8
ELON THE PENDULUM | WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2011 | VOLUME 2, EDITION 2 what’s inside... 6 7 3 The truth about your favorite treats. How healthy are they? Which is better? Online classes or summer classes? continued on page 4 5 Transitioning through time. Read about how students are preparing for the next stages of their lives. Motivate your muscles this summer. Learn how to avoid an exercise lull. Fading fast The summer learning gap: What do we forget during the summer months? PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY WILL ANDERSON kate.riley It’s almost time to leave Elon’s campus and explore life outside the walls of a classroom. It’s almost time to have a three-month break from projects, tests, quizzes and stress. And it’s almost time for summer vacation. For some, this means a time to dip toes into the salty ocean waves. For others, it means a chance to visit relatives or friends from home. Or maybe it’s just a time to catch up on television shows missed during the school year. Yes, summer is a sweet time to take a step back from the stress of schoolwork. But how much do students forget during this three- month mental break? When speaking about the beginning of each fall semester, psychology professor Katie King finds it is not necessarily that students forget information, but that they have problems locating it. “With the right prompt, you can

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ELONTHE PENDULUM | WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2011 | VOLUME 2, EDITION 2

what’s inside...6 7

3

The truth about your favorite treats. How healthy are they?

Which is better? Online classes or summer classes?

continued on page 4

5 Transitioning through time. Read about how students are preparing for the next stages of their lives.

Motivate your muscles this summer. Learn how to avoid an exercise lull.

Fading fastThe summer learning gap: What do we forget during the summer months?

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY WILL ANDERSON

kate.riley

It’s almost time to leave Elon’s

campus and explore life outside the

walls of a classroom. It’s almost time

to have a three-month break from

projects, tests, quizzes and stress. And

it’s almost time for summer vacation.

For some, this means a time to

dip toes into the salty ocean waves.

For others, it means a chance to visit

relatives or friends from home. Or

maybe it’s just a time to catch up on

television shows missed during the

school year.

Yes, summer is a sweet time to

take a step back from the stress

of schoolwork. But how much do

students forget during this three-

month mental break?

When speaking about

the beginning of each fall semester,

psychology professor Katie King finds

it is not necessarily that students

forget information, but that they have

problems locating it.

“With the right prompt, you can

2

Get arrestedSeriously. You are at risk for judicial action upon your return to campus

in the fall if you have a run-in with authorities during the summer while

off-campus.

do’s&don’ts

Check out grouchyrabbit.comThis website provides readers with funny

“information for successful living.” With

categories such as Signs That Things

Aren’t Going So Well and Realized,

Grouchy Rabbit has the potential to be

just the thing to entertain you when

summer gets a little boring.

Keep important materialsNotes, books and tests from this semester’s classes may help you out in

the future. Hang on to them so that they can be used as references in

semesters to come.

Take advantage of free timeEven though you may have an internship or a job, use your time away

from classes to do things you wouldn’t be able to do during the academic

year like catch up on some reading or take a few road trips.

Attend a summer festivalMerlefest has come and gone, but chances are there is another music

festival wherever you are living this summer. Try Lollapalooza,

Bonnaroo or Warped Tour, and make sure you stock up on food,

sunscreen and water before you head out.

DO: DON’T:

wednesday, may 4, 2011

Veg out all summerUnless you're at the beach, be constructive with your time. Don’t let

the summer pass you by. Make sure you have plenty of stories to share

with your friends when you return to campus.

Forget to keep in touch Sometimes just a Facebook

message doesn’t cut it. Give

your friends a call every once

and a while to check in during

the summer months. They will

appreciate the extra effort.

Be frugal Chances are you will be eating out quite a bit more during the summer months, so tip generously. Waiters and waitresses, just like you, are often crunched for spare change. If you have extra to spare, go for it.

Be a summer professionalA combination of hot weather and internships makes for some tough

fashion decisions, so make sure you are aware of your organization’s

dress code. Observe what your co-workers are wearing and dress

accordingly.

