Katie M

It's the Beginning of the End

This past weekend, although a blur because of the large amount of events that went on, marked the beginning of the end of my college career. While anticipating this weekend, I thought my biggest concern would be making it through, however, the greatest challenge ended up being holding back tears.

The weekend kicked off with my last Mr. SHU. This event is put on every year by the junior class and is basically a spoof on the Miss America Pageant.  The show was hysterical and very well put together, but I couldn't help but think back to the prior year when I was backstage making the event a success.

Saturday morning came way too quickly with my Business Honor Society Induction followed shortly there after by my final dance recital. Being on stage brought upon one of the greatest rushes; instantly making me euphoric!  On the other hand, once the final beat sounded over the loud speaker and I exited the stage, I realized that I will never have such an opportunity again. 

Sunday evening was the Student Government Installation Dinner.  Invited this year for the recognition of my efforts over the past three years, rather than being installed into a new position, brought upon the realization once again that my time at SHU was dwindling. While listening to the speech given by my class president, I finally broke down.

Tears quickly filled my eyes as I thought back to all the fun I had had these past 4 years, all the friends that became family, all of the events I had partaken in and all the organizations I had joined. It is all of those things that made my time at SHU so special, as well as memorable.  More importantly, it was all of those things that made not crying this weekend so much of a challenge L

Outside the last senior pub night!

Is there ever a RIGHT decision?!

When you’re faced with a HUGE decision, how do you know which choice is the right one to make?  How do you know if that choice will positively or negatively affect the rest of your life?  How do you know that that choice will be better than the other? 

The other day I was presented with a terrific job offer.  Of course my excitement and gut told me to take it immediately, but then I realized…this decision will affect the rest of my life.  I began to think about not moving back to my home town after graduating and renting a place all of my own.  At that point, it also hit me that I was entering “THE REAL WORLD.”  That in itself is scary enough, in addition to the fear of making this huge decision.

After hemming and hawing, making countless phone calls to friends and family, and taking a lot of time to think on my own, I accepted the offer!  Upon accepting, a giant weight was lifted off my shoulders.  Not only did I no longer have to stress over looking for post graduate employment, but I had also weighed all of my options, planned everything out, and made a sound decision!

Going back to the original inquiry, is there ever a right decision?, I really don’t think that there is such a thing. I do believe, however, that there is a “right for now” decision!

How I successfully avoided homesickeness

In order to avoid homesickness, people always say to incorporate something from your “home life” into your “school life.” As a freshman, afraid of becoming homesick, I joined F.O.R.C.E and became a part of Student Government.  Both were an integral part of my high school career.

Upon becoming involved, I quickly learned that high school and college extra curricular activities were different. For me, dance and student government were always a fun way to escape school work and hang out with people. In college, activities can quickly become a lifestyle.  I became aware of that when my one hour/week dance time became 6 hours/week. At first it didn’t bother me, but when I began missing out on other activities with my new friends, I knew that I had to make some choices.

These choices included picking up more student government responsibilities, since they allowed me to remain involved, as well as have spare time, and dropping F.O.R.C.E. 

For three years, I remained very involved with Student Government; however, I knew there was something missing. I longed to be back on stage tapping with my dance peers.  So, for my final semester at SHU, I rejoined F.OR.C.E and I couldn’t be happier. I finally feel as though a missing piece has been found!

I guess, in looking back, I realized that when it all boils down, being involved has to do with time management and sacrifices. Maybe high school and college activities aren’t as different as I thought. Maybe they are merely just building blocks upon one another; helping students grow and mature over time.

Is it better to stand out...

The other day, at an interview, I was asked to explain a team-like situation. A rather general, yet common question to be asked during an interview, I was hard pressed to come up with an exact situation. I thought back to my days on my high school swim team and my time on my class board here at SHU, but nothing seemed substantial enough to share. 

After a brief pause, I began telling a story about my group project in International Business.  This project consisted of bringing an established U.S.company to a foreign city.  Each group had to put together a cohesive presentation, as well as bound book, describing the foreign city, the U.S. Company, and how the company would thrive in the foreign city. 

When meeting with my group, I felt as though I took on the role of team leader. I helped to assign parts, set deadlines, and compile final drafts. I felt that this role, as well as story, helped to describe my character and my “drive;” a drive that would be ideal for a future employee.

Once the interview was over, the interviewer met with me to provide me with pointers for future interviews.  In a less than diplomatic fashion, the interviewer told me that I would never be employed because of my inclination to take the lead on a project. Being professional, I thanked him for his criticism, but on the inside I was hurt and confused.

For the longest time I thought that leadership positions were crucial in being a superior candidate for employment.  That thought is what drove me to apply for positions in student government, on team, and in projects. More importantly, it is that exact thought that led me to tell the story about my “taking charge” in International Business.

As I sit here now, reminiscing about the interview, I can’t help but wonder:

Is it better to stand out…or just be part of the crowd?

Dream Job

Last night, while out to dinner with my mom, a very interesting question was “brought to the table.” The question was:  What is your dream job? Of course I attempted to be funny and said, “A Disney Princess,” but deep down I was clueless on how to answer. 

As a kid, I always thought I would be a teacher.  I loved that I would have summers off and that I could “stay in school” forever. Once I realized how difficult it is to actually teach, that dream went straight out the window. Next, I had the idea that I could work for a well known magazine like Jennifer Garner in “13 going on 30!” She lived such a glamorous life; why not strive to be her!

