Studying Abroad: My Story

Over the summer of 2017, I decided to intern abroad in Dublin, Ireland, through the Harbert College of Business at Auburn University.

As someone who is constantly consumed by wanderlust, I always dreamed about hopping on a plane and studying abroad. However, I often found myself bouncing back and forth on the idea. First of all, I did not want to study abroad during the fall semester because that would mean I would miss an Auburn University football season. Secondly, I was scared of leaving behind my friends and family and lastly, as a public relations major, there is a huge emphasis on interning as much as possible in college, and I knew studying abroad would take away from that opportunity.

One day, I found myself scrolling through the Auburn Abroad Program Search which is when I found the perfect opportunity; a business internship abroad. The Harbert College of Business Internship allowed me to intern abroad in Dublin, Ireland, while taking up to 12 credit hours of intensive business courses at Auburn University or online. This meant I could take a full semesters worth of classes, go abroad AND get an internship. The internship was also during the summer, so I would not have to miss Auburn. It sounded perfect so I applied and got it!

The HCoB works with an Irish internship placement company called EUSA, which helped the students get their internship placements. I first had a Skype interview with a EUSA employee to find out what type of company I would fit best with. She asked me several questions such as, “what are your biggest strengths,” and “what is your dream career.” From there, I was matched with Kathryn Mason PR and Marketing where I had a second Skype Interview with the Kathryn Mason.

For the last few weeks of May, I stayed at Auburn and took one week long courses. Going to a business law course from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Monday through Friday was not so bad when I knew I was getting three credit hours for it. Plus, the fast-paced courses taught me what it was like to work well under the pressure of time.

After the courses were done, I spent about three works at home preparing for my exciting internship abroad and learning how to fit seven weeks of clothes into one suitcase. I then boarded a plane with 20 other Auburn students to Dublin.

When we got there, we checked into our apartments and toured around the neighborhood. I lived with three other Auburn girls and they became my best friends.

The following week, we started our internships. Interning in Dublin was way different than any internship I have ever had in America. The culture was more relaxed, but still hard-working. At my internship, I helped do entertainment pubic relations for Irish music festivals, bands and clothing brands. It was the most incredible opportunity ever.  It was interesting to learn about different Irish media and writing styles.

I was immersed in a completely different culture, working with people from all over the world. I learned so many different skills all while getting the experience of a lifetime.

I know most students think about simply taking courses abroad, but if you have the opportunity to intern abroad, take it!

Simple Habits to Adopt to Become a Healthier Student

When it comes to our health, we should all be taking care of ourselves. College is a busy time, especially during finals, which can make it hard to make our health a priority. However, our health should be our biggest priority while in college. If you establish healthy habits now, you’ll convert these simple daily practices into a healthy lifestyle instead of a daily chore.

Practice Self-Care

How much time do you set aside to do something for yourself? Scheduling an allotted period in your week to do what what you want is an important part of maintaing good health. Everyone needs time to treat themselves. Take a day out of the week to have “me time,” which could consist of doing yoga, getting your nails done, hiking, baking or even taking a bubble bath.

Phone Fasting 

Have you read through this post without looking at your phone? If you have, props to you. It is safe to say that most students have a smartphone addiction. In fact, a poll conducted for Common Sense Media found that 50% of teens and young adults report feeling addicted to checking their phone. It’s really easy to get caught up in checking social media, however, this could be a huge distraction from getting important tasks done. Try deleting social media for a little bit and see how much more you get done. If the thought of that gives you a panic attack, then try deleting it for one day and go from there.

Do Not Drink Your Calories

College is filled with late nights, whether it be going downtown with friends or studying for a big test. These late nights can take a toll on your health. Not getting enough sleep, drinking too much alcohol and studying for long hours means you are probably reaching for caffeinated beverages or sugar-filled energy drinks more often than not. Don’t waste your calories on your drinks. Instead, stay hydrated with water or drink black coffee or tea.  Also consider ditching soda as a drink mixer and switching over to something less sugary, such as tonic water.

Learn to Relax and Breathe 

Constant multi-tasking, being over-stressed and over-committed puts your body into overdrive. This will cause an excess production of the fight or flight hormone, cortisol, which can lead to adrenal fatigue. Make a habit of taking breaks from all the studying. Consider taking a break to go to the gym, enjoy a meal, call a family member, etc.

