Prior to becoming a Grad Assist, I worked in the Office of Admissions for a good 2-3 years as a campus tour guide.

I believe that first impressions really do count. I loved giving the tours, as it was an opportunity for me to play a part in prospective students decisions. I still remember my tour and my tour guide at Lynn. Very often, I will walk past someone on campus, or meet someone, and they’ll say: “hey, you were my tour guide when I first came to Lynn”. I feel a sense of accomplishment knowing that I obviously aided in helping them chose Lynn as their university.

The tours are generally 45 minutes (but depending on the family it can take up to an hour). I liked to personalize the tours, asking the students what they would be interested in seeing.

The walk is quite long, so I recommend wearing comfortable shoes. If you need assistance, call ahead and the guide can organize a golf cart for transport.

The guides are generally honest, they’ll tell you about their experiences, what they would have done differently etc. At the end of my tour, I would always tell the families my best and worst things about Lynn. I was frank, and truthful. The university you choose, has to be the right fit.

After the tour, you return to the Admissions Office, where you are offered cold beverages and you meet with an admissions counselor. This is NOT an interview. This is your opportunity to ask questions about courses, financial aid, academic assistance etc.

If you would like to arrange to meet with a specific person on campus or sit in on a class, do phone at least a week ahead.

I recommend arranging to eat lunch on campus. The cafeteria is open roughly between 11 and 1, so after your counselor meeting, head back to the cafeteria. You can pay for a lunch which is roughly $5-$6. Or you can sit in our Christine Room and have coffee and cake. I recommend the cafeteria, as you’ll get a feel for what life on campus is like. You’ll be dining with other students, so perhaps this would be a good time to make some friends, or ask some questions.

When you come for the tour, ensure that you give yourself time to get to know the area. You can walk around campus by yourself on a self guided tour. Admissions has campus maps available.

I recommend visiting the following Boca ‘landmarks’:

- Mizner Park after 5pm
This is where students and work professionals head for happy hour.
There is half price sushi and various other student offers available.

- Spanish River Beach or Palmetto Park Beach
This is where students head to soak up the sun, sand and waves.

- Town Center Mall
This is where students spend their Sundays

- Muvico
This is where students go to the movies.

- Atlantic Ave, Delray Beach
This is a restaurant and shop location. There are a few clubs and nightlife spots that students frequent here. During the day, it is a great place to have a street side lunch, or head closer to the beach, where you will find ocean facing restaurants.

- Riverfront, Fort Lauderdale
This is a great touristy spot, where something is always happening. At night time, Riverfront extends and becomes a street ‘bar hop’ location.

- A1A Fort Lauderdale
This is the original ‘Spring Break’ area. It is a great location for all ages, at all times of the day and night. You will find a latino restaurant, beside Fat Tuesdays, beside a formal restaurant and so on. It has a little something for everyone.

- Miami
Miami is a must! I love going during the day time and walking down Collins. The Art district is great too.

There is so much to see and do… I haven’t even mentioned Disney!

If you’re looking for a place to stay in the area, I would recommend the Hampton Inn Suites. My parents have always stayed there and they love it. The manager is a Lynn Alumni. The hotel is exclusive, clean and friendly. The location is perfect, a block or two away from campus. They offer Lynn University discounts, as do the Fairfield Inn and the Marriot Hotel.

I think you should give yourself approximately 3 days in and around Boca to get a true feel for the South Floridian lifestyle. I truly recommend searching our events list on our website and finding out when there will be events on campus. These a great times do get a feel for the diversity of people on campus. I may be interesting just to browse through the events list. You’ll soon realize that Lynn is a fun and vibrant university. There is always something to do. We believe that one should work hard and play hard. And the great thing is you don’t even have to leave campus to do so! If you’re an academic and enjoy seminars, work shops and listening to guest speakers, we weekly have people visiting campus and broadening our student’s horizons. If you want to hang with some friends and watch the game - you can head up to our theater area in the night’s court and slip in a game of table tennis or pool, or just grab a bite. The pool always promises to be fun. I often take my books down to the pool and catch up on some homework in the sun. If you’re looking for some peace, head to the library. I recommend the private rooms on the second floor, which you can reserve. I love to escape there, away from the distractions of TV, music, and friends.

Lynn really has something for everyone. The fact that so many international students (from 93 different nations) can come to Lynn and feel ‘at home’ really says something.

Last year, round about this time, I entered into a competition for young broadcasters and journalists by the Associated Press Florida. I put together a series of interviews and features I had produced in the past. I sent the application to the Miami Associated Press, not really expecting to win. However, a few days later I received a phone call from the AP office informing me that I had won their young broadcasters award. Obviously I was thrilled! I was even more thrilled when I found out I had won a grant of $2000!

When I was interning at WPBF, ABC News in West Palm Beach, one of the producers had told me of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). Each year NAB hosts a conference in Vegas. This is where this particular producer had actually met her employer and was offered her job at WPBF. So, I decided that with the grant money, I would go to Vegas for the NAB conference. So, all by my lonesome ownsome I made my way to Vegas. I felt very independent, but after I missed my stop of the bus and ended up miles away from where I was supposed to be, my confidence began to whither. I finally found the conference (after walking ten blocks in heels and suit attire). I had the opportunity to meet with broadcast companies and news corporations, such as Turner (CNN), CBS, and various other companies. I handed out my resume and made a few contacts.

