On Thursday May 5, 2011, the CAE undergraduate Content Tutors held the first ever Exam Jam at SJC. Catchy name, right? The idea was inspired by the silent dance parties held at Carleton College during exam week as a stress relief technique. To see what Carleton does, watch the video – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKhDmAAiE0E.

Exam week is definitely a stressful time because everyone wants to succeed, but it’s important not to get too overwhelmed and to take some time to have fun, even if it’s only for an hour. After watching the video from Carleton College, we decided to offer a similar program coupled with extra study tables for certain classes in order to both help relieve stress and offer extra help for students.

We started off the Exam Jam listening to some music (not while silently dancing…maybe next year?) and having some food (thank you, Student Affairs!). After some time was spent just hanging out, eating and listening to some quality music, students broke into study tables and one-on-one tutoring sessions for various classes. We had tutors present for help in CHEM170 (Organic/Inorganic Chemistry), CHEM240 (Biochemistry), MATH160 (Precalculus), ENGL216 (Major American Authors), PSYC220 (Child Development), ENGL 230 (Short Stories), ACCT205 (Managerial Accounting), HIST121 (The American Scene from 1865), and FIAR135 (History of Art II).

For the first time doing the event, we had a great turnout! About 30-35 students came to take advantage of the extra tutoring services (and the free food) offered right before the beginning of finals week. Students who came really seemed to enjoy the Exam Jam and appreciated both the short period of stress relieving and the extra study table.

Look out for the return of the Exam Jam next year!

  In between completing classes for one’s major and fulfilling general education   requirements, many students often have the opportunity to diligently study and research topics of their choosing.

 At first, the idea of embarking upon an independent study can be intimidating: you do not meet with a class of your peers each week, there are no exams and smaller papers to keep you on schedule, and you are pretty much in charge of your own success. To some extent, the skills that you learn through the independent study process are just as valuable as your final product…and being able to talk about completing your own research only bolsters your future grad school and employment applications.  

 Within the College’s honors program, one of the options available to students is completing an independent study under the tutelage of a faculty mentor.  Thus, for the majority of the fall semester, I worked on crafting my 26-page thesis on the Salem Witch Trials and the role of the young accusers in perpetuating this tragedy. 

As a professional procrastinator, I was slightly apprehensive about the whole independent study experience.  However, the thought of how much stress I would be under if I just let that paper sit on a back-burner until the end of the semester seemed to motivate me to get a head-start.

The other major concern that I had was selecting a topic. While it’s exciting to be able to study any topic imaginable, I wasn’t exactly sure which of my interests I wanted to pursue as I didn’t want to end up disliking the subject by the time finals rolled around. Originally, I believed that if I spent an entire semester looking into one event or phenomenon, I was going to never want to read another article or engage in a conversation on the subject. Surprisingly, although the memories that I have of sifting through primary source materials evoke some feelings of frustration, I still enjoy learning about the Salem Witch Trials – I even watched a pretty cool episode of Ghost Adventures about Salem just a few weeks ago.

Having dispelled many of my concerns about independent studies through my experience in the fall, I was more than willing to sign-up for a psychology independent study this spring. Currently, I’m in the process of designing my own study, which I am hoping to run next semester.

I would say that one of the most important skills that I have learned through this course is applying research design techniques to actual research. While students can demonstrate their comprehension of the advantages and disadvantages associated with various research techniques and the different tests for statistical significance on exams, actually applying these concepts to new research requires an even deeper level of critical thinking. In this case, an independent study is the perfect tool in helping to ensure understanding of previously-learned concepts.

If you ever have the chance to pursue the independent study, definitely take advantage of that opportunity during your undergraduate career.

