The Owls take on St. Augustine's University

The first football home game at Southern was played on Saturday September 15, 2012.  I really enjoy watching football and being able to have that opportunity now. Coming from a small town my school did not have a football team. It is a great way to go out and support your school with your friends. You get to meet other people and take part in the spirit for Southern. Since it was my first time watching the Owls play I did not know what the outcome was going to be. They seemed to have been doing good in the beginning but, by the end they unfortunately fell apart. Although, they lost the final score was 14-30. They showed great leadership in the beginning of the game by working hard not only on defense but on offense as well. I plan on attending more of their games because it was an awesome experience with my friends and the Southern community.

Freshman 15...fact or myth?

For my video project I wanted to choose something interesting but beneficial for first year students. I chose to do my project on "freshman 15" and the ways students can stay healthy not only on campus but outside of it as well. Being a freshman I know from first hand experience that most students do believe in this. But, I strongly think that that it depends on the individual if he or she wants to maintain their weight and keep track of the portions of food they eat daily.

I plan on structuring my video by stating factors of not taking care of your body and then listing opinions from other people who know how to avoid freshman 15 or being unhealthy in general. It will be interesting finding out who really believes in freshman 15 and who does not. I plan on encouraging students to eat healthy and allowing them to gain more knowledge on the different ways you can get involved on campus. I will also ask questions that have to do with talking about the programs you can join on campus and where you can go outside of it to stay healthy but also what their opinion on whether or not freshman 15 is a myth or not. Hopefully, it will make first year students more comfortable while eating on campus rather than having to worry about gaining weight all the time.

Time means everything

When reviewing my data after recording the hours for time management I calculated how many hours a week I spend on homework. It was roughly around 10. This included reviewing notes, studying, reading, and doing homework. Each of these hours were spread out widely through out the week. Meaning everyday I would not have as much hours of homework compared to previous nights. I noticed that I tend to procrastinate in certain subjects that I found difficult, such as different types of math homework or subjects that required papers to write. When comparing all the things I did during my procrastination it  definitely out numbered all the hours I spend on homework. I can definitely start to manage my time better, so I can prevent this from happening again. Rather than waiting till the last minute to do homework I should be taking more advantage of the time periods where I do not have classes. This will allow me to be less stressful and give me more time to look over my work. Since I already have a daily and regular schedule for the week to help me stay on task with work I figured out another way to help me focus. This was shutting off my phone during the times where I don't have any classes. My phone is my biggest distraction so being able to limit my access to it kind of forces me to get my work done faster. I also do not listen to music as much while doing my work because this seemed to have distracted me as well. Through out the semester I will try to continue this routine. In doing so it will eventually become a habit for me so I wont even have to think about it anymore. I feel as if this will benefit me so I can focus more on school and raise my grades. Yet when the weekends come I can enjoy a little "me" time.

Having fun while helping others

After attending the Involvement Fair on September 19th I realized how many different clubs and organizations there are. There were two in particular that interested me. One was called Best Buddies. This organization allows you to develop friendships with other students and people in the community who have intellectual and developmental disabilities. I have always wanted to work with people who have disabilities and I was not aware that Southern had an organization like this. It sounds like a great experience because not only does it look good on your resumé, you are developing friendships and helping people at the same time. Another organization that I signed up for was Habitat for Humanity. When joining this organization you get to help out the communities in the Hamden/New Haven area by taking part in building homes for the less fortunate. This can be a good way for students to give back and create a better home for people who deserve it most. I hope to create friendships and smiles for many people while being involved. I enjoy making people in need happy and these two organizations are exactly what I am looking for. I encourage many people on campus to get involved!

Grade A Work

Most people feel as if it is impossible to get an A in college. This is not true I believe if you really take time and put enough effort into your work then you may meet the level of an A. After reading some blogs I believe that there are two in particular who deserve an A. The first blog was called eat.sleep.success. In her blog she made it interesting by pointing out factors of an everyday college student. She stated how taking sleep for granted was something she used to do. I noticed I can easily relate to this topic which made me want to keep reading. She also listed other tips that she has learned such as avoiding procrastination. This is a major habit for some college students. It is very hard to get used to doing your work earlier than it is actually due. In high school it was completely different for me. Procrastination was not as a big deal as it is now. In the blog she listed her specific ways of mastering these tips. I found this blog helpful to me because I was going through the same situation at the beginning of the semester. The second blog that drew my attention was called Mind OVER Matter. This talked about the transitions from high school to college. She then listed many tips which was in a fashionable order and seemed to have been very important. Listing many tips shows that she took the effort to write out which ones actually meant a lot to her. She then stated the tip that she did not find helpful to her. I thought this was interesting because the one that she listed in my opinion I feel as if that  was the most important to me. It is always a good idea to get someone else's opinion on something whether they agree with you or not. That way you can get both a negative and positive perspective. Both blogs contained pictures too. This will attract the reader more, and it is also something I started to do more often. Hopefully it will allow not only me but the reader as well to get a better visual on that specific topic.

