Student Blog

How many of you knew out SCF’s reflection pond?

Its pretty out of the way, snuggled between two parking lots and the Neel Auditorium, and it is a place I think everybody should check out. I have a slightly annoying habit of setting my classes up so that there is at least one day a week where I am on campus all day. But it didn’t take me long to realize that this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing!

There are a lot of things to do on campus. For example, this semester my on campus day is a Wednesday. Did you know about the Farmer’s Market? I’ve mentioned it before, but I’d like to tell you about it in a little more detail. There are multiple booths set-up near the library and social studies buildings. They sell all sorts of thing! There’s a raw booth, a booth that sells snacks and meal replacements for anybody feeling adventurous and willing to try eating nothing but raw food (a very healthy choice, if one manages it properly!). There’s another one that sells Mediterranean food, and another that sells baked goods. You can even purchase naturally made body products and essential oils at one of the booths. Its a very nice experience.

For anybody stuck on campus around lunch time on a Wednesday, how about you try something new? Drop by one of the food booths, grab something to eat and head on over to the relfection pond. There are picnic tables and the wifi reaches out there. You can watch some of the geese that live on our campus and watch the snake birds and the ducks. You might even come across some ducklings.

Have you been out to the reflection pond? Or checked out the Farmer’s Market? Share your experience with us, our email is studentblog@scf.edu!

This morning as I walked into my ENC 1102 class, I overheard a fellow student talking about a play that he had just seen the night prior. He and the teacher were talking about it, and it sort of peaked my interest, so I chimed in. I asked what they were talking about, and they told me about a play that was very interesting. The name of the play is “Blithe Spirit” and it was apparently outstanding. I cannot say for sure, as I did not personally see it. (Heck.. I didn’t even know about it until today.) But, I cannot imagine it was anything less than amazing, coming from the Manatees. =]

Anyway, I did some research, and found out that it is still being performed, so if you would like to see it, it is still on from Thursday-Saturday (23-25) in the David S. and Anne V. Howard Studio Theatre, at the Bradenton Campus at 8pm. A matinee performance is  also scheduled at 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 19. Here is a brief description of the play:

Written by Noel Coward, “Blithe Spirit” is a comedy about a novelist who invites a medium to conduct a séance, which goes awry with hilarious results.

The SCF production is directed by Ken Erickson Jr., director of SCF’s Theatre Program. Cast members include SCF students William Fisher as Charles, Sally Fint as Ruth, Rebecca Moore as Madame Arcati, Rachel Xavier as Elvira, and Andrew Bins as Dr. Bradman. Madeline Heath and Hannah Zachowski will alternate in the roles of Mrs. Bradman and Edith, the maid.

For the general public, admission into the play is $10. For all of the Manatees interested, admission is $5 if you have your student I.D. Tickets are on sale now in the Neel Performing Arts Center box office, which is open from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. For more information, call 941-752-5252.

Shoot me an email and let me know what your thoughts are on this play! studentblog@scf.edu

Towards the end of my PreCalc class today, as I was leaving the room my teacher said not to forget to study, because our midterms will be soon. WHAT!?! It’s crazy to be hearing that.. To think that the semester is almost half way over already is just incredible. What throws me off, is the fact that my first class is English, and we don’t have exams in English. (What are you going to show that you haven’t already shown during the class with your writing?) It creates this illusion that the class just started. It’s amazing to think that time is flying by at this pace.

My point of this, is yes I have been studying a bit, for the normal homework and stuff, but I haven’t been studying for the exam, because it seems like we just had one. My studying tactics are different for typical class studying, and exams, so I’ve started my “2 Minute Drill” for studying.

To start with, I go back into the text book to refresh my memory on certain items that I remember struggling with beforehand. This is great because if I find that I still have questions about the material, I’m not pressured by the clock (as much) as I would be if the exam was 3 days away. Some friends of mine say it’s a bit on the extreme side, but I feel that it’s necessary in order to pull off those good grades!

Another thing I do to study for exams, is test myself on the material. A lot of the time I will not only do the homework assigned, I will do extra homework just for the practice. It really doesn’t take that much extra time, because if you’re going to be doing homework anyway, what’s the difference of 15-20 mins? If my teacher assigns odd problems for instance, I will do ALL of the problems, just for the extra practice.

What are your methods for exam reviews? Do you cram? Do you listen to your class lectures? Just wing it? I’d love to have some more ideas that could potentially help me with my exams, so your input is appreciated. studentblog@scf.edu

This morning I woke up to an email in my inbox. It was from the school, and it brought exciting news. Apparently, just released is an app for both the iPhone lovers, and the Android junkies too. It’s called SCFmobile.

Once I opened up the App Store on my iPhone, I looked it up and downloaded it. I can honestly tell you that it does indeed make life a LOT easier.

