Three Cups of Tea

Greg Mortenson, co-author of the bestseller Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Mission to Promote Peace… One School at a Time, spent last Thursday on the Fort Lewis College campus. Three Cups of Tea is the College’s Common Reading Experience selection for the 2008-2009 academic year.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see Mr. Mortenson speak--I was meeting with students in Fort Collins, Colo. In talking to FLC students who attended the event, they were impressed with Mr. Mortenson's committment and vision. Many students walked away feeling that they could make a difference--that it doesn't take an extraordinary individual to combat the problems in the world today. Mortenson reiterated the benefit of a global effort: "If we wanted to we could eradicate global illiteracy in 15 years," he said. "The price tag for that is $6 billion per year for 15 years - $90 billion dollars. It sounds like a lot of money, but it's only about $1 or $2 per child per month."

Mortenson's efforts over the past few years have focused on raising awareness for his Central Asia Institute. The Institute was co-founded by Mortenson in 1996 to help build schools and support other projects throughout Central Asia, namely in Afghanistan and Pakistan. To date, Mortenson has helped build over 60 schools in Central Asia. Due in part to Mortenson's efforts, today more than 6 million children in Afghanistan and Pakistan are pursuing an education as opposed to 800,000 children just a few years ago.

The Fort Lewis College Common Reading Experience began in 2006 with Folding Paper Cranes. Last year, students read Mountains Beyond Mountains. The Common Reading Experience provides an intellectually-engaging and community-building experience for our freshmen class. Each year's book is provided to new freshmen and is incorporated into all freshmen Rhetoric and Writing classes. Presentations by the authors, panel discussions, films and other events are arranged throughout the year to extend and complement the ideas presented in the book.

Have you read Three Cups of Tea? If so, post your thoughts on the book.

Or, if you have any suggestions for next year's Common Reading Experience, post your suggestions as well.

Attending a College Fair

A chill is in the air, the leaves are starting to change colors and grocery stores are carrying Halloween candy. For most people, these signs signify that Fall is on its way. For college admission counselors, it is a sign that the college fair season has arrived. This week I will be representing Fort Lewis College at a variety of fairs in Colorado. I start with two high school visits in the Pueblo area and will work my way north to Fort Collins. Five nights. Five different hotels. After 1,500 miles of driving, I know I will sleep well this weekend.

For students who haven't attended a college fair, here are some pointers.

What is a college fair? A college fair is typically held at a high school or a local hotel or convention center. Smaller fairs often include colleges and universities from just your state while larger events colleges statewide as well as out-of-state colleges and universities. These events provide you with an opportunity to chat with college representatives and help you find the colleges that may be right for you.

How should I prepare for a college fair? Find out which colleges will attend your fair. You usually can find out the list of colleges from your high school counselor. Spend some time researching the schools on the internet. Several education websites have search features that can help you determine good college "matches" for you. Prepare address labels with your name and contact information (include your e-mail) so that you can spend more of your time speaking with the representatives as opposed to filling out your personal information with each college. Develop a list of questions that you want to ask (i.e., the size of the school, admission requirements, majors offered, tuition, and scholarship). Bring a pencil/pen and a notebook to take notes.

What should I do at the fair? Be sure to visit the schools that interest you, but also save time to visit with all of the schools as there might be one or two schools that you haven't heard of that are a good fit for you. Ask for a business card from each of the representatives--this will help you follow up with school once you develop a short list of schools to which you plan to apply. Be polite. Make eye contact and shake hands with the representatives. Also, be sure to dress appropriately.

Do I need to do anything after the fair? Sit down with the materials that you've picked up and sort through them. Talk with a parent or counselor about which schools you like and try to find if there are any common themes between the schools. Begin a running list of schools to which you might apply. This will become your short list of schools. Try to include a list of pros and cons for each school on your short list. Using the business cards that gathered, send thank you notes to the schools that are on your short list. If you haven't visited your short list schools, begin to schedule visits.

Move-in Day

Move-in Day was last week. It was great to see our freshmen students settling into their new homes. As part of Move-in Day, Fort Lewis faculty and staff are there to lend a hand. Our involvement shows families that we care about their students and want to make Fort Lewis feel like a home away from home. After a long day of moving boxes and furniture, I was tired.

But I also had developed a Top 10 list for moving into dorms:

10. Measure your room first. I saw a good number of disappointed students who couldn't fit their extra-long couch into their room.

9. Hang a dry erase board on the exterior of your door so that friends can leave you messages.

8. Call your roommate prior to Move-In Day so that you can divide up items to bring such as TV, stereo, Wii, etc.

7. Bring posters. Add some of your personality to your walls.

6. Bring flip-flops or shower shoes for trips to the bathroom.

5. Don't use nails or screws when hanging up items. You'll pay for these marks on Move-Out Day.

4. Ask your parents to send care-packages to you. There's nothing like a care-package from home in the middle of the semester. An instant pick-me up.

3. Bring food and snacks. It might be a while before you make it to the grocery store. Stock up in advance.

2. Bring a hand-truck with wheels especially if you live on the 2nd floor. This will greatly ease your move-in process.

1. Enjoy the day, and get to know your hallmates. You'll spend a lot of time in your dorm. Be social and have fun!