If holiday noise is causing elevated stress or feelings of loneliness, you are not alone. According to a November 2025 , nearly half of adults (48%) said they are worried about missing someone or grief, and 46% said they are worried about affording or finding holiday gifts. Nearly one in three adults is worried about dealing with challenging family dynamics (32%) or being lonely (31%).

鈥淭here is no right or wrong way to experience this time of year,鈥� says Kayla Beswick 鈥�16 鈥�18MA, a licensed counselor for , who earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology and master鈥檚 degree in marriage, couple and family therapy. 鈥�I try to encourage my clients to reflect on what the holidays are to them, not what others expect it to be.鈥�

Beswick shares these three tips for navigating the holidays:

Self-Care

• Find connection.

Connection can come in many forms. If you can鈥檛 be with loved ones this year, maybe connection looks giving back to your community or a cause that is important to you; maybe that means reconnecting with yourself and truly giving yourself the time and opportunity to do so.

While we may not be able to be physically present with loved ones, connection in other forms still counts, and we may need to adjust our expectations with what we are able to realistically do. Phone calls, writing letters or doing an activity that you would normally do together can be ways of emotionally connecting to people when they are not physically present.

Remember, you can make the holiday season be what you want it to be.

• Be curious and trust your inner voice.

Ask yourself where the stress is coming from. If it comes from an outside source, then give yourself permission to listen to what is inside, what you want to feel and what you need during this time of year.

• Be aware of roadblocks.

Sometimes it can be difficult to open up to others or be honest with ourselves. If you鈥檙e noticing this roadblock, it could be helpful to be in a space that is completely judgement free and allows for pure self-expression. Often the thought, 鈥渉ere we go again鈥� can be a sign that some additional accountability or a different way of perceiving things may be helpful. If it feels like your usual methods of coping are no longer working, you want guidance to make changes, or even just reflect, therapy would be the perfect space.

Moreover, distress is not a requirement for counseling. Therapy is for anyone who wants to improve themselves or spend time reflecting on their life experience. Being a human can be tough and beautiful at the same time, so why not understand yourself better to enhance your relationships, life goals and experience?

Mental Health Resources

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call 988. Free, confidential counseling is available 24/7 for mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or simply available for anyone who needs someone to talk to.

It鈥檚 important to prioritize taking care of your mental health. Take advantage of these resources at 麻豆原创 and locally to help you:

Students

• 麻豆原创 : CAPS offers a free 24/7 crisis hotline can be reached by calling 407-823-2811 and pressing 5 during the holiday campus closure. CAPS will be open and available for drop-in services starting Jan. 5, and resume its typical mental health services to students on Jan. 12.
• : TAO is a self-guided interactive program that aids with managing anxiety, depression and other concerns.
• : Togetherall is a peer-to-peer space to connect with others experiencing similar feelings in a supportive environment, with trained professionals on hand 24/7.

Faculty and Staff

• The offers a 24-hour emergency hotline and in-person, telephonic or video counseling with licensed professional counselors. It is confidential and free to all faculty and staff (excluding OPS student employees) as well as their eligible family members, including spouses, dependent children, parents and parents-in-law.

Safety

麻豆原创 police officers and dispatchers are available 24/7, even when campus is closed. Always dial 911 in an emergency. 麻豆原创PD personnel are also available at the non-emergency line at 407-823-5555. All 麻豆原创PD officers are trained in crisis intervention, equipping them to more compassionately and effectively respond to those who may be struggling.

Food Resources

is closed through Jan. 11, 2026, and will reopen Jan. 12 when classes resume for the spring semester. Care bags for 麻豆原创 students can be found at and during the closure. Additionally, the pantry has compiled a in Altamonte Springs, Maitland, Orlando and Oviedo that can offer assistance.

Free Holiday Fun

As one of the world鈥檚 premier tourist destinations, Orlando has endless entertainment options, including opportunities to get in the festive spirit without causing financial stress and maxing out your bank account.

