Category: student life Page 11 of 14

To post or not to post?

friends-canadian-mennonite-university

As I go through my Facebook or Instagram feeds, I often come across posts which show that my contact had an amazing night or is having the worst day of their life. But whether it’s a picture at a party or a comment about home life, remember that whatever you put out there is there forever.

Listen, I get it; you’re having a bad day, your boyfriend just broke up with you, and you want others to empathize with your challenges. But as the great Andy Mineo says, “Face your problems, don’t Facebook it!”

Sometimes it feels easier to rant about something, knowing that your friends will agree and make you feel better (I do this all the time!) However, in the end, you’ll still have to face that person or deal with that situation.

When I go for a job interview, I’m often asked about my social media accounts. I thank my parents for making me think twice about the photos or comments I was posting. I may not have believed them at the time, but I know of countless people who lost an opportunity because of posts that made them look irresponsible.

Some poorly-discerned comments can even become evidence in a criminal case. I once saw this post: “Last night I drove home drunk like a dumbass and ran over a rabbit.” WHAT?!

One of my contacts regularly posted what time and where she would be going for runs. This can also be dangerous, making the user an easy target for s break-in or attack.

If we think twice about what we post, it becomes common sense to not post party pics, nudes, rants, private information, or relationship issues. No good can come out of it – and it’s probably out there forever.

I’ve recently been challenged by 1 Corinthians 10:23-33: “Do all to the glory of God.” What does it look like for my social media to be a reflection of my dedication to God? It doesn’t mean to only post bible verses or shove Christianity down people’s throats. I believe it goes hand-in-hand with the fruit of the Spirit, making your posts a reflection of “joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

This conviction helps me think twice about what I’m posting. If it’s going to be there forever, I want it to inspire and be a reflection of my values. I try to ask myself, Is this something I would be ok with everybody seeing? Is it an accurate representation of who I am and want to be?

Emilie

7 reasons students love CMU

Here’s what CMU students are saying about their school.

Reason #1: the community

“I love how CMU attracts all kinds of people, even if they aren’t students here. Marpeck Commons has been a great place for students from other universities to study, for CMU alumni to catch up, and for donors to enjoy treats from folio café. It’s cool seeing people hang out at our school with other CMU students even if they don’t personally study here.”– Alyssa Lord

1p5c1214

Reason #2: the professors

“I love that throughout your CMU degree you are able to take classes with many of the same profs you learned from in your first year. Because of this continuation, I truly feel that my professors are invested in my education and in my personal learning as I grow as an individual. Their open door policies and help with research papers and test prep has been invaluable to my success as a student.” – Rachel Robertson

1p5c1554

Reason #3: the support

“I like the community feeling inside CMU. You feel part of a group even if you don’t want to! There are always people willing to talk to you and support you. When you come to CMU, everyone is your brother or sister.”– Klejdia Hila

1p5c9388

Reason #4: the library

“When the library is quiet in the mornings, and the sun is coming through the large windows, you feel like you can conquer any and every assignment.” – Joya Reynar

img_1090

Reason #5: the classes

“The best thing about CMU is the atmosphere and people. You can talk to anyone and have a good conversation with them. It’s a place that is easy to make friends. Another thing that is great is the class sizes; they are small enough that you can have class conversation. That is great because you get to learn with your peers and not just listen to a prof lecture for the whole class.” – Mackenzie Hildebrand

1p5c9555

Reason #6: the food

“I love how snack brings everyone together. Students that live in residence, commuters, old and new friends. Food is always a great way for people to get to know one another.” – Janelle Wride

Canadian-School-of-Peacebuilding-2016

Reason #7: the spiritual life

“At CMU you don’t make friends; you make a family. You feel like home when you are here, as people care about you. You experience God every day in some way. There is a positive atmosphere here. I always feel welcomed and my energy stays positive all the time. I haven’t experienced education like this anywhere before. If you want to have a second family, then join CMU.” – Kunal Aggarwal

img_7745

 

Emilie

5 ways to create a study space you love

Photo: ZSZee, Flikr

Photo: ZSZee, Flikr

Studying can be a dreaded part of university, which can lead to a frustrating and stressful experience. But it can also have the potential to be a time that you can learn to enjoy and benefit from! Here are five ways that you can make your study space both pleasing and efficient:

  1. Learn which kind of study place you benefit the most from: Individuals have different learning styles, and knowing yours can dramatically enhance your studying. Some students need a constant stream of bustling sounds, music in the background, and maybe a friend to study with. The folio café, mezzanine area, student centre and dorm room lounges are great locations for that kind of studying to take place at CMU. Other students, like myself, prefer quieter atmospheres and less distracting places where you can  focus on your thoughts without much distraction. At CMU, I suggest studying in the library, dorm rooms, practice rooms, and the Blaurock café.
  1. It’s all about the light: Lighting can work wonders for your study experience. Whether it is natural light or a lamp, you should try to have the sort of lighting which keeps you alert but does not cause you to strain your vision or fall asleep.
  1. Take breaks: It may seem counterproductive to take breaks instead of hunkering down for a couple of hours to get that essay done, but taking an intentional break (like a 15 minute walk or a conversation with a friend) can help you return to your work with more energy and motivation. It also helps prevent sore muscles in the long run.
  1. Organizational skills: Studying can be much easier if you can organize your thoughts and information ahead of time. Lists, post-it notes, whiteboards, and different coloured pens are all great things which can help keep track of the material and your thought processes as you work yourself through it. These materials can also help you break down lectures into sizeable chunks and highlight important tidbits of information.
  1. Keep your study space a place where you feel comfortable: Keeping your study space your own can take many shapes and forms. It might mean keeping a tidy desk or sprawling out your books and notes. It can mean having space that has enough space to sit up and stretch, or a couch where you can make a nest using blankets.

César

The CMU Farm

When asked about how students can become involved with the CMU Farm that resides on north campus Kenton Lobe, Instructor of International Development Studies (IDS), came up with endless opportunities.

Here for you: Commuter assistants

In my first two years at CMU I lived in residence, which was an excellent introduction to the energy and life at this school. In my third year I made the bold decision to move into the mysterious land of off-campus life. Living off-campus acquainted me with a different aspect of the community that I was unfamiliar with. I got to know different kinds of students, took advantage of access to prime study spaces on campus—life was bright beyond the walls of my dorm room.

Page 11 of 14

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén