Graduating high school was one of my favorite times of my life. Knowing I had accomplished an incredible feat was an amazing feeling and looking to the times ahead in college was something I looked forward to with great anticipation. A new life was to begin for me that fall and I couldn't wait.
Several years have passed since I graduated high school and started college months later and I am still continuing my education to this day. The information and knowledge learned in the classroom during my undergraduate years at Otterbein has helped me beyond my college years but what I learned outside of the classroom helped open up my life even more.
Learning will take place inside the classroom but what a lot of you soon to be high school graduates can benefit from can be learned outside of the classroom. The work you put into a class will help but what you do outside of class can help you soar even farther.
Take some time to consider the following tips below prior to starting your college years:
1) Starting college is an opportunity to start a new life and put any bad memories, feelings or anger you felt in high school and leave it in the past - Take any negative experience you may have had since high school and leave it in the past. You will have a new opportunity to start a new life when you start college in the fall and take the time to work on creating new and fun memories instead of living any pains or frustrations you felt in the past. For most of you, moving away to college will take you to a setting where many people will not know you (I only knew two people at Otterbein when I moved down there in the fall of 2004) and use it as an opportunity to start over.
2) A small hello and conversation can pay big dividends - How often do you think the people who serve the food in the cafeteria, the people who work in the bookstore or the people who work in the library receive a small hello or conversation from a student? How many students do you think just always walk in and walk out without paying much attention to these people? The number may alarm you once you think about it and taking a few moments each day to say hello and get to know these people will help set you apart in a positive way. It may feel awkward at first but it will pay off in the end.
3) Keep your mind open - Had I been closed minded in college, I never would have gotten the internships I had during those years, I never would have found my love of photography and I wouldn't have made some of the friendships I created during that time. Take an opportunity to meet new people, find new hobbies and find different passions by keeping an open mind. You may never know what you might find or who you may meet.
4) If you are happy and you know it, spread it around! - Walking around with a smile on your face and a positive attitude will show and get noticed. If you have an awesome feeling inside, don't be afraid to show it. There may be those who say you need to tone down your personality or become more mellow (I have heard both from people) but don't be afraid to walk around with a positive attitude. Continue to be positive no matter what the circumstances are.
5) No matter how far you go, don't forget those who helped you along the way - Chances are, there have been people in your life growing up that provided the extra boost you needed at key times in your life. It may have been a tutor, teacher, coach, parent, friend, etc. that took the extra time to help and don't forget these people. Take the time to drop an e-mail, phone call or stop by to say hello. These people helped you along the way and don't forget the kindness they showed.
Showing posts with label advice for college freshmen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label advice for college freshmen. Show all posts
Saturday, May 12, 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.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
College Students: Getting Involved=Getting to Know Other People
As a student enrolled in a four year college, obtaining a degree and starting a career is the ultimate goal. Taking four years to earn a degree in a specific field of interest is the goal for college students and lots of time is spent in the classroom during this four year period.
While the time spent inside the classroom and studying is always important, what you do outside of your classes is equally important. Studying is always a must but taking the time to get involved with campus activities has the biggest benefit of getting to know other people.
By taking time to get involved, you not only give yourself something to look forward to, you also can provide yourself with a group of friends. The best ways to meet people on a college campus is to get involved with different student activities and you may find the people you are doing these activities with can become some of your best friends.
While building a friendship base through student activities is a benefit, getting involved with other organizations on campus will help you meet other people who work on campus. For example, when I served as the Promotions Director for Otterbein's campus radio station WOBN-FM (www.wobn.net), I often had to work with other departments and organizations for some of our events. I had to work with the food services department at times, helped planned an event with admissions, and the Campus Programming Board. With each organization I worked with, it provided me with another opportunity to meet people who worked in some of the other departments on campus. It helped me get to know other people around campus and more people had a better idea who I was as a result.
By taking the time to get involved, you not only can meet new friends but others on campus as well.
While the time spent inside the classroom and studying is always important, what you do outside of your classes is equally important. Studying is always a must but taking the time to get involved with campus activities has the biggest benefit of getting to know other people.
By taking time to get involved, you not only give yourself something to look forward to, you also can provide yourself with a group of friends. The best ways to meet people on a college campus is to get involved with different student activities and you may find the people you are doing these activities with can become some of your best friends.
