Grades, grades, grades.

CUC just posted their second semester grades online. No doubt there were tons of anxious and nervous students trying to avoid logging into MyCUC. It's scary when you click the link for "Grade Report"...who knows what might show up!

Undoubtedly there are high school students who are nervous about the same thing. Worrying about the SATs/ACTs, AP tests and grades makes lots and lots of stress.

But, here's the thing: as long as you try your best, who can ask for more of you than that? Forget about the scholarships, pressure and competition: just do the best you can do.

My parents always used to tell me that they would support whatever grade I got, as long as I put hard work and effort into it. I wasn't naturally gifted at math, so often I'd study and study and still not do very well on a test. My parents would always say, "We know that you studied really hard for this test. It's okay that you didn't do perfect: as long as you tried, that's good enough for us."

And it should be good enough for you too! If you know you did your best, you can't beat up yourself over a not-quite-perfect grade or score.

Just remember high-schoolers: you have a whole summer of fun ahead of you! Just get through the next couple weeks, okay?

Good luck!

Labels: Jaclyn Wile, student blog

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Are you a high school graduate? Are you about to be?

I'm sure you're tempted to take the summer off before college, lounging around at home watching MTV and the Travel Channel.

But beware: as fun as that kind of summer sounds on paper, just laying around gets boring.

Keep your mind active and your bank account full with a great summer job. Not all jobs have to be tedious, and you may be able to make pretty good cash only working part-time.

Check out some of the following jobs:

Tutor
- A lot of kids have to take summer school classes to improve their academic skills or to retake classes they failed. If you are really interested in history or English, you may find yourself loving a job tutoring younger students. Plus, it often pays well, especially if you can show them a grade report and sample work you've done.

Camp Counselor
- If you like hanging out with kids and meeting other students your own age, a camp counselor might be a great job for you. It gives you a chance to be outdoors and to influence the lives of younger kids. Plus, you're promised at least one day off a week, so you won't have to be bunked up with the youngin's all the time.

Hotel Receptionist
- If you work as a hotel receptionist, you'll make fairly good cash and you might be able to get part-time work. It's a good opportunity to interact with a lot of different people and become familiar with business practices.

Lifeguard
- I must admit: I was a lifeguard the summer after I graduated from high school. There were a lot of great things about it: the tan, the hours, the bathing suits, getting paid to yell at unruly kids...it was a fun summer job. Then again, it was also hot, tiring and boring some days (when it rained). Keep in mind that if you want to lifeguard, you'll want to join a lifeguarding certification and CPR class now!

Retail
- Retail is good for a couple reasons: you can either work full or part-time, get to make new friends, stay in an air-conditioned environment, and retail shops will also hire you back from summer to summer, or over holidays when you are home from college. If you work at a store you already shop at, you'll also save money with your employee discount.

What's your summer job? Let me know!

Labels: Jaclyn Wile, student blog

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If there's one thing a college student should always keep with them, it's a USB drive.

These little drives plug into your computer and allow you to transfer large files from one computer to the next.

This comes in handy when you have giant projects to print at the computer lab, or if you need to bring your homework to class.

Another cool thing about USB drives is that you can pick them up really cheap at places like Target (for less than $7) and use them to store your resume and portfolio on. When you go on internships interviews, instead of giving the company a "leave-behind portfolio," just hand them a neatly packaged USB drive filled to the brim with all the relevant pieces you showed them in your personal portfolio.

Want to see the Top 10 Weirdest USB Drives ever? Go here!

Do you have some creative use for a USB drive? E-mail me! jwile[at]cuc.edu.

Labels: Jaclyn Wile, student blog

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Dorm rooms practically beg for snacking and unhealthy eating. When you condense all your living space into one tiny room, it can be tempting to eat bags of chips in bed while you watch DVDs on your laptop. Ordering pizza and Chinese food is another pitfall. At the end of a long day, sometimes all you want to do is sit down and drink a Coke.

DON'T FALL FOR IT, PEOPLE!

There's a reason that the expression "Freshman 15" exists!

But, no fear. There are ways to keep your snacks healthy AND delicious, so that you always have something yummy to grab while you are relaxing in your dorm room.

