A Week in My South Alabama Life

 A typical week for me as a Jag begins in the classroom. Taking notes, asking questions, and completing assignments are the little things that make college go a lot smoother. Outside of the classroom I enjoy spending time with different social and academic clubs. Also with South being a Division I sports program, there is always a home sporting event taking place!

Top 4 Places to Study

Whether it be studying for an exam or just getting ahead on homework, finding places to study are critical when retaining information. The most common place to focus and study is the library. South Alabama's Marx Library is designed for individual studying and group studying. Another great place to study on campus is Shelby Hall. Whether it's brief review session in between classes or planned, Shelby is a great resource because of the atmosphere and others that are likely to be working on similar assignments. My go to place to study off campus is Panera. Panera Bread offers a quiet environment and a bite to eat while studying. Your room is also a great place to study on campus. It is important to maintain focus and retract from the possible distractions that may occur.

College Beyond the Classroom

Beyond the classroom, college has taught me life lessons that has overall improved the person I am. As a college student your are able to see and enjoy the diversity in the world. South offers many clubs and organizations that allows student to share their different back grounds and beliefs. Before I would most likely reject the idea of doing something out of my normal routine but after forming friendships with those of a different background, I would readily try new things. Outside of the classroom, college has also brought about a more mature and developed thought processing system. My critical thinking skills are enhanced allowing me solve more complex problems, by observing problems from more than one point of view. Attending college is more than the courses offered, but more about the development of an individual. 

Things to Make College Feel Like Home

The transition from high school to college is a scary thought for most seniors. To make the process smoother students can take certain steps to get accustom. A student can bring a special item from home to help when missing certain aspects of being home. Creating friendship allows students to explore new things and people. Having healthy communication with family and friends back homes assures both parties they are not forgotten. When students become more involved in the community they become are allowed to focus more on the new things they enjoy, rather that sulk on things believed to be missed. Hanging pictures around your room gives a visual reminded of loved ones, while adding a home element.

Class I'm Most Excited For

This semester, the class I am most excited for is Material Science. In this engineering class we will look at different materials at the atomic level to determine their structure and strengths. I am most excited for this class because it translate into the real world and gives reason to why certain structures and equipment are composed of different materials. Along with the course work, I'm excited about the professor teaching the class. The professor, Dr. Karr, is very knowledgeable about the subject and does a really good job transferring the information to students.

My Winter Break

Wrapping up the Fall semester after a long week of finals, students are rewarded with winter break. This winter break I look forward to spending time with family and old friends. Christmas morning we have breakfast with close and distant relatives at my grandmother's home, then we proceed to exchange gifts. Shortly after, we are traveling to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. In Gatlinburg, we will celebrate bringing in the New Year and visit the ski resort for entertainment.

My Life As An Engineering Major

5 Things About Engineering

• The University of South Alabama has Undergraduate Programs in Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering. South also offer M.S. in Chemical, Civil, and Mechanical Engineering.
•  Shelby Hall is a 155,000 SF Facility with 17 classrooms and 63 labs.
• There are 20+ Student Organizations. Those organizations are discipline specific, special interest orientated, and honor societies.
• Each department offers research with Professors and graduate students.
• The Mechanical Engineering Mission Statement is as follows: "The mission of the the Mechanical Engineering Department is to provide quality education at both undergraduate and graduate levels, and to create and disseminate knowledge and technology in the field of mechanical engineering."

A Week in my USA Life!

A typical Jag week for me starts around 7 a.m. on week days. The benefit of having morning classes allows you to get the most out of your day. In between classes or after class, I go to the library to study and stay on top of upcoming work. In classes or the library, studying with friends helps understanding the material covered. When finishing classes shortly after noon, it allows free time to choose how you wish to spend the rest of your day. I typically spend my free time in the Rec Center. Whether it's playing basketball or ping pong, the rec center is my way of "relaxing" after an long day.

5 Fun Facts About Me

Name: Jadontae Gray

5 Fun Facts 

• I am from Montgomery, AL and the youngest of four brothers!
• I enjoy playing basketball, baseball, and football in my spare time!
• I learned about South from my best friend of 8 years (we both attend South now)!
• For USA's Homecoming week, I attend the parade on campus followed by the Pep Rally!
• Majoring in mechanical engineering

First visit to South!

As a high school senior, I scheduled a campus tour with my parents to get a closer look at South. After arriving on campus, we have a designated parking spot with my name on it! After taking a short walk, we arrived at Meisler Hall where we were greeted by the SouthGuides. Before we were shown the campus, recruitment officers gave us some information about South and asked if we had any questions. The SouthGuides then took us on the tour, stopping by the different educational building, housing, dining, and recreation center. As an engineering major, we able to enter Shelby Hall and learn more about the classes that are offered. We then stopped at the housing community and were able to see the freshman only resident halls. None of the residence halls on campus have community showers and they are co-ed. The halls are also secured with an automatic locking system that only open when a student living in the hall swipes their JagCard to enter! The campus rec center was arguably one of my favorite location on the first visit! Inside the rec center there are multiple basketball and volleyball courts! They also have indoor soccer, racket ball, weight lighting, and different workout classes! At the end of my first visit, my college decision was finalized.

Preparation is Key!

As a high school senior, there are many steps and actions that should be taken to prepare for college. Areas to work on while still you're still in high school include academics, finances, and social life. Having good balance between the these will make your transition into college and adulthood a lot smoother.
Some would say the most important aspect of college is academics; getting a nice, solid education. While in high school you can prepare by forming good study habits. Working hard to increase your GPA to its maximum or getting the highest possible ACT scores are things that will translate into college necessities. Others believe that college is a place to network and be socially active with other. Both are extremely important and force you to work on time management skills, which will carry over into everyday life. Another import aspect of college is making financially sound decisions. Just by creating a weekly budget and schedule, you are setting yourself up for success in the future.