Feed Your Mind

Hey, everyone!!

We just got back from spring break on Wednesday, and I was welcomed by a physics exam. Yay. I'm very happy that it is over. Now I just have to do well on the final….

After my exam, I went to a panel discussion that included two people who work for the admissions offices at the medical schools at Stony Brook and Mount Sinai. It was definitely an informative 2 hours because both women were able to answer a wide variety of questions and were incredibly honest with us about the reality of the application process and what med schools are looking for in applicants. I think that there is a misconception that med schools want some super student who has a ton of research and clinical experience with an awesome GPA and a high MCAT score. The two panelists made it clear that they don't want a super student. They want somebody who is passionate and who believes that he/she can contribute to society in a positive way by being a doctor. They want you to do the things that you love during your undergrad years. If you do that, then your hard work and passion will show through. I love when Hunter offers these kinds of events. They're always helpful.

After the panel discussion, my friend and I hung out in Central Park for a couple of hours. I've been going there fairly often since the weather became warmer. We sat on the rocks for awhile and just talked and took in the scenery. I love that we can just go to this world-famous park anytime we want. It's a privilege that most college students in the world don't have.

I had to go to the Apple store again this week because my MacBook is telling me that the battery needs to be serviced. One of the guys at the Genius Bar ran a diagnostic test and told me that the battery needs to be replaced. He told me to back up my data and bring in the computer at a later date so that they can replace the battery. The repair takes 24-48 hours. I'm planning to take it in tomorrow when I head to the UWS for Macaulay's annual Arts Night (I'll post pics from the event in next week's post). This is the first time I'll be without my computer since I first received it in freshman year. It will be a strange feeling. haha. I'll have to use the family PC in the meantime.

In my last post, I mentioned that my middle school friends and I hung out last Saturday. We had a great time in downtown Manhattan. We ate, we drank, we cracked jokes, and we walked a lot. It was one of the highlights of my spring break.

Columbian writer, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, passed away last Thursday. I thought I'd leave you guys with a quote from one of his novels:

To him she seemed so beautiful, so seductive, so different from ordinary people, that he could not understand why no one was as disturbed as he by the clicking of her heels on the paving stones, why no one else's heart was wild with the breeze stirred by the sighs of her veils, why everyone did not go mad with the movements of her braid, the flight of her hands, the gold of her laughter. He had not missed a single one of her gestures, not one of the indications of her character, but he did not dare approach her for fear of destroying the spell.

                             ~ Gabriel Garcí­a Márquez, Love in the Time of Cholera

S.

College Tip of the Week: Read. 

Read everything and anything that you can. Read what interests you and what you think will bore you (you might be surprised if you actually enjoy it). Read small books and big ones. Simple ones and complicated ones. Read about teenage romances or economic theory or sustainability.

Your college years often serve as an introduction to your intellectual side. Develop that side of yourself by opening your mind to all of the great literature out there. Read books, and have discussions about them. Let books challenge the way that you think and feel about yourself and everyone else. Let them serve as both a form of escapism and a form of reality.

Feed your mind.

Spring Blooms

Argghh can anyone believe the wonderful weather we are having lately? Its absolutely gorgeous and with it I feel uplifted and hopeful. This is my last summer before I graduate and I'm dead set on making it a busy one. I'll be taking a summer (finishing my last GER!!) class, so seriously people, if possible finish all GERs before junior year. But I am now also looking  for a public health program and there seems to be a really promising one in Brooklyn. I'll blog more about it later if all goes through but I'm super excited! I'll also be returning for another summer after working a year at NYU's Child and Family Policy Center. I have to say I'm amazed by the work that is done at the center and honored to be a part of their research. So here's a summary for anyone who is interested.