Here's a list of stuff you should grab from the grocery store:

1. Skim milk or soy milk. Not to be too preachy, but soy milk is far better for you than real dairy, and you can supplement calcium into your diet. Of course, most soy milk has calcium added!
2. Healthy cereals. Most cafeterias offer lots of delicious, high-sugar cereals (Cocoa Puffs are a personal fav), but not too many versions of Kashi. Keep some high-fiber, healthy cereal in your room and try and trade on and off every day. One day, Cocoa Puffs, the next, Kashi.
   
3. Baby carrot sticks.
   
4. Hummus.
5. Big, crunchy apples and oranges.
6. Low-fat or "light" microwave popcorn--which is a great source of fiber!
7. Yogurt.
   
8. Pretzels.
9. Pita bread.
10. Sandwich meats, either "fake" (check your local Adventist Book Store or Safeway) or real meat.
11. Olives.
12. Low-sodium microwavable noodle dishes. Check the Asian section of your local grocery store to find some of these.
13. Bottled water.
14. Instant iced tea to make your water more interesting.

Any other stuff you love to eat in your dorm room? E-mail me! jwile[at]cuc.edu.

Labels: Jaclyn Wile, student blog

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Taking notes is an integral part of your college experience. No doubt you will come armed to classes with some form of note-taking device, ready to take down every word your professor says.

But...that's ridiculous.

You don't need to write down everything. You just need to know what is worth jotting down for later and what isn't.

Here are some general note-taking tips I've found helpful:

1. Use what's most comfortable. If you like using your laptop, go ahead and use it. But, don't let yourself get distracted by your laptop. I've had plenty of friends that use their laptops to take notes, but end up looking at photos on their computer or surfing the Internet instead. If you like to take notes the old-fashioned way, make sure you have pens and pencils that are comfy and that you like to write with. If you prefer to record your lectures--which I find sort of a waste of time--do that. Do whatever feels most natural to you.
2. Keep a highlighter handy. Even if you want to keep your textbooks as pristine as possible to get the best price at textbook buy-back, don't fall for it. Highlight everything. Mark up your textbooks. Another good thing about highlighting is that it keeps you engaged in the lectures and forces you to pay attention and re-read what the teacher is going over from the front of the classroom.
3. Organize your notes. Keep one big notebook for all your classes, or have a different notebook for each class. Try using fun notebooks for class instead of the same old-same old. Target has some great notebooks you can use for class.
   
4. Don't forget to read. Professors often assign reading for homework, but students rarely actually read. Beware of this! Often you will get called on to answer questions or to comment on something, and if you haven't read, you'll just look silly. Keep yourself engaged in class--it will pay off at finals!
   

Labels: Jaclyn Wile, student blog

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I have a confession: I am absolutely, 100% addicted to Typeracer.

Never heard of it?

Typeracer is an online game that tests the speed and accuracy of your typing skills.

Typeracer matches you up against other online users and you have to type a sentence from a song lyric, poem, novel or movie. The faster you type, the faster your race car moves across the top of the screen.

Typeracer automatically logs your average speed and how many races you have completed. The more you play, the faster you will be able to type!

Here's an article about TypeRacer if you want to read more about it. Or, go straight to the races!

Labels: Jaclyn Wile, student blog

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Textbooks are expensive.

Really, really expensive.

A recent study showed that most students average about $900 per school year on textbooks.

Isn't that crazy? They are, after all, just books. The oldest teaching medium in the world. A tree's worth of paper bound into a hardback cover.

But, here's the thing about textbooks: they don't need to cost you $900.

There are a couple different ways you can approach textbook buying for college. Each has its pros and cons.

Option One -- Buy from the Campus Bookstore

Buying your textbooks straight from the campus bookstore has some definite advantages.

