During your college years, there may be an opportunity for you to travel or study abroad. Colleges and Universities typically offer programs in which students can study for a semester (or quarter) overseas during their college careers. If you have an opportunity to take advantage of any of these programs, take great consideration; the experience you will get from interacting with another culture, city and life overseas will last a lifetime.
While it might be hard to be away from your home for a semester, taking time to travel overseas when you can as a college student is worthwhile. When you enter the working world, it may not be as easy to go overseas right away due to work schedules, paying off student loans and other factors that may prohibit you from taking extended time off. Taking time to travel as a college student before you enter the working world will give you that experience before you graduate and provide you with an opportunity to experience another culture and group of people. If the opportunity is there, greatly consider taking advantage of the chance presented.
As a senior in college, I had the opportunity to travel to Vienna, Austria and Budapest, Hungary and experiencing the culture and history both cities had to offer was one of the best moments of my college career. Being able to take time to enjoy the art museums, the historical places, the unique cafes and restaurants and different cultural events (St. Nicholas Day occurred while I was over there as was the anniversary of Mozart's death) are experiences I will always remember and was grateful to experience. Walking the Ringstrasse in Vienna, visiting the cafes, seeing Stephansdom, experiencing the Vienna Opera and seeing the Danube River in Budapest at night are all experiences and several others that were breathtaking and some of the most memorable memories I have during my college years. By taking advantage of the opportunity presented, I had a chance to experience the culture and history of two great European cities and will carry that with me for a long time.
In addition to experiencing the culture and history of both Vienna and Budapest, making friendships over was a worthwhile and memorable experience as well. I managed to become friends with two Hungarian students and one Viennese student over there and continue those friendships to this day. With the use of e-mail, I have managed to keep in touch with all three of these people and it's great having these friendships.
One of the most unique experiences I've had with these friendships is a phone call I received from one of the Hungarian students on New Year's Eve. I was driving home from work and saw the phone number was really long and as it turns out, it was my friend I had met in Budapest a year earlier calling me to wish me a Happy New Year's! We chatted for what seemed like an eternity and I never would have had that awesome surprise if I did not go over there in the first place or continue to develop that friendship.
If you are presented to travel overseas as a college student, take great consideration in taking advantage of the opportunity. Experiencing another culture, group of people and cultural events is an experience that lasts a lifetime and will add more substance and great memories to your college career.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
College Students: Creating Fun Can Lead To Awesome Memories!
During your four years of college, there may be a weekend or two in which there is not a lot going on in terms of activities to do or people to see. There may be a weekend in which lots of people go home leaving you and a few other people looking for something to do. Finding something to do may be a stretch but with some creativity, a simple idea can turn into a fun evening.
Weeks before I graduated from Otterbein, one of the most fun evenings I had was when not as many people were around on campus and a couple of friends of mine decided to take out a Nintendo Wii. I hadn't been much to play video games since I was younger but with not a lot of people around, my friends and I figured trying something a little different could be fun. My one friend was an Assistant Hall Director and had access to the big screen TV in the main lounge.
Even though we had friends with Nintendo Wiis, none of us had ever really played the sports games that had been the talk of the video game industry from the past year. The three of us had known that the sports games the Wii had were popular but we never had the opportunity to play them.
After hooking up the Wii, we started playing the sports games and we were hooked! All three of us had so much fun playing the Wii boxing, baseball, bowling and tennis we probably spent at least 2.5 - 3 hours playing! None of us we were really competitive and we spent most of the night laughing our way through each game! I had played video games with other people growing up but that was probably one of the most fun moments I had playing video games with other people The simplest idea of playing the Nintendo Wii became an awesome night that my friends and I will remember for a long time.
In addition to having a simple idea, sometimes taking that idea and thinking outside the box can create a fun night as well. For example, sometimes my friends and I would have movie nights where we would relax and stick in a movie. It was fairly easy to find whatever we wanted to watch but sometimes we would pick something a lot of us hadn't seen in a long time. It was easy to find a new release but sometimes watching a classic from our childhood or when we were younger made the night more fun. There were times it was fun sticking in a movie that none of us hadn't seen in a while because there were jokes and scenes we forgot about and it made watching the movie a more enjoyable experience.
During your college years, there may be times in which you have to think outside the box with a simple idea to find something fun to do. Taking a simple idea for something to do could end up in a fun night for not only yourself but your friends as well. Think outside the box, keep it simple and you may end up having a great night of memories.
