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.“

The University of Oklahoma’s football team came out on top against the Longhorns 45-40. However, the team’s win isn’t the only thing Sooners should be proud of after OU vs. TX 2016.

Atmosphere
The Cotton Bowl stadium is always a thriller. Its inclusive structure, seat assignment of half burnt orange and half crimson and plethora of enthusiastic fans is sure to provide an exciting atmosphere. OU students have class off the Friday before OU vs. TX for Fall Break, which adds to the excitement. Additionally, the Texas State Fair is just around the outskirts of the stadium. For fans on both teams, OU vs. Texas weekend feels like a holiday.

Performance
Though the Sooners performed far from perfect, their drive to do well throughout the game was admirable. In times when it seemed nothing could go right (fumbles lost, interceptions thrown), the OU football boys stayed determined and focused on executing to the best of their ability. However, they were not alone. Their supporters followed them all along the way.

At the game, I sat at the top of the stadium. And by the top, I mean, the very top. This allowed me to watch the actions and reactions of both Sooner fans and Longhorns fans. And let me tell you, I’ve never been more proud of the vibes Sooner fans put off.

Even when the football boys would frustrate Sooner fans every so often, OU spectators often responded with a sigh and an eye roll, but then they were back and ready to cheer the team on. Contrarily, when the football players from Texas would let their fans down, their fans would sit down and pout until the team did something ‘good’ again. Their cheering was in-genuine and temporary. That doesn’t seem like loyalty to me.

Impact
The football players don’t have to watch our fans from a distant to know they are supported. I’ve watched numerous interviews of OU football players explaining how big of an impact the audience has on their performance. They can tell, just as well as the fans can, when their support system has given up on them. These are the things to take in account when you watch teams that are able to rise to the occasion versus teams that look defeated before the game is even lost.

So let’s keep up the Sooner Magic. Our support is helping the team perform to their best ability. They can’t do it without us. If you don’t believe me, let former OU football player Ty Darlington explain it to you from his standpoint.

Throughout each year we often find ourselves searching for more time. Time to exercise, extra time to study, time to hangout with friends and time to call our parents. It seems the 24 hours in a day are not enough for all we need to accomplish.   Most of the time, the way we spend our time is the problem. Here are a few tips to help you come up with more time.

Getting behind can be the cause of a lot of stress and wishing for more time. But, getting behind can be blamed on finishing one task and not knowing another is biting at your heels. Keeping a planner allows you to have a weekly, or even monthly, to-do list. Finishing tasks seems a lot easier when you’re able to check them off one by one. So instead of finishing a hard week and taking days off to relax, have a planner that allows you to look ahead and start spreading out the next events you must accomplish. Having your responsibilities down in a planner will help you get ahead which will give you more time to deal with random additional tasks that pop up. Here’s how to correctly utilize a planner.

… Really, put it down. SmartPhones have become the ultimate distraction in our everyday lives. Eliminating excess time being spent on your cell phone must first begin with being aware of how much time you’re wasting on it. Lucky for you, iPhone users have a feature that many people need to look into.

Pay attention to how much you’re sleeping and read up on the recommended amount of sleep for your age group. Just because you feel tired does not mean you need more sleep. Time can be wasted on napping and oversleeping, so pay attention to your sleep schedule. If you go to sleep at 1 a.m., make sure you’re setting an alarm for 9 a.m. This will inevitably make you to wake up earlier, which is probably exactly what you need to make more productive hours in the day.

Weekends are a time of relaxation. However, they can be a time of catching up or getting ahead, too. In addition to unwinding, many tasks can get done on the weekends. Instead of watching another TV show of a series you really don’t even care about, begin planning or beginning the next responsibility you need to get done. Looking ahead will help you save time before the week even begins. Getting things done over the weekend will enforce you going into the next week less anxious about your duties, so help yourself and use weekends wisely.

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Save yourself from feeling overwhelmed by controlling simple aspects of time in your everyday life. You will find yourself becoming a lot more productive and a lot less stressed.

This week in PR Publications, we were given a very simple first assignment: watch the movie “Inside Out.” Although I was thankful for such a simple assignment, I questioned the movie’s importance and relevance to PR Publications. I quickly found out how much I could learn from the movie simply by discussing the process of its creation.

Inside Out is a unique (and adorable) movie that takes place mostly inside of the main character’s mind. After watching the movie individually, as a class we watched “The Story Behind the Story,” which explains how the original idea for the film changed and transformed numerous times before deciding on its final version. It turns out the back story of this movie has sparked interests of many. This trial-and-error process depicts the steps of the brainstorming and design processes: empathize, define, ideate, prototype and test.

