Election 2008

I'm Casting My Vote For...

Chassidy Sistrunk
Sophomore
Hometown: Swansea, SC

I am voting for Barack Obama because of what he wants to do for our society. He wants to raise teachers' salaries, provide more funding for college students, and cut taxes. To me he seems like the best candidate because he is focusing on what needs to be done in the United States in order improve our way of life, and not just focusing on affairs in other nations. Even thoughI may not agree with every single thing that he is talking about, I agree with the majority of his concerns.

Christen Carter
Sophomore
Hometown: Rock Hill, SC

During the Presidential Primary debates, Fred Thompson told potential voters that they should ask themselves who they would want negotiating on America’s behalf with some of its most dangerous enemies and then vote for that candidate. For me, that person has been John McCain from the very beginning. His obvious loyalty to and commitment to defend the United States, along with his consistency while in the Senate are the two biggest things about McCain that stand out in my mind. While his democratic counterpart may be somewhat successful in his short-lived political and business experience, McCain’s years as an officer in the United States Navy and experience as a Prisoner of War impresses me more than anything Obama or the other third-party candidates bring to the table. And while McCain may be a little bit more conservative than I’d like, his consistency is something to be admired. He has always been pro-life, always voted against wasteful spending, always supported the right to bear arms, always supported a free-market economy, and always supported competition in education and healthcare. Even if someone disagrees with McCain, everyone always knows where he stands on the issues that have become very important in the 2008 election. That is why I am voting for John McCain on Election Day.

Gas, Gas, and Less Gas

Name: Kristen Swain

Age: 19

Hometown: Woodruff, SC

Gas prices and shortages have been in the news a lot lately, especially when the storm hit the coast a few weeks ago. Being college students, my classmates and I are being affected by these prices in many ways. First of all, in many cases being a college student means not having a lot of money. This could be because of a heavy work load, sports, or not being able to get a job because economic decline. So being “poor college kids” we are not able to have the full college experience simply because we cannot afford/find the gas to drive there. And it’s not just college students; almost all American families are feeling the financial stress. If the economy is suffering why not use some of the oil we have here? Take the burden off the people that are trying to support their families.

The First Week: Holly Atwood

Name: Holly Atwood

Age: 18

Hometown: Goose Creek, SC

The first day, when all the freshmen were moving in, was so hectic! I was worried that my suitemates in Bridges were not going to like me or that we were going to have a lot of differences. Although it was nothing like that! My roommates are so fun to hang out with! I just could not believe how well we clicked; we are having girl’s nights all the time, and even helping each other with our homework or our stupid computers! The first couple of days were hard though, none of us knew anybody, except for two or three girls. So we seriously felt out of every single loop. I think when we met our PACK teams, it helped a lot though. I love my PACK team! They are so fun to hang out with, and easy to talk to. My pack leader, Awesome Al, as we call him, will not let anything bad happen to us. He really cares about us, and we love to make jokes on each other. Man, do we have fun in our PACK team! GO ACTION PACK!!!

So when Brittany, Ashley, Kristin, and I came back to the dorm and went to dinner, which was when the fun started! I am not the person to walk up to someone and introduce myself, but that was not the problem when I came to SMC! I walked up to so many people and introduced myself to like thirty or forty people in only the first three or four days. I think some of the people thought I was really odd, but even now they talk to me and we all have so much fun hanging out! I was never the outgoing person like that, although I always wanted to be. I think just being at SMC, made me have the confidence that I needed to introduce myself. Even after these past few weeks, I still introduce myself to others. Just by asking them to come eat lunch with me and my friends, that way they don’t eat lunch or breakfast alone. I mean come on, who wants to eat by themselves? I definitely don’t like to, so why should I let anybody else do it too?

I don’t know how everyone else’s classes are, but mine are really not that bad. My English class is a little hard, but the conversations that we have during class are quite interesting. My math professor, Mrs. Haller, she is always dropping jokes, and tries to get us into her class, it is too funny. Sort of like Mr. Ward, he did a cartwheel and two toe touches the first day of class. There isn’t a dull day yet in his classroom. My classes aren’t that hard, it is just endless. Which I guess is just like everyone else’s schedule. OH WELL!

