What I Love About South

In honor of Valentine's Day, here are some reasons why I love South! One of the reasons I love South is because of the atmosphere and feeling you get from being a student on campus. With smaller classrooms, you are allowed to have a more personal connection with your professor and classmates. I love this aspect about South because it allows better understanding of material and also allows the bond you make with classmates to grow outside of the classroom. I feel that South is the perfect size, not too big or small. Allowing you to meet new people but also grow with the people you may have known since freshman year. South also has a diverse, welcoming campus that allows you to fit in and be yourself. This aspect allows you to meet new people from different backgrounds, resulting in you learning more about others and their customs.

Favorite course this semester: EG 283

For the spring 2018 semester I am taking 5 courses with one being paired with a lab. As a sophomore I am taking calculus 3, calculus based physics 2 paired with lab, linear algebra, american literature, and engineering statics. Of these five classes, engineering statics if my favorite for many reason. As a mechanical engineering major, statics is my favorite course because it is directly related to my desired field. My professor present real world problems that we may have to solve in the future. He also brings in problems that he is currently working on at the moment that we solve together. Another reason this is my favorite course is because like most problems, there are multiple ways to solve it. So the reason EG 283 is my favorite course is because of the material it covers, the professor that teaches it, and the overall message it teaches.

College Selection Tips

The stage of transitioning from high school to college is one of the biggest steps an individual has to take in their life. After preparing a list of the possible college you would like to attend, I would recommend creating a list of things you look for in a college. Three tips I would advise all prospective college students to take includes being sure that the college has their desired major, it provides extra curriculum activities based on their interest, and to take visits to that college's campus. It is important to pick a school that offers the major you wished to pursue a degree in because it is essentially the main purpose of getting a college education. If that college has the major you wish to pursue, determining if they have program or extra activities to expand on your interest is an important asset in the college selection process. Finally, the campus visit should be the final piece to the college selection puzzle. The college location, campus life, and other student will allow you to have a feeling for what the upcoming years would have to offer.

Down Time!

As a student at the University of South Alabama, there are so many things to do outside of class. When I am done with classes I have healthy balance of studying and relaxing. I would spend time reviewing material that I've learned, but most importantly I  take a break from school and spend time doing the things I enjoy. Going to sporting events, the rec center, and sleeping are some of the most common activities. There has not been a week without sporting events happening involving South. I enjoy cheering on my fellows Jags as they compete at a high level. If I am not able to make a game, I enjoy going to the rec center. At the rec center there are multiple things to do, playing ping pong being one of my favorites. Most importantly, when I am not in class I enjoy sleeping. After a long stressful day, returning home and taking a nap restores all the energy and prepares you for the next day.

Getting Involved

The beginning of freshman year I knew it was critical for me to get involved on campus. To enjoy college and to get the full experience I understood that getting out and meeting knew people could make school so much better. Instead of sitting in my room all day after class, I was persistent in leaving the room and finding new things to do. The first way i got involved on campus was with intramural sports. I learned about intramural sports while attending the rec center; joining was simple and the organization has something for everyone. A more academic aspect of campus involvement simply came from attending class. Based upon your interest, teachers and other students highly recommend and ask you to join organizations that they are apart of. An example of an organization I am a member of is SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers). Being an engineering major, this organization allows me to get more real world experience and apply concepts that are being taught in class. At South there are tons or ways to get involved, no matter your interest, there are tons organization you can be apart of.

Thankful to be a Jag

The aspect of being a student at the University of South Alabama that I am most grateful for is the fact  that all home games are free. No matter the sport, South allows every student to attend the event by just showing our JagCards. I am most grateful for this aspect of South because I am a huge sports fan and I enjoy and take full advantage of the opportunity to cheer on my fellow Jags. With South being a Division 1 program, this luxury is not taken lightly. Other Division 1 programs only allow their students to attend certain events and of those events they are allowed to attend they must purchase the tickets. Over the past year I have attended almost every basketball, football, baseball, softball, and volleyball home game for absolutely FREE. Having the opportunity to watch great, competitive games for the price of nothing is an opportunity I just cant pass up.

Launch Team

As a student of the University of South Alabama, the student organization that I admire the most would have to the USA Launch Society. The Launch Society works on high powered rockets as part of the University Student Launch Initiative (USLI) Competition.

The reason I admire the Launch Society is because they built a 5ft rocket that launches and reaches apogee at about 1 mile high. That is roughly a vertical altitude of 5,280 feet high. The members are mostly seniors that work diligently to determine different factors that will produce a better launch. This past year the Launch Society qualified to compete in a NASA launch competition. In order to compete, they compiled an article over 50 pages long for NASA explaining their rocket dimension, safety protocols, and motor size. Although they didn't win at the NASA Launch, South's Launch Society placed in multiple events giving recognition to their hard work.

Preparation is Key!

As a high school senior there are multiple things students should be doing in preparation for college. It is important that all high school seniors start building healthy habits to become more responsible individuals. Starting now, seniors should practice better time management, better spending habits, and develops stronger study skills.

A students first year in college is one of the most drastic changes in their entire life. Being away from parents could potentially make or break you. As a college student you wont have someone on you about completing homework or attending class, that choice is solely up to the student. With the freedom you have to determine when to complete homework, or in other cases, when not to go hang with friends. Seniors should also develop stronger study habits. When developing those habit, you should not only memorize a specific problem or how to do it, but instead understand the concept and why it is done. All of these keys for preparation for college will make you a better high school senior, and more importantly an all-around better person. 

JAG Perks

Being a student at the University of South Alabama is a reward all in itself, but along with that, many perks are rewarded for being a Jag. Becoming a jaguar allows you to be apart of a huge family, one that everyone embraces you and welcomes you with open arms. On campus, the perk of just being able to walk up to a complete "stranger" will reward you with a full conversation. Along with being part of the family, the opportunity to receive things such as free snow cones on hot days are in place just to show South's gratitude towards us for being a jag. Game days are also filled with perks, with the presence of your student ID, students are able to enter any sporting event by just flashing it. The perks of being a jag is limitless, become part of the jag family to explore all of the possibilities!

Homecoming Week!

South Alabama is celebrating homecoming week with the theme "54 Year: Roaring Through the Decades."  Homecoming is a special event because it brings together the community to celebrate. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and fans all come together to show their Jag spirit in a week long list of activities for everyone to participate in. The homecoming football game this year will be Saturday, October 21st against Louisiana-Monroe at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Leading up the the game, Monday there is the traditional "Junk the Jungle" where students toss rolls of tissue in the traffic circle to cover the trees which is immediately followed by a huge bonfire and and movie night rewarding warm coco and s'more. Tuesday night is for the battle of DJ's. Where the best DJ's battle to show off their skills in hopes of winning the cash prize. Wednesday night is fun fest. Everyone comes out to just relax and have fun and to enjoy free food. Live music, inflatables, and games liven up the night as everyone ROAR through the decades having a blast. Thursday and Friday are also full of activities events such as the ice cream and the Joey Jones Luncheon, but the main event is Saturday. Saturday evening is when you come out in school colors, screaming to the top of your lungs supporting the JAGS!

Fall Break!!

Hey everyone! Its finally fall, my favorite season of the year. To set off the fall season, we have fall break. Fall break gives you the opportunity to relax and clear your mind before midterms and have fun. For fall break I enjoy watching football, returning home to visit family, and studying with friends for midterms.
This fall break I am spending my watching the South versus troy football game. With Troy being South's rival, this game is sure to bring tons of excitement. I also plan to visit family to just relax and vent on how this semester is currently going. Wrapping up my fall break, I plan on studying to ace midterms and to get a head start on the courses i have.