I will be taking a short break from this blog while I get situated back at school and at my campus jobs. See you in a bit.
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In the meantime, here’s your back to school guide.
Tips for getting off on the right foot:
Log on to MyUH Portal to check and print out your schedule.
Check your e-mail for important messages from the school and/or professors.
Set your alarm clock(s). And, yes, you actually have to get up when it goes off.
Get to know your way around campus — where your classes are, the bookstore, student services, Campus Center, libraries, food, etc. Use a map.
Dust off your backpack and put some supplies in there, like paper and a pen. Maybe an umbrella, too.
Don’t forget to get your textbooks.
Validate your ID.
Pick up your parking pass or purchase a U-Pass. Remember to plan for traffic if you commute to school.
Read Ka Leo!
And last, but not least, please support the UH football team this season. Get your Under Armour attire at the bookstore, purchase student tickets and cheer on the Warriors!
“Getting” Off to a Good Start in College From an Anonymous UH alumnus
#1 Get organized – The first big shock in college is that you’re pretty much on your own. Things you took for granted before like three square meals and clean laundry may be gone. So the first thing to do is establish a new daily routine, and often without the direct guidance and support of parent(s). So first thing, get your base organized.
#2 Get oriented – If there’s a campus orientation for new students, take advantage of it. If you get one good idea or fact from it, it’ll be worth your time. Don’t take advantage of newfound freedom by avoiding things like this. Take advantage of it by doing things for yourself, availing yourself of the knowledge and insights of others along the way when possible.
#3 Get to class – The second big shock in college is that if you miss a class, almost nobody seems to notice or care. Nobody calls your parent(s). The phone doesn’t ring at all. Once you miss class the first time, it’s even easier to do so the next. This is really the most important tip for success in school. Just get to class each and every day. It’s that simple.
#4 Get going – Most people spend the first few weeks of the semester goofing off, getting adjusted, making new friends, and partying, then desperately try to catch up later. They’re behind the eight-ball the entire term, and wonder why it’s so hard and the results are so bad. Plus, the beginning is the hardest part as you adjust to new subjects, teachers, and study requirements. If you study your butt off from the beginning, you’ll be happier than most other people by the time the first mid-terms roll around. You’ll be reviewing your good notes. They’ll be cramming and panicking. You’ll be way ahead and a lot happier.
#5 Get busy – The busier you are, the more you can do because you have to be organized. Know your limits, but if you can work part-time on campus or in Waikiki, belong to a club or two, and participate in some sports, all after your studies, then it’s likely that you’ll be hitting on all cylinders. Maybe not the first semester while getting established, but eventually, the more you do to fill your time, the happier and more productive you’re likely to be.
#6 Get style – Discover and develop your own study style. Some people are visualizers, some are listeners, and some are writers. If you do well by taking notes in class, do that. If you do better by listening and highlighting the text with markers (my least favorite – too passive), then do that. If you can record the lecture and listen to it again later, consider that. Note-taking services are usually available, taken by a grad student in class. There’s nothing wrong with buying the notes, but they’re no substitute for attending class and doing the homework. Class notes really tell you what the prof wants you to emphasize in your studies and to put things in context. In especially tough classes, consider outlining the text. You need both good notes and time to study them to be successful.
#7 Get social – You need a social life in school, but you really don’t have to try very hard to have one. There’s social life every day on campus. Class is social life. Sports are social life. Work is social life. Here’s a thought. To the extent that you can make social outlets a reward at the end of a process of achieving something, you’ll accomplish two valuable things. You’ll achieve the goals and you’ll more fully appreciate the social time. This can be hard, but it’s what winners have found a way to do.
#8 Get friends – You need friends. Friends who you can trust and rely on and who can trust and rely on you. The most important person for you to rely on in this new experience is yourself. Next is your family. Next are your friends. Good friends share thoughts and listen to yours. Good friends make you stronger, can help you through the tough times and be your best.
#9 Get perspective – If you ask older people if they have any regrets, two that you’ll often hear are, “I didn’t take full advantage of my opportunities”, and “I didn’t fully realize or appreciate exactly how good I had it”. It’s very difficult to gain the perspective of time without experiencing it firsthand. If there’s any opportunity for you to spend time with older people who’ll share their wisdom with you, that can be helpful. The wisdom of time can help you keep problems, challenges, and crises in perspective.
#10 Get positive – There’s no way to diminish it. You’re embarking on the journey of a lifetime. What you do matters. You matter. You can build a life for yourself and change the lives of others for the better in the process. Be positive and upbeat. Have a “can-do” attitude. Try hard to be your best. Make a plan and execute it. Be a team player and help the team win. This game is winnable. By the way, the world isn’t just hoping that you’ll figure all of this out and make the world a better place in the process. The world is counting on it. After all, if you don’t, who will? Good luck!
