Ball State

» Computer Class

By China at 11:02 AM

I hate computers. Well, I guess I don't hate them because I use one about three hundred times a day (I wish I was exaggerating but I don't think that I am) but I am extremely bad with them. The other day my computer wouldn't work so I took it into the school's techtime place and they fixed it in about 3 seconds and I felt so embarrassed that I had no idea what was wrong with it and I had to drag it all of the way there.

So needless to say, when I found out that we had to take a certain number of computer classes during our college career to graduate (no matter what your major was) I wasn't too thrilled about it. The first one I took was sophomore year and it was a general computer science class. We learned about Microsoft word and making presentations and how to do stuff in excel (which actually really helped me out with a lot of the projects that I was doing).

The second class I took the next semester was more of a media class and it was really interesting but also hard for me. We set up video conferencing and learned what multipoint video was. It was a really fun class because we got to go online and call people and talk to them for most of the period, but it was also a hard class to get a grade in because it was way more subjective than other classes are. And I am pretty sure the teacher had a good grasp on my hatred for all of technology.

So this next semester I will be taking my last computer class and I couldn't be more thrilled. Even though I honestly think that these classes were really beneficial to me and will be good for my future (and have been for classes in the past) I just hate that I feel like I am behind other students. Some of the kids in the class are just taking them for fun and are computer junkies and I feel like I know nothing compared to the, but I guess we'll see. The next class is a combination of science stats and computers and my major is science so maybe, just maybe I will be a little bit better at this class than I was at the other ones. Probably not though.

» TRYING ON MY NEW BALLET SHOES

By China at 11:50 AM

A recent bout with depression, left me talking with a counselor a lot. I have never really been a go getter, just the type to go with the flow, but lately I have been struggling with my transition to school and all the activities that other students seem to have in their lives. I really wanted to find my niche, but the only thing that I had ever really wanted to do since I was little was to dance. Dancing has always been something that has interested me, especially since the time my aunt took me to the ballet, that was incredible. An experience I will never forget. Anyway, I asked my mother to put me into dance classes, because at the time I was about 8, but it just never happened, and now I was left with no dream because I had always wanted to dance, and now I was too old. Well, the counselor pointed out that although my chances of becoming a professional dancer at this point in life were slim, there was still time for me to learn to dance, and that she knew someone who could provide me with private lessons. I called her on the phone, and set up a day to come in and she told me a place that sold danceware and said there would be a few things that I would need to get started. I went to the dance store and picked up some exercise clothing as well as a pair of ballet shoes. I didn't want to seem like an idiot in the store, however, I was dying to get home and get dressed up in the outfit and see how I looked. When I got home, thank goodness my roommate wasn't home. I came in and pulled my hair back really tight, like most dancers do. I put on the outfit and the shoes, and it was such an amazing transformation I couldn't believe it was me. Now I can't wait to begin dance classes, they start tomorrow, and see how things go. I think that my counselor was right, dancing is just what I need. Not only on a physical level but on an emotional one as well.

» Hobby smokers

By China at 11:22 AM

Of all of the hobbies to take up in college, your parents may look down on just a few. Things like joining the people watching club or the vampire club may cause their minds to immediately shut off. One such hobby that seems to be quite common among students is the acquiring of a smoking habit. Now if you are anything like me then you will understand why I call smoking a hobby. For some people eating is much more than eating, other people treat coffee in much the same way. Each of these habits are looked at in a much more forgiving light, but for many people like myself we have managed to make smoking our hobby.

Turning smoking from a problem in to a hobby is done by just a few steps. The biggest way to jump to the front of the line is to find a great cigar shop to hang out in. These places are great for discussing ideas about smoking and for discovering new products you never knew existed. It also means being willing to spend money on your hobby that a habit user would not. Just like investing in something like lessons for a musician, you as a smoker try out things like an electronic cigarette. Even as i have said this, most of you still probably have no idea what an Njoy electronic cigarette actually is, and yet most hobby smokers have either tried it or want to.

Some people by now are surely looking at me in the same way that most of us look at smokers in restaurants or in public buildings. A sense of disgust and shame is put upon smokers these days and it is understandable with the types of cigarettes that the average user smokes in public. For the hobby smoker though this is a disgraceful image because some of us actually choose to smoke quality products and to maintain a certain level of continuity with regards to where we smoke and how we respect those around us.

For the student out there considering this kind of thing I would recommend it if you want to be serious about it, but if you just want to try cigarettes because they look cool then please stick with your convenience store brands and we won't have any trouble.

