KSU Talon | July 2010

N O L A T FRESHMAN YEAR:

THE UNTOLD STORIES

>DON’T PARTY NAKED TALON INVESTIGATES WHY IT’S BETTER TO WEAR CLOTHES

Kennesaw State University Talon Monthly Magazine

July 2010

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N O L A

from the editor

WHO WORKED ON THIS ISSUE RACHEL GOFF MEGHAN DE ST AUBIN RICHIE ESSENBURG LIZ JOHNSON MARIA YANOVSKY PETER NORVELL AMANDA DENNIS RYAN PATRICK SCHILL JESSICA MEARES STEPHANIE WRIGHT

STEVEN WELCH CAROLYN GRINDROD

THANK -YOU

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elcome Freshman and new students! I’m glad to be your Talon Magazine editor for the

academic year 2010- 2011. Here at Talon we wanted our first issue to be dedicated to you!

Starting college is both exciting and nerve-racking. I know when I first started I mapped out a route to each class. I was so scared of getting lost or asking anyone for help. Needless to say, my map failed me, and I spent more time than I needed to in the hot August sun. I was late to my first class and sweaty. Not a good way to make a first impression.

If there is one thing I can tell you, it’s not to be scared to ask for help. We’ve all been in your shoes.

Think of this issue as your very own survival guide.

Talon would sincerely like to thanks our families and friends, classmates, and faculty for their ideas, concerns and feedback. Thanks to the students who participated in this issue and to those who read Talon. Finally, the biggest thanks goes to Ed Bonza, the student media advisor.

EDITORS

RACHEL GOFF \ EDITOR IN CHIEF MEGHAN DE ST AUBIN \ MANAGING EDITOR RICHIE ESSENBURG \ COPY EDITOR LIZ JOHNSON \ CONTENT EDITOR PETER NORVELL \ ACQUIRING EDITOR

DISCLAIMER

Talon Monthly is a registered student feature magazine of KSU. Opinions and ideas expressed in Talon are those of the individual artists, writers, and editors and are not those of KSU, the Board of Regents, nor the advertisers. Talon is paid for, in part, through the student activity fees and is free of charge to all members of the KSU community.

Good Luck!

APPLY

JOIN US @ ksumedia.com and click on the link “Join Us” to fill out an application.

WEBSITE

WANNA SEE MORE? CHECK OUT MORE PHOTOS, ARTICLES, AND EVERYTHING KSU AT KSUTALON.COM

COVER MODEL: SENIOR MELISSA COKER COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: RACHEL GOFF

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CONTENTS AUGUST 2010

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ALON

ACADEMICS

___________________ 3 The Gen. Ed. Dilemma How to Choose Your Major ___________________ 4 ___________________ 5 Figuring Yourself Out the Hard Way

LIFESTYLE Don’t Party Naked What College Is(n’t)

___________________ 6 ___________________ 9

ADVICE Commute Commuter Commute Scam the Scammer Not this Time Freshmen-15 Stress, Loss & All of the Good Stuff in Between

___________________ 12 ___________________ 13 ___________________ 16 ___________________ 17

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Academics

The Gen Ed Dilemma One student discovers how to deal with General Education courses, and the meaning behind them.

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s I sit here and think back, I have come to realize my strong disdain for Math and Science started way back in high school. I wasn’t horrible with the subjects; I just found them boring and a waste of my time. I mean come on, it’s 2010 people, and we have calculators, why should I have to write out how I got my answer? And don’t even get me started on biology. Somewhere I got the bright idea to take the honors class and barely scraped by.

I thought college would be an escape from all that. Maybe I should have read the degree requirements before orientation. There are 42 credit hours I have to take to prove I comprehend something I’m never going to use.

Photography: Rachel Goff Model: Junior Talia Mejia

Model: Talia Meja Photography Rachel Goff

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My dislike for these subjects carried over into my collegiate experience, where I must once again sit through countless classes to satisfy something universities like to call “general education.” Oh but this time I get to pay for it, which only gives me more reason to hate them both. Apparently we should be well-rounded individuals, so come graduation time, classes such as College Algebra and Statistics will grace my transcripts. I wish I found them even half as interesting as my major requirements, but alas that will never happen. The fact of the matter is these courses will cross my path one way or another,

Academics which I have reluctantly accepted.

I may find them useless, but nevertheless I must take them if I want to graduate.

