Sept. 23-29, 2012

Hi everyone!

My name is James Fleming, but most of my friends just call me by my middle name, Christian. I’ve been a Gator since Fall 2010, and WOW is it different from what I was used to back home! Just so you know, I spent 1^st-12^th grade at a tiny school with only ~350 total students. Even though coming to UF was obviously an enormous change for me, the limited opportunities in my hometown left me eager to make the most of the resources here. I was determined to involve myself in as many clubs and organizations as possible.

The first extracurricular decision I made upon moving into my dorm at Trusler (I recommend doing the whole dorm thing for at least freshman year if only to form friendships with people your age) was to check out the listing of organizations and clubs on the website for student activities and involvement. They have a wonderful directory with contact information for every one of the 854 (at the time of my writing this but it is constantly increasing!) recognized student clubs on campus. This I found incredibly helpful as I began making a list of every organization that I found even remotely appealing. In fact, no matter your interests: whether it be archeology, marine biology, juggling, physics, kendo, sewing, politics, Jesus, Krishna, or quiddich (it apparently exists), I’m 100% confident that you can find a club with a diverse group of students that suits you.  And guess what? Even if the club doesn’t exist yet, all you need are a handful of likeminded members and you all can found your own club! Now I admit, I didn’t follow up on even half of the clubs I initially wrote down that day since being pre-med at UF is a lot of work after all, but the ones I did become involved with helped me form lasting friendships that made campus seem a lot less intimidating.

Personally, the club I was most excited about when first coming to UF was the tennis club. I felt comfortable with tennis because I’d played quite a bit in high school and I was eager to improve my game against people from all over (I actually chose my freshman dorm based upon its proximity to tennis courts). The very first day of club practice, I was actually rather nervous. How would I compare to everyone else? Would I even be able to play at their level? Well it turns out there were probably more people in the club on the courts at one time than there were people total in 9^th-12^th grade at my school and the skill level ranged from individuals who were just learning to people who’d played for the state championship in high school and who had a private coach since they were four. I fell somewhere in the above average range. Even though I no longer attend the club meetings, I still meet up on occasion to play a game or two with some of the guys I met there.

Over the course of the next few semesters I had some of the most enjoyable learning experiences of my life. I wanted to learn something completely new that I would never have the opportunity to back home-- so I learned not only how to sail 420’s on Lake Wauburg with the Gator Sailing Club, but also the basics of epee fencing from the Florida Fencing Club (which is still something I’m trying to improve upon whenever I have the spare time).  I’ve volunteered in the radiology department, emergency department, and operating floor at Shands. I’ve observed open-heart surgeries, brain surgeries, death and healing, all very close and very real. Thanks to the time I’ve spent with the Campus Kitchens and Mobile Outreach Clinic, I’ve learned that one need not travel to a third world country to see true, debilitating poverty. It exists even in our local community if only you know where to look or even want to. Finally, I’ve had the privilege of helping to conduct research through my major in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences where I’ve learned techniques such as RNA extraction, and what being a research scientist really means.

My point is this, hopefully you’ll realize your most memorable college experiences will be lived while in the pursuit of something you never imagined you’d have the opportunity or time to learn. I encourage you to go out and try something offered at our university that’s new to you. Get involved in a club pertaining to your major or intended career path.  Learn that sport you’ve always thought looked exciting but never had the opportunity or resources. I myself am looking forward to getting the time for a skydiving trip with the Falling Gators soon. You may fail although you most likely will not, but in my experiences at least you’ll be glad you tried and come away with an interesting story. After all, what do you possibly have to lose but a small part of your time that you probably waste on Facebook anyways? But most importantly, you won’t have the opportunities forever. Here at the University of Florida, we have an enormous, diverse, and very talented student body hailing from a plethora of backgrounds and ascribing to many different interests, so you need to go out and meet new people! You may be surprised to realize that it really is true the most important lessons you can learn at college aren’t taught in a lecture hall (even though those tend to be pretty important!...at least until finals).

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”-Wayne Gretzky

Thanks for taking the time to read my post and last but not least…

Go Gators!

