College Showcase- Education and Psychology!

      The University of Texas at Tyler will host an event on campus called College Showcase from Monday, February 10 to Thursday February 13. Every college will have its own day to showcase their degree programs to prospective student. The College of Education and Psychology will present their programs on Wednesday, February 12 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Campus Community

UT Tyler is a wonderful school tucked in the forests of East Texas. We have one of the most beautiful campuses I have ever been to and I truly enjoy getting to spend so much time here. When you are a college student your school becomes your home. I know you may be thinking to yourself “self, wouldn’t your apartment become your home?” To that I respond, nay nay. You spend so much time in class (anywhere from 12 to 18 or more hours a week), then you have to come back for projects, and studying in the library, then you eat here (because you are already here), then you have organization meetings you have to go to, and if you work on campus… you get the point. Your campus literally turns into a community to you. You have your buildings with familiar faces and places that you NEVER go into (for me that would be the engineering building). On holidays I am reminded of this, and although I am a bitter single, Valentine’s Day is actually a widely celebrated holiday. So on campus today we had a bake sale, many of the offices made treats, and flowers coupled with plush animals were scattered all around campus. Because our campus is smaller I know people in the organization that had a bake sale, I know administrative staff in the offices that had treats and many of my friends received these wonderful gifts. I know these people and it is great to get offered some of these tasty treats on amazing holidays like this! It is an amazing opportunity to be involved in a campus that gives you this opportunity. I encourage everyone to be involved in some sort of community while in college whether that is in college or it is your college itself. 

Major Decisions

In college you will be constantly asked questions. How did you interpret this text? What theories could you apply here? How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop? And all sort of very important questions like that. One of the most loaded questions I get is “What are you going to do with THAT degree?” I am a speech communications major and although I believe speech communications is great, for some strange reason nobody shares this mindset. I mean it’s not like when I graduate I will have a speech job at some communication factory somewhere. Things are very up for interpretation in relation to my future and, although I am a planner, I for some reason am ok with this.

                I have changed my major 4 times since the beginning of my college career, but in so many ways I think that’s what college is about. Don’t let people lie to you, college is not about getting good grades or even about declaring your major (although these things are great and beneficial after college). College is about figuring out who you are and what you are passionate about. If you are passionate about people and culture, like me, don’t major in something where you have to meticulously work with machines. It might be a good idea, however, to major in something that deals with communicating with those people or more completely understanding their culture. You may major in something that does not give you job security after you graduate, but if you major in something you are passionate about you will not suffer through school to get out and only realize you now hate your CAREER as much as you hated your classes. Remember that college is about finding YOURSELF. Don’t spend your time trying to make everyone else happy by choosing this or that major. Spend your time figuring out yourself. Start now! If you are like I was and have no idea where to start my advice is use your resources. At UT Tyler we have an amazing career counseling service out of our Student Counseling center. You take a test about what you want to do with your life, and they help you interpret the results. There are also online tests that can help you figure it out. If that doesn’t work you can look at strength quest. Strength quest is an assessment that focuses on you and what your strengths are. If you are not somebody who likes assessments and everything I just mentioned sounds terrible, then I suggest you start living your life and figure it out. You’ll figure it out sooner or later I’m sure. I mean I did and after moving past the 4 major changes I think I am pretty successful! 

Clearly, I'm reading too many books~

Another snippet from one of my professors:
“You should either love it, hate it, or feel nothing for it at all.”

Now in the context of writing, why settle for something mediocre? I understand this. If it isn’t moving you forward and informing you, why do it?

Yes, I understand that life itself is not a zero sum game. That does not change that you have to take the risk. You will be good for nothing if you are too afraid to tune in and stop living in the past, doubting yourself, or visiting your ex’s social networking sites. It is not about losing, but you are never giving yourself the ability to win. Things have changed, and yes, it is frightening, but accept it is happening. This leaves room for those dreams you secretly never thought you would quite make it to. Now is the time to read that book, learn that language, and start telling the truth. Start telling the real true truths that we are afraid of telling ourselves.
I need help sometimes, and that is okay.
I can do this.
I appreciate individuals that put in quality time with me.

A full life will not just fall into our laps. Sometimes “good enough” isn’t “good enough” and we know we can do better. Be real.

“This is your life and it's ending one minute at a time.”
-Fight Club, Chuck Palahniuk


Man alive, I guess I should push forward with it instead of blogging about all the work in my lap.

Megan's College Vlog About Quitting Soda Like TJ