Volunteering Relives the Stresses of a Student

There is something about volunteering that really cures the headaches of a student.

I had a strong headache because I had worked on so much homework as a Weber State University student.  After taking a Zoology 1010 test and working on a public speech, I needed a way to help other people and forget about my own problems.

I discovered two opportunities that helped me be a better volunteer and relieved my stress this past weekend through a text message and my twin brother Bryson Snow's help.

My first opportunity in volunteering was to donate blood to help save peoples' lives.  Thanks to a text message on my cellphone, I walked down to the Kaysville, Utah Latter-day Saint Seminary Building on Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, where a blood drive was sponsored.  A team of nurses from MountainStar, a chain of smaller hospitals based in Utah's Wasatch Front region, organized the blood drive.

I went through a pre-screening checkup and I was able to donate my own pint of blood.  The fact that I was willing to give a part of my own self to help someone else was a really gratifying feeling and I desired to volunteer again.

On Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011, I worked in my second volunteer opportunity at a Deseret Industries Thrift Store in Centerville, Utah.   My twin brother told me that I could volunteer at the same store he worked at.  I was able to volunteer my time working under Quality Control.   I was able to inspect many books, shoes, toys, clothes, and other items that would help a family or person in need.  I would also hang up clothing that the store would sell to shoppers or give to those in need around the world.

There is a sense of fulfillment that comes from freely doing volunteer work.  From my experience, it can really cure headaches and relieve a load of stress off my back as a Weber State student. 

Austen Snow checks the quality of a "juice machine" in this photo
taken Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011 at a Deseret Industries in Centerville, Utah.
Snow volunteered at Deseret Industries since his twin brother, Bryson Snow,
also worked at this particular store.  (Photo/Justin Een)

Austen Snow voluntarily donated his blood at the MountainStar Blood Drive
at the Kaysville, Utah LDS Seminary Building on Friday, Oct. 28, 2011.
Snow volunteered to donate his blood in an effort to cure the headaches of
being a typical school student. (Photo/MountainStar Blood Donor Team)

Purpose of Deseret Industries

Organizations for Blood Donation

Transitioning to BYU In The Visual Way

Austen Snow is with BYU Students with Disabilities supervisor, John Call, in this photo taken Friday Oct. 21, 2011 at Provo, Utah.  Snow had visitied Call to discuss disability accomodattions as a transfer student.  (Photo/Jane Mcbride)

Austen Snow is with BYU Housing Supervisor Bart Stoddard in this photo taken Friday Oct. 21, 2011 at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.  Snow had visited with Stoddard to discuss in-campus housing that he will live in as a new BYU student.  (Photo/Jane Mcbride)

Bart Stoddard shows Jane Mcbride, Austen Snow's mother, a map of BYU in this Friday Oct. 21, 2011 photo in Provo,Utah.   Mcbride and Snow agreed with Stoddard that Heritage Halls
was a best option for Snow's housing needs. (Photo/Austen Snow)

A typical lunch hour at BYU's Wilkinson Center in Provo, Utah, Friday Oct. 21, 2011.
According to Austen Snow's observations, the students wore modest clothing and there were no signs
of foul language as a part of normal converstation. (Photo/Austen Snow)

In this image released by the BYU Bookstore, a lady wears a black modest dress
while carrying bookstore bags and wearing black gloves and high heels.  The BYU Honor Code
enforces strict modesty standards even in the school's advertisements.  (Photo/Austen Snow and BYU Bookstore)

Future BYU student Austen Snow  stands next to the Academic Advisement Center
sign at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, Friday Oct. 21, 2011.  Snow worked
with academic advisor Michael Lyman to discuss class options and what credits will transfer to BYU. (Photo/Jane Mcbride)

Future BYU student Austen Snow does pushups at a charity event on Brigham Young University's
campus, Friday, Oct. 21, 2011, in Provo, Utah.  Snow did pushups to help raise money for autism
awareness on the campus.  (Photo/Tyler Snow)

The "Graham Canyon", a graham cracker flavored ice cream offered by BYU Creamery
on Friday Oct. 21, 2011 in Provo, Utah.   BYU has a well known creamery that makes many flavors of
ice cream for its students, faculty, and visitors alike.  (Photo/Austen Snow)

Walking in the Halls of Brigham Young University

What's the best way to transition to a new college where famous atheletes like Steve Young and Jimmer Fredette had walked in its halls?

