Tuesday Blog is Better than No Blog

So, yes, the blog is a day late - for good reason. I was in a foul place yesterday and you guys didn’t deserve to be on the receiving end of that. Things are going to be better today. After all, I am in charge of how I feel.

With the end of the term quickly approaching many of you are skipping important aspects of daily living to get things done. Please do not deprive yourself of sleep or food. Depriving yourself of these basics can only lead to disaster.

On Thursday from 5:30-6:30 in 221 Randolph there will be a public session with Blacksburg Transit to discuss the changes in the bus routes and services changes that will be implemented this summer. As you, the VT student body, make up the vast majority of the BT passengers it would be wise that you make your voices heard.

MEPS News

Make plans now for the Annual MEPS Spring Potluck on Wednesday, May 6 from 4 -7pm at the Blacksburg Municipal Park, shelter 3.  End the term with friends, laughter, games & good times …. Ultimate Frisbee, scavenger hunt, cam jam, corn hole, & capture the flag.

Senior News

The fabulous news is very one has RSVPed for the graduation reception. Now if the following would please send me pictures for the slide show I’m putting together for you: Antonelli, Barbieri, Conlon, DeSilva, Erb, Gallagher, Huling, Hyres, Kirk, Knudsen, Lichtman, Rittenhouse, Roman, Rost, Taylor, & Seay.

Important Dates

Wednesday, May 6: Last Day to Withdraw & Last Day of Classes

Thursday, May 7: Last Chance to Read Everything You Should Have Already Read

Friday, May 8 – Wednesday, May 13: Exams

Friday, May 15: University Commencement

Saturday, May 16: College of Engineering Graduation & MSE Reception

Helpful Tools

Last week I shared with you the FISH Philosophy and that this was how I have chosen to approach not only my work by my life. Today I am sharing one last nugget – The Starfish Story.

You may have heard this story before. But read it again. This time, keep in mind all the things I do for you, not as a group but as a person, as an individual.

I share this with you only because I want you to understand, The FISH Philosophy and Starfish Story are two methods I have chosen to guide my day and my life. These two mantras fit who I am and the person I inspire to be every day. 

As I said last week, you are about to step out into this big giant unruly world. Once there you will have to choose for yourself how to live your life. Choose wisely.

Random 

 How small is an atom? Spoiler: very small.

Ut Prosim  / Words To Live By / Ted Talk

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. - Buddha

Sandbox

My Schedule 

Scheduled meeting times are available 10-11:45 & 1:30-415. To schedule a meeting please log into your Scholar account.

All About the Bass

I have a question for the ladies. 

 
What would you think if you saw a guy walking around Wal-Mart wearing this?

I’m guessing you would think he is nuts for walking out of this apartment without his pants on. So, why the heck are you ladies leaving the house without your pants on? I ask this because yesterday I saw 2 young ladies at Michael’s who forgot their pants. 

MEPS News

On Friday, May 1 MEPS will hold a bake sale outside Moe’s. Please sign up to bake or help with the stand.

https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1429560230311

Senior News

If you are listed here please RSVP for the graduation reception ASAP: Corcoran, Huling, Rost, Seay and Taylor.

Important Dates

Saturday, April, 18: Fall Add/Drop opens

Wednesday, May 6: Last Day to Withdraw – see me first

Please submit your requests to force add a MSE class here: https://jfe.qualtrics.com/form/SV_3ejNrw7ummK8BOB

Helpful Tools

As some of you prepare to head out into the workforce and other head to a summer internship I want to share the FISH Philosophy.

The FISH! Philosophy includes four simple, interconnected practices:

Be There: When people need you, they need all of you. Setting aside distractions and judgments to be fully present is a sign of respect. It improves communication and strengthens relationships.

Play: You can be serious about your work without taking yourself so seriously. Play is a mindset more than a specific activity. It allows you to throw yourself with enthusiasm and creativity into whatever you are doing, in a way that is natural, not forced. "Playing” with ideas helps you find solutions to everyday challenges.

Make Their Day: Simple gestures of thoughtfulness, thanks and recognition make people feel appreciated and valued. When you make someone else feel good, you feel good too.

Choose Your Attitude: To actually choose how you respond to life, not just react, you must be intentional. When you get up, decide who you want to "be" today. Moment-to-moment awareness is key. Ask yourself throughout the day, "What is my attitude right now? Is it helping the people who depend on me? Is it helping me to be most effective?"

Through The FISH! Philosophy, we build stronger relationships with the team members we work with, the customers we serve, the students we teach and the people we love.

https://youtu.be/-ZKiJejNRtw

I have chosen to make the FISH Philosophy my approach to my life and my work. You will choose your philosophy one day soon, choose wisely.