Here are just a few tips to keep in mind:

• Select a topic that you are already interested in or a topic that you would like to learn more about. (You will be spending far too much time seeking out source materials and writing lengthy drafts to study something that you find dull and dreadful).
• Be flexible. You may need to tweak your original idea or your research may take you on a different path than the one you had originally intended – don’t worry, your paper or project will still be a masterpiece.
• Plan ahead! Take full advantage of the summer months or winter intersession to get ahead on your reading and note-taking.
• Create your own deadlines. Think of the independent study as any other class and give yourself a due date for your thesis, your rough draft and any other tasks.
• Don’t let procrastination get the better of you…stick to those deadlines.  Trust me on this one.
• Use your resources. Make sure you address questions with your faculty mentor or advisor and ask for help when you need it, rather than struggling alone.
• Also, don’t forget that the CAE is a great resource throughout the entire process.
• Have fun and share your research. Talk about your research with your friends, professors and other people. Not only will you become more comfortable discussing your work, but you may also discover new perspectives and opinions that you had not previously considered.

 Those of you reading this blog must think that fellow CAE tutors Melissa Lauretti, Ashley Briglia, Michelle DiPinto and I are always together and partaking in one adventure or another – from the Ethics Bowl to the founding of the Edgar Allen Poe Society and so on. Unsurprisingly, then, this post is all about another one of our escapades.

Last Friday, Ashley, Melissa and I ventured to Trinity College for a conference titled “Teaching Millennials in the New Millennium: A Conference on the Theory, Challenges and Opportunities of Teaching College-Age Students in the 21^st Century.” What a mouthful, right? The conference aimed to explore how generational differences affect college learning and what to do about it. Since we fall under the category of millennial students (being born between 1982 and 2000), this conference was extremely relevant to us and how we learn in a college setting.

 Scholars from Trinity and other colleges from around the country presented on different facets of the issue. The morning panel was devoted to defining the characteristics that describe the millennial generation.

 The seven characteristics typically associated with the millennial generation are:

• sheltered
• achieving
•  “special”
• conventional
• team-oriented
•  pressured
• narcissistic

 Those traits don’t exactly paint a nice picture of millennials! Personally, I could identify with some of the characteristics (pressured especially), but saw no concrete evidence that these “traits” could be applied to an entire generation of people or that the characteristics could be chalked up to more than just individual preferences. I found it difficult to label an entire generation of people by one word.

Many of the later presenters, notably the panel of Trinity students who spoke in the afternoon, brought up this same issue about the ability to accurately classify people by broad generalizations. Regardless of my purely conditional belief in the theory of millennials, I found the discussion fascinating. The description of the millennial traits was only the beginning, though; the main focus of the conference was in determining how these characteristics have an impact on the college classroom.

Conclusions made by the majority of presenters were that the college system should not be completely revamped to suit the needs of this new generation of multi-tasking, pressured, “special” students.

Completely understandable.

 How ridiculous would it be if teachers and professors had to switch up their teaching practices and style every time a new group of students came to the college? There is definitely value in offering a variety of approaches to classroom activities (varying between lectures, discussions, projects, presentations, research, etc. rather than just one), but it seems as though some take the “customer service” mindset regarding college classes a bit too far.

Yes, professors should take the initiative to provide multiple opportunities for a diverse student body to connect to the course and its concepts (it’s called differentiation in education-lingo), but students have to take the initiative as well!

This idea came across best in the student-led panel, which I thought was a great addition to the conference. The conversation between students and professors that occurred at the conference was valuable because each got a glimpse into the other’s world and crossed generations. Although no definitive conclusions were made about the link between millennial characteristics and classroom changes, the discussion sparked by the conference was one that will undoubtedly affect education in colleges.

I was glad that Melissa, Ashley and I decided to go to the conference. It was a great opportunity to:

 1. Get off campus.

2. Do some outside-of-the-classroom learning about a relevant topic.

 3. Be around and engage in conversations with professionals and students alike about an issue that affects our lives in a big way.

Attending a conference on an issue that is interesting is an experience I would recommend to any and all students!

Melissa, left, at Edgar Allen Poe's birthday party. Scroll down to find out more about the Edgar Allen Poe Society, which Melissa co-founded.

B y Melissa Lauretti ’12, English Content Tutor

Where Do My Interests Fit?

