So Long, Farewell, UT Tyler Student Blog Readers

“There's a sad sort of clanging from the clock in the hall
And the bells in the steeple too.
And up in the nursery an absurd little bird
Is popping up to say, "Cuckoo"
Regretfully they tell us but firmly they compel us
To say goodbye to you.” –The Sound of Music

I’m sorry everyone, but this is what you think; a final farewell from me to all of you. I have spent the last year and eight months with all of you here in this space, at first speaking directly as a counselor and blogger. We talked about some favorite holidays and reframing the ones you don’t like, and about making life a celebration. We talked about the weather, car mishaps, and what it means to make friends when you come to college. For a while, you guys stopped hearing from me, and that’s because I got moved to behind-the-scenes as a supervisor, helping our other bloggers bring you more amazing content about our incredible campus and what life is like here.

Fall 2014 is Getting Close at UT Tyler

Freshman Orientation leaders have led their last sessions in preparation for Fall 2014. The Student Communications team is hopping with calls concerning last minute financial aid changes and making sure students get their finishing touches in to the campus on time. Enrollment Services is busier than ever making sure that everything students have an issue with gets processed so the school year can kick off without a hitch. I’m exhausted just thinking about! But do you all know what this means? School is about to start again!

We don't know either. Don't worry.

New Ways to Stay Safe at UT Tyler

The University of Texas at Tyler is considered a pretty safe place to be, but like any public establishment, there is always the potential for risk, especially situations that could be unique to college campuses. There is no need to fear, however. Here at UT Tyler, the campus police have worked on a large number of ways for students to stay safe and informed, including programs such as PatriotALERT and the upcoming release of a RAVE mobile safety app that lets you stay safe with just your cellphone or tablet on hand. If you are out and about without a mobile device, you may also want to know about the emergency blue phones on campus as well.

PatriotALERT is a system designed to send messages (emails, texts, and voice mails) to students and their parents if their contact information is included when the student signs up. Students automatically get emails sent to their campus account and adding phone numbers increases the chance that you will see these important notifications. The types of messages you might receive range from notices about bad weather expected around campus, closures, potentially threatening situations to the student, as well as notifications about emergency warning system drills so that people are aware that there is not any real issue while the drills are performed. If you want to opt in to PatriotALERT and have not already, visit your My.uttyler.edu account to sign up. This link provides you with all of the instructions.

We also have areas around campus that include emergency blue light phones that allow you to quickly get in contact with police dispatch services if you are in an unfavorable situation that requires immediate attention, or if you need help and don't have a working phone for whatever reason while you are on campus. If you ever need one of these, be sure to familiarize yourself with the map below so you know where to find one. The red numbers denote places where you may find an emergency blue light phone. Unfortunately, they do not look like a tardis. 

Click the map to Enlarge

Finally, we have the new App that has just been announced. This app, provided through RAVE Mobile Security, is called RAVE Guardian and can be found in your phone's app store. It provides the student with the ability to quickly contact campus police in an emergency situation, as well as to add numbers for other people the student may consider "Guardians"; from a trusted room mate to a family member nearby, or directly to your parents. We would highly recommend having at least two people as a guardian besides the police if you can, because it's good to know you have people who can help you if you need it. 

The app itself works by allowing students to quickly place a call or text to the campus police and their guardians if an unfavorable situation seems to be brewing and you feel you need help. The other useful function is what is called a safety timer, which is a button the student may press to set a timer for them to return safely from going out somewhere or to get out of a situation. If the timer is not deactivated by the student before it runs out, it will send a message to the police and the guardians designated in the app to send a police officer to check on you and ensure that you are in no trouble. 

These coupled with other measures of safety provided in the campus living areas help make our school as safe and secure as it can be. If you have any questions about campus safety or about the three services I wrote about above, leave a comment or feel free to directly contact Campus Police by following the link. The Campus Police page provides a lot of great information about security and about these systems.

Remember, have fun while you are at school, but be safety-conscious as well. Even in a safe area such as this, it's good to know what to do if you get stuck in a tough situation.

A Taste of Tyler: Culinary Masterpieces of East Texas Unite!

Who would have thought that the once humble City of Tyler (Home of the University of Texas At Tyler!) would become one of the most well-known hubs of culinary treasures in Texas? For all of you foodies out there, whether you're a starving college gourmet or a food aficionado from the Tyler community, or you're even a visitor from the surrounding area, this annual event is one that will whet your appetite and hopefully satisfy your dizziest foodie daydreams.

