Norfolk State University Office of Residence Life & Housing DREAM Delivering Residents Education and Memories April/May 2011 Edition Volume 3, Issue 5 Official NSU Housing Newsletter Money and the College Student Leave College without Credit Card Debt You're in college, so it's too early to be thinking of having a personal financial plan. That's for after you graduate and you're making the big bucks, right? Unfortunately, many college graduates who believe this start their new lives after graduation weighed down with debt that often follows them for the rest of their lives. You don't need to be one of them, but now is the time to make sure that you don't start down that road. You're on your own for the first time in your life, and suddenly you have to juggle all of your own finances. You may have what seems like a large amount of money from student loans, financial aid, your hard-earned savings, and financial support from your family. And then there's the credit cards that are suddenly coming your way. You buy clothes, gas, pizza, concert tickets. You party. Before you know it, you find yourself unable to pay your credit card bills, or you have no money left to buy books for your classes. Or you may get along just fine for awhile, only to have a rude awakening at some point . Learning the Hard Way Students figure they can spend now and make up for it later, when they'll have a good job. Here's why it doesn't work: credit cards teach students a costly lesson. According to an advisor at a major university, more students drop out of college due to credit card debt than to academic failure. The best way to prevent this is to adopt a spending plan early in your first semester, and stick to it. Like anybody else, college students are usually surprised at how much the little expenses add up to. A cup of coffee at the local coffee shop before classes each morning can total $46 a month, or nearly $200 a semester. Smoking is one of the most costly habits. At $3.50 a pack, a pack-a-day habit can total well over $400 a semester. It doesn't take much to reach thousands of dollars a semester on incidentals. ___Story continued on p. 3 Inside this Issue: Page 2—Spring/Summer Fashion Trends  Final Exam Tips  How Spartans Spend Their Spring Break Page 3—Money and the College Student Continued  The Big Move  Apply for Fall 2011 Housing Page 4—Programs and Events for April 1st-30th  LEGASI Attends White House Seminar SPRING/SUMMER FASHION TRENDS As the winter winds down and the cool breezy nights of spring approach, so does the spring/summer fashion trends. Since the middle of summer 2010, military green and combat boots were no longer worn only to defend our country. It slowly but surely edged its way into everyone’s wardrobe by the beginning of fall. Military green became the new black and it brought the rest of the opaque color scheme with it. But, it is now time for the colors in your wardrobe to match the weather. While the fashion craves from the fall and winter have not completely left the scene, the new and upcoming are still making an entrance. The mixture of both styles is defiantly making color block outfits comfortable yet noticeable. For the upper body crop tops and bold prints are very chic. Don’t be afraid to let the sun rays kiss your skin and if it is a little chilly try a subtle but sophisticated shirt paired with a blazer. As for the lower body, high-waisted patterned harem pants are defiantly making a comeback as an outfit eye popper. Or even a bold colored trouser will give an outfit some noise. Footwear can make or break an outfit. When the weather is nice a bright colored sandal by day and a dark solid colored wedge by night is never a bad look. These are just some ideas to make an outfit loud, but a quiet fit can be just as stylish. Here’s an example of a relaxed summer look. Sometimes less is more. A solid cream or pine green button down and/or ruffled shoulder shirt with pleated or cuffed shorts works perfectly with a tan oxford or a nude colored pump. Remember accessories are the icing on the cake. Pastel colored accessories, including purses, are always a good look when the sun is shining. The final touch to your new seasonal look is the perfect nail polish on your fingers and toes. Try to mix and match while adding crackle nail polish into the mix. Have fun with the spring and summer fashion ladies and do not forget your sunglasses on the way out the door. Love, Laugh, & Fashion Sincerely, Secret Spartan Final Exam Tips Finals are right around the corner! Are you prepared? Learn how to thoroughly prepare with these final exam