Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Ibrahim's Blog Died today, it's death is mourned by all

Today marks a tragic day for Ibrahim's blog. It has finally reached it's end. The death of Ibrahim's Blog will be mourned for a while, but the life of the blog will live on forever (or at least until the server crashes).

As we mourn the loss of this wonderful blog, let us remember the good times. Let us remember the happy times. The blog spoke so much good, taught us how to spend our spring break the right way. It allowed us into the lives of Ibrahim. We got first hand experiences of what it's like to take a 20 hour semester. And we even laughed a time or two.

Ibrahim will move on. He has a future of applying to graduate school and finding things to do in his year off to keep him busy. He will go on to do great things. But his blog will never be forgotten. It will always have a place in his heart, as well as a place in many of ours.

Rest in peace Ibrahim's Blog, your job is done now.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

WHelping Others Is The Key to Success

Recently I started my application to graduate school.  I'm applying to Physician Assistant school, which is more or less a condensed version of medical school designed to create P.A.s, who can in turn become the physician's "right hand man."  Because there is so much responsibility, and because Physician Assistants go through such vigorous training, I'm sure you can imagine that getting into such a program is generally a rigorous process.
Pound for pound, I stack up well with the average accepted student.  I started off my college career a little weak since I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life.  But once I got to UHCL things started to click and I started taking greater responsibility for my academic career.  In a couple of weeks I will be taking the GRE, the entrance exam into most graduate programs.  But there is one part of my application that I am really wondering about.

If all goes according to plan, my next two semesters will be spent teaching elementary or junior high science.  I have to wait a year for the interview process and such, since I'm applying for fall of 2010 entrance.  Now with my bachelor's degree in biology and the knowledge I've gained in molecular biology laboratory, it would probably look better if I got a job working in a scientific laboratory.  It would be "better experience" and would probably be more of an asset to my resume for graduate school than teaching would. 

So why not work in a lab?  If I want to get into P.A. school, and they like lab experience, than why don’t I do that? 

The truth is that I believe I will be doing more good for the world by being a teacher.  Having been through public school, and having observed many teachers and teachers-to-be, I honestly feel that our children deserve better.  And with my scientific knowledge and interpersonal skills, and the fact that I absolutely love working with children, I think I can provide a level of dedication to the education of these students that is rarely seen in the public school system.  I am dedicated and excited about starting that process.

So is it wrong of me to forsake my application this way, doing what I see to be the greater good?  Would an application committee push aside my application because of their inability to understand my decision?  Would they think I took the "easy way out" instead of working on scientific research?  I can't know for sure, but I'm going to do what I think is best for all parties involved, and if that takes away from my chances for P.A. school then so be it. 

With great knowledge comes great responsibility, and regardless of what others think I must do what I know to be right.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Why I love UHCL

Rather than talking about what's going on in my life today, as I usually do, I think I'm going to do something a little different. Today I'm going to address a new set of students entering UHCL this summer and fall. UHCL is a wonderful school, but it can be even more if you use its strong points to your advantage. That's right; today I'm going to give you a few tips on how to squeeze all the great things out of your UHCL experience.

First of all, head over to the Student Services Building and check out the student lounge. If you are anything like me you are going to spend a good amount of time in there.  Be sure to check out the Student Life office while you are in there, and also the bulletin boards all around.  You'll find all sorts of great resources and events going on in there.

Another great thing about UHCL is that the classes are small. This not only means that you get more one on one time with your professor, but also the knowledge that when you go to their office enough they will know you. And the best thing you could ever do for yourself in college is have a good relationship with your professor. Trust me on this one.

UHCL has a great amount of student clubs and organizations. What's even greater is that since the student body is small, clubs become very personal and it’s not difficult to know every single member in a given club. And even better, it's easy to become an officer. Being an officer to your favorite club is a great experience in leadership and the subject of the club. And it looks great on resumes and graduate program applications.

The amount of valuable resources at UHCL is endless; from the library to the writing center. They even have a full theatre which they often project new movies for students to watch. And did I mention they have the Fitness Zone— a free gym membership for all students? 

There are plenty of jobs available to students on campus. That's how I'm writing here, I'm a paid student blogger. It doesn't get much easier than that, getting paid to write about life at school, now does it?

Even the police on campus are great. I've had friends who don't like to walk the parking lots alone at night, and any officer on campus is glad to walk them to their cars. Service with a smile, it's fantastic.

Finally we have career services. At UHCL they aren't just thinking about making money, the faculty and staff are geared towards helping you succeed. This is obvious through the career services, where you can find assistance getting a job, reviewing your resume, and even mock interviewing. How great is that?

My fiancé goes to a big university, with 50,000+ students.  None of her professors know her name, and she even has trouble meeting with the teacher's assistants. I've never had that problem. Overall I'm glad I chose UHCL. It's been a great two years and I'm really going to miss it when I'm gone. 

Two weeks till graduation.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Visual Arts Scholastic Event

Today at UHCL there is a huge art event going on, the 15th Annual Visual Arts Scholastic Event.  There are hundreds of exhibits and plenty of different workshops to attend.  There are also over 1500 high school students in attendance.  It seems like a pretty fantastic event. 

One of the authors on my college development blog, ZenCollegeLife.com, recently wrote an article on Finding Inspiration in Art.  It's a great article, and it really got me thinking about the lack of artistic experiences I've had.  I've had my fair share of art expression, I'm a musician and graphics designer and I was an artist in my younger years.  But rarely, if ever, have I really spent time observing the artistic talents of others. 

That's why I'm pretty excited about today.  I'm going to spend some real time observing the art exhibits on campus.  I'm going to get into the minds of artists, and try to figure out what they were trying to express with each piece.  Who knows, I might even be inspired to start drawing or painting again.  One thing is for sure, I'm going to experience something new today.  And new experiences make existence so much more exciting.
Part two comes after my visit to the exhibits.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Preparation for Adulthood

In thirty-three days my life is going to change dramatically.  My status in life will change from student to college graduate.  And with great knowledge comes great responsibility.  I will be expected to go out into the world and "make something of myself."  To be quite honest, I'm not sure I want to do all of that.

The truth is I've become quite good at being a student. In fact, I've even started a fairly successful website, ZenCollegeLife.com, instructing others on how to be good at college.  I'm not ready to give it all up.  I enjoy the structure of my day to day schedule.  I've become successful at producing and performing exactly what is expected of me in college, and somehow I don't foresee "the real world" giving the same amount of instruction.

