Finals!

Mmmm the smell of coffee, the sound of the library coming alive, the sight of everyone freaking out because tests are upon, and the feeling of insurmountable work ahead of you.

Finals. Aren't they great?

Well I usually make a blog post about this time, because it is that time of year that everyone loves! And by loves I mean deals with, but personally finals make me feel like an accomplished individual. You see for semesters at a time we delve into a subject in an attempt to master it, and in all honesty I appreciate every bit of it. Knowing that I have been a good student is a pretty fabulous feeling if I do say so myself. The hardest part is making sure you keep your chin up and allow time for relaxation and sanity.

So my advice to you during finals week is to only look down whenever you're looking for a four leaf clover and if you do find that lucky clover, hopefully it will help you along your journey as a student.

Signing off,

Kyle Schnebelen

Bears on a roll and homecoming is close!

So as you may know our UCA football team is a force to be reckoned with. We are currently ranked 8th in our conference, with many forecasted wins for the season. This previous week we won on the road against Northwestern State with a 34-0 shutout. The home game this week is against the number 20 ranked Stephen F. Austin University, a team that has been putting up some impressive numbers these last few weeks. Then after that is homecoming week, with plans for a float competition, a student bonfire, obviously the homecoming queen coronation, as well as the homecoming tailgate and football game. All the more reasons to be a student of the ever so awesome University of Central Arkansas.

One intriguing tradition I have personally been a part of for the previous two years is TagUCA, a tradition that allows for students to cover the sidewalks of UCA in chalk, in a design reflecting the homecoming theme. This year I will be helping with two pieces of art, one for my fraternity and the other for the yearbook, and I am equally excited about both. It's always a cool thing to be a part of, and I just enjoy showing them off to people, one of my many talents that I've learned while being here at UCA.

And I'll leave you with an inspirational quote:

"Be the change you wish to see in the world"

Yearbook!

So I am heavily involved in the Yearbook at UCA, and let me tell you it is an awesome experience. If you're involved with your high schools yearbook, you should know that here at UCA we have a paid staff. That's right I said PAID STAFF! So not only do you get to do the things you love while gaining important real world experience, but you also get paid for it.

Through this I've had the experience to interview some very important people at UCA including my newest project: Dr. Allen Meadors, the President of the University of Central Arkansas. All of these experiences have led to my greater understanding of the real world, and the best ways to make connections and be successful after college.

So the lesson of the week is....? Become involved in any sort of extracirricular activity, I've stressed it over and over again, but I never did yearbook until college and it truly has helped me become a more confident and better person.

Signing off,

Kyle Schnebelen

P.S. Manure is like potential, if you waste it, it's just a bag of poo.

Woo School is here!

Welcome to the school year everyone! Yes it's been a while since I've updated this, and honestly a lot has changed in the past few months. I had an internship in the spring that was a fantastic experience with a wonderful company, but needless to say Financial Planning is not my calling.

So currently I am a server at TGI Fridays, and the soon to be (possibly) Associate Editor of the Yearbook for 2009-2010. I have been busy as ever, and love every minute of it. I still have a huge responsibility in my fraternity and wouldn't have it any other way.

So this will be short and sweet, but my advice for the day is to never take time for you in your busy life. No that doesn't mean play video games all day and abuse your responsibilities, but relax, do the things you enjoy, and genuinely try not to fly through every minute of life. Now only if I can take apiece of my own advice right?

Signing off,

Kyle Schnebleen

Smoking Ban!

So in this week's Echo, the school newspaper here at UCA, a new ban was announced that will affect the UCA student body in the Fall of 2010. This directly affects all of you, you prospective students. There will be no more smoking on the UCA main campus, with fines of up to $500 being enforced if caught. Now there are a few problems with this in my mind: 1) It was decided at a level above the student body. Not many students will know about this, so they did not have the proper channel to voice their opinion. 2) Without proper notification of students, many will be unfairly fined and caused even more financial hardships than they already can afford being a college student. 3) If there is not a policy for standards with the smoking ban, this is simply another reason for students not to attend UCA. Now by saying this, do not take me to be the avid beat neck, ciggarette smoking stereotype (no offense to those of you that are, to each his own) instead I simply enjoy fairness across all levels. I hope that the students will actually be given a vote on this in the future, instead of simply forcing it upon them all at once.

There are positive sides to this ban though, and the first few that come to mind are: 1) This allows students the opportunity to stand up for their American rights and protest something they stand strongly for. 2) There are already debates on the subject scheduled for campus, and this is a great way to advocate being knowledgeable about the subject. It will also help the students understand how much it will affect them. 3) If and when it actually occurs, it will genuinely make the campus a prettier place assuming we are in a perfect world.

However I do not think we live in a perfect world, and the arrogant, backlashing smokers will still continue to smoke on campus and litter their ciggarette butts all over UCA. (Once again not bashing all smokers, just those that choose to litter on our campus)

So I leave you with this my prospective students: what do you feel on the subject, and how would you choose to fight against the man if you feel strongly about keeping our lungs black and our hearts red? If you are the other side and wish to keep UCA beautiful and stop all smoking on campus, how would you go about influencing others to feel the same way you do?



So

Crunch time!

Every semester there is that special time of year whenever your grades become of the utmost importance.  Although it should be every minute of the semester for us all, lets be serious folks, it just doesn't happen like that.  It's very easy to get caught up with work, organizations, and social activities around campus, and then you lose sight of your academic progress.  Well right about now at UCA it is crunch time, where grades matter the most and not a lot else will get in your way when it comes to what you do with your time.  

