Last week, the representative from the Anderson Sunshine House finally came to talk with our class. It was perfect timing as far as where we currently are in the project. I think it was a very informative and helpful meeting/discussion. She was able to answer questions and give us feedback on our ideas. Another group also gave an informal presentation about PayPal, and the client seemed very excited about it.
After the client spoke to the class on Wednesday, our group had a meeting later that day to talk about the proposal that’s due this upcoming week. For the meeting, I had prepared a very rough layout of the website for the group to review. I think it was helpful to finally see our ideas coming together, but it’s nowhere near being done. We still need to decide where everything will go and what exactly to include.
In addition to the website, the main focus of our group meeting was the proposal that is due Wednesday, March 14. Since we only had a very long sample to look at, we were confused to what exactly we were supposed to be putting in our proposal. We were hoping that after class on Friday we would be able to divide up some of the work. Right now, our current plan is to write most of the proposal in class on Monday. What we don’t get finished then, we will finish Monday evening. The website layout/rough draft is going to be done this weekend by Jocelyn and me on Sunday. If all goes as planned, this proposal will be done by Monday night. (yikes!!!) Due to time constraints, the proposal is definitely not going to be what it could be. With more time, I feel like we could put the time and effort into this that it deserves. I guess we will just have to see how it all goes!
Reflecting on the whole project so far, I think the most important thing has been planning ahead. Agendas definitely help the group meetings be more productive. They not only remind you of what you need to get done, but they make getting that done a faster process. Our group as a whole works really well together, so it has been easier to get the group work done.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Friday, March 2, 2007
Mock Interview Reflection
A few weeks ago, we were assigned to pick a job description for a mock interview for class. After searching the Internet, I finally found a local job listing with Clemson University. Over the past week, my professor, Angie, has been meeting individually with each of us to do the mock interviews. This past Wednesday, I finally had my mock interview with her. Of course, I was very nervous. I think I was more nervous about the questions I would be asked than any other aspect of the interview. Until this interview, I had only been professionally interviewed one other time, and the thought of an interview scared me.
After the interview started, it was not so bad. It was a lot easier once I relaxed and realized that I could answer the questions. I did have trouble with a few questions though. At one point, I actually had to ask Angela to repeat a question and then I rambled on about something not related to the question. The fact that I lost my train of thought was very embarrassing, but I was able to get back on track after that.
I learned a lot from this mock interview experience. It definitely made me think about what I would say if I had to interview for a job today. I discovered while I was sitting in Angela’s office that my heart is not really with accounting. Even though I’m good at it, it just seems like a job to me, not necessarily a passion. Every time she asked me a question, I wanted to talk about my experience as a draftswoman, but instead I had to come up with situations and experiences related to accounting. I found myself tripping over the questions, and I was really unsure of how to answer some of them. I think the interview really opened my eyes to how I really feel about my career.
I think that the mock interview assignment is a great preparation tool. I will definitely use what I learned from it as I start interviewing for real jobs. Ed Macauley, a basketball player, once said, “When you are not practicing, remember, someone somewhere is practicing, and when you meet him, he will win.” Whether it is for a basketball game or for your professional career, practice is the best way to prepare yourself for the competition. In a lot of ways, interviewing is a competition, and the winner gets the job!
After the interview started, it was not so bad. It was a lot easier once I relaxed and realized that I could answer the questions. I did have trouble with a few questions though. At one point, I actually had to ask Angela to repeat a question and then I rambled on about something not related to the question. The fact that I lost my train of thought was very embarrassing, but I was able to get back on track after that.
I learned a lot from this mock interview experience. It definitely made me think about what I would say if I had to interview for a job today. I discovered while I was sitting in Angela’s office that my heart is not really with accounting. Even though I’m good at it, it just seems like a job to me, not necessarily a passion. Every time she asked me a question, I wanted to talk about my experience as a draftswoman, but instead I had to come up with situations and experiences related to accounting. I found myself tripping over the questions, and I was really unsure of how to answer some of them. I think the interview really opened my eyes to how I really feel about my career.
I think that the mock interview assignment is a great preparation tool. I will definitely use what I learned from it as I start interviewing for real jobs. Ed Macauley, a basketball player, once said, “When you are not practicing, remember, someone somewhere is practicing, and when you meet him, he will win.” Whether it is for a basketball game or for your professional career, practice is the best way to prepare yourself for the competition. In a lot of ways, interviewing is a competition, and the winner gets the job!
