Time Flies

Have you ever heard the saying "time flies when you're having fun"? Well, to say it in so many words, time has been flying since I arrived at WNE. 

I don't spend my time here staring a clock, counting down the hours until the weekend or the next break. I look at the clock and try to figure out where the hours went. For honesty's sake, a lot of those hours do trace back to the "boring" stuff like class and homework. But the boring stuff is what I'm paying for, so I'm okay with that. And all of those "boring" hours are offset by fun things, like hanging out with friends, going to events, or (my personal favorite) taking naps.

My family gets on my case for not calling them as often as I should, and it's because time flies so fast here at WNE. I'll think I called them two days ago, and I'll realize that was two weeks ago. If you're worried about missing your family and your friends, let me tell you that it won't be as bad as you think. I'm very close with my family and my friends back home, and when I visited them after being here for a month and a half, it was like I never left. I genuinely cannot believe that I'm a few days away from the end of my first semester here. It feels like fall break (about the second week in October) should be a little over a week away, not the end of the semester. 

Essentially, Western New England University is not a place where time drags. Sure, there are days when the clocks in classes don't seem to move, but there are so many rewarding, fun, fast hours in between those. It's hard to believe that just a few months ago I was nervously saying goodbye to my family on move-in day, and in just a few days I'll be going home for winter break. In all of those fast hours I've grown as an independent individual, and now I get to take those experiences back home and share them with my family. I think it's important to find a place where you're content and time can fly, and I've found that at WNE.

--Abby

End of the Semester Happenings

This past weekend was so full of exciting events. I had two places to be on any given night, and it was one of the best weekends I’ve had. The fun began on Friday night with our Fall play put on by our theatre group, The Stageless Players. They performed Check Please and Check Please: Take Two and they did an amazing job. I know a lot of people that were in the play, including my best friend, and it was awesome to see all of their hard work pay off. The room was packed and it was only the first showing!

                After the play, I walked over to The Golden Voice competition put on by GBTV, our student run television station here on campus. The Golden Voice is a singing competition that has interviews with the contestants, twitter interaction, and, of course, great singing. I couldn’t go last year, so I am so glad I was able to make it this year. It was really fun and I was surprised at how many talented singers we have here.

                The fun continued on Saturday with World Fest, which was put on by U&ME, the United and Mutually Equal club on campus. It is one of the most loved events that happen here at WNE and it’s not difficult to figure out why. The event begins with a buffet style dinner of foods from around the world. I had a plate overflowing with delicious things that I had never had before. After dinner, the night is full of entertainment inspired by different cultures. This year, they had Spanish dancers, a didgeridoo player, a fire dancer and more. My favorite part of the night, however, was the fashion show. The members of U&ME dress up in outfits from around the world and walk down the aisles. It was amazing to see the different customs and learn more about the world and the people in it.

                Finally, on Sunday the music department got to show off their hard work. Our band, chorus, and University Singers group preformed their Fall Concert. It was bitter sweet for me because I decided not be a part of chorus this year due to other commitments, but they all did an amazing job. The weekend was a success and I know it is one that I’ll remember when I think of WNEU.

-LyndseySJ

Stress-Free at WNE

Finals are a few weeks away, and the stress is building here at WNE. Between now and then I have so many papers and projects due that it's not even funny. Plus, I'm going home over Thanksgiving to see my family, who will ask me about a thousand questions about my college life so far (but it will be nice to see them). 

Honestly, I could write you a post about a bunch of stress-management techniques, but (if you decide to attend this lovely institution) you will talk about those a lot, like I have in the last week. Let me just save you some time by assuring you of this--if you come here, stress won't kill you. You'll learn how to manage your stress through classes (like Health and First Year Seminar) and through your own experience. No one is going to tie you up alone and throw daunting assignments and exams at you. You will be prepared, and there will be help where you need it. Don't get me wrong, you will be stressed, but that'll happen anywhere in life. WNE will help equip you for it.

