Five Things to Gift an Unemployed College Student for Christmas

With Christmas quickly approaching, you're probably wonder what should you gift your college student.

Today, many college students are unemployed and on a budget. Here's a list of five things to consider gifting a college student for Christmas, rather they live on or off campus, either way these gifts will come in hand.

1. Pay a Bill

Anybody who has bills would love for someone to pay a bill or two instead of getting an actual gift.

Paying a bill for your unemployed student will take one less stress away from them. this gift will be a great benefit for them in the long run. One less bill payment could mean more money towards their savings.

2. Gift Cards

Gift cards always make a great gift. They are easy and convenient.

Gifting a gift cards give you a variety of options to pick from. You could give them a gift card to their favorite restaurant, clothing store, or a gas station.

Gift cards would definitely come in hand during their low on cash times.

3. All Expense Paid Vacation

Who wouldn't love a free vacation?

After a long and probably stressful semester, this is the perfect gift to allow your college student to unwind and get themselves together.

Whether it's for a weekend out of town or a week on an island. A trip would be a great way for the student to clear there mind over the break, before returning back to class. This gift would be perfect, because you can book their vacation for winter break, spring break, or summer break.

4. Groceries

Free groceries never hurt anybody.

Take the student grocery shopping and allow them to fill the shopping cart up with their favorite snacks and drinks. Since they are unemployed and probably on a budget, their cabinets and refrigerator is may look sad on most days.

This is not a normal gift, but it's a great one. The groceries will come in handy when the student can't afford to go out to eat or whenever they are in the mood to cook. The groceries will also be a money saver for the student.

5. Google Mini

Whether they are into the latest technology gadgets or not, the Google Mini would be great.

This item could help bring organization to the student's life. The Google Mini would be their personal assistant and so much more.

When you’re out doing your holiday shopping, keep this list of gift options in mind. Happy Holidays!

A Writing Lab Most Students Are Missing Out On

                Are you a student at South Carolina State University? If so, have you ever heard of or been to the Push Writing Center.

                The Push Writing Center is located on the gloomy 3^rd floor of Turner Hall’s A Wing. Surprising, the lab has been around since 1980.

                As a journalism veteran student (as I like to say), I’ve known about the Push Writing Center since my first go-round at SC State (in 2010). My classmates and I were able to gain more knowledge on the writing center, by sitting down Mrs. Pinson, the coordinator of the Push Writing Center.

                Q: What all does the writing lab offer?

A.      We have two sections of the writing lab. The writing computer assistant were students can come in and do anything they want on the writing lab computers within reason; surf the web and work on their papers. If they (students) are working on their papers and they have question, there are tutors that can stop what they (tutors) are doing and go help them (students). They can come get help on their papers. Tutors will help with organization, good thesis statements, and strong topic sentences, and make sure students have completed the writing process successfully. Session are 30 minutes long.

Q: Do you have any issues with the writing lab location? Is this location good?

View inside of the writing center, computer area

A.      Ideally no! Ideally, a writing lab should be on the first floor of a building and ideally that building is on the center of campus. We’re kind of located on the far end of our campus. Everybody doesn't go to the third floor, if it was on the first floor at least most people would pass by it at some point of time. If students doesn't have a reason to come up here, then a lot of times they don't even know we exist. It's better upstairs than downstairs, I'm glad we're not in a basement somewhere.

Q: What is your passion for the writing center?

A.      My passion is my students. I want our students to succeed. Whatever it takes for them to be successful writers, that’s what we need to.

Q: How can someone become a tutor?

A.      The student must have an A or B average in English 150 & 151, must pass the English proficiency exam, have recommendations from professors, and must qualify for work study.

Q: What are five things students should know about the writing center?

A.      We are here (hello!) and available to assist students with writing. We have and will continue to offer workshops. We are not a fix it shop, we work with the writer not the paper. You’ll leave with a lesson.

Mrs. Pinson & tutor, Zaire Riley

If you would like to check out the Push Writing Center, they have upcoming workshop on Monday, November 26, 2018 at 3 p.m.  were they will focus on soft skills, note-taking, time management, self-discipline, and study skills.

As a frequent visitor of the Push Writing Center, I highly recommend that students take advantage of the opportunities the writing center has to offer.

The writing center is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Be sure to check out the Push Writing Center’s blog as well.

Prezi? The New PowerPoint

Have you ever heard of Prezi?

Maybe some of you have, maybe some of you are like me and never heard about Prezi. Well let me be the first to tell you, Prezi is the new Microsoft PowerPoint.

Prezi is a presentation software. It’s still fairly new, founded nine years ago on April 5th, 2009.

