YOUR longest summer ever.

Drexel beats the system. Our trimesters, or quarters, or whatever they are technically called, start the year late and proportionally end late.

My friends from different schools across the country are mostly out of school, my sister's graduation was this past weekend, the weather is finally glorious every day, and I am still in class.

I decided it is ok that they are out, and I am in. YOU are about to have the longest summer of your life, and longer than any of your friends will ever have. YOU have four months to get ready for college, hang out and do nothing, and work and make money. YOU have that extra month were your friends are adjusting to school, and you are home. YOU will survive. I did.

Last summer, I was a counselor, which was amazing, and then hung out and visited friends the rest of the summer. I loved it. Do something fun. Roadtrip and go somewhere new. The one of four years of college I am almost done with went by so fast.

Here is where we beat the system, when we graduate we will not only of had the four month summer YOU are starting, but we will of had co-op/co-ops, and graduate to find a job. Who else can say that? Even though I am about to have my last summer, it's worth it. I will get to work for six months doing graphic deisgn somewhere I want, hopefully on a subject I love.

Enjoy your summer. I will in three weeks for sure.
Peace.

engineers and more

Thanks to Mary Kate another DWC member who asked her friend who is an Engineering major to write a little something... she did more than a little somthing and it explained to me pretty well how her year was at a freshman in the engineering rogram.

Hello all.
I’m a freshman mechanical engineering major in the five-year program. I hail from somewhere near the backwoods of New York State. When I was in your shoes last year, I had offers to attendDrexel, Stevens, RPI, RIT and WPI. Obviously, I choose Drexel, and I’m happy with that decision and want to convince you to come here too.
I’m taking calculus, physics, chemistry, bio, basic computer science, and English courses this year. What is so impressive about Drexel is what is offered outside the classroom. There are so many opportunities for academic, personal, and career growth here that is phenomenal. The first one that always gets brought up is co-op. By this point you might have some idea about how that works. But you may not be aware that there are very few schools that have a Co-op program integrated into the curriculum. At Drexel, most people do at least one, in a very well-organized system that offers a huge variety of companies and positions.
But Drexel has more than just co-op. We have the city of Philadelphia, a learning experience if I ever saw one. For any of you who, like me, are not from an urban home, its a huge adjustment, but one that will benefit you. More engineering jobs are in the city than the country. Not to mention the culture (museums, shows, orchestra, etc.) that you can find just outside your door.
We also have another rarity in an engineering school – a great study abroad program. Not many engineering schools even offer one country to study abroad in. Drexel is part of a global exchange where you can study abroad in over a dozen different countries. I’m planning on going to Hong Kong, and someone else I know is going to Turkey. For both of us, classes will be taught in English.
And for hands-on experience, we have ENGR-101, a three term course with projects and modules that give you an introduction to engineering. If that’s not enough for you, you can seek out faculty and ask to assist them with their research. Not all professors need assistants or take on freshmen as assistants, but no one can stop you from participating in engineering competitions. There are a few competitions Drexel participates in as a school and even more that various organizations participate in as Drexel’s representative. For example, I am in ASME, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, who recently sent a team to SPDC, an engineering competition held up in New York City. So if you want to be involved in engineering early on, I would join the organization for your major. Those groups do competitions, and the older members could answer questions you may have about approaching faculty to be a research assistant.

I don’t know how many of you are what major, but I can’t do something like this without promoting my own department. Mechanical engineering is a very large department with truly top-notch faculty. But there’s still an individual attention to students, because those professors, PhD’s doing amazing research, really do care about the students, and are willing to help them out if you just ask. I’m not just throwing generic reassurances out either. I do work-study in the Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics (MEM) department office. So I see first-hand the professors I won’t have until third year and the way they interact with students even outside class. And it makes me excited to me an MEM student.
When I came to visit Drexel as an Accepted Student, I was Undecided Engineering. The department head of Mechanical Engineering & Mechanics, Dr. Mun Choi, noticed that and spoke with me about MEM (which I was considering). He also told me about a scholarship offered by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers that I could apply for. He gave me his card and still remembers my name. After that, I switched major, applied for and got the scholarship. I also became an active member of ASME (which is free for freshmen to join, so you should do it when you get here- meet people and have fun). I went to weekly meetings, the Christmas party, some fun and/or informative events, and was nominated for and elected as secretary of ASME for next year. So that worked out really great for me.


I can forward questions to her, or you can comment below and I can get back to you but just wanted to make sure everyone saw this perspective.. no matter what your major.

Peace out.

virginia tech virtual remembered

http://www.drexel.edu/univrel/news_information/virginia_tech1.asp

Drexel created not only the walls to sign outside of the Mandell Theatre and the ceremony, but now vitually people can express themselves about the tragedy.

7 more weeks and you can text 'googl'

I only have seven more weeks till my freshman year ends.

That is crazy because I still always say I have only been in Philly for a few months, but I have been here almost eight months. I was waiting on 7th and Chestnut, wating for my sister coming for lunch, and someone asked me if I knew where Blue in Green was. I had no clue. But said I would text Google and ask.

( If you don't know this, you can text "googl" any location and city or zip code, and get a repsonse. http://www.google.com/intl/en_us/mobile/sms/ )

So a minute later, I got the response and told them it is was some number on Samson and they had to go right. I obviously am not a native to Philly, but I am getting there. I decided when I got here that my the end of the year, I wanted to be able to give directions to a tourist and I am almost there.

We all have to start somewhere.

But at least I am not starting from nothing.

Right before this term began I was in New Orleans for spring break, and volunteered at a food bank all week. I was one of the Drexel students that was privileged to participate in an Alternative Spring Break trip for Katrina relief, coordinated by the National Service Fraternity at Drexel, Alpha Phi Omega. In New Orleans, we volunteered at Just the Right Attitude food bank.

Debra W. South, Executive Director, herself was in need but always got by with the help of her family and friends. With these friends, the food bank was created with the motto, “You can overcome any obstacle with just the right attitude,” motivating them with their start in 1999. Debra herself was forced to start her life again in her mid-forties.

As we were putting cans in bags, it allowed us a chance to talk. Debra had to buy new forks. She does not have her dishes, or any of her possesions other than those she took with her before the flood. With so many close calls in the past, she just thought she swould be back in a few days. A little less than two years later, houses are still mold infested and wind damaged. From so many of the employees, we heard horror stories of contractors not showing up and businesses taking advantage of the situation. I saw Wal-Marts and Burger Kings deserted by the multi-million dollar companies just because insurance prices have risen. Many New Orleans natives similarly did not return, as with the history of Katrina, insurance prices have risen. Debra used to pay $1000 a year for her house insurance, and now it would be $3000 for her house. Crazy.

With the 9 daily volunteers all affected themselves by Katrina, JTRA is able to serve a hot breakfast, lunch, and bag groceries to last a week. The 14 from the university assisted the devoted daily volunteers in unloading boxes of food from an 18-wheeler truck, bagging overflowing weekly grocery bags, and serving a hot breakfast and lunch to those who are in need.

The diverse group included 5 APO fraternity brothers, a student from India and one from Nigeria, and a selection from all majors, as well as backgrounds, joined together to devote their week to helping the permanent volunteers. I met the sickest people. Being surronded by freshman in the majority of my classes, I loved meeting different people and working with more of a variety of ages.

All the people, from Drexel and from the food bank, were refreshing to after my exhausting winter term. The cold winter and finals tired me out, and I definetly spent my spring break well. And here comes spring term... and I am starting off with a great experience beind me, and nothing holding me back.

Peace out.

Tamar