My advice to you prospective students out there is this: first try to have good study habits in place when you come to college to ensure your retention on campus.  Second, if you do fall into this 'crunch time kids' category as I like to call it, (just made that up) make sure to take the time to stop and smell the roses during your mad dash to your ideal GPA.  And remember that above all, remember to do your best.  

Spring Break

So Spring Break 09 is among us.

I'm sure you think I'd be in Panama City right now, have a good time playing volleyball in the sand, working on my sweet tan, and partaking in all types of debauchery. Not the case for me.

I have made the best out of mine by doing almost nothing. It feels phenominal to just rest. I have such a hectic schedule during the school year, I decided to stay around Conway, give a few tours of UCA for Ambassadors, and genuinely catch my breath. So I just wanted to share with you all basically what I have done this week: saw some good movies, spent quality time with good friends, watched 4 hours of I Love the New Millenium on VH1, and saw my momma.

Couldn't ask for more. Oh yeah and I went to Memphis for a night....The purpose of this post is mostly to say that you gotta take a break and make time for you. Relax. You do not have to go crazy, just relax.

UCA Greek Pageant week

This week has been extremely exciting all you prospective students!

In order for the Greek community to flourish, they must take new members each semester. This becomes a very important part of the life of the organization, considering growth is not possible if these organizations do not induct new members. Well in the spring semester three of these organizations (two sorrorities and one fraternity) put on a pageant for certain prospective members of each sorrority/fraternity. This is called new member king and spring queen, and they happen to be this week.

There are four rounds for each individual to go through including: formal, personality, letters and swimwear for the gentlemen, and formal, personality, letters and toga rounds for the ladies. Each organization can sponsor a participant, usually allowing for about 14 contestants. It truly is a great way to have fun, brush up on your theatrics and genuinely "show off" your goods so to speak.

I shant lie, it was pretty fun to watch some of the new member king participants last night, including personality rounds such as a parody of the SHAM WOW guy, a re-enactment of I'm on a boat by T-payne and Andy Samburg, and even a skit acting out a scene from the Mel Brook's classic: Robin Hood Men in Tights.

I am even more excited to see what the sorrority ladies have to show us tonight!

Career Fairs!

So you most likely have no clue what you want to do with the rest of your life. Well here's a little tip. Nobody really does. In fact I'm in my third year as a college student, and I still second guess myself every day. Your parents will probably force something on you that either they always wish they had done, or something they think will make the most money. Or perhaps you will be coerced into following in your parents footsteps. And by no means am I saying this may not be the best route for you, but if there is one thing that I have learned in college, it is the fact that I am my own person at all costs. I respect and love my parents like nobody's business, but I had to learn what I wanted to do for myself. Well the reason for this big set up is exactly this: How do you find out what you are made for/you want to do? You can take career aptitude tests, try many work experiences, and simply find out what you enjoy. Because enjoying what you study is the most important thing, the money will follow.

So what jobs will be available to me after I graduate one might ask? How do I get that necessary information and experience needed? Two words: Career fair!

UCA hosts many career fairs each year, in the student center ballroom on any given weekday. There was one this week which had over 70 employers and universities present, with multitudes of information available. I have an internship with Northwestern Mutual, and the career fair is where I made that connection. Not interested in business? The FBI was there this week, as well as AR Parks and Recreation, many Universities for graduate work, and even graduate application testing services. Not to mention many professors give extra credit for simply showing up to the event and collecting a few business cards. All in all, I have had nothing but positive experiences with career fairs, and as a prospective student, it is just one more thing you should consider when building your future at UCA.

GO BEARS!

So many of you may wonder how will I find ways to get involved on campus outside of class? What types of organizations are there? What kinds of skills will I gain from these things?
There are over 200 registered student organizations on campus, and they will help you get your mind off of the day to day monotony of classwork. I HIGHLY reccomend joining one or two (or even three if you dare) to gain certain skills you wouldn't inside the classroom. You can learn to plan events, organize people, host community service and genuinely make yourself a better student and more importantly a better person. But to make it more fun, I decided to write a little RSO poem:


There's Ambassadors which is the greatest ever
SOSer's are joyful, excited, and oh so clever
Sorrorities and Fraternities of so many kinds
So many greeks it'll blow your mind!
You can get involved with Chi Alpha or CCM
I hope you won't forget about Bear's Den!
Groups also gather such as the NAACP
Or United Nations if you so please.
Many of the groups are the same as in High School
You can join UCA debate and literally confuse a fool
Want to do something more physical yet still free?
Try boxing, grappling, or even shotokan karate
The amount of groups is quite perplexing
So join something and get your leadership skills flexing!

Saving the World a day at a time

One of the greatest things that I enjoy about being in a fraternity is getting the opportunity to give back to the community. St. Jude's Children Hospital is the organization that my fraternity is most heavily involved with, and this past week we had the opportunity to raise money for them. Three years ago on valentine's day we started selling chocolate covered strawberries as a fundraiser and last year I chose to give proceeds to a cause that is close to my heart. My uncle has battled cancer for quite a while now, so this is something close to my heart, and so I decided that we would give to the philanthropy. Not to mention we got to make a lot of people happy by giving them delicious strawberries! And well that is really what I've been spending my time on this week (outside of the classroom and the library of course) Hope everybody has a great day!