Student Blog

Freshmen Year Reflection

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:01:11 -0400

Hello, all! I cannot believe that I will become a sophomore in just a week. I thought that I'd make my last post for the year, complete with lessons that I learned. I hope that I can blog for you guys next year, too! Here we go:

Making Friends

Believe me, coming into college I was petrified of being alone. I was so worried that I would be too scared to talk to anyone in the beginning and then miss my chance at making friends. I am lucky to go to a college where virtually everyone is kind to me. My advice is to try to get out of your comfort zone and start talking to someone. Yes, I know that it's easier said than done. But If I can do it, so can you. Just be yourself.

Communication is Key

One thing that I noticed in my first semester is how easily a person's new friendship can be affected. For instance, I found that a lot of the arguments that went on in my group of friends arose from lack of communication. I only say this because if something is going wrong and you try to ignore it, it won't go away. It may tough having awkward, stressful conversations, but know that they will help in the long run.

Taking Care of Yourself

Before NU, I hadn't been away from home for more than a day. Becoming in independent in college can be tough. However, it is an essential life skill that will only help you. Try doing things yourself and become less dependent on your parents. I'm not saying never ask for help, or alienate your parents. For me, I want to show my parents that I am a trustworthy individual that can get things done.

Never Doubt Your Abilities

This will take some time to get used to. In high school, I was pretty much a "B student." Coming into college, I would strive for that grade because I would think that I could never get an A. Fortunately, I just got an A- in my math class. All I'm trying to say is that you may think you know your capabilities, but you could do even better than expected. Strive for the best.

Take Advantage of Your Resources

I talked about this one in one of my previous posts. Everyone at Niagara, both faculty and staff, are here to help you. If you're going through virtually anything, they will find a way to make it better. Please do not feel embarrassed about asking for help. It can really make a difference on your outlook and success in college.

So I guess this is it. I really will miss NU during the summer and I am excited to be starting my sophomore year!

Have a great summer!

Cya,
Michael Stilson
mstilson@mail.niagara.edu

What to Bring to College

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:01:11 -0400

Hiya there!

One thing that I really wanted to know coming in to college was what to bring. Packing and making lists were actually fun for me (I know, I'm strange). I want to share with you guys and girls my official list of things to bring to Niagara. Yes, this may be a bit boring for some, but I think it will really help. Keep in mind that your list will be different here and there because may come as a shock to you, but I have no need for a curling iron. Here we go!

The List!

AGENDA
ALARM CLOCK
BACKPACK
BAND AIDS
BATHROBE
BATTERIES
BLANKETS
BOOKS
BOWLS
CAMERA
CELL PHONE
CHARGERS
COMB/BRUSH
COMFORTER
CUPS
DENTAL
DESK LAMP
DICTIONARY
DISH SOAP
DRY-ERASE
DVDs
FAN
FEBREEZE
FLIP-FLOPS
FOLDERS
GLOVES/HAT
HANGERS
HIGHLIGHTERS
HOODIES
HOOKS
INDEX CARDS
IPOD
JACKETS
LAPTOP
LAUNDRY BAG
LINT BRUSH
MARKERS
MATTRESS PAD
MEDICINE
MICROWAVE
PAJAMAS
PANTS
PAPER CLIPS
PAPER TOWELS
PENS/PENCILS
PHONE
PHOTOS
PILLOWS
PLATES
POST-IT NOTES
POSTER PUTTY
POSTERS
PRINTER
PRINTER PAPER
RAZOR/CREAM
REFRIGERATOR
RULER
SCISSORS
SHARPENER
SHEETS
SHIRTS
SHOES
SHOWER THINGS
SHOWER TOTE
SILVERWARE
SOCKS/ UNDERWEAR
SPIRAL
STAPLER
STORAGE BINS
SWIMSUIT
TAPE
TV
THESAURUS
TISSUES
TOWELS
USB
UMBRELLA

Feel free to email me if you have any questions about Niagara! :)

Cya later,

Michael Stilson
mstilson@mail.niagara.edu

Spring Forward

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:01:11 -0400

Hey there!

Wow, these past two weeks have been pretty crazy.

Everyone at Niagara just had spring break, so we got a whole week to ourselves. I spent mine at home at first and then visited a friend at another college. All I can say is I am glad I'm going to Niagara! I am not saying that I had a bad experience, I just really missed the small feeling of Niagara with all of its wonderful people.

Unfortunately, I got sick - again. When can a catch a break? If it gets any worse, I know that I always have Health Services to go to.