Transitioning to a new college like BYU begins with a simple orientation tour.  Such a tour includes knowing where disability accomodations can be given, where the academic advisement office is, the best housing options on campus, and transitioning to the college enviroment.

 I visited the BYU Students with Disabilities Office, where I met with office superintendent John Call.  We discussed about what accomodations I would need as a student.  The accomodations include longer testing hours and recording lectures in class. 

My second meeting was at the Academic Advisement Office, where I discussed with advisor Michael Lyman about transferring Weber State credits to BYU.  I also discussed with Lyman about what classes I would need to take at BYU as a new student.  I also learned how to register for classes at BYU through the BYU website.

My third meeting was with Bart Stoddard, who is a student housing supervisor at BYU.   After some discussion with Stoddard, my mother, Jane Mcbride, and I decided on Heritage Halls as a housing possibility.  According to Stoddard, I could also be a resident of the new Heritage Halls buildings that were under construction and will open on December 2011.

After my questions were answered, Mcbride and I ate lunch together with fellow BYU students at the Wilkinson Center.  My older brother and BYU student Tyler Snow ate lunch with us as well.  

Concerning the BYU environment, Snow commented that BYU was voted the "most stone-cold sober" school as no alcohol, coffee, tea and caffineated drinks were served at the school's food courts.   Even a fashion advertisment at BYU promoted more modest, non-sleazy, fashionable clothing.

After my tour of BYU was over, I realized that not only would I need to know where I can get the basic services of college, but I had to adjust to a radically different college environment.

PHOTO-A sign that says "Culture of Honor" with a modestly-dressed student passing by at
BYU's campus in Provo, Utah, Friday Oct. 21, 2011.   The Honor Code is strictly enforced at BYU
and many students have agreed to live by Latter-day Saint standards of modesty as part of the code. (Photo/Austen Snow)
Link
http://home.byu.edu/home/

A Solemn Song To Remember A Fellow Student

VIDEO-The Weber State Marching Band performed the song "Amazing Grace" during halftime of the Weber State vs Idaho State football game on Saturday Oct. 15, 2011, at Stewart Stadium in Ogden, Utah.   The band performed the song in honor of a fellow former student who passed away recently. (Video/Austen Snow)
http://www.wsusignpost.com/2011/10/08/barton-remembered-by-friends-and-family/

Hip, Hip Hooray for Weber State

Hip, Hip Hooray for Weber State.

VIDEO-Weber State students cheer along with the alumni sitting at the other side of Stewart Stadium at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011.  The students would yell “Weber” and the other side of the stadium would yell “State” as a symbol of unity among the Weber State community.  (Video/Austen Snow)

Football is about the Weber State Community

Photo #1

Photo 1:  A Weber State fan tries out his luck in a “beanbag toss” to win prizes at the Weber State Alumni Booth next to Weber State University’s Stewart Stadium, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011, in Ogden, Utah.   The pre-game carnival allowed many attendees from families to alumni to try out their luck in winning prizes at some booths and cheer on one another, thus bringing a sense of community to the event. (Photo/Austen Snow)

Photo #2

Photo 2: Two Weber State fans wearing purple football jersys pose for a photo at Weber State University’s Pre-game carnival, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011, in Ogden, Utah. Many Weber State students have come to the game to cheer on their football team with their fellow classmates, which has helped the student body be united as a student community. (Photo/Austen Snow)

Photo #3

Photo 3:  Weber State’s famous mascot, Waldo the Wildcat, passes out free Papa John’s pizza to the student section at Weber State’s Stewart Stadium, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011, in Ogden, Utah.  Waldo helped unite the Weber State student body by passing out free food or rallying the students to cheer more in the game. (Photo/Austen Snow)