• (downtown Orlando): Now through January 6, you can find holiday-themed light installations, a holiday market, 鈥渟now鈥� fall, Santa and Grinch sightings, musical performances, occasional free holiday movies and more.
• (downtown Orlando and home to ): Running weekly through Jan. 4, 2026, the arts center鈥檚 three-acre lawn 鈥� including Seneff Arts Plaza 鈥� will come alive with more than 80 live performances, twinkling light displays, fire pits, nightly snowfalls and family-friendly activities.
• : Experience some Disney magic without theme park costs. Disney Springs (which has free parking) boasts more than 15 elaborately themed Christmas trees inspired by Disney characters, Pixar films and theme park favorites, nightly entertainment and festive window shopping.
• : Receive free admission every Friday evening, 4鈥�8 p.m., through December, and special live musical performances during the holiday season.
• (free for 麻豆原创 students): The 麻豆原创 women’s and men’s basketball teams will host a doubleheader Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., respectively, at Addition Financial Arena. The men鈥檚 team debuts its 鈥淣auty or Knights鈥� theme, featuring a mix of mascots, specialty concession items and a limited-edition Knights or ‘Nauts Holiday T-shirt giveaway, available on a first come-first served basis, while supplies last. The day is a chance for fans to break out their Black and Gold or Canaveral Blue all at once, celebrating both 麻豆原创鈥檚 primary and alternate identities.
• (Cocoa Beach): A holiday spectacle that is uniquely Florida, Surfing Santas is an annual Cocoa Beach tradition that brings hundreds of surfers of all ages dressed up as Santa, elves, snowmen and everything else in between. This free morning event Dec. 24 is family friendly with entertainment including musical performances, Hawaiian dancers and of course, surfing Santas.

Additional Support for Students

It’s also worth noting, additional support for students is available when campus operations resume in January. serves as a vital resource for students encountering unexpected challenges that may impact their enrollment and academic success. If you are facing issues related to non-clinical mental health, basic needs, or other unforeseen circumstances, please contact Student Care Services by calling 407-823-5607, emailing聽caremanager@ucf.edu, or submitting a for yourself or a fellow Knight.

鈥溌槎乖� is excited to be the instruction partner for this expanded effort to unleash the potential of those in our community by making high-quality language learning affordable and accessible,鈥� says 麻豆原创 President Alexander N. Cartwright. 鈥淲e believe that education has the power to transform lives, and collaborations such as this have meaningful impact on our workforce, industries and region.鈥�

麻豆原创 Global functions as the primary international hub for students, faculty and staff on campus.

鈥淭he 麻豆原创, in partnership with Orange County Government, aims to offer educational opportunities for a critical segment of the Central Florida population, targeting the I-Drive Community Redevelopment Area in Orange County, Florida,鈥� says Jennifer Haddad, program director of engagement at 麻豆原创 Global. 鈥溌槎乖� Global is offering high-quality English Language Learning courses for the growing … workforce populace in the region, leading to higher earning potential for workers and value-added for employers.鈥�

Through strong partnerships, 麻豆原创 Global extends its reach to transform the lives of the global community through its multiple support services, she adds.

Since the program’s launch, there has been statistically significant gains across all areas of instruction, with speaking showing the most improvement.

鈥淲ith public resources, the county is uniquely positioned to foster partnerships and prove the value of innovative approaches like this,鈥� says Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings. 鈥淣ot only does this program increase opportunity for growth among participants, but it also benefits employers at the center of our world-class tourism industry. I look forward to future workforce recommendations to how our private and institutional partners can work alongside the county to propel our community forward.鈥�

Within the I-Drive CRA, Paramount Hospitality Management, the Orange County Convention Center and Hilton Orlando will now be joining the inaugural employer partner Rosen Hotels & Resorts to provide space, time, support and pay for their employees participating in the language learning coursework.

鈥淪erving overseas as an Army officer, I quickly recognized the importance of understanding the language of the country where I was serving,鈥� says Harris Rosen, president and COO of Rosen Hotels & Resorts. 鈥淢aking these classes accessible to our associates to attend, while on the clock, is critical to this program鈥檚 success. I am so proud of our associates for their desire to better themselves and for the partnerships that made this program so successful.鈥�

Amazon, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) and Gaylord Palms are the employers who will offer upskilling for their employees on the job through 麻豆原创 Global, building on the pilot program, which launched in September 2022.

