How to Buy the Best Lacrosse Sticks

Lacrosse is known as the fastest sport on two feet. In lacrosse, you use your stick, also known as cross, to pass, pick up ground balls, as well as score and defend. There are many players who suffer a broken stick throughout their career, and the importance of getting a new one is crucial to their game. The stick is to lacrosse as a ball is to soccer, or a hockey stick is to hockey. Simply put, you cannot play without one.

When deciding on which stick to get, there are important details to take into consideration. Meghan Shneck, Director of Operations for the Monmouth University women’s lacrosse team, shared her thoughts on the different types of sticks available and at which level a player should begin to use them. “Beginners usually start with a completed stick set. These sticks usually have a wider head and a thicker pocket material,” said Shneck.

As a player advances, so should their stick. “As they become more skilled, a player will look for a narrower head. These sticks start to develop channels to hold the ball in the sweet spot,” continued Shneck. The “sweet spot” being the place below the shooting string where the ball sits most comfortably in the stick. When the ball is in this spot, there is an advantage of having a better shot or pass.

In terms of competing at the highest level, Shneck counsels, “Advanced sticks will have a single piece runner in the middle straight up in the material of the head of the stick. This helps with the ship, speed and accuracy of the ball.”

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More Summer, Less Spending

Being a college student over summer vacation, with no money to spend, can be very upsetting. Luckily, there are a few ways you can save money this summer while still having fun.

Enjoying the outdoors and warm weather is a great way to save money in the summer. Instead of spending, there are many free activities to do. Going for a hike, riding your bike, swimming, or even going on a camping trip with friends, are experiences that are priceless.

Micheal Phillips-Anderson, Ph.D., an associate professor of communication, said, “There are lots of mostly free (or relatively inexpensive) things to do over the summer so you can save your money for the big stuff (for me that would be travel).”

He continued, “You can sit on the boardwalk in Asbury Park and listen to a show from The Stone Pony for free. It costs a little to get to New York, but there are lots of things to do that won’t cost a lot like music, parks, and art exhibits.”

Living by the Jersey Shore, we have the opportunity to take a trip to the beach easily. If you are in the area some beaches to check out are: Sandy Hook, Pier Village, and Asbury Park. Sandy Hook beach has water sports such as paddle boarding and kayaking for little cost.  In Pier Village and Asbury Park, you can ride your bike on the boardwalk or around town, instead of driving and consistently having to spend money to fill your car up with gas. 

If you are looking for nightlife, there are live bands that perform in Pier Village. These performances are free to attend. Instead of paying an exuberant amount of money for concert tickets, take advantage of the local talent. During the concert you can mingle with friends, take a walk on the beach, or eat at one of many restaurants in the surrounding areas.

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Getting Into the Summer Swing

The best time of year is approaching us fast. Summer. We, as students, are close to school being over and finally being able to relax. Summer is the best time of year because you get to go home, hang out with friends, and go on trips to the beach.

Although it is nice to be carefree in the summer, try to avoid laziness. It is easy to be lazy during the summertime; you may enjoy sitting around watching television, but it’s not good for you all the time.

The summer is an ideal time to create a daily routine. Whether it is exercising, cooking, or hanging out, it is important to have a balanced summer schedule.  

One important aspect to regulate into your summer routine is relaxation. After spending time working hard during the school year, you deserve some relaxing. A great way to relax in the summer is just sitting outside.

The best part about summer is the warm weather that comes with it. Sitting outside for a couple of minutes a day is a great way to relax and catch vitamin C. Enjoying the weather can take you to another place and allow you to let all of your stress and worries go away.

Another activity to add to your summer routine is going on a day trip to the beach. The beach is a great place to enjoy in the summer. When you are there, you can find time to relax and hang out with friends. If you live near the beach, you can make a habit to visit frequently. Even if you try to go at least once a week with friends, it can bring enjoyment. 

