Emmy's Farewell Blog!

from Casino Night freshmen year 

I started working here as Freshmen at the start of my spring semester.

This job has always have given me a feeling about how small the world can be (the size of the University might also be a factor). One of my former coworkers happened to be a roommate of one of my best friend’s. I had no knowledge she worked here until I walked in the office. I happened to send a post card and contact my one of my little freshmen roommates last year. One of the current student bloggers Dallas was in my Orientation group.

Now to the present where I am in my Sophomore/Junior year and am now starting on honing in on finding a job that are more in my future field. Thus, I leave my post as a Student Blogger and venture off into the world of computers. I definitely excited for the prospect but a little worried about leaving my first serious job and moving on! I’m searching to find a good internship or anything that would count as experience in my field. While on my journey for the perfect internship and or job, which comes first. I will also be leveling up my interview skills and learning more about answering some of those pesky interview questions.
I am a bit rusty when it comes to that because I only interviewed for one other job before I started working here. I have had a decent amount of interviews already and many more to come! I have found another job while the search continues. Continuing my stint at Jimmy John’s! which in truth, i’m excited about this but mostly I’m more excited about the discounted sandwiches.

So with that, I thank all the readers who have read my blogs and my co-workers and supervisors for being awesome individuals who have made working here.

Forget Me Not!

The semester is at it's end. We all can joyously sleep after this week.The excitement of not having classes for a month is still fresh in our minds.  Let's not get to caught up in the excitement! and forget about some important things to consider about winter break!

1. On Campus Students - CLEAN your rooms, make sure you check out and coordinate with your roommate(s).

2. Use your my.uttyler to check both grades and financial aid! 

3. Make sure to get turn in your books and or/ 

important documents that are needed for next semester!
4. Clean out all your papers from this semester (unless you will need them, which sometimes you do) 
5. Graduating Seniors, this is for you, take a deep breath, relax for a bit! because you GRADUATED!

                   

Keeping up everything is extremely important!
 While some things are alright, being done late due to a loose deadline, this should not be applied to all things! When it comes to classes, enrolling and all things that are under that umbrella, this should take priority and do all that you should do! Keeping a planner or using Google Calender are ways to prevent you from meeting your deadline. I say this because I am a serial forgetful person.  The best way to combat this is to make things so annoying that you won't forget them! Setting multiple alarms or reminders are the key! 

Finding your Groove/Major!

The decision has been made as I find myself in my final major of choice. The major being Computer Information System.Only thing left to follow my heart and mind, will be filling out the papers! This decision became final as I completed both sections of programming fundamentals this fall! Woo-hoo!

I went through a laundry list of majors but only changed my major officially 2 times.The transition  truly just being from Business(Accounting) to Computer Information System. I was lucky enough to not LOSE ANY CREDITS! or take many(only one) extra course not needed to complete my degree. I will only be semester behind(if I don't take summer classes).

Changing my major didn't allow to escape from  business classes. I still have to take a few of them for my minor(minor I choose because it was easy and I had more than half the credits needed).This spring, I will be taking two management classes! which i'm only partially excited because one of them is online and that just sounds awesome at this point. 

It has taking me a bit to get where I am. I wouldn't change the experiences and friends I made while in business. I made an easy transition from high school and college, because I was apart of the Student Learning Community. I did decently in my business classes and was challenged only in accounting. Right now, everything is a challenging, learning new languages and the proper ways to think. What the fun in doing something that your good at if it isn't difficult?

Alas, the semester is at it's demise, I seem to be passing all my classes and procrastination is just nipping at my heels. Overall, this is first semester I feel content with my major and ready to continue on!
  

Course Evaluations!

                             

 With the semester coming to a close, the time to fill out course evaluations is upon us. They've added a bit of incentive this year, you get a chance of winning one of three iPad Mini's. Now you're a bit excited about filling out course evaluations 

right?

I am right there with you, as I have to give back my school iPad and the horizons look dull, as none of the classes I am taking next semester are one of those iPad assisted classes!

So here are the details: 

• The myUTTyler Online Course Evaluation System will open at 12:01 a.m., Monday, November 25, 2013. 
  

