By: Nora Kish
(Insert obligatory statement about Dead Week never being "dead"). Finals are right around the corner, which means one thing: STUDYING. As important as studying is, it's just as important to remain cognizant of your habits while you study. It seems like everyone knows what they should do, but rarely do it. Below are some reminders and tips to be in as good of shape as possible while staying up for 12+ hours holed up in the library and going semi-blind from staring at a computer screen.
Get up and stretch! When I study and get in the zone, I'm not coming out for a while. For a while, I thought it was a good thing because it meant I was focused and being productive. Boy, was I wrong. There are multiple studies out there that show sitting for long periods of time can be extremely detrimental to your health. It's recommended to get up and move around for a few minutes per hour you spend sitting.
Snack healthily. That bottle of Mountain Dew can often be the perfect pick-me-up and that Snickers bar is great to munch on while reading. To add to the aforementioned, these snacks are also inexpensive and easy to handle. However, these quick-fixes are just that and are probably doing more harm than good. You should eat to nourish your body, not just fill it. Some healthy alternatives include almonds (or any nuts), apples and other fruits, and lots of water.
Get plenty of rest. This piece of advice is often the most repeated and overlooked. Getting enough sleep is vital to proper functioning because your body uses that time to repair itself and re-energize. You may think it's better to pull an all-nighter and study up until your exam, but it's not likely that you'll do well when you the questions are hard to read because your eyes are blurry from being so tired. Getting enough sleep helps you retain information better and think more clearly when test time comes.
Plan ahead. If you start reviewing material earlier, there's not as much need to cram. Studying the material before the exam should serve as a refresher, not the one night you try to teach yourself the entire course's content.
Showing posts with label Nora Kish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nora Kish. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Be $mart
By: Nora Kish
In many ways, college is a time of financial freedom for students. Of course there are student loans, rent and utilities to pay for, gas, and food, but there aren't any real "adult" responsibilities. By "adult" responsibilities, I mean that undergrads don't typically have mortgages, car payments, families to feed or doctor visits to pay for. However, this sense of financial freedom should be handled with care. Some students experience having some extra money from loans or apply for credit cards to start establishing credit. If financial matters aren't handled with responsibility in college, they can result in some ugly situations. Here are some tips I've come up with to be financially savvy based on my own experiences and observations.
If you get a credit card, only use it for very small purchases or emergencies
You'll build credit whether you spend $5 or $500 as long as you use the card and pay off your balance. Don't dig yourself in a hole right away by spending money that you don't technically have. It can be easy to lose track of your purchases with a credit card and have the mindset that you'll pay it off later. Try to use it only for very small purchases like lunch with a friend, or, ideally, for emergencies only. Pay off your balances right away to remain in good standing.
Use cash, not a card
Cards make it easy to lose track of purchases. What I said above with credit cards also applies to debit cards. Using cash instead of a card is a good way to actually see how much you're spending and how much you've got left. The visualization may also help deter you from unnecessary purchases.
Learn to cook
Eating out is often one of college students' biggest expenses. With so many great restaurants close by and little time or desire to cook, eating out seems like the best option. However, you'll save money and eat more healthily in the long run if you make food yourself. A slow cooker can be a college students' best friend. All you need to do is prepare the ingredients the night before, throw them in the cooker before you leave for class in the morning, and when dinnertime rolls around, your food will be ready. You can also make greater qquantities of food and eat leftovers so the effort you put into making the meal will stretch farther.
Live within your means
This can be a tricky one in college because there are so many things to do. When a friend asks you to go out to eat or go to the bars, it can be hard to say no, even though you may not be able to afford it. $5 here and $10 there may not seem much at the time as separate charges, but those small charges will add up quickly to a larger amount you may have initially prepared for. You know what you can and can't afford so avoid stretching your budget for frivolous things.
In many ways, college is a time of financial freedom for students. Of course there are student loans, rent and utilities to pay for, gas, and food, but there aren't any real "adult" responsibilities. By "adult" responsibilities, I mean that undergrads don't typically have mortgages, car payments, families to feed or doctor visits to pay for. However, this sense of financial freedom should be handled with care. Some students experience having some extra money from loans or apply for credit cards to start establishing credit. If financial matters aren't handled with responsibility in college, they can result in some ugly situations. Here are some tips I've come up with to be financially savvy based on my own experiences and observations.
