Toast! Prost! With Dean Hanna the host!

Florida State University Panama City is carrying on a special graduation tradition. The new dean, Dr. Hanna, will host and toast all fall graduates Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, in the Holley Lecture Hall.

Coming on the heels of Hanna’s permanent appointment, he will offer an official hearty congratulation to the newly minted alumni of FSUPC. Having been a student at the undergraduate, post- graduate and doctoral levels, Hanna has a deep appreciation and respect for the commitment it takes from every student to pursue their education.

The event will feature a champagne toast (for those over 21 years of age), appetizers and even live music. It will provide a well-deserved treat to all the graduates who will have just completed their final week of classes for their program of study. What a great way to start off any graduation celebration weekend.

The Dean’s Toast is a relatively new tradition to the Panama City campus, modeled after a tradition on the Tallahassee campus. It was started in fall 2015 to honor the hard work and dedication of the students at Panama City. With the permanency of his new post, Hanna has shown a commitment to honoring this new tradition and continuing it for graduates every semester. The event is for both undergraduate and graduate students who have qualified for December graduation.

The FSUPC Alumni Association will be on hand coordinating the events of the evening. They will also be connecting students to their new benefits as alumni.

The Dean’s Toast will be a special moment to honor you, the graduate. Prost!

— Ann Yarko

contributing writer

My adult life: Chaos topped with sprinkles of success

College seemed like a great idea when I started the journey 15 years ago. I always assumed I would attend college when I grew up. I was a creative, outgoing and smart kid. I had two older brothers, and the least I could do to get attention was to be really good at something. The only way I was ever going to afford college was to get a scholarship or pay my own way. It was a minor setback, so I started working at a local restaurant when I was 16.

As a teenager, waiting tables was an eye-opening experience. I was paid $2.15 per hour plus measly tips, and I always worked the least busy shift of the day. I would stand in the restaurant sweeping after a long shift watching all of my friends drive down the street to watch a movie on a Saturday night. Experiences like that began the foundation of what I believe is a strong work ethic.

I graduated high school in June 2000. I had been accepted to the two schools I applied to. One was 15 minutes from home, and the other was five hours away. I didn’t qualify for any grants, and my parents said student loans weren’t such a great idea. They just couldn’t afford to put a second kid through college at the time.

“I think you should get a more stable job, stay here at home, and start at the community college,” my father said. “You could build your savings and make a sound decision about what you want to do next.”

I took the final semester of high school to make a decision that would impact the rest of my life. I decided I would go to school closer to home and follow my father’s advice. As graduation drew near, though, I decided I wanted to move somewhere else and try to experience life on my own. I met with my parents one night after dinner and told them I decided I was moving to Austin, Texas. I would live with another friend who was moving there until I got on my feet and I would start school the following spring. The look of fear washed over my mom’s face.

“We will support your decision to move and have this time for yourself, but it’s on you to come up with rent and living expenses,” my mom said. “We will help you move up there, but the rest is on you.”

It was the first time I was really terrified about anything. That’s a feeling I would revisit again over the next few years. I moved five times during my first year in Austin, lived in my car for a few days between places and learned what trust was. Life wasn’t always scary, there was also a lot of excitement. I would feel a combination of both before countless interviews, dates, and inspections of my work.

I started college for the first time in January 2001. I took two classes and quit halfway through the semester. I didn’t have anyone to hold me accountable, and I hadn’t learned how to manage my time properly between work, school, and living life as a young adult in the Live Music Capital of the World. I worked a few different jobs and in 2001 I started working full time for a large retail company. It was my main focus for 12 years. In 2007, I decided it would be a good time to go back to school, so I started part time at the local community college. I was able to really appreciate what I was learning, and I think some of that was because I was paying for it myself.

In 2011, I met my future husband and we moved to Georgia to start another adventure. Between 2012 and 2015, I attended five different colleges in four states. It was quite a struggle and in July 2015, we added a baby into the mix. I have lived most of my life as a woman of faith, but I have always known that faith alone wasn’t going to get me through. I had to work hard and prioritize my time to balance being a wife, a mother and a full-time student.