While building a friendship base through student activities is a benefit, getting involved with other organizations on campus will help you meet other people who work on campus. For example, when I served as the Promotions Director for Otterbein's campus radio station WOBN-FM (www.wobn.net), I often had to work with other departments and organizations for some of our events. I had to work with the food services department at times, helped planned an event with admissions, and the Campus Programming Board. With each organization I worked with, it provided me with another opportunity to meet people who worked in some of the other departments on campus. It helped me get to know other people around campus and more people had a better idea who I was as a result.
By taking the time to get involved, you not only can meet new friends but others on campus as well.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
College Freshmen: Get Involved!
Moving away from home for the first time can be scary for a college freshman. Packing and moving away from friends, family and familiarity can be intimidating and nerve racking. Having to start over isn't always easy but isn't impossible. Taking the time to meet others and getting involved early on can make a huge difference to the beginning of your college career.
When I moved away for college at Otterbein, I'll admit I was a nervous and a little scared. I had lived in Solon, Ohio for a good majority of my life and was going to be moving away from that for the first time ever. I only knew two people on campus (two of my neighbors who grew up by me went to Otterbein) and was going to have to start all over. I was going to be two hours away from a place I had called home for so long and had a lot on my mind.
"Will I fit in at Otterbein?"
"What will it be like living away from home?"
"How am I going to meet new people?"
These were questions that ran threw my head the week before I moved down and on the actual drive down there to move me in. I knew I would be going to school but wasn't sure what I was getting myself into.
Rather then sit around in the dorm room after I moved in, I decided to wander the halls and managed to find open doors for other rooms. Being able to talk with other people who had just moved in calmed my nerves a bit and helped me get over some of the anxiety I was feeling. I knew I wasn't going to meet anyone by sitting in my dorm room so getting out and taking the time to meet others really helped.
As that first weekend rolled around, I managed to volunteer and take part in some of the other new student activities going on and as a result, I made some really great friends and met people I would hang out with for the next four years. As the school year got into full swing, I took the time to become involved in other groups on campus and it became a great way to meet people and make some new friends.
For those of you starting college within the next few weeks, take the time to get out of your dorm room and meet new people. Remember you are not the only one who had to move away and start over and many others will be looking for people to hang out with and make new friends. Starting over can be tough but sitting inside the dorm room all day won't help you meet new people. Take the time to participate with activities on campus, join some of the special interest groups many college campuses have to offer and meet new people. That will calm the nerves, provide some of the answers to the questions you may have about starting over and get your college experience off to a great start.
When I moved away for college at Otterbein, I'll admit I was a nervous and a little scared. I had lived in Solon, Ohio for a good majority of my life and was going to be moving away from that for the first time ever. I only knew two people on campus (two of my neighbors who grew up by me went to Otterbein) and was going to have to start all over. I was going to be two hours away from a place I had called home for so long and had a lot on my mind.
"Will I fit in at Otterbein?"
"What will it be like living away from home?"
"How am I going to meet new people?"
These were questions that ran threw my head the week before I moved down and on the actual drive down there to move me in. I knew I would be going to school but wasn't sure what I was getting myself into.
Rather then sit around in the dorm room after I moved in, I decided to wander the halls and managed to find open doors for other rooms. Being able to talk with other people who had just moved in calmed my nerves a bit and helped me get over some of the anxiety I was feeling. I knew I wasn't going to meet anyone by sitting in my dorm room so getting out and taking the time to meet others really helped.
As that first weekend rolled around, I managed to volunteer and take part in some of the other new student activities going on and as a result, I made some really great friends and met people I would hang out with for the next four years. As the school year got into full swing, I took the time to become involved in other groups on campus and it became a great way to meet people and make some new friends.
For those of you starting college within the next few weeks, take the time to get out of your dorm room and meet new people. Remember you are not the only one who had to move away and start over and many others will be looking for people to hang out with and make new friends. Starting over can be tough but sitting inside the dorm room all day won't help you meet new people. Take the time to participate with activities on campus, join some of the special interest groups many college campuses have to offer and meet new people. That will calm the nerves, provide some of the answers to the questions you may have about starting over and get your college experience off to a great start.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
College Students: Friends Can Be Made in the Most Unique Ways
For those of you who will be starting your freshman year of college soon, having to leave what is familiar and starting over can be a bit startling and overwhelming. Leaving the friends you made during your high school years and starting over can be intimidating and scary.
Even though you will be leaving the friends you made behind, you will have a huge opportunity to make new friends from the very start. There will be several other students in the same situation you are in so you will definitely not be alone.
While getting out of your dorm room and getting involved with campus activities is a great way to make friends in college, some of your best friends may be made in the most unexpectedly places.
