The Grotto of Our Lady

For all you Notre Dame fans out there, and anyone interested in reading, this is my favorite piece of literature ever published.

Dr. Tom Dooley's letter to Fr. Ted Hesburgh

I wonder if Mick Jagger ever applied to college

Tradition.  A word that means so much to so many different people. So what does tradition mean to me?

Tradition is why I came to Penn State.  But, sadly, not for the reasons you would usually associate with the word “tradition.”  My entire life I wanted I attend the University of Notre Dame.  I applied to eleven other schools including Penn State (on a whim), but my heart was set on the Fighting Irish.  My father is a graduate and my sister is a currently a senior.  Just like singing the fight song, visiting the grotto, and watching Notre Dame football games on NBC, acceptance to the university was a tradition.  But when acceptance letters came out it was apparent the “Jumonville tradition” stopped with me.  After the tears and devastation my only solace and relief was found in The Rolling Stones: “You can’t always get what you want.  But if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need.”  Why do I need Penn State?  Why do I now bleed “Blue and White” and call Happy Valley home?  Tradition.  I find tradition at the Pennsylvania State University.  How big is the “Jumonville Tradition?” My Dad and my Sister.  How big is the Penn State tradition? 45,000.  


I chose Penn State because when I visited in the spring of my senior year of high school I found a place where tradition meant as much to the students and faculty as it did to my family and I.  I wanted a place where university pride bellowed from the student section during football games and whispered down the quiet halls of the library.  


I truly believe I have found that at Penn State, and for that, I thank you.

Blogging

Today I’m blogging about blogging.

Why do people blog? I’m not asking why my LA101H classmates blog, because frankly they are required to. But why do people feel the need to post their thoughts and feelings on the Internet? I just don’t get it! And I don’t know why.

Usually people keep their thoughts to themselves and if they share them it is with close friends and relatives, not complete strangers. But I believe the notion of complete strangers turns bloggers on in a way. Everyone wants to be noticed. Everyone wants fame. People thrive off the notion of their thoughts and words being appreciated and talked about. I am a perfect example: I check how many Twitter followers I have daily (follow me @benstanj). I want to know what new people are following me and why. I want to be recognized for my creativity and cleverness. People love recognition, and the Internet and social media are perfect outlets and channels of recognition. The Internet is limitless, and thus helps expand your recognition beyond the limits that would be set outside of the cyber world. Social media is the perfect medium for broadcasting and communication. People want their ideas broadcasted and relayed, and the Internet is the easiest method of broadcasting out there.

What is an even bigger dilemma than the act of blogging, is the subject of blogging. I always ask myself why I feel that my posts or tweets are worthy of other people seeing. What makes this post readable and pleasing to the eyes? What makes my tweets clever or funny? In class we learn that the aesthetics of your blog attract viewers. The tile of your blog catches people’s attention. All of these things add to making a good blog. But when it comes down to it, it’s all about the words. My Dad always tells me “writers write.” And I agree with him. But is that it? People write because they write? People blog because they blog? Did I even answer any of my questions?

Family Vacation (minus Chevy Chase)

Everyone loves his or her family. Everyone is proud of his or her family.

What am I most proud of my family for? Vacations.

People are often amazed with my family’s vacations. Not because we go the coolest places, or because we spend oodles of money on expensive trips, but because we drive. We have always driven everywhere.  And we will always continue to drive.  Our furthest trips include Colorado and Canada (remember I’m from Louisiana so Canada is quite the hike). I honestly can’t say why we drive. With gas prices these days, it’s probably more economically and environmentally efficient to fly. But our vacations would not be half of what they are if it weren’t for the times we share in the good ole’ minivan (our vessels of choice: Nissan Quest and Kia Sedona).

A lot of people think we are crazy for driving so far. Or they will say things like “If I was in the car with my family for that long, I’d shoot myself.” And honestly, those feelings definitely arise during a 20+ hour car ride (sorry Mom and Dad, but I have to be honest).

Most people can understand long van rides in the early days of parenthood when the kids are small enough to lay across the seat, or even remove the middle seat and lay sleeping bags across the floor (from personal experience this is the most glorious way to sleep in a car), but they run from the idea of driving across the country when your kids are 18 and 21 years old. The Jumonvilles embrace it.

I am ever thankful for my parents insisting on driving. I’m actually not quite sure why though. I guess it adds to the memories, bonding, and overall experience of a vacation? Maybe the journey is often overlooked because we are so focused on our destination? But to this day I still have not come to a logical reason why driving is so much better. Maybe it’s because it’s all I know? But I do know that I like what I know.

PS: As I write this blog my parents are en route from Louisiana to pick me up