Meet the Students: Stephanie Metzger

The first in a series of blogs I’ll do about the people you meet around campus.  This “meet the people” will hopefully give you some insight into what I think truly makes Bentley the place it is. From students to professors to staff and everyone else, you’ll hear me emphasize that regardless of where you are, the people that are with you make the experience meaningful. I’ve been lucky enough to meet some awesome people along my four year journey and want to share them with you.

Steph and her sister

Name: Stephanie Metzger

How we met: This encounter was a little embarrassing for me. I am a staunch supporter of Bentley Women’s Volleyball (and all Bentley sports for that matter), and attend as many home games as I can. I had gotten to know some of the players and we would see each other around campus often. I introduced myself to Steph one day when she was with a few of the other volleyball girls, only to find out that she had been sitting directly in front of me in a finance class for the whole semester. Not my proudest moment.

Class Year: Junior

Hometown: Liberty Hill, Texas

At Bentley: Steph plays on the women’s volleyball team, is a project manager for Service Learning, and claims to be the number 1 referee for intramural sports*
*Andrew’s note: I’ve been the victim of some suspect net violation calls in intramural volleyball so I would debate that last point

Desired superpower: Power to heal or ability to talk to animals

One thing you couldn’t live without: Concerts/Country Music*
*Andrew’s note: Texas is as Texas does

Dream job: Being very high up in a company like Make-A-Wish or a similar company that helps children

Role Model/Person who inspires you: Carrie Underwood*
*Andrew’s note: Same (heart eyes emoji)

Most embarrassing moment: At the beginning of her second semester freshmen year she sat in class in Smith 200 instead of Jennison 200 for 15 minutes*
*Andrew’s note: This would be more understandable if it was first semester freshman year, but I am also guilty of having gone to the wrong academic building so no judgement here

Film Franchise:
     Toy Story*/Harry Potter/Twilight/Home Alone/Hunger Games
*Andrew’s note: Harry Potter was the clear front runner and Sid (Andy’s neighbor in Toy Story) is literally the most evil little kid ever and his toys gave me nightmares so I’m not with her on this one

Food:
     Ice Cream*/Hamburger/Chocolate/Kale Smoothie/Sushi/Pizza
*Andrew’s note: DUH

Summer plans: Either working back in Texas or staying in Boston

“To infinity and beyond!” – Buzz Lightyear

Bentley Lingo – Your Verbal Survival Guide (Part 2)

Decided to work backwards? Be sure to check out Part 1 of the Bentley Verbal Survival Guide too!

Smith stairs – Consider this the double black diamond of stairs. You will be out of breath and sweaty when you summit, regardless of temperature (so budget time before class to stop sweating and wipe your face). Good news is that if you take these more than once a day you can skip leg day at the gym.

Seasons – As our main dining hall on campus, students get very accustomed to walking to the student center to come here to eat. Other than the ice cream, the omelets come out on top as my favorite food at Seasons, but the staff is still the best part of the experience.

Club Mein Bowl – You’d think that late night Chinese food couldn’t get better, but when you have weekend warriors dancing their heads off at 1 AM as you eat it, it does. Mein Bowl, which serves up some mean crab rangoons and sesame chicken, transforms into a dance party with loud music and good food on weekend nights, and is always worth a stop, if only to people watch.

The JAR – Short for John A. Ryan, it’s the name of our Division 1 Mens Ice Hockey team’s home rink. While some like to poke fun at the JAR for its rather homely appearance, no one can knock the environment of a packed home game, with our home team cheering section up in the “Falcon’s Nest” making sure our opponents know they’ve got competition.

Bentley’s Div. I Men’s Ice Hockey team takes on Sacred Heart at the JAR, with the Falcon’s nest full of supporters

Flex/Blizzard – Flex is Bentley’s beloved falcon mascot, and Blizzard is his lesser known yet somehow related sidekick (my research suggests younger brother). While Flex can be seen at most athletic events and other campus wide celebrations, it seems like Blizzard is more of a diva and only shows up when he wants to.

Spring Day – Nelly, T-Pain, Kellie Pickler, and Gloriana are all artists who have come to campus in April to play a concert for our annual Spring Day. But the concert is certainly not the only highlight. There is food EVERYWHERE, plenty of different carnival games and activities, and a bunch of other shenanigans going on around campus. It’s typically the last day before students start putting their nose to the grindstone for finals, so it’s always a blast.

