Oh boy, this year is full of...stuff. I'm happy to be serving as Director of Marketing for our LARGEST Honors Freshman class yet: each one of you that rI have met has been so amazingly kind and wonderful. I cannot wait to continue meeting and getting to know you all.
This edition is themed 'wellness'. Seem familiar? Although repeating themes is an odd thing to do with most newsletters, but with this many new readers, it's what felt right.
Along with all of you new amazing readers,we also have brand new content and content creators. Ava, Moriah, and Angelina are already wonderful additions to our team, and we ' re so excited to see what they can accomplish. Moriah's piece, Fall into Reading, is a big favorite of mine. If anyone remembers the brief stint of "callista's corner " , you'll know why her spreads resonate with me so much.
I want this semester to be one to remember, and this edition should start off our time with a bang. We've included lots of amazingw ays to get the most out of your timeshare (especially if it's your first semester). From outdoor pursuits, to Honors advising, you ' ve got resources galore, Baby!
Beyond our new people and myself, I'd also like to say how proud I am of some of our returning writers. Seeing each of them grow over the past year has been wildly lovely, and I feel like you'll appreciate it as much as me if you were here last spring.
With all that sentiment aside...... Enjoy!
Editor in Chief,
Tuesday, Oct. 4th @ 6pm - HSA Painting Fundraiser on Mina Jo Powell
Monthly Breakfast Oct. 6th @ 8 10am
Bingo Night Oct. 10th @ 6pm in HSF Room 2007
Pumpkin Painting Contest Oct. 18th @ 7pm on Mina Jo Powell
FSU vs. Wake Forest on Oct. 1
FSU vs. Clemson on Oct. 15
FSU vs. Georgia Tech on Oct. 29
FSU
FSU
FSU
FSU
Saturday, Nov. 8th @ 6PM Gratitude and Donuts
FSU vs. UF Game Trivia Nov. 14th @ 6pm
Light the Night Nov. 15th @ 6pm
Thanksgiving Break Nov. 23 27th
Americans typically celebrate Halloween with trick or treating for the kids, costume parties for the adults, and of course candy for everyone! But Americans aren’t the only ones to celebrate the spookiest day of the year. Many countries and cultures around the world have unique ways of celebrating the Halloween season, in addition to other traditional fall festivals!
In Guatemala, the annual Feria de Barriletes Gigantes (Festival of the Giant Kites) is celebrated on November 1st, along with Día de Todos los Santos (All Saints Day).
This amazing festival involves flying brightly colored, elaborately decorated kites over cemeteries and burial sites. These kites can be up to 65 feet across, and are said to act as guides to help the visiting spirits find their family and friends.
In Japan, Halloween is actually celebrated more by adults than kids. The parties are known to get pretty wild, and costumes are very important.
The most famous Halloween event is the Kawasaki Halloween Parade, which includes thousands of elaborately costumed participants. The 20th anniversary parade in 2019 attracted over 100,000 people!
In Italy, people celebrate Halloween along with the traditional Ognissanti (All Saints Day) celebrations on November 1-2. During Ognissanti, it is believed that the spirits of the deceased come back and visit their living relatives. Italians decorate cemeteries with flowers and gather for a traditional feast, which includes dolci dei morti (sweets of the dead.)
These vary by region, from sweet cookies such as ossi dei morti (bones of the dead) in Lombardia, to savory breads like pane dei morti (bread of the dead) in southern Sicilia.
In Ireland and Scotland people celebrate the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced "sa win"). Most American Halloween traditions actually originated from Samhain. During the night of Samhain, it is believed that spirits can easily cross into the physical world. Historically, people would dress in costumes to disguise themselves from evil spirits, and go from door to door reciting poetry in exchange for food. That’s why Americans wear costumes and go trick-or-treating! Nowadays, Dublin hosts an annual Samhain parade. People also eat traditional foods like Barmbrack, a sweet bread used for fortune telling. Charms are baked into the loaf, and your fortune for the next year is determined by which charm you find!
I hope you've enjoyed learning about just a few of the unique Fall traditions that can be found around the globe. However you are celebrating this Autumn season, remember to stay safe and have fun!
When was the last time you read a book for fun? You’ve probably been doing a lot of reading for your classes, and it might feel like there’s no time to read for pleasure. But reading just for fun is actually super beneficial for your wellbeing, and it might even boost your grades! Reading for pleasure has been shown to enhance focus, memory, and concentration, expand vocabulary, improve writing ability, and even increase sleep quality. And, it’s super fun!
Especially if you’re reading a great book. Here’s a few suggestions for the Fall!
We’ve all heard of the movie version(s) of Carrie, but have you read the book? Carrie is a classic 1974 horror novel by Stephen King about a highschool girl who discovers she has telekinetic powers.
Carrie is perfect as a classic and timeless introduction to the horror genre, and if you are already a horror fan, it’s a must read! If you’re looking for a spooky halloween read, you can’t go wrong with Carrie!
One of Us is Lying is the perfect whodunit murder mystery for the spooky season. The plot centers around four high school students who are suspects in the murder of their classmate. They all claim innocence, but each teen has a unique motive, and, as per the title, one of them is definitely lying!
“This fast-paced blend of Gossip Girl, Pretty Little Liars, and classic John Hughes will leave readers racing to the finish as they try to unravel the mystery on their own.” -Kirkus Reviews
The Last Girlfriend on Earth is a delightful array of tales by Simon Rich. This hilarious, heartwarming, and insightful collection of 31 short stories centers on themes of love, its consequences, and, as The Guardian puts it, “the idiocies of men.” And it starts with the most heartwarming and romantic not to mention funny story about responsible contraception that you'll ever read. From genies to time machines, The Last Girlfriend on Earth is whimsical, witty, uplifting, and definitely worth a read.
This book managed to restore my faith in humanity and make me laugh out loud at the same time, which is no easy feat. I also loved the unique perspectives given to inanimate objects. It really got me thinking in a fun and different way!
All Our Hidden Gifts is a fantasy fiction novel about 16 year old Maeve Chambers, an Irish teenager who discovers a hidden talent for reading tarot cards Maeve is delighted to finally find her calling, but after a reading for her best friend goes awry, things start getting interesting!
"An utterly seductive read, where the magical bleeds into the familiar." Melinda Salisbury
Why Moriah Liked It!
Being able to vote is definitely the coolest thing about being over 18, right? And your first time voting is kind of a rite of passage. Unfortunately, a lot of us college students won’t be in our home counties on election day. Never fear though, the mail in ballot is here! Under Florida law, all registered voters are permitted to vote by mail, no excuse necessary. Although the process may seem overwhelming, it’s actually fairly easy, and there are plenty of useful tools and information online to help guide you.
