Hey everyone.  I was listening to a conversation on the radio the other day about how more and more college and high school teams are changing their names away from their original mascots.  We're talking about the Indians, Braves, Redskins, and Chiefs.  The argument against the names is obviously that some people think they demean the people of that orientation.  Much of the argument is against the mascot itself and not the name.  For example, the Cleveland Indians got rid of big smiling Chief Wahoo because he supposedly stereotypes an Indian in an unfair manner. 

The other side of the argument is that the schools put these names in place not because they were making fun of Indians, but because they were brave, as in the name Braves.  Say we have a high school team named the College State Braves.  Their mascot is an Indian warrior.  People are going to complain because it's an Indian.  If the same school was called the Braves and the mascot was a white warrior, people would compain because they are saying only white people are brave.  Why don't we take the name for what it is?  Part of our history.  I don't think that any institution has put the name Brave or Warrior or Indian in place because they think the Indian mascot looks funny.  

I think that this problem represents part of our country's greater problem.  There is always someone wanting to complain about something.  We never take things as they are.  Not everything needs to be changed.  No everything needs to be tampered with.  Bring back Chief Wahoo.

so even though my summer seemed to end a lot faster that i had expected, this semester has been awesome! i've been so busy but its been an amazing busy. i'm taking 19 credit hours this semester. that includes painting, lettering, capstone, pre-thesis, digital photography, sociology, and applied leadership. what's really cool about applied leadership is that it is focused on student development. i am amongst a small group of selected students to work as peer leaders for the first time students of the school. this means that not only am i getting credit hours for this applied leadership course but i am also receiving a stipend for the peer leader position. its really cool! i have quite a few other paying positions on campus. in addition to being a peer leader and this blogging position, i also work as a campus activities board publicity co-chair, admissions office caller, phonathon caller, and an activity assistant at the bayley place. on top to these classes and jobs, i also am a FiSH leader, project excel student ambassador,  and a campus ambassador this semester.

what's so amazing is that of all of this, i have no classes or work sessions on fridays. that doesn't mean, though, that i don't work on fridays. i still take that whole day to update my tutors on my school week, meet with different instructors and such for advising and also to complete any work that i would otherwise do on the weekends.

so while my schedule is busy, i still have my weekends for a bit more free time, even though i do end up extending my friday work sessions during the weekends. i haven't had too many cases at all of procrastination this semester so lets hope it says that way and just keeps improving!

this is already the fifth week of classes and i'm so busy that i can't believe summer is gone! i did so much! first off, i was working 44 hours a week for the entire summer and took a five week course too! so where was i working? i worked 36 hours a week at the Bayley Place as an Activities Assistant and 8 hours a week as a lab tech at the Mount's CLC. i absolutely loved my job at the bayley place. i worked with some really fun staff members and had a lot of fun with the residents in the different units doing exercises, trivia games, sing a longs and karaoke and more!

i enjoyed the position so much that i actually just worked out a deal with the director of activities about continuing the position during the school term as an on-call position for a weekend shift. i originally held the position through the school as a summer employment grant position. i had applied for a number of locations for the grant just hoping to earn a decent amount of money. turns out i actually fell in love with the job and cared more about the position with my coworkers and residents more than what pay i was earning. its amazing that i've figured out, with one year of college left, what truly loving your job is like. i'm crazy about it!!!

I’m so anxious to see what this year brings me for the position because I’m really hoping to get a full time post graduate position in the department! The big question is where I would live if that happens and how would I get from point a to point b. that is one huge difference between here and home that I’ll miss! Transportation systems are really so friendly to the Chicago residents as opposed to Cincinnati residents. I know for now I can’t fund for a car but its definitely in the back of my mind….I guess we’ll see what happens. I still have 7 or 8 months….

my gosh do i have a lot to share. well to begin. the one hour of facebook per day - not so successful. i've been on facebook a lot for the past couple weeks but i still have not been late with anything so there is still a great sense of progress in my procrastination post lent.

this past friday was the spring fest in which i got to meet made avail. which is a band from my hometown. the lead singer actually is friends with some of the st. rita alumni. which is where i did colorguard for 2 years. that was a lot of fun!

i spent a lot of time with my dear friend and fellow blogger, andi, at the spring fest too.

 the spring fest overall was a great success in addition to the week beforehand with a great spring formal ticket when i got to pet a penguin and sharks!

he was so frickin cute!!!!!!!!!!!

i was the only one in that group reaching down for a while. i just kept sticking my arm down there to pet them!

