Holy Moly... It's Time to Graduate?! Part 4

The title says it all... it's time for your dear friend Monika to graduate. Today marks the start of the last week of classes for the 2013/2014 year and boy did it fly by!

The school year started with a 2-week long training for Donship...

We cleaned up nice by the end of training!

With a little running a few weeks after...

Yay! Half Marathon complete! 

SCHOOL WORK!

Some York pride as per usual... 

 

Me and Morgan got a little "ragey" with RAGE DODGEBALL!

RED ZONE POWER!

SCHOOL WORK!

Me and Michelle got to be poster girls! :D

Some much needed vacation time half way... Tanning in Cuba and boarding in Quebec in the same week!? Its like I teleported or something...

First I'm here....

... but in a blink of an eye I'm here!

The Red Zone Ladies play dress up for YU Charity Ball...

SCHOOL WORK!

 And the Vanier team cleans up nicely once more for Vanier formal...

JASS HANDS!

 Last but not least! Studying for final exams and writing final papers...

Gotta take study breaks though, right?!

This year has been a blasty blast and it's bitter sweet to be leaving. What I experienced during my 5 years at York University is impossible to put in words. But... all good things come to an end and its time for me to leave. I don't know what ill be doing yet this summer, let alone the next year, however I do want to keep on blogging so be on the lookout for that!

Good luck to everyone who will be continuing their journey at York University and good luck to those who are leaving York (with me!) with their endeavours!

Until Next Time, I'll Always be Yorking Around (at least at heart),

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Don't Let Food Costs Take Over Your Life!

As a former commuter I know how hard it is to save money while keeping yourself fed. It can sometimes feel like conflicting goals- especially on those days when you find yourself on campus from 8:30am-10:00pm (that's like 4 meals, at around $5-$10 each). Food doesn't have to cost you a fortune (and frankly it can't... we're students!). Below are some tips for saving money on food:

1. MEAL PREP
Meal prepping has become the "go-to" way of eating healthy (while saving money) in our "always on the go" society.

It's so true it hurts

Best way to go about meal prepping is dedicating a bit of your Sunday to cook, and pack food for the whole week. Leave it in the fridge and then when you're "on the go" just grab your lunch without having to thinking twice about the future state of your stomach.

My mind (and stomach) is at ease just looking at this picture. 

2. DEALS

Did you know Falafel Hut has coupons in every edition of the Excaliber? You can get 10% off on Vegan meals in any Aramark cafeteria! Cuccineta has 50% off on pizzas after 7:30pm, Berries and Bloom does a sandwich of the day deal every day, and Mac Sushi has an end of day sale! There are deals out there, we just gotta find them. Before splurging $10 on a full blown meal, become familiar with deals on campus, that way you can make the best decision for your wallet according to the time of day. The money you'll save will sure add up!

3. BUDGET
It's a gross word, I know, but It's a great way to save money. Coming onto campus every day with a debit card/credit card can be dangerous, and it can be extremely easy to lose control of your spending. A coffee here, a lunch there, and then another coffee with a chocolate bar here... before you know it you're spending $50-100 every week!

My solution: withdraw X (I usually do around $20) amount of money on a Monday and make that cash your limit for the week. It's much easier to keep track of your spending this way, and it's also a good reminder to spend money on things you actually need.


That concludes my main tips for saving money on food (as a commuter)! Remember: bringing food from home is always a bullet proof way of saving money, and eating healthy. Do you have any tips or tricks you use when it comes to saving money on food? Share below!

Until Next Time, I'll be Yorking Around,

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You Are Cordially Invited To... York's 55th!

Cheering, free York swag, hot deals all over campus, food trucks, and (for the first time ever)... CAKE POPS?! All of this can mean only one thing...

it's York's 55th BIRTHDAY!

Who? York University

Where? Everywhere on campus, however the main spectacles can be found at Vari Hall and Student Centre. More info on the time of events and their locations can be found here.

When? March 26, 2014 (mark your calendars)

Why? Cause it's York University's birthday... duh!

What? Free cake pops, food trucks, dancing, giveaways, and hot deals going on all day!

Make sure you come out and partake in the festivities!

Way back play back, to York's 54th Birthday (see all those
FREE cupcakes in the background?)

Until Next Time, I'll be Yorking Around,

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Overcoming Group Work 101

At one point or another you're going to have to do a course assignment... with other people... A.K.A GROUP WORK...

Yea, I'm not a fan either. Depending on the people in your group you might end up having to do all the work, meet outside class time (cause course time isn't enough), and rely on others for a good mark (which can be scary).

My program doesn't usually have group work, however over my 5 years of undergrad I've had my fair share of working with classmates on assignments. Below are some tips and tricks for handling group work and coming out with an A (maybe A+ depending on how you play your cards) ;)

1. Listen To Your Group Members
Its easy to discredit other people's ideas, especially when "you got the best idea", however keep your mind open. You might be surprised by the idea's others have, and remember: there is power in numbers.

2. Be Honest 
If there is something you don't like, say so. There is nothing worst than going along with an idea "just to be nice". There are marks on the line and if there is something you truly disagree with, say so instead of being miserable and then getting an equally miserable mark. This also applies in the event others aren't pulling their weight. Talk to group members who you feel are slacking, and if that doesn't go so well... think about talking to your prof.

3. Pull Your Weight
Don't slack: others will notice. Group work isn't "oh great, I have 3 people to do the work for me". Group work is about coming together, and combining ideas to create something awesome. Your group members will notice if you are not pulling your weight, and it can affect your mark if your group members let the professor know.

