Graduation Tips for the Seriously Graduating!
Michelle Balaun2020-10-29T14:17:06-04:00Seriously, Graduating Already? Remember how when our kids were little we couldn’t envision them leaving us and going off to college? Now, if you are lik [...]
Brunch is Breakfast plus Lunch plus Fun
Michelle Balaun2020-09-21T16:10:37-04:00"Brunch is breakfast without an alarm." -- Unknown Most college kids sleep late. It’s a well-known fact. So, going out for breakfast on weekends, in par [...]
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 [...]
The Benefits of Joining the UCF Alumni Association
Michelle Balaun2020-09-15T15:12:43-04:00Alumni Networking, Perks, and More... Before you know it, you are walking across the stage at graduation, and with that last step, you are officially a [...]
Spring Break
Michelle Balaun2020-01-27T17:57:25-05:00Popular Ways To Spend Your Break. You haven’t seen them since January and are looking forward to some time with them home again over Spring Break. UCF's [...]
Wakey, Wakey Eggs & Bakey
Michelle Balaun2020-07-28T18:10:24-04:00Our favorite meal of the day! Wakey-wakey! Like any college town or city where many residents carry a yearly fun pass, there are literally hundreds of [...]
Dinner, Early or Late! Let’s eat!
Michelle Balaun2020-09-21T16:20:24-04:00The secret to getting a good dinner. Like any college town and/or city where many residents carry a yearly fun pass, there are literally hundreds of di [...]
Knights Spring Debut
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T13:26:13-05:00They're Back At It, Debut time! After the last football season’s remarkable performance, our UCF Knights are itching to get back out on the field to pla [...]
Football Time – Where to Watch the Knights
Michelle Balaun2020-09-30T20:59:41-04:00College football… We can’t wait for it! To start anticipating that our football team will end up nationally ranked and headed to a bowl game. Even after [...]
Spring Sports
Michelle Balaun2020-03-16T17:54:19-04:00So Many Sports, So Little Time After a phenomenal football season for the Knights, fans are getting really excited about UCF Athletics. While Football m [...]
Sports
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T14:07:50-05:00UCF Sports If I think back to touring UCF when it was down to decision time as to which college, one of the first things I realized was that I better le [...]
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 [...]
Graduation Photography for UCF Seniors
Michelle Balaun2020-12-01T14:44:44-05:00Memorialize Graduation Day with Photography The last four years (or so) probably flew by and commencement is around the corner. There is no doubt that g [...]
Entertainment
Michelle Balaun2020-01-27T15:51:58-05:00All Round Good Times. It seems almost silly to write about things to do when visiting your student at UCF simply based on the fact that our kids are lit [...]
Making the Most of Summer B
Michelle Balaun2020-03-23T14:23:00-04:00This is when summer gets fun! ** Due to the unusual and unprecedented Spring (2020) situation and circumstances, Summer B 2020 classes will also be onli [...]
Are You Ready for Some Football?
Michelle Balaun2020-09-11T14:33:34-04:00Knights Athletic Events, Are You Ready? Note: Everything is a little different this year; even football. To better understand everything Knight's footba [...]
Nature vs Nurture, there is more than the “Mouse”
Michelle Balaun2020-09-10T12:19:10-04:00As they say, after Disney... Once you’ve completed your obligatory Disney trip, your most recent trips to Orlando have probably been about seeing the sc [...]
Safest Places to Visit Your Student This Semester
Michelle Balaun2020-10-09T16:36:54-04:00We Still love to Visit Our Knights Let’s face it, these are odd and crazy times! Things look very different at UCF this semester but one thing is still [...]
Where to Pre-Game at UCF
Michelle Balaun2020-07-21T14:05:55-04:00Tailgating Season Has Begun! Football season is upon us and other than making sure you will be properly attired in black and gold and have your keys rea [...]
Sorority Recruitment: What to Expect & What to Wear
Michelle Balaun2020-09-13T11:19:58-04:00Here Are Tips & Tricks on What to Wear Adding another chapter to your life is a big deal. If you decide to go through sorority recruitment at UCF, i [...]
