Work Study: The Good, The Bad, and the Delightful

If you are on financial aid at Union College than you are pretty much guaranteed to have a work study. What is a work study, you wonder? It is a job on campus in an area that you may excel in where all that you make is either put towards tuition or put into your personal bank account. In other words, I love work study. I will take the rest of this post to inform you of various work study jobs around campus and the many benefits of having a work study job while attending classes.
At first I wasn't sure about how I could fit a work study job around my class schedule, but soon found out just have accommodating this job really is. You are able to work around your classes and change your schedule based upon trimester. Not only that, but if you have a meeting or an event that pops up out of the blue you can usually change your work schedule in order to attend these events.
I personally work in the Web Communications department. At first I wasn't sure I was placed correctly as my html and web skills were slightly limited, but you learn quickly. Over time I have come to love this job, especially because I get to shoot video and create this blog. The job went from being a necessity to something I actually really enjoy doing and have had a lot of fun with over the course of this year.
I have had a couple friends who have either really liked or hated their work studies. One of friends works as a life guard at the pool. Obviously you have to be a qualified life guard in order to obtain this position, but she believes it is worth it. Her job is to essentially sit at the pool, do homework, and watch everyone swim in case someone begins to drown, which never happens. So she basically gets paid to do her homework which is a great deal, even if it is a million degrees in the pool. My next friend works at the front desk of the gym watching college students filter in through the doors for a workout. That is literally her job. Most days I walk in and she is sitting doing work or eating a sandwich. I have another friend who works in the library where she is not allowed to eat. She is in charge of one of the reference desks and checks books, movies, magazines, etc out to the campus community. When no one comes in she sits and does homework or reads. Needless to say she is another friend who loves her work study.
I have only met two people so far who have been dissatisfied with their work study placements. The first is one of my guy friends who used to work with the ground maintenance department. His job was to essentially beautify the campus by planting flowers, weeding, raking leaves, etc. Now this might not sound too bad, but in the winter he was forced to get up at 4 am to be ready to shovel snow at 5. When you are a college student sleep is so essential and therefore this work study was a nightmare. He eventually switched work study jobs he disliked his first one so much. My other friend works in Rathskeller preparing greasy yet delicious food for the masses. She really doesn't like this job too much as she is constantly on her feet, constantly cooking some sort of greasy food, and is constantly a million degrees hotter than she feels is normal. Her job is basically one sweaty, greasy mess and I am sure that next year she will be applying for a new work study.
All in all work study's are a great way to meet new people on campus, become a part of the behind the scenes activities that take place, and earn a decent amount of money to either be put toward tuition or kept for your own personal spending. Anyone who applies for a work study should be honest about the skills they possess and what interests them in order to be placed accordingly. Sometimes you can't help what work study you get, but it will be a new experience that, in the end, you will learn a lot from.

Under the Weather

My general appearance Monday morning

Here is something I have yet to post about: sickness on campus. For most students mama doesn't live close enough to come take care of them nor is it possible for her to make an emergency trek up to Union to pick them up and take them home. This leaves few options for the sick individual.
I bring this topic up today as I have a serious cold and while I live close enough where mama could come take care of me, I have opted to be a big girl and deal with this beast on my own. Being sick on campus can be a real pain in the butt as I have found out. For one thing if you are deathly ill and are having trouble leaving your bed you better hope you have a caring roommate otherwise you will starve to death. It was a miracle to wake up yesterday and see that my sweet roomie had brought me some yogurt and fruit for breakfast. It really makes you appreciate the person you live with ten fold. Another issue that may arise is getting an appointment with health services. It seems like the moment you get sick so does the rest of the population of students at Union. I called to make an appointment this morning and the only opening they had was for 11 am, right when I was supposed to be getting to work. When I asked if they had another appointment open, they told me I would have to make one for tomorrow or possibly the next day if they didn't have any openings. What is a sick girl to do?! I took the 11 am.
Illness can get even trickier when you realize that the nurses at the health clinic are prescribing you with medicine that you can get at the Reamer Campus Center without going through the hassle of scheduling an appointment and waiting around for a half hour just to be told that you have a common cold and need Mucinex. Sheer annoyance. Skipped classes are also negative outcomes of having some sort of sickness. One class missed isn't a huge deal, but excessive absences can lead to bigger problems. It is imperative that you email all the teachers who's classes you have missed in order to excuse your absence and see if there was anything truly important you missed in class. Some teachers require that you have a note for a missed class which is tricky because health services doesn't give out notes which I found out today : (
If you are really sick, don't go to class and risk contaminating the Universe, but if you have just a little cold, try to make it as a skipped class is a couple hundred dollars out the window. Who knows how many hundreds I've lost due to illness this year.
If you are really, really sick (aka an emergency) and can't get an appointment with health services skip it altogether and call Ellis Hospital or Campus Safety for help. They tell you this when you call to make an appointment at the health clinic, but I thought I'd reiterate it here. If you live close to home, don't feel bad ducking out for the weekend in order to get some much needed TLC from Mom and Dad. Sometimes that is all you really need in order to get better quickly. I know that has always helped me.

