The Difference Between Loving Or Hating A Class

Teachers.

That is one of the main secrets of either loving or hating a class...
They have the power to either make you enthusiastic about coming to class every time or not.

My teachers this semester have gone above and beyond in making me want to come to class with their attention to my individual questions, eagerness for me to understand the material, engaging lessons, and so on.

I will admit that I am not a fan of math or science because the subjects come harder to me than others... yet this semester one of my favorite classes is actually a physics class called "Light and Visual Phenomena" with Professor Michael Ruiz.
Not only is his enthusiasm and passion for physics nice to see, but it is also contagious.
He puts the material into terminology that is relatable to everyday aspects of life, without losing the academics of the concepts.
With an easy to use website loaded with videos, demonstrations, activities, and short questions to check your comprehension - it is simple to keep up with the material.
Yet if you do not understand the material, just like all of the teachers here at UNC Asheville, they have office hours in which you can ask questions, set up an appointment, email, and so on.

The math department even has an open lab area with teachers to help with assignments when needed.
This will be a great help to me with my statistics class this semester.

With UNC Asheville's attentiveness to the individual student, it's easier for me to keep up with the material in my classes, no matter if it may originally appear as a daunting challenge such as math or science.

This semester, I walk into physics with an eager smile on, ready to learn about why light appears differently, such as in this photo I took one day.

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Life As A Literature Junky

With the new semester came rainy weather... but that did not deter my teachers and classmates from promoting a warm atmosphere for the first week of new classes.

Dreary Day On The Quad

I walk out of the rain, and into a room in which my classmates and I are discussing topics before class such as our favorite movie versions of Shakespeare's play "Hamlet," the tone the author took for the homework assignment, what kind of writing we love or hate, and most importantly our own type of writing style.

We may be a group of literature lovers in "Literature 240" class who become moved by a romanticized poem about a field of flowers, fall in love with an author's style of writing, or cry at moving points of a novel, such as the loss of a lover; but I feel like we can be considered more than that.

Everyone has their niche...
Something they take a profound pride in, whether it is enthusiasm about an algorithm for math, or a new piece of music - we all have something that moves us.

At UNC Asheville, students are able to find that niche...
Or multiple ones they love and find the one best for their future profession.

For instance, I'm an art lover and can talk constantly about it.
But writing moves me.

I become so passionate when I talk about readings I've done, pieces I've written, and things I cannot wait to write.

When you become so passionate about something that you just feel an emotional change in yourself, that is when you know it is an aspect to keep in your life.

I've known for awhile that I love to write and read, it's just a type of connection that is hard for me to find elsewhere... but all of my classes at school have only instilled this realization from this year...
Who knows, maybe I could have been a math lover?
That's what liberal arts schools want to make sure - that you know for sure what you are passionate about; this is one of the main goals of UNC Asheville that they fulfill by having you take a little bit of every subject.

As I sit here, I can't help but think of my favorite pieces of literature...
Shakespeare, Sylvia Plath, Lord Byron, Jane Austen; and then of course modern writers such as Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl, L.J. Smith, and so on.

Literature is a part of me, and I'm thankful that I can express it here.

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It Has Started

It has officially started...

It's the end of the semester and we have begun the dreaded exams that test our knowledge of what we have learned.
And as I walk around campus it's apparent that everyone is trying to remember all of the information that they have accumulated in their notebooks this semester.
From people in the residence hall study lounges to the tables at the Highsmith student union, I was not aware that so many people went to my school.

Yet despite all the stress and pressure... there is somehow a good feeling in the air.
The feeling that by finishing an exam, we cannot only say that we accomplished what we were fearful of, but also that we are closer to earning our winter break.

Our faculty is consciously aware of all these feelings, and are making the best possible efforts to make our lives easier.
For instance, yesterday was the school-wide "reading day," meaning no classes and no commitments, other than a day dedicated to studying, and for most - catching up on sleep before exams.
Sleep is such a crucial aspect, but what most people are not aware of is that it is not only the sleep the night before an exam that is important, but also two nights before.

