A Day in the Life of An ASU Student

My last week as an ASU Sun Devil!!

2010-04-30T11:59:00.000-07:00

Graduation is quickly approaching, my last day of college is May 6, 2010! Wow! These last four years really went by fast! When reflecting on the last four years, I would have to say that they were really memorable!! I love the criminal justice major because I believe it has truly began to prepare me for my future in, near, or around the criminal justice system. I have formed many friendships with students and professors that I hope will continue in the future. Overall, my time here at ASU is a time in my life that has been very rewarding and I will never forget it!

A quick piece of advise to those students who are thinking about or already planning on attending college:

1) Always go to class
2) Form study groups
3) Take detailed notes in your classes
4) Form relationships with your professors
5) Study for your tests
6) Do ALL of the required readings
7) Ask questions if you don't understand something
8) Work hard and aim toward success!

I wish you all the best with your futures and remember your dreams can come true once you obtain a college degree because opportunities become endless with a strong education! Work hard and never give up! Life is full of great opportunities, successes, and surprises!

Stacey Lease

My Favorite Things to do Downtown!

2010-02-19T09:26:00.000-08:00

I enjoy doing myriad things Downtown; however, my favorite things to do would have to be going to the sports games or entertainment at Chase Field or going to spend an evening at the Arizona Center!

I look forward to watching the Arizona Diamondbacks games at Chase Field and I always try to attend at least one game during the season! It's much better watching a baseball game in person with all the noise and excitement then watching it on your T.V. screen at home. There are approximately ten games coming up in April so get out and have some fun!

Another event that I attend every year at Chase Field is Supercross!! This event is always keeping me on the edge of my seat the entire time! It's exciting to watch these Motocross riders fighting hard for a spot in the final race! This year I was unable to attend Supercross because I was ill; however, my husband had suite seats to all the action! We were rooting for Dungey to win it all! He surprised everyone by taking the lead and winning Supercross, I heard it was an amazing race! So don't miss out on this event that takes place during the middle of January every year!

Other events offered at Chase Field are musical entertainment by famous artists, International soccer games, USHRA Monster Jam, and more!

Spending an evening at the Arizona Center can also be very enjoyable. The Arizona Center has several great restaurants and AMC Movie Theatres. I love awesome food and a great movie so this is my idea of a fun evening! It's convenient to go to the Arizona Center because you are only traveling to one place opposed to having to go to dinner at one place and then to the movies somewhere else. So when your sitting around at home with nothing to do, get some friends together and have dinner and a movie at the Arizona Center!!

I hope I was able to give you some tips on fun things to do Downtown! Don't miss out on what Downtown has to offer!

Have a great day!

My Final Semester as a Sun Devil

2010-02-05T10:29:00.000-08:00

This semester is off to an awesome start! All of the classes I signed up for this last semester are interesting and rewarding. I'm excited to learn more about the topics of crime prevention, domestic violence, psychology, community relations, and marriage/family relationships. Each class has started to teach me about many important issues in the criminal justice system and in life. These classes are preparing me for my future as an agent in the system. I can't believe this will be my last semester at Arizona State University before I graduate in May. You guessed it! I am most excited to graduate with my Bachelor's degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice this Spring! In high school, I remember talking about what I wanted to do with my life and how excited I was to go to ASU! Now, my journey is almost over. I believe that I made the best of my college years! I can truly look back after graduation and say that I enjoyed my classes, I worked hard, and I was involved with the university in many ways. I realize graduation is still a little over three months away but when you have been waiting for that day for almost four years, it only seems as if its three days away! The last three and three-fourths years here at ASU went by extremely fast! I have already begun the process of choosing my career and applying for positions in the legal field. I'm most excited to begin my career and make a difference in our society through the criminal justice system! I can't wait!

I can't say that I am dreading anything about this semester because I'm so close to reaching the goal I have aimed for my entire life! Although it's hard work being a college student, constantly reading, studying, taking tests, and preparing for projects, I have enjoyed it all! It's a once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget! I made the best of my four years in college and I hope you all do the same!

Update!!

2010-01-18T12:30:00.001-08:00

Hi Everyone!!

I just want to update you all!! I apologize that it has been a while since I blogged, my family and I have experienced tragedies over the past three months. We are all doing better and we are thankful to have the Lord in our lives and of course to have each other.

Over the month of December, my husband and I went back to Minnesota to see family and celebrate Christmas! We had an amazing time! It was a well needed vacation, you probably all know what I mean. We spent time playing in the snow, snowboarding, and tubing while we were there. We enjoyed all of the family Christmas parties and spending time with everyone!! If everything goes as planned, we will be living in Minnesota by the end of this summer!! This is very exciting for us; however, it will be difficult to leave everyone here. I have already started applying to several different jobs in the criminal justice system including police departments, law firms, and sheriff's departments. Although I have not quite decided what I actually would like to do! I know and it's so close to graduation already! I am interested in so many different areas of the system! I have recently decided that I may apply with private investigation firms and possibly get my private investigator's license. In contrast, I may just continue to work in a law firm, preferably criminal because I already have a great deal of experience in a civil law firm, while attending law school. Wow! So many different options with this degree. I'll let you all know when I have made my final decision.

I'd like to give you all an update on how my semester interning at the law firm finished. It was an awesome experience where I learned and will continue to learn many things about our law. I have developed myriad skills while interning here. I successfully completed the internship. Moreover, I will continue to work for this law firm until I graduate. My experience with the firm will be valuable to place on career applications. Furthermore, my supervisor can write me a recommendation letter for any career path that I choose to take.

The last semester begins tomorrow!! I can't believe that it's such a short time until graduation! I have a full schedule consisting of the following five courses:

CRJ 441: Prevention of Criminal and Delinquent Behavior
CRJ 442: Community Relations/Justice System
CRJ 461: Domestic Violence
FAS 331: Marriage/Family Relationships
PGS 101: Introduction to Psychology

I set out my classes so that I would be able to choose any two elective classes that I desired for my final semester. The courses that I chose were FAS 331 and PGS 101. I chose FAS 331 because I heard it was a good class. I also thought that would enjoy and gain a lot from it at the same time. I haven't taken psychology yet; therefore, I signed up for the class because I wanted to take it before I graduate.

I will attend classes Monday nights and all day Tuesdays and Thursdays. I will work Mondays during the day, Wednesdays, Fridays and sometimes on the weekends.

Time management is key to being a successful student while managing a job and being married. From my personal experience, I have found that utilizing time gaps between classes for studying and homework is very valuable. I just find a quiet place to work and I always seem to get a lot accomplished. In addition, I study and complete homework during the weekend and when I have any other spare time during the week. I utilize study groups for every class! I believe forming study groups is vital to doing well in many classes. If I am ever having trouble in any of my classes, I email my professor and meet with them during their office hours to get help which has been beneficial to my grade.

If any of you have any questions or concerns at all about the courses, study habits or school in general feel free to email me at scrable@asu.edu and I will get back to you just as soon as I can.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!!

Stacey

Another look into the life of working in a Plaintiff Attorney's Law Office!

2009-10-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

I'm in my second month of my internship in a Plaintiff's Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Law Office.

During this month, I have been working with he attorney in preparing an initial disclosure statement for a wrongful death case in which we have named a second Defendant. We have also prepared a supplemental disclosure statement for both of the Defendants. In addition, both the Plaintiff’s attorney and the Defense attorneys are putting together a stipulation for scheduling. Moreover, the attorney has met with doctors in order to decide whom he will use to testify in this particular case. We have spent time studying and reviewing the medical records continuously for preciseness.

A Plaintiff’s initial disclosure statement includes the witnesses, experts, exhibits, and evidence that the Plaintiff’s attorney is planning to use in the case. The Plaintiff has the burden of proof throughout the majority of the case. In the initial disclosure statement, we included all of the facts of the case, each lay and expert witness, depositions, and the important documents were attached to the initial disclosure statement as exhibits.

