Indiana University Dance Marathon or better known as IUDM is the third largest student-run dance marathon in the nation supporting Riley Hospital For Children. IUDM is a 36-hour fundraising event during which thousands of students choose to spend their weekend supporting the kids. These dancers, committee members and other participants choose to not sit down, sleep, or take breaks. Instead, they dance and have fun to support those who can't.
This year alone IUDM raised over 4.1 million dollars for the kids at Riley. IUDM takes place every year, so let me give you five reasons to get involved and participate in one of IU's best traditions before it's too late.
1. IUDM is a chance to give back to a community while building friendships that may last a lifetime
Riley Hospital For Children is located in Indianapolis, being so close, you get to see the positive impacts that the students at IU get to be a part of. While you may not have a personal connection to Riley, just mentioning it every time you talk to new people, you will see will stumble across someone or a family who has been positively affected by the efforts of Riley Hospital for Children. While there are over 18 different committees that help structure the event, you can participate in all types of ways.
2. You never realize the difference 5 dollars can make to a family going through a crisis
You must raise at least $500 to attend the event as a 12-hour dancer and then the more money you raise, you can become a 24- or 36-hour dancer. At first, people think raising $500 dollars is challenging but IUDM committees work hard to help set up events to help you reach your goal. There are special days such as Day of Hope or different events like IUDM Gala. You don't realize that every dollar makes a difference. Hospital bills can rack up quickly for families with a sick child. Below are just a few examples of the cost of care which gives you a better idea of where your donation is going:
1 Hospital gown…………………………. $5
1 Silicone feeding tube…………………. $15
2 Baby stethoscopes………………..…... $25
1 Day in the NICU……………………… $2,500
1 Month's supply of cancer drugs…….. $10,000
3. You will gain a better appreciation for life and meet some of the most inspirational kids
Being a part of this organization and all the people involved in it is one of the best decisions that you will make during your years at IU. Opening your heart to this organization and these people can be the most rewarding thing you get to do on this campus. You will meet some of the most selfless and passionate people who have made a common goal to make a difference in a child's life. During the marathon, you get the opportunity to meet some of the children and the families whose lives were changed because of IUDM. You get to hear their stories and see the excitement on a child's face to be a part of this event. Once you fully see the joy in a Riley's kid's eye when singing and dancing around the tennis center, I can tell you it will change you forever.
4. It is really worth all the hype, it will change your life and someone else's
You will pour your heart and soul into this organization. You will talk to everyone you know trying to raise money for these kids. You will inform them of the differences that IU makes in these children's lives. Riley Hospital has been ranked nationally in all 10 categories by U.S. News and World Report [6] and remains the only nationally ranked children's hospital in the state of Indiana. The donations help carry the hospital's mission to not turn any child away regardless of their family's financial status, treating over 150,000 patients a year. You will grow a love for this hospital and open the eyes of those who don't. You will cherish your own health, friends, family, and anything else that you are blessed with. You will appreciate the little things. IUDM helps you see the bigger picture of life and remind you to keep going when times it gets hard.
5. This is the one event a year that doesn't matter who you are on campus, everyone is friends and come together as one family to
Whether you are a freshman, on a committee, a member of Greek life, or just a college student, everyone has the same common goal. IUDM brings everyone together on campus for one weekend to change lives. You get the opportunity to meet new people, share smiles, laughs and memories with both new and old friends.
There are so many other reasons why every student at IU should participate in the dance marathon at least once. It will help shape you into a better person along with changing your college experience in an influential way. IUDM has changed my life along with many of my friends' lives. It was one of the most rewarding things I have ever been a part of. Dancing for 12, 24, or 36 hours has the potential to be life changing, just by experiencing the marathon and knowing that when the total goes up, you helped to make that difference. You may get tired, and moody but everything was worth it the minute you see the numbers being held in the air.
If I have learned one thing in my lifetime, it is that friends are a privilege. No one is required to give you their company and yet there is some sort of shared connection that keeps you together. And from that friendship, you may even find yourself lucky enough to have a few more friends, thus forming a group. Here are just a few signs that prove your current friend group is the ultimate friend group.
1. When you see each other after a hiatus it is like no time has passed.
Regardless of what you may have gone through, nothing can change the banter and personal communication you and your friends share. Nothing feels awkward or forced because you are having too much fun catching up!
