So Long, Farewell!

Posted on May 5, 2018 by USG

Four semesters later, here I am writing my last ever blog post for Around the Grove. My decision to apply to be a blogger during my P2 year was completely spontaneous, but I’d say it’s one of the best ones I’ve made in pharmacy school. I’ve written happy posts, sad posts, angry posts, and funny posts. More than anything, blogging has been an outlet for me to use my left side brain and continue to improve my writing. It’s also allowed me to promote exciting social and educational events at USG. Overall, being a blogger has been a wonderful experience that I’d recommend to any USG student. Please be on the lookout for the opportunity to apply, and feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions!

With third year wrapping up next week, I’ll be starting my experiential rotations very soon. I think the general consensus among my P3 classmates and I at USG with respect to rotations is that we’re “nervous but excited”. I decided to ask a few of my classmates which rotation(s) they’re most looking forward to and why. For my last post, I’d like to share some of their responses with you:

Larissa can’t choose from among her seven rotations. She’s excited for “everything”. Larissa will be at several Kaiser Permanente sites in Baltimore and throughout the DC Metro area, many of which are in underserved communities.

Phuong is most looking forward to her anticoagulation clinic rotation with Kaiser Permanente because it will be a “chance to make a difference in a very specific patient population”.

Tony is most looking forward to his rotation at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) because he’s worked in both hospital and retail, but never a government setting. Tony will be working in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Rheumatology Products at FDA.

Ben is most excited for his Bioverativ rotation in Boston and Medimmune rotation in Gaithersburg because he’ll get to see firsthand how pharmacists “leverage basic science to carry out effective formulation design of small biologic molecules”.

Hannah is stoked for her rotation in the Amazon rainforest because, well, it’s the Amazon! Hannah says “it will be exciting to go abroad and see a very different side of pharmacy; we’ll get to learn about medicinal plants which is something we didn’t cover much in school.”

As for me, I’m most looking forward to my Cardiology rotation at the University of Maryland Medical Center. It’ll be a challenging one for sure, but I can’t wait to put what I learned during my Cardiology therapeutic module into practice.

Thanks so much for following along with me on my adventures Around the Grove; it’s been fun 🙂 Whether you’re a current student, staff member, prospective student, or someone else who’s chanced upon this student blog, I wish you all the best in your own life’s adventures!

 

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Family Matters

Posted on May 4, 2018 by USG
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Katherine, me, my mom and dad, and Elizabeth last week at my dad’s ceremony.

Last week, I had the privilege of seeing my father inducted into the Maritime Patrol & Reconnaissance Hall of Honor. My dad’s 35-year Naval career included piloting P-3 Orion anti-submarine aircraft during Vietnam and the Cold War and this award honored his loyal service to our country and his years of keeping the United States safe. I’m so proud of him.

Both of my sisters were there for the ceremony and since it was held midweek, our spouses and kids did not make the trip down to Jacksonville, Florida for the event. Hanging out with my sisters without our families made me think about what it was like to grow up with them. As the three of us walked down the beach last week, I realized that we were not just sisters, but great girlfriends. We share what is going on in our current lives, but can also remember stories from our youth.

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    Elizabeth, Katherine and me circa The Olden Days.

    Like the time Katherine and I begged my mom to try on Elizabeth’s white go-go boots (while she was not home) and my mom said “Do what you like, but if she finds out, don’t come running to me.” Well, she did find out only because we stretched out the white vinyl.

  • Or the time 4-year-old Katherine had a stomach bug and Elizabeth and I thought it was a good idea to feed her red jello and celery. “Mom, Katherine threw up!”
  • And the multiple times we stayed in Navy hotels where the bed sheets always smelled like beans.
  • And how I, the shyest one, always had to call the pizza place to order or call the radio station to be the 9th caller. (I did score Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors on 8-track…don’t be jealous.)
  • Or one winter, I was ice skating pretending to be Peggy Fleming (look her up if you just said “Peggy who?”) and fell on my face. My dad was away and my mom put us all in the VW bug and had Elizabeth and Katherine sit with me in the back seat and hold a towel on my bloody chin so we could drive to the hospital for stitches. And I am sure none of us had seat belts on…it just wasn’t something you did back then.

 

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Elizabeth, Katherine and me last week on the beach.