How to benefit yourself for a better future

Through out the last couple weeks many of us have been reading tips and advice on how to properly study or take notes. Some of these tips gave me ideas on the things I need to work better at. One of them was the fact that I write a lot during class lectures. I tend to think many things are important but the tip that I found useful was to record the importance of what the professor is mainly talking about. Another was to make a different format for my notes. This will help me stay organized but also allow me to get right to the facts when I am studying. Writing down questions after reviewing your notes is another tip that will help you pay closer attention to that topic during the next class. You may even find it easier to ask that specific question if you could not find the answer during the next class. These tips really helped me throughout  my classes because instead of staying focused on the notes I am writing I can now listen to the professor more, and get a better understanding at what he/she may be talking about. Other information that has resonated with me was how to properly manage my time. Rather than procrastinating or "wasting" valuable time for school work. I now write down to-do lists and daily things that I will like to get done that specific day. This will help me follow a schedule and force me to get my work done faster. It is also very convenient because I like to plan things out rather than doing them in the spare of the moment. I found it less stressful since I can fit study time in too. As you may know it is never fun staying up late studying for last minute things. The tips that I did not find exactly beneficial were to work smart, work hard, and live strong. This was very vague because everyone knows that it is important to do those things but it does not help if there are not explanations on how to do it. Another tip was sitting in the front of the class. Yes, it allows you to be more alert and pay closer attention but I believe that everyones different and we all have different preferences on where we learn better in the class. Although, some people may find this beneficial I do not exactly believe in it. I plan on using the information and tips I have learned through out the semester and taking advantage of the important things I get out of it. I will make sure I follow my schedule and keep track of the things I have planned rather than just not caring. This will help me stay stress-free but yet focused at the same time.

The Lighting to a Brighter future

After attending the convocation on September 5th it opened my eyes to how important it is for the many different people who take part in the University. There are many ways to accomplishing your goals the people who got picked to be in the convocation seemed to have deserved it. They each had different accomplishments that were each said. In order to take part in the ceremony each member must have really stood out to get the attention of being honored. The lighting that took place was fascinating to me because it was an inauguration for my freshman class. It resembled church to me because of the way things were set up and how the singing took place. I enjoyed listening to the many deans who attended southern and the different studies they majored in. The convocation taught me to strive hard to reach my goals because it must have been a special feeling to be honored in front of members who attend southern. During the pledge for my freshman class I realized how much my education means to me and how real it is becoming. I hope to succeed in being faithful to the pledge and reaching my goals as a full time time southern student.

Notes and Discussions creating Themes

After reading the articles in Inquiry and taking notes on particular topics. The quote that drew my attention was "It is not only innate genius or talent that will make you successful, it is the hours you put in it." said by Malcolm Gladwell This quote relates to the a certain theme that has been coming up during class discussions and that is Agency. Agency is a various of different things such as taking action in situations, being comfortable out of your shell, having independence, and broading your mind. While in class I noticed that everyones different we all have different opinions but always agree on similar things. For instance, talking about being smart and the theory of 10,000 hours. Most people believe that you can practice for perfect and create change. Where others believed that if you were not simply born with a particular talent then it will be harder for you to become something you're not. In the end though regardless if you are born with a talent or not the class agreed on motivation. Without motivation you are unable to create a drive to reach your goal. Now that we are in college and becoming more independent it is up to each individual to prepare for the next step and get their work done. Another reading that had to do with Agency was how working hard and working smart were equally important. To work smart you should always work hard. This relates to taking action in how much effort you really put into your work. Where motivation is the key to accomplishments. During class discussion we all agreed that the amount of work that you put into something is going to result in what you get out of it in the end. There are different ways to prepare yourself when trying to accomplish certain things. After reading the article "Why most students Don't understand the real goal of Note taking" I noticed the difference between the right kind of note taking and the wrong. It is important to take the right kind of notes so when you go to study you will know what exactly to remember. In class most students are used to writing down whatever the professor puts on the board. You will find it easier to right down the importance rather than un-needed information. You also should ask questions so you are not unsure about what exactly your taking notes on. By doing these things you need to take control of the notes you are taking rather than relying on whatever the professor decides to write down for you. This again relates to agency because you are being independent and broading your mind to what you believe is important. Agency is just one of the keys to being successful, but is the theme found in notes and in readings as well.

Siblings are friends for a lifetime

Everyone goes though different changes in life some are easier to get over and others are more difficult. One difficult thing I have faced growing up was being the only girl in my family. I have 2 brothers one being my twin and an older one who is 20. They were very protective of me seeing as how I am their only sister. There were different times where they would purposely try and get me in trouble just because my parents would easily believe two over one. When I was younger I thought it was embarrassing since all of my friends brothers were "normal" and didn't really care what their sister did. Where I had to deal with them taking my phone to see who I am talking to or showing up places to see if I was really there, and also scaring away any guy that tried talking to me. I found it very annoying to the point where I tried yelling at them and proving to them that they did not need to be so protective. I felt like my parents enjoyed the fact that they treated me like that so I considered it a waste of time to even try and get them to do anything about it. Not until my junior year of high school they seemed to have calmed down about things. They were finally accepting the fact that I was getting older and knew my rights from wrongs. From then on I ended up becoming really close with my twin brother. We would talk about everything together. This could be the reason why they don't stalk my life anymore. Even though they are still protective about some things I realized that it is only because they care and are just trying to look out for me. I now appreciate all the times they would "embarrass” me and yell at me for certain things. I also thank them for always being there for me because we now have a stronger relationship with each other. Although, it was hard dealing with this problem I knew one day there would be an end to it. It made me a stronger person that I am now aware why they were so protective. This will help me in college because it allows me to deal with things better and always look for the purpose in it. I can also go to my siblings for help and advice in case I struggle in certain classes or particular areas in college. 