Using my powers of procrastination I have devised a foolproof plan to deal with Gen-ed, one that involves saving all those pesky 1000 level classes until my time here at KSU is about to end. While most of my friends will spend senior year doing internships and upper level courses, I shall be learning about the environment and how to solve math problems that have all those pesky letters in the equations. This may ultimately blow-up right in my face, but should I get stressed, I have saved HPS as well. There’s nothing like running around campus to get all that math out of my head.

While I have made my feelings towards the math and science aspect of Gen-ed well known, I feel I must give props to the classes I enjoy. Courses like English and History, and all the others that don’t involve plants, quadratic equations, or the Periodic Table will always hold a special place in my heart.

Not just because I got an A in most of them, but because I believe they hold more real world relevance than the others. Think about it like

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How to...

Choose Your Major

1 2 3 4

Write down your five favorite things to do in your spare time Write down five talents you posses Write down the letter grades of your final semester of high school Now, star the A’s you got your final semester of your senior year. You tend to slack on classes you don’t enjoy, so those A classes are generally subjects you excel at and enjoy. If there are any correlations between numbers one and two AND three you’ve got yourself a major. If they aren’t exactly lining up to a subject, but are related to a genre of study, then there you go. For example: If you write on your own blog, enjoy taking pictures, and did well on english assignments in high school you might enjoy being a photojournalism major. -Amanda Dennis

downtown, how would knowing the ecosystem help me find my way home? It’s Atlanta; we killed most of the trees to make way for I-75.

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If I got lost somehwere in dowtown, how would knowing the ecoystem help me find my way home?

this, everyone will read something, somewhere, on a daily basis. Solving x for y though, that’s a different story. And if I got lost somewhere

There are many students who will choose to major in math and science. These people will go on to have incredible careers and change

the world, so it should be stated that I’m not knocking anyone who enjoys these demons. I just, personally, would rather do without most of them. I’ll even admit there are probably people who would say the same thing about most of the Communications classes as well. I’m ok with that. At the end of the day, I can count my money and I know the planets of the solar system, so trust me I’m good. Anything else I might need to know, I can use Google or even text Cha-Cha. And thank God there’s only one KSU 1101. That’s another article in itself.- Steven Welch

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Academics

Late to the Party Staff Writer Ryan Schill shares his experience about what it really means to be a “non-traditional” student.

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wanted to paint an image in your mind of my first day of classes at KSU, but to be honest I really do not remember that day. It is possible that I have locked those disturbing memories away somewhere deep and dark in my mind—images of bad fashion and awkward moments. Or, (and this is more likely) I just plain forgot.

As I write this, my thirtieth birthday is staring me hard in the face. Everyone tells me it is nothing (30 is still young, after all) ,but I am experiencing more anxiety about this birthday than I have for any previous birthday. The problem seems to be that I do not feel 30. I feel 21. I am afraid it is all in my head however, and my gray hairs would agree. Time is catching up to me rapidly.

With age comes experience, if not wisdom, and I have had many years to gather experience at Kennesaw State University. By the time I graduate next spring I will have attended KSU for 7 years.

The thought of actually graduating still feels surreal and unlikely, as if I am walking a tightrope towards that day, and one small misstep will upset the whole thing.

I started at KSU when I was 24.

Looking back, I see only a kid -naive, lazy, and self-absorbed. But at the time I felt like an old man compared to the rest of the freshman in my classes. Walking in to my first class I was confronted with

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a scenario I had never anticipated; I would likely spend my time here alone.

I was caught somewhere in the middle the first few years at KSU. I felt too old to hang out with traditional freshman, but I felt far too young to hang out with the real “adults,” something I still don’t consider myself to be. So those years were spent in solitary. I rarely had anyone to call on if I missed some notes or if I had trouble with an assignment.

Thankfully, things are different today. Having finally moved away from the general education classes where I saw 80 new faces every semester, I now spend my classes with a small group of people who share my major. We know each other through familiarity. When you have two or three classes with someone it is hard not to get to know them. I look forward to classes, because I enjoy the people I take them with.

I still don’t get to experience everything, however. I work full time and maintaining my schedule at work means taking all my classes in the evening, so I miss great swaths of KSU events. I experience KSU almost entirely through the classes I take there. But I try to take advantage of what things I can, either late at night or on the weekends. I work out at the fitness center on campus. I go to baseball games on Saturday afternoons.

KSU has offered many opportuni-

ties.