Saturday then was the leadership retreat in which i was able to hear presentations about fundraising, ethical leadership, and publicity and promotion. all by some of my favorite people

Dr. Aretz has some great ideas about our college's future leadership plans and Betheny Herr (one of my wonderful bosses for this blog) is always so enthused about her job!!!

in addition to all of this excitement. i also attended the habitat for humanity reunion type dinner for all of the spring break trip members. as a whole, we gave our advisor, Dr. Reed, a framed picture of the team overall from the trip.

The weekend was definitely a great way to start my last week of classes as a junior in college.

And the week started off great as well!

On Monday I had received the Merit Scholarship through Project EXCEL at their graduation gala. Myself and two other girls, Clare Zilly (fellow blogger) and Kaitlin Bode, from the EXCEL program had earned these scholarships due to our success not only through the program but through the Mount as students and examples of the Mission Statement. It truly is an honor!!!

And today the excitement continued! This morning, I had a meeting at the Bayley Place across the street for a position through the summer employment grant and I got the position! Of course a requirement for it was to get a TB shot.... (((I DON'T LIKE NEEDLES))) but everything else has been so good that I honestly didn't even notice that portion of it.

Things are going so well for me right now that I can't help but to smile about everything!

I'm excited, also, for the DVD to come out of our play for the semester. Joseph came out so well, and I wouldn't have had so much fun without my friends being in it with me and great support from additional friends, as well as family.

(((Another thank you to my habitat board for a great year!!!)))

In the last few months I've learned a lot about ups and downs but have gained something from each and every situation. Within the last week alone, I discovered that I earned a 95% on my stats mid-term and was turned down just 2 days later for a Resident Assistant position for the coming school year. In addition, from the past month, I also had applied for an orientation leader position and received an alternate position, meaning I may be contacted at a later time to fill a position. Along the way, I have also been applying for other positions around the MSJ campus, including a lab-tech position in the CLC and a summer employment opportunity anywhere in the MSJ campus or across the street at Bayley Place, as well as a Peer Leader position. I also spoke with the director of the career center and learned of the opportunity this summer to take a co-op class! Now I need to consider my service learning options! It is within each interview process, both group and individual (for both RA and OL), and meetings that I am able to learn more about what employers look for in their applicants.

What is the best way to present myself within an interview without appearing as fake? How is the best way to incorporate all I have to offer within the interview without over-doing it? How can I be sure to answer all questions carefully and back up my answers with facts and references? Preparation! Think about every question that could be asked and consider all ways that it could be answered. Remember to answer questions with your personal answers and what you feel is right, not just what the employer wants because you need to be able to back up your answers with what you feel is right. Within a group interview - remember to listen intently to each individual and provide insight to each statement made. Within preperation - research the position and the company that holds the position. Become familiar with the mission statement and make reference to it within the interview so that the employer can see your eagerness to be a part of the team. Show your determination within the interview - make sure that the employer knows what your intentions are and provide details for your reasons. I, myself, am very organized and love to plan so in the lines of determination and I always be sure to make it clear that organization is essential to all aspects of my life.

Within each and every experience amongst applying for positions and any interviews along the way, there is something to learn. Whether it be obvious or, something that needs the meaning to be searched for, it is critical to learn from, otherwise it will take much longer and will be much harder to progress within the work field - and in life.

Everything is a learning experience - and everyone learns something slightly different from the other, you just have to teach the lesson to yourself.