Guest Blog: Food for Thought

Guest blogger Rina is back with some restaurant suggestions that are sure to make you hungry!

As summer comes, free time and sunny weather is a calling for good FOOD!  As someone who has become familiar with the Tacoma/Seattle area, here are some of my recommendations that everyone should try!

 

Spot #1 - My Lil' Cube Ramen and Asian Cuisine in Puyallup

This little restaurant offers a satisfying variety of dishes ranging from ramen to smaller appetizers. My friends and I all tried their ramen, and shared one order of Xiao Long Bao (dumplings). We loved the noodles and the broth. And we enjoyed the intimate atmosphere that the restaurant had.

 

Spot #2 - Biscuit House in Lakewood

When you're wanting a warm breakfast or lunch, Biscuit House offers a large selection of breakfast options. The portions were quite filling, and satisfied by love for eggs and hash browns. They offer unlimited coffee too, in case you need a little kick of energy for the day. 

 

Spot #3 - Pho Tai in Lakewood

A restaurant open until 4am can be a lifesaver when doing some late studying. As the name implies, the restaurant services a selection of phở, bánh mì and other small snacks. This place is perfect for a casual meal, especially since you don't have to rush before closing hours.

 

Spot #4 - Ho Soon Yi in Lakewood

Ho Soon Yi is a well-loved Korean restaurant that has tofu soups, grilled meat and other classic Korean dishes. In this picture, my friend and I ordered Mul-naengmyeon, which is cold noodles in broth, perfect for warm weather. We also ordered a warm soup that had fish cake and ramen noodles. 

 

Spot #5 - Jin Jin Matcha in Downtown Tacoma

Matcha lovers unite in this cafe in downtown Tacoma! With creative drinks incorporating matcha, everyone has something new to try every time. My friends and I have found that we like the rose matcha and the butterfly pea flower matcha. The cafe offers a calming, intimate and modern atmosphere, and feel free to bring your laptops and spend some time studying here too!

 

Bonus: Spot #6 - NEKO Cat Cafe in Seattle

With a farther drive up north to Seattle, NEKO Cat Cafe is sure to be worth the extra trip. The cafe's highlight would most definitely be spending time with the cats, but they do offer snacks and drinks inside. This is a fun way to spend an evening with your friends, while having a nice drink too. 

Guest Blog: Rina's College Success Strategies

 Rina, nursing student from the Philippines, is back with a guest blog post sharing her strategies for college success!

College Success 101

 

Strategy #1:  Mastering the Art of Studying

Studying can be hard. Hours spent in the library, staring at your computer can be difficult, not just physically but also mentally. Upon entering university, my study strategies were rather lackluster, and instead I found myself often cramming the night before and even seconds before an exam. Deem studying to be like an art, unique to every individual, can vary and change according to one's needs. Here are some strategies that you can try to incorporate.

Create a Study Schedule:  Time management is crucial. Break down your study sessions into management chunks and allocate specific times for different subjects.

Active Learning:  Engage with the material actively rather than passively. Take notes, ask questions, and participate in discussions to reinforce understanding.

Utilize Resources:  Take advantage of resources available to you, whether it's textbooks, online tutorials, or study groups. Don't hesitate to seek help when needed.

 

Strategy #2:  Conquering Stress

Being a nursing student, there are many classes that discuss the value of self-care and managing one's stress. It's also valuable to find a balance between yourself and the work that you have to do so that you don't overwork yourself.

Practice Self-Care:  Make self-care a priority. Get enough sleep, eat healthily, exercise regularly, and carve out time for activities you enjoy.

Mindfulness and Meditation:  Incorporate mindfulness and meditation into your daily routine to quiet the mind and cultivate inner peace.

Connect with Others:  Surround yourself with a supportive network of friends, family, and mentors who uplift and encourage you during challenging times.

 

Strategy #3:  Know When to Ask for Help

Asking for help can be difficult, especially when you're unsure of what you need.

Recognizing Your Limits:  We're all human, and we all have our limits. Acknowledging when you're struggling or feeling overwhelmed is the first step towards finding a solution. Don't be afraid to pause, reassess, and reach out for guidance when needed.

Accessing Resources:  Colleges offer a plethora of resources to support students academically, emotionally, and socially. Whether it's tutoring services, counseling centers, or peer support groups, these resources are there to help you overcome challenges and thrive.

Building Community:  One of the greatest assets of college life is the sense of community it fosters. Don't hesitate to lean on your peers for support or offer a helping hand when they need it. Together, you can navigate the highs and lows of academia and emerge stronger and more resilient.

Super chill trip to Spokane

Hey everyone, it’s Nobita here!

How's it going? I hope you all had a super relaxing and fun spring break! I wanted to hop on here and share a little story about my trip to Spokane to visit my brother over the break.

It was 6 hour bus ride, and honestly? SO worth it. The route was suer scenic, think snowy mountain peaks, golden sunny farm fields, and misty forests straight out of a moody movie. I'm such a big fan for road trips. There's just something magical about staring out the window with your favorite playlist on, pretending you're the main character in a music video, lol. ✨

Even though a flight would've taken around 2 hours, I chose the bus for two reasons; it's budget friendly ( hello, college student life!) and the views are unbeatable.

When I arrived, my brother took me straight to downtown Spokane, where we had an amazing dinner and wandered through Riverfront Park. There was this powerful Native American statue there that really stuck with me, it felt meaningful and beautiful at the same time.

