Mount Hood

Serving bright smiles and fresh coffee

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

As I walked down Main Street on a warm spring afternoon, I decided to stop by a coffee house on the side of the road. Upon entering, I was greeted by the smell of freshly brewed java, the sounds of a musician at the piano, a relaxing environment and a smiling face. This was the smile of Rick Gydesen, co-owner of Rick’s Place Coffee House.

This shop has been a study location and lunch destination since its inception in March 1995. Ever since, owners Rick and Mary Gydesen have been creating memories with their regulars, which are customers of all ages.

“I have quite a few regulars,” said Rick. Gesturing towards his wall, he showed me all of the mugs he had on display. Each belonged to a customer who came in on a daily basis.

“Some of these mugs are used every morning. Some are on display in memory. Some of these people have moved. This has been on our wall for at least 15 years now,” Rick commented.

When it came time to order, I got their garden salad and my friend ordered a turkey cranberry sandwich. As we were waiting, we noticed everything that this restaurant was. It’s more than just food; it’s a hangout meant for anyone.

“It’s a good study area, a place for piano players, a place to feature local photographers, authors, painters and craftsmen,” said Rick.

After a while of playing a few tunes on the piano and enjoying ourselves with a cup of coffee, our food was delivered to us. Cooked and made by Rick himself, he was able to bring it out to us fairly quickly, and did so with a smile that made us feel welcome.

The meals were very enjoyable. The sandwich was put together with hazelnut bread, cream cheese, cranberries, sunflower seeds, lettuce and turkey. My friend had never had a sandwich like this and she loved it. The flavors went together well and the crunch in each bite was perfect. My salad was great as well; it was fairly simple, as most garden salads are, but I enjoyed every bite.

Before leaving, Rick spoke with us a bit more on why he loves working here: “Meeting people is my favorite part. I love seeing different faces, and I meet a lot of interesting people here.”

For those interested in a relaxing eatery with fair-priced options, a well-lit study spot or simply a place to sit on a sofa and chat with friends, this restaurant makes for a perfect destination.

 

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

 

An ongoing quest for confidence

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

Previously, for this publication, I described the struggle I had with finding self-confidence. After ups and downs, and years of self-discovery and finding faith within myself, I was finally able to come to an acceptance of who I am, who I want to be and who I will choose to be. I was able to find techniques that made this an easier task, such as exercise. Working out greatly improved my self-esteem. I thought I had figured it out. However, this wasn’t necessarily true.

After publishing my original article “Searching for self-confidence” in issue 2, I reached a new obstacle: my workload was so heavy that finding time to work out was almost impossible. Again, my confidence plummeted. It was then that I realized: confidence cannot be rooted from only my actions, but from my perception of myself. Of course, actions are a large reflection of who a person is, but ultimately, I wanted to be confident in myself without having to justify it with my actions.

My confidence is something that is now greatly improving with a simple act: reassurance. Telling myself that I am able and that I am worth it can be greatly useful. It can feel uncomfortable to speak this way, or to have to reassure yourself of these things, but by forcing myself to repeat it, I slowly began to believe it.

By no means is confidence something that comes easily to me. It’s a daily struggle. However, it’s a struggle that I grow from everyday. Slowly, I can feel myself becoming more confident in situations where I normally don’t feel this way.

I know that I am not the only student at Western who can relate to this feeling. It’s overwhelming, daunting and can make the simplest tasks feel difficult. Clearly, I don’t have an exact, specific answer for anyone who is in need of one, but I urge those in need of answers to look for it through your own experiences. No two journeys to self-confidence are going to be identical; each person will have their ups and their downs.

My advice to anyone struggling with this is to look to those they care about for support. Sometimes, moments of reassurance can be found from those we love, if it’s too much of a difficulty to find it in yourself. For many, there’s nothing easy about getting to a point of high self-confidence, but with the help of others, it can certainly ease the hardships.

