This week is the last week of classes and I'm pumped! Senioritis has kicked in and classes are the one thing that I need motivation for right now so I will be happy when they're done. Other than that, I am studying for a couple of tests I have coming up and then it's finals week. In between classes, work and WCRD stuff I have been looking for apartments and getting ready for the big move to Indy!
I haven't touched on it too much in my blog, but yes... I have job! I signed a contract with Cumulus Media about a month ago and I'm really looking forward to working there. The people are wonderful, the station is amazing and really feel like I belong there. All the things we look for, but aren't normally blessed with, in a first job. So, needless to say I am moving right after graduation because I start that following Monday, YAY!!!
So, apartment hunting is on the agenda as well as a new phone which I got today. Since I'm from Northwest Indiana, I wanted a local Indy number so it would be more convenient for my clients to contact me and who doesn't like getting a new phone with a new number?! It was a graduation present from my parents :) Also, in addition to apartment hunting, I have been trying to pack and clean up my current apartment so moving will be a little bit easier. Hopefully, this will be my last time moving for some time. I have moved enough times over these last four years that I think I have my "moving fix" for awhile.
My friends and I are starting to see things fall into place and I am so proud of every one of them and what they have accomplished. Graduation should be bittersweet and I can't wait to share it with them.
Happy last week of classes :)
The end of the semester is almost here and yes, there's still lots to do. At the end of every semester I do about the same things. I check the status of my classes and grades to make sure I don't have any "surprises" after finals. I take a look at my finals schedule to clarify that the times and dates are correct. Sometimes you will have two finals scheduled at the same time. This rarely happens, but it can, so it's always good to double check that and professors are always good about making special arrangements if in fact, you do have a schedule conflict.
Also, since I'm graduating, I am currently training my Assistant Sales Manager so he is ready by Fall Semester to run the sales team. Finding replacements for any organization is a difficult task, but a very important one. I am going to assume if you are a part of an organization it means something to you, therefore, you never want to leave your organization hanging out to dry if you leave whether it's for personal reason, time commitments, or you're graduating. I'm very confident that my Assistant Sales Manager is going to do a wonderful job and it's comforting to know that the sales team will continue on successfully.
I have yet to buy my graduation cap and gown, but when I do, I'm sure that will be surreal moment for me. Sure I know I'm graduating, but going through the motions like attending end of the year banquets and final meetings make the whole graduating process very real. Which is exciting...
I'm starting to realize how much I am going to miss this University, but at the same time, I have created friendships and relationships that will continue to last. It sounds silly, but you're here for four or five years preparing for graduation, but somehow in the midst of it all, you kind of forget that. Of course I am working towards graduation, but when it finally comes it's like, "Oh yeah, that's why I worked so hard..." Again, it sounds silly I know, but a lot of my peers feel the same way.
Well, my main goal is to enjoy my last few weeks here and prepare myself for a big celebration. Graduation...here I come!!!
I'm back! Well... I have been since last Friday, but I am finally back into my routine. With only 5 weeks left, yes 5 weeks, I am looking forward to the end of the semester and the start of my career. But before I do, I can't help but reminisce about Spring Break...
My two roommates and I, like I mentioned before, went to Gatlinburg for a week for Spring Break. This is a picture of our chalet we stayed in. It was soooo beautiful! I would definitely rent a chalet like this again next time I visit because it was wonderful staying there and my roommates loved it too!
This is Gatlinburg in a nut shell...gorgeous mountains everywhere. One day we took a ski lift up to the top of one of the mountains and that is where I took this picture. I'm quite the photographer...I know :)
This picture was taken during our hike up the mountain. We took a 1.3 mile hike up to see a beautiful waterfall and then it was 1.3 mile hike down, so not bad at all. That same day we went hiking we had also gone horseback riding which was amazing. This was my first time riding a horse so I was pretty excited. For some reason, I had a feeling that they were going to put me on this monsterous horse and sure enough...I felt like I was riding a clydesdale. Nevertheless is was a lot of fun and I would definitely go again.
