Final Assessment

When I first began my college career at SCSU I was very nervous. I had no idea what to expect and being in a new place and not knowing anyone was definitely overwhelming. However, as I signed up for all of my classes, INQ stood out to me. What’s Inquiry? I began to ask myself and many other people as well. As I soon found out it was a class to help all freshman students adjust in a new learning environment. I learned many things in this class over the course of the semester and I am very grateful.

            We learned how to juggle multiple tasks, become better problem solvers and how to manage our time wisely.  I also learned that sometimes you fail and you have to just learn from your mistakes and move on. I asked many questions in class when I was confused and I learned to not be afraid to ask a question when you need to.  I learned that the college experience is very different than high school and adjusting wasn’t as easy as I thought.

            Individually, I feel as if I achieved those specific skills during this semester. I met the course goals and I learned from everything I was taught in INQ. Such goals would include becoming a better listener. All throughout high school I listened to my teachers but I didn’t really take what they said seriously and I would forget when assignments were due. From being in this class I learned that actually listening and using a planner helped tremendously.

            I feel as if I have met the requirements of the course and achieved what I was supposed to do. I came to class, participated in class discussions and did all the assignments that were asked of me. My overall performance has changed me and made me grow as a student. At the beginning of the semester I knew I had to work hard and do my work. However, I did seem to let things slip once and awhile and I knew I had to change something. My performance has changed immensely since the beginning of the semester and I am very proud of my progress. Over the semester I learned a lot about myself as a student. I learned that I am very confident and that I get my work done. I learned how to be more responsible and how being responsible effects your life. My strengths this semester consist of many things. I did all of my work this semester and I found it easy to get to all of my classes, and I found great places to study. However, I did have some weaknesses. Time management was a huge factor. I wasn’t used to managing my time and it came to realize it was very important in college.

            The social aspect of college wasn’t difficult for me at all. I met an awesome group of friends and I love them all so much. I’ll have to admit I was nervous in the beginning but it didn’t take long for me to make new friends. I can count on them for anything and I know they will be my friends all throughout college. However, moving out of my comfort zone was an issue. I never had to do my own laundry before college and I was used to my dad doing it for me. I learned how to do my own laundry and I am very proud of myself.

            My study habits this semester have changed dramatically. I soon realized that studying in college is way different then studying in high school. In high school I would study the night before a test. However, you cannot do that in college. Now I study at least 4 days in advance and more intense. I’ve found great study areas around campus which helps me a lot. Studying goes hand and hand with organization. In high school I was the most unorganized person. I would open up my locker and papers would come pouring out. Now, I have changed my organization skills. I am very organized and learned that I can concentrate so much better when I know where everything is and everything is placed in a certain spot.

            In conclusion to this semester I can honestly say I have no regrets. I worked my hardest and I did the best I could to succeed as a new college student. From this class I have learned many things that I will take with me to other classes and into my future. Such things are, time management, organization, ask questions when you need too, and learning from your mistakes and moving on. I have become such a confident student and I hope to carry that confidence with me to further semesters.

Spring Semester Already!?

Spring semester will be right around the corner! Wow. This is crazy. I have learned so much and cant wait to apply everything I have learned this semester into next semester. I was so scared during this start of this semester. Your starting all over and everything is new. I was anxious to meet new people and get used to a new life style. However, to my surprise it came pleasantly easy. I got used to living on my own and I even did my own laundry! I meet an awesome group of friends that I love so much. We have so much fun together and I am always laughing with them. Making such great people really makes the college experience that much exciting. Without awesome friends you may not have such a good time. You are with your friends basically everyday and it feels good to know that they have your back with whatever you do. Personally next semester I would like to study more in the library. I study a lot now in my room but I feel like I will study better in the library. Also, I will not wait till the last minute to do everything. Socially I feel as if I am doing fine. Although I would like to join an intermural softball team in the spring. I would also like to join habitat for humanity next semester. I feel like getting involved on campus is very important. I can't wait for next semester and can't wait to begin!

Successes, Failures, and Weaknesses.

