Weathering the Ups & Downs

I honestly cannot believe this is my final blog for the semester, and freshman year has certainly been quite a ride!  That being said, it's pretty hard to wrap my brain around just how much I have learned since starting South.  From navigating a new campus to learning about types of precipitation in Introduction to Meteorology, if there is one thing that I have enjoyed learning about the most since this semester started, it would honestly have to be weather balloons.  Long story short, a weather balloon looks like this:

Meteorologists send these balloons into the atmosphere, and instruments attached to the balloons record weather information (temperature, wind speeds, etc.) as the balloon ascends.  The data collected is then used to help with forecasting and research purposes.  This semester, I was actually fortunate enough to help launch a few weather balloons because South's Meteorology program participated in a research project called Vortex Southeast, which is dedicated to tornado research.  Even though I was only able to help out with a few launches, it was still a lot of fun, and the experience was completely worth it!

Advice for High School Me

I honestly cannot believe that my freshman year of college is winding down, and it has definitely been a wild ride!  However, I have had time to think about what I could have done differently this time last year when I was still a senior in high school.  In the end, if there is one piece of advice I wish I could have given myself a year ago, it's this: go on a campus tour (or at least explore campus more) before Orientation.  It may sound a little weird, but I actually never went on an official campus tour before I started classes at South.  Even though I had visited South three times before my Orientation, I didn't explore campus much.  I was familiar with the Mitchell Center and the Coastal Weather Research Center, and that was about it!  While I was able to find my way around campus pretty quickly once I actually moved into my room and started classes, I wish I had taken time to explore a little more, but you live and you learn, right?

Top 5 Tips for Preparing for College

I have to admit that I can't believe this semester is almost over!  While I've definitely had a lot of fun times this semester, I am honestly ready for summer!  However, I do remember when I was a senior in high school this time last year.  I couldn't wait for graduation, and I was excited and nervous about moving to Mobile for college.  That being said, I do want to give y'all some tips that can help you prepare for your first semester here at South.

1) If you plan to live on campus, review the list of "Banned Items."
-I do honestly feel as if this one is looked over a little bit because it does seem pretty easy to assume that if you have something at home, then you can bring it with you to a college dorm room.  However, that is not necessarily the case.  A couple of examples of items that students are not allowed to have in South's residence halls are candles and extension cords.

2) If you plan to live on campus, check the dimensions of items in your room.
-Depending on which residence hall you live in, you may have either a Twin XL bed or a Full XL bed.  Window and shower dimensions can also vary depending on which room you have, so checking what is included in your room can help you avoid buying, say, Twin XL bedding only to realize that your room has a Full XL-sized bed!

3) At Orientation, do not be afraid to ask questions about anything.
-I know it sounds a little silly, but I'm sure we all know that asking questions when you are in an Orientation group (especially ones that may seem ridiculous) can be a little awkward.  However, someone may have the same question you do, so it never hurts to ask!

4) Before Orientation, make sure you have submitted your immunization forms.
-The Student Health Center here at South takes those immunization forms very seriously, and if you don't submit them through the Student Health Portal, you may be blocked from registering for your classes.  You do not want that!

5) When registering for classes, be mindful of how many credit hours you are taking.
-Again, I know this may seem a little ridiculous, but it can actually be very easy to lose track of how many credit hours each class is worth (at least, I lose track fairly easily!).  While about 15 credit hours a semester is fairly normal, adding just one class can potentially put you at 18 or even 19 credit hours, so you do want to watch out for that.

Spring at South

Y'all, it's finally spring!!!  I realize it's a little on the cool and cloudy side today, but last week felt absolutely amazing!  Either way, whenever it comes to doing something outside, I definitely prefer doing it in spring or fall.  Sometimes, I like to sit at one of the benches or tables near the Mathematics Building just so I can do some work outside!  However, if I'm not doing school work, I'm probably reading a book in the shade or something like that.  While most of my time outside does consist of walking to class or doing school work, there are other outdoor activities that I like to do from time to time.  I know whenever I'm back home, walking my dog around the neighborhood is always fun in the spring!  I also like to swim, but it is something that I have to make time for.  Thankfully, South Alabama's Rec Center has an indoor pool and an outdoor pool!  Want to know my favorite part about the outdoor pool???  It has a whirlpool in the middle!  How cool is that!?

Serving at South

Whenever it comes to giving back to my community, I try to help out in any way I can.  Back home in Baton Rouge, I loved getting involved with activities inside and outside of school.  Open House, Homecoming Block Parties, and Grandparents' Day are only a few examples!  My family and I also enjoy fostering dogs for a weekend during the summer to help give them a taste of living in a home with a family!  Ever since moving to Mobile for college, I have wanted to find ways to get involved.  Most of the time, I try to get involved with volunteer opportunities through South's Meteorology Club.  For example, I have participated in the Coastal Cleanup and a couple of Mitchell Center Cleanup events through the club.  However, I also use South Serves to find other opportunities to get involved outside of the South Alabama community.  For anyone who doesn't know, South Serves is USA's Volunteer Opportunity Tracker.  You can easily find volunteer events and organizations on it, and if you ever need to document service hours for a class or campus organization, South Serves is the official way to keep track of it all!  One of my favorite events I have ever helped out with was Puppy Dog Walking through Save a Stray, a non-profit organization that helps stray animals, and I found the even on South Serves!  I guess coming from someone who loves to volunteer, South Serves is the best way to find something to do!

The Life of a Jag

I don't know about anyone else, but this week feels like it flew by!  However, in order to get to know me a little better, I really want to give y'all a peek into my typical week.

(Interior Shot of the Bethel)

For starters, I spend much more time in the Bethel, the Honors College hang out, between my classes  this semester than I did last semester.  You'll probably find me in here on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays studying or taking a lunch/snack break!  If I'm in the Bethel after class on Fridays, you may even find me taking a nap on one of the couches (which is not uncommon at all for most of us)!

(The "Pit" at Marx Library)

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I normally like to spend a little time in the Marx Library, which has a lot of comfortable seating and study rooms!  The picture above is a shot of an area right in front of the Circulation Desk that is typically called "The Pit" - a very appropriate name if I must say so!

(Dorm Door Decorations - Azalea Hall)

Before I end my blog for the week, I do want to give a quick shout-out to my RA in Azalea Hall!  Every single RA in Azalea Hall makes little name tag decorations for our dorm doors, and I always LOVE Addie's!  It just amazes me at how she takes the time to put in so many little details!  I don't even want to THINK about how much time this must have taken her!  Great job, Addie!

Have a great week, and Go Jags!!

Meet Liz

Hello!  My name's Elizabeth (but please feel free to call me Liz), and I am currently a second-semester freshman here at South Alabama!  I am a Meteorology Major from Baton Rouge, Louisiana who has always been obsessed with weather, math, and science.  Let's just say that when I was trying to figure out what my major should be, meteorology was really my only option!  Outside of class, I enjoy reading (I am obsessed with Harry Potter and The Hunger Games), listening to music (Celtic Woman is one of my favorites), watching movies (especially Disney and DreamWorks), and working puzzles (I am actually working on a Disney's Aladdin one right now).  I also enjoy playing volleyball and hanging out with my friends.  Plus, let's just say that I am pretty sure my friends would agree with this: