2008-2009: Margery Lucas

A few tips for finals....

    So right now I'm studying for finals, or at least trying to. Let's just say I've been in the library for most of the day since 1100, with my calculus book. And I think it's safe to say that I might be going crazy because I don't feel like studying anymore. In the afternoon I worked out for an hour and ate some dinner, then at 1800 or so, I was back at the library. So here I am, my brain is strained so I will write a blog about finals.

    Tip #1, if you know that you cannot concentrate at all when you're in your room, GET OUT! I learned this week that I cannot study that well in my room, so I've been hiding out in computer labs and now the library until 2200. I absolutely love the Partidge computer lab and the library, and now that I can listen to music it makes studying that much better. I love music, I seem to find myself with my headphones on everytime I'm near a computer. But don't let music be a distraction, like I think my music is bothering me right now but I've been studying all day.

    Tip #2, Take reasonable breaks. Like if you know your about to crazy, like me right now, sit at your computer and listen to music, FOR A HOUR! No, like seriously I don't plan to continue studying until 2000, and right now it's 1923. I have a feeling this hour is gonna go by very fast.

    Tip #3, have water with you when you study and other materials you might need to survive a day at the library or computer lab.

    Well I'm all out of tips. The only thing I need to do is be calm when I take these exams and not rush. I always hate feeling impatient when I take exams, it makes focusing so much harder. So tomorrow I'm just gonna relax during my exam.

JUNIOR RING BALL

   

The past weekend was the highly anticipated JUNIOR RING CEREMONY! It's when all the juniors get their class rings and and there's this huge dance, and it's a lot of fun. It's also a time where freshmen get ringtapped by their upperclassmen who are juniors. The sad part is that I wasn't at the parade on friday because I had an engineering field trip. But I still had a blast at the dance saturday night and I even had fun on friday. The only thing that I didn't like were the formations. Freshmen could not leave campus so on Saturday and Sunday they had formations at 0100 and 0800. Waking up for them was a pain and this past weekend I barely got any sleep. My room got turned into a party room where all the girls got ready for the dance, and on friday night we had a huge a dance party and on saturday night after the dance, we had a slumber party. We took out all the furniture, and put matresses on the floor, and it was really comfortable! I also got a bunch of nice pictures. Also, definitely next year or for Regi. Ball, bringing glowsticks to the dance was so much fun, have to do that again!

I can't believe the year is almost over...

        So it's April, and finals are in two weeks. TWO WEEKS! I can't believe the school year is almost over! My freshmen year! Next year I'll be a sophomore and a corporal! It's amazing to see how much I've been through and it's not even over yet. Everyday is like an adventure, surprisingly not everything happens in a daily routine. But I will say this now, I am dying to go home. I actually miss being home for once and being in the city. I'm not tragically homesick like I was last semester, but there's nothing like being in your home, with the comfort of your family, and sleeping in your own bed....and warm weather! But before I can even think about being home, these next few weeks at the Wick are going to be awesome. Because I know when I get home, I'll slowly get bored and miss everyone at Norwich.

        Finals are also coming up, which I'm really scared for! I love how Norwich puts you in these situations to where you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, like going home, but then again there's like this huge challenge in front of you, like finals week. Here's another example, this light at the end of the tunnel is the weekend, but the challenge is getting through the Drill Company mess night, which is this Wednesday. That's not quite the challenge but it sucks because it's at the middle of the week, which messes the whole week up.

        I can also feel myself getting lazy. Like not doing homework and stuff. I still study and all that jazz, but sometimes when it takes me two hours to do three calculus problems, then there's a problem! okay so maybe I did 4 problems in 2 hours. Also having all these privileges was like a huge distraction at first! Music was the biggest problem, because I just wanted to sit at my desk and just listen to it, and then I would get so attached to it!

        Well until the year is over, I will continue to drive on, study for finals, and try to study harder in my classes. =]

Got the Drill Tab!

    On April 1st we finally got our drill tabs! It all started on monday last week when we performed our chord sequence on the U.P. and all of our upperclassmen were watching. We put on a good show and got our chords! After all those late night practices and lack of sleep, I was so happy that was done, but we still didn't get our tabs.Then on wednesday, after much blood, sweat, and tears, we got our drill tabs! The ceremony was quite memorable, and life is so much easier now, and kinda FUN too!

Being at home vs. Norwich

   

I can officially say after Spring Break, I THINK I LIKE [OR EVEN LOVE] LIFE AT NORWICH. I know that sounds weird but being home made me so antsy to comeback and finish off the school year. Not even that, but my spring break was bad. My friends had college, my sister didn't have spring break until the next week. It was bad. I missed my rook buddies a lot, and PT-ing by myself was awkward! Before I love to run by myself, but now I just want my battle buddy with me. I was so happy to be back at Norwich, no lie. Plus, life is so much better with all these privileges! I didn't want to leave because of the privileges! I love music! But think it's more of a distraction now, so I have to re-learn how to do homework with my music on.

