Reasons why DC is a cool place for recent grads

There are some really cool things to do in DC that cost absolutely nothing - except maybe a metro fare card.

Screen on the Green

I went to this last night and it was awesome. It takes place on the National Mall right in front of the Capitol building. In the summertime they play 4 old films on a big screen outside in the grass. Everyone brings blankets, food, and fun.

The Smithsonian

Some people may not agree with me, but so far I've really loved all the Smithsonian Institutions that I've visited - and there are so many I have yet to see. This even includes the National Zoo, which I personally love because they have elephants.

All the monuments and memorials

I know everyone knows this, but still...just to remind everyone that it makes for a nice (free) afternoon

Some things I have yet to experience, but can't wait...

Spy Museum

I recently found out that the last Wednesday of every month the Spy Museum is free from around 5-8 p.m. (It's usually a $15 visit) To attend this free event you'll have to register online beforehand.

Jazz in the Garden

This has my name written all over it. Recently, (after seeing Public Enemies) I've become a jazz lover. I bought the soundtrack to the movie and Billie Holiday is my new musical obsession. A free outdoor jazz concert + sangria (word on the street is that it's sold there) = bliss.

Aaaand if your feeling like you need a little break from the real world and want to feel like you're back in college...

there's Group Therapy (this actually costs a little, but it's a good deal). This takes place at Tom Toms in Adams Morgan - it's 4 shots and 4 beers for $12 total. You're required to have your posse with you (no really) for this one...let's try to keep it safe people...so if you get four friends together it's 3 bucks for a couple of drinks. Pretty good deal...

To add some credibility to the social networking post...

Read this:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/worklife/07/28/cb.best.job.facbook.addict/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

LinkedIn

I created an account on LinkedIn - seems like a pretty useful site for job networking. I've been told it's a good idea, by friends and at conferences, to have a profile on here. It's also really easy to find people you know once you enter your university. It basically asks that you input your resume, education and interests...

Check it out!

Why online social networks are actually a good idea after college

Many of us have debated deleting our Facebook accounts and some are still wondering what the heck is the point of Twitter? Our inclination to rid our lives of online social networking sites may be because we want to convey a more professional appearance and those pictures of us from our 21st birthdays now seem pretty embarrassing. Others may have always thought that the sites were a waste of time. However, recently they've each proved to be quite useful to me.

Here's why...

Reason #1: Now, instead of facebook chatting with your best friend while they sit on the other side of the living room, or questioning a friend's tweet when you're about to see that person in your next class, you may actually be hundreds of miles away from your friends after graduation. I've found that although a few very close friends call or text me, online social sites are the easiest way to chat with or message each other. These sites make the 800 miles between me and my friends from home seem a little less long.

Reason #2: I've used both Facebook and Twitter to promote this blog and the feedback I've received thus far has been awesome. People I haven't talked to or seen in years have told me the ways that they can relate to my post graduation struggles. And what's even more awesome is that people are so willing and excited to offer me advice on pursuing my career goals. With the exception of my parents, who I've emailed the link to, everyone who has read this blog has accessed it through either my Facebook or Twitter page. Without these accounts, making people aware of this blog would be a lot more difficult.

Professional individuals and organizations have caught on to these online trends and have utilized the fan pages. Part of one of my past internships was to help update Facebook, Twitter and Digg.com (another cool site you should check out). I really think that online social sites have a lot of benefits - for one they reach a younger portion of the population. Although the younger crowd may be using them to show their friends their new skate videos or to bash their ex-boyfriends, they're at least learning some valuable online skills.

While your online profiles definitely have the potential to hurt your professional life, they also offers you the opportunity to promote yourself and any projects you may be working on or towards. I absolutely appreciate all the feedback I've received from everyone. It's awesome, you're awesome, and one day we're all going to be very successful professionals.

Progress

I had a job interview today. I think it went well...

cross your fingers, wish upon a star and say a prayer for me!