If you get a credit card, only use it for very small purchases or emergencies
You'll build credit whether you spend $5 or $500 as long as you use the card and pay off your balance. Don't dig yourself in a hole right away by spending money that you don't technically have. It can be easy to lose track of your purchases with a credit card and have the mindset that you'll pay it off later. Try to use it only for very small purchases like lunch with a friend, or, ideally, for emergencies only. Pay off your balances right away to remain in good standing.
Use cash, not a card
Cards make it easy to lose track of purchases. What I said above with credit cards also applies to debit cards. Using cash instead of a card is a good way to actually see how much you're spending and how much you've got left. The visualization may also help deter you from unnecessary purchases.
Learn to cook
Eating out is often one of college students' biggest expenses. With so many great restaurants close by and little time or desire to cook, eating out seems like the best option. However, you'll save money and eat more healthily in the long run if you make food yourself. A slow cooker can be a college students' best friend. All you need to do is prepare the ingredients the night before, throw them in the cooker before you leave for class in the morning, and when dinnertime rolls around, your food will be ready. You can also make greater qquantities of food and eat leftovers so the effort you put into making the meal will stretch farther.
Live within your means
This can be a tricky one in college because there are so many things to do. When a friend asks you to go out to eat or go to the bars, it can be hard to say no, even though you may not be able to afford it. $5 here and $10 there may not seem much at the time as separate charges, but those small charges will add up quickly to a larger amount you may have initially prepared for. You know what you can and can't afford so avoid stretching your budget for frivolous things.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Four years in the blink of an eye
By: Nora Kish
At our team meeting last week, I was reminded that I have less than a month left in my internship with LACD. I also have less than a month here at Purdue. Having worked toward this time for the past 4 years, it's extremely surreal that it's almost here. It seems like just yesterday my best friend from high school (also my roommate for the past three years) was showing me around campus, helping me find the buildings my classes were in. Now I have less than a month left. Thinking about graduation makes me think back on my time here and how I'll miss it once I leave. Thankfully, I'll be leaving with no regrets.
I transferred here from Ball State after my freshman year. It was too far from home and I thought I wanted to be on a bigger campus. When I got here, I felt lost. All my friends from high school joined fraternities and sororities, something I had never been interested in doing, and I obviously didn't have the opportunity to meet anyone through living in the residence halls. I knew I had to do something to find my niche here. I took a huge step out of my comfort zone and went by myself to a callout meeting for The Exponent. I ended up joining as a reporter and eventually worked my way up to an editor position. That initial risk I took by going to the callout meeting gave me more confidence to take risks elsewhere. When I was done at that organization, I moved on to other things and, long story short, ended up with two other internships - LACD being one of them. I had more than enough to keep me busy, but I still made time to go out when I wanted and not just work through my entire college career. I'm proud of myself for finding a good balance of getting done what I needed to and making time for fun.
On May 12 after I walk across the stage, I'm sure I'll be experiencing some bittersweet feelings. It'll definitely be sad to leave the place I called home for the past 3 years - my father's alma mater, my alma mater, where I've met some of my best friends. It won't be difficult to leave because my time here was unfulfilling or lacking in any way; it'll be difficult to let go of such a huge part of my life and move on to something completely new and different. But, I did it 4 years ago when I left for college and I know, after my time here and everything I've accomplished, I can do it again.
One of my fellow interns commented that it will be weird to graduate and leave school and I told her she better make the most of her remaining time. After freshman year, each following year goes by faster than the last and sometimes it can be hard to understand how precious your time here really is. You have a four-year break before the real world starts, so do with it what you will, just make sure you do what you want.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Diamonds in the rough
By: Nora Kish
Somewhat recently, I was notified that I had the opportunity to possibly interview for a few positions. Exciting, right? Well, I didn't think so because I wasn't interested. I told my fiance about them on the phone and he said I should interview for them anyway. I asked why I would go through the interview process for jobs that I don't even want. His answer was simple: for the experience.
It never dawned on me that these lackluster offers (to me, at least) could end up serving me so well. It makes perfect sense, really - go through the interview process to make sure you're in tip-top shape for the interview for the job you really want. Now, I don't mean to say go into an interview with absolutely no intention of accepting an offer or working with that company in any capacity. Who knows, you might actually end up finding some things out about the company that really mesh with your goals or you may fall in love with the work environment they provide. Keeping an open mind is always a must.
