BIRTHED                                                         

 

As we all begin to step into this new season, this new semester, I believe there are some thing that are about to take place and just wow our nation. More specifically I believe there are things inside of you that are about to be released into GSU, or whatever University you feel is best for you.

 

Everyone reading this please take note that your CURRENT SITUATION IS NOT YOUR FINAL DESTINATION.  With that being said, stop putting emphasis on where you are, start putting emphasis on where you are going. Your situation may be hard and you may be struggling, but the pain is temporary. When you go through hell be sure to come out on fire. I say that meaning when everything is going on and it seems like you can't go on just keep going. Let all the failures fuel your fire to reach your desire.

 

A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour has come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembers no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. Now I mention this as symbolism. I believe that some people are pregnant with new ideas, new thoughts that would transform and transpire to realities. I believe people have been pregnant with business ideas, financial aid ideas, new work, new love, new creativity and so much more. I mention pregnancy because when a woman is pregnant she goes through mixed emotions, weight gain, pain, and stress. That's how it is when you have a new idea about a school program, or you want to go about doing something in a different way, or you want to start your business. You have an idea that you are pregnant with, but there is a process in which your work load is heavier than before, stress comes, and you have to face pain. Things always get worse before they get better.

 
There comes a time when the pregnant woman has to give birth. When she finally gives birth and releases that child into the world she can train it up and she can watch it blossom and grow. That's how it is after you had all the hurt, frustration, and pain of a new idea. You get to the point where it's time to birth what's inside of you. What I like so much about this next season is that I believe some world changing ideas are about to be birthed. I believe some cures for diseases will be birthed. I believe some positive change will be birthed. Another reason why I am excited is because when a woman gives birth. Not only does she birth a child, but she releases a child into the world and trains it up. When you birth your idea, it is released into the world and it's up to you to train it up.

 

So I challenge you today, give birth to what is inside of you. Release it into existence. When it leaves the womb it's no longer trapped in a box. It is now free to expand and grow. Don't wait till tomorrow, next week, or next year. Today is your day to give birth and release!

 

- Justin Smith

  Student Ambassador

  JSmith32@student.govst.edu

MONEY!!!!!!!!!

As you prepare for college this fall, DO NOT forget about financing your education. Going through college in America, and coming out debt-free is just about impossible in today's world. There are a few different ways you can finance your college education-grants, scholarships, unsubsidized and subsidized loans.

Grants do not need to be paid back. It's free money. You do not have to put in any work for grants besides the application. You have such things such as your Pell grant, Map Grant, and SEOG Grant, that you can get just by doing your FAFSA. You may also receive grants from grant writing to an organization. Grants do not need to be paid back. It's free money.

Scholarships are another source of financial aid. You have to earn this money. Sometimes it's by classification, age, talent, grades, ect.  You do not have to pay scholarships back. This  form of financial aid is another source of aid that you want to have.

Unsubsidized loans are loans that adds interest to your balance even when you are still in school. That means what you owe originally will multiply. For example, a student borrowing $10,000 per year at 8%, would owe $48,666 dollars after four years of college (approximately $8,666 more than they initially borrowed).YOU DO NOT WANT OR NEED this form of "financial hurt", oh I mean "aid." You have to pay this back and then more.

Subsidized loans allows the government to pay your interest off until you get out of school. However, after you graduate, you have interest to pay on those loans. This is another type of financial aid that you do not want. You have to pay these back plus your interest. So if over the course of 4 years you took out $60,000 worth of loans, while you are in school the government would pay them off, but let's say when you graduated you had a 7% interest. Then you would end up paying what you borrowed plus the interest rate. You do the math! You are paying back more than what you borrowed.

If you aren't using scholarships and grants to pay for school, then I would suggest paying out of pocket, or finding sponsors to help assist you. I would NEVER recommend loans of any sort to anyone. It is a horrible business deal. Yes, it may help you graduate with a degree, but it will also insist in you graduating with debt. With you having to pay people back more than what you borrowed. It's not an aid, it's a hinder, a lie. When you owe someone a significant amount of money, you're freedom is compromised.

