My Future at Clemson

I'm going to go ahead and apologize for those of you that decide to keep reading this blog because I'm about to vent for a little bit.

As all you students know, registration is coming up. Therefore, this weekend, I have been looking up classes I need to take and planning out the rest of my semesters here at Clemson. I also had my advising meeting today to help me make sure I am taking what I need to take.

Let me just explain some of the problems I've run into so far. When looking up classes that I need next semester for my major, I found a few things Clemson needs to work on. For example, 3 of the finance classes that I need to graduate, one of which I need next semester, are not being offered in the spring and are only offered in the fall. Also, 3 of the classes I need next semester are only offered for one section, and 2 of those are at the exact same time. So then I started checking out other classes that I am supposed to be taking later, but will have to go ahead and take them. To my shock and amazement, I found at least 3 more finance classes that are only offered one section! Luckily, I have an early registration time and should be able to get in these limited sections, but what about everyone else? Isn't one of the reasons that business students are paying an extra $1000 a semester so that we can have enough sections of our classes and enough teachers to teach them? Apparently, those benefits won't kick in til I've graduated, which means I am throwing my money out the window. Or, at least I'll be investing in the education for student's after me. Those same students that can come in and take my job from me because they had a better education, because of the "extra benefits" the Business school at Clemson is offering.

Ok, so maybe I'm being a bit dramatic, but anyone can see how I can get a little frustrated. My advising meeting didn't help much either. Apparently, there is no way for me to get a double major unless I go 30 hours longer than my required. Well, I'm a semester ahead, so that really on means one extra semester... except I don't have the money for that. So I can either take some slack classes and the minimum hours my last 3 semesters or I can just graduate in December and waste the scholarship money I have that goes through May. It is also apparently not a good idea to go straight to graduate school as a finance major unless I want an academic degree that could land me back in a university teaching other college students, which I know I don't want. So, I have to graduate and work a few years and then go back and get an MBA, which totally screws up my plans.

Needless to say, I have a lot of thinking and planning to do. Things almost never work out the way you originally plan them. But... I guess the moral of the rant is, things will work out because God may have another plan for me than I had.

Different Cultures

First of all, I just want to say I'm sorry about the length of that last post. It was only supposed to be 500 words, so I'm sorry for everyone who read all 700! Haha!

This post is on different symbols in different cultures. I just want to write on my own experience with this instead of what our group googled. Living in Italy opened me up to a lot of culture shock. Things that we were used to doing, apparently meant completely different things in Italy. For example, certain hand signals were interepreted differently. Have you ever noticed how you count to 5 with your fingers? Most everyone I know starts with your "1st" finger or your pointing finger. When you ask for 2 of something, you show a peace sign. Well in Italy, they count starting with their thumbs. So, when you order 2 of something in a restaurant, you use your thumb and first finger. If you give them the peace sign, they think it means the peace sign, not 2. Also, their wave is a little different. Have you ever waved to a little baby? That's what it feels like when you wave in Italy. You keep your fist pretty tight and act like you are clapping with one hand. Our waves are big open-handed movements. It's amazing because the way you wave fits your personality. Americans are big, showy people and wave like they are. Italians are more reserved, and you can tell that by their wave.

There were also big differences in the way Italians live their lives. They are much more laid-back and family-oriented. You'll find that stores and restaurants are closed a lot more. They take very long lunch breaks, because lunch is the biggest meal of the day for them, and they go home and eat with their entire family. A lot of stores will even be closed two days a week, because most businesses are small, family-owned and they make their own hours. Coffee is a big deal in Italy, as well. Never order a cappuccino after, I think, 10 am. If you order a "cafe" which means coffee, expect a small cup of espresso. If you want a normal American cup of coffee, you have to say "cafe americano." Yet, many Italians find it rude for Americans to order American coffee in Italy. Italians are very proud of their culture and appreciate it if tourists give a solid effort to learn their customs and language. A lot of Italians won't speak to you if you speak to them in English first. If you even attempt Italian, then they will talk to you. They like to know that you are trying to branch out of your little American box.

