Charli At Uni

[charli-at-uni]

Staying Social: Expanding your Social Network!

Social networks form from social interactions and relationships between individuals, often based on shared interests or group memberships. Within these networks, two main types of social relationships emerge: strong ties and weak ties. While both types of ties are crucial for building a robust social foundation, they serve different purposes.

In discussing the significance of strong ties and weak ties, I refer to Granovetter's seminal work on the strength of weak ties, which offers valuable insights into the dynamics of social networks. Granovetter's review of this book sheds light on how both types of ties influence an individual's social growth.

Strong ties are characterised by close personal relationships, such as those with family members or close friends. These relationships are vital for building trust and fostering deep connections. Additionally, strong ties often serve as gateways to weak ties, as our close friends often introduce us to acquaintances or new connections.

Weak ties, on the other hand, encompass connections with acquaintances, colleagues, or friends of friends. While these relationships may be more transactional in nature, they play a crucial role in expanding one's social network. Weak ties serve as bridges, connecting individuals to new opportunities, information, and perspectives. Triadic closure, a concept observed in network theory, highlights how connections are often formed through mutual relationships, such as friends of friends.

Drawing from Granovetter's seminal work on "The Strength of Weak Ties," I recognize the significance of weak ties in expanding my network's reach and accessing novel information and opportunities. While strong ties provide emotional support and solidarity, weak ties facilitate access to new knowledge, diverse perspectives, and potential pathways for advancement. By cultivating a balance between strong and weak ties, I maximize the potential of my social capital to navigate professional and personal spheres effectively.

Let us take a closer look at my social network. As you can see, it is still relatively small, and I have not fully developed it yet. This is because I am young and just beginning to explore the world of social networking. If you were to compare it to my social network from the previous year, you would have noticed it was even smaller and primarily comprised of close connections. However, as I have become more involved in events within the STEM community, my network has expanded significantly. Now, I have a multitude of weak ties stemming from these networking opportunities, providing me with a diverse pool of individuals I can connect with, seek advice from, and potentially collaborate with in the future.

Social capital is like having a treasure trove of valuable resources at your fingertips, all thanks to the intricate web of social connections you have cultivated. In my own social network, although it's still a work in progress, I've managed to gather a diverse array of friend groups from various backgrounds and professions. This diversity opens a world of opportunities for me, as I can tap into the unique skills and experiences of individuals and organizations within my network.

One standout example of the power of social capital in my life was during my internship at an IT company. While I lacked the typical experience most interns had, I had something even more valuable: a connection. Through a mutual acquaintance, I was able to establish a relationship with the company, landing the internship opportunity. This scenario perfectly embodies the concept of a "weak tie" in action, where an incidental connection led to significant professional growth and opportunities.

By leveraging my social connections, I have been able to navigate my career path with confidence. While my educational qualifications certainly play a role, it's the strength of my network that truly sets me apart. By continually expanding my network through events and gatherings, I ensure that I have access to a wide range of opportunities and resources, reducing my vulnerability in a constantly evolving job market.

My approach to networking is not just about collecting contacts, but about cultivating meaningful connections that add value to my professional journey. Through a blend of strong ties and strategic weak ties, I have built a robust network that serves as a foundation for my success and growth.

[charli-at-uni]

Cracking the Code: Your Essential Guide to Crafting a Viral Future

Scrolling through my TikTok feed, I stumbled upon Reesa Teesa's "Who the Fuck did I Marry" series of videos. Like many others, I became entranced by this series and, in turn, wanted to understand how and why it skyrocketed to internet fame. Why was this 52-part saga that chronicles a tumultuous relationship with woman and her pathological liar ex-husband garner such widespread virtually practically overnight. What made it so captivating? I found the answer lay in the series' adept use of storytelling principles, particularly Freytag's five acts of dramatic structure.

Each episode of Reesa's series followed a narrative arc that kept viewers hooked from start to finish. In the exposition, she introduced key characters and established the foundation of her troubled relationship. As the rising action unfolded, tensions escalated as she uncovered her husband's deceitful behaviour, leading to a climactic confrontation fuelled by revelations of his lies. The falling action saw Reesa grappling with the fallout of her discovery, ultimately culminating in a resolution where she emerged stronger and liberated from her toxic marriage.

Inspired by Reesa's success, I sought to apply similar storytelling techniques to my own content, catering to struggling university students who may not have the means to afford high-end hair care products. As a university student myself, this is something I can empathize with. My video aims to resonate with my target audience by evoking positive emotions and making viewers feel more beautiful. Leveraging Berger’s primary predictor of joy and excitement, recognizing that, I know that invoking positive emotions will increase the likelihood of my video going viral. Moreover, I emphasize the importance of self-care and grooming routines, particularly for students who are juggling academic responsibilities and tight budgets.

By offering a practical and affordable alternative to luxury hair care items, my heatless curl method enables students to enhance their appearance and boost their confidence without breaking the bank I am using Aristotle's drivers of persuasion - ethos, pathos, and logos. They play a crucial role in my content strategy. Ethos, or credibility, is established through my genuine desire to help others and my relatable experiences as a student. Pathos, or emotional appeal, is evoked by emphasizing the transformative power of self-care and the sense of community fostered through shared experiences. Lastly, logos, or logical appeal, is demonstrated by offering practical and affordable solutions to common challenges faced by students.

