Future Business Writing Students

I thoroughly enjoyed this class!!
After taking this class I feel better prepared to face the challenges that may come after college, ie. finding a job. I have always been good at doing homework and little projects for school, so I did not have a hard time keeping up with the daily grades and blog postings. I find that it is much easier to do things as soon as you get the assignment. Get the little things out of the way, so that you don't have to worry about them the rest of the week or risk forgetting about them totally.
I haven't ever done anything similar to our client project, so it was a new experience for me. I must say that having a good group makes a world of difference. Make sure that you get along with your group members and that all "jobs" can be divided up within the group. For example, do not get into a group of people who are all quiet organizers, none of you will want to talk with the client or be the spokesperson. Get in a group of people who all have different strengths.
Take each project seriously! You are going to use your resume later in life! You are going to need to turn in your portfolio before you graduate! Take advantage of the help that Mrs. Rogers is willing to give you! See knows what she is talking about!

Client Project Reflection

I have enjoyed working in a group for the client project! I do believe that 4 minds are better than 1, when it comes to brainstorming. We have been able to bounce ideas off of each other and collaborate to get the best ideas for our client. When you work with other people you get a piece of their ideas, which could be something that you never would have thought about. I think working in a group has the ability to cover all areas of a project.
I knew this all along, but working in my group reminded me that not everyone thinks the same. This can seem like a frustrating concept when working with a group. You expect everyone to know what you are thinking and want to do the same thing you do. But this is an unrealistic idea.
The best thing about this project, along with our e-portfolio, has been learning how to create websites. I feel like with the major advances in technology, having the ability to create a website will be very beneficial in any career.
The biggest challenge that I have faced while working on this project has been our group meetings. There were a couple of group meetings that I felt like we did not get much accomplished, sometimes that was because there was nothing that we had to do. I think that it was very helpful to have an agenda for each meeting. It helped to see what we needed to get done, even if there were only a couple of things on the list. The minutes became very helpful in later group meetings.
After working on this project I have learned that sometimes you have to be patient when waiting to hear back from the client. Even though the project is very important to you, replying with needed information might be a low priority on the client's list of things to do. You also have to be flexible and willing to alter ideas to meet your client's wishes.

Dual Coding

This picture gets me excited to compete. As an athlete I hear and see many short motivational quote that are meant to gets someone pumped up, like this one. The color red in the advertisement quickly draws your attention to the quote at the top "Practice Like Champions." The quote seems to be writing above a door way, possibly the door the leads to the practice field. It is placed in a location that can be seen easily and seen often. I do not believe that the sign that follows is not as intense or exciting. This could possibly be because of its color. The word "We Believe" is very straigth forward, but means nothing without heart behind it. If you are going to practice like a champion you have to believe that you are a champion. I think much of athletics is mental. This advertisement drives home the personal, mental aspect that must be taken at each practice. This advertisement is not very bright, which show that just like ones body, becomes worn down because of its daily use.
One major aspect of the advertisement comes in the placement of the second sign. It is placed in such a way that the view of the field is blocked. The person passing through must first believe, or at least read "We Believe" before that can view what is before them.
All in all, I think that the words provide hope and strength to those who pass through the doorway. I think that dual coding is very interesting in the fact that any advertisement can be interpreted in a different way by different people. Even though the picture is seen the same way visually by every person, it is not understood or processed the same way, which leads to many forms of interpretation.

Miscommunication

I did have an experience with miscommunication in my summer job as an assistant swim coach a couple of years ago, it was that bad that I remember it. Being an assistant coach you are working under someone else, which means that you do not have enough responsibility as the other person. There was miss communication about days that the head coach was going to be absent from practice and what I was suppose to do. I showed up to coach one day, not knowing that I was going to be the only coach on deck. It make me look like I didn't know what I was doing, because not only was I stressed, and upset, I had to keep a bunch of kids practicing in some type of order by myself. There was another incident in which I did not know that I was suppose to put together the line up for a meet. She had good intentions behind letting me make a line up on my own, so that I could learn, but it would have been more beneficial to everyone at the meet had I known and been helped through my first attempt. These situations could have been prevented if we had made sure both of us knew the days that we were going to miss practice and if we had gone over the specific "jobs" that she wanted me to perform, as her assistant. The one way to prevent any miscommunication would be to discuss all possible mishaps that could occur with every party that is involved. This could only happen in a perfect world, because there is no way that you can know in advance every possible mishap. So, as we go on through life, encountering many issues with miscommunication it is best to remain calm and collected, be kind and just do your best to deal with the situation at hand.

