Sharnae

October 25 , 2007

Hi again devoted readers! I know it’s been a long wait for this blog, but the last three weeks of mid-terms have kept me busy. My time went towards making excellent grades so I wanted to be able to share that experience with you. I decided to wait, but I didn’t forget about you soon to be Blazers!!!

For the month of October, many events have been going on campus. I must say they are fun, between the Campus Activity Board (can you say C.A.B.??), displays made by certain focus groups and volunteer work by the Greek life of VSU, there’s absolutely no way you can’t have fun?!  A few events I’ve attended are a discussion forum provided by the Delta Sigma Theta Chapter, arts and crafts activities to gain residence life bucks, a presentation on a topic discussed in Women’s gender studies on the front lawn, and also creating a wax hand with my very own hand! Now how often do you do THAT in a lifetime? Not to mention that Halloween is slowly approaching so there are door decorating contests on some of the hall floors, and some of those doors are pretty interesting. Relay for life and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Chapter are both kicking off a few events as well such as the upcoming Ball to Cure All and Diamonds and Pearls Ball.

That is the fun stuff though and there’s plenty of it to go around, but now we are going to take a step into what midterms were like this week. Headache is not enough of a word to describe it!! Initially, you walk into a high school classroom to take a test and know you haven’t studied but you know you’ll make the grade and you do. In college the answers are halfway handed to you on a silver platter, all you have to do is take it. What is that platter you say? It is that piece of paper you get on the first day of school and somehow losing it or stuffing it in the back of that class folder somewhere. Yes that syllabus is valuable.

Here at Valdosta State, the professors (at least in my classes) are here to help you. I thought mid-terms may not be easy, but my professor assured me that everything that would be covered on the exam were on the syllabus--and indeed he was right! Do not be discouraged because you must admit to yourself that you have poor study habits--but teachers have jobs and so do you. Your job is to utilize the resources you are given (Ding! Ding! Ding! That syllabus again) and alter it to a way that best suites your learning style.

At Valdosta State, we have professors who listen and will meet you halfway. We also provide seminars in areas you might be deficient in and peer tutors at our success center that are more than welcomed to help you study for that upcoming test.

What have I gained since I been at Valdosta State?

1) Your syllabus is your best friend!

2) It is important that you get ALL your textbooks. You will not be able to survive without them.  

3) Studying is your other best friend. Your professor will always meet you halfway, but if you aren’t doing your part what can they do? Cram time?  Personally, I feel like there are no shortcuts in life. If you think you found one, I guarantee you’ll be working twice as hard and it still won’t pay off.

This week also is registration for the spring 2008 semester. Today was for the freshmen and it was quite funny. I was a late bird for fall registration but still received good classes. In August, I thought I would up the ante this year and arrive a little earlier when registration came so that I could have my classes. After going to advising later on in the month of august, I selected classes based on my curriculum for my major and saved it for when this day arrived. So I get up at 8:00 since the portal opens at 9:00. I got dressed and got ready to prepare for an exam and other tasks I have to do later on today. At 8:30, I sit in front of a computer in the library and studied while I patiently waited for registration to open. During those 28 minutes, people came swarming in from everywhere into the library. Boy was it weird! At 8:59 I logged in and went to those classes I had selected during advising and waited. It seemed like forever! I felt like we were waiting for a comet or something to past by. It was funny. By 9:00 everyone hit one button and the entire system went PPFFTT!! I laughed because I mean good grief that was a hard hit for the system but after 5 seconds it was working like a champ!

So readers, here is the part where I disappear again into the life of Valdosta State University…

Before I go, quick reminder!! I am going to be so anxious when I guide prospective students on Visitation Day, which is on Nov. 10 (just in case you didn’t know) I hope that I will see a few of you so be sure to walk up to me and say hello!!