SO CLOSE! SO CLOSE!

It has been a long yet fun journey. I am two finals away from wrapping up my college career. Just today I sent in my graduation application. I was hesitant as I submitted the online form, thinking back to a time when I didn't even know how to apply for graduation. It is relieving and terrifying. It is a relief because I truly could use a break. It is terrifying because I will no longer have the same comforts available to me as they were in college.

Regardless, day-by-day I become more and more confident that this is truly a new beginning. I have learned so many valuable lessons in college, as well as taken in a whole world of knowledge that I could never imagine that I would enjoy so much. I have made friends that will last a lifetime, and built memories that I will laugh about well into my nursing-home days.

There are so many questions in the back of my mind. Will I find a job soon? Will I have any trouble looking for an apartment? Do I want to go back to school in the near future? and Am I happy with all of the choices that I have made? The answers to the first three questions can be answered with questions marks. The last question however can be answered with a solid YES. I am happy with my choices. Everything that I have been through up until now has shaped me as a student and a person. I have the rest of my life ahead of me, and many years to continue to go through changes that make me stop and ask myself if I can get through it or not. The answer is almost always yes, and I am confident that this nameless path ahead of me is one that will be filled with the very thing that keeps me smiling at the end of each day. Opportunity.

I wish you all luck with finals and the other challenges that come with the end of a semester. Just remember to take a little time to breathe =]


-Kaili

That's All Folks...(For Now).

As we all know, and I’m sure we’re all glad about, the end of the semester closing in on us. Now only finals week separates us from glorious freedom—at least until the spring semester. The end of this semester not only means goodbye to the handful of classes I’ve completed but also marks the end of our blog.

I honestly cannot believe that we’ve been blogging since September or that it’s already December of my senior year. The time really has slipped away. Graduation feels like it’s right around the corner, which is an exciting thought but also a scary one at the same time. As of now, I have no idea what I’ll be doing or where I’ll be doing it come fall. I’ll hopefully be in graduate school pursuing my Master’s in Higher Education and overcoming new challenges. I guess this is what growing up and graduating are all about though—moving on and taking the skills you’ve gained through college and applying them elsewhere. I know that no matter what happens or where I end up I’ll be fine. I’ve matured enough and learned enough during my time in college to conquer grad school. However, for the sake of my anxiety I wish the schools I’ve applied to will get back to me quickly!

As I said before, today marks the official end of our blogging journey. I hope you’ve all enjoyed our posts and you felt like you could relate to what was written in them. This is truly a blog written by USM students for USM students. From our side, we had a blast writing all of our posts and may have even learned a thing or two in the process. Even though this is the official end of our blog, it isn’t really the end. We’ll continue to update all of you when we’re inspired or when something really exciting or noteworthy happens in our lives (think Andrea and I getting accepted to grad school!). So continue to check-in with us every once in a while to see what’s new with us and what’s new in the USM community. 

 I wish everyone good luck on their finals and hope all of you have a fabulous semester break. And to Andrea, Kyle, Kaili, and all of my other fellow seniors…Congratulations! We’re half way there!

--Alesia

Making Our Way to the Airways

As we continue our attempt to successfully complete our Media Studies majors, Alesia and I took CMS 220 – Audio Production – this semester. Neither one of us are very into the production side of things, so needless to say, we were not looking forward to this class. However, as the semester draws to a close, I have to say (and I think I speak for both of us here) it wasn’t all that bad. Maybe even a little fun, too. Here’s a picture of almost all of us:

The class took place at WMPG – Portland’s Greater Community Radio Station (that’s at least what they call it). Our professor, Jessica Lockhart, is actually the host for ‘Big Talk’ on WMPG. Our lab group was pretty fun, too, and we got along quite well. We might even be planning a post-semester karaoke celebration.