My resume - feel free to constructively (and kindly) critique it

OBJECTIVE

To acquire a position that will utilize my experience in public relations, event planning, and communication studies, as well as allow me to further explore my interest in the non-profit sector.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies May 2009

Stetson University, Deland, FL

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Public Relations and Marketing Intern October 2008 – April 2009

Halifax Health Medical Center, Daytona Beach, FL

• Research, write and edit medical brochures, promotional materials, professional/medical catalogs and other publications

• Assist event coordinator with monthly health/exercise-group events and presentations; assist event coordinator and public relations manager with plans concerning the opening of new state-of-the-art medical facility

• Utilize online social networks such as Digg.com, Twitter and Facebook for special events and news promotion as well as assist in maintaining press release portion of website

Media and Communications Intern May 2008 – October 2008

Global Hope Network International, Orlando, FL

• Assist media relations specialist with organizing video footage from international field sites for this non-profit organization

• Research, write and edit donor appeals and international project proposals

• Create and maintain contact/mailing lists and organize information for press releases

Public Relations Intern January 2008 – July 2008

Daytona Beach Thunderbirds af2, Daytona Beach, FL

• Organize and present media kits to various public relations professionals

• Report game time statistics to multiple sports media centers

COLLEGIATE EXPERIENCE

Senior Staff News Writer/Chief Copy Editor August 2006 – May 2009

The Reporter, Stetson University, Deland, FL

• Write weekly news stories and edit copy for university newspaper

• Utilize Microsoft Word and AP style writing

Media Contact August 2006 – December 2007

STAND (Students Taking Action Now for Darfur), Stetson University, Deland, FL

• Recruit new members

• Direct and participate in call-in days to legislators

• Coordinate campus and local events to promote awareness of the issue

• Utilize interpersonal skills by cooperating with local media, university faculty and students

Office Assistant August 2006 – February 2007

Political Science Department, Stetson University, Deland, FL

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES

Associated Collegiate Press Conference October 2008 Kansas City, MO

Associated Collegiate Press Conference October 2007 Washington, DC

Save Darfur Rally September 2006 New York, NY

LANGUAGE

Some written and verbal communication skills in Spanish

COMPUTER

Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Power Point, and Outlook

Losing $80,000 is way kooler than gaining $0

3 very cliche sayings that have a newfound application to my life:

Less is more

Treat others the way that you want to be treated

(this ones for the kids!) Be cool, stay in skool

Let's begin with how "less is more" now applies to my life. Last week I received my paycheck from work. I was very excited when this day arrived, as most people are. However, I found myself very unexcited once I ripped open the envelope. Why, you ask? Well, that is because I was paid a lot less than what I was expecting. 100% less, 110% less even. I was actually given a check for $0. Right across the front of it in bold blue letters it read, "THIS IS NOT A CHECK".

Taxes in Virginia.

Ha.

Now, I'd like to spin this positively (so I can try to preserve just a little sanity). I've been saying for quite some time now that I'd like to work in the non-profit sector. Some people have reminded me that it can be a very difficult area to work in because the money isn't so great. During a conversation with my mom tonight, she concluded (while trying to calm her laughter) that this $0 check was straight from God. I, therefore, have concluded that my $0 check is in preparation for some really exciting and rewarding (in a non-monetary kind of way) future endeavors. Therefore, less is more in my case because I'm really being set up for really cool stuff...hopefully...oh God...please?

Next we have "treat others the way you want to be treated". This is very simple. Working in a restaurant has shown me how incredibly rude people can be to others who are not to blame for their frustration. Now, some advice for you readers...be kind to your waiter or waitress. This should not be because you fear that they will spit in your food. In fact, assuming that they're the type of person who would do that is also incredibly rude. None of us know strangers' stories, we do not know why they work where they work, or live where they live, what or who they intended to be or what has actually come of their life. This is why we should all be respectful and kind to others...

The Golden Rule is important people! If people are nice to me, it's so much easier to be nice to them.

