How to survive your first week!

My first week of college was the first time I had ever been away from home by myself. I was excited, anxious, overwhelmed, and slightly terrified. Going to college can be a difficult transition, so here are some tips to rock your first week in Happy Valley.

1. Figure out where all of your classes are before Monday morning. This was one of the best pieces of advice that I got when I was a WEPO-teer. The Sunday evening before classes started, my WEPO mentor walked with our group and showed us each one of the buildings on our schedules. It’s important to know where you are going because you only have 15 minutes in between classes, and sometimes you need to walk from one end of campus to the other. You need to make it to class on time and even a few minutes early to guarantee you’ll get a seat (classes are usually overfilled for the first few weeks). Knowing where you’re going on your first day can be extremely comforting and will make you look like a campus pro.
2. Eat more than just a salad. I was too nervous to scope out all my options at the dining commons when I first got to school. I instead resorted to the salad bar. Twice a day. For more than two weeks. It was an unfortunate mistake because there are so many fantastic food choices in each of the dining commons. No one will stare at you if you wander around for a few minutes trying to decide. Also, if you find yourself in West, search for the cookies. They’re worth every calorie.
3. Don’t forget that everyone else is feeling awkward too It can be tempting to crawl under your covers and hide when you get to college. You may feel like everyone else knows each other already and you’re the only one without friends. Don’t believe those lies! Everyone else on your floor, in your classes, and in that organization you’re thinking about joining wants to meet new people too. If you’re too shy to put yourself out there, grab your roommate and go meet new people together. You two will likely have more than a few awkward moments together during the year, so why not start early? Or, grab your WEPO girls and head to the Creamery (I recommend Arboretum Breeze).
4. Don’t buy your books before going to class First semester I wanted to be on top of things as much as possible, so I ordered my textbooks online weeks before leaving for State College. It wasn’t easy to fit another box in my car on move-in day, and on top of that, I found out during the first week of class that I didn’t need many of the books I bought. I ended up with two copies of the Calc I textbook and the wrong version of the Econ book, since my professor changed the book for the course after I’d already bought mine. It’s best to wait until after the first class to decide which books you should buy. Your professor will specify what you really need; alternatively, you can find out which textbooks are required at any of the campus bookstores. They have special computers that you can use to search for the classes on your schedule. Also, always check Amazon or other online stores before you buy. The HUB is usually the most expensive place to buy books.
5. Have confidence The College of Engineering accepted you for a reason! You have worked hard to get where you are, and you belong here. The first week can be very intimidating, but you WILL be ok. Freshman year is tough, but there are many resources available to you to help you succeed. Find yourself a “study-buddy” who wants to earn the same grades you do, and get yourself plugged into a WEP Facilitated Study Group, which you’ll hear more about in the coming weeks. Being proactive in your studies and working hard always pays off!
6. Ask for help! Your WEP leaders are here for you. We’ve all been where you are and we’ve all asked the same “dumb” questions. Don’t be afraid to reach out to us as a resource.  Anything from how do I pass Physics 211 to what’s a pokey stick – we’ve got the answers! If we don’t, we’ll find you someone who does.

Tori Vadyak is a junior in Chemical Engineering and a Mentor for WEPO'13.  To read more about Sam visit her WEPO Profile: http://raindancer45.wix.com/ladyengineers#!tori-vadyak/c1eau

Study Tricks and Tips

Let’s be honest, studying is one of the most boring things known to human kind, but it has to be done.  Therefore, my friends and I have come up with a few tricks to help us to get through those long nights of studying. 

Movies

When my roommate and I wanted to study in our apartment we would put on a movie.  Our typical choices included movies that were close to two-and-a-half hours long and we had seen them a million times before.  The long movies gave us enough time to complete our assignment, as well as we weren’t actually watching the movie because we already knew what happens at every part.  (I eventually even got used to tuning out my roommate as she quoted various lines of Titanic to me.) The movie was enough of a distraction to keep us from falling asleep but we were also able to get our work done.  Some of our top movie choices included Titanic, Dark Knight Rises, Pearl Harbor and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Music

My personal choice for studying is to listen to music.  Pandora and I have become really good friends while at college.  Usually for each big test that I am studying for I pick a new Pandora station to become obsessed with.  The songs start to become familiar and so does the material that I am studying.  But be warned, when the test is done and over, that Pandora station will be ruined forever by the subject that you had used it to study for.  So I always choose stations of people that I only knew one or two songs from, that way I didn’t ruin any of my favorites.

