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Samford Stories: Chapter 1

Streamline your experience.

Professors: let your life speak

Posted by Kelsey Wells
on 5/9/2013 10:25:37 AM
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finalists When I got the e-mail from my CA professor asking me to compete in the annual CA (Communication Arts) Speech Contest, I almost decided not to compete. Each professor could nominate one student from each section of his or her class, and I was worried that I would let Dr. Baggett down. After all, it had been almost a semester since I had given that speech in my CA 102 class during the fall semester, and I was worried that trying to re-memorize the speech just a few days before the competition would be a disaster.

Semi Formal: boots and bow-ties

Posted by Kelsey Clark
on 5/7/2013 11:31:28 AM
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group pic

I have thoroughly enjoyed this year with my sorority and have grown so much. It has been such a blessing to be a part of a group of girls that share a common bond! The sisterhood is my favorite part of being in a sorority, but there are also so many fun events that we get to attend throughout the year. With that said, our semi-formal has been one of my favorites. It's not as dressy as formal and is a little more laid back. Semi-formal is also a special time because it is the last event for us to share with the senior girls.

Closing Time: my year in review

Posted by Matt Carrick
on 4/30/2013 9:36:14 AM
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basketball

It really doesn't seem like that long ago when I was still trying to decide where I was going to attend college. My freshman year is wrapping up, so now I'm thinking about a job for this summer and my classes for the fall. It is weird to think that I am almost one-fourth of the way done with my college career. Looking back at this year, it has been an incredible journey that has been filled with many new friends and memories. It has no doubt been busy, but it has been a ton of fun.

Birmingham: a new home to explore

Posted by Kara Young
on 4/16/2013 10:33:57 AM
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concert

If you've read my previous posts, you know that I absolutely love Samford. I love the community at Samford and the opportunities to serve that I've been given. However, one thing I haven't talked about is my love for this city. Growing up in small town Mississippi, I was a little nervous about moving to such a big city (big for me, at least).

Academics: putting principles into practice

Posted by Matt Carrick
on 4/2/2013 9:34:00 AM
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brock

One of the major things that drew me to Samford was the Brock School of Business. A unique element of the school is a class for first year students called "World of Business." For business majors, this is most likely the largest class you will ever take at Samford. You are split up into groups of 5 students, and each group comes up with an idea for a company to start.

Rest: finding balance through transitions

Posted by Dominique Holdo
on 3/28/2013 10:42:30 AM
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balance Imagine a trapeze artist- beautiful, delicate and graceful. They look as perfect as can be; but if an unexpected change occurs, such as weight added or a gasp from the crowd, balance and concentration can be thrown off, causing them to wobble or even fall down. To me, life can be seen the same way- a giant balancing act where anything new thing added has the ability to make one fall if not handled correctly. In college, one must balance things like schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and friendships that all play a role in making your college experience.

Step Sing: the new FreshMix

Posted by Kelsey Clark
on 3/14/2013 12:50:14 PM
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Step Sing. I heard about it many times before I even officially became a Samford student. I knew it was a big deal, but I really had no idea until the actual season began. I knew from the start that I wanted to be a part of it and was so excited when I found out that I would get to be a part of Samford's first ever freshman co-ed show. We called ourselves FreshMix and truly had a blast together. We wanted to create a show that we could be proud of and ultimately that would not look like anything that had ever been done before. We wanted to create a buzz throughout the Samford community.

Step Sing: a bird's eye view

Posted by Luke Chandler
on 3/5/2013 11:25:20 AM
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productioncrew So this year, I decided to participate in Step Sing in a completely different way than most people. Instead of being a part of one of the performing groups, I chose to work as part of the production crew for the event. This year was the second year for us to produce the show for additional off site viewers via live stream, which provided some new and exciting opportunities for our crew. For instance, the production crew and I had to come up with a 30-minute pre-show that would be broadcast over the Internet to our worldwide audience before the main Step Sing production even started. All this is to say that it was a very complicated process but let me tell you: as a Journalism and Mass Communication major, whose main focus is in broadcast journalism, there could not have been a more incredible opportunity for me to gain experience in my field.