This initial disclosure statement with all of the exhibits (evidence) attached was probably over 1,000 pages just to give you a rough idea about how long it takes to actually put it together and make copies for the other attorneys.

After or during the time we spend finishng exchanging the initial disclosure statement with the exhibits, which we are still in the process of doing, supplemental disclosure statements will begin by both the Plaintiffs and Defendants. These supplemental statements include submitting more discovery and disclosure of witnesses and documents to each side. There is continual disclosure of new experts, evidence, discovery, and exhibits; therefore, we continuously prepare supplemental disclosure statements until the last day of discovery and disclosure of the case.

In order to keep a case on a steady track through the court system, the attorneys are suppose to work together on a stipulation of scheduling for which they will decide the deadlines for disclosures, depositions, discovery, and experts. In addition, the attorneys state, in the stipulation, when they expect to be finished with all of these things so that the court can set a trial date for the case. Personally, I find it interesting that the attorneys work on scheduling together professionally; however, sometimes it is with difficulty because of conflicting schedules. This stipulation for scheduling enables the case to move forward with the attorneys in agreement about deadlines if, after submitted, the court agrees with the proposed stipulation.

Throughout a case such as the one we are currently working on, the Plaintiff’s attorney will normally have meetings with the doctors that they want to testify in the case. During these meetings, the attorney speaks privately with the doctor about the case, gives the doctor medical records to review and asks the doctor his expert opinion based on his work with the patient and the medical records.

When preparing for these meetings with doctors, the attorney and I have spent time reviewing and studying the medical records. We know to look for specific phrases and notes such as SOB (shortness of breath) when studying the records. We have spent time researching different medical conditions such as CHF (Cardiac Heart Failure), its definition, symptoms, etc. This process of learning about medical conditions is important so that you are aware of these conditions when meeting with the doctors. Then, the attorney will have some background information about the condition while the doctor gives his expert opinion. As a Plaintiff's attorney in a case like this one, you are continuously researching medical conditions, cases and more.

I am continually learning more about the skills and practices a Plaintiff's attorney uses in order to develop and settle/take a case to trial. The responsibility of the Plaintiff's attorney is immense in that he/she has the burden of proof. However, skilled attorneys have learned to work well with ideas and arguments when building their cases. They develop strategies for their case that they can use at trial if the case goes to trial.

Like I have stated previously, law may be in my future and I don't necessarily mean law enforcement, could mean lawyer, we will just have to wait and find out.

Until next time, have a wonderful day!

Stacey

Race for the Cure is coming up!

2009-10-09T10:16:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

The Race for the Cure is a event that is put on by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and all of those that sponsor it in its mission to end breast cancer forever! This organization helps raise funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer!!

On October 11, 2009, the Race for the Cure will be held near Downtown Phoenix! The 2009 Komen Phoenix Race for the Cure is going to be in the State Capitol District of downtown Phoenix. The Race activities include the Survivor and Co-Survivor Area (Pink Hat Cafe, Survivor Goodie Bags), Corporate Village (sponsor booths), and Registration and Packet Pick-Up will take place in Wesley Bolin Plaza. Each of the events on this day will start at 17th Ave. and Adams St. We will circle the Capitol Building and head East to Copper Square before returning to the finish line East of 17th Ave. on Jefferson St.

For more information on this event and others in Phoenix, visit www.komenphoenix.org

I will walk Sunday with my family for the loved family and friends that have had and still have breast cancer!

One of my family members has had several surgeries as a result of being diagnosed with breast cancer years ago; however, by God's grace she has survived it all. She is a strong woman who never gave up and I look up to her for that strength!!

So on October 11, 2009, my family and I will walk for her and everything she has come through with having breast cancer!

Will you join us in supporting the race for the cure against breast cancer and if so who will you walk for this year?

Hope to see you there in support of your loved family and friends who have or have had breast cancer in the past!

Moving this weekend!!

2009-09-17T22:01:00.000-07:00

Yay! We are moving this weekend! After getting married in May and house sitting for over three and a half months, we finally get a place of our own!

After only a week and a half of looking, we found our new home! It is an apartment, but it's a big one! It's located near the Carefree Highway with a beautiful desert view right outside our patio! This place will be OUR first official place together that is OURS! We get to decorate it together, design the layout of where everything is going to go and shop for furniture! Can't wait!

We have a long weekend ahead, but the payoff will be well worth it!

Email me at scrable@asu.edu if you are looking at moving anytime soon, this place is awesome!

Have a great night everyone!!

Internship 2009

2009-09-17T21:39:00.000-07:00

School has officially started and with that I have started my internship! Yay!

I am enjoying working for the law firm full-time, gaining more experience and knowledge of the law and getting school credit for it! My schedule this semester consists of going to work an average of 27 hours a week, which is equivalent to 9 credit hours. In addition to the internship, I am taking one other night class, Women, Crime and Justice which is being taught by Dr. Shaffer. I'm enjoying the material in the class and the class discussions.

For my internship, I am required to write monthly journals about the learning objectives I am accomplishing and specific experiences I am encountering and my reaction to them.

This months journal reads as follows:

Dear Journal,

During the last month, I have been assisting my supervisor with several projects on one particular case, which will have strong effects on its outcome. These specific projects include drafting several copies of a Disclosure Statement (Statement of Facts), an Affidavit of our construction expert, indexes, list of exhibits and researching aspects of the case such as punitive damages. When working on these projects, I have learned to be careful and concise, trying my best to follow along with my supervisor when accepting dictation, inserting footnotes, labeling exhibits, organizing, and last but not least, the importance of the last inch of work on these projects which will all eventually come together smoothly. In addition to working on these specific documents, I learned more about how our laws started by reading parts of The History of English Law Volume I. I have continued to develop knowledge of the cases and the laws including the skills that are necessary in the processing of a case by a Plaintiff’s personal injury attorney.

This particular Disclosure Statement (Statement of Facts) includes listing the facts of a case in detail and in a specific order that can be easily understood by the readers, in this case, two defense attorneys, and the judge. These facts include, but are not limited to, the causation of the accident, the negligence of the Defendants, foreseeable danger, violations, injuries of the Plaintiff and more. When writing this Disclosure Statement, it was important to begin by listing the facts in paragraphs, dividing them into different parts with headings and subheadings, editing each fact to make it persuasive, and making sure footnotes coincided with the exhibits and the facts in each paragraph. This work was tedious but very interesting. It was necessary in order to tell the story of the case thoroughly. The Disclosure Statement goes along with the Affidavit of our expert in explaining what he will testify to in the case.

The Affidavit of our construction expert consists of his testimony, expertise, and opinions on the accident and circumstances surrounding it. We begin by stating who our expert is, his background, and his opinions based on the Disclosure Statement. The information in the Affidavit reflects the expert’s point of view and his evidence supporting his opinions. The Affidavit and the Disclosure Statement are edited several times for precision. Footnotes are continuously used to support these facts and opinions. These footnotes contain the exhibits, which support the facts. For example, if the Defendant gave testimony, that we, the Plaintiffs, felt was important during a deposition, we insert the exact testimony into our documents and use a footnote to show the exhibit. In this case, the deposition of the Defendant is the exhibit. We include the exact page numbers and lines where that testimony can be found in the deposition, which we attach as an exhibit to the entire document. For example, in an affidavit, we might have thirty or more exhibits attached. The Affidavit of an expert takes time and constant review. When the Affidavit is finished, the expert spends time reading it over so that it reflects their opinions correctly; then he signs it with a notary public and it is filed with the court.

While working on both the Disclosure Statement and an Affidavit, I worked with preparing an index for the Disclosure Statement and a list of exhibits. The index included all of the headings and subheadings in the text including the page number and paragraph number in order for the readers to find information quickly. The list of exhibits simply lists each exhibit that is used. I worked with an index and a list of exhibits the entire time that we prepared the Disclosure Statement and the Affidavit.