A Change of Heart

One thing that is so great about Union is that it allows you to change your mind. I must admit that when I was younger I was the type of person who constantly changed her career path. I went from wanting to be a famous singer to wanting to study molecular biology. As I got older I realized my true passion was for psychology and that all I really wanted to do in my life was help others overcome their specific disorders. Without a doubt I knew that psychology was the major for me and upon arriving at Union I immediately threw myself into psych courses with zeal. Psych 101 was basic, yet interesting nonetheless. I learned a lot in the short ten weeks I took it, but something was missing. I brushed this feeling aside and took three courses the next trimester that had nothing to do with psychology. It was nice to have a little break in between, but by trimester three I was ready for psychology once again. This time I decided to take Psych 250 or Abnormal Behavior. Thus far the course is interesting, but not stimulating. It wasn't until last night that everything clicked into place.
For so many years I have been enclosing myself in this teeny tiny box, stating over and over again that I am psychologist and will never be anything else. I decided I had to major in psychology yet when it came time to turn in the declared major sheet, I found I was hesitant. Now I understand why. While I love psychology, I don't love all of it. There are parts that interest me, but there are also many parts that bore me to tears. I love psych, but deep down I've come to realize I will never make it as a psychologist because the passion will never be there. And that is what I love about this school. I don't have to decide what I want to be right now, I have so much time to figure everything out. Last night it dawned on me that I should do something with my life that infuses me with joy. I need to have a profession that I am so passionate about it fills me with emotion. It wasn't until my friend put things in perspective for me that I realized the things I love lead to two possible professions. I have now decided to become a nutritionist and a writer, because two really is better than one.
Even if I think I've figured things out, I can still go back and change my major, change my career path. I don't have to tuck myself into a little box stuck with a label of what I am convinced I should be. Now out of this box, I have the freedom to figure my life out. I am surrounded by new possibilities at Union and the world seems endless. I am so thankful that I have had the luck of attending a liberal arts college as you don't truly know what you want until you are waist deep in what life has thrown your way.

'Tis the time of year

My very first visit to Union (Note the big smile!)

It is another rainy day here on campus. The rain has reduced the school to one giant swamp pit complete with a million squiggly worms and students wearing all sorts of patterned or ridiculously expensive rain boots. Despite the icky weather, I can't help but notice just how many students have recently been visiting the campus. Although the rain puts a damper on things, it can not mask the splendor of the campus and its community. About this time last year I myself visited the college for the very first time. At this point I had no idea I would fall in love and make it my college. I actually applied to Union on a whim, never having visited or expecting to want to go here. After I received my letter of acceptance, I was blown away by the amount of financial aid I received and it became a very serious option for the 2010-2011 school year. What solidified my decision was the visit. It was a slightly chilly spring day, but was nevertheless lovely. Driving down the tree-lined avenue and seeing the Nott Memorial for the first time was incredible. I had had no idea that such an interesting and exotic building existed in Schenectady, let alone the state of New York. It was really an unusual and stunning site. Leaving the car with my mother and boyfriend of the time in tow, I began to explore the school I quickly began to realize would be my school for the next four years. The buildings reminded me of old southern charm and the people surrounding me were incredibly helpful and good natured. Union has the kind of atmosphere that draws you in and doesn't want to let you go. I was hooked immediately. I remember going home that night with my decision already made and was even more excited upon my return with my father. He loved it just as much as I did.
The Accepted Students Day is right around the corner and I can't help but get a little bit excited. This year I will most likely host a student for the day and I am very excited at the prospect of sharing all Union has to offer with someone. I hope the students who visit feel the same strong connection I did and that they fall in love and never want to leave. It can be an incredibly overwhelming day with so many activities, so many new faces, and so many questions running through your mind, but it is also a day of answers and of powerful community. Whether these accepted students decide to make Union theirs or discover that it isn't the perfect fit, I wish them all well and hope to see many of the same faces around campus next year.
Disclaimer: If any prospective or already committed students have any questions, comments, etc please feel free to contact me on Facebook via message (Adah Keegan). I would be more than happy to answer anything anyone would like to know!

