Adulting - Fall 2022

ADULTING

Be proactive with your self-care. If you’re a young woman, it’s time to establish a relationship with a gynecologist. Women’s Health Specialists offers comprehensive care in a convenient, confidential setting located close to campus.

Be proactive with your self-care.

Proactive self-care is an essential part of becoming an adult, and if you’re a young woman, that means it’s time to establish a relationship with a gynecologist who can help manage your care through all of life’s stages. Med Center Health’s Women’s Health Specialists offers comprehensive care for women. From vaccines and contraception, to testing and pregnancy care, our downtown office located close to campus offers a convenient, confidential setting with caring professionals.

Learn more at medcenterhealth.org/women

Student Guide: Writing A Professional Email

Story by Emma Dock | Illustrations by Abby Neltner

Let’s be honest, college can be hard. There is plenty of work for students to complete and more often than not, they are going to have questions for their professors. However, students shouldn’t just shoot a casual message to their professors in the middle of the night and hope they answer. Professional writing is a valuable skill in and out of the education system. Adults should know how to email professionally, especially in the workplace. The real question is, how do you write a professional email?

The first place to start is the subject line. This establishes what the email is about and what the recipient should expect before reading.

Tamara Strom, a professor in the Gordon Ford College of Business at WKU said that subject lines should be short and specific.

“The subject line is often the only thing that will determine if the receiver will open your email,” Strom said. “The subject line provides the purpose of the email.”

Next is the greeting of the email. Greeting a recipient is a sign of professionalism. An email should always have a greeting to avoid

sounding rude or unprofessional.

Adrianne Browning is a professional development specialist and career coach in the business college.

“Always begin with a friendly greeting. Be sure to start your email with: Ms. last name, I hope this email finds you well, good morning, or good afternoon,” Browning said.

Browning also said to never address the person by his/her first name.

“Address the person by Mr., Ms., Dr., or Professor plus their last name in the greeting,” Browning said. Next is the body of the email. The body is especially important because the reason for sending the message has been said in the subject line. The body is more descriptive and gets to the purpose of the email.

Aquesha Daniels, director of inclusion and impact and associate professor in the business college, provided some feedback on how to best write the body of an email.

“Your body should be structured,” Daniels said. “It could be structured first point, second point, third point, or it could simply

be structured from what is most important to what is least important.”

Daniels also said to avoid abbreviations. Some people might not understand what an abbreviation means and can become confused if there is one in the email. Always try to avoid causing confusion at all costs.

Finally, close an email with a sign-off: sincerely, best, etc. Remember to include a professional signature at the end of the email. Mariah Yates, director of advancing workplace culture and assistant professor in the business college, gave some context on the professional signature.

“Include a professional signature in your closing. This gives your recipient context as to what organization you represent, your title or position, and what the best contact info is for you,” Yates said.

This skill will be extremely helpful in the future with professors and future employers. Now that you know everything necessary to write a professional email, it’s time to get to writing!

Subject: What i miss?

SEND

Sup Professor,

I didn’t show up to class today and i gotta know what i missed for the next class. Help me out?

Thanks man John Doe

Professional Email

Subject: Class Absence

Hello Professor Jones,

I will not be able to attend class today because of an illness. I will look over the slides on Blackboard, but I was wondering if there is anything else I should know to catch up before next class?

Thank you for your time, John Doe

Unprofessional Email x SEND

Bang for Your Buck: Party Edition

Photo by Nicole Johnson

College students have the ultimate task of navigating a strict budget. Just because you’re on a low budget, it doesn’t mean you have to bring a boring dish to the party. There are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to cheap, shareable dishes, such as buttered popcorn or homemade pizza.

Bowling Green: 398 Lovers Lane, Bowling Green, KY. 42103 2305 Gary Farms, Bowling Green, KY. 42104 661 Dishman Lane, Bowling Green, KY. 42104

Franklin: 317 N Main St, Franklin, KY. 42134 903 S Main St, Franklin, KY. 42134

A GUIDE TO FLYING ALONE

The idea of flying alone can be terrifying to anyone, let alone to people who have never flown alone before.

Some of you may be thinking, “I’ve flown before; I don’t need this; I can fly by myself.” Well be honest, when you flew, did your parents handle everything? If they did and you have no idea how to fly alone, then this guide is for you!

Once the flight is booked and everything is packed, it is time to head to the airport. Many fliers have different opinions on when to arrive before their flight. Airports commonly advise that passengers should arrive two hours before their flight for multiple reasons, such as long lines in TSA, flight changes or early boarding times.

