Niner Times: April 23, 2019 by Niner Times

APRIL 23, 2019 NINERTIMES.COM

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Jeffrey Kopp

editor@ninertimes.com EDITORIAL

Alexandria Sands COMMUNITY EDITOR Megan Bird NEWS EDITOR Sam Palian SPORTS EDITOR Elissa Miller A&E EDITOR Hailey Turpin LIFESTYLE EDITOR Madison Dobrzenski OPINION EDITOR Emily Hickey COPY EDITOR Leysha Caraballo PHOTO COORDINATOR Pooja Pasupula PHOTO COORDINATOR Kathleen Cook VIDEO PRODUCER Natasha Morehouse LAYOUT EDITOR ASSISTANT EDITORS

Nikolai Mather, Noah Howell, Jonathan Limehouse, Brandon Mitchell, Kellyanna Atwell CONTRIBUTING STAFF

Mckayla Hernandez, Ice Young, Tyler Trudeau, COVER PHOTO

Chris Crews

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SPORTS •

A&E

Charlotte dominates FIU to complete doubleheader sweep Bulldogs beat the 49ers 11-4

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A Spanish duo: academics and athletics

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Charlotte gets back into winning form after back to back wins against Rice

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TV REVIEW: ʻGame of Thronesʼ – ʻWinterfellʼ

MEDIA MARKETING MARKETING DIRECTOR

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Fred Brown

James Bourke

mktdirector@uncc.edu

production@uncc.edu

MARKETING STAFF

Kayla Christian, Eddy Falls, Lillian Taylor, Abigail Guadarrama

OPINION

49ers cold start ends game early against Owls

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VIDEO •

CPCC Pairs With Percussion Ensemble to Present “Les Noces”

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Niner News 4/15

Are we ready for the “real world?” LOCATED IN THE LOWER LEVEL OF THE STUDENT UNION

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INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION 2019 UNC Charlotte’s Office of Global Affairs hosted the 14th Annual International Women’s Day

by Mckayla Hernandez Photo by Intern Chris Crews

UNC Charlotte’s Office of Global Affairs hosted the 14th Annual International Women’s Day Celebration on March 28. This year’s celebration was graced by 41 honorees, 21 students and 20 faculty members. Ambassador H.E. Audrey Marks of Jamaica, who is the first female Ambassador of Jamaica and the first Ambassador to serve two nonconsecutive terms, delivered a speech offering her wisdom to the women of UNC Charlotte. The first IWD in United States History occurred in 1911 to encourage change and celebrate the achievements of women; it is now celebrated annually on March 8. It was later brought to campus by Denise Medeiros, Associate Director of the International Student and Scholar Office, in 2005. This year’s theme was “balance for better” which pushes for gender equity worldwide and within our own community. Each guest was greeted with a bunch of white, yellow or purple flowers. Upon entry, the strings of the guitarists could be heard in the sunny room of the Student Union. Even the Ambassador took a moment to acknowledge the “Jamaican sunshine and Jamaican temperatures” during the introduction of her speech just before recognizing the honorees present. Honorees were presented with a certificate for their qualities and achievements. One honoree, Susana Cisneros, has been teaching in the Department of Languages and Culture Studies since 2008. Cisneros said it was very humbling to be honored amongst such likeminded women. When asked about her feelings on the celebration she said, “I loved it. It’s just so powerful to see how the energy of everybody kind of like goes up.” In order to be considered as an honoree, women

were first nominated by someone else. Ambassador Marks grasped the attention of each attendee as she spoke on the importance of having a balance, taking calculated risks and never giving up. She challenged the audience to “think equal, build smart and innovate for change” and encouraged more women to participate in the economy. Marks has founded six businesses, including Paymaster (Jamaica) Limited, which she said is her most fulfilling accomplishment thus far. Ambassador Marks feels that the company was “in so many ways ahead of its time” as she started the concept in 1994 before the Internet was even commercialized yet. The advice she gave for the young businesswomen present was to utilize their “intellectual capital” as she explained it’s the biggest asset of the non-wealthy. One of the biggest obstacles during her rise to success was a lack of funding and start-up capital, but she was able to overcome by using her intelligence and natural entrepreneurial gift. The Ambassador wears many hats as she is also the mother of two daughters. She said that discipline is

