We're Hiring at UT Tyler

Do you like talking with your friends via Facebook? Do you enjoy pinning interesting craft projects on Pinterest? Do you spend hours a day scrolling through Tumblr? Do you have your own blog? Whenever you speak publicly or present a project are you commended on your exquisite oratory and interpersonal skills? If you answered yes to any of these questions then we want you here at then Communications Team.

All Smiles

Here at the Communications Team at the University we strive for excellence in communication skills and marketing. We are a close knit group who work with each other to succeed any time an obstacle appears in our path. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO….. If you are interested in joining the Communications Team, look no farther than Patriot Jobs.

Patriot Jobs, it really IS helpful!

        It goes without say that most of us college students could use some extra money. After working at Chick-fil-a back home when I was in high school until the summer before college, I was definitely through with working in the fast food industry. I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with working in restaurants, but personally I was ready to find a job that involved children. As I mentioned in earlier blogs, I am pursuing a Nursing degree and specializing in the pediatric field. I was eager to find a job that offered me opportunities to work with children and have some hands on experience with them. I know that back in Allen, it was really hard for me to find a job as well as juggling school and everything else in between. So, I was really lost on where to even begin the first semester I moved to a new city, Tyler. But you see, this is where Patriot Jobs came in handy:)

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! 

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 !  

Summer College Life

STRESS OVERLOAD

So you know how summer is supposed to be the time to relax and not stress about anything? I would like to meet whoever came up with that concept and prove them wrong by having them experience what my average day usually consists of:

6:15AM- Wake up and get in the shower

6:45AM- Get out of shower and make coffee

7:00AM- Start getting ready for work

7:40AM- Aim to leave my apt by this time

8:00AM-1:00PM- Work for the District Attorney

1:00PM- Leave work

1:15PM- Eat lunch at my apt

1:45PM- Leave my apt for class

2:00PM-4:20PM- Topics in Communications Class

4:00PM-9:00PM-Work at the Student Communications Center

9:00PM-Drive back to the apt

9:15PM- Eat dinner

9:45PM- 11:00PM Workout

11:10PM- Shower

11:30PM-12:15AM-Study

12:30AM-Sleep

This is a pretty accurate timeline of how my days will pan out until June 15th, and then I will be able subtract the Topics in Communications Class....which will take away a little stress. However, if you take a look at my planner for the next 4 months you will see that my stress has just begun.

Mondays it is

It's the day of the week I wish not to mention

The day of the week that feels like detention

The day of the week I look at with rejection

What rhymes with rejection, oh yes, injection

The day of the week that feels like injections
Poor day, it receives no affection

Of what day do you think I speak
Of what day could seem so bleak
The day of the week that makes us students squeak
Poor day, always critiqued
But as first of its mates, it is unique
The first day of our week, Mondays it is

Soccer Skills

Went to the soccer intramurals last week and got some footage of it. Here my friend shows off his 'great' goal keeping skills. 

Spring Pollen

It's spring time and we all know what that means. Allergy season! Specifically, pollen allergy season! Spring time can cause really bad allergies especially in East Texas where the pollen levels are significantly higher and clearly noticeable even on cars. Whether you suffer from a runny nose, itchy eyes, or sneezing, pollen allergies can make your day and nights horrible. Now it's easy to say just avoid the great outdoors, but when you live in or around it, it's kinda tough to do. So if u suffer from pollen allergies like I do, here's a couple points to help you understand it.

• There are several types of airborne pollen - tree, grass, flower - and you may be allergic to one or more of these
• Histamines are the most common cause of allergies, and reducing this histamine level is needed in order to minimize these symptom

One option is to try an antihistamine i.e claritin, and see what works for you, but the best option is really to just ask your doctor. To learn more information you can click here and avoid the allergy season trauma this year.

Simple Kindness

      Last night, after a nice late meal at Ihop, my friends and I decide to make  a quick Walmart run. This story actually begins at the end of our run as we are loading our stuff into the trunk. A man gets out of his truck and begins to walk toward us. We immediately stop and stare in order to be ready for anything that could happen and as he walks towards us he explains that he's from out of town, has run of gas, and needs some help. My friend who was also about to purchase gas tells him okay and he would help. He didn't want to give him money in case he was gonna use it for drugs or something. He has him pull up to the gas station and buys him enough gas to help him get home as we all stand around to protect just in case. After we bought our gas, we were then on our way.
      The point of this story is to remind everyone how a simple act of kindness can still go a long way. Nowadays most people are reluctant to help others and shy away from people asking for help. This simple act reminded me how much of a significance we can make in people's life by simply helping in a small way; Something people seem to be forgetting lately. It might not even be money but just taking time out to listen to a friend or helping with a task. Hopefully this serves as a reminder to you too.

Spring Break is Over!?

Um time out! Where did the week go? Seriously, spring break is already over? Dandy. Getting up this morning was needless to say unpleasant. It's amazing how one week can utterly erase your sleeping pattern. Upon walking out, I saw my fellow students walking like zombies to their classrooms and soon realized I wasn't alone. This week is in a sense karma. This is the week when you have to get used to getting up early again, going to work again, and also studying for those tests your professors were waiting till after the break to give. Oh yea, real dandy. So when's the next break? Took a peek at the academic calendar and found there's none! Sad I know. Guess we'll spend the next two months gearing up for summer. At least it's nice outside.

Welcome to OZ!!!

No... That's not right... There's far too much fluorescent lighting in here and I'm almost certain everyone in this place has a brain... Or so I've been told.

Anyway, I would officially like to invite you all to my UT Tyler student blog. My name is Patrick Saikin but before I go on with any further introductions I think it is important for you to all see the man behind the writing.

pucker up ladies

Oh dear. Perhaps we should find a better picture. How about this one?

