College life can be hard, overwhelming, and exhausting. There is a lot of things you must deal with. Things like:
Registering your classes
Making sure your tuition is paid
Buying your books and needed supplies
Attending and getting to class on time
Understanding your class assignments
Doing homework
Studying for test
Club meetings and sports activities (if you are involved)
What some people might not understand is that this is only half of what a student must deal with. What about the everyday things in your personal life? The things you were doing before you went to college. Things like:
Your job
Your bills
Your automobile and the upkeep
Your household chores
Your family
Your health (mentally and physically)
Between school and your personal life, it can be a challenge to keep up with everything. What are you to do when it becomes too much to handle? You could just give up and quit school as an easy way out, but why? You decided to go to college for a reason. You just need to get organized and plan things as best you can. Things are going to happen that are beyond your control but do not panic. I have some tips and advice to share with you that I have done while in college.
First, do not call it quits. Life happens. Consider this a test as to what can and will happen once you graduate. Now for my tips:
Make a list of everything you must do for a
month. (classes, work, homework, bills, chores, errands, and family time)
Pick a different color for each item. (I use gel
pens and sticky notes) If you see things in a certain color, you will be able
to distinguish one item from another.
Next, make a weekly planner using the colors.
Don’t forget to include those major projects or papers that can take more than a
week to accomplish.
Set a reasonable time to accomplish each item.
When you have finished a task, mark it off.
When something unexpected happens; like you get
sick, your car breaks down, or you have a family emergency; stay in contact
with your professors to catch up on anything you miss. They are here to help
you not to see you fail.
Make sure you get enough sleep and eat right to
stay mentally and physically healthy.
Take two to three hours a week for fun or to
just relax. Overwhelming yourself can put added stress on you.
Stay in a positive mood. You can do this by
surrounding yourself with positive thinking and acting people.
Try to avoid any negative behavior while
achieving your goals. Negative attitudes can bring added stress you do not need.
These tips will help you get
started in organizing your life and school. Life does go on and things happen
that are not expected, just remember the reason you decided to go to college.
Some days will seem harder than others but remember you are not going to be in
school forever. The lessons you learn today will help you achieve your goals
and a lot more, later in life.
What is a climate activist? Who is Gretta Thumberg? Why have “#ClimateStrike” and “#FridaysForFuture” become trending hashtags/topics worldwide? Although these terms are almost unheard of in Texarkana, they continue to take the world by storm as society begins to acknowledge the clock is ticking on our planet earth.
Gretta Thumberg is a 16-year-old climate activist who influenced the Fridays For Future movement. Climate and environmental activist are just what they sound like; people who are protesting to make changes in an effort to protect our planet and slow down the irreversible effects of climate change. Thumberg began a climate strike in August 2018, skipping school on Fridays to protest outside of the Swedish Parliament, holding signs and passing out flyers. Thumberg quickly caught the attention of local media outlets which helped spread the movement, these strikes have now spread to almost 150 countries. September 20th-27th was Global Climate Strike Week, where protests occurred worldwide leading up to the United Nations Climate Action Summit.
The U.N. Summit happened on September 23rd with an estimated 7.6 million people protesting throughout the week in an effort to show a demand for change. Thumberg delivered a powerful speech, scolding the world leaders for the way they’ve prepped planet earth for her generation. The U.N. supported the protests, hoping it would encourage countries to come with solid plans for major changes in the near future. However, many were left disappointed as some countries, including the United States: one of the worst perpetrators of emissions, did not attend the summit. Others attended with weak plans that would barely keep the temperature survivable for long.
The U.N. Summit concluded with both hope and fear. Key messages from the SDG Summit read: “…it is clear that the world is not on track to meet the SDG’s by 2030. The future is now, and the Earth’s systems are changing quickly.” However, the great outcry for change across the globe shows there is hope for a climate revolution, which has become necessary for survival of our younger generations. Young leaders like Thumberg need to stay strong in their battle as they continue to inspire and inform others about our struggling planet.