Instead, let's pretend you're one of my insanely curious family members, and I'll tell you some of what I've loved about this place so far:

• Friends: I've made good ones, easily. The general atmosphere here genuinely is very friendly, and it's very conducive to meeting people. In my experience everyone's been really open to making new friends. (Side note: most freshmen come here without many friends, so you won't be a lonely freak standing in a corner with no one...unless you really want to be, then go for it!)
• Faculty: Amazing. I'm only a few months into my freshman year, and I already have a good relationship with my English professor (I'm an English major) that will help me a lot in the future. The professors are passionate about what they're teaching, and they love when you ask them for help because it shows you care.
• Size: Perfectly small. I have friends at bigger universities that are kind of treated like numbers. Most of the faces on campus aren't familiar to them, and they don't necessarily speak to any of their professors outside of class. At WNE, I feel taken care of. There are some perks to bigger schools, but I was personally willing to give those up for better relationships with my professors, and a more caring community. 

So there are a few of the things I love about WNE. In the stressful weeks to come, those things will help be a little more sane. I'll be able to lean on my friends and the faculty for support, and the caring atmosphere here will calm me down. 

Now, stop asking me questions, and let's go eat some turkey.

--Abby

Riding with CAB

Hey guys! It’s Kaitlyn! It’s been getting kind of crazy here as I’m nearing the end of my first semester. It always seems like the end of the semester the work can quickly pile up! It’s not too bad though so I really can’t complain. On another note campus has also been very busy lately from Midnight Madness to my participation in CAB (Campus Activities Board).  At WNE, there is always something to do! In high school I was never one of those kids who got involved and I have to say I truly regret it.  It has been such a wonderful experience getting involved on campus it really just adds to the amazing sense of community I constantly feel here.  It’s a great opportunity to meet new people and work on your leadership skills.  I was given the opportunity to help run parents weekend and it was an amazing experience.  From meeting all the families to going through the process of creating such an elaborate event, it has been a fantastic experience for me.  I am proud of my decision to join CAB.  Maybe I’ll see you in the group next year!

Unwind at WNE

We all procrastinate sometimes. Some of us more than others, but one of the nice things about WNE is that you don't have to leave all of your procrastinating to Netflix and Facebook anymore. There are fun events that not only let you procrastinate, but help you unwind from the stress of all that work you haven't done yet.

Campus Activities Board (CAB) puts on a lot of fun events, like Freak Week happening this week (with a mentalist, glow golf, and more) and things like comedians and fun trips. Various clubs hold late nights, where they do all sorts of things from making dream catchers to an Open Mic Night. There are often games of some sort to go watch, not to mention going to the dining hall or gym with friends. The library even has DVDs you can check out if you just want to have a movie night. WNE isn't just a place for academics. It's also a place where you can relax and have fun.

Okay, so I can't say procrastinating is a good thing. I'm happiest when my work is done, despite what else I may be doing. But even if you can't admit to yourself that you're a chronic procrastinator, and you fall behind in your classes, WNE can help. The Academic Support Center can help you improve your time management, get you a tutor, and more. If you find yourself in academic trouble, go there and they'll help you. The Writing Center can help you pull together that paper you've been putting off, and the Math Center can help you tackle that foreboding homework assignment or exam. So if you just need help with those homework assignments piling up, that's where you can go.

The point is, WNE is a great place to procrastinate (in moderation of course). But if you do dig yourself into a deep hole, it's an amazing place to get help.

--Abby

Celebrate the Spooky Season

October has flown by! Halloween is already less than a week away! To celebrate the spooky season, the campus celebrates Freak Week. Freak Week is a time period put on by CAB (Campus Activities Board) in which a Halloween inspired event happens every day. This year, the week was started with a Wednesday night event. A mentalist came and made tables and chairs fly before people’s eyes! It was a really popular event and it was talked about for days. Other events during Freak Week were glow in the dark minigolf, pumpkin painting, psychic readings, a trip to Salem, Massachusetts, a Murder Mystery dinner, and a showing of the movie This is the End. It is always a really fun week and we have been having the perfect weather to celebrate Autumn and the Halloween season. Another way I have celebrated Halloween is by going to a corn maze with the other Peer Advisors. We all dressed up and had an amazing time. I’ve always loved corn mazes and it was fun to break up into groups and then find each other within the maze. After getting lost, and found, in the corn stalks, we went on a hay ride. We went by this really cool pumpkin patch right as the sun was going down. It was a mystical moment and an all-around great time with some of my favorite people. My friends and I dressed up as Sandy and Danny from Grease. Bobby was Danny, Jess was Sandy at the end of the movie, and I was Sandy at the beginning. Our other friend, Alexa, was Tiger!

