Last Day to Register to Vote Today is the last day to register to vote in the State of Maryland. 

 The 2012 General Election will be held three weeks from today (Tuesday, November 6). In addition to voting for President of the United States, voters will elect members of the U.S. House of Representatives, and, in Maryland, voters will elect a U.S. Senator and will cast votes on three proposed state Constitutional Amendments and four other Statewide Ballot Questions.

 To register to vote, be sure to consult this voter registration guide for UMBC community members: http://www.umbc.edu/voterregistration.  

 (Included on this page is the State of Maryland's online voter registration tool.)

 --Craig Berger and David Hoffman

 Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter.


]]> Today is the last day to register to vote in the State of Maryland.  The 2012 General Election will be held three weeks from today (Tuesday, November 6). In addition to voting for President of... http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2012/10/last-day-to-register-to-vote.html https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/17621/guest@my.umbc.edu/070a8403acbb342ce9a9a7e227d630a0/api/pixel Co-Create UMBC https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-create https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363 Co-Create UMBC 23 2 true Tue, 16 Oct 2012 11:37:00 -0400 Real People Profiles: Laila Shishineh We're asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are their responses.
Name: Laila Shishineh

Hometown: Severn, MD

Q: How long have you been at UMBC?

A: Two and a half years.

Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?

A: Collegiate Success Institute (CSI) Program Coordinator in the Office of Undergraduate Education.

Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus? 

A: I help new students have a successful transition to UMBC.

Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?

A: My favorite part of my work is meeting and getting to know new students during their first year at UMBC.  I find it particularly rewarding when I can help students overcome some of the obstacles they face as they transition from high school to college.

Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?

A: I learned very early on in college that it is OK to ask for help!  After a rough first semester, I found a mentor and got my act together.  This is a lesson I try to teach all my new students at UMBC: don't be afraid to ask for help when things get tough and know that there is always someone there who can help or support you!

Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"

A: Cats and home improvement projects!

Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?

A: My favorite spot on campus is Starbucks...but I try really hard to not go there too often!! 

BONUS VIDEO QUESTION: What else would you like to share? Ask yourself a question and answer it.



Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter.

]]> We're asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are... http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2012/10/real-people-profiles-laila-shishineh.html https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/17579/guest@my.umbc.edu/00c716b716c7e07d35c22120429a5824/api/pixel Co-Create UMBC https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-create https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363 Co-Create UMBC 62 16 true Mon, 15 Oct 2012 11:24:00 -0400 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 11:24:00 -0400 Your Guilt-Free College Major I know UMBC students who have chosen their majors based on what they believe they are supposed to do. In many cases they just know that they have to be practical, or fulfill the expectations of their elders, or both. And sometimes this just knowing causes them a lot of angst, because they also know, at some deep level, that what they really want from their lives is something else. 

 Not everyone faces this inner conflict; I've also met a great many students who are perfectly happy with their majors. But I identify with the ones who are struggling, because I know their situation very well. I chose my college major (Economics) for what I now view as too narrow a reason: I found the exams relatively straightforward and intuitive, and I wanted to protect my GPA, because I already just knew that I was supposed to go to law school. Exploring different areas of knowledge was not a high priority for me. But it would become a priority much later, once I discovered that what I had just known was, for me, completely wrong. By then I had finished law school and faced years of loan payments, soul-searching and career reboots.

In hindsight, if I could have dispelled what I just knew and chosen a major without the crushing burden of responsibility and guilt, and without being limited to the actual menu of majors at my college, I would have chosen to major in Democracy. My guilt-free major would have featured courses in history, philosophy, education, economics, psychology and political science, and opportunities to reflect on the experiences I was having in student government. That would have fascinated me and, as I know now, might have set me on an easier path to happiness and fulfillment. 

So what's your guilt-free major (or, if you're a college graduate, what would it have been)? Share here, and I'll reflect on your responses in a future post and make some suggestions. Consider using this format:

My actual major is/was __________________.
My guilt-free major would be _______________, 
featuring classes about __________________,
because _____________________________.

It's perfectly OK to respond by saying "I don't know."  When I was in college (and didn't yet have the benefit of hindsight), that definitely would have been my response. If it's yours, try explaining why it's a challenge for you to figure it out.

--David Hoffman

Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter. 