Those are just a few of the rules and customs I learned in Italy. There are so many more, and it is very hard to remember them all. It is also hard not to offend anyone there. I remember visiting an outdoor market in Florence and some of my guy friends almost got into a fight with the vendors because one of the guys made some kind of gesture, which was apparently offending, and then said, "Well, we didn't know because we're American!" That was obviously the wrong thing to say and the Italians got very upset. We had to leave the area. It's sad that most Americans use this excuse way too often. I think it is very important to learn about other cultures, especially when you visit their homeland. Americans are a little too cocky about these things sometimes, and we should realize that we are not the only nation or culture in this world.

Electronic vs. Paper Portfolios

Creating the perfect portfolio is a significant part in preparing for an interview. Whether you are applying for a school, internship, or job, portfolios are extremely helpful. Presenting your interviewer with a professional-looking portfolio could be the difference between you and the other applicants. However, interviews are very stressful. There is so much to worry about such as what to wear, how to get there, how to answer those difficult questions, etc. It is almost too difficult to also remember to spend the time printing off a portfolio on fine paper and putting it all together in sophisticated folder. It would be very easy to forget something. Imagine if you had several interviews in a short amount of time. The amount of money you would spend making these portfolios could be over a reasonable budget. Even if you have all the money in the world, and you have the best memory, paper portfolios still may not be the best option. Bringing in a bulky folder to an interviewer may just mean you are adding on to the paperwork that he or she already has piled up on the desk. Once the decision is made on whom to hire or accept, all of those portfolios will just be trashed. Maybe your portfolio that you worked so hard on will be kept and filed, yet it will probably never be looked at again. It might be stored in a basement accumulating dust with all the other accepted and rejected portfolios since the company began hiring. By the end of the process, I would feel like my time and money was wasted on perfecting this packet of papers because they did not get the attention I wanted.

Thank goodness for a growing economy where almost everyone has become technologically adept. Not only is our society learning more about technology and computers and the advantages of using these, but also our society is becoming dependent on these things and not in a bad way. We are taking advantage of the mobility and freedom that technology gives us. Through technology, it is almost as if we can be anywhere at any time. Companies are making great use of technology through teleconferences, video conferencing, email, websites, Powerpoints, smart boards, etc. Schools are also incorporating these tools in the classroom as well as teaching their students how to use them. It makes sense to use these tools we have learned when applying for jobs especially since most employers are looking for technologically proficient students that can teach them a thing or two about a computer. Electronic portfolios are perfect for impressing these employers.

With electronic portfolios, you cancel out all the disadvantages of paper. You can apply for a position by sending that employer or admissions person a link to your online portfolio. Also, you can go to your interview with a simple card that has your information on it and a way to access your online portfolio. Do not worry about security issues because you can set up your online portfolio to share with only those people you want to see it. You can also do a lot more with electronic portfolios. Put as little or as much as you want on there. The employer only has to look at what he wants or needs to look at. There is room for as many writing samples as you feel necessary and you can write a description about yourself and what your portfolio contains. You can also do more with the design without worrying about printing costs. You can make it colorful, but still professional, and you can even add graphs, charts, or graphics. It is up to you what information you put on there. Online portfolios are not hard to create and do not take a long time; therefore, if you want to personalize them for a specific job, making multiple portfolios would not be a big deal. Online portfolios make interviewing so much easier and less stressful, especially if you are applying for a position far away. It would be almost impossible to have a face-to-face interview, so online portfolios would be perfect. Email and phone would be your main way of communication, and sending them a link to your online portfolio would impress your employer and make his or her job a little easier. There are so many advantages to using the internet, and our society is beginning to take notice of its benefits. It is only fitting to grow with society and take advantage of the opportunities technology has presented. I see a much greater use to online portfolios than paper portfolios, and I know that I am not the only one. Here are some links where you can read more about this:

Opeus

McGuhlin.net

The Electronic Portfolio Project

Mock Interview Reflection

I've had quite a few interviews in my life. Yet each time, there is always at least one question that surprises me or stumps me. Still, the more interviews I go through, the easier each one gets. I have definitely noticed a difference in my confidence level. My first real interview was when I was a senior in high school and I was applying for a scholarship. The Board of Directors of the firm that interviewed me actually knew my grandparents and parents, so the pressure was very high. Back then, I was a timid, nervous, immature girl and it could not have shown more in that interview. Needless to say, I did not get the scholarship. I never wanted to complete an interview like that again, so I prepared much more for every interview thereafter.