Madeline Jansen, a WKU alumna, recommends arriving at the airport with plenty of time to deal with the uncertainty of the Transportation Security Administration.

“My dad works for an airline, and the recommended time for busy airports is two hours minimum in case TSA lines are long or additional screening is needed,” Jansen said.

After arriving at the airport, what’s the next step? No, it is not to go and get Starbucks. It’s the dreaded TSA line!

The first thing needed is a valid ID, (a drivers license, passport, or a new type of driver’s license called a Real ID is acceptable), and boarding pass. The TSA workers have to match the correct identification to the person going through the line.

Protect your valuables by keeping your personal items on you at all times while navigating through the airport.

Allie Batson, a junior from Hendersonville, Tennessee, recommends paying for TSA PreCheck.

“If you have TSA PreCheck, you just have to walk through a security device; if not, you have to remove electronics from bags and remove your shoes,” Batson said. “Overall, TSA PreCheck makes security much faster.”

If you choose not to Precheck, just follow the rules: Liquids under 3.4 ounces must be placed in a travel bag, listen to the instructions the TSA workers give, and remove shoes when walking into a metal detector.

TSA also has an online guide that people can go to for what is and isn’t allowed in carry-on and checked luggage.

Alright, TSA is done. Now it’s time to look at that boarding pass and find the correct gate.

Get through the TSA line without any hassles by opting for travel-sized toiletries. In order to stay healthy while traveling, keep a mask and mini hand sanitizer in your bag for convenience.

There are plenty of unspoken rules that should be followed at the airport. Avari Stamps, a WKU alumna from

Bowling

Story by Emma Dock and Alyssa Butler | Photos by Garrett Woodrum

Green, shares her dos and don’ts that should be followed.

“Don’t leave your bags unattended, even in the bathroom,” Stamps said. “Do be aware of your surroundings. Do keep a digital copy of your boarding pass in case you lose your paper boarding pass.”

Well, we are almost done! Before starting to skip down to the airport, Adam Alsup, a flight instructor for Flywell Aviation, has left some final tips for people who have never flown alone before.

“You should know how to follow signs in the airport. If you are flying internationally, keep some form of translator on you so you can read signs,” Alsup said.

Alsup shared some other useful tips, for instance, bringing a USB charger and block along with headphones with a 3mm jack.

“You should also take chewing gum on the plane with you,” Aslup said. “Chewing it helps relieve the pressure build-up in your ears.”

Well, there you go, everything you need to know about flying alone! Flying alone can be scary, but just remember to be safe and have fun!

Keep your personal items organized in a backpack for a more comfortable and practical flying experience. Fill it with items that help pass the time, such as headphones or books and a comfort item, such as a neck pillow.

Plan for your flight ahead of time and keep all necessary documents, such as a passport and plane ticket, organized to make the day go smoother.

How to Use Dark Humor

Quiz

by Haden Moore

Dark humor has skyrocketed in recent years, but it is becoming harder to know when it is appropriate and when it is not. Take this short quiz to find out if you should use dark humor.

Start Here

Do

Use caution, but you should be OK to use dark humor here. It is best if you go easy as the best jokes are used as a coping mechanism from past trauma. As long as you can read the room and be careful, you will be OK.

You don’t have anything to worry about. As long as you stay within the limitations of your group, you have nothing to fear. This is the best opportunity to use dark humor. There is also little chance of a joke not landing. Go have your dark fun.

This is a bad situation for using dark humor. If you are in a situation where you know someone is going to get hurt or offended, it is a no-brainer to just not use dark humor. Using dark humor is the worst thing you or anyone could do in this situation.

At the end of the day, you have to look out for yourself. You never know who might be listening, so it is important to always be mindful of that. You might be left with unintended consequences if the wrong person hears, so it is best

not use dark humor.

Is the subject something you have been through?

Do you know those around you well?

Is the situation formal? Could someone turn around and use it against you?

Are they the kind of person to use it against you?

Are you insulting someone with your joke?

you know the group’s limits?

to

Preparing for Grad School

College seniors prepare for graduation in numerous ways, and for some that means preparing for graduate school. The transition to graduate school can be difficult, but there are many ways to make it smoother, such as collecting recommendation letters and incorporating experiences on your resume that stand out amongst other applicants.

Kathleen Montgomery, interim director and associate professor in the University of Kentucky’s Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce, said that when entering graduate school, students must be prepared to dedicate a large amount of time.

“Enrolling into a graduate program is the same as working a 40–50-hour week job,” Montgomery said.

While entering graduate school is a major transition, faculty and staff at UK support their students so they don’t go through it alone.