You can do this easily online I’d recommend registering through Voteorg, a free and easy to use website that will guide you through the process. Not sure if you’re already registered? Vote.org also has a tool to check your registration status
You can also do this through Voteorg just provide the address where you are registered to vote, and it will take you to the correct website And remember that you can request that your ballot be sent to your on campus address, it doesn’t have to be the same address as your registration!
After your request is approved, your ballot will be sent to you in the mail Be sure to take your time, read it carefully, and follow all the instructions. Once you’ve filled it out, mail it back as soon as possible You can easily do this from the UPS store on campus, and if you need a stamp, they have those too (but you already have stamps for all the letters you’ve been sending your parents, right?)!
Mailinvotingdeadlinesdifferfromstatetostate,andyoucanfinda completelistonVote.org. ThesearetheFloridadeadlinesforthe2022GeneralElection:
Deadline to register to vote: Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Deadline to request that a Vote-byMail ballot be mailed to you: 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 29, 2022
Deadline for completed ballot to be received: 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 8, 2022
TheUSPSrecommendsthatvotersmailbacktheirvoted ballotsatleastoneweekbeforetheElectionDay deadline.Thatmeansitwouldbeagoodideatogetyour ballotinthemail before hittingallthoseHalloween parties.Andthenyoucanrewardyourselfproperlyfor carryingoutyourcivicduty-withcandy!
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FREE TUTORING! THE ACE LEARNING STUDIO OFFERS FREE UTORING AND KSHOPS FOR ALL SU STUDENTS.
IF YOU PLAN ON LIVING OFF CAMPUS NEXT YEAR, START THINKING ABOUT WHERE YOU WILL LIVE/WHO YOU'LL LIVE WITH. APARTMENT SIGNING SEASON FOR THE NEXT YEAR COMES UP QUICK AND TYPICALLY STARTS AS EARLY AS NOVEMBER.
IF YOU GO TO ACE.FSU.EDU/TUTORING, YOU CAN FIND LINKS TO SIGN UP FOR ONE-ONONE TUTORING SESSIONS, OR FIND INFORMATION ABOUT APPOINTMENT-FREE GROUP TUTORING. THE ACE LEARNING STUDIO IS ALSO LOCATED ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE WILLIAM JOHNSTON BUILDING.
YOU CAN PLAN YOUR SCHEDULE FOR NEXT SEMESTER BY LOGGING ONTO YOUR FSU PORTAL AND FINDING THE BUTTON, THEN CLICK "MY CLASSES" > "SCHEDULE ASSISTANT" IN THE LEFTHAND CORNER, AND THEN SELECT "SPRING 2023" AS YOUR TERM. AFTER THAT, YOU CAN BEGIN SEARCHING FOR COURSES AND ADDING THEM TO YOUR CART BEFORE REGISTRATION DAY. YOU CAN ALSO ADJUST YOUR PREFERENCES FOR DIFFERENT CLASSES AND CLASS TIMES BY SELECTING CERTAIN PROFESSORS OR ADDING BREAKS IN YOUR SCHEDULE WHERE YOU'D RATHER NOT HAVE CLASS.
YOU CAN GEAR UP IN SOME COZY FSU MERCH FROM THE NEW BOOKSTORE IN THE STUDENT UNION, OR FOR A MORE BUDGET-FRIENDLY OPTION, THERE IS A PLATO'S CLOSET ON PENSACOLA STREET THAT'S STOCKED WITH POSSIBLE WINTER ATTIRE.
IT’S FITTING THAT THE THEME OF THIS NEWSLETTER IS ‘WELLNESS,’ SOMETHING THAT I AM PERPETUALLY IN THE PROCESS OF MAINTAINING IN PARTICULAR, THE LAST FIVE MONTHS (FORCIBLY) EXPEDITED MY UNDERSTANDING OF WELLNESS FOR MYSELF, AND WITHIN THE PAST FOUR WEEKS, WELLNESS HAS BEEN A PRIMARY FOCUS IN MY LIFE. THE START OF THE SEMESTER WAS A TOUGH TIME FOR ME NEW CLASSES, A NEW LIVING SITUATION, AND NEW FRIENDS, ALL OF WHICH UNDERLINED THE ONGOING PERSONAL STRUGGLES I FACED I DID LOTS OF REFLECTION AND UNVEILED SOME OF MY SHORTCOMINGS, BAD HABITS AND FOUND THE COMMON DENOMINATOR BETWEEN SITUATIONS THAT PROVOKE ME.
CALLING ATTENTION TO THESE ATTRIBUTES WILL HOPEFULLY ALLOW ME TO BECOME A BETTER PERSON AND PUT MYSELF IN SITUATIONS THAT ARE HEALTHY FOR ME AND KNOWING WHEN OTHERS ARE NOT RIGHT NOW IT IS BEST FOR ME TO BE VERY INTENTIONAL IN ORDER TO REGAIN CONTROL OF MY IDENTITY INTENTIONAL WITH MY RELATIONSHIPS AND INTENTIONAL IN WHAT I DEDICATE MY TIME TO
I DECIDED TO ONLY FOCUS ON THE THINGS THAT I ENJOY AND MAKE ME FEEL GROUNDED ONE OF THESE IS NATURE AND BEING OUTSIDE I’VE BEEN WANTING TO DO AN OUTDOOR PURSUIT THROUGH CAMPUS REC SINCE LAST YEAR, BUT THEY FILL UP REALLY FAST AND I COULD NEVER SIGN UP FOR ONE NEVERTHELESS, I WAS PREPARED AND WAITING TO SIGN UP WHEN THEY OPENED THIS SEMESTER! MOST OF THEM WERE FILLED, BUT I FOUND ONE THAT LOOKED INTERESTING AND WASN’T TOO EXPENSIVE FOR ME. I SIGNED UP, FEELING NERVOUS BECAUSE I DID NOT FULLY KNOW WHAT I WAS GETTING MYSELF
into... Into
THE UNKNOWN WE GO! MY INTENTION FOR THE WEEKEND IS TO BE OFFLINE FROM MY PHONE, WORK, AND SCHOOL.
