Nov. 25- Dec. 1, 2012

Hello everyone!  My name is Austin Skipper, and I’m currently a junior in the Food and Resource Economics Department.  Being originally from Archer, right outside of Gainesville, I have grown up around the University of Florida.  I always had aspirations of attending, and was able to attend as a freshman right out of high school.  Once accepted, I put in a lot of thought into what major and clubs I wanted to be in on campus.  I also realized I would need a part time job to help put myself through college, but had not considered working on campus.  However, I soon came across the opportunity to work on campus, and have realized how valuable opportunities like this can be.

I started working at the UF Meats Lab, in the Animal Sciences Department.  Now, it has been about two years since I began working there, and can honestly say, I have not regretted one minute of it.  Not only have my bosses been extremely flexible with my schedule, but I have been able to network with professors in the department and the college through working there.

At my job, I have learned a trade.  I now know how to cut meat as good as the butchers in Publix, but I can also actually slaughter animals. I am familiar with the USDA inspection regulations throughout the entire process.  Jobs like mine have prepared me for a trade, obviously I have higher aspirations post college, but this does provide me with a temporary fall back option upon graduation.  I realize not everybody wants to be a butcher or meat cutter, but it is a viable career.  It is unlike many other jobs across campus, but it shares some of the benefits other campus jobs have.

I have found that campus jobs are flexible across the board.  All of my friends who work on campus all are extremely happy with the scheduling.  Campus jobs schedule your work around your class schedule, and are always accepting of it.  Bosses on campus realize that you are student employees, and that studies are more important to you.

Now of course, I was able to get in a job in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, but there are jobs in all of the colleges and departments in the college.  Sudents can find postings of jobs on jobs.ufl.edu, or bulletin boards in halls.  As we approach the end of the semester, students are getting ready to graduate and vacate their jobs, leaving more open for the rest of us.

One very important accommodation for students who apply, is Federal Work Study.  These types of jobs are everywhere on campus, and reserved for students who qualify for Federal Work Study.  This is where the government pays part of your wages, if not all, in order to better present students who need help with opportunities that will allow them to reach their needs.  Also, departments really enjoy these types of jobs because it is cheaper for them, and they get the same amount of labor.

A big employer of students on campus is Recreational Sports.  This department hires students who work in the gyms on campus or to umpire intramural sports.  Scheduling for these types of things are great because the referees and umpires just work on nights when there are games, probably at most three nights a week.  So your days are free, and it’s a low stress job, unless you make too many bad calls!  But it also an opportunity for students interested in sports to take their passion to the next level.  And if sports are not your thing, there are also office jobs everywhere or jobs available in the game room at the Reitz Union. 

So all in all, there are a lot of opportunities on campus, not just in clubs or majors, but tons of part time jobs are available to students on campus.  So check jobs.ufl.edu for jobs opening at the beginning of next semester, as many students are graduating.  Also, we only have a few more weeks until the holidays, but let’s finish strong Gators!

With that, I’m out Gator Nation!  Happy Holidays!

Austin Skipper

“Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” Helen Keller

Austin Skipper

Class: Junior

Hometown: Archer, FL

Major: Food and Resource Economics

Specialization:  Food and Agribusiness Marketing and Management

Involvement: Fountain Wars, Filipino Student Association

Hobbies: Hunting, Reading, and anything outdoors

After College: Attend Graduate School

Nov. 18-24, 2012

"It's the most wonderful time of the year!" is a phrase that I enjoy hearing every year and believe to be true! This grand holiday season begins with Thanksgiving, a time to reflect on all of the things we are thankful for. I can tell you that I have many things to be thankful for. My name is Lauren Mayo and I am proudly serving as a College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) ambassador for the second year. I am currently a Senior Animal Sciences Major specializing in Dairy Industry and have a minor in Agricultural Communications. With that being said, I have had many opportunities while here at the University of Florida, especially within CALS. There is always something to get involved with, people to meet, places to travel, communities to serve, and so much more as a student of CALS. When I started as a freshman at UF four years ago, I had no idea that I would be the president of two clubs within CALS, travel to so many places, and have so many opportunities resulting from opportunities while here as a student. As I prepare to apply to graduate programs in Dairy Science, this Thanksgiving I have constantly reflected on all of the things that I have been able to accomplish and be a part of. 