In the Disclosure Statement, we also included a section for punitive damages against the Defendant. The construction expert will not testify to punitive damages; however, we are still claiming them. Punitive damages are used to punish a Defendant and to deter him/her, them, or others from committing similar acts in the future. My supervisor and I went to the Downtown Law Library and briefly researched cases that support the use of punitive damages so that we can cite case law that is similar to our case to prove why we are claiming punitive damages. Our goal is to prove that the Defendants knew that they were doing something wrong that could endanger the lives of workers, yet they did nothing to prevent it.

The last inch of work is always the toughest. One of my jobs is to assist my supervisor in re-reading and checking to make sure information is true and correct, that exhibits match facts and footnotes, that exhibits are numbered correctly and that the facts can be easily understood. We spend a lot of time organizing and re-organizing the information. These projects take weeks to complete. Once they are complete, the Plaintiffs’ can prepare an offer of judgment to settle the case for a certain amount. If refused by the defense, the Plaintiffs will wait until they can get a trial date so that they can present their case to a jury, who makes the ultimate decision of what the Plaintiff is awarded if anything by reviewing the evidence, listening to witnesses, etc.

In between working on these projects, I was assigned to read literature on the history of English law. In reading, I have learned a few key things. Our laws have been formed by Teutonic (German) customs with additions and modifications received directly or indirectly from the Roman system. This Romanic law reflects ecclesiastical law, which reveals Christianity and the church because the church was extremely stable during that time. The reading expanded my knowledge of English Law and how the legal system was first initiated.

I have learned and will continue to learn more about the history of our law, different skills necessary to assist with writing important documents such as the ones I have listed and to take necessary time when preparing these documents and organizing each of them so that the facts of a case are revealed in a persuasive manner.

I hope this gives you some personal insight of working with a Plaintiff's attorney and the different tasks one encounters with this job.Each day, I continue to receive more insight about how our legal system is set up and the rules that have been established so that each case has a fair chance.

I think Attorney Lease may be a future title, who knows, it's a possibility. :)

Can Food Drive!! (Help feed the hungry)

2009-07-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!

I just wanted to let you all know that my church, Deer Valley Worship Center, is partnering together with the Phoenix Rescue mission to help feed the hungry!

This is a chance to truly make a difference! Josh and I are collecting all non-perishable foods- canned foods, baby food, diapers and more. I believe recent statistics have shown that 1 out of every 5 kids go to bed hungry every night! We are determined as a church and community to change these statistics drastically!

If you are interested in helping with this cause, you can find out more from the Phoenix Rescue Mission or through our church, Deer Valley Worship Center. If you would like to donate any non-perishable foods, please feel free to email me at scrable@asu.edu and we can arrange a time for me to come pick them up. Your support mean so much!

Beginning this week, Josh and I will go to all of our neighbors' homes. We will begin by introducing ourselves as their neighbors. Then, we are going to ask them if they would like to donate any non-perishable foods for the Phoenix Rescue Mission. We will make it clear that we are not selling anything and that we can't accept money, but that their donation of food would be greatly appreciated. We will let them know that we can come pick up the food three days later. When we come to pick up the food from our neighbors, we will ask them if they would be willing to do this again in a couple months. This cause not only helps feed the hungry but it enables us to get to know our neighbors. We can build strong relationships by simply getting to know each other while helping others.

Great things will happen as a result of this meaningful rescue mission!!

Lets make a difference together!

Fourth of July In Payson, AZ!!!

2009-07-09T12:40:00.000-07:00

So what did you do for the Fourth of July this year?

For the last two years in a row, I haven't got the chance to watch fireworks on the Fourth of July. This year I was hoping would be different and it was!

Josh had to work at the motocross race in Payson, AZ. If I haven't mentioned before he works for the father of a race team which consists of his two twin eleven year-old boys, Stone (#52) and Slayter (#25), who race dirt bikes! He is their personal mechanic. He absolutely loves his job! The boys are getting really good! Now, they are starting to travel more to race in other areas across the United States.

Anyways, so on Friday, July 3, 2009, Josh was told that they were going to race the next day in Payson. Josh and I had already planned to spend the Fourth of July together so we were determined to work something out. Josh would leave that day to Payson so the boys could practice on the track the day before the race. He would stay up there over night with his boss and the boys. The next morning, I woke up and headed straight to Payson. I was so excited because this was going to be the first time I had ever seen them race!

I didn't think I was going to see fireworks after all but it didn't matter because an exciting race sounded so much better!!

The races began at about 5:00 p.m. The races were all intense and the riders ranged from young beginner to veteran riders! The boys had four races that day!

All four of the races were intense from start to finish!! The boys took the lead in every race! They were a good thirty seconds in front of all the other riders! During one race, both of them fell, but still got up in enough time to keep their lead.

These two young boys knew racing well and were great at it! In every race, Stone and Slayter took 1st and 2nd place! Every race was thrilling, exciting, and fun to watch!

As about 9 p.m. approached, looking from the racetracks over the beautiful green trees in the nearby park, amazing fireworks went off for about twenty minutes! Wow! It was a great ending to an enjoyable day!

My Fourth of July was more than I could have asked for and I wouldn't have changed anything about it!!

Edge of your seat racing, fireworks, and great people made this day absolutely wonderful! Next weekend I'm going to Payson again for another race and I can't wait! I know it will be another great day!

Big Wheeling in Flagstaff!!

2009-07-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

Some people may say that big wheeling is only for kids!! Well, we proved those people wrong a couple weeks ago when we big wheeled in Flagstaff, AZ!

Big wheels are becoming extremely popular for adults. Josh is an expert in riding these big wheels and I am definitely a beginner as you will hear from my loud screaming in the video!

Josh and his friend Drew went down a huge road-hill in Flagstaff at up to 40 mph! I did not dare try that, but I went down a small bridge in one of Flagstaff's parks!

The biggest thing to remember when riding a big wheel for an adult is to keep your knees pointed to each side so your legs don't get stuck. Big wheeling may seem like kids fun, but really it's enjoyable for people of all ages especially when you can go down hills with a nice breeze in a beautiful place like Flagstaff!

So grab a big wheel and head off for a fun day in the park, I know it sounds silly but trust me it's so much fun!!

Downtown restaurants recommended by your very own StARs!

2009-06-25T14:28:00.000-07:00

These restaurants have been recommended by your very own StARs to eat at Downtown:

Coin Room Cafeteria in Basement of Chase Building ($) is located at 201 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, Arizona 85004 , (602) 221-1604.

Cibo ($$) located at 603 N 5th Ave, Phoenix, AZ, (602) 441-2697.

Subway and Sbarro Pizza ($) are right outside the UCENT Building heading north on Central (411 N. Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ, 85004).

Hurry for Curry ($) is in the Arizona Center about two blocks east of ASU Downtown.

Silver Spoon Cafe is South of ASU on 1st Street under the San Carlos Hotel.

Now, here are some places I haven't been to but they sound wonderful, let me know what you think if you get a chance to visit any of them?

Cafe Roma located at 455 N. Third Street (Arizona Center) or 110 N. Central Avenue

Carly's Bistro located at 128 E. Roosevelt Street.

Coney Island Sandwich Shop located at 16 W. Adams Street.

Downtown Deli located at 130 N. Central Avenue

Sonoma Casual Dining located 25 W. Van Buren Street

The Art of Soup located at 2329 N. Seventh Street

China Inn Chinese Restaurant located at 3 S. Second Street

City Hall Grill located at 200 W. Washington Street

Your input is important to me :)

Have a great day!

Coffee!!

2009-06-24T11:20:00.000-07:00

So I've never been a huge fan of coffee except those sugar filled, whipped topped, blended frappacinos!! I love those!

