Last Words from a Graduating Senior

This is a sad day for me because this is my last blog.  As a December graduate, I've spent the past week reminiscing on the past four years.  How did it go so fast?  Here are the top 10 things I wish I knew while I attended Indiana University.

1. You don't need to have your books the first day of class unless you really want to get used texts. It's better to buy online and sometimes there are electronic or reserved copies of textbooks at the library that you don't need to pay for (professors rarely tell you about this!) Some good online shops: chegg.com, campusbooks.com, and amaazonbooks.com.

2. Indiana University has one of the biggest selesctions of foreign language courses in the world, so please advantage of it. Think about how much your resume will stand out if you speak something other than French or Spanish.

3. Teter Residence Hall is the best! Yes, I'm being biased, but it's true.  It's in the best location, right in the center of campus. Also, when you get hungry at 3 a.m. you can run to several late-night eateries across the street (i.e., Village Pantry, Pizza X, Fortune Cookies, Jimmy Johns and more).

4. If you want to leave your room to study, you should reserve the Wells Library for last. My favorite study place is the Indiana Memorial Union because they have big comfy couches (also, the cushions are removable and make great pillows).

5. If there is something that you want to do or get done, then tell everyone. Let everyone know your goal, because you never know who or what they could know to help you. Networking is a vital thing that you should practice while in college. You have to make your own opportunities in life.

6. The classes that you think will be the easiest turn out to be the most time consuming. I thought it would be a breeze with most of my last semester being fine arts classes, but I soon realized I had never spent so much time on classwork before.

7. Take morning classes because it's better to get them out of the way early.

8. There is free food everywhere. Look for posters, sidewalk chalkings, and check Indiana University's website for events. Many times the happenings on campus offer free food, and you might make a new friend in the process.

9. I don't want to sound like a professor here, but get things done early. There have been countless times where I made my life hard by waiting until the last minute to complete an assignment. Spending the weekend catching up on the last season of "Glee" isn't worth it.

10. Finally, technology can be your enemy. Save and back up everything! I cant stress this enough. Take this advice from someone who lost a 22-page paper thanks to a computer malfunction. The paper was due in 20 minutes, and after I went through the seven stages of grief I talked to my professor. (Side note: Professors are actually more understanding than you might think!!)

I hope this advice has been helpful. As my Indiana University career comes to an end, I am excited about what life has in store. No matter what choices you make while here in college, make sure you have no regrets. My favorite quote is: "Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery and today is a gift, that's why they call it the present."  

The 20-Somethings Exhibition Show

On December 3, I attended a BFA exhibit.  It took place at the Paper Plane Gallery.  This was an exhibition of collaborative works by the BFA Photography students; Maggie Arthur, Sean Cappel, Gaby Cheikh, Kristen Endres, Leah Fithian, Valerie Leek, Elaine Miller, Griffen Oellerich, Molly Quanty, Greg Shappell, and Steve Yim.

I loved the show.  Personally, I think photography is one of the best artistic mediums.  I've taken several photography classes here at Indiana University.  It was so good to see the work of old classmates.

The show was inspired by an article in The New York Times about post-graduates.  The article was about how post-graduates are taking longer to "grow up".  The BFA students wanted to tackle the question of what post-graduates go through after graduating.

Relax! You're in College

College is supposed to be the best time of your life, right? Yes, it is. At Indiana University, you can discover who you want to be, make great friends, and take great classes. So whatever you are going through, just know that it's almost over. Things are never as bad as they seem. And once it's over, you'll be wondering why you made it a big deal anyway. There are only a few more weeks left, so give it your all. Just don't overdo it. Staying up all night cramming for tests and writing papers is not the way to go. Time management skills are important, but most people don't have them. The residence halls make bulletin boards on the importance of maintaining your sanity during crucial study weeks.

Here are some tips that should be obvious, but...

1. Get 7-8 hours of sleep
2. Take a break from studying
3. Learn to relax and not stress out
4.Set realistic expectations for yourself

5. Things are so much more fun with friends
6. Stay organized and develop great time management skills
7. Eat! (Even if it's not balanced food is important.)
8.  Worst case scenario: You do poorly and need to work harder next time

Don't sacrifice your health for a test or paper. It's not worth it. Enjoy your Thanksgiving break.  Honestly, this semester is going to look like roses compared to what is in store for finals! So don't have a cow!

