Denver, CO

My experience with college and my overdrawn promise of College Week Writing (spanning two and a half weeks in total) culminates with this entry.
After a year at CU Boulder, a nationally recognized University and a prestigious one at that, I transferred to Metro State with less than high expectations. MSCD (Metro State) was, after all, cheaper, a commuter campus, and does not boast as beautiful campus as that of CU.

Despite my low expectations, the atmosphere, people, professors, programs, Independent Degree Program specifically, and even the campus (in downtown Denver), may have persuaded me to complete my degree and even recommend others to Metro State.

One of my biggest concerns entering into the state college from a University was the level of conversation and discussion in class. My assumption was MSCD students would be quiet, shy, unwilling to discuss, but how far from the truth was I! In every class I have had thus far, this being the start of my third semester with Metro, the classes have held intelligent, understandable discussions with broad participation from all students! Despite being a commuter campus, it is easy to make friends in and outside of class, and everyone seems willing to have conversation with you.
I remember a much respected high school counselor of mine recommending Metro State as a great school for business; at the time I did not take his recommendation with much salt, but after having experienced these programs as well I am proud to say that my college will graduate this student as a strong leader in business and innovative thinking!
The entire education I’ve experienced in Downtown Denver at Metro State College on the Auraria Campus has been rewarding and fulfilling and I will recommend this school to anyone. What amazed me and continues to do so - the greatest advantage of Metro - is its price compared to service and education received. Besides the location and price, there has been no distinguishable difference, in my mind, between Metro and CU Boulder. But I am happy to be saving thousands each month from what I would be paying in Boulder!

Attention Denver College Students:

If you’re not entirely sure what you would like your major to be, want to major in something that isn’t offered at your school, or are like me and want five majors but not the work load of five majors, turn your attention to your campus’ Individualized Degree Program.
I just attended a meeting on IDP and let me tell you, this is the way to go.
Take my situation for example: I want to study psychology, marketing, journalism, and public relations and then apply this knowledge to the fields of sociology and political science. Everything I just mentioned can be a degree in their own right, but I don’t have the time, money, or dedication to get all five or six or seven degrees! Enter the Individualized Degree Program (IDP) in which you can basically design your own major and choose the classes needed for someone (like yourself) to major in this field. I haven’t quite decided what to call my major (that’s right, you get to name it!) but I’ll be able to include the best of psychology, marketing, political science, etc. and only the courses that apply directly to my interest instead of something like Stats for Psych majors.
Many people choose the IDP program simply because none of the majors offered at their school suits their interests. CU Boulder has some 200 major programs while Metro State has around 50 or so. At either school it is entirely possible that there will be students not interested in the available majors. Again, enter the IDP program.
So if you are looking to enhance your learning experience and can’t do so with the offered majors, try looking into your campus’ Individualized Degree Program. Me doing so has certainly added a lot of value to my schooling and has motivated me to work harder.
And when you’re ready for a masters or PhD, might I suggest a program through Denver University? DU offers graduate courses through a program or division of their school they have aptly named ‘University College.’ So wait a minute here, just wait a minute - is it a college or a university? Tee hee

I’m hoping this image touches on an issue that is something we can all agree on, Democrats, Republicans, what have you.
The success of our future is largely dependant upon the quality of our education systems and education provided today.

As you can see from the above picture, CU Boulder boasts a remarkably beautiful campus. Students from all over the country are attracted to Boulder for its beauty, close proximity to the mountains, liberal arts instruction, nationally recognized Leeds School of Business, and among other things, the CU party life.
My first year of college was expended on the CU campus of Boulder and overall I am very happy with the education and college experience I received there. For what I look for in higher education, CU does a lot of things right and above average. I could tell that all my professors were passionate about education and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to spend two semesters under their tutelage.
In my free time, CU and Boulder provided enough political excitement, outdoor recreation, and plenty of outlets for volunteer work and community service opportunities.
My intent for college (though this intent of mine is ever changing) is to eventually graduate from CU Boulder though I do not currently attend this school anymore. But everything I experienced my freshmen year leads me to believe that CU will be a respectable school to earn my degree from. Thereafter, maybe a doctorate at Stanford? Who knows…
The one thing I did not like with CU Boulder was, when as a young and enthusiastic freshmen actively seeking to fix everyone else’s problems but my own (we’ve all been there!), I sought to create a group and school paper geared to reducing campus underage and binge drinking. While trying to navigate my way from this office to that department, everyone sending me to talk to someone else, I got the impression that CU isn’t actually all too willing to reduce the drinking habits of their students because that is a major pull and attraction for new students: CU Boulder the party school. Oh well, I suppose, that is business and they’re being good businesspeople if they avoid reducing alcohol consumption to maintain a reputation that brings in new students, but to me it still left a slightly sour or bitter beer taste in my mouth.

