The Universities at Shady Grove (USG)

Everyone is connected to an ethnic culture or heritage or family tradition in one way or another. In our current political climate, it has become somewhat challenging for some to freely show their roots, and do so proudly.

I, for one, have always been excited about my ethnic diversity. My mother is from Ecuador and my father is from Iran. I have been lucky enough to connect with both cultures through music, cuisine, holidays, and language. There are a lot of unspoken norms in each community, which has been interesting for me to observe and be a part of. I would go as far as to say that my exposure to cultural diversity has given me the interpersonal skills and emotional IQ that I use on a daily basis.

USG is taking a proactive step to celebrate our diversity as a community. Whether we appreciate it or not, our hometowns are full of people with different beliefs, traditions, customs – all of the above. This is the direction our world is moving toward – an ever increasing community of diverse people!

Join your classmates, friends, and family for a night of celebration! You will be able to taste international food, watch live entertainment, win prizes, and also maybe learn a few dance moves along the way!

What? International Night at USG

Where? Building II, Multipurpose room (USG)

When? Thursday, March 8 from 6pm-9pm

If you are a student at the Universities at Shady Grove, then chances are that you are an Undergraduate student. After all, the majority of the students at USG are undergraduates with plans to move up in the world afterwards. However, how many of you know that USG offers graduate programs right here on campus? I didn’t when I first arrived to USG, but trust me it’s true!

As a Student Ambassador at USG, I have learned a lot about the school, including what kind of programs are offered here. While many of us are content with focusing on completing their present degree, it is important to plan out the future before it catches up to us. Professional school is on the horizon for many of us. Law school, medical school, physician assistant school, business school, or even physical therapy school. There exists many options out there for all. However, in life things happen. So while some of us may want to go to professional school, it may be worth our while to pause and take a look at our options.

I’m writing primarily about STEM pathways, but these basic principles apply to everyone.

Talking about my case specifically, med school is on my radar. While I would love to go to medical school immediately after completing my B.S., it pays to be prepared. Witnessing the trials and tribulations of my fellow scribes, I’ve seen two stark examples of life at play. One of my fellow scribes decided to start on his Master’s immediately after completing his B.S.,the reason? He wanted to prepare for medical school and increase his chances of getting in. Another friend took a gap year, and then another, and then other. Having applied and been declined, my friend has taken 3 gap years, and has only job experience to show for it. No degree.

Learning from their experiences, I believe it is best to have back-up plans in case things do not go smoothly. If professional school is something you want to do, then simultaneously apply to a master’s program in that field in case you don’t get it. This way, you can continue your education and not break your stride. You’ll prepare yourself for the future and learn something doing it.

I implore you to research and learn more about what kind of pathways exists out there. You’ll learn a lot by simplifying talking to others, by attending events and fairs, and by asking your professors career questions. USG is the perfect place to find out where you want to go and what you want to do with your time. Thanks for reading and remember that the SAS suite offers everything you’ll need to plan, achieve, and succeed.

Since I was younger, I have always I loved learning about other cultures through their traditions and foods. I believe that this interest originated from my own culture where food played an essential role in entertaining and making connections with other people. I learned to love cooking from my mother, who used food as a way to show her affections towards others. Today, I use cooking as a way for me to express myself and as a relaxing activity. I love learning about other ways that could help me relax because as a graduate student with a busy life, making sure that I have a calm mind helps me perform my duties well. 

Recently, I discovered my interest in drinking tea and learning about the different types teas as well as their origin. I was thrilled to learn that the Center for Student Engagement and Financial Resources (CSEF) started their monthly Cultural Tea Time event because they are providing an opportunity for students and staff to take a break from their busy schedule and drink tea while learning about country and their culture. I attended the first two that they had this semester. I really enjoyed attending because I gained some new knowledge about Tea time in the UK (December) and someone’s immigration story from South Africa (January). The speakers were great and I look forward to their future events. I highly recommend attending one of the monthly Cultural Tea Time. Below I provided the schedule for the rest of the Spring semester in case you would like to join us.

Cultural Tea Time Schedule

Monday, February 19, 2018 – 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Tuesday, March 13, 2018 – 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Monday, April 16, 2018 – 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Tuesday, May 8, 2018 – 2:30pm to 3:30pm

Why Drink Tea?

Many people enjoy drinking soda, however, I realized that drinking tea is a healthier alternative. I wanted to be able to drink delicious beverages and not feel unhealthy so I tried drinking tea. Because I am not a morning person, I needed something to wake me up. I learned that instead of drinking much coffee for the caffeine (I cannot drink it without lots of sugar and cream), I can drink either green or black tea with raw honey or agave sugar instead. I still get the same effect, but with less sugar in my system.

Prepacked Tea or Loose Leaf?

I personally prefer loose leaf tea than the powered prepacked ones because I feel that they taste better and I can appreciate the delicate taste of the tea. I also discovered that the procedure of preparing tea is very relaxing especially at the end of the day. 

A friend of mine introduced me to David’s Tea, a store with a huge selection of loose leaf teas and matcha (ground green tea). I highly recommend checking out this store. They let you smell the different teas that they offer and they will even teach you how to prepare certain teas 🙂

I hope you enjoyed reading about CSEF’s Cultural Tea time and encourage you to try tea. If you are looking for any recommendations, please feel free to comment to this post.

Fun Fact: My fiance, who LOVES COFFEE, has learn to dial down on his in take of coffee. He learned to love drinking chamomile tea at night because it helps him focus. It is has become our little nightly tradition to drink tea together while we tell each other about our days 🙂