There are certainly days that I wish I could have had a “normal” college experience, and early on I tried quite unsuccessfully to do just that. My ability to party seems to decrease with every passing year.

There was no way I was going to work 40 hours while taking 4 or 5 classes and still feel like going out on Friday night. I just wanted to sleep. My body was saying, “sleep” but my head was saying, “go have fun!” So I went out anyway. This was not always the best decision I could have made. C’est la vie.

Looking back, I realize that my time at KSU was part of a process that helped me grow. Walking in I had very little idea what I wanted to do. I bounced from major to major taking all sorts of disparate classes in an attempt to figure myself out. All I knew was that I wanted a degree and a better job.

Today, I am finishing a degree in a major I love, and I am preparing for law school. I know this is right and is what I want to do with my life. Even though it feels accidental, every class I took taught me more about who I am and, more importantly, who I am not. My successes, my failures—both were invaluable in the end. I made every mistake imaginable, but they led me here. And it is here where I am most happy.- Ryan Schill

Lifestyle

Don’t Party

Naked Senior Amanda Dennis knows parties - and she teaches us all something about keeping in touch with friends, spontaneous once-in-a-lifetime experiences and rashes.

Model: Senior Melissa Coker Photography: Rachel Goff Story: Amanda Dennis

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Lifestyle

or the record, this University. At the base of the highis a story comest peak in Georgia lies a small but prised of comrenowned little liberal arts college pletely true facts known for its unbelievable and and happenings. out-of-control field parties. What is Fact number one: If you party naked you will get a rash. I’m not talking metaphorically. Although, I’m sure that my small little embarrassing tale can be translated into a metaphor for thinking before you act. Speaking as a senior with a plethora of experience under my belt I can surely tell you that in life, stories will be metaphors and facts will be absorbed into your brain like times very problem I was facing…Facebook. On tables during first grade. When I Facebook I re-connected was a senior in high school and I with my girlfriends and got a little received my acceptance letter into glimpse into their life. It was bitcollege, I jumped at the chance to tersweet because I was seeing all tell all my friends. I later learned these pictures of my friends jointhat all my best friends had been ing sororities and academic clubs accepted into other colleges scatwithout me. I realized that I must tered across the southeast. My do a better job of keeping in touch friends and I were spread out which brings me to my second fact: a field party you might ask? A field across the region like sprinkles on party by definition is a party in a You must make an effort to keep a Weight Watcher’s cupcake. As the summer passed, we all arranged your friends. I realize you all tuned flat yet grassy and secluded bit of land. I had never been to any such to keep in touch, exchange e-mails in to read about my naked mishap, party at the ripe age of 20 the most but experience takes time and this (pre-facebook, if there was such a I had ever time), experienced and getThen she continued, “And one concerned solo ting their cups and ping day I woke up with a tattoo of dorm pong balls in addresssome friend‘I love waffles’ above my thigh es. As of-a-friend’s quickly and decided to give partying a basement. This as the brings me to ink rest.” fact number started three: know to fade your party, is good practice for you. So back on my high school yearbook I know your surroundings. If I had to fact two, I knew if I wanted to fell out of touch with my closest known these rules in advance I keep my friends I had to make friends. We were all pretty busy wouldn’t have ridden home all the an effort to visit them as much as with new places and new things way from the North Georgia mounthey visited me. One of my dear and new friends. Then a bittertains with white medicine-smelling friends attended a university that sweet miracle happened, the crelotion all over my ass and legs. A will remain nameless to the north ation of a little website designed field party does exist in a wild open of our beloved Kennesaw State

by Harvard students to solve the

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Lifestyle field in fact but it is so much more.

When I arrived at the secret borderland local of this shin dig I’ll admit I had relaxed with some island teas if you get my drift. The mountain air was relaxing and fresh. All the college kids were gathered around an open pit of fire and there were several coolers adding architectural framing to the chilly creek’s horizon line. Everyone is your best friend at a college party until you

hit on your best friend’s girl or make-out with your ex in front or Mr. Right Now. I was having a great time remembering old adventures with my girlfriend when suddenly her sorority sisters had grabbed us off our drifter log and drug us to a clearing partially covered by branches and fall leaves. “Lets streak to the waterfall and jump in, it’ll be awesome!”

They screamed. My girlfriend was bare-ass in half a second whereas I was more hesitant on the matter.

