10 Week Check-In

I can’t believe it has been ten weeks here at WNEC. I can truly call this place my home. So far they have given me every tool to be successful. I have to admit I’ve been very busy with school, but I have been doing so much more for the school now. I signed up to work for Midnight Madness, and I am excited because it is going to be a great event. This extravaganza happens every year and helps us kick off the start of our men's and women's basketball seasons. The men’s hockey season is getting under way with their first game on November 7^th. I was at the tryout and the team is looking solid this year. I hope the last six weeks are just as eventful as the last ten have been.

-The kid from Cali

Jay.Thall

Living with a Roommate

As you know, one of the biggest things to adjust to when starting college is living with another person. While some people have no trouble sharing a common space, we have all heard the roommates horror stories that college can sometimes present. Here at WNEC, you have the opportunity to choose who you would like to live with, whether you meet someone at your SOAR orientation or knew someone prior to selecting a room. My first roommate experience was a little rocky, and I wish I had taken advantage of the
opportunity to choose my roommate. We just plain didn’t get along. Now I have new roommate that I get along well with. I grew up always sharing a room with my sister, so for me sharing a space was the norm, but for some it could be a challenge. You just have to be understanding, have an open mind, and if you just don’t get along with each other, then it’s not a huge deal to decide that living together isn’t the greatest idea because both ends will be happier in the end if you address it. I am glad that Western New England gave me the option of choosing who I truly wanted to live with. I hope that all prospective students utilize this tremendous opportunity.

Where Has the Time Gone at WNEC?

The leaves are changing colors and the weather is starting to change to the typical unpredictable New England autumn weather. Just walking around campus seeing all the different colored leaves on the ground shows how time has flown by. It was only 2 months ago that I moved onto campus and the temperature was soaring. Being from Massachusetts, I am used to seeing this kind of weather, and it makes me feel right at home. Walking to class seeing all the leaves provides a truly peaceful scene. Speaking of academics, we are already past the halfway point of first semester. Before I know it, the weather will change again to winter. Time just seems to fly by. I guess time does fly when you are having fun, and I am definitely having fun here at WNEC. There are so many things to do here that makes the college experience, even in the first semester, great.

-Jason

No Longer a Stranger

At Western New England College you feel like you’re home. Being here for just a few short weeks, you start to feel like the people you see every day who were once strangers to you are now some of your closest friends. Within your hall, clubs, sports, even work study jobs everyone becomes so familiar with each other. Keep in mind when strangers become more familiar, you begin to see people’s true colors. Just get in with the right crowd and college becomes that much more enjoyable. If making friends is what you’re worried about, don’t be. With everything that is going on here at WNEC making friends has never been easier. Having a tough week? Focus on your school work, and confide in your friends, there’s nothing better to distract yourself with. Keeping your friends close to you will make you feel at ease during those stressful weeks. Also, take that as advice for the college search too! Don’t get too overwhelmed and make sure you have your support network by your side.

WNEC Week 7? 8? Who's Counting Anymore?

It’s midterm time here at WNEC. And while that might seem scary so some, it can be an opportunity to show what you’re made of. College is hard work here, as I’m sure it is anywhere. But working hard is now rewarding, and no longer a chore. This is where WNEC’s resources come in. Having trouble in Math? Go to the Math Center. They know me by name now and I have a tutor. It may be hard to admit you need help at first, but it just proves you’re committed to learning the material. You’ll feel more confident doing your homework on your own and feel prepared going into a test. Have a major paper due? Bring it to the writing center. They can spend more time on it with you than your professor can. They will read your paper and make suggestions without making you feel stupid. These are really valuable tools going into midterms and other big projects throughout the semester!

Good Luck in the college searching!

Maria

Pre-Season Excitement

I can’t believe that we are already halfway through the semester. It is true what they say, time flies. It is already mid-October, and boy is it getting cold. One of the things I am looking forward to this winter is hockey season. The men’s hockey team is a few weeks away from beginning their season, and that means it is time to start my job as the video coordinator. I had a meeting with the coaches yesterday to go over what they expect from me as I am about to become a part of the 2010-2011 Golden Bears hockey team. I am really excited to start working with the team. I have a few players in my classes and they are really great guys, as are the coaches. It may be a cold winter, but it’ll be a fun one as well.

-The kid from Cali.

Jay Thall

So you went home, saw your friends and…

This past weekend we had a 4 day weekend WNEC calls a fall break. Living only an hour and a half away from here, I was able to go home and spend some time with family and friends. I was eager to tell everyone about my experiences and to hear about theirs. I will admit, I bragged about WNEC’s pristine campus, amazing opportunities, not to mention the good times and laughs I’ve shared with my new friends here. A lot of my friends are still adjusting to their big school atmosphere, and those who went to tiny schools say it is a lot like high school. WNEC is an in between like no other. Not only are the classes manageable and your professors approachable, you can still experience the amenities of a big university. WNEC has Division 3 athletics, with Division 1 spirit and commitment. Plus, there is still so much to do, even when you’re done with class for the day, you feel there is much more you want to get accomplished for your own satisfaction. Going home and seeing my friends was great, and although it was bittersweet leaving them, I was excited to get back to WNEC. Just remember when you are looking for colleges, and you don’t know if you want a big school or a small school, you CAN have BOTH!

