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.

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.

I’m scared. I’m terrified, actually. From the outside, I look like the average female college student, but inside I’m quivering. Every day that passes in which I pull off my calm facade, is another day that passes that I am not being fully truthful. Sure, I’m alright. I’m doing just fine. But behind all of my everyday activities and small successes, is a confused girl who actually has no idea what she is doing.

Now, that makes me sound like some sad, lost puppy that has no idea what he/she is doing. No, I am not lost. No, I am not sad. But, I am pretty sure that I am making up more than half of the moves that I make every day.

On my eighteenth birthday my mother (who seemed quite relieved that I had made it safely past high school without either dropping out, developing a substance problem, or losing all of my morals and just becoming really, really annoying) told me that adulthood is just like childhood, except with a whole lot more paperwork. At the moment, I denied her words as the truth because I was overwhelmed with the freedoms to buy scratch tickets or get a tattoo if I wished and the opportunity to say “Don’t treat me like a child” with true conviction because I was actually no longer a legal child.

Now, the excitement has calmed down and I pass my nineteenth birthday realizing that all adulthood means for me at the moment is signing a whole lot more things, paying off student loans, and not being able to hide behind the phrase “I didn’t know” anymore. Ultimately, I am beginning to realize that my mother was on point with her statement. (Yes mom, you were right. *Sigh*)

As much as I battle amongst my peers to make myself appear more unique than the next, I am realizing that being an adult does not make me Superwoman and, unfortunately, it takes a whole lot less than kryptonite to hinder me. Fortunately, at the same time, I am learning that this process of being hindered and figuring it out anyways is the process of life. I do not know exactly what I am doing (and here’s a fun fact: neither does anyone else, no matter what they tell you), and the fun of life and adulthood is figuring it out.

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.

I am a professional liar – or, as I like to call it, a professional manipulator. I have learned throughout my 13 years of public education that in order to succeed, it is a necessity to learn how to form your own words in a way that is gentle to the ear of the listener and also humble yet complimentary to the speaker. Once you master the art of linguistics, you have the ability to both form the views of yourself that others hold as well as see through the facades of others.

Manipulation is most commonly looked at as a negative trait, but in this respect it can be positive. This is because in order to represent yourself properly, you must know how to describe your strengths and weaknesses honestly and well. That ability will help you to make yourself appealing to employees through tools such as interviews and your resume.

An example of this manipulation is to know how to form a simple job description such as “Acted as a hostess for 4 years” into a more eloquent sentence like “held a 4 year hostess position and led the dining floor in seating and customer service.” Changing one sentence has the potential to instantly give you more credit as a prospective employee. You can use this ability to also better your weaknesses. For example, instead of telling a future employer that you aren’t good at public speaking you can focus on your strengths and instead say that you work best in intimate and more one-on-one settings as opposed to large presentation surroundings.

Sometimes being flexible and willing to grow as a person and employee trumps experience when applying for jobs. In order to get you that opportunity though, perfect your writing skills so that you can get your foot in the door at your dream job.

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.

I have two lives. In two different places and with two different purposes. In both, I have a home, friends, resources and the necessities that make a life. In one of my lives, I am a daughter, sister, and neighbor. In the other, I am a new face, a growing student, and a prospective employee. I am not the only one who lives multiple lives, though. Living two different lives is the expectation for 18-year-olds entering adulthood.

Our nation and world ask us to have two different lives for at least the years that it takes for us to graduate college with a college degree. Those who wish not to enter the workforce through higher education, such as those who have earned their education through vocational schooling or experience, are deemed less qualified than a college graduate. Even stay-at-home parents are frowned upon these days among many crowds.

It is important to realize the treasure that is education. Also, in order to do well when enrolled in higher education, it is necessary to recognize the opportunity for growth that you are experiencing. As fortunate as some are to receive a diploma from a university or college, as a society we need to respect that education comes in all forms.

Education is just as important whether it is being taught in or outside of a classroom. Formal education, such as institutionalized schooling, provides certificates and qualifications that alternative education does not. It represents hard work and persistency. At the same time, we learn the most important skills in our life from people who do not use the title of “teacher” to define themselves. It is more common than most of us admit for individuals who are best at what they do (whether it is a mother, teacher, businessman/woman, ect.) to have learned their skills outside of what they studied in school.

Think of it like this, United States citizens over the age of 18 are legally permitted to get their license after taking the license test, whether or not they took formal drivers’ education classes or not. The same goes for the real world. Everyone has the right to attain a job, career, and life in the manner that they wish, whether or not they took formal classes to certify them as capable of such a job. That is the freedom that our nation provides us.

Thank you to all of the teachers, professors, and doctors (both “formal” and “informal”) who spend their time teaching youth, young adults, and adults.

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.

