Interviews and Internships

Posted on February 16, 2023 by Kaitlyn Davis

This Friday, UMBC will be having the spring 2023 Career & Internship Fair in Catonsville. I actually just got offered and accepted an internship this Wednesday, but I still plan on attending the event to work on my networking skills. And although I credit getting my internship to a lot of luck, it was also thanks to my preparation for the interviews. So, today I thought it would be a great idea to share how I prepared for the interview and plan on preparing for the career fair!

Preparing for the interviews:

1) The first thing I did was prepare answers to general questions the interviewer might ask. I used this Indeed page and followed the suggested tips. It is also important to memorize your resume. Know it like the back of your hand. Most, if not all, interviews start off with you giving a 30-second summary of your resume.

2) I recorded myself answering these questions. Knowing your strengths when it comes to interviewing is essential, and practicing with video is the easiest way to figure out these strengths. Typical interviews last 30 minutes, so it is also an excellent way to check if you are saying too much or too little. By watching my recording, I learned I used the filler words “like” and ‘um’ too often.

3) I wrote a “cheat sheet” of my answers to these questions. Thankfully, my interviews were over zoom, allowing me to keep my “cheat sheet” in front of me. When I couldn’t remember my prepared response, I quickly gazed down to jump-start my memory.

Preparing for the Career & Internship Fair:

1) Setting out my outfit. Your first impression might be your only one, so it is always best to dress appropriately. I am going with the simple choice of matching pants and a blazer with a white dress shirt.

2) Reviewing my 30-second pitch. There will be a lot of people attending this fair, as with any fair regarding internships. Lines will quickly form for the more popular companies, so it is vital to be concise and clear when you finally get your chance to talk.

3) Review which companies you want to talk to. Thankfully, the UMBC fair has listed all the companies attending the event. Knowing which companies you want to work for will save you a lot of time at the fair and give you the opportunity to speak with as many of them as possible.

4) Printing 10-15 resumes. Talking to the companies is great, but you’ll quickly be forgotten if they don’t know your experience or have a paper to remember you by. Leaving your resume gives you a chance to get your foot in the door for internships, and companies can mark your resume if they find you an ideal candidate.

I hope these tips are helpful. I’d love to hear if you end up using any of these or if you too will be attending the fair.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged advice, internships, real world, Student Life, the Universities at Shady Grove, USG | Leave a comment

Coping With Anxiety…One Step at a Time

Posted on February 15, 2023 by mnur2

What triggers your anxiety? Anxiety is something that I’m sure a lot of you experience. It could lead to a full-blown panic attack, or it may just simmer on the surface and affect your normal day-to-day activities. When you’re anxious, do you immediately know how to deal with it? Do the strategies you use help reduce your anxiety? Here is a list of anxiety coping mechanisms that have personally helped me and I hope they help you too.

Breathing gifs

Simple and effective. These might look silly, but the exercise helps you to control your breathing and take in more oxygen, which calms both your mind and body. While you’re focusing on the shapes and instructions on the gif, you’re momentarily distracted and have to focus on what’s right in front of you. Try it right now!

Escape through music

With many streaming platforms currently available, try creating a playlist with some of your favorite songs (mix in some upbeat in there too). Studies have shown that listening to music reduces cortisol levels and increases other hormones such as endorphins. Because music is tied to our emotions, we can affect how we feel through the tap of a play button.

Comfort shows/movies/books

I know I’m not the only one who revisits comfort movies and books when I’m upset and need a distraction. Often when I feel anxious, I find myself resorting to characters that feel “familiar” to me and it helps me concentrate, calms my nerves, and makes most of my worries seem lackluster compared to their inter-galaxy adventures.

Journaling

To be honest, I’ve only started doing this recently so I can’t vouch for its effectiveness 100%. But so far, it’s been fun having full control on how I organize the journal! I’ve been playing around with colorful markers and pens, randomly doodling the pages, writing down my thoughts and pages where I scribble at the peak of my anxiety.

Cry

This may sound morbid, but sometimes crying is all that you can do. Let out those emotions! As your tears escape, think of them as the negative feelings that have been pestering you all day.

Posted in Fitness & Wellness, Life at USG, students, Uncategorized | Tagged advice, life, mental health, USG | Leave a comment

Don’t Have a Valentine?

