As your college career is nearing a close, decisions about the future will have to be made as you get closer to walking across the stage to receive your degree. Thoughts as to where you want to go and what you want to achieve will have to be made and time will needed to be spent making those decisions.
As you make your decisions as to what path you want to pursue next, don't forget the fun times that made your college experience and the friends you have made. In addition to deciding where to go next, take time to do the following:
1) Enjoy the simple aspects of college that made your experience fun- almost every college campus has a tradition or two that you may have taken part of (at Otterbein where I went, one of the most popular were late night doughnut runs to Schnieder's Bakery in Uptown Westerville). Take time to enjoy these simple pleasures a few more times before you graduate
2) Spend time with the people who became your friends during your college career - chances are, friendships made up a good part of your college experience and take time to hang out, spend time and socialize with those who helped make your time in school fun
3) Thank those who helped you along the way - take time to thank professors, mentors or people who gave you an internship during your college career and helped you out. A simple e-mail or a thank you note could go a long way
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Advice For High School Seniors
As the school year comes to a close, many high school seniors will be closing one chapter of their lives and starting the next phase in their lives. With high school coming a completion, a new life will begin as many students will begin college, join the workforce, or go onto to pursue other opportunities.
When I graduated high school, I'll admit I thought I knew a lot in terms of how to succeed inside the classroom and out. It wasn't until I started college that I really understood the importance of building meaningful relationships with others, making the most out of opportunities available and paving the path for success.
Having graduated high school and 2004 and college in 2008, I've learned a lot in the four years it took for me to go from high school graduate to college graduate. The most important aspects I learned in those four years was the importance of starting a new life and having a positive attitude, building meaningful relationships with others, making the most of opportunities and not forgetting those who have helped you along the way.
When you leave high school to join your next adventure, look at it as an opportunity to move on and start a new life. Put any frustrations, pains, ill feelings you may have towards your high school years behind you and focus on how to plan the next phase in your life. Take time to start over, look at things from a positive perspective, and realize you can start over and be happy in your life.
As you make your way into college, the workforce or the next phase of your life, building friendships and relationships with others will be key. When you first move into college, it might be scary knowing you are away from home and don't know anyone. Even if you are not going away to college, those feelings can still remain. When you make this transition, take time to get to know other people, join clubs and organizations and get out of the dorm room, apartment or house you are living in. This will help you meet people, build friendships and develop relationships that will benefit you in the long term.
When you make your way out of high school, take advantage of opportunities you have in front of you. If you are a college student, take advantage of study abroad programs, internships, networking opportunities or anything else that can help provide experience you will need for when you graduate college. Make the most out of what your school has to offer and take advantage of those opportunities. If you are going into the workforce, take advantage of different opportunities to learn new skills, certificates, trades or anything else that will help you stand out from the rest.
Lastly, don't forget those who have helped you along the way. Take time to keep in touch with teachers, coaches or other mentors who helped you get into college or reach the next goal you had in life. Take time to appreciate the help these people gave you along the way and don't forget the time they took to help you reach your goals.
As you walk across on stage and enter another phase into your lives, take time to focus on starting a new life, make new friends and relationships, look for opportunities that can benefit you and keep in touch with those who lent a helping hand.
When I graduated high school, I'll admit I thought I knew a lot in terms of how to succeed inside the classroom and out. It wasn't until I started college that I really understood the importance of building meaningful relationships with others, making the most out of opportunities available and paving the path for success.
Having graduated high school and 2004 and college in 2008, I've learned a lot in the four years it took for me to go from high school graduate to college graduate. The most important aspects I learned in those four years was the importance of starting a new life and having a positive attitude, building meaningful relationships with others, making the most of opportunities and not forgetting those who have helped you along the way.
When you leave high school to join your next adventure, look at it as an opportunity to move on and start a new life. Put any frustrations, pains, ill feelings you may have towards your high school years behind you and focus on how to plan the next phase in your life. Take time to start over, look at things from a positive perspective, and realize you can start over and be happy in your life.