But back to the academics. Our first project was to complete a 45-minute DJ show in which we played music of our choice. Our show had to have a theme, though. I chose to do a back-to-the 90s, which I was quite impressed with in the end. Alesia did a segment filled with relaxing music to ‘slow down’ to. You better believe I played some music from these guys:

Our second project was a public affairs 15-minute interview. I had no idea what to write about so I turned to my trusted standby – running. It wasn’t just any old thing running talk show, though. I talked to Elizabeth Trask about her journey to run 50 marathons in memory of her father. She is actually blogging about this awesome goal, so be check to read about it here. (Awesome side note: My friend Danielle recruited Elizabeth to run on our 2011 Reach the Beach Relay team!! I’m so excited about being able to run 200 miles with her. It should be a great time.) Here is Elizabeth before the Chicago Marathon – number two on her list.

Alesia interviewed LeeAnn Dodge, the self-proclaimed ‘crazy alcohol lady’ at USM. More formally, she is the school’s substance abuse counselor and had a great interview with Alesia. They talked all things alcohol and drugs, ways to overcome an addiction and how to get help.

To check out both our podcasts, click here. Mine is titled ‘Running Marathons’ and Alesia’s is ‘Drinking.’ There are a total of 10 podcasts up done by our classmates and they are all really great.

Currently, we are working on radio promotions for both the DJ and talk show. Not so sure how those are going to turn out, but keep your fingers crossed.

-- Andrea

As The Semester Draws To A Close

With all the stress of finals I would like to get everyone’s mind off of this semester momentarily and talk a little bit the upcoming winter break. Just think, in two weeks we will all be greeted with the relief of a month long break filled with many great holidays and much needed time off. I’d like to talk briefly about this time off and offer a few suggestions.

If you can, take a vacation somewhere and get some much needed relaxation. A beach may be just what you need right now. Now I do know that not everyone will be able to fly south for the winter however you do not always have to travel far to experience a vacation. Get together with some friends and just get out of town for a weekend. There are plenty of things to do around New England that do not require a plane ticket. 

Travel down to Boston for the weekend or maybe just the night. Boston is a great city and it’s only two hours away. I plan on catching at least one Celtics game after the break after discovering StubHub. The Boston Museum of Science is another attraction that will fill a day with entertainment. Admission starts at $21.

Simply get outside this winter. I for one have gotten my ski pass and will be frequenting Sunday River and Sugarloaf as much as I can. This ski season will be my last with a heavily discounted College Pass so I plan to make the best of it. I cannot wait to get to the mountains.

Get the most out of a Maine fishing license and get some ice fishing in. Ice fishing is always a great way to spend a winter day. If you have never gone before and know someone who goes, I highly recommend the experience.

If you live in the Portland area there are several events happening right here. The Maine Red Claws are currently in their second year here in Portland. I went to game last season and had a blast at a decent price. They play at the Exposition Center next to Hadlock Field and their schedule can be found here. If you make it to a game I highly recommend Gritty’s Red Claw Ale. More of a Hockey fan? A Portland Pirates game is always a great time. If you find yourself with nothing to do, the Portland Events Calendar is always worth a look to find something interesting. Feeling spontaneous and need something to do right now? Then check out the up and coming EventTap.

I hope everyone does well on his or her exams and that this post has given you all a bit of inspiration for the upcoming winter break. Happy Holidays.

- Kyle

Boston, Turkey, the GRE, and Christmas Right Around the Corner

Judging from the content of my Facebook news feed, like me, everyone seems to have realized that Thanksgiving break is officially over and finals are upon us. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve seen a status similar to “these next two weeks are going to kill me” or “so much to do before finals” I would be a very rich woman. Not that I can’t relate. I too have a million things (approximately)   to do before finals week. On the bright side, I only have one final so it should be smooth sailing after the last week of classes.

