We’ve made it! The semester has come to an end and summer vacation has begun. After a semester of ups and downs, it is time to sit back and ENJOY. Enjoy, the weather, rain or shine, enjoy the time with your friends and family, maybe even enjoy a good book that you wanted the time to do so. However, don’t get too relaxed. Make this a productive smmer as well. Use this summer vacation as a time to plot out your future goals and plans, to save, and to get ahead of the game. A productive but still relaxing summer will make it alot easier to get back into the swing of things in the Fall. Whatever the case may be, whether you are working, traveling, or just hanging out with friends, enjoy it because you deserve it! CONGRATS on another school year completed and CONGRATS to our 2010 graduates!

As we approach the end of the Spring Semester, many of us have lost the drive that is needed to carry us across that finish line. It is important to remember when we are sitting in front of the television, surfing Facebook and Twitter, or just taking one of our many “much needed breaks” on the quad, these leisurely activities will always be there. It is time to put our priorities in order! Think of how much more relaxed your mind will be when all of your responsibilities are fulfilled. Here’s the plan: create a “To-Do” list with all the assignments and duties that you have to complete. In big bold red ink, put the deadlines right next to it, and post your list where you are sure to see it everyday. This will serve as a constant visible reminder if you become sidetracked by a party going on in the suite next door to you. As you begin to cross off items that you have completed on your list, this will ignite the drive you need to gracefully run across the finish line. Stay focused! You can do it!

Sometimes we find ourselves trying to be perfect students, friends, girlfriends/boyfriends, wives/husbands, mothers/fathers, and just all around super-humans. Today is the day you BREATHE! Everyone deserves a time to focus on themselves. Whether it is on your drive home, or during a 30-minute break in between classes, turn off your phone and meditate in your own thoughts. This is your time to look out for your star player. This is the time you set goals for yourself and map out the ways in which you plan on accomplishing them. For those who find it hard to grasp this idea, ask yourself this one question: How can I truly be an asset to someone else, if I am not an asset to myself?

Whether it’s trying to start over with a brand new leaf in school, life, or anything else, there is no time like the present to try. If there are goals are not yet met that you wish to meet, this is the right time to start. It’s a brand new semester and a brand new year. You can make the most of 2010 by inspiring yourself to change. You can become the change that you want to be. This is a philosophy that was inspired by Ghandi. Why not listen to the wise worlds of the old and do just that?

You can start over by setting goals for yourself and striving for something better. You can make list of what you want to accomplish and make plans on how you wish to achieve those goals. Once again, there is never a better time than right now and right here to get things started. It’s never too late to try something new or reinvent something old. LIfe’s all about chances and opportunities, after all!

Tis the season to be jolly indeed! As the semester progresses to an end, take the time to embrace of the Holiday spirit all around. Pop on a channel to watch a nice holiday movie with your loved ones or listen to some of those fun Christmas songs on the radio. There is nothing like the hoiday season to get you back into a good mood after all the stress and hard work.

Also, give back to your community! Think of those less fortunate of you and donate some toys for Christmas for needy children! If the other holiday things seem too mundane or cliche, doing something kind for those in need with be sure to send you into a jovial Christmas mood. Whatever it is that will bring you out of your work mode after finals week, just do it! After all, there’s no season like the holidays to bring warmth, family, and joy into our lives! And don’t forget about the Christmas gifts!

Thanksgiving is a special commemorative holiday that speaks to family bonding and sharing. If you don’t give thanks to the many blessings in your life on a regular basis, then now is the time to count those blessings. Though the world might seem cold and cruel at times, there are holidays like these that remind us that there are good things in the world like family, friendship and love. There are the things that we must remember to appreciate now and cherish always. Thanksgiving reminds us that we should not only be thankful for what we have but that we should express our thanks as well. Feelings should be expressed and not hidden especially from those you love.

So, once again, hope you had a happy Thanksgiving and remember to give thanks for all that you have everyday of the year!