something she tries to instill in them. “If you have an appreciation of being disciplined in the way you do things, it helps you in all aspects of your life. For example, you want to sleep late but you know that you have to get up at a certain time, and giving excuses is not enough…you just really must be disciplined to get up on time.” said Marks. She is also aware of the bigger role she plays in Jamaica and internationally as a strong female figure. The Ambassador believes the best way she can help young women is to be a good example. She also enjoys mentoring young women and entrepreneurs because she knows the first 3-7 years of one’s career may be difficult. Her business style was self-defined as more of a “build and sell” than a “sell and stay” — an example she used of a “build and stay” entrepreneur is Bill Gates. She accredits the influence of her path as an entrepreneur to her mother, who opened a restaurant along with her father when Marks was a child. When she is finished with her Ambassadorial role, she plans to continue business and would like to be more of a chairman

NEWS than an operator. For now, she is enjoying the pleasure of serving her country. In many ways, this year’s celebration differed from those of the past. Dr. Joe Hoff, Director for the Office of Global Education and Engagement, coordinated this year’s event. “So this year we changed the criteria a little bit, focusing more on gender equity and gender balance within an international context…as well as supporting internationalism. I think that will probably happen more and more in the future so that there will be a focus on this idea of gender equity,” said Dr. Hoff. He explained that past IWD events focused more so on just creating a community for the women on campus. He hopes the women who attended the event came away more hopeful and with a greater sense of community since diversity was also celebrated. The UNCC Charlotteans, directed by Ginger Wyrick, performed two songs as they illustrated the beauty of our campus’ diversity. The women’s ensemble represented various cultures as many members wore the traditional attire of their respective cultures. A reception with tables of food was available to attendees after the celebration. All who attended the celebration had something meaningful to take away, whether it be a great experience or entrepreneurial advice. However, one lucky guest went home with one week’s free stay in Jamaica on the beach! After Ambassador Marks had discussed the various locations and beauties of Jamaica, she quizzed the audience and offered one week’s stay to whoever knew the answer. This was yet another way the Ambassador managed to amaze the audience with her intelligence and generosity.

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APR. 23, 2019

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NEW UNIVERSITY RECREATION CENTER

The effects of the University Recreation Center on campus by Brandon Mitchell Assistant News Editor

Photo via urec.uncc.edu

Every time UNC Charlotte undergoes a large construction project, students have two main questions, “Why do we need this?” and “How much will this cost me?” This has shown to be true in regard to the $66 million University Recreation Center located next to the Popp Martin Student Union. With over 100,000-square-feet, Belk Gym is the University’s main area for fitness. The area boasts “3 multipurpose hardwood basketball and volleyball courts, 2 badminton courts, table tennis, a 5,000 sq. ft. fitness center, dedicated locker rooms and a 25 yd. x 25-meter pool.” Alternatively, the Student Activity Center also provides students with another 5,000 square feet of dedicated cardio and weight focused fitness space. This may seem impressive at first glance, but it fails to suit the needs of the student body. Both fitness centers can only comfortably hold 80 people, which means that it would be overfilled if a mere .2% of UNC Charlotte’s 29,000 students decided to work out at the same time. To put those percentages into perspective, UNC Greensboro has the Leonard J. Kaplan Center for Wellness, a 216,000-square-foot gym with a 23,000-square-feet dedicated fitness center. UNC Greensboro only has around 16,000 students, yet its gyms double UNC Charlotte’s in size. UNC Wilmington has a fitness center that

