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This is my second year studying elementary education, and I have come to realize that it can be really easy to pick us future teachers out of a crowd. We tend to exhibit certain qualities that other majors don't, so in case you were wondering, here are seven tell-tale signs:

1. School Supplies

"Are those crayons at the bottom of your backpack?" "Yep"

It's not uncommon for us to be doing projects that involve construction paper, markers, and glue, so if you ever see some colored paper poking out of someone's backpack, it's very likely that they're an education major.

2. Children's books

If you were to walk into our university library, you'd probably find me in the children's section. For elementary and early childhood majors especially, we have to read these books for class. Sometimes we may have to write a lesson or activity to go with a certain book, and other time, I'll be honest, I'm just in the mood for some "Green Eggs and Ham."

3. Creekside

Okay, so this one is specific to Judson, but if you see someone hanging around Creekside, it's more than likely they are an education major. Creekside South is the name of the education building on our campus, and we have pretty much all our classes there. Sure, you see random people hanging around sometimes, but when I have classes there all day, I just don't see a reason to leave.

4. Teacher clothes

"Raise your arms and touch your toes, if anything shows go change your clothes."

Many of us are currently enrolled in practicums, which means we are in a classroom a couple days out of the week, so we have to dress professionally. However, being in a classroom means you not only have to be professional, but you have to be comfortable because you're working with kids. For teachers, comfort is not a pencil skirt, so you will likely see us in trouser pants and a crew neck sweater because if anything is showing, you better believe we'll end up in the principal's office.

5. Chairs

I don't know when I started doing this, but it has become a habit. Teachers like the chair to be pushed in because God forbid someone might trip and fall and you don't want their blood on your hands. There have been multiple times when my friends and I have gotten up to leave the cafeteria after a meal, and I'm lagging behind because I stopped to push in everyone's chair. They'll thank me later.

6. Apples

Apples are our power food. I know it seems really stereotypical and maybe even old-fashioned to bring your teacher an apple, but I would welcome it. I have been eating a lot of apples lately, and they have been helping me morph into a teacher. It's a little known secret that apples make us stronger, and give us our super powers.

7. Teacher voice

Every teacher has a teacher voice. This is the tone of voice that they use when saying something like "sit down everyone" or "it's time to be quiet." If someone talks to you in a voice that is firm yet gentle, they are probably an education major. Also, if they are talking to you like this, you must be doing something to annoy them, and that needs to stop.

Cover Image Credit: Google

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Every Time I See A College Tour Group Walk By I Just Want to Scream 'It's a TRAAAPP!'

The tour guide is good - they're just a liar.

Serena Wong

Serena Wong Feb 26, 2018

23370

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It's officially that time of year - anywhere you walk on campus, there's bound to be a gaggle of parents and befuddled high school students winding their way through building after building. In front of them stands an overenthusiastic tour guide, spouting off statistics about the school so fast they'll make your head spin.

Unfortunately, what the tour guide says doesn't exactly line up with what goes on at the school. Oh, the things we students wish we could shout out to the parents as they pass by.

1. "You'll get sick of the dining!"

It may look like there's something new to eat every single day, but by the end of the semester, you'll be sick of everything except the things closest at home.

2. "I'm only here for the free t-shirts!"

Seriously.

3. "IT'S A TRAP!"

Seriously, part two. You get two of three things: a social life, sleep, or good grades. Whoever said you could have all three is lying.

4. "Welcome to the real world, suckers!"

It's got confrontation, taking care of yourself, and formal emails. (Which, of course, your professor will respond with 'k thnx bai' sent from their iPhone.)

5. "Say goodbye to sleep!"

There are three types of people on campus: tea drinkers, coffee drinkers, and people with energy drinks running through their veins.

6. "THE MODEL DORM IS A LIE!"

Check all of your housing options before you move in. The dorm they're showing you might be the worst housing area on campus.

7. "THE FINANCIAL AID IS A LIE!"

You're getting squat. Free tuition? Try the tune of $13k a year. Or more. Depending.

8. "The library is NOT the best study place."

Depending on your major, there are several places for you to study that aren't the library.

9. "The health center sucks!"

True fact: word through the grapevine is that someone once got antibiotics for a sprained ankle.You may as well sell that leg on the black market to cover the costs.

10. "Believe the roommate horror stories!"

All random roommates are horrible unless proven otherwise. (But be wary of everyone.)

11. "SI (student instructor) sessions are useless."

You will learn nothing . Chances are you'll end up correcting the instructor.

12. "The freshman fifteen is optional."

Some people don't gain it at all, and some people really gain it. It's up to you.

13. "You'll need a car!!"

If, for some reason you can't pay for the overpriced parking pass, find a friend who can.

14. "Hookup culture is real!"

But it's not for everyone. Just because everyone is doing it doesn't mean you have to.

15. "Campus jobs are a myth!"

Campus job? What's a campus job? Do you have work-study? No? No job for you. Have you tried the local coffee shop?

Cover Image Credit: Flickr

Serena Wong

Serena Wong Feb 26, 2018

At University of Massachusetts, Amherst

13 Things I Wish I Would Have Known At 13

Turns out, we are not called to be invisible our whole lives.

Christina Thomas

Christina Thomas Feb 14, 2019

202

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Being a 13-year-old awkward middle school student is never easy. Growing up, I used to wish for someone older in my life who could give me advice that I needed to hear at the time. While my parents may have tried to give me advice, it probably would've been better received coming from someone closer to my age who I viewed as "cool" or looked up to. These words of truth and motivation are exactly what I needed to hear at 13 and sometimes what I need to hear now. Reflecting on this stage of my life has been very rewarding, and I hope you can do the same.

1. It's okay to ask for help

Asking someone to pray for you is good. Letting others speak into your life is good. Leaning on your friends shoulders is good. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I had to re-affirm my self that asking people to pray for me and to just be with me was okay to do. We were not created to be alone in our struggles.

2. Being goofy isn't lame

This is who you ARE. Let yourself be your fun goofy self. Life doesn't have to be serious all the time

3. It's okay to help your mom around the house

It's okay to ask to help, to be apart of what's cooking, to be a hand in anything that you can help doing.

4. Your worth is more than the lies that you hear

You may hear lies that you are not good enough and that your worth is placed based upon your actions, but those voices are wrong.

5. Boys are NOT worth it right now

Sister, there is NO need for a boy in your life. It will do nothing but shatter your heart and send you into a tornado of crazy emotions. Focus your attention on something else. Invest your time into friendships, find a hobby you enjoy, learn to do something new. Boys will always be there, and right now they should not be your main focus.