BBC students bring FIU Panther spirit

Camila Fernandez/BBC Managing Editor

Image by Sofia Galiano/FIUSM Staff

camila.fernandez@fiusm.com

As we wave goodbye to last year’s memories, we welcome in 2015 with excitement and pride to be FIU Panthers. There is a lot to look forward to this year as FIU embraces its 50th anniversary as the only student centered public research university in South Florida. Despite BBC’s smaller student population, there’s just as much student life here than at MMC, the University’s main campus.

With a breathtaking scenery of nature and the waters of our bay, certainly we carry an advantage over MMC. At last year’s newly opened Panther Plaza stands a fierce panther that represents the University’s strive and vigor to help us be truly World’s Ahead.

With a welcoming space at the plaza and grassy areas throughout the campus, students have to come agree that BBC’s quiet and more peaceful environment than at the main campus, has its perks. Walking outside near the bay area, the fresh, warm breeze of the waters help me feel at ease with the stress of a life as a busy college student.

Rather than walking through MMC’s Graham Center, the heart of the campus, I choose to lay underneath a palm tree and read whatever my next assignment may be. As a journalism student, I’ve been given the opportunity to broaden my horizons and meet different professors who aspire to help me grow in my field.

A balloon decoration of Roary stands in Panther Square as students participate in Week of Welcome activities. Image by Natalie Reyes/FIUSM Staff

Looking across the bay, I see myself interviewing a future President of the United States and perhaps as a global CNN correspondent. I don’t mean to sound pompous, but I do have high hopes for myself.

At BBC, hospitality, environmental, business and journalism major students lurk these halls with passion in their eyes. Personally, I’m anxious to try the next all-time food and wine dish at the Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management’s South Beach Wine and Food Festival — a highly-esteemed festival of its kind.

Not only are University students setting their hearts on their goals at the Bay, but so are the younger generations of BBC’s high schoolers. These students from the MAST @ FIU Academy, a public magnet secondary school on campus, also look forward to a rigorous and exciting academic experience. I look forward to meeting the youngsters who are undoubtedly benefiting from university professors and activities.

Along with the MAST @ FIU students, University students, faculty and staff have been persistent in bringing awareness about South Florida’s frightening consequences of sea level rise. Professors like Peter Harlem, coordinator of library’s Graphic Information System Center, has developed a system of maps that depict the severity of sea level rise within 100 years.

On the other hand, 15 of the high school students and five School of Journalism and Mass Communication students have participated in an “eye on the rise” project with journalism professor Robert Gutsche. The project aims to raise awareness in South Florida communities about the challenges that come with sea level rise and its possible solutions.

I probably sound like a ranting cheerleader, but with the growth of our University, many positive and challenging experiences are sure to come by. At BBC, we look forward to another year as the close-knit community of FIU.