-LyndseySJ

Farms are Fun in Western MA!

Springfield may be a city; however, the surrounding area is pretty rural. It provides for a nice change of scenery. During fall break, I went with some friends to go apple picking at Echo Hill Orchards in Monson, which is about 25 minutes from campus. It was only $5.00 to take a tractor ride over to the orchard and pick a bag of apples. The next day, we went to Westview Farms Creamery which is also in Monson. We got pumpkins there and some homemade ice cream. Two small pumpkins and a gourd came to only $4.00. It was a chilly weekend but still tons of fun! Last weekend, I went with some other friends to McCray’s Farm in South Hadley which is about 30 minutes from campus. At night, they have a haunted hayride with a haunted house immediately afterwards. It was $20 for each ticket and it was a long wait in line, but definitely worth it. They have hot chocolate and food that you can buy while you are waiting. They even have a less scary ride for children earlier in the evening. The actors this year were very good and there were a lot more animatronics. I don’t get easily scared, but the haunted house even got me to jump once or twice! Unfortunately, they don’t let you take pictures at this event. I really love Fall and Halloween--luckily Western Mass has a lot to offer this time of year! Stay Warm, Brandi

My Favorite Places on Campus

Fall is my favorite season, and since being at Western New England University I have fallen more and more in love with the season. I like to go on walks around campus as often as possible to see how truly beautiful this campus becomes during my favorite season. I want to share some of my favorite places, inside and out of WNE. (Not in any particular order).

• The Leadership Garden. This is just a beautiful, and sometimes overlooked, part of campus. It is right in the middle of campus surrounded by a bunch of trees. It’s a nice quiet place that a lot of homework, life chats, and meditation happens.

• The library. I spend a lot of time in the library, so I am glad it is so nice in there. I was studying for Statistics the other day and I used the white boards to write all of my equations down in one place. It was really helpful for me.

•   The Center of Campus. There are always students, faculty, and friends walking around. I always see someone to say hello to and it is really nice to see almost all of the academic buildings. 

• The Campus Center. Whether it be the picnic tables on the outside of campus or the comfy chairs on the inside, the Campus Center is a great place to meet up with someone or to just hang out. It is one of the best places on campus to feel how community oriented this school is.

•    The Golden Bear. The Golden Bear is Western New England’s mascot and this Golden Bear is the best place to take pictures to show some school spirit. I love when I see students, alum, and prospective students taking pictures with the Golden Bear because it gives me even more pride in this school. 

-LyndseySJ

Fall Break--On Campus!

I am one of the few students who is not going home for Fall Break. Don’t be fooled. This is nothing to be sad about! There are many perks to staying on campus during short breaks that I have realized in my three years here. Here are a few things:

1) You don’t have to wait for your laundry. With so many students going home, and many of them taking their laundry with them, the laundry facilities are much more free than usual. It’s a great opportunity to catch up by doing multiple loads while no one is here.

2.)  There are lots of parking spots. Most students drive themselves home for vacation and free up about ¾ of the parking spots or more. So you don’t have to worry about finding a spot close to your room; it will be there!

3.)   The dining hall makes better food. I haven’t exactly figured out what it is. I think it might be because they have to make less quantity, they up the quality and taste of the food significantly. I’ll admit our dining hall is much better than many other colleges, but it’s even better during long weekends.

4.)   Also, there are Alternative Fall Break Programs on campus now. You travel from campus to a place in Springfield to do community service. I volunteered last year at the Children’s Study Home and it was fantastic!

I decided that this year I am just going to relax this weekend. I plan to go apple and pumpkin picking this weekend. I also may be going to McCray’s haunted hayride next weekend. I love October!

                                                                                                            Cheers!

                                                                                                            Brandi