Why I love Transy

So this past week, while busy, contained nothing worth mentioning to you all. So in the place of the usual blog, I am instead going to share with you a list outlining all of my favorite things about Transy. I am a bit hesitant to say them; I don't want you to think I am trying to sell the new wonder cleaner for only $19.95 here. I really do mean everything I say and, while it may be a bit corny, it is all completely true.

1. The Size: I come from a small town and I hated it. I thought that a small college would come with the same cons a small town does, but it doesn't. Transy being small is nothing but a good thing. College can sometimes, especially at first, feel lonely. When you are at a small school, however, finding a familiar and friendly face is as easy as opening your door.
   
2. The Organizations: Another college I was looking at during my college search boasted a lot about having 250+ clubs. Well, Transy doesn't have that many, but it does have several highly involved student organizations. What's great about them is the amount of involvement each member gets to have in them. Take for instance our student newspaper, the Rambler. I am lucky enough to get to write at least one (if not two) pieces for each issue (This is something I like doing, don't think to be a writer for the Rambler you must write this much). This allows me extra opportunities to practice my skill and get experience. At a bigger university staff writers for the campus newspaper would hardly get chances like that.
3. The People: The people at Transy are amazing, and this means everyone. Students, Faculty and staff alike. Here in the Transy Bubble we all share this sort of bond that can't be explained. Doors are held open, we look each other in the eye, we smile, we wave, and we communicate effectively. There is such a sense of community amongst everyone here, and it really is one of Transy's biggest assets.
4. The Name: This one is a bit silly, but I do love the name. It only adds to the sense of community I was talking about. No, the name never came into play at all when I was deciding on a college, but it is a nice bonus! I love the reactions and funny stories that are generated by our unique name.
5. Philosophy: This one is a bit hard to explain as well. Something Transy talks a lot about (both to current and prospective students) is the Liberal Arts. It is a philosophy of education that Transy adheres to and it really shows. As a community, everything we do is educational. I love how Transy professors teach us how everything we learn can be connected and integrated.
6. Lexington: I'll go ahead and say it: I hate horses. In fact, they even scare me a bit. So yes, I realize how odd it is that I love Lexington, The Horse Capital of the World. I do, though, and there is a lot more to this "little" city than horses. Lexington is the perfect balance of big and small. There is always something going on, but there is minimal hustle and bustle. The drivers here in Lexington may be the worst in the nation, but the people here are friendly and hospitable, without being nosey and annoying!

-Jake Hawkins

Missing Class

I remember the first class I missed. It was last semester on a Monday morning. I overslept for my 8:30am class. I panicked, and was quite upset about it. Every one kept telling me not to worry, that it wouldn't be the last class I missed, and it wouldn't be the end of the world. They were right.

Now, before going on I am am going to back up a bit. So far it sounds like I am telling you that it won't hurt at all to miss class. That is totally not true. Missing class still sucks, but thankfully Transy professors are very understanding as long as it doesn't become a habit.

On that same token there exists one of the prime "pros" of Transy. Professors at Transy notice. Unlike at other universities with rows upon rows of seating for hundreds of students, most classes at Transy take place in a circle around the professor. They notice when you are absent, and notice when you don't participate. This is amazing! I have talked to friends who went to other universities and they all tell me how hard it is sometimes to find the motivation to go to class. At Transy, every class is so small you can't miss class without a professor noticing. It is a lot harder to convince yourself that it is okay to miss class when you know the professor is watching.

I hear stories from friends at other universities about people never showing up to class on except for tests. This is crazy, and is not what college is supposed to be like and it isn't like that at Transy-- a fact that I am very proud of.

Sometimes emergencies happen, and professors understand that too. Last week I missed three classes because of medical issues. I have been dizzy a lot the past few months, and I had to have some tests run. I will also have to miss some this week for the very same reason. The professors have all been extremely understanding. I even missed a midterm for one class, and I still get to make it up. While missing class for these trips to the doctor has caused me to have to do some extra studying, and visit professors during office hours, it hasn't caused me that much inconvenience and I have been able to save the worry for other things.