Well one early morning this week, Josh made me a great iced coffee, just simply the coffee iced with half and half and a little sugar. I wasn't sure if I would like it or not because of its lack of sweetness but it was great!

Now I am a bigger fan of coffee because it keeps me awake and alert even when I just have a small cup because too much coffee isn't that good for you!

So I officially learned how to make coffee yesterday at work. Amyann showed me how to grind the beans and set up the coffee maker! Together we made some pretty good coffee!!

Now when Josh makes me coffee in the morning I can return the favor by making him some the next day!

I also made a wonderful cup or maybe two :) of iced coffee this morning and I'm beginning to enjoy this whole simple iced coffee thing. I'm definitely not brave enough yet to try the mysterious black coffee of which I believe could not have even close to enough of a taste for me but I am broadening my horizons!

A cup of iced coffee can keep you alert and happy your entire day!

Softball!!

2009-06-24T10:30:00.000-07:00

Before church on Sunday, my husband, Josh and I decided we wanted to try out for the community softball team. The team included two of my sisters, my sister's boyfriend, his brothers and sister, their significant others plus some more friends. My sister had mentioned previously to me that we should join and I didn't think much of it but after our father's day celebration on Saturday my husband convinced me that we should!

Well to begin, my husband is definitely an athlete! He performs great in almost every sport he plays! He played baseball for many years growing up! I, on the other hand, well I do okay. Anyways, he had wanted to sign up for softball with our church but their season was almost over so this was the perfect opportunity!

We headed out to the park where practice is held near the 101 and Thunderbird on Sunday morning around 7:30 a.m. It was early but we were excited! We arrived at the park around 8:00 a.m. We began practice! The team was pretty good and we were all having a good time practicing! Immediately, the others on the team realized that Josh had the best arm on the team and everyone was excited to have him join and well I'm his other half so I just come along with him. :) No but really I did pretty good during practice also!

Right after practice, we found out all the details about joining the team! We picked up team shirts and paid the league fee! I found the perfect pink mitt to use for our first game, although we have to practice with it a bit and run it over with the truck a couple times to get it worn in.

Our first game is Saturday evening and we can't wait!! This is going to be a fun experience and it will allow all of us to bond! I'm so anxious, I wish Sunday was here already; however, I need a little more practice so I guess I'm glad it's only Wednesday!

Softball here I come!

More Wedding Pictures!!!

2009-06-23T15:19:00.001-07:00

My Top Ten Favorite Movies!!!

2009-06-23T11:46:00.000-07:00

I enjoy watching great movies and love stories are my absolute favorite!! I'm basically a huge romance fan!!

1. The Passion of the Christ

This is the most powerful story of the ressurection of Jesus Christ I have ever seen! You will begin to truly understand what Jesus Christ went through being hung on the cross and dying for our sins only to be raised three days later by the Lord! The love Jesus Christ and God have for us is made deeply apparent in this film. You will be in tears by the end of this film!

Give me your review of the movie if you have seen it?

2. Fireproof

This is a powerful film about a married couple whose marriage is struggling. They are facing many obstacles of which they don't know how to overcome and ultimately are about to separate. The husband through his father's advice begins to read the love dare. As he reads it he begins to do something for his wife each day as the book instructs, each day seems even harder but he bears through it because he loves her. The book ultimately reveals kind things to do for each other through the instruction of the Word of God. God ultimately helps them find the love they once had for each other again with an even more powerful spark!

Give me your review of the movie if you have seen it?

3. Pride and Prejudice (I've heard that after you watch this film, you should definitely read the book becuase it is fabulous also)

This is a magnificent film about a man who is too prejudice about falling in love with a woman under his class level and a woman who is too proud to fall in love with a man who thinks he is of a higher status than her.

Give me your review of the movie if you have seen it?

4. The Notebook

This is an wonderful film about two people who fell in love and were taken away from one another because of a conflict of class and how this affects their decisions and the rest of their lives!

Give me your review of the movie if you have seen it?

5. A Walk to Remember

This is a meaningful film about the example a young woman becomes to a young man who is self centered and would not think twice about others. They are brought together on a beautiful journey and they build a bond that no one can break.

Give me your review of the movie if you have seen it?

6. Twilight

I am definitely not a fan of vampire movies because I don't believe in them; however this story is so powerful portraying love in an extraordinary way. She takes a chance with someone who could ultimately unintentionally hurt her and she never looks back.

Give me your review of the movie if you have seen it?

7. Where the Heart Is

This is a film about a pregnant woman who hated the number 5 for many understandable reasons. She was left by her boyfriend at Wal-Mart forced to live there because she had nowhere else to go all the while writing down everything she owed them. Many people came into her life helping her in different situations and when she finally has the chance for true love she may pass it up. This is a film full of twists and turns that keep you interested throughout.

Give me your review of the movie if you have seen it?

8. Miss Congeniality

Well I love Sandra Bullock, she is one of my favorite actresses. This is a cute film about a woman is a cop and generally considered one of the guys. She is forced to go undercover in a beauty pageant to discover who is writing threats against these women. Her makeover is awesome and her partner begins to see her true beauty on the outside and on the inside. Many friendships are formed and a twisting turn reveals who is plotting against the Miss America Pageant!!

Give me your review of this movie if you have seen it?

9. The Guardian

This is an exciting action film about a young man who wants to become a rescue diver. He faces many obstacles but through the help of his captain, I believe, he overcomes them all by working hard to accomplish his goal.

Give me your review of this movie if you have seen it?

10. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

This is an older film but I am definitely a fan of this movie! It is a musical film about one unexpected marriage that leads to the love of many others. Its romantic, funny, and entertaining!

Give me your review of the movie if you have seen it?

Now that I have shared my top ten favorite movies with you, I would challenge you to share your top ten with me!!

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Lunch at Cibo!!!

2009-06-19T14:58:00.000-07:00

There is a wonderful restaurant called Cibo near 5th Avenue and Filmore!

The address is:

603 N 5th Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85003-1528
Telephone:(602) 441-2697

I had a wonderful lunch there today with a friend of mine. The service was great! The place was very busy with a refreshing urban-like atmosphere! The restaurant appears to have been an old home at one point in time now decorated with a cafe and pizzeria theme!

They offer both lunch and dinner. During lunch, they offer mostly gourmet sandwiches such as an Italian sausage sandwich and a tuna sandwich with salads also offered. Both sandwiches are delicious!

In the evening, the urban cafe turns into a pizzeria where I hear the pizza is amazing; however, I have yet to try it. If the pizza is anything like the sandwiches and salads I'm sure its wonderful!

I recommend this restaurant to everyone, it has a great atmosphere and flavorful food!

Go to Cibo and enjoy a fabulous lunch!

Register for your classes ASAP!

2009-06-19T11:07:00.000-07:00

Hi Criminology and Criminal Justice Students!

This is just a friendly reminder to register for your Fall classes soon because they are starting to fill up! I just want to make sure you all get into the classes you want for this upcoming semester! If you still need to meet with your adviser because there is a hold on your account or for any other reason please call 602 543 6600 or email laura.beckman@asu.edu to schedule an appointment.

I would just like to personally recommend some of the classes I have taken in previous semesters to all of you:

CRJ 230 Police Function- Charles Loftus
CRJ 240 Corrections- Robbin Brooks
CRJ 303- Statistical Analysis- Professor Fornango
CRJ 302- Research Methods- Dr. Jennifer Shaffer
CRJ 304- Criminology- Dr. Jennifer Shaffer
CRJ 306- Race, Ethnicity & Justice- Dr. Jennifer Shaffer

These classes were all very enjoyable for me! The professors are awesome and they each personally have a job in the criminal justice system! They relate well to their students and are enthusiastic about the material! The material in each class is interesting and the discussions are beneficial!

