Final Thoughts on SUNY Oswego

Final Thoughts

As I near the end of my college career and graduation, I have a lot of things on my mind, and advice to share. Here are some of the things and lessons I’ve learned my last three and a half years at Oswego.

On Freshman Year

Fresh out of high school, college seems like the coolest thing ever. And it is. But with all of the freedom, comes immense responsibility. In high school, my mom would often ask me if I finished my homework, and my house was usually a quiet environment where I was able to study. There is nobody in college to encourage you or remind you to do your work and study.  There’s always something to do in college; whether it be a program in your dorm, a party, or hanging with your friends down the hall. While this is a great thing, it also means that there is always something distracting you from your studies. There were many nights during my freshman year where I stayed up until three a.m. hanging out with friends, and avoiding homework.

Setting up a study schedule and sticking to it is crucial. Want to go out on Friday night? Force yourself to spend a few hours in the library getting your work done for the week. Take advantage of the study carrel rentals in the library; they provide a secluded and quiet area to study. Also, GO TO CLASS. I repeat, go to class. Again, there is nobody to tell you to go, it’s up to you to do it. When you think about it, you are paying to go to colleges to go to classes, not to sit in your room. Sure, it can be tempting to skip class when it’s snowing so hard you can’t see out your window, but missing class causes a snowball effect (no pun intended). You’ll be missing notes, assignment information, and more. Falling behind, especially early on, will continue to haunt you as deadlines approach and quickly pass you by. You must be extremely self-motivated and responsible in your freshman year, because mathematically, these grades are the most important to your GPA.

On Textbooks

Don’t avoid buying your textbooks. I’ve rented most of my textbooks online through Skyo.com and Chegg.com, and it saves a ton of money, especially on books for my non-major classes that I know I won’t need in my professional career. If possible, make sure you have your books by the second of third class meeting day, because teachers usually assign reading at the very beginning of the semester, and you’ll end up far behind.

On Clubs

Get involved in clubs early on, so that you can continue to expand on your involvement throughout your time at Oswego, and run for executive board positions. These positions will not only look great on a resume, but allow you to advance your leadership and team work skills. I’ve been in PRSSA for a few years now, and have made a lot of amazing friends who I know will be great contacts in the PR world in the years to come.

On Internships

Passionate about a certain field? Not sure what you want to major in, but you’re interested in something and want to give it a try? Then an internship is right for you.  As a Public Relations major, I’ve had many internships working with social media, non-profits, agencies  and media firms, and I have been able to really hone in on what I’m not only good at, but am passionate about. Internships allow you to try on your field of choice, and see if you will enjoy doing it as a career. They give you the opportunity to figure out what you don’t like, which is also very important. You may think that you want to, for example, be an accountant, but after crunching numbers all day, you learn that it’s not right for you. This is completely fine, and as they say, college is the time to figure out who you are, and what you’re passionate about.

Internships are resume builders, and allow you to expand your network while gaining real life experience. SUNY Oswego allows students to get academic credit for internships too, which you should definitely take advantage of.

On Relationships with Professors

One of the great things about SUNY Oswego is the class sizes. Most of my classes averaged around 30 students or less, which really allows for the ability for the professors to get to know you by your name and face. Raise your hand in classes and establish a relationship with your professors. Attend their office hours if you need help or have questions, or if you want to talk about professional topics. I’ve become very close with a lot of my PR professors and have benefited from their mentorship over the years. Especially during my senior year, my professors have been a huge source of advice and someone to vent to. By cultivating relationships with your professors, you will have people to ask for references when it comes to job hunting and grad school applications.

On Finding a Job

After my internship this past summer, I set out to expand my network on LinkedIn and meet people at different types and sizes of Public Relations agenices in New York City. Starting in September, I began researching different agencies, and finding employees who work there on LinkedIn. For those who don’t know, this is really simple (even though it might seem like stalking…) to do on LinkedIn. Simply type in the name of a company in the search bar, and it will say “people who work at X company” – click this, and begin searching through the results. After this process, I began sending short messages (make sure they’re professional!) to employees at the companies asking for a few minutes of their time to do an informational interview, as I was very interested in their work at X company. You’d be surprised how many people responded. People love talking about what they do, and were happy to speak with m. Take your time to research the companies, and be well prepared with questions on the company, and the person’s work. Try to figure out what they specifically work on. After hearing about what they do, many people asked me what I am interested in and my experiences. When it got to be closer to graduation, I sent my resume to my connections asking if their company had any openings. All of the job interviews I did were a direct result of my informational interviews. Responding to job postings on Indeed or Monster is often unsuccessful, due to the sheer amount of applications companies receive. I’ve personally had more success trying to establish direct contacts within companies and their HR departments.

