It’s FINALS WEEK!

You’ll have to pardon the slow week over in the student blogs.

It’s finals week.

That means lots of studying, staying up late and probably a good amount of coffee. It’s been a busy couple of weeks for students, but it’s ok. They have a month of Christmas break to recoup!

As a college student, I always thought the week before finals was as difficult, if not more so, than the actual week of finals. That’s when all the big projects are due on top of all the studying you have to do for finals. It’s a crazy time for everyone.

Good thing our students have the help of Student Academic Support Services! Also known as SASS, this office is largely known as the tutoring center. But, I think it’s great because they can take it a little further than just explaining facts or paper-proofing. They have professional advisers who can help you learn how to study. They can teach you study skills (Are you a visual learner? Maybe flashcards aren’t the best way for you to study.) and how to manage your time.

Of course, none of our students waited to the last minute to use these services. Right, guys?

Final Installment!

The School of Professional Studies wraps up our “School of the Week” segments.

What exactly is “professional studies?” At USF, this means education, psychology and social work.

I think their website says it best:

Rooted in the core Franciscan values, which emphasize service to others and reverence for the dignity of each person, the school is a perfect place to obtain not just the knowledge you need, but also the ability to apply it most effectively in your professional setting

Our education isn’t just about learning skills or learning facts. It’s about learning how to use the skills we’ve taught you. Being in Fort Wayne is an asset in this aspect of our education. We’re the second-largest city in Indiana, which means we have a lot of non-profits, schools and counseling agencies nearby through which our students do internships, engage in service learning and volunteer.

The diversity found in Fort Wayne also allows our students to discover their passions. Social Work and Psychology cover so many disciples. Do you want to work with children? Families? Maybe with co-workers? It’s a lot to digest and internships give you the opportunity to figure that out!

Close your eyes for a second and imagine a professional. Whether you think of a man or woman, or someone in a business suit, you think of someone with skill – someone who does a job with confidence and ease. People gain confidence with practice. And at USF, you get the practice of hands-on experience. Whether it’s in the classroom as an education major (you observe a classroom as early as your first year as an education student) or with the practice of an internship or a practicum, you will have the opportunity to develop your professional skills outside of the classroom.