So now that I am back in good ole Muncie I have lots to do. Midterms are this week so I am studying for those and since Spring is just around the corner (even though the weather says otherwise) the radio station has a lot of promotions coming up. In regards to promotions, my job is making sure one, there are sponsors for these events and two, help the promotions team plan and set up before and after the promotion. It's alot of work, but promotional events are one of my favorite parts of radio.
All in all it has been a pretty busy week so far, but I expect it to be until the end of the semester. Again, 5 weeks in counting...OH MY :)
Holy cow...in less than two weeks it will be Spring Break! Not that I'm complaining, but I wouldn't mind putting on the breaks because boy is this semester flying by! Spring Break, as I'm sure you know, is a very popular time among college students. Here's a summary of what I've done on past Spring Breaks...
My freshman year I didn't do anything-I just went home (which is typical for freshmen). My sophomore year, myself and eight other girls (yes, eight) went to Las Vegas. Although I wasn't 21 yet, I had a blast! The trip was surprisingly pretty inexpensive because one of the girls I went with, her Mom lives in Vegas, so we were able to stay at her Mom's place and we saved money that way. Now, my junior year, my roommates and I decided to go to Mississippi with the Miller College of Business. For a week, we helped with the Hurricane Katrina relief effort and in any way possible... helped local, Bay St. Louis businesses get back on their feet.
The following pictures are of some of the destruction we saw from Hurricane Katrina. The unbelievable thing is 
these pictures were taken nine months after Katrina hit. So, there was still a considerable amount of devastation left and a lot of help that was still needed. Also, the last picture, (on a much lighter note) is half of our group at Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans. We were able to travel to New Orleans for a day, have an authentic southern/cajun meal, and experience the unique, New Orleans night life, and we found out quickly, there's no place like New Orleans.
Every year Ball State offers programs for students who want an "Alternative Spring Break." These types of programs have a lot of student participation because it's truly an amazing way to spend your Spring Break.
So again, going to Mississippi was such a rewarding experience and incredibly eye opening for my roommates and I...a Spring Break we will never forget. Sure, you can go to the typical Spring Break hot spots like South Padre, Panama City, and Cancun (just to name a few), but taking the time to help out someone else or an organization like Habitat for Humanity makes for a more memorable trip (I think). BUT... there's nothing wrong with taking the time off to relax and party too. After all, by this time of the year, it's well deserved!
Well, for this 
year, my roommates and I have decided to go to Tennessee. We are renting a chalet (aka a cabin) and we plan on staying there for a week. The chalet is rather inexpensive (which is important for a college student's Spring Break) because there's a fully stocked kitchen in the cabin where we can cook a majority of our meals and therefore, we don't have to go out to eat every night..which we all know can be pretty expensive. Our main goal for Spring Break is to just relax and enjoy each other's company. We plan on visiting a winery (or two), do a little shopping and maybe go horseback riding, but mostly just relaxing.
So, although I am shocked that Spring Break is already here...I'm happy it is! Spring Break is a great time to spend with your friends while still taking some time off from classes and work. Hopefully, I will have some really good pictures to post on here once I get back. Until then, I am counting down the days until Spring Break!
This weekend I am helping one of my best friends move to Indianapolis. She got a head start by beginning her full time job now and finishing the rest of her credit hours online before she graduates in May. I am so proud of her, but as I watch her get ready to transition into being a true adult, and how scary it can be, I can't help but remember what it was like to transition from being a high school senior to a college freshman.
It wasn't long ago, four years to be exact, when I was moving into a residence hall, scared to death about college life and what living in Muncie, for four years, was going to be like. The two most important things I've learned since then are... 1.) Be open to meeting new people. Don't just sit around your room with your roommate and think about how much you miss home. I have said this before in a previous blog, the people you meet in college are hopefully, going to be the people who around for the rest of your life. So, don't miss out on that! 2.) Get involved! You meet wonderful people, including faculty, when you join an organization on campus. And trust me, Ball State has an organization or group for EVERY interest! Also, getting involved is the perfect way to beef up your resume and keep you busy. I never would have imagined of being the Sales Manager at WCRD, but I got involved early (as a freshman), worked hard, and worked my way up. There's so much more to college life than just going to classes and living in a dorm. Being a part of groups and organizations is part of what makes your time at college worthwhile and the most beneficial.