Weeks before I graduated from Otterbein, one of the most fun evenings I had was when not as many people were around on campus and a couple of friends of mine decided to take out a Nintendo Wii. I hadn't been much to play video games since I was younger but with not a lot of people around, my friends and I figured trying something a little different could be fun. My one friend was an Assistant Hall Director and had access to the big screen TV in the main lounge.
Even though we had friends with Nintendo Wiis, none of us had ever really played the sports games that had been the talk of the video game industry from the past year. The three of us had known that the sports games the Wii had were popular but we never had the opportunity to play them.
After hooking up the Wii, we started playing the sports games and we were hooked! All three of us had so much fun playing the Wii boxing, baseball, bowling and tennis we probably spent at least 2.5 - 3 hours playing! None of us we were really competitive and we spent most of the night laughing our way through each game! I had played video games with other people growing up but that was probably one of the most fun moments I had playing video games with other people The simplest idea of playing the Nintendo Wii became an awesome night that my friends and I will remember for a long time.
In addition to having a simple idea, sometimes taking that idea and thinking outside the box can create a fun night as well. For example, sometimes my friends and I would have movie nights where we would relax and stick in a movie. It was fairly easy to find whatever we wanted to watch but sometimes we would pick something a lot of us hadn't seen in a long time. It was easy to find a new release but sometimes watching a classic from our childhood or when we were younger made the night more fun. There were times it was fun sticking in a movie that none of us hadn't seen in a while because there were jokes and scenes we forgot about and it made watching the movie a more enjoyable experience.
During your college years, there may be times in which you have to think outside the box with a simple idea to find something fun to do. Taking a simple idea for something to do could end up in a fun night for not only yourself but your friends as well. Think outside the box, keep it simple and you may end up having a great night of memories.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
One of the First Steps To Succeeding is Having a Postive Attitude!
During your college career and beyond, the attitude you show towards your work and projects is noticeable to those around you. It might not be as easy for you to see but how you treat your work, treat others or different situations can be noticed by those around you. Having the right attitude and a positive approach is also noticeable and those who practice it often can stand out for positive reasons.
When you are in certain places, how often do you notice someone with a bad attitude versus a positive attitude? For example, how many times have you gone to a restaurant where your server didn't say much to you, didn't want to talk to you or didn't care that he or she made a mistake? When that happens, you are left with the impression that the person had a bad attitude, didn't care and didn't want to be there.
When turning it around, how many times have you been at a restaurant where the server took time to talk to you, carefully took time to get your order correct and cared whether or not the food was prepared well and was served on time? Chances are, you were left with the impression that this person had a positive attitude, cared about his or her guests and wanted to do a good job. By being positive and showing care and concern, you were probably left that this person has a positive attitude.
Not all situations are positive but going in with the right attitude can help you get through them. For example, if you are a college student with a 25 page paper to write, the task is not an easy one but how you approach it can make a difference. If you keep saying to yourself that writing it is impossible, you won't get a good grade no matter what and it's too much time, chances are, that will show up in your work and hinder your grade. If you look at it the other way and think that you will learn the material better by writing the paper, you will create a strategy to outline your paper so it is organized and believe you can get a good grade, it will help you believe in yourself and get through the process. How you look at the situation can help determine the path you will go towards reaching your goal.
Even though we still will have bad days from time to time (or bad weeks), how you look at the situation surrounding you can determine the outcome later on. Making mistakes can be frustrating but taking a positive approach can help you learn in the future. For example, let's say you work for your campus radio station and you are in charge of making sure the playlists for each hour are in order and you forgot to organize them one evening. The mistake may have caused a headache for people trying to do their airshifts, however, you can look at the mistake two ways.
One way would be to look at yourself as a total failure who doesn't deserve the job and should quit.
Another way to look at it would be to realize you made an error, that mistakes do happen and find a positive way to make sure it happens again like creating checklists, writing a reminder to organize the playlists or setting a designated time each week to put it all together.
If you look at the glass being half full, you can take a mistake and learn from it.
By taking a positive approach to your daily tasks and big projects, you can find different ways to look at the positive outcome of a situation versus a negative one. It's noticeable when someone has a positive attitude and how you approach a project, mistake or situation can help determine the course of action you can take and the outcome. If you have a positive attitude, it will be contagious.
