This year, Monday is my busiest day of the week. I try to look at it in a positive way by saying I get the hardest day of the week out of the way right away.

Monday, November 4th was a good mix of being productive and unproductive.

So here’s a look at a busy day in my life:

6:15 a.m.

I’m the type of person who sets 20 alarms to go off every five minutes, so this is when my first alarm goes off on Monday mornings. Do I actually get up at this time? It depends on when I went to bed.

6:45 a.m.

I finally get out of bed. The first thing I do is make my bed. This is a very important habit for me; otherwise, I will spend the rest of the day thinking about how I didn’t make my bed.

7:15 a.m.

After getting ready for day, I walk to the Main Library on campus to catch the Red Route bus to the West Campus Transportation Center (WCTC), which is right next to Kinnick Stadium. Sometimes I miss the bus if I hit snooze too many times and then I have to walk 30 minutes. Those days are rough.

7:45 a.m.

I arrive to Hansen Football Performance Center for the first Iowa football practice of the week. Unfortunately, it’s cold and windy now, so my fingers and toes were a little frozen after filming practice.

10:30 a.m.

Now we’ve reached the point in the day where I start to get really, really overwhelmed. I quickly grab a box of food after practice and rush to the WCTC to catch a bus back to the east side for my first class of the day.

11:00 a.m.

My first class is Graphic Design in the Adler Journalism Building. I try to quietly eat my food while the professor explains what we’ll be doing in class. We’re getting ready to start our second big project, which is to create two book covers.

12:15 p.m.

I leave class in a rush to make sure I can catch a Red Route or Hawkeye Interdorm bus to go back to the west side for my next class, which is at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

12:30 p.m.

My second class is Hawkeye Athletics Social Media. We’re working with the Iowa Athletics Marketing Department to make recommendations for all of the sport social media accounts.

3:00 p.m.

My class ends and I wait outside of Carver to catch a Pentacrest bus to go back to the east side for my next class.

3:30 p.m.

My third class is Media Ethics & Diversity in the English-Philosophy Building. Fun fact: I’ve had class on the 4th floor in this building multiple times and I just found the elevator last week. We have a test this week, so I should probably look over my notes.

5:00 p.m.

My last class of the day is Social Media Marketing back in the Adler Journalism Building. We’ve been working with real, local clients to make improvements to their social marketing strategy.

6:15 p.m.

I go up to the 3rd floor of Adler to grab a couple slices of pizza from the Student Center. Usually I would stick around for a few hours and work on schoolwork (I have a test and three projects due this week), but the men’s basketball team’s has its exhibition game tonight and I can’t say no to that.

7:00 p.m.

Tipoff against Lindsey Wilson College at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. How in the world is college basketball back already??

9:30 p.m.

Instead of doing homework like a good student, I choose to play Jeopardy with my roommates for an hour and a half. Oops.

11:30 p.m.

I start to get ready for bed. I prepare for the next day by picking out my clothes (always a sweatshirt and sweatpants now that it’s cold), packing my backpack, and making a to-do list for the next day.

It’ll probably be a few hours before I actually go to sleep, though.

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Thank you for reading! Be sure to keep an eye out for my next post. If you want to see more of my daily life as a Hawkeye, feel free to follow me on social media. Go Hawks!

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@kam_smithy

We’re over a month into the new school year, but it’s never too late for some tips for success.

Some of these are things I actually did, while others are things I wish I did. Overall, these are ways you can set yourself up for success during the rest of your time at the University of Iowa.

1. Get a part-time job (if you can) 

Coming into my freshman year, I knew I was going to work for the Iowa football team as a student video assistant. I started out as a volunteer my first semester, so I went four months without making any sort of income.

Looking back now, I wish I would have taken my parents advice and gotten a part-time job during that fall semester. It’s nice to have extra money to go to the movies or out to eat, or even to pay off some of the accruing interest on your student loans. Having a job is also a good way to work on your time management. Bonus points if the job is related to your future career.

Everyone’s situation is different, though. Some people don’t need a job during college, while others just don’t have time for one.

2. Find internship opportunities

The earlier you start, the better.

Internships are great for two reasons: 1) to explore your interests and figure out what you do or don’t want to do with your life and 2) to gain valuable work experience in your chosen industry.

It’s not your classes that are going to land you a job after college, it’s your work experiences and your connections. Make your time count.

3. Get to know your professors

This is so important.

