Stressed? Worried About Exams? Meditate!

            In the hectic, information based world we live in today, it is far too easy to become overwhelmed by the constant noise in everyday life. There are a number of healthy ways recommended for de-stressing yourself. One of my favorite things to do in order to keep calm in our fast-paced college environment is meditation. There’s something special about getting away from the phone, computer, and all the people in life and just muting your thoughts for a bit. It’s a little more complicated than just sitting somewhere alone with your thoughts though. Meditation requires both practice and discipline, but if you give it the time and effort it deserves, I guarantee it will be worth it.

            Find and set aside a place that won’t be noisy and disturbing. Try to make it somewhere somewhat special that you can think of in the future as the spot where you meditate. When you sit there, either in a chair or on the floor, try to keep your posture upright. Try to keep your gaze downward without staring. We’re trying to mute the other senses as much as possible. Breathe naturally, but begin to notice your breath going in and out. Breathing is what you will focus on if you notice your mind begins to wander. It is what tethers us and allows for relaxation. The biggest part of meditation is the thought process. No matter what thoughts come to mind, tell yourself that no matter how important that may be, now is not the time to contemplate it. No one can perfectly dedicate themselves to this every time, but try to constantly improve your ability to push thoughts to the side. Whenever you have a thought, just let it go and return to focusing on your breath.

            Over time, there are a number of benefits to meditation. The breathing calms us. The lessons we learn about how fast our minds move make us more aware of how we feel and think. Getting away from the world itself is extremely relaxing. If you’re looking for another way to de-stress as the semester begins to really kick into high gear, I’d highly recommend just being alone where you can observe your mind.

We're hiring!

Off-Campus Student Services (OCSS) is hiring Commuter Assistants (CAs) for the 2014/15 academic year. All applications must be submitted prior to the March 14th deadline to be considered. Only complete applications will be considered. 

What you will do as a CA...

Our CAs plan and manage events and programs, assist in a variety of office tasks, and provide support and resources for all UMBC students, staff, faculty and alumni. This is a great opportunity to meet new people, get involved on campus, build your resume, and earn extra money!

To be eligible, you must be...

   ...an undergraduate student in good standing with the University.
   ...maintaining a GPA of 2.5 or higher.
   ...available to work Fridays 12pm-1pm in the fall and spring semester.
   ...available for a group interview on Friday April 11, 2014 12:30pm-1:30pm* 
   *Please contact Lauren at tabbaccl@umbc.edu if you are unable to attend due to class/ internship.

Fast Facts:

-CAs work an average of 5-10 hours/ week.
-OCSS employs approximately 12 Commuter Assistants each school year.
-CAs earn an hourly rate (the current state minimum wage) and are paid bi-weekly.
-Employment is for 1 school year (2014-15) and may be renewed at the end of your term.

For more information about our office, visit our Web site: http://www.umbc.edu/ocss/

Application

Complete the Google Form to apply: 
https://docs.google.com/a/umbc.edu/forms/d/1OjlTWFzi1RJjLXvte8bhyo5F7Ojl8SZdtLFf5bHSfiY/viewform

5 Healthy Meals for Broke Commuters

UMBC is considered a university with a large population of commuters. Commuters with long commutes from home to school, busy back to back classes, who may not have much  money to get anything into their stomachs. Commuters usually have to wait for a very long time just to eat. There are many choices to choose from, but it sucks watching your money going from $8 to $5 worth of food that probably won't fill you up (or satisfy you). Yes there is the Yum Shop for quick meals, but think how much money you are spending (constantly) and the limited meal options. There is also going off campus to get food somewhere cheaper, but when you come back to campus there is no parking! Eating 3 meals a day is important and it helps us, students get through the day; especially if they are healthy meals that you could bring from home. So here below are 5 healthy delicious meals that will fill you up, save the same amount you would spend at the Yum Shop, and spice up your everyday lunch! Click the link below to check them  out!

                                  http://www.pinterest.com/pin/381961612117744717/

Ways to protect yourself from getting sick!

Hi everyone! I know that all of us have been enjoying the warm weather these past few days! I know that I have and I am so excited for the warm temperatures to stay FOR GOOD!