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includes 114 cardio pieces of cardio equipment and over 10,000-squarefeet of weight training space for a student body of less than 15,000. Both universities have smaller student populations yet have more space dedicated to fitness. Although the construction of the University Recreation Center will be paid for through money saved due to the “to the retirement of the Barnhardt Student Activity Center debt fee and the pending reduction of the Student Union debt fee,” students should still expect a slight rise in their university fess over the next few years. By the year 2021, each student will pay an extra $50 a year in fees to cover the operating costs of the new facilities. The University Recreation Center will be over 148,000-square-feet in size which will more than double UNC Charlotte’s space dedicated to fitness. It will include one indoor and one outdoor heated pool, an elevated indoor running track, four multipurpose courts and several rooms dedicated to cardio and strength training equipment. The recreation center will also include five multipurpose studios which will hold over eighty fitness classes per week. Set to open in the fall of 2019, the University Recreation Center will help alleviate gym traffic and offer new amenities to UNC Charlotte Students.

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WHAT COMES FIRST, OPINION THE STUDENT OR THE ATHLETE? by Ice Young Intern

Photo by Chris Crews

If you thought being a student was hard, try being a student-athlete. Not only do they have to juggle the workload of an academic scholar, but they also have to hold the weight of trying to become the next champion. Studentathletes face challenges that make it difficult to balance the weight of being both a student and an athlete. In the life of a student-athlete there is not enough emphasis on what it fully means to be a student. There is hardly any time for extra organizations or internships that can provide a student with the experience that they need for their future. This lack of opportunity makes me question what is more important, being the student or being the athlete? Being a student goes far beyond sitting in a classroom and asking questions. To be a student you have to be active in things outside of the classroom because it’s those opportunities that can help prepare for the future. Dealing with a heavy schedule can make it difficult for a student-athlete to find time for activities that are outside of their predominant sport. In college we have the opportunity to get involved and learn ways to better our skills for our careers. Being a student-athlete helps a lot when it comes to time management and leadership. However, it can’t help much if you want to be a nurse or a lawyer. In my experience as a student-athlete I was always caught up in practices, team meetings, classes, study halls and track meets. I was busy and enjoyed every moment of it but sometimes I felt like I missed out on a lot of opportunities that I wanted outside of my sport. I knew that I was a student first but the athlete in me seemed to always take up my time. I ran track because it got me into school, it gave me a chance to get the education that I need, and I know that this is the case for most student-athletes. We use these sports as a gateway for opportunity because it isn’t easy getting into college. However, it becomes unfair when we can’t use all the tools that are provided. Luckily for me, I had a coach who made it his duty to help his athletes; he helped me discover what it was I wanted to do as a career once I knew it was time for me to make a choice. In an interview with football player Christian Haynes, Haynes said “As student-athletes, we are not getting as much experience as other students but being an athlete alone can help. I want to learn how to shape my communication skills so that I can be on top of my game.” Haynes is a senior with a communication major and hopes to work in sports commentary after he graduates. Being involved in a popular sport definitely puts Haynes ahead,

but it’s the lack of experience he is missing. Haynes said being an athlete teaches leadership, time management and looks good on a resume but even then, specific skills are needed for certain careers. When your scholarship is on the line, that pressure can become overwhelming. The pressure that comes with being a student-athlete begins to create a crossroad of what is more important. These scholarships motivate students to work harder, which can also lead to stress that pulls them away from some priorities. The coaches tell you that you are a student first. A coach is more than a person who tells you how to fix your form, they also try to tell you how to fix your life. My former coach helped me realize what it is I truly wanted with my future. Not only did he help me with my career, but he helped me grow as a person. It’s those connections that a coach should build with their team that can help them all succeed. When a coach understands their players, they learn how to lead them in a way that helps them work together, making them a stronger team not by weight but by the bonds they create. My former coach made it his priority to bring the team as close as a family and making sure each one of us was on top of our game. Creating mandatory study hall sessions are great but coaches still need to go beyond the classroom. Coaches should place an importance on helping an athlete succeed on the field and off, thus building what it means to be a student-athlete Student-athletes are trying to keep up their grades, become the next champion and even have a social life as well as trying to figure out their place in this world. Coaches and athletes are fully aware of what is defined as important and they work together to get the job done. Student-athletes miss out on the things that other students have the chance to do, but even with the lack of opportunity they still learn skills that can help them in the future. So, maybe it’s not a question of what comes first, the student or the athlete, but an understanding that the athletic experience can sometimes deter studentathletes from getting that extra academic experience.

