For Good

Hi all,

Happy Holidays!!!!!

I'm typing this from my seat for the past three hours at the airport on my way home because (INSERT DRUMROLL) that's right: IT'S WINTER BREAK!!! The drive took much less time than I anticipated because the winter storm was not going my way, but it was still a long time in my head. I am so excited to go home and finally see my family! I hope my mom has my bed ready for me with my fan in the room (it's too hot in PR ;P )  The fact that I now get to go home almost makes all the headaches of this semester worth it :D

Let me just say that this was probably my most difficult semester ever, as is evidence by the fact that I haven't published anything in a while (Sorry). At the time it seemed like I wasn't gonna make it through. I was working so many hours, taking 17 credits worth of core classes, and trying to balance my day to day activities, but all in all I can say I'm very proud of how everything worked out.

I finished my semester with grades that earned me a spot on the Dean's List, I have an invitation to join Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, and I have successfully landed myself and internship at my professor's accounting firm! This really made my semester worth it and at the end of the day I enjoyed my semester a ton!

I guess all I can tell you guys is work hard, but remember to play some (LEGALLY!) and take a deep breath......break comes fast enough.

<3 Mei

Hi all!

THE HURRICANE IS COMING! THE HURRICANE IS COMING! At least, it was to everywhere but Erie.

I want to start off by saying that my thoughts and prayers are with all of the families that were affected by Hurricane Sandy. I know firsthand the effects a hurricane can have and I hope everyone out there is safe and I hope they can rebuild their lives rapidly in the wake of this disaster.

This being said, I must now comment on my first ever hurricane experience in the US. When news of the hurricane broke my mom couldn't help but poke fun at the fact that back home, in the Caribbean, they have had a relatively calm hurricane season while here, in Erie, I was facing a category 1 hurricane.

When this was announced my old high school habits kicked in first....all I could think was "NO SCHOOL!!!!"  and then I remembered my freshman earth science class (and everything I know about hurricanes) and remembered that once the hurricane hit land it would no longer have the warm weather and water to sustain it, so it would downsize rapidly. I then resigned myself to the inevitable buffeting of rain and wind that was going to come.

After the realization hit me I did what every good Puerto Rican does, I stocked up on water and snacks and hung out in my room. All I could hear was the winds and rain billowing outside and I felt at home again. It was seriously one of the best night's sleep I've had in a while. Now, let me tell you, I bet my mother is reading this going "YEAH RIGHT" but I'll take any reminder of home at this point as I count down the days until I get to go home for Christmas (52 days).

I guess even as a Puerto Rican in Erie you run into a few reminders from home.  All right, It's bedtime for me. Good night internets!

<3 Mei

Hi all,

School is going well, though I am busy as ever. It seems like I have a test every week, and work every weekend. This weekend, though, was a very special one to me because it was the Scholarship Luncheon. This luncheon is honestly one of my favorite events of the year because apart from the amazing food, it is an opportunity to thank the donors who make it possible for me to be here at Behrend.

Coming to the US to study was always a dream of mine, but money is one thing that keeps most people from other countries in their country. I prepared myself for the application moment by studying my little tushy off for years and adding tons of extra-curriculars on to my schedule for years. I wanted to be the perfect student so I could take some of the financial burden off of my family with this big adventure I wanted to impart on.

The moment financial aid packages started arriving I knew that this whole "studying in the USA" was going to be an uphill battle because let me tell you, out of state tuition is NOT cheap. I kept hoping that maybe someone would see my potential or something and help me a little more than others, and Penn State definitely answered my call. The day I got the call saying I had been awarded the Bunton-Waller Undergraduate Fellowship was the happiest day of my life. I remember crying, asking if the financial aid representative was lying to me, and saying thank you twenty times over. I called my mom, still crying (which in hindsight was not my brightest idea because I freaked her out a little) and told her that I was going to Penn State. She asked me if I wanted to think about it, to which I replied "No, Penn State is the place for me".

I am convinced that, had it not been for the generosity of donors in establishing scholarships for students like me, I would not have found myself at Penn State Behrend  or as happy as I am. For two years I had the opportunity to sit next to Mrs. Kochel during the Luncheon. For two years I was able to look into the face of one of the people that made it possible for me to live my dream and all I could do was grin like an idiot and say thank you over and over. I don't know that many donors read this blog, but if one ever reads it I want to say Thank You. You have helped change the life of a student like me and you have helped us to pursue our dreams. I keep you all in my thoughts and, on behalf of myself and my family, I say thank you for helping me to become the person I am today.

I know this is a long post but it is one that is very important to me. Thanks for reading this post!

HI ALL!

I am back!!! I feel like these hiatuses are becoming too common, and for that I apologize. I have been working my little tushy off to get all my work done and balance my school work with fun here at Behrend. There's actually a lot that goes on in college on any given day that is guaranteed to get you involved and keep you entertained. Every residence hall has many different programs going on during the month, every RA staff puts on two different programs every month and every individual RA has a program once a month. Usually there is free food at these events so it is a great way to meet people.