Your professors are here to help you, but not just with your classes. They have invaluable experience and they know a lot of people. There’s a lot they can do for you if you build a good relationship with them and work hard in their classes.

I’ve had professors reach out to me about various opportunities in the sport industry, help me with my resume and cover letters, and recommend me for potential jobs.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to make a key connection.

4. Develop an organizational system

Find a way to keep track of your school work, your extracurricular activities, your job and/or internship, and your personal life. This can mean using a planner, Google Calendar, the notes app on your phone, or basically whatever works best for you.

Everyone’s different, so the same system won’t work for everyone.

Personally, I currently use a bullet journal to keep track of personal tasks like laundry, meal planning, cleaning, my job search, and so on, as well as tasks for my internship with Girls on the Run of Eastern Iowa. I use a monthly/weekly planner to keep track of when I have homework or need to study. I use Google Calendar to keep track of where I need to be at all hours of the day, or if I have any scheduled phone calls. Lastly, I use the notes app on my phone for random notes to myself while I’m on the go.

In a future post, I’ll talk more about what I do to stay organized.

5. Create daily routines

It’s also essential to have structure to your day.

We’re in college, so I know things can get crazy. You don’t always have to follow your routines, but I think it’s good to have them and to at least try to follow them.

I aim to start my morning and end my night the same way every day. Going to bed at the same time and waking up at the same time, and doing the same tasks to either get myself in the right mindset for the day (listen to a podcast, etc.) or to relax before bed (read a book, etc.).

6. Join student organizations

The best way to meet people is to get involved.

There are hundreds of clubs for you to choose from at the University of Iowa, so find the ones that interest you and join them.

It’s also a good way to explore your interests. College is about finding what you love to do.

7. Register for classes as soon as you can

Every semester, you get assigned an early registration time for the next semester’s classes. The more semester hours you have completed, the earlier the time and day you get assigned. As a senior, I’ll probably be enrolling in spring semester courses on the first day of the two-week early registration window.

While you don’t have to enroll in your courses right when it opens for you, you might end up on the waitlist for some classes if you wait too long.

No matter when you’re scheduled to register, it’s a good idea to have mock schedules created and saved using the Schedule Builder tool on MyUI. It makes the process of enrolling in your courses easy once your registration time comes.

8. Explore campus and the community

Don’t just hang out in your dorm or apartment all day.

Iowa’s campus is beautiful. Iowa City is beautiful. But they will never feel like home if you don’t give them a chance. It also feels good to know where places are.

I failed to immerse myself in the community during my freshman year, opting to hang out in my dorm room and watch Netflix instead. Living in an apartment last year and this year, and having to walk through downtown to get home, has really helped me branch out.

9. Get out of your comfort zone

Again, this is something I have continually struggled with throughout my life. I have definitely gotten better at it, but I’m nowhere near where I want to be.

I still have a lot of fears that I’m afraid to face that stop me from taking chances and living the life I want to live.

But college is the best time to try new things and show personal growth, so it’s important to take advantage of this time.

10. Remember that you’re an adult now

Act like it. Be professional. Learn how to do your taxes. Follow a budget. Start saving money (if you can).

Or whatever it is that adults do.

 

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Thank you for reading! Be sure to keep an eye out for my next post. If you want to see more of my daily life as a Hawkeye, feel free to follow me on social media. Go Hawks!

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@kam_smithy

Hey, Hawkeyes!

I’m feeling a little emotional because I started my senior year at the University of Iowa this week, but I wanted to start off on the right foot with blogging this year.  For those who haven’t been following along, I really slacked off when it came to being consistent with posting last year. My first post didn’t come until almost October.

That’s way too long.

And while this post isn’t going to be glamorous by any means, it is important. I’m going to talk about where I am in life right now, as well as where I want to be by the end of the year.

Instead of going home over the summer, I stayed in Iowa City and worked in the football video office and at a daycare. During my free time, I worked on getting my life together (does that ever actually happen?), and putting together application materials since I knew I would start applying for post-grad jobs in August. It’s a really stressful process that I’ll definitely make a post about in the near future.

Now that school has started, I’m feeling overwhelmed. I touched on what senior year is going to be like towards the end of last semester, but I might as well give a short overview again.

I’m taking six classes (18 s.h.) for the fourth semester in a row, working two jobs and one internship, and trying to figure out a job or internship for after graduation.