» FIXING CREDIT REPORTS CAN REALLY HELP

By China at 11:09 AM

Since going away to school, I have found that living on my own has been much more expensive than I originally thought. I knew that I would need some money and savings, and of course a little help from mom and dad, but I didn't really account for expenses like taking my dog to the vet or gas for my car or any of that stuff. Well, honestly I came to school with a few credit cards, which honestly were easy to pay regularly when I was living at home, but since moving here I have done a little bit of damage to my credit and now I have been looking into how to fix credit. There are a lot of people on TV and on the web that offer this service, but it has been difficult for me to determine who can really fix credit and who is blowing smoke. I do know that fixing credit reports is possible, and that is why I have been looking into it. I haven't done any serious damage yet, but still one or two blemishes on your credit report these days can stop you from getting a car loan or a home mortgage, and I hope to get those things at some point in the future. Plus once I get out of school, I plan to open up my own business and I will definitely need to get financing, and without good credit you are in real trouble. A friend referred me to someone who repaired her credit, and honestly I have been completely impressed with their professionalism so far. Fixing your credit doesn't happen overnight, but now I know that I am on my way to having a much better credit report and my parents have offered to help me make monthly payments to get my bills all caught up, under the promise that I wouldn't use my credit cards without telling them, which I promised I wouldn't. One thing is for sure, I have learned my lesson, and will not get in over my head again. The next time I have an extra expense, I will call mom and dad and see if they can help me before putting anything else on my cards.

» Getting Trained Online? Say WHAT!

By China at 9:10 AM

So I was sitting at work today and my boss asked me about some online classes. Now, I have no idea what she is talking about so as she is asking me questions I am rapidly typing into Google any words I can to find something online about what she is talking about. Well typing in elearning worked. She was curious on vocational and training schools online which offered fully online classes that led to degrees and certificates. She was wondering if they were legit or if they were scams. It turns out they are quite popular and growing. The online services include online training videos which I feel are super helpful. I kind of wish I had the chance to take an online elearning class. The online training courses are in pretty much any area of study. I am not really sure on how long they take or what types of certificates or degrees are offered but it seems like a great chance for people who have to work or take care of a family to be able to learn and get an education if they were not able to. I am slightly tempted myself to sign up for a program online just for fun! I think the experience and getting a wider breadth of education will be really beneficial. Plus there is a lot of stuff I am interested in but given my major I have not been able to take or do. Getting certified in something could be a fun thing to do and something to expand my horizons too. I was thinking about looking at online paralegal elearning options as I know they exist. That may help me decide if I want to go to law school too as I will get a chance to dip into legal terms and such. I wonder what else I could learn online. I know there is a lot of computer training online too which is something I may consider. I have always been a computer kid and loved building computers and writing programs. Although I have been doing this sort of thing for a long time I think getting certified in computer training would be something handy. Anyways, I have my actual schoolwork to do versus discussion of online education opportunities. I may try to Google other elearning keywords so I can find out more, it does seem quite interesting. Peace out guys!

» MY BOYFRIEND LOVES VELLANO WHEELS MORE THAN ME

By China at 1:28 PM

My boyfriend is obsessed with cars and it is really starting to get on my nerves. Don't get me wrong I love him, but it seems that every time I turn around he is online looking for auto aftermarket parts or something like that. He is always looking for ways to make his car faster and better looking and invests most of his extra money in this venture. Sometimes I have to actually pay for us to go places, because he has spent so much money on auto performance parts and can't afford to go to dinner and a movie. I guess he could be running around on me, and this hobby isn't really so bad, but sometimes I just wish that I got as much attention as the vellano wheels that he is saving for. I know that sounds a little ridiculous, and other girls tell me that it could be worse, because some of their guys are into internet porn while others are into watching every football/baseball game on the planet. I guess that would probably drive me crazy too, I don't know. This is honestly the first guy I have been with who has had an obsession about anything, so I really have never dealt with this before. I don't know what to do, should I make a big stink about it, or should I allow it and turn the other cheek. I just wish I knew if this was my problem or his. I guess I should be more loving and understanding, and maybe even try to understand a little more about cars and his love for them, either that or I should run for the hills if this isn't what I really want out of a relationship. I think that I am going to do what Mandy said, she told me to wait it out a little longer and see where this goes. Except for the car obsession he is really and incredible guy and an amazing catch. I do love him, and will try to come to terms with this whole car thing. I think that I can do it, after all love does conquer all, doesn't it?