Hoosier Cafe Provides Late Night Treats

Are you tired of fast food places late into the night?  Well, when Jimmy John's no longer satisfy you then stop by the Hoosier Cafe.  The Hoosier Cafe is located in Wright Quad Residence Hall.  They have a variety of items to satisfy your late night needs.

They can provide your household and grocery needs.  Do you need laundry detergent?  They have it!  Do you need a gourmet vegetarian frozen dinner?  Yes, they have that too.

Hoosier Cafe is open until midnight.  The best thing about it is that you can us your meal points.  You can use them even to get Listerine or laundry softner.  So if you find yourself studying late at the library, run on over to the Hoosier Cafe. 

Mathers Museum of Culture

The best kept secret in Bloomington is the Mathers Museum.  If you love culture and art then please go!  It has the best of both worlds.  Our class took a field trip to the museum to get ideas for our presentations on textile history.  We got a chance to get up close with textiles that were hundreds of years old. 

The Mathers Museum has a variety of artifacts such as textiles, currency, photographs, and so much more.  My favorite was the African currency exhibit.  It was so great getting to see what was considered currency in african culture.  Many things were considered valuable using the bartering system.  The main item traded was jewelry.  Since Africa has some of the most beautiful jewelry I've ever seen, I was not surprised.

                                      

If you are interested in volunteering at the Mathers Museum then do not hesitate to contact them.  You can contact them directly through their website at indiana.edu/~mathers or read about volunteer positions here. They always welcome volunteers and it would look good on your resume!

Fall Fever In Bloomington

The leaves are falling at Indiana University so don't miss out.  The best thing about Bloomington is the fall season.  People from all over come to bask in its beauty.

Yes, the trees are becoming bare but the beauty of the leaves makes it all worth it.  The reds, oranges, and browns all seem to give the campus a warm feel.   When you're walking to class pay attention to the crunch of the leaves, the blow of the wind, and the colors on the trees.

Before the winter comes, enjoy the campus at one of the best times of year.  Let our campus inspire you to give it your all during these last weeks!

Enjoy Movies, Music, and More

Did you survive midterms week? Congrats! We did it!!! And if you didn't then hang in there, okay? The bright side is that you still have finals. And the dark side is that you still have finals. I highly suggest you take this week easy and enjoy some of the benefits of residence hall life!

The first thing I did after my midterms was relax. I normally relax in front of my computer, watching a movie from my residence hall library. Most of the residence halls have a movie, music, and more (MMM) library. You can rent movies, music, magazines, board games, video games and more at no charge!

 The MMM locations even have your favorite shows. Do you like "Glee"? They've got it! Are you a fan of "30 Rock"? They've got it! They have almost every series you can think of, and if they don't have it you can request for it to be ordered.

Another good way to recuperate from the midterm grind is to break out the art supplies. There is always some fun activity going on for the major holidays. It's October; why not grab some construction paper and decorate some ghosts for Halloween? Research does show that arts and crafts is a stress relieving activity.

Finally, keep in mind that if you rent items from the MMM five different times you will get a free candy bar. What more could you ask for? 
Whenever you feel the need to break free, check out the residence hall libraries!

Residence Halls are the Best Places to Study

Unfortunately, it's already midterms!  If you're like me and have six exams, a book review, and a blanket to weave then life this week will be busier than normal.  Afterward will be a test of your time management skills and emotional strength.

The best places to study are the residence halls.  The library is great for getting books, but too often it is overcrowded. Even if you don't stay at your own residence hall, all of them have something to offer.  Study areas at the residence halls are rarely crowded, since most people study at the library. So, studying elsewhere has its advantages.

The best eateries are located by the residence halls. So if you find yourself up at 3:27 a.m., stop at Pizza Express or Village Pantry. Or if you get really desperate, the vending machines are always close by.

The IMU Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

Did you know Hispanic Heritage Month starts on September 15 and ends October 15?  Well, many people dont know this.  It's very important that we celebrate more than our own culture.

