Requirements can be a pain in the you-know-what. Math, foreign language, physical science. I thought this was college, doesn’t this mean I can choose my own classes? Apparently not. While math, science and English classes can be easy to pick back up after summer, foreign languages can get pretty dusty if you leave them alone for three months. Unfortunately during the summer, our native Spanish speaking professor isn’t speaking to us in fluent Spanish at 8 am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. That way we would be able to keep up on our verb tenses, conjugations and vocabulary. But instead we get stuck with sleeping in and long periods of time where there is little brain work involved. Does this sound like a fair trade off? It definitely isn’t a balanced trade off. To keep our French, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, Mandarin, Greek, Latin, and German in tip top shape, here are some little ways to keep our foreign languages dust-free this summer.

Online Resources

There are a multitude of web sites that value language, and understand the need for foreign language competency as an important trait to anyone in our global society. Here are a few of them that concentrate on vocabulary, verbs, along with giving learners opportunities for social networking in their foreign language.

Byki – This website offers 74 different languages to learners, which includes the site’s desktop software, online applications, free

Photo by El Monstrito

content, articles and games. The site seeks to go about teaching language from a different angle, that appeals more to the comprehension of adult learners. If you’re seeking to begin learning a language, or pick up where you left off on a language, this site is for you.

Lingolook – This web application was especially designed for English speaking travelers to foreign countries. The guide features basic vocabulary that travelers need, in an easy, user-friendly way. The application uses flashcards to test users, and when travelers are in a hurry for “Where is the restroom?” in French, users simply click on essentials, which leads them to a list of questions that are deemed “essential” questions, then click on “Where is the restroom?” which leads the user to a screen with the written English phrase, the written French phrase, and when clicking on the French phrase a voice says it aloud so the user knows how it is pronounced. To see for yourself, check out the site and see the demo.

vocabfish – A site that allows users to learn over 2000 words in 10 languages. With a scorecard, the site allows its users to track their progress, while the site goes back to the words that the user misses in order to test the weak spots. This site was created to master vocabulary not only through recognizing words but “recalling and pronouncing them.”

italki – This unique site connects people from around the world to learn from each other. The site is used to help connect people online to do free language exchanges, while even setting students up with teachers for paid online lessons. italki also has materials for self-study, along with questions & answer tools and group discussions.

Get Connected

Though we’re living in the 21st century, not all learning has to be virtual. Look up organizations in your area who promote the culture of your desired foreign language.

Alliance française is an organization that seeks to promote French culture and language outside of France. With organizations

Photo by Karen Horton

like this, who’s primary concern is teaching French as a second language, it is great to get hooked up with a membership so that learning a language isn’t simply just reading flashcards and memorizing automated foreign voices from online. But rather being a part of a community of people who are embracing the culture of a particular language, that is what is going to matter and be most valuable.

Get connected with a pen pal who is a native speaker of the language you are learning, and start writing letters! Or start emailing, if that’s your thing.

We are coming along the home stretch. Whether you are on the semester schedule and you have a few more days of finals, or whether you are on the quarter schedule and enduring these last four weeks of classes, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. And it is visible! It has been very difficult for my peers and I to stay motivated in classes while the weather has been so wonderful. I am looking forward to a day of May showers, so that I will be forced to stay inside and get things done. But wherever you are in the context of finishing up this year of college, it is important to take a step back and gain perspective, so that the term isn’t wasted on late night fourth meals and full days of playing Frisbee in the quad. Though both of those things are quite nice. I’ve thought of a few things we could all do to withstand this last stretch of classes, projects and exams. I hope it is of great use to you.

The List that leads to Summer

1. Let the competitive spirit within you come out. Being competitive can be of great use, and you can trigger those feelings of ambition and zeal towards doing well in your school work.
2. Make a list of fun activities that you are excited to do this summer. Writing out that list should get you so pumped for hiking and star gazing and beach laying that you will want to hurry through these last projects and exams.
3. 

   Photo by xb3

   Limit your consumption until completing x amount of pages. When my roommate is reading or writing for a class, she won’t let herself make any tea (and this girl loves tea) until she has finished a certain number of pages. Hey, it works for some people who have the self-control.

