The Next Four Years
Michelle Balaun2020-06-30T11:31:27-04:00Do you know what a true Knight does with their keys during a football game? Do you know what a true Knight does with his/her keys during a football game [...]
Register to Vote UCF
Michelle Balaun2020-08-27T12:02:16-04:00How To Have Your Vote Count While At College With the elections slowly creeping upon us, it is important to make sure that students register to vote in [...]
They Care at UCF
Michelle Balaun2020-07-01T15:43:47-04:00We know you care too! Once you commit to the University of Central Florida you officially become a family member for life. UCF does care and has many di [...]
What U Should Do Before Heading to UCF
Michelle Balaun2020-06-11T12:11:45-04:00Before You Leave Before you leave to take your kid to college, there are a few items you will want to take care of that are extremely important. Most co [...]
Having A Car at College
Michelle Balaun2020-06-25T16:20:53-04:00Can You Get By Without a Car? If you have ever talked to a UCF student, you would know that the #1 complaint involves parking on campus. Whether your st [...]
Who You Going To Call?
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T13:58:37-05:00Call Here for Answers The important contact info you need to have. Over the years there have been only a few times that I, as a parent, have felt the ne [...]
How Will Students Stay Safe, Sane and Happy this Fall
Michelle Balaun2020-06-22T11:32:02-04:00Where is a Safe Spot at College? Safe, Sane, and happy, is that possible? As colleges are doing their best to come up with ideas as to how to keep our s [...]
Flu Season Ahead
Michelle Balaun2020-10-02T14:07:51-04:00The Flu ends with “U” It’s that season again – and I don’t mean hurricanes. Flu season is generally from October through May; peaking in December. Given [...]
Food for Thought
Michelle Balaun2020-07-01T15:02:18-04:00No Student Hungry Much like the national campaign No Kid Hungry®, there are many students at colleges throughout the United States that are barely getti [...]
More Veggies Please
Michelle Balaun2020-06-03T14:53:43-04:00Vegan/Vegetarian Dining Slowly, but surely, more and more young people are going vegan or vegetarian. I can’t blame them. Sometimes the choices on or ar [...]
Safety Matters
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T14:35:15-05:00Their Safety is Really All that Matters I’m not a helicopter parent. Really, I’m not. (Ok, some may disagree.) Regardless, once we have moved our studen [...]
Student Accessibility Services at UCF
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T14:38:48-05:00Accessibility for all at UCF! When my oldest began college, which can feel tremendous by way of size alone compared to high school, she was relieved to [...]
Beauty & The Beast
Michelle Balaun2021-06-10T14:55:25-04:00Look Your Beauty Best! Beauty upkeep is important to your well-being. When planning for college, we rarely think about the fact that our kids may still [...]
Sick at School, Mom Can Help!
Michelle Balaun2020-09-29T11:56:11-04:00Mom..... Due to the current situation regarding COVID-19, as of Monday, March 23, 2020, Student Health Services’ Downtown office will provide telehealth [...]
Sorting Out College Life – A Guide to Laundry, Dry Cleaning & Alterations
Michelle Balaun2020-09-21T16:24:40-04:00The least favorite chore! I tried to teach my kids to do laundry before they each left for college. Really. I did. Yet, somehow when they went away to s [...]
Diversity and Inclusion for LGBTQ College Students
Michelle Balaun2020-07-06T17:09:20-04:00LGBTQ Campus Support and Resources College can be challenging for all students which is why finding ways to make connections with others who identify si [...]
Eating Healthy – Healthy Students
Michelle Balaun2020-06-12T12:07:00-04:00Eating, it really does help concentration! It can be hard to be eating 'healthy' when at college. Meal plans, rushing to and from classes and activities [...]
Health Insurance for Students at UCF
Michelle Balaun2020-06-25T16:30:48-04:00Insurance Plans and Requirements Students at many colleges today must have a health insurance plan that meets their university’s minimum requirement. T [...]
The First Few Weeks
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T15:31:53-05:00We completed the drop. We unloaded the car in the treacherous Florida heat and we set up their rooms. The bed was made, everything had been put away and [...]