Supervise an Easy Budget for Your College Student
Michelle Balaun2020-10-19T10:27:35-04:00This is a budget lesson that will serve you in the future! Some students actually keep to a budget. Well, sort of. I admit, it was hard telling my daugh [...]
21 and Oh So Fun
Michelle Balaun2020-10-26T15:24:21-04:00Becoming an official adult. How fun. My daughter will turn 21 in October of her junior year at UCF as do many students during their junior year. How fun [...]
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 [...]
The Best Apps For Students
Michelle Balaun2020-08-21T16:54:12-04:00UCF and College Studying Apps Remember when you were in college and everything was easily accessible via an app on your phone? No? Well, me either. Our [...]
Advice to my Freshman Self
Michelle Balaun2020-08-06T21:08:06-04:00Advice Every Freshman Should Know College life seems like a dream. It’s the first time living away from home and not by parents’ rules. College classes [...]
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 [...]
Roommates and Residential Life
Michelle Balaun2020-03-03T16:14:12-05:00How to manage a shared living space. For many students entering college, this may be their first time away from home for an extended period of time. Whi [...]
Good as Gold Knight
Michelle Balaun2020-08-24T11:51:53-04:00Putting Together Great Knight Outfits I love going to UCF football games- there is nothing like game day. HaveUHeard how UCF got its colors? In 1970, a [...]
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 [...]
Parents Weekend UCF Style
Michelle Balaun2020-09-11T16:53:25-04:00The Big Weekend I had been accustomed to booking for Parents Weekend the second it was announced, based on my older children who went to other colleges. [...]
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 [...]
Bucket List for UCF
Michelle Balaun2020-09-21T17:56:27-04:00If you have committed to becoming a Knight...fill this bucket. There are a few things that you might want to check out over your next for years at UCF. [...]
Graduation Restaurant Reservations
Michelle Balaun2020-10-16T14:41:20-04:00Make them sooner than later! UCF holds graduation ceremonies three times per year with May being the largest ceremony, broken down by each college. Spri [...]
Mother – Daughter Time
Michelle Balaun2020-09-21T17:47:06-04:00Spending Time Whether you are coming up for a mother-daughter sorority weekend or just to spend time with your daughter, you will find plenty to do toge [...]
Weekend with Dad
Michelle Balaun2020-10-27T09:47:11-04:00The Best Things to Do With Your Dad on the Weekend My first father-daughter weekend was freshman year when my dad and I didn’t really know what to do fo [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Rushing Her Way – What is Rush?
Michelle Balaun2020-09-21T17:52:30-04:00The Rush Note: Fall 2020 - A lot of sororities are still doing open bidding for those girls who didn’t go through/dropped recruitment. Open bidding mean [...]
Rushing His Way and How To Win It.
Michelle Balaun2019-12-18T16:23:55-05:00Frat. Rush. Rushing. Do you what Rushing is? For parents of incoming freshmen, you have probably started to hear about the fraternity rush. The way rush [...]
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 [...]
Sorority Girl
Michelle Balaun2020-09-24T15:39:00-04:00So They’ve Joined a Sorority Congratulations if your daughter has found a place to call home. Being in a sorority opens the door to so many wonderful ex [...]
Knight-Thon, Dance all night! Do good!
Michelle Balaun2020-10-23T13:49:31-04:00Dance The Night Away Do you dance? When my kids were in high school, they each did some sort of volunteer work; all noble and worthy. Then they got to c [...]
Study Abroad UCF and See The Word.
Michelle Balaun2020-06-30T18:22:31-04:00The World is your Classroom so Study Abroad! The world is your classroom. I am a big believer in this adage. Apparently many students agree as Study Abr [...]
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 [...]
So you want to be a Knight? Here’s How!
Michelle Balaun2020-10-28T12:22:23-04:00Be a Knight! I don’t blame you; the excitement can’t be beaten. To be a Knight, belonging to a superior University and enjoying all the experiences and [...]