Disclaimer: Anything written in this blog represents the opinions of the author, and no one else. Each blog is written lightly, and is not intended to offend any of the mentioned businesses, locations, students, or staff.

It is very rare that I am doing one thing at a time. While I am taking notes in class, I am making a list of the homework that I have to complete. When I am walking to work, I am emailing my professor about an assignment. I need to be prepared to be the most efficient as possible throughout the day.

If you were to ask me, I would agree that focusing all of your attention on one task at a time creates the best product. If you were to watch me throughout the day, you would quickly realize that my actions contradict this principle. I don’t do this out of preference. I do this out of necessity.

In today’s world, students are held to higher standards than ever before. In order to stick out, we are expected to successfully complete five courses at a time, participate in clubs and sports, maintain a healthy social and family life, and possibly hold a job or two. Although we do not maintain traditional jobs like many adults, we are expected to constantly multitask and to go, go, go.

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming!

Disclaimer: Anything written in this blog represents the opinions of the author, and no one else. Each blog is written lightly, and is not intended to offend any of the mentioned businesses, locations, students, or staff.

Imagine going to a school where you know no one. Imagine not having a guidance counselor telling you where you should go to college and guiding you throughout all of the school tours and paperwork. Imagine living away from home for the first time or supporting yourself with no help from your parents. Imagine wanting so badly to do well and feeling prepared to do so, but not knowing who you can trust and where there are resources to support you. These are the thoughts and realities that transfer students experience.

Their reality is scary yet exciting. These students come from all different kinds of places and educational backgrounds. Often, they have some work experience under their belt which has given them the motivation to further pursue their education. Because of their real life experiences, transfer students bring many things to the classroom that make UMass Lowell the unique University that it is.

Unlike freshman students entering college straight from high school, transfer students are often older and have already acquired the tools to succeed that younger, freshman students are still developing. These include a strong work ethic, time management skills, and professionalism that they learned in the workforce and from previous classes they completed before attending UMass Lowell. Although transfer students are entering a whole new world with new experiences and opportunities, they are adults who are prepared to do so.

Still, everyone needs a little guidance. That is the purpose of the staff of the Manning School of Business. They are not only at the University to teach academia, but also to guide students who are entering the college at every age and place in their lives. No matter how focused a student is, it just isn’t possible to do your best without being aware of the resources and connections that the school has to offer you. Knowing things such as where the Tutoring Center is located, who the Dean of your college is, and where there is someone on campus who you can speak to if you’re having a rough day is part of this.

The University and the Manning School of Business set up programs as support systems to assist students in their success and to thank students for their effort. Specifically, UMass Lowell and the Manning School of Business pride themselves in encouraging transfer students to continue their journey toward their degrees. All of the support that is provided for free is what makes all the difference in choosing UMass Lowell as your Alma Mater.

Disclaimer: Anything written in this blog represents the opinions of the author, and no one else. Each blog is written lightly, and is not intended to offend any of the mentioned businesses, locations, students, or staff.

First day of classes…Check! I love going back to school. Yet, I hate it so much. Maybe, I reserve the right as a college student to love hating it so much. Yup, that must be it.

Going back to school is a bittersweet feeling. Two weeks before college begins again, we sit at home in between doubles staring at pictures of our friends from school and the boxes in our bedroom that are already packed and ready to bring back to school. Then, as soon as the first flower buds appear come April, we moan and groan until we are let free to go back to mom and dad’s house and the bedroom we’ve had since elementary school.

Today, in my first Microeconomics class, my professor asked us if we were excited to be back in the classroom. About five hands out of forty rose, and at least three of those hands were those of brown-nosers. So, only about two people in the entire classroom openly admitted that they were excited to be back at school and in the classroom.

My professor then went on to explain that we were here at school for a service, which is education. Attending classes to receive this service is a price that we take willingly in order to, as adults, have more choices. Because we are going to college now, in our future we will have the option to continue education, earn a decent job, or pursue our dreams with a Bachelor’s Degree to our disposal. We choose to suffer, or to prosper according to the two excited students in my class today, a little bit in the classroom in order to educate ourselves which gives us more options as we grow older.

I think she’s right. As much as we moan and groan about our 8:00 am classes and about spending all of the money in our miniscule checking accounts on textbooks, the challenge is fulfilling. Although we know that with the school year comes hard work and high expectations, these obstacles are what make us better as individuals.

Ultimately, it is the fact that we are choosing to arrive on the first day of school that reminds the world, and ourselves, of the steps that we are taking to grow and to give back to our community. That being said, make sure to go to the second day of classes (and all of the rest), as well :-).

Disclaimer: Anything written in this blog represents the opinions of the author, and no one else. Each blog is written lightly, and is not intended to offend any of the mentioned businesses, locations, students, or staff.

It is important that I be well-rested. It is vital. It is crucial to not only my happiness but also to that of those around me. Depending on my mood in the morning, I make or break people’s days.

You see, I work at a breakfast café. My duty is to wake up earlier than those who have to get up to provide for their families, to go off to school, or to start their daily adventure. My job is to prepare the coffee that will wake them up and the food that will fuel them for the day. My job isn’t only to serve these food and drink items, but to serve the tired and weary morning walkers happiness and positivity to jump-start their day.

