What I wish I had been Told

High Schoolers ask what advice I had for college student survival.
Here is some advice.......

Major Themes:

1. Realize that , while grades are important, you want to look for internships the way you looked for scholarships in High School.

2. See college as pre-professional training, a means to an end.

while you can have fun, you are suppose to be preparing yourself to enter the work force . Keep that in mind all four years and it will be easier to motivate yourself for 8am classes.

3. Start working on your interview and people skills. Think about how the activities you partake in college will affect your Resume.

4. TO be honest, alot of college classes are fluff ( esp. gen-ed requirements). Focus on skills learned in those classes that will help in a job ( English 101/editing skills, Calculus 1/ mental-arithmetic, General Biology/knowledge of how systems work, etc). I would politely ask professors what parts of a class would excite employers if students could do them very well. Then go practice! Practice the parts of your class you found personally interesting too!

5. College is perhaps the last time people are totally willing to give you what you want just because you asked nicely.

Since I was determined to become fluent in Spanish by graduation, I just asked the Spanish teachers to help me during their office hours. Free of Charge! And they admired my determination.

6. Don't leave your old High School teachers/ community behind!!

They have ALOT of information to help you even in college, so stay in polite contact with them and ask what THEY WOULD HAVE DONE IN SCHOOL. When it comes time for recommendations, you will have wonderful sources outside of college professors. People who can say they have known you for YEARS and think you are a thoughtful and talented person. If you do not understand civics, get a book or talk to someone. This is not about being political, but understanding the forces that shape your area.


Minor Themes:

The lower your GPA is from a 3.0, the more time you must spend working on soft skills, getting work experience and networking.

Master as many skills as you can! Editing Papers, Computer programming in a language, Public Speaking practice, photography, playing piano. Heck , even how to drive the buses on campus ( if your school has its own transit system)! These can make great part time jobs.

Learn about personal finance, plan for an independent life ( whether or not you want to live alone). Understand the more $$ spent for schooling, the more you will pay off later and the less flexibility you will have. Micro-business anyone.....

Many use the computer but have no idea how it works. For shame! Understand computer programming logic.I have heard of children learning computer programming as early as 10 in schools around the world. For that matter,

Perhaps the best way you can keep up with globalization and stay competitive is to know others around the world are expected to learn in school. Especially in Grade schools and innovative programs. The 8-10 year old will shortly be 18-20, entering their pre-professional years and later competing for jobs with VERY current knowledge. You don't have to invent the wheel like these kids do, just add to your knowledge bank.

Talk to professors who like to tell stories and give advice! This is why I love adjuncts. Many of them hold down jobs in the real world and will tell you like it is.

Keep copies of your old recommendations, essays to admissions committees, flyers for special events you went to, scholarships, etc. Update your resume consistently. Basically, keep a file.

LASTLY

Buy a good camera and take pictures! College doesn't last and you will want to cherish those memories long after its over. =D You can even take pictures of the events you do on campus and post them to face book.



It's been awhile lovers,
Meranda Fuentes

2 million minutes, and the education of the future...

Lets face it, once you hit your mid twenties and you here "The future" ,

They don't mean you anymore.

Since my days as a kid, I am glad no one wrangles over teaching me, or the money it costs to teach me, or whats wrong with me. The Great Recession has reeked havoc on US schools today, and we are scrambling to make things right.

From The BBC:
China's economic might leaves mark on American psyche

Which gets me thinking, how often do YOU keep up with educational attainment in other countries? Or for other children? These kids will reach their pre-professional years ( college) in the next 5-10 years. After that, they will be off to compete on the job market with their newer skills. How do we keep up?

By watching them!

I have been fascinated with education quality for years now. Think about it, We don't need to be in school all day to learn what they learn. We just need to update our skills.

For Instance, Computer Programming!