Jan Term: journeying across the pond

Posted by Kara Young
on 3/5/2013 9:44:02 AM
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janterm

One thing I really love about Samford is the fact that we get a 6-week winter break, when most schools have 3 to 4 weeks. During this break, there are 3 weeks of what we call "Jan Term." Basically, you can take a class in a 3-week time span and receive full credit. Some do this to get ahead, catch up, or make other semesters easier. However, a lot of students, you will find, use this time to travel! Samford has countless destinations chosen to take students on exploratory learning adventures. Rome, Costa Rica, and London are just a few awesome examples.

Step Sing: more than song & dance

Posted by Brad Hulker
on 2/26/2013 11:26:14 AM
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step sing

Samford has a lot of fun traditions that scatter across the calendar and are campus wide experiences. From Lighting of the Way at Christmastime to Spring Fling, there is always an event to look forward too. The biggest event though is Step Sing. Step Sing is where all of the organizations on campus come together during the first weeks of the second semester and divide into teams to create six minute shows of "Glee" style singing and dancing.

Reflections: semester in review

Posted by Brad Hulker
on 1/29/2013 11:43:38 AM
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reflections Hey y'all, I hope your Christmas break was absolutely wonderful! The rest and relaxation provided me with time to reflect on a couple of the big happenings from the first chapter of my Samford story.First and probably most important for me this semester was finding where to plug in and grow outside of the classroom. I attended multiple clubs, churches, and events trying to find that right fit for me moving forward for the next four years. The first semester of freshman year at Samford is influential because it sets the tone for your remaining time on campus.

Christmas: remembering the season

Posted by Kelsey Wells
on 12/13/2012 2:41:46 PM
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green

Hanging of the Green and Lighting of the Way are the two traditions at Samford that I have been working forward to the most since I first came to school. Christmas has always been my absolute favorite holiday, and I could not imagine any better way to celebrate than being alongside my fellow Bulldogs as they decorate Reid Chapel and then light up the Quad for Christmas.

Career Development Center: preparing for the future

Posted by Dominique Holdo
on 12/11/2012 1:41:15 PM
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CDC I am now a Nutrition and Dietetics major and will probably continue schooling to be a Physician's Assistant (PA), perhaps specializing in Endocrinology since I will also be a Registered Dietician. Becoming a PA is a better fit for my interests and personality, since PA's get to assist more with the patients after diagnosis and help them maintain good health. I am so grateful to have the CDC as a resource and have gone there several times after. Next, I look forward to them helping me find a Jan Term Internship and fine tune my interviewing skills!

Family Weekend: sharing my experience

Posted by Kara Young
on 12/6/2012 1:30:07 PM
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family weekend

Family Weekend was a BLAST! It had gotten to that point in the semester when I could confidently say that I missed my family. I was so excited that they were coming for Samford's Family Weekend. My family includes my mom, dad, and 2 "sisters" (who are both foreign exchange students living with us this year) as well as my older brother, who is also a student at Samford.

The Room: a true meeting place

Posted by Kelsey Clark
on 11/29/2012 1:51:48 PM
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the room

"In my father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you."- John 14:2

Professors: more than just teachers

Posted by Luke Chandler
on 11/27/2012 2:42:02 PM
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Professor pic

I think I can say that I knew I was at the right place from the beginning, but if there were any questions left in my mind, they absolutely and completely vanished after this experience. The funeral ended up getting pushed to a weekend did not even affect my classes but to my professors respond the way they did was still unbelievable. Where else can you get that kind of treatment from your professors? I may be wrong, but honestly, I can't think of any other college in the world that would have professors who respond that way. I'm so thankful for this school and the people who influence me during my time here. I'm SO very blessed.

Tailgating: a growing family tradition

Posted by Dominique Holdo
on 11/27/2012 1:53:14 PM
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tailgating2

Imagine the Quad filled with tents set up by various campus organizations, anxiously awaiting the football game and the delicious food that will be served. Now take that experience and add in your mom, a miniature Martha Stewart and your dad, a well-known chef on the radio, who have come to cook some high quality tailgate cuisine for you and your friends.

Road Tripping: football's will to win

Posted by Kelsey Clark
on 11/13/2012 2:53:09 PM
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When I heard that Samford would be playing Chattanooga, I decided that I wanted to travel to see the game. I rallied up a few of my hall mates, and we hit the road to see our bulldogs play! It was my first road trip, and it was such a great experience!