» Getting the word out

By China at 12:10 PM

Our sorority does a lot of philanthropy and charity events. We have a few organizations that we have been committed to for years and we do the same events and fundraisers every year to stay loyal to them and support them. And we are also really involved with other Greek organizations philanthropies as well.

But every once in a while we like to get involved in something new. Sometimes we will vote on certain things in our chapter meeting. Like if one of us has a particular charity or event in mind we will talk about doing it or contributing to it in some way (donating money, volunteering, getting involved) or we sometimes find things in the newspaper or the local community.

A few weeks ago we got involved with a drive and awareness campaign in our community. It was to help raise awareness for those in need. There were tables from all different kinds of organization from woman's shelters to handicapped childrens sports to supporting the deaf and blind to helping out the handicapped.

The booth that I worked was the physically handicapped helpers. It was actually really cool because I got to learn a lot about the lives of people who are in wheelchairs. One of the things we tried to do was raise awareness of handicap vans. The organization was looking for handicap driver services and people to learn and get a permit to help drive around those in wheelchairs. Also if they knew anyone who had or sold them, they wanted to find cheaper but still good quality wheelchair cans for sale.

It was really cool and interesting to work with this group because it wasn't something that I was normally involved with. We all have to have a separate organization and do community service hours each semester with them and I have always (even in high school) been dedicated to relay for life. We also as a complete chapter support the Dove campaign and child abuse. So this was definitely something new for me and I really had a great time.

I think that we all voted to make this fair a yearly event for our sorority and even try to get other fraternities and sororities to come and join us and help out because the more people spreading the word on these issues, the better off they are!

» Tech Time

By China at 11:45 AM

There is a place in our school that is called Tech Time and it is a God send. Between me and my 3 other roommates we have gone in for everything from Macintosh support to a new hard drive on our PC about 6 times in the past semester. It seems crazy but these people are like the God of computers.

They seem to know everything. I can call and imitate the noise my computer makes when I turn it on and they can tell me over the phone what is wrong with it and how to fix it if I don't have time to come in for the to do it for me. It is amazing! I can't stress enough how thankful (and how much money I have saved, like thousands of dollars) by having this service at my school.

I have heard that a lot of my friends from other schools have the same service but they charge the same as a store like Best Buy would charge them. I can't imagine how expensive that would get. Every time we go in there we get free help (and even discounts on parts if they need to be ordered through the school for our computer which is so nice too because computer parts are expensive).

I wish that I could know as much about computers as these people do (it would definitely save me a lot of time and grief) but since I don't, I am seriously so lucky and thankful that I have this service at my school.

I did an orientation tour for incoming freshman and potential students and when we walked by I really stressed Tech Time to the students and parents. They may not realize it now, but computers are expensive and when you are hundreds of miles away from your parents (and their money ha) and you need to finish your paper for the next day and your computer dies and won't turn on again and you can't get the part of the paper that you have written and spent hours on, Tech Time is there to help you and it is something that you will rely on time and time again throughout your school years. I really do think that this is a selling point for our school and if I had to pick between two schools that were exactly the same in other areas I would pick the one with free technical support (and so would my dad and his bank account ha).

» Teaching Majors

By China at 1:43 PM

I always thought that people with teaching majors had it pretty easy. I am really bad with kids (I don't like younger kids very much, I never know what to say to them) so I would never consider it, but the school work in college for that specific major doesn't seem very challenging (how hard can it be, if you're teaching second grade, obviously we already know all of the second grade stuff, we learned it years and years ago).

The other day though I found out while I was working in the computer labs all of the work that really does go into it. A few girls were working on an assignment and I overheard all of the requirements for it that they had to accomplish. It seemed crazy to me. They had to do lesson plans and even come up with activities. I guess it really is way more work than I thought and even though I am a pharmacy major (which is REALLY hard) I don't really have to put that much imagination of my own into my work like they do.

One really good thing though about their major is that they get to have candy all of the time. They bought a ton of bulk candy from haribo and they bring it into the classrooms while they are student teaching for projects and games and treats. Part of me wishes that my major was teaching just so I could hang out all day and eat candy and play games and do story time instead of doing chemistry problems and lab experiments that I usually don't understand.

But overall, I think I realized that every single major is hard in its own way and it probably isn't fair for me to judge one in particular, especially if I haven't experienced it or don't know much about it. But also, I think they all have their own perks and since we all pick our own majors and decide that's what we want to do for the rest of our lives, the perks probably outweigh the bad parts for those in that particular area. I guess when you find something you love to do, you should work hard for it (through the good and the bad) and even though it may not work for other people or be what someone else would chose, it may work out perfectly for you.