A very large part of being successful in college is budgeting, which is making sure you don’t spend more money than you make in a week, month, or semester, or however you plan.

If you work on campus, you will get paid twice a month, on the 15th and the last day of each month. Being a Community Advisor, I get paid once a month. I also work for a marketing company that runs this blog, and I get paid biweekly for that as well. I’m working for the university as  Cyclone Aide so I get paid once a month for that as well. All of these are direct deposit, which means the money is automatically transferred to my bank account. This is by far the best way to control your money in college, rather than getting a check, cashing it, and then depositing it.

Working on campus is not a bad deal. Most college students work while they’re in school, and there’s many different ways

 to work for Iowa State, or the Ames community. On AccessPlus, which is the online “forum” that you use to register for classes, receive your grades, order your transcripts, and look up jobs on the Student Job Board. There are jobs posted by location [On Campus, In Ames, Less than 15 miles away], by area of expertise [Retail, Volunteer, Dining, Miscellaneous, etc] and you can look up jobs, numbers, contact information and requirements for the jobs. It’s an easy way to make money while working, and the beautiful thing is, you are not allowed to work more than twenty hours a week for the university, so you won’t have to worry about being scheduled for more than twenty hours.

Another great thing about working for the university is that the employers know you are a student. If you have an exam or you need to study for something, you can request the day off, or the night before off. I’ve worked for ISU Dining, which is the school food caterer, and all the employees were extremely helpful and friendly!

So, if you need to learn to budget, make sure you do it before college. I usually live by the motto, “Live like a college student now, so you don’t have to later.”

So until next time,
Seanna

Here’s a couple of buildings in “Engineering Row,” or the area of campus that is dedicated to the majors of Engineering. Whether it’s Black Engineering Building [Mechanical/Industrial Science Engineering], Coover Hall [Chemical/Computer Engineering], Howe Hall [Aerospace Engineering] or Town Hall [Civil/Environmental Engineering], there are all in all about ten buildings on campus used for engineering classes and lectures, as well as labs for Robotics, and the C-6 [Virtual Reality] and the C-4 [Natural Disaster Simulator].

Today, I’ll give a brief overview of Hoover Hall, one of my favorite places to go and study. The inside of the building does not have covering ceilings so engineers can see how a building is built and the structures of floors, etc.

Hoover Hall

Completed in 2003 and home to the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Engineering Computer Support Services, as well as labs for the Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering department, the new $27 million facility was made possible by a gift from Gary Hoover (BS ME ‘61) and his wife Donna. Iowa State’s first “sky bridge” connects Hoover with the first phase of the ETRC, Howe Hall, a $35.5 million facility completed in 1999 and named for benefactors Stanley Howe (BSE ‘46) and wife Helen, major contributors to Hoover Hall as well.

The Engineering Teaching and Research Complex represents the largest capital project ever undertaken at Iowa State. Hoover Hall’s Kent-Stein Foundation Auditorium holds 400 seats and is one of the largest on campus. The second floor, named for the late James Palmer (BS EE ‘44) and his wife Barbara (BS FCS ‘46), is distinguished not only by its high-tech labs and classrooms, but is also graced by sculptures commissioned with an additional gift from the Palmers.

Corporate donors such as Square D/Schneider Electric and Caterpillar partnered with alumni to make many of Hoover’s labs and classrooms possible. For example, the James Gayle Boyd Product Realization Laboratory will allow students to build and test the machines they design, and the Caterpillar Mechatronics Laboratory will combine hydraulics, electronics, and mechanical testing features. The Joseph C. (BS CE ‘54) and Elizabeth A. Anderlik Innovative Learning Environment will give students room to both listen to lectures and meet in small planning groups.

Student-ID, Net-ID, E-mail
When you become a student at Iowa State University, you will receive your own, unique electronic identity. Your electronic identity requires two items—an ISU ID number and a Network-ID (often shortened to just Net-ID).

ISU ID Number
Your ISU ID number is the number on your red ISUCard. Most students will receive their ISU ID number and red ISUCard during summer orientation in June, once you’ve accepted your admission. This ID number enables access to grades, course enrollment, and class schedules. You will also need their ISU ID number to create your NetID. There is an office in Beardshear devoted specifically for ISU cards. It is $10 to replace your card if it is broken or split, and $20 to replace it if you lose it.

