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Anxious Thoughts Everyone has on the First Day of the Semester

Posted on September 20, 2017 by Olivia Meier

Whether it’s your first day of college or your second year of graduate school, the first day of a new semester is always nerve-wracking. There are so many thoughts running through your head – with trying to memorize your new schedule and making sure you at least have a pen to write with. While walking through the hall, it may seem that other students have everything together, but trust me – they don’t. Everyone gets anxious – especially on the first day of the new semester. Here are a few thoughts that I had on my first day.

“Hopefully none of my professors changed their already-assigned classroom…”
This seems to happen every semester. You have already checked your online schedule to see what building and room all of your classes are in. You make sure to park near said building, get to the classroom and there’s a note on the door. The note reads something along the lines of, “MEDA 111 Thurs 11:20-2:15 will now meet in MH Room 211”. Now you find yourself walking to Main Hall from a completely different building and are late for your first day…thanks, professor.

“I wonder if I’ll have enough time in-between classes.”
So, you’ve scheduled some classes back-to-back. Your first ends at 2:30PM and your next starts at 2:50PM. It seems like a wonderful idea on paper but sometimes, when it comes down to the actual day, it just isn’t enough time to get from class to class. Sometimes the classes are in different buildings (which you could never know at the time of registration) or sometimes you’re starving and need to grab a quick snack before your afternoon class. Suddenly you don’t have enough time. While there are other times that scheduling back to back works perfectly. It’s a luck-of-the-draw type of situation and you won’t know until that very first day.

“What if there’s no parking?”
As a commuter who attends a small, overcrowded college – I know this pain all too well. There’s no way that you can arrive 10 minutes before class starts because you spend at least 20 minutes trying to find a parking space. And this anxiety is heightened on the first day because there’s no way you want to be late. You cannot be labeled as the “late kid” for the rest of the semester. So, while you leave your house way too early, you think about this on your drive to school.

“Imagine we start Chapter 1 instead of just going over the syllabus…”
It is safe to say that it’s a college wide consensus that this is the worst way to start the semester. You are all prepared to do introductions and go over the syllabus, hoping to have an easy day, and then the professor puts Chapter 1 up on the projector. You aren’t prepared mentally or physically because you planned on taking a nap after class ended early. It may be the beginning of the semester, but you need all the sleep you can get.

“I hope I have enough time to get coffee before class.”
Like most college students – caffeine runs through my veins, all day every day. While making your schedule you think “Okay, a 10:30AM isn’t that bad. That way I get out in the afternoon and have the rest of the day to myself.” This again, looks good on paper, until you wake up at 10:15AM and don’t have enough time to get your daily latte without being late to class. It’s important to have enough time to get coffee, especially during midterms and finals season. However, with coffee shops like Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts offering free apps, you can easily order and pay on-the-go and partially eliminate this uneasy thought.

“I have no idea what ‘fun fact’ about myself I’m going to tell the class.”
Let’s just be honest, introductions are both awkward and dreadful. The professor starts off with giving their introduction and then has everyone go around the room to tell the entire class what their name is, their major and a “fun fact” about themselves. Personally, there are few things that I hate more than this because I never ever know what to say. No matter how much I think about it on my way to school, I can never come up with anything worth saying. And it’s not because I’m bland, it’s just because I don’t want to share anything personal with strangers. This makes even the most carefree students anxious. Since ice-breakers are pretty common, ease this anxiety by picking one good fact and using it in all your classes! But most important – don’t overthink it. Use up that brain space for something that actually matters, like how you’ll fit a 15-minute nap in that 30 minutes before the next class.

You may think you’re the only person who still gets nervous at the beginning of the semester, but we are all in the same boat. If you have any of these thoughts, you are not alone. Share some of your first day thoughts with me in the comments section below!

What to do With a Bad Academic Advisor

Posted on August 25, 2017 by Olivia Meier

Finally, you’ve chosen the perfect college. After all of the college tours and all of the pro/con lists – you found the right fit for you. What a relief, right? Now you get to school and you meet with your academic advisor for the first time – and you are just not on the same page. There’s nothing worse than having a not-so-great academic advisor, considering that their soul job is to guide you through your college career. If you’re having trouble with your advisor, here are a few tips to help you through these challenges.

