Category Archives: Clubs

When in Oz…

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*This is part one of a two part blog post.

Before coming back in August, I had a lot on my mind. WTOP-10 was upgrading to HD, and I really wanted to try something new. I knew Oswego would be putting on a production, but that was the extent of my knowledge. Classes started and it turned out that one of my professors, Jonel Langenfeld, was the director. She informed everyone of the show, “The Wizard of Oz,” and auditions, and I knew I had to make a decision. I plucked up enough courage to seek out the audition sheet and sign up. I had no idea at the time, but my life was about to get a lot more interesting.

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The initial audition process was two days, broken up into singing and acting on the first day, and dancing on the second. I performed and went to celebrate Labor Day with my friends, not expecting anything. That night, I received a call saying I got a callback. Needless to say, I was virtually prancing with all the excitement brimming within me.  My friends were incredibly supportive, which made it even better.

Callbacks were intensive. We went over the allotted time, dancing for many hours, which many of us weren’t used to. Multiple different dance styles were taught, and then those with special skills were asked to stay and show them. I stayed and demonstrated my gymnastic ability, praying it would seal the deal.

When my stage manager, Nicole, called to tell me I was cast as a principle dancer, I was over the moon. I also didn’t realize how much my life would change.

Hangul(Korean) day

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Hello! An nyeong(Hi in Korean)!

How is your semester going? How was your midterm? I will have three more tests after this week! So excited!

Today, Oct 9th! is special day in Korea which is my country and i want to share with you. It will be a informative blog today but i am sure you will have fun.

Hangul is the language that has an inventor named King Sejong and even comes with a user manual guide. Before Hangul have been invented, Korean used Chinese characters which only high-class people can learn. However, King Sejong wanted to make a language which every Korean can read and write easily. Hangul consonants are direct representations of the shape of the mouth when they are articulated. The vowels of hangul have a philosophical meaning to them. The circle represents the heavens, the horizontal line represents the Earth, and the vertical line represents humans.

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King Se jong

 

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Korean consonants

 

 

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Korean vowels

 

Hangul is considered the easiest writing system. It has only 28 letters, but you can make 11,172 syllables. Nowadays, many foreigners are learning Hangul because of K-pop and K-drama. Lakers also can learn Korean in campus! There is a club called KOSA and we have meetings every Mondays at 8pm in hart hall. If you want to learn a second language i highly recommend you to learn Korean!

I brought some quotations about Hangul.

“Hangul is the best alphabet that all the languages have dreamed of.” -Jogn man (historican)

“Hangul is perhaps the most scientific system of writing in general use in any country.” -Edwin O. Reischauer(Professor, USA Harvard)

“King Sejong ststematized the phonological theory five centuries earlier than the West which completed its phonological theory in the twentieth century” -Werner Sasse(Professor, University of Hamburg)

Rice Creek!

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Hi!!! I am Ye Jin Lee from Cheong ju, Korea. I am majoring in Public Relations.

I am a new transfer student in Oswego also i am a new student blogger!!! When i first came in Oswego, i fell in love with the lake and also Lakers. Oswego is a place which i really want to recommend not only American but also Korean. I realized there are many Korean students and also there are many American students who are interested in Korea.  If you have any questions about my country or my posts, you are more than welcome to email me:)

Sep,25th!

Ikakaotalk_20160926_143322862 went to the Rice Creek with Taegundo club members. I didn’t know there is a hill near campus but thanks to my friends i got a chance to walk the hill.

 

 

 

 

 

It waskakaotalk_20160926_143340861 a nice weather(it was not cold at all ) to walk under the sun. i follow the Orange line first and then continued with the Green line. I want to explain how to go there in detail. But unfortunately, I am a person who is bad at remembering the way to go somewhere. I just followed my friends and came back. I saw the sign which says Rice creek at the main entrance of campus.(hopefully, i can be a hint)

 

 

 

Can you see the sky in my pictures? It was a perfect blue sky. That is why we jumped on the grass like we are flying.

 

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I took 3 hours total by walk. It is a nice way to work out and get some fresh air. Come out from your dorm and be healthy!! It is secret but i folded up for 1 hour after i arrived my dorm.  I highly recommend to everyone to go there and enjoy the sun before winter come!!

The Big Picture

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See that picture? It’s a still from a personal video that I filmed for an assignment. I was challenged to find a spot on campus that I wanted to capture and that had great composition. This mobile sculpture is found between Shineman and Park Hall.

