Communication at Its Finest...

Okay so having been at UB for almost 3 years now, I've taken a variety of classes and experienced many different teaching styles. I think that my favorite classes have been those pertaining to my major (go figure!) simply because of the professors who teach that subject area. However, my all-time favorite class at UB was Oral Communication for Business taught by Kelly Carr. This class wasn't required for my major, but was required as a general education course. Now, going into the class I was terrified, because like most college students, I didn't really enjoy giving presentations or public speaking. But Kelly (as the students affectionately called her) made the class engaging and fun-not once did she lecture for the entire class period. Another cool thing about the class is that whenever we had to give a presentation-like every other wee-we had to record ourselves, and write a critique of how we think we did. For me, that was probably the weirdest part, but it helped me realize that my public speaking skills weren't as horrible as I thought they were. Outside of the presentations, we learned how to effectively interview, as well as how to answer those "awkward" questions that may (or may not be) asked during an interview. We learned how to communicate effectively using PowerPoint presentations and how to effectively get a point across in one minute by creating an infomercial. The class itself was very informative, and I've found myself using the techniques we learned in previous jobs or internships I've had. If you ever get the chance, I would highly suggest taking this class, although I'm not sure if Kelly still teaches it, or if she teaches undergraduate courses at all. Either way, the class is engaging, interesting, and helpful to all those who take it.

Until next time UB....

Our Evolving Campus

This is an exciting time to be a student at UB. We are growing, and fast. Did you know our administration hopes to increase student enrollment by ~3,000 students by next year? At a time when the economy is flailing, stocks are dropping daily and you rarely hear the word “growth” and “increase”, we are defying the odds. There was a story in the news this week about The University of California, San Diego accidently sending acceptance emails to students who had already been refused admission. Thankfully it seems aspiring students will receive no such emails from our admissions office over the next year. However, students have to wonder…what is our role in all of this? How are we going to represent our school to incoming students? How do we want our legacy to be retained here at UB?

I’m not talking about school mascots, colors and teams. I’m talking about our character and integrity. Statistics say that our average student age is between 28-34. I’m 26, almost 27 and I’ve been thinking of more serious things lately than how much beer I can drink on a Friday night (not that it isn’t good to do sometimes). I’ve been more concerned with making an impact on the people around me by contributing my energy, my thoughts and ideas. It’s exciting to me that I’m enrolled at a school were that is of value to the staff and faculty. Trust me, they don’t just want our help, they need it! What kinds of activities can help our community? How can we raise money for student events? Every single student has an idea that’s all their own and it needs to be heard. I jumped at the opportunity to contribute to this blog because I wanted to give voice to the UB Student. We are a diverse and unique group and we are lucky to have a school who is proud of what we are and what we accomplish.

Another way in which Charm City lives up to its name

Last week in my poetry class, several students got to talking about "home," and where that might be, and how they felt drawn to it, wherever it was. Me, I don't have that. I don't mean that I'm homeless -- I'm not -- but that I do not consider the college town where I grew up to be "home." Part of this may be because, as a student of older-than-traditional-student age, even among many of my grad student peers, I have had the opportunity to live all over the US.

I've been thinking about this a lot lately, because as spring comes, and I get to live through the fecundity and rebirth that I only witnessed on exploratory weekends last year, I love Baltimore more every day. I like my house, and our quirky street. I like the tired-out old cemetery that comprises the block just south of ours, and the wildlife that flourishes there. I like the Harbor, and the Formstone, and the splendid pockets of Bawlmer hometown culture and neighborhood determination that I find all over the city. As it happens, I consider UB one of the many assets of Charm City, for reasons which I will continue to enumerate here.

But today... Today I love it here because I could get in the car with my SigOth (we are having label issues, but that is not something you need to fret about today) and drive for a couple minutes and find ourselves up at Gunpowder Falls. In half an hour we were deep into Nature, listening to birds and creeks, crisping ourselves up in the brilliant sun, admiring the lapis sky. It was excellent. I know, that's the County, not the City -- but it's still part of the Baltimore experience that coming to UB has brought me.

I have discovered that a lot of people don't know that Baltimore (City OR County) offers a surprising number of opportunities for getting your Nature on. There are parks all over the place, bike trails and urban walks throughout the city, a host of big state-run parks just to the north of the city line, not to mention the waterfront and the whole Chesapeake Bay watershed.

In both the Strategic Plan that I shared with you earlier and the recent speech made by our UB president to the State budget people, our little school has stated very clearly its desire, nay, its determination, to green the campus. I salute this. And I think it will be grand when UB is another green space in Baltimore, part of the larger secret Nature in my new hometown.

New garage?

I hear that there is going to be a new garage built and that there will be possible two retail spaces available??? Not sure how true this is or not, but if there will be two retail spaces available, I think that they should be occupied by some inexpensive dining options lol. Like a Chick-fi-la, Burger King, something with a dollar/value menu LOL... but seriously... I get tired of the same places to go to that are not really providing much bang for your buck. If I want to spend six dollars for a meal that consist of deli meat and chips, I would go to the store, buy the lunch meat and bread and chips for less than that (or damn near close to it) and make class snacks for all week. I, and some fellow peers, do not believe that there are enough food options on or near campus and we would like to see a change...

