The Ever-Dreaded Group Work

During my various internships and volunteer experiences, I've worked with people that I really enjoy. Across different ages, professions, and outlooks, people often have a tendency to come together for something important. However, this isn't always the case.

Over the last week or so, I've found myself in two distinctly different group work scenarios. In one group, we talked about what each member had a knack for and divided work up based on our specific talents and skill sets. It's worked out swimmingly. Everyone is happy and we have a great end-product. We worked together on the things that required a bit more diversity and understood how to complement each other's talents.

It's been an unlikely success story for a college group project.

In another class, I'm facing the opposite situation. The group doesn't communicate well outside of class, and when we are in contact with each other, there isn't much productivity. Group members are trying to micro-manage each other, and tensions have gotten pretty high at points. When nasty e-mails started flying (when we should have calmly talked out these problems during class) I realized how far out of hand things had gotten. We needed to reorganize and cooperate.

A lot of things had to happen for the group to get back on track:

1. We had to put our egos in check. All of us. Myself included. When you get four (or, in many cases, more) people trying to be right all the time, tempers can get high. Working well in a group requires everyone to admit their limitations and own up to the fact that you're generally equals.
2. We had to acknowledge each other's skills. In this particular group, we need to use Adobe programs to make a finished product. I'm the only person with any experience with PhotoShop, which means my contribution has become fairly focused into that area of the project. The other girls in our group have talents spread across writing, organization, planning...not everyone can do everything in the project, but everyone has something to contribute.
3. We had to figure out how to spread the work evenly (as best we could). No one likes to feel excluded, and no one likes to feel like they're doing all of the work. You can't always evenly split it, since everyone's abilities apply to each project differently. However, being shy to responsibility or being a work hog can reflect on you poorly in the end.
4. We had to remind ourselves to smile. We are all stressed out right now. Finals start on Monday and week ten on a trimester schedule is always stressful. I have three large projects due between Friday and Tuesday, and the next few days are going to be very touch-and-go as far as my stress levels are concerned. One of the things I needed to remind myself about was that all of the people I am working with are in the same boat. We are all stressed out right now. So, sometimes the best thing to do is blow off some steam. Laugh, smile, don't be afraid to have fun while you work together. A happy individual generally equals a happy group member. Don't forget that.

Overall, I was reminded of some valuable lessons today about cooperation. Not everyone understands good group dynamics. Most college students don't have the professional and volunteer experiences I have when it comes to cooperation and working together. In fact, I feel very blessed to have these experiences under my belt. In the long run, they'll help me.

Next time you're faced with the task of working with others (especially ones you may not know or haven't worked with before), think about the mindset with which you step into the project. Respect, cooperation, and trust can go a long way. And please, please, please do not resort to sending snobby e-mails rather than sorting out problems in person. That's a wonderful first step towards an unhappy group.

Taking Criticism

I'm studying multimedia, so a big part of my education is through constructive criticism. At times, it can be rough. There are some professors who will take your work and rip it apart bit by bit, piece by piece, until you feel like your very soul has been trampled upon in the form of your hard work and dedication. Really. It gets hard sometimes. The only thing you can do is grin and bear it, though. A lot of the time, you aren't even allowed to defend yourself.

The thing to realize, regardless of how heartless the delivery, the intention is to teach. The process is sometimes very trying. You get the "nicer" profs now and then, but really...sometimes you just want to go hide away in a lonely dark place and cry. It comes with the trade.

You need a thick skin and a sense of humor. Professional criticism is something I've adjusted to. Sometimes when your work is getting ripped apart, you need to be able to find the humor. I'm sitting in an especially harsh Digital Photography critique as I type this, and I'm struck by the change in the students around me. Many of my classmates have never had formal critiques before. In the seven and a half weeks we've been together, there's been massive growth. People talk now. They joke. They laugh. They don't take things personally.

This is something everyone should be equipped with, not just us artists. Sometimes, when life hands you some trial, whether it's criticism or even a personal struggle, a sense of humor and an ability to take a few blows is the best adaptation you can have.

Coming from someone who gets grades for having grace under fire, this really can make all the difference. Humor can be a wonderful coping mechanism, or can be the thing that turns you into a "duck" as my boyfriend would say. (It just rolls right off your back, like water.) So, as I sit here listening to photographs getting ripped to shreds by a very talented but very ruthless professor, I'm reminded of this.