Do you see all of these people? And this was the smaller room! 

Celebrating St. Patrick's day with UT Tyler!

My English Literature Professor likes to tease me about wearing a lot of green. I’m not sure why he thinks I wear an abnormally large amount of it, because I don’t think I do, but it does happen to be my favorite color. Add that to his occasional commentary about my Irish heritage, and you get a loud reminder that “my” holiday is coming up. Of course he was referring to Saint Patrick’s Day, which does happen to be one of the more exciting and fun cultural holidays to celebrate! I’ll even tell you where to find some fun public celebrations, if you’re interested. Want to learn a little bit about what March 17^th is all about? Stick around and I’ll share some facts and history with you! 

I feel like this is what my professor expects...

Most of what people know about Saint Patrick’s Day on March 17^th is that it’s all about Irish things and wearing green. You might have been one of those unfortunate souls who has forgotten to wear a green item that day and got chased around and pinched by your friends at school. No? Okay, maybe that was just my school, then… Anyway, there’s more to this day than just wearing green, talking about the Irish icons, and maybe doing age appropriate celebrations at special restaurants.

One interesting subject is the person the day is named after: Saint Patrick himself! Here are a few fun facts about him:

Saint Patrick

• He is the patron Saint of Ireland, who is credited with bringing Christianity (esp. Catholicism) to the island country and is considered a national apostle.
• He actually was not the first person to bring Christianity to Ireland but he spread it around the most
• It is said that he is attributed with driving all snakes off the island when he came, though snakes have never lived on the island.
• The above fact might actually be related to him converting pagans to Christianity, with snakes being symbolic for the pagan religions.
• He has chapels dedicated to him all over the western world, including ones in New York City, Dublin, Glastonbury (England), and Toowoomba (Australia).
• One theory about the  reason for the date this holiday is celebrated is that people believe it to be the day St. Patrick died.

As I said before, most people celebrate the day by maybe wearing some green, attending age-appropriate parties, and wishing your friend good luck. That’s not all people do to celebrate, though, especially if you’re near a large Irish population! Here is a list of traditional things that people might enjoy on St. Patrick’s Day at a festival:

This kitten is ready to party

• Dancing! The Irish love to dance and you can often find places in larger cities that hold events where you can learn and partake in some of the fun folk dances. ( I’ve done it before and it was a blast!)
• Listening and playing some traditional and modern Irish tunes
• Offering prayers for missionaries and loved ones and taking some time for introspection
• Parades. Doesn’t everyone love a lively parade?!
• Enjoying traditional Irish drinks and dishes. I promise, this culture’s hearty food is exceptionally tasty!
• Attending a Mass before celebration, especially in Ireland where it is an important national holiday.
• Buying things associated with green, gold, leprechauns, luck, and especially the shamrock. The shamrock is so iconic for this day because St. Patrick chose it as a symbol. This was mainly because of the traditional three leaves, symbolizing the holy trinity.

If you’re interested in getting your celebration on for St. Patrick's Day (the weekend just before as it falls on a Monday), here are some places that offer celebrations.

In Texas: Dallas is offering a few fun things: Ludacris headlining the St. Patrick’s Day concert and Dallas Mavericks St. Patrick’s day Parade and Festival (I think I went to the Mavericks event two years ago and it was so much fun!). Houston also hosts a parade and festival. Apparently, there is a huge memorial and celebration for Saint Patrick’s Day held in the Alamo in San Antonio as well.

New Orleans, Louisiana (AKA Party Central) also has a huge number of events and celebrations going on around town, including several different parades, block parties, market festivals, and other things.

If you can’t get out of Tyler or off campus but still want to celebrate with your friends, you can always look up some delicious traditional Irish recipies and go to class in your most festive green outfits you can find. I know if I don’t, my English Literature professor will be very disappointed. 

A special on campus celebration note: We will be having a Holi Celebration (Indian Spring Festival) that day. For more info, you can check out the CAB Events page here!

Random Holiday Calendar: Start Your Year With Cheer!

Let me be one of the first to congratulate you on making it through a week of hardcore celebration between Christmas and New Year’s! Good job! Don’t relax yet, though, because a brand new year of celebrations has just begun. That’s right, it’s time to ring in the new year with a list of crazy holidays to celebrate. As always, for your celebration convenience, I have listed celebration options for each day. So, if you’re not partied out yet or you’ve resolved to make this year a year of fun and celebration, let’s ring in the New Year with some extra fun!