What would people think? I don’t know anyone here? Would this make me slutty? Then my girlfriend looked at me convincingly, as she always does when she’s trying to get me to do something spontaneous and daring. So I took

in a deep breathe and thought to myself, “You only live once, you will remember this forever, you don’t know anyone here, you are brave and spontaneous, LIVE!” I ripped off all my clothes except for my Delia’s headband and galloped full force with the rest of my new friends into the grassy field and then the fifty degree waterfall that overlooked the party. This brings me back to my first rule: If you party naked you will get a rash.

As much fun as I had at that party I woke up on my friend’s lumpy futon with a headache and some

studying at Tulane in New Orleans where the bars stayed open until eight in the morning,” I smiled thinking to myself, “That’s nice lady just give me my bill, so I can go bathe in this lotion crap.” Then she continued, “and one day I woke up with a tattoo of ‘I love waffles’ above my thigh and decided to give partying a rest.” - Amanda Dennis

little red dots on my ankles.

Later that day, the little red dots had appeared along my calves and unfortunately my derriere. By the time I got back to Kennesaw I nearly scratched my ass to death as I begged my doctor to cure my ailment.

The good woman prescribed me some anti-inflammatory and soothing lotion for my poison oak soaked bottom half as well as some good advice. She said, “ You know when I was in college I was

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What College Is(n’t) Lifestyle

By Liz Johnson & Richie Essenburg

Senior Editors Liz Johnson and Richie Essenburg answer the timeless question, “What is college”?, and give Talon readers the low down on survival.

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Lifestyle

ollege is a time to figure out who you are.”

What DOES that mean? People say stuff like that all the time. Let’s be honest; no one understands that phrase.

So, what is college about?

College is about experiencing. Tasting samples from diverse Photography: Aimee Dube sources. Reaching out of the comfortable bubble you’ve snugly Liz Johson has been with Talon for two years, and graduated from KSU this past engulfed yourself in. Seeing new summer. Liz wants to write for the Office. sights—that can be a good thing or a bad thing. Hearing new perspecWhat you do with your time now again. Be crazy. tives—and really listening. SmellCollege is about—learning? I ing beauty—or nasty booty. Giving determines your future. (In some cases, literally choosing between know; it seems kind of crazy. But yourself the chance to experience life or death.) Building healthy learning to appreciate who you people around you—their beliefs, habits—habits that lead to success are. Learning to love your parideas, goals, dreams. Experiencing and longevity of life. Habits that ents. Learning to confront people. a life outside of yourself. make you a harder worker, stronger Learning to let someone else talk College is about relationships. communicator, more complete perin a conversation. Learning to Letting go of some old ones and son. The choices are always yours. apologize. Learning to stand up for enjoying the new ones. And someIn college, you learn you must take yourself. Learning to stand up for times letting go of the new ones, the blame. others. Learning to relax or work too. Finding people who are likehard or play hard to get. minded. Finding I’ve heard college depeople who are People literally die in the fight for scribed as the closest thing different. People any of us will get to living who challenge out an episode of Friends. you to grow. education. It’s kind of a big deal.

Think about it. You live People who make next door—or with—your you better. Then best friends and don’t it’s all about gethardly have any responsibilities.

College is about education and ting married [joke].

But that’s the cheap route. Their College is about feeling. Feeling preparation for your future. I know, cliche. But think about it. People lives were scripted and generic. bad about that argument. Feelliterally die in the fight for educaYou have a chance to live your own ing bad about how you did on a tion. It’s kind of a big deal. sitcom life. It can be whatever you test. Feeling like it’s the end of the College is about letting go.

Of make it: Funny, dramatic, crimeworld, only to find out it’s simply your future, your past, your bagridden, fantasy. Take advantage the beginning. Feeling like no one gage, your claims to fame. Your now, because before you know it, understands and realizing you’re pride, your timidity, your idea of your four years are up. Then it’s not alone. Feeling as if you’re stupidity. Let it go. Enjoy a campus time to move on. - Liz Johnson unstoppable. Feeling as if things of 20,000 students who don’t know could never get better. And repeat. you and might never notice you College is about building habits.

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Lifestyle Photography: Amanda Dennis

Richie Essenburg has the big title of Copy Editor, and he also graduated this summer with Liz. Richie, however, is going to Graduate School here at KSU and plans on staying with Talon forever.