TV Shows

Watching TV show series is also a great way to stay focused for a long amount of time.  We would watch the shows over and over again, so that once again we wouldn't be too focused on actually watching the show.  It was just another good way to block out all of the other sounds in the room and it was still enjoyable because we would be watching some of our favorite shows.  Top choices were Big Bang Theory, Gilmore Girls and Boy Meets World.

Physical Activity

Studying for hours can take its toll on any person.  Some physical activity in between long hours is not a bad idea, especially if everyone takes a break at the same time.  One example was when my friend and I had studied all day and then went to play racquet ball at 9 o’clock at night.  It was a great way to de-stress and get all of our frustration out after a long day of studying.  But if you do not have enough time to go to the gym, there are activities you can do from the room you are in.  Group handstands are a fun activity for everyone.  Whether you are a pro or a beginner this will offer tons of entertainment and it will get your blood flowing again. 

Samantha Burt is a junior in Civil Engineering and a Mentor for WEPO'13.  To read more about Sam visit her WEPO Profile: http://raindancer45.wix.com/ladyengineers#!samantha-burt/c21tj

Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle at School

“Good luck at Penn State, and good luck avoiding the freshman fifteen!”  If your summer before freshman year of college is anything like mine was, this is something that I heard over and over again. I thought, ‘I sure hope this doesn’t happen to me!’  But after listening to everyone repeat the same thing all summer, gaining weight my freshman year of college seemed inevitable.

Well, I am here to tell you that it is not.  Penn State has many options to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle at college and maintain a healthy weight.  In particular, I am going to give you the low-down about how to stay physically fit and burn those extra calories you might eat in the dining hall (Creamery ice cream was my downfall!) during your time at school.  Mental, physical and emotional health are all equally important.  Exercising has been proven to have positive effects on all aspects of health.  Making healthy choices in the dining halls along with a little exercise can do a world of good.  One of the biggest benefits that exercising gives me at school is a chance to relieve my stress from homework, exams.

The first and most obvious option is to get a gym membership.  If you are new to working out and are not sure if the treadmill and elliptical will be the thing for you, then you can just choose to purchase a semester membership instead of an entire year.  The membership is not free, but is relatively affordable. Penn state has two main fitness center/gyms on campus with cardio equipment, basketball courts, and weights: the Rec and the White Building. The IM building is in the course of being remodeled, and will also be a nice option once it is finished.  https://fitnessmembership.psu.edu/cgi-bin/fitness.exe/launch/FitnessMembership

If you are not the best at self-motivation, then it would be in your best interest to try to find a workout buddy.  A workout buddy will help you keep the commitment to exercise instead of saying, “I’m a little tired, I will just go tomorrow.” Another great option that you can do with or without a friend is a fitness class.  Penn State has a very wide variety of classes ranging in intensity, cardio, lifting, and fun.  I regularly attend the cycling classes and boot camp.  Yoga, pilates, zumba, and calorie killer are a few more popular fitness classes on campus.  To get a complete list you can go to http://www.athletics.psu.edu/fitness/classes.html.

Aside from the fitness centers, intramural sports are a great opportunity to play a sport with your friends and have a good time.  Every fall my friends and I get a co-ed flag football team together and have a blast. To check out all of the IM sports that are offered you can go to http://www.athletics.psu.edu/recsports/.  Right now only summer sports are listed, but this link will be updated once fall semester begins!

Last but certainly not least, there are numerous club sports at Penn State.  Some of the clubs are pretty competitive and can be a time commitment, and others are just for fun.  Field hockey, soccer, lacrosse, cross country, and salsa dancing are just a few of the many (yes, I consider dance a sport!).  Be sure to visit the involvement fair during the first week of school to explore your options and check out the website below for a list of club sports! Club sports are a great way to stay active and meet new people at the same time! http://www.athletics.psu.edu/recreation/csindex.asp

Aside from regularly planned fitness classes and team practices, always be on the look-out for great 5K opportunities such as the THON 5K! I am confident that with all that Penn State has to offer, you will find something that will work for you so that you can stay active and healthy!

