Visioning

Due:  week 11 (November 8 or 10)

1. Write a one-page letter to an incoming first-year student for next year. What advice do you have for new EMU students? What do you wish you had known at the beginning of the year? What will you take with you as you think about spring semester?
2. Bring your Activity Log to class to hand in.

Money management

Due: week 10 (November 1 or 3)

CLASS THIS WEEK MEETS IN SCIENCE CENTER 106.

1. Complete the Weekly Spending Record.
2. Review the contents of the Financial Packet. On a 3×5 card or similarly-sized paper, write down one question that you have based on your overview of the materials.
   
3. Think of an issue regarding finances that most college students experience (rather than know). Describe that issue on another 3×5 card (or small paper).
   
4. Read this Generation Debt excerpt by Tamara Draut. The Google Link here shows the beginning of Chapter 3. You should read 3 and 1/2 pages–end at “Still, paying off undergrad loans into your thirties is a major drag.”
   

Habits for success

Due: week 9 (after Fall Break)

The week of Fall Break (October 24 and 25), students meet individually with their Transitions instructors. You should sign up in advance for this meeting. Remember to bring your Weekly Time Use Record from week 3 and your mid-term grades to your conference. To prepare for the personalized coaching, think about the following questions:

–How are you personally engaging with the EMU community?

–What has been helpful to you and what has been difficult in your transition to EMU?

–What courses are you “clicking” with and why?

–How are you improving in managing your time?

–As you think about the remainder of the semester, what will you do to promote success?

Be sure you know the assignment for week 10′s money management unit, posted after fall break on this Year1 site.

Planning your studies

Due: week 8 (October 18 or 20)

1. Complete this pre-evaluation. Then, log on to “My Plan” and complete all four assessments (personality, interests, skills & values). When finished, complete the post-evaluation and bring to class.  Write a reflective response about what you learned from your assessments:  What did you learn about your personality, skills, interests and values?  Were there career matches that affirm your interests?  Were there career matches that surprised you?  Describe the themes you see with your career matches (i.e. working with people or tasks, working in a structured environment or one more flexible, etc.)  What did you learn about specific careers of interest?  How does this information impact your course selection and/or major/minor choices?
   Registration instructions:

1.Go to http://www.MyPlan.com

2.Click on the “Account” tab

3.On the right side of the screen under the “New User” heading, click on “Create Free Account”

4.Fill in all of the information to create your account and click “continue.”

5.Enter the group license code: 63YYHV6C (allows you to take assessments at no charge)

6.Click “Submit Registration”

7.Go to Assessments tab and complete the four assessments

8.Click on Career Match to see a composite of all four assessments

9.Go to Majors tab and click on What Can I Do with a Major In…click on the major(s) that line up with your interests and explore different career options

2. Go to www.collegecentral.com/emu and  register as a student (also accessible via www.emu.edu/careers).  Browse through resources for future reference when you need to create a résumé, apply for an internship or part-time/summer job, etc.

3. Optional activity of interest:  watch at least one interview from Road Trip Nation.  You can search by theme:  http://roadtripnation.com/explore/themes.php or by interest:  http://roadtripnation.com/explore/interests.php.

Reminders: NEXT WEEK ALL TRANSITIONS CLASSES MEET IN SCIENCE CENTER 106

Health management and joyful living

Due: week 7 (October 11 or 13)

Lifestyle Experiment

1. What is something you could do that is radically different to identify with the majority of the world? As a class group, commit to one practice for a full week that joins you in solidarity with the people of the world and with your group. For example, you might commit to eating rice and beans for dinner for one week. Or stay off a specific electronic device for one week. Or reduce water consumption in a radically different way.
2. Write a reflective response in which you identify what you committed to practice. Why did you choose this? Were you able to fulfill the commitment? How did this week change your behavior? What did you learn about yourself and others during the course of the week? How does this experience impact your thoughts about daily life and privileges in the U.S. in comparison with people of the world?