When you are in certain places, how often do you notice someone with a bad attitude versus a positive attitude? For example, how many times have you gone to a restaurant where your server didn't say much to you, didn't want to talk to you or didn't care that he or she made a mistake? When that happens, you are left with the impression that the person had a bad attitude, didn't care and didn't want to be there.
When turning it around, how many times have you been at a restaurant where the server took time to talk to you, carefully took time to get your order correct and cared whether or not the food was prepared well and was served on time? Chances are, you were left with the impression that this person had a positive attitude, cared about his or her guests and wanted to do a good job. By being positive and showing care and concern, you were probably left that this person has a positive attitude.
Not all situations are positive but going in with the right attitude can help you get through them. For example, if you are a college student with a 25 page paper to write, the task is not an easy one but how you approach it can make a difference. If you keep saying to yourself that writing it is impossible, you won't get a good grade no matter what and it's too much time, chances are, that will show up in your work and hinder your grade. If you look at it the other way and think that you will learn the material better by writing the paper, you will create a strategy to outline your paper so it is organized and believe you can get a good grade, it will help you believe in yourself and get through the process. How you look at the situation can help determine the path you will go towards reaching your goal.
Even though we still will have bad days from time to time (or bad weeks), how you look at the situation surrounding you can determine the outcome later on. Making mistakes can be frustrating but taking a positive approach can help you learn in the future. For example, let's say you work for your campus radio station and you are in charge of making sure the playlists for each hour are in order and you forgot to organize them one evening. The mistake may have caused a headache for people trying to do their airshifts, however, you can look at the mistake two ways.
One way would be to look at yourself as a total failure who doesn't deserve the job and should quit.
Another way to look at it would be to realize you made an error, that mistakes do happen and find a positive way to make sure it happens again like creating checklists, writing a reminder to organize the playlists or setting a designated time each week to put it all together.
If you look at the glass being half full, you can take a mistake and learn from it.
By taking a positive approach to your daily tasks and big projects, you can find different ways to look at the positive outcome of a situation versus a negative one. It's noticeable when someone has a positive attitude and how you approach a project, mistake or situation can help determine the course of action you can take and the outcome. If you have a positive attitude, it will be contagious.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Taking Time To Thank Those Who Have Been Good Friends Along The Way
Having friends is key to being happy in life and chances are, you probably have had a few that have gone beyond what you expected. These may be people who stood up for you at key times, went above and beyond to help out or was a lending hand when you needed it the most. Either way, we all have friends who have helped us at one point or another and make sure to give thanks.
Even though it might sound simple, not everyone takes time to say thank you for a good deed or helping out. Forgetting to show appreciation could offend someone who went out of his or her way to help out and may not be as responsive to assisting you in the future. Taking a few moments to say thank you will help build a relationship with this person and make them more receptive in the future.
As a way to say thank you, writing a note is always helpful and can be done in several ways. You could send a handwritten thank you note (which usually is a nice touch), send an e-greeting as a thank you (a creative touch) or a gift card with a note inside. These are different ways to say thank you and show appreciation.
In addition to thank you notes, there are other ways in which you can thank a person for assisting you or being a good friend along the way. If you are into sports, inviting a person to a sporting event can be a nice touch and this can be done with concerts or other events. You could also return the favor by helping out with a project or cause your friend is apart of. These show you care about the friendship and are willing to return the favors when needed.
Somewhere along the way, we have had good friends help us out and as a way to maintain a friendship, it's best to find different ways to say thank you.
Even though it might sound simple, not everyone takes time to say thank you for a good deed or helping out. Forgetting to show appreciation could offend someone who went out of his or her way to help out and may not be as responsive to assisting you in the future. Taking a few moments to say thank you will help build a relationship with this person and make them more receptive in the future.
As a way to say thank you, writing a note is always helpful and can be done in several ways. You could send a handwritten thank you note (which usually is a nice touch), send an e-greeting as a thank you (a creative touch) or a gift card with a note inside. These are different ways to say thank you and show appreciation.
In addition to thank you notes, there are other ways in which you can thank a person for assisting you or being a good friend along the way. If you are into sports, inviting a person to a sporting event can be a nice touch and this can be done with concerts or other events. You could also return the favor by helping out with a project or cause your friend is apart of. These show you care about the friendship and are willing to return the favors when needed.