Now, apart from these Residence Hall programs there are also dozens of programs that student organizations put on! You'll see tons of flyers around campus advertising some sort of free activity with free food. Be sure to go around and try all the different things out, you never know who you'll meet and what you'll end up joining.

<3 Mei

Hi all,

I know I say this frequently, much more so than I'd like, but I am sorry for my disappearance. Today, Friday, September 21, 2012 I officially finish with the first two weeks of midterm tests. All of my classes have become a lot harder than I had originally anticipated and with tests everywhere I turn I barely have time to sleep, but since sleep is SUPER important, here are some of my tips on managing this crazy world of college test time.

·         Remember you are paying for these classes, so make sure you ALWAYS GO TO CLASS! No matter how tired you are it's the best thing, not only will you get your attendance points, but you also get to learn the important stuff from the person who will actually be writing the test.

·         Take good notes. The test isn't going to be just the PowerPoint, it's also going to be a lot of what the professor says, so make sure you are writing down those extra juicy tidbits of wisdom that you are paying for.

·         Eat properly, your brain needs nutrition and skipping meals will not help you pay attention in class

·         Don't worry about the parties, trust me, you might want a stress relief but if you don't do as well as you'd like because of that party you went to, you're just going to be more stressed.

These are but some of my tips, and so far they have worked well...I hope you think they are worthwhile!

<3 Mei

Hi all,

So now that the school year is back in full swing I can honestly say it's good to be back :D Most of you reading this are probably in high school (except my mother....HI MOMMY!) and are going through your final year(s). While you're still there, I recommend that you try a few things to better your study habits while you can still learn and change. There are so many things that are different between college and high school, and it's to your best advantage to figure it out early on.

One big thing that is different between high school and college is that you actually have to work to get those good grades you are used to. I know that I thought my professors were joking when they said that I had to study a minimum of 3 hours outside of class for every hour in class, but I quickly found out that I did that just to try and understand what was going on. You also need to actually study efficiently, not just reading the book distractedly. You learn quickly that just because the professor didn't discuss it, it class doesn't mean that it's not going to be on the test.

 Take this time to develop good study habits so that when you come to college you have a leg up on everyone else. Good luck on this year!

<3 Mei

Hi all,

I am finally back into the swing of things...kind of.
I know it's been a really long time since my last post, but between RA training and getting ready for the start of the year I barely had time to sleep. Now that I'm back I will let you know that I'm glad everyone is finally here! It was so lonely during training, just us RAs and no one else, but now that everyone is here campus is alive and it shows!

Let me tell you just a bit about how these first two days have gone. So far I've had every class on my schedule at least once (twice in the case of French) and let me tell you that just sitting through syllabus day makes me remember why I love the professors here so much! They are straightforward, they tell you what they expect, and they tell you how hard this semester is going to be. I know that doesn't always sound appealing, but when you consider the fact that they also care to meet you too and learn about you, it makes my beginning of semester seem OK. It is something I just expect; to be asked what my name is, my major, and where I'm from, and I was not disappointed this semester.

Well, gotta get ready for tomorrow.

<3 Mei

Hi all!

So as we get closer and closer to the semester starting my memory seems to be getting worse and worse, but that's ok because soon enough stuff is gonna normalize.  You guys are all probably packing up to get over here and as someone who over packed let me give you some tips on what NOT to pack:

• Appliances (hot plates, toaster ovens, rice cookers, microwaves, etc.) - All you'll be allowed to keep is a coffee maker with automatic shutoff, and you already have a microwave, so I just recommend finding some of those microwave cooking items.
• Ashtrays* - NO SMOKING in rooms......so you won't need an ashtray
• Candles and incense - You can't burn anything in the room, so try and invest in some wall plug-ins for fragrances...Bath and Body Works and Yankee Candle have some good ones
• Ceiling fans - You can't put it up so don't bring it in. Invest in a box fan for your window if you live in a traditional hall
• Draperies - You have shades in the room so you don't need to put anything else in there
• Firearms - Really? I feel like this is obvious but I also need to point out, if you have paintball guns or nerf guns or anything like that  it does need to be registered with Police and Safety
• Furniture (waterbeds, futons, chairs, etc.) - if you add anything to your room it needs to be able to fold up, so butterfly chairs and saucer chairs are fine, but no bean bags or anything like that
• Grills (indoor/outdoor) - if you can't have an appliance what makes you think you can have a grill?
• Heaters - your room already has a heater
• Lofts/bed lifters - your bed can be raised or lowered on the bedframe, you don't need lofts or bed lifters....you're not allowed either
• Pets (small aquarium tanks with fish only are allowed) - good rule of thumb for pets: if you can hold it underwater for a week, and it lives, you can have it.....also remember, five gallon tank at most

So we are less than a month away from classes starting...which means we are way less than a month away from moving in, that being said you might want to start packing. This list down here is Behrend housing's list of things to pack, next to each item are my comments on the list, maybe that'll give you guys some insight on what you should bring. Also, make a list of everything you use on a daily basis, even your bathroom mirror, because it's those things you use daily that you will tend to forget.