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A&E by Tyler Trudeau Staff Writer

Photo by Maggie Monahan

Widely considered filmmaker Quentin Tarantino’s magnum opus, the 1994 film “Pulp Fiction,” has since become a staple of postmodern crime cinema. Its unconventional story structure allowing it to explore the various perspectives of a motley collection of morally-ambiguous characters, “Pulp Fiction” blended the shock and awe of its director’s signature approach to graphic violence with an almost Shakespearean journey through life, death, redemption and fate. It’s really no surprise that there exists now an adaptation of Tarantino’s masterpiece in the vein of that very same 16th century poet and dramatist. Dubbed “Bard Fiction,” the ambitious theater adaptation fell between the ranks of either being a fascinating dissection of the 1994 classic it was based on or merely a self-referential oddity on the borderline between parody and pastiche. Still managing to hone the ironic chemistry between the film’s ultra-violence and punchy humor, “Bard Fiction” was a unique pleasure. Known for not only its ever-changing timeline but its considerable devotion to lengthy monologues and casual conversations inserted into the main story as well, “Pulp Fiction” seemed almost destined to evoke the works of William Shakespeare. With the narratives of both Tarantino and Shakespeare’s work often sprawling from their centerpieces into fairly compelling side stories, these adjacent subjects usually work to clue the audience into the bigger picture through the perspectives of multiple characters. Almost always colliding with the main characters and their journey by the end of the story, the secondary narratives prove to be integral to what ultimately unfolds by the story’s conclusion. One of Tarantino’s most notable stories of this type lies, of course, in “Pulp Fiction,” which sees the disparate paths of a duo of hitmen, a washed-up boxer, an aspiring actress and a ruthless crime boss all converge in a hardboiled crime drama. The shifting storylines of “Pulp Fiction” and the even more unstable characters of its seedy crime world provided the ideal groundwork for writers Aaron Greer, Ben Tallen and Brian Watson-Jones to bring the action to the live stage. As “Bard Fiction”

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BARD F

Shakespeare Carolina sends Quentin Taran arrived in Charlotte this month under the direction of James R. Cartee, the Duke Energy Theater quickly became the breeding ground of one of the most unusual shows I’ve ever experienced. From its distinctly minimal set design to its offkilter crew of Lords and Ladies, “Bard Fiction” ignited with an uneasy anticipation. While I was eager to once again leap into the compelling and quick-witted realm of Tarantino’s opus, its turn as a Shakespearean epic threatened to push its convoluted anthology past the point of casual comprehension. As the adaptation began, it was almost instantly held together by the phenomenal lead performances of actors Tom Ollis and Kel Williams. With Ollis being no stranger to Tarantino’s work as he conjured Michael Madsen’s Vic Vega in Citizens of the Universe’s 2009 adaptation of “Reservoir Dogs,” he effortlessly stepped into the shoes of hitman Vincent Vega (known as Vincenzio de la Vega in the play). Alongside young Charlotte actress Kel Williams as Jules Winnfield (Julius Win-field), the iconic roles once played by John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson took new form

in the charming stage duo. Just as Ollis spat out Shakespeare like a peculiar second language, so did Williams as the two kicked off the vengeful journey ahead. With Jules’ impassioned and iconic Bible verse still echoed across the theater, even after the two suited