Mock Interview

This mock interview process was very beneficial to me. I have not ever had an interview, so it was my first experience. I was nervous, but I get nervous about everything. To deal with this I kept reminding myself that it was not a real interview, so I might be freaking out a little more in my first real interview. Breathing helps me get relaxed. I also thought through the things that I knew like answers to possible interview questions and convinced myself that I was prepared for the interview.

The first comment of the interview actually threw me off a bit: Tell me a little about yourself. It makes sense that this would be an opening comment for the interview but it was something that I hadn't planned out. Or maybe it was the fact that it was the first thing that was said, like realizing "oh, its time to start". I reply to this first comment I simply within a few milliseconds pulled back out of my life and took a look at where I was in life at the moment: student at Clemson, on the swim team, studying Health Science, and then composed and simple introduction. I will remember this section of the interview and plan for it better next time.

From this experience I was able to learn that it is much easier to communicate when you relax and just try to be yourself. I didn't want to go into the interview making a big story and telling crazy things about myself so that I could look good, I just wanted to walk in and be very genuine and honest. I tried to think of the interviewer as a friend, someone who I wasn't nervous to be around. It was after the first few questions were asked that I was able to take a quick breath and simply answer the questions.

It is hard to search in your mind for the best answers to say and think clearly when you are nervous. Being relaxed is going to be the hardest but most important thing for me to do in my real life job interviews.

Class Presentations

I really enjoyed this week of class presentations. It gave me a chance to learn more about the people in my class.
One of my favorite presentations was about cheese cake, by Kit. I love food, more specifically dessert! Cooking sounded like something that Kit really likes to do, so she seemed very interested in her topic, which made me more interested as well. I will definitely be adding her chocolate chip cheesecake recipe to my box of recipes.
Another favorite presentation of mine was about Gatorade, by Jamie. Being a collegiate athlete I have been provided many performance enhancing techniques, but it all boils down to your nutrition. I kind of knew how Gatorade came about but I did not know about all the testing that has and is being done to prove its positive effects on athletes. Jamie would be a great spokesman for Gatorade!
Another favorite presentation of mine was about the importance of music in education by Danni. I love music and think that it has a huge impact on people. I think it is great that Danni emphasized actual Music Advocacy Projects that are going on to promote music in education today. It was easy to see that Danni loves music which made her presentation more motivating.

Free Topic: Sarah Palin Glasses

I do not have much time to watch the news, though I probably should.

The latest news that I have been hearing about are the highly sought after Sarah Palin glasses. Why have these become such a phenomena? I understand that the designer loves the fact that everyone wants a pair of his glasses! Even my roommate, who has perfect vision, wants a pair of these glasses.

I personally, do not find her glasses to be very cute. With this latest fad you can definitely see how celebrities own the fashion world.

With this opportunity to free blog I would like to brag about my dog :)

Her name is Annabelle. She is an Airedale, golden retriever mix. No, she is not for sale!

This photo of her was taken right before school started. Much to my dismay I do not live in a huge apartment that would allow her to stay with me. I know that she is being well taken care of by my family at home.

My family thinks that I come home to see them... but deep down it is to see my dog :)

Cover letters

I found the articles to be very helpful! I love getting tips from people who seem like they have learned from their mistakes, then I am able to learn from them too.
I can agree with the advice given. I am not an expert so it all sounds great to me :)
I found the sample cover letter to be the most helpful. It is nice to see an example, though I am not going to use it verbatim.
When I write my cover letter I will have it proof read and looking perfect, as far as grammar goes. If I hadn't read this article I definitely would have spent more time getting my resumes proof read and would have not worried to much about the actual writing in my cover letter. I am finding out so much through the blogs for this class!
I found it interesting that one of the tutorials suggested that we add testimonials to our cover letter. It sounds like you are trying way hard to build yourself up, but I guess that is what one would have to do to be separated from the other "player[s] in the already very crowded entry level job market". (The Best Use of a Cover Letter)
I really had never heard of a cover letter accompanying a resume until this class. I am finding out that there are so many different pieces that have to be in place to make the perfect interviewee.

