A Typical Week at South for Me

In this week's blog, I will be giving you a glimpse into my week as a South student.

Moulton Tower view from the parking lot I use every day

Monday and Wednesday

Fortunately for me, this semester I don't have class until 11 a.m. all week. Usually I try to get up a few hours before so that I can work on homework and have breakfast before class. On MWF I have my web design class and French II.

Afterwards I go to work from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. And after work I'll come home, go to the gym, cook myself dinner and work on my online Marketing classwork.

If I have the free time, I'll watch TV, Netflix, or YouTube.

Learning to use CSS in Web Design class

My desk for Web Design and Media Planning classes

Tuesday and Thursday

 My Tuesdays and Thursdays are a bit longer than MWF. On these days, I have my Strategic Publication Design, Strategic Writing, and Media Planning classes until 3 p.m.

Afterwards I go to work from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. And after work I'll do the same routine as every other day.

Every other Thursday, I do have an American Advertising Federation Chapter meeting to go to after work.

Made myself a salad for dinner

Inspirational cup of tea every morning

Working on designing the back of a business card in Adobe InDesign for class

Friday

 On Friday, I have the same classes I do on Mondays and Wednesdays. The only difference for my Fridays is that I don't have to work. If I go home that weekend, I'll come back to my apartment and pack and clean after class. Then I'll head back to Mississippi for the weekend.

Friday nights I usually spend doing homework and spending time with my siblings.

This Friday, I stayed in Mobile for USA day the next day so I just cooked myself dinner and worked on my Web Design blog post.

Writing my weekly blog post for Web Design

Web design class blog prompt and weekly course material

Preparing turkey meatballs for dinner

Saturday 

Saturdays are pretty calm and relaxing for me. I'll occasionally go out with friends or my boyfriend, but usually I'll just take the day to relax and catch up on my shows. I also like to go for walks with my dog and siblings on Saturdays.

This Saturday we had USA Day, so I stayed in Mobile for the weekend.  Had so much fun Saturday! Lots of walking! I did go shopping at Ulta and Target later that day, but I was too entertained to take some pictures.

Almost 11K steps for USA day!

Sunday

 On Sundays I will usually go to church with my family, and then head back to Mobile for work at 5 p.m. After I get off work at 7 p.m., I'll come back to my apartment and get ready for the school week to begin again.

Since I stayed in Mobile this weekend, my Sunday was a little different. I went to church at 11 a.m., and then went to eat at my favorite Vietnamese restaurant. Then I went back to Target to shop some more because who doesn't love Target.

Went out for pho after church 

Spring rolls after church

-Paola

My Top 4 Places to Study and Relax on Campus

 Today I'll be discussing some of my go-to spots on campus to relax or catch up on work in between classes. I rarely get free time when I'm on campus, but on the rare chance I do these are some of my favorite places to go to.

1. Communication Building Library

I spend most of my time in the communication building. Nearly all of my classes are in that same building, so I always spend any free time between classes in the small upstairs library. There's couches and computers for people to work and study at.

2. Mitchell College of Business (MCOB)

 

As a marketing minor, I also spend a lot of time at MCOB. There is a library there as well that is really good for students to go study at. I also like to take a break in the seating area around the POD if I have any time in between my classes.

3. Student Center

My second most frequented place on campus is the Student Center. If I have long enough time in between classes I like to head to the student center and grab lunch and catch up on homework or just relax. It can get noisy at times, so when I need to be extra focused I'll head to my next option.

4. Marx Library

I will occasionally go to the Marx library to do homework or work on a project. There is a new group room on the first floor that is great place for students do their work. I also like to grab a table in the other floors.

-Paola

College Teaches You More than Just Academics

 

I've been in college since Fall of 2015. I'm about to graduate, and I definitely feel I have learned and matured so much in these last 4 years of college. Different experiences and circumstances brought on by college have shaped me into the person I am today, and there's a chance I wouldn't have learned all this if I hadn't moved away from home for college.

I've learned things about myself that high school Paola would not have expected 
All throughout my high school years, I thought I wanted to work in healthcare because I wanted to help others. After going through a whole year of Nursing school, I realized that I wasn't made to work in healthcare. I'm too sensitive and introverted to be a nurse. And that's okay!

I don't have to work in healthcare to help others. Anyone can help others in many different ways.

I've learned that life don't always come out the way you think.
I know it sounds cliche, but I always had this solid plan in my head of what kind of life and undergraduate career I would have. None of those plans came out the way I imagined.

In reality, I'm graduating a semester later than I thought I would with a degree in a field that I never even considered in high school. But, I've found that these experiences have helped me learn more about myself and what kind of person I want to be.

I've also learned that you should listen to yourself when it comes to important life decisions.
I knew after my first semester in Nursing school that I did not want to be a nurse. The only reason I stayed in the program one more semester is because everyone around me told me that I couldn't give up. "Everyone wants to quit nursing school at one point."

 Deep inside, I already knew that I didn't want to be a nurse, but I decided to listen to everyone else instead of myself. That decision cost me quite a bit. If I had listened to myself from the beginning, I would have been much happier.

College teaches you so much more than just the classes you take. These four, five, six, or however many years help shape you into the person you're meant to become. It will be scary and frustrating at times, but in the end you'll realize how much this time has helped you grow.

-Paola