Cotton Field Dreams

As September starts drawing to an end I can see students around campus becoming more and more stressed out. Stressed about tests they may not have studied a whole lot for, a test they didn’t do well on, relationships, roommates, money, and yes even at times family. Now, I can totally stick my hand up and say that I have stressed about almost all of these at some point this semester. It can be overwhelming at times how much ways on a college students mind during the semester. So...take a deep breath at some point you just have to grasp that some things are out of your hands and you just have to let them play out by themselves. So sit back and let things run their course. On the other hand there are things that you can help yourself with, such as tests. I know you’re probably already getting irritated with me for just bringing it up, but it’s true you can always try to do better. Start studying ahead of time like all teachers preach. If you can’t or don’t want to do that then take your chances and hope for the best, it’s out of your hands once the test is handed back in. Also some other things that you can do to cut down on stress is treating yourself to something that you enjoy. That’s exactly what I will be doing this week and next. I have quizzes every day the rest of this week, but that’s not going to keep me from going out to the Southern New Mexico State Fair Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with my parents and having a good time. Next week I have a big test and rough draft due, but once Friday gets here I’m headed back to Arizona for some quality time riding my horses that I miss, and also celebrating my parents’23rd anniversary. So when you get stressed try and do something for yourself to get away from it or doing something to help calm your mind. As for me I plan on dancing as much as I can this week, riding around the acres of cotton fields at home, and basking in the sunsets every chance I get. Good Luck to the Football Boys this weekend as they take on the UNM Lobos! To everyone going out to the fair be safe and have fun! And most importantly have a great rest of your week stress free Aggies.

-Always,

Aggie Girl Hannah

Beauty and Serinity Comes Within

Interesting, Big Hearted Professors

During all of our time on NMSU Campus we all come into contact with some pretty amazing people and professors. This semester I have four  professors total but two just stand out above the others. My Anatomy and Physiology professor makes jokes and chuckling about the topics at hand, as well as making up interesting stories about them so we will remember them later on. The other is my Animal Breeding professor and he’s always saying and in a way challenging us with, “If you don’t know this you don’t deserve to get a degree in Animal Science.” Both of these professors are well known in my major; not for the reason of those two things I just mentioned, but because they actually get to know us as students and know how to teach us well. As we get further and further into our majors we all start making more and more connections with professors and grad students. So this semester just happens to be my fifth semester here and I’ve started to notice this fact more so than my first few semesters here. Last semester I made friends with a lot of the grad students within the Ag College along with my Meat Production and English 218 teacher. This semester I’ve noticed myself going into the Animal Science Secretary’s office just to visit more and more with her and professors, it’s a place to hang out and talk about all the things with school.  We all tease each other about life and really enjoy talking to each other.  Honestly, it’s a great feeling when you start making friends with your professors. This past week has seen what a difference getting to know her professors has inside the classroom as well as outside of it. If a professor gets to know you they will help you in any way possible to get you closer to what you want to do. They can be inspiring, challenging as well as just being an all-around great friend. So Aggies take time to get to know you’re teachers, become friends with them, as well as thank them as much as you can after because those are the relationships that can truly push you out into the professional world. 
-Always,
Aggie Girl Hannah

Go Through Your Days With a Smile

So Aggies I want to take this Friday blog time to just apologize for not posting a blog everyday this week…Things…Have…Been…Hectic. Now I have to make up for a week of blogging. I know you are overwhelmed with happiness ;).  Alright so let me tell you a little about my week studying every night for 3 tests throughout the week. No words can describe how much I LOVED my life this week (for those that are not well acquainted with me there was uber sarcasm within that statement). Anywho, honestly studying for tests can really make or break a week. You can either feel really good about what you’ve done or feel like the world should just end right that moment as you are taking the test. Now you may be wondering which of the two I was feeling well let’s just say I did have Apocalypto on my speed dial, but didn’t get very far in actually calling. So yes, this week has been super tough, but after my third and final exam of the week I had a lot to look back on. The truth is I had an awesome week! Even with the few exceptions of losing my phone, hating my academic life, and not getting much sleep. If you look back to Monday’s blog I told you all to find something in your day to make you smile or if you already have one try and make someone else’s day brighter. Well all in all the majority of my days were packed with stressing over tests, but as I looked back on my days when they were done they all had something to smile about like finding out I did know more of the content than I thought, or finding out I did well on one of my tests, and even getting to see a friend who brightens my day. This entire week has been a great week filled with smiles that outshined any tears that fell. So remember when you are having a rough week find something good that came out of it, it may just change your entire outlook. Hope you all had a fantastic week filled with smiles and laughter.    

