Monthly Archives: January 2017

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• Poor: The paper was under the table and it had her name on it.
• Better: The paper that had her name on it was under the table.

• Poor: A great number of times, she feels like she’s lost.
• Better: Frequently, she feels lost.

• Poor: I want to go to class, but I am too sick to get up. If I feel better next week, then I will go to class.
• Better: I am too sick to go to class today. Next week, if I’m better, I will go to class. 

• Poor: The newspaper said that on January 24, 2017, there was a car crash near campus around 1 p.m. that killed two people.
• Better: Two people were killed today in a car crash near campus. The event happened at 1 p.m.

Hello, my name is Grace Jonas, also known as Gracie. I am a junior, majoring in public relations with a minor in enterprise studies. After I graduate next spring, I plan to pursue a career in event planning. I’m from a small town just a few minutes south of campus called Noble, where I have lived my whole life. 
The thing that excites me the most about Public Relations is the vast variety of options I have in this field. I can choose so many professions and accomplish so much with this degree. Whichever lifestyle I chose, whether it be the fast-paced corporations of New York, or something small and local like an event center, my choices are far from limited. 
I am motivated by multiple things. One being my family, who has given endless support in my journey through college. I want to prove to them that I am capable of great things, and most importantly, I want them to be proud of who I am becoming. Another is the goal I have to be financially stable. I do not want to spend my days struggling to pay bills, or questioning how I will feed my family. By finishing school and succeeding in my field of study, I will hopefully leave those worries behind. 
Writing has always been an active hobby of mine. Starting in fourth grade, my mother insisted I join a public speaking group, where I would research, write, and memorize a speech of my choosing. I ended up continuing to compete in public speaking contests until I was a junior in high school. I wrote a plethora of speeches in those years, and I feel as though it helped me progress into the writer I am today. I still have a lot to learn, but thanks to those speeches, I had the opportunity to begin my writing experiences at a young age. On top of the speeches, writing has always came in my favor when compared to math or science. My brain does not do math or science. Writing a paper or a discussion post was always something I excelled at compared to my other assignments. 
There are many reasons why this degree is suitable for me. Through this writing course, I hope to advance in my skills, and work to move one step closer to achieving my goals. 

The University of Oklahoma is one of the larger Universities. Finding a spot of relief away from the crowds and too decompress, other than the comfort of your bed, is essential to keeping your sanity in college. My favorite place on campus is the benches outside of either Carpenter Hall or Jacobson Hall. These few benches that face Boyd St. is where I can relax for the time being and find tranquility amongst my busy schedule. I will either do homework, facetime my family, read a chapter in one of the books I’ve probably been trying to finish since high school and wind down before getting back to the craziness.

These benches have become one of my favorite places on campus for this reason. Looking up I can see the hustle and bustle of the cars on Boyd racing to where they need to go. People gossiping and conversing over coffee at the campus corner Starbucks. Students racing to grab lunch before or after class, all while I am at peace watching the lives of others pass by. The benches also offer some amusement when the squirrels try to steal the food you’re munching on and sometimes can come dangerously close. The wide-open space reminds me that we are just a small portion of the world and there is so much going on around us. The silence and peacefulness that overcomes me also allows me to slow down and really take in my environment and surroundings. I think we all move so fast I this life and can miss the simplest things.
College can be rough. Finding your place can be hard. But once you find your favorite spot on campus you can find a sense of comfort and ease here. Something to look forward too and that brings you a sense of calm in your busy life.

​In class this week we learned about the foundation of PR Pubs. Originally I thought PR Publications was going to be writing press releases, campaigns and original work and literally pushing “Save As” or “Publish.” Yes. I actually thought this class was going to be that easy. Clearly my brain was still on winter break. PR Pubs, which I refer to the class throughout this blog, is the controlled media designed for publics. It’s Photoshop, IMovie and much more that we will use too create publications. There is a 5-step process to the foundation we must learn before engaging further in the course. 

​Empathize, Define, Ideation, Prototype and Test are the 5 processes our thinking, brainstorming and planning will go through before the test/implementation phase of our own work. These steps do not have to go in order either. Too visualize how they can be out of order and all over the place is looking how the children’s movie “Inside Out” was created. Too imagine how we are supposed to be thinking about publishing in PR we watched the strategies and tactics that the writers of the animated movie went through in the short movie “The Story within the Story.” The Inside Out children’s movie is about our 5 core emotions that the Director Pete organized from observing his own daughter. Collaboration, Sketch boards, sticky notes, meetings and so much more were used to reach the final product of the movie. The movie is absolutely adorable and to be honest when I was younger I thought there were little people in your bodies who controlled everything. It was like my childhood imagination coming to life! It is a great representation of how an idea can become reality. 

The directors and animation team worked backwards in their brainstorming and script. Fun fact, they actually had such a hard time creating the character Joy and her journey until casting Amy Poehler as the voice for Joy. Once they had Joy’s voice they started re-writing everything. They didn’t follow the direct order pictured above, but each piece of this process was utilized in their planning and final test of the movie. The whole concept of interchanging these parts to create a final product is what the foundation of PR Pubs is all about and can be completed. These five steps are our foundation and we must use each one whether that is in order or not. It’s funny. I use all of these steps in writing papers but for sure not in order. I tend to jump around. I think this information is going to be useful in the future with my career in Public Relations and something everyone should implement into their planning process.

We’ve all been there. The time in the year where your thoughts ask, “That number is supposed to represent my bank account?” Like many others, I’m already here… And it’s only October. Luckily, there are numerous ways to save money as a broke college student. You just have to know where to look.