• You'll get the right books. Your teachers have selected the books specifically for you to buy from the bookstore, so there will be no confusion over whether you have the right edition or not.
• It's easy. Your bookstore is right on campus. You can charge your books right on your student account. Which brings me to...
• Buying on your student account. When you do your financial aid, make sure to tell your officer to factor in bookstore charges into your overall tuition fees so that you have enough money on your account to cover your books. For students who rely on scholarships and student loans, buying your textbooks with your student account is a good idea. Then you won't be paying out of pocket cash for your books.
• Return policies for your campus bookstore are usually pretty lenient. That way, in case your professor decides you don't need that other $150.00 literature textbook, you can return it with ease.

Option Two -- Used, used, used!

Buying used textbooks is far cheaper, but requires a lot more work on your part.

• You'll have to contact your professors directly. Once you know your schedule and who will be teaching you, you'll want to e-mail or call them ASAP in order to get the textbook names and ISBN numbers from them. Keep in mind that your teachers may decide they don't need a certain textbook once classes start, or that they may change the textbook altogether at the last minute before the first day of classes.
  
• Check the Internet or local used textbook stores. This will be long and arduous work. Sometimes it's hard to find the specific textbook your professors suggests. Additionally, some textbooks aren't any cheaper even when they are used because it's a new edition.
  
• Go paperback. If you have a choice between paperback books and hardback books, always choose paperback. They are much more inexpensive. Keep in mind, though, that if you want to sell your books back, you won't get as much money for paperback editions.

Have any more questions about textbooks? E-mail me at jwile[at]cuc.edu.

Labels: Jaclyn Wile, student blog

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There's lots of talk going on about CUC right now. Program changes, new administration, buildings being finally built (hopefully)...the school is abuzz with change.

Some people are still unsure about CUC. They are the ones who ask me, "Why did you choose to go there?" They seem to find it shocking, for some reason!

I give everyone the same reasons I went to CUC, and still enjoy it here. I'm a senior, and although I can't wait to graduate, I can't help but feel a little bittersweet about leaving. Everyone has a love-hate relationship with their school, whether you don't like the cafeteria food, or the curfew, but you can't deny that if you really, truly enjoy your college, these things sorta blend into the background.

Here's my reasons why I still love CUC:

1. Location. Yes, it's a catch-phrase for the school ("the Adventist college at the Nation's Capital!"), but it's more than that. I got a great internship last summer in downtown D.C. that I would never have been able to get if I didn't have the proximity to the city and the experience from working at the college. I'm only about 2 hours from home, so I can go home on the weekends without having to sacrifice a whole of driving to get there. There are endless restaurants, shopping, museums and exhibits to see. There are so many reasons why living near a city, but not directly in the city, is great. Plus, Takoma Park is an adorable town, filled with organic-food-eating, environmentally-conscious people who are friendly and personable.
   
2. My department. The Department of Communication and Journalism is a big factor in why I love CUC. My professors are not only my teachers--they are sincerely my friends. I can call them by their first names, speak with them candidly, ask for help...anything I need. My classes are fun and engaging, and not completely lecture-based...everyone always starts a discussion. The department recently got approved to start a chapter of the communication honors society Lambda Phi Eta. I'm getting inducted next Sunday...exciting!
3. My friends. I have a diverse, unique group of friends at CUC. They are all from different backgrounds, different cities...even different countries. We all bring something special to the table, and there's always something new to be learned. Some of my friends are great at designing for projects, others will be famous entrepreneurs. It seems like a lot of students at CUC are preparing for great success and are focused on their futures, which is something that's important to me.
4. The on-campus spiritual life. CUC has been called less spiritual than other Adventist colleges, but that's simply not the case. Aside from the numerous opportunities by the Campus Ministries Office to get involved, there are local chapters of spiritual organizations, and many ways to share your spiritual gifts at churches like Sligo Adventist Church, right on CUC's campus. I recently blogged about visiting the New Hope Seventh-day Adventist Church. That's the kind of experience you can only have in an urban area.

If you have any questions about my CUC experience, please e-mail me at jwile[at]cuc.edu.

Have a great Sabbath!

Labels: cuc spiritual life, Jaclyn Wile, student blog

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There are some quirky things about college that people IN college know, but that freshmen or high school seniors may not be aware of. Today, I am going to save you the time and trouble of learning these quirky things through trial and error.

