Kelsey Flynn
Secondary Education, Honors College
Mansfield, Mass.
It’s hard to be enthusiastic when you’re just coming off spring break, but recently, something fantastic happened in the Memorial Union. It was called Around the World Late Night, a festival that celebrated UMaine’s multicultural traditions. This entertaining and fun filled night was put on by several student organizations on campus: CASE (Campus Activities and Student Entertainment), SHAC (Student Heritage Alliance Council), Kappa Sgima Fraternity, Iota Nu Kappa, and LASO (Latin American Student Organization).
There were dance lessons, virtual car racing, sushi-making, and piñatas, as well as many more activities. Students wrote my name in three languages, Japanese, Chinese and Korean. The African Student Association had many different cultural exhibits from a variety of African nations. Students were given a passport of sorts, and at every “country” they visited in the union, they got a stamp. A full passport meant you were eligible for a variety of prizes like an iPod Shuffle, an LCD TV, Sony DVD Player, a GPS, and a Kodak digital camera.
Pretty sweet, right? Going around learning about different cultures, plus the change of winning cool stuff? I like it.
Jessica Currier
Human Nutrition and Dietetics
Brewer, Maine
Everyone loves a little competition sometimes, but it’s especially fun on April Fool’s Day. At the University of Maine, Campus Activities and Student Engagement organized a bingo night in the Memorial Union. They do this a couple of times a year. Huge prizes were offered like a 32-inch Vizio TV, Boston Red Sox tickets, and a PS3!
When I heard that I had the chance to win one of these prizes, I decided to play. It was free for UMaine students. When I arrived at the union, I waited in line for a bingo card and chips and then found a seat. The whole dining area in the Union was full — the turnout was great! There were free drinks and chips, and music was playing.
We played five rounds of bingo consisting of five games each. At the end of each round, the five winners went up to the front and had to compete for one of the big prizes. The students who wound up competing were psyched — some screamed excitedly and their friends cheered them on. In the first competition, students had to empty a tissue box as fast as they could. The first one done received an envelope and had to wait until the end of bingo to open it. The other four players all got gift cards to Verve (a local burrito and smoothie restaurant in Orono). This process continued throughout the game. Unfortunately, I did not win once. Although, it was still fun to go out and play a game of bingo like the good old days!
Image Description: Jessica Currier
By Jessica Currier
Food Science and Human Nutrition
Brewer, Maine
In March, when students are ready for spring to arrive, some pack their bags and flee to tropical locations so they can relax on the beach. But others go to areas in the United States to volunteer their time and help people in need. Alternative Spring Break is an organization at the University of Maine that helps students do just that.
In October, students fill out an application and list their top three locations or areas of interest. They are then grouped by interest. During the year, students raise money for the trips through bake sales, bottle drives and more.
One member of ASB, sophomore Matthew Flora, was in the group that went to New Orleans, La. They stayed on-site at Project Lazarus, a transitional living facility for HIV patients. They split their time doing aesthetic work, such as cleaning and gardening, and then interacted with residents the remainder of the day. “The residents really enjoyed having us there with them,” Flora said.
Other ASB groups traveled to Georgia, Virginia, Mississippi, Texas and Massachusetts. In Massachusetts, the students worked in a homeless mission. In Mississippi, hurricane relief was the focus. Some of the other ASB projects included building homes for low-income families, working with troubled or at-risk youth, serving meals, helping the elderly, and participating in an urban peace program.
Alternative Spring Break is a great way to help others, meet new people, and to see and experience different parts of our country. There is also an Alternative Spring Break International Program, in which students travel to Peru, Masaya, and Nicaragua. Depending on your interests, there’s bound to be a spot for you. ASB volunteers help many people in need, and it is a great feeling to help others!
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By Kelsey Flynn
Secondary Education, Honors College
Mansfield, Mass.
A good friend of mine received an an e-mail the other day with news that made her incredibly happy. Earlier in the semester, she had to drop something called ASB, or Alternative Spring Break, from her schedule because she was unable to make the trip. But this new e-mail informed her that a a spot had opened up on a different trip — one she’d be able to take — and she was absolutely beside herself.
Alternative Spring Break isn’t about relaxing on the beach in Florida or partying in Cancun. It’s about volunteerism. Since 1998, ASB at UMaine has sent students all over the United States. At first, there was one trip per academic year. Now, there are eight. Though each trip is different, they all have one thing in common: service. UMaine students have worked to build and rebuild houses, clear trails, serve meals and more. For each trip, a group of students raises roughly $45,000.
