All posts by gmslucki

Lifestyle / Hall Life, Lists

Spread Love This Valentine’s Day!

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It is that time of year again! Whether you call it Galentine’s Day, Single’s Awareness Day or good, old Valentine’s Day, it is the day to love and show love. Many people usually view Valentine’s Day as a day for couples and romance. Although that is partly true, Valentine’s Day is a day that is all about celebrating love and showing the people in your life that you appreciate them. There is a stigma around the holiday, viewing it as this day only couples can celebrate , but it is time to change that. On Valentine’s Day,  we should all take the time to spread love and positivity to our friends and family members. 

Photo courtesy of Canva.

 Anyone can celebrate Valentine’s Day and spread love to those around them, surrounding yourself with people who make you feel great and alive is the best way to celebrate this holiday. This Valentine’s Day,  grab some chocolate and enjoy the love-filled day with your best friends, significant other or family. “All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”- Charles M. Schulz

 Here are a list of some things you can do this Valentine’s Day to spread love here at Millersville . Let’s make everyone feel loved this Valentine’s Day!

 

  1. Give a compliment to a stranger.
  2. Surprise one of your best friends with a small gift
  3. Make Valentine’s Day treats and share them with friends
  4. Call your parents and tell them you love and appreciate them
  5. Pay it forward at Starbucks or Saxby’s
  6. Make someone smile
  7. Wish everyone a Happy Valentine’s Day

These simple acts can make a person’s day better and create a chain effect of kind gestures. We hope everyone has a lovely Valentine’s Day!

Lifestyle / Hall Life

How To Have A Fun Friday Night In

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It is the middle of winter and for many of us that means we hate going outside into the cold. We often times get bored very easily and have nothing to do , but sit inside. Although sitting inside can be boring, there are ways to make it fun and a great way to spend your Friday night. Here is a list of activities to do inside to make your Friday nights fun and exciting.

  1. Hold a Netflix Movie or TV Marathon in Your Residence Hall Common Area or Your Room

If you are unsure of what to do Netflix has tons of movies and TV shows just waiting to be binge watched.  There are also many different varieties of movies so you can hold a scary movie night or a rom-com night to make you bawl your eyes out. My favorite movie on Netflix to watch with friends is To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before! This movie is so cute and is based on a book.

Photo courtesy of Canva.

2. Try Out New Recipes From Pinterest With Your Friends

Pinterest is a gold mine for finding fun recipes to make with friends. All of the Suites have kitchens within the buildings, so it is very easy to go to the kitchen and bake with all of your friends while listening to music. It is a great bonding activity that produces a sweet treat!

Photo courtesy of Canva.

3. Buy Canvases at a Craft Store and Paint Something You Like On It

Whenever I am bored, I personally like to do something crafty, but more often than not I paint.  Painting has many benefits including increasing creativity and it is a good way to relax after a long week. It is also very inexpensive compared to other activities. Here is a canvas I painted and a record I painted as well.

 

4. Do Something Crafty

By doing something crafty, this can mean drawing , a DIY project or something else of this sort. Last semester, I was really bored one night so I found an old jean jacket I had and I ironed patches on it and painted little designs on it to make it custom. All of my friends love that jacket and want to make one just like it. Here is a picture of the jacket!

5. Read a Book That You Have Been Wanting to Read

The weekends are a perfect time to catch up on the reading you have been meaning to do. This is a relaxing activity to do that can also result in many benefits.

Photo courtesy of Canva.

If you have any other activities that are fun to do on a Friday night, tweet them and tag us! Our username is @VilleHousing . Have a great weekend Marauders!

 

Announcements, Events / Programs

Candy Land Event Rescheduled

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The Candy Land Event is back on! Due to the inclement weather, we had to cancel the Candy Land Event that was scheduled for January 31st , but we have found a new date to hold the event.

On Monday February 11th starting at 6 pm in the South Great Room, Housing and Residential Programs will be hosting an event to highlight the housing selection process and the different room types available. The theme for the housing selection process this year is candy and sweets. Our big event this year will follow the theme and will be a life-size game of “Candy Land” for students to learn more information on the housing selection process and have fun with their friends at the same time.