During the first weekend I was at Otterbein, I met my two best friends, Hallie and Doug, in the most random spots. On the Saturday morning of that weekend, I met Hallie while doing a community service project (called the Community Plunge) during the early hours of that morning. The two of us started talking and the rest is history. Hours later, a bunch of guys were sitting in the lounge of Mayne Hall (my residence at the time on Otterbein's campus) watching the Ohio State vs Marshall game. I started talking with one of the kids watching the game and found out he was from the next town over. Not too long after that initial conversation, the two of us hit it off and that is how I met my friend Doug. It was in two random areas I met both Doug and Hallie but I made two of my best friends that day alone.
During winter quarter of my freshman year at Otterbein, I made some of my best friends simply because they took the time to show an interest in me. As a broadcast major, I was assigned to do play-by-play for the Otterbein women's basketball team and had fun calling the games from the very start. I had called games in high school but this experience ended up being a bit different. After calling a couple of the games, more of the players from the team started to approach me in the Cardinal's Nest (the cafeteria) and took the time to ask me how my day was going and learn more about me. I'll admit that I was surprised (in a pleasant way) these girls were taking the time to talk to me and they would always ask if I was coming to the next game to do play-by-play. I will never forget the kindness these girls showed me and by the time my senior year rolled around, some of these girls had become some of the best friends I had made on campus.
While a student at Otterbein, I didn't get a chance to meet many of the graduate students, however, one I met randomly became one of my best friends. During the fall and part of the winter quarter of my junior year at Otterbein, I had seen this one gentleman who was always in the library tutoring other students and riding his bike around campus. I had seen him often but never had the chance to introduce myself or cross paths with him long enough to do so. It wasn't until I was walking into Roush Hall on campus (which houses classrooms) that we finally got to cross paths. Mike and I hit it off at that point and I am still in touch and friends with him to this day.
Even though there are numerous stories I have on how I made friends at Otterbein, these always stick out in my mind for positive reasons. I did make some of my best friends in the most unexpectedly places during my college tenure and don't be afraid to let your friendships grow from similar opportunities as well.
Even though you will be leaving the friends you made behind, you will have a huge opportunity to make new friends from the very start. There will be several other students in the same situation you are in so you will definitely not be alone.
While getting out of your dorm room and getting involved with campus activities is a great way to make friends in college, some of your best friends may be made in the most unexpectedly places.
During the first weekend I was at Otterbein, I met my two best friends, Hallie and Doug, in the most random spots. On the Saturday morning of that weekend, I met Hallie while doing a community service project (called the Community Plunge) during the early hours of that morning. The two of us started talking and the rest is history. Hours later, a bunch of guys were sitting in the lounge of Mayne Hall (my residence at the time on Otterbein's campus) watching the Ohio State vs Marshall game. I started talking with one of the kids watching the game and found out he was from the next town over. Not too long after that initial conversation, the two of us hit it off and that is how I met my friend Doug. It was in two random areas I met both Doug and Hallie but I made two of my best friends that day alone.
During winter quarter of my freshman year at Otterbein, I made some of my best friends simply because they took the time to show an interest in me. As a broadcast major, I was assigned to do play-by-play for the Otterbein women's basketball team and had fun calling the games from the very start. I had called games in high school but this experience ended up being a bit different. After calling a couple of the games, more of the players from the team started to approach me in the Cardinal's Nest (the cafeteria) and took the time to ask me how my day was going and learn more about me. I'll admit that I was surprised (in a pleasant way) these girls were taking the time to talk to me and they would always ask if I was coming to the next game to do play-by-play. I will never forget the kindness these girls showed me and by the time my senior year rolled around, some of these girls had become some of the best friends I had made on campus.
While a student at Otterbein, I didn't get a chance to meet many of the graduate students, however, one I met randomly became one of my best friends. During the fall and part of the winter quarter of my junior year at Otterbein, I had seen this one gentleman who was always in the library tutoring other students and riding his bike around campus. I had seen him often but never had the chance to introduce myself or cross paths with him long enough to do so. It wasn't until I was walking into Roush Hall on campus (which houses classrooms) that we finally got to cross paths. Mike and I hit it off at that point and I am still in touch and friends with him to this day.
Even though there are numerous stories I have on how I made friends at Otterbein, these always stick out in my mind for positive reasons. I did make some of my best friends in the most unexpectedly places during my college tenure and don't be afraid to let your friendships grow from similar opportunities as well.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Take Time To Relax: You Might Need It!
