Andy Here!!

Hey Guys!


Let me first introduce myself! My name is Andy and I am Senior Music Education/Performance Major. You probably all saw me at convocation conducting the Marching Band at the Tsongas Center! Obviously I live and breathe music all day every day. It is probably one of my favorite things ever! But anyways enough about me! I just wanted to let you all know that I am here for you guys, which means if you have any questions or concern about anything please ask, especially if you have ANY music questions I am totally here for ya. 


I will be keeping up with posting informative and fun stuff here every week so make sure you keep up with your reading 😉


So something I would like to share with you guys this week is the new Subway on South Campus. Let me tell you it is pretty good! Some tips: the rush hour at the Subway in the McGauvran Student center is usally from 12pm to 12:45. So if you can get there right before 12 or at around 1 you are golden and will beat that rush…or just miss it 🙂 



Another thing, always go for the $5 footlong. Why? Well you may not be STARVING right when you get there so save the other half for later! its a great snack at around 3pm when you are getting hungry right before dinner.  And you are totally getting a deal paying 5 bucks for a footlong rather than buying more food later.


Alright that’s all I have for this week. 


Hope you all have a great weekend. 




— Andy OUT







IT’S SO FLUFFY!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82utG7Q3G_k&feature=related*

Alright, I know that was a really odd title, but I just wanted to say hello to all of you in a very unique way.
My name is Daisy and I just wanted to drop by this blog and say hello to all of you before the semester starts to get incredibly hectic.
I am a fourth year music education major and I was one of your lovely OL’s over the summer. You might remember me from the skit or just from seeing me running around with my freshman groups talking about Harry Potter.*
I am also one of your Orientation Ambassadors, so expect to be getting a few emails and updates from me either here on the blog, the facebook, the twitter, or the formspring. We’ll be keeping you guys completely on track with the goings on on campus. In fact…you might love what we do so much that you might decide to become one of us. 😮
I am also part of the newly forming Umass Lowell Book Club and the UMass Lowell Chapter of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA for short).
In addition to that, I am also a tour guide for the Admissions department and a teacher with the Umass Lowell String Project. I’m busy, I know, but I’m still making time out in my day for all of you darling freshmen and transfers. 

Just like Burger King and McDonalds, we also have our own catch phrase. “Orientation Ambassadors are here for you!”

….Okay, that might not be our OFFICIAL one, but I’m hoping it catches on. 😉

Well guys, I’m going to sign off and get busy doing some other Ambassador stuff. Feel free to email or call or do whatever it is you need to do to get in contact with us. Have a wonderful day and a beautiful weekend!

-Daisy Image and video hosting by TinyPic

*If you don’t know what the title is all about, copy and paste the youtube link into your address bar and enjoy.

*For those of you who don’t know me, and very few of you do, I’m obsessed with Harry Potter. It’s less of an obsession and more of a problem but…OH WELL! 🙂

Stefanie Wong

Hi name is Stefanie Wong; I am currently 19 years old soon to be 20 in October. I am currently a junior in the Community health program. I want to go into public health eventually. What I want to do with public health is another story. I am in the works of a Psychology minor. I’ve been unsure of my major and what I want to do with the rest of my life. This past summer I finally figured out the right fit for myself, which was Community Health.

I live on campus at the Inn and Conference center, in downtown Lowell. I am a tour guide and I play intramurals throughout the year. When I’m not studying or working I like to cook yummy food, go to the gym, and hang out with friends. One of my recent passions has been trying to make a difference by recycling, being greener, becoming more aware of the carbon footprint I leave behind.

I came to Umass Lowell as Undeclared Health switched into Community Health then switched into Psychology for two months and then back to Community Health. I wanted to major in Psychology but my parents felt like Psychology didn’t open enough doors for me. I learned that Community Health was a better fit for me.

If you don’t know what you want to do, talk to people about it. Talk to people who are in the major you are interested in, or a professor who teaches a course in it. What I did was emailed the chair of the department, meet with them and talked to them about the major. Get information before you jump through hoops. For those of you who are still struggling on what major to pick remember this people change there jobs at least three times in there lifetime.

Funny Cartoon to ponder your thoughts
Good luck Stefanie  🙂

We’re baaa aaackk!!!