Hindsight is always 20/20 and I may have judged the companies too soon without thinking too deeply into it. As a soon-to-be graduate, I'm kind of in that "beggars can't be choosers" category so it doesn't make sense, nor is it fair, for me to jump the gun on judgement. I'll look more deeply into the companies in question and go through the interview process and if I decide I don't like the offer, at least I'll have the interviewing experience. If I do like the offer, I might walk away with a new job. Either way, it'll be a win/win situation.
Somewhat recently, I was notified that I had the opportunity to possibly interview for a few positions. Exciting, right? Well, I didn't think so because I wasn't interested. I told my fiance about them on the phone and he said I should interview for them anyway. I asked why I would go through the interview process for jobs that I don't even want. His answer was simple: for the experience.
It never dawned on me that these lackluster offers (to me, at least) could end up serving me so well. It makes perfect sense, really - go through the interview process to make sure you're in tip-top shape for the interview for the job you really want. Now, I don't mean to say go into an interview with absolutely no intention of accepting an offer or working with that company in any capacity. Who knows, you might actually end up finding some things out about the company that really mesh with your goals or you may fall in love with the work environment they provide. Keeping an open mind is always a must.
Hindsight is always 20/20 and I may have judged the companies too soon without thinking too deeply into it. As a soon-to-be graduate, I'm kind of in that "beggars can't be choosers" category so it doesn't make sense, nor is it fair, for me to jump the gun on judgement. I'll look more deeply into the companies in question and go through the interview process and if I decide I don't like the offer, at least I'll have the interviewing experience. If I do like the offer, I might walk away with a new job. Either way, it'll be a win/win situation.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Beware of burning bridges
By: Nora Kish
The old saying goes that it's not what you know, but who you know. The director of LACD, Lisa Snodgrass, told us at our weekly intern meeting this morning that some percentage over 60 (I can't remember the exact number so I don't want to misquote her) of jobs acquired now are through networking and relationships. During Career Week at the etiquette dinner, Anthony Cawdron emphasized the importance of being polite to everyone you come into contact with - you never know who they might be or what kind of impact they can have on your life. I personally believe that you should treat others how you'd like to be treated and this holds especially true once you reach college.
Whether you're super involved with internships, clubs or jobs or not at all, during college you meet a lot of people along the way that can influence your professional future. If you don't get a letter of recommendation from a boss or a club advisor, you might seek one out from a professor. The issue there is - what are your relationships with these people like? Would you feel comfortable asking your former boss for a recommendation? Would you be confident they'd give you a stellar review? All the answers to these questions and more are completely in your control.
I held a position for some time that ended up no longer working out. I was not getting what I needed or wanted from the organization and could no longer give them what they wanted or needed from me so I made the decision to leave. In my haste, I certainly burned some bridges. Looking back, I know I couldn't have stayed the rest of the term for the sake of my sanity, but I wish I would have at least had a little more grace and composure when I decided to leave. Now, some of those relationships I once had are tarnished and I cannot get a recommendation that would positively reflect my time there.
I learned a very valuable lesson from that decision and its results - relationships mean more than you think. Some may be fleeting and some may be lasting, but they are all a part of your life and can play a bigger role than you may give them credit for. If you think you don't have to be courteous or even nice to someone because you think they won't play a role in your future, or you'll never see them again, or whatever the case may be, you are wrong. It is often those relationships that you think about that way that end up being valuable and worth nurturing. When it comes to developing your future, you should do what you can to provide yourself with as many options as possible. Be careful not to act in a way toward someone that will limit opportunity; make sure you're the kind of person that someone will want to provide with opportunity.
The old saying goes that it's not what you know, but who you know. The director of LACD, Lisa Snodgrass, told us at our weekly intern meeting this morning that some percentage over 60 (I can't remember the exact number so I don't want to misquote her) of jobs acquired now are through networking and relationships. During Career Week at the etiquette dinner, Anthony Cawdron emphasized the importance of being polite to everyone you come into contact with - you never know who they might be or what kind of impact they can have on your life. I personally believe that you should treat others how you'd like to be treated and this holds especially true once you reach college.