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ollege is not like the movies. It may be hard to nail down exactly what “college” or your “college experience” will be. So, to narrow it down, college here, at KSU, is different than most for any number of reasons, but it is the same as many other schools because it isn’t like the movies.

find yourself walking into a class without an assignment that everyone else is holding in their hands should be some major motivation to getting involved with those around you.

College isn’t an experience you must go through on your own. As a socially able, introvert myself, I had to learn this as I went along.

The best part is tons of people at KSU are looking to experience things with others too. Living oncampus helps with this, of course, but having a long commute can be difficult in this respect.

Even with the ever-expanding on-campus residencies, KSU is still largely a commuter school. So, it definitely isn’t like many other schools with 20,000 plus students.

Finding a community, a few friends College isn’t one big party. in classes will save you and it is I know, I probably just lost half not optional. The first time you

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of you. Really though. As many people you see partying, you will see studying, also. It’s weird, really. You walk through campus and people are having a good time and their nose in a book. It is the balance of the two that is crucial.

College isn’t as scary as everyone tells you. It is at first, but it’s no nightmare. Once you get settled in and don’t have to check that same piece of paper to remember your classroom number, you’ll feel more at home.

One thing is for sure. College isn’t like the movies and it may not be what you expect at all.- Richie Essenburg

Commute

Advice

Commuter

Commute

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ollege was like a breath of fresh air after I graduated from high school. It seemed as though everything would be perfect. The drive to my high school took a solid tenminutes, which seemed more like twenty on mornings when there was traffic. The drive from home to school and back seemed like the longest journey of my life. There wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t compare the drive to a fiery pit that may or may not exist under the concrete gravel laid underneath my town.

At first, even though the drive to Kennesaw from Woodstock was longer it felt like the gas I was burning was going Photography: Peter Norvell towards a better cause. It was all rainbows and unicorns during the first couple of months. I even jammed to “Party in the USA” (Shhhh… don’t tell) on the way to my loved getting up at six each morning and not returning till morning classes. It wasn’t until my first midterms midnight. I cannot express how thrilled I was when my that I finally examined my gas mileage. It seemed as chances of getting in a car wreck skyrocketed because I though I filled my tank up almost two times a week. was up and down the highway all week long. At least I My modest bank account was taking a huge sucker got sympathy card from my professors when I told them I punch that seemed to knock the fresh air out of me. worked, commuted and attempted to keep up my studies.

Not only did I begin to hate Miley Cyrus with a However, putting the sarcasm away for a moment, I really burning passion, but she seemed to be the only comlearned to appreciate the short drive to school when I did pany I had on my ride to school. All my friends were finally move closer to school. I was more cautious with my in Kennesaw and the lonely drive sometimes took money and what I spent it on. place up to three times a day. If I forgot a textbook My advice? Don’t commute. The traffic is horrible and at home, or my laptop I was usually screwed for the it does nothing for the psyche except boost the bitterness day. (as you can see). Do everything you can to find a couple In the beginning, my parents convinced me that friends to move in with close to school. If you’re a comthe reason I was living at home my first year was muter and your car breaks down, you’re in trouble. Many to save money. Of course, I bought into this idea. affordable apartment complexes are within a mile of the Literally. I figured since I didn’t have rent and living school so if you get in this situation, you can walk. Now expenses to pay for, I could buy whatever I wanted. that I don’t have to fill up my gas tank twice a week, I can I went to tons of movies and visited O’Charleys way safely say I am a happier person. With the money I am not too many times. Come time for my spring semester spending on gas I can put it towards necessities. At first, to end, I found I had only saved around two hundred it’s fun to commute. Blaring music at high volume and dollars. So much for that… singing till our lungs give out is something we all do. HowIf your getting the impression that my commuter ever, I must say, jamming to Miley is not worth the cost at experience was a bad one, you’re dead wrong. I all. - Meghan de St. Aubin

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Advice

Photography: Melissa Coker Model: Senior Drew Coker

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Advice

hew, it’s summer… and with it means… more work?

Now that it’s August and it’s the prime of the sunny season, it makes for the perfect chance to rake in some extra dough, especially now that your time isn’t completely exhausted writing term papers or studying last minute for some biology final. And for you lucky few who have just graduated, it’s time to start sweating what you need to be focusing that newly printed degree on…a career (unless, you’re going back to school, of course…which is also a great option).

