It’s so easy to procrastinate. In fact, I think I remember some online shopping I had to do… maybe I’ll do that now.

Okay, I’m back. Where was I? Procrastination! It moves fast, one minute you’re in the midst of the best dang paper you’ve ever written, flying through paragraph after paragraph, and the next you’re on your phone watching Snapchat stories and wondering where your invite to the gathering is.

It’s hard to fight procrastination; it’s a temptation that never seems to go away. And we’ve all got to fight it in our pursuit of success. Who wants to turn in a paper late with a 20 point penalty? Or be up all night behind a calculator? Scheduling is a very effective tool to order your academics and extracurricular activities, but only if you actually follow your schedule. And often times, sleeping through an hour that was allotted for “studying” or “working” on your calendar is something that happens more than any of us would care to admit.

There is no one strategy to conquer procrastination. At the end of the day, it’s all willpower. Though, there are a few things you can do to help level the playing field. The first thing is to turn off your phone. It’s so easy to pick up your phone and check whatever social media you’ve got. Not only that, but the constant ringing and vibrating literally calls your attention away from your task at hand. Additionally, try to work in a quiet space. The study rooms on your hall are perfect to minimize outside distraction from other people. Lastly, set small goals for yourself. Don’t try to knock everything out, one after the other, if that’s not your style. It’s okay to take breaks. So, set small, attainable goals and after you reach one, reward yourself with a small break and then get back to work!

Finals are almost upon us; this is the homestretch. Keep pushing!

The semester is almost over and 2017 is coming to a close. It’s an exciting time! Though, on the other hand, there’s also a mad rush to get lots of work done before we all head back home. But don’t panic. There’s still plenty of time to get everything done, but you’ll have to focus to ensure everything is in its right place before you leave.

The first priority is your academics. It is of the utmost importance that you finish the semester with the highest grades you can attain. If you had an A all semester, don’t let the final exam be your undoing. You earned an A, so study for it! Turn in any late or missing work if your professor allows, and be sure to go to those review sessions! Be sure to utilize all the many, many campus resources such as the Center for Academic Success and your professors’ office hours to maximize your success. Some students may find it easy to “check out” because it’s the last few weeks. While that may be easy, it will hurt you in the long run. This is the home stretch, so give it everything you have!

It’s going to be great going home, but, to many of us, Christopher Newport has become our home away from home. Luckily, it’ll be even better when we arrive back in January. The new extension to the Regattas dining hall will be open! There is so much to look forward to next semester. So, finish strong and get excited for another great semester at Christopher Newport!

Christopher Newport loves when students get jobs. There is a huge emphasis on teaching students proper interview etiquette, resume building and other helpful tips to be successful in the workforce. Even during welcome week, almost every presentation from different departments on campus talked about offering jobs, and encouraged students to apply. As a student, working on-campus is ideal. They are very understanding of your class schedule, and your place of work is never too far away.

This all sounds great, but how can you get one? Well, as I said, Christopher Newport works really hard to set its students up for success. For example, the university hosts an annual career fair where prospective companies visit to talk to the students about opportunities. There also fairs for exclusively on-campus jobs. The university informs the student of lots of opportunities, so there are many choices to consider.

Though, Christopher Newport does even more. Seminars for resume building, first impressions and interview etiquette are commonplace. There will usually be one or more each month. In addition, the Center for Career Planning’s door is always open. You can schedule an individual appointment to address any concerns you have.

In the past few months, I think I’ve worn a suit more times than I did throughout my entire senior year. I suppose not too many occasions called for a suit during my senior year (I think just Prom and Homecoming?), so maybe that isn’t too surprising by itself. What is surprising, however, is that I’ve had to wear a suit (or at least a tie) over ten times in my first semester alone. Talking to other students at other colleges, very few of them shared this. Though, when I talked to students at Christopher Newport, most have also worn business or professional attire a similar amount of times.

This is because Christopher Newport is committed to building character of its young men and women. By the time we graduate, we will have a wealth of knowledge and experience in the professional field. Even as a freshman, I’ve gained plenty of experience in my first semester alone.

For example, at the career fair, we were asked to show up in business casual. This is because we were meeting their potential employers. Christopher Newport wanted to ensure we gave our best impression possible. Though, even if you didn’t attend the career fair, all freshmen were required to wear professional attire for convocation. This is where students recite the honor code and become full members of the university. It’s a rite of passage, and dressing up emphasized the importance of the event.

Personally, I’ve also gotten dressed up for student assembly on a bi-weekly basis. This is another example of a great extracurricular that helps turn students into leaders. Christopher Newport’s commitment to empowering its student body continues to amaze me. As I spend more and more time at this institution, it only becomes more evident.

The holiday season away from family can be difficult sometimes, especially in the midst of finals and the semester wrapping up. However, Christopher Newport puts in so much effort to make sure that all students are still filled with holiday cheer on campus.

Once students leave for Thanksgiving break, faculty and staff get busy preparing campus for the holiday season. In every single academic building, there is a real, towering holiday tree. These trees are beautifully decorated with shining red, green and gold ribbons and are the most incredible dose of holiday cheer. Not only is there another enormous tree in the Trible Library, but the banisters are also wrapped in garland and ribbon as well.

To top it all off, there is the largest tree on campus, right in the middle of the Great Lawn. The school puts on an annual tree lighting, as a way to enjoy the holiday season, and bring the campus and community together. It is exactly what students need in the midst of a busy and stressful end to the semester. No matter how far from your loved ones you may be at school, CNU makes it feel like you are always home for the holidays.