WOW! Is my first semester of college over already? I guess its true when they say time fly's by when your having fun. I feel like it was just yesterday that I was at orientation. I remember all the worrying that was going on in my head. How will i find my class? What if i get lost? How difficult will they be? However, as the semester unfolded all my questions were being answered. I found that the class were all very easy to find and I got lost maybe a total of 1 time. I'd say thats pretty good for a freshman. I also came to find that the classes weren't all that bad. All of my classes were challenging but doable. Geography was the only class I really had trouble in. It was so difficult! I felt that no matter how many hours I would study I STILL wouldn't get a good grade on an exam. However, I pushed through it and tried my best. Time management was a huge factor during this semester. I guess you can say it was one of my weaknesses. I wasn't used to having massive amounts of school work and I didn't know how to approach it. I felt overwhelmed and sometimes just wanted to cry. I began to get used to things and I feel like my weakness turned into a success. I was very proud of myself for that. I learned many things that I will carry with me to the next semester. Next semester I know what to expect and I know the work isn't easy. I will have to work harder, study harder, and use my time more wisely. I can't wait for the next semester to begin and start all over!

        *****I SURVIVED MY FIRST SEMESTER OF COLLEGE!!!!! now wheres break!!?? :D :D

Bye Bye Group! :(

As I mentioned many times before, high school and college differ greatly. I feel like in high school I never really worked in groups and I barely had the same 3 people in more than 1 class. Working with my INQ and English class opened my eyes. I saw the same people basically everyday of the week and I began to feel more comfortable. I learned many things while in these two classes and wouldn't change it for the world. I will miss everyone so much next semester. It is going to be kinda weird not seeing the same people and having them there when you need them. If I had a question I would just ask one of my classmates and they were more then happy to try and fix my problem. For example, Alexis helped me a lot with the technology department. Whenever I would get stuck not knowing what to do I would just call up Alexis and she helped. I loved working with everyone and everyone was so nice. Our support system grew stronger as the days rolled on. We would discuss our problems, worries, thoughts, and ideas with everyone in the class. It was great to have them give u feedback. I love class discussions and we had plenty of that. I also made many friends from these two classes. Although the classes were in the morning I never seemed to care because I enjoyed them! I will miss all of these aspects dearly and I hope to keep in touch with these people throughout my next 3 years at SCSU.

The Real World

Its crazy to see how fast the years go by. It feels like it was just yesterday when I entered my high school doors. Now, I am in college and as soon as I know it I'll be starting my life after college. Entering the real world is just around the corner. I am excited but also nervous. So what would be my ideal life after college you ask? As many things flood into my mind, one thing stands out. That one thing would be Success. I would love to be successful with doing a career I absolutely love. I believe loving what you do is a important factor because if you don't love what you do then why waste your time? You are going to be stuck doing it so you might as well enjoy it. My career choice would be early childhood education. I love working with kids and I can see myself doing that in the long run. I would like to be financially well off and wont have to struggle through life. I would also love to have a family. I believe family is one of the greatest gifts and I need that in my life. I would also love to have a beautiful home. My ideal house would be basically be all glass. I have always dreamed of having a house with glass walls from the floor to the ceiling. Oh and I cant forget about my ideal car! I really would like to have a black Escalade sitting in my driveway. That would be wonderful since I have always wanted one! However, last but not least, happiness. Without happiness you have nothing.



      

FOOD, FOOD, and MORE FOOD!!

As we all know Thanksgiving has just passed. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. All you do is eat, eat, and eat some more! How great to have a holiday dedicated to eating all day long. Sure you eat a lot on other holidays but theres just something about thanksgiving that makes it extra special. I absolutely LOVE watching the thanksgiving day parade and look forward to it every year. This year all the floats a different balloons were amazing! I have been watching the parade since I was a little girl and it will never get old. This thanksgiving I went to my boyfriends aunts house and spent the holiday with them. I had such a great time! Of course we watched football all day long. Whats a thanksgiving without football? We also did a secret Santa. We all had to choose a present when it was our turn and if we wanted to trade ours with someone else's it was fair game. It was so funny to see which people wanted to trade and how the others reacted. Some really liked their present and didn't want to give it up but rules are rules. I winded up sticking the present I picked and to my surprise no one wanted to trade with me! I was very relieved because it was a neck and shoulder massager and I could use it! After the secret Santa we all gathered in the living room for thanksgiving dinner and ate massive amounts. Oh and did I mention the dessert? ENDLESS amounts of dessert. I was so full! This thanksgiving was great. It felt so good to just take a break from the stresses of school for a bit and let loose and have some fun. I am definitely looking forward to next years thanksgiving!