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Presentation 1 Reflection
Last week was such a crazy week, and I'm glad it's finally all over! In addition to all the projects and exams I had last week, I did my Presentation 1 on Wednesday. I decided to do my presentation on betta fish--one of the most popular fish you can buy today. I focused on how to take care of a betta fish properly and why you shouldn't keep bettas in a flower vase. I also prepared a handout on how to buy a healthy and happy betta.Even though I was prepared for my presentation, I got nervous. I hate that I always get butterflies when I do public speaking! I handle most "non-graded" presentations much better! I have to admit that this presentation was easier than most because I knew the topic I picked so well. Overall, I feel like I did a good job, but I think I could definitely improve on not getting nervous. The class seemed to like the presentation, and hopefully I helped a few bettas out there get a better living environment from their owners...which was what I hoped to do!
I thought that the presentation was a really good assignment. Learning how to do a good PowerPoint will help in almost every profession, and it will definitely help in most of my classes!
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Reflections on Last Week
So far this semester, I have to admit that we haven’t had to do anything really challenging or terribly time consuming, but we have done a lot of things that have been very helpful. Well, this is how I felt until I read over the blog and looked at the syllabus again. After reading what all is due within the next two weeks, I’m feeling very uneasy, unprepared, and stressed out. We have been talking for a long time about all these assignments, but I guess I just didn’t realize that it was all happening so soon. On top of everything due for this class, I have even more to do for my other classes. I guess that’s my biggest concern. In the middle of working two jobs to pay for school, I have to find time for school! Never again will I take eighteen hours and try to work two jobs.
Even though I’m stressed out, I’m ready to get everything done. I feel like all the earlier assignments we've done were just the foundation blocks to the house we are building. In other words, we’ve done a little bit, but we’ve still got a lot to do. I know that probably sounds a little cheesy and cliché, but I think it’s a good description of what’s going on in the class.
I’m pretty confident about the presentation assignment. I’ve decided to do my presentation on betta fish since a lot of people have them as pets. I’m still debating on whether or not I should use Giggles, my betta, as a prop. He’s hard to carry all the way across campus, and I’m not sure I want to explain how he got his name. That could take like 2 minutes of my whole presentation time. I don’t feel prepared at all for my interview. I always get nervous about interviews. Also, I don’t like to admit it, but I really have no idea what kind of job I want to get after I graduate. As for the portfolio, I think it will be very easy to put together and post on Blackboard. And then there’s the group project…I feel like our group is behind, but hopefully that will all change soon. But then again, I’m not sure where exactly we should be right now. Are all the other groups still researching, or are they already designing a website? I feel like we are stuck in the research phase until we start putting all of our ideas together and making the actual website. Finding times to meet together seems to be our biggest problem.
Even though I’m stressed out, I’m ready to get everything done. I feel like all the earlier assignments we've done were just the foundation blocks to the house we are building. In other words, we’ve done a little bit, but we’ve still got a lot to do. I know that probably sounds a little cheesy and cliché, but I think it’s a good description of what’s going on in the class.
I’m pretty confident about the presentation assignment. I’ve decided to do my presentation on betta fish since a lot of people have them as pets. I’m still debating on whether or not I should use Giggles, my betta, as a prop. He’s hard to carry all the way across campus, and I’m not sure I want to explain how he got his name. That could take like 2 minutes of my whole presentation time. I don’t feel prepared at all for my interview. I always get nervous about interviews. Also, I don’t like to admit it, but I really have no idea what kind of job I want to get after I graduate. As for the portfolio, I think it will be very easy to put together and post on Blackboard. And then there’s the group project…I feel like our group is behind, but hopefully that will all change soon. But then again, I’m not sure where exactly we should be right now. Are all the other groups still researching, or are they already designing a website? I feel like we are stuck in the research phase until we start putting all of our ideas together and making the actual website. Finding times to meet together seems to be our biggest problem.Sunday, February 11, 2007
Presentation 1
So, for this week, we were asked to write about what presentation topics we are considering for our Presentation 1 assignment. The presentation is meant to be more of a presentation graded on the PowerPoint you prepare and how you speak to the class. The latter really scares me…”a grade on how well I speak to the class.” See, there’s a reason why I haven’t taken my communications requirement yet. I really hate speaking in front of groups of people. I guess my only question about the assignment is what exactly is graded as far as the “speaking to the class” part.