As you make your way into college, the workforce or the next phase of your life, building friendships and relationships with others will be key. When you first move into college, it might be scary knowing you are away from home and don't know anyone. Even if you are not going away to college, those feelings can still remain. When you make this transition, take time to get to know other people, join clubs and organizations and get out of the dorm room, apartment or house you are living in. This will help you meet people, build friendships and develop relationships that will benefit you in the long term.
When you make your way out of high school, take advantage of opportunities you have in front of you. If you are a college student, take advantage of study abroad programs, internships, networking opportunities or anything else that can help provide experience you will need for when you graduate college. Make the most out of what your school has to offer and take advantage of those opportunities. If you are going into the workforce, take advantage of different opportunities to learn new skills, certificates, trades or anything else that will help you stand out from the rest.
Lastly, don't forget those who have helped you along the way. Take time to keep in touch with teachers, coaches or other mentors who helped you get into college or reach the next goal you had in life. Take time to appreciate the help these people gave you along the way and don't forget the time they took to help you reach your goals.
As you walk across on stage and enter another phase into your lives, take time to focus on starting a new life, make new friends and relationships, look for opportunities that can benefit you and keep in touch with those who lent a helping hand.
Advice For College Graduates
With college graduation just around the corner, plans about the future and what to do after you walk across the stage to get your degree will have to be made. Making the transition from college student to young professional is a tough one to make but below are some tips for making that adjustment:
1) Take Time To Get Out and Meet New People - There may be a chance you could be moving to another city or town to get your career started and you may not know a lot of people to hang out with after work. Take some time to get adjusted to your new schedule but take time to join clubs, organizations or find different ways to get out of the house or apartment and meet new people. Larger cities have young professionals organizations, people utilize web-sites like MeetUp.com or Match.com to meet new people and there is always the Internet to help you find local organizations that meet your interests. In order to make new friends, you have to take time to meet new people.
2) Take Time To Adjust To Your New Schedule- Chances are, you may not be able to have the same sleep schedule you had in college and you may need to take time to adjust to getting up earlier, working a longer day and getting a routine that suits you. Take time to plan your days as to when you need to get up, how long it takes to get ready, how long it takes to get to work and plan accordingly.
3) Have Network Contacts as Support- Starting a new job may be a bit stressful, however, having network contacts in your field can help. You never know when you might need advice on how to handle a situation at work, how to improve your performance or adjust to a new schedule. Having these contacts can help as you make your way into the world.
4) No Matter How Far You Go, Don't Forget Those Who Helped You Along The Way- Take time to keep in touch with those who helped you along the way. Don't forget those who helped you reach your goals and take time to send e-mails, send messages, have lunch, etc.
1) Take Time To Get Out and Meet New People - There may be a chance you could be moving to another city or town to get your career started and you may not know a lot of people to hang out with after work. Take some time to get adjusted to your new schedule but take time to join clubs, organizations or find different ways to get out of the house or apartment and meet new people. Larger cities have young professionals organizations, people utilize web-sites like MeetUp.com or Match.com to meet new people and there is always the Internet to help you find local organizations that meet your interests. In order to make new friends, you have to take time to meet new people.
2) Take Time To Adjust To Your New Schedule- Chances are, you may not be able to have the same sleep schedule you had in college and you may need to take time to adjust to getting up earlier, working a longer day and getting a routine that suits you. Take time to plan your days as to when you need to get up, how long it takes to get ready, how long it takes to get to work and plan accordingly.
3) Have Network Contacts as Support- Starting a new job may be a bit stressful, however, having network contacts in your field can help. You never know when you might need advice on how to handle a situation at work, how to improve your performance or adjust to a new schedule. Having these contacts can help as you make your way into the world.
