Twitter Screencast

Hey everyone! The purpose of this post is to teach you a little bit about Twitter. Many organizations on campus use Twitter! Some post about events while others post information on how to get involved. One of the best things about Twitter is its interactive features. In the screencast below, I show you how to use some of these features.

After watching this screencast, you should be able to:

• Find someone on Twitter
• Follow someone on Twitter
• Favorite a tweet
• Retweet a tweet
• Write a tweet using a hashtag

If you're a Rutgers student, check out some of the Twitter accounts listed below! 

Rutgers Student Life, RUPA, Rutgers Leadership, Rutgers New Student Orientation, Rutgers Dance Marathon, The Livingston Theatre Company

The Livingston Theatre Company

Guess who will be choreographing Hair: The American Tribal Love Rock Musical in February? If you guessed me, you would be correct! I just found out earlier this week and I am estatic. So, it only seems appropriate that this post be about my musical theater experiences at college. My first show in college was my sophomore year. My friend from pscyhology class was involved in The Livingston Theatre Company and told me that they were having auditions for Hairspray. I was hesitant to get involved college theater as I am not a strong singer. Dance has always been my strong suit. Don't get me wrong- I can carry a tune like it's nobody's business, but I would never be cast based on a vocal audition. However, because Hairspray is a dance heavy show, they had an open dance call. I audition and was cast as Shellie, one of the Nicest Kids in Town. This show was an incredible first experience. Not only was the cast incredibly talented, but they were also great people. Working on this show, I met some of my closest friends at college.

My junior year, I choreographed The Rocky Horror Show. At first, I wanted nothing to do with this show. I saw the movie and idea of a transvestite alien who murders people and creates a monster to have sex with seemed a bit ridiculous for my taste. But, the company needed a choreographer. I stepped in and filled the role. To my surprise, I actually had a blast working on this show. Because of its ridiculous nature, there was nothing I couldn't do. Expressing my creativity with no boundaries was liberating. I loved watching my choreography being performed on stage. Being a choreographer is like giving your vision and paint brushes to the actors and watching them create the picture. There is really no experience like it. It is incredible.

Later that year, I worked on Legally Blonde: The Musical. I played Margot, Elle's air-headed best friend. My favorite actress originated this role on Broadway, so I had always been in love with the character. I never thought I would get the role though. Not only does Margot have singing solos, she actually opens the show. Talk about pressure. The director believed in me though and gave me the role. Working on this show taught me a lot about myself. This was one of the first times that I did something without being totally sure that I could do it. I trusted the director and worked incredibly hard on my vocals. By the time the show opened, I was miles from where I had began. I hit all of my notes and felt as if I did the character justice. I was very proud of myself. This role taught me that hard work actually pays off.

Over the summer, I choreographed the Back to School Revue at Cabaret Theater. My good friend was directing it and we had never worked together artistically before. Because it was a revue, there were many songs from all different shows. This allowed me to explore many different styles at the same time. I got to choreograph some of my favorite songs and songs from shows I had never heard of. Overall, it was a fun experience.

I took the next year off from theater. Working on a show takes up so much time and energy. I didn't want to commit to anything that my heart wasn't fully in. Over the summer, The Livingston Theatre Company announced that they were doing Hair: The American Tribal Love Rock Musical this season. I instantly knew I had to work on this show. I anxiously waited for applications to be available and applied the day they were released. I couldn't be more thrilled to work on a show. Hair is the exact style I love to choreograph most. It also gives me another opportunity to explore and experiment without boundaries. I feel so lucky to get to be a part of this production. I cannot wait to grow as a choreographer and a person.

Overall, college theater has done so much for me. It has allowed me to experiment and express myself creatively, which isn't something I get to do in the classroom very often. It is an oasis from the strict classroom structure. Theater gave me an opportunity to create something that I was genuinely proud of. Yes, getting an A on a paper makes me feel proud; But there is nothing like performing or producing a show for an sold-out, applauding audience. Most importantly, college theater has introduced me to so many of my friends. I really feel like I have an home at The Livingston Theatre Company. My college experience wouldn't be half of what is was without that.

Brisbane, Australia

I wanted to study abroad my entire college career.  I always had a reason as to why I couldn't go though. I don't have enough time. It's super expensive. I have too much going on here. I don't want to miss [insert some extra-curricular activity]. Grad school. These are just some of the many of the reasons that keep most people at their home institution, rather than venturing out into the unfamiliar, but exciting, experience of studying abroad.