Request a New Advisor

While this may be uncomfortable for incoming freshmen, or even for college students on different levels – it is possible. You can easily and politely ask your current advisor who their supervisor is and then schedule a meeting with them. Simply explain to their supervisor how your existing advisor is not meeting your needs and ask if they will assign you to someone else in the department. If they can’t change your advisor right away, at least you’ve made them aware of your feelings. They may even talk to your advisor about your needs. Regardless, it never hurts to try!

Approach a Professor

More often than not, one of your professors either sits on the board or on the committee for your major/minor. This makes them a great asset when it comes to the success of your college career. Since they are involved in your area of study, they will know exactly what courses you need to take and what requirements you need to meet. Even professors outside your major will know what general education courses you need to complete. So, if you’re not happy with how you’re being advised, grab a professor you feel comfortable approaching and start asking questions. Any advisement is worth it.

Ask Your Peers

A great benefit of college is the sense of community it brings to everyone – especially for students within the same major. You all have the same thing in common – the stress of college. Someone else in your major is an excellent person to turn to if you’re having trouble with your advisor. They know exactly what you’re going through and can help you with making the correct class schedule. You can even meet with their advisor if you need. Making friends in your major is very beneficial! Check out this article from U.S. News about getting involved in your college!

College can be stressful, but there’s nothing more stressful than landing a bad academic advisor. With these few tips – you can still receive excellent advising.

Easy Ways to Invest in Your Future

Posted on August 10, 2017 by Olivia Meier

Life, especially in early adulthood, is hectic. With having to manage school, social activities and working life – it is easy to forget about the most vital part of this equation – you. As the saying goes, to invest in yourself is the best investment of all. Here are a few ways to invest in your future – and the best part? They’re easy and not-so time consuming.

Create Healthy Habits

Your physical health is key to maintaining a healthy well-being. When you look good, you feel even better – and that phrase is entirely true. Eating well, getting enough rest, and doing some form of exercise each day will help create a healthier lifestyle. Rest directly affects your ability to focus, and eating better in combination with daily exercise boosts your metabolism. All of these will create a happier and healthier you in the future. Having trouble getting started? Check out this article from Creating True Happiness. The sooner you invest in your future, the easier it will be to create a routine.

Build Your Knowledge

Whether you are graduating high school, undergraduate university, or even graduate school – keep learning. Continuing your education is one of the best ways to invest in your future. In particular, higher education opens many doors beneficial to your future self. It will help you make vital connections and ultimately you will become a well-rounded person. Even more, higher education is pleasing to potential employers. They understand graduating requires good time management skills and a greater ability to think through a problem. They also know education is a personal choice to invest in your future, demonstrating you’re business savvy.

Begin Saving

I understand saving is difficult to do while going to school and having to pay bills, but it’s important for a successful future. Even if it’s as little as fifty dollars a month from your paycheck, any small sum will make a difference. It’s vital to have some savings before you are completely submerged in adult life. This way, it will be easier to transition from college life to your own apartment because you will have some money for potential emergencies. Trust me, your future self will thank you later for saving – so start now!

With these tips, you will soon be on the way to a brighter future. Having healthy habits, continuing your education and savings some money are great ways to invest in yourself – so step back from your jam-packed schedule and focus on you.

Learning an Instrument in College

Posted on July 14, 2017 by Paul Bass

I think at some point in their lives, most people hear a piece of music and think “wow… I wish I could play that.” For most of us, that idea remains an unfulfilled wish. It’s often hard to find the time or energy to learn, especially as an adult. But fear not, because I’m here with some tips on how to learn a new instrument in college! I’ve been playing the guitar for a while, but now I’m also learning to play piano. These tips proved useful to me, and hopefully they will be for you too!

Budget Your Time- And be Realistic

Let’s be real; you might not have much time as a young adult to learn an instrument. The question is can you find just 15 minutes a day to practice? If so, then you can learn an instrument. The real difficulty is developing the habit of practicing. An old music teacher once told me practicing isn’t about having the willpower to practice – it’s about having discipline. Willpower is fickle, and relying on feelings to practice every day simply won’t work. Instead, find a consistent time to practice every day. Convince yourself there is no better use for that time other than practicing. Turn it into an ultimatum – It’s either practice, or stare at the wall. Then follow through and practice when the time comes. If you can only do 15 minutes a day, that’s fine. It’s enough to progress!