Why did I start this post with this picture? It encapsulates more about Oswego than you would think. Even in the smallest or seemingly quieter parts of campus you can find beauty. Anywhere you look has potential to be a feature in your next project or a place to relax and contemplate. It shows the attention to detail while also promoting student artists. The arts community in Oswego is standout, with innovative theatre, music, and more constantly being produced and showcased. You don’t have to look hard to find artistic opportunities.

This picture also demonstrates that fact that I was immediately hands-on in my first year. As a current sophomore broadcasting and mass communication major, I had the ability to dive straight into my major, which was critical for me. I’m an avid participant in the campus station, WTOP, which has proved to be one of the smartest things I have done. I met my best friends and learned so much about equipment and other elements required to run a television station.

It also shows that there is a method to the madness, so to speak. Your professors will assign work, work with you, and try to make you the best you can be. So much is involved when creating your favorite movie or TV show, and the professors want to make sure you understand every element in order to be successful in the future. Trust me, if you put in the effort, you will know far more than when you first start a class.

There is more opportunity in Oswego than people often realize. Beautifully backdropped by Lake Ontario, students have the tools to develop rich relationships and make connections in order to be successful at the next level. The college experience is what you make it, and I’m happy to be creating mine at Oswego.

Final Thoughts on SUNY Oswego

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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.

Clubs & Organizations: Tips For Getting Involved

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As I have written about in earlier posts, every year clubs and organizations hold meetings, table at involvement fairs, and attempt to gather a new base of members. Joining can be a scary and uncomfortable time for incoming students but it is something that should be sought after. While advice can seem as tedious as treading water, hearing out the ways in which other students have gotten involved and the tips and tricks they  can offer to students looking to be brought in, with open arms, into a variety of groups on campus can prove to be helpful and securing.

Here is some of that advice:

“I find Laker Life to be helpful because it lists all the clubs we have, so you can see if you want to join or make a new club if it doesn’t exist!”

–Maria Ruffino, Class of 2017 – Zoology Club member

“Try it out even if you don’t have experience. Most of the girls on our team came in never having played and love the sport now. You gain a ton of friends.”

–Rochel DeSilva, Class of 2016 –Club Rugby and Lifestyle’s Center Peer Educator member

Keep an open mind and to try new stuff.”

–Rhianna Franchini, Class of 2018, Shaun Cassidy Fan Club member and Residence Hall floor representative (Pictured left-right)

“My only advice to a person interested in joining  is to jump right in and get really involved from the start. The more you put in the effort now, the better you’re going to be.”

-Tatiana Gregory, Class of 2017 – Shaun Cassidy member and SAVAC assistant treasurer

To top off the above quick tips, here is a story of one student’s journey:

“I think something to remember is that no matter what passions or interests you have, Oswego has a club for you. I came here as a scared freshman with a love of music and a passion for teaching. It is all about research. I found Mu Beta Psi who were people with a love of music and I pledged and I can honestly say that I have a family with some of those people. I also came here with a passion for education and I found Mentor Oswego which is a club that mentors students in Oswego county and because of my passion and dedication I am now one of the three coordinators for the Mentor Oswego program. Don’t be afraid to try new things either.  I have always wanted to dance but either didn’t have the time, money or energy but as soon as I stepped into that first Del Sarte general meeting I was welcomed with open arms even if I didn’t know the difference between a ballet and a jazz shoe. Honestly just come to college, be yourself and there are people out there who are looking for a place to fit in just like you are.”

–Sarah Hill, Class of 2016 – Mentor Oswego site coordinator,  Del Sarte member, and Mu Beta Psi brother

 

No matter what, just remember that getting involved is important both for social and professional reasons. Clubs and organizations are fun and enjoyable entities that offer free work experience and entertainment!

Snowshoeing in the Adirondacks – an Aussies POV

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Early start

Early start

Since I began my semester abroad, my new friends would always speak of travelling to the Adirondacks on weekends and hiking, fishing and camping. The word Adirondacks itself sounded like some foreign language and I could barely even pronounce it initially. I had heard of snowshoeing but only on TV and in movies and I was under the impression snowshoeing was when someone straps a tennis racquet-like head to their shoe and walks through snow. Technically I was correct, but those were the “old school” style of snowshoes – they are more sophisticated these days.

I joined the SUNY Oswego Outdoor club with some friends and signed up for this snowshoeing adventure to Lake Placid, Adirondacks. I honestly had no idea what to expect or what it would entail but I was very eager to see part of the Adirondacks.

