Author Archives: Ta'Mar Coby

Best Week Ever at TAMUT

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The Office of Student Life, along with other organizations on campus, will host its annual Best Week Ever the week of August 27, 2018.

The assistant director of Student Life, Celeste McNeil, is already beginning the planning process. This week is a time for new and returning students to immerse themselves back into the college lifestyle before classes are in full swing.

The Best Week Ever will involve many of the organizations on campus. During this week, the students will have a plethora of events to choose to attend. In the past, there have been events such as trivia night, bingo, music, and entertainment.

As usual, the week will consist of the Spotlight on Texarkana. This event gives the 50+ organizations on campus an opportunity to market themselves to students. This event also hosts local businesses, such as banks, insurance companies, and restaurants to let everyone know about things to do in Texarkana.

Co-sponsored by the Campus Activities Board, the week promises to be exciting and engaging for students coming on campus. The Office of Student Life, with the help of the TAMUT family, will put on a lovely week of fun-filled experiences for new and returning students.

For more information about the Best Week Ever and how to get involved, contact Celeste McNeil at (903)-223-1351.

 

 

College Night Life in T-Town

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It’s 7 p.m. on Friday and you wonder, “What is there to do?” You text your friends and ask them if they want to go out and they agree. It’s now 7:30 p.m. and everyone is in the car ready for a night on the town. However, you guys sit in the car contemplating, “What is there to actually do in Texarkana?” Welcome to small-town college life.

Over the past 2 years, my friends and I have unfortunately discovered that Texarkana is not a college town. With the majority of restaurants closing by 11 p.m. and the town spanning two states, options seem limited. Texarkana seems like one of those retirement towns that is unfortunately placed 1 hour away from Shreveport and approximately 3 hours from DFW. So, what can you do? Welcome to a guide for college students in Texarkana.

Food. Texarkana has a lot of options for different foods. From nationwide businesses to local delicacies, you can find anything you want if you talk to the locals. If you’re looking for restaurants close to the campus that isn’t Sonic or Domino’s, you can try Bubble Tea or Mooyah. There are many options for food both fair priced and expensive. Check out the link to see the top 10 according to Trip Advisor.

Attractions. When it comes to attractions in Texarkana, options are limited. If you’re looking for something that is fun for you and a group of friends, bowling is always a wonderful fallback. There are two bowling alleys here in Texarkana: College Bowl and Holiday Bowl. If you’re on a typical broke college student budget, I suggest College Bowl. If you aren’t really into the bowling scene, there are two trampoline parks: G-Force and iJump. Trampoline parks can be pricey though since you typically pay per hour. There is also the Fun Country Park with attractions like an arcade and go-karts.

Shopping. There are many different opportunities for shopping in Texarkana. Whether it be local businesses or going to the mall, there are a number of options. It really depends on how much money you want to spend and how much you like shopping.

Texarkana has so much untapped potential. There are many hidden gems here that are waiting to be discovered by us. However, I wish you the best of luck in getting there before they close for the evening!

‘May’ We Support Our Troops

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Unbeknownst to many, May is Military Appreciation Month. We see all the videos on Facebook and YouTube of homecomings, but we forget one of the most important things, to support the ones around us.

Here at Texas A&M – Texarkana, we have plenty of veterans and active duty members on campus. One does not have to go to the Student Veterans Association meetings of the Veterans’ Service Office to know these individuals. One can tell from the manner in which they carry themselves, the way they speak and the attention that they pay to what they say.

These veterans and active members are just as active as many of the non-military students on campus. We see these service members in Student Government meetings, walking around campus, in the fitness center or just sitting on the couches in the lounges on campus. Just like those of us who do not serve, they have families and enjoy a night on the town. The question is, why don’t we ever sit down and say thank you?

Nearly three-fourths of women service members feel under-appreciated.  Many would argue that we send them boxes of supplies and we hold up signs and have bumper stickers on the back of our trucks that say, “We support our troops.” However, support is more than a poster or a bumper sticker.

The best way to show your service members that you support them is from your own actions. If you see someone in uniform, kind gestures are always a way of showing thanks. If you know a service member personally, sit down and talk to them. Ask them about their experiences and show them that you care. When votes are held that concern them, don’t sit at home idly. Go to the booth and show your support. Vote to prevent wars, make the difficult decisions that count. It’s the little things that can show them that we care. Appreciate our service members every day, not just this May.

Break Time? Decision Time.

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Spring Break is what you make of it. Whether it is spending time with family or going to the beach with friends, you enjoy it. Though most students coming into college think of the stereotypical Spring Break of beaches, alcohol, and partying, there are other options. Here are 5 steps on deciding what to do for Spring Break.

  1. Family or friends?
    This is the first decision you must make about your week-long vacation. What to consider: will I be able to spend time with my family? who are the friends I want to spend a week with, and how is this benefiting me? Students with family members that work in the public-school system may end up on Spring Break at the same time. However, if your parents are working, you may end up watching your siblings.
  2. Do you have the money?
    As a college student, money is tight most of the time. If you choose some type of trip for break, how are you going to pay for it? Do you have money saved and put aside for this? Will this put you behind for the rest of the semester? These are things to consider, whether with family or friends.
  3. Where do you want to go?
    Now that you have concluded that you have money to spare, where do you want to go? This depends on whom you are going with. If you are taking a Spring Break trip with friends, you will more than likely want to go to typical hot spots for college students like South Padre or Miami. On the other hand, if you are going on a trip with your family, it may be in your best interest to stay away from these hotspots and go to somewhere more family friendly.
  4. If pictures get out, would they impact your future?
    At this point, you have decided that you want to have as much fun as possible during Spring Break. Keep in mind, someone is always watching. In the case of going with friends, young adults are always using social media. If you have a friend that is constantly using platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram, get ready for your break to be advertised. Your actions speak louder than your words, so be careful in what you do. If you are with family, the same policy applies.
  5. Will you look back and be happy about your decision?
    This is by far the most important question. If you believe that the trip you are going on is a lifetime opportunity, do it! Enjoy it! If you think that it is something you can pass on and do later, the decision is up to you.

Remember, this is your Spring Break. Enjoy it!