Orientation 2020

REPORTER THE ORIENTATION ISSUE AUGUST 2020 // REPORTER.RIT.EDU

EDITOR IN CHIEF Kasey Mathews PRINT MANAGING EDITOR Tyler English ONLINE MANAGING EDITOR Victoria Sebastian COPY EDITOR Mimi Lee NEWS EDITOR Jessica Sides TECHNOLOGY EDITOR Leland Goodrich LEISURE EDITOR Karina Le FEATURES EDITOR Morgan LaMere WELLNESS EDITOR Brooke Wolfenbarger VIEWS EDITOR Marilyn Wolbert WRITERS Catherine Rafferty, Leland Goodrich, Luke Nearhood, Karina Le, Kasey Mathews, Tommy Delp, Cayla Keiser

ART ART DIRECTOR Neil Williamson ONLINE ART MANAGER Sara Calhoun SENIOR DESIGNER Pallavi Singh DESIGNERS Cassy Smithies, Cristian Maynez, Pallavi Singh, Sabrina McCune, Adrianna Petrus, Nick Bober ILLUSTRATORS Juho Choi, Sara Calhoun, Monica Nguyen-Vo, Pallavi Singh, Elizabeth Dettmann, Maggie Dybas

PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO EDITOR Diana Spencer PHOTOGRAPHERS Diana Spencer, Ben Adepoju, Rachel Kogut, Madi Watson, Shreya Rathore

BUSINESS BUSINESS MANAGER Lucy Brown AD / PR MANAGER Ali Johnston ONLINE SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR Will Nilges ONLINE SERVICES MANAGER Efe Ozturkoglu VIDEO EDITOR Trisha Pickelhaupt PODCAST PRODUCER Maximilian Thoburn PODCAST HOST Wyatt Kinsey

EDITOR’S NOTE

REPORTER

W

hen asked about college, I’d used to force myself to smile and celebrate the idea of moving onto great things as my friends and family expected me to. However, I was actually quite bitter. I did not want to leave behind my comfortable and safe

life that I had built in my hometown for the past 18 years. I kept myself so busy that I didn’t have time to let myself acknowledge any emotions or even pursue anything that didn’t lend itself to someone else’s definition of success. It wasn’t until college that I realized that I never learned how to be brave enough to pursue something for the passion of it.

While I do believe in high school I achieved many things, I was missing pride in my accomplishments. By stepping out of my comfort bubble, I invited myself to develop in ways I thought I already had figured out. This university may not be perfect, but my experience here has been filled with so many unique opportunities to learn — the majority of which were not in the classroom.

More specifically when I first arrived on campus, I approached the Gymnastics Club seeking to be a competitive gymnast. The club, however, was only at a recreational level and uninterested in the idea of competition. Defeated, I turned my focus to my major that I then developed a hatred for. I found myself being scared, not of failure, but of success.

Was I going to be able to be happy?

I can now say that I am quite happy with many things I played a role in during my time at RIT, including changing my major after two and a half years. My proudest legacy is RIT’s first ever Competitive Gymnastics Team. When I was told “no” by others my freshman year, I did not have the courage to take a risk for something I cared about. While it did take me some more time, every roadblock I overcame to develop the team made me brave, uncomfortable and — most importantly — happy.

I challenge you to dare greatly and invite vulnerability into the new lifestyle you’re about to dive into. RIT can be a great place to do something new and connect with others.

No matter how long you are here, you have the power to pursue your passions no matter how many people tell you that you can’t. It can be difficult not to let the expectations of your parents, friends, teammates, professors and even social norms pressure you to fall into a comfort bubble.

Vulnerability and courage are an inseparable pair — you cannot have one without the other. There will be times when comfort will be necessary, but when you can choose vulnerability, I urge you to choose it. Happiness through bravery is an incredible reward.

“Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.”

- Brene Brown

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All letters received become the property of REPORTER.

