Picture Retrospect

Hey, my viewers! How about this nice, long winter break. I hope you are enjoying this as much as I am. I have caught up on a lot of sleep and my thoughts of how this year are piling up in my head.
Currently, I am in Cleveland, OH where I am spending some quality some time with my parents and my siblings. While I am here, I have decided to provide you a little bit of my home life as well as my reflections on what has happened thus far at OWU. I also want to show you some never before seen pictures. I wasn't able to put these in with the rest of my blogs so here is an opportunity to finally see them.
This picture I had someone take of me when I visited some friends at Welch cafeteria. This is obviously different from the other pictures I have taken because it is in black and white. The reason why it is in black and white is because I wanted to create something that was supposed to be classy but still captures the moment. I wasn't fully aware that the picture was being taken so when I initially saw the picture, I was a little disconcerted. After a while, I saw the picture as "me relaxing and chatting with friends before Finals," which seems pretty adequate at the time when the picture was taken.

Picture #2 is me posing before the Global Outreach Show. I had my game face on as I took on the responsibility of tallying the judge's votes. This was a huge task for me because I wanted my job to run as smoothly as possible. The event was successful and I felt glad that I was a part of something that was bigger than me, Rafiki Wa Afrika, and the entire OWU establishment.






The emblem of Ohio Wesleyan University is my third picture. I took this picture of the OWU emblem a week before two of the biggest events for me at OWU- the President's Ball and the Fall Concert of Choral Arts Society. I was proud to be a part of these events as it helped my overall experience at Ohio Wesleyan University. For me, the emblem has deep meaning and I am very sure that this meaning will have a greater significance as I progress through my time at OWU. Walking past the emblem to my classes, the emblem helped me remember why I chose OWU.



This last picture is with fellow blogger Samantha. This picture was taken on December 21, 2006, a couple of hours after my last Final. The power of the camera is evident in this photo- I see that the camera likes us both! I wanted to rest somewhere and get something to eat before packing my belongings so I went into the lounge area. Rest and food- the perfect combination for rejuvenation for the new school year!
I hope that these pictures have provided more of an outlook on my OWU experience. I think that food is calling me so I have to eat.

We'll talk later,
Hasani Wheat
Class of '10

Finals are finally here

Hey, my beloved readers! Did you miss me?!?! I was busy studying for my finals- my first here at OWU. Well, as you may be able to tell from the title of today's entry, I will give you the 411 on how to deal with the pressure of finals at Ohio Wesleyan University for the fall semester, how I have prepared for my finals and how I manage to relax during this strenuous time in my educational life.

All of last week was like a preparation for the real thing. Finals are huge here at OWU, that is why you are more than likely to see people studying everywhere- in their residential halls (either in the comfort of their rooms or in the many study rooms available) or in the academic buildings. It is during this time of the year that you will see people studying in every part of every building- places where you have never seen occupied by anyone. However, the place where you will see people preparing for their final papers, presentations, and exams is the Beeghly Library. Beeghly library is a three-story building with a huge basement area, a silent area (the third floor) and a most convenient cafe, waiting for students to grab a cup of joe to help them with their frayed nerves. I use the library often because of the many areas (particularly on the second floor) to get away from the activity in my residential hall.

My approach to dealing with finals is very simple: study everything with a greater emphasis on the parts that you are not sure how to do. That way, you will be able to conjure up something to help you finish the test or at least that question you are stuck on. This is easier said than done, even for myself at times. I like to think that finals are another obstacle that I need to jump over in order to achieve success- and obstacles are a part of life. My point: students, including myself, need to suck it up and deal it the best way we can (this includes high school seniors around America- you will be in my footsteps a year from now). Finals are important but I won't let the finals I am taking be the bane of my very existence.

I try to study in different places. Studying can be tedious especially if you are trying to do very well at finals. I am glad that I took my Calculus and Spanish Finals on the 16th of December; that means that I am stress-free unlike most of my other peers. Finals week stretches from Saturday, December 16- Thursday, December 21. The irony is that I don't have another final until Thursday, my Intro to Latin American Studies (I am so stoked for this final, believe it or not). I can say that the fall part of freshman was serious business and that I came through alive, poised for the spring semester.