Watching hockey can be confusing for people who are new fans; with rules, regulations, and terminology that are intimidating to learn, it can seem like it is in a whole new language. Hockey is continually growing with a new National Hockey League (NHL) team joining the league in Seattle in the 2020-2021 season and more recently the Vegas Golden Knights playing their first season in 2017-2018. With continual growth, it’s better to go ahead and get a head start on learning the rules now.
Let’s start with some terms that may be confusing to new viewers.
Icing
If you’re a beginner, icing is one of the more confusing hockey terms, but it’s easy to understand once you’ve got some general knowledge.
You can’t shoot the puck from your end of the ice to the other end in hockey. This is called “icing.” You’re in the clear when your player first touches the puck when it reaches the other end but if it is touched by the other team, it returns to your end for a face off.
Offside
In hockey, you cannot stay in the area of the opponent waiting for the puck. If you do this, you’ll get called offsides by the referee. You are also offsides when you cross the opponent’s blue line before the puck crosses the same line.
Pulling The Goalie
Sometimes, teams decide to pull their goalie if they are losing at the end of a game. You’ll also see teams pulling their goalie when the penalty is delayed.
Only six players can be on the ice at one time from each team, but there is no rule dictating what position they must be filling.
Once the goalie leaves, they will be replaced by an offensive player. At this time, the team is actually playing 6 on 5.
Now that you have a basic understanding of some of the rules, let’s look at who the players on the ice are.
The Goaltender
Firstly and arguably most importantly, we have the goaltender, also known as the “goalie”. The goalie in hockey plays the same role a goalie plays in any other sport; keep the other team from scoring.
It sounds simple enough but a lot of the time, the only thing goalies can rely on are their hand-eye coordination or their instinct.
Two Defensemen
The role of the defensemen can be a bit more diverse than that of the other positions. There are essentially three different roles the defensemen can play: classic, offensive (it sounds contradictory, I know), and a hybrid version.
The classic defensemen’s role is to stop players from the opposing team from scoring and to create some aggression and intimidation on the ice; they rarely take any shots to the net and their first priority is to defend.
The offensive defensemen is someone who will act as an extra forward. They will handle the puck from their end of the ice and create scoring opportunities and even take shots on goal themselves.
The hybrid version is just that, a mix of the traditional style of play with the style of the offensive defensemen. They don’t shy away from big hits but are also there to help put points on the board.
The Right and Left Wings
The right and left wings are both considered skill positions and they are the positions that cover the right and left sides of the ice, respectively. They are usually fast and are responsible for generating most of the goals.
The Center
The center is the player who is responsible for creating scoring opportunities for their team. They are usually players who can read the game well and are able to steer the game in the direction they wish to take it; much like a quarterback of sorts.
Although these are just some of the basics involving hockey, you now have a general understanding of what is going on and that means you’re one step closer to enjoying this great sport without having to ask too many questions.
For a more in-depth look at hockey rules click here.
Do you remember what you would imagine for your life in your 20s? You would be a cool cat with a real job. Maybe you were a server on skates at Sonic or traveling Europe in your dreams. Who really didn’t want a job in which you could roller skate all day? Maybe those were just my dreams. The real question is, “Are you living your dreams?”
Give yourself a second and think to yourself what you truly pictured for yourself in your 20s. Now ask yourself why you haven’t accomplished the goals. It’s understandable that maybe costs are too tight, or the dream may seem extreme and scary at this point.
Spring 2019 I walked the halls of A&M Texarkana when a TV screen suddenly caught my attention. It read something along the lines of “Study abroad in Paris.” In that moment all of my daydreaming of being like Rory from Gilmore Girls flashed before my eyes. I made a choice in that moment to do whatever it took to spend time in Europe all by myself. I picked up a couple of extra shifts and I went for it. In the blink of an eye I was living out my Lizzy McGuire moment in Paris, France for four weeks.
