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SPRING 2022
STUDENTS HOW 2 A newsletter for you, the college student who wants to learn how to do everything better, easier or cheaper
How to develop your own style while in college
to bright and vibrant colors. As humans, we can be very indecisive and like to have frequent change; but, as long as you feel comfortable, everything should fall into place.
by Justin Coleman
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rom our favorite places to travel in the world to our favorite colors or even our favorite songs, fashion and style play a significant role. But some find it a bit challenging to develop their fashion style while in college. Between studies, extracurriculars, jobs, etc., some students may not have the time or even feel the need to try and develop their style. If you are looking to up your fashion game, read to learn how to start.
Define who you are and what you like Take a moment to figure out what you want your overall style vibe to consist of. Try Photo by Justin Coleman on different pieces of Justin Coleman models a clothing, experiment look he put together using with color schemes, dark and bold colors. and find other ways of learning what “feels like” you. Using your personality may also help in developing your style. For example, your personality may be quirky so you may be drawn
Clean out your closet Getting rid of clothes you no longer wear or don’t want anymore helps get you closer to achieving your own style goals. It allows you to see and determine what no longer works and what does work.
Find style inspirations When looking for inspiration, you might be inspired by sentimental items or by people close to you. If you ultimately cannot find inspiration within your personal life, you can always look to celebrities, fashion bloggers, influencers, or others. Olivia Paschal, president of The Apparel & Interior Merchandising Organization at East Carolina University, says her inspirations start from the people she loves most. “When I was growing up, I looked up to my grandmother and her sister because they
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STYLE continued from p. 1 were always the cutest dressed up and kept their hair nice. “I also love following the actress, Barbie Ferreira, from the show “Euphoria” primarily because of her body positivity in which people like me in the plus-size community often get overlooked. I feel as though she represents us well,” says Paschal.
Choose your signature style pieces There could be a specific T-shirt, dress, skirt, or even accessories that you could call your favorite with no hesitation. If that is the case, make that your go-to item. Your favorite pieces are essential to your style journey and ultimately can reflect your personality. “Discovering that unique piece for your wardrobe will not only enhance your look but, in the fullness of time, boost your confidence,” said Tiffany Blanchflower, an assistant professor for School of Interior Design and Merchandising at East Carolina University.
Stay true to you
Photo by Justin Coleman
Coleman’s friend Jarious picks out some pieces to wear for his formal event.
The most important thing to keep in mind when figuring out your style is to stay true to yourself. Trust your gut and wear things that make you feel the most like yourself.
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Breaking language barriers How to study a foreign tongue, and have fun in the process by Giana Williams
“Language learning should be fun,” Hoggard said. “And if there’s one thing that I learned from having the experience of studying a language in university as well as the experience of self-studying languages, it’s that I know now that sometimes doing things by the books can be a sure way to lose interest in a language.” Hoggard explains that learning languages only through textbooks often cause people to lose interest in language learning. He encourages individuals to try out other studying methods that he also uses with his students like practicing with a partner, playing fun studying games or watching videos, shows or movies in your target language.
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merica is known as a melting pot society, with more than 350 languages being used among United States residents. Only 21.9% of people in America speak a foreign language at home, according to the Center for Immigration Studies. Most educational institutions in America require students to take at least one foreign language course as part of their credit requirements. Speaking a second language may seem impressive, but studying a foreign language can also be a challenge. This article will teach you tips on how to effectively learn a foreign language and ways to stay consistent when accomplishing your foreign language goals.
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Find your spark
Addison Hoggard, an assistant English teacher in Japan who is originally from Millennium, North Carolina, said the most important thing is finding a spark and understanding how you want to interact with your new language. This spark can range from wanting to travel abroad, watching international movies or shows without subtitles or just making friends across the globe. Suppose nothing interests you about the culture, place or the people of the language you’re learning. In that case, it will be hard to stay motivated. Hoggard learned French and Portuguese in a traditional classroom setting and taught himself Japanese prior to moving to Japan. He said Japanese was a challenge for him since he had to learn a new alphabet system and constantly had to motivate himself to to continue studying. During his language learning journey, he managed to learn what studying methods worked for him effectively and to implement those skills with his Photo by Giana Williams students. Trysten Culler and Ndazjah Quarles-Howard study Japanese kanji lesson materials.
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Set goals for yourself Everyone has different methods of learning, especially something as complex as learning a foreign language. While it is OK to be motivated by other people’s fluency in a language, it will not be easy to become fluent without lots of practice. Set a clear goal for yourself regarding language fluency to avoid burnout or feeling like a failure. Fluency can mean different things to different people, Hoggard said. Being fluent can mean being able to carry on a whole conversation or reading a book in a foreign language. “Don’t get too caught up in what other people think, and definitely don’t compare yourself to people that have a higher level of the language than you,” Hoggard said. “When it comes to language learning, we’re all just doing the best that we can with what we have available to us at that moment.”
