Roommates

When putting in an application for housing, as a college student, many things are taken into consideration. Things like age, sex, employer, length of stay, and so on. Something that is truly disappointing, the way this personal information is put to use. Although it is not uncommon for a local residency to ask questions about cleanliness, ethics, and religious status, this information is only used to gather a pathetic generalized understanding of an individual. In actuality, with the same information, a more examined understanding could be formed. With this information they could sort students by similarities.

Dixie State College dorms and local college populated apartments should be sorting students by similar personality characteristics and degrees. Unjustified negatives, from the random and lazy assortment of students into complexes, can be fixed with little effort and will provide enormous positive effects. Grouping together students, especially those with similar degrees, could promote a more scholarly environment and ease the anxiety caused from departing the regularity and comforts of home.

             My first time living on my own, going to Dixie, I was completely shut out from the brotherly bond all my other roommates seem to share. Three of them played football for Dixie and two of them were just finishing their last seasons of baseball. I had nothing to talk about. Not only that, but it seemed like their lifestyle was completely different from mine. I would come home around nine after a long day at school expecting to get ready for bed and fall asleep by ten. That didn’t happen, my sloth like roommates seemed to not be sloths at all. I found quickly that they were nocturnal, energetically peaking at 1130pm to 1230am. I remember my frustration and utter fury at lack of sleep because of their inconsiderate behaviors.

            I know I’m not alone everyone deals with frustrating roommates. It could even be in the reverse. I’m sure my first roommates were irritated at my constant complaining at the noise they were making. I moved out the next summer semester and luckily met students who seemed to share more my lifestyle. Incidents like my first semester at college could never be exterminated completely, but significantly reduced.  

Imagine now that a quick survey was attached to every apartment. Your degree, likes, and dislikes could all be taken into consideration along-side your normal information. Major benefits academically would arise.

 In example, if an apartment were full of people with fairly similar degrees you could expect about the same work load for person. Incidents like mine could be avoided. Those with a flexible schedule can be put together. Along with work-load similarities, freshman especially will benefit from their experienced roommates. Sharing personal information about teachers, courses, academic planning, could be almost better from an experienced student than a counselor at the school. After three years here at Dixie I know who some really good teachers are, along with some really poor ones. I openly share this information with all five of my freshman roommates. My only wish was that someone had helped me in the same way. As a freshman having someone who can answer little questions here and there can be such an important resource.

Not to say that as roommates stand now you can’t ask questions, but as in my first semester it takes much longer to level with those you are so different from. I remember missing my freshman orientation because I was too intimidated by my roommates. Even when I asked Josh, the oldest to Dixie, he didn’t seem care enough to explain the location of the building he had briefly mumbled out of the side of his mouth. However, I could see him explaining it to any of his football friends with much elation. Not only academically, but mentally help could be derived from compilation by personality.

Everyone who has left home to attend college knows it can be rough. One of my roommates the first semester of his college career could not hold a meal down for a week after being dropped off by his parents. I remember that week he’d be in two places his bed room or the bath room throwing up. I felt really bad for him so I invited him to go swimming with some friends and I. After connecting with not only me, but some of my friends I saw instant relief. It was at this moment I realized that the burden of leaving home can mostly be solved by having friends and a life to take your mind off of any homesickness.

 I think that it is not too uncommon for someone to connect with one or two of their roommates, but being put together into a more conscience effort of similar personalities could improve this fraction. And who am I to say how in depth a personality review would be. Depending on the success of something like this it could be a larger survey than your average kindergarten “get to know you” sheet.

I’ve have grown so much because of the hard situations I have been put in. Living with all types of people really makes you a more flexible person. There is no arguing this directly, but just because you have the same degree and similar personality doesn’t mean you will get along the entire time. I’m sure there will always be the first awkward situation, or someone borrowing your toothpaste without asking. Why not make that the toughest part of living on your own? Why not make college life a little less stressful?

Currently the largest apartment complexes built for college students are: Rebel Creek Ridge, Canyon lands, the College “Dorms”, Chancellor, Raintree, and so on. After researching their application forms three of them have application forms with personality questions. None of the questions seem to be about placing students, just whether or not they want to accept them. None of these larger apartment complexes ask for a degree in their application.

Adding my suggested segment to all of these housing unit applications process would be a wonderful tool. Not only would this be an academic relief, but a mental relief to all those involved. Knowing that your roommates are more than a random assortment of peoples could really prevent unneeded stress and anxiety to an already flustered student’s life.

The computer center

Alex Metzger

Professor Nielsen

2.7.2011

                Although the computer access at Dixie is fast and useful, the amount of hours available should be increased. The weak hours of seven am to eleven pm, with half that time Friday through Sunday, are insufficient and take our resources with no good reason. Without these resources I find my success in college limited. The situation could easily be fixed with very little effort from the college.