-Always,

Aggie Girl Hannah

PS- Smile By Uncle Kracker Listen To It. It'll Change Your Day!

Oh the Things That Make a Day Truly Amazing

HELLOOOOO AGGIES!!!!!  Guess who’s back back again Hannah’s back tell a friend! :D I finally get my chance to blog for the first time this year, and am totally stoked to finally be able to send out my little pieces of knowledge out into the great unknown of cyberworld!  I hope this blog finds you doing well this semester and rockin it for sure! A little bit about my semester so far…It’s really really REALLY tough. I’m in the hardest part of my core curriculum classes and once I get done it will be all downhill from there, so as of right now I can see a tiny speck of light at the end of the tunnel.  Anyways NOW time for my story and knowledge for the day…today I was walking back to my truck from my two Monday classes to head to work and this random girl I had seen walking toward Gerald Thomas in the distance looks at me in passing and says “You have really pretty hair!” Now normally people would find this random and kind of creepy, BUT I found it really uplifting seeing how when actually doing my hair this morning I didn’t really think it worked out. I looked back at her with a huge smile and said “THANKS! J” You really have to understand where I come from to understand that a little thing like smiling at someone can truly change their outlook on the day ahead. Yes, I am one of those people who wakes up in a good mood almost every day as well as I try to smile at anyone I see or make eye contact with. Because you never know when that smile you had can be given to another person with a frown. So this goes out to the girl who made my day this morning.  It’s those small things that can truly make a regular Monday into a day that leaves you smiling. Now I challenge the rest of Aggie Country to brighten someone else’s day so smile at people, or give a helping hand to someone who drops their notebooks, or in my case give a compliment to someone you don’t know. Everyone needs something to make their day better. Hope you all had a great Monday!

-Always,

Aggie Girl Hannah

SMILE!

Finding your beauty

Do you ever wake up, look out your front door, and get blown away by the beauty around you? Las Cruces may not be surrounded by a turquoise ocean, snow capped alps, or a jungle full or exotic flowers and animals of every color, but the essence of Las Cruces' beauty is so much better. From my front porch, I look to the South and there are green alfalfa fields as far as the eye can see; to the East a burst of sunlight emmerging from behind the rugged Organs; to the North and the West I see the Rio Grande winding through the Valley.  Any person from the Mesilla Valley area can contest to these beauties, but the beauty I experience on a daily basis is slightly different.
 In the green fields surrounding my house, I do not just see grass and hay reflecting life and giving the surrounding desert  a splash of color, but I see a herd of horses. These horses are not just any ol run of the mill horses, but they are "MY" Beauty. Each morning these mares, along with there babies, graze out in the pastures. They are not running, jumping, or doing anything extraordinary, they are simply eating. But their grace and power is enough to display every aspect of their beauty. Granted I am an avid horse lover, it never gets old to walk out and watch them in the early morning light, and appreciate the beauty I get to witness every day. If you are new to the area, I encourage you to explore and find "Your" beauty, so every morning you can wake up to at least one thing and be thankful for finding it!

The Short Draggy Week

Despite having Monday off I still felt like this was a long week. Do you get that feeling too? Why do short weeks feel so draggy? That's a "no bueno." But, Friday is finally here and I am ready to relax. 

Here is my Pic of the Day (#POTD):

Location: Room 7 (Educational Services Building/Center)

Time: 1:30-ish PM

What: Inventory-Talk, talk, talk, talk, pile, fold, stock, talk, talk, talk. 

Comment: The "beauty" of working with these ladies the whole day. Story after story. I can't complain. :) 

Have a great weekend Aggies!

-Aggie Albert

Thursdays = “Little Friday.”

This nickname for my Thursdays truly speaks to me, especially this semester; I usually have one class in the morning, do a quick quiz for my online MKTG class and have a fun, chill meeting for my hall council. A laid back Thursday shouldn't be so bad at all. Finally, a cool and a bit cloudy day in Las Cruces, I think most of us are tired of that blistering heat already.

