Editor’s Note: This is a guest blog post by Kettering student Charles ‘Chaz’ Mancino. Chaz is from Fredonia, New York, and is majoring in Mechanical Engineering.If you’d like to write a guest blog post, email phayes(at)kettering(dot)edu. 

By Chaz Mancino

This past month has been challenging but enjoyable at the same time. This is my first term taking 20 credits, so I have spent more time on school work than ever before. However, just because I am on school term does not just mean my life consists of just schoolwork. Several activities have helped me have fun and get my mind off of school.

Kettering University had a display at Maker Faire Detroit in July. There, GMI2014 was on display with several Kettering University Formula SAE members talking to visitors about it. While it was exciting to show off a year’s hard work, it was also fun to see what other people have created. Whether it was a human-sized mousetrap or 3D printers, exhibitors were on display with plenty of innovative creations.

Chaz Mancino with the Kettering University Formula SAE car at Maker Faire Detroit.

With having several alumni that have made major accomplishments in their work fields, Kettering University invites alumni to come and speak on campus. As a tour guide, I occasionally have the opportunity to give tours to these alumni. I had the honor on August 7, 2014, to give a tour to an alumnus with a heart as big as Kettering University itself. His name is Mike Riggs (GMI class of 1976), and he is now the chairman and majority owner at Jack Cooper Holdings LLC, which he saved from near bankruptcy.

However, his presentation was one that I, along with the other students who attended it, will never forget. That is because he gave five main points about how to live a successful life: commit to continuous learning, character counts, family is more important than work, be persistent and dream BIG! Although my parents have always told me those things, it was a good wakeup call for someone outside of my family to tell me them, especially with me being far from home. It just goes to show you that the same rules apply everywhere, no matter how far you are from home.

Another chance for having fun was on August 23. The annual Crim Festival of Races allowed runners from all over the world compete against each other in Flint. Like always, I ran the 10-mile race. With having barely any time to run this term due to 20 credits and extracurricular activities, Bradley Hills have never seemed so vertical. However, I still finished the Crim, a feat to be proud of.

There. These are just some of the activities that occur during a typical school term. Despite having busy schedules and hard classes, Kettering University students still find time to relax and have fun. After all, what would life be without enjoyment?