It is common for people to have their own personal computers, but there are very many who still don’t have that convenience.  Out of eight of my roommates only four have their own computers and none have their own printers. Without my own personal computer I have only found awkward times to type my papers, thus creating major time conflicts in my already stiff schedule.

Hiring one more person to watch over the computer center could really help many college students. This is the only college I have attended that doesn’t have a place with twenty four hour computer access. I personally believe that with growth of the college’s tuition, athletic programs, and degrees, so should the student’s resources for education.

Wagon Wheel

Alex Metzger 

Professor Nielsen

2.2.11

            For the most important meal of the day, I have found few places in St. George who can provide satisfaction. Even the large breakfast chains that seem to be thriving in multiple states, I just seem to mark them up short of success. In fact, until a month ago I was in despair for my breakfast mediocrity. Thankfully, my new favorite place, the Wagon Wheel, saved my stomach.

What exactly should you expect from the wagon wheel? By way of price, quality, quantity, and service I’d say a lot.  As far as quality of food, expect fresh for whatever you order. That means no fake eggs, rubbery sausage, or hard biscuits. My personal favorite, a big piece of chicken fried steak, freshly made hash browns, farm eggs, and the fluffiest two biscuits you’ve ever consumed topped by mouth watering country gravy.

Superb meals like this are served every morning for a sub-par meal price of about six dollars. As far as quantity, it’s always more than I can handle. Because of the large volume of food it happens to be a popular breakfast spot to some of our Dixie State College football players. Reportedly, they come with an appetite and leave satisfied. Lastly, Service, it is excellent. Three out of three waiters that I have met at the Wagon wheel have been smiling, fast, and conscience individuals.

By way of price, quality, quantity, and service I find the Wagon Wheel, to be the best breakfast eatery in St. George.

Employee of the Month

Alex Metzger

Professor Nielsen

2.1.2011

Employee of the Month

            Stepping into the hustle, commotion, and utter chaos of a Saturday in Costco can really take a person by surprise. An average Saturday consists of about three hundred and fifty people coming into the store per every thirty minutes. Take an average shopping time of eighty minutes, give these people grocery lists, and free food samples, things start to get crazy. To ensure product and a smooth shopping experience, hundreds of hours of work go to keeping a store in functioning order. Even with these hours the store only succeeds as well as it does because of the hard working employees who fill every hour to its fullest potential. They prioritize, hustle, and sweat to ensure their job duties are completely fulfilled.  

            Once a month, out of three hundred and some employees, an award is given. It is nothing of large proportions, just a small four by eight plaque. It has two golden colored metal pieces screwed into it, the top plate says, “Costco Wholesale Employee of the Month Award”, the bottom has an engraving of your full name and the month received. If I could put the essence of Costco into an item, I would say this plaque is it. Getting this award says that not only did you meet the high standards and pressures Costco has to offer, but you were noticed above the rest for your hard work and effort. Getting the employee of the month award is difficult. It’s a diamond attempting to shine among other diamonds.

            To receive the highest honor at Costco for a staff level employee, the employee of the month award, you have to get noticed. As a pre-requisite you must have perfect attendance, a good attitude, and willingness to pick up the slack. You have to come to Costco ready to work, accomplishing daily tasks that are expected, along with those that aren’t. In example, the month I received my award I had three Costco members write their experiences with me, each about how I had gone out of my way to ensure their successful shopping experience. I had to restock my area along with two other persons, four nights out of the month, due to call outs. I had a good sense of urgency, working myself to a sweat almost every other day. Actions like this are what is constantly expected from you, they earn respect.

            When I received my employee of the month award in august I was happy, but it wasn’t until the events following the plaque did I realize the importance that receiving it carried. For at least a month after the award, I was getting congratulated everywhere I went at work. It was like being in high school and making a game winning touchdown. I had managers talking to me about moving departments, even the warehouse manager told me he was going to take me out to lunch. What I came to realize, Costco is a community on its own. They have their own work parties, clubs, and organized social events. They set goals constantly and continue to work together to make Costco the most successful it can be. They work hard for their company because their company works hard for them. On the outside of work the only person who congratulated me was my father. It really put to light the culture and mutual understanding Costco employee’s share.

I think there will always be those types of people who instead of finding ways to maximize their work load, will minimize their effort at work, just enough to get by. Getting the award really helped me to understand the respect earned for hustle at Costco. Those that haven’t received the award aren’t bad employees, but those who have are a guideline to what it means to be a successful Costco employee. It is the essence of the company’s culture.

            When my friends walk into my plain room and the only thing they see hanging on the wall is a small brown plaque, they laugh. They don’t understand the commitment that it takes to receive employee of the month at Costco. The values and family like characteristics being a Costco employee has. As far as I’m concerned that’s a second family portrait.