If you’re more into the month-long events, check these out:

• Soup Month
• Tea Month (A personal favorite)
• Be Kind to Food Servers Month (though you should do this ALL the time)

January 1st: Happy New Year! First Foot Day and Emancipation Proclamation Day are also today

January 2^nd: Cream Puff Day or Science Fiction Day

January 3^rd: For the sleep-deprived there is Festival of Sleep day; for you more active types, celebrate today with Fruitcake Toss Day

January 4^th:  National Trivia Day or World Braille Day

January 5^th: National Bird Day

January 6^th:  Cuddle Up Day

January 7^th: 225^th Anniversary of the First Presidential Election

January 8^th: Bubble Bath Day

January 9^th: Static Electricity Day

January  10: Houseplant Appreciation Day

January  11^th:  Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friend's Day

January 12^th: Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day (…Not even sure guys.)

January 13^th: Rubber Ducky Day (or Skeptics Day for those of you who are not sure about this)

January 14^th: Dress Up Your Pet Day or Organize Your Home Day

January 15^th: National Hat Day

January 16^th: National Nothing Day

January 17^th: Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day

January 18^th: Winnie the Pooh Day (I firmly support this)

January 19^th: National Popcorn Day

January 20^th: Martin Luther King Day and International Acceptance Day

January 21^st:  Hugging Day! also, Squirrel Appreciation Day

January 22^nd: Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day (or maybe you’d like Celebrate Life Day if you’re not a cat person)

January 23^rd: Pi Day! And Handwriting Day

January 24^th: Talk Like A Grizzled Prospector Day

January 25^th: (Not) Opposite Day

January 26^th: Spouses Day (or Peanut Brittle Day for us single folk)

January 27^th: Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day (appreciate your chocolate cake today too while you’re at it)

January 28^th: Fun at Work Day

January 29^th: Freethinkers Day. Or Corn Chip Day, whichever you prefer. Maybe you can freely ponder your corn chips.

January 30^th: National Inane Answering Message Day

January 31^st: Backward Day

Because... I have no idea.

Celebrate, y’all! And remember, if you actually do celebrate any of these, you should comment here and tell us about your experience.

UT Tyler Winter Break? Read a book!

Hiiiii guys! How are you doing? I am a very happy girl today because I finished up my work for this semester, which means no more finals, no more class blogs, no more papers, no more NOTHING for an entire month! Hooray! That means I'm back to the season of Christmas lights, trees, gift shopping, and reading my little tush off. It's been a long time so some of you might not remember that a while back I started my own book blog (www.wishfulinkling.com) , which sadly has been gathering dust for months now because I self-destructed into a tiny little "no writing" zone after the end of last semester trying to manage three blogs and write four papers a week. 

Yeah, nightmares I don't want to relive. BUT! I'm happy to tell you that I'm back, at least for the holidays, and that I would like to share a review for a book you guys might love to read while you too have a month between hectic semesters and may find yourself feeling a little bored. Are you ready? Here goes!

Random Holidays, December Edition

Okay, so I messed up. I didn't bring you the holiday joy in November, and I am very sorry for that. It was a busy month. Plus I figured that with all of the preparation for usual holidays and college finals, you guys might not have as much time to celebrate. My excuses are terrible.

I know, I know. ;__;

But I'm here when it counts! For those of you who think Christmas (25th), Hanukkah (Nov 27-Dec 5th), and Kwanzaa (Dec 26th- Jan 1st) are too mainstream and that New Years celebrations are for the lily-livered (or you wait to celebrate with another calender), I'm here to offer you good news. There is a solution. For you holiday hipsters and chronic revelers alike, here's a brand new list of December Holidays to consider celebrating, (and please remember to eat your sweets in moderation):

Hipster Santa

October Noms: Random Holiday Calender at UT Tyler

This is me and October!

Hey guys! It’s that time again! I’m back with my month segment, Random Holiday Calender. This month, we’re in for the quintessential pumpkin days, with all of the delicious sweets and spooks that come with Halloween! Who doesn’t love the cooling air, the harvest moons, and the new fashion statements that come with the first full month of autumn? Okay, okay. Not everyone shares the enthusiasm, I understand.