2. You plan your outings around each other's schedules.
Your friend's work schedules or class schedules are memorized like the back of your hand. They are your priority, and you will do anything you can to get them to join you on adventures when it is convenient to do so.
3. You say 'I love you' on the phone.
Yes, you may say it in real life too, but saying it after a phone call means it has become a customary for you to validate your appreciate for one other. Like a significant other or family member, you feel the desire to express your love at the end of a conversation.
No matter what you do together, you always have a good time. Why? Because your friends' company is all you need. With the right people, you can make any situation memorable.
5. You share weird inside jokes no one else understands.
And you would like to keep it that way. If you are anything like my friend group, we share a strange family dynamic that has lasted as a running joke forever. No matter what it is, your inside jokes and sly smirks will keep the spirits up for ages.
6. You plan to hang out for a couple hours but end up together the entire day.
So now you just expect it and prepare for a 24-hour long get-together. Naps are often a part of the agenda.
7. The hugs say a thousand words.
Perhaps you do it a little too much, but the hugs you share are always meaningful and comforting. Gotta love those group hugs especially!
8. You go on spontaneous adventures together.
It is where your favorite memories come from. Even though you might not be able to do them as much as you would like, you are always down for a trip, big or small, with the group.
9. You consider each other family.
Because you consider each other family, you treat each other like family. Constant love, constant support, and a tremendous amount of meals spent together.
10. They make you a better person.
It is not a special friend group unless you learn from one another. You had to be selective when choosing your friends and when you did, you felt like they could teach you a thing or two. Their actions influence who you are and you could not be more thankful.
11. You can't imagine life without them.
The very thought scares you and sends your heart racing. Thankfully, the ultimate friend group is right there with you so you never have to second-guess their loyalty. Instead, you can bask in the glory that is your ultimate friend group. #squadgoals.
When it comes to television, there’s very few sets of on-screen siblings that a lot of us can relate to. Only those who have grown up with siblings knows what it feels like to fight, prank, and love a sibling. Ross and Monica Geller were definitely overbearing and overshared some things through the series of "Friends," but they captured perfectly what real siblings feel in real life. Some of their antics were funny, some were a little weird but all of them are completely relatable to brothers and sisters everywhere.
If you’ve ever needed to get your parents to stop nagging on you, there was a sibling for that. You bickered back and forth trying to one-up each other, until suddenly all the cats were out of the bag.
There was definitely a time in your lives when you and your sibling made a dance routine and put on a show for the rest of your family. Years later, you’re reminiscing about your childhood, and you find out you remember the routine perfectly.
You’ve fought for the family cup.
Sibling rivalries happen in every home, so it’s no surprise if you and your sibs compete against each other. Sometimes the winner cheats and sometimes the loser calls a rematch, so every year you play again to see who claims the family cup.
Everything you and your sibs did when you were younger became a hilarious story when you grew up. No one will understand why saying just one word will put you and your siblings in a fit of laughter. All you can say is: "It's an inside joke between me and my siblings, you wouldn't understand."
You made your own insults.
Were there ever any words that you weren’t allowed to say when you were young? You had to come up with inventive ways to insult your sibs without being yelled at by your mom, so making a secret language or gesture was a thing.
But as a sibling, it's your job not to judge. You guide and support your sibling, just as they would for you. And maybe later down the road, you guys can laugh about it.
You know a little too much about your sibling.
Has there ever come a time when you and your sibling are having a conversation that’s a little too personal, but you think nothing of it? You may know some things about your sibling that you probably didn’t need to know, but hey, it’s your sibling.
You may bicker and fight with your sibling, and you’ll definitely be upset with them sometimes, but they are the most constant thing in your life. You and your siblings will always support and love each other.
College is a great place to meet people, especially through Greek life. If you look closely at sororities, you'll quickly see there are many different types of girls you will meet.
1. The Legacy.
Her sister was a member, her mom was a member, all of her aunts were members, and her grandma was a member. She has been waiting her whole life to wear these letters and cried hysterically on bid day. Although she can act entitled at times, you can bet she is one of the most enthusiastic sisters.