By following the game path along the way, students will be able to learn more about the different housing room types we offer as well as buildings. There will also be information about when students can select their room for Fall 2019-Spring 2020. Students who come to the event and participate will also be able to enter to win different prizes including an early selection time. So if you want information or want to have some fun, come on down and play Candy Land!

Announcements, Lifestyle / Hall Life

How To Start Off the Semester Strong and Follow-Through

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The spring semester is here Marauders! That means it’s time to get serious and focus. Many of us always say things in the beginning of the semester like, “I’m going to really do well this semester” or “ This is the semester I get a good GPA” , but many of us end up getting burnt-out and quit. It is the honest truth, but I think it is time we stop lying to ourselves and start really trying our best. To help us get that GPA we want or the encouragement to keep going, I made a list of tips on how to start the semester off on a good note and follow through with our goals. I hope everyone has a good semester and excels in their classes!

 

  1. Write down test dates and project deadlines as soon as you get your syllabus

Using a planner to write down important test dates and projects can help you to stay on track in your classes. Writing down important dates can also help to remind you of all the different deadlines you have for each of your classes so you never miss an assignment.

2. Sit near the front of the room in your classes

This may sound weird to you, but sitting in the front of class can help you stay focused and let the teacher know you are serious about the class. This may also give you less temptation to go on your phone or browse on your laptop while the professor is teaching. This is also a way for professor to get to know your name easier.

3. Meet people in your classes so you can all study together or discuss the material and deadlines

Having someone you know in your classes can make them better and make you feel more comfortable. I like to know at least one person in each of my classes that way if I am confused about a deadline or an assignment I can ask them for their help or advice.

4. Study or read your textbook a little each day

Reading your textbook a little each day will give you an insight into what you will be learning this semester and can give you a chance to ask your professor intelligent questions about material. Also, when test time comes around it will make recalling the information easier.

Photo courtesy of Canva.

5. Ask your professor any questions you have or attend office hours

Attending office hours gives you a chance to personally introduce yourself to your professor and gives you a chance to ask them questions you may have forgotten to ask in class. During this time, you can also get help with the material that was taught in class.

6. Find your go- to study space

Each semester I like to find a new space to study for my classes. Having a space where you feel comfortable and focused can help you study better and help you do better in your classes. Some of the best places to study are the study rooms in the library, the quiet floors of the library or the area behind Starbucks.

7. Schedule “me time” every week as a treat to yourself

Give yourself a nice break after a long week of hard work. Treating yourself by doing something you love can make you feel better and make you appreciate all of the time and work your are putting into your life and studies.

Photo courtesy of Canva.

If you have any more useful tips make sure to tweet them and tag us! Our username is @VilleHousing !

 

Announcements, Events / Programs

Candy Land Event

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On Thursday January 31st in the South Great Room , Housing and Residential Programs will be hosting an event to highlight the housing selection process and the different room types available. The theme for the housing selection process this year is candy and sweets. Our big event this year will follow the theme and will be a life-size game of “Candy Land” for students to learn more information on the housing selection process and have fun with their friends at the same time.

By following the game path and playing mini games along the way, students will be able to learn more about the different housing room types we offer as well as buildings. There will also be information about when students can select their room for Fall 2019-Spring 2020. Students who come to the event and participate will also be able to enter to win different prizes including an early selection time. So if you want information or want to have some fun, come on down and play Candy Land!

Academics, Lists

Tips For Surviving Finals Week

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?“It’s the most stressful time of the year.”? Yes Marauders, it is Finals Week. Finals week is one of the most stressful weeks in the whole semester. Somehow during this time you have what feels like a hundred papers due and an exam in almost every class. Tensions can run high and you may pull all nighters just to prepare for your exams. To get through this tough time, I created a list of some tips I have accumulated to successfully get through the storm.

 

  1. Start Early.

If you start studying or creating a study plan early, you will feel less overwhelmed when finals week arrives.

2. Stay Well-Rested

Getting a good amount of sleep each night is essential to feeling well-rested. This will also give you higher energy levels to get the right amount of studying done each day.

3. Attend Office Hours

This is a huge tip! Attending office hours can be very beneficial because it gives you one-on-one time with your professor to ask any questions on material you may not understand. Also, this is a big way to show your professors you are serious about your work and you are trying your best with the material. This can be very beneficial when grading comes around.