Network-ID
Every student has an ISU Network-ID (NetID). A student’s NetID is part of their email address, and it also allows them to log into various computer systems at Iowa State.

First, you should choose an appropriate NetID. Most use their first initial plus their last name to form a NetID. Second, you should choose a good password, one which includes a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters plus numbers. Keep track of your NetID and password. You will use them to log into online systems WebCT, the library, and WebMail. Make sure that you don’t choose an inappropriate email address such as “glitzygrl88″ or something, because this is the email you will be using throughout college, and it doesn’t look too good when you are interviewing to give companies a cheesy email.

Email

Add “@iastate.edu” to your NetID and this becomes your ISU email address! Iowa State uses WebMail (webmail.iastate.edu) as out email database, so when you receive your ISU email address, simply click on WebMail on iastate.edu and you can login to your own personal email! Next fall, there is a rumor that ISU is switching to Gmail, so look out! It’s exciting!

A student has the option to keep their ISU email account or forward their ISU email to another email account, such as Gmail! I do this, and it’s convenient as all get out!!

So until next time, NOW you now what an ISU card is, and hopefully, you’ll be getting one soon!!

Until next time,
Seanna

10 ways to start living green

1. Flip the switch! Turn off appliances and electronics nights and weekends to save hundreds of dollars annually.

Formula for estimating energy costs: U.S. Dept. of Energy

APPLIANCES
(Annual energy costs)
Large Bunn-type coffee maker $ 34
12-cup coffee maker 18
24 cu. ft refrigerator 210 12 cu. ft refrigerator 22
3 cu. ft refrigerator 10
20-inch box fan
(4 mos., 10-hr. day) 17
Clock radio 4
Cell phone charger 3

ELECTRONICS
(Annual energy costs)
Personal computer (PC plus monitor)
Monitor, PC always on $165
Monitor off nights, weekends 105
Monitor, PC off nights, weekends 60
Black & white laser printer
Always on $123
Off nights, weekends 38
Color laser printer
Always on $246
Off nights, weekends 114
Copier
Always on 400
Off nights, weekends 145

2. ‘Off’ better than sleep mode! The “off” switch is superior to your computer’s “sleep mode.” Turn off the CPU and monitor to save more than $100 annually.

3. Ride the bus! ISU students ride all CyRide routes free. Faculty and staff can ride three circulator routes through campus free. For other routes, faculty and staff can buy passes at half the price. (Public Safety’s parking division subsidizes the passes.)

4. When to turn off the lights! Turn off lights if you leave a room for more than 15 minutes. Don’t worry about reducing a fluorescent light’s life by switching. New lights handle this better.

5. Share the ‘fridge! A small dorm-type refrigerator (3 cu. feet) costs $10 annually. A 12 cu. ft. refrigerator is $22 and a 24 cu. ft. refrigerator/freezer is $210.

6. Don’t lower the thermostat just for your computer’s sake! Most computers today can easily operate in a 78-degree room, if there’s airflow. Overheated computers are usually located in closets, corners or under desks, where air flow is minimal.

7. Get a flat panel! Flat panel LCD computer monitors use one-fifth of the energy of the old-style CRT monitors.

8. Fume hoods are big spenders! It costs about $6,200 to run a lab fume hood full-time for a year. When a hood isn’t in use, the sash should be fully lowered or the hood should be removed from service and clearly marked as unavailable.

9. Bright idea! Make the switch from incandescent lights to compact fluorescent (CF) or LED bulbs. The lights last longer and use less energy.

10. Save with sensors! Install automatic light sensors in rooms not in continuous use. The sensors, which cost about $37 plus installation, will turn lights on only when people enter the room.

These are easy ways that you can save electricity as a college student, so whenever you go to college, and wherever you go [hopefully here at Iowa State!] you can use these tips, too!

So until next time,
Seanna

The three most important tools for college success: iPod, academic planner, and a writing utensil.

You think I kid . . .

iPod to keep you sane between classes, and of course, to jam out and sing when you think no one is looking . . .
An academic planner to keep your life straight between class, homework, extracurriculars, work, and other activities throughout the week. 
And last but not least, a writing utensil. For obvious reasons. =]

A good academic planner that has plenty of room for notes, scribbles, and project outlines is the key to college success. Keeping homework assignments on track and making sure you complete your readings everyday will make sure that you stay up to date with class. I use something called an “uncalendar” calendar, because the days are unlabeled, so if you make a mistake, you can just rip it out.