4. Limit fun time with friends until you have all worked hard for a period of time. When doing homework together as a group, tell yourselves that if you are satisfied with your productivity, then you will be able to go do fun things. This might help you crank through some work you’ve been putting off for a while.
5. Make a to-do list everyday. Number each task in order of its priority compared to the other tasks, in order from the most important to the least important.
6. Designate a rest-time during the week. By taking out this one period of time during your entire week, you won’t have the excuse to relax more than you should. Because we all should relax, we just tweak that to mean resting whenever we want. What we should do and what we want to do aren’t always the same.
7. Have homework parties. Host it in your dorm room and tell people to bring simply two things: Food and their homework. Voila, you are socializing while being productive.
8. Take off Friday nights. This is my personal general rule, but I recommend it to everyone else. It’s a great time to go out with friends, stay up late and not have to worry about waking up too early for class.
9. Remember how much you are paying for tuition. If that isn’t motivating enough, I don’t know what is.
10. Take a walk during study breaks. Regain your mental strength for a while and then come back to work feeling refreshed.
11. Remember where your passions lie. If they are in chemical engineering and you feel like you’re in a dry season, go talk to your professors. If there is anyone who is passionate about their work, it them. And hopefully they can rub off some of that passion onto you.
12. 

    Photo by jurvetson

    Remember how close you are to the end. And how far you’ve come this year; all that you have experienced. The end is touchable.

13. Set some goals outside of your work. For example, asking an old friend out to coffee, running a couple miles a day, or practicing good eating habits.
14. Think about home cooked meals. This is self-explanatory.
15. And your bed at home. Yes.
16. Get 8 hours of sleep. Anything less will put you in misery in these last weeks. But then again, we’ve been doing it the whole year… So why not get 4 hours?

Though we would like to play ultimate Frisbee all day, read books of our choice all night, and make time for eight hours of sleep in between all of that, it isn’t possible while being an employed student. The reality of college life is that there are hours spent daily on textbook readings, writing papers, working so that tuition is paid for, and then class. For some reason I thought I would be much more willing to do work once I was in college. And that is partially true, because what I am learning is applicable to my future career and that glorious diploma.

But overall, there are just a lot more activities cramped into a smaller amount of time. That is the college life, and we are supposed to deal with it somehow. There are some practical things students can do to balance a life of school, work, sleep and play. So why didn’t they tell us these things before we started this kind of life? Because they say we are supposed to learn on our own.  They are right in doing this. But now I will tell you some things that have been helpful to me on this journey thus far.

Juggling Work, School and Life

1. Addressing procrastination: If I would have realized it was okay to say ‘no’ to friends, then I would have said it a lot earlier and a lot more. But one of the issues (partially) is that there is always a trip to Bubble Tea or another episode of Lost being watched. It’s so easy to make the decision to put off homework until 11 pm. And then when the time comes to do work there is a lack of motivation and an overwhelming presence of drowsiness. For me, the drowsiness usually trumps the little motivation that is there and I submit to defeat once more. The moral of the story is, just say ‘no’ when you know you should go do what needs to be done.
2. Having a flexible job is extremely helpful when you are a student. During the weeks when classes are heavier, it is reassuring to be able to reschedule work around big exams and study sessions. The flexibility may rest upon the duties of the job, your employer, and other factors. If working for your school, chances are they are going to be more flexible when it comes to your hours and your schedule around high-stress weeks. Even the fact that you are a student should be proof to your employer that you are a student first, but your job is still important to you. All in all, try to find a job with flexible hours in case school gets too heavy.
3. At the beginning of each quarter or semester, create a schedule for classes, work, important events and deadlines. Having this information down in print will be a relief when deadlines are approaching and stress levels start rising. Having a schedule and sticking to it is the goal. If this goal is attained, you have succeeded in self-discipline and organization skills. Juggling classes and work is no easy task, but it is definitely doable.
4. Pencil yourself in. Intentionally take time out of your week for yourself. This time should be spent doing whatever it is that you love, or whatever will keep the big picture in mind. Whether it is going for a run, playing a good game of chess or laying in the grass and looking at the clouds, make that time for yourself during the hustle and bustle of the week that requires more work than play.
5. Go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday. Doing this will help you get into a groove for your schedule, regardless of what you have planned for the day.

Best of luck to you on balancing the different aspects of your life. Knowing what your priorities are is key. Do this and you will not have to worry about missing deadlines because another area of your life is too overwhelming.