One of my hall mates happened to live in Chattanooga, so we had somewhere to stay overnight. Another perk of that was home cooked food. You really learn how precious a meal cooked by Mom is when you're a college student!

Homecoming: stay true to your red & blue

Posted by Kelsey Wells
on 11/8/2012 12:51:33 PM
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Homecoming Game

Considering that I come from a small town in East Texas, where football is life since there's not much else to do, I had no idea what to expect from Homecoming at Samford. In Texas, I knew there were dress up days, huge mums with all the bells and whistles, massive pre-game pep-rallies, and one crazy intense game! Even though Homecoming at Samford was a change of pace for me, I enjoyed it a lot.

Sorority Recruitment

Posted by Kelsey Clark
on 11/8/2012 11:01:15 AM
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recruitment

I always knew going into college that I wanted to get involved in Greek Life and join a sorority. I knew that it would be a great way for me to get involved and to meet and make connections with a ton of new people! I was so excited when the time finally came to prepare for Recruitment Weekend. I didn't know a whole lot about how the process worked going into it but thankfully the entire process was extremely smooth.

Intramural Sports

Posted by Matt Carrick
on 11/8/2012 10:55:04 AM
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I love sports, so I definitely knew I wanted to get involved in intramural sports this semester. So, about a week after getting here, my residence assistant (RA) mentioned getting together a flag football team, and I jumped at the opportunity. During the first game, my team was very confused; it was ugly!

While the games were fun, it was even more fun getting to know my hallmates and RA. I would definitely recommend intramural sports to every incoming freshman. Not only is it great exercise, but it also is a great way to get to know people in a more laid-back, fun environment.

Worship Leadership: education outside of the classroom

Posted by Kara Young
on 11/8/2012 10:41:24 AM
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kara_worship

If you've read my previous blog posts, you know that the Lord has given me a passion for worship leadership. At the beginning of the year, I began to pray that the Lord would open doors for me to serve not only on Samford's campus but also in the greater Birmingham community. During the FreshMin Retreat, I learned about different ways to get plugged in on campus, specifically about University Ministries and leadership positions within each ministry. I emailed one of the leaders for more information and then got involved.

FreshMIN Retreat

Posted by Kara Young
on 10/18/2012 1:21:55 PM
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freshMIN retreat

Ah, FreshMin Retreat--so much fun! To begin, I'll be honest and say that I was not very excited about going. This was the first true weekend of being a "college kid," and I was mentally, emotionally, and physically exhausted. However, even though I contemplated not going, I made myself, and I am so glad that I did.

Bulldog Days (Orientation)

Posted by Brad Hulker
on 10/17/2012 12:06:35 AM
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orientation The first event that I took part in on Samford's campus was Orientation, or as we call it, Bulldog Days. My Bulldog Days was a great experience for multiple reasons, so I would like to highlight just a couple of them.

Brad Hulker: My Story

Posted by Brad Hulker
on 10/17/2012 12:04:36 AM
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brad's story pic I always get super excited when someone asks me why I chose Samford University because it allows me to talk about some of my favorite things- sports, family, and faith. To be completely honest this time last year I had no idea where I was going to college, but I knew where I definitely was not going.

Your School, Your City

Posted by Luke Chandler
on 10/16/2012 1:25:02 PM
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The “Your School, Your City” concert was AWESOME! Before the concert even started, there were booths set up all around The Quad that were giving away free stuff and advertising for local businesses that I probably would have never heard about. For real though, no joke, there was so much free food that I didn’t even go to the dinner that they were serving before the concert! I just went into the event area early with my friends, and we got free samples of pizza, barbeque, and Mediterranean food—all kinds of amazing grub. So yeah, being an 18-year-old male, I was sold on this whole event from before it had technically even started.

BUT THEN: the real deal started up.

Connections Weekend

Posted by Kelsey Clark
on 10/16/2012 1:12:22 PM
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Connections One of my favorite events happened on our first night. Samford put on a 90s dance party for us, and it was a blast!! It was such an energetic and fun way to begin the weekend! Also, before we headed to the dance, all the freshman boys serenaded us by singing songs like "My Girl" and "What Makes You Beautiful". At that point I KNEW I was going to like Samford! It was such a surprise and a super cute idea.