Emily Clark is a junior in Chemical Engineering and a Mentor for WEPO'13!  To read more about Emily visit her WEPO Profile: http://raindancer45.wix.com/ladyengineers#!emily-clark/c1arv

Buying Books under Budget

Hi ladies!

My name is Sarah Cosgrove and I am a junior in Bioengineering and I am a mentor for WEPO 2013!

As classes are approaching students are starting to panic about what books to buy, while staying in budget. After going through this for 4+ times I have figured out how to make this frustrating and stressful process easier. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you start to prepare for your college career.

How to find out what books you need:

Log onto eLion (https://elion.psu.edu/)

Go to the drop down menu on the left hand side and expand Schedule

Choose Student Schedule

Select the semester you would like to buy books for

Click on the tab that says Buy Books

Click on Select all

The button Confirm Course Selection will appear, click on it

Click on Submit to Penn State Bookstore (don’t worry this will NOT purchase the books)

Your course materials for that semester will open up

Do not buy your books before you go to the first day of class!

Most teachers will state on their syllabus “textbook is required.” However, I have had teachers who on the first day of class will say that the book is only recommended for those who need additional reading to learn the material sufficiently. Another situation is where assigned homework problems are not even from the textbook, rather made-up by the professor. Personally, I had a math class where I bought the textbook, but never ended up using it because all of the assigned homework problems were made-up by my instructor. So the lesson to be learned is wait to buy your books until you hear what your professor has to say about them!

Avoid the Student Bookstore at all costs.

Buying any science or math textbook at the Student Bookstore (downtown or at the HUB) will easily cost a couple hundred dollars, even if used. When the semester is over and you go back to sell your books you only get a fraction of what you paid for them just a few months ago. I highly recommend using the website Chegg.com, where you can rent or buy used books at a much lower cost. Rent books only when you know you will not refer to them in a later class. For example, Math 140/ Math 141, Chem 110/Chem 112, as well as Chem 210/Chem 212 will use the same textbook if a new edition doesn’t come out in between. Some professors will even tell you that older editions of a textbook will be sufficient for their class.

Other resources to find textbooks are groups on Facebook, such as the Textbook Exchange group for Penn State or “Class of 20—“ groups. Fellow Penn Staters will post used textbooks that they are willing to sell at a lower cost. This is a good resource for those who are good at bargaining for a better price!

Getting away without buying books all together

Davey Library is a great resource for us Engineers whose bulk of books are those of science and math related. At Davey Library a student is able to rent out not only textbooks, but also student manuals with just presenting their student I.D. card. The only downside to this option is that you are not able to take the books out of the library. There are however, photocopy machines available to use. Other textbooks can be found at the libraries around campus, just ask a librarian and they will be sure to be of help! Also collaborate with your fellow engineering buddies and share books. This is an excellent way to cut down on costs.

Sarah Cosgove is a junior in Biomedical Engineering and a Mentor for WEPO'13! To read more about Sarah visit her WEPO Profile: http://raindancer45.wix.com/ladyengineers#!sarah-cosgrove/c1ad8

Advice from the Success Strategies Lead

“Opportunity dances with those who are ready on the dance floor”—H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Here at Penn State, always be ready to dance.  Although I didn’t intend for that to be taken literally, I guess you could think of it like that too.  As a student here you are always going to get asked, “but your school is so big…isn’t that overwhelming?”  For the first few weeks, maybe.  But once you are here and settled in, you will realize the campus shrinks by the day!  This is because the more opportunities you take advantage of, the more people you will meet and the more you will start to feel like Happy Valley is truly your new home.

