Money In My Pocket

Scholarship

I realized recently that a small scholarship I have was not credited toward my tuition bill for the semester. I am kicking myself for not realizing it earlier, but I am now trying to go through the process of finding out where it actually went, and trying to get the money back. I usually just pay whatever they tell me to when I receive the semester’s tuition bill, but that was obviously a stupid idea. I check my savings account statement, my checking account statement, and my credit card statement to make sure everything is correct. I even look at my receipts when I exit stores to be sure it reflects what I actually purchased. Why in the world did I not look at my tuition bill? It is the single largest purchase I make each year, and yet I don’t treat it with as much responsibility as I do little purchases. I have learned my lesson now, and all I have left to do is try to get that money back. Though I only have one semester of undergrad left after this one, I will definitely check my tuition bill from now on and encourage others to do so as well.

Laboratory Exploration

A lot of classes in college are taught in conjunction with a lab. Fortunately or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, I have two labs this semester. I enjoy both of them for the most part, except for the weekly lab reports. Each lab has a fee and usually some sort of extra expenses.

The lab fee at the beginning of the year, entitles me to some really cool experiments. I’m thankful my scholarships cover the onetime fee in my tuition. The most recent experiment was very cool, because we made a tower out of basswood. The wood was purchased and supplied by the lab instructor. We just had to supply our glue. He said he did not want to be responsible for stuck fingers and any mess we might cause in the lab. My lab group decided to split the cost of the glue. It was not a big deal to shell out a couple of dollars for several tubes of superglue. It might get old if I had to do this every week, but the tower project is only once a semester. This was one of my favorite labs, because we drew up tower plans, choose building materials, constructed a 10 inch tower, and tested till failure. It is especially rewarding when our group designed the best tower in all the three testing criteria: weight, load capacity, and efficiency.

Unlike some majors on campus, my major is lab intensive. The unfortunate side of labs is the extra expense in tuition. These labs allow for hands on experience and reinforce the theories and methods taught in the class room. I embrace the fortunate side of labs with open arms, in hopes that I will become a better engineer and hopefully more appealing to a future employer.

Campaigning

Being on a college campus during the election season is so much fun. Maybe it is just because I enjoy watching the political process, but even some of my friends who don’t usually seem so involved in the process are all fired up now for November. Many students on campus are involved in the campaign of the candidate they support, and because of the number of college students on campus these campaigns must be pumping a lot of money into these student-led efforts. They provide snacks at debate watching events, make signs and shirts, and some even offer to drive voters to the polls. We have seen record donations to presidential campaigns this year, but we have also seen the results of the credit crisis plaguing our nation and now the world. I seriously doubt that many college students are giving back to the campaigns, so how can they afford to continue? I suppose that the campaigns feel that the college vote is so important that they will funnel money into these efforts. Or maybe it is the state party providing some funding, or they might even operate under the umbrella of the Young Democrats and Young Republicans organizations. Whatever it is, the resulting product provides for a great atmosphere on campus that encourages debate without asking for that keyword of the election—“change.”

The Necessity of Working

There are times when opportunities come up for you to do something fun, or something an on-campus organization is sponsoring, but you have to choose between doing it or working. I just ran into one of these situations. I had been planning on attending an event for an organization I am in—just a day trip to spend time in an area near campus—but then my weekly work schedule came out and I had to volunteer for a shift on the day of the event. I am sure I could have gotten someone else to cover it, but I felt I would be slacking if I did not do my part and take a shift when everyone else seemed overloaded too. Now I will miss the event that same day. Though it was not the coolest event I have ever heard of, and though I was not just dying to go, it would have been fun to spend time with my other friends in that organization no matter what we were doing. I will now have to call everyone to let them know I have to cancel on them, and while I know they will be disappointed, I know also that they will understand. Sometimes work just has to come first.

Ballots

 

I am not a political, party-pushing person, but I recognize the excitement about the campus and nation. Historically, college students do not vote on par with the national public’s average. It is evident that there is now a push for this demographic to visit the polls in the next couple months. Some say we are the swing voters. I already know which box will have my checkmark, but I want to hear everyone’s opinion and become a knowledgeable voter.

Currently on campus, we have a lot of political activity. It ranges from free debates, newspaper columns, speakers, broadcasts, and free concerts. While my campus was not selected as a debate site, a few of my friends at other colleges were able to experience a presidential debate in person. Although, a few groups have broadcasted these debates on a large screen for many students to attend. These same groups have had a few influential speakers speak on campus, and I know they have a few more speakers scheduled before Election Day. Within our free campus newspaper, I find it humorous that the republican column is parallel to the democratic column but on the right side of the page and the democratic on the left side. Nonetheless, I read each side of the page and spectrum, even though I find one more painful than the other.

The coolest part of this whole election is the excitement that national broadcast companies bring to campus. From their largely decorated tractor trailers, they pour out free concerts, tents, pamphlets, and events in order to increase college voting percentages. For a student away from home for college, the hardest part of this whole election process is casting the ballet. The SGA and political groups assist students in finding a poll location and filling the proper registration papers. I am very excited that my home county government will provide a free absentee ballot for me.

I appreciate everything that the people in power are providing for the collegiate age constituents.  Although, I take everything with a grain of salt. It is exciting riding the presidential wave with a vote for the first time in my life.