Meet Natalie

Hello helloooo!

How is everything going? I hope it’s been a great semester for you so far. My name is Natalie. My major is Biology and minor in Chemistry. I am one of the PACC leader serve as a connecting link between UMBC and Montgomery College. I am also one of Student Event Board (seb) committee members. This is my second semester at UMBC, and I am still excited to be here!! 

I was born and raised in Thailand :) Sawaddee kaaaaa Ask me! I can teach you how to speak Thai.

I love cooking, baking and eating. I love the feeling when I spend my time in the kitchen baking/cooking for others. Seeing how much they appreciate my food (even though it may turn out horrible sometime), It is just the best feeling ever.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any question. Do Your Best and Have a wonderful Semester everyone :)
Peace Out
♥ Natalie ♥
 

Me & my crews at the National Aquarium
during Welcome Week in January 2015

(Natalie- second on the left)

Get a head start!

Hi everyone! I hope your semester is going well. I just wanted to give you a tip on thinking about the things you want to do with your education and in life early. I know it's still super early in the semester but thinking about the things you want to do a head of time and planning things out can help save you a lot of trouble and stress in the long run. If you have an internship that you need to do or would like to do before you graduate take the time to plan out the steps you will take to inquire about and get the internship you want. If this means doing some Google research on your own and sending out emails or making calls about setting up a position than take the initiative to do this, it will only help you. Not only will planning ahead help set you up for better success but it will also help you expand your organizational and active skills. No matter what you want to do in life thinking about how you will get there early will help produce a better outcome. I hope my advice was helpful. Have a great day!

Best- Chloe 

(Image taken from Flickr CC 2.0 under username Suesue2)

Meet Sonny!

Hey everyone! :)

My name is Sonny, and this is my second semester at Off Campus Student Services as a Commuter Assistant. As a CA, I primarily try to help commuters find their place on campus as well as provide resources such as information on transit and off-campus housing. I'm a junior biology major from Upper Marlboro, Maryland with a passion for people, and I love playing bass and going hiking. I'm really excited about this semester, and I'm especially looking forward to meeting new people, so feel free to stop by the Commuter Lounge and say hi!

Also, make sure to come out to our first Commuter Connection event this semester!

When: This Friday! 2/6, 12:00-1:00pm

Where: The Commons, Lower Flat Tuesdays

Why to come: To find out about the new UMBC carpool lot, opportunities to form your own carpool, free food, giveaways, trivia, and more! 
 

Hoping to see you there!

- Sonny 

(Sonny on the left)

Guess what day it is? …HUMP DAAAY!

Now that it’s the second week of classes, you should be settling into the groove, figuring out where in your schedule you can fit in studying & hangout out with friends. And if you’re anything like me, naptime! Speaking of me, allow myself to introduce… well, myself. 

I’m Rex! I’m new to the OCSS team this semester as a PACC leader for Anne Arundel Community College. I transferred to UMBC via Hood College and AACC. I’m working on a dual Chemistry and Biochemistry B.S., and I'm a member of the ACS chapter on campus. I have a lot of eclectic interests and hobbies. Just to name a few; I like hiking with my dogs, collecting houseplants, making ceramics, trap & skeet, baking hearth breads, and making dry cured bacon. I like all things science/technology related. And I speak fluent Hungarian.

As well as a holding weekly office hours at AACC, you can find me at TSN workshops and events. If you see me around, tell me an interesting fact about you or a cool hobby you have!

Ash for Ashtastic!

Hello fellow Retrievers, I hope everyone had an amazing first week of Spring semester. I'm Ash and I am the newest member of TSN (Transfer Student Network) and this is my second semester at UMBC!  Before UMBC I went to a school in Panama, which I will ease you out of having to pronounce its lengthy and very Spanish name, and yes I do speak Spanish...fluently.  My major is Sociology and i'm taking a minor in Political Science, soft sciences I know I know, but I'm really good with theories apparently. Oh, and I'm a junior.

TSN definitely made my transition into UMBC an easier one so that motivated me to wanting to help other students that are in the same situation I was in. If you think I can help you in any way please feel free to contact me(:  and if you are a commuter, you should as well, I have AH mazing tips for finding parking spaces.