For my presentation, I am thinking about a few topics, and I’m not really sure which one to pick right now. First of all, I am a huge Hanson fan and I know a lot about them. I even have pictures from concerts, pictures of me meeting them, and tons of books for reference. The biggest problem with choosing this topic is that most people really don’t want to listen to me talk about Hanson. I also know a lot about house design and architecture, but I think I would have to do more research to put a presentation together that covers it all. Plus, it is such a huge topic that I would have to narrow it down to a more detailed topic like just kitchen design. The third topic I am considering is how to take care of a Betta fish. I’ve had three of them so far, and I’ve learned a lot about how to take care of them...I’ve learned a lot about what NOT to do!
Right now, I really think I will go with the Betta fish topic, because that is probably the best topic for me to present. Even though I am really interested and would enjoy doing a presentation on kitchen design, I’m not sure how to present that information easily. And then there’s Hanson…a topic that I would like to do because of everything I could include, but there’s not much interest in that topic among the class. As you can see, I still need to narrow it down and pick one.
For my presentation, I am thinking about a few topics, and I’m not really sure which one to pick right now. First of all, I am a huge Hanson fan and I know a lot about them. I even have pictures from concerts, pictures of me meeting them, and tons of books for reference. The biggest problem with choosing this topic is that most people really don’t want to listen to me talk about Hanson. I also know a lot about house design and architecture, but I think I would have to do more research to put a presentation together that covers it all. Plus, it is such a huge topic that I would have to narrow it down to a more detailed topic like just kitchen design. The third topic I am considering is how to take care of a Betta fish. I’ve had three of them so far, and I’ve learned a lot about how to take care of them...I’ve learned a lot about what NOT to do!
Right now, I really think I will go with the Betta fish topic, because that is probably the best topic for me to present. Even though I am really interested and would enjoy doing a presentation on kitchen design, I’m not sure how to present that information easily. And then there’s Hanson…a topic that I would like to do because of everything I could include, but there’s not much interest in that topic among the class. As you can see, I still need to narrow it down and pick one.
Sunday, February 4, 2007
The "Incident"
Recently, an event happened in Clemson that made headline news. When someone talks about "the incident" we all know what they are talking about. Just in case you are reading this and don't know what "incident" I'm talking about, here's the story:
A group of students hosted an off-campus “gangsta” party over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. Pictures got posted on Facebook.com of a girl with padding to make her rear end look bigger and another person in "blackface."
I’ve talked about the party in almost all of my classes with my peers this past week, and I didn't find out about it until Tuesday night what had happened. I have a bunch of mixed feelings about the whole thing. First of all, I do not think that the students meant to upset or offend anyone, but they definitely did.
Secondly, I think theme parties are meant to display an extreme stereotype. For example, an extreme stereotype for computer scientists might be that they all wear big glasses, pants that are too short with high socks, and a pocket protector. Do you really think that they are like that? Of course not! My point is that no matter what you do, unless you are really careful, you are going to offend SOMEONE.
As for the incident, I do think that the whole thing got blown out of proportion, and I do think that it was extremely bad timing to be throwing a party of that nature. The media has had a field day with the incident. Not only did the incident hurt those that it offended, it hurt Clemson’s reputation even more. I am glad that the students came forward and made a formal apology to the public. Hopefully, this has taught us a lot about the issues we still face today.
A group of students hosted an off-campus “gangsta” party over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend. Pictures got posted on Facebook.com of a girl with padding to make her rear end look bigger and another person in "blackface."
I’ve talked about the party in almost all of my classes with my peers this past week, and I didn't find out about it until Tuesday night what had happened. I have a bunch of mixed feelings about the whole thing. First of all, I do not think that the students meant to upset or offend anyone, but they definitely did.
Secondly, I think theme parties are meant to display an extreme stereotype. For example, an extreme stereotype for computer scientists might be that they all wear big glasses, pants that are too short with high socks, and a pocket protector. Do you really think that they are like that? Of course not! My point is that no matter what you do, unless you are really careful, you are going to offend SOMEONE.
