Student Blogger: Jodie-Ann

Highlight of the week

Congratulations to the class of 2015! It was amazing to see so many fresh faces Friday afternoon into the night; I am ecstatic to see what the new year brings. I remember move in day like it was yesterday [ considering it was not too long ago]. It was great meeting new people while all of us held the fear of college in our gut. I hope that you felt welcomed, and had the opportunity to experience life at Guilford.  As I mentioned  in earlier post, I will be a fall Orientation Leader and I hope to see many of you in August. There will be lots of different activities and people you will receive the oppotunity to encounter so get ready to savour the thrill!

 Here are a few tips that may make you feel comfortable upon entering Guilford;

Take Risk 

 In this risk you can try out for a club outside you comfort zone, attend a event, or speak to someone you have never spoken to before. The chances are that each person you encounter are just as nervous and afraid as you are.

Be Prepared

If you happen to receive your course  syllabi, your already a step ahead. After registering for classes you can even purchase your books early [if your an over achiever like myself] and kind of skim through the material. You don't have to read it all but you may feel comfortable after looking over the information.

Embrace the Experience

You do not want to graduate college without having memories of staying up late with friends or hysterically laughing when remembering that one time when you played a prank on someone. I'm not saying go out and party all weekend but take time for yourself outside of academics. This will make for a more healthier you and successful college experience.

 

 

Fun Fact

There is a riveting story in each building and history at Guilford. As a tour guide this summer I have told and listened to these stories; this is my favorite part of  the summer !  I always get excited when we enter the library which is [secretly] my favorite part . Our library houses The Friends Historical Collection along with the Art Gallery. I am always in awe each time I enter and see the colors on the art work bouncing off the lights. There is a combination of Guilford artist and other  artist from around the world who make up a great portion of the work featured in our gallery.

I will be taking a Quakerism class [not required for Guilford students] and The Friends Historical Collection will be my best friend in the fall. Other than academic uses, if you are interested in knowing weather or not you have Quaker history in your family this collection will be a great resource. It is the largest Quaker collection of Quaker books outside of Pennsylvania.

The President's office is also in the library. This is one of the great things about attending a small school; unlike a bit university where there are over 3,000 students it becomes hard to have that one on one interaction with anyone. The President always has open office hours and because he lives on campus you tend to see him walking around.

Come for a visit and a chance to hear the stories and history of Guilford College!

Outside of library

 

Fact: The is one of three existing Carnegie rooms that still operate as part of a library.

The Triad

Part I

Okay! Greensboro is one of those cities that's filled with a lot of life, history and attractions. When I decided to attended Guilford, I was hesitant because I don't own a car or even have my license. In the city trains and buses are easy to access so other means of transportation aren't considered. Overall I was happy to be getting away from the fast New York life and adjust to a slower pace, and as a poet I though that this would bring new inspiration to my writing. It's surprising that one of my greats friends, who is also an incredible writer told me that moving here for school would kill my wring; he was in infact wrong.

In my frist three months at Guilford I had the opportunity to promote and host a concert, on campus that showcased a full range of art forms. Amongst the arts there were three artist that are well connected with Guilford.

 Josephus III is an amazing spoken word artist and performer. He also teaches workshops in Greensboro and is currently doing a series of performances that I recommend you to check out if you live close to any of the different locations. He will also be taking a team to a national poetry slam entitled "Brave New Voices",and that's a huge deal.

Every year the Multicultural Resource Center along with the sponsorship from other clubs at Guilford host a competition broken into parts from dance, to poetry, rap, and music. This last over  a span of months. The winner is rewarded with a monetary prize along with some studio time. Many of those that participate are well know in the downtown area and also in other states. I found that this revived my writing and also gave me a different t perspective. Though writing meant something different for me and all the other people I knew back home it means something different for those in the Triad and I got the chance to be a part of their experiences and hear their stories.

