Your major doesn't determine your career path

I love the person who first came up with this idea! I am slightly envious of the people who graduate high school knowing exactly what they want to do with their lives. I was not one of those people.

During my last two years of high school, I started to think about what I wanted my major to be in college. For a while, I seriously considered becoming a nurse. After that idea fizzled out (which was shortly after my AP bio class took a field trip to see a gross anatomy lab and I passed out on the floor) I wasn't sure what my career path would be. Everyone told me to just pick a major that was interesting and that it was ok to change it once I started college. People said that once I started taking college courses I would realize what I was really interested in. Well...I've been in college for 3 years now and feel like with maybe another 3-4 years I would know what I want to do. Taking that first job out of college seems scary, what if you accept a position that you aren't really interested in, but it's a job so you take it, and then get stuck in that career for the next 40 years. Kind of depressing, right?

Internships and jobs have really helped me narrow my interests. By working in different jobs you start to realize the types of environments and types of tasks you like and dislike. Internships obviously are a great experience because they allow you to work in a particular field for a short period of time to "get the feel of the job".

In reality, not every job requires you to have completed a specific major. Many positions are open to a variety of majors or to anyone who has a degree. People switch careers at different times during their lives. No one expects that by the time you are 18 or 22 years old you will have your whole future planned out.

Summer Goals

I can't describe the amount of excitement I will have when classes are over this week. Why must professors make our lives so stressful? They must think its funny, which I assure them, it's not.

It hit me the other day that in December, I will be graduating, which is a very scary thought. I still really have no idea what I want to do with my life. My professors drill me with this question and act shocked that an almost college senior wouldn't know exactly what my career path will be. I did feel a little relieved last summer, when my 50 year old aunt, who has a very successful job and happy lifestyle, told me "Anne, don't feel bad, some days I still don't know what I want to do with my life."

So, my new theory is that maybe knowing what we want to do with our lives isn't a very important question. It will probably change many times based on new or unexpected opportunities that arise.

At my internship (starting in San Diego in under 4 weeks which I am VERY excited about) I will be learning about casting, representing models, and using the web for social marketing purposes. So my goal for this summer is to forget about "my career" and "life after graduation" and just find out if any of these fields interest me or if I hate any of them.

My advice is to not get too hung up on figuring out the future and just keep looking for the opportunities that pop up along the way.

Four More Weeks!!

I would just like to take this opportunity to say that there are four more weeks of classes, something that I am extremely happy about. This semester has been my hardest and most stressful by far. What was I thinking when I registered for classes last fall? Since Spring break I have been counting down every day and can't wait to finish. At a family Easter dinner last weekend, my cousin and I were commiserating about our stress and how much every college student hates the end of the semester.

So...what are some ways you can ease your stress and get through these last few weeks without having a mental break down? Here are a few suggestions:

-Plan out these last few weeks, make weekly goals and make sure that all deadlines and due dates are clear

-Pick one or two projects or papers and get them done now, waiting until the last minute to finish everything at once is too stressful

-Add some fun time: don't get so caught up with work that you forget to leave a little time for fun and relaxation

-Sleep: the worst idea ever invented was to use your sleep time to get work done. Try to keep your regular sleep schedule, this will help you stay healthy and more alert so you are more productive during the day. So, don't pull too many overnight study sessions at the library.

-Exercise: Believe it or not exercise is a huge stress reliever. It helps you think more clearly and will make your "to do" list seem not so overwhelming.

So, good luck getting through the next four weeks. Soon enough, we will all be done and be able to start enjoying our summer plans!

Albany Semester Program

As I'm sure you already know, internships are a common theme in my posts. For this particular post I'm going to give you an overview of the Albany Semester Program-one of the internships offered through Brockport's Career Services Office.

You must be at least a second-semester sophomore to participate, and must also have a minimum GPA of 2.00. This internship can take place during the fall, winter, spring, or summer semesters. The program is based in Albany however you can complete it in local offices as well. The Albany Semester Program is a state government internship, so students interested in government and politics should apply! You can earn 15 credits if completed during the fall or spring semesters and 12 credits if completed during the summer months. Some of these internships are paid!--which is not common.

