How to Write a Personal Statement for Summer Research

The Purpose of a Personal Statement 

First Steps

The Basics

Experience in the Field

Your Proposed Contributions to the Program

When you have finished drafting your statement, ask yourself:

Some common mistakes to avoid:

What are Achievements?

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There is NO fun in being sick, especially while you’re in college. In general, college students are very busy people with extremely stressful schedules. While I was in college, I played two varsity sports; I was involved in over five clubs and the president of two campus organizations. On top of all of this, I also had to balance a part time job as well. At some point in college, you may feel stressed out or burned out, and this can eventually cause you to get sick. It has happened to me time and time again: I overwork myself and end up with headaches and an awful cold.

I made a vow to myself that I would do all that I can to prevent myself from stress, burnout, and getting sick. Here is a list of five important tips to help you stay healthy in college.

1.) WORK OUT!

I’m an extremely active person. I love running, playing basketball, lifting weights and anything else that can get me moving. However, with such busy schedules, working out is usually the first thing a college student will cut out. I was fortunate (or unfortunate, depending on how you look at it LOL) to have had mandatory basketball practices each morning at 5:00AM and 4:30PM so I was always in great shape. Now that I have graduated from college, I still make time to work out. In an attempt to maintain my health and shape, I schedule specific days during the week to work out in some way. Whether it means just going to lift weights on my own or running two miles in the fitness center or going to play pick up ball at LA fitness. I always make time and I want to encourage you to do the same as you all approach your freshman year of college. Find something that you love to do that keeps you active! It will help you stay healthy AND relieve stress.

If He can work out, then you can too:

:

2.)CREATE A BALANCED DIET!

Your diet is a great way to ensure that you are staying healthy in college. It’s so easy and convenient to pick up chick-fil-a (I must confess, I am downright guilty of this) or to have a few of the palatable cookies from the cafeteria as well. If you begin to start thinking more about eating healthier foods, then you will be less likely to become sick. You can do this by incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet. The next trip that you make to the grocery store can be the beginning of your commitment to healthier foods. Try to substitute some of the junk food purchases with apples or carrots. Try to purchase cereal bars, or mixed bags of nuts and fruits. Not only are they healthy, but they are very convenient to grab on the way out the door. It’s also a great idea to substitute a couple of those cans of soda or coffee with water. Decreasing your caffeine intake will help you sleep better at night! TRY IT OUT!

DONT BE THIS GUY:

:

3.) CATCH SOME Z’s!

I am very talented in the art of sleeping. In fact, I may enjoy sleeping a tad bit more than I should (LOL) but then again, who doesn’t enjoy a nice night of counting sheep. My teammates and friends in college would always make fun of me for going to bed early. I would usually be in bed by 9:30p.m. or 10:00p.m. each night, especially the day before a test or exam. A lot of times, I would stay up later to study or complete homework, but I always try to manage to get seven to eight hours of sleep a night. Every person’s body is different; some people can work off of less sleep than others. Listen to your body and give it the right amount of sleep. Sleeping enough at night helps you remember the information you retained during the day. So, do your best to get enough sleep when you can.

DONT BE THIS GUY

: 

4.) DESTRESS!

Some may like yoga, some like to vibe to music, and some chose other activities that reduce stress. My outlets to relax and relieve stress in college were Netflix, NBA2K, and listening to music. A good Netflix movie was a great way for me to relax after a long week of work, practice, games, and tests. I would play my teammates and friends in NBA2k and this was a great way for us to relax.  My stress relievers are not going to be the answers to everyone’s problems, but the point is that you need to find your “happy place” to go to when the weight of being college students is lying on your shoulders. You could try Zumba, running, skating, or anything that will allow you to refresh and calm down. A stress-free life starts with staying healthy!

What’s your stress releiver going to be?

:

There is NO fun in being sick, especially while you’re in college. In general, college students are very busy people with extremely stressful schedules. While I was in college, I played two varsity sports; I was involved in over five clubs and the president of two campus organizations. On top of all of this, I also had to balance a part time job as well. At some point in college, you may feel stressed out or burned out, and this can eventually cause you to get sick. It has happened to me time and time again: I overwork myself and end up with headaches and an awful cold.

I made a vow to myself that I would do all that I can to prevent myself from stress, burnout, and getting sick. Here is a list of five important tips to help you stay healthy in college.

1.) WORK OUT!

I’m an extremely active person. I love running, playing basketball, lifting weights and anything else that can get me moving. However, with such busy schedules, working out is usually the first thing a college student will cut out. I was fortunate (or unfortunate, depending on how you look at it LOL) to have had mandatory basketball practices each morning at 5:00AM and 4:30PM so I was always in great shape. Now that I have graduated from college, I still make time to work out. In an attempt to maintain my health and shape, I schedule specific days during the week to work out in some way. Whether it means just going to lift weights on my own or running two miles in the fitness center or going to play pick up ball at LA fitness. I always make time and I want to encourage you to do the same as you all approach your freshman year of college. Find something that you love to do that keeps you active! It will help you stay healthy AND relieve stress.

