March 2009 Archives

Hey readers, If you have been reading my blogs lately you would know how beautiful the weather has been these couple of days. I would mention the sun shining and the high 40s and 50s with no wind chill but then yesterday happened. All Sunday long it rained and at night it decided to snow in Erie which ruined the perfect weather streak. When I woke up on Monday morning the ground  and cars were covered with snow and it was back to 30 degree weather. I love the snow but it is the end of March and it is still snowing. The plus side to all of this is that today you can see the snow melting away which is perfect for our lacrosse game on Sunday in the Behrend Fields right here on campus against CMU. I have heard rumor that Sunday's snow was the last snow we would get for the season but nothing is for sure when you live in Erie, PA. Hopefully it will go back to the close to perfect weather we had last week and students once again will be seen outside playing catch and riding bikes. I just came back from eating dinner in Dobbins and I can seriously say that a sweater is no longer needed. Shorts may even be enough which I might try to pull off on my walk to practice today. Let's see if my plan works tonight and hopefully I can resort back to wearing my shorts already on way down to Erie Hall. I can feel Spring coming!!!! Thank you for reading, Jennifer Thank you for reading, Jennifer

Hey readers, We lost both our games yesterday which is very depressing since I know our team can do better but everything is a learning experience. The best part of yesterday was the fact that it did not rain on us during the games but instead it was shiny and warm out. Some girls even think they got sun burnt which I believe is an exaggeration but the weather was perfect for playing lacrosse. Now it is Sunday afternoon and we are back to reality once again. I now have to read some chapters and revise my paper for my Political Science 400 level class which cannot be too much fun. My weekend has officially ended and I still remember me being happy that it just began on Friday but when you are busy running around time flies by. I hope everyone enjoyed their weekend as much as I did and ready to get back to work. Thank you for reading, Jennifer

Hey readers, The day could not have been better. It is warm and sunny outside which is the perfect start for this weekend. This weather calls for a long walk or run around campus. As you walk by campus you can even start seeing the buds coming out on the branches of the trees. Students all around campus are also enjoying this weather. I have seen groups outside the suites playing catch and throwing around the football. Some students are also making their way down to the tennis courts and the Behrend Fields to play some ball. There are even some who have  taken out their bikes to ride around campus which is always nice since it seems to indicate the arrival of Spring. My computer tells me it s 52 degrees outside and I couldn't be happier since yesterday it was raining and gloomy all day long. This weekend we have 2 lacrosse games and all I wish is that the weather follows us all the way Cleveland, Ohio. Wish us luck and I hope everyones weekend starts off well. Thank you for reading, Jennifer

Hey readers, By this time many high school students have a relative idea as to where the future will take them. Many are even a step ahead and have decided the school they will be attending for the summer or fall semester of 2009. The sooner the better is always a good logo to follow since many schools have limited spacing and are usually ran in a first come first serve basis. For example, as I have already mentioned before Penn State Behrend only has a certain number of housing available and you never want to be the freshman on a waiting list for the beginning of your first semester in college. One area many students also left until the last minute was paying the deposit which can hurt your scheduling possibilities. For instance, once Penn State receives your deposit you will soon receive a card in the mailbox mentioning the process required for all freshmen students concerning the FTCAP which stands for the First-Year, Testing, and Advising Program. You will be required to take English, math, science tests on-line in order to help your adviser place you in the correct levels for each material. Once your test has been submitted into Penn State's system you will be set up to meet with your adviser to talk about scheduling and any possible question you may have about your major or future plans. This meeting can be done in person, usually during the summer, when you come to get basic information about the school or on the phone to accommodate  those who can't travel for a one day meeting. So as you may already understand if you wait to pay your deposit the later you will take the test meaning the later you will meet with your adviser to schedule your classes. If this happens all the good classes may already be full hurting your chances of following Penn State's recommended academic plans in order to graduate on time. To prevent any confusion later on during your college years it is best to get all your stuff turned in on time. Just like the title suggests be prepared and don't procrastinate. I hope this information is useful and if you have any questions please feel free to ask any questions. Thank you for reading, Jennifer

