Surviving Your Thesis

You’re feeling pretty good about life now that you’ve decided on your thesis topic. No stress, no worries. You still have nearly a year before it’s due, so it’s all good, right?

Not exactly. Do you remember that old saying of how time flies fast? Oh yes, it really does whiz past when you’re not looking. You may have a job, four or five other classes, family responsibilities, volunteer time, and you even manage to squeeze in a few moments for yourself. It’s called living life, and it is all good stuff. 

However, if you haven’t had any previous experience working on a large, long-term project, you may be in for a surprise when time sneaks up on you, taps you on the shoulder, and says, “Hey, dude. Your thesis is due next month!” Time lets out an evil “ha-ha-ha” as it slides off to pester its next victim, leaving you frozen, unable to move—chills reaching down to your bones. 

You finally thaw, move, manage to breath. Your mind goes into overdrive, and you spend the next month never sleeping. You become a library nomad, traveling from one research location to another. You’re in and out of labs as you pull together the last bits of data you need to write your thesis. You keep panic at bay with caffeine – large, large doses of it, until you finally complete your thesis and have to re-program your heartbeat to a normal rhythm. Congratulations, you survived!

Did it really have to be that way? No. 

Here are a few tips to help you navigate your thesis:

• Create a time-table for yourself and stick to it as much as possible.

• Mark quotes while you conduct research, so the quotes are easy to find later. You may want to create a reference list just for quotes, even if you don’t end up using them. 

• If your thesis requires you to travel to gather primary sources, plan those days out in advance. You’ll need to match your schedule to the hours your research center is open.

• If you need to conduct interviews or get expert opinions, leave plenty of time to coordinate with other people.

• Submit chunks of your thesis to your readers early, so you have plenty of time for revisions, instead of waiting to send the entire thesis. Your readers have lives too and have been kind enough to support your endeavors.

• Thank your readers and anyone else who has helped you reach your goal. 

Incorporate the above tips early and your life will be much easier and more enjoyable. 

Written by Sheri Flemming

Gespräch mit Mr. Hartzler (Conversation with Mr. Hartzler)

Alex Hartzler speaking with student

It was a pleasure to have Alex Hartzler visit our campus and talk to Honors students on October 25^th. I had heard a great deal about “the Alex Hartzler” before meeting him; he is the man who generously supports our honors program at Penn State Harrisburg, which we are all grateful for. I honestly expected him to be boring and lacking in sense of humor. Oh boy was I proved wrong. Mr. Hartzler is actually an amazing, witty, and altruistic man, who wants nothing but for our generation to get international experience like he did when he was a student.

Mr. Hartzler is the donor of the Hartzler Travel Award for the Honors Program. He visited our campus to share his travel experiences and how they have shaped him as a person. The conversation also provided me with the opportunity to learn about how he became involved in the Capital College Honors Program.

A 1990 Penn State Harrisburg graduate himself, Mr. Hartzler has strived for success since graduating. He was an Executive Vice President and partner of Webclients.net, and started the Harrisburg Young Professionals group in our capital city.  He is currently a partner at WCI Partners, LP, concentrating on "acquiring, rehabilitating, restoring and re-selling historic homes" in Harrisburg and other urban areas.

He used his travel experiences to help him build his magnificent career.  During the session, he shared his fond memories of Germany and how making connections internationally helped him in later life.  His traveling also helped him with his communication skills in different languages.

Being from a different country, I was curious to know if that held any advantages compared to those who were born in America.  He told me that students who were born in a different country can sometimes have more opportunities than others.  They already have a basic knowledge of a different culture, and they can use that to their advantage.  

Mr. Hartzler was adamant that students should take the opportunity to travel, whether in school or when they graduate. Having traveled to many countries himself, he expressed that he learned something new and different from each country he visited. I couldn’t agree more, because even though I was also brought up in India and the US, I think there is much more for me to discover in the world.

With his travel award, Mr. Hartzler has afforded honors students an opportunity that other students do not have.  His generous donation gives us the financial support that we need to travel.  But he did more than just give us money; he also took the time out of his day to come and share his inspiring story with us.  It was a worthwhile conversation for curious students in the Honors Program!

Written by Jyothi Kakuturu

Letter from the Editor: The Mid-Semester Blues

It's November!