However, we do have to remember that it is still winter, whether we would like to admit that or not. With that being said, it is important to make sure you are doing the correct things to ensure you are staying healthy this winter.

Many people tend to get sick when there is a sudden change in temperature. Let's use the past few days as an example. People get so excited to have warm temperatures, so they dress in short sleeve shirts and take walks outside. But wait! All of a sudden, the temperatures are back into the 20's and we all have to get acclimated to the cold temperatures again. 

Have no fear though! According to Readers Digest, there are multiple ways to keep yourself healthy this winter.

1. WASH YOUR HANDS
Yes, you have probably heard it about a thousand times, but it truly is important! You can help stop the spread of germs by just washing your hands. Also, remember to shut off the sink with a paper towel or use your elbow since germs are still on the sink!

2. If you need to sneeze, sneeze into your arm or tissue. 
It does not make sense to sneeze into your hands since you will just be putting germs right into your own hands! Instead, get a tissue and sneeze into that. If there aren't  any tissues around, use the inside of your arm/elbow to catch the sneeze.

3. Get your flu shot.
I got my flu shot in October. I always try to get mine every single year. Although you may be skeptical about the shot, it's worth a shot! It's better to get the shot than getting the flu! It's not for everyone though, talk to your Dr. and read more about it here.

4. EXERCISE!
In the winter time, all we want to do is lay down and watch movies and eat warm comfort foods. That is wonderful to do once in a while, but it is important to keep our immune systems working! Through exercise, we keep our immune system pumping thus keeping us healthy! If you belong to a gym, make sure to go! If you do not, there are plenty of exercises you can do inside.

And lastly,
5. SLEEP!
As college students, we do not get enough rest. However, in order to keep our immune systems strong, we need to get enough sleep. Our bodies rejuvenate themselves when we are sleeping. The more you sleep, the less likely you will get sick. So, remember to take the time to get 7-8 hours of sleep per night! Trouble sleeping? UHS can help with this!

I hope some of these tips have helped remind you to stay healthy this winter.

Enjoy this picture of Spring!

Photo taken from http://www.zastavki.com/pictures/originals/2013/Nature___Seasons___Spring__038259_.jpg

Tips on staying healthy this winter taken from: http://www.readersdigest.ca/holiday/christmas/7-ways-avoid-getting-sick-winter/ 

Go do something for you!

Well here we are, a month into the spring semester. Things are getting more real and a bit more stressful as the days go by but don't get lost in the stress of the day. Remember that you need a fun outlet that gives you the chance to relax and enjoy the little things. When you don't do the little things that make you happy then you run into problems of being stressed out and may result in sleeping problems or not eating well. Your health and well-being are of the utmost importance and you should cherish every moment you spend doing the things you love or being around people that you love. Some things that help me de-stress are drawing, writhing poetry and dancing. Even taking a long hot shower at the end of a long day could be a form of therapy. Find what you love and commit to doing it at least once a week. Happy trails and good luck everyone!
http://collegelife.about.com/od/healthwellness/a/50-Ways-To-Destress-In-College.htm

Relationship Skills Program provided by the Counseling Center

Provided by the UMBC Counseling Center, The UMBC Relationship Skills Program will be offered again this spring!

What are some skills I will learn?

• Problem solving
• Emotional expression
• Effective listening
• Barriers to communication
• More about yourself
  

When is it?
Begins Tuesday, March 4th @ 7pm

Who can participate?
All UMBC students!

Future opportunities?
Beginning next semester the program will be co-led by graduate students and undergraduate students so there may be an opportunity for you to help lead the program.
Great experience for graduate school/resume building!

If you have any questions about the program, feel free to email or call Chandra Edwards. You can call 410-971-5683 or email UMBC.relationships@gmail.com.