There is a section for addresses, notes, and a weekly calendar Monday-Sunday. On the left is areas for jotting down notes, projects, and things to remember. On the right is your calendar by week, with morning, lunch and evening sections to distinguish between times in the day. There are places for reminders and important VIP things, too. I absolutely love it, because my calendar is the most important thing in my life. It tells me where to be, when I need to be there, and what I need to do!

As soon as you set foot on campus, go to the bookstore, and purchase a planner. It’s the first step, and one of the most important.

So, until next time,
plan and organize like your life depends on it! 

-Seanna

A lot of times, a professor’s first exam is the toughest, even harder than the final, I would say.

I know you’re thinking, wow . . . what is she saying? But in all seriousness, the reason the first exam in any class is the hardest is the mystery factor . . . you don’t know what to expect.

Professors usually give you a study guide before an exam, or review the material in the class ahead of the exam. It’s always hard to anticipate what will be on a test, how it will be formatted, what type of questions the professor will ask, and the level of complexity of the questions.

An exam usually reflects the type of personality the professor has, whether or not they are strict, or lax, or middle of the road. Now of course, this is just a theory, hah, there is no solid research behind this, but in my experience, the test you will study the hardest for in each of your classes will be the first one.

A few tips for preparing for the first exam:

-go over all material from the class, whether it be notes, online powerpoints, etc.

-don’t forget to review the in-class material [which means, of course, you have to GO to class!]

-read the assigned text [which is usually spread out, but since you have already read it of course, just review it and skim]

-formulate practice questions you think might be on the test: y/n questions, essay prompts, and multiple choice

-don’t forget not to cram until wee hours of the morning the night before: this doesn’t help you, and won’t learn the material! I know everyone says this, but it is true. Really. I’ve learned this!

So there you go. Your key to studying for the first exam in your classes. After you first exam, whether you do well, middle of the road, or “don’t quit your day job,” make sure you look over it and check out the answers you got wrong; if you only receive a grade back, make an appointment to see your test with your professor or teaching assistant. This option is ALWAYS available, so take advantage of it! Your professor will be happy to get to know you, too, and this will help you in the long run!

Until next time,
Seanna

My plane leaves from Phoenix, AZ Sky Harbor Airport at 7:10am tomorrow morning, and I have a two hour layover in Denver, CO. Then I get to fly to Omaha, NE, and see Eric again.

Man, I miss that boy.

It’s been a great time with my family [a tad bit hectic, but still enjoyable] but it’s always nice to drive on I-35 out of Des Moines and see the Ames, Iowa State University sign feels just as much like home as Richardson, Campbell Road does.

If you’re not from Dallas, Campbell Rd probably doesn’t make much sense to you, but for all my locals out there, you know where I’m coming from.

We woke up at 8:00am, and made the two hour drive to the 7th Natural Wonder of the Modern World, the Grand Canyon.

It was GORGEOUS!

I’ve been about three times before, since I’ve been going to the Arroyo Roble Resort for at least twelve years with my family for either fall or spring break or both sometimes.

So, we decided to schedule a trip to the Grand Canyon today, Thursday, since my aunt hasn’t ever been. We packed our lunches, and I slept the entire way [since I still tend to get motion sickness on long car trips, and plus driving is boring unless you're behind the wheel, anyway . . .].

We arrived around noon and pulled up to a giant marketplace where we stopped and bought some more groceries for lunch. When you visit, you have two options: 1) take the shuttle and make stops whenever you so choose, or 2) take a driving route and stop and walk to visitor centers. Since we’ve done the first one already, we decided to drive along the West Rim [the North Rim, the most beautiful sight, is an extra four hour drive to drive to the other side of the canyon] and stopped at Hermit’s Rest to take some pictures.

We stopped by a Navajo Indian reservation on the way home and bought some jewelry from a very nice man who lived on the reservation. I couldn’t believe the extreme poverty on the reservation . . . shacks everywhere, broken-down trucks, and miles between communities. One of the Navajo’s main sources of income are jewelry stands along the highway, so we decided to stop and look at their merchandise. We bought some necklaces, earrings, a few bracelets.