College Quirk #1

Writing notes is a pain in the behind, but I guarantee you will have AT LEAST one class every semester that requires prolific note taking. If you prefer to type on a laptop in class, fine. But for the old-school set, note taking in your Five-Star three ring is a reality.
Note taking can be annoying and frustrating, but there is a quirk of which you should be aware:
Using fun writing utensils (pens, pencils, etc) will greatly increase your fun while taking notes. I personally prefer using Sharpie retractable markers with a fine point. They come in lots of different colors, and although I can't use back-and-front pages in my notebook (the color bleeds through), it's a small price to pay for the delight of taking notes with a magenta marker.

Find your own Sharpies here.

Stay tuned for College Quirk #2....

Labels: Jaclyn Wile, student blog

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February is a good month for CUC. Here's why:

1. The SA Valentine's Banquet was this past weekend. All attendees said they had a wonderful time, the food was great and the entertainment wonderful. The event was held at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel in downtown DC.
2. Black History Month means lots of special chapels and events in and around the CUC campus.
3. CUC Band Festival just concluded. Academy students from all over the Columbia Union participated in this audition-only invitational.
4. The Mock Trial team (out of the Pre-law/Political Studies Dept.) defeated the University of Central Florida and the University of Dayton in Ohio two weeks in a row for a win. The team is undefeated so far!
5. President's Day on February 18 means a long weekend and a day off of school!
6. Open House on February 24 means prospective students can come view the campus and get a feel for their major by meeting with professors and current CUC students.
7. The CUC Women's Softball team has their first home game on February 29.
8. The successful SA Cram Jam makes a reappearance at the end of this month, just in time for midterms.
9. Women's Basketball and Men's Baseball both have home games this week. Basketball plays tonight (Feb. 13) at 7 p.m. Men's Baseball plays on Thursday, February 14 at 12 p.m., noon.
10. Valentine's Day tomorrow means love is in the air on the CUC campus! Show a friend you care with a card or flowers this week.

Labels: Jaclyn Wile, student blog

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Blogging has become a near way of life for me. I blog for work, I blog for fun, I blog for class...blogs are taking over my life!

But, you know what? I don't mind. It's fun, easy and is a great outlet for whatever you're thinking or doing at the moment. It's much simpler than keeping a written journal (trust me) and can be really beneficial in more ways than just the fun aspect. Some people get paid to blog, some people make friends by blogging, while others learn more about the world around them through their own blog.

If you are interested in starting your own blog, here are some great places to start.

Livejournal is a good place for amateur bloggers to start. It's network-oriented, so it's easy to find other users with similar interests to yours. You can make friends easily, keep up to their most recent postings and even join groups to support your favorite sports team, celebrity, movie or book. You can edit the way your blog looks easily with free templates, so you can look like you know what you're doing without having to actually know coding or HTML.

Blogger is the current gold standard for free blogging platforms. It's now coupled with your Google account, so you can log into Blogger using your Gmail name and password. Blogger is super-simple, has lots of template options and is used widely by a wide range of people. This blog, in fact, is run on Blogger.

Tumblr is the platform I use for my personal blog. Tumble blogging is a more recent blogging phenomenon, and it is best compared to scrapbooking. Instead of long, intense postings, you post snippets of your life, or re-blog things that other Tumblr users have posted that you find interesting. It's great for photos, links or quotes that you want to jot down in a hurry.

All of these blogging websites are free to use (Livejournal has premium accounts you can pay to use, with special features and options), and all are easily customizable.

I can't wait to see your new blog...let me know the link when you get up and running!

Labels: Jaclyn Wile, student blog

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Ask any college or high school student worth his salt which social networking website he/she uses, and I guarantee that person will answer either Myspace or Facebook.

It's interesting, as a college student, to see how socialization has changed even since I was a freshman in high school. The amount of information you can know about someone who goes to your school--even if you've never talked to them in your life--is amazing...and kinda creepy. Just by viewing their Facebook or Myspace profile, you can have access to photos, comments and all manner of personal information that, in the "olden days" of the early 2000's, you used to have to ask people about instead.