My Time To Shine

Leadership has been described as the "process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task."^[1] Definitions more inclusive of followers have also emerged.
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership)


What does leadership really mean? To me I believe leadership occurs when one person takes the initiative on taking on a project and guides others in the right direction to complete it. I have always admired people who are leaders and don't shy away from the limelight. I believe it is very important to be a leader and not a follower for many reasons. In high school we were assigned many group projects. Usually group projects are my favorite and I rather just work by myself. However, in this specific project there was one specific student who was the group leader. Fortunately it was me. I was so happy when I found out I was assigned the group leader because it meant I had more control over the project. Now I am not saying I don't like other people helping out, but I would just much rather me do the project myself. For the project we had to choose a topic, ours being on the assassination of JFK. We had to teach the class the lesson and make up tests for them as well. Me being the leader I assigned which person would do what and I loved it! I asked each group member when they were free and when we could all meet up to work on the project together. Being in control gave me a sense of freedom. I loved every minute of it and being a leader is a quality everyone should enjoy!

My Difficuly Situation This Semester

This Semester I was faced with many obstacles. Of course being a new freshman was overwhelming itself. I met a lot of great friends and I am having so much fun. However, there is one thing that was very difficult for me. My sleep schedule was very off. In high school I was so used to going to sleep at a decent time every night. I believe I did so because I was on my high schools field hockey team and we had to run day in and day out. After field hockey I would go to work till 9 pm and then go home and complete my homework. I was very busy and I didn't really have time for naps. Now a days its a completely different story. After classes I come back to my dorm and I take several naps throughout the day. By doing so it makes trying to fall asleep at night that much harder. I have been dealing with this situation since the very first day we moved into our rooms. I began to grow sick and tired of not being able to fall asleep so I decided to do something about it. As I thought back on my high school days and what made me fall asleep I can to the conclusion of exercising and taking less naps during the day. I joined the gym in the hopes of being able to fall asleep at night and not be an insomniac anymore. To my surprise it worked! Ever since I joined the gym and began to take fewer naps my sleep schedule is back on track!

Intellectually Stimulated

When I signed up for classes in the summer I didn't know what to expect. Thankfully none of them are really that bad. I do find them boring at times but its manageable. So, what class makes me feel intellectually stimulated you ask? Well, after thinking about it I decided to choose my communications 100 class. My teacher is such a sweetheart and I feel like having a nice teacher makes a huge different. Out of all my classes, that class is the most fun for many reasons. For example, some days we just talk about life and what is currently going on around the world. We do multiple projects and I honestly enjoy them. I know what everyone is thinking. "Multiple" and "Projects" in the same sentence and it's fun? It truly is. We are currently working on a free choice project. We all had to choose a topic that interests them and teach it to the class. I choose the assassination of President JFK. I find that topic to be very interesting because of all the controversies and I am very excited to teach it to the class. I find it so fun to watch everyone's projects whenever they present because they are all on powerpoint. She likes when we use more pictures then words and that too me makes it more enjoyable to watch. This class is so great and I am sad it is ending so soon. We have to register for classes this upcoming Monday and whenever anyone asks me about communications I recommend it 100%

Study, study study!!

Studying is a very big part of college. When I first began my college career at SCSU I was nervous. I knew college was a lot different but I didn't know how different. However, I soon came to realize and it was a very big adjustment for me. The first couple of weeks I was just studying in my room but I realized it wasn't the smartest idea. There was far too many distractions such as friends, tv, or computer. Also, since it was the first couple weeks, people you don't know just pop up in your room to introduce their selves. I mean I am not saying it's a bad thing but when your trying to study it is. So after that experience, I decided to make a change. Whenever I was walking around campus I would keep an eye our for certain study spots. After doing that for quite sometime, who would think my "secret" study spot would be only 4 floors down from my dorm room. The basement! The basement of my hall has couches, desks, and it was so quiet! I began to study down there and found out that I can concentrate so much better. No one is ever down there and I think thats the reason why I like it so much. I can truly get all of my work done down there without any distractions. Every time I have to study I now go to the basement. I LOVE it down there!!

*My QuOTe*

Exercise Does the Body & Mind Good!