Speaking of Thanksgiving break, I hope everyone had a good few days off. I started my holiday a bit early by heading down to Boston to look at graduate schools with my friend Danielle. We had a really good time, even if we did have to wake up 5:45 am and battle rush hour traffic to make it to my first appointment on time. I met with admissions counselors at Suffolk, Boston University, and Harvard, as well as took the campus tour at Suffolk. It was really funny to be the “prospective student” and watch someone else do the job of tour guide (I work for undergraduate admissions if I haven’t mentioned that previously). In between appointments we did some shopping and enjoyed the sunshine as it was a very warm day.

Needless to say, I fell in love with all of the schools. Granted, since I’ve always had a soft spot for Boston that isn’t very hard to accomplish but still, I’ll go with it. Visiting each school made the idea of being a student there next year so much more real and I can’t wait to finish my applications, and hear back of course.

Speaking of finishing applications, my first grad school application should be in the mail by tomorrow afternoon—I’m just waiting on one final letter of recommendation. The University of Connecticut should be receiving my application in a few days and then my fate is in their hands. I’m very nervous but at least I know that I put a lot of work into the application process and if I don’t get in it wasn’t for lack of effort. But I’m still keeping my fingers crossed for an acceptance! 

In other grad school related news, I took the GRE on Sunday. I know the Sunday after Thanksgiving sounds like a horrible day to take a four hour standardized test but my break was so low key and relaxing that it was the perfect choice. I spent a lot of my break avoiding all of my real homework and studying for the GRE which helped me during the test but isn’t helping me so much now. In terms of how I did, I’m definitely pleased with my scores. The test is scored between 200 and 800 and my goal was between a 500 and a 600 on each section. My actual score was a 630 on verbal and a 590 on math. So you can see why I’m happy! I still need to receive my writing scores in the mail but I’m not too worried about those. After finally taking the test after so much prep and pre-test anxiety, I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. Now I can concentrate on finals and finishing those pesky applications. 

It also seems that in the time since the beginning of break and now the Christmas season has begun in full force. My dad and I even put up our tree while I was home for break (he insisted). I like Christmas as much as the next person but every time I hear a Christmas song or see a commercial on television all I can think about is all the gifts I still need to buy and all the wrapping I need to do. I have a few gifts already purchased but I usually wait until the last minute to finish completely. Despite all that, I have looking forward to Christmas. It will be nice to be home for a while and have a break from classes (again).

Here’s to hopping that we all make it through finals week so we can see Christmas day!

--Alesia

My Portland Campus Favorites

I’d like to highlight some of my favorite places on the USM Portland campus. These include places to study between classes, grab a coffee or bite to eat, or just a quiet place to kick back and relax (maybe a quick power nap).

This being a college campus I’ll begin with some of the places to study. Sometimes the computer lab and library can get old and it is nice at times to find a different place to be scholarly. If you’re in Luther Bonney there are several small couches with tables on the second floor next to the entrance of the Learning Center. Some may be asking themselves, “We have a Learning Center?” The learning center is right about the computer lab and can be accessed by the elevator or the set of stairs next to the Luther Bonney food stop. The LC is a great place to get help in your classes as they have tutors available. If your having trouble in one of your math classes for example, stop by to make an appointment and take advantage of the help that is available.

If you need a quick bite to eat I’m sure all of you have found the selections in the main Luther Bonney hall. Coffee is very popular here, although I have to say the prices are a little steep.

Moving down to the Woodbury Campus Center, a student can find plenty of places to study as well as relax and get a good meal. 

One of the first things that a new student will notice is the large dining area and the smell of food. The Portland campus lacks a cafeteria, although it has a very adequate À la Carte selection that accepts meal points. There is also a coffee shop in the dining room area serving all of the popular beverages as well as sandwiches made to order. This dining room area is not the quietest so if you plan on writing a paper over lunch you may want to bring headphones.

