A Year in Review!

This is the LAST week of the 2012-2013 school year. Can you believe it? It seems as though this school year has just zoomed past us!

I just wanted to take this opportunity to say congratulations to everyone for making it through the school year!!

To those that are in their first year... WAY TO GO!! You made it through your first year! I hope that you are proud of yourself! You might have started this year unsure of yourself, unsure of your place here at York. I hope that you were able to settle in, make new friends, new memories and I really hope that you feel like you've become part of the York Community!

For those in second and third year. You're well on your way to graduation, I hope you're proud of yourself for making it thought another year. Hopefully you got to experience new things this year, like joining a club or participating in intramurals. Or maybe you got to learn some amazing new things in your classes, either way I hope you feel a sense of accomplishment for completing another year here at York.

For my fellow graduating Yorkies...YOU MADE IT!! If you're anything like me you might be filled with excitement and maybe a little nostalgia regarding your upcoming convocation. Hopefully you've enjoyed your time here at York, hopefully you've made friends and memories that will last a lifetime. As you enter the real world don't forget about your time here at York, remember to look back so you never forget where you came from, so you always know where your heading!

Since it is the end of the year, I thought it might be the perfect opportunity to look back on my year as a RSA and share some of my highlights! I hope you enjoy!!

First Day With my RED Zone Family!

Having Fun Making Vidoes!!

Frosh Bossing for Stong College!

Then it was MY TIME!! 

And this kid Joined the Family! 

Then Our first Spirit Day!!

SCLD for the WIN!

Then there was my 

Cheap Meal Challenges!

And OF COURSE

THE SNOW DAY!!

And Last be not least that brings us to 

YORK'S BIRTHDAY!

Well that was my year in review! If you want to share some of the highlights from your 2012-2013 school year I encourage you to comment below or tweet myself or @yorksredzone we'd love to hear from you!

As always, remember to take it one day at a time and catch me in the Zone!

Nicole

On a Lighter Note: A Little About How I Relieve Stress

I don't know how many people out there follow this blog or read it with any regularity or even at all but...I thought that this might be a good time to open up a bit and share a little of me with you. In the least creepy way possible!

This time of the year can be really stressful for students and it's super important to do little things to help relieve your stress. So with that in mind I thought I'd share a couple things that I really like to do to get rid of stress.

I drink A LOT of tea and coffee (I know that isn't a stress reliever but I promise it has a point). That being said I have this strange obsession with my coffee cup sleeves.

I'm not sure why, but I have this OCD like need to rip up coffee cup sleeves into little pieces and put them in my empty coffee cup. Don't know why, but find it strangely relaxing and kinda fun!

Check out my technique...

I start by ripping the sleeve in half, then I rip the half in half and so on until I have little pieces. Once I have the little pieces I put them into my coffee cup and then throw the whole thing away.

Yup I know it's strange and I'm not going to pretend that I think it's totally normal or anything but it's just something that I really like to do.

I also really like puzzles! I like figuring out how things work together and it's always nice to build something beautiful! I'm not saying that I do puzzles with thousands of pieces or anything in fact sometimes I do puzzles online!! It's the whole thought process behind the puzzle that I find so relaxing!

When I'm online, I really like to doing puzzles via MSN jisgaw since we are in the technological age, I find it super fun to play online games and the fact that puzzles are online makes them that much more fun and easier to do (Since I don't have to worry about losing pieces or finding a flat surface to set up the puzzle)!!

Here's a puzzle I made yesterday IN REAL LIFE! Yep it's The Hulk! Enough SAID! The thing I like the most is that you feel such a sense of accomplishment when you finish a puzzle!

There's so much that you can do to relieve stress and these are just two of the things that I really like to do. Feel free to share what you like to do to relieve stress in the comments section below!

I wish you all the VERY BEST OF LUCK as we prepare for your Fall Exams!

As always, remember to take it one day at a time and catch me in the Zone!

Nicole

Midterm grade NOT what you expected? Wondering what to do now?

Coming out of high school you might be accustomed to getting straight A's. Despite everyone telling you that university is not the same as high school, you still thought that you'd be able to keep up those high marks. However, now that you've started getting your midterm grades back you might be finding that the marks you're getting aren't quite what you had expected.

You might be thinking..."NOW WHAT? SHOULD I DROP THE CLASS? MY PARENTS WILL BE DISAPPOINTED! MY LIFE IS FALLING APART!!

Let me be the first person to tell you to CALM down!! It's going to be ok! You don't have to the class, your parents just want the best for you and your life is not over. Take a DEEP BREATHE!! Everything will be ok!!

