So I guess we need some happy thoughts in this crazy world we call our last semester at clemson... unfortunately leaving the place that you have called home for the last four years, the place where you met you new friends, the place where those friends became your family does not provoke happy thoughts. I went home this weekend to visit the fam but there was more then my little sisters waiting patiently there for me ... the box with my cap and gown, thank you notes and announcements was sitting on my chest o'drawers when I walked in to my room. When I saw it, my heart literally dropped. And then I did probably the stupidest thing possible, I read on of the announcements.... I've teared up when talking about graduation with family and friends before, but this time I balled like a baby. It hit me. I have to leave. I have to grow up. I will never be able to legally sit in the student section of a football game again. Probably one of the saddest realizations of my life.
After that, my parents sat me down and had the move out logistics talk with me.
And then the "how's the job hunt coming?" questions started.
So basically, my relaxing weekend at home with my family and no worries turned in to one of the most stressful weekends ever.
So I guess what my happy thoughts are still hiding behind my freaked out thoughts.... I'm sure they will show their happy little selves once I've actually figured out what I'm going to do post-graduation.
.......Here's hoping.....
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
The dreaded cover letter...
Last summer when I was looking for an internship I sent out a couple different cover letters with my resume. I only applied to 3 firms but they were very different firms. I had different relationships to each firm as well so while the resume was the same, the cover letter had to be different. The articles tell a lot about what not to do when writing a letter. Mass letters are the kiss of death when looking for your first job. The articles emphasis the need for personalizing each letter. This makes sense but is almost impossible to do when you're applying to lots of different firms.
I was lucky enough with my application process last summer to only have been applying to those 3 firms. One firm I had no previous connection to other than my little sister babysat for the guy I was sending my resume to; so that cover letter had to be very introductory and prove that I knew enough to be a part of his firm. The next firm was one my dad was working with. Again I had no connection but through my dad, who has already taken care of the introduction part. I had to focus on what I could bring to her firm, and why it was a good idea for her firm to not only pay me for my working, but also to give me a stipend for housing and food (since the job was in Baltimore.) The last was to a firm that I had previously worked with and knew very well. So that cover letter was very personal.
I guess the point of my babbling about all this is that I've already had to do the cover letter thing in the past. But it's going to be completely different after I graduate and move to a different city where I have no connections work related or personally. So in that since, the articles were very helpful. I'm about to be in uncharted territory in looking for a job. Now I know a couple of tips that are going to give me the heads up when applying in a big city.
I was lucky enough with my application process last summer to only have been applying to those 3 firms. One firm I had no previous connection to other than my little sister babysat for the guy I was sending my resume to; so that cover letter had to be very introductory and prove that I knew enough to be a part of his firm. The next firm was one my dad was working with. Again I had no connection but through my dad, who has already taken care of the introduction part. I had to focus on what I could bring to her firm, and why it was a good idea for her firm to not only pay me for my working, but also to give me a stipend for housing and food (since the job was in Baltimore.) The last was to a firm that I had previously worked with and knew very well. So that cover letter was very personal.
I guess the point of my babbling about all this is that I've already had to do the cover letter thing in the past. But it's going to be completely different after I graduate and move to a different city where I have no connections work related or personally. So in that since, the articles were very helpful. I'm about to be in uncharted territory in looking for a job. Now I know a couple of tips that are going to give me the heads up when applying in a big city.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Interview notes
These articles were very helpful to read. I think the most nerve wracking thing about trying to get a job is the actual interview. Sending out your resume and portfolio is the easy part, they either are impressed by it or they're not. But the interview can ruin the great impression that a resume and/or portfolio made.
I read the "telling stories" article. I thought the strategy was pretty straight forward. It makes sense to give examples of the good things we've done in previous schools or jobs. That part of the interview I can deal with. But the part of the interview that makes me really nervous is when the tables are turned and its time for me to ask the questions. So I read the article about what to and what not to ask in an interview. But after reading it, I found the article to be more helpful if you were going to work in a business office or at least one having more to to with money or sales. But for someone going in to a design field I didn't think that the questions that were suggested would be the most useful. But I guess that the questions could be changed to fit the work world that I will be entering, so all and all the articles were very helpful.
