The semester is almost halfway over! I truly cannot believe how fast this semester is going. The crazy weather may be part of the reason why this semester is going by so fast. No matter the reason, now is a good time to think about what your plans are for this summer (it is a great way to forget about the weather we’ve had recently, at least for a short while). There are many options that you can choose from.

The first option is to relax, but of course that can be easier said than done. Financial  responsibilities and the realization that you may be a few classes behind your fellow peers can keep you from taking a break. While most of us would love to just mentally and physically check out for a few months, it is not a reality. For those of you that can, well let’s just say you are pretty lucky and enjoy it for the rest of us!

Another option is to continue to take classes! That may seem like a crazy choice, but it really isn’t as crazy as it seems. Last summer I decided to take 3 classes and it was totally manageable. You have several options when choosing summer classes. You can take May Session classes, 7 week summer classes, and full summer term classes. May Session classes are four week courses. This year we have a deal with the May Session classes. You can take up to three credit hours for free with those classes. That is over an $800 value! One of the classes that I took last summer was a May Session class and it was so nice knowing that I was getting credit for free. The 7 week summer class begins on June 16th and ends August 1st. The Full Term summer courses begin on May 5th and ends on August 1st. If you want to go back home for the summer you still can. Many of the summer courses are online to make it more convenient for students. If you log onto your buckeye link account you can see when your enrollment appointment begins. It is coming up sooner than you think!

A third option is to work. Many students decide to work during the summer to save as much money as possible. The nice thing about being a student here is that the spring semester ends in April. That means you have a head start over the high school students in your community that may be competing against you to get a summer job. If you do not have a job lined up for summer, but are planning to work over the summer I would start looking/preparing right away. You can also go a different route for summer work. One amazing thing that we offer here is paid internships. That’s right, PAID IN CASH internships.Internships like these are not always the easiest internships to come by, but we are fortunate enough to have a community that can offer them. If you would like to learn more about internships you can contact Tracy Bond or Pam Schopieray.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure that it is the right choice for yourself. Keep working hard this semester and remember, you are almost 3/4th’s of the way finished with your first year of college!

Best Wishes,

Christina Russell

Second Year Student

Hey everyone! I hope that your week has been good and that classes are going great. This week seems to have flown by for me. This month is an important month here on campus. Every year we have a big celebration for Black History Month. Each week there will be an event that students can go to. We have already had two events in celebration. If you haven’t had the chance to attend any events yet, that’s o.k! There are still three events you can go to.

The next event is a presentation of the movie Fruitvale Station will be held on February 11th at 7:00 pm in the Student Union. Then, on February 19th from 12:30-1:30 pm there will be a workshop exploring different ways to make good, positive changes to their community titled The Social Change Model of Leadership. It will be held in room 128 in Kee Hall. Then to  finish off the month is our 12th Annual Soul Food Dinner. On Thursday, February 27th at 6:00 pm come to the Eisenhower Campus Cafe for some good old fashioned soul food. The ticket price for this event is $5 for OSU-M, NC State, and Ashland University College of Nursing students and $10 for general admission. You can reserve tickets for the event at the Office of Student Engagement in the Student Union. The tickets need to be paid for and picked up no later than 12:00 pm on February 21st. There will be no tickets at the door.

I hope that you take time this month to take a look at the history behind Black History Month. These average people did extraordinary things that changed the nation.  Our present day would not be the same without them.

Best Wishes,

Christina Russell

It’s that time of the year again… The Free Application for Federal Student Aid a.k.a FAFSA time (*Dun, Dun, DUN*). I think that it is safe to say that this is one thing that all college students dread. I know that it is not one of my favorite things to do. It takes up so much time and can be confusing. Those of you that have parents that own businesses understand what I have to go through. Students like myself have to fill out the FAFSA in time for the February 15th priority deadline, but usually our parents are not done with the business taxes. So we have to submit what we have and then go back and correct things once they are done. It’s like doing the FAFSA twice! Those of you that don’t have to do this be thankful and for those that are like me I feel your pain.

As hard as it is to get your FAFSA done, it is totally worth it in the end. A lot of students get free money from the Pell Grant and loans to help pay for your education. I know that you have all done the FAFSA before, but don’t forget to do it again this year. If you don’t, then you will be on your own for paying your classes. As much as I complain about filling out the application, I know that without it I would not be here. It makes college affordable and we all should be thankful for that.

If you need help filling out and filing your FAFSA, you can receive the help you need. On February 9th at 2:00 pm you can come here on campus during the College Goal Sunday event and receive assistance on any of your FAFSA needs. It is a great opportunity for all students and I highly suggest attending. Have a great week every one!

Best Wishes,

Christina Russell

Second Year Student

This will be where the First Year Experience blog posts will be posted starting in the next few weeks. I’m excited for this change. Keep your eyes on your email for the change from the newsletter format to this blog!

Best Wishes,

Christina Russell

Second Year Student