Cerebral Discharge

Summer is officially over! Wait a minute, it’s 28 degrees outside…I knew there was an upside to global warming! Oh well, I’m sure it won’t last much longer. A sure sign that fall is upon us is the recently held NAITSA Senate elections…I would like to congratulate Tyler Bernard and Karl Puodziunas, the two new Senators from the School of Resource and Environmental Management; as one of two outgoing Senators from this school (the other being the right Honorable Geoff Tate, currently holding it down as VP Apprenticeship on the NAITSA executive), I have a keen interest in seeing the Senate continue to improve. As the new student rep on NAIT’s Board of Governors, I look forward to working with this year’s Senate! Speaking of the Board, I have my first meeting a week from Monday, I’m really looking forward to that!

As for NAIT, open house is coming up next weekend; I’ll be volunteering Saturday, hopefully we have a good turnout. NAIT is a fantastic place to pursue an education that will give you something that universities don’t….REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE! I just read an article in the Edmonton Journal this weekend, talking about how university grads have been returning to college in droves.Apparently in universitythey did not learn the job skills they need to succeed in today’s maketplace…pretty sad, especially considering the cost to go to university for an undergrad degree easily costs three times what a diploma will run you from NAIT!

On a personal note, I have been hitting the gym pretty hard since school began…I am starting to see some results, though I know that the really noticable transformation typically occurs from week 9-12; I’m at week 4 at the moment. I’m planning on getting the BFL club rolling full steam ahead just after the long weekend, so keep your eyes peeled for the first meeting date!

Oh yeah, one last thing before I forget! The deadline for NAIT’s fall scholarships is this Friday, October 3. Be sure toapply online at http://www.nait.ca/scholarships, or pick up a paper application from the student awards office. Just remember, you don’t have to be a 4.0 student to be consideredfor awards;most often, the criteria for awards consists offinancial need, and qualities of leadership in addition to academics. Until next time!

What a year! I can remember starting my tenure at NAIT with earnest last September, not knowing what to expect; flash forward to today, my last ‘official’ day at NAIT this year…so many exciting things have happened, so much positive change has occurred in my life. Some days were harder than others, but I made it through, stronger than ever! I’m confident that I did well on all my exams, though I won’t have my official grades for another week or two; at the moment, I am on a one week holiday in my hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. I’m enjoying time spent with family and friends, preparing myself for the co-op program with Schlumberger. I start my training and orientation on Monday next, which happens to be the day after my return from my trip. There’s so much to be excited for in the future, I can hardly wait! As much fun is it is to think about what lies ahead, I have to pause and take a moment to enjoy the present. I’m taking my grandmother to dinner this evening. I’m also planning a trip to my hometown tomorrow, a little community about two hours North of Sault Ste. Marie called Wawa. I’m a bit excited to take that little walk down memory lane. Speaking of memories, I have to say my first year at NAIT provided me with some fantastic ones. From starting the year by winning my tuition to writing my last final, my academic year was enriched with great experiences. I met some amazing people along the way, some of whom will be lifelong friends. Choosing to become involved with the NAITSA Senate was one of the best decisions that I made this year. Getting involved in student life improves your leadership, interpersonal, and problem solving skills. Lessons learned over the course of my tenure will only serve to make me a more complete individual. I completed two Body-For-Life challenges and started my third while in my first year. The BFL Fitness Club will be back again next year, better than ever! As I close out my final blog entry, I wish everyone a fantastic summer! I will be back with my inaugural second year blog in August, I’m sure I will have lots to share! Finishing one marathon just means starting another…

The title of this blog alludes to the results of the last NAITSA Senate meeting for the 2007-8 academic year; I am very proud to announce that I have the priveledge of being appointed toone of two student representatives to the NAIT Board of Governors! I’m very excited about my appointment, I think it will be a fantastic experience! My appointment to the BOG will prevent me from running for Senate next year; the other seat from the school of Resources and Environmental management iscurrently occupied by Geoff Tate. Since Geoff has been elected to the NAITSA executive for next year, is seat will also be vacant. This means both seats for the school of Resources and Environmental managment will be open. I would encourge any student belonging to the Chemical, Petroleum, Geological or Forestry programwho is interested in getting involved in student politics to consider running for senate next year. I found my experience as a senator to be very enriching, it taught me a lot about dealing with others, and helped me continue to develop my qualities of student leadership! If you are interested and want more information, feel free to drop me a line!