On Graduating Early

Due to taking Spanish courses in high school and receiving internship credits, I have enough credits to graduate a semester early. While at times it seems that my college career is being cut short, it’s an accomplishment that I am very proud of. To me, it seems that the job market is better for December graduates, as there is a much smaller amount of recent grads job seeking. Graduating early is something you must be committed to, and is not for everyone. It’s a choice that you must be sure of, or you will end up with regrets.

On Studying Abroad

I had always wanted to be able to experience a different country, but didn’t want to be away from my friends and boyfriend at Oswego for an entire semester. Up until my end of junior year, I had no idea that Oswego offers quarter classes that provide an opportunity to study abroad for a week during either Spring Break, or during Winter Break. I participated in the GLS 100 course Spring 2015, and learned about London for the first eight weeks or so of the semester, and travelled there during Spring Break. The trip was very inexpensive; thanks to grants the school had received. Getting to travel abroad and experience an entirely new way of life for a week was an absolutely incredible experience. After learning about the history of London and the famous landmarks, it was awesome to be able to see these places firsthand. I really believe that studying abroad, even for just a week, gives one an entirely new perspective on life. I have never experienced being a “foreigner” before, and it was really interesting to get stared at when I spoke, because I was clearly not from there. Exploring a foreign city and experiencing all it has to offer is amazing, and really gives you a new frame of mind. Sometimes I feel that we get too consumed in our everyday lives in our school, town or city and don’t actually realize how large the world really is. I would definitely recommend the GLS quarter classes to anyone with the desire to travel.

 

Random Thoughts

  • Have an open mind about anything and everything.
  • Take new experiences as they come and don’t be afraid to try new things.
  • Appreciate your friends and family, and remember to stay connected to those back home.
  • Don’t think that college will last forever. It doesn’t, and you’ll always miss it.
  • Be yourself, and stand up for your beliefs. Don’t worry about other’s opinions of you. Be yourself.
  • Don’t try to do laundry on Sunday nights.
  • Don’t be passive aggressive with your roommate(s). Open communication is key and crucial.
  • Invest in a large winter coat, and snow boots with intense treads.
  • Don’t ever try to use an umbrella. Think Mary Poppins.
  • Go to hockey games, even if you aren’t into sports. They’re a great way to get some school spirit.
  • Go to Mackin and have the mac and cheese and chicken tenders.
  • Watch every sunset you can, and take lots of photos. You’ll miss the sunsets come November when you hardly see the sun anymore.
  • Take advantage of the resources Oswego has, whether it is the Center for Experiential Learning, tutors on campus, or Disability Services.
  • Go to the library to study. You’ll get a lot more done, I promise.
  • Enjoy every last minute of it, because it truly does fly by.

Thanksgiving: What are you thankful for?

As Thanksgiving Break approaches, I am eagerly counting down the days until I get to go home (for the first time since August) and relax for a few days. The hustle and bustle of this semester has been quite tiring at times, so I am really looking forward to being able to spend some quality time with my family and not with my notebooks.

I am excited to enjoy the always delicious traditional dinner with my family, the annual watching of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade on TV, helping my Mom cook and the inevitable food comas.

Reflecting back on this year, I have a lot to be thankful for and would like to share a few with the Oswego community in hopes of hearing a few of yours as well!

I am thankful for:

  • Being able to expand my experience with an internship with the Public Affairs office
  • Being able to continue my education in the Public Relations field at Oswego
  • My friends for continuing to create fun memories
  • My parents for supporting me in all of my endeavors
  • My little brother for reminding me that even though I’m a sophomore in college, I will always be his older sister who annoys him
  • My boyfriend for always being there for me and being able to put a smile on my face
  • Being able to spend the holidays with my family

 

Please feel free to comment below and share what you are thankful for this year at Thanksgiving! I would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!

