Free Open Source Software Club aka FOSS club, is what I was invited to since the last time I have updated this blog. I am learning so many new things! Tech terminology, how to use command lines (command thru text instead of the point/click method), plus the people & atmosphere is wonderful. I've heard about open source via articles/friends, however, I did not know the depth of resource abundance that open source (and software!) offers. Basically, we are able to use all of the features we buy from Mac and Windows...for free! You name it: games, word processors, spreadsheets, photo editing software, and galor. I know, I needed to take a breather, too.
This club offers members run-downs, tutorials, and being a tech-savvy individual. By the end of the year, I hope to level up and become a tech-ninja. :)
The meetings are Mondays 11pm. If interested, click on the link above that forwards you the FOSS club's facebook site.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Saturday, October 3, 2009
End of Week 1 beginning of Week 2: Slump? I think not.
The kickoff of Week 1 for the Fall 2009 quarter at UCI is definitely a spectrum; it is overwhelming, fun, and can sometimes be confusing. The student has an array of different organizations lined up all over ring road (most often abbreviated as RR) enticing the new students of UCI to participate in their organization, program, workshops, etc. Indeed these organizations provide enriching material and experience to the student's UCI life: it brings the student increased networking, sometimes new-found qualities/strengths, and even creating beautiful friendships; naturally the student would want to be involved in well, all of them!
A few points of caveat, though: remember...aside from having enough of a worry to find and get acclimated to which gargantuan building structure or which isolated classrom is for what lecture, discussion, or seminar course you have-- there is also a time factor for the amount of study put in to the courses you are taking. And, considering that the reader is a transfer student-- study time really does matter. In comparison from a JC/CC (Junior College/Community College), the University requires that the student is totally independent during their educational journey. The professor will basically hand you the syllabus and gloss through it in class. The professor automatically dives into the lectures topics, because we do only have 10 weeks to finish a course, ya know. So... take some down time to read through the syllabus thoroughly, please. It will be beneficial for the student, guaranteed. At times, professors forget the *will drop a lowest quiz score* feat, go off schedule (ahead/behind), or change percentages in grades; but it all grinds down to what the syllabus says and how the professor [may] adjust it. Be on top of it!
As a word of advice for the the transfer student regarding the numerous amounts of organizations they can be involved in, the key idea is to inquire in all of the organizations the student is interested in: sign up for their mailing lists, their uci organization website, listservs, facebook groups etc. Visit the booths that are dispersed all over RR. All throughout the quarter, many clubs are there advertising! And, don't forget to ask questions: Things such as, what does the organization offer for the student, what activities the organization will offer throughout the course of the year, what have the past acitivities been, what networking opportunities will there be, what array of majors typically join the club (because it is great to get to know students of different majors, too!) Then, once the student becomes familiar with the opportunities offered by the organization, pick one or two organizations/programs that would be of real great interest. Point is, it is beneficial for the student to join an organization that allows them some "release time" from other factors that can drain them during the quarter (ie: studying for courses, etc). Join an organization for this release time, but don't let it take up the time where it interferes with the student's ability to study for their major. Think of it is as: studying the major is the "body" and joining these clubs/orgs is a "supplement to strengthen the body" The student does not want to oversupplement and be stuck in a slump. Be smart about it :D.
A few points of caveat, though: remember...aside from having enough of a worry to find and get acclimated to which gargantuan building structure or which isolated classrom is for what lecture, discussion, or seminar course you have-- there is also a time factor for the amount of study put in to the courses you are taking. And, considering that the reader is a transfer student-- study time really does matter. In comparison from a JC/CC (Junior College/Community College), the University requires that the student is totally independent during their educational journey. The professor will basically hand you the syllabus and gloss through it in class. The professor automatically dives into the lectures topics, because we do only have 10 weeks to finish a course, ya know. So... take some down time to read through the syllabus thoroughly, please. It will be beneficial for the student, guaranteed. At times, professors forget the *will drop a lowest quiz score* feat, go off schedule (ahead/behind), or change percentages in grades; but it all grinds down to what the syllabus says and how the professor [may] adjust it. Be on top of it!