Greetings my avid readers! Today I write in better spirits than my last entry, somehow I managed to get through the mostdemanding week I have experienced thus far at NAIT…I managed to complete my lab, technical report, AND do fairly well on my midterm (I hope!). Earlier this week, I was pleased to receive a call from the Student’s Association, notifying me that I had been selected as a recipient of the Laurence Decore award for student leadership. Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending an awards dinner hosted by the Bear’s Paul Brown, to recognize the achievements of students who have made positive impact at life at NAIT…today, I have the day off! As much as I could really use a ‘do nothing’ day, I’m going to spend the day volunteering at the Petroleum Engineering Technology’s Industry day; a bunch of companies will be coming to provide information, show students oilfield equipment, and possibly take a resume or two from those students who haven’t yet found summer employment. Hopefully I find a moment or two to relax this weekend; next week is shaping up to be a crazy busy one! Monday I have 3 assignments and a technical presentation due, AND I have a 2 hour field trip slated in Nisku first thing in the morning! Somehow, some way, I will get through…oh yeah, I’m looking to be selected by the Senate as the student rep for the NAIT Board of Governors for next year, I need to prepare a document detailing why I believe I am the right candidate….I’m fairly sure my time management skills will be a part of my application I’ll keep everyone posted, wish me luck!

As the end of the school year rapidly approaches, the pressure of deadlines andexamsbeginto make themselves felt…over the next few days, I will have a major lab, a midterm, and a technical report worth 40% of a class keeping me busy. I’m starting to feel the adverse effects of working three jobs while trying to maintain my 4.0 GPA and my involvement in student life…speaking of student life, the term of the 2007-8 NAITSA Senate is coming to a close; we held the second last Senate meeting of the year this evening. This meeting, along with the last of the year will be spent approving the 2008-9 NAITSA budget; most notable in this budget is a planned 2.2 million dollar upgrade to the fitness center by NAIT…NAITSA will be contributing an additional $100000 to Sport and Wellness to aid in the upgrades. As someone who regularly uses the gym, this is a welcome (and much needed) upgrade. In my personal life, I finally received an email from Schlumberger requesting I set up an appointment for a medical examination; I’m supposed to start my summer term with them on May 5, my last exam is on the 24th of April. Since I will have nearly two weeks my last day of school and my first day of work, I was thinking about a vacation….I think I will deserve one!

Ok ladies and gents, semester two, round two…ding ding! I’ve hit the ground running, it’s good to be back into a routine of sorts. I find that a week off is just enough time to recharge…staying up till 4 and sleeping till noon is hard on the body, especially when you arestaying active and eating right! We just aren’t meant to have that kind of lifestyle long term! (look up circadian rhythms, you’ll understand) I’m still dealing with the fallout of my debit card fiasco of earlier this month; my trusty bank still hasn’t remitted the money pinched from my account, and with only 4 days until the rent is due, I’m starting to feel the crunch. I’m sure everything will work out in the end though, it always does.

So back to school! I’m very pleased to report that I did very well on my midterms, though truth be told I’m only halfway through; I’ll bewriting the remainder ofmy midtermsthis week and next. I’m looking forward to getting news regarding the scholarships and bursaries that I applied for earlier in the month; hopefully if you are reading this, you also read my previous blog regarding scholarships and applied for some. My formal offer of employment from Schlumberger should arrive any day now, I’m looking forward to knowing where I will be posted. So yeah, basically I’m just coming out of the eye of the storm, it’s going to get crazy in the coming weeks and months; lots to do, even more to look forward to!

Senate is kind of in a lull right now as well; the first reading of NAITSA’s 2008-9 budget will be coming up in the next few weeks, there’s going to be a fair amount of scrutinizing to be done as chair of the finance committee; I tell you, I am so happy that I work out 6 days a week, it really gives me the energy I need to have all these little projects and endeavors, and succeed at them! Speaking of working out, congrats to all BFL fitness club members for passing their halfway point today! Keep up the momentum! (Isn’t that a sweet blender?)