However, as much as I prepare, I will never be able to completely anticipate every question, or control the stream of answers that fly out of my mouth. For example, in the mock interview, I know I did not start off well. She opened with one of my least favorite questions, "What makes you the best for this position?" I stumbled all over that answer. I never know what to say to that question that will set me apart from the other applicants. Everyone has almost the same education, work experience, community service, etc. If there is any one thing that I need to work on for future interviews, it is finding a unique answer to that question.

I believe the rest of the interview went well. The other questions were more about my personal experiences, which I could talk all day on. I especially love sharing the experiences that have significantly shaped who I am today, like my internships, studying abroad, and my childhood and family. I was surprised at how easily the answers to these questions flowed and how comfortable I was while interviewing. I am gaining confidence in my abilities and am getting over the nervousness that plagued my first interviews. I only wish I had elaborated on some experiences more, so that the interviewer could really understand me and what I am all about. I have to say that this mock interview was a great experience and helped me see what I need to work on, as well as build up my confidence for future interviews.

Business Ethics

We had a very interesting topic in class the other day on Business Ethics, particularly in writing. It is so ironic, too, because I had just written up a report for my Accounting class on two business ethics cases. It seems like this is becoming a major issue in our world, and thank goodness our professors are teaching us about it. My accounting cases were basically stories of accountants or CEO's cheating on their financial statements or smudging numbers, or even renaming some accounts. Sometimes, it's hard to even see the line that you aren't supposed to cross. So, I'm thankful that we have been able to explore ethics issues in our classes.

I've never thought much about ethics in the workplace until the issues were brought up in class. But now I realize, it is a major problem. I would be surprised to find one company that has done everything ethically, whether it be its financial statements, treatment of employees, or even within its operations. Almost every business cuts corners in today's society, either to get ahead of the competition, or just to make themselves look better. What they don't realize is that, somehow they are hurting either themselves or others. Business is a cutthroat world... I've been warned of this many times when I tell people that I major in finance. However, it doesn't have to be all about lying and cheating to get ahead. It can also be fun, and worthwhile, if approached the right way. All I know is, I would much rather have a successful company as a result of hard work and honesty than a company I can't be proud of because I ignored all the rules of ethics to become successful. The problem is, there are not many ethical people out there today... and the line between right and wrong is getting much harder to see. This is why it is so important for our generation, the future of the business world, to learn about ethics issues in school and then stand up for "right" when we are out in the business world. There are too many corrupt business people out there today and I think it's all on our generation now... I just hope we are up for it.

Teamwork

I have to say that I am extremely happy with my group so far. I have been in some awful teams before for projects, but this is not one of them. I am somewhat of a control freak and I used to hate group work... where MY grade would depend on someone else doing the work. I used to never trust my teammates to do their part, which was justified, because usually no one ever did. So, I would always do way more than my share to get the grade I wanted. I am a little obsessed about getting high grades... I always have been. I guess it comes from being the baby in the family and wanting to do everything better than my brother and sister. Needless to say, I did whatever it took to get A's on group projects, even if it meant doing some of everyone else's work, too.

This group is so different. Granted, it is not the course I am most concerned about (I mean I would stress a little more if it was one of my finance classes), but I have not worried about what my teammates are or aren't doing once. I really trust them and know that they will do just as much work as me, if not more. We all seem to care about our grades and turning in a great project, so I know I have nothing to worry about. My group is also very flexible, which I love! There is no hand-holding or arguments, we just go with the flow. We work around everyone's schedules and we don't waste time arguing or babying a particular teammate (all of which I've had trouble with in the past). We've got the good idea down, now we just have to work on the proposal of it. We are pacing ourselves so that we won't be too overwhelmed with work when the deadline comes. I can finally trust each of my teammates to do their part and that feels great! I think my outlook on group projects is starting to change a little bit. Good job team... thanks for being awesome!

