Welcome back fellow Temple Students!

Hopefully everyone had a wonderful break to recuperate. But the beginning of the semester also begins the sign ups for the Student Professional Organizations (SPOs). There are many that may suit your interests so be sure to find at least one to join.

SPOs are a great way to get involved here at Temple so take advantage of them. They show that you went beyond the standard school curriculum and  it adds a nice touch to your resume.  When you start interviewing for jobs employers will see that you are  involved, and that you are capable of handling more than just school work.

SPOs are a great way to network and make friends. Many students will build bonds with others and potentially in the future they could help get you a job or prove to be of some value. They are a great way for transfer students to make friends during your beginning semesters here. They certainly helped me make friends.

Last but not least, SPOs are a great way to improve your understanding of the work force. Many of them invite guests from the working world to come speak and give essential words of advice. These working professionals can help educate you of what it takes to get out and be successful in your major.

So everyone go out and get involved!
Check out the list of SPOs here to learn more.
http://sbm.temple.edu/org/

Finals are almost done and winter break is almost here. The month break that we have will be a good time for you to recharge, catch up, and experience. It will be a much needed break for everyone.

Some of you may feel the lack of energy and enthusiasm. Take some time over the break to really relax and unwind because college can be very stressful. You deserve to sleep in and do absolutely nothing for a couple days. It will help beat the end of the semester burn out feeling. A few days to recharge will be just what the doctor ordered!

Once you feel fresh and motivated, catch up on the things you feel you have neglected during the semester. Go ahead and start drafting that resume that you’ve wanted to start. Start looking for internships. Pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read. Get back into physical fitness if you haven’t been. Its really a good time to get back on track and do the things you’ve been missing out on.

Last but not least…Get out and experience! Make use of the month of freedom. Use this winter break to travel if you can. It doesn’t have to be far, just anywhere that interests you. Day trips are really nice ways to get out of the house. Hit the ski slopes and carve the mountain. Visit your local movie theater and see the new films. Go out with friends and family and just have a good time, you’ve earned it.

By the time the spring semester arrives, you should feel ready to tackle your course work. Use this time to rejuvenate and have a great time. Push through these last few days of school and then have a wonderful winter break!

I just read an article written by sociologists from University of Maryland about the difference between happy and unhappy people. They concluded that unhappy people tend to watch more television than happy people, who tend to read and socialize more.

“TV doesn’t really seem to satisfy people over the long haul the way that social involvement or reading a newspaper does,” says University of Maryland sociologist John P. Robinson, the study co-author and a pioneer in time use studies. “It’s more passive and may provide escape - especially when the news is as depressing as the economy itself.”

I know personally when I tell people that I pick up a book occasionally I get weird looks. I get people questioning why I choose to read when I could watch TV. I had a friend in high school who read all the time and people would make fun of him. Its like the world makes reading look less cool nowadays.

From the General Social Survey, the researchers found that self-described very happy people were more socially active, attended more religious services, voted more and read more newspapers. By contrast, unhappy people watched significantly more television in their spare time.

I know when I talk to and meet new people I find it easier to smile everyday. Being social is a something that may force you to come out of your comfort zone but at the same time it could boost your happiness.  Read, Be Social, Be Happy!

Source:
http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/sociss/release.cfm?ArticleID=1789

Over the weekend I volunteered to help out at the Fox school open house event. It was very fun and I am glad I had the opportunity to speak to so many people about their direction. Many of the prospective students asked me questions about choosing a major and I feel like I need to share some ideas with everyone.

I feel like the world puts alot of pressure on students to pick the perfect major from the start. But many students don’t always know exactly what they like or are interested in. I personally changed majors 3 times! But it was well worth it because I actually found something I like to do. Just imagine yourself doing a job that you are not interested in and have to live your life doing something that doesn’t mean anything to you.  Some of the happiest people are the ones that find a job that they enjoy or a job that has meaning to them.