FICTION

ntino’s masterpiece to Shakespearean London

mercenaries enacted their bitter comeuppance on a pack of double-crossers, the tongue-twisted theatrics of Shakespeare continued as the stage reset for the next scene. While it was somewhat played off as the purposeful chaos of theater, the redressing of the stage between a number of scenes often came off

as a bit disorganized. As the entrance of makeshift horse carriages collided with armies of disoriented extras, the play held a few moments of awkward pause which somewhat dampered what was meant to be a cut-throat and quickwitted drama. While its stage direction might’ve needed tidying, the production’s setting at the Duke Energy Theater was not without its unique theatrical benefits to the play. As the opening scene with Vincent and Jules saw Ollis and Williams waltzing up the stairs of the auditorium, climbing their way to the balcony just above centerstage, it offered some excitement and allure to the secreted conversations between the two gangsters. As they talked of malintentions for their enemies and infatuations with the rubbing of feet, they strolled between the shadows of the spotlight, just above the eyesight of an unexpecting audience. Ultimately playing their part in other scenes of the play, including numerous that found Elisha Bryant’s seductive Mia Wallace (Lady Mia of Wallace) glaring deviously at the events unfolding below, the stage and balcony offered an intriguingly cinematic quality to the stage production.

The weary Shakespearean vernacular hindered only a handful of scenes, ones often too long or convoluted to leave the audience anything meaningful to chew on. Others, however, evoked a viable, comedic turn to the pulpy tragedy unfolding on stage. While the occasional gun duels of the film became eccentric, at times hammy, mumblings of “where art thou’s” and “to be or not to be’s” between characters dressed in a mix of disheveled peasant garb and modern footwear, the casual conversations and pivotal monologues of the story rolled from the tongue like spirited satire. Even when the Bard’s linguistics were suddenly interjected by the occasional modern-day profanity, most notably from Jonathan Caldwell’s vile gangster Lord Marcellus Wallace, it played off as natural and applied a poignant and hilarious layer to the adapted narrative. Overall, where “Bard Fiction” might have lacked in the gutsy cinematic bloodshed of Quentin Tarantino’s classic, it made up for with a gleeful homage to the tragedy and redemption at the heart of the story. Paging through the most iconic scenes of the 1994 film, all while injecting them into an Elizabethan London underworld, the production balanced sharp parody with a deep respect for both the filmmaker and the poet’s works. Whether you are a long-time fan of either Tarantino or Shakespeare or you’re simply in search of something completely outside the box, “Bard Fiction” may be the one for thee.

DATE: APRI L 25- 27 TI M E: 7:30 AN D 8:00 P.M. COST: $20 LOCATION: DU KE E N E RGY TH EATE R AT SPI RIT SQUARE NINERTIMES.COM

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61 Pop-up annoyances 62 Mix

ACROSS 1 River-end formation 6 Sprinted 9 “Dancing Queen” group 13 Disney mermaid 14 “A Doll’s House” heroine 15 Snow remover 16 *Last bit of decoration 18 “Dirty Jobs” host Mike 19 Casual tops 20 Pressure cooker sound 21 New Zealand fruits 22 Standing tall 24 Off the leash 25 Sentence part 27 Ones gathering for a will reading 28 Kimono-clad entertainer 29 Droop 30 Little devils 33 Pony up 34 *Coastal wetland often

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exposed at low tide 37 Corrida cry 38 Moving like sloths 40 Spanish river 41 Heart-shaped photo holder 43 Suddenly became attentive 45 Beat the goalie 46 Rural storage buildings 47 Serta alternative 48 Church ringers 49 Gives a hand 50 Religious subdivision 54 Like many ESPN broadcasts 55 Amount of TV watching limited by parents, and a hint to the last word of the answers to starred clues 57 “__-doke!” 58 Harbor structure 59 Slugger Judge 60 Party pooper

