Advice for Incoming Freshman

Greetings viewers! For the past two months, I've been giving you my perspective on what school is like and how to prepare for it. As we get closer and closer to the fall I decided to ask some college students I know what pieces of advice they would give to incoming freshman. This post might get a little lengthy but it is for sure worth the read! Below are the responses to this question...

                         "What one piece of advice would you give to an incoming freshman?"

• Jean Zott, Mother of an Michigan State University college senior and Central Michigan University Alumni. "Lots of freshman start college with a graduation party fund. Although, freshman shouldn't need a lot of money because most have a meal plan, it's easy to blow all that money in as little as the first semester. Make a plan. Make a budget. Don't tell yourself you can replace the money with a job down the line. Budget a specific amount per week and stick to it. The people that gave you the money are investing in your future, not a case of beer. Don't let them down."
• Rachel Zott, Central Michigan University Alumni. "Don't forget to put water in your microwave craft mac and cheese. My neighbor almost burned the dorm down."
• Julia Spitak, Michigan State University Junior. "Think about where you want to live early on, every year. Always start up a conversation because you never know who you'll meet!"
• Wambali Nkhwazi, Michigan State University Sophomore; International Student from Malawi. "My advise to incoming freshmen would be active and be involved around campus whether its the dorms or clubs, its a great way to meet people and you can be able to learn a lot from the people you meet."
• Justin Clayton, Michigan State University Sophomore. "Don't think you have time to blow off a semester because you have 3 more years of grades to make up for it."
• Claire Gapare, Michigan State University  Sophomore; International Student from Zimbabwe. "Be yourself, and do you. Be true to who you are and that way you will attract the people and things that you like. Also, find a good support system, just 2 or 3 people will do.Those are the ones you will confide in. And lastly, pray and pursue a relationship with Jesus Christ. "
• Katie Girtman, MSU Sophomore. "Come out of your shell. This is the time to be who you want to be. You can even change your name. Be bold, and introduce yourself to everybody."
• Nick Hess, MSU Sophomore. "Go see your professor as soon as possible, like the first week of classes."
• Mitch Nouhan, Purdue Sophomore. "Make study buddies in classes right away especially if they're math or science classes. Also, intro math and science classes tend to contain large quantities of students, meaning that individual questions will most likely be unanswered; making study buddies a must."
• Natalie Moore, Michigan State University Sophomore. "My piece of advice would be to put your all into trying to reach out and meet new people right away. Me being from out of state made it hard and I was really homesick and didn't start doing that until the second semester which is when I started to enjoy myself. That's my big thing. You're there so you may as well make the best of the time while you're still adjusting to a whole new life."
• Micheal Phillips, MSU Sophomore. "Find the correct balance between your social life and academic life, grades should come first, but don't forget to have fun on the weekends too. Also, don't schedule morning classes if you're not a morning person."
• Josh Weidenaar, Michigan State University Sophomore. "Get the spartan app on your phone as well as take a picture of your schedule on your phone so you can find your classes all in one place."
• Hannah Countryman, Michigan State University Sophomore. "Don't overestimate yourself. Just about everything is going to be different and often more difficult than what you've been used to. You can't go into college taking for granted that you'll have no trouble with something you expect to be good at. It's a whole new ballgame here."
• Aaron Ferrell, Wayne State University, Senior. "Take all your classes seriously. No matter how easy or hard the class may be. Learn all that you can from each class you take. Don't just pass, excel."
• David Stern, Oakland University, Sophomore. "There are plenty of parties, missing one won't be the end of the world if you have a test or home work assignment due the next day."
• Dominic Pelchat, Concordia University, Sophomore and Starting D2 Football Player. "Be confident in all that you do while at school. If you feel confident you will perform better."
• Mandy Li, Michigan State University, Sophomore, International Student from Singapore. "Some students say you can skip classes in the first week because they're not really important. However, there will be assignments or projects mentioned in first few classes that may not be on the syllabus, demands you will be accountable for."
• Aaron Pride, Michigan State University, Sophomore. "I'd say be open to talking to as many people as you can- talk to people on your floor, in your classes, walking around, because you never know who you'll run into or what kind of connections you can forge from a simple hello." Also be sure to check out Aaron's music on Youtube (link embedded).

Thanks to everyone who took the time out of their day to make this post so great! I hope this advice helps the many beginning their college journey this fall!

~Anthony

Training for College: Fighting The Freshman 15

Hey everyone! College gets very busy, very fast. Before you know it you'll be absorbed in studying, meetings, and other "college-y" things. Add hours of activities and all night study sessions to college meal plans and fighting the freshman 15 will be quite the battle. I've put some tips together to help stay fit while away at school:

• Sit with caution. Fun fact, for every 1 hour that you sit, you should spend at least two minutes on your feet. As you sit for long periods of time, your body enters rest mode. Rest mode slows down your metabolism, meaning that your body has less "get up and go." Some college classes can be up to 3 hours long, meaning you're going to be sitting for a long time! One way to keep your legs awake is to keep them in motion. Try flexing your foot back and forth. This will make sure your body doesn't shut them down.
• Diet. This is probably the hardest thing to do up at school. There's junk food EVERYWHERE! From campus cafeterias to fast food restaurants you're never far from a junk meal. Most college freshmen don't cook regularly so finding and preparing healthy food will be very difficult. My tip is to use moderation. You don't need to get fries and a hamburger every night. And for all you Spartans, Michigan State cafeterias all offer fresh fruit upon request.
• Join an athletic club. College is going to be full of various different athletic clubs from running to under water hockey. Find a club for the sport you love or try something new! I joined Tae Kwon Do club second semester and I absolutely loved it!