The US Military is now seeking recruits with "computer literacy"
Why Johnny Can't Program: A New Medium Requires A New Literacy
Mind you, not experts to do complicated work. Just BASIC computer literacy. There are strong argument on that post against learning programming, because many jobs in the USA are being off shored to Asia. STILL- Much of this is as basic as reading writing and arithmetic.

Now I have to learn "computer"!? What happened to Spanish and French? Can anyone recommend a book!?


Sigh,

Meranda Fallen.

Have A Vision for Yourself!

Do you have a vision for yourself? What is it? Do you feel it every day? Do you imagine it in your head? How you learn to manage your expectations and still keep focused is a skill. Vision is so important for college and beyond, especially for us "re-entrants" ( perhaps this will be the new term for us). We know what we would have done, if we could do it over. But its OVER. I want to encourage you, whatever you do , bring vision and confidence into your actions. Despite fear and rejection, think of the future and push, push, push. How can you combine your changing interests into a coherent plan? Who have you talked to that can help? Do you stay in contact with them? Hope so... Proud Of You All, Meranda Fallen. Also, I am looking to rename the blog soon....what do ya'll like? "Dropping Back in: A resource for Academic Re-Entrants" ( Very formal,but gets to the point). "Dropping Back in: A place to go after a brush with college" ( haha , get it , brush with danger). "Dropping Back in: A healing place after an academic dismissal" ( Sound folksy? You betcha, but this really is a place to re-motivate and heal. It is also abit comical. I don't think non-drop outs would get why we need to heal.) I love the dynamics of "Dropping Back In" (suggested by Vu* of http://howvuviewsit.blogspot.com/) because that's pretty much what we do. We drop out and then find ourselves back in college or some other educational institution. Yours Truly has been back in college twice, so it fits . *Ironically, Vu is an "A" student who just finished his CPA ( Certified Public Accountant ) exam.....go figure! Congrats Vu! He has a nice blog and can speak French, so go look at it!!! =D

Creating the Life I want...Providing for it.

The life I want is completely different from the life I lead.

At times, I worry, once I can afford the life I want, will I be too old to enjoy it?

Will my friends have moved on? Will they get married? Will my youth pass me by, and I enter adulthood right when I'm ready to be a kid? I mean a big kid. I mean a kid with no concerns beyond bills to be paid and work to be done. Will anyone I know be there to enjoy it with me? Will I have to make brand new friends? Will I ever find the kind of intimacy reserved for long time friends who grow up together?

It never really occurred to me until now ( I mean, within the last few years) that I am not like others. My life is different, and I guess I am a part of a new "Mainstream". The kids who stayed home on weekends, who didn't go outside when it was dark, Who didn't do sleep overs, go to the beach or enjoy the company of family and friends.

In a way, isolated.

But things get so much better when I focus. I read a wonderful post on
Quarter Life Crisis from another young person in my boat. Then I'm not so mad, sad, angry,depressed anymore. I feel more hopeful.

Life is NOT so bad,
Meranda F

Feeling MIGHTY embarrassed

Feeling MIGHTY embarrassed

my teacher told me today he doesn't add students to his facebook account.
Why did I even bring it up!!!
arggghhhh..........



Embarrassed,
Meranda Fallen.

Volunteering Semi -Disaster

Hello All!



I got around to volunteering! Showing some spirit, doing the community justice....building my sparse resume....

I remember the constant pressure to volunteer when I was in secondary school. Unable to find real opportunities, I ended up convincing the secretary at my local library to let me stock books and have that count as volunteer work. I was desperate for it to be over, even asking her when I was done for the day after 15 minutes! I will never forget her response



" You know, Meranda, when you get to the real world you cant keep asking when you can leave". I was so amused!



Flash forward many years,

I get an email that WoofU branch campus is holding a health fair, and that volunteers are very welcome. I say "hooray, an opportunity". I agree to give up all my free period hours for the day, I had images in my head of directing students and being the smiling face that makes ppl feel welcome, know where they are and that everything is gonna be fun fun fun!