The intensity of studying for finals is at a feverish pitch. I am a very organized (but not anal) person: my notes are always in order from the date they were taken, my books are filed by size in my cabinet, and I am usually done studying by a certain hour depending on the day. On the contrary, I always thought that my room would be strewn with various papers because of some days I would be tired and would not care to organize anything- something like this:

By relaxing and letting everything take its course as God intended it to, I was able to avoid this catastrophe and focus on the goal on hand. I am satisfied with how preparation for finals turned out, no matter what the outcome (as long as the outcome is somewhat manageable and easy to fix in the near future).

Two down, one to go. I know I will be ready on Thursday- I have a FOUR DAY break from finals. I am one happy camper. I am going to kick back, watch a movie, and enjoy life. I invite anyone who wants to relieve some stress in a safe way (meaning no outrageous partying or anything in that category) before a big test or final to do something in a similar manner. Good luck for those of you who will be doing finals in the next few days. I will be praying for you.

Hasta luego,

Hasani Wheat

Class of '10

My life as a resident of Stuyvesant Hall

Hello, again. Welcome to another edition of Hasani's World with your host, Mr. Wheat. This week's edition will revolve around my residence at Stuyvesant Hall (FYI for prospectives- which happens to be one of six residential halls you can choose to live at). Enjoy the scenery- I finally got proof of my adventure at OWU!

I live in a capacious setting overlooking the fountain that is in front of Stuy. The residents here are nice and are willing to help you succeed in any way. Stuy is pretty big and I am able to interact with its residents quite often. With the title that I hold in WCSA as a Cultural Sensitivity representative, I always have my door often for any person who decides to talk to me about a concern that needs to be addressed or if they just want to chat about everyday life at OWU. It is quite nice to be able to do my duty and have fun at it as well!

My room is on the first floor, which is very convenient for me because I don't have to lug all of my belongings and heavy boxes of care packages up three flights of stairs and risk injury. My room is just right for me- it is not big nor small. In addition to the good size and location, I am in an area where I have constant access to my RLC and my RA (which both have been a wonderful fountain of advice for me). My RA, Nafis Rahman (shown at right) is always around, trying to make the west wing area of first floor Stuyvesant better (he also serves as a "coach" for how to approach and solve difficult Calculus problems- ah, an advantage of getting to know your RA better). My RLC, Julie Blaszak, provides a source of vast knowledge about how to be a good citizen in a residential hall (she is also extremely cordial and is willing to talk to me about any ideas to how to help Stuyvesant be the best residential hall on campus). I have aspirations of becoming a resident assistant in the near future and these people (as well as some other RA's in the building; don't worry, I didn't leave you guys out) have helped me make my choice to be a future RA an easy one.

My room doesn't look like it is a palace. In fact, my room is pretty bare- only essentials like a refrigerator, a microwave, my laptop, the bunk beds, and a TV which I don't use. Take a look: Nothing spectacular. This is just a minimum so I can survive from day-to-day. I would rather do this and save money from buying food and supplies than splurge and waste all of my food points. This way, I will be thinking and acting wisely without having to suffer from any consequences inflicted by me.

I am good friends with my roommate, Mark Dubovec. He is an English major and I like to write (hence, a pertinent reason why I am a blogger). At times, we discuss issues that are relevant to our society (e.g. prejudice and racism in America). Other times, he will introduce me to a movie and explain the movie's plot, setting, and everything in between. I like movies and sometimes I find myself hooked on some of his movies and other DVD's. Our relationship is pretty tight and I'm glad I can call him my friend and roommate. I also share a bathroom with the school newspaper's awesome photographer, Ryan Kim and his roommate, Tommy Harman, who is on the golf team here at OWU. I find myself being educated by them and my roommate since we are all so unique. I love to learn and I am constantly being educated by views on everything, from their interests to their upbringing and how this makes them who they are. I love my life and the situation God has put me in.

Well, I have to continue studying- finals are this Saturday and I have to be ready. I hoped you have enjoyed this session of Hasani's World.


Ciao,
Hasani Wheat
Class of '10

Sunday

Hello, again. This is the other part of my blog that I wrote about yesterday. This packs as much inpact as Saturday for me. I am excited just writing it because I am revisiting some great events in my OWU career.