After graduation there is no designated route.  I'm going to have to carve out my own route, and find my own way to success.  I guess it could be fun, though.  Throughout my years I've become quite good at learning new things quickly and being reasonably successful at them.  It should be interesting to see how I perform when it counts.

Very soon I will be taking two important tests; my teaching certification test for Science grades 4-8 and the GRE, the test that will be large factor in determining whether or not I get into graduate school in a year.  So it's really crunch time for me.  My productivity is going to have to be high, and academia is going to take all of my time. I apologize to everyone else in advance, because you won't be seeing me for a while.

So by next month I will transform into a real life adult.  I'll dress like an adult.  I'll interact with real adults.  I'll even get a job that only adults work at: a teacher.  I wonder what adult Ibrahim is going to be like...

Expect to see me doing some pretty great things in the near future.  It's going to be a wild ride!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

The End is Near

I met with my counselor yesterday and graduation became very real. It’s coming fast, and unless I fail a class, I only have about a month left of my undergraduate career and my UHCL experience in general. It’s exciting to know that I am going into the real world with a valuable education and a real chance at success, but it’s also quite terrifying.

In college, especially at UHCL, we develop relationships with our professors. It’s pretty easy to indentify exactly what is expected of us, and rarely is there any question as to what it will take to be successful. In the real world it’s almost the exact opposite. Many times there is no one to tell us where to go or what to do. There is no “course plan of study.” Real life doesn’t have the structure that college has, and unless we carry out the same amount of discipline, we could find ourselves in a very sticky situation very early on.

Also networking in the real world is very different. People who don’t seek out network relationships in college can still make friends with someone in their classes. But in the real world if we don’t work hard to build professional relationships we just won’t have any. And anyone who knows anything about the real world knows that the most important resource a professional can have is a solid network of associates.

Finally in the real world we find that there is no normal routine or schedule. Your job or life in general isn’t necessarily going to follow the same routine as college. You won’t necessarily have to wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night. Lunch won’t necessarily be at noon. Friday nights won’t necessarily be for hanging out anymore. Everything changes once you enter the real world, and if you don’t keep up you could end up pretty lost.

So, while I’m excited about graduation and moving on into the next phase of my life, I’m not necessarily ecstatic about everything that will be required of me in this next phase. I’ve grown comfortable to the lifestyle of college, and this next step is going to be quite shocking at first.

I better enjoy this next month. I will probably miss it forever.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

The Aftermath

Spring break is over. I miss it like a long lost brother. I have to get back in the grind, and all I can think about is how little work I did last week. The studious side of me wants to punch spring break me in the face.

I think it’s about time I share a little advice with you. Don’t take 20 hours in one semester. It’s not that it’s too hard, but it leaves no time to enjoy life, and without enjoying life what’s the use, right? I’m still finding ways to enjoy it all, but apparently my grades aren’t thanking me. No straight A’s, at least not right now.

I think I’m getting the hang of this whole college thing though. Great timing, in my senior year, my final semester, I figure it all out. I guess that’s how things go, though. You know what they say, If I could do it all over again, I’d be better. I wonder if that excuse will work for my grad school interviews

I wrote an article titled How to Find the Man or Woman of Your Dreams last week and I’m getting ridiculous amounts of traffic at ZenCollegeLife.com. I can’t believe how many students are willing to spend time reading an article like that but aren’t interested in doing well in their studies. If I had known this sooner I would have just started IbrahimLoveDoctor.com instead.

Hmm, Ibrahim, Doctor of Love does have quite a ring to it, doesn’t it? We’ll see

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

It's Spring Break

So it’s spring break, and to be honest I’m having trouble doing anything that isn’t super fun. I’m studying a little each day, just to keep the ole brain fresh, but other than that I’m mostly just being lazy or hanging out with the misses. I’m glad to have the break though.

Wow, this semester is really going fast. Soon I’ll be graduating. That’s crazy, I don’t think I ever really acknowledged that this crazy train will someday end. I guess it was bound to come, sooner or later, right?

That’s bad news… I’m going to have to grow up. I’ll have to act like an adult. I’ll be expected to get a job, be responsible, and make something of myself. All that sounds really terrible. I don’t understand why I cant just continue to go to school and be a student blogger forever! Is there a limit to the amount of student loans we can take out? Cause I could just stay a student till I die, and live off loans forever. This is too genius. Don’t tell anyone about this amazing, diabolical plan.

Back to reality. I think I’m starting to like this whole blogging thing. Maybe even too much. I find that when I’m supposed to be studying or doing work I end up coming up with crazy things to write about for ZenCollegeLife.com. The site is doing great, though. My grades on the other hand, well we just wont talk about that.

Pretty soon I’ll be starting my grad school application, which is modeled after the medical school application process, so it’s going to be long and tedious. Also I’ll be working on my teacher’s certification, so I can teach instead of just taking a year off. I’m going to be a busy bumblebee.

But for now, I’m just going to do nothing, and be happy that it’s spring break and I have that option. Enjoy it everyone, see you next week!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Spring Break

Spring break is just around the corner; and with it comes freedom; freedom not just from the endless hours of studying, academic class schedule, and responsibilities that come along with a college career, but freedom of mind.
In 2 days we will be allotted the freedom to enjoy ourselves, however we see fit, without the weighing guilt on our minds of what is due next, what we have to study for, and all of our other responsibilities associated with college. For 9 days we will be free.
So what may I find myself doing over those 9 days? I’m glad you asked. Here’s what:

• Sleeping in every day
• Catching up with family
• Taking a road trip (destination currently unknown)
• Going to the beach
• Playing video games (I don’t allow myself to play games during the semester)
• Hanging out with friends
• Working out (yes, I still do have some responsibilities)
• Reading, reading, reading (I have a stack of about 5 books I’ve been waiting for a chance to read)
• Making movies (a fun hobby of mine and friends)
• Eating good food
• Spending time with my wonderful fiancé, Farah.
• Studying for a biochem II test ( It’s Monday after spring break, can you believe that?)
• Taking fantastic photos (I’m becoming quite the amateur photographer)
• Playing guitar (my poor neglected guitar…)
• Fixing my motorcycle (I waited too long, I wanted to be riding all spring break…)

If there is any time left after all of that, I guess I can study for GRE. But I don’t want to…
I’m sure other things will come up, but that’s how things are looking right now. I have a test Thursday and Friday, and after that the fun begins. Oh the joy of taking 20 semester hours…

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Things I’ve learned Since I Started College

I’ve been thinking a lot about unconventional/non-academic things that I’ve learned since I started my college career. I came up with some interesting things, and I thought I’d share.