As a college student or working professional, there will be times in which stressful situations or weeks will arise and it will be tiring. There may be times in which longer hours will have to be put in and cause you to feel tired and strained a little bit. Getting through this may not be easy, however, taking time to relax afterwards may be something to help you refresh.
Below are some tips on finding different ways to relax and refresh after long periods of work time:
1) Plan a Weekend Getaway Somewhere - Take a weekend to find a place to travel to and get away from your normal routine. This will help you focus your attention elsewhere, find some peace and quiet and help you explore another place.
2) Take Time To Enjoy Your Hobbies - Hobbies are a great way to relax and make life more enjoyable. Take some time to create a project with one of your hobbies, share it with someone else or just enjoy a hobby you enjoy doing. This will divert your attention and force you to focus on something else.
3) Go for a Couple of Nice Long Workouts- Exercise can release tension and take time to get in shape or do some long workouts to relieve the stress
4) Plan a Movie Night or Movie Day - One of the greatest ways to relax is to stick in a movie you haven't seen in a while and just sit and enjoy it! You might be surprised as to how relaxed you will feel while enjoying your movie.
Below are some tips on finding different ways to relax and refresh after long periods of work time:
1) Plan a Weekend Getaway Somewhere - Take a weekend to find a place to travel to and get away from your normal routine. This will help you focus your attention elsewhere, find some peace and quiet and help you explore another place.
2) Take Time To Enjoy Your Hobbies - Hobbies are a great way to relax and make life more enjoyable. Take some time to create a project with one of your hobbies, share it with someone else or just enjoy a hobby you enjoy doing. This will divert your attention and force you to focus on something else.
3) Go for a Couple of Nice Long Workouts- Exercise can release tension and take time to get in shape or do some long workouts to relieve the stress
4) Plan a Movie Night or Movie Day - One of the greatest ways to relax is to stick in a movie you haven't seen in a while and just sit and enjoy it! You might be surprised as to how relaxed you will feel while enjoying your movie.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Community Service: Take Time To Help Others!
As a college student and even as a professional, giving back to the community is an important aspect to have in your life. Taking time to help others, volunteer and be with other people provides you with something to look forward to, an opportunity to help others and meet other people. Taking time to help may be time consuming but can have benefits in the end.
During my college years, I'll admit I didn't take as much time to help out the community but was grateful when I did during my senior year. For a class, I had to interact with a service project and I had the opportunity to teach elementary school kids how to play sports. I hadn't done anything like this for a while but was glad I did.
Each week, the kids started to warm up to everyone else in the group and it was easy to tell they looked forward to us coming on a weekly basis. It meant a lot to these children that these "big college kids" were coming each week to spend time with them and playing games with them too. Even when I was done with what I needed to do for my class, I still volunteered because I enjoyed interacting with a different group of people and felt like I was giving back. It reminded me of what how I felt whenever someone older would pay attention and spend time to me and it felt good to remember where I came from.
Even after my college years were over, I found a way to give back to the community through my photography work. After taking pictures at a Solon High School football game one afternoon, I received a lot of positive feedback on the photos after I posted them up on Facebook and was asked if I could attend more games. I took the offer and was glad I did.
It had been many years since I really followed Solon High football, however, taking pictures at the games helps me interact and meet with a different group of people. During this time, I have received lots of positive feedback on the photos from the players, band members, parents and other people involved and looked forward to each coming week. I could tell the photos were appreciated and volunteering my time to do this has been worthwhile. It's provided me with another way for me to enjoy a hobby, have something to look forward to and interact with another group of people.
No matter where you are at in your life, take time to give back to the community; you never know what you might end up looking forward to and who you will meet.
During my college years, I'll admit I didn't take as much time to help out the community but was grateful when I did during my senior year. For a class, I had to interact with a service project and I had the opportunity to teach elementary school kids how to play sports. I hadn't done anything like this for a while but was glad I did.
Each week, the kids started to warm up to everyone else in the group and it was easy to tell they looked forward to us coming on a weekly basis. It meant a lot to these children that these "big college kids" were coming each week to spend time with them and playing games with them too. Even when I was done with what I needed to do for my class, I still volunteered because I enjoyed interacting with a different group of people and felt like I was giving back. It reminded me of what how I felt whenever someone older would pay attention and spend time to me and it felt good to remember where I came from.
Even after my college years were over, I found a way to give back to the community through my photography work. After taking pictures at a Solon High School football game one afternoon, I received a lot of positive feedback on the photos after I posted them up on Facebook and was asked if I could attend more games. I took the offer and was glad I did.
