Hi. I'm Liz, and last year I studied abroad in Geneva, Switzerland and interned in Ferney-Voltaire, France. That moment was living the dream I've had since I can remember. It is absolutely amazing to think that 3 of 4 of my grandparents immigrated to America and I studied in Europe as a product of their tenacity and handwork. The time has come and gone, but hopefully, the life adventures are only just beginning. I'm continuing this blog because I think it's important to recognize that life is not just a series of adventures, but that your life is an adventure and these are my stories. I'm now, normal again, studying at Ohio State University as a fourth year marketing major. My adventure now is the quest of professional development and a little personal growth along the way. Drop me a message sometime I would LOVE feedback.
Let me start by saying I really do find blogging and writing in general to be very therapeutic and trust me I could use the therapy. I’m officially about ten months into my first job, I’m in a new city, and I’m grappling with true life questions. How do I make new friends? Will I die alone? How do I unclog the toilet? What is this Roth business? Why can’t I buy this domestic cheese platter for just myself?
Honestly, those questions are not joking whatsoever. Friends are hard to make in the real world. You can’t be as selective as you were in college and particularly coming from OSU, you don’t have an endless supply of somewhat likeminded people. Relationships of the romantic variety are even more complicated. It’s not entirely accepted to make out at the bar - not that I ever did that. I feel like Tinder is not working, but EHarmony is too serious of a step. Thanks WikiHelp for question three and my brother Alex for question four. CHEESE! My beloved. I just bought a cheese magazine.
Back on track now. I want to blog. All the time. I love it and I’m obsessed with story telling, but I’m turning into one of those jailed by routine humans. I go to work, maybe workout (indoor soccer on Mondays, kickballs on Sundays, cardio thrown in haphazardly). In some ways, it’s great. Compared to college where it was studying for this exam and then memorizing this presentation with random work hours and extracurriculars thrown in it’s so much easier.
I’m now at the place where I’m thinking SCREW EASY. I want that life that’s a little messy, full of challenges and adversity, and most importantly inspiring. I’m in charge of my happiness and as a fresh 23 year old I want to pursue that happiness. Not that I’m not happy now, though. I’m at a decent job, great benefits, fantastic coworkers, and good pay. There’s also no clue trajectory in site and zero creative input. It taps into a fraction of who I am, what my passions are, and where my strengths land.
This is the important part to know: the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. My two coworkers/roommates have this mentality that they deserve something better, but the truth is we deserve nothing. We just graduated and we have to hustle a little bit. This job isn’t perfect, but I’m going to give it and my customers the respect it deserves. I come to work every day on time, I have a great attitude, and I’m a team player.
That said, I wanted to share a few things I’ve learned:
1.) There’s no perfect job, just the perfect mindset. Scratch that, maybe there is a perfect job but likely not right now. Not right out of college and certainly not for your first job. You are in charge of the person you want to be and the attitude you want to carry. My job, is not sexy or noteworthy, but I come to work focused on what I love about it: my coworkers, my customers, learning new things.
2.) Metrics don’t always matter, work ethic does. My job is at least 60% luck based. Person 1 can put in x effort and person 2 can put in x effort too but somehow person 1 got the output of 2y where the other had only y. There’s a certain level of variability that we have no control over, but you have control over how you will be represented. If you think people don’t notice how hard you work, you’re wrong. Maybe it’s not the CEO but it could be the person you never thought twice about but can open that new door for you later.
3.) It’s not who you know it’s how they know you. One of the most trite and overused expressions in business about networking falls along those lines. Honestly though, who cares if you know Warren Buffet. If you haven’t established to Warren that you’re an asset to his life in one way or another it doesn’t matter. You have to put in the time and conscious effort to be the person Warren would put in an honest and good word in for.
