Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful few days off. I am taking a winter class so it is back to work AND class for me today.  Has anyone made any resolutions for the New Year? I made a few. I am amazed at the motivation that comes with a New Year. For some reason my mind is programmed to think that the New Year brings new 24 hours. Oh well, I’m not mad. Hopefully that motivation will continue throughout the year.

Some of my resolutions include:

• ·         Exercising at least three times a week for an hour
• ·         Eating less sweets
• ·         Reading at least a half hour daily
• ·         Journal each night
• ·         Include more happiness in my life (less stress)

As a graduate student, my schedule can really limit my opportunity to complete some of these tasks but I need to make time for them. I think if I am able to do the first four I will in turn bring more happiness in my life. There are a couple other things that I’d like to do in 2014 that I wouldn't necessarily call a resolution but goals?

• ·         See somewhere new
• ·         Start a blog of my own (FINALLY)
• ·         Finish graduate school strong
• ·         Find a job

Share some of your New Year resolutions! I would love to hear them.

Enjoy the rest of your break J

Prospective Students

I've received a few emails from prospective Graduate Students and they told me they have visited my blog. How cool is that! I was really excited to hear that people read this thing! LOL Although, I feel as though a lot of my posts have been for current Graduate Students but those emails made me think I should do a few posts for prospective students.

I wonder what prospective students would like to know? I have been thinking and asking around and came up with a few things. There are different kinds of prospective Graduate Students. Students who are coming straight from undergrad and those who have been in the field for sometime. It might be a little confusing as to where to begin.

1.  I would suggest that if you are coming right out of your undergraduate career it would be most beneficial to begin speaking with the Graduate Coordinator in the department of your interest. Graduate Coordinators have a wealth of knowledge and have more insight on the policy and procedures of that specific major.

2. If you are returning to graduate school after taking some time off for various reasons I think it would be best to begin your application process and questions with the Office of Graduate Studies. The office has a great staff with general knowledge of each program and application process information. If you need more specific information in the future, the office could definitely connect you with the correct department.

3. As a Graduate Student, sometimes you want to hear from fellow Graduate Students. If that is the case I would definitely advise you to reach out to me or our recruiter, Jenna. We can both be reached in the Office of Graduate Studies and/or online through WCU's graduate social media networks. We are also available to give tours so you can get a better feel of the campus community. I think that no matter what stage of like you are in, a current Graduate Student would be a great contact to have at any institution.

4. Lastly, there is an Open House on Saturday October 19th from 10am-12pm in Sykes Student Union. There will be a representative from each department as well as the Office of Graduate Studies present. If you have ANY questions about the process or a specific program, that would be the best place to begin. All attendees will also receive an application fee waiver!

What other information would prospective students be interested in learning about?

GSA Landmark Social 9/27

Hello Graduate Students!
I have had such a busy weekend and Monday. The first social of the year this past Friday was a HUGE success! From what I observed, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. I will post some photos at the bottom. We had some amazing food, a DJ who had us on the dance floor, and a really awesome atmosphere.

The Graduate Student Association gave out 10 $10 gift cards for the first 10 attendees and GSA gift bags with goodies for the next 10 attendees. There was a total of 83 attendees! I think that is an amazing turnout and I am excited to see what the rest of the year holds.

Huge THANKS to everyone who came out and made the evening a special one.

Dancing 

Cha Cha Slide

Dj Kgz on the 1s and 2s! 

Photo of the venue with lovely guests 

Salsa!

More salsa dancing

Cupid Shuffle 

Some Graduate Students 

GSA President with his leading lady and frat brother

Lovely Graduate Students 

Collage of the yummy food! :)

 Stay tuned to hear about upcoming events for GSA!

The GSA board :)

Enjoy your day!
Danielle

Purpose

Top of the morning! :) LOL

How is your day going so far? I know it is only 9:11am but I believe some people have gotten a great deal done thus far. I'm going to utilize this blog to vent a little bit. After all it is about the life of a grad student correct? Okay!

So, I love my institution and I enjoy my classes a great deal but sometimes I get so bummed out because since graduate classes are mainly at night I end of missing a lot of events. I'm not sure if I mentioned it before but I am a photographer (sadly I've only been shooting in my spare time) and I mainly cover events. It could be baby showers, weddings, special interest events, shows, etc. and I've had to turn down a lot because of graduate school. Have you ever thought specifically about what you were put on this earth to do and did not have one answer for yourself? I have a few things that I can say that I love and they represent two very different sides of the spectrum. My love for helping/working with teens and my love for art are very different professions. I am in search of a profession that allows me to incorporate both but it is difficult to find. If anyone has any ideas please share :)

I know there are probably graduate students with children and far greater things than me shooting events but the point is we are all sacrificing a lot to advance ourselves as well as society in retrospect. We are also going into great deals of debt by doing so. They tell us it will be worth it. I believe it will be worth it and trust me it becomes much easier when you remember that it will be worth it.

I wonder if I am the only one in grad school yet still not 100% sure what to do with the rest of my life. It is a bit scary if you think about it. I'm just going to continue to do a little bit of everything until I find my something that is just for me. One of my great professors said "at this point in your life please always say yes when asked to do something. Unless it is unmoral you never know how something can advance you. It may not be in your job description and you may not enjoy it but you are trying to open as many doors for yourself as possible." Thanks Dr. Hodes, I think that is great advice! Plus, as long as I am happy with what I am doing I believe it will all work out.

This has been quite a different post today. Just thought I'd share a little bit of what is going on in my head.


LOVE LOVE LOVE this quote! Be happy and everything else will fall into place


 

On a lighter note, we still have a social tomorrow from 6-8pm at Landmark in WC. Hope to see you there! Shameless plug I know LOL



Take a moment to like Graduate Student Association of WCU on Facebook PRETTY PLEASE ;) 

LAD, Class, and Socials OH MY!

