7 Secrets to A Positive Social Media Experience

Do you ever wonder what it would be like to be connected with your friends at all times? If so, have you ever thought about joining social media? People stay connected through social media every day! In fact, the number of people using social media is constantly increasing! There are so many different types of social media platforms to choose from.  I mean look at the picture above. Notice all of the different ways that one can talk about something as simple as donuts on social media!  All you really have to do sign up for the different platforms. That is the joy of most social media platforms, they are FREE!

So, social media is free and it keeps you in touch with your friends?! How can it get any better than that? It cannot. Social media truly is easy, and it does a great job of keeping people connected! However, that does not mean that you should sign up and just start using the platforms without being cautious of what you are doing on those platforms. Remember these platforms are on the internet, and what you put on the internet should be safe! Below are seven secrets that will help make your first time on social media a positive experience!

1.       Always keep your profile private

2.       Never accept people you do not know

3.       Post pictures, but do not become overly obsessive about it

4.       Never gossip about others on social media

5.       Keep your posts interesting

6.       Respond to other posts (i.e. like, retweet, share, comment, pin, etc.)

7.       Never share personal information on social media

These seven secrets are important things to keep in mind, no matter what type of social media platform that you choose to use. Take the time to enjoy the social media experience!  Do not let it take over your life though. In the end, social media should add to, and not replace your personal face to face relationships!

The Technological Reformation

This past week, I had the opportunity to listen to Dr. Rosen speak at the Mount's SPARC festival! It was the first speaker that I heard this year at the SPARC festival, and I was really excited to listen to what she had to say!  Her speech was centered on technology. Now, you are probably thinking that she spent the whole hour talking about the benefits of technology. At least that's what I first thought. Everything is about technology today! We start our day with technology, and end our day with technology! Is that really a good thing though? Should there be a limit on technology?

Dr. Rosen believes that there should be a limit. Dr. Rosen did not advocate for more technology. Instead, she addressed the impacts of technology on the world today. According to Dr. Rosen, technology is changing the way that we treat one another.  She believes that this change is not necessarily for the good.  In order to make her point, she uses the story of the "Good Samaritan." She believes that people no longer have the time to be "Good Samaritans" because they are so wrapped up in technology. I was very intrigued by her statement! Are we really that consumed by technology that we are failing to notice the people around us? Dr. Rosen explained that when an incident occurs, it is more likely for people to record the incident on their cell phones, before they actually call the police! Is this true? Would we really record the incident first? What happened to helping others as quickly as we can? I was getting frustrated, at the possibility of that happening! Documenting an incident should not be the first priority!

I agree with Dr. Rosen. We need to step back and live in the present. We cannot let technology take over our lives! However, this is not an easy thing to do in the world we live in today. It is a technological world! We are encouraged to utilize technology as much as possible. People want to use technology! Even the twenty-first century learners in today's elementary school classrooms want to be educated using technology! The problem is how do we put a limit on how much technology we use? Is that even possible or is technology going to shield us from other things that are going on in the world?

Check out the video below! It shows how students are begging teachers, like me; to use technology in their instruction. Children want to be immersed in technology! They want to be creative thinkers and problem solvers, but how much is too much? Where should teachers draw the line? What do you think?

Rain, Mud Sliding, and Laughter: The Recipe for A Memorable Mount Moment!

I bet you are probably wondering what mud sliding has to do with the Mount? It doesn't seem like something that you would normally relate to the University...? Well my favorite Mount Moment dealt with just that MUD SLIDING! This moment goes way back to the spring semester of my freshman year. It started off like any normal day at the Mount. The forecast called for rain. It was not uncommon to get rain in the spring at the Mount. In fact, it rains in the spring quite frequently, so nobody thought anything of it. Flood warnings flashed across television screens, and all the students at the Mount were alerted to be cautious of potential flooding on campus. I was hard to believe that it was actually going to flood though. I mean how many times do those alerts get sent out and nothing happens!? We all thought it was just another rainy day. However, we were wrong! Rain came pouring down, and the University began to flood. Water was running down the stairs like waterfalls, and the sidewalks were covered in water! One particular place that was significantly flooded on campus was Echo Field. Water was running down the hillsides of Echo Field, which formed a huge pool of water in the grass below. Now this was something that didn't happen everyday! I joined a bunch of other students and went out to go mud sliding down those hills on Echo Field. We quickly learned that Echo Field is great for both sledding and mud sliding! The night was filled with laughter and memories, which are still talked about today! We made the most out of a rainy day at the Mount, while enjoying each others' company!

This is just one of the many good memories that I had at Mount Saint Mary's University! I like this one the most because it shows how the community bonds even on rainy days! That's my favorite Mount moment! Do you have a favorite Mount moment involving the community at Mount Saint Mary's University?




The group smiling after mud sliding! #mountmoment


 

Is there a light at the end of this tunnel towards graduation?

 

"Sometimes just looking up and seeing the light is enough."
~Terri Guillemets

It is finally spring time! As I walk across campus I can just feel that spring is in the air. The weather is getting warmer. Students are outside grilling by the apartments, while listening to music with their friends. Others gather around the volleyball court, or find a picnic table to sit at and do some homework. It’s a wonderful time of the year! The whole campus is coming alive, as the trees and grass begin to gain their colors back. What is there not to love about the spring time? Usually my response would be nothing; I love everything about this time of the year. However, this year things are different. There is a little over one month till graduation and there is so much stuff to do and figure out. The word “application” seems to come up in almost every conversation. I can’t seem to escape the inevitable question “What are you doing after college?”  

Seriously, what am I doing after graduation? Well I know I want to be a teacher that’s not what troubles me about that question. It’s where will I teach at? What grade?  Will I stay in Maryland, or am I going back home to Pennsylvania? Where will I live? It’s almost impossible to find the answers to those small detailed questions at this point in time. All I can do is wait, wait, and wait. I keep telling myself that there is a light at the end of the tunnel! Every senior faces these big decisions right before graduation. To all graduating seniors, you’re not alone! We have almost reached the light! Who’s ready for graduation!?

The Introduction to My Story

So this is it! My mountain home, Mount Saint Mary's University! My name is Emily, and I am currently a senior at the Mount. For four years a chapter of my life has been written at Mount Saint Mary's University. Throughout those four years, I have had experiences that have shaped me into the person that I am today. I am writing this blog for my social media class, but I am excited to share my last adventures of college!  Aside from attending the Mount, one of my favorite things to do is swim. There is just something about being in the water...Some say that once you start swimming, you will NEVER be able to stop! In addition to swimming, I enjoy hanging out with my friends. I have met a lot of lifelong friends here at the Mount, who have really made a positive impact on my college experience. I am also a teacher. Following graduation, I hope to get a job teaching, and finally get to do what I have spent four years studying for. Overall, I am always up for new experiences, and I am excited to see where life will take me after graduation! That is a snapshot of my story! What's your story?