Shark Tank

Hope yesterday was a successful day for everyone. I know it was a jam-packed & exciting day. I have to tell you about something strange and exciting that happened to me as I left campus yesterday. I left at 2:45 for a doctor's appointment. As I typically do, I headed for the stairs across from the MSE labs when I saw two unfamiliar girls looking in the furnace lab. Both were improperly dressed for the lab – shorts, flip-flops and carrying iced coffees. As I approached, one went into the lab. I walked over and asked, “Can I help you?” Startled the girls looked at me and one pointed at the furnace and asked, “What is that?” to which I responded, “a furnace.” One of the girls clarified and said, “No, the big gray thing outside?” A little surprised by her question I hesitated when I said, “the wind tunnel.” To which the other girl said, “We were told it is a shark tank.” Can’t make this stuff up. What can we take away from this strange event … 1) some people will believe anything & 2) close the lab when you are done. things that make you go hmmm The Fish! Philosophy has 4 simple concepts.  You must have fun.  enjoy your work play is energizing! Make Someone's day.  create energy and good will towards others be involved in the process Be present. be engaged with each task focus on the people around you Choose your attitude. create a positive change So I have really tried to incorporate the Fish! Philosophy into the way I live. It is really easy to find ways to enjoy your work and create play. I admit that sometimes it is hard to choose your attitude. Recently I had a conversation with a colleague and it was suggested that we work in a culture of complaining. I’ve been reflecting on that conversation a bit lately with regards to creating a positive change. I did some more research and I found an article that challenges the reader to go a month without complaining. Imagine how different your would be be if you stopped complaining altogether? Is it even possible? random FACT:  McDonald’s introduced filet-O-Fish in 1962 because their Catholic customers did not have meat on Fridays. MEPS NEWS Movie night coming soon.  Important Dates Feb 27: Last day to drop a class. SEE ME FIRST. Feb 27: Last day to change course to P/F, 5pm. SEE ME FIRST. March 6 - 10: Spring Break.  Senior News Check your DARS & contact me if there is a red X. Ask your parents to respond to the reception invitation. Commencement info can be found here. Sandbox Our mailing address is: Department of Materials Science and Engineering Advising Office 460 Old Turner Street, 142 Randolph Hall, MC 0286 Blacksburg, VA 24061

Preaching to the Choir

Are you reading this? Good, now tell your classmates to read it too! The past week I have answered several questions that were answered in last week’s newsletter. Don’t get me wrong, I love answering your questions. I want each of you to be well informed and that can only happen when you ask questions. So please continue to ask questions. Along with that, you must be responsible and read the information that is provided to you … like this weekly newsletter. One of the main reasons I send this out weekly is to answer your typical questions and provide you with relevant, useful, helpful information, and share something fun. A comm major will tell you that information shared is only as good as the person that didn’t acknowledged it. So please tell your friends about the following helpful, relevant and wonderful things. Then tell them to read the newsletter for themselves! Tomorrow is the first MEPS Chili Cook-off. If you are interested in cooking chili, please sign up here. Everyone can be a taste-tester and vote between 12-2. Based on the number of entries, awards will be given for Best Overall, Best Vegetarian, & Best Spicy. Helpful Tools / ECP In preparation for the career fairs ECP is offering a MSE Resume Sit Down in the Advising Space. The ECP staff will offer advice regarding your resume. Times of availability are as follows: 2/16: 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM 2/17: 9 AM - 12 PM 2/20: 9 AM - 1 PM 2/21: 11 AM - 2 PM 2/22: 10 AM - 1 PM random FACT:  Neil deGrasse Tyson was an undefeated high school wrestling captain and wrestled for Harvard.

MEPS NEWS MEPS will hold its first ever Chili Cook-Off on Friday, February 17. Everyone is welcome to taste test & vote. If you are interested in making chili for the cook-off, please sign up here. Important Dates Feb 27: Last Day to Drop spring course.   Feb 27: Last day to change course to P/F, 5pm. March 6 - 10: Spring Break Senior News Last chance to order a senior composite for only $15 is Friday, 2/17. Commencement info can be found here.

Sandbox

wasting time or being efficient?

I sit down to complete a task, for example find a meme that will fit the blog. (Simple enough) While doing so I find other memes that must be shared with co-workers, or friends because they too would enjoy them. Soon enough, I’ve spent 20 minutes – still looking for the best meme for the Sandbox, but still finding other things that do not relate to what I’m really doing. Is this wasting time or being efficient? I would say it depends. Did I find the meme for the Sandbox? Did I wait for my co-workers or friends to respond before moving on? Was I really multitasking? Did I forget what I set out to do? Yes No Yes No Ask yourself: am I wasting time or am I being efficient? MEPS OUTREACH EVENTS Kid's Tech University, February 18, 12-4pm Volunteer an hour of your time to teach a child how cool materials can be! KTU is a program where children come on several different dates to learn more about STEM. The MSE department will have a booth February 18 and needs people to help interact with the kids. We will be walking them through two hands on activities. If interested, please sign up and keep an eye out for more information about the brief training meeting! American Cancer Society Relay for Life is coming to Virginia Tech on Friday, April 21. Please join the MSE MEPS Relay for Life team and REGISTER TODAY FOR ONLY $5!  At the MEPS booth, we will have a pool full of oobleck to jump on and play with, so you know it will be a blast! Use the info below, and email Emily Bautista at meps.outreach@gmail.com if you have any questions!   Helpful Tools / ECP In advance of CAMEO Engineering CareerFest, ECP will host a Resume Sit-Down in the Randolph Advising Lounge from February 15 – 22. There will be a sign-up sheet available on February 15. Please come prepared with your current resume. The CAMEO Engineering CareerFest will be taking place on Thursday, February 23, 2017 from 10am-4pm in Squires Commonwealth Ballroom. Interviews will be held on Friday, February 24, 2017 from 8am-5pm in Squires Commonwealth Ballroom. Information about the companies attending and which majors they are interested in can be found here. All students must preregister here. The Connection Job Fair will be on Tuesday, February, 21. Complete information can be found here. random FACT:  We share 70% of our DNA with slugs. MEPS NEWS MEPS will hold its first ever Chili Cook-Off on Friday, February 7. Everyone is welcome to taste test & vote. If you are interested in making chili for the cook-off, please sign up here. Important Dates Feb 27: Last Day to Drop spring course.   Feb 27: Last day to change course to P/F, 5pm. Senior News Most substitutions have been processed. Please run your DARS to confirm, only come and see me if your DARS is incomplete. Commencement info can be found here.

Our mailing address is: Department of Materials Science and Engineering Advising Office 460 Old Turner Street, 142 Randolph Hall, MC 0286 Blacksburg, VA 24061 CORRECTION: The chili cook-off will be Friday, February 17.