About Career Blog

Random Jobs

It's about an hour until I have to leave for my job at a local clothing store. I'm a little less than enthusiastic about having to do so. I find it difficult to take a job that I can't gain any fulfillment from too seriously. I got back from Los Angeles about two weeks ago, where I was working for about three months at an animation company along with doing some on set work at various commercial shoots. Over the period of those months, I was incredibly busy and at times very stressed. However, the stress that came with the work was something that kept me happy. I was working hard at something that I have a strong passion for and that I know I will be continuing after I graduate. After all that, such an immediate change back to both the normal life of school and a job that I find little importance to my future is a little unmotivating.

All negativity aside, I am excited to start my last year of college. I've tried to get the most out of my experience at school so far and that certainty won't change for the final stretch. I realize that it is an experience in itself to get these "unmotivating" jobs out of the way before you can begin a job that will have strong importance to you for the future. If nothing else, they help to gain a better appreciation for doing something that you feel strongly about.

Posted by jeff on 8/30/2007 11:23:00 PM
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Can I just be a professional student?

I am (discreetly) blogging from my cozy little nook in the dean's office. I work as a grad assistant here, and have many very interesting duties, like research, examining our website and walking various packages across campus. I love being the gopher, I love to walk around campus and see all the people. So often I end up stuck at the campus coffee shop, the library and the School of Communication.

On days like this, when it's in the 80s and the palm trees are swaying in the wind and you walk under the sudden shade of the overhanging oak trees, I feel like I could be a student forever (although I would like to be a student and not work multiple jobs.)

Right now the last thing I want to think about is looking for a job. I don't want to work in a cubicle, though I have done it many times. At my current internship I sit in the same office as my boss, and I would rather share my space than sit alone, divided off from everyone. I can't concentrate like that.

My walks about campus always inspire this random thought process. Especially when I have to walk around pep-rally crowds (go canes!) and feed off the excitement and energy of such a diverse crowd.
I'm excited for fall and football games, walking around in a sweater and a coffee, seeing my classmates and talking about anything other than work and finding jobs. Fall semester is always my favorite :-)

Posted by Christina on 8/30/2007 12:21:00 PM
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First week in college

My first week in college was nothing short of fantastic. Sharing my living space with 7 other people was shocking to say the least. Despite the fact that, for the last 18 years, I have lived with all the luxuries of an only child, having a roommate isn't all bad.

For the past week I have been participating in sorority recruitment. Recruitment has been one of the most hectic and fun times I have ever been through. It was a lot like an interview for a job, except you were being interviewed to become a part of their Greek family. I am now a pledge for a great group of girls.

No less than one day after recruitment ended I found myself running through a maze of buildings and offices in order to find my classes. Every student was more than willing to point out where I needed to go or where I could find help. I love all of my classes and I can't wait to embark on this wonderful journey.

As I sit here typing I can't help but think about what the future holds or even what to expect tomorrow.

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Posted by Jen on 8/29/2007 09:00:00 PM
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Moving In

Here I am a sophomore in college finally moving into my first apartment. As opposed to last year, I had to share a room with another girl and a bathroom with 4 other girls, which was not easy adjusting to. With a brand new room, closet and bathroom to myself, I couldnt be more excited to be back in college.

Now, with 3 other girls as my roommates and beginning a new semester, having a job is the last things on our minds. As a bunch of guys as our neighbors and a porch looking over the pool, we are more concerned with having fun, going to classes and going out. My freshman year was a lot less distracting, but this year i have more freedom which I hope wont affect my grades.

Next semester I will be accepted into the elementary program at my school. After this semester I think that my classes will be more focused on teaching as opposed to required classes such as science, math, English, history. With our first week of classes starting I don't have too many expectations, however my course load is definitely going to be more difficult...

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Posted by Kelly on 8/29/2007 08:51:00 PM
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survival guide

So someone posted a comment to my last entry about a post-grad school survival guide. Since I have yet to graduate (which happens in May unless I throw it all away to join a band of gypsies in the south of France,) I cannot write such a thing.
But I think it would be useful to suggest some survival tips for current students, graduate or otherwise. so here goes!

1. Get organized right away: I never organized my stuff in undergrad and I remember carrying around notebooks bursting at its binder because I stuffed papers and handouts from 5 different classes. I inevitably lost all the stuff I needed for finals, but honestly I doubt I would have studied that much in the first place. It did get frustrating when I was carrying around a bookbag full of stuff I didnt need. back problems at 20 = not awesome.

2. Branch out from your classmates: As you get to be a junior or senior, or if you go to grad school, you end up taking all your classes with the same people. By the end of the semester you end up hating half the people you called your friends (which, BTW, makes group projects even more fun.) I practice karate, which widens my social circle and lets me relieve stress.

3. DON'T be that person that freaks out over everything: We are all in this together, and we all know how boring the class is/how bad it sucks to have 4 papers due the same week as a major test/how the class will never help you in real life/how hard it is to work and study and have a life all at once. Relax! School isn't that bad! wait until you have to start looking for jobs and you realize that' even worse!

4. Develop your taste for coffee: Because when you are in the library writing your 4 papers due on the same day, you are gonna need a caffeine boost. But make sure you don't drink too much coffee (or espresso or lattes) without having eaten. Nothing is worse than sitting in the library with a caffeine headache and stomachache.

I could go on and on. But I am sitting in the library procrastinating so I am going to hop off and try to get some reading done before my 4 hours of classes tonight.

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Posted by Christina on 8/28/2007 01:58:00 PM
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Twists and Unexpected Turns

I am sitting here, trying to enjoy my last few hours of freedom before I start in the whirlwind of activity that surrounds the beginning of the semester (meaning I am avoiding the madhouse that is the bookstore.) I had an interesting conversation with one of my closest friends a few days ago, and it's bouncing around my head. I know this girl from undergrad, when we were across the hall in the dorms freshman year. She just graduated with her MFA in English last year, and I am about to graduate with my master's in public relations this upcoming May. Somehow our conversation turned from gossip about former roommates and musicians we like to how much we have changed.

Back then, neither of us thought we would end up in big cities (me in Miami and her in Chicago.) I always thought I'd graduate with my B.A. and get some 9-5 job and live in Charleston by the beach. Miami wasn't even in my mind. And I think she always pictured herself in a liberal arts college on the east coast, teaching poetry while getting her PhD.

Now I wonder where I will end up once this year is done. These are my last few minutes to think about this because tomorrow my life will be crazy once again with my internship, classes, assistantship and somehow fitting in a social life (at the expence of a normal night's rest.) Should be exciting :-)

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Posted by Christina on 8/21/2007 03:36:00 PM
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