4) No Matter How Far You Go, Don't Forget Those Who Helped You Along The Way- Take time to keep in touch with those who helped you along the way. Don't forget those who helped you reach your goals and take time to send e-mails, send messages, have lunch, etc.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
First Witness To An Act of Kindness
During the past several months, I have written blog posts regarding the importance of taking time to help others succeed and lending a hand to those who need assistance. I've often written about the importance of how taking time to help others is meaningful to others and can build trust and lasting relationships. Last night, I was able to witness a very generous act of kindness that meant a lot to a young boy and his family.
When walking into Solon, Ohio's Stewart Field to take pictures of the Solon vs. Massillon Jackson lacrosse game, I noticed all off the players, coaches and parents wearing t-shirts promoting "Vincestrong." I wasn't 100% sure what exactly "Vincestrong" was until one of the parents came up to me and asked that I take pictures of the captains going out for the coin toss. The parent informed me that "Vincestrong" was created to help a local boy who was diagnosed with leukemia and raise money for his foundation. On this very night, this boy was not only getting an opportunity to go out for the coin toss before the game but the entire Solon lacrosse family dedicated the entire night to him and his family.
In addition to dedicating the night to this boy, the parents sold "Vincestrong" t-shirts and wrist bands with the proceeds benefiting the foundation. As the game went on, I saw lots of students in attendance and parents make their way to the press box to pick up a t-shirt and donate to the cause. During halftime, I couldn't help but walk up to the press box to pick up a t-shirt to help this local boy as well.
As the night went on, I could tell how meaningful this act of kindness from the Solon lacrosse parents and players was to the boy and his family. These parents and players didn't have to do this at all but they all decided that lending a hand would be meaningful and helpful to someone in need. As a result, they garnered the trust, support and appreciation from this boy and his family for a long time.
By taking time to help others in need, you might not realize it at first but your assistance can mean a lot to someone in the end. If you have the chance to lend a hand to help, do so and you will not only assist someone but could create a lasting relationship.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
College Seniors: What Is It Going To Take To Reach Your Goals?
With spring rapidly approaching, decisions about your life after college will have to be made. Decisions as to where you want to go in life, what you want to achieve and where you want to live will have to be considered before you walk across the stage and earn your degree. These decisions may not be easy but taking the time to understand where you want to go can help you in the end. After you decide where you want to go, you have to ask yourself what is it going to take to reach your goals.
As you plan your life after college, take some time to determine where you want to be one year, five years and maybe even 10 years after graduating. Do you want to go back to school at one point? Do you want to be a manager for the company you work for? Do you want to work for a large sized company? Take several minutes to decide how you want to start off, where you want to be five years after that and what you want to achieve ten years down the road.
Once your goals are set, you need to ask yourself one simple question:
"What is it going to take to achieve these goals?"
Goals are always at the top of the cliff, however, you need to know how you are going to climb up the mountain to reach them. What steps will you need to take to get better at your job? What additional training or information will you need? It is questions like these that will help you plan the steps you will need to take to reach your goals and understand what it is going to take to reach your dreams.
For example, let's say you have a goal to become a ear, nose and throat doctor. What schools do you want to go to for medical school that will give you the best training before your residency? If so, how do you plan on getting into those schools? What score will you need on the MCATS to get in? These are all questions that will answer what it will take for you to reach that goal of becoming an ear, nose and throat doctor. After you answer these, you will have the plan set up in place to reach that goal and understand what it will take.
As your time is winding down in college, decisions will have to be made about your future and goals will need to be set. If you understand what you want to achieve, you will need to understand what you need to do to reach those dreams of yours.
As you plan your life after college, take some time to determine where you want to be one year, five years and maybe even 10 years after graduating. Do you want to go back to school at one point? Do you want to be a manager for the company you work for? Do you want to work for a large sized company? Take several minutes to decide how you want to start off, where you want to be five years after that and what you want to achieve ten years down the road.
Once your goals are set, you need to ask yourself one simple question:
"What is it going to take to achieve these goals?"
Goals are always at the top of the cliff, however, you need to know how you are going to climb up the mountain to reach them. What steps will you need to take to get better at your job? What additional training or information will you need? It is questions like these that will help you plan the steps you will need to take to reach your goals and understand what it is going to take to reach your dreams.
