Positive thinking may be more powerful than you realize. A positive outlook has many benefits. It can help you keep a clear mind, as well as staying energized and organized. Positive thinking can also impact others around you. If you’re happy and exuding confidence, your positivity can become contagious. You’ll start to see things fall into place.
As a student, it can be hard to keep a positive outlook, especially when you’re studying for exams and thinking about your grade point average or GPA. Learning the best ways to stay positive through it all can help keep you on the track for success and ensure you have an even more successful year when the fall semester begins.
Here are some of the effective ways students are using the power of positive thinking to reach their goals and enjoy the best college experience:
Grow where you’re planted—Having a positive attitude helps you make the most of where you are. Joining clubs, volunteering, and helping friends are great ways to build positive relationships and put down roots for the future.
Don’t get discouraged—To err is human, so don’t be so hard on yourself. Brush it off and try to find ways to do better next time. When you think positively, you’re more motivated to find different ways to improve as opposed to giving up or getting discouraged.
It’s OK to ask for help—It’s impossible to know everything. That’s why you’re in college. Reaching out to professors and peers can help you keep a positive attitude. Learning from others with different experiences and knowledge helps to give you a new perspective and offers a fresh way of looking at things.
Avoid unnecessary conflicts—At some point, it’s bound to happen. Roommate battles or disagreements are a part of the college experience, so you’re not alone. It’s important to remember that no two people are the same. Staying positive can help diffuse roommate or friend conflicts by openly communicating and accepting and respecting the opinions of others. Welcoming open discussions in a positive/non-judgmental way is a great way to keep the peace.
Don’t let your grades define you—Most students would agree that their grades are a direct reflection of who they are―which couldn’t be further from the truth. Every student, at one time or another, has received a grade they’re not happy with. But it doesn’t mean you give up. Staying positive can help improve your focus by not dwelling on negative or discouraging thoughts. Instead, it helps you to keep your eye on your goals and reminds you why you’re in college in the first place – to keep learning and growing.
Manage your time wisely —Time. Once it’s gone, you can’t get it back, so it’s important to make the best of every minute. Of course, your studies are a priority but it’s also important to learn to balance your social and class schedules to succeed. Plan study schedules to keep yourself organized, but be sure to make time for yourself. Taking a mental health break can be the most important one of all. Plan for some “me” time.
Be patient—It may not be easy at times, but it’s important to be patient with yourself and others. Although your friends and classmates are all at the same college, everyone is in a different place (emotionally, academically, or just in general) so it’s important to be mindful and respectful of where others are in their own lives.
When it comes down to it, the power of positive thinking is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. So, take a deep breath and remember positive thoughts reap positive results. You’ve got this.
Vaughn College hosted its second annual International Drone Day event on May 6, where members of the College’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) club welcomed the public and shared their excitement and knowledge of unmanned aerial vehicles. It was a hands-on, high flying experience.
About International Drone Day
International Drone Day is a worldwide event where over 150 cities simultaneously celebrate drones and their uses. This global experience is a collaborative effort that was started three years ago to educate the public, media and local governments about the incredible ways drones are used for good in our society, such as in search and rescue, conservation, agriculture, sport, and film.
“We are excited to be hosting International Drone Day at Vaughn,” said Peter Kalaitzidis ’21, a member of the College’s UAV club and mechanical engineering technology student at Vaughn. “It’s an incredible opportunity for us to show off the many capabilities UAVs have to offer and enlighten enthusiasts and the younger generation on how to build and fly them.”
Drone technology takes off
Once thought of as an object only seen in sci-fi movies, UAV technology is on the fast track to becoming one of today’s hottest aviation trends. “Radio controlled technology has been around for years,” said Kalaitzidis, “but now it can be used for so much more than recreational use or photography. Today’s researchers are working toward developing UAV technology to help humanity. We’re already seeing applications in the medical field using UAVs as delivery systems for medical supplies, such as insulin and defibrillators.”
Unveiling of first passenger drone
A Chinese company may have changed the course of drone technology by taking the “unmanned” part out of UAV. Guangzhou-based EHang Inc. unveiled the world’s first drone capable of carrying a human passenger at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The EHang 184 is an electric-powered drone that can carry one person (weighing up to 220 pounds), and it can fly for 23 minutes at sea level. It is designed to fly from 1,000 to 1,650 feet off the ground, reach a maximum altitude of 11,500 feet, and fly at a top speed of 63 mph. The cabin has enough room to fit a small backpack and is equipped with air conditioning and a reading light. With its propellers folded, the EHang 184 can fit in a single parking spot. “The technology is growing at an exponential rate,” Kalaitzidis said. “The future may be here before we know it. This amazing technology of the EHang 184 has the possibility of eliminating traffic on the ground, as people will be able to use private drones instead of helicopters to get from one place to another.”