So when thinking back to my initial fears... was college life so scary? At first yes, but you adapt to it and (I promise) soon after, you grow to love it. Also, did my views of living in Muncie change? It sure did! Muncie has been a wonderful home for me and to be quite honest, it's going to be really hard to leave good ole Muncie.
That's what my best friend (who's moving to Indy) said..."It's going to be hard to leave Muncie... sad actually." Again I am so proud of what she's accomplished and I admire her for transitioning so well from college life to "adult life." Also, I'm just so thankful that I will have a friend who will able to understand and help me when I am transitioning in three months. It's really scary and I can't believe there's only three more months until I graduate, but I'm ready...well, not yet. I still want to soak in the last moments of being a college student.
This blog is for my girls (the best friends a girl could ever ask for) because we have so much ahead of us AND lucky for us... our last semester isn't over yet!
My birthday was last week (YAY) and although I had a wonderful time celebrating here with my friends I still couldn't help being homesick. I am really close to my family and it's a small family, so anytime there's a holiday or special occasion I immediately want to be home, like anyone would.
Unfortunately, being away at school makes that difficult. Over these past four years I have realized and understood that I can't be everywhere. I am a part of some important groups on campus and although I enjoy what I do, some of those commitments can keep me from going home on the weekends.
But...I did get the chance to go home last weekend to celebrate my birthday. Also the last two years when I have been home for my birthday, my family and I celebrate my niece's birthday too because our birthdays are only three days a part. So in turn, my sister usually tries to plan my niece's birthday party around the same time I come home to celebrate my birthday (it just makes it easier). Well, unfortunately, this year she had to cancel the party because not only did my niece come down with the flu, so did my nephew and my sister.
Although my sister rescheduled the party, I still won't be able to go. The party is this Sunday and it just so happens that I have to be at my internship the next day (Monday) at 5:30a.m. Not the most ideal situation due to the fact I would be driving a lot and not getting much sleep. Well, thankfully, my family was very understanding (like always) and actually pushed that I just stay here at school because they didn't want me driving that much, especially with the bad weather we are supposed to be having.
Things like this happen, and again, my family is always so supportive, but it's hard not being there for parties and family events, but luckily this doesn't happen all the time. So, even though homesickness is inevitable, I believe being away from my family has made me even closer to them.
On an even more positive note...here is a picture of my beautiful niece and her birthday cake!
Having a rommate(s) in college can either be the best or hardest situation you are going to come across while away at school. I was lucky enough to find a roommate, while living in the residence halls, who I just clicked with really well. To this day, I swear she is the only person I could live with in a 12 X 16 space and see every minute of the day.
Unfortunately, not every situation is that ideal. Roommate conflicts arise and can be the most feared aspect of college life. Now, I am not going to say that it's a walk in the park when dealing with a roommate(s), but it's nothing you can't work through.
There are three main things, I think, to consider when living with someone else. First, realize that your way of living is different than everyone else's. I have mentioned before how I am not a morning person so, thankfully, neither was my roommate. We would wake up around the same time each morning, take showers, drink coffee, and get ready for the day in silence. Seriously, in silence...the only words we would utter to one another is "have a good day" before we left for class. And as odd as that sounds, it worked for us.
Second, compromise, compromise, compromise! My roommate and I had different study patterns. This is very important to discuss between roommates. She needed silence and I needed noise. We worked out a system and sometimes that meant that someone would have to study elsewhere, but again, it worked for us. All in all, compromise is huge and you need to give a little to a get a little. And trust me, you will need to compromise on more things than just study patterns, but hey, it's good for ya!
Third, if you're not sure...just ask. Especially when you are living in such a small space...always ask before you borrow something from your roommate. The worst they could say is no and you're better off asking and avoiding a tiff than assuming you can borrow something or thinking... "they won't mind."
Now you may be asking yourself, why the sudden topic of roomate issues? Well, I am currently dealing with a roommate issue myself that is far more serious than my ever so happy days of living in the dorms. I live in an apartment with three other girls and when you live in an apartment or house there are far more things to consider and talk about. The best thing to do is to address everything and deal with rules and stipulations up front. Don't ever wait till things boil over and I have made that mistake myself. Sometimes you think you can just forgive and forget, but if it's a reoccurring problem, it's best to get it out in the open and address the problem right when it happens. That way, you can come to some sort of resolution before the problem gets even bigger.