Make Sure Practice Time isn’t Wasted

Further pushing the idea of efficient time usage, make sure when you do practice, you aren’t spinning your wheels by dwelling on your past success. Ok, you finally learned that one piece you struggled with. Instead of playing it over and over, why not move on to the next piece? It’s imperative you keep learning every single day when you only have a limited amount of time to practice. I have made the mistake of dwelling on past success too long by “practicing” nothing at all for hours at a time.

Have Fun With Your Instrument

The point of playing an instrument as an adult is to have fun, plain and simple. I probably don’t have to say it’s not likely to become your career. Also, your parents aren’t forcing you to play in a boring orchestra anymore. Have fun with your instrument! Learn some bluegrass fiddle parts for your violin. Learn to play your favorite TV theme song on your instrument and play along when it comes on. Practice music theory by writing a cover of Seinfeld two octaves higher than the original. If you’re not having fun playing music, why are you doing it at all? So go wild!

How to Easily Volunteer – and Enjoy It

Posted on July 7, 2017 by Olivia Meier

With summer now in full swing, there’s no better way to spend some of that extra time than to spend it volunteering! Volunteering not only gives back to the community, it’s also a great resume builder. If you’re having trouble find your start, here are a few tips to help you find the perfect opportunity.

Choose a Cause You’re Passionate About

This is the most important thing – you’ll enjoy going to volunteer simply because it’s something interesting to you. When you surround yourself with individuals who share your interests, it’s also easier to interact and create vital relationships. If you’re a marketing major, volunteer at your local community center and help manage their website/social media accounts. If you’re a veterinary medicine major, volunteer at your local animal shelter/hospital. Volunteering is a great opportunity to get involved in your future field. Whatever your major or field of interest, you can always find something that will add a vital component to your resume.

Check Around Your Community

This is the easiest way to volunteer. Go and take a stroll to your local library or community center and ask about events/projects they have going on. You can look at the community board for flyers or ads as well. It’s a great way to give back to your community and form new relationships in town. More great ideas include: Visiting the local animal shelter (if you like animals), stopping over at a food bank, or finding time to volunteer at a senior center/retirement community. These are all easy and great ways to get out and make a difference.

Online Tools for Volunteering

If you’re not yet comfortable venturing into your community, try looking on the Internet for some ideas instead. There are websites that can help find the right opportunity for you – such as VolunteerMatch.org, Idealist.org, and AllforGood.org. All of these websites are easy to navigate; simply type in your zip code, what you care about or your interests, and then it will create a list of volunteer prospects in your area. This is a great way to start, especially if you’re stuck on where to begin.

Volunteering is not as difficult as some may think! Reach out to your local community or use online outlets to find something your passionate about and you can easily start participating.

Summer Classes Made Easy

Posted on June 12, 2017 by Olivia Meier

Like many college students, I’m currently enrolled in a summer class. Adding a summer course is a good way to earn a few extra credits if you are falling behind. If you didn’t do well in a course during the regular semester, consider taking it over the summer. The reduced course-load is perfect for succeeding in any challenging class. However, taking summer classes isn’t always fun. Here are a few tips on how to manage summer classes and still have a great summer.

Online Courses

A variety of classes are available online, especially during the summer semester. Online courses are not for everyone, but they are a great alternative to being stuck inside a classroom during the summer. Online courses offer flexibility. It’s easy to go on vacation because all you need is a few hours and some Wi-Fi to complete the necessary coursework. With many online classes not taking attendance, you can work ahead and then miss a day without having to worry. No more, “Sorry, I have class.” Go out and enjoy the summer! However, don’t let all that freedom corrupt your work ethic. Make sure you submit assignments by the deadlines and participate in online discussion boards with other classmates.

Favorite Teachers

Let’s be honest, everyone has a favorite professor. At the least, they have a professor they’re more fond of compared to others. For an easy way to deal with summer classes, check if that certain professor is teaching any sections you need. As long as it fits within your schedule, take it! By selecting a professor you’re familiar with, you’ll already have an idea of what you’re walking into on the first day. Even better, you’re potentially already on their good side. It is less stressful to have a summer course with a professor you know and like. You may even have a few laughs along the way!

