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Greek Week

2008-04-06T12:25:00.004-04:00

Soo much fun! It is supposed to promote Greek unity. You get paired with other Greek organizations and have to compete in different events all week long. There is Greek Olympics today, a Mr. and Miss USF Pageant and lots of other fun activities. I've got to meet people from so many other Greek organizations that I absolutely adore. Don't see how this is preparing me for the "real world" but don't care-- since I am having such a good time...Can't wait to see what the rest of the week has to offer...

Sorority House

2008-04-06T12:20:00.004-04:00

I'm going to be living in my sorority house next year and it should be a lot of fun. I'm sure it's going to be difficult at times living , but I think that I can handle it. This also means that I'll be running for a position. Most of the positions that you can have require you to live in the house so this will be the perfect opportunity for me to get more involved. I haven't decided which positions I'll be running for but I'm sure whichever one I choose will be a lot of fun and a lot of hard work. There are almost 50 positions I can choose from; it's going to be a tough decision. I can't wait!

All these life experiences will surely help me when I get out of college and in the real world. But for now I am just going to have fun, enjoy, and not rush getting into the real world. (this is too much fun!)

Epsilon Hall

2008-03-30T20:40:00.003-04:00

Epsilon is one of the oldest dorms on campus. Epsilon is also know as the freshman dorms because freshman are on the bottom of the totem pole. We all know that also means disgusting. Pipes keep breaking. The carpets are disgusting-- 30 years of bodily fluids, drink spills and who knows what else. There is mold in the walls. They're getting torn down in two years but I think that they should be torn down immediately after this semester. I only have to endure 1 more month and then I'll never have to set foot in them again.

Although they're old and disgusting I've had such an amazing experience living in them. If I could have done my freshman year over again I wouldn't change a thing. I've met so many great people that I would probably have never met if I hadn't have lived in these disgusting and old dorms. Nearing the end of my freshman year I've realized how fast time zooms past and how much I'm going to miss the days I've spent in the dorm that I've called home for the past year.

Dance Marathon

2008-03-30T11:25:00.004-04:00

My school was hosting a fund raiser called Dance Marathon on Friday night. All of the organizations that signed up had to be at our school gym from 6pm Friday night until 6am Saturday morning. It was a lot of fun although I was extremely tired seeing as how I had been at the beach all day on Friday. We were raising money to benefit children with terminal illnesses.

It was not at all what I expected it to be. We just stayed up all night and whoever donated the most money and bought the most T-shirts would win. Although you didn't actually win anything for winning. One of my friends won a free trip to New Zealand although he wasn't there to collect his prize and they gave it away to someone else. Bummer. My team got sixth place out of 52 organizations that attended!

Mid-Semester Slump

2008-03-19T23:30:00.003-04:00

I don't know how it always happens that all my school work hits during the mid-semester slump. It's absolutely insane! How is anyone supposed to work, start looking for jobs, study for massive comps, write a million papers AND keep their sanity?

I am balancing between finishing up job applications (and seriously, any job that wants your entire work history? that takes me days) and writing an original case study. Comps are kind of on the shelf right now.

Stress is not fun. Not at all.

Comps

2008-03-08T11:35:00.004-05:00

Why am I posting so much? Because I am settled in, working on my study guides for comps. I am 2/3 the way through one guide, for one of my three classes. I should have it finished by tonight/tomorrow.

I am totally burned out. I can't focus on job searching or anything really because I am stressing out about comps. Not fun.

It's spring break, and I am going to try to take a break by the pool for an hour before coming back for my weekend date with my laptop and four binders of notes.

its about 60 days until graduation. Just have to remember I am going on vacation immediately after....

Alternative Job Ideas

2008-03-06T20:16:00.003-05:00

So I have been looking for jobs, and it occurred to me that the UNESCO program sounds like an awesome experience. I have already e-mailed to get myself added to the e-mail list.

I'm excited to even apply.

I also am going to apply to the US Foreign Service as a diplomacy officer.

In the meantime I need to find something to hold me over. Keep your fingers crossed!

Motivation, Why Have You Left Me?