When I look back even on this past year alone, there are long lasting memories that I have shared countless laughs and memories with friends not only from UF but from land grant universities all across the United States and even other countries. Throughout my undergraduate career in CALS I have traveled to a plethora of leadership and academic conferences and competitions and met so many other students. I still remember my first American Dairy Science Association meeting when a friend of mine from LSU began talking about palpating dairy cows like it was nothing to be ashamed about. The light bulb clicked on! It was and still is the best feeling in the world to speak with people your same age about something you're passionate about. Normally, when I talk about cows in general most people would stare at me as if I had three heads! I can't even imagine if I had even attended (much less stepped foot on the campus of) that other Florida university who shall remain nameless and will probably lose in this weekend's football game, and I tried finding someone as easily that was interested in dairy cattle as much as I was! There are countless friendships and acquaintances that I have made just by being a student in CALS. 

Service is also something that we try to do more of during the holidays. I grew up in a large scouting family where community service or any form of service to others was a normal thing. I enjoy that while in CALS service is once again a normalcy. One of the greatest opportunities I've had as a CALS ambassador is selling coffee for Alltech's Haiti Project and then taking a service trip to HAITI! Alltech (an animal health company) approached CALS at UF and Auburn’s College of Agriculture with a challenge to sell Haitian coffee that would completely benefit their Haiti project of improving the Agricultural situations of their country. It was hands down the most amazing and life changing opportunity that I have ever had while being a student in CALS! While down there we not only learned a lot about the culture but taught children english, painted an entire school, visited multiple schools, planted coffee for the Haiti Project, hiked up a mountain to La Citadelle, and helped build chicken houses. We hope to continue helping Haiti as much as we can and to return in the near future. 

YOU can help too! CALS Ambassadors will be collecting gently used children books by December 5th for anyone interested in getting involved to our service to the children in Haiti. Books can be dropped off to Charlotte Emerson in the Dean's Office McCarty D 2002!

I could go on and on about all of the things that I am thankful for and the opportunities I've had in CALS, because they're countless and priceless. If you ever have a question or run into me on campus feel free to say hi! I love getting to meet fellow gators! I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving from my CALS to yours! 

Go Gators!

Lauren Mayo

Lauren Mayo

Class: Junior
Hometown: Riverview, Florida
Major: Animal Sciences Specializing in Dairy Industry
Minor: Agricultural Communications
Involvement: Dairy Science Club President; Collegiate Farm Bureau President; Block and Bridle Club; American Dairy Science Association Student Affiliate Division Officer at Large(2011); Girl Scouts of the USA Lifetime Member; Girl Scouts of West Central Florida Adult Volunteer;  coordinated UF Ag Facts Friday, educating college students and public about the importance of agriculture
Hobbies: Dairy cattle judging and showing, scrapbooking, cooking and baking, outdoor

 

Nov. 11-17, 2012

Well, it seems to be that time again, the one that makes every student on this campus just a little bit crazier. And no, I’m not just referring to Homecoming Week.  Sure, we are all quite prideful, who wouldn’t be as a UF student?  There’s a pride at this school unlike any other, and I call it tradition.

      What I’m referring to isn’t the typical game day crowd or spirited outfits, but rather the race to register for classes.  As a senior at the University of Florida, I have had my fair share of struggles with this process for three years now.  For that reason, I have some tips for the average student trying to get their schedule down just right.

• Plan your schedule ahead of time.You need to know exactly which classes you want to register for before your registration time even begins.  This will make the process less stressful and much faster. Oh, and if you don’t know how to see your register time, just go on your ISIS, and attempt to register for spring/fall classes now. It will tell you.  I recently had to explain this to a freshman so don’t you worry, if you don’t know, then ask!
• Be flexible! Suggested courses and critical tracking are just that: suggested for that semester.  Yes, you have to take them, but if for some reason your schedule isn’t working out then talk to your adviser. You may be able to switch things around. 
•   Some courses are departmentally controlled. I wish someone had told me this when I first came to UF.  My entire time here, I have wanted to take Intercultural Communication as a diversity credit.  My minor is agricultural communications.  Guess what?  All of these classes are departmentally controlled.  Up until a semester ago I thought they simply weren’t offered that I would have to lose my major.  Finally, I emailed someone in the department and asked why I couldn’t view any of the classes.  After my email was bounced around from person to person, someone finally told me that I needed to be placed in these classes, which of course, were all full at this point.  Isn’t that just wonderful?  Well, at least now I know who to email to get placed into my classes.