4.) Be happy about who you are at the end of the day. Happiness is in your control. If you’re not happy, it’s not going to magical change on it’s own. You have to do the work. Apply for new positions, join a club, get fit. Use your free will. Also, everyday look in a real or metaphorical mirror. Is this who you want to be? Are you proud of who you are? I’m in a job I’m just okay with, but I’m proud of my work ethic and I’m taking my life in my own two hands to find that job.
What things would you share about working and the real world?
Forever some of my favorite moments from my life. Kotor, Montenegró! Absolutely beautiful, AMAZING to explore, dead exhausting, but the view from the top of ancient fortress was to die for.
So what's a girl to do after exhausting her parents with endless conversations? Turn to her wise and powerful professors, in particular, the one who is proving to be the independent and successful woman you had always hoped to have as a mentor in my life.
I cannot articulate how fortunate I feel to just have had the opportunity to talk life with her. Where are families are from, how we grew up, and yes, what I (and even she) wants to do with our future. She gave me invaluable nuggets that I want to real meditate on...even if that meditation is just during my 20 minute walk to campus. While I almost came out with more question than I came in, I definitely feel a bit more clarity on what I should do or what I should pursue. Some important takeaways:
What are you passionate about?
What would you do for free?
How is what your passionate about line up with your skills sets?
What skills do you want to develop?
Your first job doesn't have to be perfect, it doesn't need to pay well, take lessons from each day?
Be mindful of opportunities that surround you and be willing to grab them with two hands when they present themselves
These are some points I want to think about in the oncoming days. Yes, I have papers and exams, quizzes and cases, but this is meaningful and needs to be thought on. She said my face lit up when I talked about my passion for global experiences and for understanding people, that's a foundation, but I need to explore it.
Any advice for a soon to be graduate looking at starting her career?
Navigating the rough waters between last collegiate term and real world is exciting in many ways, but ultimately it's terrifying. Especially when you throw in the, oh yeah, job thing. I'll admit, right now, I'm sitting on a cozy job offer from a Fortune 500 company so I should be ecstatic, but I'm not. The job is in Denver (which I'm not shying away from) and it's sales (which I'm not shying away from), but it's not me and it's not were I anticipated my professional career starting. I'm leaning towards rejecting the offer, which truly is terrifying because how do you reject something when there's not something else on the table?
I guess it all comes down to a few things:
The idea of settling: am I willing to take the first offer because it's flattering AND it *gasp* might be the only offer...for now
What are my actual interests?
What do I think I can not only do well in, but thrive in?
What risks am I willing to take to create growth potential in myself, but long and short term?
The second bullet, what are my actual interests? Now, that's actually the bigger challenge. Taking risks to create opportunities is great, but in what field, doing what, what city? Buzzfeed is growing in momentum and social media is full of its content telling you take this quiz to see what famous character you are or what city you should live in. You know you're a senior if, somethings only marketers understand.' While those are well and good, it's important to march through the clutter to find authenticity. What do I discover about myself when I just think (or write)? What do I believe in, love, aspire to be, aspire to do?
It's complicated really when you think about it. I'm a marketing major and I know that I love this field. As I respond when someone asks me about why I became a marketing major, I do it because I love people and I love stories. Marketing is understanding all users, knowing that each user has a story, and connecting them via a marketing campaign or an interactive piece is what I think it is. Obviously, that's an overly simplified explanation, but I think it serves its purpose.
So based off that principle I can tell you I like the art of storytelling and understanding how I (and companies) connect to an individual or a group of people. I love traveling, every aspect of it. From people watching at airports, looking out windows while flying, training, or driving, eating new foods, getting lost, and reconnecting to loved ones. I am passionate about TV, but because it has a different meaning to a lot of people. Yes, it's about wasting time sometimes, but why do people watch x show, enjoy y commercial, feel passionate about z person?
Now, connecting interests to skills. That's hard. I've been applying to a lot of places and truly and fundamentally believe I could be great at something, but belief is not enough. I've always said, it's tricky to get a foot in the door, but if you even give me a toe, I can land the interview and I can do great things. I've been applying like crazy, but it is difficult to prove your worth. I've been using Twitter and social media to reach out more and while I'm getting responses, it seems almost superficial.
