|
Karla Valentin - 3rd Floor - PEACE
|
|
Year
: Senior
Major
: Biology
Interests and Hobbies
: I enjoy playing Sports, Movies, Dancing, Working
out, Arts and Craft, Shopping (which is a girls best
friend), Family time, Ice-skating, Listening to Music,
Playing Instruments, Building and Designing, and
Learning.
Clubs or Organizations
: Sigma Gamma Rho Inc., Multicultural Affairs,
Plumosa Elementary School (volunteer), Kids Art s fair,
summer tutor, Youth leadership, Presidential Classroom,
Day Care and Band Box.
Favorite Memory at FAU
: There are so many memories that I have had
within the two years I attended FAU. However, one
exciting day was move in day; on August 21. I realized I
would be living under my own roof without my parent s
protection. Beside that it was a reencounter I had with
one of my old friends from the previous college I
attended as well it was the chance for me to greet the
friends I have now within the Residential Halls. FAU
showed me how much fun it can be living on campus and
being part of a great University so more memories will be
added within the rest of my following years.. |
|
|
DON T FALL BEHIND
|
| As the semester is almost done there are
so many things happening when it comes down to our
classes. The most important thing is to make sure what
percentage you have in your class and what it would take
for you to improve your grades. Speak to your professor
or seek help be attending SI or just mainly getting
together with classmates and find an alternative to
improving your grades. Secondly, don t worry too much on
finding out what classes to take the next semester just
speak to your advisors beforehand. Next semester classes
will be easier for you to schedule because you know the
campus and professors that would help you in narrowing
down your schedule. In fact, with that you can schedule
times in between for studying or break time, don t stress
as much about the spring semester figure out how to end
the fall semester in a positive way. As for myself my
goals are following these and keeping up with my work,
school is stressful, work, and family too but the only
way to overcome that is by giving yourself time before
giving others. If you start to feel stress-out seek help
at the Today & beyond Wellness or the Counseling
Center at these locations they are well trained
instructors that help individuals in any situation. One
thing I ve learned throughout the years is finding a calm
place within your own place, it can be by playing
meditation music or yoga, draw or read, there are so many
things you can possibly do to make yourself feel better.
Most important is to not think about the situation as
much because that s usually the cause. |
|
|
Finally, the last week of September and
just around the corner is a new month. It is extremely
funny how the end of the first semester of college for
the new members of Residential Life is creeping up on us.
This month felt like the FLU month, so many residents and
myself GOT THE BUG. It s amusing to see how much
residents really count on their RA for assistances like
asking for medical advice but really all we can say is
take medicine relating to your symptoms or make an
appointment at the Clinic on campus. So many amazing
things happened once everyone got better, we became a
family but also adopted new members to the floor.
Intramurals began this month, Sorority and Fraternity
Rush week finalized, Student Government had their first
Comedy Show, and the kick-start to Hispanic Heritage
Month started on the 15th. As for the 3rd floor residents
everyone is starting to realize the real effort to
maintain good grades and manage their time. My residents
are starting to realize that procrastinating is not the
best thing to do, leaving English papers to be completed
at 2 am in the morning and then having class at 8am is
not the best idea. As for me, this month has been a real
great experience due to my on campus involvement: being
an RA, part of the Peer Education Team, Sigma Gamma Rho
Inc. and facing a fear running for Miss Latina 2010. All
these extra-curricular activities have added a lot of
STRESS. To help me stay level I have planned a daily
schedule that helps me feel like I have control over my
life. When residents feel overwhelmed or exhausted with
school or social life; I encourage them to meditate at
least for an hour each day or take time to pamper
themselves. It just helps when you need to release the
stress that is building-up inside. However, when a
situation is cannot be controlled I recommend seeking
help on campus by contacting the counseling center on
campus or going to the office for a personal interaction.
Next month there is so much to do but too little time, as
for the 3rd floor this week and weekend we will be
preparing our floor for theme and continuing winning our
intramural teams.
Should you feel like you need it in your time of
stress the counseling office is located on the 2nd floor
of the breezeway across the multicultural office. |
|
|
| Halfway through the month of September
and major improvements have been made on the floor. Goals
that were decided on over the summer or in the month of
August are starting to come into place. For instance,
studying ahead of time for class, building a community on
the floor, getting involved with school events and
housing. All these goals are in process and more to come.
This month starts our Intramurals Sports programs, where
buildings, floors, and FAU students make teams and play
in the intramural league. The 3rd floor decided to get
involved in all the Intramural sports in a way to bring
each other closer by playing as a floor. Even though
there are so many things that we can get involved with on
campus, the first real week of school work has begun.
Many residents and I have already experienced the first
test of the semester or their college experience.
Students don t realize how much studying has to go into a
subject until they receive their first grade. As for me,
I am taking hard classes like Micro-Biology, Biochemistry
and other science classes that consume most of my free
time. It s hard to realize at first how much time school
work will take up if you don t take control from the
beginning. Time management is extremely important in a
college student life, it s better to be proactive than
indolent. Many on campus offices are trained in how to
teach college students to have better time management.
For instance the office of Today and Beyond Wellness, the
Counseling Center, and the colleges themselves offers
some type of guidance in having better control of your
life. As for my residents LLC students and non-LLCs I
recommend them all to make a To Do List. Making a
reminder board is the best thing to do; having the
ability to manage time can improve your grades, life, and
sometimes your relationships with friends. I myself have
a board that helps me stay on top of all my exams, RA
events, school events, and as well free time. Everyone
needs time on their own, time to pamper themselves, and
thank themselves for something amazing you did in the
week or month. By adding this to your lives you will see
how everything is so much easier to do. |
|
|
New Year and New Residents!
|
| This year will be a very different
academic year On August 19, 2010 the 3rd floor (half
Living Learning Community and half Non-LLC) met for the
first time. Opening day was an exhausting day. Residents
were checking in, we had to monitor the lobby and keep
the hallways clear and try to keep up the fast pace the
parents and students were going, but in the end it
smooth. The first week of school is an exciting week
whether it s looking forward to classes or attending
Casino Night, Movie On the Lawn, Bingo, and other housing
or campus life programs. However, the first week of
school for me is getting a chance to see all my friends
back on campus getting to know what classes are going to
consume a lot of time. One thing that will be different
for me is joining a sorority. I encourage any FAU student
to get involved on campus in some type of organization.
Whether it be joining a Community Council in the
Residential Halls, Student Government, Greek Life, Sports
etc. You can really expand your conception on how you
would like to spend your four years in college. School is
important in all aspects however, finding a hobby on
campus can help you keep yourself on track, some
organizations on campus help you as the student
understand why it s really important to maintain an
outstanding GPA. My goal for this year is to make it the
best of my school work and end this school year with an
accomplishment. As for incoming freshmen and for my floor
I encourage you all to look into having goals of your own
by taking small steps you can build up to a larger
scale. |
|
|
Karla's
2009-2010 blog
|
|