• Instructions and access to the evaluation system are displayed in the “Student Training” box on the Student Home Page of myUTTyler.

• Once logged into myUTTyler, students access the evaluation system by clicking this Evaluate My Courses link.  A similar link can be found in the Notifications box in myUTTyler.

• In appreciation for completing evaluations before the deadline, the university will grant respondents “priority access” to view their semester grades one week earlier than non-respondents.

• Students who complete course evaluations will have access to grades on myUTTyler beginning at12:01 a.m. Thursday, December 19, 2013.   Additionally, they will be entered into a prize drawing for 3 mini iPads.

• Students who do not complete course evaluations by the end of the day December 6 must wait until 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, December 25, 2013 to have access to grades through either myUTTyler or Blackboard.

      I got all this information(except for the screenshot, I did that myself) from the school website, at this link.  So, let's all take the time to fill out these evaluations!

5 Weeks!

                                       The semester is near it's end. 

                                    so say goodbye to all your friends.

                                          the deadlines do not bend.

                                             and soon you will say,

                                     "seriously, when will this ever end?"

                                         and throw down your pen. 

I'm feeling pretty confident in myself at this moment. Earlier today, I took a test in one of my classes that when I walked out of the last test I knew I failed it (I ended up with a 72 with a 30 point curve).

I went after with the plan to complete a project for the class but that didn't happen. As I get family members badgering me to come home for the weekend and Thanksgiving. I feeling pretty "meh" about Thanksgiving since my significant other is going to South Padre with his family. Not getting to spend the holiday with him is pretty blah to me since we spent last Thanksgiving together. 
   The "me" feeling is also being agitated when I had the realization that we have five weeks left in this semester.While i'm excited this semester is coming to an end, In my mind, this is crunch time. This is the final countdown really. I keep fighting procrastination at this point. The coding and programs are piling up. Writing actual sentences is really weird for me because i'm so used to doing java.
So, to survive the final countdown we must:
1. Fight the procrastination monster
2. SLEEEEPPPPP
3. Eat healthy (I say this and i'm pretty sure i'm eating pizza for dinner)
4. Use the methods that help you retain the most information , no matter how repetitive and annoying it is.
5. Hang with friends< you might not see em' til the next semester or ever..>

Peace, as I spend tomorrow looking deeply in my computer screen trying to code Visual Basic and trying not to have a headache. 

Navigating my.uttyler!

So now that you have applied to the university. You began to wonder what will happen next.
Well , first you will receive an email. An email similar to below. They may have updated it since I applied 2 years ago.

You take the information from the email and go to my.uttyler.edu. You will use your temporary password for quite a bit while application is being processed. You can access this site to check to see what has been processed from your application and the status of most parts of your application.

Once you have successfully gotten pass signing into the account. You now have to navigate to your student center. The below blue box will be on the left side of your screen. You will click on System Access which will then open other options, you want to double click on Student Center.
**There are multiple ways to get into student center,my personal experience has been that  I have found is the quickest way. ***

The Student Center won't look exactly like mine. On the right side bar, your holds and to do list will display.

When you sign up for classes, the Student Center will open up like so.

When you scroll down to the bottom of the web page, you will find gold when it comes to finding the status of your application. One of the tabs is called admissions and when clicking "Apply for Admission" you will find further information on the status of your application.

***Monitoring your to-do list is the best thing to check when you first apply.

The next place to check when all of your items have been processed would be this section. After everything has been submitted, it is best to wait 2 to 3 weeks for a response.After that, you should talk to the school and see what the issue is. ***

 Your my.uttyler is an important portal to know how to use even after you have been accepted. You will use it to sign up for classes, to make sure where your classes are for the first day of school, to know how much you owe the school and to accept financial aid.( All of which can be found in Student Center!)

I hope I helped anyone confused in this process! :)
   

Human Versus Zombies!

It's that time of the year again!
Human Versus Zombies will be played on campus again this semester!
Be prepared to see students around campus carrying their Nerf guns with orange bandannas wrapped on their head or shoulder.This will add a bit of chaos to our normal campus life, but in return it will add some entropy.The players are advised to be cautious and not disrupt those on campus. 