So what does all of this have to do with USG? Well, it doesn’t really and you can tell it’s the end of the semester when I just freestyle my blog post. But I hope you enjoyed taking a little trip down memory lane with me and congratulating my dad on his stellar award which he definitely couldn’t have achieved without my amazing mom….and his three fabulous daughters, of course…

 

 

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Dining with the Chefs Review

Posted on May 3, 2018 by USG

On Monday I had the honor of attending an inspiring event that allowed the guests a truly unique dining experience at The Universities at Shady Grove (USG) campus. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore’s (UMES) Campus Kitchen Project at USG took local dining to a whole new level with the Dining with the Chefs event and I am excited to share my experience of attending this event with you as my final blog post for this semester. The event was to no surprise sold out, so it was truly an honor for me to be able to attend and I wanted to share information about this event with you so that you can start planning to attend the next one from now.

The Dining with the Chefs event was held to help raise the funds needed for the UMES Campus Kitchen Project (CKP). The UMES/USG CKP helps feed Montgomery County residents as part of the broader national Campus Kitchen Project organization that works with colleges across the nation to use food as a tool to strengthen bodies, empower minds and build communities. The CKP at USG meets once a month to prepare fresh meals in bulk which are delivered to families and has to date prepared more than 10,000 meals. Students, faculty and staff at USG are all invited to participate and more information about UMES/USG CKP can be found by visiting the Facebook page here. Dining with the Chefs was held to help raise the funds needed to buy the ingredients for the 200 plus meals that CKP prepares and delivers each month to shelters and families in transitional housing.

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Set amidst beautiful Wizard of Oz themed décor in the multipurpose room of the versatile Conference and Events (CES) venue, the biannual Dining with the Chefs event was well attended by members of the community. The 8,700 square foot ballroom of the Conference Center at USG was filled with over 25 dining tables with 9 guests seated at each and there was still room in the ballroom for a stage with a podium and 2 huge projector screens. I was truly impressed with the set-up of the venue and everyone seated at my table appreciated the comfort in which we were able to dine and enjoy the evening’s festivities. The event also utilized the foyer space of the building for the reception which allowed the over 200 guests in attendance to access any of the 3 bars and also participate in the silent auction where the prizes were on display throughout the area.

The event featured 16 renowned local chefs that worked with the amazing and talented students in the UMES Hospitality and Tourism Management Program. A six-course gourmet meal was prepared and served to the guests and the guests were given the opportunity to meet and dine with the chefs. Some of the chefs that I recognized were Chef Ype Von Hengst from Silver Diner, Chef Enzo Livia of IL Pizzico, Chef Jeff Eng of Clydes Tower Oaks, Chef Elise Wendland of Comus Inn, and Chef Mark Mills of Chocolates and Tomatoes farm.

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I had the pleasure of dining with 2 of the chefs at my table and had an amazing time at my table with fellow guests who were overall very pleased with the event and who all indicated that they will surely be attending the next Dining with the Chefs event and also will be looking for other ways that they can assist the UMES/USG CKP. Be sure to check of the event photos posted here.

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Festival Time!

Posted on May 2, 2018 by USG

Hey there! This week is definitely feeling springy – gives me just a little taste of summer and I know I can’t be the only one who is ready to be done with the semester! We’re still trucking along though. If you’re reading this; know that you’re not alone.

As a COMM major and Director of Social Media and Marketing for the UCA, I think it would be wrong of me not to mention the event that’s going on TOMORROW! We’re hosting our annual UMD COMMpetition: Digital Media & Film Festival on May 3rd at 6pm.

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I have practically all of my classes with some of the people that will be presenting their work. From music videos to short films, it’s a time to get to see what the Communication Department has put their hard work into. I will say it’s really interesting to see everyone’s creative style. No one person is the same. Films and any digital media products are all so different. This will be my first time attending so I hope to see you all there!

If this is your first time reading one of my blogs, please feel free to check out the other ones I’ve posted throughout the year here. It’s been a pleasure writing for Around the Grove this past year and I wish everyone a good end of the semester! Finish those papers, individual projects, group projects, and study for those exams. It will pay off.

For the last time this semester: Thanks for reading and enjoy your summer! 🙂

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Student Appreciation Cookout

Posted on May 1, 2018 by USG

You feel that? The weather seems to be getting warmer. Which means Summer is almost here. Are you guys excited for the end of the semester? I sure am!

Last Thursday, USG held an exciting event dedicated to us, the students. It was another successful event!The event took place in the central quad. Fortunately the weather was really nice. There were all types of fun things at the event- games, food, music and even animals!

Games

One part of the event that was really popular were the various games. If you walked around the grass, you would have seen Jumbo Jenga, Cornholes, Waterguns and an inflatable Obstacle Course. Not only was it fun to play the games, but you also had the chance to win either a t shirt or a stuffed llama.