Here are some tips and tricks I learned over the few months before my lone excursion across the pond:
Accountability partners are everything. Once you let someone, or a few people, of your dreams and goals you will feel more responsibility to accomplish it.
Organization is key. Trust me, I am not a professional organizer by any means, but I do know how to write out a checklist. Give yourself some deadlines and do them.
No excuses. The morning of my flight, I experienced a heavy anxiety. I felt like I couldn’t actually be capable of traveling the world by myself, but I did it anyway. I pushed through my fears and conquered them. Remind yourself, “I can do it.”
You are the only one capable of fulfilling your dreams. Go out and live them.
Whether you’re a die-hard fan of all things creepy, or you’re just looking to get in a spooky mood, many of us like to scare ourselves silly around Halloween. Some of us visit haunted mazes and trails, some attend or throw parties, some read ghost stories, but one of the most common (and one of my favorite) Halloween festivities is the increased consumption of horror films. Even those who might not normally like scary movies tend to indulge in the spirit of the season. Whether you prefer to be scared in person, or from the comfort of your couch, the Tiger Theatre Company is bringing the best of both worlds to Texarkana this weekend, as they open their production of Night of the Living Dead, LIVE!
A still from Romero’s Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Night of the Living Dead, LIVE! is a theatrical stage production based on George A. Romero’s classic 1968 film.The original plot follows a group of strangers who barricade themselves in a house in hopes of surviving a zombie outbreak. This film was significant in that it began a total reinvention of the horror genre. It also served as the birth of the modern zombie film, which continues to be wildly popular today, even five decades later. It was also significant in that it was highly controversial, since it featured an African-American hero and realistic sequences of gore and violence. Going into this, it is extremely important to understand that this is not a strict, line-for-line, shot-for-shot adaptation, it is a humorous re-imagining and celebration of the original film.
On their website, Samuel French says that, “The play lovingly examines the movie itself, the period in which it was made, and the film’s undying influence on the horror genre.” Although it keeps most of the basic plot elements, there are differences. According to director Melissa Newton, rather than sticking to the film’s original ending, this version has multiple endings in which each character faces different difficulties while trying to make it through the night. This allows the audience to examine these various endings from multiple viewpoints, “through the lens of the 1960s”, as Newton put it. As in the film, all of the characters seem to be at odds with one another, which begs the question: will they kill each other before the zombies get the chance? Plot differences aside, Newton assures that the spirit of the original film is still very much intact. “People keep asking me if the play is scary,” she said, “It depends – if the original film scares you, then this will be very scary.” For those who are looking for a fright, do not fret! Newton says that there are definitely moments that will make audiences jump.
When asked why she chose this production, Newton began by explaining that the first production she directed at Texas High was Dracula. The THS Theatre Department’s technical director, Trent Hanna, enjoyed that production so much that he came to Newton in the spring and asked if they could do another “scary” show, since Dracula was so much fun. “Between the two of us, we must have read [every] version of Night of the Living Dead and none of them had the right feel,” Newton continued. As she was planning a trip to London, she noticed that a new version, titled Night of the Living Dead, LIVE!, was running on the West End. “Immediately, I ordered the script and read it,” she said, “It was perfect”. They particularly liked this version because it contained deeper social commentary, and it was very humorous. Newton says that this is more than just a “horror show”, and she cannot wait to share it with everyone.
The rehearsal process for this show has been quite intense. The cast consists of 38 actors, all Texas High School students. The production also boasts an impressive crew of seventeen. Both cast and crew went through rigorous training in stage combat, and the actors portraying zombies have put countless hours into perfecting their “zombie identities”. The company began by rehearsing three to four days a week, focusing on blocking and character development. Rehearsals became more frequent (and intense) as opening night drew closer and, by October, the cast and crew had begun running scenes with the zombies and technical elements. Due to the heavy use of technical elements in the show, they have also had several all-day tech rehearsals in order to get things running smoothly.