Everyone's situation is different, but one thing I will say is DO NOT GO INTO DEBT trying to pay for college. If you can't afford 15 credit hours take 12 or 10 credit hours. It may take you an extra semester or year to graduate, but I guarantee that you will benefit greatly by not being in debt.

We live in a country that wants everyone to have college degrees and puts emphasis on going to school, yet they make the dream of college so unattainable that many of the 99% never realizes they can do it. While at the same time the 1% and 5% are pretty much predestined for college, and they are out getting the degrees and qualifying for the good paying degree jobs. This is resulting in a bigger gap between the rich and the poor. 

More degrees would lead to more good paying jobs, which would lead to better tax paying jobs which would benefit everyone. Now please don't get discouraged about school reading this, but please be encouraged. Be encouraged to try your hardest, your best, and go get scholarships and grants.

In your spare time look up the percentage of colleges graduates graduating debt free vs. the college graduates who are graduating with debt. Do the research for yourself. Make wise investments and reach for the top. Now is your time.

GRADES!!!!

As the days go by and a new semester approaches, I would like to encourage everyone reading this to MAKE YOUR NEXT, YOUR BEST. Sometimes we can get discouraged in school if we didn’t do well in a class. It doesn’t matter if you are a Transfer student, a Graduate students, a freshman student, or if you are in the Doctoral Program.  No one is perfect, and sometimes it seems our best is not enough. For any potential freshmen reading this, maybe you feel as if you could have done better in high school and you are really beating yourself up about it. To all the other students, maybe you feel like your last semester wasn’t very strong academic wise. I want to tell you today that none of that matter anymore. It’s a new day, it’s a new dawn, and you have a new chance to make your grades better. There may be a class that you really struggled with. I just want to say that your struggles of today are for the victories of tomorrow.

With that being said, we have an awesome Academic Resource Center filled with highly qualified educators ready and willing to assist with any subject you may have trouble with academically. Our team of professionals is here to reach out to you when you are lost, and at no extra cost. I strongly suggest and encourage everyone to take advantage of our Academic Resource Center.

So for this next semester, break old and bad study habits.  Keep pushing to be better than your best. If you got a bad grade last semester don’t let it keep you down or discourage you. Just know that greater is coming. Grades are important; however, at the end of the day what’s even more important will be the KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM you take away from the course. At the end of the day a grade is a letter. It is not a qualifier, nor is it an employer, nor is it a skill. Grades and test determine obedience. One bad grade won’t hurt you, but don’t make a habit of it. My point is to not get discouraged over a bad grade, but to keep pushing. BE ENCOURAGED!

OPEN HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

JULY 11TH FROM 10AM UNTIL 2PM Governors State University will be having an Undergraduate Open House for Freshmen and Transfer students. Learn more about GSU and what we have to offer for you! A resource fair will be included, as well as tours of Prairie Place, which is our residence hall, and tours of campus.

 

This is a great time to become familiar with the University and meet new people. I strongly recommend your participation in this event. I like to say that Open House is the "pot of gold" at the end of the rainbow. The rainbow is your journey to an institution, and the "pot of gold" represents the resources and support that you will get by attending first-hand. You will be one of the first people to interact with our departments for this upcoming fall semester. I hope to see you there!

 

IT'S TIME! 

Hello everyone,

The clock is now ticking. The time is coming for you all to choose what University you will go to. It's time for some confirmations. If you have not done so already, and you plan to go to GSU,  please confirm your admission to GSU. The fall semester is quickly approaching us and I want to make sure that everyone is confirmed and ready to start a new journey in the fall.

A lot of people tell me they are scared to confirm a college. Many people would like for their first college to be their last. Many are scared because of new challenges that may come. I just want to say to everyone reading this that these fears are normal. Anytime you are about to start something great fear will rise up with an agenda to stop your progress. Don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game! It may be a scary storm, but I promise, if you go through that storm you will find a rainbow on the other side. I say this because you have to go THROUGH before you can get TO. You have to go through a season of fear before you get to courage, you have to go through the storms in life, before you get to the sunshine and rainbows, and you have to go through the grinding before you can get to the smooth.

