FINAL VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-wgIw-rzVw

       My first semester of college was most definitely the biggest learning experience i had up to this point in my life.  Coming into college, i wasn't sure of what to expect, obviously i knew there would be a great deal of work and stress involved but I didn't  think it would be anything like this. Although i must say, i learned a great deal about myself throughout the process and hopefully that makes next semester a lot less difficult. 

I learned that organization within a college setting is completely different from organization in high school. My schedule in high school was jam packed 24/7 but for some reason I managed it no problem. College on the other hand, not so much. I had a hard time adjusting to the different style of work load. We would get assignments in class, their would be assignments on the syllabus, and also their were assignments on vista. I couldn't get the hang of checking all of these locations for all of my classes everyday. It was a huge hassle. Hopefully next semester however, I"ll find a way to have all my assignments in one location so I don't have anymore mix-ups. To be completely honest, I don't even  know where grades stand, none of my professors keep their grades updated and the grading process is nothing that I'm used to.

I would say my biggest struggle this year was definitely commuting. it was nothing like i expected. Driving a half hour to and from school is a lot harder than it seems. first of all you need to calculate this time into everything, which means waking up way earlier then needed and leaving school much earlier then i wanted to because I had work everyday. And once i got home from school and work, homework was the last thing i wanted to do because i was exhausted. Some people tell me to be a full time student and quit my job, but if i did this, I would have no way to get to school because i wouldn't be able to afford my gas or insurance, so either way I'm in a difficult position. I thought commuting would be good because i would have the comfort of my own home and city but in reality its just a huge distraction. Maybe if I was stranded in a dorm room, I would be able to get things done. Another thing that annoyed me this year was the amount of times my professors would cancel class, but rather then sending an email, they would leave a note on their door. I wasted so much gas because of this reason and that becomes extremely frustrating. I just feel like I have nothing to do with the university and I'm always out of the loop. And like i said, i wish i would could spend more time on campus, but my busy life doesn't allow me to do this. I don't feel like I'm gaining any type of experience. 

From this however, I learned that maybe commuting isn't for me as much as i thought it was. Im willing to try it again next semester, but I don't think I'll be doing it next year. The thing is, I know i have good time- management skills and I'm fully capable of doing the work, but living so far away from school makes it much more difficult. I think if i was living and working on campus, I would be able to put a lot more time and energy into my schooling rather then into driving back and forth and trying to organize my home life with my school life. 

Overall my first semester in college was a huge case of trial and error, and its a good thing i learn from my mistakes. I discovered my own personal learning style and also how I should deal with specific situations in the future. Another thing that changed was my intended major; therefore my goal for next semester is to figure out what I really want to be in life and what I'm actually working towards in school. Hopefully by this time next year, I'll be dorming and happy with where i am in school.

Feeling Stressed?

 ~ Stress is not what happens to us. It's our response to what happens. And respon is something we can choose ~                    Maureen Killoran

Don't Stress!!!

Since I started college, my life seems more stressful than ever. Unfortunately, an exceeded amount of stress can really affect your body. Although its not always easy, you should try to relieve yourself of your stresses as much as possible and keep yourself healthy. 

This week, along with most weeks, I went to the gym a few days. For me, exercising is one of the best ways to relieve stress. I blast my music and block everything out. It allows me to focus on the now and concentrate on what I'm doing. After I get out of the gym, I feel refreshed and level headed. It helps me get things off my mind. Even though exercising works for me, there are many other ways to help relieve stress. Some examples include:

Listen to Music If you're feeling overwhelmed by a stressful situation, try taking a break and listening to relaxing classical music. Playing calm music has a positive effect on the brain and body, can lower blood pressure, and can reduce cortisol, a hormone linked to stress.

Laugh It Off It may seem funny but laughter releases endorphins that 

improve mood and decrease levels of the stress-causing hormones, cortisol and adrenaline. Laughing tricks our nervous system into making us happy. So even when your stressed and you don't feel much like laughing, try to take things easy and think about something silly.

Drink Green Tea We all know that harsh caffeine found in coffee and energy drinks increase stress, however, green tea has less than half the caffeine of coffee and contains healthy antioxidants, as well as theanine—an amino acid that has a calming and soothing effect on the nervous system. 

