During my years of high school, video production had been a huge passion of mine. I enjoyed going to various events with a video camera and tripod and could spend several hours in an editing room. Video production was something I was good at and found myself yearning to do more of.
While I spent lots of time in editing rooms with the footage I had taken, doing digital photography with still pictures was something I never considered. I was closed minded at the time and didn't think the skills could really translate. I enjoyed working with moving pictures instead of still images and never gave thought to using a still camera.
When high school ended, I moved away from home and decided to become more open minded in regards to trying different activities. I hadn't planned on learning digital photography before I went to college but eventually picked up the hobby...on accident.
I was scheduled to help out with a promotional event with our campus radio station and decided to bring my small digital camera with me. I decided that while I was in college, I may as well have something to capture the memories with. I took the time to take several pictures at the event and didn't think much of them when I edited them.
After the photos were edited, I received lots of positive feedback from the people who worked at the radio station. As a result, I started taking more pictures at different events and received similar feedback. When we got done with one event in particular, my friend Cat mentioned something I hadn't given much thought to:
"You ought to become a photographer."
It was just an idea but enough for me to want to pursue the hobby even more. I ended up upgrading to a larger camera, took a photography class and a new hobby was born! I went from taking pictures at campus radio station events to sporting events and charity events.
During this time, I realized I was developing the same passion I had for video production. I was motivated to improve my technique, get out with the camera and find different events to take pictures at. I was enjoying a hobby I closed myself off to in high school but found a passion when I became more open minded about giving it a try.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
College Students: Key Tips for Interviewing for Internships
Throughout the course of your college career, internships will help provide the experience needed to increase your skill set and gain professional experience. Internships are great opportunities to gain professional experience while in college and also provide networking opportunities.
In some industries and businesses, internships can be highly competitive and the interview is important. The interview can make or break an opportunity and below are some tips on how to prepare for the interview:
1) Do Research on the Organization Beforehand - You will be surprised how many people will walk into an interview without doing any research beforehand. Not doing any research beforehand will give the impression you don't care about the organization or you are unwilling to learn. Most internships managers are looking for people who can help his or her organization and have a strong desire to learn. Not doing your research beforehand will be a turnoff.
2) Look Presentable During the Interview- Dress professionally and look presentable. Leave the cut off jeans, t-shirts and casual clothes at home. Prove to your potential internship manager that you will dress professionally when coming to intern for his or her organization.
3) When the Interviewer Asks "Do You Have Any Questions?", Ask Questions - This will show you paid attention during the interview and are interested in learning more about the organization
4) Thank You Notes - Make sure to send a handwritten thank you note to the person you interviewed with. Not many people do this and it will set you apart in a positive way
In some industries and businesses, internships can be highly competitive and the interview is important. The interview can make or break an opportunity and below are some tips on how to prepare for the interview:
1) Do Research on the Organization Beforehand - You will be surprised how many people will walk into an interview without doing any research beforehand. Not doing any research beforehand will give the impression you don't care about the organization or you are unwilling to learn. Most internships managers are looking for people who can help his or her organization and have a strong desire to learn. Not doing your research beforehand will be a turnoff.
2) Look Presentable During the Interview- Dress professionally and look presentable. Leave the cut off jeans, t-shirts and casual clothes at home. Prove to your potential internship manager that you will dress professionally when coming to intern for his or her organization.
3) When the Interviewer Asks "Do You Have Any Questions?", Ask Questions - This will show you paid attention during the interview and are interested in learning more about the organization
4) Thank You Notes - Make sure to send a handwritten thank you note to the person you interviewed with. Not many people do this and it will set you apart in a positive way
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Taking Advantage Of the Opportunities Presented Can Pay Off
As a way to attract students, many college and universities offer different types of technology, opportunities and build state-of-the-art facilities for many of their academic programs. Some schools have spent numerous dollars to improve different facilities on campus, improve the equipment needed, or have developed organizations aimed at providing students with opportunities. Attracting students is a goal for these improvements but taking advantage of them can have benefits later on.
During your undergrad years, finding a major you will enjoy can be a daunting task but taking advantage of what is offered in that major is just as important. Understanding where you would like to move forward in life and pursue will point you in the direction you need; taking an active role to get as much experience as possible will help you down that path.
Once you pick your major, take the time to understand the opportunities available for students pursuing the same degree/major. If you are a biology major, take the time to understand the different types of facilities or opportunities to work in the lab. If you are an athletic training major, take the time to learn how you can help with the sports teams on campus and get involved. For broadcast communication majors, take time to learn the equipment available, the editing software and work on various crews when you have time. No matter what major you have, take the time to understand what opportunities are available.
In addition to taking time to what the campus has to offer in your major, take the time to get an internship if it applies to your field. Internships are great ways to get professional experience within a field and can provide different skill sets. Don't simply take an internship to get a bullet point on your resume; take the time to learn another skill set, meet professionals who work in that field and build on the experience. Most people who take on interns want someone who is willing to learn from the experience so take the time to get as much out of it as possible.