My brother's also a low-key chef. Seriously, he's so good at cooking. On my first evening, he whipped up steak with creamy mashed potatoes, and I was in food heaven. We also had the cutest sushi dinner at a place called Sushi Blossom, cozy vibes, packed crowd, and absolutely delicious rolls. If you're ever in Spokane, go there. We also hit up a super authentic Korean spot near his place that felt like a warm hug in food form. 🍣🍲

But more than the food and views, the best part was just being with my brother. I'm really proud of him. He's doing his thing, chasing what he loves, and being a responsible big bro while at it. It made me appreciate him even more. I can't imagine going through these confusing, chaotic early adulthood years without him by my side. So, through this post, thank you bro. Love you always. 💖

Overall, this trip was just what I needed. Relaxing, refreshing, and full of good vibes. Sometimes, taking a break, giving yourself that space to breathe, is the best way to come back stronger. It reminded me how important it is to reset, take care of yourself, and move forward with purpose.

I hope your spring break was just as lovely and that the rest of your semester goes smooth and sunny. 🌞 summer break is callinggg, and I know we're all counting down the days!

Stay hydrated, stay happy

Nobita A.

 

How to Register for Classes Successfully as an International Student at PLU

Hey everyone! I'm Luna, a Computer Science major from South Korea currently studying at Pacific Lutheran University. As registration season approaches, I wanted to share some helpful tips for choosing your classes wisely—especially for international students like us who need to meet specific visa requirements to stay in the U.S. legally.

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Understand Your Credit Requirements

First and most importantly: F-1 international students must register for at least 12 credits each semester to maintain full-time student status. This is a requirement from U.S. immigration, not just PLU, so it’s extremely important. Dropping below 12 credits without special approval can affect your visa status.

You can read more about F-1 visa requirements on the PLU International Student Services page.

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Use PLU’s Class Schedule and Planning Tools

PLU’s Banner Self-Service is where you’ll actually register for your classes. But before that, I highly recommend checking out the Schedule of Classes on the Registrar’s website. It helps you plan your classes around your personal schedule.

Also, use the “Program Evaluation” feature on Banner to track your degree requirements and make sure you’re on track to graduate.

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Check Out “Rate My Professors”

One of the best ways to learn about a class before you take it is by hearing what past students have to say. RateMyProfessors.com is a site where students rate professors based on clarity, difficulty, and overall helpfulness.

Tips for using it:

• Look for patterns: one or two bad reviews aren’t everything.

• Pay attention to whether the professor is clear and organized.

• Check if the class is exam-heavy or project-based, depending on your learning style.

This can help you choose professors who match your learning preferences—especially helpful if English isn’t your first language.

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Balance Your Schedule

As a CS major, I know how stressful it can get if you take too many hard classes at once. Try to mix difficult major classes with electives or general university requirements that might be a bit lighter.

Also, don’t forget to schedule time for:

• Meals and breaks

• Study blocks

• Social activities (yes, they’re important too!)

• Possible part-time jobs (like on-campus work)

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Don’t Forget Immigration-Related Steps

Along with registering for enough credits, make sure you:

• Keep your passport valid

• Have a valid I-20 and get a new one if your program changes

• Notify the International Student Center if you change your address

• Talk to an advisor before withdrawing from any course

If you're ever unsure, you can contact the International Student Center at PLU for guidance.

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Final Advice

Don't wait until the last minute! Some popular classes fill up fast, and planning early gives you time to get advice from academic advisors or the International Student Center.

Also, talk to other students in your major—especially upperclassmen. Their experience can help you avoid difficult combinations or unnecessary classes.

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I hope these tips help you have a smooth and stress-free registration experience! If you have any questions or want to share your own advice, feel free to leave a comment below.

Good luck with registration, and see you on campus! 🌟
— Luna

Guest Blog: Rina's Journey to Nursing

 Our guest blogger this week is Rina, a senior from the Philippines! She's going to share how she came to be a nursing major.

Rina at Pike Place Market

Picking a college major can be as hard or easy as picking what food to eat. Or picking which place to go. Or what clothes to wear. Hello, my name is Rina, and I will be talking about how I became a nursing major.

Upon arriving at PLU, I declared to be a global studies major due to my interests. In my first semester, I took various classes, from global studies to computer science. All of them were interesting, but I was still lost on what to do. The endless writing and reading that others seemed to enjoy seemed like it wasn't for me. And programming wasn't my interest anymore. Luckily, I had friends of different majors who would talk (sometimes complain) about their classes. One of them was doing business. And one of them was a nursing major. Hearing them talk about their classes and how they were so different from mine made me curious. So I discussed it with my advisor.

After that, I took the prerequisites for being a nursing major. My following semester was very different from my first. As of now, I had chemistry and statistics classes.

Coming back in the fall, I began my bio classes and continued another psychology class. And my last semester of prerequisites was filled with my last biology class and microbiology. Those classes were quite difficult, as science was never my strong subject. But PLU provided tutoring and supplemental instruction courses.

Prior to spring semester of that year however, was the time in which I applied to get into PLU's nursing school. I knew others who had conditional admission, meaning that they were accepted into nursing school before they started at PLU. This is a great choice if you know you want to be a nursing major from the beginning. But if you are indecisive like me, being able to apply to nursing school in my second semester was a good opportunity.

PLU is well known for its nursing program and is quite competitive throughout the state. The nursing application is quite straightforward, requiring two personal statements, one letter of recommendation and an application payment.

I received my acceptance letter during the week of spring break, which provided me information about getting accepted into the nursing school.

Though my experience may sound simple, it definitely took some struggle and sleepless nights to get where I am now. I recall many nights of studying in the library with my friends. My growing collection of energy drinks. And the relief I felt after seeing a fulfilling score. Though it wasn't easy, those moments will continue to be a memory that I will be fond of looking back on my college years.

I hope that no matter what major you choose, that you take time for yourself and reflect on your own journey. It's okay to take time, and to experience some failures. Eventually, you will be able to look back on it from a place of success and know what path you want to take.

- Rina