     Back to reality! Remember how I said I love life at Norwich, well this week might be interesting, and it might test how much I love Norwich! This week I have a lot of PT to do and then I have the Marine Corps FTX this weekend, and some drill stuff. I'll be really busy this week, and this week will test my stamina as  I go through all these crucibles.

Recognition '09!!

   

Last Sunday on March 1,2009. the rook class of '12 got RECOGNIZED!!! AND IT FEELS SO GOOD! But it wasn't just handed to us. The whole day was filled! It first started at 0630, when our cadre got to wake us up one last time by making unnecessary loud noises and kicking doors. Then we dressed up in boots and utes and a did a running expedition around campus. I don't know how long the run was, but it was very motivating as we said running cadences! After that we got dressed in Super winter B's and waited......THEN, all of the companies had to choose a rookie guide and assistant guide. After that we had chow and did OUR MISSION! OPERATION SHOVEL THE U.P. Which was an impossible task, but we got the primary area cleared up. We shoveled the U.P for a good 3 or 4 hrs. A lot of blood, sweat, and tears went into this, and so did trashcans and footlockers. Because we were allowed to use any of our sources that we could to get the snow out. At 1600 we got dismissed of our mission, went to chow, and went to 2 classes. A CSM meeting and an AAR of the mission. The CSM meeting was kinda funny only because we kinda knew were going to be recognized that night. The AAR was used to see how we felt the mission went, and what could be improved.

    At the end of all that, I was tired. The whole day was so random! We kept changing out of uniform, keeping our rooms clean, we were on our toes! But then we form up on the U.P., and it was freezing! We waited there for a good 15 min. and I was scared I would get frostbite! It was probably around 2100, outside in Super Winter B's, NO cadet jacket; IT'S COLD! Then we get the cue to go and CSM Sankovsky says "This is the most memorable night of your life recruits!" and we march down to Plumley Armory. As we enter the armory, it's dark and music is playing. The guidons of each company are formed up. Then we stop in front of our guideon. Then COL. Hall says his little speech and asks the upperclassmen, who are on the track, if we should be recognized! The upperclassmen jeer and boo, so we do push-ups. Then he asks again, and the upperclassmen reject us again. So we do more push-ups! Then COL.Hall asks the upperclassmen, this time asking seniors, and we get a round of applause and the seniors tap their rings on the track railing. Then with power invested in COL. Hall, he recognizes us!!!!!

    At this moment in time, I wanted to jump and smile and laugh, BUT we were in formation so I had to stay at attention. Next, we got our new eppeletes, with the cadet rank. BUT here's the bad part, the cadre go around removing everyone's RCT epelletes BUT they took away the card board! OMG! The cardboard that made my epelletes look sharp and crisp were taken! Where am I supposed to get new cardboard? Anyway, the other cool thing was that after they took away your epelettes and cardboard, they hit you on the shoulder, WHICH WAS AWESOME! I personally thing that's a neat tradition!

    After the whole ceremony, we got to look up at our upperclassmen, but since we're drill co., we still have candidacy. We get back to the barracks and it's like a huge party! We wore civvy clothes and we're allowed to chill with other companies on their deck, listen to music, make unnecessary loud noises in the hallway! I had so much adrenline that I didn't want to do homework or sleep!

    Being recognized is so awesome! It's a good feeling because we went through so much just to get here. I'll never forget the day we had to shovel U.P. and the recognition ceremony. Life has been amazing ever since last sunday. Music is just what I want!

A week of mixed emotions

    This week started out kinda sad, because 6 OF MY ROOK BROTHERS WENT TO TULANE WITH SHOCK PLATOON FOR A NATIONAL DRILL COMPETITION! They left early wednesday morning, and on monday I knew that it was going to be  a sad week AND OUR CADRE WERE GONE TOO! Yes, I can say that I missed my cadre! Isn't that weird? Most recruits would be like "Woot! No cadre!! Party on!!But NO! I'm like "awwww,our cadre are gone and 6 rook brothers! This week is going to be boring..." Even on Wednesday morning, and I'm talking about 0245 because they had to leave at 0300, Shock Platoon was in our hallway getting ready near the arms room, AND THEY WERE MAKING SO MUCH NOISE! MY ROOM IS ALMOST RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE ARMS ROOM, SO I COULD HEAR EVERYTHING! ALL I WANTED TO DO WAS JUST SLEEP. BUT I KEPT WAKING UP EVERY 5 MIN. THEN, THE CALM CAME..I woke again at 0345, and the hallway was silent. I knew from that point on, the week was going to be boring. No cadre to greet, no rook brothers to make us laugh.....BUT THE LEAST THEY COULD HAVE DONE WAS TURN OFF THE HALLWAY LIGHT SO I COULD GET MORE SLEEP! That morning I was so tired.

    Anyway the week didn't turn out so bad. The first day was just awkward, because I knew they were gone, but then I had academics and PT to keep my mind on something.

