JagGuide

The one thing I've learned about myself since I've become a Jag is that I am very studious. I've taken my grades very seriously because I was so determined to be accepted into the college of nursing here at South. Luckily, it paid off and I was accepted into the college of nursing this week! Studying does pay off and it is totally worth it. So, grab a spot at the Marx Library and get to studying!                             

Two and a half years ago, I was preparing to go off to college. The one piece of advice I would've given myself is to learn how to study more efficiently. Studying is one of the most important things you will do in college in order to get the grades you desire. If you're a full time student you will be juggling fifteen or more credit hours each semester. So, you will need to learn how to spread out your studying so that you study for all of your classes rather than just focusing on only one or two classes. It can seem scary in the beginning but I have found that utilizing a planner is a great way to stay on target! You can also make it easier on yourself and plan out specific times that you will do for everything, that means even scheduling your eating or even your relaxation time. College is an exciting new chapter in life just remember to study!                            

Spring semester is coming to an end and Fall semester for first time freshman is approaching fast! Here are a few of the things that I think are helpful for that transition. 1. Keep those grades up It's the end of the year and you're probably immersed in all of the senior activities at your high school which is awesome, but just remember to not slack off for these last few weeks! 2. Make sure you have everything squared away Don't forget to sign up for things like housing and orientation! These should be a top priority on your list. 3. Brush up on your studying skills Sure, you were able to get good grades in high school but when you come to college you have to make sure you have a routine down because exams can sneak up quick if you're not paying attention! 4. Meet future Jags! A great time to meet some of your future classmates is at orientation, especially because you'll be grouped with your major so you already have something in common! 5. Cherish ...

It's finally Spring! The weather is getting warmer and I have taken advantage of that and gone on a few hikes at South Alabama's Glenn Sebastian Nature Trail! The trail has actually been apart of South Alabama for around 30 years and has many different lengths of trails to go on! The reason I love the nature trail is because it's a great place for me to go and relax after a long day of classes and it helps clear my head. I also love taking pictures of the swamp area right next to the opening of the trails which has a bridge going across it so you're able to see the water lilies up close and you may even get to spot an alligator! You can check out some of those pictures below!                                                                                         ...

A great way to get involved when your're in college is to volunteer! Many of the clubs on campus incorporate volunteering because it is important to get volunteer hours and they look great on resumes! You can also get involved with volunteering individually. There are many places that need volunteers including food banks, animal rescue places, and even some local businesses. I personally like to volunteer when I go back home to Huntsville and I usually either volunteer at A New Leash on Life (animal rescuer) or Manna House which is a food/clothing/hygiene distribution center. I think it's important to volunteer because it is simply the right thing to do to help out the community and you can also meet really great people in the process. So, what are you waiting for? Go volunteer!

When you're a college student your life is filled with so many twists and turns and some weeks may be super busy and some may be super laid back. Although, I try to make my weeks a little bit of both, here's a look at a week in my life as a student at South Alabama! Here's what me and my friends had when we went out for a small girls trip to Fairhope! Game night is a great way to relieve stress after a long day of classes! You also can't forget about studying! Personally I occasionally like a change of scenery and love to go to Gulf Shores and study on the beach! If you live in Mobile, you're going to love going to all of the Mardi Gras parades! Me and my friends actually have a detailed schedule just to fit in parades with our studying! And finally, to end off the week me and my friends had a great time helping future students learn more about USA!

When you're in college studying is a pretty big part of your life, so I've compiled a list of some of my favorite spots to hangout and study! 1. Marx Library This is a given since it is right on campus.They have plenty of group study rooms with white boards and some even have TV's for when you're practicing for a presentation or when you're studying with a large group of people! 2. Starbucks in the Marx Library This Starbucks has a perfect atmosphere for studying and the staff there are amazing, plus most of them always greet me and my friends by our names! Stop by and check them out! 3. Carpe Diem Coffee & Tea Co. This is a cute little coffee shop just down the road from South. They have a lot of seating and it's a perfect atmosphere to study or just have a cup of coffee/tea with your friends! They also have little desserts. 4. The Southern Grind Coffee House This one you may have to drive a little to get to but when you need a change of...