Future aviators
As a highly decorated retired staff sergeant of the United States Air Force, Kalaitzidis is an expert in his field. “Going back to school after my military career was the best decision to move my career forward,” Kalaitzidis stated. As a client liaison at DJI, the world’s largest drone manufacturer, he said it was important to have his bachelor’s degree to climb to the next level. “I want to be a part of the excitement to design the next generation of UAVs,” said Kalaitzidis. “Vaughn gives us all the tools we need to apply our knowledge. International Drone Day is just another way I can share my passion and experience with young aviation enthusiasts to help fuel their dreams.”
What could be more exciting than defending a world championship title? The Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology Robotics Team is going head-to-head this month with 62 college teams from around the world at the 2017 VEX Worlds Robotics Competition in Louisville, Kentucky. The incumbent world champions want to keep their standing and prove they have what it takes to earn the title for the second consecutive year.
This year’s theme
“VEX Starstruck” is the theme for this year’s robotics competition. The game is played on a 12′ x 12′ field where two alliances, consisting of two teams each, compete to attain the highest score. The goal is for the robot to launch the most stars and cubes over the fence. The opponent can throw the stars and cubes back over, and at the end, the team with the highest score advances to the next round.
Upping their game
The Vaughn robotics team knows what it takes to win. Maintaining their world championship title means keeping up with the latest trends in the robotics industry and knowing how to execute the ultimate delivery.
Here are some of the ways the 10-person team continues to excel this year to meet the fierce competition:
Building structurally sound robots—The team relies on the structural aspect of the game, so it’s important that the robot has the utmost structural integrity, and the experience the team brings to the table means a lot.
Building team motivation—With hundreds of hours invested in brainstorming, designing and building the robot for competition, it’s vital for the team to stay encouraged and motivated.
Preparing for competition
Being a part of the robotics team is both fun and challenging. Bilal Rashid ’18, president of the Vaughn robotics team and a sophomore at the College, knows first-hand how hard work and dedication can go a long way. Bilal was recognized for his leadership skills as a member of last year’s winning team and was elected president of this year’s team. He explains how his team has been preparing for the competition since last summer. “It’s definitely a team effort,” Bilal said. “It started off with all of us brainstorming ideas until we got it right.” Although it took one month to build their robot, the team invested over one hundred hours to get it ready for competition. With the big day only weeks away, Bilal said the team has been in overdrive by playing against each other to sharpen their skills. “We have been working day and night to ensure our robot is perfect,” said Bilal. “If we can beat ourselves, then we are confident we can beat other teams as well.”
Message from the team president
Bilal offers some words of encouragement to his fellow teammates before the big day: “I believe we are on the right track for winning the world championship competition again this year. We couldn’t have come this far without the support and guidance of Vaughn professors and faculty. We’re in it to win it and to make our college community proud.”
Results Update
It was a nail-biting three days at the 2017 VEX World Championship Competition in Louisville, Kentucky last month. Vaughn’s Robotics team went up against 10 teams, winning nine out of 10 matches placing them in third-place and qualifying them for the playoff round. At the quarter finals, Vaughn competed among the top eight teams and defeated a team from China advancing them to the semi-final playoff round against AURA (a team from the University of Auckland in New Zealand.) After an intense standoff during the third match of the semi-finals, AURA defeated Vaughn, winning the spot to advance to the finals.
“The Vaughn Robotics Team has done an incredible job placing as the third top robotics team in the world,” said Dr. Hossein Rahemi, professor and chair of the Vaughn engineering and technology department. “Congratulations to all the team members for keeping their standing as one of the top ranked competitors in the 2017 world championship for four years in a row.
Thinking about college is exciting for most students, but the uncertainty of choosing a major and the “right” college can be overwhelming.
The good news is no one expects you to know today what field you’ll be working in down the road. But weighing your options, knowing what to look for in a college, and how to successfully navigate the process are the first steps. Whether you are a parent contemplating your child’s future, a high school junior just starting to look at colleges, or looking to transfer―we’ve done some of the homework for you by suggesting our top 10 ways to help you choose the best college for you. So, sit back, take a deep breath and consider the following:
1. Think about what you love (and don’t love)
What lights you up inside? What areas of study have you enjoyed and excelled at? The best starting point when researching a college is to review its academic degrees and reputation in the field. Most freshmen are undecided on a major, but having a game plan to find the right fit for you can help take the stress out of the process.
2. Big or small―not all colleges and universities are the same
Think about your personality and if you would feel happier on a large campus surrounded by thousands of students, or on a smaller, more intimate campus.
