Why I Joined Greek Life

Posted on January 31, 2017
by Sarah Stephens

Joining a sorority here at SUNY Oswego really had a huge impact on my years here. My sisters are my best friends, my bridesmaids, and the girls I can cry to about anything. Growing up I had many friends, until high school that is. High school was a dark time for me. I never really fit into a friend group. People weren’t nice to me either. This is not a sad story though. High school is in my past. I came to SUNY Oswego and became a sister of Delta Phi Epsilon. The sorority has helped me network and find internships, but also is my home away from home. I really discovered myself within the sorority. I was able to hold leadership roles as a younger sister, but now it is super special to watch my younger sisters take on leadership roles now. Are you interested in joining Greek life? Here are some reasons why people joined Greek life.

“I joined Greek life because I was honestly struggling to make friends. I had my roommate who was interested in joining a sorority. I never really thought about it, but she convinced me. It was the best decision I have made in all my time here at SUNY Oswego.” – Alexa Shumway

“I decided to join Greek life for the strong sense of community. Greek life brought me close to so many amazing people inside my own organization as well as the others on campus!” – Mackenzie Wetzel

“I joined Greek life because I wanted o be a part of something bigger than myself and was really interested in giving back to the community.” – Sarah Henry

“I joined Greek life because I felt like I was looking for a place where I fit in. Once I joined I felt like I had this support system that I could have only dreamed of. It’s a huge community full of amazing people.” – Jaime Krasner

“The Next Step”

Posted on January 20, 2017
by Ilyssa Weiner

What does leadership mean to you? Do you know what your purpose in life is? These questions and more were asked when I attended Oz Leads’ first ever “Next Step” Skill Building Workshop on Jan. 20. Honestly, this event was much different than what I expected.

The day started with a workshop set up by a speaker from Collegiate Empowerment. The workshop was not just another boring lecture or continuous Q&A about leadership and how to prepare for life after college. Instead, our speaker, Joe, motivated the crowd of about 20-30 students with his enthusiasm and interactive activities (which included A LOT of high fives). My biggest takeaway from Joe’s lecture was his point about how we are not measured by our “Grade Point Average” after college (but don’t, like, fail all your classes). Rather, we are measured by our “Real GPA,” which helps us move toward our goal after college. Joe breaks down the “Real GPA” with three words: Genius (what we’re best at), Passion (what we love), and Achievement (what’s meaningful to us).

During lunch, we were encouraged to sit with recruiters from the different companies that were there, including Target, Verizon, and the Peace Corps. I had a wonderful conversation with a lady from Theater Du Jour, a small dinner theater group from the Central NY area.

After the second part of Joe’s presentation was over, everyone broke off into four different breakout sessions (we had to pick two out of the four sessions). The first breakout session I went to focused on how to overcome obstacles as we go forward in our careers. This session was lead by Oswego alumnus Phyllis Moore Holloway (’76), a former administrator from the Syracuse City School District who now serves as the volunteer Interim Director for Dunbar Center. Her discussion hit close to me, especially when she explained some of the problems she had to solve. Many of her situations were ones my parents, who are both teachers (my dad retired from teaching almost three years ago), may have had to face during their career.

The second breakout session I went to focused on how your major doesn’t define you and how you can find jobs outside of your major. This session, led by Career Services Associate Director Mallory Bower (whose focus is more on business, communication, STEM, and healthcare industries), stemmed away from the original discussion to focus more on how we can better our resume and cover letter to fit a certain job description, regardless if it fits our major or not. Bower’s big takeaway: “Don’t be well rounded. Be amazing at a few things.”

The day ended with another brief networking session with the representatives from the companies. I had a good chat with a recent Oswego alumnus who works at Enterprise Holding, as well as a recruiter from the company.

Overall, the workshop was a fantastic day and extremely helpful for everyone who attended, regardless of major and whether he or she had a leadership position on campus. It’s definitely an event I would recommend anyone to go to next year in order to prepare for your “next step” after graduation.

Do as the Ozians Do!

Posted on November 15, 2016
by Kristen Beyer

This is part two of a two-part blog. The first entry is “When in Oz…”

Here’s a helpful image I made to show what my life was like in September and October.

This seems like a lot, and I wouldn’t be honest if I said it wasn’t. However, I came to college to challenge myself and see what I could do. The payoff of all this hard work was truly incredible. I was able to work with alumnus and professional dancer/choreographer Dexter Jones whose talent and personality can’t be put into this blog post. The energy of the shows was awesome. The reception of the crowds and their comments really show that this effort is not for nothing. One of the most awesome comments I got were that professionals thought I had prior dance training before this show. I was fortunate enough that I was in the show-stopping dance number, the Winkie Celebration dance. The crowd interaction in that number is why performing is such a rush and privilege.

