BFF/LYLAS

Now, I usually don't watch talk shows, but today as I sat on the couch with my mom in the awkward hours that are always the early evening Dr. Phil was showing, and I decided to give the channel changer a rest and listen in to his sometimes-words of wisdom.

On today's episode, a woman who saved her 11 year old brother from their burning house when she was 14 was featured. Not only did she lose the rest of her family, but she was also left with third degree burns on most of her body and because of this, her self-esteem was left at dangerously low levels, causing her to feel unworthy of others' love and attention. Dr. Phil so wisely advised her that we must be our OWN best friends: take care of ourselves as we so generously take care of others/commend ourselves for our admirable actions/treat ourselves often. Being a best friend means being supportive, and oftentimes we refuse to remain loyal to our own selves.

While I don't have the same physical issues as this woman, I can relate to her lack of self-esteem and shallow feelings of self-worth, and I know others can too. Too often do we forget to take care of ourselves, and Dr. Phil's advise is sound: it is of the utmost importance to be a friend to ourselves before others can be a friend to us.

We ALWAYS were a piece of the pie.

It seems that every post I have references something from my J370 class with Professor Bojinka Bishop. Guess I got my money's worth in there, right?

So in that class, we were forbidden to use technology: no texting, laptops phone calls, nothin'. For my peers and I, it was difficult to stand the two hours without looking at our phones to check up on our social lives. This was especially difficult for me because I ALWAYS seem to be needing to text someone for something, and I always tried to push my luck by sneaking peeks at my phone.When Professor Bishop politely reminded me toward the end of the quarter that we were not allowed to text, she also mentioned something that she'd read about such a thing as texting addiction. In retrospect, this is totally plausible, and I see it in my own activity as well as that of my friends.

Along with texting, compulsive Facebooking is an issue. When on the computer, I can't go an hour without checking to see if I have new notifications or to check up on my friends.

What makes us so obsessed with our new media tools?! Why are we so addicted?!

It is because they give us a sense of importance. When we check our phones and our Facebooks and see that there is a missed call, text or message awaiting us, we feel needed and are given a sense of purpose. What we need to realize, however, is that this sense of importance is only relative in the tiny bubble that is our lives. There is indeed a bigger picture - our sphere of influence only reaches as far as our friends.

It is definitely humbling to ponder this idea. We get so wrapped up in our own lives that we fail to remember that we are only one part of a thing; we're only one piece of the pie. I hope this thought stays with you, dear readers, as you continue your day and that the next time you find yourself reaching for your phone or logging into Facebook you remember that if that message goes unread for another hour, the world will not end.

For an article discussing texting addiction, please visit:

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/health&id=6043089

No Wet Blankets Allowed.

wet blanket (noun) - someone with no personality; serving no purpose

This past Tuesday in my Journalism 370 Media Relations and Publicity class, we reviewed everything we've learned throughout the quarter about Public Relations and how to be successful. The one item that stuck out in my mind was the idea of being personal. "It pays to be personal," as our professor, Bojinka Bishop, said. We were using this idea in the sense that journalists and others in positions to pick up PR professionals' publicity materials will respond much better if those PR people are personable and friendly, therefore increasing your chances of obtaining publicity for your client. I would like to take this advice a little further, however, and apply it to life in general.

Most people consider me to be outgoing: someone who is cheerful and friendly most of the time. Others consider my willingness to communicate freely a bit much and would never think to talk to half of the people I do on a daily basis. Whether it be because they are shy or just don't think people want to talk to them, I must contest that my friendly disposition has truly enhanced not only my relationships but also my ability to pull ahead in life's race. I consider "personal" to mean that you are making the effort to be human: displaying your personality, your current thoughts (appropriate ones, mind you) and showing depth to the life in which you lead. Being personable pays off in big ways: you're able to form stronger networks of people and you are more likely to get what you want.

When others realize that there really is a person deep down inside of you, they are more able to relate to you, making it easier for them to empathize with whatever situation you're in at that time and therefore allowing them to willingly assist you. The next time you're in a situation that requires interaction with others, let them see just a teeny bit of the real you, and I can guarantee that those individuals will be much more willing to team up on your side when the going gets rough.

