Ok, this is the final frontier (for all the trekkies out there), this is my last blog as a Pre-Service Educator, and maybe the last blog I ever write (insert sad music here). It's been an unreal experience, but I have assignments/ playoffs/ end of year parties to attend to, so I'll end the sentimentals right here and now. Last post I gave advice on how to survive practicum, so this post I decided to reflect (there's that damn word again) on my year attending Nipissing University's Faculty of Education. (I'm not Schlich or whatever the hell it will be called next year so I'm sticking with Nipissing-end of story) I have composed my top ten pieces of advice for the entire year of Teacher's College (again, monetary donation are ALWAYS welcome :) Without further rambling, I now bring to you:

The Southern Boy's Top Ten rules to surviving Faculty of Education at Nipissing University (Teacher's Colledge) and having a hell of a year while doing so

10. Get to know "the route" (if financially reasonable)- alas dear readers, now it's FINALLY time to disclose the much heralded "route"- get your pens and papers ready
Tuesday- Toonie Tuesdays at The Wall- 2 dollar domestics all night with club music (also the sight of a dumbass birthday boy making a mess in the urinal!)
Wednesdays- The Moose- 2 dollar beers and right next to the Zoo
Thursdays- 100 Georges- which is not actually on George street (because that would ACTUALLY make sense) Georges has no cover on thursdays and the MOST cramped dance floor ever! (which means you can dance close to hot girls without getting smacked=WIN)
Friday- WTF Friday at the Wall- ABC nights, Toga parties, 90's nights, and everything in between (SOOOOO Glad I missed Country and Western Night!)
Saturdays- Cecils/ The Zoo- this is the best of both worlds, as you can go right from one to the other. If you like the pub/bar atmosphere-you stay at Cecils, if you like the club music-you stay at the Zoo. (and if you're the Southern Boy, you go where the pretty ladies go! ;)
Sundays- to quote Welcome to Atlanta-"Sundays/getting me some sleep in/ cause on (Tuesday) we be at it again!"
9. Actually go to class- Undergraduate= absolutely no attendance, Faculty of Education = attendance recorded, but there are ALWAYS ways around it (especially if your prof uses a booklet!) Actually many classes offer stimulating discussions, excellent resources, and a positive atmosphere-so it's benificial to actually attend an 8:30 am class in University! (who knew?) Besides if the class is BRUtal- you can have fun as a section entertaining yourselves while bonding at the same time!
Top Three in-class shenanegaians
3. U2 jokes- "I love U2= I love you too!"
2. Lowering the chairs (you shrink down faster than Tiger Woods at a confessional!)
1. Chat Roulette (posing as a woman and getting guys to hit each other= best L.A class ever!)
8. Use the library- I never used the library in undergrad, but up here, the library becomes a central meeting place with your section, as well as the setting for the greatest prank ever! ( hint- think a computer, a camera, and an adult-themed website!)
7. Get to know the profs on a first name basis- Profs are there for a reason (and not just to yell at you for going on facebook during their class) They are people that genuinely want to help you succeed in your teaching endeveavours, so make sure that you introduce yourself early in the course, and make sure that you won't have to wear a nametag on the second day of class! Professors have excellent resources/ connections, write wicked awesome references letters, and give you books while calling you by your nickname! ( GS= BEST PROFESSOR EVER!! :)
6. Get an apartment (if finacially reasonable)- trust me, you don't want my situation. I moved places halfway through the year because even though I was living on my home back home for over a year-my old landlord gave me a 10:30 curfew on school nights! (wtf lady- I'm 24 years old, not 12!= MASSIVE FAIL on her part) My new landlord was MUCH more understanding, but if you can afford an apartment, you have complete and total freedom to do whatever the hell you want (plus you can throw some wicked awesome parties, so don't forget to hit me up!)
5.Go to the Lake- Lake Nipissing is absolutely gorgeous, and you can some very interesting new experiences when you are by the lake. In my case, I went kayaking for the first time in my life (WIN) and ran through the half frozen water to reach the ice on the other side, with some crazy SOB's from my section! (Frozen WIN!)
4. Go to the gym- Nipissing has a free gym membership at the campus, so use the gym to work out whenever you can. Two obvious reasons fro using the gym:
a). Eliminates the gut from beers burgers, burritos, and whatever the hell you ate/drank the night before (note- pre-drinking before embarking on "the route" is strongly recommended :)
b) Guys-ladies love a man who's in shape (so remember no pain no gain, okay?)
3. Pick the right partners for group work- 95 % of the assignments at the Faculty of Education in Nipissing are group work. Therefore, it is imperative you pick your partners wisely. Try to choose people who:
a) have the same work mentality as you (example if you leave things to the last minute, don't work with someone who gets assignments done months before the due date.)
b) Have the personality as you (example If you're a positive person, don't work with someone who's negative all the time)
c) Work with someone that you can hang out with afterwards (this has led to some very beautiful relationships/naughty bad fun moments ;)
2. Collegiality is not just a big word- Help out your section mates with rubrics, resources, and anything in between. My AT once told me "you don't have to re-invent the wheel", so you will stealing a lot of materials (called "resourcing") from other teachers-so you might as well start with your section mates! Besides, you're all in this together, be a friend and land a helping hand! (Furthermore, you can barter future drinking arrangements as well- class notes = two beers!)
1. Get out and make some memories!- If you're like me, you will come in to the program thinking" fuck everyone else, it's all about ME!"- Here's the deal: there are 39 other people in your section with the exact same mentality. However, you're all in this together, and you need each other to survive (ex. travel arrangements to and from practicum) Therefore, you need to realize that Teacher's College is beyond assignments and classes-it's the experiences and memories made that will last longer than any classroom lecture. I have been fortunate enough (or unfortunate) to experience the following events (which most of you have read by now):
- my birthday bash with my future friends and colleagues
-getting harrassed on Halloween night
- surviving the Zoo
-out drinking my face off with the boys
I have also experienced the following events that I have not shared with you:
-flag football games with my section
-intramural competitive soccer (HOWIE Rules!)
-keggers
-BBQ's
-days at the beach
-poker nights
-biking/boarding to the bar
-driving my buddy's car without ANY insurance! (come and get me copper!)
-fun, sometimes hazy nights out with my section mates aka new best friends
- things I can't get into detail here (Cree cougars?)
The point is, I was blessed to do so much with my section, and others from other sections. I am not a lone wolf, I am part of a band of brothers (and sisters.) I love everyone in my section from Boss, Howie, Sheamus, and Dundee to Danni, Em, Sunshine, and Zoheezy (again changing the names for collegiately purposes), and wish I have the opportunity to cross paths with J/I 3 again (and cause more havoc and mayhem!!! )
Alright that's about it. You have my advice-use it to influence and inspire (I get royalties though :P) In the words of a public icon in my day- "Take care of yourselves-and each other." No matter if I'm in my home city of Windsor, my adopted city of North Bay, on honing my craft overseas (G'day mates) -remember one thing- The Southern Boy shall always, always ALWAYS....rise again :)