Sleep Better Everyone knows stress can cause you to lose sleep. Unfortunately, lack of sleep is also a key cause of stress. This vicious cycle causes the brain and body to get out of whack and it only gets worse and worse with time. You should always try to get at least eight hours of sleep every night, especially when your stressed. 

Call a Friend If you're feeling overwhelmed, take a break to call a friend and talk about your problems. Good relationships with friends and loved-ones are important to any healthy lifestyle. A reassuring voice, even for a minute, can put everything in perspective.

Eat Right Believe it or not, stress levels and a proper diet are closely related. Unfortunately, it’s when we have the most work that we forget to eat well and we resort to quick junk food. Try to avoid the vending machine and plan healthy meals. 

Try Yoga Yoga is great time to breath deeply, meditate, and take your mind off things. Its even good for your body. I used to do yoga all the time and I loved it!

Stress is an unavoidable part of life. But that doesn't mean you should ignore it. Too much untreated stress can cause potentially serious physical and mental health problems. Don't ignore your stress, relieve it.

        
 Getting sick as a college student can take a huge toll on your schedule and it affects everything you need to get done. Therefore, you should avoid getting sick as best as you can throughout the school year. Better yet, avoid getting sick throughout life to always ensure good health. Here are some tips: 

Wash your hands!
I know we have all hear it a thousand times, but washing your hands on a regular basis is a simple step towards avoiding sickness. Our hands encounter millions of germs everyday and we use them for just about everything. By washing your hands, there's less chance of these germs entering your body.

Don't touch your face!

Our face is the number one place for germs to enter our bodies. Were all aware that we inhale airborne germs, however germs can also enter through other places like your eyes. Avoid rubbing your eyes and the rest of your face, especially if your hands aren't clean.
Avoid other sick people!
Staying away from other people with illnesses is important when avoiding getting sick. Surrounding yourself with bacteria basically ensures that you will catch it. Although this isn't always possible, be aware that there's always germs around (especially during cold and flu season) and pay attention to your hygiene.

Exercise!

Not only does exercise keep you looking and feeling great, but a great deal of recent research suggests that regular exercise will boost your immune system. A good immune system is a key point towards preventing illness.
Stay hydrated!                                                         Although drinking plenty of fluids is a key strategy to fighting illness once you’re actually sick, staying hydrated may actually help you prevent illness as well. Our bodies are over 60% water. Water transports nutrients to cells and flushes out toxins. 
                         Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables!
Our immune systems fight off tons of infections every day without us even realizing it. To keep your immune system strong however, you need to maintain a healthy diet full of vitamins and minerals contained in fruits and vegetables.
Don't party too hard!
Alcohol, cigarettes, and illicit drugs all weaken your immune system. So if you feel a cold coming on you might want to avoid these things. If you cant help yourself, try and do it in a bacteria free environment. 

Keep your environment clean!

When your avoiding getting sick or trying to get over an illness, you should clean common surfaces as often as possible. For example, handles, doorknobs, telephones, etc. The less germs the better!


Get plenty of rest!
Ensuring that your body has enough rest will keep you and your immune system strong. An unhealthy amount of rest can leave you prone to infection. 

Anything Thoughts or Opinions?

           Since I started college, I started to realize how much people actually use, rely on and even abuse technology. In a way, its kind of ridiculous. People have constant access to the world at all times and they never skip a beat. Whether its updating their Facebook status, checking an email, or searching something on goggle, its happening 24/7. Although technology provides us with an exceptional amount of convenience, is it really the best solution? I asked the following question to 10 of my peers to learn their opinions about the topic as well.

Does technology improve education, why or why not?

Rachel: " Yes, it makes everything so much easier. I dont know what I would do without it."

John: " It definately has its pros and cons. Although technology provides us with so much, it also provides major distraction"

Krissy: " Yes, technology does improve education. It makes resources easily accessable and it keeps me connected to the world. However, its also a major distraction. When i'm doing homework, i'm usually on Facebook and downloading music at the same time. I cant help myself when its right in front of me."