鈥淟ast year, we launched English-language classes to expand our offerings and support employees regardless of where they are on their academic or professional journey,鈥� Tammy Thieman, global director of Amazon Career Choice explains. 鈥淲e鈥檝e seen great participation in these offerings in Florida and we鈥檙e looking forward to continuing to partner with 麻豆原创 and our other local partners to offer more options to associates 鈥� including more in-person language classes 鈥� in the Orlando area.鈥�

For the January 2024 start date, instructional agreements are currently being finalized with 麻豆原创 Global and Orange County Public Schools, while Orange County will continue to partner with the Aeras Foundation which provides digital devices that expand online learning opportunities.

鈥淲ith 63.8% of our participants indicating ‘better work opportunities’ as the main interest in the program, once desired language needs have been met there is a compelling case to be made for additional support for vocational purposes.聽 In the interim, we have started to think through how to incorporate career and upskilling components to supplement the language instruction 鈥� all to reach the goal of the program as defined at the onset of the proposed partnership between 麻豆原创 Global and Orange County: offering high-quality English Language Learning courses for the growing … workforce populace in the region, with the intention of leading to higher earning potential for workers and value-added for employers,鈥� says Haddad of 麻豆原创 Global.

ESOL Pilot Key Findings:

This innovative program removes barriers for workers to learn English while promoting upskilling and upward mobility with onsite instruction. Research findings indicate that employees found work schedules (49%), lack of time (27%), cost (26%) and availability of classes (22%) were top obstacles in the past.

Additional findings include:

• Satisfaction:聽Overall perceptions of the program were overwhelmingly positive with a majority (89%) indicating a willingness to recommend. 鈥淢y employer supported me.鈥澛爎anked as the top benefit.
• Learning Gains: There were statistically significant gains across all areas of instruction, with speaking showing the most improvement.
• Scores for grammar, vocabulary, reading and speaking increased significantly from pre-test to post-test.
• From employers, feedback included increased associate confidence, increased morale and associate retention.聽Results showed increased guest satisfaction scores on greetings from staff and increased opportunity for growth within the organization.

For more information and the full research findings, visit: ocfl.net/ESOL.

Laura Figueroa completed the Hispanic Business Education and Training Program, funded by TD Charitable Foundation in partnership with 麻豆原创 Global, which the PRRH is housed under. This initiative equips current or aspiring small business owners of Hispanic origin with essential information for operating a successful business through a free, 10-week program.

Figueroa is the owner of Cake Pastries and More, which operates out of her home. She completed the program in early 2022 and says it was an intense review of everything she needed to make her business thrive.

Figueroa is one of many success stories from the hub鈥檚 efforts so far. She is now a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce member and recently applied to her first commercial space.

“One of the biggest takeaways I had was that networking is the key to success, and that can be hard, especially for Spanish language natives,” Figueroa says. “Those leading the program provide you these connections and customers because they want to see you succeed.”

Director Fernando Rivera founded the hub in 2018 after Hurricane Maria devastated the island. The natural disaster resulted in a surge of Puerto Ricans in Central Florida, positioning the hub at the new epicenter of the Puerto Rican diaspora, with more than 1 million Puerto Ricans calling Florida home 鈥� according to the Center for Puerto Rican Studies 2019 report.

Rivera says one of the hub鈥檚 main objectives is conducting academic research to understand critical issues related to Puerto Ricans and communicate the results to appropriate scholars, communities, and government officials. In January 2023, they were awarded $500,000 in funding as a part of the FY2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act to expand the hub’s research capabilities.

An event celebrating the program鈥檚 fifth anniversary will take place from 6-8 p.m. at the 麻豆原创 Puerto Rico Research Hub. Registration is required, and .

“One of our main goals is providing opportunities for our students to engage in research, and this funding allows us to accomplish that,” Rivera says. “We were able to hire graduate and undergraduate students from 麻豆原创 to participate in this project and impact the policy decisions that affect our community.”