Somewhere along the way, we have had good friends help us out and as a way to maintain a friendship, it's best to find different ways to say thank you.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Internship Advice: Take Time To Say Hello to Others
As a college student, getting the most out of your internship will be key. When you go to get experience and work for someone during this time, it's best to get to know the person you will be working for and the other people at the organization. One of the best ways to get to know others is to say hello and get to know these people.
When you are interning, it is easy to go in everyday, do what you need to accomplish, and then walk out everyday, however, that won't accomplish much. It won't give you the opportunity to meet others within the organization, will come across as if you aren't interested in meeting others and may make it hard for people to remember you.
During your internship, take time to not only say hello to the person you will be working for but the people he or she works with as well. It doesn't hurt to say good morning or good afternoon (depending on when you go in) to the other people in the organization. It shows you are interested in getting to know others in the organization, makes you a friendly face and more opportunities may arise from it later on.
By meeting others within the organization you are interning for, you may open up more opportunities later on. These people could become network contacts, references or may be able to provide different contacts within your industry. People are connected and the friendlier you are with those you will be working with, the easier it will be for these people to become network contacts later on. By taking moments to say hello and getting to know these people, more doors may open later on.
College internships are key but taking time to know the people in the organization is even more important. By saying hello and getting to know others, you never know what doors and opportunities may open up later on.
When you are interning, it is easy to go in everyday, do what you need to accomplish, and then walk out everyday, however, that won't accomplish much. It won't give you the opportunity to meet others within the organization, will come across as if you aren't interested in meeting others and may make it hard for people to remember you.
During your internship, take time to not only say hello to the person you will be working for but the people he or she works with as well. It doesn't hurt to say good morning or good afternoon (depending on when you go in) to the other people in the organization. It shows you are interested in getting to know others in the organization, makes you a friendly face and more opportunities may arise from it later on.
By meeting others within the organization you are interning for, you may open up more opportunities later on. These people could become network contacts, references or may be able to provide different contacts within your industry. People are connected and the friendlier you are with those you will be working with, the easier it will be for these people to become network contacts later on. By taking moments to say hello and getting to know these people, more doors may open later on.
College internships are key but taking time to know the people in the organization is even more important. By saying hello and getting to know others, you never know what doors and opportunities may open up later on.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Speaking In Front of Others: A Good Skill to Have
Public speaking can be scary for many but it is an important skill to learn. As you go through your college or professional career, there may be times in which you may have to get up in front of a crowd of people to give a speech. Speech giving can sound intimidating but is a skill that can be mastered with practice and some helpful tips.
Before you present your speech, take time to consider your audience and understand who you will be talking to. Take time to understand your audience, what they may or may not know and understand how to tailor your message so it suits them.
For example, if you are a college senior talking to freshmen and sophomores about getting internships, consider the following:
1) The students you will be talking to may not know the best way to get an internship
2) These students may not know the importance of having a good resume
3) These students want to learn how to get the foot in the door and land an internship during their college careers
When taking this in mind, consider key areas you might want to focus on when giving your talk:
1) Briefly mention how you worked on your resume before submitting it
2) Mention how you reached out to prospective internships
3) Mention dos and do nots when applying for internships
This answers some of the questions this audience may have and gives them a reason to keep listening.
Once you have determined your audience, take time to get organized. Take time to organize your thoughts, what you want to say and understand the amount of time you will have to speak. This is the time in which you need to decide what will be important to mention, what you want to share and how you will construct that message to fit the audience's needs. Speeches that go on longer then expected or get off topic (sometimes by sharing too many stories instead of discussing the topic at hand) could bore your audience and the message will be lost.
As a way to get organized, think of putting your speech together like you would a paper with the following in mind:
1) Introduction- briefly gauge the audience and provide the thesis to your speech. This should be brief and should mention the different areas you will touch on.
2) Body of your speech - similar to the body paragraphs of a paper, this should contain the key points you want to hit on for the speech. Like writing a paper, stick with one point per paragraph and provide the evidence that goes with it. Try not to veer off and stick with this plan. This will help keep your audience engaged and keep you on topic.
3) Close- take time to summarize your message and the different areas you talked about.
Once you become organized, there is another simple way to make sure you aren't dragging on too long or won't stumble during your talk: practice! If you have access to the room you will be speaking in ahead of time, go in a day or two beforehand (if possible) to understand where you will be speaking from, learn the different equipment you may have to use (such as computers for a Powerpoint) and time yourself when going through the speech. This way, you will understand the lay of the land, how to hook up the equipment and if your speech is a lot longer then you anticipated (you might be surprised how long your speech will run the first time you time yourself). Run through the speech at least three or four times (depending on how important the talk is).