tips. Get Enough Sleep - Your body needs at least six hours of sleep per night in order to perform at its best. Getting the right amount of sleep a night is a crucial exam tip. A well-rested body allows for your brain to process complex mental tasks, such as final exam questions. Pay Attention in Class - Unless you are a memorization genius, it is nearly impossible to cram an entire semester’s worth of information a few days before your exam. Rather than attempting this, try this final exam tip: pay attention in class. Study Your Notes - Taking class notes is a great final exam tip, and will save you a lot of time when it comes to studying. Unless your professor clearly indicates that the final exam will cover information that is not in their lecture, take this final exam tip and focus on your notes. Study Solo - While studying with your friends may be fun, it’s usually not a great final exam tip. You’re better off alone, in a quiet space (such as the library) where you can easily concentrate and have minimal distractions in order to remember the information you are studying. Read the Directions Carefully - Though you hear this exam tip all the time, you’d be surprised at how often students skim over or ignore the instructional sentences before each section. Remain Calm - If you are overwhelmed at the initial sight of the final exam, take a moment to relax. Another exam tip is to tackle each question one at a time–don’t panic or dwell if you don’t know the answer! You should always move on and come back to the question later if you have time. Stay Until the End of the Exam Period - Even if you complete your exam before the allotted time is up, don’t leave. Re-read your answers carefully and make sure you haven’t made any sloppy, hurried mistakes. You can succeed on your final exam by employing these exam tips. Say good-bye to coffee-induced insomnia and last minute cramming! If you take care of your body as well as your mind, these final exam tips will be your key to success. http://www.universitylanguage.com/blog/25/final-exam-tips/ HOW A GROUP OF SPARTANS SPENT THEIR SPRING BREAK—Darryl Hylton Jr., RA for Babbette Smith South During Spring Break a few RAs, GAs and residents had a great time experiencing fun outside of the office and classroom. The 15 members of this trip (DeAndre Howard, Shannon Hill, Taryn Thorn, Charlotte Armstead, Darryl Hylton, Jamar Walker, Acacia Hinton, Alonzo Anderson, Brian Cousin, Taliah Lockwood, Kievan Alexis, Kaila Carrington, Andre Tillman, Kyrell Howell, and Daniel Aderonmu) drove to Orlando Florida and enjoyed a relaxing week of fun. We spent our time in Orange Lakes Resort where we went to the pool and enjoyed a number of amenities at the resort. We also spent time at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure and when not there, we were touring different sites in Florida such as the worlds biggest McDonalds, Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, and Wonder Works. Overall, the RAs, GAs, and residents loved our time spent in Florida. THE BIG MOVE MONEY AND THE COLLEGE STUDENT Continued from p.1 Students who get a handle on their spending and their available funds early can avoid the stress of being unable to pay off their bills and having to work more and more hours during college in order to juggle their finances. The basics of budgeting are the same for students as they are for anybody else: list the sources of your income, such as savings from your summer jobs, financial support from your parents, financial aid from the school, scholarships, and income from your job if you have one. Then list your expenses, such as tuition, books, groceries, gas, entertainment, etc., in as much detail as possible. If your expenses are less than your income, you're in good shape as long as you stick to your spending plan. If your expenses are MORE than your income, you need to find ways to cut spending or increase your income. For tips and advice on how to do this, visit http://financialplan.about.com/od/ budgetingyourmoney/tp/budgeting-101.htm. A college degree is no guarantee of an ability to manage your money wisely. It takes effort and discipline, and the time to start is now. From Deborah Fowles, former About.com Guide Sample Monthly Budget Worksheet CATEGORY INCOME: From Jobs From Parents From Student Loans From Scholarships From Financial Aid Miscellaneous Income INCOME SUBTOTAL EXPENSES: Rent or Room & Board Utilities Telephone Groceries Car Payment/Transportation Insurance Gasoline/Oil Entertainment Eating Out/Vending Tuition Books School Fees Computer Expense Miscellaneous