This funding will allow the hub to conduct polls on crucial social and education issues relating to the Puerto Rican community in Central Florida. The project is in the beginning stages of implementation and is scheduled to conclude in 2025.

This year the business training program is being paired with a free community English program funded by Truist Foundation, aiming to provide more resources that fuel participants’ success.

“You finish this business training in Spanish since that is what you’re comfortable with, but your next step is English,” says Zoe Colon, senior advisor to the hub and director of 麻豆原创 Global Community Initiatives. “We’re serving a certain niche, and we want to continue to encourage them to take the next step towards their career development, which is English proficiency.”

Figueroa says he believes that these initiatives led by organizations like 麻豆原创 are the catalyst for the Hispanic community’s success in Central Florida.

“It’s important to give back to the community on every level 鈥� to provide these kinds of resources that allow those of us who are in the U.S. alone [and] want to succeed but feel lost,” Figueroa says. “It’s a beautiful mission; together, we are stronger. As fellow Hispanics, we are here to help each other succeed.”

Looking ahead, the hub aims to strengthen 麻豆原创’s scholarly capacity through partnerships. This includes co-publishing the online journal Revista Encuentros with the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras, focusing on themes like disasters, urban planning, agriculture, and sociopolitical issues for Puerto Ricans on the island and in the diaspora. They’ll also increase polls, reports, public events, and sharing findings with officials in Puerto Rican population centers.

“We’re at the crossroads of sustaining the program beyond my expertise and preparing the next generation to take this on,” Rivera says. “Instead of celebrating five years, we aim to celebrate 100 years.”

鈥淭here is no better investment than education and research to understand the impact of the continuous growth of the Puerto Rican population in Florida, particularly in Central Florida,鈥� says Fernando Rivera, PRRH director. 鈥淯nderstanding and coming up with solutions to the pressing issues encountered by this important segment of the population is not only important for Puerto Ricans in Florida, but to all who live and call Central Florida home.鈥�

Rivera founded the PRRH after Hurricane Maria devasted the island in 2017, resulting in a surge of the Puerto Rican population in Central Florida. The hub provides essential information about Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican population to communities throughout Florida and elsewhere in the United States. Through research, educational, outreach, and partnership activities, the PRRH has become a model for study and engaging with this growing community.

The funding will allow the PRRH to conduct polls on key social and education issues. It will allow the hub to invest in communication and marketing tools to develop reports, infographics and other educational materials for distribution to scholars, the community, policy makers and others. The PRRH will also hire new research staff, support community focus groups and events that assist with research, purchase technology and software. The information garnered from the PRRH鈥檚 research will, among other things, enable government officials and community leaders to make more informed decisions as to how best to allocate resources to serve communities with significant Puerto Rican populations.

鈥淭his funding will be instrumental in expanding the capacity of the hub, which is vital given the presence of the diaspora here in Central Florida,鈥� says Zo茅 Col贸n, senior advisor to the PRRH and associate director of Global Perspectives & International Initiatives, who spearheaded 麻豆原创 efforts to secure the funds. 聽鈥淚 am also thrilled about the increased opportunities for students to get involved in research at the hub.鈥�

U.S. Rep. Darren Soto (Kissimmee), whose father is Puerto Rican, was instrumental in including funding for the PRRH in Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill last summer. This was later lumped into the year-ending omnibus, which included all outstanding appropriations bills. 鈥淩ep. Soto has been a champion for the Puerto Rico Research Hub since day one and want to thank him for believing that education and research are pathways to advance and enhance the lives of our community members,鈥� Rivera says.

麻豆原创 will publish research findings through a public awareness campaign, and include these findings in a new magazine being jointly produced by the PRRH and the University of Puerto Rico (UPR) – Rio Piedras, which will begin publication in 2023. 麻豆原创 will also disseminate findings to members of Congress, and officials in states and localities with significant Puerto Rican population clusters.

Perez is tackling this challenge head-on and improving his mastery of the English language through EPIC (English Program for workers in the International Drive Corridor), a pilot program spear headed by Orange County Government. 麻豆原创 Global was selected as the preferred partner to provide instruction for the program.

