How to Not Look Broke: Part One

This is why we can’t have nice things. Most college students usually work minimum wage jobs, especially college students with no to little work experience. Constantly being reminded that you can't afford certain things shouldn't hold you back when it comes to your personal life.

 If you work your way through college, don't feel like your only options are to hide in a cave until you can pay off your student loans. Nobody wants to be the friend that always flakes and nobody wants to invite the friend that you know will always say no. 

Homesick?

Lately I've been feeling a little homesick.
I'm from San Antonio which is 5-6 hours away from Tyler. I also don't have a car, so going there requires either catching a ride from someone going to Austin (because I know almost no one from San Antonio), or getting on a bus. However I manage to get there, it's not easy, so I don't get to go home very often. (Nothing near how bad Katrina had it though)

I also happen to have a VERY close family, so not a day goes by when I don't talk to my Mommy, or text my aunts and grandma. Being away from all of them is hard, but here is how I make it through

my lovely family visiting one weekend!

1. Call home when you miss it
Hearing your parent's voices is nice. Especially talking to your little siblings just to see how school is. It makes you feel like you're still at home.

2. Go socialize!
Do NOT lock yourself in your room. All you will do is think yourself into a sad hole.

going out with friends!

3. Go outside
Take a walk, ride a bike, go hang out by the dock. You always find something to do or run into someone interesting here on campus

walking around UT Tyler!

4. Let your friends know how you're feeling
Feeling homesick is normal. I'm sure they probably miss home too. Talking about how you feel helps out.

5. Talk to a counselor
When you feel like you can't talk to your friends, we have counselors available here on campus!

There's always ways to distract yourself when you're feeling down. Just remember that it never lasts for long and you always have someone to talk to!

Last Day, GREAT Day!

Today is officially my last to work in our Call Center here at The University of Texas at Tyler. That statement is very bitter sweet for me. I have absolutely LOVED my time here, and I was so lucky to have been given the opportunity to work here throughout the semester. I've made some awesome new friends , and I am excited to keep following this blog myself to keep up with them!

Yes, this is me TODAY on my last day. I'm sad, and it's cold! 

So, although I will miss this job and all of the friends that I have been so fortunate to work with, I am still greatly anticipating the events that are still to come in my life. A quick update: I've had a couple more interviews with potential full-time employers, and should be hearing back from them within the next few days. Hopefully I can soon start the next chapter in my life!

In closing, I hope that you all have enjoyed my small presence in your life! I hope that you've enjoyed reading these blogs, hearing from me on the phone, working with me, or being in class with me! It's nice to be able to look back on this semester and know that I made the right decision to finish up my college career by taking classes here at UT Tyler.

My final piece of advice to you all is this: Don't be afraid to do what makes you happy. Life is too short to stay on the straight and narrow path because that is what others expect of you. Whether you're looking into colleges, about to start college, or nearing graduation, please take some time to reflect on YOUR wants and needs, and follow those desires! Other people may think that you're crazy, but it could turn out to be a great, mysterious, and beautiful adventure. 

It's still my last day, but I'm happy with the opportunities that I've had this semester. :)

Much <3

Kat

Mark Your Calendars, Homecoming is... coming

Patriot Palooza and Homecoming are my favorite weeks in the fall semester (okay, also Thanksgiving week because I get to sleep and eat and go into a food coma and not worry about classes).

And next week is UT Tyler's Homecoming Week!

The committee that plans Homecoming has a lot lined up for next week and you can see a full list of events when you click this link

The week kicks off with a tailgate party Oct 22, Monday evening, which includes a lot of fun stuff. Last year included a mechanical bull (I watched our school mascot, Swoop, ride it and fall! It was hilarious), cotton candy (who doesn't love cotton candy), a lot of free food, the opportunity to completely destroy a car with a sledgehammer and a lot of other fun stuff! I cannot wait to see what they have in store for us this year.

The rest of the week will be equally as fun so be sure to attend as much as you can! But don't miss class for anything because nothing is worth getting behind in classes. Grab some friends and plan to go together whenever everyone has free time and go! And even better, make new friends in those events!

Last year, Homecoming week was the time I met a lot of my friends. It's such a great opportunity to do so!