• Happiness is a decision, not a reaction.
• Experiences are worth more than material things.
• The importance of family and friends
• Every day I strive towards becoming better
• If I neglect fitness and nutrition, I will surely pay the consequences.
• TV and the Internet are the biggest wasters of time.
• Sometimes I need to just stop and smell the roses.
• Study time doesn’t begin 30 minutes before the test.
• Home cooked meals taste a lot better than I remembered as a child.
• College requires time management more than it requires intellect.
• There will be extremists from every lifestyle, but the key is in finding balance.
• I’m the only person who thinks spending Friday night in the gym is cool.
• Professors are more accommodating than we are programmed to expect.
• Sitting in the front of the class automatically makes me a better student.
• The only one who really cares about my college success is me.
• Presentations aren’t about figures or statistics, they are about getting other people interested.
• There are many different ways to study, and sometimes I just need to try something new.
• Art has become an integral part of my life; Graphic design, photography, guitar, singing, film, writing, and any other form of expression I can learn.
• Money Budgeting.
• Figuring out what to do when the budget didn’t account for everything…
• Get out and do things during breaks. Once I’m deep into the semester all I can think about is fun things ive done/ will do.
• Take classes outside of my major, just for fun.
• Sleep is definitely underrated.
• Smile all the time, say hi to everyone I know.
• Be the friend who is always there for someone.
• Always make time for exercise.
• Live beneath my means.
• Take it all in. Sooner or later it will all be gone, and that’s when I’m going to want to remember.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Preparing for life after college

We are about half way through the semester. It’s time for me to start thinking about life after college. I plan on applying to P.A. school for fall of 2010, but that leaves me with a year to plan out. I’ve already applied to an accelerated teaching certificate program. I think I’d like to teach science for a year, to experience teaching. Once I get into P.A. school I won’t have time to do anything else for 2-3 years (depending on which program I get into) and I’m going to wish I had experienced as much as I could during this year, so I really want to squeeze all that I can out of it.

The semester is getting heavy. I don’t get a single day out of the week when I don’t have to study/do work. I guess that is how graduate school is going to be, so I better get used to it. But as of right now, all I keep thinking about is the things I want to do with my year off of school.

I want to:

• Visit a different continent
• Skydive
• Marry my fiancé.
• Travel around the U.S.
• Spend time mastering a few of my hobbies.
• Work on marketing my websites.
• Pay off some student loans
• Take a few amazing photographs
• Go to the beach
• Do some research in the Baylor Neuroscience Research Lab (my summer job)
• Write some music (I play guitar).
• Make a movie.
• Read as many books as time allows.
• Play some video games (I don’t play games during the semester).
• And catch up on some sleep.

I’m sure there are a lot of other things I want to do during that year off, but these are the things I keep thinking about lately. School robs us of our time, and I’m getting pretty excited thinking about all of the time I’ll have soon. Hopefully this semester won’t kill me, cause I’ve got big plans!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Sum

Today I met up with my good friend, Dr. David Eagleman (Neuroscientist at Baylor College of Medicine), at a local bookstore where he is starting his book tour for his new book “Sum: Forty Tales from the Afterlives.” It looks like it’s going to be a huge success. After being released only a few days ago, it’s already at #39 on Amazon’s Best Sellers List (as of 12:30 am Wednesday morning…). I will be surprised if you don’t see this on NY Times Best Sellers list pretty soon. And some even better news (at least for me), this summer I’m going to do some neuroscience research with David. It’s going to be fantastic. I’m already excited to get over to Baylor College of Medicine and get my hands dirty with some ground breaking research. It is going to be really fun, and I will gain valuable experience for my choice career as a Physician Assistant.
Meeting with David is a double edged sword, though. Every time I hook up with this guy I feel like I’m just not doing enough. He’s writing books, doing great amounts of research, speaking at conventions all over the world, and making waves in the scientific and psychology community. I need to hurry up and graduate so I can start doing some real world changing things. I’m pumped!
Also, I need to start writing a book… What can a biology undergrad student write about that other people will want to read. If you can think of anything, let me know!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Valentine’s Day is Coming

The semester is getting heavy. I have had one big test already and I have another Friday. Then next week I have 2 more tests. I feel like I have a pile of work to do as tall as me… But at least this weekend is Valentine’s Day. I know it’s usually a girly holiday, but my fiancé and I decided that if I come visit her in Austin, she would do all of the planning. So I’m going to be wined and dined. Of course Saturday and Sunday will be spent mostly in the library. At least it’s the library at UT, so it’s a change of pace from Clear Lake.
I wrote an article titled, “Things to do this Valentine’s Day” today for ZenCollegeLife.com. It was a fun write, and I got to be creative in thinking of fun things to do without spending a fortune. School is keeping me so busy lately that I don’t get to let those creative juices flow, so when I do, I really savor the moment. Who knew a science major would be so artistic. What was I thinking?
I’ve decided that after I graduate (this may) that I am going to take a year off of school and teach elementary science. I have always loved working with children and I think 4th or 5th grade science would be a fantastically rewarding job. Plus it will give me time to work on my P.A. school application.
The photography learning is going great. I am just using a point and shoot camera with manual controls right now, but once I decide that I’m willing to dedicate the time, I’m going to step it up and buy a DSLR. Oh won’t that be fun. I might as well not buy one any time soon, because with this ridiculous schedule I doubt I’ll ever have time to shoot. Oh well. Two more days till the weekend. Just keep taking deep breaths…

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Something New

So today I'm trying something new. Instead of making time to write this post (since time is now a luxury I don't have), I'm writing it during a class. That's right folks; I'm sitting in Immunology (the study of the human immune system) right now. I can't say it's the most interesting class (since I'm writing this right now), but at least it won't be too difficult. 

I think I may have underestimated taking 20 hours of classes at once. This is not to say that I won't be able to make it, I'm sure I will, but straight As may not come as easily as I might have hoped.

I'm still looking for a good deal on a Digital SLR camera. I want to get into photography, which would make my pictures for each entry more interesting, and DSLR cameras are not nearly as cheap as I want them to be. This means that it will take time, and that I have to be in love with the camera before I buy it. I'm still in the research phase.

Writing for ZenCollegeLife.com is becoming increasingly difficult with my new time constraints. I think I might have to find have to "hire" a few new writers to help supplement the work. This shouldn't be a big deal, I'm sure a lot of people would like to write for ZCL, but I want to make sure that they are the right fit.