I enjoy photography, indie music, and traveling (I am such a Wanderluster<3)

~Good Vibes~

Ash.

Meet Chloe

Hi everyone! We made it through the first week of school! My name is Chloe Jackson and I am a returning CA and Technical Specialist here at OCSS. What's a Technical Specialist you might ask? Great question! Basically my job is to do all the advertising and marketing for all of the OCSS events and other events sponsored by OCSS, but as a CA I am also here to answer any questions you may have about UMBC and help you adjust to UMBC life! I am from a small town in Southern Maryland called Lusby and I love to sing, dance, hang out with friends, draw, laugh and meet new people. Please feel free to come to the Commuter Lounge anytime and chat me up or ask me any questions you may have about UMBC. I promise I won't bite. I am excited to be back this semester and am excited to see what the semester hold. 

Best-Chloe 

(Safa, Chloe, and Angela)

You know... Flooooo!

Hi everybody, my name is Folarin Adewale originally pronounced Fo- (like the beginning of four) -la- (like do, re, mi, fa, so, "la")-rin (like the beginning sound of ring). Warning this is for the advanced in mouth gymnastics, as I take great pride in my name, so practice is highly recommend to avoid any sprains for those who want to say my name fully. Most people do just call me Flo for ease although I do have an easy going, gently flowing nature which I believe to have developed from playing sports. My intentions, more importantly, as a PACC leader would be to grow as a person, while actively passing on my own experiences to other transfer students. This would make networking a mutual thing between me and anybody I connect with, while growing socially, earning that good gut feeling of being able to help somebody, and simply improving peoples day with a positive atmosphere.

Things that I like doing would be eating, playing a sport or keyboard, talking with friends and geeking (joking around), bowling, fishing, exercising, dabbling in a bit of anime and manga, reading stories about the world around us a well written made up ones, most importantly staying on my chosen career path, and last but not least finding out more about what I like to do in life as I continue to grow and learn.

Meet Sam!

Hi everyone!!!

My name is Sam and I am TSN leader! TSN stands for Transfer Student Network. I am a returning leader and I am so excited for this semester!

Some fun facts about me:

1. I am a psychology major and aging minor -  feel free to ask me any questions
2. I love dancing and music
3. I love meeting new people and hearing everybody's story!!

Transfer Student Network (TSN) is here for you guys! We offer many workshops and activities for transfer students and we have a lot of fun in store! We want to make you feel welcome and help your transition to UMBC go as smoothly as possible.

Our next workshop is going to be next Wednesday Feb 4th from 12-1 and we are going to be getting a tour of the RAC. Its going to be awesome, and the RAC is a good place to get to know =)

Good luck guys! Any questions feel free to contact any of us.

Keep Smiling!!

Meet Angela! [:

Hi everyone! First off, Happy New Year and welcome back to the new semester! I hope you all enjoyed your winter break!

My name is Angela, and I am pretty sure you've seen me around since I am a returning CA (commuter assistant) to Off Campus Student Services. This semester marks my one year anniversary being here!

A few things about myself are....

- I am currently a Junior

-I am a psychology major on the Developmental Track

-I was a transfer student from Bowie State University

-And I love food and love to sleep [:

With those being said, I hope you get back into the groove with school. For incoming transfer students, welcome! We are excited that you are here and we hope you enjoy UMBC so far! If you ever need help with anything, myself and the other CA's are happy to help!

Stay awesome pawsome [:

-Angela

Welcome back!

Welcome back everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the winter break. I know it went by fast, but now it's time to get back into the swing of things. I come with some new great UMBC news! The PepsiCo Dream Machine has been moved to the first floor of the University Center building. What is the PepsiCo Dream Machine you might ask? The DreamMachine is not just a recycling kiosk, every bottle and recycled helps support the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities in the hopes of making their dreams come true. The kiosk also supports The Nature Conservancy's efforts to protect clean drinking water for millions of people. Participants also earn reward points for recycled bottles and cans, which can be redeemed for discounts of local entertainment and dining, as well as much more! There also happens to be another PepsiCo Dream Machine in Walker Avenue Community Center. Help support UMBC's sustainability!