New Page: Humans of SUNY Oswego

Modeled after the very popular Humans of New York page, SUNY Oswego has a new page that’s getting some major attention.

Humans of SUNY Oswego is a photography post project on Facebook that aims to photograph students and briefly interview them for a photo caption to tell a story. The goal of the project is to raise awareness of the age old saying “everyone has a story to tell”.

I’ve been a fan of the HoNY page fan for a while and enjoy viewing the interesting photos that the photographer posts.  Even better than the photos, are the short stories that the brief interviews tell. Regular people have spectacular stories of love, loss, dreams, war and everything in between.

I love the idea behind the project; to showcase that everyday passers-by on the street are all dealing with something or have been through something. It’s so easy to get caught up in our lives and problems and forget that the world is so much bigger than just yourself and your own daily struggles. These simple photos and brief interviews are often inspiring and thought provoking.

Being a Social Media intern with a love of photography, I wanted to take this idea and bring it to SUNY Oswego. There are over eight thousand students on campus and undoubtedly a lot of interesting stories to be told and heard. I’ll be the first to admit that sometimes I get lost in my own little world when I’m walking across campus with my headphones in and music turned up loud. But imagine, if you truly looked around at everyone and thought about their lives, what they’ve been through or what they are currently dealing with. These thoughts make the world (or the campus) seem a lot bigger than just ourselves and our daily lives.

As one of the photojournalists for the Humans of SUNY Oswego project, I aim to take photos of interesting students and share a line or so that they have shared with me about themselves or their life. I will be posting these photos on the Facebook page.

If you, or someone you know has a story to tell and would like to be featured on the site, please contact me by sending the page a message or emailing me at kburke2@oswego.edu

 

Happy Halloween – Things to do on and off Campus

284208587_567283c7f0_z

Happy Halloween Oswego! Excitement is in the air (let’s just hope it doesn’t snow… who wants to freeze in their costume?).  Halloween at Oswego and in college can be a very fun experience, especially for first year students. There are many things to do on campus to get in the holiday spirit!

On Halloween night, there is a Costume Party themed Open Mic in the café in Penfield.  The event kicks off at 7pm and runs till 10:30pm. Wearing costumes is encouraged as there will be a costume contest! There will also be Pumpkin painting and FREE coffee! Students are encouraged to come out and enjoy some great talent and spooky fun!

The weekend also holds some Halloween themed fun! On Friday, November 1st, there will be a costume dance held by the Storyteller’s Guild.  “The Dance in the Woods” will be held at 6pm in the Hewitt Union Ballroom. Also on Friday, the 3rd annual “Scalesbury Haunted House” is being held. The haunted house begins in Scales where patrons will sign up and wait to be pulled out of the party at which refreshments will be served and music will be played. They will go outside behind Scales and through the basement of Waterbury where they will be frightened and scared. At the end, attendees can choose to leave or go back to Scales and run through it again. It runs on November first from 8pm to 11pm.

If you’re looking for some off campus fun, look no farther than the Terror Trail. This popular attraction promises to be the most frightening and scariest Halloween show in Central New York. Located in Volney NY, “The Trail” provides entertainment and thrills for all ages and also offers food, fun, and Halloween novelties for kids, young adults, and families alike.  For more information, call Phone: (315) 593-2999.

On Sunday, Oswego is proud to once again hold “Safe Trick or Treat”.  Community members and their families will enjoy bringing their children to a Halloween party in the campus center and visiting the dorms to Trick or Treat from residents. Students should talk to their RA or RHD for more information on how to participate and earn community service!

Happy Halloween, Oswego! I hope everyone has a great, fun Halloween! Of course, please stay safe and respect the city community and do not tarnish the holiday for younger Oswegonians.

(Photo Courtesy of Terry.Tyson from Flickr)

Friends and Family Weekend!

Oswego is excited to welcome Friends and Family! This weekend is Friends and Family weekend at SUNY Oswego and excitement is in the air! Families and students are excited to be reunited – for some students this may be the first time they have seen their family members since moving onto campus in August. Many stories about classes and making new friends will be told and many hugs will be given; but after the initial excitement passes, what else is there to do on campus?

