Get Involved

As a first year college student, I have used my blogs to discuss issues that affect students, and while I've covered study habits, stress, fitness and nutrition, job hunting, technological gadgets, etc., it occurs to me that there is one area in my own academic career that I would like to improve upon -- getting involved in extracurricular activities and/or volunteer work.

Since this was my first semester in college my focus has been primarily on my school work. I have managed to work part-time, but between school and work there just hasn't been time to do much else. I have been told that socializing in college is an important part of the whole college experience. By attending school sporting events, joining a school group such as student government, or attending student activities I will have a more of an opportunity to meet new people and experience new things. It is my hope that now that I have a semester of school under my belt, I will feel comfortable enough with the whole college routine to begin including some non-class related activities in my schedule.

BGCTC has several different student organizations open for students to join ranging from student government to Christian Fellowship to the school newspaper, and many more. BGCTC also sponsors several student activities throughout the year such as a Fall Festival, Tis' the Season; Valentine's Day, Spring Fling, Ice Cream Social, etc. In addition, as students at BGCTC, we have the unique opportunity to be able to participate in UK student activities. For a nominal athletics fee ($17.50 a semester) we have the opportunity to buy tickets to UK football and men's basketball games for $5 per game. In addition, we can pay a student center fee ($60.50 a semester) allows us access to activities at the UK Student Center including concerts, comedy shows, tournaments (pool, poker, ping-pong, etc.), movies, karaoke, and other activities, for free or a reduced prices. By taking advantage of some of these opportunities to socialize, students can meet new people and learn how to make friends and network. The main thing is to get involved and enjoy all that college has to offer you as a person.

Gadgets and Gizmos Galore

Of all the student related topics I've covered so far in my blogs, there's still another one that absolutely needs to be discussed -- the most hip gadgets that define the latest trends in technology. Even though there's hundreds of devices I could discuss, focusing on the college tech trends seems reasonable for this blog. In the college scene, gadgets are the hottest talk. Some of the newest technological gadgets are electronic notebooks, e-book readers, Apple I-Phone, and the I-Pod Touch. These portable gadgets can keep a student connected to friends and family, to the internet, to the latest music, movies, and games, inaddition to an unlimited number of different applications which can be downloaded.

The laptop computer is one of the most handy tools a student can have. While it can't magically compose a perfect research paper. it can get you a whole lot further than pencil and paper alone. Word document programs can tackle the most common types of writing assignments, and with on site internet access you can save yourself a trip to the library to do research. The portability of the laptop computer means that you can take it with you and work on school assignments, e-mail or chat with classmates and teachers, or surf the internet virtually any where, any time.

The Apple iPhone and iPod Touch are two new devices that are equally entertaining and educational. Both of these hand held devices offer a huge array of applications which for a nominal fee can be downloaded. The applications include helpful programs that range from study guides for algebra and statistics to foreign language tutors. Yep there's an app for everything. Not only are there educational applications, but also applications to help you keep track of your class schedule and assignments, get directions, buy books on line, check classroom blackboards onliine, etc. And, of course, there are applications, games, movies, music, and the internet for you to amuse yourself with when you are taking a break from your studies.

The e-book is the newest gadget to hit the market. It allows you to download books to a handheld reader, thereby giving you instant access to many books, anytime, any place. There is a fee for downloading the book and there are restrictions on sharing the book. Who knows, before long a student's backpack may be a thing of the past, and students may be able to just carry a portable e-book and have access to all of their textbooks.

I rely heavily on my laptop computer for doing my school work and find it to be an invaluable tool. Not only do I use the wordprocessing feature to compose papers, but I also am able to do on-line research, go on line to check my teacher's blackboard, download and print class notes and study materials, e-mail my classmates and students, post and read blogs, etc. Of course, the portability is the best feature. My laptop allows me to do these things anywhere there is a wi-fi connection. I just received an i-Pod Touch for my 19th birthday last week, but can already see how the array of applications available will be useful in my studies. In addition, because it can fit in my pocket, it is even more portable than my laptop, and still allows me to have internet access. By taking advantage of these technological advances and utilizing their unique features, they can save students alot of time and help them become more organized and proficient in the school work.