The best part about going to a large, world renowned university is the immense amount of opportunities you will get from simply being here.  These opportunities start at the small level (if you could say that).  Currently Penn State has 951 registered clubs, ranging from sports to greek life, professional to performing arts, and at scales as high as THON (the world’s largest student run philanthropy) down to clubs solely dedicated to soda (yes, it is a real registered thing I promise).  At first, you may be thinking to yourself “that is way too many clubs, I’ll never decide what to join!”  No worries, Penn State holds involvement fairs at the beginning of the year for you to walk around and talk to representatives of the clubs to hear about what they do and decide what sounds interesting to you!

As you go through your time here you will find your niche in these organizations, and may even get really cool opportunities like being able to travel out of them!  I know through my involvement I have been able to travel around the state and even the country; just recently I went to Atlanta to present at a conference.  But traveling as a whole is a lot more feasible at a university of this size because of how many connections we have around the world.  We have study abroad programs in dozens of countries, so wherever you have always dreamed of going we can find or make a program that works for you!  I even have friends who have gotten to travel as far as Spain for their research!

Doing an internship abroad isn’t that uncommon either.  But here at Penn State, as an engineer getting internships and co-ops in general are very common.  This is mostly because people know exactly what it means to have an engineering degree from here, but I am sure it doesn’t hurt that we have one of the largest living alumni networks.  1 in 50 engineers has a Penn State degree.  That’s right, I said it: 1 in 50.  Something you will notice once coming here is that Penn Staters LOVE other nittany lions.  Not only do they have a new friend to talk with about how awesome our school is, but they know from going here how prepared the school gets you for making a true impact in the field.  This leads to a lot of hiring stats for full time and internship positions.

So as you can see, while a large school may seem intimidating at first, the only thing you have to worry about is what you will try first!  Think about the vast unknown that is our school like a song you don’t know the lyrics to:  Just because you have never heard the song before doesn’t mean you should avoid the dance floor…

Sarah Krisher is a senior in Biomedical Engineering and the Success Strategies Lead for WEPO'13!  To read more about Sarah visit her WEPO Profile:

http://raindancer45.wix.com/ladyengineers#!sarah-krisher/czoa

WISER Program at Penn State

Hey lovely ladies!

Today I wanted to talk to you about the WISER program. Yes, it’s a program that’s meant to make you wise…er! Seriously though, WISER stands for Women In Science and Engineering Research. It’s a program that’s meant to give women an opportunity to work in a research lab, especially as freshman!

Just for a little bit of background: I’m a junior in chemical engineering and I am now a mentor for WEPO! I’m so excited! But more to the point, when I was a freshman I went to all the WEP Wednesdays throughout the year. During the first semester, I went to a meeting where a sophomore stood up and told us about experience with the WISER program. So I decided to apply! A few weeks later I found out that I was accepted into the program and that I would start in the Solar Cell Research Lab when my second semester started.

I was really scared to start working there. I mean, I had absolutely zero lab experience and I did not know my new lab professor. But everything turned out okay – better than okay really! I’ve been working in this lab for the last three semesters, and I’ve learned so much.

I know you might think that it’s too early to start applying to work in a research lab, and you might think you aren’t quite ready yet. Don’t worry, it’s not as much pressure as you might think! The lab professors are very helpful, and their main goal is to help you learn. Not to mention, the experience you gain working in a lab will be invaluable in your future!

It’s also important for me to mention that this program isn’t just for bio and chemical engineers; it’s for all kinds of engineers and scientists. There are so many different labs on campus that you can apply to: mechanical and computer engineering labs even. You don’t even have to be sure of your major!

The WISER program will place you in a lab of your choice for two semesters, and you will receive a stipend when you finish. After those two semesters you may continue working in that lab, or ask to join another professor’s lab, or stop doing research altogether. It’s all up to you!

If you are in the Honor’s College, you will need to write a thesis by the time you graduate. The WISER program will help you get a head start with all of that! No need to panic : )

The most important thing is to take the first step. You may not be sure if you like research or not, but the only way to know is to just try it out!

I’m sure we’ll talk more about this at a WEP Wednesday during the first two months of the semester. If you have any other questions about it, please come and find me at WEPO! I’d be more than happy to tell you all about it!