Smile. Nod. And learn. That's sometimes all you can outwardly do.

The Unknown

Fear is common. Fear is normal. It's a natural response to help protect us. It can be fairly useful in many situations. It can also be a hindrance. So, what qualifies as a "healthy level" of fear? Fearlessness can be commended, but can also be considered foolish. Cautiousness and cowardliness are separated only by a thin, blurred line.

The future can be terrifying. The great "unknown" that comes after college, after this year, after this term, after this week...it can be pretty scary. Lately, the future has been a pretty hot topic between my boyfriend and I. The idea of talking about "our" future, our collective future as a single entity, is both scary and exciting.

I feel brave enough to talk about that, but the idea of what I'll do after school is terrifying. I'll work, obviously. But where? For whom? Doing what? Will I like it? Will I have to bite the bullet and suffer through to build and resume' and squeak by? Will it tie into my passions? Will I develop new passions to adjust to it?

The unknown can be terrifying. It can be wonderful and exciting and inspiring. It's supposed to be a little of all those things. The future is unwritten. Plans can be changed in an instant. Flexibility and reactivity can make all the difference.

It's okay to be a little scared. Every college student should be, when it comes to their future. Confidence, faith, hope, and enthusiasm should help counter that fear. What qualifies as a "healthy level" of fear? That's based entirely on the individual. The important thing is to never let it stop you from getting what you want.

Be Bright-Sided

For an English class, we had to read the book "Bight-Sided" by Barbara Ehrenreich. It was the author's bold analysis of why America's "look-on-the-bright-side" culture is harmful. I'll agree, it can be incredibly frustrating to be pressured to be cheerful when you're frazzled and tired and just plain-out stressed. Sometimes it's okay to just feel angry or frustrated or disappointed. Life is tough, especially during such a transitionary time as college.

Well, keep your chin up. There's a silver lining to extra cloud, as they say.

I had a great discussion with someone last night. This guy has enough stuff to do with his time, let alone have a deep conversation with an uncertain college kid. He's got a family, a new baby on the way, a successful career. Despite all that, he still had time to tell me to slow down, breathe, and enjoy now. Now is an important time, after all. It kind of brought to mind a great saying I heard in a wonderful movie.

“The past is history, tomorrow’s a mystery, today is a gift … that’s why it’s called the present.” - Shifu, Kung Fu Panda

Yes, little animated red pandas can be excellent sources of inspirational quotes.

So, what does all this mean to me, as a college student and growing professional?

It means I need to accept the past, and stop stressing about the future. Always looking back or ahead ruins your ability to appreciate what's here now. Anxiety over long-finished experiences and what's to come hurts your chances of seeing the bright side of what right in front of you.

I'm young, and I like to think I have some degree of talent. I'm outgoing, I'm motivated. I'm in a wonderful relationship, I have plenty of friends and a wonderful family. I have plenty going against me, but right now, I have a lot right in front of me to explore and enjoy. And, despite the stress, the pressure, it's an honor and a privilege to be doing as well as I am.

Based on my post yesterday, it's fairly obvious that there was some inner-turmoil going on. How I look publicly still matters, but worrying about who I'll be in ten years doesn't help me become who I want to be now.

So, that's my bright-sided view for right now. It's up to you to apply your own bright side.

Scarcity

Hi folks!

I know, I've been scarce. I haven't had a whole lot of anything to say lately. Well, actually, that's a lie. I've had plenty to say, but haven't had time to say it. Juggling a job, an internship, a full course-load, my personal life, and my health is tricky. Sometimes you have to prioritize, and Cheap Pizza has not been at the top of the list lately.

HOWEVER, that does not mean the internship world has been barren or empty. No, no, no. I'm shaking things up as best I can.

For starters, I was invited to be a guest on a podcast. That's a big deal, I squealed in excitement when I found out. As far as I know, it can be found here, although I might be lying...I really should find out for sure. Also, while we're recording on February 23rd, I'm not even sure when it's going public. I should look into that, as well. Anyways, apparently I'm going on to talk about the industry from a student's perspective.

I've also been going through binge-emailing sprees lately. The only way to get those internships/jobs/experiences is by pursuing them, and often the first step to it is contact. I just sent emails to six marketing/communications firms in the area. I know I probably won't get any hit backs, but you never know until you try.