Last but not least, never write your speech word for word and don't read it the same way on note cards or a piece of paper. It's okay to have note cards with reminders and key notes on them but don't read the speech word for word. If you are reading a piece of paper word for word, you are not engaging your audience and you may not be making enough eye contact either! How often have we heard someone read something word for word and not be interested after a while because it sounded mundane, to scripted and not engaging?
Even though public speaking can be intimidating at first, it can be mastered by taking time to understand your audience, taking time to get organized and practicing.
Before you present your speech, take time to consider your audience and understand who you will be talking to. Take time to understand your audience, what they may or may not know and understand how to tailor your message so it suits them.
For example, if you are a college senior talking to freshmen and sophomores about getting internships, consider the following:
1) The students you will be talking to may not know the best way to get an internship
2) These students may not know the importance of having a good resume
3) These students want to learn how to get the foot in the door and land an internship during their college careers
When taking this in mind, consider key areas you might want to focus on when giving your talk:
1) Briefly mention how you worked on your resume before submitting it
2) Mention how you reached out to prospective internships
3) Mention dos and do nots when applying for internships
This answers some of the questions this audience may have and gives them a reason to keep listening.
Once you have determined your audience, take time to get organized. Take time to organize your thoughts, what you want to say and understand the amount of time you will have to speak. This is the time in which you need to decide what will be important to mention, what you want to share and how you will construct that message to fit the audience's needs. Speeches that go on longer then expected or get off topic (sometimes by sharing too many stories instead of discussing the topic at hand) could bore your audience and the message will be lost.
As a way to get organized, think of putting your speech together like you would a paper with the following in mind:
1) Introduction- briefly gauge the audience and provide the thesis to your speech. This should be brief and should mention the different areas you will touch on.
2) Body of your speech - similar to the body paragraphs of a paper, this should contain the key points you want to hit on for the speech. Like writing a paper, stick with one point per paragraph and provide the evidence that goes with it. Try not to veer off and stick with this plan. This will help keep your audience engaged and keep you on topic.
3) Close- take time to summarize your message and the different areas you talked about.
Once you become organized, there is another simple way to make sure you aren't dragging on too long or won't stumble during your talk: practice! If you have access to the room you will be speaking in ahead of time, go in a day or two beforehand (if possible) to understand where you will be speaking from, learn the different equipment you may have to use (such as computers for a Powerpoint) and time yourself when going through the speech. This way, you will understand the lay of the land, how to hook up the equipment and if your speech is a lot longer then you anticipated (you might be surprised how long your speech will run the first time you time yourself). Run through the speech at least three or four times (depending on how important the talk is).
Last but not least, never write your speech word for word and don't read it the same way on note cards or a piece of paper. It's okay to have note cards with reminders and key notes on them but don't read the speech word for word. If you are reading a piece of paper word for word, you are not engaging your audience and you may not be making enough eye contact either! How often have we heard someone read something word for word and not be interested after a while because it sounded mundane, to scripted and not engaging?
Even though public speaking can be intimidating at first, it can be mastered by taking time to understand your audience, taking time to get organized and practicing.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Taking Time to Know Others: Another Lesson in Building Rapport!
In order to build a relationship with someone, time has to be spent towards getting to know the other person and his or her interests, passions, etc. Taking time to get to know someone may sound hard but if done properly, can lead to a great friendship and awesome memories. By taking a few simple steps, a great relationship can be started by getting to know the other person.
By taking time to know someone else, you are giving a reason for the other person to trust you and develop a relationship. When you first meet someone new, it might be easy to provide your own verbal autobiography, however, it's better to show an interest in the other person and learn more about him or her. Taking time to boast about yourself may be a turnoff to some and may come across the wrong way. Taking time to show you want to learn about someone else can help develop a relationship and start a great conversation.
If you are new to a company, taking a few moments to get to know the people you will be working with can help develop trust and relationships with your coworkers. Distracting them during their daily routine may not always be the best way to develop a conversation but taking time to sit with them during lunchtime or taking a few moments to say hello before the day gets started can help. Take a few moments to say hello to these people, learn about their interests and passions and it will mean a lot that you are showing an interest in getting to know other people.