For example, let's say you have a goal to become a ear, nose and throat doctor. What schools do you want to go to for medical school that will give you the best training before your residency? If so, how do you plan on getting into those schools? What score will you need on the MCATS to get in? These are all questions that will answer what it will take for you to reach that goal of becoming an ear, nose and throat doctor. After you answer these, you will have the plan set up in place to reach that goal and understand what it will take.
As your time is winding down in college, decisions will have to be made about your future and goals will need to be set. If you understand what you want to achieve, you will need to understand what you need to do to reach those dreams of yours.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Be Grateful For What You Have
Throughout out lives, there are times in which we come across others that may have a nicer car, a bigger house or other luxury items or talents we wish we had as well. Sometimes it may be difficult not having certain items or talents but looking at what you have in your life instead of what you don't have in your life may help put things into another perspective.
For example, when I was in high school, I ran track but was never as fast as some of our other runners and not as athletically gifted. It may have seemed hard at times knowing I was never going to be a championship runner, however, I decided to look at it from a different perspective. I looked at the experience as an opportunity to make some awesome friends (some of which I still talk to to this day) and find different ways to contribute to the team. I often found myself cheering on my teammates who helped win meets for us and even put together the end of the season video (a tradition that continues to this day).
In this case, I knew I didn't have the athletic ability some of my teammates possessed but I understood the awesome friends I had made and the importance of cheering on your teammates. I may not have been the fastest runner out there but knew I had met some great people and learned some valuable skills along the way.
As another example, growing up, I knew others that could paint and draw pictures really well, however, I could not (and still cannot) do either very well. Instead of being upset that I couldn't do either one of these activities very well, I found another way to be artistic by taking pictures. After years of doing video production, photography came easy because I was understood how to frame a shot, could vision what I wanted a photo to look like and it has become one of my favorite hobbies. Instead of being upset about not being able to draw or paint well, I am grateful I had the skills to take some great pictures and become artistic in that sense.
Even beyond my high school years, I have still come across those who have more athletic talents then I have, have other skills I don't possess and may have a few items I don't have as well. While it might be easy to be jealous or upset in these cases, I learned that looking at it from another perspective has helped me be grateful for the things I do have. By looking at things from this type of perspective, it has helped me appreciate the friends I have, what I can do and the small things in life that put a smile on my face.
For example, when I was in high school, I ran track but was never as fast as some of our other runners and not as athletically gifted. It may have seemed hard at times knowing I was never going to be a championship runner, however, I decided to look at it from a different perspective. I looked at the experience as an opportunity to make some awesome friends (some of which I still talk to to this day) and find different ways to contribute to the team. I often found myself cheering on my teammates who helped win meets for us and even put together the end of the season video (a tradition that continues to this day).
In this case, I knew I didn't have the athletic ability some of my teammates possessed but I understood the awesome friends I had made and the importance of cheering on your teammates. I may not have been the fastest runner out there but knew I had met some great people and learned some valuable skills along the way.
As another example, growing up, I knew others that could paint and draw pictures really well, however, I could not (and still cannot) do either very well. Instead of being upset that I couldn't do either one of these activities very well, I found another way to be artistic by taking pictures. After years of doing video production, photography came easy because I was understood how to frame a shot, could vision what I wanted a photo to look like and it has become one of my favorite hobbies. Instead of being upset about not being able to draw or paint well, I am grateful I had the skills to take some great pictures and become artistic in that sense.
Even beyond my high school years, I have still come across those who have more athletic talents then I have, have other skills I don't possess and may have a few items I don't have as well. While it might be easy to be jealous or upset in these cases, I learned that looking at it from another perspective has helped me be grateful for the things I do have. By looking at things from this type of perspective, it has helped me appreciate the friends I have, what I can do and the small things in life that put a smile on my face.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Trying New Opportunities Can Build Some of The Best Friendships
During certain times in our lives, there are times in which we aren't eager to try new opportunities, new challenges or break out of our comfort zones. Trying an activity, hobby or something that is out of your comfort zone can be challenging but can reap the rewards if done right. Not every new opportunity you take advantage of may be a good experience but taking the time to enjoy new hobbies and activities can help build some of the best friendships.