Posted on February 14, 2023 by Ashlynn Battle

Don’t have a Valentine?

Here are my top five Valentine’s Day ideas!

February 14th. Valentine’s Day. What originally started as a Christian feast now has turned into the day of love. Valentine’s Day is the perfect day to celebrate and honor love in your life! Today I write to you guys to signify that Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to only be about having a significant other. While it’s beautiful and totally can be about that. Valentine’s Day can be about loving yourself and doing all the things you enjoy, or doing things for someone you value in your life! So I decided to share the five things I love to do on Valentine’s Day! Enjoy!

#1 Host a Galentine’s day party

When I was younger, I had a best friend who loved Valentine’s Day! She would always invite her best girlfriends over and turn on her chocolate fondue fountain, with the best romcom movies playing in the background! “Friends are the ones that bring out the BEST in you.”

#2 Take yourself out on a date

You don’t have to wait for someone to ask you out on a date. I suggest taking yourself on a date! Take yourself somewhere new, to the movies, that new cafe, a new food place, or get that dessert you’ve been eyeing for the past week! Whatever it is today is the day to treat yourself! “Today’s good mood is sponsored by coffee!”

#3 Watch romcoms and eat your favorite snacks

Have a movie marathon! Turn on all those movies that you’ve had on your Netflix list forever, but haven’t had the time to watch. Take the afternoon for yourself and put on a new movie! “Let’s stay in and watch a movie.”

#4 Buy yourself flowers

Flowers are personally very big in my house, and signify peace and new beginnings! I always have some in my room! I challenge you to go buy yourself some flowers, set it in a nice vase, and place it on your nightstand! Or buy someone you love flowers, a hard working parent, a next door neighbor, flowers can make someone’s day! “Happiness blooms from within.”

#5 Write a love letter to yourself

Journaling is a self-care resource that is really beneficial to my mental health! I suggest writing a love letter to yourself or a letter to your future self. We take ourselves for granted, and I think taking a moment to stop, breathe and reflect about all the positive things you love about yourself is the best way to spend Valentine’s Day!

Be Kind To Yourself This Valentine’s Day! XOXO

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged fun, real world, school, USG | Leave a comment

Looking Forward to the Future

Posted on February 10, 2023 by rachelfadaka

A vision board is a collage that can help you visualize your goals and dreams. Last December, I made my first vision board. Before that, I only thought of a vision board as something fun to make on a whim at group get-togethers. Now, I think vision boards can help if you’re struggling with motivation and holding yourself accountable. It was also easy to make, and I had a lot of fun with the process. Creating my vision board helped me with my stress last semester. If a physical vision board isn’t right for you, I think that digital vision boards are another good option. They can be a bit easier to make and still give you the desired effect. We’re still so early in the year, so I think it could be a nice project for anyone reading.

A digital vision board
Source: The Chattery

My process began with getting a foam board that I’d use to put all the pictures on. I got mine from Hobby Lobby, (similar to this) but you could also find one at places like Michaels, Target, Walmart, etc. Mine was big, so I had a lot of space and room to work with. After that, I went to some more stores to look for magazines, which was a little hard because I wasn’t sure of what I wanted to put on my vision board. I also didn’t know if any magazine would have a lot of images that I’d want to use. I ended up getting two magazines that looked like they’d fit the overall vibe I was going for.

Then, I spent a day or two scouring through the magazines and cutting out all the words and pictures I thought I would use. I knew there’d be some things I’d want to add to the vision board that weren’t going to be in the magazines, so I also printed a few pictures out. The next step was to lay out the pictures and words on my foam board and move things around how I saw fit. I came up with a few variations of the vision board and took some pictures of them. I compared the options and decided on which variation I’d use. Next, I started using double-sided tape to secure my images to the board. I did have to go back to the magazines every now and then to find different things to fill in small white spaces.

My vision board is on the wall of my room, and I like looking at it from time to time as a reminder of how I want my future to look like. Each time, I get more and more excited about what the future holds for me.