It’s 11:45 pm, you’ve got 2 more pages to write, and a grumbling stomach

Do you choose to fight the hunger, or give in to a salty, plastic packaged, artificially flavored Top Ramen? How about neither. A while ago I said it’s time to stop the routine of milk & cereal for dinner—now it’s time to stop the eating Top Ramen late at night. I’ve found some options to fulfill those late night cravings that are fiber-filled and will leave you more satisfied than after eating a Beef-flavored package of Ramen.

When you are craving…

Sweet

Check out 10o calorie VitaBrownies. They’re a great late-night snack, filled with fiber and yummy vitamins that will leave you in satisfaction rather than regret.

Sugary with a Crunch

A delicious bowl of cereal. Avoiding cereals that are high in sugar will be better to eat prior to sleeping, so go for cereals composed of whole grains such as wheat, oats, corn or rice. Add some low-fat milk to your well-portioned bowl (preferably 1 and a half cups of cereal) and you’ve got yourself a great midnight snack.

Salty

Get yourself a snack sized portion of salted popcorn, adding a tablespoon of parmesan cheese to melt on top. Yum! Fat-free popcorn is best for this late night snack.

Fruity

There are tons of fruit options for late night snacks, the most obvious and easy being an apple. But to spice up the traditional apple, cut it into slices and sprinkle some cinnamon on top. Zap it in the microwave for about a minute and you have yourself a fruity, cinnamon treat.

Pizza

Create your own mini-pizza on an English muffin by spreading tomato sauce on one side, melting grated parmesan cheese and a couple tomato slices on top. This is a lot healthier and cheaper than ordering in a greasy pizza.

A Sandwich

The ultimate snack that always satisfies… Who doesn’t love a good sandwich? During one of those late nights, make half of a sandwich with turkey, whole wheat bread, tomato, lettuce and light mayo, creating a satisfying snack.

All of these options are great for late night snacks because they are high in fiber and vitamins that leave you satisfied and not too full. Keeping portions small is key, and also having the ability to recognize when you are actually hungry and when you just think that you are hungry. Have fun with these suggestions! Do you have any of your own late night craving creations?

*Brownie photo by: Dichohecho, popcorn photo by: D3 San Francisco, apple photo by: EverJean, sandwich photo by: WordRidden

• Glide in a gondola along Italian canals
• Eat French Fries with a fork in France
• Backpack through Ireland
• Tour the beautiful architecture of Barcelona
• Explore Machu Picchu and “The Lost City of the Incas”
• Learn Arabic in Jordan from native speakers
• Read Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky at a cafe in Moscow
• Hike Mt. Kenya
• Surf the white beaches off the eastern coast of Australia

If these things sound any bit enticing or appealing, then studying abroad is for you! Of course, as you know, earning credits overseas will be more than just surfing and eating crisp and flaky desserts. There are tons of opportunities, whatever your situation, to study abroad. All you have to decide is where on the map you want to go; how far away you want to get. And then decide whether you are up for that country’s food. Vegemite, anyone?

Studying abroad a.k.a. getting the heck out of here!

Why do people study abroad? Because they are thirsty for new culture, life, opportunity and adventure. What do you think? Not only is studying abroad a great way to experience these new things, it actually gives back in return. Here are some ways that studying abroad gives, instead of gets all of our American currency. And also a few reasons why you should study in a foreign country:

• Learn a language. Whether it be Spanish, French, Mandarin, Portuguese or New Zealand slang, studying abroad will give you the opportunity to learn a new language and communicate with a whole new group of people. Be them the many speakers of Spanish, French, Mandarin, etc. Although with Kiwis, you might want to consider keeping the fake accent to a minimum.
• Take those much anticipated adventures during your time off of school. During the weekends take the train to your desirable destination and enjoy yourself. Though in a foreign country, academics can be academics. Meaning redundancy is found on all 7 continents (though Antarctica doesn’t have much going on anyway). Studying abroad encompasses so much more than the academics; it is the atmosphere and setting while studying, and the experience in between studying.
• Understand the life of another culture. This is a lot more broad than the traditional subjects that fall under culture such as food, language and individual habits. It digs deeper into the culture’s thoughts, beliefs and perceptions about life.
• Become globally literate. Understanding a larger scope of the world can be taken advantage of through news, organization efforts, talking to people from other countries and more. But these resources do not compare to going to another country and seeing for yourself what you had previously only heard about. Through education, the high hopes of America are to make students globally literate. And that is why study abroad is so encouraged.
• Develop helpful skills in and outside the classroom. Studying abroad gives students challenges to overcome in the classroom. Whether it be a language barrier, a heavier load or plain discomfort, students receive the opportunity to grow as students and as individuals. Being put into a new setting will challenge study abroad students in a way that forces them to come up with solutions and strategies to overcome difficulties.
• Maximize your hiring eligibility. Since only 4% of US undergraduates study abroad, employers see these individuals as unique, self-motivated and willing to accept challenges. When you are the only applicant who has experience studying abroad, it will set you apart from the rest.

