Passport to Leadership

Meal of the week: a ten second review of dining hall food
No picture this week :'(
Mahi mahi. $5.95 with one side of veggies or rice. You can have both sides for an additional $1.75
Where/when: OVT for lunch, 3/11
Delicious? For one, I loved both sides very much--fried rice and broccoli with carrots! Instead of dreading the side or rice or veggies or another, I gobbled it all down with gusto. The fish itself was nicely spiced and flavored and a lot less dry than other fish dishes.

Leadership's always a little tricky to obtain, especially for those who entered college with very little experience in leadership positions (ahem--like me). Prior leadership experience is often strongly recommended when applying for current leadership opportunities--it's kind of a vicious and never ending cycle. However, when I asked my RA and my Orientation Leader for advice or leadership opportunities on campus, they actually directed me to a lot of places and events that would help you learn and develop leadership ability. I'd like to share the ton of resources that UCSD offers to people who want to get more involved in the community or better their leadership skills.

1) Passport to Leadership
This program offers a series of rather informal workshops, which anyone can drop in on. I attended one this quarter about using inclusive vs exclusive language. The workshop leader taught the importance of using inclusive language in a group setting or giving a speech and we participated in a series of activities exploring the impact the words we use have on us. They also offer other workshops on meditating conflict, making ethical decisions and becoming more culturally sensitive, just to name a few. And if you register and attend a certain number of workshops, you get a certificate for your effort!

2) Center for Communication and Leadership (CCL)
CCL offers quarter-long noncredit programs ranging from public speaking to interpersonal skills. For graduate students, they also offer a program on presentational skills! You have to apply at the site I linked and spaces are limited.

3) On-campus organizations
Not only do on-campus orgs let you get involved in your community and bond with people with similar interests (Quidditch, anyone?), they also offer opportunities to better your leadership skills by participating in club responsibilities and the like. My RA suggested that college-specific orgs (for example, SCORE in Marshall) are a good way to start if you don't want to tackle the huge list of orgs on campus linked here.

The Guardian

I'm not sure how many people on campus regularly read The Guardian. To be honest, I myself didn't really start reading it until this year. I feel like I missed out.

The Guardian, I think, is one of the best ways to really get to know UCSD and to really understand what's going on behind the scenes of the school, letting students know what's going on with new administration policies and rules and fee increases and much more.

But not everyone is interested in the political stuff. I'm not. Although I do try to be.

I like flipping over to the Opinion section. There, I read what students are really talking, what really going on in the minds of my peers, although probably much more elegantly said.

One of the Opinion columnists wrote in the latest issue of the Guardian about how they're graduating next year, like myself, and have no idea what they want to do afterwards. It's nice to feel like you're not alone in this life-boat of uncertainty and bewilderment.

Another column that I always really enjoy is Cheryl Hori's "Change of Pace." Each week, she writes about trying to change one of her bad habits and what kind of changes she sees. It's pretty interesting and I love all the outcomes and little life lessons you get out of her stories.

Anyway, The Guardian is great. I highly recommend perusing it next time you see and stand or a copy flowing in the wind near the campus loop stop near Peterson Hall where for some reason there's always a ton of them floating around.

If you're not into the columns or the politics... the Lights and Sirens will never fail you!

"7:31 p.m.: Medical aid

▶ A male in his 50s, possibly a

professor, was bleeding from his head

at Pacific Hall. He said he had the

stomach flu and kept falling several

times. Information only."

Early Morning Hunger Monkey Jumping on Your Back?

Hey everyone,

First, a quick announcement- the Lacrosse team is having an opening home game on Saturday at Warren field against Biola.  For more information, visit http://sportsclubs.ucsd.edu/sports/teams/lacrossem/schedule.php.

Second, I hate waking up early.  There's a kind of two part hatred involved- the fact that I have to drag myself out of bed before I am physically ready to function and the forethought required to put myself to bed at a decent hour the night before.  It's tough to say which one is less enjoyable.  Either way, if you find yourself in my position, forced out of the house in the AM, it can be difficult to find breakfast.  Many dining halls are closed and I heard a rumor that Earl's Place had stopped serving breakfast items.  I'll make it easy on you: OVT, ERC's cafe, Earl's Place, Revelle's cafe, and Pines all open at 7AM, so next time you have a reason to be out and about super early in the morning and can't find an open dining hall (mainly for all of you sixth college residents)  stop by one of these places and grab a bite.

Stay Classy San Diego