Soon, we get to select our housing for next year. At first, I applied to be a CA but got placed on a waiting list. At least it's better than a rejection! I will just have to keep my hopes up. If it doesn't work out, I think I want t to live in O'Donoughue Hall. O'Donoughue is one of the smaller residence halls and it has mostly single rooms. Well, I better get back to fighting this flu!

Also, the time change has messed me up. Even though we all lost an hour, we still get a sunnier NU!

Feel free to email me if you have any questions about Niagara! :)

Cya later,

Michael Stilson
mstilson@mail.niagara.edu

A Day in the Life of Michael Stilson

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:01:11 -0400

Hi-ya there!

I thought I would give you a little insight on what a typical day for me is at NU. I hope you find this helpful.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

9:20 a.m.

I awoke from my great slumber. In other words, I got up. Since the NU campus is fairly small, I don't have to trek so far to go to class. That's one of the many advantages for going to a semi-small university.

9:40-11 a.m.

My first class was Human Development. It's an education class that all first-year majors take. Today, we were talking about a real story of child abuse and how to deal with news of any type of abuse from your students. This was a real-life lesson that needed to be taught to us prospective teachers.

11:10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

After Human Development, I had Philosophy. I think a large amount of students dislike it only because it forces us to rethink about things that we hadn't even thought of in the first place. Personally, I love it because it helps our logic and critical thinking skills.

12:30 p.m.

A kid's gotta eat sometime! I went with one of my best friends to Tim Hortons in Gally. Yes, there is a Timmy Ho's! I don't know what I would do if we didn't have one. I got a bagel and a mocha iced capp. Depending on the meal plan you choose, you will get a set amount of dollars called Gally Gold. Over the semester, you can use this funding at the Gally Market, Tim Hortons, and other restaurants in Gallagher Center.

2:30-3:30 p.m.

Usually at this time, I talk with my math buddy, Nichole. We sit behind Tim Hortons and check over our homework before class. Niagara provides all types of comfortable chairs inside the Gallagher Center.

3:40-5 p.m.

Like I said in my previous post, I am taking a math course that helps future teachers. Not only do we go over the basics, but we learn on how to present them to our students.

5 p.m.

My friend and I got tickets to NU Theatre's presentation of Time Stands Still. She and I have been going to a lot of plays and musicals here at Niagara and we absolutely love them. Plus, they are usually free to all Niagara students. I really recommend coming to see a show at NU.

5:10-6 p.m.

After the play, a group of us went to dinner. We ate at Clet Hall. If you don't know, Clet is all-you-can-eat dining. They have the staples, like pizza, spaghetti, hamburgers, and much more. They also change one of the main meals everyday. Today, they had chocolate fondue! My life is complete!

6-7 p.m.

After dinner, I visited one of my friends in O'Donoughue Hall (one of the residence halls). We were just chatting about our days, ya know just typical best friend stuff, aha.

If you want a detailed description of the residence halls, click this link here: http://www.niagara.edu/hall-descriptions/

7-12 a.m.

So what else was there to do? Homework and complete this post. Just remember that if you decide to come here, your days can even be more interesting than mine!

Well, I have to go study for some midterms!

Feel free to email me if you have any questions about Niagara! :)

Cya later,

Michael Stilson
mstilson@mail.niagara.edu

New Semester, New Opportunities.

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:01:11 -0400

Hi-ya there!

I can't believe that it is almost February. Where did this month go? I must say that my second semester is a lot less stressful. I thought I'd just tell you guys what has happened so far.

Classes

Here is a list of my spring classes:

English 100 (Intro to Literature)

English has always been one of my favorite classes. In this class, you can really delve into books, plays and other types of literature. This class is required for all students (so is Thinking and Writing). In my class, we're reading The Reader. It is a really good book!

Philosophy 105 (Intro to Philosophy)

Every student has to take three philosophy courses. The first one, Intro to Philosophy, is what I am taking now. It can be tough at times, but I'm really liking it. It helps us become more critical thinkers.

Religion 101 (Intro to Religion)

You will have to take three religion classes, too. At first, I was a little worried but my professor brought up a good point: She explained how Religious Studies can help all majors. I hadn't really thought about that before. As an education major, I want to understand all religions to accommodate all of my students.

Education 236 (Human Development)

This class is what all education majors take during their second semester here at Niagara (the first is Cultural Diversity). I have Dr. Heaggans as my professor. He is probably the funniest and most energetic teacher I have ever had. He is the best.

Mathematics 351 (Teaching Middle School Math)

This course is really only for education majors. I have always had trouble in math so this class helps future teachers make lesson plans in math.