Bon voyage! 一路平安 Buen Viaje! Bon ferð!

*Tso Moriri Lake, India photo by: Prabhu B, Gondola photo by: Gustey Travel

As much as college is about working hard and earning a degree, a lot of it is about the social aspect. For reminiscent, practical or humorous purposes, here is a long list of what some college students do for fun.

1. Frisbee: You will see it happening in any quad. Frisbee golf, Ultimate Frisbee, Good old traditional Frisbee. If you are ever trying to get college students to sign up for a credit card, offer them free Frisbees.
2. Guitar: Everyone and their mom plays guitar these days.
3. Party: The reality of college life, an inevitable verb happening on college campuses.
4. Eat: It’s a social aspect of college. Food is the ultimate bribe tool when trying to get students to come to clubs and meetings.
5. Hacky Sac: A great way to break a little sweat, practice some foot-eye coordination, and not get any studying done.
6. Coffee Date: When two people come together, the outcome is usually a trip to some coffee shop on or near campus. It’s become part of the college culture.
7. Watch movies: It’s what you do when there is nothing else.
8. Watch television/Usually full seasons over the course of a few weeks: It’s what you do when you are addicted.
9. Sleep: A sacred practice that is indulged in quite frequently.
10. Bike ride: A form of transportation when going from class to class or pure adventure.
11. Read: To escape from reality for a bit, getting a glimpse into the lives of others.
12. Facebook stock: What none of us admit we do, but do.
13. Bon Fire: Especially on beaches on Friday nights.
14. Bubble Tea: Another aspect of social college culture. That’s just what we do: Eat, sleep and drink bubble tea. It is the college student’s life mantra.
15. Hang out in the quad: It’s where many events take place. It’s where college happens.
16. Juggle with clubs: I don’t understand this strange phenomena.
17. Listen to music: The ear buds are strategically placed into the ears and the student escapes while walking from class to class. Sometimes this is done to avoid social interaction, other times it is done for the sake of a good craving for some music.
18. Eat Top Ramen: It’s the cheapest staple food that has a decent enough flavor and is semi-fulfilling.
19. Ride Razor Scooters: A trend on few college campuses.
20. Dumpster Dive: For the sake of free and fresh locally made bread, doughnuts, and other delicious things. But you have to know where to go and when to do it.
21. Streak: Will Ferrell set the precedent on this one in Old School.
22. Go to concerts and shows: Because supporting local music is a great thing, and the musicians are our friends.
23. Talk on a personal radio show for a couple of hours: About nothing in particular. It is usually fairly entertaining and introduces some good music.
24. Look at reviews on Rotten Tomatoes: To see which movies are worth seeing, and which are not.
25. Read Twilight: From what I’ve heard the series is emotionally appealing to women in particular.
26. Watch Twilight: From what I’ve seen, the acting is cheesy and over dramatized.
27. Rollerblading: It was big in the 90s, and from what I have seen recently on these sparse sunny days it is making a come back.
28. Catch Phrase: A much loved group game that spurs controversy on who the device was touching when the buzzer went off. A word of advice: Pass before pushing.
29. Banana Grams: Speed Scrabble (basically)!
30. Get tattoos: Because it’s cool, that’s why.
31. Have philosophical debates: Because we enjoy learning and arguing.
32. Have Jam sessions with an array of random musical instruments, only a common key holding the songs together: A great way to meet new people; blow harmonicas and strum guitars together.
33. Skype: It connects us with friends and family that are states away.
34. Procrastinate: While it’s not productive, it is a lot more fun.
35. Stay up until the wee hours of the morning: The cause of dark under eye circles, falling asleep in class, and studying until the test is handed to you.
36. Sleep in incredibly late: Unless you have class, it is justifiable.
37. Spontaneous mini road trips (i.e. the Olympics in Vancouver B.C.): While we are not tied down, we might as well do something against the grain and out of the ordinary.
38. Find new music on Pitchfork/Read reviews: Reading news about a wide array of bands and listening to their brilliance.
39. Watch Lost: The mysterious island’s secrets keep unfolding and it keeps us hooked, always wanting more.
40. Blog: A great way to connect and interact with people.
41. Mario Kart: There’s something so rewarding about crossing that finish line in first place.
42. Red Box: Though the movies are pretty cheesy, they are cheap.
43. Themed parties: MLK Jr. Day, the Olympics, Lady Gaga, etc.
44. Slack lining: Who ever knew balancing could be so fun?
45. Laying in hammocks in trees around campus: Especially on sunny days.
46. Chess: A game of silence, solitude and logic.
47. Photography: Everyone has an SLR these days…
48. Make films: With handy flip cameras it’s easy to make home-made movies.
49. Running: It’s what happens when the pounds from college cafeterias start revolting against us.
50. DTR-ing: Defining the relationship.
51. Playing board games: Another way of socializing with groups of people.
52. Twitter: Updating information about ourselves for the enjoyment of others since 2006.
53. iphoning; ipadding; ipodding: Technology has taken us to new vocabulary on college campuses.
54. Follow other blogs: Staying up to date on what is going on in one’s interests is a great reason to follow blogs.
55. Hiking: To get away from time, and venture the great outdoors.
56. Gain the freshman 15: The fear of many.
57. Lose the freshman 15: The reality of many.
58. Eat at hole-in-the-wall delicious Restaurants: Cheap and large meal portions are a college student’s dear friend.
59. Get Engaged: Have you ever heard the term “ring before spring?”
60. Start a band: You play drums, Johnny plays bass and Joe plays guitar. So why not?
61. Take up a random hobby: such as stamp collecting.
62. Get well acquainted with the metro system: because car insurance is expensive, yet we need to get away from campus and explore.