鈥淎s the international hub for the 麻豆原创, we at 麻豆原创 Global align our mission to the university鈥檚 of unleashing potential by aspiring to be a campus without boundaries with a commitment to the development of an educated citizenry, attention to the talent needs in our region and state, and integration of high impact practices that prepare learners for the workforce of the future,鈥� says Jennifer Haddad, program director for 麻豆原创 Global Engagement.

When Rosen Hotels & Resorts offered the class to Perez and his co-workers, he jumped at the chance to participate and has now completed the first phase, an eight-week cycle. Perez says he has already increased his ability to communicate by 25%. Hungry to continue expanding his vocabulary, Perez has now begun the second phase of EPIC, signing up for another eight weeks.

With low unemployment rates, and visitors returning to the community without COVID-19 restrictions, employers in the International Drive corridor are challenged to address talent shortages. Orange County鈥檚 I-Drive Community Redevelopment Act (CRA) Advisory Group recommended an investment in English language instruction to support professional growth and retention. In September 2022 using CRA funding, Orange County Government launched EPIC, tailored to the needs of working adults in the I-Drive corridor and taught by educators from 麻豆原创 Global.

Nearly 64% of the participants in this pilot program indicated better work opportunities as their main interest in the program, according to Haddad.

鈥溌槎乖� is dedicated to promoting broad-based prosperity throughout our community, and we鈥檙e pleased to help participants increase their earning potential while giving employers an incentive that can help to retain their employees,鈥� Haddad says. 鈥淎s a result, we know that the language instruction is a step toward the goal of supporting higher earning potential for workers and value-added retention for employers.鈥�

Through this unique model, resort properties within the International Drive CRA were invited to extend the opportunity to participate in three cycles of ESOL classes to their employees. Rosen Hotels & Resorts accepted the offer and nearly 60 employees signed up, with some 100 more expressing interest. For their part, Rosen Hotels & Resorts is providing space for the classes and paying their employees to attend as part of their workday. The classes are being held twice a week for two hours.

鈥淚t is rewarding to see these lifelong learners seeking to improve their ability to communicate and their eagerness to pursue professional growth in the heart of our tourism corridor,鈥� says Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings.

Working with Rosen Hotels & Resorts is nothing new for 麻豆原创 as its Rosen College of Hospitality Management was made possible by the businessman and philanthropist Harris Rosen, who donated the land and a major financial gift to help create it. This pilot program further supports the long-standing relationship 麻豆原创 has with Rosen Hotels & Resorts.

鈥淚 love my associates,鈥� says Rosen, president and COO of Rosen Hotels & Resorts.聽 鈥淎nd anything that I can do to help them improve their lives, whether it be learning a second language or a new skill, I will enthusiastically support.鈥�

This week, the second of three phases of instruction has begun allowing students from the first phase to continue and inviting new students to begin. Rosen Hotels & Resorts will extend the same benefits to the students by providing space and paying them to attend. 麻豆原创 Global has set a capacity of 75 students so the program has room to grow as more resort employees show interest, as well as to evolve to continue meeting upskill demands for the area鈥檚 workforce.

麻豆原创 is collecting data on participant aspirations and challenges, and employer operational challenges, which will help the county design and implement a sustainable ESOL program once the EPIC pilot is complete.

As for expansion options, the opportunity to make this program available to employees at other resort properties within the International Drive CRA area is still available. Course data compiled by 麻豆原创 Global indicates a need for ESOL classes, as well as for desired components that make the opportunity attainable for the workers.

鈥淲e would love to see additional hotels and resort properties offer these classes to their employees, and we hope more will get involved,鈥� Demings says. 鈥淭hese kinds of public-private partnerships strengthen our community as a whole and can be valuable in providing upskill opportunities to our region鈥檚 talent force.鈥�

After the first phase, Perez says his reading and pronunciation have improved significantly. He is dedicated to keep learning, mainly for his four young daughters, they are his motivation to keep striving for more.