I read the "telling stories" article. I thought the strategy was pretty straight forward. It makes sense to give examples of the good things we've done in previous schools or jobs. That part of the interview I can deal with. But the part of the interview that makes me really nervous is when the tables are turned and its time for me to ask the questions. So I read the article about what to and what not to ask in an interview. But after reading it, I found the article to be more helpful if you were going to work in a business office or at least one having more to to with money or sales. But for someone going in to a design field I didn't think that the questions that were suggested would be the most useful. But I guess that the questions could be changed to fit the work world that I will be entering, so all and all the articles were very helpful.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
The Ethos and Pathos of Hillary Clinton
Trying to get your way means you have to appeal to your audience. When trying to convince your parents to help you out with your first car it's important to remind them how special their own first car was to them. Ethos must be established before one begins to get in to the meat of his/her argument, otherwise a speeches pathos is seen as simply "standing on a soap box." With that said, pathos is essential to have in an speech on a topic that strikes passion in the hearts of one's listeners. With out either the persuasive speech fails. So when addressing a group of people who once having heard your speech can make decisions that will change the world, ethos and pathos can make or break your cause. In the case of Hillary Clinton's speech to the United Nations on women's rights, pathos took a front seat. As a woman speaking on women's rights her ethos was already established, as a First Lady speaking on women's rights her ethos was only legitimized. I think the best quote that Senator Clinton uses to play to the pathos of her audience is this:
"Over the past 25 years, I have worked persistently on issues relating to women, children and families. Over the past two-and-a-half years, I have had the opportunity to learn more about the challenges facing women in my own country and around the world. I have met new mothers in Jojakarta, Indonesia, who come together regularly in their village to discuss nutrition, family planning, and baby care. I have met working parents in Denmark who talk about the comfort they feel in knowing that their children can be cared for in creative, safe, and nurturing after-school centers. I have met women in South Africa who helped lead the struggle to end apartheid and are now helping build a new democracy. I have met with the leading women of the Western Hemisphere who are working every day to promote literacy and better health care for the children of their countries. I have met women in India and Bangladesh who are taking out small loans to buy milk cows, rickshaws, thread and other materials to create a livelihood for themselves and their families. I have met doctors and nurses in Belarus and Ukraine who are trying to keep children alive in the aftermath of Chernobyl. The great challenge of this Conference is to give voice to women everywhere whose experiences go unnoticed, whose words go unheard."
When Senator Clinton says these words she is playing directly in to the hearts of those she is addressing. Her goal was to touch everyone who has any connection to a woman at the UN. Dr. King uses similar examples in his Letter from a Birmingham jail. In the same way that it is effective for Senator Clinton as a woman to speak on behalf of women's rights; Dr King as a black man is just as effective while speaking on civil rights for all men, especially those of black men.
Senator Clinton's speech can be found at the following link:
http://www.famousquotes.me.uk/speeches/Hillary-Clinton/index.htm
"Over the past 25 years, I have worked persistently on issues relating to women, children and families. Over the past two-and-a-half years, I have had the opportunity to learn more about the challenges facing women in my own country and around the world. I have met new mothers in Jojakarta, Indonesia, who come together regularly in their village to discuss nutrition, family planning, and baby care. I have met working parents in Denmark who talk about the comfort they feel in knowing that their children can be cared for in creative, safe, and nurturing after-school centers. I have met women in South Africa who helped lead the struggle to end apartheid and are now helping build a new democracy. I have met with the leading women of the Western Hemisphere who are working every day to promote literacy and better health care for the children of their countries. I have met women in India and Bangladesh who are taking out small loans to buy milk cows, rickshaws, thread and other materials to create a livelihood for themselves and their families. I have met doctors and nurses in Belarus and Ukraine who are trying to keep children alive in the aftermath of Chernobyl. The great challenge of this Conference is to give voice to women everywhere whose experiences go unnoticed, whose words go unheard."
When Senator Clinton says these words she is playing directly in to the hearts of those she is addressing. Her goal was to touch everyone who has any connection to a woman at the UN. Dr. King uses similar examples in his Letter from a Birmingham jail. In the same way that it is effective for Senator Clinton as a woman to speak on behalf of women's rights; Dr King as a black man is just as effective while speaking on civil rights for all men, especially those of black men.
Senator Clinton's speech can be found at the following link:
http://www.famousquotes.me.uk/speeches/Hillary-Clinton/index.htm
Thursday, January 24, 2008
In 10 years....
This is probably the scariest thing to think about for a graduating senior. We are the ones who should know where we're going after May, yet somehow we are also the ones who most likely don't have a clue what to do with the next 3 months, much less the next ten years. But a girl can dream, right.... so here goes.