Here are my tips to staying in decent shape while away at school. 

Thanks for reading!

~Anthony

Be Safe In College: A Thing Or Two About Stalking

Aside from all the academics and adventures you will have in college, safety is of utmost importance. I created the "Be Safe In College" blog series in order to give my readers a heads up about some of the risks that they'll be exposed to in college. I think it's time I address stalking. Stalking constitutes any actions or threats intend to harass, annoy, or terrorize someone. I intend to use this post to spread awareness about a serious issue and give any victim some tips to stay safe and maybe save their life.

If you're ever in a situation where you're being stalked, TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY. Understand that stalking can escalate into far worse situations if left unaddressed. Here are some things you can do to keep yourself safe and make the stalking STOP:

• Proof is power. Document any instances where the stalker is harassing you. Write down the date, time, location, and what the stalker did. Also, if the person sends you letters, emails, or text messages be sure to save them. Having proof will make your case against this person stronger.
• Tell other people. Let people know what you're going through. You don't need to face this alone. Tell your friends someone is causing problems for you; they will want to help you. Especially in situations where you could be in danger, having friends to back you up is crucial. They can keep you company and show the stalker that you are not alone.
• Get Help. There's always help. You can call the police as well as domestic violence centers. Universities have fliers everywhere for these shelters. I remember passing a poster everyday by the cafeteria that defined stalking and dating violence and gave resources for help. There was even a sticker in the mirror of our bathroom that had numbers of shelters on it.
• Educate yourself. Try to learn about your stalker. Knowledge is power and if you do decide to call the cops and can give them a name and places to find your stalker, it'll be very easy for them to confront the offender and take necessary action.

I understand that you all may be thinking this article is over the top but stalking is a real issue and with tools like social media, it is very easy for a stalker to make life horrible for their victim. Most people on campus are good people at heart and would never dream of doing something to terrorize the life of someone else but sadly there are exceptions. I just want to give you all the tools to use if you end up in a stalking situation.

Be safe and as always, thanks for reading!

~Anthony

Also, check out my post on the DSS Equature Blog, also about stalking. 

Finding Happiness In The Small Things

Hello all! I apologize for the two week hiatus, I was blessed with the opportunity of a lifetime. My grandma surprised my brother and I with a trip to Alaska. Being in such a beautiful place and seeing breathtaking sights like glaciers, mountains, and bears (oh my!) inspired me to get back in the blog writing groove with this post. Now that the amp up is over, this post is about staying happy in college.

While college is indeed a fun new place filled with amazing opportunities, people, and adventures, the constant stress of living away from home and overwhelming classes can take a toll on any student. I've compiled a few small things that most colleges have that'll bring happiness to you while school's kickin' your butt.

• Sunny days. If you're feeling down, try looking outside. Enjoy the pretty sight as the sun warms the world around you. Maybe there's a couple birds singing outside too! Either way how can you feel down when the world around you is so amazing.
• Music. Try turning on some happy tunes every once in awhile. Let yourself unwind to your favorite songs. Let the music take your brain on a "mini-vacation" and clear your head. This was my stress reliever for the school year. I listened to music to study and get my mind ready for a test. 
• Food. I'm giving this advice with a grain of salt. While treating yourself to your favorite meal or restaurant is a great way of cheering up, eating to relieve stress can be harmful as well. Many people often eat when they're under pressure and it can lead to conditions such as obesity and metabolic syndrome. So with this tip, also remember "everything in moderation."
• Find something that uplifts you. No, I'm not going to convert you to some religion but hear me out. Find something that lifts you up to be the best you can be and most importantly makes you happy. For some it may be a Supreme Being but for others it might be something simple like the rich smell of Starbucks Coffee or frequenting Chipotle. Either way find something that makes you happy and include it in your day.

Here's a small list of things to keep you happy and thinking positively. I hope you can apply one or two to your college lifestyle
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Thanks for reading and always feel free to check out past posts!

~Anthony

Training for College: Cram Sessions

The purpose for this blog isn't to say that cramming is a good idea, but hey we both know everyone ends up cramming for a test at some (if not multiple) times during school. Studies show that cramming isn't more effective than studying a little each night, but hey this is college; cramming will happen. Here are some tips to get the most out of your future cramming sessions:

• Prep before. Before you sit down to study, make sure you have everything you need: pens, pencils, paper, computer, snacks, etc. This will cut out any lost studying time due to getting up and getting things you forgot.
• Cram with purpose. You're already behind by starting to study for this test the night before you take it, so have some purpose in your studying. Approach the material with all you have and avoid distractions. If music helps you focus, play some music while you work. Also, studying with friends is great but if they prove to be more distracting then helping, you need to separate yourself from them. 
• Plan before. If you plan on pulling late night cramming sessions, try to fit them in a couple days before the test. This will allow you to get a little bit of a head start on the material. 
• Weigh the consequences. Pulling an all nighter the day before a test inversely means losing out on sleep THE NIGHT BEFORE A TEST. Yes, studying can insure a better grade but if you come to take a test when you hardly slept the night before you may do poorly.

Cramming can and will happen while away at school. Here are some easy ways to make it work in your favor for the most part.

Thanks for reading! Good luck in school!

~Anthony

Also when you have time, check out my latest post on the Equature Blog! This week's post discusses PTSD in public safety officials and ways to help someone who went through a traumatic situation.