One thing I'm learning about myself, though, is that I'm addicted to challenging myself. While I have to admit, I have failed a few times, most of the challenges I make for myself end up great successes. I've been working on fitness goals, academic goals, and goals for a couple of hobbies. I'm in much better shape than when I started, my grades have greatly improved (4 As and 1 B+ last semester), and I'm really enjoying the progress I've made on a few different hobbies. Overall things have been great.

Of course they haven't been easy. I imagine this semester will be a journal through the different struggles I face in my last semester as an undergraduate. Hopefully things won’t get too crazy!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

A Dream of Slumber

The image attached is a dream that I will have all semester… a full night’s sleep. You see I have decided, against my better judgment, to take 20 hours this semester, along with 20 hours of part time work. Also I’ve taken up two new hobbies that I’m working towards becoming proficient at: Photoshop art and manipulation and photography. I’m still working out 7 days a week, working towards my goal of having a six pack (abdominals) by March 7th (sixteen weeks from the day I started). Generally people don’t decide to learn new hobbies when their life is as full as mine, but I’m kind of crazy that way.

All this because I want to graduate in May… I’m not even sure what I’m going to do after that, but that is the goal. I know that I want to continue on with school, but it’s difficult to choose one subject to make a career out of for the rest of my life. Who knows where I go from here.

The first week of school is starting out pretty great. I am staying very busy, I’m currently taking courses both at UHCL and community college (I had a couple of classes left to take), and I’m still trying to remain consistent writing for ZenCollegeLife.com.
So come along for the journey of an undergraduate with little to no time for sleep, plenty of homework, studying, reading, writing, eating, working out, and trying to find a few minutes to share with my wonderful fiancé each day. It’s going to be a long semester.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

One More Week!

So were in the final stretch. Finals are next week, and it’s crunch time. I have just finished my tech writing assignment today, and I have to start studying for my finals. The big ones are physiology, microbiology, and statistics.

This semester has gone by so quickly. I really enjoyed it though. I performed very well all semester, and soon I will reap the rewards. Sadly though, I just found out that in order to graduate in spring I’m going to have to take a winter class, and 20 hours next semester. So while this semester is coming to a halt, the fun is just beginning. Next semester is going to be a big long strand of punches in the face, metaphorically speaking… hehehe.

For those of you taking final exams next week, let me leave you with some tips to make the most of your study time.

• Bring snacks. Leaving in the middle of a study session is a huge time stealer. Do yourself a favor and come prepared.
• Find a quiet place. I often find that during finals week the library and campus tend to get hectic and a bit louder than one would like. Find a quiet corner to do your work. I recommend the 3rd floor of the SSB building, there are great study places there and they are usually quiet.
• Take scheduled naps. I bring my phone with an alarm and when I start to feel tired during study sessions I take a 20 minute nap. It works way better than coffee, and there is no crash. Trust me on this one. Put your head down and when you hear the alarm get back to it.
• Take walks. Sometimes when studying you lose focus, but you aren’t tired. My best cure for a lack of focus is to take a meditative walk. Do it alone, don’t talk, and try to get outside if possible. UHCL is a beautiful campus, and it can be quite calming to walk here.
• Terminate distractions. Resist the urge to answer your phone, check your email, and do other things of this nature. They will take away your focus, and sometimes it’s hard to get it back. Rid yourself of these distractions and you will study much more efficiently.
• Don’t stress out. All you can do is your best, so plan it out, conquer your goals, and let the rest be. Don’t let the stress take over and steal your chances of success. All will be fine. Trust me.
  I hope finals week treats everyone well, and that we all make it through alive. Take care everyone!

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving weekend was fantastic. I spent the holidays with friends, family, and my beautiful fiancé. Unlike most people, though, I didn’t stuff myself into a food coma. I am on a strict diet, I’m having a fitness competition with my friends; first one to a 6 pack (abs) by march 1. I think I can win, I work out 7 days a week, and my diet is pretty excellent. I still ate some things that I didn’t need too, but overall I was pretty disciplined.
Another wonderful thing happened over the break. I became an uncle. My sister had a daughter, my first niece, and she is so beautiful. She doesn’t cry much, she has pretty blue eyes, and she’s so tiny. She’s wonderful, and I’m going to spoil her so bad!
The semester is almost over. I’m have excited and half nervous. Next semester is my last semester as an undergraduate. After that I’ll pretty much be a grown up (although being an uncle is making me feel old already). Finals are coming up, and I think I’ll be ready. Straight A’s right? We’ll see.
There isn’t much else to say, it’s been a great holiday, and I had a wonderful time. Tomorrow is back to school, so I’m getting ready for that. Two more weeks till freedom. I can’t wait.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Thanksgiving

Hello everyone. I hope everything is going well. Next week is Thanksgiving, and I’m pretty excited. My family and friends and I all get together for wonderful food and wonderful conversation. It’s going to be great. I have a lot of great cooks in my family, many who like to try and outdo each other, which means great food for me.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I want to write about why Thanksgiving is important to me.
It’s not religious. This means that everyone can enjoy it. My family is mixed with Indian, Guyanese, Trinidadian, white, and my friends are of all colors. We are Muslim, Christian, Jewish, a few Hindu, and even some atheists. None of that matters during thanksgiving. We are all together, enjoying one another.
It’s all about food. If you are anything like me, you can’t get enough stuffing, cranberry sauce, and turkey during Thanksgiving. Not only that, but we’ll be eating turkey for days after. What’s not to love?
It is about Family and Friends. As if the food was not enough, everyone is in high spirits during thanksgiving. We are all so happy to be able to spend time together, it’s like the problems of the world don’t matter for just that one day. It’s truly fantastic.
There is something for everyone. Whether you love to watch the parade, are a sports fan, are preparing for shopping on black Friday, or are just a fan of cooking/eating/drinking/talking/hanging out/NOT STUDYING there is something for everyone during thanksgiving break. It is a wonderful holiday for people all around.
Take care everyone, and have a great Thanksgiving holiday.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Austin