Shorter Term Classes

Many schools offer various course lengths during the summer. Some courses last the entire summer (from June to August), while others are only a few months. The most intense courses can be as short as five weeks. Instead of being in class all summer, a good alternative is to take one of the shorter, more intense classes. It will be more work, but it only last a few weeks. Then once it’s over, you can have the rest of the summer to do what you please. What’s the greatest part? They’re all worth the same amount of credits, which means it’s a full class even though it’s shortened.

Deciding to take a summer course is never easy. You don’t want it to ruin your summer, but you also want to get ahead on your course load. Before you decide, consider these tips to make taking summer classes a little easier!

2017 Summer Reading List

Posted on June 7, 2017June 7, 2017 by Paul Bass

If you’re anything like me, summer is a time to be as lazy as possible. However, all that laziness can cause you to stress about being unproductive. You’ve got to do something to feel like a productive member of society, right? What could be better than a summer reading list? It helps hold you accountable and you’ll feel great when you tick off a book on your list. Starting with some fiction and then moving on to non-fiction, here are my recommendations for this summer:

Fiction

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

This book centers on an old, decrepit hero telling his life story to a biographer. However, he might exaggerate a little so readers beware! Told via a meta-story taking place in a bar, the protagonist recounts the many twists and turns he endured throughout his life. The Name of the Wind is one of a few books I’ve found which acknowledges life doesn’t always create a cohesive narrative. A combination of gorgeous, poetic writing and an unreliable narrator make this a must for any fantasy fan’s reading list.

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

This book is a bit of a twist on traditional high fantasy and takes place after “The Chosen One” saves the world. Mistborn focuses on how absolute power corrupted him absolutely. Later books in the trilogy jump the shark a little bit and any thoughtful commentary on the nature of power goes out the window. However, even if the latter two books lack any real insight, they’re still great magic filled romps. If you find yourself on the fence about reading this series, it’s worth considering Mistborn’s unique perspective. The trilogy’s protagonist is a woman of color, an under-represented voice in writing.

The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

I can’t pretend these are intellectual in any way, but they’re still great books. What could be better than Harry Potter crossed with The Maltese Falcon? That’s right, nothing. The first few books are a bit sub-par, but the world building is second to none and the characters are not only memorable, they’re realistic. Most importantly, you get to see the world through the eyes of a gumshoe wizard. What’s not to like?

Non-Fiction

Three Felonies a Day: How the Feds Target the Innocent by Henry Silvergate

Did you know the average working professional in the US commits approximately three felonies in one day? In this horrifying and fascinating book, Henry Silvergate details how our overly complicated and circuitous criminal justice system helped create a world in which anyone can be arrested for merely existing. Three Felonies a Day will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about justice in the U.S. If your future includes law school, you need to add this book to your reading list.

The Bleeding Edge: Why Technology Turns Toxic in an Unequal World by Bob Hughes

In The Bleeding Edge, Bob Hughes offers a critique of capitalism by focusing in on Silicon Valley. He argues capitalism does not help technology and technological development at all. Offering historical examples from Thomas Edison to Steve Jobs, Hughes shows how technological development only truly occurs due to altruism and mutual aid.

Of course, these are just five books you could read this summer. Do you have recommendations? If so, don’t forget to leave them in the comments below!

How to Easily Create a Reading Nook

Posted on May 30, 2017 by Olivia Meier

Like most avid writers, I am also an avid reader. I have read hundreds of books, including everything from romance novels to educational texts. While I never have trouble finishing a good story, something that does become a challenge is where to read and store these amazing books. As a veracious reader, it’s natural to want a place that’s comfortable and one you can call your own. What you need is a reading nook! If you don’t know what that is or need help setting one up, here’s how to create your very own reading nook!

Find the Perfect Place

Before you can even think of supplies, you need to find the best place to set up. Find a quiet place that makes you feel relaxed. Whether it’s a corner of your bedroom or a bigger space in your basement/attic, find a place that works for you. Many quite places are secluded areas, but be sure it’s not so secluded it becomes hard to access. Remember that you’ll need to be able to bring tons of books into your nook with ease.

