Shane D

Making the decision - It's your life.

Ok, so I may be a Senior but I remember like it was yesterday making the decision of which college I was going to attend. It was like everyone I talked to had their own opinion about where I should go. Then there were the people that would tell me whatever I decide will affect the rest of my life - cause that didn't make me nervous at all. (yea, right.) The truth is, yea it will affect your life where ever you choose but saying it like that is a total misrepresentation. Any school you pick, you're going to become familiar with the area that the school is located. From that point on, it's what you make of it; what you get involved in; and what you choose to do with your life. The Career Development department at any school will more than likely be focused on the surrounding area, but that doesn't mean you're limited to it. For me, Sacred Heart not only seemed like the best fit, but it was also under an hours distance from the city. But that's me and you may feel different about where you want to go. What I'm trying to say is that you shouldn't let anyone discourage you from where ever you choose just because of their opinion because they might be totally wrong. Do what you feel best.

Adaptation....

Recently, I've been thinking... How did I get to where I am now? It seems like yesterday I was taking my first class Freshman year wondering how I would make it through four years of college work. So far, Senior year has been insane with work. Obviously, combined with post-graduate arrangements it's been a little stressful. I stopped for a minute while doing some work the other day and wondered how I went from thinking I had so much work Freshman year when I had one project due the next week, to doing four projects in one week and not even thinking twice about it. It may sounds a little intimidating, but not to worry; it's part of the process. It wasn't hard to figure out that the university has a plan for the students. You're not thrown in to the deep end and hope you float. They start you out in the shallow end and gradually prepare you for the dive into the deep end. But like I said, you won't realize you're swimming out there. It's a given that the work comes with the college deal. If you don't know that, well, maybe you should research college a little more. It may seem frustrating at times, and it will be; but it becomes really helpful in the long-run. Multi-tasking becomes second nature, and the hustle of the post-grad world is second nature. It's not just what you learn in college, but how you learn it.

As always, feel free to leave a comment or question and I'll get back to you...

Shane

How to get around at SHU

So how do you get around as a freshman living on campus? Easy. The SHU Shuttle, or the SHUttle as many people call it. In total we have five mini buses, all of which have flat screen tv's installed in them for longer rides. Three of them run between upperclassmen housing around the local area and the other two run between Stop and Shop located about two miles away, and the Trumbull Mall which is even closer. The plaza that Stop and Shop is located in has a bunch of stuff including Staples, Quiznos, Friendly's, and Coldstone Ice Cream. The Trumbull Mall has a ton of stuff; everything from Abercrombie and Fitch to different restaurants like Ruby Tuesdays. I think it goes without saying that as a freshman, it's not like you won't still be able to shop for whatever you want or have no other dinning options than the ones on campus. The shuttle even takes trips to downtown Fairfield and BlackRock Turnpike which is an entire strip with more restaurants and shops. There's a lot of options up here, so don't worry about a thing. We've got you covered.

Study Abroad - There's nothing like it.

Being an undergrad here at Sacred Heart doesn't mean you have to stay on the CT campus during your time here. In fact, that would be a shame if you did. SHU offers incredible opportunities to study abroad. I would strongly suggest studying abroad for a semester, because there is really nothing like it. There is the option to go during Spring Break, or a two week January term, or a two week May term. But studying abroad for an entire semester is an entirely different experience. It doesn't become just a trip anymore; it becomes your life for four months. Personally, I went for a semester to Ireland and I wish I was back there. Leaving was incredibly hard. You can also travel to Italy, Spain, Luxembourg, and a couple other places I can't remember. It's all on the website though. I never thought I would be able to last an entire semester away from SHU until I got there. I went with two other friends, although you make plenty of friends over there. Yea, I was nervous. My friends were back at SHU and I wasn't with them. I was afraid of what I would miss and if it would be the same with them when I got back. Basically, I worried for nothing. Everything was just the way it was when I got back, aside from missing some pieces to a few inside jokes. But I had this incredible experience that no one could relate to accept the people I was there with. We traveled so much of Europe because, well, that's what you do when you're there. Flights between countries start at .99 cents, so taking a weekend trip to another country was no problem and an incredible experience. There's so much to experience out there that cannot be compared to anything here. Just experiencing the culture differences and having fun with the local crowd is amazing. If I could do it all over again, I would in a second. Now it's time for you to have your adventure. Don't miss out. You won't regret it.

The Park Avenue House - There when you need it

So a lot of people might think that when they come to college and their having trouble either adjusting or have a personal issue that they have no where to turn without family around you. Not true. The Park Avenue House is Sacred Heart University's counseling center. The Park Avenue House is used a lot for all different kinds of students. Trained counselors are there for you at any time free of charge. If you just need to talk about something you're going through, you're having issues with adjusting to college, or you just want someone to talk to in confidentiality, the Park Ave House is there for you. A division of the Park Ave House is the Health Center and the Peer Education Team. The Health Center is just like going to the doctors office, and free of charge to visit. They can even distribute medication if your sick and it's usually at a cheaper price than going to the local pharmacy. The Peer Education Team is a group of students, Freshman through Seniors, that you see all over campus. They're usually hosting an event to inform the student body of information that may come as a surprise and to encourage a healthy lifestyle, which can sometimes be difficult in a college setting. They even hold STD testing at least once a year for students who wish to participate. There are endless sources for an SHU student in regards to both mental and physical health. No need to worry - we've got you covered.   

