August 15, 2007
Hello Prospective Students, Parents, Family, and Friends,
My name is Ben and I am very excited to be writing this journal to all of you. Last year, I read almost all of the journal entries and would check the website every week to see if a new one had been posted. When I read them, I found myself really wanting to be a Spider Diarist for the Class of 2011. Well, here I am and I am ready to go! I can only hope that I can help you as much as last year’s writers helped me.
Me enjoying my last few days in Wisconsin
It would be best if I gave you a brief background of me and my life before you delve into my journal entries. So, here it goes. I am from Hudson, Wisconsin (aka “that cheese state” to some). Only a few people who attend the University of Richmond hail from the Midwest, so I hope I can add interesting insight into life at UR. I come from a family of five kids and I know that I will probably be homesick at times during my college life. I am 1200 miles from home and probably won’t visit home or see my family from mid-August until mid-December. I have been home-schooled for five years and gone to private school, but I graduated from public school in a class of 400 students. I enjoy swimming, country music, photography, watching movies, baking desserts, Ultimate Frisbee, disc golf, and politics. In high school, I participated in Swimming, NHS, Math League, Quiz Bowl, 4-H, and Youth Court. That was my life in high school, but a lot will change. My current plans are to major in Business Administration with a minor in Leadership Studies. I will also have a lot of classes in Political Science, so I may major in that as well. I know that my plans will likely be altered, so I am keeping an open mind. I will let you know as my attitudes and major/career plans change.
Me and my family
My college search was not easy. Online quizzes showed me 180 schools at the beginning of my search and that list slowly dwindled until I only had thirty left. After many tough decisions, only ten remained. After a college visit marathon from NYC to South Carolina, my choices were narrowed to four universities: Furman University, Bucknell University, Northwestern College (MN), and the University of Richmond. I could not decide where to go and finally had to wait for financial aid packages to come. This is where UR blew everyone else away. They gave me the Oldham scholarship and no other school could even compete. I know that UR has a high price tag, but I strongly advise you to apply here if you like UR even a little. They have some of the best financial aid opportunities in the nation. Since I am an Oldham scholar, I will have some additional opportunities which I will impart to you as the year progresses. The financial aid was great, but the University of Richmond appealed to me for so many more reasons. They have great study abroad opportunities, internship availabilities, plus one of the top Business schools in the nation. Need I mention the amazing campus and the School for Leadership Studies? This is why I ended up choosing to attend UR. I liked several of the other colleges a lot too, but I could never come up with a good reason to cross Richmond off my list. Now, I am so glad that I never did.
Eric served as my host during one of my visits to the University of Richmond
I know that I am a rather unique person and I may be a bit of a social oddball in some circles since some call UR a place for preppy kids from New York and New Jersey. Most would agree that I do not fit into that group. I have raised horses and goats, have participated in a sheep rodeo when I was a kid, and have never popped a J Crew collar. I consider 40 degrees “almost shorts weather” and have survived blizzards since the Halloween Blizzard when I was 2. I don’t plan to change (although I probably will a little) and I think I could have some pretty entertaining and enlightening journal entries for you to read. Further, I like to keep very involved and be active in lots of different things. I sometimes stretch myself a little thin, so I hope that doesn’t end up wearing me out in college. I am available to answer any and every question about my life here at Richmond, whether it is related to the weather, workload, organizations, party scene, etc… I will probably have the answer and can find it out if I don’t. So shoot me an e-mail or comment and I’ll get back to you as quickly as possible. I’m looking forwards to a great year at the University of Richmond and I am just as excited to share it with you.
Having fun with my friends at a demolition derby at the county fair
Thought of the week: Why doesn’t glue stick to the inside of the glue bottle?
Quote of the week: “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” –Thomas Edison
Shoutouts: All of my family and friends back home who are finally reading this. Also, Mrs. McLaughlin, Mr. Friedl, and Mrs. Tammen.