Choosing your classes can be a little stressful, especially when you aren’t sure what to do with your life.  When I changed my major, mid-sophomore year, I just like the idea of it.  I didn’t quite know what to do, but still had to pick my classes.  It not an easy task to do when you have so many courses offered in your major.  The way major works, I only have 5 required courses.  Beyond those five I have to plan out my degree program based on my interests.  As you can imagine, when I didn’t know what I wanted to do, I couldn’t choose my classes.   

However, thankfully after speaking with my advisors and taking advantage of the resources that UF offers for career planning they helped me merge my loves of Spanish, Forestry, and Communications into a career path that fits me.  

After all, isn’t that what college is all about- discovering yourself and who you want to be?  So even though people get a little crazy and I see about 5 Facebook messages a day asking people to hold classes for them, this time of year is one of my favorites.   It’s this time each year when students are right in the midst of finding themselves ay my favorite school in the southeast!

Go gators!

Michele Goodfellow

Michele Goodfellow
Class: Senior
Hometown: DeLand, Florida
Major: Natural Resource Conservation and Spanish
Minor: Agricultural Communications
Involvement: Collegiate FFA Secretary, Sigma Kappa Sorority, Society of American Foresters Chairwoman, Forestry Club
Hobbies: Reading, Travelling, Water Sports
After College: Plans to teach English in Latin America for a year before returning to graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in Communication Studies or Leadership

Nov. 4- Nov.10, 2012

Hello! My name is Kaylie Smith and I am a senior here in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. I will be graduating in May of 2013 with a biology degree and what an incredible feeling that is! I am currently in the process of applying to pharmacy school. Coming from CALS, I like to joke that it is “farm”acy school, but no one seems to find that as funny as I do…. I am excited for what will come next, but sad to see some of my wonderful undergraduate experiences come to an end!

CALS has a huge range of resources to help get you to the next level, whether that is professional school, graduate school, or going straight into a career. I personally met with Cathy Carr, our Director of Alumni and Career Services, to go over my personal statement,  and that really made the difference with my pharmacy application. A personal statement is extremely limited by a character count, so every letter and space makes a difference. Mrs. Carr helped me cut the excess and really polish my personal statement. We also offer a CALS Career Expo in the spring, which puts you in touch with potential employers. I think what really makes CALS stand out from other  colleges is its advisers. Each department offers its own advisers who make themselves available to students and really make the effort to help their students succeed. Whether looking into full undergraduate requirements or professional school prerequisites, this is definitely your most valuable resource.

As soon as my senior year began, I started receiving similar types of questions. So I’d like to share those and my personal answers with you guys.

What advice would you offer to incoming freshman?

I think most students give the same “words of wisdom” on this one, and that is: get involved early! As my pal J. Dubs mentioned in his October blog entry, don’t overdo it, but get involved as soon as possible. These are the experiences that you will remember most from your time in college. I forgot the citric acid cycle as soon as my biochemistry exam was over last week, but I will never forget Ambassador training retreats, Gator football games with my friends, or woodsers with Alpha Zeta. Alpha Zeta is a co-ed honors fraternity within CALS that I have had the opportunity to serve as president for this year. I joined the organization my freshman year and it has been a wonderful experience for me to work my way up through the club and meet new members every single semester. Obviously academics are incredibly important and the reason you are in college in the first place, but college is so much more than getting a good GPA. It is about acknowledging your personal strengths and weaknesses and working on those to become the person you want to be for the rest of your life. So please put yourself out there and try something new!

Would you change anything about your undergraduate experience?

Not at all! I have made my share of mistakes (cough, cough organic chemistry), but would not take back any of them. I have learned from each and every step, and have learned a lot about myself and my abilities. CALS has really enabled me to create a strong background in a plethora of subject areas and made me into a well rounded student.

Are you ready for the next step?

At the ripe, old age of 22 (my birthday was Monday!), I can say I am ready to begin pharmacy school and start working towards my career goals. As Aldous Huxley said, “Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you.” My undergraduate experiences have prepared me for the next step in my education, and I am incredibly appreciative for what UF and CALS have offered me. Take advantage of everything you are offered, and learn from your experiences here.

Have a wonderful week and GO GATA!

Kaylie Smith

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -Dr. Seuss

Kaylie Smith

Class: Senior
Hometown: Melbourne, Florida
Major: Biology
Specialization: Pre-professional
Minor: Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
Involvement: Alpha Zeta Honors Fraternity Chancellor, Pre-Pharmacy Society, researcher in the Horticultural Sciences Department
After College: Plans to attend pharmacy school