“Make sure that you get involved on campus.” During my own college search process, I cannot tell you how many times I heard that phrase, and now, in my own interactions with incoming students, I’ve found myself offering the same advice. Although it seems like these are “standard” words of wisdom, I, for one, can’t imagine what my college experience would have been like if I had not attended events and club meetings and made an effort to explore all of the opportunities available on this campus.

Involvement with on-campus organizations is not only great for networking and relieving academic stress, but your role in these groups can directly enhance your academic performance. You’ll inevitably learn time management skills as you juggle various club meetings, paper deadlines, and study table commitments. Also, through these clubs, you receive opportunities to attend conferences, lectures and other events (I was able to meet Ryan Cabrera at a conference…that was definitely a perk for meJ).  Moreover, you can market the skills that you learn through these positions in the future…what better way to get “real-world” experience that future employers will love while making new friends and having fun?

Once you decide to join a club, undoubtedly the next question is: what club do I join? When determining what clubs to investigate further, you can consider your hobbies, passions, and major.

For example, if you have a management major or you’re interested in contract negotiations and talking with outside vendors, you might enjoy serving in a role that will allow you to plan the events for your club. All organizations on campus plan events, and there is frequently one student who will handle reserving the room, contacting guest speakers and managing logistics.  For instance, in my role on the Student Programming and Events Council, I talk with agents across the country to book performers and events that appear on campus throughout the semester.

Are you interested in graphic design, communications, advertising or marketing? If so, you might enjoy serving as an advertising coordinator or publicity chair for a club. Every organization needs to get the word out about their events, so this is definitely a necessary job and the perfect creative outlet.

Do you enjoy dealing with money or managing a budget? Almost every club has a treasurer, and if you are interested in learning more about the financial and business aspects of running an organization and planning events within a budget, this might be a great position for you!

Of course, you can always become a tutor at the CAE!

Without a doubt, the possibilities are endless. While you can get involved with clubs on campus to hone your current talents, don’t be afraid to join a club so that you can also learn some new skills. Take advantage of the time you have in college to find new hobbies, make new friends and build your future portfolio.

Alyssa, on right

Alyssa Chmura ‘12, English Content Tutor

Now in the second semester of my junior year here at SJC, my schedule is busier than ever. I’m taking 6 classes, serving as Advertising Co-Chair on S.P.E.C. (Student Programming Events Council – we bring all the cool events and performers to campus!), working as a CAE tutor of course, working in Admissions as a Student Ambassador giving occasional tours, working part-time at an off-campus job and somehow finding time for homework, some sort of social life and every once in a while, sleep.

Even just typing that sentence listing everything I have to find time to do makes me cringe. Don’t worry though; this isn’t a blog complaining about not having enough hours in the day! This post is all about what makes my crazy schedule worth it in the end: spending an entire day in the classroom for Tuesday Experience.

On top of my English major, I am also studying to achieve my teacher certification in Elementary Education, which spans grades K-6. SJC’s Education Department has an excellent program for Elementary Education students as a sort of precursor to student teaching called Tuesday Experience. Once a week (bet you can’t guess which day!), we spend a whole day in a West Hartford elementary school classroom observing, assisting and teaching lessons.

Tuesday Experience is a great program to help prepare future teachers for the rigors of student teaching and beyond. Authentic experiences like teaching a lesson to an actual group of students rather than peers pretending to be elementary students again are so valuable. Being in the classroom for a full day is extremely helpful and calming before jumping headfirst into student teaching.

I was placed in a kindergarten class for my Tuesday Experience. I was a little surprised since I have always stressed that I want to teach upper elementary (grades 3-5), but I decided to embrace the challenge of kindergarten. A typical day in the kindergarten class consists of assisting the students with math, observing them at specials like music and gym, making sure they walk quietly through the hallways, singing songs and helping out the classroom teacher in any way necessary.

Some things I have learned so far about kindergarten:

1. The kids NEVER run out of energy. EVER.

2. Kindergarten is a lot of work! There is always learning going on, every second of every day.

3. The kids are absolutely adorable and super smart! I think as adults we underestimate the abilities of children in the classroom, not realizing how eager the students are to learn and how much they can learn even at a young age.