Back to Business

Have you been enjoying the snow days? The time away from classes? If you are saying no, you are not the only one... With all the snow we have been receiving, UMBC hasn't seen this many delays and cancellations of school since Snowmagedon 4 years ago. But even with all the snow we have been seeing, we need to remember winter break is over. Hopefully, the bad case of procrastination hasn't taken over in our 3-4day weekends and you're not trying to play the bad game of "catch-up". Here's 4 of my study tips to stay focused, be productive and get back into the swing of things:

1. Go to Class! - Attend class and participate as much as possible. This will help your professor know your face and know that you are putting forth effort in their class. Taking notes on what the professor writes on the board AND what he/she says in class may be key components on your next exam. If you have to miss class due to unforeseen circumstances have a buddy copy notes and collect any worksheets for you.
2. Keep organized - Set a schedule of due dates and exams. With your daily schedule set aside time to study. When you study do not overwhelm yourself with material, but study subject by subject. I've learned a 50/10 role that personally helps me stay on focus. 50 minutes of work (and I mean real work), 10 minutes of pleasure. http://www.wikihow.com/Be-a-Successful-College-Student
3. Ask for Help - A professor would rather you approach them the 4th week of school rather than the week before finals. Visit office hours. Talk to your TAs. Visit the LRC, Math Lab and Writing Center. Form a tutoring appointment in the RLC. Join a study group. Utilize your resources!
4. Believe in Yourself! - Breathe. There are only 15 weeks in a semester. Don't categorize yourself with the performance of other students in your class. Figure out what works for you and stick to it. Eat right, sleep well, and stay active. In order to keep your brain smart, you have to keep your body smart.

Is Tomorrow Going To Be a Bad Day?

Only if you let it be!  Follow these five tips to make tomorrow a little less stressful:

1. Pack Your Lunch Tonight.

• Cut your sandwich into triangles because it's mathematically proven to make any sandwich taste better. 
• You'll save about 5-10 minutes of precious sleeping time.

2. Pack Your Backpack Tonight.

• Print out and staple everything you need to hand in tomorrow.
• You are less likely to forget anything if you do this now, and there's something satisfying about just knowing that your homework is ready to be turned in.

3. Change Your Sheets

• There's nothing better than waking up in a fluffy cloud of cleanness. Treat yourself to it!

4. Prepare Your Favorite Outfit

• Before you go to bed, get out either your favorite dress clothes or your favorite comfortable clothes.  
• Every time you remember that you are wearing your favorite clothes, your day will be that much better.

5. Take Five Minutes to Clear Your Mind

• This can easily be overlooked, but try sitting down and breathing for five minutes.
• Try to remember that today does not define your life and that you CAN do everything you need to do!

Voila! 5 simple steps to a better day!  

If these don't do the trick, come hang out in the commuter lounge for a few minutes. There's always a CA there that can help with any problems! If that still doesn't do it watch this video.

Need health insurance? Get it, or pay the fine!

Need health insurance? Representatives and insurance navigators from the Maryland Health Connection will be on campus on Wed. Feb. 26th from 9am-4pm in the Harbor Multipurpose Room to enroll students into a health insurance plan that best fits their budget and lifestyle.
http://my.umbc.edu/groups/healthed/events/22923

By law, under the Affordable Care Act, most people over the age of 18 must have health insurance beginning in 2014 or pay a fine. If you are under your parent's insurance, or have Medicaid or Medicare coverage, that meets the requirements. The deadline to enroll without being charged a fine is March 31st, 2014.

http://marylandhealthconnection.gov/assets/2013/09/Maryland-Health-Connection-Overview-Fact-Sheet-2pg.pdf

The open enrollment sessions will take place in the Harbor Hall Multipurpose Room. Students should plan to meet with an enrollment representative for 30-45 minutes and should have all required documentation with them (see myUMBC Documents).

FOR QUESTIONS, PLEASE ASK TO SPEAK WITH A HEALTH INSURANCE SPECIALIST AT
UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICES AT 410-455-2542.

"It's Snow Joke (Icy what you did there)"

The Commons' puns are kind of entertaining, but these winter snow storms are no joke. Because of the recent weather events that have been going on lately, I think I would like to take some time to offer advice on how to handle the snow and ice on the roads. Trust me! I was born and raised in Michigan, the inclement weather here is usually nothing compared to what's going on back there.

Since a lot of us are commuters and drive to UMBC daily, an ice scraper is something you want to have at this time in the season. You want to clear off all the snow that's on the windshield of your car, so it doesn't fall off and cause hazards to other drivers out on the road. Make sure that your car has enough anti-freeze before going out, and upon refilling don't use water (you should never use water), it'll freeze, expand and cause lots of damage to your car.

