Co-Create UMBC

Real People Profiles: Josh Azer

2012-03-01T08:12:00.000-05:00

I’m asking some of the people you might encounter on the UMBC campus, including students, faculty, staff and alumni, to answer a few questions about themselves and their experiences. These are their responses.

Name: Josh Azer

Hometown: Lawrenceville, NJ

Q: How long have you been at UMBC?

A: 2 years

Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?

A: Athletics' Coordinator Club Sports & Recreational Programs

Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus?

A: Helping students become successful on and off the playing field

Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?

A: Showing students that club sports can help teach valuable life lessons that will allow these student-athletes to succeed in the real world once they graduate from UMBC

Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?

A: That no matter how big the problem there is always a solution

Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"

A: Club sport athletes

Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?

A: I have learned that Humans vs Zombies is probably more popular than I ever would have imagined in my entire life.

BONUS VIDEO QUESTION: What else would you like to share? Ask yourself a question and answer it.

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Real People Profiles: Shail Thakker

2012-02-28T18:56:00.001-05:00

Name: Shail Thakker

Hometown: Boston, MA

Q: How long have you been at UMBC?

A: This is my 5th semester at UMBC after transferring from HCC.

Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?

A: I'm the SGA Executive Assistant of Office Affairs. I also have the unofficial title of SGA Baker.

Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus?

A: I help SGA members work together and boost their morale with food.

Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?

A: I just enjoy being involved. Since my official position affords me more free time than others do, I get to jump into whatever projects I'm interested in. So whether it's helping out with something like Prove It! or working with our awesome (seb) friends for an event they're having, I get to work with a ton of amazing people all around campus. There's always something going on that I'd love to give my time to.

Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?

A: I've learned it's important to take a step back sometimes and gauge how important something really is. It's really easy to get caught up in a single exam or single assignment and stress out over it, but at the end of the day no one thing will make or break you. So when I start getting stressed out over anything, I've learned it's important to step away, get together with some friends and get away from whatever's stressing me out. Even if one assignment or exam doesn't go my way, I know that at the end of the day I won't be too burnt out or stressed to keep moving on. Stepping away can even help me get a fresh perspective on whatever I was doing and improve it. As important as academics are, morale and mental health are important too.

Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"

A: Witty t-shirts, watches, sports, fantasy sports, crosswords, all kinds of music, and of course FOOD!

Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?

A: A tradition a few friends and I have is wearing eye-black for finals week. It's the most stressful time of the semester, so we like to add a little humor to the week. When people see you walking down academic row with eye-black on, they can't help but do a double-take. Something about it also puts you in the right mind state to go into your final and dominate it.

BONUS VIDEO QUESTION: What else would you like to share? Ask yourself a question and answer it.

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Prove It! Deadline 3/1: $$ for Students' Projects

2012-02-26T21:14:00.000-05:00

UMBC students have a wide variety of opportunities to make a difference on this campus. SGA's Prove It! competition is special because it provides significant funding and support for students' projects. Got an idea for making the UMBC experience even better, and our community even stronger? Submit a proposal by this Thursday, March 1st, and you could win up to $10,000 to back your plan and a $2,000 cash prize. See the Prove It! web site for details and the application.

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Real People Profiles: William Klotz Jr.

2012-02-26T17:14:00.000-05:00

Name: William Klotz Jr.

Hometown: Baltimore, MD

Q: How long have you been at UMBC?

A: 3rd year.

Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?

A: I am currently the National Communications Coordinator for UMBC's Resident Student Association. What that means is that at regional and national levels I am the sole representative of all UMBC resident students. I am the treasurer of The Hispanic Latino Student Union as well as Queers United Mobilized and Bringing Change (QUMBC). I work for Residential Life as the West Hill Community Director's Assistant. I was also a Woolie this year.

Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus?

A: I am a leader and the overly involved student.

Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?

A: I like putting on big events that showcase what my organizations have to offer and this brings all kinds of different people together. Seeing that the students are having a great time in something that I was a part of creating is a great feeling.

Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?

