Ode to Freshman Year

Ode to your freshman year, that has already started and is currently in full swing.

Ode to move in day, where you packed up life and crammed it into your room that you share with a stranger.

Ode to the dining halls, that feed your cravings, provide the backdrop for meetings and social gatherings.

Ode to the football games, where you see the UNT pride at its fullest.

Ode to Willis Library, where productivity and distractions collide, to make long nights and great papers.

Ode to the Chat, where a Chick-fil-a sandwich and the One O’clock lab band provide a mid-day dinner and a show.

Ode to the Library mall, where someone is protesting, someone is fundraising and someone is offering giveaways.

Ode to the laundry room and the person that did not take their laundry out of the dryer.

Ode to the bookstore and their plethora of UNT gear.

Ode to the buses and the convince they add from getting to the other side of campus quicker.

Ode to Twitter, where #UNT16 is always trending.

Ode to the Rec Center, where calories burn energy and help run the machines; and where one-on-one basketball can be played with the most competitive of students.

Ode to Champs and the bigger drinking cups.

Ode to the NTDaily, that keeps us informed about UNT matters and National news.

Ode to Eagle Connect, that alerts us of all events happening on campus and the occasionally junk mail.

Ode to our parents , whom we forget to call but remember to text for money.

Ode to this semester that is drawing to a close much faster than we expected. We’ve learned, grown and experienced more than we can image.

Ode to next spring 2013, may it be ever more eventful than the fall.

-Precious

 

Welcome to the University of North Texas!

Welcome to the University of North Texas!

Can you believe that the first couple of weeks of CAW-llege are already over?! WOW. I remember my first week like it was yesterday and it sort of was yesterday. Meeting my RA, getting to know the people in my residence hall, trying the different cafeteria’s, scooping out where my classes were and waiting in that long line in the book store, that all sounds familiar right?

 The first week after you move in, most commonly referred to as First Flight Week, is jam packed with some fun events that had TONS of FREE giveaways. I hope you were able to get some free things! Then the doors to our academic success opened with the beginning of classes on Wednesday! How was your first day of class? Mine was good, but maybe you had a few hiccups? That’s okay.

As you get more familiar with the campus, you’ll find yourself to be something of a pro when it comes to getting around campus, and you might start noticing the flyers promoting different clubs and organizations. Take this as an opportunity to get more Caw-nected to the university!

Oh, I’m sorry I did not introduce myself. My name is Precious Femi-Ogunyemi and I was an orientation leader this summer. My O-L photo

How I usually looked like.

As you venture on this journey of your first year, I want to help guide you through some of the up’s and down’s of being a first year student here at UNT. If you have any questions or CAW-ments, about anything, feel free to contact me! Shoot me an email at precious.femi-ogunyemi@unt.edu.

Gooooooooo MEAN GREEN!

-Precious

Spring Break 2012

On the horizon we’ve got one week until spring break! (HOORAY!) Summer & Spring Registration will follow shortly after spring break.

Spring Break could not come any sooner.

For any of you freshman, this is your first college spring break. Well, BREAKING NEWS it’s the same as when you were in high school! If you plan on staying in your residence hall make sure that you sign up with the front desk so that they know who’s here and who’s not.

If you plan on going home, enjoy! And I hope you have a great time.

But if you plan on going on a vacation, be safe. UNT’s spring break seems to bypass the other public Texas universities, which is more inconvenient if anything. But there’s not much we can do about it.

http://www.safespringbreak.org/safety-tips/

This website has very good tips from things you should do if you’re driving, if you’re swimming, if you’re drinking, or if anything happens to you or the people you are with.  

You are going to have a lot of fun no matter what you do, but you might have also heard horror stories of the things that can happened over spring break. Choose the activities that you want to participate in wisely, because you are a representative of UNT and the student code of conduct goes with you. Avoid getting in trouble, wherever you are.

When you come back from spring break, March 27th is the deadline for dropping a class with either a W or a WF. If you choose to drop a course, you’ll need your instructor’s approval. If you choose to drop, you will either get a W or a WF. A W does not hurt your GPA, whereas a WF will affect your GPA.  Determining whether you’ll get a W or WF is at the discretion of your professor. Talking to your professor about your grade is the best way to go about this. Deciding to drop a course is a big deal and you should think heavily about whether or not you really want to do this.

Before you know it’ll be Reading Day and Finals Week!

Enjoy YOUR break!