For some of you reading this, it may be your first time going away and being away from home, but please listen to me. "Sometimes you have to GO, so that you can GROW." My whole point that I am trying to get across to you all is to not let fear get you down, or keep you from making a decision. 

With that being said, I would just like you to think about a few things when you are making your confirmation. Think about if it's a good fit for you. Will the atmosphere around you help you grow? Also think about the opportunities the school has, and what the school can do for you. 

In addition, think about if it's the "popular choice," or the "smart choice." By "popular choice" I mean is it a school all of your friends are going to and that has a lot of parties. By "smart choice" I mean a choice that effects you as a student in a positive manner. A choice that is good for you to grow. You want to make sure you are in a place where you make friends that will make you SOAR and not make you SORE.    

I considered all this when making my decision. I didn't  know GSU was an option for me. College for me was always desired, but unexpected. The thing that really pushed me to go to GSU was the awesome support systems and family like atmosphere. Everyone knows everyone at GSU and they treat you like you are their own flesh and blood. The opportunities were endless for me at GSU. They asked me what I would like to do in life, and I said music. They gave me a stage to play on, and showed me how to orchestrate contracts, and work the business side of music.

So now IT'S TIME! MAKE THOSE CONFIRMATIONS. Although, I wish to see you all at Governors State University, I wish you the best of luck in life even if you choose another school. I can speak on behalf of The GSU FAMILY when I say if anything ever happens, "the door is always open." GOOD LUCK! CONFIRMATION TIME!

Hello prospective students,

                         My name is Justin Smith and I am entering my Sophmore year at Governors State University. In my first year of college I was very involved with lots of  school clubs and activities. I was in the Black Student Union, the secretary of the Trans4mation Gospel Choir (TGC), and now I am the newly elected president of the International Culture Organization (ICO). Governors State offers a wide variety of student clubs, conferences, and activities. I strongly encourage any student who attends GSU already, or any student who will be attending GSU to get involved. Here are 3 reasons you should get involved.

1.) It opens the doors to meeting new people.

Starting at new school can be scary at first, especially when you don't know anyone. When you join clubs it forces you to be social and meet new people. You will not only meet people with similar interest as you, but you will meet people of different likes and interest. It will force you to diversify, and when you diversify, you multiply. Instead of just your usual circle of friends you will now be able to reach different cultures and people you normally wouldn't speak to. This will help you in your future careers as well. It doesn't matter if you are going into business, nursing, music, or whatever. Diversity is needed. Getting involved with our student clubs will teach diversity.

2.) It WILL lead to new opportunities.

When you diligently serve in an organization people notice. Nothing you do is "too small" and everything goes noticed. Committing yourself to an organization and being an excellent follower will make a path for you to be a great leader. From my personal experience, my ability to serve, and to be a follower landed me in a presidential position. I decided to try a new club my freshmen year. It was going to be something I was not used to, but I did not know what. After some recruitment I decided to join the International Cultural Organization (ICO). The club teaches and promotes diversity, and being international while highlighting all of the cultures. I began volunteering for the ICO events and helping out where I could. I would go to the president all the time and say things such as "do you need me to do anything?" "What can I do to help?" I kept assisting and following and learning. Towards the end of the semester, members of the ICO board were encouraging me to run for a leadership position for the club. After a while of hesitation I decided to. I ran for president and got elected president. Now I am a voice for international students and I am developing leadership skills. 

3.) Being involved will teach you how to be professional. 

Being involved with clubs will teach you how to be professional and how to operate in the "real world." Being in these clubs will teach you skills you can apply to your life, and your life as a professional. Some of the skills you can/will learn will  be time management, meeting etiquette, diversity, budgeting, and effective communication skills. The structure of the clubs is  designed to teach professionalism and excellence. 

While clubs and activities are great to be apart of, it's important to balance your club(s) with your school work. Sometimes you may only be able to participate in one club. When you establish a balance in the clubs and with your school work then you will win. GET INVOLVED!