Angela Kim, Author at

Posted on November 27, 2017November 4, 2017 by Angela Kim — Leave a comment

An Insider’s Perspective on the JMK Fashion Show

When I came to Grove City College, I did not expect to find an internship at a fashion boutique.

And yet there I was – a senior looking for experience to make myself employable – writing an application to be an intern for the JMK Fashion Show.

As an intern, I had a number of basic responsibilities: event planning, marketing, public relations, photography, fashion, social media, and administrative work. I did everything from styling an outfit to taking photos for the professional Instagram to setting up a room for the final event.

It was an incredible experience.

The theme of the fashion show this year was LUXE. “Lux” means light and “luxe” means luxurious. These two words captured the essence of the clothing line.

The pieces in this line were strong and feminine and beautiful, exactly like the women wearing the styles. In order to capture this theme, the venue was decorated with a gorgeous chandelier and mirrors – illuminating the unique style of each piece.

Refreshments were provided at the event as well as an opportunity to purchase JMK clothing.

This internship happens almost every fall, and I would highly recommend applying. Below are a few pros and cons to consider:

Pros
This internship will give you relevant experience in event planning, marketing, public relations, community relations, fashion, administrative work, etc. You only have to commit for a short period of time but you get to do a lot. It also gives the opportunity to work with a fantastic team who knows what they are doing.

Cons
It is an unpaid internship. Also, the week of the fashion show is highly stressful which may be a major downside to some.

This internship is perfect for any student who is willing to work hard and has a creative eye. Personally, I learned a lot about the design aspect of event planning.

Essentially, event planning is not just about renting a venue and throwing together about an event; it is about designing each piece to create the desired effect. I also learned to jump in and help wherever I was needed, even if it did not necessarily fit in my job description.

JMK was started by Jon and Mary Kaup (JMK), young entrepreneurs and pharmacists at RX Xpress in Grove City, PA. Their passion for small town services and love for affordable fashion for all ages came to fruition when they decided to pursue the dream of a boutique we all know as JMK.
To learn more about JMK, visit their Facebook page here.

Posted on October 2, 2017 by Angela Kim — Leave a comment

10 Ways to Be the Best Roommate

After three years of rooming experience, here are my tips on how to be the best roommate. (Please note that I know for a fact I am not the best roommate, but my past two roommates have been incredible, and I learned a lot from them!)

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Be forward. If you have a problem, deal with it right away. If she keeps knocking your towel down or never washes her dishes or shuts the door too loudly… it’s better to deal with it right away, no matter how awkward you feel, in order to preserve the relationship.
Be quiet. If you wake up early or go to bed late, be respectful of your roommate. For example, this year I pretty much always wake up an hour before my roommate and go to bed an hour or two later than she does. In order to minimize noise, I prepare my bag and my clothes beforehand so that I can be quiet when the lights are out. Also, avoid talking loudly to your mom on the phone without asking your roommate first. Just try to be quiet because sometimes the dorm room is the only quiet place your roommate will have.
Give them space. You don’t have to be best friends, so give them space! If they have plans on Friday night, you don’t always have to tag along. And if they’re feeling grumpy one day, you don’t have to make them talk to you. Sometimes people just need alone time.
Invite them often. With that being said, if you can, try your best to invite your roommate before you go out. Ask if she has lunch plans or if she wants to see the movie with you. Sometimes your roommate will be too shy to ask if she can tag along so it’s your job to do the inviting when it is appropriate.
Ask first. Before doing anything, ask permission. This includes but is not limited to: blasting music, inviting friends over, deciding to remodel the room, vacuuming, letting someone spend the night, etc.
Plan a weekly roommate date. Even though you probably spend a ton of time with your roommate already, be sure to spend quality time with them! This could be anything from a movie night to working out together to grabbing lunch once a week. My current roommate and I grab meals together and plan hangouts with our other friends over the weekend. My roommate from last year and I plan weekly ex-roommate dates where we go on walks, eat brunch, get bubble tea, and more.
Remember their birthday; even if they forget yours! Throw them a surprise birthday party. Buy them flowers. Cover their bed in balloons and streamers. As their roommate, it’s your job to make them feel special and a last second post on Facebook is not enough.
Start a quote wall. Do not underestimate how amazing a quote wall can be. Mine is simple. I just took four blank pieces of paper and taped them to my closet door. Whenever something funny or weird is said, we yell “QUOTE WALL” and run over to write it down with a sharpie. It’s a great bonding experience.
Introduce your friends. Again, you and your roommate do not have to be besties, and you don’t have to be in the same friend group. With that said, try to make an effort to introduce your friends to your roommate so that they don’t feel awkward around each other.
Be flexible. In the end, flexibility is key. If your roommate is an introvert, give her some alone time. If she’s an extrovert, plan parties and outings with her! Just have fun and don’t take yourself too seriously.

