Chloe talks with the Dean of the Commons, Melissa Gresalfi, about the culture of the Commons from the buildings to the Cup to the possible mascot.
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Why You Shouldn’t Skip Class (even when it is pouring rain)
When my alarm went off at 7:45am on Friday morning, I nearly wanted to cry. “I cannot believe I have to get up and go to class,” I thought. I was exhausted, was still getting over a cold, went to sleep way too late the night before, and had just had an exam in that class two days prior. Still half asleep, I started trying to convince myself to skip class:
“There’s nothing important you’re going to learn anyways because you just had an exam!”
“Just sleep an extra hour; you’ll feel so much better after.”
Then, I realized that it was pouring rain outside – this was during the hurricane after all. Yet another reason to skip class. I mean, who wants to walk twenty minutes in the pouring rain? I went back and forth in my mind for a few minutes on whether I should go to class.
And in the end, I decided to go. As I was walking outside of my dorm building, I got a text from my friend from the class that read, “We going today?” I replied that, yes, after much debate, I was going to class. My two friends responded with sad face emojis.
When I finally made it to class (not without my jeans getting totally soaked) I was faced with a pretty much empty lecture hall. But, my two friends showed up. They told me that they decided they would ask me if I was going and do whatever I did, which I did feel kind of bad about. But, of course, our professor ended up taking attendance that day even though he usually doesn’t because of how few people showed up. Besides that very small extra-credit increase for participation, I wouldn’t have missed much if I had skipped class. Yet I am glad I made the decision to go, and I want to explain to you why. These reasons certainly apply to why you should generally show up to class (that’s not to say there aren’t times when it is actually the right choice to skip), but they also apply to the choices we make in our lives in general.
#1: It only gets easier…
The truth is, things like skipping classes are a slippery slope. When you do it once, it’s suddenly a lot easier to do it again, and again, and again. And I know myself and just how much I hate waking up in the morning. If I skipped class last Friday, I’d definitely skip it again, and it would probably require way fewer reasons than I had on Friday.
It’s really easy to create bad habits, and maintaining good habits is essential to being successful in college. If we let ourselves skip class, get behind on readings, leave problems sets for the last day, or show up late to our club meetings, it’s only a matter of time before this becomes the norm. At the moment, these choices may seem insignificant. But, they easily and quickly can become habits that hold us back from being the college students we want to be.
#2: The right choices are beneficial
In my class example, I actually would have faced a consequence for missing class and not getting the participation code. But, especially when we get out into the real world, there isn’t always a clear external incentive such as grades encouraging us to make the right choices. Even if it’s not immediately obvious, though, there are consequences when we choose to cut corners or skip out on things we know are beneficial to us.
It’s also important to remember that we are all extremely lucky to be receiving our education, especially at a place like Vanderbilt. I will be the first to admit that attending lectures often feels like a total waste of time. In general, though, I do believe that showing up to class is beneficial and at the very least keeps you engaged with your classes and the Vanderbilt community. Again, this applies to more than just attending class. In life, there are often many things that we don’t always want to do in the moment but we know deep down cause more benefit than harm.
#3: Don’t make excuses
Finally, there are few things more important than being disciplined. Discipline is at the core of how we live a fulfilling and productive life. We should always avoid making excuses for ourselves, because as I said earlier, this will only get easier and easier to do. If we let things like rain stop us from getting up and attending a class we know we should be at, we are chipping away at our discipline. Again, this might not seem like the biggest deal at the time, but it starts a bad habit that may come back to bite us in the end.
If we make our decisions in life based on our ever-changing emotions and immediate desires, we will end up making a lot of harmful decisions. And, we will skip out on the decisions that end up bringing us the most benefit. Staying disciplined and avoiding excuses is what allows us to be productive and ultimately happier.
Now, my intent in writing this is not to brag about how I would never skip a class (I have no doubt I will at some point) or that skipping class is the worst decision you could ever make (sometimes it is the right decision!). Instead, I hope I was able to show how something like skipping class can have more of an impact than we might initially realize. Also, these points can apply to so many different aspects of our life and are just generally important to keep in mind.
