Opinions Please.

Last week I went to a lunch meeting at work where they introduced the interns to some of the VPs and we were able to ask questions and seek out any information we wanted. Our meeting was productive, and I learned a lot about what it is exactly that this market of COX is looking for. Some of the things they said I will save for another post (after I am no longer employed...) as I have many opinions on their views of college degrees, work experience, study abroad and the Verizon Company.

One of the topics we spent a large portion of our time on was real life experience in fields that we wanted to go into. One of the HR reps pointed out how important it was to get involved with organizations in your field, to join boards and to simply be involved to be in the know-how in your field and to of course maintain a solid network. These are things I had often thought about but never really pursued. I feel like sometimes I am still in the awkward stage of "becoming an adult" and I don't want to take real life (specifically a career) too seriously, but I know that it is probably time, or passed time.

So I figure, it's time to get the ball rolling (insert manditory picture or video...)



I have been doing some research since then and have been looking at becoming a member of the STC (Society for Technical Communication). There is a chapter that meets on the Boise campus and as I continue to read more about it and learn about it, I think it would be beneficial. But I am still looking around and trying to decide what organizations or activities would be best suited for me.

I wanted to seek the opinion of those who read my blog. I think there are about six of you. :) While the numbers may be few, I know that I have brothers in-law and cousins and cousins in law, and sisters and parents and aunts and uncles and friends and random readers who have been successful in their education, careers and in their lives in general. I have not forgotten what things are important to me in my life or in my future but for now I am specifically talking about moving ahead in a career and in my education. If you'd be willing to take some time to leave me a post about suggestions you have for me, regarding being successful with my own time at school and things I can do that would help me in my career, I would really appreciate it.
You are all the best!

"Call" Don't "Send" part 2.

Many of you will remember a few months ago when I first posted about a problem that is plaguing our society (see March posts to review). It's a problem that spans from old to young. I discussed the scientific aspect of it, in that it is formally considered an addiction and more specifically a mental illness. As printed in the American Journal of Psychiatry:

There are four distinct symptoms to diagnosing texting as a mental illness:

Excessive use (neglect day to day activities)
Withdrawal (feeling depressed when not accessible)
Tolerance (over texting)
Negative repercussion (social isolation)

At one point or another, I have felt all of these. But I'm at the point now where I can care less. I will check my phone to see if someone called or if someone texted me but, I'm not getting upset, I'm not constantly opening and closing my phone and I have no problem going out or spending the whole day at work without it.

This morning as I was on my way out the door to work, my mom shared this picture with me from the New Era Magazine. How perfect, how fitting, and how true.



At the bottom it says, "Those you are with deserve your attention, not just your presence. (Matthew 7:12 (Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.))

Go and "Get Smart"

First I should just be entirely honest and say I love Steve Carell. Any movie he is in I will probably think is the "best movie of all time." My bias towards him may influence my thoughts on his most recent movie "Get Smart," but that aside I can honestly say that this movie was one of the best I've seen in the last year.

For all who watched the TV show, you need to know that I haven't ever seen the shows. Immediately after watching the movie however, I came home and YouTubed the series and watched numerous clips and outtakes in order to get an idea of what the five year series was all about. The movie is not a direct steal from the series. A classic series such as "Get Smart" can't truly be duplicated. Something like that wouldn't be and is never successful.



The movie had just the right amount of action, humor and romance. I feel like in movies such as this, a lot of the time one genre often outweighs another too much and it just becomes overwhelmingly annoying. Except for humor, because one can never have too much humor I don't believe. And with Steve Carell at the lead, this is seemingly impossible to be lacking. The action scenes are fun and true to life, and definitely work for both Anne Hathaway and Steve Carell. The romance between the two is a little unnerving at first thought (for me specifically because of the real-life age difference between the two), but again it really works and is a success.



I don't know who I think I am. I am no movie reviewer and I wouldn't call myself Roger Ebert or Richard Roeper or more locally Arch Campbell. But I really am a fan of this movie and think that if you have some spare time and a spare Hamilton lying around, you should see this, keeping in mind that it is rated PG-13. So while you may approve of you children watching the show, you may not approve of them watching the movie for a few years.



My friend (who has seen the entire series) said it best as we were listening to the music during the credits (because let's be real, no one reads the credits unless they are looking for a specific person's name) when she said, "Yeah. That was really good. I didn't even want to kill myself throughout the entire thing."

Homeless No More!!!!

It's ALMOST official! When I move to Boise in four weeks, I will not be living in a cardboard box somewhere relatively close to campus as to avoid a commute. I have a great place to live thanks to a wall posting at the Boise LDS Institute that was emailed to me, and most importantly to Tami and Danko for checking out the place, ensuring that it wasn't "a dive." It wasn't thankfully and from the pictures that they emailed to me, I think I will be living well.

First, how amazing is it that you can live so close to campus without really living "on campus?" And with the wonderful price of gas (Not that I am paying..shout out to Steve and Tracey), I am quite lucky (The gray area is campus and right below it is a red marker, this is the street I will be living on)!



And yes if you are looking closely, you will notice that I am living on Yale Court. My mom really appreciated this factor. Maybe if I'm good some Bulldog osmosis will occur. The place is about three years old, and it looks nice from Google Street View. Each floor has two apartments, so technically I will only have three roommates but there are eight girls living in the house.



Bedroom.



Another shot of the bedroom with Tami and Ryan. :)



How incredible is it that I have my own vanity and toilet and shower????? While I may not be the girliest person you've met, this is something every girl wants. Let's be honest.



Desk and closet area, with Tami measuring the room for me. :)



Tiled living room, with Ryan!



Finally, kitchen and laundry room!




Come Visit!

A Thrilling Day!

So, I'm sure you woke up this morning and thought to yourself, "Today will be a great day for me." I'm sure it is. I'm sure today has been the best day of your year so far. But, to be completely honest, my day has been a little better. I went to work and opened an email from the accounting assistant that said,

"As a result of the generosity of our general manager, I have 4-packs of Kings Dominion tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis."

I didn't believe this applied to me, as I am merely the office intern, but a girl I sit close with told me to hurry and go get some tickets, because they are for anyone. I filled out a request form quickly and went and picked up my four pack of of tickets to KingsD.



I have no idea when I'll be able to go. Or who the lucky three are that I will take with me. But, let's just be honest...today has been a good day. And it's only 9:30 AM.

Coming to a Radio Station Near You

As most of you readers know, I am going into communications and I want to persue a career in radio broadcasting. This has been what I've wanted to do since basically forever and when people ask me what aspect of broadcasting I want to go into, I say that I'm not sure yet. That is still true, although working in the advertising business this summer I need to be honest and say that sales is not what I am specifically interested in. I have learned a lot and I am so grateful that I've had the opportunity to learn this particular aspect of this type of business, but I don't believe I would ever want my career to be in this specific field.

Tonight I talked to Jamie on the phone for about two minutes and in the course of this conversation she said to me, "At dinner tonight Jason and I decided that you and him should have a radio show together." This sounds like a plan to me, so I've started some marketing to get things rolling...



I promised Jamie we wouldn't forget her or any of the little people when we became famous, so you won't be forgotten either. No worries.

How To Save A Life: Cape May Style

This 4th of July weekend I drove to Lewes, Delaware where I promptly got on a ferry and traveled to Cape May, New Jersey to visit my friend Kaitlin and her family. Among other things I have done, the most important was saving the life of a horseshoe crab. Thankfully for you, Kaitlin captured this on video. Enjoy!