Flex and Blizzard with some friends on Spring Day

The Campus Loop – A campus shuttle that runs regularly (in a loop around campus) and in accordance with class times, so as to give students the option of riding to class rather than walking. Especially handy on days with inclement weather or when sleep deprivation is setting in, the shuttle is as reliable as it gets.

Harvard Shuttle – Our Harvard shuttle is a coach bus that transports students from campus to Harvard Square in Cambridge, where they can connect with a line of the subway system that leads into Boston. It’s a free and easy way to get yourself into the city, and students regularly take advantage of that opportunity.

“I can’t even.” *gasping for air* – 95% of Bentley students at the halfway point of the Smith stairs
“I know who’s coming for Spring Day!” – 100% of Bentley students who in fact do not know who is coming for Spring Day

Bentley Lingo – Your Verbal Survival Guide (Part 1)

Freshman year is an exciting time in your life. You’re making new friends from all over the country and world, you’re exploring classes that are interesting to you, and you’re making the most of all this new-found free time you have. But, it can be a little overwhelming too. You’re most likely living away from home for the first time. You’re beginning to understand the value of time management. You do your own laundry and get your own mail. And on top of it all, you’re struggling to understand the linguistic idiosyncrasies (how do you like them big college words?) of the upperclassmen around you. How can the hockey team have enough room to play in a jar? And how can a place be referred to by a direction…North seems like a pretty general way of describing a location!

I can empathize with those feelings, and as I found out when I made this list, there are still some Bentley terms that I either didn’t know or didn’t understand…..and I’m graduating in May. So I’m here to help you get the jump on Bentley lingo, through this two part mini survival guide.

Discresh – At the beginning of the semester, it feels like an endless supply of funds (linked with your meal swipes) you can spend at any of the places to eat on campus other than Seasons (see Part 2). But without proper planning you end up spending all of it in a month and lean heavily on your friend who somehow ends up with $200 left in discretionary funds at the end of the semester. Get on their good side early because the funds don’t roll over and we wouldn’t want to be wasteful right?

Lower, Upper – Referring to the two different “halves” of campus, “lower” features our athletic complex, as well as dormitory buildings, while “upper” holds more residence halls, our academic buildings, and our student center. Students are fiercely divided on which locale is a better spot to live, but both have their upside.

The library and academic buildings on upper campus

GB – Short for General Business, it’s the core business curriculum that all undergraduate business majors will take. It starts with GB 110 (Ethics and Law), 112, and 212 (Finance and Accounting), moves on to GB 213 (Business Statistics), 214 (Marketing and Operations), and 215 (Management), passes through the seven levels of the Candy Cane forest, continues to GB 310 (Business Processes and Systems) on to GB 320 (Integrated Business Project) and finally culminates in GB 410 (Strategic Management). But since you can’t escape the GBs just embrace the GBs.

Night bomb – This just seems like its immediately ingrained in your vocabulary once you’re at Bentley, but a night bomb is a class that meets once a week at night for a longer period of time. It’s a great way to condense your schedule, but freshman cannot take them until their second semester. I think normal people call them night classes? I don’t know. But remember your snacks and coffee.

North – A relative unknown for those who have not lived there, North Campus is an unconnected section of residential buildings that is appropriately located due north of the main campus. I can confirm rumors that some of the dorm rooms on North have bathtubs, so that’s something to keep in mind.

CoNo, CoSo – While some residence buildings are known by nicknames, none are used more frequently than the Copleys. In fact, some students may be confused if you refer to CoNo or CoSo as Copley North or Copley South. They are mirroring buildings on the lower section of campus home to mainly sophomores and juniors, and after four years I still haven’t exactly figured out which one is which.

G-space – Campus features two greenspaces: the upper g-space and the lower g-space (also known as the lower G) . Both are aptly named for the halves I described above, and feature different scenes depending on the weather. In the fall and spring, you’ll find sunbathers, football tossers, and Kan-Jam players, while the winter welcomes skiiers, snowboarders, and plenty of snowmen.

Lower campus in the fall, with the lower g-space off to the right and CoNo and CoSo to the left

“What even is North Campus?” – Anyone who hasn’t lived on North Campus

5 Clubs and Organizations You Want to Join at Bentley

I need to add a disclaimer that this top 5 is from personal experience, and is simply meant to give you a snapshot of the different ways you can get involved around campus. For a full list of organizations that you can get involved with at Bentley, click here.