Beautiful snow capped trees

Beautiful snow capped trees

Lake Placid is located roughly 5 hours from SUNY Oswego so we left at 3am on Saturday to begin our journey. We stopped at Dunkin’ Donuts and various convenience stores on the way to use the bathrooms and stock-up on snacks. I found it remarkable that convenience stores in the U.S are reasonably priced and items are priced almost identical to their prices in Walmart. In Australia the prices are approximately 2-3 times higher in convenience stores.

Fortunately enough I was able to get several hours of sleep through the night during our travels so by the time we arrived I was refreshed, excited and ready to snowshoe. Once we arrived at the Adirondacks we layered up, fastened out snowshoes and set out on the trail. We were chasing Tabletop Mountain which is one of the 46 high peaks in the Adirondacks. It was approximately a 7 mile hike with snow literally everywhere.

Incredible

Incredible

The hike up was difficult to say the least. It started off okay as it was mostly flat with small inclines but as we progressed the trees became thicker, the trailer thinned out and the inclines were steeper. About a mile before the peak was when the real inclines began and it was a struggle. In several places we resorted to getting down on all fours and climbing (scrambling) up the mountain as it was too steep to walk. The whole climb we were regularly stopping to take off layers as we were sweating, however once we reached the peak the wind had a strong chill and all these layers needed to be put back on to essentially prevent hyperthermia.

The view from the peak was breathtaking in my opinion. It was grey, cloudy and snowing heavily so it was hard to capture the outlook on camera, however I thought the view suited the atmosphere of the day and exceeded my expectations.

Peak

Peak

Once we had admired the scene for long enough we proceeded to slide down the mountain and go back to base. We had begun the hike at around 9:30am and were all back at the lodge by 5pm; it was a long day. Because it had snowed so much during the day it was a longer trip home, but I mostly slept so was not phased. When we arrived back to campus, myself and two friends went to late-night and ate our hearts out – it was fantastic.

I feel so lucky, blessed and privileged that I was able to go on this trip as it is so different to anything I had ever experienced or imagined I would do in my life.

Peace Out

K xx

Four Other Things To Do During Hockey Season

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SUNY Oswego’s hockey culture is incredible. With a team that is one of the best in the nation and fans that are just as committed as they are fierce, SUNY Oswego is the home of hockey lovers. And, for White Out Weekend, this fact becomes even truer. With people flocking to the arena early in the days, the Marano Center will be filled with anticipation and excitement.  But, for those of us not necessarily interested in the long lines, or hockey for that matter, it may seem like our options are limited. However, because Oswego offers so many opportunities for any kind of individuals, alternatives do exist. Here’s a list of 4:

  1. SAPB Trivia Night – Fridays, 6:00 PM

Perhaps one of the most rewarding and entertaining, SAPB Trivia Nights are a ton of fun. With topics varying anywhere from television shows and movies to current events and “general trivia,” there are terrific opportunities for anyone to excel here. And with a Facebook page that takes weekly suggestions, they really try to include all.

  1. Shaun Cassidy Fan Club’s Weekly Improv Shows – Saturday, 8:00 PM

As I mentioned in a previous post, every Saturday Shaun Cassidy Fan Club throws wildly hilarious, free shows in the Marano Center Auditorium. Completely uncensored and free form, these improv shows play in line to television programming like “Whose Line Is It Anyway.” The crew running it all holds their own with different comedic styles and levels of engagement to a point where something funny can be found for any taste.

  1. Laker Nights – Varying Dates And Times

Wondering what different residence halls are doing each weekend? Well for a lot of these weekends, Laker Nights are taking place. Laker Nights are mini festivals thrown by different residence halls once a year to offer students a chance to have some fun. Themes range anywhere from Freak Shows to Masquerade Casino Nights, but no matter what, all of them are awesome! Check out the posters all around campus!

And if all else fails,

  1. Staying In – Anytime, Anywhere

Outside, the weather truly is frightful and while getting out there and doing something may seem like the most entertaining opportunity in the world, another one exists in your very on residency. For those of us living in dorms, this can take form in multiple ways. Utilizing the front desk’s expansive movie, board game, and multimedia lists is a terrific way to spend an evening in. Create your own old-fashioned get together with the above things, or, if all else fails, Netflix.

So, at the end of the day, really a ton of options exist. And hey, if all else fails, attend a hockey game or two. It is definitely worth the experience and the atmosphere is energizing!