My goal is to try to post at least twice a month, but I’m hoping I can actually post more often than that. I have a lot I want to talk about. For example, you can expect posts about the classes I’m taking, my majors, my current job and internship, managing time, applying for jobs, study spots on campus, roommates, and more.

It’s going to be a crazy year, but I’m looking forward to it.

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Thank you for reading! Be sure to keep an eye out for my next post. If you want to see more of my daily life as a Hawkeye, feel free to follow me on social media. Go Hawks!

Instagram · Twitter
@kam_smithy

While food shouldn’t make or break your college decision, it doesn’t hurt to have some really great options on or around campus. Personally, I eat at the same places over and over again, but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.

So these are my six favorite places (in no particular order) to eat on or around the University of Iowa campus.

Short’s Burger & Shine

Short’s was my go-to when I was in Iowa City over winter break for football practices. I always get the Dickinson, which is a grilled chicken sandwich with bacon, provolone, and chipotle mayonnaise. It has a really great atmosphere and it’s right across from the Pentacrest.

Estela’s

My roommate’s and I always go to Estela’s on Tuesdays between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. because they have a $1 taco deal. They also have a $6 deal on Fridays for a burrito and chips and queso. It’s right next to the Graduate, which isn’t too far from campus.

Street Hawk Food Truck

I eat at the Street Hawk Food Truck every Monday and Wednesday for lunch. As usual, I get the same thing every time I eat there: BBQ bacon cheeseburger, fried chips, a cookie, and a Sprite. It’s my favorite place to eat on campus by far.

Pancheros

While the queso is the main reason I go to Pancheros all the time, I always get a chicken quesadilla too. Most of the time, they have really good customer service. One time I went there and the chicken wasn’t going to be ready for 20 minutes, so they gave me three chips and queso coupons plus the food I ordered that day for free. And there’s one right across from the Pentacrest, so it’s really easy to stop there between classes.

Blaze Pizza

I haven’t gone to Blaze Pizza in a while, but I used to eat there all the time. I think I ate there at least three times during the week of Thanksgiving break. I always get a BBQ chicken pizza.

Freddy’s

I’ve only gone to Freddy’s once since it opened downtown, but it was really good. I ordered fries, cheese curds, and a peanut butter and chocolate shake. I automatically love any place that has cheese curds on its menu.

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Thank you for reading! Be sure to keep an eye out for my next post. If you want to see more of my daily life as a Hawkeye, feel free to follow me on social media. Go Hawks!

Instagram · Twitter
@kam_smithy

If you would have told me six months prior to the start of my first year at the University of Iowa that I’d be on the video staff for the Iowa football team and that I’d spend a week of winter break in Tampa, I would have called you crazy.

I never thought I’d have the opportunity to work with and around a college football program before I even set foot on Iowa’s campus as a student. But a year and a half and two football seasons later, I feel right at home. Now I can’t imagine not working for this well-respected program.

Instead of going home after the Fall 2018 semester ended, I stayed in Iowa City to film practices as the Iowa football team prepared for its matchup against the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Florida.

On December 26th, we departed from the Eastern Iowa Airport and landed in the sunny Tampa Bay area. Once we settled in at Westin Tampa Waterside and picked up some groceries from Publix, we walked along the Tampa Riverwalk and searched for a place to eat dinner. We decided on Sparkman Wharf, which is an outdoor waterfront destination with food, music, and games. It was a cool place, but they had heat lamps on even though it was 66 degrees.

The next day we filmed the first practice of the week at the University of Tampa. For lunch, some of us ate at The Sail, which is right down the street from our hotel. (I had the first of three different Cuban sandwiches I would end up eating in Tampa.) During the afternoon, a few of us went to The Florida Aquarium, which was actually more fun than I thought it’d be. That night, we grabbed some food from Publix (where I got my second Cuban sandwich of the trip) and then headed over to Amalie Arena to watch the Tampa Bay Lightning face off against the Philadelphia Flyers. The Lightning won 6-5 in overtime, making my first NHL game an exciting one.

On December 28th, we started the day off by filming practice at the University of Tampa again. I spent the afternoon exploring downtown Tampa and walking along the Tampa Riverwalk. I even visited the Tampa Museum of Art, which was free with a student ID. That evening, we went to Topgolf where I confirmed my suspicions: I’m terrible at golf. But that’s ok because it was still fun to watch other people play while I talked, ate food, and drank Dr Pepper.

On December 29th, we again started the day off by filming practice. A few hours after practice ended, we went to Busch Gardens. Unfortunately, it was hot, the lines were long, and we only went on one rollercoaster. However, I still considered it a great day because I found a place that sold Dippin’ Dots.