I expected some of the fun fun fun for myself too, don't ya know.



First things first, whenever you volunteer, make ideally sure you know what you are doing. Make sure you know where it is and that you show up early. Make sure you know what to wear. Big mistakes I made.



Figuring this would be a teen/undergrad conference ( and not a "trying to push products in the name of health") I showed up in dark jeans, black sneakers, and a bright blue shirt. Bad Idea, when I walked up and told them I was a volunteer, I got this strange look of horror. Then I was direct to this lady who was suppose to "help me find a badge". It took her about a half hour to do so. Then her latchkey boy decides to recruit me for water and drink dispersion ( going around the tables and asking if anyone wanted water or fruit punch). Next, I get a handful of flyer's and am told to hand them out in the student cafe. Far away from the event in the next building.

I have never felt so happy to be in class taking notes in a long while! After class I decided against going back . Not even a free lunch was enough to encourage me. I felt like an unwanted problem the entire day! I felt messy. I felt ashamed of myself, knowing darn well if I was paid they could fire me for being a "no- show" to the second part of the event. What would a professional do!? Not quit. I felt SOOOOO alone.



Looking back, this is what I could have done better:

1. Understood the ins and outs of the event. Leave nothing to imagination. I was surprised by how upscale it was. All I saw were companies trying to sell there pseudo health crap (Reiki massage anyone)? And overpriced "health food".



2. Asked ahead of time exactly what "Directing ppl" meant. I assumed I would be sitting behind a desk or greeting. They had me handing out water and flyer's.



3. Asked what the dress code was ( that question was in the back of my mind, but I figure causal since they never said anything different). This , I believe, was the major reason ppl seemed so uncomfortable with me there. I was VERY under dressed.

4. Perhaps I should have called ahead of time too. I never actually met the person who was recruiting me.




I hope the next time is better,

Meranda Fallen

Liberal Artsy Anyone

I am currently a business major.

I am considering a health science ( pharmacy) after business.

I used to be an anthropology major

Later switched to speech pathologist.

I once considered Engineering.

Wonder if I would have been happier with a Liberal Art/ math (or Science) double major.


There were so many different paths I could have taken. If I could do it over again, I think I would have stayed with my Anthropology major but added a mathematical/statistics major as well. Then continued my education to the graduate level. This is what I tell anyone who wants to major in a liberal art. Pair it with something and plan on graduate school. Get ALOT of experience early. Know what you want and always keep your ears on the ground.

For some reason, a four year degree is a small stepping stone. Most majors do not lead directly to jobs. Competition is fierce. Its not just getting good grades and being a good citizen. If you are not among the best students in your department, It can be argued you are worse off for staying in college. Not that college is a bad decision, but the rewards may not pan out the way you expected.

If I had better guidance earlier on, maybe I would have graduated on time. Maybe I would be employed. Perhaps I could look back and smile when I think about college. Maybe I would have the life I imagined I would have. Maybe I would have long awaited independence. Perhaps I would feel a level of personal success at a young age. I'm tired of being a student. I want to eat , drink, fuck , laugh, dance and be with old friends. Is that TOO much to ask?

Speech pathology would have been a great field If If knew what I was getting myself into.
I decided against it because I am not competitive enough to get into graduate school ( necessary for the license needed to work). Anthropology would require a PH.D to pursue. Statistics would require about two years of foundation math classes. Pharmacy is the same thing, about two years of foundation science classes for a vague chance at going to pharmacy school. I am rethinking statistics.

The reality is that I may be in school alot longer in order to study something I enjoy. My goals are to find an affordable way to do that. I resent it, I am mad, but I am also okay with it IF I can be alittle more independent as well. I am trying to find ways to build on my skills ( start where you are strong) instead of starting over. So my advisor recommends accounting or finance. I question both....wish I had someone to explain my options to me.

But who knows,
Meranda Fallen