Go Greek! September 25, 2009
Posted by abearman in : Uncategorized , add a commentThanks to Hollywood, Greek Life is one of the most misunderstood aspects of campus life. But as an active member of Theta Phi Alpha, I’d like to give an insider’s perspective on sorority life. I entered college with no intention of ever “going Greek,” but when I started to meet the women involved in starting Theta Phi Alpha and as I learned more about the organization itself, I knew that this was a unique opportunity that most college students don’t get. When I started on campus in 2006, Theta Phi Alpha wasn’t here. I was able to play an important role in bringing an entirely new organization on campus. Now, as one of the founding members, I’m helping to establish traditions on campus that will be carried on by my future sisters.
But enough about Theta Phi Alpha, let’s talk Greek Life in general. Being involved in a Greek organization is not what the movies make it out to be. For those who will be living away from home, Greek organizations offer a family on campus. Even for those of us who commute, our fraternity brothers or sorority sisters are still like family. And these people will not only be the people you turn to in college. They’re also the ones who will be faithful friends throughout the rest of your life.
Greek Life also has a lot of other benefits and opportunities. Most Greek organizations have specific philanthropies that they raise money for. They will also work with a variety of other charities—local and national—to raise awareness, raise money, or donate items. Community service such as working at the YWCA or any number of other charities also get assistance from Greek organizations. The possibilities are endless, and the men or women in Greek organizations get the opportunity to put together events that will not only be immediately beneficial to the community but will also serve as experience that can be used on your resume in the future.
And speaking of your resume, Greek Life offers many opportunities for leadership. Did you know that all but 2 of our nation’s presidents were Greek? Think about the possibilities!
Finally, Greek Life really is just fun. But don’t think of it as the stupid stuff that people due in movies. Think of it as an opportunity to hang out with your best friends all the time. That’s what Greek Life really is about.
Honors Experience September 4, 2009
Posted by lbuswell in : Uncategorized , add a commentWhat I loved about my first semester was the incredible opportunities that we were offered immediately. Community service is a valuable asset to the college experience, and Dr. Thum works hard to reward students for their hard work. Service hours come in the form of working within the Honors Program, performing service for the university, or volunteering for an outside organization. The best part is that awards are given to students who perform 30+ hours of service. The more that you do, the better the award!
During my first semester, I also had the chance to sharpen my writing skills. I had enjoyed writing in high school and had received good grades, but I had never considered English as a possible major until my experiences during my first semester of Honors. The coursework challenged me in new ways and gave me the chance to develop skills that I hadn’t learned in high school. These new experiences and opportunities helped me find not only my major, but eventually my career goal. The skills that I learned through Honors are skills that I still use in my classes nearly three years later.
After that first year in Honors, I was able to share my experience in the writing field with other students. Again, I received an opportunity through the Honors Program to serve as a tutor to first-year students. Working with students has always been one of my passions, and as I tutored, I found that this was my calling. Had it not been for Honors, I would have never discovered my career.
Another valuable aspect of the Honors Program is the opportunity to do an off-campus study with funding from the program. As an English major, I spent much of my coursework studying British literature, especially Shakespeare. As I began to develop the topic for my thesis, I found that something related to Shakespeare would be the best choice for my focus. An opportunity to travel to Stratford, Ontario, to take a Shakespeare in Performance course and to do my own research was the obvious choice when it came time to plan my off-campus study. Experiencing another country, writing a proposal for my trip, and learning how to organize the trip were just a few opportunities that my off-campus experience offered. It was truly life-changing, and I would have never had the opportunity without the Honors Program. With the funding I received, I was able to plan a return trip to Stratford to continue research for my thesis which will be completed by the end of my last year.
To be honest, after three years, I can’t believe how far I’ve come. The Honors Program has played a huge role in helping me not only discover my own interests and career goals but also in realizing all of the opportunities that UM-Flint offers to students. The Honors Program helps connect with university resources and provides additional resources to students as well. Choosing to be a part of the Honors Program at UM-Flint is one of the best decisions that I’ve made during my college career, and I can’t imagine what my experience would have been without it. It challenged me at times, but it also allowed me to grow in my academic career and my personal life.
Welcome! September 4, 2009
Posted by Office of Undergraduate Admissions in : Uncategorized , add a commentThe Office of Undergraduate Admissions would like to welcome prospective students and incoming students who will be reading these student ambassador blogs.