4. Create a Plan and Stick To It

If you have a plan in place, you are less likely to stray from it. This will act as a motivator to get your studying  done daily and to cross things off your checklist. I have to say crossing things off your checklist is one of the best feelings.

5.  Don’t Stick Strictly to the Study Guide

If your professors give you a study guide, make sure you also look at information that was not on it. Professors mainly give study guides to give students an idea of what can be on the test, but they might also add other information to make sure you reading the material and know it very well.

6.  Take Study Breaks

Sometimes spending too much time studying  without a break can be bad for your brain. If you take small breaks in between certain content, it can be beneficial. For example, you can take a quick walk outside or watch a short video in between.

7. Do Not Study In Your Bed

One of my biology teachers taught me this tip in high school and it has always stuck with me. Your brain associates your bed with sleep and relaxation, so when you try to study in your bed, you are less productive and you can disrupt your sleep patterns. The next time you will go to sleep, your body will take more time to adjust to it and you may lose out on hours of sleep.

8. Create Acronyms or Rhymes To Memorize Lists or Difficult Information

This is a very helpful tip that I use when I study. When I have to know long lists of steps or types of information, I create an acronym to spell out the first letter of every word. This is kinda like how teachers would use PEMDAS in elementary school to remember math operations. For example, this acronym stands for parentheses, exponents, multiplication , division, addition and subtraction.

9. Review Your Notes Daily

Taking time each day to review your notes will pay off in the long run. When test time rolls around, you will know the information better and be able to recognize the words in the questions quickly.

10. Dress Nice To Your Finals

“Dress well, test well” simply implies that those who dress well on the day of their exam or presentation are likely to perform better, or at least feel, better. Dressing nicer makes you feel more confident with the information and may help you do better.

11. Put Your Phone On Do Not Disturb or Turn It Off

Your phone can take away time from your studying and distract you from learning the information. Turn your phone off during your time studying to avoid this distraction and to decrease your time spent on one subject.

12. Eat Healthy

If you eat foods that are unhealthy and that do not provide nutrients, they can make you feel groggy. This can make you feel lazy and make you not want to study even more. Instead of choosing fried food or a bag of chips , eat a salad or some apples. Your body will thank you later.

13. Have a Positive Mindset

You are not going to get anywhere or have any confidence in yourself if you do not have a positive mindset. Studies have also shown that if you write positive affirmations on your exams, you will do better because it will make you more confident in your responses.

14. Study With Other People in Your Class

Having other people to study the information with you, will help you learn the information as well as teach you new study techniques. This is also good because if someone knows some information better than you, they can help you piece together what you are not understanding.

15.  Treat Yourself

This is a tough week and you are putting a lot of time into your studies, you deserve to treat yourself with a candy or maybe a coffee you like. Don’t feel bad about treating yourself or taking the time to do something you love, you deserve it!

We would like to wish everyone good luck on their final projects and exams! Stay motivated and do your best!

 

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Announcements

Millersville University Residence Hall Winter Break 2018-19 Bulletin

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The residence halls will close for the Winter break with residents expected to exit the residence halls as follows:  Residents not actively engaged and mandated to be present for commencement activities are expected to exit the residence hall by Noon on Saturday December 15, 2018.

Residents actively engaged in commencement activities are expected to exit the residence hall no later than closing at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday December 16, 2018.  Residents who need to stay in residence overnight on Saturday December 15, 2018 must contact the Residence Area Director of your assigned building to make this arrangement.  This includes those who are actively engaged in commencement activity.

Winter Break housing will start at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday December 16, 2018.  The residence halls will be closed during the Winter Break. Resident Students who are continuing in the residence halls to Spring 2019, and who have an approved reason for requesting Winter Break Housing may request break housing for all or portions of the Winter Break by completing the MyHousing registration for Winter Break Housing through the MAX account no later than 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday December 12, 2018.  This includes requests for both the December and January portions of the Winter Break.

All Winter Break Housing is in the regular residence halls.  If you are requesting Winter Break housing and you have scheduled a room change for the spring semester, you must complete the room change before the start of the break.  Please see your Residence Area Director to make that arrangement.