Get distractedIf you’ll be driving a lot this summer, keep focused on the road.

Vacationers and commuters try to text, apply makeup or attempt to

read maps while they drive. This makes a trip down the highway way

more dangerous, so don’t contribute to the problem.

PHOTO BY WILL ANDERSON

PHOTO COURTESY OF GROUCHYRABBIT.COMPHOTO COURTESY OF FOTOPEDIA.COM

3wednesday, may 4, 2011

14

With summer just around the corner, college students everywhere are trading in their winter boots and thick sweaters for a lighter, more colorful wardrobe. But students do not have to break the bank in order to keep up with the latest trends. Instead, they can easily and affordably transition their closet by updating their look with a few key pieces.

Floral prints

A big trend for summer is wearing anything with floral print, whether it is a puffy miniskirt or wedge platform heels. Floral prints are good for perking up basic pieces, but be sure to avoid going overboard and only wear one floral item at a time,

such as pairing a flirty floral tank top with khaki shorts. Sophomore Lyndsay Burch said floral print sundresses are also a

reasonable option because they are easy to accessorize. “A few floral dresses and a white dress can be nice to dress up and

down,” Burch said. “Wear them with flip flops and these pieces can be day-time wear, put them with some heels and nice accessories and they can be nice for going out.”

Brightly-colored shoes and accessories

Another way to dress up basic pieces is enhancing them with brightly-colored accessories,

such as long necklaces, jewel tone handbags and colorful headbands. Brightly colored sandals and flats are also good for adding extra sparkle to a basic outfit, making them great to wear with darker tops and dresses worn during winter.

Mix, match and layer winter and summer pieces

Layering is a good method for recycling older items.Stash the tights you would typically wear with dresses in the winter

and go barelegged with a pair of peep toe heels. You can also pair light sweaters with camisoles and shorts or wear a light scarf with a spaghetti strap dress.

“I do buy basic pieces, like one or maybe three spring outfits, and then I still wear my jeans and light scarves in the summer,” freshman Devon Clark said.

Add pieces that reflect daring trends

A few of the most popular trends for this summer are

70s bohemian, punk rock and nautical pieces, so shake up your wardrobe by choosing items that echo these styles. A navy striped T-shirt with skinny jeans is a good for a nautical style, while flowing maxi dresses will give you a bohemian feel.

These pieces can be found at local vintage and thrift stores, so there is no need to blow your bank account at the mall.

Junior Kelly Mead said she thinks it is important to remember that less is more in the purchasing process.

“I have a job on campus, but it is much better for me to buy a couple of things instead of a whole new wardrobe because that’s kind of ridiculous,” she said.

Trends to expect for fall 2011

• Bold Red• Ponchos• Plaid• High Slits• Duster Coats• Bright Pants

Information from shopinfluence.com

lauren.ramsdell

Chances are you’ve at least considered summer

classes. Far from the days of high school when summer

was for hanging at the pool, sleeping in until noon or

maybe making a little money, summer in college can be

a way to get ahead of the game.

Elon makes it easy to take classes during the summer.

There are two sessions offered, one offered June 1

— July 1, and one from July 11 — Aug. 1. On-campus

classes are offered both times, but online classes are

only offered during the first session. However, both on-

campus classes and online classes cost $380 per credit

hour or $1,520 for a four credit course.

The condensed time frame makes summer classes

similar to Winter Term classes, where you can focus on

one subject at a time. It can be hard to pick what kind

of class to take and not every class is offered during the

summer. Here’s a guide to what kind of class you might

want and what time you should take it.

Physical proximity to Elon is essential to taking a

class on campus. If interning, working on or off campus,

or if you live within a 30-minute commute, taking a

class in person makes sense.

On-campus classes are also helpful if you need

structure in your classwork. If you know you can’t do

assignments with an ambiguous deadline, having a

professor encouraging you to get work done on time

is invaluable. Also,

online classes are run

through Blackboard,

so if you’re not

familiar with or don’t

like its interface, you

can save yourself

a headache by not

taking it.