Registration for Human versus Zombies begins October 28th and will end on November 4th.
The event actually begins November 4th and will end on November 9th. 
Each day involves a "mission" for the human and/or zombies to complete against the clock and against the opposing forces.
  If you would like to participate, you will need some things:

Dropping Classes :(

***** LAST DAY TO DROP WITH A W will be OCTOBER 28th******************
(is this flashy enough?) 

There are steps you take in your academic career.
The major ones are:
 - being accepted into a specific university(ities)
 - registering for your first classes
 - registering for graduation
 - graduating

There are other intermediate steps that we take in preparation to those final steps toward graduation.
I recently ventured upon a intermediate step that has been wracking my nerves. Dropping my first class (and after the census date, oops), I am currently taking Statistics 1.I am struggling with it. Math is not my best subject. So, I will take the road not previously taken.

When I ventured to the Enrollment Services this morning after my object oriented of boredom lecture.
I walked right up and said " I need to drop a class, what do I do?"

I was then helped through the processes. A financial aid counselor signed off and my scholarship adviser also had to sign it.Before the counselors came and signed the paper,one of the staff members told me that two options I had with my situation.

1. Drop the class, get a W, it will be on my transcript
2. Keep going on the class, get an D or F, then do grade replacement.
 Now to finally drop this, I have to get my professor to sign the paper and I will done!

(this was recommended when I looked up on google "happy songs about something ending")

Flu Shots! at UT Tyler.

Fun Fact: Those who live in university housing are more likely to get sick. 

The university is offering a flu shot clinic for students and employees.

"Those who are covered on UT Select are able to receive free flu shots. Students and dependents who are not on UT Tyler’s health insurance plan may receive the inoculation for $15 (cash or check only). Benefits-eligible employees are asked to bring their Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance card or employee ID for billing purposes."

They will be offered at:

Tuesday, Oct. 15 and Wednesday, Oct. 16 in the Braithwaite Nursing Building room 2440 from

Noon – 6 p.m. 

 Thursday, Oct. 31 in the University Center during the UT Tyler Health Fair (other services such as blood pressure and cholesterol screening are also available during this time) from ---11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

If you are unable to get you flu shot at these times.

Do not fret!

Flu shots also are available 8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. and 2 – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at the University Health Clinic on a walk-in basis. 

I will not be joining everyone in this joyous event!

as the last three times I was given a flu shot,

I had severe allergic reaction to the flu shot!

Navigating Patriots Jobs!

One of the many perks of going to this wonderful university is that we have an awesome website for students(and alumni) to find jobs. Patriot Jobs is the name of the website for those who want to further inquire this post. You can find on campus and off campus jobs through the website. So you are not limited to just finding an on campus job through the website.  

For those who are technically challenged, you can simple type into "patriot jobs" into Google. You should get the same results as below. If you do not, you can expand your search in Google by adding "ut tyler" to your already searched "patriot jobs".

After you find your way to the opening web page of Patriot jobs. You will be prompted to register your information and enter into the site. You will be prompted to fill a profile with your information. You can fill as much information as you feel as necessary. After you fill out the profile, you can now upload your resume into the system. Your resume will be previewed by those who are at Career Services. They will advice you on what is best to put on your resume and how to properly format it. 

   After your resume is finally approved by Career Services, the next step in your final countdown to getting your job is finding and applying for the jobs. You can browse the jobs you using the upper task-bar and finding the tab that says "jobs & internships". Within the page, you will then narrow down your search to whatever pleases you so.Here is an example of what your search would be if you were looking for all the current on campus jobs that are posted.

That's the best guide for this awesome website from a computer information systems.
 If you have any questions about the site, you can ask them here and I can see if I can answer them or I can send you in the right direction to the questions answered (this is my antidote for calls, it is now basically a mantra) 

Procrastination: How to combat it before it is too late

I have made it to the end of the yellow brick road and all of it's glory but alas, I have procrastinated on two projects and now they stand before me, materialized like the Wicked Witch of the East with her green jalapeno nose and awesome ruby red glittery flats!