1) Class Cabinet – I was fortunate enough to hold the position of Vice President of the class of 2015 for both my freshman and sophomore years before having to vacate the position because I was studying abroad my junior year. The time I spent on the cabinet was meaningful for many reasons, but I most valued how many of my classmates I met, through campaigning for office and through different events we put on. If you want to meet a bunch of people and have an awesome time while you’re at it, think about class cabinet.

2) Bentley Ski and Snowboard Club – Bentley SSC holds a special place in my heart because I just returned from the club’s weekend trip to Stratton (Vermont), where the conditions were epic and the people were even better. Bentley SSC welcomes any and all of any skill level, as long as they’re looking to have a great time. They do day trips to mountains in the area at group discounts and with transportation provided. With the winter we’ve had, they even built a jump and a rail out on the Greenspace in the middle of campus for everyone’s enjoyment. I would suggest checking out their Instagram, which is phenomenal (personal bias definitely at play).

3) Student Athletic Advisory Committee – As a student-athlete here at Bentley, I have a vested interest in boosting school spirit and participation at athletic events. No organization does so better than SAAC, which runs promotions at different sporting events to drive up attendance and get people excited about how their peers are doing on the field, court, track, ice, course, etc. SAAC emphasizes the importance that athletics has on a college campus, and encourages athletes to go support their peers in the same way we hope they would support us. It gives students a voice in the athletics department and I value that they value our opinions.

4) La Societa Italiana di Bentley – While I can’t claim to be an active member of SIDB, I have been fortunate enough to attend some of their events, and they NEVER disappoint. It’s tough to go wrong with Italian culture, but they offer events like Make Your Own Pizza Night, an annual wine tasting (21+ of course), and a variety of other programs, including an Italian bingo night with some great prizes. As my post-abroad depression is apparently permanent, it’s nice to have a little reminder of Italy here on campus. The bonus is that you don’t have to be Italian to join the club, you just have to really like their food. And that means that everyone is welcome.

5) Campus Activities Board – Again, while I was never an active member of CAB, I certainly benefited from the incredible amount of programs they put on throughout my four years at Bentley. Most notable is Spring Day, an annual concert that brings some headline acts to campus and is filled with activities throughout the day, from bounce houses to athletic events, to human bowling (PSA: don’t try snapchatting yourself human bowling). We’ve had Nelly, T-Pain, Timeflies, Kellie Pickler, and Gloriana, and this year’s concert is sure to be awesome too (the bonus for members of CAB is that they get to meet the artists). In addition to Spring Day, CAB hosts events like a Bentley Amazing Race, Bentley Bingo, and a semi-annual Comedy Show, which are all accompanied by some good laughs and insane prizes (like the kid who took home a DRONE from Bentley Bingo).

The name of the game is to get yourself involved, especially considering that you’ll have a lot more free time in college than you did in high school. Wherever your passions lie, there’s almost certainly an organization that aligns with them, and if there isn’t then you can start one.

In the spirit of trying new things and pushing your comfort level a little to get involved, here’s another quote from my main man: “When life gives you lemonade, make lemons. Life will be all like, ‘What?!?!'” – Phil Dunphy

Home Away from Home

I don’t know when exactly I started referring to Bentley as home, but I think there comes a point in almost every college student’s life when they do the same. From freshman to senior year, this campus and the people that fill it have made 8:30 AM classes bearable…and that’s saying something. As a second semester senior, I’m beginning to start thinking about what life will be like after graduation in May. It’s strange to think that I won’t be trekking up to classes on a daily basis, climbing from my room on the lowest section of campus to the top, where our academic buildings are located (while convincing myself that the cardiovascular and related health benefits are worth showing up to class out of breath and with back sweat). I’ll miss snowmen on the quads and the outdoor basketball courts turned hockey rink. I’ll miss Kan Jam, corn hole, and the accompanying sunbathers and country music. Mostly though, I’ll miss the people that have volunteered to put up with my shenanigans and abundance of character flaws by rooming with me. So as a token of my thanks and admiration, this blog will be about them and my housing experiences at Bentley.

Freshman Year – Birch 210

The year of the boys of B2. One of the three freshman dorms (and the largest with about 60% of the freshman class), Trees Dormitory is home to different halls, each fittingly named after a type of tree. I lived in Birch, more specifically on the 2nd floor, which is where B2 comes from. Incredibly, of the 23 guys I lived with on B2 during freshman year, I would consider well over half of them to still be close friends. We played intramural soccer and dodge-ball as a floor, maintained what most other people thought was a ludicrous open door policy, and had an unbeatable shower jams playlist.

