It's Coming: Graduation '09

This conversation actually occurred between my family and I via e-mail.

MARIA:

It's time...

... to choose Commencement Weekend events before tickets run out.

Please visit the link describing various activities. Discuss and let me know.
(My votes are for the Senior Champagne Reception and the Riverboat Cruise.)

Hit me back yo.

STEVE:

Yeah good calls, mom wont like most of those (the ones you didn't pick).

The only other potential I can see is the: Celebration '09

Note: I'm setting my priorities based on the fact that I will be 21 for this event.

P.S - Did you read all the notes for the Riverboat Cruise?  You might not be able to get on.
"This event is not [metally] handicapped accessible."

DAD:

I vote the same as you.

MOM:

I agree!!! YO!!!

Addition to the Resume: I am multi-talented! Hire me!

Aaah the job search. Thank you, economy!

We've all read the statistics and seen the news reports. It's all I hear any more. Literally. Jess and I, while walked down Newbury for some coffee last Wednesday, were discussing our futures and the economy when literally two seconds after our first moment of silence two other women passed us talking about the economy's current suckage.

Granted, there are still jobs out there. I've read many posts and articles about this situation especially as it pertains to soon-to-be college grads and one piece of advice I keep hearing is, "don't use the bad news of the economy as an excuse to be passive in a job search."

I have found some very interesting calls for resumes. I saw on Jimmy Fallon that the job of fly keeper or some such thing exists... So I have hope.

Despite the destitute situation for those of us being kicked out of our cozy dorm lives, it is pretty exciting to picture myself in all the new cities and positions of jobs I've been applying to.

I will take this opportunity to expand my resume and suggest positions I would excel in, should a job in PR not arise.

1. Body Guard or Bouncer: I have taken several self defense classes including Shotokan Karate and Boxing. Additionally, I have two very aggressive brothers who challenge (and therefore improve) my skills. Wrestling is a passion of mine and I usually make people cry during games of Civil War. I pretend I'm La Femme Nikita frequently and am not one to shy away from a mosh pit during a good song. I have tricks by which to successfully subdue unruly delinquents.
   
2. Therapist: I have extensive experience in family relations and group therapy. I tend to be the go-to girl when problems arise. Dealing with passionate, Greek family members is tricky and complex but I have mastered the ways of a successful mediator.
3. Hostage Negotiator: For the same reasons as above. Additionally, my babysitting experiences often resembled terrorist negotiations. Threatening to take away gaming consoles and deprive children of pre-bedtime chocolate milk was necessary in some cases but I always won.
4. T-Shirt Vendor: It's always been my dream to tour the country/world listening to live music every day of my life.
5. Washboard player/percussionist-of-sorts: See above.

Let me know if you have any openings for any of the above. Or anything else! I'm open to suggestions and talented across many platforms and arenas.This is only the tip of the iceberg, people!

Networking for College Seniors

It has been a very productive week for week for Maria.

Saturday I went to a PRSSA conference, Innovation Through Leadership, and this evening I went to a COM networking event, which included a lesson on networking etiquette.

Free pens = 2
Sweet nametags = 2
Job offers (so far) = 0

HEY! It's only March.

Here were some of the takeaways from each event:

PR Advanced: Innovation Through Leadership

[From Mike Volpe, Vice President of Marketing at HubSpot]

• Leveraging inbound marketing tools changes tactics from interruption based to attraction based
• Create a large digital footprint so people can find you on a variety of platforms
• Measurement of PR is changing; it is easier to track the progress and success of campaigns
• The shift of focus from budget to creativity gives smaller clients a greater chance to be awarded accounts
  
• MARKET YOURSELF

[From Gary Sheffer, Executive Director of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs at General Electric]

• A good reputation is your license to do business
• Public relations must reset tactics and channels of communication to succeed
• News is now a river running past us instead of a train making stops; anyone can throw anything into the river
• Crisis communication and management are increasingly vital

• There are three ways to win in a post-crisis world

1. Social responsibility
2. Transparency and authenticity
3. Engaging communities personally and digitally
   

• The role of communicators

1. Help define a company, not just describe it
2. Develop channels for messaging AND networks
3. Shift perceptions
   

• Gary's Tips For Finding a Job

1. Start right now
2. Every experience is good
3. Do something. Show results.
4. Read the Economist. Then Gawker.
5. Careers are built, not made
   

• It is essential for PR professionals to be news junkies; you have to know what's going on in the world if you want to tell people how to present themselves in the world
• The most important thing you have is your integrity. Never compromise that. I mean never.

COM Networking at the Castle

[From Jodi Smith, founder of Mannersmith Consulting]

• Etiquette is culturally and situationally specific; since corporate cultural differences exist everywhere, there are etiquette guildelines, not rules.
• You have 5-7 seconds to make an impression on someone you're meeting for the first time
• People like to be right; If you make a bad impression, it takes about 14 positive encounters to change their perception.
• Networking, by definition, is strange and awkward. You are going to an event and engaging with a room full of strangers.
  
• Save elevator speeches for the elevator
• People like you better when they can talk to you.
• Asking about business opportunities before engaging in small talk is like asking a stranger to marry you without asking them on a date.
  
• Small talk leads to big talk.
• It is better to be over dressed than under dressed.
• Never go hungry
• Networking: You are a lion in the Serengeti. The others are wildabeast at the watering hole. Find the watering hole and attack.
  

In Conclusion:

The economy sucks. Almost no one is hiring.

BUT.

Market your inner lion, find the watering hole and make the kill! Market yourself. Go to networking events. Leave nothing but a bare carcass.

QUACK. QUACK. QUACK. QUACK.

