Metro State home > About Metro State > Metro Blogs > Amber Michael

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Trick or treat, smell my feet




So today is Halloween. What did I learn this year?
1) Eating candy on an empty stomach is not a good idea, even though I was doing my little sister a favor (she doesn't like chocolate, so I eat it for her- such a sacrifice!)
2) Traffic is crazy-horrible in Parker at 5pm when everyone is trying to race home, to take their own children home before the cold really sets in
3) Scary houses are great for teenagers and adults, not two-year cousins and four-year old sisters
4) I am the coolest biggest-older sister in the history of big-older sisters, according to my littlest-baby sister E

Allow me to elaborate on my day. I had organized a BLT party with three other offices on my floor, so I was running around, toasting bread (thanks Lynnea!) and warming up cooked bacon (yum!), while my boss Laura and another co-worker were racing around, trying to get the BOT books out. After everything was set-up, I had to go to class. Who organizes a BLT party during their Adulthood & Aging class? Me.
After class, I did do some work. But I had to leave early, since I was going trick-or-treating with my family: two sisters, step-mom, dad, two aunts and one cousin. This is when I learned about traffic down south (my border is anything south of Colfax). It isn't fun.
Finally, my middle sister H and I arrived at my Aunt Kat's house, where we gobbled down pizza and got the little ones ready for some trick-or-treating fun. My cousin M was a Firefighter and E was Tinkerbell from the movie/story 'Peter Pan'- hence my outfit. H dressed up like Captain Hook; she looked like a female Johnny Depp in 'Pirates of the Caribbean' look-alike.
While we were trick-or-treating, we were all laughing and running door to door. H and I made sure the little ones were being polite, saying 'thank you' and 'trick-or-treat' to the homeowners.
There was one house, where the two of them wouldn't come to the door. A man was sitting still on a lawn chair (he must have been freezing) and when you would walk by, he would jump up. I knew that he was a real person but even I wanted to have some fun- I walked up to the door and when I walked past him, I stopped to look at him. Since he wasn't moving, I decided to poke him but when he jumped up, even I screamed!! It was so funny, for myself and the adults in our party but not the kids- they took off, running to the next house!!
When we returned to Kat's house, M decided to dump all of his candy on the floor and begin to eat it. Naturlich, I had to join it. Another sacrifice, for the good of mankind.
Then I ate some of E's chocolate candy. It was for her own good. Really.

The moral of my story is that I was on the receiving end of huge hugs and kisses from M and E, just because I dressed up and went trick-or-treating with them. Making a fool of myself, dressed like Peter Pan (nope, not Robin Hood) all day and walking around in the cold for an hour was the easiest thing to do- those two had so much fun and hopefully they are learning that you don't have to "look cool" all the time, that it is okay to have fun when you get older.
Especially when you get paid in hugs, kisses and chocolate.

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Living the life that a College Admissions Counselor laughs at

People think I'm lying. I don't lie. Well, sometimes I lie to my little sister: "Hey Amber, do you want to play with me?" she will ask. "Yes, E let's play CandyLand" (for the 1000th time), I will say.
Mainly people think I'm lying when I tell them everything I do here at Metro. But I'm not. I really was Club President of the Cheerleading Squad for two years. I really was the Mascot for four years. I really have helped plan Homecoming the past couple of years. I have attended Commencement for the past three years.
Yup, I live the life that a College Admission Counselor laughs at. "When do you have time for school?", I hear. "When do you study?" is another question I hear. People in my situation, the ones that can't say no because the offer is for a great opportunity, are experts at juggling schedules.
Now, I may sound like I am going against my last blog entry, where I stated the reasons why I haven't been at any of the games this semester because of lack of time. You know, I know people that may never leave Metro. Students, I mean, not faculty or staff. These are "professional students" as my mother so eloquently puts it. They will never leave, they will take every class but still never declare a major (at least they could help re-write the course catalog).
But I digress. I enjoy everything that I do here at Metro (in case you didn't already know). But sometimes I feel like a goob when someone asks me what I do here- I usually stop for a minute and evaluate what this person appears to like: z.B. if I am talking to an athlete, I will mention my years on the squad and as Rowdy or if the person is intellectual-appearing (ha! Is there such a thing?), I will mention that I sat on the Board of Student Media last year. Seriously, how dorky is that?!?!

Oh well, I have embraced my dorkiness. Which is why I keep talking about it. My dorkiness, that is. And I'm done. Thanks for reading.