I hope you all have a wonderful week and, of course, enjoy attending your classes!
5 Reasons You Should Stop Complaining About Campus Dining
Hot Take: I’m over hearing people complain about the dining hall. Yes, we all know, you miss home cooked meals, the athletes get special treatment, and sure, the food could be better. Those points can are valid, but that doesn’t mean you have to constantly complain. Here are 5 things you should consider the next time you feel that urge…
1. There Are Options – You Just Need to Explore Them
If you follow a typical American diet, you actually have plenty of choices. As someone who’s pescatarian I know the options aren’t perfect for everyone, but they exist. Many places on campus allow customization. You can make your own breakfast sandwich at Commons, pick your sauté ingredients at EBI, or choose toppings for your acai bowl at Blenz. If you’re consistently unhappy with your order, maybe it’s time to try something different!
2. Complaining Doesn’t Help
Whining about food on Fizz or to your friends won’t make the menu magically improve. If you want actual change, try a more productive route. Try sending an email to Campus Dining
(dining @vanderbilt.edu) or schedule a meeting to voice your concerns directly. You’ll be more likely to see a difference by taking action!
3. You’re Luckier Than Many
While it’s a cliché to say, “There are starving kids in insert country here”, there’s truth to it. In fact, around 30% of U.S. college students experience food insecurity. There are students all over Nashville who would be blessed to have our dining options. So, if you’re dissatisfied consider using your Munchie swipes to buy non-perishable items and donate them to local food banks so at least someone can appreciate it!
4. It’s Not the Food, It’s Your Attitude
We all know the saying “the secret ingredient is love” and maybe it’s true the food here is missing it. Well maybe the food would be better and made with “love” if we as students started treating the campus dining staff with respect and as actual humans. Yes, they get paid to cook and clean for us, but why does that entitle us to leave obnoxiously big messes and not acknowledge their presence unless the utensils need refilling. We see them everyday, and yet most of us don’t know any of their names?? They wear name tags for a reason. I challenge you to not only learn someone in campus dinings name but also have an actual conversation with them, something more than just, “burger and fries, please.” Maybe the “secret ingredient” missing from the food is simply mutual respect.
5. There Are Better Conversations to Be Had
Complaining about the dining hall may just be an easy icebreaker, but it’s overdone. Try switching up your conversation starters. You can ask questions like: “Which professor have you connected with the most?” or “What’s something new you’ve learned about yourself this semester?” or even “Which Disney Princess do you think would live in Hank “(I actually asked Dean Gresalfi this, so make sure to hear her answer on our podcast). There’s more to talk about than food!
6. Bonus: Visit one of your friends and try out their food!
There is nothing better than perspective. Maybe after trying some other schools’ dining halls it may be easier to appreciate ours. I’d bet we at least have better pizza than that orange school…
MCL News Minute – September 25
Callie takes you through three events including a MakerFest, a meditation opportunity, and a session on eating disorders.
Spotify Playlists for Vandy Freshman
I am always searching for songs and Spotify playlists to match my emotions or whatever I’m experiencing, and I’m sure many of you do the same. Being in college comes with many new experiences and emotions, so I wanted to share some Spotify playlists to match them!
Sometimes you need an upbeat, confident playlist to listen to on the way to your big exam. Music can actually have a big impact on your mood, so listening to positive and confident music will help you feel the same going into your exam.
Here are some other, more chill playlists to stream before your exams. These songs will put you in a good mental state and even calm your anxiety before the test.
Before I came to college, I mostly listened to music in the car. But since I’ve been at Vanderbilt, most of my music listening has been while I’m walking around campus. If I’m having a tough day, feeling tired, or just don’t feel like going to class, listening to music on my walk can help improve my mood and energize me. So, here are two playlists for walking to class and romanticizing your college life.
Most of us have probably been spending a TON of time studying – the workload at Vanderbilt can be a lot! But, having just the right playlist can make studying so much better and the time go by faster. This playlist is perfect for studying around campus, especially now that it is officially fall!
Here is some study music specifically for when you really need to lock in. This playlist has more instrumental songs and music that will really help you focus.