Part II

Apart from the arts scene because this is a college town with other institutions such as North Carolina A&T and UNCG. There are  also many diners, clubs, and museums where you can hang out and sort of relax after a week of writing papers and reading. If you like museums you can attend the Greensboro museum and learn a little bit more about the town and their progression. The  Civil Rights Museum recently had a grand opening and many Guilford students attended this event. Feel free to check out the links below, they're in order;

http://www.josephusiii.com/index.htm

http://www.bravenewvoices.org/

http://www.greensborohistory.org/

http://www.ohenryhotel.com/international_civil_rights_museum_greensboro.htm

 

The difference between high school and college

In High School I found that it was very much harder to maintain a steady balance; I was always involved in almost all that my school had to offer while participating in other outside activities. In college I can be a star athlete, and involved in the community while also maintaining above a 2.0 gpa. I must admit that sometimes it gets hectic but you find relaxation soothing and calming when the weekend rolls around. In High School I remember so many weekends where I was up constantly thinking when will I get a break. Living on campus provides me with  so many resources available that I did not realized how much I was accomplishing.

I attended an High School that students fought everyday  in order to obtain more resources, and when I came to college I appreciated the resources that were available to me already. Though I did take advantage of the resources my High School had to offer, there were many that I  thad to look harder for it I wanted them. This does not mean that college will lay out a red carpet for you; however it does mean that there are numerous avenues that you can partake on.

Many of the things I'm discussing seem mainly academic, but college is also great for personal growth. My High School years were filled with personal growth and some of the best years of my life. On the other hand, in High School sometimes there was this overwhelming feeling of wanting to belong and in college that seems to go away pretty quickly. I didn't feel the need to be the typical labels such as nerd and jock but I had an opportunity to create the person I wanted to be for the rest of my life and not who everyone viewed me as. Take the opportunity to explore in school, and don't beat yourself up if you feel your best isn't good enough or work yourself harder when your stretched thin; sit on the middle of this line and relax.

- Jodie

The college process

There are three things I would recommend to those applying to college;

1. Get personal with your school, this will give you support that is necessary in choosing the right institution for you and the support you may rely on when enrolled.

2. Financial Aid information

3. Appeals to at least two of your top three interest

1. Amongst many of the schools I applied to Guilford in particular stuck out because of how interested they were in me.. I can remember my Admissions Counselor Shelly George calling me in order to do a phone interview; I did not know that schools did this. After this moment I decided to call the other schools I applied to and each of them refused to conduct a phone interview with me. I felt rejected and disappointed before even being accepted to any of those institutions; I did not want to attend a place that was not welcoming as a first impression.

2. College is an investment! Diligently look over you financial aid information because when you graduate and the collectors are rolling in you want to know exactly where that money came from, and where it is going. I know it sounds a bit scary, and I urge you to not be afraid. Stay in contact with your counselor and don't be afraid to ask "too" may questions because they are there to help even in times of frustration.

3. Before choosing what college to attend in the fall I had never visited any of the schools I applied to ; I guess you can say that I am lucky to find Guilford to be this amazing. When applying to colleges I looked for those that not only supported me academically, but had programs where my interest would be satisfied. 

The journey has begun

Hello, My name is Jodie-Ann and I'm a rising sophomore at Guilford,  I will be a student blogger this summer.  As an Education and Business Management double major at the moment; having the opportunity to work in Admissions this summer will provide me with hands on experience . I thank Guilford for all the opportunities and resources they provide for students; I must say that this has been one of the greatest opportunities of my life.

I could have chosen to go to any college and instead I chose Guilford, and it was the right decision. I was presented with all the things that I loved from poetry to my passion for activism.The small class sizes along with support of my peers has made this a successful first year. I feel equipped and ready to continue my education with great confidence in myself and my goals, and it is only the beginning. As a student athlete balance becomes a priority in my college experience. The student teacher ratio provides me with an atmosphere where my voice is acknowledged in order to find a comm0n ground that supports the community and myself.

Next semester I will be taking on a lot, and I know that the Guilford community will be there to support me. I plan to excel as a Track & Field athlete on and off the field, while setting high academic standards to make the Deans list. Though this may all seem like rigorous task I do plan on attending a few open mics and being an active participant in our soon to come "Poets Society"

-Thanks, Jodie.