We're Backkk!

The lovely Memorial Chapel

After a much relaxed week and half without classes, school work, or a self-imposed curfew it is now time to head back to the daily grind here at Union College. I can't say that I am sorry to see spring break fly by as I spent my time at home doing almost nothing the entire time. I was so excited to step foot back on campus this past Sunday and even more elated to see my friends once again. The weather was absolutely beautiful, as opposed to today when it is once again snowing, and I couldn't wait to start my new classes. This spring trimester holds so much promise for all of us Union students. With warmer weather comes brighter moods and higher energy levels. The weather will also bring us out onto the campus to enjoy the sunshine and each others company while tanning on the lawns, playing frisbee, or simply sitting around chatting on a sun-warmed stone wall. With this delightful weather comes warnings from our professors, advisors, and even R.A's. I can't tell you how many times I have already been told to keep myself and my education in check this spring term. I have been told how easy it is to fall off the wagon and simply give up caring about school due to all the summery activities going on around campus. Although this might scare some, it does not scare me. I see spring trimester as a chance to have an incredible social life, but at the same time I understand the ramifications of making this social life my sole focus. In my life it has always been school first, having fun second. It is easy to balance both by getting your work done early so that you can enjoy all that the campus has to offer.

Something that I am greatly looking forward to is Springfest in May. The rumors I have heard thus far are fantastical, proclaiming that it is a week of debauchery mixed with a raging good time. I have heard it is a full week of nothing but fun, listening to a band perform while hanging out with friends. I personally hope that it is a week that brings the campus community a little bit closer together in the warm months ahead as I feel like the classes are their own separate entities. Until I experience it I won't know what truly happens, but I will be sure to write an entertaining post on it. 

Some other things that I am looking forward to are the classes I have chosen to take this final trimester of my freshman year. I will be taking French 201, Geology 101, and Abnormal Psychology (or Psych 250). Each class offers something different and that is what I love about them. Two of the three courses are required for my majors, but that makes them more exciting as they are classes I am truly interested in with professors I actually connect to. Geology, otherwise known as the odd course, already seems like a great choice. So far I have had two classes and while some of the material is review, I have already learned so much. I never thought in a million years I would be taking a course in Geology at Union, but I am very glad that I took this opportunity and signed up for it. My excitement is endless due to the fact that I finally get to use my hiking boots this season when we take field trips! 

All in all I have much to look forward to throughout the course of my favorite season. There is already so much to do that I don't even know where exactly to start. All I know is that by focusing on this trimester and all that is has to offer I will become a stronger student and a much more integrated member of this community. 

Piling on the Stress

The last week before spring break and all I can think about is the amount of work headed my way. Today, Thursday March 10th, 2011 is D-Day. With a final English paper due tomorrow as well as two revised papers and two writing contest entries, my evening will consist of nothing but dramatically typing on my laptop to churn out three polished papers and two solid entries. My outlook at this current moment: Bleak.
As many college students struggle to find equilibrium between studying and having a social life this weekend, my weekend will be spent in my bedroom eating ramen with my head crammed in a book. My first final, English, is on Monday and the thought of entering the classroom bright and early completely unprepared terrifies me. I figure that my social life can hit an all time low in order for me to receive an incredible grade (or passing grade...) on my final. I believe the weekend will also consist of doing arm exercises in order for my hands to function at a high level with all the essays I will have to write. I also keep forgetting that I have a final paper due for my precept on Monday. Although I have already written the paper it needs much improvement. Just one more thing that has to be added to my list of to dos. The only thing that might save me from going insane this weekend are a few trips to the gym to work up my endurance. Next week is going to be brutal.
I keep telling myself over and over that it won't be so bad and that the finals I will have to endure after next trimester's classes will be much worse. This isn't helping as I am in the thick of work at this moment. I find that nothing can take my mind off the work that has to be done. I'll be at the gym on the elliptical thinking about how I should be in my room writing a paper or I'll be at work wondering if it is okay to start work on revising a paper. A good question to ask is how many papers can a girl write before she goes bananas? The answer is surprisingly low.
Although it is crunch time and this is the most amount of work in the shortest amount of time I have had to complete here at Union College, I really shouldn't complain. I have friends from other colleges taking six courses that they have finals for! I am lucky to only have three courses, one of which I don't even have an actual final in. Things might seem terrible, but so many other people have it so much worse than I could even imagine. Plus, I still have time to fit in a blog post : )
So I guess the moral of this story is that even though finals are horrible and make you want to rip all your hair out, there is always a silver lining. It is possible to get through finals unscathed and make it to glorious spring break, it just takes a bit of patience, a lot of endurance, and copious amounts of snacks.