 

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Resume organization made simple

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

As the year comes to a close, the search for the ideal summer job begins. Wherever students may look, there’s one component that is almost always needed: a fine-tuned resume. An applicant’s resume is often the first thing an employer will see, therefore, it’s necessary that it’s well put together. This first impression could be the difference between whether an applicant does or doesn’t get a position.

When putting together a professional looking resume, there are some tips students should keep in mind.

“Choose a different font from the defaults,” Dr. Lars Soderlund, professor of technical and workplace writing, commented. He added that the basics are all too familiar “and may make it more likely for your resume to be overlooked.” Instead, opt for a less popular font that might help you stand out.

Soderlund also added that students should “choose a resume template that you like, and make sure it fits with what career you’re pursuing.”

Junior communication studies major Karina Lopez, a Student Learning and Career Development employee, noted that students should “definitely keep it to one page. Add in any current involvement or work experience.” For those who have a lot of experience and are unsure what to include, she added that students should come into the office with a master resume and they will help ween it down to the important items.

On the other hand, some students may struggle and feel as if they don’t have enough to include — however, there are options.

“Focus on education,” Soderlund said. “Students forget that they’re very qualified for a lot of jobs merely by virtue of being in college … if you don’t have a ton of work experience, I recommend starting your resume with Education and having (Western) at the top.”

Soderlund also noted that it’s important to “make the most of your experience … whatever you’ve done, find a way to generate bullets about it that reflect its importance.”

Whether a resume has been edited several times, or it hasn’t even been started, a good place to go for some extra advice or help getting started is the SLCD office. Once there, it’s important to keep an open mind.

“Sometimes students want it to look one way, but at the same time we know what will be most effective,” commented Lopez.

Even if a resume has been checked, edited and reworked time after time, it never hurts to get another set of eyes on it again.

“I would definitely recommend coming in as many times as you can … coming in and polishing it off is great because feedback is always helpful,” Lopez mentioned.

Especially for graduating seniors, having a fine-tuned resume is of the utmost importance.

It should be written with care, and reviewed as frequently as possible to make sure it matches the job and hits all of the main points.

 

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

 

Showcasing creativity

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

Savannah Kumar, Biology Major

“It comes from the show ‘Parks and Recreation.’ It is one of my favorite shows and I feel like the quote is really applicable to anyone who is graduating, myself included. The things that we achieve in life are not only a testament to our own hard work, but also to the people who support us, love us and root for us along the way, and I really wanted to make sure that I highlighted that in my cap.”

Photo by: Savannah Kumar

Victoria Edwards, Biology Major
“I chose to decorate my cap with the iconic statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse at Disneyland and one of Walt Disney’s famous quotes. My parents have been bringing me (to) Disneyland since I was a little girl, so it has a special place in my heart. And I find Walt Disney’s story very inspirational, so I thought it would be the perfect representation of myself and my college experience.”

Photo by: Victoria Edwards

Jessica Freeman, Community Health Major

“There are a few reasons why I decorated mine the way I did. First, I have always been fascinated by the human heart, and my career will be based around cardiothoracic surgery open heart surgery and the chest cavity. Also, while at (Western), it was the first time that I was willing to accept that I have very high anxiety … I learned that mental health is a very real and very important aspect of life. I have spent the last four years accepting that notion and working  on finding ways to manage my anxiety as I get closer to adulthood.”

Photo by: Jessica Freeman

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

 

Studying tips to help material stick

Rebecca Meyers | Freelancer

Students may have just finished midterms, but finals are fast approaching. The last few weeks of the term can be the most stressful — even more so when feeling underprepared. Having a study system can not only help combat this stress, but also ensure that students don’t sit down to a test and find themselves staring blankly at the first question.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind as students countdown to summer break.

 

Repetition

Repetition works wonders for retaining information. For those who look over notes every day, even if it’s only for five minutes, it will help information stick much better than cramming the night before. For those who find it difficult to read their notes without their mind wandering: try writing the important parts out again, as the act of writing forces the brain to process the information again. This works for memorizing anything: from vocabulary words and definitions, to formulas and equations.

