With two weeks left in the semester, exams looming overhead and holiday spirit spewing from our kitchens and car radios in the form of honey baked hams and “Jingle Bell Rock,” there probably isn’t much room in your oversensitized brains to think about the future. Since most of us at the Crow’s Nest have a few years at USFSP under our belts # some of us preparing to graduate in six months # we’ll offer some insight on how to get the most out of your spring semester. Whether it’s your last semester or only round two, here’s to a successful 2014.
Raise your hand. We aren’t all talkers. Some of us prefer to sit in silence and take in the perspectives of fellow classmates, agreeing with or debating them in our mind rather than out loud. Next semester, raise your hand in class and voice your opinion. If you’re not used to speaking up in class, doing so can be an enthralling experience, especially when a conversation evolves from your remark. And in most classes, participation will boost your grade.
Join a student organization. Think about what interests you, whether extracurricular or academic, and join the associated organization. If you’re an avid kayaker, join the Marine Adventures Club. If you’re passionate about writing and storytelling, attend a Writer’s Club meeting. One of the best things about joining an interest club, is that everyone involved shares your passion. There’s no better way to find lifelong friends than by seeking people who enjoy and appreciate the same things you do. Whether you’re crazy about politics, music, gardening or tight-rope walking, there is someone else on campus who gets it. And if there isn’t a pre-existing outlet that suits you, start your own club.
Learn something different. Take a class on something you’ve never considered before. Step outside your major (your degree requires you to) and explore. Fill an outstanding credit with a class on pirates and maritime history or the rivers of Florida (yes, USFSP offers both). It may end up being the most interesting class you’ve ever taken. Research well-liked professors and take a class from someone you know you’ll like, regardless of the subject matter. Escaping from classes related to your major is refreshing and can offer healthy perspective.
Get to know your city. You live in one of the most diverse and beautiful cities in the state. Take advantage of it. Take a drive to St. Pete Beach or Treasure Island. The weight of your 200-page reading assignment will be eased by the salt air and sound of rolling waves. Spend a Saturday morning on a tour through downtown with the St. Petersburg Preservation Society. The buildings you overlook daily will suddenly have meaning.
Find a hideaway. Take a break from your dorm room or the library and find a place to study off campus. Sometimes its necessary to step beyond white walls and musty book shelves for inspiration to manifest. Walk to Kahwa on Second Avenue South or Hooker Tea Company on Beach Drive. Both spots are cozy caffeine suppliers perfect for writing A+ essays or working through business calculus exercises.
Take an internship. There’s only so much you can learn in the classroom. Practical experience in the working world is one of the most valuable things you can earn to supplement your degree. Enroll for class credit or find a paid internship to take place of a part-time job (though that’s easier said than done). Spruce up your resume (the Career Center can help with that), put on a tie and find a position that will give you a taste of your potential. In today’s market, internships are basically a requirement for getting a job. Chances are, taking one will make you more eager to break into the real world after college. But it’s also a good test to make sure you won’t be miserable in the field you’ve already tied yourself too.
Meet your representatives. Twenty students were just elected to Student Government Senate to serve you. Introduce yourself and let them know how they can make your experience at USFSP better. That’s why they’re here. Go to a SG general assembly meeting in the University Student Center ballroom at 3 p.m. on a Wednesday and make your voice heard.
The Crow’s Nest staff wishes you all a restful, stress-free winter break, abundant with happiness and homemade pies (which are essentially the same thing).