During my first few years at USM, the far left corner of Woodbury contained old but comfortable couches and a fifteen year old big screen T.V. The corner didn’t look the greatest and therefore didn’t attract that many inhabitants. This was perfect for me because it was always open and the couches were a great place to grab a quick nap during a long day of classes. A couple of years ago, the school revamped this area with new furniture converting it into a very nice living room. This was bittersweet to me as it meant fewer places to relax and more students, however it is a great addition to the campus center. This area also has a pool table to which the equipment can be checked out. 

If you are a member of the service then you are also welcome to relax inside the Veterans Resource Center, which is located to the right before you enter the À la Carte area.

Taking a right directly as you walk in the main entrance heading toward the bookstore, you’ll find plenty of other places to study and or relax as well. The heart of this area is the office of Student Involvement and Activities, which has information about anything from sporting events to performing arts.

Surrounding the office are computers and an array of tables in an environment that is much more study friendly due to the noisy dining area on the other side of the building. If you walk around the corner you will find an art gallery where the University features several pieces of art throughout the year.

Remember those old couches I was talking about napping on? Well, I thought they were long gone until just a few months ago when I found them in what I call a hidden gem on campus. If you are standing in the art gallery area you’ll find a set of stairs that lead up to a loft full of couches.

This is perfect place to study and relax due the fact that it generally has a low traffic flow and fewer distractions. This area also has a few tables if you find the couches put you to sleep.

I hope that these areas prove useful as the semester draws to a close.

- Kyle

Random Thoughts to Get You Through

As the end of the semester quickly approaches, needless to say I have a lot going on. So, here’s a collection of all things Andrea. (I know this may sound conceded, but you are sure to be entertained.)

…I’m pumped that the holiday season is officially upon us. Thanksgiving was great. As always, I ate too much and continued to do so through Black Friday and the holiday weekend. I’m also pretty excited to put out my brand new sequined Nutcracker, sparkly gift box decoration and trim the tree!

Each year, my family also takes our annual family photo at Thanksgiving. Here’s this year’s version: How cute are we?!

…Today, I began studying for the GMAT – essentially the business version of the GRE – which is the college version of the SAT. Following me? I hope so. I took a diagnostic practice test to determine what I need to work on before test day (January 6) today and I’ll score it tomorrow. I pretty much bombed the GREs, so here’s to hoping that my GMAT result is different. Let the studying begin!

…On the graduate school note, I’ve also narrowed my choice schools to five. I will apply to University of Central Florida, University of South Carolina, University of Massachusetts Amherst and Ithaca College for Sports Management. I will also apply to Syracuse University for Broadcast and Digital Journalism. I’m pretty excited for this next chapter in my life to begin. I’m definitely ready to move on and focus on the sports world. Sounds fun, huh?

…If this is your first time reading, you probably don’t know about my fitness obsession. Well, I’ve got one. Today I also planned out my entire 2011 running and triathlon schedule. Three marathons, four half marathons, a 50K and maybe a half Ironman? Those are just the highlights, but I’ve got a total of 14 races and I have yet to plan June and July. Winter base training starts tomorrow and I’m dying to get back into my routine after a knee injury and this constant cold/flu thing have seriously put a damper on things. Next up, Jingle Bell 5K – second to last one of 2010. Here’s my friend Danielle and I before last year’s:

 …Oh and as if this has gone unmentioned, I would like to give out a very special shoutout to fellow blogger and partner-in-crime, Alesia Brennan. Miss Alesia turned the big 22 back on November 17. I was unable to attend and so I missed the festivities. However, she is in for lots of fun in the very near future! Happy Birthday Girlfriend!!!

…As I mentioned previously, these next couple of weeks will be CRAZY. So much work to do!! I know you’re all busy as well, but try to get some rest, have some fun, purchase some great gifts and best of luck dealing with the stress!