Home visitation programs have been around since the 1800's and the idea behind their success is how they can be tailored to a family's needs. It can be difficult for low families to receive center based services for a multitude of reasons, e.g. monetary costs and distance. However, imagine if the service can be brought to a family on a more continuous basis. The impact would be much greater if the family has a constant presence available to them. Thus the Parent-Child Home Program (PCHP) is a home visitation program that focuses on school readiness and parenting to foster educational play and parent-child relationships. Children from 2-3 years of age receive a home visitor twice a week, who brings toys, books, and blocks to engage parent and child in educational activities. The outcomes are a long term impact on the child's development. For example, Allen, Sethi & Astuto (2007) found that children in PCHP programs were at a higher risk for school failure due to low household income and parental education. Therefore, home visitation programs served as an intervention to insure that these children enter school with the same readiness as their other peers. The work at the center is devoted to these families in Brooklyn and Queens, whose children have graduated from the program and are in Pre-K or Kindergarden. The role of the researcher is to evaluate the program using various child and parent measures. But in addition, it is an opportunity to learn more about these communities and families. Every time I head out its an adventure to a different corner of NY with these amazingly smart and cute children that impact my own perspectives on life. 

Allen, L.,Sethi, A.,Astuto, J.(2007). An Evaluation of Graduates of a Toddlerhood Home Visiting Program at Kindergarten Age. HNHD:NHSA Dialog, 10(1). 36-57. 

Essay writing tips

I've thought about my last post some more and realized this is the time of year when people start freaking out over all of their essays and projects. I decided that it was probably a good idea to post some essay/paper writing tips for all of you who shudder when a teacher tells you there's a word limit, not a page limit (there's a huge difference).

So here are some tips for essays:

• Start early. There's nothing worse than pulling an all-nighter. Not only will you be exhausted, but you will have rushed your paper. Teachers give you the prompts early to keep you from doing this. They give you enough time to do the paper as well as your other work. Use the time they give you.
• There's nothing wrong with using Wikipedia first. Though teachers don't want you to cite it, you can use it for basic background information and links to sources on your topic that are reputable and useful.
• Go to the professor. Go to office hours and ask the teacher exactly what he/she wants. See if you can run a thesis or topic paragraph, or even a rough draft or outline by them before the paper is due. Seek all of the guidance you can from them. Listen to their advice. They will be the ones grading your paper, and you have to please them.
• Talk it out. Talking to someone about your ideas can help you identify possible holes in your arguments, as well as help you clarify your ideas.
• Go to librarians. They will help you find information on your topic and help you use databases. That is their job and they know what they're doing.
• Use other sources' citations. Often, the citations at the bottom of an article will link you to more useful information on your topic. This is a great way to tell if a source is reputable. Though you can't use Wikipedia as a source, the links at the bottom of Wikipedia are usually reputable.
• Do it in small chunks. Divide the prompt into several different sections. Often if you look closely, the prompt is already divided for you by the professor. Doing a paper in small sections will ease your stress and make the paper more manageable.
• Use an outline. Use the divided sections you've created and make an outline. You can stuff all of your information into this, including quotes and sources. It'll be much easier than starting from a blank page and writing the essay from scratch.
• Write a first draft. Have at least two people read this draft: one who is unfamiliar with the subject and one who is. They will assess whether your paper is both clear enough for someone who isn't familiar with the topic to understand, and whether you've adequately addressed the topic. This can be a friend, parent, or even the professor, if they are willing. This will also be a good way to catch spelling and grammar mistakes. Continually edit your paper. Don't write your first draft and say good riddance.
• Use an online citation maker. No one sits there and memorizes how to make citations anymore. All you have to do is put the information in and let the website do it for you.
• Reward yourself. Writing essays is stressful and time consuming. Though you might not have a ton of time to relax after finishing an essay, especially during finals week with all your other work, try to spend a little time relaxing. Have a dance party, get a snack, or take a nap. You've earned it.

Getting less sleep over spring break...

I came home last Friday to Long Island for spring break to relax, spend some time with my family, and do some work. Though I've been able to see The Grand Budapest Hotel, watch a couple of movies at home with my family, go shopping, and attend a seder, the time I've had off has been stressful.

