Happy Halloween from OCSS!

Hey, Retrievers! Do you have a sweet tooth? You can never have too much Halloween candy, so, make sure to come out to the Commuter Lounge between 12-4 today to take part in the Chocolate Factory! There will also be a Fondu Bar and Candy Bar at Upper & Lower Flat Tuesdays from 6:30-9:00 tonight.   

Commuter Week is coming to an end, but, here at OCSS, we'll still be working hard to make sure you have a great rest of the semester! Be sure to keep an eye out for our November events, such as Commuter Connections on the 14th, as well as GMC, which is every Tuesday from 8:30-10:00 on Main Street!

Have a great, safe, fun-filled Halloween weekend, and remember to set your clocks back an hour on November 2 at 2 A.M. for Daylights Savings Time!

- Sonny

Time

I hope that everyone is having a good semester.  I can't say I have any free time, but I can say that I have learned quite a few new things this fall.  I didn't really know what to expect for my first full time semester here at UMBC, but I did anticipate that I would be pretty busy.  I imagine it is probably like that for most of us, as we progress in our degree plans. 

I can say that I have enjoyed this semester so far.  Other than that, I have also helped start a club for volunteers at local animal shelters.  I have taken on the responsibility of treasurer, and haven't regretted it.  I do really enjoy helping animals when I can.  I  have a few of my own as a result of this. 

I have learned that time management is essential to being successful, both in and out of school.  This semester seems to be one big validation of that.  

(Photo taken from Flickr C.C. 2.0 under username woodleywonderworks)

Happy, Healthy Halloween

How’s it going Retrievers?

I hope everyone is enjoying all the awesome events OCSS has offered this Commuter week!

It has been especially fun for us CAs to meet and interact with you all this week, and we look forward to seeing you at more events throughout the Fall.

I particularly want to spread the news about our event on Thursday, October 30^th. In anticipation for getting you all ready for a great Halloween weekend, OCSS is hosting a Smart Decisions aboutAlcohol information session on Commons Main Street from 12 pm-1pm. At this event, nice folks with OCSS will provide students safety tips should they choose to drink, while also providing alternative choices to those who do not plan to consume alcohol.

Alcohol at parties on any holiday can lead to the possibility of drunk driving, but this problem is especially amplified since all kinds of people: college students, teens, children, and adults will be out and about this Halloween weekend. Did you know that 44% of all fatal crashes during Halloween weekend involved a drunk driver and that 23% of pedestrian fatalities on Halloween night did so as well?

UMBC wants to do its part in lowering these statistics for this coming weekend. These statistics stress the importance of emphasizing responsible drinking so that everyone can celebrate the best Halloween.

I strongly encourage you guys to check out this event in order to make the right choices as you enjoy responsible Halloween fun, whether at the Boo Bash this Thursday or at your own Halloween shenanigans.

Have a Happy and Healthy Halloween Retrievers!

-Alvin

(Photo taken from Flickr C.C. 2.0 under username Janna Banna)

Statistics from:

https://www.edgarsnyder.com/seasonal/halloween/halloween-drunk-driving.html

Commuter Week Events!

Hello Commuter Retrievers!

I hope you enjoyed Commuter Week Kick Off yesterday! There are many more events going on throughout this week along with lots and lots of giveaways! (So don't feel discouraged if you did not get a shirt yet)

Here is a quick run through for 10/28 events:

• Good Morning Commuters
  From: 8:30-10:00am
  Where: Commons Main Street
  Why to Come: To get FREE breakfast with your COMMUTER GOLD CARD!
• Chili Cook-Off for a CAUSE
  From: 12-1pm
  Where: Commons Main Street
  Why to Come: Donate for a cause and maybe you will be able to try some chili [:
• Karaoke Night!!!
  From: 6pm
  Where: Flat Tuesdays
  Why to Come: Sing your heart out with other fellow commuters!

Be sure to come out and have fun! I hope to see you there!

-Angela [:

Remember to breath and relax

Hello fellow UMBC students,

This semester seems to have flown by with many challenging moments. When you think you have all the time in the world, you really don't! Most of you are looking forward to a break and relief from the daily stresses of school. It's important to remember that no matter how many things are going on in your life, you must take time to breathe and relax. I know that is easier said than done. I myself struggle with this daily but remember if you don't take that moment, you won't be of any use to anyone else or more importantly yourself!! Yes, diligence and persistence is the key to being successful. In those free moments relax and release. I wish everyone a great and productive second half of the semester.

(Photo taken from Flickr C.C. 2.0 under username George Sharp)

Ants Marching

Take an hour out of your week and reflect. Do it!

*Remember your end goals for school...

    -Have you incorporated these hopes with the current curriculum?