Hello there!!
Welcome to the Orientation Ambassadors blog!! If you’re checking back in with us from last semester, welcome back! We’re glad you’ve ventured back into the crazy world of UML information provided to you by the one & only UML Orientation Ambassadors!
For those of you new this semester, WELCOME!!! The Ambassador Program is a way for your lovely Orientation Leaders and the Leadership team to keep in touch with you!! We use the wonderful world of technology to keep you guys on track with University events and the academic calendar. We have a Facebook that you can get to by clicking right here! We also have a Formspring that you can get to via our facebook page. We use a Twitter that you guys can access through our facebook page or by clicking here! Throughout the semester, we’ll be e-mailing and calling you, so DON’T FRET!!! We have tons of ways to get in touch with you so you can know all about what’s happening on campus! 
Some things that the Ambassador program does is give all of you amazing students information about what;s going on here at our beloved UMass Lowell!! Not only do we provide you all with EXTREMELY important Academic procedures, policies, and DEADLINES, but we also tell you about all of the crazy-fun stuff that goes on around campus! I know, it’s a ton of information, but we update multiple times on school days and share all of our information with you so you can be an informed student of UML!!
If you remember your OL from your Orientation session, one of them may be an Ambassador!!

Fall Semester 2010 Ambassadors include: 
Andy 
Ashley
Cait
Daisy

James
Jess
Meg
Shannon
Shayna
Stefanie



So that’s just some introductory information about the program!! All of the Ambassadors will be writing and introductory blogs, so keep an eye out to get to know everyone!!

Have a good first week of classes!!
–Ashley

Stress is the biggest hindurance to studying.

Hello everyone!

So, I know finals are coming up and all.  There is a lot of material to study or start studying.  It’s definitely time to buckle down and go at it. 

But make sure you make a bit of time to relax too.  Sleep is a very important part of learning.  It’s proven that people retain information after they sleep.  So make sure you try to get plenty of sleep for finals. 
 

Also, eating healthy is a plus.  Fruits, nuts, and grains are a very good snacking choice.  Try to stay away from fast food or the like.

ALRIGHTY! 
Good luck in exams! 
-Ben

Summertime In Lowell!

Hey Everybody!

We’ve finally made it to finals week, which means the semester is almost over! For many of you, this means going back home to get re-aquainted with your family and your home, hang out with friends, and try to get a summer job. However, if there is anyone who will be living near Lowell or even in Lowell, there are a TON of great things you can do! There are a lot of great things to do; anything from going to a Spinners game to enjoying the local restaurants of downtown Lowell. Here are a few things you can do for a good time!

Folk Festival- In downtown Lowell there is a giant folk festival that takes over downtown Lowell for three day. It takes place between July 23-25, and will be a great time! There will be a lot of performances, along with a lot of activities.

Lowell Spinners- If you’re looking for entertaining baseball and either can’t get transportation to Boston or afford a Red Sox ticket, this is a great option. They play 76 games with 38 home games, which means plenty of opportunities to catch a game.

Brew’d Awakening Coffeehaus- A few weeks ago my sister visited me and we went there to get a cup of coffee and a sandwich and it was awesome! Brew’d has a great atmosphere with good food and good coffee. They also have Open Mic Nights on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month, and Poetry Open Mic Night the 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month.

Hopefully these give you all a good idea of what to do in Lowell this summer!

Tommy

Shayna’s No-Fail Study Technique

Hey guys! Shay here.

Just like the rest of you, I bet you’re cramming to get all that studying done for finals this Friday, and the remainder of next week. I feel you.
I’m currently taking an Art History course that requires me to memorize up to 60-100 pieces of artwork per test. As you can imagine, that’s a lot of memorization to do! I wanted to share the technique I use to help me memorize information, because it literally works so quickly, and is very effective! This works very well with flashcards, and can be used for any subject. 🙂

Now, we begin:
Start by dividing your flashcards into similar groups. For me, I would divide up my flashcards based on art style (Impressionist, Neoclassicism, Realism, ect).

Then, review one stack of similar cards. As you look at each card, recite the information you’re trying to memorize on the other side 6-10 times out loud (very important), while looking at the picture/formula/ect on the front. It’s very important to say the information out loud, because that way, you are visualizing the information, as well as creating a link in your head between the two.

After you have gone through the one little stack, review it entirely twice. Then, repeat with the second one. Once you finish the second one, review that one entire twice, and then mix it with the first. Review the stack entirely. Then, divide your stacks back out into similar groups after you have reviewed, and keep repeating with your subsequent stacks. That way, you are both reviewing the information in small groups, and then refreshing it in your mind as you go through the entire group of information that you need to memorize.
I was doing this last night, and I memorized over 40 flashcards in just under an hour and a half! I’ll be finishing up the second half of my studying tonight, and using Thursday and Friday in order to refresh my memory, because I already have half of what I need to know memorized. Literally, this technique works so well, and I would highly recommend it!

-Shay

CLASSES ARE DONE!!!!

So…in case you’re living under a rock somewhere and you didn’t know…CLASSES END TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As much as I love school and love my major, I really just need a BREAK!!! School work can be really overbearing sometimes, so SWEET SUMMER IS UPON US!!! 