Spring break is a wonderful thing for many students: it is placed in mid-March as a reprieve from the long month of uninterrupted classes and is a way to herald in the semi-nice weather.  It is also perfectly placed so that students can gather their energy before the final stretch of school.

However, at CUNY we don't get a break in March, we get it in April, when Passover and Easter happen. Unfortunately, school ends about 3 weeks after we come back from spring break, so this is the opportune time to assign our final papers and projects! Such is why I have three 10-15 page papers to write, 2 novels to read, and then basic coursework. Now, reading all of Whitman's Song of Myself might have been semi-enjoyable (and semi-torturous), and I could get through reading all of The Day of the Locust by Nathaneal West in one day. I even completed a whole five page philosophy paper on Aristotle in a night. I've been reading Lolita, and started outlining one of my three papers. But I'm super stressed out.

Here's the takeaway: teachers expect us to plan ahead and work long-term. This is particularly difficult for me. I like getting assignments and then doing them, and then having them done and out of the way. I've always been the type of person who couldn't go to sleep if I hadn't done my homework for the next day. There is no relief from my stress until my work is done. I also don't like the idea that a 10 page paper should take me five weeks to research and write.

Regardless, this is the time that has been given me to work on this work. And as much as I complain that I've gotten less sleep during spring break than when I'm at school, it's just the way it is. Planning ahead and time management are essential in college, and as much as I'd love to do nothing this break but relax, sleep, eat Girl Scout cookies and watch movies, I just can't do it. I know doing that doing these papers now (or at least starting them) will ease my stress in the last couple weeks of school. I just have to keep reminding myself of that for the next couple of days.

My "Wild" Spring Break

Hi, everyone!!

Spring break is almost over, and I haven't done anything remotely insane or "wild". haha.
I've done some shopping with my mom, which is always fun and takes my mind off of things (like that physics test that I have right after the break. gah.)

My mom and I also paid a visit to the Apple Store on the UWS on Monday because my MacBook charger has been looking kind of messed up for awhile (there's some exposed wiring.) The AppleCare expires in June so I figured now was a good time to take advantage of it. They give me a new charger, and I was in and out of the store within 10 minutes. Afterwards, my mom and I hung out in the area for awhile. We sat around the fountain in front of the Operahouse and did some people-watching for awhile. This is one of my mom's favorite activities. She always makes the best/funniest comments about the people passing by. Nothing too mean. Just clever.
It was a beautiful spring day, and I had a good time with her.

I can't believe it snowed on Tuesday…..only in NY.

Tomorrow, I'll be seeing my middle-school friends. As I mentioned in a previous post, I hadn't seen them for 7+ years until 3 months ago when we had a reunion. We're determined to not let another 7 years go by before we see each other. haha.

Speaking of friends, one of my good friends has been stuck in the hospital for much of spring break because of an injury so I've been a bit worried about him. Life throws the craziest curves at us sometimes. He's supposed to make it back in time for our physics test on Wednesday. I'm already planning to give him a huge hug when I see him. =)

My posts have been relatively short lately. I have to do some more long posts when inspiration strikes me!

S.

College Tip of the Week: Let go of everything that doesn't make you feel good. 

As most of the college tips that I've featured this semester, this tip can also count as a life tip.
What I mean by this tip is that you should only surround yourself with people and things that have a positive impact on your life. Be friends with people who make you a better person, who you're comfortable around, and who respect you for who you are. You should never feel like you're "acting" when you're with your friends. It should all feel natural. If there's someone in your life who is bringing you down (in any number of ways), then you should let that person go. Better sooner than later.

And what about things? Sometimes, we hang on to things that hurt us. Memories for instance. I'm not saying that you should go give yourself amnesia or anything, but you should let go of painful memories. Don't them haunt you.

Coming Full Circle

It has been a while since I last posted, but I feel like it is fitting to start again. A year has gone by and I've matured and learned so much about myself as a person, here on the cusp of entering senior year. I often think back to freshman days and how they flew by. I would advise all freshmen to enjoy those first two years when everything is new and there's time to explore hobbies, take interesting classes and explore. Not that I don't now, but there is most definitely less time.