Bowies in space

Hmmm... Perhaps we better forget about the pictures and just move on.

Anyway, my name is Patrick Saikin and I am a senior studying history here at the University of Texas at Tyler. I am also a member of the local band  The Problem Preachers (look us up on facebook) and I enjoy hot baths and long walks on the beach... You don't believe me? Well who doesn't like a nice hot bath and a nice walk on the beach? Huh, PUNK?! Though, I can see how after walking on the beach you'll have trouble with sand getting in your pipes and what not. And then there's the whole tracking all that sand into your house. And, whenever you take a bath you're basically soaking in your own filth. Never mind, I take that back. I'm not a big fan of long walks on the beach or hot baths. Both just lead to sticky messes.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy my blog as I take you all on a journey to absolutley no where. Because if you were to leave how would you read my blog? Now for Bowie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A576vUpoUKs

Spring-Break-itis

The week before spring break is always a peculiar one. You're excited to get a week off and wanna blow off doing anything and everything. There's a definition for this by the way, it's called spring-break-itis. Of-course though, professors are always on the prowl to ruin such plans and feel the need to give their last minute test before the break. It's really quite a dilemma. It's hard to process a test when all you can think about is the sunshine hitting your skin on a beach or even chilling at home playing video games and blasting music. But I guess you have to weather the storm before you get to paradise. In the meantime hang in there people.

Guys Turn - Intramurals

In my last blog I showed you footage from the women's intramural game. In all fairness this time I got some footage from the guys game.

Overtime Madness!

Some of my friends were playing in the UT Tyler intramural league, so I decided to check out the ladies final match. A close game, the footage kicks off at the beginning of overtime. A friend and I give you the color commentating. Enjoy!

Information Overload

If there's one thing you should learn through all your years of education, it's how to take a test right? I mean from the TAAS which became the TAKS which is now the STAAR test through your years of school, to the ACT and SAT at the end of your high school, we should be pretty good at test taking by now right? Well that's what I thought. I was wrong. Don't get me wrong, all those years of test taking do help in knowing how to predict tests and also taking it efficiently but there's just no substitute for learning the material. Let me explain further. I'm like the master of last minute test taking. I can cram information quickly and dish it out for an A, but certain professors (like one I have now) try to make sure you don't get away with that. How? Give a 100 question test over 7 chapters. It's times like this I'm glad I paid attention in class and don't have to learn 7 chapters worth of new information in a day. I still however, get to study those 7 chapters. And here I thought it only got easier after the SAT.

UT Tyler Pink Out Basketball Game!

The College Nap

When you're a college student with a hectic schedule, there's nothing more essential than a nap! Naps re-energize you to go into your day and finish out strong. After a morning class, you can nap between classes. Or even after lunch, you can nap before work. Naps, to me, are just as effective as coffee or any energy drink. For example, after staying up till 4am studying for a test today, I woke up, took it at 9:30, and went off to other classes and finally lunch till about 1pm. At this point it was time for a break. My favorite nap spot? The couch! After a 30 min nap I was ready to go to work (well not at first, but a few min after getting up). Depending on the amount of time you have, you can take 30 min naps or an hour or two. Try not to go above as that may ruin your sleeping pattern, but everybody's different. Grab a pillow, a cover, boring background noise, and you're good to go. The only downside, you won't wanna get up at first.

Valentines day? Nope! Valentines Week!

It's Valentines day! The wonderful day of the year when you show your significant other or that crush just how much you care and how special they...ugh...sorry I almost barfed. I like valentines day. Notice I didn't use that other four letter word. But you might ask how could you like valentines day if not for that word? It's really quite simple. Baked goods! Every year around this time, our apartment is filled with candy, cupcakes, cookies and other wonderful junk food. The best part? They're home made and not by me. People, please don't wait for that one day of the year to show someone they matter. Bake cupcakes all year round! But seriously, do it often and you might even find..oh here we go...Love! See I said the word. There's hope for me after all. With that said I'm off not to go celebrate Valentines day, but Valentines week. Cupcakes usually last a while.

Their Evil Plot!

It's been a fun fun day for me! Then again not so much. I already failed my so called New Years Resolution. Remember that blog about staying on top of reading and stuff? Yea well it didn't exactly go the way I planned. Now I thought to myself no worries. I can always read at the last minute and do very well. But it seemed my evil professors found out about my plan and decided to put their tests at the same time period giving me a total of four this week with two on the same day (today). Now you might say why didn't you look at the calendars, but that's beside the point. My professors were obviously out to get me. It's alright though. After my night and day of studying that only included 4 meager hours of sleep, I have wised up to their devious ways and will be better prepared next time. At least I hope.

Friendly Atmosphere

Coming from Dallas, I've always felt a friendlier atmosphere here in Tyler. People you don't know greet you, hold the door for you even when you're far away, and sometimes start conversations with you. An example of this is when I lost my wallet in the Cici's parking lot. And if u read my last blog, you remember this wallet had sentimental value. After I freaked out and did a mad search, I canceled all my cards and went out to my friends birthday party. I mean what else is there to do? It was the weekend and I couldn't get replacement cards yet. No point in sitting around whining for my wallet to magically reappear. The next day as I waited for my roommate to get back in the apartment community center (ID cards open our apartment doors), I get a call from our physical plant. A nice lady reports to me that someone turned in my wallet and she has it. Once i get there, I get the full story that someone found the wallet on the floor with its content scattered. They put it back together, brought it on campus and gave it to a student who then brought it to the physical plant. Everything was in the wallet except for the money (it was less than $15 so I didn't really care). I called and thanked the person who turned it in and was happy to have my wallet back. It was at that moment that I really noticed the friendly atmosphere of not only this campus, but the city...mostly.