Right before the Celebration. I’m the General (in black)!

You would not believe the amount of adrenaline pumping through my veins during and after that scene.

The dance crew became a very tight group, and I was able to meet so many wonderful people that were a part of the cast and crew in general. We got to make a lot of memories together, not just rehearsing with each other, but getting pizza or late night together (We love food!). I still get breakfast with them and hang out with them.

The moral of the story is that college is a fantastic time to explore. I made it a personal goal to leave my comfort zone and try something that I haven’t done here. Just look how much magic happened! We were able to open up Waterman Theatre with a bang, learn so many new things, and create awesome relationships. The arts community here is unique and leads to unrepeatable experiences. If someone is even thinking about trying something in the arts or just something new, here’s my advice: go for it!

When in Oz…

Posted on November 3, 2016
by Kristen Beyer

*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.

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.

Networking 101

Posted on October 13, 2016
by Sarah Stephens

Hello everyone!

Whether you are a Communications, Accounting, Health Science, or Education major (etc.) it is so important to begin networking now. I would like to tell you a little story about WHY it is so crucial to network.

When I was applying for internships I had no idea where to start. I began discussing with my Mother possible internships I could apply to, which leads to network one. My Mother set me up with her friend who worked at Newsday Media Company, which is the Long Island Newspaper. From there I was able to land an interview in the Event Marketing Department. I got the internship! At Newsday I met so many great employees. Some who I actually stayed in touch with, which leads to network two. Here at Newsday I met Kim. Kim and I worked very closely together on the events Newsday would be holding. It wasn’t until Kim and I discovered that we were in the same sorority that our friendship expanded.

It is so important to maintain these relationships we make. I reached out to Kim after my internship ended and asked her if she had any connections with anyone at a Radio Station. This is where network number three comes in. Kim set me up with Joe from Connoisseur Media Long Island. This Media Company is the home of five Long Island stations. I was able to send Joe an email because I was already back in Oswego. In the email I stated that unfortunately I was already back in Oswego, but would love to send him my resume. His response back to me left me speechless. Joe responded with “I would do anything to be back in Oswego”. I was able to send Joe my resume and land an interview at this Media Company. I became a Promotions Intern. After my internship ended I got hired to work on the Events Team.

To sum this all up, I want everyone to be aware with whom they meet. You never know what networking with people can do for your future.

Hangul(Korean) day

Posted on October 9, 2016
by Ye Jin Lee

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.

King Se jong

Korean consonants

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)

If You’re in the Mood to Eat Somewhere New

Posted on September 29, 2016
by Kristen Beyer

Dining hall food is pretty great (“Chicken Patty Day” anyone?), but sometimes you want to try something off campus that isn’t a fast food joint. Especially if you are new to Oswego, you don’t really know all that is out there. That’s where I come in. I’m going to cover some reliable mainstays in Oswego that are always worth the visit.

Let’s begin with Rudy’s. Rudy’s is a lakeside joint all about fish, tenders, and other tasty foods close to the west side of campus and one of the most iconic eateries in this part of New York.

Especially in the beginning of the summer, ask anyone there and there’s a chance that you’ll hear that people are from Rochester, Albany, and other places across New York. Rudy’s is only open seasonally, so make sure to stop in before they close after Columbus Day weekend. Bev’s Dairy Treat (known most commonly as just Bev’s) is right next to Rudy’s, and if you ever have a hankering for soft serve, it’s the place to go.

fullsizerender [Photo courtesy of Emily George]

Press Box and Old City Hall are also some really great restaurants to check out. They are right off Bridge Street and perfect places to take your parents when they come into town or if you want to go somewhere nice off of campus. They are bar and grill-type places. You can’t go wrong with anything at Press Box, and I highly recommend the wraps and fries at Old City Hall.

If you’re searching for Italian at a family restaurant, Canale’s is the place to be. The alfredo is excellent and anyone in search of a hearty pasta will certainly enjoy it and the warm atmosphere. You don’t walk out of Canale’s hungry!

For a cute cafe with a relaxed vibe, Port City Cafe offers salads, paninis, desserts, and other lighter fare. With soft lighting and your choice of booth or counter by the window for sitting, it’s definitely a place to try.

This post certainly doesn’t cover all of the restaurants in Oswego, and I encourage you to go out and explore all there is. I know I will!

Rice Creek!

Posted on September 26, 2016
by Ye Jin Lee

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!

I 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 was 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.

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

Posted on September 19, 2016
by Kristen Beyer

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

Posted on December 8, 2015
by Kristen Burke

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.