Some parts stayed constant, I am still pre-med and a psychology major (to all those starting out, I swear anything is possible after orgo). Others changed, I love the french language and starting to look at projects dealing with public health and children. My friends are still the ones I met freshmen year in all those pre-med classes. I remember the day of the outward bound orientation to Governor's Island where simply bumping into my next door dorm neighbor and heading out together turned into a treasured friendship. I remember back in high school, freshman year my English teacher had us write letters to ourselves. Senior year she gave them to us, and reading my own words again was a reminder of how growth and change we all undergo. I think we all need to be more aware of the little things.

Central Park Fun

Hi, everyone!!

Spring break has now officially started!!! Today was a beautiful day, and I spent a few hours in Central Park with my friends. I actually spent some time yesterday and on Monday in the park as well. It's beautiful this time of year. The trees haven't really started blooming yet, but the sun is out, and it's relaxing to sit on the rocks and just enjoy some good company. We're lucky to go to a school where we have such a great place to hang out only 3 blocks away.

But back to spring break. I have a physics exam the day that we come back from the break so I'll spend a good amount of time studying for that. Yay.

But I'm also going to make sure to take some time to enjoy myself with my family and friends. It's important to do that.

This past week, I had to talk to my professor about an issue I was having, and he was so accommodating, which I appreciated. You should never be afraid to talk to your professors. They've been through everything that you have been through so they're a great source of advice.

I met with my Macaulay advisor yesterday to discuss plans for the summer and fall. I'll be a senior next year so I'll be taking less classes. I just have some bio electives left to take next year. I also have to take the MCAT next year. Yikes. That's definitely one of my concerns. Another concern is that I'm graduating in just over a year! How did that happen?! Life goes by too quickly.

It's my brother's birthday tomorrow so my mom and I made a cake, and we're planning a dinner for him tomorrow. I like the fact that we still celebrate birthdays. I think it's important for people to have a day where they can feel extra special.

S.

College Tip of the Week: Don't be afraid to take risks.

There will be times in college where it will be perfectly appropriate to take a risk. The risk can be anything: taking a class in a subject that you've never studied before, telling someone that you're in love with him/her, taking a trip to Europe for 2 months "to figure yourself out", etc. Risks keep you on your toes, and they expose parts of yourself that you never knew. Of course, make sure to take this advice with a grain of salt, and don't put yourself in any immediate danger. But every once in awhile, do something just a little wacky, just a little out there. It can be well worth it.

How to Cook at College

I used to be afraid of making eggs and toast, but I've become an avid cooker in college. I used to buy a whole month's worth of frozen foods from Trader Joe's; now I buy fresh food and make meals almost daily. I'm really proud that I've grown in this aspect since coming to college. Cooking your own food is healthier than eating pre-made food and cheaper than eating out or ordering. It's also very calming, and the self-sufficiency will make you feel like the semi-adult you are.

Here's some tips:

1. Learn how to cook some simple meals, such as stir fry, omelets, soup, or burgers. You can throw pretty much anything in your fridge into soup, a stir fry, omelet, or pasta with sauce. 
2. Learn how to dress up the basics. For example, I take ramen and cook it with extra vegetables and scrambled egg in it to make it more nutritious and filling.
3. Buy and learn how to use spices! If you're unsure of what spices to use with a dish, look it up on the internet. There will be a variety of suggestions for almost everything. Buy pre-made spice mixtures, such a poultry seasoning, stir fry ginger, adobo, or herbes de provence. Don't underestimate salt and pepper.
4. Cook a lot at a time so you have leftovers. You'll thank yourself tomorrow when you have delicious leftovers rather than that frozen meal.
5. Don't be afraid to collaborate with your friends on cooking. You won't always have all of the ingredients for something. Offer to share the food you're making if your friend can contribute some of the ingredients. Don't be afraid to ask to borrow tools or spices! If you're only going to use a blender once, borrow your friend's. Also, shopping, cooking, and eating with friends can make the whole process a lot quicker and more fun.
6. When buying ingredients, always buy store-brand or generic brand. It's cheaper and it's exactly the same thing.
7. Buy fresh ingredients whenever you can, and try to buy things in-season (when they are cheapest and freshest). Look for farmer's markets! Never over-buy fresh ingredients because they go bad quickly.
8. Finally, experiment with food and spices.