You know those times where you are anxiously awaiting your grade to be posted on ANGEL, and you try and get your grade from your phone? This app is great because it has an interface, that takes you straight to SCFconnect with literally one tap! From there just sign in and proceed to ANGEL just like you are on the good old desktop. It really makes it easy to check your grades, send email to your professors, or just keep tabs on things around the school.

There are also other icons I find useful. They include a staff directory button, where you can simply search for your professor and make a call or email to them without the hassle of getting to a desktop to do the same deed. It’s great how now the functionality of the SCF website has just grown.

Other great features of this new app include Courses, Maps, News, Videos, Images, an Emergency Contact for the school, and even access to the SCF Library. This app is amazingly useful to me, and I already find it hard to believe I was able to function without it.

Seriously though, cliches aside, this is a great app. Plus, at the stunningly low cost of FREE, you can’t beat it for what it is. Who knows, maybe with time they will even include a SCF Blog button!

I know that I find this app to be very useful, and I’ve only just heard about and downloaded it. I know once you give it a try, it will be on the main screen of your phone, as it is on mine. Let me know how much you love this app! studentblog@scf.edu

Last evening I had both my Intro to Chemistry class, and my Chemistry lab. In my lecture class, we received our exams back, and I was ashamed to see that I only got a “B” on the exam. I had studied and was very confident that I would get an “A,” almost to the point of being cocky about it! I guess there is a lesson to be learned in there somewhere.. Maybe it’s something like: “Don’t let your guard down on a test, or you will make silly mistakes and get a lower grade than you thought you would..” or something along those lines. Personally, it felt like I failed it anyway, because when I go for an “A” anything less is not meeting my goal, and that means I failed. Luckily, this was only the first exam, and I have several more to go. We are learning about orbitals, and electromagnetics and whatnot in chemistry right now, and to be honest it seems to be a lot going on in a short amount of time. I think I’ve got my head wrapped around the concept of it, but it’s still not an easy task. It’s funny how in chemistry there is ALWAYS an exception to the rule, whatever that rule may be. It’s also amazing that throughout the years, people have been able to slowly piece together what we now learn in a matter of 16 weeks. To me it is just mind-blowing.

Following the lecture, I had lab. It was a “wet lab” in which live chemicals are present and proper safety procedures need to be followed. (Lab coat, closed shoes, goggles, etc..) It was interesting, because the lab experiment was on chemical reactions. Seeing what each chemical did when mixed with another chemical, and seeing any byproduct or gas that was formed. Totally radical! I had fun, but was glad to get the class over with! My day starts very early, and with the class ending at 9:50, with a long drive home and dinner/homework to do, I don’t get to bed until late. But I guess that’s what being a college student is all about right? I’m not complaining, I actually enjoy being busy. Next semester though, I think I will go with fewer classes, just to be on the safe side.

What is/was your favorite experiment in Chemistry? I would like to know, as I plan on staying in chemistry for quite a long time, and would like to know what I have to look forward to! Send me an email at studentblog@scf.edu.

Hey everyone. Hope you are enjoying your week so far. Mine has been hectic, but rewarding as well. Today I just weighed in, and am happy to report that I have lost 9lbs in two weeks!

In my ENC 1102 class, we have been reading short stories, and basically summarizing them up and discussing them in class. Last week, was a very interesting short story called “Trifles” by Susan Glaspell, and I found it to be an attention grabber! If you haven’t read it, basically it’s a murder/mystery short story that almost forces you to read it through in one sitting. It’s that interesting! I don’t want to spoil it, so I won’t get into any more details about it. The last couple of days of last week, and the first couple of this week, we moved on to a story called “The Shabbat.” It takes place during World War 2, and is sort of a comic type of story rather than a typical book. It told story about a girl in the war, and had a few instances where I found myself biting my nails out of anxiety, wanting to know what happened. It’s also a very interesting read.

What we are reading now, is a story called “The Jewelry” and I think this one is rather dull.   Basically it takes place in France back in the mid-late 1800′s, and is about a man and his wife, who loves fake jewelry. There is a bit of drama, where his wife dies, and he goes to sell the fake jewelry because he is short of funds, and finds out that the jewelry isn’t fake after all.. That part is pretty interesting, but overall the story to me is a bit on the dull side. This could be in part, to my taste in books and what I find interesting.

The point of this blog, was to give a little insight on what I am currently doing in my English class. Thinking about what stories I find interesting, or dull, or just plain bad, makes me wonder how other people feel. Have you ever read these stories? What is your take on them? Do you enjoy them? What style of book do you enjoy reading? These are all things I would love to know, so feel free to email me and talk about it! studentblog@scf.edu.

I cannot believe this. I feel like the semester started but a couple of weeks ago, only to end my American History class with the announcement that in two weeks, we’re taking our Midterm! How did it get to be midterm time already? I suppose that this means its time to crack down on the studying. Thats the thing about history classes, there’s just so much to remember.

