Lewis University Navigator Blogs

Hey guys!! 

We just had our second, and first of the semester, overnight program this week.  The overnight program here at Lewis is is something great to get involved in if you are considering coming to our school.  It is also a great activity to help out with if you are a student on campus because we need hosts for these prospective students to stay with.  As a prospective student, you can attend as long as you have already been accepted into Lewis University.  We then pair you up, preferrably with a related major, and then you can come and spend the night here with us!

Overnights arrive on a Thursday (or Tuesday in the last case) at about 5 and meet your host.  Your picture is taken with your host and you are welcome to pizza that is from the Den for dinner.  After dinner, the overnight and their host go to the hosts room and hang out for awhile, before the icebreakers and planned activities begin.  Hosts usually answer questions about the rooming prosses, dorms, and roommates while showing them around the dorms.  Later in the evening, there are fun icebreakers so that everyone gets to know everyone.  Then there usually is a fun planned event to follow.  A hypnotist came one overnight, and we have also had a movie night and free game time in the rec center. 

The overnights are given a free ‘snack’ pass to the Den, where they can get ice cream or a smoothie.  After the event is over, overnights and host are allowed to do what they please, within reason.  Most overnights and hosts hang together, watch movies, play games, walk around, or stay at the Den.  The idea is for the overnights to see what a typical college student does on campus.  I have usually had a movie night with some of the other overnights and hosts.  It really is a good way to get to know some other people even before you go to school!

In the morning, overnights are required to go to one class with the host.  This gives them a chance to see what college classes are like also.  Overnights get a free breakfast pass also.  At around noon, a lunch is served and a few speakers came to talk and remind overnights about deadlines as far as scholarships and other additional forms go.  You are also given a copy of your picture, and there is a slide show of all the fun from the night before.  After lunch, overnighters are free to leave or check out the book store to get some amazing Lewis goodies!

I hope many of you decide to participate in overnights.  It really is a great experience and gives you a heads up on what to expect at college.  It can also make your decsion that much easier!  For all students aatending Lewis already…. you should get involved too!!  Even if you didn’t go on an overnight, we need hosts and what better of a way to get to know some more people, and show leadership skills.  Our next overnights are February 17th and 18th and March 25th and 26th.  Hope to see many of you there!!

As all of you who are going to be residents next year move into your dorm rooms there is one big tip I can give you from my experience. The big tip is to meet a lot of new people and friends. You are not alone in wanting to meet new friends.  Everyone else that will live in your dorm hall will be looking to meet new people and get that true college experience. Make sure you are really nice to new faces and that you may even get to know that person. Also while you are in your dorm make sure to stop and take the chance to meet others that live in your building or on your floor. Making friends that are around you can really help the process of living away from home. You will have your friends from high school or home but you want to make sure to get involved with others that surround you. Even if you are shy, try to break out of your shell and meet some new people because those fellow students could someday be great memories from your college years when you look back.

Make the most out of being in college. Meet new people, create new friendships, and most of all have lots of fun. Well and of course do lots of studying and focus on school work, but try to have fun while you do it!

This is the last part in The Dorm Life. I hope all of you enjoyed the segment and maybe even take some advice for next year!

 What happens when Lewis Univeristy students suffer from insomnia due to late night hunger? They go to the only place that’s open on campus 24 hours a day: The Convienience Store (better known as the C-Store).

Located in the bottom floor of Fitzpatrick Hall in the center of campus, it is stocked with most anything a typical 7-11 offers. It has a huge variety of candy, juices, snacks, sodas, pastries, microwavable meals, cold sandwiches, coffee, basic medication needs, and more! Students can be found there at all hours grabbing a quick snack between classes, stocking up their dorm rooms, or just hanging out. The staff is super friendly and it is not uncommon for them to ask about your day and see how you’re doing while you are checking out.