Sophomore Year – Orchard South 204

Bentley runs an incentive during housing selection time, whereby attending certain events around campus, you are entered into a raffle to be the first selection in the housing lottery (the order of which is determined by credits). Fast forward to my roommate running full steam down the bleachers celebrating as his number is picked, with me in hot pursuit. That’s how I came to live in a predominantly senior dorm as a sophomore, honing my chef skills in our kitchen and enjoying the 30 second walk to the gym. My advice? Get as many of those housing lottery raffle tickets as you can.

Junior Year – Falcone West 305

Again, the beauty of living at a smaller school like Bentley is that the housing situation is phenomenal. After coming back from our fall semesters abroad, 4 of my friends and I were able to do a direct room exchange with five girls who were all going abroad in the Spring, this time in a sweet pad that featured a kitchen, private bathroom, and a spacious common room. A special thanks goes out to Residential Life for making that transition a smooth one.

Senior Year – Orchard South 401

And finally back to the building I resided in sophomore year for one last shebang. Living on the top floor, which we have aptly named the Penthouse Quadrangle (there are only 4 rooms up there), my roommates and I share a 960 square foot apartment that consists of two double rooms, a single room, a bathroom, kitchen, common room, and two massive hall closets. All in all….not too shabby.

As hard as its been for me to come to terms with this being my last semester as a Bentley Undergrad, it’s also given me the opportunity to reflect on my 3 1/2 year ride. As all things seem to go in life, you rarely appreciate how fortunate you are or how great you have it until you’re looking back. I could not possibly repay my roommates (though I do probably owe them money) for how much they have enriched my Bentley experience. I can only hope that everyone else is as lucky as I was to have made the friends I did along the way.

“I could only find really mushy or female oriented friendship/roommate quotes so I quoted myself.” – Andrew Johnston

P.S. Click here for a virtual tour of Bentley, and to see photos and panoramas around campus

Bentley Golf – The Dream(y) Team

When people think athletic success at Bentley, they rightly think of our Women’s Basketball program, Division 2 National Champions in 2013-14 (seriously WATCH THIS VIDEO) and perennial favorite to make a deep run into the NCAA tournament. Or they think of the Division 1 Men’s Hockey program, touting Hobey Baker finalists (best college hockey player in the country), and big game wins against the likes of Hockey East powerhouse Boston University, or Atlantic 10 foe Holy Cross outside at Fenway Park last January.

Well I’m here to introduce you to the best team you haven’t heard much about. Bentley University Men’s Golf. Am I probably a little biased because I’m on the team? No……

Yes. But in the academic year to date, the team has either won or been runner-up in 5 out of our first 7 tournaments, with three victories. In fact, one of those victories came in the NE-10 conference championship, a 13 shot triumph over the field, and the first conference championship for any Bentley team this year (certainly not the last one though).

While I don’t have the perspective of athletes in other sports, I can relay how being a golfer has enriched my time here at Bentley, and been one of the most rewarding experiences I had over four years.

The Boys – Golf gave me a group of guys who I immediately connected with, as well as a network of under and upperclassmen who helped me with everything from selecting classes to maximizing my time at Bentley. I have become great friends with all of my teammates, and one of the other seniors has been my roommate for the past two years. Just like any organization or activity you choose to pursue at Bentley, you will meet some incredible people, and I feel fortunate to have shared my Bentley experience with all of the guys on the golf team over the past 3+ years.

Scheduling – Scheduling around golf means I can’t take any Wednesday day classes or Friday classes at all…as in I’ve had three day weekends for my entire Bentley career. I must say, it makes you appreciate the flexibility of scheduling Bentley provides its students, and other students utilize this flexibility to do an internship or an on campus job, but I’m perfectly content golfing.

Structure – I don’t know how it works for other people, but the relationship between my free time and productivity is a little backwards. Somehow when I have more time to do things I get less done. Golf has helped provide structure in my life, where by keeping myself busy I have been able to maintain a sharp focus on academics and all of the many other commitments that undergraduates have to manage. I think this is reflected across the entire team, because when we won our conference championship in 2012, we were the only team in the Northeast-10 conference to have both won the conference championship and have the highest cumulative team GPA in our sport.

