Second-Year
March 2016
Newsletter
In this issue:


Some things to
consider. . .
Huskies Get
Connected

Faculty Advice

Second-Year Pillars

Important Events
COMMUNITY
I hope you enjoyed your Spring Break and were able to spend the week resting, relaxing, possibly making some
money by working, spending time with loved ones, getting organized, preparing for future assignments, studying,
and much more. Around this time of year, there are a lot of deadlines and events. Exams, projects, and assignments deadlines are popping up from now until the end of the school year.
We encourage you to keep working through to the end of the semester. Here are a few things you might want to
consider as we pass the mid-way point this semester:
1. Check in with your professors about your grades,
2. See a tutor about material that you may not understand, and
3. Take advantage of volunteer opportunities or organizations that you hoped to get involved in the semester.
Here are a couple quotes to keep you motivated:
 It costs you something to do good.” —Zora Neale Hurston
 “If you want to have a life worth living, a life that expresses your deepest feelings and emotions and cares
and dreams, you have to fight for it.” —Alice Walker
HUSKIES GET
CONNECTED
Looking for ways to get involved on campus?
It’s not too late!
Let us guide you
Meet with a fellow student an d f in d th e
opportunities that will make your college
experience count!
Second-Year Community members &
BetterTogether volunteer at Barb City
Manor in DeKalb!
Schedule your Huskies Get Connected
appointment online today here
or by e-mail at [email protected]
First- and Second-Year Experience Office
Altgeld Hall 100
Faculty Advice
By: Kelly Champion, MS, Instructor,
Department of Family, Consumer and
Nutrition Sciences
It’s all about balance.
I am constantly amazed at the number of things our students balance each semester. Some balance work and school. Others
balance work and school with a family. Others still balance work, school, several clubs or organizations, fraternities or sororities,
volunteer work and MORE! Many times I wonder how you manage everything. Some days I cannot manage getting to class on
time.
One thing I talk to every class about each semester is balance - especially for the second half of the semester. Once spring break
is over, we are half way through the semester. It becomes “crunch time” – yet a time when many students still say, “I still have time
to…” They look at syllabi and think to themselves that they still have a lot of time to get things done.
And that is partially true. You have about 8 weeks until the end of the semester.
However, you need to think now about finding a balance.
“[Students] look at syllabi and think
to themselves that they still have a
It is likely that every one of your courses has a paper, exam, project or something lot of time to get things done.”
else due towards the end of the semester, in addition to a final exam. This can
also make the second half of the semester seem impossible, leaving you to question if you can get everything done on time. While
each project or paper in and of itself may not be a huge assignment to complete, putting assignments plus the addition of final
exams all onto one’s plate at the same time can be a bit overwhelming.
Here are a some tips I have shared with students over the years to encourage them to balance life and stress:
1.) Know what kind of learner you are. Are you a visual person? Or do you need to hear things to learn and understand
(auditory)? Or are you a “doer” – meaning you need to physically DO something to learn? Knowing what kind of learner
you are will help you get organized and study. If you are a visual person, then you need to see things written down to
learn and remember. If you are an auditory learner, you need to hear things. Here is a great link to help you determine
what kind of learner you are: http://www.niu.edu/access/_files/LearningStyles.pdf It also has suggestions on completing
your work and studying.
2.) Now that you know what kind of learner you are, get organized. Get a calendar. I am a visual person so I need a calendar
I can see. You may be different. Plan your assignments, work, family time, meals, etc. Plan everything. Yes, you know you
have an assignment due on X day, but when are you working on that project? Get away from doing things last minute.
You know when things are due. Get to work on those assignments that you can do now. Some may have to wait a bit, but
some may be general papers that are just due at the end of the semester. Do those general assignments now.
Thanks to those who attended
“Human the Movie!”
Faculty Advice continued
3.) EAT and SLEEP! As the semester starts to wind down, students tend to sleep less and eat more convenience foods.
Many times they feel they cannot afford to sleep because they have so much they need to get done. On the contrary. You
cannot afford to NOT sleep. Your body physically has to rest. You cannot run on high caffeine drinks and drive-thru food
for long. Your body will eventually tell you to slow down – by making you slow down. You will get sick. Then you will be left
with trying to get through the end of the semester when you are sick. Plan time to sleep. Eat healthy. If you are on the go,
take a banana, apple, cheese, hummus, almonds or other foods with you to keep your body fueled. Drink your water as
well. Taking care of your body will help you get through these stressful last weeks of a semester.
4.) In that same arena, make time to get some physical activity. Take 30 minutes and go for a walk, go the gym, whatever.
Just move. As spring weather starts, students will be itching to get outside. Go outside. Get some fresh air and put down
the books for a little bit. (Make sure you come back to them, though!) This will make a big difference in your day. Along the
same lines, consider slowing down at night also. Bedtime can be a time where your mind is so busy thinking about all of
the things you have to do. Try to turn that off for a bit. Maybe give meditation a try. There are many free mediation apps
you can download on your phone or tablet. Give it a try. It is a great way to slow your mind and help you focus on the tasks
at hand.
5.) Take responsibility. Look at your grades. See where you are at in each course. Know what you need to do. Then take
responsibility. Remember we as instructors and professors do not GIVE a student a grade— students earn their grade.
What did you do to earn the grade? You are not going to “learn” an entire 16 week course in one all night study session.
If you are behind in a course now, go and talk with your instructor/professor NOW before you get even further behind.
Work to get caught up so the final isn’t as bad.
6.) Talk to your instructors and professors. We are just people. Make an appointment to see your instructor/professor about
the course, to clarify a paper or project or for any concerns. We are here to listen and help.
Balance is about balancing your school work with the many other things you need to do – which includes sleeping, eating and,
yes, even fun time outside of the classroom. Learn what balance works for you.
Thanks to those who attended
“Human the Movie!”
Second-Year Pillars
Service
Barb City Manor
680 Haish Blvd DeKalb, IL
Monday, March 28, 5:45-7:00 p.m.
Faculty
Dinner and network with faculty:
Tuesday, March 29, 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Swing Space in New Hall
Residents at Barb City Manor teach Second-Year
Community members how to play King’s Corner.
Career
Resume Development
Thursday, March 24, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
University Writing Center (Stevenson B)
Events Especially for
Second-Year Students
Leadership
Student Organization Workshop Series:
Working with Difficult People
Thursday, March 24, 12:00 p.m.
Campus Life Building, Room 100
FREE March Madness Bowling
Thursday, March 24, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Holmes Student Center Huskie Den
http://www.signupgenius.com/
go/20f0944afae2aabf49-march
Study Abroad Speed Dating
Tuesday, March 29, 4:30-5:30 p.m.,
Altgeld 100
Paul,
DeAnna,
Carly,who
and Tami
volThanks
to those
attended
unteer “Human
at Barb City.
the Movie!”