Please Recycle 2 Orientation

Reporter magazine is published monthly during the academic year by a staff comprised of students at Rochester Institute of Technology. Business, Editorial and Design facilities are located in Room A-730, in the lower level of the Campus Center. Our phone number is +1 (585) 475–2212. The Advertising Department can be reached at +1 (585) 475–2213. “Let’s have a pierogi party at 10 o’clock” -A.J. The opinions expressed in Reporter do not necessarily reflect those of the Institute. Reporter is not responsible for materials presented in advertising areas. Copyright © 2020 Reporter Magazine. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced without prior written permission.

cover and TOC illustration by Cassy Smithies

IN T HI S I S S UE NEWS 4

LEISURE

RIT 365 INSPIRES CONNECTION AND EXPLORATION First-year programs help students discover each other’s differences and what they want from college

8

TIGER TRAFFIC

A fun road map to help you navigate your first year at RIT!

VIEWS 14

CHANGING EXPECTATIONS

College is not what I thought it would be ...

FEATURES 5

THE LOOMING FALL: COLLEGE AFTER COVID-19 Student thoughts on the upcoming Fall semester and the impact of COVID-19

10

TECH 6

EMPLOYMENT ON CAMPUS Find a job! Get the job!”

15

WORD ON THE STREET “What is your favorite place in Rochester and why?”

WELLNESS

DIGITAL TOOLS FOR COLLEGE A list of apps and websites for organizing yourself in college

12

13

@R EP O R T ER M A G

ADJUSTING TO UNFAMILIARITY The move to RIT can be difficult, but you can definitely handle it

DORM DINING DONE RIGHT Eat your fruits and veggies, kids

R E P O R T E R.R IT.EDU Orientation 3

RIT 365

Inspires Connection And Exploration

by Catherine Rafferty | illustration by Juho Choi | design by Cassy Smithies

H

erlandt Lino, Computational Math ’20 graduate, always started his RIT 365 coaching appointments with students by asking, “Why do you think you’re here?”

He said most students gave him the wrong answer.

Most students go into RIT 365 thinking that it is a regular class with an instructor and a grade, but it’s much more than that.

RIT 365 is a yearlong program designed to give freshmen a sense of belonging in the RIT community through experiential learning opportunities. The program also assists students in beginning their personal journey at college.

That experience component makes RIT 365 unique according to Dr. Heath Boice-Pardee, associate vice president for Student Affairs.

“Instead of us trying to open up new students’ minds and dump information in, you’re offering experiences for them to learn this information in a guided and supported environment so that they can learn it on their own,” he said.

“Acknowledge what it means to them, and then integrate it into their life.”

The experiences are co-facilitated by a professional staff member and a student — they are not there to instruct. Stacy Nation-Knapper, director of Year One Programs, said fa-

cilitators are there to create an environment that helps students embrace their diversity to promote an inclusive campus community.

The course uses facilitated dialogue to create a space for students to speak about what is most important to them and have genuine conversations.

When students were engaged, the conversation brought Lino’s class together.

“The conversation itself had a momentum of its own that was completely organically grown.

It wasn’t like I was following the bullet points,” Lino described. “And after that day in particular, everyone was like, ‘Oh my god, that was crazy. That was actually worth it.’”

For Shawna Szabo, assistant director of International Student Services, sharing in different ways — with the group of students, in written reflection or in one-on-one meetings — helped her students to connect deeper and get what they needed from their facilitators. Swa-

“

These are valuable skills as folks move into their future classes and into a community that is really diverse.”

TOP TIPS FOR

RIT 365 SUCCESS Be open-minded Prepare to be uncomfortable and try something new Share with your classmates — drive the conversation Communicate with your facilitators what you need from them One-on-one appointments are YOUR time — own it 4 News

bo strived to be the “go-to” person for her students, but that required openness and honesty.