Big Man Back on Campus

Fall Break has come and gone, really quickly too. Last time, I said that college is the experience of a lifetime, and it truly is. Time is flying by and you have to take in every moment. Of course it is always nice to go home to see your family and friends and get away from school for a little while. It’s important to look back on what you have started to do in this chapter of your life, (while having a home cooked meal), because no one can ever replace that. After a while, you are going to want to go back to school, see your friends, tell stories about what you did while you were away, and enjoy college even more than you were before you left for Fall Break. Yes it felt weird being home after spending a month and a half at the same place, but it made me miss school that much more.

I write this as I am being driven back to WNEC by my roommate’s parents, a place that has truly become my second home. Fall break is a chance to reflect on what has happened and a chance to find out areas that need improvement. Changes could be made in time management, sleep, or getting into a new routine. I know the next time I go home will be Thanksgiving, but I am happy to know that I will be spending time with my friends at WNEC. Who could ask for anything more?

Newly refreshed from break,
-Jason

The Voices of Reason

I may be three thousand miles away from my family, but they are still always there for me. I was constantly studying every free moment I had this week. I have been working extremely hard to do well in my classes. By the time I hit Wednesday, I felt like I had been through 2 weeks of school. I even felt helpless, which is a feeling I don’t often feel, so I turned to the only two people I knew would help me no matter what, my parents. First, it was my father, who calmed me down and told me exactly what I needed to do. My father is a very logical and rational person, so he broke it down in laymen’s terms. Then, it was my mother, who just simply was a mother. She made sure I was feeling ok, and told me she was proud of me. It’s nice to know no matter how far away your family is, there just a phone call away.

A Refreshed Appreciation

As a senior in high school, we all could not wait for college, counting down the days towards independence and even an escape from home. While, of course, we love our parents, our siblings, our pets, it is not until you leave home and only when you see your family every so often that you come to appreciate their presence again. I remember all through high school, I would say “I CANNOT wait to leave the nagging parents and be on my own”. Well, I’m on my own, and I now look forward to seeing my family and those same nagging parents whenever I visit home more than anything. Those “nagging” parents are the reason I can be here, and for that, I’m thankful for all those reminders. For some, this appreciation has always been present, and college was only a separation, but for me, things were a little different. Throughout high school, I never got along with my mother. We butted heads over everything, whether it was differing opinions or based on school work. Since being away at college, I now text my mom at least once a day and call weekly, just to say hi. I never pictured this improved relationship when packing my bags for school and I am thankful that college has opened my eyes to just how much I appreciate my family and their role in my being.

One Month...Done

That was probably the quickest month of my life. I can honestly say it is also one of the most memorable months. When else can you say that you made a ton of new friends, and went to a bunch of different programs aimed at helping you succeed? Only when you are at college can you say that. It is weird to think that I am almost halfway through my first semester of college and I now know why people say they love college and never want to leave. The friends you make, the people you meet, and the experiences you have are all reasons to love it here at WNEC. I have joined many different clubs and organizations to help me make a smooth transition to college. Another thing that comes with college is classes. To be honest, classes are not that bad. You go, see your friends, meet new people, learn new things, and each professor tries to make learning fun. WNEC does everything possible to make sure you have a good time in college. I have gone home once, and even that one time I felt out of place. WNEC is my new home. I have a family here. You start building your own community on the first day that you are here, and from then on it is all just about having fun.

Try seeing yourself in my shoes,
-Jason

Going Home for Fall Break!

Although going home for fall break is an exciting time, and I will get to see all my family and friends, it is bitter sweet to leave WNEC for a few days. Of course, college isn’t all fun and games every day; it’s a lot of hard work. Fall break will be a nice time to relax. If you’re an athlete, get ready for non-stop workouts, both practice and in the weight room, year round. Life is busy, without a doubt. Between work-study, practice, and school work, you have a full plate. Your time is now your own, but it is full of activity. As exciting as it will be to go home for a few days, it will be just as exciting to go back to WNEC. You have two families now, and two homes. That’s the great thing about our college, now you have your home and your WNEC home. College is 100% what you make of it. If you let WNEC be your second home, it will feel just as good coming back here as it does to go home. Just remember that.

Until Next Week,
Maria

Getting Through a Tough Week

This was a tough week, to the tune of four tests and a presentation. I spent a lot of time in the library and I feel confident that I did well on all my assignments. I really made a conscious effort to put everything off, and just focus on my studies. No watching sports, no playing X-Box, and no watching Tosh.O. I felt like I put in a sufficient amount of time to be successful. By seeing myself achieve good scores, it will motivate me to work harder. At the same time, if I don’t see the results I want, I will have to work harder to see them. Either way I happy, things are looking up. I got a good feeling about this place.

The kid from Cali.

-Jay Thall