Job Hunting

Often, college students who live away from home in a dorm or in an apartment, are compelled to find a full or part-time job in order to help support themselves. In a college town such as Lexington, there are certainly plenty of opportunities for students to find a job, however, choosing one that fits into your academic schedule is important. You should not lose sight of the fact that your main goal is to get an education.

The reason I'm discussing this particular subject is due to frequent posts on "Facebook" from my friends stressing out about their job shifts. These energetic, high achieving students are working under a demanding schedule most people wouldn't handle. Many go straight from classes to their job without have any down time or time to study and do homework. While it is nice to earn an income that can provide you with more than just the bare necessities, spreading yourself too thin can cause your health and your studies to suffer. Your health can suffer from lack of sleep and exercise, and too much stress. Your studies can suffer by not allotting yourself enough time to study and work on class assignments. Sometimes you have to look at the big picture and decide if the added pressure of a job is worth the benefits. If not, then you just need to find ways to tighten the belt a little while you are going to school (e.g., eating in more often; making do with the clothes you have; finding less expensive means of entertainment, etc.).

If you have to work, the trick then is to find a job that offers you, the student, some flexibility. One of the first places to look for work is with the school. Most schools offer work-study opportunities whereby you earn wages from working on the campus a few hours a day a few days a week, such as in the library or offices. Often your school supervisors will work with you to change your hours to accommodate your school schedule or you can switch shifts with other students. This provides the most flexibility to students.

Another source of work is to check with friends or relatives to see if they might have some part-time work. I have worked part-time as a file clerk/runner for the law firm where my mother works for the past couple of years. Because my employer knows that I am a student, they allow me to work the hours that are convenient to me. This allows me to have enough time for my school work, while still working a few hours each week to earn some extra spending money. During school breaks, I increase my hours and thereby increase my salary. During mid-terms and finals, I lessen my hours.

Working for a temporary services agency might provide a student with the flexibility they need. Once you complete the application and testing process, you can let the agency know what days or times you are able to work and they will provide you with assignments as they come available. The only draw back is that there may not always be work available that fits your schedule when you need it. You can also take a weekend job such as at Amazon.com where you work 12 hours shifts, which means that by working a weekend you can earn as much as working part-time every night of the week. This frees your week nights up for studying and doing school work.

Another possibility for work is to become an entrepreneur. Come up with a service that you can offer to others for a price. As an example, dog walking, animal sitting, baby sitting, doing laundry/ironing, transporting students without cars, house sit for professors or other students, etc.).

These are just a few suggestions. The possibilities for flexible employment are endless if you just put your mind to it. Regardless what job you take, remember to keep your eye on the ball (i.e. completing your education).

Under The Lights

A couple of weekend ago, I traveled to Louisville to attended the Kentucky State regional marching band competition also known as KMEA . For those not familiar with marching band competition, this is an annual competition for many highly talented and prestigious high school marching bands from all corners of the Bluegrass. The bands that score high enough in the marching season, earn a spot in KMEA's semi finals and have hopes of making it to the finals for a chance to win the Governor's Cup. There are five different classes depending upon the size of a school's student body with the smallest being Class 1A and the largest being Class 5A. Earlier in the day, the bands from each class competed against eachother in semi-finals competition in order to narrow the field to four schools in each class. These schools later in the evening compete against eachother in their respective class in the Finals competition with a first, second, and third place winner being decided for each class.

I lettered in band in high school, so I was quite familiar with the annual KMEA competition and was lucky enough to be in bands that made it to the KMEA finals three years in a row. When I was a sophmore, I was in Nicholas Co. High School's 1A band which placed fourth in the KMEA finals. As a junior and senior, I was in Lafayette High School's 5A band which placed second in the KMEA finals during my junior year, then placed first when I was a senior.

This year was the first time that I had been to a marching band competition where I was a spectator instead of a performer. The weather for early November could not have been more perfect for the outdoors competition which was held at Papa John's Stadium. It was in the low to mid 70s during the day and only got into the 50s late in the evening. The sky was blue and the competition field green. I found the competition to be very enjoyable from a spectator's point of view. It was interesting to actually watch bands perform whom I had previously competed against. Having never really had the opportunity to watch these bands perform, except on video tape, I was really blown away by some of their performances.