Posted in Fitness & Wellness | Tagged fun, inspiration, life | 2 Comments

YOLO

Posted on February 9, 2023 by shriyakoneru

Fun fact, I used to tell everyone that the minute I turned 18 I would get “YOLO” tattooed on my wrist. When everyone informed me how silly and unprofessional that would be, I simply ignored them. To me, especially at that time, I felt the acronym of “YOLO” to be something I lived by. Luckily, I never committed to the tattoo of it; but, the meaning has been a recurring theme recently which prompted me to write about it.

“YOLO” stands for you only live once. It is funny thinking of being a 15 year old and thinking I had enough control and maturity for me to need to make the most out of life, but at this point in life, I do. I have recently caught myself being very excited for the next chapter of my life. For example, towards the end of fall semester, I could not wait for winter break to start. During winter break, I could not wait for school to start. And guess how I feel now that spring semester is in full swing…

The constant excitement for the next chapter can give us hope, but can also allow for us to miss so much in the present. Which is why I personally have made more of an effort to appreciate the day to day moments.

I tended to get bored of my current life because it would become routine. Because of this, I made an effort to differentiate days by adding new tasks or events to my life. In fact, this concept has been one of my overarching goals of 2023. Afterall, this year holds so much change that I do not want to overlook the comfortability of stability. Stability allows for just as much growth and opportunity as change does, if not more.

The concept of living everyday as if it is the last is not always easy, especially when we all have so many responsibilities to uphold. But to an extent, I do think that small steps can be implemented to soon live the life we find to be exciting in itself. Doing whatever makes you happy and excited to live each day is extremely important.

I recently lost this mindset, and upon realizing that, I figured I would share it too. Again, it is super easy to get comfortable and even bored with life, which is the perfect time to “YOLO” it. Do whatever makes you happy! You really do only live once!

Posted in Fitness & Wellness, students, Uncategorized | Tagged advice, fun, inspiration, life, real world, Student Life | Leave a comment

My Favorite Musical

Posted on February 8, 2023 by melanyclaros

Three words, La La Land. My favorite musical has been released on Netflix for the past week and I’ve already seen it 3 times. Some may say I’m insane or a tad bit obsessed, and they’re not wrong! There’s an endless amount of things I love about this musical from its color schemes, to the cinematography, the acting, the music, and the intentionality behind the message of the musical. Sebastian (Gosling) and Mia (Stone) have an intense connection through their passions. Sebastian has a strong passion for Jazz and trying to keep it alive, while Mia holds a great love for acting although it’s incredibly difficult to get a role in Hollywood. As the seasons change, their love grows, but life goes on. Through the troubles and unknowns, Sebastian and Mia are encountered with the choice of deciding to pursue their dream or their love. What will it be? You’ll just have to watch for yourself to find out.

Directed by Damien Chazelle, La La Land was released on December 6, 2016 starring Emma Stone, Ryan Gosling, J.K. Simmons, John Legend, and many more talented actors. Amongst these actors, it was very reassuring to see Stone and Gosling starring in yet another movie together because their chemistry on and off screen is perfect to me. It was also comforting to see that Chazelle decided to star J.K. Simmons in this project as Simmos had a very big role in Whiplash, another musical by Chazelle.

Before the movie was released, I went into a deep rabbit hole of fun facts about the movie. When Gosling auditioned, he had zero pianist skills. They offered him to have someone else do the hand shots when it was “his” piano scenes, but he took it upon himself to learn how to play the piano! In just 3 months, he perfected the score by Justin Hurwitz. Gosling did an impeccable job playing the piano and singing, which is another skill he was greatly gifted with.

If you haven’t had the chance to see this musical, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. It’s a movie filled with color, excitement, love, joy, hardship, and pure reality. As much as I love seeing it on screen, I hope I get to see it on Broadway someday. I really might not shut up about this movie, ever.

https://variety.com/2023/legit/news/la-la-land-musical-broadway-1235515365/

In case I didn’t convince you enough, have a look at the trailer and enjoy!

La La Land Trailer

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged fun, movies, Music, musicals, recommendations | 4 Comments

Instagram Told Me To: Pottery Class

Posted on February 6, 2023 by Chelsea L

Recently, I have been trying to get outside my little work-and-school bubble, and I cannot say it has been easy. finding new things to do in the areas around me is more of a task than I thought it would be. Everyone posts on their own Instagram and Facebook pages, and there is no singular place for upcoming events to be posted by breweries, stores, and experts. For a while, I felt lost, until Instagram invited me to a cute place in Laurel Maryland called Savage Mill.