By no means, is my situation an awful one, but it is something to consider when questioning college life. Having roommates and learning to communicate with them is really important and it will ultimately prepare you for the bigger things up ahead.
I know, I know...I said I would update you on my winter break. Needless to say it was very busy, but I will be putting up pictures here shortly. Well, break was great. I worked for a couple of weeks, visited with family and friends, and had a great New Year. I came back to Muncie a couple of days early so I could prepare for the semester.
I am now the Sales Manager (former Assistant Sales Manager) for WCRD and I have 16 new sales representatives who I need to prepare for. This semester, the TCOM department is offering the Advanced Sales class again (TCOM 345). The class is taught by Nancy Carlson and I am there to help with the business side of things. Nancy will be teaching sales techniques and many other aspects of sales and I will uphold my duties as the Sales Manager for the station. Overall I will be taking care of all the paperwork, managing the reps. accounts, creating packages for the reps. to sell, managing the revenue, and much, much more. This class will give students real world sales experience while still learning fundamental sales techniques. I am really excited for this class to get started and looking forward to a successful semeseter for WCRD Sales.
As well as holding the position of Sales Manager, I am interning at WMDH 102.5 FM in New Castle this semester. I am commuting there three times a week and working 5 to 6 hours. I'm earning credits for this internship, so it takes the place of two, three credit hour classes. The best thing you can do is get an internship because not only does it give you a great insight into the business you're interested in, it's a great opportunity to network and test your knowledge you received in the classroom.
And to round out my semester I am taking 18 credit hours total (including the internship) and working at my job on campus for about 15 hours. I will be very busy and up early every day, but I've found a silver lining! This schedule will really train me to wake up early and help me get used to an 8-10 hour business day. Because let me tell you, I am NOT a morning person. So this will be a struggle at first to wake up early everyday, but hey...I think I'll make it.
Wow, what a relief! Finals week is finally over and I am anxious to get home and spend time with my family and friends. Although we get a significant time off to relax and recuperate, I won't have much time to do so because I work over break. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy my job at home, but I'm sure you can understand that a week of nothing is preferred over working. Oh well, I won't be complaining when I receive my paycheck!
I plan on packing and driving home tomorrow. That's the advantage of living off-campus, you can leave campus when you want to. Residence Halls close and any student who lives in them has to be out at a certain time. It's not a huge inconvenience by any means, I just can't stand rushing...I tend to forget things when I do.
Although I will be going home for a couple of weeks I will still be updating my blog. I know this is short, but I am sure I will have plenty to write/show you over break so keep checking the website! Happy Holidays!
Wow, did I need a week off from classes! Spending time with family and friends is just what I needed. Overall I had a really fun and relaxing break! It's so important for students to take advantage of breaks, which a majority of us do, but it's crucial because during this time of the semester is when it gets crazy. Over break, I made sure to catch up on sleep, relax, and prepare myself for the incredibly busy weeks ahead. This is a time where papers, projects, and last minute tests come up....right before the dreaded week of finals. This week I had a 15 page paper due, but my professor decided to push the due date back until next week...thank goodness! But I still have a project, another paper, a test, and sales clients to take care of. Ah, the week before finals.... Thankfully, I only have two finals this semester, so I really can't complain, but I can guarantee these next two weeks will be nuts! So in the meantime I am going to try my best not to stress and enjoy the end of my last fall semester.
Today I went to my first interview, yes, a "big girl interview." I had so many people ask me, "Are you nervous?" And I couldn't help but simply reply, "No." Now, it's not because I am completely self-centered or pompous...that's not it at all. I felt prepared. For the first time in my life, everything is starting to line up and I feel prepared for what's ahead.
