"Dear Irvin" Fall 2013 by Bill Syrett
A note from your faculty adviser
Fall 2013
Dear Irvin Hall residents:
Welcome to a new school
year, one in which you will have ultimate control over how successful it
will be! Each of you came to Penn State for a variety of reasons,
whether academic, financial or something else, but none of you would be
here if you didn’t have the tools to succeed. You all have what it
takes to prosper here at Penn State and just need to find the proper
balance between your studies, your community activities and your
entertainment. You have already made a very wise choice by choosing
Irvin--we are very fortunate to have a special living option for those
of us in the college of Earth and Mineral Sciences. By living here you
will be assisted in finding that proper balance through required social,
academic and community service events. But, rather than thinking of
them as required, look at these events as a path toward success. Get
involved and be thankful for the opportunities afforded you. I have
been here at Penn State long enough to know what qualities generally
make up the most successful students, and being the “smartest” or “most
involved” is good, but using your specific skills in a way that enhances
your connections with your fellow students (and everyone else) is
better, and that is accomplished through balancing your time between
hitting the books and social and community involvement.
As
I mentioned in the last letter, I am always learning from you and hope
that you find me to be accessible and helpful. What help I may provide
beyond serving as a connection to college and university administration,
and attending lunches and other functions is really up to you, so
please don’t ever hesitate to ask when needed. As returning students
already know, I’m pretty good with email and pretty pathetic with
Facebook and Twitter. My office hours, if you are interested, are
Wednesdays from 7-10am and by appointment and I’m in 606C Walker, a part
of the Joel N. Myers Weather Center, actually a pretty cool place. I
look forward to seeing you during the TOTEMS move-in and at many other
times during the fall.
Once again, a few facts about me…
I
grew up in Bristol, Connecticut and have been a “weather weenie” since
age 5. I received my B.S. in Meteorology at Penn State in the winter of
1983 and lived in Pinchot Hall (East Halls) the entire time, but had
many friends in Irvin Hall. The only reason I didn’t live in Irvin was a
good roommate who was not a member of our great college, in case you
were curious. I then earned an M.S. here in Meteo and have worked in
both research and teaching since 1987. I love Penn State, especially
our college, which truly is much more student-friendly than most, if not
all other colleges. I hope that I will be able to eventually help you
feel the same way if you don’t already.
Again, I’m
excited to be involved with Irvin and really want to hear from you with
comments or suggestions--and please write or stop by and visit if you
ever feel that I could be of service to any of you. Keep up with your
work and have a great semester! Thanks very much.
Sincerely,
Bill Syrett, Senior Lecturer in Meteorology and Manager, Joel N. Myers Weather Center