Life is nothing short of chaotic these days. I often think about how different my life would have been if I had taken the path of least resistance. There are times that I think sleeping in my car could feel like a luxurious vacation. It’s been quite the rollercoaster, and at times I have thought about throwing in the towel. When I think about the fact that after this semester I will only have six hours left until I graduate, I’m almost sad about it. It might be because school has been part of my routine for so long. I know some of it is because I’m terrified about what’s next for me. The decisions I made during my senior year of high school only affected me, and now I have a family, a mortgage and actual responsibilities.

I want to be successful during the next chapter of my life, and I hope that my hard work will guide me into becoming the best version of myself. One day when my daughter is 17, and we are sitting across the dinner table from her, I can list a thousand reasons why she should stay or at least be able to pay for her college as a bribe to keep her closer to home.

— Sandra de Arrigunaga

Four Crossed Logs intern

professional communication major

‘Tis the season for soup

As the temperature outside cools down, I find myself craving lovely warm soup. One of my favorites is carrot soup. I have childhood memories of my Granny serving homemade carrot soup when my family visited, and I have more clear memories of my mother making the same soup on many occasions.

A couple of years ago, I asked my mother for her recipe. She gave me a photocopy of the recipe she has always used. The original recipe is for French soup, Potage Crecy, from "The All Colour Freezer Cookery Book" by Madeline Fraser. There does not seem to be a copyright date listed in the book, but my mother estimates that she purchased it around 1980. The book is British, so I have adapted the recipe to use American measurements and terminology. I found the recipe to be a bit vague in places, so I have modified the steps as well.

This is a great recipe for college students, as it does not cost much to make, and it freezes and reheats very well. I love to serve this soup with a big piece of crusty French bread, and some chunks of sharp cheddar cheese.

— Phoebe Isaac

Four Crossed Logs intern

professional communication major

Carrot soup

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 pound of carrots, peeled and sliced
• 1 large potato, peeled and diced
• 32 ounces of chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon of fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon of sugar
• salt
• pepper
• 4 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream

Steps:

1.  Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.

2.  Add onions, and cook, stirring occasionally, until they begin to soften and become translucent (about 5 minutes).

3.  Add carrots and potato.  Stir to combine, then cover and cook for 5 minutes.

4.  Pour in the chicken stock.  Increase heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil.

5.  Add parsley, sugar, and salt and pepper to taste.  Stir to combine.

6.  Cover halfway, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until vegetables are soft and tender (about 30 minutes).

7.  Remove from heat and let rest about 5 minutes.

8.  Use a blender or handheld immersion blender to puree the soup mixture.

9.  Return soup to the saucepan, and heat over medium-low.  To serve, swirl a dash of cream into the soup and garnish with a sprinkling of fresh parsley.

10.  Refrigerate or freeze leftover soup.

Confessions of a young shopaholic: I have nothing to wear

Why do I do this? I wonder, as I walk through my closet, running my fingers across the tightly packed hanging blouses, sweatshirts and tank tops. I can count at least 10 blouses that I have worn only once, but I cannot fight the feeling of having nothing to wear.

I plop down onto the floor in the middle of my closet, wad my hair up in a bun and rub my temples until the stress of the situation subsides. Surely I have something to wear, I reason as I slowly rise to assess the situation once again. However, while weighing my options, all I can think about are those gorgeous suede knee-high boots on display at Dillard’s for $169. The new long-sleeve boutique blouses, Lucky Brand skinny jeans, dangling silver earrings, leather cross body bags and wool petty coats all gently whisper in my ear, “You need to go shopping.”

I find myself, once again, on the floor — this time laying on my back and staring at the ceiling with my eyes glazed over. What is wrong with me?

My conclusion:  I obviously need to go shopping. 

I am fully aware that I am falling into the fatal temptation of the materialistic demons, but it is just too late to try to crawl my way out now. My heart is racing with excitement as I log into my online bank account to determine how much destruction I can possibly get away with today.

My max budget is $66, so Dillard’s is obviously out of the question, but I can do some serious damage at TJ Maxx with that amount and still find my favorite brands. I grab my purse and throw on a pair of tight faded blue jeans and an old T-shirt that I got in high school. I tie a worn-out windbreaker around my waist, slip into my Nike tennis shoes and look at myself in the mirror. I laugh out loud, fully cognizant of my ridiculousness. I hop into my little black Altima and head to town.