This post is more of a rant, and it certainly pertains to every college in the United States, not just the colleges and universities here in Denver.
College girls. Brought to my attention by my good friend Aaron. Readers let me know what you think…
In Aaron’s words,
“Have you ever noticed that college girls walk around dressed up like they’re going to the club, and it’s nice for us to look at and all, sure, but don’t you think a lot of it’s unnecessary for class?”
We discussed this at length, and I’m interested in feedback, especially from college age boys and girls, men and women.
Thanks for reading

Today’s entry is a blog storm, which is not so different from a brain storm. This week I want to focus on colleges and universities in Denver and the surrounding area, being that school is starting up again for college students.
For this particular blog storm, I’m asking readers to help me out by leaving comments or sending emails listing any Denver colleges that I am leaving out. If you see that your college, your teenagers college, the university you work at, etc. is not in the following list, I want to know! Thanks for the input and, as always, thanks for feedback.

Denver colleges include:

Metropolitan State College of Denver
Community College of Denver
Front Range Community College
(I welcome suggestions for tech and trade colleges here as well)

Denver universities include:

Denver University
University of Colorado Denver (and Boulder)
Regis University

Hey readers,

I know I haven’t been making posts too often of late, and I do apologize. I really do miss posting new entry’s every day as much as you miss reading new entry’s every day.
After my vacation time, I returned to a full and busy and hectic schedge for my work in the martial arts.
FusBoxe, the gym I belong to and the gym I work for, is finally moving into it’s very own gym. Since its inception, FusBoxe Martial Arts has been renting space from other gyms but in a little under two years, FusBoxe has become popular enough to require its own gym space.
This past week I have been working very hard to get the new gym remodeled (the space we’re moving into used to be a dance studio - far to flowery for tough guy martial arts), and promoting the new gym to the Broomfield area.
FusBoxe Martial Arts, I’m proud to say, is having its official Grand Opening all day next Saturday August 25th! About time!
And all next week I promise to have time available to post for “College Week” in About-Denverco.com.
Thanks for your patience and loyal readership!

The fall semester of college is about to begin in Denver and around the country. So this week about-denverco.com focuses in on the colleges and universities in Denver and the ‘college’ scene.
To begin ‘College Week’ I’d like to take a small survey or poll if you will to determine how many of the readers are able to claim alumni status to a Denver or Colorado college or university.
If you enjoy reading this blog and are interested in participating in blog post discussions about Denver higher ed, please leave a comment for this entry and tell me and other readers:
What college(s) have you attended?
From where did you receive your degree(s)?
What are your most memorable experiences of your college years?
Anything else you’d like to share?

Good news readers: I’m back from vacation!

My travels included:

six days and five nights in Cancun, Mexico with three close friends

and after returning from Cancun having gained ten pounds and being away from much phsyical exercise and my martial arts training regimen for a week, I was invited to compete in a martial arts event (literally three hours after returning to the United States my phone was ringing asking me to compete) so I spent

two days and one night in Sturgis South Dakota during the famous - or infamous - Sturgis Bike Rally. I stayed at a campsite and competed at the Full Throttle Saloon in front of many biker dudes and ladies and probably 100,000 motorcycles. The roaring never ended and I was hardly able to sleep! But I won my match despite being somewhat out of shape and over weight!