Another benefit

of on-campus classes

is they are offered during both summer sessions. If

you’re busy, there is still time to take classes after July

1. If you got shut out of common classes for one of the

popular majors or one of the core requirements, they

are usually offered in the summer. Statistics, college

writing and basic communications classes are typically

available.

Online classes through Elon are very simple to take.

No matter where you are in the world, you are able to

take classes as long as you have an Internet connection.

This is perfect if you frequently travel during the

summer or need to move for an internship or want to

go back home. Online classes let you set your own pace

so you’re not squeezing your work schedule around

lecture times, if you are interning or working full time.

If you prefer to work on your own terms, there is

nothing so liberating as an online class. Procrastination

is a temptation, but if

you easily overcome

it, online classes can

be a breeze. They are

just as academically

challenging as

semester classes,

but you have more

free time during the

summer to devote to

homework, studying

and projects.

If you want to jump ahead on requirements, like

knocking out a civilization or society class, many

upper-level classes are offered online. It’s just a matter

of checking with your adviser to make sure those

classes fit in your graduation plan.

Online classes are also invaluable if you have an odd

summer schedule or can’t take class after July 1. Even if

you have a conflict during your online class term, such

as going on a week-long mission trip, simply e-mailing

the professor whose class you wish to take and working

out a make up work plan is easy as pie.

Regardless of what kind of class you can or need to

take, summer classes are a great way to further your

education. Taking classes at a local university can be

worked into a summer schedule. There are just more

steps involved to transfer credit.

easily and inexpensively update your summer wardrobekyra.gemberling

Online vs. traditional classes

On-campus classes are good if you:

• Are working on campus or nearby over the summer• Live nearby• Need structure or hate Blackboard• Can only take classes after July 1• Need to take a common prerequisite class, such as college writing or statistics

Online classes are good if you:

• Need to live far away from Elon during the summer• Need to work full-time• Like to work on your own time• Need a specific requirement, like an upper-level GST or Society class• Can only take classes before July 1

Which summer class style is best for you?

access memories,” King said. “It’s all

about activating prior knowledge.”

Students’ old memories need to be

stimulated in a proper way to recall

information when reviewing work

from previous classes, King said.

She said a key way to spark dusty

memories is to review notes before a

class begins.

“If students were self-regulated

learners, it would help a lot,” she

said.

Although summer vacation is

coveted by many, students need to

remember reviewing notes may be

necessary. Successful students look

over their notes daily, King said.

“The problem is that students often

don’t spend summer continuing to

learn, which ultimately is what they

need to be doing,” she said. “It is not

always case of retention of material

because learning is absolutely

voluntary.”

King referred to what is known

as the relearning curve: the speed at

which a student acquires knowledge.

“You take algebra and say you don’t

remember the material,” she said. “But

then, as you are learning, you learn

quicker because you remember parts

of the material. Spending the first

days and weeks of a class reviewing to

access this prior knowledge is really

important. You can’t start a class

without reviewing.”

Some students say the reviewing

process isn’t always an option.

Sophomore Ellie Erickson and

junior Sarah Graves say they haven’t

experienced review sessions in many

of their classes.

“My classes do not review at the

beginning of the year,” Erickson said.

“We hit the ground running. But I

think that reviewing is a necessary

part of learning.”

Graves agrees, saying classes

at Elon usually jump right into the

material of a course. But she said she

does feel it would be beneficial to

have review sessions after such a long

break.

“I feel that a refresher would

definitely be beneficial in all classes,”

she said. “Reviewing, I feel, will only

help us in the long run.”

Some students have found the

tutoring services on campus to be

a large help in bridging the summer

learning gap when class revision is

not a part of the course syllabus.

Tutoring services, located in Belk

Library, cater to students who need

help in a wide range of subjects, the

highest demanded being mathematics

courses.

“The fall semester is busier than

the spring,” said Laurin Kier, associate

director of tutorial services. “Our

number one demand is Math 112, or

general statistics.”