It had been many years since I really followed Solon High football, however, taking pictures at the games helps me interact and meet with a different group of people. During this time, I have received lots of positive feedback on the photos from the players, band members, parents and other people involved and looked forward to each coming week. I could tell the photos were appreciated and volunteering my time to do this has been worthwhile. It's provided me with another way for me to enjoy a hobby, have something to look forward to and interact with another group of people.
No matter where you are at in your life, take time to give back to the community; you never know what you might end up looking forward to and who you will meet.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Traveling Abroad: Awesome Experience That Lasts a Lifetime!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
College Students: Take Time To Socialize
During your college years, there will be moments where you will be busy with classwork, projects, and other commitments and it can be stressful. Budgeting your time is key and taking care of your schoolwork is a must. Getting bogged down can happen but taking time to socialize with others on a regular basis can help relieve some of that stress. Finding different ways to socialize with your friends can help relieve some of the stress you are feeling and help bring a bit more balance to your college experience.
Even though taking time to study and do your homework is a must, there are several different ways in which you can budget some time a week to socialize and hang out with others. Below are some suggestions:
Even though taking time to study and do your homework is a must, there are several different ways in which you can budget some time a week to socialize and hang out with others. Below are some suggestions:
- Get Involved With Different Campus Organizations- Whether it's Greek Life, the campus radio or television station, a community service group, etc. getting involved with the different groups on campus will help you budget your time and give you something to look forward to on a weekly basis. It will also help get you out of your dorm room or apartment and meet others
- Start a Weekly Event With People Who Share Common Interests- During my freshmen year at Otterbein, Sunday evening became Ultimate Frisbee night where a bunch of my friends and I would gather for a weekly frisbee game. For some of my other friends, it was a weekly get together to play Magic The Gathering, Poker, Halo or Nintendo Wii. These weekly events provided a way to relax during the week, enjoy the company of others who shared the same interests and relax. Find a way to start a weekly event such as these and it will help you socialize with people on a regular basis
- Take Time To Hang Out With Others When Invited and When You Can Go With Them- If a bunch of your friends are going to go to the theater to see a play and you can go, go with them! If they are going to a sporting event on campus and you can go, go with them! Taking time to enjoy these opportunities will help take you away from your stresses and help you relax a bit. It will also get you to socialize with the people you are hanging out with too!
Monday, October 25, 2010
College Students: Take Time To Say Hello
"Hello, how are you doing?"
When you are in line waiting to get your food from the cafeteria, getting your coffee from the shop, or getting your books from the bookstore, how often do you take the time to ask the people working in these places that question? These people are taking time out of their day to serve you the food or provide you help with finding the right study materials but how often do you take the time to ask how they are doing?
By taking a few moments to say hello to others, it will help you stand out from the crowd. Not many people take time to say hello to people in different departments on campus so taking just a few minutes to ask how someone's day is going will help set you apart.
College campuses vary in size but there are different ways in which you can get to know more then the professors and your classmates. For example, when you go into the cafeteria to get your lunch or dinner, take a couple of minutes to see if you can strike a conversation with the person serving the food. You can ask him or her how the day is going, if a lot of people have come through or find ask a simple question to get a small conversation going. It will probably mean a lot to this person that you are taking time out of your day to get to know him or her and it will set you apart from others in a positive way.
Doing this can take a little bit of practice, however, getting to know others will not be as hard. You might be amazed how easy it is to strike up a conversation with someone with a little ice breaker and how much that person might appreciate you taking the time to do so.
During my time at Otterbein, I took time to practice this skill early on and it benefited me along the way. It meant a lot when I took time to say hello to the people working in the bookstore, the people up in the cafeteria (aka the Cardinal's Nest), the coffee shop on campus, the people working in the library, the admissions staff, the alumni relations staff and several others. Taking a few minutes to say hello to these people each day made it easier for me to have a conversation with them later on and helped me develop relationships with several different people on campus. By being friendly to these people and taking time to learn how their days were going, it made it easier for me to say hello to these people on a daily basis and become friends with them.
Whenever you are running errands on campus, don't forget that taking a few minutes to say hello to someone can help develop a relationship and make you a friendlier face on campus.
When you are in line waiting to get your food from the cafeteria, getting your coffee from the shop, or getting your books from the bookstore, how often do you take the time to ask the people working in these places that question? These people are taking time out of their day to serve you the food or provide you help with finding the right study materials but how often do you take the time to ask how they are doing?