Learn to Cook

You probably spend more money than you realize constantly dining out. If there is one healthy habit you should learn in college, it is learning how to cook, even if it is just scrambling eggs or making a sandwich. Cooking at home can help you become healthier and save money.

Eat Your Veggies

According to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, we should be eating at least two and a half cups of veggies and fruits per day. Try adding some vegetables at lunch or dinner. When dining out or cooking, swap your fries for a salad or broccoli (or whichever vegetable you prefer). This will help you maintain a healthy weight and boost brain function.

 

9 Things You’ll Regret Not Doing During Your Time at Auburn

1. Rolling Toomer’s Corner after a Win.
Rolling Toomer’s Corner after an Auburn football win is one tradition that is unique to Auburn. Where else can you celebrate a win by throwing toilet paper on trees and not get in trouble?

2. Taking fun electives.
College is typically four years of hard course work that can really stress you out. If there’s an elective you’ve always wanted to try such as bowling or scuba diving, why not take it? This will break up some of those stressful courses.

3. Gaining work experience.
Work experience is extremely important on a resume. Try to do as many internships or jobs that pertain to your major as you can. This will also help you decide what you like and dislike, allowing you to narrow your career focus.

4. Going to an Auburn football game.
An Auburn football game is unlike no other. Our games are filled with tradition and cheering from thousands of fans, which makes for an exciting atmosphere. Also, it’s cheaper to go to Auburn games as a student.

5. Joining an organization.
College can be one of the loneliest places if you don’t make an effort to meet people. By joining an organization, whether it be greek life or a club you’re interested in, you’ll automatically be placed into a group of people with similar interest as you.

6. Going to the Auburn gym.
Auburn has one of the coolest gyms out there and as an Auburn student you can use it for free, so why not take advantage of it? Plus, all those wonderful college years of living off junk food will catch up to you so it’s best to start working it off now.

7. Not studying abroad.
If you have even the slightest interest in studying abroad, go for it. Not only will this stand on your resume showing that you’re cultured, but studying abroad allows you to gain more independence since this will probably be your first time living in a different country without your family. There’s nothing better than immersing yourself in a new culture alongside your classmates.

8. Taking advantage of student discounts.
There are hundreds of student discounts out there that you will have wished you took advantage of in college. For example, companies such as Spotify and Amazon offer heavily discounted memberships to students, plus many restaurants and stores offer discounts as well.

9. Doing things alone.
While it can be more fun to run errands with friends, it is not good to rely on other people to always do things with you. When you graduate, odds are you will not always have someone to go to Target or eat lunch with. It’s better to break the fear of doing things alone to prepare for post-grad life.

Social Media Release: Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival 2018

**This is a fictional social media release for a university course. It is not affiliated with Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival in any way.**

PITCH

Are you ready for four days of magic as you hear some of the most amazing artists perform live at Sunshine Grove? Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival will be held on March 1-4 in Okeechobee, Fla. The four-day music festival will feature headliners such as Arcade Fire, Bassnectar, Halsey and Travis Scott. The artists will perform on three stages, BE, HERE and NOW.  Tickets and packages to the festival are on sale now.

BACKGROUND

Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival is an annual four-day experience filled with multi-genre music, immersive art and events. The festival is produced by Soundslinger, LLC. Okeechobee is held deep in Florida’s wilderness at the 600 acre Sunshine Grove in Okeechobee, Fla.

FACTS

  • Links to purchase tickets are available at: https://okeechobeefest.com/tickets/ga/
  • Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival is an all ages event. However, if you are under the age of 18, you must be accompanied by someone 18 years old or older.
  • Okeechobee is a camping-friendly festival. Your general admissions ticket includes tent-only camping.  If you wish to tent in or near your car or RV, you will also need to purchase the car or RV camping pass.

QUOTES

  • “I can’t wait to perform at Okeechobee,”said Win Butler, lead singer of Arcade Fire. “This festival is unlike any other.”
  • “I’ve been to 20 different music festivals, and Okeechobee is by far my favorite!” said Tanner Davis. “Best experience ever.”
  • “Our lineup is incredible this year!” said Kevin Collinsworth, Soundslinger CEO. “There’s something special about this festival.”