-Precious

Dum dum dum… FINALS

GAHH! Finals are literally less than 2 weeks away, and all I can think about are the after finals days. You know, the days when you get to go home, decorate the Christmas tree, light the menorah, spend quality time with family and old friends from high school, help feed the homeless, go shopping, watch movies..

OH WAIT before any of that happens we’ve got to take finals.

Finals.

There’s no secret formula or ingredient to be successful on your finals. The only thing I can think of doing is studying. STUDYING. And by studying I don’t mean: Facebook tab open, tweeting on your phone, chips and soda at arm’s length, textbook open on the same page for 30 minutes, studying. I mean studying in the zone: Book open, highlighter handy, notes and study guide at arm’s length, studying.

As of December 9 the University enters full on finals mode.

December 9 is reading day and classes are cancelled.

For some students they have finals as early as December 10.

Willis Library will maintain its regular hours and will be open 24 hours.

So what if you like to study in the Union?

Well, Monday through Thursday UPC will be hosting Eagle’s Refuge in the 1 O’clock Lounge from 10am – 2pm. Eagle’s Refuge includes things such as snacks, massage therapists, and a relaxing environment. Return to the Union at night for Study Night in the Union from 6pm -10pm.

Like to study in your residence hall?

As of Sunday December 4, all residence halls will extend quiet hours, starting from 6 pm to noon the following morning and continuing the rest of the week. 18 hours of quiet. O_o

As of Sunday December 11, all the residence halls on campus will begin 23 hours of quiet, 5pm-6pm the following day. 6pm- 7pm is the Golden hour…with quiet hours resuming at 7pm.

Finding a quiet place on campus to study is very easy during the pre-finals and finals week. UNT wants to get you in the zone to ace your finals, and trust me, it’ll seem like the university shut down, but really, we’re making the ideal study environment.

I know this semester has been crazy, from living in the dorms to making more adult-like decisions. Although it has been tough, you have grown and matured (compared to early this semester as that “nervous freshmen” on the first day of classes).

Over the break don’t forget to check your my.unt.edu account. Make sure you are still registered for your spring semester classes and payment for your classes is taken care of.

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukah! Happy Kwanza! Happy Winter Solstice! Happy Holidays!!

Have a Splendid New Year!!

Good luck on your finals!

Love,

Precious

This picture is vintage.

p.s.- Classes begin January 17!

Best.Summer.Ever

Summer 2011 was the BEST. SUMMER. EVER. And it was all because I became an Orientation Leader! Applications are available at: http://transition.unt.edu/orientation/leaders or in Union, Suite 319.


BEST. SUMMER. EVER. SUMMER 2011.
Becoming an Orientation Leader changed my life and made me a better person. I learned about the type of leader that I could be, and I had a better sense of what it meant to be a part of a group and my role in a group dynamic. Not only did I become a better person, I made amazing friends and got a greater sense of pride about being a student at UNT. UNT is such an open community and the university is here to help us become global learners. I knew what resources were available, but after summer 2011, I understood why the resources were there and how it could help me be the best student I could be.

 

MORE. THAN. JUST. A. JOB.

Becoming an Orientation Leader is more than a job, it’s a way of life. We get to impact the incoming students and change their perception of UNT. I can say from personal experience, that I was not too excited about coming to UNT, but after my memorable orientation I knew UNT was the place for me! Orientation is a lot of fun, but it’s also a job and requires a little bit of elbow grease. But, it’s totally worth it!

BEST. SUMMER. EVER!
What are you waiting for? GO pick up an application today! And if you have any questions or concerns, come to one of our three info sessions:

• Thursday, October 13 in the Union, Room 418 @ 12 pm
• Tuesday, October 18 in the Kerr Hall Blagg Room@ 6pm
• Wednesday, October 19 in the West Hall Lobby @ 6pm

Summer 2012 is going to be the BEST SUMMER of your ever…join the team, it will change your life.

ARE YOU LIVING WITH A STRANGER?

Oh my goodness, well I hope not! It’s been a MONTH since you moved in. Do you know your roommate? Like, do you know know your roommate? Have you gotten into a routine with your roommate? I hope the initial awkwardness is long gone.

Precious, what if I don’t have a roommate? Well, what about your suitemate? Maybe you only know they are in their room when you hear the water running…..nothing like those awkward moments when you accidently open the door. OOPS! But on a serious note, get to know your suitemate; your relationship is hopefully more than just “have they put in toilet paper?” and “when are they going to get out of the shower?”