Who knows? Your roommate may end up being one of your best friends.

Posted on September 26, 2017October 2, 2017 by Angela Kim — Leave a comment

5 Simple Ways to Have an Excellent Monday

Here are five tips on how to have an excellent Monday as a college student:

morning-light

Go to bed early. One of the best ways to make sure your Monday is a success is to go to bed early on Sunday, or at least on time. You don’t want to wake up groggy because you were on your phone until 2 a.m.
Wake up early. One of the hardest things about Monday is trying to figure out what you have due that week. One of the best ways to stay organized is to wake up half an hour earlier than usual, grab your syllabus binder and planner and a pen, and write down everything that you have due that week. Waking up helps you to feel organized and productive.
Start your day right! Start out your day with prayer and devotions. It will help you to maintain a healthy mindset throughout the week.
Switch it up. Try to do something different this time around! If you always eat lunch in Hicks, see if you can eat in MAP. If you always workout at 3 p.m., try working out at 4 p.m. This helps break up the monotony that comes along with class schedules.
Make time for people. It’s easy to get caught up with classes and homework, but don’t forget to make time for people. Even if that just means chatting with your roommate a little in the morning or hanging around during lunch a little longer than usual, people are good for the soul. So don’t forget to invest in your friends.

Hope you all have a happy Monday!

Posted on May 17, 2017 by Angela Kim — Leave a comment

An Insider’s Perspective on Life Advocates

Life Advocates, a campus organization, is a pro-life representative at Grove City College.

Even though Life Advocates is a relatively small organization, they do a lot on campus so sometimes it can be a little confusing trying to understand what their mission is. Essentially, you can break down the mission of Life Advocates into three categories:

Prayer
Education
Support of Alpha Omega

Prayer: Life Advocates incorporates prayer into every event, including weekly meetings. They gather together every Monday at 9pm and, after the usual meeting, they break into small groups and pray. They also offer rides to Pittsburgh twice a semester in order to pray in front of a Planned Parenthood facility. As a Christian group, they put a huge emphasis on prayer.

Education: Since they are the only pro-life organization on campus, Life Advocates takes their role in education very seriously. They bring speakers on campus, show educational documentaries, and provide educational print material. Every other year, they bring a pro-life speaker to chapel in the spring.

Support of Alpha Omega: Alpha Omega is a pregnancy center in Slippery Rock, and each semester, Life Advocates throws an event in order to raise funds for the center. Some of their usual events include the 5K in the fall and the Jane Austen Ball in the spring. They also volunteer at Alpha Omega every few weeks.

As a member, I can say that Life Advocates is truly a beautiful organization. I have served on Life Advocates for three years in a row, and each year I learned and grew so much. Sometimes on campus it can be difficult to feel as though you are involved with furthering the kingdom of God outside of Grove City College, but Life Advocates is one of the groups that helps bring purpose to campus.

Each member is so focused on promoting life, and the group overall is full of passion. If you are looking for a way to serve the Lord with a small group of active, compassionate people–Life Advocates is the group to join.

Posted on May 17, 2017 by Angela Kim — Leave a comment

Beginner’s Guide to Studying on Campus

Wondering where you can settle down with some textbooks and get work done other than your dorm room? Here is a beginner’s guide to the best places for studying on campus! Let’s begin.

The Study-Between-Classes Student – Sometimes you have 50 minutes of spare time between classes and don’t want to walk across campus to find places to study. Well, you’re in luck because HAL, Hoyt, Rockwell, and STEM all have tables and desks just for you! You can study right outside of your next classroom if you want to.

The Social Student – If you’re interested in “studying” but also socializing late into the night, the Student Union is the place for you! Also called the STU or the SAC (Student Activities Center), it is filled with tables and chairs perfect for a student or a number of students to set up camp. There is also food just a few feet away at the GeDunk, where you can get Starbucks to keep you up during your latest study sessions. Beans on Broad, the local coffee shop, is another excellent location for the social student.