This past week, I taught my first lesson in math on using pattern blocks to introduce the shapes. The students had to solve pattern puzzles that were in the shapes of animals and other fun objects using the pattern blocks. It sounds like a simple lesson, but so much went into planning it! I had to first think of a topic, figure out what curriculum standards to tie the lesson to, think about what I wanted the students to take away from the lesson, plan the activity, gather materials, and practice, practice, practice!

Even though the prospect of teaching my first ever lesson was nerve-wracking, it was such an incredible experience. I loved seeing the students so engaged in and excited about what they were doing. I could tell that they had really learned something too – almost everyone’s hands were in the air to answer my closing questions about the lesson. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to teach a lesson in a real classroom thanks to Tuesday Experience!

I’m enjoying kindergarten so much and have already learned a ton. The students are so great and every week reaffirm my desire to become a teacher. I am so glad that SJC offers the chance to spend quality time in the classroom before student teaching; Tuesday Experience has already improved my confidence in my teaching abilities and given me so many ideas about how my classroom will be managed, all of this before student teaching begins.

 Even though my schedule is crazy busy, I look forward to Tuesday every single week because it is so rewarding, educational and, of course, fun.

Everyone has at least one thing she loves.  Whether it is a sport, club, or hobby, it is that little piece of you that allows you to be you.  It is amazing how much that one part of life can affect a person.  It gives one motivation, drive, and most of all heart.  It is in these activities that inspiration will spring and one will be guided to a new set of paths to choose from.  These choices that a person makes can impact everything about that person and lead her to future employment.  It is interesting how the things we love so much, the ones that are important, and sometimes might obsess over, are the ones which teach us so many lessons and shape us into the people we become. 

Take time to reflect on what you truly love, and what is important to you as a person.  Don’t just give up on something for often this road leads to regret.

At this point in my life, I am not one hundred percent sure which path I will take although there are a few staring me right in the face.  I am taking multiple courses here at Saint Joseph which allow me to look at my past and think about everything that has happened in my life.  I sincerely hope everyone saves time for personal reflection because it has not only shown me what I love but how I have grown as a person though participating in those activities which are important to me. 

I have three major activities that have guided me to who I am today; academics, sports, and music. 

School has always been a large part of my life; I have always tried my best in all of my classes and interestingly enough love learning.  Learning is a way of bringing new ideas into your own mind and being able to apply them to things outside the classroom.  Tutoring these past two semesters has aided me in understanding the material in a new perspective as I lead others to understanding ideas that have been presented in class.  It is amazing how class lessons can be directly translated to the ‘outside world’ and how wonderful it feels when everything clicks together.

The second is sports.  This one is at sometimes a love hate relationship, which is why I could not put singularly ‘swim’ or ‘volleyball’.  You see I made a huge mistake my freshman year, but looking back it might have been one of the best of my life.  I was not able to play volleyball freshman year.  When this didn’t work out I was able to swim like I had in high school.  I love both sports; the feeling of rushing through the water trying to beat your personal best or communicating with a teammate to run a slide, scoring the winning point of a match.  I ended up swimming my freshman year but missed volleyball so much that I did both volleyball and swimming the next year, and the year after that.  This just goes to show you that you can’t choose the things you love, they choose you and you cannot feel complete without them.

Lastly there is music.  Throughout high school I was in band, sang in a choir and loved every second of it.  Sadly, I only completed one semester of choir until knowing that I would have to carry on music in my own way, singing with friends, in a practice room, or even pulling out my clarinet and running my fingers up and down the scales and sheets of music that I once lived for. 

Sure, all of these activities keep me busy, but it is knowing that they will always be there for me when I am feeling down that makes them so important to me. 

Saint Joseph College has helped me continue the things that I love as well as give me brand new experiences.  If there is one thing that I had to tell someone it is to never give up what they love.  Even if you cannot do it in exactly the same manner you once were, it is important to still play the sport, complete research, or perform on stage to put a smile on your own face. 