By taking a few moments to say hello to others, it will help you stand out from the crowd. Not many people take time to say hello to people in different departments on campus so taking just a few minutes to ask how someone's day is going will help set you apart.
College campuses vary in size but there are different ways in which you can get to know more then the professors and your classmates. For example, when you go into the cafeteria to get your lunch or dinner, take a couple of minutes to see if you can strike a conversation with the person serving the food. You can ask him or her how the day is going, if a lot of people have come through or find ask a simple question to get a small conversation going. It will probably mean a lot to this person that you are taking time out of your day to get to know him or her and it will set you apart from others in a positive way.
Doing this can take a little bit of practice, however, getting to know others will not be as hard. You might be amazed how easy it is to strike up a conversation with someone with a little ice breaker and how much that person might appreciate you taking the time to do so.
During my time at Otterbein, I took time to practice this skill early on and it benefited me along the way. It meant a lot when I took time to say hello to the people working in the bookstore, the people up in the cafeteria (aka the Cardinal's Nest), the coffee shop on campus, the people working in the library, the admissions staff, the alumni relations staff and several others. Taking a few minutes to say hello to these people each day made it easier for me to have a conversation with them later on and helped me develop relationships with several different people on campus. By being friendly to these people and taking time to learn how their days were going, it made it easier for me to say hello to these people on a daily basis and become friends with them.
Whenever you are running errands on campus, don't forget that taking a few minutes to say hello to someone can help develop a relationship and make you a friendlier face on campus.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Map Out What You Want Your Resume To Look After Four Years
For college students, having a great resume is not only crucial for when you graduate but when you apply for internships as well. Your resume is an opportunity to provide a snapshot for a potential employer or internship supervisor a reason why he or she should bring you in for an interview. These people are looking for people who can help them succeed, reach their goals and have a drive to learn. Taking the time to map out what you want this piece of paper to look like during your college years will help you get your foot in the door when you need it the most.
Even though it might sound odd, taking time to figure out what experiences you want on your resume will pay off later on. This will help you plan what type of internships to go after, what work and professional experience you want to have under your belt, and how to reach these goals. This will help you decide where you want to go in your college career, what you want to work towards and how you are going to get there.
By taking time to figure out what experiences you want on your resume, you will set goals for yourself and create a polished resume that could look enticing to a potential employer when you graduate. Having a resume that shows internships, work and leadership experiences will show a potential employer when you graduate that you were active, outgoing and willing to learn. This will help set you apart from a lot of the other resumes that will come through there and increase your chances of getting a call for an interview. Having mapped out these experiences will also provide different successes to talk about during your interview.
Even though it might seem odd mapping out your resume, taking the time to do so will help you succeed later on. This will give you goals to reach for, find what you want to achieve in and outside of college and provide great experience for when you need to look for your first job out of college. Take the time to figure out what path your resume to take.
Even though it might sound odd, taking time to figure out what experiences you want on your resume will pay off later on. This will help you plan what type of internships to go after, what work and professional experience you want to have under your belt, and how to reach these goals. This will help you decide where you want to go in your college career, what you want to work towards and how you are going to get there.
By taking time to figure out what experiences you want on your resume, you will set goals for yourself and create a polished resume that could look enticing to a potential employer when you graduate. Having a resume that shows internships, work and leadership experiences will show a potential employer when you graduate that you were active, outgoing and willing to learn. This will help set you apart from a lot of the other resumes that will come through there and increase your chances of getting a call for an interview. Having mapped out these experiences will also provide different successes to talk about during your interview.
Even though it might seem odd mapping out your resume, taking the time to do so will help you succeed later on. This will give you goals to reach for, find what you want to achieve in and outside of college and provide great experience for when you need to look for your first job out of college. Take the time to figure out what path your resume to take.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
College Students: Take Time To Support Other Campus Functions and Events
Taking time to learn the campus and the environment is important during freshmen year. It's important to learn what events are popular, how to get involved, and meeting people at different types of functions. It's easy to stay within your comfort zone but take time to enjoy a diverse group of activities. Similar to the phrase "never judge a book by its cover," never judge an event by the advertisement on the outside.
During your freshmen year and beyond, take time to experience different events you may not have gone to otherwise before starting college. If your school has a big arts program, take time to see the musicals, plays and other instrumental performances on campus. If your school has a big fine art program, take time to visit student art exhibitions. If you have never really been to a sports event, take time to go to a football game, basketball, etc. Going to these events will help take you out of your dorm room and help you interact with others on campus. You may also be surprised as to what you might find enjoying!
