May 5, 2011, the day of my graduation. So many smiling faces to greet the soon-to-be-graduates. Everyone dressed in their black cap and gowns with sashes and other items to show their respective honor societies and distinguished awards. Everything was just great in everyones' world.
...almost everyone.
I couldn't help but feel that the music playing was like a death knell to my life as I knew it; the smiling faces, laughter, and outpour of joyous emotion could not slake my weary state. Deep down, I knew that this was the end of something great and the beginning of one of the longest, most hellish periods of my life.
Getting called up to go get my diploma and shake a few hands did nothing for me; I smiled throughout, but it was a fake smile, as were most of my smiles during that period. Walking onto that stage and getting that diploma was a 1-2 knockout to the life I knew and walking off of that stage was a deluge of cold water to bring me into the life that would follow.
I sat back down, wondering where to go from there. I had graduated a year early, my internship fell through, and I had no job prospects to which to look forward. On the opposite side of the scale, I had loads student through loans.
From that point on, I applied for jobs and internships everywhere. A few of "you're not what we are looking for", a couple of "the position has been filled", but mostly no responses whatsoever, as if to say "we don't have to tell you anything, so we won't".
Since that time, the number of applications I have sent is somewhere in the upper hundreds, maybe thousands.
Up to this day, I still haven't been able secure even a part-time job, let alone a full-time job using my degree. A couple internship interviews here and there, but nothing came of it; most of the internships I come across require college credit, and I can't seem to figure out how to get that, either.
This is a cautionary tale meant to deliver several warnings:
1) Go to a college you can afford; do not be fooled by the nice amenities they through in front of you. The surroundings may look nice, but the scenery will not get you a job.
2) Major in something useful and do your homework. Check how the job market is for what you wish to pursue and note the trends; avoid things that cannot be directly applied to a job. They may work as minors but avoid making them your major. My own personal advice is to avoid journalism; it is a dying field... trust me, I would know. Most of all...
3) Get an internship. Internships are entry-level jobs of years ago, whereas "entry-level" jobs today are not exactly entry-level anymore. Get an internship doing something; if you can get a prestigious internship, great. If not, learn to settle. Life is marathon, not a race.
If I can steer one person in the right direction to avoid the same hell I've gone through, I can feel somewhat at ease.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Round 2: The Candidates Come Out Swinging
After a less than stellar performance, various news reports stated that President Barack Obama would come out.
They were not wrong. His performance this time around was more aggressive and more passionate than the last debate.
However, that does not mean that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney was coy and passive.
Quite the contrary. Romney was fired-up throughout much of the debate, occasionally interrupting Obama as well as CNN reporter and debate moderator Candy Crowley.
The debate started as it did last time: very civil. Neither candidate looked like they were going to knock each other out, no one was trampling the moderator, and all was right with the debate world.
Then the bottom fell out and the gloves came off. Here's a little play-by-play:
1. (16th minute) The oil production issue: Romney get confrontational with Obama; he asks him a question about how many oil permits he cut. When Obama attempts to either answer the question or deviate slightly by putting it into context, Romney repeatedly asks his question while getting in Obama's face.
My take: aggression is good, but too much would probably turn off voters. You're fighting this guy for his job, but he's still POTUS. Romney should have backed off a little and shown a bit of respect.
2. (20th minute) The oil production issue: Mitt Romney is trying to state that since Obama answered the last question, he gets the next. He attempts to 'Jim Lehrer' the moderator. He succeeds. Obama chimes in with "It's ok, Candy. I'm used to being interrupted".
My take: again, Romney's enthusiasm is admirable, but if anything is to be learned from the first debate, it's this: do not try to run over the moderator. That can make come off completely arrogant and pompous and may turn voters away from you.
3. (34th minute) Tax deduction issue: Romney attempts to run over the moderator again. Obama attempts to chime in to make sure he gets his turn.
My take: see previous opinion.
4. (38th minute) Gender pay issue: the infamous "binder full of women" statement makes it's appearance. Fun fact: 10-20 minutes later, a Twitter account parodying Romney's binder became active (it appears to have disappeared since then).
My take: this isn't necessarily a moment involving confrontation, just an odd moment. Romney has a binder full of women? I'm sure a lot of men would like to know your secret... other than that, it's just an odd statement.
5. (the 48th minute) The G.W. Bush issue: former president George W. Bush was brought up during this issue. Each candidate contrasted their ideas with that of George W. Bush.
My take: Obama attempted to explain Romney's stance on policies and explained how Mitt Romney would be a return to the same or worse. Obama was a little confusing on this issue because it encompassed so many different issues. What mainly struck me was that Obama said good things of the previous president. Very few people, even republicans, say good things of George W. Bush. He's that part of history some would rather forget... what were we talking about? Exactly.
6. (the 52nd moment) The next four years: Obama was a little slow presenting how things will get better. He lagged a little in delivery, so much so that he ran over the moderator a bit. The potency in what he said was there, the conciseness was not.
My take: Obama should have wrapped his moment up more quickly to avoid running over the moderator.
7. (64th minute) The immigration issue: they attempted to speak over each other again, along with the moderator. In order to make a point about investments in China, Romney asks if Obama had looked at his pension. Obama answered "no, I haven't because it's not a big as yours.". The moderator then reminds both of them that they strayed off topic. They continue bickering as if she was not even there.
My take: it was a cute quip, but it won't have a huge effect on Obama's performance; however, it does remind us that he is human. Again, they ran over the moderator (I would not be a broken record if they were not being repeat offenders). They need to work on that for the next debate.
8. (73rd minute) Libya: Romney either attempts to point out or clarify whether Obama called the attack in Libya a terrorist attack. The moderator then chimes in to correct Romney and inform him that Obama did in fact refer to the attack as an act of terror.