I have been swamped with school, utilizing the programmable coffee maker set 4 hours from the moment I am hitting the sheets.  However, it is ok to deviate from personal dreams,  in fact it's often required of students to earn the A's.  I have yet to meet someone that knows everything.  That said, who am I to say that one subject has nothing to do with my aspirations?  I don't. So I want to keep my options viable and strive for excellence in each and every class. One long-term goal for every student should be to get a job. Remember that employers take GPA seriously, and so I should too!  

      Check this awesome app that tells you when to set your alarm: http://sleepyti.me/
                                                                                                                     ^^^^^^^^^^

                     -this website tells you the time to set your alarm so that you don't wake up groggy!

This table should help you understand where the times provided by the app are coming from.

(Photo taken from http://www.quantadynamics.com/research/performancerem.htm)

Synopsis of my personal reflection:

My personal reflection identified that I feel like an ant, marching to the beat of academia.  The struggle is real, and IT IS OK to be fragile, but in the tussles, I needed to recollect WHY I was committing every waking moment to my classes. (See above) I needed motivation, and I needed it then and there to finalize a project, paper, or the study session.  Motivation is pivotal for every college student, and is sourced from the battle between the id and the ego. My id requires me to sleep, while my ego says to finish the work regardless of the state of my current happiness.  A great way to satisfy the inner id is to attend the weekly transfer student network workshops.  Food, socializing, and pertinent information about student life are all bundled up in one hour to maximize time(a must when under the pressure of deadlines).  Keep the id happy and let the ego prevail!

A few pictures of yesterdays(10/22/2014) TSN event:

*There are so many support structures at UMBC, in particular, the transfer student network (TSN)

TSN Retriever Ready Event

Sam and Patrick enjoying the food & fun!!!

These are two pictures taken at the 9th and final TSN workshop, held in COMMONS 331 on Wednesdays during free hour.


These events are held at the beginning of each semester and include topics such as:
-Clubs and Orgs 101
-Involvement Fest
-Undergraduate Research
-Study Skills
-Academic Advising
***************************************

The food provided included pizza, wings, chips and salsa, water, tea and, desert. personal diet restrictions can also be provided!

_______________________________________________________________________
By Patrick McElvaney
All rights reserved
________________________________________________________________________

Sir Prizé

ALCON (military for "to whom it may concern"),

If you are reading this, I would like to start out by thanking you for taking the time out of your day to read my thoughts. My name is Melvin Green Jr. (though I sometimes answer to Marvin or Malvin). I work at OCSS. In one sentence, my job is to serve those who served in the military. What does that look like? Something like the following:

Monday:

Mondays are for musings in my book. My day begins with a poem by Kipling, a little Sun Tzu, and "Beach Chair" by S dot Carter.  Next, I brain storm ways to encourage student veterans to participate. I send emails, walk around and introduce myself to people I have yet to meet and try to build rapport. I sometimes fail at building report because sometimes I like to lead with a joke. For example, I wanted one person to adopt the moniker "Calc 3", but he was not fond of this nickname. However, I still feel like this is a good name that is deserving of a home. Any takers? I've also been told never to ask another person "How much a polar bear weighs". I am currently working on new introductions.

Tuesday:

TastyKake Tuesdays are for raising awareness about Vets 2 Vets. Typically I can be found in the commuter lounge with UMBC veteran tee shirts and some sort of snack for veteran students. I look forward to Tuesdays because of the interesting conversations that I have with student population. So far, two of the most interesting things I have learned came from a USMC veteran is teaching in Baltimore who had much to say about how respect universally understood across cultures and a Navy veteran who described to me how underwater searches are conducted.

Wednesday:

Wednesday is my favorite day of the week for two reasons: I once lost a spelling bee for misspelling this word and because of our office camel. At this point in the week I am making sure that I have met my weekly obligations as well as planned out the week ahead. This day is used for learning about those around me (time permitting). I believe it was on a Wednesday that I received a crash course on Calcutta from one of the CAs.


Thursday:

Thursday is my second favorite day of the week because the year after I lost in the spelling bee for misspelling Wednesday, I lost because I misspelled Thursday (True story!). Thursday is also the end of my work week in OCSS and is used to ensure I have tied up all loose ends. My week is deemed a success if I have met 1 new student veteran, responded to all emails, learned one thing from a co-worker, and managed to smile the entire time!


Thank you for reading!

(Photo taken from Flickr C.C. 2.0 under username arbyreed)

TSN Event for October

Hello Everyone!

I hope the stress due to midterms and exams has not worn everyone down. There are some activities and events offered on campus to help deal/cope with stress.

Transfer Student Network (TSN) in-conjunction with Student Events Board (SEB) will be hosting such an event on Wednesday, October 29th at 7pm-9pm on Commons Main Street.