You can also visit the Technological Learning Center (TLC). There are a lot of computers and desks set up, and lots of students constantly come back and forth from the TLC printing out projects/papers last second, so it’s the perfect place to snag a conversation.

The Drop-a-Pin Quiet Student – If you can’t stand noise, there are a few places you can go to:

The Library – This is always a gamble, but the library has random desks set up around bookshelves in a place called the “stacks.” A lot of the time, these are really quiet and have lots of natural lighting from open windows. And if you need to do some last minute research, you are conveniently located in the library already.
The Writing Center – This is a little known location between the TLC and the Library. It has tables and whiteboards and very comfortable chairs.
Rathburn Hall – Another less-known location, Rathburn Hall – the campus ministries building – is probably one of the quietest places on campus with many excellent rooms for studying.

The Study in Weird Places Student – If you’re looking for unique places to study, look no further! Crawford Hall (administrative building) has tables in random corners, and PEW (fine arts building) is filled with private spaces and benches to study. On warm days, there are picnic tables on lower campus under the cover of trees, and only cold days you could venture to the PLC (Physical Learning Center) and study while you ride the stationary bike. (Trust me – I’ve seen students do this before.)

Female Students – Ladies, you’re in luck because MAP dormitory has some of the best places to study! On the freshman halls in North, you can find random little rooms with desks and chairs just for you to study. You also have a crazy number of lobbies to choose from: South Lobby, South Rec, North Lobby, the Princess Lounge on the 2nd floor, the Princess Lounge on the 3rd floor, and the bird room on ground floor.

Hope this helped. Happy studying!

Posted on April 24, 2017April 24, 2017 by Angela Kim — Leave a comment

25 (More) Excellent Events on Campus

On my last post called 25 Excellent Events on Campus, I missed a number of important events. So here are 25 more events on Grove City College campus:

24 Hour Prayer – Students pray for important causes and lost souls overnight.
ABT Okie Midnight Breakfast – Live music and pancakes!
AEXmas – A chill Christmas celebration on AEX hall.
AEX vs. Rho Football Game – Watch these two groups play backyard football in order to win the glorious Lunch Tray Trophy.
Arts Fest – Celebrating art with poetry readings, lectures, student art exhibits, etc.
Battle of the Bands – All proceeds go to Mission of Hope.
Bay Buchanan Lecture – Hear from treasurer under Ronald Reagan and youngest person to ever hold that position!
Big Man on Campus – A male pageant aiming to raise money for the American Cancer Society.
Ed Talks – Styled after TED talks, these are short lectures by GCC professors.
Festivus – Celebrate Festivus with the Adels and Gamma Chis.
Free Bowling Night – Courtesy of the Student Government Association.
Hickstoberfest – Kegs of free root beer, grilled sausages, arm wrestling competitions, caber toss, etc. on Hicks lawn.
Homecoming – Games, music, dances, and the homecoming parade make an excellent homecoming week.
Life Advocates 5K Walk/Run – A beautiful Saturday morning run raising funds for the Alpha Omega Center in Slippery Rock, PA.
Monster Mash – A Halloween-themed dance; costumes recommended!
Monte Carlo Night – Classic card games, fabulous prizes, and fancy mocktails.
OB – Everything Orientation Board. The Graffiti Dance, All-Campus Worship, Night Under the Stars, Carnival, Olympics, Off Broadway, Street Dance, etc.
One Act Festival – A theater production.
Orchesis Performances – Dance performances by Orchesis Dance Troupe in the spring and fall.
The Pink Dance – A night of dancing, games, and PINK. Proceeds go to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Relay for Life – A fun event raising funds to end cancer.
Salvo Blacklight Dance – Swing dancing under blacklights in goofy, glowy outfits.
Sunset Sprint – An evening 5K to support the United Community Hospital Lifeline Service.
Symphony Orchestra Performances – Music performances by the GCC orchestra.
Wells for Hope – Music and Arts Festival featuring live music, art sales, and donuts.

