What's the Buzz?

E Tutto Finito

2011-05-09T18:43:00.000-05:00

There seems to be a great deal of excitement now that the year has drained to its last few days. The only adversities standing in our way to summer are final exams. Yet there is also a sense of nostalgia roaming in the air. Perhaps it is the mere nature of community colleges that causes this, because many people embark onto new experiences at universities so often. It seems that time flies by unnoticeably. Nonetheless, great friendships are born every year, especially among student organizations and clubs. This was evident during our last club council of the year, last Friday afternoon. Although the smile on my face could not be erased for the rest of the evening, possibly for knowing and celebrating among my fellow officers the accomplishment of serving as the Student Government Association for the school year 2010-2011, the fact of the matter was that our term was over and our celebrity status ceased to exist; è tutto finito. It was a peculiar feeling pretty difficult to decipher, but a sweet one nonetheless. Luckily more smiles manifested themselves as we gave the floor to the new SGA integrated by its proud officers. Cheers and high spirits filled the congregation in an auspicious day, and we all hoped for a better and more successful year.

For this reason I come to talk about student involvement in school and extracurricular activities. Many times students are not aware of the entire spectrum of benefits student organizations offer. Students tend to focus on the fact that being involved “looks good on the resume”, so they cancel out a majority of options because they don’t meet their interests. This is my story too. I am talking about my own mistakes, because at the beginning of my college career I turned my head away from student groups for lack of interest. I didn’t comprehend their real value; the fact that singular experiences, those that inspire the heart and ambition and are didactically rich, can only be lived through student organizations. Understandably, a great number of students have already saturated schedules and therefore cannot be as active, but according to a survey performed here on campus, there is still an ample percentage of students that could be but are not aware of how much club participation and student involvement can impact their lives.

Personally, working for the SGA has truly been a great leadership experience, and it has taught me a lot of things. I am very thankful for having had such a privilege.

I also wanted to announce the world that MY MOM is the best mom in the world, and that is also a fact, yo! Happy Mother’s day AND happy birthday, mommy. I know you will never read this, but just in case.

Whats the secret?

2011-05-08T23:54:00.000-05:00

The clock never stops ticking. Not to long ago, we were all sitting in our seats listening to our professors as they briefly went over the syllabus. They went over the outline and it all seemed so far away. To some this is the first culminating semester and to others this is the last before transferring. In the midst of where we stand, this week we all have one thing in common; the stress before finals. We all seek ways to ace our exams and question what will work best. For some group study is the way to go, others sit silently in a room reading their notes over and over again. Now, I don’t mean to scare anyone but honestly the secret is simple. We all know the key but as college students’ procrastination seems to always get the best of us. For starters, attending class is a vital part. Some of you may say that’s simple. Here is a piece of advice to all those newbie’s entering the college life. Socialization is inevitable and meeting new people is beyond the new trend. Now your job is to make sure you don’t get to caught up within the commotion. Before I get out of subject, my point here is to clearly state the more you attend class the easier it will be to maintain a relaxed, and simple A. Many times we attend class and hear everything but in order to succeed we must listen. Hearing simply happens however listening is something you consciously choose to do. Another helpful suggestion is to study with lots of breaks. Now don’t get carried away and break for hours, studying for only 10 minutes. This is where common sense kicks in. As an athlete I can relate to this as overtraining. Too much of something is only good to a certain extent. Overall, it is highly useful knowing what sort of learner you are. There are visual learners, which learn, by seeing and visualizing. There are Auditory learners, which learn by listening and vocalizing. There are Read and Write learners, which enjoy reading and writing in all forms. Lastly there are kinesthetic learners and they simply like hands on approaches on things and learn through trial and terror. Many times we may find ourselves struggling in certain classes and we may say we are not good in that specific subject. In reality, it is not a matter of which subject it is but rather the instructors way of teaching and if it being your way. Turning things to work towards your convenience can truly make a difference. Recording a lecture and listening to it at home as opposed to taking notes the entire hour, might just be your way. Explore and find the way that suits you best. You will be surprised at the simplicity of learning and being successful.

End of semester!

2011-05-08T23:49:00.002-05:00

Final after final after final! Many of us students are dreading the upcoming week of finals. It’s the imminent of dreadful hardcore studying with seemingly endless nights of pure cramming trying to prepare for those comprehensive and cumulative final exams. A lot of preparation and hard work is going to be needed to ace these exams but it all can be done! We just have to have a great desire for those good grades to successfully earn those exceptional class grades. After all of this, many of us are graduating and soon enough May 14^th, 2011 will arrive. Commencement will take place and those graduating will happily move their way over to the chosen universities to further their education.

As mentioned previously, scholarships become the bulk of importance to further our education since many universities are terribly expensive I hope many of us took those awesome scholarship opportunities and took the time to fill them out. Not much time is left and for many scholarships, the only thing to do is to wait for a response. Hopefully many of us will be lucky enough to receive letters awarding us those scholarships we applied for. For those that didn’t apply, hopefully financial aid will come available. Also, FAFSA should be verified at the institution you are attending to since, the institution is the one that verifies that all the information one has entered is correct. A lot of work had to be done that get FAFSA, and many scholarships done and completed, and like many know, hard work indeed does pay off. With the imminent ending of school we should not get carried away and start slacking. First we should all successfully ace those finals, secondly make sure that everything is set for graduation ( for those that are graduating) and lastly, that the school of our choice has everything that is needed from us.

I wish all of us good luck for the next steps that we should take with life, there it be, continuing with our education at another institution other than Lone Star College Cy-Fair, or those that are already working with their career choice. As each day goes by, its fewer steps from that road we are all on towards our future professional careers. Congratulations also to those that are graduating this year and the best of luck on finals to all!! Let’s get them done with in the most exceptional manner that we can!!

Mariachi Imperial at Cy Fair

2011-05-08T23:46:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday May 5th Lonestar College Cy Fair, celebrated Cinco de Mayo on campus with its Students. The celebration included a live performance by Mariachi Imperial of Houston. Mariachi Imperial has quite a reputation. They have been in existence for over 25 years in Houston and were voted the best mariachi band in Houston in 2005 by the Houston Press. The band has also been in the spotlight, being featured on shows such as Good Morning America. Some of the Imperial members have accompanied world renowned artists like Pepe Aguilar, Bronco, Pablo Montero, Elsa Garcia, Bobby Pulido, Nydia Rojas, Beatriz Adriana, Roberto Pulido, Grupo Mazz, Maribel Guardia, Patricia Navidad, Lorena Herrera, Federicico Villa, and many more. The Mariachi band was great, they were accepting request made from students. The band even let some students sing along with them and a brave student even sang a solo song! The Mariachi band had students singing and dancing and just having a good time. We are reminded that in the United States Cinco De Mayo is celebrated nationwide, to commemorate the Mexican’s army victory over the French troops at the battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. In the United States it is also seen as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride. Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day contrary to popular widespread belief. In History this victory is important, because although outnumbered and better equipped by the French army they still came out victorious. And after the battle of Puebla no other country in the Americas was to be invaded by any other European military force. Also an interesting fact is that Mexicans living in California during the American civil war are the ones credited with celebrating Cinco De Mayo first in the United States. It is also interesting to note that in Mexico Cinco de Mayo is only a regional holiday limited to the State of Puebla. Outside the United States celebration for Cinco de Mayo also takes place, for example Canada holds a Cinco de Mayo Sky diving event, and overseas citizens are encouraged to drink and eat Mexican food, although beer is the most easily available. It was good to see Lone Star celebrate this holiday and embrace the diversity found in its student body. This event was a good way for students to have fun one last time on campus before finals week! Good Luck on Finals Everyone!

Check Out the Bosque Gallery

2011-05-08T22:45:00.000-05:00

I have been attending Lone Star College for nearly two years and just found out recently about the Bosque Gallery on the Cyfair Campus. On the day that I went to visit the gallery, Marguerite Baldwin, the art gallery coordinator, was nice enough to walk me through the gallery and educate me on some of the operations of the gallery. Mathew Backer is an art professor at Cyfair and is in charge of the gallery. The gallery has an art exhibit in the Fall and the Spring that showcases students’ art work from each semester. The process on how the art is chosen for each exhibit is decided by four judges. There are five categories that the art is placed in ceramics, design one and two, metals, painting and photography. The four judges chose a first and second place winner for each category. Also recognized is honorable mention and best in show.

What is really interesting is that much of the art that is in the exhibit is for sale. Some of the art students choose not to sell their art because they are building a portfolio or sometimes the art has become too sentimental to them. Marguerite shared with me that she had several paintings in the exhibit and had not wanted to sell them because she wanted to put them in a few more exhibits this year before she parted with them. Her painting, As World Juxtapose part 5, won first place for best painting. She started attending a continue education paint class last fall to help build up her confidence in order to become a more proficient artist. Let me just say it worked. I saw three of her paintings that were in the exhibit and they were breath taking.

All of the art you see on the Cyfair campus is that of art students. The Procurement Committee, which is made up of eighteen to twenty faculty members from Cyfair, is given a budget to purchase art from the exhibit. This spring the committee bought eight art pieces. One of those pieces of art is Rain House, by Yevhen Vecheruk. Her photo won first place in the photography category. Six individuals also purchased art from the exhibit. The art work is priced for as little as twenty dollars and as high as eight hundred. Keep this in mind the next time you need something for your bare walls.

The Little Shop of Horrors

2011-05-08T22:43:00.000-05:00

The Little Shop of Horrors, which recently played at the Center for the Arts Main Stage Theatre at the CyFair Campus, was, in a word, a “scream;” especially when Audrey II was devouring another victim. I know, this sounds quite serious, but this Musical classic is every bit as much a comedy as it is a drama. It is the story of a man with little consequence who works at a shop of little importance, until he discovers a plant with a big appetite for humans.

It has everything you need to keep you in your seat. A good intended guy who is looking for significance and finds it in a plant that eats, well, virtually everyone. There is also a sweet girl next door who needs to meet a good guy, but is stuck with a sadistic dentist for a boyfriend. Then there is the masochistic patient who drives that dentist crazy because he likes the pain that you can only receive from oral surgery.

This show was remarkably well done and included an excellent cast. I loved the vocals of everyone, but especially of the plant (Audrey II), played by Brandon Hamilton. The lead was performed with both humor and sincerity by Stephan Krosez who played Seymour. Haleigh Harris was a real heart breaker as the lovable Audrey. Meanwhile, Allen Castle had everyone believing he was the shopkeeper, Mr. Mushnik. Others who helped make this a great event was Joey Castorena as Orin Sivello (as well as characters Bernstein and Luck), Jill Wide as Crystal, Annkwinnette Bob as Ronnette, Kanwal Nadeem Hussain as Chiffon, and plant puppeteer Talor Milburn.

The Little Shop of Horrors was first a low budget film, then if found life as one of the most successful Off-Broadway plays in history, with over 2,000 performances at the Orpheum Theatre. Finally, it became a big budget film in the 1980s, featuring Bill Murray, Rick Moranis, Steve Martin, and other major celebrities. The New York Post raved “This horticultural comedy will have you screaming with laughter.” Woman’s Wear Daily described it as “Giddy, irresistible entertainment.” The show was fast, furious, and fun, and the Center for the Arts Main Stage Theatre was the perfect venue for it.

One of the most frequent, if not famous, lines of the play is “feed me Seymour.” I believe people left this musical feeling they enjoyed a feast of entertainment that left them wanting more.

Little Shop of Horrors!

2011-05-08T20:32:00.000-05:00

I promised my little sister that I would take her out as soon as the TAKS tests are over with. And as for me, I needed a variety from my day to day rut of hitting the books. It was a good excuse to start the weekend early this past Thursday night to take my family to see the opening performance of “The Little Shop of Horrors” at the Center for Arts Main Stage Theatre at Lone Star College Cy-Fair.

The show started with an upbeat musical number, which gave the audience a hint that this show was nothing to be afraid of. The show was about a human-eating plant raised by an orphan named Seymour and the florist who adopted him. The flower shop becomes successful and Seymour gained popularity as the plant became the town’s new sensation. At first Seymour fed the plant with his own blood, but as the plant grew bigger and bigger the more blood it needs. The story continued as Seymour tries to catch the attention of his dream girl, find food for his growing carnivorous plant that keeps begging for more blood, and keeping the reason for his growing success a secret. The show is full of catchy tunes and surprises that you wouldn’t want to miss.

As you watch the show, you might find yourself seeing familiar faces and hearing familiar voices. The talent show second place winner, Annkwinnette Bob, performs as one of the chorister gang of girls, Ronnette. Other LSC students also join the cast including Reginald Choyce as Seymour and Monica Cummings as Audrey. Although my favorite would be the talented Joey Castorena who multi-tasked by playing the role of Orin Scrivello, Bernstein and Luck!

