Hey! I’m back. The first week of school here at GC has been crazy, in a good way of course. The week started off with quite possibly the funniest thing I have ever seen in my life, the hypnotist. Everyone had been buzzing all during freshman orientation about this night. I didn’t have a clue as to what was happening when I walked into the chapel last Saturday night, but I cannot tell you how glad I was that I went. I was sitting with several other freshmen I know and two of them rush to the stage when the hypnotist called for volunteers. After the initial stampede of volunteers the act started. I have never seen anything even remotely similar to his program. He had the volunteers dancing like ballerinas, kissing imaginary pet birds, falling asleep on command, believing they were naked, and many other hilarious things. The great thing about it is GC does this every year as one of the concluding events of Freshman Orientation so you will be able to be a part when you become a Georgetown Tiger.
College life is great. I absolutely love it. Getting into a rhythm and getting the hang of things takes a bit of time, but it is worth it. I am taking six different classes this semester which are: Freshman Seminar, Foundations 111, Music Appreciation 107, English 112, Communications 101 and General Psychology 111. My days on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday begin a little before 8:00 so I have time to get ready and eat breakfast before Communications in the LRC (Learning Resource Center, aka the Library) at 9:00. Tuesday and Thursday start at 12:45 with Psychology. Monday and Wednesday I have four classes, but on the other days I only have two. At Georgetown they encourage all incoming freshman to take 15 credit hours their first semester. After a week of class, this course load seems to be about right while trying to adjust to a new lifestyle. The professors here at Georgetown are great. Dr Rich, my freshman seminar instructor and faculty advisor has his office in the basement of Anderson Hall along with my Communications professor Dr. Sibal. I have gone to their offices on a several occasions about either a question I had, or something that happened in class that I wasn’t sure about, or just to talk. Most of your professors will greet you by name when they see you on campus. So the point is, when you are a freshman get to know your professors.
Back to school week is really exciting not only because you get a taste of what the next four years will be like at GC, but also because of all of the events. There is something going on every night. All of the fraternities and sororities throw welcome back parties the first several weeks, which I highly suggest attending. There was a circus and a luau on campus the other night and on Thursday the football team played their first scrimmage. If nothing is happening on campus one night you might be given the opportunity to go with your hall’s R.D. (resident director) to Lexington to participate in a world record water balloon fight. I didn’t go to that one but everyone I know who went said it was a blast. Oh, by the way, my dorm has three R.A.’s (resident advisors) on each floor and one R.D. for the whole building. There is so much to be involved in here on campus. If you don’t want to participate in an organized event, then hanging out with friends in the dorm is always fun or you can go down to the Grill at night. The Grill is on the bottom floor of the student center next to the campus store. They serve wings, chicken tenders, burgers, quesadillas, etc., and it is always packed there at night. If you don’t want to eat in the CAF (the cafeteria on the second floor of the student center) then you can go to the Grill and use your G-card for meal equivalency at certain times. I love the food here, just as a side note. That was a huge plus for me when I came to GC. The CAF generally has at least four and most of the time six different entre food choices. And if you are like me and enjoy coffee the Mulberry Café is in the LRC right next to my first class!
The R.E.C. (Georgetown’s on campus gym and recreation center) is where I spend a considerable amount of my time. I just had my workout for cheer there this morning actually. We had cheer practice off campus tonight. I will try and post some pictures or videos of me tumbling and stunting soon. That is something else I will be trying to do in the next little bit. I am going to try to post some pictures of me and friends doing things around campus and of my dorm so you can actually see what things look like once you live here. Well, I am going to stop typing and try to get some sleep. If you have any questions or have something you want me to talk about or just want a new friend here at GC feel free to email me at my Georgetown email: gharned0@georgetowncollege.edu
Monday, August 30, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Introduction!
Hello! My name is Grant Harned and I am an incoming Tiger freshman!
Go Tigers!!!
