Tax Time
Michelle Balaun2020-04-29T14:19:00-04:00Tax time is Always Right Around the Corner! Taxes, we have to admit, are decidedly not fun. But they ARE necessary. Whether you are preparing your retur [...]
Sending A Package to Your Student?
Michelle Balaun2020-09-29T13:54:09-04:00Make Sure Your Package Gets There For all the many reasons that a student receives a package, most of them bring a welcome highlight to their day. Wheth [...]
What U Should Do Before Heading to UF
HUH Expert Parent2020-06-11T11:36:56-04:00Before 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. Althou [...]
Need Advice About Your College Career?
Michelle Balaun2020-02-27T13:12:31-05:00A Guide to Getting Advice As a fourth-year college student at the University of Florida, the best semesters were the ones in which I created my schedule [...]
Good Advice To My Freshman Self
Michelle Balaun2020-08-06T20:18:17-04:00Advice Every Freshman Should Know Starting a new experience like college is a good time for good (not just any, but legit) advice. As a senior in high s [...]
An Insider’s Guide to Campus Dorm Living at UF
Michelle Balaun2020-06-04T16:55:32-04:00Campus Living -- We have the inside scoop! For sure, start your process by reading about the dorms and where you should live on campus on the UF Housing [...]
Sick at School
Michelle Balaun2020-09-29T13:53:17-04:00Mom.........I'm sick. It’s bound to happen. At some point, the phone will ring and your mature, independent college student will cry “I don’t feel well. [...]
Eating Healthy when you are a student
Michelle Balaun2020-07-09T15:40:13-04:00OK to be Eating...Healthy! As with other college campuses, the amount of burger, pizza, and fast-food restaurants at and surrounding the UF campus is a [...]
Health Insurance
Michelle Balaun2020-10-15T11:14:00-04:00The Plan for Insurance Students at many colleges today must have a health insurance plan that meets their University’s minimum requirement. HaveUHeard t [...]
The Stress of College
Michelle Balaun2020-06-01T12:23:24-04:00The Stress of College Stress. It affects all of us, including our kids. Honestly, what do we expect from balancing a full schedule, the welcome distract [...]
Beauty and the Beast
Michelle Balaun2021-06-10T14:57:30-04:00Beauty and the Beast It's not just for fairy tales. Getting that beauty treatment makes her happy. As the mother of girls (one who's a performer), I kno [...]
Are Your Student’s Valuables Safe – Everything Safe?
Michelle Balaun2020-06-26T15:52:10-04:00How Safe Is Their Stuff? One more thing to worry about: is the stuff safe? Right up there on the anxiety ladder along with the call from my college daug [...]
Staying Fit and Keeping Freshman 15 At Bay
Michelle Balaun2020-08-19T11:29:03-04:00Freshman 15, Keeping Fit! Keeping fit matters. It helps mentally as well as physically. The phrase “Freshman 15” has its own claim to fame, actually inf [...]
Fix it! Repair it!
Michelle Balaun2020-07-10T00:15:18-04:00Repair Shops Car, scooter, or bike, oh my! At UF, you will find all in large numbers. Talk to any student about which is the most useful at UF and you’ [...]
Flu Season Ahead, Wash Your Hands!
Michelle Balaun2020-09-29T13:48:13-04:00The Flu ends with “U” It’s that season again – and I don’t mean hurricanes. Flu season generally runs from October through May, peaking in December. Giv [...]
Food for Thought – Some Students Need Help
Michelle Balaun2020-07-01T15:13:46-04:00No Student Hungry, Food for All! Much like the young students featured in the national campaign, No Kid Hungry®, there are many students at colleges thr [...]
Volunteering Turns Your Compassion into Action
Michelle Balaun2019-12-19T10:40:37-05:00Volunteering with passion is key. From personal experience, I have found that those who volunteer with passion and find purpose in their work also gain [...]
Sorting Out College Life – A Guide to Laundry
Michelle Balaun2020-07-20T11:38:31-04:00Laundry, the worst chore ever! I spent my daughter’s senior year of high school teaching her how to do laundry. I even tried using enticements (aka brib [...]