Once the play was over, the audiences get a chance to take pictures and get autographs at the lobby where the cast and crew come out for a meet and greet.

What a great way to spend the evening with the family!

Want to know more on how you can help to sustain art and culture through the arts in our campus? Become a patron! There are several patron levels from member to Presidential Patron ranging from donations of $99 to $10,000 and above. Also with a special contribution of $200 you can have your name engraved and attached to a seat. Patrons also enjoy the benefits of reserved seating and invitations to receptions and cast parties. All donations are fully tax deductable. Your contributions support student scholarships and visiting artists for the fine and performing arts.

Job search tips

2011-05-08T15:04:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone, so the end of this semester is here and I know some of you are looking for jobs after graduate. I just want to share with you guys few tips on job searching so you can be more prepared for the road ahead.

1. Talk career counselors. There are a lot of job opening available at the career assessment center at Cyfair College. Also, talk to a career counselor will help you to head to the right direction as well as the steps you need to take.

2. Clean up your image. Now that you are a professional job seeker, you should maintain a squeaky clean image, both online and offline. Dress professionally for interviews and always maintain a neat appearance. Remove all the inappropriate pictures, comments on you Facebook, Twitter. Recruiters nowadays tend to check those social sites to make sure they hire the right ones.

3. Volunteer. If there are no jobs open at the company of your choice, ask them if there are volunteer opportunities or projects that you could tackle until something opens up. Volunteering in your community can also open doors and fill in gaps in your resume during times when you are unemployed. Volunteering is also an excellent way to stay motivated and positive about your job search.

4. Only apply for jobs that you are qualified for. If you see come across an upper-level position at a company you are dying to work at, resist the urge to immediately apply. Set up alerts on job boards until something opens up that is in your realm of experience. Recruiters have enough resumes to wade through, and about 75% of those resumes come from unqualified candidates. Keep your resume out of the reject pile.

5. Stay motivated. The key to staying motivated is to tapping into your support system for encouragement and advice. Be honest and open with family members and friends if you are feeling depressed about not getting a job. Exercise, eat nutritious food, and try to limit your nights out on the town. Remember that being a job seeker is a full time job, and one of the hardest jobs you’ll ever have, so it’s important to stay healthy and alert.

So I hope you guys found this helpful somehow. I wish for you luck on any path that you choose and keep seeking and don’t give up, you will accomplish your goal eventually.

The Most Precious Liquid

2011-04-27T20:57:00.001-05:00

Among the greatest of gifts we are given, life stands at the top of the list, but how often do we really come to appreciate our fortunate condition? We seldom think about how easy it is for us to obtain those necessities vital to our existence. We are so accustomed to the luxuries provided within the infrastructure and the services our society provides that we ignore the fact that milliards of people around the world fight everyday to even stay alive. Hunger, sickness, and thirst are things people in less fortunate countries have to cope with because they are not provided with such necessities. All of this is a mere reality, and meanwhile we stay indifferent and opt to stay content with our own problems despite this mayhem in the world. Water is indispensable in our lives; every living organism in this planet needs water to perform their biological processes.

The Wells Project is an organization here at Lone Star College-CyFair dedicated to help raise funds to build water wells in developing nations. They explain that building a water well can have the potential to serve up to a thousand people with drinkable water. This not only allows for people to prevent getting diseases such dysentery and cholera, but also benefits the living conditions of entire villages. Without these wells, children have to walk up to three miles to obtain water from creeks or bayous where water is usually not running and full of organisms malign to proper health. Often times, this leads to people getting seriously ill, and sometimes these same children end up missing school time because they are required to walk to get water.

Celebrating Earth Week, the Wells Project conducted a reenactment to commemorate those who have to sacrifice their lives and time to keep their families alive. During this event, a group of students with buckets and containers on hand gathered around in the green fields across the Learning Commons and began marching through the campus in search of the precious liquid. This group actually became larger in number as students joined in with empathy as the club’s president shouted the inequalities of the living standards, shouting out that “life is greater than luxury”. We walked across the parking lot amidst the hot and humid spring day and came before a creek that was supersaturated with algae. The thought of drinking it was grotesque to say the least, and I believe it was then when we realized that we are lucky to be living here. At the end of the event we all contributed the club with monetary donations.

I am growing older this weekend, and I still lack attractive facial hair.

De-stress with Fine Arts

2011-04-27T20:24:00.001-05:00

I must admit that I spend a lot of time on campus. Rushing to class in the morning until lunch and then more classes afterwards, then studying in the computer lab, and finally working out in the fitness center. With the finals so imminent, we are all stressing out while burying ourselves in piles of textbooks and homework. We may forget that we are not machines. We are constantly under pressure with grades and term papers. That is why I would like to promote ways that you can relieve some of that stress while supporting your fellow classmates performing in the upcoming performances.

The Lone Star College Cy-Fair’s performance troupe is presenting a set of witty performances that is sure to get you laughing out loud. This performance is based on all of Shakespeare’s thirty seven plays in one chaotic, comical show. It is located in the amphitheatre (or in case of bad weather, in the recital hall or black box theatre) at 7:30 pm. on Tuesday April 26 until Thursday April 28. These performances are free, by the way.

Or could you could unwind at the JazzJam2 concert presented by the Lone Star College Cy-Fair’s Jazz ensemble under the direction of Dr. John Wolfskill. It is a prequel to the JazzJam that happened about a month ago. Robert Odneal is performing as a special guest, trumpet player formerly with Maynard Ferguson's Band. More surprises should be expected! It is happening April 27^th at the Main Stage theatre here at our campus at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $5 for students with their student ID, free of charge for staff and faculty, and $10 for regular adult tickets.

The highly anticipated performance of the season by the Arts department is happening next week. “Little Shop of Horrors” is a pop rock musical production for the whole family that will get you to laugh your hearts out. Performances starts next week on Thursday May 5^th until Sunday May 8^th at 7:30 pm except on Sunday which will be at 3:00. Reception will follow the show on Friday May 6^th. Ticket prices are $5 for students with their student ID, free of charge for staff and faculty, and $10 for regular adult tickets.

I know I’ll make time this couple of weeks to rejuvenate myself with a dose of fine arts to relieve me from the stress of finals. Hey, it’s a lot healthier than the energy drinks I’ve been drinking, that’s for sure.

Finals around the corner

2011-04-27T12:01:00.000-05:00

The environment is at the verge of a lot of things. Summer is right around the corner. The students anxiously await the culmination of this semester, as the excitement arises so does the pressure. The last two weeks of the semester and everything seems to be piling up. Term papers, projects, last tests, along with final exams are all rapidly approaching. We have a deadline here and there. In the midst of all this some are preparing for graduation, others are registering for summer school, and then there are those who are taking a break and heading to another country on a vacation. Overall, finals are a vital part of the semester. 25% of our grade can really make an impact on our average. Therefore, it is very important that students understand the importance of it and handle it well. Procrastination is extremely common amongst college students. It is said that most college students who procrastinate are more likely to have unhealthy diet, sleep, and exercise patterns. It is very important to maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to give education your best. College is a place where we can succeed and reach greater heights. But as we all know college is also a place where you can meet new individuals, go out and explore. That is ideal because it is what makes the college experience one of a kind. What students must understand is the need to manage these two. Here at Lonestar we offer a variety of locations to promote a full college experience. There is the library and several labs where students are given the comfort of studying silently or within groups. This is where you will mainly find Lonestar individuals studying. Then we have the student activities area where there is a pool table along with a ping pong table. This is a magnificent hang out spot where you will find individuals hanging out and having a great time. Not to mention the magnificent scenery on the outdoors but my point here is to inform you that the Student life at Lonestar CyFair is always brilliant. Despite the weather students are always finding ways to have a great time. Whether the pressure is on the student life is continuously uplifting and inspiring.

Scholarships

2011-04-25T22:26:00.001-05:00

In just a few weeks we are all going to be able to enjoy what this summer has to bring. The end of this spring semester is very imminent and so is the the departure into our newly respected universities. A lot of hard work and dedication has been put by many transferees by organizing and gathering information on where is it that they would be transferring to but also on managing to correctly file out the applications and gathering transcripts etc. together.

I hope that many have also taken the time to search for those many scholarships and financial aid that has been set available for many offering generous amounts. FAFSA should already have been completed and set to just wait for a response awaiting for the amount that will be awarded. It should be set as the priority to many since most scholarships require for FAFSA to be filled out. Last time I mentioned several scholarships that are available and that offered various amounts. This time i will also include many other scholarships that are still awaiting to be claimed. The Texas Public Educational Grant Program is available to all Texas residents in need of financial aid. The EMU National Scholars Program is a four year award that pays for 30 credit hours per year, equally to 15 hours per semester. The minimum GPA for this scholarship is a 3.50 and must be a freshmen or new transfer student to be considered. Also, the freshmen, or the transfer student must reside in the University housing for the first two years to be eligible for this award. The Texas Educational Aide Exemption Program is available for those that seek teacher certification by providing free tuition and reduced fees to program participants. In order to be eligible you have to be set with the checklist and most importantly be a Texas resident.

Great scholarships that are available to all, we just have to take the time to search for them on time so they can ease our financial need. I cannot stress enough how important these scholarships are and how many that are out there ready to just be claimed. There are many search engines available to match you up with the corresponding scholarships. Many factors are inputed for success, and one of the major ones is the dedication and the importance you give the thought/idea or your goals.

Music, Singing and drawing...the finer things in life

2011-04-25T16:46:00.001-05:00

Hello everyone, it is I your friendly correspondent Ask Anonymous. Today I will be talking about a subject that is very dear to me, which is Music and the fine arts. The fine arts are ways for people to express themselves. Whether it be through music, drawing, sculpting, or any other form of arts. A couple of weeks ago I went to a performance here in LSC-CyFair. I went to the Jazz Jam concert performed by the Jazz ensemble. They had some special guest such as the Lone Star CyFair orchestra, as well as some other top notch performers. The concert started out very nice with some classic songs as the star spangle banned, and then they incorporated some more modern rock songs such as “Sweet Child of Mine” by Guns and Roses. After a lot of songs from the Jazz ensemble they brought out the Lone Star orchestra to join them. The orchestra started out by playing three songs without the jazz ensemble. Some of the songs they played were “Memory” from the musical Cats. Afterwards the orchestra and the jazz ensemble joined forces to play two breath taking songs. It showed that they had spent a great amount of time practicing together for their songs sounded beautifully. Then the conductor took a break from the amazing music to give out some awards to some well deserving students. The students presented with the awards had tried out to play in the regional college orchestra of Texas. Two of the students had made it and they were presented with the most prestigious awards. After the award presentation they played Guns and Roses song “Sweet Child of Mine”. They went all out on this performance. The four members playing in this song geared up as actual Guns and Roses players. They had some really authentic looking leather jackets to go along with some cool looking sunglasses. Their performance was amazing people gave them a standing ovation at the end of it. Over all it was a great concert. Everyone from the jazz ensemble and the Lone Star orchestra and the other special guest did wonderful. It reminded me of the days I used to play my music instruments. Programs such as this one must be supported. We cannot let future generations lose the amazing gift that music is. Support your local musicians as well. In fact to the first person that comes up to me and tells me what instrument or what music voice they sing I will support their dream by financially contributing to their music talents and wallets. Until we meet again do not forget to…Ask Anonymous.

Build value on your resume

2011-04-22T00:03:00.001-05:00

How important is your resume? Well, pretty important since it is the first thing that headhunters look into and it is what makes you stand out from the crowd. Your resume is not a piece of paper. It's in your actual work and the outcome of that work. So, you build value on your resume by building value into the work you choose to do and in the ways you do it.

There are three attributes that employers often look for: enthusiasm, persistence and intelligence. You can build value on your resume by focusing on developing these three attributes in yourself.

Enthusiasm: The first way to add value to your resume is to do work that you want to do. You may not see it now, but the consequences will show. Choices made with enthusiasm produce value because they draw out the best you have to offer. If you take up a job you don’t like, you may do a good job, but in the end, you've left value on the table. When you describe a past job to a prospective employer, you should be able to describe it as an exploit and an adventure, not as just a job.

Persistence: is the tool that turns a job into productive work. The only jobs that don't get done right are the ones people give up on. "It's too hard. No one can do it. It's never been done before. It won't work. No one will buy it." You build value on your resume by finding a way to do the job. Being persistent often means transcending the job description and re-designing the work so you can achieve the goal. You see, jobs themselves don't matter. What matters is work that achieves a company's goals. Make that achievement part of your resume.