                This week I felt very stressed out. I had many projects due and I was just feeling overwhelmed. Instead of getting even more stressed I decided to do something about it. Everyone has their own way of relieving stress. Mine is exercising. I have always felt like excising relieves my stress in many ways. Excising lets me escape into my own little world. I am focused on what I am doing and I just let my mind go. I do not think about upcoming projects, tests, reading, etc. I just exercise and it feels great. Also studies have shown that excising increases health and well being. However, it is also sometimes difficult to exercise everyday because of my daily schedule, but I try to make time for it whenever I can because it makes me feel better. I believe it is the most powerful medicine on earth and so relaxing. Studies have also shown that exercise releases endorphins that make the body feel good. Exercising can change your whole outlook on life because you feel less stressed and more relaxed. For example, midterm week was a killer for me and I was stressed out to the max. I just felt on edge and I wanted to cry at some points. However, by exercising I become calm and it kept me on track. I didn't want to cry as much and I realized that that was just what I needed! I will definitely remember that for future reference. I recommend excising to anyone who is ever feels overwhelmed with their daily lives for these very reasons.

Do you Deserve it or Not?!

                     Do I deserve the grades I receive? I believe I do. I work very hard and I always study whenever I know I have an upcoming test or quiz. Working hard is the key to success and I always try to do my best. Midterms just passed and I felt as if they were never going to end! It was terrible. I have never really been faced with those because in high school they didn't have midterms anymore. So studying for my first college midterms was a bit intense. I got good grades on pretty much all of them and my overall midterm grades where good. I was so proud of myself and just felt accomplished. I deserve the grades I received because I worked hard for them. However, that does not apply to everyone. I feel like some people do not deserve the grade they get. I get so angry when I see people fighting with their teachers about their grades when they did it to themselves. They didn't work hard and they didn't pay attention in class. So why fight with the teacher about it if it was your own fault? Another example I feel is unfair is when the teacher just feels the need to "add" 10 points because everyone in the class did poorly. I believe that is not fixing the problem it is just making the teacher not look as bad. Grade inflation seems to occur often and I feel like it shouldn't. I will continue to work hard for my grades throughout the year and I will be proud of myself.

Narcissism, Good or Not?

Narcissism: self-love: an exceptional interest in and admiration for yourself; "self-love that shut out everyone else"
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&pwst=1&defl=en&q=define:narcissism&sa=X&ei=fi3GTMrKN4P98Aau59UQ&ved=0CBkQkAE


     Is narcissism actually considered a bad thing? I believe it could be but not necessary all the time. I believe it is truly fine to love yourself. Loving yourself is very healthy and I feel like everyone should love themselves in some way. If you don't love yourself who will? Having confidence in ones self is important in order to be successful now and later in life. However, narcissism does have its down falls. Some people take it to far and believe that they are the greatest person in the world and give no one else credit. I believe their is a difference between loving yourself and also loving other people then loving yourself and no one else. Being conceded can also fall into the narcissism category. People take it too far and it is ridiculous. For example, I love myself and give my self compliments all the time because I feel like it is a great thing to do. I am not going to sit here and try and act like I don't love myself because then I would be lying. People who seem to doubt themselves are the people who do not achieve their goals in life. Another example would be from the reading. "At the end of the day I love me and I don't think that's wrong," says Sharise Tucker, a 21-year-old senior at Southern Connecticut State, a self-professed narcissist. "I don't think it's a problem, having most people love themselves. I love me." I completely agree with Sharon 100% because her and I share the same outlook on narcissism. I was also reading what other students had to say about the matter in their blogs. Alexis stated some great facts on the matter and I believe she did a wonderful job explaining the different types of narcissism. I loved this article because it explains both view points and I can say I agree with both to some degree.

Midterm Grades Already?!

                   During these past few months I have come to realize that high school and college are very different. They have very different for many reasons. However, one reason stands out the most to me. The work load. The work load in college is much more intense then it is in high school. I remember going a whole week without having any homework or anything even due. I loved it and seemed to have no worries. Unfortunately, college is way different from high school. Since being here I have had the most homework I think I was ever assigned in all my 4 years of high school. It was definitely a change I had to adjust too. Before I knew it was midterms. I thought to myself, "Midterms already?" I was shocked and nervous to say the least. Although, I believe I am where I wanted to be with all of my classes, there is one class in particular that I am scared about. Geography seems to be the class I am struggling the most in. Unlike all my other classes, geography is a lecture hall and it seems to me that the professor doesn't really care about your individual grade and just wants to teach and get out of the class room. However, I seem as if I am studying, and doing the best I can to keep up with the class and nothing is working. I have learned that for this class I will have to study A LOT more and dedicate more time studying. Besides from geography being a mail concern I feel confident in all my other classes. I will like to set some goals for myself to help me further better my academic career. For the remainder of the year I will like to study more and try to ask more questions in class. I believe if I keep my eye on those goals I will become a better student in the long run.