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cam the

cammers

Job hunting, however, can be very tough these days…and many of you will start the tedious task by taking to the black and white classifieds in local newspapers, or maybe even staying up to the wee hours on the Web thumbing through job listings on Craigslist or Monster.com. And while the pickin’ may be slim, you can almost always count on coming across that one ad that says, “Work from Home…make tons of cash quick…call now…” and in your disparity wonder, “hmm…maybe THIS one is legit.” Well, the truth is, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

With today’s economic toils, scam jobs are being more and more prevalent in job searches, so it’s wise to know your facts when it comes to these types of employment cons while seeking better job opportunities. So, how can you spot a Scam?

Well, here are a few pointers to clue you in on how to spot a scam from a mile away.

Don’t fall victim to the get-richquick-schemes

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Advice Sure, sitting on the beach while sipping on a fruity cocktail and while making thousands or sitting on your couch in your PJs while bringing in the Benjamins may sound quite inviting, but these types of promised employments are usually ploys to scam you. Usually, only the likes of Bill Gates are able to pull this off, so from an average Joe’s perspective, these assurances are quick signs of scam artists trying to gain valuable personal information like your Social Security number and more. A sure-tell sign of a promising employer would never promise these illusions of grandeur, and would never ask up front for information such as your bank account number to “start payment immediately.”

to check with the Better Business Bureau or the Federal Trade Commission to see if they have been blacklisted. The BBB is a hot spot for reporting fraudulent or shady work environments, so it’s a great source for checking scams.

Most swindling advisements like these are very vague in the job description area and use lengthy, bold and flashy texts to lure you in, so be wary of big promises or it may lead to big disappointments.

The internet can be a great tool for job hunting, but it also comes with its demise. Take a look around, and you’ll see plenty of jobs that look like great opportunities and just require a quick send of an e-mail to apply for a job.

However, be careful with job ads that respond back with SPAM emails. If you receive an e-mail back quickly, say in the next few minutes, that refer you to a Web page to fill out information, it’s quite possible it’s also a deceitful scam. Most On-line job search engines, for example Craigslist.com, have a page dedicated to warning information about cons on the Internet.

Don’t pay for employment

Another bright idea would be to check to see how long the business has been in active. Web sites like domainwhitepages.com help to monitor registered domain names, when business go online, so if the Web site is under six months old, you should just forget it.

Don’t overlook the fine print

Sure, sitting on the beach while sip-

Loads of Web sites and even advertisements out there promise employment for a small fee or by joining via a paid membership. This is another sure sign that the ad is just a distraction to hack away at your account.

Legitimate workplaces would never charge to hire you, so why would you believe that these companies should? You should never ever EVER send money to any company promising information or advice about an occupation and this should be one of the biggest red flags that someone is trying to rip you off.

ping on a fruity cocktail or sitting on

your couch in your PJs while bringing in the Benjamins may sound quite

Don’t forget your references…or theirs References don’t just work for you in helping land that job, but can also be a great way of checking up on a company, especially if you’re skeptical. You can always ask for a list of references from a business, and they come up a bit foggy, you can always back away.

Another excellent way of checking into a company is

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inviting...

Just be cautious. If an ad doesn’t ask for a resume or work examples, doesn’t offer information about job requirements, and has scant details of the job location, then there is probably an ulterior motive to the listing.

Now that’d your armed with the knowledge of how to spot a scam, don’t take it lightly. Be cautious. Be confident. Be alert. And remember, always go with your gut feeling. Good luck and happy job-hunting.Carolyn Grindrod

Advice

Not this time: Freshmen-15

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he dreaded Freshmen-15: something that has affected each and every college student in some way, shape, or form and is seen in the progression of Facebook pictures throughout the nation. Despite the vows we all take during our first weeks at college to go to the gym and our best intentions to eat right, the hectic and stressful schedule that a typical university student leads intervenes with our intentions to be healthy.

All-nighters somehow always end in a late-night trip to Taco Bell for an energizing fourth meal and leave us too exhausted to even think about hopping onto an elliptical in the morning. Unfortunately, being fit does require dedication, commitment and some preparation, but is well worth the half an hour to an hour of sweating each day for the results. Also, getting in shape doesn’t mean you can’t have fun while staying healthy!