Intelligence: If your resume reveals one thing about you, it's the choices you've made. Choices about which companies to work for, which solutions to champion, and which failures to learn from. These choices may seem minor when you're making each of them, but on your resume the picture of your intelligence crystallizes when your choices are suddenly summarized.

Add up enthusiasm, persistence and intelligence and you come up with accomplishments. But remember: accomplishments don't tell a story to an employer, they tell only the ending. The proof of your value lies in showing how you got there. When a prospective employer can see these three critical attributes, that's when he knows you can help him get there, too.

What Not to Wear!

2011-04-13T00:20:00.002-05:00

More than often college students look at the future with a slight sense of uncertainty. Of course, there are many variables to this fact, and a very few of us stay immune to this condition. Unfortunately I am not one of the few. Our minds stay undecided about what our goals should be, and sometimes our security seems to obstruct the liberation of our innate passions; we try to make a balance between our dreams and what is indeed feasible within the opportunities that we are given. We sacrifice many things to play it safe.

Despite of it all, everyone who is studying here at school is making some type of effort to grasp to those dreams and maintain them alive whether these include a gig at some Broadway Show, playing a fortune as a Wall Street trader, or simply procuring a good future for the family, we will have a unique story to tell. To facilitate this process, Lone Star College is giving us a hand, or rather once again, opening doors for us. It was actually this morning that I had the privilege to meet one of our counselors at the CyFair campus. The circumstances allowed our chat to channel from a simple occasional encounter to the purpose of my career, which I thought was kind of surprising and a slightly intense suject for the reason that very few people outside of my familiar circle had paid much attention to my personal academic and professional goals since my freshman year in high school. I think these people can really help students in times like these, when choosing a career or getting a job seems to be a definitive point in life, so crucial that it may affect many of the future years ahead of us.

In preparation for the Job Fair that will be happening on Wednesday, April 20, from 10 a.m.—2 p.m. in the Conference Center at Lone Star College- University Park, located at 20515 SH249, the Counseling Department here at CyFair are helping students by building and reviewing resumes, also providing interview information so that students may become better assets at the renowned event. This is actually the second year the system-wide Job Fair has become available to students and community job seekers, all provided by the Student Services Council and Students Veteran’s Affairs. It is an opportunity for students to seek opportunities in the workforce in one place. To further prepare the candidates today, April 13, 2011, there will be attire advising through a show of “What Not to Wear!” at the College Center; a rather entertaining but still informative way to demonstrate students the most effective presentation to obtain a job.

I will be wearing an attractive suit to this event. Autographs will be available after the show. I am not certain however if my faux hawk hairdo is pertinent for such occasion. We will see.

Its ALL possible! :)

2011-04-10T23:55:00.001-05:00

One more month left of school and for many, that means the last of Lone Star College Cy-Fair . Many acceptance letters are coming along and to the excitement of Antonio Israel Lopez who just received a letter from Lone Star saying he is graduating in May with his associates of science has him very pleased and very proud of himself especially since he is a perspective student of ATM Animal Science to achieve his goals of becoming a Vet. Antonio adds that there are many scholarships that are available but it takes a lot of work and patience as well as time to go through them and match up with the scholarships. “Most of them require an essay and lots of paper work to be filled out, but others are simple, just fill them out thoroughly, provide the proof needed, and mail in the paper work. Its all possible, just always be positive and soon enough you will get those emails and letter arriving to your house announcing you as a recipient of a scholarship!”

Indeed Antonio couldn’t have said it any better! It’s the person’s level of determination and optimistic attitude that can lead them to such success. To always have those goals in mind and present at all times eases everything! I did some research myself and I encountered several scholarships. Those including the RMCMI Scholarship intended for students majoring in certain types of engineering, a renewable $2,000 scholarship. The SPE Trans Pecos Section Scholarship for those majoring in general or chemical engineering, also a renewable $2,000 scholarship. The Texas Transportation Scholarship is a $1,000 Texas Scholarship for college sophomores, juniors and seniors. The St. David’s Neal Kocurek Scholarship is a $2,000-$4,000 Texas scholarship for students expressing interest in a healthcare profession who demonstrate financial need and academic promise. The Texas History Essay Contest offers prizes ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. Applicants must submit an essay between 1,500 and 2,000 words in length about Texas history. Winners are chosen based on originality, depth of research, expression and organization. All these Texas scholarships are intended for students who are pursuing a particular major or career.

Another student from our very own Lone Star College Cy- Fair, Katherine Sheppard, added that it was really hard for her to apply for any scholarships while she attended Lone Star since she is an international student and didn’t have much information accessible to her about all of these financial aid options. She recommends that students like her search and ask around for help with this info that way the financial obstacles could be eased for the student. She happily says that she was awarded with an athletic scholarship for Prairie View to continue with the making of her goals to get her degree, then do graduate school and “achieve as much as [she] can with that in [her] professional career. She managed to complete her basics in a year and a half and this summer she will be graduating with her Associates of Arts. “Hard work indeed pays off, you just have to try and work hard.”Successful students leaving our campus, leaving to pursue their careers and become those magnificent professionals of tomorrow! Start off by being able to accomplish those goals by seeking financial aid to ease the tension and not have high statistical percentages of students that don’t attend college because of lack of financial aid! All is possible, and if not, one has to make it possible! :)

Talent Show and Spring Poetry Slam Events!

2011-04-10T23:35:00.002-05:00

This Wednesday April 13, at 7 p.m. Lonestar College Cy Fair will hold its annual talent show. This event brought to you by Student Activities will be held inside the Main Stage Theatre inside the Center for Arts. This year the Master of Ceremonies for the night will be Brandon Styles a impressionist, comedian and magician who has been regarded as hysterical, power house of energy, and has been said to have a tremendous vocal range with dead on impressions! Brandon has an impressive singing impression list with names like, John Mayer, Coldplay, Miley Cyrus, Shakira, Roy Orbison, Biggie Small, Johnny Cash, Nat King Cole, and Prince just to name a few of the long list. Brandon Styles should be a interesting MC in Paris, the theme for this Years talent show. Like past talent shows, this year’s talent show is a community event. Students are encouraged to bring their family, friends and neighbors to enjoy a night full of talent. Not only will the contestants earn prizes, but the night’s guest will also have a chance to win door prizes throughout the night. The Student Ambassadors will be on hand that night raffling the door prizes for the audience. Just in case you missed the talent show last year, winners from the previous talent show will be performing at this year’s talent show. Come out for a fun family night of entertainment and talent! Remember this a FREE COMMUNITY EVENT. Bring your friends, family, and neighbors!

Just in case you cannot make it to the talent show or one event is not enough, Lonestar College Cy Fair will be hosting a Spring Poetry Slam the very next night, April 14 at the very same location, the Main Stage Theatre at 7 p.m. This year’s competition will include community members and college slam poets. Poems will range in styles, but they are sure to keep the audience entertained and compete for first place! How the competition will work, each poet has to prepare three original poems with a creative delivery lasting no longer than three minutes. At the judges table will be community members, students, professors, and publishers who will be abiding by the National Poetry Slam Rules. This event is being organized by Professor Marxhausen, a English Professor of Cy Fair. Sponsoring the event is Lonestar College Cy Fair’s Windows on the World Come out to celebrate National Poetry Month and enjoy entertaining original poems. This is also a free event! Come out and enjoy!

Impact Someone with the Butterfly Effect

2011-04-10T23:22:00.002-05:00

After such a cold winter, it is refreshing to see that spring is here. Spring is known as the season of rebirth. Flowers are in bloom, birds are chirping and butterflies are fluttering. This is a great time to reflect, grow and renew oneself. A few years ago I heard about this awesome phenomenon called the Butterfly Effect.

The Butterfly Effect originally was a term used to explain some changes in the weather. The theory was that the flapping of the small wings of a butterfly could have tiny effects on the atmosphere, which could change the path of a tornado by altering the speed and direction of the tornado. Although the butterfly never created the tornado by itself; the flapping of its wings did have an impact on the sequence of events that helped create conditions which caused the tornado.

Today the butterfly effect is actually a term used in psychology. The thought is that a small act of kindness can have a large effect on life. I heard on the news last year that a man went through a drive through at Starbucks to get a cup of coffee. He was surprised that when he reached the cashier window to pay for his coffee, the attendant told him it was already paid for by the driver in front of him who just pulled out of the drive through line. He was so overwhelmed by this act done by a total stranger that he told the cashier he wanted to pay for the next persons’ coffee. What really impressed me about this story was that this act of kindness continued for over two hours.

There are plenty of acts of kindness that you could do that could start a butterfly effect. Have you ever been having a bad day and someone smiles at you as they walk pass you and your whole day starts to turn around? Later in the day you stop and hold the elevator door for a woman whose arms are loaded down. That even the woman is waiting in a checkout line with a basket full of groceries. Right behind her is a man holding a gallon of milk and a loaf of bread. She turns to the man and encourages him to go in front of her. Do you see how this works? A total stranger smiled at you which are a tiny act of kindness; like a butterfly flaps its wings.

Miss Cy-Fair Houston Pageant

2011-04-10T22:21:00.002-05:00

Last weekend the Lone Star Cy-Fair and the Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce hosted the second annual Miss Cy-Fair Houston. Twenty-two local high school young women ages fifteen through nineteen competed for the title. The girls were judged on beauty, poise, and confidence. Each contestant must face an interview to prove their wit and articulacy as well as poise in the evening gown contest. Winner of the pageant receives a $1,000 scholarship at the end of her reign and a modeling workshop valued at $1,000 from the Neil Hamil Modeling Agency. During their reign, Miss Cy-Fair Houston is expected be an active role model and make appearances for the Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce and other community events such as the Parade of Lights held in December.

In addition to the Miss Cy-Fair Houston, the pageant has expanded its pageant age group by creating three different age categories to be the Miss Cy-Fair Houston Princesses: Junior Princess (ages 4 to 6 ), Little Princess (ages 7 to 11 ), and Tiny Princess (ages 12 to 14). The unique thing about this pageant is that they are promoting natural beauty by prohibiting the girls from wearing extravagant make up and dresses. Confidence and poise is endorsed over glitz. A princess theme was the overall theme of this pageant; even Cinderella herself came to visit.

The theatre was packed with friends and family cheering the girls on. The top ten finalists were chosen and a round of interview question was dealt out by the judges. Lone Star Cy-Fair’s theatre department provided entertainment by showing a portion of the upcoming production “Little Shop of Horror.” Mary Kate Barker, a sophomore at Cypress Ranch High School, was crowned this year’s Miss Cy-Fair Houston by last year’s winner Brooklyn Mattingly, now senior at Cypress Falls Highs School. The Miss Congeniality award went to Tracy Vega and the most photogenic award went to Jawaher Al-Zibdeh. For the princess’ categories, Serena McKinney won Junior Princess title, Madison Murray won Little Princess title and Sydney Prejean won Tiny Princess title.

Due to the pageant’s success the past two years, the Chamber predicts that this would be a long time annual event for the community. Almost 5,000 high school senior women graduate in our school district and the Chamber would like to show that Cy-Fair has got outstanding and intelligent community members.

To learn more about the Miss Cy-Fair Houston pageant and its sponsors, visit http://www.misscyfairhouston.com/.

Who's Hiring?

2011-04-10T21:51:00.000-05:00

Today as I was looking for more advice to give y’all on your quest of job searching or just keeping your job, I found and article on money.usnews.com of 5 Tips on Finding a New Job, like always the full link will be posted at the end of the blog. They begin to explain that “Job creation fell by 17,000 in January, the first month of decline in more than four years. Hard-hit industries like banking and real estate are already seeing layoffs and hiring freezes, and that means more qualified applicants are chasing fewer job openings.” In a recession like we are in now it is very important for us to make sure our job searching skills are at their best because it will be harder than ever to find a job. "In a nutshell, your skills need to be better, you need to be more aware of career branding, and you must be more strategic about approaching employers.” The first of the five tips is Don’t Count on the Job Boards. These sites are pretty much empty promises that like tell you they will connect you to all the employers that match you best but sites like these are best known as “resume black holes”. “For one, many companies prescreen résumés using software that hunts for key words relating to skills, training, degrees, and experience. Even if you are a perfect match for the job, ‘your résumé may never get to someone who could decipher your potential value,’ says Debra Feldman of JobWhiz, an executive job search consultant.” Second tip is Tap Your Network. I’m sure that in every company you may have worked at you have made a friend or two, those are the people that can help you find the job that your looking for. An old business associate can help you build that bridge of gap between future employers that may not be curtain of your skills. "More important than what you know is who knows what you know," Feldman says. "Make sure you're on the radar of people who have access to the kind of job leads you want." Third is Offer to Help Others. Always stay in contact with your networkers so you’re not asking for favors in a few years. Invite them to gatherings, social parties where they can always expand their network, just to make sure that mutual friendship is always there. Fourth is Leverage the Blogosphere. “Find blogs relevant to your industry that are written by professionals at the top of their career, says Trunk, and become a regular commenter. ‘The great thing about the blogosphere is that it rewards ideas and passion, so you're not judged based on your résumé,’ she says. Once you've developed rapport with a blogger, ask about career advice and job leads.” And last but not least Promote your brand. In the simplest terms possible show the business world all the skills you have to offer! “This might be as simple as volunteering your skills for a community project, participating in an online forum, creating a website, or—you guessed it—blogging.” The blog itself I found very help full and as a side note the entire website is full of articles that can be very helpful on getting you a job and maybe even helping you expand you’re network. Good Luck!

http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2008/02/21/5-tips-on-finding-a-new-job

Stress amongst College Individuals

2011-04-10T20:51:00.001-05:00

Stress is commonly described as mental, emotional, or physical strain caused by anxiety or overwork. Being in college, I am sure you have all experienced it at some point throughout your career. There are four main stress commonly experienced among several individuals. There is eustress, distress, hyperstress, and hypostress. Eustress is a sort of short-term stress that provides and immediate boost. It is positive that occurs when motivation or inspiration is needed. Distress is a negative stress that occurs when there are a lot of changes in a routine and a short period of time. Hyperstress occurs when the person is pushed to excel beyond what he or she can take. This occurs from being overloaded or overworked. Hypostress is the opposite of hyperstress. This occurs when an individual is not being challenged. Now that I have informed you on the four main different types of stress it is important to be aware on how to avoid these. As college students, we take on many different responsibilities. Majority of college students are working as well. Then not mention the bills we have to pay along with our extremely busy social lifestyle. There is no time to be dealing with stress. But we all know it is inevitable. We have a 15 page essay due in one class, a project in another, and to top it off a presentation in another. All the students are meeting deadlines and working hard to maintain a good academic status. I will be stating a few tips on how to prevent stress and dedicate 100% to your student life. There is nothing better than completing all the necessary tasks and still managing to be relaxed. Several tips are regular exercise, eating a healthy diet, taking on a new hobby, massage therapy, sense of humor. Now you might be saying these are all the things I least have time for. In reality most Americans spend several hours watching television or doing something of the sort. Replacing an hour of your day with something that will soothe you might just be the key to prevent stress in your life. Now you might be saying, how serious could this possibly be? Unfortunately, it is very important to attempt to live a stress free life or at least minimal stress free. Several negative effects caused by stress are unsafe weight gain or weight loss, muscle tension increase, higher risk of medical infections, chances of suffering a heart attack increase, and blood pressure problems. These are not all that might occur but they are enough to hopefully have you understand the importance of attempting to avoid stress in your life. College students take on a lot, do not let it control you.

Summer Internship

2011-04-10T19:41:00.002-05:00

Hey guys! So the summer is approaching, what is your plan? Are you going to summer school, or are you planning on a vacation trip somewhere? Well if you are still not sure what are you going to do this summer, and you don’t really feel like go to summer school, I have an idea for you. It is called: Summer Internship.

Internships come in all shapes and sizes. Some are paid and some are unpaid. Some last for a summer while others continue through the school year. Some internships are local, but others offer employment abroad. Interning is a great way to apply what you have learned, a great opportunity to meet experienced people who can help guide you toward a career and it will definitely look good on your resume.

How do you find the right internship for you? Start by answering these questions:

What interests you? Do you like photography? Computers?
What kind of internship do you seek? Do you want to work during the summer or the school year? Do you need to earn money or could you work for free?
What you want out of an internship? If you're interested in the legal field, your search should start with law firms, not banana farms.

And remember to use a variety of resources

Many resources exist for finding internships. Employers often advertise internship positions through schools. You can go to a career counselor to ask for help. The career and service center is located on the back of the Cyfair College library. You might also find out about internships through a school clubs. And don't forget family and friends.

If there's a specific company or organization you'd like to work for, don't be afraid to inquire directly. Even if they've never had an intern, you might be able to convince them they need one by being clear about how you could help.

The Internet also provides a wealth of resources. Helpful sites include:

www.internshipprograms.com
www.internabroad.com
www.idealist.org allows you to search for internships at nonprofits such as environmental groups
www.volunteerinternational.org lists volunteer opportunities abroad.

Summer is a great time to go intern if you are a college student. If you cannot find a paid internship around, you can still look for an intern position at some nonprofit organizations. You will get the change to meet new people, gain great experiences and help others at the same time.

Tips and News Feed about the Lifestyle (:

2011-03-29T15:53:00.000-05:00

We have all returned from spring break and were not going to lie; it’s taking more than we expected to adjust to the usual school routine. Professors seem to be on a role and ready to go. Exam this week, project next week, essay tomorrow, speech on Friday. You are sitting in class and you find yourself dosing off or simply 2 inches from knocking out on the desk. Today I will be giving a few suggestions on how to get back in the mode. First we want to start by making sure you all catch up on your sleep. We all know spring break meant staying out late and sleeping in. Sleep is vital for everyone. Step number two; make sure you eat breakfast before walking out the door. There is nothing more uncomfortable then sitting in class, the professor giving a lecture and bam your stomach grumbles making the oddest sounds. The only thing left to do is smile and unconsciously blush. Step number three, set new goals. In other words get your head back in the mentality of attaining good grades. Student life on campus has cooled down. Everyone comes to their classes and seems to be heading right back as soon as class is out. Now we all know everyone is in a rush and desperate to leave the school grounds. Here are another few suggestions. Be patient and don’t speed out the parking lot. In other words, I just witnessed a car wreck right in front the HSC building due to impatience. Quick scenario someone’s backing up from their parking spot and then here you come zooming across trying to get across. What happens is you both collide due to the lack of decrease in speed. This is definitely something to consider next time you are driving on the CyFair parking lot. The weather has been magnificent and completely motivational to study outside and make the best of all these exams. As for student activities tomorrow, March 30, the SGA elections will be taking place in the cafeteria. Feel free to attend and let your voice be heard. Select this year’s upcoming student president, vice president, etc. If you haven’t been as involved lately see this as an opportunity to join and play a role in the student life. Overall, know that the student life at Lonestar- CyFair is always captivating and never fails to entertain.

Calling all entrepreneurs!

2011-03-28T21:46:00.000-05:00

According to U.S. News and World Report, Texas is number four in “The Seven Best States to Start a New Business” despite the turbulent economy. CNNnews business statistics stated that Houston’s small business growth between 2004 through 2007 is 6.3%, higher than the average of all other large metro areas. People from around the country are flocking in to get their piece economic prosperity. The new apartment constructions around Houston and the increasing enrolment at Lone Star College System alone reflect Houston’s increasing population. Recognizing this somewhat welcomed issue, Lone Star College CyFair provides classes and programs to help community members with their business endeavors.

During the month of March and April, the college library is hosting a series of business seminar. Each seminar will be an informative session of business tips and resource information. Every meeting will be on a Wednesday from 7:45 until 8:45 a.m. in the Learning Commons room 131. The dates and topics for this seminar are:

March 23, 2011 - The CEOs of Networking

Presenter Mitchell From will be discussing the “How to’s” of networking for your business.

March 30, 2011 - QuickBooks for Small Business

Presenter Deborah Hroch will show you how to use inexpensive and versatile software to take care of your business finances.

April 6, 2011 - LinkedIn - The Ultimate Business Place in Social Media

Presenter Siva Yinneti will show you how social media such as facebook and twitter work for your business.

April 13, 2011 - Wow, I Wish I Knew that BEFORE I Started My Business!

Presenter Gail Lober will open your eyes to the common mistakes of unsuccessful businesses and what you should do to prevent it to happen to yours.

April 20, 2011 - The Hidden Power of the Elevator Pitch
Ever heard of the elevator pitch? Listen to Terri Craig and what she has to say on the importance of capturing people’s attention for your business in a short amount of time.

April 27, 2011 - Beyond the Bullet Point
Even a second grader nowadays know how to make a power point presentation. Learn how to create the best sales presentation with the help of Jo Tubs.

This set of seminars is only a drop of what Lone Star has to offer for businesses and the community. There is corporate college and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC). To learn more about the seminars mentioned and the speaker bios, visit http://www.lonestar.edu/library/business-seminars.htm. And if you’re interested in learning more about SBDC and corporate college, visit http://www.lonestar.edu/community-business.htm.

Cy Fair Home And Garden Show and Green Fair

2011-03-27T23:59:00.004-05:00

This weekend the Cy Fair held its fourth annual home and garden show at the Berry Center. The Cy Fair home and garden show was also held together with the Green Fair, which was held by the Cy Fair Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with NuValTech recycling, the shred guy. The Green Fair was a fundraiser for the Cy Fair Chamber of Commerce, and recycling was going site. NuvalTech took care of plastics, aluminum, cardboard, electronics, old TV’s and batteries, while the shred guy took care of the secure paper shredding. Community members were encouraged to bring computer parts, old printers, old cellular phones, old telephones, this is just a short list the recycling fundraiser saw an array of old electronics. The Cy Fair Chamber of Commerce held the event to encourage community members to recycle in efforts to inform people about helping out the environment. When folks were informed about the $5 fee to recycle old computer monitors they learned that is what the recycling company is actually charged to completely recycle the internal parts. NuValTech makes sure that all the internal parts of the monitor and old TV’s are properly disposed of keeping the environment in mind. Another thing the Cy Fair Chamber of Commerce has done in their efforts to educate the community, is create a sustainability committee to educate and encourage local Cy Fair business’ on playing their role for the environment. Community members who participated in the Green Fair were given a cupon for a cheaper admission ticket to the home and garden show. While all of this was going on out in the parking lot, inside community members could browse and explore everything about the Great indoors and outdoors! With over 200 vendors shocasing the lateste goods and technology and plenty of seminars with industry experts speakers.

if you are interested in recycling in your area or more information contact NuVal Tech. nuvaltech.com

APPLY NOW! APRIL 1ST

2011-03-27T23:58:00.000-05:00

Another year at Lone Star College- CyFair? Perhaps it is time to dedicate that time to search for scholarships. Remember that any little bit helps to pay off those expensive college tuition and fees. Lone Star College- CyFair offers numerous scholarship opportunities for all students that consists of different award amounts as well as different requirements. These scholarships are all thanks to the generosity of distinguished businesses and organizations as well as our community individuals. There are several easy steps that should be taken to successfully complete the application. First, obviously, you must download the application. Then complete all sections of the application and acquire two reference evaluation forms.The completed application as well as the completed reference evalutions must be turned in to Lina Quintero, the Lone Star College- CyFair scholarship advisor no later that April 1^st, the deadline. Below I will provide the link in which the application as well as the evaluation forms can be found. Also the link also provides instructions and a checklist.

LoneStar.edu/scholarships-cyfair.

As mentioned earlier, the numerous amounts of scholarships that are being offered will all be available once the application is filled out properly with the proper documentation attached to it and turned in on time. Some of the scholarships that are being offered only require the minimum GPA. Although other scholarships are strictly applying to the major of the student, or for those enrolled in certain programs. In example, for those that are in businedd, nursing, welding, engineering, radiography, drama, arts, teacher certificate, etc. Other scholarships are based on whether the student is a full time student, or a part time student, and lastly it is also based on the financial need of the student and families. The application process is very easy to do and if there is any more help that is needed. The financial aid staff would be more than gladly to help!!! There is action from the student that is needed and their willing of taking the time to fill out the application. For additional scholarship assistance, you may also contact Lina Quinetero at her office in 142A of the student services in the Learning Commons at the CyFair college or at 281.290.3226. For those that are attending LSC- Fairbanks Center you may contact Vanessa Williams at the registration and admissions area or at 832.782.5016. Guys lets all take advantage of these wonderful opportunities that are being offered to all!!