Coming out of my Comfort Zone

                This week I decided to try something new and exciting, something I have never done before. I usually like to stay in my comfort zone, as well as many other individuals,but I decided not to. Although it may seem easier that way, it also doesn't help to broaden your horizon. Now,  I am not saying I never like to branch out and try new things, I just rather stay comfortable and do the things that come easy to me. This week was different. At the student center they where having something that is called an, "Oxygen Bar." I personally have never heard of an Oxygen Bar and for some reason I was immediately interested. I wondered why it caught my attention so much but I believe it was because so many people were talking about how "cool" and "fun" they were. I was so excited to try it, but I was also nervous. Not knowing anything about this thing was very worrisome. So after contemplating about it I finally decided to go on and do it. I can to realize it wasn't such a big deal. All they did was supply you with tubes that you put in your nose and you just breathe in different scented gases. To my surprise I found this to be extremely fun! Usually, I'll try new things but I never seem to really enjoy them. However, this time was different. I am so happy I got out of my comfort zone and tried this Oxygen Bar. Despite my fears sometimes, I love to try new things and in the future I will try to be more spontaneous!

My Project

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JGv7NazAI8

Family Weekend ! :)

This weekend has come! Family weekend finally! I am very excited because my mom, dad, and two sisters will be up here on Saturday. Since I live in New Jersey I do not get to see them a lot. I actually haven't seen them since I moved into Southern in August. I miss them all very much and words can't describe how happy I am. I am very close with my family that being so far away and not being able to see them frequently is definitely a change for me. However it's a change I decided to have and honestly its not as bad as I thought it would be. I talk to my parents and sisters at least 3 times a week which makes this whole process much better. Me and my sisters share such a great bond and i cant wait to actually get to talk to them it person. They are my best friends as well as my sisters. My oldest sister is  pregnant and I haven't seen her since she told me the news. When she told me she didn't even have a little bump. So, I am so excited to get to see her and touch her belly! I feel like I am missing such an important time in her life and that makes me so sad. She knows I have to be in school and understands but I just wish she I could be with her during her pregnancy. I bought her a little 'Southern Connecticut' bib for her baby and I can't wait to show her! Saturday is going to be so great and I cant wait to show my sister's around campus since they have never been here before! Family means the world to me and this weekend will be awesome!

Benefits of a Peer Mentor

                

"A mentor is an experienced person who provides information, advice, support, and encouragement to a less experienced person, often leading and guiding by example of his/her success in an area." -http://www.ccsf.edu/Services/Mentoring_and_Service_Learning/HTML_Pages/PeerMentoring.html

 Before coming to college I never experienced having a peer mentor. Of course in high school I had a guidance counselor who helped me whenever I needed anything or whenever I needed to talk to someone. But at times I felt as if they didn't enjoy helping and just did it to get it over with because it was their jobs. However, getting a peer mentor in college was way different. Kaitlyn is very helpful and is always happy to answer any questions we have or listen to any concerns we have. As a freshman I didn't really know what to expect. I knew I would have questions and concerns and honestly, I was nervous. I was nervous because I wasn't quite sure who to go to. By having a peer mentor such as Kaitlyn it made me feel 100% better. A peer mentor is meant to help us improve our communication skills, study skills, help us interact with certain events on campus/let us know times and places, and help us build our confidence as undergraduates. I am very proud to say that Kaitlyn meets all of those requirements. By having a peer mentor I feel more comfortable to attend certain events going on around campus and interacting with more students and faculty. One of my favorite things that Kaitlyn does is update us on upcoming events on campus. As a student a lot of things are going on and you tend to lose track of when certain things happen. By Kaitlyn letting us know dates and times, it helps so much. I have learned so much from my peer mentor. Such things include, interacting more on campus, better communication skills, and becoming more confident as a freshman in college. I am so thankful for all that Kaitlyn does in our INQ class and will remember this for the rest of my life.