                College is a great place to really find yourself and learn new things along the way. Ever since I've been at college, I have learned to handle things on my own and I have become more responsible for my activities. Even though I don't live at home anymore, I still have to make sure I set aside time for my homework and studying and make sure I get enough sleep every night. College has also made me a lot more independent because I'm a young adult and I have to take things into my own hands even if it's as little as setting up and going to a doctors appointment. Most importantly, college has taught me to be a lot more diligent which helps not only with school but with life in general. Overall, college is a great place to begin your journey as a young adult and take some time to really bloom and become yourself.

Going to college is a huge step in life and moving to a new place for college is huge leap. No worries though, here are some of the things I've done to make college in Mobile feel a little more homey. 1. Go to college with friends I was lucky enough to come to South along with about 6 of my friends from high school, so, automatically I had a piece of home with me. What made it even better is that I now room with 3 of those friends in an apartment! 2. Bring your favorite stuffed animal Maybe I'm the only one who has a stuffed animal, but I brought my stuffed monkey Rafiki with me and he reminds me of being at home with my family. So, if you got one, bring it! 3. Decorate! One of my favorite things to do is decorate my room, so be sure to make your room feel as homey as possible for when you just need to relax after a long day of classes. Try even bring some decor from your old room at home to make it extra homey. 4. Have friends come visit This is super im...

As a nursing student I have to take two anatomy and physiology classes. The first class of anatomy and physiology was great because I loved my professor and I loved learning all about the human body and its functions. That's why this semester I am so excited to be taking the second anatomy and physiology class. I also enjoy this class because it makes me feel like I am already becoming a nurse because everything we learn will still be important when I actually become a nurse. I also love the class because I'm in the class with three of my best friends! Although, I will be sad to end this semester since I wont be in anatomy and physiology anymore, but, I'll be off to nursing school officially!                                

It's Christmas break!! Well... Almost, I just have to get through my finals! Once finals are over I'll be heading all the way back to Huntsville, Alabama. Once I get there, I get to dog sit for my best friend, so I'll have the house all to myself while also getting to cuddle with a bunch of dogs! I personally think that's a great way to start off my break. After that, I'll be heading to Charleston, South Carolina to go see my sister and my niece! It'll be nice to finally spend Christmas with her again. After Christmas, I'll be heading back home to see all of my best friends from high school! We plan on going to eat at our old favorite spot, Cafe 302, then after we'll be heading to top golf! We also plan to go ice skating some other time. Finally, for New Years Eve, since I went to college with a bunch of my friends from high school, we'll be getting together at my best friends house to celebrate the new year and all of the new years resolutions w...

The main reason I came to South was because of their Nursing school. So, I figured I'd just share a few of the things that make South Alabama's Nursing school so great! 1. South has a variety of different degrees to obtain for Nursing such as a Bachelors degree, a Masters degree, and even a Doctoral degree! To add to this, they also have a variety of online programs to get your degree if you aren't able to fit going to class into your schedule! 2. The College of Nursing has state of the art equipment for simulations and labs which is very important in order to get hands on learning. South also has two university affiliated hospitals, the newly named University Hospital (previously known as USA Medical Center) and USA Womens and Childrens. These serve as a great place for USA Nursing students to get their clinical hours and possibly even jobs after college! 3. South Alabama's BSN program is one of the best places to get your Bachelors degree in Alabama with a very a...

This is just a little look into my life here at South Alabama! Monday's are always pretty slow, although, what made it better was that I have my favorite classes on Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays! Anatomy & Physiology and Microbiology are the only classes I had and once I got out of class me and my roommate went grocery shopping for the week! After that, I had about an hour to hang out around the apartment, then it was time for work. Once I was done with that I headed to the library and studied for anatomy until 1 AM. Bleh! Tuesdays are pretty nice because I don't have class until 12:30 so I was able to sleep in! Then I left to go to Philosophy and History, which was nice because I got my essay graded and got an A! Then, after class I went to my apartment to eat and watch Shane Dawson's series on Jake Paul and after I headed to work. After work it was time to head to the library to continue studying till 1 AM. Finally, it's Wednesday and I, again, go to my c...