Posted on April 24, 2017November 16, 2022 by Angela Kim — Leave a comment

Missions Week Brought Back

Up until about eight years ago, Grove City College along with the InterVarsity Missions Fellowship chapter on campus hosted a large missions conference once a year. It was so large of an event that the IM Room was filled with missionaries ready to talk to students, much like the Career Fair. As InterVarsity got smaller as a group, so did this missions conference. Eight years ago, it had stopped altogether.

Until now.

Dr. Keehlwetter, Benjamin Marasco, Graham Allen, and Andrew I. started up this conference again, calling it Missions Week.

Graham Allen, a current junior majoring in Mechanical Engineering, says, “At a Christian in college, it’s important that we take the time to step aside and say, ‘Where do I fit in that specifically? Where is the Lord calling me to serve in missions as an engineer or an accountant?'”

Allen continues, “We need to look at missions and realize that missionaries aren’t just people in far away places that we give money to. So this gives us the opportunity to ask the question, ‘How can I use my major for the kingdom’s greater purpose?'”

Missions Week 2o17 consisted of three days focused on the question: Why Missions?

A number of speakers came to campus during these days including John Iseminger, former director for Wycliffe Southern Africa and Dr. Hunter Farrell, director of World Mission Initiative.

One special speaker for Missions Week, however, is Grove City College’s very own Professor Timothy Mech.

“A lot of students know him as an entrepreneurship professor,” says Allen. “But, he is also someone who has such a heart for the Lord and such an incredible vision… This is his farewell address, and he has a lot of wisdom to share.”

Mech is retiring from Grove City College this year in order to assume full leadership of Harvest Bridge.

“See how large God is. He is doing things in every facet of life, and if students say that they left the conference with a bigger view of God, we reached our goal.”

Hopefully, Missions Week 2018 will be returning to campus next year.

Posted on April 21, 2017 by Angela Kim — Leave a comment

25 Excellent Events on Campus

As a prospective student, I remember wondering to myself, “I wonder if I will be bored on campus?” After all, Grove City college is a small school in Pennsylvania.

Well, let me assure you that, though GCC is small in size, it is concentrated with exciting events and activities for many different students. Here is a list of 25 excellent events that were (or will be) run on campus this school year alone:

23rd Annual Winterfeast – A medieval five-course dinner with entertainment.
2017 Create Conference – Speakers from places like Scarlet and Gold came on campus for a series of lectures and networking events.
AEX Live – Incredible live music performances, soft pretzels, and root beer floats.
The Amazing Race – Solve puzzles and complete the race first to win a 32 inch TV.
Anything Goes Performance – A crazy crew of nightclub singers and hopeless romantics in Cole Porter’s “Anything Goes.”
All-Campus Cookout – Great food, music, and games on the Ketler patio with the Pan Sophic Fraternity.
AO Glow – A black-light neon paint party!
Bridgefest 2016 – A concert featuring live original music from the best Grove City College musicians.
Chicken Patty Day – Buy a chicken patty. Proceeds benefit Christian Best Camps of Kenya.
Dancing with the Profs – Vote on which professor and choreographer duo dance the best!
The Extravaganza – One of the coolest, craziest dances on campus with cheesecake and shrimp.
Faculty Follies – “The best opportunity to laugh at your professors!”
Fall Fest – Picnic food, student music, bounce houses, food trucks, cover band, carnival games, petting zoo, volleyball tournament, and more!
Film Festival – A campus-wide film competition with cash prizes.
The Gala – The biggest dance on campus! Happens every other year.
The Jazz Band Dance – An elegant evening of live music and dancing.
Jon Foreman Concert – Switchfoot. Enough said.
Ladies Christmas Brunch – Homemade pancakes, fruit, gift baskets, and an informative pro-life talk.
Missions Week 2017 – Exploring the question “why missions?” A number of missionaries featured in lectures around campus.
The Professor Preach-Off – A panel of three professors preach-off outside! Chapel credit offered.
Shark Tank – Students submit and pitch ideas to improve the campus and compete for $1,000.
Stories of Heart and Home – A cultural festival.
Syrian Refugee Crisis Update – A family who fled persecution and found a new home in PA share their story.
Tater Tot Day – Tater tots and all the toppings for just $2 to support the Ugandan Vocational Schools.
Whose Line Is It Anyway – An improv performance in the style of the show Whose Line Is It Anyway.

These, alongside many others, are just a few examples of the events that happen on Grove City College campus.