Hey readers, This week has been packed to the max. I knew taking a 400 level class as a freshmen would be challenging since these classes are usually reserved for upperclassmen but I didn't expect it to be as hard. I have been doing good in the class and was caught up with the material but all of a sudden I realized I had a 8 to 12 paper due this Thursday. I have known about this research paper for a while and I had already done an outline in order to get some understanding over the material but time passed too fast again. On Sunday night I realized that I only had 3 days left  to get my paper written in order to get it revised and perfected by Thursday. Writing a decent paper is not too difficult of a task but when your week consist of two other test to study for  it becomes a bit more complicated. I have been working on my paper these past few days but I only have 4 pages so far and tomorrow is Thursday! My plan hasn't worked out as good as I had wished earlier this week but I am proud that I have been able to space out my studying time for my other courses as well. Tonight will consist of more research and writing which is not very exciting, but overall I am still glad I took this course because I can only improve from here on out and I am only a freshmen to begin with. This course has been very helpful in getting my skills at the level they should already be  in and has exposed me to very new material that has caught my interest. For any student out there with questions about courses offered at Penn State Behrend please feel free to ask me any question and I will try my hardest to answer it as best  as possible. Thank you once again for reading, Jennifer

Hey readers, It is finally the weekend! It started pretty good with a win against Slippery Rock which was very exciting. The score ended up being 8 to 5 and the weather could not have been better. It was supposed to be 27 degrees out making us all worry and ready to freeze out in the field. However, when we showed up, the sun was shining and it was probably 40 degrees outside which is completely bearable when you are running up and down the field. Some girls even complained about it being too hot and sweaty but the weather was close to perfect! Our game against CMU on Thursday night did not go in our favor but it was a learning experience for many of our first-time players on the field.  Now with all our players have played at least one game our team is ready to move forward and continue to improve in skill and teamwork. This Saturday we have a play day and I can't wait to see what to expect. Wish us the best of luck!! Thanks for reading, Jennifer

Hey readers, Time has come again to start selecting classes for next semester. All students are now able to view the different courses that are going to be provided, at what times, by what professors, and at what location. This method makes it easier for students themselves to create their new schedules without needing an adviser since they will be busy helping the incoming freshmen. Choosing your classes becomes easier if you have already decided a major because Penn State provides a recommended academic plan for each major for all four years. It states which courses are required as well as how many credits you should take every semester in order to graduate on time. Non freshmen students are usually expected to create their own schedules but they are still allowed and encouraged to ask any questions they might have to their academic advisers. The classes are available to see on Elion but students are not allowed to select any just yet. The usual procedure is for the student to narrow down the classes that appeal the most or that fullfill the recommended academic plan so then when the day comes when Penn State finally allows to schedule it becomes easier. Honor and student athletes are usually given priority over the other students and then it goes from the more credits the earlier you are allowed to choose classes. Scheduling early it always an advantage because when classes get filled you are not longer allowed to choose it which may complicate your future plans.  I think the best advice I can give woud be to always make sure you find out the day scheduling begins and be prepared before time to select the classes you will need for the next semester. Thank you for reading and please feel free to ask any questions. Jennifer

Hey readers, Class has started again and it has not been too difficult getting back on track. I know I have been procrastinating with the blog but I have two lacrosse games this week so in order to prepare, our team has practiced everyday this week. Our first game this week will be Thursday against CMU in Pittsburgh at 8:00 pm and Friday against SRU Friday at 4:00pm. This would be my second and third game ever and I still get that excited nervous feeling in my stomach. However, this time I feel a little bit more prepared because of the daily practices but I wish I would have more experience. Playing for a team or club is always an exciting feeling anywhere but it is also a good way to get your mind out of schoolwork in college. I love going to practice when I have had a tough day and just letting go of all my stress. I know different people have different ways of relieving their stress but I have always enjoying exercising as a method. Playing for a team or club does take up some time and commitment but it is a perfect way of meeting new people and socializing. I have had the privilege of creating new friends through lacrosse and so have many other freshmen with other activities. For all incoming freshmen for the Fall 2009 semester interested in any sport should not be afraid of researching the activity you find entertaining  and ask questions. Thank you for reading, Jennifer

Hey readers, I can still remember my post declaring that Spring Break finally arrived and now I am sad to say that it is Friday already which means there is only a couple of days left to go back to school. Going back to Erie, PA is not the part I am dreading or getting the chance to see my friends again but I am still not ready to start working again. I have relaxed all week long and have tried to catch up on my sleep but I am not prepared to head back to the books or alarm clocks waking me up. I may be acting dramatic but I am not fully recovered yet! No matter how much I may complain about what seems to be a short break I have to get my head back into school. I need to be mentally ready for these next few weeks because it is now when the material starts coming faster and when professors begin cramming for final exams. These next few weeks are bound to go by quickly which scares me because I may not have enough time to complete everything I want to. This is when my time management skills have to be at their best and all I can do is hope for the best. I hope everyone is more prepared for school than I am and for those traveling back to campus BE SAFE! Thank you for reading and please feel free to ask me any questions. Jennifer