I went to Austin this weekend. I had a fantastic time. I shopped, saw an IMAX film, shopped some more, ate great food, and then did a little shopping (my fiancé loves to shop…). I had the best Greek food ever at this little Mediterranean café at UT’s west campus. I still can’t believe how great it was. I should have been studying for my statistics midterm; but what can you do? Austin is just more fun than studying.
In other news, I decided to start upping the ante as far as my fitness goes. I’ve been swimming daily for 10 weeks now, and now I have decided to set an even greater goal. I want to achieve less than 10 percent body fat. This should be easy to identify with the complementary visible 6 pack (abdominals). I know it’s a hefty goal, but I’ve planned out a meal plan and a fitness plan and with the right discipline I think I can achieve it, or at least get really close.
I can’t believe it’s already November. Time is flying. I don’t know what to do with myself. We are just 4 weeks away from the end of another semester, and with it goes my youth. Hahah. Next semester I turn twenty-four, and that pretty much means I’ll be a grown up. You know what comes with adulthood, all those terrible things like responsibility, a career, etc. I’m not sure all that is for me. I guess we’ll see. By the look of my grades this semester, you’d think I’m already a grown up. Four A’s and one B, and I think I can turn the B into an A before the semester’s end. I’m working hard and it feels great!
I’m looking forward to the Thanksgiving break. My family always gets together and has a big dinner. It’s a wonderful time and I can’t wait. I know my thoughts are sporadic right now; hopefully my mind will come together before the next blog post. Until then, ciao!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Barack Obama, The New Leader of the Free World

In case you haven’t yet heard, and I hope you have, Barack Obama will be the nation’s next president. As a college student, this in my opinion is a great time for the United States of America. It tells our citizens that with honesty, hard work, and dedication they really can be anything they want to be, including president of the United States.
My fiancé was at Austin, Tx’s Democatic Party yesterday evening, and she says that it was a night of nights. She is a young muslim journalism student at the University of Texas, and she tells me that last night was a life changing experience for her. The moment Obama clenched victory, the crowd went wild. She says it was unlike anything she had ever experienced. She did a story on an older African American woman, and the woman was in tears the entire time. “I was here when MLK gave his speech, when Malcolm rallied the Nation of Islam. This I never thought I’d see.
What does Obama mean for America’s image internationally? I think Obama winning gives us a grace period. A period where our allies and enemies will hold their breath and wait to see what type of leadership America is under now. Barack Obama will give us the opportunity to change what the world thinks of us. Instead of being dumb cowboys who love to go to war, we have the opportunity to become a nation of intellect, a nation with great temperament and leadership, a nation to steer mankind into a better world.
I always assumed that as America continued to wage war with Muslim nations, that one day I might have to find a new place to live. Barack Obama gives me hope that the good ole USA might still be home after all.
Congratulations Barack Obama. You campaigned honorably, and I look forward to having you lead our great nation.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Swimming for Life

I’ve always been a fan of trying new things, making new habits, and performing personal experiments on myself. It may sound a little crazy, but they are always safe and many of them are very interesting. I learn a lot about myself in this way. Usually my experiments start as 30 day trials of different things. I’ve done things like stop watching tv (I don’t own a tv anymore), try vegetarianism (this ended up lasting 8 months), taking vitamins every day, blogging (going on 8 months now), waking up early (didn’t last long, I’m more of a night owl), and quite of few other crazy new habits.
My newest experiment is to go from a lifestyle of little fitness to swimming 5 times a week. I started this experiment 8 weeks ago, using a 30 day pass to 24 Hour Fitness. After 30 days of success I was convinced that this was worth purchasing a membership for. It’s been 8 weeks now, and I haven’t looked back. This is by far one of the greatest changes I’ve ever made in my life. My energy levels are through the roof, my appetite is quite healthy, and I just feel great. I look forward to my nightly swim, its calming, relaxing, and over all meditative. And of course there are the physical benefits. I feel stronger, my posture has greatly improved, I no longer have lower back pain like I used to. I feel the way a 23 year old should feel, young and nimble. I’m going to continue this exercise indefinitely, or at least until I come upon a better workout.
Swimming is an exercise for everyone. It’s great for young people and old people alike. It’s easy on the joints, can be moderate or intense, and you don’t even break a sweat (well you do, but with the water you don’t feel it). It is the perfect entrance into a life of greater health and fitness, and I’d recommend it to anyone at all who wants to start working on their physical fitness.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Winter is Coming

This morning was cold. I’m sure as the day progresses it will get warmer, but it just reminded me that winter is just around the corner. And with winter comes Christmas, Hanukkah, and many other great holidays. I don’t know about you but I’ve already started making a list of what I want (my mom asked me to). I don’t usually come up with much, since I have pretty much everything I need, but these last 10 months or so I’ve really become addicted to reading. In the spirit of reading I’ve decided to go over to amazon.com and create a wishlist there to send to everyone. It’s pretty awesome. It’s like a registry where if someone buys something it automatically comes off of the list. I’m going to enjoy it.
Though I love the Texas heat, I’ve always been a fan of winter. I lived in New York and New Jersey as a child, where real winters occur, and sometimes I miss it. You know, the white winter wonderland etc… Plus winter break. Can’t forget winter break.
This semester is really flying by. It seems to be the best semester I’ve had in a while. Not to say that my other semesters were bad, but this one is going swimmingly (am I British?). I have straight As and I have recently started a small business, a graphic design business. I’m really having fun with it too. I hope to start freelance writing soon too, just to fill my free time with something productive.
All is well, and I hope the same for you. If you are ever near the UCT Support Center come by and say hi! I look forward to seeing you!

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Blog Action Day

Today is blog action day 2008, and the topic is poverty. I’m a great fan of lists, so instead of writing a book about things you could do to help end world poverty I’m going to make a list of the 28 easiest things to do.

28 easy things to do to end poverty:

1. Teach someone less fortunate a marketable skill.
2. Donate clothing.
3. Donate money.
4. Donate food.
5. Volunteer at a homeless shelter.
6. Volunteer at a soup kitchen.
7. Join big brothers/big sisters.
8. Skip the Starbucks®, and instead sponsor a child.
9. Donate blood.
10. Visit thehungersite.com.
11. Buy a homeless person dinner.
12. Talk to him/her.
13. Give him/her a suit or other classy clothing.
14. Teach someone illiterate to read.
15. Stop wasting money on things you don’t need, donate it, and change someone’s life instead.
16. Find a picture that depicts poverty and publish it online.
17. Visit an orphanage.
18. Raise poverty awareness.
19. Play freerice.com.
20. Ask 3 people to donate to a cause you find worthy.
21. Combat corruption, however you can.
22. Be compassionate.
23. Talk to friends about poverty and compassion.
24. Go through your belongings and donate the ones you don’t have use for.
25. When traveling to a place with poverty, try to figure out a way to ease suffering.
26. Raise human rights awareness.
27. Educate yourself on the issues.
28. Prepare a place in your home for people in need, just in case.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Sunshiny Days

