English 304 has been one of the most useful and rewarding classes during my educational career. The material taught is easy to understand and applicable to your career goals. I learned so much about the job application process as well as useful business writing skills for employment.
In addition to the professional skills gained from the class, the client project was an amazing experience. This class presents a unique opportunity to develop and use skills in order to help a client. I strongly recommend putting in the time necessary to do a great job on this project because it is ultimately very rewarding. This semester we designed a Web site for the American Haitian Foundation which ended up really well.
As long as you do the work required, this class is fairly easy but incredibly informative. You can really develop skills to use in the business world and are given several unique opportunities such as the client project in which to use them. Make sure you keep on top of your work load and you should not have any problems in the class.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Monday, December 3, 2007
Cake Cookies
One of my favorite hobbies is baking cookies, especially when I'm stressed. Since this semester has been pretty crazy, this means my apartment is almost always filled with some form of cookies. I recently got a great recipe from a friend for cookies made from any store bought cake mix. These cookies taste amazing and are also visually appealing. Since Christmas is just a few weeks away, I recommend making cake cookies appropriate to the occasion.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook time: approximately 10 minutes
Ingredients: 1 box store bought cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 measuring cup of vegetable oil
approximately 1/2 container of cream cheese frosting
Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Mix cake mix, eggs and 1/3 (measuring)cup vegetable oil
3. Roll dough into ping-pong sized balls and flatten slightly
4. Cook for approximately 10 minutes (varies depending on the oven, check first batch at time minutes - they are done when no longer gooey in the center)
5. Ice while still hot with Cream Cheese Icing
After the cookies cool, you will have a beautiful red cookie with white icing, perfect for any Christmas party.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook time: approximately 10 minutes
Ingredients: 1 box store bought cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 measuring cup of vegetable oil
approximately 1/2 container of cream cheese frosting
Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Mix cake mix, eggs and 1/3 (measuring)cup vegetable oil
3. Roll dough into ping-pong sized balls and flatten slightly
4. Cook for approximately 10 minutes (varies depending on the oven, check first batch at time minutes - they are done when no longer gooey in the center)
5. Ice while still hot with Cream Cheese Icing
After the cookies cool, you will have a beautiful red cookie with white icing, perfect for any Christmas party.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Reflection on "Employers Study Applicants' Personalities
I found this article very interesting. The possibility of personality screening as part of an interview had never occurred to me. However, I think it's a great idea. During my educational career I have been involved in a lot of student organizations. The organizations and project which are most successful and enjoyable have all been ones in which the team I was working with had compatible personalities. I imagine that the same principle holds true for employment. Therefore, while daunting I believe a job interview which includes a personality and computability evaluation will result in the best fit for both the company and employees. The company will be more efficient and successful and the employees and employers will all enjoy their jobs more.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Dual Coding Examples
While there are numerous advertisements which utilize dual coding, there have been a few marketing campaigns which for me have been the most memorable.
One of my favorite series of ads are the Chick-fil-a ads. The combination of cows with the misspelled signs reading "eat mor chikin" serve to call attention to the verbal message eat more chicken with a visual of misspelled words and cows.
Some other ad campaigns memorable because of dual coding are the "beef, it's what's for dinner" campaign and the "got milk" campaign. Both of these campaigns use visuals in combination with verbal slogans to emphasize their points, and therefore, make their ads more memorable.
Overall, dual coding can be very useful because visuals or verbal cues alone may not be enough to embed the advertised product in the memory, but the combination is much more effective.
One of my favorite series of ads are the Chick-fil-a ads. The combination of cows with the misspelled signs reading "eat mor chikin" serve to call attention to the verbal message eat more chicken with a visual of misspelled words and cows.
Some other ad campaigns memorable because of dual coding are the "beef, it's what's for dinner" campaign and the "got milk" campaign. Both of these campaigns use visuals in combination with verbal slogans to emphasize their points, and therefore, make their ads more memorable.
Overall, dual coding can be very useful because visuals or verbal cues alone may not be enough to embed the advertised product in the memory, but the combination is much more effective.
Friday, November 2, 2007
My Amazing Group: Tigers for Haiti
I really enjoyed working with my group in completing the proposal for the client. We never had any major problems or conflicts.
One of the best qualities of my group was their reliability. We were able to meet on a regular basis to discuss progress on the project. This organization allowed us to space the project evenly over the time frame, and I think it ultimately resulted in a better finished product.
Every member of the group always contributed and completed their assigned tasks. Overall, I was incredibly happy with our final proposal. I think the combination of talent and effort from our team created a great balance and great proposal.