“I want to be a mentor, I want to be a helper, I want to be what students need from me. I want to be that for them, but I need them to tell me what they need,” she explained.

Students can expect to engage with each other in new and uncomfortable ways. This experience can even alter your college career.

Lino coached two students into changing their majors. He urged students to seriously consider what they want to get out of college and think about what they would like to do.

Overwhelmingly, the advice is to be open-minded. Nation-Knapper encouraged students to embrace every part of the experience.

“These are valuable skills as folks move into their future classes and into a community that is really diverse,” she said.

THE LOOMING FALL:

COLLEGE AFTER COVID-19

by Leland Goodrich illustration by Sara Calhoun design by Cristian Maynez

I am already looking forward to the Fall semester. I’m very excited just to be back with my friends and just be in that environment again.

B

RIT may have to continue or revert to an online forum if the COVID-19 virus continues to endanger health throughout the remainder of the year.

eginning a new semester can be quite intimidating for an incoming freshman. It can even be intimidating for seasoned university students if this is their first time attending a new school.

Thoughts, Advice & RIT Orientation seeks to soothe any and all anxieties that a new student could find them- Experience selves facing, all while making sure they are able to navigate the first few weeks of the “I am already looking forward to the Fall semester. I’m very excited just to be back with my school year. friends and just be in that environment again,” However, this semester will be the ultimate Postl said. Daphine Postl, a third year Psycholtest of RIT’s orientation capability. Students ogy major, said her first fear about the Fall will be returning to school in the fall after months of dealing with the COVID-19 viral out- semester was the possibility of students not being able to return physically to the school, break that swept the globe.

With students nationwide required to tran- citing the difficulty online classes can cause in lieu of in-person classes. sition to online classes beginning in the spring “It’s been a struggle doing classes from home. of 2020, many students are left to wonder how I feel like there’s just as not much structure RIT will conduct their Fall semester.

Orientation is always an exciting and equal- and I always feel like I’m missing something,” she said. ly worrisome time of the year. However, this Jackson Glozer, a third year Photographic year’s Fall semester will need to help faculty, Sciences major, concurred that he had simiparents and students readjust from the lar worries. Glozer noted that he does his best worldwide calamity of COVID-19.

learning in the classroom, where he isn’t bothered by the plethora of distractions from his home environment.

Aside from the negatives, there were also some positive thoughts about what effects returning to campus could have on the student body.

In parting, the students had advice for any incoming freshman about succeeding despite whatever the future might hold.

“Balance your time. For the most part, you’re on your own. Your parents aren’t really there to watch over what you’re doing, and time management is key,” Glozer said.

Postl noted that it’s important to go in with an open mind.

“Try not to lose yourself in all of the schoolwork. Make sure you’re making time for yourself and to see the people you love,” she said.

COVID-19 caught everyone off guard in early 2020. Regardless of what the fall has in store, the Tiger community’s faculty, staff and students are ready to embrace the incoming freshman class, no matter the challenges.

News 5

W

hen you start your first semester of college, you may discover the way you used to organize yourself isn’t as effective as it once was. Here are some apps and websites you may find useful for navigating your first year of college.

DIGITAL TOOLS FOR COLLEGE

TODOIST

TICKTICK

When you have tons of new assignments flying at you on a daily basis, you’re not going to want to keep them all in your head and will need somewhere to dump them quickly. For this reason, Todoist is the go-to task manager for many, as it can take care of things like due dates automatically. The free version is a robust to do list, while some of the more advanced features, such as labels, comments and reminders, are only available in the paid version.

TickTick is an alternative to Todoist which has many of the features the former has available only in the paid version, such as labels, which TickTick calls tags, for free. It also includes features which Todoist doesn’t have at all, like timers, and a calendar in the paid version.

TOGGL

GOOGLE CALENDAR

During your freshman year, you’re going to want to know where all your time is wrunning off to. Toggl is the time manager recommended by many productivity gurus. It has comprehensive API support, allowing for integration with many other apps and websites.