Future Miss. Toscano

                  When I was younger I remember what every adult used to ask me. "What do you want to be when you grow up." Rapidly my answer would be, "A Vet!" I would just say that because what little kid doesn't love animals and helping them? I never really put much thought into it since I was only a little child and wasn't concerned with my future. However, as I grew up I was forced to think about my future. Its weird in a way. I remember being a little kid and not having a care in the world! Now I was being forced to grow up? How crazy! All throughout high school I would contemplate what I wanted to do for my profession. I would continue to think about it and I came to the conclusion of something that had to do with little kids. I love little kids and I absolutely love helping people. So I put two and two together and figured I may want to be a kindergarten teacher. Although I wasn't fully convinced I still had the idea in the back of my mind. However, it wasn't until my senior year that I came to a decision. During my senior year I took a class that was called, "Family Life Skills." In that class we learned about little kids and about 3 times a week we would hold a pre-school for them. Each student was assigned a pre-schooler and it was honestly such a learning experience. I loved helping all the little kids learn new things and inspire them. Watching them grow was so amazing and I loved every minute of it. I am so grateful I took that class because it made me realize what I wanted to do for the rest of my life!

Blogger Perfection

              What makes a good blog post? Have you ever come across a blog that is very dry and boring? It makes it almost impossible to continue reading. So what makes a good blog post you ask? I believe many things go into a well written blog. Creativity, significance, interesting, fun, enjoyable, and individuality are only some of the factors that make a great blog post. Without these factors the blog will be very boring and wont catch the readers attention. Catching the readers attention is something a good blog post has to have. By catching the readers attention it grabs him or her in and allows them to explore your blog post with interest. Some people get the wrong idea about blogs. They believe that they are boring and useless. However, when you create a blog that is enjoyable to read it engages the reader and makes them want to come back for more. In my opinion blogs that tell us a story and let us into their lives are the best ones. Everyone loves a story and it seems to be easier to read when it is. In this INQ class many students write amazing blogs. For example I LOVE the way Alexis writes. She lets us into her personal life and isn't afraid of what anyone thinks.http://alexisinqblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/petrone-in-your-heart.html . Her words flow so easily and freely. Another blogger in this class that I admire would be Michelle. I love the pictures she uses. It catches the readers attention and draws us in for more! http://inq101molsen.blogspot.com/. This class is very talented and I truly enjoy reading and exploring all different blogs!

College vs.High School

               When I think of college many questions flood into my mind. However, one question in particular stands out to me. "What are good work habits?" This question can have many different answers. I choose to do my project on this topic for that reason. I believe many people will have different and unique answers which will make my project more interesting. At first I thought this project was going to be so hard and confusing. However, after I thought of a good question everything is coming together.
                For my digital storytelling project I will explore around campus and find out what people responses are to the question, " What are good work habits?" I believe in doing this I will find out that people will have all different answers and they will contribute a lot to my project. Also, I will discuss the difference between college and high school. Of course college differs from high school but how? I will like the people I interview to say that their opinion is. I find it very fun to see what different people have to say about certain things.
               To be honest, I thought this project was going to be so hard and so confusing. However, after thinking and coming up with a good question my outlook on this project changed drastically. I realized that this project might actually be fun. I enjoy hearing what others have to say about a topic and cant wait to see what their responses are. I am excited to get started and cant wait to share my project with others!

First Ever Televised SCSU Football Game!

             SCSU on national television? When I found out that my school was going to be on TV for football I was very surprised. Usually only D1 sports are televised and for a D2 school to be on TV was very exciting. Some of my friends are on the football team and I was so happy for them because they we're extremely pumped to be on CBS. I love sports and came from a high school that was very school spirited. School spirit is very important to me and I love the fact that so many people showed up at the game on Friday.
           Before the game they had a very nice tailgate. Me and my friends had free hot dogs, fries, soda, Italian ices, fried dough and much more. It was all very delicious and hey, what college kid will turn down free food? Also, during the tailgate people were walking around with face paint and colored hairspray. Although I didn't spray paint my hair I did have someone draw on my face.
           During the game everyone was going nuts! I was having such a good time and I learned many new chants. I also made many new friends. The thing I love the most about sporting events is that you meet new people and it is so fun! We ended up winning the game and everyone was so pleased. The football players especially we're pumped up about their victorious win. This Friday is the next home game and I cant wait! I will definitely be there and I hope they win again!

Blogs, blogs, and more blogs.