Regardless of sleep, people are continuously hitting the books hard.
Tonight, as an opportunity to recuperate from the first day of exams, and all of the studying for the remaining exams, there is a free breakfast session tonight in the cafeteria at 8:30pm.
At this breakfast, teachers volunteer their time to serve the students food!
It's a time for the students to unwind with a few laughs.

No matter, how hard students are hitting the books, they always find time to relax a little.
Whether it is working out, grabbing a bite to eat with some friends, or watching a movie - remember to relax a little because stress kills, and you want to make it to winter break!

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A Weekend Of The Arts

It was early Friday night as I filed into Lipinsky auditorium, thinking that I would be taking an auditorium seat with other peers and parents, as we gathered for the female and male a cappella group performances. Yet, as I entered through the doors, I was surprised to see that the show would take place in the lobby, and there were more than enough people attending to fill the lobby. Between the microphones, wires, and people the lobby was packed.
My friends and I scrambled for some seats - but then decided it would be better to sit on the floor in the front row, then on chairs in the back.
We had come to support our friends, and we were going to make sure they saw us.

Although we had come to watch the female group, the male group was just as entertaining.
They both sang tunes that audience members could enjoy, no matter their musical preferences, such as melodies from musicals or new chart-topping pop songs.

It never ceases to amaze me how a cappella groups cannot only manipulate their voices for singing, but also to act as the instrumental backgrounds.


The weekend of singing then ended tonight with the "Winter Chorus Concert."
The concert consisted not only of chorus singers, but also the band and orchestra - each with their own performance slot.

The music was not limited to only holiday tunes, but encompassed anything the performers had worked on, that they wanted to share.
For instance, the band played part of the soundtrack from the video-game "Zelda."

Regardless, the performances did not disappoint.

The concerts this weekend were a good way to spend the weekend before exams.

Speaking of upcoming exams, an event that I cannot wait for this week is a free stress relief session taking part of Tuesday from 12pm-2pm in the grotto.
The event includes free 10 minute massages, giveaways, and much more.
It will be a good way to unwind between study sessions.

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What Does A Liberal Education Mean?

The other day, one of my teachers had us write about what we think a liberal education is and how it has translated to our school academics... 

So to help you understand what a liberal education means, I wanted to share my response with you. 

           When I think of a liberal education… I think of having to take a little bit of everything, even when you don’t want to. But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Sure I’m not thrilled about taking a math or science class, but I know they will only help me build upon my knowledge. Yet they do something better than just adding to my understanding of the topic itself. The classes build on my knowledge in general – they build on the connections I make, how I view things, and the general manner in which I consider my classes to interact with each other. It all comes down to connections.

            Sure at a non-liberal school, you can sign up for the fundamental classes, such as art, science, math, literature, and so on. But you can… meaning – it’s an option. Talking with my friend over the weekend about his school experience at Chapel Hill is completely different than my experiences here. But in a good way. While he has already been focused on courses that add to his major, even as a freshman; I have been building from the ground up with the basics. These basics have allowed me to explore what I want my major to be since I had not the slightest clue when I started school. I have been able to take art and mass communications to test those out… But these classes are not the ones that drew me in. Rather it was the unexpected literature and language classes. Unexpected. That is the key word.

            They say that a good fashion designer knows what the client wants before the client even knows it themselves. That’s how I think of a liberal education… having a sense of what the student wants, and needs, before they even know they want or need it.

            Next semester I am taking my dreaded math and science courses… But throughout the classes I will be trying to make connections. Math and science have obvious links due to the need for equations in physics. But what is less apparent is the relation between physics and art. Yet there is one. That is what drew my attention to a physics class rather than taking yet another biology class. Physics is able to relate to a topic that I love, photography. In physics, the course description explained that we will be relating our knowledge to topics such as light, color, and cameras – all very art relatable ideas.

            This is what a liberal education is. Putting yourself out there and not only hoping, but striving to gain knowledge while making connections. Because I can have all the knowledge in the world, but it won’t mean anything until I implement it somehow. This is what UNC Asheville has pushed me to do – implement ideas from one field to another… making constant connections. 

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Back At School. Back To Reality.

Easy come. 

Easy go. 