These are just a few fun facts about me, enjoy! 1. I'm From Huntsville, Alabama Technically I was born in Maryland but I call Huntsville my home since I've lived there most of my life. 2. I Have 8 Pets! Yes, eight pets. Three dogs, four chickens, and finally the newest addition to my family, a bearded dragon! 3. I Enjoy Mountain Biking I got into mountain biking around the end of middle school and absolutely fell in love with it. I even helped create a mountain biking team at my high school in which I competed in NICA and got state champ my freshman year! 4. I'm a Nursing Major I used to want to be a doctor when I was growing up but after I shadowed some nurses in the ER, I knew that I wanted to become a trauma nurse! 5. University of South Alabama Is My Home Away From Home Upon coming to South in the Fall of 2017, I knew that I was going to dread going back home for breaks/summer because I loved the campus and Mobile so much. Especially during Mardi Gra...

I'll never forget my first visit to South Alabama, it was the start of a new chapter in my life. The first time I had ever visited South was for Orientation! This was also the first time I had been to Mobile so it was super exciting to see where I would be living for the next four years. The thing that caught my eye was all of the palm trees scattered around the campus, this made it feel like I was kind of going to school in my own little paradise. Another thing that caught my eye was how South is such a great size for a University, not too small and not too big. This made it possible to walk to everything on campus such as the rec, the caf, the library, and, of course, class! I was really impressed with how well the staff and students who were helping with orientation handled things. They were all very friendly and extremely helpful with all the questions that I had. It was also really nice that we were able to register for classes with the help of the academic counselors beca...

It's finally fall break this week and it couldn't have come at a better time! Some things I've learned from being a college student is that it is important to take time for yourself and friends every once in a while and fall break is the perfect time! So, I've compiled a list of 5 things that are important in order to decompress for fall break! 1. Go to the Beach!! This, of course, is number one on my list, who doesn't love the beach? One of the reasons I love South is because it's so close to the gulf and you have so many options for which beaches to go to! 2. Take time to yourself This is especially important since you should always take time to reflect on how your life/school is going so far and to see if you need to make any improvements in your everyday life. 3. Netflix it up Binge your favorite TV show and just take some time to lay in bed all day because after all those nights at the library, you deserve it. 4. Make your favorite food! Dur...

Senior year of high school was a blur, people always told me it would be over before I knew it and they were right. Although it was a blur I still had to make sure everything was going according to plan in order for me to be able to attend South in the Fall. I compiled a list of 5 things that senior in high school should be doing to prepare for their freshman year of college. 1. Focus on your grades! I can't begin to tell you how important this one is. My senior year I needed to work my tail off in order to get the GPA I needed to get a scholarship at South, which meant forfeiting some time with friends. But that's okay! The scholarship is worth it. 2. Find time for friends Yes, this is sort of contradicting the first one but it is also important. Many of your friends will be going off to different schools and it will be hard to see them in the future. So take time to cherish those moments. 3. Think about whether or not you can handle a job freshman year My freshman...

Applying to your dream college can be nerve-racking, but the moment you get that acceptance letter, everything changes. All the hard work in high school finally paid off and you'll be off to college in no time. I was in New York visiting family when I woke up to a text from my dad, it was a picture of my acceptance letter! I jumped out of bed and ran downstairs to show my family and everyone was so excited for me. I was especially excited because I was rewarded the Presidential Scholarship which would give me $3,500 a year! I think that applying to the University of South Alabama was the best choice and the faculty made the process very easy and straight-forward which I was very thankful for. So don't wait, apply today!

Hello, my name is Nikki and I'm a sophomore here at South Alabama. I knew early on in high school that the University of South Alabama would be the college I would attend, in fact it was the only college I applied to! I had known that I wanted to be trauma nurse when I grew up so I had looked into colleges in Alabama that would give me the best education for that and that led me to South. Plus, another great thing about South is that it's an hour away from Gulf Shores! Upon attending, I knew that I had made the right choice because the faculty/staff have been incredibly helpful in ensuring that I get the best education in order to fulfill my dream of being a trauma nurse.