Hey readers, As I have read in the Facebook Group, "Penn State Erie, The Behrend College of 2013" many of you cannot wait until college begins. I know this last quarter in high school is dragging along with busy work from your teachers just to make time pass by faster with some productivity. This period until the last day of high school can seem to take forever and if all your testing is done it can even seem pointless. Looking forward to college is a normal feeling for most upcoming freshman but don't forget that there are many deadlines that you need to pay attention to. I am not only talking about enrollment deadlines for your school but also financial aid deadlines which are usually closer than expected. Every school offers many opportunities to receive some type of financial aid as long as you provide certain information. Make sure to keep up with the requirements for the different types of scholarships because some may require an essay while others ask for a recommendation. If your scholarship requires a recommendation please give yourself and the person that is providing it to you enough time. There are also many private scholarships that require different criteria and will not take a late application from anyone. Some advice I received from my high school counselor was to send my application days before it was actually due in case any problems show up. Also, make and keep all your copies from ALL the paperwork you submit. I hope this blog helps and thank you once again for reading. Jennifer

Hey readers, These past few days has brought beautiful weather!!! I love waking up and seeing the sun shining through my window. Nothing feels better than being able to walk outside with one sweater on and a pair of jeans and maybe some sandals. On Saturday it was 70 degrees outside and I was so excited to roll down the window and let the air pass through the car as I made my way to State College, PA. The weather has fluctuated throughout the weeks but I would say the average has been 50 degrees which is bearable. I would have never thought 50 degrees would get me hyped to go outside and walk around. The snow on campus is melting and the sidewalks are no longer icy. Boots and gloves are no longer needed to keep warm but don't get me wrong because I think a sweater is still necessary. However, I have seen students around campus wearing shorts and a shirt like if it was a regular summer day but those must be Erie locals. The spring season is around the corner and you can't help but feel it as you walk outside and think about the upcoming summer!  Coming from Miami I have never been able to watch the flowers bloom and the leaves grow on trees but I am pretty sure I will get a chance to watch it up here full on. I hope everyone is enjoying the warm weather just like I am and their break. Remember to relax and sleep in. Thank you for reading, Jennifer

Hey readers, I noticed that Spring Break for most high schools students doesn't come until April so I decided to continue with my regular schedule for the blog. As you can tell from my title Spring Break has finally arrived. Even though I didn't go back home as I once predicted and ended up coming to Maryland and staying with family for a couple of days. Break could not have come earlier! I can literally say my brain is fried from all the tests and quizzes my professors managed to get in before the week was over. I have never been so happy about just getting to chance to sit back and relax without having to constantly think about upcoming examinations. However, don't get me wrong I still have a lot of work to do before the break is over but I can do it during my own time and without it being combined with additional assignments. My plans this Spring Break are quite easy! My main objective is to sleep in as much as possible. I want to catch up on all my sleeping so when I get back to school and have to wake up at 8 o'clock in the morning I will not be as tired. I also plan to catch up on all television programs that I have not been able to watch because of my school schedule. Overall, I am looking forward to being a bum and I do not feel guilty about it in any way or form. I hope everyone is already enjoying their break if they are in one or getting by in school fine. Thank you for reading. Jennifer

Hey readers, I know I have not been able to update the blog as much as I wished but this last week before Spring Break is BUSY!! One exciting event that I am eager to talk about is our first LAX season game against Kent State, Monday night. Unfortunately, we lost 8-9 in a close and competitive match-up with one man down just minutes in the game and lacking subs. Despite the lost we are looking forward to our upcoming games because we are only getting better as time goes by.  Besides my LAX game, my week will be composed of studying sessions and tests all throughout Thursday. I remember in high school I used to hate midterms and I thought coming to college I would see the last of them but I was wrong. Midterms are not required by the university but many professors like including them in their courses to evaluate students. Now I am here once again studying but all I have to do is remind myself that in only a couple of days I will be able to relax without worrying about any assignments or tests for 9  full days. I hope everyone is having a less stressful week than I am and looking forward to the break. Thank you for reading, Jennifer