By capitalizing on the unattainable standards often depicted in viral lifestyle videos and providing a realistic alternative, my content addresses the growing demand for accessible hair care content, particularly among students and beginners. By offering routine or beginner-level techniques, I aim to provide a practical approach that resonates with those who may be unsure how to try new hair care techniques.

In addition to the video, I created an original meme using Berger's STEPP model to further engage my audience. By tapping into common struggles faced by university students, such as sleep deprivation, and offering a humorous perspective, I aimed to evoke emotions of camaraderie and solidarity while providing practical value. As seen below:

I leverage social currency by incorporating a widely recognized meme template, ensuring that my content resonates with a broad audience and garners immediate attention. Secondly, I tap into triggers that university students can relate to, such as the struggle to get enough sleep amidst late-night study sessions and busy schedules. By referencing these common experiences, I create a sense of familiarity and connection with my audience.

Emotion plays a crucial role in my post, as I aim to evoke feelings of humour and connection among my audience. By making light of the shared struggle of university students to get a decent night's sleep, I transform a negative experience into a relatable and light-hearted joke that elicits laughter and empathy.

To achieve maximum visibility and engagement, I have decided to share my meme on social media platforms frequented by university students, such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Additionally, I target specific communities tailored to university students, such as QUT Love Letters or other university social platforms. Encouraging engagement and sharing among peers amplifies the reach and visibility of my post, allowing it to resonate with a wider audience.

Finally, my post offers practical value by acknowledging the shared experience of sleep deprivation among university students. By providing a humorous perspective on this common challenge, I alleviate stress and foster a sense of solidarity within the community. Overall, my social media post effectively utilizes social currency, triggers, emotion, and practical value to engage my audience and foster meaningful interaction within the university community.

Though I may not achieve the instant viral success of Reesa Teesa's videos, I'm confident that employing these strategies will keep my content engaging and relatable over time. And personally, I know I'd be hooked by these posts – but maybe that's just me!

[charli-at-uni]

Me, Unfiltered

As I sat to begin writing this, I sat perplexed on what this post demanding me to deliver. A heartfelt tale of my journey that reflects my accomplishments in life. Society conditions you to humble yourself. But that’s not this post is about! We all deserve our 15 minutes of fame, and I decided mine will be highlighting why I’m proud of myself. So, this post is who I am.

I am very good at communicating and empathising with people and know how to address an issue without escalating the issue, great at compromise. My reputation is built on possessing remarkable grit. While I might experience frustration, I consistently dedicate myself and exert double the effort to accomplish tasks or acquire new skills.

However, I struggle with being easily distracted and anxious, making it challenging for me to stay focused during lengthy meetings. To address this, I've been working on improvement strategies such as taking short breaks and diligently jotting down notes. This helps me better grasp the discussions and provides a reference point for later recall in case I forget details.

When I started University I began it with no knowledge of business and a limited experience in the coding community. Over time, I gained a deeper understanding of the intricacies involved in maintaining a business platform. Now, with a broader mindset, my goal is to contribute by finishing projects, communicating effectively with stakeholders, and providing the necessary resources for them to establish their online presence.

My journey in IT began right after high school, marked by a dedication to learning and intense effort to enhance my skills, which has cultivated a strong sense of grit within me. Despite my initial lack of experience, I've actively engaged with the STEM community, embarked on a three-month IT internship, and am consistently applying for new positions and jobs. This proactive approach showcases my commitment to continuous improvement and overcoming challenges, even in areas where I may lack expertise. Furthermore, I understand the significance of bonding with fellow BI colleagues, team leaders, and developers, and grasping the attributes they seek in new team members for their BI team. I aim to enhance my skills to match these criteria and become a valuable asset to the team.

I follow the Women in Digital forum that displays both membership exclusive and public events. These events are essential to building my brand network and increasing my personal branding. Likewise, I follow many Businesses Intelligence specified companies in Brisbane that are promoted through Women in STEM events and platforms.

As someone who has grown up with social media, I can empathize with the impacts of the more complex factors associated with the internet. Due to the anonymity that any individual with a platform can easily assume, there is little risk of repercussions. Consequently, the ability to spread fake news or engage in cyberbullying has become increasingly effortless. The notion of social technology functioning as an online community is further evidenced by the prevalence of cancel culture. A mass reckoning on a particular individual online can quickly tarnish their personal brand. Therefore, as I establish an identity online, I am decidedly careful when choosing which platform to promote my image, and I hold the companies I associate with to the same standard as I. In turn, I avoid aligning my image with controversial platforms.

Another challenge encountered by online networking opportunities on social media pertains to the absence of boundaries concerning privacy. Without proactive measures, individuals' risk having their information sold to third-party vendors. Although there are laws and agreements in place, some entities are less than ethical in their disclosure of information usage.

By steering clear of companies affiliated with unethical practices and prioritizing those that uphold good privacy standards, I can enhance my reputation as a trustworthy and reputable employee.