Results tagged “community” from Hawk Talk - Christian
Driving to and from UMass Lowell was a major part of my college life. I drove from Malden, MA to Lowell, MA everyday for all of my four years at UML. The drive from my hometown to the university was a good 40 - 50 minutes, depending on the times that I'm driving (ie. driving 8am vs. 1pm), traffic, and the routes I took. Planning out my drive was very important for me as a commuter student. I wanted to avoid night driving, hitting traffic, getting caught up with construction crews on Route 3, and so on. I also wanted to get home right away so I have enough time to study, do papers, and other school-related stuff.
All commuters were like this, especially those who live 20+ miles away from UMass Lowell. Because of our strict planning to get out of Lowell to beat rush hour and our limited time in UML, we all felt that we weren't part of the UML Community. I bet a lot of commuters felt like this. The problem with commuters is our lack of discovery, involvement, and spirit. I first realized this when I got involved with Alpha Lambda Delta in my sophomore year. To make the most of the college experience, I felt that I have to get involved with what was offered, from sporting events, joining clubs, getting involved with an organization, helping out a professor, or even just plain hanging out in the university with residents and other commuters. My friends and I have realized that if we get involved in some kind of way, we would finally feel like we're part of the community. Last year, I started going to hockey games... and now I wish I started watching them when I was a freshmen! The Riverhawks are an excellent Division 1 hockey team. Their games are super exciting and... hey, they're nasty!! (And when I say "nasty" that means THE TEAM IS WICKED GOOD). Also, I started to get involved with Omicron Delta Kappa. One event I helped out in was "Trick or Treating for the Troops." That was a blast! Plus, I get to dress up as a handsome and adventurous Indiana Jones (hehe). I started to get involved with what was offered and I finally felt like home.
I regret not spending more time at UMass Lowell. I wish I was more involved with the community and the organizations I was part of. I wish I was at more sporting events so I can support our Riverhawk teams. I finally felt like I was part of UML community at the end of senior year... do not make the same mistake of being a late bloomer.
Get involved as soon as possible!!
Trust me, those 4 years will fly by faster than you can blink...
Christian Tiongson
UML Alumni, EP '09
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Feel free to comment my blog! If you leave questions, I will answer them!
I've been keeping kids off the streets for almost six years already. I have these kids for a good two to three hours on scheduled days to do two things: play baseball and have fun.
A lot of people ask me if I get paid to coach baseball. I tell them no. I think teaching my young players life lessons, how to handle rough situations, and most of all how to play the greatest sport in the world (under my book) is good enough for me. Money cannot match the price of coaching baseball. Heck, I think it's priceless. Giving back to the community is something that I have enjoyed for many years. I just have a great feeling inside. I honestly can't explain that feeling, but I know for a fact that I'm doing something good, and making a difference to my players' lives.
I can tell you straight out that the world we live in is very different than what it was two decades ago. Nowadays, you see gangsters walking down the street, giving other people bad looks, swearing their heads off, and being complete punks. If you give them a bad look, you are a potential target. These gangsters grew up without anyone to look up to. If they had someone to look up to, it must have been a gangster himself/herself. Bad influences causes kids to jump into the wrong path, which leads to a bad life. As a coach, I want to change that and prevent these kids from making wrong decisions earlier in life. I want these kids to grow up to respectful young men, who is not a drunk, a druggie, or a criminal. Sure, I can't hold their hands 24/7, but I believe that distracting them from the hardships of life 3 hours at a time can make a huge difference. Instead of hanging out in the streets and learning how to beat up a kid, the kid can learn something new and POSITIVE. It does not have to be baseball, or sports in general. Taking dance lessons, drawing, hanging out with the family, reading, or playing a musical instrument can pull kids away from the "hard knock life."
That's why I'm here. That is why I give up 6-8 hour work shifts. That is why I give up studying hours. I want to be there for the kids and to make a difference in their lives. I want them to learn how to play the game correctly, how to handle situations, how to be better people.
I'm proud to be a baseball coach and this is my call to all of my readers. If you want to make a difference, go out of the box or "plus ultra." Show your true colors without money or fame in your minds. Take time to give back to your community. Every community needs a hero, and you can be one.
- Christian
A lot of people ask me if I get paid to coach baseball. I tell them no. I think teaching my young players life lessons, how to handle rough situations, and most of all how to play the greatest sport in the world (under my book) is good enough for me. Money cannot match the price of coaching baseball. Heck, I think it's priceless. Giving back to the community is something that I have enjoyed for many years. I just have a great feeling inside. I honestly can't explain that feeling, but I know for a fact that I'm doing something good, and making a difference to my players' lives.
I can tell you straight out that the world we live in is very different than what it was two decades ago. Nowadays, you see gangsters walking down the street, giving other people bad looks, swearing their heads off, and being complete punks. If you give them a bad look, you are a potential target. These gangsters grew up without anyone to look up to. If they had someone to look up to, it must have been a gangster himself/herself. Bad influences causes kids to jump into the wrong path, which leads to a bad life. As a coach, I want to change that and prevent these kids from making wrong decisions earlier in life. I want these kids to grow up to respectful young men, who is not a drunk, a druggie, or a criminal. Sure, I can't hold their hands 24/7, but I believe that distracting them from the hardships of life 3 hours at a time can make a huge difference. Instead of hanging out in the streets and learning how to beat up a kid, the kid can learn something new and POSITIVE. It does not have to be baseball, or sports in general. Taking dance lessons, drawing, hanging out with the family, reading, or playing a musical instrument can pull kids away from the "hard knock life."
That's why I'm here. That is why I give up 6-8 hour work shifts. That is why I give up studying hours. I want to be there for the kids and to make a difference in their lives. I want them to learn how to play the game correctly, how to handle situations, how to be better people.
I'm proud to be a baseball coach and this is my call to all of my readers. If you want to make a difference, go out of the box or "plus ultra." Show your true colors without money or fame in your minds. Take time to give back to your community. Every community needs a hero, and you can be one.
- Christian