Before I begin to tell you about my adventures at Georgetown, let me tell you a bit about my background. I am a Kentucky native from McCracken County, (Paducah to be exact.) My family owns and operates a barbecue restaurant on the south side of town, so if you find yourself hungry in the western end of the state go to Harned’s Drive In. Inc. and tell them that Grant sent you. I am a graduate and valedictorian of Community Christian Academy.
Now let me fill you in about me personally. I was very involved in my high school and wouldn’t change a thing about my experience. I was President of the National Honor Society chapter at C.C.A. editor of the yearbook, a member of student council, a member of the track and field team, an office aid, captain of the baseball team my sophomore year, and finally captain of the cheerleading squad. I had to save the kicker for last. I loved my high school experience and learned so many things from not only my teachers and faculty, but from my peers. C.C.A. was one of those schools where everyone knows everyone else because let’s face it, with only a little over one hundred in the high school it is hard to miss someone in four years. I really enjoyed living in Paducah. My last summer was spent working at the family restaurant and hanging out with my best friends and going to the movies, the mall or playing video games.
By this point I would be willing to bet that many of you are wondering how and why I decided to drive four and a half hours to come to school at G.C. The first time that I heard about Georgetown was from Ken Owen, one of my high school English teachers. He graduated from Georgetown College back in the day and was very insistent that I give the college a look before making my decision about where to pursue my higher education. At first I wasn’t really sure that a small liberal arts school was the type of place that I wanted to spend the next four years of my life. But I filled out the application with an open mind and decided to make a campus visit on my next college trip. This was the summer before my senior year. I had just spent five weeks at the Centre campus of the Governor’s Scholars Program and was anxious to begin looking for my new college home. So I packed my bags and went to visit UK, University of Evansville, Centre, Bellarmine, and finally Georgetown College. This was the best decision of my college career. If you have not made a campus visit yet, you definitely need to schedule one, because there is no better way to get to know a school than to observe the day to day activities of that institution. The campus tour is what sealed the deal for my college decision. My tour guide’s name was Roger and he was a senior at Georgetown at the time. He took a good hour and a half showing me the “ins and outs” of campus and answering any questions I might have. I met several faculty members and staff while on my tour and was incredibly impressed with the welcoming, community-based atmosphere that I had seen throughout the day. I made contact with my admissions counselor, Jeremiah Tudor, shortly after my campus visit and began to plan my future days at G.C. The admissions staff was wonderful to answer any and all questions that I had and to help me feel like a part of the community before I officially set foot on campus as a freshman. With a college-bound mindset I went back to C.C.A. to finish up the remaining portion of my senior year.
Let’s fast forward a few months. After months of anticipation, hours and hours of preparation and packing and several goodbyes, my parents and I set out on the long drive to Georgetown, KY. I came to campus on the Saturday before Freshman Orientation along with all of the other fall athletes at G.C. We moved all the necessities into my room such as the fridge, microwave, futon, t.v., laptop, snacks and clothes. Dr. Crouch, our school president, even jumped in and helped carry a couple boxes up to my room in the 100 degree heat.
The following days were definitely a big adjustment for me. Without a roommate and the rest of the freshman class, my life was a bit dull for a day or two, but soon picked up between practice, conditioning, and trying to get all of the details of my freshman year in order. After those first few nights I quickly began to love the atmosphere of not only Georgetown College but also the city of Georgetown. Fava’s Restaurant and Wholly Smoke’s Barbecue come to mind when I think of awesome places to eat and visit downtown. The remainder of the class of 2014 moved in on Thursday morning and we began the orientation process that very night.
As I type I am concluding my second day of orientation. I can’t begin to tell you about all of the great new people I have met here, those in my freshman seminar with Dr. Rich, the faculty and staff, my fellow cheerleaders, my orientation leaders and just random people I have met on campus and in Anderson Hall. I am sure that I will have many more things to blog about over the next few weeks as Orientation concludes and classes begin. My birthday is on the first day of classes so that should be exciting! Farewell for now.
Go Tigers!!!