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Catching flack for being absent

You know, I've done many things here at Metro. I've talked about my activities in previous postings and everyone I run into on campus knows I'm usually on my way to an event or planning a future one. What irritates me is when I see people around campus and they ask me the same question every time: "Why aren't you at any of the games?"
I understand the question. I wish I could be at the games. I love watching our athletes compete, I love cheering for them and I love entertaining the crowd. So call me selfish (oh, wait- someone already did).
So I would like apologize to my fellow student-athletes for not being around this semester. I would like to apologize to the fans, who are used to seeing my beautiful face (hidden behind a large beak, but you catch my drift). I would like to apologize to anyone whom I may have forgotten- it wasn't intentional.
But I would like to point out that for the past five years, I have postponed dentist appointments, family engagements, birthdays, holiday functions, work (and yes) even class so that Rowdy could be at appearances when asked. But I can't do that anymore. I need to be selfish and earn my bachelor's degree- sorry. Isn't that the ultimate goal of coming to college?
I've had my fun and participated in many different events- entirely my choice and I have enjoyed every one that I have attended. But I am ready to graduate and close the book on this chapter of my life.
So, when you see me around on campus and you stop to say hello, don't ask me where I've been.
I'm trying to graduate.

Monday, October 16, 2006

Self-identity

For awhile, I have been thinking about what makes me.... well, me. I'm not sure that I am any closer to answering this question, even though it has been at the forefront of my thoughts for some time now. Is there something that just screams "Amber"? What is it- clothing, Metro logo, German flag, Starbucks, pizza, Taco Bell hot sauce wrapper, usw.
Let's begin with clothing: People say that their clothes don't make them who they are. But honestly, if we all ran around naked, people wouldn't have a clue how to treat anyone, therefore everyone would be treated identically, correct? You wouldn't be able to tell who was a lawyer, who was a construction worker, who was a manager of 7-Eleven. That is, you wouldn't be able to tell until you looked a little closer; the lawyer probably will have a nice haircut, the construction worker will have rough hands and the manager of 7-Eleven might smell like nacho cheese or Slurpees (I don't know what 7-Eleven managers smell like and forgive me if I have gotten the scents wrong).
I'm getting off of the subject: identity but more important, self-identity. Self-identity is what you learn after your junior year in high school, where you realize who your true friends are and what you really are like.
Then you come to college or university or even enter the workforce, where you once again feel like the freshman that people are just going to shove into a locker any minute now. Any minute now....still waiting?
I had this feeling when I first began at Metro. Back at my high school (Go Warriors!!), I was Amber, the crazy-fun loving-involved girl that laughed loud enough to wake the dead. Everyone knew me or knew of me- not to sound conceited. But it took me 2+ years to get comfortable with my new surroundings, new classmates, new teachers, what was becoming the new me. It wasn't until towards the end of my junior year, that I really blossomed into 'Amber'- the funny girl at school, smart and great sense of humor, with a passion for dancing to *NSYNC songs in the school parking lot.
Senior year came and went, too fast. But during that year, I flourished. I took on different roles, challenged myself to new heights. In essence, I had a blast. May came, graduation came and after returning from my study abroad in Germany, I wasn't so sure about myself anymore. I came to Metro, still personifying the person I was in high school. But this wasn't high school anymore (Toto, I don't think we are in Kansas anymore). Acting like I was wasn't going to work.
So I tried on more hats, took varied roles and became someone that did it all. Between practice and games, lectures and research, friends and colleagues, I was everything. This is where I lost myself.
Ha, I sound like a hypocrite. I've been preaching to anyone and everyone reading this blog since day 1 about the importance of being involved on campus, how much it will enrich your college experience, blah blah blah, yada yada yada. With so much going on, I wasn't able to take a step back and appreciate everything I had going on in my life: great friends, good co-workers, outstanding professors and an all-around fulfilling and satisfying experience.
I keep getting off track and for that, I apologize. As a Gemini, I love to communicate but I often wonder if I do too much for others to handle or to keep up with. My ending point on this subject is that (just like in high school), college allows you to discover yourself, to create your identity (inside and out) and to hopefully appreciate that particular identity. Be who you want to be, change yourself often (or don't) but just be happy and healthy. That's all that we should ask for anyway.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Maestro debut and warm fuzzies for a co-worker

This past Sunday October 8th, I experienced a first here at Metro: my first symphony orchestra concert. No, I wasn't playing in the concert (I can't read music to save my life). As much talk as I do about Metro students needing to have a complete college experience, full of new discoveries and adventures, I myself had never attended a concert.
My experience on Sunday was phenomenal. The new maestro, Alejandro Rivas was awesome. Like I said, I don't know much about music, even though I was in choir from elementary to high school. Plus I never played an instrument and singing in a choir is different than playing in an orchestra. May I also add that Maestro Rivas looked quite handsome in his tuxedo (nice pick, going with the tails).
But the most important reason why I attended the concert on Sunday was to cheer on my co-worker, Brandi. Brandi is a cool person; she laughs at my jokes and enjoys Starbucks as much as I do. We have been really good friends since she transferred to our office from the LAS Dean's Office.
Brandi plays the viola and performed well. She said that she messed up on the first song, "Finlandia" by Jean Sibelius (my favorite for the evening) but I thought she did great.
I'm glad I took the time to enjoy another MSCD activity before I graduate (and therefore, have to pay like a normal person). Taking my own advice never seemed so sweet.