As a word of advice for the the transfer student regarding the numerous amounts of organizations they can be involved in, the key idea is to inquire in all of the organizations the student is interested in: sign up for their mailing lists, their uci organization website, listservs, facebook groups etc. Visit the booths that are dispersed all over RR. All throughout the quarter, many clubs are there advertising! And, don't forget to ask questions: Things such as, what does the organization offer for the student, what activities the organization will offer throughout the course of the year, what have the past acitivities been, what networking opportunities will there be, what array of majors typically join the club (because it is great to get to know students of different majors, too!) Then, once the student becomes familiar with the opportunities offered by the organization, pick one or two organizations/programs that would be of real great interest. Point is, it is beneficial for the student to join an organization that allows them some "release time" from other factors that can drain them during the quarter (ie: studying for courses, etc). Join an organization for this release time, but don't let it take up the time where it interferes with the student's ability to study for their major. Think of it is as: studying the major is the "body" and joining these clubs/orgs is a "supplement to strengthen the body" The student does not want to oversupplement and be stuck in a slump. Be smart about it :D.
Friday, September 18, 2009
The previous post and Involvement
I don't know if the video down below is obscure to people when I say it relates to becoming a successful student, but just as a caveat, do not take it in a literal sense!
A dear friend of mine showed this video to me when I was telling them of my adventures/dreams/plans at UC Irvine. It did put me in my place when Tuco says "when you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk." This told me, if you want to get involved, then get invovled. Take all the necessary steps to gather up the info, do the research, and shoot for your goals. UCI is YOUR sand-box, beta, or whatever you want to think of it to what you face in the real world. I keep that as a mantra.
My goal for UC Irvine when I transferred over was to get involved in campus opportunities right away since my CC didn't offer as many organizations or clubs that were as proactive as UCI's orgs and clubs. I transferred over during the Winter 2009 quarter and let me tell ya, ya gotta seek those resources out! The winter entrance to UCI is like that scenario where everything is still and there's a cricket chirping somewhere....yeah. haha!
So...one thing I found useful was to familiarize myself with the school's website. I thought of my current standing as a UCI student and thought of what kind of keywords search terms relate to my interests in getting involved on campus. An example of these terms were "leadership, transfer student, math, anthropology, clubs, study abroad, etc" This step itself is more than a 2 hour study. I found Dean of Students (DOS), Transfer Student Services (TSS), and many more! So much information is already provided to the student if they only do their research that relate to their interests. The next step after the research process was the meeting and greeting. Attend the workshops an org you've research might offer, join seminars, visit the offices, visit the faculty--and if you're extra adventurous approach people and just ask, ask, ask! Don't hold back because (1) this is for your benefit and (2) c'mon you're paying for this education! Well, someone is.
Here is a pulse on what's up during my UCI academic year and things I'm looking forward to:
*Internship - I'm in an internship called the Keys to Transfer Success Mentor Internship. It is part of the Dept. of Undergraduate Education (DUE). The program hooks up the intern with collected, comprehensive, and very very useful information about "everything UCI" and the intern uses this information to guide transfer students whenever questions arise. We mentors are available in the Transfer Student Center & Lounge
*First physics class - 7ABD series including labwork. I'm excited!! I've finally finish all my calculus classes that I can't wait to be experimenting/playing in the physics labs and learning how to apply the math I've learned!:D
*First formal Latin class!
*Revamping this blog site - The motivation for this ties into joining the KTSMIP (keys to transfer success mentor internship program). Aside from my personal experiences @UCI blog posts, keep an eye out for more useful links posts, motivating and inspiring proverbs/mantra posts, and many more
*More networking! More contacts! More friends!
Getting involved on campus really ups the overall University life experience. I'm glad I'm involved in different places where I'm not only limited to my school, department, or major. It's fun to sit at the starbucks, student center, or even running into a mate in the coursebooks floor of the bookstore and getting to know them better and what they're doing in life. It's inspiring to hear the challenges, the involvement, and the things they are doing as a UCI student.
So get involved if you're a transfer student! And, if you're a prospective student, research your opportunities even if you're still at your community college and get excited because it'll be an adventurous journey.
A dear friend of mine showed this video to me when I was telling them of my adventures/dreams/plans at UC Irvine. It did put me in my place when Tuco says "when you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk." This told me, if you want to get involved, then get invovled. Take all the necessary steps to gather up the info, do the research, and shoot for your goals. UCI is YOUR sand-box, beta, or whatever you want to think of it to what you face in the real world. I keep that as a mantra.
My goal for UC Irvine when I transferred over was to get involved in campus opportunities right away since my CC didn't offer as many organizations or clubs that were as proactive as UCI's orgs and clubs. I transferred over during the Winter 2009 quarter and let me tell ya, ya gotta seek those resources out! The winter entrance to UCI is like that scenario where everything is still and there's a cricket chirping somewhere....yeah. haha!