Someone's religion, relationship status, their current activities, friends, family, "free gifts," parties they went to, people they hang out with...you can know dozens and dozens of things about someone without even saying "hi" to them in real life.

Being at an Adventist college adds a whole new element to the social networking idea. Without the anonymity of a large university, and because of CUC's status as a Seventh-day Adventist school, I find myself cautioning my peers against posting anything they wouldn't want their parents or teachers to see, because face it. Everyone has a Facebook now. My professors and my parents and much of my extended family have Facebook profiles. Colleges are now checking on social networking sites like Myspace to see what applicants to their institutions are up to the summer before their first year of college. Wild parties? Underage drinking? A different guy or girl on your arm in every photo? Putting all that kind of stuff out into the world will only lead to regret and drama.

Partying and those kind of things might be "cool" for your friends to see, but I guarantee that it is definitely not a good idea to share them with the world via Facebook or Myspace. For my fellow CUC students, it's always better to make good choices than bad ones, bottom line. But if you do happen to make a mistake, don't advertise it. Be more mature than that. It might get you into more trouble than you bargained for, with your parents or with your school.

I think that most CUC students are pretty responsible when it comes to issues like this, but like I said before, it never hurts to repeat yourself...especially when it means talking about things like your schooling, family relationships and your education. Facebook and Myspace may be great tools, but they can also add a lot of problems to your life if you aren't mature and responsible.

Hope everyone has a great week! Talk to you tomorrow.

Labels: Jaclyn Wile, student blog

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This past Sabbath, the CUC Concert Winds visited the New Hope SDA Church in Fulton, MD (near Columbia) to play for the early and late church services.

I'd never been to New Hope before, but had heard rumors of it around school and at work. Some people said they loved it--the contemporary service and casual, friendly atmosphere--while others said they preferred the more formal services of the Sligo or Spencerville churches.

I grew up in a very traditional church. The service is always the same way: announcements, hymns, children's story, special music, prayer, sermon, another hymn, and then everyone leaves. It's regimented and safe.

So, you can understand why I was a little apprehensive about going to something completely different.

But, I was really pleasantly surprised by the New Hope SDA Church, and would certainly return there...maybe even make it my regular church. It doesn't look like your usual church from the outside: there's no steeple or stained glass windows, but on the inside, the people are warm, friendly and welcoming. The service wasn't ostentatious or impersonal, and the song service was upbeat and joyful. The overall impression I got was that the New Hope members all wanted to be there: they weren't at church to see their friends, or for political reasons, or to wear their newest outfit. They just wanted a great worship experience.

I found the entire thing to be very genuinely spiritual, and I really liked going outside my comfort zone (even though I had to be there to play with the band.)

I would recommend New Hope to anyone who is a little jaded or bored by church, and wants something to completely shake up their current view of a worship service. For someone like me, who often struggles with their spirituality and religion coinciding, New Hope SDA Church was a breath of fresh air.

Maybe you should try it too!

Labels: cuc spiritual life, Jaclyn Wile, student blog

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A lot of people my age are really busy. So busy, in fact, that voting seems to be one of those things that can slide until the next election, because hey! Getting some Chipotle over lunch is more important, right?

Wrong.

As delicious as Chipotle is--and it IS delicious--voting is a bit more long-term than your average burrito.

So, instead of taking your full lunch break, try taking 30 minutes to vote instead.

Sadly, yesterday was the last day to register in time for the Maryland primary voting, but you still have time to register for the November 2008 elections, so don't wait. Really.

Listen to my tale of woe: I'm getting married in November. And yet, I still plan to get my butt to the polls and place my vote. For young people to eschew voting in favor of an uninterrupted schedule is a complete slap in the face to everything this country's history stands for.

As cliched and corny as that sounds, it's the sad truth: people my age take for granted everything they have and are given and have forgotten what needs to happen to keep those privileges.

If I'm not convincing you, let Rock the Vote do it instead.

And, if you don't want to vote because you are overwhelmed by the issues, candidates and campaigns, take this simple quiz.

If you think you've already registered to vote, but you aren't sure, use VotePoke to determine when and where you registered.

Who do YOU want to be your next president?