 Another benefit to the C-Store is that it is connected to the Common Grounds. This is a comfortable hang out spot for students to study between classes, or hang out with friends after. It is full of very comfortable couches and chairs, a big screen TV, a chessboard, a fireplace, and waterfall.

  So whatever your needs, whenever you need them, chances are that you’ll be able to fulfill them at the C-Store – the late-night gem of Lewis University.

Hi Everyone, 

As you probably know we are in the second week of spring semester. Being a sophomore I already finished all my general education required classes (except for one) in the spring so now I am mostly submerged into my major classes this spring for the first time! Like I said at the start of my blogging, I am a combined elementary and special education major. One great reason about Lewis if you are interested into going into education is the dual certifications you can receive in still only 4 years!! When I graduate in a few years, I will be certified to teach elementary K-9 as well as special education up to grade 12. I have many friends at other schools who are going into education and they only receive the one of those two when they graduate. As for many majors there are so many extra hours of elective credits you have to take, which is why a lot of people can complete a major and a minor because they can use those electives for a minor. The education program here, if you are a combined major, helps you plan that elective space to take the additional classes to get both certificates. Also, many of the required classes for education are ones that you need for both elementary and special education degrees so it is not like you are taking 2 whole different sets of classes. 

Another reason why I really like the education program here is because of the actual in class experience we are receiving. As a sophomore I was already observing in a clinical last semester. Last semester I had an introduction into elementary education with a 25 hour field experience. This semester I have an introduction into special education with a 25 hour field experience in a special education classroom. While I have not yet gone into my classroom yet for the spring, I absolutely loved my experience in the fall. I think it is great that Lewis gets you out onto the field early on in your college career. At some big schools you might not be placed in a classroom until your senior year when you are about to student teach. The clinical really helped assure me that I wanted to go into education. Having your first class one that provides hand on experience helps you become comfortable with the classroom setting and make sure you are majoring in what is best for you. I think if you are interested in education Lewis is a great place to be! I will keep you updated on my education classes and the education program! 

Have a good week!

So after leaving the nest and heading off to college you are now responsible for yourself. There are some very important things you must to do stay healthy. They are eating healthy, getting enough sleep, exercising often and making sure you clean your clothes and room. Some good ways to eat healthy at Lewis is the great salads that are offered at both Charlie’s Place and the Courtyard Cafe. At every place you eat on campus their are healthy choices, just make sure most of the time you are picking the right foods that are good for your body.

All college students at one point will brag about the time they stayed up all night or how they go to bed a three in the morning. You should not follow in those foot steps so you should get the recommended 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. In the end and after a long day of school it is great to get some school so that you are well rested for another long day.

Lewis offers a great Recreation Center that is filled with lots of activities such as the cardio room that has treadmills and ellipticals. The Rec Center also offers a very well equip weight room, and they also offer fitness classes that are run by very good teachers. The class come in a variety from Cardio Jam to Yoga. Along with working out the Recreation Center also offers many club teams and intramural sports. Sometime there is even open gym so if you wanna shoot the basketball around you can.

Living in a clean environment is always a good idea. Make sure you regularly wash your clothes. Lewis has washers and dryers in every dorm hall and it is free to use the facilities - you just need to bring your own laundry detergent. Also cleaning your room is a good way to stay healthy, vacuuming or sanitizing the surfaces of the room would help a ton.

Make sure as a college student you stay healthy it will only help you in the end!

Hey Guys!!!

As I stated in my welcome blog, I am a nursing major here at Lewis. I haven’t really written about my nursing experience before mostly becase I had not actually started classes that related to nursing as I was finishing most of my general education classes. But now that I have officially started them, I can share with you how the begining process of entering nursing classes goes and express my feelings about it.