-- Andrea

Food for Thought

I won't lie. "Mom" magazines have become some of my favorite reading material. When I say "mom magazines" I am talking about Family Circle, Martha Stewart Living, and Real simple. These are the magazines I tote around to my morning breakfasts, and to my desk jobs at the gym. In these magazines I find articles about how to make home more "homey", and how to create simple and delicious meals for my family. Granted I do not have a family, but hey, I am awfully sick of living in a dorm and cannot wait to decorate my own apartment. My favorite parts of these magazines have become the food ideas that I find.

I personally try to eat as healthy as possible. I consume as little white bread and pasta as possible, and instead reach for alternatives such as multigrain pastas and bread. I enjoy Cheerios, Tuna, Salmon, Spinach and most healthy foods. When reading these magazines I like to think about how I could learn how to cook the delicious foods I find in the articles and then put a healthy spin on them. When I am feeling especially classy I pick up an issue of bon appetit, or Food & Wine.

This has lead me to the conclusion that I might like to open my own eatery someday. I understand that this would be a risky investment, especially with the economy and the type of money that it would take for such a venture, but I certainly think it could be feasible. I mean, how could I not be in love with the fact that I could someday serve someone a beautiful dish such as these?

Seriously, I would love to be responsible for such delicacies. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sharing Strega Nona

Today, while I was paying for my 'Craming for the GMAT' study guide at Borders Books & Music, the cashier kindly asked me if I wanted to purchase a book for a less-fortunate child. She pointed in the direction of the wall behind her displaying about 25 different books and a handful of techy gadgets for me to choose from. When I accepted her offer and told her to 'hook someone up with my childhood favorite, 'Strega Nona,' she seemed surprised. Maybe because I'm 22 years old, maybe because I tend to sport a 'don't mess with me look' or maybe because it’s rare that people buy into her offer. Nonetheless, she climbed the ladder to reach 'Strega Nona' sitting atop the highest shelf and rang me up for a whopping ten dollars.

I had already spoken with my mother about how I wanted to donate a toy to a local toy-drive but wasn't sure how I would go about doing it, so I was more than willing when the Borders cashier propositioned me. I don't know why, but ever since I was young, I have gotten great joy of knowing that I'm helping out someone who doesn't get half the holiday experience I get. Every year, I get all giddy and can't help but buy into every 'help the needy' gimmick. Honestly, I can't wait to hit the local retail shop in the coming weeks just to plop a couple bucks into the bright red Salvation Army bucket. I remember ringing that bell in high school for three hours as a part of our community service club and I really appreciated those few people who took the time to reach in their wallet.

In general, I guess I just LOVE to give gifts - to my friends, my family, significant other and especially to people that need it. Not to toot my own horn, but I have dubbed myself 'the all-time best gift-giver,' so if you ever need any assistance, just let me know. 

Also, if you've never read 'Strega Nona,' I suggest you get your hands on a copy. Whether you keep it for yourself, give it to a youngster in your life or pass it on to someone less fortunate is your choice.

-- Andrea

Take the VAL'S Survey!

For one of my courses I was asked to take the VAL'S survey and then talk about my results. The purpose of the survey is to identify what kind of VAL'S type you are. These results reflect consumer/media habits, hobbies and attitudes. Here is a summery of my results as well as a link to the survey, which I highly recommend as it is fascinating to learn about oneself as a consumer!

http://www.strategicbusinessinsights.com/vals/presurvey.shtml

According to the VAL’S survey, which I took twice, I am a Striver (primary type), and an Achiever (secondary type). According to these VAL’S types, a striver, while fun and cool, always crave money and material wealth. They tend to burn out within employment because of a lack of focus and skills. Consumer wise, they are impulsive and see shopping as a social activity and an opportunity to show others their material worth.

            An achiever is a fairly conservative type according to VAL’S. They tend to value family and careers as well as have respect for authority. They don’t particularly value intimacy and self-discovery. They instead strive more for routine. They value image and time saving mechanisms.