From; https://www.savagemill.com/about-us/

An old textiles mill, turned ornament factory, turned circus, turned antique storage area, now turned into a services mall, Savage Mill is a place I am baffled that I have not heard about before. The old mill holds dozens of unique businesses. Some offer you the ability to learn a skill you might not have the ability to learn anywhere else. Others provide their skills to you through storefronts or fun evening outings. There are sewing lessons, a tattoo parlor, a cupcakery, a candle-making studio, an adventure park, a stamp-making studio; almost anything you can think of.

For my first time at Savage Mill though, I did something I thought I would never have the ability to do. I did something I didn’t even know I could do. I learned how to make pottery on a pottery wheel.

From: https://www.savagemill.com/merchants/clay-coven/

Clay Coven is a pottery studio in Savage Mill that offers, not only beautifully made pottery pieces for sale, but also pottery classes. You can choose from a one-off class (like I did) or a full 6-8 week-long dalliance with the art style. All classes can be booked through their website at https://www.itsneighbormade.com/events.

We sat down for our class and were given a bucket of water, a towel, a clump of clay, a few utensils, and the promise that, in an hour, we will have created something we didn’t think was possible. Our instructor, Freya, spent that hour helping us center our clay on our wheel and create a flat center we can then use to create whatever our hearts desire. It was a true test of patience and stability to keep the walls thick, to keep the clay centered, and to understand how the clay moved during each spin of the wheel.

Every student in our little 10-person class made something entirely unique by the end of the class. I will show some examples from my friends here:

We finished the class by picking what glaze we would like on our creations and leaving our contact information to pick them back up afterward.

If you have a free weekend, I would definitely recommend a class with Clay Coven. The instructors are great, and the things you learn are invaluable! As for Intragram’s recommendation, I would give it a 10/10.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged fun, life, real world, Student Life | Leave a comment

The Importance of Leadership

Posted on February 3, 2023 by Aisha Sowe

When I was in fifth grade, I decided to become the class president of my school’s Student Government Association. I had a speech prepared for the class to convince them to elect me, to which I was nervous speaking in front of my friends, classmates, and teacher. However, I was not chosen as class president, and I’d be lying to say that didn’t upset me. Eventually, I brushed that moment off and moved on to being a typical 10-year-old.

Fast forward over a decade later, I am now a college student studying Communications at the University of Maryland, College Park. I’d never thought that I would be where I am now today. I also never thought I would attempt student leadership again, let alone be elected. That was until I discovered the Student Leadership Advisory Council (SLAC).

Now what is SLAC, you might ask. Well to answer your question, SLAC is a leadership group at USG where undergraduates and graduates (and for this semester a Doctorial student) along with the Student Advisory Board meet with administration to discuss plans for USG 2.0. That includes revised services for students, model and career competency, and development.

I was first introduced to SLAC at the Welcome Day event before enrolling in USG. I saw this flyer about advocating for students and leadership and that there was an application deadline. From that moment, I took the flyer home and started working on applying for the role.

Just like SGA, SLAC was also selective in choosing its members (about 12-14 students) and of course, this made me a bit apprehensive. I still applied for SLAC anyways, constantly reviewing my application and ending up turning in my application minutes before it was due.

A day or two later, I got accepted as a General member at SLAC!

When we meet every other Friday, our meetings start with icebreaker activities such as discussing what being a leader means to work in teams in order to build airplanes made out of Legos. We also meet with different members of the USG administration on USG 2.0 such as engaging with academic and community partners, career readiness, and team-building programs.

A group of five students looking at a group of sticky notes during a Design Thinking Workshop. (Source: Shelby Speer)

SLAC also hosts and participates in events on campus such as the Fall Fest, Open Forums, and Graduating Students Events.

Source: SLAC

Since joining SLAC four months later, I have learned a lot from my experience. Not only did I learn about myself and my capabilities as a leader, but I learned a lot about my peers and USG overall. As a Communications major, being a part of SLAC is important because we often have to communicate in groups in order to make plans for new and improved changes. As you may see in the future, USG will have many exciting to come all because of us!