What to do here...honestly

The subject title is a little grim, but I thought it might catch your attention. One of my questions I had when applying to college was the things to do on and around the campus - coming from a student and not the admissions office. Whether you are worried about SHU being a party school or a school that has nothing to do, I'll do my best to clear things up for you. Sacred Heart is really a big mix between the extremes. Say you're not big into partying or you're just a little low key, it's not a problem. A lot of people will just hang out in the dorms any day of the week and just chill with friends, play some games, watch movies, whatever. My friends and I did that a lot, especially when our days or weeks would be really busy and we just wanted to relax. If you're into having a good time and like going out, there's plenty of that too. Since you won't have a car freshman year, the shuttle runs to a bunch of good areas and there are plenty of cab companies around here. Between Trumbull, Fairfield, Milford, and New Haven (all close to school) there is plenty to do. No one ever has had trouble finding a good time (responsibly of course). Not only do those areas have great spots but they have a ton of goof restaurants to hang out with your friends at too. Whatever type of person you are, you can have a good time.

Keep those questions coming.

Spring Break! It's not all about Cancun...

Alright, so when people here about college Spring Break, most think about Cancun, Alca Pulco, and all the other hot places. To be honest, yea, a lot of people do go to those places. I've been there myself. But we also have many other options if that's not your thing. Actually, we've had a ton of people go to the hot places and then do an alternative Spring Break the following year and usually get hooked. An alternative Spring Break is a trip through the school to various destinations for a specific cause. SHU Habitat is the biggest alternative Spring Break organizer, which I happen to be Vice President of and have participated in these trips. This year we're going to North Carolina, Mississippi, Arizona, and Texas totaling over 75 students. Each trip goes to their destination to build a house in a week which we call a "blitz build." You don't need any construction experience or anything like that. What you don't know, we'll teach you. There are also mission trips such as El Salvatore. They go down to El Salvatore and help build the community and help with the children, families, schools, and things like that. Everyone who comes back from any of these trips comes back waiting for the next one. You can't really understand it until you've gone. Whatever school you end up at, check it out if it's available. But Sacred Heart University has an awesome Service Learning and Community Service departments.

Keep the questions/comments coming!

 

yea, it can get stressful

Stress is normal thing, this we all know. When entering college, there's going to be stress. For most people, the work load is a lot different. It's not anywhere near the point where you have to lock yourself in your room for days just to get it all done, but it's an adjustment. First semester of freshman year is not too bad. Most of the professors recognize that almost all of the class is coming straight out of high school, so they do a pretty good job of getting you set up right. There will still be plenty of time to socialize and have a good time. The best way to help stress is to know how to deal with it. The Pitt Center, which is our field house, is just at the top of campus. It makes it a real easy walk to the gym which is a great. My friends and I made it a habit to get to the gym every day, even if it was just to run a little. It's great when you need a break from your work because most of the time you are able to come back focused and refreshed which makes for better concentration. Other people walk to the SHU market place to grab a snack or some ice cream. Others might just go for a walk around campus or hang with some friends in the dorm. There's a lot of ways to deal with stress - you just need to find what works best for you.

Keep the questions comin. I'll write about what you wanna know...

That whole work after graduation deal...

Almost every student, at some point or another, has some concern about what they will be doing after graduation. Some start thinking about it before even entering college and others wait until the moment arrives. Sacred Heart University puts our minds at ease here by having an awesome Career Development Service. Whether you have simply questions for them or want your resume to shine to getting placed in an awesome internship or job, they do it all. Being a Senior, I've noticed it a little more lately. I never realized actually how many workshops and preparation classes they constantly offer. There are always businesses on campus coming to interview and recruit students. Basically, my point is that whatever major you are or whatever job you're interested in, the chances of you getting what you want are pretty damn high. I'm sure it's on the website somewhere but I think we have one of the highest placement rates for students around. Yea, we're kind of a big deal.

I have to live where?!

There are all kinds of different stories told about college housing. Some of the stories sound great, some sound like a day with Michael Jackson. It's really not bad, and usually works out great. Out of all the schools I saw when applying to college (and man did I see a lot of them) there were two that I was impressed with, and Sacred Heart was one of them. The oldest dorm we have was built in 1994. Granted, we're not the oldest school, but that's still pretty good. Every dorm we have is air conditioned, which doesn't sound like a huge deal but just wait until those hot days come. The whole roommate situation can be a little nerve wracking to some people, and that's totally normal. Most people become really good friends with their roommate. After all, you are sharing a room together. You also get a chance to meet some of their friends and expand your "network." There is always that chance that you are your roommate don't get along. It sucks, but it happens. It's not as big of a deal as it sounds! First of all, there will be a questionnaire that Sacred Heart will send home about housing. It's really important that you're honest on it because it's how they match you and your roommate. If you're not, you're only hurting your chances to have a great roommate. If it doesn't work out, a few weeks into the school year, you have the option to change rooms. They will match you up with either someone you made friends with, should they not like their roommate either, or the next best personality to match yours that's also looking for a change. It's important that you compromise. I know, not many people like to have to compromise, but you're sharing a room with at least one other person; they're getting used to your ways too. So don't stress about it. Just do it with an open mind and you'll be good. Honestly, if you ask any of the seniors here, they'll all say how much they loved living in the freshman dorms. It's awesome.

Give me somethin to write about! Keep your comments coming and I'll keep my posts goin with the 411.