This is a Pumpkin Carving and Painting event, tools and equipment will be provided. Prior to the event, TSN will provide free pizza at the Off-Campus Student Services Lounge at 5:45 till the event begins at 7pm.

I would encourage everyone to attend, it is an opportunity to meet people or just paint/carve pumpkins. It also has free food! Pizza!

     

I hope to see everyone on Wednesday, October 29

At the: OCSS Lounge, then Mainstreet

From: 5:45-9pm

Have a good day!

Boo Bash!

Halloween is only around the corner and this year it falls on a Friday! You know what that means. You can go out and celebrate the holiday without having to worry about waking up early the next day to go to class. The holiday with be here before you know it. Do you know what you're going to do to celebrate? Here is a great Halloween event to think about. Boo Bash will be here on October 30th and will be held from 7PM-8PM in the Game room and Flat Tuesdays in the Commons! What is Boo Bash you ask? Well it's an event sponsored by OCSS where you take a pledge to be a designated driver and practice the wonderful skill of not drinking and driving. At Boo Bash you learn all the great alternatives to drinking and driving. Boo Bash ensures your safety while you still have fun socializing and going out to fund events. You all should take the pledge! Happy early Halloween everyone and please stay safe!

(Image taken from Flickr C.C. 2.0 under username TxDOT)

Upcoming Transportation Events!

Hey World!

Are you interested in learning about different transportation options? Do you know about all of the different sustainable choices you have? Come learn about them and get engaged at these upcoming events!

10/22, 11:30-1:30, Harvest Fest: Fun & FREE food!, Main Street & Commons Terrace
Stop by our table to find about carpooling and how you can meet fellow carpooling commuters in your area.
More information here: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/casualcarpooling/events/27291

10/29, 12-1, Street Smarts: Transportation Fair, Main Street 
Learn about different ways to get to campus and car maintenance tips. OCSS will be there to talk about carpooling, zipcar, and MTA passes.

11/7, 12-1, Carpool Social w/ FREE LUNCH, Flat Tuesdays
Join us for our last carpool social of the year. We are honoring National Drowsy Driving Prevention Week. Come find yourself a driving buddy for those tired-driving days for this semester and semesters to come!
Updates to come: http://my.umbc.edu/groups/casualcarpooling/events/25801

(Source: Flickr user Nicholas A. Tonelli under CC BY 2.0)

MIDTERMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How to be stress-free

Hi guys. I hope everyone has settled fully in and  are doing well in their studies. Hard work pays off in the end, and I believe that everyone will do fine at the end of the semester.

Seven weeks into the semester. I'm sure we all want a break.  While the workload keeps piling up with exams coming up, I want each and every one of you to remember that there are ways and resources available to ease the stress of school. 

       Time management,regular physical activity,  good sleeping and eating habits are a few ways to reduce stress and stay sharp for school. Also, the counseling center on campus is a great place to go; the center has trained professionals that can help. talking with friends also helps. The OCSS office and Commuter Lounge is a fun place to meet friends too. 

   

 Let us finish this semester strong and well in order to enjoy the holidays!!!      

( Image taken from http://livelighter.org/tips-for-improving-health-reducing-stress/)

Midterms are here!

Yes it is that time of the year again. The time of year that lets you know you're almost done with the semester and you have to buckle  down for what is to come. It is midterms. I know midterms time can be stressful but with these simple tips you will pass all of your midterms with flying colors.

1. Prepare for your midterms by making a strict study schedule. This will help you get and stay organized and on task.
2. Make flashcard and go through them on your way to and from class while on campus. This is a great way to study during the downtime you spend doing simple everyday activities.
3. Join a study group. Study groups are great resources to have because they give you a better perspective on the material and you can test yourself and others. Study groups also give you the chance to seek out understanding of class material from your peers.
4. Don't cram! Cramming is the absolute WORST thing you could ever do when studying for a test. It is proven that if you cram from an exam the material with not stay with you for a long period of time.
5. Get a good night's sleep before your exam. Sleep is one of the best ways to prepare for the exam day because it gives your body and brain a break from the stress of studying. It also gives your brain a chance to retain the information you have studied.

(Picture taken from Flickr Creative Commons under username Mostly_sane)

Upcoming TSN Events

Hey everyone!!

I hope everyone isn't too overwhelmed with work! I know the mid semester exhaustion is probably kicking in but don't let that get to you! Keep working hard, everyone is doing great!

TSN (Transfer Student Network) is hosting their second to last workshop this Wednesday, Oct 15th at 12:00 pm in Commons 331!

What: Academic Advising
Who: Dr. Ken Baron 
Where: Commons 331
Free food!