This could be you...?

Maybe you don’t like spooks and sweets for some reason. Maybe the coming cold weather makes you feel  like a hibernating bear. You know what? That’s okay! There’s 30 more holidays to celebrate this October to keep you joyful!

September Tomfoolery: Random Holiday Calender

Hey everybody, it’s nice to talk to you guys again! It’s been quite a while since I’ve been in touch because I’ve been doing the behind-the-scenes work on this blog here at The University of Texas at Tyler and avoiding writing like the plague since the massive writing explosion I had back in May. That involved working three blogs and having two or three essays each week for a little over a month… Yeah. It’s a tiring business.

BUT HEY! I’m here to start back up with the Random Holiday Calendar (Yes, I’m naming it now) which started back in February, for the month of September. So if Labor Day, Yom Kippur, or Sukkot celebrations just aren’t cutting it, don’t panic. September has lots of random tomfoolery to celebrate!

Summer Days Are Here Again!

‘Tis that time again where students finish up their final exams and give shouts of glee, or try to forget about how much of a slaughter this round was. Everyone is tired and ready to walk the stage or take a break for summer.

Or maybe you’re one of the souls who has chosen to continue the work this summer with The University of Texas at Tyler or your local community college. That’s cool too, and I wish you all the best. I was supposed to visit Japan this summer with GATE here at UT Tyler, but my plans fell through. It was sad, but I’m okay with it.

I’m on the precipice of a summer full of new things and I can’t express how excited I am to have a break from academia for a little bit and focus on work and leisure for just a little while during the time I attempt to work out the kinks in my career path that showed up this year (see this blog for the previous episode in that saga). I’m so ready for a moment to breathe, and I know all of you are, too!

Here’s a list of things I’ll be up to this summer:

• ! Working here and blogging with you all!
• ! Earning some monies to do other fun things (or pay for college next semester, that’s good too)
• ! Paying some much needed attention to my poor neglected Book Blog
• ! Read more amazing books!
• ! Go to schliterbahn. I have to. HAVE TO.
• ! Visit friends and family around Texas
• ! Go to California for a weekend in August
• ! Plan a vacation to Portland with two of my best friends
• ! Spend time with said best friends and other ones too, new and old.
• ! Play me some video games!
• ! Get to all the other neglected things that need my attention this summer.

Yup, that’s a really long list. What about you guys?!?! Ready for the long summer days and time for leisure?

Be Part of Research at UT Tyler You Say? Psychological Research!

Yes indeed students of The University of Texas at Tyler, if you ever wanted to be one of those cool test subjects you hear about in psychological studies, you can make it a reality here on campus! Our Psychology Department is a fantastic segment of campus that offers classes from Undergraduate all the way to Doctorates and minors in between!

I happen to be minoring in it myself. However, you don't have to be involved in the classroom in the Psychology department to participate in psychological surveys and occasionally even studies. When I was a Freshman, we had some basic classes where members from the school of psychology would pass out surveys and ask the class to fill them out. They aren't ever mandatory, so if brain studies and personal questions freak you out, no worries.

I chose to participate last year voluntarily in one of those surveys before I'd chosen to minor in the field, and based on my responses, I made a good candidate for a second level of testing that takes place in a lab here on campus. It's incredibly interesting, fun, and they will pay you for your time. (Quite well, I might add).

This semester I took my first Psychology class and I was required to participate in research for class credits as part of a grade (the alternative was a research essay). I did another survey for credit, and this time the Sass CPR Lab wanted me again for a different study and they wanted to study my brainwaves!! How cool is that?! So of course I agreed to participate. It was definitely something I felt was a once in a lifetime experience and I felt like I was helping groundbreaking research be done.

Here's a picture of me getting set up to do the study!

Another thing you can participate in, if you're interested in free counseling, is allowing psychology students practice their counseling skills on you. If you need serious help though, do consider visiting the Student Counseling Center, which is also free.

F.A.Q: How to See Your Enrollment To-Do List

New students and applicants, this one is for you. I’ve explained many, many times on calls to my perspective student friends how you can check if you still owe the University of Texas at Tyler any of your paperwork or items so that we can finish processing your application and you can get a quick response from the university about whether you have been granted acceptance.

While I still have no problem explaining how to access this fabled to-do list, I thought it might help if I could give you a visual step-by-step instruction post on how to find it!