Anyways, that's what's going on in the career-development world here. I'm trying desperately to survive the last few weeks of this term without losing my mind; I have two tests on Friday, three final projects due in two weeks, and a proposal for an independent study grant to work on. Things are HECTIC, but that's the life of a college student. (It's also a bit more hectic because we are on a tri-mester system, instead of semesters.)

Priorities. Figure them out. They can make the difference between wasting your time on a pet-project blog, and being the go-getter that will someday rock the career world.

I don't even know if this made sense or not. I'm going to go read about agricultural communications in digital media! Bye!

Keeping a Positive Perspective

To put it simply, I'm hanging on for dear life. Even after trimming down to one campus job, I feel like there aren't enough hours in the day. That's alright, though; I feel productive. In fact, despite a lot of turbulence in my personal life, I feel more on top of my career now than I ever have.

Now more than ever, I know the value of counting blessings.

I've been incredibly lucky as far as my early career goes. I've had an incredibly successful internship which is now a seasonal job; I'm in the midst of my second internship, which seems to be going well thus far. For a sophomore in college, that's pretty great.

Sometimes, when things get too busy or two hectic or just too hard, looking on the bright side is the only real option to keep you moving. So, when you get to that place where you think that there's never enough time, enough patience, enough energy, or enough talent, take a breath.

Think of what's going RIGHT.

Chances are, if you're busy, it means someone thinks you're worthwhile enough to demand your time.

If you're stretched out, it's because you're reliable enough to be valuable to more than one person or organization.

It can be hard. It can be VERY hard. However, it's part of this crazy stage of life, this transitionary period where you're learning how to grow from student to professional, from teenager to adult.

Hang in there. Look on the bright side. Don't give up. And don't be ashamed to feel a little fear.

Taking Initiative

I'm a "grab life by the horns" kind of girl. I like a sense of control. As I've grown older, though, I've noticed that a lot of people really aren't like that at all. While that leaves more opportunities to me, it also creates problems for the people who don't necessarily take initiative.

As a college student, and a possible intern, you have to understand one thing: no one is going to just hand you a successful career. Not in the real world, anyways. Even small steps can be made. Be a go-getter, build a positive reputation for yourself. Take it slow at first.

It can begin with a single professor. Making an impression on your educators is a step in the right direction. Find the educational mentor you need to grow. Show off your talent, give them a look at what good, hard work can produce. My first big break here at school was a Flash Animation class taught by the head of our department. I got his attention. With his help, I set up an interview with the Marketing and Communications department here at school.

I also found some helpful shoving coming from a professor who had nothing to do with my department. This is a little off to the side, but I felt that he deserved some recognition. Thanks, Keating.

Until recently, I found myself thinking, "Man, am I lucky to have all these great educational and professional opportunities!"

I feel dumb for that thought ever crossing my mind. I've always prided myself on working hard, and I guess now I'm allowed to step back and appreciate how far I've come. This blog, however unknown and young it is, has let me put a few things in perspective.

1. Work hard. I know, it sound cliche. Sometimes your best effort is all that's required to get someone's attention.
2. Be friendly, but don't be a pushover. I've been at both extremes. I've let people walk over me, and I've been over-aggressive. Find your balance.
3. Never settle for "good enough." This is probably one of the only useful things I learned from a crack-pot business professor last year, but it DID stick with me. This is a more subjective piece of advice, as "good enough" can be drastically different depending on the situation. You'll know when the time comes.
   
4. Look for opportunities. If you aren't willing to hunt for them, why should anyone else find them for you? This is vital. You have to be willing to put yourself out there!

These are not by any means the ONLY things to consider. These are just a few tidbits I've picked up along the way. They've been helpful so far.

In regards to finding opportunities, I recently sent out a few emails inquiring about internships. Ad agencies, public organizations, communications companies, the list goes on.

I'll find more opportunities out there. I just have to continue to take responsibility for my own future.

Back to School

It snuck up on me!

My family can offer testimony of that, as I scurried to get everything organized and packed. I'm kind of shocked at how much I brought home. Well, no...not really. I always over-pack. And it's tricky, because I'm home from Thanksgiving until after New Years. I'm home long enough to need all my personal effects, but not long enough to be considered "moving."