Volunteering Turns Your Compassion into Action
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T15:33:59-05:00There are many reasons for volunteering. Volunteering lets you give back to the community, to make a difference in the world, to gain experience and to [...]
Places of Worship, Keep it Traditional
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T15:52:45-05:00Continuing Traditions of Worship If you’re wondering about keeping up the tradition of worship, here are some thoughts. Shortly after my daughter starte [...]
Balance Recreation & Wellness Center at UCF
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T15:57:26-05:00Because Balance is Important Going to college isn’t just about studying; no matter what parents think. Finding your balance while at school is incredibl [...]
Campus Resources for Students of Color
Michelle Balaun2020-07-21T14:31:05-04:00Campus Guide to Resources for African American Students Campus diversity amongst students has grown considerably over the years and UCF vies to maintain [...]
UCF Coronavirus Update
Michelle Balaun2020-07-29T11:50:00-04:00Update on Latest Plans Seems like finding the right update in this unusual time is tricky. I don’t think I have ever used the word unprecedented as much [...]
Orient Yourself – Orientation Tips
Michelle Balaun2020-04-04T16:08:51-04:00Overwhelm Potential If two nights and two days can make your head spin, these might be the two. Orientation, is not a bad thing, of course; it is just t [...]
Lost and Found, more than a box of junk
Michelle Balaun2020-07-10T18:04:05-04:00Oh No...it happened! It's Lost! Have you ever lost your phone or wallet, you get that sudden sinking feeling? My daughter spent the summer studying abro [...]
Namast’ ay at UCF: A Guide to Yoga Classes
Michelle Balaun2020-09-21T18:25:29-04:00Om Shanti! For years I tried to get my daughter to enjoy yoga with me, but she had multiple excuses. I knew it would be good for her mentally and physic [...]
Are Your Student’s Valuables Safe, Protected?
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T16:18:50-05:00But Is It Safe? Right up there with the call from my college daughter that she lost her phone, keys, student ID, (fill in the blank), is the call you ge [...]
Where the Wind Blows – Storms and Preparation
Michelle Balaun2020-10-07T12:28:07-04:00South Florida Knows...Storms Having grown up in South Florida, I have gone through more than 40 Hurricane seasons, storms galore! I prepared for my firs [...]
After The Hurricane
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T16:22:47-05:00Post-Hurricane Irma Prior to Hurricane Dorian, our blog talked a lot about Hurricane Irma which definitely left Floridians on their toes. Hurricane Irma [...]
Staying Fit
Michelle Balaun2020-09-01T10:41:03-04:00Freshman 15 - No Way! The Fit Way! Note: While much of the usual fitness options may not be available due to these unprecedented times, there still are [...]
Trouble in Paradise
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T16:33:38-05:00Trouble, sometimes it happens. I began our conversations about walking alone at night, binge drinking, hazing, and drugs, among other things many months [...]
Cultural Resources for Hispanic-Latino Students
Michelle Balaun2020-08-24T11:49:08-04:00Support, Empowerment, and Connection for Hispanic-Latino Students Campus diversity amongst students has grown considerably over the years and colleges v [...]
Get Involved
Michelle Balaun2020-06-25T15:38:03-04:00Get Involved With an undergraduate enrollment of nearly 60,000; the second-largest university in the United States, set in Florida’s home to more than a [...]
Searching for Scholarships to Help Pay the Way!
Michelle Balaun2020-08-21T14:03:26-04:00Congratulations on Your Child Being Accepted! Now that that’s settled, the idea of actually paying for college looms. Hopefully, you have prepared in s [...]
The Stress of College
Michelle Balaun2020-06-01T12:07:20-04:00Here are Ways to Beat Stress at School Stress. It happens to all of us, including our kids. As though a full schedule and trying to maintain a social li [...]
Care Packages for UCF Students
Michelle Balaun2020-09-30T11:51:45-04:00Who doesn’t enjoy getting a package delivered? We know you really care, you care a lot about your student and want them to be happy. Whether it is for a [...]
I’m Not Your Maid
Michelle Balaun2020-09-04T15:05:29-04:00Maid Cleaning Services I never thought I would be saying this, but sometimes it is a good idea to hire a maid, a cleaning service for students. Hear me [...]