Personally, I have enjoyed all of the classes I have taken in the Criminology and Criminal Justice Program!

If you have any questions about the program, feel free to email me anytime at scrable@asu.edu.

Thank you all,

Have a great day!

Scholarship!

2009-06-11T12:41:00.000-07:00

The Robert Godlove Scholarship 2009!

This scholarship is being given in memory of Robert Godlove, a faculty member at ASU West in the Criminal Justice and Social Work department. He was committed to teaching and to making a difference in the community!

The application deadline is June 15, 2009!

You can access the application at http://ccj.asu.edu/docs/robert-godlove-scholarship09

Scholarship Criteria:

Must be an undergraduate student in The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at ASU.
Must be at junior or senior standing.
Must have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
Minimum of 30 completed hours at Arizona State University.

The student must write a one page statement describing student participation in community service, activities, and personal interests in serving the particular communities.

Get your college paid for by applying for scholarships like these! :)

2009-06-10T16:10:00.000-07:00

A spilt glass of water could result in you owning a phone like this!

Two days ago I spilt an entire glass of water on myself and my purse which just happen to have my cell phone in it, just one of those clumsy moments. The phone was water damaged and could not be fixed although recently Sam said I could put it in a bag of rice to absorb all the moisture and there may be a chance for it. I just decided I would replace it with an inexpensive phone for a while.

Well I'm here to report that's not such a great idea although it's better than nothing. I now own a $20 nokia t-mobile phone. It works but I don't like it because it's a flimsy plastic and not as easy for me to use although I may be being picky. So now I think I'm going to go buy a new phone soon that is better quality because face it without a phone life seems more difficult.

So the point of my story was to not settle for inexpensive if you want decent quality because if you use your phone a lot you want to be comfortable with it, but if you need to save money this basic phone could be the answer for you, it just depends. And an even more vital point would be keep your cell phones at least twenty feet from any liquids. :)

Thanks for listening,

Stacey Lease

The Diamondbacks at Chase Field!

2009-06-10T13:10:00.000-07:00

One of the many exciting things to do in downtown Phoenix is to go to Chase Field to watch a Diamondbacks game!! The games are always exciting and fun to watch even if your not a huge baseball fan. It's fun to watch when the next strike out or home run is about to happen! Tonight, my husband, mom, friend and me will go to Chase Field to enjoy the baseball game between the Diamondbacks and the San Francisco Giants!

Crowds go wild over their team of choice, baseball food is the best, and just the plain excitement of being in a stadium full of people is worth the trip to Chase Field which is literally a short walk from the ASU Downtown Campus.

The address of Chase Field is:

401 E Jefferson St.

Phoenix, AZ 85004

Telephone: (602) 462-6700

Schedule of the upcoming D-Backs games this month at Chase Field:

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

D-Backs v. San Francisco Giants

6:40 p.m.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

D-Backs v. San Francisco Giants

12:40 p.m.

Friday, June 12, 2009

D-Backs v. Houston Astros

6:40 p.m.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

D-Backs v. Houston Astros

5:10 p.m.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

D-Backs v. Houston Astros

1:10 p.m.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

D-Backs v. TEXAS Rangers

6:40 p.m.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

D-Backs v. TEXAS Rangers

6:40 p.m.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

D-Backs v. TEXAS Rangers

6:40 p.m.

Friday, June 26, 2009

D-Backs v. Los Angeles Angels

6:40 p.m.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

D-Backs v. Los Angeles Angels

1:10 p.m.

Saturday, June 28, 2009

D-Backs v. Los Angeles Angels

1:10 p.m.

Come out and support your Diamondbacks team for a fun afternoon or evening game!!

Slide Rock in Sedona, AZ!

2009-06-09T15:23:00.000-07:00

If you're ever looking for something fun to do in Arizona, go to Sedona and visit Slide Rock! Sedona is about an hour and a half from Phoenix. It is a beautiful place with red rock mountains, great hiking spots, tours, creeks, shopping areas, and Slide Rock!

I have been to Slide Rock about five times over the years! Every time we go, I enjoy it! Slide Rock is basically a man-made river of flowing water through rocks which can sometimes be slippery. It's a lot of fun to spend the day at Slide Rock, sliding on the rocks and down the streams of water!

Whenever I want to get away, my family or friends or both go up to Slide Rock in Sedona and spend the day in the sun splashing around and enjoying ourselves. The sites are beautiful, with green trees and red rock everywhere!

Just recently, my family and some friends went to Slide Rock for the day because some of our family had never been there. We took them to Sedona for the day and they absolutely loved it even though it was cold. We went sliding on the rocks like we usually do even though the water was 58 degrees! We still had a great time!!

If you ever just want to get away or have a fun day, visit Sedona and Slide Rock, it's an adventure you won't forget and it's not normally cold. :)

Lunch at the Coin Room Cafeteria...

2009-06-09T14:06:00.000-07:00

Today, myself and another student ambassador went to have lunch in the Coin Room Cafeteria in the basement of the Chase building on the Southeast corner of Central and Polk, a short walking distance from the downtown campus UCENT Building.

The Cafeteria was set up nicely and had a wide variety of food to choose from. When you walk in, the atmosphere is calm and pleasant. There is an awesome salad bar with three different kinds of lettuce, chicken, ham, cheese, egg, bacon and so much more. I built my own salad and it was delicious! Other options are a sandwich bar, soups, grilled food, potatoes, veggies and much more. It all looked well prepared and yummy!

I would recommend ASU students to go to the coin room to enjoy a nice, pleasant lunch with exceptional food!

Vacation/Honeymoon in Minnesota this summer!

2009-06-09T11:43:00.000-07:00

Now that I’m married, the next occasion that I get to look forward to is going back to good ole Minnesota in August. Since Josh and I did not really have a honeymoon yet our annual trip to Minnesota will be our honeymoon getaway.

I love everything about Minnesota from all the broccoli trees to the country and all the wonderful people. My husband is from Litchfield, Minnesota, a small town about an hour and a half south of the cities. The great little town consists of about 6,000 people, not even the size of the West Campus of ASU which consists of close to 9,000 students. The people who make up the town are so wonderful! They are all kind people with loving hearts always there when someone else needs them. Some of the town’s sites are the beautiful Lake Ripley, Litchfield Museum, Main Street and my favorite, Taco Johns! Taco John’s has the BEST spicy chicken burrito ever!

During the summers in Minnesota, everyone spends a lot of their time at their cabins on the lakes. Our family has a cabin on a beautiful lake where we all go when Josh and I are back in the summertime. We enjoy all the great things about the cabin including the home cooked hot dishes courtesy of the great cooks: my mother-in-law, father-in-law, nanny, pops, my husband and the rest of the family brings wonderful dishes also. We spend our time riding the four wheelers down the country roads, in the ditches and through the forests! When we are not out on the four wheelers, we are riding the Jet Ski, fishing, knee boarding, wake boarding or surfing on the lake! Yes! I said surfing; we surf behind a Mastercraft boat that makes perfect waves to surf! The families also enjoys playing games such as Apples to Apples in the cabin after we all finish lunch and are awaiting what delicious treat will come next.

There are so many fun things to do in Minnesota! It’s so interesting to drive through all the small towns and each time I seem to learn a little more about their history. The town of Darwin about 7 miles away from Litchfield consists of about 250 people. The pride and joy of the town is their enormous man-made ball of twine which is the largest man-made ball of twine in the world! It sits in front of the town hall for everyone to view as they pass through.

Another one of the places I enjoy to go to is the city of St. Cloud, Minnesota. We normally take a day trip to go shopping and enjoy a fabulous lunch with everyone. It is a great time to visit and enjoy everyone’s company. When we go back to Minnesota this August, we will spend a lot of our time with family at the cabin! My mom and sister will also be joining us for a trip I know they will never forget. This will give them a chance to see why I love Minnesota so much! We will also be holding a reception in Darwin, Minnesota at the Rotten Gun Club where friends and family from Minnesota who could not make it to our wedding will be joining with us to celebrate!