鈥淚 want to be prepared and I want to grow,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 am delighted with this program and thankful for the patience that the 麻豆原创 instructors have offered us.鈥�

He, too, is hopeful the collaboration will expand and include more employers down the line, so that others can benefit just as much he says he has.

鈥淔rom then I wanted to learn English so I could learn to sing it and play on the piano,鈥� says Kourova, who grew up in Russia, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Germany and Hungary.

Now a speaker of five languages 鈥� English, French, German, Russian and Ukrainian 鈥� Kourova has been an associate professor of聽Teaching English Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)聽at 麻豆原创 for 13 years. She also has been teaching聽Russian聽for the past decade.

鈥淚 really love teaching and my students. Teaching is in my blood since my mom was a home economics teacher,鈥� says Kourova, who received an Excellence in Teaching Award from the Central Association of Russian Teachers of America.

As, she reflects on her passion and profession for the past 30 years. While the general focus of Kourova鈥檚 courses is language, she incorporates culture into her lesson plans because she knows it is essential for retention of the language.

Like many other teachers this year, she has had to adapt her instruction plan due to the pandemic. While she wasn鈥檛 able to host her typical summer trip with , she has been working to develop a virtual version of the experience, during which students usually spend mornings learning Russian and afternoons visiting local sites such as Red Square and the emperors鈥� Winter Palace in St. Petersburg.

But for the past ten years, Kourova has included digital component in her intermediate courses 鈥� long before Zoom became a norm for teaching. Through a connecting classrooms project, these students email and video chat once a month with students in Russia while discussing a given topic, such as their backgrounds or schools. Kourova says interacting with their peers allows her students to learn Russian language and culture better and develop friendships that last long after they鈥檝e earned their degrees. And since the pandemic she has been working with 麻豆原创鈥檚 to redesign and expand the project to include cultural games, interviews and more engaging practices through Zoom.

鈥淸My American students] can see that Russian students are the same. They have the same ambitions in life and interests. People are people everywhere,鈥� Kourova says.

At 10 a.m. on Nov. 20, Kourova open up a connecting classrooms video chatting session about the differences between American and Russian education systems to the . The event is part of , which will also include a virtual discussion on Nov. 18 with Don Gentile, Workforce Shaping Group chief, on the importance of Russian and four other critical languages in the U.S. intelligence workforce.

Kourova will be demonstrating how to make a Russian dish and dessert during a , which she has begun hosting this year for the Russian American Student Association, on Nov. 20 at 3:30 p.m. The student organization is mainly made up of American students who want to learn more about Russia, but also includes international students native to the county. As faculty advisor Kourova, helps members with language-based questions, applying for scholarship and fellowship opportunities, and consults on engagement opportunities.

鈥淒r. K is nice, kind and understanding,鈥� says Alesia Lokshina, the former RASA president and Russia native and biomedical sciences major. 鈥淪he cares about all her students and members in the organization. She is strict, but it鈥檚 because she really cares. She tries to make people do better, so she asks a lot of them.鈥�

On Monday, Nov.6, Kouvora and RASA will also host a presentation on Russian culture and history through a virtual tour of the country鈥檚 embassy. and will include guest speaker Natalia Rydvanov from the Cultural Office of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Washington D.C.

Kourova, who studied at Moscow State University and was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Montana, understands first-hand the high demands and struggles students may face with studying languages and cultures. While at UM, she learned new research methods that used computer data and published a book on the difference between Russian and American education systems. She also visited 麻豆原创 for a language conference.

鈥淪ince that time it was my dream to live in Florida and teach at 麻豆原创 because I was impressed by the university, the students and professors I met,鈥� Kourova says. 鈥淚 think I鈥檓 really blessed to have a really great group of people working with me.鈥�

Learn more about how 麻豆原创 Global is celebrating聽.

The moves include 麻豆原创鈥檚 national-model DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 program and 麻豆原创 Global, which among other responsibilities, manages international student recruitment, English language programs for students and the community, and international partnerships in education, research and business.

Other aspects of the realignment involve units that impact online student services, faculty training and development, and continuing education for working professionals.