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Quick Thought: GRE practice tests

I was just having a lovely discussion with my even lovelier co-workers, Brandi and Laura and our friend Jean. Jean was telling us about her daughter Charla, who has been taking a GRE practice class for the last couple of weeks. I've met Charla, who is a bright and beautiful woman. My slight dilemma (and the cause of Laura's increased blood pressure for a few minutes) was this simple question: If you take a practice GRE course, does that count as cheating?

***Obviously, I know this isn't cheating; otherwise millions of people would be in big trouble

In these practice courses, you take the standardized tests (GRE, LSAT, MCAT, usw.) from previous years. By doing this, you are preparing yourself for not only the amount of effort it will take to focus on the questions for hours on end but also you are familiarizing yourself with the language used on the actual test, according to Laura. Sounds harmless right?

Now apply this to your undergrad studies. For example a class here at Metro; if I were to have access to previous exams used in a Psychology class that I was taking, wouldn't I be in trouble for cheating? Brandi seems to think that the key is who gave you the tests- the professor or a friend that has taken the class before?

Jean just shook her head at me.

So my fellow students and readers of my blog- send me a comment with your opinion on this particular topic. Or any other topic, if you want.

Monday, October 02, 2006

My, how the blood is pumping!

This weekend, among other things, I was out in my neighborhood jogging. I find it fascinating the various ideas that run through my head when I am running. Got to love that oxygen-rich blood pumping into my head. Here are just few things that I thought of:

Being Alone:
I spend a lot of time alone: driving in my car, at my house, evenings, weekends, usw. It isn't that I am a dork (well, who knows?) but mainly that I am comfortable with being alone. You might be thinking 'yeah right- how does she show that she is comfortable with being by herself?' Thank you for asking. I go to the movies alone, I have eaten out at a restaurant alone (even better- I have done this withoutt bringing a book to read!) and I show up to events with no one on my arm.
I am realizing that I do spend much of my time alone because I spend all day surrounded by people: classmates, co-workers, other students, usw. So I think it is okay to be alone for a while, to unwind from constant interactions with people.
Or maybe I'm just a dork.

Flashbacks:
While I was jogging, I had my iPod on shuffle and an *NSYNC song came on. *NSYNC, in case you lived under a rock during the late 90's, was an extremely popular boy band that I loved. I have all of their CD's (including the ones sold overseas) and even their concert from the Disney channel on tape. Three of my best friends in high school and I used to dance and sing their songs during our lunch hour and practice the dance movies.
So when the song came on, I began to giggle as I thought back on my high school experiences. Wow, I've come a long way. From afro puffs and baggy clothes to a sleek new haircut and MSCD gear, my look has matured. But the real question is have I matured as well?

Racism:
I was watching the movie 'Glory Road' the other night (by myself- haha). In case you haven't already seen this movie, it is about a college basketball team in Texas in 1966 that had seven African-American players during time when having African-American players on your team was still a no-no. This movie is really good and makes you wonder how people could be so hurtful towards other human beings based on the color of your skin. Easy for me to say, being a woman of mixed race.
Hard for me to live though. Like most families these days, my parents are divorced and have now remarried to other people. The bad part about my stepmom's family, who are from Virginia, would be that my step-grandfather doesn't recognize that his only daughter is married. He refuses to acknowledge my dad, my sister or myself. In fact, we all worried when my stepmom became pregnant- we shouldn't have worried at all. My step-grandfather is totally in love with my baby sister and has no problem when she comes to visit.
It is sad that this is 2006, almost 2007 and people still behave this way.

and lastly,
Pirates:
Now, how does one drift from thinking about racism to pirates? Fairly easy. Blame my baby sister- she is going to be Tinkerbell from the Disney movie 'Peter Pan' for Halloween. Every year, I have gone trick-or-treating with her and have dressed accordingly. For example, last year E was a bunny; I dressed up like a carrot. What about this year? I am dressing up like Peter Pan and our other sister Holly (a recent transfer from CSU) is going to dress up like Captain Hook.
So why dress up? Besides the fact that Halloween is one of my top five favorite holidays (My birthday aka Flag Day, Christmas, Thanksgiving, 4th of July and New Year's) and that you get to dress up in a costume the entire day, I like to act like a child sometimes and what better way than to go trick-or-treating with my little sister?


Whew, now that I've gotten that off my chest, let's discuss world hunger. Ummm, on second thought, maybe next time.