Something that employers want students in college to know is what they desire in an employee. And college graduates would value greatly if they knew this information before getting out of school. So what is it that employers want students to know? Come out of college with experience. It’s what you do within your degree that sets you apart—not just the simple fact that you have a degree. Here are some different ways to gain experience with finances, academics, personal skills and relationships during your college years, leading up to graduation and finding a good ol’ job.

1. Understand all perspectives of dorm life by living in the dorms, taking a leadership role in the dorms, then living off campus with people by renting a house. The different relational and financial perspectives gained will bring experience and give credibility.
2. Work multiple jobs during your college years to gain experience in various fields.
3. Intern somewhere that applies to your working field of interest.
4. Form relationships with professors and your school’s faculty. Not only will it give you experience in communicating with a different generation but it will enable you to establish connections and gain insight with intelligent professors and doctors who are there to help you.
5. Join multiple clubs for fun. Being involved in a wide array of activities will extend your interests, and strike up conversation. Bonus: Learn something.
6. Join a club early on that you are serious about, that parallels with your academic interests, and work your way into a leadership or club council position.
7. Know where you live. See the sights and get an understanding for the different ways in which your college home works so that you can seek out more opportunities for internships, relationships or pure adventure.
8. Establish hobbies and be consistent with them. Perseverance in one activity is invaluable, and shows employers you are capable of sticking with a particular activity for a long period of time.
9. Keep a journal to document your progress throughout school, so that you can come out being aware of the ways you grew and how much you learned, beyond just academics. Notifying employers of the growth attained through certain experiences is a definite plus.
10. Employers want well rounded individuals; take a wide array of classes that not only peak your interest, but help you understand how the world works.
11. Apply for scholarships. The more you apply for, the more you will likely win. Winning scholarships is a good resume builder, because employers will see that you are qualified in the eyes of others also.
12. Keep up with the print media and read the daily news. Not only does reading the newspaper give your life context, but it’s valuable to know what is going on during a daily basis.
13. Find out what you think for yourself. If we ask questions and examine all aspects of life, we will be more educated through the processes used in finding our answers and also more prepared to be employed long term.
14. Read blogs! Find out what opinions there are on different issues and see where you fit in to all of it. Being aware is very valuable in an employee, and will help you do your job on a higher level than you would while being unaware of current events.
15. Study abroad.
16. Take a year off. Spend the year building up your experience.
17. Take workshops at your college. Any workshop. Last week I attended a presentation on “Careers in Liberal Arts” which gave me some insight on different liberal arts majors and the occupations that students go on to take. Any presentation or workshop that could be beneficial (which are most) should be taken advantage of!
18. Run a marathon. It’s something besides academics and extracurricular activities that challenges you. (And it’s impressive!)
19. Fail at something. And then learn a lesson through your failure, coming out of it with a great story to tell. Walter Brunell once said, “Failure is the tuition you pay for success.”
20. Volunteer! Volunteer opportunities can be found in many places, and all the better if you can find something that that you can contribute to with the expertise of your major.
21. Become an expert in what you’re interested in. Read books, follow blogs and stay up to date with the news in your field of interest.
