BUFFOLOGY

The Honor’s Space

simone393 — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:26:35 +0000

The Honor’s Program offers many perks including the Honor’s Space found on campus. This is a great place for students to hang out between classes, get started on their homework, plan get together, have study groups, eat lunch, and much more.

One of the first items on our tour of the Honors Space are two computers that are available for students to use on homework or recreation. These computers are great when one needs to look something up, or print out a file for class.

Next, there are many comfy chairs and a table for students to use and relax in. It’s not a huge space, but the wall of windows allows in nice light and helps expand the space.

A nice feature of the space, for when one just needs time to relax and wind down from class, is the flat screen T.V. and attached DVD player. It’s always nice to relax with friends while watching cooking shows, cartoons, or that new movie every one has been talking about.

The T.V. is not always in use, because there are times when students sit on the various couches and chairs to study and discuss classes. Here are some of my fellow honors students talking about their new classes of the semester.

The Honors space also includes a full kitchen that is fully stocked for student use. They provide some snacks and drinks available to students (for a cheap price) and students can always bring and make their own food.

And last, is the classroom found at the back of the space. There are some core classes offered though the Honor’s Program for Honor’s students. The classes are smaller in size and mostly taught in the classroom. It also serves as a great room for study groups or meeting on group project.

Since I am a commuter, I spend most of my free time between classes in the Honor’s Space. I love it and am glad of all that it offers to us students.

Tutoring..

marandarivas — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:08:07 +0000

It’s okay to feel a lost in a class. One of the joys of WT is that tutors are available and there is a math and science lab, and a writing center. Life happens and so does getting behind, but to keep up with your classes is very important. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, or go talk to your professors. They are here to help you and their job is to teach you. If all else fails there is a ton of help available across WT. And don’t worry, you are more than likely not the only one having a pr0blem. WT is like a big community and everyone is here to help.

The Library

marandarivas — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:03:03 +0000

Ohhh the library.

One of the most obvious places to study, but not a lot of people know of its greatness. I’ve been going to school at WT for two years and I just recently discovered how amazing it is! When you need a quiet place to study or just need to read a book or be alone, stop by the library. If I have a really hard test or any free time to study it’s my go-to place to do that. If you need a book or article, the staff is more than happy to help you find what you need so don’t be afraid to ask.

So lesson of the day: Use the library’s greatness to help you this semester

Email, Email, Email!!

marandarivas — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:12:27 +0000

One of the easiest and most used way of communication at WT is through email. It’s a lot easier to get a hold of professors and other students through your email. I will email professors before I go into their office, or before calling because answers can come a lot quicker and most professors check their email often. There is also an email that gets sent around every week with all of the events happening on campus so it’s also a great way to know what’s going on. So if you don’t use your email often, start to! It’s a VERY useful tool in college!

Beginning of Semester Tip #4: Find Alone Time.

abigailgracemiller — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:14:25 +0000

I know. The title sounds….

-harsh

-like a loner

-confusing

-odd

-disturbing

-[insert your own personal opinion]

Before I venture on, I will clarify one thing: I love my friends and I love spending time with them.

But despite what we think or how much we like being around people, we all need alone time. And if by some rarity that you don’t need alone time, I know for sure you’re friends do. It’s human nature and definitely not a bad thing.

For some, alone time might mean going to work out at the AC, or Facebook stalking, or cleaning, or putting your headphones and listening to music to drown out your surroundings, or taking a bear nap, or watching the Law and Order: SVU marathon that’s on channel USA, or simply staring at the wall….. or if you’re like me, reading.

I actually am all alone by myself right now. I took off all my bracelets and my long necklaces and my watch and put on my sweats and my hoodie. My contacts came out and my glasses got put on. My hair went up in a ponytail. I picked up the book that I’ve been dying to go buy, “City of Glass” by Cassandra Clare, and curled up under my Texas Tech fleece blanket my Aunt Patti got me for Christmas my senior year when I just knew I was going to school at Tech…. but that’s a completely different and long story that I might get around to telling someday.

However… I’ve got a date. With my book.

Adios!

Small Town, USA

biobuff14 — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:31:48 +0000

I love living in a small town, especially one so close to a larger town like Amarillo. We don’t have as many drug and gang problems, but we are close enough to the mall and shopping centers. However, I recently spent some time with my aunt who grew up in Pensacola, then moved to New York for a few years, then moved to Hawaii for a few years, then sailed the sea for a few years, and is now living in Sweden close to Copenhagen, Denmark. She is used to living in a big city. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to her stories about these far off places. She really wanted me to move to New York for a few years, and although, that sounds like a wonderful idea, I don’t think it’s going to happen. Now that I’m getting married, I’m realizing that after college, I’m probably going to find a good town and settle down. I’m perfectly happy with this decision, but for those of you who are a little more adventurous, maybe you should consider moving somewhere more urban after college. WT is a great place for school for many reasons. The student to teacher ratio is great, people are friendly, it has a good reputation, it’s small, etc. These are things you are DEFINITELY not going to get in a larger town, but after you graduate, maybe you should try for an internship in Washingtion, D.C., or look for a job in L.A. It’s a great way to see parts of the world you aren’t familiar with. I know many people who have done this, and it seems like great fun!