Here on Avenue Q...

I just got back from seeing the Broadway musical, Avenue Q, and I knew I just had to discuss the newest words of wisdom that I have learned! Now, I'm not sure if you've ever seen the show, but it's definitely not child-friendly, to say the least. It talks about real-life situations in a down-to-earth way that allows its viewers to relate, such as "everybody's a little bit racist," "a fine line between love and waste of time," not knowing what to do with the college degree you've worked for four years to earn and the idea that the internet is only for porn. The main character, Princeton, as well as other characters, grapple with their personal "my life sucks" dilemmas and, after the audience has been moved to find their inner-Princetons, Kate Monsters, Christmas Eves, Brians, Rods and Gary Colemans (yep, his character is in there too!), the characters bring us to the show's conclusion: "Everything in life is only for now."

We are constantly trying to change the bad situations in our lives; seeking out solutions and fretting over what will come next. But what Avenue Q teaches us is that, yeah, things may be awry right now, but that's exactly what it is: just for right now. These lines especially sent the point home:

Don't stress,
Relax,
Let life roll off your backs
Except for death and paying taxes,
Everything in life is only for now!

Change is the only constant we have. While the show does not by any means tell viewers to stop looking for their purpose in life, something Princeton is constantly searching for, it reminds us that sometimes it's okay to take a breath and just let everything be. Heck, the show goes even farther to say that the good things in life are also fleeting: love, happiness, health, friendship. If we are constantly looking for something more we will miss out on the good things in life, because they are just for now.

Let me put it into an analogy that everyone can associate with: food. You gotta make sure you appreciate what you've been served, even if it's not all you're craving, because even that chop liver is better than nothin'.

The Verdict

Yeah so about that October Resolution...it's November and I've neglected my blog once again! Oh bother. Okay, now I'm REALLY going to do better because my future career probably depends upon it. So that's that.

As I've read others blogs and considered what mine should focus on, I've decided that what better resource to draw upon for inspiration then my own experiences? Here's the verdict: I will continue to post about my daily triumphs, failures, peeves and findings so as to invoke a feeling of ability to achieve in my readers. I am reaching the goals I have set for myself every day, and while it is easy to become wrapped up in the details of life and neglect to realize what really matters, this is the most important thing we can do to keep ourselves going. And you can take that to the bank.

Being a peer mentor for a group of freshman communications students this quarter has really taught me so much about this. They are continuously emailing and texting me with their concerns over their grades in the class, the group projects that were due today that they presented to the class, our upcoming activities and other menial details of being a college student. When I hear of their freak-out sessions I assure them that it is not the end of the world! Life is going to go on even if they fail to be perfect presenters or are having trouble scheduling a class. I tell them to BREATHE and to STOP and to REALIZE that they are already ahead of their peers by simply having a worry. Some people fail to care about their life's situations, causing them to fall behind in this rat race.

So, the first motto that I am imparting to live by is this: DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF, BECAUSE IT'S ALL SMALL STUFF!

I think some of us could learn a few lessons from this oh-so-wise read!

October Resolution

My apologies for not posting in months. Once the internship ended and school started, I forgot about maintaining my web presence. How silly and unresponsible of me for neglecting you, blog readers! My "October resolution" is to maintain a schedule of posting once a week every Sunday. I even have it written in my planner!

What inspired me to pick up blogging again was the presentation Chip Mahaney of the Scripps Organization gave to my Journalism 333, News Editing, class. He stressed the importance of our web presence in the changing communications field and offered his own experiences with hiring individuals based on how they portray themselves online. For a junior in college and someone who needs to being seriously thinking of her entrance into the workforce, this was good advice, and I appreciate it. :)

So now that the school year is in full swing and my life has become hectic, as expected. I've become increasingly involved in PRSSA and am glad for its stronger presence in my life. I've begun writing a column for our newsletter, PR Success, call "True Life: I'm a JKid." My first text detailed the common theme of anxiety that characterizes the lives of JMajors and reassured readers that even when it seems like we're failing at life, we all have the same worries. I'm excited about this new endeavor and can't wait for next quarter's issue already!

