So summer is coming up and that means more free time.  I will finally be able to hang with friends and not be thinking about what homework I have to do when I get back to my room.  It is a horrible feeling to know that you should be doing your homework and you’re not.  I am glad that summer is right around the corner and that spring is already here.   However,  I am not excited to look for a new job this summer.

The Mount offers summer jobs here on campus and through organizations in the community.  They pay well, give great hours and seem to be interesting to me.  I am looking at working at The Beach Water Park, Lifetime Fitness or at one of the many employers offering to hire a MSJ student for the summer.  I think that being undeclared this can help me get an idea of different things out there.

I really am excited as I have pretty much settled on a major and minor.  I think I will major in interactive multimedia design and computing and minor in biology and/ or Computer Information Systems.  It is always hard to choose a major and a minor.  It is even harder to choose what you want to do with the rest of your life.

My mother says time and time again “you can do almost anything with a 3.6 GPA Matthew”.  I agree that if you get the grades and get involved the possibilities are endless.  Endless I repeat.  The Mount has many majors to choose from, a big amount of minors to choose from and you can also do Pre-Med/ Pre-Law etc.  The Mount is a great place to look at in depth when doing your college search.

So I have decided that I need to eliminate clutter and the distractions around my room.  It is very hard living in a dorm room to not have distractions around you while you are doing your homework.  I have cut out most of my Facebook and Myspaeing.  I feel that it is distracting, non educational and it has all gotten to be too big of a deal.

You can’t get through college with a 3.6 GPA spending endless hours on these so called “social networking sites”.  I have to say they are fun and you keep in touch and up to date on everything.  That is a plus but that’s what a phone is for.  If I really care what is up with you and would have checked your Facebook and/ or Myspace, chances are you are in the “favorites” in my phone.

College is difficult.  Especially second semester of your freshman year it can be difficult.  You are used to an easy load of work and easy intro classes first semester.  You get into the nitty gritty stuff that is harder during your second semester.  Being as involved as I am you become over whelmed and need to figure out a way to overcome that feeling.

Cutting out these distractions is a good start, next maybe try asking for help.  If that doesn’t work use your planner and write EVERYTHING in it.  College is not like high school where you can get through it without your planner.  You need your planner and your syllabus to survive.  It is very hard to remember to check your planner and syllabus on a regular basis.  However, you must do so.

After cutting out these distractions I have found it easier to get by and get through the days and the long, late nights.  Also snacks help!  Gotta love pizza and Cheetos at 2am!!! MMMHMMM!!!

Till Next Time eat some pizza and Cheetos for me!

Matthew T.