Life of a CC

When interviewing Raysa a CC at Neff Hall I asked her two questions. One was how do think creative inquiry helps students for college? She responded with "it helps get you ready for your future. Most freshman do not know what to expect when going to college especially if it is their first year. Creative inquiry talked about environmental things that prepared and gave you steps for being successful. After, taking the class I do things now that I would not have done before. You will see that when you complete the course." The next question I asked her was "If taken the course before what did you like or dislike about it?" Raysa responded with "I like how it taught you different strategies and ways to handle certain situations in college. I also find it easier for me to get through certain classes that I have difficulties in. I have the ability to learn differently and more effectively than I did before. Rather than taking in class discussions I take more notes that make it easier for me when I go to study or review." Raysa told me that there are many responsibilities and benefits of becoming a CC. A huge benefit was getting housing paid for. This saves you tons of money when trying to make it through college on your own. Another benefit is getting to get involved more on campus and having students look up to you. The responsibilities were having to work different hours at night like from 11pm-4am or 4am-10am. Another responsibility was having to make sure everyones doing what they are supposed to do and not misbehaving. Also, getting your homework done on time and being on time for meetings at work. I never would have thought how many responsibilities there are for being a CC.

Blogging in a Different Perspective

Blogging is a great feature that allows you to be creative with your writing. After watching the tutorials on blogging it made it challenging for me to figure out what exactly I needed to do to start creating a blog. Once I figured out how to successfully post a blog I then needed advice on what exactly people write about. I found it very interesting after reading some blogs. Such as the one that was called "Always Learning" it reminded me of the orientations that I had recently went to as a freshman. There were different events scheduled throughout the day that made it very exciting to start the new experience of going to college. I noticed each event had a purpose. This was very beneficial because as freshman many people do not know what to expect. There were also parent orientations that helped talk about financial aid and what exactly the school has to offer. Many parents were very satisfied. I also viewed another blog called "Send me Roses" this blog was kind of humorous because I related to it so well. It was talking about being a freshman and the new college experiences that most people encounter. In order to make my blog helpful to others I plan on using real life experiences that other people can compare to and also using humor and facts to make it more interesting. My first blog talked about what my thoughts were of being a freshman in college and also the impressions I had after the first day of classes. I hope this will give other people advice and let them know what to expect or be aware of. I enjoy helping people out as much as I can. So if anyone ever has questions or needs someone to talk to I will always be here to listen. As for other blogs that I read some of them were not that helpful or kind of boring to me. It may just mean some people are still getting the hang of blogging but sooner than later I am sure everyone will be good at it!

The Next Step to Success

Growing up day to day I never realized how quick graduating high school came or what college I would go to. Now that I am a freshman in college I have been thinking about my future more. For example, what are the subjects I enjoy learning or what I like doing on a daily basis. I don't exactly know what to say when people ask what do you want to do for the rest of your life? As young as I am it is hard to know. Certain questions come to mind when thinking about my future goals. Like what do you really want to accomplish in life? Or how exactly are you going to do it? Regardless of the questions I ask myself the most important thing is to study hard and do good in classes. Academics allow you to go to the next step  Going to college is a very important step in my life. I am taking it very serious and hope to accomplish a lot before I graduate. College is a time where you are almost forced to break out of your shell and meet new people. Everyones nervous for the first couple days because its a brand new start for most of us. Being able to adapt to new adjustments in life is sometimes a struggle. Southern makes it easier for you by providing helpful professors and a community of people who are willing to take time out of their day to help you. Southern also has many clubs and activities through out the week so you can get involved in things that you like. Such as sport intramural's, dance teams, frats, theatre activities, movie nights, and outings through out the day. When taking part in certain clubs or teams you realize how many other people have the same things in common as you. Many people find it an easier way to meet new friends as well as being able to have fun at the same time. Personally being a college student means getting the right education, focusing on things that matter most in life, meeting new people, growing up, and having fun as well. As a student I realize what to appreciate in life and all the things I have to look forward to through out my journey at here at SCSU. After, my first class of an official college student I was impressed on how I did. Being as nervous as I was and trying something new for the first time I did not know how it was going to go. The professors were really nice and my classmates were extremely helpful. I also thought that I was going to get lost when walking to classes. Thankfully this did not happen. When comparing it to high school and what I am normally used to I noticed that there us much more freedom being on your own and my schedule is more spread out. Allowing me to manage my time more. I have many expectations for myself. Being in class and out of class. I hope to stay on task, keep up with my work and to pay attention. I am very excited to begin my first semester as a freshman in college :)