This is how breaks feel to me. They sound long... but in reality are short.
Between catching up on sleep, hanging out with family and friends, and homework - there is no time leftover.
Next thing you know you are packing up your bags and are headed back to school.

These were the thoughts running through my head as I packed my stuff yesterday morning before the car ride back to school.

It's tough.
I love breaks - but they are a lot of work with everything involved.
And I love school - but it gets tiring after awhile.

I guess the point I am trying to make here for college students and parents is to appreciate these breaks, if you don't already.

But students need to find time to make personal breaks when they are still physically at school.
With exams looming around the corner as a reality check that we are back at school - it is easy to fall victim to stress.
But with some proper planning - it can be a near stress free exam period.

Here are some pointers...

- If you take a nap, make it 15 minutes so you don't enter your sleep cycle and wake up feeling worse than you did before
(naps can improve memory) - yet I suggest just going to bed early.

- Study for an hour and break for 15 minutes.
15 minutes. That is all. Your brain needs a break, but don't let it get side-tracked.

- Write down all your exams and prioritize the dates so you know which ones you need to study for first and also which ones will take more time to prepare for.

- Exercise. I'm not talking about preparing to run a marathon or anything... Just 30 minutes. There are countless classes to get your adrenaline (and your brain) pumping. (When you work out, more oxygen circulates in your body, making your brain function more clearly.)
After studying for a long period of time, it's good to step back and make sure you are actually absorbing the material.
*UNC Asheville workout classes: http://recreation.unca.edu/fall-2012-group-fitness-classes

- Move around. You don't have to hit the gym all the time. Take a walk, just get moving. Studies show that sitting down all day is just as detrimental to your health as smoking.

So whatever study habit you hold, keep these pointers in mind besides the basics of eating right, drinking water, and so on.
Exams may be tough, but if you prepare - you will make it out alive and with a good grade.

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Anagama Firing

Anagama. 

It's not some weird made up word...
It's a type of kiln the ceramics department at UNC Asheville has.
But it isn't a normal everyday kiln, such as the electric ones, where you just switch it on.
The anagama is a big deal.

It only is used a few times a year because it requires so much work.
Here is a shot of what it looks like from the front.

The anagama sits outside in the yard area next to ceramics due to its massive size of about 14 feet,  in addition to the fact that it does not run off of electricity, but rather a fire produced by burning wood.

But the wood does not just burn for a day...
It burns for about five days.

Because it is outside, large, needs a fire going constantly, and goes on for a few days - people need to help with it.

That's what the art students get to do.
And that is exactly what my friend and I had to do when we signed up for a shift time...
Our options ranged from Wednesday night to Sunday evening, either 12am-4am, 4am-8am, 8am-12pm, and so on - a continuous clock.
Wednesday would be just a limited fire while Sunday would have massive flames in order to encompass the entire anagama to fire the pieces in the back.
This meant that Wednesday until Friday night shifts would get to maintain a small fire... less work.

So my friend and I signed up for Thursday morning... 4am-8am.

To say I got little sleep Wednesday night is an understatement.
I would wake up in intervals - fearing that I would miss my shift.

But I didn't and neither did my friend, as we met outside at 3:45am to trek across campus.

The job was not bad at all.
We sat on the couch outside, surrounded by a tarp, listening to Pandora radio while singing since no one else was awake, and maintaining the fire which resembled a campfire.

It was fun and exciting for a few hours, then as the sun began to peek out of the trees... exhaustion started to hit and we began to count down the time left.

I wish I could say I crashed when I got back to my room... but I was somehow still on an adrenaline rush and went to the rest of my classes like a normal day - but was in bed by 8pm.

The life of an art student.

During the whole experience I was sending my mom (who is an art teacher) picture updates, since I could see my piece inside the kiln.

It was an experience for the books, and I highly suggest anyone who wants something different to try it - you do not need to be an art student to volunteer.
Extra hands are always appreciated in the art department.

Times like these is when I am so glad to be going to UNC Asheville, where I can get as much out of my art program as possible.

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Registration

It's that time of year... 

2nd semester registration. 

Of course seniors, juniors, and sophomores have registered already.
It's a hierarchy.
Seniors register one week, then juniors another, sophomores next, and then freshmen.