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DOWN 1 Nutty 2 Only Great Lake that borders Pennsylvania 3 Ticket booth annoyance 4 Commercial lures 5 Every bit (of) 6 Awaken rudely 7 Fly ball trajectories 8 “Don’t think so” 9 Presupposed by experience 10 *Talks big 11 “Space Oddity” rocker David 12 Fills with wonder 14 “Hold the rocks” 17 Synonym-loaded reference 21 Zen garden fish 23 __ Emanuel, Obama’s first Chief of Staff 24 Attorney’s job 25 Gong sound 26 *Lone Ranger’s shout 27 “2001” computer 28 Rte.-finding aid 29 Bay Area airport letters 31 Implored 32 Good to go 35 Guacamole, e.g. 36 Jack or hammer 39 State fish of South Dakota 42 Seer’s __ ball 44 How-__: DIY guides 45 Meal at Passover 46 Fancy watch brand 47 Stable studs 48 Gooey mass 49 Etching fluid 51 County Kerry country 52 “Let’s do it!” 53 Take care of 55 Place for a massage 56 Arrest, as a perp

Charlotte sports aren’t over after finals Baseball, softball and track and ﬁeld is still underway after ﬁnals have ended by Jonathan Limehouse Assistant Sports Editor

For most, final exams will begin May 2 and end May 9. A lot of students tend to pack up and go home after they’ve wrapped up their finals, but why leave so soon? There’s a multitude of sporting events scheduled on campus that students can attend after finals. Charlotte’s baseball team will be playing the Charleston Southern Buccaneers Tuesday, May 14 at Hayes Stadium, and they’ll end the regular season at home by playing a three game series against Conference USA foes the UTSA Roadrunners starting Thursday, May 16 and ending Saturday, May 18. The team is currently 14-24-1, so the last remaining games could have a significant impact on their standing in the Conference USA Tournament, which starts on May 22 at MGM Park in Biloxi, Mississippi. The same can be said for Charlotte’s softball team who’ll finish their regular season on Sunday, May 5 at home to end a three game series against the UAB Blazers. The team is currently 14-30, so that last series will be pivotal as it’s against a Conference USA adversary. Yes, the team is playing during finals week, but some students finish their exams earlier than others. For those students that do finish their exams earlier than usual, why not run over to Sue M.Daughtridge Stadium to see the 49ers compete in their final series of the regular season. Charlotte’s track and field athletes will be participating in the Conference USA Outdoor Championships Thursday, May 9 through Sunday, May 12 at the Irwin Belk Track Com-

SPORTS

Photos by Chris Crews

plex. The track and field team will’ve just returned from the Virginia Grand Prix in Charlottesville, Virginia so I can guarantee they’ll be amped to compete at home. This would be the team’s third event at home, the other events were the Charlotte Invitational and the 49er Classic. Student athletes and managers don’t get to go home after finals because there are usually games still remaining on the team’s schedule. Attending their games is beneficial on both sides of the coin, because stu-

dents will be entertained and athletes feed off their support and energy. Entry into all sporting events are free for students, so it won’t cost a dime to attend after you’ve finished that rigorous Calculus final. Taking finals doesn’t mean that school is finished, completing finals provides more time to be on campus where you’ll be able to attend all the sporting events mentioned above. As finals approach, consider coming to a couple of games and enjoy your 49er athletes perform.

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Photos by Pixabay.com and Pexels.com

LIFESTYLE

15 things I learned in my four years of college

by Hailey Turpin Lifestyle Editor

As I come upon my 22nd birthday and graduation on May 11, I have realized that there are quite a few things that I learned during my four years at UNC Charlotte. Each and every thing was either learned in a classroom, in my own head (through months of therapy) or simple trial and error. Please read the following in hopes to get some sort of valuable information to make your years here at Charlotte better. 1. Plan everything accordingly. And when I mean everything, I mean everything you possibly can (because admit it, some things are out of your control). Yes, you can’t plan on immediately getting a job after college (or even anyone to hire you) because getting a job these days requires one to five years of experience at an entry level position. But to a degree, you should plan for your future so that you are not dependent on others. Plan to find jobs, a hobby, something you’re passionate about, but just plan something (so that you have something to look forward to).