Picture courtesy of http://www.thinkstockphotos.co.uk/image/stock-illustration-your-balance-is-zero/185860898.

Spending Season
College students are employed all summer so they can head back to school with a stocked bank account. Yet, they are quickly reminded that the fall season entails spending their hard earned money. Sometimes, the money is spent on the essentials: football tickets, class books, tutors. Yet, the other half of the time our money is spent on late night food runs, on campus meals and coffee. The worst part: we work all summer to raise the money that we blow before heading home for Thanksgiving in November.

This is when you have to take advantage of college student discounts.

Deals
Believe it or not, random deals are all over Norman. Restaurants and fast food chains from Highway 9 to Campus Corner provide deals that can help you save money, if, like me, you have to give in to your fast food pleasures every once in awhile.

For example, Sonic Drive-In on Chautauqua and Imhoff has a number of deals all day long. Anytime in the day, you can get Sonic’s 99 cent junior breakfast burritos. Before 11 a.m., Sonic serves 99 cent large drinks. And if you’re a late night junky, Sonic has buy one get one boneless chicken wings after 5 p.m. You heard right… That’s $5 for 12 wings.  These are examples of deals for everyone. However, there are college specific discounts around Norman.

College Discounts
Discounts specifically for college students are normally not on display. But, just like everyday deals, they are everywhere from food to the movie theater. 

According to the University of Oklahoma website, here are just a few of the many discounts students can acquire: 
​Chipotle on Campus Corner offers a free drink with a student ID.
Papa John’s often offers $2 pizzas to students.
Ann Taylor offers 15% off in stores for students.
Even Best Buy gives college student discounts.

In addition to OU’s list of student discounts, the University of Oklahoma College Coupons offer numerous discounts to students. And like all others, all you have to do is present an ID.

ASK
My advice to broke college students: ASK ABOUT STUDENT DISCOUNTS. Most of the time these discounts are hidden, but they can save you money a dollar or two at a time.

As a sophomore student at the University of Oklahoma, I have learned that attending class and constantly studying can be extremely dreadful, yet absolutely necessary. However, it doesn’t have to be. I have learned through my experiences thus far in college that the atmosphere you surround yourself with while studying can improve or decline your ability, and optimism, to learn. This is why the Gaylord balcony is my favorite place on campus; it gives me the ability to refresh my brain and truly enjoy the joy that is college life.

You can find access to the Gaylord College balcony on the third floor.

Sunlight has the ability to boost your levels of serotonin, and can help your mood. During any semester, spending excessive time indoors can get repetitive. This constant atmosphere can make learning feel unenjoyable. During school hardships, I find it important for me to see the outdoors numerous times throughout the week for a breath of fresh air… Literally. Whether I am reading, writing, or just hanging out in between classes, I have found that the Gaylord College third floor balcony can help me feel more awake, alert and happy.

Although I am an extremely extroverted person, sometimes I need space from others in order to relieve stress and relax. It’s true… Extroverts sometimes need time alone. While there are often other people on the Gaylord balcony, it seems there’s an unwritten rule of peace and quiet. I’ve found that Gaylord students are naturally respectful (maybe I’m biased), and this has proven true each time I have visited the balcony. College can be overwhelming, and sometimes helping yourself through tough times just takes a change of scenery and some quiet time alone. The Gaylord balcony is the perfect place for all of the above.

Whether strictly working on homework or admiring the views, the Gaylord College balcony has opportunities for both. If you want to take a look around, you can see a good amount of the OU campus from the balcony: the newly renovated football field, Gaylord students, the dorms and Lindsey Street to name a few. Yet, if you’re looking to buckle down, the balcony has outlets and even lights for when the sun goes down. It provides the perfect balance of serenity and focus.

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As you can see, there are benefits to finding your “happy place” on campus. The University of Oklahoma is full of amazing places to relax and recoup, but my favorite it the balcony on the third floor of Gaylord College. Check it out!

Only nine Mondays lie between us and Christmas. While that might seem like a lot of time, responsibilities start stacking up around the holiday season. In the transition from Halloween to Thanksgiving, preparation for midterm and final exams heighten, and we often find ourselves searching for quick, yet thoughtful gifts to give our loved ones. Even in the nick of time, last minute gifts don’t have to be of lesser value. Here are three easy, yet meaningful gift ideas for this holiday season.

This extremely simple project is a gift that keeps on giving. All you need is a Mason Jar (you probably already have one laying around) and paint, or Mod Podge and tissue paper. The purpose of a joy jar is to write memories down and place them in the jar. Then, on a bad day or at the end of the year, the jar is meant to be open and provide little amounts of joy that can make you smile. Joy jars are easy to make and extremely affordable, yet they are a heartfelt gift that everyone is sure to enjoy.

Who doesn’t love having pictures in their room? This day in age, whether this gift is made for friends or family, loved ones will be thrilled to have printed pictures. This collage is simple: all you need are clothespins, a cardboard cut out, pictures and a hot glue gun. This gift is thoughtful and memorable, and it can be a fun addition to any room. You can find all these supplies at your nearest Hobby Lobby.

This simple gift idea is a great way to make a DIY look like its store bought. You can find directions on how to make these mugs here. All you will need is paint, painters tape, a mug and a paintbrush. To put a spin on this gift, you can make regular tipped tumbler cups for non-coffee drinkers. Whichever type you make for a loved one, this gift is both adorable and useful in everyday life. 

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Searching the Internet for cheap gift ideas is an option, but you can’t beat going the extra mile by putting in extra thought and making a gift rather than buying one. Even in a time crunch, these three simple gifts are sure to bring a more personable gift to those around you. If you want to see more ideas like these, try Pinterest searching “DIY Gift Ideas.“