Before I begin to tell you about my adventures at Georgetown, let me tell you a bit about my background. I am a Kentucky native from McCracken County, (Paducah to be exact.) My family owns and operates a barbecue restaurant on the south side of town, so if you find yourself hungry in the western end of the state go to Harned’s Drive In. Inc. and tell them that Grant sent you. I am a graduate and valedictorian of Community Christian Academy.
Now let me fill you in about me personally. I was very involved in my high school and wouldn’t change a thing about my experience. I was President of the National Honor Society chapter at C.C.A. editor of the yearbook, a member of student council, a member of the track and field team, an office aid, captain of the baseball team my sophomore year, and finally captain of the cheerleading squad. I had to save the kicker for last. I loved my high school experience and learned so many things from not only my teachers and faculty, but from my peers. C.C.A. was one of those schools where everyone knows everyone else because let’s face it, with only a little over one hundred in the high school it is hard to miss someone in four years. I really enjoyed living in Paducah. My last summer was spent working at the family restaurant and hanging out with my best friends and going to the movies, the mall or playing video games.
By this point I would be willing to bet that many of you are wondering how and why I decided to drive four and a half hours to come to school at G.C. The first time that I heard about Georgetown was from Ken Owen, one of my high school English teachers. He graduated from Georgetown College back in the day and was very insistent that I give the college a look before making my decision about where to pursue my higher education. At first I wasn’t really sure that a small liberal arts school was the type of place that I wanted to spend the next four years of my life. But I filled out the application with an open mind and decided to make a campus visit on my next college trip. This was the summer before my senior year. I had just spent five weeks at the Centre campus of the Governor’s Scholars Program and was anxious to begin looking for my new college home. So I packed my bags and went to visit UK, University of Evansville, Centre, Bellarmine, and finally Georgetown College. This was the best decision of my college career. If you have not made a campus visit yet, you definitely need to schedule one, because there is no better way to get to know a school than to observe the day to day activities of that institution. The campus tour is what sealed the deal for my college decision. My tour guide’s name was Roger and he was a senior at Georgetown at the time. He took a good hour and a half showing me the “ins and outs” of campus and answering any questions I might have. I met several faculty members and staff while on my tour and was incredibly impressed with the welcoming, community-based atmosphere that I had seen throughout the day. I made contact with my admissions counselor, Jeremiah Tudor, shortly after my campus visit and began to plan my future days at G.C. The admissions staff was wonderful to answer any and all questions that I had and to help me feel like a part of the community before I officially set foot on campus as a freshman. With a college-bound mindset I went back to C.C.A. to finish up the remaining portion of my senior year.
Let’s fast forward a few months. After months of anticipation, hours and hours of preparation and packing and several goodbyes, my parents and I set out on the long drive to Georgetown, KY. I came to campus on the Saturday before Freshman Orientation along with all of the other fall athletes at G.C. We moved all the necessities into my room such as the fridge, microwave, futon, t.v., laptop, snacks and clothes. Dr. Crouch, our school president, even jumped in and helped carry a couple boxes up to my room in the 100 degree heat.
The following days were definitely a big adjustment for me. Without a roommate and the rest of the freshman class, my life was a bit dull for a day or two, but soon picked up between practice, conditioning, and trying to get all of the details of my freshman year in order. After those first few nights I quickly began to love the atmosphere of not only Georgetown College but also the city of Georgetown. Fava’s Restaurant and Wholly Smoke’s Barbecue come to mind when I think of awesome places to eat and visit downtown. The remainder of the class of 2014 moved in on Thursday morning and we began the orientation process that very night.
As I type I am concluding my second day of orientation. I can’t begin to tell you about all of the great new people I have met here, those in my freshman seminar with Dr. Rich, the faculty and staff, my fellow cheerleaders, my orientation leaders and just random people I have met on campus and in Anderson Hall. I am sure that I will have many more things to blog about over the next few weeks as Orientation concludes and classes begin. My birthday is on the first day of classes so that should be exciting! Farewell for now.
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