You’re going to need a calendar — that’s just a given. They’re great for classes, appointments, club meetings and everything in between. Google Calendar is pretty much the standard at this point, and if you use Gmail (which RIT does) it offers a ton of integration with other apps.

EVERNOTE

TRELLO

If you need a place to store miscellaneous notes and documents, Evernote is the most powerful option available at the moment. The free version includes most of what students will need, but limits the number of devices which can be synced and amount of data which can be used.

Trello is a project management app. It’s similar to a task manager, but a bit more zoomed out. Trello is often used for group and long term projects, which are ubiquitious in college. The free version of Trello includes all the core features, but limits how much you can automate things.

RIT ACADEMIC SUCCESS CENTER (ASC) For those who prefer analog organizational methods, the ASC has a ton of useful templates for organizing your semester, and some of them now have Google Sheets versions.

by Luke Nearhood | illustration and design by Pallavi Singh

6 Technology

A note on alternatives: many of the apps listed above have great and viable competitors we had to leave out, but what’s more important than finding the perfect app or system, is having a system.

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By the time someone has been drinking enough that they can’t drive, well, they aren’t making good choices. Hell, they usually aren’t making choices at all - they’re on autopilot. This is where you come in. Take. Their. Keys.

They might get angry. Tough.

Take their keys, and throw your friend into the back of a Lyft.

If you were unfortunate enough to have kept your keys and are now charged with DWI, you are going to need some help. Take a look at my website. You’ll nd excellent client reviews, a long and successful trial record, and upfront pricing information.

P. Adam Militello, Esq. (585) 485-0025 https://rochesternyDWI.lawyer

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rpteic@rit.edu

KEY: Heavily trafficked. Always congested.

Red areas: Heavily trafficked. Typically congested.

Not essentially traffic heavy, Not but can get a little busytraffic Yellow areas: essentially during some times of the day — especially lunch hour.

heavy, but can get a little busy during some times of the day — especially lunch hour.

routes.” Though they may take you a little often “ Scenic Green areas: “Scenic routes” longer, walking through these areas can be soothing!

through buildings. Though they may take you a little longer, walking through these areas can be soothing!

Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science

Bausch & Lomb Center Welcome Center

Center for Bioscience Education & Tech.

Engineering Tech. Hall

Sustainability Institute Hall

Vignelli Center for Design Studies

Institute Hall

Louise Slaughter Hall

Frank E. Ritter Ice Arena

Frank E. Gannett Hall

James E. Booth Hall

Golisano Hall

Engineering Hall

Laboratory for Applied Computing

Global Market Salsarita’s

Wallace Library Thomas Gosnell Hall

University Services Center

Student Innovation Hall

Lewis P. Ross Hall Max Lowenthal Hall

Crossroads Munsell Color Science Laboratory Hugh L. Carey Hall

Brown Hall

TIGER TRAFFIC

by Karina Le | design by Sabrina McCune

George H. Clark Gym.

Liberal Arts Hall

Global Village

Global Village Post Office

George Eastman Hall

James E. Gleason Hall

Orange Hall

8 Leisure

MAGIC Spell Studios

University Gallery

Monroe Hall

Campus Center

Student Alumni Union

S In C

Lyndon Baines Johnson Hall

nter

Hall

Mark Ellingson Hall

Student Development Center Welcome Center

Pete Peterson Hall Carlton Gibson Hall

Rosica Hall

Sol Heumann Hall

Res. Hall D

Frank E. Ritter Ice Arena

(A,B)

Gordon Fieldhouse and Activities Center

Res. Hall C

George H. Clark Gym.

Hale-Andrews Student Life Center

August Center

Campus Center

Helen Fish Hall A,B

T

he RIT campus can be a bit confusing and overwhelming at first, but here are a few tips and tricks to get the most from adventuring the roads of RIT. From Mark Ellingson Hall, if you have classes in James E. Booth Hall or RIT Magic Spell Studios, take the path behind the Gordon Field House and Activities Center; it’s faster than going along the Quarter Mile.