YOU MADE IT…Well, Almost!

Hey you! Yes, you! You officially finished classes for the Fall 2014 semester! Congratulations, you made it through countless lectures, discussions, quizzes, midterms, etc.!

Whether you’re a first year, returning, or even graduating (SHOUT OUT to Hope Arbesman and Alison Pfannenstein), give yourself a giant pat on the back for making it to the homestretch of the semester at UMBC!

Even though this official end of classes can be exciting, it also means you have one last obstacle to conquer……. FINALS WEEK!

Finals week can be very stressful, but if you keep calm, focused, and study A LOT, you can overcome this one last hurdle. And if you need more motivation, just remember, Winter Break is waiting on the horizon right after final exams! J

Off Camus Student Services will still be working during these weeks to help students with any of their concerns. Other organizations are also promoting finals related resources such as in the University Health Services and the Counseling Center’s awesome Mind Spa!

Recently, I was inspired by the karaoke rendition of this Disney song done by my fellow coworkers, and now I think it’s a good theme to get through finals. So during finals week, be like this beloved protagonist and “Let’s get down to business!”

TSN is hiring!

Hi everyone I come with great news! Transfer Student Network (TSN) is hiring two new team leaders for this upcoming spring semester. What is a TSN Team Leader you ask? A TSN Team Leader is a person that advocates for transfer student success here at UMBC. As a TSN Team Leader you will come up with fun fresh ideas for new programs and see your ideas come to life. Every semester TSN does workshops with the transfer students of UMBC in mind. They do workshops anywhere from stress management to healthy living while on campus and so much more. As a TSN Team Leader you will get to know UMBC and it's students in a way that no one else does.  If you're looking for something that is fun and rewarding this is the way to start! Apply for the position today! (More information about the position and the application are on the link below) Good luck with finals everyone!

http://my.umbc.edu/groups/ocss/news/48439

De-stress for Finals!

Photo from: http://tropparfait.blogspot.com/2013/08/calm-down.html

Hello everyone! I hope you are all doing well. As you know the semester is ending and finals are coming up. You know what that means, everyone is stressed out!

So while trying to do those last minutes projects, papers (like me!!!), and studying for finals, don't forget to give yourself at least an hour to de-stress.

As that being said, here are some ideas to how to de-stress [:

1. Exercise!
Run, hop, jump, skip, or even have a mini dance party! Exercising or moving your body in general is a great way to relieve some stress! Also it gets the blood flowing to your brain!

2. Snack!
Snack on some brain food such as: almonds, cashews, walnuts, dark chocolate, apples, blueberries, or if you want a bigger meal, salmon!

3. Nap!
Did you know 60 minutes naps are the best for remembering facts, faces, and names? If you got an hour to spare take a nap! Or need a boost of energy in a short amount of time? Take a nap for at least 10-20 minutes.

4. Set a Schedule!
Planning to pull an all nighter? Deciding to procrastinate and study the night or hour before your final? No, don't do that. First that's a bad idea for your brain and your body. Second you need to sleep. So instead of going that route, set a schedule when to study and when to take a break. Your body will thank you later.

5. Treat yourself!
After studying so hard you'll end up feeling burnt out. Treat yourself to some good ol "you" time! Watch some youtube videos, play a games, or catch up on an episode on your favorite TV show! The possibilities are endless!!! (Just don't forget to get back into the groove of studying again)

So with that being said I hope you enjoyed your Fall semester and enjoyed reading my blogs! Good luck to you all with finals and do not stress out too much! We are almost done with this semester!
It was nice writing to yah and I will see you guys in the Spring!

Stay awesome pawsome!
-Angela [:

My last blog

Hi everyone! As always, I hope you have had a wonderful semester. I cannot believe that we are at the end of the semester already. It seems like only yesterday that we started the semester and now it is almost over.

Today, I am writing my last blog as an employee of Off-Campus Student Services, as well as a UMBC student. I am graduating December 18th and I will be continuing my education at Loyola University Maryland. I am super excited, yet anxious at the same time. However, I know that UMBC has prepared me for my future endeavors.