It’s also important to consider your learning style. Larger universities tend to have hundreds of students taking their core classes in stadium-style classrooms, or even online. Some students thrive in a more autonomous environment. Other students may prefer smaller classes. It all depends on what makes you most comfortable.
3. Set your sights high
Education experts agree you should look outside your comfort zone when applying to college. When researching your options, familiarize yourself with the college’s GPA guidelines, SAT and ACT score requirements, as well as application deadlines. Don’t limit yourself to just the colleges you feel you can be accepted to. It’s advisable to apply to at least two or three colleges, with one of them being a “reach”. You never know unless you try, so go for the unexpected. You may be surprised at the results.
4. Location, location, location
Think about how close you want to be to home. Will you thrive if you have your family close by, or are you O.K. with being an airplane ride away?
Setting plays a big role. For example, students who have lived in a rural area their entire life might want to break away and attend a college in an urban location. Other considerations include the social climate of the town. Is it a “party college” with a bustling environment or is it located in a quiet, secluded area?
Another important factor to consider is your field of study and related jobs in the area. Vaughn College aviation students, for example, have the best of both worlds. Not only can they study a wide range of fields including aviation, aviation maintenance, aeronautics, engineering and avionics at one of the top colleges in the nation, but the campus is located steps away from New York’s La Guardia Airport and major employers in the New York metro (learn more about our history with these airports here) area looking to hire recent graduates in related fields.
5. Go on college tours
Seeing is believing. Researching colleges and universities online or reading about them in fancy brochures is one thing, but experiencing the campus firsthand and meeting faculty one-on-one through campus tours is the best way to get a real feel for the college (most colleges, like Vaughn College, have Open Houses or one-on-one visits). It’s also an important step in the process for your family, as it is a great way for them to see where you’ll be living for the next four years.
6. Affording it all
The thought of paying for a college education may seem out of reach, but the good news is there’s money out there to help you pay for the costs. There are government grants and scholarships, which is money you don’t have to pay back. There is also the option of government-funded student loans offered at lower-interest rates. Even better news to consider is knowing that many private colleges offer generous financial aid packages to qualifying students as a means to offset the costs.
So, don’t let the price factor deter you from applying to your dream college. At Vaughn College, for example, 90 percent of the students qualify for some form of financial aid.
7. Check out the application process
You may have heard stories from friends about the acceptance or rejection letters they received. The truth of the matter, however, is that most colleges and universities have a higher admittance rate than rejection rate. That’s not to say that some colleges are more selective than others, but knowing this fact going in can help you prepare ahead of time by not putting all of your eggs in one basket. By having other options, you may end up being finding a college that is a better fit.
Vaughn College offers the convenience of “on-the-spot application decision” to students with all the required materials. Students are encouraged to schedule a one-on-one appointment where an admissions officer will review their transcript and offer them a decision on the very day of their visit.
8. It’s never too late to learn
There’s no handbook saying you must attend college straight out of high school. Some students decide to take time off to travel or for personal reasons. Admissions officers will embrace the opportunity to hear about your experiences, so don’t fear that you’re too old or that it’s too late to apply. The truth is it’s never too late to learn.
9. Reputation
Be sure to check out a college’s academic, campus and student life. Important factors to research include the strength and experience of the faculty, easy access to resources, social clubs, sports programs, Greek life, and campus amenities such as on-campus housing and meal plans. These are an essential part of college experience and can make or break your time. Doing your research today can save you time and money down the road. As mentioned earlier, it’s all about finding the best fit for you.
10. Talk to Alumni
Did you ever say to yourself, “Wow, he or she has the best job. I wish I could do that.”? Well, just know that your dream may be closer than you think. They started out just like you―with the same questions, uncertainty and maybe even fears. The good news is they did it and so can you.
Let us introduce you to just a few Vaughn graduates who are living their dreams―dreams which may be just like yours:
Erika Barcenes – Class of ’13 – Bachelor of Science in Aircraft Operations
Jefferson Maldonado– Class of ’16 – Bachelor of Science in Mechatronic Engineering
Engineering and Technology Assistant Professor, Dr. Amir Elzawawy received the Spotlight Award for conducting engineering research after spending the summer of 2015 at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Dr. Elzawawy was accepted as an ORNL educational program participant and conducted nuclear research in hopes of understanding the mechanical interaction of high-speed coolant flow nuclear research reactor fuel plates. This specific research conducted was important because it highlights safety risks that can occur when in contact with high or low risk uranium reactors.
According to Dr. Elzawawy, he learned how to use software that can be used for researching nuclear reactors as well as common functions of the human body. In his amazement, he brought what he learned throughout the summer working inside the High Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR) and applied it to his curriculum. His students now use Multiphysics to understand heat transfer and fluid mechanics.
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