If you are on a college campus, taking time to say hello to those you come across on a regular basis and getting to know these people can help as well. During my freshman year at Otterbein, I started calling the basketball games for the Otterbein women's basketball team for the campus radio and TV stations and became friends with the girls because they took the time to get to know who I was. Outside of basketball, a lot of the girls on the team would take time to say hello to me on the way to class, in the lunchroom and even in the library and the focus wasn't on my announcing or the game; a lot of these girls took time to get to know me as a person! As a result, I developed some great friendships out of this that continued through to my senior year and beyond. It meant a lot to me that these girls took time to know me as a person and I was able to build great friendships as a result of this kindness.
Getting to know someone may take a little time, however, it isn't as hard as it seems. By taking time to know the person sitting across from you or those you interact with, you can develop trust and relationships through this method.
By taking time to know someone else, you are giving a reason for the other person to trust you and develop a relationship. When you first meet someone new, it might be easy to provide your own verbal autobiography, however, it's better to show an interest in the other person and learn more about him or her. Taking time to boast about yourself may be a turnoff to some and may come across the wrong way. Taking time to show you want to learn about someone else can help develop a relationship and start a great conversation.
If you are new to a company, taking a few moments to get to know the people you will be working with can help develop trust and relationships with your coworkers. Distracting them during their daily routine may not always be the best way to develop a conversation but taking time to sit with them during lunchtime or taking a few moments to say hello before the day gets started can help. Take a few moments to say hello to these people, learn about their interests and passions and it will mean a lot that you are showing an interest in getting to know other people.
If you are on a college campus, taking time to say hello to those you come across on a regular basis and getting to know these people can help as well. During my freshman year at Otterbein, I started calling the basketball games for the Otterbein women's basketball team for the campus radio and TV stations and became friends with the girls because they took the time to get to know who I was. Outside of basketball, a lot of the girls on the team would take time to say hello to me on the way to class, in the lunchroom and even in the library and the focus wasn't on my announcing or the game; a lot of these girls took time to get to know me as a person! As a result, I developed some great friendships out of this that continued through to my senior year and beyond. It meant a lot to me that these girls took time to know me as a person and I was able to build great friendships as a result of this kindness.
Getting to know someone may take a little time, however, it isn't as hard as it seems. By taking time to know the person sitting across from you or those you interact with, you can develop trust and relationships through this method.
College Junior and Seniors: Take Time To Teach The Freshmen and Sophomores A Thing or Two!
Being a college junior or senior means that your college career is coming to a close soon and plans to move on will have to be made. By the time you reach this point in your college career, there is a good chance you will have learned a lot about yourself, your skills set and may hold leadership roles in some of your extra curricular activities. If you take time to teach the freshmen and the sophomores you interact with a little of what you know, it can pay off in the long run and develop trust.
By taking a few moments to help out a college freshmen or sophomore with a common interest, you can not only build trust with that person but also develop a friendship as well. It really can mean a lot to someone if you take a few moments of your time to help them with a project, give a few pointers on getting an internship or taking a few minutes to help here and there.
During my freshman and sophomore years at Otterbein, the upperclassmen who stood out in a good way to me were the ones who took time to help others. It meant a lot to me that someone who was close to the end of his or her college career took time to talk, give me some pointers and I ended up developing some great friendships as a result of this kindness.
For example, when I was a freshman at Otterbein, a became really good friends with the girl who was the General Manager of the campus television station because she took time to sit and talk with me and learn more about what I wanted to do and get out of the program. This girl didn't have to talk to me at all but it meant a lot to me when she did and we had no trouble having a conversation. She helped give me some pointers on writing news stories, how to get involved with the station and the advice helped set the path for my college career. I am still friends with this girl as a result of her kindness and it meant a lot to me that she took the time to care.
A year later, I became one of the Assistant Promotions Directors for the campus radio station, WOBN-FM and had similar guidance from some of the juniors and seniors who worked at the station. The girl who was the webmaster took time to teach me how to develop promotional ideas for the station, I learned a lot from the General Manager by how she took time to interact with the other freshmen and sophomores at the station and it meant a lot when these two and a few of the other upperclassmen took time to share their knowledge with me. It showed me they cared, proved to me they wanted someone else to succeed and I am still friends with these people as a result. I will never forget the kindness they showed and took that with me for the rest of my college career.