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Ask Chloe

How do I find my niche/what career or extracurricular I am passionate about as a commuter student at Monmouth?- Anonymous

Anonymous-- Just starting off as a commuter student at any University can be a confusing time. Luckily, there are many resources to utilize at Monmouth to help you get acclimated. 

Clay Vaughn, Director of  Off-Campus and Commuter Services, stated, “Unlike living on campus, commuter students often have a variety of experiences and responsibilities that they may have to navigate during a given day... With that in mind, I encourage commuter students to be realistic and flexible in how they decide to get involved.”

According to Vaugn, getting a job on campus or attending campus events are great ways to get involved. Definitely try to make friends and meet up on campus to do homework or grab a meal together.

If you are unsure of the career path you may want to take, get some help. William Hill, Assistant Dean of Career Services, said, “This is a question I get from many students, so you’re not alone. Start out by scheduling a meeting with someone in Career Services, who will discuss your career goals and will help you narrow down your interests to something you can focus on. Once there, you can use LinkedIn, career days and other resources to network and build connections to others in your field of interest.”

In my opinion, getting involved and taking the next step for your future starts with you. This is your life, there is no need to rush it or immerse yourself into things you are not 100 percent passionate about.

Good Luck,

Chloe

If you would like to be featured in the “Ask Chloe” section, you can submit your question to s1106449@monmouth.edu.

What Time Is It? Summer (Job) Time

With summer approaching quickly, a common question you might be asked is: “What are your plans for the summer?” Some people might have elaborate vacations planned, while others might be headed to that dreaded summer job. 

That summer job of yours doesn’t have to be as miserable as you think. Finding the ideal summer job can be right at your fingertips without you even realizing it. Figure out what you are passionate about and then start to pursue jobs within your passions.

As the common saying goes, “If you choose a job you love you will never have to work a day in your life.” This is completely true; if you love going to work every day, then it won’t even feel like work.

Finding this ideal job might start with the application process. Although no one loves filling out pages and pages of information, this is the first step to loving your job. You might want to update your resume before you start applying to some of these jobs. 

Colleen Moretti, a junior communication student, said, “I think the ideal summer job is having something part time. Having a part time job is convenient because it doesn’t take up too much time during the summer but you are still able to make some money.”  

Make sure to give yourself time to fill out applications.  It is important not to rush through them and make them stand out. Companies can be receiving a tremendous, amount of applications so it is important to find a way to make yours special. A bonus factor is when you know someone who already works for the company, as this can potentially help you get your foot in the door. 

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The MU Student's New Groove

Getting back into the groove of things after spring break can be seemingly impossible. As college students, spring break is the ultimate tease, our fleeting taste of summer that is gone before we know it.

Readjusting to school after a break is difficult, but must be done. Here are  a few tips to help you get back into the swing of things:

Set short-term goals.

Jumping full force into the remaining time left of the semester is going to leave you feeling overwhelmed. Instead of panicking thinking of all the work you are going to have to face, compartmentalize your time.

Taking on your workload day by day will help you feel like you can meet all of your deadlines, without having a panic attack.

Lisa Allocco, professor of communication, said, “I’ve seen students drop a full letter grade from midterm to finals because they caught spring fever. I suggest they hold strong to maintain or improve their grades heading into final exams.”

Allocco continued, “Students can still enjoy all that Monmouth and the shore area has to offer in the spring, if they take a one-week-at-a-time approach instead of setting their sights on life after finals with five or six weeks of course work still on their plates.”

Why rush your time at college, when you can savor every moment? Even if that means you need to do a little homework along the way.

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Take a Break, Sit Down, and Watch that Documentary

Documentaries have been a part of society and the entertainment industry for a number of years; but upon deeper inspection, there is much more to documentaries than just entertainment.

For those in Generation Z, television was simply a large part of growing up or a major source of influence in their childhood.

Within the television channels, popular options for kids growing up were Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, and Nickelodeon, but there are also the less popular Animal Planet, Discovery Channel and History Channel.