So we are nearing the middle of the semester. Everything seems to be going great. I’m almost exactly where I planned on being, as far as study habits and grades go. My self- development website, Zen College Life, is doing well. I’m really starting to enjoy writing. I started reading this great book, 101 World Heroes, Great men and women who changed history. It’s pretty fantastic. As far as semesters go, this may be the best ever.
I decided within the last few days that while I pursue my master s degrees (after May), I’m going to work full time. And I think I want to teach elementary students science. I think fifth grade would be perfect, but we’ll see. I still have to find out what extra certifications and such are necessary to be a full time teacher. Sooner or later I will want to teach at the university level, but I’ll need more education for that.
As for my actual career, I’m still not sure. In fact, I’m not sure I ever want to have one major career. I will have a bachelor’s degree in biology, I will have a master’s degree in business administration and another masters in healthcare administration. But as far as actually choosing one job for the rest of my life, I’m not so sure I can commit. I love too many different things to choose just one. How many people do you know that are in the process of planning 3 different careers for a total of the next 5 years. And I still have other career plans after that, when I become a bit more established.
Big dreams, I guess. We’ll see how things progress. I’m sure it will be a wild ride, full of great experiences and crazy adventures. Stick with me, and you’re guaranteed to be entertained!

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Eid Mubarak

Today marks a great day for me religiously. It is the holiday Eid Al-Fitr. Eid AL-Fitr marks the ending of a month long fast which I observed. Eid means festivity or festival and Fitr means to break fast, and thus, the celebration of the breaking of the fast.
Today I will start the day by going to the Reliant Center for the Houston Community prayer. Then I will meet with my family, and we will take pictures, wearing our best clothes in celebration of Eid. After that we will take turns going to different family members homes and sharing food that they prepared before moving to the next home. We also give gifts, much like Christians give Christmas presents. I have shopped for gifts for all of my young siblings and cousins and such. It is important to me that they understand the excitement and importance of Eid. It really will be a fantastic time.

Later that Evening:

So I’m home now. Today was fantastic. I ate so much more than anyone ever should. I saw much of my family. We ate and hung out and had a great time. I have plenty of pics, and I’ll share one or two. The prayer was great, the leader of my South Houston mosque led the prayer for the entire Houston community. It was wonderful. There was so much great food at my fiancé’s dinner party. Also I have received some wonderful presents. My favorite is a book from my fiancé titled “101 Greatest World Heroes: Men and women who changed history.” It is quite amazing, since I’m always striving to be great, and this gives me insight into the greatness of so many others. What a wonderful holiday, I am so thankful to have such a great muslim community and wonderful family.
Eid Mubarak everyone, may the blessings of Eid be with you.

Wednesday, September 29, 2008

Post Ike Post

Hey everyone, I hope all is well. Since Hurricane Ike hit, my whole schedule has really gotten crazy. My sleep was off track, my fitness schedule went from disciplined to relatively non-existent. My brain no longer wanted to function on a higher level. But we’ve had a few weeks to recoup, and I think everything is starting to settle again.
I’m proud to say that for the past 3 weeks, I swam at least 5 times each week, I’ve kept up with all of my current commitments, including writing (for ZenCollegeLife.com and my student blog), keeping up with school work, working in the support center, keeping up with friends and family, observing my religious fast throughout Ramadan, and still having time left over for a social life. Ike hit hard, but us Houstonians are resilient. You’re going to have to do better than that to knock us off of our feet.
Either tomorrow or Wednesday will be Eid. Eid (pronounced eed) is a Muslim holiday. It signifies the ending of our month long fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan. I’ve really enjoyed my fast. Sure I’m always hungry and thirsty, but not eating and drinking throughout the day has really given my mind a sense of clarity. I feel I have grown mentally and spiritually, and I am glad that I have this month to give me that chance. I feel as though my writing has improved, my creativity has been stimulated, and just about every other aspect of my life has improved. Ramadan is a wonderful gift, and though I’m glad that Eid is almost here, I’m sad to see the month go. I guess I will look forward to it coming again next year. And of course, Christmas is just around the corner (my mom is Christian… that means I get presents for Eid and Christmas!).
Next month is October, Breast Cancer awareness month. I just lost my grandmother to cancer last year, and I understand the importance of all of the research that goes into trying to beat this disease. I will be spending the next few days graphically redesigning my blog, for Breast Cancer Awareness, and all of the money that the site generates in the month of October will be donated a Cancer Research Center. I’m excited. Well I guess I should stop here, so until next week, take care. Work hard, be great, and do great things!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Hurricane Ike is Coming

Hurricane Ike is set to hit Houston this weekend. Right now it is a category 2 in the gulf, but it is expected to pick up, and the projected path comes right through Houston before curving towards Dallas. We Houstonians have seen storms like this that were projected towards Houston before, but we haven’t really felt the strength of a storm of this magnitude since I moved here in 1992. I’m not too worried though.
Events like this help us to understand the importance and significance of our lives. They help us to understand that it’s not all about getting a new plasma tv or an iPhone. Life is about the relationships we keep, the experiences we enjoy, friends and family, and making a difference. I don’t plan on evacuating, but as the storm progresses things may change. My stepdad is a fireman, so he’s already started boarding up to sit this storm out. If I do end up evacuating, I have a warm, safe place in Austin with my fiancé.
My guess is that school will be closed Thursday and Friday, and depending on the impact of the storm we will see how things go next week. I’m scheduled to have a physiology test next week, and I really don’t want to spend my weekend studying during a hurricane. We’ll see though.
Good luck to everyone this weekend, be safe, and let’s hope that there is no significant damage done to our wonderful community.
Godspeed!