While you are interning or taking the time to volunteer with the opportunities presented to you on campus, you may wonder if the experience will pay off later on. You may not know it at the time but chances are, that experience could open up doors later on. A connection who knows you or having certain experiences on your resume may open up the door for an opportunity later on.
During your undergrad years, finding a major you will enjoy can be a daunting task but taking advantage of what is offered in that major is just as important. Understanding where you would like to move forward in life and pursue will point you in the direction you need; taking an active role to get as much experience as possible will help you down that path.
Once you pick your major, take the time to understand the opportunities available for students pursuing the same degree/major. If you are a biology major, take the time to understand the different types of facilities or opportunities to work in the lab. If you are an athletic training major, take the time to learn how you can help with the sports teams on campus and get involved. For broadcast communication majors, take time to learn the equipment available, the editing software and work on various crews when you have time. No matter what major you have, take the time to understand what opportunities are available.
In addition to taking time to what the campus has to offer in your major, take the time to get an internship if it applies to your field. Internships are great ways to get professional experience within a field and can provide different skill sets. Don't simply take an internship to get a bullet point on your resume; take the time to learn another skill set, meet professionals who work in that field and build on the experience. Most people who take on interns want someone who is willing to learn from the experience so take the time to get as much out of it as possible.
While you are interning or taking the time to volunteer with the opportunities presented to you on campus, you may wonder if the experience will pay off later on. You may not know it at the time but chances are, that experience could open up doors later on. A connection who knows you or having certain experiences on your resume may open up the door for an opportunity later on.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Finding Time to Do Something That Has Been Apart of You For a Long Time...Priceless
Announcing sporting events had been a huge part of my life when I was in high school and college. There were several Friday and Saturday nights spent in old gyms, high school stadiums and small college venues calling the action for local radio and television stations. Calling games had been a big part of my life during that time and I look back on those times with great memories.
When college ended, I entered "the real world" and didn't have much of an opportunity to call games at all. I spent a lot of time adjusting to life after college but didn't spend a lot of time in old gyms, high school stadiums or small college venues calling the action. Something that had been a big part of my life wasn't there anymore.
Right before 2011 began, I received an e-mail from a neighbor of mine asking if I would be interesting in calling a Solon hockey game for the local community station. I hadn't called any type of sporting event in a couple of years and couldn't belief an opportunity presented itself. I said yes and ended up having a blast when I called the game two days later.
One year later, another opportunity presented itself to call two Solon hockey games and a wrestling match. I immediately said yes to these opportunities because I wanted to call the games again. I didn't care where and when the game or match was going to be played; I wanted to be in front of the microphone again.
The first game I called was a hockey game between Solon and Brecksville-Broadview Heights and the experience started to bring back great memories. The action was back and forth and as the game went into overtime, I couldn't help but be in the moment. It reminded me of so many close games I had called before and realized how much fun I was having behind the microphone again.
Not too long after that hockey game, I had an opportunity to call a Solon vs Maple Heights wrestling match. I personally hadn't been to a match in a couple of years and couldn't wait for the opportunity. Within the first couple of matches, I knew I was having fun again and couldn't help but feel grateful for the experience.
In both of these instances and with the second hockey game I would call a couple weeks after the wrestling match, I couldn't help but realize how much fun I had. Calling games had been a big part of my life in high school and college and on three separate occasions, I was able to do something I love once again. It was on a small scale but it didn't matter; what mattered was I had the opportunity to do something that had been apart of my life for a long time.
When college ended, I entered "the real world" and didn't have much of an opportunity to call games at all. I spent a lot of time adjusting to life after college but didn't spend a lot of time in old gyms, high school stadiums or small college venues calling the action. Something that had been a big part of my life wasn't there anymore.
Right before 2011 began, I received an e-mail from a neighbor of mine asking if I would be interesting in calling a Solon hockey game for the local community station. I hadn't called any type of sporting event in a couple of years and couldn't belief an opportunity presented itself. I said yes and ended up having a blast when I called the game two days later.
One year later, another opportunity presented itself to call two Solon hockey games and a wrestling match. I immediately said yes to these opportunities because I wanted to call the games again. I didn't care where and when the game or match was going to be played; I wanted to be in front of the microphone again.
The first game I called was a hockey game between Solon and Brecksville-Broadview Heights and the experience started to bring back great memories. The action was back and forth and as the game went into overtime, I couldn't help but be in the moment. It reminded me of so many close games I had called before and realized how much fun I was having behind the microphone again.
Not too long after that hockey game, I had an opportunity to call a Solon vs Maple Heights wrestling match. I personally hadn't been to a match in a couple of years and couldn't wait for the opportunity. Within the first couple of matches, I knew I was having fun again and couldn't help but feel grateful for the experience.
In both of these instances and with the second hockey game I would call a couple weeks after the wrestling match, I couldn't help but realize how much fun I had. Calling games had been a big part of my life in high school and college and on three separate occasions, I was able to do something I love once again. It was on a small scale but it didn't matter; what mattered was I had the opportunity to do something that had been apart of my life for a long time.
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