Gregory Hall, an associate professor in the Patterson School, said that the cohort style of classes helps to build relationships with not only faculty and staff, but with colleagues as well.

“The cohort is relatively small, about 30-40 students, and you can expect many opportunities to get to know your colleagues,” Hall said.

Hall said the Patterson School also

utilizes co-curricular activities that give opportunities to engage professionals from all walks of life, as well as the opportunity to travel.

“We took a trip to D.C recently and visited consulates,” Hall said.

Those experiences can also help students build relationships with faculty, which can lead to strong reference letters, something Montgomery stressed as an important part of the application process.

Montgomery said that reference letters will prioritize how a student works efficiently and push applicants ahead of their peers.

Robert Farley, a senior lecturer in the Patterson School, said they look for students who have taken a variety of classes in their undergraduate career.

“Certainly we’re looking at people who have some grounding in the basic skills, so they would have taken some international classes and seem to exhibit some interest in international affairs,” Farley said. “It’s a very multifaceted orientation.”

Farley said the Patterson School seeks to bridge the gap between policy and academics, and they look for undergraduate students who have experiences outside of the academic world.

“We look for people who have done extracurriculars that have been participatory

and have been leaders of organizations,” Farley said. “Generally speaking, we look for students who probably have an orientation towards public service.”

Hall said the Patterson School is a threesemester master’s program, which moves faster than a typical four-semester program, and he recommends using the summer before starting a graduate program for advanced preparation.

In preparation for the Patterson School, there is a summer reading list of eight major readings, a mix of academic readings and books that will help tie together international affairs in practice, Hall said.

“Patterson students want to go out and affect the real world, so we give them tools they need and help them find a job,” Farley said.

While graduate school may be intimidating, students shouldn’t let the higher standards of graduate school keep them from pursuing the education they want. As an undergraduate, taking advantage of opportunities to get experience, establish references and build a strong academic record will put students in a position for success before even applying.

For more information about the Patterson School and the application process, please visit https://www.uky.edu/pattersonschool/ admissions/applying.

Members of the University of Kentucky Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce Fall 2022 cohort pose for a group photo. According to the Patterson School’s mission statement, they are preparing “future leaders for rewarding careers in international affairs.”

Dressing Business Casual

Photos by DaShaun Van Cleave

There’s a common phrase that says, “dress for success,” but what does that really mean? Even if a place of employment implements a dress code, you still can customize your wardrobe to reflect your personality! Three current and former WKU students show off their personal style while maintaining the business casual look.

Solomon Humphrey

Humphrey, a senior from Louisville, dresses up in business casual or business professional attire every Thursday for his fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated. He has on a fitted black suit from Macy’s with a black shirt and tie to complete his look.

Mildred LeJeune

LeJeune, a junior from Atlanta, dresses up on the first Thursday of every month in a custom made cardigan and polo with her student organization “Why Knot Us Too” logo patched on the left side of her attire.

Kiria Braden

Braden, a WKU alumna from Nashville, is a student support specialist for the Intercultural Student Engagement Center at WKU. Her job requires her to dress in business casual attire every day. She has on a white blouse, black slacks, black earrings and tan flats. She got her entire outfit from Shein, an online store.

How to Change a Tire in 10 Steps

Illustrations by Lexi Ocampo

Pull over to a safe location 1

Park your car on a level surface as far into the shoulder as possible. Apply the parking brake and turn on your hazard blinkers.

Gather items you’ll need 2

You will need a spare tire, a jack and a wrench. Other useful items are safety triangles, a flashlight and the owner’s manual.

3 Use a wrench to loosen the lug nuts

Secure the wrench onto each lug nut, and then turn them counterclockwise to loosen them.

4 Remove the flat tire’s hubcap

A hubcap is a cover that covers lug nuts. If your car has one, pry it off.

Use the jack to lift your vehicle 5

Once properly placed under the metal part of your vehicle’s frame, use the jack to raise the tire off the ground.

Remove the lug nuts and slide the flat tire off 6

7

After the lug nuts are all removed, securely grip your tire and slide it off your car. Slide the spare tire onto your car

Line up the holes in the spare with the lug nut posts and push the spare as far onto the wheelbase as possible.

Place the lug nuts back on 8

Start replacing the lug nuts, but avoid tightening them all the way. Tighten your lug nuts in a way that keeps the tire even.

9

Lower your vehicle and tighten the lug nuts

Once the lug nuts feel equally tight, lower your vehicle to the ground.

All done! 10

Finish up by putting your old tire in the trunk and cleaning up any tools you used.