Beginning of Semester Tip #3: Breathe!

abigailgracemiller — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:47:28 +0000

These were my ideas and thoughts before classes started…

I. Can. Not. Breathe.

In a metaphorical, mental sense rather than a physical one.

You might be wondering why I can’t metaphorically or mentally breathe is… I just looked at my class syllabi.

I am taking 18 hours this semester. I am working 20.5 hours a week as well.

Just thinking about my upcoming semester makes me hyperventilate. No joke.

No, I didn’t inform you of my spring semester schedule (whoa…. alliteration, nice.) because I’m seeking sympathy or because I’m feeling sorry for myself. It’s more like I’m trying to remind myself that I just signed away my life for the next few months. It’s more like I’m trying ask myself what I was thinking when I was making my spring semester schedule. I honestly have no idea…

These were my ideas after the first week of class:

I. Can. Do. This.

I definitely think I worked myself up for no reason at all. Yes, I still think that my schedule is a little busier with more hours of class and work. However… the way that my schedule is arranged, it should work out better.

In all reality, if I just keep myself oraganized and write everything down in my handy dandy Victoria Secret’s Pink planner, I should be just fine.

So, I will pass along a word of advice…

BREATHE!

Oh… and “use and abuse” your planner.

Jumping into Spring

simone393 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:36:03 +0000

The Spring 2012 semester has now begun at WT. I’ve finished my first day and am now relaxing at home with a smile on my face. It was a great day; however, after a nice long winter break I find it hard to make the leap into work mode. The Honor’s Annual Meeting held the day before classes started helped to make the transition from break to school.

The first perk of the meeting was being to see and interact with all my classmates and friends I hadn’t been able to see over the winter break. Second, a table fair was set up during the meeting for everyone to learn and ask questions about aspects of the honors program, internships, study abroad programs, and more. The meeting was kept short for the students moving into their dorms, and to allow everyone to get various chores done before school started. The meeting became a great way to get me started and prepared for the upcoming semester. I’m ready to tackle whatever this semester has to throw at me!

Look forward to next week when I’ll be posting a picture tour of the Honor’s Space!

WT

biobuff14 — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:19:12 +0000

Fun. Cheap. Good Education. Friendly.

Beginning of Semester Tip #2: Avoiding the Freshman 15

abigailgracemiller — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:14:40 +0000

The Freshman 15… what every college freshman fears the most, well maybe besides flunking out of school.

If you are unaware of what the Freshman 15 is…

Freshman 15 (n): the average amount of weight gained by students during their first year of college.

Daunting, I know.

Here’s the deal. You don’t have to be the typical college student and gain the Freshman 15. There are a few ways to avoid the “spare tire” or the “muffin top”:

1. Go workout at the AC (Activity Center) on campus. They have lots of options to chose from when it comes to working out.

- racquetball

- indoor running track

- elliptical machines

- treadmill machines

- weights to work on your abs, arms, legs, etc…

- volleyball court(s)

- basketball court(s)

- swimming pool

- classes for zumba, kickboxing, etc…

The best part about going to the act to work out is that it’s free! Well… it’s free in that you’ve already paid to use it the facilities. So you might as well.

2. Eat healthy.

-Watch what you eat. Laugh all you want but us college kids, we think we’re invincible when it comes to the spare tire. Unless you just have amazing genetics and a great metabolism, chances are you’ll be sporting a spare tire before too long if you don’t watch what you eat.

- There is an app that you can find on the iPhone and Android markets called “My Fitness Pal“. This little app is amazing. It kinda reminds me of R2D2 from Star Wars. What MFP does is, it calculates how many calories you are allowed to consume daily based on your age, height, and weight. Then, every day, you enter in everything you eat and drink. What’s amazing about MFP is that if you searched for “Olive Garden salad” or “Sonic Large Dr. Pepper”… it’ll have just about have anything from any major fast food chain restaurant you can think of. It knows how many calories, carbs, sugars, trans fats, etc… are in anything. Or if you are eating a hommade recipe, you can simply add all of the calories, carbs, sugars, trans fats, etc… in yourself! You also record your daily weight, so you can track your weigh gain/loss. You also calculate in your daily exercise, which will burn calories. Yippee! Talk about an amazing app.

3. Get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can have a day on your weight as well as how good your brain functions.

So if you’re thinking about wanting to go work out at the AC but you’re afraid that you’re out of shape and you’ll feel dumb… don’t worry. The girl that is slowly jogging around the indoor track, huffing and puffing… that will be me. You won’t be alone. As much as it pains me to quote High School Musical, “we’re all in this together”.