Many people chose a major based on its potential earnings and thats not the sole reason why you should choose that major. Your major should be something that you have some passion about. I’ve met many people who love their job and to them its no longer work. Thats what you want to aim for. Some students feel like they can’t switch majors because of their parents will get mad. You have a whole life to live and you don’t want to go through the daily grind unhappy.

Make a promise to yourself to have an enriching career and life. Find what you love to do and follow it.

Be Loud, Be Proud… My english teacher would always say that when a student wouldn’t speak up. I realized that she wasn’t saying that solely because she couldn’t hear us, it was because she wants us to speak with confidence also.

In some of your classes you will witness a student raise their hand for a question or to answer one a teacher asks. And you notice that many just aren’t audible.  I can’t count how many times the professor had to say ” Huh?! Can you repeat yourself?” I just want to shout out what my english teacher used to say- Be Loud, Be Proud. If you think you have the answer to the professor’s question you should speak like you are 100% confident,  even if you aren’t. This is essential to all areas of your life, especially when you are interviewing for a job.

Confidence is an emotion. Your voice is instrumental in sounding confident and knowledgeable. People may believe you are uncertain and may not accept what you say if you don’t sound confident. Think about buying a car from someone who mumbles through the description of the car.  Next time you start to speak timidly remember, Be Loud, Be Proud!

I had a mock interview with the regional sales manager for Verizon Business. I came in ready to explain anything that I had written on my resume. I had explanations for all my activities and involvements. I had my IT skills memorized with specific examples of their usage. I was ready to give examples about what we were doing in related class projects. I spent a considerable amount of time creating my resume; I wanted it to look good. I felt very confident about this interview when I handed him my resume. But let me tell you what really happened… He looked at it for 3 seconds! All the hard work I put into it was judged in 3 seconds. It gave me the feeling that my resume really wasn’t as important. Like I said I was ready for him to ask me questions about things I had listed but the focus was simple. The focus was on ME. The first thing he asked me to do was to describe myself using 3 adjectives. That’s easy enough but for the most part we don’t spend time evaluating ourselves. I came up with 3 adjectives but if I was prepared I could have come up with the best, honest adjectives. The next things he asked were; What are some of your goals in life, where do you see yourself in 10-15 years, what would your ideal career be, what do you value most in life?

These are the questions that are not answered by your resume. There are no right or wrong answers. Employers just want to see if you think about your goals and future. Anybody could easily nail these questions, so just take time to see what you want from life and be ready to speak on them. You always have the upper hand when you know what you want. Spend a few minutes to focus on yourself.

I am Kelley Franklin and I also go by Kel. I was born and raised in Harrisburg Pennsylvania. I transferred from Harrisburg Area Community College in May 2008 with an associate’s degree in Computer Information Systems. This is my first semester at Temple and I hope to finish in spring 2010 with a BBA in Management Information Systems.

I love technology! I have been the family tech support since I was 13. Computers consume my life and I enjoy every minute of it. I use a lot of free software and I love web applications such as Gmail and Google calendar. Both of these tools are essential for daily organization. I want to have a career in the information technology industry. Currently my goal is to be an IT consultant and trainer.

  Keeping in touch with people and making new friends is a necessity to me. I am currently in 3 SPOs: Association of Management Information Systems, Students for Responsible Business, and Phi Beta Lambda. I am also involved in the Fox Mentor program here. By being involved, I have made many friends and contacts for the future. 
  My favorite things to do in my spare time change frequently. Currently I have been swimming a few times a week, but I enjoy almost all sports. Much of my day is spent reading blogs to feed my growing thirst for knowledge. The greatest things to me are the finer things in life. Things like hanging out with friends or taking the subway to south philly for a cheese steak are amazing.
 

During my two years at Temple, I hope to better myself. I just got CSPD’d and now I am ready to start looking for internships. It is going to be an exciting ride on my way to graduation. Networking, internships, involvement, goals, and the many aspects of being a student in the second half of college, are all things I plan to write about. I am also open to whatever you want to hear about. Comments are more than welcome!