Staying Healthy in College

Coming to college is an absolutely amazing experience that I think everyone should be able to try. For most students, it is the first time away from the parents and out of the home. Going to college is the best of both worlds as you still have people around to help guide you and direct you, but the freedom of being an adult. With that being said, many people do not have the home-cooked meals or packed lunches for school. Most students now fend for themselves or eat when they want, so Ashland University's Convocation Center (Convo) is the place to go when you are hungry. Some of the benefits of going there would be the variety of foods they offer and the hours they are open. Some of the cons would be that there are so many options and there is no limitation of how much you can put on your plate.

So my advice for incoming freshman when coming here would be to make sure you are watching how much you eat what you eat in general. Instead of getting pizza or a burger, try going for a salad every now and then. Also, college can be stressful! Try not to stress eat or go out and buy food because you are stressed from studying. Another concern is what you drink as well. Convo offers a very large variety of beverage options from things like soda, milk, juice, coffee, and of course water. Try getting water instead of a soda one day to avoid extra calories.

One last bit of advice I have for avoiding the freshman 15 and staying healthy would be to go to the Recreation Center. The Rec Center is huge and offers a large variety of things to do get physically stronger and keep those extra pounds off. They have club sports ( I am currently president of Club Basketball), intramural sports, a weight room, a track, an indoor soccer field, two basketball courts, and even racquetball courts. There is plenty to do there, so go in and get a good workout or play some pickup games with friends. Staying involved and healthy is the best way to get going and feeling good about yourself!


- Seth

Back-to-School Advice

My name is Seth Miller and I am heading into my senior year here at Ashland University. It has been three crazy years here so far. As a senior though, I have had plenty of experience leaving summer behind and getting ready to be living on campus or just getting ready to take on all the upcoming classes. My best advice for anyone whether they are a freshman or not, would be to get involved while in college.

Ashland is a small school and there are many perks that come with that, but also being a small school and in a small town, there are not as many options to go out and do things as compared to bigger cities. However, there are many things to do on campus such as going to movie nights put on by CAB, looking into Greek life events or watching our football team with some friends. Make sure to just get out there and try new things.

Another big thing would be to make sure you know where all of your classes are at and that you have the right tools and items to succeed in these classes. If you are confused, you can talk to your RA or contact your academic advisor and I am sure they can help you. Finally, my last bit of advice would just be that you make sure you get to bed in time as classes do come bright and early the next morning. You do not want to wake up groggy and tired, then try to go to class. It will be harder to focus and maintain the information you are gathering while in class which in turn, will make it harder to do the homework.

- Seth

Labor Day at AU

Hello & CONGRATS on making it through your first week at AU this fall! 

After a stressful week of starting classes and reading through syllabi, there are plenty of exciting things to do this weekend. 

A really great way to start adjusting to life at AU and becoming more comfortable is to make some friends and connections with people around you. There are plenty of great restaurants in Ashland to check out with a new group of friends including: Bella Bleu’s, Buehler’s & Scenic River Coffee Company, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dairy Queen, Downtown Perk, Eva’s Treats, Perkins, Pizza Hut, Priceless Treats, Pulp Juice & Smoothie Bar, Uniontown Brewing Company, Village Point Parlor, Whit’s Frozen Custard and many more! Plus there are coupons for many of these in the Downtown & Beyond Coupon Book from Orientation weekend. 

After grabbing a bite to eat this weekend there are also some cool shops and entertainment to explore around the area including: Fig & Oak, Madame Bagnabit, Masterminds, The Ohio State Reformatory, Studio Rise, Tin Can Chandelier, Tree Frog Canopy Tours. 

If you want to stay on campus there are still lots of fun things to do, like, attend the free movie night in the Student Center Auditorium on Friday. There are loads of activities at the Rec to explore and you can check out lawn games, bikes and more to do around campus and enjoy the new fall weather. 

There are a lot of fun things to do in Ashland and lots of great opportunities to become acquainted with your new home away from home. Make sure you take advantage of all there is to do and start crossing things off your #AUBucketList!

-Rachel