I believe in my credentials, I was a advertising account management intern at a full service agency, I was an intern at a NGO focused on sustainability, I was a student manager in catering for three years (I dare you to ask me how that relevant because I can easily connect dots), and I'm serving in a leadership role with Student Life. I go to a great school, I've taken interesting classes that make me well rounded, and I studied abroad in Switzerland for a semester taking international business, trade, and politics classes.
Between 6 classes for the first 7 weeks of the semester totally 4 ongoing group projects, 2 12 page papers, and many exams, while trying to be healthier, working part time, and having a healthy social calendar I have been very busy.
However, I really want to place more of an emphasis on blogging for, quite honestly, it's therapeutic abilities. Sometimes when I face hurdles, problems, and difficult group mates, I complain to no benefit. However, by turning problems it into words, turning those words into solutions, and turning those solutions into moments of growth will I become a better person.
It has been a long time since I have really used this blog. Partly because I can't hide the idea that my life here stateside at OSU is significantly less newsworthy than my ultra-cool, quasi jet setting ways of a year ago when I was in Geneva, Switzerland for a semester.
Last October I had the CRAZIEST month of my life. I was in Madrid the first weekend, Dresden the second, and on a cruise during break week seeing Italy, Croatia, Greece, and Montenegro. In some ways I almost feel like I fell in love with Europe because I miss it so much. I mean, as a favorite saying goes, "is it better to have loved and lost than never lost at all?" I know very well that I am the most blessed recently turned 22 year old on the planet for these experience, but damn, do I want that back.
It seems so dramatic but exploring that idea of loss, what did I lose? I think primarily, I lost that ideology that "life" is eons away and planning, REALLY planning for my future can be tucked away for later. I was fully exploring my youth, my lack of responsibility, of financial burdens, of in some way reality. Studying and interning abroad is a great professional experience, I have no doubt about it, but its a vacation from life.
Now, I'm sitting here in the library, fully ignoring the HR book between my lap and my Mac. I have so much to study, I have organizational responsibilities, work, a serious interview coming up in Cleveland, and I'm hoping to hear back on another. When did this happen? When did I get to a point where I actually have to swim through the waters of adulthood just mearly attempting to keep my head above water as I look into companies, apply for positions, evaluate opportunities, etc.?
I keep coming back to one point, though. What do I really, truly want? I think I know, I want to explore more, experience even more than that, and just be, transcend, live. I want to see so much, I want to understand the world and its people. I need guidance.
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
Another blog post I did for work that doesn't seem to be getting posted but good insight for marketing majors/ those interested in ad life. This is a reflection on the time at Fahlgren Mortine, a fantastic full service advertising agency....
The world of anticipation and the world of reality sometimes feel separate universes. To use literature analogously, it is like Anakin pre-Jedi years, Frodo before agreeing to the Fellowship, or Ulysses both during the Trojan War and heading home.
What do they have in common with me? The expectations of their adventures varied vastly from the actual journey they ended up embarking on.
It goes the same with being an undergraduate. We think being grown up means graduating high school, when it is maybe the tip of the iceberg. We have ideas of how things will play out, what careers will give what, and imagine that big city living will be as glamorous as the TV shows portray it. We think we will escape all parts of the journey unscathed or rather, unchanged.
As one of the account management interns at Fahlgren Mortine, the same can be said about my experience here. With one year left at Ohio State and for all intrinsic purposes a newbie to this world, I can say with full confidence that I came in with major misconceptions. Not just about working with an advertising agency, but a full service agency at that.
In my defense, even though I grew up knowing I wanted to be in the advertisement business and/or Indiana Jones, Mad Men sure has a way of glamorizing things. While I knew that the social atmosphere would not literally be the same, I was pleasantly shocked by the amazing culture Fahlgren has established amongst its employees. I also assumed their would be an office Don Draper who calls all the shots, that was also a misconception. As a full service agency and being Fahlgren Mortine, we reach out to all functions as often as we can and its our synergies that create value.