2. The Chic Sister.
She is always wearing the cutest outfits and you wonder where she finds all of her clothes. Her hair and makeup are always done perfectly and she always looks effortlessly ready for the runway.
3. The Fit Sister.
She is always working out whether she's at spin, going for a run, or at Pilates. She makes you feel so guilty about lying in bed binge-watching Netflix while eating wings.
4. The Party Girl.
She doesn't miss a bar night, frat party, or social. She lives to go out and double-fist. She must have the best hangover cure in the books to be able to bounce back every morning.
5. The Tinder Queen.
She doesn't just love boys. She lives, breathes, and dreams boys. She can't get enough and wants them all. She has guys in every frat on speed dial. Most importantly, she swipes more than she speaks because she's in it to win it.
6. The Overachiever.
She holds multiple chair positions, she gets perfect grades, she is super involved in the chapter, she is the best big, and you wonder when she has time to nap!
7. The Underachiever.
She never comes to chapter which explains why she never knows what's going on. She comes to events late, she doesn't know who she is paired with for Greek Week. She can basically go unseen for weeks.
8. The Mom.
She takes care of everyone in the sorority. If you're falling behind in class, are going through a rough break up, or just fought with your roommate, she's your go-to sister. She takes care of you when you're out, makes you food, and tells you how it is with honest advice, but gives you love when you need it the most.
9. The Freshman.
She is your stereotypical freshman in every way. She has your letters on everything and lives for the sorority. She wants to get involved and wants to get to know everyone. Despite her enthusiasm for the chapter, she is still a naive freshman and has had a few rough nights out, to say the least. She is painfully so freshman but you appreciate her drive
She doesn't care about anything and spends her days with dark sunglasses and a coffee in hand. She spends her last days of school drinking and freaking out about the real world so she doesn't have time for any chapter drama.
You can always find her dressed from head to toe in Lilly. She loves her Jack Rogers, T Burch, and Kate Spade. You wonder how she has time to look nice for class every day and she is always sporting pearls.
Every kid in college and/or high school dreams of summer the moment they walk through the door on the first day back in September. It becomes harder and harder to focus in classes and while doing assignments as the days get closer. The winter has been lagging, the days are short and dark, and no one is quite themselves due to lack of energy and sunlight. Let's face it: life is ten times better in the summertime.
1. No school = no stress.
There are no essays to write, no books to read, and no deadlines to meet. The only worry in the world is keeping track of putting sunblock on.
2. Country music is more fun to listen to.
All true fans will listen to country music 365 days a year, but we all know that it's so much better in the summer when you can roll down the windows.
3. Your skin looks and feels better.
Even if you don't have the type of skin that tans, there is more color there than in the winter ... maybe. Freckles, tan lines, peeling burns and clear skin make for a happier camper. You'll forget all about the ghost version of yourself that was shedding dry skin like a snake over the winter.
4. Being barefoot 24/7 is an option.
Obviously wearing no shoes in the middle of a blizzard isn't acceptable. You know what is, though? Wearing no shoes in the summer ever because why not?
5. Ice cream is an acceptable snack.
For people like me who can't resist ice cream even on a 10 degree day, summer is a giant ice cream blessing. Not only does it taste like heaven, it's actually refreshing.
6. Minimal clothing is required.
Is there anything worse than having to put on layers in the wintertime only to sweat to death the minute you come back inside? No need for more than a tank top and shorts in the summertime.
7. Going to the beach daily isn't weird.
Now that it's hot, it's beach season. If you live near the ocean there is an excuse to drive there day or night, rain or shine. Staying there all day is an option for those who don't burn, and for those who do, you can always come back at night for a bonfire.
8. Cookouts.
Even when they lead to disaster, summertime cookouts are the best. Nothing completes a cookout more than watermelon and corn on the cob.
Oh the thrill of jumping in freezing cold water in the middle of the night. Good thing the air becomes colder than the water, making the pool like a giant bathtub.
10. Spontaneous adventures.
Summertime gives you the freedom to wake up in the morning and decide to do something totally out of the blue that you've never done before. Hiking to a waterfall, rock climbing, going to a museum, or even road tripping are all great summer options.
Even if the heat isn't really your thing, it's undeniable to admit that life really is better in the summer. There's so much more free time, opportunity, excitement and sunshine. Only four months to go!