We are looking forward to this vacation as we always do and we are anxiously awaiting the day we leave! This will be a great time to visit with our family and have a wonderful honeymoon with people we love!

Our Wedding!

2009-06-09T09:52:00.000-07:00

May 23, 2009

2009-06-08T15:38:00.000-07:00

It was a sunny, beautiful, Saturday afternoon at around 3:00 p.m. when our wedding began. We had been planning several months for this beautiful occasion. To begin, I’ll give a little background leading up to the engagement and then to the wedding.

On January 24, 2009, two days after my 21st birthday, my husband and I decided that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. We had talked about getting married throughout our year and a half relationship but we knew that this was the right time! After about three months of dating Josh, I knew he was my one and only and the love of my life! He always makes me happy and cares about me in every way one person who loves another should. He always knows just what to say to brighten my day if I am down. His smile is unforgettable and every time I see him I fall in love with him all over again. He has always supported me in everything by showing how proud he is of me or just standing behind me when I need him. Not one day goes by where he does not tell me he loves me and when he says it, you can see in his face that he truly means it in his heart. God brought us together and nothing can separate us!

After our engagement, we spent the next few months preparing for our wedding that we finally decided would occur on May 23, 2009. In the beginning, we wanted a small wedding but in the end it became much larger than we had planned but everything happens for a reason and to us one only gets married once. After a lot of discussing and conversing with his parents who live in Minnesota and my parents who live here in Phoenix, we got our ideas together. When I say “together” I truly mean together, Josh and I did everything together in planning for our wedding from the colors (coral orange, white and black), decorations, dresses, candles, invitations and so much more! We were a team through it all and enjoyed every moment of it!

We picked the date May 23, 2009 because it was a three day weekend in the summer which allowed Josh’s family (now our family) to stay for a few more days without missing too many days of work. We chose to have our wedding ceremony at the Cave Creek Regional Park off the Carefree Highway and 32nd Street. They had just built a new concrete amphitheatre near the nature center in the park. We went to check the place out and right away we knew that was where we wanted to get married! We would be the first to use the place for a wedding ceremony and we could not wait!

Now that we had a date and a place for the wedding, we just needed a time and a place for the reception. We decided to have the ceremony at 3:00 p.m. (the weather was beautiful). We called around to get prices on wedding receptions at different restaurants and immediately decided upon one of our favorite restaurant’s, El Encanto Dos, which was just a few miles from the park. My wonderful mom offered to pay for our beautiful reception!

We sent out our own invitations which were beautiful and special to us because we made them together. We also personalized our own programs with bows and a message that read “I never knew love could be so sweet, so overwhelming, then I met you…”

As we waited for the day that we would become husband and wife, we anxiously looked forward to Josh’s family arriving in Phoenix the week before. Everything was falling right into place! When they arrived, we spent a few days with them before the wedding. His family finally met my family, who they had never met before. We spent a beautiful day at Slide Rock and his family threw us a wonderful wedding rehearsal dinner!

The rehearsal seemed a bit chaotic but it was enjoyable and fun to have the two families who would soon become one conversing together, it truly meant a lot to me! The big day was now only one day away! I would become Mrs. Joshua Steven Lease! We were never nervous, just excited, we were both so filled with joy!

The wedding day began early for me: I woke up at 6 a.m., picked up my sister and my maid of honor at about 7 a.m. and headed directly to the girl’s home who did my hair for the day. She designed it beautifully and I loved it! Then, it was time to get the makeup done; we headed to meet one of the other bridesmaids at the place where a few of us would get our makeup done. After the makeup was finished, we drove back to my house to complete all of our finishing touches. It was chaotic with about nine of us running around to finish things up before we had to leave to head to the park. I stayed calm though and never felt stressed.

At 2:00 p.m., my bridesmaid and I drove to the park. My bridesmaids and some of my family snuck me in a room so Josh and I would not see each other because the place was not terribly big. While I waited anxiously to marry the man of my dreams, I took pictures with my family and some friends in the room we waited in before the ceremony began.

At about 3:11 p.m., I began walking down the pathway with my dad toward the amphitheater. I forgot to mention that my dad is a minister and he had two jobs that day, walking me down to my husband and marrying us on this very special day! As we walked together arm in arm, praising God for everything he has done, trying to hold back the tears when we just could not, I saw my handsome husband looking at me as I walked down each step and with joy, tears started flowing down my cheeks. I was more happy than I could ever explain with words.

An audience of about eighty of our closest friends and family surrounded us. My dad took his place in front of us trying to hold back his own tears; he performed a glorious ceremony where two people in love united to become one under God!

I could not have asked for a more beautiful, perfect day! It was everything I ever dreamed of and more!

Pictures followed with family and our wedding party which consisted of five groomsmen and five bridesmaids!

After about an hour of pictures, we headed over to the reception! We had an awesome reception with great food, wonderful guests, and lots of fun dancing!

It was a day we will never forget and we will cherish it forever!! We are now Mr. and Mrs. Lease officially and loving every moment of being married!

2009-05-13T09:11:00.000-07:00

Wow!! The end of the semester is already here! This is an exciting time for all students at ASU! I turned in my last two term papers on Monday and now I can take a breather!

Looking back on this semester I can say with confidence that I learned a great deal about the criminal justice system as I do every semester. My professors were enthusiastic about the material they relayed to their students.

To give you a brief overview, in one class, I enjoyed learning about the many criminological theories that explain why people commit crime or why they do not commit crime. In another class, I learned how race and ethnicity issues are apparent in the system and ways that they are and need to be addressed. Furthermore, in another class, I learned that juveniles under the age of 18 commit many crimes in the United States related mostly to gang violence.

I can apply this knowledge and information that I have attained in my future career in the ways I work with people, understanding why people do certain things and what motivates them and what things can be done to help contribute to the improvement of the criminal justice system as a whole.

Although the semester is over, I will apply the knowledge I have attained to my future!

Each semester I gain a new understanding of the different parts of the criminal justice system! It's interesting and enjoyable to be able to understand the many leaves to the tree!

Summer :)

2009-04-29T10:19:00.000-07:00

I do not mind going to school three times a week, doing homework, and studying during each semester; however, I would be fibbing if I said I do not anticipate summer each year!!

Summer is the time of year where that well needed break comes and sets you free for a few months. In Arizona, there are so many activities to participate in during the summer. Although is can get pretty hot in the summer this makes water sports an enjoyable way to spend your time. I enjoy going to water parks, down the slides and relaxing on the lazy river while still working on that tan. Water sports such as going boating, jet skiing, tubing or wake boarding in one of the lakes in AZ such as Lake Pleasant or Bartlett Lake are popular. Another option is spending the day going down the salt river with friends and family. I look forward to all of these activities when summer comes around the corner.

I also look forward to vacationing in other places during the summer such as Minnesota and California. Its that time of year where I can just relax but at the same time have so many fun exciting things to do! I can spend time up at the cabin in Minnesota with my fiance and his family riding four wheelers, wake boarding on the lakes, and enjoying the awesome food! In California, I can visit my grandfather and spend time at the beaches enjoying the ocean and all the shopping!

Summer is a time to enjoy and spend with people you love. It is a time to experience new things and new places. It gives you plenty of time to prepare for your next semester in college!

Students just like anyone else need vacation, without it, our minds would never get a chance to rest! It's a time for fun in the sun!

Internship!

2009-04-27T14:37:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, I decided that I wanted to have an internship for my last year in college. My next step was to meet with the ASU internship coordinator. Two weeks ago I met with her and she decided my fate for my last year before graduation. I submitted my resume, cover letter, and application for reviewing. Two days later, I received an email congratulating me on being accepted as a student who was eligible for an internship! This was awesome news!

