Hello! I'm Joanne Min and I'm a work-studies student at the front desk of the Bechtel International Center. I am a first year (soon to be second!) communications major and Pacific Legal Scholar (Pacific's pre-law program). Came to Stockton from Orange County in Southern California and love it here.
My first year here, I've challenged myself to be flexible: physically, mentally, and emotionally. To achieve physical flexibility I started training myself to do the splits. I've trained in taekwondo while I was in junior high, but due to my tight hamstrings, I've only successfully split on one occasion! For those ten seconds I held the split position, I've never felt more accomplishment hahah! I practiced three times a week doing butterflies and hamstring stretches BUT first semester finals came along!! For three weeks I studied studied studied!
That's mental flexibility. I had to put down my stubborn drive to do the splits in order to prepare for my first set of finals. Mental flexibility gets you places, I'm telling you. It helps you go from one goal to the next and prioritize your life along the way. In order to achieve mental flexibility I really had to work. "Focus on public speaking for 30 more minutes. THEN you can go satisfy your hunger." Oh yeah. That was tough man. But so worth it.
Even though I was away from home and in my own Pacific bubble with my lovely friends and hot meals made to order, STUFF happens. REAL stuff. Like family troubles and friend troubles and uncertainties. Things like that. I'm telling you, people don't stop just because STUFF happens to you. I've had to learn how to go from crying my eyes out on the phone with my mom to delivering a speech for Public Speaking with less than thirty minutes in between.
I may not have felt the accomplishment from doing the splits, but by going through first year determined to learn flexibility I came out with so much more. First year is OVER, but what I've learned from it will stay.
Don't forget to stretch,
Joanne Min
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Chat with your Residence Assistant!
Hello prospective international students,
I am Thanh Do. Today we are meeting Kendra - an awesome student at Pacific. She is also a Resident Assistant (RA) for the Global Living-Learning Community (GLLC) in South West. We are having a really cool conversation about Pacific, living on campus, and campus life.
Thanh: hi Kendra! How are you?
Kendra: hey Thanh!I'm good. How are you?
Thanh: I'm good. Thanks. How was the banquet yesterday? (Kendra had a banquet for seniors the previous)
Kendra:javascript:void(0) oh.. it was good! a lot of fun, it was cool being with all the sisters and the professors in one room
Thanh: where was it?
Kendra: it was at the resturant Saigon. Its actually a vietnamese restuarant..
Thanh: i haven't been there i think
Kendra: it was good. I reccommend it
Thanh: where is it? How can I get there? Is it far from school?
Kendra: it's down the street. Someone drove us, but it's not that far. But it's on miracle mile, across from the coffee shop
Thanh: wow, that's cool. Are there a lot of places around here to go at weekends? Any recommendation? Restaurant, recreation, or malls?
Kendra: umm. There is a variety of foods here in stockton, some close -- some not so close, just on miracle mile there is thai, vietnamese, a french crepe place and a sandwich shop. So there is a wide variety --
as in activities.. there is a lot this weekend, but I am not so sure about most of the time
Thanh: you live in stockton right?
Kendra: yeah, I am kind of from Stockton -- my family lives right down the street
Thanh: nice. What do you think about living on campus? Why do you choose to live on campus instead?
Kendra: i enjoy living on campus a lot to get to the know pacific students, the campus and to get the whole college feel. Plus the community here on campus is awesome. Plus being at home is not always the easiest thing.I am 22 and i love to have my independence that i have here at school.
Thanh: I see. You have a really nice single room :D
Kendra: Thanks, one of the many perks of being an RA
Thanh: How long have you been an RA?
Kendra: This is my second year
Thanh: Do you like to be an RA? What exactly is an RA?
Kendra: I love being an ra. I say that being an RA and studying abroad were the best two decisions i made while in college.. Being an RA just means that you are there for the residents, help them transition into college life (freshman res hall), reach out and help students with all their needs. It's a lot of fun because you get to meet so many people
Thanh: RA in our residence halls are super nice. Is there any event coming up in south west?
Kendra: yes! tomorrow we are having a dodge ball tournament against Grace. And next week we are having a film festival -- so a movie at 8 everynight.
Thanh: wow, that is awesome. I remember we had a "music and laugh" night, and south west olympic right? How were they?
Kendra: They were good. The music and laughs had a lot of people show up and perform, which was awesome!
Thanh: What did they perform? Guitar?
Kendra: guitar... singing... jokes...
Thanh: that's awesome. How about the olympic?
Kendra: it was interesting and fun. It was a bonding time
Thanh: sounds fun! Okay, my last question for today. Do you have any advice for incoming international students? like, acdemics, or life on campus, or, anything?
Kendra: be willing to put yourself out there -- its hard, sometimes frustrating but try to get involved with different activities on campus, its the best way to meet people
Thanh: I totally agree! Thank you so much Kendra. Have a nice weekend!
Kendra: Thanks, you too!