My house has about 75 cookbooks, one for each cuisine, and I stole some of them so I could cook at college. Some of the best resources I have for recipes have been cookbooks, but there are tons of online recipes. If you don't want to invest in an actual cookbook, here are some links:

Vegan recipes
Quick snacks
Study snacks
Kinda artsy food
Lots of recipes for students
Grilled cheese
Healthy recipes
Best foods for students by activity
Yummy smoothies
Mac&Cheese in a mug
Specific smoothies
How to make tons of cookies
Breadsticks
Vegan pasta
More vegan recipes
A mass post of recipes for college students

General recipe sites:

Allrecipes
Food Network
Betty Crocker
Food.com
Whole Foods
Trader Joes

More important links:

Shelf life of food
How to use spices
Sides
What fruits and veggies are in-season

Happy cooking!

Early April Happenings

Hi, everyone. =)

Some things from this week:

• My dad ended up in the hospital late last week because of some gall bladder issues. He had a minor heart attack when I was 16, and every time he ends up in the hospital again, I go back to that time. It's very difficult to visit someone you love when he/she is in the hospital. It makes me understand the sad and worried faces of the families who would visit the patients who I worked with at the hospital I used to volunteer in. It's just a horrible feeling to see your loved one and know that you can do very little to help him/her. If I ever do make it as a doctor, I hope that I can remember this feeling so that I can understand my patients and their families better. Thankfully, my dad is back home tonight, and he seems to be doing fine. 
• On Monday night, I checked my biochem exam grade online, and I found out that I got a 100. Needless to say, I was jubilant. There is nothing like the feeling when you do really well on an exam. This was definitely one of the highlights of my week. 
• I picked up a copy of season 6 of Mad Men that I'm hoping to finish during spring break so that I can watch season 7 (which premieres on April 13th). 
• Tonight was the art exhibition that I've mentioned the last couple of weeks. I had biochem lab right before so I was feeling a bit tired, but I'm so glad I went to the event. There was some great art done by students from all over NYC, and I got to see my piece on display, which was pretty awesome. They also had some great food. It was a perfect way to end a Friday night. I plan to go  to more of these kinds of events. 

• Random fact: I wore either a dress or a skirt during the 5 days that I had class this week. I have to go back to wearing actual pants next week. That will not be as fun. haha.
• I've reignited my love for all things Frida Kahlo. I first heard about her when I was in 6th grade, and she's come in and out of my life ever since then. She is truly one of the greatest artists who has ever lived. Looking at her art makes me work that much harder to perfect mine. 

S. 

College Tip of the Week: Don't be intimidated by the intelligence of others. 

Most of the people who go to college are there because they have intellectual curiosity and want to better themselves. This means when you arrive, you will be surrounded by people who are just as motivated and just as intelligent as you are. 

This is especially true of Macaulay students. We're handpicked by the admissions team because we are some of the best students in the country. I remember that when I first started interacting with other Macaulay students, I was kind of intimidated by how intelligent everyone was. They all had so many interests and were good at so many things. Suddenly, my own accomplishments paled in comparison. But I quickly realized that it's great to be surrounded by driven people. They make you want to do better. And it has nothing to do with competition. I've never felt the need to compete with anyone at Macaulay. It's also really great to work with Macaulay students. So many of us work together on a host of different projects because we know that we're working with people who are just as motivated as we are. 

So no matter where you choose to go to college, don't be intimidated by the intelligence and motivation of others. Let it inspire you and make you want to work hard so that you can make the world just a little bit of a better place. 