Another of my misconceptions about agency work is that account managers are the bridge between clients and the agency serving in a communicatory role. I assumed that account managers were more of a translating position. Meaning, they took what the clients needs were, figured out if it could be done, and then pulled the proper team and details together
However, I quickly learned their list of responsibilities goes beyond simply being a middleman.
Gatekeeper: The account team consistently has to keep the client and the internal team’s interest in mind. If creative presents an idea that is inconsistent with the client’s needs it doesn’t make it across the bridge to the client. Vice versa, if the client has a list of demands, it is our role to take what they are saying and draft a creative brief to present to clients.
Watchtower: Client relationships are not just about what is presently at the forefront, but account managers must know how to foresee future problems and opportunities. Researching into competition, trends, and possible campaigns to implement is a serious task.
Lighthouse: Another task is to keep the client and the internal team’s interest in mind at all time. I have learned in my time here, that you can draft an exceptional plan, but plans can go array from meeting external factors. Account Managers have to have constant vigilance and be prepared to recognize issues as fast as possible.
Champion: Sometimes, you have to be a cheerleader. When work is brought to the client’s table, be proud it! Account managers must also have their client’s backs too. Our job is to make them look good. We have to listen attentively, communicate efficiently, and support them wholeheartedly.
Smartphone’s are running the world with social media providing platforms to share a user’s point of view and life experiences. According to the latest Pew Internet survey on mobile use, 91% of American adults have a cell phone with 56% in procession of a smart one. My age bracket is steadily paving the way as the most smartphone hungry. 18-29 year olds polled, 80% of cell phone users have a Smartphone with only 3% not using any form of a mobile phone. Shocking, really, 4 out of 5 young adults with a cell phone have a smart one. Marsha Hall in a recent Fahlgren Mortine blog post “Smartphones: Friends or Foes During Presentations” explored dealing with smartphone distractions.
Love them or hate them, Smartphones are not only becoming more popular to use, but they are replacing “traditional” technology. Instead of a user getting on their computer to surf the web and access social media, they are turning more and more to mobile phones and tablets. While computers are still leading the way with 94% of respondents using this form in 2012, that share decreased from 94% according to eMarketer. That may not seem significant but mobile phones jumped 9%, going from 37% to 47%, tablets saw an even bigger increase with 13% more users.
Users are also using social media more. In 2011, 54% of used daily and in early March 2012, it was up to 60%, implicitly we can assume these number have only increased. If the share of social media users, time spent online, and the usage of smart phones only increasing what effect does this have on traditional marketing?
Two platforms have created an interesting and dynamic way for businesses to interact with their consumers and are only available for smartphones and tablets. Instagram has been around since 2010 with a video feature being added June 20 and Vine was introduced at the start of the year. What effects will the introduction of Instagram video have on Vine and on the world of business in general?
According to Instagram, they currently have 130 million monthly active users and are famously owned by Facebook. Previous to the new feature, they only had still photography and if a picture can speak a thousand words, Instagram shouted volumes without businesses having to utter a sound. Since its inception, many sectors have taken advantage of this platform enjoying the capability to edit an image that looks professional without needing the professional gear. In consideration of its new video feature, it is too early to gauge video usage, but we can safely assume there will be a strong percentage of first movers into this technology
Vine has been the younger brother vying for attention from social media since inception. As the brainchild of Facebook’s rival Twitter, it has users come up with creative videos that have been funny in many cases or informative like Lowes has produced. Statistically, they have created a decent amount of waves. According to a June 3rd article, since the launch early this year 13 million users have signed up for Vine, with 12 million videos being posted daily.