                    Writing to me means expressing my feeling freely. However, when I have to write for an english class or any other class I feel as if I am restricted sometimes. Blogs on the other hand are much different. Blogs allow you to express yourself in any way, shape, or form without anyone judging you. For this reason, I love reading blogs and do not mind writing them. Reading other peoples blogs are very fascinating to me because it allows me to understand who they really are as a person.
                   Lo Bosworth's blogs are ones I especially love. Lo's way of writing and expressing herself is so admirable and fun to read. Her blogs are so girly and they let us know more about the once Laguna beach teenager. I love how she blogs about shopping, working out secrets, and disaster dates. Her blogs are so funny and everything a girl could ever love and relate too.
                  The other person who I admire would be Sean Avery of the New York Rangers. He is my favorite player in the NHL and I love his blogs for many reasons. His blogs are very different from any other blogs I have looked at. Avery mostly posts pictures on his blog account and all of his pictures make me crack up! He writes as well, but most of his blogs are photos. I almost like that better because he is being different by expressing himself through pictures rather than words.  Although these two blogs are very different from one another, I admire both their sense of styles. They catch my attention and make me get a better understanding of who they are outside of their famous lives.

http://thelodown.com/
http://www.seanavery.com/blog

What Time Management Means Too Me.

                   What is time management? Time management to me means a variety of different things. It means that you understand the concept of juggling multiple tasks at one time. It also means that you are responsible enough to get things done instead of doing other things you'd much rather be doing. In high school I never fully understood the concept of what time management really was. However, coming to college was such a wake up call.

                   Time management is basically used every day in college. I have come to realize this and surprisingly, I caught onto it fast. However, I do run into some problems in which I have to organize my time wisely. Such problems would have to be balancing my time with friends and doing my school work. Of course I want to hangout with my friends and try and make new ones, what freshman doesnt? But when it comes down to it, I have to be responsible and get my work done first. I go by the motto "Work now play later."

                Another problem I tend to face would be managing my time to talk to my family. Often there are times when they call me and I am doing my homework or hanging out with friends. I feel terrible because its not that I don't want to talk to them, I am just busy. However, I have to find time for them too. They are my family and I miss them just as much as they miss me. Time management is a very big part of my life and I am actually happy I am faced with these difficulties because it helps me grow as a person.

                   

Outcasts United

                         To be honest, when we got assigned the book Outcasts United, I was not thrilled at all. It was summer, what student would be? However, as I started to read the book I came to realize how interesting it was. The author Warren St. John did such a wondering job in explaining every characters backgrounds and cultures. Although at times it could of been a bit much with remembering everyone, I tried my best and still kept on reading.
                       Outcasts United takes place in Clarkston, Georgia. Clarkston is a southern town in which many refugees settle. The main character in the book would be Luma Mufleh. Luma created many soccer teams to help refugee kids stay out of trouble and make them feel more at home. All of the kids were from all over the world. This book is so diverse and it helps us understand what these refugee families are going through. Warren St. John lets us into the lives and cultures of every kid and I think that was very important. Although Luma did create many soccer teams she did come across many difficulties. Such difficulties include not being able to get a field for the kids, making sure the kids get to practice on time, or providing food for some of the families. Luma reminds me of my high school field hockey coach. She is very tough and wants the kids to come to practice on time everyday and if not there will be consequences. By Luma being tough it made the kids want to win the game and play hard. They did not want Luma to be disappointed and tried their best every game. Although they didnt win all the games they did learn one time. The kids learned that even though they are from different countries they were family and Luma united them together.
                              

Keep Old Friends & Create New Ones

                   Coming into college, I knew it would be very different. I have the best friends back at home and I knew it would be very hard to compare anyone else too them. However, to my surprise I met some of the greatest friends already. It is very weird because we all click so well! I definitely did not expect this to happen and I am so happy and fortunate it did. I know a lot of people who have traumatic college experiences and coming to Southern definitely sparked up some concerns of my own. Luckily, I met very nice people who I feel comfortable around. Feeling comfortable around people is very important to me. If I do not feel comfortable around people I can not be myself. The friends I made here remind me of my friends back home and that to me is just awesome. Coming to college I knew I would be making a lot of friends but I didn't expect to be so close with them already. It has only been 3 weeks and we are already talking about Christmas break and how much we are going to miss one another.
                   However, I miss my friends from home so much. Whenever I speak to my friends I share with them the memories I am creating with my new friends and they are all so happy for me. Some people would get jealous of their friends making new friends but not my friends. My friends from home are so understanding and they are just happy I am having a blast here. Me and my friends from home share some great memories and no one can ever replace them. I am so excited to start more memories with my new friends and I look forward to the future.

" Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live"

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