Fact789's Blog-Associates Degree and Summer Plans

[Brent]

Congrats Fact, wish I had grades like that.

[HURAKAN]

Congrats. I didn't do as well but I passed my classes. Now I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Getting closer to the end.

[vbhoutex]

Congrats Jonathan!!!!! FSU should be laying out the read carpet for you when it is time!!

[JonathanBelles]

My own little Mardi Gras pictures from a Quad Event at school today. I probably was one of the most dressed up. The last picture is a picture of my chapter (Eta Nu Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa). We also had Jambalaya and rice with plenty of beads.







There might be more to come when I get stuff from other people.

[tropicana]

the glasses are funny.

I still think your school's Mardi Gras was too early. They should have delayed it for a few weeks at least.

[Tampa Bay Hurricane]

Congrats Jonathan!!!!

[JonathanBelles]

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to let everyone know that my first of many leave of absences is coming up this weekend. I will not be posting on the board and I will not be in chat at all from Thursday afternoon to Sunday afternoon. I am going to the state FJCCSGA (Florida Junior Community College Student Government Association) Conference luckily here in DT St. Pete.

[JonathanBelles]

Hey everyone!

I wanted to give everyone an update. As for FJCCSGA, I had a blast! Pictures will be coming eventually. I had way too much food, danced too much, and not enough sleep.

I've been extremely busy as of late, which is the reason for my lesser amount of attendance on the boards, and my absence in chat as of late. I am guiding or leading numerous projects around campus, one of which is Relay for Life. Relay in itself is going well, considering the economy right now. We made $250 at the bowl-a-thon last weekend, an 8th of our goal. I am continuing my Junior Achievement efforts, as well as working on a St. Petersburg History Project and a co-creator of a cookbook for college students, time, cost, and health effective. I am also helping to start a Habitat for Humanities project in Pinellas County with our Phi Theta Kappa chapter and our Student Government on our campus.

Also, I have two trips coming up, one of which I just found out about today. Along with my running back and forth from the Student Activities Director and the Associate Provost's office, among the things I found out, I am on the ALL-Florida Academic team. I am one of four from St. Petersburg College probably going to Tallahassee in April (the 2nd) to be recognized by Phi Theta Kappa, the USA Today, and the FL congress. I havent decided if I can or will go yet, but its a possibility. My other MAJOR trip is to Dallas in mid April for the Phi Theta Kappa International Convention, which I am very excited about. I will be going with 8 of my other "chapter-mates" and my advisor, as well as my sister (who is the VP of Scholarship in Corning, NY), and my fellow Phi Theta Kappans from all over the state!

These are just two of my upcoming trips this year, others include Richmond, Jacksonville, and Tampa.

Within Relay, I am now (not sure if I made this update or not) on the Committee which plans, puts together, works out logistics, and coordinates Relay Events. I am the Mission Chair, and I still hold my position as Team Captain of the Phi Theta Kappa-Eta Nu Chapter Team. I will be running for re-election for VP of Leadership of my chapter in a month or so. I may also run for a position (if I want to kill myself XD) on the Student Government E-Board.

But my most exciting announcement is....I MADE IT TO SPRING BREAK!!!! HALLELUJAH!!!! I really didnt thing I was going to make it. lol Now on to the hw, phone calls, and other home projects I have been putting off. lol

[JonathanBelles]

I'll eventually add a slew of pictures, but we went all over Downtown St. Petersburg today. One of the stops was to the St. Petersburg Museum of History, where we had quite a large surprise!!



Edit: Better single picture!

[JonathanBelles]

I HAVE TWO VERY EXCITING NEWS ITEMS TONIGHT!!!!

1) We got over $1,100 tonight for Relay with the Benefit Concert!!! That puts us over the $2,000 mark two weeks before Relay!!!!! We still have two events left!!!

2) When I got home there was a huge letter when I got home. FIU is offering ME of all people a full two year full ride scholarship PLUS Immediate entrance into the Honors College. Like I literally fell out of my chair, and screamed. For the #3 school of my choice to give me an offer like that, is AMAZING!!!!!

Nonetheless I had an AMAZING DAY!!!

[tropicana]

congrats on both counts! That is truly amazing, you deserve all the success that comes your way. You work hard for it.

[CajunMama]

I HAVE TWO VERY EXCITING NEWS ITEMS TONIGHT!!!!

1) We got over $1,100 tonight for Relay with the Benefit Concert!!! That puts us over the $2,000 mark two weeks before Relay!!!!! We still have two events left!!!

2) When I got home there was a huge letter when I got home. FIU is offering ME of all people a full two year full ride scholarship PLUS Immediate entrance into the Honors College. Like I literally fell out of my chair, and screamed. For the #3 school of my choice to give me an offer like that, is AMAZING!!!!!

Nonetheless I had an AMAZING DAY!!!

Why should that surprise you? You're smart, work hard and are involved. You deserve it! Congrats!