Expense EXPENSES SUBTOTAL NET INCOME (INCOME LESS EXPENSES) MONTHLY BUDGET MONTHLY ACTUAL MONTHLY DIFFERENCE By: Antonio Williams At the end of the fall semester of 2010, I received an email stating that I was to move and continue my Resident Assistantship at Babbette Smith South (the Towers). With all honesty, a person having their right mind would have not given up the luxury of being at Samuel Scott Hall with mostly upperclassman students. My mind went into complete chaos and all I could think about was the “Newbies” known to any college or university as… freshmen! After my move, I can honestly say that it has been nothing but one of the best uplifting and exhilarating experiences that I have ever had! And it would not have been made possible without my new team of staff members and my WONDERFUL residents of the 10th floor of BSS. The young men of the 10th Floor, Cameron Brown, Brandon Alston, Gary Delilly, Jordan Harris, Jamar Walker, Theodore Scott, Jarryd Minor, Jared Fleming, and Richaad Hollemon, have been nothing but respectful, helpful, accepting, and kind to me, since my journey as their new RA began. They exemplify the ideal residents that a Resident Assistant should have, and for that, I thank them! APPLY NOW FOR FALL 2011 HOUSING The housing application process requires that all applicants complete three mandatory requirements to receive a room assignment: •Register for classes for the Fall 2011 semester, •Pay a $300 non-refundable housing deposit, and •Complete an online application no later than April 30, 2011. Visit www.nsu.edu/residentiallife today! CONTACT US WEB: www.nsu.edu/ residentiallife PHONE: 757.823.8407 TOLL FREE: 1.866.378.7747 FAX: 757.823.2304 Programs and Events for April 1st– April 31st Date Time Hall 4/1/2011 8:13 PM BSN 4/3/2011 6:00 PM LSH BABBETTE SMITH SOUTH 757.823.8114 Changing Places What is Your Destiny? 4/5/2011 7:30 PM MRH It’s Ok To Be Uncomfortable 4/5/2011 8:00 PM PWH Pretty Wonderful Phyllis Wheatley Awards Ceremony 4/5/2011 7:00 PM LSH Ambitious Bingo 4/6/2011 7:00 PM SS1 Working it out in the Suite Life! My Success Will be Measured on How Many People I’ve Touched 4/11/2011 RAH EMAIL: housing@nsu.edu 4/13/2011 7:00 PM BSS BABBETTE SMITH NORTH 757.823.8062 Title The 1st Annual Floor Olympics 4/13/2011 8:00 PM PWH Where’s Your Money Going? 4/15/2011 7:00 PM SSH Stress Free Dodge Ball Tournament 4/15/2011 8:00 PM CSH Time to Make a Change 4/17/2011 7:00 PM BSS Something to Think About 4/20/2011 7:45 PM BSN Inspire Me 4/22/2011 7:00 PM MRH All Is Well That Ends Well 4/22/2011 Who is Your Role Model? SSH 4/23/2011 LSH Make Me Over: Makeup for the Challenged Cover girl CHARLES SMITH 4/25/2011 8:00 PM CSH Tips 757.823.9116 4/26/2011 7:00 PM RAH Aspiring to Make a Positive Change in Your Life LEE SMITH 4/26/2011 RAH College After Life 757.823.2255 April SS1 Success @ NSU – Alumni Panel MIDRISE NSU LGBT Students Invited to Attend White House Seminar on “Winning RESIDENTIAL HONORS the Future: African American LGBT Emerging Leaders at the White House” COLLEGE In honor of Black History Month, the White House Office of Public Engagement hosted a discussion between 757.823.2256 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) African-American young emerging leaders and key Obama Administration Appointees on February 28th from 3:00-4:30 PM. Members of the Executive Board of PHYLLIS LEGASI (Leading the Education for Gay and Straight Individuals) and advisors from Residence Life & HousWHEATLEY ing received a special invitation to join approximately 60 other LGBT college students from Howard Univer757.626.2791 sity, Bennett College, Georgetown University, American University, Bowie State University, Morgan State University, and Marymount University from Jasper Hendricks, III, Director of Public Engagement for the NaROSA tional Black Justice Coalition (NBJC). ALEXANDER The students received a surprise welcome greeting from Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor and Assistant to the 757.823.8859 President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement. The trip included a meeting which focused on current LGBT initiatives and mentoring on pursuing careers in government and public service, a presentation SAMUEL SCOTT of “The History of Blacks in the White House,” and a reception with leaders from the Obama Administration, 757.823.8271 National Human Rights Campaign, National Black Justice Coalition, and the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force on the rooftop of the prestigious W Hotel, located next to the White House. Ms. Dawnita Smith - Editor in Chief