Getting to see how each of these steps work together and build off of each other is interesting, and it helps me understand that true creativity takes work, and time. I am excited to see how PR Publications will challenge my creativity this semester. Additionally, I’m excited to put my creative skills to work with Adobe programs, since I have little to no experience with them thus far. I loved how this class started out, and I can’t wait to create creative work to add to my online portfolio!

Although I love the atmosphere of living on a college campus, I enjoy having a change of scenery every once in awhile. Taking an adventurous trip can be refreshing after weeks of studying. Norman is in the middle of Oklahoma, and its location provides numerous opportunities to explore the state. Here are a few interesting attractions to discover under an hour and a half away from Norman.

Heading south from Norman, Turner Falls Park is right off of Interstate 35. Turner Falls Park is an extremely popular attraction in Oklahoma, because it holds Oklahoma’s largest waterfall. That being said, you can swim in the base of the waterfall, hike, or just simply go sightseeing. Turner Falls Park is 58 minutes from the University of Oklahoma, so seeing it would be a simple road trip and day getaway.​ To find out more about Turner Falls, read about it here.

Right across from the Turner Falls Park is the Arbuckle Mountains Wilderness Park in Davis, Oklahoma. It is also about an hour away from Norman. On the weekends, the Arbuckle Mountains Wilderness Park is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday) for a ‘Safari Road Drive Thru.’ Additional exhibits and attractions are available throughout the year, even in the winter season. Check out more information on their website.

Oklahoma City is about 30 minutes from Norman and has a number of attractions. Besides seeing Oklahoma City’s Bricktown, shopping, restaurants and nightlife, anyone can walk on the Oklahoma City SkyDance Bridge. According to the SkyDance website, the bridge goes over Interstate 40 and is a symbol of Oklahoma’s state bird, the scissortail flycatcher. You can request the bridge to be lit up online. Here’s how to find it.

The Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge is located in Lawton, Oklahoma. Its location is 1 hour and 18 minutes away from Norman. Pictured is the Elk Trail, though this refuge offers numerous trails to hike and see the nature of the Wichita Mountains. Whether you’re looking to be active or just sit and enjoy the scenery, the Wichita Mountains provide a refreshing atmosphere. For more information, click here. 

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If you’re in need of a quick getaway trip, Norman is in the middle of a few great opportunities to sightsee. What better way to take time off than visiting Oklahoma’s beautiful attractions?

Growing up, I had a love for the sport of soccer that no one could take away from me. I played with my closest friends, creating some of the greatest memories imaginable. As we all got older, many of my friends lost their love for the game, I however kept going. As my senior year began, I was faced with a hard decision: to play at the college level or let the game end after 12 years. When graduation got closer, so did the stress of college and scholarships and everything in between. I received a call from a few colleges asking me to play for their school, one in particular being Rose State College in Midwest City, Oklahoma. My first thought of the offer was not positive, in fact it was so negative I ruled it out completely, thinking there was no way I was going to a junior college. My egotistical attitude got the best of me on that one, but after contemplation and advice from my ever so wonderful parents, I decided to join the Rose State Women’s Soccer team. Let me tell you, it was the most humbling, uplifting, exciting, terrible, and all so worth it decision I have ever made. 
    There were many factors weighing into my final choice, one being the location. Rose State was not even an hour from my home town, which is far enough to have some freedom, yet close enough to still feel like home. Scholarships were also a huge part because I was fortunate enough to receive a completely full ride. Rose State even covered my morning coffee (which is much needed when you are learning how to juggle the big kid life of being a college student.) Plus, at the time of my commitment, Rose State had just established a soccer team, which makes me apart of the inaugural team, also making for a cool story later on. All of these attributes made me have a change of heart, and then made me a Rose State Raider. 
    The August after graduating high school, I moved into a cute little apartment in Moore, Oklahoma with a very random teammate of mine from Houston, and a friend from high school who also joined the team. My advice to you after this living experience is this: Do not live with people you have never met and do not live friends who do not share the same living habits as you, it doesn’t end well. Once I was settled in and ready to start my career as a college athlete, my life turned into a roller coaster. But not the fun roller coasters you see at the county fair, no. The roller coasters at six flags that make you cry tears of fear and tears of joy, and you are too rushed with adrenaline to even tell them apart. That story however, is for another day.