Essential Elements

Now that you have a perfect place, it’s time to get the perfect supplies! First, let’s start off with the seating. It’s important to find a comfortable chair or cushion because you will potentially be sitting for hours reading these novels. A cheaper option for this is simply buying big pillows or cushions. You’re basically set if you buy one to sit on and one to lean up against the wall. Before you buy, make sure the material is to your liking; you won’t want to sit on something scratchy. A possible pricier option is buying a bean bag chair or a small piece of furniture. Bean bag chairs can be extremely comfy, and pieces such as chaise lounges add character as well as comfort. While setting up your seating area, add some smaller pillows and blankets to increases the comfy factor. Using decorative pillows also helps you create your own personal style.

The next element is storage. Getting a small bookshelf to hold books you’re currently reading is essential. A bookshelf also offers table space for needed coffee cups and snacks. If you’re someone who reads better with music playing, a small bookshelf provides space for a portable radio/speaker . Finding the perfect shelf without breaking your budget shouldn’t be difficult. Your local consignment shop will likely have options, or hit up a garage sale and scout out one that works for you. Try to remember it doesn’t need to be brand new, it simply must hold your favorite books.

The final element, but far from the least important, is finding the perfect lighting. The perfect lighting is key because you need to see what you’re reading without straining your eyes. It also adds to the mood you’ll feel when sitting in your newly created nook. For a softer vibe, a cool idea is to buy bright string lights or Christmas lights to hang above your reading nook. A simple table lamp placed on your bookshelf is sufficient as well. Lighting is also an opportunity to show off your personal style! You may want to find a lamp that is your favorite color or represents your favorite themes. Either way, buy something that makes you smile because after all, this is your space.

You’re now all set! You have your perfect spot, a comfortable place to sit, storage for your reading collection, and great lighting fixtures. It wont take long until you notice how much more enjoyable reading is using your new nook. Do you have a perfect nook you like to read in? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Traveling Cheap While in College

Posted on May 19, 2017 by Paul Bass

Last week, my partner and I went on a very nice vacation to New York City. As normal as that sounds, it’s something I thought would be impossible only one year ago. After all, my parents weren’t about to pay for a vacation in The Big Apple if they weren’t going. However, there were a few little tricks I discovered which made vacationing on my meager, college tour guide income possible. Follow these five simple tips on traveling cheap and go places you thought you never could afford!

Tip 1: Avoid Hotels!

I initially balked at the idea of vacationing in New York simply because I thought a hotel would be too expensive. As it turns out, I was right. However, we didn’t stay in a hotel and really no college student living on a budget should ever stay in a hotel. Look around for a cheap Airbnb, or try staying at a hostel. After all, you’ll simply be sleeping there. It doesn’t need to be a five star Vegas suite to comfortably rest your eyes for a few nights.

Tip 2: Make sure the place you’re staying at has a kitchen and cook your meals.

I can’t say enough about how much cheaper this one mantra made our trip. Food in big cities is expensive, no matter how cheap you try to make it. If you get a cheap sandwich and a drink, that’s easily a good ten dollars. Multiply that by three meals over five days and you’ve got an uncomfortably high expense of $150 per person. Unfortunately, that estimate is also on the lower end for big cities. By giving up eating out for most meals and buying groceries instead, we spent about $50 on food for a full week. Now that is traveling cheap! If you follow this advice your meals might not be the most glamorous (lunch was a bagel with peanut butter and an apple most days), but hey, you’re here to see the sights. You can get plenty of better, more affordable food back home.

Tip 3: Find out what’s free, and then do it.

Free concert? Add it to the list. Free museum hours? Mark them down also. Free street fair, street performances, or bar trivia without a cover charge? Mark all of them as to-dos. Just because something is free doesn’t mean it’ll disappoint. If you play your cards right, you can even weasel your way into some paid activities for free (or at least for cheap). For instance, The Met in New York only has a suggested admission price. Do I feel guilty about only paying ten dollars for two people? A little, but it’s hard to feel anything other than awe when you’re staring a 4,000 year old egyptian mummy in the face, especially when the experience didn’t break the bank.

Tip 4: Budget for your trip, then follow through with it.