Nate: " No, technology doesnt improve education at all. It makes things way to easy for people now a day. It stops people from using their brains. Why think when you can search it on Google?"

Maria: " Yea, I think technology helps education, but it also prevents it sometimes. Everyones so caught up in their phones and computers. It can be so distracting. "

Mark: " No way, I hate technology. Everyones always on Facebook, Skype, or something like that during school. Its so annoying and distracting. And I hate when professors make us do a ton a work online. Half the time is does'nt even work."

Sarah: " Of course, I dont know what I would do without it. It allows me to contact my professors whenever I have a question about something and it makes homework and projects much easier. If I don't know the answer to something, all I have to do is look it up!"

Will: " Well its obviously distracting but I dont think any of us could live without it knowing how convient it makes things. "


Mike: " Technology is stupid. Why are half my classes online?!"

Kristen: " Yea technology improves education, but at the same time it gives students the  easy way out pretty often."

            In my opinion, technology obviously makes our lives a lot easier when your gaining an edution. However, are'nt you curious to see how different things would be without it? What if we could'nt contact our professors when we had questions about assignments? What if we could'nt just search an answer to something on Goggle? What if we actually had to think when didnt know something? I think the world would be full of many more, intelligent and well- rounded people.

The Movement Blog

Using Time Wisely

           Sometimes daily chaos and hectic schedules prevent us from making the most of our time. Since my first day of college, I realized how crucial  time- management would become to my life. I've always been pretty good at managing my time. Now a day however, it seems more difficult then ever. Balancing school, work, homework, and actually having a life can be a lot harder than it seems. After concluding in class that we have about 70 hours of free time a week, I considered how my time was being spent. Much of my 70 hours is devoted towards homework. I do approximately 30 hours per week. However I use the majority of my free time as just that, time to my self. I go to the gym often and run a lot of errands. I also spend a large portion of my time with my friends and family, probably my biggest distraction. 


         Although an invite to hang with friends or my boyfriend is always more intriguing then studying, this is where my time- management skills need improvement. I've come to realize that my ultimate problem with time management is trying to fit too many things into a short amount of time. I need to learn how to spread out and cluster my time to accommodate everything I need to complete. My busy schedule sometimes results in me doing my homework through a series of small intervals of time. I want to improve the way I manage my time so that I have longer spans of time to complete homework. Another issue that affects my time management is my bad habit of procrastination. Unfortunately, I've always been one to save things for the last minute.Although it allows me more time, it often hurts me in the end. I hope to eliminate this trait and get things done when I have spare time rather then right before they need to be completed. 

  "Dost thou love life?

 Then do not squander time, for that's the stuff life is made of. "
   Benjamin Franklin, 'Poor Richard's Almanack,' June 1746

         

"A"/ Excellent


So I'm honestly not very good at this whole blogging bit, but by the looks of, it seems as if some of you have been doing it  for years and your blogs would definitely be ranked as an A+ in my opinion.

The first blog that stood out amongst the others was Mien Laben als Tori. Tori, I'm pretty sure about half the class picked your blog but its really well done. Your creative title immediately caught my attention, and your blog itself kept it. Your posts express who you are and there done exactly the way there supposed to be. I learned a lot about blogging from visiting your blog and it inspired me to make mine stronger. Also, your graphics are excellent and your blog titles are very catchy!

The next blog that deserves an A+ was the very first blog that caught my eye and that's Louie's Happy Blog Time. Louie, to me your blog title made it irresistable to click on because I was convinced it would put me in a good mood, and it did. Your wit and good sence of humor without a doubt add a lot of spunk to your blog, yet it is done neatly and propperly. Your blog posts are well construsted and they clearly depict your ability to speak your mind. Also, your funny jokes keep me intrigged to keep reading, great blog!

Last but not least, the third blog that should receive an A+ is The Triumphs and Troubles of Tina. Tina, as I'm sure you know, you have one of the most studious and well-organized blog's on here. Your blog's are well constructed and follow format and direction. They provide a lot of information. Also, your simple, yet accute graphics make it easy for the reader to focus on the context. Your blog is very well-done!