Reminders: Spiritual Life week begins October 4.

If your class is meeting in a different location next week, be sure you know where that is!

How do I Live in Community?

Due: week 6 (October 4 or 6 )

1. Read the Community Lifestyle Commitment found in the back of the Academic Planner and Student Handbook. Also review the Academic Integrity Policy in the Academic Planner and Student Handbook.

2. Complete the Values Worksheet.

3.  Complete the Spiritual Growth Plan offered as a MachForm by campus ministries. A copy will be sent to you and also to the campus pastors. It is available at this web link: http://www.emu.edu/studentlife/campus-ministries/forms/student-spiritual-growth-plan/

Reminders:  Mission and Service Day on Wednesday, September 28.

Mennonite Central Committee Relief Sale on Saturday, October 1.

Walking with God and others

Due: week 5 (September 27 or 29)

1. International Festival and MCC Relief Sale: Engaging the Local Community

EMU educates students to serve and lead in a global context. We also know that we can think globally, and act locally. How might we learn by serving our local community? Complete the following activity to examine how you contribute to the local community. We recommend you participate in small groups. Write a 1-2 page reflection responding to the activities and questions listed below.

a.Attend the International Festival on Saturday, September 24, 12-6pm at Hillandale Park (or with the permission of your instructor the MCC Relief Sale on October 1) for at least 2 hours. Transportation will be provided to the International Festival from the University Commons.

b.What do you see and hear at the International Festival (or Relief Sale)? Describe details of the event. For example, what languages are spoken, what varieties of music are there, what artistic expressions are present, and what styles of dress?Make any other observations about the atmosphere of the event.

c.Visit at least three booths to learn about community agencies in Harrisonburg (if at the MCC sale, describe the various kinds of work MCC engages in). How does the agency benefit the local community? What needs do these agencies respond to in the area?

d.If you were to volunteer for one of the agencies, which one would you choose and why?

e.Describe how you and your cultural background fit in to the variety of cultural expressions at the Festival.Where did you make connections?Where did you feel “different?”

2. Find the Web events calendar and review the activities happening this week. Can you commit to ongoing involvement in one activity? Be prepared to write this on your participation grid.

Transitions Assignment #4

Time Management

Due: week 4 (September 20 or 22)

1. Complete the Weekly Time Use Record and keep track of all activities beginning at 7am tomorrow.
2. If you have not already done so, review your course syllabi and transfer all due dates into your planner. Next write in study times, draft due dates, etc.
3. What is your best organizational tool? Be prepared to share your devices and tools in class.
4. Update your Activity Log (if applicable).

Reminders:

• Required chapel Wednesday, September 21, on Shameless Sexuality with Keith Graber Miller.
• Poetry reading with G.C. Waldrep, Thursday, September 22, 9:30pm, Martin Chapel.
  

“Sustainability” at EMU

Due: week 3 (September 13 or 15)

1. Write one paragraph responding to the following: Identify the problem in the world that is most overwhelming to you personally. Why is this problem important to you? Identify an organization that is addressing that particular problem. What is one choice you could make in your weekly habits that would contribute to addressing that problem? Explain how this choice could have global influence.

Remember to use the writing guidelines outlined in the assignment for week 1.

NOTE: Next week class will meet at a designated location on campus for an EMU sustainability tour. Make sure you know where you meet.

Plan on going to the Ice Cream Social to  learn about clubs and organizations on Wednesday,  Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in the Campus Center. Students can sign up for intramurals on-line. Check out the calendar on my.emu for a full list of events and activities.

Due: week 2 (September 6 or 8 )

1. Review Off to College 2011.

2. Write a letter to yourself reflecting on your first experiences at EMU. What have you learned about college, EMU, your friends, and yourself in the past few days? What are your goals for the semester? What do you want to get involved in? What, to you, would be indicators of a successful first semester? Think about the assigned readings as you work on your letter. Bring the letter to class.

This link provides a helpful guide for writing letters:

http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000144.htm