Your super excited mentor,
Kristen Myatt : )

Kristen Myatt is a junior in Chemical Engineering and a Mentor for WEPO'13!  To read more about Kristen visit her WEPO Profile: http://raindancer45.wix.com/ladyengineers#!kristen-myatt/c3lb

Staying Motivated and Personal Goals

If I had a dollar for every time I said, “I quit” this past year, I probably could have paid my whole tuition. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t that often, but it happens. Those times will come where all you want to do is give up because you have a big exam coming up or a lot of homework assignments you really just don’t want to do. Instead of getting to that point and throwing in the towel, I found better ways to stay motivated and not let the stress get to me. 

1. Use your bulletin board
No matter where you live, you’ll have a bulletin board in your room. In my room last year, it was right above my desk. I wrote motivational quotes on small pieces of paper and pinned them to my board during the year, and put a few on the walls around my bed too. Whenever I got to the point where I wanted to quit, I would take a moment to read these to have that small reminder that I could do it. Some of my favorites were “Dreams aren’t free” and “When everything feels like an uphill struggle, just think of the view from the top.”  

2. Keep a to-do list

Last year I hung a white board up in my room. I put a small section for each class up and then a section for other things such as clubs and applications. When something needed to get done or an exam was coming up, I would write it on the board in the section. The greatest feeling in the world was to erase the things from my to do list that I completed each day and see the list drop. It was a great way to stay on top of everything and a great motivational tool to get work done. 

3. Set personal goals

I made quite a few goals for myself for my college career before school and added to them throughout the year. I had goals that were academic, social, and personal. My goals included things such as making dean’s list, getting involved with a few engineering clubs, joining a club outside of engineering of something that I love, and to become more confident. These goals gave me something to work towards over the long-term. I also had other short-term goals ranging from getting at least a B+ in physics to earning a rover spot for WEPO this year! Setting these goals for myself helped me to keep motivated in order to accomplish all of these. Take time to figure out what you want to get out of your college experience, write them down, and work towards them. Don’t fret if you don’t meet these goals right away either! Goals are something to work towards and strive for.

4. Don’t let others intimidate or discourage you

Normally I would feed off of people doing better than me in my classes or getting leadership over me because I’m very competitive. This past year, there were times some of my friends would do better than me in class and friends that would get upset when I earned a position that they also wanted. I would start to get stressed thinking that I had to do better than my friends because I got competitive. Instead of feeding off this and working harder like I did in high school, the stress would get to me enough that I would actually do worse. I would also start to feel bad about getting leadership when I saw my friends that didn’t. My mom summed it up pretty well by saying, “College is your time to be selfish.” This is the time where you’re actually preparing for a career so letting other students get to you is only going to hurt your progress. Do the best you can do in your classes and fight to achieve your goals. Be a little selfish.

5. Take breaks once in a while

Maybe that kind of seems counterproductive, but sometimes a break is what you need when you have a lot to do. After studying for a while, let your brain take a break and watch your favorite show or go get lunch with a couple friends. Sometimes a nap is the perfect break too! After your break, you’ll feel refreshed and be ready to keep working. 

6. Find the people that will help you achieve your goals and stay motivated.

It might not happen right away, but these are the people worth having. A lot of mine came from WEPO including people from my team and my mentors. I also found a lot through SWE. For me, it took until about halfway through second semester for me to realize who was really there to help me meet my full potential. These are the people that you can go to for advice, can help you find opportunities for leadership or academic help, and those that are just there to be a good friend. These people could be your study group, best friends, mentors, or your parents. They don’t even have to be engineers, but they are the people that will help you move forward, achieve your goals, and become the best person you can be.

Lauren Boyle is a sophomore in Architectural Engineering and a Rover for WEPO'13.  To read more about Lauren visit her WEPO Profile: http://raindancer45.wix.com/ladyengineers#!lauren-boyle/c246t

Minors at Penn State

You did it! You are about to start one the best adventures of your lifetime and I am so excited that you are coming to Penn State! In the next four years, you will make a lot of exciting decisions but the largest will be choosing your major.  It may be difficult to pick just one topic to focus your engineering degree on, or it may be hard to figure out how to tailor your broad major to your varied interests.  That’s where minors come in.