If you’re just coming from breakfast at Gracie’s, consider taking the woods route!

It’s very scenic and if you have classes in Wallace Library, it might be a bit quicker.

When it starts getting colder, don’t forget that the academic side of RIT has tunnels like dormside does. My favorites are under

Nathaniel Rochester Hall

D,C,E

Eugene Colby

Res. Hall B

Dormside

Eugene Colby Hall F,G Kate Gleason Hall

Res. Hall A

tudent Alumni Union

Schmitt Interfaith Center

(C,D)

Grace Watson Hall

Frances Baker Hall (A,B)

the Student Alumni Union which are directly connected to George Eastman Hall. Other tunnels directly connect Golisano Hall to Gosnell Hall and Wallace Library.

Some dorms don’t connect directly to Gracie’s, like Residence Hall C. But they are connected to dorms like Residence Hall A that are connected to Gracie’s, so you can still avoid a cold walk outside.

If you’re just finishing lunch at Global Village, and you have to make a mad dash to your computer science class in Golisano, just cut through Student Innovation Hall (the Toilet Bowl) as a shortcut.

Leisure 9

EMPLOYMENT ON CAMPUS

by Kasey Mathews | photos compiled by Diana Spencer | design by Adrianna Petrus

O

ver 12,000 students at RIT held some form of on-campus employment in Spring 2020. These numbers indicate a number of things, foremost of which is that RIT is a campus full of job opportunities.

Whether you want an on-campus job due to financial instability, to gain extra cash or just as a way to keep from getting bored, RIT has a number of options.

TYPES OF EMPLOYMENT

There are many different places to work on campus, with a variety of environments and responsibilities. Some of the most popular include positions in RIT’s dining locations, notetaking and various office jobs throughout the campus. You can see Handshake for the full listing of positions available.

At RIT’s dining locations, there are almost always positions available. It’s likely the best place to start if you’ve never held a job before or are looking for a more straight-forward position. While there are learning opportunities, like developing an understanding of food safety, the position overall is largely focused on the growth of existing skills. Dining employees are able to hone their time management, customer service and task management skills through these positions. Dining positions often serve as a springboard for future employment opportunities both on and off campus.

Some student dining employees leverage their freshly developed skillsets when applying to other jobs. Others continue with their dining employment and become student managers, allowing them to further grow their managerial skills.

Many students also have notetaking positions. These positions are uncommon in public K–12 schools, but at RIT they’re crucial.

Because of the large population of deaf and hard-of-hearing students, as well as students with learning disabilities, notetakers are essential.

A notetaker works for the Access Services office. Their role is to attend classes and take thorough notes. Deaf and hard-of-hearing students especially find difficulty taking notes during class due to the need to redirect their visual focus from the lecture to their notetaking. This can create a language barrier as they’re unable to listen and write at the same time. This way, for those who are unable to take notes and pay attention to the lecture, there is less worry and stress.

Becoming a notetaker can be a little tricky, as you need someone in your class to require notetaking services. If there is a student that requires notetaking, the Access Services office will reach out to students in that class to offer them a notetaking position. Preference is given to those students already in their system as previous notetakers, and the position allows you to earn money while attending class. Just be sure the notes you take are thorough and easily understood!

Beyond this, there are many office jobs around campus. In fact, most major offices on campus employ student workers in some capacity, whether it’s filing paperwork, creating beautifully branded graphics or entering data.

Many offices rely on the help of their student workers to ensure the best level of service to the RIT community.

BENEFITS OF WORKING ON CAMPUS

For those without a mode of transportation, working on campus is a no-brainer. It allows students to reach their jobs without having to worry about how they’ll get there.

