What’s in my Browser Favorites?

You may have already noticed that Penn State has different websites for everything.  There are so many important sites to know and I want to help by explaining what gets done where!

Lionpath.psu.edu – Hopefully you know what LionPATH is by now and understand some of what goes on here.  You use this site to schedule classes, see your grades at the end of the semester, pay your bills, accept your scholarships, declare your major and so much more.  I would recommend exploring LionPATH so you feel comfortable and can get the most out of using it.

eLiving.psu.edu – This is another site you should be familiar with.  This one is important for arranging your housing contract, and meal plan.  You should visit this site during your first week on campus to fill out your Resident Hall checklist so that you are not held responsible for any damage that already exists in your room.  Another quick reminder – you can change your meal plan at any point before the last two weeks of a semester and while dining dollars will roll over from Fall to Spring, any leftovers you have when you leave in May will be lost.

lmstools.ais.psu.edu/login/ldapfps - Canvas will probably be your most visited site during the school year.  This is where teachers will post assignments, grades, online quizzes and so much more!

idcard.psu.edu/– Here is where you can manage your LionCash.  If you are still confused, you can use LionCash in the dining halls but won’t get the same discounts as you do with dining dollars.  You can also use LionCash some places downtown which is super convenient.  Oh and this is how you pay for laundry!

psu.edu/directory – Ever need to look up a teacher’s email or office address, this is where you go.  You can also find your friend’s psu emails here as well.

Map.psu.edu – If you ever need a searchable map of campus, this is your spot.

Menus.hfs.psu.edu – For when you need to decide whether to go to Pollock or South for Lunch, here are the menus for the different dining halls.

studentaffairs.psu.edu/campusrec/strength/ - if you want to be healthy and hit up the gym, check the availability and class schedules here.

engr.psu.edu/career/students/resources/ecareer - For information about employers, internships, the career fair and much more visit this page.

Now there are a few other sites that will help guide you through your time at Penn State.

ratemyprofessors.com - While you should not take these ratings as the gospel truth.  Remember though – a hard teacher is not always a bad teacher, you are here to learn.

Amazon.com – I don’t think I need to explain this one, but you can sometimes find textbooks cheaper here than you will at the bookstore.

Gmail.com – If you don’t already have one, you should probably get one.  Google drive will be a lifesaver during group projects and you will have to fill out plenty of google forms so this is a good place to start.

orderup.com/some/statecollege/delivery/featured – So not your cheapest food option but one of the lazier ways to eat, have your food delivered to your dorm.

Hope these help you begin to start navigating your way through college life!

By: Jackie Trautman

Avoiding Your AHHH Moment

Welcome to college!  Now that you are here, we need you to do A, B, C, D……… and you should be involved in this, that and every other thing…….  Holy crap! Entering college can be overwhelming!  Regardless of how much we warn you and tell you to brace yourself I can guarantee you that you will have a moment where you feel completely overwhelmed.  It may come in the first day, the first week, the first month or closer to the end of the first semester, but there will be a time when it seems like there is just too to handle.  In that moment I want you to pause, take a second to breathe and remember a few things:

IT IS OKAY TO BE FREAKING OUT!!! Everyone has those moments, its college it’s supposed to be a bit scary.  You are doing something completely new and that can be frightening for anyone.  Again, take a deep breath and assess the situation.  Sometimes our emotions just get the better of us, but typically there are one or two things at the root of our panic so try and figure out what those are and you will better understand how to combat your AAAAAHHHHHHHHH moment.

IT IS GOOD TO ASK FOR HELP!!! Talk to your friends, your roommate, your professor, whoever you feel comfortable talking too.  Try talking to your WEPO mentor or Rover; that is what we are here for.  WEP does not end after three days, we are a network of support and a community willing to help!  Ask questions, ask for advice, or just talk with us.  Sometimes the best reassurance is talking to someone who has gone through the same things.  With that in mind…

CALL YOUR MOM, DAD, SISTER, BROTHER, GRANDMA OR SOME OTHER PERSON FROM HOME!!!  Sometimes you just need someone who knows you to tell you that it will be alright.  You have people who care for you, and although they may be a bit further than before, they are still reachable.

Now, here are a few things to help prevent or diminish that freak out moment:

ALMOST NOTHING IS MANDATORY!!!  While some things are highly recommended, you are entering a period of your life when you get to choose.  Should you attend class, yes (you really really should), but ultimately the choice is up to you.  Should you come to your RA’s meetings, again yes, but if you miss once or twice they will not kill you.  If you need to miss something, it will not be the end of the world.  Do try though to understand that some opportunities come along less often than others.

PUT SCHOOL FIRST!!!  Clubs, involvement, research, jobs; there will be other things in your life besides school, and sometimes they can be very important.  Just remember what you are paying thousands of dollars for…

YOU WILL HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY!!!  You will receive countless emails daily asking for your attention.  Club meetings, career events and opportunities, research, jobs and so much more.  Just remember, pay attention to the ones which are a bit rarer so make sure you balance your needs and wants.  You may be able to put something off for a semester or a year so once again, breathe.

IT IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD!!!  One bad test, one missed class, one skipped event, one jerk of a person; none of these things will kill you or even hurt your chances of success.  While it is important to try and make smart choices, you are capable of recovering from anything if you are willing to fight through.

I hope I am not being too dramatic, I just want you to understand that we have all stood where you now stand and you are not alone.  Remember, pause, take a deep breath and try and relax, it will turn out okay in the end.

Jackie Trautman is a sophomore majoring in Mechanical Engineering and is a Rover for WEPO’16!