Penn State has hundreds of minor programs spread through each of its colleges.  A minor program consists of 18 to 21 credits in a specific area that help you focus your education on a specific topic (or several topics).  This area can be anything!  You can minor within the College of Engineering in areas such as Nanotechnology, Engineering Leadership Development, or Engineering Mechanics.  Or you can minor in a different area such as a language, history, or the sciences.

I decided to diversify my Mechanical Engineering major by picking up two minors: Engineering Leadership Development and Energy Engineering.  The Engineering Leadership Development minor enables me to develop the leadership and business skills necessary to succeed in today’s global economy.  I work on international projects with engineering and business students from around the world.  Through the minor, I travelled to Budapest, Hungary this summer to work on a village plan for a company in Ethiopia with Hungarian business and economic students. 

I am also minoring in Energy Engineering through the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences.  This minor allows me to dive into my love for alternative energy and power generation while still maintaining the valuable skills learned in Mechanical Engineering.

Overall, minors are a great way to tailor your education to your interests. Everyone takes a different path to finding the plan that is best for them so take your time.  Explore the many unique experiences available at Penn State and shape your education to your interests through a minor program! 

Christine Hildenbrand is a senior in Mechanical Engineering and Mentor for WEPO'13!  To read more about Christine visit her WEPO Profile:

http://raindancer45.wix.com/ladyengineers#!christine-hildenbrand/c1cnf

Campus Guide: Where to Study, Hangout and Explore

Hey Ladies! Hope your summer is going great! I know that one of my favorite things to do is to explore towns. see where all the coolest places are, and to try all the food. As a freshman, you probably want to do some cool things with your new awesome friends, so here’s a list to help facilitate some awesome memories.

Obviously, we all have different study styles. The important thing is that you are studying and using all of the resources available to you. Some great places to study are:

• The Library- Penn State’s library has the really nifty things called The Stacks where everybody and their whole family tends to congregate during Finals Week but during the semester, it’s a good way to study if you like to shut everything out.
• The Hub- The Hub is my preferred place of studying. (Say hello if you see me- I’m usually by the Starbucks) It’s loud enough where you can get work done and quiet enough that you do not feel like you’re sitting in The Cone of Studying Shame.
• Empty Classrooms- I really like to study in empty classrooms in Willard or Hammond during exams because you get all this room to dance, draw on the chalkboard and belt out Disney Pandora. You can also bring a bunch of your friends and have a study party with food, hot men power points and Pandora radio… Trust me it’s a ton of fun :]
• Otto’s Café- In the Keller Graduate Building, there is a café what has comfy chairs, tables and perfect lighting for studying. I really enjoy studying between classes in Keller because you can get a ton of coffee (I really love coffee) and enjoy the light streaming through the window.

The next thing that we love as college students, we love to hang out and make new friends. Sometimes it gets boring to hangout in the same places so here are some nifty places to go.

• The Creamery- Some Creamery ice cream or frozen yogurt is a perfect way to talk about trouble with classes, boys and drama. It doesn’t hurt that it’s a far walk to burn off some calories and it has great salads to take home for dinner if you are like me and eat your dessert before dinner.
• The Arboretum- While it’s nice out, you should take a walk through the Arboretum. You can really learn a lot about plants and if you go at sunset, the view from the pavilion is gorgeous. It’s a really relaxing place to me and perfect place to get to know people.
• Kiwi – Downtown State College steals all of my money but Kiwi gets most of it. I love frozen yogurt and I think it’s a fun way to catch up with a friend that gets you off campus. I really love the flavor combinations. Last time, I got birthday cake frozen yogurt with sprinkles, chocolate chips, caramel and strawberries. That was delicious!
• Chipotle- The haven of all Mexican lovers, Chipotle in State College is a great way to catch up with a large group of people. My friends from PREF and I always go to Chipotle and get these large burritos and bond over the messes we make.
• Hub Late Night- This a great thing to do with friends when you want to do something low key and silly. They play movies at like 9 and 12 am, as well as offer deals on food and have fun crafts to make.

Lastly, you should explore the town you live in. There are a ton of things to do in State College that require a little forethought or begging someone to drive, but they are really fun and different than the usual escapades.

