2 Tips to Survive Finals

AHH! Finals are quickly approaching! The panic of having what feels like a million tests and projects at once is extremely stressful. I remember finals' week in college being an absolute nightmare.

Unfortunately, stressful weeks do not end when you graduate college. However, college is the perfect place to not only learn how to survive them, but also learn how to be successful during them.

As you know from my last post, I got married about a month ago! Describing the weeks leading up to my wedding as stressful is a bit of an understatement.

To add to that stress, the week we returned from our honeymoon was one of the busiest weeks of the year for the marketing and communications department at SCC. That Saturday, April 27, was our annual RUN. LIVE. LEARN. race, so there was a lot to do the week before race day.

I have good news. I survived those weeks of stress and you will too! Just remember to plan ahead and keep your eye on the prize.

Plan ahead:

In my case, I made sure wedding details were taken care of months in advance, so there was less to worry about as the day approached. I also planned ahead at work. I took care of everything I could before I left for my honeymoon, so that when I returned I would not be so behind.

For studying, the same rules apply. Start as early as possible. Try to start studying at least two weeks in advance. Study a chapter each night until you have made it through all the material. Look at your calendar and see how many days that will take you. Then, plan for several 'review' days right before the test.

Keep your eye on the prize:

What came after weeks of planning and stressing about a wedding? The best day of my life!!

www.PhotosbyLoria.com

What comes after finals? Summer! And your hard work from studying will pay off when you get the grades you want. Remember, this is only a couple weeks of studying. It is not going to last forever. Stay focused.

There is only a week until finals start, so get to work!

This girl is getting married!

I hope I don't disappoint you with a non-educational post today, but I have something totally different in mind.

Saturday is going to be the most important day of my life, and I think it is only fair to share my excitement with my readers. I am getting married to the man of my dreams this weekend!

I met Bryson the first week of college. Between the two classes we had together and the fact that we were both on the swim team, we saw each other a lot! It was very easy to fall in love with him. Toward the end of our freshman year, we started dating and have been together ever since.

Since we met on the swim team, we decided to do our engagement photos by the pool. Photos by: http://photosbyloria.com/.

We are actually getting married on the four-year anniversary of the day Bryson asked me to be his girlfriend. Not only is it going to be really cool to get married on our anniversary, but it is also one less thing Bryson has to remember ;).

Everything is in place (I hope!). We picked up the dress last night from alterations, and it is beautiful. I am wearing my late grandmother's dress that my mother also wore, which makes it even more meaningful. We've finalized everything with our vendors, and now we just have to wait.

The excitement is killing me. My friends and family are on their way, and I am ready for festivities to begin.

3 ways to make the most out of your spring break

Spring break has finally arrived! Are you stuck at home while all of your friends are having the time of their lives in Panama City? Don't worry. This is your chance to get ahead and make the most out of your spring break.

Photo from quickmeme.com

Here are three tips to help make your spring break productive and fun:

1.  Update your resume & browse for internships/jobs.

When school is in session, it can be really hard to think past your next test, much less about your future career.

Spend a couple of hours updating your resume by adding any new jobs or internships you had, organizations you joined or awards you received. If you do it now, you won't have to rush to get it done when you find a job worth applying for.

Also, browse for internship and jobs. You've got time. If you find something that looks interesting and think you are qualified, apply!

2.  Reconnect with your friends.

You are likely to have at least one old friend from high school stuck at home during spring break that you can meet for lunch or go to a movie with. If you don't have any friends near home, think about taking a road trip to visit your friends at another college who aren't on spring break. Mini-vacation, anyone?

3.  Relax.

Yes. It is spring break. You've worked hard all school year and deserve a little relaxation. Watch TV, go for a walk, read a book, eat junk food and just chill out. After spring break, you will want to return to class rejuvenated and finish the semester with a bang.

College Degrees with the Best and Worst Return on Investment

Are you having a hard time choosing a major? Just the other day, I read the article 8 College Degrees with the Worst Return on Investment, and it made me curious as to what majors give you the best return on investment. My search led me to the article 5 college majors with the biggest payoffs.



Here is the list of college majors with the worst return on investment, according to Salary.com:

1. Communications
2. Psychology
3. Nutrition
4. Hospitality/Tourism
5. Religious Studies/Theology
6. Education
7. Fine Arts
8. Sociology

Here is the list of college majors with the biggest payoff, according to CNN Money:

1. Pre-Med
2. Computer Systems Engineering
3. Pharmacy
4. Chemical Engineering
5. Electrical and Electronics Engineering
6. Mechanical Engeneering
7. Aeroscape and Aeronautical Engineering
8. Computer Science

Yep. My major is at the top of the "worst return on investment" list. However, I'm not upset about it. I've found a career path that I will enjoy doing for the rest of my life. If I had been shown these articles while I was deciding what to major in, it wouldn't have changed a thing.

My dad has a lot of philosophies about life, and I think this one is worth sharing. You should major in something you are passionate about and the rest will work itself out. If you love what you're doing, you will excel at it and work harder at it, which will make you more successful in the long run. You don't want to be stuck doing something you hate for the rest of your life, or you will just spend all the extra money you make on things in an attempt to make yourself happy.

My dad is a smart man.

I definitely think it's worth considering your return on investment when deciding what to major in, but it should not be the only reason you pick a career path.

4 Tips on Turning Your Professor Into Your Mentor

It's important to make a connection with your professors while in college. Having a professor or two that you trust to be your mentor(s) can help you make important decisions not only while you are in college, but after graduation as well.

I came across the article From Professor to Lifelong Mentor: How to Establish the Connection by Nicole Glass on USA Today Educate, and I think it is worth sharing. Here are Glass' four tips, summarized in my own words, on how to create a bond with your professors:  

1.  Go the extra mile.

The first step is to simply show your professor that you care by listening in class. If you are interested in what they are talking about, it's even better, because now you two have something in common.

2.  Know the individual.

If you demonstrate that you will work hard in a professor's class, the professor is more inclined to put forth an effort to get to know you and give you advice. It's also important to remember that just like you are a student with a life outside of the classroom, your professor has a personal life too.

3.  Let your colors shine.

Don't just blend in with all the other students by sitting in the back row and never joining in on the classroom discussion. Stand out by showing your personality in class. Share your opinions and thoughts.

4.  Don't neglect your contacts.

You can still form a relationship with a professor after you've finished their class or graduated from college. Send them and email to keep in touch. Professors really do enjoy hearing from former students.

As I see it, professors have office hours for a reason. They are a resource for you! Stop by and talk to them. Ask for their opinion about a job opportunity. Get their help with a homework assignment. Professors are full of great advice, and they can help you grow both academically and professionally if you give them a chance.

A Brief Introduction

Hello! My name is Brynne.

A few months ago, I entered the working world here at SCC as the marketing specialist after graduating from college in May 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations. I already feel like I've worked here much longer than a few months, so thank you to everyone who has helped make me feel welcome.

The very first week I started at SCC, I was told that I would be in charge of writing my own blog, and I was honestly excited. I have a personal blog (Gluten Free Hungry Girl), so I know that I enjoy blogging!

How cool is that? I get to do something I love for my job. I encourage each and every student reading this to aspire to do the same. It really doesn't get much better than that.

Anyway, I have put some thought into what theme I want to focus on when writing blog posts, and I've come up with a topic that I am pretty enthusiastic about.

As a recent college student, I know first-hand what it is like trying to navigate through the world of higher education, so I've decided to use this blog as a platform to share my experiences and offer advice to our college students.

I look forward to writing many more posts, so stay tuned for updates!