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!