Although they work extremely hard, the cast and crew have fun as well. THS Junior Darby Robertson (who plays the role of Judy) shared a humorous moment between she and Connor Powell, the actor playing her love interest (Tom). While rehearsing a passionate kiss between the two characters, Powell accidentally collided with Robertson, busting her lip. “It is definitely something I will never forget,” she said, adding that the incident will “haunt Connor for the rest of his time in this theatre company.”
THS Senior Alex Cope, who is the chief of the lighting crew, said that he has greatly enjoyed doing tech for this show. Cope said, “My favorite thing about the show is, of course, the lights.” He particularly loves the way the lighting design makes the play “come to life”. According to Cope, when it comes to the rehearsal process, “seeing everyone grow in their scenes and become so invested is probably one of the best things. I’m definitely going to miss this.” One of the director’s favorite moments is a scene she refers to as the “sacrifice scene”. Newton chose not to elaborate on this moment, saying that she would leave it at that, in order to avoid “giving too much away.”
Although every production of any play is special for multiple reasons, what makes this show unique is that it has a peculiar color scheme… The set, costumes, and even the actors will be in full grayscale, as is the tradition with this play. This is meant to evoke the spirit of the black-and-white 35 millimeter film on which the original movie was shot. Special rehearsals were called in order to train the actors and crew members so their makeup would be just right. It will be interesting to see how they play with this effect. When asked about other special effects used in the show, Newton refused to divulge any further secrets. “You will have to be in the audience to see it,” she said.
Performances of Night of the Living Dead, LIVE! will be:
Friday, October 25 – 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 26 – 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 27 – 2:00 p.m.
Tickets will be available both online or at the door.
For questions or more information, contact Melissa Newton, or call 903-794-3891 (ext. 2408). For updates on this show and future shows, you can find the Tiger Theatre Company on Facebook, or follow them on Instagram.
Can YOU survive a night of the living dead?
The Tiger Theatre Company is making a point to stress that this production has a PG-13 rating, as it contains violence that may not be suitable for children. Parents should use caution and plan accordingly.
The National Society of Leadership & Success (NSLS) has officially paved its way into a new semester to do what they have never done before at Texas A&M University-Texarkana.
The first event that new members went to was Orientation. This semester, Orientation dates were October 3rd & 7th. During Orientation, students learned the steps of the leadership development program and the schedule of events for the semester. On October 3rd, new members eager to discover their inner leader came to their first event of the semester. At the beginning of the night they were shy, but the time they left, they were ready to discover their wildest dreams.
The next event on campus was Leadership Training Day, on October 10th or 17th, where student members attended an interactive video training session to identify their goals and overcome obstacles. This introspective seminar helped members identify their true passions and strengths while creating action steps to achieve their goals.
Darrylynn Dean is the new Society Events Chair for NSLS. Ms. Dean plans to help people reach their full potential by hosting events for all chapter members. On November 12th, Dean plans to host a formal event where members can interact and grow into their leadership qualities. She will invite a guest speaker to talk about “The Mindset of Growth”. “I feel like it was one of my callings to influence people. I want to help people discover themselves. I am really passionate about it”, Dean said.
As I finish up my junior year here at Texas A&M University- Texarkana I have been counting down the days until my ring ceremony where I will receive my own class ring. While counting down the days I have also been finishing finals… i.e.: this blog post. As I sat to write about something, anything, I couldn’t stop thinking about class rings and how differently our small campus celebrates the tradition vs. the TAMU- College Station campus. I decided to investigate TAMUT traditions and why the campuses celebrate so differently.
My grandfather, both my parents, and all three of my older siblings graduated from TAMU. When my parents attended TAMU, class of ’84 and ’85, class rings weren’t a big deal but they ordered them anyways. Proof they attended “the best university in the world.” By the time my older siblings ordered their ring, class of ’11, ’15, and ’16, Aggie Ring Day had become a weekend long event with family reunions and parties. However, TAMUT holds a small ring ceremony the day before graduation with little to no celebration outside of the ceremony. What’s different from TAMU and TAMUT class rings, why does one student body seem to value and celebrate their class ring so much more than the other?