• Address book, stamps, stationery - Ok, I don't know about this....I don't usually send letters so I would say you can skip it....that's what we have email for isn't it?
• Alarm clock - Definitely a recommend! I use my phone most of the time but since I need like four wake up calls it's nice to have an extra one as well
• Backpack - Well this one is pretty obvious...make sure it's waterproof though, this is Erie and it certainly likes to snow so you don't want your books getting wet
• Baskets for toiletries and storage
• Bed Linen: sheets (extra-long twin), mattress pad (extra-long twin), bedspread/blanket, and pillow - remember the extra-long part, that way your sheets will fit better
• Bike - ok, let me just say that Behrend is built on a hill and it snows a lot....do with that what you will
• Cleaning supplies (cleaner, paper towels) - all right, don't worry about cleaning bathrooms (even if you live in a suite you don't have to do that) but you might want to bring general cleaning supplies....I find that Clorox wipes are handy to have
• Clothing (bathrobe) - clothing seems to be obvious, just prepare for the weather...
• Computer, printer, and cables -don't forget your Ethernet cable because you'll need it....and if you want wireless internet in your room you'll need a router, but remember, never give your password away
• Desk items (lamp, pens/pencils/highlighters, calendar, calculator, tape, scissors, stapler, paperclips)
• Fan (portable) - especially if you live in the traditional halls this will be your best friend for the one-two months a school year you'll need it
• Financial items (checking/savings account, credit/debit card, health insurance card, Social Security card, driver's license or photo ID) - seems obvious to me...you're gonna need money eventually
• First Aid items (band aids, cotton balls, cotton swabs, cold/cough medicine, first-aid kit, aspirin) - I am a certifiable klutz, so I have most of these items...you won't need all of them, especially considering we do have a health and wellness center, but I do recommend having aspirin on hand, you'll eventually get a headache
• Food items (can opener, bottled beverages, coffee maker with automatic shutoff, one set of silverware/plates/bowls/glasses, condiments, napkins, snacks, dish detergent/
  towel) - depends on what you want to do, I like to eat in my room so I have most of these items....especially my coffee maker, I <3 my Keurig :D
• Games (cards, board games) - I don't think they will be very necessary just because you will be taking so many classes and you will need to focus, if you need one then bring it but remember to focus
• Hangers - yes.......just yes
• Laundry basket/bag, detergent, iron - ok again, pretty obvious, you have to do laundry...the iron is iffy though, I don't do a lot of ironing and someone usually has one...some residence halls even have some
• Padlocks (desk, laptop, and bike) - you will get a drawer that locks with a padlock which is really good for important documents.....you don't really need your one for your laptop if you remember to lock your room... and as far as the bike one goes, look up for my theory on that one
• Room decorations* -- you won't want to leave your room looking plain, so make sure to bring some stuff, just remember to make it appropriate stuff if you want people to visit you...also remember command items like command hooks and poster hangers, they are really good and won't damage the walls (so you won't get charged)
• Sewing kit/safety pins - it's always a good thing to have, I cannot tell you how many things I have accidentally ripped and thanked my lucky stars I remembered my mini sewing kit
• Snow shovel to store in your car - only if you have a car, but if you do you might wanna remember it
• Stereo system (CD player, radio, mini disc player, headphones, CDs, etc.) - I usually use my computer with some normal speakers but then again I'm a girl so I really don't think too much about sound quality...
• Television - With this one you might want to talk to your roommate and figure out who wants to bring it...you won't really need two TVs
• Toiletry Items - This is important and listen close (or read close, whichever) MAKE A LIST OF EVERYTHING YOU USE ON A DAILY BASIS! I almost forgot the basic stuff like hair ties and deodorant and stuff like that, so that list of everything you use daily will come in handy...even include the mirror
• Towels - Sounds obvious doesn't it? Bring at least 2 because you might want to go to the gorge or you might somehow get one all dirty and you will want a second one
• Umbrella - it does like to rain in September so I also recommend galoshes cause we also get puddles :D
• Vacuum Cleaner (although vacuums are available in each residence area, it is suggested that you bring a small one with you, such as a "stick" vacuum, if your room is carpeted) - your RA will have a vacuum you can use (all rooms are carpeted) so you don't HAVE to get one, but if you do, I recommend one of these $20 ones from Wal-Mart because they get the job done and they are nice because they have like three ways you can use it
• VCR or DVD player (with cables) - same advice as the TV, you won't need two

Hi all!

So I'm really excited because Spend a Summer Evening and Spend a Summer day programs start tomorrow!!! I love giving tours on a daily basis, but doing it during these programs is just more fun because it's more people and more chances to just meet future students!

I actually spent most of yesterday and today helping admissions get ready for the event and let me tell you guys that it's not easy getting ready for it, and I had never helped out behind the scenes, but now I understand the success of the events. Everybody really does their 100% to make sure that we have all the information students could want, that we put our best foot forward, and that we are truly showing everyone the Penn State Spirit when they come visit.

All right, time to get ready for all of the awesome fun that comes with tours!

<3 Mei