鈥淎t 麻豆原创, we strive for constant improvement,鈥� Johnson says. 鈥淭hese changes allow us to continue our focus on student success and the student experience.鈥�

The reorganization by the Division of Academic Affairs will unfold throughout September with the following units and offices:

• DirectConnect to 麻豆原创 and the 麻豆原创 Connect Centers move to the Division of Student Learning and Academic Success, reporting to Theodorea Regina Berry, vice provost of Student Learning and Academic Success and dean of the College of Undergraduate Studies;
• 麻豆原创 Global moves to the Office of the Provost, reporting to Tim Letzring, senior associate provost for Academic Affairs;
• 麻豆原创 Online Connect Center and 麻豆原创 Continuing Education move to the Division of Digital Learning, reporting to Tom Cavanagh, vice provost for Digital Learning;
• Office of Instructional Resources Classroom Support, Engineering, Programming and Project Management teams move to 麻豆原创 Information Technology, reporting to Michael Sink, interim vice president and CIO.

The transitions for DirectConnect to 麻豆原创, the 麻豆原创 Connect Centers and 麻豆原创 Global coincide with the Oct. 1 retirement of Jeff Jones, vice provost for 麻豆原创 Connect and 麻豆原创 Global. Johnson praised Jones for his impactful work during his seven years at 麻豆原创 and for his suggestions and insights regarding the overall realignment.

鈥淭he possibilities for this reimagining are exciting,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淎s we move forward, success relies on the creativity and collaboration of our staff, faculty and partners.鈥�

For me, a graduate from 麻豆原创, that great day 鈥� and other life-changing educational opportunities that I had the good fortune of experiencing 鈥� were thanks to the .

I started classes at 麻豆原创 in 2012 and soon learned about the intersection of travel and education, which I began participating in during my time at the university. I chose opportunities in France, Germany, Taiwan and two different places in China. I earned my bachelor鈥檚 degrees in political science听补苍诲 economics at 麻豆原创 and earned another bachelor鈥檚 in business administration from ICN Business School, Nancy, France. I have also earned a master鈥檚 degree in economics from Hong Kong Baptist University and now work in the startup space here in Hong Kong.

Some of my educational experiences included:

• Volunteering at a refugee camp with those from war-torn Syria as Germany opened its borders to welcome nearly 1 million immigrants and refugees. The immigrants shared their stories of how they risked their lives crossing treacherous borders in hopes of a better life.
• Immersing in 2,000 years of Chinese history while visiting the Terracotta Warriors of Qin Shi Huang, China鈥檚 first emperor. He started building his own tomb when he was only 13, involving 100,000+ workers to create 8,000 stone soldiers to protect him and his vast empire in the afterlife.
• Taking a bus from France with classmates from 25 different countries through Europe while visiting Prague鈥檚 historic castles, participating in Berlin鈥檚 festive Oktoberfest and celebrating Christmas mass with the pope in Vatican City, the smallest country in the world.

If there is one piece of advice I would give to any student, it is to travel abroad at least once in your life 鈥� although I highly doubt you鈥檒l do it only once if you try it. Traveling and experiencing new cultures widens your mindset and forces you to learn more about yourself along the way.

鈥淭he journey changes you; it should change you,鈥� said the late celebrity chef and travel documentarian Anthony Bourdain. 鈥淚t leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart and on your body.鈥�

Here are my tips for studying abroad:

• Many people I know passed up studying abroad because they thought they couldn鈥檛 afford it or it wouldn鈥檛 fit into their schedules. I鈥檝e learned that if you really put your mind to it, anything is possible. Most of my five study-abroad programs were fully funded through scholarships. Apply to as many as you can and don鈥檛 be discouraged. I applied to 50+ and only received five, but they were enough for my programs.
• Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. You will face obstacles and failure, but that鈥檚 okay. Struggle and failure are a part of studying abroad 鈥� and life, for that matter. Learn from it, get back up and move on. You鈥檒l learn to be resourceful and to persevere, which will prepare you for many future obstacles life will throw at you.
• It鈥檚 better to see something once than to hear about it a thousand times. You can read about Rome for years, but seeing the Coliseum once will unlock some wonder within you. You learn so much more while you travel that books and studies can never really teach you. Be open-minded and soak in as much as you can. Learn new languages, meet new people, try new foods.
• Traveling turns you into a storyteller. After your travels, you鈥檒l never have a dull moment with all the stories you鈥檝e accumulated. Feel free to keep a travel diary, blog or journal. Photos are a great way to memorialize your adventure and share with loved ones. I still go through my photos and stories reminiscing every now and then, especially when I meet up with friends I鈥檝e made from study abroad (which happens at least a few times every year). Studying abroad will increase your creativity and communication skills as you learn to make conversation with people speaking different languages and holding different mindsets.