Along with these three, everyones blog is interesting in it's own way and they each express a different meaning. It was fun reading all of your blogs. They gave me a better sence of who some of you are and they each taught me something new about blogging!

Campus Safari, #3

" Taking Precautions" 

Starting college is a huge step, and it can take a major toll on your body as well. Here are some interesting yet disturbing facts you should know about maintaining your health and keeping yourself safe, not only in college, but throughout your entire life.

Did you know...?

• 6.2 million Americans get infected with HPV (the virus that can cause genital warts) each year.
• Teenage girls who have unprotected sex are more likely than adult women to get gonorrhea and chlamydia because these STD's more easily infect the immature cervix.
• Only latex condoms offer substantial protection against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
• If the herpes virus comes into contact with the eyes it can cause blindness.
• 1 out of 2 sexually active people will get an STD by age 25.
• Manufacturers say that 12% of the 15% condom failure rate is due to not using the condom correctly/
• Even though poorer brands have been shown to leak minute amounts of virus- sized particles in laboratory studies, reasearchers conclude that using any kind of condom is at least 10,000 times better than not using a condom at all.
• 75% of women and almost 50% of men with chlamydia never have symptoms
• In a 2003 study, 73% of sexually active college students had had unprotected sex, and 68% didnt believe they were at risk for an STD.
• Trichomoniasis ("trich") is the most common curable STD in young women.
• 88% of new STD cases in people ages 15 to 24 are caused by HPV, trichomoniasis and chlamydia.
• The female condom can be inserted long before intercourse and helps protect against STD's, including HIV.
• Studies show that as young men become more sexually active, they use condoms less.
• More than 300,000 cases of gonorrhea were reported in 2004. This is a 15% decline from 2000.
• 1 in 20 Americans will get hepatitis B during their lifetimes.
• Japanese condoms have a reputation for high quality because they are individually tested. Japanese-brand condoms are also quite thin and are thought to allow a lot of sensitivity.
• Less then 33% of U.S. doctors routinely test patients for STD.
• Syphilis has been called "the great imitator" because its symtoms resemble those of many other diseases.
• 3 times more women than men are diagnosed with chlamydia.
• using condoms during pregnancy may decrease the chances of intrauterine infections that can lead to miscarriage.
• 5,000,000,000: the estimated number of condoms used every year worldwide.
• Hepatitis B and HPV are the only 2 STDs that have a preventive vaccine.
• By 2025, it's estimated that 40% of menand 50% of women in the U.S. will have genital herpes.
• Condoms are the third most widely used form of birth control in the U.S, after female sterilization and the pill.
• 20% of females between 15 and 19 say alcohal is the main reason they first had sex.

Although some of these facts can be very scary, they are very true. Dont put yourself at risk. Take all the precautions to keep yourself safe. To find out more information about proctecting yourself, visit the SCSU health center. Dont be ashamed when it comes to your safety.

Be *Smart, Be *Safe, Stay *Healthy!

For more infor visit:

http://www.itsyoursexlife.com/

"Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction"

            Now a day, many of us couldn’t even imagine going a few hours without being on Facebook, texting, or checking e-mails. The second boredom arises, we dive into our digital worlds to escape it and pass the time. How might this be affecting us however? Many believe our digital devices leave us constantly distracted, yet we still refuse to put them down. Our digital devices cause such convenient distractions that sometimes there impossible to ignore. However, this takes a toll on other aspects of our lives.

           “Their brains are rewarded not for staying on task but for jumping to the next thing,” said Michael Rich, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School and executive director of the Center on Media and Child Health in Boston. In many ways, I find this very true. I believe that cell phones, iPods, and other forms of technology leave us with a short attention span due to the fact that their continuously updating you with new and fresh information. This leads us to believe that this is how it should be all the time. When our minds aren’t being constantly stimulated with intriguing information, they become preoccupied with ease.  