As you are reaching the end of your college career, take time to help out others who are still learning the ropes. Taking time to show someone who is a freshman or sophomore something you learned along the way to help his or her college career will help you develop trust with these people and develop friendships. If you have gained the knowledge, don't be afraid to share it with someone who can benefit from it.
By taking a few moments to help out a college freshmen or sophomore with a common interest, you can not only build trust with that person but also develop a friendship as well. It really can mean a lot to someone if you take a few moments of your time to help them with a project, give a few pointers on getting an internship or taking a few minutes to help here and there.
During my freshman and sophomore years at Otterbein, the upperclassmen who stood out in a good way to me were the ones who took time to help others. It meant a lot to me that someone who was close to the end of his or her college career took time to talk, give me some pointers and I ended up developing some great friendships as a result of this kindness.
For example, when I was a freshman at Otterbein, a became really good friends with the girl who was the General Manager of the campus television station because she took time to sit and talk with me and learn more about what I wanted to do and get out of the program. This girl didn't have to talk to me at all but it meant a lot to me when she did and we had no trouble having a conversation. She helped give me some pointers on writing news stories, how to get involved with the station and the advice helped set the path for my college career. I am still friends with this girl as a result of her kindness and it meant a lot to me that she took the time to care.
A year later, I became one of the Assistant Promotions Directors for the campus radio station, WOBN-FM and had similar guidance from some of the juniors and seniors who worked at the station. The girl who was the webmaster took time to teach me how to develop promotional ideas for the station, I learned a lot from the General Manager by how she took time to interact with the other freshmen and sophomores at the station and it meant a lot when these two and a few of the other upperclassmen took time to share their knowledge with me. It showed me they cared, proved to me they wanted someone else to succeed and I am still friends with these people as a result. I will never forget the kindness they showed and took that with me for the rest of my college career.
As you are reaching the end of your college career, take time to help out others who are still learning the ropes. Taking time to show someone who is a freshman or sophomore something you learned along the way to help his or her college career will help you develop trust with these people and develop friendships. If you have gained the knowledge, don't be afraid to share it with someone who can benefit from it.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Developing Friendships Can Help Open Up New Opportunities
At all stages of life, having friends who will stand beside you, be in your corner and be there for you will help you get through different points in your life. Having people who will be with you through the good times and the rough will always provide a sense of comfort and enjoyment to your life. Having these people in your life is always something to be grateful for and developing these relationships can help pave the way for opportunities.
If you are a college student, take time to get to know the people in your dorm, the people you participate in other activities with, the people in your Greek Life organization, etc. You may never know how you will meet some of your best friends during these four years and take time to develop some of these relationships that are meaningful to you. Take time to help these people out, support them and give them a reason to develop the friendship with you.
During those four years, you may never know where you will meet some of your best friends. I met one of my best friends from college while watching an Ohio State football game in the lounge of the dorm, met another while doing a community service project that wasn't quite what I had expected, and became close friends with others who stood behind me at key times and I naturally clicked with. There will be times in which you know you will develop a deeper friendship with someone and these will be the friendships that will last for a long time beyond your college years. Don't be surprised if the friendship starts in the most unexpected place or instance; take time to let it grow.
Beyond your college years, take time to develop relationships with those you meet during networking events, other social functions and different events. Similar to your college years, some of your best friendships may develop through unexpected paths. I met a good friend of mine while at my dad's company picnic one year (we both found out we enjoy hockey a lot), have met some other friends through networking events, and have developed a relationship with others through mutual connections. If you feel a great friendship can develop, take time to learn more about these people, enjoy common interests and let these relationships grow.
Having friends in life is a must but finding them and letting them grow is important. Some of the best friendships may come out of the most unexpected places but can create a friendship that can last a long time.
If you are a college student, take time to get to know the people in your dorm, the people you participate in other activities with, the people in your Greek Life organization, etc. You may never know how you will meet some of your best friends during these four years and take time to develop some of these relationships that are meaningful to you. Take time to help these people out, support them and give them a reason to develop the friendship with you.
During those four years, you may never know where you will meet some of your best friends. I met one of my best friends from college while watching an Ohio State football game in the lounge of the dorm, met another while doing a community service project that wasn't quite what I had expected, and became close friends with others who stood behind me at key times and I naturally clicked with. There will be times in which you know you will develop a deeper friendship with someone and these will be the friendships that will last for a long time beyond your college years. Don't be surprised if the friendship starts in the most unexpected place or instance; take time to let it grow.