For those graduating in December, November is full of final touches on thesis work and perhaps a sad nostalgia that it's almost over.  For the rest of us, it is a month filled with catching up on assignments that we've fallen behind on and trying not to fall into what I dub: mid-semester blues.

Mid-semester blues, if you're wondering, is that time where going to classes seems like a burden, and your homework is forming an ever growing pile on your desk (bed, sofa, etc.)  Textbooks are scattered across your room, and for procrastinators, this might be the first time you're opening them.  Midterms, if you haven't had them already, are looming over you like a cartoon rain cloud; and papers are due in all of your classes (on the same date).  But with all the stress of the mid-semester, all you can think about is that we're three weeks away from a blissful week off.  With that thought in mind, late October into November is sluggish and drags on forever.  Hence, the dreaded mid-semester blues.

As a senior, I've had the mid-semester blues every year of my college career.  My advice to you: don't let it get you behind.  You're going to want to skip a class, miss a homework assignment, and maybe actually clean your living space in order to avoid class work.  But remember, many of the assignments that are due from now until the end of the semester count for a large portion of your grade.  So don't slack off now.  It's not the time.

Just remember, in three weeks, you can take a break (maybe not if you're working on a thesis) and relax for a week.  That should be a motivation to do your work, not a hindrance.

Good luck!

Written by Jeshanah McLeod

Back to the Past in Eckley's Miners' Village!

Students and Chaperones at Eckley's Miners' Village

This past Saturday, September 29^th, found Penn State Harrisburg’s Honors students fully engaged and interested during a trip to Eckley’s Miner Village. The trip was an opportunity for Honors Students to learn more about the life and daily struggles of miners in Eckley during the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. Students learned about how the mining business began in Eckley and how miners lived on a day to day basis; and we got to tour the village.

Eckley Miners’ Village was a coal mining site found in 1854 that grew with industry and the need for anthracite coal. The village was comprised of mine workers, who were largely Irish, coming to America from Eastern Europe in search of better living. Due to the fact that the entire village and coal site were owned by the coal company, miners had incredibly structured lives and very little freedom.

Houses in Eckley's Miners' Village

Miners lived in very poor conditions and were frequently exposed to danger in the coal mines. A miner usually made no more than $100 monthly, which was very little considering rent, medical expenses, food, and etc.  A typical home for a miner would be two stories and shared by his family as well as a boarder, so that all expenses could be met. There would be a small kitchen with a traditional stove that only ran on coal. Also, there might be at most two wooden beds of which about twelve people slept. Upstairs there would be boarders and a small tub for washing and laundry. Usually, the wives tended to the children, cleaning, and maintaining the expansive garden that surrounded the home.

At the time, the company owned the village, including the only local store. Therefore, many things were overpriced and unaffordable for the typical miner, who frequently ended up with a debt.  Thus, it was common for the families to have their own gardens and grow food like potatoes and cabbage to provide sustenance for the family.

Working in the mine was even more strenuous than living in destitution. In addition to long days and little pay, miners had to use explosives to blast coal from the earth with very little protective gear. Even worse, they were responsible for obtaining their own tools; so if they could not afford protective gear or things like a shovel- that became problematic.

After a day of learning and touring, students were given the opportunity to taste polish food prepared by the tour guide, Jolene Busher, and her mother. The meal consisted of salami slices, pickled eggs, sweet bread, and farmer’s iced tea. Students were appreciative and indulged in the dishes! At the end of the trip, Honors students left with more knowledge on the type of labor that shaped the country and more specifically, the living conditions of miners.

In 1960, the village was taken over by the State and later opened as a National Historic site in 1971. So, stop by and visit! Learn about Ekcleys’ Miner Village. To learn more, visit http://www.eckleyminersvillagemuseum.com/ .

Brianna Alexander

Photo Credits: Stephanie Ponnett 

Dean Brady Visits Penn State Harrisburg

The visit from Dr. Christian Brady to the Penn State Harrisburg Honors Program was an amazing experience for us students. Dr. Christian Brady is the Dean of the Schreyer Honors College at Pennsylvania State University; it was heart warming that such a busy man would take the time to come down and talk to our Honors Program students. He welcomed the union of the Capital College Honors Program and Schreyer Honors, which I am personally very thrilled about.