James C. Fleming 

James Fleming

Class: Junior

Hometown: Georgetown, Florida

Major: Entomology and Nematology

Specialization: Pre-professional

Involvement: Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Health Honor Fraternity, Campus Kitchens, Shands Volunteer,Alachua Astronomy Club, Entomology Club Leadership Team, Golden Key Member, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, CALS Honor Program, Research in the Entomology Department with a focus on Aedes albopictus

Hobbies: Tennis, cooking, kayaking, traveling, movies, reading, politics, and astronomy

After College: Plans to attend medical school with the intent of eventually becoming a surgeon

Sept. 16-22, 2012

 

Salutations,

 

            My name is Lauren K. Bates and I’m a senior in the department of Agricultural Education and Communication with a minor in Leadership. My specialization is in Communication and Leadership Development. I really enjoy my department. We are relatively small, which allows you to easily connect with the students and professors. Since the start of the semester, I’ve been going non-stop. I’m currently taking 12 credit hours, 6 on-campus and 6 off-campus. I also work 15-20 hours a week and hold executive offices with many different organizations on campus. This will help me to be competitive, when applying for jobs after graduation in May.

My two on campus classes are AEC 3209 – Instructional and Event Planning in Agricultural and Life Sciences instructed by Becky Raulerson and AEC 3209 – Working with People: Interpersonal Leadership Skills taught by Dr. Tony Andenoro.  Event planning has had a slow start, focusing mostly on careers in event planning, selecting event sites, site management, and the importance of understanding contracts and budgets. After this semester, I hope to have gained the knowledge and skills to plan my own event and feel confident that it will be a success. We will also learn how to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of a workshop or presentation at an event, which will be an asset in my future endeavors. 

Interpersonal Leadership is by far my favorite course this semester. I absolutely love how the class is set up, and I enjoy attending every Monday and Wednesday. This class takes a different approach to your traditional lecture. Dr. Andenoro has at least two students share a story every day. This story may be a defining moment from their lives, which has created a foundation for who they are and who they aspire to become. This exercise has really taught me not only how different we are, but also how similar I am to my classmates. I already feel so close to each one of them, and I’m excited to share my story with the class on November 19^th. Another assignment will be creating our own personal leadership philosophy. Each student has to demonstrate his or her leadership philosophy by a creative alternative means, which means a paper won’t cut it! The professor explained that some students in the past have related leadership to trains, or horseback riding…and then explained how their perspectives and aspirations affected their leadership practice, effectiveness, and the effectiveness of their followers. YEAH! Some deep stuff guys! Basically, it’s by far the coolest class I’ve ever taken. If you have the chance to take Dr. Andenoro for a class…DO IT!

The other classes I’m taking are AEB 3133 Principles of Agribusiness Management and AEB 4424 Human Resources in Agribusiness both taught by Professor Jane Bachelor. They aren’t in my department, and are online. So to be honest, I’m not too excited about these courses. However, I will hand it to Ms. Bachelor for at least making an online business class somewhat interesting for a communications major like myself. She actually does Adobe sessions where you can log on and interact with her in a chat room style setting. You can ask her questions as she goes over the PowerPoint lectures and offers extra credit for watching. If you can’t log in at the time posted, the session is saved for you to view on your own time, which is really convenient for students who are busy.

What makes my major unique compared to the other majors in CALS? It really focuses on communications within agriculture. I've taken many courses that have taught me the correct way to film for broadcast news, how to create a brochure using Adobe InDesign, and many theory based courses on leadership development. My favorite classes are with Dr. Ricky Telg, who oversees the communications aspect of the major. 

Outside of school, my life has been non-stop, and I hardly have any time to even sleep. I stick to a strict schedule. I’m currently involved with Alpha Tau Alpha, a national honor fraternity for students in Agricultural Education and Communication. I’m serving as the undergraduate president. We already have a few great events lined up for this year. My sorority, Sigma Phi Lambda, has just finished rush. We have inducted 44 new members into our sisterhood. As Vice President, I was very busy making sure rush ran efficiently and had to plan all the interviews with new members.  I’ve also started planning socials with my directors and our semi-formal for the end of the semester. These new pledges are really on fire for the Lord. As an officer, this is the most exciting part of my job.

