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South Florida Makes National News...

So everyone is talking about the the blackout that happened earlier (while I was driving down US-1, NOT fun.)

It's funny, because while at the gym I heard everyone talking about having "black out for the blackout" parties, which I, personally, find hilarious. Leave it to Miami to find a way to make a party out of something.

But it was interesting, because like New York's black out a few years ago, noone went crazy and looted, pillaged, etc. Possibly because it was the middle of a bright sunny day. What did people do? Everyone went outside, walked around. People congregated on street corners, talking to each other.

As long as you weren't driving, things were civil. It was actually nice.

But I feel for the people still without power.

(additionally, I don't think FPL is handling this in a super awesome way, PR-wise, but let's see what happens.)

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Posted by Christina on 2/26/2008 05:29:00 PM
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Roommate Drama

I have had the WORST week ever! My stress level is so high that I am getting nightmares. Super SUPER not awesome.
For one, my friend's boyfriend passed away Sunday (guys, drugs, especially cocaine is STUPID), my roommate sprung this "I want to live with my friend now, so I'm moving out in three weeks" surprise on me and like every college student, I have no money.
ARG!!!!
You know it's bad when you work out like a dog and you still don't feel better. The main thing that keeps bothering me is my roommate. It's totally uncomfortable and I am angry about this, which is negatively impacting my desire to do any school work.
After this lease is over, I am getting my own place. Roommates are waaaaaay too unreliable.
Oh yeah, and I have comps in April. I also have our golf tournament and finals that month. Oh and I should probably be interviewing and lining up a job by then.

Maybe I will just move to San Francisco

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Posted by Christina on 2/22/2008 10:02:00 PM
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On Campus Housing.

They charge you extra for the "convenience" of living on campus. Next year they're raising the prices of on campus dorms. So if I were to live in the same dorm as I do know, I would be paying $500 a month to live in the oldest dorms on campus, have a roommate, share 2 bathrooms with 8 people, and have no kitchen or living room. For an off campus apartment you pay $520 a month and have your own room and bathroom, a living room and a kitchen. If I wanted to live on campus and have the same amenities as an off campus house the closest I could come is paying $728 a month having a smaller bedroom, kitchen and living room than off campus housing, and have to share 2 bathrooms with four people. I just can't see why anyone would want to live on campus. It's a rip off.

Posted by Jen on 2/20/2008 03:28:00 PM
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Prison Food.

So I just recently found out through various reliable sources that the same company contracted to feed college students in Florida state universities, is also the company contracted to feed inmates in the Florida prison system. Hmm, so criminals commit a crime and get to eat the food for free and we have to pay $1700 a semester. Can you say rip off? I can... RIP OFF!! I wouldn't be that upset if it wasn't mandatory to have a meal plan. I cannot believe it's mandatory for first year college students to eat prison food.

.

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Posted by Jen on 2/20/2008 03:20:00 PM
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Starting the job search

With the BLS reporting the first decline in job availability in the past five years and the reality that graduation is coming up in the next few months, I am officially prospecting for jobs.

I uploaded my resume to the PRSSA website, and I am going to as many networking events as possible. I went to dinner last night with my professors and some people in the PR industry, which was both interesting and informative.

I also need to start preparing for comps, which happen in the end of March.

in conclusion, life is getting stressful. I'm going to the gym.

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Posted by Christina on 2/20/2008 12:54:00 PM
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Networking Events

So UM has an annual communications week where they bring in industry leaders in journalism, public relations, broadcast, motion pictures and advertising to talk about trends in the field.

One of the advantages of this is that I have been invited to a couple networking mixers. And now that I am getting closer to graduating, and watching my friends that graduated in December struggle for jobs, I am definitely taking advantage (an added bonus is free food.)

I went to our career fair, and nothing was really aimed towards graduate students. So I am going to stick mainly to networking at this point.

