It's getting closer! :)

Just thought I would give you all a heads up of what you will be doing during Orientation. You will be doing lots of activities with your group and competitions against the other groups. Don't worry, you do not have to be athletic to participate. There is a Welcome Ceremony and a prayer walk, in which you can participate with your parents. Now I am not exactly sure what will take place this year, but this is what we did last year. On Sunday, we all went to church together and then went on our chosen orientation trips. Monday night we had a movie-on-the-lawn. Then Tuesday night there was a school-wide block party. There was a zip line, live band, and a cookout. One night, each group went to a professor's house to eat dessert. There was a scavenger hunt. During Orientation there is also lots of ice cream! All of these activities are to help you make friends and become more comfortable with your classmates and hall mates. I made some of my best friends during Orientation!

Once classes start...BE PREPARED TO STUDY. If you are taking 15 class hours, then plan on doing homework or studying for 30 hours a week. Yes...I'm serious. It sounds like a massive amount, but once you get started you'll see what I mean.

When you are not studying, don't be afraid to venture off campus. A popular place to go eat is The Creek right below campus. They have sandwiches, soup, coffee, and ice cream. This past year, Bonner hosted their coffee houses there about 3 times a semester. It was usually on Friday nights. Coffee house is a time when you can come showcase your talents such as singing, playing a musical instrument, or reading a poem. You don't have to perform though, you can just enjoy others' talents. There is usually a donation of about $2 for admission. That donation goes to benefit different charities each time, such as St. Jude's or Operation Christmas Child.

If you are staying on campus during the weekends, then you will need to find a church. There are many different denominations right around and on our campus. On campus, we have a Baptist, Presbyterian, and Methodist church. You can also carpool and go off campus. A popular small group for college students on Sunday mornings is hosted by Providence Church and is held at The Creek.

There are plenty of things to do on campus besides study. We have free concerts offered throughout the year. Homecoming festivities include a concert, parade, and game. Weather permitting, some Monday nights there are movies on the lawn (Henderson Lawn facing the field). For these, remember to bring a quilt or chair. Close to Christmas, we have a Christmas Tree Lighting in the music building. Intramurals are an extremely cool and fun activity in which to participate. There is anything from volleyball to basketball to Catch Phrase. In the MSAC, there is a weight room with weights, treadmills, ellipticals,  and bicycles. There is also a gym with an overhead track and basketball courts. Beside the gym is the swimming pool, and outside are the tennis courts. A great way to meet new people is to sit in the cafeteria with someone new each day or to hang around after you are done eating to talk. All around the outside of Butler-Blanc gym there are hammock stations, so bring your hammock. I highly recommend joining a Bible study group. Find one that fits you and don't worry, you don't have to be a Bible scholar. Lastly, join some clubs. There are many different ones to choose from and I'm sure that you can find one that you will enjoy.

This all of my advice! I'll see you at Orientation!

See you next week,
Natilee Ramsey

  

Let me back up and do something that I probably should have done first. My name is Natilee Ramsey. I am 18 years old and a sophomore here at C-N. I am from Morristown, TN. My major is Elementary Education. Carson-Newman has been my dream since I was in 8th grade. So I feel like I'm living my dream everyday. I enjoy anything outside such as running, hiking, and biking. I also love to read and play the piano. At C-N, I am involved in Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM), iYada (an all girls Bible study), Navigators (Bible study), Women Singers, Young Women of Promise, Eagle Reps, Alpha Lambda Delta, and an Orientation Leader.

I can't wait to meet all of you! If you have any questions about anything just let me know!

See you soon,
Natilee Ramsey

It's almost that time! I hope all of your preparations are coming together nicely!

Guys, I forgot to mention that you will need some kind of waterproof shave bag to carry your shampoo, conditioner, soap, etc. when you go to the shower.

Let's talk food this week! Everyone loves food! :)

As a freshman living on campus, you will have an unlimited meal plan. Trust me there is plenty to eat in the cafeteria. You can eat anything from a bowl of cereal to six plates of food. There's a salad bar, vegetarian bar, waffle station, grill, pizza bar, showcase station (special dish for the day), cereal station, fruit, sandwich station with a Panini press, deli bar, dessert bar, ice cream machines, soda machines, juice machines, sweet tea, and milk machines. So as you can see, you will not go hungry. You are not allowed to take food from the caf back to your room. Also you are not allowed to bring food or drinks into the caf either. So you may want to bring some snacks like pretzels, chips, crackers, popcorn, granola bars, pop tarts, nuts, and peanut butter for late night snacks while studying, mornings when you are running late, or it is pouring down rain and you don't want to walk to the caf. If you have special food allergies such as lactose intolerance (need soy milk) or celiac (gluten-free), tell the cafeteria manager and they will accommodate you. If you would like to cook there are kitchens available in all dorm buildings. You will also get $100 in Eagle Bucks on your student id per semester. These can be used at Java City (coffee shop in library), Eagle's Nest (snack bar in the MSAC beside the post office), and the Bakery (under the caf, around the back). The Eagle Bucks do roll over from fall semester to spring semester. However, they do not roll over from year to year. Use them or lose them.

