Newcomer in the midst of summer!

Stop your scrolling! You have arrived at the best destination you could possibly think of at this time of day. It is I, Kevin Berber. Your new student blogger. These next few months you will go on a cyber adventure of my everyday life here at The University of Texas at Tyler. Hold the hysteria.

Let's start with a little introduction...

I turned 20 on May 25th. Woot Woot! I have entered the great decade of the twenties. The period in life that everybody tries to forget when they're older, because either they're too embarrassed, or was just too beautiful that they can't re-live it. 

I am Mexican, and yes, I LOVE TACOS! I am bilingual in English and Spanish. Arriba! Orange is my favorite color, oh and look at that...orange is one of our school colors.

I am currently about to be a Junior this upcoming fall semester, so my journey in this lively and great campus will cease in two more years. I know. It may sound like a long time, but really, it goes by quick with all the study nights, involvement in student organizations, and awesome hang out times with friends.

I am majoring in Public Relations under the Mass Communication program. I am also minoring in Marketing. My dream is to work in the fashion industry doing public relations work and marketing. What does this mean? FREE CLOTHES!! Well hopefully. 

After I receive my Bachelors of Arts in Mass Communication I plan to pursue a Masters in either Public Relations or just Communications. 

I enjoy baking... no not just cookies, but other types of pastries like breads, pies, or even the fancy

crème brûlée. If I could eat Mac & Cheese every day I would, but alas I would destroy my attempt of keeping the summer body that I have.

I love learning about new cultures. I want to know how other people in different parts of the world live. That is why I plan to travel and broaden my horizons. I will hopefully visit Europe, Asia and South America. If I could live in Paris or London that would be uhhh-muzz-inggg!(amazing).

Just for fun, I'll give you my personal bucket list:

·         Learn all the romantic languages (French, Portuguese, and Italian)

·         Learn German

·         Skydive

·         Hike any of the highest peaks in the world

·         Get sprayed by a skunk...just kidding

·         Attend a runway show

·         Play spoons (card game) with the Pope

·         Meet the President of the U.S.

·         Meet James Franco

So that's me so far! I hope to have a great journey with you guys so keep reading!

Thank you

Kevin Berber

Gabby's Farewell!

Hi guys! So today is my last day of work for the semester. I have definitely enjoyed my time here at the Call Center. In just 2 short weeks I will be on my way to Japan! FINALLYYYY! I am so excited and I cannot wait to share my experience and loads of pictures!

This is usually such a bitter sweet moment for me. I am not very good at saying bye to people, and even though I know that it's not a forever goodbye, it's still really sad for me :(

There are friends graduating, transferring or just moving on with life! And I wish all of them and you guys lots and lots of luck with the next chapter in your life!

There will be a few new faces for the summer here at the Call Center so be nice and READ THEIR STUFF! :)

I bet it's all going to be so good! I hope you all have a great summer break and keep safe!

Student Blogger Photo Shoot!

Each semester, we get some new faces on the blog who bring their wonderful talents

 and opinions to the blog.

It's been a while since we've taken a group picture (last Spring when Megan and I  just joined the team to be exact). 

So here are the new group photos!

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

Thanksgiving Break is Next Week

Thanksgiving Break is fast approaching The University of Texas at Tyler campus, and it is almost rude to say because none of us are ready. You see, breaks in college are not truly breaks. This is what makes attending a university so trying; it has a lot to do with endurance.

I have 35+ pages due after Thanksgiving break is over. I am just currently thankful that I get that time out of class to complete a few of these papers and eat some sweet potatoes in footie pajamas in the privacy of my own Grandparent's home.

This may or may not be a gratuitous picture of my boss Amelia and I at work on
Patriot Preview Day, with Swoop between us. Did I ever mention that I love my job? 

Preview Day Video!

The past year we made a video for our table at Preview Day. This is the new one for the current group of student bloggers made by yours truly. 

Enjoy!

Student Bloggers Go Longboarding

So I recently got a new longboard! It's a Rayne Killswitch and I bought it mainly to do technical downhill races and slides. I love my old board but it's only amazing for beginners to do basic things and  stable cruising.
So the other day my co-bloggers decided to test out my new longboard and I happily agreed to teach them and let them try it out! This was the result.

Remember to gear up and wear your helmets! (And yes, I am aware that we weren't wearing any, but that's because at the speed we were all going in, we could've raced turtles and the shelled creatures would've won)

Typical Day on the UT Tyler Student Blogging Team

     As I walk into work today, with my maxi dress flowing in the wind, and a spring in wedged heeled feet, I knew today was gonna be a good day. Last week was KINDA sucky. I wasn't feeling all that well from the crazy weather change. Texas, please make up your mind about the weather. Is it gonna be fall yet or are you still clinging on to summer?.... Can't you see that my closet cannot handle both summer and fall clothes together! I am not fond of being bundled up in the morning before class and when I get out of class the temperature rises 20 degrees and I look like a fool wearing fall clothes :( (sorry I went off on a tangent. That tends to happen)

But the reason why I am all dressed up and excited about today is because i'm going to see the Shaolin Warriors at the Cowan Center ! You see, I am very excited about this cause it just looks absolutely awesome. My attention was caught when UT Tyler pinned up the flyers for the show and this is what I saw! 

Malala

   I’d like to take a moment here in this blog to discuss something very important about what this “project” (ie: student blogging) allows us as students to experience: freedom, specifically out freedom of expression within the confines of a public university.

I am going to discuss this because ( in case you have not heard about her on the news ) we have a remarkable fellow blogger-in-spirit by the name of Malala Yousufzai. She was recently shot in her home region of Swat in Pakistan.  She has become famous not for her assault, but rather for her actions that lead to the Taliban of the region to attack her in the first place. You see, Malala had a blog, a blog where she encouraged the young women of Pakistan to seek the education they deserve.