When students come into their

freshman year and are required to

take statistics, many assume it is

going to be difficult. According to

Kier, therefore, the Tutoring Center

is the place they turn to. The same

goes for other math classes during the

semester.

In September 2010, the Center

had 71 statistics, 48 accounting and

39 calculus tutoring sessions. These

three subjects make up the top three

most demanded courses, Kier said.

Kier agrees with King that students

should take a large part in the

reviewing process.

“If a student were continuing

a subject from high school and he

or she did not want to fall behind,

they should continue to look at the

material,” she said. “If they don’t

do that, I think that they will have

a rude awakening in college that

things move more quickly.”

As Graves and Erickson said,

students do not always have the

option to review in the classroom.

Therefore, it is up to students to

either push themselves or find an

alternative, like that provided by

the Tutoring Center.

“I think that the students that are

pretty well-prepared understand

concepts better,” Kier said. “Even if

they don’t understand the formula,

they understand why the formula

works the way it does. Those kids

are going to be able to pick it up

pretty quickly.”

For many college students,

summer vacation is a time to lie

in the sun and forget the hardest

calculus equation learned the past

semester. But students should

consider reviewing a textbook or

maybe something simpler.

“During the summer, you should

still be reading the news, reading

books and having intellectual

conversations with friends,”

Erickson said. “If you can keep that

up, I don’t think there is a summer

learning gap.”

4 wednesday, may 4, 2011

Editor: Sam Parker

Designers: Kristen Case, Marlena Chertock, Lina Patton, Gabriela

Szewcow

Photographer: Will Anderson

Copy Editors: Ashley Fahey, Eva Hill, Rebecca Iannucci, Kate Riley,

Edith Veremu

Contributing Writers: Sarah Dodge, Ashley Fahey, Kyra Gemberling,

Anna Hirschbiel, Melissa Kansky, Katie O’Brien, Lauren Ramsdell, Kate

Riley, Katy Steele

Elon Edge staff

Reviewing strategies help enforce learning retention

from page 1

Graphic by Kate Riley

it could be worse5wednesday, may 4, 2011

Than wondering how in the world most Americans obtained driver’s licenses.

How did you possibly pass if you can’t remember to drive FAST in the FAST lane.

Than taking a nap right before you go to bed - you need the extra energy to

change your clothes, wash your face and brush your

teeth.

THAN THINKING ALL THE ROYAL WEDDING COVERAGE WOULD SUBSIDE BECAUSE WILL&KATE FINALLY TIED THE KNOT. WHO KNEW NEWS ORGANIZATIONS

WERE SO INTERESTED IN WEDDING DRESS DESIGNERS AND

INVITATION PATTERNS?

Than thinking extreme couponers are crazy but secretly wishing you had the patience to search for 60 cent discounts every day. Who doesn’t want a $3 grocery bill?

Than running two miles a day - When is that “runner’s high” supposed to start kicking in again?

Than replacing a few of your eight glasses of water a day ... with beers. Come on, it’s

practically summertime.

Than watching re-runs of the Royal

Wedding every week from now

until July ... you’re simply taking

advantage of the history lesson.

THAN CONSIDERING

BLUEBERRY MUFFINS,

BANANA NUT BREAD

AND CARROT CAKE

HEALTHY OPTIONS

- THEY DO HAVE

FRUITS&VEGGIES IN

THEM ANYWAY, RIGHT?

{ {

Than not knowing what to do with the rest of your life, even though you’re graduating in less than a month ... you know what they say, you always have the rest of your life to figure it out.

Than deciding to get that trendy haircut ... and then wondering why you did. What am I supposed to do with this piece? It looked so good in the salon.

anna.hirschbiel

As the year comes to an end, changes are being

made throughout the Elon University campus. The

Class of 2011 is entering into the “real” world, while

the freshman class climbs the collegiate ladder.

“It’s hard to believe that my first year of college is

almost over,” freshman Kensey Gooch said. “It went by

so fast.”

Gooch will be continuing her education at Elon in

the fall.