Interviewing

I think of a job interview as the biggest face to face test of your life! Everything you do is going to be critiqued. You have to remain composure while answering questions, talk about stressful!
I am someone that becomes easily stressed. So, one of the articles that I read was How to Deal With Interview Stress. Surprisingly, I have heard many of the tips before. Though people have many ways of dealing with stress it usually boils down to the basic: be prepared, breath, and relax. It is nice to read that there is no secret potion or any amazing thing that must be done to prevent stress. The tips are pretty easy things to do, you just have to be able to remember them.
Another article that I read was How to Answer the Toughest Interview Questions. An insight that I gained from this article was to talk about your values. Once again, what a simple thing, if you have already thought about your values. You pretty much want to sound better than the hundreds of other people that have been interviewed. I think that everyone has a special characteristic, something that really does separate them from everyone else. The hard part is figuring out what that thing is. I can see why interviewers would ask you silly questions: "to see how you react under pressure and how well you handle the unexpected." The best thing you can really do it to be true. Answer honestly. I find it hard to lie, and make up some cool sounding answer. I am sure that interviews can tell the difference between honest and fake answers.
Reading these articles reminds me of how close I really am getting to the "Interviewing" portion of my life. It is kinda scary! I know that if I just take in everything that I can and remember to be prepared, breath, and relax, that I will be able to make it through my life's interviews.

In the Next 10 Years of My Life

I really wish that I could tell the future. It would help me so much!!
Ever since I was little I wanted to do something that involved health and helping people. I am currently in Health Science major and do not plan on changing my degree within the next two years.
There are so many options and different paths to choose from in life.
If after graduating from Clemson I still think I want to do more schooling, I plan on applying to a Physical Therapy school. I would spend 3 years studying physical therapy and eventually become a full blown Physical Therapist.
If after graduating from Clemson I feel like I could not stand another year of going to school I would like to find a job right out of college. I recently changed the concentration of my major to Health Promotion and Education which is suppose to aid in me finding a job without any more schooling. The downside to this path is that I probably won't get as much money.
Though money is important I am one of those people who would be happy with whatever I am given. It is hard to see people with more than what they need, you have to find a way to be thankful and happy with the things that you have, otherwise it would be easy to be totally miserable.
In ten years I could see myself, whether taking a break from being a Physical Therapist or someones personal training, having a family with a handsome husband: a couple of kids and a dog. In ten years I would ultimately like to be a mother! I love little kids! I have watched my mother as I have grown up and hope that someday I can be just like her. Yes, my mother is still my hero :)

Web 2.0

Web 2.0... the machine is us/ing us
This title actually sounds kind of scary. To think that we are helping technology to the point of possible human domination?!? It really is up to us to decide what we put on the web. We are the web. The Internet is very helpful in the idea that we can usually find what we are looking for, not matter what our intentions.
To someone in the workforce the web could be helpful in learning about future employees. If ones profession was to create or write and post on the Internet, I would not think your hard work would be safe and always be known as "your work". Will this huge web now create new jobs? Will we need professionals to organize the web? It is up to us to control the Internet but I can for see things becoming very chaotic since EVERYONE has access to the web.
For those already in the work force I would be sceptical of what I would put on the Internet about myself or things that I have done. It is so easy to use someone elses information as your own, and then be caught in plagiarism.
Our world is becoming very electronic... which can be good and bad.

Class Introduction

Hi!

My name is Crina. I am from Fort Mill, South Carolina. I am the oldest of 3 kids.
I am a Junior. My major is Pre-Professional Health Science. In eight grade I had bilateral shoulder surgery and had to go through intense physical therapy and loved my experience! This is why I eventually would like to become a physical therapist. I am on the Clemson Women's Swim Team. I love to swim and have ever since I was 7 years old!
I spent my summer coaching a neighborhood swim team (a picture of some kids I coached is to the right) and teaching little kids how to swim. I life guarded one summer and found out how boring that was and since then I have taught lessons. It is so gratifying to see improvement in the children that I teach and know that they are a little better at something becuase of my influence!

I spent my last week of summer relaxing on the beach of Charleston with my family!
In my free time I like to clean and organize :)