Writing has become an increasingly present notion when it comes to my thoughts of the future. I've always been good at it and have enjoyed expressing my ideas through written word, leading me to believe that a career involving writing may be just the ticket t0 my success. In my J370 class, Media Relations and Publicity, we learn all about the inner-workings of PR professionals and that the field includes a great deal of research and thoughtful expression, and while it has been challenging thus far I have appreciated the writing practice and the additions to my portfolio it provides.

I'm considering changing the theme of this blog to something dealing with educational communications, such as high education admissions or social change in the field, perhaps with materials and mentions of the Teach for America program. Keep checking for any updates on this issue!

Until next Sunday :)

Bite your tongue...and tweets.

So social media is taking over. Period. The newest generation of professionals is technologically-savvy and ready to step outside the conventional box that the older workforce once worked with. But with these tech skills comes a comfort with the Internet that creates an issue: the ease with which we put ourselves out there and the consequences that accompany it.

From the moment my family got its first computer and logged on to AOL for the first time, I have had a presence on the Web. I had my AOL profile decked out with my favorite colors and quotes; my own web page had sparkling images floating around the screen; LiveJournal provided me with a space to divulge my most intimate thoughts; and now Facebook allows me to update my status to whatever I please. It is safe to say that I am quite comfortable with the idea of putting myself out there for the world to see, technologically speaking, and it has allowed me to pick up the new social media tools and mold my web presence easily. And while my parents' generation have had a more difficult time getting used to it, my age group has been privileged with the luxury of growing up with the Internet. But with great privilege comes great responsibility, something that is often learned the hard way.

Recent lawsuits regarding tweets and blog updates have become the newest fear for social media users. Because social media is so new, it is hard to decide what an acceptable update is. And although we are used to communicating easily through the Web, we must remember that the real world is very ready to slap our wrists if political correctness and appropriate attitudes are not kept. I think that being comfortable with social media is a great advantage that my generation has, but ensuring professionalism is something that we may definitely need to work on.

This isn't your mama's Myspace page, honey. Welcome to the big kid's playing field.

F is for Facebook...and friends.

Each meeting of PRSSA brings with it the idea that we must become social media-savvy. Blogs, Twitter, LinkedIn, PROpenMic...it is imperative that we become professionals in these areas. For me, all of these outlets were and continue to be new to me. But there is one social medium that I have learned like the back of my hand. It is one that most high school and college students depend upon to get them through the long hours they may spend at their laptops writing papers, conducting research and doing homework; a procrastination tool, if you will. The medium that I am referring to is the infamous Facebook.

When I first made my Facebook as a Junior in high school, it was to mainly keep tabs on my classmates and post pictures of that weekend's latest movie night with my friends. When I came to college, it became my main source of meeting new people at Ohio University. Now, I use it to keep in touch with old friends and new ones while updating my status with quirky song lyrics or funny sayings that I've heard around campus. Although all of these uses can be considered networking, it is not the kind of networking the professional world is looking for.

I keep my Facebook completely personal. And while I do monitor what is posted by myself and others, as a college Junior I do not believe that it should be a place to look for a job or internship. While reading an article on ajc.com entitled "Companies want applicants with social-media skills" by Alyse Knorr, these notions were confirmed. Bob Van Rossum, president of MarketPro, a marketing recruitment company offers that Facebook (as well as Twitter) is a place to mold your personal brand and not about business, adding that how others perceive you is how they perceive the company you work for. Other social media such as LinkedIn should be used to connect with future employers.

While Van Rossum notes that it is a challenge to find a happy medium between a personally- and professionally-branded Facebook page, I gather that he views Facebook in much of the same way I do: a personal outlet. Though it is indeed imperative to ensure that anything associated with your name is appropriate, adding a few fun flairs surely cannot be a detriment to a job search. Therefore, I will continue to use my Facebook for the f word: friends.

The full article cited in this post can be reached at: http://www.ajc.com/business/companies-want-applicants-with-104600.html

A change would do you good.

