Campus Safety

I thought the presentation was actually very informative. I didn't understand about all the bus services we could take at night and I am now going to use the cocky's caravan. Some of the stories made me really nervous. I normally don't lock my door at night but I'm going to start now. I didn't realize we had so many policeman on campus. It really makes me feel safe on campus, especially since a lot of my classes aren't out until it's already dark outside. I had also never heard about not getting to close to trains because they can suck you under. It made me sick thinking about the guy who died last year. Over all I think the campus safety presentation was very informative.

Student Organization

My student organization is my sorority. We have meetings ever Monday and Wednesday and I have class on Tuesday and Thursday nights so I have trouble attending other meetings. The sorority is a lot different than I thought it would be. I was debating dropping at the beginning but I've met some really great people through it, so I am going to stick with it. The sorority also makes it so I get involved with other organizations such as Dance marathon, and community service. I was looking for a place I could meet people outside of my hall and classes and that's definitely what I got. Overall I think the sorority will be a positive experience for me.

Hot Cookie Friday

My friends on the floor and I had already attended a Happy Birthday Friday and were looking forward to our first hot cookie Friday. Unfortunately they only come once a month. Luckily we remembered last Friday to go and were there right at 2. The cookies were warm and delicious, who doesn't love to start off the weekends that way. It's a great way to get people from capstone together and they won't look at it like a chore and will actually want to go. I met a few new people and overall had a great time. Unfortunately I couldn't stay long because I had a lecture I had to go to. However I plan on attending this every friday they have it and continuing to get to know the people I live with.

Visit with Professor

My visit with my professor was great. I was having trouble in her class so i went to her office hours to get extra help. I found out that she bikes to school everyday and has a husband and kids. I found out that her favorite sport is soccer also. She explained everything really clearly to me and I'm going to start going every week for extra help. If I had to give advice to someone who was going to meet with his or her professor I would say just do it. It helps a lot. It's really good to get to know your professors personally especially in your major. Come with question ready about what you don't understand and they can practically be your own personal tutor. Usually the professors are happy to help any way they can and like to see that your putting in the effort to do well in their class.

First Experience at Hand Middle School

My first experience at Hand Middle School was great. When I saw the kids coming out of classes and we saw the classrooms and playground I got really excited. I wasn't looking forward to the volunteer experience before but now I think mentoring a kid will be fun. I think this opportunity will benefit not only the child I'm mentoring but myself also. I hope to get a better understanding at empathy out of the experience. I will be focused fully on just listening and not pouring on about my experiences and advice. I hope to build a relationship with whoever I'm with and that it's not completely awkward talking to them. Also I want to make some kind of difference in their lives and that my visits aren't completely pointless to them.

Expectations of Hand Middle School

One of my fears about going to Hand middle school is that I wont have anything to teach them. I am going through a huge transition in my life, I haven't overcome it yet. I don't know how I am going to teach a kid how to be successful in their transition when I am having difficulty myself. I am also not sure what I am actually supposed to do with him/her. Tell me to help them with their homework and tutor them? Yeah I'd be happy to, but mentoring? I've never mentored someone before. In grade school and high school, certain teachers would make us write out our goals and I hated it. I don't know what I'm going to say when they ask me the importance of writing down goals when I don't know the answer myself. I am really good with kids though and have done many volunteer jobs with kids and summer camps so I am glad I will be comfortable with some aspect of the volunteer job.

LASSI

I have taken many "learn more about yourself" quizzes through the years and have never...well... learned anything more about myself. What scared me about this test though, was coming into class on Monday and listening to everyone complain about their scores. They were complaining about the one area they were particularly low in while for me, everything was low except for my motivation. I thought my study skills and drive for being in school were pretty good. I had to study for practically every test in high school and I feel that I know what works and doesn't work for me. The main area I am going to work on in my study skills is not cramming. I am going to start a week before every test and study a little bit each day. The main area I agree with is my motivation. I am very motivated to get my work done and do not procrastinate (unless its on blogs :) ). This is a very good skill to have in college and keeps me a little less stressed.

Past Service Experience

Sophomore year we had an "ACTS" program at my school where we went out to volunteer at nursing homes, disability services, and grade schools every Wednesday. I chose to work in a classroom with 3 year olds and had a blast interacting with the kids. Then junior and senior year, I volunteered at a Dare to Care:Kid's Cafe, a food kitchen/afterschool program for kids in downtown louisville. I had a lot of fun there, helping the kids and getting to know the other volunteers. If we're not there to help others, no one will be there when we're in need of help. Volunteering is very important in uniting the world. I am very passionate about service that has to do with working with kids and the environment. I hope to continue doing service in these areas through the course of my life.

Time Management

I have always been good at managing my time in high school. I went to a pretty difficult school and all my friends had to pull all nighters to get work done while I always stayed a day ahead of schedule. That is until I arrived at South Carolina. It is very hard to get work done when I live with my friends who always seem to have something going on every night. Living somewhere with noise 24/7 is something I'm definitely going to have to adjust to. I plan to start going to the library to get my work done instead of doing it in the dorm room. I keep a planner and write down all the assignments, crossing them off as i finish them. The planner has always worked well in the past for keeping me organized. I also used to make short term goals for myself. For example "I need to finish the math homework and the english introduction before I watch my T.V. show". I always would follow my short term goals and they seemed to help a lot. I plan to make them in college also, making sure to put my school work before social time.

Involvement

I am looking to get involved in many of the activities at University of South Carolina. I have already taken my first step by joining a sorority. Sororities take up a lot more time than I had planned, having meetings twice a week and even more activities on top of those, but i still plan on joining more groups. I went to the Student Organization Fair on wednesday and that was very overwhelming. There were people at all angles throwing fliers at me and I had no idea what to sign up for. I decided to sign up for the scuba diving club, belly dancing, skydivers, SEAS, and I'm going to join the intramural bowling league with some kids on my floor. I am really going to have to figure out which activities I want to get involved in the most though because I don't think I have time for all of them. With the sorority I will be getting involved with dance marathon, volunteering, and other events. I am looking forward to getting involved with all that South Carolina has to offer me.

My first few weeks in Carolina

Up to the last week in April, I still had no idea where I was going to attend this fall. I had narrowed it down to USC or UK. One was eight hours away, the other only an hour. I would know no one at one school, and everyone at the other. I would be assigned a random roommate that could go terribly wrong or room with my best friend. Almost everyone was shocked when I chose South Carolina, myself included. Coming to South Carolina has been a huge change for me. I came from an all girls catholic school of 1,000 kids to a public university where I get weird stares when using the phrase "you guys" instead of "y'all" and when I ask "What are Rainbows? The thing in the sky?" I am so glad I took a chance and decided to leave my comfort zone . I have loved my experiences here thus far and all the new people I have come across. The classes are a lot different than what I'm used to but I have been able to keep up with them so far and actually find them more interesting than my classes in high school. There are so many more activities I can't wait to participate in at South Carolina and I am looking forward to the rest of my freshman year here.