Whether you're super involved with internships, clubs or jobs or not at all, during college you meet a lot of people along the way that can influence your professional future. If you don't get a letter of recommendation from a boss or a club advisor, you might seek one out from a professor. The issue there is - what are your relationships with these people like? Would you feel comfortable asking your former boss for a recommendation? Would you be confident they'd give you a stellar review? All the answers to these questions and more are completely in your control.
I held a position for some time that ended up no longer working out. I was not getting what I needed or wanted from the organization and could no longer give them what they wanted or needed from me so I made the decision to leave. In my haste, I certainly burned some bridges. Looking back, I know I couldn't have stayed the rest of the term for the sake of my sanity, but I wish I would have at least had a little more grace and composure when I decided to leave. Now, some of those relationships I once had are tarnished and I cannot get a recommendation that would positively reflect my time there.
I learned a very valuable lesson from that decision and its results - relationships mean more than you think. Some may be fleeting and some may be lasting, but they are all a part of your life and can play a bigger role than you may give them credit for. If you think you don't have to be courteous or even nice to someone because you think they won't play a role in your future, or you'll never see them again, or whatever the case may be, you are wrong. It is often those relationships that you think about that way that end up being valuable and worth nurturing. When it comes to developing your future, you should do what you can to provide yourself with as many options as possible. Be careful not to act in a way toward someone that will limit opportunity; make sure you're the kind of person that someone will want to provide with opportunity.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Spare some change?
By: Nora Kish
Humans are creatures of habit. Most people are uncomfortable with changes in their routines or lives, whether they're big or small. Some people have a tremendous fear of the unknown and others welcome it and become excited by the thought of it. We should all try to strive for change in our lives, or at least welcome it. Change breeds innovation, uncovers new interests and passions, and opens up countless doors to countless opportunities.
Imagine your favorite restaurant. Think back to the first day you ate there. Now think about what you would be missing out on had you not tried that restaurant and stuck to restaurants you had been going to for forever before that. You would have never experienced what is now your favorite place to eat! This situation is applicable to all aspects of our lives - if we don't open ourselves up to change, we'll miss out. I'm not sure what's worse - missing out on great experiences, or never knowing what you missed out on.
In May, many of us - myself included - will experience one of the biggest changes in our lives so far: graduation. Instead of being afraid, be excited and embrace the new direction your life is about to go in! Change is life, and life happens whether you're ready for it or not so you might as well have a positive attitude about it and make the best out of what you're given. Life has too much to offer to be content with just staying in your comfort zone. Take advantage of what's out there and, if you don't go looking for change, at least welcome it with a smile when it finds you.
Humans are creatures of habit. Most people are uncomfortable with changes in their routines or lives, whether they're big or small. Some people have a tremendous fear of the unknown and others welcome it and become excited by the thought of it. We should all try to strive for change in our lives, or at least welcome it. Change breeds innovation, uncovers new interests and passions, and opens up countless doors to countless opportunities.
Imagine your favorite restaurant. Think back to the first day you ate there. Now think about what you would be missing out on had you not tried that restaurant and stuck to restaurants you had been going to for forever before that. You would have never experienced what is now your favorite place to eat! This situation is applicable to all aspects of our lives - if we don't open ourselves up to change, we'll miss out. I'm not sure what's worse - missing out on great experiences, or never knowing what you missed out on.
In May, many of us - myself included - will experience one of the biggest changes in our lives so far: graduation. Instead of being afraid, be excited and embrace the new direction your life is about to go in! Change is life, and life happens whether you're ready for it or not so you might as well have a positive attitude about it and make the best out of what you're given. Life has too much to offer to be content with just staying in your comfort zone. Take advantage of what's out there and, if you don't go looking for change, at least welcome it with a smile when it finds you.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Accomplished
There aren't many feelings out there like the feeling of accomplishment. For the past three months I, along with the other LACD interns, have been busting our behinds on this year's Career Week. It was exciting watching the progress we made - donations we acquired, speakers we confirmed and businesses that registered for the Career Exploration Fair. Now, after many hours logged, Career Week is right around the corner and it'll be "Go-Time" before we know it.
When I first accepted the offer to be project manager for Career Week, I was a little nervous that I was about to take on too much. I already had another internship and I was taking 18 credit hours. Nevertheless, I was up for the challenge. The past few months have definitely had days that tried me, but I came out on top every time. That feeling, the feeling of accomplishment, is so gratifying and the perfect pick-me-up after all the work.
