The Universities at Shady Grove (USG)

There are clear differences to how teaching and learning differ at the elementary to graduate level, the biggest one being that in my class at night, we’re functional human beings with a sense of logic and hesitancy. However, there’s actually plenty of similarities between an adult graduate student and 5th grader. These are equally laughable, relatable, and ultimately, a testament to what makes learning both fun and a challenge.

1. 1. We get distracted by technology.
      I spend about 30% of my day telling students to get off Buzzfeed or stop repeatedly clicking the trackpad just because the Chromebook is frozen. However, I sit in class almost every week watching my classmates browse Instagram,  answer parent emails, and shop for extra supplies online instead. Technology is both a blessing and a curse. It’s provided so many different avenues for both groups to learn and discover….but at the same time, it’s incredibly difficult to stay focused when one click can get us on something slightly more fascinating than what we may be assigned to do.

   2. We will not stick to our own Google Slides.
      I distinctly remember an activity last year where students shared a Google Slides between them to present about a roller coaster they built. There was no shortage of arguing, crying, and tantrum-throwing over a teammate changing someone else’s font color, adding an unwanted picture, or typing on a slide that wasn’t delegated to them. Then again, in class last week, we were all supposed to be on our own slide for a presentation on preferred technology rubrics and, lo and behold, we ended up on each other’s slides several times. At least in my graduate class, there were no tantrums, just laughs.
   3. We get off topic.
      One rule I’ve made for myself is to never mention anything related to memes or pop culture with a group of 5th graders. It will start a conversation within the class that will be incredibly hard to stop. With a group of graduate teachers, we have our own topics that trigger a discussion no matter what we’re doing: data, overbearing parents, or PARCC.
   4. We question the world and let our minds be blown.
      Most of my students think that I know everything just because I’m an adult. Each group that I’ve told I’m still in school has responded with shock and confusion. How can I still have to learn when I’m already an adult with a job? I try to tell them that I have moments similar to the ones that they do. There’s nobody out there that completely understands how or why the world works the way it does. However, whether you’re ten or thirty, when a just part of the world makes sense than it did before, it feels quite satisfying.

Did you know that meditation is good for the brain? According to the EOC Institute, meditation affects the brain in such a way that it essentially gets rewired – for the better. As you can observe in the image below, meditation initiates several distinct changes in the types of waves the brain is engaged in.

The deeper one goes into a meditative state, the less vulnerable they become to certain negative states of mind such as loneliness. And the great thing about meditation is that you don’t necessarily have to sit cross-legged with your eyes closed, saying “Ommmm” to achieve the benefits.

In fact, you can meditate even when you are doing simple things like taking an elevator ride or waiting in line to pay for your lunch. Instead of listening to whatever is going on around you, try taking your attention inward, to your breath.

Another meditation technique is to head to YouTube and find a “sound therapy” type of video like this. Put in on a low volume as you lie down to sleep one evening. Enjoy the sounds as you drift off to sleep in a peaceful state of mind.

Some really smart people at USG decided it would be a good idea to provide a space for people to be able to recharge their batteries. If you happen to be on campus and need a quiet space to breathe or meditate, be sure to check out the meditation space in Building III, fourth floor.

Did you know that October 4^th is National Taco Day? I know right – a whole day dedicated to the beloved tacos. A taco is a Mexican dish served with a tortilla typically filled with seasoned meat or seafood (shrimp or fish) and garnished with salsa, cilantro, tomatoes, onions, and peppers. My personal favorite are tacos de carne asada (steak tacos) with cilantro, tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, a spicy green salsa to go on top, and a lime on the side to squeeze over. Just thinking about it is making me hungry!

Lunch time is approaching, and I know we’re all college students on a budget, so I decided to give you a list of all the local places that will be celebrating this tasty holiday with DEALS!

Chuy’s Tacos
Promotion: You can add a taco to any entree for $1. Also, Patron floaters and Modelo beers are $1 off.

On the Border
Promotion: Eat endless tacos for $8.99. Yes! ENDLESS.

El Pollo Loco
Promotion: Free taco with any purchase. Be sure to get show your coupon.

Taco Bell
Promotion: 4 tacos for $5 – you can’t beat that!

It may not be Taco Tuesday but this year we’re making an exception for Taco Thursday! Go to your favorite taco spot or enjoy one of these deals. I don’t know about you but I’m going to go grab a taco or two and enjoy it on this lovely fall day. I hope you all have a fabulous Thursday and if you don’t get a taco – don’t worry, I’ll have one in your honor.