UPDATE: If you’re looking for something to do this evening, UH students are encouraged to attend the free Manoa Aloha event. Students will have opportunities to meet UH athletes as well as enjoy free food and live music.
Manoa Aloha
Saturday, August 23, 2008
5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Andrews Outdoor Theatre
Shhh! Don’t say it, Mr. Mentor. I know I have to stop going to Japanese restaurants, but I can’t help it. I always go out with my family for a birthday dinner and the safest pick to satisfy everyone is Japanese food.
This year we went to Gyotaku on King Street and I have lots of pictures because there were five of us.
Most orders come with a salad and tsukemono. There was also miso soup, but I guess I forgot to take a picture of it.
Of course I had some tea, too.
Sashimi teishoku ($18.95).
Misoyaki butterfish teishoku ($17.95).
More sashimi.
Tempura assortment — shrimp, beans, eggplant and sweet potato.
Birthday girl makes a pig out of herself and is the only one who orders the Gyotaku Combination Bento 3 ($18.95). You can pick from 12 dishes. From left to right: chicken karaage, furikake salmon and tempura.
You can’t have dinner without dessert.
Green tea ice cream ($3.25)! I was a little disappointed that it was Dave’s Ice Cream and not Bubbies.
Zenzai ($3.50).
Rainbow sherbet ($2.75).
Ta-da! Great if you have kids!
I can’t resist — I thought this was the coolest thing ever. Outside the restaurant there’s this little fountain that fills up the big bamboo part and it drops the water into the little pond (or whatever you call it). You have to admit this thing is pretty neat!
Gyotaku Japanese Restaurant
1824 King St.
Honolulu, HI
Phone: 808-949-4584
Hours: Sunday-Thursday from 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Bento and plate lunch window hours: 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Other locations: Niu Valley and Pearl City
www.gyotakuhawaii.com
College presidents from over 100 universities, including some of the nation’s top schools, are asking lawmakers to lower the legal drinking age from 21 to 18 in a new effort called the Amethyst Initiative.
The main reason behind this call to action is to address the amount of binge drinking occurring on college campuses. The group feels that current law encourages such behavior.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD, is strongly opposed to this idea. MADD claims that lowering the drinking age will lead to more fatal car crashes and that this initiative shows that presidents are trying to take the easy way out of addressing this problem.
Of the signatories are presidents of Dartmouth, Duke and Johns Hopkins University. More schools with local ties include KCC, Lewis & Clark, Mount Holyoke, Pacific University and Willamette.
More than 40 percent of college students reported at least one symptom of alcohol abuse or dependence.
More than 500,000 full-time students at four-year colleges suffer injuries each year related in some way to drinking, and about 1,700 die in such accidents.
157 college-age people, 18 to 23, drank themselves to death from 1999 through 2005.
The topic of college drinking has been discussed here on Passing out vs. passing away. But, now we’re talking an actual action that could take place.
What do you think can be done to address the drinking problem in the U.S.? Should they lower the legal drinking age, keep it where it is, create harsher punishment for underage drinking, fund more programs focusing on this issue, etc.? Wasn’t 18 the legal drinking age (in Hawaii?) before? How did that work?
My take:
Do what you want with the law, but underage and binge drinking will still be a problem. If you lower the drinking age, won’t the average age of an underage drinker lower, too? While I understand the argument that people can vote and drive at or by 18, the question of whether or not one can drink responsibly is unknown.
Maybe it doesn’t depend so much on age, but more on what kind of ethics and morals one has. Obviously, who you choose as friends plays a huge part. What kind of “friend” allows someone to get wasted at some party, let them drive home or think they can just “sleep it off”? Are you crazy?
Perhaps society needs to somehow get rid of this idea that breaking the law or binge drinking is “cool.” Unfortunately, this concept is deeply embedded in society and would probably be very difficult to undo.
But, there’s no doubt that this is a serious problem — drunk drivers kill themselves and innocent people, young people die of alcohol poisoning and so on. College is supposed to be a fun and exciting time, but stories about all the drinking that goes on makes it seem more like a nightmare.
While I don’t know what it’s like to pay for college, I know a bunch of students who do. I try to see both sides of the story — parents paying has its perks and students taking responsibility for their education has its advantages. Maybe parents paying for tuition makes it easier for their children to focus on school without having to worry about finances. Maybe students paying for tuition forces them to take school more seriously because it’s their money. Perhaps a balance can be reached by splitting it. Or strike a deal: parents pay, but if the child doesn’t do well, it’s up to them to come up with a plan.
With our son in sixth grade and our little girl only 5 years old, Amy and I certainly have many years to contemplate that question. But if I’ve demonstrated any trait in this column through the years, it’s that I’m constantly peering ahead, at future costs, so that Amy and I can prepare for what we know is coming.