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Back on the Grind

It’s the second week of school. Things are starting to feel comfortable now. I have a general idea of what each class is going to take, as well as a clear plan to achieve the greatest possible gains and grades from each class. I’m looking forward to this semester. It’s really my chance to shine. At ZenCollegeLife.com I always write about achieving great success, planning, and being productive, but now it’s time to put my money where my mouth is. I will keep you updated on how things go, but I’m going to give this semester my all and I’m really going to see what I’m made of. Anything less than awesomeness will not be accepted.
On a different note, I am starting to write a book, titled “The Ultimate Guide to College Life.” I think that a few writer friends and I have a lot to offer, and we really want to write something worth reading. I don’t see very many books of this type, and I think I could be successful with this idea. I’m working on the outline now, and hopefully by the semester end I will at least have a solid draft of the book. We’ll see.
One last note, Ramadan started this week. Ramadan is a blessed month on the Islamic Calendar where Muslims are required to fast from eating during the daylight hours, and focus on spiritual and personal growth. This is a wonderful time of year for me, I have more free time and dedication towards being a better me. I’m very excited to document what is to come in the following weeks, so stay tuned, and you might just learn a thing or two.
-Ibrahim Husain

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

First Week of School

This week is the first week of the fall semester. I’ve already gone to 3 of my classes, and I’m very excited about the semester. It’s going to be a big one for me. I have 5 classes total; I am studying for the GMAT standardized test and starting my application to a few different graduate programs. Things will be hectic, but they will also be exciting!
I walked into my microbiology class yesterday evening, and expected 3 hours of torture. Dr. Mishra walked in. He is an older man of South Asian decent (Indian, Pakistani etc). He started to talk. He speaks with a very thick accent. I was afraid that I was never going to be able to make it through this class. But then something crazy happened. He started making jokes. I was confused at first, but then I realized that this guy was hilarious. He’s a genius in his field, he’s been mentored by 3 different Nobel Prize winning scientists and leads a life of wonderful experiences. He also has a fantastic sense of humor. I can already tell that this is going to be my favorite class of the semester. Who knew I’d like microbiology?
I’ve also been spending a lot of time on my college life blog, Zen College Life. In the past few weeks, I’ve quadrupled the amount of subscribers to my site, through smart marketing and good content. I’m really excited; I feel like a real blogger now. Everything seems to be going magnificently.
Ramadan starts next week, so that’s another amazing experience I’m looking forward to. I hope the start of the semester is going well for you all. More to come next week!

"Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life. Remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism."

-David M. Burns

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

School Starts

After this weekend, summer is over. We will head back to school, study, and work hard towards achieving good grades and receiving a great education. I am very excited about the upcoming semester. I am taking 19 hours, and while that is quite a work load, I’m not worried. I have many plans to manage my time well and do well, no matter how hard the classes. I will also continue to write for the UHCL Student Blog as well as my college life blog.
I’ve been going through the annual ritual before school starts. You know — the one where you shop for school supplies, get some new clothes, buy a bunch of snacks for between classes, and prepare for all that you will need to start the semester successful. I’m getting a little anxious. But I am also sad to see summer go. After this weekend, I will lose all of my free time to work on all of my extra projects, and hang out the way I did during the nights of summer. It’s all coming to an end, and with the end comes an almost endless list of homework, studying, and tests.

Luckily, though, I love my major. I love studying science. I’ll be taking Physiology, Microbiology, Fundamentals of Physical Fitness, Organic Chemistry, and a couple more. I only have 2 more semesters of my undergraduate career, and then my course plan will be of the school of business. I have to squeeze as much scientific knowledge out of UHCL before I move to business. Should be fun, huh? We’ll see.
Good luck with the start of the semester, we’ll chat again next week! Good day!

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Start College The Right Way

Hey gang! As summer closes and the fall semester starts it is important that we plan our college semester, and our entire college career, to ensure complete success. At my college life development blog, ZenCollegeLife.com, I started a series of articles titled “Start College The Right Way.” It is important enough that I thought I would explain the gist of things here so that UHCL students and prospect students could have a clear idea of what it will take to start the year off right.

Visualization
The idea behind visualization is that if you spend time visualizing success enough, it will become second nature to you (as if you’ve already done it). This is an exercise that professionals from every field use to achieve success. The exercise is simple, but the rewards are vast and rich.
In a calm and quite environment close your eyes and allow your mind to ponder over the ideas of what true success would be to you in college, what your life would be like. Be sure to mentally address aspects such as finances, academics, health and fitness, relationships, community, and even what you would do in your free time. Have a clear vision of who this “perfect you” is, how they behave, what they look like, how they speak. Once you understand how much better you can be, the rest is just painting the picture.

Planning and Organizing
Once you’ve gone through the visualization exercise, it’s time to make that vision a reality. To start, make a plan for your student life. Where and when will you study? What student organizations or community outreach programs will you join? What type of friends will you have? Where will you sit in class? All of these things play a major role in deciding what kind of student you will be.
Next go through the list of other aspects you visualized. How can you create your financial vision? What will it take to be in your best physical condition? How much work will it be maintaining your relationships with friends and family? Understanding what this will take and making plans to turn your vision into reality will ensure a success you couldn’t have had without the proper planning.

Creating A Successful Environment
This part is easy to understand but difficult to master. To create a successful environment for learning you have to understand what type of environment will stimulate success. Some find that a crowded Starbucks Coffee Shop is the easiest place to study while others need complete silence (if this is you, I suggest investing in ear plugs). Some people study on their couch while listening to music, and others lock themselves in study rooms at the university. To understand what your mind requires for successful learning, you must practice and develop good study habits. Create the environment that lends itself to your habits.

Tips and Tricks
Being a senior, I’ve found a couple of tricks that help stimulate success in college. Here are a few:

• When taking breaks from studying, don’t watch TV or get on the internet. They are time warps and do not require much brain function. Instead choose a function that keeps your brain working, but is different than your subject of study. I play guitar, take walks around the university, eat a light snack or drink a cup of tea, or read a leisure book. This way when you go back to studying it will not require you to wake up your brain.
• Find multiple places to study. I study in the school library, empty classrooms, the public library, my home desk, or even a local coffee shop every once in a while. You’ll find that if you have multiple places that you enjoy studying, it will be easier to do so.
• Sit in the front row, every time. This is where the most successful students sit, and if you want to be successful, surround yourself with other successes.
• Keep snacks on campus. Vending machines are black holes for cash, especially if you need a snack between classes daily. Find a place (locker, club storage, or anywhere else you can find) to store a couple boxes of snack bars or crackers or whatever your favorite snack is. It will save you money, and save your stomach in times of need.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Clubs and Organizations