Sunday- I got up at 8:00 to get ready for church (I am a member of River Valley Vineyard Church just up East Williams Street- I will explain the how and why this came to be in a later blog). I went to church and I felt energized for the entire day, knowing that the Lord would be there every step of the way. I headed back to campus to look over my music for the Choral Arts Society concert at 4:00 p.m. After no particular activity for several hours, I got dressed for the concert and warmed up my voice (I am a tenor, therefore, I need to stretch my vocals a tad to hit all of the notes accurately). I was so stoked at the chance to sing Mozart and Bach- how awesome is that!

I headed over to Welch to meet up with my friend and chorus buddy, Michael Doherty (yeah, bro!). We are best friends and we always seem to click in our viewpoints. Anyway, I didn't want to travel alone so Michael and I went to Gray Chapel to review our music one last time before the concert. We practiced with the rest of the choir and waited for the 4:00 p.m. hour.

From there, it was history. The concert went without a hitch and I believe that everyone from chorus members, the audience, and our choral director, Mr. Jason Hiester, was thoroughly satisfied with the results. Everything was a blur because I was so focused on the objective that had to be done. I treated the concert as a comprehensive final of everything I worked for during the semester; I felt so invigorated. The only thing that I was bummed about was that my camera was supposed to be charged and ready to take three pictures of the event; the camera didn't take any because it failed to charge. Nevertheless, the entire concert was broadcasted on the web and for those of you who missed the concert you can view it on the main OWU page under the Webcast option.

I was euphoric, to say the least. The concert was beautiful and I felt like I was on cloud nine for the rest of the day. However, my day was not finished as I attended a Student Union on Black Awareness (SUBA) meeting at 7:00 p.m. This was about positions on the cabinet of SUBA. I had to weigh my options and the potential affects it could have on me. In the end, I chose not to run for any of the positions even though I knew that I was more than qualified for the positions offered to me. The reason: I had enough on my plate already and having another position would cloud my mind even more, eventually taking the focus off academics, the number one reason I am at OWU. Prospective students- do not take on more than you can chew; you and only you know your limits.

Another successful event, another tip to prospectives. If Saturday and Sunday were the "entrees" for me, Monday was the "dessert". Monday was absolutely stress free. Despite going to meet prospectives at 8:00 a.m., attending class from 9:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m., attending a WCSA meeting at noon, and doing a student panel at 1:10 p.m., Monday was the denouement of an exciting and most anticipated week at OWU. I want to do a sequence of events like this very soon. This week was a big week for OWU and for myself.

Well, it is late and I have class in less than nine hours so I will be getting some shuteye very soon.

Thanks to everyone who helped me get to this point and to everyone who helped make this events possible.

Signing out,

Hasani Wheat
Class of '10

This is Utopia!

Wow, what an amazing week I had on the OWU campus. I participated in so many events and managed to get all of my work done for all of my classes. I felt that divine intervention was the one thing that was able to carry me through the entire week; all of my problems seemed to be solved and I just completed all of my tasks without hesitation. I was excited as this is my first time doing any of the events I will talk about in this blog. To make it interesting, I will provide you, the reader, a schedule of the last three days.