One of the perks of being an Ambassador is doing quick errands at some random building or facility around campus, sometimes maybe a different city- one that I did today. ;). I left the beautiful city of Cruces to ship supplies for the admissions advisors out in El Paso.  You might say its just 45 minutes away, but really, come on, not every job on campus lets you go out of the office and meet a few new people.. You really can’t complain and I don’t have one at all. J . Just wanted to share that!

What really made my day/night was this “Kodak Moment” here:

It was originally planned as a pot-luck and game night with my fellow Ambassadors. Despite us guys being outnumbered by our lady co-workers, we prevailed and just caught up with the first football game of the year. Hey, it’s technically still a “game night.”

Anyways, hope you all had a good “Little Friday” too. The real one is in a couple of hours! So hang in there!

-Aggie Albert  

College Dorm Recipe of the Day!

In my previous post, I mentioned doing things to remind myself of home. One section was looking for some local food- which can be pretty challenging at times. One of the things that can temporarily help my craving for that “Asian flare” in my palate is to cook something close to it. I promised my colleagues that I would post some sort of recipe… Well, as of now, I do not have one in mind that’s “college budget and time friendly,” yet. J. However, as I surveyed and asked what people had in their pantry, one thing that stood out was Ramen noodles. So, here is a simple Asian noodle salad recipe using those cheap yet well seasoned ramen noodles:

2 pks Chicken flavored Ramen w/ seasonings packets

3 green onions, sliced

1 1/2 C shredded chicken

4 C chopped green cabbage

Mix in medium bowl;

3 Tbl. white sugar (or a little artificial sweetener)

4 Tbl. rice vinegar

3 Tbl. sesame oil

seasoning packs from Ramen noodles

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl, chill for a few hours. The flavor is better if left to stand for several hours, even a day or so.

Simple right? So, let me know how this goes!

Bon Appétit!?

-Aggie Albert 

Homesick Student Season

Hello Aggies!


I hope you all enjoyed the long weekend!


I would like to share with all of you a reflection of mine. As a student where home is over 8,000 miles and despite having a year under my belt at NMSU, the feeling of homesickness starts to kick in right away. Obviously after years of living with your parents, living on your own is still a huge new adjustment. Almost everyone is feeling this way a little bit, even if they don’t always say it. When you are having a low day and wish you had the comfort of home to cheer you up, you have to find some things to temporarily replace that while at school. After a month of being away from home (Yes, I am feeling it already) and developing your own life, again. Nothing replaces family and close friends, but you can still get that homey feel when they are no right here with you.  Here are a few things I researched and personally do that help me cope with all the homesickness:


Get Involved:
Make new friends! Being with other people is one of the best ways to start feeling good about your new environment. Even if you don’t know anyone very well yet, consider joining a club or organization. It’s not too late to check-in Corbett and see what clubs you can join that interests you!


Skype
It can be very refreshing to get off the phone with your family and begin seeing them in person. Skype allows you to chat and interact with your parents, siblings, or even see your family and family pet/s….. We have a rabbit!


Print Plenty of Pictures
Decorate your bedroom with pictures of family and friends that show your best memories with them. My friend gave me this scrap book to flip through when those moments are kicking in but it always makes me feel better.


Write Letters
Yes, cheesy, but, there are not many times you receive mail in the dorms or at your apartment. If you begin writing friends and family, it keeps you excited when the letter is coming. Oh, plus, it helps with your writing skills!...... I can’t wait till mine arrives. ;)  


Get Ahead in Your School Work
To consume more of your time, get ahead in your studies. Even if you are just sitting around watching a movie feeling lonely, make some note cards for your text the next week. This will put your mind on something more beneficial than feeling down.


Find Local Home Cooking
It is nice to have some home cooked food. I am trying to hone my own skills in cooking my native dish…. Hey, I might even post the recipe soon! Anyways, all college students get sick of having the same old campus food ever day and night, so it is nice to have a homey meal that reminds you of your parents.


I made one of the most difficult decisions moving half way across the world from everything I love and hold dear to my heart, to gain the skills and knowledge that I need to pursue in order to reach my dreams. After spending a year here at NMSU, I realize that coming to this school was the best decision I made. So, if your feeling a little homesick do not worry, it happens to everyone. The feeling doesn’t last forever and soon you will be back to normal! Let me know if you have any thoughts or comments. Have a great rest of the week!


Live. Learn. Thrive!


And……….


Go Aggies!


-Aggie Albert