]]> I know UMBC students who have chosen their majors based on what they believe they are supposed to do. In many cases they just know that they have to be practical, or fulfill the expectations of... http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2012/10/your-guilt-free-college-major.html https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/17566/guest@my.umbc.edu/10a07ab4adf76acbd1671d51a344f559/api/pixel Co-Create UMBC https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-create https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363 Co-Create UMBC 42 20 true Sun, 14 Oct 2012 19:37:00 -0400 Real People Profiles: Sarah Swatski We're asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are their responses.

Name: Sarah Swatski

Hometown: Bel Air, MD

Q: How long have you been at UMBC?

A: Since August 2011.

Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?

A: I am the President of Tau Sigma National Transfer Honor Society and Secretary of Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society.

Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus? 

A: Mathematics student, Advocate for Transfer Students, Leader, Friend.

Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?

A: I enjoy being a leader on campus and being involved in different organizations.   Through my involvement I have gotten to know many people on campus.  I also enjoy the variety of courses I have taken as I have learned so much from them. 

Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?

A: There are so many activities and clubs on campus you can get involved with.  You will meet new people, learn a lot about yourself, and have a lot of fun!

Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"

A: Country music, chocolate, hiking, mystery novels,...

Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?

A: When the weather is nice there are so many great places to sit outside, like the benches by the pond by Undergraduate admissions.  Also, the third floor of the Commons is pretty nice!

Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter. 

]]> We're asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are... http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2012/10/real-people-profiles-sarah-swatski.html https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/17496/guest@my.umbc.edu/c7bbda48032e67f6c831c50e69f745ec/api/pixel real-people-profiles Co-Create UMBC https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-create https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363 Co-Create UMBC 9 1 true Thu, 11 Oct 2012 16:40:00 -0400 Scenes from the Homecoming Bonfire (photos/video) Twice in the past three years, the Homecoming Bonfire was a washout.  But not tonight.  Here is some of what happened on Erickson Field.
The "before" picture.
Rumor has it there were 350 wood pallets on the pile.
At the beginning, it was easy to stand close.





Approximately the moment people began to back away quickly
Craig Berger: "It's like an animal!"
There's nobody close to that thing now.


After the grass caught fire, the fire department stepped in.
Never saw that at a Homecoming Bonfire before!


And so the UMBC community tamed the fire . . . until next year.
--Craig Berger and David Hoffman

Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter. 

]]> Twice in the past three years, the Homecoming Bonfire was a washout.  But not tonight.  Here is some of what happened on Erickson Field. The "before" picture. Rumor has it there were 350... http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2012/10/scenes-from-homecoming-bonfire-photos.html https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/17466/guest@my.umbc.edu/969f34c1500f60ea7813af1dda1dff5f/api/pixel Co-Create UMBC https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-create https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363 Co-Create UMBC 33 5 true Wed, 10 Oct 2012 20:49:00 -0400 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 20:49:00 -0400 My Good Luck Charm I found it in the street when I was 11 or 12, somewhere along my newspaper route: a small, oval stone, perfectly smooth, perfectly black. At that age I was quick to confer mythological significance on found objects (yes, I was a Dungeons & Dragons player), and I imagined this object had special powers. I kept the stone in a box most of the time (marked with Elvish runes out of Tolkien, if you must know), in order not to squander its potency. But on special days, when I faced extraordinary challenges (a midterm exam, let's say), I would pocket the stone and invoke its magic.

 I had that stone for decades. It was in my pocket when I spoke at my high school commencement; when the results were announced in my student government election at UCLA; when I proposed marriage; and when I came to UMBC for the first time to interview for a job. Whenever I succeeded, I attributed a part of my success to the stone. When I failed, I blamed only myself. In this way, I developed a sense of myself as a loser-but-for-luck. I didn't quite believe that the stone actually had special powers, but I fully embraced a self-image in which my deep flaws and failings were just barely prevented from undoing me by repeated strokes of luck.

 And then, one night about eight years ago (which I remember because it was the night of a U.S. Presidential debate), the stone was gone. It had fallen from a pocket I didn't realize was torn, somewhere on the UMBC campus.

 Then a remarkable thing happened: I continued succeeding and failing at more or less the same rate as before. But every success was my own, or shared with other human beings. I wouldn't have guessed that it would matter to me, or that in my 30s I still had something important to learn about my own responsibility for the good things in my life. But I've never been happier than I am right now, eight years distant from my good luck charm.