The Indiana Memorial UnionGallery is showcasing a Latina artist named Bertha E. Gutierrez.  The title of her work is called "My Fire." Her paintings depict what life is like being an immigrant in the United States.  She uses bold vibrant colors that help illustrate the hardships she goes through being Latina.

Please take the time out to do an activity or learn something new in spirit of Hispanic Heritage Month.  Most Resident Halls feature information on the different Indiana University has several event s going on so I encourage you to check the main website for future events.

The Manhattan Shorts arent Short on Entertainment

This week Bloomington had the chance to host the Manhattan Short Film Festival.  The short films will be shown in 203 cities and across six continents.  The festival is in its 12th year and many winners have gone on to win oscars.  The Manhattan shorts consist of 10 films from across the world that will be screened by over 100,000 people.

The winner will be decided by the viewers.  At the end of the festival you fill out a voting card that will be tallied with votes form all over the world.

I thought the films were interesting.  I had never been to a film festival before and didn't know what to expect.  I thought they were going to be these weird French films with the word "fin" at the ending scene. Yes, some were odd but most of them left me wanting more.  I could really see some turned into full length movies.  It was fun seeing films from all over the world.  Good luck to all the contestants!

Students Weave the Night Away

For many of my faithful readers, you will recall that I attended a yarn dyeing workshop last spring.  Well, remember the yarn I dyed?  It's back!  That's right, I finally have the chance to do something with that yarn.  I am currently in a weaving class and I love it.  Weaving is way more time consuming than I thought but the finished product is well worth it.

The class is mixed of expert weavers and beginning weavers.  This is a great combination because at times when the teacher isn't available you can ask a fellow classmate.  Especially when you find yourself weaving late into the night and you cant contact the teacher.

The most labor intensive part about weaving ,besides dyeing, is preparing the loom.  This takes several steps which are very time consuming.  If one step is not done correctly then that can throw your whole progress off.

Learning new things can be challenging at first but very exciting.  Indiana University offers a wide variety of classes for whatever you want to learn more about.  I have taken and found classes that I thought never thought existed and IU continues to amaze me.  If your willing to go outside your comfort zone and try something new then go for it!

Black Student Orientation held at the Neal-Marshall

The Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center is home to many students and events.  They pride themselves on providing a safe haven for the Black American students that attend IU.  They hold several events that are directed towards the Black American students and staff on campus.  The most popular events are the Brown Bag Series, Black Knowledge Bowl, Juneteenth Freedom Celebration, and Black Student Orientation.

The fourth annual Black Student Orientation at Indiana University Bloomington was held on September 10, Friday.  This welcoming event displays the resources at IU and the its Bloomington surroundings. The event featured several speakers that touched on the importance of unity on campus.  Many Black students requested that there should be more chances for them to become involved in the community.  In an effort to solve this problem, the Black Student Orientation was started in 2007.  

Taste of the Union

The best thing about Welcome Week is all the free food.  Welcome Week events are guaranteed to have free food for all to enjoy.  Every year students get the opportunity to sample the restaurants in the Indiana Memorial Union (IMU).

Restaurants such as Burger King, Pizza Hut, and Sugar & Spice offer students free samples of their menu.  Students can sample a wide range of treats like no-bake cookies to chicken sandwiches.

Not only did this event have free food but also they had plenty of entertainment.  Lucky participants got to enjoy karaoke, animal ballon artists, and one minute photo booth so friends can capture that special moment.  Hope you enjoyed the Taste of the Union.

Welcome IU Students

Welcome back IU students! I hope you're having a great transition to Indiana University, whether your new or an old face here on campus. I’m Dayja and a returning blogger for RPS. This is my last semester at Indiana University and I’m hoping to make it an interesting semester.

I had a very exciting summer. This summer I had the opportunity to travel to Ghana. I studied the Ghanaian language at IU and wanted the chance to use it fulltime. So for 3 months I lived and traveled in Ghana. The first month I taught English and literature at a local middle school. The rest of my time was spent traveling the various landmarks that Ghana had to offer.


My favorite site was the Kakum National Park where we walked across the famous canopy walkway bridges.

I had a truly great experience in Ghana. I loved experiencing another culture so different from my own. It made you appreciate the things you didn’t have as well as the things you didn’t want. If you ever get the opportunity to travel outside the United States, take it. I promise you won't regret it!