Students who do have transportation, however, may be weighing their options. But there are certainly some benefits to working a job on campus, as noted by Julie Mayfield in her U.S. News article.

“No one understands the demands on a college student quite like campus employers,” she said.

While working on campus, employers know and understand that college comes first — and

that doesn’t stop at just scheduled classtime.

Many places on campus are very flexible with their hours, understanding that there’s much more to a college student’s schedule than the time they spend listening to lectures.

There are group projects and all-nighters to be had. Beyond that, many students are involved in extracurricular activities, such as clubs or athletics. And some students just need some time to themselves to care for their mental health.

Many students also receive a Work Study benefit as part of their financial aid package.

This money is provided to them through their on-campus employment,

and can be a great help paying for college. Of course, be sure to fill out your FAFSA to see if you qualify.

Finally, on-campus employers are typically very in tune with the world of academia, as well as their own respective fields. They can serve as great references for applications to graduate school, doctoral studies or future employment opportunities. A university receives recognition by ensuring its students are successful, so to work as a student employee practically guarantees that your supervisor will have your best interests in mind — because your best interest is in their best interest!

HOW DO? photos provided by Jesse Wolfe Gracies employees serve food to RIT students

Students are eligible for on-campus employment if they are registered for a full-time courseload. That means taking at least 12 credits as an

undergraduate student, or nine credits as a graduate.

If you qualify, begin your search! To find a listing of jobs offered on campus, visit the Handshake page and filter by “on-campus.”

Keep in mind, some positions may not be listed on Handshake. Ask around! Talk to faculty and staff in different departments to see if they know of any openings. From research assistants to marketing coordinators, you never know what might come up.

After you find a position, apply. You may need a resume, portfolio, writing sample or something else. Feel free to reach out to the Career Services and Co-op Office for help in perfecting your application materials, or ask advisers or faculty for help. You can also use a checklist like the one found on the Career Services website.

If and when you receive an interview, be

sure to have a good understanding of the position and its responsibilities. Dress professionally; don’t wear sweatpants and a hoodie. Following the interview, be sure to thank the interviewer.

If you receive an offer for a position, talk to the Student Employment Office (SEO) to receive your SEO card. You’ll need to complete your I-9 form, as required by the government.

Once that’s done, be sure your hiring paperwork is filled out, communicate your schedule to your supervisor and prepare yourself for the position.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

Aside from more formal employment opportunities, there are also several student leadership positions available around campus. Many

of these positions are paid (most often through a stipend) and offer valuable leadership experience.

Examples include Student Government, New Student Orientation, Global Union, WITR and even Reporter.

Student leadership positions allow students to get involved in the campus community, advocate for the student body and provide various services to their peers.

These positions typically go unlisted on Handshake; so if you’re interested in working in a student leadership capacity, reach out to that office and ask around!

Finding a job in college can seem like a daunting task, but RIT has plenty to offer. Use this as an opportunity to explore a passion, try out different things and earn some rent money (or weekend pizza money) while you’re at it!

How to get a job on campus!

Make Sure You Can! Are you a full-time student?

Search for Job Postings!

YES

• Use Handshake • Ask around • Keep an eye on your email

Make h as that C ey!

Mon

Apply to the thing!

APPLY TO ALL THE THINGS!!!

Get Your Card!

Nail the Interview!

Stop by the Student Employment Office to verify your employment eligibility

Required before you start

N T!

I

Fill out your I-9 at www.newi9.com

YOU EAR

ED

Don’t Forget your I-9!

Pep talks encouraged

Acce pt that Posit ion!

Features 11

F

irst year college students have a plethora of on-campus challenges to deal with.

From starting classes to making new friends, the last thing they need are problems related to home. Often enough, the biggest issue for a college freshman is their yearning for the familiar.

When homesickness hits, it hits hard. Hopefully, with the advice of some older students, RIT’s newest additions can avoid the biggest pitfalls of this well-known student affliction.