    The weekend was pretty awesome. Our corporal cadre and our 1st Sgt, allowed us to have pizza party and movie on deck. It was nice not having sodexo! Then I worked out with my rook sister, and we finally mastered buddy carries! Yesterday was also the winter carnival at the mill. The had a palm reader and we got to make masks for the Snow Ball dance. It was a nice place to chill. They also had DANCE DANCE REVOLUTION! I was so surprised when I walked into the Mill; that's the only reason I stayed...to play dance dance revolution. Also, I'm really good at that game so I just tore it up.

    Now it's sunday, THE BEST DAY! One thing I love about sundays is that when I wake up, I don't wake up to an alarm. Instead I wake up because the sunlight is shining in my eyes. I love to waking up when the sun is up, it just makes the morning ten times better.

For the past week....

    The past few weeks at the Wick haven't been so bad, especially with the recent phone privilege we just got. Now we can use phones, including cellular devices, at free will. It's been very nice because now I can call my parents and my sister and not have to worry about anything! I think it's the fact that we can call our family/ friends whenever we want to that makes life so much easier here! When we got the privilege to walk freely around campus and NOT square the gutter anymore, IT WAS VERY UPLIFTING! I could just go outside, get to my destination using the most direct route, and get there! Now, that we can call our families whenever we want to, it just makes things more easier! Also for second semester I feel so much more "normal" or at least used to this place! it seems like last semester the days would go by so slow....and now that I came back from break, it's already FEB.14th!!! the 14th!! Sometimes I get up in the morning and I'm like, "wow, less than a month away from spring break!" It's surprising!

    This morning, instead of a PFT, our cadre let us play basketball! It was so motivating, just what I needed to start off my weekend! A motivating game of b-ball.....FUN PT! I guess it's always fun to have FUN PT, instead of the usual grind. I'll probably start doing something like that once a week, A MOTIVATING, YET FUN PT SESSION!   

[GME] Green Mountain Experience!!!

    The past weekend Provo. Battalion and third Battalion got to go to Green Mountain Experience {GME}, which is a huge ski/snowboard resort. I HAD A BLAST! Since I didn't know how to ski, me and the rest of my rook buddies, had the honor of getting lessons from Reverend Wick! Which was AWESOME!....best instructor ever! Anyway, I had so much fun on this trip; words cannot describe of how it felt going dangerously fast on the Green Slope [which is the easiest slope] and eating it so badly on the snow! Geez, my skis went all over the place and I tumbled in the snow a lot!

    During my lessons with the Rev. I fell on purpose, twice, just so I could used to it, AND it was fun wiping out occasionally! After lessons we went to the lodge and got some nice warm food and HOT COCOA [the best thing to drink when you're on a ski resort]On a side note, i spent the whole day hydrating off of hot cocoa....it was yummy! So, after lessons, me and my rook sister went back to the bunny slope to see if the lessons had worked. The first time we went on the bunny hill, neither of use knew how to stop OR where to go, so we just crashed on the snow, literally fell. So we get back up, and we 're like "we'll ski all the way to the right, because that's where the end of the slope is." Next, we end up going down the bunny hill several times, and so we ask someone where the green slope is [remember this is the EASY slope, there WAS supposed to be no difficulty  in this.] The only green slope that was open was on the left side of the bunny hill, where you had to take a ski lift to get there. That was such a frightening experience! That ski lift scared the crap out of me! Me and my rook sister go on the ski lift, and we just keep on going higher, and I'm like "where does this end?" All of a sudden it ends and I'm like, "holy crap!! we hae to ski to the bottom of this!" I was scared and my rook sister was just, "lets do it!" So at this time we go over to the first hill of this "GREEN SLOPE."I tell my rook sister to go first because I was mortified, so she goes down the first hill, and crashes. Next I just go down the hill, just to get it over with AND THEN....BOOOM!! I just start zooming through that first course! I didn't even know how fast I was going, but I knew if I just let myself go and not try to stop, I would be okay. I get through half of the mountain, and I start slowing down, and I stop. I wait for like a good 4 min. on my rook sister, and when I finally see her, she eats it on the snow! So we finally caught up with each other, and try to go down the mountain together. We end up falling like three more times. I was really scared because I'm not used to go going at reckless speeds on skis...so, anyway, we get to the end of the slope BUT there is this huge hill you have to go down first. So I catch my breath and wait for my rook sister again. I turn around and she just goes straight into the huge hill, which was really funny. So I muster some of my courage, and actually go down this huge hill with control, and I was going at a really slow pace. After the huge hill it was easy as pie going to the end of the hill.

    Overall, I had a FUN time at GME! Took tons of pics and made new memories for my rook year.

   

OOH-AAH!! Drill Candidacy!!!

    Yesterday at 1600, we recruits of Drill Co participated in a lieu of events that would start off Drill Candidacy. It was very motivating! Running every where in boots and utes, running in 5 ft of snow (where I fell), doing push-ups, etc. Although it was challenging, I always smiled during the whole thing, because being happy just makes me PT more! Haha, yes I am the motivating type! Anyway, I can't for all the adventures that await us Drill Co. recruits. I know that we can do anything our superiors dish-out on us; any type of mission WE CAN DO IT!!!