Now that I’m back in Denver and ready to blog, what do I have planned? Well, nothing about motorcycles, I’ve seen and had enough of those to last a life time…

How do you think the about-denverco.com blog could be improved? What topics should the about-denverco.com blog cover on a weekly basis? Yearly? Should there be a greater emphasis on local news, local politics, Denver sports, Denver city life, adventure life, etc? Basically - in a nut shell- what I’m asking is what do readers want?@?!?@?
Please leave feedback in the comments area of this blog. Suggestions, questions, blog topic recommendations, etc. I appreciate it and will address all comments when I’m back from exploring Cancun.

Sorry to disappoint both loyal and new readers, but the About-Denverco.com website will temporarily be out of commission as the author will be exploring what the area of Cancun, Mexico is all about. Can we speculate on a about-Cancun blog? Its a little too early to say one way or the other. I’ll be back with About-Denver in a week, so talk to everyone next Tuesday! Hopefully Denver can somehow survive without me…

What do Denver sport fans think will be most important for our beloved Denver Broncos? What should the focus be for this summer camp and two-a-day practices? Do they have what it takes to make a run for the Super Bowl this year? Here’s your chance, readers, to be a couch coach and tell Denver what the Broncos need most!

1) Jay Cutler and solidifying the QB position

2) Travis Henry and others, establishing the strong Denver running game

3) the Defensive Line, figuring the starters out and making the pass rush work

4) Is it time for a new coach?

5) Is it just time for a new strategy?

6) Dare I say, new uniforms again? Would that help?

(* Author’s note: Mind you readers, I’m not too informed in pigskin matters, in fact I haven’t watched a game in two years and when I did, the Buffalo Bills were my team. Therefore, if there is an important area of improvement or suggestion that I have left out of this blog, please feel free to leave your own additional comments *)

Who does Denver want to see as the next U.S. president? Here are potential candidates to choose from. Please vote by leaving a comment so readers can get an idea of who Denver wants to see in office!

Democratic Candidates

Joe Biden
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Chris Dodd
John Edwards
Mike Gravel
Dennis Kucinich
Barack Obama
Bill Richardson

Republican Candidates

Sam Brownback
Newt Gingrich
Rudy Giuliani
Chuck Hagel
Mike Huckabee
Duncan Hunter
John McCain
George Pataki
Ron Paul
Mitt Romney
Tom Tancredo
Tommy Thompson
Fred Thompson

Other Candidates: Please list your suggestions of people who maybe should run, or those who are running that I do not have listed.

Leave your poll answers as a comment for this blog entry.

“Holding an intention to be in service shapes our overall attitude towards life in many ways. For example, it brings a greater sensitivity and awareness of others, a commitment to harmlessness, a willingness to put others’ needs before our own, and a desire to be in harmony with all.” -Jacob Needleman

My choosing to post this quote today was inspired by an About-Denver reader, Laura, comment on my blog post ‘Modern Heroes.’ I feel this quote is also an appropriate precursor to the following reception that Denver is lucky enough to host on August 8th. I will be at the reception to cover the event much as a journalist would, so look for the story to drop on www.about-denverco.com on August 9th.

“A delegation of 25 Iraqi high school students is visiting Colorado for 2 weeks through the Baghdad-Denver Region Partnership, a program of Sister Cities International sponsored locally by the Denver Regional Council of Governments. The Baghdad-Denver Region Partnership is an educational, cultural, and professional exchange program of Sister Cities International. The purpose of the partnership is to foster relations between people and groups in the Denver Region and people and groups in the Province of Baghdad. Everyone who shares the partnership’s goals of respectfully furthering cultural and professional exchange is invited to participate. The Partnership is not political; and participants hold widely varying views on the war and the situation in Iraq. What we have in common is the desire for intercultural exchange and understanding.”

Weather forecast for this weekend: sunny and nice, a great Colorado weekend

Fun and adventure forecast for this author: This weekend’s adventure will take place in historic Georgetown, Colorado. Fun for the whole family!
Activities include and can range from touring old mining towns, hiking, off-roading, mountain biking, fishing, etc.
Take advantages of this weekend, people. Though we do love our city and love to live in Denver, we also love the great outdoors that Denver is lucky enough to be situated so close to!