Quickly after I began my research, I found my answer. TAMUT doesn’t value the class ring any less, but it is such a small and young campus it hasn’t had time to form traditions around the milestone. We have a little over 2,000 undergrads and only 60-80 rings are purchased per year at our small campus. However, TAMU has over 53,000 undergrads and about 94% of those students order a class ring (Whitlock, 2018).
While I was investigating ring traditions I saw a quote from the executive director of alumni relations at Texas A&M University- Corpus Christi, Russel Wagon, regarding class rings; “of course it symbolizes achievement in education, but it means a little something different to everyone” (Whitlock, 2018). I was stunned at this comment for a second, how could a class ring mean something other than when and where you graduated? Then, another second went by and I completely understood. For as long as I can remember I’ve looked at my parent’s hands and seen an antiqued gold ring on their right hand; as I got older my siblings earned their identical rings one by one. I wanted one. Well, tomorrow, May 16th, I’ll get my own ring. Mine is a little different than my family members and there won’t be a weekend long celebration like there would be in College Station, but it doesn’t have any less value. In fact, mine will probably be prettier.
When you think about college one of the first things that comes to mind is freedom. Freedom to make your own decisions and do what you want to do. So it’s pretty safe to say that a curfew is not what most people think of when they consider college. However, a curfew is exactly what Bringle Lake Village residents got when a new policy started being enforced on the courtyard at the dorms.
As of September 9, 2019, an existing policy stating that the courtyard and volleyball court would close at 10:00 p.m. started being enforced For the past few years, the courtyard and volleyball court remained open 24 hours a day, so when the news of a curfew on the courtyard spread through the dorms, it seemed as though the world was ending for most residents.
One of the most common complaint from students is that “It wasn’t like this last year”. When asked about the sudden enforcement of the rules, Residence Life Coordinator Cali DiOrio – Saye said, “The rule has been there for years and no one has enforced it or made an effort to change it. We are just enforcing the rules.” Page eight of the Bringle Lake Village Housing Guide, on the school website, states “The courtyard and amenities are available for student use between the hours of 9 a.m.-10 p.m. daily in accordance with quiet hours. Please see the Pool Rules for other guidelines.”
The rule may seem like a nuisance for some residents, but the only way the rule is going to change is if they make an effort to change it. “Every student has a voice and every voice matters. A lot of our peers were disappointed in a decision that resulted in the closing of Bringle Lake Village’s Courtyard and its amenities by 10 p.m.,” said Student Government Association President Jarrell Lawrence. “Student Government Association and Residence Hall Association were created in order to have a direct line from student voices to the administration. It is vital that we remember times change and generations change. Every incoming class is different, and we believe that all decisions in our university should be made with the intent to enhance the student experience, while preparing us for the real world.”
Until students actively try to make a change, the rules are going to stay the way they have always been. If you want to make a change, contact a member of the Student Government Association or the Residence Hall Association and see what you can do to help.
Do you ever find yourself stuck while trying to write an essay or research paper for class?
Maybe you are trying to write a poem or a story and find yourself stumped? You could be
experiencing what is known as “writer’s block”. This term is usually associated with authors of fiction or non-fiction books, but it can happen to anyone.
Whether dumbfounded at the beginning, middle, or end of your paper, writer’s block is not a fun ordeal. You experience frustration and anxiety while trying to get through your assignment. Writer’s block happens to all of us at one time or another. As a writer and student, I have experienced writer’s block many times over the years of writing my stories and academic papers, and I have some tips on how I have overcome it.
To start with, keep writing. Even if it is a bunch of nonsense words, keep writing. You
can start by writing a list of the things you already know about the topic you will be writing
about.