It was a long day, but it was well worth it. Last spring break, when my boyfriend and I went on spring break with my family, we took him to the canyon as well, and we made a goal to take a hike to the bottom of the canyon sometime in the next ten years, so I’m looking forward to that! You can either hike or take a mule ride to the bottom, and there’s actually a hotel in the middle of the North Rim protrusion, and it takes about five hours to get down there.

For Spring Break, I am going to my home away from home for twelve years: Sedona, Arizona, where the infamous red rocks hang over the horizons. I absolutely adore that area- it’s climate is perfect, it’s always sunny, and our resort villa backs right up to the Oak Creek, which is always rushing.

We’ve been going to this resort through a timeshare since I was in elementary school, 3rd grade, I think. My parents invested in a timeshare, so basically, how it works is: you purchase one unit at a time for a certain amount of money, and you can use them or “bank” them to wait until the next year. We used to go twice each year because my parents bought two “units.” So this year was my last year to come as a college student. Next spring I will be student teaching, and than I graduate, and then the next spring I’ll be somewhere else, working in the “real world!” Time flies, I swear.

Feels like I just started college at Iowa State University. Can’t believe it’s almost done. One semester of classes after this May, and then student teaching, traveling, and then graduating! That’s nuts.

Yesterday was ISCORE, or the long term, the Iowa State Conference on Race and Ethnicity. This conference had been [for me] a year in the making. It all began last May when I attended the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Orlando, FL at Disneyworld. I applied to be an NCORE Scholar last March, was accepted, and had a paid trip to Disneyworld and the National Conference to attend seminars on race, ethnicity, and discrimination issues in the United States; the following fall semester [for me, the Fall of 2008] I had a three credit class once a week where me and three other group members researched and presented a powerpoint concerning a topic related to the ethnic background we were assigned, which was different than all of our own ethnicities [ours was Asian Americans].

We originally began with a presentation called “Asian American Portrayal in American Media,” discussing the negative connotations and stereotypes embedded in America’s cinematic culture. After presenting, we needed to narrow down our topic for the Iowa State Conference on Race and Ethnicity, or ISCORE. We decided to focus on Arab/Middle Eastern portrayal in American media, following the documentary “Reel Bad Arabs,” by Dr. Shaheen, a professor Emeritus of Communication at Southern Illinois University, and his research focuses on over 300+ films that depict negative connotations of Arab/Middle Eastern populations in popular American films. Click here if you are interested in seeing Part I of V of his documentary on YouTube.

The Arab/Middle Eastern Portrayal presentation was my primary presentation at ISCORE. In December, all NCORE participants were required to apply to present another seminar- some were accepted, some were not. My secondary presentation with another group member titled, “Dora the Explorer: Multicultural or Stereotypical?” was accepted, so Kaylene [my co-presenter] and I researched and composed a seminar concerning that topic as well. It was busy, but enjoyable. I feel like the people that attended both of my sessions really learned a great deal. ISCORE is a great experience because it brings diverse issues and serious discrimination awareness to our campus in Iowa, where it is much needed. We have diverse populations on campus, but with unconscious privilege comes obliviousness to that privilege at times.

At 4:00pm, after both my presentations at 2:10 and 3:10pm, I was fortunate enough to introduce Michele Norris, a former ABC correspondent who has had many honors, including a Peabody Award for her coverage of 9/11 with Peter Jennings in 2001. She was the afternoon keynote, and I was able to introduce her to almost 400 anxious audience members. My introduction was typed out, and I had talked so much previously that day, that I just read and introduced her, no big deal.

After her keynote speech, the NCORE participants [me and nineteen other students] were able to eat a catered dinner by ISU Dining [our on campus food service caterer] with Dr. Thomas Hill [Vice President of Student Affairs], Michele Norris herself [I was able to sit at her table because I introduced her!] as well as the LAS Dean, Michael Whitford, and many, many other Iowa State administrative members, along with the Carrie Chapman Catt Lecture Series board [a group of women bringing lecturers concerning women's issues to campus]. It was an amazing night!

After that, all the NCORE participants got together and hung out that night. All in all, it was a great day. Long, but enjoyable and educational! If you come to Iowa State, you should DEFINITELY apply to go to NCORE [the location changes each year, so it's also a great way to get some traveling in during college . . . for free!] and then present at ISCORE to educate your fellow peers concerning discrimination and racism in society.

Til next time,
Seanna