I owe that to Ball State. There are so many classes and programs offered here that prepare you for the "real world." For example, I took COMM (Communication Studies) 251, which is Business Professionalism, my spring semester junior year. That is by far, one out of the many great classes I have taken here at Ball State. Our professor, Dr. Fischer, taught us how to create an effective resume, cover letter, business letter, email or how to interview properly, what to say, what to do...I mean you name it, we learned it. And it seems that most people take things like that for granted, tha it's just common sense, but with that class I learned that's not true, and in fact, it's imperative you know those things prior to graduation. Also, it's important to take advantage of all the conferences and lectures that Ball State offers that are designed to give you an insight into what employers are looking for in a potential employee.
And as a TCOM student, my goodness, every class that I have take through the department has prepared me for what I did today. And the most surreal part of it all was compiling my reference list. I didn't even struggle, I didn't have to think twice about who to ask...the entire department is so wonderful and supportive that my list was immediately completed. It's times like these where it makes it hard to leave Ball State. I'm surrounded by so many supportive faculty, staff, and peers that I wish I could take them all with me in my future career so I continue to hear them cheer me on.
Overall, today was a really big day for me, but I realized this is the first of many big days. And it's comforting to know that they don't have to be scary/anxious days because my four years at Ball State, have thoroughly prepared me for the moments ahead.
This has been an interesting couple of weeks. Things have slowed down a little bit, so I am not as busy as I usually am and I have had some time to breathe and do some really fun things. First of all, I promised to post some pictures from Homecoming, so here they are...better late than never.
My roommate Jen and I got up really early, the morning of Homecoming, and went to the Locker Room's first "Breakfast Club." The whole point of "Breakfast Club" is to go to the bars very early in the morning and drink some morning cocktails (yes, I'm of age) dressed in a silly costume. Jen and I went as 80's moms. Pretty funny, huh? We can thank Jen's mom for donating our beautiful costumes.
This is Jen, again, and my other roommate Jacque, at tailgating before the Homecoming game started. We had so much fun that day, but it's because of that day I will not be having hot dogs for awhile....I ate way too many.
Then, two weekends ago, I was able to visit my best friends at Purdue. It's been awhile since the four of us have hung out and being with them made me realize how much I really miss seeing them all the time.
From the top left is my good friend Mary. She goes to Purdue and we are all excited to stand up in her wedding this coming June. Next to Mary, is my other best friend, Mary. She goes to Purdue Calumet and her and I have been friends since 7th grade. Then, last but not least, is Stephanie. She also goes to Purdue and her and I have also been good friends since middle school. These girls are like family and I am so happy I got to spend time with them. And like I have said before, it is so important to make time for your friends.
Then, last week, I celebrated Halloween. I love Halloween because it's funny how I'm 21 years old and it still seems acceptable to dress up in a costume. On Halloween I dressed up, as a witch, and went to a WCRD event. We had a Rock-N-Costume party at the Launching Pad in the village. The Launching Pad is a place where people can come, of all ages, to listen to local bands and WCRD is there, passing out goodies, for every event. The bands American Diary and James Brown Car Alarm performed. Both bands were a lot of fun and put on a great show. The Launching Pad is just another great place, near campus, where students can go and hang out. Below is a picture of some of the WCRD sales team. Starting from the left is Heath, John, Lindsey, Me, and Kellie. Can you figure out what our costumes are?
Overall, it has been a great couple of weeks. Like I said, I have been able to relax a little more and have some fun. This week I am meeting with the marketing manager of Citadel Broadcasting to set up my schedule for my spring semester internship. Also, I will be setting up a job interview for when I graduate in May. Ideally, I would like to find a job as an Account Executive at a radio station.Where? I have no idea. I get asked that question all the time and I never have an answer for it. I would love to stay in the Midwest, near my family, but if an opportunity comes along elsewhere...I'm going to take it. I just have to take it one day at a time. It's just so surreal that it's time to start looking for a job. I have been preparing for my career for so long and now I am finally pursuing it...Wish me luck!
Holy cow, I am already half way through my Fall semester and now it is already time to schedule for my last semester here at Ball State! The good thing is, I only have two required classes to take for my major next semester and the rest will just be electives that will be used to meet my graduation requirements. I made an appointment yesterday to meet with my advisor, so hopefully, my schedule will be finalized by tomorrow.