So, 2 laundry baskets, 1 large laundry bag, 1 shower caddy, 1 packed-tight laptop case, and 1 Adidas bag full of all the stuff I needed last night and this morning. I still need to go do my hair and makeup.

This kind of makes me wonder about future internships. If I end up doing any internships in which I have to travel, how will I survive? I would want to bring way too much stuff with me. Granted, my high school's Spanish Club trip to Mexico taught me some valuable travel tips for space-saving and such...but that was 4 years ago and was a VERY different situation.

Taking another perspective at my move back to school, tomorrow is the start of class. I resume office work for the Marketing and Communications department on Wednesday, and I also have mandatory meetings regarding the school-sponsored tutoring I'll be doing this term.

Yeah, I'll be insanely busy. Yeah, I'll probably end up stressed out, but I'll love the feeling of being busy. I'm also going to continuing applying and interviewing for new internships.

Going back to school also draws an end to my winter term at the office. My supervisor had some huge compliments to offer as we cleaned out my office. He commented on my increased independence, and the fact that he barely had to explain anything to me. He said something along the lines that this had been my most productive stretch of time in the office to date. That meant so much to me.

So, here I am, in my bathrobe, getting ready to get all gussied up to go back and catch up with my school friends and the seemingly-alternate life I lead there. I'll miss home, yeah...my family, friends, my boyfriend, my dog, the open spaces...

But it's time to go back. It's just another step in building up my career.

Networking, Networking, Networking

We've all seen a movie, be it a drama, comedy, chick flick, etc. where someone uses the line, "I know a guy." Or, it could be, "I know a guy, who knows a guy." Generally, these statements have to do with dirty, devious deeds that are much too sticky for any "normal" person to handle. However, this mobster-inspired line actually applies to growing careers quite well.

Networking. A few years ago, I would have never seen the importance of it. Then, networking was the wire that made my phones and internet work. Now, it's everything, or almost everything. Networking is important, yes, but experience and talent need to be able to support it.

Networking can be done any number of ways. Family, personal friends, and co-workers are a good place to start. You may find leads in unexpected places. My supervisor here taught me about Twitter. On Twitter, I've met plenty of individuals who have plenty to teach. Many of these individuals hold gateways to great opportunities. In the wide hodgepodge of people I follow, I've pinpointed different communications/design/marketing internships and job openings that span across a wide array of fields. In fact, the interview I posted about earlier today...I got a tip on that internship through someone on Twitter.

Networking is great. Knowing and impressing the right people can make the start of your career so much easier to conquer. However, you can't go only on last name or who you know. You need to make sure you live up to the expectations of the people you know. If you're given a job because of who you're associated with, you have to be sure not to tarnish their names. If something goes wrong on your part, you could not only hurt your career, but that of the people who helped get you there.

Networking is important. It's a great opportunity. In fact, a well-built professional network can give you great power when it comes to job-searching. However, with great power comes...yup, you guessed it. Great responsibility.

Building Experience

Careers/internships/jobs/what have you are hard to find.

Let's be honest, here. We're in recession, some would even call it a depression. The economy's down, and while a lot of companies are willing to take on unpaid interns, the market is still a bit more slim than it has been in the past.

This is the time for building experience, without necessarily having a job. I'm finding new, interesting ways to do this everyday, and it's exciting!

I'm an interactive media studies major, with specialization in design. This, in a nutshell, means I do graphic design on crack. I'm also an English minor, meaning that any freelance or volunteer writing jobs are a great addition to my bank of experiences. While this can't necessarily be applied to any career field, it's important to look around, do some research, and figure out what volunteer opportunities can be considered "career builders."

Since age 15, I've been doing low-key graphic design work. In the last year, I've had two pretty significant projects: business cards, and the body wrap of a truck. Yes, I designed a truck. It was a 14-hour design job, and I learned a lot about PhotoShop and designing for 3-D objects. To see my truck, click here. Owned and operated by Dan Dandurand of Momence, IL, and sponsored by the Kankakee County Corn Growers Association, this E85-powered competition truck is the cornerstone of my graphic design portfolio.

You'd be amazed how many people would be impressed by that. Apparently, designing body wraps for pro-stock pulling trucks is a rarity.