Food

Like many events at USG, there had to be food. This event was no exception. When you entered the event, you were given three tickets to use on food. There was popcorn, hamburgers and ice cream. Perfect for a warm sunny day!

Animals

Perhaps the most popular part of the event were the different animals students were able to pet. This was actually new this year – there haven’t been animals in previous cookouts. There were different animals – baby goats, ducks, bunnies and llamas. They were all equally soft! Let’s hope they return for next year’s cookout!

Music

If you were lucky to be on campus during the event, you might have heard the music playing. If you didn’t hear about the cookout before it started, the music would have definitely gotten your attention. The DJ picked a nice selection of songs that played throughout the event.

This year’s event was a huge success! It’s special because it honors all the students at USG. This is just one example of how important the students are!

As we reach the last 2 weeks of the semester, be sure to lookout for events that are unique to the end of the semester. Also, be on the lookout for posters advertising the De-Stress Lounge. Make sure to mark your calendars!

 

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Life After USG

Posted on April 30, 2018 by USG

It’s April 30th, which for some of you means less than one month until graduation. Today also happens to be my last blog post for USG. I’ve enjoyed sharing my opinions and tips with the community, and also hearing your feedback on what I’ve written so far.

After graduation some of you may be pursuing more schooling or starting your professional careers. Some of you might not even have anything set just yet. I wanted to share a few things I have learned along the way, post graduation day.

  1. Your first job might not be your dream job
    • …And that’s OK. On your long journey to graduation you had to take classes that you may not have liked or that were “required” by the curriculum. In that same fashion, some of us may end up working jobs that really are not our favorite thing to do. You have to view this as a stepping stone toward something greater. That being said, you also have to know when to move on. This is where your friends and family come in handy.
  2. Do not compare yourself to your friends or peers
    • No two people are exactly alike. If your friend already has a job and you do not, or if your friend was accepted to an excellent graduate program, but you have nothing lined up…well, so what? You are not them and they are not you. Our family, community, and schools all play a part in shaping who we are. Everyone has a different credo they live by. Live by yours and only yours.
  3. Do acknowledge the fact that you have accomplished something great by graduating
    • One year ago in April 2017, the Census revealed that 33.4% of Americans have a bachelor’s degree or higher. You are one of those individuals. You are ahead of the curve! I noticed that a lot of people forget this fact. You have work hard for this. Take it in.
  4. Hard work in school is different than working hard at work
    • Working in the “real world” is different than working or studying at school. Just know you will have to maneuver difficult people and situations more than before. Also, education really doesn’t discrminate in the sense that an older and younger person learning something new for the first time could still be on the same level of understanding of that new topic. At work (at least in my experience) the individual with more years of experience will always have more wisdom working on their side.
  5. The learning never ends   
    • Yes, you are no longer a student in a school, but you are a student on the job. My experiences tell me that companies prefer employees who are willing and able to learn. Expanding your skillset while on the job is vital to being a contributor to the company’s goals. Someone once described this to me as a “student-forever” mentality. Always be humble and acknowledge there is something new you could learn.

Thank you to my readers. Thank you to USG for giving me the opportunity to write on behalf of the most wonderful educational institution. I wish all of the graduates the best in their future endeavors. You made it…cheers!

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Home Stretch

Posted on April 28, 2018 by USG

Home Stretch

As we stand at the end of the semester with only 2 weeks of instruction left and 1 week of finals after that, we can now focus our attention on our summers and the next semester. Summer means many different things for all of us. Summer can mean; more time at work to make more money, summer courses, vacation/travel, relaxing at home, and internships. So, what is a good way to spend your summer? Unfortunately, the answer is usually not, “Do nothing.”

Depending on where you are in life and in school, there are optimal ways to spend your summer. For instance, if, like me, you dropped a course over the semester due to overload syndrome, then summer is time to take that course and make sure I (you) graduate on time. How about if you’re a senior getting ready to graduate? Then you have a whole host of options. You can take a gap year before any type of professional or graduate education where you work, relax, study, travel, or complete research. If you are just arriving to the Universities at Shady Grove, maybe it’s best to familiarize yourself more with the resources offered here. Reflecting on your past semester is a good way for all of us to spend our summer. We can learn from our mistakes and see what worked for us, and what didn’t.