Of course, one of the main parts of college is spending time with your friends. So, here is a playlist to put on when you’re hanging out with all of your friends or just want happy, social songs!
This is a fun playlist I found full of older songs that will make you feel like you’re going to college in the 1990s. I love when music can transport you to a different time period!
We are in Nashville, so we pretty much all have to be country music fans by default! Here is a playlist titled “Nashville Hits” to get you connected to the music made here in Nashville.
Another very real part of college is feeling homesick. Even if you’ve been loving Vanderbilt, it’s still natural to be struck with feelings of homesickness and missing your family and friends back home. Sometimes, we just need music that connects with some of the more difficult emotions we might be experiencing, and this playlist is perfect for that.
Finally, with fall just beginning, I had to include a fall playlist! As someone who lived in Texas my whole life where we didn’t really have the stereotypical fall season, I’m excited to romanticize the cooler weather and orange leaves and this playlist will definitely help me do that.
Thanks for reading and I hope these playlists can be a part of your daily life here at Vanderbilt!
Journaling Prompts for College Freshman
If you know me, you know that I am an avid journal-keeper. For the past four years, I’ve written down pretty much everything that’s happened in my life. Journaling is a great way to process your emotions, capture memories, and reflect on your life. Feel free to check out an article I wrote titled How Journaling Changed My Life to learn more about the value and benefits of journaling. Today, I want to share some journaling prompts (or just questions to think about!) that are applicable to us freshman after our first month of college.
Journaling Prompts:
How have I grown in my independence since living away from home?
What subjects or classes are most exciting to me?
How have I been working to build meaningful relationships?
How can I manage stress or other challenging emotions?
How can I better take care of myself and establish a healthy lifestyle and routine?
What have I learned about myself since starting college?
How have I been doing academically?
What has been my favorite memory or experience of the first month of college?
What has been the hardest part of the first month of college?
How have I seen myself grow in the past month?
What have I enjoyed most about being at a school like Vanderbilt?
What is something I want to contribute to the Vanderbilt community?
Quotes About Journaling & Self-Reflection
I hope these prompts can inspire your journal-entries or just be questions to reflect on! Finally, I want to share some quotes about the importance of journaling and personal reflection.
“Journal writing gives us insights into who we are, who we were, and who we can become.” – Sandra Marinella
“I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.” – Anne Frank
“Keeping a journal of what’s going on in your life is a good way to help you distill what’s important and what’s not.” – Martina Navratilova
“Without deep reflection, one knows from daily life that one exists for other people.” – Albert Einstein
“Self-reflection is the secret of introspection, and introspection is the gateway to wisdom.” – Richelle E. Goodrich
“Journal writing is a voyage to the interior.” – Christina Baldwin
“Self-reflection is the school of wisdom.” – Baltasar Gracián
“A breed apart from the diarists who write simply to collect the days or preserve impressions of foreign places are those who set out in their books to discover who they really are. These are generally very serious people, more in the way of pilgrims, with inward destinations, than mere travelers. Some of them are after the sight of God; others are out to realize their full ‘potential,’ spiritual and otherwise; and some of them are carrying burdens of suffering they are unsure they can shoulder—they want to use their diaries to test, and add to, their strength.” – Thomas Mallon
Thanks for reading and I hope you all have a great week!
5 Poems to Remind You That You Belong
Freshman year is hard. With so much change it’s easy to start thinking of “what if” questions. “What if I would had gone to that other school, would I be as stressed?” “What if the major I chose is too hard, should I just quit now?” “What if I only got into Vanderbilt as some sick and twisted social experiment, and I’m not actually qualified to be here?” It’s so easy to get wrapped up in all of the reasons why you’re not “Vanderbilt Material” that it is easy to forget all of the reasons you are. So if you’re sick of hearing your parents assure you that you belong and you need another perspective here are five poems to remind you this is exactly where you need to be.
My Favorite Dragon Related Objects in My Room
I hope you enjoy my obsession with dragons!