Step 1: Locate your email you should have received with your login information and open it so you have the information ready.

Step 2: Go to the My Uttyler webpage pictured below and enter your information OR set up your account if you haven’t done so.

Step 3: On the next page once you have entered your info, click on the “Student Home Page” tab

Step 4: When the sections have loaded, click on the “Student Center” link under the System Access box at the top right.

Step 5: Congrats! You’re on the right page. Now look on the right side and see if it says “No To Do’s.” If not, we still need whatever’s listed there!

Tips:

• ! If you get an “error has occurred” screen, refresh your page and try your information one more time. If that doesn't work, send an Email to itsupport@uttyler.edu  or call them at (903)565-5555
• And remember you should never send your password.
• ! Email any other technical issues you may send them into to the same email.
• ! If you need help with any of your To Do list items, call the One Stop Enrollment Shop at (903) 566-7180
• ! If you need any advice or suggestions, comment below or call us any time at the Admissions Call Center.

Choosing a Major at UT Tyler: EEEK!!!

So maybe you’re a freshman, just out of high school and you aren’t sure what direction you want to go with your college career. Or, maybe you’re an upperclassman who has discovered your dream to be a physics expert just isn’t working out. Whatever the case may be, whenever you find yourself floundering for a college major, it can be really scary.

To be honest with you guys, I came with a major in mind and scrapped it almost immediately, and remained undecided until last semester. Finally, I decided to major in Political Science here at The University of Texas at Tyler, only to hit another wall, and I’m considering changing my major again. I can tell you, finding your niche is not easy!

Luckily, I learned about this neat service our campus provides. If you’ve never seen it, we have a Student Counseling Center (Check out Michael's blog on getting support you need, here) up on the third floor of the University Center, and they offer a service called CareerCounseling, where you can walk in, make an appointment, and have several sessions in which you speak to a counselor and take a couple of assessments to determine some of your interests and personal strengths. 

The assessments I took were the STRONG interest inventory, and the Meyers-Brigg personality test. 

Once you take the tests, you can discuss your results and bounce some ideas with your counselor, and by the end, I know I felt like I was one step closer to finding my ideal career. The best part is, the service is completely free to students. 

The Headaches are Common

I’m still having a large amount to reconsider, though. I guess what you need to know is that it’s not terribly important to have a major especially for your first years. Taking your basic classes will be more than enough to keep most students busy! 

So, moral of the story, don’t freak out if you don’t know what to do with yourself. You’ll figure it out, and there are so many people in your boat, and many more who want to help. Don’t give up, and look at coming to college as an adventure! 

Japan: A Culinary Enrichment Experience

Here at our fine campus, the Center for Global Education via the GATE (Global Awareness Through Education) Program has been offering an awesome experience every semester for foodies in an event called Foods of the World.

So far, we’ve had three other events like this one, each of which featured desserts, street foods, and high tea. This semester, in light of the impending trip to Japan that the GATE 13’ students are about to undertake, we partook in delectable dishes that one would expect to see on a visit to the country.

There were many interesting things to try that evening, all foods being catered from the local Japanese restaurant Yamato (Which I recommend to any fan of Japanese cuisine).  Some of the selection included:

• Udon Noodles
• Fried Rice
• A selection of cooked sushi, including crunch shrimp rolls, citrusy fish rolls, California rolls, cream cheese and crab rolls, among others
• Vegetable tempura
• Chicken tempura (A dish that a Japanese woman declared to be decidedly non-traditional)

Unfortunately, none of the raw delicacies that are so trademark in the Japanese culture were able to be offered simply because it was difficult to plan it out and keep it safe to eat.

The event took place in the UC Theatre lobby area, where plates, napkins, chopsticks, and seating were provided and the event was free to the public! It was a really fun experience to try new and delicious foods from a country that has always held my interest.

If you’re as much of a fan of new cultural culinary experiences, don’t miss out on this bi-annual occurrence. I have no idea what the next one will have in store, but I can guarantee that you won’t want to miss it!

Guilt Trips (or Classes) Aren’t Worth the Money

At The University of Texas at Tyler, we have a lot of wonderful professors who really bond with their students in their classes. Because of our campus size, we have an attractive student-to-professor ratio (Which is 17:1, which means that on average, there are seventeen students to one professor) which means that there will be at least a few professors you will form a bond with.