This did not sit well with the local Taliban and so they shot her on the way to school. She is currently being the subject of a great medical effort to provide her with the care she will need to survive, both in Pakistan and now in Britain.

A picture of Malala Yousufzai

   As Americans we enjoy a great many freedoms, one of the biggest being in that we have a great range of ways and mediums with which to speak our minds. As students, we at the University of Texas at Tyler Student Blogging Team are able to use this freedom to inform you of the educational benefits offered you by this state, the employees of the University of Texas system, and the wonderful people who work here at UT Tyler.

When you read our blogs and comment, you ( as students or even as foreigners to American soil ) are engaging in our dialogue. By accepting outside opinions, or controversy, or  issues and discussing them openly, we are all adding to one of the things that makes the internet a true marvel. We use to broaden our minds, to seek new avenues of thought we might have dismissed previously, and we certainly use it for humor.

   Still, this freedom we to blog and discuss that are using is not available in other countries. When I hear about the difficulties that Malala went through to even start her blog ( let alone to have the courage to write what she has in it ) I feel proud to do what I do here on the Student Blog Team, even if sometimes our posts as are silly as they are serious.

   To all who read out blog and comment – thank you

   To all who have blogs of your own and bravely post about injustices or your lives – thank you

   To all who allow us here to maintain our blog(s) with the freedom we do – thank you

   To Malala – thank you, too. Thank you for speaking out. Thank you for being brave.

Cause You've Had a Bad Day

Because you had a bad day. You're taking one down. You sing a sad song just to turn it around. 

      I'm pretty sure EVERYBODY has heard of this song by Daniel Powter. And this is EXACTLY how I'm feeling right now. I was in UT Tyler Chorale and Dr. Rose pretty much summarized how a majority of the students are feeling... "This is the pre- mid term times. When the reality of school finally sinks in." He could not be anymore right! 

"Mysteries of Lisbon"

from: uttyler.edu/GATE

PRESENTS 

      Global Film Series: "Mysteries of Lisbon" 

The UT Tyler GATE (Global Awareness Through Education) is hosting a film night tomorrow night, September 11,  in The University Center Theater at 6pm! 

"Mysteries of Lisbon

                The film follows a jealous countess, a wealthy businessman, and a young orphaned boy across Portugal, France, Italy and Brazil where they all connect with a variety of interesting individuals. This film has won numerous awards and have been praised heavily. If you like mystery, suspense, a bit of old fashion action, and crazy, twisted, story plot then you should come and watch!! 

Watch the trailer @ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1236371/

Welcoming A New School Year and New Beginnings

                New beginnings and a mile stone in my life welcomes me into the next school year. It’s official! I’m a sophomore and 20! It is still so hard for me to say that or admit to myself. Yes, I know, some of you readers might be shaking your head at me wondering why I’m freaking out about turning twenty. Well, to me it’s just a big realization that I am no longer a teenager. I don’t even have the “teen” after my age anymore! But I do look forward to this new school year with great excitement!

                My name is Gabby Cruz from Allen, Texas. I am a pre nursing major, coming in to my sophomore year here at The University of Texas at Tyler . I was born 8331 miles away in Olongapo, Philippines. Till this day, I still can’t spell Philippines without spell checkL. If you looked at me now, I bet you would never guess that this girl grew up in a farm. Indeed, a full on rolling fields, cows, pigs and chicken kind of farm.  I moved to San Jose, California in 3rd grade and to Texas the summer before 5^th grade. I’ve been living in Texas for 9 years and I still can’t get over this heat!

                Freshman year has been such a great experience, with a few ups and downs here and there. I definitely immersed myself in a lot of organizations on campus including, SGA (Student Government Association,  Expansion (we are in the process of staring a third sorority on campus! Yay!), Sigma Alpha Pi (National Society of Leadership and Success), and  GATE (Global Awareness through Education) which my group is able to travel to Japan this summer! I also enjoy singing and joined University Chorale spring semester of last year. Although I have been in choir since 6^th grade, I still have trouble getting over signing solo in front of people….  I also have played volleyball since 5^th grade. If you ask me to play volleyball with you, you’d probably want to think twice.. .. I’m pretty rusty..ok ALOT rusty.

                I am very honored to be a part of the Student Communication team at UT Tyler.  This is my first time blogging so hopefully you guys enjoyed reading my very first blog! It’s been kind of weird writing about myself.. but don’t worry I definitely cut it short to spare you! As I become more experience with blogging I hope you all would get a chance to get to know me a lot better through my post! Keep reading our  UT Tyler Student Blog because I have so much to share with you about all the things I love about life, college and of course UT Tyler !  

Patriot Preview Day was a Success!!!

             For the past month the Student Communication Center has worked hard by e-mailing students and calling students about Patriot Preview Day. I was a representative at Preview Day on Saturday, and if I say so myself, it went really well. There were a lot of students there and several of these students were interested in joining the Facebook app.
             We also had a display board that demonstrated several of the blogs we post here on blogger to get more students to follow us. I had an awesome time handing out fliers about the Facebook App and giving away free pens and vanilla air fresheners.
            This is my second Preview Day with the Student Communication Center and I believe that we did pretty well explaining what it is that we do and how it can benefit the students. It was great speaking with students. Many of the students looked as though they are eager to start college here real soon.
          I enjoyed working Preview Day, because if you were to ever run into a student who has attended, they always seem to know who you are. They never appear to be nervous about talking to you or asking questions. That makes me feel as though I made a good first impression and I represented us well. I would like to advise anyone who has the opportunity to get involved in Preview Day to do so. It is a great way to get involved with other students and learn more about other organizations and colleges that UT Tyler offers. Trust me the time and the hard work pays off and is well appreciated!