Working at a restaurant or café that serves breakfast is quite a daunting task. It creates a burden on the back of its employees that is much heavier than that which lies on the backs of servers working at restaurants that serve lunch or dinner. This is because breakfast is debated to be the most important meal of the day because it starts your metabolism and field your body to go go go for the rest of the day.

No one wants to start their day with a warm blueberry muffin and a hot coffee with a side of a frown and scowl. Instead, people wish to enter the day with the help of a friendly greeting and friendly assistance for whatever breakfast is best to fuel their mind, body, and soul.

Needless to say, I take my morning job very seriously and I hope all of you breakfast servers and counter girls take pride in what you do, too!

Disclaimer: Anything written in this blog represents the opinions of the author, and no one else. Each blog is written lightly, and is not intended to offend any of the mentioned businesses, locations, students, or staff.

So, I have a new obsession. I am engrossed with the concept of astrology and horoscope signs. How interesting is it that our personalities and our day-to-day events can be predicted based on the time, date, and place that we were born?! I find it completely fascinating.

Upon doing my own research on astrology and horoscopes, I have found that there are many other ways to categorize us as people, as well. I have decided that there are three different kinds of people in this world as I have witnessed thus far in my 19 years of life. I have categorized everyone into three different genres or “types” of people according to the way that they start their day; their breakfast.

First, there are those who run too late in the morning to have breakfast. They may roll out of bed and leave the house in pajamas or they may wake up just in time to perfect an outfit. Either way, this type of person does not leave time for the miniscule things such as breakfast. They are the fast-thinkers and the go-getters. Although they don’t always pay attention to details, such as eating breakfast, they have a much better idea of the larger picture than most. They may not appear to be the geniuses of the crowd, but they are the kind of people who end up making the biggest moves in life.

Secondly, there are those who eat something small in the morning. Not too much, but just enough. They make have some yogurt, and apple, or even toast or a bowl of cereal. This way, they are prepared for the day and won’t get that mid-morning stomach growl before they have even really gotten the chance to start their day. Not only are these kinds of people conscious of their hunger and health, but they like to give themselves time to prepare for events, whether they be small like going to class or bigger such as preparing for an important job interview. Procrastination is natural on occasion, but in order to keep their life on track – and they will – they prefer to prepare properly as to not be caught off guard.

Third, there are the people who prefer to go all out with the start of their morning. The honor breakfast as being important and choose to eat substantial meals such as pancakes, shakes, egg sandwiches, or yogurt parfaits. Although substantial, their breakfast isn’t necessarily heavy. This is metaphoric to their lives. Although they work hard, they aren’t necessarily the people who end up with their dream job or life, but are the people who earn their position and watch out for themselves and their future. It’s easy to judge these people as being pretentious or too conscious, but they simply prefer to be safe. This quality ends up not only helping them, but also those around them.

As with most horoscopes, predictions, and descriptions, my “types” are not spot-on. They very well may be quite the opposite. Sometimes I find myself being a small morning eater, and sometimes I find myself a big morning eater. Nothing is black and white. These types are not judgments, but instead they provide insight from my experiences. As goofy as it may sound, you can learn a whole lot more from the small things than we choose to admit.

Disclaimer: Anything written in this blog represents the opinions of the author, and no one else. Each blog is written lightly, and is not intended to offend any of the mentioned businesses, locations, students, or staff.

Phew. I think my face is still flushed. There is absolutely nothing easy about speaking in front of a large crowd. I will say, though, it is quite rewarding once the feeling comes back to your stomach.

Last year at this time I would have never thought that I would be speaking at orientation to incoming Manning School of Business students. For all I knew, I would be transferring schools at this point, or worse, dropping out of college.

It wasn’t so bad, though – both completing my freshman year of college as well as speaking in front of 60 eager yet slightly disengaged incoming freshman about my year. Still, there are a few things that I would have liked to emphasize in my presentation that time did not allow.

First, let socializing happen naturally. Two best fiends later and one W (withdrawal) on my transcript later, I will suggest that you let your social life happen as it will. Yes, it is important (even though your parents may say otherwise) but no, it does not decide your fate (although it will definitely decide who you sit next to in class and who may or may not cheat off of your Calculus exam in the Fall – it will happen.)

Second, mo’ money, fewer problems. Although, the saying is formally mo’ money mo’ problems (mo’ meaning more), this is not the case in college. Picking up a job with your free time will not only supply you with a few extra bucks for whatever you may want when at school (well, maybe not whatever you want…), but I will also ease your parents mind as you transition into your first year away from home. A job represents stability and will help in the effort of keeping your parents off your back while you’re away.

And third, ask for help. Just do it. Swallow your pride and ask the hundreds of questions that are floating around in your head. Whether you ask your uninterested Western Civilization professor or that cute kid that you always see in the hallway on Tuesdays, it’s important to stay informed. It’s better to ask a stupid question than it is to embarrass yourself by acting on your own stupidity that came from not knowing the answer.

That being said, my Freshman Year Wisdom has come to a close. Feel free to ask me, or anyone who is a part of the Manning School of Business any question at any time. Also, remember to Like the Manning School of Business on Facebook and to follow us on Twitter @UMassLowell_MSB for more tips, event information, important dates, blogs, and just overall pretty cool stuff. Good luck and go get ‘em freshmen.