 

Note Sharing

For those not feeling confident about the thoroughness of their notes and the lectures aren’t on Moodle: invite other classmates onto a Google Doc so everyone can compile notes. This allows students to go over them when they have time, rather than trying to coordinate a study group. Google Docs allows for comments to be made in the margins, and can be used to ask questions if someone needs clarification on a certain topic.

Of course, studying in a group in person works best for some people. However, everyone has different schedules to work with and if meeting before a test is not possible, it’s still an option to help each other out.

 

Environment

Students should be aware of the environment they study in and whether it’s helping or hindering their efforts. When studying at home, sometimes students don’t realize that a cluttered desk is adding to their stress. Those like me probably have trouble keeping everything nice and organized. This means that every so often it’s helpful to make a reminder to do some simple adjustments, even if it’s just tidying up a bit. It will relieve a bit of stress that some students carry without even realizing it.

 

Contact the author at rmeyers17@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

Getting crafty with grad caps

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor

When taking the step from being a Western student to a Western graduate, adding flair to a graduation cap to display during commencement can be the ideal way to stick out from the rest of the class. It gives graduating students one last opportunity to showcase who they are, whether it be through humor, a memorable quote or simply a design they think represents them well.

For those considering adding some style to their caps, it’s not too late. Designs can be intricate, simple or anything in between. Here is a quick description on how to form an idea and get going on making yours look distinguished from everyone else’s.

 

Find inspiration:

For some, their caps are a dedication to those who helped them get to this point; for others, it can simply be a statement of pride they have in themselves; and, of course, for some, graduation caps are based on a show, movie, book or other quotable material. To get inspiration on what to base a graduation cap on, students should think of what would best represent them. For those struggling to come up with something, a good idea would be to watch a movie that has meaning for them or to speak with someone of importance to them.

 

Purchase supplies:

The basics for decorating a graduation cap include colored or designed paper and cut out letters. This will ensure that it looks well put together and the letters are evenly sized. Anything beyond that depends on the cap; sparkles, studs or other fun flair are worth looking at to see if it might add to the look. Head to a craft store such as Michael’s or JOANN stores to look at all of the options.

 

Putting it together:

It’s important to take time on the project. Keep in mind, this is the cap that will be featured in every graduation photograph; when thinking back to commencement, this will be an image that will reappear. Take the time to fix up the small details, and have fun with it. Ultimately, all that matters is that the one who is wearing it is happy with the final product.

 

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis

DIY pore strips

Caity Healy | Lifestyle Editor 

For many, using pore strips is a satisfying experience that results in softer and smoother skin. By pulling out the existing oil and dirt from your pores, it can give the illusion that you’re removing the blackheads — this isn’t entirely true. What you’re actually removing is called a keratotic plug; this is comprised of dead skin cells, dirt, hair and oil. The removal is entirely surface level and the deeper blackhead isn’t entirely removed.

Nonetheless, it can still make your skin feel amazing and silky smooth. While it may not be removing the entire blackhead, you’ll still feel that confidence boost that comes with healthier skin.

An easy addition to any facemask night, using this DIY pore strip will get you an exceptional result that comes at little cost and is hassle-free.

 

Instructions:

  1. In a small bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of unflavored gelatin (this can be found at Walmart), 1 tablespoon of any kind of milk and an optional 1 teaspoon of any essential oil.
  2. Heat the mixture over a double boiler until it is warm. Using a double boiler helps to make sure it’s not too warm to apply to your face.
  3. Wash your face with warm water to open your pores and remove any oil and dirt.
  4. Spread this mixture on the areas you deem necessary. For many, target areas are often the bridge of their nose and their chin. Just make sure to avoid the eyes, nostrils and mouth.
  5. Allow this to dry for about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on how thickness. It’s important that it’s completely dry before removal for optimal results.
  6. Once dry, remove the mask starting from the side or the bottom, and slowly pulling it away from your face.
  7. Rinse your face with cold water to remove any of the leftover mask and close your pores. Then, finish by applying a fragrance-free moisturizer.

Instructions based on diynatural.com

 

Contact the author at chealy16@wou.edu

Photo by: Paul F. Davis