 Do you have a good luck charm of your own--and is it playing the same role for you (for better and worse) that mine did for me? Also . . . um, has anyone spotted a perfectly smooth, perfectly black oval stone on campus?

--David Hoffman

 Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter. 

]]> I found it in the street when I was 11 or 12, somewhere along my newspaper route: a small, oval stone, perfectly smooth, perfectly black. At that age I was quick to confer mythological... http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2012/10/my-good-luck-charm.html https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/17435/guest@my.umbc.edu/d54bc475327f1806f1cac5ec61503749/api/pixel Co-Create UMBC https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-create https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363 Co-Create UMBC 19 4 true Wed, 10 Oct 2012 07:55:00 -0400 UMBC's Unsung Heroes They aren't the sort of people who call a lot of attention to themselves.  They're dedicated to UMBC, or to one of its departments, organizations, courses or programs.  They make their contributions out of love and care, community spirit, passion for a cause, or all of these things, and they do so without hope of acknowledgement or reward.  They are UMBC's unsung heroes.

 When I think of unsung heroes on this campus, a number of people come to mind.  One is Collier Jones, the architect of MyUMBC, who is dedicated to providing an vibrant online gathering space and information hub that works for the whole community.  Another is Shail Thakker, an SGA member who quietly helps other SGA members feel welcome and connected, sometimes by sharing an abundance of baked goods.  I'm glad both of them are here and doing what they do.

 Who are your unsung UMBC heroes?  Here's a chance to acknowledge them, and to share their contributions with the whole community.

 --David Hoffman

 Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter. 

]]> They aren't the sort of people who call a lot of attention to themselves.  They're dedicated to UMBC, or to one of its departments, organizations, courses or programs.  They make their... http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2012/10/umbcs-unsung-heroes.html https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/17404/guest@my.umbc.edu/249f4c56263610744838cb9d96e08e06/api/pixel Co-Create UMBC https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-create https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363 Co-Create UMBC 51 23 true Tue, 09 Oct 2012 13:33:00 -0400 Join the BreakingGround Group

BreakingGround is philosophy of campus and community engagement reflected in courses, programs, projects, and stories from UMBC change agents.  And now it's also a MyUMBC group open to all.   Join to get the latest updates and invitations, and to help spread the word by "pawing" content you like on MyUMBC.

If you haven't visited the BreakingGround website in the past couple of weeks, here is some of what you missed:


--David Hoffman

Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter.
]]> BreakingGround is philosophy of campus and community engagement reflected in courses, programs, projects, and stories from UMBC change agents.  And now it's also a MyUMBC group open to all.... http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2012/10/join-breakingground-group.html https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/17382/guest@my.umbc.edu/8bf6e247ca21011ee3a7f36d7611e544/api/pixel Co-Create UMBC https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-create https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363 Co-Create UMBC 19 0 true Mon, 08 Oct 2012 18:54:00 -0400 Mon, 08 Oct 2012 18:54:00 -0400 Real People Profiles: Michelle Kuah We're asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are their responses.

Name: Michelle Kuah

 Hometown: Rockville, MD

Q: How long have you been at UMBC?

A: Since Fall 2008 :)

Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?

A: Vice President for Student Organizations (VPSO) of UMBC's SGA!!!

Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus? 

A: Encourage students to see the infinite possibilities of their "undergraduate experience." 

Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?

A: I was actually surprised I only have one on-campus role to list now haha! But honestly, I think that's what I'm loving most about the VPSO position. Not only do I get to be a part of an amazing organization (woot woot SGA!), serve on the Finance Board, and find myself surrounded with ambitious and talented people everyday, but I'm able to put my all past experiences to use by supporting the undergraduates at UMBC. Of course, student orgs are my passion.. so I feel incredibly blessed to work so closely with so many of them!

Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?

A: This is such a loaded question >_< I think the most important thing I've come to learn at UMBC is that no matter who you are or where you are in life, things may not turn out the way you planned - and that's okay! Over the last four years, I've been a fierce warrior in the never-ending battle of future career decisions, weighing responsibility and practicability with personal interests and talents...From med to grad to law to culinary to business to work to the arts to fed to private to non-profit....etc.... I've pretty much explored them all. Whether you're a take-life-one-day-at-a-time or a plan-everything-out-now type of person, allow yourself infinite chances to explore something new. Take advantage of the connections you make with other students, faculty, staff, and pay attention to what ISN'T being said your conversations. College is full of opportunities to learn, but even more importantly, college is where YOU as a person truly grow. What you will learn and how you will grow might just surprise you again and again.

Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"

A: New experiences, or even new insight into past events (sort of those "epiphany" moments!)

Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?

A: I didn't think this was a little-known fact about UMBC until recently, but am I one of the only people who can recall the days when CFA and Sbucks was actually a study space??! Also, who else remembers when the dining hall (yes, D-HALL) went through a new makeover each week?

 Favorite spots on campus include: My new Walker Apartment, the Student Involvement Center (SIC) and SGA Offices, the dance studios in Fine Arts, and the Commons Fireside Lounge.

 I also love talking to and meeting new people, so feel free to drop by the SIC or send me an email :)

 BONUS VIDEO QUESTION: What else would you like to share? Ask yourself a question and answer it.


Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter. 

]]> We're asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are... http://cocreateumbc.blogspot.com/2012/10/real-people-profiles-michelle-kuah.html https://beta.my.umbc.edu/api/v0/pixel/news/17367/guest@my.umbc.edu/de76ff3bc4b0ba188765b8ea4bdbe9ec/api/pixel Co-Create UMBC https://beta.my.umbc.edu/groups/co-create https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/original.jpg?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xlarge.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/large.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/medium.png?1499890363 https://assets2-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/small.png?1499890363 https://assets4-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xsmall.png?1499890363 https://assets1-beta.my.umbc.edu/system/shared/avatars/groups/000/000/002/5b8f025dafb56cb8d3088b7259aadcfb/xxsmall.png?1499890363 Co-Create UMBC 43 10 true Mon, 08 Oct 2012 11:35:00 -0400 Being Homesick During my freshman year of college, I got homesick. It happened in February, though, instead of September or October. Things piled on: my great-grandpa died once I returned from winter break; an off-campus fire took the life of a student a week or so later, making me realize how fragile life is; the gloomy weather, with more snow and colder temperatures than I was used to (Meadville, Pennsylvania, a.k.a. the "Snow Belt"), had no apparent end in sight; and then I caught the flu. Having been used to the attention of my mom every other time I was sick, her absence became quite apparent at that point. Finally, in switching schedules at the start of the new semester, many of the people I had grown used to seeing every day disappeared. All of these things combined to form an intense longing for familiarity, for home.

 Throughout this time, I spent many mornings and nights on the phone with my mom. Those conversations helped me realize that what was truly bothering me was the guilt and loneliness I felt from being away from everyone who, to that point, had been important in my life. I kept visualizing my parents and brother sitting in the living room, watching TV together following dinner, and wanting to be there. I felt like I was doing something that was abnormal--borderline "wrong"--by being away from them. After these conversations, though, I realized that I missed my family and friends so much because they had invested their love, time, and energy to see me succeed and grow, and their support for me was going to be most helpful in times like what I was experiencing by fueling engagement with my new environment, not serving as a crutch for remaining withdrawn. I was going to have to move forward, not only because I recognized that I owed it to everyone who had given me this support, but because I owed it to myself and my future goals and aspirations. The thought of trying to connect myself with this new world was scary, but I knew I needed to stick with it.

 In moving forward, weeks away from the comfort of home, I used a trick my mom had suggested (I still use it):  I learned to view time from the other side. For instance, instead of thinking about how long twelve weeks seemed to be, I went back in time twelve weeks to see how fast time passed. Twelve weeks before that middle of February, the point when I was feeling the most stressed, was Thanksgiving. Suddenly, twelve weeks wasn't so menacing. While I initially was using this trick to wish time away, it ultimately helped me to realize just how precious time is and how much I needed to treasure who I was becoming, the new community in which I had found myself, and the family and old friends who were supporting me from afar. 

 What about you? Have you experienced homesickness at UMBC? If going home immediately wasn't an option, how'd you deal with it?

 --Craig Berger

 Co-Create UMBC is a blog for and about UMBC, written by David Hoffman and Craig Berger from the Office of Student Life. Join the Co-Create UMBC group on MyUMBC. Like Co-Create UMBC on Facebook. And follow David and Craig on Twitter.

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