This is not just a group of students that is driven by social obligation, these are individuals who sign up for an experience and become part of a supportive community of like-minded people in the process. Volunteers don’t only meet fellow students, but staff and faculty members, as well. Getting to know the people who stand at the front of a classroom and lecture at you in a less formal environment can give you a vastly different and more enjoyable view of college life.
ASB has been a life-changing experience for UMaine students. My friend seemed to glow with excitement and happiness when she talked about it. Sure, it requires commitment, hard work and dedication, but isn’t it said that with great responsibility comes great joy?
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By Jessica Currier
Human Nutrition and Dietetics
Brewer, Maine
Recently, I participated in a volunteer activity with Civic Passage, a program of the Bodwell Center here at the University of Maine. Civic Passage allows students to volunteer in our local community as little or as often as they want. There are usually three outings planned each week, led by coordinator Lauren Wagner, and transportation is provided.
Civic Passage volunteers have recently visited The Ronald McDonald house, a place for families to stay when a seriously ill or injured child receives treatment; The Maine Discovery Museum, a children’s museum; the Challenger Learning Center, which educates and inspires students and teachers interested in space and Earth science; and the Goodwill thrift store.
Civic Passage brought me back to my days working in retail. I went with the group to the Goodwill in Bangor to volunteer, where we were assigned racks of donated clothes to organize by item and size. The latter task was fairly time-intensive, and we weren’t able to finish before it was time to go.
Volunteering with Civic Passage is a great way to help others, meet new people, and broaden your horizons. You can volunteer in a field that you’ve never been exposed to before. Information on Civic Passage can be found here. I would recommend checking it out; it’s a great way to get out in the community and help!
Image Description: UMaine students sort clothes at Goodwill as part of the Civic Passage volunteering program. Photo by Elizabeth Nurse.
By Kelsey Flynn
Secondary Education, Honors College
Mansfield, Mass.
Growing up, I tried all sorts of different types of martial arts and self-defense classes because my parents were convinced that my big mouth would get me into trouble some day. Nothing ever really fit — I mean, there’s only so many times I can make (in my opinion) silly noises while punching or hitting something.
Now, that has all changed. I found the self-defense form for me: kickboxing. And it just so happens that we have kickboxing classes right here on campus for free. This self-defense and aerobics class is held three times a week at the Student Recreation and Fitness Center, and it attracts quite a crowd.
An average of 150 people — men and women — attend the class every week, whether they want to get in shape, stay in shape, or just try their hardest to work off that last pint of Ben and Jerry’s. You don’t have to go to every class, just as you don’t have to be an expert. The classes work on building up your strength and your muscle memory, so classes usually consist of the same things, which means you don’t have to worry about missing one.
The day I look forward to most every week is Thursday, because I know that I can count on a really good workout that will leave me feeling lean and mean for the next couple of days. I really feel like finding that class might be one of the best things to ever happen to me (and my bathing suit). Now I am healthier and I feel more confident in my everyday life, and I truly have kickboxing to thank for it.
Image Description: Kelsey Flynn
By Kelsey Flynn
Secondary Education, Honors College
Mansfield, Mass.
I think that one of my favorite pastimes here at the University of Maine is the same as plenty of other students: I love UMaine Hockey. I am the proud owner of one of those fancy Maine-iak T-shirts that allows you entrance into the oh-so-exclusive student Maine-iak section. It truly is a great time — my fraternity brothers and friends go with me, and for Christmas all my boyfriend wanted was one of those cool shirts so that way he could sit in that section with me. The atmosphere is intense and it seems like we share every shot on goal with the team. Recently the fans of the UMaine Men’s Hockey Team were featured on CBS College Sports.
The video (to see it, click here) highlights what every UMaine fan knows: This is the place to visit, and playing at the Harold Alfond Arena (more commonly known as the Alfond) is an experience like no other. I’m a Facebooker, I admit it, and what I always enjoy seeing is the countless Facebook status updates about how the game is going, whether they’re ecstatic, frantic, or downright depressed. There are also those status updates that belong solely to the crowd that sits with the Maine-iaks — chants that are meant to all out make fun of the opposing team. Why do we make fun of them? Simple, it’s hockey and they aren’t our team. It’s all in good fun really, as the video shows we are all there to have a good time, keep the team pumped, and keep everyone entertained when the scoreboard is nothing but goose eggs.