THE VAN TEETERS OVER THE UNEVEN PATH AS THE FLORIDA LANDSCAPE PASSES BY, UNTOUCHED AND UNTAMED WE ARRIVE AT OUR FIRST SPOT FOR THE DAY A CYAN SPRING SURROUNDED BY A WREATH OF CUSHIONED GRASS AND A VASCULAR SYSTEM OF TREES AND ROOTS IT TAKES ME BACK TO MY CHILDHOOD, FEELING THE EARTH ON THE BOTTOM OF MY FEET, RUNNING THROUGH THE HILLS OF PENNSYLVANIA AFTER BAKING IN THE FLORIDA SUN, WE APPROACH THE SINKHOLE. I STAND ON THE DOCK AND LOOK OVER TO MY NEWFOUND FRIEND SHE REASSURES ME AND ON THE COUNT OF THREE, I TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND JUMP INTO THE WATER.
A RUSH OF CRISP, ICY WATER WRAPS AROUND ME. IT FEELS INVIGORATING WE BOTH SURFACE, SHIVER AND LAUGH ONCE I CATCH MY BREATH, I FEEL SEDATED JUST FLOATING IN THE WATER LOOKING TOWARDS THE SKY I FOCUS ON MY BREATHING AND THE SOUND OF WATER. AFTER SWIMMING FOR A WHILE, JUMPING OFF THE DOCK WITH EVERYONE, AND HAVING FUN WE END UP LYING ON OUR TOWELS, COMPLETELY WARMED IN THE SUN AND FEELING RELAXED AFTER BEING IN THE FREEZING GROUNDWATER I LOOK AROUND AND IT FEELS AS IF I WAS IN A MONET PAINTING, SURROUNDED BY WATER LILIES AND ALLURING FLORA
AFTER SPENDING THE AFTERNOON SWIMMING AND RUNNING AROUND, WE SLEEPILY GATHER IN THE VAN AND DRIVE TO OUR CAMPSITE MORALE WAS HIGH AS WE LEARN HOW TO SET UP OUR TENTS AND SETTLE INTO OUR HOME FOR THE NEXT 24 HOURS. I GO TO THESE CHAIRS THAT OVERLOOK THE BOUNDLESS HORIZON OF WATER AND FOREST. I READ MY BOOK AND TAKE IN THE SOUNDS OF CICADAS, WIND AND NATURE BEFORE I KNEW IT, IT'S DINNER TIME WE EAT OUR PRIMITIVE DINNERS AND HEAD OVER TO THE DOCK TO WATCH THE SUNSET WE ALL TALK, TAKE PICTURES AND ENJOY THE BEAUTIFUL SKY BLEND INTO ORANGE, PINK AND BLACK.
ONCE IT BECOMES NIGHT AND THE ONLY THING WE HEAR ARE THE DISTANT SPLASHES OF ALLIGATORS AND CICADAS, WE SPRAWL OUT ON THE DOCK AND TURN TO THE STARS SINCE THERE WAS NO LIGHT POLLUTION, WE ARE ABLE TO SEE THE ENTIRE CANVAS OF BLACK, ILLUMINATED BY SPECKS OF GLOWING WHITE IT IS THE FIRST TIME I AM ABLE TO MAKE OUT CONSTELLATIONS AND THE MILKY WAY! THIS DAZZLING SPECTACLE, PAIRED WITH A VERY ENLIGHTENING CONVERSATION, MAKES FOR A GREAT END TO OUR EXCITING DAY AND WE HEAD TO BED IN OUR SURPRISINGLY SPACIOUS TENTS.
THE NEXT MORNING BRIGHT AND EARLY WE HANG OUT BY CAMP, EAT AND TALK I SET UP A HAMMOCK AND READ SOME MORE BEFORE HEADING ON A LITTLE HIKE THROUGH THE FOREST AND LAKESIDE WHEN WE RETURN, WE RELAX A LITTLE BIT MORE, PACK UP AND HEAD BACK TO TALLAHASSEE!
THIS TRIP WAS EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED TO REST MY MIND AND RE ENERGIZE BEFORE COMING BACK TO MY ROUTINE. THE GROUP LEADERS WERE INCREDIBLY FRIENDLY AND MADE THE TRIP GO SMOOTHLY. I KNEW NO ONE GOING INTO THE TRIP, BUT I LEFT WITH SOME FRIENDS WHO I HOPE TO SEE AGAIN I MADE SOME NEW FRIENDS, LEARNED SOME NEW CAMPING SKILLS AND RECONNECTED WITH MYSELF AND NATURE DURING A TURBULENT TIME. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AN ESCAPE THIS SEMESTER OR NEXT, VISIT REC CONNECT FSU AND HEAD OVER TO OUTDOOR RECREATION FOR A LIST OF UPCOMING EXCURSIONS THEY OFFER OVERNIGHT TRIPS, WEEKEND TRIPS OR JUST DAY TRIPS THAT ALL VARY IN COST NO MATTER YOUR SITUATION. THERE ARE EVEN FREE EVENTS! IF YOU ARE QUESTIONING IF YOU SHOULD GO BECAUSE YOU DON’T KNOW ANYONE OR NEVER CAMPED BEFORE, I WOULD TELL YOU TO BE OPEN AND GO! YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
THROUGHOUT ONE’S ACADEMIC CAREER, FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON, THE ROLE THAT ADVISING AND ADVISORS PLAY IN ONE’S LIFE MULTIPLIES, AND YOUR TIME AT FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY WILL BE NO EXCEPTION. RECENTLY, FSU’S HONORS PROGRAM ANNOUNCED THE EXPANSION OF THE HONORS ADVISING DEPARTMENT. WITH THIS EXPANSION COMES INCREASED ACCESS TO ADVISING TOOLS FOR STUDENTS AS WELL AS RESOURCES TO SUPPORT STUDENTS THROUGHOUT THEIR UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGIATE CAREERS. SOME STUDENTS MAY HAVE HAD UNFETTERED ACCESS TO ADVISING, WHETHER IT BE FOR PERSONAL, ACADEMIC, OR COLLEGIATE REASONS, IN HIGH SCHOOL. HOWEVER, AS THIS YEAR’S HONORS FRESHMEN MATRICULATE INTO THE HONORS PROGRAM, ALL STUDENTS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH NOT ONLY THEIR RESPECTIVE COLLEGE’S ADVISING TEAM, BUT ALSO THE HONORS PROGRAM ADVISING TEAM.
OPERATING UNDER DIRECTOR DR. PAULETTE CURTIS FSU HONORS ADVISING CONSISTS OF: ASSISTANT DIRECTOR KATIE FEMRITE, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR JULIA PENNINGTON, HONORS PROGRAM ADVISOR HALEY ILIFF, AND HONORS PROGRAM ADVISOR TANNER BARNES. ALL OF THE AFOREMENTIONED HAVE OFFICES LOCATED ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE HONORS, SCHOLARS, AND FELLOWS HOUSE, LOCATED ADJACENT TO LANDIS GREEN, WHICH IS HOME TO THE HONORS PROGRAM, AMONGST OTHER PRESTIGIOUS UNIVERSITY OFFERINGS.