My take: Romney stumbled here. He was focused too much on whether or not Obama called it an act of terror instead of focusing on the slow gain of information regarding the event. This was a moment he could have capitalized more on. However, I saw it coming when Obama didn't interrupt Romney and basically told him to "please proceed, governor.". This was a dead-giveaway that Romney was digging a bit of a hole... well that and the fact that after the governor was corrected the audience started cheering. I found it very odd that the moderator had to correct Romney, but I suppose the media would have done that the next day.
9. (83rd minute) Gun rights: Obama runs slightly over the moderator again attempting to tie a few different societal factors in with gun rights.
My take: Do I really need to say it?
10. (The final 4 minutes) Closing statements: Mitt Romney explains he is for 100 percent of the people. Obama finally brings up the infamous 47 percent comment.
My take: Obama wisely brought up the comment that Mitt Romney made during a fundraiser. This was something that may help. However, it would probably have helped considerably more if he had mentioned it during the first debate.
During the next debate, one would hope they not try to run over each other or the moderator. If all else fails, either give them boxing gloves or cut their microphones when they don't stop talking. It's efficient and it's only logical.
They were not wrong. His performance this time around was more aggressive and more passionate than the last debate.
However, that does not mean that Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney was coy and passive.
Quite the contrary. Romney was fired-up throughout much of the debate, occasionally interrupting Obama as well as CNN reporter and debate moderator Candy Crowley.
The debate started as it did last time: very civil. Neither candidate looked like they were going to knock each other out, no one was trampling the moderator, and all was right with the debate world.
Then the bottom fell out and the gloves came off. Here's a little play-by-play:
1. (16th minute) The oil production issue: Romney get confrontational with Obama; he asks him a question about how many oil permits he cut. When Obama attempts to either answer the question or deviate slightly by putting it into context, Romney repeatedly asks his question while getting in Obama's face.
My take: aggression is good, but too much would probably turn off voters. You're fighting this guy for his job, but he's still POTUS. Romney should have backed off a little and shown a bit of respect.
2. (20th minute) The oil production issue: Mitt Romney is trying to state that since Obama answered the last question, he gets the next. He attempts to 'Jim Lehrer' the moderator. He succeeds. Obama chimes in with "It's ok, Candy. I'm used to being interrupted".
My take: again, Romney's enthusiasm is admirable, but if anything is to be learned from the first debate, it's this: do not try to run over the moderator. That can make come off completely arrogant and pompous and may turn voters away from you.
3. (34th minute) Tax deduction issue: Romney attempts to run over the moderator again. Obama attempts to chime in to make sure he gets his turn.
My take: see previous opinion.
4. (38th minute) Gender pay issue: the infamous "binder full of women" statement makes it's appearance. Fun fact: 10-20 minutes later, a Twitter account parodying Romney's binder became active (it appears to have disappeared since then).
My take: this isn't necessarily a moment involving confrontation, just an odd moment. Romney has a binder full of women? I'm sure a lot of men would like to know your secret... other than that, it's just an odd statement.
5. (the 48th minute) The G.W. Bush issue: former president George W. Bush was brought up during this issue. Each candidate contrasted their ideas with that of George W. Bush.
My take: Obama attempted to explain Romney's stance on policies and explained how Mitt Romney would be a return to the same or worse. Obama was a little confusing on this issue because it encompassed so many different issues. What mainly struck me was that Obama said good things of the previous president. Very few people, even republicans, say good things of George W. Bush. He's that part of history some would rather forget... what were we talking about? Exactly.
6. (the 52nd moment) The next four years: Obama was a little slow presenting how things will get better. He lagged a little in delivery, so much so that he ran over the moderator a bit. The potency in what he said was there, the conciseness was not.
My take: Obama should have wrapped his moment up more quickly to avoid running over the moderator.
7. (64th minute) The immigration issue: they attempted to speak over each other again, along with the moderator. In order to make a point about investments in China, Romney asks if Obama had looked at his pension. Obama answered "no, I haven't because it's not a big as yours.". The moderator then reminds both of them that they strayed off topic. They continue bickering as if she was not even there.
My take: it was a cute quip, but it won't have a huge effect on Obama's performance; however, it does remind us that he is human. Again, they ran over the moderator (I would not be a broken record if they were not being repeat offenders). They need to work on that for the next debate.
8. (73rd minute) Libya: Romney either attempts to point out or clarify whether Obama called the attack in Libya a terrorist attack. The moderator then chimes in to correct Romney and inform him that Obama did in fact refer to the attack as an act of terror.
My take: Romney stumbled here. He was focused too much on whether or not Obama called it an act of terror instead of focusing on the slow gain of information regarding the event. This was a moment he could have capitalized more on. However, I saw it coming when Obama didn't interrupt Romney and basically told him to "please proceed, governor.". This was a dead-giveaway that Romney was digging a bit of a hole... well that and the fact that after the governor was corrected the audience started cheering. I found it very odd that the moderator had to correct Romney, but I suppose the media would have done that the next day.
9. (83rd minute) Gun rights: Obama runs slightly over the moderator again attempting to tie a few different societal factors in with gun rights.
My take: Do I really need to say it?
10. (The final 4 minutes) Closing statements: Mitt Romney explains he is for 100 percent of the people. Obama finally brings up the infamous 47 percent comment.
My take: Obama wisely brought up the comment that Mitt Romney made during a fundraiser. This was something that may help. However, it would probably have helped considerably more if he had mentioned it during the first debate.
During the next debate, one would hope they not try to run over each other or the moderator. If all else fails, either give them boxing gloves or cut their microphones when they don't stop talking. It's efficient and it's only logical.
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