What I've Learned...

Since leaving home for college and becoming a Jag, I've learned the importance and value of family. The importance of having a strong relationship with closest family members became very clear to me shortly after leaving and arriving to college. The drastic change from seeing a mother and father everyday to weeks or even months a time is a huge and important step in ones life. The distance and time apart allows space for needed growth and also gives the opportunity to strengthen a relationship over distance. Becoming a Jag taught me to value and cherish the little things that I once took for granted.

What I Wish I Knew Then

If there was a single piece of advice I could give myself three years ago before entering college, it would be to understand the importance of prioritizing and time management. The perks of being a college student with more freedom also comes with more responsibility. Becoming more organized and planning your week ahead could be very beneficial to college students and will contribute to a healthy balance of work and play. Managing your time correctly is the first step, but being able to prioritize based on importance is key. Becoming more organized allows you to prioritize and manage your time more efficiently, resulting in better decision making.

Preparing to be a Jag

As a high school senior or community college transfer, there are multiple things you should do in preparing for college. Creating a check list of things to do such as applying for housing, dining, and orientation are some of the basic essentials before moving in and being more independent. More independence and freedom comes more responsibility and by starting to practice now will be very beneficial. Practicing time management skills and budgeting are more indirect ways that will make preparing for college a lot smoother. Also, finding a healthy balance between work and play is very crucial in mental and physical college success.

Favorite Spot on Campus

Spring time is here and it is a great time to be a Jag. With the weather warming up, it's always nice to get outdoors and explore South Alabama's campus. Seeing a group of friends gathering on the lawn to have a nice picnic or study session isn't an uncommon sight on campus. My personal favorite spot to relax and student on campus would have to between two pine trees nearest the residence halls. I enjoy hanging my ENO mid-day to just relax or casually study.

Jags Give Back

At the University of South Alabama we really value giving back to the community. There are several groups and organizations that are geared towards helping the community. The university also hold events that allows individuals that are not apart of a specific group or organization to give back. As a student, I give back to the community by volunteering at the Salvation Army cleanup on weeks, donating blood, and donating non-perishable items. The University reserves certain days out of the year for LifeSouth to come and receive blood donations from students, providing convenience for student's busy schedules. Ticket Forgiveness is also in place to help student's give back to the community by bringing toiletries and nonperishable items for the less fortunate, while relieving them of their parking tickets.   

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.