When navigating the road,  take it a bit slower than normal; Snow tends to cause a bit more traffic than usual, so leave earlier than usual. Even though it may look like the roads are completely cleared off, black ice is still a factor and can cause a major hazard if you get caught in it, especially on back roads. 

Other than that, aside from staying warm and bundled up with the appropriate clothes, driving and handling the snowy conditions are almost like driving in the rain or fog. It's one of those seasonal hazards that we all have to face and knowing how to drive in these conditions is really half the battle. Believe me, I feel bad for the people in the south, they got snowed-in and they have no idea how to handle the snow. Be careful out there and stay warm my friends.

- Christian  

Commuter Cafe

I know things with all of the snow and school can be a little stressful at times. Especially if you're a commuter and you have to worry about the condition of the roads in this string of bad weather we've been having lately but OCSS has an upcoming event for everyone, full of fun and some much needed relaxation. OCSS is hosting the Commuter Cafe event this Thursday. Come join us for some non-alcoholic FREE refreshing drinks, fun boardgames and trivia. Every once in a while you need to treat your self to something laid back and fun and what better way to do it than cutting loose while on campus? The event is in Lower Flat Tuesdays located in the Commons and is from noon to 3pm. Also commuters wearing their Commuter Week 2014 t-shirt, or who present their Commuter Gold Card will receive a complimentary smoothie! Come join us and start your weekend off early!

No Car? No Problem?

UMBC offers a variety of great transportation options that are cost effective for the typical cost-conscious college student that includes carpooling, borrowing a Zipcar, and riding Transit shuttles or MTA’s public buses (in addition to walking, of course). Getting around without a car can be a breeze!

Whether living on campus of off, carpooling will help the community as well as yourself. Students can reduce out-of-pocket costs, park in designated carpool spots thereby avoiding the hassle of finding a parking spot. The UMBC carpooling community hosts lots of events to help students connect and start their carpooling adventures. There is even an upcoming Carpool Social on February 14th in Lower Flat Tuesdays in The Commons during free hour. You can join the UMBC carpooling community at http://my.umbc.edu/groups/casualcarpooling--thissite is a forum for discussing carpooling with students living in your area.

Zipcar is an inexpensive way to rent a car for students 18 years old or older. A Zipcar can be rented for an hour or a whole day at about $7.75/hour or $70/day. Students get special privileges when they sign up with Zipcar through the UMBC campus community: membership is $25 which entitles new members with a $35 driving credit. For more information, visithttp://www.zipcar.com/umbc.

Students also have the option of riding Transit shuttles. Transit shuttles are free for UMBC students when they swipe their UMBC IDs. The seven Transit Shuttles service Arbutus, Catonsville, Arundel Mills Mall, BWI, and the Marc train stations. These shuttles provide direct access to many of the apartment complexes and grocery stores surrounding the UMBC campus. The Wave ‘n Ride shuttle loops the campus and can be boarded by the wave of a hand. Each Transit Shuttle also provides free Wi-fi and a bike rack (except the Wave ‘n Ride). For more information on Transit shuttles or to download shuttle schedules, visit www.umbc.edu/transit.

For the students who want to venture to down town Baltimore, MTA #35 which goes to the heart of downtown also stops directly at the UMBC campus. Other buses that feed directly into the UMBC campus are buses #77 and #99. UMBC students can purchase an “All Access College Transit Pass” at a discounted price of $39 at Off-Campus Student Services. The pass provides unlimited access for one month on local buses, metro subway, and light rail. For students who are on an excursion, one-way tickets cost $1.60 or a day pass is $3.50. For more information please visit http://mta.maryland.gov/.

KEEP CALM AND APPLY FOR STRIVE SUMMER LEADERSHIP RETREAT 2014!!

Hey there Commuters!

I believe this past few weeks have been great for us all. With all the adding and dropping of courses I am sure we all feel more settled now that we have a complete schedule.