One of the best qualities of my group was their reliability. We were able to meet on a regular basis to discuss progress on the project. This organization allowed us to space the project evenly over the time frame, and I think it ultimately resulted in a better finished product.
Every member of the group always contributed and completed their assigned tasks. Overall, I was incredibly happy with our final proposal. I think the combination of talent and effort from our team created a great balance and great proposal.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
the ONE Campaign
The ONE Campaign is an amazing initiative which seeks to eradicate poverty by raising awareness. This organization has already seen a huge amount of growth and had a significant influence on U.S. foreign policy and aid. For those of you not already familiar with ONE, I encourage you to go to www.one.org and sign the ONE Declaration or just learn about international issues.
Clemson University actually has a substantial ONE presence. The Clemson ONE Campaign along with other student groups and leaders successfully lobbied President Barker to make Clemson the first ONE University in the nation. The town of Clemson is also a ONE town. Besides learning about ONE and becoming involved with the Clemson ONE Campaign you can also help support ONE and the goal of eliminating extreme poverty by helping with or buying items at the Ten Thousand Villages Fair and the ONE Art show. All money raised from these events will go towards the goal of fighting poverty.
Clemson University actually has a substantial ONE presence. The Clemson ONE Campaign along with other student groups and leaders successfully lobbied President Barker to make Clemson the first ONE University in the nation. The town of Clemson is also a ONE town. Besides learning about ONE and becoming involved with the Clemson ONE Campaign you can also help support ONE and the goal of eliminating extreme poverty by helping with or buying items at the Ten Thousand Villages Fair and the ONE Art show. All money raised from these events will go towards the goal of fighting poverty.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Interview Reflection
Professor Rogers conducted a Mock Interview with me regarding an internship position for The Fund for Peace on Wednesday October 10, 2007. I found the interview very helpful and informative because I had previously never interviewed for an internship.
The interview provided a wonderful opportunity to practice answering both questions about my previous experience and personal characteristics but also about job specific questions. Through the interview I learned the importance of research about the organization to which I am applying. I also learned that I need to be able to fully articulate my interest not only in the organization but also in its specific projects.
The interview provided a wonderful opportunity to practice answering both questions about my previous experience and personal characteristics but also about job specific questions. Through the interview I learned the importance of research about the organization to which I am applying. I also learned that I need to be able to fully articulate my interest not only in the organization but also in its specific projects.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Chattanooga, TN
I'm originally from Signal Mountain, TN, which is essentially a suburb of Chattanooga. A lot of people travel through Chattanooga on their way to other destinations, but I encourage everyone to stop and stay for a few days. Here are some of my favorite places to go and eat:
Tennessee Aquarium - a two building complex featuring both freshwater and saltwater exhibits. Some of my favorite exhibits feature Jellyfish, the Butterfly Garden, Seahorses, Sting Rays (which you can pet), and River Otters. The aquarium is really well done and can be enjoyed by both adults and kids (as well as adults who think they're kids). There are also several fountains and water features outside the aquarium which are a lot of fun, especially on a hot summer day.
Creative Discovery Museum - A children's museum which features several exhibits including a dinosaur dig, an art area, musical exploration, and waterworks. Definitely a must see for visitors with children.
Coolidge Park and the North Shore - Coolidge Park features a carousel composed of figures carved by various people and organizations in Chattanooga (so you end up with some really unique options, including frogs, fish, and cats). The park also has a bunch of great walking paths next to the river, a rock climbing wall, a pavilion, and a huge fountain (my favorite part) surrounded by different animals which shoot water.
The North Shore, located next to Coolidge Park, features several great restaurants and unique shopping, along with sidewalks featuring the steps to various dances. The North Shore and Coolidge have access to Walnut Street Bridge, a pedestrian bridge, across the Tennessee River from which downtown Chattanooga can be accessed.
The Hunter Art Museum and the Bluff View Art District - the other side of Walnut Street Bridge connects to an area from which several other attractions can be accessed. If one head downhill, you can get to the Tennessee Aquarium; travel uphill reaches the Hunter Art Museum and Bluff View Art District. The art district features two restaurants, a great coffeehouse/chocolate/pastry shop, an art gallery, an inn, and a sculpture garden.
All of the above attractions are located in the city of Chattanooga, but the surrounding area also has a large variety of attractions. Lookout Mountain features Rock City, the Incline Railway, and Ruby Falls (if you're limited on time, I suggest hitting Rock City, especially at Christmas time) as well as a civil war battlefield. Signal Mountain has some great hiking, including part of the Cumberland Trail. My favorite hike is one to Rainbow Lake (it's a pretty easy hike and is great for swimming and a picnic). I also love to go to the Bread Basket, a great Bakery, and the Apple Orchard, which sells apples and amazing cider from September to Christmas. My parents have specific instructions to bring me cider whenever they visit Clemson in the fall.