What of this Instragm Video though? What does it bring to the table – er, tablet in some cases –that Vine did not. The seemingly biggest difference is the time span. Increasing Vine’s approximately 6.5 second window to a whopping 15 seconds, Instagram hopes will help convert users. A collegue of mine at Fahlgren Mortine and one of our PR extraordinaires and account supervisors, provides an excellent head-to-head comparison of the key features, seen below:
Video Clip Editing: Instagam:yes (edit and delete), Vine:no
Video Filters: Instagram: yes, Vine: no
Cover Frames: Instagram: yes (can select any shot), Vine: no, first scene is cover
Video Embedding: Instagram: no, Vine: yes
Video Focus and Stability: Instagram: yes, Vine: no
Video Clip Length: Instagram: 15 seconds, Vine: 6.5 on avg
Another interesting perspective for the Vine vs. Instagram debate would be that of attention spans. What implications are there for the time differences and the ever decreasing attention span of an adult? According to a 2010 report by USA Today, “On average, about 5% of an audience viewing a 15-second commercial will give up on it. The number jumps to about 6% for 30 seconds and 6.5% for 60 seconds.” Intuitively, one must assume that a 6.5 second video would be even more effective in capturing someone’s attention than, say, a 15 second video.
Trevor Beattie, a founding partner of partner of Beattie McGuinness Bungay and advertising executive of several noteworthy campaigns laid additional claims. In an article with Media Week UK, he says that 30 seconds is too long, that movements should be made towards 5 second, and even that someone knows within 2 seconds if they like something. An Instagram video can always be shorter, but could the continuous loop of Vine and its 6.5 second maximum window add a certain business attraction that Instagram simply cannot capture?
Who is the winner? It’s very unclear now, with people siding with either platform for logical and even emotional reasons. Being a pioneer like Vine is in this technology, has garnered adamant followers, but what has history showed us? Instagram shook up Facebook photo sharing, Facebook shook up Myspace social interaction, and Myspace shook up AIM’s online communication. Only time will tell, but I think users will enjoy using Instagram videos more for its features, but people may end up enjoying watching Vines for their short window and unending feed.
Any opinion on what platform will reign supreme?
Also, check out Fahlgren Mortine's blog for other great business insights
Anxiety is definitely my companion - we're still working out the details of our relationship status. Sometimes it is a paralyzing problem, but it is an agent in my arsenal. I rarely forget deadlines because I am anxiously waiting for them to come up and when I say I'm never, I mean never, late. At the end of the day, it has also given me a quick go to for, "what would you say is your biggest weakness" question during interviews. I can quickly tackle that adding the above "positives" (to appropriate twist it) and add methods to combat it. Typically it falls along the, I use a planner, I stay on top of deadlines, etc etc.
Anxiety isn't the complete enemy though. I've always been of the school of thought that for important things you should always have an appropriate amount of nerves. It tells us that something is important, that we care about what is happening, and even that we have an emotional investment in the outcome of the event. Too much is never good...especially in interviews, I mean who feels comfortable watching someone completely freak out answering questions about someone they know best, themselves. Too little is just unnatural and I'm not even going to go there (because it is unfamiliar territory.
My hope for myself is that I find a way to use my anxiety for future opportunities. I want it to be the fire that stirs my aspirations because my stress is simply stemmed from what the future holds or rather the uncertainty of it all. I need to use that as motivation to work hard to accomplish my ambitions and don't settle for anything less. The world is my oyster and I just need to go for it.
Speaking of opportunities, my friends just called and want me to go to see Jimmy Fallon's live taping in NYC in a few weeks. I absolutely want to, but it would mean skipping at least one day, if not two days of work. This could be an opportunity that wouldn't come again because well, Ohio girls just don't make it to the City often. Tomorrow I'm planning on talking to my supervisor to work out the situation. If it is a matter of making up hours I could simply tackle an hour a day to the week before and the week after! I could even blog or do something for Fahlgren. Anyway, wish me luck!!