“It will be nice not to be the new kids on the block

though,” said Gooch in regards to the upcoming

semester.

Some students are preparing for their first summer

internships. Sophomore Dean Coots is a media arts

and entertainment major with a concentration in

cinema and plans to intern at News 12 Connecticut as

a local news journalist this summer.

“I wish I could just press pause,” Coots said.

“Everyone says that it’s the best four years of your life

and I feel like it is going by way too quickly.”

Sophomore Christine Mavraganis has taken the

mandatory pre-internship seminars to prepare for

hers.

“I am really looking forward to doing something

that isn’t my forte to expand my horizons,” Mavraganis

said.

She will be working primarily with social media,

managing Twitter and Facebook accounts.

While some students are about to embark on a new

experience, others are returning from their semesters

abroad.

“This experience has been life-changing,” said

sophomore Bridget Riley, who is finishing this

semester in Ecuador. “However, despite how much I

love it here, it will be great to be back on campus in

the fall.”

But while Riley still has time at Elon, some students

do not.

“It’s very bittersweet,” said senior Kimberley

Campbell. “I have had so many amazing and unique

experiences here and met so many interesting people,

which makes leaving very difficult but it is extremely

exciting to be moving into the next chapter of my

life.”

Campbell is graduating in May with a business

degree.

“I feel torn between these incredible past four years

and the excitement and anticipation of venturing into

the real world,” she said.

With only a few more days of classes, the

enthusiasm of summer and the changes that come

with it are stirring around campus. Emotions are high

with exams around the corner and the pressure of

finishing the year strong. But the expectation of what

is to come keeps the student body moving forward.

“My future is completely up in the air at this point,”

Riley said. “But I can’t wait to see how it falls into

place.”

Different year, new experiences

Elon students prepare for academictransitions during summertime

6wednesday, may 4, 2011

ashley.fahey

The end of the semester is right

around the corner: jobs, internships,

summer courses and days of relaxation

are taking over students’ brains. But

one activity students may be forgetting

about is exercise. Between the craziness

of juggling commitments and the laziness

of the sweltering summer, it is easy to

disregard the gym, despite its importance

to every individual’s life and health.

One of the most popular excuses for

not working out is the unbearable heat

and humidity.

“The heart works two to four times

harder to move blood into the vessels,

which dilate as the body heats up,” said

Janice Zimmerman, professor of medicine

at Baylor College of Medicine. “Exercising

in the heat places extra stress on the heart

and this can be especially dangerous for

those with cardiac conditions.”

There are several key elements to

exercising outdoors during the summer:

avoiding outdoor activity between 10

a.m. and 2 p.m., avoiding direct sunlight,

wearing light-colored clothes, drinking

plenty of fluids and gradually exposing the

body to heat may help it adjust better to

the conditions, according to Zimmerman.

Another fact to keep in mind while

working out outdoors during the summer

is how the body reacts to the climate.

“The hotter it is, the harder your

body has to work,” said Todd Durkin,

owner of Fitness Quest 10 in San Diego.

“This is where a heart rate monitor

comes in handy. You can make sure

you’re not pushing yourself too hard in

warm weather conditions, which can

up your risk of heat exhaustion or even

heatstroke.”

But if the dripping humidity of summer

is too unbearable, other alternatives are

available. A local gym is always an air-

conditioned option in addition to aquatic

activities, such as swimming. Ice skating

and hockey are extreme ways to beat the

summer heat while still being active and

having fun.

If laziness is more of an issue when

it comes to staying motivated and being

active, then setting aside time just for a

gym run is the first step in ensuring that

physical fitness occurs, even during the

sluggish summer days.

“Look for something that you enjoy,”

said Sarah Luihn, a sophomore exercise

science major at Appalachian State

University. “Don’t try to go to the gym

every day because that’s just not realistic.

Also, as long as you make plans with

friends, you are more likely to keep it up.

For the super lazy people, definitely do

not try to exercise on your own because

it will work for about a day and then the

motivation turns into procrastination.”

