Monthly Archives: January 2020

College on a Budget

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College is expensive. Not only are you paying to actually attend classes and live on campus, but you also have books and supplies to buy. On top of that, you still want to have a social life which means having money for exploring the incredible Bay Area, going out on dates, having adventures with friends, and becoming the foodie you’ve secretly always wanted to be. 

Here are some budget-friendly tips to help you get a handle on your finances while building habits that will help you throughout the rest of your life. 

Create A Budget

Establishing a budget is essential for your financial future. Make a list of your monthly payments so you know exactly how much you have leftover. Also, plan ahead. Do you have a large purchase or trip coming up? Make sure to set money aside. 

Make a list of your purchases

If you’re like me you really enjoy online shopping. This is a dangerous habit to be in. Try and keep a list of the things you purchase so you’re not surprised at the end of the month. 

Check Your Bank Account

This may sound like a given but keep track of your money. Check your account weekly. Make sure your auto-payments are going through and check your receipts to be sure you’re charged the correct amount for things. 

Make a list of things you NEED

Before shopping, figure out what you actually need so you don’t walk into Target for toothpaste and walk out with five new outfits, some workout gear, and a cart full of snacks. Maybe still get a few of those things, though …

Put Your Money Into Savings

If you don’t have a savings account yet, open one. Take at least 10 percent of what you make and place it into your savings account. The more you save, the more you will have for your future. 

Create A Financial Goal 

Select a specific amount of money and strive to always have at least that in your bank account in case of an emergency. You never know when you might have car trouble or drop your phone into a puddle. 

Take Advantage of Your Student ID

There are lots of places that give student discounts. From restaurants and clothing stores to museums. It doesn’t hurt to ask! 

Adulting can be hard, especially when it involves finances. But you can get into habits now that will really help your future self! And hey, you can always get a job! For more information about student jobs on campus check out this great blog! 

 

Don’t Miss February College Days!

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College Days is just around the corner (February 9-11, 2020!) and we’d love to have you join us for a visit. This is the perfect chance to see what college life could be like at PUC—get to know the campus, have your questions answered, worship with students and faculty, and have a lot of fun! We would love to have you on our beautiful campus, imagining yourself as part of the Pioneers family.

We hope you will join us for our February College Days. Don’t forget to sign up! You can also email visit@puc.edu or call (800) 862-7080, option 2 to learn more and for information about our travel reimbursement policy.

Making Adventist Education Possible: A PUC Promise

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Getting a college education is important for many reasons. Having a degree looks great on your resume, lots of jobs even require one. It can help you with future career success and satisfaction as well as provide you with long term financial stability. The one downfall is that college is expensive, but we like to think of it as an investment in yourself. Here at PUC, we are always working on ways to make that investment financially possible. 

Did you know the average student takes out loans EACH year of college? While that enables you to get the education you deserve, those loans add up and eventually, you have to pay them off. 😩 For most, getting your dream job (with dream pay) right out of college doesn’t happen so you might be worried about making enough money to afford student loans. This is why PUC is excited to be partnering with Ardeo Education Solutions to offer the first-ever Loan Repayment Assistance Program. LRAP is a financial safety-net we offer at no cost to you or your family. If your income after graduation is under $45,000, we can help you pay back your federal, private, and parent plus loans.

How does the PUC Promise work you ask? Well, it’s fairly simple.

  1. Visit  MYLRAP.ORG/PUC and follow the simple steps on the page
  2. Review and sign your LRAP award
  3. Graduate from PUC with a bachelor’s degree
  4. Work at least an average of 30 hours per week—in any profession (or more than one job if needed)
  5. Begin repaying your federal, private alternative, or parent PLUS loans
  6. The PUC Promise reimburses a percentage, or all, of your loan repayment

The PUC Promise is new and we’re sure you’ve got questions. Reach out to our Admissions team via phone (800) 862-7080, option 2, or email admissions@puc.edu for more information.

Please note: Students who pursue nursing aren’t eligible for the PUC Promise. The good news is, PUC made that decision because most of our nursing graduates’ starting salaries are well over $45,000 annually. PUC is actually ranked for top-earning alumni with 2-year degrees because of our nursing graduates, and we want to focus this offer on students who are pursuing majors leading to careers with more modest starting salaries.

 

Give Yourself A Cultural Education 

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Ally Romanes

Have you ever wanted to just pack up and leave, to travel somewhere unknown? Are you interested in adventure, learning about another culture, picking up a new language? Consider studying abroad. If you’re on the fence, here are some reasons why you might want to take a chance! 

See The World

It’s not every day you are able to walk around the Colosseum in Rome, ride a camel in Morocco, or visit Buckingham Palace. Studying abroad gives you the opportunity to see the world. Not only will you be experiencing life and learning in a new country, but you’ll also have the opportunity to travel to EVEN MORE places with your school! 