And lastly, I have reconsidered the old saying "be cool, stay in skool" because it is absolutely a whole lot cooler than having someone's chewed up sesame chicken in your hand. Now, I've always thought that school is kool. My kool college education painfully cost close to $80,000. But! Being educated makes me one happy camper. Other people don't exactly view you as an intellectual, however, when you're asking them for the third time in 30 minutes if they'd like another glass of water.

I wanted so very badly to graduate from college so that I could get on with my life and "do" things. Now I've realized that having an even higher education is going to make "do"ing things a whole lot easier to achieve. Thus I plan on returning for grad skool asap. Remember kids - skool is cool!

The Hollywood version of my life (and probably most of the people who graduated with me this year)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFR4SgfqAFc

Helping others...does boxing up their food count?

Last Friday afternoon I applied to be an administrative assistant for a non-profit in DC. Answering phones and making copies isn't exactly my dream job, but the non-profit world is very appealing to me because ultimately I'd really like to make some kind of positive contribution. There seems to be an endless amount of non-profit, humanitarian organizations in the DC area...and here I am, a young, passionate person who just wants to help others. And yet nobody wants to hire me. It just doesn't make sense to me that someone could say "I want to help others" and in response they get "Oh, well I see here that you've only had internship experience. We really want someone with 5 or more years under their belt."

I want to help people.

How can the response to this be no?

Hmm...

How will I ever get my foot in the door if everyone requires at least a few years of experience? Clearly my list of internship experience doesn't quite make the cut. People say it's all about who you know...but what if someone just moved 798 miles away from where they knew everybody? Are they supposed to just go back and live in their hometown? Or will they one day, randomly meet that special connection on the metro or in the produce section of Whole Foods?

How does this whole getting a "real job" thing work?

Today, at my "fake job", I was complimented on my food boxing skills. A business man literally said to me, "wow, you did a really good job boxing that up!" Now I wonder...was this because his expectations of a waitress are so low, that the fact that I could do anything with skill was a wonderful surprise to him? Or was it maybe because he's an incredibly messy person who always spills his food all over the table? Whatever his reason for speaking up, all I could do was go back into the kitchen and laugh at myself.

Is this a marketable skill?

Is it me...or is it the economy?

As the name suggests, I recently graduated.

I went to a small, private university in central Florida for my BA. The last month of school was both pleasant and painful. Pleasant because sweet, sweet freedom was within my grasp. Painful because my senior thesis was gradually morphing more and more into what my professors wanted and less and less into something I cared to research at all. All I could think about was how wonderful life was going to be once graduation day arrived.

And now...well, I absolutely cannot wait to go back for graduate school.

In the meantime, however, I'm bumping and stumbling along through this thing called "real life". That line from the "Friends" theme song comes to mind....

so no one told you life was gonna be this way / your job's a joke, you're broke

...I work at a PF Changs as a server, getting by on $8 tips. I consider giving the manager my notice every day and then I remember that even though I've applied for 7,000 "real" jobs, nobody else wants to hire me. I moved all the way from Port Orange, FL to Washington, DC so that I'd have a better chance at starting a career that really made a difference. And so far...well...I'm not sure I've made any kind of positive impact.

So this has me wondering...is it me or is it this terrible economy that we hear about every night on the news? To be honest, it's probably both. Not that I was a bad student, or that I don't have a good work ethic. It's just that well, with the economy, companies are probably hiring people who are more qualified than someone who just graduated two months ago. Throughout college I had an internship every semester from my junior year until graduation. Everyone went on and on about how it was going to be great experience that I could build my resume with and become a highly desirable job candidate.

Well, they were wrong. And what makes it worse, is that now, I'm not even qualified to work in retail because I don't have retail experience. And why don't I have retail experience? Well that's because I was spending my time at my very valuable internships. So this leaves me stuck with a job that makes me smelly, achy and irritable.

What a warm welcome to the real world....