I Made It!

Well, I made it through the week! I managed to get all my work done and still have time to have a somewhat normal life. The Access project turned out ok, even though I'm sure I could have done more to it with more time. My finance test was pretty hard, but I feel okay about it. While studying for that test, I realized how much more I enjoy Corporate Finance than any of my other classes. So, I'm starting to sway myself away from a financial planning concentration into a corporate finance concentration. There are no definites, yet... but I'm definitely considering it. Anyways, that's a topic for another time.

I'm writing this before I head out the door. Although this week was rough, it feels so amazing to be done on Thursday instead of Friday. I have an extra long weekend to look forward to... and I get to spend it on vacation in Maryland! I think I"ll use this weekend to catch up on some sleep, relieve some stress, and get away from school, mentally and physically. Hopefully, it will recharge me so that I can get through the next few hard weeks of tests and mountains of assignments due. I think it's a great idea to take a break every once in awhile just for this reason. So, everyone have a wonderful weekend... I know I will!

This Week

This week has been one of my most hectic weeks so far, which is why my blogs for the week will be very short. I'm starting to realize why taking 18 hours is such a bad idea. I can't complain about my tests because I haven't had an overload of tests in one week. Usually I just have one or two, which are still very hard, though. It's just the extra work that I can't stand. I would much rather study for a test or do some finance problems than do a project. I hate doing projects. My computer science class has an Access project due this Thursday. I haven't had too many problems in Access so far... it just doesn't seem that hard. However, this project will take the most amount of time of any of my work from other classes. I have to create a whole database from scratch about a Real Estate firm and make up all the data for it. This will be a challenge, and something I just really don't want to do, or see the point in. So, this is the reason why this week is going to be so awful.

On a positive note, I'm looking forward to Thursday when all my projects and tests will be over and I will be heading to Maryland for the weekend. I've never been there before and I get to have my boyfriend and his family show me around. So, I'm just praying to get through this week as fast as I can.

Presentations... again

Don't worry... I'm not going to complain about how much I hate giving presentations again. Instead, I thought I'd share how my last one went and reflect on the others that I heard.

I ended up presenting on my favorite place in the world... the Amafli Coast. I was only there for a weekend, but it doesn't matter, I fell in love with the area as soon as I got there. So, giving a presentation on it didn't seem like it would be that hard. I was right. I created the powerpoint, and even wrote out a script, which I do for every presentation because it is inevitable that I will forget what I'm talking about. I practiced it the night before and found that every time I went through it, I didn't even glance at the script. It was all there, every memory still vivid in my mind... so much so that I didn't need a piece of paper to tell me what to say about it. Then, I made a risky move, I threw out that piece of paper and decided to wing it. I honestly think this was the first time I've ever given any presentation or speech without even a notecard in front of me. It was great. I mean I was still very nervous and I started talking really fast, which always seems to happen, but the words just kept spilling out. It's so different presenting about something you love, because you don't have a fear of forgetting what to say. Anyways, the presentation was a success. I don't think I'll ever get rid of the nerves, but at least I know now that I don't need to rely on a script anymore. If I know as much as I should know about a subject that I report on, then I won't need that paper as a crutch, and the presentation will be much more interesting.

The other presentations were great, too. This is probably the first class I've been in when not one person messed up, or seemed to not know what they were talking about, or was just so nervous that they looked like they wanted to cry. I have to say I was impressed. A lot of the presentations really stuck out to me. I loved Marice's because she did the same study abroad program that I did, just at a different time, and her presentation took me back there. I really enjoyed all of the presentations and I wish I had time to say something about each of them. But instead, I'll just say... well done ya'll. Everyone in this class is awesome and I know we will all bring something special to our final project for the Red Cross.