In 10 years, well career wise: I'd like to have my license to practice architecture, both in the US and in the UK. I want to have a Masters of Science in Urban Design completed on top of my MArch. I wish to be LEED accredited as well with many green buildings under my belt. I hope I'm working in one of three big cities; London, Dublin, or Chicago.
As for how I'm gonna get there, I want to have worked in Charleston for a little while and then move to Ireland or England and continue my internship years in an office there. After this I either want to move to Chicago and finish my education at University of Illinois at Chicago, or attend Tulane University in New Orleans. By the time I have done all this, travel should be a priority in my life, whether for pleasure or fun I want to explore the world.
As for my personal life, who the hell knows. I have always prioritized my career over a family of my own, but that does not mean that I am against the idea of me having a family. I would love lots of kids running around. But I'm not a dreamer, I know that if I have a large family, or really any sized family, my career will probably slow. I would love to be one of those women who has it all: the loving husband, the wonderful children, the perfect dog, and a job that never bores her... but that type of woman is very rare.
So I guess that will be my 10 year goal: to be the woman who has it all, and still is sane at the end of each day.
In 10 years, well career wise: I'd like to have my license to practice architecture, both in the US and in the UK. I want to have a Masters of Science in Urban Design completed on top of my MArch. I wish to be LEED accredited as well with many green buildings under my belt. I hope I'm working in one of three big cities; London, Dublin, or Chicago.
As for how I'm gonna get there, I want to have worked in Charleston for a little while and then move to Ireland or England and continue my internship years in an office there. After this I either want to move to Chicago and finish my education at University of Illinois at Chicago, or attend Tulane University in New Orleans. By the time I have done all this, travel should be a priority in my life, whether for pleasure or fun I want to explore the world.
As for my personal life, who the hell knows. I have always prioritized my career over a family of my own, but that does not mean that I am against the idea of me having a family. I would love lots of kids running around. But I'm not a dreamer, I know that if I have a large family, or really any sized family, my career will probably slow. I would love to be one of those women who has it all: the loving husband, the wonderful children, the perfect dog, and a job that never bores her... but that type of woman is very rare.
So I guess that will be my 10 year goal: to be the woman who has it all, and still is sane at the end of each day.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Web 2.0
What does "Web 2.0" mean? It means that the information we find on the web is in its fastest form. A 2.0 version of something is supposed to be the most advanced to date. We no longer have to wait months, much less a couple of hours to find something out. All we need to do is log online to learn something.
The fact that information is so accessible these days means that the expectations of new workers will be higher. Also because of what the web can do as far as memory, workers have to be more focused on their work. Slacking off and visiting facebook during work hours is something that one can not hide any longer. Those who are already in the work force need to be aware of what abilities the new comers have. Being able to work the web is such a part of every day life now that kindergardeners are able to navigate. So not having the skills to maneuver the web in unacceptable.
I think the author of Web 2.0 was trying to prove the point that in today's world of instant gratification that it's necessary for information to be easily accessible. But it is because of the web that we have this expectation of instant gratification. So "rethink everything" is about having to forget the traditional ways communication and embracing what has become web 2.0.
The fact that information is so accessible these days means that the expectations of new workers will be higher. Also because of what the web can do as far as memory, workers have to be more focused on their work. Slacking off and visiting facebook during work hours is something that one can not hide any longer. Those who are already in the work force need to be aware of what abilities the new comers have. Being able to work the web is such a part of every day life now that kindergardeners are able to navigate. So not having the skills to maneuver the web in unacceptable.
I think the author of Web 2.0 was trying to prove the point that in today's world of instant gratification that it's necessary for information to be easily accessible. But it is because of the web that we have this expectation of instant gratification. So "rethink everything" is about having to forget the traditional ways communication and embracing what has become web 2.0.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Day One: Introductions
I'm Stephanie. I grew up in Charleston, so beaching and boating are two of my favorites. I am a senior, trying to get ready for graduation. I love my major and all its flaws and sleepless nights. I don't know where architecture is going to take me after Clemson, I just know it's going to be an adventure.
My family and friends are my life. My mom and I are freakishly alike and my dad and I can laugh for hours over the stupidest things. I have 2 younger sisters who I adore. My Charleston friends are the best thing ever, but my archies are amazing.
My family and friends are my life. My mom and I are freakishly alike and my dad and I can laugh for hours over the stupidest things. I have 2 younger sisters who I adore. My Charleston friends are the best thing ever, but my archies are amazing.
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