Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Students and computers go together like cookies and milk. You'd be hard-pressed to find one without the other. To maximize your computer experience at school, a purchase of a higher-end device may be in order.
Personal computers are, for some student, the single most important item in their dorm or apartment, with wallet or purse following closely behind. College students are spending more and more time on these devices, to either accomplish work or to socialize online. A good chunk of high school seniors may not have their own laptops just yet, so a guide for them through this technology jungle is in order. My laptop is a 15-inch MacBook Pro, which I began using in August 2010. The sticker price of about $1,600 is daunting for many prospective buyers, however, it is one of the most durable computers on the market. After almost two and a half years of use, I have not needed to replace the battery, the Internet and all other programs are still …
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
The past year has sure been a whirlwind, and the next 50-odd weeks should be another adventure to savor.
Flipping around last year's calendar, it sure was a busy 2012. It was a year of anticipation, a year of memories. The past year has helped me grow as an individual, and it has assisted me in becoming more independent. From working a lockout-shortened NBA season with the Milwaukee Bucks, to going abroad to Rome for a month in the summer, 2012 will be a year for the books. Traveling abroad to Rome and London made me appreciate the world around us at a much deeper level. I made many friends in Europe who I still stay connected with and have even met up with since we parted ways in Italia. Three days after touching U.S. soil, it was off to Montreal and Ottawa for a few extra days of international exposure, and then back to Montreal and Quebec …
Monday, December 3, 2012
You'll be asking Santa for plenty of luxuries this holiday season, but here's some advice on what to ask from your family for those coveted care packages.
Although I’m a junior now, the feeling of receiving a care package from home will never get old. Getting a care package can be a life saver, especially if your budget is tight. Additionally, it’s a sign that someone from home cares for you and your well-being. The next time a family member asks what you’d like in a care package, here are some items you should make sure they write down. Snacks Chips, health bars, cookies, you name it. Homemade snacks are an added bonus, but you’re running the risk of these delicacies being crushed en route to your residence and simply becoming crumbs. Laundry Detergent Sheets Not to do a product placement plug here, but I use the Purex 3-in-1 laundry sheets instead of liquid detergent. It acts as detergent…
Friday, November 2, 2012
While many people in coastal Rhode Island will likely be spending their Halloween picking up large branches from the lawn, I speculate why the holiday is still popular in college.
As a side note, I hope everyone was unharmed by Superstorm Sandy and any damage done was minimal. With all the commotion and chaos from Sandy over these last couple of days, you deserve to be enlightened by some humorous speculation. So buckle up and enjoy. It was shortly after 12:30 a.m. the other night and I was just about to fall asleep. Everything seemed fine until I heard booming music being played for all of Milwaukee to hear. The second I heard it, needless to say, I woke up. I then realized that it must have been a Halloween party and I was simply another victim of noise pollution in the apartment complex. So what did I do? Got up and started writing this, of course. The Halloween spirit has long since faded away for me. Not being …
Monday, October 15, 2012
A good portion of college students may feel uncomfortable approaching international students and get to know them because they're from totally different cultures, but students should take advantage of this chance.
It’s sometimes an incredibly difficult transition for foreign college students to adapt to their brand new culture. Many American students steer away from foreign students because they may behave quite differently than they do. This shouldn’t be the case, and many colleges across the country have programs established for foreign students to integrate more easily. Marquette’s program is called Global Village, which allows domestic students the opportunity to stay on a special apartment floor with foreign students to assist them with the cultural transition. Activities may include going to local theater performances, restaurants, pubs, and maybe even leaving Milwaukee to see what other sites the U.S. has to offer. It’s not unusual for …
Monday, October 8, 2012
As my 21st birthday draws near, I feel it's a good idea to give some advice on balancing work and play.
I turned 21 on Sunday. Yes, it’s been a long time coming and with the one more year of life comes many new opportunities. As college students, however, we must not mess things up for ourselves with these newfound freedoms. What do I mean by that? Though you’ve heard it maybe hundreds of times in commercials, I still want to remind you to drink responsibly. Your (real) ID allows you to buy a round for everyone, but it’s important to wake up the next morning and know where exactly you bought those drinks. Supplying alcohol to minors is becoming a large problem on campus grounds. Marquette University is utilizing a new fining policy for underage alcohol consumption, and providing or selling alcohol to a person under 21 merits a $500 fine and…
Monday, September 17, 2012
To drive or not to drive? Deciding whether or not to take your car to campus needs some thought put into it.
It’s a tough question for some students, one that needs to be considered carefully – do you need a car on campus? This is especially true if you are in a large city, like myself. Most cities have a viable public transportation system (not Milwaukee, and I’ll get to that in a minute) and it’s even easy to get around on foot or by bicycle. For those living in a rural area, a car is almost a necessity. You will never, ever see anything besides your campus if you don’t use a car of your own. Bumming rides off your friends will only last so long before you feel the need to take the wheel. After living for two years in Milwaukee without a car, I felt this would be the year I’d need to bring one out there. I was unsatisfied with the bus route …
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Is transferring colleges the logical idea when it comes to financial or personal reasons?
School hasn’t panned out the way you had hoped. Whether it is for financial, professional or personal reasons, you want out. Take some time and really think if transferring to a different school is right for you. Ask yourself why you want to change colleges. Is it a matter of cost? Tuition rises every year, as does the price to live on campus, so would moving to a less expensive school ease the amount of debt you’d be left with upon graduating? If it’s money that concerns you, try applying for many different scholarships first before signing the transfer papers. Every $500 scholarship counts, and picking up a few of these could make a true difference on the annual bill. Then think about this: if you are to transfer, are you guaranteed that…
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Now that my study abroad session in Rome has come to an end, it is time to reflect on the experience.
One of the most common answers people give when asked what they regret not doing the most when they were in college is “study abroad.” I now can see why. Over the past six weeks, I studied in Rome, and I had the experience of a lifetime. This had been in my plans since Fall 2010, and it took a lot of paperwork and follow-ups to finalize this excursion. Despite how tedious the bureaucratic process was, it was worth it all. When I first arrived in Rome, I had no idea who my roommates were or even how many of them there would be. I was concerned that maybe I wouldn’t like them, but it turned out they were the best roommates I could ask for because of our similarities and because we always looked out for one another. I usually took some time …
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Take a peek at my weekend in London and see what attractions are worth your time in the jolly English capital.
London: It’s a city full of history, culture, cuisine, shopping and, of course, people who drive on the left side of the road. I recently spent three nights in London and would like to share with you what should be done in this entertaining metropolis, especially if visiting is in your future plans. London’s main airport, Heathrow, has a reputation for being notoriously busy and hectic. I did not get the slightest impression of this at all. From the time it took for me to get off the plane, clear customs and board the train to downtown London, it was only about 20 minutes. Travelers’ horror stories claim that it took them hours to do what I did, but keep in mind I did not need to claim any checked luggage. Once in the center of London, it …
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2:46 pm on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
I question the assumption that everyone needs to spend $1600 on a laptop for college. A wonderful laptop for students can be purchased for less than half that. The SSD, high processing speeds, and high resolution displays that you get with high end computers are unnecessary for the majority of college student. Expensive machines are no more likely to withstand the harsh backpack college life than… more ›