4. Rehearse/ Practice
If you're group assignment involves a presentation, make sure to practice... together! There is nothing worse than watching a group who's clearly not practiced, present. It's actually super awkward. Put in the extra time and effort to get together and figure out who's covering what information... it's the difference between a B and an A.

This concludes the key tips I can recommend to anyone embarking on the long journey of group work, but remember...

DON'T LET THIS GUY BE YOU!

Do you have any tips and tricks for handling a group assignment? Comment below!

Until Next Time, I'll be Yorking Around.

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The Future of Printing IS HERE (Read for Life Changing Info)

So here I am at the RED Zone, and I got this super duper important word document to print but the booth doesn't have a printer :(

But, wait a minute... the future of printing IS HERE thanks to WebPrint...

I Just log-in with my York University username and password...

Choose the printer I want to print from...

Upload my super duper document...

Walk over to the printer I chose (this is the hardest part)

Log-in with my York University username and password OR just swipe my YU-Card...

WOAH! My document teleported from the RED Zone laptop to this computer at Scott... WHAT SORCERY IS THIS?!

Make sure I got enough moola to print my super duper document (FYI 10 cents per black and white page)...

Press PRINT...

BOOM! Watch the pages flow out of this beautiful piece of machinery...

The future of Printing is here and it involves teleportation. I know it is a lot to take it. You. Are Welcome.

Shout out to York Libraries for making printing at York easier! No longer do students have to wait for a computer at the library to print their school work!

Until Next Time, I'll be Printing via teleportation, whilst Yorking Around,

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Holy Moly... It's Time to Graduate?! Part 3

I am so grateful for that reading week. It's just what I needed to recharge for my last few weeks of undergraduate studies!

In graduating news however, I'm happy to say that the graduation ceremony (aka Convocation) schedule is out. You can search for your convocation date and time here. It's pretty exciting to have a specific date and time as it makes graduation more "real". Plus, you can give a heads up to your family and friends so they can book off work and watch you get your diploma. RSVP and ticket requests however is not available yet, and probably won't be until 4-6 weeks before your convocation.

Also keep in mind that convocation is not guaranteed. We still gotta complete those last few assignments and exams successfully, as an audit of final marks happens around April to make sure you're still eligible. I'm sure we can do it though ;)

In the meanwhile you can get your graduation photos taken if you haven't done so yet! You can get information on booking a session here. I got mine done a few weeks ago...

It doesn't get more real than this!

Having a graduation picture is pretty exciting because you know you're near the end!

Another thing that's on my mind... JOBS! I've been slowly but surely getting my resume fixed, and searching for jobs I'd be interested. Wish me luck!

Have you taken your graduation pictures yet? Got any questions about graduation? Holla below!

Until Next Time, I'll be Yorking Around,

P.S. Good luck with these last few weeks of school future graduates!

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So You're Gonna Do Summer School...

I'll admit. It's not the most fun thing to be doing during the summer. The weather is nice, people are out having fun, and that 10 page essay is the LAST thing you want to do...

However, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do, and there ARE some advantages of doing summer school:

• You can get ahead, and maybe take less than 30 credits next year? (sounds tempting doesn't it)
• You can "fix" your marks- that D could turn into a B if you take the time to retake it, and during the summer is the best time
• A class might be easier during the summer than if you take it during the normal school year. For one, you're able to focus more on 1 or 2 classes (as opposed to 5 or 6), and classes are known to be a bit more condensed in order to fit within the summer months

Intrigued? 

The summer term schedule it out now, and depending on your program and year of study you might be able to add classes already. 

Search for summer classes offered in 2014 here. 

Find your enrolment date and time here. 

Remember: 

The summer term works a bit differently than the fall/winter term, as there are different "terms" within the summer. So for example:

SU means the class will run from May 5- July 29 

S1 means the class will run from May 5- June 15

S2 means the class will run from June 23- August 5

There are a few more "terms" within summer so when adding a course, make sure you look for the code and find out what it means here. 

I took summer school in the summer 2013 term for the first time, and although there were times when I regretted it, before I knew it, it was over. I believe that if you give your 100% in the classes you take, you'll be happy you took it in the summer, especially when you get to take less classes in the following year!

Have any more questions about summer school or what its like? Ask below!

Until Next Time, I'll be Yorking Around, 

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Reading Week (AKA The BEST week of the semester)

READING. WEEK. I can not express how excited I am for a FULL week of resting, catching up with friends and family, and I guess reading. Its gonna fly by, and before I know it ill be holding back tears because it's over, but until then I am planning the week to make the most of it! Here are a few things i'll be up to on this week:

Snowboarding
I have a Blue Mountain season pass that I have not been making much use of, so this week is a perfect way to watch up on some boarding (besides, how can I not take advantage of this solid winter we have been having?).

Yup. 

Reading
Don't make the same mistake i've made numerous times, and do some actual reading (or in my case, essay writing)! The week flies by so my suggestion: read/work/study the first few days to get it out of the way, and then sit back and relax the rest of the week!

This pictures makes studying look so cozy and fun 

Catching Up With Breaking Bad
If you have not watched the show: You are SERIOUSLY missing out! This show is great with an awesome plot and even better acting. Although the show is technically finished, I only started watching it a few months ago and am currently in season 5 (the last season!). I still have most of the season to watch and with a full week off, I am looking forward to doing a little marathon.

So. GOOD!

 think thats about it. No crazy vacations, but im sure the reading week will be relaxing nonetheless. Just think: after reading week there are only a few short weeks before school is done and spring/summer arrive (home stretch)!

What are your plans for reading week?

Until Next Time, I'll b Yorking Around,

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