Recapturing Sanity

2011-03-27T23:37:00.005-05:00

In the midst of such chaotic lives such as the ones experienced by a college student, it seems inevitable to lose a bit of sanity in the process. We come to campus to learn, meet people, read subjects, experiment, research, and basically experience life itself. Yet we fail to comprehend that our time is limited and our universe can be as transient as a burning match, and all of these things that we are doing may pass unnoticeably; that despite the milliard of literatures intended to remind us about carpe diem, we still decide to lose our minds for the sole purpose of being productive persons in this new “Corporate America”. We lose perspective and forget the most important aspects of life which often tend to be the minutest details. These valuable moments that are integrated by smiles, nature, breezes of cool air, fresh aromas, leaves waving the wind, the sky as a deep blue ocean, and the rest of this world’s traits that have been responsible for inspiring poets throughout eras to write transcendental words of art, seem to be fading away with each additional minute that we spend here. Nonetheless, it is precisely for this reason that I ought to thank Spring Break, for it brings us back to our senses. There is a great relief of consciousness every time I step back into the classroom after such break that it makes me believe there is only enough time in the semester to finish it with nothing less fancy than a cadenza. It is at that moment that I decide to get down to business and finally kick my classes’ buttocks.

Likewise, students are back in their routines here at Lone Star College Cy-Fair devising new plans to finish what is left of their courses. Many of us are already planning ahead for next year, filling out scholarships applications, verifying that we strategize a better plan than we did the previous year, signing up for summers session classes, tossing out the bad roommates and finding new ones. Within this transition of coming to a new year, we often fall into a state of self discovery. This process is so intrinsic at times that it becomes a cause for changing student’s minds. People switch majors, career paths, and lifestyles because of it. Understandably, it is the mere fact that we tend to live life so hastily that make us hesitate to make crucial decisions fearing that they may ultimately bring a negative outcome upon us. Nonetheless we are lucky to account with the Department of Counseling and Disability Services here at Lone Star College. They may be hidden in the library’s innermost corner, yet I believe they can bring a great deal of alleviation whenever students are indecisive or are having personal problems in their lives, plus they provide excellent information about transferring to other Universities.

Figuratively, all we have left this year is our fourth quarter, so there is nothing else for students to do other than enjoy the moment and surrender full potentials. Good luck to everyone!

I secretly enjoy eating Nutella® sandwiches in the corner of my room.

A quick review of great places to get textbooks

2011-03-27T20:23:00.001-05:00

I’m grateful that I attend Lone Star College. I get great help from qualified teachers, my classes are small so I never feel lost, and my courses are very affordable. However, in spite of the reasonable cost of classes, I am often overwhelmed by the price of textbooks. I don’t care if they are used, new, or even rented; I find it expensive to keep this cost in line.

The following are sources that are out there. Some of them I have actually used while others I am only familiar with. I hope they provide insights towards better book buying. Recently Jason Fitzpatrick wrote in an article in LifeHacker.com. I personally like his choices and want to bring them to your attention:

One on the list is Amazon. This is a site that I have used more than others. It has been a tremendous resource during my time in college. Fitzpatrick notes “No one should be surprised to find out that Amazon has their hand in the textbook business.” He’s right and they have become quite the leaders at it and have created a special section just for textbook purchases

Another on his list is Chegg.com. Chegg has a unique value proposition. Through this site you rent instead of buy. Fitzpatric says “Chegg offers a nice compromise between buying the overpriced textbooks at your local bookstore and shopping for iffy-quality used books online.”

Then there is AbeBooks.com, of which Fitzpatrick’s states “they have a bustling textbook section with new and used books that average 50% off retail—we found quite a few books in our test searches that crept up in the 75-90% range, however. “

Half.com is another growing player and is backed by the powerhouse, Ebay. Fitzpatrick notes “Half.com… offers cheap media and books including textbooks. Like a giant used bookstore/record store equivalent of eBay, Half.com is a great place to find cheap textbooks. In particular, Fitzpatrick suggest you explore the site’s “Buying Wizard.”

A real innovator in textbook transactions is Bigwords.com. Fitzpatrick states that “When you search for textbooks at BIGWORDS, they scan dozens of other textbook retailers and resellers to find you the absolute bargain basement prices.” This is a great matchmaker in the world of books.

These are five choices for you and I’m sure there are more. I one time lucked out and got a book from Craigslist.org, the person sold the book for $29, which new would have cost $180 and happen to live three blocks away. Now that does not happen every day, but I have found that any time I have ordered a book online, I have received it in three to five days. Meanwhile others still favor convenience over price and just get it from the school store. The choice remains yours!

Changing major

2011-03-27T13:22:00.003-05:00

Sixty percent of students change majors before graduating. Many factors contribute to this decision. Try the following checklist to see if you should go ahead and make the move.

* You chose your current major without much thought

Remember reading that long list of majors at orientation? You probably felt more than a little overwhelmed. Not to mention, your parents were probably breathing down your neck to choose engineering when all you really wanted was to study dance. After you’ve spent some time in your major, and you’re not sure if it’s the best fit, you may want to reevaluate that major decision.

Do you ever ask yourself: “Am I in this for all the wrong reasons?” If a student chooses a major based on his or her parent’s expectations, or some other outside influence, that’s a big sign he or she needs to drop that major in the grease and pick up something he or she really loves, explains Dr. Diane Miller, director of Undergraduate Services at the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

* You are doing poorly in your current major courses

Another hint you’re on the wrong path is performing poorly in one of the preliminary courses. Continuing on to the higher-level courses will only make matters worse because they build on skills you haven’t mastered from the lower levels. For example, if you’re on the pre-med track but are struggling to pass chemistry, you may want to consider re-evaluating your choice of major.

* You can’t let the idea go about changing your major

If all this sounds familiar, and your intuition is telling you you’re on the wrong path, then consider a change. It is estimated that most undergraduate students will change their majors anywhere between one and three times. But before you switch, make sure you research your new major. The main influencing factor should come from your self-evaluation of interests, goals and aptitudes and researched various majors and career fields.

Before you make the switch, meet with your advisor or counselor, who can help you decide what major may be a better fit for you. Try taking classes in a variety of fields and see if you have an interest in a particular subject. Or ask those who know you best such as your high school teachers. They’ll know your strong suits and can give you an idea of a major that draws from what you’re good at.

Just remember, college is a path of discovery—if you’re in the wrong major, making the change is a part of the journey.

Who's Hiring?

2011-03-26T18:38:00.001-05:00

Making sure you keep your job is not only something you think about, but also something you spouse or roommate thinks about as well because they know how important it is! In every job there are things that just make you want to pull your hair out and to me the biggest one would be your co-workers. That’s why in this blog I wanted to share with you an article I found on the Four Types of Difficult Co-workers and how to deal with them. The first example was the Grumpy Co-worker; “they walk into work in the morning, don't say hi, won't even make eye contact with you or crack a smile.” I am so sure everyone has seen this person at least one of a work place and the best thing to do is to “Try to find some common ground…Don't take it personally, and Ask if something's wrong” the most important in my view is just trying not to take it personally, that person most like just doesn’t want to be bothered. The second example is the Know it all Co-worker; “Nobody knows everything but don't tell your know-it-all coworker that! What's tricky about these people is that they're hard to reason with because they carry on as if the only ideas that are "right" or "the best way" are their own.” Sometimes this Know it all Co-worker turns out being your boss and that’s when it gets very hard to cope with knowing that you have to be nice to them and agree with what they say but hope fully these tips will help you deal with all of the “Knowledge”, “Make them think that your idea is really their idea…Show your evidence. Prove it!” I can imagine it is really hard for anyone to let someone believe your great idea is there’s when the idea is actually yours because I sure can’t but sometimes it’s worth the peace and quiet you get from them just leaving you alone. The third example was the Tattletale Co-worker; “Low and behold, you're called into your manager's office because you were tattled on by your tattletale coworker for something that doesn't really matter anyway.” This co worker makes you feel like you’ve just begun pre-school all over again! But like always I will share with you what was recommended by the article and that was to “Make sure they like you…Be on your best behavior” I would tell you to just tattle back! BUT that is not AT ALL the best thing to do so please... Don’t do that! :] Finally, the last example given is the Lazy Co-worker; “There is nothing more frustrating than doing all the work while your lazy coworker(s) sits around and does nothing.” The best things to do to handle these type of co workers is to “Suck it up…Don't pick up the slack for the lazy one… by saying ‘Help me! I'm overwhelmed! There is work to be done here!’" I hope one of these tips helps those eight hours go faster! And if you want to visit the site yourself I have attached it at the bottom! Hope everyone is enjoying the weather!

• http://hubpages.com/hub/4-Types-of-Difficult-Coworkers-and-How-to-Deal-with-them

Wome's History Month

2011-03-13T23:54:00.001-05:00

Women’s month is observed every year in the united states in the march of month of March. Before the year of nineteen seventy Women’s history was rarely mentioned, and no formal doctoral program was even offered for anybody seeking further studies in this country. However since these times this whole important topic has gone through a total metamorphoses, as a result nearly every University offers a women’s history course and they have also adapted graduate programs on women’s history month. Now as times have changed students can earn Doctoral degrees on women’s history. Many contributing factors have added to women’s history month being acknowledged. A strong surge of the women’s movement continued on through the seventies. This continued movement resulted in women questioning their undeniable part in all of history, not just American but world history as well. Because of this awareness, many women historians were created along with many aspiration and growing opportunities for women. But one must also acknowledge that women’s history was also part of a greater movement that helped shape the study of history in the United States. For many in this country, “history” has mean t a political history, chronological key political ideas and events, with emphasis on its leaders, who were primarily men, who influence much of history. However with years passing by, a different type of history started to emerge and distinguish itself from the traditional forms history, replacing the traditional style. This style was referred to as “social history”. Because of this new style of history, emphasis changed to a broader spectrum of American life, and such topics as “urban lifestyle, public health, ethnicity , public media and poverty” had been emerging in the topics of new subjects of discussion. At the same time things began to shift and things began to take a greater emergence in personal politics. Women were rarely recognized to have any influential margin on politics and history, it was now a important opportunity for women to present their history and use this to help them present had been ignored for the longest time in history. As a result Women’s history now covers a wider range of topics compared to what was discussed in the beginning of this movement. Such areas of expansion include, education, women’s rights, marriage, sexuality, and women’s roles in child rearing. As this field has grown, many of the women’s historians have come a realize that the definition of women’s history had to be expanded in because of the strong focous on White middle class, and the neglecting of the complete of socio and racial economic spectrum of women.

TIME FOR ACTION!

2011-03-13T23:47:00.001-05:00

It is spring break guys and what else is there in mind than to just enjoy this vacation? Have fun with friends and family and enjoy this nice break from school. No homework, tests, or quizzes to be worrying about, nor those dreadful long nights of endless studying. Also, we are all halfway through the semester, and many of us students are all looking forward to transferring to our chosen university. The application deadlines are arriving and there is the floating worry of how to pay for tuition. There are many scholarships out there guys! One in particular is the TEXAS (Toward Excellence Access & Success) grant. This grant was established by the Texas Legislature to make sure that well prepared high school graduates could go to school. All Texas residents that show a need for financial aid, complete the Recommended High School Program or Distinguished Achievement Program in high school, enroll in a non-profit public college or university in Texas within 16 months of graduation from a public or accredited private high school in Texas. Also, those that have earned an associate degree from a public technical, state or community college in Texas and enroll in any public university are eligible and encouraged to apply. Although, to apply for this grant you must enroll in any public university in Texas no more than 12 months after receiving their associate’s degree. The deadlines vary by the institutions, but the fall and spring grants are generally awarded in the spring prior to enrollment. Students can apply through the financial aid office of the college and for those interested in this program you should also contact the financial aid office to find out on official deadlines and procedures. There is also more information for this program on the College For All Texans website. This is a very helpful website that helps you with everything you need to know to be on the right path for a successful college plan. Also it offers a college match up for freshmen and transferring students. So students let not get carried away with spring break and leave all of this to last minute. There are scholarships out there, plenty as a matter of fact! You just have to put time and effort to search for them. In this break dedicate a bit of the time that is not being used for studying or sitting in class listening to lectures and search for these life saving scholarships!!!!!

2011-03-13T21:05:00.002-05:00

Spring Break “Half Time Report”

The semester is half way over. We know that because we are in that popular time of the year called Spring Break! Spring Break is the subject of many movies (e.g., Where the Boys Are), TV Programs (MTV Spring Break specials), and untold legends of fun and frolic. But it is also the time where people should seriously evaluate where they are academically and what they need to do to end the semester with a bang rather than a whimper.

I always like to size up how I am doing school wise this time of the year and determine what, if anything, I need to do next. Here are a few areas I like to size up. They might be helpful for you to check out too:

What is my grade in all my classes? Do I have the best grade possible based on my abilities? What can I do to raise it up (if necessary) in the several crucial upcoming weeks?

Is Spring Break a vacation time or a catch up time? I often find myself off of my game in the crucial weeks just before Spring Break. My argument at the time is, “I will get caught up on that paper, project, or other item during Spring Break.” This only works if I use Spring Break to get caught up. If you fail to get caught up during Spring Break, get ready to do so immediately upon getting back to school.