Know how much you want to spend and stick to it. Before the trip, try to plan out all anticipated costs in advance. You’ll want to know what’s essential before you start splurging. For instance, if your ticket to see the sights is in the form of a $35 subway pass, you need that more than you need a street kebab. It’s not only essential and worth budgeting for, a subway pass also won’t give you food poisoning. Once you’ve planned out all your important and unavoidable expenses, you can take what’s left over and use it towards feeding your need for instant gratification. Keep in mind unexpected expenses are part of traveling, so be sure to save a little cash to cover unplanned travel needs.

Tip 5: Remember to Have fun

Budgeting is great and all, but your vacation is about having fun. If you get caught up trying to save every dollar possible while traveling cheap, you’re likely going to miss out. It’s important to give yourself some spending money so when an unexpected opportunity arises, you can get out there and have fun. If you can afford to cut loose, then why not splurge a little? After all, life can’t always be about scrimping and saving.

Traveling is expensive, but it doesn’t have to be outside of your reach. While most college students face a tight budget, proper planning and thrifty ideas can make traveling cheap possible. While the thread count of my Airbnb sheets might not have stood up to the expectations of some ritzy New York travelers, we shared the exact same view of the mummies inside the Met.

Overcome Writer’s Block With These Summer Writing Exercises

Posted on May 10, 2017May 31, 2017 by Olivia Meier

Ah, the summer is here and you’re ready to kick back and relax. If you spent last semester struggling to overcome writer’s block, picking up a pen is probably the last thing you’re planning on doing over summer break. However, soon next semester will sneak up on us and you’ll be back to stressing over how to start writing a paper. The truth is, there is no secret to being a great writer. Simply put, practice makes perfect. Writing and reading are exercises for your mind. The more you practice the craft, the better you will become. You shouldn’t stop writing simply because the semester ended. When school starts back, lose the stress by practicing these four writing exercises over the summer:

Free Write

Some students appear able to begin writing a paper without taking any time to brainstorm. Before class is dismissed, they’ve written a novel and are off to claim their National Book Award. While we can’t all be the next Edgar Allen Poe, we can improve on our ability to overcome writer’s block. Practice free writing, an exercise writers use to strengthen their creative ability and sharpen their voice. Free writing is trying to continuously write for 15 minutes without interruptions. Sound easy enough, right? Well, the challenge is your pen should not leave the paper until those 15 minutes are up. Free writing is not about stopping to think. It’s about actively writing whatever pops in your head. Try walking outside, whether it be in your backyard or in a local park, and finding a comfortable spot to write about your surroundings.

Once you are finished, take an hour or so before you review what you wrote. After you read your spontaneous creation, take time to make any necessary revisions and turn it into a story. This great exercise for young writers strengthens their thought process and improves their editing skills.

“My first…”

New experiences create rich memories filled with lasting emotions and detail. Many people can recall their first day of school, their first pet, or their first time driving with distinct clarity. All of these firsts are great story telling opportunities. Try to think about how you felt those days or in those moments and expand on them. What details stand out in your mind? What senses or emotions can you remember? Think of it like you’re telling the story to someone else; what would you want them to know? Start a paragraph with “I remember” or “My first” and let your memories dictate what you write. This will help you create strong stories and sentences because you’re practicing reporting information and using descriptive words.

Use Online Prompts

The internet is a great source for education. There are dozens upon dozens of online writing prompts that will help strengthen your skills and reduce writer’s block. The best part about using prompts is your freedom to search for and customize them to fit your interests. Prompts usually start with a subject or topic (I.E. What’s Outside Your Window) and feature questions to help you brainstorm what to write for your story. For a more creative approach, you can combine two prompts to create one bigger story. The options are endless!

Ask Journalistic Questions

If you’ve spent more than 10 minutes in a writing class, you’re likely familiar with the five W’s. Who? What? Where? When? and Why? This formula is often used by journalists to create leads, but it’s a great tool for other writers to utilize. Imagine your walking through town and suddenly see a dog chasing a cat. The dog chases the cat up the street until both animals run around the corner of a building and disappear out of view. Who is responsible for that dog? What caused the dog to start chasing the cat? Where did the two animals run off to? All of these questions create awareness of your surroundings and help with describing a situation.

Writer’s block is the last thing anyone needs when facing a deadline. Doing any of these exercises once a day, once a week, or even once a month can help keep your writing skills sharp throughout the summer. Write, take a break, come back to read it, and learn from your experiences. Now go practice writing!