AS STUDENTS BEGIN THEIR ACADEMIC CAREERS AT FSU, MANY MAY HAVE ALREADY MET WITH OR HAVE BOOKED AN APPOINTMENT WITH ONE OF THEIR MAJOR ADVISORS. MAJOR ADVISORS CAN ASSIST STUDENTS IN ANSWERING SOME OF THE “BIG TICKET QUESTIONS” REGARDING THEIR MAJOR, COURSE REQUIREMENTS, AND ENSURE THAT THEY ARE SELECTING A COURSE PATHWAY THAT WORKS BEST FOR THEM AND THEIR INTERESTS. IN TERMS OF HONORS, THE ADVISING TEAM AT HSF IS DESIGNED TO NAVIGATE STUDENTS THROUGH THE HONORS COMPONENT OF THEIR HIGHER EDUCATION.
“FOR YOUR MAJOR ADVISOR, THEY SIGN OFF ON GRADUATION. THEY GET YOU THROUGH THAT PROGRAM. HONORS ADVISING IS GOING TO HELP YOU FIGURE OUT HOW HONORS FITS INTO THAT WITHOUT YOU TAKING ADDITIONAL COURSES,” FEMRITE SAID. “WE CAN HELP YOU FIND COURSE PATHS, WE CAN HELP YOU FIND WAYS THAT YOU CAN INCORPORATE AN HONORS COURSE INTO SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO DOWN THE ROAD FOR YOUR CAREER OR GRAD SCHOOL. I THINK THAT’S WHERE HONORS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT AND HOW KIND OF MIX IN AND PLAY IN WITH IT.”
WHILE MAJOR ADVISORS ARE EXTREMELY KNOWLEDGEABLE IN THE REQUIREMENTS AND VARIOUS EXPECTATIONS FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE COLLEGES, THEY DO NOT HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE WHEN IT COMES TO HONORS REQUIREMENTS OR COURSES. THIS IS WHERE HONORS ADVISING COMES INTO PLAY, PROVIDING STUDENTS WITH THAT EXTRA LAYER OF SUPPORT TO NAVIGATE THIS ADDITIONAL ASPECT OF THEIR COLLEGIATE CAREERS.
“THEY [ACADEMIC ADVISORS] ARE NOT AS WELL VERSED IN THE HONORS REQUIREMENTS… AND LET’S BE HONEST, THE HONORS REQUIREMENTS ARE A LITTLE CONFUSING. THEY ARE NOT SUPER STRAIGHTFO OINTS, AND ACHIEVEMENT ABOUT THOSE SORTS OF TH ELP YOU BUT ALSO TAKE “ IF YOU’RE THINKING AB NKING ABOUT DOING A DIS, YOUR MAJOR, IF YOU’RE TH SCHOOL, OR WHAT YOU WA GRAD… THOSE ARE ALL THING ENTS ABOUT.”
HONORS ADVISING ALSO DIFFERENTIATES FROM ACADEMIC ADVISING BASED ON THE FACT THAT SINCE THE HONORS PROGRAM IS LARGELY SEPARATE FROM THE VARIOUS COLLEGES ON CAMPUS. AS AFOREMENTIONED, HONORS ADVISING CAN HELP STUDENTS NOT ONLY REVIEW THE HONORS COMPONENT OF THEIR EDUCATION, BUT ALSO ADDITIONAL PROGRAMMING AVAILABLE THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY.
“SO WHAT I TELL STUDENTS DURING OUR ‘NEW NOLES’ IS THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT ADVISOR IS GREAT. THEY CAN HELP YOU PLAN OUT THE NEXT FOUR YEARS OF YOUR TIME HERE AT FSU. I CANNOT DO THAT, WE [HONORS ADVISING] ARE SUPPLEMENTAL ADVISORS,” BARNES SAID. “WE ARE THERE TO HELP MAKE SURE THAT WITH HONORS, YOU’RE ON TRACK. DEPARTMENTAL ADVISORS ARE GOING TO BE GREAT FOR A LOT OF THE SERIOUS MAJOR QUESTIONS AND NUANCED QUESTIONS, BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER CONCERNS, WE ARE ALWAYS HERE.”
AS WITH MANY NEW EXPERIENCES, MAKING AND ATTENDING AN APPOINTMENT WITH AN HONORS ADVISOR MAY PRESENT STUDENTS WITH SOME STRESSORS AND ANXIETIES. DESPITE THIS FEELING OF UNCOMFORTABILITY, STUDENTS CAN TAKE COMFORT IN KNOWING THAT ADVISORS ARE NOT ONLY AWARE OF THIS, BUT TAKE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS FEEL SUPPORTED IN THEIR APPOINTMENTS.
“I WOULD SAY TO ANYONE WHO IS APPREHENSIVE THAT WE GET IT. WE ALSO HOPE THAT STUDENTS WILL ACTUALLY COME IN AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS BECAUSE WE’RE ALL PRETTY APPROACHABLE. WE DEAL WITH PEOPLE A LOT. WE SEE A LOT THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING THROUGH AND WE TRY TO BE HELPFUL AND EMPATHETIC,” WILCOXON SAID. UNLIKE ACADEMIC ADVISING, SINCE HONORS ADVISING DOES NOT FOCUS ON THE NITTY GRITTY OF A STUDENT’S ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE, THIS LEAVES ROOM TO DISCUSS AND ADDRESS OTHER ISSUES THAT STUDENTS MAY BE FACING AS THEY PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION.
“THAT MEETING I THINK IS INTENDED TO BE REALLY LOW PRESSURE. WE’RE NOT DEALING WITH A STUDENT'S GRADES, WE’RE NOT DEALING WITH WHAT GOES ON THE TRANSCRIPT. WE’RE DEALING WITH ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT MATTER TO STUDENTS,” WILCOXON SAID. “IN THAT RESPECT, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT LESS RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT A STUDENT IS LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM, BUT WE CAN HELP THEM ADDRESS OTHER ISSUES.”
"WE'RE NOT DEALING WITH A STUDENT'S GRADES ... WE'RE DEALING WITH ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT MATTER TO STUDENTS...WE CAN HELP THEM ADDRESS OTHER ISSUES"
REGARDLESS OF WHICH ADVISOR A STUDENT BOOKS AN APPOINTMENT WITH, THE SAME STANDARD PRINCIPLE APPLIES TO EVERY MEETING. STUDENTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO DICTATE WHAT DIRECTION THEY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE APPOINTMENT IN AND RECEIVE SUPPORT AND THEY PLAN FOR THEIR FOLLOWING SEMESTER OR UPCOMING GRADUATION.