If He can work out, then you can too:

:

2.)CREATE A BALANCED DIET!

Your diet is a great way to ensure that you are staying healthy in college. It’s so easy and convenient to pick up chick-fil-a (I must confess, I am downright guilty of this) or to have a few of the palatable cookies from the cafeteria as well. If you begin to start thinking more about eating healthier foods, then you will be less likely to become sick. You can do this by incorporating more fruits and vegetables into your diet. The next trip that you make to the grocery store can be the beginning of your commitment to healthier foods. Try to substitute some of the junk food purchases with apples or carrots. Try to purchase cereal bars, or mixed bags of nuts and fruits. Not only are they healthy, but they are very convenient to grab on the way out the door. It’s also a great idea to substitute a couple of those cans of soda or coffee with water. Decreasing your caffeine intake will help you sleep better at night! TRY IT OUT!

DONT BE THIS GUY:

:

3.) CATCH SOME Z’s!

I am very talented in the art of sleeping. In fact, I may enjoy sleeping a tad bit more than I should (LOL) but then again, who doesn’t enjoy a nice night of counting sheep. My teammates and friends in college would always make fun of me for going to bed early. I would usually be in bed by 9:30p.m. or 10:00p.m. each night, especially the day before a test or exam. A lot of times, I would stay up later to study or complete homework, but I always try to manage to get seven to eight hours of sleep a night. Every person’s body is different; some people can work off of less sleep than others. Listen to your body and give it the right amount of sleep. Sleeping enough at night helps you remember the information you retained during the day. So, do your best to get enough sleep when you can.

DONT BE THIS GUY

: 

4.) DESTRESS!

Some may like yoga, some like to vibe to music, and some chose other activities that reduce stress. My outlets to relax and relieve stress in college were Netflix, NBA2K, and listening to music. A good Netflix movie was a great way for me to relax after a long week of work, practice, games, and tests. I would play my teammates and friends in NBA2k and this was a great way for us to relax.  My stress relievers are not going to be the answers to everyone’s problems, but the point is that you need to find your “happy place” to go to when the weight of being college students is lying on your shoulders. You could try Zumba, running, skating, or anything that will allow you to refresh and calm down. A stress-free life starts with staying healthy!

What’s your stress releiver going to be?

:

Are you a public transit rider who wants better service from MTA?

Are you interested in public transit but it doesn't get you where you need to go when you need to be there?

Then please visit the Central Maryland Transportation Alliance on the Commons Terrace this Wednesday, November 5^th from Noon – 1 pm.

The Transportation Alliance advocates for better transportation options in the region and is gathering signature to petition MTA for improved bus service.

Even if you don’t take the bus better service means increased efficiency of our transit network, lowering our dependence on fossil fuels, and making the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and Maryland’s air cleaner.

We hope to see you at the Commons!

 

 

 

Humans of the earth:

There have been some setbacks in our war against nature.

While we have won some battles, like those against the passenger pigeon or the once mighty Tasmanian tiger, many more need to be fought. 

But thanks to those ridiculous other humans who insist on caring about animals, we have recently lost ground. Witness the following examples: 

1. On the island of Española, in the Galapagos, giant tortoises resurged from a minimum of fifteen individuals in the 1960s to more than one thousand today.

What’s more, after years of captive breeding and reintroduction programs, the population appears to be reproducing on its own. 

2. Further north, the blue whale population off the coast of California rebounded to pre-whaling numbers. (However, this statistic comes with a pretty big caveat: globally, blue whale numbers are still around five to ten percent of historic levels.) 

3. Finally, American gray wolves may have reached the ultimate tourist destination: the Grand Canyon. 

If confirmed, this would represent the first wolf sighting in the area since the 1940s, and a huge step for a species that was extinct in the Western United States as little as twenty years ago. 

Terrifying, isn’t it? Don’t worry too much. We still appear to be in the midst of the sixth mass extinction in the history of the earth.  Nature will yet be annihilated! 

Unless those silly conservationists have their say. 

If you’ve scrolled through your Facebook feed, you’ve undoubtedly seen posts about Brittany Maynard, the brave young women who ended her life last Saturday. 

The circumstances surrounding her death are devastating, and have stirred a nationwide response.

This spring, 29-year-old Brittany was diagnosed with a form of terminal brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme.

In April, Brittany’s oncologist told her she had six months to live. Using Oregon’s Death with Dignity Law, Brittany made a plan to end her life surrounded by friends and family including her new husband. 

The Death With Dignity law required Brittany to administer the drugs herself as prescribed by her physician. Alan Meisel, a bioethicist at the University of Pittsburgh, states this policy as “buying an insurance policy against a miserable death”. Read Brittany’s personal essay on CNN here. 

While the laws and decisions are controversial, everyone deserve a painless death. Share your thoughts below.