Labels: Jaclyn Wile, student blog

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The other day I walked into Starbucks and got so excited...red cup season has returned! Like clockwork, every year, when I see the red cups appear at Starbucks, I get excited for the holidays right around the corner.

I also love the holiday flavored drinks: the pumpkin spice latte and the peppermint white chocolate mocha (non-fat, no whip) are my favorites.

Soon I'll be eating and drinking all my favorite holiday foods and drinks: mashed potatoes, roasted turkey, hot apple cider, white chocolate hot chocolate, roast beef, bread pudding and all sorts of other delicious things.

What are your favorite holiday foods?

Labels: Jaclyn Wile, student blog

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I was looking through some old photos on my computer the other evening and saw some pictures from my high school graduation. I hadn't looked at them in a long time, and was enjoying looking at how much my friends and I have changed since then.

I haven't seen some of the people in photos with me since graduation, and some of my friends I am just as close to now as when we graduated. In this picture, I am standing with my best friend in the entire world, Lisa.

Lisa and I have been friends since fourth grade, and even though she came to CUC with me for one semester, she left to go to LaSierra to start pursuing her major in the sciences, which CUC didn't offer.

We both have changed so much since we left high school. I'm engaged and almost a senior in college, while Lisa has turned into a genuine California girl, complete with a Starbucks addiction and a year-round tan.

We'll both be back in our hometown in Virginia in a couple weeks for Christmas break, and I can't wait to hang out with her, go shopping, get our nails done, eat Thai food...all the usuals.

Some of my best memories from high school involved Lisa--we were both "undercover band geeks," got good grades, had the same friends, enjoyed the same inside jokes and took all our of classes together.

I love college and wouldn't trade my experiences for the world--but the one thing I would definitely change would be the distance (the entire United States, in fact) between Lisa and I.

What friends from high school do you miss?

Labels: Jaclyn Wile, student blog

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The CUC orchestra (NEYE) is traveling to New England over midterm break, which starts tonight officially. We leave tonight at 2:30 a.m. (yes, you read that correctly) to pull an all-nighter up to Massachusetts for our first concert.

Although I'm tired and could really have used a break just to relax at home, I'm super-excited about going to New England. My family lived in Massachusetts for three years when I was younger, and I have fond memories of those times. I loved the weather, the coast, the restaurants, all the parks...it was amazingly fun.

One of our stops on the trip (when we're not in concert, of course) will be in Freeport, Maine. My family travels almost every year to Nova Scotia via road trip and ferry, and we always stop in Freeport. It has so many outlet stores...Nine West, American Eagle, Dooney & Bourke...lots and lots of shopping!

But, what really put Freeport on the map was the the fact that the L.L. Bean flagship store is located there. This giant behemouth of an outlet store has waterfalls (inside and out) and more outdoors equipment and clothing than you could ever possibly need. And although I can't say I'm particularly outdoorsy, you can't go to Freeport without stopping in L.L. Bean.

My father and I used to be pretty avid bicyclists, but that's slowed down quite a bit since I've come to college. Nonetheless, in Freeport, L.L. Bean also has a cycling shop beside their larger store, which offers a plethora of biking goodies.

There are lots of restaurants...oh, and did I mention a Ben & Jerry's?

So, yes, I am looking forward to midterm break. Midterms weren't so fun, but I am fairly certain they'll be more tame than finals, which are always tough on everyone. Better take a vacation now while I can!

For more information on the NEYE or touring with us, e-mail music@cuc.edu.

Labels: Jaclyn Wile, student blog

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That photo to the left adequately describes how I'm feeling right now. How, you ask? Well, I feel burned out. Tired. Overworked. I need a vacation.

It's nearly midterms, which means every student at CUC is feeling the allure of midterm break, Thanksgiving and Christmas loom ever so much closer than before. I, in particular, can't wait until Christmas break. My family will be spending the holidays in a condo in Florida. My boyfriend--now fiance--will also be coming with us, and he's never been to any of the Disney amusement parks. Shocking, I know, how someone could live nearly 25 years without meeting Mickey firsthand.