I will be there for sure, taking a million pictures as always, so I hope to see you guys there :)

Approaching the Final Campaign

Approaching the Final Campaign

   As the upcoming first day of class approaches, I certainly find myself looking back ( happily! ) I have to certainly discuss what it has been like to be apart of so many groups on campus.

   Obviously, the biggest thing on campus I have been a part of has been the Game Club. We went from having a select few people discussing the idea of a club at a table, to having two selected days for running events on campus ( Warhammer Wednesdays and the normal Game Club sessions ), over 40 members at the height of our biggest meetings, and certainly we all gained numerous friends along the way.

   The chief concern with Clubs and things of that nature on campus is ( in my mind ) the sustainability of the club when the founding members have left.  From our founding members, two have graduated and three more are about to do so. We have gained many members, however from that number very few actively desire leadership positions. I am sure, however, in time we will have people step forward to make sure what a few people created, many can enjoy.

   One of the biggest things to talk about as I come to my end of being a club President is making sure to have this new semester be our biggest one yet. While we have had high highs ( 40+ members in one room at one point ), as well as low lows ( seven members in a room at one point ), it is important get enough new people aware of the Club so they can see what is available to them. Also, it would allow for new members to join up that might desire to take active leadership roles. That is what I am particularly excited about.

   Something else I am considering is what my “final campaign” will be for the Club. A campaign, for those unfamiliar with nerd-speak, is the combined story and gameplay meetings in a D&D game. I’ve run quite a few sessions, most of them which fizzle due to time, schedule changes, or test/school concerns. Still, I’d like to run one long 16 week session from start to finish for the players who might enjoy it. It will be something extravagant, something huge, and very likely something special. I am not prone to lavish displays of gaming theatrics, but … I just might!

   Whatever we all do, we’ll do it together and that is the point of what Clubs should result in here on the UT Tyler campus – unity. 

Juggling life

Working 19 hours a week and 12+ hours of class and the homework for those classes leave very little time to have a social life.
   Your friends go out to dinner without you because you are working and they are hungry and unwilling to wait for you. Like seriously, guys, i'm making money and you can't wait for me?
   I've missed out on Texas Roadhouse and FREE pancakes from IHOP cos' i'm working.
Most students working during the day or afternoon fitting their schedule to get the most time out of it.
   The upside to working a lot is that when you get day off, it's ah-maz-ing unless you have tons of homework to do but it's mostly awesome.
   So those working students, heads up high when you miss the opportunity to hang out with friends, because you are in fact doing something totally worth it in the end!

Stressed out?

I am a person who stresses about every little detail and how everything has to go right.

Not the best way to think but it hasn't failed me yet.

I calm my stress by doing a number of things:

1. be 30-15 minutes early to everything (I was 30 minutes early for class today and I tend to be an average of 5 minutes early for work)

2. find an outlet. sometimes zoning out watching hours of television works. I play Call of Duty MW2 to take out my extra stress. make sure the outlet is safe and not harmful.

Those are what help me. Here is a website with some more tips.

the top five are:

1. Exercise. “Run, do some yoga, punch a bag at the gym,” advises Charles Goodstein, MD, clinical professor of psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine in New York City and president of the Psychoanalytic Association of New York. Exercise is a way to manage stress that doesn’t have to add to your financial woes. For example, a 20-minute walk or jog around your block can yield up to 12 hours of improved mood. The main thing is to find a physical activity that you enjoy, whether it’s dancing or fly fishing.(My best friend plays her Wii)
2. Laugh. Laughter really is the best medicine. It is proven to lower tension, and at the same time, improves blood flow and the health of your heart. Rent a funny movie or hang out with that wannabe-comedian pal, and forget about your worries for a while.
3. Write. Dedicating a period of time every day to write about a situation that is bothering you may reduce tension and give you stress relief for the rest of the day. Keeping a journal can also help you solve problems or find positive angles amongst the stressors.
4. Socialize. Spending time with friends and family who give you a sense of belonging, purpose, and fun may provide all the stress relief you need.
5. Take care of yourself. When tension spikes, it can be tempting to put yourself last — but prioritizing healthy eating, physical activity, relationships, and sleep is necessary if you want to avoid making your stress worse.

So readers, next time you're stressed out and need to de-stress use your own methods of de-stress or try using one of this tips!

Peace out homeskillets!