Student Accessibility Services
Michelle Balaun2019-12-19T13:33:14-05:00Accessibility Accommodations for all students. My daughter has several friends that require special accessibility accommodations for their disability; s [...]
Who You Going to Call?
Michelle Balaun2020-05-14T16:06:08-04:00...When You Need Answers Here is the important contact info you need to have. Over the years there have only been a few times that I, as a parent, have [...]
U Matter We Care at UF
HUH Expert Parent2019-12-19T13:52:01-05:00We Really Do Care We know you care too! Now you have your college student moved in and they are ready to embark on a new independent life. As a parent, [...]
Namast’ay with Yoga at UF Get Your Ommmm on!
Michelle Balaun2020-09-21T17:58:46-04:00Keeping Stress at Bay with Yoga I started doing yoga several years ago after being invited by friends. I never thought of myself as much of a yoga perso [...]
The First Few Weeks at School
Michelle Balaun2019-12-19T15:38:02-05:00We 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 [...]
Having a Car at College
Michelle Balaun2019-12-19T15:39:44-05:00Can You Get By Without a Car? As a fourth-year student at the University of Florida, I have experienced college with and without a vehicle. While having [...]
How Will Students Stay Safe, Sane and Happy this Fall
Michelle Balaun2020-08-18T03:06:47-04:00Where is a Safe Spot at College? Safe, sane, and happy...is that possible? Colleges are doing their best to come up with new norms and protocols to keep [...]
Safety Matters
HUH Expert Parent2019-12-19T16:29:18-05:00Safety UF takes safety very seriously. Technology has changed the landscape of how they impart information to students through texts and emails, and soc [...]
UF COVID Updates
Michelle Balaun2020-09-30T22:47:13-04:00Stay Up to Date on COVID Plans I don’t think I have ever used the word “unprecedented” as much as I have since this COVID pandemic began. Actually, I do [...]
How to Transition as a Transfer Student
Michelle Balaun2019-12-19T16:33:34-05:00Transferring to a new college can be both daunting and exciting. I transferred to the University of Florida as a junior after completing my AA degree fr [...]
Places of Worship for Students
Michelle Balaun2020-09-14T11:21:07-04:00Continuing Traditions of Worship Worship can be a fulfilling addition to your college life. For all students, being able to continue to worship, pray, a [...]
Campus Resources for Students of Color
Michelle Balaun2020-07-27T10:33:36-04:00Campus Guide to Resources for Multicultural Students Campus diversity among students has grown considerably over the years and most colleges and univers [...]
Care Packages for UF Students
Michelle Balaun2020-10-08T11:37:50-04:00Who doesn’t enjoy getting a care package delivered? We know you really care, you care a lot about your student and want them to be happy. Whether it is [...]
Where the Wind Blows, Stormy Weather!
Michelle Balaun2020-09-01T13:47:29-04:00Florida Weather = Storm Having grown up in South Florida, I have made it through more than 45 Hurricane seasons. Yikes! But with that much hurricane pre [...]
After The Hurricane
Michelle Balaun2019-12-19T16:50:59-05:00Post-Hurricane Dorian Hurricane Dorian was the first named storm to impact the state of Florida so far this Hurricane season. While Gainesville and most [...]
Cultural Resources for Hispanic-Latino Students
Michelle Balaun2020-09-10T19:13:55-04:00Support, Empowerment, and Connection for Hispanic-Latino Students Taking giant steps of progress, campus diversity has burgeoned nationally over recent [...]
Diversity and Inclusion for LGBTQ College Students
Michelle Balaun2020-07-08T12:45:49-04:00LGBTQ Campus Support and Resources College can be challenging for all students, therefore finding ways to make connections with others who identify simi [...]
Trouble in Paradise
Michelle Balaun2020-10-20T11:50:18-04:00Your student got in trouble... Is your student having trouble? In trouble? Are they having problems with a roommate, an apartment lease, underage drinki [...]
Away for the High Holidays
Michelle Balaun2020-10-02T15:00:54-04:00Celebrate High Holidays with a New Community Generally, our kids get to come home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. But for those who celebrate the upcomi [...]