Surprisingly I don't mind this that much as a freshman because before I even double checked the schedule Saturday, I knew my classes were not going to be taken.
I seem to be the only person I know willing enough to drag myself out of bed for 8am classes, just so I can have the rest of the day to myself.

In my opinion, that's the way to go.

Of course, for all you interested, there are way more than just morning or afternoon classes.
You can take evening classes if you want.

Some classes just have the option, such as you can take Health from 6pm-8:30pm.
But others are required at night, such as Astronomy.

It's all about preference and how badly you want to take that class.

So as I sit at my computer, I am trying to get all my homework knocked out, so I can go to bed early, because I will be waking up early tomorrow.
Registration starts at 7am.

Meaning you better be at your computer, logged on, ready to click those buttons at 7am.

Let's hope no one decides to take all the morning classes.

We will see how it all pans out... 

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First Game

It was only 6:45pm... the game didn't start till 7pm and the fans in the stadium were already roaring.
They were starting to get pumped for what was not only the first official game of the basketball season, but also a huge rival game against Western North Carolina University.

As I entered the stadium, I was handed a "Beat Western" button and followed the flood of students to the Bulldog Nation cheering section and took my seat with my group of friends.
Everyone was sporting some sort of Asheville gear or colors.
There were also a handful of students rocking the body paint - everything from faces to stomachs to arms were painted, and some girls even added glitter to their ponytails for an extra touch.

Although the players were only warming up, the tension was already high as the student section - divided into baseball players, tennis players, runners, frat boys, and students - began eyeing the Western   fans to sum up our cheering competition.

We would not be out cheered. 

As the clock signaled the start of the game, our warm-up cheers progressed into full on scream cheers.

The bleachers shook as we stomped defense... Your own thoughts were drowned out when we screamed for every basket... You could hear a pin drop in the student section as our arms went up in the air and we froze for free throws... Then made the simultaneous "whoosh" as the ball went in...

All of theses cheers encompassed the night.
But we needed them to carry us through the game because Western put up a fight.
Their defense was spotless and their 3 point shots seemed like they would never go anywhere but the net.

By the end of the first half, we were barely maintaining our neck-in-neck battle with them.
But as they hit the bench, something must have happened between my friend and I stating that "Asheville needed to get their act together" and the buzzer signifying the end of halftime, because we came back onto the court ready to play.

Although it was still a battle during the second half, we were able to maintain more of a lead.
Regardless, we did not let up on our cheering.

With about five minutes left, we were leading 69 to 61.
But as the clock dwindled down to about one minute, we had two free throw shots.
And it was all over.

As one of the players, Trent, made the last two baskets - Asheville fans instantly starting cheering because we knew it was over.

We not only won our first game of the season... 

But also our first home game...

AND beat Western 71-61! 

Every Asheville fan left the stadium with their head held high and new bragging rights. 

  

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A Thank You

A thank you to all you UNC Asheville students... 

for your repeated kindness. 

As we come to the end of the first semester, the kind actions of fellow students still does not cease to amaze me. 

Time and time again... 

It's understandable for you to hold the door open for a person directly behind you, it's another when they are at least 6 feet behind! 

But they still hold the door open. 

This week though was a new level of kindness. 

Tuesday and Thursday as I walked back to my room while jumbling my keys, a noodle bowl, spring rolls, and sauce with it... opening doors was an adventure.

But both days when I got to the Founders residence hall, people held both doors open for me. 

Thursday was the best case because another student was leaving the residence hall, but on his way out saw me attempting to hold everything, and he actually walked back and opened the doors for me!

Thank you so much! 

I'm curious to see how the manners of people are on other campuses... 

I like to assume the best in people. 

For instance though, people in my high school would hold the door open for you - but would not go out of their way to. 

I think this is the case in most places and Asheville is just an exception in the sense that there are those people here that will go out of their way to hold the door open for you, no matter how far away you are. 

My point here is that even the smallest actions of kindness can make a person's day. 

I know I may not always be aware of my surroundings, but I try to be - so that I can be that person holding the door open. 

So go out and be aware of who needs a helping hand.

That good karma will come back around one day. 

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