“MY APPOINTMENTS ARE ALWAYS LISTED AS 30 MINUTES SO STUDENTS CAN SPEND FIVE MINUTES WITH ME OR 30 MINUTES, WHATEVER THEY PREFER. WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DO IS WE’RE GOING TO CHECK IN AND SEE HOW THE SEMESTER’S GOING. WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT CLASSES YOU'RE TAKING NOW, KIND OF WHAT YOU LIKE AND WHAT YOU DON’T LIKE, AND LOOK AT WHAT IS AVAILABLE FOR HONORS COURSES NEXT SEMESTER,” FEMRITE SAID.
“TRY AT LEAST ONE NEW THING. BE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT IT BY THE NATURE OF COMING TO COLLEGE, YOU’RE THRUST INTO ALL SORTS OF NEW THINGS. YOU’VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE"
ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS OF HONORS ADVISING IS THAT AS A RESULT OF THE DECREASED POPULATION OF HONORS STUDENTS, ADVISING APPOINTMENTS CAN BECOME MORE PERSONALIZED WITH TIME AS STUDENTS BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE HONORS ADVISING TEAM.
“I THINK THAT TANNER AND I ARE PRETTY LUCKY TO WORK WITH HONORS STUDENTS, BUT ALSO THAT MEANS THAT ALL OF YOU ARE DOING VERY DIFFERENT AND INTERESTING THINGS SO EVERY ADVISING MEETING IS DEFINITELY INDIVIDUALIZED,” ILIFF SAID. “WE USUALLY TAKE THE FIRST LITTLE BIT TO TRY TO GET TO KNOW WHO WE’RE TALKING TO… AND WHAT YOUR INTERESTS ARE AND WHAT YOUR GOALS ARE FOR COLLEGE AND BEYOND. FROM THERE, THE SORT OF NUTS AND BOLTS OF ADVISING. ‘WHAT HONORS POINTS DO YOU HAVE NOW?’ ‘WHAT POINTS DO YOU NEED?’ ‘WHAT’S YOUR SORT OF SCAFFOLDING GOING FORWARD FOR GETTING THE REST OF YOUR HONORS POINTS SO YOU CAN EARN YOUR MEDALLION?’, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS.”
SIMILAR TO ADVISING RECEIVED FROM A STUDENT’S RESPECTIVE COLLEGE, HONORS ADVISING FACULTY OFFERS DROP IN HOURS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK WHEREIN STUDENTS CAN POP INTO THE OFFICE IF THEY HAVE A PRESSING QUESTION THAT NEEDS ANSWERING OR JUST WANT TO SAY HELLO.
“TRY AT LEAST ONE NEW THING. BE VERY INTENTIONAL ABOUT IT. BY THE NATURE OF COMING TO COLLEGE, YOU’RE THRUST INTO ALL SORTS OF NEW THINGS. YOU’VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE. YOU’RE LIVING ON YOUR OWN FOR THE FIRST TIME. ALL SORTS OF THINGS ARE INCREDIBLY DIFFERENT AND BECAUSE OF THAT, OFTENTIMES, WE FALL BACK INTO ALL SORTS OF HABITS AND PASSIONS THAT WE’VE ALWAYS BEEN ACCUSTOMED TO,” ILIFF SAID. “I THINK BEING AN UNDERGRADUATE IS SUCH AN EXCITING TIME FILLED WITH SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES AND IT’S EASY TO LOSE SIGHT OF THAT… THERE’S NO TIME LIKE YOUR FALL OF FRESHMAN YEAR SO JUST SAVOR IT FOR ALL IT’S WORTH AND FIND SOMETHING FUN TO DO.”
ALL HONORS STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY FRESHMAN, ARE ENCOURAGED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH HONORS ADVISING THROUGH ‘CAMPUS CONNECT’ LOCATED ON THEIR FSU STUDENT PORTAL. AS STUDENTS PREPARE FOR THEIR FUTURE HONORS APPOINTMENTS, ILIFF LEAVES THEM WITH A PIECE OF ADVICE THEY CAN BEGIN TO PUT INTO PRACTICE TO FURTHER ENRICH THEIR EXPERIENCE AT FSU.
“ON ONE HAND THERE’S THE PRACTICAL ELEMENT OF BEING ABLE TO TALK TO SOMEONE FASTER BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN HONORS ADVISOR, BUT THEN THERE’S JUST ALSO A MORE WELL-ROUNDED ELEMENT OF TAKING THE TIME TO GET TO KNOW YOU AS PEOPLE AND NOT JUST MAKING SURE YOU HAVE ALL YOUR CREDITS TO GRADUATE,” ILIFF SAID.
1 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
1 whole banana
2 eggs
1/4 cup of rolled oats
1 teaspoon of baking powder
1/2 1 teaspoon of cinnamon 1 2 tablespoons of peanut butter or almond butter (optional)
Chocolate chips (also optional) Honey
STEP 1
Heat the oil in a pan over low medium heat
Blend the banana, eggs, oats, baking powder, cinnamon, and peanut/almond butter together in a blender
STEP 2
Pour about 2 tablespoons of batter for each mini pancake
Add chocolate chips (if you choose to do so) onto the pancake batter as they're cooking
Flip the pancakes after about 3 minutes or until the bottom edges turn golden brown
This recipe can be modified to be gluten free by using gluten free rolled oats. You can also add some extra protein to these pancakes by blending in a protein powder of your choice (chocolate, vanilla, or peanut butter flavors would work best!)
Leave the pancakes on the other side for about 2 minutes
STEP 3
Serve the pancakes on a plate Drizzle honey over the pancakes Feel free to add more cinnamon on top or even a few chocolate chips!
ALIGNING WITH THE SLIGHTLY COOLER MORNINGS AND CHANGE OF LEAVES, A NEW SEASON IS OCCURRING AT THE HONORS PROGRAM! WITH A GROWING PROGRAM, JULIA PENNINGTON HAS JOINED OUR COMMUNITY AS A NEW ASSISTANT DIRECTOR. ORIGINALLY FROM GREENWOOD, INDIANA, JULIA WENT TO PURDUE UNIVERSITY FOR HER UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES, MAJORING IN LAW AND SOCIETY AS WELL AS BRAIN AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES. SHE FURTHERED HER ACADEMIC PURSUIT BY ATTENDING NOTRE DAME LAW SCHOOL.