My oversized $12 Jessica Simpson sunglasses cover most of my face, making me feel glamorous and mysterious, and I can’t help but turn up the radio when “Chainsmokers” comes on my station. I suddenly realize that I obviously need a Starbucks peppermint mocha before I start shopping, so I whip my car into the drive-thru. My endorphins are in full force as I take my first swig and tip the barista a little more than I probably should have.

My budget is now at $60, and I haven’t even made it to TJ Maxx. Before pulling out of Starbucks, I check my face in my rearview mirror and notice how smeared my eyeliner already is and how blotchy my foundation looks. I only left home 45 minutes ago, and my face already looks like a full day of distress.

I obviously need new make-up, so I pull out of Starbucks and head down the street to Sephora, the glorious store of all things beauty. I walk through the doors and am warmly greeted by beautiful full-face make-upped goddesses, and they begin to shower me with eyeliners, mascaras, foundations, eye shimmers, glosses and blushes. My little black shopping basket gets heavier and heavier as I dance through the store with the make-up goddesses, losing track of all time and money. I make my way to the cash register, sure of my responsible investment in beauty, but then I am knocked off of my castle balcony with a total of $123.64. My head feels lighter and lighter as I pass my little plastic card across the counter.

“Will that be all honey?” the lady asks with a charming little smile. “You know, if you spend $25 more you get an extra 15 percent discount.”

I swallow hard and nod. To my surprise, I am able to kindly refuse. As she swipes, my conscience is still eating away at my insides for spending this much money in the first place.

I leave the store with my little bag of make-up, which seemed like much more make-up before I purchased it. With an already busted budget, I decide that it would be pointless to go home now. I place my little plastic card back in my wallet and open up the hidden compartment to retrieve my other little plastic card. Today is a day for the golden card. Feeling empowered, I hop back into my little black Altima, touch up my make-up and head to TJ Maxx.

One of the greatest things about TJ Maxx is the fact that it offers buggies at the door. This luxury just isn’t available at Dillard’s, so I am already pumped about this experience. TJ Maxx offers the same favorite brands that I shop for at Dillard’s but for a fraction of the cost, so my little heart is filling with more joy by the second.

My senses are stimulated every which way I turn as I stroll slowly down the aisles. Pink Michael Kors hand bags, Calvin Klein sweat pants, Columbia pull over sweat shirts, hundreds of name brand blue jeans, Ivanka Trump dress wear, Steve Madden heels, and dear heavens at the Christmas themed throw pillows and blankets that are on display. I load it all in my buggy because I obviously need it all, and I bask in the glorious energy vitalizing the entire store. Hours seem like minutes as I make my way through, loading my buggy higher and higher with treasures. I decide to focus on savings rather than spending. If I save thousands but only spend hundreds, who is really ahead? Money is the root of all evil, so I better get rid of all of mine today.

Suddenly, I receive a voicemail from my husband.

“Hey honey, I just got home from work and noticed that you aren’t here. I hope you didn’t go shopping again this week,” he said in an almost desperate voice. “Call me back and let me know where you are as soon as you get this.”

My heart drops as I rush to the cashier. As she rings me up, I text my husband that I am almost home and begin formulating a story of why I had to run to town.

As I load my bags into my car, I see my reflection in the window. I look at myself for a moment and question my character. Who am I?

I am a young shopaholic, and I do not want help.

— Camerin Hatcher

Four Crossed Logs intern

professional communication major

Top 5 Christmas jams

There are a million Christmas songs out there, traditional and modern. Here is a list of my top 5 favorite holiday jams.

All I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey

Happy Xmas (War Is Over) – John Lennon

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays - *NSYNC

Drummer Boy (feat. Busta Rhymes) – Justin Bieber

Baby, It’s Cold Outside – Dean Martin

— Sandra de Arrigunaga

Four Crossed Logs intern

professional communication major

Stress less week: SGC is here to help

Are you studying for finals?

Student Government Council will be providing free snacks and playing games this week in the Holley Academic Center. All students are encouraged to come take a break and “stress less.”

Monday

• Muffins & Candy 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday

• Crackers & Fruit 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Board Game Night 5-9 p.m.

Wednesday

• Stress Putty Making 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Thursday

• Lemonade & Chocolate  8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sequence Gym 2-5 p.m.

— Camerin Hatcher

Four Crossed Logs intern

professional communication major