Activities

One activity that I attended recently was Grocery Bingo. You can play for free for chances to win bags of some delicious foods. If there was a tie, then there was a dance off. It was hilarious. I really wish I recorded some of the crazy dance moves for you guys. I ,unfortunately, did not win. However, one of my best friends won the very first game!

Well, that's it for now. Feel free to email me if you have any questions about Niagara! :)

Cya later,

Michael Stilson
mstilson@mail.niagara.edu

Tips for Your First Semester

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:01:11 -0400

Well hello there!

Time flies when you're having so much fun at Niagara! I really cannot believe I'll have a semester under my belt in another week. I must admit, there were some issues here and there. However, I know that if I follow these steps, I'll be golden next semester (well...purple and white!).

Here are tips on what to do your first semester:

Give yourself ample time to read your textbooks before class. I was having some trouble in biology and I just couldn't understand the concept of certain things. If you read ahead, you'll have a better understanding on what's going on in class. You'll also look smarter too!
Ask for help! I know that was the topic of my previous post. But it is so important. Coming to school was the first time in my life where I was alone. I have to say that it's a tough transition. Everyone needs help here and there. It's a terrible feeling when you get a grade on an assignment where you just know that you could have done better. There's nothing wrong with getting a tutor! It doesn't mean that you're dumb. It just means that you're using your resources.
On the topic of resources, use the Internet wisely. Sure, you can go on Facebook, or tweet about how amazing this blog is. But you can use the Internet for much more! For instance, YouTube is a great source. Just the other week I was looking up the stages of mitosis. YouTube isn't only for cute cat videos.
Schedule like there's no tomorrow! Well, the whole point is to schedule tomorrow, aha. I know you've heard this before, but scheduling can really improve your grades. Not only does it let you keep assignments on track, but it takes away so much stress too. I'm not saying schedule every 15 minutes of your day. Just a nice simple list for each day helps line your ducks in a row. And I'm sorry to disappoint, but ducks are not allowed in your dorms. I know, I was shocked too.
Don't party hard. I don't party, but I have heard stories of students going out and wasting there lives away. Then they skip class and it just goes downhill from there. Think of some positive alternatives from partying. Like Late Nite Niagara each Friday! It's almost always free. Or, every Friday night, I watch an old episode of Grey's Anatomy and play board games with my friends. See? It's not only safe, but it's fun too! Yeah, I know I'm a nerd...

Well, since it is finals week, I have to study for some exams (yippee). I'm really looking forward to the spring semester and I really feel that with my experiences thus far, I can be successful. I hope you have a wonderful holiday!

Happy Holidays,

Michael Stilson
mstilson@mail.niagara.edu

It's Okay to Ask for Help!

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:01:11 -0400

Well hello!

I feel like I haven't "spoken" to you guys in ages! No need to fear. I have plenty to tell you.

Over the past week I have used three services that the university provides to all students. They really helped me out.

Health Services

Since it’s getting pretty chilly, there have been some cases of the cold and flu. I got the joy of getting a wonderful cough and high temperature! I really hope you see the sarcasm that is so skillfully intertwined into my writing.

Anyhoo, I set up an appointment with Health Services on the Niagara website for the very next day. You always hear bad stories of Health Services at different colleges. People always say that you have to wait forever and they don’t really help you. Fortunately, this was not the case. I was helped with not only a nurse, but a doctor as well! They were both extremely helpful and caring. After there help, I really felt better!

Counseling Services

Sure, I know that counseling isn’t for everyone. But sometimes it really helps talking about your stresses or virtually anything. I’m not going to go into the details, but I had a really bad disagreement with my friend and I needed to talk to someone about it. The therapist really helped me out! It was nice talking to someone outside our circle of friends. I really recommend anyone going to Counseling Services if they have any problem at all. You can just go once, or set up weekly sessions. And it’s free!

Tutoring

Well, after midterms were over, I started realizing that I could do better. The best thing about the tutoring that Niagara U provides is that it’s free! I don’t know about you, but I love free stuff. Especially if it’ll help my grades. The student tutors really respect you and do anything in their power to help you out.

Like I said before, don’t be afraid asking for help! It will really help you down the road. I sure hope this helped you guys out. See what I did there? Saying "help"…a lot. If you need help in anything Niagara-related, feel free to email me!

I’m here to help!

Cya,

Michael Stilson
mstilson@mail.niagara.edu

Time Management

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:01:11 -0400

Hey, guys!

I think that one of the biggest changes coming into college is being responsible for managing your time.