JULIA ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO HAVE A CAREER IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, SPECIFICALLY MENTAL HEALTH REFORM, AND EVEN INTERNED IN A PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE. HOWEVER, LIKE ALL OF US, THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC SLITHERED ITSELF INTO HER LIFE, FORCING HER TO TURN INWARDS. AS A RESULT SHE REASSESSED HER ASPIRATIONS AND CAREER CHOICES RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF LAW SCHOOL. TO CONTRAST THE BLEAK REALITY THAT WE WERE ESPECIALLY EXPERIENCING AT THE TIME, SHE DECIDED SHE WANTED TO PURSUE SOMETHING THAT WAS MORE UPLIFTING AND HOPEFUL IN HER WORK LIFE.
AS THE NEW ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, JULIA MAKES SURE THAT THE COLLOQUIUM LEADERS AND HONORS STUDENT ASSOCIATION HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR THEM AND THEIR STUDENTS TO SUCCEED. SHE IS CONTINUOUSLY RECEIVING FEEDBACK, LEARNING, ADVISING AND HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH STUDENTS TO MAKE THE PROGRAM WORTHWHILE FOR US. HER SUMMER WAS SPENT RESEARCHING THE HISTORY OF THE HONORS PROGRAM AND THE UNIVERSITY USING RESOURCES LIKE THE ONLINE LIBRARY, MYFSU AND A SHARED DRIVE FOR HONORS FACULTY.
AFTER MY 30 MINUTE INTERVIEW WITH JULIA, I WAS REALLY MOVED BY HER STORY IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I NEEDED TO HEAR AT THAT POINT. I COMMEND HER FOR COMPLETELY DOING A 180 AND REPRIORITIZING HER GOALS AMID LOTS OF UNCERTAINTY AND PRESSURE FROM HER PEERS’ EXPECTATIONS. SHE EXEMPLIFIES THAT IT IS OKAY TO DEVIATE FROM YOUR INITIAL PLAN AND CONSTANTLY PIVOT AS LONG AS YOU ARE BEING AUTHENTIC TO YOURSELF AND PASSION. IT SOUNDS REALLY OVERSIMPLIFIED, BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT STUDENTS STRUGGLE WITH AND NEED REASSURING I KNOW I DO.
ONE THINGS THAT JULIA RECOMMENDS IN STOPPING THIS PROCESS IS LOTS OF SELF REFLECTION. IT’S SO EASY TO DROWN IN DEADLINES, EXPECTATIONS AND WHAT FEELS COMFORTABLE, BUT IT’S IMPORTANT EVERY NOW AND THEN TO BREATHE AND SET YOUR INTENTIONS IN EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR LIFE. SHE REMINDS US THAT COLLEGE IS THE TIME TO DO THIS; LEAVE YOUR COMFORT ZONE, GROW, EMBRACE CHANGE, TAKE THE PATH LESS TRAVELED AND MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME. SHE RECOMMENDS GETTING INVOLVED IN THINGS YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT, NOT JUST THAT WILL GLEAM ON A RESUME.
JULIA IS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT PURDUE BASKETBALL, VINTAGE FASHION AND HELPING STUDENTS REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. SHE HOPES THAT YOU GAIN SOMETHING BENEFICIAL TO YOUR GROWTH FROM BEING IN THIS PROGRAM AND I CAN TELL THAT SHE GENUINELY MEANS IT.
JULIA, THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR TIME AND ADVICE WITH ME AND NOW WITH THE READERS OF THE MEDALLION. WISHING YOU WELL IN ALL OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
A FRESHMAN'S GUIDE TO GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE
ANGELINA ASTIC
FEB. 17, 2022.
THE DAY YOU ALL OPENED YOUR ACCEPTANCE LETTER TO FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY, STREWN WITH GARNET AND GOLD CONFETTI THAT FELL DOWN THE SCREEN, AND DISCOVERED THAT YOU HAD NOT ONLY BEEN ADMITTED TO FSU, BUT ALSO THE HONORS PROGRAM FAST FORWARD TO NOW, YOU SPEND YOUR DAYS STROLLING THROUGH CAMPUS PAST THE RED BRICK BUILDINGS, RUNNING INTO FRIENDS WHILE DOING MIDNIGHT LAUNDRY IN LANDIS AND GILCHRIST, AND BONDING OVER THE STRESSORS OF COLLEGE LIFE WITH YOUR HONORS COLLOQUIUM PEERS IN THEORY, THIS SOUNDS PICTURESQUE, BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT THE COUNTLESS HOURS SPENT IN CLASSES, DOING COURSEWORK, AND STUDYING FOR EXAMS CAN BECOME ALL CONSUMING AS A FRESHMAN MYSELF, I AM WALKING THROUGH THIS SEASON FOR THE FIRST TIME JUST LIKE ALL OF YOU, I RELATE TO WANTING THAT CRISP BALANCE BETWEEN ACADEMICS, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL WELLNESS, AS WELL AS MAINTAINING AN ACTIVE SOCIAL CALENDAR
NOW, THIS IS ALL SO MUCH EASIER SAID THAN DONE THOSE ANXIETIES, EXCITEMENT, EAGERNESS, AND AMBITION ARE SHARED BY ALL OUR PEERS AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME EACH OF YOU IS EMBARKING ON A JOURNEY TAKEN BY SO MANY BEFORE YOU, HOWEVER THIS JOURNEY YOUR JOURNEY IS UNIQUELY YOUR OWN AND WHAT YOU DECIDE TO MAKE OF IT THAT BEING SAID, THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE EACH CAN DO TO ENSURE THAT WE EACH HAVE A BALANCED, ENJOYABLE, AND SUCCESSFUL COLLEGIATE CAREER
WHILE I COULD JUST LIST OFF ADVICE AND WAYS ONE CAN ENRICH THEIR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE, I KNOW IT CAN BE HELPFUL TO HEAR FROM A WIDE ARRAY OF OTHERS WHO ARE GOING THROUGH VARIOUS VERSIONS OF THE SAME EXPERIENCE AS WELL COMFORT CAN BE FOUND IN THE WORDS OF THOSE WHO WE CAN SEE OURSELVES IN, AND BY VIRTUE OF THAT RELATION, CONNECT TO THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS, FELLOW HONORS FRESHMEN WHO ARE ENGAGED IN VARIOUS MANNERS ACROSS CAMPUS, UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT YOU EACH ARE GOING THROUGH, AS THEY EMBARK ON THEIR OWN RESPECTIVE COLLEGIATE CAREERS
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NEVER HAD A PLANNER THROUGHOUT HGH SCHOOL AND WAS KIND OF CLUTTERED BUT, NOW, HAVNG A PLANNER WHERE I CAN KEEP ALL OF MY ACADEMC WORK DUE DATES AND INTERVIEWS AND APPOINTMENTS AND JUST BENG ABLE TO SEE T IN FRONT OF ME… HAVNG EVERYTHNG IN ONE SPOT HAS BEEN SUPER HELPFUL TO AT LEAST MY ORGANIZATION AND MY TIME MANAGEMENT,” HONORS FRESHMAN, UROP PARTCIPANT, AND NTERDISCIPLINARY MEDCAL SCIENCES STUDENT, KELSEY STRIGLER, SAID.
