The 2nd annual Fall Major Fest was held Monday, in effort to help freshmen and undecided majors at Eastern Michigan University kick-start their college careers and learn about studies they might want to pursue.
This event, held in the Study Fixx beneath the Eastern Eateries, allowed students of all kinds to visit booths pertaining to specific majors including teacher and special education, aviation flight technology, hotel and restaurant management, interior design, general business, sociology, English, health education, general technology, psychology and more.
Christen Lesko, an academic advisor at EMU, contributed in setting up Fall Major Fest. One of the most important things she said was that in almost all of the booths, there was a teacher, staff member or academic advisor who knew most about that specific department. That way, students got to talk in-depth about each major and what you could use it for in the real world, and were offered personal knowledge of what the major entailed straight from the mouths of the educators.
Students were encouraged to ask questions pertaining to the major station they visited. In fact, they were handed a questionnaire to guide them through the process with questions like: what classes are required for each major, what additional requirements have to be fulfilled, what are the benefits of certain majors, etc. A passport was also given to students at check-in.
Those who received stamps after speaking with at least four representatives from different departments got Learning Beyond the Classroom credit.
Two highlighted groups of the Fall Major Fest evening were for the Physical Education department and the College of General Technology. Near Physical Education, a wooden stage was set up for demonstrations such as proper yoga techniques, salsa dancing and judo. Students were encouraged to join instructors in representing what they teach in classes at EMU.
Heidi Harris, a physical education professor, said when it comes to classes about exercise and fitness, it’s not just about “losing weight.” It’s about finding ways to make your body healthier and using these techniques in the job field.
The College of Technology demonstrated a kind of motion-capture technology used for video and gaming animation, flight simulation and in the medical field. Using a model to replicate motion, students saw first-hand how rewarding a career in technology can be. Students Ron Filloon, Mike Strasko, Mark Steeby, Angelous Hasan-Holden and advisor Keith Jason all agreed the work they do is “majorly challenging but intensely fun.”
Students at Fall Major Fest could participate in a raffle for EMU swag and games like Wheel of Fortune or Trivia to win prizes. Salsa dancing, judo, hula-hooping, blood pressure testing, etc. were available, too.