Before I went to college, I never had the courage to run for any type of staffhead position for any of the organizations I was apart of due to the fear of possibly being rejected. I lacked confidence and didn't feel that I had the skills to lead people or feel I could even win the position. This fear I had made it difficult for me to want to take on any type of leadership roles during that time in my life.
During my sophomore year of college, this attitude of mine changed with an opportunity that was presented to me and the encouragement of two friends of mine. There was an opportunity for me to become an Assistant Promotions Director for the campus radio station at Otterbein (where I went to college) and after getting turned down for another position months beforehand and feeling down about that, I wasn't sure I wanted to run for anything again. It wasn't until the Webmaster of the station and the General Manager talked with me for a little bit that I finally decided to throw my name in the hat for the open position.
Unlike the months before, I ended up getting the position and the girl who was the Webmaster, the General Manager and others who worked at the station became some of my closest friends. These people took time to encourage me to work hard at the position, grow and develop leadership skills I never knew I had, and helped boost my confidence. I was able to trust these people (something I had trouble doing at certain times) and realized I was building great friendships with these individuals. Taking advantage of this opportunity not only helped me realize skills I didn't have but helped me develop some great friendships as well.
Had I not taken advantage of this new opportunity, I never would have made some of the great friends I had at the campus radio station and never realized some of the leadership skills I had. it opened me up to becoming more involved in this organization and others and I greatly benefited from going out of my comfort zone to try something new.
Even beyond college, I've taken advantage of new opportunities via the suggestion and help of others. I've become close with those who have helped me get more involved with my photography hobby, have become friends with a couple of people who have given me dating advice, and have gotten to know some other great people by getting out and trying something new. I've not only benefited and become more confident but have developed some close friendships as well.
Whenever you have the opportunity to try a new activity, you may not only benefit yourself but also develop some incredible friendships along the way too.
Before I went to college, I never had the courage to run for any type of staffhead position for any of the organizations I was apart of due to the fear of possibly being rejected. I lacked confidence and didn't feel that I had the skills to lead people or feel I could even win the position. This fear I had made it difficult for me to want to take on any type of leadership roles during that time in my life.
During my sophomore year of college, this attitude of mine changed with an opportunity that was presented to me and the encouragement of two friends of mine. There was an opportunity for me to become an Assistant Promotions Director for the campus radio station at Otterbein (where I went to college) and after getting turned down for another position months beforehand and feeling down about that, I wasn't sure I wanted to run for anything again. It wasn't until the Webmaster of the station and the General Manager talked with me for a little bit that I finally decided to throw my name in the hat for the open position.
Unlike the months before, I ended up getting the position and the girl who was the Webmaster, the General Manager and others who worked at the station became some of my closest friends. These people took time to encourage me to work hard at the position, grow and develop leadership skills I never knew I had, and helped boost my confidence. I was able to trust these people (something I had trouble doing at certain times) and realized I was building great friendships with these individuals. Taking advantage of this opportunity not only helped me realize skills I didn't have but helped me develop some great friendships as well.
Had I not taken advantage of this new opportunity, I never would have made some of the great friends I had at the campus radio station and never realized some of the leadership skills I had. it opened me up to becoming more involved in this organization and others and I greatly benefited from going out of my comfort zone to try something new.
Even beyond college, I've taken advantage of new opportunities via the suggestion and help of others. I've become close with those who have helped me get more involved with my photography hobby, have become friends with a couple of people who have given me dating advice, and have gotten to know some other great people by getting out and trying something new. I've not only benefited and become more confident but have developed some close friendships as well.
Whenever you have the opportunity to try a new activity, you may not only benefit yourself but also develop some incredible friendships along the way too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)