This in fact happened to me in the Political Science Department at UT Tyler, where I have met a number of wonderful professors who really do care about you. One such professor took a liking to me in the first class I took with them, and although I sometimes developed headaches from the conversations we had in that class on the particular subject it was over, I was comfortable enough and eventually felt inspired by the end.

The semester was coming to a close and I had already selected my class schedule for the next one, and their class for the next semester wasn’t on it. I was nothing against the professor because I really like them and appreciated all of the advice I’d gotten from them, but the subject was something I KNEW I was going to be uncomfortable with, so I’d opted out.

One day in the hallway, they stopped me with a puppy-dog expression and told me they noticed that I wasn’t on the roster for this new class they were offering and I hedged, saying that I had chosen my schedule already and had a class in the slot theirs was going to be. Which was true.

They seemed to be okay with it, except they paused and told me they really enjoyed me as a student in their classes and thought I would have added a good dimension to the conversation. I’m not going to lie, I was flattered… And a little bit guilty for having turned it down. But in the back of my mind, I knew why I had done it.

And I honestly should have listened to that thought. When I thought the subject of the class was going to be one that would bother me, I actually underestimated the degree to which it has. The material is always incredibly emotional work (at least 70-80% of it is) and the kind that makes an empath like me take a nose-dive into funk land for hours, or sometimes even days.

What I feel like after class

The worst part is that I’m kind of stuck in the pits with it because I am taking the exact amount of hours I need to be a full-time student, so I can’t get out of it and stay on as a full-time. Sometimes, I feel like I’m trapped in a little corner, and at this point, the goal is to get through it and slam that door hard.

What’s the moral of the story? Even if you love a professor and think they’re amazing, be aware of the course subjects you decide to take. If you KNOW there’s a subject that bothers you or even just bores you to tears and it ISN'T mandatory, don’t feel guilted into taking the class. They’ll understand if you choose to sit that one out, and you will be much, MUCH happier not being stuck in a situation that seriously affects you, whether emotionally or academically.

So, when the time comes for you to choose your classes for the next semester, choose wisely. Don’t put yourself through a genuinely harrowing situation out of guilt or obligation to someone else. If you do find yourself in that situation, don't wait until it's too late to change your decision! 

Spring Break Spectacular... In Tyler!!

Well, it’s just another Spring Break I’ll be spending in Tyler, Tx. But My chin is up because there is actually a good amount to do in Tyler if you know where to look.While I’m going to be spending a good part of it car shopping (The car from my last blog was indeed totaled) I’m going to grab some friends and have some fun. Want to know where and how? Here’s a few local fun places that are worth a visit:

• Are you an animal lover? The Caldwell Zoo is a great place to meet with friends and have some fun learning about animals. If you love big cats especially, consider visiting the Tiger Creek big cat reserve just north of the loop! It’s really awesome!!
• Thinking you might want to go for a splash at a waterpark? Bet you didn’t know there was an indoor one just south of the city limits at The Villages Waterpark building! It has all the things that make a waterpark worth going to, and the water is warm year round!
• If you don’t already know about Green Acres Bowling Alley, or the Putt Putt place just down the road from UT Tyler, I’m disappointed in you. Two great places to compete with your buddies.
• In fact, full-sized golf is available around Tyler at a number of places, too!
• Looking for some go-karts and bumper boats? Fire MountainAmusements in Tyler is a hub for all the fun things that used to get you going as a kid. Check it out! There are games in the arcade there, too!
• Interested in Flowers? Visit the Rose Garden for a look at one of the largest rose hubs in the world. It’s also a great place to play tag with your friends!
• Try the Azalea Trails in Tyler, which officially open next Friday for a lot of fresh air and beautiful flowers!
• If you’re not interested in the flowers but love the outdoors, try visting a park! You can try Rose Rudman, Bergfield, Faulkner (which is a sports facility as well) and even the Children’s park just up the road!
• If all else fails and you’re stuck on campus for the break, Check out the schedule at the Herrington Patriot Center (or HPC) to find some fun activities over Spring Break! I hear the outdoor adventure club might be taking excursions, too!

If none of these things float your boat, there’s still plenty more to do around Tyler! Check out this website, which offers and extensive list of interesting and exciting things to do around here! Happy Spring Break, and stay safe everyone!