[JonathanBelles]

Just letting everyone know that I will be leaving for Grapevine (Dallas), TX in

6 days
148 hours
8911 minutes
534685 seconds


I am leaving next Wednesday and returning on the following Sunday night. I will have very little to no computer access while I am there, so dont expect me in chat or anywhere.

I am going to the International Phi Theta Kappa Convention. It's the largest gathering of College Students and faculty worldwide, a tidbit that I just have to boast about. Ive already been told to bring 50lb weights for my shoes and some earplugs because I will be blown away. There will be over 75 classes and forums that I can go to concerning everything from Relay to our International Service Project (Project Green), to Job hunting, and transferring to a 4-year school. We are expecting numerous awards, and we have been allowed to apply for #1 chapter internationally, which if we get it, it will be the 6th time for our chapter in our 59 year history, a title held by no others, and only breaking our own record! I'll be able to talk to people from Germany, the American Samoa, Canada, Japan, the BVI, the USVI, the UAE, and over 70 other countries! Robert F Kennedy jr. and Dr. Fareed Zakaria are going to be speaking on this international stage. Nearly 70 colleges from around North America will be sending representatives so that I can talk to them one on one (and of course no colleges that I am interested in in the state of FL will be there, but CSU and Cornell will be there).

Here is a fraction of what I will be doing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV9IkV50JcM

I've had tidbits of the Phi Theta Kappa experience, but this is the #1 way to get it, and its not going to disappoint. This is the first time Texas and Florida has been in the same room with each other with me in it, and they are the two most competitive regions of anything in the US, but we are also sister regions.

6...more...days....

[tropicana]

have a great ole time, it will be a fun expereince and the memories will last a lifetime, so lap it all up. woooooo
take lots of pictures so i can see what dallas looks like on the ground. Since ive never been there, my brother has been all over texas, to houston especially, and midland...and port arthur.

Just enjoy it, it won't be too long now.
-justin-

[JonathanBelles]

Hey!

Yesterday, Thursday, I also went to the Student Awards Ceremony. I finally got an award that is all my own, something can hang up (which I have). I got the Scholarship Hallmark Award for Phi Theta Kappa, which came with an official Phi Theta Kappa Pen and Pencil and $300. I also got a Who's Who nomination, which could turn into an award later. The Scholarship Hallmark Award was big for me since everything I have done so far has been for the chapter, and I haven't been able to take anything, and this was all for me. And it made it even more special that it wasnt even in my hallmark. My hallmark is Leadership, so an award in another hallmark was great!

In our chapter we got probably half of the Who's Who Nominations/Awards. There were at least 10 of us in Phi Theta Kappa that got them, which is tremendous!

Even though I said the about about individuality, we are still going to get a crudload of chapter awards at International next week!!! I am hoping we get 10 awards as a chapter, which would be awesome!

Adios amigos!

[JonathanBelles]

I will post my entire story in the coming days (when I can get past the 5 tests in the next two weeks that I face). For now I really wanted to post this picture. It was from the plane on the way to Dallas, and I like it so much it has become my new Desktop background picture as well as my avatar.

[tropicana]

good to have you back and thanks for posting that pic!
good luck in your exams.

-justin-

[JonathanBelles]

A Highlights video of things we did in Grapevine:

2009 International Phi Theta Kappa Convention

[vbhoutex]

Tell us about your and your chapters awards, etc.!!!

[JonathanBelles]

LOL! ok

We have quite a few, enough of which we are doing a mini-awards ceremony at the meeting on Monday.

We won the Leadership and Scholarship hallmark awards, distinguished member and officers awards, and distinguished adviser award. We didnt get the Service hallmark or the distinguished chapter president award however. We did fall in the Top 36 Chapters (and probably top 10) Internationally out of over 1,200. We also won Beta Alpha Excellence for being a distinguished chapter for more than 3 years (which we have won for most of our 59 years in existence except for a few). I was recognized as being on the All-Florida Academic First Team (my only individual recognition on the state level). Also, on Monday, I will be handing out the Who's Who awards, which I didnt have a chance to look at the number of awards, but I do know I did win the recognition amongst at least 8 of us. Along with that on Monday, I am running for VP of Leadership for my Chapter again for the next year (which may mean if I win, I may be staying at SPC through the entire year, moving my graduation date back to May 2010) with one other person, and our Officer's team this year will be very strong, much stronger than last year, so we may take a run at the Top 5 for next years International Convention next year.

I will post pics when I have a chance, but time is becoming very precious as I will be walking into my first exam week on Monday. Up to 5 exams in the next two weeks, yuck. I have 2 A's secured for the semester, but I have 2 left to secure. Also on Monday, I elections to deal with, a meeting (or possibly two) to run, and a Chapter Membership Video to shoot.

Starting Sunday night I will be just stopping in for a few mins here and there for the next two weeks, and posting may become scarce.

Thanks for reading...
Jonathan