The Alfond is the place to be during Men’s Hockey games; it’s such a fun time to look forward to. Standing in line is always worth it when you are up there with such a great group of individuals. Because it doesn’t matter who you are outside of the arena, if you have the Maine-iak t-shirt on, you are a part of something awesome — even if the other team doesn’t like you that much.
Image Description: The Maine-iaks at the UMaine-Boston University Men's Hockey game. Photo by Alexander Morrow.
By Jessica Currier
Human Nutrition and Dietetics
Brewer, Maine
We all know that networking and getting your foot in the door of a company is crucial for landing a job. But where do we all begin this journey to find that perfect job? Well, here at the University of Maine, students have the opportunity to go to the career fair right here on campus. This year, 86 employers traveled to UMaine to talk and share with students about their field of work.
Resume in hand, I headed to the Student Recreation and Fitness Center on campus to view the abundance of booths and talk to employers about nutrition internship opportunities for this summer. First, I registered, and the career center staff handed me a map with a list of all of the employees present. As I browsed the list, I noticed that while there was a strong emphasis on medical, business and engineering jobs, there was also something for everyone to look into. Some examples of businesses and organizations that were at the career fair were Fellowship Health Resources, Bangor Savings Bank, CMA Engineers, Jackson Laboratory, JobsInME.com, Maine State Police, New England Center For Children, Peace Corps, United States Army Health Care Team, Washington Center for Internships & Academic Seminars, and many more.
The first booth I stopped at was Hannaford, a grocery store in Maine. I knew that they employed a few dietitians; and so I discussed internship opportunities, and they gave me the contact information that I needed. The next booths that I stopped at were for healthcare systems. I talked with them for a while about what I wanted to do with my degree and they gave me names of employers in their human resource offices who set up internships. One interesting employer that I chatted with was the internhelpme.com. It is a new website that was launched to help students find internships. You load your resume and information into this database and the site helps distribute your information to businesses.
The career fair is great for both undergraduate and graduate students. It broadens their perspective on jobs, teaches them about different corporations and organizations, and lets them talk to potential employers. I was impressed by the range of businesses that attended and was grateful that UMaine supplied this resource to its students.
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Kelsey Flynn
Secondary Education, Honors College
Mansfield, Massachusetts
It is Saturday night and you’re not a partier. Or, maybe you are, but it is too wet or too cold to go outside. Whatever your reason, you decide to stay in your dorm. Never fear! Your Saturday night need not be boring — there is hope. When I don’t have games (I’m a member of the Pride of Maine marching band), I spend my Saturday nights in good company in my residence hall.
My favorite is Wii Games and Trail Mix Night — not a very creative title, however it is one the best nights ever. We usually start the night off with some good old Mario Kart. We might then do some Super Smash Bros. Brawl. The highlight of the evening, however, is when we play Just Dance. The game is like playing DDR (Dance Dance Revolution), except you are playing with your entire body.
These game nights always seem to draw a large crowd with people from not only the host dorm, but also dorms around the campus. Word gets around about an awesome time, obviously. There is nothing sweeter than dominating and absolutely destroying your RA in games.
If video games are not your style there are also fantastic movie nights. This semester we have watched many movies including but not limited to “Fight Club” and “Lean on Me.” In the past there have been Harry Potter movie marathons and other fun things like playing board games and playing Scene It. The RAs set up large projector screens and we watch the movies and play the games cinema style.
You don’t need to go out to have a good time here. Sometimes the best time you will have is just hanging out watching some silly movie with good company. Let’s face it — it’s easier on your wallet and you can’t go wrong with a night in sweatpants.
Image Description: Kelsey Flynn
By Jessica Currier
Human Nutrition and Dietetics
Brewer, Maine
It sure would be chilly sleeping outside in the winter months of Maine, as a group of students at the University of Maine learned firsthand. Recently, students from UMaine’s chapter of Habitat for Humanity camped out on the Mall in a homemade shanty for three frigid days and two nights.
Habitat UMaine organized “There’s Snow Place Like Home” to raise money to help build a house for a deserving family in the Greater Bangor area and spread awareness for families in need of housing.
You never know what you’ll find on the UMaine campus. When I walked by the Mall, I noticed the shanty by the music playing. The students had set up a bonfire near a wooden hut with a tarp over it. It looked like it would be extremely cold at night to sleep in! Donations were accepted right at the homemade shanty. All of the funds went to the Bangor Habitat for Humanity and the group hoped to raise $1,000 to put toward the next house to be built.
Image Description: Jessica Currier