These TV channels were one of the prime sources of knowledge we as children received when parents were busy, after school or simply just before dinnertime; and in some channels, documentaries provided us with basic knowledge of history, sciences, and even the trivia which might have even sparked the interest in our careers.

Yet, why is there shunning toward documentaries? Why are documentaries oftentimes associated with boredom or wasting time?

Watch that documentary. Ignore that stereotype associated with documentaries; after all, they aren’t always boring.

After a hard day at work or school, we often want to relax and clear our mind by doing something such as watching includes Netflix and Youtube, so why not fully indulge in a documentary?

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How to Perfect that Instagram Picture

Everyone is always scrolling their Instagram feed wondering, “How did they get their picture like that?” or, “What filter did they use?” We live in an era in which we focus all of our time and effort into our social media personas.

We are constantly thinking of what to post, when to post, and where to post, but can we ever get it absolutely perfect?

Karlee Sell, a junior communication student with a photography minor, said, “The ability to be creative is one of the beauties of Instagram. When I’m looking for the perfect photo for Instagram, I always chose something that I feel is truly an expression of my own creativity.”

This is a great tip for people who want their social media accounts to truly represent themselves.

Sell continued, “This can come from the lighting, the edits, the content of the image, etc. There are no set rules for expressing yourself, and that’s something that I love to explore via Instagram.”

You can capture your picture, you can create your own feed, and you can show the people who you are, which is the amazing thing about Instagram.

You can really be creative and make anything look how you want it to.

Many people say the main way to perfect your Instagram picture is by having a filter. There are already preset filters on the app itself, but if you’re a professional you don’t use those.

Everyone uses third party apps to filter their Instagram pictures, in which the two main apps people are using are Afterlight and VSCO.

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How to Have a Spring Break on a Budget

Feel like you are missing out if you aren’t going away for spring break? Students who aren’t able to get away from the Jersey shore over spring break should not be worried. There are plenty of exciting plans you can make that don’t require a plane ride.

First off, find some friends that will want to go take a day trip somewhere that will be fun and exciting to see.

New York is always a great choice for local fun, with an endless amount of things to do.

There are so many different things you can do in the city such as: going out for a nice lunch or going to see a Broadway play.

Alexis Nulle, M.A., a specialist professor of communication, said, “Spring break is a great time to rejuvenate the soul for both students and faculty. Whether this means spending some quality time with your family and friends or planning a nice day trip.”

She continued, “There are great ways to relax and have fun while you can. I try to treat myself to a nice and relaxing pedicure or facial during the semester.”

It is challenging to find time to have fun, so do it while you can.”

So plan that day trip. Here are some suggestions for if you want to go to New York. Try the Museum of Ice Cream, you can go and see the different décor of the museum. You can also take pictures in a pool filled with sprinkles and get to see the different types of treats.

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Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

“If at some point you don’t ask yourself, ‘What have I gotten myself into?’ then you’re not doing it right.” This quote from Roland Gau is one that we should try to remember each day. Stepping outside of your comfort zone can help you learn so much about yourself and make you realize things you didn’t know before.

If you don’t try something new, you won’t know if you like it or not; so why not give it a shot? When stepping outside of your comfort zone there are so many opportunities for growth.

Everyone can relate to being scared to do something for the first time, but most of the time, after you do it, the activity becomes much less daunting and possibly exciting.

There are many ways to put yourself into situations where you will be forced to step outside that comfort zone. Maybe you decide to go with an extreme and go skydiving during your summer vacation. Or maybe you decide to put yourself out there and reach out to people you normally wouldn’t talk to in your classes.

A big fear that many people have is public speaking. Public speaking is something that many people do not feel comfortable doing, especially in front of a large audience. However, it may get easier with practice.

Through schooling, public speaking is something required for students to learn. Communicating effectively is an important skill to help us move outside of our comfort zone, especially if we are able to vocalize how we feel about new and unnerving situations.

Whether we realize it or not, we public speak more often than we would probably like.

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