So you didn't get what you thought you would...don't be discouraged. It isn't the end of the world...although it may feel like it right now. Here are some tips for dealing with less than ideal Midterm marks.

1. The BEST part about Midterms (if there is anything good about them at all) is that they are only ONE part of your grade! You still have time to improve you mark!! Midterms are NOT the END of your course. You still have other assignments, tutorial or lab work or a final that you can use to boost your grade.

2. Take the time to look over your grade. Look at how much of your grade the midterm is actually worth. Take the time out to go and talk to your professor or TA to figure out how to improve your grade, (If you're worried about talking your prof see my post ). Really look at your midterm and determine where you went wrong and how you can improve.

3. Try to put your grade in perspective. Of course we all want to do well, but how does this midterm mark impact your life. If you care a lot about your marks then a not so great mark might stress you out. I'm here to remind you that grades are one component of your whole university experience, and your time at university is only one part of your entire life. Although it might seem like a MAJOR ISSUE now, remember this too shall pass. Try not to stress yourself out too much over your midterms.

4. Try to STAY POSITIVE! If you didn't do as well as you hoped, don't be too hard on yourself. Negativity only makes you feel worse and doesn't actually motivate you try to improve. Get proactive, take the suggestions or improvements you get from your TA's or Profs and learn from them.

**Remember: If you find yourself really stressed out about your grades you can always check out CDS.**

- When I was in my first year, I had a really hard time adjusting to University life. It was the first time I'd ever lived away from home, I was in a new country where I knew no one, and I had just gotten back a midterm that I didn't do as well on as I had hoped. I was REALLY hard on myself and I didn't think that university was for me, I was really having a hard time. My Don suggested that I go and talk to CDS. Honestly I wasn't sure that CDS was for me...but I went and found that the people there were really nice; more importantly they were helpful. I know that sometimes it can be hard to ask for help but sometimes that's exactly what you need most. I highly recommend checking out CDS since they do offer FREE personal counselling!

I promise Midterm season will end! Lets get through it together. If you have any other tips for dealing with midterm add them in the comments section below! See you after Midterms!!

Take it one day at a time and catch me in the zone,
Nicole

Best thing about living in residence? The friends you make!

Juhi and I in 1st year!

Everyone is always saying that you make your TRUE lasting friends in College / University; I can say now, from first hand experience that what they say is true. 
Four years ago I came to York, fresh outta High school as an International Student I knew 0 people. I moved into residence and almost immediately after my parents left me there…all alone…I regretted coming to such a huge school in a different country so far away from home.


After my first residence floor meeting I thought WOW I’m never gonna make it here. I was ready to go back to my room and pack my stuff and GO BACK HOME! Then I heard a knock on my door and my whole university experience CHANGED! I made my first friend!!
 This girl was at my door, asking me about the internet, of all things. I helped her set up the internet, then we went for dinner together and everyday after that. Suddenly we realized we had a lot in common and so we became fast friends. 


As you move from year to year the people you were close with in first year are usually NOT still your friends by fourth year, but she and I were practically family at the end. Four years is a long time to be friends with a person, we laughed, cried and helped each other make it through the challenge that is University.
 She was an International Student just like me, she was from Dubai and I from The Bahamas. Leave it to us to make friends with people who live on opposite sides of the world!

4 yrs later still together!

As I sit here writing this I can’t help but to think of all the things we shared over four years, our first winter with SNOW, our first time on a subway, and of course let’s not forget our first time living away from home on our own. She was really a true friend, we were there for each other whenever we needed anything no questions asked! We took care of each other when we were sick, homesick or lovesick. I honestly don’t know how I would have made it through this journey without her.
And now that she’s moved back home I wish her nothing but the best! I hope she is finds happiness, she is an amazing person and truly deserves the very best that life has to offer. I miss her like crazy! All I can say is THANK GOD for BBM and SKYPE!

There is a STRONG possibility that I might never see her again; but she’ll always be with me, because she helped shape the person I am today. I miss her so much, she was my sister, my mom and most importantly my FRIEND!


The moral of my story...living in residence can be such an amazing experience if you open yourself and take the opportunity that is there!

Lollipop Moments...in the RED Zone!

I know what you're thinking...what the heck is a lillipop moment?? Were you guys giving them away, selling them, buying them...whattt?? Well a lollipop moment happens when you change impact someone's life in a positive way.

Yuuummmm!!!

Here's Drew Dudley...he explains it wayy better than I do... sooo check it out!

I've been having some AMAZING Lollipop moments with students this week...seriously it's been a pretty rewarding experience...for them and for me!!