Psychologically, it can be easy to fall

into the mindset that summer break is

a vacation from the normal, jam-packed

schedules of students during the academic

year, which frequently includes hitting

the treadmill. It can easily get forgotten

or associated as an activity

done at school, which is a

dangerous trap to fall into,

because staying active is

important year-round.

A third challenge

students may face this

summer is balancing

commitments, such

as a summer job or an

internship, with physical

activity. While both

internships and jobs

are time-consuming

and require dedication, exercise is still

important.

“The best thing to do is to look for

something close by,” said Luihn. “You

don’t need to factor in three hours a day

for exercise if you are busy, so try to do

something small or light during the

week like taking your dog on a walk or

going on a nature trail. Maybe look for

pickup sports teams through a nearby

community center because most of those

teams meet for pickup games at night.”

While breaking up workouts into small,

10-minute increments several times

throughout a day is not the most effective

way method, it is better than nothing.

On the busier days of summer vacation,

it is still manageable to incorporate mild

exercise, from stretching to crunches,

several times.

No matter what your summer plans

may be, whether it is an internship or

relaxing on the beach, be sure to factor in

gym time several times a week because it

is important to stay active during summer

vacation.

Beat the summer heatKeep motivation levels rising with the temperatures

Summertime Exercise Facts and Tips- Avoid outdoor activity from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

- Avoid direct sunlight- Wear light-colored clothing

- Drink lots of fluids before, during and after you exercise- The hotter it is, the harder your body works

- Pay attention to air quality levels — smog and heat don't mix- Make sure to wear sunscreen if exercising outside

- Pay attention to the signals your body is giving you — if you start to feel pain or discomfort, stop your workout

- Check your pulse every so often

Information courtesy of Janice Zimmerman and ultimatefitnesshealth.com

PHOTOS BY WILL ANDERSONAbove: Jake Goldsberry works on toning his legs while working out. Below Left: Taylor Shaw efficiently uses her workout time by combining cardio with reading for class. Below Right: Molly Jackson and Shaw add time on the ellipticals during their workouts.

katy.steele

With only a few weeks left of school, it’s almost

time to head home for summer. You know what that

means: cookouts, picnics, s’mores and more. But just

how bad are those treats? Check out this guide to

check up on our favorite healthy, and not so healthy,

summer treats.

Is frozen yogurt actually better for you than

ice cream?

Nina Marinello, sports nutritionist at the University

of Albany, says not necessarily.

Frozen yogurt actually has a lot of the same

ingredients as ice cream, but instead of being made

with cream, it’s made with non-fat milk. At TCBY,

both 4 ounces of frozen yogurt and hand-scooped ice

cream will get you the same amount of calories, 110.

But the frozen yogurt has zero grams of fat, while the

ice cream has three. Of the two, ice cream will almost

always have more fat, but frozen yogurt often has the

same or more sugar, especially when it’s doused with

toppings. No matter which frozen dessert you love,

just remember to enjoy it in a reasonable portion.

Do you really need eight glasses of H2O a

day?

Dr. Heinz Valtin a Dartmouth College medical

professor, says he’s debunked this myth. The

amount of water you drink is really determined by

your individual diet and size. A more accurate way

to estimate how much you need is to divide your

body weight by 50 and multiply that number by

three, says Wendy Bailey, a digestive health expert

at Probiotics.org. If you weigh 150 pounds, shoot for

around nine 8-ounce glasses of water each day.

Baked chips versus regular chips?

As far as nutrition goes, it looks like baked

chips might be the winner. Baked chips have all the

crunch without all the fat of regular chips. A 1-ounce

serving, about 15 chips, of Baked Lays has two

grams of fat compared to 10 grams of fat in regular

chips. Although you’re only saving about 30 calories,

the lower fat content definitely makes baked chips

healthier. Try them with vegetable salsa to add back

some of the flavor.

Are hot dogs really that bad for you?

Hot dogs tend to get a bad rep.