Taking In A New Culture 

It can be scary leaving home and going to a country you’ve never been too before, but studying abroad is a fantastic and safe way to do it. This is an opportunity to really immerse yourself in a new culture. Try new foods, participate in new traditions, and explore! 

Education 

Learn outside of the traditional four-wall classroom. Why have your head stuck in a book learning about history and art when you could be out in the world seeing these places in real life! Studying abroad gives you the opportunity to experience college education in different ways. There’s more to learning than just a classroom. 

Learning A New Language 

Learning a new language in class is one thing, but learning out in the real world is a whole different experience. By studying abroad you have the opportunity to learn by hearing and speaking it on a daily basis with everyone around you. 

Career Opportunities 

Studying abroad can help you stand out in the workplace. You are showing to future employers that you are open-minded, adaptable, and flexible. It also shows you are open to new challenges and you aren’t afraid to go out of your comfort zone. 

Finding New Interests 

Studying in a different country gives you a chance to experience new activities and develop new interests. By exploring new places, meeting locals, or becoming inspired by a class or city, something is bound to spark your interest. 

Personal Developments 

Studying abroad allows you to be independent and gives you the opportunity to learn more about yourself. While you learn to adapt to a new environment you’ll have to rely on yourself to learn how to navigate around a new place and through situations you might feel slightly uncomfortable in. It might be overwhelming at first but soon you’ll realize how capable you truly are.

Making Lifelong Friends 

We’ve all heard the friends you make in college become your friends for life. Well, while studying abroad, you will meet students from all over the world. This will allow you to create lifelong friendships with an even larger variety of people. 

Take a chance and try something new. There’s no better time for an adventure! You can find more information on the ACA website, by contacting ACA Director Sandra Esteves (aca@nad.adventist.org), or PUC’s ACA representative Dr. Sylvia Rasi Gregorutti (srasi@puc.edu). 

 

Faces of PUC: Lewis Govea

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Lewis Govea is a voice/pre-pharmacy major and has been at PUC for three years. This year he decided to become a student leader and joined the Student Association team as the social vice president which means he spends all this free time planning fun events for you! As one of the most friendly people on the PUC campus, you might already know him but just in case, we thought we would ask him a few questions.

What is your dream job?

My dream job would be to be a pharmacist while also being a private singer for hire, maybe even have a private teaching studio.

How does that compare to what you wanted to be when you were young?

I wanted to be a judge, then an architect. Neither one was very interesting to me, but my new career path is exciting, always changing, and in an area that will constantly challenge what I think I know. I love how passionate it makes me feel.

What is your favorite thing about being a part of the Pioneers family?

My favorite thing about my pioneers family is the support system we have created for each other on this hill and the personal relationships I have fostered in my time here.

Where is your favorite place in the world?

My favorite place in the world is anywhere there are people that I love. 

What show are you binge-watching right now?

I just finished binge-watching Steven Universe. It’s an incredible cartoon that covers some fairly controversial topics. I love Rebecca Sugar, and her show deserves to be watched.

What is something you’re passionate about?

I am passionate about music and being a positive influence in my community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Year, New Quarter. 

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Ally Romanes

It’s always hard to get back into school mode after a much-needed break. If you’re anything like me you might still be struggling with a little holiday-lag. Good news for you, it’s only the second week of the quarter and there’s still plenty of time to set some personal goals, form some positive habits, and make this your best year yet. 

Here are a few simple good habits that will help you achieve your academic goals.

Actually Go To Class (lol)

It might sound silly to say but, go to class and pay attention. Skipping class is a habit you really need to break! Not only will this cause you to fall behind, but you’re paying good money to learn! 

Side note, sometimes skipping class is inevitable. An emergency or sickness, things come up. If you’re going to miss class let your professor know and make sure you get lecture notes from a classmate.  

Take Notes 

Always take notes so you remember what happened in class. Taking notes is very helpful and useful throughout the quarter and will help you study for quizzes and tests. Studies show taking notes can also help ingrain the information into your brain! If you aren’t a regular note-taker, try it out. You would be surprised at how easy it is to take even a few points down and how organized it will make you feel. 

Do The Reading 

Assigned reading might seem boring, but it is something you just have to do. Not only is it required but beneficial to your learning. It allows you to be prepared for the next class so you’re not trying to play catch-up while you’re professor is lecturing.

Find A Good Study Spot

Get into the zone. Finding the right environment to study is so important. PUC is great because there are so many options. If you want a quiet library, or a busy campus center or something in between, figure out what works best for you.  

Track Your Goals

Think about the goals you want to achieve this quarter and write them down to keep yourself accountable. Having a written list of your goals will help you remember and keep track of what you want to get accomplished. Once you complete a goal, you can check it off and feel proud of yourself! 