I also write occasional pieces for small, local newspapers and journals. My favorite to write for is the local Farm Bureau newspaper. In fact, I'm scrabbling last minute to do a special commentary piece on wind energy and it's introduction into our county. This will be my third piece for the publication, and I'm incredibly excited about it.

See, it doesn't have to be hard to find interesting experiences in your field. It takes some research, some networking, and a lot of ambition. A great place to start for these types of opportunities is childrens' organizations. 4-H and FFA projects range across a wide variety of areas. You could be the mentor a child needs to finish their computer programming project for 4-H. You might be the marketing intern who could help an FFA member sell a few more of their SAE items. High school organizations can always use a volunteer, especially specialized ones. You could assistant coach the math team or tutor kids in biology. These opportunities are all around.

You just have to be willing to pursue them. They could make all the difference in your hunt for internships, and, in the long run, or search for a career.

Bunnies, Musicals, Packing, and Jargon

It's official: I no longer raise rabbits.

The bunnies are still in my possession, yes, but thanks to a breeder in Indiana, and possibly one in the Pacific Northwest, I'll be out of Mini Rex within the month. That means no more poop, no more food dust, no more major allergy attacks...it also means that another tie to childhood is severed, but I'm definitely more positive about it now.

Today is busy. I have some video to work on, and I'm leaving early. Why? Because my lovely boyfriend of 5 years surprised me with Jersey Boys tickets for Christmas. If you don't know what Jersey Boys is, see more info here. I know, I don't come off as be a theatre geek, but I am. I'm always up for a good musical.

Anyways, I'm excited and wanted to flaunt that a bit.

I start back to class in less than a week, so I'm starting to get into packing mode. I'm going back to school with more stuff than I came home with (which is terrifying, because I brought a LOT of stuff home with me...) so there's a lot of...creativity...involved in packing. That, on top of work, on top of other obligations, makes for a busy Kelly.

SO, I've had another revelation regarding my industry. You know, this whole "creative media" thing. Whilst thrusting my random thoughts onto others via Twitter, I found myself impressed with my own array of jargon. I never thought of it that way, until someone asked me what an FTP was.

I know jargon. I'm an interactive media jargon master! This by no means makes me a master of anything other than words, but it kind of feels like a tiny milestone. I can hold a conversation with someone in my field, and know what the heck the random letters and abbreviations are.

"Can you encode the MOV's into FLV's and upload them to the FTP so I can apply them to the PHP?"

That sentence pretty closely matches the instructions I was given by my supervisor yesterday. Seriously. The most exciting thing is the fact that I knew exactly what he was talking about. Sure it was a long, tedious task full of waiting and rushing and waiting and more rushing...but I didn't have to ask him what he was talking about. Spiffy, right?

I'm starting to make the observation that most milestones are small. A big project may come every now and then, but learning is a long process. You can't really measure it, unless you're doing so in life experience or time, and even then it's an incomplete measurement. There's no good way to look at what you've done over an internship and say that one single thing defined it. The experiences you gain are taken in small steps. Like, say...understanding what your boss is talking about when he uses very field-specific terms.

Yeah. Pretty much, I'm a rockstar of media jargon.

Learning to Deal with Co-Workers

My current internship puts me in a unique position. I've been here long enough to build up some credibility and authority in my specific field, but I'm still an intern. This position, this expert-and-intern conundrum, creates some awkward situations with co-workers.

I don't blame them in the least. It's probably tricky for an adult who has a degree and has been a professional for years to be instructed by a college kid. I ran into one such problem with a co-worker here, and it's still being slowly hashed out. In fact, we'll probably still be smoothing out wrinkles when I return over spring break or summer vacation.

This is a valuable lesson. For my entire career, I'll be facing co-workers, employers, superiors, and equals, who may or may not want to hear my opinions. They may not appreciate my feedback. Regardless of how smoothly we'll work together, we'll have to continue to do just that: work together. This specific co-worker and I have a very good relationship when we don't work together on specific projects without being overseen by our supervisor. We both know that we can get along well. There's just a gap that we have to continue to work on.

I'm happy with how things are going on that front, altogether. I've gained important experience on how to handle a difficult co-worker, and we reached the end of a fairly big project in record time. The outcome is great, the product is awesome, and our supervisor is satisfied.

Mission accomplished, and lessons learned. I'd say that a good outcome all around.