Being a smaller commuter school, you would expect that student life would be null —or minimal at best here at UHCL. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Our student life is flourishing. We have just as many student organizations and campus wide events as the next university, and our student body is so friendly. Organization meetings are always open to any student to attend, regardless of ‘fees’ or ‘membership’ involved in each organization. I myself am a member of the Muslim Student Association as well as Club Biology, and I’m looking to do even more next semester. With all of the different organizations on campus (business, education, science, humanities, international, religious, and honor societies), how could I pass on the opportunities?
But it’s not just the organizations that make student life great. We also have a number of great campus wide events, including the all time favorite, annual UHCL Chili Cook off (which is so great that even students from other schools come). UHCL also always features different art exhibitions throughout the campus. There are some pretty amazing pieces around the campus at any given time, including drawings, paintings, photography, sculptures and more.
UHCL is a part of our community with a real presence. Often we have politicians, government officials, and other community representatives coming to meet with the student body. Just last week I had a chance to personally meet our congressman, Nick Lampson. He’s a really great guy, and he understands the wants and needs of college students, and how to represent us. That kind of personal touch really sets UHCL over the top.
I know that it may seem like I am really building UHCL up to be something great, but that’s only because I really think it’s amazing. The level of personal interaction and opportunity it will provide for you is something you have to experience to understand. This is a wonderful school and my greatest hope is that this blog allows you a better understanding of that.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Fourth of July

Hey everyone. Can you believe it’s already the end of July? Where is all the time going? I’m having a great time, but I can honestly say I am ready to get back to school. I miss that feeling of going to class, studying hard, and seeing the fruitful rewards of my efforts.

I’ve noticed that though it’s summer, we still have a lot of students on campus. That makes me feel really good. I went to college station (Home of A&M) about a month ago, and it was like a ghost town. Some stores weren’t even open in the middle of the day. It was crazy. But here at UHCL we are still kicking! Students are working hard, taking advantage of those 5 week summer sessions, getting a few easy classes out of the way.

The one thing that really impresses me about UHCL is the success of students after UHCL. I’ve been talking to a lot of people after my initial findings. It seems that everyone that leaves UHCL enters the world with more than enough knowledge and knowhow to be successful. Each of my friends that has applied to graduate programs after their UHCL undergrad career, has gotten into the school of their choice. One friend is at A&M School of Medicine, another at Ross University in Dominica, and others in different Physical Therapy programs throughout Texas. Other friends that have joined the workforce after UHCL have landed very competitive jobs, in corporate business as well as small business fields. I have two different friends working in the oil industry, one for Exxon and the other Marathon Oil. They are both doing very well and enjoying the fruits of being young professionals. And still others have been placed in different healthcare programs in different hospitals throughout the community. I haven’t heard of anyone who has graduated from UHCL unable to be successful, or lacking the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in future endeavors. It gives me a sense of pride to know that once I leave UHCL and move forward with life, I can have the peace of mind knowing that I am well prepared to do whatever I decide — thanks to my favorite college — The University of Houston - Clear Lake.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Working at UHCL

Like many others here at UHCL, I'm not only a student. I also work on campus, at the UCT Support Center. But contrary to popular belief I don't do it for the millions of dollars they pay me, I do it for the glamour. That's right, it's a posh life working on campus. You meet all the important people, and the campus security. Not only that, but you become one of "The Cool Kids." I probably shouldn't talk about all the perks, though; it's kind of an insiders only thing.

Though you might not be able to tell just by walking by, the Support Center is a magical wonderland where all things technical happen. Any problem you have, they can either fix it or send you to the people who can. I've helped out countless students and professors with computer issues and other technical related problems, be it WebCT related (online course support), email issues, student login problems, or just your good ole fashion wireless laptop setup.

Working on campus has kept me focused (getting paid to do homework), and has helped me better manage my time. I've also started a couple of different businesses, using work time to do research and the website aspect of the businesses. My campus job has given me the ability to meet and associate with people (student and faculty), that I probably wouldn't have otherwise. It's always nice to talk with your biochemistry teacher, Dr. Wang, about something other than biochemistry, or being able to tell your nutrition teacher that her class inspired you to start a fitness/nutrition website to help educate the youth. It turns our that they are real people, and they might even know a thing or two about subjects other than they teach.

The real treasure in attending UHCL, though, is the size. With class sizes averaging around 30-35, you can ensure a real relationship with your instructor. That is something you won't get at a bigger university. At UT, average freshman class sizes near 2 and 3 hundred. Your instructor there couldn't even be sure you are in his or her class, Our professors have very flexible office hours, and most are willing to talk and help you with just about anything (even things other than your class). My physiology professor, Dr. Puzdrowski, helped me plan out the rest of my semesters at UHCL to achieve my degree in a timely fashion. He was also available anytime I wanted to stop by to look at a test or ask any question about a lecture. You can’t get help like that from a big university.

Before I go, here's a quick overview that should help you with most of your support questions: The power button on the computer is the big one on the front, when checking your email you don’t have to add the '@uhcl.edu' to the username, to change your password for the computers just log in and press CTRL-ALT-DEL and press the button that says change password, there is no password for the wireless network, you just have to get it set up at the support center, oh and yeah Mac is better than PC (if you like shiny things that don't do much more than look pretty.) But that's a topic for another day.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

My Mission

"We have a hunger of the mind which asks for knowledge of all around us, and the more we gain, the more is our desire; the more we see, the more we are capable of seeing."
-Maria Mitchell

Hi there. My name is Ibrahim Husain. I am a senior here at The University of Houston - Clear Lake. My major is Biological Sciences. Fall 2008 will be my 3rd semester here at UHCL. This is my first post to the UHCL Student Blog.

It only seems appropriate to start every project off by listing it's intentions and goals.. This is usually termed the project's mission statement. With that in mind, I'm going to start this project off right. So there it is.

UHCL Blog Mission Statement

My goal with the UHCL Blog is to give you, the reader, a real life experience of just what UHCL has to offer you, and maybe even convince you of why it is the right school for you. I will do this through writing about what makes UHCL unique, describing in detail the schools strengths and weaknesses, and maybe even introducing you to a few of the highlights of the campus. With each article I will paint the picture of college life here at UHCL, and show you exactly what UHCL means to me. Whether you decide that UHCL is right for you, or not, you will know exactly what it means to be a student here, and what is expected of you should you become one.

UHCL is an amazing school, which gives its students (of every race, major, culture, and age group) a rich university experience unlike any other school. Our campus life is diverse, the faculty and staff are friendly, and you get the feeling that this campus is a home away from home, and that these people are like distant family.

So there you have it, in the coming weeks you will hear of my experiences along with the experiences of other student bloggers explaining to you just what it is to be a UHCL student, and how attending UHCL can richen every aspect of your life. Hold on tight, it's going to be a thrilling ride through the life of a student at the University of Houston - Clear Lake.