Try to be as realistic as possible with your goals so that you don’t overwhelm yourself.

Get Enough Sleep 

You can’t work properly if you’re a zombie. If you didn’t get enough sleep last quarter, make it a goal to get more sleep. Make sure you get enough hours of sleep so you can feel refreshed to tackle a new day. 

Don’t Procrastinate

A lot of people struggle with procrastination, but it is possible to not procrastinate. Keep yourself accountable for all the things you have to do. Write them down if you need to. Keep track of your upcoming homework assignments, quizzes, and tests. The more aware and prepared you are the less procrastination will affect you, allowing you more time for other more enjoyable things. Don’t let procrastination hold you back from getting things done!

 

Seven Tips for Mental Health Upkeep

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Ally Romanes 

Like most people, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed from time to time. Stress is something literally everyone deals with and often struggles with. While a lot of times you are able to completely manage it, there are times things may feel out of control. Between the weight of school, work, and your personal life, it can get to be too much. It’s very important for you to take care of your mental health, especially while you’re in college. Here are seven mental health upkeep tips

Sleep

It can be hard to get a good night’s rest during college, but it is a must! The more hours of sleep you get, the more refreshed you will feel in the morning and throughout your day. Your brain needs sleep in order to perform. When you sleep, your brain helps your body heal from all the stress you encountered during the day. Getting more than five hours of sleep will also improve your mood.

Have A Support System

Having a support system will help keep you on your feet. Every student feels stressed and overwhelmed. A strong support system will show that you are not alone and means you will have people to go for help and encouragement. By having your friends, family, and professors by your side, success is much easier to obtain. You can’t do everything on your own! Don’t be afraid to reach out to those people in your support system. 

Have A Healthy Diet

What you eat affects your body, mind, and spirit. The healthier you eat, the better you will feel. Eating a lot of junk food will slow you down both physically and mentally. Skip the chips and opt for a healthy snack!

Get Active

As Elle Woods once said, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy.”  The more active you are, the more endorphins your body will have. Exercising will boost your mood, take your mind off of stressors, and will help you feel accomplished. You will also have more energy and motivation to get things done. giphy-1

Pray

There is power in prayer. Take all your worries, stress, and burdens to God. He is a source of comfort and strength. Praying about your troubles can help you feel some of your burdens are off your shoulders. Feel like you need a little extra prayer? Reach out to one of our campus chaplains! 

Meet With A Campus Counselor

Take advantage of the counselors on campus—it’s free. Meeting with a counselor allows you to vent about the stress you are going through. A counselor can teach you great techniques to deal with your stress, like how to calm yourself before an exam or how to cope with feeling overwhelmed. A counselor can also be part of your support system. Meetings are confidential, so feel free to share anything. 

Reward Yourself

You need to recognize how hard you work to accomplish your many tasks. Reward yourself by going out to eat, taking a nap, or watching a show or movie. Feel proud and confident about the work you’ve done and the progress you are making to own each day. Continue making goals and reward yourself again and again.

Everyone deals with stress differently but one thing is clear, we all need a little help every once in a while and hopefully, these seven tips will come in handy! 

 

Faces of PUC: Becky St. Clair

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Becky St. Clair and her family moved to PUC two years ago when her husband accepted a librarian position. Coming from years at Andrews University, she is still getting used to the many many warm days we experience here in Sunny California. Becky spends most of her workdays in the department of music and Paulin Center for the Arts where she works as the office manager. She also contract writes for the public relations office. 

What brought you to PUC? How/Why did you decide to work here? 

My husband brought me here. He was hired as a librarian on campus, and shortly after we arrived I started freelance writing for the college. My background is in PR (a dozen years or so), so it was a good fit. Since then I’ve taken the position in the department of music, which allows me to use all the skills I’ve learned in my various jobs as an adult, plus I get to be around musicians all day. They’re my people and I love them.

What is the best thing about being a part of the Pioneers family?

 I love that so many PUC employees care deeply about the college. They go to great lengths to find solutions to problems, make improvements to their areas, and generally make PUC a better place to live, work, and go to school.  

Where is your favorite place to eat in the Valley and why? 

I recently discovered Tarla in Napa, and I’m rather in love … just not with the prices. Lol! So I will do appetizers or dessert there with a friend or on date night with the hubster (don’t tell him I called him that), but if I’m going to eat out, it’s definitely going to be Calistoga Thai Kitchen. They’re never busy and their curry is fantastic. Insider tip: Tarla has an appetizer of cheese with apricots … that they serve EN FLAMBE. If that doesn’t make you feel fancy, I don’t know what will. And their Turkish coffee is phenomenal, plus it’s served in a gorgeous Turkish coffee cup with a saucer! 

What is something you can do/want to do that might be surprising for people to learn? 