As for the incident, I do think that the whole thing got blown out of proportion, and I do think that it was extremely bad timing to be throwing a party of that nature. The media has had a field day with the incident. Not only did the incident hurt those that it offended, it hurt Clemson’s reputation even more. I am glad that the students came forward and made a formal apology to the public. Hopefully, this has taught us a lot about the issues we still face today.
Friday, January 26, 2007
In the Not So Distant Future…
For this week, we were assigned to write about where we want to be ten years from now. It feels like only yesterday I was deciding on what college I wanted to attend. Now, I’m thinking about where I want to work, how far away I want to move, and what I want to do with the rest of my life. Time seems to fly by faster and faster every day. It was C.S. Lewis that once wrote, “The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of sixty minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.” I know it probably sounds cliché, but so much can change in one single year. It’s hard to imagine what my life might be like ten years from now.
Well, ten years from now I’ll be…30 years old!!? That just sounds so old right now, but I’m sure it will be here before I know it. I do hope that ten years from now I’m happily married with 2 kids, 2 dogs, and 12 fish. Everyone has this picture-perfect view of what they want for their lives; my picture-perfect view is probably somewhat different than most peoples. For me, I have no desire for the material things. Making a lot of money is not a dream of mine. I would like to have enough money to live comfortably, but I never want to be rich. Being happy is probably what I want most for my life.
I hope that between now and then I will graduate and get a job with a mid-size corporation. After getting some real-world experience, I would like to start my own accounting or tax preparation business. In ten years, I will have the business up and running, so I can depend on it to support my family. My goal is to be able to work from home where I can make my own schedule. The job that I really want doesn’t require a doctorate degree or have a list of requirements. See, the job I want to have is that of a mother. Yes, I really want to be the mom that packs lunches in the morning and picks up the kids from school every day. Of course, I still want to work part-time. That’s the main reason I want to own my own business.
I would like to get married shortly after I graduate. I want to live either in South Carolina or North Carolina. I know that I want to be fairly close to my family, but it all depends on where the best job is. Right now, it’s looking more like I’ll be living in North Carolina. Brian insists that they have a better public education program there. Oh, and in case you didn’t know, Brian is my boyfriend of two and half years. We are not engaged just yet, but I’m hoping that happens soon!
Since I started out with a quote, it seems like a good idea to end with another one of my favorite quotes. “In the book of life every page has two sides: we human beings fill the upper side with our plans, hopes and wishes, but providence writes on the other side, and what it ordains is seldom our goal.”
Well, ten years from now I’ll be…30 years old!!? That just sounds so old right now, but I’m sure it will be here before I know it. I do hope that ten years from now I’m happily married with 2 kids, 2 dogs, and 12 fish. Everyone has this picture-perfect view of what they want for their lives; my picture-perfect view is probably somewhat different than most peoples. For me, I have no desire for the material things. Making a lot of money is not a dream of mine. I would like to have enough money to live comfortably, but I never want to be rich. Being happy is probably what I want most for my life.
I hope that between now and then I will graduate and get a job with a mid-size corporation. After getting some real-world experience, I would like to start my own accounting or tax preparation business. In ten years, I will have the business up and running, so I can depend on it to support my family. My goal is to be able to work from home where I can make my own schedule. The job that I really want doesn’t require a doctorate degree or have a list of requirements. See, the job I want to have is that of a mother. Yes, I really want to be the mom that packs lunches in the morning and picks up the kids from school every day. Of course, I still want to work part-time. That’s the main reason I want to own my own business.
I would like to get married shortly after I graduate. I want to live either in South Carolina or North Carolina. I know that I want to be fairly close to my family, but it all depends on where the best job is. Right now, it’s looking more like I’ll be living in North Carolina. Brian insists that they have a better public education program there. Oh, and in case you didn’t know, Brian is my boyfriend of two and half years. We are not engaged just yet, but I’m hoping that happens soon!
Since I started out with a quote, it seems like a good idea to end with another one of my favorite quotes. “In the book of life every page has two sides: we human beings fill the upper side with our plans, hopes and wishes, but providence writes on the other side, and what it ordains is seldom our goal.”
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