1.) Stapler
This is by far one of my favorite dragon related items in my room. My mother bought it for me, so if anyone needs anything stapled, I have you covered. (Also dingo the dino is holding the stabler in case you were wondering)
2.) Notebook
I love this notebook! Every page is blank because I am not sure what exactly I want to fill the pages with. I was thinking of maybe creating a scrapbook of this year.
3.) Wall Decor above Headboard
This is actually like top favorite parts of my room in general. My roommate even has a matching one with her name. Definitely the coolest thing I own.
4.) Dragon Sculpture
Fun fact this dragon is held together with nail glue- it did not survive move in day. Also, if anyone has any name ideas, I am all ears.
5.) Stuffed Animal
This stuffed animal was a gift from my roommate, so we would have matching ones. Mines name is Herbert Funyeon (left) and hers is name Hugo Fritos (right). (Yes, ofcourse we can tell them apart.)
6.) Blanket
I love the colors of this blanket, but it gets so cold in our room, so I use it as a “decoration” for my comforter that I actually use.
7.) Matching Sign
This sign matches my blanket! I thought it was so perfect, but I thought it would be MUCH bigger.
8.) Desk Organizer
I thrifted this from goodwill and then painted it SO don’t judge my painting skills. I think it matches my room pretty well.
9.) Dragon Incense Holder
ILL START OFF BY SAYING NO I DONT BURN INCENSE HERE, but I used to at home, and I figured it would be a nice piece of decor. My oil diffuser is next to it, and if you couldn’t tell, I freshly knocked it over right before this picture was taken.
10.) BONUS: Dragon Tatoo
I have a dragon tattoo, and it wraps around my bicep! It was actually my first tattoo, and it took around three very long hours. I am thinking about getting shading done, but I’m not sure yet. This specific dragon is also from my grandparents’ wallpaper in their bedroom!
CommonsCast – Episode 163
Elliott Cruz sits down with the Dean of the Commons, Melissa Gresalfi, to talk about finding one’s identity on a college campus – whether it is personal, cultural, or political.
Study Tips for Freshman
The semester is certainly picking up, and a lot of us freshmen are in the midst of our first college exams. You may be feeling overwhelmed by the workload and anxious about your upcoming exams – I know I have been! So, I compiled some helpful study tips that have been helping me and can hopefully help you.
Find Study Spots on Campus!
I’ve only been at Vanderbilt for a few weeks, but I’ve already found an abundance of great study spots. Something I love about Vanderbilt is how there is always somewhere to go and study. I don’t like studying in my dorm room, so I’m always looking for places on campus to get my work done. Here are a few of my favorite study spots:
These chairs behind the Commons Center are a great place to study, especially when the weather is nice! And I promise they are more comfortable than they may look.
The libraries on campus are obviously a great place to get your work done because you have to be quiet and everyone around you is also focused. Here are some pictures of three of the libraries on campus, Stevenson Library, Peabody Library, and Central Library.
There are so many great places outside to study, and the lawn chairs around Commons are a perfect way to enjoy the last few weeks of summer and get your work done!
Study With Friends!
Another great thing about being at Vanderbilt is that you are surrounded by people who also need to study and want to be successful in school. So, studying with friends is the perfect thing to do. You can be social while still getting your work done and you can hold each other accountable. For example, you and your friends could all put your phones in the middle of the table to make sure you don’t get distracted. Also, scheduling study times with friends will motivate you to actually go and study.
Stay Organized!
Being students at Vanderbilt, there is so much to keep track of. We have assignments in multiple classes, upcoming exams, and club meetings. So, it is essential to find a way to stay organized. I like to keep it simple and make a To Do List for each day on a GoogleDoc. Maybe you like to write things down and want to get a physical planner. Some people just add all their due dates and meetings to GoogleCalendar. I’ve also seen some well-designed GoogleSheets where people keep track of all their assignments. If you haven’t already, take the time to find the ways that you can stay organized in the midst of our busy schedules!
Thanks for reading and I hope this gave you some useful tips and the motivation to be productive! I know we all have the ability to succeed here at Vanderbilt; it’s just about taking advantage of the campus, finding what works for you, and staying organized!