That's all for now!
Natilee Ramsey 

Hi guys! I hope your summer is still going swimmingly! Since my last post I have been quite busy with going to Hilton Head, Black Mountain, and riding the Virginia Creeper Trail. As I previously promised the guys, I found out some specific things that they need to have while living at Heritage. My best advice to you is to notify your roommate before moving in to decide who will be bringing what big items such as the refrigerator, microwave, TV, and printer.

• You can look up the size of your room online to get the dimensions for a rug or carpet.
• alarm clock so you won't be late for those early morning classes
• mirror (there are not any mirrors in your room)
• gaming systems and video games
• desk or floor lamp (the rooms are kind of dark)
• Rubbermaid tubs to slide under the bed for jeans, towels, and etc.
• your favorite posters for decoration
• flashlight
• earplugs or headphones for studying (I have heard it can get quite loud)
• rain jacket
• water-proof boots (we still have class in the snow and the pouring rain, your tennis shoes will be drenched and your feet cold.)
• 3-ring binders, notebook paper, and printer paper
• extra batteries
• 3-shelf bookshelf
• clothes hamper
• clothes detergent and dryer sheets
• extra quarters for the washers and dryers because you have to pay to do your laundry

Unlike the girls who have the football players to help them carry up their stuff, the guys have to carry up their own stuff. So bring your muscles and a friend to help you carry it in.

Remember, these are just suggestions. They are not mandatory. They will just make your life at C-N more organized and comfortable.

Check back next week for some more helpful advice!

Can't wait to meet you,
Natilee Ramsey

Hello fellow Eagles! I hope your summer this far has been awesome! My summer has consisted of a summer class, but on the upside I ran my first 5K and hiked Mount LeConte.

I'm sure that somewhere within your summer you will be shopping for items for your dorms and you will be encountering many different lists. Even with those lists there are some things that they forget to mention. I have included some things that made my first year of college extremely more organized and comfortable.

• Memory foam mattress pad which you can get at Walmart
• Extra set of sheets in case yours get dirty and you don't have time to wash them
• Body pillow to put between you and the cold block wall
• Area rug (your feet will thank you when you wake up and your feet don't hit the tile floor)
• Small vacuum ( about $15 at Walmart)
• Over-the-door hanger with about 4 hooks to hang your robe and wet towels and washcloths
• Small trash can with bags because you have to take your trash out back to the trash cans 
• Cleaning supplies (the janitors do not clean your room)
• Plastic crates (great for storing food, cleaning supplies, or anything else to keep it from being scattered all over your room) from Walmart
• Extra ink cartridges and paper (you get about 500 free prints at the library but printers in your room are handy to have)
• First aid kit (band-aids, neosporin, Benadryl cream, tums, something for headaches, bug spray, allergy medicine, hydrogen peroxide, etc.)
• Dish-drying mat to place your wet shower caddy on (it is great at catching the excess water so it won't be in your floor)
• Extra hangers and hangers with clips for shorts, skirts, and pants ( the more you hang up the less wrinkles you have)
• Cable cord for your tv
• Power strip with a LONG cord
• Drawer liner paper (not the sticky kind)
• Contact hanging strips
• White erase/cork board
• Dry erase markers
• Decorations, pictures, magnets, etc.

I have some specific items for girls in Burnett. For the guys, I will try to talk to some of my friends and find out what you need.

• No need to bring a desk lamp. There is one already at your desk.
• There is a floor-length mirror on the back of the door.
• There is a medicine cabinet/mirror above your chest of drawers.
• Some rooms have shelves in your closet for towels, shoes, blankets, etc.
• There is a wall between the closet and the bed that is covered with cork. I covered mine with scrapbooking paper, pictures, and quotes.
• Bring everything on move-in day (all you do is pull up your car, tell them your room number, and the football team carries it all up)

These are just a few suggestions to help you along the way. I can't wait to meet you and welcome you into the family! Don't fret my other blogs won't be this long.

See you soon,

Natilee Ramsey