DO YOU SIT NEXT TO A STRANGER?
I know that I do. In each of my classes I sit in the same seat, but never turn to talk to the person next to me because depending on the time of day I’m probably not in the mood to talk to them. With a school of about 36,000 students almost everyone is a stranger, but at the same time they could also be 36,000 new friends. In my last post I wrote about leaving your room to get more involved because it’s a great way to make new friends; but talking to the students next to you can lead to a whole new world of possibility.

HAVE YOUR PARENTS BECOME STRANGERS?
I became a stranger to my parents. It was maybe three weeks after Sunday Fun Day that I went home. Between the time that I moved in and the day I went home I had gotten a second ear piercing (GASP!). I didn’t think it was a big deal; however, when my parents saw me they claimed that they didn’t even recognize me. They were convinced that in the weeks to follow, I’d be covered with tattoos and piercings before my next visit home. The daughter that they had dropped off was gone and a stranger had taken away the girl they loved. This is a relatively extreme case, parents care (Well, duh!). But especially when we are freshmen. That’s why they text, call, and send care packages (granted my parents live 30 minutes away and I never got a care package), but still they want you to remain an active part of their lives. Trust me it’s about a relationship that’s only going to get stronger after time.

Here are some simple steps in helping a make a stranger a friend:
1- Smile
2- Introduce yourself
3- Shake their hand
4- Smile some more
5- Awkwardly laugh
6- Talk about something vague
7- Awkwardly laugh again

I’m off looking for ways to help y’all put the U in UNT,
- Precious

p.s. the next blog will be about BECOMING AN ORIENTATION LEADER! :)

p.p.s. if you have questions and need any advice, you should email me, and I’ll help you to the best of my ability! Who knows, maybe your question will inspire the next post! :D

Hello? Hello, is this thing on?

Hello? Hello, is this thing on?

Hello! My name is Precious Femi-Ogunyemi and I am the student assistant for Freshman Programs at UNT. For all you freshmen out there, who went to orientation, do you remember the LOUD HAPPY always EXCITED orientation leader? Yup, that was me. I was that Orientation leader. (:

But I am so excited to make this blog for y’all.

Look to your left; now look to your right. You are probably sitting in your dorm, munching on some Cheez-its, reading this blog, recalling your time at orientation. Well I was just like you when I was a freshman, but then I did something that would change my life: I LEFT MY ROOM.

That’s right, I left my room, and walked down to the lobby where I saw some people tie-dying. I recognized some of the residents there because I had seen them in the lobby; I soon found out that the organization that put on the tie-dying event was the Hall Association. After talking with the president for a few minutes, she told me about all the programs going on with the Maple Street Hall Association, MSHA. In the weeks that followed I went to the events that MSHA hosted, and I had fun. 

But that was just one way that I chose to get involved. 

There are so many ways!

·         Intramurals: Each hall has a team and you don’t even have to be good at the sport. Cheering on your friends is just as fun as playing in the game. (I was an AMAZING cheerleader for Maple).

·         Organizations: There’s over 350 clubs on campus. Let me repeat. 350 clubs on campus! There’s one for everyone. We have a Student Government Association, African Student Organization, Engineers Without Borders, College Democrats, and so many more!

·         Large Campus Activities: Library Mall + University Union = Best Place on Campus.  I’m not one to exaggerate the truth, but it seems that not a day goes by where something isn’t happening in the Union or the Library Mall. Events that are held at these locations are guaranteed to be poppin’ because they are trying to get the attention of the ENTIRE University! These events include Carnaval, Salsa Night, and Union Gallery Exhibits, just to name a few.

·         Sports: UNT has a growing MEAN GREEN Athletic program, and our players need your support! The rush and excitement that one feels as a part of the crowd is incomparable! I remember my first football game; I was in a state of DELIGHT. IT WAS AN AMAZING FEELING.

·         Denton: Maybe you’re more interested in what Denton has to offer? Denton thrives as more than just a college town. We’ve got restaurants being built all over the place, and for those interested in a lively music scene, Denton has been compared to one of the top music capitals of the world: Austin.  Where Austin offers Austin City Limits (ACL), Denton offers the large street music festival just off the Square, 35 Denton (NX35).

This is going to be such an amazing year. But it all starts with you, right here, right now, taking a step outside of your dorm room…getting on the campus. Because getting on the campus is the first step to getting involved. 

See you soon?





Photo credit: Brian Maschino

  

-Precious