To request Winter Break Housing please follow these instructions:

  1. Open MAX (for best results please use Goggle Chrome, or Firefox, do not use Internet Explorer).
  2. Log into your My-Housing account.
  3. Select Application from the menu in black and then choose Break Housing 2018 on the drop down menu.
  4. You may get a message that says “Records indicate that you submitted this application on (date) at (time), what would you like to do with this application?
  5. From the drop down menu select “Revisit/Update This Application” and press submit.
  6. Select Winter Break.
  7. Complete the required information.
  8. You must select a reason for requesting break housing from the drop down menu.  If you select other, you must explain in the next box.
  9. Select “Continue” to submit your application.
  10. You only need to request Winter Break Housing if you need to continue your housing during the break period – Sunday December 16, 2018 6:00 p.m., through Sunday January 20, 2019, Noon.

The Residence Hall Staff will conduct Health and Safety Inspections in each residence hall suite at the start of the Winter break. Please carefully review the following instructions and information to avoid violations of the Student Code of Conduct for improper maintenance of your residence hall suite/room.

Winter Break Housing Information:

  • The residence halls will be closed during Winter break except for returning residents who have requested winter break housing.
  • Card access for all resident students will be discontinued during the Winter break. Only returning residents who have requested Winter break housing will have card access privileges.
  • Guests and Visitation is not permitted during the break.
  • All University Administrative Offices will close for the holidays after Noon Monday December 24, 2018 until 8:00 a.m. Wednesday January 2, 2019. Residence Hall Offices will have limited hours of operation during the break – see the hall front desk for contact information.
  • See Dining Services and Health Services websites for hours of operation.
  • SMC Desk will close for the holidays Noon on December 24 to Noon on December 26, 2018, and Noon December 31, 2018 to 7:00 a.m. January 2, 2019.
  • Non-urgent police and campus calls during holiday closing times dial (717) 871-4357. Fire, Police, and EMS Emergencies dial 911 at all times.
  • Students assigned to continue housing in the residence halls for Spring 2019 are not required to surrender residence hall keys to the staff prior to leaving for the break.
  • The Housekeeping and Facilities Management Staffs will be working in the campus residence halls to perform maintenance tasks during the break that require entrance to resident rooms.  The Housing Staff may post a courtesy sign on your door indicating that the room is occupied during the Winter break.  This sign will ensure that workers will not enter your room without knocking.  Please leave it in place for the duration of the Winter break.
  • All students assigned to the residence hall for Fall 2018 are assigned to continue in the residence halls for Spring 2019 unless: you have filed an official withdrawal from the University; filed and been approval for an official leave of absence for Spring 2019; filed for leave of absence due to call to active military service for spring 2019; filed and been approved for study abroad for spring 2019; are a current study abroad visa international student not returning for the spring 2019 semester. All of these circumstances require that you are not registered for classes at Millersville University for Spring 2019.

Winter Break Preparation Procedures:

Prior to the start of the break, all resident students MUST:

  • Dispose of all trash by removing it to the dumpster in the parking lots outside your residence hall.
  • Clean the room/suite including sweeping the floor and wiping down furniture.
  • Clean your bathroom and report any issues with constant run toilets, sinks, showers to the residence hall staff.
  • Remove food from your refrigerator and properly dispose of it through proper trash removal
  • Defrost your refrigerator
  • If you are leaving for the break, turn off the lights
  • If you are leaving for the break, set the thermostat to 70 degrees
  • If you are leaving for the break, close and lock your room window (Villages)
  • If you are leaving for the break, lower the blinds halfway but leave them open
  • If you are leaving for the break, lock your bedroom door and your suite door
  • If you are leaving for the break please move all items from your residence hall floor, especially computer equipment and any items that can be damaged by flooding.
  • If you are leaving for the break and you have a Learning Services approved animal in your room, you must take the animal with you. You may not leave animals in the residence hall in the care of another student or staff member.

Photo courtesy of Canva.

Announcements

Residence Hall Housing Deposit Process Open for Fall 2019-Spring 2020

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The On-Campus Housing Deposit process for Fall 2019 – Spring 2020 is now open for returning students. Submitting your housing deposit is the first step to securing your housing for the upcoming school year. The $200 non-refundable, housing deposit will applied to your account for the Spring 2020 semester.

You can pay your housing deposit through your MAX account. It is on the first page of options when you log into your MAX account and is the second-to-last choice on the page labeled “Housing Deposit.”  Clicking on the link will take you to the page to make the payment.