Well, the past few days have been a blur. I've had music rehearsals (there's an orchestra concert this weekend), papers due and, of course, I had to completely upload, re-vamp and prepare the old Columbia Journal website for the new content.

I'm interim editor of CUC's newspaper right now--the Columbia Journal. My sponsor, Mitch Tropin, and I decided that it was in the best interest of the paper to put it online for now while we re-work some logistics with the print version.

I'm excited about the articles we have right now, and I hope that we can entice more people to write as we are now paying per word for freelance writers. Staff writers get paid more. Money is always a big motivation!

Our next task with the CJ will be to change the look-and-feel (i.e. "the way a website looks). It's a little dated, yes, but we just needed a template right now to get our content online. Luckily, this template was completely at our disposal, and we didn't have to do a huge amount of site editing, which is great. I just needed somewhere to unload these articles and photos!

I hope that the students here at CUC will embrace an online version with the same enthusiasm I have. I'm looking forward to us having the ability to update at-will, instead of having to wait for print turnaround and whatnot.

But, until then, I'm exhausted! I'm trying to stay grounded in the present right now and not look too far ahead. I've found that there's nothing more stressful than worrying about the next day, when you haven't even finished up the one you are living in.

So, that's my nugget of advice for today. Check out the CJ and let me know what you think!

E-mail me at columbiajournaleditor@gmail.com or cj@cuc.edu.

Labels: Jaclyn Wile, student blog

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My sister and I went to the Takoma Park Street Festival yesterday, and didn't stay long (although the festival was great) because of the overwhelmingly awful heat wave that took hold of Maryland the past two days. Luckily the weather forecast seems to show some improvement over the next week: temperatures in the 60's soon, I hope!

While at the festival, Jera (my sister) and I sipped pina colada smoothies and browsed the farmer's market goods. We purchased a loaf of homemade white bread and much to our amusement, tore pieces off the loaf and ate it as we walked back to our car.

Homemade bread is so good. No words can describe the differences between Wonderbread and an actual homemade loaf. There were so many delicious varieties offered, we finally settled on white just as a way of getting out of making a decision. Chili cheese bread? 5-grain? There were too many options.

I'm actually hungry now, seeing as my nutritious breakfast of Cocoa Puffs and coffee has worn off and I am left with a gnawing feeling in my stomach that is telling me to eat, and soon.

I have such a long day ahead of me (don't ask, just thinking about all I have to do might give me an ulcer) and so I know I have to eat in order to keep my energy up.

Lots of my friends don't eat breakfast, and then I have a few friends who don't eat lunch so they can have a huge dinner.

What meals do you skip occasionally, and why?

Labels: Jaclyn Wile, student blog

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After College Days concludes, all I want is a giant cup of coffee the next morning. Actually, as I write this in the Enrollment Services Office, I am sipping a generous cup of delicious brew.

Let me tell you something about working in the Enrollment Services Office around College Days: you don't get any sleep because you are stressed about your to-do list, your boss makes you do crazy errands, you must complete all logistical tasks in time for the arrival of students and then you are expected to work the actual event. And work we do. Over 20 hours in the span of two days, in fact, one of which is supposedly a "school day." How do we do it? Lots and lots of caffeine, and a little bit of adrenaline to boot.

I was in charge of planning an (admittedly) last minute breakout session this year on behalf of the Communication Department after a miscommunication (ironically) in our office prevented any planning before two days prior to the event. So, Jackie to the rescue!

Luckily, it all came off without a hitch (except for our lack of sleep), and I'm so happy I don't have to worry about this craziness for another year. Of course, the academy students had a great time. CUC has fine-tuned their College Days planning from when I attended back in 2004, and it's much more efficient, fun and relaxed. On Monday, when the students were riding boats and exploring Georgetown, my sister and I (she helped our office out on Monday) bought some clothes at H&M and Starbucks and relaxed for a few minutes. Nice!

Well, as for the rest of this week, I'll probably be a little over-tired and a little unmotivated, but I'm glad all the academies had such a wonderful time.

If any readers went to College Days this year, what did you like most about it? Give me some feedback!

Labels: Jaclyn Wile, student blog

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