Like many college students across the country, students at Holy Cross get swamped with exams, papers, practices, and the challenge of balancing a social life on a daily basis. With jam-packed schedules we become negligent to the what is happening outside our own little bubble on Mt. Saint James. I am the first to admit that I tend to block out what is happening in the world around me. But it is important to grasp an idea of what is happening in the “real world” in order to contribute more thoughtfully to the Holy Cross community. So to make this just a little bit easier, here are a few tips and tricks to stay connected and informed with the world around us.
Read the newspaper at breakfast. Holy Cross offers free New York Times and USA today papers outside of Kimball every morning as well as into lunch. You don’t have to read every single article of the paper, but by just skimming the front of the New York Times or USA today can enable you to have a better sense of what is going on.
Sign up for the Skimm. If you are more tech savvy person and are constantly on the move and don’t have time to sit, sign up for the Skimm! It is a daily e-mail newsletter that gives you everything you need to start your day. They do the reading for you – across subject lines and party lines – and break it down with fresh editorial content. And it’s FREE!!
Follow the NY Times on Instagram or Twitter. If Instagram or twitter is one of your most frequently checked apps, use it to inform yourself with breaking news. They are constantly posting the latest news through photos and tweets – taking about 20 seconds out of your day! Other accounts to follow on social media: CNN, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, to name a few.
Join a club on campus. There are a handful of great clubs to join here at Holy Cross, many of which involve students getting involved in social activism, politics, diversity, and business. Joining one of these clubs helps colleges students to stay on top of events happening in the world around us. It is a great way to network and keep informed!