            I felt that I had much more in common with the Achiever profile, as the Strive profile perhaps would have fit me better in past years, such as high school. One thing I did relate to within the Strive profile was the blurb about Strivers not moving ahead because of lack of focus or lack of skills. While I don’t believe I burn out because of lack of skills, I do get bored easily, which is a nicer way of stating that I lose focus. Additionally, as I have gotten older, I certainly do NOT see shopping as a social activity or a way to show others my buying power. If anything I shop on my own with a particular list that I usually follow.

            I feel that I fit into the Achiever mold with more accuracy. I am certainly more conservative than ever. I value structure very much and strive for it as well as a predictable pattern in regards to rules and regulations. I do like variety, but structure can certainly come with variety depending on the occupation.

Feel free to share your own results!

--Kaili

Graduate School: Keeping My Options Open

I’m applying to graduate school. There, I said it. And now it’s out in cyberspace for everyone (or at least everyone that reads this blog) to read. There’s no going back.

Unlike Andrea, I have not been at all certain about applying to graduate school. I didn’t want to, then I thought about it, then I sort of did, and now I’ve fully committed myself to the project. What changed? I realized how many great schools in New England offer the program I’m interested in—Higher Education Administration. As I said in my introduction post, I want to pursue a career in student affairs i.e. admissions counseling or academic advising. This program prepares you for these roles. After realizing that I have choices in terms of where to attend I was sold on the idea.

 Just because I’m sold on the idea of applying to graduate school does not mean I’m necessarily sold on the idea of actually attending graduate school right away. Of course I wouldn’t bother applying if I didn’t want to go but my decision is more based on keeping my options open. As of May, 2011 I will not longer be a college student and that’s a very scary thought for me. I need to figure out what I’m going to do with my life and make a plan. Applying to graduate schools is a part of my plan. 

 My thinking is centered on the idea that you’re more likely to make the best possible choice if presented with the most options. If I apply to graduate school I have the option of going to school full-time, getting a full-time job, and working out a part-time school, full-time work arrangement. Without applying to school, my only option (at least initially) would be to look for a full-time job and personally I’m terrified I won’t be able to find a job, at least not anytime soon. We all know the job market has not been at its best for a long time and I do not want to be unemployed for six months or a year after graduation. Also, if the whole going to grad school full-time thing did work out it would be a lot easier to get it done in a couple years than to drag it out for five or six years going part-time.

As you can probably tell, I’m a planner. I like knowing what’s coming next, where I’ll be, and what I’ll be doing. I don’t like unknowns and surprises. And I don’t like waiting for those unknowns and maybes to become for sures and definites. That’s part of the reason I’m so nervous about graduating college and why I want to apply to graduate school. Trying to plan out as many avenues I can go down as possible after graduation helps me feel better about the future. Also, getting a Master’s Degree is important to me and it’s something I know I want to do in my life. I always thought I’d get one some day after working for a few years but now I’m reconsidering going full-time.

Now for the specifics, as in where I want to apply. Even with limiting my search based on region (New England) and my desired program I found quite a few potential schools. As of now my list looks like this: Boston College, Boston University, Suffolk University, Salem State University, UMass Amherst, University of Connecticut, and…Harvard University. 

I know, I know the last one seems like a bit of a stretch. But it has my program and after knowing that how can I not apply? Even if I am swiftly rejected I can at least say I tried. And hey, maybe I’ll be accepted in which case I will frame that letter and mount it on my living room wall for all to admire.

The easy part is deciding you want to apply; the hard part is actually applying. On top of all my other school work I now need to spend time working on online applications, working extra hours to pay for $70 application fees, writing “statements of purpose,” and asking for letters of recommendation. Not to mention take GRE (basically the SAT for grad school) which is a whole different story. Let’s just say I didn’t exactly ace the SAT. I’ve already started studying a bit for it (something I definitely didn’t do for the SAT) and hopefully that will help. 

I will definitely keep you all updated on where I am in the application process, my acception/rejection status, and everything else that goes on in my life during this hectic fall.

Alesia