I had the opportunity to check Prezi out for myself and I must say that it’s ten times better than PowerPoint. Once you play around with it for a while, you’ll see why I say that.

Next time you have to do a presentation, I recommend that you use Prezi.

Check out my Prezi on my top 10 go to Beyonce songs.

Bye bye PowerPoint, hello Prezi.

Hectic? Busy? It's Behind the Scenes of Bulldog News Now!

Behind the scenes of BNN's newsroom

Have you ever wondered what happens behind hide the scenes of your favorite local news station?

Some may think that all it is, turning on the lights and cameras and getting the anchors into their seats, but it's more to that. My classmates and I were able to go behind the scenes at South Carolina State's very own news station, Bulldog News Now.

"Relax your eyes, Corvosier," Alicia Pryor expressed to BNN's anchor, Corvosier Mayrant, "bring your chin down."

Pryor is BNN's faculty adviser and overall person in charge. She's behind the start of BNN.

Behind the scenes can become chaotic, but Pryor stays cool under the pressure. She make sure the students behind BNN stays calm and collected as well.

Mayrant & Daniels go over the script

Before starting the show, anchors Corvosier & Monique Daniels read through the script to make sure everything is in order.

"Did you go over the pronunciations," Pryor asked the reporters, "there are some funky names.

Audio Control room

As the anchors go through their lines, the camera and light operators make sure everything is spot on; from the zooming in and centering to make sure the anchors are in the right position and the light is hitting them well.

If you go deeper behind the scenes, you would be in the control room. The control room is just as busy as the newsroom. From audio, to updating the teleprompter, and making sure the correct packages are in order.

Although things do somewhat be hectic, it be all worth it in the end. The BNN team completed the newscast with easy for their Halloween segment.

Keep up with BNN on the South Carolina State University Communication Program Facebook page.

Pinning, so I'm Winning

Launched in March of 2010, Pinterest has become one of the latest nontraditional social media trends.

Pinterest is an online scrapbook and collection board. It helps users find and organize pictures, ideas, and other interests.

Most of the users on Pinterest are females, but surprisingly this outlet was founded by three men; Paul Sciarra, Evan Sharp, and Ben Silbermann.

View of my Pinterest Timeline

Unlike other social media outlets, you don't have to keep up with your followers or how many "likes" you have under your photos. Pinterest allows users to upload, sort, and save images and other media content through their pin boards.

Individuals and businesses could benefit from Pinterest. Businesses could easily promote and advertise products on Pinterest. Individual users could use Pinterest in several ways; for example, finding recipes, find inspiration for outfits, or look for travel destinations.

As an avid Pinterest user, I sometimes find myself scrolling through the site for hours at a time. I search for new recipes, a new hairstyle, and fashion tips.

I currently have over 20 boards. Pinterest allows me to have my boards public or private. I can also share my boards in a group with users of my choice.

A view of my profile from the app.

Personally, I have a board for everything; haircuts, a variety of food recipes, fashion, and fitness. Out of all my boards on Pinterest my favorite ones are for my future wedding. I keep my wedding boards private, because I don't want to share my ideas for my wedding.

Before getting on Pinterest, I rarely cooked. When I did cook, I threw everything in a deep fryer. But ever since 2014, Pinterest has changed my cooking experience for the better. It has allowed me to step outside my comfort zone when it comes to cooking and trying new food.

Pinterest allows me to try new things and it pushes me into a creative direction.

Pinterest has so much to offer unlike other social networking sites. I love Pinterest, it's secretly an addiction.

Join me on Pinterest & let's start pinning together.

My Personal Opinion About Election Day

Today's ELECTION DAY! Did you let your voice be heard during the midterm election?

Of course, I exercised my right and cast my vote.

South Carolina's Governor Election Result

Even though, the election did not turn out the way I hoped for, I'm so amazed at today's turnout throughout America. 

Personally, I hate when it's election time. That's when you see some individual's true colors, if you know what I mean. People become so nasty towards others who have different political views from them.

I wish we could just do away with the two popular political parties; Republican and Democratic.

These political parties still keep the American race separated; whites versus blacks. 

Let's be honest, most Americans chose their political party based on their race. Caucasians are most likely to vote Republican, while African Americans are most likely to vote Democratic.

Republican & Democratic

My thing is, neither group represents Americans as a whole. The Republican and Democratic party goes hand in hand. If you look back at the history, neither group were ever for the minorities from the start.

As a millennial, I want to see the change South Carolina is in so desperately need of. It's time for a change! 

To be honest, this election has sparked a political interest I never had, but it has also deterred me from voting in future elections. I'll revisit this feeling before or on November 3, 2020 when it's the Presidential Election.