Posted on March 24, 2017 by Angela Kim — Leave a comment

Student Artist Survey: From the Hollow

From the Hollow, a singer-songwriter duo, began at Grove City College when Christie Goodwin was asked to perform at Bridgefest – a concert on campus featuring student musicians.

Goodwin is a senior majoring in English Secondary Education from Farmington Hills, Mich. and has been dabbling in art and music for many years. She did not start to sing and write music seriously, however, until her sophomore year in college.

Originally, Goodwin planned to perform at Bridgefest alone, but as the performance day approached, she faced a dilemma. “I realized that I was not going to make it by myself,” says Goodwin. “My music needed to be filled out, and I needed someone more confident than me, so I emailed Corey because we performed together at AEX Live.”

Corey Kerstetter, a sophomore Marketing Management major with a minor in Biology, hails from Lancaster, Pa. He played piano since second grade, bass and guitar since high school, and is currently teaching himself banjo.

Goodwin continues, “We played together at Bridgefest, and after that people responded really well to our music. So we kept playing.”

Together, they formed From the Hollow.

On Feb. 1, 2017 they released their first EP called American Strife.

One of the most powerful songs in the EP is also called American Strife with lyrics as follows:

Baby cries, no one hears
And you regret the last six years
And move away from here
Throw out your line but nothing bites
Maybe that’s a woman’s right
This is our American
American Strife

Goodwin wrote this song at 1 am. “The phrases really fit together for me,” she says, “There’s a sense of hope and also disappointment.”

While they are both songwriters, the songs on their first EP were all written by Goodwin. Kerstetter has written a few songs recently as well.

“Her lyrics convey her message very clearly and powerfully.” Kerstetter reflects, “When we played at Bridgefest, I actually started crying in the middle of it.”

The music these student artists created is hauntingly beautiful and full of meaning. Concerning music itself, Goodwin says, “I want to write music that has a meaningful story. For other people, it becomes a fame thing. To me, music is storytelling. Music should tell a story.”

Both Goodwin and Kerstetter agree that the Grove City College community has supported and encouraged their music. They appreciate the natural music culture on campus, especially highlighting Stonebridge – a student organization which does a lot to bring music on campus and feature student musicians.

Posted on March 23, 2017 by Angela Kim — Leave a comment

An Insider’s Perspective on SGA

SGA stands for Student Government Association, and though this may be a well-kept secret, Grove City College’s SGA is one-of-a-kind.

Typically, when I hear the letters “SGA,” I think of a random collection of people who meet once a week and talk about “problems” around campus without really accomplishing anything. However, when I joined SGA for two years in a row, I discovered that it is nothing of the sort.

SGA plays a number of important roles on campus.

They represent the student body. First semester freshman year, I campaigned to become the Freshman Senator of Communications and Marketing. After winning the elections, I expected to design and hang posters around campus and sit in a weekly meeting – not much else.

Well, a lot of other things happen every day with SGA.

For example, every week or so the Student Affairs Committee gathers complaints from students all over campus and reports them to the College. This can be anything from a broken water fountain to a type of cereal to a garbage truck keeping students awake at two in the morning. SGA takes the wishes of the student body and make them a priority.

SGA also represents the student body by meeting regularly with staff, faculty, and even President McNulty himself. It is an incredible opportunity to network and to better understand the inner workings of the College.

They throw incredible events. Students easily overlook the number of events SGA is responsible for throwing. A few examples include: Food Feedback Forum, coffeehouses, Moonlight Breakfast, and the Gala. SGA is a fantastic place for students interested in event planning.

However, it is even easier to overlook the vast number of events SGA sponsors financially. This could be anything from a Lux Mea lecture to the Extravaganza (one of the coolest dances in the spring semester).

They are a catalyst of change. One student thought it would be incredible, if not impossible, to bring bubble soccer to campus. In the spring of 2015, SGA brought bubble soccer to the Freshman Hall Cup. Another student dreamed of throwing a Grove City version of Shark Tank, and soon she turned that idea into a reality with SGA. These are just a few examples of change implemented by Grove City College’s Student Government Association.

So, before making any assumptions concerning SGA, give them a chance. They’re an excellent group of individuals working hard behind the scenes to make the campus a better place.

And every fall semester, they are looking for five new freshmen to join their ranks.