Some past students who have participated in the Albany Semester Program interned at the DMV in Albany, the local office for the Attorney General, and local school districts.

There is a program fee. A breakdown of cost, requirements, overview, and a course syllabus can be found here:
http://www.brockport.edu/career/aoverview.htm

Be "The Jack of All Trades"

Here is a lesson I have learned this year...In today's changing world you can't be skilled in just one area. More and more employers want to hire people who have been exposed to a broad range of things and who are familiar and skilled in different fields.

Another thing I have learned (and I'm not thrilled about this one) is that having strong computer skills adds A LOT to your resume. I like my phone, iPod, and having internet access whenever I want it, but I don't like technology. I don't have the patience and often get frustrated trying to learn how to use new technologies. But, through my applying for many many internships, I noticed that almost all of the employers wanted interns who were familiar with many computer programs as well as web design and internet research.

So, I would suggest branching out when chosing your college courses. Take a computer or web design course to learn the basics. It also might be useful to take some elective course outside of your major or minor. Having a wide range of knowledge will benefit you in the future!

"Keep the blinders off..."

This was the overall theme of the talk Drew Lachey gave on campus last night...

BSG (who is being extremely generous and bringing a lot of great performers to campus this semester and charging us next to nothing to attend) sponsored a talk given by Drew Lachey. Drew, as you probably know, is a former member of 98 Degrees, winner of Season Two of Dancing With the Stars, and a two time Broadway performer (Rent and Spamalot). This was a dream come true for me...I remember being in middle school when all of my friends and I were obsessed with 98 Degrees...

I thought I would be completely star struck when I saw him, but was amazed at how "normal" he was. The small audience made for a relaxed and casual setting. Drew walked in wearing jeans and a button-down shirt, took his phone and wallet out of his pocket and tossed them on the stage behind him, stood on the ground in front of the stage, and started talking about what he had just read in The Stylus. He spoke about his career and how he had gotten to where he is today. What struck me the most was how humble he was. Fame and spotlight haven't gotten to his head, and he made it clear that the "Hollywood lifestyle" isn't what he lives by, saying that your family and friends are what life is about, not your career.

So, I know it's taken me long enough to get back to relating the title of this post to my rambling. The most influential part of his talk dealt with setting goals while keeping an open mind. Drew noted that the most successful parts of his career (98 Degrees, Dancing with the Starts, etc) were opportunities that arised while he was pursuing other goals. He asked us to "keep the blinders off" and too not get so focused on planning everything out that we miss the opportunities that arise. Drew even quoted John Lennon by saying, "Life is what happens when you are busy planning other things".

I think this is a lesson we can all learn from. Sometimes we get wrapped up in making plans and setting goals, thinking that we need to be proactive in order to get opportunities, that we neglect to see the opportunities around us. The little insignificant things we do or interactions we have could lead us to the biggest opportunities...

So all in all it was a very successful and enjoyable night for me. I got my cd (that was a birthday present about ten years ago) autographed, a picture with Drew, and some really great advice for planning my career and accomplishing my goals.

Job and Internship Fair

Spring will be here (officially) in two days...Thankfully, that means that the weather should be getting nicer and that our semester is half over!! But, it also means that job and internship searches should be well underway.

Lucky for us, Brockport Career Services is always looking out for us! They have planned a Job and Internship Fair. Dozens of employers will be in the Union Ballroom on April 8th from noon until 2 pm waiting to talk to you and take your resumes! All of the employers attending are looking to hire students for internships or jobs.

So, this all means that you have about two weeks to polish your resume and get ready for the J&I Fair. Online at www.brockport.edu/career you will find a list of the employers that will be attending. Look through the list before April 8th and do a little research on the companies that you want to talk too. That way you'll impress the employers because you'll have your resume ready to go, you'll be knowledgable about their company, and of course...you'll be dressed appropriately and professionally!