Jyothi Kakuturu and Dr. Christian Brady

During the student discussion hour, I appreciated how Dr. Brady thoughtfully addressed several issues questioned by the students. Not only that, but he also allowed the students to reflect on the Honors Program, leading to a very open ended, comfortable discussion. I also had an opportunity to talk to him personally about my research interests and Honors thesis. After the discussion, I had the opportunity to attend the dinner with a few other students and had a very different experience. Many of those who attended the dinner were Penn State alumni, generous donors to the Honor’s college, Dr. Ansary (the Associate Dean), and Dr. Kulkarni (chancellor of Penn State Harrisburg), honors program staff from Capital College and the Schreyer College.

The dinner at Mount Hill Tavern was the most inspiring time of the day for me. The owner of the restaurant kicked off the speeches, noting that education is the best investment one can make, and I couldn’t agree more! Dr. Kulkarni, being a former investment banker at Wall Street, further elaborated that investing in present students is a lifelong investment, as we will then invest in the education of future students. Dr. Brady said that this builds a strong foundation for Penn State Main Campus and Penn State Harrisburg’s students to have an enriched educational environment and many research opportunities. He stressed that wherever the students end up after graduation, they should always cherish and thank those have helped us achieve so much.

The whole event inspired me because of how much faith and confidence the alumni donors had in undergraduate students. This compelled me to work harder, and give back to my Penn State family now and in the future. Like Dr. Kulkarni said, “Don’t take away from Penn State’s name; add to Penn State’s name.”  On behalf of all the Penn State faculty, staff and students, I generously thank all our donors for investing in our future.

Written by Jyothi Kakuturu

Photo Credits:  Marques Paige

A Night at Mt. Hill Tavern

Dr. Christian Brady and donors

The Schreyer Honors College, it’s a big title.  So it was with great pride, that the Penn State Harrisburg Honors program embraced going under the umbrella that is the Schreyer Honors College.  But with becoming a part of that, the Capital Campus Honors Program needs to expand funding as well.  The benefits that befall the students in the program are, unfortunately, not a free commodity.  For that reason, as well as to thank our existing donors, a few honors student, faculty, and staff gathered at the Mt. Hill Tavern in Harrisburg.

Alex Harztler and Jeshanah McLeod

In a wood-floored room, an intimate group of a little over twenty gathered, mingling and dining on hors d'oeuvres.  The room was abuzz with talk of upcoming theses that students were working on and the many benefits that the Capital College Honors Program gave to the students.  Amongst the speakers that evening were Dr. Kulkarni, Chancellor of Penn State Harrisburg, Doug Neidich, a donor as well as the owner of Mt. Hill Tavern, and Kevin Harter, a member of the Penn State Harrisburg Board of Advisers as well as a donor to the Capital College Honors Program, and Dr. Christian Brady, Dean of Schreyer Honors College.  All of the speakers boasted a pride in the honors program as well as recognized the work that Dr. Tawatnuntachai has done for the program.

Jessica Martin, Dr. Surra, Dr. Robinson, and Jeshanah McLeod

The event went without a hitch.  The food was excellent.  The conversation was flowing, and
the students got to interact with the people behind the Capital College Honors Program.

Written by Jeshanah McLeod

Photo Credits: Marques Paige

A Schreyer Afternoon at Penn State Harrisburg

Dr. Christian Brady

Over thirty Penn State Harrisburg honors students attended a wonderful afternoon gathering with Dr. Christian Brady, the Dean of Schreyer Honors College on September thirteenth.  Now that honors students at Penn State Harrisburg have the option of graduating from the Capital College Honors Program or the Schreyer Honors College, Dean Brady came to answer any questions the students had.  When answering one of his questions, Dean Brady emphasized that the general education requirement at Penn State provoked students to think critically and globally, and that was why employers tended to hire Penn State Graduates.  He also spoke about his successes while answering questions, informing the students of how he reached to where he is today.  To wrap up the session, one of the final points he made was that he opened himself to opportunities, and he encouraged students to do the same.

Written by Rosemary Yee

Sophomore, American Studies Major at Penn State Harrisburg

Photo Credits:  Marques Paige

A Letter from the Editor

It is back to the grind for some of us here at Penn State Harrisburg.  For others, it is a hearty welcome to college, a different world from what you're used to.  Either way, the campus is now flooded with faculty and students, where two weeks ago it was disturbingly empty.  It is back to the cramped lines in Stacks and the lines out to the first floor bathroom in Biscottis.  I suppose we can all be comforted by the fact that not much has changed, although Vartan Plaza is a definite visual improvement.

