Career Services is a new Faculty & Staff LourdesWorld blogger! Welcome Career Services!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008 2:15:20 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] | 

Tomorrow my college life will officially be over, thus far.  I don't really know what to think about the whole thing, except that I am overjoyed.  It's hard to express what I feel at this moment because of all of the different emotions pouring out of my heart right now. 

I am the first person to graduate from college in my family.  And boy, is my family proud.  It's almost embarassing, really.  Just last night at dinner, my parents and grandparents carried on to the server about how I'm a nurse, I went to Lourdes, my commencement is tomorrow, yadda yadda.  I sat there with my head down at first, but then I thought, "accept the fact that they are proud!" It's embarassing at times, but I wallow in it. It feels good to have someone share your pride.  And to feed it a little bit, too.

I come from a blue collar family.  My dad's a plumber.  Grandpa was a truck driver, Nana was a bank teller.  My mom works at a fabric store.  My brother delivers medical equipment.  And here I am, a nurse, with a Bachelor's degree.  The very first in my family.  And I couldn't happier. 

This is leaps and bounds from where I came from. I was a wild child.  To look at me, you would not guess that, but everyone has their skeletons in the closet.  I went through a lot of rough spots at the end of high school and got in with the wrong crowd.  I was stuck in a downward spiral for several years, making my life and my family's lives living hell until I decided I'd had enough. 

I started at a community college in the fall of 2000 and got straight A's.  By that fall, I transferred to Lourdes and was going to be a teacher.  Well, we all know that was not meant to be, because here I am, almost 7 years later with a degree in nursing. 

The road was long and bumpy, it seemed I had setback after setback.  One step forward, two steps back, I used to say.  But I perservered.  And even though I didn't make it into the honors' society and I wasn't one of the people who received awards for being great, I know, deep down, that I am great.  And I am honored.  I did the best that I could.  Knowing that means more than any plaque or vocal recognition.  

So when tomorrow comes, I will proudly walk across the Sea Gate Center stage and accept my certificate from Dr. Helmer with pride. I am proud of myself.  For the first time in my life I can say that and it feels good. 

Friday, May 16, 2008 3:15:37 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [3] | 

Congratulations Nursing Graduates!

I am writing to wish you all the very best and congratulate you on your outstanding achievement! It has been a pleasure working with all of you!

The Friends in Nursing blog is a way for you to stay connected with one another and share your nursing stories. Let us know when you pass your board exam as well as how you are doing in your nursing career.

Additionally, this blog will have Lourdes College Nursing Alumni who will act as "mentors" for you. They will assist and guide you through your first few years as a new nurse, if you desire. If you have any questions, concerns, or just feel overwhelmed as a new nurse....please post a note. If you would like to share your positive nursing stories....please do so as well.

The Friends in Nursing Blog was set up for you....to assist you as you transition into your new career!

On behalf of Lourdes College, and in the Franciscan tradition, we wish you “Peace and All Good” in your new journey.

Sincerely,

Julie Kruse

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 3:11:19 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [3] | 

Friends In Nursing is a new Alumni LourdesWorld blogger! Welcome Friends In Nursing!

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 9:15:10 AM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] | 

Lourdes College bestows the Newman Award biannually to a man or woman recognized for educational, social, moral or cultural leadership. The 2008 Newman Award will be presented to Father Richard T. Wurzel during Lourdes’ annual Awards Ceremony in May.

“Lourdes selected Father Wurzel for the Newman Award because he mirrors Newman’s love of learning and education. Through his many years of service, the Church and civic community have been enriched by his priestly ministry and leadership,” says Sr. Ann Carmen Barone, OSF, Vice President for Mission and Ministry.  

Father Wurzel earned a Master’s degree in Philosophy from the Athenaeum of Ohio and a Doctorate degree in Sacred Theology from the Angelicum University in Rome, Italy. In the spring of 1959, Father Wurzel was ordained by the Diocese of Toledo.

Friday, May 09, 2008 2:45:26 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [0] | 

Helene Sheets, Director of College Relations for Lourdes College, is being honored for her achievements at the 2008 Urban All-American Celebration. Now in its 17^th year, the Urban All-American Celebration is presented by the Diocese of Toledo’s Central City Ministry of Toledo (CCMT). The event is being held on Monday, May 19, at Gladieux Meadows beginning at 7 p.m. 

The Urban All-American Award is presented to a graduate of a CCMT school who has achieved extraordinary success in his or her personal and/or professional life. “My education at SS Peter & Paul Parish instilled in me the values of community and service to others,” says Helene. “As a Director at Lourdes College, I feel blessed to be part of a community that also values service to others.”

Central City Ministry’s Catholic elementary schools provide a life-lasting, faith-based education to 600 children in the central city, many of whom are considered “at risk.” The CCMT campuses provide clear goals and expectations, strict discipline, and strong academics in a safe and secure environment

Friday, May 09, 2008 12:42:34 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [3] | 

Sr. Shannon Schrein, O.S.F, Ph.D., Chairperson for the Department of Theological Studies at Lourdes College, has been named Vice President of the College Theology Society.

Sr. Shannon has been an active member of the College Theology Society since 1984 and has served as a session convener and as the Executive Director of the National Convention. “I am very pleased to have been elected to the role of Vice President because it provides me with another opportunity to serve the society and to interact with and on behalf of my colleagues within the discipline of Theology,” says Sr. Shannon. 

The College Theology Society is a professional association of college and university professors. Founded in 1953 as a Roman Catholic organization of lay and religious teachers of undergraduate theology, the CTS currently includes over 900 college and university professors throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.  

Wednesday, May 07, 2008 12:39:16 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [25] | 

I suppose that sooner or later it would dawn on me that I've been out of touch with the "real" world for some time now.  I just found out last night that John McCain is not running against anyone, that's why the focus is on Hillary and Obama right now.  Not that I'm one to follow politics, I sway neither Republican nor Democrat, I vote the person who has a better platform.  Now, this all hit me last night while watching the 11pm news following CSI:Miami, which I apparently have not caught up on lately as one of the characters left the show and I knew nothing about it. 

My dad said, "Yeah, it was on the previews from last week."

I replied, "When did the writer's strike end?"

I guess that's what happens when you essentially live, eat, and breathe hospital.  Most people assume that on a day off one would kick back and watch TV, catch up on their soap opera, be a couch potato.  Not me.  I get out of the house.  I drive to different places around northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan and I enjoy the fantastic weather.  And I try to get some sleep.  I am caught up in things other than what is really going on this world.  Except gas prices.  You can't ignore that no matter how hard you try. 

So I came up with a plan: 

1.  Read the newspaper.  Even though the Blade's proofreading leaves little to be desired, I vow to partake in it long enough to get in touch with the goings on around here.

2.  Utilize my DVR more often.  That way I really can spend a day being a couch potato.  I can't tell you the last time I watched Top Chef or Hell's Kitchen the same week they aired. 

3.  Click on the top stories on the AOL homepage when I check my email.  That way I can get in touch with some of the more tabloid aspects of life. 

Whether or not these will work, I don't know.  But maybe I should focus a little less on the fact that I live, eat, and breathe hospital. 

Tuesday, May 06, 2008 5:19:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time, UTC-05:00)    Comments [1] |