 College might be all about new experiences but be sure to fill your time with both new things and the old.  I will always be able to recall information about something I loved learning, pick up volleyball, swim, or even play my clarinet.  I have held onto the things I love very tightly because I never want to lose the memories, the feelings, or the sense of accomplishment that I get from completing anyone of them.  These different activities drive my life, give me passion, heart, and hope for the future.  I have met so many friends, with the same determination and heart which only comes from people who have done and continue to do what they love. 

Are you?

Melissa Lauretti and Michelle Dipinto celebrate EAP's special day

Ashley Briglia, Michelle Dipinto, and Edgar

  -By Ashley Briglia ’12         

 “Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou, I said, art sure no craven…Quoth the raven, ‘Nevermore’.”

You may recognize this quote from the infamous poem, “The Raven,” written by Edgar Allan Poe in 1845. So why is this significant to us now? Recently, the 202^nd birthday of this great literary figure occurred, and what a better way to honor a mastermind such as Edgar Allan Poe than with a birthday party. Yes, you heard me correctly; I did say a birthday party. Now you may be sitting there, thinking to yourself that I have officially lost my mind having a birthday party for a dead author.

Three other content tutors at the CAE, Alyssa Chmura, Michelle DiPinto, Melissa Lauretti, and myself beg to differ.

Of course we knew this celebration could not be subpar, which is why we spent days diligently planning a party that even Edgar Allan Poe himself would have been proud to attend. We made cards, presents, party hats, and an extraordinary birthday cake adorned with a picture of a raven and the quote “Nevermore.” There was even an activity portion to the evening; I brought an episode from the television show Gilmore Girls, entitled “A Tale of Poes and Fire.” In case you didn’t catch the gist of the episode from the title, the episode featured members from an Edgar Allan Poe Society reciting “The Raven” in a comical manner.

The only thing that was missing was the guest of honor.

Luckily, Melissa resolved this issue by procuring an Edgar Allan Poe doll, which was the perfect addition to our party.

As we were sitting around at the party, enjoying our cake and opening presents, we began to think of other ways we could continue planning activities that revolved around our interest. After brainstorming ideas for a few minutes, Melissa came up with a brilliant idea:

We could form an Edgar Allan Poe Society on campus.

Pure genius! At this point you may be thinking to yourself, how can four people possibly create a club on a college campus? Well, that’s one of the great things about SJC! All you need is four people and a faculty advisor to organize a club that pertains to any one of your interests. Forming a club is an excellent way to add your own personal flair to the campus.

In our club, we plan on discussing some of Edgar Allan Poe’s greatest works, doing renditions of his poems with our own personal spin added, and even celebrating other great American authors’ birthdays such as Mark Twain. So, be sure to look out next fall for the Edgar Allan Poe Society and join the fun! This is definitely not an opportunity to which you will want to say, “Nevermore!”

The SJC Team at the Dartmouth Ethics Bowl

Bluejays headed home, undefeated (in spirit)

-By Alyssa Chmura ’12, English Content Tutor

Saturday November 20, 2010. A day that will never be forgotten by three CAE tutors in particular – Melissa Lauretti, Ashley Briglia and me, of course. It all started back in September when Melissa received an email about the formation of SJC’s team for the Northeast Regional Ethics Bowl, this year being hosted at Dartmouth College. The three of us decided to join the team, along with our friends Kim Wennerberg and Tiffany Almeida, as well as our coach Dr. Michelle Stronz. We practiced once a week over lunch, reviewing cases and preparing how to debate the ethical responsibilities and implications of both sides. Things were going smoothly then out of absolutely nowhere, the competition was fast approaching – one week away! We did a mini-ethics bowl to practice our presentation and felt good – we knew what we were talking about and had decided on coordinating our outfits, so we’d look pretty awesome too.

 Fast forward to Friday November 19. The day before the real Ethics Bowl. We pile into a minivan and begin the journey up to Hanover, New Hampshire and Dartmouth College. We had a sing-a-long to the radio practically the entire way up (until we hit New Hampshire, the radio stations up there are a bit limited). The highlight of the journey was absolutely our detour at Basketville though, hands down. Basketville is the coolest little tourist shop ever with stuff like potato pellet guns, cutting boards shaped like Vermont, knit animal hats and, well, baskets. If you ever find yourself in or near Putney, Vermont, check out Basketville.