• State College’s Library- This library is not the biggest library I have ever went to but it’s a fun play to study as well as read children’s books obnoxiously with your friends. You can walk here and it’s near Panera Bread for refueling.
• Plato’s Closet- I had never heard of this store before I came to State College but it’s kind of like an upscale thrift shop. It’s filled with modern clothes that aren’t priced too badly and it’s a good place to buy a weird colored shirt for a contest or like the little things you need but do not want to pay the full price. You can take the V bus off campus, and stop and walk to get there.
• The Movies- Sometimes you really need to see a movie, especially sequels and crazy awesome new movies like The Hobbit. You can take the M bus out to the movie theatre and then take the M bus back or a taxi. I love doing this with my silliest friends because I just laugh the whole entire time. One taxi ride back, my best friend was singing his new versions of popular songs and it was just a great memory.
• Walmart and Dollar Tree- To celebrate people’s birthdays, I like to decorate their dorm room door or make them something fun. A trip to Dollar Tree or Walmart is required. These are places that you can find the weirdest things and create some of the sickest crafts with some neat supplies. You can take the V bus out and back for this trip.

I hope that this list can help you have a good time in State College and give you and your friends something to do with you that might be a little different from your usual. I made a little printable that you can keep with you or pin to your bulletin board for inspiration.

Taylor Lacey is a senior in Industrial Engineering and a Mentor for WEPO'13!  To read more about Taylor visit her WEPO Profile: http://raindancer45.wix.com/ladyengineers#!taylor-lacey/cffs

Find your Passion, and don’t be afraid to get involved!

I remember my freshman year after WEPO, I was a bit overwhelmed with all of the amazing opportunities at Penn State. I remember walking through the involvement fair in the HUB and so many different clubs looked super interesting. I got even MORE confused after I went to the amazing engineering involvement fair in Hammond Building. With all the fascinating clubs and activities, I wanted to get involved but I didn’t know how to start!

I signed up for a plethora of different clubs and got a LOT of emails about meetings at the beginning of the year. I thought I wanted to be a stand up comedian, be a choral songstress, and even be a casual croquet player.  None of the above panned out….for various reasons! I finally was dragged to a Society of Women Engineers meeting and really found that it aligned with my passion.  

In the spirit of Penn State awesomeness, I also decided to camp out for Penn State Home football games in what is now called Nittanyville (super fun)! Through these two experiences during my freshman year, I was able to create a network of amazing Penn Staters and this lead into more involvement opportunities during the next two years of my Penn State journey.

So my advice to all incoming Penn Staters is to go to many club meetings in the beginning of the year, find out what you enjoy and where you see yourself fitting in, and don’t be afraid to ask about further opportunities for involvement and leadership! Getting involved has certainly been one of the most beneficial and rewarding experiences of my time thus far, and Penn State has sooooooo much to do.

And as always, your WEPO family is fully stocked with women with a diverse bundle of experiences on campus, so look out for some cool WEPO flair and ask about how to get involved!

In the spirit of passion finding, here is one of my favorite inspiring quotes:

“Passion is the genesis of genius” --Tony Robbins

WEPOL<3VE

Lexi 

Alexandra "Lexi" Greene is a senior in Industrial Engineering and the Professional Development Lead for WEPO'13!  To read more about Lexi visit her WEPO Profile:

http://raindancer45.wix.com/ladyengineers#!lexi-greene/c1ybt

Why The Arts are Just as Important as Engineering

Throughout high school, music was always an important part of my life. Although I always knew I wanted to be an engineer, music was a strong passion of mine that I promised myself I would never give up in college. So I didn’t..

My name is Katrina Malaski and in the fall I will be a junior at Penn State University. I am majoring in Chemical Engineering and minoring in Music Performance with a concentration in oboe. You may think that sounds like a strange combination, but ironically I am not the only Chemical Engineer minoring in music, and definitely not the only engineer also pursuing a music degree.

If you’re reading this and don’t have any interest in music, don’t stop reading! No matter what your passions are besides engineering, it is important to not forget about the hobbies and interests that make you who you are, and to continue to pursue them in college.

Here are a few things I believe are very positive attributes of minoring in the arts..