22. Use social media to get your name known, and to communicate with others who are doing what you want to do eventually. This can give you opportunities to form relationships early in your career.
23. Take advantage of freelance opportunities from connections who would like to help you, and who need something done that you are capable of doing. And it wouldn’t hurt to make business cards.
24. Make an excellent resume. Use online resources or career center resources at your school.
25. Create a blog to mediate all of your networking and to post questions and issues of your area of interest, starting as early as possible and getting yourself established in your studies when employers search you on Google.
26. Practice people skills. During an interview, personality is a definite factor in the hiring process.
27. Take advantage of free advice (free is relative). Attending college hands these opportunities out freely (again relative).
28. Use your time wisely .
29. Do important things, like study and manage time well, but don’t forget to be a college student and socialize. Learn from experience, not just textbooks.
30. Learn how to socialize in large groups and one-on-one.
31. Meet with your professors if they are willing to meet with students outside of class, use this as an opportunity to be mentored and given advice in academics and life.
32. Don’t settle for the first major that sounds interesting and probably has a high employment rate. Study what you are good at and study what you love.
33. Have fun.
34. Be organized with your accomplishments.
35. Manage a budget so that you aren’t hindered from partaking in beneficial activities because you’ve spent money mindlessly.
36. Be able to tell someone about yourself and how you have grown individually through your time in college and list specific experiences that have helped shape you.
37. Don’t sweat the small stuff. As long as you focus on the bigger picture of graduation and beyond, you will have a larger perspective that employers will appreciate.

This week went by too fast. There are too many deadlines coming up! Is that how you feel too? Spring break is almost here though, and for me and many others on the quick quarter schedule that means FINALS. So to get those off our minds, let’s take an adventure downtown. Instead of watching a movie, getting sucked into the artificial realities of Hollywood. There is a time and place for movie nights, but tonight is not one of those nights.

Whether you are in New York City or a Podunk town in Nebraska…

1. Go to an improvisational comedy club. Have you ever scene “Who’s Line is it Anyway?” Stand up comedy is also really great, especially when going with a group of people.
2. Gaming centers are fantastic for the inner-gamer and are a nice compliment to the dinner & date combo.
3. Go to a show at one of your city’s venues. They’re usually cheap, depending on the lineup, they’re fun, and it’s an ideal way to support local musicians.
4. Take a walk and admire window displays and city lights and the rush of taxi cabs and cars along the avenues. I strongly encourage getting lost. It’s the best way to find new places and to have spontaneous adventures.
5. Go to that restaurant that is known for their delectable desserts, even though it’s super fancy. Order some dessert and fries. It’s a GREAT combination.
6. Get lost in the city’s large library.
7. Find a large body of water and skip stones.
8. Go to a museum.
9. Ride bikes through downtown and feel the rush of going downhill.
10. Swing dancing! Salsa dancing! Blues dancing!
11. Play Scrabble with friends at a coffee shop.

Whatever you end up doing today, remember to relax. I hope your Friday is adventurous.

P.S. I am convinced that I will be able to work Scrabble into each of these lists.

This is the generation of those who seek information. We have tons of avenues to get information about the world, you know, that big round thing inhabiting almost 7 billion people? I think that it’s a general consensus that being aware and up-to-date with what is going on internationally and domestically is important. Not only is it important to have this knowledge for the sake of being aware, but it’s important because it constructs our identity as people that live on this earth, sharing it with others. That’s at least one thing that we all have in common. We live on the same planet. Do you think that’s important?