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Posted by Christina on 2/18/2008 10:22:00 PM
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Exit Interview

I just completed my exit interview to graduate, and wow. I am going to be paying my loans off forever. Especially since I don't anticipate my first job to pay me well right off the bat, considering the economy and trends in PR. Not awesome. Not awesome at all.
So we will see in May when I graduate and consolidate.

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Posted by Christina on 2/18/2008 10:19:00 PM
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So Much Preparation.

My sorority had Spring Recruitment a couple weeks ago. So much preparation goes into three days of recruitment parties. We had recruitment workshops, we had to buy specific outfits and go through an outfit check, and we had to learn how to act and treat our potential new members. I realized that preparing for recruitment was like learning how to handle yourself at a business party, or even what and what not to say in an interview. We were taught different strategies for making conversation, and what things to look for in the girls that will most benefit our organization.

We have already started our recruitment workshops for the fall. Everything about being in a sorority is preparing you for jobs after college. It also looks really good on Grad school applications, so that's a plus.

All in all I'm really happy about my decision to join and love all the wonderful girls I have met along the way.

Recruitment was long, hard and stressful but we wound up getting 12 new girls that I adore :)

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Posted by Jen on 2/13/2008 04:22:00 PM
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Gasparilla etc.

This year I attended my first Gasparilla. It's a famous festival here in Tampa. I got to spend all day with my good friend, having a great time. There is a parade and I think the only reason people attend is to see who can get the most beads. Some people had so many beads that I couldn't understand how they were walking. It was great. But anyway, the point of Gasparilla is to have as much fun as you can before Lent, quite like Mardi Gras. And, boy did I have a lot of fun. Lent is here and I have given up eating unhealthy. Hopefully I'll stick with this Lenten promise unlike many of the other Lenten promises I didn't keep.

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Posted by Jen on 2/13/2008 04:16:00 PM
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Graduation Celebration

I just spent a weekend in Tampa for karate, and I feel so refreshed now. But instead of getting back on track with my homework, I just finalized my post-graduation plans. The Monday after the ceremony, my friend and I are taking a cruise to Key West and Cozumel. I can't wait! Both are such fun stops!

In the short term, I have to write up a case study, write an annotated bibliography, start my promotions for our golf tournament and get back on track with my independent study. Plus career fair this week, coming up with a dinner for Valentine's Day (which I don't like on principle) and go to karate (open tournament is coming up next month)

Crazy! But at least I am not sick anymore!

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Posted by Christina on 2/11/2008 10:11:00 PM
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Serial Killers

So i have just heard about, and am now obsessed with reading about this serial killer in the Boca Raton area. it's especially scary because now one of the university's, FAU is on high alert.

I am getting an escort to my car after class. ALL the time.

And now I am especially glad I have been doing karate for almost 9 years. Most effective form of self-defense IMHO

Posted by Christina on 2/09/2008 07:53:00 PM
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Spring Break

Since I go to a school in the South, our spring break is earlier than some other schools, due to the nice weather. Lately its been in the 60's-70's, which is abnormally warm. Although, it sometimes is a bit distracting, what I am most excited about is our upcoming vacation. This is pretty much my first "spring break" college vacation I have ever been on.

A few of my friends and I just booked a condo in Panama City Beach, FL for a week for spring break, along with a bunch of other people from my school. I'm so excited to go, and with it coming up so soon I can't have my mind wandering in classes. Although it going to be a blast, I'm a little worried about work I may have that week. So iI need to prioritize before we make our trip.

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Posted by Kelly on 2/09/2008 02:25:00 PM
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Sick Days

Getting sick during any point of the semester is a hassle in all aspects. I came down with awful cold a couple of days ago and I'm just finally starting to get over it. With papers due and classes that I can't really get out of, getting sick is a huge set-back. I haven't had any energy or motivation to get out of bed, let alone write papers and travel to school. I'm glad that I'm finally getting better and I'll now have some energy to get some work done.

Posted by jeff on 2/06/2008 08:57:00 PM
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