On another note, the weather this weekend across Kentucky has been AMAZING. I hope you all were able to enjoy it.

Until Next Week,

Jake Hawkins

First-Year Leadership Retreat

Allow me to begin by wishing you all a very happy Valentine's Day! I hope your weekend was full of love and romance!

I spent my weekend focused on leadership. Myself and about 25 other first-years left campus Friday afternoon to take part on the First-Year Leadership Retreat, sponsored by the Transy LEAD series. The retreat only lasted about two hour, but it was quite fun and very informative.

What struck me from the moment it started was how many other first years I had never met. Even in a "small" school like Transy you really can meet new people often.

The retreat was filled with several leadership building activities. One was the "What's your Color" personality profiling assessment. I generally dislike these type of assessments because I find that, personally, they are never accurate. This one was probably the most accurate of all the tests of this genre that I have taken, but there were still a few shortcomings. As a Green (a perfect score green at that) I should be very disconnected from my emotions. In reality, however, I tend to be quite emotional.

We also had a speaker at one point. While I can't remember his name (I have the program back in my room, but I am writing this in the Library. I will update this late with his name if I think about it), I know he is the National President of Omicron Delta Kappa- a national leadership honorary society. He enlightened us with the story of his life, and his journey through leadership. It was a very good speech. In his college years he had been a white house fellow under President Kennedy, which was extremely interesting to hear about.

We also spent some time talking about the many different definitions of leadership. Often times people assume a leader is someone with a large amount of subordinates. When, in fact, a leader can be someone who just leads one person.

I am extremely glad that Transy offers opportunities like this. It is just one of many programs that are offered to help you develop in ways outside of the classroom. It really is invaluable.

Another week down, this semester really is flying by. I can't wait for Spring Break! I actually don't think I have mentioned yet how I will be participating in the Alternative Spring Break program at Transy. I and about 20 others will travel to Washington DC and spend the entire week devoted to community service, specifically issues helping hunger and homelessness. That is sure to be a great week, and I am sure you will hear all about it. It is only a month away!

Until Next Week,

Jake Hawkins

Outside of the Bubble

The Transy Bubble: I don't know if I have made the reference yet, but I know that other bloggers have. It is the term we use, both affectionately and otherwise, to refer to campus. Such a term exists because the phenomenon that it describes. We, as a Transy community, stick together very closely. Even though we are literally 10 seconds from downtown and all it has to offer, sometimes we operate as if 300 N Broadway wee a separate planet. This, however, isn't a bad thing-- at least in my opinion. I love the camaraderie that defines our campus. It is good, though, to sometimes step out of the proverbial bubble and explore the rest of Lexington.

On Friday afternoon a friend from high school, who goes to Eastern Kentucky University, came by for a visit. Originally we had planned to hang out in my dorm room and have a bit of a movie marathon, but on an impulse we decided to go shopping. The first stop on our trip, of course, was the Fayette Mall. For those who don't know, the Fayette Mall is amazing. I am from the Western Kentucky area and the only mall I had exposure to was Kentucky Oaks Mall in Paducah, KY. While good, it can't compare to the Fayette Mall. It is huge, has all kinds of shops, and is a great place to go and just hang out. While we were there I restrained myself for the most part: I did not purchase a Hermit Crab and accessories, though I was quite tempted, nor did I buy a new wardrobe at American Eagle or Macy's. In fact, the only purchase I made was at FYE-- I bought Season 4 of "Charmed" (My all time favorite TV Show). I couldn't resist it was on sale for $20 marked down from $40.

After we left the mall we stopped by Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lexington Green. For my fellow book lovers out there this place is pretty awesome. It is a two level bookstore with very fair pricing, and it is independently owned, so there are no questions involved with Corporate Ethics that you may experience at other bookstores comparable in size.

All in all, it was a great outing. I wish I would have taken pictures! I don't leave the bubble often, I hardly need to. It is always nice to do it every once in a while, though. Anyways, that's all I have for this week. Good Luck to your favorite Super Bowl Team. I won't be watching, but I'll definitely be Youtubing the commercials tomorrow!

-Jake Hawkins