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.

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.

Becoming a Jag!

Most students have a list of colleges they wish to attend before entering their senior year of high school, and like most student so did I. After narrowing down my list to two prospective schools I thought my final decision was near. A couple of weeks later a friend informed me of the University of South Alabama and expressed how much they loved it and wished to attend. Shortly after, I schedule a campus tour with my parents. The moment we entered campus on Stadium Drive from Old Shell we all instantly loved it. Immediately after returning home from the visit, I completed my online application and had my guidance counselor send my transcript. A couple of weeks later I received my acceptance letter along with scholarship offers in the mail. After sharing the news with my family, everyone proceeded to purchase me "Jag Swag". After applying and coming for the campus tour, my family knew my college decision was finalized and that's why you too should apply and come visit our campus.

My name is ....

Hi, my name is Jadontae Gray and I'm from Montgomery, Alabama. I'm a junior at the University of South Alabama majoring in Mechanical Engineering. I'm a HUGE sports fan, and these are some things you should know!

South Alabama competes at the NCAA Division I level, member of the SunBelt Conference, and is composed of eight men sports and nine women sports. South Alabama has on campus venues for the men's and women's basketball,  baseball, softball, volleyball, and women's soccer! Also an on campus football stadium is in the making! For all home games students have free admission, so come out and support our Jags!!

Why is college for you?

Before deciding on what college you wish to attend, you must first determine if attending college is the right decision for you. After graduating high school, the goal is to become independent. Statistics show that males from the age range 20-24 that hold a bachelor's degree or higher have a 90 percent employment rate. Females have a 83 percent employment rate when having the same education. This data from the National Center for Education Statistics prove that your chances for employment and independence are favored greatly with a higher education. College is also a great place to network and meet new people. Universities are melting pots of different cultures and ideas, allowing student to explore their different interest and beliefs. College also brings you hands on experiences with the real world and better prepares you for the future.

Why South?

Nation College Decision Day is May 1st and its a time where most students submit their acceptance to mark the decision on what university they plan to attend. In high school for national college day, all seniors were asked to wear a shirt representing the university they plan to attend. That morning, waking up and deciding to wear my red University of South Alabama shirt is a day that I'll never regret. I've always considered South to be one of my top choices, but when national college decision day came around, my heart lead me to South. I remembered the friendly students and staff, smiling faces, and beautiful campus, which all made the decision that much more clear and easy.