I’ve also been blessed with the opportunity to serve as the Vice Chair of Chomp the Vote, which is a student initiative to help students register or update their voter information, educate students about political issues, and provide conducive measures to encourage students to vote. Besides College Republicans, I have never been given the opportunity to serve in this capacity. What makes it really special is that it’s non-partisan. I get to work side-by-side with college democrats and republicans to motivate students for the election. 

For me, life as a Gator is busy. I really enjoy every aspect of college life. I feel that I’ve gotten the most out of what the University of Florida has to offer. My words of advice…get involved! I have learned so much through involvement and life lessons that a classroom could never have taught me. I also have assembled what I believe to be an impressive resume. It is something I’m proud of and makes me excited to begin my job search in a few months. After college, I would really enjoy working as a social media analyst or a viral marketing coordinator. Thank you for your interest in the college!

“A leader, once convinced a particular course of action is the right one, must have the determination to stick with it and be undaunted when the going gets tough." – Ronald Reagan

Live long and prosper.
God bless and Go Gators!

Lauren K. Bates

 



Lauren Bates
Class: Senior
Major: Agricultural Education and Communication
Minor: Leadership

 

Sept. 9-15, 2012

Hey Y'all,

My name is Paula and I am a senior Entomology & Nematology and Zoology dual major. It's about the time of the semester where everyone is running to class with a coffee in one hand and a stack of notes or flashcards in the other. Homework, extracurricular activities and naps are dominating our lives as the first set of exams is rapidly approaching. For me, this semester is all about the light at the end of the tunnel. I am currently in the process of applying to dental school and that entails, scheduling interviews around my classes, and maintaining all my other extracurricular activities. Time-management is HUGE for me right now. I spent my last week doing a lot of multi-tasking, but it will all be worth it when I graduate in the Spring!

Last Monday was one of the beloved 3-day weekends at UF. While most of my peers were driving home or getting their last bit of tan in before a mild fall hits, I was putting the finishing touches on my secondary application to UF's College of Dentistry, one of the most competitive grad programs in the nation. If you want to be a pre-health major here at UF, I have a couple pieces of advice.

1) Major in something unique that you have passion for. It sets you apart from other candidates and allows you to enjoy your four years of undergraduate. Also, when you are passionate about something, you are more likely to do better in the classes for your major. For me, I loved being out in the field, so Entomology & Nematology was a perfect match. 

2) Be best friends with your academic advisor! They are there to help you. I joined the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences specifically because their advisors were able to give me one-on-one personal attention and were there every step of the way. They helped me with everything from picking a major, to my class schedule, to my personal struggles during tough times. Don't wait until you have a problem to see them, but rather, be proactive!

3) Shadow, volunteer, go on relief trips, or anything else that will get your hands dirty. I know you've probably wanted to be a doctor since you were 5, but I promise you, unless you experience it, you will never actually know. Plus, it’s required for most graduate applications! I thought I wanted to be an engineer, and even took most of my prerequisites in high school through dual enrollment for engineering. But then I did a short-term internship right before my first semester at UF, and hated my job. I tried a couple other shadowing experiences (pharmacist, pediatrician, and veterinarian), but as soon as I shadowed a dentist I knew that it was the career for me. Since then, I have been able to gain experience and build my passion for the profession. In short, shadowing is a must!

Tuesday I went to my American Sign Language class and a lab for entomology. You're probably wondering what I'm doing taking an ASL class. Well, I'm hard-of-hearing! Most people can't notice, but I wanted to start learning ASL in college, since I never had the opportunity to as a kid. This way, I can communicate with other hard-of-hearing and deaf individuals, and fulfill my foreign language requirement for my Zoology major. Oh yeah, if you want to dual major, realize that there are multiple requirements for each college. This is where your advisor comes in handy! :)

Wednesday was a normal day filled with class, studying, visiting my mom and going to church. It was really nice the end the day around my close friends, and get recharged for the remainder of the week! UF has so many different ministries, service groups, social events and clubs. Everyone can find something for them. Getting involved not only looks great on a resume, but will help you get through the long weeks of college.