1.) Expanding Your Friend Group - I’m sure you will find quickly that you will be spending the majority of your time surrounded by other engineers. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing, my best friends and roommate are friends I met through engineering, but sometimes it is good to get away from the math and science brains and surround yourself with people who share different and similar interests. Being involved with music in high school enabled me to form friendships with many people who now attend The Penn State School of Music. Being involved with instrumental groups at Penn State has allowed me to grow as a musician as well as form many new friendships.

2.) Escaping Engineering - When your first round of midterms approaches in the first semester, it is a usual occurrence for students to freak out and not know how to successfully manage their time. Don’t worry, somehow you’ll get through it and when it’s over, music can be a great escape route. I always find myself running to the music building to practice after a big exam or project is due. Music allows me to be able to escape all the math formulas or chemistry reactions crammed into my brain and focus on a larger picture such as a piece of music. For you, your escape may not be music, but whatever it may be, I’m sure it is just as important.

3.) Small Talk in Job Interviews - One great thing about being involved in the arts is that everyone who will interview you, will always interested in how you balance engineering and the arts. I have found that many professional engineers have also had an interest in music (Including Cheryl!) at either a high school or college level. Music truly is a universal language and can open many doors as well as connect you with many people throughout your life.

4.) Boosting Your GPA - Over the past two years I have found that by enrolling in music classes, I am able to excell much easier than in some of my harder engineering classes. A music performance minor is an additional 22 credits, some of which I find can boost my GPA during a difficult semester. As a music performance minor, I can choose certain classes that I want to take and that I know I will be excited about. In this way, my minor enables me to focus on areas of music I want to advance in. It is also an extremely flexible minor for whatever classes I choose to study, making it that much easier for me to accomplish to my goal.

Regardless of whether your passion is the arts or not, it is definitely worth considering a minor even if it is something far different from engineering. If you plan to continue with the arts in college by taking lessons, performing, etc., why not pick up a minor while doing so? If you choose to pursue a minor in something completely different than engineering, chances are someone has already done, or is doing, what you plan to achieve. Talk early to advisers to make sure you can achieve the minor you want, and without a doubt I am sure you can too be successful.

Katrina Malaski is a junior in Chemical Engineering and Mentor for WEPO'13!  To read more about Katrina visit her WEPO Profile:

http://raindancer45.wix.com/ladyengineers#!katrina-malaski/c3c0

My Favorite Penn State Activity: THON

Before I even came to Penn State everyone was telling me about THON and I was really excited to get involved.  Even though I knew what it was, people say that to really understand it you need to experience it for yourself, and they’re right.  For those of you who don’t know, THON is a 46 hour no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon that is held in the Bryce Jordan Center.  The money raised is donated to the Four Diamonds Fund for the fight against pediatric cancer.

Even though the actual dance marathon is only one weekend in February, THON is a yearlong activity.  Once you get to campus, you start to hear about it more and more.  Throughout the year there will be THON merchandise sales, canning trips, and other fundraising events to raise money for the kids (FTK!).

Last year I ended up spending about 36 of the 46 hours at THON and I loved every second of it. From learning the line dance to seeing the final reveal of all the money raised, THON weekend was definitely one of my best weekends at Penn State.  I chose to get involved with THON through Penn State Club Gymnastics that I am a part of, so I went on canning trips with them and spent a majority of the weekend in our section at THON.  At the end of the weekend I was more tired than I had ever been before and I could barely feel my legs, but I wouldn’t have changed a thing about my experience!

I know that as engineers we’re all extremely busy and have a lot of schoolwork, but everyone needs a break at some point.  I really encourage you to use that as an opportunity to become involved in THON.  There are so many ways to get involved whether it be by joining a committee or participating in one of the many student clubs and organizations.

I hope this makes you want to become a part of THON because I’m so excited for THON 2014!  If you want to know more just go to http://thon.org FTK! (:

I can’t wait to meet everyone at WEPO in August!

Sarah Cooperman is a sophomore in Civil Engineering and Rover for WEPO'13!  To read more about Sarah visit her WEPO Profile:

http://raindancer45.wix.com/ladyengineers#!sarah-cooperman/c5a1