Thanks for reading! ‘Til next time 😊

Due to the convenience of ordering food via your phone or computer, it is easy to forget about we consume on a regular basis. Generally speaking, people often get caught up in the convenience of cheap foods and ease of ordering them in today’s age that we do not think about the nutritional value it may provide our bodies. Personally, I used to consume whatever was cheap, such as frozen premade meals and fast foods, because  I was more concerned about saving money than consuming foods and drinks that would have health benefits. My brothers-in-law are both vegans. Their lifestyles made me think twice about my eating habits and my food sources. Upon learning how to cook and prepare vegan meals (I learned it so that we do not have to order out for them), I started learning about the benefits of having a plant based-diets and importance of knowing where your food comes from. Though I have not converted into veganism, I am more cognizant about what I buy and cook at home. Because I am the primary cook in my house, I started incorporating more veggies and fruits into our meals and limiting the amount of junk food we consume. We also started to go to kickboxing classes on a weekly basis. Due to these changes, I have seen the impact of our diet and exercise changes on our energy and mood.

When I heard about the Mobile Market Mondays at USG, I was super excited! I LOVE that we have access to healthy and seasonal foods without leaving the campus. Also, I like that the foods that you get from the Market Mobile are full-sized! 

Have you heard about the Mobile Market Mondays? Do you like FREE food? For the first time at USG, Mobile Market Mondays had their grand opening on Monday, September 24th. What is the Mobile Market? It is a program supported by the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) who provides fresh fruits, veggies, and other delicious foods at no cost to the community. They are a volunteer-run program and will be at USG every 4th Monday of each month at 11am-1pm in lot 5 (between the 4th and 3rd building) starting Fall 2018. To determine when they will be on campus, please visit the USG events page to look for the dates. You can come between those times to get food. No ID needed, but it is a first come first serve. I HIGHLY recommend it! I hope to see you all there for the November Mobile Market Monday!  

What’s the first thing most people say when the thought of school is mentioned to them?

“Don’t remind me.”

This is a classic response to an age-old debate… does going back to school make us think our lives are going to be miserable? Well the THOUGHT of going back to school is certainly a daunting one for most people but how much effect does that really have on us? Well, guess what, scientists have ACTUALLY studied this!

A study done at USG found that our neurocognitive framework, fancy wording for: the place in our brain that activates thoughts and perceptions, is largely inhibited by free-time and the more free-time we have, the more our brain produces a chemical that feeds into that framework and generates what we perceive as happier more positive emotions. But when school starts we know inherently, we will have less free-time therefore our brain isn’t getting what we need to maintain those levels of happiness therefore the conclusion to this study is pretty obvious and the verdict is clear, right? Wrong.

Researchers have found that nature-watching, exercising, painting, and occasional (once a month) intermittent fasting will enable us to mentally stimulate the same part of brain that was being stimulated by our natural “free-time fillers” we employed during our summer days i.e. relaxing, vacationing, day-dreaming, sunbathing, etc.

So even though school = less free-time we just have to spend the free-time we have, doing other activities that stimulate the same part of our brain just through a different method. Its like setting a destination on Google Maps, no matter which road you take to get there, getting there is all that matters.

Keep in mind though that being in school can actually be fun! Reconnecting with friends, going to school events, playing sports, being grateful for the holidays, and even traveling abroad are all possibilities! Even though the work can be challenging, it can also be very rewarding, so enjoy your time in school because we only get out of it, what we put in.

You come to school. It is safe and sound. You go to class, maybe the cafeteria or library, then leave school safely. You go home or work, do homework, eat, sleep then repeat it the next day.

You’re back in school today. You’re safe. Hooray! But, have you ever thought about how all that is possible? Maybe, but what if I told you that the security you see in buildings I, II, and III, are all part of a large schematics here to promote your safety?

On March 14, 2018, I remember my friends and I joined the national walk out for the students who lost their life at Parkland. Ever since this occurred, it prompted me to want to become a part of USG’s decision-making team. I joined the student council, and in this 2018-2019 school year, we–the student council– are working to promote even more student safety.

On Wednesday, September 28, 2018, I sat down with the Head of Security, Mr. Brandt, at USG to discuss security here at USG. Mr. Brandt is a university police officer veteran with 38 years of service. He has spent most of his life ensuring that students like you and I can return home to our families. How does he do it?

USG has had quite an impressive reputation for being a safe campus thanks to Mr. Brandt. It has been 4 years since the last car break-in; 5 years since a robbery, and the campus has no sexual assaults or bike stolen. (I tell you, the last time I left my purse in the library and walked out, I came back to find my purse untouched and just the way I left it. That being said, please keep your belongings safe and with you). Security here at USG mainly focuses on robberies, assaults, and theft because those are more likely to occur than school shootings. Most of the school’s security budget goes to ensuring that neither of these crimes occurs. Security around each building regularly patrols the building to make sure that every student is safe and sound. They watch and take note of student behavior, and red flags that are a threat to students, staff, and faculty and eliminate those immediately.

But what else is there?

How is USG security going to handle a school shooting when it occurs? Find out on October 12.