When scheduling for classes, it's so easy because Ball State allows you to do everything online. Unfortunately, since it is so accessible and convenient for students, we tend to believe that we can just schedule our classes all on our own. I made that mistake early on, and I wish I would have contacted my adivisor before doing so because I missed certain details that I'm sure my advisor would have picked up on in regards to my academic schedule. Since then, I utilize my advisor all the time. Especially since it is getting close to graduation, I need to make sure everything is in check and that I am able to graduate in May of 2008.
The first part of this semester seems to have flown by, so I hope Spring semester slows down a little bit, but I am sure it will be just exciting as this semester has been already!
Wow, it's FINALLY Friday, and normally I would be thrilled that the weekend is finally here, but unfortunately, my to do list is still rather long. By all means, I am not asking for a pity party, but just to give you an idea as to how crazy my weekend will be, let me explain...
As I mentioned before in previous blogs I work for WCRD as the Assistant Sales Manager. Although it is a volunteer position, I treat it like a second job. I put in a lot of hours, outside of classes and work, and this week proves how demanding this position can be. My sales manager and I decided to compose a "Sales Handbook," that would illustrate how exactly WCRD sales is run because let's face it, we both graduate in a semester and it's imperative to have a How-To book for our successors. So, needless to say, the handbook needs to be completed this weekend. Also, I am meeting with an important client next week and I need to sit down and prepare for that meeting. Hmmm...what else? I have my second exam in COMM 320 (Persuasion) and since I didn't do so well on my last paper, it is very important that I get a good grade on this test. Also, I have a paper due in my TCOM Ethics course, granted it is only a two page paper, but still...it's one more thing I have to tack onto my To-Do list.
So...I think you would agree that I have a busy weekend up ahead and that's a shame because I have a huge distraction....Homecoming. For crying out loud, it is my senior year and I need, yes need, to make this Homecoming memorable. Spending time with great friends, watching the parade, tailgating, and going to the game is ideal. But the reason why Homecoming is a distraction, and a rather good one I might add, is because that omits an entire day from my weekend where I won't get anything (academically) accomplished.
Well, to sum things up, yes, I am stressed BUT I have found a way to "un-stress." I basically listed off all the things that I have to get done. Does that mean all the things I listed are due on Monday? Absolutely not. So there's my mistake...I spend too much time listing off things that need to get done when I really need to be focusing on what needs get done for tomorrow. Once I deal with that, I can move onto the next task. It's all about taking things one day at a time. When you look at an entire week of homework, tests, and papers, it becomes overwhelming, but when you take one day at a time...it's not so bad.
Now, the question is, will I be celebrating Homecoming with the rest of the BSU student body? You bet! Because c'mon...it's senior year and I know I can manage my time wisely. My to do list will shorten and I will also learn to just have fun and enjoy myself because that's what college is all about...learning how to meet your academic requirements while still remaining sane. So, when you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed, remember to just breathe and take one day at a time.
Although it seems so long ago, it was only four years back when I had to say goodbye to my best friends. High school graduation was approaching and I had three best girlfriends, of six years, who I did not want to leave behind. Each one of us were attending different universities and not being able to see each other all the time was absolutely unimagineable to us.
It's a hard transition for any 18 year old to make, but it all works out in the end. I am fortunate enough to still be extremely close to those three girls, but we worked at it. Every one of us makes the effort to call one another and visit each other. It's important to make them a part of your life at college and vice versa. That's what makes it work and trust me, it's worth it because I don't know what I would do without those girls.
The reason I am sharing this is because I am realizing I have to say goodbye to a new set of best friends. Sure, graduation is still a semester away, but I can't help but think about what life is going to be like without seeing these girls everyday. The best thing to do is just to take my own advice...it will all work out in the end.
The great thing about college is you have the opportunity to meet so many new people and make incredible friends and THEY are the reason why this entire experience is worth it. The friends you meet in college are the ones that are there to keep you sane during finals week, to take care of you when your sick, to listen to you when all you want to do is vent, to console you when a relationship has ended, and to be there for you, hopefully, for the rest of your life. And in the meantime you can still maintain your friendships back home.
So although you may be hesitant to leave those friendships behind...don't be! Because you really don't have to. In the end you can have both, your old friends and your new friends. And trust me, without all of my friends I wouldn't be where I am at today.