Saturday- I wake up and review my Latin America History notes to make sure I have them correctly analyzed (I am very picky over my notes as they tend to be a reflection of if I am paying attention in class as well as outside of class during my spare time). Finishing on time, I proceed to exit my dorm and approach Canton's. For those who don't know about Canton's, they have great Chinese food and I recommend everyone trying Canton's at least once. I eat and head over to the Conrades Wetherell Science Center (CWSC) to meet up with my fellow WCSA representatives to help prepare for the President's Ball. Working together to help develop a major event on campus was very good for my morale.
After an hour helping set up, I looked up and saw that it was approaching 1:00 p.m. "Choral Arts practice," was the first thing that made its way to the front of my brain. I dashed off to Gray Chapel to endure a practice like no other for Choral Arts Society. I was mentally prepared going into Gray Chapel, therefore, the practice was successful for the group and I. After practice, I went to my dorm and sat there to gather my thoughts as by now, they were scrambling off to a million places. I cleared my mind and ironed my clothes- the plan was to go to the Culture Fest at 6:00 p.m. at Ham-Wil then go to celebrate my past, current, and future success at the President's Ball at 7:30 p.m.
(1st big event)- At the culture fest, I felt that it was my responsibility to be there. I am the WCSA Cultural Sensitivity representative so it was only appropriate for me to be here and enjoy the many talented cultures at OWU. I appreciated every performance because everything was so authentic and presented a "This is who we are, like it or not" feel to the program. I was especially proud when Rafiki Wa Afrika performed since they are the group that I affiliate strongly with. Overall, the culture fest was a huge success and I would love to attend another one in the near future.
(2nd big event)- I headed over the President's Ball at 7:30 p.m. Oh yeah, there was something I forget to mention: the President's Ball didn't officially start until 9:00 p.m. I went early because I WAS INVITED TO THE PRESIDENT'S BALL COCKTAIL PARTY!!!! That is right, your boy, Hasani, was invited to something that I think is more prestigious than the actual President's Ball for the fact that this officially lets me know that I am a bona fide leader here at OWU. Prospective students: if you are reading this, this could be you sometime next year if you assert yourself early on. That said, the Cocktail party was extraordinarily classy and I loved every second of it. I shook hands with the President of the University, Dr. Mark Huddleston, hung out with some of the seniors that I knew, I met more new people than I can count on my hands and feet, and relaxed to the sounds of the Park Avenue Jazz Band and the mellifluous voice of my good friend, Qiana McNary (you go girl, sing your heart out!). That was a blessing just to be there in the presence of such wonderful, persevering people. My morale was like that of a flying eagle.
Well, after 9:00 p.m., more people started to show up and I chatted with them. I took some pictures and I rested for most of that time. Around 10:00 p.m., I had to take tickets from people coming to the event. To me, the grandeur of the President's Ball was lost after 10:00 p.m. so when my job was finished at midnight, I decided to call it a day and head home.

Saturday was a day that I could never forget. This only becomes better with Sunday's events followed by Monday's subtle denouement. However, my excitement for writing this post has caused me to be very sleepy; I will continue this post tomorrow with the concert lots of people were waiting for... the Choral Arts Society.

My Blessings,
Hasani Wheat
Class of '10

Welcome to Hasani's World

What's up, everyone! I am your new blogger, Hasani Wheat. I am representing Cleveland, Ohio ("216", baby!!). I am currently a freshman here at Ohio Wesleyan University and my academic major is History. I plan on giving you, the reader, an overview about my experience on the OWU campus (and beyond). Without further ago, here is my first blog entry.
When I first set foot at Ohio Wesleyan University as a junior in high school, I knew that this was where I was would spend my four years of my life. To me, OWU was close enough to where I could go home if I needed to and far enough to have my space from my loved ones. I was also interested in the diversity of the campus. Seeing so much diversity on campus made me ponder the possibilities on being in such an environment. I began to feel very comfortable, like this was my second home. I felt at ease with myself and the decision that I made.
Two years later, I am here as a freshman, enjoying life at OWU. My initial feelings were right. The opportunities at OWU seem to be infinite as I have become involved in all sorts of clubs and organizations on campus. I have joined several different cultural organizations that have broadened my horizons beyond anything I have previously known. I have become a proud member of our student government organization, the Wesleyan Council of Student Affairs (WCSA), where I spend a considerable amount of time doing tasks for the benefit of our campus community. I love the assortment of academics here at OWU as well, which ranges from Accounting to Zoology. I have never felt so satisfied and independent as I am in my life right now and the decision was mostly up to me.
I have tendencies just like every person in the world. I tend to read practically everything I see (reading is educating yourself and education is power). I like to explore the campus for an event (you can see me at OWU sporting events or practically any party on campus- I love parties and soirees). I also tend to eat... a lot (Which goes hand-to-hand with parties and sporting events). These are my three major tendencies that I have noticed.
Overall, I am an easygoing guy who is proud of being a student of OWU. I am proud of where I came from, where I am right now, and where I will be going in the near future. The opportunities have opened up for me and I am going to run with it. I'm here and I'm here for the long run.

Well, I have to start studying soon. I hope that this will give you, the reader, an idea of who I am and what I am about.

Peace out,

Hasani Wheat
Class of '10