A 1994 study linked children’s hot dog

consumption with an increased risk for childhood

leukemia. The reason? Nitrite. Nitrites give hot dogs

their pinkish color, help preserve the meat and add

flavor. But the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food

Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) says these

nitrites react with amines in human stomachs to form

nitrosamines, which are known to cause cancer.

Many hot dog brands have nitrites listed on the

ingredient label, but the Cancer Prevention Coalition

recommends consuming only nitrite-free products

like Oscar Mayer’s Select brand of hot dogs, which are

labeled as “No nitrates or nitrites added.”

Other ingredients are also questionable. The first

three ingredients in Oscar Mayer hot dogs are listed

as, “Mechanically separated turkey and mechanically

separated chicken and pork.” This mechanically

separated meat is a paste-like substance made when

bones with attached edible meat are ran through a

high-pressure sieve. The FSIS said bone marrow,

spinal cord and fine bone particles are included in

the final product. The substance was declared safe by

the FSIS in 1982, but to avoid it altogether, opt for a

brand like Hebrew National, made with 100 percent

kosher beef.

7wednesday, may 4, 2011

“Advice from “Mom”

Take comfort in natural change

Love,Mom

FACTorFICTION?

The truth about summertime treats

Even though frozen yogurt is made with non-fat milk instead of cream, a 4-ounce cup of it has the same amount of calories as one scoop of ice cream at TCBY.

PHOTO BY WILL ANDERSON

Although you only save approximately 30 calories per bag, the reduced fat content of baked chips versus regular chips accounts for their healthy factor.

PHOTO BY WILL ANDERSON

Nitrite and other commonly used ingredients found in hot dogs are believed to be cause cancer.

PHOTO BY WILL ANDERSON

The end of the movie "Grease"

is cliche, but it ’s true for me. Every

summer, I always promise to

hang out with my girlfriends, do

everything I didn’t have time to

do during the year while the kids

were in school and look forward to

having an eventful three months.

And although ambition is a good

trait, it doesn’t mean it's a reality.

At the end of every August, I

realize I didn’t see my friends as

much as I wish I had and I didn’t

do everything I wanted to. I feel

like I wasted my entire summer

being unproductive while failing to

advance myself either academically

or socially.

But the truth is, I'm not the

same.

Even if we don’t go through the

transformations we plan to, we are

constantly forced to transform in

life.

The more obvious transitions

often have greeting cards made for

them. Happy Birthday, Congrats

Grad!, Happy Mother’s Day, and

Sorry for your loss are just a few.

For example, you might say,

“I’m graduating.” But I bet most

of the time, you don’t realize how

impactful graduating or other

changes are. Most of the time, we

are too caught up in the moment to

realize the overall affect.

This is something that I have yet

to grasp, even after a marriage and

two kids. I often tell people I still

feel the same as I did in the fifth

grade. But since then, I’ve been

to college, lived on my own and

traveled to different continents. I

don’t look like I did in fifth grade,

and I’ve switched all my Madonna

CDs over from my Discman to my

iPod.

The beauty of unrealized

transitions are that they enable us

to grow unknowlingly.

Just like the metamorphosis

of ideas throughout history, we

are able to naturally weed out the

things that don’t jive with us while

we are able to carry the things that

are important to us throughout our

journeys.

But like the thousands of

revisions and copies that it takes to

make the semi-finalized doctrines

we have today, it takes thousands

of tries in our own lives to figure

out exactly who we want to be.

Hopefully, after multiple attempts,

these instances not only affirm, but

fossilize and immortalize what we

think is most important.

So as you go into this summer

thinking about all the things you’re

going to accomplish, remember

that many changes worth keeping

will happen naturally. You don’t

have to make an intentional note to

transform yourself. Transformation

will come with time.

Never change because you

feel you have to. You are perfect

the way you are, and you’re only

getting better.

8 wednesday, may 4, 2011

The connotation of summer is no

work, but with internships, jobs and

travel programs, students’ summer

vacation plans are rarely relaxing. Elon

University sophomore Sarah Davenport

and junior Margaret Spotts further defied

the definition and fit an entire nation into

their summer plans.