Are you doing anything awesome this summer? Going anywhere? Meeting up with cool people? Working making bank?


Well, I am.
I’ll be here at the lovely UMass Lowell with all the other lovely OLs welcoming a new batch of freshmen and transfers to our WONDERFUL UNIVERSITY. 

A lot of people always say “Wow, Ash. You’re wasting your summer at school? That sucks.” 

And to those that say/think that….YOU COULD NOT BE MORE WRONG.

Orientation is the reason I breathe. My first summer at Orientation was 2009, and it was the best summer I’ve ever had. I’ve made friendships that will be in my life, always. And I know a lot of people think they make their best friends in high school, or freshmen year…but I seriously have never made better friends or met better people than the ones I met and will meet at Orientation.

All of you (should) have attended a session over either the summer or the winter for Orientation. Now don’t get me wrong, THIS IS THE FUNNEST JOB IN THE WORLD….but it’s a TON of work!!! We have work days that start Mon./Thurs. and go until late afternoon Tues./Fri. If you can’t think of it…it’s like working two days in a row…nonstop. We also put in a TON of time decorating the floors of Sheehy hall for you. It may look like premade stuff, but we CREATE everything that goes on the walls during the summer…and those halls are LONG! We also create the programs at the Rec Center. We have to decide what we think will be successful over the summer. Yea, I know. It’s a ton of stuff to do, all the while making sure each student has a first positive experience with the University.


I just wanted to take a moment to give a shout out to all past OLs, returning OLs, and new OLs who all worked/work/will work to make past/future summers here at UML amazing!!!! You’re all awesome!!!!!!!

So get ready for the summer and don’t forget about us!!! 

–Ashley

Is that what I think it is?!?!…Yup..that’s right…the finish line!

Hello you victorious students you,

Now, I know at times it probably seemed like this semester was NEVER going to end.  I know I felt that way a at times!  But….after today…YOU’RE DONE!!!  Take a second to bask in how great that really is….O.K enough.

So since this is the end of the semester there will not be very many “What’s goin’ on on campus” plugs, from me at least.  So I will just talk about myself…just kidding….really though get ready.

So this weekend, I did something that was really exciting to me and was a pretty cool experience…uplifting even.  I learned how to finally tie my shoes…wait what…embarrassing I know.  But really, on Sunday I went into Boston to meet Johnny Cupcakes! 

For those of you that know who I am talking about and dig what he does…be jeals.  For those of you who are like “MmMMmMMm Cupcakes…”, google it up!  I won’t go into his personal story but to say the least it was a pretty cool experience!

Now I hope y’all are using your free time wisely as classes wrap up today.  Make sure you hit the books hard for your finals.  Even if you are doing super awesome in a class, still put 110% into your final exam so that you can get the best grade possible!  If you lucky, your professor may not even make you take a final exam if you have a high enough grade so if that is the case for you…Congrats!!…but seriously go study now.


Alrighty, Today from 3PM to 7PM at the Campus Rec Center stress balls will be made and de-stressing will happen!!!  So head over when you get a chance and join in on the stress relief day.  Extremely helpful around these parts with all those finals and all


Alrighty, I’m Done,


Image and video hosting by TinyPic

FINALS FINALS FINALS

It has been a long and arduous semester, full of trials and tribulations constantly putting our academic ability to the test. Literally. Finally after hours of studying and hardships, we have finally made it to finals week,  which is always a stressful time for any college student. Some classes may only have final papers, or final presentations, in which case there probably won’t be a formal final. But for the rest of us, here are a few tips to gaining success during these remaining few weeks of the semester!

1. Stay Calm– Although the final for a class weighs heavily on your grade, it is not everything. You probably have a lot of other grades from the semester which will also affect your class grade. If you’re in a class that hasn’t had many exams or quizzes, don’t panic. Take a few deep breathes and realize that you have been studying this whole semester and that you are capable of recalling all that information once again. 

2. Time Management– Finals week is right around the corner, which means any remaining study time will pass by quickly. Don’t fret, there is still hope! Over the next few weeks, try and set up a study schedule to set aside time for specific subjects. This also means you should set aside time for yourself. Whether it’s a full day or just a few hours, this time can do wonders to recharge your energy and keep you focused. Time management solves problems.

3. Study Buddy– When you study with a group, you may come across material you missed, or you could see a problem solved from a different perspective. While studying by yourself is appealing, it may benefit you to compare notes with your friends. The Tutoring Center is also a great resource to prepare for finals. Their drop-in hours can be found at http://www.uml.edu/class/Tutoring/tu_drop.html.

Good Luck With Finals!
Tommy