When I met with the internship coordinator I also asked if I would be able to continue to work for the law firm that I do now while earning college credit. I could not believe it! The answer was yes and immediately I felt excited. This opportunity would give me the chance to work full time, earn a decent annual income while still earning college credit!

So that afternoon, I met with my boss to propose the idea of an internship with him. This would not change a lot about the job; however, I would have to work more hours, get my hours signed off by him and have him fill out a self evaluation each semester for me.

I said a prayer and left the rest in God's hands. Then, I asked him. I explained to him all the details of what entails with this internship. Immediately, he surprised me by saying that he had students in the past from ASU who also worked for him while earning college credit. Whew! I felt relieved! The answer to my question was of course!

Now you may be asking yourself why this is such a big deal to me?

In about 24 days, I will begin a new life with my husband by my side! Our life will begin together with all the love, responsibilities, and schedules that we have always had.

This internship will enable me to make a sufficient income while still being a full time student on track for graduation in the Spring, May 2010!

This opportunity gives me a chance to spend more time with my husband while still finishing my degree.

I highly recommend internships for students not only because of these great opportunities but first and foremost because you learn a great deal pertaining to your career hands on which is the best preparation you can have for your future!

The Importance of Visiting Your Advisers!

2009-04-23T19:11:00.001-07:00

Are you a student that visits their adviser?

If the answer is no then I am going to explain three key reasons as to why it is imperative that students visit their advisers at least once a semester.

First, advisers are there to help us organize our schedules each semester. They tell students how many credits we should take each semester depending on that students situation. In addition, they inform each student of which courses they should take in each area while explaining why these courses are necessary for the degree of your choice.

As a freshmen, I was nervous and hesitant to build my school schedule for my first semester in college! When I learned that advisers are there to help you build your schedules each semester in order to keep you on track to graduate I felt relieved and excited to begin my college career.

Secondly, advisers are there to keep students on track to graduate within a four year period with the amount of credits necessary. Advisers meet with students to discuss how they are doing in their courses and they explain the next steps to complete the following semester. They spend the time necessary to make sure the students understand where they are academically.

Thirdly, advisers seem to also be able to put students into contact with individuals who can help them further their education. For example, advisers can give students information about who to get in contact with regarding internships while explaining where they would fit in their schedule. Also, they can give their opinions on certain classes based on their contact with other students who have taken them which is extremely helpful!

Some students try to organize their schedules on their own; however, it is much easier, less time consuming and stress relieving to visit an advisor!

Meeting with your advisor is key to successful completion of your degree!!

If the opportunity for help is there, take advantage of it!

What do you expect to get out of your classes?

2009-04-03T09:28:00.000-07:00

An interesting question was posed in my Race Ethnicity & Justice class this week.

What are we expected to get out of this course?

Our professor responded that we are not expected to change the system; however, we are expected to gain knowledge, education, and facts that we can use and apply in our everyday lives and future careers. Our professor answered, as a group we can try to make a difference and improve parts of the system; however, we are not expected to as individuals. As individuals, we should be independent thinkers using this knowledge we have gained from this course in all of our other courses, at work, at home and in our communities. If in one class we have background knowledge of an issue that is briefly raised in the next class, our voice should be heard in discussions and debates about these issues. As you take more similar classes in your field of choice you begin to notice similarities about the classes. Therefore, you can have more in depth discussions about the material because of that outside knowledge.

Lots of students take classes simply because they are required; however, they ignore the question of what they are suppose to take away from that class. I would challenge each of you to ask yourself that question in each of your classes. With that information, knowledge and fact, how can you apply that in your lives!

It is not about getting that A; however, I am not saying one should not aspire to get an A, but of even more importance is actually learning and using that knowledge you have gained in your everyday life. A student can get an A in a class and may have learned nothing because they simply memorized the information then they erased it out of their minds after the test. It is better to have a deeper understanding of the material and knowledge in your classes than the grade you receive. Then, you have developed knowledge that can not be forgotten easily because you learned it and applied it!

We all pay a substantial amount of money for tuition to attend universities, it is imperative that we make the best of every single course we take!!

We can have success if we have knowledge but without application of that knowledge we may have a sense of unfulfillment!

Make the best of your college career and begin to make a difference in your lives and the lives of others!!

Different Career Opportunities in Criminal Justice!

2009-03-31T17:16:00.000-07:00

What can you do with a degree in Criminal Justice? What career path will you follow when you graduate?

Criminal justice is a multidisciplinary field. People can follow a career path in research, law enforcement, treatment, corrections, and private enterprise such as investigation and security.

The following is a list of career opportunities in the field of criminal justice:

Research Careers

Local, State or Federal Entry Level Research Analyst
Research Assistant Policy Analyst
Graduate/Teaching Assistant in Graduate School

Law Enforcement Careers

Local, State or Federal Law Enforcement Officers
Sheriff's officers
Detective

Court Careers

Court Administrator
Case-flow Manager
Probation Officer (pre and post adjudication)
Public Defender's Assistant
Prosecuting Attorney's Assistant

Correction Careers

Corrections Officer Drug/Alcohol Counselor
Job-Placement Counselor
Parole Officer
Victim-Assistant Counselor
Half-way House Administrator
Juvenile Case-Worker
Group-Home Counselor

Other Career Opportunities

Private Law Enforcement
Insurance Investigation
State Crime Commissions
Private Security
Utility Companies
Consumer Protection Agencies
Civil Rights Commissions

There are so many job opportunities in the field of criminal justice. The ones listed above are just some of the careers available. For more information on the descriptions of these jobs visit:
http://careers.cua.edu/handouts/criminaljusticecareers.htm.

I have received a few emails about what types of careers an individual can get in the field of criminal justice. I hope this list helps you all with your decisions of what you would like to do with your future career in criminal justice!

Have a wonderful evening!!

The Benefits of Study Groups!

2009-03-13T07:06:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have trouble studying by yourself? Do you stress about forgetting something or not quite understanding a concept? There is a solution, study groups! Although sometimes you find it is easier to study alone, there can be many more benefits to studying with others.

As I prepare for an upcoming exam, I begin reviewing my notes, re-reading portions of the chapters and writing, in more detail, material that I am having trouble comprehending. The next step almost always involves either joining or forming a study for that class. Yes! I am that student who enjoys forming study groups in order to help us all understand the material thoroughly.

Benefits of forming a study group:

1. Discussing the material with other students in the group gives an overall better understanding of the topics or issues.

2. Enables students to gain new insight on the material that they otherwise may have looked over.

3. Comparing notes with other students in order to double check that the notes you have taken are similar and enables you to fill in gap areas where you may have missed something during lecture.

4. Reveals areas where you need more help or further studying.

5. Encourages you to stay ahead in your classes and manage time better.

6. Students motivate one another.

7. By explaining a topic or issue to another students it reveals how well you understand the material yourself.

8. Getting to know your classmates and which ones are truly putting an effort forth in the class, which can be a benefit if a professor wants you to form groups for a project or presentation in the class.

9. If your having trouble understanding something usually another student in the class is able to explain it to you in more simple terms.

Therefore there are many benefits to forming a study group which can ultimately help a student in a variety of different ways with their study habits and grades!

I encourage other students to form study groups because they have been a tremendous help to myself and many other students!

It is extremely simple to form a study group. Begin by contacting students in your class via email. Next, set up a time and place to meet for a few sessions before the exam. And lastly, show up to your study group!

Make it fun! Meet at Starbucks and get some coffee while you study!

Young Stewart of Public Policy Scholarship!

2009-03-11T20:17:00.000-07:00

Hello Arizona High School Seniors!

If you are passionate about an issue in your community and wish to express your opinions to Arizona's leaders and explain what you believe is the greatest Arizona challenge, here is your opportunity!

