone and turning around to say excuse me and seeing a Missouri State shirt. She wasn’t part of our group so I asked her if she was from Springfield. Her entire group was. I pretty much freaked out. I was not expecting that.

Another great moment in Greece was going to Olympia where the first Olympic Games were held. It is a very cool feeling to be in the actual spot where the games were held. It is just so surreal to walk on land that a culture had once held so sacred.

Whilst on the Cruise boat, I got to perform in the talent show on board. I loved it. It made me want to perform on a cruise for a career. Then I got to thinking that I couldn’t spend 8 months away from my family. Ultimately I walked away knowing that I want to sing, but not on a cruise boat. 

When in Athens we went to the home of the best cake in the entire world! It was a cute little bakery and we fell in love with the cake: BEST CAKE EVER! The next day we also went back to the bakery for Gelato. It was one of my favorite places in Athens. We met a woman named Fay at that bakery and she is adorable. She invited us to hang out with her, but unfortunately we were leaving that day. She told us that if we ever wanted to go back then we could stay at her cottage on the beach.

Now I will tell you of the worst experience I have ever had. It happened in Greece. My friends and I went to Santorini for the day. It is the city where the recent adaption of Mama Mia was filmed. It is a beautiful city. The only downfall is that it is on top of a cliff. So you have three ways to get to the top. You can walk up over 600 steps for free. You could take the cable car for 4 euro. You could also take a donkey to the top for 5 euro. Long story short, we were warned that it is very dangerous to take the donkey. We did it anyway. My friends got started up the steps before me. The guide made my donkey wait and then he tied it to two other donkeys and our donkeys went up in the back so that we could make the other donkeys move. We were told that if the donkey gets tired he would just buck you off. So here I am, on this narrow staircase and thinking that this donkey is going to knock me off. It took 20 minutes to get to the top and my donkey would stumble and I would just pray. I honestly thought I was going to die. That was the worst moment of my life so far.

Over all, the trip to Greece was the trip of a lifetime. I am so proud that I got to go with the Darr Honors Program group. Let this story be a testimony for the Honors group and how fun traveling abroad can actually be!

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

I awoke bright and early the next day; 6:00 in the morning to be exact. I went into the bathroom and found a lever-type thing in the shower. It had a string and when you pulled it, there was a clicking sound. I couldn’t figure out what it did, so naturally, I pulled it about 50 times. Nothing happened so I took a shower. We headed downstairs and had breakfast. Breakfast in Greece didn’t consist of a whole lot. There were some croissants, some bacon (which in reality is slightly cooked slices of ham), and poached eggs. So I had myself some croissants and eggs and headed out.

This next day in Athens we were going on a one-day cruise. We got on a little cruise boat and headed out. Our first port was a beautiful Greek island. It had a cute and quaint feeling about it. It was definitely the picturesque view of Greece. We had about an hour on the island so we shopped a bit and looked for souvenirs.

When we got back on the boat, we had lunch. They served us some excellent pork. Dessert was this pastry that was beautiful. As it was coming out Brittany and Amber were looking absolutely perplexed with this dessert.           

“I think it is a honey bun!” Brittany DeShazo said.

“Ew I don’t want it….” said Amber Carr. 

“Nope it looks like a donut.”

“BEST DAY EVER!” said Amber.

When that was done the band started playing music. They played really folky Greek music that was fun to listen to. A few minutes later an Asian man ran out on the dance floor and started dancing hardcore. Eventually the entire dance floor was covered with people. It was a few hours until we hit the next island so we went outside and took a nap.

The next island we went to was the island called Hydra. I would love to live there. It is one of the most beautiful places that I have ever been. One day I will maintain a house there and will visit often. There, I bought a solid silver ring that I wear today. Hydra is so beautiful and it is like a maze. You don’t need to find out where you are going there. You just need to get lost and enjoy it.

We loaded back onto the boat and whilst traveling to our next location I took Greek dancing lessons. I don’t want to brag or anything, but now I am a pro at Greek Dancing. We went to our last island. We were all pooped by then and decided to just chill by the beach.

When we got back to the hotel we went to the top to the pool. At the top of the hotel was a magnificent view. This was probably my favorite part of the trip. Sitting up there and seeing the city stretch for miles and miles. Going farther than the eyes could see. I realized that I am not special. That to this world, I am simply a speck of dust in the present and I won’t be in the future very long. It is a wonderful feeling to know that to this enormous planet I am nothing, but to my friends, family, and God I am special. It is an amazing feeling!