Inside Guide to Life at Le Moyne

There are SO many clubs and organizations that you can join as soon as you get here! I didn’t end up joining anything until my sophomore year, and it’s something I regret. It’s hands down the best way to meet people. If you’re sort of shy like I am, I can tell you it definitely works. I joined LSPB (the student programming board) as a general board member in my sophomore year. This position has opened so many doors for me, including doing work for other offices on campus, networking, and helping improve my communications resume. As a club, we put on events every single weekend, and being on the inside of the job is really fun. It keeps you in the loop and keeps you busy!

There are so many other clubs, organizations, intramural and club sports, and jobs you can find! Club sports are so fun, and can help if you played a sport in high school but don’t want to play on any of the varsity sports here. I got a work study job by e-mailing one of my professors and asking if they needed someone to be a lab monitor. If you don’t get a work study job right away, nothing is stopping you from finding your own! If you don’t think joining a club or organization is for you, then just attending the events and sporting events is another awesome way to meet people and feel like a part of the community. There are live musicians, bus trips, movies, games, trivia, dances, and fun tournaments (like whiffle ball and kick ball) every weekend to be a part of only for a day.

I suggest finding something about you that sets you apart from other people. Do you have a talent, interest, or skill set that would be applicable for a particular group? How could this translate to a job? Create your own niche. Something so awesome about Le Moyne is that since it’s so small, you have the ability to stand out. There aren’t 15 thousand people who are all just a number.

Something that I knew nothing about before coming to Le Moyne were the literally hundreds of ways to get involved, have fun, and make a difference on campus. Start finding your passion. And never forget that you’re YOU, and that’s your biggest selling point.

As a college student, I’ve discovered that we get so caught up in other things that we lose sight of our priorities and postpone them until later! Procrastination is not someone you want to befriend. For me, the keys to avoiding procrastination were consistency and organization. My best friend is a planner; breaking down your job into manageable chunks each day will always result in success!

I understand that sometimes we just show up for class, take notes, finish the assignment, and then leave. However, it is also critical that you introduce yourself to your professors. Your professors want to get to know you as well as teach you. I now have mentors, excellent future references, and connections as well. All I had to do was push myself out of my comfort zone and introduce myself! You never know how much your professors contribute to your development until you introduce yourself.

When we receive a lower-than-expected grade on an assignment, we can be harsh on ourselves. As a result, we become overwhelmed by negative emotions and lose hope. For me, it was necessary to accept that one bad grade at the beginning of the semester did not set the tone for the rest of the semester. In college, time flies by; one day squandered could have been a great day to do better!

We are frequently so preoccupied with our academics and studying in college….that we forget to do the things we enjoy, such as branching out and meeting new people. So far, I’ve discovered that spending time with my peers has assisted me in reducing stress. I understand that we have limited free time as students, but one thing I always do is have lunch dates with my peers, which do not take up a large portion of my time. We find an afternoon that works for both of us and catch up on life, laugh, and RELAX! Lunch dates are without a doubt the highlight of my hectic day, or even week.

Enjoy every second of your college experience, good or bad. You’ve got this!

Beginning in the last week of November, the city opens their outdoor ice-rink downtown. The rink is open until the beginning of March. Admission is fairly cheap, and you can rent skates right there. During the holiday season, you can attend the annual Christmas tree-lighting next to the rink.

Westcott Neighborhood, with their motto “Keep Westcott Weird”, is a diverse community with a love for arts and culture. If you visit Wescott, be sure to stop by Recess Coffee for a Nutella latte, or head to Alto Cinco for a burrito. Check out the annual Westcott Street Cultural Fair for unique art, food, and live performances and cultural activities. The neighborhood is also home to the Westcott Theatre, a cinema-style concert and performing arts venue where you can catch cool shows.

Located in downtown Syracuse, Armory Square is filled with shops, restaurants, bars and pubs, and cafés. Also located in Armory Square is the Landmark Theatre, where you can see big shows like Wicked, and the Museum of Science & Technology, which has an IMAX theatre that showcases incredible scientific movies.

The Everson is located in downtown Syracuse across from the War Memorial. In addition to awesome art exhibits, the Everson holds special film events, talks and lectures, public tours, art trips, and community events.

A quintessential Central New York experience, this orchard has been family-owned since 1911. Beak & Skiff offers apple picking, a 1911 Distillery tasting room, and a café. It’s a fun, family-friendly spot with gorgeous views of the surrounding hills.  Insider tip: Don’t leave without trying their famous apple cider and hard cider.

Don’t just look at events on campus; be sure to check out the local culture as well. There are plenty of great restaurants, music venues, coffee shops and stores in Syracuse if you want to get off campus and explore for a day. Go see a band at the Westcott Theater and get some food at Rise N Shine, or grab a Nutella Latte at Recess Coffee.