You can receive up to $1,500 for college for simply expressing your opinions in a well-thought out essay!

Applications are now being accepted for this prestigious Young Steward of Public Policy scholarship program. Morrison Institute wants to hear from high school seniors with creative ideas about and solutions to Arizona’s greatest challenges.

This program would like Arizona students to share their public policy ideas and promote “stewardship"-public leadership committed to helping Arizona.

The awards given are based on an essay that the student writes about a public issue of critical importance. These students are revealing their passion about and offering solutions on that issue to Arizona officials.

Applicants need to submit their essays (two-pages maximum; typed, double-spaced, 12-point type) along with the completed Young Steward Application Form. Download application here.

The application must be postmarked by March 31, 2009.

Your essays will be reviewed and awards will be determined by representatives from ASU, The Arizona Republic, Tucson Citizen, and Arizona’s public policy leadership.

This is an amazing opportunity for all high school seniors attending ASU after they graduate! All it takes is maybe an hour or two of your time and you could be the next one awarded the Young Stewart of Public Policy Scholarship!!!

Save the Date!

2009-03-09T21:16:00.000-07:00

On April 03, 2009 there will be a conference at ASU at the Downtown Campus in Phoenix.

The School of Criminology & Criminal Justice will be sponsoring this public event "Prisoner Reentry: A Twenty-First Century Imperative."

This conference will be in three sessions featuring well-known informative speakers. The speakers will examine issues such as violence, crime prevention, gangs, and strategic problem solving in criminal justice.

You can come and educate yourself on this topic through expert, informative sessions. In addition, you can network with peers within the industry.

This experience is especially beneficial for:

1. Researchers interested in criminal justice

2. Policymakers responsible for shaping public safety or social services

3. Practitioners in criminal justice interested in criminal justice policy, public safety, prisons and prisoner re-entry

4. Students interested in criminal justice issues

Therefore, this is an opportunity not only for agents in the criminal justice system but also for students and really anyone who is interested in criminal justice.

For any additional information regarding the conference contact:

Betty D. Sedillo
School of Criminology & Criminal Justice
Phone: (602) 543-6607
Fax: (602) 543-9911
E-mail: Betty.Sedillo@asu.edu

2009-03-09T17:33:00.000-07:00

Get your college paid for!

I came to Arizona State University from Washington High School in the Glendale High School Union District. I was 17 years old wondering how I was going to be able to afford to go to college when I graduated from high school. I was told if I worked hard in high school and received exceptional grades I could get my college paid for through a scholarship. I worked hard throughout my high school years. As the second part of senior year approached, I wondered if I would receive a scholarship after I applied to ASU. I was extremely nervous the day I received the letter in the mail from ASU. I slowly opened the edges of the envelope and unraveled the letter... I got it!!! I received a provost scholarship at the rate of $6,000 per year for a four year period because of my academic level in high school.

I received a scholarship and so can you!

I received that scholarship for my grades in high school; however, there are thousands of scholarships out there that are given to students everyday ranging from writing a short essay about your leadership skills to sharing a talent that you possess. A few other examples are the Coca-Cola Scholarship and the Dell Scholarship.

Need based scholarships require completion of a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form which can be accessed at www.fafsa.com.

Many scholarships are out there and many students are unaware of these awesome opportunities in order to pay for your college!

Visit www.scholarships.com to access scholarships/grants and read about the stories of students who receive grants and scholarships!

Scholarships are available and the students that put forth the effort are the ones who receive the reward!

“To succeed, jump as quickly at opportunities as you do at conclusions.”
-Benjamin Franklin

2009-03-09T16:27:00.000-07:00

Australia, Figi, New Zealand anyone?

If you have ever wanted to travel to another country, here is your opportunity!

Hello All ASU students! I would like to inform you that the study abroad deadline for this summer has been EXTENDED!

What does it mean to study abraod?

A study abroad program allows students to spend the summer in another country enjoying all of the exquisite sites while taking a certain amount of credit hours in that particular country during that time. This is a chance for students to study in the field and explore the many methodologies and tools from a variety of disciplines.

The School of Human Evolution and Social Change is offering this amazing study abroad opportunity for the summer in New Zealand, Australia, London or Fiji which will be led by our top ASU faculty. You can take 6-9 credit hours while earning upper division general studies credits (L, SB, G & H + earn Science and Society credits).

These programs are offered to ALL majors and there are no pre-requisites!

This study abroad application deadline has been extended; however, your application needs to be submitted as soon as possible!

If you would like further information visit http://shesc.asu.edu/global or email shesc.global@asu.edu.

From one ASU student to another:

Follow your dreams, explore different places, and live your life!

My Experience as a Criminal Justice Major at ASU

2009-02-24T15:56:00.000-08:00

I just want to share a few things with future criminal justice students about my experience in this program. The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice exists within the College of Public Programs. Our criminal justice program is rated top in the nation! I find this program extremely interesting!

I chose to study criminal justice because I desired to have a career that would be interesting and one in which every day would be different in some way. I have decided that I would like to be a detective for a police department in the future. With this career, I know I will look forward to my job each day being able to work in different areas while encountering many types of situations. The main reason I made this career choice is because I want to be able to help make a difference in people's lives. I want to solve those cases that no one believes can be solved and bring peace of mind to those families.

As a criminal justice student, you will begin to notice after taking a few criminal justice classes at ASU that your professors usually work in some position within the criminal justice field. For example, I have had professors that are sergeants in police departments, probation officers, criminologists, researchers, and attorneys. I found it exciting to learn that my professors have either a masters degree or doctorate degree to teach these courses while also having the personal experiences from working in the field. From my experience so far, our professors are knowledgeable in many different areas of the criminal justice system. These professors care about each student as an individual and a future employee of the criminal justice system. They want to help each one of us make a difference in our career as a criminal justice agent to improve the system as a whole.

I believe that through our education in the criminal justice program each student will be prepared to enter the criminal justice system with knowledge and the capability to succeed in their careers!

AbOuT mE :)

2009-02-24T10:06:00.001-08:00

Hi Everyone! I just thought I would introduce myself as a new addition to the StARs. I have attended the West Campus of ASU for a little over two and a half years. I am a Criminal Justice Major and a part of the College of Public Programs. I absolutely love being a Criminal Justice major and have enjoyed all of the classes I have taken thus far. I have also been involved on the West Campus as a Devil's Advocate and as a senior CALL mentor. You are probably asking yourself what does a Devil's Advocate or a CALL mentor do? As a Devil's Advocate, I give tours of the campus to upcoming and admitted students. I help with activities and events around campus to encourage students of all ages that it is important to go to college, informing them of the myriad opportunities that are open to them from that experience. As a senior CALL mentor, I work in CALL (Communication Assessment Learning Lab) where I help students with their public speaking skills and all of the different aspects of public speaking, including but not limited to, brainstorming, outlining, preparing, and delivering speeches or presentations. I also help them improve their skills by critiquing them on the many things they did well and where they could use improvement. I really enjoy helping students and giving them the opportunity to feel more confident when they speak inside and outside of their classes.

While I am a full time student at ASU, I also work part time in a law firm. I have worked for this law firm for about three and a half years, since before I graduated from high school. I enjoy every aspect of my job from learning about details of each case to working with clients. I have learned so much about civil law and the preparation and outcomes of these types of cases. If you have any questions about what it is like to work in a law firm or any questions at all feel free to email me at scrable@asu.edu or just comment on my blog.

I am a family-oriented person, enjoying all the times I can spend with each member of my family. Soon, I will be married and I am very excited about what will be in our future together. I figure skated competitively for six years and I loved every moment. I enjoy roller skating, hiking, swimming or just simply relaxing while spending time with family and friends.

Now that you know a little about me, I hope you will enjoy my blogs. I will give you a personal insight of what it is like to be a college student at Arizona State University.

I hope everyone has a fantastic day!