There wasn’t practice the next day, so I was able to sleep in for a bit. Instead of going to Clearwater Beach with the team, I decided to go to Raymond James Stadium to watch the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play against the Atlanta Falcons in my first ever NFL game. I didn’t buy my ticket until 40 minutes before the game was set to start, and I didn’t get to my seat until right when the game kicked off. Both teams had already been eliminated from playoff contention, but the game was still really fun. The Falcons ended up beating the Buccaneers with a field goal as time expired.

On December 31st, we filmed one last practice at the University of Tampa and then headed over to Raymond James Stadium to take the team photo. After that, we tore down the meeting rooms at the hotel and relaxed for a few hours. Since it was New Year’s Eve, we ate at a place called Hattricks (where I got my third and final Cuban sandwich of the trip), went bowling at Splitsville, and watched the fireworks on the water right next to our hotel as the new year began.

The first day of 2019 was the day of the Outback Bowl. We arrived at Raymond James Stadium four hours early to set up our cameras and make sure everything worked properly. During the first half of the game, I watched from the field as the Hawkeyes took a 17-6 lead into halftime. During the second half, I filmed from the top of the scoreboard in the north end zone. It was stressful to film and watch Mississippi State’s final drive, but Iowa’s defense stopped the Bulldogs on 4th down, securing an Outback Bowl win for the Hawkeyes.

While the week I spent in Tampa was full of great food, new experiences, and a big win, I’m happy to be back in Iowa City. It’s nice to return to my usual routine, but I’m still really thankful to have a job in college that allows me to have experiences like this one.

Here’s to hoping I have a long and successful career in the sport industry no matter what I choose to do.

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Thank you for reading! I only posted once during first semester for multiple reasons, but I’m feeling much better now. Be sure to keep an eye out for my next post. If you want to see more of my daily life as a Hawkeye, feel free to follow me on social media. Go Hawks!

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@kam_smithy

I can’t believe my first year of college is almost over. Since it flew by so fast, it’s kind of a blur.

In order to remember everything that happened, I looked back at my Snapchat memories. I discovered that most of my freshman year was spent eating food (Popeye’s, Panda Express, and Buffalo Wild Wings, mainly) and attending or working at sporting events, which doesn’t really come as a surprise to me.

Best Moments

Moving in

Moving away from home and saying goodbye to my parents was sad, but it made me feel grown-ish. I was finally going to experience life on my own. It was also fun getting to know my roommate.

Filming football practices and games

I absolutely love my job. I filmed games for my high school’s football team, but I never imagined I’d have the opportunity at the college level. I was a little nervous at first, but I’m glad I didn’t back out. It’s been an incredible experience so far, and I’m happy I get to work with this team for a couple more years.

Rushing the field after the football team upset Ohio State

I don’t remember for sure, but this might have been the first game I filmed. Fortunately, I only filmed the second quarter, so I got to be on the field for the amazing second half. Rushing the field is something I really wanted to do, so I’m glad I was able to during my first year.

Volunteering at athletic events

For my Sport and Recreation Management major, we have to complete nine semester hours of field experience. During second semester, I participated in the Fans First practicum, which involves customer service at athletic events. I volunteered at men’s and women’s basketball games, wrestling meets, track and field meets, and baseball games.

Binge-watching all of the MCU movies

My roommate introduced me to the Marvel Cinematic Universe during second semester when I told her I wanted to see Black Panther. It’s safe to say I became obsessed. We went to see Black Panther on February 20th, and then we went to see Infinity War on April 26th (opening night). I’m still in shock from the ending of Infinity War.

Field trip to Minneapolis 

The Sport and Recreation Management major provides its students with an insane amount of opportunities, including traveling to different cities to network with industry professionals. During the month of February, I went on a field trip to Minneapolis, Minnesota and had the chance to tour U.S. Bank Stadium, Mayo Clinic Square, and the National Sports Center, as well as ask questions during Q&A panels with executives from the Vikings’ and Timberwolves’ organizations.

Spring break trip to Columbus

The University of Iowa offers an alternative spring break program where students can travel to different U.S. cities during spring break to volunteer with a team. During spring break, I went to Columbus, Ohio to volunteer with organizations centered around juvenile justice.

 

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Thank you for reading! That’s it for this school year! Feel free to follow me on social media. Go Hawks!

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@kam_smithy