5 things to do more of in 2014

1. Read

I miss it. I joined a book club at work and am looking forward to reading some books I probably wouldn't choose for myself.

2. Bake 

I have so many recipes and yummy things pinned on Pinterest. I really should start doing something with those.

3. Learn 

There is so much I still want to learn. At the top of my list is getting a better grasp at website coding and design.

4. Exercise

Pretty self explanatory. I usually avoid this but I want to find some type of exercise I enjoy.

5. Live and love.

I'm determined to make 2014 the best year yet!

Weekend of Inspiration

This weekend I attended a PR conference. And it was fantastic!

Professionals from across the country were there to talk to us about the different areas of PR and to offer advice.

There seemed to be a continual message that nearly every presenter stressed. They told us not to be afraid to fail and that school is the place to do so: take risks.

Social media was also a big part of the conference. Presentations encouraged live tweeting, not that we weren't doing that anyways. I realized that social media really is a critical part of the future so I need to know how use different platforms and stay caught up with current trends. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, Google+, YouTube, just to name a few.

Experience is a big deal in the PR world. And I realized that I need more of it. So starting now, I am determined to become more involved and gain that experience that is so crucial.

It was interesting to hear from a couple different people that the days of searching 'help wanted' ads are over. We shouldn't send out resumes to a long list of potential employers. Instead, we should need to target a few companies that are particularly interesting and try to develop a connection through persistent contact. Be "ruthless."

Being able to know how to write in 140 characters or less is a necessary skill. Attention spans are getting shorter and people are going to be less willing to read entire press releases or lengthy articles. Instead, shorten the message into something that would easily fit into a tweet.

I am currently learning how to code websites which I think will be an added skill that will set me apart from other people in my field. I was talking to one of the girls from NY and she said that females are usually only do PR and guys do the tech stuff. But if I know how to do both PR and the tech side of it, I will just be that much more marketable to future employers.

I was truly inspired to reach for the stars and chase my dreams. There is so much I want to do with my life.

After this weekend, I am 110% sure that I am in the right major. I belong here. This is what I am meant to do.

Procrastination... In Progress

Procrastination.

One of my worst habits and biggest flaws.

Even as as I write this I am procrastinating. But not as bad as usual. I finished studying for my exam in my next class and didn't bring anything else to the computer lab. So I have a half hour to kill and what better way than to write this.

Last night I had this assignment. A beast of an assignment. For a class that I loathe. Communication research. The teacher is extremely vague and only explains things one way. With boxes and arrows. How much sense can you make from boxes and arrows? It is a confusing class that really has no purpose. I will be doing the writing in my job and if need research done, I will go to the research person because that is their job. Almost everyone I have talked to are just as confused as I am.

So for this assignment I had to look at two different articles and identify specific parts of research. And then diagram it using the teachers box and arrow method that makes absolutely no sense. So I finished that part and then I had to write an op-ed piece. I have little experience writing one of the those. So mine is crap. Last semester in my newswriting class, we were constantly told to avoid number because it confuses readers. So I have always avoided numbers in my writing but for this assignment we had to "use numbers in a convincing way". How do you do that? We haven't been taught anything about how to write with numbers. Classes consist of boxes and arrows. Boxes and arrows.

Well, that got totally off topic. From procrastination to a rant about a class. Let's get back to my original point.

Last semester I had a planner that I wrote all my assignments down in. But this semester I have very few assignments and A TON of reading. So it's kind of useless to just writing "reading" down for everyday. I know I have reading to do. So the planner is ineffective this semester, for the most part. And the reading is boring and textbooks are never fun to read. So it's very easy to put off.

But it's piling up.

Okay, maybe not that much. More like this.

But that's still a lot...

This weekend is going to be one of those 'catch-up-on-life-or-die' weekends.

Wish me luck.

xoxo

Samantha

Halfway!

It hit me yesterday. I am halfway through college! I have successfully completed three semesters and that means I only have three more to go! It's like I can almost see a light at the end of the tunnel. A future that doesn't consist of fighting over the shower with roommates. Or regular dinners of pasta just because it is quick. Or freezing my butt off in Logan. The end is coming. And then I will be a college graduate!

But looking back, I can't believe how fast time has gone. I mean, living in the dorms seems like it was forever ago. But it really was only a year. Looking back on the classes I have taken I am impressed with what I was able to do and accomplish.

I can do hard things.

Like that geography class I took my very first semester. That was the worst grade I have ever gotten. In fact, that was my very first B. And honestly, I was devastated. But I survived the class and I can proudly say that my grades have improved every semester.

This semester is going to be intense. All of my classes have heavy reading assignments. Like tons of and tons of pages. But I'm still have that happy and excited attitude that I seem to start every semester with.

Intro to Public Relations - T/TR 10:30
Ethics in Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology - T/TR 1:30
Communication Research - T/TR 3:00
Sociology of Work - T/TR 4:30
Art Symposium - Online
Total Credits = 14

I am pretty excited about most of my classes this semester. I am taking a lighter load than I usually do but that's okay. And I'm sure I will still be very, very busy. I am still working 20 hours a week. So rarely do I have spare time. That is becoming a foreign concept to me. My education is a big and complete mess. I can't take this class because I don't have this prerequisite. And I can't take this class because I don't have enough credits. And blah blah blah. So I was kind of stuck for classes so I filled it with some electives because I need a few more upper division credits. So why not take them now and get them out of the way? Exactly.

College.

xoxo

samantha

11.19.10 - Day 1

So me and my roommates are taking on a challenge. a challenge to be healthy. there are various things on the list, such as no sweets, exercise 45 min everyday, no eating after 8 pm, read scriptures everyday, no soda, and more. Today was the first day and we are going to do this for 1 week. the hardest part for me today was to not eat after 8. we got back from the gym around 10 and working out made us all hungry, but we avoided the food. I am determined to do this challenge, and we went grocery shopping today for healthy snacks :)

life is getting really stressful. first final is on friday!!! ah! i don't know if i am ready or not... time to study study study study! on top of all that, i am working two jobs, which are getting in the way of the study/review sessions. im not sure when i will have time to study... i will have to make time.

Thanksgiving was good this year :) it was nice to see my familiy and have a break from school and work. (although that break is making it hard to get back to focusing on school). i just keep telling myself that there is only 2 weeks of classes left. anyways, the break was a lot of fun. i got to hang out with one of my best friends a couple times and one of the nights we went to our friends house and watched what not to wear. we found some really funny episodes! i cant wait for this friend to come back for christmas and we can all watch that show together! ;)