A year ago...

I was graduating from college.

I was stressed because I was so afraid I would not find a job. I would call my mother everyday stressed about it. {My apologies Mom.} She would always tell me that it would work out-- she was right. {Yep- moms are always right.}

A year later...

I went from being an un-paid intern, to event/sales assistant to an event manager.

Crazy to see how much can change in just 1 year!

I Pledge...

Maybe this has been out for awhile and I am just slow... but I saw it for the first time this morning on KSL, and really liked it. It made me start to think about what I want to pledge and how I want to contribute to change.

The reason this was on KSL was because it was shown in an Elementary school to go along with the theme of service... parents freaked out and felt that it was Government Propaganda. As my cousin and uncle say, "calm down"... yes there is one line that could probably have been phrased differently, and no not everyone is going to want to pledge or change the same thing... but honestly if that is what you are focused on then I think that you may have missed the point. It just made me kind of sad that that is what people were choosing to get worked up over.

No matter what political party you support; its something to think about, because don't we all believe in change?

My Self Portrait

For my photography class we were given the assignment to take a self-portrait. My teacher asked the class who enjoyed this assignment- only 1 person. I really do not mind taking pictures of myself- apparently this is not the norm. Of course- I am the girl who has been posing for the camera since I was 2. We had to write a paragraph or two explaining the meaning behind our self-portrait.

Here was mine:

I am graduating in exactly 29 days. (Now 10 days) I have been looking forward to this day forever. I am excited to see what the future brings my way. While I am looking forward to graduating and am excited for the future, I am also really scared. I try not to admit to being scared, but it’s hard to always be optimistic and peppy about the future! I have my future mapped out, and on the outside most people think I have my life put together, and for the most part I do, but some days I want to turn back time.

I want to turn back time and sit with my teddy bear and be completely worry free. Since that is impossible, I have to move forward; I will trade in my jeans and hoodies for pencil skirts and high heels. My polka-dotted backpack will be replaced with a briefcase, and I will close the door to my childhood and walk forward down a brand new path.

This self-portrait is representative of me closing the door to the past and walking towards new opportunities. I am still worried about the future, but I am moving forward. The teddy bear represents my past and the brief case represents my growing up.

"Well Gouda's My Favorite"

Can you name that movie?

(She's The Man)

For my Strategic Management class we were supposed to read the book, Who Moved My Cheese. I remember hearing a lot about it a few years ago, but I never read it. Well, I read it this morning online- saving 70 prints and avoiding having to read it in the Business Building Office. It was really funny. I kind of felt like a little child reading a book about mice and little people!

It is all about change and how we deal with it or do not deal with it. Change seems to be the word of the year. I took a few notes on a few of my favorite parts...

"What would you do if you weren't afraid?"

(Good question to ask yourself)

"Take control rather than simply letting things happen to you."

"When you move beyond your fear, you feel free."

(This is true)

"What you are afraid of is never as bad as what you imagine."

(I have had a bad habit of imagining bad scenarios in my head- I tell myself it helps me prepare for what could happen but in reality its better to imagine the best outcome!)

"Laugh at your own folly- then you can let go and quickly move on."

(One thing I am working on is learning to laugh- I loved Elder Wirthlins talk Come What May, and Love It.)

"Do not over analyze or over complicate things"

(I have been known to do both of these things- but I am getting better!)

AND...

"Envision yourself in realistic detail of finding something BETTER."

Yes. Yes. Yes.

The quotes I chose do not really have a lot to do with change, but I still really like them. I try every day to work on being positive, and I honestly believe that when I do this and really try my day is soo much better.

I will STRETCH to always and try to be positive and when things do change or do not go the way I originally planned, I will not stop & freak out- I will take control and move on.

Quote of the Day

"Most of us fear change. Even when our minds say change is
normal, our stomachs quiver at the prospect. But for strategists and managers
today, there is no choice but to change."

- Robert Waterman Jr.

I found this quote in my Strategic Management book, and especially liked the first and last parts of the quote. I think its very fitting, especially for today!

History.

This was the first election I was able to vote in, and it was one of the most talked about, anticipated elections ever! It has been interesting to watch the entire elections process. I am glad that I was taught to have an opinion and to voice my opinion. One of my biggest pet peeves (next to people leaving their dirty dishes sitting in the sink for days) is people who say that they do not care about politics, or what is going on in the world, and this is my favorite, "it does not affect me". Aghh!!! Are you kidding me?! I guess if that is your opinion- you better not complain for the next four years! Since I tend not to be a very outspoken or opinionated person (in most situations), voting is my way to voice my opinion. I am glad that I was able to vote and I can say that I helped participate in this historical election.

I live in an extremely conservative state, and am from a very liberal state, so it is interesting to listen to peoples responses to the outcome of the election. I think people are beginning to accept the outcome and are figuring out that even if they don't like it, they will support it. I look forward to the next 4 years!