Oswego proudly offers many activities this weekend to entertain all the visitors. Starting Friday, there will be tours of the new Rice Creek Field Station facility (located on Thompson Road) from 9 am to 5 pm. These tours will continue on Saturday 9 am to 3 pm. Also on Friday, there is a free art gallery in Tyler Hall from 11:30 am to 3 pm.  Later on in the day, the Women’s Field Hockey is playing SUNY Oneonta at the South Athletic Fields at 4 pm. Also being held at 4 pm is a 3 Point Basketball contest in Lee Hall gym with on-site registration.  Parents are welcomed to check in at the Welcome Center Desk in the Campus Center from 4pm to 8 pm – come pick up your registration materials and unwind after your travels in the hospitality area.

Looking for something to do Friday evening with your family? Support your peers and attend the Theatre Department’s presentation of “Fahrenheit 451”at 7:30 pm in Waterman Theatre (located in Tyler Hall). For tickets: http://tickets.oswego.edu or call SUNY Oswego Box Office:  315-312-2141. Also at 8pm, enjoy the Splash-In movie “Wreck-It Ralph” in Lee Hall Pool. Bring a swimsuit and enjoy watching a movie while in the pool!

Highlight events on Saturday include many sporting events! The swim and diving teams are competing with SUNY Oneonta at 1 pm in Laker hall and it is free and open to the public. The Women’s Field Hockey team will play SUNY New Paltz and it’s Senior Day! 1 pm at the South Athletic fields – free and open to the public. It is also Men’s Soccer Senior Day, 1pm at Laker Soccer field. The Men and Women’s Ice Hockey Showcases are also on Saturday. The Women are up at 3pm and the Men take the ice at 7pm.

There are many activities going on around campus this weekend students! Make sure to take advantage of them and show off your school to your friends and family! For a full list of activities please visit http://www.oswego.edu/student/services/campus_life/mainoffice/schedule.html

Oswego Students Set out to Make a Difference

 

TKE (3)

Many times college students have a reputation of not being beneficial to their communities or active participants towards making a difference. However, I, along with the Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) fraternity have set out to prove that this is simply not the case here at SUNY Oswego.

Oswego Community Cares Day, being held on October 13th at The American Foundry (behind Fajita Grill), was conceptualized in May of last semester and has grown ever since. Hundreds of volunteer hours have been dedicated to this project; which raises funds for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. St. Jude’s mission is advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.

With the brothers of TKE, I have set out to create an event that is appealing and friendly for both the SUNY and City of Oswego communities. In addition to raising both awareness and funds for an amazing cause, the event serves to bridge the gap between both entities.

As a college student, it is important to get involved in any way you can, and use your skills to help others around you. We may feel secluded and as if we are not a part of the Oswego County community as a whole; but the SUNY campus is a huge and key part of the city in my opinion.

There are many volunteer opportunities available through the plethora of organizations on campus. One way to find out when these opportunities arise is to sign up to get emails from the Volunteer Opportunities list by going here. You can also find additional opportunities on the new Laker Life website.

Personally, I have seen firsthand the graciousness of members of the community when I have volunteered at events such as BucFest at Oswego High School or through programs such as Adopt-A- Grandparent. Our help and time truly means a lot to those in need.

It is easy in life, especially in college, to get sucked into the thought that we are in our own little world and nothing else matters.  Volunteering and helping those in need is a great way to be reminded that the world is bigger than the problems we are all dealing with in our daily lives.

I have always had a passion for helping others and using my Public Relations talents and skills to promote events to raise money for good causes. Event planning has also been a way I have been able to help others. Working on Oswego Community Cares Day with TKE has been a pleasure and I look forward to the event!

It would be an honor to see a great turn out at this event, which is next Sunday, October 13th at The American Foundry (right behind Fajita Grill) from 4-6pm. Tickets are just $15 which includes a delicious Chicken BBQ dinner and raffle tickets. Amazing prizes will be up for grabs including a signed Macklemore CD as well as many gift cards from local establishments.  Entertainment will be provided by Oswego student performers. Tickets can be purchased online by clicking here or at the door the night of the event.

 

For more information, leave a comment below or email foretheecause@gmail.com