The two girls biked over hills in

Savannah, through flat planes in Kansas,

up 30-mile mountains and after crossing

nine states, ended their six-week journey

on the shores of California.

“It’s really hard to describe my biking

trip because words don’t describe it,”

Davenport said. “We finished at the Santa

Monica Pier. We got there and we dressed

in red, white and blue because we had just

biked across America, and we screamed

as we drove down the last road, which

was 15 miles.”

When arriving at the beach, the bikers

removed the front tire and ran into the

Pacific Ocean.

“I think the trip was mostly about the

hidden surprises that came up along the

way,” Spotts said.

Although Davenport said she expected

biking over the Rocky Mountains to be

the most difficult part of the trip, she said

the hills in Georgia and the marathons of

flat areas were the biggest challenges.

“It was the hardest thing I have

ever done, by far, but it was the most

rewarding,” Davenport said.

Davenport recalled waking up at 4

a.m. to pack up the campsite and biking

approximately 75 to 80 miles until

reaching the next site at 5 p.m. Davenport

and Spotts traveled with a group of 13

students and two leaders as part of the

American Challenge, an Overland Bike

and Tours program.

The leaders motivated the participants

and pushed them past their boundaries,

Spotts said.

“One of the leaders put a bell on my

bike and one of the hardest moments

was when I looked down and the bell was

gone,” Spotts said. “Just by looking at the

bell, I found encouragement.”

The leaders showed that although

the journey is hard, the sense of

accomplishment outweighs the struggle,

Davenport said.

Although their dive into the Pacific

Ocean signaled their achievement, the

leaders’ encouragement still resonates

with them.

“I am working for the company this

summer and the reason is that the

leaders were just so remarkable that I

want to give the same experience that I

had,” Davenport said.

Overland hired Davenport to perform

administrative tasks for three weeks and

to lead three one-week biking and hiking

trips for fourth and fifth-graders.

In 2010, Spotts served as the leader for

seventh and eighth-graders and is leading

a bike trip for high school students this

summer. Even while participating, Spotts

said she always made a conscious effort

to motivate her peers.

Davenport recalled Spotts comforting

her during an especially challenging day

and staying in the back with those who

were struggling more.

“I really learned so much about

myself doing the biking trips like I can

be a leader and I can achieve all of these

things and that people like me for who I

really am,” Spotts said. “Having learned

so much about myself through those

trips, I really wanted to help those kids

find themselves.”

Although the physical challenge

initially attracted Davenport to the

program, she strongly values the

opportunity to leave her corner of the

universe and push her limits, she said.

Davenport attended the same school

for 14 years and went to the same church

her entire life. The American Challenge

allowed her to meet and interact with

new people in an unfamiliar setting.

“That’s what I want to do for the

fourth and fifth-graders: push them out

of their comfort zone and make sure they

try something new,” she said.

Although her summer job is not a

traditional one, Davenport’s experience

with Overland contributes to her career

aspirations.

“My major is sport and event

management, so after college I want to do

something in the recreation business,” she

said. “My leader from American Challenge

does work for Overland full time, and that

is something I would like to do.”

Spotts’ service as a leader for Overland

also influences her career goals.

“I always wanted to be a teacher, so it

hasn’t influenced me one way or another,”

she said. “But it has made me realize that

I love working with kids and teaching

them to be who they really can be,” she

said.

melissa.kansky

Crossing the country:Two Elon students spent one summer biking across the United States together

Photo by Will Anderson

Photos Above And beloW submitted

Top right: Spotts on her bike. Spotts, with Davenport, spent her summer biking across nine states through a program called the American Challenge. Top left: Davenport’s brother did the same trip three years ago and came out to visit her in Santa Monica as she finished the trip. Bottom right: The entire group together at the Santa Monica Pier after finishing their cross-country journey. Bottom left: Davenport and Spotts on the last day of the bike ride.