I am Thanh Do. Today we are meeting Kendra - an awesome student at Pacific. She is also a Resident Assistant (RA) for the Global Living-Learning Community (GLLC) in South West. We are having a really cool conversation about Pacific, living on campus, and campus life.
Thanh: hi Kendra! How are you?
Kendra: hey Thanh!I'm good. How are you?
Thanh: I'm good. Thanks. How was the banquet yesterday? (Kendra had a banquet for seniors the previous)
Kendra:javascript:void(0) oh.. it was good! a lot of fun, it was cool being with all the sisters and the professors in one room
Thanh: where was it?
Kendra: it was at the resturant Saigon. Its actually a vietnamese restuarant..
Thanh: i haven't been there i think
Kendra: it was good. I reccommend it
Thanh: where is it? How can I get there? Is it far from school?
Kendra: it's down the street. Someone drove us, but it's not that far. But it's on miracle mile, across from the coffee shop
Thanh: wow, that's cool. Are there a lot of places around here to go at weekends? Any recommendation? Restaurant, recreation, or malls?
Kendra: umm. There is a variety of foods here in stockton, some close -- some not so close, just on miracle mile there is thai, vietnamese, a french crepe place and a sandwich shop. So there is a wide variety --
as in activities.. there is a lot this weekend, but I am not so sure about most of the time
Thanh: you live in stockton right?
Kendra: yeah, I am kind of from Stockton -- my family lives right down the street
Thanh: nice. What do you think about living on campus? Why do you choose to live on campus instead?
Kendra: i enjoy living on campus a lot to get to the know pacific students, the campus and to get the whole college feel. Plus the community here on campus is awesome. Plus being at home is not always the easiest thing.I am 22 and i love to have my independence that i have here at school.
Thanh: I see. You have a really nice single room :D
Kendra: Thanks, one of the many perks of being an RA
Thanh: How long have you been an RA?
Kendra: This is my second year
Thanh: Do you like to be an RA? What exactly is an RA?
Kendra: I love being an ra. I say that being an RA and studying abroad were the best two decisions i made while in college.. Being an RA just means that you are there for the residents, help them transition into college life (freshman res hall), reach out and help students with all their needs. It's a lot of fun because you get to meet so many people
Thanh: RA in our residence halls are super nice. Is there any event coming up in south west?
Kendra: yes! tomorrow we are having a dodge ball tournament against Grace. And next week we are having a film festival -- so a movie at 8 everynight.
Thanh: wow, that is awesome. I remember we had a "music and laugh" night, and south west olympic right? How were they?
Kendra: They were good. The music and laughs had a lot of people show up and perform, which was awesome!
Thanh: What did they perform? Guitar?
Kendra: guitar... singing... jokes...
Thanh: that's awesome. How about the olympic?
Kendra: it was interesting and fun. It was a bonding time
Thanh: sounds fun! Okay, my last question for today. Do you have any advice for incoming international students? like, acdemics, or life on campus, or, anything?
Kendra: be willing to put yourself out there -- its hard, sometimes frustrating but try to get involved with different activities on campus, its the best way to meet people
Thanh: I totally agree! Thank you so much Kendra. Have a nice weekend!
Kendra: Thanks, you too!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Frequently Asked Questions
Hello prospective students,
I am Thanh Do - International Student Ambassadors. The deadline to confirm admissions is coming very soon. New students have been asking me lots of questions about coming to Pacific. So here are most common questions. If you had any other question, please feel free to contact us. We, International Student Ambassadors, are more than happy to help you. I hope to see you soon!
Q: Do I have to turn in the Housing Contract?
A: Yes, it is very important that you turn in the Housing Contract and the Housing Assignment Request form on time. The Office of Housing & Greek Life will review your materials and arrange your housing only after they receive these documents.
Q: Is there any other way to turn in the Housing Contract instead of mailing, because it might take a while in order for Pacific to receive my documents?
A: You may fax copies to the International Programs & Services (IPS) office at (209)946-2094 for immediate delivery, but you must also mail the original copy to Housing. Another option is to scan your documents and email them to Housing. If you are ever in doubt, keep in contact with the IPS staff - specifically David, Kathy or Kristina - and they can help you with these procedures.
Q: Do most freshmen live in South West Hall?
A: No, there are other residence halls that are designed for freshmen. Eiselen, Ritter, and some other dorms in The Quad are good examples. Freshmen also live in Grace Covell Hall. However, most residents in South West are freshmen.
Q: Can I live off campus?
A: No. You have to have family/relatives/guardians living within 50 miles from school in order to request to live off campus. In addition, it is much better for international students to live on campus in their first year because it helps you adjust better to a different environment from your hometown. Living on campus also provides you convenient access to university facilities and resources. Moreover, living on campus helps you feel more comfortable attending meetings in the evening sometimes.
Q: How far is it from residence halls to class?
A: It is not far. You can walk to class. It takes about 5-10 minutes depending on where your dorm is. However, I am sure that walking and enjoying the beauty of our campus is very relaxing!
Q: When can I arrive at Pacific ?