Although I am graduating, I want to give you some tips to succeed at UMBC:

1. Talk to your professors and actually attend their office hours.

Because I attended office hours, one of my papers went from a 85% to a 90% because I talked to my teacher and explained my ideas. She had said that the TA looked over the papers. When I visited her, she reread over my paper and I explained my point of view. She changed my grade because she understood where I was coming from. This would have been difficult if I had talked to her in the beginning or at the end of class. Thus, it is important to visit your professors' office hours. They have them for a reason and not enough students utilize these opportunities for success. Thus, I would suggest attending office hours and getting the help you may need.

2. Obtain an on-campus job or join extracurricular activities/clubs.

Working at OCSS was a wonderful opportunity to gain work experience, meet new people, and have fun. I have truly enjoyed working at OCSS and getting to meet new peers, friends, and connections. If I had not worked for OCSS, I feel like my time spent at UMBC would have been totally different. If you have the opportunity to do so, find on-campus job. Many departments are flexible with your school schedule and they understand your main priority is to attend school. It is also a wonderful way just to gain transferable skills that can help you in future employment. Additionally, joining clubs can help you gain new connections and meet people.

3. Lastly, have fun.

School is very important to me and I have worked extremely hard the past year and a half I have been at UMBC. I took both winter and summer classes, along with attending school full-time during the spring and fall semesters. Although we all want to succeed, it is important to take some time and relax or have fun. It is important not to stress out all the time. Take some time for yourself and do something fun. Personally, I feel that sometimes I had compromised having fun in order to succeed. There should be a balance between the two. So, at your time at UMBC, take some time to do something you enjoy. But always remember the reason why you are at UMBC. :)

I have truly enjoyed being apart of the UMBC community and I wish you all continued success now and in the future.

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

Reflecting on my PACC Leader experience

This semester is coming to a close. This is my last blog for the semester, and so I thought it would be appropriate to reflect on my journey as a PACC Leader. A fairly new program,  PACC is a necessary program that connects community colleges to four year institutions.

This semester marks my second semester  serving as a PACC Leader, and I believe that my role has helped me to become a better team member, and leader. I was able to see the PACC program develop over the semester as it assisted prospective/current transfer students have a smooth transition. I had the opportunity to organize two events at Montgomery College that were designed to dispense information about the transfer process to prospective transfer students. In the process, I was able to incorporate the skills I acquired from  PACC event programing to organize a large campus event in my cultural organization on campus. I learned the importance of team works, and communication. I spoke to many student at Montgomery College, and connected them to the resources at Montgomery College and UMBC designed to assist them in their transition. I was able to reflect back on my own transfer experience, and actively take a role in making the transition easier for others, so that they do not have to face the same challenges that I had too when I transferred.  I would not change my experience thus far! I was also able to work with an amazing group of people to grow the program.


Thank you for reading my blog, and see you all next semester!


Did you know?

President Obama was also a transfer student.

(Photo taken from Flickr C.C. 2.0 under username Kirsten Jarnling)

Time of reflection

Every now and then you have to take time out of your busy schedule to reflect on the things you've done well so far and the things you need to improve on. Now that the semester is coming to an end this would probably be the best time to sit down and reflect on your accomplishments and short comings of the semester. Think about all the goals you set for yourself at the beginning of the semester. Have you accomplished them all? Have you accomplished at lease one of your goals? If you've accomplished them all that's great, but if you haven't accomplished many or any at all that's ok too. It's not about spreading yourself thin trying to accomplish unrealistic goals, it's about making the effort to better yourself overall. Take the time you need to self reflect and think about what you did and what you could do better for the next semester to come. This would also be a great head start in thinking about your new year's resolution and come up with a game plan to achieve your resolution. Now that things are coming to an end, think about all the lessons you have learned along the way and all the things you want to do in your life. Come up with the most doable way to achieve all the goals you want to achieve in your life and think about how you're going to get there. I hope you all had a nice relaxing Thanksgiving break. Good luck with the rest of the semester! 

Best- Chloe

(Photo taken from Flickr C.C. 2.0 under username Tommy Ga-Ken Wa)