My time at SLAC is something that I am grateful to be a part of. My goal is to utilize this opportunity for advocating for my fellow peers at USG.

Posted in Campus Activities, Life at USG, Work Experience | Tagged Student Life, the Universities at Shady Grove, USG | Leave a comment

Why You Should Cruise for Spring Break

Posted on February 1, 2023 by mnur2

Even though spring break is almost 2 months away, it’s never too late to plan ahead for a great week of entertainment. Recently I just came back from a cruise and I know that as students we are always looking for ways to spend a great time with our friends and family amidst all the exams and homework. Let me give you the scoop on all there is to do on a ship! But make sure you book early because those tickets sell out fast.

1.Road trip to Florida

While most people decide to fly to a cruise port, I’m partial to driving there with my family. It’s cool to see the changes in scenery and visit some notable attractions on the way to our destination. I highly recommend it! We stopped at numerous beaches along the way which only heightened our excitement for the cruise.

2. The food

It’s no secret that your cruise ticket comes with complimentary food. I have to say—you will NOT be prepared for the amount of variety you will get to choose from. There is a buffet for break, lunch and dinner (with the theme changing for the latter). Ice cream stations are posted around the entire ship, where you get to eat as many as you want. And did I mention free pizza? And the best part of all, the fancy dinners in the dining rooms make you feel like a celebrity at a 5 star hotel.

3. Activities on the ship

The entertainment onboard are endless. On the very first night, you get to experience a parade consisting of many different performers of different backgrounds showing off their culture. Then later at night, an incredible ice skating performance is shown that will leave your jaw hanging. Depending on how long you stay, the next couple of days will also include many theater shows and performances. In addition to that, there are pools, game arcades, sport courts, rock climbing and more.

4. The destination

Well, depending on where your cruise is sailing, there is so much to see and take in at the next port. For example, while at the Bahamas, I was able to explore one of their private islands and get a chance to see dolphins at the infamous Atlantis. The turquoise-blue water was a sight to behold while lounging on the warm-sandy beach. I hope the pictures below manages to convince you as well!

Posted in students, Uncategorized | Tagged advice, fun, recommendations, Spring Break, USG | 1 Comment

Good Food and Studying

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Kaitlyn Davis

Happy February, everyone! As we all begin to adjust to our spring semesters, I have come to the realization that I need to manage my time differently from last semester. Having to dedicate most of my time to studying now, I’m super glad I explored recipes when I had the time over break. I plan to meal prep with some of these recipes every weekend for the semester. I am excited to see how maintaining a standard for nutrition will impact my ability to study, and maybe I’ll save money along the way. I have a bad habit of getting Starbucks regularly, so I know I’ll save a lot by making my own coffee at home. And so, today, I thought it would be great to share some of these recipes!

First up is my all-time favorite, baked salmon. I use the recipe created by Erin Clarke. It is my go-to dinner; I love preparing it with mashed potatoes or broccoli. Only recently, I discovered that adding cream cheese to mashed potatoes makes them super creamy and delicious. If you need a recipe to try it out, here is the one I follow by The Salty Marshmallow.

I don’t know about you, but winter is the season of soups for me! I can’t get enough. Trying to be healthier, I usually stick with healthy options like this hearty Quinoa Vegetable Soup with Kale. I was shocked to find myself enjoying eating kale for once. It’s super filling and great for eating in 30-degree weather! Another favorite of mine is French onion soup. Unfortunately, this soup is crazy high in saturated fat, but you have to treat yourself every once in a while. And NYTimes’s French onion soup is the perfect treat.

And last but not least, dessert. My favorite dessert is the chocolate chip cookie. I like to finish the day with a small treat, and nothing is better than a soft and gooey chocolate chip cookie. I don’t know how Tasty cracked the code, but team member Alvin Zhou has crafted the perfect cookie. I am so happy to have found his recipe, as it makes the best cookie I have ever had. I am almost mad at him, seeing as now any store-bought cookie will never be able to compare. So, if you plan on making this recipe, prepare to have a new standard for the dessert.

Overall, I am excited to see how the meal prepping turns out. I am so grateful for the people who post their recipes online. I may not be the best chief, but with these recipes I can make some pretty delicious food. To quote the great Julia Child, ” no one is born a great cook, one learns by doing.”

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