A: College is not just about studying and grades. It is about all of the experiences you have as a whole. These experiences create who you are and what you want to do in life. If I was never a Woolie or the National Communications Coordinator I wouldn't have thought about a career in Student Affairs.

Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"

A: Welcome Week.

Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?

A: UMBC is a really awesome school and I am very happy I came here. If it were not for this school I would not be dancing nor discovered my dream dance company (The Paul Taylor Dance Company). I wouldn't have gone to STRIVE, which is the best leadership conference I have ever been to, or all of the many Residential Life conferences that I did not even know existed. I clearly made a great choice in coming here.

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Real People Profiles: Kelsey Krach

2012-02-23T08:18:00.000-05:00

Name: Kelsey Krach

Hometown: Baltimore County, MD

Q: How long have you been at UMBC?

A: Since Fall 2010

Q: What is your current title (job or student organization position)?

A: Patapsco Hall Desk Staffer; Alternative Spring Break (ASB) Through the Eyes of a Refugee (TEAR) Leader

Q: In 12 words or less, what role(s) do you play on campus?

A: Enthusiastic student, loyal friend, & agent of social change

Q: What aspect of your UMBC role(s) do you enjoy most?

A: I love all of my roles equally, as they are important to my identity and the culture I am a part of at UMBC. I have worked in several offices on campus as well as been a part of different clubs and organizations. Currently, I love being an ASB trip leader. The support that I have from my advisors within Student Life is AMAZING! Another aspect that that I LOVE is meeting new people from all over the world. Since coming to UMBC, I have certainly made many international friends and have had the ability to learn about many different societies and cultures. In fact, my very own roommates are Egyptian and Lebanese. Fortunately, I am bilingual so I have been able to connect with many members of HLSU or made friends from Latin America. Because I am involved in many different organizations, I am able to meet these people and roll around in the diversity. The flags hanging in the Commons was one of the reason I decided to come to UMBC. I knew, when I saw those flags, that I would be surrounded by the diversity that I crave. Sometimes I feel like I don't even need to leave America in order to learn about the world (although, traveling is one of my most favorite things to do!)

Q: What is the most important or memorable thing you learned in college/have learned at UMBC?

A: I took a political science 100 class last spring. The class was great, especially the professor. I ended up changing my major from polisci, but I still took away one of the most important things that anyone has ever told me: college is about learning; you can decide to come to get a degree or you can decide to learn. My professor told us that college is supposed to teach you HOW to think, not WHAT to think. I firmly believe in this statement and after this class, I never once doubted my decisions for my major, classes, interests, or actions. I truly believe that whatever I do at UMBC will help further my education and success in the future.

Q: Complete this sentence: "I am a big fan of __________"

A: Music! I love singing to it, dancing to it, and making it!

Q: Do you have any UMBC stories, little-known facts about UMBC, favorite spots on campus, or anything else you’d like to share?

A: My favorite spot on campus is right there on the quad, on a beautiful afternoon, I will sit on the platform next to Lecture Hall 1. It is right next to the stairs, beside the side door to the entrance. It's a random little spot and most people probably never notice it as they walk past, but I LOVE going there because I feel high up over the quad and can people-watch, do homework, or nap in the sun.

My other favorite spot for a rainy, sunny, or just regular Baltimore day, is the 7th floor of the library. Hardly anyone ever ventures up there, but it has the best, most beautiful view of the campus. As well, you can see into Baltimore City and on clear days you can see the Key Bridge and sometimes some water.

Also, CERA is so nice to go hiking in or for a little walk. The deer are always so great to see, they put a smile on my face!

My fourth favorite place on campus is Pig Pen Pond. Again, another place most people never go. I don't want to encourage too many people to go there (I'm being selfish, of course, because if everyone starts going there it won't be so special). SO go exploring and find these places and some new ones for yourself, it's worth it!!

Finally, make a UMBC bucket-list! Before graduation, I have over 25 activities that I hope to accomplish. I crossed a few off my list already. For example, I wanted to go mud-sliding. I did that last semester during finals week (and it was probably one of the most exhilarating and fun experiences I had with my roommates!)

BONUS VIDEO QUESTION: What else would you like to share? Ask yourself a question and answer it.

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