That is how I felt last Friday as the fabulous weekend approached in it's awesomeness.
It was a let down to know that I had these projects to take care of.  So, of course, the first thing I did was made a list of the projects that need to be completed. Making lists are always helpful for those like myself who are absentminded.

The projects that fill that Wicked Witch are:
1) a visual basic program that is mostly done
 2) some parts of my biology lab report

As you can see, my procrastination isn't truly procrastination. The thing that is holding me back is not knowing enough to fully complete what is due. The way to fix such a problem is quite easy but it isn't easy.

Contacting your professor and TA by email and seeing if by expressing your problems and hoping that it would be enough to keep your grade from falling If your procrastination isn't the same flavor as my procrastination. Don't worry because I have some tips for those who just don't have the motivation. 


  1) use some sort of plug in on your web browser to restrict your use of social networks to knuckle down. I use Google Chrome and the extension called StayFocused.
2) talk a walk outside. no more than 15 minutes. just clear your head and breathe fresh air
 3) contact those who know what you are trying to complete. they could possibly give you some direction.

That's all the tips i've got for ya'll!

I will leave you with this one antidote:

Just know that next time, you are procrastinating on something and feeling a bit lonesome.

 that there is always someone, somewhere , who is also procrastinating.

so you should find them and have a procrastination party! (kidding, mostly) 

The Work Out Chronicles: The Beginning

My goal of this semester is to change my philosophy and attitude towards working out at the gym.
Which will hopefully have the result of getting back in shape. A wonderful coincidence is that we have a free gym membership at the HPC which if you are like me and spend 3/4th of your day here on campus. Using the HPC is a great opportunity that should be looked into and taken advantage if it suits your needs. I've been to other Tyler gyms whilst with other friends. I have nothing against using other gyms.
It's all about personal preference.Usiing the HPC is the best option for myself and more likely for those living on campus. I will truly be working out for the first time in many years. The last time I was truly working out was during my short time as softball player
Previous thoughts on working out can be describe in the below gif:

My planned steps to execute this goal are as the following:

1. Schedule the time to work out in my schedule without impeding on my school and work

2. Put work out clothes in my (new! running! tan:( car)

3. Secure water bottles (plastic by the dozen or handy plastic container) for maximum hydration

4. GET MOTIVATED!

The hardest step for myself is the last one. Not that i'm not motivated to get in shape and stop huffing and puffing through out the campus. It's the whole social interaction of the gym that makes me hesitant.
 I understand the basic concepts that:
         1. Looking like a mess means you are doing it right.
         2. Safety! Safety! Safety!
         3. Everybody is there for the same reasons.
   Aside from my slight phobia of the gym, I should be on my way to a healthy workout! and an adjusted diet to assure I get the maximum benefits from the working of musclers.
    I'll keep ya updated,
 hopefully this attempt will go better than my previous starts (though I will always have these blogs to look back at and go "oh right! that's what I'm suppose to be doing!")

Song i'm gonna rock out to when I WORK IT OUT!

Off Campus Living

I spent two glorious years of carefree zombie walking to class every morning before I took the axe and moved off campus. No longer can I zombie walk 15 minutes before class starts.
Living off campus has its benefits but it does fall short on something the living on campus has and shines brightly. That something is the sense of community that fosters from on campus living.

Resident Advisor's get a budget and plan events for their residents. This in result creates a great feeling of community when all the hungry college students join in to feast on the free food.
I could be a little bias when it comes to this because I had two great RA’s and was buddies with a few others.  It also doesn’t help that I met my ball and chain of a boyfriend three years ago at an RA sponsored field trip to see THE LION KING 3D.

Resident Advisors’s sponsor events but they are not the only campus events going on.
One of my basic principles in life if you haven’t noticed is that if there is free food, you should go if you can.
Looking at the student life and leadership calendar, I found a CAB sponsored Waffle thing-a-may-jig on the 10th from 9am to 11am. Sadly, that opportunity has already past but have no fear because another event will arise.

I leave you with a goodbye of "feels" of from "our childhood"