Our first week of classes has officially ended.  Some of us had a great week, meeting old friends and new friends, and, of course, finding out our class loads.  Others might have had a terrible week, but chin up, there's more time ahead of you to make the best out of the semester.  

In making the best of the semester, I encourage you guys and girls to get involved.  There are a ton of clubs out there, something for everyone.  Amongst those clubs is the Honors Club (not program).  The president, Bryan Tarkington, as well as the rest of the executive board, Zach Biggers, Vice President, Connor Slaybaugh, the Treasurer, and myself as Secretary, would love to have you around.  The Honors Club is hoping to do big things,  a possible name change for one, since it is open to not just Honors Program members but the general student body as well.  So keep your eyes and ears peeled for news about the Honors Club, and hopefully I will see some of you at future meetings.

I would also encourage you to come write for this blog.  We will need lots of writers with different experiences to speak of, not limited to the program experiences.  In an effort to turn a new leaf on a new year, I would like to shake things up for the former newsletter, now blog.

If anyone would like to help me with this endeavor (you must be a Penn State Harrisburg student), send an email to psuhbghonors@gmail.com.  I will be sure to reply to you.

Have a great semester and a fantastic year!  Until next time, goodbye Nittany Lions.


Written by Jeshanah McLeod
Senior English Major in the Honors Program at Penn State Harrisburg

PSH outshines sunny Florida for one Honors Student

I can relate to the feeling one gets during college applications; it is traumatizing, exhausting, and problematic. With over 4,000 (and counting) colleges and universities to choose from across the country and at least 30 for you to choose locally, college applications can be arduous. Choosing a university you want to attend depends on a lot of things, including personal or financial issues, (they certainly played a significant role in my decisions). But I want to talk to you about two universities I have attended and perhaps convince you to choose Penn State Harrisburg or make you feel content if you are already attending PSH.

As a high school graduate from Orlando, Florida, my friends and I knew we would attend the University of Central Florida, which was just half a mile away from our homes. UCF, barely 60 years old, is the second largest university in America by student enrollment with over 55,000 students admitted annually. UCF, in my opinion, is also the most beautiful campus in America. An aerial view shows a flower-like shape of the campus, with the sidewalks and roads dotted with palm trees, scattered small lakes glistening like gems, and the entire campus shining like a diamond under Florida’s glaring sunlight. It’s the perfect dream college!

However, after attending the first week, it reminded me of the reason why I came to college: to learn, not for sight-seeing. Learning was a challenge at UCF, not that the teachers weren’t qualified but it was simply impossible for the professors to interact with me. With a minimum of 200 students in each class, and the labs taught by Masters students instead of professors, I simply had no interest in my courses. I had an urge to go back to my high school teachers for study help because going to my professor’s office hours was an ordeal in itself. I had no energy to wait an hour outside of their office to ask questions when 20 others are in line in front of me.

Although I enjoyed interacting with so many people and made use of a variety of campus activities and other resources UCF had to offer, I was not happy with what I learned, if I learned at all. I got through most of the classes by attendance points (which is recorded by electronic clickers) and “Googling.” Google was a boon; I had never in my life searched for anything as much as I did my freshman year. All I wanted was some individual attention because I had my own set of doubts that were never addressed in class properly. UCF has a faculty to student ratio of 42:1, the highest (and worst) in the country, which is nearly the same as most large campus schools, including Penn State’s University Park.

Thankfully, my family was relocating to Hershey, PA. I took this as a perfect opportunity to transfer out of UCF to Penn State Harrisburg, because I wanted to learn, not spend 4 years of my college “Googling” my doubts. I was mildly disappointed by the size of the campus, as it was hardly any bigger than my high school in Florida, but I learned that PSH is a young campus built on Olmsted Air Force base used by the US military during World War I, and I am now proud of this history in the making.

The entrance into Penn State Harrisburg

Penn State Harrisburg is a great campus to attend, as we are blessed with so many opportunities in a 10-mile radius such as: Penn State Hershey Medical Center and College of Medicine, Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, Pennsylvania State Capitol, and Hershey Foods Corporation. This means more opportunities for us students to exercise our classroom skills and apply through jobs, internships, and volunteer opportunities, more variety than even the students at University Park on any other Penn State campus can get. I also am proud to be part of the wonderful Honor’s Program at Penn State Harrisburg, an active tight community of hardworking and competitive students at PSH. As an honors student, I have the opportunity to do intensive research in my major and interact with students like me who want to graduate with more than just a degree, but learn to apply our knowledge in the real world usefully. As prospective students apply to Penn State Harrisburg, applying to our Honor’s program is also a great chance for showcasing their talents while adding sophistication and significance to their degrees.