Continue by asking yourself the 5 Ws and How questions. Your answers do not have to
be complete sentences, just write what comes to mind while asking yourself the questions. For example, you are writing a paper about Mark Twain, ask who is Mark Twain, what did he do, when did he begin writing? Where did he work? Why do we still read his works? Continue asking yourself as many questions as needed to get the information you need for your paper.
Once you have made your list, take what you wrote and make short sentences. When you
have written everything from your list, read it out loud. Does it make sense to you in the
direction you want to go? Keep in mind that you are not looking for correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, or complete sentences. You just want enough information you can apply to completed sentences and paragraphs.
When satisfied you have enough information about your topic, walk away. Yes,
walking away from your paper for thirty minutes to an hour will help your brain acquire more ideas to apply to your paper. This works for me and Owl Purdue Writing Lab suggests doing the same thing on their website.
Now that you have rested your brain, go back to your paper and reread what you wrote.
This is the time to make complete sentences and apply those sentences to paragraphs. After you have typed or written one page, stop. Reread what you have written. Add or delete any sentences that you need to that pertain to your topic.
By now you should have lots of ideas for your paper. Continue writing, rereading, and
adding sentences to your paper. Remember grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting comes last. You just want to get all your ideas on paper right now.
The last step is to put all your completed paragraphs in the correct format. Start with the
most important idea of your topic first then finish with the least important idea. Now you are ready to edit your paper for grammar, spelling, and punctuations. Before you know it, your paper is complete.
Does a two day trip to Oklahoma with over forty of Texas A&M Texarkana’s soccer players sound like a good time? There’s WiFi on the chartered bus. There are plug outlets every other row of seats. There’s even a bathroom in the back, a nice little closet with a toilet that does not flush located right behind the men’s team! If you’ve never been on one of these away-game-trips, buckle up. You’re on one now.
Walters carries the ball up the field against SCU. Photo by: Suzanna Summerlin
Madison Walters began her journey at TAMUT in August of 2016 at her first preseason training camp for the Women’s Soccer team. Since then, she’s grown as a student athlete and been named team captain. We’ll be following Walters on her last preseason away trip of her career to play against Southwestern Christian University and Oklahoma City University.
Rise and shine! It’s 5:30 A.M. and it’s time to get moving. Walters is on the chartered bus surrounded by her teammates by 6 A.M. Everyone quickly dozes off to sleep after the team prayer and the 6 hour drive began. “My whole body hurts,” Walters commented during the pit stop the bus took at the halfway point of the journey as she stretched her legs. The bus made a brief stop for lunch before heading to the field so the women’s team could begin to warm up.
After a 3-1 win against SCU, Walters was exhausted, playing the full 90 minutes. She changed into clean, dry, clothes and sat with her team to watch the TAMUT men’s team win 2-1 in overtime. The bus smelled of sweaty trash as both stinky teams piled onboard to head to the hotel. Walters was dead asleep by 10 P.M. after the teams ate a feast at Golden Corral.
The next morning the hotel lobby was packed with soccer players as they ate breakfast before loading the bus at 10:30 A.M. The teams were eager to play as they arrived to the OCU field around noon. Walters was frustrated after the women lost 2-1 in overtime. She led the team towards the locker rooms to shower off before watching the men’s team battle it out on the field.
Photo by: Suzanna Summerlin
After two frustrating loses against OCU, the bus loaded up with freshly showered athletes and began the 6 hour trek home. A hectic pit stop at Chick-fil-a was made for dinner– restaurants usually struggle to handle the soccer program and their large appetites. “I want to be home already,” Walters said as she opened up her laptop to begin a Kinesiology test; putting in earphones to drown out the noisey men’s team. The bus arrived safely to campus around 1 A.M. and the bus unloaded quietly as everyone headed their separate ways.
Just like that, Walters’ last preseason away trip was over. “Next week is going to be brutal,” Walters sighed as she looked over the soccer schedule. The women’s team has a week off from games before conference play starts and they’ll put in work until it’s time to load the bus again.