MULTIMEDIA 

https://www.facebook.com/okeechobeefest/

Video: 

Social Media:

Facebook: facebook.com/okeechobeefest
Twitter: twitter.com/okeechobeefest
Instagram: instagram.com/okeechobeefest
YouTube: youtube.com/okeechobeefest
Website: okeechobeefest.com

Studying Abroad at Auburn University

Sandra Dieterle at an Auburn University Football Game

If you’re a student looking into studying abroad at Auburn University, rest assured that you will be surrounded by a family of students and staff that believe in the Auburn spirit.

While the transition from your university abroad to Auburn may be welcoming and filled with our family spirit, it can also be quite overwhelming. That is why it’s important to come ready to embrace the big culture change and prepare yourself to plug into all Auburn has to offer. Sandra Dieterle, a foreign exchange student from Black Forest, Germany, came to Auburn with a ton of expectations, but found that Auburn exceeded her expectations.

One big difference she noticed in Auburn’s education is the workload. At her home university, Offenburg University, the only big assignment students have is a final exam at the end of the semester. Dieterle was surprised when she looked at her syllabus and saw weeks filled various assignments. “An advantage to what I’m used to (Offenburg’s curriculum) is that you can study at your pace and figure out what you want to learn and when,” said Dieterle. “The disadvantage is that if you fail, you have a bad grade.”

Another big transition you may notice is that unlike many universities outside the United States,  Auburn has a lot of school spirit. Dieterle noted that she was “very impressed with the marching band at football games because there is nothing like that back in Germany.” While at her first Auburn football game, she found herself in disbelief at how many students showed up for the football game. “It shows how spirited the Auburn students are,” she said.

Do not be scared to branch out and attend new events. As Dieterle states, “Auburn students are very involved on campus unlike universities elsewhere.” Auburn has so many different clubs and events to offer. Your time here will fly by, so be sure to take advantage of all Auburn has to offer before you leave. Dieterle plugged into various different clubs when she got here to make the transition easier. She found that there was a club for each of her interests. In addition, she also found a slice of home when she joined the German Club here at Auburn.

Also, it’s the norm at Auburn to wear Auburn University apparel. Dieterle states that “nobody back in Offenburg even knows you’re studying there because no one wears attire that says the school name.” Therefore, it may come as a surprise when you see students wearing the Auburn logo loud and proud. Many Auburn students consider the school to be a part of their identity.

According to Dieterle, “the students in America are much more open than they are elsewhere.” While she believes students in Germany are friendly as well, they tend to be much more closed off. College social life in America is much different than other countries. Students will strike up a conversation with you anywhere, whether it be you’re standing in line to get food or sitting behind them in class. When you join the Auburn family, be prepared to be welcomed in with open arms and a helping hand.

5 Genius Ways to Make Your Small Dorm Feel Bigger

The transition from your room at home to a small, shared dorm space can be a hard one for a lot of students. If you are like me and have a ton of clothes as well as random items that you feel you need in college, you may feel overwhelmed with how limited you are on space and privacy in a dorm room. Here are five tips to make your small dorm feel bigger and more like home:

1. Baskets

Hide your less attractive items in baskets. Baskets tend to make the room feel more decorated all while providing a good place to hide things that take up room or that you do not want laying around, such as medicine and money. Check out these cute baskets from world market:  Madras Rectangular Baskets

(Photo: World Market)

2. Mirrors

Hang up mirrors to give the illusion of more open space. Place the mirrors across from a window so that the natural light will reflect along your room. Here is a mirror from Urban Outfitters: Averly Circle Mirror

(Photo: Urban Outfitters)

3. Brightly Colored Wall Decor

Decorate your walls with brightly colored tapestries and posters. Bright walls not only create a cheerful atmosphere, but they also help to “expand” the room by reflecting light. Find this wall tapestry here:  Wall Tapestry

(Photo: Society6)

4. Lamps

Decorate your dorm room with lamps. It is a known fact that dark rooms appear smaller. By adding lamps to your space, your room will appear bigger all while feeling more comfortable. This floor lamp also has storage:  Shelf Floor Lamp with Shade

(Photo: Target)

5. Jewelry Storage

Display your jewelry with cute jewelry storage. This way, you will allow for more drawer space all while adding some decorations to your room. Check out this jewelry storage hanging mirror:  Aimee Jewelry Storage Hanging Mirror

(Photo: Urban Outfitters)