Well before you delve into the busy semester ahead, I just want all of you to take few minutes to think about what you plan on doing over the summer. I know it's a long time from now, but it's not always bad to plan ahead of time-- especially when the opportunity presents itself now! And STRIVE has!

For those of you who are not familiar with STRIVE here's a brief introduction of it from one of the amazing coaches of Strive Winter Retreat 2014, David Hoffman.

"STRIVE is a the week-long student leadership retreat hosted by Student Life and SGA. At the latest STRIVE, over the winter break, 61 people who had mostly been strangers to each other rapidly created a community in which the participants and coaches alike could explore their talents, discover shared passions, and give and receive honest feedback. I love that at UMBC we define leadership partly as the skill and commitment to co-create just that kind of community."

And it is true indeed every word of it! I had the wonderful opportunity myself to experience every bit of it over the winter break and become a Striver for life!! Honestly, I am still having trouble coming up with proper words to explain my feelings about this awesome week-long retreat.

So I would say it's much recommended that all of you experience Strive for yourself because it is an experience worth gaining.

For the very first time UMBC is going to pilot a 2nd STRIVE retreat over the summer from May 27-31,2014.That's right! Two STRIVE's a year!! In February they will be opening up the application again for people who couldn't attend the January session but want to come to the May session. It's the same old awesome STRIVE, just held over the summer.

If it was me, I would start applying as soon as the applications are out, and reward myself with the best summer of my life!

For the more curious souls here's a link to our very own The Retriever Weekly column dedicated to Strive!Enjoy the reading good commuters!
http://www.retrieverweekly.com/news/strive-leadership-retreat-intends-to-spark-change-on-campus-1.3138562#.UvsyutGPL4g

-Safa Zahangir
  02/12/2014

                                                  Strive Winter Leadership Retreat 2014

Hi Guys!

Hi UMBC! My name is Madhvi and I am a new member of OCSS and a part of Good Morning Commuters.  I am currently a senior, political science major, graduating December 2014.  I transferred here from Towson University, but I am originally from the College Park area in PG County.  Since I am right in the middle of Downtown Baltimore and Washington D.C. I get the best of both worlds; I enjoy getting into activities in both areas.  I am definitely a city girl.  I love cooking Mediterranean food and baking whenever I have the time.  I'll be with GMC every Tuesday morning this semester making it as fun as possible for everyone!

Carpool Social on Valentine's Day

Hi Guys,

Want to share a ride and gas costs with other UMBC students? Or  want to meet other UMBC's students?

There is an carpooling social on February 14th in Lower Flat Tuesdays in The Commons from 12pm-1pm FREE Valentine's Day treats & crafts. Meet other UMBC students and create a carpool.

This is a great way to meet people face to face to form a carpooling group. You can see who you will be riding with; which may be more comfortable for you than meeting people online who you do not know. Be sure to check it out!
                                                    

Check this website for more information :http://my.umbc.edu/groups/casualcarpooling  

See you at the Carpool Social!

Thank you,

Salma

College Leadership Opportunities

Hi everyone! I hope everyone had a good weekend and are keeping warm. Have you ever wanted to get involved in leadership or wanted to make a dream/idea of yours a reality but don't quite know where to start? If so UMBC has two GREAT programs for you to get involved with! One program is the Baltimore Collegetown Leadership Program where you and other college students work together to make your dreams come true and promote a better Baltimore community. The other program is right here on UMBC's campus: Student Government Association (SGA)! Come get involved and change some things right here at UMBC. If you want to get involved with the Baltimore Collegetown Leadership Program here is the link to apply http://www.baltimorecollegetown.org/resources/leadershape/ and here is the link for SGA https://docs.google.com/a/umbc.edu/forms/d/1HEjHsC2oUs1mu7rjRiSJG4eEjL00BsLc5yWn89f1zr4/viewform. If you need any more information on SGA you can contact Craig Berger at berger@umbc.edu. Applications for both leadership programs are due March 14th!

Maryland College Alcohol Survey is coming to UMBC

Maryland College Alcohol Survey is coming to UMBC

Take the survey and enter to win a $50 bookstore gift card!