There was a time where I felt like I could have or should have done more, but now I know I should be proud of what I did and embrace that accomplishment, not try to brush it off. Every accomplishment, big or small, is something to be aware and proud of. Now, 2 days away from Career Week, I hope that the people who attend and participate in our events appreciate the hard work that went into it and learn something from the events to help garner accomplishments for themselves.
When I first accepted the offer to be project manager for Career Week, I was a little nervous that I was about to take on too much. I already had another internship and I was taking 18 credit hours. Nevertheless, I was up for the challenge. The past few months have definitely had days that tried me, but I came out on top every time. That feeling, the feeling of accomplishment, is so gratifying and the perfect pick-me-up after all the work.
There was a time where I felt like I could have or should have done more, but now I know I should be proud of what I did and embrace that accomplishment, not try to brush it off. Every accomplishment, big or small, is something to be aware and proud of. Now, 2 days away from Career Week, I hope that the people who attend and participate in our events appreciate the hard work that went into it and learn something from the events to help garner accomplishments for themselves.
Monday, February 20, 2012
All About Trust
By: Nora Kish
I’m the kind of person that hates group projects. I hate having to rely on other people to do good enough jobs on their parts and how the summation of those parts will ultimately make up MY grade. I think it really just comes down to my inability to let go sometimes and trust people to do well.
I’m the kind of person that hates group projects. I hate having to rely on other people to do good enough jobs on their parts and how the summation of those parts will ultimately make up MY grade. I think it really just comes down to my inability to let go sometimes and trust people to do well.
The past few months I’ve been working as Project Manager
for the Liberal Arts Career Week. It’s safe to say that Career Week is
definitely one giant group project, much like any project in a work environment
is. Being dubbed “Project Manager” put me in a serious predicament – I HAD to
let go and learn to trust my fellow interns.
In the beginning, I tried to do everything myself; I
thought I could and I thought I wanted to. I soon discovered that neither of
those thoughts was true. Reality slapped me in the face and I realized that I
absolutely could not complete such a large project all on my own and that I
definitely did not want to try. My fellow interns were and still are an
invaluable resource and I knew I needed to tap into them.
Project managing Career Week has really taught me how to
delegate tasks and be more at ease with other people working on the same
project with me. I’ve held various leadership roles in the past, but none were
quite like the one I currently hold and none ever demanded the same level of
needing to delegate.
As our tireless efforts for Career Week start to come to
a close, I can reflect on what I’ve learned throughout the project. I learned
not only to let go of control, I learned to trust others’ abilities to perform
and to perform well. But, more importantly, I’ve learned to trust myself more.
Project managing Career Week has reaffirmed in me beliefs that had been beaten
down from a previous position I held: I am capable, I am competent, I am a hard
worker, and I can do a great work when I put my mind to it. Now, Career Week is less than two weeks away and seeing all of our hard work come to fruition lets me know that I put my trust in the right places.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
No More Drama
By: Nora Kish
Any setting, professional or personal, has the potential to bring drama into your life. Your involvement in that drama can have more influence than you realize; it can mold people’s perceptions of you and define your character. Whether it’s partaking in some seemingly harmless office gossip or being out with friends and getting chewed out by a crazy stranger, drama is always lurking.
Any setting, professional or personal, has the potential to bring drama into your life. Your involvement in that drama can have more influence than you realize; it can mold people’s perceptions of you and define your character. Whether it’s partaking in some seemingly harmless office gossip or being out with friends and getting chewed out by a crazy stranger, drama is always lurking.
In a professional setting, drama is the last thing you
want to be associated with. Not only does it negatively impact your work, it
impacts your work relationships too. Someone who’s always in the middle of
drama may be seen as untrustworthy and unpredictable, which are not desirable
professional traits. Be aware of your environment and understand that every
action has a consequence.
The best thing to do is to try to avoid drama at all
costs. This means taking preventative and proactive measures.
Don’t participate
- If someone tries to start something with you or tries to get you to gossip,
don’t involve yourself. If you avoid it in the beginning, you don’t have to
worry as much or at all about any fallout.
Communication is
irreversible – What is heard cannot be unheard so be careful what you say. Your
words and actions are a representation of yourself so make they reflect the
person you really are.
Don’t let it get
to you – It only stresses you out if you let it. Some people only want to
get a rise out of you – don’t give them that satisfaction!
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