Out of the many important majors and minors PSH offers, both in bachelors and graduate programs, I chose bachelor’s in Science with a major in Life Science. PSH students will have many courses to choose from that can be tailored according to your 4 year curriculum. With fewer than 30 students per course, interacting with my professors inside and outside of class is possible, which greatly help me in understanding my subjects better. The quality of PSH’s education projects out to all of us students as our course teachings is very interactive and student-oriented. At our Capitol Campus, I am not just a random student sitting in an enormous auditorium but, Jyothi, a Penn State Harrisburg student with a name which will be remembered by my professors.

Written by Jyothi Kakuturu, junior Life Science major at Penn State Harrisburg in the Honors Program.

Time Traveling in Philadelphia

When you think of Philadelphia, one of the first things you might think about, other from Philly cheesesteaks, is history.  When you think of Philadelphia with the Honors Program, you start thinking about visiting different historical sites and lectures that you would probably prefer to sleep through.  However, the Honor’s trip to Philadelphia was nothing of the sort.  Visiting the sites and listening to great, interesting historical facts from a Penn State alum was nothing like the boring history class that one would expect.

Honors Students infront of Stenton House

The first stop was the Stenton House, former residence of James Logan, who is not as well known as William Penn and Benjamin Franklin but certainly as important.  In fact, James Logan was a mentor to Benjamin Franklin, who visited Stenton House.  Walking through the well-preserved home, one can just imagine Benjamin Franklin sitting at the front of the house after being let in by a servant waiting for James Logan to see him.  But not even the thought of Benjamin Franklin humbly waiting on James Logan could eclipse Logan’s book collection, perhaps one of the best preserved book collections from Colonial times.  The entire trip through House with our guide Dennis Pickeral, the director, was a step back in time as we saw glimpses of how people lived in the past.

After the Stenton House, where we also met with Dr. Boudreau, we stepped back into the present by visiting The Bourse, a food court with anything and everything available--Philly cheesesteaks included.  Not only did we enjoy food, it was also a time for a few of us to sit and chat.  One of the best parts of the trip was getting the chance to socialize with fellow Honors’ students.  After all, we are a community of learners, and it is always a good thing bond with those in such community, especially people who have no qualms with reenacting scenes from Rocky, running up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

We again stepped into the past when we met with archeologist Debbie Miller, a former Penn State Harrisburg student.  She talked us through the process of archaeological digs, specifically her work at the National Constitution Center dig site.  It was fascinating to see the painstaking process of putting together pieces of the past--literally.  At the dig site, they found thousands upon thousands of broken crockery and are in the process of putting them together in order to decipher lifestyles from history.

Debbie from the National Constitution Center showing students some artifacts from the dig

We then had Dr. Boudreau as our guide, giving us interesting tidbits about Philadelphia as we made our way to Independence Hall.  Many of us could have probably done without knowing that Philadelphia streets used to be filled with sewage and animal carcasses, but you never know when that information could come in handy. Our group did the traditional tour of Independence Hall, many stops for pictures included.

Throughout the entire trip, we went back and forth through different time periods, soaking up the vast history of Philadelphia.  But we weren’t done yet.  We couldn’t leave Philadelphia without having gone on a Duck Tour.  Yes, a Duck Tour.

We boarded the “duck” and took off through the streets of Philadelphia.  Our guide told us some of the historical facts, most of which we had already heard, but he made sure to keep our group up to date with current information.  None of us will forget the hilarious stop outside the bridal store, driving into the water, or waving hello to every pedestrian we saw.

Students after the infamous Duck Tour.

Finally, we boarded the bus and set off for home, filled with happy memories.  The trip was both a learning opportunity and a chance for fun socializing.  Our program is filled with many different personalities, and when you combine them, these trips can lead to more fun than you could possibly imagine.  Just think, next time you could be doing the YMCA dance while on an amphibious vehicle.

Written by  Jeshanah McLeod,  junior English major in the Honors Program at Penn State Harrisburg