kickin' new flavor in ya ear

ST. BONAVENTURE (April 15) – “I live a different lifestyle when I’m at school,” said Jessica Misiaszek, a junior journalism and mass communication major at St. Bonaventure University. 

       Misiaszek said she takes 18 credits and has a 3.46 GPA to maintain while being the captain of her rugby team and working as a study hall monitor in the athletic department in the basement of the Reilly Center. 

    “When I’m home for breaks I socialize a lot more on the weekends than I do at school because I don’t have to worry about homework,” said Misiaszek.

      Students said college life consists of concern about grades, social life and sleeping.

    Caitlin Murtagh, a junior childhood studies major, said that she doesn’t stress out over her classes. Instead, she focuses more on the social aspects of college such as the parties on the weekend rather than her classes.

    “I am more concerned about the parties and/or bars my friends and I are going to during the weekend than my work. I know it sounds bad, but I’m passing all of my classes, and that’s good for me,” said Murtagh. She said she has a 3.0 GPA. According to the registrar’s office, the average GPA of all undergraduates during the Fall 2010 semester was 3.0.

    Students said they have different views on where their priorities lie in college.

     Katherine Burt, a junior journalism and mass communication major, gives ample time to herself to study and maintain her 3.5 GPA and still be a board member at WSBU-FM, the campus radio station and be a resident assistant in Devereux.

“My priorities are all of my extracurriculars on campus. Sometimes they take priority over my class work. I like to be busy,” said Burt.

    Some students need an outlet to relax from their course work such as a junior journalism and mass communication major, Jaelyn Thurner. To do that she goes to the Sandra A. and William L. Richter Center gym between classes.

     “I’ve begun to implement a healthier lifestyle for myself by going to the gym in between my classes, which makes me able to focus more on my workload. It’s a great feeling,” said Thurner. She did not provide her GPA.

     Ben Freeland, a sophomore journalism and mass communication major has priorities. He said his four jobs on and off-campus are more important than having a social life in college. His GPA was not given.

     “At times I wish that I was able to hang out with my friends more, but I realize that I cannot complain because I love my jobs,” said Freeland.

     “ My first job I teach Zumba (a dance class) at the Richter Center. My second job I work at the office of event management. My third job I coach cheerleading and gymnastics in Buffalo. And my fourth job is also in Buffalo where I judge cheerleading and dance competitions,” said Freeland. 

    Christopher Radey, a junior English major who has a 3.8 GPA, enjoys the company of his friends.

       “I try to balance my days with enough work and relaxation, but also new and interesting things that I won’t be able to experience when I am outside of the realm of college. Such as hiking the mountains around campus, walking on the trail behind school and volunteering at the Warming House when I’m free. I love spending time with people of all different kinds,” said Radey.

     Not every student can meet the demands a college level class entails, some said.

   Patrick Connolly, a recent graduate of Bonaventure and aspiring poet, said he became too stressed over his school work that defined his life.

     “I took too many classes and I felt like there was this heavy weight inside my chest where the bones were attached to a bunch of bricks and they kept getting heavier and heavier, until it felt like I couldn’t breathe,” said Connolly.

    Students said they felt it important to enjoy college but agreed schoolwork is their number one priority.

 “My priorities are to get passing grades and graduate on time. If I was ever doing poorly in a class I would cut down on partying, said Murtagh.

A sophomore elementary education major, Rebecca Weitzel, said she knows when to socialize and when to get serious with schoolwork.

     “My college schedule is stressful, from classes to tutoring, to rugby practice and then fitting in homework. I sometimes become overwhelmed. I basically live for the weekends. It gives me a chance to breathe,” said Weitzel. She has a 3.8 GPA. 

    Every student has a different view on how to live out their four years at college, but all agreed that having a good support system such as friends, is always beneficial.