• Studying abroad may seem overwhelming, but take it step by step as it happens. Will a 30-minute consultation with your advisor about study abroad really impact your life? Go schedule that first meeting to explore the opportunities.

Thomas Huang 鈥�17聽is an聽entrepreneur living in Hong Kong who is passionate聽about 聽adventure, fashion, fitness and food. To see more of his travels follow @THTravels on Instagram

The donations gathered 鈥� enough to fill two, 16-passenger vans 鈥� were transported to a local collection center managed by the National Association of the Bahamas and will be shipped directly to the impacted islands. The drive was a joint effort between , and the Student Government Association.

鈥淲e are very happy about the results of the Bahamas Relief Fund drive. More so, we are excited to see the impact of all our university partners, who collectively stepped up to the plate to help our Bahamian brothers and sisters,鈥� says SGA president Kyler Gray. 鈥淲hether here in Orlando or afar, 麻豆原创 stands committed to always lending a hand for those that are in need.鈥�

Drop-off boxes on the main campus, at Rosen College of Hospitality Management and 麻豆原创 Downtown quickly filled to capacity as the campus community rallied to support those affected by the storm. Donations included boxes of diapers, tools, cleaning supplies, cooking utensils, blankets, dozens of cases of water and hundreds of cans of food.

Staff members with 麻豆原创 Global sorted the supplies and readied them for transport. 鈥淲e鈥檙e very humbled by the demonstration of love and support shown by our 麻豆原创 family to alleviate the hardship faced by the people of the Bahamas,鈥� says Nataly Chandia, assistant vice president for 麻豆原创 Global. 鈥淓fforts like this highlight how we are all committed to doing extraordinary things.鈥�

The National Association of the Bahamas is a nonprofit organization that works to support the Bahamas and provides scholarships to students of Bahamian descent.

More than 20 of our students are from the Bahamas, and our hearts go out to them, their families and their communities. In addition, many of our faculty and staff have connections to these islands.

There are a those hurt by Hurricane Dorian, and I encourage you to support the Bahamas the way that seems best to you. You also can reach out to 麻豆原创 Global or Student Government to learn more about local relief efforts. Other efforts are underway for any affected students and will be shared soon.

麻豆原创 was fortunately spared the worst of Hurricane Dorian. Our experience preparing for the storm made me very proud of our university鈥檚 response.

Katie and I applaud the professionalism of our emergency management and public safety teams. They prepared our campuses this past week and ensured everything is up and running today. We also saw firsthand the compassion of those from Housing and Residence Life .

麻豆原创鈥檚 financial aid, student account services and finance and accounting teams worked throughout the closure, as well, to complete disbursements and refunds this week.

Our medical students volunteered in Seminole County shelters to care for people who had to leave their homes. There鈥檚 no better way to give back than when it鈥檚 needed most.

The Knights Helping Knights Pantry, which reopens today, provides free clothing, food, toiletries and other items to students, no questions asked.

If you purchased more food than needed to prepare for the storm, consider donating those items to Knights Pantry. You can drop off items at the pantry in Ferrell Commons, at the President鈥檚 Office in Millican Hall or in donation bins set up across campus, which can be found under 鈥淢aps鈥� in the .

Storm closures are never easy, but I encourage our faculty to be flexible with students who heeded early warnings and chose to evacuate. Equally important, any student who has difficulty returning in time for Friday classes should contact their faculty member directly.

Times like these remind me of the many reasons why 麻豆原创 is so special 鈥� and why our campus community truly is a family.

Charge On!