A CRASH Course in Collision Safety with UT Tyler Bloggers

One day, you’re just driving down the lane. Traffic is bad and you’re irritated because you might be late to that party you were supposed to be attending at 3 o’clock and it’s already 2:55, and people just refuse to stay in their lane. You’re trying to be careful when suddenly, a truck pulls into the road and the person in front of you slams on their brakes and they seem to be flying towards you, as you try your best to hit your brakes so you don’t slam into them! …But it’s too late. There’s a pop, and your airbags are flying and you’re stunned.

At least, that’s what happened to me this weekend. Car accidents are a terrifying experience for anyone, whether you’re stuck in the middle of nowhere, or you’re in the middle of one of the busiest areas in town. You might be stunned and terrified, or heaven forbid, injured, when the dust settles. But there are some things you will want to remember if this ever happens to you:

1.        If your car is in a hazardous area, see if you and the other person involved can move into a safer area, such as a side road or a parking lot. If your car can’t be moved, turn on the hazards.
2.       Call the police if the wreck is bad. You want them there to help sort everything out and get the help you need.
3.     Call your parents or someone close to you who can come help you in the time of crisis. It not only helps you calm down, they can also help you figure out what to do.
4.     Call your insurance company as soon as you or someone with you has made the other calls. You want them to know what happened so they can help you deal with any costs you might have.
5.      Exchange your license, insurance info, and telephone number with the other person involved.
6.         Let the police decide who is at fault for the accident if there is a question. You might be stunned and not thinking clearly at the time and if you take money for the accident and agree not to call anyone, you may have issues later if there are more issues and the money doesn’t cover it.
7.     Stay calm and take a deep breath. Accidents happen and it is scary and awful, but don’t give up on driving or think you are not good enough. If you need extra help, consider defensive driving.

Here are a couple of things to always keep in mind and in your car in case of emergencies and accidents such as the one I described :

• Always have a copy of your insurance in your car or your wallet/purse. You don’t want to be caught without your information if you have to give it to the police and/or the other people involved in the accident
• Remember to keep your cell phone charged and have a charger in your car just in case so if you get stranded, you aren’t without a way to contact someone for help! (Don’t end up like this girl)
• Keep a blanket, water, and snacks in the car in case of being stranded or needing something to eat to stabilize you after a burst of adrenaline that comes with accidents.
• Make sure your spare tire is usable in case you have a flat or a blowout. If this happens to you, make sure you get the bad tire replaced at a tire shop on the first chance you get so you are never without an extra!
• If you have to pull over at night on the highway, pull off the road as far as you can in a well lit area (if possible) and put your hazard lights on.

That’s all the wisdom I have for you right now. Car accidents are scary and pretty bad, but they happen to a lot of people at least once in their lives. It’s always good to be prepared for them so you can face down the issue with as much confidence as you can. As for me, I think I need a couple of pain-killers and a break before I head back to class at UT Tyler.

The Adventures of Doing Things for Fun at UT Tyler

So, I don’t know if you all remember back a little over a month ago when I first joined this awesome band of bloggers that I was interested in starting a book review blog as well. I finally made that dream a reality and I have been going steady on it for two weeks or so (Shameless plug: Go follow me there! I have tons of fun and I’d love to hear from you all! Comments, suggestions, etc.!)

 It can be really hard though. Although I’m new at it, I want to already be at the part where I’m hip and cool and tons of people follow me and care about what I say, and I totally want more people to share the book love. I dream of being contacted by authors and publishing companies and being sent books for my reviews before the masses get to read them. But so far, I have two subscribers, twenty facebook followers, and 65 twitter followers. Not world class or well known by any means.

But the point is, I’m doing it because it’s fun. Sometimes in college, I worry that people forget what it’s like to do something because it genuinely makes them happy and not because it’s going to make the grade or the g’s. While it’s incredibly important to focus on your academic life, it is also really important to make a little time to focus on what you like.

If that means starting a blog about cute cats, go do it! If you love to talk about cakes and baking, the internet is a wonderful place. Maybe it just means you take a night to bake something yummy or go find somewhere to go kayaking. I dunno what interests you, but don’t forget about those things. Let them nourish you in times when you feel overwhelmed or apathetic about what you’re focused on now. Even if you don't know what your hobbies are, go out and do something fun on campus!

The main point? Learn to have time to do things for fun as well as your work and school. What do you guys secretly wish you had more time for? Or even better, tell me something you DO take the time to do for fun in the comments!