Beyond your college years, take time to develop relationships with those you meet during networking events, other social functions and different events. Similar to your college years, some of your best friendships may develop through unexpected paths. I met a good friend of mine while at my dad's company picnic one year (we both found out we enjoy hockey a lot), have met some other friends through networking events, and have developed a relationship with others through mutual connections. If you feel a great friendship can develop, take time to learn more about these people, enjoy common interests and let these relationships grow.
Having friends in life is a must but finding them and letting them grow is important. Some of the best friendships may come out of the most unexpected places but can create a friendship that can last a long time.
Take Time To Enjoy Others, Your Hobbies and Exercise!
Whether you are a college student or a seasoned professional, there are always times of the year in which stress levels will be high. For most college students, mid-terms, final exams and final projects can raise stress levels. For working professionals, long weeks, busy schedules and long-term projects can be stressful and exhausting. It's not easy to avoid these situations but taking time to enjoy the company of others, your hobbies and exercising can help you refresh and alleviate the stress.
After a long week of classes or work, taking time to enjoy the company of others, whether it's friends or family, can help you relax and take your mind off school or work. Taking some time each week to spend time with a girlfriend/boyfriend, friends, or family members in social situations will help focus your attention elsewhere for a while and provide different interaction. Instead of being focused on schoolwork or your job, it will force you to socialize and discuss other topics with these people and put you at ease.
In addition to spending time with others outside of work or school, taking time during the week to enjoy hobbies can help provide relaxation and put your mind at ease. If you are into running, take time during the week to go on a long run can help relieve some of the tension built up from the stress related from school or work. If you are into photography, painting or art, taking time during the week or the weekend to work on a piece (or pieces) can help put your focus elsewhere for a while and can serve as a getaway. There are different hobbies out there and taking time to enjoy them during stressful times can help alleviate some of the tension being that is being built up.
Lastly, it's been said numerous times but taking time to work out or exercise is still one of the best stress relievers. Instead of laying around, take time to go for a run, hit the gym, go for a swim (if you enjoy the water) or go for a walk (especially if you have a canine friend who enjoys the outdoors). Taking time to exercise during the week will help relieve the tension being built up, will give you another outlet for some of the excess energy and make you feel better about yourself.
Even though stress is unavoidable at times, finding different methods of handling it by spending time with others, taking time for your hobbies and exercising can help relieve the tension that is built up. Spending time with others can help focus your attention elsewhere in a social setting, taking time to enjoy your hobbies can channel your energy and thoughts into a project that is fun for you, and exercising will help relieve tension and help you relax. Stress can't always be avoided but finding ways to handle it can help in the long run.
After a long week of classes or work, taking time to enjoy the company of others, whether it's friends or family, can help you relax and take your mind off school or work. Taking some time each week to spend time with a girlfriend/boyfriend, friends, or family members in social situations will help focus your attention elsewhere for a while and provide different interaction. Instead of being focused on schoolwork or your job, it will force you to socialize and discuss other topics with these people and put you at ease.
In addition to spending time with others outside of work or school, taking time during the week to enjoy hobbies can help provide relaxation and put your mind at ease. If you are into running, take time during the week to go on a long run can help relieve some of the tension built up from the stress related from school or work. If you are into photography, painting or art, taking time during the week or the weekend to work on a piece (or pieces) can help put your focus elsewhere for a while and can serve as a getaway. There are different hobbies out there and taking time to enjoy them during stressful times can help alleviate some of the tension being that is being built up.
Lastly, it's been said numerous times but taking time to work out or exercise is still one of the best stress relievers. Instead of laying around, take time to go for a run, hit the gym, go for a swim (if you enjoy the water) or go for a walk (especially if you have a canine friend who enjoys the outdoors). Taking time to exercise during the week will help relieve the tension being built up, will give you another outlet for some of the excess energy and make you feel better about yourself.
Even though stress is unavoidable at times, finding different methods of handling it by spending time with others, taking time for your hobbies and exercising can help relieve the tension that is built up. Spending time with others can help focus your attention elsewhere in a social setting, taking time to enjoy your hobbies can channel your energy and thoughts into a project that is fun for you, and exercising will help relieve tension and help you relax. Stress can't always be avoided but finding ways to handle it can help in the long run.
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