The other day a prospective international student and her parents entered the RED Zone looking for some information about transitioning to York and Canada as an international student. They were directed to me...since I have first hand knowledge about moving to Canada and starting at York. We talked for almost an hour...about EVERYTHING! We discussed campus life, clubs, international student support and most importantly the sense of community at York. When we were done she looked really relieved and her parents seemed really excited about York.

As they were leaving they said: "When you have a memorable experience it's always best to take a picture. You were really nice and helpful, and we'd really like to take a picture with you, so that we can remember you, do you mind?"

I but felt totally honoured that they wanted to take a picture with me, and that they felt they had an experience they wanted to remember.

I guess they got a lollipop moment from me...and I got one from them!!

You HAVE to experience a moment like this!!

I couldn't stop smiling for the rest of the day...knowing that I had helped someone really made me so proud of my  job, my University and the community that exists at York.

If you want to have your very one Lollipop moment you should stop by the RED Zone and talk to the AMAZING RED Zone Student Ambassadors!

Hi, my name is Nicole and I'm an RSA!!

Helllooo York University!!!

That's ME :D

My name is Nicole and I am a RED Zone Student Ambassador this summer.

What the heck does that mean for you? EXCELLENT QUESTION!

Basically that means that I'm an upper year student that has been through the storm so to speak and will be able to show you the ropes, so that you can hit the ground running. (As you can see I'm all about the OVER used cliches!)

Since we'll be getting to know each other really well over the summer I think I'll start by introducing myself to you. Our friendship has to start somewhere and I think that this is the BEST place for it to begin.  :)  YES I'm going to write this as if I'm writing to a friend, so that it doesn't feel cold and impersonal, plus if you're reading this I consider you a friend for taking time out of your day to spend with me!! 

So who am I? 

What a DEEP question! I feel as though I should have something SUPPER important to say to you. Unfortunately or fortunately (depends on how you look at it) I won't be bearing my soul to you in the here and now. I'll wait until at least my second post before I tell you my biggest secrets :P. 

Basic Info:

Home, Sweet, Home!

I'm an international student, from The Bahamas. Yeah I know it's cool, feel free to ask me about all the hot spots if you're planning a trip to my homeland!

Graduation Day...with the Parents!

I'm going into my sixth year at York. I have already graduated from York with a degree in Anthropology, and a Professional Certificate in Marketing; and now I'm completing a second degree in Political Science. YES that means that I have been a First Year twice at York so I know what you're going through, and I can probably answer any question you have about York life...since I've been here soooooo long (I did an 'o' for each year I've been here :P). 

Best colour EVER!

My ALL TIME FAVORITE COLOR is PURPLE! I know that doesn't seem like something worth mentioning but it's SUPER important to know. When I'm walking around on campus and I see people wearing purple I ALWAYS stop them and tell them how much I like what they're wearing. So if you're walking along wearing purple and I stop you to say "hey I LOVE that ___" then you'll know that you were just NICOLED!

I was a Peer Health Educator for 3 three years and so I can talk to you about a WIDE variety of health topics from managing stress to alcohol use and even sexual health questions. I'm an open person and I am comfortable talking to people about anything. 

Health Ed = FAMILY!

I LOVE to karaoke but I can't sing to save my life. It seriously sounds like a dying cat when I try to belt out a ballad like Beyonce! It's not pretty!! I also LOVE to dance, again I can't dance at all (I'm noticing a pattern starting to develop here!) but it's something I'm always doing. So if you come into the RED Zone and you see this one chick "bustin' a move" that's probably me. :)

Contact info: 

You can feel free to contact me on this blog. I'm open to questions, comments pretty much anything. If you take the time to read my posts and ask questions, I will take the time to answer your questions. I mean come on we're practically FAMILY at this point!!

Also if you want to contact me in REAL TIME, I'm ALL over twitter. My twitter name is @nuriasz I'm on it all the time, thanks to my addiction to my crackberr...I mean blackberry. So you can reach me whenever you have a question and I'll get back to you. Recently my world exploded when I hit 100 followers on twitter...so if you really want to me to go INSANE let's try for 120 followers...seriously I'd FREAK OUT if that many people started following me!

 Humm I think that's it...it's soo hard to think of things to say about yourself without sounding conceited or self-involved. So if there are any questions that you guys have for me...feel free to post them in the comments section below the post and I'd be MORE than happy to answer them!

Soo if you took the time read this thesis length post then...THANK YOU SOO MUCH, You're AWESOME and I'm totally you're BEST FRIEND NOW!

Now that you know a little about me...feel free to follow me, ask me questions or come on over to the RED Zone and meet me and the other AMAZING RSA's!!

Take Care, 

Nicole