How are my relationships with teachers, friends, loved ones, and others? After moving rapidly for weeks from project to project and test to test, I like to do an inventory of my relationships and take some time to catch up with friends, families, and others. It is also good for me to size up my relationship with teachers and to make sure I’m meeting their expectations too.

How am I taking care of myself? By this point of the semester I am often concerned about sleep, food, and other “basics” to healthy and happy living. If I am behind on my sleep, I definitely pursue such and try to set the stage to get better rest in the final stretch. This is true in my eating as well. Food is simply too important not to take seriously.

These are just a few of the items I like to make an inventory of during this important time of the year. What do you like to do to end the semester right?

Guns and Books

2011-03-13T15:34:00.002-05:00

Hello my fellow students,

It is your friendly correspondent Ask Anonymous. Lately a lot of you have been talking about the recent bill that was introduced to The Texas House of Representatives that would allow the carry of licensed concealed firearms in university and college campuses across the state. Many of you have asked me whether it will pass or not or what other information is behind this bill. Well I will try to answer some of these questions. The bill, sponsored by Republican Joe Driver, would allow Texas residents already with a license to carry firearms to be able to carry their firearms in college campuses. Before, people that had a license to carry concealed firearms were not allowed to bring in their concealed fire weapons into public state colleges or universities. With the passing of this bill, titled S.B.354, concealed firearm license people would be able to carry firearms into college campuses without a problem. Many people are against this bill thinking that it will only bring violence into schools. Well in order to get a license to carry a firearm one must first go through a few steps. First there is an age requirement as well as a background check. Also training must be taken and passed before you can carry a handgun. If the person applying for the firearm license is mentally ill, or has a history of violent crimes or a drug and alcohol abuse, they would not be given a license to carry a firearm. Some people argue that they have the constitutional right to carry firearms granted to them by the Second Amendment. They argue that by being able to carry their firearms in campus they would be able to defend themselves against anyone trying to harm them. However, there is also the other side of the coin. There are those that believe that allowing the carry of concealed firearms in campuses would be dangerous. Many have said that college is a stress-filled environment and that it should be the last place where a gun should be brought into. Universities do not get a psychiatric evaluation when new students come in. This could end up affecting the school if such a student found another person who had a gun. Some Professors have said that they would be afraid to give a student a D or an F in class because they would be afraid that the student might be carrying a gun and get emotional and out of control. In the end we just have to remember that students are also emotional human beings, with some able to control their emotions better than others. Also that we are granted the constitutional right of self defense. In overall it is great that our state is talking about the protection of its students. It shows the concern that they truly have for us.

10 best jobs with an Associate Degree

2011-03-13T14:19:00.002-05:00

10 best jobs with an Associate Degree

Hey guys, so recently, I have been talking with a lot of students who come back to college as well as students who plan to get a job after receiving a certification/associates degree. If you are interested in getting a job after finishing your years at Lone Star College, this post can probably help you to decide which path you want to go.

Next, I will list the 10 best jobs with an Associate degree and other information such as Earnings, job descriptions, etc. The ranking methodology bases on several factors such as pay, job opening, and percent growth. I advise you guys to come by the College and Career section in Cyfair College library, they have plenty of books with detailed information on jobs and such.

	Job		Annual Earning (in USD)	Annual Opening	Brief job descriptions	Lone Star College offers
1		Registered Nurses	60,010	233,499	Assess patient health problems and needs, develop nursing care plans, maintain medical records	Yes
2		Dental Hygienists	64,740	10,433	Clean teeth and examine oral areas, head, and neck for signs of oral disease. Educate patient for oral hygiene	Yes
3		Paralegals and Legal Assistants	44,990	22,756	Assist lawyers by researching legal precedent, investigating facts, or prepare legal documents.	Yes
4		Radiologic Technicians	50,260	12,836	Maintain and use equipment and supplies necessary to demonstrate portions of human body on X-ray film or fluoroscopic screen for diagnostic purpose	No
5		Radiologic Technologists	50,260	12,836	Take X rays and CAT scans or administer nonradioactive materials into patient’s bloodstream for diagnostic purpose	Yes
6		Physical Therapist Assistants	44,130	5,957	Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures	Yes
7		Radiation Therapists	70,010	1,461	Provide radiation therapy to patients as prescribed by radiologists according to established practice and standards	No
8		Computer Support Specialists	42,400	97,334	Provide technical assistance to computer system users includes software, hardware, installation	Yes
9		Respiratory Therapists	50,070	5,563	Assess, treat and care for patients with breathing disorders	Talk to advisor
10		Veterinary Technologists and Technicians	27,970	14,674	Perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals. Prepare vaccines, tissue samples, etc.	Yes

(* Information was taken from the U.S. Department of Labor and The U.S. Census Bureau.)

Who's Hiring?

2011-03-12T17:52:00.000-06:00

In this blog I want to express to how important it is to seek out resources and use them as much as possible and of course I would love to help guide you in the right direction! First and most obvious is the internet. The internet is the easiest way to find what you’re looking for without having to go anywhere. Good web sites to use are AOL Jobs, whoshiring.com, and careerbuilder.com. All three web sites are simple, all you need to do is type in your job description and city and state or your zip code and the search finds every possible location that is hiring in your area. It’s great!! Another great resource that is barely thought of is the news paper, it might not feel good having to pay for it every Sunday morning but a lot of job posting can be very valuable. Just as a side note, don’t ever forget about the mom and pop shops that are always right next to major retail stores. Mom and Pop shops are flourishing now more than ever! And they are looking for new staff everyday! Well, back to our news paper discussion; even though you might have to spend an extra dollar a week it could help you find a good job! This next resource might be overlooked is your friends and acquaintances! Asking around about job offers and places that might be looking for new staff is a great way to get noticed. If you have a friend with great work ethic that recommends you for a job opening in his firm you have a stronger chance of getting hired that anyone who just walks in for an interview. So next time you and your friends go out to eat don’t forget to ask them if there are any positions open and if he/she could recommend you for the job! And for my last resource it also might just mix in with my opinion. Your car and smile! When a store is hiring they feel more confident accepting a person that they have seen and have talked to, not just seen on paper. Resumes help an employer’s see your experience, and accomplishments but with your confident smile and example of customer service you are pretty much randomly picked form a giant stack of applications therefore lowering your chances to getting an interview! When trying to find a job the whole processes may be stress full and tiring but don’t give up hope!! Stay confident secure and at ease when talking to an employer and there is no doubt that they will want you to be a productive part of their team. So good luck and stay strong, and for those who are going through midterms right now study, study, study! Good Luck!

Hi there, Spring Break!

2011-03-12T01:34:00.001-06:00

It might have been more understanding to think students would run desperately out the school’s doors to welcome the long awaited spring break on this Friday afternoon, because even for me this break signifies a whole lot of relaxation and full ten-hour sleep sessions, which are much needed rewards. Yet to my surprise, and even the dean’s surprise as well apparently (for I briefly saw Dr. Ted Lewis with an “I wish I wasn’t wearing a suit” kind of face), the students were indisposed to leave just yet. As I walked out the double doors that lead out to the usually deserted beach volleyball court, students were gathering at the SGA Sports Day. The student government association arranged this day for students to enjoy competitive sports and to deem farewell to each other; well, at least for the time being. This day was a great success indeed. Little did I know how fun and challenging indoor soccer was. The sun, shining brighter than ever, paved the ambience for a true beach volleyball encounter. Out in the tennis courts, people were either showing their majestic talents at tennis (LSC-CyFair is known for having top of the notch tennis teams), or attempting to knock each other out with dodge balls. All of this was done in a friendly and cooperative manner of course. One other event that was going to happen was “egg toss”, which sincerely aroused my curiosity for a couple of seconds, but is ultimately still unknown for me. This is not because I didn’t want to play “egg toss”. The name itself is quite an attraction already, but my intentions at 2:30 in the afternoon were much different.

Today, at 2:30 in the afternoon, a group of faculty and students came together one last time to deem farewell to Holly Williams, Director of Student Activities. A box of tissues was set on a table in preparation of the tears that were imminent in the high spirits of joy, happiness, and nostalgia, but in the end everyone got a chance to share words of appreciation for all the work Ms. Williams has done for this Institution.

Now, although we may start the end of the semester without a Student Activities Director, it doesn’t mean that student activities are gone. Contrary to this, the staff of the Student Activities Department along with the Student Ambassadors have been and will be signing up talented students for grand Talent Show that will be happening next month, April. Bringing people from the community and the college, this event is one of our biggest, so if you are a student with a talent, make sure to sign up. Signup sheets will be made available during lunch time in the next couple of weeks, or you can also visit the Student Activities Staff in CENT 101 B. This is a chance to show the world duck talent!

Leisure Learning at LSC

2011-03-11T23:09:00.002-06:00

Has anyone ever told you to “go get a hobby”?

Leisure Learning classes at Lone Star College is open for the community to do exactly just that, GET A HOBBY!

What is it exactly? Well, it’s a class that teaches you new, fun, and exciting leisure pursuit. These classes can be counted as non-credit or credit courses. We offer many classes and here are a few that you probably never thought we would offer (but we do!).

Classes offered here at CyFair!

Digital Photography

Got you a new DSLR camera? Can’t figure out what all those buttons really mean and how to use it to its full potential? Here is a class that can teach all that. Learn to take photographs like a pro!

Message for Stress Reduction

What better way to show your loved ones you love them by giving them a message after a long day at work. Learn a series of systematic techniques design to relive aches and pain.

Tie the Knot

In these hard economic times, who has the money to hire a wedding planner?! BE ONE! Or learn how to be one and take event planning as a side job. Learn the skills to design your own wedding, budget planning, and more. We are an equal opportunity college, all bridezillas are welcomed.

Karate

Learn the art of karate! No experience needed, all you need is the guts to register.

Other interesting leisure learning classes offered at other campuses

Puppy Kindergarten (LSC-Tomball)

You kids may not come with an instruction manual, but your brand new puppy can! Teach a new dog old trick in this puppy etiquette class. Students will be taught how to use behavior pattern and motivational method to teach basic commands.

Wilton Fondant and Gum Paste Class/ Cake Decorating (LSC-Tomball)

Ever want to decorate cakes like Duff Goldman from “Ace of Cakes” in the Food Network channel. Fondants are dough-like icing that you see on wedding cakes and such, just like the kind you see in the show. Imagine how exciting it would be to make your cake and eat it too!

Motorcycle Rider Course (LSC- North Harris)

This course is for beginners and veterans. So dig for that old leather jacket and feel the wind in your hair when you take this course.

Classes offered varied by location. To find a list of all the classes offered and more information about them, check out the course catalog at http://wwwappsdstc.lonestar.edu/flipbook2/WebSearch/page0102.html.

Midterms, Spring Break, Student Life!!!

2011-03-10T16:35:00.002-06:00

It is this time of the semester again. Professors are announcing midterms and we are all still in shock. Time seems to be flying. Not too long ago we were assuring all of our classes were correct and paying our fees, making long lines trying to buy text books. As this time has come, the library is filled with students studying and preparing for all the exams. A few tips to all of you who find yourself undecided on where to begin. Note cards, a Scranton, #2 pencil, and time are all you need to assure a good grade. Focus and study because we all know that in the midst of all the concentration there is all the excitement for upcoming spring break. With the magnificent weather there is no doubt the plans are all set. The spring feel has officially arrived, sunny days, fresh breeze, flowers blooming, and CyFair students counting down till spring break. In the meantime the student activities are beyond entertaining. The latest one was the Mardi gras event and it brought down the walls. The environment was phenomenal. CyFair students enjoyed listening to the band along with desserts and slushies. Free beads were being handed out and the vibe was great. Students and faculty came together and had a magnificent time. Students clubs are advertising around campus in order to attain more students who are interested for the upcoming semester. Feel free to stop by the cafeteria midday and explore which club is the best fit for you. There are also clubs who are helping raise money for a cause or simply having activities on campus. The student involvement is well rounded and a great way to spend your time helping and meeting new friends. As for the day before spring break, Friday, sports day will be taking place at the basketball courts on our campus. Free food and prizes will be offered. There is no better way to start your spring break. Now I am sure we have all heard of the gas leakages going on lately. Sitting in class during the middle of lecture and the door being opened by a security officer announcing, “Evacuation, there is a gas leakage.” Despite the chaos I must admit the situations have been handled extremely well. The Lonestar CyFair faculty is always prepared for any situation. Both times the students were all safely evacuated. The leakage was fixed and everyone was able to return to their previous activities in a matter of minutes. Whether it’s studying for a midterm, making plans for spring break, or evacuating, student life on campus just keeps getting better and better.

Student Life Spring '11

2011-03-09T14:27:00.001-06:00

It’s a new semester the campus is overflowing with new events. Bands have been playing; the vibe has been upbeat and at its best. The best part of all this is it’s only the beginning. We have many upcoming events and the student life is bound to get even better. Students are relaxed and determined to develop brighter futures. The optimism and positive outlooks are beyond encouraging. The environment is just right to study or socialize with friends. Not to mention the magnificent weather to accompany it, lying back along the lake and its mesmerizing view. Everyone is extremely friendly and open-minded all around campus. Meeting new people is a casualty around here and long lasting relationships are being created every day. If you find yourself lost or confused, there is no need to worry. There is assistance around every corner whether it’s from other students or the generous faculty. Things have cooled down; long lines at registration are now history. Everyone is focused on meeting deadlines for assignments, and making sure to capture every bit of information in order to maintain high passing grades. The parking lots situation never changes. Driving in circles hoping you’ll find a close parking spot. But once again they’re all taken; you have two minutes till class starts. Therefore you take the first spot you find and walk a good distance. Indeed, consider it part of your daily workout routine. As for the walk ways on campus, they are always clear and maintained at their best. Student organizations are hosting all sorts of events. For example, our Valentine’s Day fundraiser. Lone star had its own cupid, knight, educated gorilla, and last but not least goddess of beauty, Aphrodite’s going around campus taking pictures with all the LSC-CyFair students and staff at the exchange of a donation. A donation which went towards Lieder Elementary School’s playground due to the reason that their former playground was condemned. We are now looking to forward to viewing Lonestar’s talent at our upcoming talent show. The lounge area is many students favorite. Whether it’s playing pool, ping pong, or cheering for your side. Students always find the way to have a great time. The campus offers various sceneries to assure all the students are in a great environment. As for our relaxing café and delicious cafeteria food, it is all brilliant. Students are able to enjoy from a variety of foods, desserts or snacks. This was a brief overall view on the Lone star Student Life. Stay up to date with your campus life and make it the best.

What is the SGA?

2011-02-28T23:43:00.003-06:00

Hello everyone. Lately a lot of our fellow students have been asking me “What is the SGA and what do they do,” so your friendly Ask Unknown correspondent decided to answer this question for your fellow students. First of all we must begin by answering what the SGA of Lone Star College CyFair is. The Student Government Association is a group of students that is voted on every year by the student body to represent them. According to their official section under Lonestar.edu it states that “The Student Government Association seeks to strengthen outreach efforts between students and the administration by creating a vehicle for effective communication.” (Lone Star.edu). So basically the Student Government Association is a way for the student’s voices to be heard by the administration and staff. However one might wonder how they can get their input to the SGA. Well during the first Friday of every month they have a SGA Club Council. This is a place where the officers of clubs, club members and students go and discuss their issues with the SGA Executive Council. This is a great way for students to voice out their problems and needs then the Student Government Association is able to try to work together with the administration to solve these problems. The Student Government Association also does many great things such as plan events for students such as the ice cream social, and sports day. They try their best to get students involved in the college as much as possible. They work closely with the Deans of the school and the President as well to try to make Lone Star College CyFair a great campus for all. They are also part of the Fairbanks Center. The Vice President of Fairbanks Center makes sure things are running smoothly over there and he/she is the voice for Fairbanks Center. Now that you have learned so much about the Student Government Association you might be interested in running for a position. Well good news they are accepting applications for the upcoming school year all this week. The positions available are President, Executive Vice-President, Vice-President of Student Activities, Vice-President of Student Outreach, Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice-President of the Fairbanks Center. Applications will be accepted until March 4, 2011. Make sure to turn your applications in filled completely. You will also have to turn in a one page letter of purpose, one reference letter by a Lone Star CyFair staff or faculty and an electronic photo. Applications are available online and in the Student Activities area. Best of luck to anyone running.

Hello, Spring Semester! :)

2011-02-28T14:25:00.001-06:00

It’s now mid semester and spring is already knocking at the door, which of course could not be any more welcoming considering those crazy frozen days we had that made our college shut down a couple of weeks ago. Anyhow, the Student Activities program did not hibernate, and for that reason the students were able to experience a busy month of February with the celebration of Black History Month. The Brown Bag Lecture Series offered in depth knowledge that students happily devoured. Performances included “A conversation with Dr. King” presented by Actor Greg Kenney. This event in particular was truly inspirational. At that moment, it was quickly revealed (with a quick show of hands) that only a minority of students had ever experienced the speech that Dr. King delivered at Washington D.C. in his struggle for equal rights. The opportunity to listen and physically see someone reenact such a tremendous figure was something unique. Other performances included comedian and diversity educator Billy D. Washington and the Kuumba House Dance Theater which really brightened up the students’ mood. February was altogether an inspiring and enjoyable month.

Nonetheless, February is now dust in the wind and in the past, and we can say hello to March and its events. We may begin with the Student Government Association General Assembly and Strategic Forum that will be happening tomorrow, March 1^st. This is a great opportunity for students to participate and make their voices be heard. Indeed, Lone Star College-CyFair has a reliable administration, always attentive to listen to what the students have to say, and always willing to work with students to resolve problems. All of this, coupled with the degree of liberty granted to the students has guaranteed student success for the past years. Other activities that we will be seeing in the next couple of weeks are the Women’s Month Fashion Fiesta and the Disability Awareness Day (3.2.11). The Mardi Gras Party on the eighth will surely be a bomb as well as the SGA Sports Day on the eleventh. The Sports Day will be a day dedicated for students to enjoy sports in a competitive but friendly manner. There will be lots of fun and lots of free food. Nevertheless, here at CyFair , we like to mix up fun with productivity. That is why on March 5^th a great number of students and various clubs and organizations will be helping out Habitat for Humanity to serve the community. On that day, students give their time towards building a home for someone in need, which is always a great and meaningful experience.

This and many more events will be happening in March, but for right now I will reserve my space to dedicate a moment to someone that has served Lone Star College passionately and diligently, and has been a crucial component to all of the fun things that happen here on campus. We would like to wish the Student Activities Director, Holly Williams, a fond farewell, hoping that many great and good things accompany her for the rest of her career; always wishing her the best!

Need money for college?

2011-02-27T23:47:00.000-06:00

Welcome back to another semester of college at your very own Lone Star College CyFair! This spring semester is going to be busy, busy, busy, for those that are planning to transfer to their university of choice, first time college students and for those that want to further their education at any of the Lone Star College campuses! So many things to do and get done for example the major issue: financial aid. University tuition fees are extremely high and everyone could use a bit of help! Start out by applying for FAFSA (if you haven’t done thus far). This is a wonderful opportunity to get that financial aid. There are also loans offered so if needed take advantage. Get all the paper work done and submit the application. If there are any questions at all there are highly specialized online professionals to assist you for any concerns you may have. If you are applying for financial aid to attend Lone Star College, I will provide a link that shows the steps on how to apply for FAFSA. It is highly important that you also check with your school of choice regarding this financial aid since you may be required to provide proof household income, etc. http://www.lonestar.edu/financial-aid-steps.htm
As well as applying for FAFSA, you should go out and surf the net, look at the bulletin boards, ask friends, professors, counselors etc for any scholarships that may be available. Any type of scholarship is very welcomed since it will help with those high college fees! In particular for those first time college students, there are many scholarships that are waiting to be claimed, scholarships for first time students, for excellent academics, graduate from top 10% of class etc. I will post up some scholarship websites that are currently available for students to apply and submit! Some important things to keep in mind: apply ahead of time because it takes time to process scholarships! Don’t miss any deadlines because that is an exit you just missed from the road you are on! Ask for help when uncertain of how to successfully complete the applications. Ask professors or mentors for letters of recommendation, but most importantly, the first step that should be taken: SEEK those scholarships, dedicate some time and search! There are also some clubs that offer scholarships, take a look at them, many offer opportunities for students. In particular the student Ambassador program, this program offers great things among those, strong leadership skills in which would benefit tremendously to anyone and endure throughout. In addition to joining this splendid program, a scholarship is awarded. Take action guys! Acquire that financial aid that is awaiting to be claimed!
http://www.thecfef.org/student-application.cfm
http://www.lonestar.edu/financial-aid.htm

Enrique's Journey

2011-02-27T23:00:00.004-06:00

Thursday March 2nd 2011 Lonestar College CyFair will hold a community presentation, with special guest Sonia Nazario. Nazario is a Pulitzer prize winning journalist and author. Nazario has been writing on social issues affecting the Latino community for over twenty years and also holds the honor of being the youngest writer to be hired by the Wall Street Journal. Sonia attended Williams University where she learned how to effectively communicate the stories she felt so passionately about. In 2006 Enrique’s Journey was published. Nazario’s novel is based on a true story, the odyssey of Enrique a young Hondurian boy who goes through the unimaginable to reach his mother in the United States. Enrique was separated from his mother when she moved to the United States for financial reasons. After eleven years of being apart, Enrique decides he will go out and search for his mom. Enrique begins his journey from Tegucigalpa into Mexico bearing nothing but a slip of paper with his mother’s and no money in hand. Enrique would travel the length of Mexico hopping onto freight cars. Armed with the courage and self will to once again be re-united with his mother Enrique defeats the odds. This novel offers a humane perspective on what is one of today’s challenging issues.

The novel is based on Nazario’s newspaper series, and will also be released as a min-series on HBO. This novel has also been published in eight different languages since its first release, and has also become a national best seller, won two book awards and has been adopted by many high schools and universities across the nation

This will be a free community presentation, which will be held Thursday March 3rd 2011 in the Main Stage Theatre at 7:30 pm.

You Can Do It!

2011-02-27T21:04:00.002-06:00

I had been saying for years that I was going to go back to school and get my degree for years, but something always come up and I would decide to put off school for another semester. Twenty three years later I realized that it was me who was holding me back. I was now forty and had four kids in college; I wondered how would I fit in to the college world or how would the college world fit into my world. I wasn’t even sure what I would get a degree in if I went back to school. How would I pay for school?

Thank goodness I did not let those thoughts stopping me from actually going to Lone Star College to get more information before I finalized my decision. I am now in my third semester with Lone Star College. This has been one of the best decisions I made for myself. When I registered for school I decided that I would take twelve hours of school and just see how it goes. What is great about community college is most who are attending are there to get their basic classes over with. Some know what they want to major in when they transform to a four university, but many are taking sixty hours of a core curriculum; such as math, English, history, and biology. While attending Lone Star I have not only received an education about my core classes, but have had quite an education on what career choices are out there.

When I attended high school thirty years ago, I made fairly decent grades, but worked really hard to get an A. I knew I was smart, but could never figure out why I had to work so hard in school. I discovered while raising my children that they were ADD and dyslexic. Both of these are heritage disorders that I too had. I started taking medication for ADD; which changed my life. I was concerned that I would not be able to keep up with the academic demands of college because high school had been so difficult. It has been to my surprise that I have taken thirty one hours and have a 4.0 grade point average. Now I am not saying that my situation is the same for everyone. What I will say is that many of the mature students that have gone back to school were surprised at how much easier school was, than what they thought it was going to be. Life experience is many times a better education than a book or a classroom.

It has been easy to fit both my college schedule and my work schedule together. Community College is designed for a more untraditional student. Lone Star College like other community colleges is much more cost effective than a four year university. There is a financial department that can help anyone obtain the financial resources need to go back to school such as finical aid, grants, and scholarships. The truth is the only thing holding you back from returning back to school is you, believe me I know.

Who's Hiring?