I would advise (pun on words =)) everyone to come!  Classes for spring are going to open up very soon and I am sure we all have a lot of questions about academic advising!

Dr. Baron is there for YOU! He is there to answer any questions you may have!

There is also going to be free food! Who doesn't like free food?! Come join the fun!!

OCSS also offers MUCH AND MINGLE! Every friday in the commons in the cafeteria at NOON! Its a really great way to chill and play games with other students while eating lunch!

Have a great day!!

Keep smiling!

Sam

Enjoy Mingling? So Do We!

Hi everyone! Happy Homecoming Week!!

Homecoming week is always an awesome time at UMBC to get together with old and new friends on campus, and to basically embrace what it means to be a Retriever! Some relationships that you make here at UMBC will be with you a lifetime. So why not make as many new relationships as possible!

Every Friday at 12:00 in Lower Flat Tuesdays PACC & TSN host Friday Munch & Mingle!

What does this mean for you? A great time to come unwind with not only some great staff of OCSS and other students, but a chance to kick-butt at some fun cards and board games! If you can only stay 5 minutes or 55 minutes, we welcome everyone to stop by and at least say hello!

I look forward to seeing everyone stop by this week! And just to be sure, don't forget to put it in your calendars ;)

Advising!

Advising season is here! It's time to start making advising appointments and start thinking about what classes you want to take for next semester. Here are a few tips on advising and registration:

1. Find out who your advisor is. You can do this by going to my.UMBC, clicking on the top scroll bar under topics, select Advising & Student Support, than click on My Advisors.
2. Make an advising appointment. Depending on your major and the advising department you can do this through email or phone.
3. Write your appointment time and date down! This is so important and be on time for your appointment.
4. Look for classes you're interested in taking next semester. This can be done by looking at the classes you still  need to take for your major, looking at your degree audit to see what other credits you need to take, and look through the course description for potential classes.

(Image taken from Flickr Creative Commons under username mary.rachel)

Up Coming Events On Campus!!

Hello all you lovely Commuters,

I hope that September was good for all of you and now I welcome you all to October! Time is going really fast! I hope that all is well with your classes and you are sparing some time in your busy schedules for some fun. 

I just wanted to take the time now to remind you guys of some events coming up in the next couple of days. 

Friday, October 3

Go out and watch Maleficent (heard it was a great movie!)  in LH1

Tickets are $2 at the CIC

Saturday, October 4

Maleficent (FREE!!) 

(image taken from http://villainstournament.wikia.com/wiki/Maleficent)

Breakfast and Bingo

Go Out and play for FREE and win FREE prizes while enjoying delicious breakfast selections!

Did I say free? Happening in Sports Zone at 7PM. 

Tuesday, October 7

Wake up it's Good Morning Commuters!! Get your Breakfast fix here from 8:30 AM to 10:00AM on Main Street! We are all happy to see you!

Donate Blood and Save a life!

Hey there Commuters! Hope you all are doing great in this first week
of Autumn!

If you are feeling like doing a good deed today I just wanted to quickly let you guys know about an amazing opportunity to do so.The details are all below!

UMBC's Inter-Fraternity Council is hosting a blood drive with the American Red Cross! 

visit www.redcrossblood.org (with the user code 0531838) to set up your appointment to give blood. 

The blood drives going to take place today at the UC Ballroom from 9 am-8 pm tonight.So come all and support the members of IFC and give blood!

Hope to see all of  you good folks there!

“Every time you do a good deed you shine the light a little farther into the dark. And the thing is, when you're gone that light is going to keep shining on, pushing the shadows back.” 
― Charles de Lint

(Picture from Flickr Creative Commons under username prc1333)

Thanks!
Safa Zahangir

Your October To-Do List

Hello all,

Hope you are enjoying your first days of October (which is my favorite month)!

Since it is October and school is flying by, you should make yourself a To-Do List. For me, this helps me stay organized and on top of all of my commitments.

So, here are some tips in starting your very own To-Do List:

1. Start simple -- Don't be too specific in what you need to get done. Start broad and then narrow down what you need to get done.

2. Organization! -- Don't add everything in one area! Categorize by commitments (i.e. family, work, school). It will help you see what you need to do per commitment.

3. Have fun with it! -- I know that there can be a lot of anxiety associated with getting work done, but you can make it easy to plan things out. If you know in advance what you need to get done and write it down, it can make you less stressed and make things a lot easier for you.

Please try to set a goal to make your own To-Do List (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.) and stick with it! You will feel a lot better in the end when you can scratch out that you completed a task. Then, reward yourself with a pumpkin beverage because it IS Fall after all!

Have a great day and GOOD LUCK!

(Image from Flickr Creative Commons under username sfgirlbybay)