THE BIGGEST HURDLE

Gavriel Miles, a fourth year Game Design and Development major, described the topic well.

“Homesickness is a longing for what’s comfortable and what’s safe,” Miles said.

A common misconception is that all students who are homesick miss their family. It isn’t entirely that simple though. Anna Dignan, a second year Physics major, provided a more general description.

Dignan said, “It’s missing anything from your hometown.”

One of the main problems with homesickness is how it can intensify the other problems a college freshman faces.

When suffering from homesickness, it may be hard to focus on the things you need to.

12 WELLNESS

Since you are thinking of home it can be hard be there to support you. As part of the RIT comto think about school, work and friendships, munity though, you may need to be there to Dignan said. support someone else.

College comes with a newfound sense of in“Make sure your friends feel like they have dependence for most, but a support system at school too,” Dignan said. that also means more re- “That’s probably what they’re missing from sponsibilities. home.”

“I wanted to go home, Things may seem hard, both now and latbut I understood I had er. College is about new experiences though. schoolwork I needed to Homesickness just happens to be one of the do, and I needed to go to less fun ones. As you adjust and focus on the class,” she said. future, those feelings of homesickness will start to subside.

RIT will end up becoming your new home, and that’s really what’s most prominent freshMost students experience some level of man year,” Miles said. homesickness during their first year. As a colIf you play your cards right, you may just lege student, this period of your life will be find yourself going home come May and missspent building friendships and networking. ing campus as much as you once missed home.

These networking skills are even important Like that, the cycle begins anew! now. Use them to effectively combat the issue by forming a support system. As a part of Brick City Singers, one of RIT’s acappella groups, Miles has found his.

“Clubs help me to counter the sense of loneliness that comes from being homesick,” he said.

Most likely, whether it be a club, a roommate or even a significant other, someone will

TO

ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM

by Tommy Delp | illustration by Monica Nguyen-Vo | design by Pallavi Singh

“RIT WILL END UP BECOMING YOUR NEW HOME, AND THAT’S REALLY WHAT’S MOST PROMINENT FRESHMAN YEAR.”

RI NMG D O D I N

by Cayla Keiser illustration by Elizabeth Dettmann photography by Rachel Kogut design by Adrianna Petrus

W

hen dinner choices at Gracie’s are between hot dogs with french fries and chicken with vegetables, it’s tempting to gravitate toward the former.

Elle Woodworth, a registered dietitian in Rochester, N.Y., understands the dilemma. “[Eating healthy] is difficult for everyone, but especially when you’re in a dining hall and you have a finite number of choices,” Woodworth said. “We don’t want improper nutrition to be another barrier, whether that’s socially fitting into a new crowd or being able to learn with a rigorous schedule.”

Inadequate nutrition can lead to worsened focus, poor sleep and lower physical performance, Woodworth said. Making healthy choices provides us with the energy and nutrients we need to succeed.

She also recommends old fashioned oats for a microwave-friendly, whole-grain breakfast option. You can add a few chocolate chips and a scoop of peanut butter to make it taste like a treat.

Tuna and chicken packets are a shelf-stable protein you can add to a salad or pair with minute rice, Woodworth said. Reese Harvest Bowls are another good, vegan-friendly option full of grains and vegetables.

“Any of that kind of stuff is going to be better than a hot pocket or toaster strudels,” Denn said.

Making Nutritious Decisions For additional guidance, there are online resources that can help you create healthy meals, such as MyPlate. You can also make an appointment with the campus dietitian.

D O N E R I G H T

It can be hard to make healthy choices when your friends may or may not be doing the same. Ultimately, you need to make sure you are filling your body with nutrition-packed options to keep yourself healthy and energized.

“A lot of times when I am speaking with patients, I try to emphasize making decisions that are right for your own body,” Woodworth said.

“Remind yourself that just because somebody else is making that choice doesn’t mean that it’s the right one for you.”