High School vs. College: The SmackDown

The Albany Academy for Girls (My High School!)

It's time for a much anticipated blog entry (and by anticipated I mean I'm the only one who is really excited for it). The similarities and differences between college life and that of the high school life. I know that I can not truly give an accurate depiction of the two as I attended a private high school that is very similar to Union, but I will give it my best shot.


Five Similarities:
1. The Amount of Work. Surprisingly my workload from high school has transferred over to my work load here at Union. In fact I can almost say that I actually have less work to do here than I did in high school. The level of difficulty is about the same, but keep in mind that my senior year I was taking three A.P. courses.

2. The Teachers. Believe it or not the teachers are actually very similar to the teachers I had in high school. They are super willing to help with any issues you might be experiencing, they are often times very creative and open-minded, and they allow you to express yourself in your own way. They will always make time for you and keep office hours a few days a week in case you need to stop by for clarification.

3. The Activities. Many of the activities offered on campus are the same or have the same underlying goal as the activities that were offered at my high school. For example: On campus there is a Habitat for Humanity club, just as my high school had a Habitat for Humanity club where we went to build sites in and around Albany to build houses on the weekends. Many clubs and organizations here at Union College have the same motives as those clubs in high school.

4. The Participation. At my high school everyone was very involved in class discussion and in discussion of the school's values and maintenance. Here at Union, I've found this to be pretty much the same. The whole campus is involved in events the campus puts on, students actively participate in class, and members of the student council work to perfect campus life.

5. The Gossip. This has definitely not changed since leaving high school. The only thing that has changed are the names of the people being discussed. I hate to say it, but coming from a small private school to a small private college the gossip has stayed at a pretty consistent level. Everyday I am bombarded with stories about you know who doing you know what with she/he who shall not be named. The stories are the same with minor twists as their is more freedom on a college campus. This was something I had hoped to put behind me, but gossip always has a way of following you around.

Five Differences:
1. The Food. This is something that is very, very different from my high school based on the element of nutrition. My high school served the most delicious health food complete with a salad and sandwich bar. At Union, and I am sure many other colleges, the food is delicious but less than healthy. You really have to reach deep inside yourself in order to make wise food choices. Although healthy food is an option, it seems that it is slowly being forgotten for the fried and greasy.

2. The Freedom. I won't lie. College life is pretty sweet. There is an abundance of freedom that I never knew existed. You can do what you like, be who you want, and get to live on your own for once. It is incredibly liberating to answer to yourself, while at the same time daunting. It can be frightening in the beginning to find that you hold all the power in your hands, that it is you who fully makes decisions about yourself. You no longer have mom and dad dictating every move you make. It is a powerful thing, but just remember to be smart and don't let the power get to your head.

3. The Weekends. My weekends are about as different as can be since arriving on campus. In high school I used to work Friday and Saturday nights and then spend the rest of my weekend either hanging out with friends or relaxing at home. The weekends have completely changed for me. Now there are so many more things to do, so many more places to go. It is possible to go see movies, go out to eat, go to frats, see the different shows the campus is putting on, attend concerts and comedians, volunteer, etc. The list goes on and end. I find that my weekends are taken up by dancing the night away, going to on campus movies, doing some work here and there, and attending different sporting events. Everything I could ever want to do on the weekend is at my fingertips.

4. The Dating Scene. I'm just going to go ahead and say it. What dating scene? I have yet to hear about this proposed dating scene on campus. I have scene a few couples get together in blissful harmony, but that is very rare. In high school I was known as the girl who, for the most part, was always dating someone. Arriving at college was an eye opening change for me as I realized the concept of dating someone doesn't really exist here. At least not for underclassmen. I think this might be the same on most college campus'.

5. The Grades. There are so many more distractions on campus then there ever were in high school. I find that it is sometimes impossible to sit, quietly studying in your room or even in the library without a distraction somehow appearing. It gets tougher to make the grades you want in college as you are constantly doing this, that, and the other thing every waking moment. Going to class can also be an issue as you no longer have a parent there to push you out of bed and out the door. Making stellar grades can be a really tricky process, one that you have to constantly be on top of in order to make it through a trimester successfully.