Chattanooga has many great restaurants as well. My favorites include:
Sweet Basil - a great Thai restaurant with wonderful food and amazing people
Terra Nostra - a Spanish tapas and wine bar, featuring gourmet small plates of food
Big River Grille and Brewing Works - casual atmosphere and good food
Hiroshi's - my favorite sushi restaurant in town
Pisa Pizza - make your own pizza, you select the ingredients, sauce, and crust
Mud Pie - very eclectic, a fun place to go with a group of friends
Tony's Pasta Shop and Trattoria - located in the Bluff View Art District amazing Italian food, featuring pasta and bread made in the district
River Street Deli - great and unique sandwiches
Tennessee Aquarium - a two building complex featuring both freshwater and saltwater exhibits. Some of my favorite exhibits feature Jellyfish, the Butterfly Garden, Seahorses, Sting Rays (which you can pet), and River Otters. The aquarium is really well done and can be enjoyed by both adults and kids (as well as adults who think they're kids). There are also several fountains and water features outside the aquarium which are a lot of fun, especially on a hot summer day.
Creative Discovery Museum - A children's museum which features several exhibits including a dinosaur dig, an art area, musical exploration, and waterworks. Definitely a must see for visitors with children.
Coolidge Park and the North Shore - Coolidge Park features a carousel composed of figures carved by various people and organizations in Chattanooga (so you end up with some really unique options, including frogs, fish, and cats). The park also has a bunch of great walking paths next to the river, a rock climbing wall, a pavilion, and a huge fountain (my favorite part) surrounded by different animals which shoot water.
The North Shore, located next to Coolidge Park, features several great restaurants and unique shopping, along with sidewalks featuring the steps to various dances. The North Shore and Coolidge have access to Walnut Street Bridge, a pedestrian bridge, across the Tennessee River from which downtown Chattanooga can be accessed.
The Hunter Art Museum and the Bluff View Art District - the other side of Walnut Street Bridge connects to an area from which several other attractions can be accessed. If one head downhill, you can get to the Tennessee Aquarium; travel uphill reaches the Hunter Art Museum and Bluff View Art District. The art district features two restaurants, a great coffeehouse/chocolate/pastry shop, an art gallery, an inn, and a sculpture garden.
All of the above attractions are located in the city of Chattanooga, but the surrounding area also has a large variety of attractions. Lookout Mountain features Rock City, the Incline Railway, and Ruby Falls (if you're limited on time, I suggest hitting Rock City, especially at Christmas time) as well as a civil war battlefield. Signal Mountain has some great hiking, including part of the Cumberland Trail. My favorite hike is one to Rainbow Lake (it's a pretty easy hike and is great for swimming and a picnic). I also love to go to the Bread Basket, a great Bakery, and the Apple Orchard, which sells apples and amazing cider from September to Christmas. My parents have specific instructions to bring me cider whenever they visit Clemson in the fall.
Chattanooga has many great restaurants as well. My favorites include:
Sweet Basil - a great Thai restaurant with wonderful food and amazing people
Terra Nostra - a Spanish tapas and wine bar, featuring gourmet small plates of food
Big River Grille and Brewing Works - casual atmosphere and good food
Hiroshi's - my favorite sushi restaurant in town
Pisa Pizza - make your own pizza, you select the ingredients, sauce, and crust
Mud Pie - very eclectic, a fun place to go with a group of friends
Tony's Pasta Shop and Trattoria - located in the Bluff View Art District amazing Italian food, featuring pasta and bread made in the district
River Street Deli - great and unique sandwiches
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Resume Article Lessons
A lot of the featured articles offered general advice on resume writing. However, "Video Resumes are Taking Off" and "Finding the Right Keywords to Get Your Resume Noticed" were both especially useful articles.
I had never thought about submitting a video resume before, but the article made several useful suggestions about using this form of resume to get an interview. Some of the jobs I plan to apply for are particularly competitive and being able to demonstrate a creative presentation of my skills might give me an advantage.
I also found the article about keywords very useful. Many articles and advice on writing resumes instruct the reader to use good keywords without actually explaining what these are. The advice I found most useful was to use keywords found in the job description or in the materials of other companies within the field.
I had never thought about submitting a video resume before, but the article made several useful suggestions about using this form of resume to get an interview. Some of the jobs I plan to apply for are particularly competitive and being able to demonstrate a creative presentation of my skills might give me an advantage.