Always take notes and mistakes are OK Learning a new language always comes with mistakes, but that’s part of the learning process. Take notes on grammar points you may not understand, new vocabulary words or to practice writing the language. Trysten Culler, a senior environmental health major at East Carolina University, has taken Japanese courses at ECU as part of his electives. Although a foreign language is not required for his degree, Culler said he took the language out of interest in Japanese culture, specifically gardens. Throughout his time studying Japanese, Culler said keeping a notebook has helped him during his language learning journey. He said keeping a notebook is a simple and easy way to organize and write important notes during foreign language classes. He said whenever he made a mistake in class, he would write it down to review it later and to avoid making the same mistakes in the future. “To be a foreign language student or a successful one, you have to be comfortable putting yourself out there and once again making those mistakes,” Culler said.
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Photo by Giana Williams
Japanese IV student Trysten Culler reads over his notes and practices grammar points before a vocab quiz in class.
Saying ‘hello’
Know the benefits of learning a foreign language
French Formal: Bonjour Informal: Salut2.
Lastly, do not think your foreign language skills went to waste after years of hard work. There are various benefits to having a foreign language skill under your belt. Larkin Murphy, a French professor at East Carolina University, says there are advantages that result from learning a foreign language, such as critical thinking skills, cultural understanding and enhanced job opportunities. He says having a foreign language can make your resume look better when you’re competing with other college graduates in the job market. “What makes your resume better and you the better job candidate?” Murphy said. “Well, if you have a second major or a minor or at least listed abilities in a foreign language, then you are different and a better job candidate and your resume will, therefore, be in a separate stack on the boss’ desk.”
Spanish Formal: Hola Informal: ¿Qué tal? Russian Formal: Zdravstvuyte Informal: Privet
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German Formal: Guten Tag Informal: Hallo, Hi Portuguese Formal: Olá Informal: Oi Korean Formal: Anyoung hasey Informal: Anyoung
Italian Formal: Salve Informal: Ciao
Arabic Formal: Asalaam alaikum Informal: Ahlan
Japanese Formal: Konnichiwa Informal: Yā, Yō
Source: “How to say ‘hello’ in 21 different languages”
Explore your inner peace Tips on how to meditate for the first time, search for happiness by Jenna Magner
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editation is a simple practice that can relieve feelings of depression, anxiety, and help to promote clarity and happiness. Once you get into a good routine of meditating, that works for you, the effects come at you fast. Merriam-Webster’s definition of meditating is “to engage in contemplation or reflection; to focus one’s thoughts to reflect on or ponder over.” Not sure how or where to start? Here are some tips to set you on the right path:
Find your style of meditation Raquel González of Souliving, a meditation studio in Williamsburg, Virginia, says “Just start. Start by sitting quietly and acknowledging what’s happening in your life and what is going through your mind, without judging any of it. Try meditating by simply focusing on your breath and become conscious of your breath without trying to change it.” González started her meditation journey because of her severe anxiety as a teen. She has found that it helps to slow her mind and calm her down, which then makes it easy to fall asleep. Meditation itself is straightforward, but we as humans allow life to get in our way. Setting time aside to allow yourself to meditate is the most important first step. The hard part is keeping yourself accountable for doing so. There is no wrong way to meditate. Stephanie Checchia, a certified life coach and meditation specialist with Intuitive Arts Life Coaching Services & Meditation Center in Norfolk, Virginia, explains, “It’s a very personal journey and it’s okay if someone else’s style of meditating is different from yours. Find what works for you and build on that in your way.” For some, it may be taking some deep breaths to relax and for others, it could be utilizing a guided meditation video.” Checchia adds, “There are a lot of apps and programs to help start a meditation practice, but please don’t spend a lot of money. Keep it simple and utilize free resources, background music or guided meditation videos.”
Photo by Jenna Magner
Two girls practice meditating on their living room floor.
Spotify, Apple Music, Sound Cloud, and Youtube all offer plenty of guided meditation sounds that range from grounding to energizing. There is also a plethora of free guided meditation apps and many meditation specialists.
Set time aside to meditate As a college student, it is hard to find time between juggling all of your responsibilities and your wellbeing, but your mental health is the most important. Falling out of routines is normal. Checchia explains, “If I got triggered and didn’t take the time to consciously meditate, even if it’s just for a brief moment, I would become anxious and
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stressed, and I don’t like feeling that way. It’s much easier to take a moment to center myself and deal with whatever is going on. Meditation gives me a better perspective and helps me manage emotional responses.” Whether it is 10 to 30 minutes a day or just a couple of deep breaths in the morning, grounding yourself mentally helps to stabilize your mind and aids you in thinking clearly. González explains, “I always say that meditation is a way of life. Just say to yourself, ‘if I have five minutes a day to keep feeling ______(anxious, mad, nervous, sad, angry, depressed, etc.), I have five minutes to heal that.’ “The act of meditating is simply contemplating your life, it isn’t about not thinking or leaving your mind blank. It’s about getting to know yourself, your thoughts, your emotions, your triggers, and how and why you react to life the way you do. To meditate is to allow and when you allow…you create space. That in itself is healing.” Photo by Jenna Magner
A relaxing spot for meditation and yoga.
The content and the design for this newsletter are created by students enrolled in COMM 3310 Copy Editing and Design in the School of Communication at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, during the Spring and Fall semesters under the direction of course instructor Barbara Bullington. We welcome suggestions for article ideas for future issues or for our website. Contact: bullingtonb@ecu.edu Thank you to Giana Williams for her design and editing the Spring 2022 issue of the Students How 2 newsletter. 7