Over all, the experience was worthwhile. However, I’m never going near Vegas alone again though! But, for all you budding journalists and broadcasters, The Associated Press grants awards to undergraduate students, so have a look at their site, and find out if you could be eligible to be an AP award winner.

In South Africa there is a national game reserve called The Kruger National Park. I have spoken about it in one of my earlier posts. In my opinion, The Kruger always promises to be an amazing holiday, as you get to see animals in the wild. They are untamed, and are left to fend for themselves. Recently, a real video posted on Youtube won an award for over 27 million views. I have watched this video several times as it is just so amazing. It is unedited and is an actual event. It’s really worth watching! So, if you have some time, sit back and press play.

Well, I’m speechless. No, seriously, for the last two days I have been completely without a voice!

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to be unable to speak? I have begun to realize how vital one’s voice is for everyday activities.
The worst is when the phone rings, I pick it up and say ‘hello’ - yet nothing comes out… not even a squeak. So, I don’t even bother… unless I have someone with me who can translate what I am miming. I’ve seriously considered learning sign language, but I don’t know anyone who knows sign language, so I wouldn’t have anyone to communicate with. On the bright side, my acting skills are getting better.

I went to class this evening, but I left early as I wasn’t well. When I was in class, I wanted to contribute to the conversation… but couldn’t. However, all my classmates were extremely helpful in translating my muted speech. And my boyfriend, Thomas, has really enjoyed the last couple of days… I haven’t complained or ordered him around once! But, I promise I’ll make up for it when I get my voice back.

I was doing my usual snoop around the very addictive Youtube and found this great video of a Lynn University Baseball player performing the national anthem at Conference Championship Finals for Basketball at Lynn.

I was very impressed! I think it’s wonderful that there is such immense support between the different teams at Lynn.

I’ve come down with a cold! I suppose it was all the cold weather from Langerado that did it to me! Anyhow, I am trying to rest as much as possible, but Murphy’s Law, I get ill over the most inconvenient of times. I had to force myself to class last night: my mind was willing, my body however was not. Today I went to school to pick up a camera I’ll be using tomorrow. We are creating a Graduation Commencement Video for the ceremony. We are getting a variety of graduates on camera, telling us what their best memories at Lynn were. It will then be presented at the graduation ceremony. So, as it is Senior Salute, today and tomorrow, many graduates are on campus, collecting their cap and gown. Today, I was one of them. It is rather exciting, collecting a symbol of your hard work: blood, sweat, and tears. Beside me lies a crisp gown and firm hat inside a clear plastic carrier. I feel so tempted to rip it open and try it on. However, I feel like trying on my cap and gown before graduation day will someone ruin the full effect of the ‘Graduation Day’.

I must admit, I do already have my outfit planned for graduation. It is a very special occasion, my parents are flying in from South Africa especially for my graduation. I am the only person in my family who has attended college, so this is all very new to us! Very close family friends, Ed and Wendy may also be attending my Graduation, along with my mom’s very close friend, Gail - who was the first person to see me after I was born - I always refer to her as my godmother, even though I’m not christened. And then of course, Thomas will also be coming - he never got to walk in his graduation ceremony, as he came to the States the day after his final exam! So, I’ve agreed to allow him to pop on my cap and gown so he can have a graduation picture too. I think he’s just jealous… because Lynn’s ceremony is way cooler!

Well, I’m going to get some rest and beat this cold! I have to be in top form for tomorrow - Day One of our Production: Lynn Commencement Video.

I just got back from Spring Break. I had such a wonderful time. A college peer, Laura, convinced me to go to Langerado with her. I had never even heard of anything like Langerado before, however, after much persuasion I bought my ticket and packed my bag! For those of you who are as clueless as me, Langerado is a hippie/music fest. It was held in the Big Cypress Indian Reserve (30 minutes from Fort Lauderdale). It was so relaxing to get away from my computer, facebook, TV, and basically civilization in general! The festival was in the everglades (close to Alligator Alley) and the only things surrounding us were water, alligators, and hippies! We camped for four days… luckily, one of my superiors lent Laura and I a tent (which protected us greatly from a torrential downpour that left many campers blown away!). We grilled our dinner, had to use baby sanitary wipes to bathe (as well as a gallon of water over the head to wash our hair), and had to walk a good 15 minutes to the closest ‘Porti-potty’! I must admit that I had probably only heard of three of the bands playing (REM, The Whalers, Beastie Boys). However, after hearing groups like Citizen Cope, and Spam All Stars, I discovered that I actually really really liked those genres of music. My favorite was REM, I was able to get right up to the front of the crowd… about four people away from the lead singer. I have always loved REM though.

It felt so good to take a warm shower and eat a proper meal though! But I do think that it is important to get away every now and again, get in touch with nature, and remind oneself not to take day to day utilities for granted (i.e. running water!).