The Close of the Year

   Winter is coming in full force soon. This means for many the close of the Fall semester of 2013, visiting family, food, presents, carols, and renewing bonds with friends and kin alike.  As we all approach these wonderful times, there should be a moment taken to consider the state our lives are in.

It's fall at UT Tyler! How are you spending your season?

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year! As I told you in a previous blog, the leaves begin to change color and the air becomes more brisk.  Now, the question is how will you plan to spend your time in this most wonderful time of year? Will you be staying inside watching television? Or will you go out and enjoy the best time of the year?!

Fall Feels and Pumpkin Spice Kisses

(Yea. Hershey has a Pumpkin Spice Flavored Kiss Now. It's a thing.)


It’s that time of year again, guys. Fall. Glorious fall. For those who call Texas their home this is the season of wearing light jackets and sweating slightly less profusely when you walk outside in the morning. So let's shake our hairbrushes at Summer like this little kid did and welcome the Fall season together, people!

Get behind me, Summer!
Via Awesome Gifs

25% Off For UT Tyler Students

I'm sure many of you are cluttering over the upcoming fall semester with your various last minute preparations. Some of you are busy moving into a new apartment or dorm, while others are trying to adjust to the idea of living away from home for the first time. Well, if one of these clustering moments involves shopping for school clothes have I got news for you. During the month of August The St. Vincent de Paul store in Tyler is offering a 25% discount to all UT Tyler students who show a valid student ID.

St. Vincent de Paul is a chain of international thrift stores owned and operated by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. (Who would'a Thunk?) Anyway, it is basically equivalent to the Goodwill thrift chain except SVdP stores treat their employees better. I actually bought the couch that's currently in my apartment from there about 2 years ago. I may not have a picture to share but let me tell you, this is a good couch. I mean I do sit on it and everything.

So if you're interested in saving 25% on your back to school shopping go check out the local St. Vincent de Paul store on 410 S. College St. Tyler TX 75702. Their hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 10 to 5:30 and are also open the first Saturday of each month..

Life Cheat #867503: Napoleon was 5'7". Not a life cheat really... Just thought you should know he wasn't short.

Full Time Grad Student at UT Tyler

This coming fall semester I will embark on a rigorous journey. I will be taking a full load of 9 hours of graduate courses here at the University of Texas at Tyler. I will be taking Renaissance Europe with Dr. Tabri, 20^th Century Europe with Dr. Gajda, and a Seminar Course with Dr. Koster. I have had Dr. Gajda for classes as both an undergrad and as a provisional grad student last Spring. I've also had classes with Dr. Tabri as an undergrad but I've never had Dr. Koster so I’m looking forward to seeing what a class with her is like.

I’ll be taking each of these courses once a week for 3 hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. This may not seem like much, but take into account on average the workload is about 1 book and review a week, in addition to a short research paper in each class (short being about 15-20 pages). Along with this, I plan on lecturing a 1945 to present history course on the shift of American politics to the right since World War II. However, the great challenge is presenting the material in a completely unbiased manner.
I may have a lot coming up this semester but I plan on enjoying every minute of it as I did last semester.

A graduate degree has the potential to take you places a Bachelors cannot. However, going for a graduate degree is not for everyone. If you are interested in pursuing such a degree here at UT Tyler it important to first figure out your goals for grad school and what you plan on doing with your degree. Second, discuss these goals with an academic advisor to see what the University can offer you. You'd be surprised at the wide array of graduate programs UT Tyler offers.  Go ahead and take a look for yourself. There might just be something there for you!

Colder Weather at UT Tyler

So, as we all know, the weather is starting to get cooler and fall is setting in. Most people welcome this change with open arms! However, I prefer the summer, so right about now is when I grudgingly drag out my winter clothes and coats. (I was unprepared for this weather in Family Ties).

See? I can tolerate the cold weather, just not for long periods of time.

Now it's that time of year again, where the buildings won't turn on their heaters yet, but it's too cold for the air! Today at work with my fellow UT Tyler Bloggers , I am keeping warm in the office by wearing my PEA COAT while inside! And, I still can't feel my toes! :O 

A few Facts About Kat: 

1. I am very cold-natured. Even during the hottest times of the year, I am often cold inside and/or during the nights. 
2. I love ice cream, Icees, popsicles, Blizzards...and pretty much any frozen, delicious treat of sugary goodness. 
3. If it didn't cost about $1,847,293.47 to always have a space heater running in my bedroom, I would absolutely do it. 

So, today at work when we were enjoying some delicious ice cream for funsies, I did so while wearing my winter gear inside. Take a look: 

My love for ice cream extends beyond my frozen toes and fingers! 

STAY WARM out there, my fellow Patriots and friends! 

Homecoming!!!

                So far, college is a lot like I expected it to be, but very different at the same time! So next week is officially homecoming week here at UT Tyler , and I’m, simply put, ecstatic. I haven’t yet experienced what a college homecoming is like, but I’ve heard stories about it.

                Some people say that homecoming week is the most exciting and fun week of the entire fall semester, which is believable. My high school homecoming was almost always the most anticipated week of the semester for me. I’m hoping homecoming is as exciting as people say that it is, and I’m pretty sure it will be.

                Since we don’t have a real football team here at UT Tyler, our homecoming game is a soccer game, which is good. Soccer is one of my all-time favorite sports, mainly because it’s so easy for me to understand. The game is on the Saturday of homecoming week, so we’re ending the week with a bang (or hopefully a goal !)

                If you want to know some more about what all is going on next week, you can read my Katrina's blog friend about homecoming, or you can also check it all out here . Happy homecoming, patriots!

91 Days of Autumn!

Happy October! Summer is long gone and it finally feels like Autumn again! Autumn is one of my favorite seasons of the year, for many different reasons! The days get shorter, and nights get longer.  Summer is too hot and winter is way too cold for my taste. Spring and Autumn are my two favorite seasons mostly because they’re the happy medium of weather! It’s cold outside, but not TOO cold, and it’s just perfect.

This season is going to be just full to the brim with excitement; I can just tell it is! With fall just starting, you can buy a Pumpkin Spice Latte at one of our two Starbucks on campus, go to The State Fair of Texas, and comfortably wear a jacket outside. 

         Not to mention that Halloween is coming up too! I love Halloween, because you can be anyone you want to be for a night and not be called stupid, and not to mention you can get free candy... FREE!! 

         I haven’t seen it yet, but I’m sure when the trees start turning shades of orange and brown, the campus looks stunning. Honestly, I think I spend more time outdoors during the Fall more than I do in the Summer! They say that Autumn only lasts 91 days long, but I wish it lasted longer. 

         Who needs winter anyway, really? I’m pretty sure no one does. I don’t hate winter, but it’s just not fun unless it snows, which is like never here in Texas. I’m really glad that Autumn is finally here, and I hope you all are having a great semester so far!