STARTING IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WE RECEIVED OUR VERY FIRST INTRODUCTION TO TIME MANAGEMENT AND PLANNING VIA THE COLORFUL SCHOOL SPONSORED SPIRAL AGENDAS COMPLETE WITH OUR NAMES SMUDGED IN SHARPIE ON THE COVERS IT IS SAFE TO SAY WE HAVE ALL COME A LONG WAY SINCE THEN, BUT THE CORE PRINCIPLE REMAINS THE SAME
TRANSITIONING INTO COLLEGE FROM A REGIMENTED SEVEN TO EIGHT HOUR SCHOOL DAY COMPLETE WITH RIGID CLASS TIMES, BELLS, BUILT IN LUNCH HOUR, AND BREAKS BETWEEN CLASSES TO A MORE FREE FLOWING INDEPENDENT ROUTINE IN COLLEGE CAN ALSO CREATE SOME STRESSORS IF YOU THRIVE IN A ROUTINE IN WHICH YOUR DAYS ARE DEDICATED TO VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AND CLASSES, IMPLEMENT A SCHEDULE THAT WORKS FOR YOU UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES; JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE NO LONGER REQUIRED TO FOLLOW A SCHEDULE, DOES NOT MEAN YOU CANNOT
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WRTE EVERYTHNG I HAVE TO DO DOWN – EVEN IF IT'S NOT ACADEMIC. I PLAN TO HANG OUT WITH MY FRIENDS, I PLAN WHEN WILL EAT, PLAN WHEN WLL SLEEP… IT S ALL PLANNED TO THE DETAL,” HONORS FRESHMAN, UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH OPPORTUNTY PROGRAM PARTICIPANT, AND BOLOGY STUDENT, EMMA CHIRLA, SAID. “BUT IT'S ALSO THEN MORE RELAXNG TO KNOW WHAT I’M GONG TO DO THAN JUST SITTING AND DECDNG WHETHER TO GO DO SOMETHING FUN OR DO THE STUDYING THAT I ACTUALLY HAVE TO DO.”
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THNK THAT THE WAY FSU IS SET UP IN WHICH YOU AREN’T IN CLASS ALL THE TME SO YOU CAN PRIORITZE GETTING YOUR SCHOOLWORK DONE AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT THERE’S SO MANY EXTRACURRICULARS THAT ARE AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE DAY ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE THAT TIME TO PRIORTIZE YOUR SCHOOL LIFE, BUT ALSO MEET NEW PEOPLE AND DO DIFFERENT THINGS,” HONORS FRESHMAN AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS STUDENT, SOFA GARCIA, SAD
IN THAT SAME SCHEDULE, SOM HAVE A LEVEL OF FLEXIBILITY IN YOUR DAYS TO ACCOMMODATE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES THAT MAY COME UP, ADDITIONAL ASSIGNMENTS, OR JUST UNEXPECTED LIFE EVENTS DAY TO DAY LIFE IS SIMILAR TO THE EVENTS WHICH OCCUR IN AN AIRPORT SOMETIMES THERE ARE LAYOVERS, DELAYS, AND EVEN CANCELLATIONS
SECURITY CAN BE A PAIN TO GET THROUGH AND JET LAG CAN SERVE AS A DETRIMENT HOWEVER, BECOMING COMFORTABLE WITH THAT LEVEL OF UNCERTAINTY IS KEY
WHEN IT COMES TO STUDY STRATEGIES, EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN RESPECTIVE METHODOLOGIES WHICH WORK BEST FOR THEM AND THEIR CLASSES WHETHER YOU YOURSELF HAVE A SYSTEM WHICH HAS BECOME TRIED AND TRUE, YOU ALSO MAY NOT BE AT A PLACE WHERE YOU HAVE A BELOVED STUDY STRATEGY
BOTH ARE COMPLETELY OKAY AS YOU CONTINUE TO GROW AND EVOLVE IN YOUR FOUR YEARS OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES,
ALLOW YOURSELF TO DISCOVER NEW WAYS TO STUDY AND FIND CERTAIN PRACTICES WHICH FEEL LIKE SECOND NATURE TO YOU
“MY STUDY THING IS ’LL WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN ’LL GO OVER T AND HGHLIGHT STUFF. THEN ALL THE STUFF THAT I HGHLIGHTED THAT SEEMS MPORTANT, I’LL WRITE DOWN AGAIN,” CHIRLA SAD. “USUALLY WHAT DO IS TAKE PRACTCE TESTS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAN AND THEN I WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING GOT WRONG. IT’S A WHOLE CYCLE UNTL I FEEL LKE I KNOW STUFF”
JOHN HEYWOOD’S FAMOUS WORDS, “ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN ONE DAY” LARGELY APPLY TO THE COLLEGIATE EXPERIENCE OF STUDENTS ACROSS THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY IN REFERENCE TO ACADEMICS. PART OF STUDYING AND LEARNING MATERIAL INCLUDES THE GRASPING OF KNOWLEDGE OVER TIME VERSUS STUDYING LARGE PORTIONS OF MATERIAL IN A SMALL WINDOW WHILE THIS TAKES A CERTAIN LEVEL OF SELF DISCIPLINE, MANY STUDENTS
NOTICE THAT THIS STUDY TACTIC PAYS DIVIDENDS
“I THINK IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO LEARN THNGS OVER TME INSTEAD OF JUST LEARNING THEM AT ONE POINT UNLESS T'S SOMETHING VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD,” STRGLER SAID. “IT’S EASIER TO LEARN A LITTLE TODAY, A LTTLE TOMORROW, AND THEN BY THE END OF THE WEEK, KNOW T FOR YOUR TEST.”