Anyway, we arrived at our hotel which was about a 5 minute drive from Dartmouth’s campus. Our rooms were more like suites! Definitely a good place to relax the night before the big day. We had a nice dinner and did some grocery shopping at the Co-Op (apparently they enjoy visitors?) then reviewed our cases for a few hours before heading to bed. We were super nervous, but excited at the same time.

After an interesting night – I’m convinced that mine and Melissa’s room was haunted – we arose early for breakfast and piled back in the minivan bound for Dartmouth. We arrived on campus and went to find out who we would be facing in each of the three morning rounds. First, Marist College. Ok. Second, Dartmouth College. Uh….WHAT?! Slight panic! Third, St. John’s University. Ok, but still, Dartmouth, really?!? Heading off to the first round, we were more nervous than ever.

The first round went less than stellar. Our nerves got the best of us, but rather than let it get us down, we went into Round 2 with our heads held high. If we were going to lose, at least we’d do it with confidence – and style! We sit down facing the team from Dartmouth and try to look intimidating. We win the coin toss and decide that we will argue the first case. The moderator announces Case 13. YES. This is one of our good cases – Ashley loves this one! Ashley gives the exposition, explaining our position and providing our support. She does a great job! Next, Dartmouth gives their rebuttal. Good, but we still feel like we have this one in the bag. The judges ask their questions and we have a good conversation with them. PHEW! We can feel the change in ourselves from this round from the last: we are smiling more, the words are coming easier and we’re having fun! The second half of the round, Dartmouth gives their exposition on Case 3 – another one of our good cases! Tiffany’s all over the rebuttal and we think that in our round, we did a better job of answering the judges’ questions. The judges are asked to calculate their scores. We sit, waiting, feeling confident. The scores are written on the board…we lost by about 40 points. We were seriously shocked. We did a million times better than we did in the first round and our scores only went up a little bit? AND we didn’t even come close to beating our opponents?

We left the room pretty disappointed. We knew that we had done an amazing job in that round and knew that our scores didn’t reflect our performance accurately.

Round 3 ended up being a win for us – Melissa argued another one of our strongest cases and we did a great job, but we still felt that our best round had been against Dartmouth. After Round 3, we had a fabulous lunch and took a trip to the Dartmouth bookstore (where I bought the sweatshirt I am sporting in the picture you see!) while we awaited the results of the morning rounds. The top 8 teams would move on to the semi-finals.

After our shopping trip, we met back at the lunch hall for the results. We tied for 13 out of 16 teams. We didn’t make it to the semis, but we were more than happy with our placing. For our first time at the competition, we competed against some tough teams and held our own! And more importantly, we weren’t last!

We headed back to the minivan defeated in numbers, but definitely not in spirits. We were so proud of our performance and were so happy with our experience. We felt that we had represented SJC and the entire state of Connecticut very well. Maybe we didn’t place in the top 8, but we did great and we knew that was what really mattered.

Saturday November 20, 2010. The day we (at least in our heads) beat Dartmouth.

Chelsea, right, with fellow Tri-Beta pals

  -By Chelsea Leitao ’12

Biology Tutor

Looking back, I never thought I would be a biology major, in a Pre-Pharmacy Program at St. Joseph College. When I was faced with the decision about where to go to school and what to major in, I was torn between what my heart wanted me to do and what I thought I should do.

I knew I wanted to be a Pharmacist;  I love everything about the chemistry and biology of pharmacology and how prescription drugs work in the human body. I am a total geek and think it is fascinating. I started applying to schools and was ready to move out, move on and engulf myself in college.

I cannot say that’s exactly what happened.

In high school, everyone tells you college is the real world and that you have to adapt to being on your own and taking much more responsibility for your actions. I never knew how true that was.

Fall of my senior year of high school, my mom, who has been suffering from Lupus for years, started to have complications. I was faced with a decision to move away from my mom when she needed me the most or move away and make what I thought was a selfish decision to pursue my dreams of going to school. I knew if I left my mom at home, I would regret it for the rest of my life.