I miss home so much! I wish I could go home every weekend because there is nothing to do on the weekend but go shopping. Lord knows that I do not need to go shopping! Also I can’t go home because of gas prices and I would only be staying for less than a 24 hour period. I would love to see my family, just like the next guy, but it would be altogether a waste of my time, my gas, and my time. You know, if I could I would totally change one thing about Spartanburg. I wish I could change how long it would take to get to the beach from here. At home I can be at the beach in less than half an hour. Oh I would be at the beach everyday right after my classes if I could, but it is so far away from Spartanburg. That is all I thought about back at home; I always wanted to go to the beach on the weekends during high school and I went unless I had a ton of homework. Although I love the beach so much, I wouldn’t trade Spartanburg Methodist College for anything. If it wasn’t for this college, I would never have met the wonderful people that I have met.

Thank you for reading my blog, I hope you can respond to me through my email, atwoodhm@student.smcsc.edu or respond by commenting on this blog! Don’t forget to read Brandon Hunter’s blog as well!!

The First Week: Brandon Hunter

Name: Brandon Hunter
Age: 18
Hometown: Greenville, SC
High School: Greenville Senior High School

A New Beginning
College! Yes I am here! I can’t believe that I have made it to college! I am so glad to be out of the house and to be on my own. I am scared. I don’t like seeing new faces and going to events alone without anyone. I want to go home! The first events went well, not the best being alone. I have said almost 20 words at every event. My Pack Team thinks that I don’t talk at all! I like to talk I am just scared out of my mind. I don’t know anyone. I just want “My Mommy.”

2nd thoughts: I want to be back at home! I am not sure what God was thinking. Why am I here? What is the point of me going here? I want to know why I am here, and what God is doing in my life. I am at the point where I’m mad at God. I can’t believe that He would put me here all alone! I want to know what I have done to him that I have to be alone! I am at the point where I am ready to pack up and leave! Now I want to kick myself in the face for being dumb and thinking that! I know that God has a plan for me. I know that He put me here all alone at SMC for a reason! I think now that it is just time for me to sit back and just run the race as he has set for me and not try and take over! "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

After some days
These days have been the best of my life! College has been great! College is what I thought it would be and more. It has been great being able to get out of my box and talk to people. I love going to SMC. It is great not having to be at a HUGE college and having to worry about trying to get into people's groups! I love seeing the same people at every event and not new people every five seconds. The upperclassmen are nice; I have one as a roommate! Not really knowing anything about the campus, the teacher, and the good places to eat in town, he will give the scoop. I know now that I have found family at SMC! I have found HOME! Everyone is caring and fun to be around

Classes!
I don’t know what to think about classes at this point. It is just a little to early to tell. I have been out of school for how long now? Over 2 months? I don’t want to be in class. I want to go back to the first week of school! I want to be back at the BLOCK PARTY, better yet I would rather be doing my freshman day of service project, What I wasn’t looking forward to it at all turned out to be a great day! I want to go back in time to that day! After being inside a classroom here for a week it has been great! I’m able to talk to my teacher one on one, go by their office, or email them! I love not being a number here! I am a student. I am a student with a voice! I know that my teachers don’t just know me by my student ID number; they remember my face, and my name!

PACK TEAM!
As a freshman we have to take SMC 101. All schools have classes like this for their freshman. I didn’t want to take this class at all! I was dumb for thinking that! I know the b est people now! My pack team is my favorite class ever! “ACTION PACK” I hate that we only m eet one time every Monday! My Student Ambassador, Al, has made me feel very comfortable in the change from high school/being at home to college. I play tennis every night now, with people from my pack team!


Cant wait!
I can’t wait to see what God has planned for me! I think that this beginning has changed me so much in many ways! I know what it feels like to be alone and to think I have no one! If you have any question just ask me! Hunterbt@student.smcsc.edu