The Great American Smokeout

One of my favorite songs is The Weepies’ Nobody Knows Me At All. Sample lyrics:

“Now I got lots of friends,
Yes, but then again,
Nobody knows me at all.
Kids and a wife,
It’s a beautiful life,
Nobody knows me at all.”

Being misunderstood sucks.

Along those lines, I think one of the most misunderstood things is addiction.  People assume that a person with an addiction isn’t taking enough personal responsibility or isn’t using enough willpower.  But few understand the cravings or withdrawal symptoms that cause one to relapse. (more…)

Plan a Gratitude Visit

I met a hero named “Shig” at my dad’s church on Sunday. He was a small, maybe 5’2”, 92 year-old Japanese-American man. He shook my hand with a firm grip as my dad said, “This is Shig. He was part of the 442^nd.” Shig responded to my dad’s words with a modest smile and shook his head as if to say, it was no big deal. Shig turned to greet others and I quickly said “Thank you, for what you did for me, for us.”

I can’t imagine myself as Shig, in his early 20’s, making the choice to fight for a country that had imprisoned his family because of their race. President Roosevelt and America said even though you were born here, you are not American and can’t be trusted. Young men like Shig said, “I’ll prove to you that my race and ancestry does not stop me from being an American.”

The Japanese-American 442^nd infantry went on to be the most decorated military unit in the history of United States Armed Forces.

We, as a nation, honor our women and men veterans this Wednesday. It is a public way of showing our gratitude for those who give and gave their lives for our country and our freedom. (more…)

The Science of Happiness

I like to read obituaries. I like seeing the snapshot of their major life accomplishments, mistakes, and passions and why people loved or hated them. Spending a few minutes examining how they lived, I look for an example of how to live or not live my life today.

I also like finding examples in the living. In our ED191 series classes, I ask college students to give me snapshot of what they want from life. Their answers are about having a successful career, being with that special someone, raising a family, or doing something meaningful to impact their world.

Sometimes they say, “I don’t know yet. But I know I want to be happy.” (more…)

Is There Graduate School in Your Future?

Next week offers a virtual smorgasbord of workshops and admission panels for the UCSB student planning ahead for possible graduate or professional school culminating on Thursday’s Annual Graduate Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside in the Arbor Mall. Most students can see the participant list of more than 80 graduate and professional business, education, law, medical, psychology programs by going to our web page at http://career.ucsb.edu under “Career Fairs”. Students might also wish to sort their options by going to the website http://gradschools.com.

Our staff is proud to have such a diverse and outstanding line-up for everyone. We work hard to pull in leading admission representatives to give further details on admission strategies, scholarships and financial aid options. We also team up with our local area Kaplan and Princeton Review test preparation services to give details for GRE, LSAT, GMAT, and MCAT. Most students do not realize that GRE and GMAT are now computerized so there is flexibility when you sign up and take either of these tests. Nor do students know that scores are good for up to five years after you graduate in case you decide to wait. Our Reference Letter Service is also good for five years after you graduate. We strongly suggest you solicit letters from your professors and/or TAs before you leave us this December or June. This way you won’t have to worry if these individuals will remember you one or two years out. Details are also on our webpage at: http://career.ucsb.edu/rls/index.html#at (more…)

Happy Halloween 2009 From Student Health

My relationship with Halloween is what you might call “complicated.”  I love the creativity and positive energy of our students dressing up.  I love this Gaucho spirit and unity.  Only at UCSB do you see your Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, and Dean of Students come out to greet the crowds of students on D.P. on Halloween night.

I don’t like the violence, ass grabbing, fighting, property damage, and all the trash.  Last year, Halloween fell on a Friday.  In spite of the rain, over 45,000 people came to I.V.  There were over 230 arrests made and 560 citations given out (instead of treats). 55 people were transported for emergency care and over 50 cars were towed. Two people fell off the cliffs.

This year we will have around 250 police officers on the streets, on horses, and conducting DUI checkpoints.  But, if we have the same or more visitors as last year, it will take more than just the police to keep the peace over the weekend.  Here are a few simple things you can do to help: (more…)

The “Girl Next Door?”

Marge Simpson is the cover girl for November’s Playboy Magazine. She even has a “pictorial.” I guess you could say good for Playboy for taking a mid-thirty-something mother of three, who quit a promising career in the police force because of out-of-control corruption and sexism, and worked as a nuclear technician as a perfect example of the “girl next door.”

Weird, yes. But even weirder is the cartoon-like photoshopped women in recent Ralph Lauren ads. Woman 1: My head is bigger than my waist. Woman #2: I have no ribs/pelvis. And to add insult to injury, Filippa Hamilton, the model in the first ad, was fired by Ralph Lauren because she was too big. Filippa is 5’10” and 120 lbs. (a “normal” weight is ~150 lbs).

Those are damaging messages to send our friends, family, and culture. But Ralph Lauren isn’t the only one sending them: we are bombarded every day with these messages. They impact on how we view and talk about our bodies. (more…)

Hungry for Careers?

I enjoy stopping at tables of employers hungry to hire bright UCSB students. Besides the free pens, mugs and Frisbees, one often discovers that you are speaking with a fellow Gaucho now on the other side helping out those who want to follow in their footsteps.

In this digital day of on-line applications, it’s nice to connect a personal face with an organization, and feel encouraged that maybe you too could find a corporate home beyond UCSB. While the information overload can be overwhelming, at least there is hope of what next steps are needed to get a foot in the door. This year’s fall fair will host almost 60 different companies ranging from Amgen to Enterprise Rent-A Car or Verizon Wireless to Peace Corps and Teach for America. Twenty-four companies offer internship programs, the single best way to test drive a career and prove yourself worthy of an offer upon graduation. (more…)

Tuesdays With TED: Inspiration

I want to be inspired continuously.  Reality check: That’s not possible. Sometimes we have to just get it done, inspiration be damned. But, I don’t want to just go through the motions for most of my life.  I seek out inspiration for motivation and to see the world from different points of view. (more…)

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