So...one thing I found useful was to familiarize myself with the school's website. I thought of my current standing as a UCI student and thought of what kind of keywords search terms relate to my interests in getting involved on campus. An example of these terms were "leadership, transfer student, math, anthropology, clubs, study abroad, etc" This step itself is more than a 2 hour study. I found Dean of Students (DOS), Transfer Student Services (TSS), and many more! So much information is already provided to the student if they only do their research that relate to their interests. The next step after the research process was the meeting and greeting. Attend the workshops an org you've research might offer, join seminars, visit the offices, visit the faculty--and if you're extra adventurous approach people and just ask, ask, ask! Don't hold back because (1) this is for your benefit and (2) c'mon you're paying for this education! Well, someone is.
Here is a pulse on what's up during my UCI academic year and things I'm looking forward to:
*Internship - I'm in an internship called the Keys to Transfer Success Mentor Internship. It is part of the Dept. of Undergraduate Education (DUE). The program hooks up the intern with collected, comprehensive, and very very useful information about "everything UCI" and the intern uses this information to guide transfer students whenever questions arise. We mentors are available in the Transfer Student Center & Lounge
*First physics class - 7ABD series including labwork. I'm excited!! I've finally finish all my calculus classes that I can't wait to be experimenting/playing in the physics labs and learning how to apply the math I've learned!:D
*First formal Latin class!
*Revamping this blog site - The motivation for this ties into joining the KTSMIP (keys to transfer success mentor internship program). Aside from my personal experiences @UCI blog posts, keep an eye out for more useful links posts, motivating and inspiring proverbs/mantra posts, and many more
*More networking! More contacts! More friends!
Getting involved on campus really ups the overall University life experience. I'm glad I'm involved in different places where I'm not only limited to my school, department, or major. It's fun to sit at the starbucks, student center, or even running into a mate in the coursebooks floor of the bookstore and getting to know them better and what they're doing in life. It's inspiring to hear the challenges, the involvement, and the things they are doing as a UCI student.
So get involved if you're a transfer student! And, if you're a prospective student, research your opportunities even if you're still at your community college and get excited because it'll be an adventurous journey.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Let me feed you some motivation through visual media! :D
Here's a video that basically sums up the motive on becoming a successful student...University or not. Enjoy!
On another note, UCIrvine Transfer Student update: I'm back on campus for summer school! Keeping up with my twitter now. And, have found places to get involved in!
On another note, UCIrvine Transfer Student update: I'm back on campus for summer school! Keeping up with my twitter now. And, have found places to get involved in!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Summertime with the UCI Transfer Student
After plunging through class after class at a community college, I've decided to take my first summer break since summer 2006. It feels great!!! At the same time, I get a reality check of how things will be if you don't really keep in the [school] loop. There are times where I feel like I should have something done by so-and-so date, yet I remember, "Oh hey, I'm on summer vacation!" Being on a break for once helps remind me that things do not get done unless you yourself will do it! Because, in summer, you have a schedule all to yourself! I will start up the second summer session at UCI (couldn't go without school for that long!) on August 3rd. Classes that will be taken are: English 28B and Math 2E.
Upon reflection from the two quarters that I've experienced at UCI, I can definitely say that the UC system is much more challenging than the community college system. This is mainly because staff/faculty of the University system could care less of what the individual does-- in a sense that you're not spoon fed your material. They are not given the same material/literature constantly, nor are they reminded too much about upcoming deadlines. It is solely the individuals' responsibility to keep up with his/her engagements. This also leads to the observation that University students are friendlier than community college students on the whole. I found that students at the University tend to collaborate as a group more than community college (CC) students. This I suppose is because most CC campuses tend to have students who are in and out of the campus; be it they have a job to go to, a family, or they just aren't in the mood to be "in school."
Overall, I can say that being in the UC system challenges me in so many ways, mainly in the areas on managing time & resources. The UC system provides the student with abundant resources and new technology at their disposal, it is just the way the student uses it and interacts with these tools. When I think of myself at UCI, I feel that it is like being at a sand-box. We're here to prepare ourselves for whats "out there."
Cheers.
Upon reflection from the two quarters that I've experienced at UCI, I can definitely say that the UC system is much more challenging than the community college system. This is mainly because staff/faculty of the University system could care less of what the individual does-- in a sense that you're not spoon fed your material. They are not given the same material/literature constantly, nor are they reminded too much about upcoming deadlines. It is solely the individuals' responsibility to keep up with his/her engagements. This also leads to the observation that University students are friendlier than community college students on the whole. I found that students at the University tend to collaborate as a group more than community college (CC) students. This I suppose is because most CC campuses tend to have students who are in and out of the campus; be it they have a job to go to, a family, or they just aren't in the mood to be "in school."