I also found the article about keywords very useful. Many articles and advice on writing resumes instruct the reader to use good keywords without actually explaining what these are. The advice I found most useful was to use keywords found in the job description or in the materials of other companies within the field.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Interview Article Lessons
For this week I read several of the articles from CareerJournal. Some of the articles which I found most interesting included "Four Tips for Acing Interviews by Phone," "Body-Language Tactics that Sway Interviewers," and "How to Blow a Job Interview."
One of the suggestions I found interesting was having notes and information available while doing a phone interview. I had not previously considered this option, although it could be very helpful, especially regarding questions about the company. Another of the articles noted the importance of pre-interview behavior. While I realize that arriving early for an interview is always a good idea, I had not considered the importance of appearing calm and collected while waiting for the actual interview to begin. This article also advised the readers on appropriate behavior if the interviewer takes a phone call during the interview. I had not previously considered this scenario or the importance of the interviewee's reaction. The suggestion of appearing confident in the job interview was also presented in one of the articles. I found this suggestion particularly significant because job interviews make me extremely nervous, and the article helped me realize how important it is to conceal this.
An article for which I don't remember the name also suggested bringing a cardigan or sweater to the interview to prevent the tendency of crossing my arms because of cold. I thought this was a great suggestion, which I would not have though of on my own.
One of the suggestions I found interesting was having notes and information available while doing a phone interview. I had not previously considered this option, although it could be very helpful, especially regarding questions about the company. Another of the articles noted the importance of pre-interview behavior. While I realize that arriving early for an interview is always a good idea, I had not considered the importance of appearing calm and collected while waiting for the actual interview to begin. This article also advised the readers on appropriate behavior if the interviewer takes a phone call during the interview. I had not previously considered this scenario or the importance of the interviewee's reaction. The suggestion of appearing confident in the job interview was also presented in one of the articles. I found this suggestion particularly significant because job interviews make me extremely nervous, and the article helped me realize how important it is to conceal this.
An article for which I don't remember the name also suggested bringing a cardigan or sweater to the interview to prevent the tendency of crossing my arms because of cold. I thought this was a great suggestion, which I would not have though of on my own.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
In ten years?
As a political science major I often get asked the question "So, do you want to be a lawyer?" The answer is that no, I have no plans for law school. After my internship in a court last summer, I have determined that while the legal field is very interesting it is not, however, the path for me. My trip to Serbia, however, fully convinced me that I want to pursue a career related to international relations.
Ten years from now I hope to be either working within the government, for a NGO with an international focus, or possibly doing consulting work for an international organization. Ideally, my job would be based in Washington, D.C. or London and would involve a considerable amount of international travel. I'm also considering a career in the Foreign Service; in which case I would be living in a foreign country.
My goals for ten years also include gaining proficiency in at least one foreign language and making it through the list of "must-read" novels I've already compiled (it's a very long list , so this is a pretty unrealistic goal). I'd also like to have a couple articles published in a journal of political science. I'm a firm believer that life isn't about an end goal but is instead about the journey. Usually the best experiences of my life are ones for which I didn't plan, so ten years from now I can't really even predict what I'll be doing, but I'm sure it will be something I love.
Ten years from now I hope to be either working within the government, for a NGO with an international focus, or possibly doing consulting work for an international organization. Ideally, my job would be based in Washington, D.C. or London and would involve a considerable amount of international travel. I'm also considering a career in the Foreign Service; in which case I would be living in a foreign country.
My goals for ten years also include gaining proficiency in at least one foreign language and making it through the list of "must-read" novels I've already compiled (it's a very long list , so this is a pretty unrealistic goal). I'd also like to have a couple articles published in a journal of political science. I'm a firm believer that life isn't about an end goal but is instead about the journey. Usually the best experiences of my life are ones for which I didn't plan, so ten years from now I can't really even predict what I'll be doing, but I'm sure it will be something I love.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
On Web 2.0
The title of web 2.0 creates a metaphor for the current state of the web. This metaphor implies that, like new editions of software such as AOL 4.0, the web has undergone a transition which altered the web to make its current form similar to a new edition. This new "edition" of the web allows the majority not only to access the web but also to change the web.
The new form of the web allows nonspecialists in the field of computers to post content on the web. On the other hand, individuals' content is also viewable by more people. This visibility now has to be noted by job searchers. Potential employers can either be highly impressed with your characteristics and presentation on the web or can be disappointed by unprofessional facts they find on the web. The web is now a great way for job searchers to contact potential employers, but the potential employees must also be more conscientious about how they present themselves online in both business and personal web interaction and postings.