2. Avoid all nighters. SLEEP IS NECESSARY FOR YOUR BODY TO FUNCTION. This is where planning can get involved. If you plan your work accordingly, you won’t need to drink three Red Bulls and make 12 cups of coffee. You’re making yourself stressed for no reason. 3. Wait until after syllabus week to buy books. Not all classes will require the textbook, and most professors tell you whether you need to get it. It will save you money because textbooks are not cheap! If you do have to get a textbook for a class, find smarter and more cost effective ways of getting the material. Sometimes by a stroke of luck you could find a PDF of it on the Internet or at a cheaper price (Chegg.com really saved me some dough). 4. Get involved. I have an unfortunate problem of not being able to say “no” to things. Therefore, you can catch me at any event around campus. These involvements have meant a great deal to me and without them I wouldn’t be who I am

today. Just do whatever you think you can handle because my two jobs, an internship and a sorority on top of a full class load is way too much for any person dealing with anxiety. 5. You’re going to spend money, so plan a budget. If you have a job, plan on an estimate of income each week/pay period and divvy up how much you will spend on food, rent, emergencies and good ol’ spending money. It gives you a good frame for when you have a career and will actually have the full bills and responsibilities of an adult. 6. It’s okay to ask for help. Whether it be in a class you’re struggling with or with an issue mentally or emotionally. If I didn’t get counseling for my anxiety, I don’t know where I would be. UNC Charlotte offers 12 free sessions with a licensed counselor on campus. FREE. 7. Learn how to cook and limit your fast food. I get it, we all get tired and lazy, but even

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if it’s one dish, do it. All of your money can’t be spent on fast food because it adds up very quickly. 8. Invest in items you want to last. My sophomore year, one friend at the time told me that I was a “spoiled brat” for spending $1,500 on my computer. I spent my high school graduation money on my Surface Pro and I knew that it would last me more than four years. I’m not spoiled, just thinking of the future. Even if it’s a nice coffee maker, a laptop, a car or a pair of shoes, if you know it will last you, would won’t end up buying a cheaper-made one several times. 9. Enjoy your time living on campus. I would give up a whole year of my degree to live on campus again, solely for the convenience of dining halls and access to other campus amenities. The dining halls were a huge lifesaver when it came to saving money because I didn’t have to buy that many groceries (or any for that matter). Also, going to study in the library is much easier if your walk to it is 10-15 minutes rather than a 10-15 minute drive.

Photo by Kathryn Hood at Kathryn Hood Photography

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10. Go to campus-wide events. At these events, I met some good friends, hung out with friends I already had and just had a good time. Especially if you live on campus, take advantage.

14. Check your email and Canvas. Some days you’ll get an email of classes being canceled and other times you’ll find an assignment that’s due in 12 hours that a professor didn’t mention in class. Just check it.

11. Don’t overwork yourself. Classes always come before a job or having fun. You’re in college to get a higher education, so make sure school is a top priority. There were some days over the past 2 years when I really regretted getting a second job because I was overworked and underpaid. Stick to school.

15. Don’t worry about what everyone else thinks. You’ll take off 15 years of your life by worrying if the person at Bojangles thought you were weird or not. If you let others run your life, you’re not living your life. Trust me, you lose all sense of yourself (what you like, dislike, who you hang out with, what music you listen to, etc.) when you let others run your life and thoughts. The saying is that college is the best four years of your life, and whoever said it was totally right. You grow as a person and a human and learn so many things about yourself. Each day you get up and decide that you want to plan for the future, look out for your body and mind and have fun every once in a while, you can hopefully take two steps toward your own happiness.

12. Try to eat healthy. Choose the frozen yogurt over the ice cream. Become a vegetarian. Choose plant-based products over dairy. If something is going on with your body (acne, stomach problems, headaches, etc.), it means the food your body is putting in is not letting it function correctly. 13. Be conscious of your grocery shopping. An easy way to find healthy food for cheap is to check places like Aldi, Trader Joe’s and Lidl. Aldi has great prices and a great produce section for a great price.