           Although technology provides us with all the information we need to survive our daily lives, it also prevents us from many things as well. But what can we do to avoid this? What will it take for us to not have Facebook open in the browser behind the essay that’s due the next morning? What will make us stop texting five different people in- between homework problems? These are questions that many of us will have to ask ourselves throughout the school year and in the future ahead. We need to limit ourselves and learn when technology is and isn’t acceptable. If not, you may be left “Wired for Distraction”

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/10/technology/circuits/10info.html

PRACTICE Makes Perfect

Maralisa's "Outliers – 10,000 Hours for Success" just continues to prove that the old saying, "practice makes perfect" is in fact, true. I enjoyed reading this post because it provided a feeling of inspiration for me. It reminds us that we are capable of whatever we set our minds to. It also shows us that talent doesn't necessarily come naturally, it comes from continuous perseverance in mastering a specific skill.

 The information Marelista provided about stars and well-known people was inspiration in itself for me. Even the people that we admire and look up to as role models on a daily basis started at the bottom. They knew nothing about their skills at one point. The factor that allows them to stick out however, is their perserverance. Perseverance in what your passionate about will enable you to master your skill, no matter what it may be.


While perserverance and passion play a large role in mastering a skill, repetition plays a major role as well. Marelista's statistics show that no matter what the art may be, 10,000 hours of practice are required to truely become a master of it.


Although this number can seem large, and some may say it doesnt require that much practice to master something, but how could you learn the every in and out of something before experiencing it in a plethora of different ways? To truely master a skill, you are required and expected to know every fact down to last detail about it. This seems very difficult, and it is, however the key to succeeding is practice.


Overall, the only way to really get good at something is through practice. You need to practice what works, and even  more importantly, what doesnt work. By doing this, you allow yourself to learn every aspect of that subject. With enough time, effort, and practice, any dream can become a reality, statistics show.

College Life

          When you envision college as a young child you think about wild parties, sororities, frats and a lot of last minute cramming. For many, this vision may have come true, but not for me. When I began my college search, I had no idea what I was actually searching for. I received so much advice from others about what college meant to them, but after so many different points of views and perspectives, I realized that I had to figure out what college was to me.  When I began receiving hundreds of letters in the mail from universities all over the country, the reality of it finally hit me. It was time for me to make the decision that would determine the path my future would proceed on. After visiting plenty of schools and talking to so many different councilors, SCSU became the clear choice for me. Many aspects of it are ideal for my situation, and it’s close to home which is perfect for commuting. This was a main thing that concerned me about college. I never wanted to commute but I couldn’t pass up saving so much money. Turns out, many people here had the exact same thought process. Commuting isn’t as bad as I thought.  Although, I’m worried that making new friends may be a challenge since I won’t be on campus for much more other than classes.  Yet, I’m more concerned about succeeding academically; the social part will come in time.  Despite this however, I do plan on making the most of my college experience. I hope to become involved in clubs and other activities and participate in events that I normally wouldn’t.  One of my main goals for the next four years is to come out of my shell a bit and try new things, to help create the person I ultimately want to become. When I envision college now, I picture myself sitting with friends studying in the student center. I’m definitely looking forward to years ahead of me at SCSU! Go Owls! :)

Pieces of Me :)

Honest I have always valued my ability to be honest with others. In my opinion, being honest is a very important part of life. I have so many friends that always come to me with their problems because they know I will always give them my honest opinion, whether it is good or bad. Lying only makes things worse.

Determined No matter what the situation is, my determination to accomplish and complete things throughout life has always been my main drive. Regardless of the task ahead of me, I am always fully committed and determined to finish what I start. 

Trustworthy In my opinion, trustworthiness is the most important trait you can obtain. Almost every type of relationship is based a lot on trust. I think reason why I became so trustworthy is because I know how terrible it feels when you can’t trust someone. Trust is very important, without it, many things become much more difficult.

Creative With my mom being an art major, creativity has always been a major part of my life. I’ve always enjoyed being involved in art activities and I was president of the art club in my high school for 4 years. Although creativity and art will always be a part of me, it remains strictly a hobby. I have no intentions of majoring in it or perusing it as a career.

Real Despite some of my negative traits, I admire my ability to always stay true to myself. Each school that I’ve attended throughout my life was very diverse. There were always many different races and different types of people, and unfortunately I was usually a minority. However, I never let this affect me. By doing this, I learned that most people will accept you for who you are and respect the fact that you aren’t trying to be something you’re not.