2008-03-02T22:38:00.003-05:00

I have been so stressed out with all my work that my independent study is completely on the back burner, as is my job search. It's not that I can't get it done, or get started, I am just in that part of the semester where I am worn out, burned out and unmotivated.

It doesn't help that my last spring break ever will be spent in the library, studying for comps while everyone else is partying.

boooooo

South Florida Makes National News...

2008-02-26T17:29:00.003-05:00

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.)

Roommate Drama

2008-02-22T22:02:00.004-05:00

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

On Campus Housing.

2008-02-20T15:28:00.006-05:00

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.

Prison Food.

2008-02-20T15:20:00.005-05:00

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.

.

Starting the job search

2008-02-20T12:54:00.003-05:00

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.

Networking Events

2008-02-18T22:22:00.003-05:00

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.

Exit Interview

2008-02-18T22:19:00.003-05:00

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.

So Much Preparation.

2008-02-13T16:22:00.009-05:00

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 :)

Gasparilla etc.

2008-02-13T16:16:00.003-05:00

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.

Graduation Celebration

2008-02-11T22:11:00.001-05:00

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!

Serial Killers

2008-02-09T19:53:00.001-05:00

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

Spring Break

2008-02-09T14:25:00.000-05:00

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.

Sick Days

2008-02-06T20:57:00.000-05:00

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.

Real-Life Lesson Learned

2008-01-30T22:44:00.001-05:00

We all chose our degrees because it's something that we are (hopefully) interested in pursuing as a career. We all know that some people don't necessarily understand or value what we do. Yesterday I encountered some people in my class that have absolutely no value for public relations. This is a problem because we, as a class, are putting on an event, and I am the committee chair for publicity.
I can understand not knowing what public relations is, or not knowing the difference between public relations, marketing or advertising. But these people were flat-out rude to me about what they did and didn't want, and to our opinion as a group, it was obvious that we are undervalued, and their logic for not wanting publicity was unsubstantiated.

Lessons learned:
1. find ways to quantitatively back up your arguments.
2. when I'm looking for a job, if it's in corporate I am asking to see a org flow chart to see how PR/communications falls on the food chain.

Grad school

2008-01-29T23:52:00.001-05:00

To everyone wondering about grad school,

Don't jump into a graduate program (unless you want to do medicine, then its a little different) right after undergrad. Go out and get experience, and more importantly, go out there and work in the real world, write your resume, get experience, even if its experience you hate.

Because, yeah, grad school is extremely stressful. I'm not even into a full month of school and I am already thinking about May. This is my most stressful semester yet, apart from my first, and I am partially regretting the classes I am taking because I am getting overwhelmed and overburdened already. I'm starting to wonder why I even did this in the first place, and that's not fun. This is the first time since I have started my program that I am getting these feelings.

This is partially a problem because I have been too sick to go to the gym and work off excess energy, and partially because on top of school, work and karate, I am now trying to juggle a boyfriend.

I am throwing the biggest party for myself, come May 8th.

Getting It Done

2008-01-29T15:31:00.000-05:00

I was looking at my schedule the next few months and the first thought was, "how am I going to get all this done? why did I do this to myself?"
I think we are all familiar with that form of panic. It didn't help that I have been sick, and as a result not getting any exercise, and I had to attend two weddings this weekend, which meant I got nothing else done.

So today I finished my work at my assistantship early, so I got some research done for my independent study, did two weeks of tourism homework and emailed out to people about my events. It's not going to get any easier until May when I am done, but I need to remember to do a little every day so that I don't freak out and drop it all.

I just need to write out my MBO (management by objective) for each class to get my schedule down.

Distractions

2008-01-24T13:28:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited for my dad to come down this weekend! Not only will I get to see a familiar face from home, but he also is bringing my car with him. I cant not wait to see him and while he is here we will also be looking at new apartments for next year.

Also, one of my friends who transferred is coming to visit this weekend so I need to find time to see them as well. With some fun upcoming events planned I need to stay focused on my schoolwork. I happen to have so MUCH work this semester and a great deal of it due next week, I will need to find time to balance it all this weekend.