There are two reasons why I have been and will continue to quack all week.

1. Our Broomball team, Gordon Bombay, had their first game last night.
2. I am going to the Bruins vs. Ducks game Thursday.
   

So we decided to organize a Broomball team for our last semester in college. It looks something like this (except Team Gordon Bombay looks less goofy and more fierce):


I most closely resemble Emilio Estevez, so naturally I am Captain of this team. You may have thought I was physical-activity-challenged, but I assure you I am a beast in the face of competition.


Here are some of our team strategies:

1. Growl
2. Scream
3. Push (but don't get a penalty)

We're still working on the logistics. But last night we were victorious. (Do I smell championships in the distance?) Our final score was 3-1 but I'll just call it 4-0 because Team GB scored all four goals.

Our team is amazing. All the guys are superstars who have at some point played hockey (or some aggressive alternative.) All the girls are vicious. Christina has some sweet dance moves when being goalie. Michelle took out a bag of frozen peas as soon as we got home. She landed on her knees three times. I hope she can walk today.

I just want to get back on the ice! After I graduate (in less than three months) I'll have to enroll in an aggressive yet relatively easy-on-the-bones (no breaks) activity. Suggestions welcomed.

Our next game is March 23. There is much to do until then.

1. Design and order team shirts
2. Memorize some motivational quotes from Mighty Ducks
3. Work on my growl
4. Find a photographer
   

Does anyone know a good place to order customized t-shirts???

Your mom's husky!

My Monday consisted of severe harassment from my boss, a Northeastern alum, convinced BU would lose the 2009 Beanpot. Every time I passed his office, I'd hear him yell, "CHOKE!" or "LOSE!" Our insults and curses went back and forth for about a week.

And then came the championship game.

I had ten minutes to change by the time I got home from work. Dinner was a 50 mL Newcastle. Tara and I speed-walked to the T to meet Sean and Mike. A mass of red drowned the land.

Game time.

We took our seats and prepared for battle.

We put the Northeastern starting line in their place.

Northeastern Sucks from Maria F on Vimeo.

We sat next to the BU band who pumped us up during the night. They played Shipping Up To Boston to rile up the crowd.

Shipping Up to Boston! from Maria F on Vimeo.

The game went by fast. One ref took a puck to the face. There were several penalties. But that didn't stop the Terriers from scoring three shorthanded goals. SO exciting! Of course all the Huskies left when they realized they didn't have a chance.

We stayed to sing, hug, laugh, cry and watch the banner fall. (go Dynamic Edition!)

The T ride home was fantastic, even though I was sandwiched between Tara, Sean and a stranger's armpit.

Singing on the T from Maria F on Vimeo.

On our way home we stopped at the Dugout, a bar on campus. It was full of red jerseys still cheering and singing. The hockey team eventually showed up in suits surrounded by their proud parents, siblings and a couple overdressed girls hoping to get lucky.

This is the most school spirit you will experience at BU. Singing in the Dugout on a Monday at 1 in the morning surrounded by the hockey team, Dean Elmore and your best friends.

Go Terriers!

(maybe next decade, Don...)

All hopped up on caffeine

I am dizzy.

Perhaps it's because I've consumed 1/2 bottle of Mountain Dew, 1/2 bottle of Coke and 1/2 giant bag of peanut M&Ms while accumulating bed sores from sitting on the couch since 10 AM writing my cultural anthropology final paper.

Aah, finals week. You slay me.

Let me tell you how Ali saved my life. One word.

EasyBib.com.

WOW! So glad this was kept a little secret until my last paper during my second to last semester ever!!! Sweet! Bibliographies would have been so much easier (and more accurate) if I had discovered this little beaut earlier. So it's my Christmas gift to those of you still crying over bibliographies.

Anywho.

Tomorrow is my first real actual final. So I figure this will come in handy. Although technically I have studied. But that's ok. If all else fails...

This is how I'm sure we're all feeling about finals '08:

Countdown to Freedom: Maria’s Checklist

12/9: Theories and Processes of Communication final paper presentation

12/11: Theories and Processes of Communication final paper due

12/12: Office party (woo)

12/13: Secret Santa with 426

12/15: Cultural Anthropology final paper due

12/16: Conflict Res and Negotiation presentation

12/16: Conflict Res and Negotiation final exam

12/18: Cultural Anthropology final exam

12/19: Theories and Processes of Communication final exam

12/20: FLY HOME

How COM Prom was saved... For the most part...

1. Purple Shoes. Thank you, Michael Kors. (I won't even tell you where I got them half-off. We're not on speaking terms.)

2. Jello. Michelle and I had a short photo shoot involving mass amounts of jello consumption.

3. Friends. When it comes down to it, the dress doesn't matter. It's the people you're with that make the night.

Senior Hard Hat Party

Friday was one of the longest days of my life.

After work, Ali and I went to the senior reception. We were very excited for the StuVi 2 Hard Hat event. The new dorms won't be finished before we graduate so it was a way of giving us a sneak peak, even though the interior is not finished.

We walked over, were given hard hats and joined a huge crowd of seniors, who were dancing, decorating their hats, drinking and eating. We got a beer and mingled with friends and people we hadn't seen since freshman year.

The event was a lot more fun than I expected. It was great to see everyone and it was a really relaxing but fun way to get seniors together. AND we got to keep the hard hats. Sweet.



When the Hard Hat Party ended, the BU band showed up outside and played some rally songs. That experience was unusual since traditional school spirit is almost non-existant outside the hockey games. It was fantastic! A string of drummers ushered everyone down the street to the basketball game. We followed the music and then peeled off to get ready for Com Prom.


BU Band from Maria F on Vimeo.