COLLEGE CAN ALSO BE A VERY ISOLATING EXPERIENCE OFTENTIMES STUDENTS FEEL RIDDEN WITH FEELINGS OF STRESS SURROUNDING ASSIGNMENTS, GUILT FOR LACK OF TIME TO SPEND WITH FRIENDS, AND DESPAIR OVER THE SHEER INABILITY TO FIND A MOMENT TO RELAX.
SOCIETY SPENDS SO MUCH TIME TELLING COLLEGE AGED INDIVIDUALS TO BE GRATEFUL BECAUSE OF THE SIMPLE FACT THAT THESE ARE “SOME OF THE BEST YEARS
RECALL THAT EVERY PERSON’S EXPERIENCE IS THEIR OWN DESPITE THE SEEMINGLY FUN FILLED NIGHTS THAT FLOOD YOUR FRIEND’S SNAPCHAT STORIES, REMEMBER THAT THOSE FEW SECOND LONG MOMENTS ARE JUST THAT MOMENTS WE CONSCIOUSLY CHOOSE WHAT WE SHARE ON VARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, WHICH SERVE AS REPRESENTATIONS OF OUR BEST MOMENTS, NOT THE WHOLE PICTURE. TAKE THOSE WELL DESERVED MENTAL HEALTH BREAKS WHEN NEEDED TO RESET AND RECHARGE
“PRIORTIZE YOURSELF AND YOUR MENTAL HEALTH,” GARCIA SAD “WHEN YOU PRIORTIZE THAT, YOU’LL WANT TO DO BETTER IN SCHOOL SO WHILE MAKING SURE THAT ACADEMICS ARE YOUR NUMBER ONE PRORTY, YOU’LL ALSO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF GIVNG YOURSELF A BREAK AND ALLOWING YOURSELF TO HAVE FUN AND BE YOURSELF”
“TRY TO DO EVERYTHING WITH YOUR FRENDS YOU GO GET FOOD, INVITE ANYONE YOU KNOW. YOU GO STUDY, NVITE ANYONE YOU KNOW. YOU GO GET GROCERIES, INVITE EVERYONE YOU KNOW BECAUSE IT’S MORE FUN THAT WAY. SOMETIMES YOU DON’T HAVE TME TO HANG OUT WITH THEM, SO WHEN YOU HAVE TO DO THOSE NECESSARY THINGS, BRING PEOPLE,” CHIRLA SAID.
ON THAT SAME NOTE, KEEP IN MIND THAT A MAJORITY OF YOUR DAYS MAY BE OVERRUN BY WHAT FEELS LIKE AN UNRULY COURSE LOAD AND INSURMOUNTABLE AMOUNTS OF HOMEWORK SOME DAILY TASKS ARE UNAVOIDABLE, WHETHER IT BE DOING THAT PILE LAUNDRY, GETTING A BITE TO EAT, OR CRAMMING FOR AN EXAM DESPITE THE FACT THAT THOSE ASPECTS OF ONE’S DAY CANNOT BE REMOVED FROM THE PICTURE, IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY HAVE TO BE SOLITARY ACTIVITIES
AS YOU MOVE FORWARD AND BEGIN THE SELECTION PROCESS OF CLASSES FOR THE SPRING SEMESTER, TAKE STOCK OF YOUR FALL SEMESTER AND WHAT HABITS AND PRACTICES YOU FEEL WORKED FOR YOU AND WHAT DID NOT. IF YOU HAVE THE LUXURY TO, TAKE A LOOK AT YOUR CLASSES AND SEE WHAT DATES AND TIMES WOULD WORK BEST FOR YOU AND BRING YOU THE MOST PEACE OF MIND WHILE ENSURING THAT YOU CONTINUE TO CHALLENGE YOURSELF AND ADVANCE IN YOUR RESPECTIVE MAJOR
“FOR ME, I DESGN MY SCHEDULE TO HAVE MY MORNINGS SET ASIDE FOR ACADEMICS AND THEN ALSO HAVING TME N THE EVENNGS TO DO WHATEVER I NEED TO DO, WHETHER THAT’S ADDITONAL STUDY TIME OR BENG ABLE TO HANG OUT WITH FRIENDS,” HONORS FRESHMAN AND PRESDENTIAL SCHOLAR, CARSON DALE, SAD. “I THNK BLOCKING OFF YOUR TME IN A PURPOSEFUL WAY, NOT JUST SIGNNG UP FOR WHATEVER CLASSES SEEM THE MOST APPEALING BUT ALSO BEING STRATEGIC ABOUT WHAT TIMES THEY’RE AT AND HOW AT AND HOW THAT’S GONG TO IMPACT YOUR DAY.”
NOW ONTO ACKNOWLEDGING THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM: EVERYONE IS AWARE THAT WHILE COLLEGE IS A TIME SPENT GROWING AS AN ACADEMIC, ONE ALSO BEGINS TO GROW, EXPLORE, AND FLOURISH AS AN INDIVIDUAL OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM I DON’T BELIEVE IN PREACHING TO OTHERS ON WHAT THEY SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT DO. THE ONLY THING I ADVISE, BESIDES ENSURING THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS DOING THINGS THAT REMAIN IN YOUR RANGE OF COMFORTABILITY AND SAFETY, IS THAT YOUR CHARACTER REMAINS INTACT
“I THNK THE BGGEST THING ABOUT HAVING FUN ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS IS THAT MAKING SURE WHLE YOU’RE HAVNG FUN, YOU’RE ALSO CARRYNG YOURSELF IN A RESPECTFUL WAY,” DALE SAID. “THE DICHOTOMY BETWEEN WHO YOU ARE WHEN YOU’RE HAVING FUN AND THEN ALSO WHO YOU ARE WHEN YOU’RE NOT HAVING FUN SHOULD NOT BE THAT GREAT OF A DFFERENCE”
HERE IS A REMINDER TO YOU ALL FROM ME: YOUR COLLEGE JOURNEY HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN PLEASE GIVE YOURSELF GRACE SOME DAYS YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE ON TOP OF THE WORLD AND OTHERS YOU WISH YOU COULD CRAWL UNDER THE COVERS AND CRY THIS EXPERIENCE IS NOT LINEAR BUT NEITHER IS YOUR GROWTH AS A HUMAN AND ACADEMIC TAKE EVERY MOMENT, EXPERIENCE, LESSON, CONVERSATION, AND INTERACTION ONE STEP AT A TIME TOGETHER, WE FIGURE OUT HOW TO ACCLIMATE TO OUR EVER-CHANGING LIVES YOU EACH WERE HANDSELECTED TO BE HERE FOR A REASON IT IS NOW UP TO YOU TO DECIDE HOW AND WHAT YOU MAKE OF YOUR TIME HERE.