What other food vendors would everyone like to see and can someone verify if this garage thing is coming or not? Thanks!!! :o)

Research Resources and Technology

Writing about the library last week reminded me of the best feature of the University of Baltimore. During my three years there, I routinely used two facilities that extended the reach of my education beyond Charles Street.

The library provides extensive periodical collections available online. Using your library bar code, on the back of your student identification card, you can login to Research Port, which allows searching thousands of dissertation, journal, newspaper, and magazine titles through several dozen databases. Many of these articles can be viewed and printed without leaving your computer. And if they are not available online, nor physically in Langsdale, interlibrary loan can provide a scanned copy. These features make complex research simpler, even for the busiest student.

The second service I frequently used was interlibrary loan of books. All of the schools in the University System of Maryland, along with St. Mary's College of Maryland and Morgan State University, provide a single library system where books can be requested from any school and delivered to Langsdale within a few days. This vastly extends the resources available to the students at UB. And like Research Port, the library allows you to sign in and request materials online, having them ready when you next come to class.

I admit, I did not always use these tools for classroom purposes. Many of the articles and books I requested I read for pleasure or just to learn about something new. But the system always found me the material I was looking for.

Life on the edge

Ever since i entered college this past semester, i have fallen and got back up;fallen and got back up again. I have felt lost and confused, defeated and from what i have heard, so has everyone else on campus

But in November, i fell into a hole i couldnt dig myself out ofwith my world crashing around me, and on the brink of a breaking point in my life wherei thought i had lost myself, a friend came to save me

He came to me when i was at my weakest, when i had no one to turn to, no one to support meHe came to me with loving, arms wide open,and raised me up from my sorrow and despair and filled me with
Hope, love, joy, patience,kindness,goodness,gentleness and peace.

He gave me life again and reborned me and filled me with a spirit that will help me stay strong and fight against the unrighteousness and sin that we often come in conflict with every single day of our lives

But i will fall again, because i am not perfect, but the greatest thing about this man who helped me,is he will forgive you and he will still love you no matter what!

This great man, is not a man in fact, but Jesus!!!

He came to this world to teach us the word, and walk in the light with him
"I am the way, the truth and the life" as he told us way back when and it is still true today
He will lead us out of the darkness, the problems and despairs that plagues our livesand gives us hope and peace and love to conquer those problems with Jesus leading us the way

"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the lord your god will be with youwherever you go!"

If you want to learn more about Jesus, come check out the Christian Fellowship on monday and wednesdayin the student center room 402a. Also come check out our booth at the block party on thursday april 16th

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him."John 3:16

To Major, or Not To Major...That is the Question

Ok so as an upcoming graduate, with a B.A. in English/Professional Writing, I find myself attending career fairs and talking to potential employers about what I want to use my degree for. My career goal is to become a school counselor, but until I obtain my advanced degree, I'll work in just about any field. So to make a long story short, I attended the UB Career Fair this past Monday, March 30. As I walked up to the Johns Hopkins table, I started conversation with one of the women who were there. I saw from the sign posted that they weren't exactly hiring for students with English degrees, but instead of walking away, I decided to talk to her. Big mistake. Here's how the conversation went:

Woman: "So what's your degree in? What's your background?"
Me: "English with a concentration in Professional Writing."
Woman: "Really? Why would you major in English? What can you do with that? I started as an English major, but switched because you can't do anything with it."
Me: silence...
When I didn't say anything, she excused herself to the bathroom...go figure

Now, I dont know whether or not I was supposed to find this funny or be appalled. First of all, this is a potential employer telling me that my major of choice is "wrong" because I can't do anything with it. As a student, I feel that having an English degree will make me very marketable; I mean, what employer wouldn't want an employee who can communicate effectively on and off paper? At the time she said this, I was in a state of stupor and I wasn't sure how to respond. Luckily, I didn't let my emotions get the best of me.

Often times people ask me why I chose english as my major. My response is simple: Because I enjoy to read, write, and analyze things. I enjoy reading Shakespeare, Chaucer, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Jane Austen, and Charles Dickens; I enjoy writing papers (as crazy as that may sound) and I enjoy not just reading the novels, but also examining the themes and motifs in those novels. I don't think there's anything wrong with majoring in a subject you enjoy, after all, YOU are paying your tuition. I worked full time through school to pay my tuition, so I might as well major in something I enjoy. I was a psychology major during my freshman and sophomore years, only because I wanted to be a Psychiatrist (since doctor's make money). But the one thing I had to realize is that if I'm going to be in college for four years, I might as well enjoy it. (No offense to any Psychology majors out there). So if there's anybody reading this who may be confused as to what to choose as your major, or if you're considering changing your major, make sure you choose a subject that you enjoy and that fulfills you.

Until next time UB...

P.S. I didn't walk away from the career fair empty-handed. I filled out an application with a potential employer, and they accepted it, English degree and all.