In addition t0 providing different ways to socialize with others, taking time to experience events can serve as a pleasant diversion and method to relax. For example, during my time at Otterbein College, taking time to watch some of my friends perform in a instrumental concert or one of the musicals served as a nice diversion. It was always fun to do something different, it was an opportunity to support my friends and it helped make my experience on campus more meaningful. For me, going to these events also served as a getaway and helped me wind down when I needed it the most.
When you are looking for something to do, consider going to events that might be outside your normal interest level. You may find it relaxing to experience something else your campus has to offer and helps you support another group of people. Taking time to enjoy these events can help make your experience more meaningful and provide different ways to socialize as well.
During your freshmen year and beyond, take time to experience different events you may not have gone to otherwise before starting college. If your school has a big arts program, take time to see the musicals, plays and other instrumental performances on campus. If your school has a big fine art program, take time to visit student art exhibitions. If you have never really been to a sports event, take time to go to a football game, basketball, etc. Going to these events will help take you out of your dorm room and help you interact with others on campus. You may also be surprised as to what you might find enjoying!
In addition t0 providing different ways to socialize with others, taking time to experience events can serve as a pleasant diversion and method to relax. For example, during my time at Otterbein College, taking time to watch some of my friends perform in a instrumental concert or one of the musicals served as a nice diversion. It was always fun to do something different, it was an opportunity to support my friends and it helped make my experience on campus more meaningful. For me, going to these events also served as a getaway and helped me wind down when I needed it the most.
When you are looking for something to do, consider going to events that might be outside your normal interest level. You may find it relaxing to experience something else your campus has to offer and helps you support another group of people. Taking time to enjoy these events can help make your experience more meaningful and provide different ways to socialize as well.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
College Students: Plan Your Four Years and What You Want To Accomplish
If you are a college student, your college career will bring you valuable experience not only in the classroom but with what you do outside of the classroom as well. You have four years ahead of you to build up real life experience for potential employers when you graduate and it's important you make the most of it at this time. The time you spend inside and outside of the classroom, the activities you are involved with and the relationships you build will set the foundation you need to succeed when your college career is over.
Even though it takes time, planning your four years of college and what you want to accomplish is important for success in the "real world." Taking time to determine where and how many internships to do, what activities to get involved in and the types of relationships you want to build will help you make the transition from college to the working world.
When making up your plan, consider the following:
1) What Organizations on Campus Can I Be Apart of That Can Provide Experience Related to my Major? - This will help you get experience and connections you will need when interviewing for internships and possibly a job later on. This will provide you with experience you can use to prove to others you have the skills necessary for a particular internship or job. Getting involved in these organizations can also put you in touch with classmates or other connections on campus.
2) What Types of Internships Can Help Me Get the Experience I Need? Not every major is the same but the purpose of getting an internship is to get real-life experience in a learning setting. Don't simply take an internship just to get a bullet point on the resume; get as much experience and knowledge from that internship so it can boost your skill set for later on. Take time to determine which types of internships would benefit you the most and figure out a way to apply for them.
3) How Can I Learn to Network With Professionals in My Field of Study? The relationships you build in college can help open the doors for internships and even jobs later on down the line. Learn to network and find different ways to connect with professionals in your field while you are a student. Not many students take the time to ask professionals for advice and the people you will want to build relationships have been in your shoes before.
4) What Do I Want My Resume to Look Like My Senior Year? This will help map out where you want to go and how to get there. It might seem like a bizarre question but this will help you plan where you want to go.
Even though it takes time, planning your four years of college and what you want to accomplish is important for success in the "real world." Taking time to determine where and how many internships to do, what activities to get involved in and the types of relationships you want to build will help you make the transition from college to the working world.
When making up your plan, consider the following:
1) What Organizations on Campus Can I Be Apart of That Can Provide Experience Related to my Major? - This will help you get experience and connections you will need when interviewing for internships and possibly a job later on. This will provide you with experience you can use to prove to others you have the skills necessary for a particular internship or job. Getting involved in these organizations can also put you in touch with classmates or other connections on campus.
2) What Types of Internships Can Help Me Get the Experience I Need? Not every major is the same but the purpose of getting an internship is to get real-life experience in a learning setting. Don't simply take an internship just to get a bullet point on the resume; get as much experience and knowledge from that internship so it can boost your skill set for later on. Take time to determine which types of internships would benefit you the most and figure out a way to apply for them.