People currently in the workforce can use this new web a variety of ways. Perspective employers can screen employees. Companies can attract and facilitate business with their own websites or advertising.
One of the video's messages is that we will have to rethink everything. This message is refering to a fundamental change in the basic way we can communicate. The web allows a whole new level of transfer for personal and professional information in a huge variety of formats. Through the change we have gained a whole new potential style of communication. This new communication has the potential to dramatically affect our personal lives, businesses, government, crime, and almost every other level of society and life. In theory, the web now opens up the options of creating totally different formats for human activity. In our personal lives we can communacate more quickly and from almost anywhere on the globe. This communication has also already taken a very different form, both literally and figuratively, than tradational forms of communication. News can be accessed from a wider variety of perspectives and is more current. Emails serve as less formal forms of communications than letters and allow the transfer of documents and information much more efficiently. Personal information can also be displayed more easily. The web allows anyone to share their opinons and life with strangers. With the web also comes a whole new form of crime which requires different methods of investigation and prosecuting. Courts themselves have changed. The federal court in which I worked this summer is now paperless. All legal documents such as orders and motions are posted online. The new system ensured a more organized, efficient, and reliable transfer of information about cases. Overall, the web has already had a huge influence on our lives, and the new potential for input to the web from the majority of the population has the potential for even further transformation of our lives.
The new form of the web allows nonspecialists in the field of computers to post content on the web. On the other hand, individuals' content is also viewable by more people. This visibility now has to be noted by job searchers. Potential employers can either be highly impressed with your characteristics and presentation on the web or can be disappointed by unprofessional facts they find on the web. The web is now a great way for job searchers to contact potential employers, but the potential employees must also be more conscientious about how they present themselves online in both business and personal web interaction and postings.
People currently in the workforce can use this new web a variety of ways. Perspective employers can screen employees. Companies can attract and facilitate business with their own websites or advertising.
One of the video's messages is that we will have to rethink everything. This message is refering to a fundamental change in the basic way we can communicate. The web allows a whole new level of transfer for personal and professional information in a huge variety of formats. Through the change we have gained a whole new potential style of communication. This new communication has the potential to dramatically affect our personal lives, businesses, government, crime, and almost every other level of society and life. In theory, the web now opens up the options of creating totally different formats for human activity. In our personal lives we can communacate more quickly and from almost anywhere on the globe. This communication has also already taken a very different form, both literally and figuratively, than tradational forms of communication. News can be accessed from a wider variety of perspectives and is more current. Emails serve as less formal forms of communications than letters and allow the transfer of documents and information much more efficiently. Personal information can also be displayed more easily. The web allows anyone to share their opinons and life with strangers. With the web also comes a whole new form of crime which requires different methods of investigation and prosecuting. Courts themselves have changed. The federal court in which I worked this summer is now paperless. All legal documents such as orders and motions are posted online. The new system ensured a more organized, efficient, and reliable transfer of information about cases. Overall, the web has already had a huge influence on our lives, and the new potential for input to the web from the majority of the population has the potential for even further transformation of our lives.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Introductions
Hi guys!
My name is Callie, and I'm from Chattanooga, TN. I am a Junior majoring in Political Science and minoring in English. Within political science I'm especially interested in international relations. I love studying other cultures and their societies. I spent a month last summer on a study abroad trip to Serbia and hope to study abroad in Turkey next semester. Obviously my love of travel significantly affected my choice of major.
Outside of classes I play women's club Frisbee, participate in Model United Nations, and am a member of Dixon Fellows and the Calhoun Honors College. I also love reading, painting, and cooking.
In general, I am a fairly organized person, and I really enjoy group work. I have a lot of leadership experience and have previously been involved with nonprofit organizations. I am really excited about our group project and am looking forward to the class's involvement in it this semester.
My name is Callie, and I'm from Chattanooga, TN. I am a Junior majoring in Political Science and minoring in English. Within political science I'm especially interested in international relations. I love studying other cultures and their societies. I spent a month last summer on a study abroad trip to Serbia and hope to study abroad in Turkey next semester. Obviously my love of travel significantly affected my choice of major.
Outside of classes I play women's club Frisbee, participate in Model United Nations, and am a member of Dixon Fellows and the Calhoun Honors College. I also love reading, painting, and cooking.
In general, I am a fairly organized person, and I really enjoy group work. I have a lot of leadership experience and have previously been involved with nonprofit organizations. I am really excited about our group project and am looking forward to the class's involvement in it this semester.
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