Overall, I can say that being in the UC system challenges me in so many ways, mainly in the areas on managing time & resources. The UC system provides the student with abundant resources and new technology at their disposal, it is just the way the student uses it and interacts with these tools. When I think of myself at UCI, I feel that it is like being at a sand-box. We're here to prepare ourselves for whats "out there."
Cheers.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Week 5 - Yep, you're quite the student, all right.
From twenty units to 13. Wee. I am a Student, Student I am. My mind is still locked on how the Mathematics department evaluates certain Professors. It is not fair that students drop a class just because they cannot understand a Professors articulation. Hm, I wonder, wonder, wonder...
Prospective transfers to UCI-- use these five resources for future UCI affairs. You should still visit a UCI Transfer Counselor for verification, but these resources helped cleared the transfer process confusion:
Prospective transfers to UCI-- use these five resources for future UCI affairs. You should still visit a UCI Transfer Counselor for verification, but these resources helped cleared the transfer process confusion:
- UCI Student Catalogue (basically your Guide to everything, Read It, Memorize It, Learn It, it's on paper, they can't argue with you..unless you have an old version of course)
- Course Articulation - If you know your major and unsure what classes you want to finish at your college, use this database. Note: Sometimes admins. have not updated the current articulation agreement within the recent year...keep an eye out!
- Transfer Student Services - A guide specifically for prospective UCI students, and transfer students. They even have a lounge devoted to Transfer Students!
- TAG Agreement - TAG= Transfer Admission Guarantee, if you fulfill the requirements, you are eligible to be guaranteed for UCI Admission!
- Application Process - This was probably the most difficult part of my transfer process. Everything you do after submitting your application will be updated through this website...check it religiously or you may end up having to pay a fee for Late paperwork!
And if I think of anymore, I will post. Email me if you would like any un-official advice.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Week 4 - Midterms around the corner, but it's social time on my book
As of this moment I am in a large lecture class that I haven't even signed up for. I asked a schoolmate next to me whether what class this was and apparently it is Stats9C. Let's see what I will learn today. Ops, shouldn't have volunteered in that class survey! Haha, good times.
I am studying for my midterms for Anthropology: Language, thought, and reality. And other midterms coming up for my classes in Anthropology of the Pacific Peoples and American History from 1900s. I have been bummed that I don't have math this quarter just because I can't understand the way the professor speaks. It's ridiculous and will go on my book of "things that UCI should fix."
OK, so this week I realize that there should be time to rest that head that reads too much or spends wayyy too much time on the internet... thus, SOCIALIZING hour should be included in a student's weekly schedule. Yes, many people join clubs to accomplish this...but excessively! Try to buy some time (figuratively 5 hours during the school week) to invest with the socialization portion. Socialization in a sense that one is in a group where they are comfortable with the people around them-- math major? Join the Math Club! Fashionista? Join the FIG(Fashion Interest Group) . There is always a place for all individuals at UCI. Which makes it such a great campus environment.
UCI's website is pretty user-friendly and you can basically find anything you want to know about the campus through it's website: click aqui(here) for a club/organization database.
All right it is now time to commute back to *outside-of-UCI-land* to the land of an economic instability (partially kidding). Post more insights soon.
I am studying for my midterms for Anthropology: Language, thought, and reality. And other midterms coming up for my classes in Anthropology of the Pacific Peoples and American History from 1900s. I have been bummed that I don't have math this quarter just because I can't understand the way the professor speaks. It's ridiculous and will go on my book of "things that UCI should fix."
OK, so this week I realize that there should be time to rest that head that reads too much or spends wayyy too much time on the internet... thus, SOCIALIZING hour should be included in a student's weekly schedule. Yes, many people join clubs to accomplish this...but excessively! Try to buy some time (figuratively 5 hours during the school week) to invest with the socialization portion. Socialization in a sense that one is in a group where they are comfortable with the people around them-- math major? Join the Math Club! Fashionista? Join the FIG(Fashion Interest Group) . There is always a place for all individuals at UCI. Which makes it such a great campus environment.
UCI's website is pretty user-friendly and you can basically find anything you want to know about the campus through it's website: click aqui(here) for a club/organization database.
All right it is now time to commute back to *outside-of-UCI-land* to the land of an economic instability (partially kidding). Post more insights soon.
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