It’s hard to believe that fall break is just a few weeks away. Man I tell ya, this semester is flying by! How have your classes been going? My classes have been very interesting. This is my first semester in the field for credit and I am enjoying myself a great deal. I hope the semester is treating everyone well.

Recap of the first half of the semester:

Besides all of the non-school related, yet intellectually stimulating, things I have been doing (HAHA) I have been working with GSA a lot. Recently a law was passed that graduate student interest rate will now fluctuate depending on the economy. The interest rate for graduate student loans can go up as high as 9.5% whereas undergraduate student loans cannot surpass 8.25%. Well this is just not acceptable for graduate students. We already have loans from our undergraduate degree and a good portion of us have families and bills that need to be taken care of. So, an organization called the National Association for Graduate Professional Students (NAGPS) had an opportunity to represent and advocate for graduate students. The event is called LAD or Legislative Action Days. I went with the organization to Washington DC and spoke with representatives for Senator Casey and Toomey. My cohort and I spoke about the interest rate amendment as well as some other pressing graduate student issues that need to be addressed. It was an extremely nerve wrecking but awesome experience. Until this past year I did not know, nor cared to know, anything about politics. I felt that my voice did not matter and I shouldn’t waste my time because everyone is out for self. LAD helped me voice my concerns as a graduate student and feel comfortable doing so.

LAD Participants

After a Judicary meeting regarding immigration (excuse the quality)

PA State Flag

PA NAGPS representatives WCU, Carnegie Melon, and PITT

GSA President and myself outside of Senator Casey's office

 

If anyone is interested in participating in LAD please comment below and I will share more information. LAD happens twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. I recommend anyone interested in politics or simply learning more about the laws being passed concerning graduate students.

                Other than that my Practicum site has been amazing! I was able to return to the high school I graduated from and it is so interesting to be on “the other side”. We hosted a college fair for juniors and seniors last week which had a great turnout. I have also been meeting with students, learning about procedures, had a couple parent meetings, among other things. I have been learning a lot from my site and am anticipating the remainder of the semester.

 

The cake for the college representatives at the college fair

                One last thing before I go. THE FIRST GSA SOCIAL OF THE SEMESTER IS THIS FRIDAY!!!!! It will be at Landmark Americana in West Chester in the basement. The event is from 6pm-8pm and there will be a DJ as well as free food and non-alcoholic beverages (cash bar as well). The first 20 people get a DOORBUSTER!! BEAT ME THERE! It will be a great time and I will be sure to take plenty of photos to post later.

Happy Tuesday J  
-Danielle

Sharing some randoms since my last post

One year of graduate school is complete! I am now in my third week of my second year in graduate school. I must say it has been going quite fast. I can’t believe that it’s been two years since I graduated with my Bachelor’s Degree! I’m getting old ladies and gentlemen! LOL

Let’s do a quick recap as to what has been going on. I am taking 4 classes again this semester; one being my practicum course. Practicum is a pre internship where I must complete 100 hours in a school under the supervision of a counselor. My practicum is at my Alma Mater, Norristown Area High School in Norristown PA. I am working with a wonderful counselor who was actually my counselor when I was a NAHS student. It is great to be back at Norristown. I am able to see all the great things that have changed as well as those that have not. I cannot wait to learn and absorb from the site and my supervisor. This week I get to take my ID photo and become official! Haha! I will be sure to keep you posted on how the semester is going.  

This weekend I will be in D.C. speaking with senators and their representatives about the state of education. I will also be able to give my testimony on graduate school hardships. I have been asking students on the WCU Graduate Student Association Facebook page to get more information on their hardships. I want to be able to relay messages to these government officials. If you have anything you’d like to share please leave a comment below.

The blindfolds are from an exercise we did in class to help us "understand" what its like to have a vision impairment

This is the Philadelphia Multicampus University (WCU has a Philly campus for certain programs!)

A flick before the Graduate Student Orientation a few weeks back. Biggest turnout we've had in a while!

Long Time No Post: Chicago Edition

So second summer session is over! I hope it went well for everyone. As soon as second summer session ended I celebrated my 24^th birthday (WHOO HOO) and left for a leadership summit in Chicago for the Graduate Student Association.

The summit was awesome! I met a lot of great students who were representing their University by studying the fields they love. Most of the students were preparing to defend their dissertation and others were Masters Students like me. I was so inspired to see students my age obtaining their Doctorate. It made me think it wasn’t that farfetched. Have you thought about getting your Doctorate upon graduating from West Chester University? What types of programs are you looking into? I will keep everyone posted on the date but the Graduate Student Association will be hosting a program for students interested in a Doctoral Degree. I think it will be very beneficial because there are so many opportunities for students interested in continuing their education.

 

If anyone is interested in the summit host it was an organization NAGPS (National Association of Graduate- Professional Students). They will host their national conference in Michigan in November. I think it is a great opportunity to network and advocate for graduate students. If you are interested in attending the conference I urge you to check out their website for more information. The Graduate Student Association here at West Chester University awards students with up to $500 in conference reimbursement per year. I will link the site below. I will also share photos from the summit and Chicago sightseeing.

 

http://nagps.org/ 

 

Please enjoy the last few days of summer. Classes begin in 11 days! Time really does fly when you are having fun. See you all very soon!

Waterworks building in Chicago

Networking session with summit participants on the 96th floor of a building!



One of our many speakers for the summit

Giordano's Famous Deep Dish Pizza! Stuffed with peppers, onions, spinach, mushrooms, and cheese

During a presentation is showed where the government is spending their money (Only 2% is being used on education)





NBC Building

Some great students from the conference

Photo of the view on the 96th floor

Navy Pier sightseeing