Yet, while we’re saving for that day, we’re probably not saving enough. But that’s by design. I think that instead of a free ride through college, a better gift to my kids is a mom and dad financially self-sufficient in their dotage.
But is that a fair approach? Should parents put their future needs above their kids’? Or, should we strive to save every possible dime we can for our kids’ education on the theory that we’re supposed to give them a head start to a better life than we have?
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So, who’s responsibility is it to pay for college — parents or students? Both?
Here’s a look at what UH students are looking at for the fall 2008 semester: (I had to cut off the total because a scholarship was applied. The total without the scholarship is $3,129.20).
My mom and I attended the Hawaii Wahine Football Clinic at the Stan Sheriff Center last night. I saw several of the Tsai-kettes and one Tsai-ko. It was an interesting and fun event. Most importantly, it was great to see the support for the team and eagerness of female fans to learn about the sport. Not to take away from The Warrior Beat (because that’s where the real knowledge is), but here are pictures that I took.
I almost forgot to mention that everyone who attended received a booklet with information about anything from the uniform to referee signals. We also got a free UH logo decal with flowers.
We arrived around 6:20 p.m. and there was already a line.
Meanwhile, I caught a glimpse of what looks like the UH marching band wrapping up practice.
And I thought this was a good turnout, but the crowd grew.
My pictures didn’t turn out good. I can, however, tell you that the program opened with Tracy Orillo Donovan, the wife of UH athletics director Jim Donovan. And of course, Heather and coach Greg McMackin followed. They shared about their family and travels to various school where Mack coached at. Of course, they also introduced the coaching staff and their families.
The lighting was really bad combined with the fact that I’m a horrible photographer who sat way in the back. But, that’s coach Mack and his wife.
A very nice video was put together. Coach talked about his philosophy.
The ladies loved this one!
Offensive lineman Keith AhSoon and defensive back Keao Monteilh served as the evening’s models.
I didn’t realize football jerseys were so tight. The guys had to get some help from former UH receiver and current graduate assistant Craig Stutzmann. It makes sense though — uniforms are tight so they can’t be grabbed.
The works.
Photo removed.
Offensive coordinator Ron Lee taught about offensive plays. I kind of knew this before (and no, I’m not lying), but he talked about the trips formation — three receivers to the left or right. (Wow, it actually sounds like I know something!)
Photo removed.
Next up was defensive coordinator Cal Lee, who talked about the defensive plays. You wanna see THE SMASH!
It’s a little blurry, but you can see the action. (Look where the red dot is).
Then we learned how UH does this from special teams coordinator Ikaika Malloe. And it’s called special teams because it requires a combination of offensive and defensive units.
Self-explanatory.
Photo removed.
IMHO, this was the most important part of the clinic. Director of football player personnel Tony Tuioti talked about the team’s recruiting and academic goals. I think it’s great that they’re pushing academics. I can only imagine how challenging being a student-athlete must be.
Tuioti, who is a former UH defensive lineman, said they want to keep the local players here. Hawaii is special because you represent the Islands, whereas schools like USC and UCLA have to share California.
That’s supposed to be “attitude.” Hehe!
And again! I’m impressed with the summer school efforts. It definitely helps. Murphy’s Bar & Grill will host the Pigskin Pigout fundraiser tomorrow for the Na Koa Football Club. I believe the monies will go towards paying for summer tuition for the players who took summer school. The NCAA gives the school x dollars for summer school. But, the money can go to other teams by football providing their own funding. For more information about the Pigskin Pigout, visit http://www.nakoa.org/pages/murphys.html.
And last, but not least… Assistant head coach George Lumpkin talked about community relations and the team’s commitment to giving back to the people who support them. This is a collection of cards, pictures and other items from children whom the players have visited. They do all kinds of talks about staying in school, listening to parents, avoiding drugs/gangs/violence, etc. I think it’s great! Many of the players are role models to keiki.
Afterward we enjoyed refreshments in the Ed Wong Hospitality Room.
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Special thanks to Heather and Greg McMackin for their commitment to UH football and the fans. My mom and I had the pleasure of seeing them after the program.
Also, kudos to the other coaches, staff, players and everyone else who contributed to putting on the first-ever Hawaii Wahine Football Clinic.
It was nice to see some of the Tsai-kos, too. I know I saw addahknowsports, Midori7, UHfan808, chawan_cut and Esme and I know there was more, but I can’t keep track of all of you. Give me some more time and I’ll get it eventually.
And, you can also check out the new UH athletics Web site at www.hawaiiathletics.com for information and more.
Kelli Miura is a senior at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa majoring in journalism and sociology. She is also a former Advertiser intern, a reporter for the UH campus paper, and a part-time employee for the athletics department.
She knows all about dealing with the issues that college students encounter while trying to earn a degree. Read her insights on college life and share your own.