This single day of great music and performances made me realize that the most important moment of the season is also the most intense. During my previous trips to KMEA with the Nicholas County and Lafayette Band, I was so focused on and stressed about the quality of my performance and of the overall performance of our band, that I forgot to just simply enjoy the day. As a performer, our day began early in the morning and was filled with practice sessions, preparation for and performance in the semi-finals; then we had to turn around and do it again for finals later that evening. As a performer, every minute of our day was planned for us and I basically just went with the flow. During our performance it was nerve racking to be on the field looking up into the stadium filled with people. The experience was quite different this years as a spectator looking down from the stadium as Lafayette took the field this year. I was filled with a sense of awe and pride. Lafayette was the largest marching band in the competition with 200 members on the field. It was impressive to watch their marching precision and to hear the percussion and drumline. I did find that as a spectator, I was filled with as much anticipation as when I was a performer, in waiting for the judges to announce the winner. I was exciting to hear Lafayette's name announced this year, and to be able to go down onto the field to celebrate and contratulate my former bandmates. It filled me with a sense of nostalia and pride.

Steps to a Better Study Pt.2

Have you ever had trouble reading the next chapter for class because of the moronic guy that blasts his music in the most unusual places--this case being the library (and despite the fact that he was using ear buds!) . I've noticed that at times when I most need a quite place to read or study without distractions, such a place seems impossible to find. I usually go to the library at school before and after classes to study and this generally provides an adequate atmosphere; however, I still find myself distracted by the comings and goings of the other students. You may have had similar experiences.

Early on in the semester I tried studying at the library, outside at the Arboretum, at Starbucks Coffeehouse, and in my bedroom. Unfortunately, all of these places had too many distractions for me. After some trial and error, I found that because my Attention Deficit Disorder and Asperger's make focusing and noise more difficult for me, the best place for me to study is in a room all by myself. In addition, I have learned that I need to limit distractions such as music and television when I am studying; and that I study best later in the day between 4-8 p.m. While these are my study preferences, they may not be the best for everyone.

Because people are different, they have different needs and require different stimuli. Therefore, as a student it is important to identify the type of study environment and style that best meets your needs. For some it may be complete solitude and for others it may be a coffeehouse atmosphere with music and people. If you don't know what the optimal study environment is for you, then test drive a few different environments to see where you are best able to focus on your studies. Once you identify your study style and find your ideal study environment, you will be better able to focus on and complete your school assignments. It worked for me!

Sick of Setbacks

Now that Influenza season has arrived along with the colorful Autumn leafs, the last thing people want is a nasty virus. Nevertheless, with the cold and flu season upon us, don't be surprised to find yourself bed ridden for a few days this semester. I know because I was put out of commission for about 4-5 days a couple of weeks ago with flu like symptoms within days of getting my flu shot. Take it from me, getting sick is a horrible experience. First, you're spend days feeling miserable and unable to do anything but hope that you get better soon. Then to make matters worse, once you do get better you find yourself buried in a mountain of make-up school work. My first instinct was to panic; however, I then realized that by using both time and stress management skills I could make what seemed like an impossible task more manageable.

If you ever find yourself in this situation, the first trick is to NOT over react once you realize that you have a ton of work in your "To Do" box. Stressing about it will only stall your efforts to get the work done. My suggestion is to write down all of your homework assignments. Next, prioritize each by writing numbers one, two, three, etc. beside each according to order of important. This could be based on the date when due or the amount of work required to complete the task (i.e. a research paper is more important than completing chapter questions). Then try to map out a schedule for getting the work done. For example, set goals such as on Saturday and Sunday I will work on my research paper, then on Monday complete math and history questions, etc. The hard part will be sticking to the schedule and focusing on one task at a time. I know from my own experience that I was better able to complete my make-up assignments by focusing on one at a time. Because I initially felt overwhelmed, I found myself taking a shotgun approach to my make-up work. I'd start work on one assignment, then shift to another, and then another, without ever completing any of them. This approach did not work because I was having to shift my mental gears too often. I finally realized that focusing on one task at a time until it was completed was a better use of my time. Also, being able to mark off an assignment from my "To Do" list made be feel like I was making progress.

Hopefully, you will be one of the lucky few who don't get sick this semester, but if it happens to you and you get behind on your school work, just take a deep breath and remember that stressing out will only slow you down. Instead, prioritize your assignments and make a plan for getting the work done one assignment at a time. Don't let getting sick set you back.

Stress No More

S-T-R-E-S-S can be a real nuisance. The past two weeks have been unbelievably stressful for me. I have been busy studying for mid-term exams and preparing research papers and essays for many of my classes. I can definitely say from experience that stress and studying do NOT go together. That feeling of being overwhelmed is not enjoyable. For me, stress has been like a roadblock. Because my concentration has been diverted to worrying how to get my papers done and find time to study, I've had trouble staying on track and focusing on each of my assignments. My shot gun approach to completing my papers and studying for exams was not a good use of my time. It also added to my stress levels. I think from now on I will try focusing on one project at a time. I also think that when I become overwhelmed again, I will try to take more time to relax my mind. Learning to meditate, or finding other ways to de-stress, such as listening to ambient music, exercising, doing some deep breathing might also help me relax so that I can better focus on by studies. Trust me, after the last couple of weeks, I'm ready to try anything! I hope that other college students reading this blog might find these tips useful.

Food & Fitness Factor

I'm only two months in to college life and I am beginning to realize what an impact it has on my daily schedule, not to mention my waistline. Because I take classes during the day, work part-time, and study at night, I find myself making less healthy choices for the snacks and food I eat and going to the gym less often. I guess I should not really be surprised that I've gained weight, but, it really seems to have happened quickly. As a result, I am starting to re-think what it is that I am doing, so that I can make some changes before my weight gets out of control. While there's nothing wrong with grabbing a bite at Raising Cane's once or twice a week, I need to at least be self-conscious of how physically fit I am. I have begun to substitute sodas with bottled water. Not only does it do away with empty calories, but it also helps to keep my body hydrated. I have also been trying to incorporate healthier food choices into my meals. For example, instead of having ice cream or chocolate pie for dessert, I try to eat an apple or grab a cup of yogurt. And while I still enjoy a good burger and fries every once and awhile, I realize that by making healthier selections I am becoming healthier and more fit. I've also begun to notice that more and more fast food places including McDonalds, Burger King, and Chick Filet are offering healthier selections as alternatives to fatty foods (veggie burgers, salads, fruit, yogurt).
So, while my hectic life may force me to eat more fast food, that no longer means sacrificing healthy choices for convenience.

While I used to go to the gym 3-4 days a week for a hour and a half each day, since I started college that time has slowly decreased. Because I don't have as much time to go to the gym as I used to have, I'm trying to do more exercises at home such as sit-ups and lifting hand weights. I am also tryping to go to the gym at least twice a week. I have found that I am able to fit the home exercises into my schedule more easily than I am the trips to the gym. As for staying active, I have set a goal of at least three hours of exercise every week to keep in shape. I guess the key is that a little exercise is better than no exercise.

Eco-Friendly Appeal

Out of all the recent trends of automakers and oil companies, the most widespread seems to be ecological pledges and goals for their products. Most people have seen the automobile commercials that focus on fuel efficient capabilities of new vehicle models or the oil companies bragging how their scientific research can lead to improvement in auto emissions. While I applaud their efforts to present "green" products to consumers, I have to ask, "Why did it take so long?" In reality, I see their efforts as no more than a marketing ploy similar to that of the "fat-free" craze. To me these automakers and oil companies are jumping on the "green" bandwagon simply to rack up major profits by appealing to consumers who are looking for ways to live greener lifestyles. I question their motives -- is it because they are concerned about the planet or their bottom line?