Are you the type of person who sees someone in need on the street or on your campus and doesn’t do anything to help? Well, you have just identified yourself with millions of Americans today. We have become so complacent with our lives that we are self-absorbed and don’t take time to help out someone else. That is a sad fact. However, that is something that can easily be changed. People, open your eyes and start looking at your surroundings and realize that you have the power to make a difference in even just one person’s life by making their day a little brighter or a little easier by just taking a moment out of your time to help them. Go out and volunteer to get your kind side stirring! Things like this go a long way to improving the kind of society that we are even if it just starts with the Manhattanville College community. Helping others transcends not only to making the helped happier but it makes the helper happy too. The warm feeling in your heart is reward enough for helping another fellow human being that needs you!

In the 2004 Presidential elections, voters between the ages of 18 and 29 made up only 18.4% of the total vote. This number (as well as any other categories of voters) usually drops significantly when discussing midterm elections. This is unacceptable.

I’ve asked people why they didn’t vote. While I’ve gotten many different answers in my life, there have been a couple that I’ve heard again and again.

“It takes to much effort to vote,” is one. Registering to vote can be as easy as renewing your license. When you fill out the paperwork the DMV, all you have to do is check off the box. If you don’t know which party you want to affiliate with, you can just check off ‘Independent’. Manhattaville also provided people around campus who were willing to help you register. Finally, if neither of these options works for you, you can also register online at www.RockTheVote.com.

While it is true that out of state voters have a little bit more work to do than those from the surrounding area, it is doable. An absentee ballot is obtainable through your home town’s City Hall. As long as your ballot makes it back to your home state in time for the election, your vote will be counted.

“I’m only one person, it doesn’t matter if I don’t vote,” is another untrue statement. As cliché as it sounds, every single vote counts. It’s true; every vote that comes in is counted. Sometimes one vote can change the outcome of an election.

Even if that isn’t the case, voting expresses your opinion on the government. Too many people complain about politicians, but by not voting the complaining becomes nothing more than white noise to those in power. If an elected official does something that you don’t agree with, tell them the best way you can by voting for the other guy. It’s the ultimate payback.

The number one reason to vote is because you can. We live in a society that let’s us help pick our leaders and, by doing so, change the shape of our nation. Without telling our government what we as citizens want, they are flying blind.

“‘We hold these truths to be self-evident,’ they said, ‘that all men are created equal.’ Strange as it may seem, that was the first time in history that anyone had ever bothered to write that down. Decisions are made by those who show up.” – The West Wing Show up on November 7th and tell Congress whatever you want to tell them by voting.

When we think of Chivalry we think of valiant knights coming to rescue a damsel in distress. Now days it may not be considered as exciting as a sword fight to defend someone’s honor, but the practice of Chivalry has adapted into the new world of thinking. There are many easy ways to practice it. Many people practice Chivalry without even realizing it.

Hold open the door for the people behind you. Just because you have places to go does not mean the person behind you appreciates a door to the face. Some of the guys on campus may say that there are girls out there who get offended by anyone in the male species who holds open the doors. Just because a small number of people may take offense, it should not ruin the act of kindness for everyone else.

When eating with a group of people, wait until the last person has gotten their meal to start eating your own. It is not fun to be stared at by someone who has finished their meal before you have even gotten yours.

When getting up to get a drink, ask if anyone else needs anything while you are up. Carrying back an extra glass of soda is not too much of a hardship. Offer to do something that you do not often do. If you have a car, but someone else usually ends up driving, offer to drive. If you do not have a car, or the person just likes driving, offer to pay for parking or even gas. They may be embarrassed to ask for the help.

Learn how to compromise. People need to realize one thing; just because you want to do something, it does not mean you need to do it. If you want to go to the movies one night and a few of your friends decide they want to go to the mall, do not get upset. There is plenty of time to do both. Decide to go to the mall one night and maybe go to the movies the next night or even the next weekend. It is not worth it to fight over something as trivial as where to go with your friends. If they are the right people you should have a good time wherever you go.

In short, Chivalry is giving more to others than you believe you should receive in return. You are not the only person on this planet. Show others they matter with the little things. It will matter more to them than you may realize.