Meanwhile, I’ve been enjoying my Wednesdays on campus all day. This past Monday I made the awesome discovery that the Smoothie King in the library now sells hummus with pretzel chips. For those of you who are unsure of what this is, hummus is a dip/spread made of chickpeas and other vegetables. They have classic hummus, hummus with chili peppers, and hummus with garlic. There’s actually more than enough in the package, too! This pulled me through to lunch today, and I was glad to spread my leftovers on a sandwich. I thought that was pretty cool. Another cool thing is the Wednesday markets. Today, I tried some of the food sold at these booths, and it was really good! Home-made, affordable, and delicious. Just the way I like my food, haha.

Do you guys eat on campus very often? There are a lot of options available, right at your fingertips! There are also a lot of restaurants surrounding the school, many of them within walking distance. Do you have any suggestions or favorite places to visit? Share them with us in an email to studentblog@scf.edu!

We all know how expensive those school books can be. What’s worse is that they’re mandatory! We cannot pass the class without the expensive book to study from.

Luckily, I have come up with some tips to save cash by being smart at The SCF Store (bookstore)!

1.)  Buy a used book! A lot of people tend to pass right by the “Used Book” Section, and go to the brand new ones. Some student’s aren’t familiar with The SCF Store’s buy back program. This is excellent for students all the way around! When you are finished with your book and you no longer need it, you can sell it and make some of the money you purchased it with back! It’s like recycling, only you end up with money in your pocket! The SCF Store can then turnaround and sell your book as “used” for a more affordable price next semester. To me, this seems to be the intelligent thing to do. It saves trees, saves money, saves resources, and you are getting the same information that you would have from a brand new book.

2.)  If buying and selling isn’t your thing, rent your books! The SCF Store has just recently started renting, and I think it’s a great idea. As of right now, they have 5 titles that can be rented, and of course as time goes on they will have more options to choose from. This is a great alternative to buying and selling books, because all you have to do is check it in when you are completed with your class. You don’t have to worry about selling your book to the school, or other students.

3.)  Yet another less expensive option to keep in mind for those of you who like to read books using an iPad, Kindle, Nook, etc. is to look for your required text in ebook format.  You can find that information by visiting The SCF Store or by looking online at The SCF Store Ordering Center.   

To be honest, utilizing The SCF Store is the most efficient option you have. Only at The SCF Store can you use your Financial Aid to pay for your books, whether you buy, sell, or rent them. All you need to do is bring your ID, and they do the rest. You don’t need to bring in any cash, or do any extra paperwork.

Hopefully you’ve taken some notes, and learned a thing or two about book saving. It’s important that you make each dollar count, and books are where a lot of dollars are spent. Now you can be ahead of the game, getting the same books and learning materials for a lot less!

Do you have other strategies for saving on school books? I’d like to know! Share your strategies with me at studentblog@scf.edu.

Well, today is definitely a great day! To start with, it’s Friday! Who isn’t happy about a Friday? The weather is fabulous, and the weekend is almost here. What makes this Friday extra special for me however, is the great news about my SCF One Card. Today I got a refund back. I’m so excited!!

It made me think.. Hmm.. I wonder how many students utilize their SCF OneCard? At first, I was kind of confused about it, but after my student advisor explained it to me, I was set. If a student has excess money or is entitled to a refund, the money will go to their SCF OneCard.  This is my second semester at the school, so I’m still somewhat of a rookie to “the system.” It’s such a cool feature that they have given us, and it doesn’t seem like many people even know it exists!  It’s a great feature, and I am very happy they have given us the opportunity to take advantage of it.

There’s a lot you can do with it. You can withdraw money from an ATM, deposit into your savings account, or leave it in your account and use for books and supplies next semester. The options are pretty much limitless.

Sorry for such a rant! But what can I say? I’m excited! This week has been stressful for me, with tests, studying, work, and typical drama we all go through. I’m just tickled that it’s ending in such a positive way.

How do you use your SCF OneCard? You know the drill.  

Send me an email at studentblog@scf.edu.

Howdy everyone!

Hope you are well. I know this week has been a bit stressful for me personally, I had a math test to take on Wednesday, and to be honest I was worried. I studied, but still didn’t feel very confident I would do well. Luckily, the test wasn’t as bad as I had expected, (Don’t tell my professor!!) and I think I did well. Time will soon tell.

Anyway.. Just a friendly reminder, in the student planners it says Friday there won’t be classes unless they are after 4 p.m. and I wanted to let you all know that this is false information. They moved the date back to March 2nd, so this Friday there ARE CLASSES!! Don’t be fooled by your planner. It was printed during the summer, and they changed the date post summer -(Obviously..LOL.)- so the date in it is incorrect. Be sure to mark March 2nd as the new date!

Hope you have a great week! Go Manatees!

studentblog@scf.edu