The last week before finals first semester, the nursing department sent me and my peers a packet of information about preparing for classes and what needs to be completed, bought, and read before we returned for our second semester. I was a bit suprised at this because I really had no idea there was so much that that had to be done, and I was a little upset honestly because they were giving us all this information right before finals, and naturally I was already overwhelmed. We were told to buy many books (close to 15), and then were given the reading assignments for some of them, which were to be completed before classes started in January. We were also instructed to buy scrubs, shoes, and other fun nursing ‘toys’ for our labs. I was very excited about this part and went ‘shopping’ with my friends to get our stuff. A physical and TB tests were also required and needed to completed over break. Like I said before, I was a little upset that they didn’t give us this information earlier but was still very excited about the upcoming semester and the new classes and curriculum. I got everything completed and it really turned out to be fine.

The Friday before we were supposed to return for spring semester, the nursing department had all of the sophomore nursing students come back early for a Success Day where they talked about dos and don’ts for the upcoming semester. They also had a student panel talk about their experinces with their sophomore year. I was encouraged to buy a recorder to tape classes, which I had never done before, and given the syllabi for my classes. All of the professors were really nice and so caring. It was obvious that they really did want us to succeed. Though this was all very intimidating, I was still pretty excited to get into my classes. I left Success Day with mixed emotions, but was glad they offered it because it really did explain some important information.

My first day of class was fairly easy. One four hour theory class that will usually be a two hour lecture and two hour la, was all I had along with a Pathipysiology class. I realized that this was going to be OK when I was talking to a girl who transfered from a different college where she had teacher assistants who didn’t speak English teaching her classes of 500 students. I felt very releived that I had chosen Lewis when she told me this. For a first day, I really did not think it was all that bad.

I hope by including all this information in my blog, I don’t scare anyone who is thinking about nursing away but can give you a heads up on what to expect. I really am excited about my classes and look forward to many others that I have in the weeks to come. Clinicals will start in March, and that will be a whole different experience to write about. S, I hope that if you are thinking about nursing, you will be just as excited as I am and not let the scary stuff get to you. As people have been continuing to tell me, ‘It will be ok!’

One of the most unique classes offered at Lewis is Culture and Civilization (also known as Cult and Civ). Since this is one of the most famous (or infamous) classes here at Lewis, I thought you might want to know what to expect.

What makes it so special is the “arts and ideas” points that come with the class. You are expected to accumulate 100 points over the course of the semester. To accumulate these points, you must attend events on campus, listen to lectures, watch certian (approved) movies, listen to certain radio stations, or see plays (on or off) campus.

Because of these requirements, I recommend that you take these two required classes (cult and civ 1 and 2) freshman year so that you are more aware of the event options available on campus. This way, coming into Lewis you will be more well rounded on your options when it comes to on campus events.

When I took these classes, I really liked going to the plays because they were very professionally done. Not only were they worth a lot of points but they were also a lot of fun. I enjoyed the plays and have since gone to a number of them. The best part is that you don’t have to go and spend a lot of money on tickets. Typically they are about $2 with a Lewis student i.d.

If plays aren’t your thing, the lectures are also very interesting. I attended one on nuclear energy and learned a ton! Since then, I’ve heard of poetry readings, japanese drums shows, a capella, etc. Another option is going to off campus events. For example, I went to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago for some of my points.

All in all, my suggestion is to be creative and have fun with it! Get out there and enjoy what Lewis and the Chicagoland area have to offer!

Hi!

I hope everyone had a great break! The students at Lewis start classes again on Monday, so on Sunday all the resident students will check back into their rooms.  There are many events on campus that will be taking place as the spring semester begins. First not only will men’s and women’s basketball teams still be in season, but men’s volleyball begins their season next week. They are ranked 14th in the nation in the preseason poll. I highly recomend that you all try to come out and see one of their games! They are so fun to watch! One thing that is great about Lewis is that we really use our email to stay informed about events on campus. Everyday, we get emails sent to to us about everything that is happening around campus. We are not back to school yet but we are already getting emails from clubs and organizations about meeting times and events. If you want to get involved you never have a problem finding a way to acheive this!

Have a great week!