3) How Can I Learn to Network With Professionals in My Field of Study? The relationships you build in college can help open the doors for internships and even jobs later on down the line. Learn to network and find different ways to connect with professionals in your field while you are a student. Not many students take the time to ask professionals for advice and the people you will want to build relationships have been in your shoes before.
4) What Do I Want My Resume to Look Like My Senior Year? This will help map out where you want to go and how to get there. It might seem like a bizarre question but this will help you plan where you want to go.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Getting Settled in at College
Summer is nearing an end and for a lot of you college freshmen out there, it is time to start a new chapter in your academic life. For many, it will be the first time away from home, being away from what's familiar and experiencing another community other then the one your grew up in. Being a college freshmen can be intimidating at first but finding ways to get settled in and involved will help relieve that anxiety and fear.
In reality, starting college can be a bit scary. You are making the transition from your own home to a dorm room and you are starting over in your life. You may not know everyone that is living in your dorm or the people in your freshmen class. It can be intimidating but remember that you are not the only one who is making this transition and there are many others you are going through the same experience.
Below are some tips for getting settled into college and starting off on the right foot:
1) After you move in, take time to walk the halls of your dorm and introduce yourself to others who are living there - on paper, this might seem like an odd idea but you never know who you will come across and it's a great way to meet the people you will be living in the dorms with over the next several months. This will help you meet people you might want to hang out with, may have a class or two with and help relieve some of the anxiety you are feeling of being away from home. Take some time to introduce yourself to others and learn names.
2) Find different activities and clubs to join - being apart of extracurricular activities will help you make new friends, give you something else to look forward to and mix in with other people. Stay true to your hobbies and find different groups you can be apart of on campus. This will help you settle in a bit, get involved and meet other people and provide a diversion for you. Getting involved will enhance your college experience and create some good memories.
3) Say hello to your RAs, Hall Directors, cafeteria staff, book store staff, etc. - saying a hello and asking how someone else's day is going can really mean a lot to someone. Taking the time to do this with your RA, Hall Director, the people who serve the cafeteria food (you will be surprised how just saying thank you means a lot to the people who work to serve you your breakfast lunch and dinner) and the book store staff. This will help these people provide a friendly name with your face and give you an opportunity to know these individuals as people.
4) Don't Get Behind in Your Schoolwork and Set Specific Times to Study or Do Homework- Take the time to work out a study and homework schedule so you are not getting behind. This will help you create a schedule that is a bit more balanced, disciplined and get good grades. Procrastinating and waiting until the last minute to do projects or assignments will cause more stress and you will get more out of your assignments if you take your time and not rushing it.
Good luck!
In reality, starting college can be a bit scary. You are making the transition from your own home to a dorm room and you are starting over in your life. You may not know everyone that is living in your dorm or the people in your freshmen class. It can be intimidating but remember that you are not the only one who is making this transition and there are many others you are going through the same experience.
Below are some tips for getting settled into college and starting off on the right foot:
1) After you move in, take time to walk the halls of your dorm and introduce yourself to others who are living there - on paper, this might seem like an odd idea but you never know who you will come across and it's a great way to meet the people you will be living in the dorms with over the next several months. This will help you meet people you might want to hang out with, may have a class or two with and help relieve some of the anxiety you are feeling of being away from home. Take some time to introduce yourself to others and learn names.
2) Find different activities and clubs to join - being apart of extracurricular activities will help you make new friends, give you something else to look forward to and mix in with other people. Stay true to your hobbies and find different groups you can be apart of on campus. This will help you settle in a bit, get involved and meet other people and provide a diversion for you. Getting involved will enhance your college experience and create some good memories.
3) Say hello to your RAs, Hall Directors, cafeteria staff, book store staff, etc. - saying a hello and asking how someone else's day is going can really mean a lot to someone. Taking the time to do this with your RA, Hall Director, the people who serve the cafeteria food (you will be surprised how just saying thank you means a lot to the people who work to serve you your breakfast lunch and dinner) and the book store staff. This will help these people provide a friendly name with your face and give you an opportunity to know these individuals as people.
4) Don't Get Behind in Your Schoolwork and Set Specific Times to Study or Do Homework- Take the time to work out a study and homework schedule so you are not getting behind. This will help you create a schedule that is a bit more balanced, disciplined and get good grades. Procrastinating and waiting until the last minute to do projects or assignments will cause more stress and you will get more out of your assignments if you take your time and not rushing it.
Good luck!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)