Wrapping Up

Hi everyone,

It has been a long, long time since I've posted, and I'm writing what may well be my last post as I am about to wrap up my senior year here at Hunter.

I took some time today to reflect on my old posts and look at the arc of my time here at Macaulay Hunter. It has been a great experience with many ups, some downs, and lots of great opportunity. It is a four years I don't think I'll ever forget.

Right now I am finishing up my senior thesis in risk perception at a social psychology lab here at Hunter, where I work as a research intern. I am also currently working as a clinical research intern at the World Trade Center Health Program, where I'm working on several PTSD studies. Aside from that, I've continued to work as an EMT (though not full time anymore).

I'm gearing up to apply to PhD programs in Clinical Psychology this fall, and I'm knee-deep in GRE studying. Of course the process will be a little stressful, but whatever the outcome I'm sure it will be a rewarding experience and one that I can learn from.

If I had to give some advice to any cohort of students at Macaulay, especially those in their first or second year, it would be to envision yourself as the type of person you want to be. I'm talking about something deeper than societally-sanctioned sense of self (how's that for alliteration?). Society comes and goes, and it's always changing, so anyone in their right mind wouldn't base the rest of their life on what might be a popular, nonpersonal option today. What did you want to be as a kid? What kinds of things do you stay up late and think about? What are some things about yourself you would only tell your best friend or siblings? Who are you? And what would that person who you may be too shy to let come forward really want to do with their lives?

These are all things I think everyone should consider, and the earlier the better. These are also things we might not be too sure of just yet. But as long as we bring awareness to them, as long as we try to grapple with them, I think it makes life all the more rich and exciting. I think it brings you closer to being able to live your dream.

So, think about who you really are deep down, and simple steps that can bring you closer to that in your college career. It could be certain classes, majors, or internships, but it could also be something nontraditional and completely outside of that dynamic. It could be walking a certain way to school, or exploring a different part of the city, or meeting people from a certain community you wouldn't have previously considered. It could be putting yourself out there, or it could be turning yourself inward for reflection. When you feel what you need to do, you'll know.

My time at Macaulay has been wonderful, and I'll always have the great memories it brought. But, moving forward, I am not necessarily sad, since I know there is much more in store. I hope you have a similar experience.

Michael.

New Blogger and His First Post!

Hey! New blogger here! My very short introduction, quick tips for grasping opportunities, and more!

My name is Bleron. I'm now a sophomore here at Hunter Macaulay. There's plenty to learn about me, both general and specifics, but here, my posts are aimed at future and prospective Macaulay students, and of course  also to my Macaulay peers, staff, and faculty. First thing about me, I do not live at the Brookdale dorms and YES of course I know it's free (but there's a catch. It's free only for the first two years :P). Anyone reading my posts will defintely know what the commuting life is all about!

First things first, always be on the lookout for opportunities and events. Those Macaulay Monday emails that are sent occasionally on Mondays (rarely delayed to Tuesdays) should be read. A few of my peers have said to me," Oh Bleron, where did you get that amazing opportunity?" My response, "Macaulay Monday emails!" His response," Oh. I really gotta start looking at those emails."

Clearly, I am sure that there are plenty of opportunities in a city like New York, so sometimes finding an opportunity is not the issue. Always have an open eye on them, Whenever you find an immensely interesting opportunity, you have to leap on it like a leopard (not literally!). Make sure you followup after a reasonable amount of time. Absolutely never send a followup the day after you apply. That would be extremely annoying and reduce your chance of getting accepted as these professionals are most likely very busy each day. Give them a chance to read the first email at least! In addition to that, never send a followup email more than five weeks later. Not only did I do this twice, but I lost both opportunities =( So find the opportunity, and make sure to grasp it or put your foot on it so it doesn't escape.

Good luck in your search for opportunities!

P.S. This video summarizes one aspect of college life as a commuter! Breakfast in the morning...

Post by Worldstar Hip Hop.

That was just a joke! Is it already too late for an April Fools' joke? #collegehumor

Until next time =)