I think part of growing up is gaining perspective and that's essentially what this expression is about. We think we have something good until we see even better and vice versa, sometimes the world seems terrible until it shoves something more tragic in our face. And there's always tradeoffs. If I could get that greener grass without having to sacrifice the money, time, or sweat to achieve it...I would rather like that...I think. Though, another saying "nothing suffered, nothing gained" does come to mind and I do believe a great moment is even sweeter after a bit of struggle.
This all came to mind when the topic of health pops into my thoughts. I remember thinking I was so fat or flabby or generally unhealthy growing up just to be sitting here, typing at my most unhealthiest, realizing I was in damn good health. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I know that there is a solution, but that's where the sacrifices come in. I generally enjoy social drinking (and happy hour unfortunately equates to excessive drinking), I like tacos, and I can come up with a thousand excuses to not run. Don't even get me started on the results! Why does it take so long to see better health? If it was overnight I would sign up for that green grass instantaneously.
Then there's the topic of when do you know that your grass is at it's greenest and when should you invest to see the most luscious results? I've been generally complacent lately with my goals just thinking they will fall into my lap and in some ways they have. By putting out some effort I have seen pretty decent results. I've studied abroad, I'm in a great organization on campus, and I have a hell of an internship. Then I keep thinking, but what if there's still better out there? What if I give me damnedest efforts with my health, school, my professional life? What gems could I uncover within me and around me?
All I know is at the end of the day I'm 21 and working at an amazing internship at an advertising agency, but what grass could be further down my path? I have less than a month left of work and I'm switching apartments. That's kind of metaphorical isn't it. I should think of these next few weeks as cleaning house. I need to get more serious about working out, more serious about focusing on my future career, and more serious about just doing life.
Just a catch up, I am currently the summer advertising account management intern at Fahlgren Mortine's Columbus location. It is truly a dream, but as cliched as it sounds, it's even better because the reality of it is more enjoyable. I have amazing coworkers and mentors to turn to, fantastic co-interns I can lean on for whatever, and a fantastic company culture that strikes a surprisingly amazing balance between professional seriousness and lighthearted candidness. Most importantly, the work is forcing me to expand my ideas of what marketing is and what type of professional I want to become.
Before working at an advertisement agency, I had an almost romantic idea of what it would be like modeled partly on Mad Men and partly on the beautifully glossy magazine ads I long admired. I believed that because I'm a marketing major I would land the job of being the creative mastermind behind the projects and fortunately for me, that just isn't so. I'm creative and conceptional, but I do not processes the know-how to eloquently provide copy, turn an idea into a reality, or establish a digital campaign that can bridge corporate goals with deliverable results. Fahlgren Mortine, as any proper full service agency should, has a genius and a team for every capability (PR, brand planning, media buying, SEO, digital, and more).
But, wait, what do I do then? There's a team for every capability so what does an account management person do? That's a role that I can confidently say changes constantly while having the same core mission. The foundation is that we provide the communication between the client's needs and wants and Fahlgren's internal team. We are in seemingly constant contact with our client to keep them updated, hear their feedback, and discuss current/future/past jobs. I have helped draft creative briefs, updated jobs, conducted client research, completed competitive monitoring, and talked directly with the client. I have also been pulled to other assignments with digitial such as drafting use cases and working on wire framing which have definitely challenged my narrow minded marketing education.
In short, working at Fahlgren has given me an amazing experience that has expanded my business knowledge, my professional growth, and personal development. It's given me something to work harder for because once you see what a great agency is like you want that for your post graduate career. I have 5 weeks left and feel motivated to do and be even better.
Seriously, let me clarify by saying I really dislike that Switchfoot song. And the band at this point. If 21 years on Earth teaches you anything it's does help give a taste level, still in development, but still. I like a glass of cabernet sauvignon even if I trail off saying the second word of that pairing and I am a sucker for a good piece of goat cheese. I'm still learning how the world works, but I strongly believe in trial by error. Error: leaving my car on a road that was meant to be street cleaned. Trial: paying $200 to get my car back from the kind folks of Columbus. I mourned the loss of tacos and shots left unconsumed and unpurchased from the mistake in this situation, but you live and you learn. It's moving on, moving forward, and daring to do more than the status quo that's the challenge.