I was a voice and percussion double minor in college, and my favorite instrument to play is the marimba. 

What is one song you’re listening to on repeat lately? 

I know this is old hat, but I love A Million Dreams (and all the other songs) from The Greatest Showman. I could also listen to Morten Lauridsen’s O Magnum Mysterium or Eric Whitacre’s Lux Aurumque or Maurice Ravel’s Pavane pour une infant défunte or even David Holsinger’s Abram’s Pursuit on repeat all day. I know I cheated on this question … sorry!  

Who is someone you admire and why? 

A former boss-turned-mentor of mine from my first-ever PR job. She took me into her office many times and asked how I was doing, what I wanted to do with my career, where I saw myself in ten years, and how she could help me get there. She modeled (and still models) true, meaningful leadership and taught me how to be a professional and a mom, while still also being true to my own self. She listened well, asked thoughtful questions, and had a killer sense of humor. She had a firm grasp of what was happening in all areas under her purview but trusted everyone in their roles to do their jobs and do them well. She wasn’t afraid of difficult conversations or challenging projects, deadlines, or goals; in fact, she encouraged me to shoot for the moon, never stop learning, and to find growth opportunities in every situation. I want to be like her when I grow up. 

 Finish this sentence: On Sunday mornings you can find me … 

Snuggled into the corner of my couch, coffee in one hand, book in another. And I can promise you it won’t be the same book two Sundays in a row!

 

Eight Must-See Museums in San Francisco 

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Ally Romanes

The Bay Area is filled with a ton of museums. In fact, there are 55 museums just in San Francisco alone. If you’re like me, that’s an overwhelming number AND you want to see all of them! Not quite sure where to begin? Let me help! Here are eight must-see museums to get you started.  

California Academy of Sciences 

The California Academy of Sciences is one of the most popular museums in San Francisco. With an aquarium, planetarium and a natural history museum, you’ll be able to see and learn all sorts of cool things. The museum will immerse you into a four-story rain forest, a trip to see the penguins, and shows that transport you through our planet.  

Ticket prices vary due to the date you want to visit. The museum does have a student discount, so bring your school ID with you! 

For hours and admission fees, click here for more information. 

de Young Museum 

Home to modern art, contemporary art, American art, African, art and so much more. You will be able to see different kinds of art from all over the world and from different time periods. Also, a very popular Instagram spot, make sure you visit the ninth floor to enjoy a 360 view of the city. 

The best part is that admission for students is only $6! Bring your student ID, your friends, and your camera to enjoy part of your day at the de Young Museum. 

For hours and ticket purchases, visit their website. 

Exploratorium 

The Exploratorium is an interactive museum with over 600 exhibits to choose from. You’ll be able to learn and experience the world of science, art, and human perception. The Exploratorium also has a great view of the city from Pier 15. 

Ticket prices with student discount cost $24.95. For more information, visit their website. 

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

With over 33,000 modern and contemporary artworks on display, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) houses works by artists from all over the world. From Frida Kahlo to Andy Warhol, you will be able to explore the different artwork from different artists. There is also an outdoor sculpture garden for you to stroll through and nice views of the city. 

Tickets for students from ages 19-24 cost $19. Ages 18 and below are free but still needs an admission ticket. To purchase tickets and have more information, visit their website. 

Legion of Honor 

The Legion of Honor is a beautiful museum built to pay tribute to the soldiers that died in World War 1. The museum features over 4,000 years of ancient and European art. They also have public concerts on Saturday and Sundays with performances playing Bach, Gershwin, and great film scores. 

Ticket prices with student discount are only $6. For hours and information, visit their website. 

Museum of Ice Cream 

If you haven’t been to the Museum of Ice Cream, you need to book a visit soon! How can you miss out on a museum dedicated to ice cream? Here’s the scoop: you get free ice cream, there are ten interactive rooms with cool photo opportunities and you get to jump into a pool of sprinkles.

Tickets cost $38. To purchase tickets and get more information, visit their website.  

Asian Art Museum 

Capturing the beauty of Asian culture, the Asian Art Museum has collections of historical and contemporary Asian art to showcase. Their exhibitions are interesting and change year-round, so make sure to check their website to know what exhibits are going on when you plan to visit. 

Tickets with student discount cost $10 and $20 if you want to see the special exhibitions. To get more information about the museum, visit their website.  

The Walt Disney Family Museum

If you’re a huge Disney fan, this museum is for you. You will be able to go back into history and learn about the famous Disney stories and about Walt Disney’s life. There are lines of photos, drawings, and props used throughout many years of Disney. They also have film screenings for you to enjoy. 

Tickets with student ID cost $20 and $30 if you want to view the Mickey Mouse Exhibition Combo. To purchase tickets, visit their website. 

Now get out there and check these museums out!