Early to Bed, Early to Rise

As a college student, I'd like to discuss something humans do every day -- Sleep. You may ask "What does sleep have to do with college?" Well, I found out for myself that sleep is extremely important to being successful in college. Last Saturday I stayed up until about 4:00 a.m. just chilling out on the computer and watching T.V. Although I was up by noon Sunday, all day long I just felt out of sorts and sluggish. When I tried sit down and work on my reading and homework for school, I couldn't seem to focus on what I was doing. By the time Sunday evening rolled around, I hadn't completed any of the assignments I had planned to do that day and felt like the whole day had been a total waste. Suffice it to say that I was angry with myself. Had the next day not been Labor Day -- thereby giving me an extra day to complete my school work -- I would have been sunk. It was at that point that I realized in order for me to function at 100 percent, I would need to get my body on a schedule. That meant going to bed and getting up at set times.

I know this sounds boring for an 18 year old to be saying this, but, when you think about it, sleep serves as one of our major sources of energy. It rejuvenates the body and eases the mind. When we sleep we are storing energy that is essential to carrying out our important schedules and daily tasks. Without being well rested--that is to say getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night --you can feel weakened, lethargic, unfocused and miserable. Moreover, sleep can determine whether you stay focused and relaxed throughout the day or ill productive and sloppy. For tests, quizzes and other large projects you'll need every ounce of energy you can muster. If you're unable to understand simple directions you won't understand the problems. Lack of sleep can also impair your study habits and concentration. That is why overnight study sessions are counter productive. Think about it, I mean what good is cramming for a test when you aren't able to concentrate on the day of the test?

The best way to ensure a good night sleep is to set a respective bedtime and time to wake up; finish any school work in a timely manner; and not drink caffeinated drinks late at night. These are simple tips anyone can do to maintain healthy lifestyle and be a better student.

Adaptive Instinct

When an organism enters a new environment, that organism undergoes physiological changes so that it is better suited to it's surroundings. This process supports our wellbeing in many ways other than survival. It is known as adaptation and allows ourselves to thrive on a constantly changing planet.
In today's world we are more dependent on psychological changes that allow ourselves to blend in with social groups. These adaptations serve to establish a self-identity and association to people we can relate to.

Easy Like Morning College

So far so good. It is now two weeks into this semester and I have been able to stay on top of my assignments by reading chapters ahead of class, doing practice problems, and completing my on-line quizzes ahead of schedule. I find that what has allowed me to do this is by getting to school before my first class beings and staying at school after my last class. This allows me to go to the library to read or work on homework assignments without having the distractions of my X-Box, computer, or guitars that I normally have when I am trying to study at home.

Steps To a Better Study Pt. 1

As an young adult I feel that I should take my college experience to the next level. That is to say to give it my all. While I was a good student in high school, I often left important assignments and projects to the last minute which meant that they weren't as good as they could have been. I realize now that my only chance at succeeding in life is to excel beyond my minimum capabilities. In order to reach my true potential and to get as much out of my college experience as possible, I need to implement a set of steps to help me adapt to the rigors of college life.

The first step is to figure out what goals I wish to achieve while in BGCTC. Currently I am taking general education courses with the goal of transferring to "Expressions College for the Digital Arts". This is a college in Emeryville, CA, specializing in studio recording and production. Ultimately, my goal is to earn a bachelors degree in audio engineering from Expressions and to work in music production. Since music production is a field outside of the average college courses offered at BGCTC, I plan to acquire the basic college credits first, then transfer to Expressions to focus on special classes required specifically for my career field.

The next step is to find a routine that allows me to attend classes and complete my assignments, while still being able to work part-time and have time to do the things I enjoy. This means that I will have to find ways to improve my time management skills and study habits. My first step in this regard is to take all five of my class syllabuses and combine the reading and assignment deadlines onto one calendar so that I have one source to consult when planning my weekly schedule. It sounds like a plan. Let's hope it works.

Time Crunch: Introduction

Greetings and welcome to Time Crunch, a college based blog centered around getting students, new and old, off on the right track this semester by addressing time management issues with the ultimate goal of reducing school work related anxiety. As a new college student whose goal it is to improve on my time management skills, I will be able to share with you first hand my struggles with this issue. Hopefully, through this blog I will be able to share with you some time management information and study habit tips that I find help me improve in these areas.