Random 

Did you know the sentence "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter in the English alphabet?

Words To Live By

Derek Explains Life to a Banker

https://youtu.be/X6a4_cVac-k

Sandbox

My Schedule 

Scheduled meeting times are available 10-11:45 & 1:30-415. To schedule a meeting please log into your Scholar account.

A Better Today

After a long weekend of Hokie Focus and then a really long day of Engineering Open House, I was fit-to-be-tied yesterday when I left campus. Let’s just say, I was not one to be reckoned with and the poor innocent elderly lady at the post office learned this the hard way.  I don’t want to dwell on the details, but she mumbled under about my actions and I responded to her mumbles. Was she correct? Was I rude? Was she over demanding of politeness or respect of a complete stranger? Was I not showing politeness or respect to a stranger? 

The answers to all of these questions are based on your interpretation of the event. Regardless, I should have been the bigger person and not responded the way I did. I shouldn’t have responded to her passive aggressive mumblings. I failed at being a good person at the post office yesterday because I let this stranger (who means nothing to me) provoke me.

I will do better today. As I’ve always told you guys, you only have to be better than the person you were yesterday.

MEPS News

Bake Sale meeting on Wednesday @ 8pm in 114 Holden Hall. If you are interested in help or baking but cannot attend the meeting please contact Evan @ evan1012@vt.edu.

Senior News

PICTURES ARE DUE.

Important Dates

Friday, April 17: Last day to reschedule final exams – look at your exam schedule NOW

Saturday, April, 18: Fall Add/Drop opens

Wednesday, May 6: Last Day to Withdraw – see me first

Helpful Tools

Recently research has proven that taking notes by hand forces you to actively listen and decide what’s important. Additionally, it has demonstrated that students that take notes on their laptop perform more poorly in classes and rate themselves as less satisfied with their college educations.

 

http://www.vox.com/2014/6/4/5776804/note-taking-by-hand-versus-laptop

 

Random 

Synesthesia: Whysome people hear color, taste sounds

Words To Live By

"Be so good they can't ignore you."—Steve Martin

Sandbox

 

My Schedule 

Scheduled meeting times are available 10-11:45 & 1:30-415. To schedule a meeting please log into your Scholar account.

I'm not growing up & you can't make me!

We are all adults here right, to some degree or another.  I think we can agree on that. Well, that is, until your grandmother hands you an Easter basket and says there are eggs hidden in the yard. --- Why my mother didn’t give me an Easter basket is the real question. I am after all, her favorite daughter. Maybe next year she will give me a basket then my sons won’t take the eggs I find out of my jacket pockets.  And no, I didn’t cheat – I just happened to see where she put the last few eggs. Honestly, it’s her fault! She should have hidden them before we pulled up to the house.

Ok, lots to cover this week. This is a very busy weekend and we need volunteers; lots of volunteers.  This weekend we have Hokie Focus, the foundry open house and The Big Event. MSE Ambassadors should be helping at Hokie Focus & everyone else needs to help where and when they can for either the foundry open house &/or The Big Event.

• Go here to sign up for the Foundry &/or Hokie Focus
• Go here to sign up for the Big Event

Senior News

I have received pictures from Paige, Maria, Daniel H, Sam and Stephanie. I need pictures from everyone else.

Please check your university account and make sure you don’t have a balance due – would hate to have your diploma held up because of a parking ticket.

Important Dates

This weekend: Hokie Focus, Foundry Open House, The Big Event

Monday, April 13: COE Open House

Friday, April 17: Last day to reschedule final exams – look at your exam schedule NOW

Saturday, April, 18: Fall Add/Drop opens

Wednesday, May 6: Last Day to Withdraw – see me first

Helpful Tools

Making it Through the Final Stretch: Are you stressed out over all the exams, papers, and group projects that will soon be taking up your time? Learn how to stay motivated, manage the stress, and find the time to do all of the things you need (plus some time for fun!). We will also review strategies for effective test taking.

Workshops available on: April 27 from 2:00 – 3:00 pm, April 29 from 4:00 – 5:00 pm & May 1 from 12:30 – 1:30 pm

http://www.studentsuccess.vt.edu/Academic_Success/seminarseries.html

Random 

There is a man in Sweden who received disability benefits for his “addiction” to heavy metal. He reportedly went to 300 concerts in one year which left him unable to hold down a job.

Words To Live By

Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again. - Og Mandino

Sandbox

 

My Schedule 

Scheduled meeting times are available 10-11:30 & 1:30-4. To schedule a meeting please log into your Scholar account.