Volunteering is another popular and beneficial option for this summer. Volunteering in different fields can teach you a lot about an area of study and whether it’s for you or not. Volunteering can also strengthen your resume and give you lots to talk about when those professional school interviews come around. Also, volunteering at a location where you have fun is always an option. Helping others is never a bad way to spend your time.

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Drones Pt. 2 + Film Festival!

Posted on April 27, 2018 by USG

Check out my last blog post where I talked about how I got a cool opportunity to try out a DJI Mavic Drone! I was able to piece together another drone video with some different shots. Check it out down below!

I made this quick video with skills I learned while taking film classes here at USG. Being in the Communication program, we have classes every semester that are based in film, screen writing, video editing, and more. Our awesome professor who teaches these courses is Dr. Adam Nixon. He has vast experience in film production and editing.

That being said, USG is hosting our annual UMD COMMpetition: Digital Media & Film Festival on May 3rd at 6pm. Come check out student music videos, documentaries, and stop motion films! This is a great showcase of student film and photography. Hope to see you there!

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Don’t Get Lost in the Sauce!

Posted on April 26, 2018 by USG

Get it, because “Lost in the sauce, can’t ketchup”. No? okay. Anyways! I feel like it has been forever since I have been able to discuss my life here on this blog.

The Joy of Giving Back was a huge success for everyone. We all got to give our messages to Mrs. Kendall and remember Mr. Kendall for the amazing person that he was.

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My friends and I at the Joy of Giving Back! (Familiar faces, I know).

Last week was also the first every USG Talent Show. The CSEF office twisted my arm, and I decided to participate. I was thinking of putting some type of slideshow together to show the different chalkboard I have made. But that’s not interesting. I decided my only talent that was not a slideshow, was dancing. Therefore, I performed the traditional Mexican Dance.

Talent Show 2018

The skirt is actually the best part of this photo

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Everyone who was there and performed for the Talent Show

This Monday, I brought in muffins to work. I completed my #MuffinsForMuffins campaign for Student Council. Even though not everyone can vote for anyone. It was still a way for me to get my face and name out there. Towson actually does not have much competition. It is actually me and another friend in my program running, therefore, the competition for us is EXTREMELY friendly.

Aside from that friends, you know me, just doing homework and sleeping when I finally get the chance to. I am very happy the semester is almost over.

Since part of my jobs is to voice upcoming events.

Student Appreciation Cookout is today at 5! There will be food and llamas (so long as it doesn’t rain).

Don’t forget to vote for Student Council! I know I said Towson’s competition isn’t tough, but other institutions need those votes! So please do so when you get the chance!

Last but not least, breathe! I know the end of the semester bring crazy big assignments and such. But it will get done. We will all make it!

Feel free to comment any of your special talents or hopes for the end of the semester! Til next time, friends!

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Owl Hours & Study Tips

Posted on April 25, 2018 by USG

Can you believe it? It is the end of April already, which means that final exams are around the corner. Some of you are probably too excited about graduation that it is getting hard to concentrate. Remember, you have to pass you current classes to get your diploma in May. To help you ace those exams, I thought I would share some study tips to get your started in preparing to study (even bit by bit) for finals week.

Below are some study tips for you:

  • Schedule study time – Scheduling study time will help you make a habit of studying even if it is just for 15 or 30 minutes. Before you know it, studying will be an automatic behavior for you.
  • Organization – I would assume that your instructor(s) have already provided you an idea of what will be in the final exam, which is critical to how you organize your notes. By organizing your notes, it will be easier for your brain to organize or connect the information that you are trying to learn. Therefore, it will be easier for you to understand and recall.
    • Here are some ideas on how to organize your notes:
      • Use different Colored Highlighters or pens
      • Create acronyms
      • Use flow charts or diagrams for visual representation of your notes
      • Use flashcards
      • Create a study group where you practice explaining concepts to each other
  • Take Breaks – I highly recommend taking breaks, maybe every 20 minutes, to help your brain remember the information that you are studying. By taking breaks, you do not feel too overwhelmed by the mass number of information. Remember, you have been learning about the different concepts from your classes that your notes are simply there to remind you of what you learned throughout the semester.
  • Ask for Help – If you find yourself lost or do not understand something, ask either your instructor(s) or peers for help. Someone is bound to have a better understanding of the concept who could help explain it to you. I typically put together a list of my questions and ask the instructor directly since he/she would know better.   

For more study tips, please visit my Writing and & Study Tips post.

Need a place to study? Did you know that the Priddy library has late night hours? They are open Sunday-Thursday from 10pm-3am! Remember to bring you student ID with you.

Owl Hours

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