---

Invitations are going out soon to participate in the Maryland College Alcohol Survey.  It is a short survey about how students drink. If you are invited to take the survey, your name will be entered to win one of 10 $50 gift cards to the UMBC bookstore.  No two students are alike, so your unique voice matters. Completing the survey is an easy way to help UMBC measure what is going on on our campus. All survey responses will be kept completely confidential and UMBC will not see your answers.  Survey invitations will be sent out between February 17th and March 14th. Please check your inbox and take the time to complete the survey, your feedback matters!

Sochi UMBC Kickoff!

Hey fellow Retrievers!

It's been awhile and it feels good to be back at school. The weather might be cold and classes might be getting hard, but at least Commuter Connections is here to give you a little break.

This Friday the 7th (that's tomorrow!) we are going to have the Sochi UMBC Kickoff . To celebrate the start of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia and the start of the school semester we will be having free food, games, and prizes! Come by the Sports Zone located in the Commons to join us. Everything is free, all you have to do is show up! Come by and test your memory, knowledge, and maybe face off against one of our Commuter Assistants in one of our games!

We will also have some information about the other services that Off Campus Student Services offers here at UMBC. We will have Travis Crow with information on our Veteran's Program. Jessica Sadler will provide information on UMBC Transit and the recent changes that have taken place. And Transfer Student Network will tell you all about their weekly workshop series!

Stop by, shake off that winter funk, and join us for games, info, and prizes!

See you all soon!

-Chris

Good Morning Commuters Is Back!

With the new semester beginning, a new semester of our Good Morning Commuters program starts as well. We are following the same format as before with only a slight time shift from our original closing time of 10:30 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. For those new to campus or for anyone who just doesn't know, Good Morning Commuters is a program where Off Campus Student Services offers breakfast every Tuesday morning from 8:30 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. with the presentation of your gold card.

What is a gold card?

A gold card can be purchased during the breakfast. It costs only $5 and will last for the rest of this semester. Gold cards purchased last semester will also continue to work this semester. After you’ve bought your gold card and filled out the information we need (name, student ID, gold card number), you are set. During future breakfasts, just show us your gold card and you can get breakfast. If you happen to forget your card that day, we can look up your card number with your name.

Our usual selection of food includes bagels, pop-tarts or donuts, yogurt, fruit, coffee, orange juice, and apple juice. Often times, we have sponsors who provide students with information about other on-campus programs or organizations that we believe will be beneficial for students. These sponsors will usually provide us with funds that allow us to provide a hot, catered breakfast for students.

If you’re going to be up Tuesday mornings, you might as well start the day off right. Come by the OCSS office and get the good morning commuters breakfast, available to anyone who purchases a gold card!

I am... (Angela Saguros)

Hello people of UMBC! My name is Angela and I am also new here at OCSS. I am part of the Good Morning Commuter team for OCSS. I am going to tell you a snippet about myself. I am currently a sophomore and my major is psychology with a concentration in developmental psych. I transferred from Bowie State University, (pronounced Boo-e, not Bow-e) and if you don't know where that is; it's about 30-40 minutes from Washington, D.C. Speaking of D.C., I live right next door to it! I am from Fort Washington, Maryland; you know the PG area. I love to dance, sleep, eat, cooking, and bake! I am ecstatic that I am here at UMBC and cannot wait to see what the school has to offer!

Who I am (Chloe Jackson)

Hi Everyone! My name is Chloe and I am new here at OCSS. I will be the Technical Specialist managing social media and the OCSS myUMBC webpage among some other things. I just wanted to give everyone a few details about myself. I transferred to UMBC from Notre Dame of Maryland University last semester. I just recently switched my major to HAPP (on the Public Health track) and in the past I've changed my major about four times, and I'm only a sophomore! I know...I was a little indecisive at the time, but I think I've finally found the right major for me. I've always wanted to do something in the medical field where I'm helping people and improving lives, so I think with this in mind HAPP is a good choice. I love to dance and break out into song when no-one's around. I love to do pencil sketches of people. I love listening to music and jamming out in my dorm room with my friends and like to have fun in general. I'm a small town country girl who comes from Lusby, Maryland (we're barely on the map!). I'm a humanitarian at heart  who loves the water and am ecstatic to be a UMBC student. So far I love UMBC and I'm so glad I came here.