As a Resident Assistant, I know the dilemma residents go through as they try to live with their roommates. From disagreeing with one another’s lifestyle to arguing about who’s going to take out the trash. Here’s a few pointers on how you can find a roommate and how you can be a good roommate.

Tips for finding a roommate:

1. GET ACTIVE on social media. Join your class year’s Facebook page and get to socializing.
2. EXPRESS YOURSELF in a positive way. If you like things to be tidy, suggest having a cleaning schedule.
3. ASK QUESTIONS about that person’s lifestyle and his/her habits.

Tips for being a good roommate:

1. COMMUNICATION is key; if you have issues talk them out. Do not sit and let the problem escalate. You can use the 24 hour rule, giving yourself a day before approaching your roommate and/or an RA.
2. BE RESPECTFUL to each others space. Sharing a space with someone you do not know can open doors to many mistakes. Establish a mutual agreement with your roommate to discuss what you are both comfortable sharing with each other.
3. BE INTERACTIVE with your roommate. Try to hang out with each other or do things together, like laundry or movie nights

The most important thing to remember is that both you and your roommate have a responsibility to each other and to yourselves. Help support one another and respect each others different values/beliefs. Lastly, Try to make an effort to find solutions to any problem together.

On Friday, January 29, SUNY Oswego held its 27th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, inviting  two exceptional people to be a part of the event: Dr. Bernice King and Pastor Smokie Norful. Dr. Bernice King is the youngest daughter of the famous and influential Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Pastor Smokie Norful is a Grammy Award-winning Gospel artist.

  As a part of SUNY Oswego’s Gospel Choir, the choir and I got to join Pastor Norful and his three talented back-up singers on stage to sing his new song, “Mighty God” from his album Forever Yours.

We were more than excited to hear that we weren’t going to do a cover of Pastor Norful’s song, but, instead we were going to sing it with him. Over the winter break, each choir member had to practice on his/her own, since there would only be a week  left to practice once we returned back to the university. Gospel Choir’s vice  president, Kristen “K-Ray” Ray, took the liberty of making a recording that comprised of each note pertaining to what the altos, sopranos, and tenors would have to sing.

While on stage with Pastor Norful, the choir and I joined the back-up singers in dance and song. We were alive, while singing live (not really a pun, but eh…). Along with the live band and Pastor Norful’s encouraging presence, the choir made a joyful noise!

When Dr. King appeared on stage after her introduction, I was excited and curious to get to listen to her speech. Excited because she was the daughter of Dr. King Jr., the man who I read about in textbooks; the man whose name would be printed on my quiz papers; the man who made a famous speech about having a dream, a speech that took to its audience in 1963 and, still, does so today.  I was curious to know who Dr. Bernice King is. During her speech, Dr. King inspired me to think about how my actions could affect others. I was able to grasp the understanding that making a change would not be easy, unless you were willing to be self-less and passionate towards your peers. Dr. King’s wise words ignited something in me, that raised the question, “What changes do I need to make internally?”

To hear from both Dr. King and Pastor Norful was a great experience, an experience that I will hold dear to me.

Below is a video of Dr. King speaking at SUNY Oswego:

As this semester is drawing to a close, you probably find yourself beginning to think:

Will my GPA be above a 2.0?

Will my life be the same without Derek (a random name for a potential boyfriend) living just a hall away from me?

Will my roommate and I still say “Hi” to each other even if we no longer room together?

Will professors ever understand that the reason they were a student before they were a professor was so they could advocate for
us when our grades get low?

If you weren’t thinking any of these things, then that’s okay. I was just guessing.

As the semester draws to a close, the truth is worrying and stress are two problems of many that you want to avoid. I know, I know…duh.

Still, here’s a practice that you can practice. Should practice. Must practice. I’m saying this because a friend of mine actually put this into practice and it was a success, which therefore makes it a legitimate practice.

PRACTICE: Not complaining.

Seriously, go through your day without complaining. Let me be more specific for ya.

DO NOT complain about your 10-15 or 20-40 page paper

DO NOT complain about getting fired from your job

DO NOT complain about the dining halls not serving Eggnog (I don’t care if Thanksgiving hasn’t started yet?)

DO NOT complain about your professors, advisers or bosses

DO NOT complain about this blog

DO NOT complain anything

Mama always told me, “Tian, you can waste your God-given time whining about how much you don’t want to do your homework or get up out of bed for work, but in the end the homework will still be there, as will your job [for now]. Hang up the phone and get to it.”

I love you, mama!

Domestic Violence Awareness

Did you know that Domestic Violence Awareness was represented by the color Purple?

Did you know that October was the national Domestic Violence Awareness month?

I DIDN’T!

It was the Tuesday of this week, and as I walked past Cooper Dining Hall, BAM! I saw them…purple flags stuck in the ground on either side of this bright red, wooden statue of a female. At first, I thought SUNY Oswego had an archery club, and that the female statue would act as a target for flying arrows (THIS WASN’T EVEN CLOSE).

There was a purple sign, stuck in the grass on the far right of the flags, that said , “OCTOBER IS…Domestic Violence Awareness Month.” This is why you should read signs, unless you want to find yourself ducking for arrows that were never there.

So here’s the sitch…

I learned that people do not care about world issues if they do not know of them and aren’t affected by them. This doesn’t make them a bad person, however, it does make me wonder is Ignorance blissful?

I believe the answer is up to one’s self. Only I can define, for myself, what is blissful, from what is not. Therefore, my answer is No. Ignorance, in this case, is not blissful, it’s hurtful. It is hurtful to those who are victims of Domestic Violence. In fact, another thing that was said on the purple sign was, “YOU ARE NOT ALONE. THERE IS HELP!” Whether that help is to make people aware of Domestic Violence or to assist a victim of Domestic Violence, it is still help. Just knowing that there is still a large scale of Domestic Violence is enough to change a situation, however, to live in “bliss” doesn’t change a thing. There was a note posted on the female statue, which stated in the beginning that “[n]early 1 in 3 college women have been in an abusive relationship…according to a 2011 study from Break the Cycle.”

I’m almost positive that everyone on campus has seen these purple flags, but if you haven’t read the information posted on the female statue or on the purple signs, I would make a note to. They inform you on how Domestic Violence has affected women in college, and gives you a better scope on the issue of Domestic Violence.

Check it out!