I think my experience on the golf team is reflective of my 3+ years so far at Bentley. The people have made the team what it is for me. Just as my professors and peers make the experience in the classroom meaningful, my teammates and especially my coach have been instrumental in my growth as a golfer and as a person. Golf is a game that I will take with me beyond school, but I’m certainly trying to hold on to that sense of team as much as I can for now.

If you are interested in playing for any sport here at Bentley, check out our Bentley Athletics Website and do some exploring. There are individual sites for each sport as well as a directory to get in touch with coaches. If you are interested in golf in particular feel free to reach out. And check out this dashing group of fellows:

“‘We don’t want no mediocre’ – T.I.” – Bentley Men’s Golf Team

The Bent Life – An Introduction

Hey YOU. First of all thanks for stopping by, it means a lot. I just started this whole shebang, so this can be one of those moments you look back on and think, “hey, I sort of knew him before his blog went viral”. Unless, of course, my blog has already gone all Rebecca Black and you’re reading it now because you’re late to the party.

Though you’re probably thinking this isn’t my first rodeo, I’m actually a bit of a blogging novice, so bear with me for now. I will make you a promise to always keep things interesting and engaging, but I’m sure there will be a blogging learning curve. For example, any of you who got my subtle reference to The Buried Life (aka best show ever) in the title, 5 points to Gryffindor. If you didn’t, go on YouTube and watch a few episodes because it’s worth it. And if you didn’t get the Harry Potter reference you just destroyed a little piece of my hope for the future. Kind of like a horcrux.

I was thinking of ways to introduce myself to my 7 readers (hi mom!), so I thought I might share a few of my different interests, from personal, to professional, to academic and everything in between. For starters my name is Andrew Johnston, and I’m a 21 year-old senior at Bentley University, located in Waltham, Massachusetts, just a stone’s throw outside of Boston. The real world is looming, but I’m making sure to enjoy the year and maximize the time I still have left here at Bentley. I play on the NCAA Men’s Golf Team, about which my next blog will be written, and I also work as an Admission Fellow in our Office of Undergraduate Admission. My role is to interview prospective students and to support the work of our admission counselors so we can bring awesome, driven young people here to Bentley, so that in ten years my degree is worth twice as much as it is now. If you’re one of those people, or if you have a polarizing view on what I have to say, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. If you’re just discovering Bentley, or if you want to get a more intimate idea of what your life could be like here from the comfort of your couch, watch an undergraduate overview, and explore more of Bentley’s YouTube channel.

In addition to my work in admissions and golf, I spent two years as the Vice President of the Class of 2015, before having to vacate the post when I left in the Fall of 2013 to study abroad in Florence, Italy. I tell people that that semester ruined life for me, because nothing really measures up when you think back to sitting on one of the most famous bridges in the world, looking at one of the most famous cities in the world, eating some of the best gelato in the world, and thinking about the trip to Switzerland you’re going to take next weekend, where you’ll try the best chocolate in the world. Suffice it to say I’m a big advocate for studying abroad.

Florence, Italy

I am also active on a few student boards within Bentley, including our Student Athlete Advisory Committee, which is comprised of liaisons for each athletic team who communicate directly with our Athletic Department. I am also on the newly formed Student Advisory Board for the Department of Modern Languages, a position in which I work with the modern language department to increase their exposure and visibility to students as well as create programming that increases interest in the modern languages. I do also “dabble” in intramurals, playing soccer, basketball, volleyball, dodgeball, and occasionally even ultimate Frisbee. Oh and I’m also a full time student in my infinite free time.

To that end, I am majoring in Economics and Finance with a second major in Global Perspectives and I hope to use the two to eventually influence change in social policy. For now I am pursuing careers related to Corporate Social Responsibility, with the idea that every business inherently has a responsibility not only its shareholders, but to everyone in the communities it operates within and affects. There will certainly be more to follow about these academic interests and how they came about in later blogs.

But as I said, this is the first in a year-long series of blog posts you will see from me, so if you have feedback, questions, or just want to troll my blog to help me gain exposure, I’m all for it. I think I might attach an interesting, relevant, or inspirational quote at the end of each blog because that seems like a “bloggy” thing to do and I’m a sap so here’s my first one. It’s sort of relevant when you think about it…

“You can tell a lot about a person from his biography.” – Phil Dunphy