Realizing that the real world is not Hollywood, my dream to be like Jennifer Garner has become more and more far fetched. Yes, it would be amazing to work in NYC at Cosmopolitan or Glamour, but EVERYONE wants to do that. Getting an interview at one of those places is more difficult than successfully climbing Mt.Everest.

Over the past few months, I have been applying to countless positions; some at publishing companies, some at financial headquarters, some in Connecticut,some in NYC. It wasn't until recently, however, that I finally received some answers. I have landed interviews at 2 places in Connecticut, but am I completely satisfied if either of those jobs “pan out?”

With that question in mind, when is it ok to let go of a dream?!

Make new friends...but keep the old?!

Why do people make a distinction between high school friends and college friends?  Scratch that.  Why do college students make a distinction between their high school friends and their college friends?!  Is it because they have known the high school friends longer?  Is it because the college friends have seen them grow and mature into young adults?  Or is it just easier to keep home life and college life separate?!

Over the past four years, I have noticed that the division between my high school friends and my college friends has become more and more distinct.  Upon entering SHU in the fall of 2004, I was incredibly heartbroken to be leaving my high school friends.  This sadness led me to basically make a shrine to my high school in my south hall dorm room.  During that school year I made every effort to visit and email those friends and go home for high school activities.  But as time went on, those efforts became more of a distant memory and less of an everyday doing. 

In that transition period, I found that bonds were beginning to strengthen with the people who I was spending late, crazy nights in the dorm hallways with.  Those people quickly learned about my past, came to enjoy my present doings and loved the fact that we had the next 3 years to have fun together!  These people became more than my friends, they became my family. 

Reverting back to the back to the original question though, why do college students make a distinction between their high school friends and their college friends?!  For me, the answer to that question lays within the fact that my college friends know who I am today!  Yes, they have a small idea of what I was like before hand, but they are a huge part of the person I have become.  They have been there for the mistakes, the triumphs, the good, the bad, and on call 24/7! 

It is these people who, in less than 2 months, I will miss more than anything. L 

Live more...Regret less

Now that Spring Break is officially over, my time at Sacred Heart is rapidly approaching the finish line.

Even though this is a very very sad realization, I have so much to look forward to over the next 6 weeks.  First of all, the SHU men’s basketball championship will be held on campus this Wednesday night and broadcasted on ESPN2! After that, there is the first of 2 more senior pub nights, featuring the Highland Rovers. The Highland Rovers are an amazing Irish Band that will definitely help all of the seniors get into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit.

After we get back from Easter Break, there is the Spring Concert featuring Ne-Yo and T Pain, the last senior Pub Night, the F.O.R.C.E recital, induction ceremonies for honor societies and student government, the Campus Life Leadership Awards and of course…SENIOR WEEK!

With all of those activities to look forward to, I know that the next 6 weeks are going to fly by. In order to make the most of the little time I still have, I plan on having amazing times with the amazing people I have met while here at SHU, as well as having no regrets.

Let’s just hope that my school work doesn't get in my way ;)

"Holiday in the Sun?"

Top 10 things to do @ home on Spring Break

Yea, going away for spring break is awesome, but what if you have a round trip ticket to your home town?!  Here are 10 things that you can do to keep you entertained:

1.  Visit a friend’s college who isn’t on spring break yet. 

2.  Sleep all day! (You know you could use it after staying up late all semester)

3.  Catch up on the television shows you’ve missed.

4.  Read a book.

5.  Go to the movies.

6.  Discover something new about your home town.

7.  Look for a summer job.

8.  Find a new band/singer to listen to.

9.  Spend quality time with mom and dad.

10.  Make a plan so you can go away next spring break!

Wonder Years...

“Growing up is full of big moments. Some of them you can see coming from a mile away; and some you can't see at all.” (The Wonder Years)

Over the last few months, I have had to start thinking a lot about “growing up.”  Questions like “What do you wanna do after graduation?”, “Where do you wanna live after you move out of your college apartment?” and “What are your goals for the future” seem to be asked on a rotating basis more than 100 times a day.  Being that I have never been able to make decisions, these few months have been very difficult to handle.

For as long as I can remember, I have dreamt about working in NYC after graduating college.  (Well, that is after I stopped dreaming about being a princess)  To me, nothing else ever seemed like an option.  Recently, however, that dream has seemed to become more of a farfetched fantasy since the amazing job that I thought I would get has yet to “come through.”

Even though I still hold hope for a place in the NYC workforce, my latest goal might actually be something realistic. I plan on applying for a job at my internship in

Connecticut

. This is a very scary idea for me to dabble with because it would mean that I would have to move out of my childhood home and step into the <dum da dum> REAL WORLD.

The Real World.  Wow.  I definitely don't think I’m ready for paying bills, making “big” choices, looking for a place to live. Why are those tasks so intimidating and why do I have to do them?! Can't I just stay a “TOYS R US” kid forever?!!

"But in this ever changing world in which we live in.."

So the greatest thing happened today…our SHU I.D. cards will now be accepted at a handful of places in and around

Fairfield

. Some of the places that will now take our I.D. cards are:  Heat Wave tanning, Firehouse deli, Chicago Uno’s Pizza, CVS and a whole lot more.

To say that I’m excited about this is an understatement. I use to hate going to some of the above mentioned places to find out that Fairfield University Stag cards were accepted.  I thought that having such a luxury would be awesome.  It would provide students with more options for food, as well as add on additional activities to the “what to do if I’m bored at SHU list.”  More importantly, in my mind, I think this new option on our I.D. cards will provide additional interest in the school and allow SHU to maintain there status as an “up to date” university.

Now that my card will be accepted at “the best deli ever”, Firehouse Deli, I will definitely become one of their most valued customer!