Photography: Andy Newson To get started, take a look at your class schedule A suggested 30-minutes of cardio each day will keep the Frehsmanand find blocks of time in which you’ll have time to 15 away. get to the gym. It is suggested that you get at least 30 minutes of cardio each day. So, if you have late can be found at Kennesaw.edu/student_life/intramurals. morning classes, try to wake up two hours before class to fit in a short half-hour workout to get your If you would like to get away from campus or you live endorphins going for the day. And if you have some off-campus, try to find the closest gym to your house and time after your afternoon classes, it would be a great get a membership there. Also, look up the schedule of opportunity to get group exercise classes your blood pumpavailable each week ing after a long day to allow yourself All-nighters somehow always end of lectures. For to correspond your your convenience, schedule to the offered the Kennesaw State in a late-night trip to Taco Bell. programs. In addition, University Health and ask if they offer a free Wellness Center offers health assessment to classes for any schedule. From yoga to step aerobics see what your fitness level is and maybe you’ll get some to pilates, the Wellness Center offers group exercise motivation to be able to do more pull ups. If you’re feelsessions from 11am to 8pm Monday through Friday. ing really inspired, you can get a personal trainer even if it If you are into less of a structured atmosphere, you is just for one session to become more like the Governator can join one of the many intramural teams offered at and less of a girlie-man.- Stephanie Wright Kennesaw including frisbee, soccer, and flag football. All of the schedules for classes and intramurals

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Advice

Stress, Loss & All of the

Good Stuff in Between Talon Magazine 17

- By Kathryn Brower

Advice

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here are a few things I know well.

I know how to save through college, be it saving your cash or saving your sanity. I know how to make the perfect grilled cheese - a course that is easy to depend on when you first move away from mama’s oh-so-missed home-cooked meals.

I know how to stay active when you’re forced away from your normal life’s schedule. I know these things, but of them all, one thing towers above. It towers not only in my know-how, but in importance: I know loss and stress. And I know how to deal with them.

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my home town. My grilled cheeses burned more often than not, for lack of managing to pay attention.

My activity level went from 10 to 0, and the most exercise I got was dragging me from my bed to my bathroom. Not to mention, my grades, regularly all A’s, dropped quickly when half of my professors were more than apathetic to my situation.

Losing isn’t easy. Think about the last time you lost your keys - your world was turned upside down, wasn’t it? Be it your keys, your cell phone, a simple game of cards, or your parent. Losing is inevitable, and quite frankly, it sucks. All you can do is know how to deal, so let’s work on that and pray against the odds.

best friend, your mother, your father. Call someone. Get a sense of familiarity. End the conversation with “I love you,” and you’ll be amazed at how monumentally better you will feel.

-Make a list. Go through all of your syllabi, and list the projects/ papers/tests due for the next month.

Determine priority.

-Take a weekend off and visit home.

-Push your frustration into the pavement. Go for a run, go

for a walk, knock the snot out of a tennis ball, or go to a kickboxing class.

-Oh yeah, and breathe.

}

For the first eighteen years of You can do all of these my life, I waited for phone calls things - they are healthy and they and family meetings, just plain feel all involving when my good. But do you father would pass away. want to know a I waited for doctors to little secret? RealIt is amazing how something so rub there tiring foreheads izing that time planned for can rock your world and say, “We believe keeps on ticking we’ve done all we can, even when a bad just the same as a plane crash... and it’s possible he has 6 day seems nevermonths” or “2 months” ending is key in or “12 hours.” My stress-relief and coping with hard father was diagnosed with cancer You will get stressed your times. The ever-faithful quote, the week I was born, and when it freshman year. That stress very “This too shall pass” is essential in came to him, the idea of loss was well may come from loss, or it getting through your first imposall I was sure of. When he passed could come from the overload of sible exam, a group project that is during midterms of freshman year, work you are bound to acquire. making you pull your hair out, or I knew the day had come that I un- That same stressful feeling will family and friend issues on top of fortunately awaited my entire life. come back and knock you upside everything else. the head repeatedly for the rest of

It is amazing how something your life. There are a number of You’re going to make it so planned for can rock your things you can do to appease that through this year, girls and boys. world just the same as a sudden unwanted feeling. I’ll give you the Keep those fresh heads up high, plane crash. I was shaken, I was obvious, “mom’s lessons” version and know that the good will alstirred - and everything I was so first. ways, always outweigh the bad. sure of was flipped upside down.

My sanity I was so good at saving -Kathryn Brower was thrown out of my car window -Call a pal. Call your boyfriend/ somewhere between Kennesaw and girlfriend, your sister/brother, your

Talon Magazine 18

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