The housing deposit screen will show “Spring 2020” because the $200 deposit is being applied to your spring semester bill. This deposit will reserve your room for the entire 2019-2020 academic year. Making this payment makes you eligible for the room selection process, which will occur early in the Spring 2019 semester. Please note that paying the deposit does not guarantee your same room, suite, or building.

Further details regarding room selection and corresponding dates will be available soon. Good luck on your finals and projects Marauders!

Health & Wellness, Lifestyle / Hall Life

Quotes to Get You Through Your ‘Burnout’

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As college students it is very common for us to feel the sensation of ‘burnout’. This feeling very often comes right after we come back to school from Thanksgiving break to make our final stretch. We are experiencing  a cycle of ongoing stress, we are tired, lose motivation and are focused on other things like the holidays instead of our upcoming tests. The last couple weeks of the semester are very hard and after a break we do not want to get back into the work loads ahead of us. If you need motivation to make that last push and ace your finals, here are some inspirational quotes to get you back on the grind.

 

  1. “Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr.
  2. “You’ve got to get up every morning with determination if you’re going to go to  bed with satisfaction.” – George Lorimer
  3. “Procrastination makes easy things hard, hard things harder.” – Mason Cooley
  4.  “A diamond is merely a lump of coal that did well under pressure.”
  5. “Destiny is for losers; it’s just a stupid excuse to wait for things to happen instead of making them happen.” – Blair Waldorf
  6. “Sometimes, you need to step outside get some air and remind yourself who you are and where you want to be.” – Gossip Girl
  7. “There is no secret to success. It is the result of preparation , hard work and learning from failure.” – General Colin Powell
  8. “When it’s finals week and you’ve been studying for five hours straight, you need three things to get you through the night. The biggest Slurpee you can find, half cherry half Coke. Pajama pants, the kind that have been washed so many times they are tissue-paper thin. And finally, dance breaks. Lots of dance breaks.” – Jenny Han
  9. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” – Nelson Mandela
  10. “You are so close to the victory, don’t you dare give up now.”
  11. “Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” – Kerim Seddiki
  12. “Don’t let perfection become procrastination.” Danielle LaPorte
  13. “Don’t study because you need to. Study because knowledge is power. Study because they can never take it away from you. Study because you want to know more. Study because it enhances you. Study because it grows you.” – Anonymous
  14. “Recipe for success: Study while others are sleeping; work while others are loafing; prepare while others are playing; and dream while others are wishing.” – William A. Ward
  15. “Don’t stop until you’re proud.”

Happy studying! Good luck on all of your upcoming exams and projects and may the curve be ever in your favor.

Cover photo courtesy of Canva. 

Announcements

Avoid the “Winter Blues”

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Since it is Winter, there are less hours of sunlight  in the day and most of the time it is gloomy outside. During this time, it is common for many people to  suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder or (SAD). SAD is a type of depression that occurs during the cold and darker months of the year, mainly fall and winter. This disorder makes people feel moody and it takes away their energy levels.

Here at Millersville you do not need to brush off that yearly feeling as simply as a case of the “winter blues”. This feeling is very common, so the Counseling Center offers relief to those experiencing this during the winter months. The Counseling Center , located in Lyle Hall,  have launched Light Box Therapy which has been available since October and will be available until March.

Light Box Therapy involves sitting down in front of light boxes. During this time , students can sit there and relax or they can complete their work while in front of the light. The light that is projected mimics sunlight which can lift your mood. The science behind it is that when you are in the presence of the light there is a chemical change in your brain and more levels of serotonin are produced. Serotonin is a brain chemical that affects your mood. 

Light Box Therapy sessions may be scheduled on Mondays through Fridays  from 8 am to 11:30 am. The Counseling Center has found the best results when students make an appointment in the morning. Completing a session in the morning helps to create better regulation of the body’s sleep cycles. So if you have 20-30 mins in the day , why not try out Light Box Therapy to increase your mood.

Information was provided by Erin Haggard, the Graduate Assistant at the Center for Counseling and Human Developemnt here at Millersville University.

To make an appointment or get more information you can go to the Counseling Center’s website or call them.

Cover photo courtesy of Canva.