As students, we are expected to enter a classroom and accept anything and everything that our teachers and professors teach us. Furthermore, we are expected to regurgitate their preaching in quizzes, tests, and exams. We are asked to repeat this process throughout our lives for about 12 years if we wish to complete a Bachelor’s Degree, and even more years if we would like to pursue higher degrees. If you look at school in this manner, it is very easy to understand why the high school dropout rate has only increased over the years.

In order to avoid this academic epidemic, it is important to realize the purpose of school and what goal our teachers and professors have in mind when teaching us. Believe it or not, school staff members do not have the single goal to make it impossible to pass their class or to assign you papers you don’t want to write. Actually, they signed up to work at a school to benefit you; the future of the world. Somewhere underneath their layers of business casual attire and skin, is a heart that wants you to do well.

I find it easier to put trust in my professors by getting to know them on a professional level. In order for me to know when an appropriate time to question my teacher is and when I should trust them, I find that I need to learn about their credibility. This includes basic information such as where they come from, where they went to school, what they studied and maybe some fun facts about them. If you find yourself to be a person who doubts his/her teachers often, this may be helpful for you. At the same time, make sure to keep a professional boundary, and not to get too personal with your teachers, otherwise it will become even harder to learn from them.

There are many ways to learn a little bit more about the lecturer in front of you in the classroom. I know what you’re all thinking: RateMyProfessors.com. Yes, this is a useful site but, unfortunately, it is also flawed. On this website, you will very rarely find a student who worked hard and took into account both his/her effort as well as that of the teacher.

Instead, most commonly, you will find students who didn’t want to work at all and who, as a consequence of their little effort, did poorly in the class. Instead of taking responsibility for their actions (or lack there of) these students tend to sign into RateMyProfessors.com and bash the teacher for having the audacity to give them the grade they earned.

On the other hand, you will find the students who are in LOVE with their teachers. These alternative students have such an appreciation for their teachers that their primary goal in writing on RateMyProfessors.com may very well be simply to get the attention of their professor when he/she let’s curiosity win and peaks onto the website.

Instead of relying on an easily-accessible website to learn about the credibility of your teachers and professors, try to use more conventional and reliable resources to learn about them. Simply entering the name of your teacher in Google very well may lead you to more information about their career and teaching than using RateMyProfessor.com or talking to your peers will. Information on Google is public, and the websites that share information about your teachers will often come from other schools or businesses for which they have worked, which are both reliable.

Other dependable resources include the website of the school you attend. Most school websites will have a location where they share a little blurb about each teacher and professor on staff. These are surprisingly informative and may put you at ease.

Remember, Schools have reasons for hiring every single staff member that they bring on board. You, too, have reason to question any one you wish. Just try to remember that teachers and professors have worked hard to land their position at your school. So, if you wish to learn more about them do some extra credit and put some time into learning about their teaching careers. Rating them doesn’t do much good.

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.

Yesterday,
I went to a business Seminar titled “Life after Graduation: A View from
the Trenches”. The seminar was organized and promoted by The Department of
Management (http://www.uml.edu/msb/management/Management.html) and The Young
Professionals of Greater Lowell (http://www.ypgl.org/). The first speaker was Taylor Gys, who is now an
Accountant at Anstiss & Co. She received his BA in Accounting from
Assumption College and is currently working on earning her MBA at Southern New
Hampshire University. Craig J. Mackenzie, who is Senior Vice President of
Operations at Lowell Five Cent Savings Bank, also shared his experiences. He
received his BA in Math and a BS in Economics at Syracuse University and an MBA
from UMass Lowell. The last speaker was
Heather Makrez, who is the Director of Alumni Relations at UMass Lowell. She
received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from UMass Lowell.
The
seminar included presentations by three members of the Young Professionals of
Greater Lowell. At the seminar, they shared their experiences upon
transitioning from a university setting to the professional world. The speakers
shared the lessons that they learned, and are currently learning, throughout
their progressions in their careers. Afterward, they answered all of our
questions. They intentionally did not spend much time presenting information
about themselves before they asked us what we wanted to learn from them. They
allowed the majority of class time to be dedicated to answering our questions.
This provided more of a seminar atmosphere, which was extremely beneficial for
learning.

The major topics covered during the seminar including tasks to seek employment. This involved information about resumes, professional networking, interviewing, and social networking. Presenters also shared information about their first professional job experiences, and their struggles and successes in continuing their education. What I found most interesting was the topic of managing their careers, which involved social skills, mentors, taking initiative, and career advancement. The professionals advised us to be honest, confident, and professional. This includes showing up on time, dressing appropriately for the occasion, and displaying our best interpersonal and communication skills.

It was incredibly
admirable learning about their transitions into their careers as people in the
business world. It was specifically interesting listening to their experiences
because they are young (within ten years of attaining their bachelor’s degrees)
to be so successful in the business world.
It was particularly rewarding that the panelists answered all of our
questions. They showed a large amount of enthusiasm toward our attendance and
questions. I am very glad that I went to the seminar, because now I have gained
knowledge about the reality of becoming a member of the working community that
I otherwise would not have gained.