A: The official move-in day for on-campus housing is Monday, August 17th. You are more than welcome to arrive to Stockton earlier than August 17, but you must reside off campus (at a hotel or with family/friends) until International Student Move-In Day on Monday, August 17th. As soon as you finalize your travel plans, please send IPS your Arrival Notification Form. Visit http://web.pacific.edu/x4481.xml for a PDF download of this form.
Q: How can I register for classes ?
A: After you come here, you will attend International Student Orientation on Tuesday, August 18th and the General Student Orientation from August 19th to August 20th. This is when you will meet your Academic Advisor who will help you register for appropriate classes.
I am Thanh Do - International Student Ambassadors. The deadline to confirm admissions is coming very soon. New students have been asking me lots of questions about coming to Pacific. So here are most common questions. If you had any other question, please feel free to contact us. We, International Student Ambassadors, are more than happy to help you. I hope to see you soon!
Q: Do I have to turn in the Housing Contract?
A: Yes, it is very important that you turn in the Housing Contract and the Housing Assignment Request form on time. The Office of Housing & Greek Life will review your materials and arrange your housing only after they receive these documents.
Q: Is there any other way to turn in the Housing Contract instead of mailing, because it might take a while in order for Pacific to receive my documents?
A: You may fax copies to the International Programs & Services (IPS) office at (209)946-2094 for immediate delivery, but you must also mail the original copy to Housing. Another option is to scan your documents and email them to Housing. If you are ever in doubt, keep in contact with the IPS staff - specifically David, Kathy or Kristina - and they can help you with these procedures.
Q: Do most freshmen live in South West Hall?
A: No, there are other residence halls that are designed for freshmen. Eiselen, Ritter, and some other dorms in The Quad are good examples. Freshmen also live in Grace Covell Hall. However, most residents in South West are freshmen.
Q: Can I live off campus?
A: No. You have to have family/relatives/guardians living within 50 miles from school in order to request to live off campus. In addition, it is much better for international students to live on campus in their first year because it helps you adjust better to a different environment from your hometown. Living on campus also provides you convenient access to university facilities and resources. Moreover, living on campus helps you feel more comfortable attending meetings in the evening sometimes.
Q: How far is it from residence halls to class?
A: It is not far. You can walk to class. It takes about 5-10 minutes depending on where your dorm is. However, I am sure that walking and enjoying the beauty of our campus is very relaxing!
Q: When can I arrive at Pacific ?
A: The official move-in day for on-campus housing is Monday, August 17th. You are more than welcome to arrive to Stockton earlier than August 17, but you must reside off campus (at a hotel or with family/friends) until International Student Move-In Day on Monday, August 17th. As soon as you finalize your travel plans, please send IPS your Arrival Notification Form. Visit http://web.pacific.edu/x4481.xml for a PDF download of this form.
Q: How can I register for classes ?
A: After you come here, you will attend International Student Orientation on Tuesday, August 18th and the General Student Orientation from August 19th to August 20th. This is when you will meet your Academic Advisor who will help you register for appropriate classes.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Spring Break Features!
Happy April, prospective students.
It's been a while since we last posted on the blog, but don't worry, we haven't abandoned you readers. March was a busy month for the ISAs, but we have several posts planned for April, so keep visiting the site for updates.
Here are a few photos from Zachary, an ISA and 1st year student from Guangzhou, China, documenting his spring break adventures. He spent the week in Houston, Texas, with two other 1st year students at Pacific, Karina and Kevin, both from Wuhan, China. They visited the NASA Saturn V Museum, attended a Houston Rockets NBA basketball game, and visited the grand Toyota Center.
Another group of international students ventured to Los Angeles for spring break. Here are a few photos from Jerry, an ISA and 1st year Taiwanese student from Hong Kong.
Photo 1: Dorothy and Sandra try out new wands in the Disney store.
Photo 2: A big group photo in the Disney store! (From left to right - Duxing, Dorothy, Haomin, Ivan, Jerry, and Jie)
Photo 3: Jerry, Ivan & Haomin make celebrity friends in Hollywood. =o)
It's been a while since we last posted on the blog, but don't worry, we haven't abandoned you readers. March was a busy month for the ISAs, but we have several posts planned for April, so keep visiting the site for updates.
Here are a few photos from Zachary, an ISA and 1st year student from Guangzhou, China, documenting his spring break adventures. He spent the week in Houston, Texas, with two other 1st year students at Pacific, Karina and Kevin, both from Wuhan, China. They visited the NASA Saturn V Museum, attended a Houston Rockets NBA basketball game, and visited the grand Toyota Center.
Another group of international students ventured to Los Angeles for spring break. Here are a few photos from Jerry, an ISA and 1st year Taiwanese student from Hong Kong.
Photo 1: Dorothy and Sandra try out new wands in the Disney store.
Photo 2: A big group photo in the Disney store! (From left to right - Duxing, Dorothy, Haomin, Ivan, Jerry, and Jie)
Photo 3: Jerry, Ivan & Haomin make celebrity friends in Hollywood. =o)
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