On Thursday, I swam at our Student Recreation center to get a bit of a workout before classes. At 12:30 I headed out to rural Alachua County to volunteer as a dental assistant in the ACORN Clinic. It is one of the most rewarding parts of my week. Even though I hate the commute, serving people, and learning from some of the best dentists in the county is both exciting and challenging. Again, refer to #3 above!

On Friday, I have no classes, so I usually do all my errands on this day. Laundry, cleaning, oil change, homework, appointments, bank stuff... you name it. It's a great way to get caught up from the week. It's also the day I most frequently sign up for events through dental shadowing, CALS Ambassadors and my other extracurricular activities. It's an easy way to stay involved and proactive while not sacrificing time in my classes. Friday night I went to Swing Dancing Club, something I have done since my freshman year. It was the night we all said good-bye to a long-time member who got a job and was moving away this week. It was a little sad, but it’s always exciting seeing your close friends achieve their dreams.

On Saturday, I volunteered at the Gainesville Community Ministry Dental Clinic and then watched the Gators chomp the Aggies in a nail-biting game. Game-day is culture here, even when they are away. Then on Sunday I went to church, ate some delicious grits at Flying Biscuit, got ready for the coming week, and enjoyed some peaceful time at home.

So that's a week in the life of a Gator! It can be stressful, but as I approach my last year here, I know that I would not take back any of my time spent being involved, socializing and volunteering. It has taught me about who I am and prepared me for life outside of college--even if it means I gave up a little bit of sleep!

Paula Cohen
Class: Senior
Hometown: Fort Pierce, Florida
Major: Entomology and Nematology/Zoology
Specialization: Preprofessional
Involvement: President of Florida Swing Dancing Club, Fish Mom at the Baptist Collegiate Ministry of Gainesville, Project Makeover Captain, Dental Volunteer at the A.C.O.R.N. Clinic
After College: I want to study dentistry and emphasize preventative care with my patients. I also hope to serve two years on the International Mission Board as a dentist.

September 2-8, 2012

Hi, my name is Blaire Colvin. I am a senior majoring in Plant Science with a specialization in agronomy. The fall semester has started back in full swing. We have had some crazy rainy weather in the first week or so making it a little difficult to get around campus. Despite the weather, I did manage to make it to all of my classes. They seem like they are going to be pretty good. I think I’m really going to enjoy Applied Field Crop Production, which is a new course offered by my department that focuses on the applied aspects of growing food. It has a lot of hands on opportunities and cool labs planned. I enjoy classes that get you out of a classroom and outside.

In addition to classes starting back, all of the clubs and organizations are getting started. My schedule is packed with different meetings and ambassador events. Sigma Alpha, the professional agricultural sorority, which I am a part of, has rush starting next week. I am looking forward to meeting all of the new girls. I am also in Alpha Zeta, the honors agricultural fraternity, and it is starting back up with its first meeting this coming Tuesday. I will also be at the first meeting for the Agronomy-Soils Club.

I am still working in the crop physiology lab in the agronomy department. We are very busy with several projects coming to a close and my honors research project data collection is ongoing. I am working on a new method to evaluate peanut maturity. It involves putting hundreds of samples on a computer scanner and predicting maturity from the image. It’s safe to say I am very busy! I enjoy all of this though, especially since peanuts are a large part of my life. My dad grows peanuts and I have grown up around the farm, so it makes the research more meaningful to me.

Speaking of that, I just spent my entire weekend on a tractor digging peanuts. I had to settle on listening to the first Gator game on the radio to help with the start of this year’s peanut harvest. I really enjoy being on the farm, but I do love my Gators as well. I am happy we kicked off this season with a win against Bowling Green!

It’s a great time to be a CALS student. Go Gators!

Blaire Colvin

Class: Senior

Hometown: Gainesville, Florida

Major: Plant Science

Specialization: Agronomy

Involvement: Research assistant in the UF Agronomy Department (crop physiology), Sigma Alpha Professional Agricultural Sorority member, Alpha Zeta Honors Fraternity member, Agronomy-Soils Club President

Hobbies: Reading, running, working on the family farm, going to the beach and fishing After College: Plans to attend graduate school studying agronomy