For example, I actually needed to submit this post a couple of days ago. But with studying for midterms, I lost track of time. Here are some tips that can help your transition much easier.

Agenda

Remember in elementary school when you got your first agenda? Your teachers give them to you for a reason. Not only do you use them so you don't forget an assignments, but it helps you manage your time efficiently. Make sure you keep track of all of your courses and assignments. Sometimes when I get overwhelmed with work, I make lists. By ranking my assignments by priority, I can effectively see what I need to focus on first. Try it out!

Friends

Believe me, I like hanging out with my friends as much as the next person. However, you need to be your own advocate! It’s been tempting to blow off my assignments 'til later that night just to hang out with my friends. I would find a million other things other to do than my homework. Whenever I feel myself losing motivation, I tell myself that if I do well on this assignment, I will do well in this class. If I do well in my classes, then it’ll be easier going into grad school. Don’t worry, I know that graduate school is well down the line.

Parents

Since a majority of you will be dorming, you won't have your parents asking you if you have done your homework every night. Yes, it was a relief at first. However, you really have to think of why you are going to college. You (or your parents) are spending all of this money to get a great education.

I’m not going to lie, the transition can be tough at times. I’m living on my own for the first time ever in my life. Sure, it was scary at first, but it helped me grow as a person.

Okay, I really have to start my homework. See what I did there? I’m being pragmatic and managing my time well.

Cya,
Michael Stilson
mstilson@mail.niagara.edu

Friends Forever

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:01:11 -0400

Hey...again

Coming to Niagara, I thought that I'd maybe have one friend. Boy was I wrong!

I have none. Just kidding!

I was pleasantly surprised to find that people at Niagara are extremely nice. Let me tell you about my bestest of friends here at Niagara:

Courtney, on the far left, has been my best friend since senior yearof high school. Yes, I know that sounds weird calling her my best friend having just met her last year. We really have a fun time. No, not partying. We do however watch Glee together. For some reason, all we do is laugh at each other's laughs and weird noises. I know this sounds like we're unusual people, but we really love each other for who we are.

Sarah Hanson, on the other side of me, is one of my newer friends. Sarah is also writing student blogs! We have a math and education class together. She is super funny and so smart!

The other Sarah is on the far right. No, I don't really call her "the other Sarah." Her catch phrase is "Settle Down!" She is hilarious and gorgeous. No, we're not dating...yet. I'm kidding, she's taken. The Sarahs are roommates and live in the same building as me.

Margot, who is a psychology major, is now added to my list of friends. No, I don't mean that literally, but Margot and I have really bonded over these past two weeks. We both are a little less energetic in comparison to Courtney and the Sarahs.

I know I didn't talk a lot about Niagara, but I really feel like I have been blessed with a new family. I really love hanging out with all of them, whether it is eating at Clet, studying at the library or watching Glee.

Okay, I really have to start reading for my biology class now!

Cya,
Michael Stilson
mstilson@mail.niagara.edu

Freshman Year…Finally!

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:01:11 -0400

Hi, everyone! My name is Michael Stilson and I’m an early childhood/childhood education major from Kenmore, New York. I am so glad to have finally graduated from high school. I’ve been excited about going to college before I even started high school! (I think I started looking at colleges in middle school!) That's normal...right?

Now I'll just talk about my experiences at NU thus far:

So, why Niagara?

There are numerous factors that lead me to Niagara. Academically, the College of Education has that one-on-one experience that larger universities just couldn't provide. I mean, aren't we all going to college for the same reason? The experienced professors at Niagara will prepare us for the future job force. When I toured during my junior year, I fell in love. I loved how all of the buildings looked so collegiate while still being fully updated with the modern technology students need today.

How was moving in?

Flawless. As soon as we parked in the designated parking lot, numerous orientation assistants brought up my stuff with a smile. I didn't even have to pick up one thing!

Meeting People?

Coming into Niagara, I was worried about making new friends. Boy was I wrong! During orientation, I have met so many nice people. Making friends at NU isn't about lame ice breakers. Everyone is so friendly here. Just put yourself out there. If I can make friends, so can you!

Food?

The food here is amazing! I really loved meeting with friends to go to eat lunch or dinner together.

Homesick?

Sure, everyone gets homesick here and there. But, you really get a sense of a new family here at NU. You laugh together, eat together and, finally, study together. I think the thing I miss most about my family is my dog. His name is Charlie.

So I guess that's it for now. If you have any questions about Niagara, don't hesitate to email me!

Cya,
Michael Stilson
mstilson@mail.niagara.edu