Hey everyone!  I hope all of you have gotten off to a nice start this week.

Now is a busy time for students here in Blacksburg.  Why? Because course request for next semester opened today.  Now is the time when all current students put in the classes they want to take next year, and pray that they get everything they requested.  Students are rushing about campus meeting with advisors to try to determine what classes will both fit their major and suit their career path.

In other campus news, tonight is Hokie Idol.  Beta Theta Pi has taken the idea from the hit TV show American Idol and added a VT element to it.  All proceeds from the event will benefit the New River Valley Free Clinic.

On a more somber note, I wanted to comment on a story from Newport News that (almost literally) hit home.  Many of you have probably heard about the house fire that happened early this morning on Michael Irvin Dr.  When I woke up, I had a text message from my mom talking about the fire.  As it turned out, the fire was only a few houses down from mine.  My heart goes out to my neighbors who lost so much in this tragic incident.  It just goes to show that no matter how steady our lives seem, there can be an incident to upset that balance at any second of any day.  Just because college students are away at school doesn’t mean they feel detached from their families and their community, and this definitely made me realize that I have to be thankful for everyone and everything I have in my life, both here in Blacksburg and back home in Newport News.

Stay safe, everyone.  I’ll be in touch soon!