Photo #4

Photo 4:  After Weber State’s victory over Idaho State University in its homecoming football game, a few of Weber State’s football players have celebrated by climbing onto the student section of Stewart Stadium and rallying student cheers on Saturday Oct. 15, 2011, in Ogden, Utah.  The fat that the football players were willing to celebrate with the students has shown that they and other students included one another as a united Weber State student body.  (Photo/Austen Snow)

Photo #5

Photo 5:  A banner of the Weber State Alumni booth says “It’s About Community” at the Pre-game Carnival next to Weber State University’s Stewart Stadium, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011, in Ogden, Utah.   According to  Weber State’s Purple Pak  Student Pride Club member Alisha Brenchley, the homecoming football game had brought nearly the entire Ogden community together as they came to the game with their purple shirts and shouted their school slogan “Weber State, Weber State, great, great, great!” (Photo/Austen Snow)

Photo #6

Photo 6:  The autographed poster of Weber State’s Spirit Squad that Weber State student Austen Snow received at the Weber State vs Idaho State game cat Weber State’s Stewart Stadium in Ogden, Utah, Saturday Oct. 15, 2011.   The signed poster recieved by Snow has shown that many Spirit Squad cheerleaders were willing to sign their posters upon request, thus increasing the sense of unity further at the homecoming game. (Photo/Austen Snow)
http://www.wsusignpost.com/2011/10/15/wildcats-romp-rivals/

Feeling a Sense of Community in Weber State Football

Streams of purple have gathered to the hills of Weber State University on a sunny, bright autumn day with a sense of school pride.

It was the annual homecoming football game, a tradition that has been a part of Weber State’s history for many generations.   Everyone in the Ogden community, from the students to alumni, gathered at Stewart Stadium to attend a pre-game tailgate party and to root on Weber State as they played against their rival Idaho State University.

“Weber State football brings the Ogden community together,” said Alisha Brenchley, a member of Weber State’s Purple Pak Student Pride Club.  “We all ‘bleed purple’ by putting on purple shirts and shouting ‘Weber State, Weber State, great, great, great!”

The homecoming football game to me was a wonderful feeling of being a student.  While I was taking some photos of the tailgate party and some of the Weber State student fans, a group of Spirit Squad members gave me a poster.

As I began to take my pictures for my blog, a lady standing nearby assumed that I wanted my poster signed by a Spirit Squad cheerleader and the cheerleader was nice enough to sign it, but my pen ran out of ink.  Instead, I got a picture with her on my cellphone.

After I bought some permanent markers, I got some cool signatures from half of the Weber State Spirit Squad on my poster.  I never forgot their kindness towards me on that occasion.

Throughout the game, I sat in the student section where my fellow purple-wearing students were more united in yelling cheers against the opposing Idaho State team.  Sometimes, I participated in the cheers to show off my pride as a Weber State student.  Other times, I observed a moment of silence as the marching band played “Amazing Grace” to honor a former student who passed away.

As I left the game, I understood that Weber State fans wore the same colors, no matter what life circumstances they came from.  They have embraced one another as friends instead of just strangers.

My Last Semester as a Weber State Student

FILE-Austen Snow (left) is shown in Ogden, Utah, in this Oct. 17, 2009, file photo. Snow has been a Weber State University student since 2008 and will be receiving both his associate’s degree and becoming a BYU student next semester, announced Friday August 5, 2011 and Friday October 7, 2011 in Ogden and Kaysville, Utah (Austen Snow, File).

The purpose of this blog is to highlight my final semester at Weber State University, both through attending big Weber State events like football and basketball games.

I will also write about my personal life in terms of major transitions I’ve encountered as a student, such as being accepted to another college and working in a volunteer organization.  I will also write how those events have helped me to become a better student as well.

I will also write about the important preparations that I’m making to adjust to a new life at BYU, such as  going on a BYU orientation tour.

I believe that these events will allow others to understand how hard work, dedication, and some personal fun can help in achieving student goals as well.