“A lot of [eating

well] is establish habits.”

ing

Establishing Healthy Habits Alex Denn, a third year Economics major and Army ROTC cadet, understands how tricky it can be to eat well in a dining hall.

“Make sure you’re keeping an eating schedule ... getting in the calories is really important for having energy for when you’re doing sports, homework,” Denn said. “A lot of [eating well] is establishing habits ... you’ve just gotta be willing to push through those initial stages.”

Instead of fried foods and sugary cereals — which are high in fat and sugar and can make your body feel hungry quicker — try eating fruits, vegetables, proteins and whole grains. You also have to be willing to stock your dorm with healthier snacks and quick meal options.

Dorm-Friendly Pantry Staples Fresh fruits and vegetables are the optimal healthy decision; however, Woodworth understands that these foods can be harder to store for longer periods.

Granola bars, trail mix and peanut butter and jelly on whole-wheat bread are some of Denn’s go-to snacks. Woodworth suggested trying fruit-and-oat or fruit-and-chia — they are full of protein and natural sugars and require zero prep.

WELLNESS 13

by Tyler English | illustration by Madeline Watson | design by Nick Bober

T

o whomever told me that going to college would be a good idea …

I have some words for you: In movies and television, college is painted as an oasis of self discovery wrapped in freedom. A place and time to make mistakes, find friends and really figure out what you want to do with your life.

I am going into my fourth year of college and am still waiting for that whole figuringeverything-out part to start.

HOLLYWOOD LIES

Movies like American Pie 2 and Pitch Perfect show college as one giant party or some sort of grand journey of self discovery with newfound friends. In reality, it’s just hours and hours of reading articles and annotating notes from class.

These movies show your dorm room as basically a miniature apartment that you can decorate as you wish. You come to expect enough space for everything: your favorite desk chair from back home, speaker system, fridge — oh and not to mention plenty of storage for your clothes.

Sure, nothing is better than playing furniture -Tetris on move -in day trying to cram all that into a 10-feet-by-20-feet

It may sound trivial but films and movies create an image of what to expect when you get to college — an image that is far from what most students actually experience. Yes, some students party daily and yes, some students may have a large apartment that can support a lavish lifestyle; however, not everyone can be so lucky.

FIRST YEAR, ROUND TWO

Full disclosure, I did not attend RIT for my first year of college.

At my first university, I felt incredibly isolated. I felt disconnected from my peers, my family and the friends that I had suffered through high school with. Instead of partying every weekend, I sat in my windowless dorm room with my next-to-silent roommates who never seemed to leave the room. To sum it up in a few words, my first year of college was the worst year of my depression.

I could never fully be who I was my first year, so I decided to transfer to RIT, where I finally felt more at home.

At RIT, I feel that I am able to be whatever version of myself I want to be without feeling excluded. RIT is a different kind of university, one where the jocks and nerds can be at the same frat party.

RIT offered me a unique college experience, a culture of diversity — and honestly ... nerdiness. All interests have a place at RIT, whether it be sports, cars or video games.

There is a stigma that RIT is just a STEM school full of smelly computer geeks who don’t know how to shower. While there is some truth to this, RIT is a university that movies wish they could recreate. Hollywood could never imagine a school where the nerds are also the popular crowd.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the students and do not reflect the views of REPORTER. 14 Views News

What is your favorite place in Rochester & why? photography by Shreya Rathore illustration by Maggie Dybas design by Cristian Maynez

“My favorite places in Rochester are the parks; I love Mendon Ponds Park, Cobb’s hill reservoir, and Highland Park.”

Addy Gammon Second Year Environmental Health and Safety

Katelyn Oleck

“I am a local to the Rochester area and I would say some of my favorite places to go are Record Archive and Aarons Alley.”

Second Year Photographic Sciences

The opinions expressed are solely those of the students and do not reflect the views of Views 15

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