Move-In Day

Posted by Kelsey Wells
on 10/16/2012 1:07:29 PM
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move in day

Move-In Dayis the pinnacle of the college experience. It’s the day that you both look forward to and dread… Finally leaving home, and, well, leaving home. You’re starting over in a new city and a new school, with new people, new classes, new food, and a new room, which you’re sharing with someone you barely know. It can be downright scary. For years you’ve been telling yourself how ready you are to be done with high school and to be independent; but when it actually happens, you realize this wish has two-sides: the good and the scary.

Orientation

Posted by Kelsey Wells
on 10/14/2012 12:17:12 PM
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with rex

Orientation. It’s the time when you officially go from being a high school graduate to a college freshman. When you pick out your classes for the first semester of college. When you sleep in a dorm and eat in the Caf for the first time. When you might even meet a roommate. Orientation is a very important two days, so when I signed up for Bulldog Days, I was just as nervous as I was excited!

Outdoor Adventure

Posted by Matt Carrick
on 10/14/2012 12:04:53 PM
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summer adventure resized This summer, I went on the Outdoor Adventure Rafting Trip. There were 13 freshmen, four orientation leaders, and one adult leader with her husband that went on the trip. It was a lot of fun, and I would definitely recommend it to incoming freshmen!

On Friday afternoon when everybody arrived, after everyone put their stuff in their room, without wasting anytime, we headed straight for the river. The river was supposedly 42 degrees, but that didn’t stop anyone (well, after some convincing) from swimming across and hiking a little up a creek.

Matt: My Story

Posted by Matt Carrick
on 10/14/2012 11:55:37 AM
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When I arrived, I was amazed. I had visited over 10 schools within the last year, from large state schools to tiny liberal art schools, and this place was by far the nicest campus. After walking around, I knew Samford would now be on my list. When we got home, we (mostly my mom) did more research. The more she told me about it, the more I grew to love it.

Luke: My Story

Posted by Luke Chandler
on 10/14/2012 11:54:03 AM
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My name is Luke Chandler, and I am a Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) major from Lookout Mountain, Georgia. My Samford Story began junior year when a representative from Samford visited my school’s college fair. I became very interested in Samford and decided that it was worthy of being on my list of schools to visit on the “college road trip” that I had planned for spring break of that same year.

When I visited, I immediately fell in love with Samford. The campus was beautiful, the people were genuine and friendly, and the small-school feel of the university just clicked with me. I visited with the head of the Journalism department, Dr. Bernie Ankney, and with one of his students, Jordan Cox. Both interactions further solidified my excitement about and love for Samford.

Kelsey Wells: My Story

Posted by Kelsey Wells
on 10/14/2012 11:48:36 AM
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Who would have thought that a small town girl from Lindale, Texas would end up at the largest private Christian school in Alabama? If someone had asked me eight months ago, I would have said “not me.” I had not even heard of Samford until my 16-year-old cousin told me about it after attending a Fall Preview Day. At the time, I was certain that I wanted to attend a university in Texas. However, as soon as I heard about the beautiful campus, strong academics and Godly atmosphere at Samford, I wanted to know more! And from that moment, Samford went from being some school 12 hours away to being my dream school.

Kelsey Clark: My Story

Posted by Kelsey Clark
on 10/14/2012 11:47:13 AM
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Hi! My name is Kelsey Clark, and I am from Richmond, Virginia. I love music, sports, shopping, photography, all things Disney, and Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior.

Dominique: My Story

Posted by Dominique Holdo
on 10/14/2012 11:44:55 AM
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dominique tailgating Do you ever wonder how God can know you better than yourself? Well, when it comes to my adventure to becoming a Samford Bulldog, my story is definitely that: God having a better plan for me.

Kara: My Story

Posted by Kara Young
on 9/20/2012 4:13:16 PM
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Kara_MyStory3

Hi! My name is Kara Young. I am from Tupelo, Miss., and am so honored to be able to write for the Follow a Freshman blog here at Samford University. To begin, I wanted to tell you a little about myself in hopes of you seeing that I am a normal person and possibly a lot like you.

Samford Stories: Chapter 1

Bloggers

Welcome to the "Samford Stories: Chapter One" blog.

Throughout the year, we will be sharing with you about our experiences as we transition into college life at Samford. We hope that this will provide you with the best student perspective of our great university as you search for the place you want to call your college home. This year will be filled with many new adventures that will surely bring many a story. So follow us on this journey we call freshman year.

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