Here are some different ways of reaching the outside world (and connecting to it), while simultaneously not getting too comfortable inside your university’s bubble.

1. Joining an activist club for anything international is something that is beneficial to you, your campus and others living internationally, who are being affected by your efforts of activism.
2. Read the newspaper. If your school does not provide free copies around campus then look online. USA Today, Wall Street Journal and New York Times are top notch for national and international news. Your local newspaper is where you will be able to find information going on close by. Reading your college’s newspaper will keep you up to date with important (and sometimes not so important) events and issues going on at your school.
3. Run for an office position, regardless of how big or small. Whether for a certain dorm or for the entire campus, being included in an office position allows you a lot of opportunity to get the inside scoop on what is going on with your college and gives you an opportunity to share that information with others. Use the power however you choose, hopefully for good and not evil.
4. Be a part of an on or off campus petition. If, of course, you are supporting its causes. Being included in the experience of a petition is very surreal because you are living in the moments that create change, actively being a part of the method to which authority figures make important decisions.
5. Following blogs and news websites is a great way to stay informed with what people’s opinions are on issues and they are consistently being updated with information and current events.
6. Talk with other people that are informed such as professors and students. Talking with people who have a similar context gives opportunity to agree and disagree, and then learn.
7. Listen to NPR. There are a range of several different topics that the station covers, every thing from Talk of the Nation to All Things Considered. Both are great programs. A 24-hour program stream of the station is available online.
8. Watch the news. It’s another great method of receiving information. And similar to streaming radio stations online, you can also watch the news online for programs such as CNN, or NBC.

The Monster called Fear

A few friends of mine have recently mentioned their slight fear of the library. As they spoke about their fear, it was as if the many shelves of the great rooms created something of a monster, that had huge jaws and a whisperingly soft growl, creeping around the shelves only to be seen in the eeriest sections of the library, eating pages of books and people for a snack. I think you might understand why I responded a little sarcastically, being dumbfounded at why the library was something to be feared. I had not seen the library as a monster of any sort, but rather a friend and a teacher. Someone who wanted to share great knowledge with me. But as I got to thinking about it more, the vastness and the multitude of possibilities in a library can seem overwhelming. And I think that being overwhelmed and afraid can often be interchanged with each other, or at least confused. I also feel overwhelmed at times. So how does one take advantage of the resources in the library, in order to locate and conquer? Here are a few opportunities for you in the library, and a few other fun and free resources to take advantage of… Besides the millions of books, of course.

Do you want your questions answered? Look here:

• Librarians are trained in library science, who study to help people find the information they need. In the context of the college library setting, this means helping students find information on a research topic for a paper or helping students actually come up with a topic. Going to a librarian is your best bet when trying to find a piece of information in the library.
• The Library Catalog is a valuable resource, which is usually available online so that you can search for library documents while at home. Looking through a library’s catalogue allows you to search for books, articles, scholarly journals, music and other archives, along with their cited sources and location. This resource also allows you to reserve, renew and pick up your items on a later date.
• Getting lost isn’t always a bad thing. Go into the library without a destination, perhaps looking for a book to read for pleasure. Travel through the aisles of Fiction and pick up anything that appeals to you. One of the greatest advantages of a library is that it’s all free. By using your library card like a credit card you are able to access tons of information for no cost. Here are some other things you have free access to:

1. DVDs & CDs
2. Online Audio & e-books
3. Online Music & Videos
4. Online Reference Resources: magazines, newspapers, journals, encyclopedias, dictionaries, directories
5. Special Collections: photographs, paintings, maps

• Having a print source directly in front of you is another benefit to the library, as opposed to the internet that goes through mediums of information that have been passed on several times. That’s the wonderful thing about books, it’s not hard to cite the source when it is right in front of you.
• Silence is something that is almost sacred on a college campus. Few places are familiar with this word, and one of them is within the walls of the library.
• Wi-Fi is another reason that the library is great. When researching a paper, combine your print sources and your web sources to maximize your sources.
• Attend events & classes held in your library. Book readings, seminars, presentations, you name it. Pick up a schedule of events at your nearest library.