I feel as though for many, getting through the initial excuse-making phase is just the first of the obstacles that often get in the way of people taking the jump. As your time to depart slowly gets closer and closer to becoming a reality, the excitement and optimism turns to planning and anxiousness. The reality of your decision begins to set in. Suddenly, you start thinking about the drawbacks of leaving a world that you are so comfortable and so heavily involved in. The people you are accustomed to seeing on a day to day basis will not be there every day, but their lives will continue while you are away. Everyone who you have ever known will soon be 10,000 miles away, including your family, your friends, and your dog.  All of these things hit you at once, and suddenly, you find yourself caught inside of a whirlwind of different emotions as you realize at once that the place you call home will go on without you, and you will not be there to share in it.

It is overwhelming.  But you get on a plane anyway and fly to the other side of the world. The scary stuff lasts for awhile.  I miss my friends.I have no idea how to get to the grocery store. Public transportation is confusing. Everyone at home is going to that [insert event you won't be attending] without me.  I have no friends here. I literally don't know anyone.  My new roommate is actually the Tasmanian Devil in human form. Maybe this was an awful idea....    

It isn't though. Time passes and without even realizing it, you're not scared anymore.  You make new friends.  You watch a really beautiful sunset from your apartment window.  You lay on the beach in February.  You watch a pro-surf competition.  You hold a koala. You big-spoon a kangaroo.  You see the Southern Cross for the first time.  You go scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef. You see a sea turtle.  You buy a lot of Tim Tams from the grocery store, which you know every aisle of.  You take the 109 like it's the LX you've been riding since freshmen year.  You call your apartment home.   You fall madly in love with the city.  You forget about all the scary things and, without even realizing it, you just live your life.  

Your friends will call you from home: "Tell me everything about Australia."  
"Ummmm, I don't know," you respond.  Because it isn't "Australia" anymore.  It's your home.  It's your life.  It's normal to you.  

Then, one day, you're standing on Story Bridge watching the sun rise over the Brisbane River for the last time.  Your plane leaves in 12 hours.  Suddenly, it isn't just your life anymore. How did 5 months go by that fast?  You try to hold onto every moment that you're still there, kicking yourself for not appreciating every single second of your time abroad.  

If there is one thing that being abroad has taught me, it's that you cannot let your fears get in the way of doing what you want to do.  You have to take risks.  You have to leave your comfort zone.  Experiences like this show you who you really are.  As cheesy as it sounds, I don't know who I'd be if I never went to Australia.  When you get back, the same faces you missed are still there.  Your dog still loves you.  But you're different.  You've grown and learned.  

So what's the bottom line here?  Study abroad, because it's incredible and when else are you going to get to drop everything and move here for five months:

Australian Slang

One of the best experiences I've had during my time in college was studying abroad.  As you may know from my "Welcome" post, I lived/studied in Brisbane, Australia for 5 months.  Next week, I will post ALL about my time there!  This week, I just wanted to post a little teaser.  Below is a video I made of some of the Aussie slang I learned while I was abroad.  Check it out! 

Tell me about yourself.

My favorite blogs are those that are interactive.  So, post a comment and tell me a little about yourself!

What extra-curricular activities have you been involved in on campus that you believe bettered your college career?

Welcome!

Hello everyone!  In case you didn't get a chance to read the "About Me" section, my name is Carly Rae Conroy.  I am in my 5th year at Rutgers University.  I really, really love college.  Specifically, here at RU.  These last 5 years have given me countless opportunities to make the most of my time on the banks of the old Raritan. Although I feel very fortunate to have learned from some exceptionally intelligent professor, I believe I learned the most about myself and life outside of the classroom.

My freshman year at RU, I wasn't involved in any extra curricular activities.  I knew the transition from high-school to college was difficult for some people and I really wanted to focus on my schoolwork.  However, as a commuter, I felt like I was missing an aspect of college.  So, after my first semester, I started exploring what other ways I could get involved on campus.  I began by applying to work for New Student Orientation.  Then, I auditioned for a play with Livingston Theatre Company.  Over the years, my involvement with those two organizations grew deeper, as I continued to take advantage of new opportunities. My junior year, I taught a First-year Interest Group Seminar to 25 new students and helped raise money for children with cancer as the Line Dance Captain for Dance Marathon.  My senior year, I went abroad to Brisbane, Australia.  On top of all this involvement, I never missed a RU football home-game.

I believe that my college experience was so incredible because of the opportunities I took advantage of.  Being in my 5th and final year, I wanted to shed light on some of these great opportunities, so others may be encouraged to get involved as well.  In this blog, I will write about what I found to be the best college experiences, which bettered and enriched my time at RU.