Phonathon

Thanksgiving has passed and we’re winding down here at Phonathon.  Winding down?  HA!  Yeah right!  Things are just heating up.  Here are some little updates from Phonathon for the end of November: President Phipps visited the Phonathon Headquarters last night, although I was not working (unfortunately) I heard it was a great time.  With break breathing down our necks, we find ourselves even closer to our goal.  With a great season this past fall anticipations of spring calling are high, with calling starting back up in February.

With the change of seasons comes the change of sports here at Messiah.  As a first-year student, I was unfamiliar with other teams in our conference as well as our rival schools.  I now know that E-Town = Bad and that we have a very fine soccer program here, in both Men’s and Women’s soccer.  Basketball season has begun and I look forward to attending home games, and maybe even some close away games.  The men are 1-2 on the season and the women are undefeated, what more could we ask for?

Another sport of interest that really falls under the radar here at Messiah is our men’s club ice hockey team who play at Twin Ponds West Hockey Rink, which is about 15 minutes from the school.  The Falcons club team consists of twelve students from the College whose combined efforts have earned the team their 6-3-1 record-an impressive record for the clubs inaugural season.  The link for information on the team can be found at: http://twinponds.com/hockey/ps.htm (then click on the NATIONAL division link)

Well that wraps it up for this week at Messiah’s Phonathon, check out some of the new sports in town (or is it officially the “Village” because Grantham is called the Village of Grantham) and stop by for some exciting times as we come to an end during this first semester.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner!  Although I’m still wearing shorts and light jackets, the inevitable cold is most definitely bearing down upon us here at Messiah.  I really can’t wait for it to start snowing!! Who likes cold without snow?? The word “cold” here in the Village of Grantham has very different meanings from where I come from.  “OH NO! It’s 50 degrees outside-NORTH FACE time!!!!” “Um, no…in Maine that’s more like time to start up the grill, cook some hotdogs, and go swimming in a lake.”  I guess it’s all what we are used to, but isn’t college supposed to be about trying new things and immersing one’s self in the culture?  Apparently, when it comes to weather, individual submissions to “culture” are forgotten. 

On the topic of weather, before bible class today, a few peers and myself were casually discussing the rain here at Messiah.  It seems that the rain floats down in odd patterns only to redirect itself so that it appears as if it is coming on horizontally.  One fellow added, “Well I’m from Jersey, we don’t have weird rain like this, just normal rain.”  I replied: “I’m from Maine; we don’t even have rain, only snow.”  That caught their attention.

This week is Spirit Week here at Messiah!  How appropriate. Especially with both of our soccer teams doing terrific in the playoffs, also known as “November Nuttiness”.  I’m so excited to watch another quality men’s match on Saturday!  It’s very hard going to a school where you’re so good you have to host the playoff rounds because you dominate constantly.  I guess we’ll just have to deal with it.  As I was headed into chapel today, I was sprung upon by our very own Fandango the Falcon! After exchanging high-fives and evading an attempted lure into the Campus Store I found my way back en route to chapel, I had only seen our mascot once on Homecoming, but I think it’s terrific!

So that’s what’s happening in the Phonathon world, stay tuned for more great updates!

Winter is on its way and Phonathon is cooler than ever. Seriously. You never really know what temperature the call center is going to be–so, like the Boy Scouts say: “Be Prepared”. Prepared? Yes, prepared for anything. Somedays its colder than a polar bear’s icebox, while other days it seems like the air is hotter than the winds of the Sahara. Although, I never have been to the Sahara, so I don’t know for sure about that one. Anyways, you still never know what it’s going to be like–almost like an adventure of sorts. In order to counter the elements of the call center and remain focused on my main goal of calling our great alumni, I now dress in layers.

Something about Messiah, which I particularly enjoyed this past week, was the opportunity to have “Pizza with the Pres.”–the chance to meet Messiah’s very own, Dr. Kim Phipps and have a nice chat over some pizza. Dr. Phipps was at the Witmer Residence (wherest I reside) and allowed us to share a very unique experience, being able to express our feelings and opinions with the President without having to pass through rounds and rounds of selective screening. Messiah is truly a great place to be.

So that wraps up yet another week of Phonathon. The place where calls are made and lives are changed.

Another call, another day as they say in the Phonathon world.  I have never had the privilege of living in a house that used an answering machine.  After listening to about one hundred machines I have experienced more styles of being able to answer ones phone without actually being home than I had ever imagined possible before.  I really get a kick from the ones that are full-length feature radio programs-starring all 4 kids, mom, dad, and the pet dog.   Who could have imagined that creating a simple message to receive a message could be so complicated?  Not I.  Another call, another day.

I enjoy working for Phonathon because in addition to paying for college, and meeting great people - I also get to share my own story and have a quality conversation with our alumni and parents; something that is truly original with Phonathon.  The thing that makes it all the more enjoyable is the fact that I can be myself on the phone and share my own experiences from Messiah and compare them with alumni and even get tidbits of advice from them as well, which is always a kicker.

My experience at Phonathon has also begun to leak into my own life outside of the calling center.  I find myself answering phones more professionally, or even thinking about asking my friends if they’d consider giving to the college this year - of course we can break that down into as many as four installments and even delay that gift up to three months-wait, what am I doing? 

It’s addicting, and it’s a blast. Many times, Phonathon doesn’t seem like “work” but rather a time for me to talk to people all across the country about how great their college is and tell them my story, plans, and goals for the future.  That’s why I’m here, to get the most out of my experience at Messiah College-something that wouldn’t be possible without help from the student impact fund.  Another call, another day.