2011-02-27T20:28:00.000-06:00

First and for most, welcome back to Lone Star college! I am hoping each and everyone an awesome spring semester and wishing you the best of luck. While entering the spring season you begin to notice a lot of temporary jobs opening up everywhere. For example, Home Depot is now hiring staff over night to set up the gardening department for the millions that decide to make their gardens brighter this year. Malls and retail stores are beginning to hire extra help for the new fashion being displayed attracting more and more customers a day! In my personal opinion, I see these temporary jobs as a great opportunity to get your foot in the door and show these companies that they need to hire you full time! Most companies have online applications or in store computers that file the application for you. While all of this is very covenant and use full, it is always best to present yourself in the store you want to work in and help them get a face to name on your application. I have three easy steps that can help you make what can become an awkward situation, very pleasant and rewarding for you and your future employer. First, dress for success. Just like when you get all dressed up for a date or dinner with your parents, you should always dress your best when applying at a store. A first impression is always the one that sticks, so don’t give your future boss the wrong impression. Show your boss that you take the time to care for yourself and in doing show it will show him that you will transfer that into your every day work ethic. Second thing you should never forget is your attitude! If you walk into the store nervous about what might happen that might throw an employer. I believe managers have the position they do because they learned to analyze people and help achieve greater goals for their employers, therefore if you speak to manager with worry and nervousness it might make him question your work ethic. If you find yourself feeling uneasy before going into a store, take some time for yourself. Pause, take a breath, drink some water, and give yourself words of encouragement; remind yourself of all of the reasons you can handle this job and let that drive you! Always have a positive attitude with a big smile on your face. And last but not least, ask any questions that might be lingering in your mind and always follow up. The greatest opportunity of going into the store you are applying to for an application is that you have the resources to ask the manager questions. What positions they are hiring? What are the hours? Are they flexible? Asking your future employer questions also shows you interest and lets him see how serious you are about working there, and follow up! If the employer does not automatically set up and interview or call date, give three days from the date the application was submitted to call him and ask him how the process of your application is going. This will give you an answer of how soon you can look into beginning in your new job and it will demonstrate persistence that is seen very highly by employers. These three steps have worked for me when I job hunt and I hope that you can find them use full too! Good luck everyone, and once again welcome back to Lone Star!!

Lookie Here!! There's Art EVERYWHERE!!

2011-02-25T13:40:00.006-06:00

Lookie here, lookie there, lookie everywhere! Wendy Wagner is holding her art exhibit in the Bosque Gallery in the Center of the Arts at Lone Star College-CyFair this week. If you happen to be on campus the art gallery is open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 11:00am until 2:00pm. Hurry and don’t miss out, the exhibit is only there until the tenth of March!

Wendy Wagner is a wonderful artist. She is a Texan native from the city of Austin and currently resides in Houston. Her work has been in exhibits around Texas, as well as China. Her work is very well recognized and in all her work “there is a lighthearted curiosity, and silliness” in it. She truly captures the images that would be appealing to a child. Her work is fun and creative and she experiments with different textures for painting, and also does some sculpting.

Her art work is truly interesting to look at. It’s a grown woman’s art work transformed to be seen through children’s eyes. Her paintings and drawings are very modernized. Looking at her work reminds me of the Tokyo fashion, very bold, modern, and very in your face. As you walk in, there’s an animation playing, again very Tokyo, very modern. The little cartoon is playing for you to watch and listen to as you scope out her work. She had a worm like structure up against the wall as if it was coming straight at you and another one hanging down as it had some type of black figure crawling up the wall; it was very intriguing for the eye.

Another thing that popped out to me was these huge eyeballs in the middle of the floor. They were just sitting there, as if just being hypnotized in your movements around the room. When I say eyeballs, don’t think specific human eyes, but yet think of cartoon eyes. They were very girly, cartoonish looking eyes, beautiful, staring straight at you. These eyes were the first thing that caught my attention as I walked into the room. Their hard not to miss!

This particular painting, however, really stood out to me. I think captured every aspect of the human child. It was very colorful, the boy was shown standing on some colorful gumballs. What truly made the painting seem more child-like was the fact that the boy was holding a Gatorade bottle; perfect, summer theme painting. Behind him, there was a sort of tree-like figure made up of eyeballs, which was very interesting. They weren’t lined up perfectly, but rather just scattered around that structure. The boy had a blue bowl on his head as if to cover from the sun, but also had shades on.

Choosing a major

2011-02-24T16:56:00.006-06:00

Don’t know exactly what you want to do yet? Don’t worry, you are not the only one. Some students may arrive college knowing absolutely what they want to do, but the majority don't. That’s what college is all about, determining your career path and getting an education to fulfill that goal. As your fellow student who has been there, done that, I am here to give some tips on choosing major using resources available at our college.

My first advice would be to take full advantage of what the school offers. Lone Star College has various classes available seven days a week, from the morning until late evening. Try to take courses that you are interested in first, to see how it fits you, and then start to try something else. It never hurts to learn. Make the best out of your college experience. Who knows if a Psychology course can give you another perception on the world while an Art course can enhance your ability in appreciating and understanding artworks. Electives courses will not only further your knowledge, but will also enrich your life.

Now, you kind of have some ideas on what you are interested in, but you are not so sure. Great! It is time to go to talk to career counselor to further explore your interests. Lone Star College – Cyfair career and counseling center is located in the back of the library. Our career counselors will be able to help you to explore the career path and answer the question: Does this career really fit me? Also, there are a lot of Reference books in the library that focus on majors and careers. Make sure to do some research, talk to a lot of people, you don’t have to decide it in a day, the process can take up from a month to a year. It is something you want to do with your life, don’t rush.

One important thing, if you need to support someone or your family financially after graduate, make sure to find a career that matches your interest while enables you to do so. As research shows, people change their career few times in the course of their lives. College degree usually is important for your first job after graduation, and the rest depends upon your interests and where you want to go.

There is an old saying: “The journey of a thousand miles start with a single step.” So go ahead, take that single step, find a direction for your educational journey and have fun!

March is for Women

2011-02-24T13:19:00.000-06:00

This March as part of Women’s month, Lone Star Cy-Fair ‘s Counseling, Career and Disability Services Department is teaming up with Dress for Success Houston, in their campaign “S.O.S.” (Send One Suit) week. The Dress for Success Houston is a non-profit organization that provides disadvantaged women with professional, interview worthy attire across the Houston area. These suits provide women with the attire and confidence they will need to land a professional job. DSH also provides job retention programs and networking opportunities. Donated suits should be dry-cleaned and hanged on a hanger where they can be dropped off at the Counseling, Career and Disability Service center located inside the library. Monetary donations are also accepted, but keep in mind that it costs about $75 to buy one suit, and donations are also tax-deductible. Now more than ever these women need our help to provide the opportunity in attaining a job, especially in this dwindling economic recession. Donate TODAY!

Young women are not left out! Lone Star College is currently holding its annual Prom-Dress-Giveaway this month where the community donates prom dresses for teens with financial needs. Shoes, purses and other accessory donations are also accepted. I remember when I was in high school I did not go to prom because I did not have much money and did not want to stress my parents out in spending money on something that seems superfluous at the time. I am slightly disappointed I missed out on what could have been a great memory with my friends, who I no longer see because they are going to schools in different parts of the country. That is why I feel like the Prom-Dress-Giveaway is such an important gift that Lone Star College Cy-Fair is giving to the community. Don’t let my story be the story of any other young woman; donate your old prom dresses today! If you would like to donate, turn in your donations at the library’s front desk. If you are interested in getting a dress or know of someone in need of a dress, here is a list of give-away dates:
• March 26
• April 2
• April 9
• April 16
• April 30

Dresses are given for free to the recipients and can be picked up at the Library in Room 131.

Check out more events and activities sponsored by Lone Star College Cy-Fair celebrating Women’s month this March at http://www.lonestar.edu/womensmonth-cyfair.htm.

Study Abroad!

2010-12-12T23:20:00.000-06:00

Lone Star College System is offering an excellent opportunity by offering wonderful opportunities to students who are interested in studying abroad. These study abroad programs are available for students who are interested in studying in different countries around the globe. There are many students interested in participating in this program because there would be a better understanding of the history of other countries and actually have hands on with that country and culture and as well gain an awesome experience. You can only get so much out of a book and so this program would become very interesting and challenging as well as beneficial.
Some countries that are available for this program includes Italy, Spain, Sri Lanka, Costa Rica, and China. There is more information on these available countries on http://www.lonestar.edu/16254.htm. So a trip to go study at one’s choice of country sounds superb but there are requirements as to who can participate and what the requirements are. As the most basic requirement, the student is to fill out a study abroad student program application to participate in a program. There are scholarships available for this program but students are most definitely encouraged to obtain information regarding other financial assistance and scholarship resources for study abroad courses.
The new deadline for the 2010-2011 Study Abroad Student Scholarship is at 4pm on February 7th, 2011. In previous reports, the costs for one of these programs roughly around four thousand dollars!!! Take advantage this scholarship!! Also the scholarship applications are to be turned in to the Faculty in charge of the program to which you will be participating in, once again the link shown above shows the different programs available with their respective descriptions. Each description gives a thorough description of the program and all the wonders that are offered! Apply for a Study Abroad and explore the many avenues of studying abroad!!!

Who's Hiring? [Christmas Edition]

2010-12-12T20:52:00.000-06:00

It’s the last month of the year and Christmas is only 13 days away, and sadly this is my last blog of the year! With the holidays come allot of stress, you have to make sure the gifts are hidden and out of reach, everyone has received there invitation for the Christmas party and call the few people that just refuse to RSVP. With all of these things happening at once you may get over whelmed and knowing that you still have to wake up at 5am to go to work is a drag! I found an article that showed at test that was made on 600 full time employees by their companies HR’s about stress during the holiday, and 66% reported that there had additional stress during the holidays and 40% were already stress before the holidays even began. In this article they also had valuable reminds to those that had to work during the holiday, in other works everyone! They had three reminders for the individual, first, “Know that your family and friends don't care if everything is perfect. What they want is a relaxed atmosphere, according to the Harvard Medical School.” Second, “Money --and therefore, gifts--don't buy happiness. Yeah, I know you've heard that before. Different studies suggest that, although poverty and low pay can cause unhappiness, once a certain level of compensation is reached, there is not a “significant relationship between how much money a person earns and whether he or she feels good about life” (Easterbrook 2005).” And Third, “Supportive family and friends, on the other hand, appear to be crucial. This comes from Drs. Martin Seligman of the University of Pennsylvania and his colleague Martin Diener at the University of Illinois. Both are heavily involved in the study of happiness.. When Seligman and Diener studied a group of students, they found that the happier ones tended to socialize more. “It is important to work on. . .close interpersonal ties and social support in order to be happy,” says Diener. It's all about relationships.” This article also had advise for ways to organize the chaos that happens this time of year. I have added the link for the article at the end so if you would like see it yourself. I hope that everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May you have the best time in the world!
· http://www.allthingsworkplace.com/2009/12/holidays-at-work-reduce-stress-increase-joy.html

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation

2010-12-05T23:56:00.000-06:00

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation will be awarding scholarships in spring 2011 to help community college students and recent graduates with exceptional promise and financial need reach their potential through education. The scholarships are worth up to $30,000 per year for those students pursuing to earn a four year degree. The undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Program provides funding for tuition, room and board, required fees and books for the remainder of the scholar’s undergraduate degree. To be eligible for the program the candidate must be a current student at an accredited U.S community college with sophomore status or a recent graduate. The student must have a 3.5 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale, plan to transfer to a four year college or university to begin studies in the coming fall. Also, a major requirement is that the student must be nominated by the institution in which they attend. As mentioned earlier, the student must be nominated and cannot directly apply. There are a maximum number of 4 candidates that can be nominated. The application submission is January 19, 2011. This is a great opportunity for those seeking to pursue their 4 year degree plan. To obtain more information about this scholarship you can visit the website attached below. Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity guys!!!

http://lonestar.edu/jackkentcooke.htm

Recylce Next Semester!

2010-12-05T23:41:00.000-06:00

Cy fair has been doing numerous things to show that they are a green campus. From recycling paper, aluminum and plastic across campus to trading plastic bags for re usable ones to entering a contest online with climate culture which Lone Star finished in fourth place. The contest was a nationwide contest. The outreach to be green is a big effort and students as well as faculty have been doing a great job of cooperating to do their part and support the effort. Student organizations such as Phi Theta Kappa, Environmental club and Student Government Association have helped with numerous events. One of the latest accomplishments by Lone Star was one that was assisted by community member, Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart donated one thousand dollars to Cy Fair’s solar panel project. Cy Fair’s electronics, welding and machining departments have been working together on this project. This project will light the campus bridge and the water falls at night. The project is thought to be concluded in November. Another event coming up is recycling week, it will take place in the spring semester and will be brought to you by the Student Government Association. This event will encourage students to bring items not normally recycled on campus such as glass, into bins that will be placed all throughout campus. Tables with students will be in the college center from 11-1pm all week to answer any questions students may have and to collect any items to be recycled. Also next semester the Technology society will host a electronics recycling event. In the past the technology society has had successful turnout of this event. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to bring any old electronics which they do not use. The technology society usually filters through the donations and takes anything which they may use in the classroom, the rest is weighed in order to keep track and then is boxed and shipped off to a local recycle plant. Keep in mind, you may bring batteries which will also help the environment by being properly disposed off. Study hard for finals and keep an eye out for flyers of these events that will take place next semester.