[ search ]
[ how do i? ]
[ e-mail forwarding ]
[ online services ]
About Us.Alumni Education.Alumni Groups.Awards ProgramCareer and Networking.Events.Get Involved.Member Center.Online Hub.Shopping.Sports.Penn State Travel Program.
 Get Involved.
   

FastStart: Spring, 2005 Newsletter
----------------------------------------------------------------
(written by members of the FastStart Student Advisory Group)

This issue includes:
FastStart Event Rundown
Penn State Trivia Challenge
Getting Fit for Summer
FastStart Advertisements
Upcoming Campus Events
Upcoming FastStart Events



FastStart Event Rundown

FastStart has been very active thus far. With full class schedules and other club activities, FastStart participants still took the time to relax and have some fun. Following are a few of the FastStart events that took place since last semester's newsletter.

Service is a Gift to All
By: Nancy Morisseau (Sophomore-Science)

Martin Luther King Day of Service
Martin Luther King Day of Service
CDT Photo/Michelle Klein
There was a lot of activity this January 17. It wasn't just any ordinary Monday. It was the Martin Luther King Day of Service. Many people allow this day to come and go, but a few students decided to take it to another level. Some students here at FastStart program participated in the day of service. A group of four students and FastStart advisor, Teresa Hilgren spent the day volunteering at Skills of Pa. a service provided for severely handicapped adults. We arrived around 9:30 a.m. and the day went from there. After we were oriented to what went on there, we began to interact with the clients. We first colored pictures that related to the civil rights movement, i.e. buses, MLK Jr.
Martin Luther King Day of Service
Martin Luther King Day of Service
CDT Photo/Michelle Klein
As we colored we talked with them about the significance of King. We were all in agreement that he played a significant role in making the world a better place. We also talked about Rosa Parks and others, and what they did for the civil rights movement. After much coloring and fun, it was time to go. We decided that the way to end such a great day was to read to the clients a short story about the civil rights movement, and end that with the Black national anthem. After leaving we all felt we spent the day in the best possible way, helping others. It was a great feeling and I am sure I speak for all the participants when I say that we look forward to another day of volunteering, and not just on MLK day, but anytime we can.

Etiquette, There's More to it Than You Would Think!
By: Betsy Roy (Junior-Kinesiology)

We have all faced the similar experience; you walk into a cocktail party where there are unfamiliar faces around you and the buffet table is bursting with tasty morsels and sinful desserts and you ask yourself "ok, so where do I begin?" For some, the first impulse may be to get a nametag and head straight to the buffet table. It doesn't seem like a bad idea in a more casual setting, but be aware that there are certain guidelines to follow if you are present in more of a business or formal setting. On February 16, 2005 Diana Zeisky, an etiquette coach, helped give us the tips to explore this often intimidating experience.

  1. First and foremost decide what you want to do with your cell phone. If you chose to bring it with you keep the phone on silent; leaving it on vibrate can still be a distraction.
  2. Arrive on time or a couple of minutes after the event has started. Although it may be thought so otherwise, there is nothing fashionable about being late in a professional setting.
  3. In applying your nametag, always place it on the right side. This way when you lean in to shake someone's hand they have a clear view of your name.
  4. When shaking someone's hand, extend your right hand, make eye contact, and smile. Remember it is always better to have a firm grip even if the other person responds with a weaker one.
  5. When striking up a conversation with someone, stick with the safe topics such as travel, movies, weather, food, etc. Religion and politics are touchy topics to engage in especially when meeting someone for the first time.
  6. We all need our three feet of comfort; especially around strangers. Allow 18-24 inches of space when conversing with others. If you find that someone is too close, discreetly take a step back to maintain your distance.

So far so good, but adding food to the mix will definitely make the situation more complicated.

  1. Don't overeat. Although we at FastStart encourage you to do the opposite at our events, if possible, try to eat something before attending a more formal function. The food at the reception should not be a substitute for your meal. Remember, just as much as you may be observing the actions of others they will surely be doing the same to you.
  2. Understand the balancing act of utensils and plates. Glassware and plates should be balanced in the left hand so as to leave your right hand open for handshakes and make sure your plate is not overflowing with food.
  3. The food may appear tempting but use that will power and stick to the easy to eat foods; it just makes for a less messy experience.

Now that you are equipped with the proper etiquette tools, forge ahead with confidence in your future formal/professional gatherings.

FastStart Ice Skating Party 2005
By Jeney Joseph (Junior-Marketing)

Ice skating party
What better way to spend the last day of winter except in the ice rink. FastStart held their annual Ice Skating Party Saturday March 19 in the Greenberg Ice Skating Rink. We had a respectable number of mentors and proteges attend; in fact, a few of our mentors even brought along their children to join in with the festivities. As many of the mentors tied on their skates, they shared stories of earlier times of when they too spent their winters gliding on thick, shiny sheets of ice. We even found out that our very own Teresa Hilgren grew up in Alaska. So, putting on a pair of skates struck up fond memories of her childhood and when she used to spend her time in the scenic, outdoor ponds of Alaska.

After about an hour of skating, we all joined back to eat some pizza and snacks. FastStart organized a contest for that afternoon, where the two people who fell the most number of times would receive a Penn State hat as a prize. Congratulations to Dawitt Shermeka, who fell two times and to Tom Cawley's young daughter, who fell two times as well. As we neared the end of the afternoon, it was time to have some delicious hot chocolate, a FastStart tradition. In the end, we all gathered around on that last day of winter with our steaming cups of hot chocolate in hand.

 

[ homepage ]|[ penn state ]|[ site map ]|[ contact us ]
© The Penn State Alumni Association • Hintz Family Alumni Center • University Park, PA 16802
webmaster@alumni.psu.edu • 800-548-LION (5466)