 So, I decided Pharmacy School was going to have to wait and that everything happens for a reason. I took it as a sign that maybe Pharmacy School wasn’t for me.

I gave my deposit to a state school, graduated from high school and began my college career. My mom’s health improved, and I grew more miserable with the decision I had made. Then, I went on the SJC website which stated they were opening a Pharmacy School and implementing a Pre-Pharmacy Program. As corny and dumb as this sounds, I felt like it was a sign. So, I called, inquired, applied, was accepted and realized I could pursue my dream of becoming a Pharmacist here at SJC without leaving home. I could commute to school without leaving the person who has been there the most for me, my mom.

So as dumb as my story may be, as corny as I know it is. (Because it really is!) I believe it is so important to follow your heart. Make decisions based on what you really and truly want to do! If you want to be a doctor, be a doctor. If you want to be a teacher, be a teacher. Yes, it will be challenging, but you will perservere.

I learned to never put my dreams on the backburner, but I also learned to treasure the people around you that have molded the person you have become. Treasure those people because they are the people who will be there to help you through your LONG, and sometimes difficult, college career. Now, as a biology major, I hope to do research on Lupus, an autoimmune disease and maybe (IT COULD HAPPEN PEOPLE!) find a cure. I’ve realized there’s a reason I chose this path, everything happens for a reason.

By Amanda Nadolny ‘12

Biology Content Tutor/Supplemental Instruction Leader

 A few weeks into the semester my friends bought me a rose plant and a card. The card read, “Sorry for the death of your social life R.I.P., don’t worry mine’s dead too.” I found this highly amusing because it’s true.  When summer ends and classes begin finding time for anything, let alone a social life, is difficult. That is not to say that no one has summer responsibilities, that we are all spending our days lounging by the pool drinking fruit smoothies, but there is much more ‘down time’ for activities and sociality that enriches life.

Over the summer I was able to wake up and walk on the beach every morning and enjoy its beauty. I was able to appreciate the importance of human interaction, I was able to try something new and take on the project of restoring a Victorian-looking dresser I found at a church tag sale.

Basically, I was living life.

Then summer ended and the fall semester began and it went from appreciating life and enjoying its beauty to rush, rush, rush. Suddenly, I had too much going on to organize it in my little paper agenda, and I needed to make an online Google-calendar so I could ‘move’ things around if something came up and more often than not, it did.

Sleep was a foreign word and food? What’s that? I dropped ten pounds in the first three weeks. I am sharing this information to make a point. It is wonderful and extremely fulfilling to be involved and busy with school but recognizing boundaries, and when you have reached them, is important as well.  Managing your time is not solely about stuffing as much work as you can into 24 hours of the day, but it is about finding a balance.

            When you’re doing (or studying) something you love, it is easy to get involved in numerous activities to bulk up your resume. Others see your enthusiasm and remember it- so when there’s an internship offer, a job opening, or any other type of wonderful opportunity, you will come to mind.

 I am going to make it clear that it is extremely and utterly important to challenge yourself and expand your mind.

However, it is ok to say no.

It is ok to say, thank you for the opportunity but I am too busy to devote the amount of time it would require to do the job properly. Recognizing when you have taken on too much is difficult because you are doing everything you enjoy and are aspiring for. However, is it worth it or healthy to stress yourself to the point where eating and sleeping become weekend activities? Every now and then taking a step back, a deep breath and reflecting can do wonders and put things into perspective.

            As a student, pushing yourself to your limits is important because it demonstrates that you’re expanding your potential and challenging yourself. Don’t base your judgments of how much you can handle on other people because you do not know what situation they are in. Yes, it may seem that they can juggle 21 credits, a full time job and still have free time to rescue little fuzzy animals from distress on weekends but you are not them and they are not you.

Who knows, maybe if they were in your shoes they would never succeed at what you’re doing, in the circumstances you’re under. So when you look around and see people who are succeeding at what seems like everything they do, don’t put yourself down because you are not in their situation (and they are not in yours).