Phonathon

Well, well, well.  What a tremendous semester for Phonathon!  I find myself, sadly, writing this last blog, trying to hold on to what memories I have from Phonathon.  Haha!  Yeah RIGHT!  There’s a whole other semester of calling on the way!  With calling starting up again in February, I think I’ll be at a loss during J-Term.  What to do when you’re not earning money for your favorite college, helping others receive a hidden scholarship of over $4,000???  Being my first J-Term here at Messiah, I decided to give it my all and sign up for a full spring schedule as well as a class to take during January.  So, in between studying the Economics of Social Issues, eating and sleeping, there has to be be some room for in there for entertainment.  Oh, yes.  Coming from Maine, where we use sleighs and snowmobiles more that cars and bikes during the winter, I need some way to fulfill my winter itch: skiing.  What better opportunity to hit the “slopes” than our local hill: Round Top.  Now, granted, I know skiing in southern Pennsylvania isn’t exactly up to par with the beautiful mountains in Maine, but when asked if I’d prefer being able to ski vs. not skiing….my answer would be ski.

Coming back next semester will be a time of change for the Phonathon with the introduction of Lori Breighner, the new Phonathon coordinator.  We all are excited to begin working for Lori, but we will miss Anthony very much.

Messiah is a great place to be!  Working for Phonathon is just as great as well…think about it - you’re at Messiah, helping other students who are attending Messiah, what could make for a better combination?  Skiing in Maine, and attending Messiah while working for 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.

Working at Phonathon is AWESOME!  No, I did not get paid to just say that, but it’s true-Phonathon is the place to be if you’re excited about helping Messiah continue to grow.  When I originally applied for the job I was really looking forward to the new environment, meeting new people, and having the chance to acquire many different skills unique to Phonathon.  It was a relief to be able to only have to sit in a chair and work on a computer, which is much easier than my summer jobs.

 Wait!  Before I get into that I realized I have not yet introduced myself.  My name is Quinn Dillon and I am a freshman here at Messiah.  I am from Exeter, Maine and am studying Business to pursue an entrepreneurial career.  Coming from Maine, I have spent most of my life working on my family’s farm and have learned that if I ever wanted to succeed in life, hard work best answer.  I spent this past summer working on a local potato farm during the day and then would drive half an hour into Bangor in order to work at a golf-supply retailer.  I knew that in order to cover my tuition I would need to earn money from scholarships as well as my own labors.  Working 13+ hour days, in the hot sun on the farm as well as working in the mall really motivated me to work my best so that I could enjoy my time here at the College, which is just what I’m doing!

 Already I have been in the creek, played “corn hole” for the first time, participate in Rec. Sports, and enjoyed the surrounding town of Grantham on my bike.  Coming to Messiah is definitely a learning experience, both in my educational and spiritual life.  Being involved at Messiah is what made the difference for many of the Alumni I speak with.  I also enjoy offering what I can, personally, to the college. 

 I recently had the opportunity to play my bagpipes for the presentation of the “whiteout” student section at homecoming last weekend, which was incredible!  I had so much fun both playing as well as cheering our teams on. GO FALCONS!  Messiah is extraordinary and there’s no comparison-where else do you get to cheer for teams with multiple national championships, praise God, and be a part of an experience that will truly last a lifetime and beyond?

Wow! I can hardly believe that the first semester here at Messiah College is halfway over. It seems that move-in day and parents’ weekend were all just yesterday. As many of us are consumed within papers, activities, and commitments alike; it’s very difficult to notice how time just appears to evaporate. Already I have witnessed the excitement of both Men’s and Women’s soccer here at Messiah, in addition to having the chance to watch our field hockey team dominate in their home-opener against Seton Hill. Its tough going to a school where God has blessed us with such talented students—isn’t it? 

My time here at the College has been a very busy, yet productive one. I am currently working for the Phonathon program and, frankly, I am having a blast! Not only do I get to meet all sorts of alumni and parents from around the country (possibly world too) and acquire the priceless skill of effective communication, but I have the chance to promote the school from a very personal perspective. This is something that could only come from me, which is satisfying for me as well as the gracious individuals on the other end of the line as well.

What has Messiah done for me? So far, I am extremely satisfied with my choice of school. Messiah has surrounded me in the God-loving environment that I was initially seeking. I have been welcomed with open arms, it is now up to me to extend my own desire to approach and take advantage of the many opportunities that lie before me.
God Bless,
Quinn Dillon

Packing feels terribly surreal. Actually, I’m still in denial and my section of the room remains untouched. My roommate, however, decided to pack a majority of her things last night. I informed her that I have no intention of leaving, so she’s welcome to put everything back.
At the moment, I’m a little bit exhausted. Between preparing for finals and finding any spare moment to hang out with friends before leaving, I ended up with two hours of sleep the other night. Let it be known that I certainly don’t recommend it.
I’m definitely excited for summer, despite the loss of my beloved room. I plan to work as a camp counselor for the majority of the time, and I’m really looking forward to it. Ten weeks of hiking, swimming, running, climbing, jumping, singing, spending time with hundreds of new people, and of course, bonfire-ing sounds like a fantastic way to ease the pain of leaving campus for three months!

I am a passionate supporter of diversity among answering machines. Stating the obvious fact that it adds a little extra spice to my job, I always find joy in listening to the efforts of the particularly creative prospects. One favorite includes the Fake-Out message.
The call goes something like this:

“Hello?”
“Hi! My name is Bethany and I’m…”
“I’m sorry that we’re not available to take your call, please leave a message.”

These answering machines leave me feeling foolish, if not rather amused. During the course of the evening, I talk to numerous prospects, though the majority of the calls result in answering machine messages.I was surprised to learn this last fall as a new caller, listening repeatedly to friendly messages that begin with anything from “Hi”, to “Greetings!”, “Hullo”, and “Yes! You’ve reached [insert name of enthusiastic supporter of the Student Impact Fund].” Several times each shift, I encounter the Way Too Fast messages. These, typically involving a computerized voice or that of an especially straightforward prospect, force me to scramble frantically for the hang up button to escape leaving an accidental non-message.I now have every intention of inspecting my own answering machine message when I return home in two weeks. With such enormous possibilities for a fun experience, I would hate to deny anyone the pleasure of leaving a message at my house.

As fellow students began to register for housing, I picked up on the rather disconcerting discussion of whether or not to make the adjustment. Moving from Witmer to Grantham, or from Naugle to Mountain View for that matter, entails a dramatic shift in life perspective of which I found myself previously unaware.

Exploring the concept further, it appears as though the general consensus views the transition as quite monumental. I made the mistake of pointing out the modest size of Messiah’s campus during lunch one day. After facing the wide-eyed stares of several friends, I made a quick change of subject, and then dove into my beloved macaroni and cheese for refuge. (As a side note, yesterday they set up a cookie table in Lottie. Dinner finished on a particularly blissful note as the extension of Dessert Ave. provided fresh, warm chocolate cookies with chocolate chips on one end of the table, several large bowls of candy and icing in the middle, and delightfully warm sugar cookies to balance out the other end.

We now move back to my housing situation. With all of this in mind, I sat down at my computer to register for housing, not without a little concern. Slightly panicked, I made a quick review of the housing options and signed up for Mountain View. I instantly questioned my decision, however, realizing the improbability of rooming near a large group of my friends. It was at that moment I made the decision. Quickly texting my roommate, we agreed to find a room in Grantham. So I did.

And here I sit: mildly concerned, mildly hopeful, mildly mild. Hopefully I don’t regret this.