Before we continue, yes, filled to the brim. Cheesy? Accept it and love the moment of genuine happiness from yours truly. I could be naive or ignorant of how people really think of me, but I leave some of my friends feeling so damn fulfilled and happy that I could care less if they love me all the time or not. All I know is if I leave someones company laughing at least once, I'm golden. Maybe that's why it's so hard for me to find someone *significant,* I NEED humor and light and love in my people, but...that's another thought for another time.
Back to business. I recently finished my junior year of college and WILL, yes will, be graduating on time next May. I was so anxious leading to the end of the year. I was so self-obsessed with finding an internship because I had this huge Atlas holding the weight of the world feeling that if I didn't get a solid internship my future would crumble into nothingness. I probably applied to 20 places, went through interviews, got offers, said no to offers, bit my nails a lot, and then landed it...the dream!
In a complete last minute (in my mind) effort, I landed an internship with an amazing marketing firm with great clients, coworkers, a pretty office, and it pays (cherry on the sundae, no?). This full time position starts monday and I would say I'm nervous, but I'm not. I want to show them my potential, my work ethic, my true self and I wont be able to do that if I'm filled with nerves. However, now that this challenged is fulfilled, the next thing comes. What to do with this summer.
So, here's the basic outline. I want to do at least 3 posts a week about zee life, but I want to do some over business happenings. It's a two prong idea: keep on top of relevant events and continue to exercise my communication skills. I also want to get in shape, feel and look healthy and I want to read more. On that note, off to my book... "Lancaster & York; The War of the Roses," I actually consider myself somewhat of an amateur historian on the Tudor era, so there's that.
I'm not proof reading this, so sorry, but chat back, give comments, yell at me! Bye for now!
Well, it sure has been a minute since I last posted. I could say I was busy with school or work or even my social life which I suppose all has an element of truth. The real truth is that I spend most of my time convincing myself I am busy with so many things that could really be completed in no time. The second half of this semester was spent taking like 12 credit hours which meant four classes which really weren't too bad at all. I mean, sure, I could actually fail one of my class, but I'm hoping I did well enough on this final to get credit. I also worked as many 20 hours a week at catering, but still, that's nothing compared to what some people have to go through. The honest to goodness truth is I don't take on enough, I don't know how to manage my time well, and I'm not taking enough advantage of my collegiate career.
I once heard someone say when you look back on your life you're not going to regret the things you did, but the things you didn't do and I cannot help but agree. I was in Europe...when will I go back? Hopefully soon, but I have no idea what's in store for my life. I used to have such a clear plan, but now I don't even know what I want to do with my life. I would drop everything after graduation and move to the U.K., but I have no idea how I would even start that process. I want to explore something new everyday, even if it's something within me, something mundane or basic.
This past semester too, I don't think I did enough. I watch my body on a daily basis become more and more of a shadow of it's former self, I watch myself content with just sleeping and doing the bare minimum to get by. I'm 21 and I'm boring and that's the sad truth. I just finished my junior year at college and I'm looking at this summer with complete question marks. I just interviewed for a fantastic internship, but if I don't get that, I'll just be interning part time for free, working at catering (which I despise mostly), and who knows what else.
I need some direction or I'd settle for a crystal ball that points me to where I should go. I need to do some self-discovery to find what I value and what I want to get out of things (including this summer...ideas?). I am excited for next year: I accepted a position as a Community Ambassador and I'll be on the Executive Board for OSU's Second Annual Hunger Games, but that's what, 4 months off? What should I do now? What do I want out of this summer? At the minimum, I need to make a summer 2013 bucket list, but I don't even know where to start?
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