Recently I've become intrigued by the idea of change. As I realize this is a trite subject, I must explain that my notions of the word have a deeper meaning: affecting the methods by which individuals lead their lives. I mentioned the Appalachian Staple Foods Collaborative in my last post and their provisions for creating a more successful agricultural sector of the community. This is more of a material change as it is accomodating the need for tools and knowledge, but what has truly stolen my interest is the idea of personal change. An organization that has struck a chord with me is the Athens Photographic Project, an organization that teaches those recovering from mental illness to express themselves through photography.

For those suffering from mental illness, it is difficult to feel like they are a part of the outside world. Nate Thomson, project director of APP, discussed this topic with my fellow intern and me at a recent interview at Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare located near O'Bleness Hospital. He offered that those afflicted are sometimes unable to experience what life has to offer because they brand themselves with the illness instead of with their personal characteristics. His organization's projects provide an outlet for these individuals, and in turn allows them to develop on a more personal level than any amount of medication could. One of the participants, Beth Klaus, mentioned that she appreciates the control photography gives her of the world around her, and this is just an example of the tools APP gives to its constituents to overcome the obstacles associated with their illnesses.

After learning more about APP's efforts through my time spent with Thomson and Klaus and considering my own life experiences, it is important to remember how difficult it is to initiate a change, let alone one that affects state of mind. Projects such as this one alleviate this stressor by providing the means to not only embark upon this journey but to maintain the advancements made along the way. I stand by my call for more assistance like this. It is our job as upcoming leaders to contribute to this effort and, in turn, to begin a revolution of in the philanthropic world in which people help people to better their own lives.




*In my last post, readers may have come under the impression that I do not appreciate food donations and the like. I would like to express that I truly believe we have a need for services such as this and did not intend to undermine this effort in the slightest.

Re-structuring the structure.

In a news update from the Chronicle of Philanthropy, I've discovered a facet of the non-profit world that is sometimes overlooked: social-justice grant making. This effort is geared more towards sparking a reform in the structures that provide jobs to the disadvantaged rather than simply providing aid, and foundations are taking greater strides in expanding this idea. Reading about this topic has caused me to become cognizant of the depth to which philanthropic work needs to reach.

As a non-profit, the Athens Foundation is focused on bettering the community in which it resides, plain and simple. And while this is an obvious and noble goal, it is sometimes difficult to see past the charitable actions and into the results they hope to produce: change for the future. An example of an organization dedicated to truly producing a change of this nature is the Appalachian Staple Foods Collaborative. This group has centered its efforts around providing rural farmers with the necessary tools they need to be successful in the agricultural world, and this characteristic is what sets it apart. Other groups that choose to donate - whether it be seeds to farmers or food to the homeless - are not educating their constituents on how to alter their positions in life, and this is what needs to happen if any true betterment is to come.

As our society becomes more focused on this new and hopeful idea of change, perhaps it is time for non-profits to focus more on social reform as a way to move closer to a world where all are capable of helping themselves rather than simply being helped.

Feel free to read the Chronicle of Philanthropy article at: http://philanthropy.com/news/updates/index.php?id=8877

Innovative ideas supported by former President and intern

As an intern at the Athens Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing support to rural Athens, Ohio, it is pleasing to read that a prominent political figure realizes the need for more support in areas such as ours. An article in The Daily Tell, a publication that focuses on reporting good news rather than negative, featured a highlight on former President Bill Clinton who gave ideas for underdeveloped regions to receive more money. He said that there should be more options for philanthropists when it comes to donating time and money to rural parts of the country. This way, there are more diversified means of providing support.

During my time with this organization I have come to appreciate the way in which we assist the Athens community. Instead of simply giving money to any organization that is out to do good, we meticulously analyze how the money will be used and what the overall goal of the receiving organization is. Through the research I've done on the grantees and the interviews I've conducted, I have been fascinated by the creative methods organizations like Village Productions in Amesville and Kids on Campus here at Ohio University have employed to bring a better way of life to the underprivileged in Athens. Working closely with the people who are behind them has given a new life to the meaning of philanthropy, and I look forward to further educating myself on the diversified services that the Athens Foundation supports.

A link to the article referenced above can be found at http://www.thedailytell.com/2009/07/clinton-more-philanthropy-needs-to-be-focused-on-rural-areas/.