Christopher Newport University is a school full of spirit. With the winter holidays approaching, the annual tradition here at CNU is coming up. Every year, CNU hosts a concert called Holiday Happening and the Lighting of the Lawn. Students perform at Holiday Happening, but it is open to the public.

As soon as Holiday Happening is over, students, their families and the community may head on over to the Great Lawn for a celebration. First, there is a countdown and the tree is lit up with some fireworks in the background. Trust me, the tree with Christopher Newport Hall in the background is a beautiful view, perfect for some pictures with your friends and family! There are so many fun activities to participate in. These activities make you feel like you are in the North Pole and they include festive holiday music, photos with Santa, crafts, vendors and food trucks. Free photos with Santa? That is something you definitely do not want to miss out on!

You might want to take a break from the craziness of the last two weeks before finals, so mark your calendars for next year and have some holiday spirit with the Christopher Newport community!

Christopher Newport is known all across Virginia for its beautiful campus. While this is mostly due to a very well-kept campus, there is a little more at play. Newport News is very fortunate because it gets to experience every single season. And each is a splendid sight in its own specific way.

During Leadership Adventure in June and Welcome Week in August, Newport News was experiencing the best of summer. Both of these orientation weeks have a lot of outdoor activities, which took full advantage of the wonderful weather. It was just hot enough to be pleasant, and not uncomfortable. The trees, grass and shrubbery were all a vibrant green. It was a great time to be outside and have lots of fun with friends. Which is exactly what myself and so many other Christopher Newport students did.

Next, came fall. And with it, a big change on campus. Physically, the leaves began to fall and change color. And when they do it looks phenomenal. Walking beneath the trees, you’d be hard-pressed to not find yourself stepping on the crunch of the autumn leaves. My favorite part of this season is the outfits. I was getting a little tired of wearing Hawaiian shirts and shorts everyday. Now, the students at Christopher Newport can use their full wardrobe. Bundling up with layers offers plenty of good-looking combinations to stay looking sharp.

Pretty soon, we can begin expecting snow at Christopher Newport. Even though I can hardly wait for this, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t cherishing every moment of fall. Each season is great in its own way, so it’s a good thing that Christopher Newport doesn’t miss a single one!

Obviously, the most underrated meal is breakfast. It’s the easiest to skip, and it too often is. Though, when you do get around to having it, it’s one of the most rewarding and delicious experiences. Thankfully, CNU has great breakfast options.

On weekdays you can get a continental breakfast from 7 to 7:30 a.m. This consists of danishes, pastries, juices, fruit and plenty of cereals. Though, unless you’re in a rush, I’d highly recommend waiting around until past 7:30 because that’s when the real breakfast starts. Until 10:30 a.m., you can get pretty much any kind of breakfast food you’d ever want. Depending on the day, there’s bacon, sausage, ham, waffles, pancakes, eggs and make-your-own waffles. And on Wednesday, you should be sure to get a few chocolate muffins. Although, they go fast! Plus, all the things from the continental breakfast are still around for you to grab.

Last but definitely not least is the made-to-order omelette bar. It’s pretty great, but it wouldn’t be as awesome as it is without Mrs. Virginia. Quite possibly one of the best omelette chefs to ever grace a stove, you’ll never see anyone else work more efficiently to serve hundreds of hungry kids in just a few hours. See her enough times and you’ll be sure to quickly develop a rapport that’s full of playful banter.

It’s important to start the day off right, and with so much going on in all of our schedules’, why wouldn’t we do everything we can to ensure a good day? So, get some breakfast!

1. Don’t buy food, or at least buy less. This is probably one of the most relatable money-wasters for college students. We all need to eat food, but we don’t all need to go out to eat. Make use of your meal plan by using it. If you don’t have a meal plan, or have a limited one, then buy your foods from the supermarket to get a better deal.
2. Search for deals. It’s easy to buy where and when it’s most convenient, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best option you have. If you’re looking for clothes, search online for other stores that might have similar things for less. Similarly, look at different brands when buying food. You can save a lot of money by buying “off-brand” foods.
3. Avoid impulse buying. Many college students, especially younger college students, have very small funds in their bank accounts. As a result of this, a $20 purchase is often a lot of what they have in their checking accounts. For this reason, it’s wise to sleep on these decisions. Ask yourself “Do I need this?” If you’re not sure, then have a good night’s rest and decide in the morning. No matter what it is, it almost certainly will still be there a day later.
4. Create a zero-based budget. If you’re unfamiliar with this term, it’s basically assigning a function to each dollar in your monthly budget. For example, you can allot $50 for going out, $100 for your savings, $60 for food, etc. If you stick to this plan, then you’ll have no trouble at all saving.

With the new semester just starting, it’s important to not forget about your old professors! We all had great semesters in the fall, and that was in no small part due to the faculty here. They certainly go the extra mile for us, so the least we can do is offer a kind gesture to show our appreciation. The professors at Christopher Newport are nothing short of incredible, so let them know it!

A great way you can do this is by visiting them. This simple gesture will let he or she know just how much last semester meant to you. It’ll be nice to chat and update one another on how the current semester is go. Another easy thing you can do is send an email. Let them know how appreciative you are of all the work they did for you and the class. Recall some of your favorite memories. Things such as these can really aid in reminding a professor of why they do what they do. It’s a great feeling to know you are appreciated.

Creating a good relationship with your professors opens endless doors. They will remain a resource for you on campus long past this semester. This can lead to intern, study abroad and other potential opportunities! With so much to do at CNU, it’s very helpful to be plugged into to all areas on the campus and a big step forward is getting to know your professors.